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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 16 Aug 2013 [PDF]
• Security forces kill two dozen Taliban militants across Afghanistan Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2013 -- Afghan security forces have killed two dozen Taliban militants across the war-ravaged country over the past 24 hours.
• USS Rentz Seizes a Ton of Cocaine Worth $78 Million During its First Week in 4th Fleet NNS 16 Aug 2013 -- Less than a week on station in the 4th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) the frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) seized 2,123 lbs. of cocaine from a fishing vessel north of the Galapagos Islands last week.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NSA Violated Privacy Rules 'Thousands of Times' – Report RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) violated laws and regulations thousands of times annually in recent years in capturing and storing surveillance data on US and foreign citizens, the Washington Post reported Friday.
• Report: NSA Broke Privacy Rules Repeatedly VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- A National Security Agency internal audit and other top secret documents disclosed by U.S. news media show the agency 'has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times' each year since Congress granted NSA broad new powers in 2008.
• Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship Indianapolis DoD 16 Aug 2013 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today that the next Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Indianapolis.
• Inspired by nature: Innovative C-17 flight tests to save AF millions AFNS 16 Aug 2013 -- Air Mobility Command's chief scientist credited birds, dolphins and surfers for the success of recent ground-breaking C-17 Globemaster III flight tests expected to save the Air Force millions in annual fuel costs.
• Hagel, Chinese Defense Minister to Meet at Pentagon AFPS 16 Aug 2013 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his top advisers will meet with China's Minister of National Defense Gen. Chang Wanquan at the Pentagon Aug. 19, Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters today.
• CNO Releases Navigation Plan for 2014-2018 NNS 16 Aug 2013 -- This week, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert released his Navigation Plan for the Navy for 2014 to 2018 to the fleet.
• Navy/Marine Corps Team: Testing F-35B Lightning II Aircraft Aboard USS Wasp NNS 16 Aug 2013 -- Two F-35B Lightning II jets (BF-01 and BF-05) touched down aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) Aug. 12, kicking off week of Development Testing II (DT-II) where Wasp Sailors and Integrated Test Force (ITF) team members will test and further validate the F-35B.
• Cambodia Medical Exercise 2013 begins USMC News 16 Aug 2013 -- Members of 3rd Medical Battalion participated in Cambodia Medical Exercise 13-2 beginning Aug. 5 at Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• New pistol brings new capabilities USMC News 16 Aug 2013 -- A proposal from the combat marksmanship symposium to permit the use of the M9A1 9 mm pistol during annual pistol training was approved by Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, in accordance with Marine Corps Administrative Message 124/12 in fiscal year 2012.
• Russian Experts to Help India in Submarine Sinking Probe RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- A team of Russian naval engineering specialists will take part in an investigation to find out why a Russian-built Indian navy submarine blew up and sank in harbor on Wednesday, killing 18 crew members, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.
• Russia, China Have Strong Military Ties – Putin RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- Russia and China have strong military ties, as exemplified by a recent series of joint exercises in the Ural Mountains, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 16, 2013

Other Conflicts

• Russia Welcomes Accord on Syria Chemical Arms Probe RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- Russia has welcomed an agreement reached between the United Nations and Damascus on sending inspectors to investigate alleged chemical weapons use in Syria, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
• Thousands of Syrians stream into northern Iraq via new bridge, reports UN agency UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- Thousands of Syrians fleeing the conflict in their homeland have streamed into northern Iraq in a sudden movement across a recently constructed bridge, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
• Thousands of Syrians Pour into Kurdistan VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- A sudden influx of thousands of Syrians have poured into Iraq's Kurdistan region after weeks of fighting between Islamist insurgents and Kurds in northern Syria.
• US, Iraq Vow to Fight al-Qaida Surge VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed his Iraqi counterpart to the State Department on Thursday, as part of a 2008 agreement outlining long-term cooperation on counterterrorism and other issues. The talks came as Iraq is facing a surge in violence from the Iraqi branch of al-Qaida, a group now spreading into Syria.
• Pakistan army again accuses Indian forces of violating ceasefire IRNA 16 Aug 2013 -- Pakistan military Friday accused Indian troops of again violating the ceasefire and opening unprovoked fire.
• Pakistan: Indian Shelling Wounds Civilians in Kashmir VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- Pakistan on Friday alleged there has been no let up in shelling by Indian troops that began early this month across the Kashmir border. The military says that two people have died and 12 have been wounded, including four soldiers. The Foreign Ministry also has dismissed the Indian prime minister's statement in which he asked Pakistan to prevent Islamist militants from using Pakistani soil to attack India.
• Why we need to take time in 'The South China Sea code of conduct' People's Daily 16 Aug 2013 -- During his visit to Vietnam on August 5, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi expressed the Chinese view on the formulation of a "South China Sea Code of Conduct" (COC), and put forward a four-point proposal: 'rational expectations, consensus, elimination of outside interference, progressive development'.
• UN mission welcomes release of children recruited by armed group in DR Congo UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has welcomed the release of 82 children from the Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga armed group through the joint efforts of aid agencies working in the country.
• Mali's presidential poll 'major step' towards restoration of democracy – Security Council UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- The successful conduct of the presidential election in Mali represents a "major step toward the restoration of democratic governance and constitutional order," the Security Council said today, urging the international community to continue its support to promote peace in the country.
• Wrapping up Middle East visit, Ban voices hope 2013 will be 'decisive' year for peace UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today, on a visit to Jerusalem, stressed his full support for direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, and voiced the hope that this year will be a decisive one for peace in the Middle East.
• Central African Republic - a crisis in numbers IRIN 16 Aug 2013 -- The Central African Republic (CAR) is facing a major and multifaceted humanitarian and security crisis exacerbated by a coup d'etat in March 2013.

News Reports

• 50 Morsi supporters killed at Ramses Sq.: Muslim Brotherhood Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2013 -- Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says 50 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes between supporters of ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, and security forces at Ramses Square in the capital Cairo, alone.
• Egypt forces open fire at Morsi supporters on 6th Oct., May 15 bridges Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2013 -- Egyptian security forces have opened fire on supporters of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, on the 6th October and May 15 bridges in the capital, Cairo.
• More Deadly Violence Erupts In Egypt As Morsi Supporters Take To Streets RFE/RL 16 Aug 2013 -- At least 70 people have been reported killed in Egypt as tens of thousands of supporters of ousted Islamist President Muhammad Morsi took to the streets in Cairo and other cities.
• Egypt: UN experts urge restraint, dialogue amid 'deeply worrying' human rights crisis UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- A group of independent United Nations human rights experts today called for restraint and an immediate end to violent confrontations that have seen hundreds killed and thousands injured in the Egyptian capital in recent days.
• Dozens Killed in Pro-Morsi Protests in Egypt VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- News reports say several dozen people have been killed in Egypt Friday where security forces are cracking down on protesters holding a 'Day of Rage' in defiance of an interim government-imposed state of emergency.
• Rouhani appoints ex-foreign minister Salehi as AEOI chief Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2013 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has appointed former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as vice-president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Panama Slaps N. Korean Arms-Smuggling Ship With Hefty Fine RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- The Panama Canal authority has decided to impose an up to $1 million fine on a North Korean ship seized in July on suspicion of illegal arms-trafficking, the Latin American media reported Thursday.
• DPR Korea: UN human rights probe set to begin hearings next week UN News Centre 16 Aug 2013 -- The United Nations panel set up to investigate human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will begin a series of public hearings next week in Seoul, Republic of Korea, aimed at gathering information from various witnesses.
• Snowden said to have downloaded NSA documents at 2nd firm Iran Press TV 16 Aug 2013 -- Leaker Edward Snowden downloaded National Security Agency (NSA) documents while he was a contractor for Dell Inc. in April of 2012, almost a year before he downloaded the documents while at Booz Allen Hamilton that turned into The Guardian's explosive reports on government surveillance.
• CIA Declassifies Mysterious 'Area 51' as Spy Plane Testing Site RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- For decades the mysterious Area 51 site in the Nevada desert has been the subject of countless conspiracy theories, including the existence of extraterrestrials, alien autopsies and whether the site even existed at all. But newly declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents finally acknowledge that Area 51 did indeed exist and reveal that it was used as a base to test U-2 and other spy planes.
• Mugabe Rival Withdraws Election Challenge VOA 16 Aug 2013 -- Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn his court challenge to the result of last month's elections, which gave victory to President Robert Mugabe and his party.
• NASA Gives Up on Fixing Planet-Hunting Kepler Telescope RIA Novosti 16 Aug 2013 -- NASA said Thursday it is giving up on trying to fix its $600-million planet-hunting Kepler space telescope, which was crippled by an equipment failure three months ago, but insisted there is still plenty of life left in the "spectacularly successful" mission.
• Premier reiterates case for 4th nuclear power plant CNA 16 Aug 2013 -- Premier Jiang Yi-huah warned again Friday that Taiwan may face electricity rationing and higher power rates if construction of the country's controversial fourth nuclear power plant in New Taipei is terminated.