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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• 25 Years After Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Many Lessons Learned VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- As the U.S. prepares to draw down combat forces in Afghanistan later this year, wrapping up the longest war in American history, questions arise about lessons learned from the Soviet's own 1989 withdrawal, which happened 25 years ago today.
• Afghan president Karzai rejects US criticism over prisoner release VoR 14 Feb 2014 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai rejected US criticism over the release of 65 alleged Taliban militants, his office said Friday.
• As Storm Moves Northeast, National Guard Responds AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- Nearly three thousand National Guardsmen across nine states and the District of Columbia have spent much of this week helping people along the East Coast recover from a brutal winter storm that dumped heavy snow across much of the region and has been blamed for at least 21 deaths.
• Guard Helps Local Authorities in Storm-stricken States AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- The mammoth winter storm that barreled through eastern states this week has been keeping about 3,000 National Guard members busy in nine states and the District of Columbia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense Press Briefing With Rear Admiral Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 14 Feb 2014 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby
• DOD Spokesman: Released Detainees Rejoin Fight at Own Peril AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- If the detainees the Afghan government released over NATO objections rejoin the fight, "they do so at their own peril," Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said at a news conference today.
• Hagel Signs Memos Laying Out Scope of Nuke Review Panels AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has signed memos for reviews of the military's nuclear enterprise, and those will proceed apace, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• Lincoln's Berthing Team Moving Forward with Berthing Installment NNS 14 Feb 2014 -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is working toward accomplishing the crew move aboard (CMA) process as Sailors from the berthing team install berthing racks to eventually move Sailors back onto the ship.
• Airmen, Soldiers sharpen search and rescue skills together AFNS 14 Feb 2014 -- Joint-service combat search and rescue training missions were held for the first-time Jan. 28 to Feb. 11 at Cellina Meduna training grounds near Maniago, Italy.
• Alaska-based Paratroopers Head to Thailand for Cobra Gold AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- Paratroopers from U.S. Army Alaska's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, are preparing to trade Alaska's winter weather for the warmth of Thailand – for a few days at least – when they take part in exercise Cobra Gold 2014.
• Sea Service Chiefs Examine Future of Maritime Strategy AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- The chiefs of the sea services discussed the future of the military at sea and defense strategy in the Asia-Pacific region at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association West Conference yesterday in San Diego.
• Wing Ends Antarctic Season With Airlift Missions AFPS 14 Feb 2014 -- Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing will cap five months of support of United States Antarctic research efforts by flying 1,100 researchers and support staff, and 43 tons of cargo, from the McMurdo Station base to New Zealand aboard seven of its 10 ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes.
• Exercise Cobra Gold Kicks Off in Thailand NNS 14 Feb 2014 -- Exercise Cobra Gold 2014 kicked off with an opening ceremony in Phitsanulok, Thailand on Feb 11. Sailors from the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) and the staff of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet are participating in the exercise.
• Navy Conducts Assessments to Protect Environment NNS 14 Feb 2014 -- The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, has deployed teams to assess and respond to potential environmental impacts due to the grounding of the Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 13.
• NATO Secretary General meets with Council of Europe Secretary General NATO 14 Feb 2014 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed international issues of common concern and prospects for furthering institutional interaction with Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Friday (14 February). The meeting was part of periodic high-level consultations between the two organizations and of NATO's interaction with international organizations in general, in the spirit of a comprehensive approach to security.
• Chinese army mainly engaged in humanitarian rescue in 'Cobra Gold' exercise People's Daily 14 Feb 2014 -- The Cobra Gold 2014 multilateral military exercise is set to open on Feb. 11 in Thailand's Phitsanulok. China has sent troops to attend the military exercise for the first time.
• Kerry Warns China Against New Air-Defense Zone RFE/RL 14 Feb 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has warned China against unilateral moves to set up a new air-defense zone that would include disputed islands in the East China Sea.
• Russia, Egypt Reach Initial $3 Bln Arms Deal – Report RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2014 -- Egypt has reached an initial agreement on how to implement a new Russian arms delivery deal worth over $3 billion, Vedomosti newspaper reported Friday.
• Press Briefing by Secretary Vilsack and Dr. Holdren on the President's Trip to CA The White House 14 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 14, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 14 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Feb 2014
• Syria Peace Talks Reach an Impasse VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- Five days of peace talks aimed at ending Syria's civil war ended in a bitter impasse on Friday with Syrian government and opposition negotiators trading accusations over who was to blame for the stalemate at the UN-mediated talks in Geneva.
• France Sending Additional Troops to CAR VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- France says it will send an additional 400 troops to help fight escalating violence in the Central African Republic.
• Violence against kids in CAR must end: UNICEF Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for an end to violence against children in the Central African Republic (CAR).
• France to deploy 400 more troops to Central African Republic Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- France has said it is planning to reinforce its troops in the Central African Republic (CAR) by sending 400 more soldiers to the former French colony.
• Central African Republic 'urgent test' for UN, regional partners, Security Council told UN News Centre 14 Feb 2014 -- Warning that "dark clouds of mass atrocities" are looming over the Central African Republic (CAR), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for solidarity and concerted action by the United Nations and regional organizations to help the people of the strife-torn nation.
• UN Chief Urges International Support for CAR VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the international community to intensify efforts to help the people of the Central African Republic, where he warned the situation is worsening. His remarks come as France announced it would temporarily increase its small troop presence in the CAR.
• Due to ongoing insecurity, UN advises against forced returns to South Sudan UN News Centre 14 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations today is warning against the return of 130,000 South Sudanese who have fled to neighbouring countries due to the continued violence despite last month's ceasefire accord between Government and opposition forces.
• Released S. Sudan Political Detainees Hope to Jump-Start Peace Talks VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- Seven former political detainees from South Sudan will take part in peace talks for the country as a 'third party,' alongside negotiators for President Salva Kiir's government and opposition forces, including loyalists to former vice president Riek Machar.
• S. Sudan Says Renegade General Continues to Fight SPLA VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- The South Sudanese government on said Friday that it is fighting thousands of troops loyal to a renegade military commander who rejected the cessation of hostilities agreement signed three weeks ago.
• Iraqi forces retake control of Sulaiman Bek Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- Iraqi security officials say the army has regained control of the town of Sulaiman Bek in Salahuddin Province after overnight clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants stationed in the town.
• DR Congo: UN envoy heads to Kinshasa to promote regional peace accord UN News Centre 14 Feb 2014 -- Great Lakes envoy Mary Robinson is in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, calling on authorities to fulfil their commitments to achieve lasting peace, as the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC is due to visit alleged massacre sites in the restive eastern part of the vast country.
• Taiwan, China exchange views on leaders' summit CNA 14 Feb 2014 -- Ranking officials from Taiwan and China have exchanged views for the first time on the possibility of holding a presidential summit although there is no indication as to whether or when such a top-level meeting might happen.
• MAC head expects more exchanges with China after milestone visit CNA 14 Feb 2014 -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi said Friday that he looks forward to more substantial exchanges across the Taiwan Strait after his just-concluded trip to China, which he described as 'satisfactory and smooth.'
• MAC-TAO communication to be reciprocal, direct: MAC minister CNA 14 Feb 2014 -- A regular communication mechanism between top officials in charge of cross-Taiwan Strait affairs that Taiwan and China agreed to establish during a high-level meeting earlier this week will be conducted in a reciprocal and direct manner, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Friday.
• Libyan army cmdr.l seeks parliament suspension Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- A Libyan military commander has called for the suspension of the interim parliament and the formation of a presidential committee to govern until new elections are held.
• Libya PM denies impending coup rumors Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has denied rumors of an impending coup following a military commander recommended that the country's interim parliament and the government be suspended.
• Libya's government, armed forces deny rumours of impending coup VoR 14 Feb 2014 -- Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and military officials spoke out Friday to dispel rumors of a possible coup after retired general Khalifa Haftar posted a video statement calling for a "road map" to a new government.
• Libyan PM Moves to Quash Coup Rumors VOA 14 Feb 2014 -- Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and military officials spoke out Friday to dispel rumors of a possible coup after retired general Khalifa Haftar posted a video statement calling for a "road map" to a new government.
• Two Koreas should use momentum of family reunions to build further mutual trust, says Ban UN News Centre 14 Feb 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the two Koreas to build on the momentum generated by their agreement to hold family reunions later this month to take further steps to foster confidence and trust.
• North and South Korea hold second round of talks VoR 14 Feb 2014 -- North and South Korea held another session of their highest-ranking talks for years on Friday, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said. No further details were immediately available of the talks at the border village of Panmunjom other than that the morning session had ended.
• Five challenges for Somalia's economic reconstruction IRIN 14 Feb 2014 -- Somalia's economy has managed to survive state collapse, maintaining reasonable levels of output throughout the country's two-decade-long civil war. Now, with political recovery and transition slowly underway, the country's economy faces new hurdles.

News Reports

• All arrested Ukraine protesters released - prosecutor VoR 14 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's attorney general said Friday all 234 protesters who were arrested in anti-government unrest rocking the country had been released - as demanded by the opposition - but charges against them remained.
• Russia's Lavrov Again Warns West Over Meddling In Ukraine RFE/RL 14 Feb 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has once again warned the West against interfering in the political crisis in Ukraine.
• Yulia Tymoshenko: a prison term is no reason to stop the presidential race VoR 14 Feb 2014 -- The former prime minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko has invited President Viktor Yanukovich to take part in the discussion "of the tactical and strategic steps to lead the country out of the crisis".
• Inter-Korean High-level Contact Held KCNA 14 Feb 2014 -- A north-south high-level contact took place in Panmunjom on February 12 and 14.
• Iran defense capabilities non-negotiable: MP Iran Press TV 14 Feb 2014 -- An Iranian lawmaker has dismissed US claims that Tehran's defense capabilities would be part of the nuclear talks with six world powers, saying Iran's defense might is non-negotiable.
• Sweeping Electoral Reforms Approved by Russia's Parliament RIA Novosti 14 Feb 2014 -- Russian lawmakers approved a bill Friday to create a mixed electoral system that will reintroduce single-mandate elections in the next parliamentary vote.
• Aid, development must converge in responding to crises - UN reports UN News Centre 14 Feb 2014 -- The rising scale of needs, a collective inability to resolve protracted crises, and the interplay of new factors such as climate change, are making it harder for Governments and aid workers to effectively respond to humanitarian challenges, the United Nations today reported, stressing that development aid must contribute to managing crisis risk.