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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US-led war imposed on Afghan nation: Karzai Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says more than twelve years of US-led war has been "imposed" on the Afghan nation, adding that Afghanistan does not need US troops to defend the country.
• Afghanistan doesn't need US troops - President Karzai VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- In his final address to Afghanistan's parliament Saturday, President Hamid Karzai told the United States its soldiers can leave at the end of the year because his military, which already protects 93 percent of the country, was ready to take over entirely. He reiterated his stance that he would not sign a pact with the United States that would provide for a residual force of US troops to remain after the final withdrawal, unless peace could first be established.
• USS Kidd Expands Search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 into Indian Ocean NNS 15 Mar 2014 -- U.S. Navy assets continue to search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 as the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) expands its patrol area from the northwest entrance of the Strait of Malacca into the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea, March 16.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US to conduct more joint exercises in Black Sea amid Ukraine crisis Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- The United States says it will conduct more war games with allied states in the Black Sea, as tensions between Washington and Moscow grow over the autonomous Ukrainian region.
• Air Force continues force management programs AFNS 15 Mar 2014 -- Air Force leaders announced a resumption of all force management programs March 15 following a recently discussed strategic pause.
• Frank Cable Upgrades Medical Department NNS 15 Mar 2014 -- The submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) upgraded its medical department's patient care medical records system from a local-only paper medical record system to the Theater Medical Information Program (TMIP) system, March 11.
• China's J-20 fighter accused of stealing U.S. technology CNA 15 Mar 2014 -- China's new J-20 jet fighters could be running on technology 'stolen' from the U.S. military's next-generation F-35 fighters, a minor news website based in Washington reported Thursday.
• President Xi leads China's military reform, stressing building of strong army People's Daily 15 Mar 2014 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is head of a leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the military, on Saturday stressed the country's military reform should be guided by the objective of building a strong army.
• U.S. committed to Taiwan's F-16 retrofit program: official CNA 15 Mar 2014 -- A senior U.S. official said on Friday that Washington is committed to upgrading Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets despite U.S. Air Force's decision not to continue the program beyond 2014.
• Fateh submarine soon to join Iran Navy: Defense min. Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the indigenous Fateh (Conqueror) submarine will join the Navy in May.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syria forces enter militant-held Yabroud town Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- Syria's government forces have entered the last major stronghold of foreign-backed militants near the Lebanese border as they continue their push to free more areas.
• Syria opposition chief calls for more weapons Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- The head of Syria's foreign-backed opposition has appealed to foreign supporters to provide the militants with more arms as the conflict in the Arab country enters its fourth year.
• Three years on, UN's top humanitarian officials urge end to Syrian conflict UN News Centre 15 Mar 2014 -- With nearly 13 million Syrians uprooted from their homes, senior United Nations officials warn that without a political solution to the conflict, which today enters its fourth year, Syria and its people face years more of destruction and continued brutality.
• CAR Looks at Anti-Balaka Disarmament Plan VOA 15 Mar 2014 -- The Central African Republic's government is considering a plan to persuade anti-balaka militia fighters to leave the capital and return to their villages. International peacekeeping chiefs are skeptical about a proposal that might leave them in charge of large camps full of combatants.
• Libya rebels ready to talk if Tripoli cancels offensive Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- The Libyan rebels, who control three oil export ports, say they are ready to negotiate with the central government if Tripoli's plans for a military offensive are scrapped.

News Reports

• On Eve Of Historic Crimea Vote, A Final Noisy Day Of Protests RFE/RL 15 Mar 2014 -- in Moscow, where a massive crowd of as many as 50,000 demonstrators gathered to voice their solidarity with Ukraine over Vladimir Putin's calculated takeover of the Crimean peninsula.
• Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, After a UN Security Council Vote on a Resolution on Ukraine, Saturday, March 15, 2014 U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 15 Mar 2014
• Remarks by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Stakeout on Ukraine, March 15, 2014 U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 15 Mar 2014
• United Nations Security Council action on Crimea referendum blocked UN News Centre 15 Mar 2014 -- Owing to the negative vote of one of its permanent members, the United Nations Security Council today failed to adopt a draft resolution which urged countries not to recognize the results of this weekend's referendum in Crimea.
• Russia Vetoes Crimea Resolution, China Abstains VOA 15 Mar 2014 -- Russia deployed its veto at the U.N. Security Council Saturday, blocking a resolution condemning the referendum slated for Sunday in the Ukrainian region of Crimea. If passed, it would see the Black Sea peninsual secede from the country and join Russia.
• Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Protests Russian 'Invasion' Of Area Near Crimea RFE/RL 15 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has released a statement expressing its' 'strong and categorical protest against the landing' of Russian troops in an area some 10 kilometers north of Crimea.
• Russia Vetoes UN Resolution on Ukraine's Crimea RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Russia vetoed the UN Security Council resolution that declared Sunday's referendum in the autonomous republic of Crimea invalid.
• Russia to consider Ukrainian civilian requests for protection from radicals - Moscow VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- Russia has received numerous requests from Ukrainian civilians to protect them from radicals, including those from the Right Sector group, and has promised consider them, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement says.
• Hagel Discusses Ukraine With French Defense Minister AFPS 15 Mar 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone this morning with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss the situation in Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby reported.
• Tens Of Thousands Rally In Russia, Ukraine Ahead Of Referendum RFE/RL 15 Mar 2014 -- There have been rallies in Russian and Ukrainian cities one day ahead of a scheduled referendum in the Ukrainian region of Crimea - which is occupied by Russian forces - on whether to leave Ukraine and join Russia.
• On Kyiv's Shell-Shocked Maidan, A World Turned Upside Down RFE/RL 15 Mar 2014 -- In front of the scorched husk of the city's Trade Union building, three young men in grubby fatigues sit outside a tent pitched on Independence Square, their faces rattled and vacant. One stares up at the clear blue sky, spinning idly on an office chair.
• 2 Pro-Russian Activists Killed in Eastern Ukraine RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Two pro-Russian activists were killed in clashes with pro-Kiev supporters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, police said Saturday blaming the local radical group for the deaths.
• Ukraine Dissolves Crimean Parliament as Secession Vote Nears RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada voted on Saturday to dissolve the regional assembly in Crimea, one day ahead of a controversial referendum on independence from Ukraine.
• Putin Tells UN Chief That Crimea Referendum Legal RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a phone conversation on Friday that the upcoming referendum in Crimea was in line with the UN Charter.
• Russia to Wait Until After Ukraine Elections for Loan Talks RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Russia will wait at least until after Ukraine's presidential election on May 25 to discuss continued payments under a $15 billion loan agreement signed with the country last year, a senior official said Friday.
• Russian Deputy PM Plays Down Western Sanctions RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Thursday minimized the importance of sanctions, voiced by Western countries amid the ongoing international standoff over Ukraine's autonomous republic of Crimea.
• Russia vetoes US-endorsed UN resolution on Crimea Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council's resolution, endorsed by the US, to declare a planned referendum on the status of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea "illegal."
• Ukraine MPs endorse motion to dissolve Crimea assembly Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- The Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, has voted to dissolve the regional assembly representing the autonomous region of Crimea over its refusal to call off the secession referendum.
• Crimean self-defence units prevent act of sabotage on gas pipeline VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- Crimean self-defence units prevented an act of sabotage on a gas pipeline on Saturday, March 15. Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said the saboteurs had identified themselves as Ukrainian Border Guard Service officials.
• High percentage of ballots cast in favor of joining Russia expected - Crimean MP VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- As the referendum in Crimea is nearing and preparations for the vote are well underway, Sergei Tsekov, the Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Supreme Council, First Deputy Leader of the Russian Unity party and Crimea's Russian community leader, talked to the Voice of Russia and shared his opinion about the upcoming referendum.
• Donetsk's residents stop attack on security service's building VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- In the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a rally's participants stopped an attack on the building of the state security service after the head of the service came out to them and promised to release the arrested supporters of the interests of ethnic Russians, including the city's Governor Pavel Gubarev.
• Crimea getting ready for referendum VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- The destiny of Crimea is due to be determined on Sunday, March 16. A referendum is due to be held there on that day for Crimeans to decide if they want to remain part of Ukraine. However, if they vote that the Autonomous Republic be removed from the jurisdiction of Kiev, the next step for Crimea to make will be joining the Russian Federation.
• UN Declares Huge Part of Far Eastern Sea Russian Shelf RIA Novosti 15 Mar 2014 -- A United Nations commission has officially recognized the Sea of Okhotsk enclave, off Russia's southeastern coast, as part of the country's continental shelf, the Russian minister of natural resources said Saturday.
• Iran criticizes Kerry for N. remarks ISNA 15 Mar 2014 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized his US counterpart John Kerry for his remarks that the country faces 'tough decision' in nuclear talks that the world could assure that its nuclear program is merely for peaceful purposes.
• Larijani calls UN Iran's report 'disgraceful' ISNA 15 Mar 2014 -- Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has denounced as "disgraceful" a recent report by the United Nations on the Islamic Republic's human rights record.
• Turkey not to tolerate more violence: Erdogan Iran Press TV 15 Mar 2014 -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his party would not tolerate any more violence in the country two weeks before the key local elections.
• Turkish PM Erdogan accuses rivals of fomenting violence two weeks ahead of elections VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- Embattled Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan struck a defiant tone Saturday, implicitly accusing his rivals of fomenting violence two weeks ahead of key local elections.
• Venezuela accuses US of attempting to fund violent protests VoR 15 Mar 2014 -- Venezuela's top prosecutor on Friday accused the United Statesof attempting to finance the ongoing violent protests by the South American country's right-wing opposition.
• Six Egyptian Soldiers Killed VOA 15 Mar 2014 -- Egyptian state media say gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint Saturday near Cairo, killing six soldiers.