• 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

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 02 Apr 2014 [PDF]
• ‘Go and vote,’ UN official urges Afghans ahead of upcoming elections UN News Centre 02 Apr 2014 -- A senior United Nations official today urged Afghans to use this Saturday’s presidential and provincial council elections to shape the future of the country through peaceful, democratic means.
• Concern over polling in Afghan schools and clinics IRIN 02 Apr 2014 -- The recent spate of Taliban-led attacks against electoral targets in Afghanistan, with the presidential vote just days away, has increased concerns in the aid community about the use of schools and health clinics as polling stations.
• ISAF Ministers praise Afghan security forces ahead of historical Afghan elections NATO 02 Apr 2014 -- NATO Foreign Ministers and counterparts from ISAF partner nations met with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmadi on Wednesday (2 April 2014) to review ISAF mission progress and to take stock of the final preparations for the Afghan presidential and provincial council elections scheduled on 5 April 2014. "While ISAF will provide support where needed, Afghan forces are in the lead across the country. And throughout the preparations for the elections, they have demonstrated commitment, courage and professionalism," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after the meeting.
• NATO to Suspend Cooperation with Russia on Afghan Choppers, Training – NATO Source RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- NATO will suspend cooperation with Russia on the maintenance of Afghan helicopters and a joint anti-drug operation, a source in the alliance told RIA Novosti.
• Ceremony marks end of Task Force Helmand UK MOD 02 Apr 2014 -- After 8 years of front line operations, the UK's military headquarters in Helmand was disbanded yesterday.
• Afghanistan Deploys Security Forces Nationwide to Secure Polls VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- Afghanistan has deployed 300,000 police, army and special forces across the country to secure polling stations for the April 5 presidential and provincial elections.
• Suicide Blast at Afghan Interior Ministry Kills 6 VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- A suicide bomber tried to ram his way into Afghanistan's Interior Ministry on Wednesday, killing at least six police officers who were outside the compound. This latest attack is likely to add to the tension surrounding the April 5 presidential election.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Gunman Kills 3 Fellow Soldiers at Fort Hood, Takes Own Life AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- A soldier killed three fellow soldiers and wounded 16 more before killing himself at Fort Hood, Texas, officials said tonight.
• Navy to Commission Littoral Combat Ship Coronado DoD 02 Apr 2014 -- The Navy will commission its newest littoral combat ship, the future USS Coronado (LCS 4), Saturday, April 5, during a ceremony at Naval Air Station, North Island in Coronado, Calif.
• Opening Remarks by Secretary Hagel and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting DoD 02 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel; USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah
• Media Availability with Secretary Hagel Onboard the USS Anchorage, Honolulu, Hawaii DoD 02 Apr 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
• ASEAN, U.S. Leaders Enhance Multilateral Ties aboard USS Anchorage NNS 02 Apr 2014 -- Hosted by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, visiting defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) toured USS Anchorage (LPD 23) April 2 as part of an historic gathering in Hawaii.
• U.S. Sends More Marines to Romania, Navy Vessel to Black Sea AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- The Defense Department is deploying additional Marines to enlarge a rotational crisis response force based in Spain, and is also dispatching a naval vessel to the Black Sea to conduct exercises with U.S. allies in the region, a Pentagon spokesman said today.
• Infrastructure Cuts Shift Funds to Operations, Maintenance AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- To reduce operational and training risk, the Defense Department is assuming more risk in military infrastructure, the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment said here today.
• Active Army and Army Reserve Bring Total Force Concept to WAREX Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- The 86th Training Division, based out of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin with the 84th Training Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky; partnered up with the 75th Training Command, Houston, Texas; the Medical Readiness & Training Command, San Antonio, Texas; and First Army, Rock Island, Illinois; with First Army, Division-West, Fort Hood, Texas; launching this year's Warrior Exercise (WAREX) 86-14-02 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Mar. 25.
• U.S. Army South to increase its Space capabilities for future missions Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- Army South is onboard with that mission and the first step is educating its leaders and Soldiers of the advantages and functions of the latest commercial and military space capabilities available in support of Army South commanding general's mission and objectives.
• WAREX 2014 equips Soldiers for combat deployments Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- Warrior Exercise 86-14-02 gathers Army Reserve units from across the nation here to reinforce warrior tasks and training from March 22 through April 11.
• Soldiers help Picatinny engineers test new lightweight mortar system Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- Mortar system operators and maintainers visited Picatinny to help conduct a Technical Manual Validation and Verification event for the new lightweight M252A1 81mm Mortar Weapon System March 18 - 20.
• Historical THAAD Battery in Guam Transfers Authority to its Sister Unit Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- Task Force Talon marks another historical milestone as its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery completes its mission and transfers authority to one of its sister THAAD units already on the ground in Guam, Apr. 1.
• Army arsenal announces $6.7M in new contracts, bringing total to more than $18M in the last 60 days Army News 02 Apr 2014 -- The Watervliet Arsenal announced today that is has received two contracts worth more than $6.7 million to provide the U.S. Army with 39 120 mm tank barrels and inspection services for 500 120 mm Stryker mortar barrels. With today's announcement, the arsenal has in the last 60 days received more than $18 million in new orders.
• U.S. Commander Outlines Posture to Counter North Korean Threats AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- Readiness is critical to thwarting North Korea’s effort to develop nuclear arms and long-range missiles, the commander of U.S. forces in Korea told the House Armed Services Committee here today.
• Hagel Describes Role of Partnerships in Asia-Pacific Rebalance AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- In a world where security challenges do not adhere to political boundaries and economies are linked as never before, no nation can go it alone and hope to prosper, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrote in an op-ed article published yesterday on the Defense One website.
• Hagel: ASEAN Meeting Reflects Commitment to Asia-Pacific AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- At a hotel here, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will join defense ministers from 10 Asia-Pacific countries for the official start of an unofficial meeting of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, their first in the United States.
• Moroccans, U.S. engage in stability operations training USMC News 02 Apr 2014 -- The U.S. and coalition forces learned valuable lessons during recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, specifically regarding the importance of stability operations and their relevance during future contingencies.
• NSSA Performs Total Ship Readiness Assessments on Patrol Crafts NNS 02 Apr 2014 -- Norfolk Ship Support Activity (NSSA) began performing a Total Ship Readiness Assessment (TSRA) of six Patrol Crafts currently serving in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility, April 2.
• USS Bulkeley Arrives In Civitavecciha for Port Visit NNS 02 Apr 2014 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 87) arrived in Civitavecciha, Italy for a scheduled port visit, March 31.
• ANALYSIS: US Warship Deployment to Black Sea Proves US Seeks Revenge RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- A US plan to send a warship into the Black Sea proves Washington is pursuing its interests in the region, while punishing Russia and seeking revenge, believes Vadim Kozyulin, a senior research fellow at the Russian Center for Policy Studies.
• Stratcom Chief: Trained, Ready Force Key to Combating Threats AFPS 02 Apr 2014 -- As concerns persist that sequestration spending cuts will continue to stress the human element of U.S. Strategic Command’s capabilities, the United States must implement and maintain a defensible joint information environment, Stratcom’s commander told the House Armed Services Committee here today.
• Komodo 2014 Naval Exercises Prove Beneficial for Russia – Russian Envoy RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- The 2014 Komodo multilateral naval exercises of 17 countries that are drawing to a close in Indonesian waters have been very useful to Russia, Mikhail Galuzin, the country's envoy to Indonesia told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
• Moscow Says NATO's Freeze of Cooperation Reminiscent of Cold War RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- NATO's decision to suspend cooperation with Russia resembles Cold War-style sword swinging, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
• NATO's suspension of cooperation with Moscow a 'Cold War' move - envoy VoR 02 Apr 2014 -- Russia on Wednesday accused NATO of succumbing to "Cold War" instincts after the alliance suspended all cooperation with Moscow over the Crimea crisis.
• Putin Signs Law Terminating Black Sea Fleet Agreements with Ukraine RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law invalidating four bilateral agreements with Ukraine providing for the basing of the Black Sea Fleet, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
• Last Generation Military Trucks to Parade on Moscow's Red Square on Victory Day RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Last generation military trucks 'Typhoon-K' will participate in this year's Victory Day Parade on May 9 in Moscow, Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
• NATO Decisions Hinder Domestic Ukrainian Talks – Russian Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- The decisions taken at meetings of the NATO Council and the Ukraine-NATO Commission have impeded intra-Ukranian talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation.
• Estonia Lobbying for Permanent NATO Base at Ämari EER 02 Apr 2014 -- Foreign Minister Urmas Paet welcomed the suggestion made at the NATO foreign ministers' meeting to increase the number of planes in the Baltic Air Policing mission, and suggested Ämari near Tallinn as the site for a prospective permanent NATO base in the Baltic states.
• NATO Chief Warns Russia Against Further Intervention In Ukraine RFE/RL 02 Apr 2014 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it would be an 'historic mistake' if Russia intervened further in Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea.
• Further Russian Intervention in Ukraine Would Be 'Historic Mistake' - NATO VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- Further Russian intervention in Ukraine, following its annexation of Crimea, would be a "historic mistake" that would deepen Russia's international isolation, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday.
• NATO Foreign Ministers reiterate support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration NATO 02 Apr 2014 -- NATO Foreign Ministers met with their Georgian counterpart Dr. Maia Panjikidze in the NATO-Georgia Commission on Wednesday (2 April) for an exchange of views on Georgia's progress in implementing reforms and on developments in Georgia and in the region.
• NATO and Gulf countries determined to deepen cooperation NATO 02 Apr 2014 -- Today, NATO Foreign Ministers met with their counterparts from the Istanbul Cooperation Imitative (ICI): Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This was the first meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers with the ICI countries, since the official launch of this initiative at the NATO Summit in Istanbul in June 2004.
• Japan arms sales shift rings alarm People's Daily 02 Apr 2014 -- China said Tuesday it is highly concerned about Japan's lifting of its arms export ban, the first major overhaul in nearly half a century, amid strained relations between the two Asian powers.
• April 2, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Apr 2014
• Press Gaggle with Josh Earnest en route Ann Arbor, MI, 4/2/14 The White House 02 Apr 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 02, 2014
• One year on, Ban calls on remaining States to join UN treaty regulating global arms trade UN News Centre 02 Apr 2014 -- Marking the first anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all States that have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the instrument without delay to facilitate its entry into force.

Other Conflicts

• 2 April 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Apr 2014
• 2 April 2014 - Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for April United Nations 02 Apr 2014
• Over 150,000 people killed in Syria conflict: Report Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- At least 150,000 people have been killed in the foreign-sponsored militancy that started against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad three years ago, a report says.
• Syrian army tightens noose around militants Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- The Syrian army continues mop-up operations, tightening the noose around foreign-backed militants in several areas across the country.
• Russia to Send Humanitarian Aid to Syrian Armenians Abused by Militants in Kessab RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Russia will send humanitarian aid to Syrian Armenians who suffered abuse from local militants in Kessab within several days, Sergei Stepashin, Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS ), told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
• UN confirms receipt of Palestinian applications to join global conventions, treaties UN News Centre 02 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations confirmed today that Palestinian Authority officials have presented letters for accession to 15 international conventions and treaties.
• Negotiators to Meet on Snagged Mideast Peace Talks VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- Sources close to the Israeli-Palestinian talks said Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. negotiators are set to meet late Wednesday in an attempt to put the peace talks back on track.
• Army operation to quell violence continues in Tripoli Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- The Lebanese army has continued its operation to crush the deadly violence in the northern city of Tripoli.
• Lebanese army continues to quell violence in Tripoli Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- The Lebanese military has launched the second stage of a plan aimed at quelling the violence in the northern city of Tripoli, a security source says.
• African, European Leaders Focus on Crisis in Central African Republic VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- African and European leaders are focusing on the Central African Republic (CAR) crisis at a summit in Brussels.
• At Brussels conference, Ban spotlights crisis in Central African Republic UN News Centre 02 Apr 2014 -- Stating that the world failed to stop the Central African Republic’s slide “into a grave political, economic and humanitarian crisis,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged African and European leaders meeting in Brussels to act quickly to end the killing, protect civilians and prevent further inter-communal strife, including through the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force.
• Violence Leaves CAR Residents in Perpetual Fear VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic will get worse without major efforts to restore security in this lawless country. A senior ICRC official says the lack of security keeps the population in a state of perpetual fear.
• 11 killed in attack on Yemen army headquarters Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- An al-Qaeda attack on an army command in a southern port city of Yemen has left nearly a dozen people dead, military officials say.
• Yemen aid work ever more risky IRIN 02 Apr 2014 -- The 25 March kidnapping and release of two UN workers has underlined the risks aid workers in Yemen face.
• Myanmar: UN warns hundreds of thousands affected by aid disruption in Rakhine state UN News Centre 02 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations humanitarian wing is warning that life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state have been seriously disrupted following the recent attacks on the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

News Reports

• Moscow stunned by CoE claims of discrimination against Tatars, Ukrainians in Crimea VoR 02 Apr 2014 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a commentary over a statement by the Council of Europe's European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) about the infringement of the rights of Tatars and Ukrainian speakers in Crimea, Interfax reports.
• 800 Ukrainian Servicemen Have Departed Crimea - Crimean Source RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Nearly 800 of the 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen remaining in Crimea after the region's reunification with Russia have left for Ukraine, a local government source said on Wednesday.
• Ukraine Will Not Prevail in UN Case Over Crimea – Russian Official RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine is unlikely to win a case concerning the reunification of Crimea with Russia at the UN's highest court in the Hague, a senior Russian official told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
• US House Approves Ukraine Aid, Sanctions Against Russia RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill Tuesday to provide Ukraine with $1 billion in loan guarantees and authorize sanctions against Russian officials in response to their actions in Crimea.
• Turmoil in Ukraine Caused by Constitutional Crisis – Russian Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2014 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry urged the Ukrainian government Wednesday to adopt a more balanced constitution to protect minority populations, blaming the ongoing political crisis in the country on an unstable legal foundation.
• U.S. House Passes Ukraine Aid Bill RFE/RL 02 Apr 2014 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that includes aid for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea.
• Creation of Russia-Belarus union is a life-changing event – Putin VoR 02 Apr 2014 -- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has congratulated President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the Day of Unity between the Peoples of Russia and Belarus, the Kremlin press service said on Wednesday. Creation of the Russia-Belarus Union State became a life-changing event for Russian and Belarusian people. The two countries have "settled down to a course of close integration, joining forces to provide stability and security and ensuring citizens' well-being and prosperity,” the Kremlin quoted Putin.
• N Korea: Kim Jong-un set to execute 200 high-ranking officials VoR 02 Apr 2014 -- 200 high-ranking officials loyal to Kim Jong-un's executed uncle, Jang Sung-taek, Chairman of the State Committee of Defense, will be sentenced to death, South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reports.
• April 2, 2014 Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S.-EU Energy Council Meeting US Dept. of State 02 Apr 2014
• Kerry: Energy Should Not Be Used As A Weapon RFE/RL 02 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has criticized Russia for increasing natural-gas prices for Ukraine, saying energy should not be used as a political weapon.
• Death toll from Ebola virus tops 83 in Guinea: UN Iran Press TV 02 Apr 2014 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says the death toll from the Ebola virus epidemic in Guinea has risen to at least 83.
• Egypt Bombings Target Police, 2 Dead VOA 02 Apr 2014 -- Egyptian security officials say three bombs have exploded outside Cairo University, killing a senior police general and a civilian and wounding several others, including a number of top officers.