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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 14 Jan 2013 [PDF]
• Press Gaggle by Secretary Panetta en route to Lisbon, Portugal DoD 14 Jan 2013
• Panetta: U.S. Support to French in Mali Aimed at al-Qaida AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- U.S. and French defense leaders are hammering out details of intelligence, logistics and airlift assistance the United States will provide to French forces in Mali.
• US Prepares to Help France in Mali - With Caution VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Pentagon officials say the United States is preparing to offer logistical support to France as it continues to carry out air strikes against Islamist militants in northern Mali.
• US Working to Speed Deployment of ECOWAS Troops to Mali VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- The United States says it shares French goals in striking militarily against Islamist rebels in northern Mali and is working with neighboring states to deploy a regional intervention force.
• Combined Force Kills Taliban Leader in Nangarhar Province AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader Haqiq in the Sherzad district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.
• Immunity For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan To Be Decided By Year-End RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said a decision on immunity for U.S. forces staying in the country after 2014 will be made toward the end of this year.
• Afghan Elders to Decide About US Troop Immunity VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Afghanistan's president says a meeting of the nation's elders should be called to decide whether U.S. troops staying in Afghanistan after 2014 should be granted immunity from prosecution under Afghan law.
• US Vows Sustained Engagement in Central Asia VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- The State Department’s top official for Central Asia arrives in the region to reassure leaders that Washington remains committed to the development and defense of Central Asia.
• NATO Official Presents Post-Afghanistan Priorities AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- Training and partnership will be among the top priorities as NATO’s mission in Afghanistan ends, the alliance’s supreme allied commander for transformation said.
• DOD Seminar Examines Afghanistan Security Transition AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- A seminar at the Defense Department’s European regional center will focus on issues related to the handover of security responsibility from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to the Afghan national security forces.
• Lancers leaves Afghanistan ready for Ready First Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- The 2/2nd Infantry Division marked the end of a nine-month deployment to southern Afghanistan by relinquishing control of its battle-space to 1/1st Armored Division.
• Clinton to Testify Before Congress on Benghazi VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will finally testify before Congress about September's deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Defense Policy / Programs

• The Chuck Hagel Controversy and the Limits of Secretarial Power VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Most analysts agree Hagel will likely be confirmed.
• Panetta Begins Trip to Visit ‘Most Capable Partners’ AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta boarded this Air Force jet at Joint Base Andrews, Md., bound for Portugal, Spain, Italy and Great Britain on what he termed “likely my last international trip as secretary of defense.”
• Panetta Arrives in Portugal, First Stop on Europe Tour AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta landed on the first leg of what he said is likely his last international trip as secretary.
• Developing an active approach to defense Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- For the past decade members of the Army's research community have worked to develop models of an active protection system (APS) with multiple configurations.
• Army displays future of ground-vehicle technologies Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- One of those innovations is the FED, which stands for fuel efficient demonstrator.
• Team Apache announces nickname for the Apache Echo Model Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- The world's most advanced and lethal attack helicopter received a nickname by Team Apache at the annual government-industry Team Apache meeting.
• Tooele Army Depot to store rocket motors for Missile Defense Agency Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- After a year of meticulous planning and preparation, Tooele Army Depot has begun to receive and store first- and second-stage C-4 rocket motors from the Trident I C-4 missile from the Missile Defense Agency.
• USS Stockdale Departs San Diego NNS 14 Jan 2013 -- The USS Stockdale departed for a Western Pacific deployment with the Nimitz Strike Group Surface Action Group Jan. 14.
• USS Tortuga First ARG Ship to Depart for Spring Deployment NNS 14 Jan 2013 -- The forward deployed USS Tortuga, part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, departed its homeport Jan. 14, for its spring deployment in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
• USS Buffalo Bids Farewell to Guam NNS 14 Jan 2013 -- After five-and-a-half years as a forward-deployed submarine stationed in Guam, the USS Buffalo departed for her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Jan. 11.
• USS Gary Boards, Tows Suspicious Vessel NNS 14 Jan 2013 -- USS GARY and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team, TACLET South, turned a routine boarding into a display of joint proficiency.
• Joint effort delivers 3 helicopters to Iraq Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command with U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and Program Executive Office Aviation facilitated and delivered three Bell 407 Scout helicopters to Iraqi Army Aviation.
• Vehicles shipped in support of coalition partner mission Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- The initiatives of the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno, include a focus for the U.S. Army to build our partner nations' capabilities.
• Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School makes its mark on Key West Army News 14 Jan 2013 -- The U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School is well-known throughout the military community.
• DOD Information Technology Evolves Toward Cloud Computing AFPS 14 Jan 2013 -- The Defense Department’s information technology infrastructure is on a journey of consolidation, standardization, security and access.
• Russia to Lay Down Two Improved Borey Class Subs in 2013 RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Russia’s Sevmash shipyard will lay down in 2013 two upgraded Borey class nuclear-powered strategic submarines.
• Russia Set to Launch Three Military Satellites RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Russia will launch on Tuesday three Cosmos series military-purpose satellites, the Defense Ministry said.
• Russian Army: Footwraps Are Out, Socks Are In RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Over many years, the cloth wrapping worn by soldiers under their heavy boots has become a symbol of Russian military tradition and a nostalgic memento for many former conscripts.
• Russian Defense Minister Declares War On Footwraps RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Russia's new defense minister has ordered the army to do away with footwraps, still widely used by Russian servicemen as a substitute for socks.
• Defense Minister Shoigu Fires Top Military Doctor RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed the acting chief military doctor following the deaths of a number of soldiers from pneumonia.
• Official Stripped of Real Estate over MiG Airframe Fraud RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- A court in Russia has ordered the seizure of real estate from a former official found guilty of fraud involving fighter jets for Syria.
• NATO and Sweden: Strong Partners in support of the United Nations NATO 14 Jan 2013
• Interoperability, capabilities, partnerships top priority for Gen. Paloméros NATO 14 Jan 2013 -- General Jean-Paul Paloméros said that his top three priorities as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation were to foster Allied interoperability and capabilities and bolstering cooperation with partners.
• Sweden: one of NATO’s most active and effective partners NATO 14 Jan 2013 -- Sweden is a high capability partner, which has provided valuable support to NATO-led operations mandated by the United Nations.
• S. Koreans Plan to Stage Field Mobile Drill KCNA 14 Jan 2013 -- The 30th Division of the south Korean ground force announced that it would stage field mobile drill in Koyang and Phaju, Kyonggi Province.
• Taiwan MND mum on report about seeking damages over Mirage deal CNA 14 Jan 2013 -- The Ministry of National Defense declined to comment on a report that Taiwan has formally sought damages from France over the illegal payment of commissions in a Mirage fighter deal in the 1990s.
• DPRK's Worker - Peasant Red Guards KCNA 14 Jan 2013 -- A nationwide defence system has been effective in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, January 14, 2013 US Dept. of State 14 Jan 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 14, 2013

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 14 January 2013 United Nations 14 Jan 2013
• Analysts: French Military Walks Fine Line in Mali VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- France's military intervention in Mali has generally won praise both at home and abroad.
• Regional Defense Chiefs to Meet Over Mali Crisis VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- West African defense chiefs plan to meet in Mali’s capital, Bamako, as part of a regional effort to re-take parts of northern Mali now controlled by Islamist militants.
• Mali: Ban welcomes bilateral assistance to stop southward onslaught of insurgents UN News Centre 14 Jan 2013 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the response of “bilateral partners” to the plea for assistance from the Government of Mali.
• Islamists Seize New Mali Town VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Islamist militants who control northern Mali advanced southward Monday, seizing the town of Diabaly, 400 kilometers north of the capital, Bamako.
• UK to provide logistical military assistance to Mali UK MOD 14 Jan 2013 -- The UK is to provide logistical military assistance to Mali in order to help control rebel and extremist groups in the north of the country.
• Somali Rebels to Announce Fate of French Hostage VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Somali rebel group al-Shabab says it has reached a decision on the fate of French hostage Dennis Allex, who French forces tried to free in an unsuccessful operation.
• Somali Rebels Say Second French Soldier Died After Failed Rescue Attempt VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Somali rebel group al-Shabab says a second French soldier has died after a failed attempt by France to rescue one of its citizens held hostage in Somalia.
• Over 50 Countries Ask Security Council To Refer Syria To World Court RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- More than 50 countries have asked the United Nations Security Council to refer the Syria crisis to the International Criminal Court.
• Lavrov Calls On Syrian Opposition To Respond To Assad Proposals RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeated Russian calls for opposition fighters and leaders in Syria to seek dialogue with Bashar al-Assad to end the bloodshed there.
• Number of Syrians seeking refuge in Turkey continues to rise, UN agency reports UN News Centre 14 Jan 2013 -- The total number of Syrians seeking refuge in camps in Turkey from the ever-worsening violence of their country’s civil war has risen to over 153,300 persons.
• India Orders 'Aggressive' Response to Kashmir Provocation VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- India's army chief says he has ordered his commanders to deliver an "aggressive" response to any firing from Pakistani forces in disputed Kashmir.
• India, Pakistan Trade Accusations Over Recent Kashmir Deaths RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Indian and Pakistani military officials have traded accusations over the recent deadly clashes in disputed Kashmir.
• Pakistan protests Indian border ceasefire violation IRNA 14 Jan 2013 -- Pakistan defence officials lodged protest with Indian military over the ‘continuous ceasefire violations including an attempted raid by Indian troops’ along the Line of Control.
• Ban renews call to rescind plans for new Israeli settlements after on-site protests UN News Centre 14 Jan 2013 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon again called on Israel to withdraw new settlement plans for East Jerusalem.
• Kachin Rebels Say Burma Military Kills 3 Civilians VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Burma's Kachin Independence Army says three civilian have been killed in artillery strikes, as fighting between ethnic rebels and government forces continued.

News Reports

• Iraq Reels Under Intensifying Political Divide VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Iraq in the last month, rallying against the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
• Iraq's Sunni Protests Challenge Establishment RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- The Sunni protests sweeping Iraq show no sign of stopping.
• Iraqi Government Frees Prisoners Amid Protests RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- The Iraqi government has released nearly 200 prisoners in an apparent goodwill gesture to Sunni Muslims staging antigovernment demonstrations.
• Iraq Finance Minister Escapes Assassination Attempt - Media RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi, locked in a dispute with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, has escaped an apparent assassination attempt.
• Bomb Strikes Iraqi Finance Minister Convoy RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Iraqi police have said a bomb exploded next to a convoy carrying Iraq's finance minister.
• Political Rally Shuts Down Pakistan Capital VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- Thousands of flag-waving protesters marched into Pakistan's capital to demand changes to the country's political system just months before scheduled elections.
• Anticorruption Marchers Reach Pakistani Capital RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Thousands of marchers led by influential Islamic cleric Tahir-ul Qadri have made their way to the Pakistani capital from Lahore to protest government corruption and demand election reforms.
• Four days long Shias sit-in ends in Pakistan IRNA 14 Jan 2013 -- The Qaumi Yakjehti Council announced that it was concluding its sit-in in the south western city of Quetta.
• Governor’s rule imposed in Balochistan, Pakistan IRNA 14 Jan 2013 -- Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf early announced the imposition of governor’s rule in south western Balochistan province.
• Local Pakistani Government Sacked After Sectarian Attack RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has agreed to dismiss the government of southwest Balochistan days after one of the bloodiest sectarian attacks there.
• Top UN official calls for international inquiry into human rights abuses in DPR Korea UN News Centre 14 Jan 2013 -- A top United Nations official condemned the “deplorable” human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
• UN Calls for North Korea Human Rights Inquiry VOA 14 Jan 2013 -- The U.N.’s top human rights official is calling for an international inquiry into what she calls the "deplorable human rights situation" in North Korea.
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Memorandum KCNA 14 Jan 2013 -- The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released the following memorandum.
• Cuba Eases Travel Rules RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2013 -- Cuban authorities have lifted decades-old travel restrictions allowing citizens to go abroad without exits visas and spend more time overseas starting Monday.
• Azerbaijani Protesters Fined Under New Mass-Gatherings Law RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- Twenty-one men have become the first in Azerbaijan to be penalized under a new, tougher law on mass gatherings that took effect on January 1.
• Chavez In 'Favorable' Condition RFE/RL 14 Jan 2013 -- The Venezuelan government has given an update on the status of ailing President Hugo Chavez.