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News Reports

Current Operations

• US Military Admits Afghan War Was 'Strategic Failure' VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- Twenty years of American blood and treasure spent in Afghanistan was reduced Tuesday to about six hours of testimony in the United States Senate, with the nation's top military officer admitting that the war amounted to a "strategic failure" that in the end, perhaps, could never have been won.
• Top US Military Officials Face Tough Questions About Afghanistan Withdrawal VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- Top military officials are defending the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan, insisting that despite initial difficulties, the effort "exceeded all expectations."
• Austin, Milley: No Debate About Courage, Commitment of Americans Who Served in Afghanistan DoD News 28 Sep 2021 -- How the Afghanistan conflict ended must not obscure the pride Americans should have for the men and women who fought there, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
• Austin Gives Senate Hard Truths of Lessons From Afghanistan DoD News 28 Sep 2021 -- "We helped build a state, but we could not forge a nation," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the Senate Armed Services Committee today, encapsulating America's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.
• U.S. Military Leaders Tell Congress They Favored Keeping Troops In Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Sep 2021 -- Top U.S. military officers have told Congress that they overestimated the Afghan Army's strength and believed the United States should have kept at least several thousand troops in the country to prevent a rapid takeover by the militant Taliban.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Top US Military Officer Defends China Calls VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- The top U.S. military officer told Congress on Tuesday that two calls to his Chinese counterpart in the last months of the Trump administration were made openly and in response to legitimate concerns.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 28 Sep 2021
• DoD Publishes Federal Register Notice for Input on Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Opportunities DoD 28 Sep 2021 -- As part of the department's one-year response to Executive Order (EO) 14017, America's Supply Chains, the Department of Defense published a Federal Register Notice (FRN) soliciting comments from industry on key supply chain challenges and recommendations to strengthen the defense industrial base.
• DOD Official Says Concept of Integrated Deterrence Is Call to Action DoD News 28 Sep 2021 -- In a speech earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called deterrence the cornerstone of defense to make sure U.S. adversaries know that the risk of aggression is out of line with any conceivable benefit, a key Defense Department official said today.
• Germans, Americans reinforce partnership during return to annual forum in Kaiserslautern Army News 28 Sep 2021 -- Community and military leaders gathered for the first time in nearly two years for the Kaiserslautern Military Community Mayor's Forum Sept. 28.
• Dülmen town hall first step to regionally align APS-2 operations in Europe, pivot to Poland Army News 28 Sep 2021 -- A town hall was held at Tower Barracks here Sept. 28, marking the 405th Army Field Support Brigade's first official step to regionally align its four battalions and its critically important Army Prepositioned Stock-2 program to best support U.S. Army Europe and Africa – to include future APS-2 operations in Poland.
• Marine Corps Information Operations Center Completes Fourth Information Warfighter Exercise USMC News 28 Sep 2021 -- Services across the joint force, government agencies and partner nations participated in the fourth Information Warfighter Exercise at the Marine Corps Information Operations Center, Marine Corps Base Quantico, September 13-23.
• SURFLANT Stands Up Task Group Greyhound US Navy 28 Sep 2021 -- Task Group Greyhound was formally introduced by Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and Rear Adm. Brian Davies, commander, Submarine Group Two and deputy commander, 2nd Fleet, at an event held at Naval Station Mayport aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Sept. 27.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Phone Call with France Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly DoD 28 Sep 2021
• Joint Press Statement for the 20th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue DoD 28 Sep 2021 -- The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense (MND) held the 20th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) September 27-28, 2021 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• NATO Secretary General welcomes cooperation with the International Energy Agency NATO 28 Sep 2021 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Dr Fatih Birol to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (28 September 2021) to discuss topics of mutual interest to both organizations. These included climate change and security, energy security, and the clean energy transition, as well as strengthening cooperation between NATO and the IEA.
• China urges NATO not to provoke military tension in Asia-Pacific Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- NATO member states have been frequently deploying aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region but the region doesn't welcome military bloc, major-power confrontation, or Cold War instigators, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a video meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday.
• Russia's Su-27 Escorts US Spy Plane Over Black Sea Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- Russian fighter Su-27 escorted the US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea, the Russian Defence Ministry's National Defense Control Centre (NDCC) said.
• China's J-16D electronic warfare aircraft reveals jamming pods, missiles at Airshow China 2021 Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- China's J-16D electronic warfare aircraft will reveal its jamming pods and missiles in its first public appearance at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, to be held from September 28 to October 3. Experts say that the debut of this new aircraft will display China's confidence and transparency on related technologies.
• China's integrated maritime defense system including YJ-18E missile makes debut Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- China is displaying a domestic integrated maritime defense system at the 13th Airshow China, which kicked off on Tuesday in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, which experts said can cover a wide range of requirements in maritime defense.
• China's most advanced stealth drones make air show debut Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- Airshow China 2021's opening ceremony on Tuesday attracted attention worldwide, with several of the most advanced China-made drones making their debuts, including the GJ-11 prototype, WZ-7 and WZ-8, which first appeared at the military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2019, and experts said this shows China's full confidence in its world-class unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
• FC-31 stealth fighter gets PL-15 missile, 'among the best in the world' Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- China's second stealth fighter jet, the FC-31, made its reappearance at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, which kicked off on Tuesday, and this time, it is displayed together with the powerful PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, as the missile, also used by China's J-20 stealth fighter jet, is announced to be available for export for the first time.
• China's GJ-11 stealth drone displays precision weapons at Airshow China 2021 Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- China's GJ-11 stealth armed reconnaissance drone will open its weapons bays for the first time and display its capability to carry a large amounts of precision weapons at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, from Tuesday to Sunday. Experts said that the drone will likely carry multiple types of precision ammunitions, including larger ones that were not on display at the air show.
• China's sophisticated air defense on display at largest airshow Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- China has kicked off its biggest airshow to display its increasingly sophisticated air power and the most advanced home-grown weaponry, in the face of the West's growing military adventurism in Indo-Pacific region.
• North Korea fires missile as UN envoy insists on 'right to test weapons' Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- North Korea has fired a missile off its east coast, South Korea's military says, as Pyongyang slammed US "hostile policy" and called on Washington and Seoul to scrap their "double standards" on its weapons program.
• DPRK Claims Tuesday's Missile Test Was of a New Hypersonic Weapon Named Hwasong-8 Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- According to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Korean People's Army (KPA) tested a new hypersonic glide vehicle for the first time on Tuesday. The test came just days after the US successfully fired its own hypersonic weapon for the first time.
• North Korea ballistic missile tests, September 2021: FCDO statement UK FCDO 28 Sep 2021 -- A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson responds to short range ballistic missile tests carried out by North Korea.
• North Korea Launches Another Missile, Accuses South Korea of Hostility VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- North Korea conducted another missile test Tuesday, its third in a month. The test occurred minutes before a North Korean ambassador spoke at the United Nations, where he accused South Korea of hostility.
• Iran says military drill in northwest a sovereign issue IRNA 28 Sep 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday that the military drill held in northwest of Iran was a sovereignty issue and the Islamic Republic of Iran wouldn't tolerate the presence of the Israeli regime near its borders.
• Iran dismisses Aliev's remarks about military drills near Azeri border Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- Reacting to Azerbaijan's criticism of Iran for holding military exercises near its borders, the Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Islamic Republic has only been exercising its right to sovereignty by holding the drills.
• German Navy Visits Australia as part of Indo-Pacific voyage Australia DOD 28 Sep 2021 -- German Navy Ship FGS Bayern has arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia for a week-long visit during a seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
• Building defence capability in Timor-Leste Australia DOD 28 Sep 2021 -- ADF personnel have been working with personnel from partner nations to help develop Timor-Leste's defence capability in the largest annual multilateral exercise held in the country.
• France to provide Greece with warships, urging EU to 'stop being naive' Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- France has signed a mega military deal with Greece to supply the country with three warships, as it is still reeling from the loss of a multibillion-dollar contract for submarines with Australia.
• Macron: Greece to Buy Rafale Jets, Three Frigates From France in Deal 'Boosting EU's Independence' Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- The establishment of the new Australia-UK-US AUKUS security alliance earlier in the month had outraged France, which lost a multi-billion dollar deal on diesel-powered submarines with Canberra, abruptly terminated in favour of procuring nuclear-powered subs within the trilateral agreement.
• Duterte 'concerned' over AUKUS nuclear submarine deal Philippine News Agency 28 Sep 2021 -- President Rodrigo Duterte has raised concern over the new trilateral security pact among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), Malacañang said on Tuesday.
• AUKUS nuclear submarine deal harms innocent people in South Pacific again: FM Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- The US, the UK and Australia should discard their outdated Cold War mentality, and walk back their wrong decision in a responsible manner as the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal harms innocent people in the South Pacific region again, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at routine press conference on Tuesday.
• Bosnian Serb Leader Says Republika Srpska May Form Own Army Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- The Republika Srpska will revoke its consent to have a joint military with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and consider the possibility of forming its own army, Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the BiH presidency, said Tuesday.
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Senior Administration Official Trip to Middle East The White House 28 Sep 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 28, 2021 The White House 28 Sep 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 28 Sep 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez US Dept. of State 28 Sep 2021
• Department Press Briefing – September 28, 2021 US Dept. of State 28 Sep 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Sept. 28, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 28 September 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 28 Sep 2021
• Taliban Say They Will Use Parts of Monarchy Constitution to Run Afghanistan for Now VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- The Taliban said Tuesday they plan to temporarily enact articles from Afghanistan's 1964 constitution that are "not in conflict with Islamic Sharia (law)" to govern the country.
• Taliban Warns of 'Consequences' if US Drones Continue to Violate Afghanistan's Airspace Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- Late last month, a US drone strike targeting Daesh-K* militants responsible for the 26 August attack on the Kabul Airport ended up accidentally killing ten civilians, including seven children and an aid worker. Washington has reserved itself the right to continue drone strikes throughout the country against suspected terrorists.
• Saudi-led coalition impounds 4th Yemen-bound oil tanker Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- The Saudi Arabia-led coalition that has been waging a war on Yemen for the past seven years has impounded a fourth oil tanker bound for the impoverished country.
• Seizing the opportunity for political progress in Syria UK FCDO 28 Sep 2021 -- Statement by Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward at the Security Council on The situation in the Middle East
• Myanmar Junta Calls 'Goodwill' Cease-fire With Ethnic Armed Groups, Omits Anti-Coup Militias Radio Free Asia 28 Sep 2021 -- Myanmar's junta has announced a "goodwill" cease-fire with all ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), but observers say the move is part of a bid to take pressure off the military, which faces multiple domestic conflicts, and focus its efforts on eradicating the country's People's Defense Force (PDF) militias.
• Iran security forces dismantle foreign-backed terrorist group, kill ringleader: Intelligence Ministry Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- Iranian security forces have dismantled a foreign-backed terrorist group and killed its ringleader, the Intelligence Ministry says.

News Reports

• Report: U.S. Extradites Convicted Russian Hacker Back Home RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- A Russian national sentenced to nine years in a U.S. prison for cybercrimes in a case that closely attracted Moscow's attention has reportedly been sent back home in what experts said is a rare move by the Justice Department.
• On Russia's Obstructionism at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe US Dept. of State 28 Sep 2021 -- "Yesterday, the premier human rights conference of the Europe-Eurasia region should have opened in Warsaw, Poland."
• Kremlin Critic Navalny Hit With New Probe, Could Face 10 More Years in Prison VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- Jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny is facing a new criminal probe by Russian investigators that could lead to 10 more years in prison.
• Navalny Targeted In New 'Extremism' Investigation As Postelection Clampdown Continues RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- Russian investigators have launched a new criminal case against leading Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny and his top allies, accusing them of launching and participating in an extremist group, as the state extends its clampdown on the opposition following parliamentary elections.
• Police Raid Communist Party Building In Moscow As Lawyers Prepare To File A Lawsuit Against Electronic Voting Results RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- Moscow police have blocked the entrance into the building hosting the Communist Party's legal service, where lawyers were preparing to file a lawsuit against the results of remote electronic voting in general elections held earlier this month, which were won with almost 50 percent of the vote by the Kremlin-backed ruling United Russia party, Russian media reported.
• Hungary Summons Ukrainian Envoy Over Criticism Of Russian Gas Supply Deal RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has summoned Ukraine's ambassador over what he said was Kyiv's attempts to block Budapest's new long-term gas supply deal with Russia, which was signed on September 27.
• Kremlin Sees No Reason for Ukraine to Be Hysterical About Russian-Hungarian Gas Contract Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- Moscow does not see any reasons for Ukraine to be hysterical about the Russian-Hungarian gas supplies contract, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of the Business Council under the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Moscow, September 28, 2021 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28 Sep 2021
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answer to a media question during a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son, Moscow, September 28, 2021 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28 Sep 2021
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on September 28, 2021 PRC MofA 28 Sep 2021
• Xi urged US to resolve Meng Wanzhou incident in Sep phone call with Biden: FM Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the US to resolve the incident of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou during a phone call with US President Joe Biden earlier this month.
• 'Thorns that vary in size in China-US relations' need to be removed; no information about top leaders' meeting: FM Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- China has no information to release at present about whether the Chinese and US top leaders will meet at the upcoming G20 summit and the contact between them should be decided via bilateral negotiations, Hua Chunying, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a routine press conference on Wednesday.
• Wang Yi urges action from US to return its China policy to rationality Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- The US recently has said it doesn't want confrontation or engage in a new cold war, but the key lies in whether concrete action from the US will follow and bring its policy toward China to a rational and pragmatic track, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
• China, EU to hold high-level strategic dialogue Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will co-chair the 11th round of high-level strategic dialogue between China and the EU via video link with Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday.
• U.S. attempt to harm Hong Kong's stability, development will not succeed: report People's Daily 28 Sep 2021 -- Attempts of the United States and other Western countries to undermine Hong Kong's stability and restrain Hong Kong's economic development will not succeed, an official report by China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said.
• Report says Hong Kong retains sound business environment under "one country, two systems" People's Daily 28 Sep 2021 -- A report released by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Monday pointed out that Hong Kong has retained its sound business environment and unique advantages under "one country, two systems," and the financial hub is still attractive to businesses and investors around the world.
• State Grid vows to ensure power demand for livelihood needs Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- The unexpected and unprecedented power cut in three provinces in Northeast China - Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning - on Monday following reported electricity shortages have resulted in major disruptions to the daily lives of people and business operations, sparking growing concerns over the potential disruption of power supplies as demand booms ahead of the upcoming winter season.
• China Hit by Wave of Power Rationing, Outages, And Factory Closures Radio Free Asia 28 Sep 2021 -- China is facing ongoing power shortages in its industrial northeast triggering a wave of factory closures, with traffic lights, residential elevators, and mobile phone coverage also affected in some cities.
• China's Cryptocurrency Ban Comes as Government Rolls Out Digital Yuan Radio Free Asia 28 Sep 2021 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified a ban on cryptocurrency transactions and mining, in a move commentators said could be intended to protect the government's digital yuan.
• Meng's return ignites national pride amid US hegemony Global Times 28 Sep 2021 -- Over the past two days, Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou's return from Canada has ignited the latest surge of national pride, with the Chinese people welcoming her back home with massive and spontaneous celebrations both online and offline. Many people also took the incident of Meng as a symbolic turning point in the years-long geopolitical wrestling between China and the US, calling her return a hard-fought victory for the country and its people against the Western hegemony.
• 13 of 15 diplomatic allies voice support for Taiwan at U.N. CNA 28 Sep 2021 -- Nicaragua's foreign minister has spoken up in support of Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations system on the last day of the general debate Monday, the 13th and final diplomatic ally of Taiwan to do so at this year's U.N. General Assembly.
• DPRK says it will 'respond willingly' if US abandons 'hostile policy' UN News 27 Sep 2021 -- The Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Kim Song, said that if the United States "shows its bold decision to give up its hostile policy", his country is "prepared to respond willingly at any time."
• Iranian official: Washington not qualified to comment on Iran ties with IAEA IRNA 28 Sep 2021 -- Countries that have not condemned terrorist acts against the Iranian nuclear site have no authority to comment on the visit, said Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami on Tuesday in Moscow in response to the recent US statement about U.N. nuclear watchdog access.
• Iran's top nuclear official rejects US call for IAEA's access to Karaj complex Press TV 28 Sep 2021 -- Iran has rejected a US call to grant IAEA inspectors access to a nuclear site that was targeted by sabotage, saying Washington was not qualified to take such a stand without condemning the terrorist attack.
• Iranian Official Says US Has No Right to Comment on Ties Between Tehran, IAEA Sputnik 28 Sep 2021 -- Countries that have not condemned a sabotage attack against Iran's nuclear site in Karaj in June are not qualified to comment on Tehran denying access to the facility, Mohammad Eslami, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Tuesday, state-run IRNA news agency reported.
• Lukashenka Says Belarus Plans Constitutional Referendum By February 2022 RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- Belarus will hold a referendum on a new controversial constitution by February next year, authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.
• Australia Divided Over Future of Mighty Coal Industry VOA 28 Sep 2021 -- Australia is under growing international pressure to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but the policy is fiercely dividing its center-right government.
• Georgian Ex-President Saakashvili Says He Will Return To 'Save The Country' Despite Jail Threat RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said he will return to help "save the country" on October 2, the day local elections are being held in Georgia.
• Indonesia Detains Tanker Crew in Escalating Intl Dispute Over Oil Cargo Radio Free Asia 28 Sep 2021 -- Indonesia, Cambodia, and a Bahamas-flagged oil tanker are embroiled in an escalating quarrel over nearly 300,000 barrels of crude oil that Phnom Penh alleges was stolen by the ship's crew.
• European Commission Hopes To Start EU Accession Talks With Albania, N. Macedonia By Year's End RFE/RL 28 Sep 2021 -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she hopes to start European Union accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia before the end of the year as frustration grows in the Western Balkans over the snail-like pace of progress on the issue.