• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 24 Jan 2013 [PDF]
• Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Network Facilitator AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network facilitator in the Sabari district of Afghanistan's Khost province today, military officials reported.
• Afghan Torture Allegations Shine Spotlight On Prisoner Transfers RFE/RL 24 Jan 2013 -- International pressure is mounting on the Afghan government to take action against widespread torture, mistreatment, and sexual abuse in Afghan detention facilities.
• Karzai's Brother Renounces U.S. Citizenship To Enter Afghan Politics RFE/RL 24 Jan 2013 -- Mahmud Karzai, a brother of Afghanistan's president, says he has renounced his U.S. citizenship to launch a political career.
• Top Afghan commander helps prepare UK forces for deployment UK MOD 24 Jan 2013 -- The commander of Afghan troops who work alongside British forces to provide security in Helmand province has visited the UK to help our troops prepare for deployment to the area.
• Afghan forces take the lead in British-supported operation in Helmand UK MOD 24 Jan 2013 -- British-trained Afghan forces have demonstrated their expanding capability by successfully leading a large and complex operation to build a bridge over the Nahr-e Saraj canal in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Defense Department Rescinds Direct Combat Exclusion Rule; Services to Expand Integration of Women into Previously Restricted Occupations and Units DOD 24 Jan 2013 -- Today, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey announced the rescission the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule for women and that the Department of Defense plans to remove gender-based barriers to service.
• Press Briefing by Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey from the Pentagon DoD 24 Jan 2013 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey
• AF to open remaining combat positions to women AFNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey announced today the rescission the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule for women and that the Department of Defense plans to remove gender-based barriers to service.
• Defense Department Expands Women's Combat Role AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- Following a unanimous recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today announced the end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female service members.
• Dempsey: Allowing Women in Combat Strengthens Joint Force AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- Rescinding the policy that has excluded women since 1994 from serving in direct ground combat positions will strengthen the military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• Obama Praises DOD for Removing Women's Combat Exclusion AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- President Barack Obama today expressed his support for the Defense Department's decision to remove barriers that have prevented military women from serving in direct combat roles.
• Pentagon Lifts Ban on Combat Duty for Women VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted a rule that excluded women from combat in the U.S. military.
• Statement from the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on the Women in Service Review NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus released the following statement Jan. 24 on the Women in Service Review.
• US to Allow Women in Combat: Official RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- The United States plans to lift its ban on women serving in front-line combat positions, a senior US defense official said Wednesday, signaling a major policy shift that could open the door to hundreds of thousands of new military assignments for women.
• Pentagon Lifts Ban on Combat Duty for Women VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the Pentagon has dropped its ban on women in combat positions.
• JCRX-13 participants share experiences Army News 24 Jan 2013 -- After five days of warrior task training during the Army Contracting Command's Joint Contracting Readiness Exercise 2013 here, participants are 'feeling it.'
• Africom Commander Addresses Concerns, Potential Solutions in Mali AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- The commander of U.S. Africa Command today shared lessons learned from what he called shortcomings in the U.S.-Malian training program which have contributed to turmoil in the African nation.
• Africom Works to 'Go Far' With Partners, General Says AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- There are many challenges across the African continent, but there are also seldom-talked-about opportunities and successes, U.S. Africa Command's leader said here today.
• USS William P. Lawrence Participates in USWEX NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) along with the Nimitz Strike Group Surface Action Group (SAG) conducted an under sea warfare exercise (USWEX) Jan. 20-23.
• USS Milius Begins Installation of New Afloat Network NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Capt. D.J. LeGoff, the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program manager at Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) command, toured USS Milius (DDG 69) Jan. 23 to discuss and review the installation plans for the new CANES shipboard network program.
• Navy to Conduct Online, Crowd-Sourcing War Game by NWDC, ONR and NPS NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- To generate ideas from a broad field of participants, the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) are partnering to conduct a crowd-sourcing online war game on electromagnetic maneuver (EM2) starting Feb. 4.
• Naval Hospital Beaufort Earns Level 3 Certification for Medical Home Port NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Naval Hospital Beaufort's Medical Home Port, a patient-centered primary care clinic, recently achieved level 3 certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
• Public Meetings in the Marianas Draw Interest in Navy Environmental Assessment NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific and U.S. Commander Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) hosted public meetings on Guam and Saipan Jan. 15 and Jan. 17 to discuss the Navy's Draft Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment (EA/OEA) for the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC).
• Training eases stress, strain of deployed duties for EOD Airmen AFNS 24 Jan 2013 -- On a bitter cold winter morning explosive ordnance disposal technicians conducted training exercises Jan. 10 at Fort Carson, Colo. designed to simulate the mental and physical fatigues experienced while deployed.
• Panetta: DOD 'Ready' Against North Korea, Africa Threats AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- As always, the U.S. military stands ready to deal with any provocation North Korea's leaders offer, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.
• Africom Works to 'Go Far' With Partners, General Says AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- There are many challenges across the African continent, but there are also seldom-talked-about opportunities and successes, U.S. Africa Command's leader said here today.
• USS Bonhomme Richard Departs for Deployment, Cobra Gold NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), departed Jan. 24 for a deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations.
• USS Fort McHenry Visits Newport, RI NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) recently looked to the future as well as the historic past during a three-day port visit to Newport, R.I.
• Final Piece of Steel Placed for Air Force Facility in Louisiana NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- United States Air Force and Navy leadership gathered Jan. 11 to attend a 'Topping Out' ceremony for the Mission Support Group (MSG) Complex currently under construction at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), La.
• NMCB 74 Turns Over Camp Covington to Army's 84th Engineer Battalion NNS 24 Jan 2013 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 turned over control of Camp Covington Jan. 17 to the Army's 84th Engineer Battalion (EN BN) during a change of charge ceremony at the camp on U.S. Naval Base Guam.
• Black Sea Rotational Force Marines go to the field for noncombatant evacuation operations USMC News 24 Jan 2013 -- Marines and sailors with the 2013 iteration of the Black Sea Rotational Force conducted their first noncombatant evacuation mission rehearsal exercise the week of January 7.
• Black Sea Rotational Force Marines practice embassy reinforcement USMC News 24 Jan 2013 -- Marines and sailors with Easy Company from the 2013 iteration of the Black Sea Rotational Force conducted their first embassy reinforcement mission rehearsal exercise the week of January 7.
• Marine Corps Forces, Europe hosts BSRF-13 planning conference USMC News 24 Jan 2013 -- Recently, representatives from the European countries participating in Marine Corps Forces, Europe's largest, multi-national exercise, Black Sea Rotational Force converged at MFE headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany to finalize the planning and training schedule for the 2013 iteration.
• Northcom, FEMA Build on Hurricane Sandy Response Lessons AFPS 24 Jan 2013 -- Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command, hosted Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator W. Craig Fugate yesterday to explore how to build on lessons from Hurricane Sandy to improve their response to future disasters -- particularly complex catastrophes.
• Russian Police Probe $17 Mln Missile Forces Fraud RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- Police have uncovered the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of rubles of state funds from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN), the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
• Defense Industry Boss Slams 'Absurd' French Ship Deal RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- A senior Russian defense industry official described as "absurd" on Thursday a previously-agreed deal to purchase two French-built Mistral assault ships for the Russian Navy.
• Russian Paras Get IT-Phone Digicoms RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- Russia's Airborne Forces (VDV) have begun using its new Tsivik digital telecommmunications system which uses IT-Phone software, VDV spokesman Alexander Kucherenko said on Thursday.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/24/2013 The White House 24 Jan 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 24, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 24 January 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Jan 2013
• 24 January 2013 - Press Conference by Head of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Central African Republic United Nations 24 Jan 2013
• At World Economic Forum, Ban urges unified action on crises in Syria and Mali UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a call of action to the international community to solve the crises in Syria and Mali, stressing that the world must come together to end the ongoing violence in the two countries and ensure assistance is available to those in need.
• Russians Evacuated From Syria Arrive Home RFE/RL 24 Jan 2013 -- Two planes carrying 77 Russians escaping Syria's civil war arrived in Moscow's Domodedovo airport on January 23, an operation that Moscow denied was the start of a mass exodus.
• Syria Opposition Groups Attack Religious Sites - HRW RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- Syrian opposition groups deliberately destroy minority religious sites in the areas under their control, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on its website on Wednesday.
• Burkina Faso Soldiers Join French Troops in Mali VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- A contingent of soldiers from Burkina Faso has deployed to central Mali, becoming the first African troops to link up with French and Malian forces fighting al-Qaida-linked Islamist militants.
• Military beefs up patrols for Diaoyutais protest trip CNA 24 Jan 2013 -- The military strengthened its patrols in the vicinity of the disputed Diaoyutai Islands Thursday to protect a Taiwanese boat that sailed there in a move to uphold Taiwan's sovereignty over the island chain, a military official said that day.
• Diaoyutai voyage should not affect fishery talks: MOFA CNA 24 Jan 2013 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) urged Japan Thursday to adopt a 'rational' attitude toward a Taiwanese protest boat that sailed into waters near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands earlier in the day.
• As talks advance in Darfur, UN peacekeeping official urges sustained focus on peace process UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- While the government and one of the main rebel factions in the Sudanese region of Darfur have agreed on an agenda for negotiating a comprehensive peace, the international community must keep all of the parties focused on resolution of the conflict, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
• Reprieve for urban refugees in Kenya, but fear persists IRIN 24 Jan 2013 -- Urban refugees in Kenya, threated with relocation to overcrowded refugee camps, are breathing a sigh of relief following a High Court ruling that has provisionally halted the move.
• Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus until July 2013 UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- The Security Council today extended the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 31 July 2013, while urging the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to continue discussions aimed at reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation.
• CAR: Security Council extends mandate of UN office, calls on parties to abide by ceasefire pact UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- Calling on the Government and opposition groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) to abide by a ceasefire and other agreements that halted a rebel advance on the capital, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations peacebuilding office in the country until 31 January 2014.
• UN panel pays out $1.3 billion in reparations for Iraq's invasion of Kuwait UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), which settles the damage claims of those who suffered losses due to Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, today made $1.3 billion available to two successful claimants.
• UN envoy strongly condemns attack on mourners at mosque in northern Iraq UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- The top United Nations envoy in Iraq today strongly condemned an attack against civilians attending a funeral in a mosque in the town of Tuz Khurmato in the northern part of the country, which killed dozens of people and injured many others.

News Reports

• Kerry Testifies at Senate Confirmation Hearing VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- Senate Foreign Relations committee chairman John Kerry has faced his peers during a confirmation hearing for his nomination as secretary of state.
• DPRK NDC Issues Statement Refuting UNSC Resolution KCNA 24 Jan 2013 -- The National Defence Commission (NDC) of the DPRK issued a statement on Thursday.
• DPRK NDC Vows to Launch All-Out Action to Defend Sovereignty of Country KCNA 24 Jan 2013 -- The National Defence Commission (NDC) of the DPRK in a statement Thursday solemnly declared its stand as follows as regards the unreasonable resolution that was adopted by the UN Security Council taking issue with the DPRK over its successful launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong 3-2:
• North Korean Nuclear Threat 'Not Just Bluster' VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- North Korea's latest threat to conduct its third nuclear test and launch more long-range rockets is not just bluster but part of a deliberate effort by an increasingly confident Pyongyang to build up its atomic weapons capacity, analysts say.
• North Korea Vows To Carry Out More Rocket Launches, Nuclear Test RFE/RL 24 Jan 2013 -- North Korea has announced it will carry out more rocket launches and a nuclear test.
• North Korea Plans Nuclear Test RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2013 -- North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test that may target the US, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday, citing a statement by the North's top military body.
• China Urges Resumption of Six-Party Talks VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- China urges calm following North Korea's threats of another rocket launch in response to this week's Security Council resolution.
• North Korea Vows New Nuclear Test 'Aimed' at US VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- North Korea is amplifying its rhetoric about carrying out more rocket launches and a third nuclear test.
• Kerry: Iran Must Comply With Nuclear Inspections VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- President Obama's choice as the next secretary of state said Iran must comply with inspections of its nuclear facilities. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry testified before congressional colleagues as part of the process to confirm him as America's top diplomat.
• Regional states should prevent foreign intervention: Iran Defense minister IRNA 24 Jan 2013 -- Regional countries should prevent the influence of dominant powers in their internal affairs, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Thursday.
• Iran criticizes Canada for claims at UN against Tehran's peaceful nuclear program IRNA 24 Jan 2013 -- Iran's Representative to the United Nations Mohammad Ali Mottaqinejad Wednesday afternoon criticized biased remarks made by the Canadian permanent envoy to the UN against Iran's peaceful nuclear program.
• Understanding foes, wise pathology, needed for Unity Roadmap IRNA 24 Jan 2013 -- Head of IRI Joint Chief of Staff Brigadier General Seyyed Hassan Firouzabadi said here Wednesday today understanding enemies and wise pathology are prerequisites for drafting a roadmap for Islamic unity.
• Lavrov: IAEA visit of Parchin not to yield any unexpected result IRNA 24 Jan 2013 -- Russian Foreign Minister said here Wednesday IAEA inspectors have already visited Iran's Parching site once and therefore, a second visit of it cannot yield any unexpected results.
• Kerry: Iran Must Comply With Nuclear Inspections VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- President Obama's choice to be the next secretary of state says Iran must comply with inspections of its nuclear facilities. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry testified before Congressional colleagues as part of the process to confirm him as America's top diplomat.
• Cameron Outlines Anti-terrorism Strategy VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- British Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday extremist and terrorist violence will be at the top of this year's G8 summit agenda. The summit will be held in June in Northern Ireland. Cameron spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
• Al-Shabab Threatens to Kill Kenyan Hostages VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- A Somali militant group says it will execute several Kenyan hostages unless Kenya heeds its demands to free Muslims arrested on terrorism charges.
• NASA Telescope Spots Solar Braids VOA 24 Jan 2013 -- Five or 10 minutes is not a long time when it comes to a NASA mission, but it was long enough for NASA's High Resolution Coronal Imager, or Hi-C, telescope to capture the sharpest images ever taken of the sun's scorching atmosphere.
• Despite progress, Burundi needs assistance to ease poverty, tensions – UN official UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- Burundi continues to make steady progress in strengthening governance and recovering from recurrent strife, but given persistent political tensions and poverty, support from the international community is still required, a United Nations envoy said today.
• Bahrain: Ban welcomes initiative to convene national political dialogue UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the initiative by the king of Bahrain to convene a national political dialogue, as well as the positive response to the proposal from opposition groups in the Persian Gulf nation.
• Ban calls on Egypt to remain committed to principles that ignited revolution UN News Centre 24 Jan 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Egyptians to remain committed to the universal principles of peaceful dialogue and non-violence that sparked a revolution in the country two years ago.