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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 08 Nov 2013 [PDF]
• Afghan Forces Effective While Sustainment Remains a Problem AFPS 08 Nov 2013 -- Afghan soldiers and police are holding the hard-won gains International Security Assistance Force personnel took during the surge, but they will require more support to be successful, according to a report Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent to Congress today.
• DOD Releases Report on Progress in Afghanistan DoD 08 Nov 2013 -- The November 2013 "Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan," a report to Congress in accordance with Section 1230 and 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181), as amended; to include section 1221 of the NDAA for FY 2012 (Public Law 112-81); and sections 1212, 1223, and 1531(d) of the NDAA for FY 2013 (Public Law 112-239) was provided today to Congress.
• Afghan aviators resupply remote bases with partnered close-air support Army News 08 Nov 2013 -- Soldiers, airmen and Civilian Employees gathered Tuesday to celebrate the dedication of a new hangar facility at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. The Launch and Recovery Element Hangar is the newest facility that the New York Air National Guard will use for MQ-9 Reaper training on the airfield.
• Kandahar small arms weapons center relocates, doubles capacity to support Soldiers Army News 08 Nov 2013 -- Less than one month after relocating from the AFSBn-Kandahar, 401st Army Field Support Brigade compound to the Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard, the Small Arms Support Center has more than doubled its capacity to support the Warfighter's small arms weapons supply, maintenance and technical support needs.
• Mullah Omar backs Pak Taliban chief Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- Mullah Omar, the fugitive leader of Afghan Taliban, has played a vital role in the appointment of new head of the Pakistani Taliban, a media report says.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Exercise Southern Katipo opens with a 'Hui' ceremony USMC News 08 Nov 2013 -- The New Zealand Defence Force welcomed coalition forces participating in exercise Southern Katipo 2013 with a ritual of the Maori Tribe aboard Waiouru military camp, New Zealand, Nov. 4.
• U.S. Navy Admirals Investigated by NCIS NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The Navy suspended today the access to classified material of Vice Adm. Ted Branch, Director of Naval Intelligence, and Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless, Director of Intelligence Operations.
• DOD Explores Standards-Based Approach to Information-sharing AFPS 08 Nov 2013 -- The participation this week of DOD Deputy Chief Information Officer David DeVries on a panel of information-sharing experts is an example of department efforts over several years to make its information environment relevant in the 21st century and beyond.
• Nimitz Carrrier Strike Group Departs 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group reentered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) after transiting the Suez Canal, Nov. 8.
• USS Barry Returns Home NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 8, after completing a nine-month deployment.
• USS Michigan Completes MMP, Readies Itself for SSGN Mission NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), Nov. 2 completing a 11-month Major Maintenance Period (MMP).
• USS Stockdale and USS William P. Lawrence Return to San Diego Following Extended Deployment NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- Guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) returned to their homeport of San Diego Nov. 8 following the completion of an extended deployment to the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).
• New York Air National Guard dedicates MQ-9 hangar at Fort Drum Army News 08 Nov 2013 -- Soldiers, airmen and Civilian Employees gathered Tuesday to celebrate the dedication of a new hangar facility at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. The Launch and Recovery Element Hangar is the newest facility that the New York Air National Guard will use for MQ-9 Reaper training on the airfield.
• AF units join air defense mission in Iceland AFNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The final members of the 48th Air Expeditionary Group arrived at Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, Nov. 4, to conduct air surveillance and policing missions.
• From aerodromes to Reaper, RPAs push limits of technology AFNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The RPA actually got its start as early as 1896, when something called aerodromes at the time, were used to test the capabilities of new flying devices and to test if it was even possible for a heavier-than-air craft to achieve sustained flight. In May 1896, Dr. Samuel Langley proved that mechanical flight was possible with his Aerodrome No. 5.
• George Washington Carrier Strike Group Visits 'Pearl of the Orient' NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group anchored in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 8.
• George Washington Welcomes Hong Kong Dignitaries NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) hosted Hong Kong government officials and media for a day light embark, Nov. 7.
• USS Freedom Celebrates 5th Birthday NNS 08 Nov 2013 -- Sailors aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1) celebrated the ship's fifth anniversary since Freedom's commissioning Nov. 8.
• WZ-10 designer: armed helicopters are no longer 'weak points' of PLA's equipment People's Daily 08 Nov 2013 -- Armed helicopters, known as 'tank killers', of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) used to be taken by the West as the 'weak points' of the PLA's equipment. In an interview on November 6, 2013 at the Chinese Flight Test Center (CFTC) of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Wu Chengfa, deputy chief designer of WZ-10, pointed out that the statement is no longer tenable since the commissioning of Z-10.
• 'Maneuver – 5' is Chinese Navy's first real taste of open-sea combat drill People's Daily 08 Nov 2013 -- From late October to early November, China's three naval fleets engaged in their first ever live military exercise codenamed 'Maneuver - 5' in the waters of the West Pacific Ocean.
• Iraq Takes Collection of First 4 Russian Helicopter Gunships RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2013 -- Iraq took collection Thursday night of the first four Russian-made Mi-35 helicopter gunships sold to the Middle Eastern nation as part of a multibillion dollar weapons deal.
• Pakistan rejects media report on Saudi military nuclear cooperation IRNA 08 Nov 2013 -- Pakistan has rejected as "entirely baseless and mischievous" a western media report alleging military nuclear cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route New Orleans, LA The White House 08 Nov 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 08, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 8 November 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Nov 2013
• Russia Dismisses US Doubts Over Syrian Chemical Arms Data RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2013 -- Russia considers unfounded US skepticism over the sincerity of Syria's declaration of its chemical weapon stockpiles, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.
• Mass Polio Immunization Campaign Underway in Syria VOA 08 Nov 2013 -- The largest-ever immunization campaign in the Middle East is underway to stop an outbreak of polio in Syria from spreading throughout the region.
• Hosting Syrian refugees - the cost conundrum IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- In a speech to parliament on 3 November, King Abdullah II said the presence of 600,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan has put "enormous pressure" on his country's infrastructure.
• Helping host communities help Syrian refugees IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- Abu Firas and his family left the Syrian capital Damascus in March after their neighbour's house was hit by a bomb.
• Officials say Congo, M23 Will Sign Peace Deal Monday VOA 08 Nov 2013 -- Uganda says the Democratic Republic of Congo's government will sign a peace deal on Monday with rebel group M23, which gave up its fight this week.
• Analysis: Extending peace in DRC after M23's demise IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- With the predominantly Tutsi rebel group M23 routed and vowing to disarm, attention is shifting to how to cement and extend peace across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ease the decades-long suffering and deprivation of millions of civilians.
• Concern over unexploded ordnance in eastern DRC IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- With thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) expected to return to villages abandoned by M23 after recent fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there are worries about unexploded ordnance (UXO).
• In Turnaround, Iraq's Maliki Seeks US Assistance VOA 08 Nov 2013 -- Nearly two years ago, the U.S. pulled its last troops out of Iraq. Since then Iraqis have seen the dramatic resurgence of al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) and unprecedented sectarian violence that left more than 1,000 dead last month alone.
• Maliki Accuses Saudi Arabia of Being Unfriendly Neighbor RFE/RL 08 Nov 2013 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has criticized neighboring Saudi Arabia, accusing the Sunni Muslim kingdom of being unfriendly toward Iraq's Shi'a-led government.
• In final stop on Sahel visit, Ban pledges ongoing UN support for Chad, wider region UN News Centre 08 Nov 2013 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has wrapped up his visit to the Sahel with a final stop in Chad, where he discussed with senior Government officials the country's efforts to tackle the serious security and development challenges at home and in the wider region.
• Central African Republic: UN rights chief warns cycle of violence may 'spin out of control' UN News Centre 08 Nov 2013 -- The top United Nations human rights official warned today that the deteriorating violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) may spin out of control, further destabilizing the country.

News Reports

• US Diplomat: We are ready for easing anti-Iranian sanctions IRNA 08 Nov 2013 -- Biggest and most important Swiss daily Basler Zeitung quoted an American diplomat in Geneva in its Wednesday edition as saying that Washington is ready for easing the anti-Iranian sanctions.
• Kerry: No deal yet in nuclear talks with Iran Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry who has arrived in Geneva for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, says no agreement has yet been reached over Iran's nuclear energy program.
• Iran nuclear talks reach critical stage: Araqchi Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- Iranian deputy foreign minister and member of Iran's negotiating team, Abbas Araqchi, says the nuclear talks with six world powers have reached a critical stage, saying higher-level talks are now necessary.
• Criticizing deal with Iran 'premature': US Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- The administration of US President Barack Obama says it is "premature" to criticize a deal being discussed in Geneva over Iran's nuclear energy program.
• EU Says Nuclear Talks With Iran 'Very Intense' RFE/RL 08 Nov 2013 -- Intense negotiations are under way in nuclear talks between world powers and Iran, as top diplomats have begun arriving to Geneva to help reach a tentative deal with the Islamic republic.
• Kerry in Geneva to Close 'Gaps' In Iranian Nuclear Deal VOA 08 Nov 2013 -- Foreign ministers from the United Nations contact group are arriving in Geneva on short notice, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, amid expectations that they will finalize a preliminary agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program and ease economic sanctions against Iran.
• Snowden Persuaded NSA Workers to Provide Passwords – Report RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2013 -- Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden obtained logins and passwords from unwitting employees at the US National Security Agency and used the credentials to access some of the classified documents he disclosed to the media, the Reuters news agency cited sources as saying Friday.
• Snowden used others' passwords to access documents Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- US investigators say former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden used login credentials and passwords of some fellow workers to access the classified material he later leaked to the media.
• Russia's Spies Say Cooperating With British on Olympics RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2013 -- Russian security services said Friday that they are working with their British counterparts in the run-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
• Guinea-Bissau trudging along in crisis IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- The delay of polls in Guinea-Bissau signals the likely extension of a transition period currently scheduled to wind down on 31 December. The transition follows an April 2012 coup that has weakened the economy, caused dire food insecurity and repelled major donors.
• Israel 'prime suspect' in Arafat death Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- Palestinian investigators say Israel is the 'prime and only suspect' in the death of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat.
• Leaked papers reveal plot against Venezuela govt. Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2013 -- Leaked documents have proven attempts by foreign powers to meddle in Venezuela's internal affairs in order to destabilize the Latin American country and undermine President Nicolas Maduro's leadership.
• Baku Smooths Over Its Rights Record With A Thick Layer Of Caviar RFE/RL 08 Nov 2013 -- In recent years, Baku has spent millions of dollars to persuade politicians in Europe and the United States that the oil-rich Caucasus country is a reliable partner -- and to distract them from criticism that the country is authoritarian and fails to respect fundamental human rights.
• Typhoon impact fears in Philippines IRIN 08 Nov 2013 -- Aid agencies are bracing for the worst after Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines in the early hours of 8 November, triggering landslides, heavy flooding and affecting tens of millions of people.