Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• David Cameron visits troops in Afghanistan UK MOD 21 Dec 2012 -- The UK Prime Minister praised armed forces success during visit to Camp Bastion.
• Midwest Guard Troops Aid States in Storm's Path AFPS 21 Dec 2012 -- As the Midwest's first big winter storm forced road closures and shuttered schools, National Guard soldiers were mobilized to assist in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD: Sexual Assault Reporting Up at Service Academies AFPS 21 Dec 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called for "a strong and immediate response," after a Defense Department report released today indicated that sexual harassment and assault remain persistent problems at the nation's military academies.
• DOD Evaluates Sexual Harassment and Prevention Response Efforts at Military Academies DoD 21 Dec 2012 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) today released key findings from the Academic Program Year (APY) 2011-2012 "Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the United States Military Service Academies."
• Defense Department Press Briefing via Teleconference with Maj. Gen Patton and Lt. Col. Galbreath on the Annual Military Academy Sexual Assault Report DoD 21 Dec 2012 -- Presenter: Director Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office Maj. Gen. Gary Patton; Deputy Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Lt. Col. Nate Galbreath
• Space Fence program moves forward AFNS 21 Dec 2012 -- The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center here recently put out a request for proposal to move the Space Fence program forward.
• Joint Enablers Bring Expertise to Contingency Responses AFPS 21 Dec 2012 -- Despite words like "cuts," "streamlining" and "drawdown" sprinkling nearly every reference to the Defense Department, the commander of Joint Enabling Capabilities Command sees no downturn in the appetite for the specialized skills and experience his people provide.
• 8th Engineer Support Battalion conducts dismounted patrols USMC News 21 Dec 2012 -- What was meant to be an overwhelming ambush quickly shifted into a rolling engagement on multiple fronts for the Marines of Charlie Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.
• Seabees Complete Construction Project with Peruvian Joint Forces Command NNS 21 Dec 2012 -- Three Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 27 departed the town of Huaytara, Peru, Dec. 13 following the successful completion of a four-month subject matter expert exchange with military engineers from the Peruvian Joint Forces Command.
• Remarks by the President at Nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State The White House 21 Dec 2012
• Obama Nominates Kerry for Secretary of State VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- President Barack Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry to be the next secretary of state.
• China makes progress in developing alloy for airplane engines CNA 21 Dec 2012 -- China has made significant progress in manufacturing high temperature alloy used for airplane engines and is capable of mass producing them for its J-20 fighter jets, according Beijing-based China Aviation News, and U.S. experts.
• Russia Postpones Mistral Warship Project to 2016 – Source RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2012 -- Russia is putting back the launch of a project to build two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships under French license from 2013 to 2016, a Defense Ministry source said on Friday.
• Russian Shipbuilders Say Mistral Contract 'In Force' RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2012 -- Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation said on Friday the contract to build two Mistral class amphibious assault ships remains 'in force,' dismissing media reports that the country's Defense Ministry has dropped the construction plans.
• Russia Drops Plans to Build Two Mistral Class Ships – Paper RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has decided to abandon plans for construction of two Mistral class amphibious assault ships under the French license in Russia, business daily Vedomosti said on Friday citing a government source.
• Kim Jong Un Congratulates Those Who Demonstrated National Power of Great Paektusan Nation KCNA 21 Dec 2012 -- The dear respected Kim Jong Un made a speech at the banquet given for the scientists, technicians, workers and officials who contributed to the successful launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2.
• Submarines recommended as way for Taiwan to better deter China CNA 21 Dec 2012 -- The head of an American think tank suggested Thursday that Taiwan should purchase submarines to strengthen its naval deployment amid the growing military imbalance between Taiwan and China.
• December 21, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Dec 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 21, 2012
• Typhoon for Oman UK MOD 21 Dec 2012 -- BAE Systems has signed a contract with the Sultanate of Oman for the supply of 12 Typhoon aircraft, associated support and 8 Hawk 128 aircraft.
• We welcome Oman order for Typhoon and Hawk aircraft BAE Systems 21 Dec 2012

Other Conflicts

• UN genocide adviser warns of increasing risk of sectarian violence in Syria UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- The United Nations top official on the issue of genocide has warned of the increasing risk of sectarian violence in Syria, and called on all parties to the conflict to refrain from targeting individuals or groups based on religious or ethnic identity.
• NATO: Syria Fires More Scud Missiles VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces have fired more missiles inside Syria, a move Rasmussen calls an act of a 'desperate regime approaching collapse.'.
• South Sudan: UN peacekeeping mission's helicopter shot down, killing all crew members UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- A United Nations helicopter has been shot down in eastern South Sudan by the nation's armed forces, killing all four crew members onboard, the world body's peacekeeping operation in the country reported today.
• Ban and Security Council condemn fatal shooting down of UN helicopter in South Sudan UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the shooting down today of a United Nations helicopter in South Sudan – killing all four crew members onboard – by the country's armed forces and called for those responsible to be held to account, his spokesperson said today.
• UN envoy deplores attacks against national security forces in Côte d'Ivoire UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- The United Nations envoy in Côte d'Ivoire has condemned the armed attacks carried out by unidentified individuals against national security forces in and around the commercial capital, Abidjan, this morning.
• Documented cases of human rights abuse emerge against M23 armed group in DR Congo UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- Newly documented human rights violations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) include cases of arbitrary executions and rape – among other atrocities – by the 23 March Movement (M23) armed group, the United Nations human rights agency said today.
• SECURITY: Armed groups sign up to prevent sexual violence IRIN 21 Dec 2012 -- Five Iranian armed groups have become the first to sign up to new covenant aimed at reducing sexual violence in conflict situations, a pledge developed by Geneva-based NGO Geneva Call.
• China Shores up Territorial Claims VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- China has long had territorial maritime disputes with its Asian neighbors, but over the past year tensions over its claims in the East and South China Sea have seen a dramatic uptick. Beijing is using everything from establishing a new city in the South China Sea to weather reports to take a more assertive stance.
• UN-African Union peacekeeping mission warns of impact from recent violence in North Darfur UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- Amidst reports of civilian displacement in the wake of air strikes in the Sudanese state of North Darfur, the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in the region today warned that continued fighting could lead to a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" for the displaced civilians.
• Plight of Somali boat people must stop, UN expert says after latest Gulf of Aden tragedy UN News Centre 21 Dec 2012 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today urged authorities in Somalia to address the root causes that prompt people to put their lives at risk and flee the country, after 55 Somali refugees and migrants drowned in the latest boat disaster in the Gulf of Aden.
• Kenya, Somali Refugees Exchange Blame for Attacks VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- A series of grenade attacks in a Somali neighborhood of Nairobi this past year has killed dozens of people and injured more than 100 others. Members of the Somali community living in the area believe the attacks are politically motivated, and accuse the Kenyan government of trying to chase them away from the city.

News Reports

• Multiple Uranium Enrichment Facilities Suspected in N. Korea VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- Analysts are expressing little surprise about the revelation North Korea apparently has multiple facilities to enrich uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
• Russia hopes for success of Iran, G5+1 talks IRNA 21 Dec 2012 -- Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement released here on Thursday voiced hope that the upcoming Iran-G5+1 talks slated for January 2013 would bear constructive results.
• Former Diplomats, Generals Urge Obama To Pursue Bolder Diplomacy With Iran RFE/RL 21 Dec 2012 -- Twenty-four former diplomats and generals have called on U.S. President Obama to pursue serious negotiations with Iran, including securing limitations on the country's nuclear program in exchange for a proportional paring back of international sanctions.
• Pakistani Clerics Want Protests Against Killings RFE/RL 21 Dec 2012 -- Some of Pakistan's most influential Islamic clerics are calling for nationwide protests December 21 against the killings of healthcare workers who were attempting to administer polio vaccines.
• Secretary General thanks Prime Minister of Djibouti for support against piracy NATO 21 Dec 2012 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen thanked the Prime Minister of Djibouti, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, for his country's support in the international fight against piracy during a meeting at NATO Headquarters on 21 December.
• China Censorship Not Improving Under New Leaders, Analysts Say VOA 21 Dec 2012 -- Analysts say China's new Communist Party leaders are giving no indication they intend to relax the country's tough online censorship laws.