• 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 18 Mar 2013 [PDF]
• US, Afghanistan Struggle to Agree on Special Forces VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- More than a week after Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered U.S. special forces to leave a strategically key area near the capital, officials from both sides are still struggling to resolve the issue.
• Combined Force Arrests Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Leader AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Kunduz district of Afghanistan's Kunduz province, military officials reported.
• NATO Secretary General Discusses Progress in Afghanistan AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- Though setbacks may happen, real progress is taking place in Afghanistan, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels.
• ISAF asks Kabul to provide proof for claims about US-Taliban ties Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- The US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has called for the Afghan government to prove its recent statements that Washington has covert ties with the Taliban militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Media Availability with Deputy Secretary Carter at the United States Embassy, Seoul, South Korea DoD 18 Mar 2013 -- Presenter: Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter
• Bombers Show U.S. Resolve to Defend South Korea, Spokesman Says AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- It isn't just American capabilities in South Korea that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has to consider -- capabilities based outside South Korea also figure in the strategic calculus, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.
• Carter Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to South Korea AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- During a series of high-level meetings here, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with members of South Korean President Park Geun-hye's new administration, and with U.S. military and diplomatic officials.
• US vows to provide military aid to Seoul Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has vowed to provide any military assistance to South Korea under America's nuclear umbrella amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula due to Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Carter's Visit to South Korea DoD 18 Mar 2013
• Healthy Base Initiative Seeks Better Lifestyles AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- Thirteen installations will be assessed for their success in promoting healthy lifestyles for a better total workforce in the Healthy Base Initiative, Defense Department officials announced here today.
• DOD Announces Pilot Sites for Healthy Base Initiative AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- Thirteen pilot sites will participate in the Healthy Base Initiative, a demonstration project for the Defense Department's Operation Live Well, Pentagon officials announced.
• DOD Launches Healthy Base Initiative DoD 18 Mar 2013 -- The Department of Defense announced the selection of 13 sites to participate in its Healthy Base Initiative (HBI), a demonstration project for Operation Live Well, aimed at increasing the health and wellness of the total force, including civilians and family members.
• AF's top lawyer: Special Victims' Counsel supports sexual assault victims AFNS 18 Mar 2013 -- The Air Force's top lawyer testified Mar. 13 before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee on sexual assault in the military and ongoing efforts to combat the problem.
• Hagel Tasks Civilian, Military Leaders to Examine Strategy AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has tasked senior civilian and military personnel to examine the Defense Department's strategic assumptions, given changes in the fiscal environment, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.
• Dempsey Vows He, Chiefs Will 'Lead Through' Sequester AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- The nation's top military officer told a think tank audience here today that while U.S. forces face rising security and financial risk, he offers "a little peace of mind in the context of uncertainty."
• Gulf Remains Critical to U.S. Interests, Dempsey Says AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- The U.S. commitment to security in the Persian Gulf remains firm, the nation's senior military officer said here today.
• 1-14th Field Artillery trains up to move out Army News 18 Mar 2013 -- 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery conducted a culminating training exercise (CTE) Feb. 28 to March 4 at Fort Sill to certify the unit's readiness for its upcoming deployment to Central Command Area of Operations.
• USS Farragut Visits Montenegro NNS 18 Mar 2013 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) visited Bar, Montenegro, for a port visit March 11-14.
• Nellis pilot first reservist to fly F-35 AFNS 18 Mar 2013 -- A reservist from the 706th Fighter Squadron here recently became the first to fly the F-35 Lightning II, Air Force's newest aircraft.
• Edwards AFB Airmen begin F-35 operational testing AFNS 18 Mar 2013 -- The F-35 Lightning II program here entered a new phase of testing with the arrival of the first two operational test aircraft March 6.
• Combatant Commanders Praise State Partnership Program AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- The National Guard's State Partnership Program is an extraordinarily effective, enduring, low-cost tool to advance the national security objective of building partnership capacity, two veteran combatant commanders told Congress last week.
• Black Sea Rotational Force 13 deploys USMC News 18 Mar 2013 -- Marines and sailors with Black Sea Rotational Force 13 deployed from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Eastern Europe for a six-month tour.
• Southern Partnership Station Confronts Transnational Crime AFPS 18 Mar 2013 -- Working with three Central American counterparts to help them build capability to counter transnational criminals, participants in Southern Partnership Station 2013 are supporting U.S. Southern Command's outreach to the region, and by extension, U.S. national security, a Southcom official told American Forces Press Service.
• Estonia praised for its commitment to Allied collective security, operations NATO 18 Mar 2013 -- Estonia was commended for its commitment to the Alliance's collective security and its operations on Monday (18 March) during a visit by Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to NATO headquarters.
• Russia Goes Ahead with 5G Submarine Project RIA Novosti 18 Mar 2013 -- Work is in progress on the newest fifth-generation nuclear-powered and diesel submarines at Russia's Rubin Central Design Bureau, Rubin head Igor Vilnit said on Monday.
• Russian Frigates to Get Advanced Missile Systems RIA Novosti 18 Mar 2013 -- Russia will install Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) missile systems on three of its Project 11356 frigates, the Baltic shipbuilding plant said on Monday.
• Russian Military Inspectors to Fly Over Germany, Benelux RIA Novosti 18 Mar 2013 -- Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territories of Germany and the Benelux countries under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Monday, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• China warns US over missile plans against North Korea Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- China has warned that the United States plans to strengthen its missile systems in response to North Korea's alleged threat would only "intensify antagonism."
• Russia sees no concession in US defense plan for Europe Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- Russia says it saw 'no concession' in a decision by the United States to discard the final phase of Washington's missile shield plan for Europe.
• MND dismisses report on mass production of medium-range missiles CNA 18 Mar 2013 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) dismissed a media report Monday that the military will start mass production of medium-range missiles in 2014, saying that 'it is by no means true.'
• 18 March 2013 - Press Conference on Final United Nations Conference on Arms Trade Treaty United Nations 18 Mar 2013
• UN chief urges consensus on robust arms trade treaty as conference begins UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged participants of the United Nations Final Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to conclude work by 28 March on a comprehensive instrument that would establish standards for international trade in conventional weapons.
• UN Arms Treaty Talks Resume VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- Negotiations begin again this week to reach an agreement on what could be a landmark U.N. treaty to regulate the multi-billion dollar global arms trade.
• March 18, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Mar 2013
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 03/18/2013 The White House 18 Mar 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 18, 2013
• China Now World's 5th Biggest Arms Exporter VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- China has overtaken Britain as the world's fifth biggest exporter of conventional arms, according to a Swedish research group.
• China Replaces UK as Fifth Global Arms Exporter - SIPRI RIA Novosti 18 Mar 2013 -- China has become the world's fifth largest exporter of major conventional arms, replacing the United Kingdom, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report Monday.
• BAE Systems inks £2.5bn deal with Oman Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- British arms producer BAE Systems has signed a key £2.5 billion deal with Oman to supply 12 Typhoon fighter jets and eight Hawk trainer jets to the Persian Gulf country.

Other Conflicts

• 18 March 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Mar 2013
• US Does Not Oppose Britain, France Arming Syrian Opposition VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the Obama administration does not oppose moves by the United Kingdom and France to arm opponents of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
• Syrian planes bomb militant targets along Lebanon border Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- Syrian planes have bombed targets along the country's border with Lebanon for the first time, hitting militant positions inside Lebanon, a Lebanese army source says.
• Syrian Opposition Meets to Pick Prime Minister VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- The opposition Syrian National Coalition is meeting in Turkey to elect a prime minister tasked with running rebel-held areas of Syria.
• Former Secretary of State Pessimistic on Mideast Prospects VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says President Barack Obama should push to reopen Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but that he is not expecting any major breakthroughs from the president's Middle East visit this week.
• Briefing: Beyond the E-1 Israeli settlement IRIN 18 Mar 2013 -- Last month, an international fact-finding mission on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council found that settlements constituted a violation of international human rights and humanitarian law and called on Israel to stop all expansions immediately and withdraw from settlements.
• Israeli settler violence must be prosecuted, says UN human rights chief UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations human rights chief today urged Israel to prosecute settlers who carry out violent acts against Palestinians, while also calling on Government forces to refrain from using excessive force and to guarantee adequate handling of child detainees, following reports of ill-treatment.
• Ban stresses importance of successful outcome to Serbia-Kosovo dialogue UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of a successful outcome to the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, and called on both parties to remain committed to reaching agreements through mutually acceptable solutions.
• UN human rights chief welcomes 'historic' trial for Guatemalan genocide UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- The top United Nations human rights official has applauded the beginning of the "historic" trial of Guatemala's former head of State and former head of intelligence who are both accused of crimes committed in the Central American nation over 30 years ago, and urged local authorities to ensure the execution of a fair and independent legal proceeding.
• Rebel Surrender, a Boost to DRC Peace Process, Says Official VOA 18 Mar 2013 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expressed confidence the U.S embassy in neighboring Rwanda will ensure Bosco Ntaganda is prosecuted on war crimes charges.
• Yemen begins national reconciliation talks under UN supervision Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- Yemen has launched a national reconciliation dialogue under the supervision of the United Nations to pave the way for elections and a new constitution, ending the prolonged political crisis in the country.
• Somalia: UN envoy shocked and saddened by 'cowardly' attack in Mogadishu UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations envoy in Somalia voiced shock and sadness at's car bombing in the capital, Mogadishu, which reportedly killed several people and wounded many more.
• Head of UN food aid agency urges support for Mali and entire Sahel region UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- The international community must continue its efforts to help feed people in the Sahel, the head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said, following a visit to the West African region marred by high levels of food and nutrition insecurity, as well as the effects of the conflict in Mali.

News Reports

• Iran, P5+1 begin second day of expert-level talks in Istanbul Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) have started their second day of expert-level nuclear talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
• British, U.S. spies ignored intelligence before Iraq invasion Iran Press TV 18 Mar 2013 -- Britain and U.S. spying agencies had ignored intelligence before invasion of Iraq that the country had no active weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), it has been revealed.
• Former Belarus Intelligence Officer Gets Asylum In Lithuania RFE/RL 18 Mar 2013 -- Former Belarusian military intelligence officer Stsyapan Zakharchanka has been granted political asylum in Lithuania.
• Iraq making progress on maternal health but still short of development goals, says UN UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- Despite sustained progress in reducing maternal deaths in Iraq, concerted efforts are still required to push the country closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on maternal health, says the United Nations health agency.
• Iraq: Ban urges dialogue amid increased tensions, welcomes offer to Iranian group UN News Centre 18 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a new report, voices concern about political tensions and security incidents in Iraq, which have increased in recent months, and calls on all parties to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
• Sea Launch, EchoStar Announce Comsat Launch with Zenit-3SL RIA Novosti 18 Mar 2013 -- Sea Launch AG plans to launch a satellite for US satellite services provider Echostar Corp. from its Pacific Ocean-based Odyssey platform in 2015, the companies said Monday.