• 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

• Rapid expulsion of US forces boosts stability in Iraq: Iran's top security official Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says speeding up the expulsion of American forces from Iraq will help boost stability in the country.
• US Envoy Discusses Turkey Peace Huddle With Afghan Rivals VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- The United States said Monday its special envoy to Afghanistan has completed a "productive" four-day visit to the war-torn nation, where he discussed preparations for the upcoming Afghan peace conference hosted by Turkey.
• Taliban Says Not Ready To Attend Afghan Peace Conference In Turkey RFE/RL Gandhara 12 Apr 2021 -- The Taliban says it is not ready to participate in an international peace conference on Afghanistan tentatively scheduled to begin in Turkey on April 16.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DARPA Selects Performers for Phase 1 of Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) Program DARPA 12 Apr 2021 -- DARPA has awarded contracts for the first phase of the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program. The goal of the DRACO program is to demonstrate a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system above low Earth orbit in 2025. The three prime contractors are General Atomics, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin.
• Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on 4-Star Reviewer Appointment on Manda Bay Investigation DoD 12 Apr 2021 -- The Secretary of Defense has completed an initial review of U.S. Africa Command's (USAFRICOM's) Army Regulation (AR) 15-6 investigation into the January 5, 2020, al-Shabaab attack on Cooperative Security Location Manda Bay, Kenya.
• Secretary of Defense Statements on Latest Defense Department Nominees DoD 12 Apr 2021
• U.S. Engagement Needed to Build Security, Prosperity on African Continent DoD News 12 Apr 2021 -- Generalizations on Africa are tough to make except for this: U.S. engagement with the nations of the continent is crucial for peace, democracy and development, said acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa Affairs Ronald W. Meyers during a recent interview.
• Deputy Defense Secretary Evaluates Effects of Climate on Military Operations DoD News 12 Apr 2021 -- During a windshield tour of Naval Air Station Pensacola on April 8 in Florida, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks saw firsthand the damage caused by last year's Hurricane Sally to the home of the Navy's Blue Angels.
• Morocco praises continued security cooperation with AFRICOM AFRICOM 12 Apr 2021 -- U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command spoke with the Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Gen. Abdelfatah Louarak on April 6.
• 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Makin Island ARG enhance bilateral partnership in Indo-Pacific Region USMC News 12 Apr 2021 -- Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group conducted flight-training operations near Singapore within international waters, April 8.
• USS Wichita and Jamaican Forces Conduct Live-Fire Exercise US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel HMJS Cornwall conducted a live fire exercise in the Caribbean Sea April 9.
• USS Freedom Returns from Final Deployment US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- The inaugural littoral combat ship returned from a U.S. Fourth Fleet deployment, April 12.
• Nimitz Wins CY2020 Aircraft Carrier Battle "E" US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet announced aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the winner of the CY2020 Aircraft Carrier Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") award April, 7.
• LCS Conducts Rolling Airframe Missile Shoot during Live-Fire Exercise to Increase Surface Force Readiness US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) conducted a successful Rolling Airframe Missile (SeaRAM) launch during a live-fire exercise, April 8.
• USS Arleigh Burke, Newest FDNF Ship, arrives in Homeport Rota, Spain US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in its new homeport, Naval Station Rota, Spain, as the U.S. Navy's newest Forward Deployed Naval Forces- Europe destroyer, April 11, 2021.
• Ships of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Conduct Port Visit in Duqm US Navy 12 Apr 2021 -- The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), and guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) conducted a scheduled port visit in support of logistics and maintenance in Duqm, Oman, April 10-12.
• US Defense Secretary Meets with Israelis on Iran VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Israel Monday, meeting with Israeli officials about Iran. The meeting comes as a power failure at the Iranian nuclear site of Natanz reportedly caused massive damage to Iranian centrifuges. Iranian officials blamed Israel and threatened to avenge the attack.
• Secretary of Defense Austin Remarks With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem DoD 12 Apr 2021 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• Secretary of Defense Conducts Media Availability, Israel DoD 12 Apr 2021 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby
• Netanyahu, Austin Agree U.S., Israeli Relationship Like a Family DoD News 12 Apr 2021 -- The United States and Israel are more than just allies, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said following meetings in Jerusalem, "We are family."
• Philippines, U.S. to start annual joint military drills People's Daily 12 Apr 2021 -- The Philippines and the United States will start their annual joint military exercise dubbed "Balikatan" on Monday, the Philippine military chief said on Sunday.
• Philippines Hosts US for Scaled-Down Joint Military Drills Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- The Philippines and long-time defense ally the United States kicked off an annual joint military exercise on Monday amid a recent surge in tensions in the South China Sea triggered by China's refusal to leave waters within Manila's internationally recognized territory.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg US Dept. of State 12 Apr 2021
• Blinken reiterates U.S. commitment to help Taiwan defend itself CNA 12 Apr 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the United States is concerned about China's aggressive actions against Taiwan and remains committed to ensuring Taiwan "has the ability to defend itself."
• Statement from Minister Garneau to announce the cancellation of export permits to Turkey Canada 12 Apr 2021 -- The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs today issued the following statement: "Last fall, in line with our robust export control regime, the Government of Canada suspended export permits for military goods and technology to Turkey pending the results of an investigation into allegations that Canadian technology was being used by Azerbaijan in the military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh."
• Canada Blocks Defense Exports To Turkey Over Transfer Of Drones To Azerbaijan RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Canada has halted some military exports to NATO ally Turkey after a probe confirmed Canadian drone technology was used by Azerbaijan in last year's fighting with Armenia over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• MULTINATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISE SHANTIR OGROSENA CULMINATES IN BANGLADESH India PIB 12 Apr 2021 -- Exercise SHANTIR OGROSENA-2021, a 10 day long multinational military exercise, which started on 04 April 2021, culminated today i.e.12 April 2021 at Bangabandhu Senanibas (BBS),Bangladesh.Troops from four countries participated in this exercise with observers from USA, UK, Russia, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore.
• UK armed forces bill would limit war crimes accountability: UN rights chief UN News 12 Apr 2021 -- Legislation under consideration in the UK regarding armed forces personnel could limit accountability for war crimes if it is passed in its current form, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday.
• Briefing with European and Eurasian Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Philip T. Reeker on the Secretary's Upcoming Travel to Brussels, Belgium US Dept. of State 12 Apr 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio US Dept. of State 12 Apr 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 12, 2021 The White House 12 Apr 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 12, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 12 April 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Apr 2021
• Military activities intensify in South China Sea amid heightened US-China tensions Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Military activities in the South China Sea have intensified in recent days with the US Navy expeditionary strike group conducting exercises there, followed by the entry of a Chinese aircraft carrier.
• Runway upgrade at Taiwan-held South China Sea island back on track CNA 12 Apr 2021 -- A long-stalled runway upgrade project on a Taiwan-held island in the South China Sea has finally begun despite rising military threats from China and should be completed by February 2022, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) report said Monday.
• Yemeni drones, missiles hit Aramco refineries, military sites in Saudi Arabia Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Yemeni armed forces and allied Popular Committees fighters have launched fresh attacks on targets deep in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the kingdom's ongoing aggression on their country.
• 'Reasonable grounds' to believe Syrian military helicopter deployed chemical weapon: OPCW UN News 12 Apr 2021 -- A report released on Monday by the body dedicated to freeing the world of chemical weapons, concludes that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that a Syrian military helicopter carried out a chemical attack on the town of Saraqib, in 2018.
• Iraqi Kurds Say Major IS Attack on Capital Was Foiled VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iraqi Kurdish officials announced Monday that their counterterrorism unit arrested five Islamic State (IS) suspects who had penetrated the autonomous Kurdistan Region from war-torn Syria to carry out explosions and assassinations in the region's capital, Irbil.
• Tens of Thousands of Residents Flee Bago in Wake of Assault by Myanmar Security Forces Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the central Myanmar town of Bago in the wake of a massacre by junta security forces that left at least 100 people dead during dawn attacks on anti-regime strongholds three days ago, residents said Monday.
• Myanmar violence 'must cease immediately': UN agencies UN News 12 Apr 2021 -- The UN Country Team in Myanmar on Monday, reiterated its call for an end to violence against civilians, amid reports of dozens of deaths in the latest crackdown on protests against the military takeover.
• Myanmar's Junta Levies New Charge Against Aung San Suu Kyi VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's ruling military junta filed a sixth charge against deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday as demonstrations continued against the February 1 coup.
• Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi hit with additional criminal charges Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been handed fresh criminal charges as a heavy-handed crackdown against her supporters continues across the country.
• G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on the Situation Along Ukraine's Borders US Dept. of State 12 Apr 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.
• Two Ukrainian soldiers killed in fresh clashes in troubled east amid rising Kiev-Moscow tensions Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Two Ukrainian soldiers have been killed during fresh clashes with pro-Russia forces in the restive eastern part of the country amid rising tensions between Kiev and Moscow over the latter's military build-up on the border.
• Ukraine Says Russia Ignoring Calls For Dialogue Amid Rising Tensions RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Ukraine says it has requested talks with Russia to discuss escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine but has yet to receive an answer, prompting warnings from the West, including calls by Washington for Moscow to explain its actions at an upcoming security meeting.
• What Russia Wants from Ukraine VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- Two US warships are expected to arrive in the Black Sea this week as a demonstration of the Biden administration's support for Ukraine as fears mount that Russian President Vladimir Putin is contemplating an assault on his neighbor.
• Lebanon will not cede a drop of its territorial waters to Israel: Minister Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Lebanon stands resolute in defense of its dignity and will not give up even a drop of its territorial waters, says a cabinet minister, amid a maritime dispute with Israel.
• Tibetans in Exile Go to Polls in Final Round of Votes for Political Leader Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- More than 83,000 Tibetans living in 26 countries around the world went to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots in a third and final round of voting for political leader, or Sikyong, of Tibet's Dharamsala-based exile government the Central Tibetan Administration, with final results to be announced on May 14.
• Implementing the UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes Region UK FCDO 12 Apr 2021 -- Statement by Sonia Farrey, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on the Great Lakes region
• Great Lakes Region 'on the right track' to tackling political and other challenges UN News 12 Apr 2021 -- Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in Africa's Great Lakes region are "on the right track", with leaders pushing forward on political, security and economic cooperation, UN Special Envoy Huang Xia told the Security Council on Monday.

News Reports

• Readout of Secretary Mayorkas's Participation in the annual Five Country Ministerial DHS 12 Apr 2021
• COVID complicates efforts to shut down drug traffickers, boost development UN News 12 Apr 2021 -- The growing complexities of the world drug problem are hampering efforts to achieve sustainable development by the end of the decade: a situation which the COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said on Monday.
• One Day After Navalny's Team Established In Daghestan, Whereabouts Of Coordinator Unknown RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- The coordinator of a team of Daghestani activists associated with imprisoned Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny went incommunicado in the North Caucasus region on April 12, a day after he announced the inception of the group.
• Hong Kong Launches 'National Security Education' Campaign in Schools Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- Authorities in Hong Kong are launching a campaign to "educate" secondary-school students about a draconian national security law that has left most of the city's political opposition behind bars and criminalized public criticism of the authorities.
• Xinjiang Viscose Producer Tied to Forced Labor Cut Off by Finnish Supplier Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- A Finnish supplier has become the latest firm to cut ties with companies accused of supporting a forced labor scheme in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) after it stopped providing raw materials to one of the region's largest producers of viscose adhesive fibers.
• Chinese Political Prisoner Dies Amid Suspicion of Torture, Mistreatment Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- A Chinese political prisoner jailed after he publicly supported the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong has died at the age of 48, despite warnings from his family that mistreatment and possible torture at the hands of the prison authorities and police could kill him.
• US Encourages Closer Ties with Taiwan Without Changing 'One China' Policy VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- The State Department's new guidance encouraging diplomatic outreach to Taiwan is seen by some China analysts as a way to encourage and promote closer ties without fundamentally changing Washington's overall stance on China's territorial claims to the island.
• 25 PLA planes fly through Taiwan's ADIZ on Monday, most this year CNA 12 Apr 2021 -- A total of 25 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the most on any single day so far this year, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said the same day.
• North Korea Mobilizes Women to Solve Construction Labor Shortage Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- Labor shortages in North Korea have forced authorities to start mobilizing women to complete leader Kim Jong Un's ambitious plan to build 10,000 houses in the capital Pyongyang by year's end, sources in the city told RFA.
• Iran Blames Israel For Suspected Sabotage At Nuclear Facility, Vows Revenge RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran has vowed to take "revenge" for an alleged act of sabotage at its main Natanz nuclear site that it blames on its archenemy Israel, an incident that could overshadow diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
• Iran urges EU to condemn attack against Natanz Nuclear Complex IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's representative office in the EU on Monday urged the European Union to strongly condemn the pre-meditated terrorist attack against the Iranian peaceful nuclear facilities at Natanz Nuclear Complex, which is under the supervision of the international community.
• Natanz nuclear site power outage problem solved: AEOI Chief IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi said on Monday that indications have been found that yesterday's incident in Natanz nuclear facility was an act of sabotage, but that the power outage caused by it has been solved.
• Israel might be behind Natanz nuclear plant incident: FM spox IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh in his weekly press briefing on Monday hinted that Israel might be behind Natanz nuclear plant incident which happened yesterday.
• Iran to take revenge on Zionist regime for Natanz incident: Khatibzadeh ISNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh stressed that what happened in Natanz Enrichment Facility on Sunday can't turn the country's nuclear industry backwards, because this knowledge has become an advanced indigenous knowledge inside the country, saying all centrifuges unplugged were old IR1 type and will be replaced by advanced machines.
• Iran FM to UN chief: Deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities 'is a war crime' Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has strongly condemned the deliberate targeting of the Islamic Republic's safeguarded nuclear facilities as a "war crime."
• 'Natanz incident bold act of nuclear terrorism on Iranian soil' Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh says the Sunday incident in Natanz which saw a nuclear facility lose electricity was "a bold act of nuclear terrorism on the Iranian soil".
• Iran's envoy to IAEA: Enrichment not halted in Natanz IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Kazem Qaribabadi emphasized on Monday that uranium enrichment at Iran's Natanz Nuclear Complex has not been halted.
• Lavrov: Iran, Russia work closely to ensure full implementation of JCPOA IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday said that Moscow and Tehran cooperate closely to make sure that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aka JCPOA be implemented fully.
• EU, Russia, Germany warn against efforts to undermine nuclear talks after Natanz incident Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- The European Union has warned against attempts to derail talks aimed at reviving a landmark 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and major world powers after a terrorist attack by Israel on Iran's Natanz nuclear site.
• Iran condemns EU sanctions against 8 Iranian officials IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh here on Monday strongly condemned European Union's new sanctions against eight Iranian officials accusing them of human rights breachings.
• Foreign Ministry spokesman: Iran mulls reciprocal sanctions on EU, suspends all talks with bloc Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says the Islamic Republic is considering counter-sanctions in response to new bans imposed on several Iranian individuals and entities by the European Union while suspending all talks with the bloc in various fields.
• South Korea must take practical, immediate action to unfreeze Iran assets: Parliament speaker Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Parliament speaker says South Korea must take practical and immediate measures to solve the existing problem related to Tehran's frozen assets in that country and release the Islamic Republic's blocked money.
• PM: unfreezing Iran's frozen funds to benefit S Korea IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun on Monday said that unfreezing Iran's frozen funds will benefit South Korea.
• Zarif stresses continuation of uranium enrichment in Iran: Senior MP IRNA 12 Apr 2021 -- The spokesman of the Majlis Commission for National Security and Foreign Policy said that Foreign Minister Zarif said in the Commission's session that uranium enrichment will by no means stop in Iran and the country will try to change the threat into opportunity by replacing first-generation centrifuges with newer ones.
• Iran to make several advanced halls in mountain: AEOI chief ISNA 12 Apr 2021 -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Slahehi called the Sunday attack on Nataz nuclear facility a "sabotage', saying, it wasn't an accident and security systems entered into the issue.
• In Latest Salvo Against Media, Belarus Takes Euronews Off The Air RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Belarusian authorities have stopped the European news network Euronews from broadcasting inside the country amid a campaign to muzzle independent media and journalists as part of the government's crackdown on dissent following a disputed presidential election that returned strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka to power.
• Tsikhanouskaya Associates Reject Charges As Trial Starts In Belarus RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Four associates of Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya have pleaded not guilty to charges of organizing protests against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka as their trial started on April 12 in the southeastern city of Homel.
• Germany's CDU Backs Party Chairman as Governing Coalition's Candidate for Chancellor VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- The executive committee of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party backed chairman Armin Laschet on Monday as candidate for the next leader.
• Pakistani Police Clash With Protesters After Arrest Of Radical Islamist Leader RFE/RL Gandhara 12 Apr 2021 -- Protests erupted in major Pakistani cities after authorities arrested the leader of a radical Islamist party who has spearheaded anti-French rallies in the South Asian nation.
• Conservative ex-banker Lasso wins Ecuador's presidential runoff Press TV 12 Apr 2021 -- Conservative candidate Guillermo Lasso has won Ecuador's presidential runoff, defeating his Socialist rival, Andres Arauz.
• Laotians 'Confused' by President Urging Police Whistleblowing, Threatening Social Media Use Radio Free Asia 12 Apr 2021 -- Laotians say they are confused after recently elected Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith gave a speech in which he appeared to contradict himself, urging members of the public to call out police abuse, while also demanding that authorities to crack down on social media use seen as undermining social order.
• Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan Break Ground On Trade Hub RFE/RL 12 Apr 2021 -- Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have broken ground for a giant trade and economic-cooperation hub, the largest of its kind in Central Asia, along the border of the two neighbors.
• Lebanon Needs Urgent Help, Analysts Say VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- The International Monetary Fund says Lebanon won't pull itself out of its economic crisis until a new government is formed to start long-stalled reforms. But Lebanese analysts say they are being held hostage by a corrupt political class and need outside help to break the logjam to create conditions that bring the country back from the brink. One suggestion is to set up a temporary United Nations trusteeship council for Lebanon to get the country back on its feet.
• Somali Lower House of Parliament Extends President's Term for Two Years VOA 12 Apr 2021 -- Somali politics were thrown into a state of confusion Monday as the two houses of parliament clashed on the status of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The lower house of parliament voted to extend the term of the president and his government by two years, while the upper house said the move was unconstitutional.