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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 26 Mar 2013 [PDF]
• Combined Force in Kandahar Province Arrests Taliban Leader AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained another insurgent in the Shah Wali Kot district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
• Kerry Reaffirms Commitment to Partnership With Afghanistan AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- The United States is committed to an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said yesterday in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
• US only interested in bringing Taliban to negotiation table, Kerry says PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington has no interest in Afghanistan other than getting the Taliban to the negotiation table to make peace.
• Pakistan army chief, US Kerry discuss security issues IRNA 26 Mar 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry and Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani discussed "Afghanistan and security issues concerning South Asian region".
• Suicide Bombers Strike in Eastern Afghanistan VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Afghan officials say a group of suicide bombers has attacked a police base in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing at least five officers.
• Car bomb kills, injures 40 US-led troops in Afghanistan PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Taliban militants claim at least 40 US-led soldiers have been killed or injured in a car bomb attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province
• Afghan police base attack kills dozen PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- A dozen people, including five Afghan policemen, have been killed and several others wounded in a militant attack on a police facility in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad.
• Australia to shut Afghanistan base by end of 2013 PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith says his country plans to close its main military base in Afghanistan and withdraw most of its troops from the country by the end of the year.
• ANA Kandak commander leaves big impression USMC News 26 Mar 2013

Defense Policy / Programs

• US, Russian Defense Chiefs Agree to Resume Missile Defense Talks RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2013 -- Russian and US defense chiefs agreed to resume missile defense talks at the deputy minister level.
• Hagel, Russian Counterpart Discuss Mutual Security Issues AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu made a congratulatory call to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and the two leaders discussed a range of issues.
• Several more Guantanamo prisoners on hunger strike PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Several more detainees at the United States’ infamous Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba are staging a hunger strike.
• 2CR, Slovenians work together for future deployment Army News 26 Mar 2013 -- The teamwork and partnerships are important to the U.S. Army and a valuable asset to the 2 CR. The Slovenian Soldiers enjoyed the camaraderie and the challenge presented by playing the roll of Afghan Security Forces during the event.
• Army South works with Colombian army to plan future joint activities during staff talks Army News 26 Mar 2013 -- In order to meet today's challenges and tomorrow's uncertain conflicts, the U.S. Army must continue to shape the environment by working closely with and engaging our partners while building partner nation capacity.
• Japan Ground Self-Defense Force unit's relocation onto Camp Zama a 'major milestone' Army News 26 Mar 2013 -- The relocation of a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force unit onto Camp Zama, which culminated with a welcome ceremony held here March 26, marks a 'major milestone' in the U.S.-Japan security arrangement, the commander of U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward) said.
• 84th Engineer Battalion conducts Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Army News 26 Mar 2013 -- Staying on top of their training and being always prepared, the Forward Support Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, conducted a 48-hour Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise during their deployment at Camp Covington, Naval Base Guam.
• Rolling Thunder puts logistics Marines to the test USMC News 26 Mar 2013 -- Marines and sailors with 2nd Marine Logistics Group left here, March 7 to support 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division during Rolling Thunder, a biannual joint training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C.
• BSRF-13 launches exercise Agile Spirit USMC News 26 Mar 2013 -- Marines and sailors assigned to Black Sea Rotational Force 13 marked the beginning of Exercise Agile Spirit 13, a three-week long bilateral exercise, by participating in the opening ceremony at Vaziani Airfield, Republic of Georgia, March 18.
• Executive Officer of Patrol Squadron Four Reassigned Following Allegations of Misconduct NNS 26 Mar 2013 -- Commander, Patrol Reconnaissance Wing Two, Capt. Christopher P. Ramsden, has reassigned the Executive Officer of the Hawaii-based Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) due to an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
• With Some New Flexibility, Officials Reassess Spending Cuts AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- Defense Department officials are trying to find the best way to make $46 billion in spending cuts.
• Marine Corps Prepares for Quadrennial Review Process AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- The Marine Corps enters the Quadrennial Defense Review process confident that examination will show the Marines’ trajectory is on the right track.
• Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Kicks Off in Nepal AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- U.S. Pacific Command’s deputy commander opened a multinational peacekeeping exercise in Nepal, praising planners and participants.
• Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment, Research Pay Off AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- Service members who have suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and psychological ills can benefit from an intensive four-week program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence here.
• Joint press point by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Ðukanovic NATO 26 Mar 2013
• S. Korean Large-scale Naval Exercises KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The south Korean naval force is staging large-scale mobile drills in the West Sea of Korea from March 25.
• Taiwan warns of growing challenges to its self-defense CNA 26 Mar 2013 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense warned that the military balance across the Taiwan Strait is tilting further in China's favor.
• Taiwan military drill to begin next month in Penghu CNA 26 Mar 2013 -- Taiwan's annual series of military exercise, coded Han Kuang No. 29 this year, will begin in the Penghu Islands off southwestern Taiwan next month and will include live fire.
• 26 March 2013 - Press Conference by Parliamentarians on Arms Trade Treaty United Nations 26 Mar 2013
• Ban urges determination to achieve substantial arms trade treaty as conference nears end UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged conference participants to show a shared determination to put in place substantial measures.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, March 26, 2013 US Dept. of State 26 Mar 2013
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 3/26/2013 The White House 26 Mar 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 26, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 26 March 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 26 Mar 2013
• North Korean Threats Help No One, Pentagon Official Says AFPS 26 Mar 2013 -- The newest threats by North Korea follow a well-worn pattern designed to raise tensions and intimidate others.
• Pentagon Condemns North Korean Threats VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- The Pentagon is warning North Korea to stop threatening to fire artillery at South Korea and U.S. bases in the Pacific.
• Fresh North Korean Threat to Attack America, South Korea VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- North Korea says it has put its rocket units on the highest combat readiness level.
• Pyongyang Announces Rockets 'Target' U.S. Bases RFE/RL 26 Mar 2013 -- North Korea says its strategic rocket and artillery units are now targeting South Korea and U.S. military bases in the Pacific Ocean and in the mainland United States.
• North Korea Targets US Mainland RIA Novosti 26 Mar 2013 -- North Korea said it had ordered its strategic rocket and long-range artillery units to target US military bases on Guam, Hawaii and mainland America.
• North Korea 'combat posture' to hit US if attacked PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- North Korea has called its armed forces for a ‘sacred war’ for destroying the United States and its regional puppets at one stroke.
• DPRK Will Show Its Will for Counteraction with Military Action: KPA Supreme Command KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army issued the following statement.
• DPRK Servicepersons Infuriated at Provocation KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- Upon hearing the statement of the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army, all the servicepersons of the DPRK are thirsting for an order of rapid action to attack the provokers.
• DPRK People Vow Revenge on U.S., S. Korean Puppets KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The statement of the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army is arousing the DPRK army and people to a sacred war.
• DPRK Will Wipe Out Aggressors Wherever They Might Be: Rodong Sinmun KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The service personnel and the people of the DPRK warned that it would wipe out the U.S. military bases in south Korea and the bases of the U.S.
• AA Nullification Is Bold Decision to Terminate State of War on Korean Peninsula: KCNA Report (2) KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The Korean Central News Agency released a report clarifying the justice of the decision for nullifying the Korean Armistice Agreement.
• KCNA Commentary Blasts Story of "Drug Trafficking" by DPRK KCNA 26 Mar 2013 -- The Washington Post is misleading the public opinion by releasing the fictitious story of "drug trafficking" by the DPRK, pursuant to the government authorities' hostile policy toward it.
• Syrian Opposition Takes Seat at Arab Summit VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Syria's opposition representatives took the country's seat at an Arab summit for the first time.
• Syria's brain drain – another twist to the country's crisis IRIN 26 Mar 2013 -- The exodus of educated and skilled Syrians is increasingly depleting the country's workforce and the quality of its health services, already strained by two years of conflict.
• Opposition Council Given Syria's Arab League Seat RFE/RL 26 Mar 2013 -- The Arab League has opened its two-day summit in Doha, with the Qatari emir inviting Syria’s opposition to take Syria’s seat.
• Damascus slams Arab League’s decision to give Syria's seat to opposition PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- The Syrian government has censured a decision by the Arab League to hand Syria’s seat to opposition forces on the eve of the organization’s annual summit in the Qatari capital.
• Swedish scientist to lead probe in Syria UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban has appointed Professor Åke Sellström of Sweden to head the United Nations fact-finding mission which will investigate allegations of the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.
• West using UN probe in Syria chemical attack to oust Assad: Russia PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Russia says Western powers have attempted to take advantage of a United Nations probe into the recent use of chemical weapons by foreign-backed militants in Syria.
• US training Syria militants in Jordan: Report PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- A report has disclosed that the US has been involved in training militants fighting against the Syrian government in the neighboring country of Jordan.
• Jordan closes main border crossing with Syria due to clashes PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Jordan has closed its main border crossing with Syria following intense clashes between the Syrian army and foreign-backed militant groups in Syria near the Jordanian border.
• Blue helmets active in Golan Heights but in reduced capacity – UN peacekeeping chief UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights have reduced their activities in response to the presence of armed groups from the Syrian conflict.
• Syria: UN refugee agency urges access for humanitarian aid UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations refugee agency reiterated its appeal to all parties to ensure safe passage for convoys delivering humanitarian aid to civilians inside Syria.
• CAR Rebel Leader Suspends Constitution VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- The rebel leader in the Central African Republic says he is suspending the constitution and will rule by decree, following a coup that ousted the nation's president of 10 years.
• Bangui Tense, but Calm, as CAR Rebels Establish Control VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Rebels in the Central African Republic have promised to dissolve the government, days after driving the president from the capital.
• Central African Republic to hold elections in 3 years: Seleka spokesman PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- A spokesman for the Seleka fighters says that they are supervising a return to calm and they would hold elections in Central African Republic after a transition period of three years.
• Central African Republic: after power grab, Security Council calls for protecting civilians UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The Security Council called on all parties in the Central African Republic to refrain from acts of violence against civilians.
• Press Conference by Foreign Ministers Representing Argentina, Union of South American Nations United Nations 26 Mar 2013
• Press Conference by Permanent Representative of United Kingdom United Nations 26 Mar 2013
• Falkland Islands (Malvinas) dispute tops talks between Ban and Latin American officials UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Uruguay discussed the issue of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) during their meeting today at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
• UN mission verifies start of Sudan, South Sudan withdrawal from zone in Abyei UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations peacekeeping force in the Abyei area has completed its first verification mission.
• Briefing: In Somalia, relative peace belies rocky road ahead IRIN 26 Mar 2013 -- Since the August 2011 withdrawal of Al-Shabab insurgents from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, security has improved.
• Congolese rebel leader makes initial appearance before International Criminal Court UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The International Criminal Court set 23 September as the start date for the confirmation of charges hearing for Congolese rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda.
• Congolese Rebel Leader Ntaganda Faces ICC VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Congolese war-crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
• Rwandan warlord pleads not guilty to Congo crimes at ICC PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda has pleaded not guilty to string of war crime charges ranging from murder and rape to using child soldiers.
• Curfew Imposed in DRC Mining Hub After Shootout VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a curfew in the town of Lubumbashi, after clashes between insurgents and the army left at least 35 people dead.
• Obama Trip Renews Debate over Israeli-Palestinian Solution VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have re-ignited the prospect of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

News Reports

• Economic Issues Plague the Arab Spring VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Activists in much of the Arab world often risked their lives two years ago to change what they considered to be outmoded, unresponsive and sometimes authoritarian political systems.
• US, Israel cyber attacks on Iran act of force: NATO PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- A NATO-commissioned international group of researchers says the 2009 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities constituted “an act of force.”
• Saudi Arabia Says Spy Ring Worked For Iran RFE/RL 26 Mar 2013 -- Saudi Arabia says an investigation shows that members of an alleged spy ring arrested last week were working for Iran.
• Decision Time For Iran's Great Reformist Hope RFE/RL 26 Mar 2013 -- To run or not to run, that is the question for Mohammad Khatami.
• India insists on continuing Iran oil imports PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily has emphasized that his country will not halt imports of Iranian crude oil, rejecting recent Western news reports to the contrary.
• Bomb Kills Two Officials In Northern Iraqi Town RFE/RL 26 Mar 2013 -- Iraqi police say powerful explosives attached to a car has killed two local officials and wounded another in northern Iraq.
• Shia Saudi cleric Sheikh Nimr charged with instigating unrest PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- A court in Saudi Arabia has charged prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr with "instigating unrest" and "seeking foreign meddling" in the kingdom.
• Religious Unrest Threatens Reform, Warns Burma VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- The Burmese governent as publically acknowlegded that spreading tensions between Buddhists and Muslims are threatening democratic reforms.
• UN Official Says Muslims Targeted in Burma VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- The United Nations' top official for Burma said that recent sectarian violence in the central part of the country was “clearly targeted” against Muslim communities in the mostly Buddhist nation.
• Families still in need as calm returns to Myanmar’s Meiktila IRIN 26 Mar 2013 -- Inside a stadium now sheltering more than 2,000 displaced people in the central Myanmar town of Meiktila, residents appear dazed.
• Mosques, Homes Destroyed in Latest Burma Violence VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Sectarian violence spread further into the heartland of Burma, with officials reporting at least two mosques and dozens of homes destroyed in riots.
• Death toll from attacks targeting Myanmar Muslims rises to 40 PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Myanmar government says death toll from recent attacks targeting Rohingya Muslims in central part of the country has risen to 40.
• South Sudan Citizens Have Say on New Constitution VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Residents in Jonglei state are having their say on what they think should be included in the new constitution of South Sudan.
• US Citizens in Kenya Told to Be Cautious During Vote Ruling VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- The U.S. Embassy in Kenya has warned its citizens of possible unrest when the Supreme Court is due to rule on a legal challenge to the outcome of the presidential election.
• Ahead of drawdown, Security Council extends UN office in Sierra Leone for one year UN News Centre 26 Mar 2013 -- The Security Council extended the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone until 31 March 2014.
• Zambia Opposition Condemns Ex-President Banda’s Prosecution VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Zambia’s main opposition, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), has condemned the prosecution of former president Rupiah Banda for corruption.
• Maduro warns of sabotage plans in Venezuela PressTV 26 Mar 2013 -- Venezuela's acting president has accused political opponents of drawing up plans to sabotage the Latin American country’s electricity grid and disrupt food distribution.
• Pope Wants to Stay in Simple Residence for Now VOA 26 Mar 2013 -- Pope Francis wants to stay for the time being in a simple Vatican residence instead of moving into the spacious and regal papal apartments.