• 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

Defense Policy / Programs

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Phone Call With Russia's Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu DoD 02 Mar 2014
• Phil Sea Transits Straits of Gibraltar NNS 02 Mar 2014 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG2), transited safely through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea in the early morning of Feb. 27.
• China naval expert defends military budget People's Daily 02 Mar 2014 -- Double-digit growth in China's defense budget in recent years is moderate and in line with the country's economic conditions, a military expert said ahead of the two sessions during which military spending would be a focus.
• DPP to unveil plan for indigenous submarine CNA 02 Mar 2014 -- The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will unveil the fifth chapter of its defense policy blue paper March 4, including a detailed plan for indigenous submarines, officials of a party think tank said Sunday.
• Taiwan to launch new prototype missile boat later this month CNA 02 Mar 2014 -- A locally developed prototype missile boat will be launched later this month as part of Taiwan's efforts to beef up its naval defense capabilities, the Navy said Sunday.
• DPP worried about threat from China CNA 02 Mar 2014 -- China will possess the ability by 2020 to overpower Taiwan in sweeping confrontations ranging from military conflict to psychological warfare and will be capable of defeating its neighbor without a fight, according to a report released Sunday by an opposition think tank.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syrian troops make advances in Aleppo, Homs Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- The Syrian army has made more advances against foreign-backed militants operating in the country, inflicting heavy losses on them during operations in the provinces of Aleppo and Homs.
• Syrian Army Assault on Qalamoun Region Stalls VOA 02 Mar 2014 -- A two-weeks-long Syrian army assault on the last major town held by rebels in the mountainous Qalamoun region along the Lebanese border is facing renewed resistance from insurgents, say opposition activists.
• Protesters raid Libya parl., demand its dissolution Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- Dozens of protesters have stormed Libya's interim parliament building in Tripoli, with some of them rampaging through the building, witnesses have said.
• Buffeted by Chaos, Libya Faces Energy, Budget Crunches VOA 02 Mar 2014 -- Already buffeted by lawlessness and seemingly unending political turmoil Libya is now facing budgetary and energy crunches, say top officials.
• Coast Guard vows to protect fishermen in waters north of Taiwan CNA 02 Mar 2014 -- The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has pledged that it will do whatever it can to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating in East China Sea waters north of Taiwan.

News Reports

• Briefing on the Situation in Ukraine US Dept. of State 02 Mar 2014
• Hagel Discusses Ukraine, Budget on 'Face the Nation' AFPS 02 Mar 2014 -- Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation", Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged a diplomatic approach to resolve what he described as a "dangerous situation" in Ukraine.
• Obama, Hagel Contact Top Russian Officials on Ukraine AFPS 02 Mar 2014 -- President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called their Russian counterparts to express their concerns over recent events in Ukraine, according to White House and Defense Department news releases issued.
• North Atlantic Council statement on the situation in Ukraine NATO 02 Mar 2014 -- The North Atlantic Council condemns the Russian Federation's military escalation in Crimea and expresses its grave concern regarding the authorisation by the Russian Parliament to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine.
• NATO Official Urges Russia to De-escalate Tensions in Ukraine AFPS 02 Mar 2014 -- NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Russia to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, according his statements contained in a NATO news release.
• Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Press Conference held at NATO HQ, Brussels NATO 02 Mar 2014
• Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen NATO 02 Mar 2014
• NATO urges Russia to withdraw troops from Crimea Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- The chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine's Crimea region.
• NATO Meeting Over Ukraine RFE/RL 02 Mar 2014 -- NATO is to hold an urgent meeting in Brussels to consider the situation in Ukraine.
• Russia declared war on Ukraine: Yatsenyuk Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- New Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of declaring war on the country.
• G-7 Countries Suspend Planning For Russia Summit RFE/RL 02 Mar 2014 -- The Group of Seven leading industrialized countries say they are suspending participation in the planning for an international summit in Russia.'
• Fear Is In The Air Among Crimean Tatars RFE/RL 02 Mar 2014
• Crimean Tatar Leader Tells People To Stay At Home, Avoid Confrontations RFE/RL 02 Mar 2014 -- With tensions escalating in Crimea, Mustafa Dzhamilev, a local Tatar leader and former Soviet dissident, spoke on March 1 to RFE/RL Russian Service's Dmitry Volchek. Dzhamilev says that he is telling local Tatars to stay away from protests and to avoid any provocations.
• Putin's stance on Crimea is message for West to stop hidden aggression against Ukraine VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- In a recent phone talk with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not stand still if violation against ethnic Russians continues in Ukraine. However, of course, Russia would act within the framework of international law.
• Crimea parliament head urges Crimeans to support state independence VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- Speaker of the Supreme Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov addressed residents with the request to support the transition to state independence at the upcoming referendum.
• Crimea to seek larger-than-autonomous status at referendum – local parliament head VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- The authorities of Crimea do not obey the new central government in Kiev, Chairman of the republic's Supreme Council (parliament) Vladimir Konstantinov said on Sunday.
• Crimean Authorities Confirm Takeover of Military Units RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea confirmed Sunday that the majority of Ukrainian military units stationed on the Crimean peninsula have expressed their support of legitimately elected Pro-Russian authorities.
• Ukraine Urges Putin to Abandon Military Intervention Plans RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukrainian lawmakers appealed Sunday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider deploying additional troops in Crimea in order to avoid the military escalation of the current political crisis in the country.
• Russia Hosts Rallies in Support of Compatriots in Ukraine RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Thousands of people in Russia's two largest cities on Sunday took part in rallies in support of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine amid the deepening political crisis in the former Soviet state.
• Ukrainian Troops in Crimea Side with Pro-Russia Forces RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukrainian servicemen stationed in Crimea are leaving en masse their military units and handing over weaponry and arsenals to local pro-Russia authorities and militia, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Sunday.
• Some 675,000 Ukrainians Fled to Russia Amid Crisis – Report RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Russia's border guard service said Sunday that some 675,000 Ukrainian citizens have migrated to Russia since the beginning of 2014 amid fears of uncertain future in crisis-hit Ukraine.
• Putin Tells Obama Russia Will Act In Case of Ukraine Violence RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Russian leader Vladimir Putin told US President Barack Obama in a telephone conversation Sunday that Moscow reserved the right to protect its own interests and those of Russian speakers in the event of violence breaking out in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
• Ukraine Appeals to NATO for Assistance RIA Novosti 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine appealed for assistance from NATO on Saturday, asking it to use all possible measures to ensure its territorial integrity and protect its people.
• Amid ongoing crisis, Ban dispatches deputy UN chief Jan Eliasson to Ukraine UN News Centre 02 Mar 2014 -- The United Nations announced on Sunday that Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson is heading to Ukraine amid the ongoing crisis in the country to get an understanding of the situation on the ground.
• Kerry Heading to Ukraine as Russia Tightens Grip on Crimea VOA 02 Mar 2014 -- Secretary of State John Kerry will be heading to Kyiv Monday for discussions there Tuesday, the U.S. top diplomat tweeted as Russia continued to assert increasing control over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
• US: All Options on Table in Ukraine VOA 02 Mar 2014 -- The crisis in Ukraine is consuming Washington's attention, with the Obama administration issuing stark warnings to Russia over its seizure of Crimea, while Ukraine mobilizes military reservists and accuses Moscow of declaring war.
• Crimean PM announces creation of regional Navy VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- Admiral Denis Berezovsky, appointed as head of Ukraine's Navy forces just two days ago, has sworn allegiance to the people of Crimea. Taking his oath, regional Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov announced creating Crimea's Navy.
• Ukraine launches treason case against Navy chief who surrendered VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine launched a treason case on Sunday against the head of the navy, who surrendered his headquarters on Sunday in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on only his second day on the job.
• Ukrainian Navy chief defects to Crimea Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- Head of the Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky has switched allegiance to the Crimea region amid a growing tension between Russia and the West over the semi-autonomous territory.
• Kiev-controlled Rada cautions Putin against sending troops to Ukraine VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- Verkhovna Rada lawmakers have cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin against sending troops to Ukraine.
• UNSC urges nations to show restraint with regard to Ukraine VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting overnight into Sunday, as well as consultations on the situation in Ukraine to call for dialogue. Russia insists that Ukraine should return to a constitutional framework.
• Ukraine declares total mobilization VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine has announced general mobilization, with Secretary of the National Security Council Andriy Parubiy declaring that the entire country will be put on full combat alert.
• Ukraine mobilizes military reservists Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's top security official says he has ordered a call-up of all military reserves in the Eastern European country as tensions rise between Russia and the West in the region.
• Readout of the President's Calls with Prime Minister Cameron, President Komorowski, and Chancellor Merkel The White House 02 Mar 2014
• G-7 Leaders Statement The White House 02 Mar 2014
• Russian troops heading to Ukraine's Crimea Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- Hundreds of Russian troops are reportedly heading towards the autonomous region of Crimea in southern Ukraine as the political crisis continues in the former Soviet state.
• Russians Ambivalent As Putin Threatens Ukraine Invasion RFE/RL 02 Mar 2014 -- Competing rallies in Russia's two biggest cities have laid bare divisions among Russians over a possible military intervention in Ukraine.
• Russian peace and stabilization intervention in Ukraine: Prospective scenario VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- The escalating tension brought about by the Ukrainian insurgent "government" has resulted in reciprocal protective measures by the Russian Federation, namely to authorize the use of military units to protect Russian citizens and military (possibly even energy) infrastructure from attack.
• China Blames Terrorists for Deadly Train Station Knife Attack VOA 02 Mar 2014 -- Chinese authorities say separatist terrorists carried out a violent and bloody attack at a train station late Saturday night in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. The attack left at least 33 dead and more than 130 injured.
• China accuses ethnic separatists of killing 33 in slash attack VoR 02 Mar 2014 -- A dozen of knife-wielding assailants slashed scores of people at a train station in southern China, wounding 143 people. Twenty-nine slash victims and four attackers were killed. The local media has blamed the attack on ethnic separatists from the far west.
• Comprehensive nuclear deal possible by end of July: Zarif Iran Press TV 02 Mar 2014 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and six major world powers over Tehran's nuclear energy program is possible by the end of July.