• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 11 Feb 2014 [PDF]
• UN agency welcomes new Afghan policy protecting rights of internally displaced UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- Afghanistan's new national policy to protect the rights of some 630,000 internally displaced people recognizes that all Afghans have the right to freedom of movement and residence, the United Nations refugee agency today detailed.
• US Intel Chief: Karzai Unlikely to Sign US-Afghan Pact VOA 11 Feb 2014 -- America's top intelligence official says Afghan President Hamid Karzai is unlikely to sign a security agreement with the United States, leaving the long-term relationship between the two countries undefined as U.S. combat troops withdraw.
• Statement on Afghanistan UK MOD 11 Feb 2014 -- The Secretary of State for Defence has delivered a quarterly oral statement on Afghanistan to the House of Commons.
• Afghanistan says will release 65 Bagram inmates Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- Afghanistan says it will release 65 inmates from the controversial Bagram air base prison despite US pressure against the move.
• Karzai will not sign security deal with Washington: US official Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- A high-ranking US official says he does not expect Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Intelligence Leaders Detail Global Threats to Senate Panel AFPS 11 Feb 2014 -- Global threats most critical to U.S. national security include Syria's civil war and its spillover, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and deep cuts to America's defense budget, two top intelligence leaders told a Senate panel here this morning.
• Airmen train Marines on aircraft refueling AFNS 11 Feb 2014 -- Marines from the 9th Engineer Support Battalion at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, are participating in a six-month field exchange program here with Airmen from the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
• Fox Discusses Posture, Threats in Asia-Pacific Region AFPS 11 Feb 2014 -- Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine H. Fox warned today against assuming a permissive environment for U.S. naval air and sea assets, saying threats continue to grow from rival military powers as well as from the proliferation of more advanced anti-ship munitions around the globe.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Phone Call With Tunisian Minister of Defense Ghazi Jeribi DoD 11 Feb 2014
• Remarks by Acting Deputy Secretary Fox at the 2014 AFCEA WEST Conference, San Diego, California DoD 11 Feb 2014 -- Presenter: Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine H. Fox
• USS Elrod Completes Tunisia Port Visit, Conducts PASSEX NNS 11 Feb 2014 -- TUNIS, Tunisia - The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) departed Mauritania after a scheduled port visit, Feb. 10.
• WEST 2014 Kicks Off in San Diego NNS 11 Feb 2014 -- The Western Conference and Exposition kicked off at the San Diego Convention Center with this year's theme, 'Shaping Maritime Strategy: How Do We Make It Work?' highlighting a multitude of diverse exhibits from military, government, industrial and academic organizations, Feb. 11.
• Locklear Kicks Off 33rd Cobra Gold Exercise in Thailand AFPS 11 Feb 2014 -- In a ceremony at Camp Akatosarot in Thailand today, Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, kicked off the 33rd iteration of Exercise Cobra Gold.
• VMM-263 (Rein.) departs with 22nd MEU as ACE support USMC News 11 Feb 2014 -- With heart-felt goodbyes and last-minute hugs from family and loved ones, the Marines and Sailors of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced) departed from Marine Corps Air Station New River, Feb. 10.
• America's Sea-Going Force Returns to Amphibious Roots NNS 11 Feb 2014 -- After more than a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Marine Corps is retooling and repositioning itself back to its traditional role of operating with agility from the sea.
• USS Donald Cook Begins Forward Deployment to Rota, Spain NNS 11 Feb 2014 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin her forward deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Feb. 11.
• First of four US Navy ships to support NATO Ballistic Missile Defense arrives in Spain NATO 11 Feb 2014 -- The first of four US Navy destroyers, which will form a centerpiece of NATO's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) arrived in its new home port at the Spanish Naval Base of Rota, on Tuesday (11 February 2014).
• US deploys destroyer to Europe amid Russia concerns Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- The first of four US missile destroyers has arrived in Europe, an apparent move by Washington to challenge Russia that voiced concerns over the deployment.
• US Admiral: Destroy Osama bin Laden photos immediately Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- A top US military commander secretly ordered the destruction of any photographs of the corpse of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden days after his alleged death, a new document reveals.
• China concerned over upcoming ROK-U.S. military drills People's Daily 11 Feb 2014 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday voiced concern over upcoming military drills to be jointly held by the Republic of Korea and the United States.
• PLA to debut in U.S.-Thailand military exercise People's Daily 11 Feb 2014 -- China has sent troops to attend the multilateral military exercise Cobra Gold, led by the United States and Thailand, for the first time, said the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Monday.
• Chinese fleet wraps up open sea patrol People's Daily 11 Feb 2014 -- A flotilla with China's Nanhai Fleet stopped at a military port in south China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday after a 23-day annual patrol and training mission.
• Russia Begins Construction of Mistral Ship Base RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- Russia began construction Tuesday of naval facilities to host Mistral-class helicopter carriers currently being built in France for the Russian navy.
• Iran test fires new missiles ISNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Iran successfully test fired a new generation of a ballistic missile and a laser-guided missile on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian defense minister said.
• Iran fires two missiles ahead of nuclear talks Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- Iran's military has successfully test-fired two new domestically made missiles, the defence minister said on Monday according to state television, ahead of talks with world powers to try to reach an agreement on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme.
• Ballistic long-range missile raises Irans deterrence power: minister IRNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan referred to successful testing of ballistic long-range missile and said that the missile remarkably increases deterrence power of the Islamic Republic.
• Pakistan Air Force will provide training to Iraqi air force IRNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has said that Pakistan will provide assistance to Iraq in fields of training and development.
• PM Sharif says Pakistan to provide training to Iraqi air force Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday said that Pakistan will provide assistance to Iraq in fields of training and development.
• February 11, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 11, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 11 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 11 Feb 2014
• Senior UN official spotlights plight of Palestinian refugees caught in Syrian conflict UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- A senior United Nations official today appealed to all parties in the Syrian conflict to ensure unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in need, especially the thousands of Palestinian refugees languishing in the besieged Damascus suburb of Yarmouk.
• Renewed Syrian peace talks make little progress as concern rises for detained evacuees - UN UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- United Nations-sponsored talks between the Syrian Government and opposition that resumed yesterday are making scant progress in ending the "nightmare" of the civil war, the top mediator said today, calling for a quicker pace as officials voiced "deep concern" at the detention by the authorities of men and boys leaving a long besieged city.
• Syria talks not making much progress: Brahimi Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi says the peace talks between the Syrian government and foreign-backed opposition in Geneva are not making much progress.
• Russia Wants Ceasefires, End of Arms Supplies to Syria RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- Russia expects the Geneva-2 peace conference to put an end to illegal arms supplies to Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
• Russia Needs to Make Sure Syria Fulfills Commitments - Obama RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- It is Russia's responsibility to ensure that the Syrian government complies with its international commitments on eliminating chemical weapons, the US president said Tuesday.
• Syrian Talks Adjourn With Discord VOA 11 Feb 2014 -- U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says peace talks between delegates from the Syrian government and opposition to President Bashar al-Assad are laborious and not making much progress
• Most dangerous Syrian chemical weapons will be removed by March 1 - Syrian ambassador Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- Most chemical weapons, including their most dangerous components, will be removed from Syria before March 1, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad said.
• US retain right to military strike against Syria - Obama Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- The US retain the right to conduct a military operation in Syria, but political settlement remains the priority, stated the US President Barack Obama.
• Wang Yu-chi departs for China CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Mainland Affairs Council chief Wang Yu-chi said Tuesday before departing for China that he hopes his trip will be smooth and will help promote mutual understanding between the two sides.
• President praises significance of first formal cross-strait meeting CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- President Ma Ying-jeou Tuesday praised the 'extraordinary significance' of the first formal meeting between the top cross-strait officials from Taiwan and China, which opened in Nanjing earlier in the day.
• MAC to set up regular communication mechanism with TAO CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Taiwan's top official in charge of planning China policy said here Tuesday that he and his Chinese counterpart agreed during a historic meeting to establish a regular communication mechanism.
• Cross-strait relations open new chapter: MAC head CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Taiwan's top official in charge of planning China policy said Tuesday that his meeting with his Chinese counterpart indicated that cross-Taiwan Strait relations have entered a new chapter.
• Taiwan official arrives for groundbreaking mainland-Taiwan meeting People's Daily 11 Feb 2014 -- Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, arrived in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday morning for a four-day visit.
• Cross-Strait officials agree to regular communication People's Daily 11 Feb 2014 -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan on Tuesday agreed to regular communication between their cross-Strait affairs departments.
• Taiwan, China Hold Landmark Talks on Mainland VOA 11 Feb 2014 -- Taiwan and China on Tuesday held their first high-level political talks since their civil war ended 65 years ago.
• Central African Republic: UN rights office warns of worsening insecurity in Bangui UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- The security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui continues to deteriorate, with targeted assassinations and rising violence and criminality on the streets, the United Nations human rights office today warned, adding that it is particularly worried about the "climate of complete impunity" in the country.
• Muslims Flee CAR Violence, Economy Suffers VOA 11 Feb 2014 -- As tens of thousands of Muslims flee the violence in the Central African Republic, the non-governmental organization Oxfam reports that food security and the economy are taking a major hit. Many of the shopowners, herders and traders in the CAR are Muslim.
• South Sudan faces 'long, complex process' on path to peace, says UN peacekeeping chief UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- The top United Nations peacekeeping official today warned of difficult challenges in solving the conflict between the Government and opposition in South Sudan, as humanitarian officials reported that they have only been able to aid about a third of the nearly 900,000 people displaced by the fighting.
• India, China discuss long-standing border dispute Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- The 17th round of India-China negotiations, known as the Special Representatives Talks, has been held in the Indian capital New Delhi.
• UN chief welcomes re-launching of Cyprus reunification talks UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today warmly welcomed the re-launching of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and pledged the commitment of the United Nations to these efforts.
• More hardship, displacement as fighting continues in Iraq's Anbar province - UN UN News Centre 11 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations said today that it is receiving more reports of civilian casualties and further displacement within Iraq as the conflict in Anbar province continues.

News Reports

• DOD Official: U.S. Will Not Allow Iran to Acquire Nuclear Weapon AFPS 11 Feb 2014 -- Amid ongoing skepticism among lawmakers about Iran's nuclear intentions, a senior Defense Department official told Congress today the United States will not allow Tehran to build a nuclear weapon, and that if Iran decided to use nuclear talks as a cover for developing one, Washington would be able to detect it.
• Safavi: Mass presence of people in rallies gives crushing response to enemies IRNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Supreme Leaders Advisor Brigadier General Yahya Rahim Safari said on Tuesday that the unprecedented presence of Iranian people in this years rallies marking the 35th victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution is regarded as a crushing response to the unfounded allegations of enemies, especially to those of the US officials.
• Iran's Salehi asks G5+1 to act wisely on N. issue ISNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi reiterated on Tuesday that the Iranian nation is standing behind the Iranian negotiating team, calling on the other side to take 'wise' approach.
• Rouhani: Military threat against Iran on no table in world ISNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that military threats against Iran is on no table in the world.
• Iran decisive response will make enemies regret: Dehqan Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- Iran's "strong and decisive" response to possible provocations by the US and the Israeli regime will make the two allies regret their actions, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says.
• Espionage suspect released on bail CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- A former CNA reporter suspected of trying to collect sensitive information for China was released on NT$200,000 (US$6,600) bail early Tuesday and banned from traveling overseas pending further investigations.
• US Navy Veteran Jailed for Trying to Spy for Russia RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- A retired US Navy officer has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for attempting to spy for Russia, the FBI said.
• Ex-US Navy cipher officer gets 30 years in jail for attempt to transfer secrets to Russia Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- A court in Norfolk, Virginia, on Monday passed a guilty verdict on Robert Hoffman II, a retired cipher officer of the US Navy, and sentenced him to 30 years in jail for an ostensible attempt of espionage for Russia.
• Gitmo suspects may be questioned on alleged CIA secret prison in Poland Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- Polish prosecutors are pondering whether to make an official request to the US to gain access to terror suspects currently held at Guantanamo Bay in order to carry out a direct questioning on whether a secret CIA prison operated in Poland in 2002-2003, an official has said on Thursday.
• Endgame Nears In EU's Antitrust Showdown With Gazprom RFE/RL 11 Feb 2014 -- The Russian natural-gas giant Gazprom has long had its way in Europe, dominating the continent's energy market and, according to critics, flaunting its rules with impunity. But that all might be about to change.
• 13 people die of flu in two weeks: CDC CNA 11 Feb 2014 -- Taiwan reported 256 new flu cases within the last two weeks, including H3N2, H1N1 and type B strains, resulting in 13 fatalities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.
• Russia-Kazakhstan Working Group to Report on Proton Launches RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- A Russia-Kazakhstan working group will finalize its recommendations this week on the frequency of launches of the Proton rocket, Kazakh media reported Monday.
• Spacecraft Progress M-20M submerged in Pacific Ocean Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- A supply spacecraft Progress M-20M that was undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on February 3 and then sent to a solo flight for an experiment, was finally submerged in the waters of the Pacific ocean, said a representative of RKA Mission Control Center.