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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 07 Mar 2014 [PDF]
• Commander Encouraged After Year in Afghanistan AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- The strength of coalition bonds in Afghanistan can be demonstrated by a recent helicopter recovery effort that involved four of the eight countries deployed to Regional Command Southwest, said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Walter Lee Miller Jr., former commander of the regional command and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
• US Flights From Kyrgyzstan Facility Transferred to Romania RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- All military flights previously transiting through a US air facility in Kyrgyzstan have been transferred to a new base in Romania, a representative of the Manas Transit Center in the Central Asian country told RIA Novosti on Friday.
• Pakistan may attack if peace talks fail: Minister Iran Press TV 07 Mar 2014 -- Pakistan's defense minister has threatened to launch a military attack against Taliban militants if so-called peace talks fail to bring an end to the militancy over the past years.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Alexander: U.S. Must Address Media Leaks, Cyber Legislation AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- Leaks to the media of classified information and the need for cyber legislation were key elements of a speech this week by Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.
• DOD Official Discusses Nuclear Deterrence in Congress AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- The Defense Department's nuclear deterrent is the ultimate protection for the United States while also assuring distant allies of their security against regional aggression, a senior Pentagon official told Congress yesterday.
• Pentagon Official Expresses Concerns Over Budget Instability AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- The use of overseas contingency operations funding has relieved some pressure on the Defense Department's base budget, but as the war in Afghanistan winds down, those base budget requirements are at risk as future contingency funding faces uncertainty, a senior Pentagon official said yesterday.
• Department of Defense Press briefing by Rear Adm. Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 07 Mar 2014 -- Presenter: Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby
• USS George H.W. Bush Departs Greece NNS 07 Mar 2014 -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departed Piraeus, Greece Mar. 7, following a three-day port visit.
• DOD Official: Quadrennial Review's Focus is Protecting Homeland AFPS 07 Mar 2014 -- Two countries that have long concerned the United States in terms of national security -- North Korea and Iran -- are mentioned first in the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, a document that a senior Defense Department official told reporters this week has a renewed emphasis on protecting the homeland.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Phone Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe 'Boogie' Ya'alon DoD 07 Mar 2014
• HMCS Protecteur, Crew Arrive Safely to Pearl Harbor NNS 07 Mar 2014 -- Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Protecteur, guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) and fleet ocean tug USNS Sioux (T-ATF-175) arrived here safely March 6, following recovery efforts led by the U.S. Navy after a fire aboard the Canadian ship last week.
• Coastal Riverine Force Admits Women to Combat Billets NNS 07 Mar 2014 -- The Department of the Navy announced March 7 that women can now be assigned to previously closed positions in the Coastal Riverine Force, continuing in the Department of Defense's rescission of the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule.
• USS Taylor Departs Samsun NNS 07 Mar 2014 -- USS Taylor (FFG 50) departed the Turkish port of Samsun, March 7, for Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, for repairs following the Feb. 12 grounding incident. The ship was moved with the assistance of a tug from Donjon Towing Company.
• Republic of Georgia troops train alongside Marines during rehearsal exercise USMC News 07 Mar 2014 -- Two battalions from the Republic of Georgia completed a Mission Readiness Exercise (MRE) aboard Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 23. The MRE was the capstone event for the battalions before their deployment to Afghanistan.
• Hollande to continue cooperation with Russia, Mistral helicopter carriers to be supplied VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- France continues to comply with the terms of the contract and will supply Moscow with two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, French President Francois Hollande announced. 'We keep to the terms of the signed contracts. Right now we have no plans to cancel them and we hope to avoid this,' Hollande said at a press conference on Friday.
• Highest-Ranking Russian Corruption Suspect Amnestied RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- A case against Russia's former defense minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, who was implicated in a corruption scandal, was ended on amnesty earlier this year, his lawyer said late Thursday.
• No plans for tax to support volunteer military: premier CNA 07 Mar 2014 -- Premier Jiang Yi-huah said Friday that the Cabinet has no intention at the moment to plan or study a special tax to support the military's transition to an all-volunteer force.
• March 7, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 07 Mar 2014
• Press Gaggle with Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Florida The White House 07 Mar 2014
• Background Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden's Trip to Chile and the Dominican Republic The White House 07 Mar 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 07, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 7 March 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 07 Mar 2014
• Security Council sets out steps to combat violations against children in armed conflict UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- The Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution setting out practical steps to combat violations against children in armed conflict, as United Nations officials underscored the need to do more to ensure that children are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice.
• Syria planes bomb militant-held area near Yabroud Iran Press TV 07 Mar 2014 -- Syrian aircraft have bombarded an area near the town of Yabroud, which borders Lebanon, a day after over a dozen foreign-backed militants were killed in heavy clashes there.
• Syria to miss deadline to destroy 12 chemical arms sites - OPCW sources VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- Syria will miss a major deadline next week to destroy its chemical weapons production facilities, sources at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said on Thursday. Syria declared 12 production facilities to the OPCW and has until March 15 to destroy them under a deal agreed with the United States and Russia. Damascus has already missed several deadlines laid out in the agreement. 'That will definitely be missed,' said an official involved in discussions with Syria, referring to the March 15 deadline.
• International Criminal Court Convicts Congolese Warlord VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- The International Criminal Court in The Hague has convicted former Congolese warlord Germain Katanga of being an accessory to crimes against humanity. But he was cleared of more serious charges relating to atrocities carried out in 2003. Katanga's guilty verdict is just the second conviction in the court's 12-year history.
• International Criminal Court convicts former militia leader for atrocities in DR Congo UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) today convicted former Congolese militia leader Germain Katanga of war crimes in relation to a deadly 2003 attack on a village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• South Sudan Intercepts UN Trucks Carrying Weapons VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- South Sudanese officials said Friday they have intercepted 11 United Nations trucks carrying weapons, in violation of a U.N. rule that arms should be transported by air only in the country for security reasons.
• South Sudan: UN says clashes in Upper Nile state prevent deliveries to needy populations UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- The United Nations refugee agency today expressed its deep concern about the situation in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, where needy populations, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and, increasingly, host communities are being affected as security conditions have prevented the delivery of food and other relief items to several camps since February.
• Refugees in South Sudan Face Food, Health Crisis VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) is warning that tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees in neighboring South Sudan are facing a severe food shortage.
• 'Extremely grave' situation in Central African Republic demands urgent action – UN official UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- Painting a grim picture of war-torn Central African Republic (CAR), where months of inter-religious violence has wrecked State institutions, left millions on the brink of starvation and now threatens to suck in the wider region, the top United Nations relief official today called for urgent international action – more peacekeepers and more aid – to end the crisis.
• Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Further Bloodshed in CAR VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos is calling for urgent action to prevent further bloodshed in the Central African Republic. Amos says the total breakdown of the state is having grave consequences throughout the region.
• Iraq: UN refugee agency concerned over worsening crisis in Anbar Province UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- The United Nations refugee agency reports today that the security situation in Iraq's Anbar province continues to deteriorate, with the number of people displaced in the area of Heet increasing by some 25,000 in just this past week, as the crisis enters its third month.

News Reports

• Armed Men Enter Ukrainian Base in Sevastopol VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- Armed men thought to be Russians drove a truck into a Ukrainian missile-defense post in the Crimea region on Friday and took it over without a shot being fired, according to a Reuters reporter on-the-scene.
• Proposed Crimea referendum 'worrying and serious' development – UN UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today emphasized the need for peace and stability in Ukraine's Crimea region, where the announcement of a referendum on joining Russia constitutes a "worrying and serious" development.
• Russia slams EU over threat of sanctions Iran Press TV 07 Mar 2014 -- Russia says it will not capitulate to the European Union's threat of sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine and will retaliate if the restrictions are imposed.
• Moscow Says It Will 'Respond' If EU Imposes Sanctions RFE/RL 07 Mar 2014 -- Moscow says it will respond if the EU imposes sanctions on Russia over its occupation of Crimea.
• Russia Slams EU Sanctions Over Ukraine, Threatens to Retaliate RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- Russia accused the European Union on Friday of taking an "extremely unconstructive stance" on the Ukrainian political crisis by freezing negotiations with Russia on a visa-free regime and a new cooperation agreement.
• Russia Warns US Sanctions Would Have Boomerang Effect RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Washington on Friday against 'hasty and reckless" steps over the crisis in Ukraine that could harm Russia-US relations.
• Moscow will retaliate for possible sanctions against Russia – Russian Foreign Ministry VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- Moscow will respond should the European Union decide to impose sanctions against Russians. 'Russia will not accept such language of sanctions and threats, but, in the event of their implementation in practice they will not be left without a response,' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary posted on its website.
• Upcoming Ukraine Election Tainted by Crisis – Russian Official RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- The upcoming May 25 presidential election in Ukraine will not be free and fair if violence and intimidation in the country continue, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament said Friday.
• Crimea Ignores President's Order to Stop Secession Vote RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- Crimea, a majority ethnic Russian region within Ukraine, decided on Friday to ignore a presidential order on a technicality and proceed with an upcoming vote to secede and join Russia.
• Russia's Gazprom Warns Ukraine of New Gas War RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- The head of Russia's state-run energy company Gazprom said Friday that Ukraine has stopped paying for Russian gas supplies, which could trigger a repetition of 2009's so-called "gas war" between the two countries.
• Russian Parliament Welcomes Crimea to Leave Ukraine for Russia RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- Russia's upper house of parliament said Friday it would welcome the addition of Crimea to the country's territory if residents there choose to secede from Ukraine in a referendum scheduled next week.
• Ukraine Crisis Deepens as Sevastopol Votes to Join Russia RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's Crimean city of Sevastopol has voted to become part of Russia, mirroring an earlier vote by the region's parliament and consolidating support for the majority ethnic Russian region to formally secede from Ukraine in an upcoming popular vote.
• Crimean Tatar Minority to Boycott Secession Vote RIA Novosti 07 Mar 2014 -- The semi-formal government of the Crimean Tatars said Thursday that the ethnic minority will boycott the secession referendum set by the Ukrainian region's pro-Russian authorities.
• Kyiv, Crimea at Odds Over Planned Referendum VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's interim president has signed a decree canceling a planned referendum on Crimea joining Russia, but Crimean officials vow the vote will go ahead.
• Washington React: White House Downplays Role of Natural Gas in Ukraine Crisis VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- The White House on Friday appeared to downplay the possibility of changing U.S. policy on exporting natural gas to address the situation in Ukraine.
• Ukrainians Fight Back in Information War VOA 07 Mar 2014 -- Kremlin-controlled media have launched an information war to justify Russia's seizing of Crimea. In response, Ukrainians are organizing to counter Moscow's version of events.
• Ukraine's new government may start repressions against their opponents VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's new authorities may start repressions against residents of the Crimean Peninsula and Ukraine's eastern regions, the majority of whom do not support the new government, Press Secretary of Russia's President Dmitry Peskov says.
• Interpol weighs arrest warrant request from Ukraine gov't for Yanukovych VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- Interpol said Friday it was considering a request from Ukraine's new government to issue an arrest warrant for ousted president Viktor Yanukovych. The international police organisation confirmed it had received a request from authorities in Kiev on Wednesday to issue a 'Red Notice', or international wanted persons alert, for Yanukovych on charges including abuse of power and murder.
• OSCE mission barred again from entering Crimea Iran Press TV 07 Mar 2014 -- Military observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have been barred from entering Ukraine's semi-autonomous region Crimea for a second day.
• Zarif: WMD will bring no security IRNA 07 Mar 2014 -- Visiting Foreign Minister of iran Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday weapons of mass destruction would bring no security to the world and have no place in Irans defensive doctrine.
• Nuclear arms cannot provide security: Iran FM Iran Press TV 07 Mar 2014 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reaffirmed Tehran's opposition to the development of weapons of mass destruction, stressing that nuclear arms cannot provide security.
• Snowden leaks cost billions to NSA, CIA - top US military official VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- The top US military officer says it will take two years of study and billions of dollars to overcome the loss of security to military operations and tactics that were revealed in the massive stash of documents taken by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
• Snowden testifies to the European Parliament about the NSA surveillance VoR 07 Mar 2014 -- The NSA whistleblower has given extensive evidence to an inquiry into the surveillance of European citizens, describing what he calls a 'bazaar' of EU intelligence agencies allowing the US to spy on pretty much everyone.
• Interview: Annexation 'Calls Into Question' Fundamental Basis Of Modern States RFE/RL 07 Mar 2014 -- With officials in the Ukrainian region of Crimea preparing a referendum on joining the Russian Federation and Russian lawmakers drafting legislation that would enable Moscow to accept Crimea as a new subject of Russia, RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson discussed the issue of annexation with Adam Roberts, senior research fellow in international relations at Oxford University and editor of 'Documents On The Laws Of War.'
• UN official denounces restrictions on political rights ahead of Burundian polls UN News Centre 07 Mar 2014 -- The United Nations human rights chief today voiced concern at the increasing restrictions on civil and political rights in Burundi, following a series of violent acts by the ruling party's youth wing and the disruption of public meetings organized by opposition parties.