Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Afghan Peace Envoy Visits Pakistan For High-Level Talks RFE/RL 12 Nov 2012 -- Peace envoy Salahuddin Rabbani, who chairs Afghanistan's so-called High Peace Council, has kicked off meetings in neighboring Pakistan after suggesting that 'common efforts' could help foster reconciliation efforts in his country.
• Hurricane Sandy Ships To Return to Norfolk, Other Navy Forces Remain on Station NNS 12 Nov 2012 -- The three amphibious ships supporting Hurricane Sandy relief efforts off the coast of New York and New Jersey will return to their homeports in Virginia, Nov. 12. Marines from the 26th MEU are also scheduled to return to Camp Lejeune, N.C. Nov. 12.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by the Secretary of Defense on General John Allen DoD 12 Nov 2012-- On Sunday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation referred to the Department of Defense a matter involving General John Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
• Media Availability with Secretary Panetta en route to Perth, Australia DoD 12 Nov 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Panetta Says He Will Stay in Washington to Meet Challenges AFPS 12 Nov 2012 -- Amid speculation that he will excuse himself from President Barack Obama's second-term national security team, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today his immediate goal is to finish the job he began in 2010.
• Marines arrive at Camp Fuji USMC News 12 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.
• Panetta's Asia-Pacific Trip Seeks to Broaden Rebalance AFPS 12 Nov 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has begun a weeklong visit to three nations in the Asia-Pacific region, his fourth official trip to area that is the focus of a rebalance of time, attention and resources for the Defense Department.
• Chairman Looks at Changes to U.S. Global Footprint AFPS 12 Nov 2012 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is ready to move on to the next step of determining the footprint of U.S. troops based overseas.
• Dempsey Confers With Crucial Pacific Allies AFPS 12 Nov 2012 -- After meeting with his Australian counterpart here today, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has met with the military leaders of America's three closest allies in the Asia-Pacific region during his current overseas trip.
• Kyrgyz-US Military in Anti-Terror Drills RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Kyrgyz and US servicemen are rehearsing joint emergency and anti-terror operations in the country's Batken region, Kyrgyzstan's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Czech Republic praised for its commitment to Smart Defence NATO 12 Nov 2012 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen praised the participation of the Czech Republic in multinational Smart Defence projects during talks in Prague today with top officials including the Czech President and Prime Minister.
• Defence spending remains essential to keep NATO fit for the future NATO 12 Nov 2012 -- Investment in defence and security remains essential despite the economic crisis, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told European and North American parliamentarians at the annual NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Prague today.
• Russia to Make Open Skies Turkey Flight RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russian military inspectors will begin a survey flight this week above Turkey under the international Open Skies Treaty, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Russia to Build New Airborne Fighting Vehicle RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russian defense firm Kurganmashzavod is developing a new airborne fighting vehicle, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.
• Increased Role in Defense, Nuclear Sectors for Private Firms – Rogozin RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russia will expand the role of private contractors in its defense sector, including in the production of strategic nuclear missiles, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.
• All-volunteer military service to go into effect as scheduled CNA 12 Nov 2012 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Monday reaffirmed the all-volunteer military service system is being implemented as scheduled, rebutting a newspaper editorial that speculates the policy might be withdrawn.
• Taiwan completes trials of long-range supersonic missile: report CNA 12 Nov 2012 -- Taiwan has recently completed trials of a long-range version of the locally developed Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) III missile, the local media reported Monday.
• Velayat-4 antiaircraft maneuver kicks off in eastern Iran IRNA 12 Nov 2012 -- Iran's Army air force started Velayate-4 antiaircraft maneuver in this eastern province Monday morning to display its power to protect the country from any possible air threats.
• Russia will 'React Sharply' to US Aegis Ships – Deputy PM RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russia will 'react in the sharpest manner' to any US ships equipped with the Aegis combat system attempting to sail by its shores, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told RIA Novosti in an interview.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• 12 November 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Nov 2012
• SECURITY: Accountability - holding armed groups to their word IRIN 12 Nov 2012 -- A new database by the Swiss-based NGO Geneva Call collating current and past armed groups' attitudes towards international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (HRL), could be used to hold them accountable.
• Analysis: Aid to Syria - winning friends and influence IRIN 12 Nov 2012 -- Syrian activists say opposition groups are manipulating humanitarian aid for political and security gains, after similar accusations were leveled against the Syrian government last week.
• Israel Confirms 'Direct Hits' in Syria RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Israel's armed forces have opened tank fire on Syria confirming direct hits after a mortar shell from Syria landed in Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday.
• Syrian Rebels to Get Unified Command RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Syrian rebel groups will establish a unified command center, to ensure that weapons provided by foreign backers do not end up in extremists' hands, a member of the oppositional Syrian National Council said on Monday.
• Israel to Respond to Shelling from Syria - Defense min. RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Israeli troops were ordered to make an 'immediate and harsh' response to any shelling from the Syrian territory, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday.
• United Syrian Opposition Seeks Recognition VOA 12 Nov 2012 -- ​​The leader of Syria's newly united opposition headed to Arab League headquarters in Cairo seeking diplomatic recognition Monday, bolstered by a hard-won unity deal among the disparate factions.
• International Red Cross Launches Syria Appeal VOA 12 Nov 2012 -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an emergency appeal for tens of thousands of Syrians who have sought refuge in neighboring Turkey and along the Syrian border. The appeal for $34 million will support the Turkish Red Crescent in providing winter assistance for up to 170,000 people.
• Ban calls for de-escalation of tensions amid new violence in Gaza and southern Israel UN News Centre 12 Nov 2012 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions amid the new wave of violence in Gaza and southern Israel, which has resulted in several Palestinian deaths, including civilians, and wounded people on both sides.
• Amidst series of meetings, UN envoy urges resolution to Western Sahara crisis UN News Centre 12 Nov 2012 -- Amid the rising threat of extremist elements in Africa's Sahel region, the dispute over Western Sahara must be resolved before lingering hostilities consume the North African country and plunge the entire region into renewed conflict, the United Nations top official on the issue warned today.
• UN to stay engaged in Timor-Leste after peacekeeping mission ends, says senior official UN News Centre 12 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations and the broader international community will remain engaged in Timor-Leste beyond December, when the world body’s peacekeeping mission withdraws from the country, a top UN official told the Security Council today.
• MYANMAR: Concern over international peace efforts IRIN 12 Nov 2012 -- Civil society groups in Asia are calling for a review of donor-funded peace initiatives in Myanmar, expressing concern that their pace is too fast, they pay little heed to the humanitarian cost of economic development, and may do more harm than good.
• ETHIOPIA-SOMALIA: The cost of being a good neighbour IRIN 12 Nov 2012 -- Ethiopians would like to continue to be good Samaritans to the hundreds of thousands seeking refuge from drought and conflict in neighbouring Somalia, but massive camps in fragile environments have sparked concern among both the government and the people sharing space with the refugees.
• Darfur: UN-African Union envoy urges combatants to accept that continued violence is a 'dead end' UN News Centre 12 Nov 2012 -- The acting head of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in western Sudan's Darfur region – known by the acronym UNAMID – today called on the Sudanese Government and regional armed movements to accept that continued fighting 'is a dead end that only harms the people of Darfur.'

News Reports

• US Congress Demands Inquiry Into Petraeus Resignation VOA 12 Nov 2012 -- Influential U.S. lawmakers are demanding more information about the FBI probe that led to last week's resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus.
• UN Sanctions Unlikely To End Haqqani Safe Haven In Pakistan RFE/RL 12 Nov 2012 -- Now that the Haqqani network has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the world's premier governing body, are its days of refuge in Pakistan over?
• Radical Cleric Abu Qatada Wins Deportation Appeal VOA 12 Nov 2012 -- Judges in Britain have upheld an appeal made by terror suspect Abu Qatada against his extradition to Jordan. Qatada is an Islamist preacher who has been described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe.
• Dempsey: U.S. Will Make 'Measured Response' to Iranian Threats AFPS 12 Nov 2012 -- The attempted shootdown of an unmanned U.S. Predator aircraft is the latest example of a pattern of disturbing behavior by Iran, and the United States will take 'a measured response,' the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
• Salehi rejects Amano's anti-Iran claims IRNA 12 Nov 2012 -- Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi on Monday rejected claims of the IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano that activities are going on in Parchin site to clean nuclear pollution effects.
• Soltanieh confirms Iran, IAEA to hold talks in December IRNA 12 Nov 2012 -- Iran's permanent envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, has confirmed that Iran and the IAEA will hold new round of talks.
• Iran will easily bypass western sanctions: Rahimi IRNA 12 Nov 2012 -- Iran would easily bypass West's sanctions, said First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi here Monday.
• Rasmussen Expresses Concerns Over Georgia Arrests RFE/RL 12 Nov 2012 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he is "extremely concerned" about political developments in Georgia since last month's parliamentary elections.
• U.S. Wins Reelection To U.N .Human Rights Council RFE/RL 12 Nov 2012 -- The United States has succeeded in its bid for re-election to the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council.
• Saudi Arabia to Launch Two Satellites RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Saudi Arabia is set to launch two indigenous satellites with a precision navigation system within the next few years, Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Muhammad said.