Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 06 Nov 2012 [PDF]
• Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Network Leader AFPS 06 Nov 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network leader in Afghanistan’s Logar province.
• Hearing Opens For U.S. Soldier Accused Of Afghan Massacre RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Prosecutors have told a U.S. military court that a soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers was "lucid" during a March shooting spree in Kandahar.
• UN Slaps Sanctions On Haqqani Network, Hours After U.S. Does Same RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- A UN committee has ordered global sanctions to be imposed on the militant Haqqani network, which operates in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• From Afghanistan to Sandy, Transcom Synchronizes Support AFPS 06 Nov 2012 -- As Hurricane Sandy hurtled menacingly toward the New Jersey shore last week, the staff in U.S. Transportation Command’s sprawling fusion center weren’t resting on their laurels waiting for a call for help.
• Readout of the President’s Briefing on Response and Recovery Efforts The White House 06 Nov 2012
• Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy DoD 06 Nov 2012
• Army North supporting Sandy disaster response Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- As the scope of Hurricane Sandy's devastation began to unfold, U.S. Army North prepositioned coordinating elements in the most devastated areas to help support local, state and federal response efforts.
• National Guard, Marines work together to deliver food, pump water, assist recovery Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- When the National Guardsmen of Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry came to Rockaway, N.Y., their mission was to distribute food and water to New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

Defense Policy / Programs

• F-35 celebrates 500th sortie as program grows AFNS 06 Nov 2012 -- The Air Force's premier fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, surpassed its 500th sortie only 16 days after reaching the 400 mark and only 238 days from the beginning of the program.
• USS Theodore Roosevelt Completes First 'Fast Cruise' in Three Years NNS 06 Nov 2012 -- For the first time since she entered Newport News Shipbuilding in early 2009, USS Theodore Roosevelt conducted an overnight habitability fast cruise.
• Transition: MCSC, PEO LS evolve, keeping commands responsive, relevant USMC News 06 Nov 2012 -- To continuously improve acquisition programs and personnel management, and to keep standards high and effective, the Marine Corps acquisition team has evolved.
• Female body armor named among best inventions by Time Magazine Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- An innovation that will leave female Soldiers safer and more comfortable on the battlefield was named one of Time Magazine's "Best Inventions of the Year 2012."
• Military Working Dogs Detachment activates Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- The 95th Military Police Detachment, 504th MP Battalion, was activated Nov. 2.
• USS Jacksonville Departs for Western Pacific Deployment NNS 06 Nov 2012 -- USS Jacksonville departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 5, for a scheduled six-month deployment in the Western Pacific region.
• Nuclear treaty monitoring aircraft visits Patrick AFB AFNS 06 Nov 2012 -- Special equipment operators from the Air Force Technical Applications Center's Detachment 1 visited Oct. 25 and invited base personnel to tour the detachment's flying workhorse, the WC-135 Constant Phoenix.
• Orient Shield 12 wraps up in Japan Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- Soldiers from 1-14th Infantry along with Japan Ground Self Defense Force members from the 33rd Infantry Regiment attended a ceremony that closed the 13th iteration of Orient Shield.
• Soldiers, Defense Force Members complete Field Training Exercise Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- Soldiers from 1-14th Infantry, along with Japanese Ground Self Defense Force members from the 33rd Infantry Regiment completed a cumulative field training exercise.
• 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit initiates training engagement team in Jordan USMC News 06 Nov 2012 -- Over the past couple of months approximately 150 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit had the unique opportunity to participate in training events with members of the Jordanian Marine Corps.
• NMCP Group Reflects on African Medical Mission NNS 06 Nov 2012 -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth staff participated in Africa Partnership Station 2012, and spoke Nov. 1 about their experiences providing humanitarian assistance for two months in seven West African countries.
• Expeditionary Training Group Beats Hurricane Sandy to Certify Forces NNS 06 Nov 2012 -- As Hurricane Sandy approached the New Jersey shore Oct. 28, Expeditionary Training Group wrapped up its final certification exercise of the year.
• Reserve unit debuts new 'simulation' tech Army News 06 Nov 2012 -- The 75th Training Command successfully operated the computer-based system over a two-day span, with participants located in Texas, Louisiana, Iowa and Alabama.
• Intel Official Calls Language ‘Central’ to New Strategy AFPS 06 Nov 2012 -- As the Defense Department’s principal staff member and advisor regarding intelligence, counterintelligence, security and other intelligence-related matters, Vickers has a far-reaching view of how important foreign language and culture are.
• Foreign Military Students Learn Public Affairs Skills AFPS 06 Nov 2012 -- Fifteen foreign military students are hard at work writing communications plans for their countries as they learn the American approach to becoming military public affairs officers at the Defense Information School.
• New Program Gives Sailors Flexibility in Timing Transition to Reserves NNS 06 Nov 2012 -- The Navy announced a new program Nov. 5 to allow greater flexibility for enlisted Sailors transitioning from Active Duty or Full Time Support to the Selected Reserve.
• Kremlin Power Struggle Flares with Minister Ousting RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The public sacking of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, was an unprecedented outburst of turf war in the Kremlin.
• Putin Sacks Defense Minister Serdyukov RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- President Vladimir Putin relieved Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov of his duties on Tuesday, and appointed Sergei Shoigu as his replacement.
• Putin Fires Defense Minister, Names Shoigu To Replace Him RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and named a former emergency situations minister to replace him.
• India, Russia Sign Tank Missile Contracts RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- India and Russia have signed two contracts for the delivery of Russian antitank missiles.
• Huge section of HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves shipyard UK MOD 06 Nov 2012 -- The largest section of future carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is now complete and on its way to join the rest of the ship.
• Tensions Between Pakistani Judiciary, Military Boil Over RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- With every step Pakistan's judiciary takes toward defining its role, it further encroaches on the powerful military's turf.
• ROK Moves to Introduce PAC-3 KCNA 06 Nov 2012 -- Recently south Korea announced a plan to introduce PAC-3.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 06, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 6 November 2012 United Nations 06 Nov 2012
• Syria-led process only solution for peace in the war-torn country UN News Centre 06 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations political affairs chief said there was an urgent need to “shift away” from the military logic driving the conflict.
• Gunmen Kill Syrian Parliament Speaker's Brother VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Syria's state-run news agency said gunmen have shot and killed the brother of the country's parliament speaker.
• At Least 130 Dead in Syria Fighting VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- At least 130 people died Tuesday in Syria, in a wave of air strikes, bombings, ground battles and assassinations, as violence between government forces and rebels escalated in Damascus and Aleppo.
• Damascus Bombings Kill At Least 10 RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Explosions in the west Damascus suburb of Qudsaya have killed at least 10 people and wounded some 40 others.
• Russian Foreign Minister Meets Top Syrian Defector In Jordan RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has held a rare meeting with a high-level Syrian opposition figure.
• Syria Pledges No Use of Chemical Weapons - Russia RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The Syrian authorities have assured Moscow that there will be no use of chemical weapons against rebel forces, Russia’s foreign minister said.
• UN ‘Let World Down’ on Syria - British PM RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations “has let the world down” on Syria, and Russia and China are to blame for that, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said.
• S. China Sea Disputes Figure Prominently at ASEAN Meeting VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Observers say territorial disputes in the South China Sea will likely be a main focus at an upcoming meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
• Militant Group in Mali Ready to Negotiate VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- One of the three armed al-Qaida-linked militant groups in control of northern Mali since April says it rejects all ties to terrorism and is ready to negotiate with Mali's transitional authorities.
• BURKINA FASO-NIGER: Aid agencies tighten security IRIN 06 Nov 2012 -- Aid agencies have stepped up security measures in Burkina Faso and Niger as the threat of kidnappings by Islamist groups mounts.
• Al-Qaida Leader Urges Guerrilla Warfare in Somalia VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A purported message from al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri calls for a campaign of guerrilla warfare against foreign troops in Somalia.
• Expulsion of U.N. Human Rights Investigator in South Sudan US Dept. of State 06 Nov 2012
• UN Begins Airlift of Stranded South Sudanese from Sudan Capital VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A new operation to airlift nearly 1,400 South Sudanese stranded in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, starts Tuesday.
• BANGLADESH-MYANMAR: More Rohingya boat people likely IRIN 06 Nov 2012 -- Thousands of Rohingya - whether currently in Myanmar or Bangladesh - may take to the high seas and head to Malaysia after last month’s deadly sectarian violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, activists warn.
• UN distributes food for more than 27,000 people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state UN News Centre 06 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations food relief agency said it has begun distributing food for over 27,000 people in all the townships affected by recent inter-communal violence over the past month in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
• UN hails effort by the Philippines to protect refugees and stateless people UN News Centre 06 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations refuge agency lauded the Philippines for being the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to establish a procedure to protect both refugees and stateless people.
• Dozens Killed In Iraq Bomb Blast RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Iraqi police and hospital officials say a car bomb has exploded outside a military base north of Baghdad.
• Sinai Attack Escalates Regional Tensions RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- A militant attack on a police patrol in the Sinai Peninsula has escalated tensions in the troubled region, as Egyptian authorities struggle to restore law and order in the vast desert territory bordering the Gaza Strip and Israel.
• Turkey Starts Trial Against Israelis Involved in 2010 Raid VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A trial began in Turkey against four Israeli military commanders accused of leading a raid on the high seas against a Gaza-bound aid ship.
• Turkey Opens Trial Of Israelis In Gaza Flotilla Case RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- A Turkish court has opened the trial in absentia of four former Israeli military commanders charged with killing nine people aboard a Turkish aid ship.
• UN expert calls for Bosnia and Herzegovina to speed up redress for women victims of wartime violence UN News Centre 06 Nov 2012 -- A United Nations independent expert called for its Government to “speed up” justice and reparations measures for women who are the victims of violence.

News Reports

• Tight US Election Now in the Hands of Voters VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Voters across the U.S. are heading to the polls to decide whether to re-elect President Barack Obama or pick a new American leader for the next four years, Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
• Obama, Romney In Tight Race As America Decides RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Polling stations are open in many parts of the United States, kicking off local, state, and national elections that include a presidential race that polls suggest will come down to the wire.
• US Presidential Election Under Way RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- Tens of millions of Americans are voting in an election to decide whether President Barack Obama keeps his job for another four years or turns the keys to the White House over to his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney.
• Russian Election Report Concludes U.S. Vote Will Be Neither Free Nor Fair RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- The U.S. presidential election will be neither free nor fair, and President Barack Obama will win a second term in office thanks to an election campaign marred by violations.
• OSCE Observers Monitoring American Vote RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have joined American monitors to observe the U.S. elections.
• Israeli PM Says Will Strike Iran If Necessary RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and said he was ready to strike the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities if needed.
• Tehran To Take Part In Nuclear-Free Middle East Conference RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Iran has said it would take part in a proposed international conference in December on creating a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.
• Iran criticizes discriminatory implementation of NPT IRNA 06 Nov 2012 -- Discriminatory implementation of nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has left many states feeling that being a party to NPT causes hinderanance of cooperation in field atomic energy.
• Jailed Iranian Women Stop Hunger Strike RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Sources in Tehran say that eight female inmates in Evin prison have stopped their hunger strike and plan to pursue legal action against prison guards whom they accuse of mistreating them.
• Briton Bo Xilai's Wife Murdered Was MI6 Informant VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A major U.S. newspaper says it has found evidence that a British businessman murdered by the wife of Bo Xilai was working as an informant for MI6.
• China’s New Leaders Face Rise of Individual VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- As China prepares for a once-in-a-decade political transition, the country’s soon to be new leaders are facing a population increasingly willing to voice its opposition to government policies.
• China's Media Blackout on Leadership Change Sharply Contrasts US Election Transparency VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Most Chinese people know that in just a few days, Xi Jinping is expected to be promoted to the country's highest seat of power.
• Chinese Court Sentences Burmese Smugglers to Death VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A court in southern China has sentenced four members of a Burmese drug smuggling gang to death for last year's kidnapping and murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River.
• Analysis: Dialogue and divisions in Yemen IRIN 06 Nov 2012 -- Nearly a year after a Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered deal set Yemen on a theoretical path towards political transition, the country remains deeply divided amid increasing poverty.
• United Nations condemns deadly bombings in Bahrain capital UN News Centre 06 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations condemns the deadly bombings which took place in Bahrain.
• S. Korea to Extradite Alleged Chinese Firebomber to Japan VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- South Korea is expected to hand over to Japanese authorities a Chinese man who has completed a ten-month jail sentence for firebombing Japan's embassy in Seoul.
• Australian Leader Meets Burmese President VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Democracy campaigners are criticizing talks that have raised the prospect of a resumption of defense ties between Australia and Burma.
• US Election to Inspire Better Organized Kenya Vote, Says Official VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- An official of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says lessons learned from the U.S. election will help improve preparations for Kenya’s general election scheduled for March 4th of next year.
• Nigeria's 'Royal Fathers' Seek Constitutional Role VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Technically, Nigeria is a democracy and a federation of states. But many Nigerians say kings and clerics govern their daily lives, not elected officials.
• Gunmen kill MWM leader in Pakistan Karachi in target attack IRNA 06 Nov 2012 -- Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Shiite activist and another man in the Pakistani port city of Karachi.
• Sudan's Bashir Has 'Successful, Minor' Surgery VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Sudan's state news agency said President Omar al-Bashir has undergone what it calls "successful, minor surgery" in Saudi Arabia.
• Former Georgian Interior Minister Connected To Prison Scandal Arrested RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Georgia's former Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been arrested on abuse of office charges.
• Ukraine's Parliament Calls for Partial Re-vote VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- Ukraine's parliament called for a new election in five disputed districts as hundreds continue to rally in the capital Kyiv against alleged vote-rigging in favor of the ruling party.
• Tensions Rise In Ukraine Over Election Results RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Political tensions are rising in Ukraine as the country's opposition presses its demands for a partial recount of last month's parliamentary elections.
• Ukraine Parliament to Look into Vote Count Delay RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The Ukrainian parliament set up an ad hoc commission to probe the reasons for the slow ballot count after voting in October 28 elections.
• Lukashenko Dismisses OSCE as ‘Irrelevant’ RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has become irrelevant, because it is unable to perform its functions, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
• Turkish Firm to Drill for Oil in Somaliland VOA 06 Nov 2012 -- A Turkish company says it will explore for oil in the breakaway republic of Somaliland beginning next year.
• Eminent Orthodox Church Leader Dies RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria died in the early hours Monday of heart failure in Sofia's University Hospital, the church announced.