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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation DoD 13 Dec 2013 -- The Department of Defense today identified five units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.
• Karzai says won't be bullied into inking US deal Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he will not be 'intimidated' into signing a controversial security deal with Washington, which would allow thousands of US troops to stay in Afghanistan after 2014.
• Eyeing Pakistan, India Treads Carefully As It Mulls Expanded Afghan Role RFE/RL 13 Dec 2013 -- As the U.S. presence in Afghanistan continues to diminish, Kabul is bolstering regional alliances to shore up its security and economic future.
• Death toll from US drone raid in Yemen rises to 17 Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- The death toll from a recent US assassination drone attack on a wedding convoy in central Yemen has risen to 17, security sources say.
• U.S. assists Burundi with deployment to Central African Republic USMC News 13 Dec 2013 -- Burundian National Defense Forces and the U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 worked together Dec. 10 as the African partners prepared to embark to the Central Africa Republic as part of the African Union mission.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Briefing by Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III on the State of the Air Force in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 13 Dec 2013 -- Presenter: Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning; Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III; and Brigadier General Les Kodlick, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Air Force
• Air Force Envisions Smaller Force to Preserve Readiness AFPS 13 Dec 2013 -- Discussing upcoming budgetary variables during a Pentagon news conference today, the Air Force's top civilian leader for the past six months addressed the inevitability of a smaller force.
• Budget Woes Cause Air Force to Refine Funding Priorities AFPS 13 Dec 2013 -- Budget battles here are causing tectonic shifts in the Air Force, the service's leaders said during a Pentagon news conference today.
• Air Force Leader Outlines Joint Strike Fighter's Value AFPS 13 Dec 2013 -- On the day that Lockheed-Martin delivered its 100th F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter to the Air Force, the service's leaders today marked the milestone and outlined the aircraft's value.
• Senate confirms James as next secretary of the Air Force AFNS 13 Dec 2013 -- Deborah Lee James will be the next secretary of the Air Force, according to a Senate confirmation vote Dec 13.
• Centcom Helps Partners Confront Growing WMD Threat AFPS 13 Dec 2013 -- Recognizing the growing threat of an attack in the Middle East and Central Asia involving weapons of mass destruction, officials at U.S. Central Command are working closely with partner nations across the region to prevent one and, if it occurs, to be able to respond quickly to mitigate the consequences.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Same-Sex Benefits DoD 13 Dec 2013
• Naval Special Warfare Group Partners with Palauan Security Forces for Communications Training NNS 13 Dec 2013 -- Two Sailors from Naval Special Warfare Unit 1 (NSWU -1) concluded a communications familiarization seminar with Palauan security forces in Koror Dec. 11.
• LCS Remote Minehunting System Completes Developmental Testing NNS 13 Dec 2013 -- PALM BEACH, Fla. - The remote minehunting system (RMS) successfully completed developmental testing, Dec. 9.
• Russia seeks to quadruple arms sales Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- A top Russian official has pointed to Moscow's efforts to quadruple its annual weapons sales to over 50 billion dollars by 2020 in a battle to capture the top global arms exporter spot from its American rival.
• Akula-Class Nuclear Subs' Overhaul Could Take Decade – Shipyard RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2013 -- The overhaul of Russia's fleet of third-generation Project 971 (Akula class) nuclear-powered attack submarines could take at least a decade, the Zvyozdochka shipyard said Friday.
• Russia to Finish Slava-Class Missile Cruiser Refit in 2015 RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2013 -- The Russian Navy missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov is expected to rejoin the fleet in 2015 following delays in the warship's refit, the Zvezdochka shipyard said Friday.
• Russia, Belarus Sign Glonass Cooperation Agreement RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2013 -- Russia and Belarus on Friday signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the use and development of the Glonass global navigation and positioning network.
• New missile frigate joins Chinese navy People's Daily 13 Dec 2013 -- Guided missile frigate Sanya officially joined the service of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy during a delivery ceremony held Friday, according to military sources.
• President touts newly acquired Apache choppers CNA 13 Dec 2013 -- President Ma Ying-jeou touted the capabilities of the newly acquired AH-64E Apache attack helicopters Friday at an official ceremony in southern Taiwan to mark the United States' delivery of the aircraft.
• New Typhoon squadron announced UK MOD 13 Dec 2013 -- One of the oldest squadrons in the Royal Air Force is to be re-equipped with the latest Typhoon jets.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 12/13/2013 The White House 13 Dec 2013
• December 13, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 13 Dec 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 13, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 13 December 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Dec 2013
• 13 December 2013 - Press Conference by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations United Nations 13 Dec 2013
• UN Chief Condemns Chemical Arms Use In Syria RFE/RL 14 Dec 2013 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war.
• Press Conference on Mission to Investigate Alleged Chemical Weapons Use in Syria United Nations 13 Dec 2013
• Russia Concerned Over Islamist Attacks on Arms Depots in Syria RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2013 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern Thursday over reports that a powerful Islamist group had taken control of arms depots in northern Syria.
• Over 600 people killed, 159,000 displaced in Central African Republic – UN UN News Centre 13 Dec 2013 -- The humanitarian situation in the conflict-wracked Central African Republic (CAR) is deteriorating, with 450 people killed in the capital Bangui and 159,000 others driven from their homes in Bangui, in the last week alone, United Nations agencies reported today, as the largest airlift of emergency supplies since the violence erupted arrived in the capital.
• CAR Humanitarian Situation Worsens VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- The humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic continues to spiral out of control as sectarian fighting in the capital displaces thousands. Now the peacekeeping force on the ground is being strengthened by a group of newly-arrived soldiers from Burundi.
• Ban welcomes signing of declarations between DR Congo-M23 UN News Centre 13 Dec 2013 -- The top United Nations official has welcomed the signing of long-awaited accords between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebels it has been fighting until last month, and called on all other armed groups in the country to lay down their weapons and join the political process.
• US Special Envoy: DRC Peace Deal a 'Big Step' VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- U.S. Special Envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Russ Feingold has hailed as potentially historic a peace deal signed between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel movement. But Feingold, who attended the event in Nairobi, says much more needs to be done to turn around a country and region plagued by years of conflict.
• After North Kivu, UN, DRC forces set sights on Orientale IRIN 13 Dec 2013 -- After the defeat of M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) North Kivu Province, government and UN forces have shifted their focus to the northeastern Orientale Province, giving armed groups there a two-week ultimatum to surrender their weapons and return to civilian life.
• Taiwan regrets multi-language versions of Japan's Diaoyutai video CNA 13 Dec 2013 -- Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday it was regrettable that Japan's Foreign Ministry has now posted a propaganda video on the Diaoyutai Islands on its website in many languages and urged Tokyo to handle the issue in a cautious manner.
• Sectarian violence goes unaddressed in Nigeria IRIN 13 Dec 2013 -- The deaths of more than 3,000 victims of sectarian violence in central Nigeria since 2010 have largely been ignored by the government, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released on 12 December, Turning a Blind Eye to Mass Killings.
• Egypt's revolution brings little to underdeveloped Sinai IRIN 13 Dec 2013 -- This is the final installment of a four-part series on the impact of militancy and counter-terrorism in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
• A week of violence kills 600 in Central African Republic: UN Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the civilian death toll in the restive Central African Republic has exceeded 600 in the past week.
• Chechen Deputy Minister Threatens Executions For Militant Suspects RFE/RL 13 Dec 2013 -- Chechnya's First Deputy Interior Minister Apti Alaudinov has threatened to use illegal methods - including summary killings and the planting of false evidence - in an effort to remove Islamic fundamentalists from a former rebel stronghold in the southern Russian region.

News Reports

• Traitor Jang Song Thaek Executed KCNA 13 Dec 2013 -- Upon hearing the report on the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the service personnel and people throughout the country broke into angry shouts that a stern judgment of the revolution should be meted out to the anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional elements. Against the backdrop of these shouts rocking the country, a special military tribunal of the DPRK Ministry of State Security was held on December 12 against traitor for all ages Jang Song Thaek.
• N. Korean Leader's Uncle Executed VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- North Korea's state media have announced the execution of leader Kim Jong Un's uncle, Jang Song Thaek, for attempting to overthrow the state.
• Execution gives Kim Jong Un firm grip on China ties: scholar CNA 13 Dec 2013 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take charge of his country's dealings with China following his uncle's execution, a local scholar forecast Friday.
• China Hopes for Stability After N. Korea Execution VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- Chinese officials have declined to say if they have been in contact with Pyongyang about the execution of Kim Jong Un's uncle.
• Ukraine president rejects opposition call to resign Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has rejected a call from the opposition to resign, arguing that the government could only step down through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
• Yanukovych Rejects Opposition Demand; Protests Continue RFE/RL 13 Dec 2013 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has refused opposition demands that he step down as protests continued in Kyiv against his decision not to pursue closer ties with the European Union.
• Ukraine Opposition Reiterates Demands at Meeting With President RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2013 -- Ukrainian opposition leaders reiterated their demands to President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday at a roundtable designed to help soothe political tensions in the protest-hit state.
• Amid ongoing unrest in Ukraine, UN urges restraint, respect for human rights UN News Centre 13 Dec 2013 -- The United Nations today called on all parties in Ukraine to exercise restraint amid reports of the use of excessive force by police and violent acts by demonstrators, and urged the Government to ensure that human rights safeguards are upheld.
• IRGC drones equipped with bombs, rockets: Cmdr. Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- A senior Iranian commander says the drones of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have been equipped with bombs and fully-guided missiles.
• Iran Foreign Ministry slams new US sanctions Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- Iran Foreign Ministry slams the new US sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic as not constructive, saying that the US administration is responsible for these indiscreet moves.
• US sanctions complicate Iran nuclear deal: Russia Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that new US sanctions against Iran can seriously complicate implementation of Tehran's nuclear deal with the Sextet of world powers.
• French bill allows Internet spying Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- France has adopted a bill allowing authorities to access and gather Internet user data without judicial approval just a few weeks following Paris's outrage over spying efforts by US National Security Agency (NSA).
• Obama panel says NSA should continue spying on every phone call Iran Press TV 13 Dec 2013 -- A US presidential review panel tasked with examining policies and procedures at the National Security Agency has concluded that a program to collect data on every phone call made in the United States should continue.
• Report: Some NSA Officials Consider Amnesty for Snowden VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- Some top officials at the National Security Agency (NSA) might be in favor of giving leaker Edward Snowden amnesty if he would return the estimated 1.5 million documents he has yet to leak.
• Media: American Who Disappeared in Iran Worked for CIA VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- Two U.S. media outlets are reporting that an American man who mysteriously disappeared nearly seven years ago in Iran was conducting a rogue operation for the CIA.
• Protests Follow Bangladesh Opposition Leader's Execution VOA 13 Dec 2013 -- In Bangladesh, at least three people have been killed in protests which erupted after the execution of an opposition leader convicted of war crimes. The execution of 65-year-old Abdul Qader Mollah has raised fears of deepening strife in a country already coping with violent opposition-led protests ahead of elections next month.
• Needs remain enormous in typhoon-hit Philippine areas, senior UN official reports UN News Centre 13 Dec 2013 -- Humanitarian and early recovery needs remain great in typhoon-hit Philippines, a senior United Nations official said following a joint international mission to the areas of Guiuan, Ormoc and Tacloban.