• 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 30 Oct 2014 [PDF]
• Pentagon Leaders Laud Progress Against ISIL AFPS 30 Oct 2014 -- Defense Department leaders today praised the progress made against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria as implementation of the broader comprehensive strategy in the Middle East continues.
• More Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 30 Oct 2014 -- U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct 12 airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
• Deadly Drone Strike Hits Pakistan Taliban Stronghold RFE/RL 30 Oct 2014 -- Security officials say a U.S. drone strike has killed at least four militants in Pakistan's restive tribal region near the Afghan border.
• Pentagon to Offer Medical Checks to Troops Exposed to Chemical Agents in Iraq: Reports RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- The US Department of Defense is to offer medical examinations and continuous health monitoring to US troops exposed to chemical warfare agents in Iraq, The New York Times reports citing the Army and the Navy of the United States.
• Dyess Airmen deploy in support of 'United Assistance' AFNS 30 Oct 2014 -- More than 35 Airmen and two C-130Js from the 317th Airlift Group and 7th Bomb Wing deployed Oct. 29, 2014, to an air base in Western Europe, where they will provide tactical airlift support for Operation United Assistance.
• Dempsey, Battaglia Explain Rationale for Monitoring AFPS 30 Oct 2014 -- The 21-day controlled monitoring program for U.S. service members returning from West Africa is a conservative and prudent approach, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his senior enlisted advisor said today.
• RFA Argus arrives in Sierra Leone UK MOD 30 Oct 2014 -- The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) aviation support ship Argus has begun offloading vital equipment and stores to aid the fight against Ebola.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DNI Releases Budget Figure for FY 2014 National Intelligence Program Director of National Intelligence 30 Oct 2014 -- Consistent with 50 U.S.C. 3306(b), the Director of National Intelligence is disclosing to the public the aggregate amount of funds appropriated by Congress to the National Intelligence Program (NIP) for Fiscal Year 2014 not later than 30 days after the end of the fiscal year.
• DOD Releases Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Appropriated Top Line Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 DoD 30 Oct 2014 -- The Department of Defense released today the MIP appropriated top line budget for FY 2014. The total MIP budget, which included both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations appropriations, was $17.4B billion.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel and General Dempsey in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 30 Oct 2014 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel; Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin E. Dempsey
• Army, Air Force test new landing strip at Fort Riley AFNS 30 Oct 2014 -- The Army and Air Force performed a joint airborne air transportability training exercise Oct. 27 - 29 on a new flight landing strip here.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Meeting with Albania's Minister of Defense Mimi Kodheli DOD 30 Oct 2014
• Kearsarge Departs for Bold Alligator 2014 NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) departed Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 29 to participate in Exercise Bold Alligator 2014.
• Future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) Keel Authenticated NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- The keel of the future USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) was ceremoniously laid at the Bath Iron Works shipyard Oct. 30.
• Future USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) Launched NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- The future USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) launched from the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Shipyard Oct. 30.
• Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Returns To Homeport NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed a nine-month deployment, returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Va. and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. Oct. 31, and Camp Lejeune, N.C. Oct. 28. While deployed, the Bataan ARG/MEU served in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).
• USS Ingraham Returns from Final Deployment NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) is scheduled to return from its final deployment to the 4th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Oct. 30 to make preparations for decommissioning.
• Navy EOD Tech Division Combats IEDs during Excercise Bold Alligator NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6 conducted a post-blast analysis at the site of a simulated improvised explosive device (IED) during Exercise Bold Alligator 2014 in Bougue, North Carolina, Oct. 29.
• Navy's Largest Exercise Underway in the Middle East NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- The International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX), the world's largest naval exercise, with 44 participating nations from six continents, began with the Maritime Infrastructure Protection Symposium in Manama, Bahrain, Oct. 27.
• Nations Share Mine Countermeasures Expertise in Korea NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) hosted military representatives from the Republic of Korea and members of the United Nations Command (UNC) member states for a series of talks on maritime mine countermeasures Oct. 27-30.
• Dignitaries Visit USS George H.W. Bush NNS 30 Oct 2014 -- Dignitaries from Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece and the United States visited aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Oct. 29.
• Nuclear Security Agency Director Pledges Renewed Focus AFPS 30 Oct 2014 -- The National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the nation's nuclear weapons, must reinvigorate its focus for this crucial deterrent capability, the agency's director said here yesterday.
• NATO tracks large-scale Russian air activity in Europe NATO 30 Oct 2014 -- NATO detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October 2014. These sizable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European airspace.
• NATO Chief: Russia's Actions in Ukraine 'Challenge' Security VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- NATO's new chief says the Euro-Atlantic alliance is facing 'many challenges' from 'many directions.'
• NATO Secretary General thanks Greece for Allied contributions NATO 30 Oct 2014 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Greece for its unwavering support to the Alliance during a visit to Athens on Thursday (30 October 2014).
• Russia Should Ask for Refund if France Delays Mistral Delivery: Defense Committee RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- If France does not deliver the Mistral helicopter carrier on November 14, Russia should ask for its money back, chairman of the defense committee of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, told RIA Novosti Thursday.
• Defense spokesman dismisses aircraft carrier explosion report People's Daily 30 Oct 2014 -- Reports in foreign media of an explosion on board China's Liaoning aircraft carrier did 'not conform with the facts', Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular press conference Thursday.
• North Korea Can Miniaturize Nuclear Warheads for Medium-Range Missiles: US Military Expert RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- A US military expert believes North Korea has the ability to miniaturize nuclear warheads for its medium-range missiles, however Pyongyang does not appear to have technical capacity to conduct tests, Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday.
• Seoul Deploys 20 New Fighter Jets, 40 More Planes Expected in Future RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye has praised the deployment of South Korea's FA-50 aircrafts on Thursday, while ordering the country's military to remain at full readiness, Yonhap News Agency reported.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Portland, ME, 10/30/2014 The White House 30 Oct 2014
• October 30, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Oct 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 30, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 30 October 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Oct 2014
• Relief efforts in Syria hampered by lack of access – senior UN humanitarian official UN News Centre 30 Oct 2014 -- Escalating fighting, insecurity and a lack of access to deliver critical assistance continue to hamper United Nations efforts to respond to the worsening humanitarian situation in Syria, a top UN relief official said today.
• First Peshmerga fighters enter Syria's Kobani Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- The first group of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government forces, known as Peshmerga, has reportedly entered Syria's northern city of Kobani to join the fight against the ISIL militants.
• Syria-bound Kurdish fighters reach Turkey town Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- Two groups of Iraqi Kurdish fighters have arrived in the Turkish border town of Suruj on their way to join their fellow fighters defending the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani.
• Iraqi Kurd Peshmerga Enter Kobani to Aid in Fight Against Islamic State Militants VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- Syrian activists said the first of 150 Iraqi Kurdish fighters have arrived in Kobani to help Syrian Kurds in their fight against Islamic State militants.
• Bodies of 150 anti-ISIL Iraqi Sunnis found in mass grave Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- The bodies of 150 members of an anti-ISIL Iraqi Sunni tribe have been found in a mass grave near Iraq's western city of Ramadi.
• Lebanese troops, militants clash near Syria Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- Lebanese security forces have exchanged fire with al-Qaeda-linked militants in the Bekaa Valley near the border with Syria.
• Amnesty International Denounces Abuses, Crimes by Libyan Militias, Armed Groups RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- Amnesty International has denounced the human right abuses and war crimes on civilians perpetrated by lawless militias and armed groups in western Libya, a statement published on the organization's website Thursday said.
• Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in country's restive east Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- The Ukrainian army says fighting between Kiev troops and pro-Russia forces in the restive east regions of the country has left at least seven soldiers dead in the past 24 hours.
• UN, EU slam planned votes in eastern Ukraine Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- The United Nations and the European Union have condemned plans by pro-Russia forces to hold elections in eastern Ukraine, saying such a measure would undermine peace efforts.
• East Ukraine Demarcation Line Yet to Be Set: DPR Prime Minister RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- The self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk (DPR) will stipulate its own conditions on if it were to sign a demarcation line agreement with Kiev, DPR Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko said Thursday.
• South Sudan: Ban condemns renewed violence between opposing factions UN News Centre 30 Oct 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged an immediate end of all hostilities in South Sudan amid a renewed outbreak of violence in two towns in the country's North, the United Nations confirmed today.
• S Sudan army repels attack on Bentiu: Defense min. Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- South Sudanese forces have repelled an attack by rebels against the key northern oil hub town of Bentiu, the country's defense minister says.
• Boko Haram seizes Mubi town in Adamawa Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- Takfiri Boko Haram militants have reportedly captured the second largest city in Nigeria's northeast Adamawa State, amid fierce clashes between Nigerian troops and the militants.
• Boko Haram raids two northeastern Nigerian towns Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- Fresh clashes have reportedly erupted between Nigerian army forces and the Boko Haram Takfiri militants in the northeastern state of Borno despite a recent ceasefire deal between the two sides.
• CAR: The search for justice IRIN 30 Oct 2014 -- As the International Criminal Court (ICC) steps up its work in the Central African Republic (CAR), pledging to bring the worst perpetrators of violence to justice, concerted efforts are being made to counter endemic impunity in CAR. But the prevailing insecurity in many parts of the country rules out any quick fix solutions.

News Reports

• Iran, Turkey Rivalry Puts Focus on Kurds VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- As differences over Syria and the Islamic State continue to deepen between Turkey and Iran, Kurds living across the Middle East are set to become pawns in the intensifying rivalry between these two regional powers.
• Prosecution against Xu Caihou shows CPC's zero-tolerance to corruption People's Daily 30 Oct 2014 -- The investigation surrounding graft suspect Xu Caihou, the former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), proves the Communist Party of China's commitment to fighting corruption, a defense ministry spokesman said Thursday.
• Chinese military joins anti-Ebola aid efforts: DM spokesman People's Daily 30 Oct 2014 -- The Chinese military has joined the government's efforts to help African countries' fight against the Ebola virus, a defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
• S. Korea Firm in Inter-Korean Complex Folds VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- A South Korean company operating at an inter-Korean industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong is going out of business. This will be the first time a South Korean firm at the joint industrial complex has had to close its business because of financial pressure.
• Human Rights Groups Plan to Keep Pressure on North Korea VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- This week a top U.N. human rights investigator has held meetings with North Korean diplomats about a possible visit to assess the country's human rights practices. The negotiations come as North Korea tries to prevent the United Nations from referring the country's human rights situation to the International Criminal Court.
• UN Ebola response in West Africa to be bolstered by increase in World Bank funding UN News Centre 30 Oct 2014 -- The World Bank has announced it is boosting its efforts in assisting health workers fight the deadly Ebola outbreak in the three most-affected countries in West Africa as part of the wider United Nations Ebola crisis response.
• Research Institute Targets Ebola, Other Infectious Diseases AFPS 30 Oct 2014 -- Ebola virus disease is a big focus among scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, where the mission since 1969 has been to protect warfighters from biological threats and to investigate disease outbreaks and other public-health threats.
• In Many Countries, Distance From Ebola Brings A Sense Of Safety RFE/RL 30 Oct 2014 -- 'I don't think that infected people will come to our country,' a resident of Yerevan, the Armenian capital, tells RFE/RL. 'I don't think we have a lot of visitors from Africa.' But the same sentiment is widespread across vast stretches of Eurasia where people feel the threat of Ebola is far away and somehow confined to Africa.
• US Envoy: 'Alarming Gaps' Remain in Fighting Ebola VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- The international community must do more to fill 'alarming gaps' in the fight against the Ebola epidemic, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said to an audience in Brussels as she headed home from a visit to the three hardest-hit countries in West Africa.
• Australian Anti-Terror Law to Violate Citizens' Personal Privacy RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- Australian officials adopted an anti-terror law Thursday prohibiting citizens from traveling to countries where terrorism is prevalent in order to join terrorist groups, the Australian reports.
• U.S. Watchdog Says 'No Unified Strategy' For Afghan Counternarcotics RFE/RL 30 Oct 2014 -- The United States' watchdog for Afghanistan is warning that the country's lucrative opium economy is threatening reconstruction efforts, and the United States is not adequately addressing the problem.
• Ban urges calm, inclusive dialogue as mass protests sweep Burkina Faso capital UN News Centre 30 Oct 2014 -- Greatly concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an end to the violence and announced that he is dispatching his special envoy for West Africa to the crisis-gripped country.
• Burkina Faso Army Chief Dissolves Parliament After Unrest VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- Burkina Faso's army chief dissolved parliament Thursday and announced plans for a transitional government.
• Three killed in Burkina Faso demonstration against president rule Iran Press TV 30 Oct 2014 -- At least three people have been killed as angry people hold a massive rally in Burkina Faso's capital city of Ouagadougou to protest against plans to let the country's long-serving president extend his rule.
• Protesters Storm Burkina Faso Parliament VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- Burkina Faso's government has abandoned an attempt to extend presidential term limits, after protesters attacked parliament, ransacked other buildings in the capital and marched on the presidential palace.
• Obama Calls for 'Inclusive and Credible' Elections in Myanmar VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- President Barack Obama has called on Myanmar to hold an 'inclusive and credible process' for conducting parliamentary elections in 2015.
• Myanmar President Calls Meeting of Top Army, Political Officials VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- Myanmar President Thein Sein has called for a landmark meeting with representatives of the country's military, top political parties and ethnic minority groups.
• Ukraine Says EU to Be Guarantor in Any Russia Gas Deal VOA 30 Oct 2014 -- Ukraine and the European Union have agreed that the EU's executive arm will serve as guarantor in any deal for Russia to restart its supply of natural gas to Ukraine, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Thursday.
• Russia Demands EU Guarantee Ukraine Pays For Gas RFE/RL 30 Oct 2014 -- Russia says its dispute with Ukraine over natural-gas supplies will not be resolved unless the European Union guarantees cash-strapped Kyiv pays up front for gas it wants from Russia this winter.
• Moscow Doubts Ukraine's New Parliament Committed to Democracy RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- Moscow has serious doubts about new Ukrainian parliament's commitment to democratic standards as opposition lawmakers have already been targeted with threats and intimidation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
• Russia's Position at Trilateral Gas Talks Remains Unchanged: Energy Ministry RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2014 -- Moscow's position at the ongoing gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union in Brussels remains unchanged, the Energy Ministry said in statement Thursday.
• Russian Media Behemoth Set To Launch Wave Of Foreign Bureaus RFE/RL 29 Oct 2014 -- Rossia Segodnya, Russia's state-run media conglomerate, is reportedly preparing to open local bureaus in 29 world capitals, a move expanding the Kremlin's global media presence amid what senior Russian officials call an 'information war' with the West.