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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 07 Jun 2013 [PDF]
• DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation DoD 07 Jun 2013
• ISAF Commander Salutes Fallen Georgian Service Members AFPS 07 Jun 2013 -- Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., International Security Assistance Force commander, today released a statement where he offered his condolences to the families and friends of the seven Georgian service members who were killed yesterday in southern Afghanistan.
• ISAF confirms 7 Georgian soldiers killed in Afghanistan Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- The US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan have confirmed the death of at least seven Georgian soldiers in a car bomb attack in the restive southern province of Helmand.
• Afghans react angrily to Bales sentence Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Residents of Afghan villages in Kandahar province where a US trooper murdered many last year have reacted angrily after learning that he has escaped the death penalty.
• US Marines deployed along Jordan border with Syria: Report Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- US Marines have reportedly been deployed along Jordan border with Syria as the Syrian Army continues to inflict heavy losses on foreign-backed militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 'PRISM' Critical to US Internet Surveillance VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- News accounts and officials said U.S. intelligence agencies have been peering into the servers used by nine major Internet companies and tracking millions of phone calls. Among them are Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Skype and Apple. All of the tech companies have denied any affiliation with PRISM.
• Obama Defends Secret Surveillance Programs VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- The Guardian newspaper reported late Friday that U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered various government agencies to prepare for offensive cyberwarfare operations, including drawing up a list of potential overseas targets for U.S. cyber-attacks.
• Statement by the President The WHite House 07 Jun 2013
• Obama Defends US Surveillance Programs VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has defended for the first time the National Security Agency's surveillance of telephone and Internet records, saying Americans should trust those who conduct the programs who are working to prevent new terrorist attacks.
• US Spy Chief Slams Leaks on Surveillance Program VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- The top U.S. spy chief has slammed the leak of top-secret documents that have shed light on how the government collects information on people's telephone records and Internet use.
• Independent UN rights expert urges more clarity on US counter-terrorism policies UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today wrapped up his visit to Washington, DC by calling for more clarity on aspects of President Barack Obama's speech last month on United States counter-terrorism policy, particularly on the use of drones.
• Army Suspends Major General DoD 07 Jun 2013
• Readout of Secretary Hagel's Meeting with Bahrain's Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa DoD 07 Jun 2013
• Exercise Shared Resilience 13 wraps up in Macedonia Army News 07 Jun 2013 -- Shared Resilience 2013 wrapped up today with a closing ceremony here June 7.
• USAREUR CG visits Saber Strike 2013 situational training exercise in Latvia Army News 07 Jun 2013 -- U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell concluded his visit to Exercise Saber Strike 2013 here, June 6.
• USS Providence Receives NUC in Support of Operation Odyssey Dawn NNS 07 Jun 2013 -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) was presented the prestigious Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, June 7.
• Intelligence and National Security Alliance Baker Award dinner, remarks as prepared for delivery by the Honorable James R. Clapper in honor of General Michael V. Hayden, USAF (Ret.) Director of National Intelligence 07 Jun 2013
• Hagel, Bahraini Crown Prince Meet at Pentagon AFPS 07 Jun 2013 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with Bahraini Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa at the Pentagon today, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
• USS Gonzalez and Tanzania Conduct Anti-Piracy Focused PASSEX NNS 07 Jun 2013 -- Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and Tanzanian People's Defence Force (TPDF) navy exchanged best practices and exercised techniques of maritime interdiction, June 6.
• PCU Minnesota (SSN 783) Delivers Ahead of Schedule, Achieves Highest Readiness Scores of the Class NNS 07 Jun 2013 -- The Navy took delivery of the future USS Minnesota (SSN 783) from Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) June 6, 11 months early of the submarine's contract delivery date of April 2014.
• NAVSEA Holds Change of Command NNS 07 Jun 2013 -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) held a change of command ceremony, June 7, at the Washington Navy Yard.
• Missile officer recertification program makes great strides AFNS 07 Jun 2013 -- Ten of the 19 missile crew members from the 91st Operations Group at Minot AFB, N.D., have been recertified and are able to fully perform their alert duties.
• Security a Priority in DOD Move to Mobile Devices AFPS 07 Jun 2013 -- The Defense Department wants to provide secure access to information from any device, anywhere and anytime, but the priority is security, the department's principal deputy chief information officer said here yesterday.
• USS La Jolla Holds Change of Command Ceremony NNS 07 Jun 2013 -- Smiles lit faces and handshakes were exchanged at a time-honored change of command ceremony at the submarine piers for the Los Angeles Class submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 6.
• California first responders train for response on former Fort Ord Army News 07 Jun 2013 -- Golden Guardian is California's annual statewide exercise series that helps prepare organizations to respond to such events.
• Brigade activation strengthens contracting capability Army News 07 Jun 2013 -- Officials from the Army Contracting Command activated the 419th Contracting Support Brigade during a ceremony June 7 at Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Army Suggestion Program suspended Army News 07 Jun 2013 -- In accordance with a Department of the Army, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary, Memorandum dated April 19, 2013, the Army's Suggestion Program has been suspended.
• Japan, France to enhance special partnership on defense sector Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Japan and France have announced a plan for working on the joint development of military hardware, as Tokyo is still engaged in a territorial dispute with China over a group of islands in the East China Sea.
• Russia, Ukraine to Hold Joint Naval Drills on June 19-25 RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- Some 15 warships and auxiliary vessels will take part in Russian-Ukrainian anti-piracy exercises in the Black Sea on June 19-25, a Russian Black Sea Fleet spokesman has said.
• Russia deploys permanent naval unit to Mediterranean Sea Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Moscow says it has dispatched a permanent naval unit to the Mediterranean Sea, a move that the Russian president says is aimed at defending the country's security.
• Russia to hold 200 drills in next 6 months Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has announced plans for conducting more than 200 drills in the next six months.
• Russia Tests New Ballistic Missile RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- The Russian Strategic Missile Forces have tested a prototype of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Defense Ministry said.
• MiG-29 Fraudster Gets Suspended Sentence RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- A Moscow court has given a four-year suspended sentence to the last defendant in the criminal case over deliveries of low-quality equipment for MiG-29 fighters that were rejected by Algeria in 2007, Russia's business daily Kommersant said Friday.
• Russian Missile Forces to Hold 200 Drills in Next 6 Months RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces will conduct over 200 exercises in the next six months, the Defense Ministry has said.
• Russia Tests 'Missile Defense Killer' RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- The US missile defense system is no match for the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that Russia tested this week, a senior Russian official said Friday.
• Russian Nuclear Submarine Contracts 'Underpriced' RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- Former Russian Defense Ministry officials forced shipbuilders to underprice nuclear submarine contracts, which nearly scuttled the 2011 State Defense Order, a senior Russian official said Friday.
• June 7, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Jun 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 07, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 7 June 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 Jun 2013
• Lebanon Moves To Avoid Syria War Spillover VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- The military command issued a strong warning Friday that Lebanese should be "wary of plots" that could turn the nation into a battlefield like next door in Syria.
• Syria Army retakes three villages near Qusayr Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Syrian troops have managed to retake control of several villages near the recently liberated strategic city of al-Qusayr in Homs province.
• Russian FM warns against claims Syria used chemical weapons Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Russia's foreign minister has warned against 'speculations and provocation' surrounding claims that Syrian forces used chemical weapons against militants.
• UN Launches Record $5 Billion Syria Aid Appeal RFE/RL 07 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations is seeking $5 billion to fund relief operations in Syria through to the end of the year.
• Russia Offers to Send Peacekeepers to Golan Heights RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia was ready to deploy its troops to the Golan Heights, in eastern Israel, to replace Austrian peacekeepers as part of a UN monitoring mission on the border between Israeli troops and the Syrian army.
• UN Launches Record $5-Bln Aid Drive for Syria RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations plans to raise more than $5 billion to aid victims of the ongoing civil war in Syria, a UN refugee agency said Friday.
• UN announces largest ever humanitarian appeal for conflict-torn Syria UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations today launched a $4.4 billion humanitarian appeal – the largest aid request in the Organization's history – to assist the growing number of people suffering the effects of the crisis in Syria, which began two years ago with peaceful demonstrations but has since turned into a bloody conflict.
• Syria: Security Council 'gravely concerned' about situation of civilians in Qusayr UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations Security Council today urged Syrian authorities to protect civilians and to allow humanitarian access to the embattled town of Qusayr, where some families fleeing the fighting reported having had to hide for days without food.
• Security Council to hold emergency talks on UN peacekeeping force in Golan Heights UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- The Security Council has strongly condemned the "intense" fighting in the Golan Heights, including the attack that injured two United Nations peacekeepers yesterday, and is set to hold closed-door talks today on the latest developments, including the decision by one of the major troop contributors to withdraw its soldiers from the mission amid escalating violence in Syria.
• UN Launches $4.4 Billion Appeal to Help Syrians VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- Estimating that 6.8 million Syrians are in need of urgent help, the United Nations on Friday launched a record $4.4 billion international aid appeal for operations in Syria and neighboring countries.
• Austria to pull out UN forces in Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Austria says it will withdraw all of its peacekeeping forces from the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory of the Golan Heights, following clashes between Syrian forces and militants that led to the injury of two UN observers.
• CPRK Spokesman Proposes Working Contact to South Side KCNA 07 Jun 2013 -- The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA Friday as regards the positive response of the south Korean authorities to the proposal made by the DPRK on holding talks between the authorities of the north and the south in its special statement:
• Russia Welcomes North-South Korea Talks RIA Novosti 07 Jun 2013 -- Moscow welcomes the news that North and South Korea are to start talks about a jointly-run industrial area, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
• First Inter-Korean Talks in Two Years Imminent VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- Working-level talks between the two Koreas will apparently take place Sunday. This would mark a significant thawing of the chill on the peninsula where tension has been high in recent months amid Pyongyang's war rhetoric and its nuclear and missile tests.
• Press Conference on Findings of Assessment Mission to World Heritage Sites Damaged in Mali Conflict United Nations 07 Jun 2013
• Reports: Malian Army, Rebels Guilty of Recent Abuses VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- As the Malian army prepares to advance on the northern rebel-held town of Kidal, reports by two international human rights groups are condemning what they say are serious and recent abuses by both the Malian army and Tuareg separatist group, the MNLA. Human Rights Watch (HRW) warns that violations could intensify if fresh fighting breaks out for Kidal. Regionally mediated negotiations between Mali's government and the MNLA are scheduled to begin Friday to try to find a peaceful solution to the crisis ahead of nationwide elections set for July 28.
• UN Cites Extensive Damage to Timbuktu VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- The United Nations and Malian officials are warning that damage to that country's cultural sites is greater than first thought. Officials say ancient mosques, mausoleums and manuscripts in the city of Timbuktu have been damaged or destroyed after rebels in the north of country rose up against the government last year.
• Up to 140,000 people still displaced one year after communal clashes in Myanmar – UN UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- Up to 140,000 people remain displaced a year after inter-communal violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state, the United Nations refugee agency said today.
• Homelessness serious threat to refugees in Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia – UN report UN News Centre 07 Jun 2013 -- Homelessness and the threat of homelessness are two of the most serious conditions affecting refugees and asylum-seekers living in Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia, according to a report released today by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• Visit to Boko Haram Zone Leaves Unanswered Questions VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- In the three and a half weeks since Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states, thousands of troops have been deployed and the military says it has cleared out several camps belonging to the militant group Boko Haram. For the first time since all this began, journalists were allowed to visit the battle zone this week, including Heather Murdock who filed this story for VOA.
• Taiwan asserts sovereignty over Diaoyutai Islands CNA 07 Jun 2013 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Friday that the Diaoyutai Islands and their surrounding waters are inherent parts of the territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
• Timor-Leste promotes traditional conflict resolution IRIN 07 Jun 2013 -- 'Tara bandu', a traditional form of conflict resolution, can play a bigger role in mitigating conflict in Timor-Leste at the community level, local leaders and experts say.
• Guineans flee Conakry unrest, ethnic tension IRIN 07 Jun 2013 -- Guinea's political violence is hitting residents of the capital Conakry increasingly hard, with some families forced to flee their homes and others relocating for fear of ethnically based attacks.
• Abbas swears in new Palestinian Authority government Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas has sworn in a new government headed by Rami Hamdallah, a senior academic, who is expected to lead a temporary government for several months.

News Reports

• Obama, Xi Emphasize Importance of U.S.-China Relationship AFPS 07 Jun 2013 -- President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping both highlighted the importance of the U.S.-China relationship during their remarks made today before the start of their informal talks at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
• EU official slams Turkey police crackdown on protesters Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- A senior European Union official has criticized the excessive use of police force against anti-government protesters in Turkey, calling for an investigation into the violence.
• Erdogan, Fuele Address Turkish Protest Crackdown RFE/RL 07 Jun 2013 -- European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that using excessive force against demonstrators 'has no place' in a democracy.
• 'Turkey's Putin' Faces His Toughest Challenge Yet RFE/RL 07 Jun 2013 -- As a national wave of protests against his rule continues and expands, Erdogan seems to be in a position very similar to the one Vladimir Putin found himself in during late 2011 and early 2012, when tens of thousands of Muscovites took to the streets to call for his ouster as Russia's leader.
• Turkish PM Demands End to Protests VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- On his return home Friday from a tour of North Africa, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his tough stance towards the ongoing nationwide protests sparked by last week's violent police crackdown on a demonstration against the destruction of a park in central Istanbul.
• Envoy: Tehran waiting for Moscow's response on S-300 defense systems IRNA 07 Jun 2013 -- Iran's Ambassador to Moscow Reza Sajjadi announced that Iran is still waiting for a response from Russia about Iran's offer on withdrawing the latter's complain concerning the former's non-delivery of the S-300 air defense systems.
• Iranian candidates hold final live debate on domestic, foreign policy Iran Press TV 07 Jun 2013 -- Iran presidential candidates have held their third and final live debate on television, discussing their domestic and foreign policies ahead of the upcoming presidential poll.
• Iran's Presidential Candidates Meet For Third, Final Debate RFE/RL 07 Jun 2013 -- The eight candidates running for president of Iran have begun their third and final televised debate.
• Pakistan's 25-member federal cabinet sworn in IRNA 07 Jun 2013 -- A 25-member Pakistani cabinet Friday took oath, marking completion of the government formation following the May 11 general elections.
• Extremists Setting Up Shop In Libya VOA 07 Jun 2013 -- Growing lawlessness in southern Libya and an influx of Islamist militants from Mali are stoking worries that Libya's security weaknesses are fast becoming a destabilizing factor in the region.