Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 10, 2013. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON E. PANETTA:  If I could have your attention, please.  First of all, let me express how honored we are to welcome you, Mr. President, and your distinguished delegation here to the Department of Defense and to the nation’s capital.   (CROSSTALK)  Have we[Read More…]

Scott Air Force Base not selected as candidate for Main Operating Base of the refueling tanker Washington, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)–January 10, 2013. Yesterday U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) expressed concern with the Air Force’s decision not to select Scott Air Force[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–January 10, 2013 – An Afghan and coalition security force killed Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) facilitator, Mazlum Yar, during a security operation in Ishkamish district, Takhar province, today. Mazlum Yar, also known as Qari Asrar and Tufan, planned and executed improvised explosive device attacks targeting Government of the[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 8, 2013. MR. GEORGE LITTLE:  Good afternoon, everyone, and happy new year.  I’d like to take this opportunity to provide a preview of the next few weeks here at the Pentagon.   Tomorrow evening, Secretary Panetta will host Israel’s minister of defense, Ehud Barak, to continue regular consultations on[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 8, 2013. The United States Justice Department and U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced yesterday the filing of a complaint alleging that the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by failing to reemploy and terminating Idaho Army[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–January 8, 2013  – During a security operation in Washer district, Helmand province, yesterday, an Afghan and coalition force killed the Taliban leader, Mohammad Sayed, and one other insurgent. Mohammad Sayed distributed weapons and ammunition to Taliban fighters.  Prior to his death, Sayed was attempting to acquire rockets for attacks[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 7, 2013. U.S. officials will soon announce long-term plans for an American security presence in Afghanistan after 2014—the date when the United States and the NATO International Security Assistance Force will have transferred full security responsibility to Afghan authorities—as well as the pace of troop withdrawals for the[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–January 7, 2013 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today endorsed President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed him at the helm of the Pentagon. Obama announced his nomination of Chuck Hagel as the next defense secretary at the White House today. The president also announced he has nominated John Brennan[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–January. 7, 2013  – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader, and detained one suspected insurgent, in Andar district, Ghazni province, today. The leader commanded a group who organized and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, along with overseeing the placement of improvised explosive devices.[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–January 6, 2013 – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested the senior Taliban leader in Nad ‘Ali district during a security operation in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today. The leader provided operational guidance to Taliban insurgents in Nad ‘Ali district and acquired and distributed homemade explosives, weapons[Read More…]