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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 20 Feb 2014 [PDF]
• U.S.-Afghan Agreement Remains a Priority AFPS 20 Feb 2014 -- Defense officials continue to urge Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States, Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• US Military Presence in Afghanistan Uncertain After 2014 VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- After 12 years of fighting in Afghanistan, America's longest war is coming to an end. By the end of this year, all U.S. combat personnel will be out of the country.
• New solutions for Afghanistan's protracted IDPs IRIN 20 Feb 2014 -- Afghanistan's new government policy on internally displaced persons (IDPs), launched last week in Kabul, was welcomed by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as a way to find more sustainable solutions for the country's 620,000 conflict displaced.
• Pakistan-Taliban Talks on Verge of Collapse VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- Pakistan's attempts at peace talks with Taliban militants appeared on the edge of collapse Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Briefing on Release of DoD Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy DoD 20 Feb 2014 -- Presenters: Teri Takai, DoD Chief Information Officer; Maj. Gen. Robert Wheeler, Deputy CIO for Command, Control, Communications and Computers and Information Infrastructure; and Fred Moorefield, DoD CIO Director of Spectrum Policy and Programs; and Karl Nebbia,
• Spectrum Strategy Paves Way for New Technologies AFPS 20 Feb 2014 -- The Defense Department's chief information officer today unveiled the Pentagon's strategy for addressing the ever-increasing demand for wireless spectrum to achieve national security goals.
• DoD Releases Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy DoD 20 Feb 2014 -- The Department of Defense announced today the release of its Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy (EMS) to increase available spectrum in order to meet growing demand from the commercial wireless industry while maintaining critical military capabilities.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing with Rear Admiral Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 20 Feb 2014 -- Presenters: Rear Admiral John Kirby, Press Secretary
• Airmen, Soldiers to provide medical care to thousands of Belizeans during New Horizons 2014 AFNS 20 Feb 2014 -- Airmen and Soldiers from Air Forces Southern, the 355th Medical Group and the 349th Combat Support Hospital here readied medical personnel, packed supplies and shipped medical equipment that will be used in treating thousands of patients in support of their upcoming deployment to Belize for New Horizons 2014.
• Hagel Orders a Revamp of POW/MIA Effort AFPS 20 Feb 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the undersecretary of defense for policy to develop a plan to reorganize the department's POW/MIA accounting effort, Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• Osprey supports multinational Marine fast-rope drills USMC News 20 Feb 2014 -- Ever since the MV-22B Osprey was fully implemented into the Marine Corps, U.S. Marines have been riding, rappelling and parachuting out of them as part of operations and exercises.
• Keel Authenticated for 11th Littoral Combat Ship, the future Sioux City NNS 20 Feb 2014 -- The Navy and Lockheed Martin, with Marinette Marine Corp., held a keel laying ceremony Feb. 19, for the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11), the Navy's 11th littoral combat ship (LCS).
• Saudi man in Guantanamo pleads guilty, could return home to jail VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- A Saudi man pleaded guilty to contributing to planned terrorist attacks, and could eventually be released from the Guantanamo Bay military prison to finish his sentence in Saudi Arabia, according to the US military prosecutor on Thursday.
• U.S., French Marines Partner for Training USMC News 20 Feb 2014 -- The Ospreys descended and seemed to take off a moment later. The Marines had landed, but this time they had help.
• HMH-461 fast ropes Dutch military into MOUT town USMC News 20 Feb 2014 -- Training foreign militaries is a common task for the Marine Corps.
• USS Columbus Departs for Western Pacific Deployment NNS 20 Feb 2014 -- Family and friends bid farewell to the crew of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) as she departed Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam for a deployment to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) region, Feb. 19.
• Denver Completes Cobra Gold NNS 20 Feb 2014 -- Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) completed its participation in Cobra Gold 2014 (CG 14) in the Gulf of Thailand, Feb. 16.
• Diesel Fuel Removal Operation from Daiki Maru 7 Ends NNS 20 Feb 2014 -- The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, removed diesel fuel to the greatest degree practical from the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 in outer Apra Harbor, Feb. 20.
• Russia to Strengthen Mediterranean Force With 'Stealth' Subs RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2014 -- The combat capability of Russia's naval task force in the Mediterranean will increase significantly following the first deliveries of Varshavyanka-class submarines to the Black Sea Fleet in 2015, Navy Commander Adm. Viktor Chirkov said Thursday.
• Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 2/20/2014 The White House 20 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 20, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 20 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Feb 2014
• Syria: UN agency awaits clearance to resume aid delivery to Palestinian camp UN News Centre 20 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations agency charged with ensuring the well-being of Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East is awaiting clearance to again resume distributing aid in a camp near Damascus, where just yesterday it had been able to reach civilians in desperate need.
• Idris quits 'Syrian National Coalition' Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- Divisions among foreign-sponsored opposition groups in Syria have further widened as senior militant commanders sever their ties with the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).
• US policy on Syria aids 'terrorism' - Russia VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- Moscow accused Washington Thursday of prolonging the Syrian conflict by supporting the opposition, on the eve of a UN Security Council vote that threatens to further deepen big power divisions.
• Russia says Syrian rebels thwart UN aid missions to torpedo peace process VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- The obstruction of attempted humanitarian deliveries to Syrian territories besieged by militants aims to thwart the relief operations and to stop the inter-Syrian peace process, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
• On election day, UN urges Libyans to participate in constitution-making process UN News Centre 20 Feb 2014 -- Polling stations are open today across most of Libya in elections that the top United Nations official in the country say is an opportunity for voters to have their voice heard and contribute to a new State's constitution.
• Mainland respects Taiwan's social system: Xi People's Daily 19 Feb 2014 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Chinese mainland respects the social system and lifestyle that Taiwan compatriots have chosen.
• U.S. congressman reaffirms importance of Taiwan Relations Act CNA 20 Feb 2014 -- The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs said Thursday during a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou that he intends to propose a bill to reaffirm the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) before the Act's 35th anniversary.
• UN officials urge collective action to save Central African Republic from current 'nightmare' UN News Centre 20 Feb 2014 -- Time is of the essence if the international community does not want to fail the people of the Central African Republic (CAR), top United Nations officials warned today, as they urged collective action to stop the killing and save the country from its current nightmare.
• UN Chief: 3,000 More Troops, Police Needed for CAR VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for an additional 3,000 troops and police for the Central African Republic, where sectarian violence has continued unabated.
• UN's Amos Calls For More International Troops to CAR VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- United Nations emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos has wrapped a two-day visit to the Central African Republic. Amos says more must be done to protect civilians who she says 'have born the brunt of unspeakable violence.'
• Sudan: UN rights expert urges Government to release reports on 2013 protests UN News Centre 20 Feb 2014 -- Expressing "deep concern" that the Sudanese authorities have not yet issued their reports on last year's oil subsidy demonstrations, a United Nations human rights expert today urged the Government to release its documents on the protests, which he said, resulted in killings, injuries, arrests and detentions, and destruction of property.
• Thousands Have Defected From South Sudan Army, Officials Say VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- Two months into the conflict in South Sudan, government officials have said that thousands of soldiers have defected from the army and joined anti-government forces.
• Mali rebels agree to confine forces to barracks Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- The Malian government and armed groups in the country's north have signed a deal under which the rebel forces have agreed to remain in barracks.
• Philippines army chief scoffs at China island claims Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- Chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has scoffed at Beijing's claims over the regional islands near the Philippines, vowing to defend his country's fishermen against the Chinese navy.
• Report Finds LRA Weakened, Surviving on Farming, Ivory VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- A new report finds that the rebel Lord's Resistance Army is weaker than it has been in years, due to the loss of irreplaceable Ugandan fighters.

News Reports

• Hagel Urges Ukrainian Military to Stay Out of Unrest AFPS 20 Feb 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is deeply troubled by the escalating violence in Ukraine and has urged the country's armed forces not to get involved in the uprising unfolding in Kiev, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
• Interview: The Benefits Of A Partitioned Ukraine RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- As the crisis in Ukraine escalates and becomes increasingly violent, the possibility that the country could break up is again coming to the fore.
• EU Talks With Government, Opposition Continue RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- Three foreign ministers from the EU are in talks again with President Viktor Yanukovych on finding a way out of Ukraine's crisis.
• Ukraine: senior UN official decry use of excessive force as protests intensify UN News Centre 20 Feb 2014 -- As the casualties mount in and around crisis-riven Kiev, so have the calls for restraint from senior United Nations officials, who today once again urged the authorities in Ukraine to exercise restraint amidst a fiery stand-off with anti-Government protestors.
• White House Considers Sanctions on Ukraine as EU Talks Continue VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- President Obama is considering a range of sanctions options in response to mounting violence and deaths in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian Police To Be Given Combat Weapons, EU Imposes Sanctions RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's acting interior minister says police have been armed with combat weapons, after two days of fierce fighting on the streets of Kyiv.
• More Dead In Kyiv Clashes, EU Envoys Meet Yanukovych RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- More people have been killed in fresh clashes between riot police and antigovernment protesters in Kyiv.
• EU Ministers To Hold Crisis Talks In Kyiv RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- Foreign ministers from France, Germany, and Poland are to hold crisis talks in Kyiv after deadly clashes this week.
• Explainer: Will The Ukrainian Army Get Involved In The Country's Crisis? RFE/RL 20 Feb 2014 -- The Ukrainian army is coming under mounting pressure from the government to intervene in the country's political crisis. Here are five things to know about where the military stands.
• EU to Slap Sanctions on Ukraine Officials Over Violence RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2014 -- The European Union resolved Thursday to impose sanctions against government officials in Ukraine linked to violence that has claimed dozens of lives.
• US 'Outraged' by Reports of Police Shooting at Protesters in Ukraine RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2014 -- The United States on Thursday harshly condemned Ukrainian authorities' reported use of automatic weapons against protesters in fresh clashes that have left dozens of people dead.
• New Unrest Rocks Ukraine Capital, Deaths Reported RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2014 -- At least 25 people were reportedly killed Thursday in renewed unrest in Ukraine's capital as the violent standoff between the government and opposition pushed the former Soviet nation to the verge of all-out civil conflict.
• US Urges Ukraine President to Withdraw Forces VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- The White House has urged Ukraine's president on Thursday to immediately withdraw security forces from downtown Kyiv and respect the right of peaceful protest after a truce fell apart there and the death toll mounted.
• At Yanukovych's request, Russia's Putin sending envoy to Kiev as mediator VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- President of Russia Vladimir Putin sends Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to Kiev, as a mediator in negotiations with the opposition, at the request of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Press-Secretary of the Russian leader, Dmitry Peskov, said.
• Ukrainian president announces truce, start of talks with opposition VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday announced a 'truce' and the start of direct talks with the opposition after holding private talks with three anti-government leaders.
• No Sign Thailand Protests Will Abate as Economic Toll Rises VOA 20 Feb 2014 -- Protests against Thailand's caretaker government show no sign of waning now that judges have ruled authorities cannot use force to disperse them. This and other events are putting more pressure on the country's embattled caretaker government amid violence that left at least five people dead and dozens injured on Tuesday.
• Background Briefing on P5+1 Talks US Dept. of State 20 Feb 2014
• US calls Iran's N. talks 'constructive' ISNA 20 Feb 2014 -- The US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf has described as "constructive and useful" the nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
• Keep Iran missile program out of nuclear talks: Russia Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- Russia says the nuclear talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany should not include the Islamic Republic's missile program.
• Iran defense capabilities non-negotiable: Zarif Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the country's defense and scientific capabilities are non-negotiable and no Iranian nuclear site will be dismantled.
• No country can trespass on Iran waters: Cmdr. Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the country's naval forces will never allow any country to violate Iranian territorial waters.
• Iran complying with nuclear obligations: IAEA Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations' nuclear agency says Iran is complying with its obligations under the deal it struck with six world powers last November.
• Iran, Britain resume diplomatic ties - Tehran VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- Iran and Britain officially resumed Thursday diplomatic relations severed by London after students stormed its Tehran embassy in 2011, a senior Iranian official said.
• Officials: NSA considers expanding collection of Americans' phone records Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) is mulling to expand its controversial collection of phone records and data of the American public, drawing the anger of civil rights groups.
• NSA considers retaining data for suits, expanding bulk surveillance VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- The US government may consider enlarging the National Security Agency's controversial collection of American citizens' phone records.
• Turkish spy agency may get sweeping new powers VoR 20 Feb 2014 -- Turkey's government has submitted a bill to parliament to give the country's spy agency more sweeping powers, a parliamentary source said Thursday.
• Tons of radioactive water leaks from Japan plant Iran Press TV 20 Feb 2014 -- About 100 tons of water containing high levels of radioactive material has leaked at the damaged Japanese nuclear power plant in Fukushima.
• H7N9 flu vaccine set for mass production in June: Taiwanese firm CNA 20 Feb 2014 -- A Taiwan-made vaccine for the H7N9 strain of avian flu is expected to begin mass production in June this year after completing human trials, Taichung-based Adimmune Corp. said Thursday.