04 March 2013 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the President of Aghanistan, Hamid Karzai NATO 04 Mar 2013
NATO, Karzai Call on Pakistan to do More Against Terrorism VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen have called on Pakistan to do more to combat terrorism.
Karzai Criticizes Pakistan For Not Helping Against Terrorism RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has criticized Pakistan for not doing enough to fight terrorism.
Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Leader AFPS 04 Mar 2013 -- An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader during an operation in the Nadir Shah Kot district of Afghanistan’s Khost province.
Stennis VFA-41 Supports OEF Troops NNS 04 Mar 2013 -- The "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 are conducting daily flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from aboard the USS John C. Stennis.
Airmen adapt aerial port procedures to be more effective, efficient AFNS 04 Mar 2013 -- The 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron members recently re-evaluated their processes and procedures and decided it was time to fine tune the way they operate and move cargo here.
Judges let Taliban suspect remain in UK PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- A suspected Taliban member has been granted permission to stay in Britain after a judge ruled that he might face danger if he was deported to Afghanistan.

Florida Imam Convicted In Pakistani Taliban Case RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- A Muslim cleric in the United States has been convicted of funneling thousands of dollars to support Pakistan’s Taliban.

Defense Policy / Programs

Budget Cuts Threaten Defense Industrial Base, Official Says AFPS 04 Mar 2013 -- Large and sudden U.S. spending cuts and an unstable budget environment promise long-term damage to a critical segment of the defense industrial base.
Sequestration to Affect DOD Schools, Commissaries AFPS 04 Mar 2013 -- Civilian personnel at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and the Defense Commissary Agency will be affected by sequestration.

F-35s cleared to resume flight AFNS 04 Mar 2013 -- F-35 Lightning IIs were cleared for flight Feb. 28 following a temporary suspension after a cracked engine blade was found in a test aircraft earlier in the month.
Hennings Relieves Hudson As Nevada (Gold) Commander NNS 04 Mar 2013 -- USS Nevada saw command of its Gold Crew pass from Cmdr. Peter Hudson to Cmdr. Chad Hennings.
New equipment gives Reserve MP Soldiers resources to succeed Army News 04 Mar 2013 -- The LRAD has been successfully used by U.S. ground forces in Operation Enduring Freedom for at least the last three years.
Lawrence Conducts First Strait of Hormuz Transit NNS 04 Mar 2013 -- The USS William P. Lawrence transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Gulf for the ship's first time, Mar. 1.
Robin Sage exercise to run in North Carolina counties March 9-20 Army News 04 Mar 2013 -- This March, Special Forces candidates will participate in the Robin Sage training exercise, held within 15 North Carolina counties as the final test of their Special Forces Qualification Course training.
Commentary: Some Bold Thoughts on a SOC of the Future Army News 04 Mar 2013 -- It has been almost three years since the sustainment operations center concept was codified in the Forces Command modular force command and control executive order on July 30, 2010.
Army Publishes 2013 Business Transformation Report Army News 04 Mar 2013 -- This report fulfills the requirement outlined in Section 901 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.
Arlington National Cemetery to share design for Millennium expansion project Army News 04 Mar 2013 -- The Millennium Project at Arlington National Cemetery started in the late 1990s when Congress realized that Arlington National Cemetery was near capacity.

Iraq to Get Russian Weapons by June - Minister RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- Russia will deliver attack helicopters and air-defense systems to Iraq before the summer.
Russia to deliver Iraq weapons by June: Zebari PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says that Baghdad will receive its shipment of Russian attack helicopters and air-defense systems before the summer.
Russian Warships Complete Gulf of Aden Anti-Piracy Patrol RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- The Russian Navy’s Udaloy-class destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov has completed an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.
Looking For Worms In Army Food, Russian Inspectors Make Unsavory Find RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Russian inspectors had been looking for maggots in the kitchens of an army base on the tiny Pacific island of Kunashir after soldiers there complained of being given worm-infested food.
Defense Ministry Denies Feeding Kurils Garrison Rotten Food RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed reports of vermin found in food stocks at a military unit on the Kurils Islands in the Russian Far East, but denied the food had been given to servicemen.
Watchdog Seizes Rotten Food at Kurils Army Base RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- Russian food safety and sanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has seized several dozen tons of rotten food at a military unit on the Kuril Islands in the Russian Far East.
Defense Official Jailed in ‘Ghost Soldiers’ Fraud Case RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- A former Russian Defense Ministry financial administrator has been sentenced to five years in prison on fraud charges.
Police Probe New Defense Industry Fraud RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- Russian police have opened a criminal case against the head of a defense enterprise suspected of embezzling over 21 million rubles ($700,000).
Russian Ex Chief of Staff Gets Defense Minister Aide Job RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, dismissed last year as chief of the General Staff, has been appointed as an advisor to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

£300 million training facilities announced for new RAF transport planes UK MOD 04 Mar 2013 -- RAF pilots and ground crew who will operate the new A400M Atlas transport aircraft are to benefit from state-of-the-art training facilities thanks to a new multi-million pound contract.
Submarine HMS Ambush commissioned into the Royal Navy UK MOD 04 Mar 2013 -- The Royal Navy's latest, most advanced attack submarine was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 1 March 2013, during a ceremony at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.

Israel boasts about Iron Dome PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Israel has boasted about its Iron Dome short-range missile system, which is mainly funded by the United States, calling it Israel’s cutting-edge missile technology.

Iranian Navy’s 24th fleet docks at Chinese port: Iranian commander PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- An Iranian commander says the 24th fleet of Iran's Navy, currently sailing through international waters, has docked at China's port city of Zhangjiagang.

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 03/04/2013 The White House 04 Mar 2013
U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, March 4, 2013 US Dept. of State 04 Mar 2013

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for March 04, 2013
Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent Contract Award Announced NNS 04 Mar 2013 -- The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent efforts March 3, 2013.
Giant Airship Could Move Huge Amounts of Cargo VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- A huge helium-filled airship with military and commercial uses has been unveiled near Los Angeles.

Other Conflicts

Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 04 March 2013 United Nations 04 Mar 2013

U.S. Government Assistance to the Syrian People US Dept. of State 04 Mar 2013
Assad Forces Defeated in Syria's Raqqa, Ambushed in Iraq VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Syrian rebels appear to have captured the northern city of Raqqa, in one of the biggest gains of their two-year revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
Report: Syrian Rebels Capture Most of Key City VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- A Syrian watchdog group says rebels battling troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have taken over large parts of the northern city of Raqa after days of fierce fighting.
Riyadh has moral duty of helping Syria militants: Saudi FM PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Saudi Arabia says it has a moral responsibility to assist the militants fighting against the Syrian government.
UK FM mulls openly arming Syria rebels? PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague says London is ready to arm Syrian militants in case the conflict continues to escalate amid fears that London could be already planning an escalation by secret arming and training of the militants.
VOA Finds Evidence of Syrian Cluster Bomb Use VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- The Syrian government says it does not use cluster bombs against rebels or civilians.
Syrian Opposition Leader Visits 'Liberated' Areas RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- The exiled Syrian opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib has paid a brief visit to rebel-held areas in northern Syria.
Iraq dismisses claims of meddling in Syria’s affairs PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Iraq has strongly dismissed claims by a Syrian opposition group that Baghdad is interfering in the internal affairs of Syria.
Iraq Says Rebels Cross Border To Kill Syrian Troops RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Iraqi officials say Syrian rebels have crossed into Iraqi territory to kill 48 Syrian soldiers.
Iraqi gunmen kill 42 Syrian soldiers, 7 Iraqis: officials PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- At least 42 Syrian soldiers and seven Iraqis have been killed in an ambush attack by Iraqi gunmen near the two countries sharing border.

France: Key al-Qaida Commander in Mali Probably Dead VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- France's top military officer says it is "probable" that a top commander in al-Qaida's North African branch was killed in northern Mali last week.
Clashes in northern Mali kill 50 fighters: Malian military source PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- At least 50 local fighters have been killed in heavy fighting in northern Mali as the French-led war in the African country goes on.
The returns challenge in Mali IRIN 04 Mar 2013 -- Nearly 3,000 Malians who fled towns and villages in the north when armed men occupied their homeland have headed home.
US Combating African Extremism with Public Diplomacy VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- The United States is working to counter violent extremism in Africa by providing an "alternative narrative" and "alternative scenarios," according to Under Secretary of State Tara Sonenshine.

Inquiry opens into UK troops atrocities in Iraq PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- A long-awaited public inquiry into the murder of 20 Iraqi civilians by British troops nine years ago opens in London.
Al-Sweady abuse inquiry opens in UK PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- A public inquiry will be launched into allegations that British soldiers killed 20 unarmed Iraqi civilians and abused nine others detained in north of the Iraqi city of Basra in 2004.
Britain Begins Iraq Abuse Inquiry RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Britain has opened an inquiry into allegations that British soldiers murdered and abused Iraqi civilians in 2004.

Obama to demand Israel withdraw from West Bank: Report PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- US President Barack Obama is going to demand a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank during his visit to Israel later this month.
Kerry holds surprise talks with Mahmoud Abbas in Saudi capital PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- The US Secretary of State John Kerry has held a surprise meeting with Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.
Three Israeli military aircraft violate Lebanese airspace PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Three Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over several areas of the country in a blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

Violence may spread in Malaysia’s Sabah: Sultan of Sulu PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III says violence may spread in Lahad Datu, a town in Sabah state of Malaysia as his followers are angry at the crackdown by Malaysia’s government against them.

UN: Rebel Clashes Kill 80, Displace Thousands in Eastern DRC VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations says clashes between rival rebel groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have left at least 80 people dead and approximately 100 people injured.

Next Taiwan-Japan meeting on fishing rights to be held soon: minister CNA 04 Mar 2013 -- The next preparatory meeting heralding a new round of bilateral fishery talks between Taiwan and Japan will be held soon, Foreign Minister David Lin said, adding that the meeting could take place in Tokyo.

Car bomb attack kills 5 in southern Yemen PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- At least five people have been killed in a car bomb attack in Southern Yemen, Witnesses and medical sources say.

Serbia-Kosovo Talks Start In Brussels RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has begun the sixth round of EU-mediated talks between Serbia and Kosovo.

News Reports

Secretary Kerry Remarks With Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal After Their Meeting US Dept. of State 04 Mar 2013
Remarks by the Vice President to the AIPAC Policy Conference The White House 04 Mar 2013
Kerry Talks Regional Issues With Gulf Arab Leaders VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says there is a “finite amount of time” for talks on Iran's nuclear program.
Israel concerned over US budget cuts PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Israel has expressed concern over the recent budget cuts that went into effect in the United States, saying they could affect Tel Aviv regime’s economy.
Would the Turkish Model Work in Arab Spring Countries? VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- The leader of one of the most popular political parties in Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began, says his model for the development of democracy in the Muslim world is Turkey.

Kerry Sees 'Finite' Time for Iran Nuclear Talks VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was "finite" time for talks between Iran and world powers on its disputed nuclear programme to bear fruit, but gave no hint how long Washington may be willing to negotiate.
UN nuclear watchdog reports on Fukushima accident, Iran and DPR Korea UN News Centre 04 Mar 2013 -- Head of IAEA presented a report in which he voiced concern about issues relating to Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
IAEA Chief Calls for Iran to Open Key Site VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- The head of the United Nations nuclear agency is stepping up pressure on Iran to address suspicions over nuclear weapons development.
IAEA urges swift access to Iran’s Parchin military site PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano has urged Iran to give international inspectors swift access to the Parchin military site located in the south of Tehran.
Kerry, IAEA Urge Progress On Nuclear Issue RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency have pressed Iran on making progress on the nuclear issue.
US prefers diplomacy to resolve Iran nuclear issue: Kerry PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry says America and Saudi Arabia prefer diplomatic channels for the settlement of issues related to Iran’s nuclear energy program.
VP Biden: US Not Bluffing on Iranian Nuclear Weapons VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Vice President Joe Biden says the United States is not bluffing about its determination to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Netanyahu Says Iran Using Diplomacy To 'Buy Time' RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Iran is using nuclear talks with world powers to "buy time" to work on building a nuclear bomb.
Barak: Iranian Nuclear Program World's 'Greatest Challenge' VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Iran's nuclear program is the biggest challenge facing Israel, the Middle East and the world.
US should lift pressures as prelude to direct talks IRNA 04 Mar 2013 -- United States of America should remove pressures and prove its honesty as a prelude to possible direct talks between the two countries.
Iran building 3,000 advanced centrifuges: IAEO chief PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Fereydoun Abbasi says the Islamic Republic is building 3,000 new-generation uranium enrichment centrifuges.
Iran to launch first professional telecom satellite: Official PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Head of Iran Space Agency says the country plans to launch its first professional telecom satellite named Qa’em into space in the coming years to cover Iranian TV channels and radio programs.
Iran Expediency Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei to run for president PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- The secretary of Iran’s top arbitration body, the Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezaei, has officially announced his candidacy for the next presidential election in June.

US, China Agree on N. Korea Sanctions VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- U.N. diplomats say the United States and China have reached a tentative deal on new sanctions to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test.
North Korea Escalates Threat to Scrap US Truce VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- North Korea's latest threat to nullify a 1953 armistice agreement with the United States marks an escalation of its long-standing rhetoric against Washington.
U.S. Military Challenge to DPRK Will Be Met by Strong Counteraction KCNA 04 Mar 2013 -- If the U.S. sticks to its hostile approach towards the DPRK, the DPRK will be left with no option but to take stronger countermeasures one after another.
Rodong Sinmun Observes First Anniversary of Kim Jong Un's Inspection of Panmunjom KCNA 04 Mar 2013 -- Rodong Sinmun dedicates a bylined article to the first anniversary of the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un's inspection of Panmunjom.

Pakistan Authorities Under Attack for Failing to Protect Shiite Minority VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Authorities in Pakistan are being severely criticized for failing to stop a wave of deadly attacks on the country's minority Shi'ite Muslims that has left nearly 250 people dead since early January.
Two killed, several injured in attack on Pakistan Shia funeral PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- At least two people have been killed and several others hurt in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi after gunmen opened fire on mourners attending a funeral held for the victims of a recent attack on Shia Muslims.
Karachi Mourns Bombing Victims RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- Pakistan's largest city Karachi has shut down in mourning for the 45 people who were killed by a car bomb in a Shi'ite neighborhood of the city.
Karachi Buries Bomb Victims VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Residents of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, have begun holding the funerals for the 45 people killed in a car bomb explosion outside a mosque that also wounded about 150 others.
Deadly bomb blasts kill 47 in Pakistan's Karachi IRNA 04 Mar 2013 -- At least 47 people were killed as two bomb blasts rocked the Pakistani commercial center of Karachi Sunday evening.
To Run, Or Not To Run - That Is The Question For Baluch Politicians RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- As the buzz begins to build ahead of Pakistan's parliamentary elections, expected sometime in May, politicians in that country's restive Balochistan Province are a divided bunch.
Pakistan court dismisses petition against Musharraf’s assets confiscation IRNA 04 Mar 2013 -- A Pakistani anti-terrorism court rejected an application against the confiscation of former president Pervez Musharraf's property and freezing his bank accounts.

UAE Tries 94 for Alleged Coup Plot VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Ninety-four people in Abu Dhabi went on trial Monday, charged with plotting to overthrow the government of the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt's Port Said police headquarters set ablaze amid protests PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- A section of the police headquarters in Egypt's northeastern city of Port Said has been set ablaze as clashes between security forces and protesters continue in the Suez Canal city.

Blast Hits Outside Indian President's Hotel in Dhaka VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Police in the capital of Bangladesh say a homemade bomb has exploded outside a hotel where the president of India is staying.
Security Tight in Bangladesh on Second Day of Strike VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Across towns and cities in Bangladesh, businesses closed shutters, schools were shut, and highways and streets were mostly deserted Monday amid a strike called by the Jamaat-e-Islami.

China Vows to Fight Corruption As Congress Opens VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- China's government promised to fight corruption, improve the environment and grow the economy.
China Begins Efforts to Lift Veil on Officials’ Assets VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- As China’s Communist Party leaders step up their efforts to fight corruption.
Burma Mine Protesters Await Report from Suu Kyi Committee VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- A copper mine in central Burma that is jointly run by the Burmese military and a Chinese company has been the source of controversy since December.

Kenyatta Holds Early Lead in Kenyan Presidential Vote VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Early results from Kenya's national elections show Uhuru Kenyatta taking the lead in the presidential poll.
Kenya Electoral Body Pleased With Election VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- An official of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says the group is pleased with the conduct of Monday’s general election despite security and logistical challenges during the voting.
17 die as violence mars Kenya elections PressTV 04 Mar 2013 -- Seventeen people have been killed in multiple attacks in Kenya as the county is holding its first general elections since the disputed vote in 2007 that triggered weeks of deadly violence.
Massive Turnout for Kenya Elections VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Vote counting has begun in Kenya after a day of heavy voter turnout and largely peaceful elections.
Kenyans Face Long Voting Lines VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Kenyans are standing in long lines to elect the country’s fourth president since independence.

Nobel Laureate Gbowee Laments Liberia’s Political Disputes VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Liberian Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee has warned that recent developments are undermining Liberia’s young democracy.

Chavez Suffering From Breathing Problems VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- Venezuela's information minister says President Hugo Chavez is suffering from a "new and severe" infection that has made it harder for him to breathe.

Traditional Healers Straddle Two Worlds in South Africa’s Fight Against HIV VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- In South Africa, UNAIDS estimates 5.6 million people are living with HIV and recent academic research shows that about 60 percent of the population consult traditional healers.

Putin Says ‘No Closed Issues’ in Talks with Ukraine RIA Novosti 04 Mar 2013 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said there are no “closed issues” on the agenda of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Russia to Put Dead Lawyer on Trial VOA 04 Mar 2013 -- A Moscow court plans to forge ahead with the trial of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in jail in 2009.

Czech Senate Impeaches Outgoing President Klaus For Treason RFE/RL 04 Mar 2013 -- The upper house of the Czech Parliament has voted to impeach outgoing President Vaclav Klaus for treason.

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