23 October 2018 Military News

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Pakistan Hopeful Nascent US-Taliban Peace Talks Will Stabilize Region VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared upbeat Tuesday about the recently launched U.S.-led dialogue with the Taliban, saying it "hopefully" would lead to peace in Afghanistan and pave the way for regional economic connectivity and prosperity.
Treasury and the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center Partners Sanction Taliban Facilitators and their Iranian Supporters US Treasury 23 Oct 2018 -- Today, the seven member nations of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) took significant actions to expose and disrupt Taliban actors and their Iranian sponsors that seek to undermine the security of the Afghan Government. The TFTC Member States designated nine individuals associated with the Taliban, including those facilitating Iranian support to bolster the terrorist group. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated these key Taliban members and their Iranian regime sponsors in partnership with the other TFTC Member States: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
UN Security Council hails 'courage' of Afghan voters; calls for perpetrators of violence to be held accountable UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- Welcoming Saturday's parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council called for continued engagement with electoral institutions and urged that any complaints over the vote should be channelled through established legal and constitutional mechanisms.
U.S., Gulf States Blacklist Afghan Taliban, Iranian Officers For Terrorist Financing RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- A seven-country group set up to combat the international financing of terrorists has blacklisted nine individuals associated with Afghanistan's Taliban, including two Iranian military officers and several men accused of "facilitating Iranian support to bolster the terrorist group."

Texas National Guard partners with local authorities in response to Texas floods Army News 23 Oct 2018 -- Texas National Guard members mobilized support personnel and vehicles Oct. 17 in response to flooding near Huntsville.
Florida's Infantry Soldiers provide security, peace of mind after Hurricane Michael Army News 23 Oct 2018 -- From World War II to state activations, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, has served the citizens of Florida for the past 76 years. While the fundamental combat mission for the battalion is to engage an enemy in close combat, the Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment do more than just that.
NY National Guard deploys Soldiers, helicopters in Hurricane Michael response mission Army News 23 Oct 2018 -- Four New York Army National Guard helicopters and 25 Soldiers constituted the New York National Guard's contribution to the Hurricane Michael recovery efforts after the category four hurricane crashed into the Florida panhandle on Oct. 10

Defense Policy / Programs

US Still Determined to Pull Out of Key Arms Treaty With Russia VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- The Trump administration appears determined to pull out of a key 1987 arms control agreement with Russia, in the wake of talks Tuesday between national security adviser John Bolton and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Trump Effort to End Missile Treaty Draws Mixed Reaction VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- A prominent nuclear weapons expert says White House threats to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty are diplomatically shortsighted, potentially dangerous and politically risky for President Donald Trump ahead of midterm elections.
US ready to bolster nuclear arsenal: Trump Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- President Donald Trump has said the United States is ready to bolster its nuclear arsenal after announcing it is ditching a Cold War-era nuclear weapons agreement with Russia.
Bolton, Trump Cite China Nuclear Buildup In Vowing To Abandon Treaty With Russia RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ahead of an expected meeting with President Vladimir Putin amid tension over President Donald Trump's warning that Washington will pull out of a landmark nuclear arms treaty with Moscow.

Remarks by Vice President Pence at the Fourth Meeting of the National Space Council The White House 23 Oct 2018
President Donald J. Trump Is Launching America's Space Force The White House 23 Oct 2018

Ships' passage shows U.S. commitment to free Indo-Pacific: DoD CNA 23 Oct 2018 -- The passage of two American warships through the Taiwan Strait on Monday was a routine transit and a demonstration of the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has said.
US warships sail through Taiwan Strait amid tensions with China Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Two US warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to an American military spokesman, amid heightened tensions with China.
Beijing Expresses Concerns to US Over Taiwan Strait Warship Operation Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The Pentagon confirmed that it had sent two US Navy vessels through the Taiwan Strait, making it the second such operation this year.
US Warships Sail Through Taiwan Strait VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- Two U.S. warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait Monday.

1st Armored Division brigade assumes 2ID rotation mission Army News 23 Oct 2018
Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' bilateral engagement with Chinese Minister of National Defense GEN Wei Fenghe at the 2018 ADMM-Plus DoD
NMCB-3 Completes Turnover, Assumes Authority of Indo-Pacific Region NCF Operations NNS 23 Oct 2018 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 assumed charge of all Indo-Pacific Region Naval Construction Force (NCF) missions from NMCB-5 during a Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority (RIP/TOA) ceremony at Camp Shields in Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 22.

Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the President of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez NATO 23 Oct 2018

Poland Hasn't Decided Yet to Deploy Rockets on Its Territory Within INF Scope Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- On October 20, US President Donald Trump announced the country's exit from the INF treaty over alleged Russian violations of the agreement.

Russian, Pakistani Forces Launch Joint Exercise In Northwestern Pakistan RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- Around 200 Russian and Pakistani troops have kicked off annual joint exercises in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwestern Pakistan.

China slams US for using nuclear arms treaty with Russia as means to 'blackmail' Beijing Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- China has warned the United States that Beijing will "never accept any form of blackmail" after US President Donald Trump said that his country's pull out from a decades-old Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty with Russia also linked to China's arsenal.
China Will Not Tolerate Blackmail on Joining INF Treaty Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- China will not tolerate blackmail in any form on the issue of the need for Beijing to join the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and urges the United States to think carefully before making any decision on the withdrawal from the agreement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Iranian Attack Boats Reportedly Confront UK Destroyer in the Persian Gulf Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The incident came after Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri pledged in late August that the ships of "hostile countries" will be confronted when crossing through the Strait of Hormuz.

France must halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia: Amnesty International Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Amnesty International has once again called on France to suspend its arms sales to Saudi Arabia, due to Riyadh's war crimes in Yemen and the display of its disrespect for human rights, following the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
Canada Considers Halting Arms Sales to Saudis Over Khashoggi Case - Reports Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- While Prime Minister Trudeau insisted that Canada has "frozen export permits before" and may do so again, the minister of foreign affairs was apparently less eager to give definitive answers about what measures Ottawa may implement against Riyadh.
Canada ready to halt $13bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia: PM Press TV 22 Oct 2018 -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa is ready to halt a $13 billion arms deal with Riyadh if it concludes the weapons have been misused.
Germany calls for European arms embargo on Saudi Arabia Press TV 22 Oct 2018 -- German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has called for a European ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia following the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

India Denies Reports of Discussion to Buy F-16 for CAATSA Waiver on S-400 Deal Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The US administration has been pressurizing India for long to buy its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft but the Indian government has clarified on several occasions that it has no such intention to buy it in spite of an offer for setting up a production facility in India.

Upgraded F-16 Vipers Delivered to Taiwan For The First Time Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft receiving upgrades on the island have been delivered to the Taiwanese air force for the first time as the country begins a massive overhaul of its F-16 fleet, according to local media reports.

India, Japan to Sign Maritime Pact to Monitor Chinese Warships in Asia-Pacific Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The Indian Navy had earlier said that at any given time, China has six to seven warships, including submarines, deployed in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this month, the Indian Navy reported it had spotted a Type 039A Yuan class Chinese submarine in the ocean for the first time in over a year.

Remarks to the Press US Dept. of State 23 Oct 2018 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for October 23, 2018

Other Conflicts

23 October 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 23 Oct 2018

Half the population of Yemen at risk of famine: UN emergency relief chief UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- Around 14 million people in Yemen, or half the total population of the country, are facing "pre-famine conditions," said the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, in a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.
UN: 14 Million Yemenis Could Soon Be at Risk of Starvation VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- The U.N. aid chief warned Tuesday that humanitarians are losing the fight against famine in Yemen and that 14 million people could soon be at risk of starvation.
UN: 8.4 million war-hit Yemenis need urgent food aid Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- The United Nations humanitarian chief says the war on Yemen has left as many as 8.4 million people in the Arab world's already poorest nation in need of urgent food aid.

Joint US-Turkey Patrols Could Begin in Manbij Over Coming Days – CENTCOM Chief Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- Ankara has long been locked in negotiations with Washington over the city of Manbij and other parts of northern Syria under the control of Kurdish forces, seeking to limit their influence.
Feeding families remains complex task in war-torn Syria - UN relief agency UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- Nearly a million Syrians have headed home amid improving security, only to find houses destroyed and livelihoods lost said the United Nations emergency food relief agency on Tuesday, leaving many civilians still reliant on aid.
Syria's Food Production Hits 29-Year Low VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program finds extreme weather conditions in Syria have caused the lowest production of wheat and barley for nearly three decades in this war-torn country.

Pakistani prime minister vows to hold peace talks with India Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to hold peace talks with arch-rival India following next year's nationwide elections in the neighboring country.
Pakistani PM Hopes For Peace Talks With New Delhi After India's 2019 Elections RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to try to extend a hand of peace to archrival India following elections in the neighboring country, after a similar offer was "rebuffed."

Australia slaps sanctions on Myanmar officers over Rohingya Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- The Australian government has announced sanctions against five military officers in Myanmar who are accused of leading brutal atrocities against minority Rohingya Muslims in the Southeast Asian country.

'Reasons to hope' for sustainable peace in Central African Republic - UN Mission chief UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- The top United Nations official in the Central African Republic (CAR), said on Tuesday he is "hopeful that the necessary foundations to build sustainable peace" have been established and that long-lasting stability will depend on the will of its people, and support from the international community.

Dramatic funding shortages a 'severe catastrophe' for people of Gaza: UN Coordinator UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jamie McGoldrick, has been describing how ordinary Gazans are scraping by on just four hours of electricity per day due to fuel shortages, putting many in "a terrible situation" as the winter months approach.

News Reports

S.Korea, DPRK, UN Command agree to withdraw firearms, guard posts from JSA in border area People's Daily 23 Oct 2018 -- South Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United Nations Command agreed on Monday to withdraw firearms and guard posts by Thursday from the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the inter-Korean border area, South Korea's defense ministry said.
UN Expert on Human Rights Welcomes Thaw on Korean Peninsula VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- The United Nations independent expert on human rights for North Korea has welcomed political talks and denuclearization efforts, but urged that the human rights situation not be forgotten.

Russia reiterates support for JCPOA IRNA 23 Oct 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday reiterated his country's support for Iran nuclear deal known as JCPOA, saying that Russia considers US withdrawal from the deal the US a big mistake.
Iran's Silence On Khashoggi Killing Loosens, But Tehran Keeping Its Cards Close To Its Vest RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- Tehran spent weeks watching quietly as the international crisis unfolded over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reportedly in brutal fashion in the Istanbul consulate of regional foe Saudi Arabia.

UN expert calls for international investigation into 'evident murder' of Jamal Khashoggi UN News 23 Oct 2018 -- The UN independent expert on freedom of opinion and expression, has said he's "very disappointed" that Member States have so far failed to back calls for an independent international investigation into the "evident murder" of dissident Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
US to Revoke Visas of Saudis Implicated in Khashoggi's Death VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the United States had "identified at least some" of the Saudi officials involved in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and was revoking their visas.
Will Khashoggi Killing Trigger Saudi Crown Prince's Downfall? VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- A week before his death, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi noted at a conference he attended, "Change will happen solely because of the grave mistakes committed by the [Arab] despots."
Saudi princes call on int'l community to investigate assassinations in Saudi Arabia IRNA 23 Oct 2018 -- A number of Saudi princes who are in jail have called on the international community to enter and investigate the issue of arrests and assassinations in Saudi Arabia, along with investigating the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Too late to admit journo killing: Turkish FM IRNA 23 Oct 2018 -- Turkish Foreign minister has said on Tuesday that the claim of responsibility for killing Saudi prominent journalist was too late, yet very important.
G7: Saudi explanation of Khashoggi's death leaves many questions unanswered Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations (G7) have strongly denounced the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and found Riyadh's explanation of his death unconvincing since it has left "many questions unanswered."
Only Saudis have answers to Khashoggi case: UK Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- The British government has further pressed the Saudi government over the case of a dissident journalist who was killed earlier this month in Turkey, saying new allegations raised by Turkish authorities showed that it was only Riyadh that could clarify the issue.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Sahl and Salah Khashoggi SPA 23 Oct 2018 -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at Al-Yamamah palace here today Sahl bin Ahmad Khashoggi and Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense.
Trump: Khashoggi Probe, Initial Story 'One of Worst Cover-ups in History' Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- Madrid will proceed with a delivery of 400 laser-guided bombs to Riyadh.
Saudi King Says Riyadh to Prosecute Those Responsible For Journo Death - Reports Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted that those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's death should be tried in Istanbul.
Pence Confirms CIA Director in Turkey to Review Evidence in Khashoggi Murder Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Gina Haspel, is currently in Turkey to review evidence in connection with the alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Vice President Mike Pence confirmed on Tuesday.
Bin Salman's top adviser ordered Khashoggi's murder via Skype: Report Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- A top aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to have ordered the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi via a Skype call to the kingdom's Istanbul consulate.
Turkey's Erdogan: Saudi Journalist Khashoggi's Body 'Nowhere to Be Found' Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed members of his AK Party in Parliament on Tuesday. He insisted that those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's death should be tried in Istanbul, vowing not to "remain silent" about the murder.
CIA Chief Traveling to Turkey Over Khashoggi Case - Reports Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- CIA Director Gina Haspel departed for Turkey on Monday to work on the case of dead Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
UK Doubts Journalist Khashoggi Died in Fight in Saudi Consulate Sputnik 23 Oct 2018 -- The United Kingdom does not believe Saudi Arabia's claims that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a fight in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and it will choose the measures it will take against Saudi Arabia when full information on the matter is revealed, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Monday.
Erdogan: Khashoggi Killing a Premeditated Act VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that the killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a premeditated act, and that all those responsible, including whoever ordered the operation, should be punished.

Saudi Arabia Offers Pakistan $6 Billion Economic Rescue Package RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- Pakistan's government says Saudi Arabia has agreed to give Islamabad $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year, as well as a $3 billion loan in deferred oil import payments, to help ease Pakistan's economic crisis.
Saudis to Give Pakistan $6 Billion Worth Cash, Defer Oil Payments Relief VOA 23 Oct 2018 -- Saudi Arabia has agreed to lend Pakistan $3 billion in cash and allow Islamabad to defer payments for oil imports worth $3 billion for a one-year period to help the country address its looming balance of payments crisis.

Russia's Putin orders sanctions against Ukraine Press TV 23 Oct 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing punitive measures against Ukraine in response to sanctions by Kiev against individuals and legal entities in Russia.

Former Alabama Resident Charged by Criminal Complaint with Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization US Dept. of Justice 23 Oct 2018 -- Alaa Mohd Abusaad was charged today by criminal complaint in Birmingham, Alabama with attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and aiding and abetting others, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2339B and 2.

Pro-nuclear referendum approved to be held with local elections CNA 23 Oct 2018 -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) has approved a referendum proposal on overturning the government's policy to make Taiwan a nuclear-free homeland by 2025, bringing to 10 the number of referendums to be held in conjunction with year-end local elections.

Armenian Yelk Alliance Nominates Pashinian As Prime Minister RFE/RL 23 Oct 2018 -- The Yelk political alliance in the Armenian parliament has nominated acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for the post of prime minister.

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