Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• DOD News Briefing with George Little from the Pentagon DoD 08 Nov 2012
• Iranians Attacked U.S. Drone Over International Waters AFPS 08 Nov 2012 -- A recent Iranian attack on a U.S. drone occurred over international waters, but the aircraft suffered no damage and returned safely to base, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
• US Confirms Iran Fired on Drone VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- U.S. defense officials have confirmed reports that Iranian fighter jets fired on a U.S. drone over the Persian Gulf one week ago.
• Pentagon Says Iran Fired On U.S. Drone In Gulf RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- The Pentagon says that an Iranian warplane fired on, but did not hit, an unarmed U.S. drone a week ago.
• Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader AFPS 08 Nov 2012 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Afghanistan’s Logar province today, military officials reported.
• Afghan shelling injures two people in Pakistan IRNA 08 Nov 2012 -- Pakistani officials say that rockets fired from Afghanistan injured two persons in ountry’s North Waziristan tribal region.
• At Least 18 Killed In Afghan Attacks RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Officials say at least 18 people have been killed in three separate attacks in Afghanistan.
• Navy Lynx crews train in US for Afghanistan ops UK MOD 08 Nov 2012 -- After months of meticulous preparation, 847 Naval Air Squadron has deployed to the US Naval Air Facility at El Centro in California for the final stages of their training before deploying to Afghanistan in January 2013.
• AF supports both Sandy relief and Afghanistan operations AFNS 08 Nov 2012 -- Mobility Airmen are playing key roles supporting humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, while continuing to support U.S. operations around the world, including missions in Afghanistan.
• 7th Engineers uncase unit colors after Afghanistan mission Army News 08 Nov 2012 -- The 7th Engineer Battalion "Task Force Red Devils" uncased the battalion colors, symbolizing their return home from Afghanistan.
• Suicide attack kills three Pakistani paramilitary soldiers IRNA 08 Nov 2012 -- A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the headquarters of the paramilitary forces in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, killing three security officials.
• Suicide Truck Bomb Kills Two Pakistani Rangers RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- A suicide truck bomber has attacked Pakistani paramilitary security forces in a suburb of Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi.
• Pakistani Family Appeals To Save 6-Year-Old Girl From Marriage Order RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- In the remote, mountainous areas of Pakistan's northwest, local feuds are commonly resolved in customary fashion rather than through common law.
• Update on the DoD and National Guard Response to Hurricane Sandy DoD 08 Nov 2012
• Top AF engineers help clear flood waters AFNS 08 Nov 2012 -- A team of nearly 50 Air Force civil engineers from duty locations across the country pulled together to form the 331st Air Expeditionary Group this week.
• Marines help with hurricane relief by pumping water from apartments USMC News 08 Nov 2012 -- Marines arrived in New York recently with high-powered pumps, engineering equipment and various other military-grade resources to assist locals who lost their homes due to Hurricane Sandy.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russia Expects Missile Shield ‘Flexibility’ from Reelected Obama RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Russia hopes that US President Barack Obama will demonstrate a greater willingness to compromise on NATO plans for a missile shield in Europe during his second term of office.
• KCNA on U.S.-S. Korea Nexus in Missile Field KCNA 08 Nov 2012 -- The U.S. and south Korea are tightening the military nexus to round off the missile attack and interceptor system.
• Panetta Aims to Fortify Alliances on Asia-Pacific Tour AFPS 08 Nov 2012 -- To strengthen alliances with partners in the Asia-Pacific region, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will prepare for a three-country trip across two continents, Press Secretary George Little said in a briefing today.
• Locklear, Regional Military Leaders Seek Closer Cooperation AFPS 08 Nov 2012 -- Renewed logistics cooperation agreements between the U.S. and the New Zealand and Philippine militaries were among the takeaways from the 15th Pacific Commanders Chiefs of Defense Conference.
• Marines arrive at Camp Fuji USMC News 08 Nov 2012 -- Marines and sailors with Mike Battery and a headquarters element with 12th Marine Regiment deployed to Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji Nov. 6 to conduct Artillery Relocation Training Program 12-3.
• Host communities, US sign evacuation plan USMC News 08 Nov 2012 -- Ginowan City Mayor Atsushi Sakima, Chatan Town Mayor Masaharu Noguni and Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri signed the Local Implementation Agreement in front of building 1 at Camp Foster Nov. 5.
• Reserve trainers 'making ready' for Far East opportunities Army News 08 Nov 2012 -- After years of preparing troops for military scenarios in Europe and the Middle East, a specialized Army Reserve unit is extending its training operations to the other side of the world - the Far East.
• Beyond Protection: ARL expertise in terminal effects Army News 08 Nov 2012 -- New ballistic research areas are filling a critical gap in troop pelvic protection systems, said U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) engineers.
• Army researchers link ground robots wirelessly Army News 08 Nov 2012 -- Four U.S. Army Research Laboratory researchers have developed an algorithm that will make it easier for the Department of Defense to maintain wirelessly networked Army PackBots and other military assets using radio communications.
• New policing model has Corps' attention USMC News 08 Nov 2012 -- Military police here have recently begun a new approach to enforcing the law, and the Marine Corps has taken note.
• USS Boise Returns from Deployment NNS 08 Nov 2012 -- The submarine USS Boise returned to Naval Station Norfolk from a regularly scheduled deployment Nov. 8.
• Eight Navies Complete East African Exercise Cutlass Express 2012 NNS 08 Nov 2012 -- Sailors and maritime professionals from eight nations wrapped up Exercise Cutlass Express 2012-2 after a week of multinational maritime events.
• 'Fighting Tigers' Prepare for Winter Season in Northern Japan NNS 08 Nov 2012 -- With winter weather right around the corner in northern Japan, the "Fighting Tigers" of Patrol Squadron 8 conducted de-icing training Oct. 31.
• Cybersecurity Involves Federal, Industry Partners, Allies AFPS 08 Nov 2012 -- The $110 billion-a-year cyber economy has never been more vulnerable to crime and other threats, and securing the Internet against attacks demands the expertise of government agencies, industry and allies.
• USS CARR Assists Panamanian Vessel in Distress NNS 08 Nov 2012 -- The USS Carr assisted a Panamanian fishing vessel in distress while operating in the Eastern Pacific Nov. 7.
• Southwest Regional Maintenance Center CO relieved NNS 08 Nov 2012 -- The commanding officer of Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, Capt. Michael Wiegand, was relieved of command by Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center, due to loss of confidence in his ability to command Nov. 8.
• Military leave carryover extension expires Oct. 1 AFNS 08 Nov 2012 -- Unless approved for special leave accrual, active-duty and Active Guard Reserve members who have more than 60 days of leave must use it or lose it by Oct. 1, 2013.
• Chemical Weapons ‘Indestructible’ Russia Warns RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Chemical weapons cannot be completely thrown out of the stockpiles of the world’s leading powers even though they are banned.
• Consultation launched on the future of Britain's Reserve Forces UK MOD 08 Nov 2012 -- Measures to overhaul Britain's Reserve Forces to create a fully integrated Armed Forces were unveiled today as part of a wide-ranging consultation published by the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
• MOD scientists use flower power to detect toxic substances UK MOD 08 Nov 2012 -- New research by the MOD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has found that plants could be used to detect nerve agents.
• Chief Of Georgian Military Staff Charged With Abuse Of Office RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Georgia's armed forces chief of staff Giorgi Kalandadze has been officially charged with abuse of office.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, November 8, 2012 US Dept. of State 08 Nov 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 08, 2012
• Aeroflot May Convert Superjets into Business Jets RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot may convert the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional airliners it has received into business jets.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 08 November 2012 United Nations 08 Nov 2012
• US: Stronger Syrian Opposition Could Weaken Foreign Support for Assad VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Syrian opposition leaders opened talks in Qatar aimed at creating a broader, more unified council of rebels and politicians fighting embattled president Bashar al-Assad.
• Syrian President Assad Says He Won't Leave Country RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he has no intention of stepping down from power and leaving the country.
• Assad Vows to Remain in Syria VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he will not leave his country, and warned against foreign military intervention in Syria.
• Defiant Assad Refuses to Leave - Russian Arab TV RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will not leave his country and seek refuge elsewhere.
• Turkey Inspects Armenian Plane En Route To Syria RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- An Armenian plane flying to Syria landed in eastern Turkey on November 8 so that its cargo could be inspected to make sure it was not carrying military equipment.
• Moscow Sees Shift in Western Stance on Syria Opposition RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Russia believes the West is reviewing its approach toward the Syrian opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• Stray Syrian Mortar Rounds Fall in Golan Heights RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Stray mortar rounds fell in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights but caused little damage, an Israeli Army source told RIA Novosti.
• Political, Military Insecurity Deepen Mali Humanitarian Crisis VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), says the political and military insecurity in Mali is deepening the country's humanitarian crisis.
• Suspected French Jihadist Arrested in Mali VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Authorities in Mali have arrested a suspected French radical Muslim.
• Cross-strait peace pact not priority: President CNA 08 Nov 2012 -- President Ma Ying-jeou said that a cross-Taiwan Strait peace pact would not be a priority in his second term.
• Military confidence building measures with China must wait: official CNA 08 Nov 2012 -- The time is not yet ripe for establishing military confidence building measures between Taiwan and China, a Taiwanese defense official said.
• Thousands Mourn Church Bomb Victims in Nigeria VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Thousands of Christians from across Nigeria attended a funeral Thursday for the victims of a church bombing two weeks ago that killed 10 and injured 100 people.
• Car Bombs Kill Four In Iraq RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Iraqi police say three car bombs have killed four people and injured 16.
• Addressing General Assembly, UN official calls for ‘just solution’ to plight of Palestinian refugees UN News Centre 08 Nov 2012 -- A senior United Nations official called for a “just solution” to the plight of the five million Palestine refugees.
• OPT: Tunnel closures exacerbate Gaza housing crisis IRIN 08 Nov 2012 -- Ayman Subhi, like the other 1.6 million residents of the Gaza Strip, is often a victim of international developments beyond his control.
• EU Holds 'Frank' Discussions With Kosovo, Serbia RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says she has held “open and frank discussions” with Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

News Reports

• Xi Jinping Slated to Assume Top Position in Chinese Government VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is widely expected to be chosen as China's next top leader.
• Chinese President Opens Congress By Urging Curb On Corruption RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has opened a Communist Party congress by urging members to fight harder against corruption.
• China's Hu Issues Warning About Corruption VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- China’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition began Thursday, with a warning from the country’s outgoing leader.
• New Generation Of Leaders To Take Over At China's Party Congress RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Major changes to China's leadership are expected when the ruling Communist Party holds its 18th National Congress in Beijing beginning on November 8.
• Bo Xilai's Successor Says He Doesn't Know Timing of Trial VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- The leader of the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing says he is not sure when his predecessor, disgraced senior politician Bo Xilai, will stand trial.
• Beijing Party Congress Kicks Off Amid Scandal RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- The Chinese Communist Party congress that opened in Beijing will deliver some widely anticipated leadership changes, but it also comes as the country’s elite is under increased scrutiny over corruption.
• More Tibetans Self-Immolate As China's Party Congress Opens VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Two more Tibetans have set themselves afire to protest Chinese policies in Tibet, raising the total of self-immolation protests to six in the past two days.
• News Analysis: Will Clinton Resign And Who Might Come Next? RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary has long maintained that one term as the U.S. chief diplomat is enough.
• OSCE Press Conference Turns Fiesty As Russia Criticizes U.S. Election Observation RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Things turned feisty at a Washington press conference held by the OSCE when a representative of the Russian Embassy challenged the body's assessment of the U.S. presidential election as free and fair.
• OSCE Calls U.S. Vote Professional But Cites Shortcomings RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says the November 6 U.S. elections took place in a “highly competitive and pluralistic environment and were administered in a professional manner.”
• International Election Observers Highlight US Voting Problems RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- International monitors observing the election said that the US electoral process “enjoys broad public confidence” but that “real concerns” remain concerning voters’ rights and the transparency of campaign financing.
• Obama Win Stirs Israeli Worries Over PM's Romney Support VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- The re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama has focused attention on his sometimes tense personal relations with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made no secret of his leanings toward the president's challenger.
• Designations of Iranian Individuals and Entities for Censorship Activities Under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act and Executive Order 13628 US Dept. of State 08 Nov 2012
• United States Blacklists Iranian Officials, Entities Blamed For Censorship RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- The U.S. State Department has imposed sanctions against four Iranian officials and five government bodies that Washington accuses of involvement in censorship activities.
• Ahmadinejad: Iran's nuclear dispute should be resolved by direct Tehran-Washington talks IRNA 08 Nov 2012 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran's nuclear program has been politicized and the dispute should be resolved by direct talks between Iran and the United States.
• Report: Iran's Government Freezes Import Of 'Luxury Goods' RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- Iranian state-run media say that Tehran is freezing the import of more than 2,000 products considered "luxury goods" to tackle a shortage of foreign currency due to Western sanctions.
• S. Korean Presidential Frontrunner Willing to Meet North's Leader VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- South Korea holds a hotly-contested election December 19 to choose a successor to President Lee Myung-bak.
• Libya’s transition has progressed but challenges remain UN News Centre 08 Nov 2012 -- Libya has moved forward in its political transformation since its liberation one year ago but still faces many challenges.
• President Obama to Make Historic Burma Visit VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- President Barack Obama is set to visit Burma this month, as part of a four-day trip to Southeast Asia.
• Report: Obama Will Visit Burma RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- A Burmese official says U.S. President Barack Obama plans to visit Burma later this month.
• UN rights chief to Southeast Asian leaders: make your landmark human rights declaration more inclusive UN News Centre 08 Nov 2012 -- The top United Nations human rights official called leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to review their efforts to produce the region’s first ever human rights declaration.
• Heads of State Gather in Bali to Discuss Global Democracy VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Heads of state from Afghanistan to Australia gathered on the resort island of Bali for the opening of the fifth Bali Democracy Forum.
• Civil Societies in Zimbabwe Fear Pre-Election Crackdown VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- Civil society coalitions in Zimbabwe have raised concerns over the spate of recent police arrests targeting dissenting voices.
• Activists Fear Diamonds Will Fund Mugabe Power Grab VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- A lack of transparency in the sale of diamonds remains a major problem in Zimbabwe and activists fear diamond revenues may be used to fund the campaign of President Robert Mugabe's party in an election due to take place early next year.
• Kyrgyz Party Shows Its Colors, And They Look Russian RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- For years, Kyrgyzstan's Ar-Namys (Dignity) party opted for a simple white-on-blue pattern for its banners and flags.
• US Lawmakers May Scrap Jackson-Vanik by Yearend – McFaul RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- The Cold-War era Jackson-Vanik Amendment could be abolished by January 2013 as more and more US politicians realize the importance of this step, US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said.
• Ukraine’s Ruling Party Wins 30 Percent in Parliamentary Elections RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Ukraine’s ruling Party of Regions has gained 30 percent of the vote in the October 28 parliamentary elections.
• Egyptian-Born Copt Sentenced to Prison on Bank-Fraud Charges VOA 08 Nov 2012 -- The California man linked to the anti-Muslim film that sparked widespread anti-U.S. protests has been sent back to jail for violating the terms of his probation from a previous offense.
• Man Behind Anti-Islam Film Jailed For A Year RFE/RL 08 Nov 2012 -- The man behind the making of the anti-Islam movie “Innocence of Muslims” has been sent to jail for one year in California.
• Anti-Muslim Filmmaker Sentenced to Prison RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- A California man whose anti-Muslim film outraged many and led to violent anti-American protests in the Middle East has been sentenced to a year in prison for probation violations in an unrelated case.