Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 20 Nov 2012 [PDF]
• Combined Force Arrests Taliban Weapons Facilitator AFPS 20 Nov 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons facilitator in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• France Ends Combat Mission in Afghanistan VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- France has ended its combat mission in Afghanistan, pulling its last troops from a province northeast of the capital, Kabul.
• French Troops End Afghan Combat Mission RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- France ended its last combat mission in Afghanistan on November 20, withdrawing some 400 troops from Kapisa, a strategic province northeast of Kabul.
• Pakistani Military Chief Talks About Peace Process With Afghan Leader RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani military chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani have met in Kabul to discuss the Afghan peace process.
• Opium cultivation rises in Afghanistan UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- Despite significant eradication efforts, high opium prices led to an increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan this year.
• Opium Cultivation Rises in Afghanistan VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- A report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said the amount of Afghan farmland planted with opium poppies has increased by nearly 20 percent this year.
• UN Says Opium Poppy Growth Sends 'Alarm Signal' RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations says the increase in this year's opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan sends a "serious alarm signal."
• 8th EAMS Airmen save aircraft from enemy mortars AFNS 20 Nov 2012 -- A seven-man mission recovery team assigned to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron forward deployed to a remote forward operating base in Afghanistan to repair and recover a downed C-17 Globemaster III.
• Kabul Executes Eight Death Row Prisoners RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- In a rare use of the death penalty, Afghanistan has executed eight prisoners on death row.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Lavrov: US To Seek Compromise Agreements With Russia On Security, Economy VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton has indicated that the United States will search for compromise agreements on security and business with Russia.
• Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the Center for a New American Security, Washington, D.C. DoD 20 Nov 2012
• Panetta Details Steps Needed to End al-Qaida Threat AFPS 20 Nov 2012 -- For the United States and its allies ending the al-Qaida threat calls for a modified military footprint, close work with partners and continued U.S. involvement in regions of the world where violent extremism has flourished.
• Readout of Secretary Panetta's Meeting with Czech Minister of Defense Alexandr Vondra DoD 20 Nov 2012
• USS George Washington Returns to Yokosuka after 2012 Patrol NNS 20 Nov 2012 -- The U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier returned from the second half of its 2012 patrol to its homeport of Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan Nov. 20.
• F-35 begins integration phase of weapons testing AFNS 20 Nov 2012 -- F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing aircraft successfully completed the first in-flight test with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.
• Tyndall resumes F-22 flying operations AFNS 20 Nov 2012 -- The 325th Fighter Wing resumed normal flight operations as the Wing Commander, Col. David Graff, flew one of the first F-22 Raptor missions Nov. 19 approximately 7:45 a.m.
• Navy's Newest Amphibious Ship to Arrive at Future Homeport NNS 20 Nov 2012 -- The amphibious transport dock Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Anchorage (LPD 23) is scheduled to arrive at her new homeport of San Diego Nov. 21.
• Airman awarded $6K through IDEA program AFNS 20 Nov 2012 -- A $6,275 check was presented to Staff Sgt. Jared Weddle for a submission to the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program that net the Air Force an annual savings of $40,500.
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy Visits Military's Biodiesel-Fueled Steam Plant NNS 20 Nov 2012 -- Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy) Tom Hicks toured a steam plant at St. Julien's Creek Annex in Portsmouth.
• Transcom Strives to Protect Networks Against Cyberthreats AFPS 20 Nov 2012 -- The new Joint Cyber Center here at U.S. Transportation Command is helping protect against persistent cyberattacks while ensuring secure, uninterrupted access to the networks that underpin the command’s global mission.
• Staff College Offers New Joint Course in Tampa AFPS 20 Nov 2012 -- Officers and civilians will soon have an additional avenue to pursue professional education, thanks to a non-resident satellite Phase II Joint Professional Military Education course that will launch in January in Tampa, Fla.
• Rogozin Warns of New Defense Corruption Purge RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin warned of a new clean-out of corruption and crooked officials in the country's arms industry.
• Officers Charged in Military Food Scam RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Investigators have opened a criminal case against two officers in Russia’s far east who allegedly overstated the value of their soldiers’ food rations by more than $200,000 in order to embezzle funds.
• British and Albanian navies work together in the Adriatic UK MOD 20 Nov 2012 -- A major two-week exercise involving British and Albanian naval forces in the western Balkans ended with Albania's President, His Excellency Mr Bujar Nishani, visiting HMS Illustrious.
• HMS Dragon prepares for civil emergency UK MOD 20 Nov 2012 -- The crew of the latest of the Royal Navy's most advanced warships, HMS Dragon, have been rehearsing how to help in a civilian emergency.
• Moharram maneuver aims at fostering Iran's combat readiness IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- A military commander announced that defending the country and fostering the all-out readiness of the military forces are main objectives of conducting Moharram maneuver in the western province of Ilam.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, 11/20/2012 The White House 20 Nov 2012
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, November 20, 2012 US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 20, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 20 November 2012 United Nations 20 Nov 2012
• Secretary Clinton Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2012
• IDF Operation Pillar of Defense - Tuesday, November 20 Updates Israel Defense Forces 20 Nov 2012
• Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Shield VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Israel's Iron Dome missile shield appears to be passing its first major test, stopping hundreds of Gaza rockets from hitting Israeli communities in recent days.
• Clinton in Middle East for Talks on Ending Gaza-Israel Violence VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the Middle East for talks aimed at ending the violence between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza.
• Clinton, Netanyahu Meet in Jerusalem VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he prefers diplomacy to halt cross-border aerial strikes between his country and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
• Israel Denies Hamas Report of Truce VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Israel and Palestinians officials issued conflicting statements over whether a Gaza cease-fire deal has been reached.
• Israel, Hamas Reportedly Agree to Ceasefire RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Israel will stop its military operation in the Gaza Strip after the Palestinian group Hamas stops its attacks on Israeli targets, a spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told RIA Novosti.
• UN Secretary-General says a further escalation of violence in Gaza ‘benefits no one’ UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban called on Israel to exercise “maximum restraint” in its operation focused on Gaza, saying in Jerusalem that the loss of civilian lives was “unacceptable under any circumstances.”
• UN Secretary-General calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire by all sides UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban called for an immediate ceasefire by “all sides” involved in the violence in Gaza.
• UN's Ban Calls For Immediate Gaza Truce RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza to end a week of deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence.
• Russia Submits Draft Gaza Resolution to UN Security Council RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Russia has submitted to the UN Security Council for consideration a draft resolution aimed at helping international efforts to settle the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
• Raising humanitarian concerns, UN official stresses need to avoid worsening of Gaza crisis UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- The head of the United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees stressed the need to avoid any further escalation of the latest violence between Gaza and Israel.
• Gaza Ceasefire Efforts Step Up as Death Toll Mounts RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Israel carried out some 100 airstrikes on Gaza overnight as the bombardment of the Palestinian enclave entered its seventh day amid frantic negotiations to stem a rapidly rising body count.
• Gaza Conflict Test for Egypt’s Morsi RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- As the shelling of Gaza continues and the civilian death toll rises, Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi may face increasing pressure at home to take firm action against Israel.
• Nasrallah: Iran, Syria and Hezbollah never to leave Gaza alone IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- Hezbollah Chief Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said Iran, Syria and Hezbollah would never leave Gaza alone.
• UN Chief Worried About Syria Becoming 'Regional Battleground' RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- UN Secretary-General Ban has said he fears the 20-month-old conflict in Syria could turn the country into a regional combat zone.
• Syrian Rebels Claim Army Base Near Damascus RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Rebels in Syria are claiming to have taken control of an army base on the outskirts of Damascus.
• Tripartite meeting on Syria to be held in Pakistan IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that foreign ministers of Iran, Egypt and Turkey will discuss Syrian crisis in a meeting to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Conference on Syria calls for ceasefire, democratic process to form national reconciliation government IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- Representatives of Syrian parties taking part in Conference on Syria National Dialogue called for ceasing violence and go ahead with democratic process.
• No Russia-US Agreement on Syria - FM Lavrov RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Russia and the United States have not agreed on a mutual position over the situation in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• On visit to northern Lebanon, UN official praises efforts to assist Syrian refugees UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- A senior United Nations official praised efforts made by the Lebanese Government to help Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their country.
• China Might be Moving Closer to ASEAN on South China Sea VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- China's new leaders may be moving closer to resolving disputes over the South China Sea through a regional alliance rather than through separate negotiations with each of its territorial rivals.
• South China Sea Dispute Remains Problem for ASEAN VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations emerged from a key leader summit with progress on potential trade alliances and the economy.
• Islamists Take Mali Town From Separatists VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Islamist militants in Mali have seized the town of Menaka, the last significant stronghold of rival Tuareg separatists.
• Security Situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2012
• US Calls for Congo, Rwanda, Uganda Talks on Kivu Rebels VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- The United States says the presidents of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo should meet to end a Congolese rebellion that took control of a key provincial capital along the border with Rwanda.
• DRC Rebels Seize Key Eastern City VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have seized control of Goma, a key provincial capital on the border with Rwanda.
• Thousands Flee Latest Congo Fighting VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Much attention is again focused on the eastern DRC due to fighting between government forces and M23 rebels.
• M23 rebel fighters enter the city of Goma in eastern DR Congo – UN spokesperson UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- Rebel fighters with the 23 March Movement have entered the city of Goma, a provincial capital in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• M23 Rebels Enter Eastern Congo City VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- The rebel group M23 has entered the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, continuing their advance against government and United Nations troops.
• DR Congo: UN concerns grow over rights violations and delivery of humanitarian aid UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- United Nations senior official expressed concern over reported human rights violations against civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• China-Taiwan ties to stay peaceful under Xi: China official CNA 20 Nov 2012 -- China will continue pursuing the peaceful and stable development of its relations with Taiwan under the new leadership unveiled at the end of the Communist Party of China's week-long congress last week.
• Iran rules out Saudi Arabia claim on violating its territorial waters IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- Iran ruled out Saudi government's claim on violating territorial waters.
• Alleged Terrorist Leader Killed In Daghestan RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Interior Ministry officials in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Daghestan say a long-wanted militant leader has been killed.
• Top Kosovar Court Orders War Crimes Retrial RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Kosovo's Supreme Court has ordered a war crimes retrial for Fatmir Limaj, a former Kosovar government minister and prominent politician.
• Ban welcomes progress made on territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban salutes the progress made by Belize and Guatemala to resolve their longstanding territorial dispute, according to his spokesperson.

News Reports

• Remarks by President Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 20 Nov 2012
• Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Noda of Japan Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 20 Nov 2012
• Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting The White House 20 Nov 2012
• Fact Sheet: East Asia Summit Outcomes The White House 20 Nov 2012
• FACT SHEET On The U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership For A Sustainable Energy The White House 20 Nov 2012
• ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2012
• Obama, Wen Hail U.S.-China Relationship RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has held one-on-one talks with China's outgoing premier, Wen Jiabao.
• Obama Meets Chinese, Japanese Leaders at East Asia Summit VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- On the final day of his Southeast Asia trip, President Barack Obama met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
• Asian Leaders Discuss Vast Free Trade Region VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Asian leaders say they will launch negotiations into what could become a massive free trade area.
• Independent UN expert calls on Myanmar to carry out latest human rights pledges UN News Centre 20 Nov 2012 -- Independent United Nations expert called on authorities in Myanmar to work with all stakeholders to ensure that they are promptly carried out.
• China asks IAEA, G5+1 to enhance cooperation with Iran IRNA 20 Nov 2012 -- China once again urged IAEA, 5 permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany to enhance dialogue and cooperation with Iran to resolve Iran's nuclear issue.
• Iranian National and His Company Charged in Plot Involving Export of Military Antennas from the United States US Dept. of Justice 20 Nov 2012
• Concern Growing Over Health Of Iran's Detained Opposition Leaders RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Concern is growing over the health of Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi.
• Kim Jong Un Visits Ministry of State Security KCNA 20 Nov 2012 -- Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Ministry of State Security to congratulate security personnel greeting the founding anniversary of the security institution.
• Press Background Call on the One-Year Anniversary of the Release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2012
• Critics of Jordan's King Bemoan Missed Opportunities VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- In recent days, some Jordanians have broken a long-held taboo - chanting attacks on King Abdullah himself.
• Pakistan Court Dismisses Blasphemy Case Against Christian Girl RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- A Pakistani court has ended a blasphemy case, which was condemned around the world, against a Christian girl.
• Nepal Vote Postponed Until Next Year VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Nepal's interim government has decided to postpone elections set for this week until next year, after opposition parties threatened to boycott the vote.
• Mauritanian President Prepares to Return Home VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz says he will return to his country "in a few days," following treatment in France for a gunshot wound.
• Armenian Presidential Election Slate Still Unclear RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Armenia is due to hold a presidential election in just three months, but the Central Election Commission has still not yet set the exact date.
• Russian Activists Vow To Defy NGO Law RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Leading Russian nongovernmental organizations say they will defy a new law that brands them as "foreign agents."
• NGO 'Foreign Agents' Law Comes into Force in Russia RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- A controversial new law obliging Russian non-governmental organizations financed from abroad and involved in political activity to register as “foreign agents” comes into force.
• Former Georgian Defense Minister Arrested On Return To Country RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili is now under arrest in Tbilisi after spending the last five years abroad.