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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 30 Nov 2012 [PDF]
• DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation DoD 30 Nov 2012 -- The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.
• Combined Force Arrests 2 Haqqani Insurgents AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader and a Haqqani facilitator in Afghanistan's Logar province today, military officials reported.
• District officials, PRT members discuss improvements in Musa Qal'ah USMC News 30 Nov 2012 -- Members of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team met with local Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials and local village elders in an effort to assess governance, security and stability in Musa Qal'ah, Afghanistan, Nov. 29.
• Building on past traditions, legacy: Marines push forward in Afghanistan USMC News 30 Nov 2012 -- The phrase 'The Few, The Proud' has been associated with Marines for years, but for one infantry company the words have a deeper meaning.
• UN agency begins distributing winter aid in Afghanistan as temperatures begin to drop UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency has begun distributing winter aid to some 40,000 families which are at risk in the cold weather in remote areas of Afghanistan, as well as the capital, Kabul.
• 101st Airborne Division Headquarters and 4th Brigade to deploy to Afghanistan Army News 30 Nov 2012 -- The Department of Defense officially announced that the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) headquarters and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), both from Fort Campbell, Ky. will deploy to Afghanistan in late winter for our next rendezvous with destiny.
• Afghan FM Presses Pakistan to Free More Taliban Detainees VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Afghanistan's foreign minister has pressed Pakistan to free more Taliban detainees to help coax the insurgent group into peace talks aimed at ending the fighting in Afghanistan.
• 4TH Fleet Frigate Off-Loads $114 Million in Drugs NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided- missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) and embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) offloaded 1.5 tons of cocaine and almost two tons of marijuana worth an estimated street value of $114.1 million at Naval Station Mayport Nov. 30

Defense Policy / Programs

• Johnson Gives Legal Background for War Against al-Qaida AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- The United States remains in an armed conflict with al-Qaida, but it is important that the fight against the terrorist group is done in a lawful manner that does not compromise American values, Jeh C. Johnson told the Oxford Union in England today.
• DOD, Lockheed Martin Agree to More F-35s AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- DOD and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement in principle to manufacture 32 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter jets, Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little said today.
• F-35C Lightning II Hits Weapons Testing Milestone: CF-2 Completes Initial Pit Drop Testing NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- The F-35 integrated test force aboard Naval Air Station Patuxent River completed a weapons ejection milestone for the Lightning II carrier variant on Nov. 28.
• Air Force Offers Cultural Guides for Overseas-deployed Troops AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Air Force Culture and Language Center here released its Philippines Expeditionary Culture Field Guide today.
• Carrier Air Wing-11 Conducts Change of Command NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Sailors of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 welcomed a new commanding officer in a change of command ceremony held at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Nov. 27.
• M2A1 Machine Gun features greater safety, heightened lethality Army News 30 Nov 2012 -- The Army recently announced that the M2A1 .50 Caliber Machine Gun was among its top 10 'Army Greatest Inventions' for the 2011 calendar year.
• Army's Stryker Double V-Hull is a resounding success Army News 30 Nov 2012 -- Over 18 months ago the Army's Stryker combat vehicle underwent a game changing transformation when the Service took lessons learned from theater and incorporated an improved hull design to protect Soldiers from improvised explosive devices and roadside mines.
• Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, U.S. Pacific Fleet Change of Command NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- Cmdr. Jonathan B. Baron relieved Cmdr. Robert R. Kenyon as Commanding Officer, Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HSMWSP) in a ceremony held Nov 29. at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island.
• NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Awards $75.7 million Performance Based Logistics Contract NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (WSS) recently awarded a 5-year follow-on Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract, November 28, 2012 to Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems based out of Sudbury, MA.
• Navy Suspends Enlisted Early Transition Program NNS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Navy announced plans to suspend the Enlisted Early Transition Program (EETP) as leaders focus on maintaining current force levels, officials said Nov. 30.
• AF competes in second 'Cyber Flag' AFNS 30 Nov 2012 -- 24th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force's cyber component to U.S. Cyber Command, took part in the Cyber Flag 13-1 training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Oct. 29-Nov. 8.
• South Carolina Info Intrusions Traced to Overseas Hacker AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said an international hacker is responsible for illegally obtaining 4 million social security numbers from electronically filed state tax returns dating back to 1998.
• Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee brings strategic issues to SecAF AFNS 30 Nov 2012 -- Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, permanent-change-of-station lodging inconsistencies and TRICARE inequities within the Reserve Component were some of the issues addressed by the Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee during their meeting in the National Capital Region Nov. 5-7.
• SecAF declares 'Modernization can't wait' AFNS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Air Force's senior civilian addressed the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference here Nov. 29.
• Carter Outlines U.S. Security Strategy in Tight-budget Era AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- In a speech at Duke University here yesterday, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter outlined new security strategies and challenges that he said will define the nation's future in a post-war era of fiscal constraint.
• Oregon National Guard, Vietnam Sign Partnership Pact AFPS 30 Nov 2012 -- The Oregon National Guard signed a pact with Vietnam as part of the State Partnership Program during a Nov. 27 ceremony in Hanoi.
• MARSOC stands up new battalions USMC News 30 Nov 2012 -- U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command recently stood up two new battalions as part of a reorganization effort designed to accommodate its influx of combat support and combat service support personnel.
• SOTF-West returns from deployment USMC News 30 Nov 2012 -- Marines with the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command returned recently from a demanding nine-month deployment, where as the Special Operations Task Force – West, they commanded three companies of U.S. Special Operations Forces and oversaw one of Afghanistan's bloodiest regions.
• Russia's Envoy Warns Against NATO Missiles in Turkey RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- Planned deployment of Patriot air defense systems on the Turkish-Syrian border will mean NATO is involved in the Syrian conflict, Russia's NATO envoy said on Friday.
• Severodvinsk Sub Acceptance Delayed Says Ministry RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The Russian Navy will not receive its first Yasen-class submarine, the Severodvinsk, until next year, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Friday.
• New Kalashnikov Initial Testing 'Complete' RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The latest version of Russia's world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifle, the AK-12, has completed a set of preliminary tests, the weapons-making agency responsible for trials of the new gun said on Friday.
• Press Gaggle By Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Philadelphia, PA, 11/30/2012 The White House 30 Nov 2012
• November 30, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Nov 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 30, 2012

Other Conflicts

• 30 November 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Nov 2012
• UN peacekeeping chief welcomes growing links with European Union in crisis management UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations peacekeeping chief today highlighted the growing level of cooperation between the UN and the European Union in tackling problems springing from many of the world's hotspots.
• Israel Reveals Plans to Expand Settlements After UN Vote VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Israel has revealed plans to build 3,000 new homes for its settlers in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, following the Palestinian Authority's successful United Nations recognition bid.
• UN Upgrades Palestinian Status RFE/RL 30 Nov 2012 -- The Palestinians have had their status upgraded at the United Nations to "non-member state."
• UN Upgrades Palestinian Status to Non-Member Observer State RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The UN General Assembly recognized on Thursday the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a non-member observer state.
• Israel Slams UN Palestinian Vote RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- None of the Palestinian actions on the international arena could present an alternative to direct peace talks with Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.
• Israel to Build 3,000 Homes beyond 1967 Border RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The Israeli authorities have approved the construction of 3,000 housing units beyond the 1967 borders on Friday, less than a day after the UN recognized the Palestinian authority as a non-member state, the Ynet news portal said.
• Palestinians, Israelis Divided Over UN Decision VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip celebrated into the early hours Friday morning after the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the Palestinian Authority's bid to upgrade its status to that of a non-member observer state
• UN envoy commends Lebanon's stability and assistance to refugees amid crisis in Syria UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- A United Nations envoy has lauded Lebanon for its commitment to stability and security, as well as for its assistance to Syrian refugees, adding that increased support for them would be needed for the onset of winter.
• UN Chief 'Horrified' By Syria Violence RFE/RL 30 Nov 2012 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says that the 20-month conflict in Syria has reached "new and appalling heights of brutality and violence."
• At General Assembly, Ban and UN-Arab League envoy call for greater efforts to resolve crisis in Syria UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- Announcing his plans to visit displaced Syrians in refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged greater efforts to help bring an end to the conflict in the Middle Eastern country as well as greater support for the envoy tasked with that mission.
• UN refugee agency warns of acute humanitarian needs in Syrian city of Homs UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- Thousands of people in the Syrian city of Homs now face precarious living conditions and shortages of basic services, the United Nations refugee agency warned today, following an assessment mission there.
• UN Finds Dire Humanitarian Needs in Homs, Syria VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) reports tens of thousands of displaced people in the embattled Syrian city of Homs are living in unheated communal shelters. The agency recently completed a two-day assessment mission to Homs and found the humanitarian needs in the city to be overwhelming.
• UN Envoy Warns Syria Could Become 'Failed State' VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- U.N.-Arab League Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi warned Friday that if a negotiated political settlement is not found for Syria, it could become a 'failed state' with all the repercussions that entails.
• M23 Rebels Withdraws From Eastern DRC Town VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- The M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo appear to be withdrawing from territory they seized last week around the city of Goma. The rebels say they are pulling back to make way for political negotiations in accordance with a deal struck with the Congolese government.
• Goma Airport Still Closed VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Aid agencies are calling for a key airport in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo to be reopened as soon as possible. The airport at Goma was shut down by fighting two weeks ago but a United Nations official suggests it could now be reopened if the security arrangements are kept simple.
• DRC: Humanitarian Barbara Shenstone on the cost of the Goma crisis IRIN 30 Nov 2012 -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) estimates that 140,000 people have been forced to flee battles taking place in and around the eastern city of Goma since November 15.
• Britain Withholds Aid to Rwanda VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Britain said Friday it will withhold around $30 million of aid to Rwanda because of concerns that the country is supporting rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• China needs to exercise self-restraint: minister CNA 30 Nov 2012 -- The South China Sea is the Republic of China's inherent territorial waters and the country's ships and fishermen will continue to navigate and operate in the region, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin said Friday.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Government returns to the north IRIN 30 Nov 2012 -- After almost a decade of rebel rule, northern Côte d'Ivoire is coming to terms with a new authority as the government of President Alassane Ouattara, who assumed power some 18 months ago, establishes its presence in a region which effectively split from the rest of the country.

News Reports

• UN human rights chief calls on Egypt's president to roll back powers of recent decree UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- The top United Nations human rights official today called on Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to reconsider a Constitutional Declaration he issued last week, saying parts of the measure conflict with international human rights law.
• Egypt Finalizes New Draft Constitution RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- Egypt's Islamist-led constitutional commission voted to approve the country's draft constitution on Friday following an almost 19-hour long debate on the nation's new political framework.
• Egyptians Protest After Panel Backs Constitution VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- Egyptians protested in Cairo's Tahrir Square Friday for an eighth straight day of demonstrations against President Mohamed Morsi, as an Islamist-dominated panel approved Egypt's new draft constitution that must now be voted on in a nationwide referendum.
• Iran Says Attack Cannot Stop Uranium Enrichment RFE/RL 30 Nov 2012 -- Iran says a military attack will not stop it from enriching uranium.
• Iranian IAEA envoy responds to 50 crucial nuclear questions IRNA 30 Nov 2012 -- Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh in a rare move responded to a total of 50 questions surrounding Iran's nuclear program.
• Over 3.5 million people in drought-hit areas of Africa to receive food relief from UN UN News Centre 30 Nov 2012 -- The United Nations food relief agency today announced it is scaling up its efforts to assist more than 3.5 million people in drought-hit areas of southern Africa, particularly in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, who are now facing the start of the hunger season.
• Rumblings In The Republics: New Russian Nationalities Policy Sparks Outcry RFE/RL 30 Nov 2012 -- it seems to have been prepared very quickly, although when they are explaining the policies toward Russians, it becomes very accurate,' Mukhametdinov says.
• Astronauts Criticize US Space Program VOA 30 Nov 2012 -- NASA Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt explored the surface of the moon during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, the last time anyone has left earth's orbit or set foot on the moon. During a 40th anniversary celebration of Apollo 17 in Chicago, the astronauts said they had expected their mission would start a path toward space travel, not become a history lesson.