Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 18 Dec 2012 [PDF]
• Panetta Thanks Norwegian Minister for Support in Afghanistan AFPS 18 Dec 2012 -- In a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart yesterday, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta thanked Norway for its support in Afghanistan and its "steadfast commitment" to the NATO alliance, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
• Logistical hub for northern Helmand keeps Marines equipped USMC News 18 Dec 2012 -- Marines must remain well equipped to be ready for daily operations in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary George Little on Press Reports Related to Undersecretary Michael Vickers DoD 18 Dec 2012
• Statement from Press Secretary George Little on Army Investigation into Hiring Procedures at Child Development Centers DoD 18 Dec 2012
• Army Investigating Fort Myer Child Development Center DoD 18 Dec 2012 -- Officials from the U.S. Army announced today they have begun an investigation of personnel procedures at the Army's Child Development Centers after a review of personnel records at the Fort Myer CDC found "derogatory information" contained in the background of a number of its employees.
• Submarine USS San Francisco Departs for Six-month Deployment NNS 18 Dec 2012 -- USS San Francisco (SSN 711) deployed from Naval Base Point Loma for a scheduled six-month Western Pacific deployment Dec. 18.
• Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. DoD 18 Dec 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• New F-16 software platform to be tested by 40th, 85th AFNS 18 Dec 2012 -- Developmental testing for an F-16 operational flight program will be accomplished at the 40th Flight Test Squadron and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron here for the first time.
• Airmen decrease response time with improved expeditionary medical team AFNS 18 Dec 2012 -- More than 60 medical Airmen from Andersen Air Force Base, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined trained on the new expeditionary medical support health response team here, Dec. 10-13.
• Arc Light marked beginning of B-52 involvement in Vietnam AFNS 18 Dec 2012 -- Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the B-52's involvement in the Vietnam Conflict up to Operation Linebacker II. The 40th Anniversary of Linebacker II takes place Dec. 18-29.
• Panetta, Dempsey Mourn Hawaii Senator AFPS 18 Dec 2012 -- The Defense Department's top civilian and military officials issued statements paying tribute to U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, who died at age 88 yesterday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
• Dempsey Discusses Fiscal Tightening, Progress in Afghanistan AFPS 18 Dec 2012 -- U.S. Africa Command's ability to adapt to having fewer resources than its commander would like is an example of the thinking the entire military will need in an era of fiscal restraint, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told service members yesterday during a town hall meeting in Stuttgart, Germany.
• 'Fiscal Cliff' Threatens Defense Strategy, Panetta Says AFPS 18 Dec 2012 -- The year-old defense strategy Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta helped put in place last January faces two major risks, he said today: stress on the force, and a political system "that is depriving the department of the budget certainty we need … to plan for the future."
• 24th MEU returns from 2012 deployment USMC News 18 Dec 2012 -- Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are currently offloading from the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and returning to homecomings in and around Camp Lejeune, N.C., after a nine-month deployment.
• DDG 1000 Program Successfully Integrates Deckhouse NNS 18 Dec 2012 -- The Navy's next generation destroyer, the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), completed a major ship milestone with the successful lift and integration of the deckhouse on to the ship's hull Dec. 14.
• X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Completes First At-Sea Tests NNS 18 Dec 2012 -- The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first at-sea test phase aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Dec. 18.
• NSSA Stands Up as an Echelon Four Command NNS 18 Dec 2012 -- Norfolk Ship Support Activity (NSSA) participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 7 in formal recognition of its transition to a standalone, echelon four command.
• 'Black Scorpions' prepare for mobilization training mission Army News 18 Dec 2012 -- For Soldiers of the 2-363rd Training Support Battalion 'Black Scorpions,' 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, from Mesa, Ariz., annual training here this year marked the culminating event of months of hard work preparing for a one-year mobilization.
• ARL among experts reviewing long debated chemical rocket handling, disposal options in KY Army News 18 Dec 2012 -- An expert panel recently recommended to the Defense Department that thermal and chemical technologies may present the best disposal options of the more than 69,000 Cold War-era M55 rockets containing nerve agents currently stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
• 120th Infantry Brigade trains 311th ESC for deployment to Afghanistan Army News 18 Dec 2012 -- The 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) participated in exercise 'Unified Endeavor' during December at North Fort Hood. The exercise included both live and computer-aided virtual events, all focused on mission command training.
• Russia to Deliver Four Warplanes to Belarus in 2015 RIA Novosti 18 Dec 2012 -- Belarus and Russia have signed a contract for the delivery of four Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers/light attack aircraft to Belarus in 2015, the Russian aircraft maker said on Tuesday.
• Iran using all potentials to design kinds of drones, minister IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said Iran is using all opportunities to design various kinds of drones.
• IRGC official: Iranian-made drones more sophisticated than US Scan Eagle IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- IRGC Deputy Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami said on Tuesday that Iranian-made drones are much more sophisticated than US Scan Eagle dron which was recently captured by Iranian forces over the Persian Gulf waters.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Rejects Iranian Criticism Of Patriot Deployment RFE/RL 18 Dec 2012 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has rejected charges by senior Iranian officials over the deployment of Patriot antimissile systems in his country.
• Kyrgyzstan Okays 'Integrated' Russian Military Base RIA Novosti 18 Dec 2012 -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has signed off on a law ratifying an agreement with Russia on the presence of a joint military base in the Central Asian republic, the presidential press service said on Tuesday.
• December 18, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Dec 2012
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 12/18/2012 The White House 18 Dec 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 18, 2012

Other Conflicts

• 18 December 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Dec 2012
• Iran, Russia underlines diplomatic solution to Syrian crisis IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Iranian and Russian officials on Tuesday underlined the need for finding a diplomatic solution to Syrian crisis.
• Russia Sends Naval Ships to Mediterranean, Eyes Syria Evacuation VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Russia has sent warships to the Mediterranean after some of its senior diplomats said last week that Moscow may call for the evacuation of Russian citizens in Syria if the government in Damascus falls.
• Lebanese Take Sides in Syrian Civil War VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Syria's civil war is inflaming passions next door in Lebanon. James Brooke reports from Lebanon's second largest city, Tripoli, where supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fought running gun battles last week.
• Palestinians Seek UN Help as Israel Set for More Housing RIA Novosti 18 Dec 2012 -- The Palestinian authorities intend to turn to the UN Security Council after Israel approved a construction of 1,500 houses in East Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo district, Al Jazeera reported.
• Palestinians Angry About Israeli Settlement Expansion VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Palestinian leaders are reacting with anger to Israel's announcement that it intends to move ahead with the construction of hundreds of homes for Jews on East Jerusalem land that is claimed by the Palestinians.
• International Criminal Court acquits former Congolese rebel leader of war crimes UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) today acquitted former Congolese rebel leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to a deadly 2003 assault on a village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), saying it could not convict him "beyond reasonable doubt" based on the evidence presented.
• Congo Warlord's ICC Acquittal Raises Questions VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- The International Criminal Court has acquitted former Congolese militia leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with a 2003 village massacre. Human rights groups are calling the verdict a 'hard blow' to the victims in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where violence continues to this day.
• Analysis: Seeking civilian and military solutions in the DRC IRIN 18 Dec 2012 -- Even as they continue to work toward a negotiated solution to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the leaders of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) are planning to deploy a 4,000-strong 'neutral force' to the region to improve its security. Yet regional analysts and stakeholders are at odds over the force's composition and mandate.
• DR Congo: initial findings by UN confirm human rights violations amid recent violence UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- Preliminary findings by United Nations investigators have documented at least 126 rapes and the killing of two civilians – one a minor – during a probe into human rights violations in a part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that recently experienced a new eruption of violent clashes and civilian displacements, a UN spokesperson said today.
• Somalia: UN experts on use of mercenaries urge greater oversight for private security contractors UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- The Government of Somalia must do more to ensure the security of its citizens while increasing regulations on private military and security companies, a United Nations expert panel urged today at the conclusion of its seven-day visit to the Horn of Africa country.
• UN and African Union to seek increased funding for strategy against the Lord's Resistance Army UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- The United Nations and African Union (AU) will seek increased funding early next year for a strategy against the armed group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and its impact on communities in Central Africa, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
• Taiwan urged to push harder for peace initiative over Diaoyutais CNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Taiwan should continue to push for a peace initiative aimed at addressing the territorial dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea, scholars said at a symposium in Taipei Tuesday.
• Mali: Humanitarian impact of armed intervention IRIN 18 Dec 2012 -- Over 700,000 people could be displaced if military intervention goes ahead next year in northern Mali, according to preliminary estimates by humanitarian agencies, who stress that the numbers are just approximations.
• Sudan, South Sudan Agree on Implementing Security Arrangements VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to implement joint security arrangements. But it is unclear how the two countries might suffer if they fail to put the arrangements into force.

News Reports

• Egyptians Protest Islamist-Backed Constitution VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Egypt's opposition National Salvation Front is holding demonstrations Tuesday to protest a controversial two-stage constitutional referendum.
• Safavi: Big powers have to make deal with Iran to use regional interests IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Supreme Leader's senior advisor Brigadier General Yahya Rahim Safavi said on Tuesday big powers have to make a deal with Iran in order to use their interests in the region.
• IRGC official: Iran to endanger enemies interests if its interests threatened IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami said on Tuesday that enemies' interests would be targeted if Iran's interests are threatened.
• Iran, IAEA seeking to reach comprehensive agreement- Mehmanparast IRNA 18 Dec 2012 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are seeking to reach a comprehensive agreement in their talks.
• Iran to Continue Uranium Enrichment - Nuclear Chief RIA Novosti 18 Dec 2012 -- Iran will not cave in to external pressure and halt 20-percent uranium enrichment, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said on Tuesday.
• In Brief: Attack halts polio drive in Pakistani province IRIN 18 Dec 2012 -- The government of Sindh Province in Pakistan has called off its polio vaccination campaign after unidentified militants carried out coordinated attacks today on vaccination teams in three different parts of Karachi, killing four women and injuring two men.
• Five Polio-Campaign Volunteers Killed In Pakistan RFE/RL 18 Dec 2012 -- Five polio vaccination workers in Pakistan have been shot dead in the past day and a half, prompting a suspension of the program in the area around the country's biggest city, Karachi.
• UN condemns deadly attacks on polio workers in Pakistan UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and two United Nations agencies have condemned the killing of at least six people working on a polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan in the past 24 hours.
• Gunmen Kill Five Polio Workers in Pakistan VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Gunmen in Pakistan shot dead five polio workers in separate attacks Tuesday, forcing authorities to suspend the vaccination campaign in the country's largest city, Karachi.
• IRAQ: No future for al-Qaeda's children IRIN 18 Dec 2012 -- Near a swamp of sewage in a slum in eastern Iraq, six-year-old Amir plays soccer with friends, unaware of a fact that may continue to affect him for the rest of his life:
• UN official welcomes joint anti-drug trafficking efforts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan UN News Centre 18 Dec 2012 -- While noting the many challenges related to the flow of opiates from Afghanistan, the United Nations crime chief today praised the joint achievements of that country and two of its neighbours for their efforts to halt this movement.
• Bird Flu Kills 4-Year-Old Boy in Indonesia VOA 18 Dec 2012 -- Indonesian officials say a four-year-old boy has died from bird flu, the 10th fatal case in the country this year.
• AID POLICY: Communication technologies transform relief and development IRIN 18 Dec 2012 -- Since Africa's first mobile phone network went live in 1994, mobile phone penetration has shot up to 65 percent; access to the internet is also increasing rapidly. Today, information and communications technology (ICT) plays a central role in promoting development and humanitarian assistance.
• NASA Has Bright Idea for Lighting System on International Space Station RIA Novosti 18 Dec 2012 -- NASA is planning to help combat astronaut insomnia aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a new lighting system in the US section that will switch colors depending on the time of day, in hopes of reducing the dependency for sleep medications.