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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• NATO Urges Karzai to Sign Troop Agreement VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels are urging Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a security pact with the United States that would allow foreign troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond the end of the NATO combat mission there next year. President Karzai wants to delay that signing until after Afghan elections.
• NATO Chief Says U.S., Afghan Pact Crucial RFE/RL 03 Dec 2013 -- The head of NATO says the military alliance will have to pull all its troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 if Afghan President Hamid Karzai does not sign a security pact with the United States.
• Rasmussen Urges Afghanistan to Sign Security Agreement AFPS 03 Dec 2013 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen opened the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Brussels today welcoming the Loya Jirga's endorsement of the U.S.-Afghan security accord and urging the Afghan government give it a "timely signature."
• NATO Secretary General looks forward to timely signature of US-Afghan security accord NATO 03 Dec 2013 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed the recent Loya Jirga's endorsement of the Bilateral Security Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan and said that he looks forward to "its timely signature," during a short meeting with the media on Tuesday (3 December 2013) at the start of a two-day NATO Foreign Ministerial.
• HMS Illustrious in the Philippines UK MOD 03 Dec 2013 -- Since arriving in the Philippines, HMS Illustrious and her 'floating warehouse' of emergency supplies have been a hub of activity.
• RAF Hercules detachment hands over Philippines role UK MOD 03 Dec 2013 -- The RAF C-130 Hercules detachment involved in humanitarian inter-island aid transport has handed over to the Philippines Air Force (PAF).

Defense Policy / Programs

• AF participates in first Israeli Blue Flag exercise AFNS 03 Dec 2013 -- The Air Force participated in the first Israeli Blue Flag exercise at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Nov. 24-28.
• Harry S. Truman Supports Dubai Airshow NNS 03 Dec 2013 -- Sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) hosted a reception for the Dubai Airshow Nov. 17, during a port visit to Jebel Ali.
• Communications satellite turns 20 AFNS 03 Dec 2013 -- The 3rd Space Operations Squadron celebrated the Defense Satellite Communications System B10 satellite's 20th anniversary on orbit Nov. 28. The anniversary held significant importance for the squadron and for the Air Force, in part because the satellite was designed to operate for only 10 years.
• Yokota Airmen share airdrop techniques with Japanese counterparts AFNS 03 Dec 2013 -- Yokota Airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing showcased their low-cost, low-altitude airdrop methods and capabilities with Japan Air Self-Defense Force members, showing their counterparts how to provide affordable, reliable, safe and accurate airdrops for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
• New DOD Instruction Aims to Streamline Acquisition Process AFPS 03 Dec 2013 -- In one of his last acts as deputy defense secretary, Ash Carter signed a memorandum putting in place a DOD instruction designed to streamline the acquisition process, Pentagon officials announced yesterday.
• Christine Fox Named Acting Deputy Defense Secretary AFPS 03 Dec 2013 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced today that President Barack Obama has nominated Christine H. Fox to serve as acting deputy defense secretary.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Christine Fox DoD 03 Dec 2013
• The Big One - GW's Biggest RAS NNS 03 Dec 2013 -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed its largest replenishment-at-sea (RAS) for the 2013 patrol with Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), Nov. 30.
• George Washington Completes Ammunition Off-load with Charles Drew NNS 03 Dec 2013 -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) conducted an at-sea, ammunition off-load with Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), Dec. 2-3.
• U.S.-Yemen Political-Military Strategic Dialogue US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2013
• Biden Prepares to Discuss China Defense Zone in Beijing VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- Vice President Joe Biden is preparing to head to Beijing Wednesday, following talks in Japan about China's controversial Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ.
• Solo Press Availability at NATO US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2013
• Foreign Ministers agree partners are key to Alliance's future NATO 03 Dec 2013 -- On the first day of their meeting in Brussels, NATO Foreign Ministers discussed priorities for the Summit to be held next year in the United Kingdom. They agreed that the Alliance must invest in the right capabilities and in strong partnerships in order to remain robust and ready to respond to future security challenges. They also committed to reinforce the transatlantic link and to prepare to open a new chapter in NATO's engagement with Afghanistan.
• Russia to Test UAE-Made Drone Next Year RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2013 -- Russia's armed forces will conduct test flights of a drone aircraft from the United Arab Emirates early next year, the manufacturer said.
• Former Russian Defense Minister Refuses to Give Evidence RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2013 -- A former Russian defense minister who presided over rampant corruption in his department refused to give evidence Tuesday while facing questioning over claims he ordered soldiers to build a road leading to an elite holiday resort.
• China begins mass production of fighters for aircraft carrier CNA 03 Dec 2013 -- Mass production has reportedly begun on China's Shenyang J-15, a carrier-based fighter jet, in a move that indicates Beijing has started picking up the pace in training and development for its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.
• 16th Chinese naval escort taskforce sets sail from Qingdao People's Daily 03 Dec 2013 -- The 16th escort taskforce under the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAN) set sail from a naval port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong province at 10:00 on November 30, 2013 for the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast to take over the escort mission from the 15th Chinese naval escort taskforce.
• Rescinding air defense zone 'loss of face for China' Iran Press TV 03 Dec 2013 -- Beijing will refuse to accept Washington's demand to scrap the Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea because it would be a "major loss of face for China," an analyst says.
• Taiwan to speak up if Japan interferes with Taiwanese aircraft CNA 03 Dec 2013 -- Taiwan will express its deep concerns to Japan if Japanese authorities interfere with Taiwanese civilian aircraft flying through an area where the two countries' airspace zones overlap, an official said Tuesday.
• December 3, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 03, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 3 December 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Dec 2013
• 3 December 2013 - Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for December United Nations 03 Dec 2013
• Syria: UN humanitarian chief says no progress made on access to hard-to-reach areas UN News Centre 03 Dec 2013 -- Reporting "modest progress" with the Syrian Government on speeding up visa issuance and increasing the number of relief distribution hubs, a top United Nations official said today that with perhaps 250,000 Syrians cut off from aid in besieged communities across the war-torn country, greater efforts are needed to ensure real gains on the humanitarian front.
• UN: Better Aid Access Needed to Nearly 3 Million Syrians VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos is urging greater access for humanitarian workers in Syria, saying only "modest progress" has been made in recent months in reaching some of the nearly 3 million people in besieged areas.
• Syrian Rebels Face Pressure on Multiple Fronts VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- Syrian rebels battling to oust President Bashar al-Assad are now facing determined government military offensives on three fronts in the north and west and along an arc of suburbs running south to east around the capital of Damascus. The offensives are stretching rebel forces and triggering more factional infighting and recriminations between their commanders, say analysts.
• Syria army pressing ahead with mop-up operations Iran Press TV 03 Dec 2013 -- Syrian government forces continue to tighten the noose around foreign-backed militants in several areas across the Arab country.
• UN Launches Drone Patrols in Troubled DRC VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations has begun deploying its first drones to gather intelligence about rebel groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Analysts have mixed views on how effective the surveillance drones will be in helping peacekeepers curb unrest in a country that has been ravaged by fighting for years.
• Funding shortage forces UN agency to reduce food assistance in DR Congo UN News Centre 03 Dec 2013 -- Serious resource constraints are forcing the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to reduce or interrupt some of its activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) beginning this month, leaving thousands of people with no food assistance.
• UN launches unmanned surveillance aircraft to better protect civilians in vast DR Congo UN News Centre 03 Dec 2013 -- With top United Nations and Government officials and a crowd of reporters looking on, the world Organization today launched its first-ever unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), in the interest of better protecting civilians in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Obama Encourages Santos in Peace Negotiations with Guerrillas VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- President Barack Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have met at the White House to discuss U.S. security and economic assistance for the South American country. Obama also said peace talks with rebels are the right path for Colombia.
• UN agency appeals for $687 million to assist Palestinian refugees next year UN News Centre 03 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees today appealed for $687 million so that it can provide basic services to this vulnerable population next year, stressing that its ability to carry out its work remains dependent on the generosity of donors.
• UN speaks out after latest violence claims more lives in Central African Republic UN News Centre 03 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) today voiced its deep concern at the latest violence by armed groups in the country, which left at least 12 people dead and 30 wounded, including children.

News Reports

• Seoul: Kim Jong Un Fires Uncle, Executes His Associates VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- South Korea's spy agency believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may have fired his uncle from a top military post and publicly executed some of his associates.
• Iran enrichment right enshrined in Geneva deal: Araqchi Iran Press TV 03 Dec 2013 -- Iran Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi says the country's right to uranium enrichment has been enshrined in recent nuclear deal between Tehran and the six major world powers in Geneva.
• Who's Who In Ukraine's 'EuroMaydan' Protests RFE/RL 02 Dec 2013 -- RFE/RL looks at the politicians and street organizers driving Ukraine's 'EuroMaydan' protests following President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to reject an EU trade deal under pressure from Moscow.
• Ukraine government survives no-confidence vote Iran Press TV 03 Dec 2013 -- Ukraine Prime Minister Mykola Azarov's cabinet has survived a vote of no confidence as anti-government protesters gather in front of the parliament.
• Ukrainian Parliament Rejects No-Confidence Vote RFE/RL 03 Dec 2013 -- The Ukrainian parliament has rejected a no-confidence vote against the government.
• Yanukovych's Base Eroding In Ukraine's Russophone East RFE/RL 03 Dec 2013 -- When political crises erupt in Ukraine, the fault line traditionally runs along the twisting Dnieper River which divides the Europe-oriented western half from the pro-Russian industrial east.
• Ukraine Rules Out Using Army Against Protesters RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2013 -- Claims that Ukraine's army may be deployed against peaceful protesters are untrue and are merely a provocation, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Tuesday amid a wave of anti-government protests in Kiev.
• US Snubs Ukraine for Moldova Amid EU Row RIA Novosti 03 Dec 2013 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry plans to skip a scheduled trip to Ukraine and instead travel to neighboring Moldova to show support for the small ex-Soviet republic's decision to seek closer integration with the European Union, a path Kiev declined to pursue last week.
• Ukraine's Parliament Defeats No Confidence Vote VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- After two weeks of street protests, Ukraine's parliament has debated and voted on a no confidence motion by Ukraine's opposition. But the hope of protesters, who chanted outside the parliament, were dashed, as the government defeated the move for a vote of no confidence.
• European Rights Court Holds Hearing on Secret CIA Prison VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- The European Court of Human Rights has begun a hearing on whether Poland ignored human rights abuses by allegedly hosting a secret U.S. prison used by the CIA to interrogate terror suspects.
• Thai Protests Abruptly Halt Ahead of King's Birthday VOA 03 Dec 2013 -- Following days of clashes in Bangkok, Thailand's prime minister is calling for all segments of society, including protesters, to work together to find a solution to the upheaval in the politically polarized country. A key opposition leader, however, is vowing to continue the struggle to bring down the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra.