Wednesday, June 27, 2012
FIRST DEFENSE DEPARTMENT LGBT PRIDE MONTH EVENT
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Defense Department Hosts First LGBT Pride Month Event
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012 - The Defense Department held a panel discussion today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, with the Pentagon's general counsel recalling how difficult it would have been just several years ago to believe that in 2012, gays could serve openly in the military.
Jeh C. Johnson, DOD's General Counsel, addressed a standing room only audience and led a panel discussion at the LGBT pride event, which included a look into the process leading to the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law in December 2010
"As recently as three years ago, it would have been hard for many of us, including me, to believe that in the year 2012 a gay man or woman in the armed forces could be honest about their sexual orientation," Johnson said.
Johnson, along with Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, currently the commander of U.S. Africa Command, played a large role in researching the effects of repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, and its impact on military effectiveness.
Johnson said it was difficult to envision "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ever being repealed, or that the repeal process would proceed so smoothly.
"It's a remarkable story, and it's remarkable because of the strength of the U.S. military and its leadership ... We have the mightiest military in the world. Not just because of our planes, guns, tanks and ships. But because of our people, their ability to adapt to change, and their respect for the rule of law, their commanders and their civilian leaders."
Johnson recalled how he and Ham had received a mandate to conduct an assessment of the impact on military effectiveness if the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law was repealed, following Senate testimony on the matter by then-Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen.
Johnson said he and Ham "were to take 10 months and we were told to systematically engage the force on this issue. In effect, 'Go have a conversation with the entire U.S. military about this issue and report back to me, the president, and the Congress what they've told you.'"
"The study we undertook was the most comprehensive engagement ever of the military on any personnel-related matter," Johnson said. "Over the course of 10 months we surveyed 400,000 service members and received 115,000 responses.
"[We also] surveyed 150,000 military spouses and received 44,266 responses," he continued. "[And] solicited and received 72,384 e-mails, conducted 95 information exchange forums at 51 bases around the world, and talked face-to-face to over 24,000 service members, many of them [personally]."
Johnson said the working group also held 140 smaller focus groups with service members and their families, visited the military academies, and solicited the views of Congress, veterans groups, other countries as well as those for and against repeal.
The research concluded with an anonymous, confidential online conversation with 2,691 self-identified gay active duty service members.
"The results of the report are now well known," Johnson said. "The bottom line conclusion was this -- based on all we saw and heard, our assessment is that when coupled with the prompt implementation of our recommendations, the risk of repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to overall military effectiveness was low."
Johnson noted that while this was DOD's first LGBT pride event, civilian society and other agencies in the federal government have held such events in June for years.
"The CIA, for example, hosted a gay pride event 12 years ago," he pointed out. "This is the first time in history such an event has occurred at the Pentagon."
"So what should we honor today?" Johnson asked his audience noting "for those service members who are gay and lesbian, we lifted a real and personal burden from their shoulders. They no longer have to live a lie in the military."
"For all of us, we should honor the professional and near-flawless manner in which our entire U.S. military implemented and adapted to this change and welcomed their brothers and sisters to an unconditional place at the table," he said.
HERE COME THE MEASLES BACK FROM VACATION
FROM: HHS HealthBeat (June 26, 2012)
Traveling measles
If your summer vacation plans include foreign travel, bring back pictures, trinkets, clothes, other goodies – but not measles. The measles virus is highly infectious – typically by sneezing or coughing.
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says there’s been a spike in measles cases. Dr. Fauci points to cases among U.S. residents returning from abroad.
“People come into the country who are unvaccinated and were infected, and people who live in the United States who go traveling come back and bring it back, and they themselves expose other people who are unvaccinated.”
Americans have very high vaccination rates for measles. But you’ll be literally good to go if you check with your doctor to be sure you’re fully vaccinated before you leave.
U.S. SIGNS AUDIOVISUAL PERFORMANCES TREATY
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Signing of Audiovisual Performances Treaty
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 26, 2012
Today in Beijing, the United States joined 47 other countries in signing a treaty to strengthen the rights of audiovisual performers around the world. The Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, adopted at a diplomatic conference convened by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) members, fills a gap in the system of international copyright protection by extending to actors in motion pictures and television programs the type of protections previously accorded to authors and to performers in sound recordings.
The United States delegation was pleased to work productively with developing and developed countries in finalizing the treaty, which brings to a close negotiations that began more than fifteen years ago. The successful outcome demonstrates how the multilateral system can be harnessed to benefit American workers and businesses. The U.S. audiovisual performances industry employs more than 150,000 professional actors and is a source of strength for American exports.
The United States delegation was pleased to work productively with developing and developed countries in finalizing the treaty, which brings to a close negotiations that began more than fifteen years ago. The successful outcome demonstrates how the multilateral system can be harnessed to benefit American workers and businesses. The U.S. audiovisual performances industry employs more than 150,000 professional actors and is a source of strength for American exports.
DJIIBOUTI INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JUNE 27, 2012
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Djiboutian National Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 26, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Djibouti on the 35th anniversary of your independence this June 27.
Over the years, our two nations have continued to build a closer relationship. I appreciate all Djibouti has done to support our men and women working at Camp Lemonnier and to play a stabilizing role in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia. I look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come by increasing access to healthcare and education, strengthening humanitarian assistance, and enhancing our security initiatives.
As you celebrate your independence, know that the government and people of the United States stand with you. We are committed to this relationship and to a brighter future for both our people.
Over the years, our two nations have continued to build a closer relationship. I appreciate all Djibouti has done to support our men and women working at Camp Lemonnier and to play a stabilizing role in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia. I look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come by increasing access to healthcare and education, strengthening humanitarian assistance, and enhancing our security initiatives.
As you celebrate your independence, know that the government and people of the United States stand with you. We are committed to this relationship and to a brighter future for both our people.
U.S. CONDEMNS CRACKDOWN IN SUDAN
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Crackdown on Demonstrators in Sudan
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 26, 2012
The United States condemns the numerous arrests and detentions that have been taking place over the past week in Sudan in response to peaceful demonstrations. There have been reports of protestors being beaten, imprisoned, and severely mistreated while in government custody. We call for the immediate release of those detained for peaceful protest.
A government that respects the rights of its citizens to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in order to raise their grievances does not respond to such protests by using unnecessary force. The heavy-handed approach adopted by Sudanese security forces is disproportionate and deeply concerning.
Sudan’s economic crisis cannot be solved by arresting and mistreating protesters. Engaging in armed conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and failing to reach agreement with South Sudan on oil, trade, and other means of economic cooperation only deepen Sudan’s economic crisis.
A government that respects the rights of its citizens to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in order to raise their grievances does not respond to such protests by using unnecessary force. The heavy-handed approach adopted by Sudanese security forces is disproportionate and deeply concerning.
Sudan’s economic crisis cannot be solved by arresting and mistreating protesters. Engaging in armed conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and failing to reach agreement with South Sudan on oil, trade, and other means of economic cooperation only deepen Sudan’s economic crisis.
SPORTS VISITOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCED WITH TUNISIAN SWIMMERS
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Department of State Announces Sports Visitor Program with Tunisian Swimmers
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 26, 2012
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) announces a sports exchange program that will bring 13 athletes—12 youth and one coach—to the United States from June 26 to July 9. This program marks the fourth sports exchange with Tunisia, following up on basketball Sports Visitor and Sports Envoys programs in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
During the first half of their visit, participants will have an opportunity to attend the 2012 USA Olympics Swimming Trials in Omaha, NE. The delegation will also participate in a Special Olympics session and interact and train with their American counterparts. The final part of the program will take place in Fort Lauderdale, FL where the delegation will take part in a series of intensive swimming clinics, strength and conditioning trainings, and educational summer camp programs alongside American youth. Throughout the two-week program, the group will participate in swimming clinics and related activities with their American peers as well as engage in educational sessions on nutrition, conflict resolution, and disability sports.
Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power,” embracing the full range of diplomatic tools—in this case, swimming—to bring individuals together and foster greater understanding.
SportsUnited is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ premier sports exchange program at the U.S. Department of State. Athletes and coaches from a range of sports are chosen to conduct clinics, visit schools, and engage with youth overseas in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices, and respect for diversity. Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought nearly 1,000 athletes from over 60 countries to the U.S. to participate in sports visitor programs. Since 2005, SportsUnited has sent over 220 U.S. athletes to more than 50 countries to participate in sports envoy programs.
During the first half of their visit, participants will have an opportunity to attend the 2012 USA Olympics Swimming Trials in Omaha, NE. The delegation will also participate in a Special Olympics session and interact and train with their American counterparts. The final part of the program will take place in Fort Lauderdale, FL where the delegation will take part in a series of intensive swimming clinics, strength and conditioning trainings, and educational summer camp programs alongside American youth. Throughout the two-week program, the group will participate in swimming clinics and related activities with their American peers as well as engage in educational sessions on nutrition, conflict resolution, and disability sports.
Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power,” embracing the full range of diplomatic tools—in this case, swimming—to bring individuals together and foster greater understanding.
SportsUnited is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ premier sports exchange program at the U.S. Department of State. Athletes and coaches from a range of sports are chosen to conduct clinics, visit schools, and engage with youth overseas in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices, and respect for diversity. Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought nearly 1,000 athletes from over 60 countries to the U.S. to participate in sports visitor programs. Since 2005, SportsUnited has sent over 220 U.S. athletes to more than 50 countries to participate in sports envoy programs.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
DOD TO COMBAT HUNGER
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
DOD Aims to Combat Summer Hunger With 'Feds Feed Families'
By Karen Parrish
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - Defense Department officials have set a goal of collecting 1.5 million pounds of nonperishable food and household products during this year's annual voluntary food drive known as "Feds Feed Families."
Paige Hinkle-Bowles, deputy assistant defense secretary for civilian personnel policy, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service today the drive happens every summer to help in filling shelves emptied by the seasonal shortages food banks experience. The 2012 effort began this month and runs through August.
"We think it's important for DOD to contribute. ... It's really an opportunity for us to show that we are public servants and we are part of the community, and want that opportunity to give back," she said.
Hinkle-Bowles noted children who normally participate in the federal school lunch program may face hunger when they're out of school for the summer. And when people take vacations, she added, they may not be making the donations that they generally would.
Feds Feed Families, now in its fourth year, is organized by the Chief Human Capital Officers Council -- which includes representative from agencies across government -- along with officials from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, DOD and the Agriculture Department
Hinkle-Bowles said the annual food drive was Beltway-based for its first two years, collecting from federal workers inside the national capital region. In 2011 and again this year, she said, the department has expanded collections throughout the country.
"People can contribute by bringing food into the workplace," she said. "We have donation boxes throughout the country, at installations and here in the [national capital region]." The Pentagon has contribution boxes in place, as does the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va., where Washington Headquarters Service has its headquarters, she noted.
Defense Commissary Agency staffs support the effort by placing collection boxes in commissaries throughout the United States and at overseas military installations, Hinkle-Bowles said.
"Our goal would be that anyone within the total force who has access and capability to contribute ... will do so," she said. "If every individual, military or civilian, contributes just 1 pound of food, we will far surpass any goals that we have set for ourselves this year."
The Capital Area Food Bank, which also accepts donations of school supplies and pet food through Feds Feed Families, distributes donations received in the Washington area to more than 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, and other service organizations in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. Participating DOD organizations outside the national capital area donate to food banks in their communities. Agency coordinators can provide more information on most-needed items in those communities, defense officials said.
The Capital Area Food Bank compiles an annual "most-wanted" list of items food banks in the Washington area ask for. This year's most requested items includes canned fruits packed in light syrup or juice, low-sodium canned vegetables, hygiene items and cleaning supplies. The list also includes multigrain cereals, grains such as rice and oatmeal, canned protein, soups, snacks, baking goods, juice and condiments.
"Our hope would be, if we can get the military and civilian population activated, we can far exceed even what we did last year," when donations topped 2 million pounds, Hinkle-Bowles said.
DOD AFRICOM COMMANDER DISCUSSES THREATS
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Africom Commander Details Current, Emerging Threats
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
ARLINGTON, Va. , June 25, 2012 - U.S. Africa Command's top military officer today detailed existing and emerging threats from extremist organizations on the continent in a speech at the African Center for Strategic Studies here.
Army Gen. Carter F. Ham also explained the U.S. presence in Africa and Africom initiatives based on the new U.S. defense strategic guidance.
"When you read the [guidance], you will find that the word 'Africa' appears precisely once," he said. "So some question that and say, 'So does that mean that the United States military does not really think very seriously, or is not very committed, to African security matters?' My response to that is, 'No, our view is actually quite different.'"
Ham said while it is true the U.S. military now is focused on the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, the strategic guidance refers to "some very consistent and very relevant priorities for those of us who operate with our African partners."
These include combatting extremist organizations, transnational threats and illicit trafficking; countering piracy, building partner capacity; developing nations' capabilities to deal with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions; and contributing to regional security, Ham said.
"All of those tasks are outlined in this document, and all of those tasks are the tasks that United States Africom focuses on with you," he added.
The general told the audience that U.S. efforts in Africa entail an "absolute imperative ... to protect America, Americans and American interests," just as in other parts of the world.
Specifically, Ham said, his command's seeks to protect the United States and its interests from threats that may emerge from the continent.
"I'll start in East Africa, where we see very clearly the threat of al-Qaida in East Africa, and its affiliated organization, al-Shabaab, which operates principally, but not exclusively, in Somalia," he said. "We also know that because -- in Somalia especially -- al-Shabaab's presence has denied the delivery of ... humanitarian assistance to a population that has been under some significant duress for a long period of time," Ham said.
U.S. military involvement principally is in training, equipping and funding the African Union Mission and Somalian forces from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Kenya.
"Ethiopia ... has been quite effective in its role, as well," he noted. "And we think that's an ideal role for the United States -- not a large, U.S. military presence. We think that would be counterproductive in Somalia, actually."
Rather, he said, the United States wants to apply its resources in Africa to help countries willing to contribute to the effort with training, equipping and with some funding so that they can continue their operations.
Other extremist organizations in Africa, such as al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb and Boko Haram, also pose a concern, Ham said, noting that officials are increasingly concerned with the former, which now has a safe haven in a large portion of Mali after a military coup there.
The group is operating "essentially unconstrained," Ham said, and is implementing a harsh religious law system throughout much of northern Mali. It also has "very clearly" shown a desire and intent to attack Americans, he added.
"Just to the south of that, we see the increasingly violent organization, Boko Haram, operating in Nigeria," he said. Boko Haram is not a new organization, he told the audience, and it's not monolithic. "Everybody in Boko Haram doesn't feel the same way," Ham said. "It has many different factions."
Each of the extremist organizations is "worrisome" in its own right, the general said, and there are indications they are seeking to coordinate and synchronize their efforts.
"In other words, [they seek] to establish a cooperative effort amongst the three most violent organizations, and I think that's a real problem for us, and for Africa's security, in general," he said. Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb and Boko Haram may be sharing funds, training and explosive materials, he added.
Libya also is a concern as it comes out of its revolution and forms its new government, Ham said.
"There very truly are those who wish to undermine the formation of that government," he said. "And again, we see some worrying indicators that al-Qaida and others are seeking to establish a presence in Libya."
Part of Libya's challenge, he said, is for the new government to now bring together the many militias which fought "very bravely and effectively" to overthrow Gadhafi.
Ham said the United States seeks to help by establishing a "normalized" military-to-military relationship with Libya.
"I've been to Tripoli a number of times," he added. "We've had Libyan officials visit us in our headquarters in Germany, and we have started to map out what the U.S. assistance might be for Libya well into the future."
SEC. OF STATE CLINTON SPEAKS AT U.S.-SPAIN COUNCIL
Remarks at the U.S.-Spain Council
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Goldman Sachs Tower
Jersey City, NJ
June 24, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well it is truly my pleasure to join you. I regret very much that I was unable to be with you at dinner last night, but I thank the hosts for being willing to let me come this afternoon to congratulate you on this, the 17thU.S.-Spain Council Forum. I’ve been given an excellent report about all the activities by His Royal Highness. And I welcome him and Her Royal Highness here back to the United States. Also, all of our guests from the Spanish Government, including the Spanish Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Development, Ana Pastor, and all of our colleagues. Let me certainly thank my colleague in the Cabinet, Secretary Ray LaHood, who has brought his experience and his passion to the work of transportation and infrastructure to our country’s leadership, and I’m very grateful to serve with him.
I also want to thank my long-time friend and former colleague – I think it’s fair to say that Senator Bob Menendez is truly one of the most effective, determined, dedicated public servants in our country. He grew up not far from here, the son of immigrants, and now serves representing this great state of New Jersey. And he certainly deserves a lot of credit for the rise of Jersey City as a financial center. I can’t say I was always pleased about him being successful in convincing my constituents to set up shop across the river, but I certainly admired his results. And he has led on so many of the important economic issues on finance and foreign relations. And he truly has his heart in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Spain. So thank you, Bob.
Thanks also to Juan and Pedro for their co-chairing and presidency of the U.S.-Spain Council. And I understand that during the course of the meetings, you had my other friend and another one of our former colleagues, Secretary Ken Salazar, along with Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs Lael Brainard, and Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez, who works with me at the State Department in this area of economic and business that we call economic statecraft.
This, for me, is a great personal honor. I believe so strongly, as does the Obama Administration, that the relationship between Spain and the United States is a vital one – vital to our economies, vital to our security, vital to our joint efforts to advance stability and prosperity around the world. And I am also personally very grateful for the excellent working relationship that we have from Afghanistan to Latin America. There has been an increase, a deepening, and broadening of our engagements in areas of concern to us both, and we see the results of that.
Now we know that our ties date back centuries. His Royal Highness and I were just discussing that next year will be the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s historic voyage to Florida. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to take stock of this 500–year-old relationship and all that Spain and Hispanics have contributed to the growth and success of our own country here in the United States. We have the benefit of millions of people traveling back and forth as tourists, as business leaders, as part of student exchanges, or simply to visit family and friends. And for the many millions of Americans who seek Spanish, Spain stands out as a favored destination to do business, to learn, to really revel in the culture that is so highly regarded.
So the bonds are strong, and I think it’s in our interest to do all we can to make them even stronger. And I don’t say that lightly. I say it with great conviction that the central focus of the U.S.-Spain Council on expanding our economic relationship is critical to us both. And it is also true that the deeper we go into cooperation on security and in other areas, we will draw even closer together.
Now I don’t have to tell any of you – and having been at the G-20 earlier in the week in Mexico – that we meet at a time that is critical for Spain, Europe, the United States, and the global economy. The United States is following events in Europe very closely, first and foremost because you are our allies and our partners. And we care deeply about your prosperity and your security, your social fabrics. We want you to thrive, but also because what happens in Europe has major consequences for what happens here in the United States. After all, Europe is our largest trade and investment partner. And Americans know that when demand for our products drop in Madrid or Barcelona, that has effects in places like Milwaukee or Baltimore.
So we stand firmly with the people of Spain and Europe during this financial crisis. We fully recognize that the decisions have to be made in Europe, but we have tried to be not only concerned friends, but active partners in helping all of us navigate through these challenging times. Let me also say that the United States supports the Spanish Government’s approach to restoring confidence in your economy through the recapitalization of the banking sector, fiscal consolidation, and labor market reforms. We think these are all key to achieving a more dynamic economy now and into the future. And we highly commend Spain for beginning down this difficult path.
We know that this crisis forces Europe’s leaders to make difficult choices, and to balance short-term and long-term priorities, which are not always perfectly aligned. And we have no doubt that Europe’s leaders understand full well the seriousness of the choices they face and the urgent need to act. We are looking forward to the European Council meeting in a few days. And as Europe acts, the United States will have your back. We will do all we can to evidence our strong support for these difficult decisions.
Now this forum, obviously, is not the place where a lot of these difficult decisions will be made. You cannot solve the challenges that we face. But I do think that this council meeting, coming at the moment that it does, can have a positive effect on the economies of both our countries by, number one, raising the profile of Spain and all that is right about and working well in and from Spain; by demonstrating conclusively that a strong relationship between our two countries; and by bringing together business leaders and top investors and government officials who help shape the day-to-day economic relationship between our two countries. We need to make a very clear message through the media, through the meetings you’ve been having, that we already are connecting by a rich flow of trade and investment. And we’re looking to make it even more so.
I mean, just looking at the numbers tells the stories. Since 2000, Spain has been one of the fastest-growing sources of foreign direct investment in the United States. In 2010, that investment stood at nearly 45 billion, making Spain our 11thlargest investor. Now much of that investment has been in the green energy sector. Spanish companies are involved in a number of significant green energy and infrastructure projects in the United States, including a power company in Maine and a rail project in New York. These projects will provide valuable services to Americans and they also create jobs for Americans. As of 2008, which is the year for which I could find the most recent employment data, more than 66,000 Americans were working for U.S. subsidies of Spanish-owned firms. So as the Obama Administration works around the clock to create jobs for American workers, Spain is a valuable contributor to that. And we are glad that so many Spanish companies have already invested in the United States, and we want more companies to do the same.
Now of course, we want direct investment to grow in both directions. In 2010, U.S. foreign direct investment in Spain reached nearly $60 billion. And now, because of the reforms the Spanish Government is adopting, including labor and financial sector reforms, a recent law cracking down on internet piracy, progress on a new bilateral agreement on double taxation, we think this will attract even more American businesses and even more American direct investment.
Meanwhile, trade between our countries is strong. The United States imported $11 billion in goods from Spain last year. We exported nearly the exact same amount, 10.8 billion, which is up nearly 25 percent since President Obama launched the National Export Initiative in 2010. We did that with the goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014. If we were doing as well everywhere else as we are doing with Spain, we would be even further along toward achieving that goal.
But it is important to recognize, as His Royal Highness and I were just discussing, there is tremendous opportunity for Spanish firms, particularly in consumer goods, in the U.S. market that is not being exploited. So I am strongly urging all of you, especially with our large Hispanic population, to take advantage of what we think could be a win-win for us both. And with the 500th anniversary coming up, it would be, it seems to me, a perfect opportunity for Spanish businesses to join together to do some joint advertising about what Spain already is doing in the United States, introduce some products, and make a case that this 500 years of history has an equally bright future.
We want to make sure everyone hears the message that we both are open for business. And we know that the headlines out of Europe tend to inspire more questions than confidence, but we think that confidence is well-merited. And yet, we can’t just expect that to happen on its own. There had to be a concerted effort to make the case. And the Spanish and American Governments are committed to deepening our economic cooperation, making it even easier to invest and trade. This is a top priority for me as Secretary of State, and now one of our highest priorities in U.S. foreign policy. More broadly, we’re focused on advancing what we call economic statecraft, an effort to place economics at the heart of our foreign policy, our priorities, our tools, and our strategies.
Now, the reason for me is very simple. Our diplomacy must succeed in a world where states increasingly exercise power in economic terms, and diplomacy must do more to tend domestic economic sources of our leadership abroad. Spain has great influence in Latin America. The United States obviously has great influence in many places in the world. But if we’re not strong at home economically, and if we don’t pursue smart global economic policies, both of us will not have the same level of influence in 10 years that we have today. And speaking from my perspective, when I look at the need for democracy to spread, of our values to be adopted and embraced around the world, what we can bring to security and stability and prosperity, that would be a loss not only for Spain and the United States, it would be a loss for the entire world.
So our economic statecraft agenda includes working with all of you, because we think that it’s not just between governments; it is with our private sectors, our civil societies, academia, and other strong pillars of both of our countries. We are elevating commercial diplomacy, directing our embassies worldwide to focus more on developing trade and investment. Through the new Select USA Initiative, we are attracting more inbound foreign investment, and I know that our ambassador, Ambassador Solomont, just recently held an excellent program in Madrid to try to highlight this.
We’re also working closely with the European Union. I think there is much more that the EU and the U.S. can do together to unlock economic activity. The U.S.-EU High-Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth just issued its interim report a few days ago. It included an analysis of the benefits of opening our markets to more goods, services, and investments; and crucially, it spoke to the importance of promoting compatible regulations, tackling behind-the-border barriers, and consulting on possible approaches to intellectual property rights. A strong outcome to these discussions, if achievable, can enhance not only transatlantic economic ties, but also address shared market access challenges in third countries and strengthen global rules and norms around non-tariff barriers and other competitive issues, which are the most pressing challenges to maintaining level playing fields worldwide.
In the meantime, we are continuing to work through the Transatlantic Economic Council to expand economic opportunities between the U.S. and the EU. When you look at the money and effort both the U.S. and EU spend on regulation, harmonizing regulatory regimes would save us both time, money, and effort. Figuring out how we could agree on certain phytosanitary standards; for example, the U.S. has a different way of testing shrimp from Asia than the EU has. I would think there’s got to be a way we could collaborate so that we both wouldn’t have to send out inspectors, and we could have a standard that we were holding the world to anybody who wanted to get into either of our markets would have to meet. So these are the kinds of nitty-gritty practical issues that we are now finally discussing with the EU that we think hold great promise for us both economically.
And I want to also highlight another program of Ambassador Solomont. Two months ago, he sent a letter to every U.S. governor encouraging them to bring trade delegations to Spain. And already Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico have taken him up on the suggestion, and Illinois will be sending a trade delegation to Spain next week. And Spain has shown a similar reciprocal commitment. Just this week in Boston, at BIO 2012, the world’s biggest biotech trade show, Spain had the largest delegation of any foreign country. And I have to tell you that that was really an exciting change for our biotech companies to see what was happening in Spain and to have His Royal Highness there along with the Royal Highness really highlighting the advances Spain is making in its own biotech industry.
So the interest is there, the ingenuity is there, the strong businesses, the fundamental cooperation. Now we have to do our part by advocating for smart policies, finding and forging more business partnerships, working together more closely on relevant issues like harmonizing regulations and protecting intellectual property, and telling everyone that will listen that Spain and the United States are working together and open for business.
This is a long-term effort. We think it bears fruit immediately, but the real harvest will take some years to see. And we’re working not only for this generation of leaders in both the public and the private sector, but for those who will follow after. And it is exciting to me to be here to thank all of you who understand the importance of this relationship, are committed to furthering it, see over the horizon what is possible, and will work together to realize the very best possible outcome from this level of very high, important cooperation. Thank you all very much.
HHS ON STORING WATER FOR EMERGENCIES
FROM: HHS HealthBeat (June 25, 2012)
Keeping water around
Think about how much water you use every day. Now imagine if a water crisis were to happen and you didn’t have safe water coming from your pipes. Water emergencies do happen, in the form of floods, hurricanes, and droughts. It’s important to be ready. You can prepare for emergencies by storing water.
Dr. Julia Gargano is an epidemiologist with the CDC’s Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch.
“All households should prepare for water emergencies by storing at least one gallon of water per day, for each person. A two-week supply is ideal, but if that’s not possible, we recommend that people store at least a three-day supply.”
A proper disaster supply kit should include water, food, and things like a first aid kit, whistle to signal for help, and local maps.
DOJ ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO HIRE VETS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Monday, June 25, 2012
White House, Justice Department Announce Law Enforcement Grants for Hiring of Veterans Grants Awarded to Hire Veterans for Law Enforcement Positions as Part of President Obama’s Veterans Job Corps Initiative
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced funding awards to over 220 cities and counties, aimed at creating or saving approximately 800 law enforcement positions. The grants will fund over 600 new law enforcement positions and save an additional 200 positions recently lost or in jeopardy of being cut due to local budget cuts. All new law enforcement positions funded in the COPS 2012 Hiring Program must be filled by recent military veterans who have served at least 180 days since Sept. 11, 2001. In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called for a new Veterans Jobs Corps initiative to help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military, including first responder jobs. In February, the president announced that preference for this year’s COPS and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants would be given to communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters.
More than $111 million is being awarded to local public safety agencies across the country. The list of this year’s grantees includes Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; Chicago; Boston; Atlanta; Trenton, N.J.; Alameda County, Calif. and Los Angeles; Akron, Ohio; and Tacoma, Wash. The COPS Office will work with transition centers across the country to connect veterans with the new grant-funded law enforcement opportunities. For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2012 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
“Today, we step up our support for recent veterans by offering them the chance to pursue meaningful careers in law enforcement,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “At a time of budget shortfalls, these grants will provide opportunities for much-needed, highly-trained professionals – with a proven commitment to service - to continue their careers in communities all across the country.”
“This new opportunity for veterans is a commitment to support those who are coming home from their tour of duty,” said COPS Director Bernard K. Melekian. “We sincerely hope this effort encourages our veterans to continue to protect and serve the United States through new law enforcement careers.”
The COPS Hiring Program makes grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years. Along with the pledge to hire military veterans, grantees for the 2012 hiring program were selected based on fiscal need and local crime rates. An additional factor in the selection process was each agency’s strategy to address specific problems such as increased homicide rates and gun violence.
Today’s announcement builds on several steps President Obama has taken to support veterans in developing skills and finding work, including by: creating new tax credits for businesses that hire veterans; challenging the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and their spouses by 2013; helping veterans obtain industry-recognized credentials and licenses; increasing access to intensive reemployment services; developing online tools to boost veteran employment; and increasing hiring of veterans in healthcare-related fields.
Monday, June 25, 2012
NEW YORK ELECTIONS WILL BE MONITORED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, June 25, 2012
Justice Department to Monitor Elections in New York
The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor primary elections on June 26, 2012, in Orange County and Queens, N.Y., to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group.
Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send federal observers to jurisdictions that are certified by the attorney general or by a federal court order. Federal observers will be assigned to monitor polling place activities in Orange County based on a federal court order entered in 2012. The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations in these counties, and a Civil Rights Division attorney will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.
In addition, Justice Department personnel will monitor polling place activities in Queens. A Civil Rights Division attorney will coordinate federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials.
Each year, the Justice Department deploys hundreds of federal observers from OPM, as well as departmental staff, to monitor elections across the country. To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT ON DEFENSE WORK TO PREVENT SUICIDE
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
DOD, VA Partner to Help Prevent Suicide
By Cheryl Pellerin
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012 - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his agency is working with the Defense Department to end veteran homelessness and to identify possible contributors to service member and veteran suicide.
On the first day of the June 20-22 Annual DOD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference here, Shinseki -- a retired Army general, former Army chief of staff and a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran -- took the stage to a standing ovation from hundreds of mental health professionals, clinicians and military leaders.
"Suicide is a national concern. The Centers for Disease Control's annual report on the top 10 leading causes of death ... lists suicide as one of the top four causes of death in Americans ages 10 to 54," Shinseki said.
Suicide is the second-highest cause of death for young people ages 25 to 34, he added.
"These also happen to be the recruiting years," the secretary said. "Should we be surprised that recruits out of such a population bearing some level of increased stress for much of the past decade would experience suicides at some elevated level, or that the suicide rate among male veterans appears to be almost twice that of the general population?"
Shinseki said intervention, or the act of interrupting a potential suicide, primarily is a reactive response.
"We have demonstrated that we can react well," the secretary told the audience, "but is that good enough for the long term?"
To aggressively tackle some potential precursors of suicide, officials said, the VA is focusing on veteran homelessness and on creating a "warm handoff" for service members who transition from the military to the VA.
Three years ago, Shinseki said, the VA made ending veterans homelessness by 2015 one of its key priorities "because homeless veterans are evidence, no matter how good we think we are at this, that we have gaps in our system of care and benefits."
The VA team decided to challenge all of its assumptions about homelessness to find and close those gaps, he said.
"Many experts on homelessness felt then that the primary contributor to homelessness was mental illness. Today, after nearly three years of work, they've concluded that the leading contributor to veteran homelessness is more specifically substance abuse. That gives us a target to go after."
He added, "My question to this audience is, have we made similar assumptions about suicides over time? Do we know causes, cures and measures of effectiveness in our treatment regimens for those vulnerable to suicide? Do we have sufficient tools to prevent as well as rescue when dealing with those at risk? Are we asking the right questions to challenge all of our assumptions about suicide ideation?"
Veterans suffer disproportionately from depression and substance abuse, and they are high on the list for joblessness as well, Shinseki said. All of these factors, he added, contribute both to homelessness and suicide.
Another focus at VA is the transition of the service member to veteran, and how that process works for those who may be vulnerable to suicide or its precursors.
"At VA we know that when we diagnose and treat, people get better. This is reflected in our suicide treatment data that shows a declining trend between 2001 and 2009, the last year for which we have verifiable data," the secretary said.
"But we also know that veterans who commit suicide, perhaps as many as two out of three, are not enrolled in the VA health care system," he added. "So as good as we think our programs are -- we don't even get a shot at these veterans."
To narrow this gap, Shinseki said, efforts at the VA must focus on aggressive outreach to veterans and families, and the provision of high-quality and cutting-edge mental health treatments to those in need.
"We do this best with 'warm handoffs' between [DOD and VA]," he added, referring to a fledgling process through which a health care liaison is tasked to collect transitioning service members' medical records, make initial appointments in an appropriate VA medical center, and facilitate a personal handoff to the new facility.
"VA will continue to work closely with DOD to strengthen our collaboration on behalf of veterans leaving the service and reservists returning from operational deployments," Shinseki added. "We simply must transition them better."
He added, "There are folks still not convinced that warm handoffs are key to preventing suicides."
In May, Shinseki and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met in Chicago to announce the goal of creating a fully operational integrated electronic health record that seamlessly will be able to move from DOD to VA by 2017.
"A significant challenge," Shinseki said, "but without it these warm handoffs are just more difficult."
Shinseki said VA investments in mental health programs increased from $4.4 billion in 2009 to $5.9 billion in 2012.
"Our funding specifically for suicide prevention has doubled, from $35.8 million in 2009 to $72.8 million in our 2013 budget request, with $6.2 billion requested for 2013 for overall mental health," he said.
As DOD anticipates growth in its mental health patient load, Shinseki said, the VA will pace its own growth accordingly.
"But that takes warm hand offs or else we're stuck in that primarily reactive response of rescuing [those who attempt suicide] during crisis, he added.
"Secretary Panetta's leadership and close partnership on behalf of those who wear the uniform today and those who have worn the uniform in times past has been monumental," Shinseki said. "As a result, we've brought our two very large departments much closer together than they've ever been before."
SEC. CLINTON SENDS BEST WISHES TO SLOVENIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Slovenia's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 22, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate your Independence Day this June 25.
From Kosovo to Afghanistan and around the world, Slovenia is championing democratic values and promoting the freedoms and human rights that our two nations value. In just over two decades, Slovenia has become a strong partner in NATO and other multinational organizations. You have set a positive example for others to follow and given your experience and assistance to nations striving to become successful democracies.
Congratulations on the twenty-first anniversary of your independence. On this special day, know that the United States stands with all Slovenians as a partner and friend. Best wishes for continued peace, prosperity and success.
From Kosovo to Afghanistan and around the world, Slovenia is championing democratic values and promoting the freedoms and human rights that our two nations value. In just over two decades, Slovenia has become a strong partner in NATO and other multinational organizations. You have set a positive example for others to follow and given your experience and assistance to nations striving to become successful democracies.
Congratulations on the twenty-first anniversary of your independence. On this special day, know that the United States stands with all Slovenians as a partner and friend. Best wishes for continued peace, prosperity and success.
WOMEN, VITAMIN E AND HEART HEALTH
FROM: HHS HealthBeat (June 22, 2012)
Women's hearts and vitamin E
Vitamin E may not be the way to prevent heart failure. Researchers looked at about 10 years of data on nearly 40,000 women who had healthy hearts at the start, to see if the antioxidant would live up to its billing about removing potentially damaging forms of oxygen. At Massachusetts General Hospital, researcher Claudia Chae:
“Antioxidant therapy with vitamin E at a dose of 600 international units every other day did not reduce the overall risk of incident heart failure in initially healthy women.”
In heart failure, the heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Being physically active, controlling your weight and not smoking can help to prevent it.
The study in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
SEC. OF STATE CLINTON SENDS BEST WISHES TO MOZAMBIQUE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Mozambique's Independence Day
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
June 22, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Mozambique as you celebrate the 37th anniversary of your independence this June 25.
Our shared commitments to economic development and improving the health of all Mozambicans are helping to strengthen our relationship. As Mozambique continues to build greater prosperity for its people, the United States is a proud partner in economic programs such as Feed the Future and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The inclusion of Mozambique in the next phase of the New Alliance to Increase Food Security and Nutrition, launched at the Camp David G-8 Summit in May, is another symbol of our deep cooperation. Together, we are improving the quality of life for Mozambicans through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the President's Malaria Initiative. Our countries are also working together to confront some of the most challenging issues of the modern era, coordinating efforts in regional security and countering maritime piracy.
The United States joins all the people of Mozambique as you celebrate your independence. Best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
DOD NEEDS PEOPLE WITH LANGUAGES BACKGROUND
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Face of Defense: DOD Needs More People with More Languages
By Natela Cutter
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
MONTEREY, Calif., June 20, 2012 - Few people can claim they have been portrayed in a major Hollywood movie as a result of their actions during their government careers. Even fewer can say they contributed to the success of two major covert operations in U.S. history.
Michael G. Vickers, a two-time Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center graduate and the current Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, can take the credit for both, though he is reluctant to admit it.
In the 2007 movie "Charlie Wilson's War," Vickers was depicted as a young paramilitary operations officer who contributed with "brains and brawn" in the mid-1980s to the withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan. In more recent history, Vickers has been recognized as a man who was instrumental in the planning, finding, and killing of the world's most-wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden.
But Vickers says it was technology and a combination of human intelligence that really contributed to finding bin Laden.
"Human intelligence, signals intelligence and geo-spatial intelligence all played very important roles. A major part of the challenge of that operation was locating him in the first place, and that was a long time coming -- a very patient intelligence operation," he explained.
On whether knowledge of language contributed to the success of the operation, Vickers said, "I can't go into more detail -- but, in each of those disciplines, the ability to have officers or translators who were fluent or very professionally competent in a language made all the difference."
A firm believer that foreign language knowledge "is critical for our national security," Vickers, who graduated from the DLIFLC Czech course in 1977 and the Spanish course in 1979, has a good understanding of how vital this language skills are for the success of military operations in the field. He spent three years in Panama in a Special Operations unit in the 1980s, during a time when insurgency and terrorism were at an all-time high in Central and South America.
"I taught classes to Latin American officers in Spanish and I worked with them on operations, so, it [language] not only helped me to communicate, but it also gave me a real insight into how they think and approach problems," he explained.
He told a congressional hearing in May the United States could benefit by having more Defense Department personnel proficient in foreign languages. "It's an area [foreign language proficiency], frankly, we still need to improve -- both as an intelligence community and in the Special Operations field. It's very hard to maintain high levels of proficiency in languages if you're not using it all the time," said Vickers, drawing from his own experience as a linguist in Spanish and Czech.
Offering incentives to those willing to maintain high language proficiency may be the answer, Vickers said.
"For example, Secretary of Defense [Leon E.] Panetta, when he was director at the CIA, mandated professional fluency in a foreign language to get promoted. And, it certainly had an impact on the number of people working harder at it," Vickers said, adding that the key to maintaining a pool of highly proficient linguists depends on the requirements put in place.
"You just have to insist on the standards or it will never happen," he said.
Vickers reiterated that foreign language instruction and training is vital to national security.
"There is an inherent federal government responsibility, as we learned early in the Cold War with national security education ... Government investment in that is very important," he said.
"A second point I would make is that early language education is critical," to providing candidates for a pool of seasoned U.S. government linguists.
A MEMBER OF INTERNET PIRACY GROUP PLEADS GUILTY
Friday, June 22, 2012
Pennsylvania Member of the Internet Piracy Group “Imagine” Pleads Guilty to Copyright Infringement Conspiracy
A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to willfully reproduce and distribute tens of thousands of infringing copies of copyrighted works without permission, including infringing copies of movies before they were commercially released on DVD, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride and Special Agent in Charge John P. Torres of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) in Washington, D.C., announced today.
Willie O. Lambert, 57, of Pittston, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen in the Eastern District of Virginia. Lambert faces up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.
Lambert was indicted on April 18, 2012, along with three other leading members of the IMAGiNE Group, an organized online piracy group seeking to become the premier group to first release Internet copies of new movies only showing in theaters. A co-defendant, Sean M. Lovelady, entered a guilty plea to the same charge on May 8, 2012.
According to court documents, Lambert and his co-conspirators sought to illegally obtain and disseminate digital copies of copyrighted motion pictures showing in theaters. Lambert admitted that he went to movie theaters and secretly used receivers and recording devices to capture the audio sound tracks of copyrighted movies (referred to as “capping”). After obtaining, editing and filtering audio sound tracks and uploading them to servers utilized by the IMAGiNE Group, Lambert used and attempted to use software to synchronize the audio file with an illegally obtained video file of a movie to create a completed movie file suitable for sharing over the Internet among members of the IMAGiNE Group and others. Mr. Lambert also admitted that the IMAGiNE group’s conduct resulted in a readily provable and reasonably foreseeable infringement amount of more than $400,000.
The investigation of the case and the arrests were conducted by agents with ICE-HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Krask of the Eastern District of Virginia and Senior Counsel John H. Zacharia of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Significant assistance was provided by the CCIPS Cyber Crime Lab and the Office of International Affairs in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
This case is part of efforts being undertaken by the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property (IP Task Force) to stop the theft of intellectual property. Attorney General Eric Holder created the IP Task Force to combat the growing number of domestic and international intellectual property crimes, protect the health and safety of American consumers, and safeguard the nation’s economic security against those who seek to profit illegally from American creativity, innovation and hard work. The IP Task Force seeks to strengthen intellectual property rights protection through heightened criminal and civil enforcement, greater coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement partners, and increased focus on international enforcement efforts, including reinforcing relationships with key foreign partners and U.S. industry leaders.
This investigation was supported by the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington. The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government’s key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. As a task force, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 20 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to IP theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and our war fighters.
HOTEL ATTACK IN KABUL AFGHANISTAN CONDEMNED BY U.S. AND ISAF OFFICIALS
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2012 - Defense Department and International Security Assistance Force officials have condemned the brutal attack on the lakeside Spozhmai Hotel west of Kabul in Afghanistan in which terrorists killed civilians and took hostages.
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, ISAF commander and commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said in a statement issued today that the Haqqani terrorist network is linked to the attack.
"Afghan National Security Forces and coalition military sources acknowledge that this attack bears the signature of the Haqqani network, which continues to target and kill innocent Afghans and blatantly violate Afghan sovereignty from the safety of Pakistan," Allen said.
"Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those defenseless Afghans who were murdered in their sleep during the early morning hours of Jum'ah [Friday of the Muslim week] by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan," the general added.
Allen said he was extremely impressed with the Afghan police and special-response units who arrived quickly to secure the scene and liberate civilian hostages.
"While we provided minimal support at the request of the Afghan security forces," the general said, "there should be little doubt about their ability and capability to protect the Afghan people in the years ahead."
At the Pentagon, Press Secretary George Little and Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby condemned the brutal attack in the strongest terms.
"We're talking about civilians who were merely trying to enjoy some time beside a lake," Little told reporters here. "This is yet again a barbaric act perpetrated by the Haqqani network. And I would also note, as Gen. Allen at ISAF did, that the [Afghan National Security Forces] responded effectively."
Kirby said Allen has been very aggressive, "particularly in the last several months, on targeting the Haqqanis inside Afghanistan." Kirby added there were no reported ISAF casualties during the attack.
The Haqqani network, based in Pakistan, is allied with the Taliban and it often targets Afghan and coalition troops in Afghanistan, officials said.
Little said defense officials have "continued to press the Pakistanis to take action on their side of the border to prevent the safe haven [there] from remaining a safe place for terrorists to operate."
"We would like for [Pakistanis] to do more," he added. "We've communicated that, and we'd like to cooperate with them in finding ways to pursue militants that threaten Afghans, threaten ISAF forces and threaten Pakistanis."
At this stage in negotiations with the Pakistani government, Little said, "the real focus is on trying to drive closer U.S.-Pakistani cooperation to bring pressure to bear against the Haqqani network and other militants who operate along the Afghan-Pakistan border."
Officials Condemn Hotel Attack in Afghanistan
By Cheryl PellerinWASHINGTON, June 22, 2012 - Defense Department and International Security Assistance Force officials have condemned the brutal attack on the lakeside Spozhmai Hotel west of Kabul in Afghanistan in which terrorists killed civilians and took hostages.
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, ISAF commander and commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said in a statement issued today that the Haqqani terrorist network is linked to the attack.
"Afghan National Security Forces and coalition military sources acknowledge that this attack bears the signature of the Haqqani network, which continues to target and kill innocent Afghans and blatantly violate Afghan sovereignty from the safety of Pakistan," Allen said.
"Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those defenseless Afghans who were murdered in their sleep during the early morning hours of Jum'ah [Friday of the Muslim week] by the enemies of peace in Afghanistan," the general added.
Allen said he was extremely impressed with the Afghan police and special-response units who arrived quickly to secure the scene and liberate civilian hostages.
"While we provided minimal support at the request of the Afghan security forces," the general said, "there should be little doubt about their ability and capability to protect the Afghan people in the years ahead."
At the Pentagon, Press Secretary George Little and Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby condemned the brutal attack in the strongest terms.
"We're talking about civilians who were merely trying to enjoy some time beside a lake," Little told reporters here. "This is yet again a barbaric act perpetrated by the Haqqani network. And I would also note, as Gen. Allen at ISAF did, that the [Afghan National Security Forces] responded effectively."
Kirby said Allen has been very aggressive, "particularly in the last several months, on targeting the Haqqanis inside Afghanistan." Kirby added there were no reported ISAF casualties during the attack.
The Haqqani network, based in Pakistan, is allied with the Taliban and it often targets Afghan and coalition troops in Afghanistan, officials said.
Little said defense officials have "continued to press the Pakistanis to take action on their side of the border to prevent the safe haven [there] from remaining a safe place for terrorists to operate."
"We would like for [Pakistanis] to do more," he added. "We've communicated that, and we'd like to cooperate with them in finding ways to pursue militants that threaten Afghans, threaten ISAF forces and threaten Pakistanis."
At this stage in negotiations with the Pakistani government, Little said, "the real focus is on trying to drive closer U.S.-Pakistani cooperation to bring pressure to bear against the Haqqani network and other militants who operate along the Afghan-Pakistan border."
NEW BATTLEFIELD GENERATORS ON WAY TO AFGHANISTAN
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Written on JUNE 21, 2012 AT 7:41 AM by JTOZER
Army to Deliver Fuel-Efficient Generators to Afghanistan
The U.S. Army will soon field its next generation of operational energy to Afghanistan with a line of leaner, fuel-saving generators expected to transform the way power is delivered to the battlefield.
Known as Advanced Medium Mobile Power Systems, or AMMPS, the generators cut fuel consumption by as much as 21 percent and free up soldiers from fuel convoys often targeted by roadside attacks.
This technology, being delivered to a unit in Afghanistan, serves as the operational energy model for the Army at a time when theDepartment of Defense is aggressively pursuing efforts to cut fuel consumption, leverage alternative energy sources and improve operational energy efficiencies.
“The balance of new technology that comes with AMMPS, including the right size power generation, power distribution and soldier energy awareness, will save lives on the battlefield,” said Col. Brian Cummings, project manager for Mobile Electric Power, or PM MEP.
Last October, the Army G-4 office estimated 18 percent of U.S. casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq were related to ground resupply. By lowering fossil fuel consumption in theater, the number of trips made by convoy supply units will be reduced, cutting risk to soldiers.
In May, the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colo. became the First Unit Equipped with AMMPS. Fielding of AMMPS to Afghanistan will begin in July.
As many as 15 outposts in Afghanistan are targeted to receive the new generators, Cummings said.
The efficiencies brought by AMMPS give combat power back to the soldiers who do not have to spend as much time transporting fuel, maintaining generators or guarding convoys.
“Soldiers need power to run communications gear, weapons systems, tactical operations centers and more,” said Lt. Col. Michael Foster, product manager for medium power sources. “But in Afghanistan, where there’s very little infrastructure, units have to take power with them. To be able to do that in an efficient way allows soldiers to focus on combat operations instead of tactical power.”
AMMPS, being fielded by PM MEP in partnership with the Rapid Equipping Force, are overall 50 percent more reliable than their predecessors, greatly reducing maintenance costs and time. Once fully implemented, the new generators are expected to avoid 346,000 hours of maintenance manpower per year in Afghanistan.
Ranging in size from 5 kilowatts to 60 kilowatts, AMMPS are 21 percent more fuel-efficient than the systems currently in theater, with greater reliability and a 10 percent reduction in size and weight.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines were able to see AMMPS first-hand and ask experts questions about their capabilities during the 2012 MEP User Conference held May 8-10.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Bruce, a soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat team who attended the conference, said he had a chance to train and use AMMPS while stationed in Germany.
“I jumped at the opportunity to use them,” said Bruce. “We hooked it up, used it and loved it. It did everything they said it did.”
During the first fielding the Army will deliver 81 AMMPS to Afghanistan. Over the next 12 months, the Army has the capability to deploy approximately 1,600 AMMPS to theater. At the same time, PM MEP will provide training and energy specialists to assist in the transition.
This is especially important as the Army gears up to field its first integrated package of tactical communications equipment, known as Capability Set 13. AMMPS will better support the power demands of this advanced network than the current power solution, known as Tactical Quiet Generators.
The use of the energy-efficient AMMPS is just one part of a multi-pronged approach to improving energy efficiency for the Army and DOD.
Last year PM MEP deployed the DOD’s first operational microgrid at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The mircogrid consists of “smart” generators that link with one another to intelligently manage the power supply and operate at peak efficiency. The shift from Tactical Quiet Generators to the microgrid system at Bagram showed a 17 percent reduction in fuel use, 85 percent reduction in maintenance man hour requirements and 100 percent power availability.
PM MEP will continue to field innovative power solutions that better leverage energy efficiency and ultimately help protect soldiers on the battlefield.
By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, PEO C3T
LABOR BOARD GRANTS REVIEW ON GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANT STATUS AND RIGHT TO UNIONIZE
FROM: NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Board grants review, invites briefs on question of graduate student assistant status in two cases
The National Labor Relations Board has granted review in two cases that ask whether graduate student assistants seeking to be represented by a union are employees covered by the National Labor Relations Act.
The Board also has invited briefs from interested parties in the cases: New YorkUniversity, Case 2-RC-23481; and Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Case 29-RC-12054. In its invitation, the Board listed four questions to be addressed, including whether the Board should modify or overrule the 2004 decision in Brown University, which held that graduate student assistants are generally not statutory employees. The Brown decision itself overruled the 2000 decision in New York University, which held that the assistants are employees.
Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce and Members Richard Griffin and Sharon Block ruled in favor of granting review in the cases, while Member Brian Hayes dissented.
Briefs should be no longer than 50 pages and must be filed by July 23 2012.
TEAM INVESTIGATES ALASKA CRASH SITE
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
POW/MIA Team Investigates Alaska Air Crash Site
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012 - An investigative team from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command arrived in Alaska yesterday to investigate an apparent aircraft crash site in the state's Knik Glacier area, according to a JPAC news release issued today.
On June 10 an Alaskan Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew discovered what appeared to be an aircraft crash site while conducting a routine training mission, the release said.
Following additional search and rescue missions by Joint Task Force-Alaska and the Alaska National Guard at the suspected crash site, JPAC forward-deployed a five-person team to further survey and assess the site and develop recommendations for potential recovery operations in the future, according to the release.
With full knowledge and cooperation of local military units and governmental agencies in Alaska, the team will investigate the site for about three days, searching for any evidence that may positively correlate the aircraft wreckage to a known incident, the release said.
Falling directly under the U.S. Pacific Command and employing more than 500 joint military and civilian personnel, JPAC, based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, continues its search for the more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts. The ultimate goal of JPAC, and of the agencies involved in returning America's heroes home, is to conduct global search, recovery, and laboratory operations in order to support the Department of Defense's personnel accounting efforts.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
CDC ON SKIN CANCER
FROM: HHS HealthBeat (June 21, 2012)
Cook until done?
If you cook your skin in the sun or, for that matter, a tanning bed, you could be done – as in done for. UV rays from the sun or tanning beds can increase your risk of getting skin cancer, which can be disfiguring and sometimes deadly. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dawn Holman says skin cancer is quite common:
"Skin cancers are the most common types of cancer in the U.S. If current trends continue, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime."
Holman recommends that, during your time outside, you can reduce sun exposure with clothing, sunglasses, shade, and regular reapplications of broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. And, she says, avoid tanning beds altogether.
SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON SENDS BEST WISHES TO CROATIA FOR JUNE 25 CROATIA DAY
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Croatia's Statehood Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 21, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of the Republic of Croatia as you celebrate your declaration of independence this June 25.
Croatia’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law has made it a valued member of the Euro-Atlantic community and brought your nation to the threshold of European Union membership. Croatia is helping to address global security challenges as a NATO Ally and as a contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and other international missions. In Southeast Europe, Croatia plays a key role in regional reconciliation. The close cooperation between our two countries demonstrates our shared commitment to peace, freedom, democracy, and security.
Congratulations and best wishes for a joyous celebration. We look forward to strengthening our friendship and partnership with Croatia and all Croats in the years to come.
Croatia’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law has made it a valued member of the Euro-Atlantic community and brought your nation to the threshold of European Union membership. Croatia is helping to address global security challenges as a NATO Ally and as a contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and other international missions. In Southeast Europe, Croatia plays a key role in regional reconciliation. The close cooperation between our two countries demonstrates our shared commitment to peace, freedom, democracy, and security.
Congratulations and best wishes for a joyous celebration. We look forward to strengthening our friendship and partnership with Croatia and all Croats in the years to come.
CONGRESSMAN DAVE CAMP ASKS FOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR MICHIGAN FARMERS
FROM: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAVE CAMP’S WEBSITE
Washington, D.C. – Earlier this month, Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) signed a bipartisan letter spearheaded by Congressman Dan Benishek (R-MI) to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack supporting Governor Rick Snyder’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Michigan farmers. The declaration will expedite aid for farmers hurt by the extreme weather conditions this past winter and spring.
Camp called for the relief following a tour of two northern Michigan orchards affected by the winter snow and spring frost. Because of the harsh weather, growers will likely lose an estimated 90 percent of their apple, cherry and peach crop, 86 percent of their juice grape crop and 10 percent of their asparagus crop. The damage across Michigan is estimated to exceed $220 million.
After the tour, Camp emphasized the importance of ensuring that state and federal officials work together throughout the process: “Having seen the damage and talked with local farmers, it is clear they are facing significant immediate and long-term challenges. Lawmakers in Lansing and Washington must work together to ensure Michigan growers get both the peace of mind and help they need to begin to move forward,” Camp said.
THE NEW START TREATY
FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Agency Officials Praise New START Treaty Progress
By Cheryl Pellerin
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2012 - Work taking place under the 16-month-old new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia fosters transparency and predictability for the world's two largest deployed nuclear arsenals, federal officials told a Senate panel today.
Among those testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations were Rose Gottemoeller, acting undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and Madelyn R. Creedon, assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs.
"Our experience so far demonstrates that the New START's verification regime works and will help push open the door to new and more complicated verification techniques in the future," said Gottemoeller, who led the U.S. treaty negotiating team as assistant secretary of state for verification and compliance.
The Senate approved the treaty in 2010, and the related legislative process produced a federal commitment to spend $185 billion over 10 years to modernize nuclear warheads and delivery systems.
"When the treaty is fully implemented, it will result in the lowest number of deployed nuclear warheads since the 1950s, the first full decade of the nuclear age," Gottemoeller said, "and 1,550 warheads deployed on or counted on 700 delivery vehicles -- that is, intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine launch ballistic missiles and bombers."
When the first START treaty was signed in 1991, she added, the United States and the Soviet Union each had deployed about 10,550 nuclear warheads.
During the first year of the new treaty, the United States and Russia kept pace with each other in conducting inspections, she said, both completing the yearly maximum of 18 inspections. Today, each side can make 25 short-notice inspections a year, and inspections have taken place involving intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, heavy bombers at their operating bases, storage facilities, conversion or elimination facilities, and test ranges.
"Through inspection activities, we have acquired new and valuable information," Gottemoeller told the panel. "For example, New START includes intrusive reentry vehicle inspections that are designed to confirm the exact number of re-entry vehicles, or warheads, on individual missiles selected for inspection. We are now able to confirm the exact number of warheads on any randomly selected Russian ICBM and SLBM -- something we were not able to do under the 1991 START treaty."
The exhibition process, another aspect of treaty implementation, gives both parties a chance to see new kinds of strategic offensive arms, view distinguishing features and confirm declared data.
"The United States and Russian Federation have also been sharing a veritable mountain of data with each other," the undersecretary said.
"Since entry into force we have exchanged over 2,500 notifications through our Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers," she added. "They help track movement and changes in the status of systems on a day-in, day-out basis.
"That," Gottemoeller continued, "combined with the databases that we exchange every six months, gives us an opportunity to have a kind of living database -- a truly real-time look at what is going on inside the Russian strategic forces."
Testifying on the implications for U.S. nuclear forces and policy of the new START treaty, Creedon said implementation is proceeding successfully and the Defense Department is fully engaged in meeting its treaty obligations.
DOD has hosted multiple inspection activities at U.S. strategic facilities and has participated in reciprocal activities at Russian strategic facilities, the assistant secretary added.
"The United States is on track to complete the reductions necessary to comply with the New START treaty's central limits by February 2018," Creedon said, adding that DOD plans to retain 240 deployed Trident SLBMs on Ohio-class submarines, up to 60 deployed heavy bombers and up to 420 single-warhead Minuteman III ICBMs.
"To meet the treaty's central limits," she said, "the Obama administration plans to convert or eliminate a yet-to-be-determined combination of ICBM launchers and SLBM launchers [and] our nuclear-capability heavy bombers."
The service life of the department's Trident II D5 SLBMs is being extended to 2042, and construction of the first Ohio-class replacement submarine is scheduled to begin in 2021, she added.
The administration plans to sustain Minuteman III ICBMs through 2030, and the United States will maintain two nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber wings and one B-2A wing.
The department also is working to complete a comprehensive drawdown plan, a substantial portion of which will be completed to support the fiscal 2014 budget request, Creedon added.
"As the president's budget request for fiscal year 2013 makes clear, DOD is committed to modernizing the delivery systems covered by the New START treaty that underpin nuclear deterrents," the assistant secretary said.
Maintaining strategic stability, assuring allies and sustaining a safe, secure and effective deterrent requires a partnership between the executive branch and Congress, she added.
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