* The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes a measure that authorizes President Obama to conduct a ‘limited’ military engagement in Libya. Note that the committee can’t actually authorize any such thing, but it can set up a full Senate vote.
* In an interview for a BBC program to be broadcast this evening, General Dan McNeil says that it was only in 2010 that the British operation in Helmand, Afghanistan, was given the troops and equipment needed to be effective. Until that point, US commanders effectively bailed out the British by deploying more forces in Helmand.
* The RAND Corporation releases Afghanistan in Early 2011 Relative to the Insurgencies of the Past 30 Years [PDF]. The report uses a scorecard approach to predict that the US campaign in Afghanistan could end in defeat due to a lack of historical factors deemed necessary for counterinsurgency success.
* As Australia’s armed forces embark upon its biggest release of military equipment since World War II, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announces reforms aimed at generating revenue from equipment disposal. The MoD hopes that the British-style reforms will lead to re-investment in new military equipment for Force 2030 [PDF].
* Australia’s Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare also announces reforms to broaden the Australian Industry Capability Program (AICP). One of the key reforms reduces the threshold for mandatory AICPs from AUD50 million ($53 million) to AUD20 million ($21 million).
* ICD Research publishes The Venezuelan Defense Industry – Market Opportunities and Entry Strategies Analyses and Forecasts to 2015.
* As The Great Messenger 6 wargames progress, debate continues in Israel over the ex-head of Mossad and and former Chief of Staff’s claims that they rescued the country from government plans to launch a war with Iran.
* Despite being promoted as a ‘dedicated centre for UAS’ – as well as being subject to a consultation process seeking to dedicate segregated airspace in West Wales for UAS development – a letter in the local press questions the true value of ParcAberporth.