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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 28 Feb 2014 [PDF]
• Pakistan: Informal Afghan Peace Talks Are 'A Good Start' VOA 28 Feb 2014 -- Pakistan says recent "informal" talks between Afghan peace negotiators and leaders of a Taliban faction are "a good start" towards seeking a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan. The hope is other warring groups will join the process.
• US Considers Targeting American Terrorism Suspect in Pakistan VOA 28 Feb 2014 -- The Obama administration is debating whether to approve a deadly drone strike on an American in Pakistan. A White House official is reported to have identified the man as being involved in producing explosive devices that have killed U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Winston S. Churchill Fleets Up NNS 28 Feb 2014 -- From one proud Texan to another, command of the Arleigh Burke destroyer, USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), officially changed hands Feb. 28.
• USS Gravely Visits Mobile for Mardi Gras Celebration NNS 28 Feb 2014 -- 'Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!'
• SecAF discusses Air Force future, budget during defense summit AFNS 28 Feb 2014 -- Defense industry leaders and analysts received an insight into the proposed Air Force transformation and a preview of the Fiscal Year 2015 Air Force budget during the Bloomberg Government Defense Transformation Spending and Strategy Summit Feb. 26.
• Top AF senior enlisted leader testifies on AF quality of life AFNS 28 Feb 2014 -- The top Air Force senior enlisted adviser testified during a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veteran's Affairs, Feb. 26, in Washington, D.C.
• USS Rentz Returns from Deployment NNS 28 Feb 2014 -- Guided-missile frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) returned to San Diego from a seven-month deployment to the 4th Fleet Area of Operations (AOR), Feb. 28.
• USS Simpson Arrives in Cartagena, Spain NNS 28 Feb 2014 -- Guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) arrived in Cartagena for a scheduled port visit, Feb. 28.
• US Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Force Build Relationships during Second CARAT NNS 28 Feb 2014 -- The U.S. Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) concluded the second Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Timor-Leste exercise Feb. 26, with a closing ceremony on board USS Kidd (DDG 100).
• Stratcom Commander Outlines Deterrence Strategy AFPS 28 Feb 2014 -- While U.S. Strategic Command remains capable and ready to meet its assigned missions, sequestration will continue to stress its human element and ability to meet 21st century threats, Stratcom's commander told the Senate Armed Services Committee here Feb. 28.
• Homeland Defense Nominee Prioritizes Terrorist Protection AFPS 28 Feb 2014 -- The nominee for assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense told the Senate Armed Forces Committee in a statement he would continue the Defense Department's policies and improve protection of the United States from a major terrorist attack.
• February 28, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 28 Feb 2014
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/28/2014 The White House 28 Feb 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 28, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 28 February 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 28 Feb 2014
• Armed Groups Target Students, Teachers VOA 28 Feb 2014 -- A new report says attacking schools and universities has become a weapon of war. It says in the last five years hundreds of students and teachers have been killed and many more injured. The report – Education Under Attack – identifies 30 countries where "there was a pattern of deliberate attacks between 2009 and 2013."
• Mediation 'still possible' between communities in Central African Republic - UN official UN News Centre 28 Feb 2014 -- Amid reports of retaliatory killings between armed Christian and Muslim factions the Central African Republic (CAR), a senior United Nations official today warned that "ethno-religious cleansing" is being carried out in the country, and now it is "most important" for mediation among the communities, and for more international forces to be deployed to protect civilians.
• UN: CAR Civilians Need Increased Protection VOA 28 Feb 2014 -- A senior U.N. refugee official says more massacres of civilians in the Central African Republic are inevitable without an increase in international forces.
• Analysis: Evacuation dilemma in the Central African Republic IRIN 28 Feb 2014 -- Zannah Bassar, a Muslim woman living in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui, has a simple message for the international community - she wants to be evacuated.
• 'Hell is real for the Rohingyas in Thailand' IRIN 28 Feb 2014 -- Abdul Kalam, 53, a Rohingya from Myanmar's western Rakhine State, arrived in Thailand more than 30 years ago, after escaping forced labour in his home village of Nalywah.
• DR Congo: funding gap forces UN agency to scale back food rations UN News Centre 28 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that a major funding gap is forcing the agency to scale back geographical coverage of its work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to instead focus on what it describes as "acutely-insecure, conflict-affected areas" in the vast country.

News Reports

• Statement by the President on Ukraine The White House 28 Feb 2014
• In Simferopol, A Cool Response To Yanukovych's Appeal For Support RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- If ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is hoping to garner support in Ukraine's Russophone regions, he might be disappointed in what he finds in Crimea.
• Kyiv Protests To Moscow Over Crimea RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine has officially protested to Russia over alleged violations of Ukrainian airspace by Russian aircraft in the Crimean peninsula.
• Security Council holds 'urgent' meeting on situation in Ukraine UN News Centre 28 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations Security Council held this afternoon what its President described as an "urgent" meeting on the situation in Ukraine, with the body's members noting that it is important for all political actors in the strife-torn country to exercise maximum restraint and pursue inclusive dialogue.
• Obama Warns of Costs for any Russian Military Intervention in Ukraine VOA 28 Feb 2014 -- President Obama warned Friday will be costs to any Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
• There must be no escalation of Ukraine violence - Putin to EU leaders VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says there must be no further escalation of violence in Ukraine in phone calls with the leaders of Britain and Germany and the president of the European Council, the Kremlin said on Friday.
• Russian FM Lavrov insists on implementing Feb 21 Ukraine agreement VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Ukraine with US Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation on Friday, which was arranged at US initiative, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
• Yanukovych says West helped fascists cause chaos in Ukraine, asks Russia for help VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday blamed the leaders of protests on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square in downtown Kiev, the symbol of Ukrainian protests) and Western countries for the current crisis in his country.
• Black Sea fleet armour move in Crimea in line with existing agreement - Russian FM VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Russia has given Ruslan Nimchinskiy, an adviser with the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow, a note on the move of Black Sea fleet armored vehicles in Crimea, which is in line with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
• I didn't give order to shoot protesters - Ukraine's Yanukovych VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich said on Friday he had not ordered police to shoot at protesters before he was forced out of power and the responsibility for bloodshed in Kiev lay with the demonstrators.
• Ukraine: Yanukovych calls for referendum, says power seized by fascists thanks to West VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- Viktor Yanukovych has suggested that a national referendum be conducted in Ukraine. Yanukovych believes the latest events in Ukraine, including the loss of life, have been a result of the Western countries' policy.
• No life or security threats for residents – Crimean Council of Ministers VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- BSergei Aksyonov has taken office as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea, the Okno v Rossiyu (Window to Russia) portal has obtained and posted the Crimean Cabinet's press release.
• Verkhovna Rada decision deposing Yanukovych is illegal - Pushkov VoR 28 Feb 2014 -- The legitimacy of the Verkhovna Rada decision, which removed President Viktor Yanukovych from office, is highly doubtful, State Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman Alexei Pushkov said. 'As far as I understand, the process of Yanukovych's deposing was rather confused and its legitimacy causes qualms,' Pushkov told reporters.
• Gunmen Blockade Crimean Airports; Parliament Urges Respect For Sovereignty RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- Ukraine's new interior minister says Russian naval soldiers are blocking Crimea's Sevastopol airport, while other Russian forces are patrolling the airport in the regional capital, Simferopol.
• Yanukovych Vows To Fight On, Denounces New Ukrainian Authorities RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- Viktor Yanukovych says he's still the legitimate president of Ukraine, and that the country's current authorities are 'fascist thugs.'
• Bad Tenant: Ukraine Bristles At Lingering Presence Of Black Sea Fleet RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet was founded in 1783, and almost immediately proved its strategic importance, defeating Ottoman naval forces and cementing Russia's hold over the Crimean peninsula.
• Explainer: The Budapest Memorandum And Its Relevance To Crimea RFE/RL 28 Feb 2014 -- With tensions rising in Crimea and pro-Russian forces controlling the peninsula's main airports, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has called on Russia to 'not violate the Budapest Memorandum.' So what is the 'Budapest Memorandum' and what does it have to do with Crimea?
• Yanukovych Condemns Interim Ukraine Govt as Violent Usurpers RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych lashed out at the West on Friday for its support for what he described as the violent usurpers that seized power in his former Soviet nation over the weekend.
• Russia Hurries to Issue Passports for Ukraine's Former Riot Police RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday it has ordered its consulate in Crimea to speed up the issuance of passports and citizenship to members of Ukraine's elite Berkut riot police.
• Crimean Parliament Forms New Cabinet RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- The regional parliament of Crimea, a largely Russian-speaking part of Ukraine, has formed a new Cabinet of ministers, parliamentary speaker Vladimir Konstantinov told reporters Friday.
• Ukraine Accuses Russian Soldiers in Crimea of 'Invasion' RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- The interior minister of Ukraine accused Russian troops Friday of blockading an airport in the Crimean city of Sevastopol in what he has described as an armed invasion.
• Yanukovych Escorted to Russia By Fighter Jets - Report RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- Deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych landed at a military airport in southern Russia late on Thursday escorted by fighter jets, a local news agency has reported.
• Russian Lawmakers Push to Simplify Annexing New Territories RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- Lawmakers in Russia introduced a bill in parliament on Friday to simplify the absorption of new territories into the country in what will be widely interpreted as a signal that Moscow may be planning to gain control over Ukraine's mainly ethnic Russian-populated region of Crimea.
• Larijani: Nuclear issue's resolving possible merely political IRNA 28 Feb 2014 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said here Friday that the Iranian nuclear issue can be resolved, but merely resorting to political discussions, unless the westerners would keep on resorting to baseless pretexts.
• China issues report on U.S. human rights People's Daily 28 Feb 2014 -- China published a report on the United States' human rights record on Friday, in response to U.S. criticism and 'irresponsible remarks' about China.
• Venezuela: UN human rights chief urges halt to violence, inflammatory rhetoric UN News Centre 28 Feb 2014 -- The United Nations human rights chief today condemned the recent violence in Venezuela, and urged the Government to ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.