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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• US Exit From Afghanistan May Help Terrorists Stage 9/11-Style Attacks – General Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Earlier, Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, admitted that the Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan, and that more efforts are needed to bring peace to the war-torn South Asian country.
• US should stay in Afghanistan or face another 9/11: Gen. Dunford Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- The United States should continue its military presence in Afghanistan if it wishes to prevent future attacks similar to what happened on September 11, 2001, the top US military officer has warned.

Defense Policy / Programs

• President Intends to Nominate Milley to Succeed Dunford as Chairman AFPS 08 Dec 2018 -- In a tweet this morning, President Donald J. Trump indicated he will nominate Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• BALTOPS 2019 Planning Conference Commences in Poland NNS 08 Dec 2018 -- Rear Adm. John B. Mustin, deputy commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, addressed maritime planners from partner navies at the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2019 Initial Planning Conference (IPC) conducted at the Polish Naval Academy Library Building, Dec. 4-6.
• Pentagon Top Brass Infuriated That Google Works with China But Not US Military Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Earlier this week, US tech giant Microsoft vowed that it would give the Pentagon access to "all the technology" it creates.
• STPSat-5 Successfully Launched from Vandenberg AFB AFNS 08 Dec 2018 -- The Air Force and its mission partners successfully launched Space Test Program Satellite 5, or STPSat-5, into orbit via Spaceflight Industries' fully dedicated smallsat rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle on Dec. 3 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 10:34 a.m. PST.
• Naval Force equipment indigenized: Cmdr IRNA 08 Dec 2018 -- Naval Force Commander of Iranian Army said the Navy has indigenized the equipment needed to defend the country's interests at sea.
• Deputy Commander of Army: Iran can do best mission on sea IRNA 08 Dec 2018 -- The deputy commander of Iranian Army for coordination says Iran can conclude the best mission in the sea with the facilities at its deposal.
• Iran Navy to stage military maneuver in Indian Ocean: Commander Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Iranian naval forces plan to stage a large-scale drill in the Indian Ocean to boost and put on display the country's military prowess, a senior commander says.
• Iraqi Air Force receives six more KAI T-50 Golden Eagle warplanes Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- The Iraqi military has received a new batch of South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic advanced trainers and light combat aircraft under a deal struck between Baghdad and Seoul several years ago.
• Japan seeks record defense spending in 5-year plan: Report Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Japan is reportedly planning to increase its defense spending to a record high level over the next five years amid heightened US pressure to buy more American military equipment and join Washington to counter China.
• UK announces major investment in nuclear submarines Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- The UK has invested £400 million (US$509 million) in its Dreadnought nuclear submarine program, the Royal Navy's controversial project to replace the current crop subs operating under the Trident nuclear deterrence program.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• About 20 Million Yemeni Citizens Are 'Food Insecure,' Report Says VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- Up to 20 million Yemeni's – two-thirds of the country's population – are food insecure, primarily because of the war that has ravaged the impoverished country.
• Yemen Needs New Transition Period to Overcome Crisis - Houthi Spokesman Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- The agreement on the exchange of detainees and prisoners of war between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels includes captives held in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a member of the Houthi delegation to the peace talks in Sweden said on Friday.
• Iran has no forces in Yemen: Official IRNA 08 Dec 2018 -- A Yemeni Ansarullah movement official on Saturday dismissed allegations on presence of Iran's military troops in Yemen, describing it as a rumor.
• More than 50% of Yemen's population facing 'severe acute food insecurity': Survey Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Some 53 percent of Yemen's population, 15.9 million people, is now facing "severe acute food insecurity" as the direct result of a Saudi-led invasion of the impoverished country and the ensuing economic collapse, a survey says.
• UN Envoy: De-Escalation in Yemen Could Be Prerequisite for Peace Talks' Success Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths expressed hope on Saturday that the de-escalation on the ground would be maintained in Yemen to "give a chance" for the crisis settlement talks to succeed.
• Houthis to Release All Detainees If Yemeni Gov't Responds in Kind - Delegate Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- The Houthi movement is ready to release all its detainees if the Yemeni government agrees to respond in kind, Abdul Majid Hanash, a member of the Houthi delegation to the talks in Sweden, said.
• US seeks to whitewash terrorists' gas attack in Syria: Russia Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Russia has rejected fresh US accusations regarding a chemical weapons attack in Syria's Aleppo, saying Washington is trying to whitewash terrorists' gas attacks and distract public opinion from American crimes.
• Russia's S-300s Should Remain in Syria to Protect it From Enemy Airstrikes - SNC Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Russia's S-300 air defense systems should remain in Syria if they protect the country from airstrikes and enemies, a representative of the Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC) and member of the political committee of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SOC) told Sputnik.
• Mass Graves Highlight Challenges in Post-IS Raqqa VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- More than 500 bodies were exhumed last week from one of the largest mass graves in Raqqa, Syria, once the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS) terror group.
• Ukrainian Vessels Threatened to Use Weapons if Approached by Russian Ships - FSB Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Kiev and Moscow have been embroiled in a naval standoff for the past two weeks. Three Ukrainian Navy vessels were seized on November 25 after violating Russia's maritime border.
• Israeli Military Fires Warning Shots Along Border With Lebanon - Reports Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Tensions between Tel Aviv and Beirut have ramped up in recent months, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting Thursday that Israel could launch a military operation in Lebanon proper to detect and destroy alleged Hezbollah tunnelling activity.

News Reports

• White House Says Latest Mueller Filings Do Nothing to Damage Trump Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- The White House said on Friday that special counsel Robert Mueller's filings earlier in the day on former longtime attorney for President Trump Michael Cohen and Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort do nothing to damage the president.
• Mueller Details Manafort's Post-Plea Deal Lies in New Filing Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- On Friday, special counsel Robert Mueller filed the government's submission in support of its determination that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort breached his plea agreement.
• US prosecutors seek 'substantial' prison term for former Trump lawyer Cohen Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- US federal prosecutors have asked a judge in New York to sentence Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, to a "substantial term of imprisonment" for evading taxes and violating election finance laws.
• Trump Says Mueller Investigation Has Failed To Find Collusion Evidence RFE/RL 08 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation has failed to find evidence that he colluded with Russia during his 2016 election campaign.
• U.S. Prosecutors Allege Former Top Trump Associates Lied Over Russia Contacts RFE/RL 08 Dec 2018 -- U.S. prosecutors have laid out in court details of what they say are lies by former top associates of President Donald Trump regarding their interactions with Russian contacts, charges that will likely lead to long prison terms for the two men.
• Armenia's Elections Test Its Democratic Credentials RFE/RL 08 Dec 2018 -- Almost nine months ago, tens of thousands of Armenians took to the streets demanding a reboot of the country's political system to stamp out corruption and entrench democratic principles. This weekend will see whether their efforts have been rewarded.
• Chinese president meets DPRK foreign minister People's Daily 08 Dec 2018 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing on Friday, calling for more efforts to advance the long-term, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.
• US fails to slam N Korea at UN General Assembly Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- The US has abandoned an attempt to hold a UN Security Council session to slam North Korea's human rights record after failing to muster enough support for the bid.
• Iran's president urges unwavering, all-out battle against terrorism Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on all neighboring and regional countries to step up an all-out fight against terrorism and extremism, saying major powers have created and supported terrorist groups.
• Official: Next budget bill focuses on Iranians' livelihood amid US sanctions Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, head of Iran's Budget and Planning Organization, says the budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year that begins on 21 March 2019 has been submitted to the Parliament.
• Iran blasts US 'economic terrorism' at major conference Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- President Hassan Rouhani hits out at US "economic terrorism" against Iran as an international conference opens in Tehran with the participation of China, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Iran's Rohani Slams U.S. Sanctions As 'Economic Terrorism' RFE/RL 08 Dec 2018 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani has denounced U.S. sanctions as "economic terrorism," and predicted if they succeed and Iran is weakened, the West will be flooded by illegal drugs.
• Tehran Detains 4 Suspects After Terrorist Attack in Southeastern Iran - Reports Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- The Iranian authorities detained four people suspected of committing Thursday's terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian port city of Chabahar, the Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday citing Zahedan city prosecutor general.
• Bail hearing for Huawei CFO continues Monday People's Daily 08 Dec 2018 -- A bail hearing for Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, was adjourned until Monday at 1:00 pm local time, after nearly six hours of arguments and counter-arguments with no decision reached.
• China urges Canada to release Huawei executive or face consequences Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- China's Foreign Ministry has called on Canada to immediately release Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the global telecom giant Huawei Meng Wanzhou or face consequences.
• Huawei executive faces fraud charges in US over Iran sancitons: court Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- A top executive and daughter of the founder of the Chinese telecom giant Huawei, who was arrested in Canada, has been accused of charges related to alleged sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran, a court hearing says.
• U.S. Seeks Extradition Of Chinese Executive In Iran Sanctions Case RFE/RL 08 Dec 2018 -- U.S. authorities are seeking the extradition of a top executive of China's Huawei Technologies over charges that she misled U.S. banks over the company's business dealings with Iran.
• China Summons Canadian Envoy to Protest Huawei Executive's Arrest Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver last Saturday and reportedly charged with fraud for telling UK-based banking company HSBC that the Chinese tech giant was in full compliance with US sanctions against Iran while one of its subsidiaries was not in compliance of the restrictions.
• French Arrest Hundreds in Paris 'Yellow Vest' Protests VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said Saturday that violent outbreaks in Paris were "under control" despite ongoing disorderly acts he declared "totally unacceptable."
• WikiLeaks founder Assange rejects UK-Ecuador deal to leave embassy Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has rejected a proposed plan by Ecuadorean president to leave the country's embassy in London with his lawyers insisting that the deal would not shield him against persecution and potential extradition to the US.
• British Intel to Ratchet Up Pressure on Russian Businessmen - Reports Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- Britain-Russia relations have been in a downward spiral ever since early March, when former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal survived a purported nerve agent attack, which the UK blamed on Moscow. The accusations were followed by an announced crackdown on Russian money in Britain, which is apparently gaining momentum.
• Australia Passes World's First Encryption-Busting Law VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- Security agencies will gain greater access to encrypted messages under new laws in Australia. The legislation will force technology companies such as Apple, Facebook and Google to disable encryption protections to allow investigators to track the communications of terrorists and other criminals. It is, however, a controversial measure.
• Israel authorized sale of spyware to Saudis: Report Press TV 08 Dec 2018 -- A report in the Washington Post says the Israeli government was directly involved in the sale of sophisticated spyware to Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom purge and assassinate dissidents.
• SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Arrives at ISS - NASA Sputnik 08 Dec 2018 -- A SpaceX unmanned Dragon cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s live stream showed.
• Space Station Astronauts Get Holiday Treats Delivered After Delay VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship finally delivered more than 2,500 kilograms of holiday treats Saturday to the International Space Station after a communications drop-out delayed the shipment.
• Turkey Seeks Arrests Over 2013 Protests VOA 08 Dec 2018 -- A crackdown on political dissent in Turkey is widening to participants in a major civic unrest five years ago. Prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for a prominent actor, a leading journalist and civil society activists.