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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 25 Feb 2014 [PDF]
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Afghanistan DoD 25 Feb 2014
• Contingency Plans Begin for Possible Full Afghanistan Withdrawal AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- President Barack Obama today informed Afghan President Hamid Karzai that because the Afghan leader has demonstrated that it is unlikely that he will sign the bilateral security agreement on a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan beyond this year, he has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014.
• Obama Warns Karzai on Post-2014 Troop Presence VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- President Obama called Afghan President Karzai on Tuesday to reiterate that there will be no U.S. troop presence on the ground in Afghanistan unless the Afghan government signs a bilateral security agreement.
• Dempsey: Past Year 'Surprisingly Positive' for Afghan Forces AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- By both NATO and Afghan accounts, the past year "has been surprisingly positive" for the Afghan national security forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
• Pakistan begins to issue new refugee cards to Afghan, UN confirms UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations refugee agency today confirmed that it assisting the Government of Pakistan to issue new refugee cards to more than 1.6 million Afghan refugees in the country, certifying that they are legally in the country and should be allow access to social services and basic rights.
• British soldiers intercept drugs in Afghanistan UK MOD 25 Feb 2014 -- Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment have intercepted more than 200 kilos of hashish in Helmand province.
• Final US Tanker Aircraft Departs Manas Base in Kyrgyzstan RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- The final US tanker aircraft supporting military operations in Afghanistan departed a Kyrgyzstan airbase Monday ahead of the closure of the facility later this year, a US army media agency reported.
• Pakistan Jets Bomb Militants VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- Pakistan jets pounded Taliban hideouts in the country's remote tribal northwestern region Tuesday, killing some 30 militants.
• Pakistan's Army Launches More Air Strikes In North Waziristan RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Pakistan's Army has launched another wave of air strikes in the tribal region of North Waziristan, targeting militant hideouts and killing at least 30 suspected Taliban fighters.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel at Fort Eustis, Virginia DoD 25 Feb 2014 -- Presenters: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Rear Admiral John Kirby, Press Secretary
• Remarks by Acting Deputy Secretary Fox at the McAleese Defense Program Conference at the Newseum, Washington, D.C DoD 25 Feb 2014 -- Presenter: Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine H. Fox
• Remarks by Secretary Hagel at a Troop Event at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia DoD 25 Feb 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• Obama Announces New DOD-led Manufacturing Institutes AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- President Barack Obama today announced two new manufacturing innovation institutes led by the Defense Department and supported by a $140 million federal commitment combined with more than $320 million in private-sector commitments.
• DOD Asia Policy Nominee Encourages Close Watch on China AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- The man nominated to be the Defense Department's top policy official for the Asia-Pacific region said today he believes the United States must do more than just watch and analyze China's military, and he called for encouraging Taiwan to develop a defense force capable of thwarting Beijing's efforts to coerce its rival.
• Work: Continued Fiscal Uncertainty Creates Cascading Effects AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- Continued fiscal uncertainty has the potential to create cascading effects across all elements of the Defense Department's enterprise, President Barack Obama's nominee to take the Pentagon's No. 2 post said today.
• Acting Deputy Secretary Outlines Defense Budget Priorities AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Christine H. Fox took to the podium today at the 2015 Defense Programs Conference here to explain the strategic assumptions and analytic basis for the budget and program decisions contained in the department's fiscal year 2015 budget request.
• Remarks by Secretary Hagel at a Troop Event at Fort Eustis, Virginia DoD 25 Feb 2014-- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• US and Timor-Leste Convene Second CARAT Exercise NNS 25 Feb 2014 -- The U.S. Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) commenced the second Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Timor-Leste exercise Feb. 24, with an opening ceremony at Port Hera Navy Base.
• Chairman Disputes Notion of Declining U.S. Military AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- The U.S. military has some fiscal constraints, but it is not a military in decline as some critics suggest, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
• Counter-IED Organization to Continue at Smaller Size AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- The Defense Department's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization is still relevant and is needed for future conflicts, but its size is expected to shrink significantly, according to its director.
• Kendall Cautions Against Complacency in U.S. Tech Superiority AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- The United States has been strategically dominant since the end of the Cold War, but complacency and distractions could lead to a loss of technology superiority, the Pentagon's top acquisition official said today.
• Dempsey Seeks Feedback From Force on Budget Proposals AFPS 25 Feb 2014 -- Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey wants feedback from service members on the fiscal year 2015 defense budget request that he and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined to reporters at the Pentagon yesterday.
• Hagel details Pentagon budget cuts: US Army to shrink to pre-WWII level to face new era VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- The Pentagon said on Monday it would shrink the US Army to pre-World War Two levels, eliminate the popular A-10 aircraft and reduce military benefits in order to meet 2015 spending caps, setting up an election-year fight with the Congress over national defense priorities.vli>
• Kerry Says There is No Let Up in US Asia Pivot VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- During last week's trip to Asia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry worked to reassure allies about the Obama administration's commitment to its so-called Asia Pivot of political and military resources to the region.
• Ukraine, capabilities, and Afghanistan focus of NATO Defence Ministerial NATO 25 Feb 2014 -- The situation in Ukraine, as well as NATO's defence capabilities and mission in Afghanistan are top of the agenda at a two-day meeting of NATO defence ministers which starts on Wednesday (26 February 2014). The ministers will pave the way for the NATO Summit in Wales in September.
• Iraq signs deal to buy arms from Iran VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- Iran has signed eight contracts to sell Iraq arms and ammunition worth $195 million, Reuters reports referring to documents provided by an unnamed source. This deal violates a UN arms embargo on Iran.
• US presses Iraq on reports of arms deal with Iran VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- The United States pressed Iraq Monday to explain media reports that it had signed a contract to buy arms from Iran, a move forbidden under a United Nations embargo.
• Russia to Man Kyrgyz Airbase With Professional Soldiers RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- A Russian airbase in Kyrgyzstan will be fully manned with personnel serving under contract by the end of 2014, the Central Military District said Tuesday.
• Taiwan set to take delivery of more Apache helicopters in March CNA 25 Feb 2014 -- Taiwan is set to take delivery of six more AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States in mid-March, as was expected, according to a military source.
• Iran unveils new defense achievements ISNA 25 Feb 2014 -- Iran unveiled new defense projects and achievements, including advanced systems in electronic defense.
• Daily Briefing by the Press Secretary, 2/25/14 The White House 25 Feb 2014
• February 25, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 25 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 25, 2014
• China boosting cooperation with Russia in key technology of bombers, transport trainers People's Daily 25 Feb 2014 -- The aviation industry of Jiangxi Province developed very swiftly in 2013. AVIC Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Group is actively boosting its cooperation with Russia in the key technology of bombers and transport trainers, according to information from the website of the Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense.

Other Conflicts

• 25 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Feb 2014
• Calls Grow for Syria to Stop Impeding Aid Effort VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- U.N. member states Tuesday called for the implementation of a Security Council resolution demanding safe and unobstructed humanitarian access to Syrian civilians.
• Pakistan denies selling arms to Saudi Arabia for Syrian rebels IRNA 25 Feb 2014 -- Pakistan has rejected reports as baseless that Saudi Arabia has shown interest to buy Pakistani arms for Syrian rebels.
• Russia troubled by reports Saudi Arabia to buy MPADS for Syria opposition - Foreign Ministry VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- Russia is troubled by the reports that Saudi Arabia is willing to provide the Syrian opposition with man-portable air-defense systems (MPADS) and anti-tank systems, the Russian Foreign Ministry says.
• US preparing insurgents for an attack on Damascus Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2014 -- The United States and some of its Arab allies are preparing insurgents fighting against the Syrian government for an attack from the direction of the Jordanian border, hoping the insurgents will be able to reach the Syrian capital, Damascus.
• Syria: UN officials urge political solution to crisis, greater efforts to ease civilian suffering UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- As the conflict that has inflicted unimaginable suffering on the Syrian people prepares to enter its fourth year, United Nations officials today stressed the need for a political solution to end the crisis, as well as greater efforts to protect civilians and ensure they receive the assistance they desperately need.
• Ba'ath Party should negotiate with other Syrian parties - Bashar al-Assad VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- The Ba'ath Party "should negotiate and maintain effective relationships with new parties, which have appeared on the political arena of Syria", President of Syria Bashar al-Assad said during his speech in Damascus, facing members of the city committee and activists from the Ba'ath Party. Newspaper "Al-Ba'at", press organ of the Party, cites the president.
• Fear persists among South Sudan's displaced IRIN 25 Feb 2014 -- The 101 civilians holed up in two large tents and a washroom block in a UN base in the South Sudan city of Rumbek may form one of the smallest such groups now protected by peacekeepers, but their conditions and fears are typical of the 75,000 people now living in such bases across the country.
• UN warns of dire situation in Central African Republic Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2014 -- The UN has warned of an escalating humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic, cautioning against a new bloodbath as France sets to extend the stay of its troops in its former colony.
• Central African Republic: UN urges better security, more resources to aid civilians UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- As the violence across the Central African Republic (CAR) continues unabated, United Nations agencies are sounding the alarm about the plight of civilians at risk inside the country and are now also warning that the crisis threatens to engulf the region, with thousands of people fleeing the fighting to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.
• Thousands of CAR civilians 'under threat by armed groups, need better security' - UN VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- Thousands of civilians in conflict-torn Central African Republic are at imminent risk of attack, the UN refugee agency warned Tuesday, calling for heightened security and more international troops. More than 15,000 people, most of them Muslim, 'are at present surrounded and under threat by armed groups,' UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters.
• UN voices 'deep concern' about continued violence in Libya UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations in Libya said ongoing violence there is a violation of human dignity and urged authorities to end instability in the country which runs counter to the values of rule of law and respect for human rights to which Libyans aspire.
• Security Council: senior UN official urges strong leadership on Middle East peace efforts UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- The Middle East peace process is nearing a defining moment, the top United Nations political chief today told the Security Council today urging Governments to back the peace agenda and to raise awareness of the benefits of peace among their constituents.

News Reports

• Ukrainian Acting Leader Warns Of 'Signs Of Separatism' RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's acting president says he's concerned about 'signs of separatism' and threats to Ukraine's territorial integrity following the upheaval that has rocked the country in the past week.
• Russia Says It Will Keep Out of Ukrainian Affairs RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Russia's top diplomat said Tuesday that Moscow will not interfere with affairs in Ukraine as the former Soviet nation scrambles to recover from the outcome of a street-based uprising that culminated in the overthrow of the president.
• Putin Discusses Ukraine at High-Level Security Meeting RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine with top security officials Tuesday, his spokesman has said.
• Ukraine: Yanukovych Must Stand Trial VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament voted on Tuesday to send fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych to be tried for 'serious crimes' by the International Criminal Court once he has been captured.
• Runaway President: As Manhunt Continues, What Are Yanukovych's Options? RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Ukrainian protesters have called for his death. The country's interim leaders have issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of 'mass murder.' And now, lawmakers want to drag him before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. But the main question remains: Where is Viktor Yanukovych?
• Ukraine's Parliament Wants Yanukovych, Others Tried At Hague RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament has voted in favor of having ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and others brought to trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for serious crimes.
• Ukrainian Journalists Rush To Fish Out Deposed President's Dirty Secrets RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Someone wanted the records to disappear without a trace under the gray waves of the Kyiv Reservoir. Instead, they are ending up on the Internet for everyone in the world to see.
• For Putin, Ukraine Is Too Important To 'Lose' RFE/RL 25 Feb 2014 -- Each time a statue of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin falls in Ukraine, it becomes a little more tempting to think that Russia's Vladimir Putin has somehow 'lost' Ukraine.
• Yanukovych Leaks: Ukraine activists find damning dossiers on deposed leader VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- An online database containing files snatched from the residence of Ukraine's deposed President Viktor Yanukovych has gone live at Yanukovychleaks.org. The webpage features a catalog of administrative papers and ledger records that give a glimpse of the president's "black bookkeeping" practice, activists claim.
• Ukraine on verge of default, faces unprecedented financial crisis - experts VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- While initiating a donor conference, Ukraine has calculated that it will need 35 billion dollars of aid. Ukraine's Finance Ministry and the National Bank of Ukraine have made a proposal to their international partners, to Poland and the US, to offer their country a credit within the upcoming weeks.
• Iran vigilantly pursues red lines in nuclear talks: Zarif Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2014 -- Iran says it will "sensitively and vigilantly" observe the red lines during the nuclear negotiations with the six major world powers.
• Turkey opposition calls on government to resign Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2014 -- Turkey's main opposition party has demanded the government to quickly step down in the wake of a wiretap leak incriminating Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of corruption.
• Turkey's PM Erdogan says leaked recordings 'treacherous attack' VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned leaked recordings of him and his son allegedly discussing how to hide large sums of money as a 'vile attack', as he grappled with the latest setback in a damaging corruption scandal.
• Turkish PM among thousands targeted in phone-tapping - reports VoR 25 Feb 2014 -- Turkish police have eavesdropped on thousands of people including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as cabinet ministers, the country's spy chief and journalists, local newspapers reported on Monday.
• Egypt interim president names new prime minister Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2014 -- Egypt's outgoing Housing Minister Ibrahim Mahlab says he has been asked to form a new government in the next few days, a media report says.
• Egypt Names Mahlab New Prime Minister VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- Egypt's president has named outgoing housing minister Ibrahim Mahlab as the country's new prime minister. Mahlab addressed the nation Tuesday and said he hopes to have a new government in place within the "next three or four days."
• Venezuelans Divided on Who to Blame for Economic, Social Woes VOA 25 Feb 2014 -- Continuing anti-government protests in Venezuela are posing the greatest threat to the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro since the handpicked successor to the late Hugo Chavez narrowly won election to office last year. In this oil-rich country nearly everyone is angry about food shortages, soaring inflation, and the high crime rate but there are sharp divisions over who is to blame and how to fix the problems.
• UN expert applauds Haitian decision to probe alleged abuses by 'Baby Doc' Duvalier UN News Centre 25 Feb 2014 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today applauded the decision by a Haitian court to order further investigations into alleged abuses committed by former President Jean-Claude Duvalier during his 15-year rule.
• Russia to Start Building New Manned Rocket Launch Pad in 2015 RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Russia is planning to start construction of a launch pad for a new heavy-class carrier rocket at a future space center in the Far East next year to set the stage for its maiden manned launch in 2018.
• Hundreds of Violations Found at Far East Space Center RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Investigators in Russia said Tuesday that they have detected 800 legal violations, mainly of labor regulations, during checks on construction work at the Vostochny space center in the Far East region of Amur.