[Black Hawk County] health department cuts budget [IA]
"The Black Hawk County Health Department on Wednesday reduced its upcoming fiscal year budget by $782,345. […] Director Tom O'Rourke said the department's reduction in tax revenue, $122,659, approximately represents the type of revenue shortfall that will impact county residents. Of services the health department provides, he said school outreach programming will be disproportionately affected. The schools, outreach and clinics department budget was reduced by $104,551. 'This is a direct result of the deterioration of the economy,' he said. The enforcement, surveillance and preparedness department budget was reduced $546,917. […] The health department used to act as a distributor of federal public health preparedness funds for a 14-county area, but starting this year the state will take over those duties." (WCF Courier; 30Jul09; Jens Manuel Krogstad)
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2009/07/30/news/politics/11556760.txt
Review begins of FBI science in anthrax [spore dissemination] case
"A panel of scientific experts on Thursday launched what is expected to be a long, complex examination of the FBI's research in hunting the creator of the deadly anthrax [spore-laced] letters of 2001. The National Academy of Sciences convened a 15-member panel to begin a review that is expected to take a year and a half. Investigators hope the results will validate their findings and put to rest some of the lingering doubts about the case. 'We at the FBI laboratory are confident in our conclusions,' FBI Assistant Director Chris Hassell told the panel. 'This is what we did, please tell us what you think.' […] The scientific panel has been asked to determine if the bureau's novel forensic methods used in the case were correct. In particular, the panel will scrutinize the genetic research that led the FBI to focus on [Bruce] Ivins after years of chasing dead ends. The panel will also examine whether there was any cross-contamination of key samples of anthrax [bacteria]. […] The panel will not reach any conclusions about whether Ivins sent the letters or not, or whether he acted alone. Instead, the group will limit itself to whether the research work done by the FBI was accurate. Last week, the Justice Department tentatively decided to close the case, but reversed course after government lawyers raised a number of lingering legal questions." (Monterey County Herald; 30Jul09; Devlin Barrett, AP)
http://www.montereyherald.com/national/ci_12946026
National Biodefense Science Board: notification of a public teleconference
"As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hereby giving notice that the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) will hold three teleconference meetings. The meetings are open to the public. Pre-registration is NOT required. The meetings will be held on August 14, 2009, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT, October 14, 2009, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT, and on November 13, 2009, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST. […] The Board shall provide expert advice and guidance […] on scientific, technical, and other matters of special interest to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding current and future chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. The Board may also provide advice and guidance […] on other matters related to public health emergency preparedness and response." (Technology Marketing Corporation News; 31Jul09)
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/07/31/4301955.htm
Reduction in force at Newport [Chemical Depot, IN]
"As part of the Army's progress toward closure of the Newport Chemical Depot (NECD), this week depot officials announced the impending layoff of approximately 180 employees. The workers affected by this reduction […] are employed by Parsons Corporation, the Army contractor that built, operated and now is dismantling the facility where more than 1,200 tons of chemical agent VX was destroyed. […] Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (NECDF) Site Project Manager Anthony W. Reed said, 'Our contractor is providing 60 days advance notice of a mass layoff to allow employees time to look at their options. While NECDF employees are making great progress in our closure operations, these achievements come at the cost of jobs.' Several of the workers being laid off will move to positions at other chemical agent disposal facilities. […] The Army's plan to close the NECD under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law also has resulted in the elimination of nearly 150 positions with Mason and Hanger, which has operated the installation since 1986. Approximately 385 remaining contract and government positions at the installation will gradually be phased out until the Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority, the local entity appointed to develop land reuse plans for the depot property, assumes management control. The transfer is expected to occur prior to the September 2011 deadline established by BRAC law." (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 30Jul09)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003681164
[Congressman] Dale Kildee [D-MI] helps bring $3 million to Mott Community College and Kettering University for research helping the military [Flint, MI]
"Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-Flint) has secured $3 million in federal funding for research benefiting the military at Mott Community College and Kettering University. About $2 million will go to the Chemical Warfare Agent Fate project at Kettering where students and researchers are studying better ways for the military to assess the dangers of chemical contaminants. The remaining $1 million will go to the Intelligent Orthopedic Fracture Implant program at Mott Community College. […] Both projects are for the U.S. Department of Defense. […] 'This important work, conducted right here in Flint, will help better protect our servicemen and women and enable them to recover from injury more quickly. These advancements will not only support our troops, but they will benefit citizens across the country,' [Kildee said in a prepared statement]."
(Michigan Live; 31Jul09; Beata Mostafavi, Flint Journal) http://blog.mlive.com/higher-education/2009/07/dale_kildee_helps_bring_3_mill.html
Securing Serbia's nuclear legacy, IAEA's largest technical cooperation project aims to lower Vinca's radioactive risks
"In the suburbs of Belgrade, Serbia […] a pile of decades-old radioactive waste in deplorable condition has sat for decades, posing a threat to the health and safety of people and the environment. More than a thousand sealed radioactive sources remain inside […] the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences. […] There has been much speculation as to the original intentions for the facility under Yugoslavia's then-leader Josip Broz Tito, and some research seems to indicate that a modicum of weapons research may have been conducted at Vinca. […] As part of the IAEA and global community's push to support reduced enrichment for research and test reactors, along with concerted efforts to return highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to the country of origin, an extraordinary level of international cooperation has coalesced to clean up Vinca. […] The foremost priority has been to deal with two-and-a-half tons of Russian-origin irradiated, spent nuclear fuel elements, which were initially used in the [Vinca's] reactor. […] The push is now on to repackage and repatriates the spent fuel for return to Russia. […] IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei visited the facility in early July 2009, to assess the progress at Vinca. 'The unused nuclear waste is in poor condition and needs to be moved as soon as possible. The situation is under control for now, but it could be very dangerous from a safety and security point of view,' he commented. […] Over 50 experts and technicians have been assigned for the task ahead. A target date of the end of 2010 has been set for the shipment, and work is set to begin in autumn 2009 to begin the fuel repackaging portion of the project." (International Atomic Energy Agency; 29Jul09) http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2009/vinca.html
Homeland security holds terror[ism] drill at local h[igh] s[chool] [FL]
"Homeland Security and several local police agencies conducted a terrorism drill at Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington on Wednesday. Homeland Security simulated […] to rehearse what they'd do if a radioactive bomb were to explode. They simulated everything from dealing with the injured to chemical cleanup. […] 'It was to test our abilities of decontaminating victims in this case,' said Palm Beach County firefighter Bob Kropa. At the high school, the sheriff's office and fire department worked together to set up a perimeter at the high school. In reality, the bomb would have meant road closures and even the closure of the Turnpike. 'We do this type of exercise so if something like this ever happened we would work together like we did today,' said Teri Barbera, of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office." (WPBF News; 29Jul09) http://www.wpbf.com/news/20220033/detail.html
Uranium smugglers sentenced to time served, set free by Slovakian court
"A Slovakian court yesterday sentenced two uranium smugglers to time already served for selling the radioactive substance to undercover police in 2007, the Czech News Agency reported The men - one of them Hungarian, the other Ukranian - were sentenced to 20 months of prison time after the court determined that the half-kilogram of uranium they dealt would not have been usable in an improvised radiological weapon, or 'dirty bomb.' The men, who were arrested in 2007, were let free." (Global Security Newswire; 31Jul09) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090731_7798.php
The U.S. security relationship with Russia and its impact on transatlantic security
"President Obama and President Medvedev committed to 'resetting' U.S.-Russia relations and laid out an ambitious, substantive work plan for moving forward in a number of areas where the United States and Russia share national interests [such as] reducing our nuclear arsenals, preventing further proliferation of nuclear weapons, and countering the threat of nuclear terrorism. […] The United States and Russia took important steps to increase nuclear security and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, beginning with the reduction of our own nuclear arsenals. President Obama and President Medvedev signed a Joint Understanding to guide the work of negotiators on a follow-on agreement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). […] Both presidents noted current negative proliferation trends and agreed on the need to hold other nations accountable to prevent the emergence of a nuclear arms race in some of the most volatile places in the world. […] We made concrete commitments to deepen security cooperation, including by working together to defeat violent extremists and to counter transnational threats, including those of piracy and narcotics trafficking." (U.S. Department of State; 30Jul09; Philip H. Gordon) http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/2009/126769.htm
Northland is home to a FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] warehouse that stands ready to help in a disaster
"A warehouse in Clay County is home to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's newest 'pre-positioned' site, the ninth in the country and the only site in the Midwest. The facility stores emergency equipment that state and local agencies may need when responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents or natural disasters. Local leaders and first responders, and representatives from state emergency management agencies on Thursday were to tour the facility during an open house. The equipment, including protective gear, search and rescue tools, and medical supplies, is organized and stored in shipping pods on two tractor-trailers parked in the facility. In all, the site is ready to resupply 100 firefighters, 25 law enforcement officials and 25 emergency medical service workers, said FEMA's Edward McGuire. […] The new facility will serve areas in a 600-mile radius. […] FEMA plans to build two more sites in the U.S., most likely in the southwestern and northern portions of the country, McGuire said." (Kansas City Star; 30Jul09; Emily Van Zandt) http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1356280.html
GCHQ [Government Communications Headquarters] to spearhead olympic defences [UK]
"GCHQ is set to play a vital role in protecting the London Olympic Games from terrorist attacks. The Benhall-based intelligence base will team up with other secret services to feed information to a central Olympic Intelligence Centre. GCHQ […] is responsible for intercepting terrorist communications. It will work alongside MI5, MI6 and regional police forces in the Olympic Intelligence Centre, with its role expected to grow during the run-up to the Games in 2012. The new body will be responsible for putting in place security measures to protect all Olympic venues. Security surrounding the event will probably be the largest policing operation the country has ever experienced, with more officers than the 12,000 involved in the 2005 G8 summit. […] Threats for which security services are preparing include car bombs, planted bombs and suicide bombs. […] The Government has set up an Olympic and Paralympic Security Directorate within the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, with the mandate to look at all possible threats to the Games. It is hoped the measures could help to minimise the effect of any chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attacks. Despite the terrorism fears, officials are confident they will be prepared." (This Is Gloucestershire; 23Jul09) http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/GCHQ-spearhead-Olympic-defences/article-1187186-detail/article.html
Obama's meeting with Russia's global arms merchant [Op-Ed]
"One of the issues President Barack Hussein Obama […] avoided during his recent visit to Russia is Prime Minister Vladmir Putin's propensity to act as arms merchant for nations ruled by despots and thugs. […] Russia's cash-strapped defense, biotechnology, chemical, aerospace, and nuclear industries continue to be eager to raise funds via exports and transfers. […] The Russians continue to supply a variety of ballistic missile-related goods and technical know-how to countries such as Iran, India, and China. […] The Russians also remain a key source of dual-use biotechnology equipment, chemicals and related expertise for countries of concern with active chemical and biological weapons programs. Russia's well-known biological and chemical expertise made it an attractive target for countries seeking assistance in areas with CBW (Chemical-Biological Weapons) applications. […] Syria reportedly continues to acquire limited quantities of CW, mainly from Russia. However, Damascus's Soviet-era debt to Moscow and inability to fund large purchases continues to hamper efforts to purchase the large quantity of equipment Syria requires to replace its aging weapons inventory. […] Russia was and is the primary source for China, Iran, Libya, and Sudan, and one of the largest sources for India." (Examiner; 29Jul09; Jim Kouri) http://www.examiner.com/x-2684-Law-Enforcement-Examiner~y2009m7d29-Obamas-meeting-with-Russias-global-arms-merchant
All-clear after mystery 'white powder' scare [Wellingborough, England]
"At shortly before 2.30pm today, a member of the public contacted the police expressing concern about a package containing white powder, which was found in the car park of the Ock'n'Dough public house in Niort Way, Wellingborough. Police officers were called to the scene, together with the fire service and the East Midlands ambulance service, and a cordon was put in place around the scene pending the investigation of this package. No-one who has come into contact with the package experienced any ill effects and no-one was evacuated from surrounding properties. Sup[erintendent] Mark Avil, who is commanding the incident, said: 'We are confident no-one has or will come to any harm as a result of this package being discovered in the car park. But we have to err on the side of caution and provide a standard multi-agency response to potential chemical or biological hazards. The safety of the public, and officers and staff dealing with this incident, is paramount.'" (Northampton Chronicle; 30Jul09)
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Allclear-after-mystery-39white-powder39.5511199.jp
Friday, July 31, 2009
School, Bridge Highlight Progress in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
July 31, 2009 - An agreement for a new school to be built and a new bridge over the Kunar River highlight continued improvements in Afghanistan. An Afghan construction company here agreed with Task Force Mountain Warrior servicemembers July 29 to build a primary school in the province's Qhargayee district.
The new school, the fourth to be built in the province, will serve as the first primary educational center for the children of Miakhan Kac village and surrounding areas. Funding will come from the U.S.-sponsored Commanders' Emergency Relief Program. All four schools are scheduled to open by spring.
In Kunar province July 27, the provincial reconstruction team assessed the Shigal district's recently completed Bar Sholton Bridge. The bridge's construction, coordinated and funded by the team using CERP funds, supports 50 to 60 vehicles per day and was built entirely by Afghans. It officially opened July 10.
"Now we have an area where we can set up our own bazaar," said Noor Mohammad, a local villager. "Also, we can now see relatives regularly. Now we have access to the district center [and] clinic, and our children can go to high school, when before they could not."
Previously, villagers had to use a rope ferry to cross the river.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
July 31, 2009 - An agreement for a new school to be built and a new bridge over the Kunar River highlight continued improvements in Afghanistan. An Afghan construction company here agreed with Task Force Mountain Warrior servicemembers July 29 to build a primary school in the province's Qhargayee district.
The new school, the fourth to be built in the province, will serve as the first primary educational center for the children of Miakhan Kac village and surrounding areas. Funding will come from the U.S.-sponsored Commanders' Emergency Relief Program. All four schools are scheduled to open by spring.
In Kunar province July 27, the provincial reconstruction team assessed the Shigal district's recently completed Bar Sholton Bridge. The bridge's construction, coordinated and funded by the team using CERP funds, supports 50 to 60 vehicles per day and was built entirely by Afghans. It officially opened July 10.
"Now we have an area where we can set up our own bazaar," said Noor Mohammad, a local villager. "Also, we can now see relatives regularly. Now we have access to the district center [and] clinic, and our children can go to high school, when before they could not."
Previously, villagers had to use a rope ferry to cross the river.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Basra Continues Provincial Cleanup Campaign
By Army Staff Sgt. Rodney Foliente
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 31, 2009 - Local leaders met with members of the Basra Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team at the city's trash dump July 23 to assess the progress of a month-long project to facilitate the mass cleanup of trash. The government hired local civilian contractors to assist in cleaning up and transporting Basra province's overwhelming volume of accumulated trash for the recently launched project.
"The municipality and the contractors are working together to clean up the city," said Majed, the provincial reconstruction team coordinator with the Basra municipality. "One of the governor's main priorities is cleaning up the city. The [team] wanted to help with this issue, and they suggested this project to the municipality.
"There are six Iraqi contractors to collect the garbage from the main six regions of Basra," Majed continued. "Each contractor has about a hundred trucks, and they are working daily."
The contractors are paid for the amount of trash they deliver, rather than a fixed price for their district, added Army Maj. Stanley Hutchison, chief of the brigade's project management team. "The harder they work, the more money they receive," he said.
This approach creates a sense of competition and provides greater guarantees the work gets done, Hutchison said, noting that the sheer amount of trash being delivered shows a tremendous amount of progress for the province's waste management efforts. "There's been an average of 1,000 to 1,500 workers delivering four to six loads per day to the dump site," he said.
The brigade has provided $2.8 million to fund this phase of the cleanup, and since the project uses local contractors and laborers, it also helps to stimulate the local economy, the major said.
Basra Gov. Sheltag Aboud al-Mayah said that once the city is clean, the intent is to keep it that way. "After we finish our cleaning campaign this month, the municipality will resume its normal duties to make the job sustainable and keep the province clean," he said.
The provincial reconstruction team and the 2nd Brigade have been working with the local government on a number of ongoing cleanup projects since June, including cleaning the canals and roadsides, clearing the province of scrap-metal piles, repairing the trash collection fleet and providing trash containers to residences and businesses, with additional receptacles throughout the city, Hutchison said.
Provincial government officials are determined not to get bogged down by so much trash again. After years of citizens being forced to dump trash alongside the roads or in open spaces between homes, the government is working on educating the people and working to break such habits through its cleanup campaign and providing trash receptacles and collection services. Eventually, citizens may be fined for littering to help in keeping the province clean, he added.
"Cleaning up the province will reawaken pride in Basra for many," said Hassan, a truck driver.
"Getting rid of the trash not only helps the way the province looks," Basra's governor noted, "but it benefits the condition and health of the population."
Hutchison agreed. "Right now, you have kids playing day to day in trash or scrap metal piles," he said. "One way to attack diseases is to pick up the trash, then take care of sewage and water problems. Picking up the trash is the first step so the other issues can be adequately taken care of."
The huge piles of trash and scrap metal conceal problems and prevent repairs to other essential service projects, such as water, electricity and sewage, Hutchison added, and trash keeps necessary investments from coming into the region.
"Right now, trash is a hindrance in a lot of areas throughout the province, restricting the amount of land resources available and impeding investors coming in with jobs for the citizens," he said.
The governor acknowledged that many obstacles remain to be tackled in Basra before the quality of life for the people is where it should be, but he emphasized much progress has been made in a short time. He thanked the provincial reconstruction team, the 2nd Brigade and the American government for their assistance in Basra.
"With help from our friends of other nations, we can overcome all these obstacles and challenges," he said. "We can put all our efforts forward together, and they will be fruitful."
(Army Staff Sgt. Rodney Foliente serves with the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 31, 2009 - Local leaders met with members of the Basra Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team at the city's trash dump July 23 to assess the progress of a month-long project to facilitate the mass cleanup of trash. The government hired local civilian contractors to assist in cleaning up and transporting Basra province's overwhelming volume of accumulated trash for the recently launched project.
"The municipality and the contractors are working together to clean up the city," said Majed, the provincial reconstruction team coordinator with the Basra municipality. "One of the governor's main priorities is cleaning up the city. The [team] wanted to help with this issue, and they suggested this project to the municipality.
"There are six Iraqi contractors to collect the garbage from the main six regions of Basra," Majed continued. "Each contractor has about a hundred trucks, and they are working daily."
The contractors are paid for the amount of trash they deliver, rather than a fixed price for their district, added Army Maj. Stanley Hutchison, chief of the brigade's project management team. "The harder they work, the more money they receive," he said.
This approach creates a sense of competition and provides greater guarantees the work gets done, Hutchison said, noting that the sheer amount of trash being delivered shows a tremendous amount of progress for the province's waste management efforts. "There's been an average of 1,000 to 1,500 workers delivering four to six loads per day to the dump site," he said.
The brigade has provided $2.8 million to fund this phase of the cleanup, and since the project uses local contractors and laborers, it also helps to stimulate the local economy, the major said.
Basra Gov. Sheltag Aboud al-Mayah said that once the city is clean, the intent is to keep it that way. "After we finish our cleaning campaign this month, the municipality will resume its normal duties to make the job sustainable and keep the province clean," he said.
The provincial reconstruction team and the 2nd Brigade have been working with the local government on a number of ongoing cleanup projects since June, including cleaning the canals and roadsides, clearing the province of scrap-metal piles, repairing the trash collection fleet and providing trash containers to residences and businesses, with additional receptacles throughout the city, Hutchison said.
Provincial government officials are determined not to get bogged down by so much trash again. After years of citizens being forced to dump trash alongside the roads or in open spaces between homes, the government is working on educating the people and working to break such habits through its cleanup campaign and providing trash receptacles and collection services. Eventually, citizens may be fined for littering to help in keeping the province clean, he added.
"Cleaning up the province will reawaken pride in Basra for many," said Hassan, a truck driver.
"Getting rid of the trash not only helps the way the province looks," Basra's governor noted, "but it benefits the condition and health of the population."
Hutchison agreed. "Right now, you have kids playing day to day in trash or scrap metal piles," he said. "One way to attack diseases is to pick up the trash, then take care of sewage and water problems. Picking up the trash is the first step so the other issues can be adequately taken care of."
The huge piles of trash and scrap metal conceal problems and prevent repairs to other essential service projects, such as water, electricity and sewage, Hutchison added, and trash keeps necessary investments from coming into the region.
"Right now, trash is a hindrance in a lot of areas throughout the province, restricting the amount of land resources available and impeding investors coming in with jobs for the citizens," he said.
The governor acknowledged that many obstacles remain to be tackled in Basra before the quality of life for the people is where it should be, but he emphasized much progress has been made in a short time. He thanked the provincial reconstruction team, the 2nd Brigade and the American government for their assistance in Basra.
"With help from our friends of other nations, we can overcome all these obstacles and challenges," he said. "We can put all our efforts forward together, and they will be fruitful."
(Army Staff Sgt. Rodney Foliente serves with the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.)
Face of Defense: Captain Brings Entertainment to Servicemembers
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 31, 2009 - When most servicemembers think of their concert experiences here, they recall punching their fists into the desert sky, rocking out to old favorites and meeting new friends. Air Force Capt. Joshua Daniels, on the other hand, remembers long hours, black coffee and some of the most rewarding days of his military career.
Daniels, the base's morale, welfare and recreation liaison, is in charge of arranging entertainment for servicemembers deployed to western Iraq. Though much of his time is spent organizing concerts, he also finds time to acquire computers for the MWR facility and provide sports equipment for servicemembers here.
"It's an odd job to imagine the military having," Daniels said. "Essentially, I make sure everyone on base has something fun and constructive to do. Whether they are calling home, surfing the Internet, playing sports or going to a concert, the troops need to be entertained."
While most servicemembers count time left on their deployment by paychecks, months, weeks, days or even hours, Daniels tallies his by concert dates and computer shipments. The calendar tacked to the wall behind his desk reads more like a hotshot Hollywood agent's client list than the calendar of a U.S. military officer deployed to Iraq.
One of the challenges Daniels deals with regularly is working with band managers and finding the middle ground between entertainers wanting to express themselves artistically and putting on a show that will entertain a group of servicemembers ranging from 18 to 40 years old. Logistical problems also can come up. Although some groups require less outside support than others, there is still the occasional "heavy packer."
"We get groups in like Sevendust that don't really require much of anything to get up and running," Daniels said. "We let them onto the stage, and they set up and roll through with things. Then we get other groups. ... I won't mention any names, but some groups are worse than others."
But Daniels said he takes every challenge in stride, because his hard work and diligence pay off in an enormous way.
"What really does it for me is that one moment -- that one time when everything just falls into place perfectly, and I can just sit there and enjoy the finished product," he said with a smile.
The true reward of his work, he added, is watching hundreds of music fans in uniform, screaming for their favorite bands and wearing a smile from ear to ear.
Daniels is approaching the end of his deployment, and the only one main event left for him to be part of is his trip back to the United States.
As Daniels packs up and prepares to go, he leaves behind not only the desert sands of Iraq, but also thousands of servicemembers who are grateful to him for providing some of the best entertainment this side of the Euphrates.
(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez serves with Multinational Force West.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 31, 2009 - When most servicemembers think of their concert experiences here, they recall punching their fists into the desert sky, rocking out to old favorites and meeting new friends. Air Force Capt. Joshua Daniels, on the other hand, remembers long hours, black coffee and some of the most rewarding days of his military career.
Daniels, the base's morale, welfare and recreation liaison, is in charge of arranging entertainment for servicemembers deployed to western Iraq. Though much of his time is spent organizing concerts, he also finds time to acquire computers for the MWR facility and provide sports equipment for servicemembers here.
"It's an odd job to imagine the military having," Daniels said. "Essentially, I make sure everyone on base has something fun and constructive to do. Whether they are calling home, surfing the Internet, playing sports or going to a concert, the troops need to be entertained."
While most servicemembers count time left on their deployment by paychecks, months, weeks, days or even hours, Daniels tallies his by concert dates and computer shipments. The calendar tacked to the wall behind his desk reads more like a hotshot Hollywood agent's client list than the calendar of a U.S. military officer deployed to Iraq.
One of the challenges Daniels deals with regularly is working with band managers and finding the middle ground between entertainers wanting to express themselves artistically and putting on a show that will entertain a group of servicemembers ranging from 18 to 40 years old. Logistical problems also can come up. Although some groups require less outside support than others, there is still the occasional "heavy packer."
"We get groups in like Sevendust that don't really require much of anything to get up and running," Daniels said. "We let them onto the stage, and they set up and roll through with things. Then we get other groups. ... I won't mention any names, but some groups are worse than others."
But Daniels said he takes every challenge in stride, because his hard work and diligence pay off in an enormous way.
"What really does it for me is that one moment -- that one time when everything just falls into place perfectly, and I can just sit there and enjoy the finished product," he said with a smile.
The true reward of his work, he added, is watching hundreds of music fans in uniform, screaming for their favorite bands and wearing a smile from ear to ear.
Daniels is approaching the end of his deployment, and the only one main event left for him to be part of is his trip back to the United States.
As Daniels packs up and prepares to go, he leaves behind not only the desert sands of Iraq, but also thousands of servicemembers who are grateful to him for providing some of the best entertainment this side of the Euphrates.
(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Hernandez serves with Multinational Force West.)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Chief Warrant Officer Douglas M. Vose III, 38, of Concrete, Wash., died July 29 in Kabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Stuttgart, Germany.
For more information contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005.
Chief Warrant Officer Douglas M. Vose III, 38, of Concrete, Wash., died July 29 in Kabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Stuttgart, Germany.
For more information contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005.
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pvt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Ill., died July 29 in Herat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion, Ill.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information media may contact the Illinois National Guard public affairs office at (217) 761-3569, or after hours, (217) 725-2265, or visit http
Pvt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Ill., died July 29 in Herat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion, Ill.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information media may contact the Illinois National Guard public affairs office at (217) 761-3569, or after hours, (217) 725-2265, or visit http
Face of Defense: High School Teacher Leads Marines in Iraq
By Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michele Perez
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Being a high school teacher, a professional soccer player and a firefighter in one's local town all are great accomplishments. But one woman who has been all three still desired to pursue something more. Most second lieutenants serving in the Marine Corps are right out of college or have prior enlisted service. But at 31 and having lived through more real-life experiences than the majority of her peers, 2nd Lt. Suzie McKinley has finally found her calling as a Marine Corps officer.
McKinley is serving her first deployment to Iraq as the communications operations officer for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group here. However, just a few years ago, she was in a classroom teaching at the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass.
The school was not your typical high school. It held classes from 9th grade through postgraduate school, and students ranged anywhere from a star athlete destined to be drafted by the National Basketball Association to international students who would return to their native country to serve in their nation's military.
McKinley said she loved teaching, the impact she made on the students and the remarkable progress she would see them make. Yet, she added, she reached a point where she felt as if she was coming up short.
"I needed to be able to do more," she said. "I owed my students more; I wanted to get out and get [credibility]. ... I felt like I hadn't lived."
In hopes of finding that "something more," McKinley left the school in 2003 to pursue her master's degree in English literature at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., assuming that furthering her education was the answer. But in an unexpected, but welcome, turn of events, she found an opportunity to play on a professional soccer team, the Vermont Voltage, where she competed against teams from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Canada.
Having played soccer since she was old enough to walk, McKinley said, she remembers the offer as an opportunity she could not pass up, though it was for the love of the game and not the money; she had to hold a few jobs to make ends meet. She coached soccer at the local high school, managed a backcountry ski center, and if that wasn't enough, she also became a firefighter in The Ripton, Vt., fire department.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot to train and play at that level," McKinley said. "The best part of it was to have all the young kids come out to the games and see us play, and to see a light in their eyes because they know there are opportunities out there."
But as much as she loved to play soccer, McKinley said, the rush of adrenaline in being a firefighter and being part of an organization where she possibly would be able to take part in saving someone's life started to draw her into firefighting.
But the day came when McKinley and her squad couldn't get to a victim in time. She still vividly remembers when she and a fellow squad member went into the building to retrieve the body. She had trained for something like this, but when they got to the scene, they found that there was a second victim -- the woman's pet Rottweiler had never left his owner's side.
That was the tipping point that caused her to search for a way where she would be able to firefight full-time, McKinley said.
"Once you experience something like that, you can't just do it part time. ... I wanted all of it," she said. "When the pager goes off, everything stops. The world stops spinning, and someone needs help. The only thing that matters is to get from A to B to get to that person."
Her first step was to attempt to enter the Air National Guard to serve in crash and fire rescue, where she would be able to make firefighting a career. But after beginning the process and going through the physical, she was placed on a waiting list. Discouraged by the waiting process, McKinley was talked into going to see a Marine Corps officer selection officer.
After discussing the training regimen and what she would be tested to do -- combined with the leadership, physical training and the opportunity to serve her country -- she she knew she was hooked.
"This is what I was meant to do," she said. "This is it, because I still have those kids looking at me, but they're not in my English class. They're Marines."
McKinley said she finds that many of the attributes that helped her to succeed as a teacher are transferrable to her new role as a Marine Corps officer. It requires patience, honesty and being OK with not being liked all of the time, she noted. But most importantly, she added, it requires the ability to listen.
She said she has the utmost respect for each of the Marines with whom she has the pleasure of serving, noting "the utter gratitude I have for them at their age to make the sacrifice."
"I can't imagine at 18, 19 joining the Marine Corps," she said, "but here these Marines are doing such an enormous service for themselves and their country."
Although she has no definite plan for what her future holds, McKinley said, she does know she eventually plans to return to teaching now that she has earned the knowledge and credibility she yearned for when she was teaching in that 9th grade classroom.
(Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michele Perez serves with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Being a high school teacher, a professional soccer player and a firefighter in one's local town all are great accomplishments. But one woman who has been all three still desired to pursue something more. Most second lieutenants serving in the Marine Corps are right out of college or have prior enlisted service. But at 31 and having lived through more real-life experiences than the majority of her peers, 2nd Lt. Suzie McKinley has finally found her calling as a Marine Corps officer.
McKinley is serving her first deployment to Iraq as the communications operations officer for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group here. However, just a few years ago, she was in a classroom teaching at the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass.
The school was not your typical high school. It held classes from 9th grade through postgraduate school, and students ranged anywhere from a star athlete destined to be drafted by the National Basketball Association to international students who would return to their native country to serve in their nation's military.
McKinley said she loved teaching, the impact she made on the students and the remarkable progress she would see them make. Yet, she added, she reached a point where she felt as if she was coming up short.
"I needed to be able to do more," she said. "I owed my students more; I wanted to get out and get [credibility]. ... I felt like I hadn't lived."
In hopes of finding that "something more," McKinley left the school in 2003 to pursue her master's degree in English literature at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., assuming that furthering her education was the answer. But in an unexpected, but welcome, turn of events, she found an opportunity to play on a professional soccer team, the Vermont Voltage, where she competed against teams from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Canada.
Having played soccer since she was old enough to walk, McKinley said, she remembers the offer as an opportunity she could not pass up, though it was for the love of the game and not the money; she had to hold a few jobs to make ends meet. She coached soccer at the local high school, managed a backcountry ski center, and if that wasn't enough, she also became a firefighter in The Ripton, Vt., fire department.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot to train and play at that level," McKinley said. "The best part of it was to have all the young kids come out to the games and see us play, and to see a light in their eyes because they know there are opportunities out there."
But as much as she loved to play soccer, McKinley said, the rush of adrenaline in being a firefighter and being part of an organization where she possibly would be able to take part in saving someone's life started to draw her into firefighting.
But the day came when McKinley and her squad couldn't get to a victim in time. She still vividly remembers when she and a fellow squad member went into the building to retrieve the body. She had trained for something like this, but when they got to the scene, they found that there was a second victim -- the woman's pet Rottweiler had never left his owner's side.
That was the tipping point that caused her to search for a way where she would be able to firefight full-time, McKinley said.
"Once you experience something like that, you can't just do it part time. ... I wanted all of it," she said. "When the pager goes off, everything stops. The world stops spinning, and someone needs help. The only thing that matters is to get from A to B to get to that person."
Her first step was to attempt to enter the Air National Guard to serve in crash and fire rescue, where she would be able to make firefighting a career. But after beginning the process and going through the physical, she was placed on a waiting list. Discouraged by the waiting process, McKinley was talked into going to see a Marine Corps officer selection officer.
After discussing the training regimen and what she would be tested to do -- combined with the leadership, physical training and the opportunity to serve her country -- she she knew she was hooked.
"This is what I was meant to do," she said. "This is it, because I still have those kids looking at me, but they're not in my English class. They're Marines."
McKinley said she finds that many of the attributes that helped her to succeed as a teacher are transferrable to her new role as a Marine Corps officer. It requires patience, honesty and being OK with not being liked all of the time, she noted. But most importantly, she added, it requires the ability to listen.
She said she has the utmost respect for each of the Marines with whom she has the pleasure of serving, noting "the utter gratitude I have for them at their age to make the sacrifice."
"I can't imagine at 18, 19 joining the Marine Corps," she said, "but here these Marines are doing such an enormous service for themselves and their country."
Although she has no definite plan for what her future holds, McKinley said, she does know she eventually plans to return to teaching now that she has earned the knowledge and credibility she yearned for when she was teaching in that 9th grade classroom.
(Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michele Perez serves with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.)
Iraqi Soldiers Sharpen Skills at 'Cold Steel Academy'
By Army Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - After five long days of intense training and battling a pair of fierce sandstorms, more than 20 Iraqi soldiers graduated from the "Cold Steel Training Academy" here yesterday. The academy was established for 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, to advise and mentor their 45th Iraqi Army Division partners on their combat abilities.
It also sets the conditions for Iraqi soldiers to continue maintaining security in Salman Pak, a southeastern suburb of Baghdad.
"This five-day training program is in place to better equip Iraqi soldiers for combat in the field through the execution of different combat training exercises each day," said Army Spc. Cesar Lopez of Miami, an academy instructor and combat medic.
Lopez said the academy trains Iraqi soldiers in leadership, basic M-16 rifle marksmanship, reflexive-fire, reacting to improvised explosive devices, search and clearing tactics, preventive medicine and combat lifesaving.
The Iraqi soldiers received training in lifesaving techniques on their last day of training. "We showed them how to fix a hemorrhage in a person's airway, how to treat shock and how to apply pressure dressings and tourniquets," Lopez said.
The training instills confidence and strengthens unit cohesiveness, Lopez added.
"When a soldier knows what he is doing, it makes him want to be a part of the team, and that really helps with morale, but more importantly, it helps the overall strength of the unit in the long run," he said.
Iraqi soldier Wessan Abass, the academy's honor graduate, said the training helped him tremendously.
"My favorite part of the training was the leadership courses, because they not only help me as a soldier, but they can help me in my everyday life as well," he said.
Abass also said he also enjoyed qualifying on the range with the M-16.
"I have rarely shot with an M-16," he said. "I definitely have more experience with the AK-47. I learned a lot from the American soldiers, and had fun. Overall, I think that the training was definitely worth the time and energy, and I look forward to working with [U.S. soldiers] again in the future."
(Army Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - After five long days of intense training and battling a pair of fierce sandstorms, more than 20 Iraqi soldiers graduated from the "Cold Steel Training Academy" here yesterday. The academy was established for 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, to advise and mentor their 45th Iraqi Army Division partners on their combat abilities.
It also sets the conditions for Iraqi soldiers to continue maintaining security in Salman Pak, a southeastern suburb of Baghdad.
"This five-day training program is in place to better equip Iraqi soldiers for combat in the field through the execution of different combat training exercises each day," said Army Spc. Cesar Lopez of Miami, an academy instructor and combat medic.
Lopez said the academy trains Iraqi soldiers in leadership, basic M-16 rifle marksmanship, reflexive-fire, reacting to improvised explosive devices, search and clearing tactics, preventive medicine and combat lifesaving.
The Iraqi soldiers received training in lifesaving techniques on their last day of training. "We showed them how to fix a hemorrhage in a person's airway, how to treat shock and how to apply pressure dressings and tourniquets," Lopez said.
The training instills confidence and strengthens unit cohesiveness, Lopez added.
"When a soldier knows what he is doing, it makes him want to be a part of the team, and that really helps with morale, but more importantly, it helps the overall strength of the unit in the long run," he said.
Iraqi soldier Wessan Abass, the academy's honor graduate, said the training helped him tremendously.
"My favorite part of the training was the leadership courses, because they not only help me as a soldier, but they can help me in my everyday life as well," he said.
Abass also said he also enjoyed qualifying on the range with the M-16.
"I have rarely shot with an M-16," he said. "I definitely have more experience with the AK-47. I learned a lot from the American soldiers, and had fun. Overall, I think that the training was definitely worth the time and energy, and I look forward to working with [U.S. soldiers] again in the future."
(Army Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)
Team Works With Afghan Government to Address Timber Issues
American Forces Press ServiceJuly 30, 2009 - Members of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Kunar province facilitated a July 28 meeting between Afghan government officials and provincial leaders to address Kunar's timber situation. Gov. Fazlullah Wahidid met with the Afghan Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal and other officials at his compound in Asadabad to discuss the two main problems in the province: what do with piles of cut lumber and how to stop illegal timber cutting.
The day's events included remarks from business leaders, landowners and elders on how to protect the environment and replanting the forest, as well as discussions on a hydro-electric dam to be built in Kunar.
The officials decided to keep the lumber that's already cut in the province and use it to develop Kunar's wood industry and to help to build a better Afghanistan. The ministers also asked the elders to foster tribal support in finding a way to stop the illegal cutting of new timber.
The successful meeting raised awareness of the timber problem and demonstrated to the people that the Afghan government is taking the issue seriously, officials said.
"One of our efforts is to decrease the distance between the government and the local population," Zakhilwal said. The ministers also agreed to take another look at addressing Kunar's timber issues after the upcoming elections.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Iraq Social Media Experience Sparks Training for Future Leaders
American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV discovered the power of social networking in 2007 when he was the U.S. military's top spokesman in Iraq. It was "probably one of the toughest times in Iraq," Caldwell recalled of his time as Multinational Force Iraq's deputy chief of staff for strategic effects. Mounting U.S. casualties and sectarian violence dominated the news headlines.
Caldwell, who commanded the 82nd Airborne Division before arriving in Baghdad, knew the coverage wasn't telling the whole story.
"Men and women were doing incredibly great things every day, and not just heroic things," he told American Forces Press Service. "They were building schools, helping establish government systems, empowering the Iraqi police forces to take on more responsibility, training Iraqi army forces.
"We were doing a lot of incredibly great things," he continued, "and the stories weren't getting out because they were overshadowed by the kinetic things going on and the loss of American life and the fact that casualty rates were up."
So at the urging of his younger staff, Caldwell took the monumental step of launching Multinational Force Iraq into the world of social networking.
"A 'You who?'" Caldwell recalls asking when his staffers first recommended a YouTube site. "I had absolutely no idea what it was."
But the staff talked him through the process, sat him down with a commercial server and showed him how YouTube worked. "I immediately understood the incredible power that would exist if we could leverage that," he said.
The problem was that access to the YouTube site had been blocked within the U.S. Central Command theater. So Caldwell took the issue up with Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Multinational Force Iraq commander at the time, and got approval to establish an official YouTube site.
The site went live in early March 2007 and amazed even Caldwell with the following it attracted. "Within the next six months, it was in the top 10 of all YouTube sites visited in the world," he said. "Viewership was phenomenal."
Officials put word out to the theater, urging troops to send videos that helped to explain the work they were doing. "We were looking for a variety of things -- we wanted kinetic and nonkinetic [activities], and we wanted personal stories," Caldwell said. "Nobody was out collecting. We just asked people, 'Feed us what you've got.'"
And feed they did -- clips showing troops engaged in everything from firefights to the destruction of bomb-making factories to delivering medical care to wounded Iraqis.
Officials reviewed the videos to ensure they didn't violate operational security considerations, use profanity or show sexual, overly graphic, disturbing or offensive material, then posted the clips as quickly as possible.
"The entire rest of the time I was there, it was an enormous hit," Caldwell said. "The number of people going to it and looking at it on a daily basis was phenomenal."
YouTube was just the start of the command's effort to deliver a more complete story of what was happening in Iraq to a broader audience. And as Caldwell discovered, social networking offered a whole new range of outlets for sharing that story, without the traditional media filters.
"It eliminated the gatekeeper," he said. "We now had the ability to help inform and present information that people might want to hear about or see in a way that was never there before."
Command officials urged people to come forward with ideas about how to leverage social media as part of a broader communications outreach. Meanwhile, Caldwell ratcheted up his media engagements with a growing array of outlets. His team, taking the lead from the enemy they were working to defeat, redesigned the command's Web site to make it more interactive, visually stimulating and user-friendly.
"We saw the fact that insurgents were making great use of the Internet," Caldwell said. "It was clear that this was a venue through which they were transmitting information and providing visuals. And we also started realizing that it was an opportunity for us to do the exact same thing back -- not in a propaganda sense, but in a sense of informing and educating people about just what we were doing."
The Army that Caldwell had grown up in had only one way to do that: through print and broadcast media outlets. And like many of his fellow officers, Caldwell conceded, he was leery of engaging with them.
"I came into a culture that said, 'Avoid the media at all cost. Absolutely nothing good comes out of a media engagement,'" he said.
He's made a 180-degree turn in his thinking, he said, recognizing the military's responsibility to keep the American public informed, and the importance of that understanding to ensure support for the mission. Now, as commander of the Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Caldwell is working to impress those concepts on future military leaders.
One of the first things he noticed after arriving at his post was that nobody was taking advantage of the social media tools that had proven so successful in Iraq. "Nobody was blogging. Nobody was going on YouTube," he said.
As when he arrived at Multinational Force Iraq, Caldwell found these venues had been blocked, and military members weren't allowed to use them. He set out to lift those prohibitions.
"For the first four or five months there, I kept working through the system to get permissions to allow us to blog, go on YouTube, play with Facebook," he said. "I wanted to engage in these social media forums, and you just couldn't get access to them on your military computers."
But Caldwell met with red tape everywhere he turned -- until he mentioned his frustration to Casey, now Army chief of staff, during one of Casey's monthly visits to the Combined Arms Center.
"He looked at me and said, 'Just do it,'" Caldwell said. "And when I asked him if this meant he was giving his permission to do this, he said, 'Absolutely.' He said, 'We have got to change the culture of the Army, and you can help make this happen.'"
Then-Army Secretary Pete Geren turned into another big advocate of giving soldiers access to social media.
Caldwell got the ball rolling at the Combined Arms Center by starting to blog on the center's Web site. "I'm not a prolific blogger, but I recognize that if I don't get on there periodically and do it, nobody else will," he said. "I saw it as a venue to stimulate discussion. It was a great mechanism to reach out and touch a large portion of the United States Army about an issue we might want to talk about or dialog on."
He recognized many soldiers' resistance to blogging, especially after a Defense Department message had outright prohibited the practice in late 2006. Those willing to give it a try still felt hampered by longstanding approval chains that stilted opinion-sharing and individual expression.
So Caldwell began requiring his students to blog as part of their curriculum at the center. His goal, he said, is to help create a new generation of leaders who recognize the power of social media and help the Army change its cultural mindset so it's able to embrace it.
"The idea is, once you have done it and have seen the power of social networking that can be done through the blogosphere, we are hoping that it becomes a routine habit they have through the rest of the academic year," he said. "That way, by the time they graduate, they are comfortable doing it and recognize it as something they can use ... as a great connectivity tool."
Caldwell established seven basic rules for bloggers on the Combined Arms Center's Web site: Report only personal experience unless you can document it. Don't divulge classified or sensitive information, planned military operations or tactics, techniques and procedures that haven't yet been approved. Keep the discussion above-board, and don't post material that's political or endorses a commercial interest.
"The idea is, use it as a professional forum to dialogue and get at tough issues," Caldwell said.
The Combined Arms Center has become a case study in how social media tools can benefit the military.
Students are encouraged to contribute to the center's YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages. The Command and General Staff College class to assemble at Fort Leavenworth next month will set up Facebook accounts for their 16-member staff group exercises.
Meanwhile, the center is exploring ways to use social media to capture and share lessons learned throughout the Army and improve the way it operates. Using an Army common-access card, users can access a variety of sites to contribute thoughts and suggestions to improve the way the Army trains and operates.
A new pilot program, for example, is using a military "wiki" site to encourage collaboration in updating seven Army field manuals. Five thousand contributors visited the wiki site when it first went live two weeks ago, and last week that number increased to 8,000.
"It's really brand new at this point, but we are just thrilled by the number of people coming to the site and the input that is being provided," Caldwell said.
Meanwhile, center officials set up an Army training network that will enable people to suggest ways to improve military training. Caldwell called the networking opportunities social networking provides a major breakthrough in elevating the level of information exchange.
"We can have a much greater and richer exchange of information than we have ever had in the past by using more of these social networking sites as a mechanism to exchange ideas and thoughts," he said.
Caldwell concedes that the military still has many barriers to break down before it can fully capitalize on social networking forums. He said he's been impressed by the way bloggers police themselves to ensure their postings don't violate established rules. But errors could -- and probably will -- happen, he said, as people learn to use these new tools.
"There are going to be some errors. This is a learning process, and along the way, people are going to make mistakes," he said. "They won't be deliberate or intentional, but people will make mistakes."
Caldwell called these mistakes, particularly because they can be corrected simply by pulling down a blog entry, a small price to pay to unleash the power of social networking for the 21st-century military.
"To take advantage of it and utilize it to our benefit, we have to first embrace it," he said. "And in embracing it, there are going to be inherent risks. People have to be willing to underwrite some of those risks in order for us to move forward."
July 30, 2009 - Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV discovered the power of social networking in 2007 when he was the U.S. military's top spokesman in Iraq. It was "probably one of the toughest times in Iraq," Caldwell recalled of his time as Multinational Force Iraq's deputy chief of staff for strategic effects. Mounting U.S. casualties and sectarian violence dominated the news headlines.
Caldwell, who commanded the 82nd Airborne Division before arriving in Baghdad, knew the coverage wasn't telling the whole story.
"Men and women were doing incredibly great things every day, and not just heroic things," he told American Forces Press Service. "They were building schools, helping establish government systems, empowering the Iraqi police forces to take on more responsibility, training Iraqi army forces.
"We were doing a lot of incredibly great things," he continued, "and the stories weren't getting out because they were overshadowed by the kinetic things going on and the loss of American life and the fact that casualty rates were up."
So at the urging of his younger staff, Caldwell took the monumental step of launching Multinational Force Iraq into the world of social networking.
"A 'You who?'" Caldwell recalls asking when his staffers first recommended a YouTube site. "I had absolutely no idea what it was."
But the staff talked him through the process, sat him down with a commercial server and showed him how YouTube worked. "I immediately understood the incredible power that would exist if we could leverage that," he said.
The problem was that access to the YouTube site had been blocked within the U.S. Central Command theater. So Caldwell took the issue up with Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Multinational Force Iraq commander at the time, and got approval to establish an official YouTube site.
The site went live in early March 2007 and amazed even Caldwell with the following it attracted. "Within the next six months, it was in the top 10 of all YouTube sites visited in the world," he said. "Viewership was phenomenal."
Officials put word out to the theater, urging troops to send videos that helped to explain the work they were doing. "We were looking for a variety of things -- we wanted kinetic and nonkinetic [activities], and we wanted personal stories," Caldwell said. "Nobody was out collecting. We just asked people, 'Feed us what you've got.'"
And feed they did -- clips showing troops engaged in everything from firefights to the destruction of bomb-making factories to delivering medical care to wounded Iraqis.
Officials reviewed the videos to ensure they didn't violate operational security considerations, use profanity or show sexual, overly graphic, disturbing or offensive material, then posted the clips as quickly as possible.
"The entire rest of the time I was there, it was an enormous hit," Caldwell said. "The number of people going to it and looking at it on a daily basis was phenomenal."
YouTube was just the start of the command's effort to deliver a more complete story of what was happening in Iraq to a broader audience. And as Caldwell discovered, social networking offered a whole new range of outlets for sharing that story, without the traditional media filters.
"It eliminated the gatekeeper," he said. "We now had the ability to help inform and present information that people might want to hear about or see in a way that was never there before."
Command officials urged people to come forward with ideas about how to leverage social media as part of a broader communications outreach. Meanwhile, Caldwell ratcheted up his media engagements with a growing array of outlets. His team, taking the lead from the enemy they were working to defeat, redesigned the command's Web site to make it more interactive, visually stimulating and user-friendly.
"We saw the fact that insurgents were making great use of the Internet," Caldwell said. "It was clear that this was a venue through which they were transmitting information and providing visuals. And we also started realizing that it was an opportunity for us to do the exact same thing back -- not in a propaganda sense, but in a sense of informing and educating people about just what we were doing."
The Army that Caldwell had grown up in had only one way to do that: through print and broadcast media outlets. And like many of his fellow officers, Caldwell conceded, he was leery of engaging with them.
"I came into a culture that said, 'Avoid the media at all cost. Absolutely nothing good comes out of a media engagement,'" he said.
He's made a 180-degree turn in his thinking, he said, recognizing the military's responsibility to keep the American public informed, and the importance of that understanding to ensure support for the mission. Now, as commander of the Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Caldwell is working to impress those concepts on future military leaders.
One of the first things he noticed after arriving at his post was that nobody was taking advantage of the social media tools that had proven so successful in Iraq. "Nobody was blogging. Nobody was going on YouTube," he said.
As when he arrived at Multinational Force Iraq, Caldwell found these venues had been blocked, and military members weren't allowed to use them. He set out to lift those prohibitions.
"For the first four or five months there, I kept working through the system to get permissions to allow us to blog, go on YouTube, play with Facebook," he said. "I wanted to engage in these social media forums, and you just couldn't get access to them on your military computers."
But Caldwell met with red tape everywhere he turned -- until he mentioned his frustration to Casey, now Army chief of staff, during one of Casey's monthly visits to the Combined Arms Center.
"He looked at me and said, 'Just do it,'" Caldwell said. "And when I asked him if this meant he was giving his permission to do this, he said, 'Absolutely.' He said, 'We have got to change the culture of the Army, and you can help make this happen.'"
Then-Army Secretary Pete Geren turned into another big advocate of giving soldiers access to social media.
Caldwell got the ball rolling at the Combined Arms Center by starting to blog on the center's Web site. "I'm not a prolific blogger, but I recognize that if I don't get on there periodically and do it, nobody else will," he said. "I saw it as a venue to stimulate discussion. It was a great mechanism to reach out and touch a large portion of the United States Army about an issue we might want to talk about or dialog on."
He recognized many soldiers' resistance to blogging, especially after a Defense Department message had outright prohibited the practice in late 2006. Those willing to give it a try still felt hampered by longstanding approval chains that stilted opinion-sharing and individual expression.
So Caldwell began requiring his students to blog as part of their curriculum at the center. His goal, he said, is to help create a new generation of leaders who recognize the power of social media and help the Army change its cultural mindset so it's able to embrace it.
"The idea is, once you have done it and have seen the power of social networking that can be done through the blogosphere, we are hoping that it becomes a routine habit they have through the rest of the academic year," he said. "That way, by the time they graduate, they are comfortable doing it and recognize it as something they can use ... as a great connectivity tool."
Caldwell established seven basic rules for bloggers on the Combined Arms Center's Web site: Report only personal experience unless you can document it. Don't divulge classified or sensitive information, planned military operations or tactics, techniques and procedures that haven't yet been approved. Keep the discussion above-board, and don't post material that's political or endorses a commercial interest.
"The idea is, use it as a professional forum to dialogue and get at tough issues," Caldwell said.
The Combined Arms Center has become a case study in how social media tools can benefit the military.
Students are encouraged to contribute to the center's YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages. The Command and General Staff College class to assemble at Fort Leavenworth next month will set up Facebook accounts for their 16-member staff group exercises.
Meanwhile, the center is exploring ways to use social media to capture and share lessons learned throughout the Army and improve the way it operates. Using an Army common-access card, users can access a variety of sites to contribute thoughts and suggestions to improve the way the Army trains and operates.
A new pilot program, for example, is using a military "wiki" site to encourage collaboration in updating seven Army field manuals. Five thousand contributors visited the wiki site when it first went live two weeks ago, and last week that number increased to 8,000.
"It's really brand new at this point, but we are just thrilled by the number of people coming to the site and the input that is being provided," Caldwell said.
Meanwhile, center officials set up an Army training network that will enable people to suggest ways to improve military training. Caldwell called the networking opportunities social networking provides a major breakthrough in elevating the level of information exchange.
"We can have a much greater and richer exchange of information than we have ever had in the past by using more of these social networking sites as a mechanism to exchange ideas and thoughts," he said.
Caldwell concedes that the military still has many barriers to break down before it can fully capitalize on social networking forums. He said he's been impressed by the way bloggers police themselves to ensure their postings don't violate established rules. But errors could -- and probably will -- happen, he said, as people learn to use these new tools.
"There are going to be some errors. This is a learning process, and along the way, people are going to make mistakes," he said. "They won't be deliberate or intentional, but people will make mistakes."
Caldwell called these mistakes, particularly because they can be corrected simply by pulling down a blog entry, a small price to pay to unleash the power of social networking for the 21st-century military.
"To take advantage of it and utilize it to our benefit, we have to first embrace it," he said. "And in embracing it, there are going to be inherent risks. People have to be willing to underwrite some of those risks in order for us to move forward."
Envoy Cites Need to Increase Afghan Security Forces
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Increasing the numbers of Afghan military forces and police is essential for Afghanistan ultimately to assume responsibility for its own security, a senior U.S. diplomat said here yesterday. "An expansion of the armed services and police of Afghanistan is obviously necessary," Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told reporters at a State Department news conference.
"It's absolutely essential that over time Afghanistan assume responsibility for its own security," said Holbrooke, who was appointed to his position by President Barack Obama in January.
On March 27, Obama announced his plan to increase U.S. support to Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat terrorist elements that operate in the region and to provide security and a better quality of life for Afghan citizens. Before the strategy review, 17,000 additional U.S. troops were approved for deployment to southern Afghanistan. Some of those troops will mentor Afghan soldiers and police, while others will battle Taliban insurgents and al-Qaida terrorists.
The Afghan National Army has about 90,000 troops, with plans to boost that force to about 134,000. Afghan National Police ranks are expected to increase from about 82,000 officers now to 87,000 police by 2011.
The United States and its allies in Afghanistan have for years assisted in the training of new Afghan soldiers and police. Holbrooke praised Japan's act of paying the salaries of Afghanistan's police, and he saluted the European Gendarmerie Force for its efforts in training Afghan police officers. The force includes police officers from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Romania.
The United States also continues "to support extensive training of the [Afghan] army and police," Holbrooke said. Yet, he added, it is "apparent that the current level of the national security forces of Afghanistan are not going to be sufficient in the long run."
U.S. and international agencies also are helping the Afghans prepare for their Aug. 20 presidential and provincial elections, Holbrooke said. U.S. officials will consult with the new Afghan government after the election, he added, to ascertain its needs regarding the numbers of its soldiers and police. "And then we'll see how we can support them," Holbrooke said.
Meanwhile, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior U.S. military officer in Afghanistan and commander of NATO forces there, is working on an assessment to determine what is required to implement Obama's strategy in Afghanistan. About 58,000 U.S. forces are in Afghanistan now, and that number is expected to increase to about 68,000 troops later this year. About 39,000 NATO troops are serving in Afghanistan.
During his July 17 visit to the Navy's Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters he expects to receive McChrystal's Afghanistan report in a few weeks. He also said he was concerned that the "foreign military footprint gets too big" in Afghanistan.
"This is the Afghans' war, and we are there as their partners and their friends, and that's the whole thrust of General McChrystal's strategy," Gates said. "And so I'm awaiting his assessment, and we will make a rigorous evaluation of it."
American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Increasing the numbers of Afghan military forces and police is essential for Afghanistan ultimately to assume responsibility for its own security, a senior U.S. diplomat said here yesterday. "An expansion of the armed services and police of Afghanistan is obviously necessary," Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told reporters at a State Department news conference.
"It's absolutely essential that over time Afghanistan assume responsibility for its own security," said Holbrooke, who was appointed to his position by President Barack Obama in January.
On March 27, Obama announced his plan to increase U.S. support to Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat terrorist elements that operate in the region and to provide security and a better quality of life for Afghan citizens. Before the strategy review, 17,000 additional U.S. troops were approved for deployment to southern Afghanistan. Some of those troops will mentor Afghan soldiers and police, while others will battle Taliban insurgents and al-Qaida terrorists.
The Afghan National Army has about 90,000 troops, with plans to boost that force to about 134,000. Afghan National Police ranks are expected to increase from about 82,000 officers now to 87,000 police by 2011.
The United States and its allies in Afghanistan have for years assisted in the training of new Afghan soldiers and police. Holbrooke praised Japan's act of paying the salaries of Afghanistan's police, and he saluted the European Gendarmerie Force for its efforts in training Afghan police officers. The force includes police officers from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Romania.
The United States also continues "to support extensive training of the [Afghan] army and police," Holbrooke said. Yet, he added, it is "apparent that the current level of the national security forces of Afghanistan are not going to be sufficient in the long run."
U.S. and international agencies also are helping the Afghans prepare for their Aug. 20 presidential and provincial elections, Holbrooke said. U.S. officials will consult with the new Afghan government after the election, he added, to ascertain its needs regarding the numbers of its soldiers and police. "And then we'll see how we can support them," Holbrooke said.
Meanwhile, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior U.S. military officer in Afghanistan and commander of NATO forces there, is working on an assessment to determine what is required to implement Obama's strategy in Afghanistan. About 58,000 U.S. forces are in Afghanistan now, and that number is expected to increase to about 68,000 troops later this year. About 39,000 NATO troops are serving in Afghanistan.
During his July 17 visit to the Navy's Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters he expects to receive McChrystal's Afghanistan report in a few weeks. He also said he was concerned that the "foreign military footprint gets too big" in Afghanistan.
"This is the Afghans' war, and we are there as their partners and their friends, and that's the whole thrust of General McChrystal's strategy," Gates said. "And so I'm awaiting his assessment, and we will make a rigorous evaluation of it."
Taliban Actions Speak Louder Than Words, General Says
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Although the Taliban recently issued a "code of conduct" booklet aimed at projecting a more positive image to the Afghan people, their actions directly contradict this goal, the spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said yesterday. Canadian Brig. Gen. Eric Tremblay told reporters in Afghanistan the Taliban are falling far short of the goals prescribed in their new "Taliban 2009 Rules and Regulations Booklet."
ISAF forces seized a copy of the booklet, dated May 9 on its blue cover, earlier this month in southern Afghanistan.
Believed to be the first of its kind, the booklet preaches a style of warfare based on Islamic law and aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Among its guidelines, it advises Taliban fighters to avoid civilian casualties, limit suicide attacks to high-value targets and establish good relationships with the local people.
"Designed to be prescriptive in how insurgents are to conduct themselves in waging war against the government of Afghanistan, the Afghan security forces and ISAF, it is very telling to see how the actions taken by the insurgents day after day contradict in every way possible their own 'Taliban code of conduct booklet,'" Tremblay said.
The booklet makes clear that Taliban forces should "try their best to avoid killing local people," he noted. "Well, let me tell you that the reality on the ground doesn't reflect this at all," Tremblay said, noting that insurgents have killed 450 innocent Afghans and injured more than 1,000 others since January.
Insurgents killed even more civilians in 2008: 578 by the end of July, he noted.
Almost 50 percent of all casualties resulting from improvised explosive devices in 2008 were innocent civilian Afghans. So far this year, the percentage is 40 percent, the general said.
Tremblay noted another major discrepancy between what the Taliban booklet preaches and how their fighters operate. The booklet specifies that suicide attacks should be limited to "high-ranking people."
"Again, the hard reality is that since January 2009, the insurgents have used over 90 suicide bombers -- most of them young men, and in many instances just teenagers and children – who, through their actions, have killed more than 200 innocent Afghan civilians," Tremblay said.
"This is fact," he continued. "The insurgents use children as suicide bombers. Despite their so-called 'code of conduct,' the insurgents have no respect for human life. They buy and sell children as young as 11 to act as suicide bombers and use them against the local population."
Similarly, the booklet's recommendations that insurgent fighters behave in a way that wins favor with the local people runs directly contrary to how they operate, Tremblay said. He noted that insurgents have targeted more than 40 schools so far in 2009 and continue to block women's access to education.
"The insurgents intimidate, destroy, suppress and kill everywhere they go, because they are afraid to lose their control over the population," he said.
Citing a 2008 International Committee of the Red Cross report of Taliban atrocities against innocent Afghans, Tremblay said 90 percent of the Afghan population doesn't want the Taliban to regain power.
"For the population, Taliban presence means death and fear, as the insurgents have so many times proven to be ruthless for the people who dare not to cooperate with them or refuse to turn a blind eye to their criminal and brutal activities," he said.
"Here lies the true nature of the Taliban," Tremblay said, noting they hide among civilians, don't hesitate to take hostages and use them as human shields when confronted by ISAF, U.S. or Afghan security forces, or to use children as suicide bombers.
Coalition forces in Afghanistan are working with the Afghans to offer an alternative, he said.
"For that compromising core of insurgents whose only goal is to kill and prevent progress to take place in Afghanistan, we will meet them with our persistent presence, alternative livelihoods, good governance opportunities and force, if necessary," Tremblay said.
American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - Although the Taliban recently issued a "code of conduct" booklet aimed at projecting a more positive image to the Afghan people, their actions directly contradict this goal, the spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said yesterday. Canadian Brig. Gen. Eric Tremblay told reporters in Afghanistan the Taliban are falling far short of the goals prescribed in their new "Taliban 2009 Rules and Regulations Booklet."
ISAF forces seized a copy of the booklet, dated May 9 on its blue cover, earlier this month in southern Afghanistan.
Believed to be the first of its kind, the booklet preaches a style of warfare based on Islamic law and aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Among its guidelines, it advises Taliban fighters to avoid civilian casualties, limit suicide attacks to high-value targets and establish good relationships with the local people.
"Designed to be prescriptive in how insurgents are to conduct themselves in waging war against the government of Afghanistan, the Afghan security forces and ISAF, it is very telling to see how the actions taken by the insurgents day after day contradict in every way possible their own 'Taliban code of conduct booklet,'" Tremblay said.
The booklet makes clear that Taliban forces should "try their best to avoid killing local people," he noted. "Well, let me tell you that the reality on the ground doesn't reflect this at all," Tremblay said, noting that insurgents have killed 450 innocent Afghans and injured more than 1,000 others since January.
Insurgents killed even more civilians in 2008: 578 by the end of July, he noted.
Almost 50 percent of all casualties resulting from improvised explosive devices in 2008 were innocent civilian Afghans. So far this year, the percentage is 40 percent, the general said.
Tremblay noted another major discrepancy between what the Taliban booklet preaches and how their fighters operate. The booklet specifies that suicide attacks should be limited to "high-ranking people."
"Again, the hard reality is that since January 2009, the insurgents have used over 90 suicide bombers -- most of them young men, and in many instances just teenagers and children – who, through their actions, have killed more than 200 innocent Afghan civilians," Tremblay said.
"This is fact," he continued. "The insurgents use children as suicide bombers. Despite their so-called 'code of conduct,' the insurgents have no respect for human life. They buy and sell children as young as 11 to act as suicide bombers and use them against the local population."
Similarly, the booklet's recommendations that insurgent fighters behave in a way that wins favor with the local people runs directly contrary to how they operate, Tremblay said. He noted that insurgents have targeted more than 40 schools so far in 2009 and continue to block women's access to education.
"The insurgents intimidate, destroy, suppress and kill everywhere they go, because they are afraid to lose their control over the population," he said.
Citing a 2008 International Committee of the Red Cross report of Taliban atrocities against innocent Afghans, Tremblay said 90 percent of the Afghan population doesn't want the Taliban to regain power.
"For the population, Taliban presence means death and fear, as the insurgents have so many times proven to be ruthless for the people who dare not to cooperate with them or refuse to turn a blind eye to their criminal and brutal activities," he said.
"Here lies the true nature of the Taliban," Tremblay said, noting they hide among civilians, don't hesitate to take hostages and use them as human shields when confronted by ISAF, U.S. or Afghan security forces, or to use children as suicide bombers.
Coalition forces in Afghanistan are working with the Afghans to offer an alternative, he said.
"For that compromising core of insurgents whose only goal is to kill and prevent progress to take place in Afghanistan, we will meet them with our persistent presence, alternative livelihoods, good governance opportunities and force, if necessary," Tremblay said.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 29, 2009
Bioterrorism and disaster preparedness
"According to a study in a special issue of Medical Decision Making, a large-scale, covert anthrax [spore] attack on a large city would overwhelm hospital resources even with an extremely effective public health response. […] The article 'Predicting Hospital Surge after a Large-Scale Anthrax Attack: A Model-Based Analysis of CDC's Cities Readiness Initiative Prophylaxis Recommendations' [written by researchers Nathaniel Hupert, MD, MPH; Daniel Wattson, BS; Jason Cuomo, MPH; Eric Hollingsworth, BS; Kristof Neukermans, BA, MBA; and Wei Xiong, PhD.], examines one of the CDC's principal bioterrorism-response programs, the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), a program that recommends the medical countermeasures necessary to minimize the hospital surge resulting from anthrax-related illness and response in the first two days after a major bioterrorism attack. The researchers found that a CRI-compliant prophylaxis campaign starting two days after exposure would protect as many as 86% of exposed individuals from illness. However, each additional day needed to complete the campaign would result in as much as 3% more hospitalizations in the exposed population. Unsustainable levels of hospitalizations would result from delays in detecting and initiating response to large-scale, covert aerosol anthrax releases in a major city, even with highly effective mass prophylaxis campaigns. […] To improve the consistency and quality of these models, the Society for Medical Decision Making convened experts to recommend best practices for modeling the public health response to a terror attack." (Science Daily; 27Jul09) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727191916.htm
Ventura doctor works to ban biological weapons on a global level [CA]
"During World War II, Japanese forces used biological weapons to kill and sicken residents of Chinese villages to make occupation easier, [Dr. Martin] Furmanski [a pathologist] said. […] Knowledge of the Japanese program, and fears that Germany might have a similar one, prompted the creation of a U.S. biological weapons program during World War II. […] Biological weapons came to the forefront again after Sept. 11, 2001, when anthrax spores were mailed to senators and media outlets. […] Furmanski said it was an example of a recurring theme in the history of biological weapons: the weapons themselves causing less damage than their unforeseen consequences. […] Now, as a member of the nonprofit Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation's Arms Control Center Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons Control, he is pushing for oversight from inspectors to become part of [an] international treaty banning the [weapons] programs. […] Furmanski doesn't believe biological weapons pose any large-scale threat in the U.S. because they are difficult to make and can be counteracted after they're used by vaccinating the population. […] 'It's the only weapon of mass destruction you can negate after it's started,' he said. 'Even the highest-risk ones, we have amelioration for.'" (Ventura County Star; 28Jul09; Carolyn Quinn) http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jul/28/i-felt-i-was-in-the-room-with-something-evil-of/
WVU [West Virginia University] biology professor receives research grant from Army
"Letha Sooter, an assistant professor of biology at West Virginia University's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and a researcher at WVNano, has been awarded the University's first cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. She will receive more than $409,000 from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to work with molecular recognition elements (or MREs), in hopes of creating devices that will detect explosive, chemical and biological warfare. […] [Sooter is] searching for the bio-molecules that will detect chemical and biological danger for soldiers and civilians. 'Molecular recognition elements are such a powerful tool,' Sooter said. 'They're amazing little things. They do a wonderful job of being specific and having a high affinity for their target.' […] The cooperative agreement will give Sooter and her team of student researchers three years worth of funding to accomplish that goal. If they locate the correct bio-molecules, the Army will apply them to the sensing devices they are currently creating and soldiers will be able to use the technology in theater." (Lincoln Journal; 28Jul09)
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=107&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=3314&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2186&hn=lincolnjournalin
c&he=.com
Defenders reject GAO [Government Accountability Office] criticism of Kansas biodefense lab
"Kansas policymakers linked arms Monday to insist the state could safely host a $650 million biodefense research facility, despite a new report suggesting the project is potentially dangerous. […] For the second time in 18 months, the GAO has concluded Homeland Security does not fully understand all the potential hazards of the Kansas location - a conclusion that politicians from states that lost the project have seized upon to argue for delays in funding the facility. […] All six of the state's congressional representatives issued statements Monday supporting the Kansas location for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. […] After Kansas won the competition, a consortium in Texas sued to halt the project, claiming the site is at risk for tornado damage. […] The GAO report […] agreed more weather studies are needed before concluding that diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease could be safely contained at the facility in the event of a catastrophe. […] Kansans connected with the project scoffed at the Texans' argument, endorsed in the GAO report, that tornadoes could be a problem. 'There are some studies that they're more likely to have a tornado problem than us,' [said former Kansas governor John Carlin, now chairman of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.] Thornton said the project would be built as a 'vault inside a vault inside a submarine' to protect against the release of germs and diseases. He said he would attend a hearing of a House subcommittee this week where the GAO findings are expected to be discussed." (Kansas City Star; 27Jul09; Dave Helling and David Goldstein) http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1349759.html
6th leak of chemical weapon agent detected [OR]
"Trace amounts of mustard chemical agent vapor were detected inside a Umatilla Chemical Depot storage igloo today for the sixth time this year. It's the third leak of a mustard container detected this month. […] As the weather warms, the mustard containers thaw and are more likely to leak. […] The leak today was detected during routine weekly monitoring and posed no danger to the public or environment, according to depot officials. The igloos have a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping the structures. When a leak is discovered, a powered filtration system also is installed. The depot is currently disposing of the mustard agent after successfully destroying its stockpile of nerve agents." (Tri City Herald; 27Jul09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/661956.html
Range fire reported at south end of Umatilla chemical depot [OR]
"Firefighters from the Umatilla Chemical Depot and nearby communities are fighting a range fire along the south end of the depot near the I-84 freeway. The fire was first reported at 1 p.m. today. […] Depot officials said the incident is not close to the area where chemical weapons are stored. Depot officials have notified the off-post emergency operations centers in [surrounding] counties." (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 27Jul09)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003681147
Russia destroys first ton of war gas sarin
"The first ton of the warfare gas sarin was destroyed at the chemical weapons destruction facility Maradykovsky in the Kirov region. The destruction of this substance, which is a nerve agent, was launched on July 27, and more than 1,100 kilograms of sarin has already been destroyed so far," chief of the regional department for conventional problems Mikhail Manin told Itar-Tass on Wednesday. […] Sarin was destroyed in 26 warheads at 9 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday, after that their hulls were decontaminated and exposed to thermal processing. […] Manin also noted that inspectors of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, representatives from the working group of the Federal Agency for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons and the regional ecological monitoring center are monitoring round-the-clock the sarin destruction process. […] The Maradykovsky chemical weapons destruction facility is planning to destroy 231 tons and 119 kilograms of sarin by the year end. Some 4,833 aviation bombs and warheads of chemical missiles contain the foresaid war gas. Maradykovsky is the third Russian complex, which had launched the full-scale destruction of chemical weapons since September 2006. Since 1953 the complex has stockpiled more than 40,000 aviation bombs and warheads of chemical missiles staffed with the mixture of nerve agents. […] The Maradykovsky destruction facility is planning to launch the destruction of one more toxic agent - soman as of 2010. Russia will have destroyed the whole stock of toxic agents under Russia's international liabilities and the federal program for the destruction of chemical weapons in Russia by 2012." (Itar Tass News; 29Jul09) http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14188752&PageNum=0
Second basic course held for personnel of national authorities in Africa
"The National Authority of South Africa and the OPCW jointly organized a Basic Course for Personnel of National Authorities in Africa who are involved in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The event took place in Centurion, South Africa from 13 to 17 July 2009 and was the second Basic Course organized for the African region. […] Representatives from 18 States Parties participated in the course, which aims to enhance the capacity of National Authorities in Africa to implement the CWC and to foster closer cooperation on a regional and sub-regional basis. The programme covered the history of the development and use of chemical weapons; an overview of the CWC and the OPCW; the rights and obligations of States Parties, establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities; the declarations and verification regimes of the CWC, the transfer provisions relating to the import and export of Scheduled chemicals; international cooperation and assistance activities, including promotion of the peaceful uses of chemistry; and a presentation on the OPCW's Programme to Strengthen Cooperation with Africa. During the roundtable discussions, participants exchanged information on the progress made by their National Authorities in implementing the Convention and the challenges they have encountered." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 27Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/second-basic-course-held-for-personnel-of-national-authorities-in-africa/
Delhi doctors to get trained to fight 'dirty bombs'
"Hundreds of doctors in the national capital will be trained to handle [...] 'dirty bomb attacks during Commonwealth Games'. [...] The programme is initiated jointly by the Delhi government, AIIMS [All India Institute of Medical Sciences], the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). [...] In the beginning 40 doctors from Delhi government hospitals will be trained. [...] Major-General J.K. Bansal, [of NDMA ...] said: 'Dirty bomb is the new threat during major events. These bombs have the capacity to spread radioactive rays. They can impact kidney, eyes, reduce fertility and cause many more health hazards.' Bansal said there will be live demonstration of a possible situation. Doctors will be trained on how to deal with such a situation. 'The immediate medical care is required. The precaution needs to be taken.' After training doctors in Delhi, doctors from Chandigarh too will be trained." (Sindh Today; 29Jul09) http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/35539.htm
Military chem-bio defense is uncoordinated with states
"The Department of Defense (DoD) presently lacks the means to assess whether its plans to respond to domestic incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosives (CBRNE) bridge holes in other federal, state and local capabilities. […] US Northern Command, the Defense Department's organization for defending the US homeland, and the National Guard both have the ability to activate specialized units to respond to CBRNE threats. […] But DoD has not yet made use of the Integrated Planning System established in December 2007 to link planning documents at the federal, state and local levels, GAO [Government Accountability Office] noted. The system's framework has been set up, but CBRNE guidance is so far incomplete. 'DoD has had operational plans in place and revises these plans regularly. However, until the Integrated Planning System and its associated plans are complete, DoD's plans and those of other federal and state entities will not be integrated, and it will remain unclear whether DoD's [response forces] will address potential gaps in capabilities,' the GAO reported. […] While DoD has planned to provide necessary capabilities to respond to multiple CBRNE incidents in disparate locations, it cannot presently determine if service members would respond in a timely fashion, if it has sufficient capacity in all necessary capabilities, and if it can overcome challenges in its strategy to provide its three CBRNE Consequence Management Response Forces with everything they need to respond, GAO said. Any troops DoD deployed would respond in direct assistance to civil authorities, but DoD cannot be certain that it can train and deploy forces in an acceptable timeframe to assist those authorities." (Homeland Security Insight and Analysis; 29Jul09; Mickey McCarter) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9564/128/
BPSI [Building Protection Systems Inc.] launches new mobile trailer CBRN detection unit
"Building Protection Systems […] announced today that it has completed testing and is ready to deliver its new mobile trailer CBRN detection system. The Mobile Sentry One solution was developed at the request of various law enforcement agencies for the protection of VIPs at events while in their cities. 'This mobile CBRN detection system solves a real protection problem when talking special security events,' said Greg Eiler, CEO of BPSI. […] 'Law enforcement would not know of an airborne toxic chemical attack or a dirty bomb release until it is too late. The Mobile Sentry One provides reliable, real-time information wherever it is needed.' […] Mounted inside a lightweight 4'w x 6'l x 5'h trailer, the rugged, shock resistant Mobile Sentry One system can be transported anywhere it can roll. The 120v hook-up allows for unlimited detection run time while the onboard battery power supply provides up to four hours of back-up operation. […] Each Mobile Sentry One trailer can be easily networked to other Mobile Sentry One trailers, providing complete perimeter protection from an airborne release or targeted attack. […] The Mobile Sentry One communicates with the security command center providing toxin and location data and has the ability to automatically activate predetermined desirable protocols to mitigate the effects of the dangerous toxins." (Red Orbit; 29Jul09) http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1728557/bpsi_launches_new_mobile_trailer_cbrn_detection_unit/
Officials testify on capabilities to defend against mass weapons
"The Defense Department [DoD] boasts the world's strongest ability to respond to chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, a top Pentagon official said today. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism, unconventional threats and capabilities, Paul Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, discussed the U.S. capabilities in responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives, or CBRNE. '[The DoD's] CBRNE response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, and best trained in the world,' Stockton said. […] Among National Guard units, the department has developed civil support teams in each state and territory that are prepared to respond in the instance of an attack by a weapon of mass destruction. […] The department also is establishing three federal response units designed to assist civil authorities in the aftermath of a mass attack. […] Appearing alongside Stockton at the hearing was Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command [Northcom] and North American Aerospace Defense Command, who spoke about Northcom's role regarding mass weapons attacks. 'The employment of a large-scale [CBRNE] device in the homeland has the potential to incur significant loss of life, cause mass panic, inflict large-scale physical and economic damage, and present consequence management challenges greater than those resulting from previous disasters,' he said in a prepared statement. 'Accordingly, Northcom must anticipate the full spectrum of CBRNE incidents that could occur domestically.' […] Northcom […] is responsible for an area of operations that includes the United States, Canada and Mexico." (Press Zoom; 29Jul09) http://presszoom.com/story_149230.html
New Defense Threat Reduction agency director named [Kenneth A. Myers III]
"Kenneth A. Myers III has been selected as the new director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He was sworn in July 27, 2009, at the Pentagon. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton B. Carter, said, 'The selection of Ken Myers as the director of DTRA is another significant step in transforming how we defend against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. He has the right background with 15 years of hands-on nonproliferation, counter-proliferation and arms control experience at the national level to lead the agency in its mission to protect the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and support a safe, secure and reliable deterrent.' Carter added that Myers also brings experience with the Moscow and START treaties; export controls; the U.S. - India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act; and Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act. […] DTRA [with an annual budget of more than $2.8 billion] focuses on reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction through a combination of advanced technology programs and innovative operational methods." (U.S. Department of Defense; 28Jul09)
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12853
11 suspicious letters with white powder sent to N.J. [New Jersey] government offices
"The FBI is investigating 11 suspicious letters containing a white powder that were sent to various New Jersey government offices this month. The letters have been received at police departments and government offices throughout northern New Jersey. The first one came July 17. Letters have been received in Totowa, Clifton, Wayne, Ringwood, Fair Lawn and Woodland Park. All the letters are being tested. The FBI says first three letters tested came back negative for biological agents and no injuries have been reported." (Fox News; 27Jul09; Source: AP) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534975,00.html?test=latestnews
"According to a study in a special issue of Medical Decision Making, a large-scale, covert anthrax [spore] attack on a large city would overwhelm hospital resources even with an extremely effective public health response. […] The article 'Predicting Hospital Surge after a Large-Scale Anthrax Attack: A Model-Based Analysis of CDC's Cities Readiness Initiative Prophylaxis Recommendations' [written by researchers Nathaniel Hupert, MD, MPH; Daniel Wattson, BS; Jason Cuomo, MPH; Eric Hollingsworth, BS; Kristof Neukermans, BA, MBA; and Wei Xiong, PhD.], examines one of the CDC's principal bioterrorism-response programs, the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), a program that recommends the medical countermeasures necessary to minimize the hospital surge resulting from anthrax-related illness and response in the first two days after a major bioterrorism attack. The researchers found that a CRI-compliant prophylaxis campaign starting two days after exposure would protect as many as 86% of exposed individuals from illness. However, each additional day needed to complete the campaign would result in as much as 3% more hospitalizations in the exposed population. Unsustainable levels of hospitalizations would result from delays in detecting and initiating response to large-scale, covert aerosol anthrax releases in a major city, even with highly effective mass prophylaxis campaigns. […] To improve the consistency and quality of these models, the Society for Medical Decision Making convened experts to recommend best practices for modeling the public health response to a terror attack." (Science Daily; 27Jul09) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727191916.htm
Ventura doctor works to ban biological weapons on a global level [CA]
"During World War II, Japanese forces used biological weapons to kill and sicken residents of Chinese villages to make occupation easier, [Dr. Martin] Furmanski [a pathologist] said. […] Knowledge of the Japanese program, and fears that Germany might have a similar one, prompted the creation of a U.S. biological weapons program during World War II. […] Biological weapons came to the forefront again after Sept. 11, 2001, when anthrax spores were mailed to senators and media outlets. […] Furmanski said it was an example of a recurring theme in the history of biological weapons: the weapons themselves causing less damage than their unforeseen consequences. […] Now, as a member of the nonprofit Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation's Arms Control Center Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons Control, he is pushing for oversight from inspectors to become part of [an] international treaty banning the [weapons] programs. […] Furmanski doesn't believe biological weapons pose any large-scale threat in the U.S. because they are difficult to make and can be counteracted after they're used by vaccinating the population. […] 'It's the only weapon of mass destruction you can negate after it's started,' he said. 'Even the highest-risk ones, we have amelioration for.'" (Ventura County Star; 28Jul09; Carolyn Quinn) http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jul/28/i-felt-i-was-in-the-room-with-something-evil-of/
WVU [West Virginia University] biology professor receives research grant from Army
"Letha Sooter, an assistant professor of biology at West Virginia University's Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and a researcher at WVNano, has been awarded the University's first cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. She will receive more than $409,000 from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to work with molecular recognition elements (or MREs), in hopes of creating devices that will detect explosive, chemical and biological warfare. […] [Sooter is] searching for the bio-molecules that will detect chemical and biological danger for soldiers and civilians. 'Molecular recognition elements are such a powerful tool,' Sooter said. 'They're amazing little things. They do a wonderful job of being specific and having a high affinity for their target.' […] The cooperative agreement will give Sooter and her team of student researchers three years worth of funding to accomplish that goal. If they locate the correct bio-molecules, the Army will apply them to the sensing devices they are currently creating and soldiers will be able to use the technology in theater." (Lincoln Journal; 28Jul09)
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=107&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=3314&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2186&hn=lincolnjournalin
c&he=.com
Defenders reject GAO [Government Accountability Office] criticism of Kansas biodefense lab
"Kansas policymakers linked arms Monday to insist the state could safely host a $650 million biodefense research facility, despite a new report suggesting the project is potentially dangerous. […] For the second time in 18 months, the GAO has concluded Homeland Security does not fully understand all the potential hazards of the Kansas location - a conclusion that politicians from states that lost the project have seized upon to argue for delays in funding the facility. […] All six of the state's congressional representatives issued statements Monday supporting the Kansas location for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. […] After Kansas won the competition, a consortium in Texas sued to halt the project, claiming the site is at risk for tornado damage. […] The GAO report […] agreed more weather studies are needed before concluding that diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease could be safely contained at the facility in the event of a catastrophe. […] Kansans connected with the project scoffed at the Texans' argument, endorsed in the GAO report, that tornadoes could be a problem. 'There are some studies that they're more likely to have a tornado problem than us,' [said former Kansas governor John Carlin, now chairman of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.] Thornton said the project would be built as a 'vault inside a vault inside a submarine' to protect against the release of germs and diseases. He said he would attend a hearing of a House subcommittee this week where the GAO findings are expected to be discussed." (Kansas City Star; 27Jul09; Dave Helling and David Goldstein) http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1349759.html
6th leak of chemical weapon agent detected [OR]
"Trace amounts of mustard chemical agent vapor were detected inside a Umatilla Chemical Depot storage igloo today for the sixth time this year. It's the third leak of a mustard container detected this month. […] As the weather warms, the mustard containers thaw and are more likely to leak. […] The leak today was detected during routine weekly monitoring and posed no danger to the public or environment, according to depot officials. The igloos have a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping the structures. When a leak is discovered, a powered filtration system also is installed. The depot is currently disposing of the mustard agent after successfully destroying its stockpile of nerve agents." (Tri City Herald; 27Jul09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/661956.html
Range fire reported at south end of Umatilla chemical depot [OR]
"Firefighters from the Umatilla Chemical Depot and nearby communities are fighting a range fire along the south end of the depot near the I-84 freeway. The fire was first reported at 1 p.m. today. […] Depot officials said the incident is not close to the area where chemical weapons are stored. Depot officials have notified the off-post emergency operations centers in [surrounding] counties." (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 27Jul09)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003681147
Russia destroys first ton of war gas sarin
"The first ton of the warfare gas sarin was destroyed at the chemical weapons destruction facility Maradykovsky in the Kirov region. The destruction of this substance, which is a nerve agent, was launched on July 27, and more than 1,100 kilograms of sarin has already been destroyed so far," chief of the regional department for conventional problems Mikhail Manin told Itar-Tass on Wednesday. […] Sarin was destroyed in 26 warheads at 9 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday, after that their hulls were decontaminated and exposed to thermal processing. […] Manin also noted that inspectors of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, representatives from the working group of the Federal Agency for Safe Storage and Destruction of Chemical Weapons and the regional ecological monitoring center are monitoring round-the-clock the sarin destruction process. […] The Maradykovsky chemical weapons destruction facility is planning to destroy 231 tons and 119 kilograms of sarin by the year end. Some 4,833 aviation bombs and warheads of chemical missiles contain the foresaid war gas. Maradykovsky is the third Russian complex, which had launched the full-scale destruction of chemical weapons since September 2006. Since 1953 the complex has stockpiled more than 40,000 aviation bombs and warheads of chemical missiles staffed with the mixture of nerve agents. […] The Maradykovsky destruction facility is planning to launch the destruction of one more toxic agent - soman as of 2010. Russia will have destroyed the whole stock of toxic agents under Russia's international liabilities and the federal program for the destruction of chemical weapons in Russia by 2012." (Itar Tass News; 29Jul09) http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=14188752&PageNum=0
Second basic course held for personnel of national authorities in Africa
"The National Authority of South Africa and the OPCW jointly organized a Basic Course for Personnel of National Authorities in Africa who are involved in the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The event took place in Centurion, South Africa from 13 to 17 July 2009 and was the second Basic Course organized for the African region. […] Representatives from 18 States Parties participated in the course, which aims to enhance the capacity of National Authorities in Africa to implement the CWC and to foster closer cooperation on a regional and sub-regional basis. The programme covered the history of the development and use of chemical weapons; an overview of the CWC and the OPCW; the rights and obligations of States Parties, establishment and effective functioning of National Authorities; the declarations and verification regimes of the CWC, the transfer provisions relating to the import and export of Scheduled chemicals; international cooperation and assistance activities, including promotion of the peaceful uses of chemistry; and a presentation on the OPCW's Programme to Strengthen Cooperation with Africa. During the roundtable discussions, participants exchanged information on the progress made by their National Authorities in implementing the Convention and the challenges they have encountered." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 27Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/second-basic-course-held-for-personnel-of-national-authorities-in-africa/
Delhi doctors to get trained to fight 'dirty bombs'
"Hundreds of doctors in the national capital will be trained to handle [...] 'dirty bomb attacks during Commonwealth Games'. [...] The programme is initiated jointly by the Delhi government, AIIMS [All India Institute of Medical Sciences], the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). [...] In the beginning 40 doctors from Delhi government hospitals will be trained. [...] Major-General J.K. Bansal, [of NDMA ...] said: 'Dirty bomb is the new threat during major events. These bombs have the capacity to spread radioactive rays. They can impact kidney, eyes, reduce fertility and cause many more health hazards.' Bansal said there will be live demonstration of a possible situation. Doctors will be trained on how to deal with such a situation. 'The immediate medical care is required. The precaution needs to be taken.' After training doctors in Delhi, doctors from Chandigarh too will be trained." (Sindh Today; 29Jul09) http://www.sindhtoday.net/news/1/35539.htm
Military chem-bio defense is uncoordinated with states
"The Department of Defense (DoD) presently lacks the means to assess whether its plans to respond to domestic incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosives (CBRNE) bridge holes in other federal, state and local capabilities. […] US Northern Command, the Defense Department's organization for defending the US homeland, and the National Guard both have the ability to activate specialized units to respond to CBRNE threats. […] But DoD has not yet made use of the Integrated Planning System established in December 2007 to link planning documents at the federal, state and local levels, GAO [Government Accountability Office] noted. The system's framework has been set up, but CBRNE guidance is so far incomplete. 'DoD has had operational plans in place and revises these plans regularly. However, until the Integrated Planning System and its associated plans are complete, DoD's plans and those of other federal and state entities will not be integrated, and it will remain unclear whether DoD's [response forces] will address potential gaps in capabilities,' the GAO reported. […] While DoD has planned to provide necessary capabilities to respond to multiple CBRNE incidents in disparate locations, it cannot presently determine if service members would respond in a timely fashion, if it has sufficient capacity in all necessary capabilities, and if it can overcome challenges in its strategy to provide its three CBRNE Consequence Management Response Forces with everything they need to respond, GAO said. Any troops DoD deployed would respond in direct assistance to civil authorities, but DoD cannot be certain that it can train and deploy forces in an acceptable timeframe to assist those authorities." (Homeland Security Insight and Analysis; 29Jul09; Mickey McCarter) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9564/128/
BPSI [Building Protection Systems Inc.] launches new mobile trailer CBRN detection unit
"Building Protection Systems […] announced today that it has completed testing and is ready to deliver its new mobile trailer CBRN detection system. The Mobile Sentry One solution was developed at the request of various law enforcement agencies for the protection of VIPs at events while in their cities. 'This mobile CBRN detection system solves a real protection problem when talking special security events,' said Greg Eiler, CEO of BPSI. […] 'Law enforcement would not know of an airborne toxic chemical attack or a dirty bomb release until it is too late. The Mobile Sentry One provides reliable, real-time information wherever it is needed.' […] Mounted inside a lightweight 4'w x 6'l x 5'h trailer, the rugged, shock resistant Mobile Sentry One system can be transported anywhere it can roll. The 120v hook-up allows for unlimited detection run time while the onboard battery power supply provides up to four hours of back-up operation. […] Each Mobile Sentry One trailer can be easily networked to other Mobile Sentry One trailers, providing complete perimeter protection from an airborne release or targeted attack. […] The Mobile Sentry One communicates with the security command center providing toxin and location data and has the ability to automatically activate predetermined desirable protocols to mitigate the effects of the dangerous toxins." (Red Orbit; 29Jul09) http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1728557/bpsi_launches_new_mobile_trailer_cbrn_detection_unit/
Officials testify on capabilities to defend against mass weapons
"The Defense Department [DoD] boasts the world's strongest ability to respond to chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, a top Pentagon official said today. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism, unconventional threats and capabilities, Paul Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, discussed the U.S. capabilities in responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives, or CBRNE. '[The DoD's] CBRNE response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, and best trained in the world,' Stockton said. […] Among National Guard units, the department has developed civil support teams in each state and territory that are prepared to respond in the instance of an attack by a weapon of mass destruction. […] The department also is establishing three federal response units designed to assist civil authorities in the aftermath of a mass attack. […] Appearing alongside Stockton at the hearing was Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command [Northcom] and North American Aerospace Defense Command, who spoke about Northcom's role regarding mass weapons attacks. 'The employment of a large-scale [CBRNE] device in the homeland has the potential to incur significant loss of life, cause mass panic, inflict large-scale physical and economic damage, and present consequence management challenges greater than those resulting from previous disasters,' he said in a prepared statement. 'Accordingly, Northcom must anticipate the full spectrum of CBRNE incidents that could occur domestically.' […] Northcom […] is responsible for an area of operations that includes the United States, Canada and Mexico." (Press Zoom; 29Jul09) http://presszoom.com/story_149230.html
New Defense Threat Reduction agency director named [Kenneth A. Myers III]
"Kenneth A. Myers III has been selected as the new director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He was sworn in July 27, 2009, at the Pentagon. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton B. Carter, said, 'The selection of Ken Myers as the director of DTRA is another significant step in transforming how we defend against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. He has the right background with 15 years of hands-on nonproliferation, counter-proliferation and arms control experience at the national level to lead the agency in its mission to protect the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and support a safe, secure and reliable deterrent.' Carter added that Myers also brings experience with the Moscow and START treaties; export controls; the U.S. - India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act; and Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act. […] DTRA [with an annual budget of more than $2.8 billion] focuses on reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction through a combination of advanced technology programs and innovative operational methods." (U.S. Department of Defense; 28Jul09)
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12853
11 suspicious letters with white powder sent to N.J. [New Jersey] government offices
"The FBI is investigating 11 suspicious letters containing a white powder that were sent to various New Jersey government offices this month. The letters have been received at police departments and government offices throughout northern New Jersey. The first one came July 17. Letters have been received in Totowa, Clifton, Wayne, Ringwood, Fair Lawn and Woodland Park. All the letters are being tested. The FBI says first three letters tested came back negative for biological agents and no injuries have been reported." (Fox News; 27Jul09; Source: AP) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534975,00.html?test=latestnews
Arabs, Kurds Should Take Advantage of U.S. Help, Gates Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Arab and Kurdish Iraqis should take advantage of the remaining time U.S. forces will be in the country to work out their differences, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said to Kurdish President Massoud Barzani here today. Gates met with Kurdish Regional Government leaders at their version of the White House, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. Gates -- accompanied by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq -- congratulated Kurdish officials for last week's free and fair elections and said the Kurdish people always have been good friends of the United States.
Under the U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed in December, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Gates urged Kurdish leaders here today and Iraqi government leaders in Baghdad yesterday to take advantage of the remaining American presence to work through their disagreements. Gates delivered the same message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The issues include a law governing distribution of oil revenue, internal boundaries and security. Morrell said Gates asked the leaders "to reach sustainable agreements on these issues." Gates said the United States supports the United Nations task force set up with Arab and Kurdish Iraqis to work through these disagreements.
The disagreements between Kurds and Arabs run deep in Iraq. Saddam Hussein's regime persecuted the Kurds and tried to "Arabize" whole sections of the country, especially the area around oil-rich Kirkuk. Saddam cleared out Kurdish areas and gave the land to Arab families, launched chemical attacks against Kurdish towns and drove thousands out of the nation.
Gates acknowledged this history during his meetings, Morrell said. "He noted that at every negotiating table, history has a seat," the press secretary said. "The challenge is to put history at the end of the table, and think about the future, rather than the past."
Gates assured Kurdish and Arab leaders that the United States is prepared to offer any help it can "to resolve the disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with the [Iraqi] constitution," Morrell said. "He reminded his hosts that all of us have sacrificed too much in blood and treasure to see the gains of the last few years lost due to political differences."
An outbreak of violence between Kurdish and Iraqi national security forces would adversely impact the progress the country has made, he added.
Kirkuk is the main flash point between the regional and national government, but not the only one. Kurdish and Iraqi security forces have had confrontations, but they have not escalated to violence. U.S., Iraqi and Kurdish officials are working closely in coordination centers to ensure confrontations are avoided or resolved peacefully, Odierno said during an interview yesterday. The general also said the Arab-Kurd issue is the main driver of instability in Iraq today.
Morrell said the secretary came away from meetings in Baghdad and here believing that all parties want to take advantage of the U.S. offer to deal with these issues sooner rather than later.
"He's optimistic that there can be follow-through on these issues," Morrell said. "They are very difficult issues, and the clock is ticking on our presence in Iraq. He is very much encouraging both sides to get down to work as soon as possible."
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Arab and Kurdish Iraqis should take advantage of the remaining time U.S. forces will be in the country to work out their differences, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said to Kurdish President Massoud Barzani here today. Gates met with Kurdish Regional Government leaders at their version of the White House, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. Gates -- accompanied by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq -- congratulated Kurdish officials for last week's free and fair elections and said the Kurdish people always have been good friends of the United States.
Under the U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed in December, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Gates urged Kurdish leaders here today and Iraqi government leaders in Baghdad yesterday to take advantage of the remaining American presence to work through their disagreements. Gates delivered the same message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The issues include a law governing distribution of oil revenue, internal boundaries and security. Morrell said Gates asked the leaders "to reach sustainable agreements on these issues." Gates said the United States supports the United Nations task force set up with Arab and Kurdish Iraqis to work through these disagreements.
The disagreements between Kurds and Arabs run deep in Iraq. Saddam Hussein's regime persecuted the Kurds and tried to "Arabize" whole sections of the country, especially the area around oil-rich Kirkuk. Saddam cleared out Kurdish areas and gave the land to Arab families, launched chemical attacks against Kurdish towns and drove thousands out of the nation.
Gates acknowledged this history during his meetings, Morrell said. "He noted that at every negotiating table, history has a seat," the press secretary said. "The challenge is to put history at the end of the table, and think about the future, rather than the past."
Gates assured Kurdish and Arab leaders that the United States is prepared to offer any help it can "to resolve the disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with the [Iraqi] constitution," Morrell said. "He reminded his hosts that all of us have sacrificed too much in blood and treasure to see the gains of the last few years lost due to political differences."
An outbreak of violence between Kurdish and Iraqi national security forces would adversely impact the progress the country has made, he added.
Kirkuk is the main flash point between the regional and national government, but not the only one. Kurdish and Iraqi security forces have had confrontations, but they have not escalated to violence. U.S., Iraqi and Kurdish officials are working closely in coordination centers to ensure confrontations are avoided or resolved peacefully, Odierno said during an interview yesterday. The general also said the Arab-Kurd issue is the main driver of instability in Iraq today.
Morrell said the secretary came away from meetings in Baghdad and here believing that all parties want to take advantage of the U.S. offer to deal with these issues sooner rather than later.
"He's optimistic that there can be follow-through on these issues," Morrell said. "They are very difficult issues, and the clock is ticking on our presence in Iraq. He is very much encouraging both sides to get down to work as soon as possible."
Gates Says Iraq Drawdown May Accelerate Moderately
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said conditions in Iraq have improved to the extent that the U.S. combat brigade drawdown from the country may accelerate. "I think there is at least a chance of a modest acceleration" in the drawdown schedule, Gates said during a news roundtable today.
Gates visited Iraq yesterday and today, and was pleased with the progress being made. As part of the U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed in December, American forces turned over responsibility for security inside all Iraqi cities and villages to Iraqi security forces by June 30.
Gates said the process has gone remarkably well. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said yesterday that all trends are positive, and that Iraqi security forces have shouldered the security burden and run with it.
The modest acceleration may mean one additional U.S. brigade comes out before the Iraqi elections in January. Fourteen U.S. brigades are in Iraq. Plans had called for two to redeploy without being replaced by the end of the year. The acceleration may mean a third can return home without being replaced. This means by the end of the year, only 11 American brigades would be in Iraq.
Any drawdown, Gates said, depends on continued security progress. Ultimately, the redeployment decision will be made only after Odierno's advice, the secretary said, noting that many things still can go wrong. Arab-Kurd tensions, for example, could derail the progress made in Iraq.
"I don't want to put the general of the spot, because it really depends on circumstances that may or may not happen," Gates said. "But I mention it only because I think it is an indicator of his view that things are going pretty well following June 30."
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said conditions in Iraq have improved to the extent that the U.S. combat brigade drawdown from the country may accelerate. "I think there is at least a chance of a modest acceleration" in the drawdown schedule, Gates said during a news roundtable today.
Gates visited Iraq yesterday and today, and was pleased with the progress being made. As part of the U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed in December, American forces turned over responsibility for security inside all Iraqi cities and villages to Iraqi security forces by June 30.
Gates said the process has gone remarkably well. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said yesterday that all trends are positive, and that Iraqi security forces have shouldered the security burden and run with it.
The modest acceleration may mean one additional U.S. brigade comes out before the Iraqi elections in January. Fourteen U.S. brigades are in Iraq. Plans had called for two to redeploy without being replaced by the end of the year. The acceleration may mean a third can return home without being replaced. This means by the end of the year, only 11 American brigades would be in Iraq.
Any drawdown, Gates said, depends on continued security progress. Ultimately, the redeployment decision will be made only after Odierno's advice, the secretary said, noting that many things still can go wrong. Arab-Kurd tensions, for example, could derail the progress made in Iraq.
"I don't want to put the general of the spot, because it really depends on circumstances that may or may not happen," Gates said. "But I mention it only because I think it is an indicator of his view that things are going pretty well following June 30."
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Samuel NassoSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Marine Corps Maj. Richard "Bart" Bartolomea says he feels at home serving with his brother, Bill, in an operational environment. "It's awesome," he said. "I brought the board games, but haven't had the chance to break them out yet." The officer in charge of the Scan Eagle detachment from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan, Bart was commissioned as a Marine officer after earning a bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University in 1994.
Bill, known as "Chakka," is the director of the department of safety standardization for Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 169. He also earned a degree from Penn State, graduating in 1995.
As many boys do, the brothers aspired to be professional athletes. But once high school rolled around, Bart had become became interested in aviation and had aircraft posters covering his walls.
"When I was in high school, "Top Gun" came out, and I imagined what it would be like to be a pilot," he said.
The military already had a prominent role in the Bartolomea family. Their father, Richard Bartolomea, and their uncle, James Craft, joined the Marine Corps in 1967. Even though Craft wasn't related to the family at the time, he was a significant influence in why the boys joined the Marine Corps.
"Uncle Jim went to college with our father and encouraged him to join the Corps with him," said Bart, whose father was an infantry officer in Vietnam. "Twenty-six years later, our father retired as a lieutenant colonel, and here we are now in Afghanistan."
So when the time came, the decision to join wasn't too difficult.
"After growing up in Quantico and observing my dad and his friends when I was younger, it was an easy decision when I actually thought about it," Bill said.
"Bill actually knew what he wanted to do," Bart noted. "He didn't join because I did; he was enrolled in the ROTC at Penn State for a while."
With their father working at Penn State as the director of sports camp and managing the ROTC program, it seemed military service was inevitable.
"After I got my degree I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I went and talked to my father," Bart said. "I told him I didn't really want to pursue journalism and I wanted to go to law school. He told me that I would have to pay for it, so that was out of the question. Then he asked me if I ever thought about the Marine Corps."
Both brothers not only were commissioned as Marine Corps officers, but also became pilots. Bill started flying AH-1W Super Cobras in 1997, and Bart started flying CH-53Ds in the same year. Bart eventually transitioned into flying Cobras 10 years later and transitioned again to fly unmanned aerial vehicles.
"Flying UAVs is neat, but after flying a Cobra, there's nothing really like it," Bart said. With different billets but the same line of work, it was just a matter of time until the brothers encountered each other in the fleet.
"It is really cool," Bart said. "One day I was watching a few Cobras complete a mission with our UAVs, and later that day I asked my brother if he was flying. He said he was, and I told him I watched him with our UAVs. Even though I am not flying Cobras at the moment, I still get to operate with my UAVs and watch my brother fly his Cobra."
This is Bart's first deployment and Bill's fifth. When it comes down to it, the brothers are here to complete their duties as Marines.
"The reason why I am here is to provide air support for the grounds guys," Bill said. "Whether you're a grunt or with [the combat logistics battalion] or whatever, our mission is the same: to provide air support for all of our Marines."
The brothers are happy to be deployed at the same time, and their families fully support them.
"Our mother was a Marine Corps wife for a while, and she helps my wife and Bart's wife when they need anything," Bill said.
Although they may not be working side by side, the "Bart Brothers" patrol the skies over Afghanistan's Helmand province, flying top cover for servicemembers helping to free the local population from the intimidation and aggression of insurgents.
(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Samuel Nasso serves with Marine Air Group 40.)
Renovations Start on Iraqi Water Treatment Plant
By Army Sgt. Joshua RisnerSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Renovations have begun on a water treatment plant near the villages of Hitaween and Adamiyah, Iraq. The sparsely populated, rural patch of land west of Baghdad relies heavily on the facility for its drinking water. "[The plant] was run-down and hadn't been maintained," said Army Capt. Chris Coates of the 1st Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. "We're providing funding to refurbish some of the machinery, build up the area a little bit and improve the water capacity it can handle to get more water to all the outlying villages in the area."
Local sheiks and key leaders were invited to a July 27 ceremony that involved a chance to meet with coalition and Iraqi security forces and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the beginning of renovations.
Army Capt. Jay Smith, commander of the battalion's Company C, said the Iraqi people wasted no time getting started on the coalition-funded project. "They went straight to work," he said. "We cut the ribbon, and they got their equipment out and started right up."
Security improvement in the area has made the project possible, Smith noted. The Iraqi army's ability to cooperate with the "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group is the biggest story, Smith added.
"The security has improved so much that we're able to concentrate on things like fixing the water treatment plant," he said.
(Army Sgt. Joshua Risner serves in the Multinational Division Baghdad public affairs office.)
Official Underscores Commitment to Close Detention Center
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - The Defense Department remains committed to meeting President Barack Obama's one-year timeline to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon's top lawyer said yesterday. "A bipartisan cross section of distinguished Americans has called for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, and has done so for a period of years," Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department's general counsel, said before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "The president imposed a deadline on us for closing Guantanamo Bay, and we remain committed to meeting that deadline, and we're confident we'll get the job done."
Two interagency task forces made up of personnel from the Defense, State, Justice and Homeland Security departments have been reviewing dispositions of detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay and the general detention policy there to determine the best practices for prosecuting the detainees in civilian court.
For the past six months, "these task forces have worked diligently" to collect the necessary information for a comprehensive review of the U.S. detention policy and the status of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Johnson said. The interagency group assigned to reviewing the cases has made recommendations to approve the transfer of more than 50 detainees to other countries.
Reform also has taken place to amend policies within the Military Commissions Act of 2006, Johnson said. Johnson said Obama's administration feels the Senate has identified the issues needed for reform, and that officials are working side by side with Congress to make further changes.
"The Department of Justice and Defense Department were happy that the language was amended to more closely reflect the Classified Information Procedures Act, so that classified information in military commissions prosecution is treated in a manner [and] in a way in which it's treated in federal civilian courts," Johnson said.
The new policy under the National Defense Authorization Act proposes changes that ban in-court use of statements obtained by cruel interrogation methods, which Johnson said will go a long way to enhance the nation's national security and the credibility of military commissions.
Johnson added that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recently announced five changes to the rules for military commissions that will also go a long way toward improving the process. The rule changes follow the Defense Authorization Act and provide detainees greater latitude in choice of counsel, afford basic protection for defendants who refuse to testify, reform the use of hearsay by putting the burden on the party trying to use the statement, and make clear that military judges may determine their own jurisdiction.
Johnson said he and his colleagues are more than pleased with the amendments made by Congress.
"It is our basic view that the [National Defense Authorization Act] identifies virtually all of the elements we believe are important to further improve the military commissions process," he said in his written testimony. "We are confident that through close cooperation between the administration and the Congress, reformed military commissions can emerge from this effort as a fully legitimate forum -- one that allows for the safety and security of participants [and] for the presentation of evidence gathered from the battlefield that cannot always be effectively presented [in civilian courts]."
Johnson also addressed the issue of Guantanamo detainees who cannot be prosecuted in civilian courts but still pose a threat to U.S. national security. Detention of enemy forces captured on the battlefield during war is "an accepted practice under the law of war, to ensure that they not return to the fight," he said.
For this category of people, a thorough process of periodic review must be carefully evaluated and justified, he said, echoing Obama's May 21 address at the National Archives here.
"This president believes that, if any detention of this sort proves necessary, the authority to detain must be rooted firmly in authorization granted by Congress," he said.
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - The Defense Department remains committed to meeting President Barack Obama's one-year timeline to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon's top lawyer said yesterday. "A bipartisan cross section of distinguished Americans has called for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, and has done so for a period of years," Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department's general counsel, said before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "The president imposed a deadline on us for closing Guantanamo Bay, and we remain committed to meeting that deadline, and we're confident we'll get the job done."
Two interagency task forces made up of personnel from the Defense, State, Justice and Homeland Security departments have been reviewing dispositions of detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay and the general detention policy there to determine the best practices for prosecuting the detainees in civilian court.
For the past six months, "these task forces have worked diligently" to collect the necessary information for a comprehensive review of the U.S. detention policy and the status of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Johnson said. The interagency group assigned to reviewing the cases has made recommendations to approve the transfer of more than 50 detainees to other countries.
Reform also has taken place to amend policies within the Military Commissions Act of 2006, Johnson said. Johnson said Obama's administration feels the Senate has identified the issues needed for reform, and that officials are working side by side with Congress to make further changes.
"The Department of Justice and Defense Department were happy that the language was amended to more closely reflect the Classified Information Procedures Act, so that classified information in military commissions prosecution is treated in a manner [and] in a way in which it's treated in federal civilian courts," Johnson said.
The new policy under the National Defense Authorization Act proposes changes that ban in-court use of statements obtained by cruel interrogation methods, which Johnson said will go a long way to enhance the nation's national security and the credibility of military commissions.
Johnson added that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recently announced five changes to the rules for military commissions that will also go a long way toward improving the process. The rule changes follow the Defense Authorization Act and provide detainees greater latitude in choice of counsel, afford basic protection for defendants who refuse to testify, reform the use of hearsay by putting the burden on the party trying to use the statement, and make clear that military judges may determine their own jurisdiction.
Johnson said he and his colleagues are more than pleased with the amendments made by Congress.
"It is our basic view that the [National Defense Authorization Act] identifies virtually all of the elements we believe are important to further improve the military commissions process," he said in his written testimony. "We are confident that through close cooperation between the administration and the Congress, reformed military commissions can emerge from this effort as a fully legitimate forum -- one that allows for the safety and security of participants [and] for the presentation of evidence gathered from the battlefield that cannot always be effectively presented [in civilian courts]."
Johnson also addressed the issue of Guantanamo detainees who cannot be prosecuted in civilian courts but still pose a threat to U.S. national security. Detention of enemy forces captured on the battlefield during war is "an accepted practice under the law of war, to ensure that they not return to the fight," he said.
For this category of people, a thorough process of periodic review must be carefully evaluated and justified, he said, echoing Obama's May 21 address at the National Archives here.
"This president believes that, if any detention of this sort proves necessary, the authority to detain must be rooted firmly in authorization granted by Congress," he said.
Navy Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew Scott Charpentier, 21, of Great Falls, Mont., died July 23 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla., from a non-combat related illness incurred while assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
For further information related to this release, contact Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 462-4316, ext. 252, or email Susan.Henson@navy.mil .
Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew Scott Charpentier, 21, of Great Falls, Mont., died July 23 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla., from a non-combat related illness incurred while assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
For further information related to this release, contact Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 462-4316, ext. 252, or email Susan.Henson@navy.mil .
Gates Encouraged by Iraqi Accomplishments, Goals
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he is heartened by his visit to Iraq, and that he urged Arab and Kurd Iraqis to use the good offices of the United States to help solve their problems. Gates said he is so encouraged by the situation in Iraq that American forces may speed up their drawdown, with an additional brigade coming out of the country before the elections in January. He said his view was bolstered by conversations with Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq.
Gates visited Talil, Iraq, yesterday, meeting with U.S. and Iraqi troops and commanders. It was his chance to see the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade work with their Iraqi counterparts in the new security environment. The Fort Bliss, Texas-based brigade is the first advisory and assistance brigade in Iraq, forging a new way of dealing with Iraqi security forces.
The brigade "re-missioned five months ago, and I was very encouraged by the nature of the Iraqi and American cooperation," Gates said. "They were working together and had a clear understanding of each side's obligations and responsibilities under the security agreement."
After just 28 days, the American commander in the region told Gates that the new environment actually increased the effectiveness of operations since it began June 30.
"One thing that came through loud and clear is the success of this agreement has depended on the degree that both American and Iraqi commanders have educated and trained their subordinate commanders in the terms of the security agreement," he said. "It has certainly been the view of General Odierno, and based on my conversations with the troops and other commanders, this has gone considerably better than our expectations. There will be the occasional hiccup by someone who doesn't get the word, but on the whole, I'm very pleased."
In Baghdad, Gates met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir. During the meeting, he spoke about moving the security relationship forward, including talks about additional equipment and vehicles for the Iraqi security forces.
He also discussed the importance of resolving important issues inside the country between Arab and Kurd Iraqis. The big differences are on borders, security and sharing Iraq's oil wealth. He stressed that the time is now for resolving some of these problems, because the United States will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
Gates said he shared the same message in Erbil, Iraq, today with Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani and other Kurdish officials. "We want to help them to resolve all these issues peacefully," the secretary said, "and do so sooner rather than later."
The differences can be bridged, the secretary said. "I think it's important that both the government in Baghdad and the Kurds pursue them through political means, and both seem to understand the importance of continuing to do that," he said.
January's Iraqi elections may change the political landscape in the country, but that is not an excuse to avoid discussions, the secretary said. "If they can continue the dialogue on the issues and perhaps narrow their differences," he said, "then solutions could come pretty quickly after the Iraqi elections."
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he is heartened by his visit to Iraq, and that he urged Arab and Kurd Iraqis to use the good offices of the United States to help solve their problems. Gates said he is so encouraged by the situation in Iraq that American forces may speed up their drawdown, with an additional brigade coming out of the country before the elections in January. He said his view was bolstered by conversations with Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq.
Gates visited Talil, Iraq, yesterday, meeting with U.S. and Iraqi troops and commanders. It was his chance to see the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade work with their Iraqi counterparts in the new security environment. The Fort Bliss, Texas-based brigade is the first advisory and assistance brigade in Iraq, forging a new way of dealing with Iraqi security forces.
The brigade "re-missioned five months ago, and I was very encouraged by the nature of the Iraqi and American cooperation," Gates said. "They were working together and had a clear understanding of each side's obligations and responsibilities under the security agreement."
After just 28 days, the American commander in the region told Gates that the new environment actually increased the effectiveness of operations since it began June 30.
"One thing that came through loud and clear is the success of this agreement has depended on the degree that both American and Iraqi commanders have educated and trained their subordinate commanders in the terms of the security agreement," he said. "It has certainly been the view of General Odierno, and based on my conversations with the troops and other commanders, this has gone considerably better than our expectations. There will be the occasional hiccup by someone who doesn't get the word, but on the whole, I'm very pleased."
In Baghdad, Gates met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir. During the meeting, he spoke about moving the security relationship forward, including talks about additional equipment and vehicles for the Iraqi security forces.
He also discussed the importance of resolving important issues inside the country between Arab and Kurd Iraqis. The big differences are on borders, security and sharing Iraq's oil wealth. He stressed that the time is now for resolving some of these problems, because the United States will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
Gates said he shared the same message in Erbil, Iraq, today with Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani and other Kurdish officials. "We want to help them to resolve all these issues peacefully," the secretary said, "and do so sooner rather than later."
The differences can be bridged, the secretary said. "I think it's important that both the government in Baghdad and the Kurds pursue them through political means, and both seem to understand the importance of continuing to do that," he said.
January's Iraqi elections may change the political landscape in the country, but that is not an excuse to avoid discussions, the secretary said. "If they can continue the dialogue on the issues and perhaps narrow their differences," he said, "then solutions could come pretty quickly after the Iraqi elections."
Training Takes Center Stage in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - Training is at the forefront of the new U.S. advisory role in Iraq, and that includes educating both Iraqis and Americans on everything from cultural awareness to flight skills, military officials say. The Iraqi Defense Ministry's Ministerial Training and Development Center held its first cultural awareness course July 26 under the direction of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq – known as MNSTC-I -- for those in the command who are not Iraqi advisors.
The center opened in 2007 as a partnership school with Iraqi instructors and U.S. advisors, and hosts a two-day course for new coalition advisors to give them the confidence and essential skills they need to be effective, officials said. The one-day class July 26 was designed to fulfill a key element of the U.S.-Iraq security agreement that calls for strategic partnerships in fields such as culture.
"This course is designed specifically for people at MNSTC-I who aren't assigned to advisor positions, but who nevertheless want to learn more about the culture and history of Iraq," said Air Force Lt. Col. Sandra Kolb, chief of the training and development branch of the training and advisory mission at the Iraqi Defense Ministry. "We feel that if you are serving in Iraq with MNSTC-I, you should have the opportunity to receive some formal instruction in its culture and history, and from teachers who are Iraqi."
The center's superintendent agreed. "I think that Americans want to learn Iraqi culture and history from Iraqis, as opposed to other Americans," Cassidy Craft said. Kolb noted that end-of-course surveys for the two-day advisor course reveal that some attendees enroll just to get the cultural and historical sections of that class, even though they did not really need to take the full advisor course.
The class opened with a lesson in Iraq's basic geography, including a look at each province's unique features. A section on the notable rulers of Iraq and the Iraqi mindset took a look at past leaders from Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II to Saddam Hussein.
"In the class on notable rulers of Iraq, the instructor asked us who our heroes are," said Army Maj. Patrick Swan, a MNSTC-I staff officer who took the class. "Upon reflection, I nominate the instructors themselves. At great risk to their own security, they teach at the MTDC. These instructors do this despite the threats to their lives from terrorists who want the Iraq republic to fail. These instructors do this for the benefit of Iraqi students who will be a future generation of Iraqi leaders in the various ministries. "
The Arabic language-and-phrases section allowed students to engage in basic dialogue and introduced some common Iraqi slang phrases.
The topic of marriage and family allowed students to see the process of an engagement and marriage in Iraqi Islamic society. One instructor brought first-hand experience to the subject by sharing that he was going through the lengthy marriage process.
The marriage and family sections and the lessons on gender issues in Iraq brought the greatest exchange of ideas between students and instructors, who did not shy away from inquiring about the sensitive subjects of the cultural differences between the West and the Islamic culture of Iraq.
Iraqis receive similar instruction on American culture, with classes such as "The Role of Religion in the West," which recently began at the center to give the Iraqis a better understanding of how religion affects Western culture. Chaplains from all over Iraq came to share in the introduction of Western religion to the class participants.
Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Steen, a MNSTC-I chaplain, began the discussion by telling the group that religion will always be a part of the Western culture. "And because of the many different religions in the Western culture, we have to respect the different religious beliefs and practices of others," he said. "Different faiths come together to share a common goal -- human beings caring for human beings."
Meanwhile, skills-based training continues in Iraq.
Pilots of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, have found an equalizer in the challenges of flying the AH-64 Apache Longbow in the Apache Longbow Crew Trainer - a highly realistic simulator used for individual and multi-ship operations.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steve Donahue, battalion master gunner and standardization instruction pilot, said the simulator is one of the brigade's most important pieces of equipment. With it, he can familiarize pilots new to the combat zone on sudden weather changes, possible equipment failure and unexpected combat situations, all within the safety of the base.
"The simulator helps pilots prioritize required tasks while engaging targets in a fluid environment," Donahue said. "I can watch how they maintain the safety of the aircraft and crew and do everything they need to do."
Inside the cool darkness of the simulator, housed in a container near the Contingency Operating Base Speicher flightline, conditions are preset. The pilot sits at the controls in front of three large screens where the scenario is played out. Time can be stopped, backed up and replayed. Fuel and ammunition can be in abundance or short supply.
The simulator is a stepping stone for new aviators when they first come to Iraq, Donahue explained.
"We can give an aviator unlimited amounts of fuel and ammunition and targets," he said. "We can freeze time without slowing range time or risking crew or equipment while they are in the learning stage."
Army Capt. Jeremy Duff, commander of the 1-10th ARB's Headquarters Company, agreed, saying that although nothing can simulate real combat and how an aircraft will handle taking combat damage, the ability to pause in flight and run the same situation over and over can increase a pilot's skills tremendously before going into action.
"In the beginning, you can see pilots get frustrated as they handle emergencies, and then, as they get more proficient, they become more comfortable with themselves and what to do," Duff said. "That's where you get the learning benefit. How many people know themselves well enough to know what they need to work on? They may not be aware of their shortcomings."
The key is 20/20 hindsight. During pauses, pilots and trainers can talk about what could have been done differently and how to proceed for the rest of the mission.
"We can run the same mission again," Donahue said, "and practice emergency procedures, gunning and tactical employment. For instance, we've helped crews make a dramatic improvement in the amount of time it takes to complete the task of putting missiles on target through repetition."
The trainer also is used to prepare pilots for a change of stations and includes scenarios for Fort Rucker, Ala.; the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.; the Army's Combat Support Training Center at Fort Hunter-Liggett, Calif.; and Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea and Kosovo.
(Compiled from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq and Multinational Division North news releases.)
July 29, 2009 - Training is at the forefront of the new U.S. advisory role in Iraq, and that includes educating both Iraqis and Americans on everything from cultural awareness to flight skills, military officials say. The Iraqi Defense Ministry's Ministerial Training and Development Center held its first cultural awareness course July 26 under the direction of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq – known as MNSTC-I -- for those in the command who are not Iraqi advisors.
The center opened in 2007 as a partnership school with Iraqi instructors and U.S. advisors, and hosts a two-day course for new coalition advisors to give them the confidence and essential skills they need to be effective, officials said. The one-day class July 26 was designed to fulfill a key element of the U.S.-Iraq security agreement that calls for strategic partnerships in fields such as culture.
"This course is designed specifically for people at MNSTC-I who aren't assigned to advisor positions, but who nevertheless want to learn more about the culture and history of Iraq," said Air Force Lt. Col. Sandra Kolb, chief of the training and development branch of the training and advisory mission at the Iraqi Defense Ministry. "We feel that if you are serving in Iraq with MNSTC-I, you should have the opportunity to receive some formal instruction in its culture and history, and from teachers who are Iraqi."
The center's superintendent agreed. "I think that Americans want to learn Iraqi culture and history from Iraqis, as opposed to other Americans," Cassidy Craft said. Kolb noted that end-of-course surveys for the two-day advisor course reveal that some attendees enroll just to get the cultural and historical sections of that class, even though they did not really need to take the full advisor course.
The class opened with a lesson in Iraq's basic geography, including a look at each province's unique features. A section on the notable rulers of Iraq and the Iraqi mindset took a look at past leaders from Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II to Saddam Hussein.
"In the class on notable rulers of Iraq, the instructor asked us who our heroes are," said Army Maj. Patrick Swan, a MNSTC-I staff officer who took the class. "Upon reflection, I nominate the instructors themselves. At great risk to their own security, they teach at the MTDC. These instructors do this despite the threats to their lives from terrorists who want the Iraq republic to fail. These instructors do this for the benefit of Iraqi students who will be a future generation of Iraqi leaders in the various ministries. "
The Arabic language-and-phrases section allowed students to engage in basic dialogue and introduced some common Iraqi slang phrases.
The topic of marriage and family allowed students to see the process of an engagement and marriage in Iraqi Islamic society. One instructor brought first-hand experience to the subject by sharing that he was going through the lengthy marriage process.
The marriage and family sections and the lessons on gender issues in Iraq brought the greatest exchange of ideas between students and instructors, who did not shy away from inquiring about the sensitive subjects of the cultural differences between the West and the Islamic culture of Iraq.
Iraqis receive similar instruction on American culture, with classes such as "The Role of Religion in the West," which recently began at the center to give the Iraqis a better understanding of how religion affects Western culture. Chaplains from all over Iraq came to share in the introduction of Western religion to the class participants.
Army Chaplain (Maj.) William Steen, a MNSTC-I chaplain, began the discussion by telling the group that religion will always be a part of the Western culture. "And because of the many different religions in the Western culture, we have to respect the different religious beliefs and practices of others," he said. "Different faiths come together to share a common goal -- human beings caring for human beings."
Meanwhile, skills-based training continues in Iraq.
Pilots of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, have found an equalizer in the challenges of flying the AH-64 Apache Longbow in the Apache Longbow Crew Trainer - a highly realistic simulator used for individual and multi-ship operations.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steve Donahue, battalion master gunner and standardization instruction pilot, said the simulator is one of the brigade's most important pieces of equipment. With it, he can familiarize pilots new to the combat zone on sudden weather changes, possible equipment failure and unexpected combat situations, all within the safety of the base.
"The simulator helps pilots prioritize required tasks while engaging targets in a fluid environment," Donahue said. "I can watch how they maintain the safety of the aircraft and crew and do everything they need to do."
Inside the cool darkness of the simulator, housed in a container near the Contingency Operating Base Speicher flightline, conditions are preset. The pilot sits at the controls in front of three large screens where the scenario is played out. Time can be stopped, backed up and replayed. Fuel and ammunition can be in abundance or short supply.
The simulator is a stepping stone for new aviators when they first come to Iraq, Donahue explained.
"We can give an aviator unlimited amounts of fuel and ammunition and targets," he said. "We can freeze time without slowing range time or risking crew or equipment while they are in the learning stage."
Army Capt. Jeremy Duff, commander of the 1-10th ARB's Headquarters Company, agreed, saying that although nothing can simulate real combat and how an aircraft will handle taking combat damage, the ability to pause in flight and run the same situation over and over can increase a pilot's skills tremendously before going into action.
"In the beginning, you can see pilots get frustrated as they handle emergencies, and then, as they get more proficient, they become more comfortable with themselves and what to do," Duff said. "That's where you get the learning benefit. How many people know themselves well enough to know what they need to work on? They may not be aware of their shortcomings."
The key is 20/20 hindsight. During pauses, pilots and trainers can talk about what could have been done differently and how to proceed for the rest of the mission.
"We can run the same mission again," Donahue said, "and practice emergency procedures, gunning and tactical employment. For instance, we've helped crews make a dramatic improvement in the amount of time it takes to complete the task of putting missiles on target through repetition."
The trainer also is used to prepare pilots for a change of stations and includes scenarios for Fort Rucker, Ala.; the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.; the Army's Combat Support Training Center at Fort Hunter-Liggett, Calif.; and Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea and Kosovo.
(Compiled from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq and Multinational Division North news releases.)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Air Force to Assess Iraqi Air Defense Needs
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The Air Force is sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011. The Air Force team is expected in the country shortly, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said during a roundtable with reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today.
The Iraqis probably will not be able to field advanced air-to-air manned interceptors by the time U.S. forces leave the country at the end of 2011, the general said. The U.S. team will work with Iraqi officials to look for creative solutions to the problem, the general said.
The Iraqi army is well on its way to being a professional force under civilian government control. The Iraqi navy is getting 15 patrol boats from the U.S. Navy and has three ships coming from the Italian navy. This will allow the Iraqis to defend the all-important oil terminal in Iraqi waters.
But air defense is another matter. Defending its airspace is a huge undertaking for Iraq. The government must procure suitable aircraft that can intercept other jets. The pilots must be trained, infrastructure must be built, and mechanics must be instructed. The logistics trail also must be established. Procuring new aircraft in time for the American withdrawal would not provide the requisite capabilities they would entail.
And an air defense system is more than just planes. Radars, a communications system and command structure also must be built.
"We're going to bring this team over here to try and get them some creative solutions that might allow them to have some capacity by 2011," Odierno said, citing use of retired U.S. F-16 fighters or the purchase of aircraft from other countries as possible steps in the process.
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The Air Force is sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011. The Air Force team is expected in the country shortly, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said during a roundtable with reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today.
The Iraqis probably will not be able to field advanced air-to-air manned interceptors by the time U.S. forces leave the country at the end of 2011, the general said. The U.S. team will work with Iraqi officials to look for creative solutions to the problem, the general said.
The Iraqi army is well on its way to being a professional force under civilian government control. The Iraqi navy is getting 15 patrol boats from the U.S. Navy and has three ships coming from the Italian navy. This will allow the Iraqis to defend the all-important oil terminal in Iraqi waters.
But air defense is another matter. Defending its airspace is a huge undertaking for Iraq. The government must procure suitable aircraft that can intercept other jets. The pilots must be trained, infrastructure must be built, and mechanics must be instructed. The logistics trail also must be established. Procuring new aircraft in time for the American withdrawal would not provide the requisite capabilities they would entail.
And an air defense system is more than just planes. Radars, a communications system and command structure also must be built.
"We're going to bring this team over here to try and get them some creative solutions that might allow them to have some capacity by 2011," Odierno said, citing use of retired U.S. F-16 fighters or the purchase of aircraft from other countries as possible steps in the process.
Odierno Says Iraqi Response Paves Way for More Progress
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The commander of Multinational Forces Iraq said today he's extremely pleased with the way Iraqi security forces have stepped to the plate following the June 30 withdrawal of American forces from the cities and towns of the country. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said he is on track to fulfill the mission he and his command of 130,000 Americans in the country have received. "I've been given very clear guidance: one is that we will have a change of mission on Aug. 31, 2010, and we will no longer have a combat mission," he said during an interview at the Al Faw Palace here. "And by Dec. 31, 2011, all U.S. troops will have left Iraq."
Trend lines are moving in the right direction, with overall incidents in July down from June, which was down from May, the general said. High-profile attacks also will be down in July, and casualties are fewer than in past months, he added. "All indicators are right," Odierno said. "It's not perfect -- we've had some growing pains -- but I will tell you we've worked through those over time."
The turnover of responsibility to Iraqi security forces is itself important, the general said. The fact that the United States is executing the agreement signed in December is important in and of itself. "It has sent the message that we are going to abide by the agreement that we signed," he said.
Iraqi and American commanders worked together to get past difficulties in implementing the agreement, Odierno said. On July 9, Army Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, and Gen. Ali Giban, the Iraqi ground forces commander, held a historic video teleconference including 500 Iraqi and American commanders. They resolved many of the issues with the agreement at that time, which has helped the process go so smoothly since then.
The change has improved relationships between Iraqi and American commanders. "The Iraqi commanders have realized that the better their relationships with the U.S. counterparts, the more successful they will be," Odierno said. "We're really seeing the relationships improve."
The area that most concerns the general is northern Iraq. The Arab-Kurd issue is the main "driver of instability" in the country today, he said. Insurgent groups are trying to exploit the Kurd-Arab tensions in the north, especially in Iraq's Kirkuk and Ninevah provinces. "We watch very carefully that this doesn't escalate so this doesn't cause some sort of ethnic violence," he said. "We've not seen that so far."
Arabs and Kurds have had discussions, and with the conclusion of the elections in the Kurdish Regional Government last week, the general said, he hopes a high-level Kurdish-Arab group under United Nations auspices will help to solve areas of disagreement between the two sides.
U.S. forces also are working through a mindset change due to the withdrawal from the cities and towns, a change that takes into account "the fact that [the Iraqis] are in the lead, the fact that we do every operation jointly and we do no unilateral operations, to include special operations missions," Odierno said.
American troops have the inherent right to self defense, and will retain that, Odierno said. But in everything else, he added, it means that the Iraqis are in the lead. This was a bigger change in Mosul and some parts of Baghdad than it was in other parts of the country.
"There are those who have had more trouble than others [in embracing the new mindset]," he said, "but overall, I've been very happy that the majority have been able to make the adjustment."
The idea is to finish the mission with honor and success, the general said.
The change, Odierno noted, is something for American servicemembers to celebrate.
"When I got here as the corps commander in November 2006, I would never have dreamed that we would have some this far," he said, noting the Sunni-Shiia struggle that permeated the country at the time. Now, the unified Iraqi force is responsible for security.
American servicemembers must realize this success is because of their sacrifices, and none of this progress would have happened without them, the general said.
The improved position in Iraq has allowed the U.S. military to increase the effort in Afghanistan. The security situation in Iraq is such that forces now are flowing into Afghanistan -- long considered the secondary front. Odierno acknowledged some bumps in the road in that effort, however, especially with some enablers such as engineers and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets. Odierno also acknowledged that "there will have to be some hard decisions made" if serious problems arise in Iraq as troops are flowing in to Afghanistan.
The election coming up in January is the key to Iraq, the general said. "If we have a successful election and there is a peaceful transition of power," he said, "I believe it will make it more difficult [for terror] groups to move the country backward."
The Iraqi people have momentum on their side, the general noted. They've built it by taking over security in the cities and towns and by holding successful provincial elections. If the elections in January are successful, he added, "then the momentum would be very hard to stop."
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The commander of Multinational Forces Iraq said today he's extremely pleased with the way Iraqi security forces have stepped to the plate following the June 30 withdrawal of American forces from the cities and towns of the country. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said he is on track to fulfill the mission he and his command of 130,000 Americans in the country have received. "I've been given very clear guidance: one is that we will have a change of mission on Aug. 31, 2010, and we will no longer have a combat mission," he said during an interview at the Al Faw Palace here. "And by Dec. 31, 2011, all U.S. troops will have left Iraq."
Trend lines are moving in the right direction, with overall incidents in July down from June, which was down from May, the general said. High-profile attacks also will be down in July, and casualties are fewer than in past months, he added. "All indicators are right," Odierno said. "It's not perfect -- we've had some growing pains -- but I will tell you we've worked through those over time."
The turnover of responsibility to Iraqi security forces is itself important, the general said. The fact that the United States is executing the agreement signed in December is important in and of itself. "It has sent the message that we are going to abide by the agreement that we signed," he said.
Iraqi and American commanders worked together to get past difficulties in implementing the agreement, Odierno said. On July 9, Army Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, and Gen. Ali Giban, the Iraqi ground forces commander, held a historic video teleconference including 500 Iraqi and American commanders. They resolved many of the issues with the agreement at that time, which has helped the process go so smoothly since then.
The change has improved relationships between Iraqi and American commanders. "The Iraqi commanders have realized that the better their relationships with the U.S. counterparts, the more successful they will be," Odierno said. "We're really seeing the relationships improve."
The area that most concerns the general is northern Iraq. The Arab-Kurd issue is the main "driver of instability" in the country today, he said. Insurgent groups are trying to exploit the Kurd-Arab tensions in the north, especially in Iraq's Kirkuk and Ninevah provinces. "We watch very carefully that this doesn't escalate so this doesn't cause some sort of ethnic violence," he said. "We've not seen that so far."
Arabs and Kurds have had discussions, and with the conclusion of the elections in the Kurdish Regional Government last week, the general said, he hopes a high-level Kurdish-Arab group under United Nations auspices will help to solve areas of disagreement between the two sides.
U.S. forces also are working through a mindset change due to the withdrawal from the cities and towns, a change that takes into account "the fact that [the Iraqis] are in the lead, the fact that we do every operation jointly and we do no unilateral operations, to include special operations missions," Odierno said.
American troops have the inherent right to self defense, and will retain that, Odierno said. But in everything else, he added, it means that the Iraqis are in the lead. This was a bigger change in Mosul and some parts of Baghdad than it was in other parts of the country.
"There are those who have had more trouble than others [in embracing the new mindset]," he said, "but overall, I've been very happy that the majority have been able to make the adjustment."
The idea is to finish the mission with honor and success, the general said.
The change, Odierno noted, is something for American servicemembers to celebrate.
"When I got here as the corps commander in November 2006, I would never have dreamed that we would have some this far," he said, noting the Sunni-Shiia struggle that permeated the country at the time. Now, the unified Iraqi force is responsible for security.
American servicemembers must realize this success is because of their sacrifices, and none of this progress would have happened without them, the general said.
The improved position in Iraq has allowed the U.S. military to increase the effort in Afghanistan. The security situation in Iraq is such that forces now are flowing into Afghanistan -- long considered the secondary front. Odierno acknowledged some bumps in the road in that effort, however, especially with some enablers such as engineers and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets. Odierno also acknowledged that "there will have to be some hard decisions made" if serious problems arise in Iraq as troops are flowing in to Afghanistan.
The election coming up in January is the key to Iraq, the general said. "If we have a successful election and there is a peaceful transition of power," he said, "I believe it will make it more difficult [for terror] groups to move the country backward."
The Iraqi people have momentum on their side, the general noted. They've built it by taking over security in the cities and towns and by holding successful provincial elections. If the elections in January are successful, he added, "then the momentum would be very hard to stop."
Officials Testify on Capabilities to Defend Against Mass Weapons
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The Defense Department boasts the world's strongest ability to respond to chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, a top Pentagon official said today. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism, unconventional threats and capabilities, Paul Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, discussed the U.S. capabilities in responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives, or CBRNE.
"[The Defense Department's] CBRNE response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, and best trained in the world," Stockton said in prepared testimony submitted to Congress. "During the past eight years, [the department] has developed a wide range of CBRNE response capabilities and has trained to employ these capabilities rapidly in support to civil authorities to help save lives."
Among National Guard units, the department has developed civil support teams in each state and territory that are prepared to respond in the instance of an attack by a weapon of mass destruction, Stockton said.
The department also is establishing three federal response units designed to assist civil authorities in the aftermath of a mass attack. Additionally, other federal forces are at the defense secretary's disposal -- special units such as Army technical escort battalions, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's consequence advisory teams that can provide unique technical support.
"As well, general purpose forces can assist with transportation, medical support, logistics support, evacuation, damage assessment and security," Stockton added. "If necessary, the president has the authority to order up active duty members and units of the reserve components for up to 365 days to assist in responses to CBRNE threats or attacks."
Appearing alongside Stockton at the hearing was Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, who spoke about Northcom's role regarding mass weapons attacks.
"The employment of a large-scale [CBRNE] device in the homeland has the potential to incur significant loss of life, cause mass panic, inflict large-scale physical and economic damage, and present consequence management challenges greater than those resulting from previous disasters," he said in a prepared statement. "Accordingly, Northcom must anticipate the full spectrum of CBRNE incidents that could occur domestically."
Renuart has previously said that anticipating threats is the key to readiness. When he took over Northcom's reins two years ago, he modified the command's mission statement to reflect this notion.
"When I took command, I added one word to the mission statement, and it was 'anticipate,'" Renuart said in a speech last month. "And it forces you to think differently about planning, preparation and prevention. It forces you to think about resiliency."
Northcom, which was established about a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is responsible for an area of operations that includes the United States, Canada and Mexico. It serves as a "one-stop-shopping" point for military support in case of an attack on American soil.
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The Defense Department boasts the world's strongest ability to respond to chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, a top Pentagon official said today. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism, unconventional threats and capabilities, Paul Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, discussed the U.S. capabilities in responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives, or CBRNE.
"[The Defense Department's] CBRNE response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, and best trained in the world," Stockton said in prepared testimony submitted to Congress. "During the past eight years, [the department] has developed a wide range of CBRNE response capabilities and has trained to employ these capabilities rapidly in support to civil authorities to help save lives."
Among National Guard units, the department has developed civil support teams in each state and territory that are prepared to respond in the instance of an attack by a weapon of mass destruction, Stockton said.
The department also is establishing three federal response units designed to assist civil authorities in the aftermath of a mass attack. Additionally, other federal forces are at the defense secretary's disposal -- special units such as Army technical escort battalions, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's consequence advisory teams that can provide unique technical support.
"As well, general purpose forces can assist with transportation, medical support, logistics support, evacuation, damage assessment and security," Stockton added. "If necessary, the president has the authority to order up active duty members and units of the reserve components for up to 365 days to assist in responses to CBRNE threats or attacks."
Appearing alongside Stockton at the hearing was Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, who spoke about Northcom's role regarding mass weapons attacks.
"The employment of a large-scale [CBRNE] device in the homeland has the potential to incur significant loss of life, cause mass panic, inflict large-scale physical and economic damage, and present consequence management challenges greater than those resulting from previous disasters," he said in a prepared statement. "Accordingly, Northcom must anticipate the full spectrum of CBRNE incidents that could occur domestically."
Renuart has previously said that anticipating threats is the key to readiness. When he took over Northcom's reins two years ago, he modified the command's mission statement to reflect this notion.
"When I took command, I added one word to the mission statement, and it was 'anticipate,'" Renuart said in a speech last month. "And it forces you to think differently about planning, preparation and prevention. It forces you to think about resiliency."
Northcom, which was established about a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is responsible for an area of operations that includes the United States, Canada and Mexico. It serves as a "one-stop-shopping" point for military support in case of an attack on American soil.
U.S. Development Team Assesses Afghan Cement Plant
By Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Accompanied by members of Task Force Warrior and Task Force Gladius, a U.S. government business and stability operations team visited the Jabal Saraj Cement Plant in Afghanistan's Parwan province July 25 as part of a fact-finding mission. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Paul Brinkley, director of a business and stability task force, and his team of development experts have worked in Iraq for the past three years building the private business sector, and now are travelling across Afghanistan to determine if the United States can assist Afghans with more employment opportunities.
Islamuddin Ahmadi, the plant's general manager, met with the group and gave a brief tour of the cement plant that employs about 200 workers. The Afghan-Soviet war in the 1980s resulted in damage to the plant's structure, said Ahmadi, who has worked at the plant for the last 30 years.
"The Taliban later forced plant workers at gunpoint to turn on machines in the absence of adequate power, causing other structural problems and damage to equipment," he added.
Due to limited electricity, the plant operates for only one hour per day, but it produces cement and has limited sales.
"We did not expect to see this in Afghanistan," the development experts said, referring to the relatively good working order of the plant and the level of expertise in management.
After the fact-finding mission, Brinkley will report the team's findings to U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry and to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, who requested the mission in an effort to foster economic growth in Afghanistan.
(Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens serves in the Task Force Warrior public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Accompanied by members of Task Force Warrior and Task Force Gladius, a U.S. government business and stability operations team visited the Jabal Saraj Cement Plant in Afghanistan's Parwan province July 25 as part of a fact-finding mission. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Paul Brinkley, director of a business and stability task force, and his team of development experts have worked in Iraq for the past three years building the private business sector, and now are travelling across Afghanistan to determine if the United States can assist Afghans with more employment opportunities.
Islamuddin Ahmadi, the plant's general manager, met with the group and gave a brief tour of the cement plant that employs about 200 workers. The Afghan-Soviet war in the 1980s resulted in damage to the plant's structure, said Ahmadi, who has worked at the plant for the last 30 years.
"The Taliban later forced plant workers at gunpoint to turn on machines in the absence of adequate power, causing other structural problems and damage to equipment," he added.
Due to limited electricity, the plant operates for only one hour per day, but it produces cement and has limited sales.
"We did not expect to see this in Afghanistan," the development experts said, referring to the relatively good working order of the plant and the level of expertise in management.
After the fact-finding mission, Brinkley will report the team's findings to U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry and to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, who requested the mission in an effort to foster economic growth in Afghanistan.
(Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens serves in the Task Force Warrior public affairs office.)
Soldiers, Skylink Arabia Cooperate in Air Operations
By Army Sgt. Frank VaughnSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Air operations here cater to a wide range of travel needs, providing air travel for servicemembers and civilians for mission requirements and leave. As commercial aircraft land and take off at Basra International Airport, servicemembers of 3rd Air Operations Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, and civilian employees of Skylink Arabia work together to ensure it all goes smoothly.
Army Lt. Col. John Kornman, the battalion's commander, said his unit -- activated at Illesheim, Germany in June 2007 -- is one of 10 air operations battalions in the U.S. Army and the first to deploy. The battalions are a new concept in the Army, he added.
"[Our deployment] is a huge step for Iraq as we work with contractors and the Iraqi airport manager to bring [Basra International Airport] up to international standards and enhance commercial travel here," he said.
Kornman made it clear his unit is a tenant of Basra International Airport. While the battalion is responsible for air operations here, he said, its primary role is to strengthen the capabilities of Skylink Arabia.
"We have made big steps to bring the airport up to international standards," he said, noting that an International Civil Aviation Organization inspection is scheduled for November. "We are all working hard to make sure we are ready for it," he added.
Commercial travel will enhance tourism and commerce in the local area, Kornman said, making the battalion's efforts important to Iraq's future.
"We have three to five commercial aircraft a week landing here," he said. "We hope to eventually see as many as 60 a week in the future."
Tony Randerson, station manager for Skylink Arabia, said many local Iraqis already have benefited from the employment opportunities Skylink has to offer.
"We provide, in a joint venture with Iraqis, manpower and technical guidance to help develop operations here," he said. "Iraqis are covering about 50 percent of the air traffic control now."
Army Sgt. 1st Class John Fritz, the battalion's departure and traffic control group noncommissioned officer in-charge, said Iraqis also handle aircraft fueling, traffic control, cleaning, pallet construction and forklift baggage transport.
The cooperation of Iraqi citizens in this effort not only has been an opportunity for employment, but also has been essential for mission success, Kornman said.
"Iraqis are helping us make the operation happen," he said. "We couldn't do this without their efforts."
Fritz said the entire scope of air operations at Basra will eventually be contracted, but a couple of obstacles must be overcome first.
"We still need more manpower," he said. "We also have to get them through the vetting process for security clearances. Once we clear those hurdles, the entire mission will be contracted."
Most of the Iraqis employed by Skylink are in entry-level positions, Paul Greenaway, acting project manager for Skylink, said. "We start them with basic jobs, but we have a training program to allow for advancement," he explained.
Randerson said some workers have shown potential for added responsibility.
"They came to learn," he said. "They seem very eager to get the knowledge they need to succeed at what they do now and potentially promote as they go."
(Army Sgt. Frank Vaughn serves with Multinational Division South.)
Gates Arrives in Iraq to Check New Brigade Set-up
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates began a previously unannounced visit to Iraq with a stop to examine the prototype of the U.S. advisory and assistance brigades. The new brigade is undergoing testing at this dusty Iraqi air base in the southern part of the country. Gates also will meet with Iraqi political leaders and consult with American commanders.
This is the secretary's first look at the revamped brigades. "By the end of August next year, our change of mission really kicks in, and our presence will be built around a half a dozen advisory and assistance brigades," a senior defense official said, speaking on background.
The brigade here is a test-bed for the concept. The first brigade trained in the United States under the new set-up --– the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade --– will deploy later this year.
The brigades are a reorganization of the Army's basic brigade combat teams, officials said, noting that after the Iraqi elections at the end of the year, these new brigades will be the mainstay of American presence in Iraq.
The brigades will advise Iraqi units and will have the firepower to aid Iraqi units if necessary.
The meetings in Iraq follow meetings Gates had in Washington with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki last week. In Washington, the prime minister spoke about a possible role for American troops in Iraq after 2011. The Iraqi-U.S. forces agreement calls for all American troops to be out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011.
The senior defense official said the secretary will not talk about the role of U.S. forces in Iraq after 2011. "We have a security agreement. It calls for us to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011," the senior official said. "The secretary did mention that he looks forward to having a normalized security relationship with Iraq."
Defense Department officials want any security relationship with Iraq to mirror relationships the United States has around the world. Small numbers of U.S. troops are in many countries around the world, training with local forces, teaching new tactics or showing how new equipment can help local militaries, the official said, and the presence of U.S. forces does not typically mean tens of thousands of personnel in bases all over the country.
In the past, Gates has expressed his personal view that "he would see the need for U.S. forces to remain there after 2011," the official said. "But obviously that is strictly predicated on a new bilateral agreement that would allow for such a thing."
For now, the official said, the question is moot, because "until the Iraqis come back and say what they need, we don't even know if this is in the realm of the possible."
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates began a previously unannounced visit to Iraq with a stop to examine the prototype of the U.S. advisory and assistance brigades. The new brigade is undergoing testing at this dusty Iraqi air base in the southern part of the country. Gates also will meet with Iraqi political leaders and consult with American commanders.
This is the secretary's first look at the revamped brigades. "By the end of August next year, our change of mission really kicks in, and our presence will be built around a half a dozen advisory and assistance brigades," a senior defense official said, speaking on background.
The brigade here is a test-bed for the concept. The first brigade trained in the United States under the new set-up --– the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade --– will deploy later this year.
The brigades are a reorganization of the Army's basic brigade combat teams, officials said, noting that after the Iraqi elections at the end of the year, these new brigades will be the mainstay of American presence in Iraq.
The brigades will advise Iraqi units and will have the firepower to aid Iraqi units if necessary.
The meetings in Iraq follow meetings Gates had in Washington with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki last week. In Washington, the prime minister spoke about a possible role for American troops in Iraq after 2011. The Iraqi-U.S. forces agreement calls for all American troops to be out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011.
The senior defense official said the secretary will not talk about the role of U.S. forces in Iraq after 2011. "We have a security agreement. It calls for us to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011," the senior official said. "The secretary did mention that he looks forward to having a normalized security relationship with Iraq."
Defense Department officials want any security relationship with Iraq to mirror relationships the United States has around the world. Small numbers of U.S. troops are in many countries around the world, training with local forces, teaching new tactics or showing how new equipment can help local militaries, the official said, and the presence of U.S. forces does not typically mean tens of thousands of personnel in bases all over the country.
In the past, Gates has expressed his personal view that "he would see the need for U.S. forces to remain there after 2011," the official said. "But obviously that is strictly predicated on a new bilateral agreement that would allow for such a thing."
For now, the official said, the question is moot, because "until the Iraqis come back and say what they need, we don't even know if this is in the realm of the possible."
Monday, July 27, 2009
Center Gives Troops Tools to Combat Stress While Deployed
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to "stay in the fight" by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed, the director of the Freedom Restoration Center at Bagram Airfield there said. Army Capt. Donald Hawkins and his five-man staff have been reaching out to U.S. military units and servicemembers throughout the country since the center's doors opened in February. The program offers a variety of classes to keep troops resilient and give them the confidence and competence to return to duty, he said.
"The whole goal of the restoration program is to allow soldiers to learn the tools and resources that they need to face the challenges they have while deployed," Hawkins said. "We want to reduce the number of soldiers being returned to the states, therefore conserving the fighting force in theater."
The program focuses on classroom education, but emphasizes the importance of normalized sleep habits and maintaining a healthy diet. Participants also are separated from their unit while attending the three-day program, so they're not distracted by work schedules and having to deal with their command, Hawkins, an occupational therapist, said.
"In the program, they can focus on their issues and their stressors and the challenges that are troubling them without any distractions," he said. "The goal is to get them back to their unit confident and competent."
The program is completely voluntary, Hawkins said. Troops who experience high levels of stress usually are referred to the program by their chains of command and combat stress teams at the forward operating bases, he explained.
As of July 14, 74 military members had participated in the program with only two soldiers not returning to duty. One had experienced heavy combat and suffered severe post-traumatic stress. The other was contemplating suicide, Hawkins said. Both were medically evacuated to seek further treatment at military mental health facilities in the United States.
But not all of the program's participants suffered combat stress. Hawkins noted that although combat stress is a serious issue that has been addressed in their program, most of the troops they care for are stressed for other reasons.
Relationships and financial issues, as well as the stress of being separated from loved ones for an extended period, are the more likely issues servicemembers are dealing with. Such stresses can cause depression and are more likely to affect more servicemembers more often and prevent them from functioning normally, he explained.
Hawkins and his staff touch on a variety of topics in the program including positive thinking, resiliency, depression and grief, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, relationships, goal setting, communication and problem solving, stress management, anger management, and occupational therapy and physical fitness. The question for participants, he said, is "If someone has a little depression, behavioral or anger issues, how does that impact their life, and how do they restore normal function?"
When troops are deployed and away from their family, they still must focus on a normal, healthy lifestyle, Hawkins said. Servicemembers dealing with stress have to learn how to cope with their issues before they can be an effective part of their unit.
Army Spc. Valerie Chandler is a cook with the 563rd Aviation Support Battalion from Fort Campbell, Ky., deployed to Bagram. She went through the program in May, about three months after returning from emergency leave for her older brother's funeral in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Chandler's supervisors noticed a sudden change in her behavior and mood and suggested she speak to a chaplain. She eventually agreed to go to the restoration center, but remained skeptical about how she would benefit from a three-day program, she said.
"I was scared to go to the program and wasn't in the mood to talk to people I didn't know about my personal life," she said. "But it really helped to know they were there when I was ready. The courses helped in areas you didn't even realize you needed help with, like relationships.
"The program really helped just knowing that someone's there," she continued. "They don't judge you, they don't force you to talk, [and] they're just always there. And the classes, especially for someone like me, are a good distraction to keep your mind off of the things that were stressful to me."
Chandler added that people should be open to programs such as this and not buy into the stigma of a "program" for mental health. "I didn't want to go, but when I did, I learned and gained a lot from it," she said.
Three days of education and talking with people goes a lot further than most would guess, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Codi Bowman, a mental health technician and program instructor at the Freedom Center.
"Three days may seem like a short time, but once you've seen the program in action and the results it has produced, you'll understand," Bowman said. "It's amazing how much they progress in three days. By the time they leave here, they're really comfortable and smiling and happy."
Usually the first day of class, Bowman said, most participants seem depressed or stressed out. But by the middle of the second day, people begin to laugh and make jokes and become a little more comfortable with opening up. Part of her tactics involves teaching the participants to laugh and make the best of their deployment, she said.
"It's not just about teaching classes, it's trying to get them to laugh and maybe have a different lifestyle than what they had before and having a positive outlook on life," she said.
However, Bowman and the other instructors make sure the participants know and understand that once they return to their units, the stresses and rigors from their job and being deployed will still be there. The difference is their abilities to cope and deal with them, she said.
"One of the biggest things we try to stress is that you are going to have to go back to your exact same unit with the exact same people, and the only thing you're going to be able to control is you," she said. "You really need to focus on changing you and learning to deal with your stressors and chain of command. You can't change how they're going to act, but you can concentrate on changing the way you're going to react."
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to "stay in the fight" by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed, the director of the Freedom Restoration Center at Bagram Airfield there said. Army Capt. Donald Hawkins and his five-man staff have been reaching out to U.S. military units and servicemembers throughout the country since the center's doors opened in February. The program offers a variety of classes to keep troops resilient and give them the confidence and competence to return to duty, he said.
"The whole goal of the restoration program is to allow soldiers to learn the tools and resources that they need to face the challenges they have while deployed," Hawkins said. "We want to reduce the number of soldiers being returned to the states, therefore conserving the fighting force in theater."
The program focuses on classroom education, but emphasizes the importance of normalized sleep habits and maintaining a healthy diet. Participants also are separated from their unit while attending the three-day program, so they're not distracted by work schedules and having to deal with their command, Hawkins, an occupational therapist, said.
"In the program, they can focus on their issues and their stressors and the challenges that are troubling them without any distractions," he said. "The goal is to get them back to their unit confident and competent."
The program is completely voluntary, Hawkins said. Troops who experience high levels of stress usually are referred to the program by their chains of command and combat stress teams at the forward operating bases, he explained.
As of July 14, 74 military members had participated in the program with only two soldiers not returning to duty. One had experienced heavy combat and suffered severe post-traumatic stress. The other was contemplating suicide, Hawkins said. Both were medically evacuated to seek further treatment at military mental health facilities in the United States.
But not all of the program's participants suffered combat stress. Hawkins noted that although combat stress is a serious issue that has been addressed in their program, most of the troops they care for are stressed for other reasons.
Relationships and financial issues, as well as the stress of being separated from loved ones for an extended period, are the more likely issues servicemembers are dealing with. Such stresses can cause depression and are more likely to affect more servicemembers more often and prevent them from functioning normally, he explained.
Hawkins and his staff touch on a variety of topics in the program including positive thinking, resiliency, depression and grief, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, relationships, goal setting, communication and problem solving, stress management, anger management, and occupational therapy and physical fitness. The question for participants, he said, is "If someone has a little depression, behavioral or anger issues, how does that impact their life, and how do they restore normal function?"
When troops are deployed and away from their family, they still must focus on a normal, healthy lifestyle, Hawkins said. Servicemembers dealing with stress have to learn how to cope with their issues before they can be an effective part of their unit.
Army Spc. Valerie Chandler is a cook with the 563rd Aviation Support Battalion from Fort Campbell, Ky., deployed to Bagram. She went through the program in May, about three months after returning from emergency leave for her older brother's funeral in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Chandler's supervisors noticed a sudden change in her behavior and mood and suggested she speak to a chaplain. She eventually agreed to go to the restoration center, but remained skeptical about how she would benefit from a three-day program, she said.
"I was scared to go to the program and wasn't in the mood to talk to people I didn't know about my personal life," she said. "But it really helped to know they were there when I was ready. The courses helped in areas you didn't even realize you needed help with, like relationships.
"The program really helped just knowing that someone's there," she continued. "They don't judge you, they don't force you to talk, [and] they're just always there. And the classes, especially for someone like me, are a good distraction to keep your mind off of the things that were stressful to me."
Chandler added that people should be open to programs such as this and not buy into the stigma of a "program" for mental health. "I didn't want to go, but when I did, I learned and gained a lot from it," she said.
Three days of education and talking with people goes a lot further than most would guess, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Codi Bowman, a mental health technician and program instructor at the Freedom Center.
"Three days may seem like a short time, but once you've seen the program in action and the results it has produced, you'll understand," Bowman said. "It's amazing how much they progress in three days. By the time they leave here, they're really comfortable and smiling and happy."
Usually the first day of class, Bowman said, most participants seem depressed or stressed out. But by the middle of the second day, people begin to laugh and make jokes and become a little more comfortable with opening up. Part of her tactics involves teaching the participants to laugh and make the best of their deployment, she said.
"It's not just about teaching classes, it's trying to get them to laugh and maybe have a different lifestyle than what they had before and having a positive outlook on life," she said.
However, Bowman and the other instructors make sure the participants know and understand that once they return to their units, the stresses and rigors from their job and being deployed will still be there. The difference is their abilities to cope and deal with them, she said.
"One of the biggest things we try to stress is that you are going to have to go back to your exact same unit with the exact same people, and the only thing you're going to be able to control is you," she said. "You really need to focus on changing you and learning to deal with your stressors and chain of command. You can't change how they're going to act, but you can concentrate on changing the way you're going to react."
Artillery Unit Becomes Civil Affairs in New Iraq
By Army Capt. John Landry
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Most field artillery troops don't expect to work in civil affairs support, but that's the way it is with the quickly changing role of U.S. forces here. For many field artillery units, nonstandard missions have become a way of life, and the 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, Task Force Pathfinder, is no different. As part of the Army's first Advise and Assist Brigade, the Pathfinders provide military support to developing civil capacity across three provinces in southern Iraq.
Working closely with provincial reconstruction teams -- which are U.S. State Department teams composed of a range of experts in governance, agriculture and similar fields -- the task force cooperates with Iraqi partners to develop local economies, reinforce stable and responsive local government and provide essential services. Army Lt. Col. Mike Eastman, Task Force Pathfinder commander, said he believes this is critical to the long-term success of Iraq.
"We must focus our efforts on projects and programs that are sustainable, not only after this task force departs, but after all coalition forces depart from Iraq," Eastman said. "The PRTs are in the lead. This task force supports their efforts at many levels, providing everything from security and movement to coordinating literally hundreds of projects designed to improve the quality of life for the Iraqi people. Our efforts are not oriented on the months that we will be here. They are focused on the years after we depart."
The Pathfinders created a unique organizational structure, including additional lawyers, engineers, health professionals and a variety of technical experts, all working to assist their State Department and Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry counterparts.
On the ground, this support includes movement teams that help coalition forces to get out and interact with local Iraqis. In addition, the task force provides logistical support and secure basing for reconstruction team personnel.
"The task force's subject matter experts and strategic approach to our goals could be a huge enabler for us," said Ethan Bond, director of Project Compass, a part of the reconstruction team in Dhi Qar.
The Pathfinders also are responsible for the Commander's Emergency Response Program. These funds are allocated to specific projects and programs to address emergency needs across Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna provinces.
Commander's program funds have brought clean water and power to numerous cities and villages while bringing Iraqis into the process to ensure these projects will be sustained by local governments.
Members of the task force are not necessarily subject-matter experts on governance and economic development, but that has not impeded the mission.
"Our soldiers have adapted and shown the ability to positively impact any mission," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Hector Font, Task Force Pathfinder senior enlisted leader. "These great young Americans have stepped up to the plate and are truly [valuable] to this mission."
Many of the Pathfinders prepared for this new role by receiving training on subjects ranging from basic Arabic to project management.
Within 30 days of their arrival in Iraq, Task Force Pathfinder soldiers began to impact the way the military interacts with reconstruction team members.
"The new job shows me a whole new side of what we are a capable of and all the things we can accomplish for the people of Iraq and that makes me proud," said Army Pfc. Marcus Moser, an assistant resource manager for civil military operations. "It's a complete 180 [degrees] from what we are trained to do coming out of basic training or in artillery."
Both Task Force Pathfinder and the reconstruction teams share the goal of a stable, self-sustaining and prosperous Iraq. While in its early stages, this partnership already has brought rapid improvements to the Iraqi people's quality of life.
"You might think that soldiers would not be excited about rebuilding a country, that they were not trained for this mission," Eastman said. "We are finding the exact opposite. This gives our soldiers the chance to impact hundreds of lives each day. The Iraqi people want the same thing each of us desire: a safe place to live, access to basic needs like water and power, and the chance for a brighter future for their children."
(Army Capt. John Landry serves with the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team).
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Most field artillery troops don't expect to work in civil affairs support, but that's the way it is with the quickly changing role of U.S. forces here. For many field artillery units, nonstandard missions have become a way of life, and the 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, Task Force Pathfinder, is no different. As part of the Army's first Advise and Assist Brigade, the Pathfinders provide military support to developing civil capacity across three provinces in southern Iraq.
Working closely with provincial reconstruction teams -- which are U.S. State Department teams composed of a range of experts in governance, agriculture and similar fields -- the task force cooperates with Iraqi partners to develop local economies, reinforce stable and responsive local government and provide essential services. Army Lt. Col. Mike Eastman, Task Force Pathfinder commander, said he believes this is critical to the long-term success of Iraq.
"We must focus our efforts on projects and programs that are sustainable, not only after this task force departs, but after all coalition forces depart from Iraq," Eastman said. "The PRTs are in the lead. This task force supports their efforts at many levels, providing everything from security and movement to coordinating literally hundreds of projects designed to improve the quality of life for the Iraqi people. Our efforts are not oriented on the months that we will be here. They are focused on the years after we depart."
The Pathfinders created a unique organizational structure, including additional lawyers, engineers, health professionals and a variety of technical experts, all working to assist their State Department and Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry counterparts.
On the ground, this support includes movement teams that help coalition forces to get out and interact with local Iraqis. In addition, the task force provides logistical support and secure basing for reconstruction team personnel.
"The task force's subject matter experts and strategic approach to our goals could be a huge enabler for us," said Ethan Bond, director of Project Compass, a part of the reconstruction team in Dhi Qar.
The Pathfinders also are responsible for the Commander's Emergency Response Program. These funds are allocated to specific projects and programs to address emergency needs across Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna provinces.
Commander's program funds have brought clean water and power to numerous cities and villages while bringing Iraqis into the process to ensure these projects will be sustained by local governments.
Members of the task force are not necessarily subject-matter experts on governance and economic development, but that has not impeded the mission.
"Our soldiers have adapted and shown the ability to positively impact any mission," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Hector Font, Task Force Pathfinder senior enlisted leader. "These great young Americans have stepped up to the plate and are truly [valuable] to this mission."
Many of the Pathfinders prepared for this new role by receiving training on subjects ranging from basic Arabic to project management.
Within 30 days of their arrival in Iraq, Task Force Pathfinder soldiers began to impact the way the military interacts with reconstruction team members.
"The new job shows me a whole new side of what we are a capable of and all the things we can accomplish for the people of Iraq and that makes me proud," said Army Pfc. Marcus Moser, an assistant resource manager for civil military operations. "It's a complete 180 [degrees] from what we are trained to do coming out of basic training or in artillery."
Both Task Force Pathfinder and the reconstruction teams share the goal of a stable, self-sustaining and prosperous Iraq. While in its early stages, this partnership already has brought rapid improvements to the Iraqi people's quality of life.
"You might think that soldiers would not be excited about rebuilding a country, that they were not trained for this mission," Eastman said. "We are finding the exact opposite. This gives our soldiers the chance to impact hundreds of lives each day. The Iraqi people want the same thing each of us desire: a safe place to live, access to basic needs like water and power, and the chance for a brighter future for their children."
(Army Capt. John Landry serves with the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team).
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 27, 2009
US on verge of closing anthrax probe after 8 years
"A year after government scientist Bruce Ivins killed himself while under investigation for the lethal anthrax [sic] letters of 2001, the Justice Department is on the verge of closing the long, costly and vexing case. Several law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that the department had tentatively planned last week to close the case, but backed away from that decision after government lawyers said they needed more time to review the evidence and determine what further information can be made public without compromising grand jury secrecy or privacy laws. […] Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd declined to comment on the discussions but said, […] 'We anticipate closing the case in the near future,' […] This week, the National Academy of Sciences is set to begin a formal review of the FBI's scientific methods in tracing the particular strain of anthrax used in the mailings to samples Ivins had at his Fort Detrick lab. […] Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who was the target of one of the letters, has said he does not believe Ivins acted alone. […] Plenty of questions remain unanswered, whenever they close the investigation, Kemp said. 'The case continues to remain an open sore with no conclusive evidence, and it is still devastating to (Ivins') family,' said Kemp." (Associated Press; 27Jul09; Devlin Barrett) http://tinyurl.com/l63lku
Infectious diseases study site questioned
"The Department of Homeland Security [DHS] relied on a rushed, flawed study to justify its decision to locate a $700 million research facility for highly infectious pathogens in a tornado-prone section of Kansas, according to a government report. [...] The GAO said DHS greatly underestimated the chance of accidental release and major contamination from such research, which has been conducted only on a remote island off the United States. DHS staff members tried quietly last week to fend off a public airing of the facility's risks, agency correspondence shows. Department officials met privately with staff members of a congressional oversight subcommittee to try to convince them that the GAO report was unfair, and to urge them to forgo or postpone a hearing. But the House Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), decided otherwise. [...] DHS officials and Kansas leaders say the selection system, which began in late 2006, was always fair and open." (Washington Post; 27Jul09; Carol D.
Leonnig)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602857.html
Pandemic survey finds 1 in 6 public health workers unlikely to respond
"Approximately 1 in 6 public health workers said they would not report to work during a pandemic flu emergency regardless of its severity, according to a survey led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The findings are a significant improvement over a 2005 study conducted by the same research team, in which more than 40 percent of public health employees said they were unlikely to report to work during a pandemic emergency. The new study suggests ways for improving the response of the public health workforce. The results are published in the July 24 edition of the journal PLoS ONE. [...] The online survey was conducted among 1,835 public health workers in Minnesota, Ohio and West Virginia from November 2006 to December 2007. The survey analysis was based on the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), which postulates that willingness to follow instructions in an emergency is based on an individual's perception of a threat's validity and belief that the actions taken can be feasibly accomplished and will have a positive impact on the threat. According to the survey, public health workers who were both "concerned" about the threat posed by a pandemic, and who were "confident" that they could fulfill their response roles and that their roles would have a meaningful impact on the situation, were 31 times more likely to respond to work in an emergency than those who perceived the threat low, and had low levels of confidence." (Occupation Health & Safety; 27Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/m3c6us
Anthrax [sic] attack requires early detection & quick response
"A large attack on a major metropolitan area with airborne anthrax [bacteria] could affect more than a million people, necessitating their treatment with powerful antibiotics. A new study finds that in order for a response to be effective, quick detection and treatment are essential, and any delay beyond three days would overwhelm hospitals with critically ill people. The results of a computer simulation study appear in the July/August edition of the journal Medical Decision Making. […] 'No matter how well-organized and prolonged a treatment program is, it must be quickly implemented. In fact, our analysis shows that time-to-treatment is roughly twice as important as the duration of the distribution program,' says lead author Dr. Nathaniel Hupert, associate professor of public health and medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. 'Crucial to rapidly implementing a treatment program is early detection, including thorough use of advanced biosurveillance technologies and live, person-to-person communication,' continues Dr. Hupert, who is also director of the new Preparedness Modeling Unit at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'But most important of all are multilateral diplomatic efforts to prevent bioterrorist attacks from ever happening.' The study predicts that a campaign initiated two days after exposure would protect as many as 87 percent of exposed individuals from illness." (Medical News Today; 25Jul09) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158793.php
Defense agency simulates biological attack on Pentagon
"The risk of attack against senior government and military officials always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said. Paul Benda and Christina Murata - director and deputy director, respectively, of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosives directorate […] explained how they used a commercial garden powder to simulate a biological attack in a July 11 test of response procedures and decontamination methods, and how the findings of their test will affect future response to bio-weapon attacks. More than 200 people participated in the test, including 87 volunteers who were exposed to the garden powder and washed down. […] More than a dozen organizations participated in the test in hopes of finding the easiest and most effective methods. 'We wanted to compare the different decontamination strategies,' Benda said. […] For personnel contaminated with a biological weapon, the best cleaning method was to make a 'wall' of water using five fire trucks. Four pumper trucks fired water against each other while a ladder truck released water from above. Volunteers walked through the streams, scrubbing their body and hair to remove contaminants. […] Once the team sorts the data from this test and figures out which questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen, they'll share the findings and begin planning for the next test." (Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System; 24Jul09; Ian Graham)
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=36795
OPCW Concludes 11th Inspector Training Course
"The 13-week training was supported by the governments of Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the United States of America. This year's programme combined lectures from experts in chemical demilitarisation and industry verification with case studies review and table-top exercises to ensure familiarity with on-site inspection procedures. The practical side of the course included field training to impart skills required for protection against use of chemical weapons and potential toxic exposure, and involved handling of live blister and nerve agents. The inspectors also received medical and communications instruction and were tutored in OPCW safety procedures. The new recruits will join an international team of more than 180 OPCW inspectors based in the Technical Secretariat." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 27Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-concludes-11th-inspector-training-course/
Saudi Arabia ready to face radiological disaster
"Saudi Arabia has a national emergency plan ready to respond to radiological emergencies, according to Abdulrahman Mohammed Alarfaj, energy expert working at the Atomic Energy Research Institute of the Riyadh-based King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). 'The plan gets activated in case of any radiological disaster,' Alarfaj, said in Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi Arabia is to send a delegation to the meeting of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) in Tunis on Monday. […] Alarfaj said the meeting will draw out several proposals and programmes following the adoption of an Arab strategy for peaceful nuclear development by an Arab summit in Doha in March this year. Alarfaj […] said the Kingdom was well equipped to control and manage any radiological emergency. […] He added that more than 23 relevant organisations and government agencies, including the ministries of health, agriculture and electricity are represented on the national body to respond to radiological disasters. [...] 'That is why the task force set up under the national plan is fully prepared to respond quickly to incidents of radiological contamination, wherever they may occur,' he said." (Khaleej Times; 27Jul09; Habib Shaikh) http://tinyurl.com/n3fzoz
White house homeland security council urges nuclear attack response planning
"The recently released Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, developed by the White House Homeland Security Council, stresses that it's 'incumbent upon all levels of government' to prepare 'thorough focused nuclear attack response planning.' […] A yearly analysis of preparedness for health emergencies that's released by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health, found that 'surge capacity remains the largest threat to the nation's ability to respond to a major catastrophe.' Local, and specifically, regional abilities to care for the wounded will be vital just after a nuclear terrorist attack. […] The federal government would eventually take charge of response efforts and military aid would be required. Yet as overwhelming as it would be for local and state resources, they would be all that's available in the first hours and days following an explosion. […] Though there's a low probability of such an attack compared to conventional explosives, natural disasters or bioterrorism, the possibility is real and the consequences are catastrophic. […] Local officials shouldn't delude themselves by thinking that existing response plans to 'dirty bombs' can be simply ramped up to deal with nuclear terrorism - there's no comparison between the two. […] Although the Defense Department has recently tasked thousands of U.S. troops to support local authorities in case of such a catastrophic event, local officials should assume substantial federal help might not arrive for up to 72 hours after the explosion. […] Preparation isn't necessarily specific to nuclear terrorism. Regional preparedness and response can be used for a range of catastrophic events." (Government Technology; 24Jul 2009; Arnold Bogis)
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/704633
NMMI [New Mexico Military Institute] head to serve on national panel
"The new superintendent of the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell is being tapped to serve on a national defense panel. Major General Jerry Grizzle will serve on an advisory panel to the U.S Department of Defense. […] Their mission is to review the department's capabilities to support civil authorities after certain incidents. The incidents include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high yield explosive incidents. The panel will report its findings in a year." (KRQE; 26Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/kmb9pe
Secretary Napolitano and National Security Preparedness Group discuss DHS [Department of Homeland Security] progress in fulfilling 9/11 Commission recommendations
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and members of the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) National Security Preparedness Group (NSPG) met today to discuss the Department's progress in implementing the recommendations outlined in the 9/11 Commission Final Report released five years ago this week. [...] The National Security Preparedness Group is a bipartisan coalition of national security experts including former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge and co-chaired by former 9/11 Commission Chair Thomas H. Kean and Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton. [...] The group also discussed new policies, initiatives and grant opportunities to bolster the Department's capacity to secure the nation from an ever-changing array of threats to homeland security, including cyber attacks and bioterrorism. To view the Department's full 9/11 Commission progress report, visit Progress in Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations." (Press Zoom; 27Jul09) http://presszoom.com/story_149002.html
Hazardous duty: reporter dons fire suit, learns about hazardous material [Chickasha, OK]
"Each year the Chickasha fire department and 17 other hazardous material teams take a training course. The course is a refresher for emergency personnel, and keeps firefighters up-to-date on the latest hazards and deterrents. [...] Carrying so much gear in this high stress environment demands physical fitness, but it also demands finesse. I found all this out the hard way on Friday, when I joined them for a portion of their hazmat training. The boots are like bricks tied to my feet. The jacket is big and bulky, and the helmet and respirator block my vision. [...] We don bright orange haz-mat suits and respirators and again approach with extreme caution. [...] We find the lab is used to make ricin, a highly toxic chemical extrapolated from castor beans. A piece equivalent to half a grain of sand can be deadly. The lab looks real and is real, except for a few key ingredients." (Express-Star; 27Jul09; Ellis Goodwin) http://tinyurl.com/nhuhkq
Powder scare hits IRD [Inland Revenue Department] mail room
"An Inland Revenue mail room was evacuated on Tuesday morning when staff opened a package containing white powder, which later turned out to be harmless. Staff were evacuated and those who came into contact with the package underwent a Fire Service decontamination process, said Upper Hutt police area commander Inspector Michael Hill. Preliminary ESR [Environmental Science & Research] analysis suggested the powder was not a dangerous substance. 'At this stage the powder does not appear to be harmful to the public. We are conducting a criminal investigation to identify and speak with the offender,' Hill said." (TV New Zealand; 21Jul09)
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/powder-scare-hits-ird-mail-room-2858742
Chemical at fire H[ead] Q[uarters] 'was radioactive' [Ipswich, England]
"Tests have confirmed that a test tube which was taken into Suffolk Fire Service's headquarters by a woman contained a radioactive substance. The woman walked into Ipswich's Colchester Road fire station at 5pm on Friday with a sealed test tube which she said contained the dangerous chemical. […] It sparked a major chemical incident which led to specialist firefighters being deployed as far afield as Haverhill along with ambulance crews. A health physicist from Sizewell A nuclear power station attended the scene and confirmed that it was radioactive. […] Dave Pedersen, group manager for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'As part of our notification scheme we contacted the nuclear industry for advice on anything being radioactive. We were advised that it was not a radiological risk and was a very low yield powder which means that the risk to the public is very low.' […] The Environment Agency (EA) last night said it will ensure the substance will be disposed of properly and said an investigation will be carried out to find out where the substance came from." (EADT 24 News; 27Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/mqgd8g
"A year after government scientist Bruce Ivins killed himself while under investigation for the lethal anthrax [sic] letters of 2001, the Justice Department is on the verge of closing the long, costly and vexing case. Several law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that the department had tentatively planned last week to close the case, but backed away from that decision after government lawyers said they needed more time to review the evidence and determine what further information can be made public without compromising grand jury secrecy or privacy laws. […] Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd declined to comment on the discussions but said, […] 'We anticipate closing the case in the near future,' […] This week, the National Academy of Sciences is set to begin a formal review of the FBI's scientific methods in tracing the particular strain of anthrax used in the mailings to samples Ivins had at his Fort Detrick lab. […] Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who was the target of one of the letters, has said he does not believe Ivins acted alone. […] Plenty of questions remain unanswered, whenever they close the investigation, Kemp said. 'The case continues to remain an open sore with no conclusive evidence, and it is still devastating to (Ivins') family,' said Kemp." (Associated Press; 27Jul09; Devlin Barrett) http://tinyurl.com/l63lku
Infectious diseases study site questioned
"The Department of Homeland Security [DHS] relied on a rushed, flawed study to justify its decision to locate a $700 million research facility for highly infectious pathogens in a tornado-prone section of Kansas, according to a government report. [...] The GAO said DHS greatly underestimated the chance of accidental release and major contamination from such research, which has been conducted only on a remote island off the United States. DHS staff members tried quietly last week to fend off a public airing of the facility's risks, agency correspondence shows. Department officials met privately with staff members of a congressional oversight subcommittee to try to convince them that the GAO report was unfair, and to urge them to forgo or postpone a hearing. But the House Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), decided otherwise. [...] DHS officials and Kansas leaders say the selection system, which began in late 2006, was always fair and open." (Washington Post; 27Jul09; Carol D.
Leonnig)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602857.html
Pandemic survey finds 1 in 6 public health workers unlikely to respond
"Approximately 1 in 6 public health workers said they would not report to work during a pandemic flu emergency regardless of its severity, according to a survey led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The findings are a significant improvement over a 2005 study conducted by the same research team, in which more than 40 percent of public health employees said they were unlikely to report to work during a pandemic emergency. The new study suggests ways for improving the response of the public health workforce. The results are published in the July 24 edition of the journal PLoS ONE. [...] The online survey was conducted among 1,835 public health workers in Minnesota, Ohio and West Virginia from November 2006 to December 2007. The survey analysis was based on the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), which postulates that willingness to follow instructions in an emergency is based on an individual's perception of a threat's validity and belief that the actions taken can be feasibly accomplished and will have a positive impact on the threat. According to the survey, public health workers who were both "concerned" about the threat posed by a pandemic, and who were "confident" that they could fulfill their response roles and that their roles would have a meaningful impact on the situation, were 31 times more likely to respond to work in an emergency than those who perceived the threat low, and had low levels of confidence." (Occupation Health & Safety; 27Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/m3c6us
Anthrax [sic] attack requires early detection & quick response
"A large attack on a major metropolitan area with airborne anthrax [bacteria] could affect more than a million people, necessitating their treatment with powerful antibiotics. A new study finds that in order for a response to be effective, quick detection and treatment are essential, and any delay beyond three days would overwhelm hospitals with critically ill people. The results of a computer simulation study appear in the July/August edition of the journal Medical Decision Making. […] 'No matter how well-organized and prolonged a treatment program is, it must be quickly implemented. In fact, our analysis shows that time-to-treatment is roughly twice as important as the duration of the distribution program,' says lead author Dr. Nathaniel Hupert, associate professor of public health and medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. 'Crucial to rapidly implementing a treatment program is early detection, including thorough use of advanced biosurveillance technologies and live, person-to-person communication,' continues Dr. Hupert, who is also director of the new Preparedness Modeling Unit at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'But most important of all are multilateral diplomatic efforts to prevent bioterrorist attacks from ever happening.' The study predicts that a campaign initiated two days after exposure would protect as many as 87 percent of exposed individuals from illness." (Medical News Today; 25Jul09) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158793.php
Defense agency simulates biological attack on Pentagon
"The risk of attack against senior government and military officials always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said. Paul Benda and Christina Murata - director and deputy director, respectively, of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosives directorate […] explained how they used a commercial garden powder to simulate a biological attack in a July 11 test of response procedures and decontamination methods, and how the findings of their test will affect future response to bio-weapon attacks. More than 200 people participated in the test, including 87 volunteers who were exposed to the garden powder and washed down. […] More than a dozen organizations participated in the test in hopes of finding the easiest and most effective methods. 'We wanted to compare the different decontamination strategies,' Benda said. […] For personnel contaminated with a biological weapon, the best cleaning method was to make a 'wall' of water using five fire trucks. Four pumper trucks fired water against each other while a ladder truck released water from above. Volunteers walked through the streams, scrubbing their body and hair to remove contaminants. […] Once the team sorts the data from this test and figures out which questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen, they'll share the findings and begin planning for the next test." (Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System; 24Jul09; Ian Graham)
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=36795
OPCW Concludes 11th Inspector Training Course
"The 13-week training was supported by the governments of Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the United States of America. This year's programme combined lectures from experts in chemical demilitarisation and industry verification with case studies review and table-top exercises to ensure familiarity with on-site inspection procedures. The practical side of the course included field training to impart skills required for protection against use of chemical weapons and potential toxic exposure, and involved handling of live blister and nerve agents. The inspectors also received medical and communications instruction and were tutored in OPCW safety procedures. The new recruits will join an international team of more than 180 OPCW inspectors based in the Technical Secretariat." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 27Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-concludes-11th-inspector-training-course/
Saudi Arabia ready to face radiological disaster
"Saudi Arabia has a national emergency plan ready to respond to radiological emergencies, according to Abdulrahman Mohammed Alarfaj, energy expert working at the Atomic Energy Research Institute of the Riyadh-based King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). 'The plan gets activated in case of any radiological disaster,' Alarfaj, said in Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi Arabia is to send a delegation to the meeting of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) in Tunis on Monday. […] Alarfaj said the meeting will draw out several proposals and programmes following the adoption of an Arab strategy for peaceful nuclear development by an Arab summit in Doha in March this year. Alarfaj […] said the Kingdom was well equipped to control and manage any radiological emergency. […] He added that more than 23 relevant organisations and government agencies, including the ministries of health, agriculture and electricity are represented on the national body to respond to radiological disasters. [...] 'That is why the task force set up under the national plan is fully prepared to respond quickly to incidents of radiological contamination, wherever they may occur,' he said." (Khaleej Times; 27Jul09; Habib Shaikh) http://tinyurl.com/n3fzoz
White house homeland security council urges nuclear attack response planning
"The recently released Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation, developed by the White House Homeland Security Council, stresses that it's 'incumbent upon all levels of government' to prepare 'thorough focused nuclear attack response planning.' […] A yearly analysis of preparedness for health emergencies that's released by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health, found that 'surge capacity remains the largest threat to the nation's ability to respond to a major catastrophe.' Local, and specifically, regional abilities to care for the wounded will be vital just after a nuclear terrorist attack. […] The federal government would eventually take charge of response efforts and military aid would be required. Yet as overwhelming as it would be for local and state resources, they would be all that's available in the first hours and days following an explosion. […] Though there's a low probability of such an attack compared to conventional explosives, natural disasters or bioterrorism, the possibility is real and the consequences are catastrophic. […] Local officials shouldn't delude themselves by thinking that existing response plans to 'dirty bombs' can be simply ramped up to deal with nuclear terrorism - there's no comparison between the two. […] Although the Defense Department has recently tasked thousands of U.S. troops to support local authorities in case of such a catastrophic event, local officials should assume substantial federal help might not arrive for up to 72 hours after the explosion. […] Preparation isn't necessarily specific to nuclear terrorism. Regional preparedness and response can be used for a range of catastrophic events." (Government Technology; 24Jul 2009; Arnold Bogis)
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/704633
NMMI [New Mexico Military Institute] head to serve on national panel
"The new superintendent of the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell is being tapped to serve on a national defense panel. Major General Jerry Grizzle will serve on an advisory panel to the U.S Department of Defense. […] Their mission is to review the department's capabilities to support civil authorities after certain incidents. The incidents include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high yield explosive incidents. The panel will report its findings in a year." (KRQE; 26Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/kmb9pe
Secretary Napolitano and National Security Preparedness Group discuss DHS [Department of Homeland Security] progress in fulfilling 9/11 Commission recommendations
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and members of the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) National Security Preparedness Group (NSPG) met today to discuss the Department's progress in implementing the recommendations outlined in the 9/11 Commission Final Report released five years ago this week. [...] The National Security Preparedness Group is a bipartisan coalition of national security experts including former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge and co-chaired by former 9/11 Commission Chair Thomas H. Kean and Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton. [...] The group also discussed new policies, initiatives and grant opportunities to bolster the Department's capacity to secure the nation from an ever-changing array of threats to homeland security, including cyber attacks and bioterrorism. To view the Department's full 9/11 Commission progress report, visit Progress in Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations." (Press Zoom; 27Jul09) http://presszoom.com/story_149002.html
Hazardous duty: reporter dons fire suit, learns about hazardous material [Chickasha, OK]
"Each year the Chickasha fire department and 17 other hazardous material teams take a training course. The course is a refresher for emergency personnel, and keeps firefighters up-to-date on the latest hazards and deterrents. [...] Carrying so much gear in this high stress environment demands physical fitness, but it also demands finesse. I found all this out the hard way on Friday, when I joined them for a portion of their hazmat training. The boots are like bricks tied to my feet. The jacket is big and bulky, and the helmet and respirator block my vision. [...] We don bright orange haz-mat suits and respirators and again approach with extreme caution. [...] We find the lab is used to make ricin, a highly toxic chemical extrapolated from castor beans. A piece equivalent to half a grain of sand can be deadly. The lab looks real and is real, except for a few key ingredients." (Express-Star; 27Jul09; Ellis Goodwin) http://tinyurl.com/nhuhkq
Powder scare hits IRD [Inland Revenue Department] mail room
"An Inland Revenue mail room was evacuated on Tuesday morning when staff opened a package containing white powder, which later turned out to be harmless. Staff were evacuated and those who came into contact with the package underwent a Fire Service decontamination process, said Upper Hutt police area commander Inspector Michael Hill. Preliminary ESR [Environmental Science & Research] analysis suggested the powder was not a dangerous substance. 'At this stage the powder does not appear to be harmful to the public. We are conducting a criminal investigation to identify and speak with the offender,' Hill said." (TV New Zealand; 21Jul09)
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/powder-scare-hits-ird-mail-room-2858742
Chemical at fire H[ead] Q[uarters] 'was radioactive' [Ipswich, England]
"Tests have confirmed that a test tube which was taken into Suffolk Fire Service's headquarters by a woman contained a radioactive substance. The woman walked into Ipswich's Colchester Road fire station at 5pm on Friday with a sealed test tube which she said contained the dangerous chemical. […] It sparked a major chemical incident which led to specialist firefighters being deployed as far afield as Haverhill along with ambulance crews. A health physicist from Sizewell A nuclear power station attended the scene and confirmed that it was radioactive. […] Dave Pedersen, group manager for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'As part of our notification scheme we contacted the nuclear industry for advice on anything being radioactive. We were advised that it was not a radiological risk and was a very low yield powder which means that the risk to the public is very low.' […] The Environment Agency (EA) last night said it will ensure the substance will be disposed of properly and said an investigation will be carried out to find out where the substance came from." (EADT 24 News; 27Jul09) http://tinyurl.com/mqgd8g
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Donald W. Vincent, 26, of Gainesville, Fla., died July 25 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 451-7200.
Pfc. Donald W. Vincent, 26, of Gainesville, Fla., died July 25 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 451-7200.
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Justin D. Coleman, 21, of Spring Hill, Fla., died July 24 in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-7267.
Spc. Justin D. Coleman, 21, of Spring Hill, Fla., died July 24 in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-7267.
Forces in Iraq Capture Militant, Destroy Weapons
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Coalition and Iraqi forces arrested an assailant and destroyed weapons in operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. Two Iraqi special operations soldiers died and an assailant was wounded during an operation outside the Iraqi capital today.
During the early morning operation, the Iraqi special operations forces, along with U.S. forces advisors, were attempting to make an arrest with a court-ordered warrant for terrorism.
During a brief exchange of gunfire, two Iraqi soldiers were mortally wounded and the assailant was injured. The assailant was apprehended and later transported to a military hospital where he received treatment.
According to ground forces, the arrest will disrupt insurgent operations in the area.
In a July 25 operation, coalition forces in coordination with Iraqi security forces conducted an aerial strike on a bunker in southern Diyala province. During a combined patrol in the area, the bunker was discovered to contain a weapons cache that was booby-trapped with homemade explosives, rendering it unsafe for soldiers on the ground to destroy, military officials said.
U.S. forces coordinated two air strikes targeting the bunker, located in a remote area south of Balad Ruz, away from any population centers. No casualties were reported following the air strike.
During a separate operation July 25, Iraqi and coalition forces dismantled a bomb planted near an electrical transmission tower south of Baghdad. Explosive ordnance technicians guided a robot to each of the explosives and defused them.
July 27, 2009 - Coalition and Iraqi forces arrested an assailant and destroyed weapons in operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. Two Iraqi special operations soldiers died and an assailant was wounded during an operation outside the Iraqi capital today.
During the early morning operation, the Iraqi special operations forces, along with U.S. forces advisors, were attempting to make an arrest with a court-ordered warrant for terrorism.
During a brief exchange of gunfire, two Iraqi soldiers were mortally wounded and the assailant was injured. The assailant was apprehended and later transported to a military hospital where he received treatment.
According to ground forces, the arrest will disrupt insurgent operations in the area.
In a July 25 operation, coalition forces in coordination with Iraqi security forces conducted an aerial strike on a bunker in southern Diyala province. During a combined patrol in the area, the bunker was discovered to contain a weapons cache that was booby-trapped with homemade explosives, rendering it unsafe for soldiers on the ground to destroy, military officials said.
U.S. forces coordinated two air strikes targeting the bunker, located in a remote area south of Balad Ruz, away from any population centers. No casualties were reported following the air strike.
During a separate operation July 25, Iraqi and coalition forces dismantled a bomb planted near an electrical transmission tower south of Baghdad. Explosive ordnance technicians guided a robot to each of the explosives and defused them.
Tough Fight Will Continue in Afghanistan, Mullen Says
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Though troop morale is high in Afghanistan, the Taliban is a tough organization and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he doesn't expect conditions to change soon. "As everyone knows, we've lost a large number of people here very recently," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during a Pentagon Channel podcast interview today. "It's going to be a tough fight in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, and we're doing everything we can to certainly eliminate any losses.
"But the Taliban are a tough, tough organization, and it's going to be that way for a while."
Despite seeing a long road ahead, Mullen, who recently visited Afghanistan, said he was pleased with what he saw. That includes the Marine Corps' integration with the British military, which he called "exceptionally good," in southern Afghanistan. He noted the same with the provincial reconstruction team in the area.
"I also was encouraged by what I saw there in terms of the civilian and military integration," he said. "This is not about a military solution alone. It can't be."
In fact, Mullen said the Afghan people must be at the heart of the solution. That's where Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, is focusing.
McChrystal has issued a tactical directive to reduce airstrikes in Afghanistan in an effort to decrease civilian casualties. The directive is being well received by forces on the ground, Mullen said.
"I think his directive is well focused, it's well understood and is being executed exceptionally well very shortly after he put it out," Mullen said, offering an example in which he said Marines executed an operation over several days in which no Afghans were killed.
"All that focuses on the criticality of making the Afghan people the center of gravity," he added. "If we can't get it right for the Afghan people, we can't get it right."
Mullen added that McChrystal's assessment of the situation on the ground in Afghanistan isn't really up until mid-August. He anticipates that a focus on the population and integration with the civilian team will be a part of the assessment, however.
"I think what General McChrystal represents ... is new leadership, new focus, new strategy, and they'll be doing all they can to [make progress] as rapidly as we can so we can really start to turn the tide in Afghanistan," he said. The upcoming national presidential elections scheduled for Aug. 20 are a big part of that.
On Iraq, the chairman said he was pleased with what he saw during a visit to the country a short time after the official withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities.
"The conversations I had with leaders were good," he said. "There are some very difficult issues and the politicians in Iraq are really going to have to move forward and solve them."
Mullen also said he was impressed with the way U.S. forces talked about the Iraqi security forces. Currently, U.S. forces are supporting Iraqi elections, which are slated to happen in January 2010.
"I was encouraged, cautiously optimistic," he said.
Mullen also touched on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' decision to increase the Army's numbers by 22,000. Those soldiers would fill brigades scheduled to deploy.
With brigades full, Mullen said he's confident that by increasing the Army ranks by 22,000, everyone will benefit.
"The operational tempo has stayed the same and we don't see dwell time going down significantly right now," he said. "I expect within the next couple of years, as these brigades actually fill up because of this increase, we actually will see our [operations] tempo be reduced and see dwell time increase, which is absolutely critical."
Mullen addressed the Pentagon's preparations to respond to any changes President Barack Obama makes to the so-called "Don't, ask, don't tell" policy, which prohibits officials from inquiring into servicemembers' sexual orientation in the absence of disallowed behaviors, but allows action to be taken if a servicemember discloses homosexuality by word or action. In fact, he said, he's addressed the topic with the service chiefs and combatant commanders, as well as his own staff.
"There's a lot of focus with respect to this right now," Mullen said. "Certainly when the law changes, when we get to that point, we'll carry out the law."
Mullen's podcasts are available on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, http://www.pentagonchannel.mil.
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Though troop morale is high in Afghanistan, the Taliban is a tough organization and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he doesn't expect conditions to change soon. "As everyone knows, we've lost a large number of people here very recently," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during a Pentagon Channel podcast interview today. "It's going to be a tough fight in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, and we're doing everything we can to certainly eliminate any losses.
"But the Taliban are a tough, tough organization, and it's going to be that way for a while."
Despite seeing a long road ahead, Mullen, who recently visited Afghanistan, said he was pleased with what he saw. That includes the Marine Corps' integration with the British military, which he called "exceptionally good," in southern Afghanistan. He noted the same with the provincial reconstruction team in the area.
"I also was encouraged by what I saw there in terms of the civilian and military integration," he said. "This is not about a military solution alone. It can't be."
In fact, Mullen said the Afghan people must be at the heart of the solution. That's where Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, is focusing.
McChrystal has issued a tactical directive to reduce airstrikes in Afghanistan in an effort to decrease civilian casualties. The directive is being well received by forces on the ground, Mullen said.
"I think his directive is well focused, it's well understood and is being executed exceptionally well very shortly after he put it out," Mullen said, offering an example in which he said Marines executed an operation over several days in which no Afghans were killed.
"All that focuses on the criticality of making the Afghan people the center of gravity," he added. "If we can't get it right for the Afghan people, we can't get it right."
Mullen added that McChrystal's assessment of the situation on the ground in Afghanistan isn't really up until mid-August. He anticipates that a focus on the population and integration with the civilian team will be a part of the assessment, however.
"I think what General McChrystal represents ... is new leadership, new focus, new strategy, and they'll be doing all they can to [make progress] as rapidly as we can so we can really start to turn the tide in Afghanistan," he said. The upcoming national presidential elections scheduled for Aug. 20 are a big part of that.
On Iraq, the chairman said he was pleased with what he saw during a visit to the country a short time after the official withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities.
"The conversations I had with leaders were good," he said. "There are some very difficult issues and the politicians in Iraq are really going to have to move forward and solve them."
Mullen also said he was impressed with the way U.S. forces talked about the Iraqi security forces. Currently, U.S. forces are supporting Iraqi elections, which are slated to happen in January 2010.
"I was encouraged, cautiously optimistic," he said.
Mullen also touched on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' decision to increase the Army's numbers by 22,000. Those soldiers would fill brigades scheduled to deploy.
With brigades full, Mullen said he's confident that by increasing the Army ranks by 22,000, everyone will benefit.
"The operational tempo has stayed the same and we don't see dwell time going down significantly right now," he said. "I expect within the next couple of years, as these brigades actually fill up because of this increase, we actually will see our [operations] tempo be reduced and see dwell time increase, which is absolutely critical."
Mullen addressed the Pentagon's preparations to respond to any changes President Barack Obama makes to the so-called "Don't, ask, don't tell" policy, which prohibits officials from inquiring into servicemembers' sexual orientation in the absence of disallowed behaviors, but allows action to be taken if a servicemember discloses homosexuality by word or action. In fact, he said, he's addressed the topic with the service chiefs and combatant commanders, as well as his own staff.
"There's a lot of focus with respect to this right now," Mullen said. "Certainly when the law changes, when we get to that point, we'll carry out the law."
Mullen's podcasts are available on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, http://www.pentagonchannel.mil.
Troops Seize Enemy Fighters in Eastern Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Coalition and Afghan forces seized dozens of suspected enemy fighters during recent operations in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said. In an operation yesterday, a joint Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province believed to be frequented by an insurgent known for coordinating attacks against troops as part of the Haqqani terrorist network.
After intelligence indicated militant activity at a compound near the village of Majles, north of the city of Khost, the joint force searched the area and detained seven suspects, including the wanted man.
No Afghan, international security forces or civilian casualties were reported during the incident.
During operations July 25, a joint security force searched a compound in the remote reaches of Paktika province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani command and control, communications, and supply lines in the region.
The joint team searched the compound in the Deela district of Paktika, about 95 miles southwest of Gardez, after intelligence indicated militant activity. Combined forces detained five suspects in the raid.
During July 24 operations:
-- A joint force seized a weapons cache in Nangarhar province as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt Taliban operations, particularly suicide-bomber and homemade-bombing attacks against Afghan National Army and international security units in the region. In a raid, troops killed several enemy combatants and detained eight others.
-- Combined forces searched a suspected militant compound in Paktia province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani financial and logistical support lines extending from the Khost-Gardez Pass and into the country. The joint force detained seven suspects in the operation.
-- A joint Afghan and international security force detained an unreported number of suspected enemy fighters during a search of a compound in Kandahar province that also yielded incriminating photographs. Three Afghan security force members died and three others were wounded in the operation. An investigation into the incident has been directed.
July 27, 2009 - Coalition and Afghan forces seized dozens of suspected enemy fighters during recent operations in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said. In an operation yesterday, a joint Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province believed to be frequented by an insurgent known for coordinating attacks against troops as part of the Haqqani terrorist network.
After intelligence indicated militant activity at a compound near the village of Majles, north of the city of Khost, the joint force searched the area and detained seven suspects, including the wanted man.
No Afghan, international security forces or civilian casualties were reported during the incident.
During operations July 25, a joint security force searched a compound in the remote reaches of Paktika province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani command and control, communications, and supply lines in the region.
The joint team searched the compound in the Deela district of Paktika, about 95 miles southwest of Gardez, after intelligence indicated militant activity. Combined forces detained five suspects in the raid.
During July 24 operations:
-- A joint force seized a weapons cache in Nangarhar province as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt Taliban operations, particularly suicide-bomber and homemade-bombing attacks against Afghan National Army and international security units in the region. In a raid, troops killed several enemy combatants and detained eight others.
-- Combined forces searched a suspected militant compound in Paktia province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani financial and logistical support lines extending from the Khost-Gardez Pass and into the country. The joint force detained seven suspects in the operation.
-- A joint Afghan and international security force detained an unreported number of suspected enemy fighters during a search of a compound in Kandahar province that also yielded incriminating photographs. Three Afghan security force members died and three others were wounded in the operation. An investigation into the incident has been directed.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Herberth A. Berrios-Campos, 21, of Bealeton, Va., died July 24 in Salman Pak, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.
Spc. Herberth A. Berrios-Campos, 21, of Bealeton, Va., died July 24 in Salman Pak, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.
American Heroes Radio
July 26, 2009 (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Radio reorganized its platform and launched a new website today. American Heroes Radio provides a platform for the lives, stories and accomplishments of our American Heroes. Each week, a different member of our military, law enforcement, firefighting and emergency services are guests. Previous guests have included: a World War II fighter pilot speaking about his experiences over Iwo Jima; a Navy captain tell his story of Cold War submarine hunting; an Iraq war veteran who was wounded in the head by an RPG; or, any of the large numbers of interviews of law enforcement officials around the country speaking about their expertise, careers and often hair-raising adventures.
American Heroes Radio now has 63 episodes in the archive and weekly shows scheduled through September 2009. You can explore the radio program here:
American Heroes Radio
American Heroes Radio now has 63 episodes in the archive and weekly shows scheduled through September 2009. You can explore the radio program here:
American Heroes Radio
Friday, July 24, 2009
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 24, 2009
Human Genome gets new order for anthrax drug
"Human Genome Sciences Inc (HGSI.O) said it received a second order for its drug ABthrax, which fights anthrax infection [sic], from the U.S. government. […] The order for an additional 45,000 doses of ABthrax, or raxibacumab, is to be delivered over a three-year period, beginning near the end of 2009. The company expects to receive about $151 million from this award as deliveries are completed. Raxibacumab is being developed under a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to be delivered to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile [SNS]. […] SNS is a stockpile of medical supplies intended to protect Americans in case of public emergencies like a flu outbreak, terrorist attacks or earthquakes that are severe enough to cause local supplies to run out." (Reuters; 22Jul09)
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSBNG20184720090722
ND [North Dakota] group ordered to repay $124K in misspent funds [meant for disaster planning]
"A group that represents North Dakota's ambulance and emergency workers was ordered Wednesday to repay more than $124,000 in federal disaster planning money spent on alcohol, lobbying and other questionable expenses. The North Dakota EMS Association, which represents about 1,800 ambulance and emergency workers, may be barred from seeking any more federal grant money, said Tim Wiedrich, chief of the North Dakota Health Department's emergency preparedness and response section. The Bismarck-based EMS association received about $810,000 between 2004 and last year to help produce a plan to fight bioterrorism and other mass disasters. In a Wednesday letter obtained by The Associated Press, the state Health Department told the group that an audit found $157,425 in expenses that were either 'unallowable' or lacked receipts. The letter said $33,300 would be denied and $124,125 must be repaid. […] How and when the group will pay the money back is unclear." (Idaho Stateman; 22Jul09; James MacPherson, AP) http://www.idahostatesman.com/usnews/story/842034.html
WMD panel leaders warn of bioterror[ism] threat
"The United States must take new measures to help counter the threat of biological terrorism, the heads of a congressional WMD advisory panel wrote in a journal editorial published this week. […] 'In our commission report, World at Risk, we stated that terrorists are more likely to obtain and use a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon,' states the editorial by former Senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent, respectively the chairman and vice chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. There are a number of reasons for this conclusion, according to the commentary: Anthrax [sic] and other dangerous biological materials are found in nature around the world, while weapon-grade nuclear materials are not; it would be far easier to disperse a biological agent than to manufacture a nuclear weapon. […] The panel determined that without aggressive action, a WMD incident was likely to occur at some location before 2014. […] Additional precautions can help reduce a biological weapon's impact, the former lawmakers noted. 'It is important to have a biological weapons prevention strategy that does not merely involve crossing out 'nuclear' and adding 'bio,' they stated. 'There will be some similarities of approach, which we have detailed in our report: for example, preventing a biological attack will require continued support and investment in international treaties.' […] Greater preparedness is also needed. […] That means improved capabilities for detecting disease agents and vaccinating those who might be exposed to such a material. Drug development must also be improved, according to Graham and Talent. […] 'A major part of our biodefense strategy should be based on reaching a level of preparedness that will effectively remove bioweapons from the category of WMD. This will happen neither quickly nor cheaply, but it will be well worth the investment,' [Graham and Talent wrote]." (Global Security Newswire; 24Jul09) http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090723_4090.php
Agent Orange linked to heart disease, Parkinson's
"Medical researchers say there may be a link between exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War and an increased chance of developing serious heart problems and Parkinson's disease. A study from the Institute of Medicine released Friday contains several caveats, but suggests there is a stronger connection than previously thought about the health risks to Vietnam veterans. [...] The Institute of Medicine, a division of the National Academy of Sciences, is mandated by Congress to review every two years evidence about the effects of Agent Orange exposure. To determine whether Vietnam veterans faced an increased chance of ischemic heart disease - a condition involving reduced blood supply to the heart - researchers reviewed several studies that showed links between higher exposure levels and greater incidence of the disease. Other factors such as smoking, age, and weight can also play a role, they noted. Still, they said veterans exposed to the chemicals may be at greater risk." (Associated Press; 24Jul09; Richard Lardner) http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/a/w/1155/07-24-2009/20090724092006_11.html
Mustard chemical leak detected at depot [OR]
"Trace amounts of mustard chemical agent vapor were detected inside a Umatilla Chemical Depot storage igloo Tuesday. As the weather warms, the mustard containers thaw and are more likely to leak. The mustard […] freezes below 59 degrees. […] The leak Tuesday was detected during routine weekly monitoring and posed no danger to the public or environment, according to depot officials. The igloos have a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping the structures. When a leak is discovered, a powered filtration system also is installed." (Tri City Herald; 22Jul09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/654819.html
San Diego State University lab tried to spot 'dirty bombs'
"At San Diego State University's Department of Homeland Security Immersive Visualization Center, they're trying to spot 'dirty bomb' components accurately. The lab recently unveiled a joint homeland security project that they did with Defentect to create a perimeter system for the detection of radiation. […] The system is designed to detect radiological materials. It uses a software platform from Defentect for management, monitoring and messaging along with a GT2 gross gamma detection sensor. […] 'This program is one more way the Viz Lab is working to evaluate and enhance tools and technologies to help both public and private entities deal with potential hazards with accuracy and speed - important in the face of mounting and unseen threats,' [said Dr. Eric Frost, the founder and co-director of SDSU Immersive Visualization Center and co-director of the university's homeland security master's degree program]. According to SDSU and technology partners, the system could have applications beyond simply controlling the movement of radiological materials. Defentect's Joey Dusina thought that hospitals might be one area of application for the system. 'Hospitals are grappling with how to quickly and accurately identify and alert to the presence of radiologically contaminated persons following a radiological incident so they can be treated, while lowering risk of exposure to hospital personnel and other patients.'" (Security Info Watch; 23Jul09; Geoff Kohl)
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/root+level/1312321
Helping countries keep radioactive sources safe, IAEA publishes implementation guide on security of radioactive sources
"The IAEA has just released a guide for implementing security measures on radioactive sources. […] The publication includes guidance and recommended measures for the prevention of, detection of, and response to malicious acts involving radioactive sources. […] This publication is intended for use by States in formulating security policy for radioactive sources. It is also intended to help regulatory bodies in developing policies that are consistent with the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, which is one of the leading international instruments on radioactive source management. It will also assist State parties to fulfill certain obligations under the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. By setting guidance on the security of sources, the publications is expected to serve as a useful tool for legislators and regulators, physical protection specialists and facility and transport operators, as well as law enforcement officers. It will also help towards preventing the loss of control of such sources, and may help operators managing radioactive sources to develop their security programmes. Growing concern that criminal groups could gain access to high-activity radioactive sources and use the sources maliciously has […] led to a global trend towards increased control, accounting and security of radioactive sources. […] The IAEA has adopted an integrated approach to protection against nuclear terrorism. This approach coordinates IAEA activities concerned with the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear installations, nuclear material accountancy, detection and response to trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material."
(International Atomic Energy Agency; 24Jul09) http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2009/saferadsources.html
Sri Lanka assures continued support to counter global terrorism
"Sri Lanka will continue to support global measures to counter the scourge of terrorism, including the early conclusion of the Global Convention on Terrorism, assured Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister. Speaking at the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum, Phuket, Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama further said subscribing to the UN Convention dealing with Terrorism, Sri Lanka is party to the NPT treaty and its related Safeguard Agreements as well as other related Agreements under the framework of the IAEA, such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident among others. Enumerating the role Sri Lanka plays to bring an end to terrorism globally, the Minister anounced that Sri Lanka is in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as well as in the Proliferation Security Initiative and its related activities. 'In the regional context, we are party to the SAARC Regional Convention on Terrorism and the SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters. Under Sri Lanka's Chairmanship, the SAARC adopted the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism this year. We have taken a number of national legislative and other measures giving effect to these commitments, and the domestic legislation under the convention of the suppression of Nuclear Terrorism is under preparation.' […] Sri Lanka earned high praise from the chair at the retreat of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for its positive contributions on the fight against terrorism." (Asia Tribune; 24Jul09) http://asiantribune.com/07/24/sri-lanka-assures-continued-support-global-measures-to-counter-terrorism/
Terrorists could use internet to launch nuclear attack: report
"Terrorists groups could soon use the internet to help set off a devastating nuclear attack, according to new research. The claims come in a study commissioned by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), which suggests that under the right circumstances, terrorists could break into computer systems and launch an attack on a nuclear state. […] Without better protection of computer and information systems, the paper suggests, governments around the world are leaving open the possibility that a well-coordinated cyberwar could quickly elevate to nuclear levels. In fact, says the study, 'this may be an easier alternative for terrorist groups than building or acquiring a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb themselves.' […] While the possibility of a radical group gaining access to actual launch systems is remote, the study suggests that hackers could focus on feeding in false information further down the chain - or spreading fake information to officials in a carefully orchestrated strike. 'Despite claims that nuclear launch orders can only come from the highest authorities, numerous examples point towards an ability to sidestep the chain of command and insert orders at lower levels,' said Jason Fritz, the author of the paper. 'Cyber-terrorists could also provoke a nuclear launch by spoofing early warning and identification systems or by degrading communications networks.' Since these systems are not as well-protected as those used to launch an attack, they may prove more vulnerable to attackers who wish to tempt another nation into a nuclear response." (The Guardian; 24Jul09; Bobbie Johnson) http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/24/internet-cyber-attack-terrorists
Emergency drill sent helicopters into Denver's sky [CO]
"If you saw helicopters flying across the metro area Thursday there was no need to be alarmed, it was part of a drill. The Colorado Army National Guard was participating in a drill Thursday that simulated a chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological incident at the Pepsi Center. Officials with the Guard say it is not meant to necessarily emulate an act of terrorism. As part of the drill, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters flew between Buckley Air Force Base, the Pepsi Center and the World Arena in Colorado Springs. The Guard is the only military unit participating in the drill and they were joined at the Pepsi Center by the Aurora Fire Department. […] The Guard is part of a response crew that the president can call upon during a time of emergency." (KUSA Channel 9, Denver, CO; 23Jul09; Sara Gandy)
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=120000&provider=top&catid=188
NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] nuclear security sites to meet, share ideas at LDRD [Laboratory Directed Research and Development] symposium next month
"The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that the 2009 NNSA Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Symposium will be held Aug. 19 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The theme of this year's conference is 'Innovation for Our Nation: Strengthening America's Infrastructure Security.' […] The LDRD program promotes highly innovative and exploratory research to respond to present national security mission needs and anticipate future ones. The program funds projects that pursue technological solutions to the most urgent challenges facing our nation or that promote science and engineering foundations that will lead to new research and development. […] The all-day symposium on Aug. 19 will look at current and future LDRD investments that the NNSA national laboratories, site and plants are making to protect the nation's critical infrastructure from terrorism, sabotage, global climate change and natural disasters. Symposium topics include cyber systems, power grid, energy resources, borders and seaports, bioterrorism, and transportation systems." (National Nuclear Security Administration; 23Jul09) http://nnsa.energy.gov/news/2459.htm
Croatia rejects anti-terrorist training center
"If the proposal had been accepted, the facility would have been the largest training ground of its type in Europe, housing large stores of chemicals and viruses on site. Its construction would have cost 15 million kuna (just over two million euros). The US has sought a facility for training troops in methods to deal with chemical and biological weapons attack on Croatia's Dalmatian coast because the region enjoys good weather. This allows almost eight months of active training, which cannot take place in inclement weather. […] KnoTox Inc. is a Colorado-based chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training and education company. KnoTox Director Douglas Eaton believes that the ministry still requires a toxic training centre, despite the fact that the facility would house hazardous chemical and biological agents. Knotox claims that the chemicals that would be used in drills would not come into contact with the environment or harm the local population, plants and animals." (Balkan Insight; 24Jul09) http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/21296/
N[orth] Korea 'tests weapons on children'
"When Im Chun-yong made his daring escape from North Korea, with a handful of his special forces men, there were many reasons why the North Korean government was intent on stopping them. […] They carried with them […reports of] the use of humans, specifically mentally or physically handicapped children, to test North Korea's biological and chemical weapons. 'If you are born mentally or physically deficient, says Im, the government says your best contribution to society... is as a guinea pig for biological and chemical weapons testing.' […] One of Im's own men later gave him an eyewitness account of human-testing. Asked to guard a secret facility on an island off North Korea's west coast, Im says the soldier saw a number of people forced into a glass chamber. […] Other North Korean defectors have long alleged that the secretive nation has been using political prisoners as experimental test subjects. Some have detailed how inmates were shipped from various concentration camps to so-called chemical 'factories.' […] Security analysts believe Kim oversees one of the most aggressive and robust biochemical weapons programmes in the world. […] Im says he was trained on how to use biochemical weapons against the 'enemy' - including how to fire them from short-range 'bazooka-style' weapons. […] It is estimated the country has accumulated a stockpile of more than 5,000 tonnes of biochemical weaponry […] 'Human experimentation is a widespread practice,' says [Kim Sang-hun, a retired UN official who has spent years investigating the North's chemical and biological weapons programme]. 'I hoped I was wrong, but it is the reality and it is taking place in North Korea and it is taking place at a number of locations.' […] As the world's attention focuses on the North's nuclear programme, Im is worried the international community will miss what he believes is the more imminent threat posed by the country's biochemical arsenal." (Military.com; 24Jul09) http://www.military.com/news/article/nkorea-tests-weapons-on-children.html?col=1186032310810
Man arrested in vandalism, 'anthrax' [sic] hoax [CA]
"Police have arrested a man in connection with vandalism and white powder found in an empty apartment in Newport Beach. Phong Huu Nguyen, 29, was arrested in the 5000 block of Rodeo Road in Los Angeles on Tuesday at 11:25 p.m., police said. He was booked into the Newport Beach Police Department Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail on charges of criminal threats. Nguyen had been evicted from the unit, police said. While examining a unit in the Coronado Apartments for vandalism, Newport Beach officers found threatening messages painted on the walls and the jars with a white powdery substance inside. The substance was determined to be corn starch, said Lt. Rob Morton of the Newport Beach Police Department." (Orange County Register; 22Jul09; Elysse James) http://www.ocregister.com/articles/white-apartment-beach-2502657-substance-newport
"Human Genome Sciences Inc (HGSI.O) said it received a second order for its drug ABthrax, which fights anthrax infection [sic], from the U.S. government. […] The order for an additional 45,000 doses of ABthrax, or raxibacumab, is to be delivered over a three-year period, beginning near the end of 2009. The company expects to receive about $151 million from this award as deliveries are completed. Raxibacumab is being developed under a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to be delivered to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile [SNS]. […] SNS is a stockpile of medical supplies intended to protect Americans in case of public emergencies like a flu outbreak, terrorist attacks or earthquakes that are severe enough to cause local supplies to run out." (Reuters; 22Jul09)
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSBNG20184720090722
ND [North Dakota] group ordered to repay $124K in misspent funds [meant for disaster planning]
"A group that represents North Dakota's ambulance and emergency workers was ordered Wednesday to repay more than $124,000 in federal disaster planning money spent on alcohol, lobbying and other questionable expenses. The North Dakota EMS Association, which represents about 1,800 ambulance and emergency workers, may be barred from seeking any more federal grant money, said Tim Wiedrich, chief of the North Dakota Health Department's emergency preparedness and response section. The Bismarck-based EMS association received about $810,000 between 2004 and last year to help produce a plan to fight bioterrorism and other mass disasters. In a Wednesday letter obtained by The Associated Press, the state Health Department told the group that an audit found $157,425 in expenses that were either 'unallowable' or lacked receipts. The letter said $33,300 would be denied and $124,125 must be repaid. […] How and when the group will pay the money back is unclear." (Idaho Stateman; 22Jul09; James MacPherson, AP) http://www.idahostatesman.com/usnews/story/842034.html
WMD panel leaders warn of bioterror[ism] threat
"The United States must take new measures to help counter the threat of biological terrorism, the heads of a congressional WMD advisory panel wrote in a journal editorial published this week. […] 'In our commission report, World at Risk, we stated that terrorists are more likely to obtain and use a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon,' states the editorial by former Senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent, respectively the chairman and vice chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. There are a number of reasons for this conclusion, according to the commentary: Anthrax [sic] and other dangerous biological materials are found in nature around the world, while weapon-grade nuclear materials are not; it would be far easier to disperse a biological agent than to manufacture a nuclear weapon. […] The panel determined that without aggressive action, a WMD incident was likely to occur at some location before 2014. […] Additional precautions can help reduce a biological weapon's impact, the former lawmakers noted. 'It is important to have a biological weapons prevention strategy that does not merely involve crossing out 'nuclear' and adding 'bio,' they stated. 'There will be some similarities of approach, which we have detailed in our report: for example, preventing a biological attack will require continued support and investment in international treaties.' […] Greater preparedness is also needed. […] That means improved capabilities for detecting disease agents and vaccinating those who might be exposed to such a material. Drug development must also be improved, according to Graham and Talent. […] 'A major part of our biodefense strategy should be based on reaching a level of preparedness that will effectively remove bioweapons from the category of WMD. This will happen neither quickly nor cheaply, but it will be well worth the investment,' [Graham and Talent wrote]." (Global Security Newswire; 24Jul09) http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090723_4090.php
Agent Orange linked to heart disease, Parkinson's
"Medical researchers say there may be a link between exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War and an increased chance of developing serious heart problems and Parkinson's disease. A study from the Institute of Medicine released Friday contains several caveats, but suggests there is a stronger connection than previously thought about the health risks to Vietnam veterans. [...] The Institute of Medicine, a division of the National Academy of Sciences, is mandated by Congress to review every two years evidence about the effects of Agent Orange exposure. To determine whether Vietnam veterans faced an increased chance of ischemic heart disease - a condition involving reduced blood supply to the heart - researchers reviewed several studies that showed links between higher exposure levels and greater incidence of the disease. Other factors such as smoking, age, and weight can also play a role, they noted. Still, they said veterans exposed to the chemicals may be at greater risk." (Associated Press; 24Jul09; Richard Lardner) http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/a/w/1155/07-24-2009/20090724092006_11.html
Mustard chemical leak detected at depot [OR]
"Trace amounts of mustard chemical agent vapor were detected inside a Umatilla Chemical Depot storage igloo Tuesday. As the weather warms, the mustard containers thaw and are more likely to leak. The mustard […] freezes below 59 degrees. […] The leak Tuesday was detected during routine weekly monitoring and posed no danger to the public or environment, according to depot officials. The igloos have a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping the structures. When a leak is discovered, a powered filtration system also is installed." (Tri City Herald; 22Jul09) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/654819.html
San Diego State University lab tried to spot 'dirty bombs'
"At San Diego State University's Department of Homeland Security Immersive Visualization Center, they're trying to spot 'dirty bomb' components accurately. The lab recently unveiled a joint homeland security project that they did with Defentect to create a perimeter system for the detection of radiation. […] The system is designed to detect radiological materials. It uses a software platform from Defentect for management, monitoring and messaging along with a GT2 gross gamma detection sensor. […] 'This program is one more way the Viz Lab is working to evaluate and enhance tools and technologies to help both public and private entities deal with potential hazards with accuracy and speed - important in the face of mounting and unseen threats,' [said Dr. Eric Frost, the founder and co-director of SDSU Immersive Visualization Center and co-director of the university's homeland security master's degree program]. According to SDSU and technology partners, the system could have applications beyond simply controlling the movement of radiological materials. Defentect's Joey Dusina thought that hospitals might be one area of application for the system. 'Hospitals are grappling with how to quickly and accurately identify and alert to the presence of radiologically contaminated persons following a radiological incident so they can be treated, while lowering risk of exposure to hospital personnel and other patients.'" (Security Info Watch; 23Jul09; Geoff Kohl)
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/root+level/1312321
Helping countries keep radioactive sources safe, IAEA publishes implementation guide on security of radioactive sources
"The IAEA has just released a guide for implementing security measures on radioactive sources. […] The publication includes guidance and recommended measures for the prevention of, detection of, and response to malicious acts involving radioactive sources. […] This publication is intended for use by States in formulating security policy for radioactive sources. It is also intended to help regulatory bodies in developing policies that are consistent with the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, which is one of the leading international instruments on radioactive source management. It will also assist State parties to fulfill certain obligations under the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. By setting guidance on the security of sources, the publications is expected to serve as a useful tool for legislators and regulators, physical protection specialists and facility and transport operators, as well as law enforcement officers. It will also help towards preventing the loss of control of such sources, and may help operators managing radioactive sources to develop their security programmes. Growing concern that criminal groups could gain access to high-activity radioactive sources and use the sources maliciously has […] led to a global trend towards increased control, accounting and security of radioactive sources. […] The IAEA has adopted an integrated approach to protection against nuclear terrorism. This approach coordinates IAEA activities concerned with the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear installations, nuclear material accountancy, detection and response to trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material."
(International Atomic Energy Agency; 24Jul09) http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2009/saferadsources.html
Sri Lanka assures continued support to counter global terrorism
"Sri Lanka will continue to support global measures to counter the scourge of terrorism, including the early conclusion of the Global Convention on Terrorism, assured Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister. Speaking at the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum, Phuket, Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama further said subscribing to the UN Convention dealing with Terrorism, Sri Lanka is party to the NPT treaty and its related Safeguard Agreements as well as other related Agreements under the framework of the IAEA, such as the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident among others. Enumerating the role Sri Lanka plays to bring an end to terrorism globally, the Minister anounced that Sri Lanka is in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as well as in the Proliferation Security Initiative and its related activities. 'In the regional context, we are party to the SAARC Regional Convention on Terrorism and the SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters. Under Sri Lanka's Chairmanship, the SAARC adopted the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism this year. We have taken a number of national legislative and other measures giving effect to these commitments, and the domestic legislation under the convention of the suppression of Nuclear Terrorism is under preparation.' […] Sri Lanka earned high praise from the chair at the retreat of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) for its positive contributions on the fight against terrorism." (Asia Tribune; 24Jul09) http://asiantribune.com/07/24/sri-lanka-assures-continued-support-global-measures-to-counter-terrorism/
Terrorists could use internet to launch nuclear attack: report
"Terrorists groups could soon use the internet to help set off a devastating nuclear attack, according to new research. The claims come in a study commissioned by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), which suggests that under the right circumstances, terrorists could break into computer systems and launch an attack on a nuclear state. […] Without better protection of computer and information systems, the paper suggests, governments around the world are leaving open the possibility that a well-coordinated cyberwar could quickly elevate to nuclear levels. In fact, says the study, 'this may be an easier alternative for terrorist groups than building or acquiring a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb themselves.' […] While the possibility of a radical group gaining access to actual launch systems is remote, the study suggests that hackers could focus on feeding in false information further down the chain - or spreading fake information to officials in a carefully orchestrated strike. 'Despite claims that nuclear launch orders can only come from the highest authorities, numerous examples point towards an ability to sidestep the chain of command and insert orders at lower levels,' said Jason Fritz, the author of the paper. 'Cyber-terrorists could also provoke a nuclear launch by spoofing early warning and identification systems or by degrading communications networks.' Since these systems are not as well-protected as those used to launch an attack, they may prove more vulnerable to attackers who wish to tempt another nation into a nuclear response." (The Guardian; 24Jul09; Bobbie Johnson) http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/24/internet-cyber-attack-terrorists
Emergency drill sent helicopters into Denver's sky [CO]
"If you saw helicopters flying across the metro area Thursday there was no need to be alarmed, it was part of a drill. The Colorado Army National Guard was participating in a drill Thursday that simulated a chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological incident at the Pepsi Center. Officials with the Guard say it is not meant to necessarily emulate an act of terrorism. As part of the drill, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters flew between Buckley Air Force Base, the Pepsi Center and the World Arena in Colorado Springs. The Guard is the only military unit participating in the drill and they were joined at the Pepsi Center by the Aurora Fire Department. […] The Guard is part of a response crew that the president can call upon during a time of emergency." (KUSA Channel 9, Denver, CO; 23Jul09; Sara Gandy)
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=120000&provider=top&catid=188
NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] nuclear security sites to meet, share ideas at LDRD [Laboratory Directed Research and Development] symposium next month
"The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that the 2009 NNSA Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Symposium will be held Aug. 19 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The theme of this year's conference is 'Innovation for Our Nation: Strengthening America's Infrastructure Security.' […] The LDRD program promotes highly innovative and exploratory research to respond to present national security mission needs and anticipate future ones. The program funds projects that pursue technological solutions to the most urgent challenges facing our nation or that promote science and engineering foundations that will lead to new research and development. […] The all-day symposium on Aug. 19 will look at current and future LDRD investments that the NNSA national laboratories, site and plants are making to protect the nation's critical infrastructure from terrorism, sabotage, global climate change and natural disasters. Symposium topics include cyber systems, power grid, energy resources, borders and seaports, bioterrorism, and transportation systems." (National Nuclear Security Administration; 23Jul09) http://nnsa.energy.gov/news/2459.htm
Croatia rejects anti-terrorist training center
"If the proposal had been accepted, the facility would have been the largest training ground of its type in Europe, housing large stores of chemicals and viruses on site. Its construction would have cost 15 million kuna (just over two million euros). The US has sought a facility for training troops in methods to deal with chemical and biological weapons attack on Croatia's Dalmatian coast because the region enjoys good weather. This allows almost eight months of active training, which cannot take place in inclement weather. […] KnoTox Inc. is a Colorado-based chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training and education company. KnoTox Director Douglas Eaton believes that the ministry still requires a toxic training centre, despite the fact that the facility would house hazardous chemical and biological agents. Knotox claims that the chemicals that would be used in drills would not come into contact with the environment or harm the local population, plants and animals." (Balkan Insight; 24Jul09) http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/21296/
N[orth] Korea 'tests weapons on children'
"When Im Chun-yong made his daring escape from North Korea, with a handful of his special forces men, there were many reasons why the North Korean government was intent on stopping them. […] They carried with them […reports of] the use of humans, specifically mentally or physically handicapped children, to test North Korea's biological and chemical weapons. 'If you are born mentally or physically deficient, says Im, the government says your best contribution to society... is as a guinea pig for biological and chemical weapons testing.' […] One of Im's own men later gave him an eyewitness account of human-testing. Asked to guard a secret facility on an island off North Korea's west coast, Im says the soldier saw a number of people forced into a glass chamber. […] Other North Korean defectors have long alleged that the secretive nation has been using political prisoners as experimental test subjects. Some have detailed how inmates were shipped from various concentration camps to so-called chemical 'factories.' […] Security analysts believe Kim oversees one of the most aggressive and robust biochemical weapons programmes in the world. […] Im says he was trained on how to use biochemical weapons against the 'enemy' - including how to fire them from short-range 'bazooka-style' weapons. […] It is estimated the country has accumulated a stockpile of more than 5,000 tonnes of biochemical weaponry […] 'Human experimentation is a widespread practice,' says [Kim Sang-hun, a retired UN official who has spent years investigating the North's chemical and biological weapons programme]. 'I hoped I was wrong, but it is the reality and it is taking place in North Korea and it is taking place at a number of locations.' […] As the world's attention focuses on the North's nuclear programme, Im is worried the international community will miss what he believes is the more imminent threat posed by the country's biochemical arsenal." (Military.com; 24Jul09) http://www.military.com/news/article/nkorea-tests-weapons-on-children.html?col=1186032310810
Man arrested in vandalism, 'anthrax' [sic] hoax [CA]
"Police have arrested a man in connection with vandalism and white powder found in an empty apartment in Newport Beach. Phong Huu Nguyen, 29, was arrested in the 5000 block of Rodeo Road in Los Angeles on Tuesday at 11:25 p.m., police said. He was booked into the Newport Beach Police Department Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail on charges of criminal threats. Nguyen had been evicted from the unit, police said. While examining a unit in the Coronado Apartments for vandalism, Newport Beach officers found threatening messages painted on the walls and the jars with a white powdery substance inside. The substance was determined to be corn starch, said Lt. Rob Morton of the Newport Beach Police Department." (Orange County Register; 22Jul09; Elysse James) http://www.ocregister.com/articles/white-apartment-beach-2502657-substance-newport
Defense Agency Simulates Biological Attack on Pentagon
By Ian Graham
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - The risk of attack against senior government and military officials always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said. Paul Benda and Christina Murata -- director and deputy director, respectively, of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosives directorate -- spoke about preparing for a biological attack on the Pentagon during a July 22 webcast of "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military" on Pentagon Web Radio.
Benda and Murata explained how they used a commercial garden powder to simulate a biological attack in a July 11 test of response procedures and decontamination methods, and how the findings of their test will affect future response to bio-weapon attacks.
More than 200 people participated in the test, including 87 volunteers who were exposed to the garden powder and washed down. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency has conducted tests regularly since 2005 to gather data to better protect people in the event of a biological attack.
"We spread [the powder] across the reservation," Benda said. "We had volunteers that got exposed to it. The building was exposed to it. We tracked where this powder went and where it went on our volunteers."
The directorate tested different options for decontamination, from portable showers to what Benda described as a "wall of water." More than a dozen organizations participated in the test in hopes of finding the easiest and most effective methods.
"We wanted to compare the different decontamination strategies," Benda said. "What's the fastest way to clean these people? What works the best?"
The quickest, most effective cleaner they found was water, Murata said. Simply flushing items with water cleaned more than 95 percent of contaminants from the road and more than 90 percent from vehicles.
"It's that old fireman's adage that there's no problem that enough water can't cure," Murata said. "Point for point, water did the best."
For personnel contaminated with a biological weapon, the best cleaning method was to make a "wall" of water using five fire trucks. Four pumper trucks fired water against each other while a ladder truck released water from above. Volunteers walked through the streams, scrubbing their body and hair to remove contaminants.
"This is a standard capability that every fire department has," Benda said. "Whether it's a volunteer fire department or a professional fire department, they're able to use their standard nozzles, connected to a hydrant, to create this decontamination capability."
The beauty of using fire trucks, beyond their accessibility regardless of location, is their effectiveness. It's not a new technology, but it performs on par with other decontamination methods.
"It works as well, if not better than specific technologies, and it gives us faster through-put," Benda said.
Once the team sorts the data from this test and figures out which questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen, they'll share the findings and begin planning for the next test.
And though certain information in tests related to security for Defense Department and other government employees is safeguarded, the information that applies to organizations nationwide will be spread through professional conferences and published articles.
"We do our best to get the information out that will protect the nation as a whole," Benda said.
(Ian Graham works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - The risk of attack against senior government and military officials always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said. Paul Benda and Christina Murata -- director and deputy director, respectively, of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosives directorate -- spoke about preparing for a biological attack on the Pentagon during a July 22 webcast of "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military" on Pentagon Web Radio.
Benda and Murata explained how they used a commercial garden powder to simulate a biological attack in a July 11 test of response procedures and decontamination methods, and how the findings of their test will affect future response to bio-weapon attacks.
More than 200 people participated in the test, including 87 volunteers who were exposed to the garden powder and washed down. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency has conducted tests regularly since 2005 to gather data to better protect people in the event of a biological attack.
"We spread [the powder] across the reservation," Benda said. "We had volunteers that got exposed to it. The building was exposed to it. We tracked where this powder went and where it went on our volunteers."
The directorate tested different options for decontamination, from portable showers to what Benda described as a "wall of water." More than a dozen organizations participated in the test in hopes of finding the easiest and most effective methods.
"We wanted to compare the different decontamination strategies," Benda said. "What's the fastest way to clean these people? What works the best?"
The quickest, most effective cleaner they found was water, Murata said. Simply flushing items with water cleaned more than 95 percent of contaminants from the road and more than 90 percent from vehicles.
"It's that old fireman's adage that there's no problem that enough water can't cure," Murata said. "Point for point, water did the best."
For personnel contaminated with a biological weapon, the best cleaning method was to make a "wall" of water using five fire trucks. Four pumper trucks fired water against each other while a ladder truck released water from above. Volunteers walked through the streams, scrubbing their body and hair to remove contaminants.
"This is a standard capability that every fire department has," Benda said. "Whether it's a volunteer fire department or a professional fire department, they're able to use their standard nozzles, connected to a hydrant, to create this decontamination capability."
The beauty of using fire trucks, beyond their accessibility regardless of location, is their effectiveness. It's not a new technology, but it performs on par with other decontamination methods.
"It works as well, if not better than specific technologies, and it gives us faster through-put," Benda said.
Once the team sorts the data from this test and figures out which questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen, they'll share the findings and begin planning for the next test.
And though certain information in tests related to security for Defense Department and other government employees is safeguarded, the information that applies to organizations nationwide will be spread through professional conferences and published articles.
"We do our best to get the information out that will protect the nation as a whole," Benda said.
(Ian Graham works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died July 23 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 451-7200.
Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died July 23 of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at (910) 451-7200.
Guantanamo Bay Closure 'On Track,' Pentagon Lawyer Says
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - Plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within President Barack Obama's one-year time frame are on track, the Pentagon's top lawyer said today. The military held about 240 detainees at the center when Obama pledged days after his inauguration in January to close the facility. Since then, the interagency group assigned to reviewing the cases has made recommendations on more than half, including approving the transfer of more than 50 detainees to other countries, Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department general counsel, told the House Armed Services Committee in a prepared statement.
"Additional reviews are ongoing, and the process is on track,", Johnson said. "We remain committed to closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within the one-year time frame ordered by the president."
Obama announced plans for the closure of Guantanamo Bay as part of a series of executive orders signed Jan. 22. That legislation created two task forces, one of which is responsible for going file by file through each detainee at Guantanamo Bay, making decisions about how to render justice consistent with U.S. laws and values.
The groups comprise officials from the departments of Justice, Defense, State, and Homeland Security, and from the U.S. military and intelligence community.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs this week said a request for a six-month extension for a task force progress report on interrogation policies would not delay the closure. "The task forces and the president believe we continue to make progress and can meet the goal of closing Guantanamo Bay in a year," he said in a July 21 news conference.
Addressing Congress, Johnson said the panel has made progress on another presidential directive issued in May: reforming military commissions, the process through which detainees are tried in U.S. military courts.
Echoing Obama's call to reform the Military Commissions Act of 2006, Johnson said he welcomes the opportunity to help change military commissions into a more viable forum.
"By working to improve military commissions to make the process more fair and credible, we enhance our national security by providing the government with effective alternatives for bringing to justice those international terrorists who violate the law of war," he said.
Under the Senate's recent Defense Authorization Act, several provisions were made to reform the 2006 legislation. Johnson expressed confidence in the ability of the Obama administration and Congress to continue working together to improve the law.
"Military commissions can emerge from this effort as a fully legitimate forum," he said.
The new legislation proposes changes that ban in-court use of statements obtained by cruel interrogation methods, which Johnson said will "go a long way towards improving the process."
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - Plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within President Barack Obama's one-year time frame are on track, the Pentagon's top lawyer said today. The military held about 240 detainees at the center when Obama pledged days after his inauguration in January to close the facility. Since then, the interagency group assigned to reviewing the cases has made recommendations on more than half, including approving the transfer of more than 50 detainees to other countries, Jeh C. Johnson, the Defense Department general counsel, told the House Armed Services Committee in a prepared statement.
"Additional reviews are ongoing, and the process is on track,", Johnson said. "We remain committed to closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within the one-year time frame ordered by the president."
Obama announced plans for the closure of Guantanamo Bay as part of a series of executive orders signed Jan. 22. That legislation created two task forces, one of which is responsible for going file by file through each detainee at Guantanamo Bay, making decisions about how to render justice consistent with U.S. laws and values.
The groups comprise officials from the departments of Justice, Defense, State, and Homeland Security, and from the U.S. military and intelligence community.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs this week said a request for a six-month extension for a task force progress report on interrogation policies would not delay the closure. "The task forces and the president believe we continue to make progress and can meet the goal of closing Guantanamo Bay in a year," he said in a July 21 news conference.
Addressing Congress, Johnson said the panel has made progress on another presidential directive issued in May: reforming military commissions, the process through which detainees are tried in U.S. military courts.
Echoing Obama's call to reform the Military Commissions Act of 2006, Johnson said he welcomes the opportunity to help change military commissions into a more viable forum.
"By working to improve military commissions to make the process more fair and credible, we enhance our national security by providing the government with effective alternatives for bringing to justice those international terrorists who violate the law of war," he said.
Under the Senate's recent Defense Authorization Act, several provisions were made to reform the 2006 legislation. Johnson expressed confidence in the ability of the Obama administration and Congress to continue working together to improve the law.
"Military commissions can emerge from this effort as a fully legitimate forum," he said.
The new legislation proposes changes that ban in-court use of statements obtained by cruel interrogation methods, which Johnson said will "go a long way towards improving the process."
National Guard Company Trains Iraqi Police to Self-sufficiency
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe ThompsonSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - National police in Iraq's Wasit province now are capable of sustaining their own training needs after coalition forces leave here, military officials said, thanks to the efforts of a Massachusetts National Guard police company. The 772nd Military Police Company, attached to the 41st Fires Brigade, worked with Iraqi police advisor teams to establish a mobile police training team. The team will serve at the police's provincial headquarters and Iraqi police stations in the province along the Iranian border, as well as train other police trainers to train their own.
"It's most important to me to let the world know that with the support of coalition forces, the 41st Fires Brigade, 772nd [Military Police] Company and the Iraqi police training teams, the creation of this mobile training team not only readies the progress for the future, but we are ready to stand by and stop any kind of enemy," said Capt. Hayder Adnan Ali, the Iraqi police liaison to coalition forces. "When you get good training and good policemen, you can fight the enemy and protect your community."
The focus at the provincial headquarters was firearms training, and instructors there said they know the importance of quality training.
"I like to teach my training ideas and training goals to the students because I know that when I stand and fight against terrorism and any enemy against our country or while protecting all our communities, buildings and people's lives, these recruits will be standing beside me, and I will know that they have been trained right," said Sgt. Hayder Sahib Silan, Iraqi police instructor in Wasit.
"This is the first province in Iraq to have this mobile training team," Silan said. "The other provinces rely on their academies and the coalition-led police training teams. But here in Wasit, we have the first independent, fully trained Iraqi mobile training team responsible for professional development and training of the Iraqi police."
The mobile training team also ensures the police will be able to conduct training, even when they can't afford to send new recruits to the police academy.
"Sometimes we don't have the time to send them to the academy or we don't have the budget to house, feed and put electricity in the academy," Silan said. "The mobile team can go out to all the units anytime. They are ready to go and train."
The curriculum for the training was developed by coalition forces and the Iraqi Interior Ministry and combined into a simple, comprehensive training plan encompassing both basic and advanced police training.
"This program has been a complete success with the collaboration of the [Iraqi police], [Iraqi police advisors] and [military police]," said Army Staff Sgt. Elton Dean, headquarters squad leader, 772nd Military Police Company. "We are looking to add more police mobile training teams in each district to ensure adequate instructors for the whole province.
"Every time we visit the instructors and trainees, you can tell they are putting the lessons they learned in the instructor course to use," Dean continued. "It is apparent in the way they conduct the classes, how professional they look and how the students improve week to week."
The mobile training team is made up of seven instructors and three officers who handle the administration and mentorship responsibilities. The 772nd will continue to partner with the Iraqi police in Wasit until the unit redeploys, which is scheduled for October.
Obama to Bestow Medal of Honor on Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - President Barack Obama will posthumously award Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan, White House officials announced today. The ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 17 at the White House, will mark the first time Obama confers the highest military honor, making Monti the sixth servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001, all of which have been awarded posthumously.
Then a staff sergeant, Monti, 30, was killed June 21, 2006, while deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. He was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class.
"He displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor – eventually sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his comrade," according to the White House news release announcing the upcoming ceremony.
The fallen soldier's parents, Paul and Janet Monti, are scheduled to attend the White House ceremony. Monti also is survived by his sister, Niccole; his brother, Timothy; and his niece, Carys.
During his Army career, Monti earned several military decorations, including a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, five Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, and three National Defense Service Medals.
A native of Raynham, Mass., and a graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham High School, Monti enlisted in the Army in March 1993 and attended basic training at Fort Sill, Okla. His first assignment was as a forward observer in the 10th Mountain Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment.
The nonprofit Jared C. Monti Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to provide a scholarship annually to an eligible student.
The Medal of Honor has been conferred on 3,447 men and one woman since President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law on Dec. 21, 1861. It is reserved for those who are distinguished "by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - President Barack Obama will posthumously award Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan, White House officials announced today. The ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 17 at the White House, will mark the first time Obama confers the highest military honor, making Monti the sixth servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001, all of which have been awarded posthumously.
Then a staff sergeant, Monti, 30, was killed June 21, 2006, while deployed to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. He was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class.
"He displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor – eventually sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his comrade," according to the White House news release announcing the upcoming ceremony.
The fallen soldier's parents, Paul and Janet Monti, are scheduled to attend the White House ceremony. Monti also is survived by his sister, Niccole; his brother, Timothy; and his niece, Carys.
During his Army career, Monti earned several military decorations, including a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, five Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, and three National Defense Service Medals.
A native of Raynham, Mass., and a graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham High School, Monti enlisted in the Army in March 1993 and attended basic training at Fort Sill, Okla. His first assignment was as a forward observer in the 10th Mountain Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment.
The nonprofit Jared C. Monti Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to provide a scholarship annually to an eligible student.
The Medal of Honor has been conferred on 3,447 men and one woman since President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law on Dec. 21, 1861. It is reserved for those who are distinguished "by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States."
Forces Kill Militants, Detain Suspects in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 - Afghan and international forces killed several enemy fighters, detained nine suspects and destroyed a weapons stockpile in recent operations in Afghanistan's Ghazni, Khost and Kandahar provinces, military officials reported. Acting on intelligence that indicated militant activity, a combined force searched a compound last night in the Ghazni village of Jahangir Kalay. The compound was known to be used by a Taliban fighter responsible for supplying weapons and ammunition to local militants for attacks against Afghan and international security forces.
During the search, militants engaged the force, and the force returned fire, killing several enemy fighters. The search continued, and the force found and destroyed a stockpile that included assault rifles, a machine gun and grenades.
Also last night, a combined force conducted an intelligence-driven search of a compound west of the city of Khost in Khost province. The search targeted a key member of the Haqqani terrorist network officials said is responsible for multiple operations, including suicide attacks against Afghan and international forces. The search was conducted without incident, and the force detained six suspected militants, including the wanted man.
Elsewhere, an overnight operation reported yesterday in the village of Khosrow-e Sofia in Kandahar province resulted in detention of three suspected militants.
No combined-force or civilian casualties were reported in the operations.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
July 24, 2009 - Afghan and international forces killed several enemy fighters, detained nine suspects and destroyed a weapons stockpile in recent operations in Afghanistan's Ghazni, Khost and Kandahar provinces, military officials reported. Acting on intelligence that indicated militant activity, a combined force searched a compound last night in the Ghazni village of Jahangir Kalay. The compound was known to be used by a Taliban fighter responsible for supplying weapons and ammunition to local militants for attacks against Afghan and international security forces.
During the search, militants engaged the force, and the force returned fire, killing several enemy fighters. The search continued, and the force found and destroyed a stockpile that included assault rifles, a machine gun and grenades.
Also last night, a combined force conducted an intelligence-driven search of a compound west of the city of Khost in Khost province. The search targeted a key member of the Haqqani terrorist network officials said is responsible for multiple operations, including suicide attacks against Afghan and international forces. The search was conducted without incident, and the force detained six suspected militants, including the wanted man.
Elsewhere, an overnight operation reported yesterday in the village of Khosrow-e Sofia in Kandahar province resulted in detention of three suspected militants.
No combined-force or civilian casualties were reported in the operations.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 22 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.
Killed were:
Sgt. Joshua J. Rimer, 24, of Rochester, Pa.; and
Spc. Randy L.J. Neff, Jr., 22, of Blackfoot, Idaho.
For more information on these soldiers, media may contact the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at (719) 526-4143; after hours (719) 526-5500.
Killed were:
Sgt. Joshua J. Rimer, 24, of Rochester, Pa.; and
Spc. Randy L.J. Neff, Jr., 22, of Blackfoot, Idaho.
For more information on these soldiers, media may contact the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at (719) 526-4143; after hours (719) 526-5500.
Afghan Citizens Drive Military Success in Afghanistan, Pentagon Official Says
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - Coalition efforts on the ground in Afghanistan and the Afghan people's willingness to turn their backs on the insurgency will be the most decisive measures for success there, the Pentagon's head of special operations said today. In a roundtable discussion today over breakfast with defense and national security reporters at the Fairmont Hotel here, Michael G. Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations/ low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities, discussed an array of topics regarding special operations forces and U.S. endeavors in Afghanistan.
Without experienced troops and local support, the fighting in Afghanistan could continue for decades longer, Vickers said. Completely ousting al-Qaida and Taliban networks there will require the Afghans to eventually defend themselves, he said.
"Ultimately, [the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan] will be won and lost on the ground, and it will be won and lost by the Afghan people," Vickers, a former Army special forces soldier and CIA operations officer, said. "Ultimately, an insurgency is won at the local level."
Vickers noted al-Qaida's resilience and ability to overcome setbacks. The group has suffered significantly several times since 2001, but has been able to rebuild, he said.
Throughout the past year, countless al-Qaida leadership and operatives there have been killed or captured. However, al-Qaida still has capabilities and continues to fight aggressively, he said.
"[Al-Qaida] remains a very dangerous organization and threat," he said. "It would certainly be enormously premature to say that conflict with them is over."
Over the next few years, Vickers explained, the broad focus of the coalition counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan is to bring security to its populace. He stressed the importance to also have measurable, realistic near- and mid-term objectives in regards to governance and Afghan national security forces, too.
"The [goal] is not how many enemy fighters are killed, but really, is how much security you can bring to the country, then legitimacy to the government of that country in support of the population, and obviously prevent incursion by the insurgents," he said.
Vickers added, "In the immediate term, our objective, [within] one to two years, is really to reverse the momentum the insurgency has been gaining to shift the balance [and] to move it towards a direction of irreversible bounds."
This objective is being spearheaded by an increase of U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan, Vickers said. Before additional U.S. troops arrived there in the spring, the U.S. footprint was about 30,000 military members. Within the next two months, that number will increase to 68,000. Most of those forces will be operating in the Regional Command South area of operation "to play a significant role in reversing [the insurgent's] momentum," he added.
Vickers couldn't be specific on whether this would be a temporary "surge" similar to the Iraqi surge in 2007, but offered that part of the reason for the U.S. troop increase is because "the Afghan security forces are too small for the challenge they face."
"[Afghan forces] are very capable in some areas," he continued, "but it will take some time to build up the Afghan National Security Forces."
Transitioning security to the Afghans is one of the core objectives of President Barack Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy in hopes of lightening the U.S. footprint, he said.
"Our goal is to partner with Afghans in everything that we do, and to progressively transition more and more leads in the operations to the Afghans," he said.
American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - Coalition efforts on the ground in Afghanistan and the Afghan people's willingness to turn their backs on the insurgency will be the most decisive measures for success there, the Pentagon's head of special operations said today. In a roundtable discussion today over breakfast with defense and national security reporters at the Fairmont Hotel here, Michael G. Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations/ low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities, discussed an array of topics regarding special operations forces and U.S. endeavors in Afghanistan.
Without experienced troops and local support, the fighting in Afghanistan could continue for decades longer, Vickers said. Completely ousting al-Qaida and Taliban networks there will require the Afghans to eventually defend themselves, he said.
"Ultimately, [the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan] will be won and lost on the ground, and it will be won and lost by the Afghan people," Vickers, a former Army special forces soldier and CIA operations officer, said. "Ultimately, an insurgency is won at the local level."
Vickers noted al-Qaida's resilience and ability to overcome setbacks. The group has suffered significantly several times since 2001, but has been able to rebuild, he said.
Throughout the past year, countless al-Qaida leadership and operatives there have been killed or captured. However, al-Qaida still has capabilities and continues to fight aggressively, he said.
"[Al-Qaida] remains a very dangerous organization and threat," he said. "It would certainly be enormously premature to say that conflict with them is over."
Over the next few years, Vickers explained, the broad focus of the coalition counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan is to bring security to its populace. He stressed the importance to also have measurable, realistic near- and mid-term objectives in regards to governance and Afghan national security forces, too.
"The [goal] is not how many enemy fighters are killed, but really, is how much security you can bring to the country, then legitimacy to the government of that country in support of the population, and obviously prevent incursion by the insurgents," he said.
Vickers added, "In the immediate term, our objective, [within] one to two years, is really to reverse the momentum the insurgency has been gaining to shift the balance [and] to move it towards a direction of irreversible bounds."
This objective is being spearheaded by an increase of U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan, Vickers said. Before additional U.S. troops arrived there in the spring, the U.S. footprint was about 30,000 military members. Within the next two months, that number will increase to 68,000. Most of those forces will be operating in the Regional Command South area of operation "to play a significant role in reversing [the insurgent's] momentum," he added.
Vickers couldn't be specific on whether this would be a temporary "surge" similar to the Iraqi surge in 2007, but offered that part of the reason for the U.S. troop increase is because "the Afghan security forces are too small for the challenge they face."
"[Afghan forces] are very capable in some areas," he continued, "but it will take some time to build up the Afghan National Security Forces."
Transitioning security to the Afghans is one of the core objectives of President Barack Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy in hopes of lightening the U.S. footprint, he said.
"Our goal is to partner with Afghans in everything that we do, and to progressively transition more and more leads in the operations to the Afghans," he said.
Gates, Maliki Discuss U.S.-Iraqi Security Partnership
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed Iraq security issues when the two met at the Pentagon late this afternoon. Gates and Maliki addressed the U.S.-Iraqi security relationship and equipment needs for Iraqi soldiers and police, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
Their conversation, Morrell said, focused "largely on our security partnership, on ways that we can continue to help the Iraqi security forces grow in size and capability, so that they are able to fully exert their sovereignty and protect the people from external and internal threats."
Gates acknowledged during today's meeting with Maliki that the current processes employed to provide equipment to Iraqi military and police are too slow and need to be streamlined, Morrell said.
Therefore, he continued, Gates is "working on creative ways" to provide Iraqi security forces -- and other allies – the equipment that they need as quickly as possible.
"Speed and flexibility are what our system needs and doesn't have to the degree that we would like," Morrell said.
Gates and Maliki also discussed the "tremendous progress" that's been made in Iraq over the past few years, he said.
President Barack Obama and Maliki discussed the June 30 transfer of security leadership to Iraqi authorities at a news conference held yesterday at the White House. American military forces withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns as part of the agreement.
"This transition was part of our security agreement and should send an unmistakable signal that we will keep our commitments with the sovereign Iraqi government," Obama said at yesterday's news conference.
American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed Iraq security issues when the two met at the Pentagon late this afternoon. Gates and Maliki addressed the U.S.-Iraqi security relationship and equipment needs for Iraqi soldiers and police, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
Their conversation, Morrell said, focused "largely on our security partnership, on ways that we can continue to help the Iraqi security forces grow in size and capability, so that they are able to fully exert their sovereignty and protect the people from external and internal threats."
Gates acknowledged during today's meeting with Maliki that the current processes employed to provide equipment to Iraqi military and police are too slow and need to be streamlined, Morrell said.
Therefore, he continued, Gates is "working on creative ways" to provide Iraqi security forces -- and other allies – the equipment that they need as quickly as possible.
"Speed and flexibility are what our system needs and doesn't have to the degree that we would like," Morrell said.
Gates and Maliki also discussed the "tremendous progress" that's been made in Iraq over the past few years, he said.
President Barack Obama and Maliki discussed the June 30 transfer of security leadership to Iraqi authorities at a news conference held yesterday at the White House. American military forces withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns as part of the agreement.
"This transition was part of our security agreement and should send an unmistakable signal that we will keep our commitments with the sovereign Iraqi government," Obama said at yesterday's news conference.
Face of Defense: Vietnam Veteran Re-enlists in Iraq
American Forces Press ServiceJuly 23, 2009 - Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel L. Mayfield is a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of service. But when he re-enlisted here earlier this month, his mind was on the future and the young people he serves with. The Tallassee, Ala., native has served 37 years with the 158th Maintenance Company of the Alabama Army National Guard. He recently decided it was time to continue to serve his country for two more years.
"Everything I do today is done with the next generation in mind and how I can influence them to do the same for their nation," Mayfield said.
After serving on active duty in the Army for two years as an infantry soldier, Mayfield joined the Guard and reclassified as a light-wheel vehicle mechanic with a desire to continue serving his country. He said he appreciates the support he's received throughout his military career from his wife of 30 years and his children.
"It is a way of life, and they've learned to live in it," he said, noting his family has dealt with his absence during three deployments and numerous training events. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1969, Kosovo in 1996, and to Mosul, Iraq, in 2008.
"I joined the military because the base was adjacent to my home, and in order to have freedom, someone has to do the job," he said. "It also provided me with benefits that no other civilian job has."
(From a 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command news release.)
Mass Casualty and Violence at Home and Abroad
The 2009 Mass Casualty and Violence at Home and Abroad-OVC Assisting Victims of Crime Conference will bring together first responders, victim service professionals, policymakers and experts in mass violence. This unique opportunity allows for sharing experiences and collaborating on best practices regarding responses to victims of mass casualty and violence.
Who should attend?
First Responders
Victim Service Providers
Federal, state, local and tribal policymakers
Experts on Mass Casualty and Violence
There is no registration fee, however all travel, lodging, meal and incidental costs are the responsibility of the attendee. A limited number of scholarships have been made available for OVC-approved attendees.
How do I register for this event?
To register: visit https://www.ovcttac.gov/MassCasualtyConference.
For more information contact TTAC@ovcttac.org; or call 866-682-8822.
Who should attend?
First Responders
Victim Service Providers
Federal, state, local and tribal policymakers
Experts on Mass Casualty and Violence
There is no registration fee, however all travel, lodging, meal and incidental costs are the responsibility of the attendee. A limited number of scholarships have been made available for OVC-approved attendees.
How do I register for this event?
To register: visit https://www.ovcttac.gov/MassCasualtyConference.
For more information contact TTAC@ovcttac.org; or call 866-682-8822.
Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan Requires New Thinking
By John House
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - International forces in Afghanistan must garner popular support among residents to defeat the insurgency, the director of counterinsurgency training there said yesterday. "This is different from conventional combat, which is terrain or enemy focused," Army Col. John Agoglia, director of Counterinsurgency Training Center Afghanistan, said during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable.
"Counterinsurgency is population-focused," Agoglia said in his update on the center's doctrine, curriculum and methodologies. "How we operate in and amongst the population will determine the outcome more than traditional measures, like capture of terrain or attrition of the enemy."
Making sure all involved in the war see counterinsurgency "as a mindset, and not just a training event, ... and that this mindset permeates all actions they take," is one of Agoglia's guiding principles.
A counterinsurgency mindset that encompasses prevention of civilian casualties, fosters public trust in the government and establishes conditions for economic growth is necessary to win the war, Agoglia said.
He talked about the judicious application of military force, and emphasized that preventing civilian casualties is a priority.
"It's getting people to understand that sometimes it is better to back away from a fight than risk killing civilians and alienating those who you are supposed to be protecting," he said. This can be complicated, he acknowledged, "especially when you are dealing with an enemy who's intentionally putting themselves in with civilians."
Another key objective in the counterinsurgency campaign is fostering public trust in the government. "We're trying to reconnect formal government at the district level with the informal government out there at the tribal, village and municipal level," Agoglia said.
The center's curriculum includes conducting a village "shura," or town meeting, that emphasizes the importance of local input on decisions affecting the community.
One of the biggest challenges Agoglia sees within the formal Afghan government is corruption. "We have to work through the Afghan system to help establish rule of law to instill anti-corruption programs," he said. The key to stopping corruption, he added, is to have a formal police force that is trained to serve and protect.
Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, headquarters for the counterinsurgency center, is helping Afghans fight corruption in its role to train, equip, advise and mentor the Afghan national security forces. Pay and rank reform, electronic banking, and biometric screening are just a few programs implemented to reduce corrupt practices, Agoglia noted.
International forces signed an agreement with the Afghan national government July 21 to commit to eliminating corruption there and increase public trust.
Partnership is an important aspect to the counterinsurgency fight, too. Agoglia pointed out that while coalition nations may have varying restrictions on their military activities, all are contributing seriously to helping the Afghans.
While insurgents garner support through intimidation and threats, Agoglia said, "we will win this war by working together with our Afghan partners to provide the population a viable alternative," in terms of security, freedom from intimidation and conditions that will foster economic well-being.
As the counterinsurgency mindset and resources are increasingly applied, the impact will become evident, Agoglia said. "There is a lag time between resources, implementation, and effect," he explained. "It'll take some time, but I think we're going in the right direction, definitely."
(John House works in the Counterinsurgency Training Center Afghanistan public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - International forces in Afghanistan must garner popular support among residents to defeat the insurgency, the director of counterinsurgency training there said yesterday. "This is different from conventional combat, which is terrain or enemy focused," Army Col. John Agoglia, director of Counterinsurgency Training Center Afghanistan, said during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable.
"Counterinsurgency is population-focused," Agoglia said in his update on the center's doctrine, curriculum and methodologies. "How we operate in and amongst the population will determine the outcome more than traditional measures, like capture of terrain or attrition of the enemy."
Making sure all involved in the war see counterinsurgency "as a mindset, and not just a training event, ... and that this mindset permeates all actions they take," is one of Agoglia's guiding principles.
A counterinsurgency mindset that encompasses prevention of civilian casualties, fosters public trust in the government and establishes conditions for economic growth is necessary to win the war, Agoglia said.
He talked about the judicious application of military force, and emphasized that preventing civilian casualties is a priority.
"It's getting people to understand that sometimes it is better to back away from a fight than risk killing civilians and alienating those who you are supposed to be protecting," he said. This can be complicated, he acknowledged, "especially when you are dealing with an enemy who's intentionally putting themselves in with civilians."
Another key objective in the counterinsurgency campaign is fostering public trust in the government. "We're trying to reconnect formal government at the district level with the informal government out there at the tribal, village and municipal level," Agoglia said.
The center's curriculum includes conducting a village "shura," or town meeting, that emphasizes the importance of local input on decisions affecting the community.
One of the biggest challenges Agoglia sees within the formal Afghan government is corruption. "We have to work through the Afghan system to help establish rule of law to instill anti-corruption programs," he said. The key to stopping corruption, he added, is to have a formal police force that is trained to serve and protect.
Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, headquarters for the counterinsurgency center, is helping Afghans fight corruption in its role to train, equip, advise and mentor the Afghan national security forces. Pay and rank reform, electronic banking, and biometric screening are just a few programs implemented to reduce corrupt practices, Agoglia noted.
International forces signed an agreement with the Afghan national government July 21 to commit to eliminating corruption there and increase public trust.
Partnership is an important aspect to the counterinsurgency fight, too. Agoglia pointed out that while coalition nations may have varying restrictions on their military activities, all are contributing seriously to helping the Afghans.
While insurgents garner support through intimidation and threats, Agoglia said, "we will win this war by working together with our Afghan partners to provide the population a viable alternative," in terms of security, freedom from intimidation and conditions that will foster economic well-being.
As the counterinsurgency mindset and resources are increasingly applied, the impact will become evident, Agoglia said. "There is a lag time between resources, implementation, and effect," he explained. "It'll take some time, but I think we're going in the right direction, definitely."
(John House works in the Counterinsurgency Training Center Afghanistan public affairs office.)
U.S. Forces Afghanistan Logs 20,000 Facebook Fans
American Forces Press Service
July 23, 2009 - U.S. Forces Afghanistan's Facebook page logged its 20,000th fan today, passing the milestone a little more than two months after going public, making it the fastest-growing official military Facebook page, military officials here said. The fan page at http://www.facebook.com/usforcesafghanistan is one of the main tools used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan to disseminate news and imagery from its operations, and counter and pre-empt extremist propaganda, officials said.
In June, for example, command officials posted video on the page to quickly counter terrorist claims that U.S. troops had attacked civilians in the city of Asadabad. The video, captured by Combined Joint Task Force 82, exonerated U.S. troops and shifted blame for the attack to insurgents, who threw a grenade into a crowd gathered near a disabled American truck.
The command used the site in May to display a series of videos taken from the biggest drug interdiction operation of the war. More recently, officials shared videos of U.S. air strikes, illustrating the care forces take to ensure civilian safety when using close-air support.
As subscribers to the page, fans receive regular updates from the U.S. headquarters here. Roughly 2,000 people, including fans, visit the page daily. Fans also have full access to post their own comments, links, photos and videos.
To date, the page has fans from at least 18 countries, and is followed by major U.S. and Western media organizations and celebrities. The page's fan base has expanded rapidly, adding more than 250 followers per day, on average, since the launch. Nearly 250 news releases, 19 videos and hundreds of photos have been added to the site.
(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan news release.)
July 23, 2009 - U.S. Forces Afghanistan's Facebook page logged its 20,000th fan today, passing the milestone a little more than two months after going public, making it the fastest-growing official military Facebook page, military officials here said. The fan page at http://www.facebook.com/usforcesafghanistan is one of the main tools used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan to disseminate news and imagery from its operations, and counter and pre-empt extremist propaganda, officials said.
In June, for example, command officials posted video on the page to quickly counter terrorist claims that U.S. troops had attacked civilians in the city of Asadabad. The video, captured by Combined Joint Task Force 82, exonerated U.S. troops and shifted blame for the attack to insurgents, who threw a grenade into a crowd gathered near a disabled American truck.
The command used the site in May to display a series of videos taken from the biggest drug interdiction operation of the war. More recently, officials shared videos of U.S. air strikes, illustrating the care forces take to ensure civilian safety when using close-air support.
As subscribers to the page, fans receive regular updates from the U.S. headquarters here. Roughly 2,000 people, including fans, visit the page daily. Fans also have full access to post their own comments, links, photos and videos.
To date, the page has fans from at least 18 countries, and is followed by major U.S. and Western media organizations and celebrities. The page's fan base has expanded rapidly, adding more than 250 followers per day, on average, since the launch. Nearly 250 news releases, 19 videos and hundreds of photos have been added to the site.
(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan news release.)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
On the Ground: U.S. Forces Build Better Quality of Life in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - Construction efforts took center stage in Mosul, Iraq, recently as U.S. soldiers built a new combat outpost and took on a new renovation mission, military officials reported. Soldiers of the 643rd Engineer Company are nearing completion of Combat Outpost India in Iraq's northern province of Ninevah. They started the project in mid-June.
The outpost is slated to be used as a training site for local Iraqi security forces, said Army Capt. Joshua A. Long, technical headquarters officer in charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade.
The outpost also will make areas north of Mosul more accessible to reconstruction teams working in the area, Long said.
"This is a major construction project that will significantly increase U.S. force's ability to train with Iraqis and will facilitate transition to the [Iraqi government]," he said.
Advisory teams from 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, deployed from Ft. Hood, Texas, will live on the outpost.
Once complete, the outpost will include multiple housing structures, and dining, laundry, and a Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility.
"This will be a nice living area for the soldiers," said Army 1st Lt. Emily Hannenberg, the company's 1st platoon leader. "We've put a lot of pride and hard work in this project and hope it will help them accomplish their mission."
Meanwhile, the 130th Engineer Brigade assumed responsibility of Mosul's reconstruction efforts from the 18th Engineer Brigade on July 15 during a transfer-of-authority ceremony on Contingency Operating Station Marez in Mosul.
The "Sapper" brigade will focus on reconstruction projects aimed at helping people in Ninevah province. The soldiers will provide essential services to the local population and manage route-clearance operations for the 25th Infantry Division.
"It is an honor and a privilege to help our brother and sister Iraqis rebuild their nation," said Army Lt. Col. Fabian E. Mendoza Jr., brigade commander.
During their 15-month deployment, the soldiers moved from Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit to Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk. They later moved to Marez, where they were tasked with operating the Mosul reconstruction cell.
The brigade participated in key-leader engagements, provided technical assessments, conducted site visits and tracked millions of dollars worth of construction projects.
The soldiers also worked with Mosul city leaders to develop sustainable support for essential services and partnered with several Iraqi engineer regiments to improve their engineering and information-operations capabilities.
The soldiers will return home to Heidelberg, Germany.
"The soldiers, officers and noncommissioned officers of the 18th have done a great job here and are anxious to get home," said Army Col. Matthew Russell, brigade commander. "We've conducted uncharacteristic lines of operations that a normal engineer brigade doesn't do, but we took it on."
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
July 22, 2009 - Construction efforts took center stage in Mosul, Iraq, recently as U.S. soldiers built a new combat outpost and took on a new renovation mission, military officials reported. Soldiers of the 643rd Engineer Company are nearing completion of Combat Outpost India in Iraq's northern province of Ninevah. They started the project in mid-June.
The outpost is slated to be used as a training site for local Iraqi security forces, said Army Capt. Joshua A. Long, technical headquarters officer in charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade.
The outpost also will make areas north of Mosul more accessible to reconstruction teams working in the area, Long said.
"This is a major construction project that will significantly increase U.S. force's ability to train with Iraqis and will facilitate transition to the [Iraqi government]," he said.
Advisory teams from 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, deployed from Ft. Hood, Texas, will live on the outpost.
Once complete, the outpost will include multiple housing structures, and dining, laundry, and a Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility.
"This will be a nice living area for the soldiers," said Army 1st Lt. Emily Hannenberg, the company's 1st platoon leader. "We've put a lot of pride and hard work in this project and hope it will help them accomplish their mission."
Meanwhile, the 130th Engineer Brigade assumed responsibility of Mosul's reconstruction efforts from the 18th Engineer Brigade on July 15 during a transfer-of-authority ceremony on Contingency Operating Station Marez in Mosul.
The "Sapper" brigade will focus on reconstruction projects aimed at helping people in Ninevah province. The soldiers will provide essential services to the local population and manage route-clearance operations for the 25th Infantry Division.
"It is an honor and a privilege to help our brother and sister Iraqis rebuild their nation," said Army Lt. Col. Fabian E. Mendoza Jr., brigade commander.
During their 15-month deployment, the soldiers moved from Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit to Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk. They later moved to Marez, where they were tasked with operating the Mosul reconstruction cell.
The brigade participated in key-leader engagements, provided technical assessments, conducted site visits and tracked millions of dollars worth of construction projects.
The soldiers also worked with Mosul city leaders to develop sustainable support for essential services and partnered with several Iraqi engineer regiments to improve their engineering and information-operations capabilities.
The soldiers will return home to Heidelberg, Germany.
"The soldiers, officers and noncommissioned officers of the 18th have done a great job here and are anxious to get home," said Army Col. Matthew Russell, brigade commander. "We've conducted uncharacteristic lines of operations that a normal engineer brigade doesn't do, but we took it on."
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Soldiers Assess Babylon History for Iraq's Future
By Army Sgt. Debralee P. CrankshawSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - Multinational Division South's leaders and troops received a tour of Iraq's ancient past here last week in an effort to assess its future. The division's commander, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, along with other U.S. military and civilian advisors, received a special guided tour of the famous high-reaching walls and ancient statues of Babylon on July 18 as part of an assessment for preserving and promoting Babylon as a historic and tourism site for Iraq.
"The mission was to educate those on the command staff and some of the primary staff members on the importance of the religious aspects of this country and what there is to offer," Army Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin, the division's senior enlisted leader, said. "Even though we are at war, there are some very important things we have to preserve here and help them preserve as well."
Babylon is recognized by some as one of the first civilizations on Earth.
"Babylon was established as a settlement in 3000 B.C. and was a product of dynasty work which was already old here," said Ahmed Aziz Ibrheme, a Babylon archeologist. "It has a long history of about 5,000 years."
Babylon's story not only is one of great length, but also one of much fame and historical significance.
The earliest of this fame is Hammurabi's legal code, dating to around 1700 B.C. This code was displayed on tablets so everyone could read them. The only known surviving code has almost 300 laws, stands seven feet high and is displayed at Paris' Louvre Museum. The code covers many social and economic relationships, one law stating, "If a free person puts out the eye of a free person, then that person's eye shall be put out."
To archaeologists, the historic significance comes from the age of Nebuchadnezzar II in about 600 B.C. – a time known as The Golden Period.
"Most of the great parts were built during this age -- the Hanging Gardens, which were one of the Seven Wonders of the World and, in addition to that, the construction of Babylon tower and other [structures] here, like the walls, temples and palaces," Ibrheme said.
Whether the Hanging Gardens truly existed is a matter of some doubt. However, a part of the tour featured an area with arched ceilings and indoor wells, where it is believed the gardens may have grown. In early lists of the Seven Wonders, the Walls of Babylon were included. Later lists replaced the walls with the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
The walls are one of Babylon's claims to fame, and among the most famous of these was Ishtar's Gate.
The tour of the site begins by passing through a re-creation of the Ishtar Gate. This gate was built by Nebuchadnezzar II in 575 B.C. and dedicated to Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. It was decorated with glazed blue tiles with alternating rows of dragons and bulls. The dragons were a tribute to Marduk, the god of water, vegetation, judgment and magic. The bulls were dedicated to the rain god, Adad. The re-creation was built in the 1930s with site tiles. The foundation of the original gate remains at the site.
The city also is significant for military history. Alexander the Great conquered Babylon in 331 B.C., and it became the center of his empire for his 12-year campaign against the Persians and India. He died in Babylon in 323 B.C. His generals fought for control of his empire, causing the citizens of Babylon to disperse. Babylon never regained its position as a great world power.
To religious people, Babylon also has a strong significance.
"Babylon is a very important empire and city in the Old Testament. It figures prominently in the development of the Jewish faith as well as the Christian faith," said Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris, the division's command chaplain. "About two-thirds of the Old Testament mentions Babylon in one form or another. Sometimes it's prior to the Babylonian exile of Jewish people from Israel to Babylon. Sometimes it's in the midst of that exile, and sometimes it's afterwards.
"The prophets particularly talk about Babylon as an instrument of God's wrath," the chaplain continued. "The Book of Daniel centers itself in Babylon, as well as the Book of Ezekiel. So, Babylonian history is very important for people of faith to understand."
Muslims and Christians also are an important part of Babylonian history.
"In addition, Muslims revere many of the prophets who were in Babylon who were mentioned in the Old Testament," Morris said. "Of course, Christians understand Babylon from the New Testament. It's mentioned prominently in the Book of Revelation as a city and as a metaphor for a gigantic civilization in opposition to God. So, that empire and that city are important for people of monotheist faiths to understand the development of their faith."
In recent history, Saddam Hussein had begun reconstruction of the ruins and built a palace on the site. Many bricks of the reconstruction have an inscription in the imitation of Nebuchadnezzar II. Many of them state, "This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq."
For Morris, the tour was an exciting prospect and unique opportunity.
"To be there today for me personally, as a person of faith and a Christian, is a sacred privilege," he said.
(Army Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw serves in the Multinational Division South public affairs office.)
Force Kills Enemy Fighters, Seizes Weapons in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - Afghan and coalition forces killed several enemy fighters, detained one other and destroyed weapons caches in operations in Afghanistan over the past two days, military officials reported. A joint Afghan and coalition force killed enemy fighters and detained a suspect on a Taliban compound in central Helmand province yesterday.
The force was pursuing a senior Taliban commander believed responsible for the recruitment of bomb-making technicians and the transfer of weapons and bomb-making materials into the region.
The combined force searched a compound near the village of Heyderabad after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force engaged a group of enemy fighters after receiving fire.
The force detained an enemy fighter and seized an AK-47 assault rifle, a chest rack and 75 pounds of black-tar heroin.
When leaving the compound, the force was engaged multiple times and called in precision close-air support. Several enemy fighters were killed during the incident.
No Afghan or coalition force or civilian casualties were reported.
Elsewhere, Afghan National Police, aided by coalition forces, killed several militants and destroyed a large weapons cache in Zabul province's Arghandab and Shajoy districts July 20 during a cordon-and-search operation in an area known as a militant leader meeting point and Taliban recruiting area.
Upon entering a local village, militants engaged the Afghan-led joint force with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The force responded with small arms and heavy weapons, killing multiple militants.
A search yielded a large weapons cache that included an estimated 7,000 pounds of explosives and other miscellaneous ammunition. The force destroyed the cache in place.
An Afghan National Police member and two coalition members were wounded. They were treated before being evacuated to a nearby coalition hospital. No civilian casualties were reported.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
July 22, 2009 - Afghan and coalition forces killed several enemy fighters, detained one other and destroyed weapons caches in operations in Afghanistan over the past two days, military officials reported. A joint Afghan and coalition force killed enemy fighters and detained a suspect on a Taliban compound in central Helmand province yesterday.
The force was pursuing a senior Taliban commander believed responsible for the recruitment of bomb-making technicians and the transfer of weapons and bomb-making materials into the region.
The combined force searched a compound near the village of Heyderabad after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force engaged a group of enemy fighters after receiving fire.
The force detained an enemy fighter and seized an AK-47 assault rifle, a chest rack and 75 pounds of black-tar heroin.
When leaving the compound, the force was engaged multiple times and called in precision close-air support. Several enemy fighters were killed during the incident.
No Afghan or coalition force or civilian casualties were reported.
Elsewhere, Afghan National Police, aided by coalition forces, killed several militants and destroyed a large weapons cache in Zabul province's Arghandab and Shajoy districts July 20 during a cordon-and-search operation in an area known as a militant leader meeting point and Taliban recruiting area.
Upon entering a local village, militants engaged the Afghan-led joint force with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The force responded with small arms and heavy weapons, killing multiple militants.
A search yielded a large weapons cache that included an estimated 7,000 pounds of explosives and other miscellaneous ammunition. The force destroyed the cache in place.
An Afghan National Police member and two coalition members were wounded. They were treated before being evacuated to a nearby coalition hospital. No civilian casualties were reported.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
Handover Signals Commitment to Iraqi Government, Obama Says
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - The transfer of Iraq's towns and cities to Iraqi control last month is emblematic of the U.S. fulfilling its commitment to the country, President Barack Obama said here today. Obama spoke about the American handover of security leadership to Iraqi counterparts that took place June 30 in a joint White House news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"This transition was part of our security agreement and should send an unmistakable signal that we will keep our commitments with the sovereign Iraqi government," Obama said, referring to the handover as an important step forward for the bilateral relationship.
The U.S. withdrawal from cities and towns was stipulated in a deal between Washington and Baghdad governing the status of U.S. forces in Iraq. But the legislation also allows for Americans to provide assistance in some situations to Iraqi forces in cities.
In the Iraqi capital, most U.S. facilities have moved outside cities -- drawing down from hundreds of large and small bases around Baghdad at the height of the troop surge in 2007 to a number in the low teens -- with a residual American force of 1,500 to 3,000 remaining in urban areas.
Obama said violence levels in Iraq remain low amid the transfer of authority, and he praised the stakeholders responsible for the success in Iraq since Maliki's last visit to Washington in 2006.
"This progress has been made possible by the resilience of the Iraqi people and security forces, and also because of the extraordinary service of American troops and civilians in Iraq," he said.
Some have described instances where the implementation of the agreement has led to tension and confusion, with instances of American and Iraqi commanders being unclear about the relationship on the ground. A top U.S. commander in Baghdad yesterday described some of the initial friction of the handover, which he said is giving way to a smoother transition of power.
"There have certainly been some scenes where an American or an Iraqi commander have to come out of their vehicles and walk up and figure out what's going on," Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, told Pentagon reporters.
"What we've got is folks on the ground trying to make sense of it as they carry out their tasks," he added.
Obama said today that such strategic and tactical discussions will continually take place between the two sides. "But overall, we have been very encouraged by the progress that has been made," he added.
Obama echoed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, saying he has received positive assessments by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno about how the arrangement is progressing.
"He has been extremely positive about the progress that has been made," Obama said of his weekly reports from the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
In a briefing at the Pentagon earlier this week, Gates spoke about his discussions with Odierno.
"He said that the level of cooperation and collaboration with the Iraqi security forces is going much better than is being portrayed publicly and in the media," Gates said. "It is perhaps a measure of our success in Iraq that politics have come to the country," he added.
Appearing alongside Gates was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he's encouraged by the progress American and Iraqi partners have made.
"There clearly are challenges, but I think the leadership is working its way through each one of those challenges," Mullen said. "So I'm encouraged."
American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - The transfer of Iraq's towns and cities to Iraqi control last month is emblematic of the U.S. fulfilling its commitment to the country, President Barack Obama said here today. Obama spoke about the American handover of security leadership to Iraqi counterparts that took place June 30 in a joint White House news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"This transition was part of our security agreement and should send an unmistakable signal that we will keep our commitments with the sovereign Iraqi government," Obama said, referring to the handover as an important step forward for the bilateral relationship.
The U.S. withdrawal from cities and towns was stipulated in a deal between Washington and Baghdad governing the status of U.S. forces in Iraq. But the legislation also allows for Americans to provide assistance in some situations to Iraqi forces in cities.
In the Iraqi capital, most U.S. facilities have moved outside cities -- drawing down from hundreds of large and small bases around Baghdad at the height of the troop surge in 2007 to a number in the low teens -- with a residual American force of 1,500 to 3,000 remaining in urban areas.
Obama said violence levels in Iraq remain low amid the transfer of authority, and he praised the stakeholders responsible for the success in Iraq since Maliki's last visit to Washington in 2006.
"This progress has been made possible by the resilience of the Iraqi people and security forces, and also because of the extraordinary service of American troops and civilians in Iraq," he said.
Some have described instances where the implementation of the agreement has led to tension and confusion, with instances of American and Iraqi commanders being unclear about the relationship on the ground. A top U.S. commander in Baghdad yesterday described some of the initial friction of the handover, which he said is giving way to a smoother transition of power.
"There have certainly been some scenes where an American or an Iraqi commander have to come out of their vehicles and walk up and figure out what's going on," Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, told Pentagon reporters.
"What we've got is folks on the ground trying to make sense of it as they carry out their tasks," he added.
Obama said today that such strategic and tactical discussions will continually take place between the two sides. "But overall, we have been very encouraged by the progress that has been made," he added.
Obama echoed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, saying he has received positive assessments by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno about how the arrangement is progressing.
"He has been extremely positive about the progress that has been made," Obama said of his weekly reports from the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
In a briefing at the Pentagon earlier this week, Gates spoke about his discussions with Odierno.
"He said that the level of cooperation and collaboration with the Iraqi security forces is going much better than is being portrayed publicly and in the media," Gates said. "It is perhaps a measure of our success in Iraq that politics have come to the country," he added.
Appearing alongside Gates was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he's encouraged by the progress American and Iraqi partners have made.
"There clearly are challenges, but I think the leadership is working its way through each one of those challenges," Mullen said. "So I'm encouraged."
On the Ground: U.S. Forces Foster Growth in Afghanistan
American Forces Press ServiceJuly 22, 2009 - U.S. forces aided Afghan farmers and villagers recently in operations aimed at cultivating a brighter future in Afghanistan. Farmers in Panjshir province's Dara district will be able to store their produce from the fall harvest in a temperature-controlled underground facility for the first time, thanks to the efforts of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team.
The $45,000 project provides farmers with a place to store food either for personal consumption or to sell at markets. Potatoes, watermelon, wheat and other fruits and vegetables can be stored in the facility.
The storage room was built underground for improved temperature control and has a thermal-chimney vent system and a solar-powered ventilation system.
"We're all very excited about what this facility can do for us," said Zubair, a facility maintainer and local farmer. "This will extend the age of our products, especially over the very cold winter."
Panjshir is still without sustainable electricity, which limits food-storage options.
"From what we've learned, fresh fruits and vegetables often go to waste because there isn't a proper way to store them," said Army Sgt. Daniel Kelley, the team's civil affairs liaison to the Panjshir director of agriculture. "Hopefully, this facility will help the residents of Dara maintain a healthy food source for longer periods of time or even help them earn extra money."
The minister of counternarcotics in Kabul recognized the people of Panjshir for having a poppy-free province, awarding the $1.4 million in January through the Good Performance Initiative. The provincial governor, in turn, committed the money toward agricultural projects that will improve the sustainability of farmers and their crops.
As a result, the reconstruction team has increased its agriculture-related efforts, and now has 14 projects worth $1.6 million, with plans for another eight under way.
Upcoming projects include chicken, dairy cow and honey production; woodlots for construction and fuel; fruit tree orchards; natural tree nurseries for reforestation; a demonstration farm to teach new techniques; an experimental farm to test potential crops; irrigation canals; brown-tail moth control and eradication; and food processing.
Meanwhile, Army and Air National Guardsmen from Task Force Mountain Warrior's Kansas agribusiness development team conducted an agricultural development course July 12 to 16 at a research and demonstration farm on Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam in Laghman province.
Students from Nangarhar University learned more effective farming techniques during the five-day course. Classes included food storage and preservation, sanitation, irrigation, soil management, livestock care, preventive veterinary medicine and pest management.
"These classes are designed to teach future agricultural leaders modern techniques of growing, irrigating, harvesting and preserving their crops, as well as taking better care of their livestock," said Army Lt. Col. Roger Beekman, team commander. "If these students take just some of these ideas and work with local farmers, who will then put them into practice, we'll see a more productive and efficient farming society in Afghanistan."
Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces recently helped 40 villagers in Bartow build a bridge over an irrigation ditch in Uruzgan province to improve travel through the region.
They completed the project in about three hours. The force then provided the villagers with humanitarian assistance and tools.
In other news:
-- Army Col. Scott A. Spellmon, Task Force Warrior commander, presided over the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team transfer-of-authority ceremony in Panjshir valley July 19.
Gov. Haji Bahlol thanked outgoing team commander, Army Lt. Col. Steve Lancaster, and his team of soldiers and airmen for their contributions, which included roads, schools, clinics and water projects.
Bahlol also acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices of Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Stratton, Army 1st Sgt. Blue Rowe, Air Force Senior Airman Ashton Goodman and Afghan judge Abdul Samadwho, who were killed May 26 after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb against their convoy. "The loss of teammates hurt," Spellmon said.
Spellmon welcomed the new team commander, Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Hommel. "While the accomplishments of your predecessors have been significant and they leave behind big shoes to fill, there is no shortage of work to be done, and we look forward to moving even further to the right on our governance and development lines of effort in the weeks and months ahead," he said.
-- Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, conducted their final humanitarian mission in Parwan province's Janqadan village July 12. Soldiers distributed books, stuffed animals, soccer balls and school supplies to a local girls' school. West Virginia, Ohio and Rhode Island residents donated the items.
(Army Pfc. Elizabeth Raney of the 4th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team public affairs office, Air Force Capts. Stacie N. Shafran and John T. Stamm of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team public affairs office, and Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens of the Task Force Warrior public affairs office contributed to this article. Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 and U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
'Flying Tigers' Take Mission to Afghanistan
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John JungSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2009 - American volunteers flying shark-faced P-40 Tomahawks protected China during World War II, and their legacy has become a fixture in the war in Afghanistan. In homage to the storied airmen of the past, the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., has the iconic shark's face painted on the front of its A-10 Thunderbolt II's, lovingly nicknamed the "Warthog."
The Warthogs provide daily close-air-support and precision-engagement missions throughout Afghanistan in support of coalition ground forces.
The squadron has had at least two aircraft airborne and providing support to their warrior counterparts on the ground on every day of its deployment. But the 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit keeps the A-10s ready to fly.
"Just like the airmen that defended China in World War II, the 74th AMU is often short on resources, said Air Force Capt. James Schieser, officer in charge of the squadron's maintenance unit. The maintenance airmen make do with what they have to maintain their aging aircraft, he added. "The strong leadership, dedication and perseverance of our noncommissioned officers, senior noncommissioned officers and officer corps, are what ensure every aircraft is fully mission-capable. The maintainers of the 74th AMU understand, with the Flying Tiger legacy they inherited, failure is not an option."
The Flying Tigers have broken records by flying more than 12,000 mission hours, expending more than 100 tons of ordnance since arriving in February. Sometime, though, all it takes is a show of force to end an engagement.
"We seek to avoid civilian casualties in all our operations - period," said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Victor Castillo, weapons section superintendent. "We have a variety of methods we use, including loading of precision-guided munitions, monthly updates of aircraft digital maps and daily maintenance of our targeting systems to ensure the safety of innocent civilians on the ground."
But when enemy combatants don't flee after a show of force, the Warthog can deliver a precise strike to protect coalition ground forces.
Army Spc. Jason Dorsey, Company C, 178th Infantry, saw firsthand the precision and power of the Warthog.
"The A-10s were a valuable asset to us on ground missions here in Afghanistan," Dorsey said. "Their speed and precise targeting provided great support for us and kept the bad guys' heads down during firefights."
"We have so many soldiers coming in from the field to thank us - it's their stories of desperately needing air [support] and seeing an A-10 flying overhead providing cover for them that kept us energized and motivated," said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Thomas E. Moore, lead production superintendent for the maintenance unit. "It kept us working hard even when it seemed all we were doing was launching and recovering jets 24/7."
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Jung serves with the 455th Expeditionary Wing public affairs office.)
Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 20 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery (STRIKE), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Killed were:
Sgt. Gregory Owens Jr., 24, of Garland, Texas.
Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Ga.
Spc. Andrew J. Roughton, 21, of Houston, Texas.
Pfc. Dennis J. Pratt, 34, of Duncan, Okla.
For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-7267.
Killed were:
Sgt. Gregory Owens Jr., 24, of Garland, Texas.
Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Ga.
Spc. Andrew J. Roughton, 21, of Houston, Texas.
Pfc. Dennis J. Pratt, 34, of Duncan, Okla.
For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-7267.
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 22, 2009
HHS [Health and Human Services] must improve bioshield spending controls
"The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not identified appropriate purchasing risks in Project BioShield, thereby increasing chances that an agency might procure biological countermeasures at an unreasonable price, warned congressional investigators Tuesday. To rectify this situation, HHS should include comprehensive risk assessment statements in all written guidance provided for internal controls to BioShield procurement agents. […] The department has awarded a total of nine contracts under Project BioShield. […] These contracts were awarded to procure countermeasures against biological agents such as anthrax, botulism, smallpox [sic] and others, as well as to counter radiation poisoning. […] HHS has set up some internal controls for spending money from the simplified acquisition threshold and its use with BioShield Special Reserve Funds, the micro-purchase threshold, and the use of personal services contracts - but its identification of risks in these purchases does not go far enough to protect the federal government, the GAO [Government Accountability Office] said. […] HHS has a total of about $3.6 billion available to it remaining in a Special Reserve Fund to spend on Project BioShield." (Homeland Security Today; 22Jul09; Mickey McCarter) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9469/128/
Pine Bluff chemical agent disposal facility achieves safety milestone - 1,000,000 safe work hours without a recordable injury [AR]
"U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) officials announced that the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (PBCDF) achieved a safety milestone at 12:01 a.m. on July 15, 2009 when it surpassed 1 million safe work hours without a recordable injury. 'Safety, while destroying the chemical weapons, is our main priority. I am pleased that the work force at the PBCDF demonstrates CMA's commitment to safety in their day-to-day destruction operations as shown by their achieving this nearly unparalleled safety milestone,' stated CMA Director Conrad F. Whyne. […] The safety milestone set at PBCDF is the first time any chemical demilitarization site has ever accomplished 1 million hours without a recordable injury. On June 17, PBCDF also achieved another safety milestone when it reached 2 million hours without an injury requiring days away from work. […] The facility uses state-of-the-art incineration technology to safely destroy the approximately 3,850 tons of chemical agents stockpiled at the Pine Bluff Arsenal." (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 17Jul09)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003681073
Continued commitment needed on U.S. chemical disarmament, OPCW chief says
"A leading international nonproliferation official is urging the United States not to retreat from providing sufficient funds to accelerate the complete elimination of the U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons. 'We hope that … every (funding commitment) will be completed in good time for the facilities to be completed in good time and be able to destroy the remaining chemical weapons in good time,' said Rogelio Pfirter, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [OPCW]. The Defense Department's Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program stands to receive about $550 million in fiscal 2010 as it continues construction of demilitarization plants. […] 'The administration fully recognizes the convention and is totally aware. It doesn't need anyone else to remind them,' Pfirter said. 'The commitment is very, very strong toward the convention. I'm sure the United States will continue to look for ways of bringing their own destruction program in line with the convention.' […] Concerns in the intelligence community regarding the threat of terrorists developing and using chemical weapons have not resulted in new international policy initiatives, [chemical-weapon expert Jonathan] Tucker [a senior fellow at the Washington office of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies] said. […] The Defense Department […] has acknowledged its inability to eliminate its weapons on time. 'The DOD review has concluded that there are no realistic options available to destroy the complete U.S. stockpile by the CWC deadline of April 2012,' the Pentagon said. […] Washington now has less than three years to persuade other CWC member states that delays in the destruction of its chemical stockpile are the result of factors beyond its control and that it is doing everything it can to meet its treaty obligations."
(Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09; Chris Schneidmiller) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090722_8989.php
Advocacy group calls for leadership shifts at blue grass depot [KY]
"An advocacy group hopes to see senior officials ousted at a U.S. Army chemical weapons storage facility in Kentucky following an improper relocation of equipment used for detecting potentially dangerous leaks of VX nerve agent, Defense Environment Alert reported yesterday. The group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility [PEER] represented a former Blue Grass Army Depot employee who alleged he lost his security clearance for calling attention to the practice. One source with the organization accused depot leaders of fostering a culture of retaliation and demonstrating poor technical understanding of chemical weapons stockpile maintenance. The PEER source faulted a recently disclosed Army inspector general report that backs some of former chemical weapons monitor Donald Van Winkle's claims while playing down the safety implications of monitoring practices at the installation. The depot has taken the necessary steps to resolve problems noted in the IG report, said a spokesman for the Army Chemical Materials Agency. […] The environmental group was incorrect in attacking Blue Grass administrators, the spokesman added." (Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090722_7514.php
Top news Kurgan region: [Governor] Oleg Bogomolov, CW in Schuchie
"A special commission for local governance efficiency held its first meeting last week. Chemical weapons destruction plant in Schuchie might become a concrete production facility in the future. [… The] destruction plant […] will finish all works by 2012. 5.5 thousand tons of toxic agents (equaling 13.6% of Russia's chemical weapons reserves) will be eliminated. The plan for 2009 is to destruct 1.2 thousand tons of poisonous substances. […] In 2010 a special governmental research program will elaborate ways to convert production at the chemical facility. At the moment there are a number of suggestions put forward by the local authorities. Th[e] administration of Schuchie wants to create brick a production line, concrete production or agricultural machine building factory on the basis of the old CW facility. […] Another option is to extend the existing chemical plant and eliminate a wider variety of toxic industrial waste not only from Kurgan Region, but from the rest of the Urals." (Expert News Agency, UralPolit.Ru; 22Jul09) http://www.uralpolit.ru/urfo/spec/top_regional/id_147417.html
NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] to track munitions in sea [Honolulu, HI]
"Nine ocean current monitoring sensors will be placed off Pokai Bay at two World War II weapons dumpsites Friday as part of the Pentagon's continuing assessment of the potential effects of sea-disposed munitions. Tony Reyer, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], said yesterday that four sensors will be located at the conventional weapons dumpsite a few miles off Waianae known as ordnance reef. Two will be placed in 300 feet of water, and another two at 50 feet. Five others will be anchored with 3,000-pound weights in 8,000 feet of water at a deep-sea chemical weapons munition disposal site 10 miles west of Pokai Bay. A string of sensors will be linked at depths of 40, 492 and 1,476 feet. Kekaula Hudson, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, said the Army hopes to begin recovering some of the conventional weapons dumped at ordnance reef as early as next summer using underwater robots. […] All of the sensors will be battery operated and will be in place for a year. The sensors will record speed and direction of ocean currents to determine where they would carry munitions materials if they were ever released." (Honolulu Star Bulletin; 22Jul09; Gregg K. Kakesako) http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090722_NOAA_to_track_munitions_in_sea.html
Chemical weapons in Baltic Sea remain a threat, Lithuania says
"Lithuania on Monday called for continued attention to the danger posed by chemical weapons dumped decades ago in the Baltic Sea, the Baltic News Service reported. 'We would like to highlight that chemical weapons dumped at sea pose a threat to the entire international community,' acting Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas said in a statement. 'Therefore, this issue has to be permanently raised in international organizations and frameworks.' The Baltic Sea was used as a repository for tens of thousands of tons of chemical weapons confiscated from Germany after World War II, according to a 1995 report from a working group of the Helsinki Commission." (Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090721_9461.php
India's 'hottest' new weapons powered by chilli
"India's military is getting ready to deploy weapons-grade chillis for counter-insurgency and riot control. The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is harnessing the super-hot bhut jolokia chilli pepper as an alternative to tear gas as a filling for grenades, Asia Times notes. Chili-based weapons […] are gaining popularity in the U.S. The bhut jolokia could take the spicy arms up several notches; it is rated the hottest chili in the world. The active ingredient in chillis is Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). […] Capsaicin is nature's own chemical weapon, targeting specific vulnerable nerve cells and generating the feeling of severe burning - without actual damage. […] Researchers have developed a synthetic chemical with the same sort of effects as OC, known as pelargonic acid vanillylamide, or PAVA. […] The big problem with sprays are their limited ranges. […] This type of weaponry is not available to the military; pepper is classified as a chemical weapon. The other problem is that the effects of OC and PAVA are essentially pain." (Wired; 20Jul09; David Hambling) http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/indias-hottest-new-weapons-powered-by-chilli/
Acting foreign minister [Usackas] of Lithuania visits the OPCW
"The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, briefed Acting Foreign Minister Usackas on the status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the progress being made towards the elimination of global chemical weapons stockpiles and efforts undertaken by the OPCW in other areas of its mandate. During their discussion, […] Usackas raised the question of sea-dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. While noting that the issue does not fall within the mandate of the CWC, the Acting Foreign Minister stated that it continues to be of high importance for Lithuania. Director-General Pfirter agreed that the Convention does not address the matter and encouraged Lithuania to continue pursuing a dialogue with other interested countries. […] Usackas expressed his country's firm commitment to the goals of the CWC and assured the Director-General of Lithuania's continuing support for the work of the OPCW. The Director-General commended Lithuania for its implementation of the Convention and for its close cooperation with the OPCW." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 21Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/acting-foreign-minister-of-lithuania-visits-the-opcw/
Iraq's ambassador to Netherlands gives Iraq's speech in organization of chemical weapons prohibition
"Mr. Siamand Abdul Samad, Iraq's Ambassador in The Hague and the representative of Iraq to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) gave Iraq's speech in the informal meetings of the 57th session of the Organization's Executive Board meeting, which comes in the context of the review of countries that announced the existence of chemicals on their territories and the need for disposal application according to the Organization's Charter. The countries include America, Russia, Libya, Iraq, Japan and China. Through the speech, the Ambassador thanked the organization and its staff as well as the friendly countries that helped to complete Iraq's membership and focused on the efforts made by the relevant Iraqi institutions, despite the limited capabilities. […] Review of the coordinating process was ongoing with the Organization for the purpose of sending a delegation to Baghdad to meet Iraqi officials at an invitation from the Iraqi side. Ambassador Siamand urged the Organization and all its Member States to provide technical expertise assistance to help Iraq to release these articles as soon as possible." (Republic of Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 20Jul09)
http://www.mofa.gov.iq/english/news/display.aspx?newsid=7042
Darpa [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] searches for next-gen nuke-spotters
"Darpa, the military's way out research arm, wants proposals for radiation detectors with better accuracy than previous models. […] They're hoping for sensors that can spot dangerous substances through dense storage materials. […] Since 9/11, the military's been trying to beef up the detection of nuclear threats, especially at borders and ports. So far, they've had little success producing systems that can accurately differentiate between dangerous and benign radioactive materials. […] The newest machines produce fewer false alarms, but they still can't scan through dense metal containers. And they cost twice as much - about $822,000 apiece. Darpa's latest project is after a new way to detect dangerous radioactivity in the first place. Instead of sensing 'primary radiation signatures' that can be shielded, they're considering 'secondary effects' of radioactive materials, like ultra-violet signals emitted by gamma rays. But Darpa's still open to old-school detection. As long as it can pick up concealed radiation: Alternatively, Radiological/Nuclear (RN) sensitive material constructs (composed of naturally occurring or synthetic components) to enhance signal gain, and that may be interrogated remotely, are also worthy of consideration. They also want the systems to be fast - a readout in under 10 minutes - and operate at ranges over 5km and with mobile and static targets." (Wired; 21Jul09; Katie Drummond) http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/darpa-wants-next-gen-nuke-spotters/
Evacuation proposal has some skeptical [NJ]
"Despite assurances by representatives of the State Police Office of Emergency Management, not everyone at a public hearing Tuesday night was convinced that a radiological emergency evacuation plan could be safely implemented. State Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] officials and representatives of the State Police discussed the status of the evacuation plan during an annual public hearing that followed a one-hour informal session concerning what would happen if a nuclear [sic] incident occurred at Oyster Creek Generating Station in the Forked River section of Lacey. […] The hearing […] centered less on specifics of the plan and more on procedures that would be undertaken during an emergency. [Jill] Lipoti, [DEP director of environmental safety and health], said that reverse highway lane strategies would be employed in areas such as Long Beach Island during an evacuation. Jerry Renner, a planner for the state Office of Emergency Management, and Nick DePierro of the Bureau of Nuclear Engineering said separate decontamination centers for emergency workers and their equipment, citizens and schoolchildren have been established at various locations within the county as part of the plan. […] Several members of the Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch group were at the meeting and expressed skepticism as to whether the plan would work. [… Edith] Gbur, [the group's president] and resident Jeff Brown said they were pleased that the DEP had recognized recent problems at Oyster Creek, including concerns of tritium leakage and the integrity of the drywell liner that is part of the plant's cooling system. […] 'Terrorism is a serious concern. We are a target between Washington, D.C., and New York. I am convinced this plan will not work,' Brown said." (Asbury Park Press; 21Jul09; Bob
Vosseller)
http://www.app.com/article/20090721/NEWS/907210352/1070/NEWS02/Evacuation+proposal+has+some+skeptical
Terrorists have real chance of stealing nukes
"There is a genuine risk Islamist terrorists may get their hands on Pakistan's nuclear weapons or nuclear material for a dirty bomb, according to a British security expert. 'Knowledge that such a transfer has occurred may not become evident until the aftermath of a nuclear 9/11 in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world,' says Dr. Shaun Gregory, director of the Pakistan Security Unit at the University of Bradford in Britain. 'The challenge to Pakistan's nuclear weapons from Pakistani Taliban groups and from al-Qaeda constitutes a real and present danger,' he writes in an article to be published in the Combating Terrorism Center's magazine Sentinel at the U. S. Military Academy West Point. […] 'The scale of the potential destructiveness of nuclear weapons or 'dirty bombs'; the instability and 'nuclear porosity' of the context in Pakistan; and the vulnerabilities within Pakistan's nuclear safety and security arrangements mean that the risks of terrorist groups gaining access to nuclear materials are real,' Dr. Gregory writes. Pakistan has a robust set of safety and security guidelines to protect its weapons. […] 'Despite these elaborate safeguards, empirical evidence points to a clear set of weaknesses and vulnerabilities in Pakistan's nuclear safety and security arrangements,' [Dr. Gregory] warns. One glaring concern is that most of Pakistan's nuclear sites are located in areas of the country that are now threatened by Pakistani Taliban militants. […] Civilian nuclear weapons sites could be subject to terror attacks that deliberately create environmental and radiological hazards or they could be targeted for attacks that aim to seize control of nuclear weapons components or possibly a nuclear weapon." (National Post; 18Jul09; Peter Goodspeed)
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1802736
ASEAN urges anti-terrorism strategy
"An ASEAN Regional Forum document has called for more concrete cooperation among its member countries in the fight against terrorism and illegal drugs. The document 'ARF Work Plan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime,' prepared for the group's meeting in Phuket, Thailand, says there needs to be a 'more focused and coordinated strategy' in dealing the problems which also include maritime security and cyber terrorism, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. […] The document said work on counter-terrorism in the future 'must be practical, action-oriented and concrete,' Kyodo said. […] It said future priority areas may include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism as well as human trafficking." (United Press International; 22Jul09) http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/22/ASEAN-urges-anti-terrorism-strategy/UPI-47761248266790/
Secretary Napolitano announces 60-day review of homeland security advisory system
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the formation of a task force to conduct a 60-day review of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). The mission of the task force is to assess the effectiveness of the system in informing the public about terrorist threats and communicating protective measures within government and throughout the private sector. […] 'I have assembled a task force, made up of Democrats and Republicans, elected officials at the state and local level, security experts, law enforcement officials and other professionals to assess our current threat level system and provide options for any improvements that are needed,' said Secretary Napolitano. […] The review will include broad consideration of HSAS and the system's impact on state, local, tribal, territorial and international law enforcement partners, the private sector and the American people. […] Secretary Napolitano […] recently completed a weeklong trip to Europe and the Middle East where she signed agreements with Spain and Portugal to allow for the exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts while emphasizing privacy protections. She also visited Ireland, England, Kuwait and Pakistan, where she met with top security officials to increase coordination against transnational terrorism. […] Secretary Napolitano […] announced $1.7 billion in Homeland Security grants to strengthen risk-based preparedness activities across the nation for all disasters and implemented programs and directed funding for infrastructure protection, transportation and air travel security and cybersecurity efforts, among other efforts to protect the nation from threats of terrorism." (Department of Homeland Security Press Release; 14Jul09) http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1247586668272.shtm
Colo[rado] guard unit joins aviation task force
"A special Colorado Army National Guard force will test its ability to respond to national emergencies by taking part in simulated events throughout Colorado as part of the Aviation Task Force. National Guard officials say the 2nd Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment 'Blackjacks' was appointed to be the Aviation Task Force for the continental U.S. They say it's the first Guard unit to be delegated the responsibility, which has been assigned to only active duty U.S. Army units in the past. The Aviation Task Force responds to chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological emergencies or explosions caused by natural disasters, accidents or terrorist attacks." (Army Times; 22Jul09; Source: AP) http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/ap_colo_guard_072209/
Aiken, Greenville in top four for police car plant site [SC]
"The Aiken and Greenville-Spartanburg areas are two of four finalists for a proposed $350 million plant to build a high-tech police patrol car from Carbon Motors Corp. The South Carolina cities are vying with Braselton, Ga., about 50 miles northeast from Carbon's Atlanta headquarters, and Connersville, Ind., about 60 miles northwest of Cincinnati. A final decision could come as early as next week, Carbon co-founder Stacy Stephens said Tuesday. The 1,300-employee plant could start production in 2012, he said. […] Carbon said it already has received more than 10,000 advance orders for its patrol car, called the Carbon E7 […]. The cars can be outfitted with a heads-up display, an automatic license plate recognition system, radiation and biological threat detectors and night-vision lighting. The Carbon E7 will be comparable in cost to patrol cars now - from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on accessories, Stephens said." (The State, South Carolina; 22Jul09; Andrew Shain) http://www.thestate.com/local/story/872757.html
Olympic flight ban over terror[ist] attack fears: a flight ban is to be introduced over the olympic stadium to protect it from terrorist attack during the games [London]
"The 'no-fly zone' is designed to protect the games from light aircraft which could be used as missiles by terrorists intent on attacking the event, a senior Home Office official said. Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, who is in charge of the security operation surrounding the games, said the three main terrorist threats would come from car bombs, planted bombs and suicide bombs and that measures to counter each will be in place, such as blast-proof barriers and regular security checks. […] The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), part of MI5, has advised Olympic organisers that the threat level against the games remains at 'severe' - meaning an attack is highly likely - although it was lowered to 'substantial' for the rest of the country on Monday. Mr Allison said there was no specific threat to the games but he added: 'There are always going to be people talking about it.' […] The security operation is costing 600 m[illion] pounds and already includes a dedicated team that polices the Olympic site. […] An Olympic and Paralympic Security Directorate has been set up within the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism that is looking at all the possible threats to the games, analysing terrorist attacks across the world. It is working with the police and Olympics organisers to ensure that as many design features as possible are included in the stadiums to prevent attacks and minimise the effect of conventional as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. […] Those working on the Olympic site will only gain access using biometric hand-recognition technology." (Telegraph UK; 21Jul09; Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/5878871/Olympic-flight-ban-over-terror-attack-fears.html
Terrorist attacks subject of Dundee scientist research [Scotland]
"A method of identifying victims of a dirty bomb attack or nuclear disaster is being developed by scientists in Dundee. Experts at Dundee University are looking at ways of using CT [computed tomography] scans to identify bodies which have been contaminated. The work has been ordered by the Home Office so the UK is prepared should such an incident take place. The Dundee University team have just been boosted by a £7,000 donation from three charitable trusts. Dr Roos Eisma said: 'What the Home Office has decided to try is to scan the remains using a CT scanner, so only a small number of people will go into the disaster area. […] Everybody else stays at a safe distance and instead of looking at the material directly we will receive the images and look at them instead.' George Mathieson of the Aberbrothock Skea Trust said: 'This is such an unusual application which came to the trust. It fired, stirred the imagination of the trustees and without any hesitation decided to give what we felt was a reasonable grant to them.'" (STV Scotland; 21Jul09) http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/110632-terrorist-attacks-subject-of-dundee-scientist-research/
Special presidential representative for the Middle East and deputy foreign minister Alexander Saltanov's visit to the Syrian Arab Republic
"Alexander Saltanov, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Damascus on July 19, as part of a Middle East trip. He met his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem. The two paid special attention to turning the region towards the search for a politico-diplomatic solution to existing problems there, with emphasis on […] relevant UN decisions and the Arab peace initiative. […] Saltanov [was] briefed on Russia's efforts […] of realizing the proposal for a Middle East conference in Moscow. […] An exchange of views took place on other problems of the region, particularly regarding the processes occurring in Iraq and the situation surrounding Iran. Both sides noted the importance of strengthening the regime for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in particular, through the establishment of a zone free of all kinds of WMD in the Middle East. [Both] sides reiterated the disposition to further develop [Russian-Syrian bilateral relations] comprehensively on a mutually advantageous basis and in the interests of regional security and stability." (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; 19Jul09)
http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/4E4682E510C6C3A5C32575F9003E7F16
White powder scare No. 2, substance tests negative [FL]
"The city of Sebring was again disrupted by the arrival of suspicious envelopes, and the target this time was the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, two envelopes containing a suspicious white powder arrived at the sheriff's office in the mail, according to Lisa Burley, the sheriff's chief of staff. Approximately 40 employees were evacuated from the first and second floors a few minutes later as one letter was delivered to each level. […] By 4:20 p.m., the powder was en route to Tampa for testing, according to Burley. […] The threat did not disrupt 911 dispatchers or Highlands County Jail officials and operations continued as usual. [… The] substance […] tested negative for anthrax [bacteria] or any other biochemical. Gloria Rybinski, public information officer for the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, did not have any more specifics Tuesday night about who might have sent the envelopes or if they were addressed to anyone specifically." (Highlands Today; 22Jul09; Brad Dickerson) http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/jul/21/sheriffs-office-evacuates-after-suspicious-envelop/
"The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not identified appropriate purchasing risks in Project BioShield, thereby increasing chances that an agency might procure biological countermeasures at an unreasonable price, warned congressional investigators Tuesday. To rectify this situation, HHS should include comprehensive risk assessment statements in all written guidance provided for internal controls to BioShield procurement agents. […] The department has awarded a total of nine contracts under Project BioShield. […] These contracts were awarded to procure countermeasures against biological agents such as anthrax, botulism, smallpox [sic] and others, as well as to counter radiation poisoning. […] HHS has set up some internal controls for spending money from the simplified acquisition threshold and its use with BioShield Special Reserve Funds, the micro-purchase threshold, and the use of personal services contracts - but its identification of risks in these purchases does not go far enough to protect the federal government, the GAO [Government Accountability Office] said. […] HHS has a total of about $3.6 billion available to it remaining in a Special Reserve Fund to spend on Project BioShield." (Homeland Security Today; 22Jul09; Mickey McCarter) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9469/128/
Pine Bluff chemical agent disposal facility achieves safety milestone - 1,000,000 safe work hours without a recordable injury [AR]
"U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) officials announced that the Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (PBCDF) achieved a safety milestone at 12:01 a.m. on July 15, 2009 when it surpassed 1 million safe work hours without a recordable injury. 'Safety, while destroying the chemical weapons, is our main priority. I am pleased that the work force at the PBCDF demonstrates CMA's commitment to safety in their day-to-day destruction operations as shown by their achieving this nearly unparalleled safety milestone,' stated CMA Director Conrad F. Whyne. […] The safety milestone set at PBCDF is the first time any chemical demilitarization site has ever accomplished 1 million hours without a recordable injury. On June 17, PBCDF also achieved another safety milestone when it reached 2 million hours without an injury requiring days away from work. […] The facility uses state-of-the-art incineration technology to safely destroy the approximately 3,850 tons of chemical agents stockpiled at the Pine Bluff Arsenal." (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 17Jul09)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003681073
Continued commitment needed on U.S. chemical disarmament, OPCW chief says
"A leading international nonproliferation official is urging the United States not to retreat from providing sufficient funds to accelerate the complete elimination of the U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons. 'We hope that … every (funding commitment) will be completed in good time for the facilities to be completed in good time and be able to destroy the remaining chemical weapons in good time,' said Rogelio Pfirter, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons [OPCW]. The Defense Department's Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program stands to receive about $550 million in fiscal 2010 as it continues construction of demilitarization plants. […] 'The administration fully recognizes the convention and is totally aware. It doesn't need anyone else to remind them,' Pfirter said. 'The commitment is very, very strong toward the convention. I'm sure the United States will continue to look for ways of bringing their own destruction program in line with the convention.' […] Concerns in the intelligence community regarding the threat of terrorists developing and using chemical weapons have not resulted in new international policy initiatives, [chemical-weapon expert Jonathan] Tucker [a senior fellow at the Washington office of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies] said. […] The Defense Department […] has acknowledged its inability to eliminate its weapons on time. 'The DOD review has concluded that there are no realistic options available to destroy the complete U.S. stockpile by the CWC deadline of April 2012,' the Pentagon said. […] Washington now has less than three years to persuade other CWC member states that delays in the destruction of its chemical stockpile are the result of factors beyond its control and that it is doing everything it can to meet its treaty obligations."
(Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09; Chris Schneidmiller) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090722_8989.php
Advocacy group calls for leadership shifts at blue grass depot [KY]
"An advocacy group hopes to see senior officials ousted at a U.S. Army chemical weapons storage facility in Kentucky following an improper relocation of equipment used for detecting potentially dangerous leaks of VX nerve agent, Defense Environment Alert reported yesterday. The group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility [PEER] represented a former Blue Grass Army Depot employee who alleged he lost his security clearance for calling attention to the practice. One source with the organization accused depot leaders of fostering a culture of retaliation and demonstrating poor technical understanding of chemical weapons stockpile maintenance. The PEER source faulted a recently disclosed Army inspector general report that backs some of former chemical weapons monitor Donald Van Winkle's claims while playing down the safety implications of monitoring practices at the installation. The depot has taken the necessary steps to resolve problems noted in the IG report, said a spokesman for the Army Chemical Materials Agency. […] The environmental group was incorrect in attacking Blue Grass administrators, the spokesman added." (Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090722_7514.php
Top news Kurgan region: [Governor] Oleg Bogomolov, CW in Schuchie
"A special commission for local governance efficiency held its first meeting last week. Chemical weapons destruction plant in Schuchie might become a concrete production facility in the future. [… The] destruction plant […] will finish all works by 2012. 5.5 thousand tons of toxic agents (equaling 13.6% of Russia's chemical weapons reserves) will be eliminated. The plan for 2009 is to destruct 1.2 thousand tons of poisonous substances. […] In 2010 a special governmental research program will elaborate ways to convert production at the chemical facility. At the moment there are a number of suggestions put forward by the local authorities. Th[e] administration of Schuchie wants to create brick a production line, concrete production or agricultural machine building factory on the basis of the old CW facility. […] Another option is to extend the existing chemical plant and eliminate a wider variety of toxic industrial waste not only from Kurgan Region, but from the rest of the Urals." (Expert News Agency, UralPolit.Ru; 22Jul09) http://www.uralpolit.ru/urfo/spec/top_regional/id_147417.html
NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] to track munitions in sea [Honolulu, HI]
"Nine ocean current monitoring sensors will be placed off Pokai Bay at two World War II weapons dumpsites Friday as part of the Pentagon's continuing assessment of the potential effects of sea-disposed munitions. Tony Reyer, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], said yesterday that four sensors will be located at the conventional weapons dumpsite a few miles off Waianae known as ordnance reef. Two will be placed in 300 feet of water, and another two at 50 feet. Five others will be anchored with 3,000-pound weights in 8,000 feet of water at a deep-sea chemical weapons munition disposal site 10 miles west of Pokai Bay. A string of sensors will be linked at depths of 40, 492 and 1,476 feet. Kekaula Hudson, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, said the Army hopes to begin recovering some of the conventional weapons dumped at ordnance reef as early as next summer using underwater robots. […] All of the sensors will be battery operated and will be in place for a year. The sensors will record speed and direction of ocean currents to determine where they would carry munitions materials if they were ever released." (Honolulu Star Bulletin; 22Jul09; Gregg K. Kakesako) http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20090722_NOAA_to_track_munitions_in_sea.html
Chemical weapons in Baltic Sea remain a threat, Lithuania says
"Lithuania on Monday called for continued attention to the danger posed by chemical weapons dumped decades ago in the Baltic Sea, the Baltic News Service reported. 'We would like to highlight that chemical weapons dumped at sea pose a threat to the entire international community,' acting Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas said in a statement. 'Therefore, this issue has to be permanently raised in international organizations and frameworks.' The Baltic Sea was used as a repository for tens of thousands of tons of chemical weapons confiscated from Germany after World War II, according to a 1995 report from a working group of the Helsinki Commission." (Global Security Newswire; 22Jul09) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090721_9461.php
India's 'hottest' new weapons powered by chilli
"India's military is getting ready to deploy weapons-grade chillis for counter-insurgency and riot control. The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is harnessing the super-hot bhut jolokia chilli pepper as an alternative to tear gas as a filling for grenades, Asia Times notes. Chili-based weapons […] are gaining popularity in the U.S. The bhut jolokia could take the spicy arms up several notches; it is rated the hottest chili in the world. The active ingredient in chillis is Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). […] Capsaicin is nature's own chemical weapon, targeting specific vulnerable nerve cells and generating the feeling of severe burning - without actual damage. […] Researchers have developed a synthetic chemical with the same sort of effects as OC, known as pelargonic acid vanillylamide, or PAVA. […] The big problem with sprays are their limited ranges. […] This type of weaponry is not available to the military; pepper is classified as a chemical weapon. The other problem is that the effects of OC and PAVA are essentially pain." (Wired; 20Jul09; David Hambling) http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/indias-hottest-new-weapons-powered-by-chilli/
Acting foreign minister [Usackas] of Lithuania visits the OPCW
"The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, briefed Acting Foreign Minister Usackas on the status of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the progress being made towards the elimination of global chemical weapons stockpiles and efforts undertaken by the OPCW in other areas of its mandate. During their discussion, […] Usackas raised the question of sea-dumped chemical weapons in the Baltic Sea. While noting that the issue does not fall within the mandate of the CWC, the Acting Foreign Minister stated that it continues to be of high importance for Lithuania. Director-General Pfirter agreed that the Convention does not address the matter and encouraged Lithuania to continue pursuing a dialogue with other interested countries. […] Usackas expressed his country's firm commitment to the goals of the CWC and assured the Director-General of Lithuania's continuing support for the work of the OPCW. The Director-General commended Lithuania for its implementation of the Convention and for its close cooperation with the OPCW." (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 21Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/acting-foreign-minister-of-lithuania-visits-the-opcw/
Iraq's ambassador to Netherlands gives Iraq's speech in organization of chemical weapons prohibition
"Mr. Siamand Abdul Samad, Iraq's Ambassador in The Hague and the representative of Iraq to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) gave Iraq's speech in the informal meetings of the 57th session of the Organization's Executive Board meeting, which comes in the context of the review of countries that announced the existence of chemicals on their territories and the need for disposal application according to the Organization's Charter. The countries include America, Russia, Libya, Iraq, Japan and China. Through the speech, the Ambassador thanked the organization and its staff as well as the friendly countries that helped to complete Iraq's membership and focused on the efforts made by the relevant Iraqi institutions, despite the limited capabilities. […] Review of the coordinating process was ongoing with the Organization for the purpose of sending a delegation to Baghdad to meet Iraqi officials at an invitation from the Iraqi side. Ambassador Siamand urged the Organization and all its Member States to provide technical expertise assistance to help Iraq to release these articles as soon as possible." (Republic of Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 20Jul09)
http://www.mofa.gov.iq/english/news/display.aspx?newsid=7042
Darpa [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] searches for next-gen nuke-spotters
"Darpa, the military's way out research arm, wants proposals for radiation detectors with better accuracy than previous models. […] They're hoping for sensors that can spot dangerous substances through dense storage materials. […] Since 9/11, the military's been trying to beef up the detection of nuclear threats, especially at borders and ports. So far, they've had little success producing systems that can accurately differentiate between dangerous and benign radioactive materials. […] The newest machines produce fewer false alarms, but they still can't scan through dense metal containers. And they cost twice as much - about $822,000 apiece. Darpa's latest project is after a new way to detect dangerous radioactivity in the first place. Instead of sensing 'primary radiation signatures' that can be shielded, they're considering 'secondary effects' of radioactive materials, like ultra-violet signals emitted by gamma rays. But Darpa's still open to old-school detection. As long as it can pick up concealed radiation: Alternatively, Radiological/Nuclear (RN) sensitive material constructs (composed of naturally occurring or synthetic components) to enhance signal gain, and that may be interrogated remotely, are also worthy of consideration. They also want the systems to be fast - a readout in under 10 minutes - and operate at ranges over 5km and with mobile and static targets." (Wired; 21Jul09; Katie Drummond) http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/darpa-wants-next-gen-nuke-spotters/
Evacuation proposal has some skeptical [NJ]
"Despite assurances by representatives of the State Police Office of Emergency Management, not everyone at a public hearing Tuesday night was convinced that a radiological emergency evacuation plan could be safely implemented. State Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] officials and representatives of the State Police discussed the status of the evacuation plan during an annual public hearing that followed a one-hour informal session concerning what would happen if a nuclear [sic] incident occurred at Oyster Creek Generating Station in the Forked River section of Lacey. […] The hearing […] centered less on specifics of the plan and more on procedures that would be undertaken during an emergency. [Jill] Lipoti, [DEP director of environmental safety and health], said that reverse highway lane strategies would be employed in areas such as Long Beach Island during an evacuation. Jerry Renner, a planner for the state Office of Emergency Management, and Nick DePierro of the Bureau of Nuclear Engineering said separate decontamination centers for emergency workers and their equipment, citizens and schoolchildren have been established at various locations within the county as part of the plan. […] Several members of the Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch group were at the meeting and expressed skepticism as to whether the plan would work. [… Edith] Gbur, [the group's president] and resident Jeff Brown said they were pleased that the DEP had recognized recent problems at Oyster Creek, including concerns of tritium leakage and the integrity of the drywell liner that is part of the plant's cooling system. […] 'Terrorism is a serious concern. We are a target between Washington, D.C., and New York. I am convinced this plan will not work,' Brown said." (Asbury Park Press; 21Jul09; Bob
Vosseller)
http://www.app.com/article/20090721/NEWS/907210352/1070/NEWS02/Evacuation+proposal+has+some+skeptical
Terrorists have real chance of stealing nukes
"There is a genuine risk Islamist terrorists may get their hands on Pakistan's nuclear weapons or nuclear material for a dirty bomb, according to a British security expert. 'Knowledge that such a transfer has occurred may not become evident until the aftermath of a nuclear 9/11 in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world,' says Dr. Shaun Gregory, director of the Pakistan Security Unit at the University of Bradford in Britain. 'The challenge to Pakistan's nuclear weapons from Pakistani Taliban groups and from al-Qaeda constitutes a real and present danger,' he writes in an article to be published in the Combating Terrorism Center's magazine Sentinel at the U. S. Military Academy West Point. […] 'The scale of the potential destructiveness of nuclear weapons or 'dirty bombs'; the instability and 'nuclear porosity' of the context in Pakistan; and the vulnerabilities within Pakistan's nuclear safety and security arrangements mean that the risks of terrorist groups gaining access to nuclear materials are real,' Dr. Gregory writes. Pakistan has a robust set of safety and security guidelines to protect its weapons. […] 'Despite these elaborate safeguards, empirical evidence points to a clear set of weaknesses and vulnerabilities in Pakistan's nuclear safety and security arrangements,' [Dr. Gregory] warns. One glaring concern is that most of Pakistan's nuclear sites are located in areas of the country that are now threatened by Pakistani Taliban militants. […] Civilian nuclear weapons sites could be subject to terror attacks that deliberately create environmental and radiological hazards or they could be targeted for attacks that aim to seize control of nuclear weapons components or possibly a nuclear weapon." (National Post; 18Jul09; Peter Goodspeed)
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1802736
ASEAN urges anti-terrorism strategy
"An ASEAN Regional Forum document has called for more concrete cooperation among its member countries in the fight against terrorism and illegal drugs. The document 'ARF Work Plan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime,' prepared for the group's meeting in Phuket, Thailand, says there needs to be a 'more focused and coordinated strategy' in dealing the problems which also include maritime security and cyber terrorism, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. […] The document said work on counter-terrorism in the future 'must be practical, action-oriented and concrete,' Kyodo said. […] It said future priority areas may include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism as well as human trafficking." (United Press International; 22Jul09) http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/22/ASEAN-urges-anti-terrorism-strategy/UPI-47761248266790/
Secretary Napolitano announces 60-day review of homeland security advisory system
"Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the formation of a task force to conduct a 60-day review of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). The mission of the task force is to assess the effectiveness of the system in informing the public about terrorist threats and communicating protective measures within government and throughout the private sector. […] 'I have assembled a task force, made up of Democrats and Republicans, elected officials at the state and local level, security experts, law enforcement officials and other professionals to assess our current threat level system and provide options for any improvements that are needed,' said Secretary Napolitano. […] The review will include broad consideration of HSAS and the system's impact on state, local, tribal, territorial and international law enforcement partners, the private sector and the American people. […] Secretary Napolitano […] recently completed a weeklong trip to Europe and the Middle East where she signed agreements with Spain and Portugal to allow for the exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts while emphasizing privacy protections. She also visited Ireland, England, Kuwait and Pakistan, where she met with top security officials to increase coordination against transnational terrorism. […] Secretary Napolitano […] announced $1.7 billion in Homeland Security grants to strengthen risk-based preparedness activities across the nation for all disasters and implemented programs and directed funding for infrastructure protection, transportation and air travel security and cybersecurity efforts, among other efforts to protect the nation from threats of terrorism." (Department of Homeland Security Press Release; 14Jul09) http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1247586668272.shtm
Colo[rado] guard unit joins aviation task force
"A special Colorado Army National Guard force will test its ability to respond to national emergencies by taking part in simulated events throughout Colorado as part of the Aviation Task Force. National Guard officials say the 2nd Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment 'Blackjacks' was appointed to be the Aviation Task Force for the continental U.S. They say it's the first Guard unit to be delegated the responsibility, which has been assigned to only active duty U.S. Army units in the past. The Aviation Task Force responds to chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological emergencies or explosions caused by natural disasters, accidents or terrorist attacks." (Army Times; 22Jul09; Source: AP) http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/ap_colo_guard_072209/
Aiken, Greenville in top four for police car plant site [SC]
"The Aiken and Greenville-Spartanburg areas are two of four finalists for a proposed $350 million plant to build a high-tech police patrol car from Carbon Motors Corp. The South Carolina cities are vying with Braselton, Ga., about 50 miles northeast from Carbon's Atlanta headquarters, and Connersville, Ind., about 60 miles northwest of Cincinnati. A final decision could come as early as next week, Carbon co-founder Stacy Stephens said Tuesday. The 1,300-employee plant could start production in 2012, he said. […] Carbon said it already has received more than 10,000 advance orders for its patrol car, called the Carbon E7 […]. The cars can be outfitted with a heads-up display, an automatic license plate recognition system, radiation and biological threat detectors and night-vision lighting. The Carbon E7 will be comparable in cost to patrol cars now - from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on accessories, Stephens said." (The State, South Carolina; 22Jul09; Andrew Shain) http://www.thestate.com/local/story/872757.html
Olympic flight ban over terror[ist] attack fears: a flight ban is to be introduced over the olympic stadium to protect it from terrorist attack during the games [London]
"The 'no-fly zone' is designed to protect the games from light aircraft which could be used as missiles by terrorists intent on attacking the event, a senior Home Office official said. Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, who is in charge of the security operation surrounding the games, said the three main terrorist threats would come from car bombs, planted bombs and suicide bombs and that measures to counter each will be in place, such as blast-proof barriers and regular security checks. […] The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), part of MI5, has advised Olympic organisers that the threat level against the games remains at 'severe' - meaning an attack is highly likely - although it was lowered to 'substantial' for the rest of the country on Monday. Mr Allison said there was no specific threat to the games but he added: 'There are always going to be people talking about it.' […] The security operation is costing 600 m[illion] pounds and already includes a dedicated team that polices the Olympic site. […] An Olympic and Paralympic Security Directorate has been set up within the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism that is looking at all the possible threats to the games, analysing terrorist attacks across the world. It is working with the police and Olympics organisers to ensure that as many design features as possible are included in the stadiums to prevent attacks and minimise the effect of conventional as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. […] Those working on the Olympic site will only gain access using biometric hand-recognition technology." (Telegraph UK; 21Jul09; Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/5878871/Olympic-flight-ban-over-terror-attack-fears.html
Terrorist attacks subject of Dundee scientist research [Scotland]
"A method of identifying victims of a dirty bomb attack or nuclear disaster is being developed by scientists in Dundee. Experts at Dundee University are looking at ways of using CT [computed tomography] scans to identify bodies which have been contaminated. The work has been ordered by the Home Office so the UK is prepared should such an incident take place. The Dundee University team have just been boosted by a £7,000 donation from three charitable trusts. Dr Roos Eisma said: 'What the Home Office has decided to try is to scan the remains using a CT scanner, so only a small number of people will go into the disaster area. […] Everybody else stays at a safe distance and instead of looking at the material directly we will receive the images and look at them instead.' George Mathieson of the Aberbrothock Skea Trust said: 'This is such an unusual application which came to the trust. It fired, stirred the imagination of the trustees and without any hesitation decided to give what we felt was a reasonable grant to them.'" (STV Scotland; 21Jul09) http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/110632-terrorist-attacks-subject-of-dundee-scientist-research/
Special presidential representative for the Middle East and deputy foreign minister Alexander Saltanov's visit to the Syrian Arab Republic
"Alexander Saltanov, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Damascus on July 19, as part of a Middle East trip. He met his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem. The two paid special attention to turning the region towards the search for a politico-diplomatic solution to existing problems there, with emphasis on […] relevant UN decisions and the Arab peace initiative. […] Saltanov [was] briefed on Russia's efforts […] of realizing the proposal for a Middle East conference in Moscow. […] An exchange of views took place on other problems of the region, particularly regarding the processes occurring in Iraq and the situation surrounding Iran. Both sides noted the importance of strengthening the regime for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in particular, through the establishment of a zone free of all kinds of WMD in the Middle East. [Both] sides reiterated the disposition to further develop [Russian-Syrian bilateral relations] comprehensively on a mutually advantageous basis and in the interests of regional security and stability." (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; 19Jul09)
http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/4E4682E510C6C3A5C32575F9003E7F16
White powder scare No. 2, substance tests negative [FL]
"The city of Sebring was again disrupted by the arrival of suspicious envelopes, and the target this time was the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, two envelopes containing a suspicious white powder arrived at the sheriff's office in the mail, according to Lisa Burley, the sheriff's chief of staff. Approximately 40 employees were evacuated from the first and second floors a few minutes later as one letter was delivered to each level. […] By 4:20 p.m., the powder was en route to Tampa for testing, according to Burley. […] The threat did not disrupt 911 dispatchers or Highlands County Jail officials and operations continued as usual. [… The] substance […] tested negative for anthrax [bacteria] or any other biochemical. Gloria Rybinski, public information officer for the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, did not have any more specifics Tuesday night about who might have sent the envelopes or if they were addressed to anyone specifically." (Highlands Today; 22Jul09; Brad Dickerson) http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/jul/21/sheriffs-office-evacuates-after-suspicious-envelop/
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Raymundo P. Morales, 34, of Dalton, Ga., died July 21 in Methar Lam, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 148th Brigade Support Battalion, Cedartown, Ga.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information media may contact the Georgia National Guard public affairs office at (678) 569-6065.
Spc. Raymundo P. Morales, 34, of Dalton, Ga., died July 21 in Methar Lam, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 148th Brigade Support Battalion, Cedartown, Ga.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
For more information media may contact the Georgia National Guard public affairs office at (678) 569-6065.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Afghan Girl Translates for Chairman at School Opening
By Air Force Capt. Stacie N. ShafranSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 21, 2009 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior U.S. military members, a best-selling author, and Afghan officials all were on hand for the opening of a girl's school here last week. But among the dignitaries, a 16-year-old Afghan girl stood out. Lima, a 12th-grader and top student at a Kabul high school, was allowed to travel to Panjshir with her brother to attend the opening ceremony for the Peshgur School for Girls in the province's Khenj district. She translated Navy Adm. Mike Mullen's speech from English to Dari and served as an example of hope in educating Afghan girls.
Throughout the morning, Lima spoke with many of the girls, explaining the hard work and determination she's applied toward her education.
"We must make our own decisions," she said. "Nothing is easy. My decision is to study and make a future for myself."
Lima's high school is run by Greg Mortenson, the author of "Three Cups of Tea," who has it made it his life's work to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mortenson coordinated the building of the six-classroom Peshgur School for Girls, which is managed and funded by the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team in coordination with the Panjshir director of education. It is among the team's 12 education projects, worth $2.8 million, throughout the province, including nine schools, two dormitories and a multi-purpose building that will be used as a library and laboratory.
Lima, who is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English and Urdu, is preparing for her college entrance exams. She plans to study medicine at Kabul University. Although Lima's father is unemployed and her mother is a homemaker, she said it's their support and Mortenson's vision that have helped her get to where she is today.
During the ceremony, Mullen addressed the large crowd of children, village elders and provincial leaders, including Panjshir Gov. Haji Bahlol and the provincial director of education.
"The focus of today is opening a school for our children, and our future together depends very much on our children's education," he said.
The chairman also said he brought good wishes from the American people and expressed gratitude to those who built the new school, which can accommodate 400 students. He commended Mortenson, calling him a good example for all to follow.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school's entrance, the chairman distributed new notebooks to two classrooms of girls.
"The effects of Greg Mortensen's work, as well as the work of the [provincial reconstruction team], will not be seen overnight; however, their combined efforts will prove enduring for generations to come," said Army Capt. Chris Mercado, the team's operations officer.
Mercado added that education is but one area of focus in a larger effort to connect the people of Afghanistan to essential services, governance and security.
(Air Force Capt. Stacie N. Shafran serves with the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team public affairs office.)
Iraqi Authority Proceeding After Initial Frustrations, Commander Says
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 21, 2009 - Several weeks after American forces in Baghdad handed over security leadership to their Iraqi counterparts, friction is giving way to a smoother transition of power, a top U.S. commander in the Iraqi capital said. Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, today described "hiccups and friction" that followed the American withdrawal from Iraqi cities in accordance with the June 30 deadline.
"Despite those initial frustrations, it seems to be going well," he told reporters at the Pentagon, adding: "I think each day that goes by we get a little bit better at working together."
A bilateral deal between Washington and Baghdad governing the status of U.S. forces in Iraq called for American troops to withdrawal from Iraqi cities and villages ahead of this month as Iraqi forces assumed authority in these areas. But the legislation also allows for Americans to provide assistance in some situations to Iraqi forces in cities.
While most U.S. facilities have moved outside cities -- drawing down from hundreds of large and small bases around Baghdad at the height of the troop surge in 2007 to a number in the low tens -- a residual American force of 1,500 - 3,000 remain in cities, Bolger said.
Some have described instances where the implementation of the so-called Status of Forces Agreement has led to confusion on the ground.
"There have certainly been some scenes where an American or an Iraqi commander have to come out of their vehicles and walk up and figure out what's going on," Bolger said, adding that physical confrontations between American and Iraqi counterparts has not occurred.
"What we've got is folks on the ground trying to make sense of it as they carry out their tasks," he added.
During a briefing at the Pentagon yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he received an optimistic assessment from Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top American commander in Iraq.
"He said that the level of cooperation and collaboration with the Iraqi security forces is going much better than is being portrayed publicly and in the media," Gates said. He added, "It is perhaps a measure of our success in Iraq that politics have come to the country."
Appearing alongside Gates was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he's encouraged by the progress American and Iraqi partners have made.
"There clearly are challenges, but I think the leadership is working its way through each one of those challenges," Mullen said. "So I'm encouraged."
American Forces Press Service
July 21, 2009 - Several weeks after American forces in Baghdad handed over security leadership to their Iraqi counterparts, friction is giving way to a smoother transition of power, a top U.S. commander in the Iraqi capital said. Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, today described "hiccups and friction" that followed the American withdrawal from Iraqi cities in accordance with the June 30 deadline.
"Despite those initial frustrations, it seems to be going well," he told reporters at the Pentagon, adding: "I think each day that goes by we get a little bit better at working together."
A bilateral deal between Washington and Baghdad governing the status of U.S. forces in Iraq called for American troops to withdrawal from Iraqi cities and villages ahead of this month as Iraqi forces assumed authority in these areas. But the legislation also allows for Americans to provide assistance in some situations to Iraqi forces in cities.
While most U.S. facilities have moved outside cities -- drawing down from hundreds of large and small bases around Baghdad at the height of the troop surge in 2007 to a number in the low tens -- a residual American force of 1,500 - 3,000 remain in cities, Bolger said.
Some have described instances where the implementation of the so-called Status of Forces Agreement has led to confusion on the ground.
"There have certainly been some scenes where an American or an Iraqi commander have to come out of their vehicles and walk up and figure out what's going on," Bolger said, adding that physical confrontations between American and Iraqi counterparts has not occurred.
"What we've got is folks on the ground trying to make sense of it as they carry out their tasks," he added.
During a briefing at the Pentagon yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he received an optimistic assessment from Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top American commander in Iraq.
"He said that the level of cooperation and collaboration with the Iraqi security forces is going much better than is being portrayed publicly and in the media," Gates said. He added, "It is perhaps a measure of our success in Iraq that politics have come to the country."
Appearing alongside Gates was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he's encouraged by the progress American and Iraqi partners have made.
"There clearly are challenges, but I think the leadership is working its way through each one of those challenges," Mullen said. "So I'm encouraged."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Forces Probe Rocket Attack, Detain Suspected Terrorists in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - U.S. forces made headway in an investigation of a rocket attack on a base in Iraq, and Iraqi-led forces detained suspected terrorists and seized weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials reported. U.S. soldiers pursued criminals suspected of launching a rocket attack against Contingency Operating Base Basra on July 16 that resulted in the deaths of three Multinational Division South soldiers.
Following the attack, U.S. troops were flown by helicopter to the suspected launch location, northeast of Basra Airport, where the soldiers were met by 14th Iraqi Army Division soldiers.
A U.S. patrol pursued a suspicious vehicle to a nearby house and searched for evidence related to the rocket launch. Meanwhile, a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol investigated another house nearby. Three men were questioned and released, and the investigation into the attack continues.
"The quick action of the 14th Iraqi Army Division inspires confidence that the criminals who committed this act will be brought to justice," said Army Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, commanding general of Multinational Division South. "We will not tolerate such acts of violence against our soldiers."
Elsewhere, the Iraqi 4th Emergency Response Battalion, aided by coalition advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 19 in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad. The suspect is believed to have built and emplaced roadside bombs in support of a terrorist cell that targeted Iraqi security forces convoys.
In southern Iraq, Iraqi police from the Basra special weapons and tactics team, along with coalition advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists July 18 during an Iraqi-led operation.
The suspected terrorists are believed to be linked to an insurgent cell operating in Basra and are suspected of murder and roadside bomb and rocket attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.
The force also uncovered four previously used 107 mm launch tubes, four 107 mm high-explosive rockets, a 107 mm rocket-launch rail system and various bomb-making materials.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
July 20, 2009 - U.S. forces made headway in an investigation of a rocket attack on a base in Iraq, and Iraqi-led forces detained suspected terrorists and seized weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials reported. U.S. soldiers pursued criminals suspected of launching a rocket attack against Contingency Operating Base Basra on July 16 that resulted in the deaths of three Multinational Division South soldiers.
Following the attack, U.S. troops were flown by helicopter to the suspected launch location, northeast of Basra Airport, where the soldiers were met by 14th Iraqi Army Division soldiers.
A U.S. patrol pursued a suspicious vehicle to a nearby house and searched for evidence related to the rocket launch. Meanwhile, a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol investigated another house nearby. Three men were questioned and released, and the investigation into the attack continues.
"The quick action of the 14th Iraqi Army Division inspires confidence that the criminals who committed this act will be brought to justice," said Army Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, commanding general of Multinational Division South. "We will not tolerate such acts of violence against our soldiers."
Elsewhere, the Iraqi 4th Emergency Response Battalion, aided by coalition advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 19 in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad. The suspect is believed to have built and emplaced roadside bombs in support of a terrorist cell that targeted Iraqi security forces convoys.
In southern Iraq, Iraqi police from the Basra special weapons and tactics team, along with coalition advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists July 18 during an Iraqi-led operation.
The suspected terrorists are believed to be linked to an insurgent cell operating in Basra and are suspected of murder and roadside bomb and rocket attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.
The force also uncovered four previously used 107 mm launch tubes, four 107 mm high-explosive rockets, a 107 mm rocket-launch rail system and various bomb-making materials.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Forces Kill Enemy Fighters, Detain Others in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - Afghan and coalition forces killed enemy fighters, detained others and seized weapons in Afghanistan in the past four days, military officials reported. Afghan National Army and NATO International Security Assistance Force soldiers killed 10 anti-Afghan fighters in Pech district of Afghanistan's Kunar province July 17 after receiving small-arms fire while on a routine patrol. Coalition close-air support from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield aided the force.
No ISAF soldiers were killed in the incident.
This was the second time in a week that ISAF and Afghan National Army forces eliminated a significant anti-Afghan threat in the district. An Afghan army-led operation July 15 resulted in the death of two Taliban subcommanders and the capture of four more anti-Afghan forces.
In other operations in Afghanistan:
-- A combined Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province last night to disrupt a Haqqani terrorist network bomb-making cell. The joint force searched the compound near the village of Ya Qubi, northeast of the city of Khost, after intelligence indicated militant activity. The force detained a suspected militant.
-- A joint Afghan and coalition force in southern Helmand province searched a compound last night thought to be used by a Taliban commander. The commander is believed to be responsible for the flow of foreign fighters, drug trafficking, and coordinating attacks in the region.
The force searched the compound after intelligence indicated militant activity. The force detained two suspected militants and confiscated eight shotguns, more than 100 bags of ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient used in explosives, and poppy seeds. No Afghan or coalition forces or civilian casualties were reported.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan and Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)
July 20, 2009 - Afghan and coalition forces killed enemy fighters, detained others and seized weapons in Afghanistan in the past four days, military officials reported. Afghan National Army and NATO International Security Assistance Force soldiers killed 10 anti-Afghan fighters in Pech district of Afghanistan's Kunar province July 17 after receiving small-arms fire while on a routine patrol. Coalition close-air support from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield aided the force.
No ISAF soldiers were killed in the incident.
This was the second time in a week that ISAF and Afghan National Army forces eliminated a significant anti-Afghan threat in the district. An Afghan army-led operation July 15 resulted in the death of two Taliban subcommanders and the capture of four more anti-Afghan forces.
In other operations in Afghanistan:
-- A combined Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province last night to disrupt a Haqqani terrorist network bomb-making cell. The joint force searched the compound near the village of Ya Qubi, northeast of the city of Khost, after intelligence indicated militant activity. The force detained a suspected militant.
-- A joint Afghan and coalition force in southern Helmand province searched a compound last night thought to be used by a Taliban commander. The commander is believed to be responsible for the flow of foreign fighters, drug trafficking, and coordinating attacks in the region.
The force searched the compound after intelligence indicated militant activity. The force detained two suspected militants and confiscated eight shotguns, more than 100 bags of ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient used in explosives, and poppy seeds. No Afghan or coalition forces or civilian casualties were reported.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan and Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)
On the Ground: U.S. Forces Provide Training, Humanitarian Aid
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - U.S forces delivered new skills, and hope, to Iraqis in recent training and humanitarian operations, military officials reported. Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, and the 19/5 Military Transition Team recently provided training to their counterparts from 5th Iraqi Army Division's 19th Brigade.
"Our main goal with these events is to provide these medics with the knowledge they need to save lives," said Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Mackey, a transition team medic. "Beyond the actual training, we are coaching the [Iraqi] brigade's medical leadership in planning and implementing brigade-level training."
Mackey said the soldiers chose a hands-on approach to the training, as opposed to using PowerPoint software presentations.
"The evaluation time consists of a trauma lane with casualty players and wound mock-ups," he said. "[Iraqi soldiers] are not only evaluated on patient treatment, but also how well they apply principles of trauma combat casualty care."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Walker, the platoon sergeant for the regiment's medical platoon, is on his second tour in Iraq. He has trained Iraqi medics before, and he noted they've come a long way.
"We know we cannot pull all of the medics out of the fight, so we are going with a 'train-the-trainer' approach, which builds on itself every time we meet, and then we challenge them to take the information to their units and share with their soldiers," Walker said. "So we are not only training these medics, but also encouraging them to 'grow' their [noncommissioned officer] corps as well.
"It is good to see that the Iraqi medics are progressing," he added.
Elsewhere, 21 new Iraqi firefighters concluded their training for the Defense Ministry's Basic Firefighter Course on July 15 with a live-fire exercise and graduation at the National Fire Academy.
The course marks the first time Iraqi instructors have conducted the training without assistance from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq advisors.
"We need to congratulate the instructors for their accomplishment," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Kane, commanding general for Iraq Training Advisory Mission Air Force. "I'm proud of all of you and the way you have conducted this course."
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Military Academy in Rustamiyah graduated 281 Iraqi army and 86 Iraqi air force cadets July 14 from Basic Officers Commissioning Course 99.
The 12-month commissioning course includes leadership and ethics training, and works to instill the values and standards required of future Iraqi military leaders. The course also covers tactics, weapons training, physical fitness, first-aid, current affairs and geography.
A new officer course that starts in January is designed for cadets to earn university degrees, and will last three years.
NATO Training Mission Iraq has supported the academy since 2005. More than 2,500 cadets have graduated in the past four years.
In humanitarian efforts, soldiers of the Iraqi army's 5th Division and the U.S. 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted the first humanitarian-aid drop in Diyala province since U.S. combat forces left Iraqi cities June 30.
The July 15 drop lasted nearly seven hours and served hundreds of families in Mujema, a neighborhood in Baqubah. Local residents and Iraqi soldiers unloaded five large trucks filled with about 1,000 bags of rice and flour, 600 bags of sugar and 600 bottles of cooking oil.
In a separate aid mission, soldiers of the 12th Iraqi Army Division and the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, brought bags of food and a message of hope to families July 14 in the Hiteen neighborhood of Hawijah.
"Hiteen has been identified by the Hawijah city council as the poorest area of Hawijah," said Army 1st Lt. Sean Spencer, medical officer for the 1st Battalion. "The food delivery by the [Iraqi security forces] and U.S. military supports Hawijah residents by fulfilling attainable goals, which will make a difference for the people here."
The Iraqi army plans to visit all of the small villages in Kirkuk province, said Army Spc. Andrew Harris, a forward observer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.
"I think they picked the perfect town for this," Harris said. "We don't really get to travel through [Hiteen] often. But when you come through there and give them food, it makes a big difference."
Eighty of the 165 families in the village received help during the mission, and the Iraqi army is planning to distribute more aid in the near future.
"One bag of food can make a big difference if you're hungry," Harris said.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
July 20, 2009 - U.S forces delivered new skills, and hope, to Iraqis in recent training and humanitarian operations, military officials reported. Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, and the 19/5 Military Transition Team recently provided training to their counterparts from 5th Iraqi Army Division's 19th Brigade.
"Our main goal with these events is to provide these medics with the knowledge they need to save lives," said Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Mackey, a transition team medic. "Beyond the actual training, we are coaching the [Iraqi] brigade's medical leadership in planning and implementing brigade-level training."
Mackey said the soldiers chose a hands-on approach to the training, as opposed to using PowerPoint software presentations.
"The evaluation time consists of a trauma lane with casualty players and wound mock-ups," he said. "[Iraqi soldiers] are not only evaluated on patient treatment, but also how well they apply principles of trauma combat casualty care."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Walker, the platoon sergeant for the regiment's medical platoon, is on his second tour in Iraq. He has trained Iraqi medics before, and he noted they've come a long way.
"We know we cannot pull all of the medics out of the fight, so we are going with a 'train-the-trainer' approach, which builds on itself every time we meet, and then we challenge them to take the information to their units and share with their soldiers," Walker said. "So we are not only training these medics, but also encouraging them to 'grow' their [noncommissioned officer] corps as well.
"It is good to see that the Iraqi medics are progressing," he added.
Elsewhere, 21 new Iraqi firefighters concluded their training for the Defense Ministry's Basic Firefighter Course on July 15 with a live-fire exercise and graduation at the National Fire Academy.
The course marks the first time Iraqi instructors have conducted the training without assistance from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq advisors.
"We need to congratulate the instructors for their accomplishment," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Kane, commanding general for Iraq Training Advisory Mission Air Force. "I'm proud of all of you and the way you have conducted this course."
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Military Academy in Rustamiyah graduated 281 Iraqi army and 86 Iraqi air force cadets July 14 from Basic Officers Commissioning Course 99.
The 12-month commissioning course includes leadership and ethics training, and works to instill the values and standards required of future Iraqi military leaders. The course also covers tactics, weapons training, physical fitness, first-aid, current affairs and geography.
A new officer course that starts in January is designed for cadets to earn university degrees, and will last three years.
NATO Training Mission Iraq has supported the academy since 2005. More than 2,500 cadets have graduated in the past four years.
In humanitarian efforts, soldiers of the Iraqi army's 5th Division and the U.S. 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted the first humanitarian-aid drop in Diyala province since U.S. combat forces left Iraqi cities June 30.
The July 15 drop lasted nearly seven hours and served hundreds of families in Mujema, a neighborhood in Baqubah. Local residents and Iraqi soldiers unloaded five large trucks filled with about 1,000 bags of rice and flour, 600 bags of sugar and 600 bottles of cooking oil.
In a separate aid mission, soldiers of the 12th Iraqi Army Division and the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, brought bags of food and a message of hope to families July 14 in the Hiteen neighborhood of Hawijah.
"Hiteen has been identified by the Hawijah city council as the poorest area of Hawijah," said Army 1st Lt. Sean Spencer, medical officer for the 1st Battalion. "The food delivery by the [Iraqi security forces] and U.S. military supports Hawijah residents by fulfilling attainable goals, which will make a difference for the people here."
The Iraqi army plans to visit all of the small villages in Kirkuk province, said Army Spc. Andrew Harris, a forward observer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.
"I think they picked the perfect town for this," Harris said. "We don't really get to travel through [Hiteen] often. But when you come through there and give them food, it makes a big difference."
Eighty of the 165 families in the village received help during the mission, and the Iraqi army is planning to distribute more aid in the near future.
"One bag of food can make a big difference if you're hungry," Harris said.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Convoys Roll Through Danger to Deliver Goods
By Army Spc. Elisebet FreeburgSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - As combat missions increase in Afghanistan, a Maine National Guard battalion here is getting increasingly busy delivering supplies to forward operating bases under dangerous conditions. Riding in mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, also known as MRAPs or "gun trucks," soldiers of the 286th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion escort Afghan army "jingle trucks" and military palletized load system trucks, all loaded down with U.S. military cargo. The convoys take the equipment to forward operating bases, sometimes through narrow city streets or in difficult terrain, always under the threat of enemy fire and facing the possibility of breakdowns or needing to take an alternate route.
The number of troops moving into Afghanistan is expected to grow to more than 60,000 by the end of the year. With them comes an increased demand for supplies. Because of austere and difficult terrain, Joint Sustainment Command Afghanistan, the U.S. logistics command here, often moves large cargo to forward operating bases through logistics convoy missions, called combat logistics patrols.
"There is a warfighting effort going on in this theater, and someone has to get supplies and things a frontline soldier needs to him," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Byron T. Mills, a transportation platoon sergeant with the battalion.
The 286th, a National Guard battalion and element of the sustainment command, runs combat logistics patrols to many locations in southern Afghanistan, including forward operating bases Lagman, Ramrod, Wolverine and Ghazni. Building materials, mail, ammunition, vehicles and food supplies are among the cargo.
"Anything to sustain the maneuver units up front," Mills said.
Once a unit's supplies diminish to a certain point, the command plans a combat logistics patrol. Numerous such patrols have been conducted in Helmand province lately due to the recent influx of Marines there, he said.
The patrols to Helmand were done in four phases to deliver equipment to Marines at Dwyer and Leatherneck. During the first phase, troops delivered power generation equipment to Leatherneck, where they rested overnight. The next day, they drove to Dwyer, delivered fuel system supply point equipment and slept for the night. The third day, the patrol returned to Leatherneck, loaded special operations equipment and departed back here as their final phase.
The command also met a critical need with two missions the 286th took to move about 60 MRAPs to Marine units in Helmand province, where they were sent to ward off roadside bomb attacks.
Soldiers of the 286th generally convoy one to three times per week, with some patrols lasting as long as four days, Mills said.
Besides MRAPs and cargo trucks, patrols include at least one wrecker in case it's necessary to pull cargo trucks out of loose sand and up steep hills.
Before a combat logistics patrol, soldiers must prepare their vehicles, individual and crew-served weapons and personal equipment by completing pre-combat checks. Troops also ensure that cargo trucks have adequate fuel and that the freight is strapped down securely. Each gun truck carries at least a driver, truck commander, gunner and assistant gunner.
"We have a defensive posture," Mills said. "But if someone were to have hostile intent against our movement, we are equipped to eliminate or reduce the threat."
Even with precautions, the patrols are dangerous because of the threat of roadside bombs, snipers and ambushes, particularly during the possibility of mechanical breakdowns or flat tires.
"Someone's got to do it," said Army Spc. Robert Mitchell, a 286th assistant gunner. "I don't mind coming out here and doing my duty, because I signed my name on the line voluntarily."
(Army Spc. Elisebet Freeburg serves with Joint Sustainment Command Afghanistan's public affairs office.)
Wisconsin Guard Helps Iraqis Train Corrections Officers
By Army Spc. Tyler Lasure
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - An instructor shouts commands in Arabic. Recruits snap into fighting stances. The instructor tests the recruits, shaking them and kicking their legs. One recruit makes a mistake, and the instructor drops him for push-ups. This training may seem like Army boot camp, but these men aren't preparing to be soldiers. They are training to become Iraqi correctional officers.
At the Iraqi National Training Academy on Victory Base Complex near Baghdad, Iraqi instructors are training four platoons of recruits to become the foundation of the Iraqi correctional system.
The academy is the first of its kind, and this is the first class to be trained entirely by Iraqi instructors.
"This facility, from the ground up, has been designed to be the leading edge of the American withdrawal of forces from Iraq," said Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Cahak, officer in charge of training with Company A, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment. "It's an incredibly important mission. We take it very seriously, and this mission has been handed to the Wisconsin National Guard."
The company, based in Menomonie, Wis., is responsible for the supervises training and is responsible for the academy's logistics. It is part of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving in Iraq.
"Our responsibility is to ensure there is a conduit of information between the Iraqi Correctional Services and the actual instructors and staff here on site," Cahak said. "We also have a supervisory role with their instructors to ensure they're teaching the material that is supposed to be trained in the order it is supposed to be taught."
Army Sgt. 1st Class David Wilson, noncommissioned officer in charge of training at the academy, compared the mission to that of a school principal and vice principal.
"It's hard to pinpoint a specific description of what we do," he said, "because we cover so many little different aspects, whether it's making sure they have uniforms, making sure they have water, making sure the maintenance and things are facilitated."
The six-week, Iraqi-led course consists of both classroom training and practical exercises, and covers restraint procedures, defensive techniques, handcuffing, the use of weapons, director general orders, basic human rights and the treatment of prisoners.
After recruits finish the basic course, they go on to an advanced, eight-day session taught by Wisconsin Guard soldiers that focuses on the specifics of running the U.S.-controlled internment facilities.
"This is probably the toughest thing the majority of these gentlemen have undergone in their lives," Wilson said. Still, he added, "It's rewarding in that we can bring our Iraqi counterparts up to the correct standard to conduct prison and correctional officer operations on their own and hopefully facilitate the withdrawal of the American troops because they will be operating independently."
Although language and cultural barriers sometimes cause problems, the soldiers say they see daily improvements in the recruits.
"They have only been here a couple of weeks and are taking pride in what they do," Wilson said.
The soldiers are to oversee operations at the academy until they return to Wisconsin early next year.
"We hope that we can get this facility completely run by Iraq so that they can continue to train professional Iraqi correctional officers in our absence," Cahak said.
(Army Spc. Tyler Lasure serves with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - An instructor shouts commands in Arabic. Recruits snap into fighting stances. The instructor tests the recruits, shaking them and kicking their legs. One recruit makes a mistake, and the instructor drops him for push-ups. This training may seem like Army boot camp, but these men aren't preparing to be soldiers. They are training to become Iraqi correctional officers.
At the Iraqi National Training Academy on Victory Base Complex near Baghdad, Iraqi instructors are training four platoons of recruits to become the foundation of the Iraqi correctional system.
The academy is the first of its kind, and this is the first class to be trained entirely by Iraqi instructors.
"This facility, from the ground up, has been designed to be the leading edge of the American withdrawal of forces from Iraq," said Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Cahak, officer in charge of training with Company A, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment. "It's an incredibly important mission. We take it very seriously, and this mission has been handed to the Wisconsin National Guard."
The company, based in Menomonie, Wis., is responsible for the supervises training and is responsible for the academy's logistics. It is part of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving in Iraq.
"Our responsibility is to ensure there is a conduit of information between the Iraqi Correctional Services and the actual instructors and staff here on site," Cahak said. "We also have a supervisory role with their instructors to ensure they're teaching the material that is supposed to be trained in the order it is supposed to be taught."
Army Sgt. 1st Class David Wilson, noncommissioned officer in charge of training at the academy, compared the mission to that of a school principal and vice principal.
"It's hard to pinpoint a specific description of what we do," he said, "because we cover so many little different aspects, whether it's making sure they have uniforms, making sure they have water, making sure the maintenance and things are facilitated."
The six-week, Iraqi-led course consists of both classroom training and practical exercises, and covers restraint procedures, defensive techniques, handcuffing, the use of weapons, director general orders, basic human rights and the treatment of prisoners.
After recruits finish the basic course, they go on to an advanced, eight-day session taught by Wisconsin Guard soldiers that focuses on the specifics of running the U.S.-controlled internment facilities.
"This is probably the toughest thing the majority of these gentlemen have undergone in their lives," Wilson said. Still, he added, "It's rewarding in that we can bring our Iraqi counterparts up to the correct standard to conduct prison and correctional officer operations on their own and hopefully facilitate the withdrawal of the American troops because they will be operating independently."
Although language and cultural barriers sometimes cause problems, the soldiers say they see daily improvements in the recruits.
"They have only been here a couple of weeks and are taking pride in what they do," Wilson said.
The soldiers are to oversee operations at the academy until they return to Wisconsin early next year.
"We hope that we can get this facility completely run by Iraq so that they can continue to train professional Iraqi correctional officers in our absence," Cahak said.
(Army Spc. Tyler Lasure serves with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 20, 2009
Robin Robinson: improving the government's pandemic response
"The Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority [BARDA], under the leadership of Robin Robinson, has worked hard to put the U.S. government in a stronger position than it was a few years ago to confront any potential pandemic. […] An arm of the Health and Human Services (HHS) department, BARDA provides a systematic approach to the development and purchase of vaccines, drugs, therapies and diagnostic tools to support public health emergencies and protect Americans from bioterrorism. Robinson's office works with drug manufacturers and is coordinating the development and purchase of a swine flu vaccine that will be tested and available this fall. […] In addition to supporting the creation of flu vaccines, Robinson manages the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. That involves supporting development of new medical countermeasures to anthrax, smallpox, botulism [sic] and a variety of other biochemical threats. […] Robinson said that […] he feels 'honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization and make a difference in public health and preparedness for the American people." (Washington Post; 20Jul09)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072000893.html
CDC proposes to list SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] virus as select agent
"Federal health officials are proposing to list the virus that causes SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) as a select agent, which means that dozens of laboratories possessing it will have to register with the government and adopt various security measures. Agents are added to the federal list of 'select agents and toxins' if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regards them as potentially posing a severe threat to public health and safety. The proposal regarding the SARS-associated coronavirus was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a Jul 13 Federal Register notice. The agency said the designation is needed because the virus is potentially fatal and easily spread, there is no vaccine or effective treatment for it, and it can persist in the environment. […] CDC records show that 138 entities, most of them commercial, currently possess the SARS virus, and 73 of them are already registered with the Select Agent Program of either HHS or the US Department of Agriculture, the notice says. That means 65 labs or facilities will need to register if the virus is listed as a select agent. Besides registering with the program, those groups will have to provide adequate biosafety and physical security measures, screen personnel with access to the virus, and meet record-keeping requirements, the CDC says."
(Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy; 17Jul09; Robert Roos) http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/sars/news/jul1709sars.html
Feds, states believe they're prepared for H1N1 vaccination plan
"Fearing that the H1N1 influenza virus will emerge stronger and perhaps more virulent next flu season, the federal government is preparing to push vaccines to the states for distribution once the decision to vaccinate the public is made. […] According to state public health directors and other officials, especially from the states hit the hardest by H1N1 early this year, they believe they are prepared to deal with a mass vaccination program and all the attendant problems that accompany it; but they would like more direction and guidance from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding logistical issues." (Homeland Security Insight and Analysis; 14Jul09; Anthony Kimery) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9362/149/
Judge dismisses suit against feds for Kan[sas] biolab
"A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Texas consortium protesting the Homeland Security Department's choice of Kansas for a multimillion-dollar biodefense lab. The judge [Mary Ellen Coster Williams] decided the lawsuit was premature and dismissed it without prejudice, opening the way for the Texas Bio- and Agro-Defense Consortium to refile the lawsuit later, which the group said it may do. […] She said the lab may never materialize and noted that a deal had not been made for Kansas to provide land in Manhattan, Kan. for the lab. The Kansas Board of Regents has agreed to provide the land but the Homeland Security Department has not signed that agreement. […] The Kansas site was recommended unanimously by a panel of staffers from the Homeland Security and Agriculture Department and was picked in a transparent process, said spokeswoman Amy Kudwa. […] The Homeland Security Department hopes to award a contract estimated to be at least $525 million by September and break ground on the lab next summer. […] To argue for dismissal of the Texas suit, a Justice Department lawyer had to persuade the judge that construction of the lab at the Kansas site was not yet set in stone. Jim Dublin, a spokesman for the Texas consortium, said the department 'is leading us down the rabbit hole by claiming it does not know how, when and if it will build the bio-agro research facility in Kansas' even though it has said it chose Kansas." (Google News; 18Jul09; Suzanne Gamboa, AP) http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gF10hzkUPBSBldrJmafLAMzuPgMQD99GFP3G0
Mumbai airport gets technology to fight swine flu [and other microorganisms]
"Few know that in the Mumbai airport area where passengers are being screened for the [swine flu] virus, is a new technology that may take care of all worries. Developed by NASA, this technology is the same as the one that purifies air in space stations. Airocide, […] a photocatalytic enconditioning system is capable of destroying microorganisms including anthrax [bacteria] and the swine flu virus. Air suctioned into the machine, Airocide, is made to collide with hydroxyl radicals that are very reactive in the presence of UV light. The reaction mineralises and completely destroys not just microorganisms, but even gases, releasing pure air with traces of carbon dioxide and water vapour. […] Virus experts, though, stress on periodic monitoring of not just the air quality level, but also the system for post market surveillance. Director [of the] Haffkine Institute for Training, Research & Testing, Dr Abhay Chowdhary says,'We should not take it for granted as it's technology from outside the country.'" (IBN Live; 20Jul09; Aruna Ramesh) http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-airport-fitted-with-technology-to-fight-swine-flu/97528-17.html
Army report finds faulty monitoring at KY depot
"An Army inspector general's report concludes a chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky inadequately monitored deadly nerve agent housed there for at least two years. It found no evidence anybody was exposed to the agent. The report covering September 2003 through August 2005 at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond was obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request by the watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Blue Grass Chemical Activity spokesman Richard Sloan said Monday he hadn't seen the report and had no immediate comment." (Lexington Herald Leader; 20Jul09; Jeffrey McMurray, AP) http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/868022.html
House attempts to extend chemical security act
"The House of Representatives is working on extending a law set to expire in October that aims to harden chemical facilities against terrorist attacks. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security's chemical facilities antiterrorism standards program, or CFATS, have not had enough time to fully assess all of the country's chemical facilities that may be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Under a law Congress passed in 2007, facilities identified as the most vulnerable […] must inventory all hazardous materials, carry out a vulnerability assessment, then draw up site security plans to address any risks. There are some 7,000 such sites in the United States. The revised law, the Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Act of 2009, will fine tune the regulations and make CFATS rules permanent. 'By requiring the highest-risk facilities to switch to safer chemicals or processes when it is economically and technologically possible to do so, this legislation will make our communities less vulnerable to a terrorist-designed Bhopal in Boston, Baton Rouge or Buffalo,' said Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Commerce Committee's subcommittee on energy, at the hearing. […] CFATS program advisors will also be working closely with the Coast Guard's Maritime Transportation Security Act program advisors to coordinate their antiterrorism efforts to protect U.S. ports and ships that transport chemicals." (National Defense Magazine; Aug09; Katie Breitbach) http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2009/August/Pages/HouseAttemptstoExtendChemicalSecurityAct.aspx
U of S [University of Saskatchewan] snags international interest
"A new emergency ventilation system being developed at the U of S, is catching some international attention. The eWar system is designed to protect large public buildings from chemical warfare or medical outbreaks. If a disease or chemical gets into the air vents eWar will detect them, filter out the harmful agents, and alert the occupants. Lead researcher Janusz Kozinski says they've already attracted some interest from some big names. Even the US air force has expressed interest for their hospitals around the world. Full scale testing will be done in the spring of 2010, and after that they will begin to market the system." (Saskatoon Media; 20Jul09)
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19604&Itemid=281
OPCW begins 10th annual associate programme
"The OPCW launched its annual Associate Programme on 20 July 2009 at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague, the tenth in a series that began in 2000. The objective of the Associate Programme is to provide greater understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for chemists and chemical engineers from OPCW Member States with developing economies, focusing on the peaceful uses of chemistry. The programme aims to enhance Member States' national capacity for implementing the CWC by offering training in chemistry to personnel from industry, universities and government agencies, and to facilitate trade through the adoption of best practices in the chemical industry. It also broadens the pool of future recruits for National Authorities, institutions and economies of Member States as well as for the Technical Secretariat. […] This year's programme will include 28 Associates from 27 countries, including 15 participants from 14 African countries. The 10-week curriculum is designed to provide a broader understanding of advanced industrial practice with an emphasis on chemical safety." (OPCW; 20Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-begins-10th-annual-associate-programme/
[Former Attorney General John] Ashcroft speaks at one of two major Fort Leonard Wood events this month [MO]
"Two major conferences are coming later this month to Fort Leonard Wood, one of them featuring John Ashcroft […]. Ashcroft's speech will be part of the Joint Senior Leaders' Course, held from Wednesday, July 23 to Friday, July 25, which focuses on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training being offered by Fort Leonard Wood's CBRN School. Ashcroft is scheduled to speak from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Friday on the subject of combating weapons of mass destruction in a post-9/11 environment. […] According to a Fort Leonard Wood press release, the Joint Senior Leaders' Course will 'present various aspects of CBRN defense, with an operational- and strategic-level focus, to leadership wanting to increase their understanding of current CBRN issues and having a need to integrate CBRN considerations into their commands, staffs or organizations.' […] A special conference will be held at Fort Leonard Wood the following week that specifically focuses on foreign military issues of American allies."
(Pulaski County Daily; 18Jul09; Darrell Todd Maurina) http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/news.php?viewStory=1080
Crime drops despite fewer officers in lean times [NY, discusses WMD preparedness budget cuts]
"The New York City Police Department is set to shrink to 34,304 officers within a year, which is 16 percent fewer than the department's high of 41,000 nearly a decade ago. Cash for police work is dwindling at City Hall and in Washington. Civilian members of the force are facing layoffs. Station houses are not ideally staffed. More than 1,000 officers remain assigned to counterterrorism duties. […] At the Police Academy, the flow of new recruits has slowed to a trickle. Yet despite these challenges, crime is down in New York - more significantly than in several other big cities around the nation. […] Recently, a federal budget bill eliminated $40 million in anticipated grants for a program called Securing the Cities, which would create links with law enforcement agencies within a 50-mile radius around the city, and would outfit officers with radiation detectors to spot a nuclear or radiological threat long before it reaches its intended target. [Commissioner Raymond W.] Kelly called two members of Congress - Peter T. King, a Republican from Long Island, and Yvette D. Clarke, a Democrat from Brooklyn - to push for the restoration of the federal money. But he believed he needed more support, aides said. […] He squeezed in a quick but intense phone call with George A. Dalley, an aide to Representative Charles B. Rangel, who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Two days later, news came that the grant was restored in the House of Representatives, though the issue was still unresolved in the Senate." (New York Times; 17Jul09; Al Baker) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/nyregion/18nypd.html?_r=1&hp
India, US plan to move ahead on fissile material cut-off pact
"India and the US today agreed to move ahead towards a non-discriminatory, internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and pledged to cooperate to prevent nuclear terrorism. This was decided during the hour-long talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New Delhi. […] Both the countries also decided to cooperate to prevent nuclear terrorism and address challenges of global nuclear proliferation. […] The two leaders [Krishna and Clinton] took note of the enhanced co-operation in defence under the Defence Co-operation Framework Agreement of 2005 and underlined the commitment of both governments to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of defence." (Times Now, India; 20Jul09) http://www.timesnow.tv/India-US-plan-to-move-ahead-on-Fissile-Material-Cut-off-pact/articleshow/4322695.cms
Scotland is still vulnerable to attack, warns security expert; Grampian force want to beef up counter-terrorism unit
"A security expert last night warned Scotland was not immune from attack as it emerged that one of the largest police forces in the country want to strengthen their counter-terrorism unit. David Capitanchik said the country was as vulnerable as the rest of the UK, particularly in the north and north-east because of the offshore industry, the royal estate at Balmoral, Aberdeen Airport, and the huge St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead. Mr Capitanchik, an honorary professor at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, was speaking after Grampian Police advertised for a new counter-terrorism security adviser (CTSA). The force wants to add to their existing team and need someone who can offer expertise and advice to officers and businesses during bomb threats and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. […] Mr Capitanchik said the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport in 2007 acted as a reminder to many forces that stringent contingency plans for similar incidents were essential. […] Armed guards began patrolling two north-east gas installations over fears they could be targets for international terrorists. 'Counter-terrorism is certainly an area that has seen an added importance in recent years and a lot of attention is now paid to it,' he said. 'There are general threats that apply throughout the UK, but with additional potential security issues in the north-east. There is no reason why the north-east and Scotland as a whole should be treated any differently to the rest of the country.'" (Press and Journal; 20Jul09; Stephen Christie) http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1313943/?UserKey=
"The Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority [BARDA], under the leadership of Robin Robinson, has worked hard to put the U.S. government in a stronger position than it was a few years ago to confront any potential pandemic. […] An arm of the Health and Human Services (HHS) department, BARDA provides a systematic approach to the development and purchase of vaccines, drugs, therapies and diagnostic tools to support public health emergencies and protect Americans from bioterrorism. Robinson's office works with drug manufacturers and is coordinating the development and purchase of a swine flu vaccine that will be tested and available this fall. […] In addition to supporting the creation of flu vaccines, Robinson manages the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents. That involves supporting development of new medical countermeasures to anthrax, smallpox, botulism [sic] and a variety of other biochemical threats. […] Robinson said that […] he feels 'honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization and make a difference in public health and preparedness for the American people." (Washington Post; 20Jul09)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072000893.html
CDC proposes to list SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] virus as select agent
"Federal health officials are proposing to list the virus that causes SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) as a select agent, which means that dozens of laboratories possessing it will have to register with the government and adopt various security measures. Agents are added to the federal list of 'select agents and toxins' if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regards them as potentially posing a severe threat to public health and safety. The proposal regarding the SARS-associated coronavirus was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a Jul 13 Federal Register notice. The agency said the designation is needed because the virus is potentially fatal and easily spread, there is no vaccine or effective treatment for it, and it can persist in the environment. […] CDC records show that 138 entities, most of them commercial, currently possess the SARS virus, and 73 of them are already registered with the Select Agent Program of either HHS or the US Department of Agriculture, the notice says. That means 65 labs or facilities will need to register if the virus is listed as a select agent. Besides registering with the program, those groups will have to provide adequate biosafety and physical security measures, screen personnel with access to the virus, and meet record-keeping requirements, the CDC says."
(Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy; 17Jul09; Robert Roos) http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/sars/news/jul1709sars.html
Feds, states believe they're prepared for H1N1 vaccination plan
"Fearing that the H1N1 influenza virus will emerge stronger and perhaps more virulent next flu season, the federal government is preparing to push vaccines to the states for distribution once the decision to vaccinate the public is made. […] According to state public health directors and other officials, especially from the states hit the hardest by H1N1 early this year, they believe they are prepared to deal with a mass vaccination program and all the attendant problems that accompany it; but they would like more direction and guidance from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding logistical issues." (Homeland Security Insight and Analysis; 14Jul09; Anthony Kimery) http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/9362/149/
Judge dismisses suit against feds for Kan[sas] biolab
"A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Texas consortium protesting the Homeland Security Department's choice of Kansas for a multimillion-dollar biodefense lab. The judge [Mary Ellen Coster Williams] decided the lawsuit was premature and dismissed it without prejudice, opening the way for the Texas Bio- and Agro-Defense Consortium to refile the lawsuit later, which the group said it may do. […] She said the lab may never materialize and noted that a deal had not been made for Kansas to provide land in Manhattan, Kan. for the lab. The Kansas Board of Regents has agreed to provide the land but the Homeland Security Department has not signed that agreement. […] The Kansas site was recommended unanimously by a panel of staffers from the Homeland Security and Agriculture Department and was picked in a transparent process, said spokeswoman Amy Kudwa. […] The Homeland Security Department hopes to award a contract estimated to be at least $525 million by September and break ground on the lab next summer. […] To argue for dismissal of the Texas suit, a Justice Department lawyer had to persuade the judge that construction of the lab at the Kansas site was not yet set in stone. Jim Dublin, a spokesman for the Texas consortium, said the department 'is leading us down the rabbit hole by claiming it does not know how, when and if it will build the bio-agro research facility in Kansas' even though it has said it chose Kansas." (Google News; 18Jul09; Suzanne Gamboa, AP) http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gF10hzkUPBSBldrJmafLAMzuPgMQD99GFP3G0
Mumbai airport gets technology to fight swine flu [and other microorganisms]
"Few know that in the Mumbai airport area where passengers are being screened for the [swine flu] virus, is a new technology that may take care of all worries. Developed by NASA, this technology is the same as the one that purifies air in space stations. Airocide, […] a photocatalytic enconditioning system is capable of destroying microorganisms including anthrax [bacteria] and the swine flu virus. Air suctioned into the machine, Airocide, is made to collide with hydroxyl radicals that are very reactive in the presence of UV light. The reaction mineralises and completely destroys not just microorganisms, but even gases, releasing pure air with traces of carbon dioxide and water vapour. […] Virus experts, though, stress on periodic monitoring of not just the air quality level, but also the system for post market surveillance. Director [of the] Haffkine Institute for Training, Research & Testing, Dr Abhay Chowdhary says,'We should not take it for granted as it's technology from outside the country.'" (IBN Live; 20Jul09; Aruna Ramesh) http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mumbai-airport-fitted-with-technology-to-fight-swine-flu/97528-17.html
Army report finds faulty monitoring at KY depot
"An Army inspector general's report concludes a chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky inadequately monitored deadly nerve agent housed there for at least two years. It found no evidence anybody was exposed to the agent. The report covering September 2003 through August 2005 at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond was obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request by the watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Blue Grass Chemical Activity spokesman Richard Sloan said Monday he hadn't seen the report and had no immediate comment." (Lexington Herald Leader; 20Jul09; Jeffrey McMurray, AP) http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/868022.html
House attempts to extend chemical security act
"The House of Representatives is working on extending a law set to expire in October that aims to harden chemical facilities against terrorist attacks. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security's chemical facilities antiterrorism standards program, or CFATS, have not had enough time to fully assess all of the country's chemical facilities that may be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Under a law Congress passed in 2007, facilities identified as the most vulnerable […] must inventory all hazardous materials, carry out a vulnerability assessment, then draw up site security plans to address any risks. There are some 7,000 such sites in the United States. The revised law, the Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Act of 2009, will fine tune the regulations and make CFATS rules permanent. 'By requiring the highest-risk facilities to switch to safer chemicals or processes when it is economically and technologically possible to do so, this legislation will make our communities less vulnerable to a terrorist-designed Bhopal in Boston, Baton Rouge or Buffalo,' said Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Commerce Committee's subcommittee on energy, at the hearing. […] CFATS program advisors will also be working closely with the Coast Guard's Maritime Transportation Security Act program advisors to coordinate their antiterrorism efforts to protect U.S. ports and ships that transport chemicals." (National Defense Magazine; Aug09; Katie Breitbach) http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2009/August/Pages/HouseAttemptstoExtendChemicalSecurityAct.aspx
U of S [University of Saskatchewan] snags international interest
"A new emergency ventilation system being developed at the U of S, is catching some international attention. The eWar system is designed to protect large public buildings from chemical warfare or medical outbreaks. If a disease or chemical gets into the air vents eWar will detect them, filter out the harmful agents, and alert the occupants. Lead researcher Janusz Kozinski says they've already attracted some interest from some big names. Even the US air force has expressed interest for their hospitals around the world. Full scale testing will be done in the spring of 2010, and after that they will begin to market the system." (Saskatoon Media; 20Jul09)
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19604&Itemid=281
OPCW begins 10th annual associate programme
"The OPCW launched its annual Associate Programme on 20 July 2009 at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague, the tenth in a series that began in 2000. The objective of the Associate Programme is to provide greater understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for chemists and chemical engineers from OPCW Member States with developing economies, focusing on the peaceful uses of chemistry. The programme aims to enhance Member States' national capacity for implementing the CWC by offering training in chemistry to personnel from industry, universities and government agencies, and to facilitate trade through the adoption of best practices in the chemical industry. It also broadens the pool of future recruits for National Authorities, institutions and economies of Member States as well as for the Technical Secretariat. […] This year's programme will include 28 Associates from 27 countries, including 15 participants from 14 African countries. The 10-week curriculum is designed to provide a broader understanding of advanced industrial practice with an emphasis on chemical safety." (OPCW; 20Jul09) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-begins-10th-annual-associate-programme/
[Former Attorney General John] Ashcroft speaks at one of two major Fort Leonard Wood events this month [MO]
"Two major conferences are coming later this month to Fort Leonard Wood, one of them featuring John Ashcroft […]. Ashcroft's speech will be part of the Joint Senior Leaders' Course, held from Wednesday, July 23 to Friday, July 25, which focuses on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training being offered by Fort Leonard Wood's CBRN School. Ashcroft is scheduled to speak from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Friday on the subject of combating weapons of mass destruction in a post-9/11 environment. […] According to a Fort Leonard Wood press release, the Joint Senior Leaders' Course will 'present various aspects of CBRN defense, with an operational- and strategic-level focus, to leadership wanting to increase their understanding of current CBRN issues and having a need to integrate CBRN considerations into their commands, staffs or organizations.' […] A special conference will be held at Fort Leonard Wood the following week that specifically focuses on foreign military issues of American allies."
(Pulaski County Daily; 18Jul09; Darrell Todd Maurina) http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/news.php?viewStory=1080
Crime drops despite fewer officers in lean times [NY, discusses WMD preparedness budget cuts]
"The New York City Police Department is set to shrink to 34,304 officers within a year, which is 16 percent fewer than the department's high of 41,000 nearly a decade ago. Cash for police work is dwindling at City Hall and in Washington. Civilian members of the force are facing layoffs. Station houses are not ideally staffed. More than 1,000 officers remain assigned to counterterrorism duties. […] At the Police Academy, the flow of new recruits has slowed to a trickle. Yet despite these challenges, crime is down in New York - more significantly than in several other big cities around the nation. […] Recently, a federal budget bill eliminated $40 million in anticipated grants for a program called Securing the Cities, which would create links with law enforcement agencies within a 50-mile radius around the city, and would outfit officers with radiation detectors to spot a nuclear or radiological threat long before it reaches its intended target. [Commissioner Raymond W.] Kelly called two members of Congress - Peter T. King, a Republican from Long Island, and Yvette D. Clarke, a Democrat from Brooklyn - to push for the restoration of the federal money. But he believed he needed more support, aides said. […] He squeezed in a quick but intense phone call with George A. Dalley, an aide to Representative Charles B. Rangel, who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Two days later, news came that the grant was restored in the House of Representatives, though the issue was still unresolved in the Senate." (New York Times; 17Jul09; Al Baker) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/nyregion/18nypd.html?_r=1&hp
India, US plan to move ahead on fissile material cut-off pact
"India and the US today agreed to move ahead towards a non-discriminatory, internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and pledged to cooperate to prevent nuclear terrorism. This was decided during the hour-long talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New Delhi. […] Both the countries also decided to cooperate to prevent nuclear terrorism and address challenges of global nuclear proliferation. […] The two leaders [Krishna and Clinton] took note of the enhanced co-operation in defence under the Defence Co-operation Framework Agreement of 2005 and underlined the commitment of both governments to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of defence." (Times Now, India; 20Jul09) http://www.timesnow.tv/India-US-plan-to-move-ahead-on-Fissile-Material-Cut-off-pact/articleshow/4322695.cms
Scotland is still vulnerable to attack, warns security expert; Grampian force want to beef up counter-terrorism unit
"A security expert last night warned Scotland was not immune from attack as it emerged that one of the largest police forces in the country want to strengthen their counter-terrorism unit. David Capitanchik said the country was as vulnerable as the rest of the UK, particularly in the north and north-east because of the offshore industry, the royal estate at Balmoral, Aberdeen Airport, and the huge St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead. Mr Capitanchik, an honorary professor at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, was speaking after Grampian Police advertised for a new counter-terrorism security adviser (CTSA). The force wants to add to their existing team and need someone who can offer expertise and advice to officers and businesses during bomb threats and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. […] Mr Capitanchik said the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport in 2007 acted as a reminder to many forces that stringent contingency plans for similar incidents were essential. […] Armed guards began patrolling two north-east gas installations over fears they could be targets for international terrorists. 'Counter-terrorism is certainly an area that has seen an added importance in recent years and a lot of attention is now paid to it,' he said. 'There are general threats that apply throughout the UK, but with additional potential security issues in the north-east. There is no reason why the north-east and Scotland as a whole should be treated any differently to the rest of the country.'" (Press and Journal; 20Jul09; Stephen Christie) http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1313943/?UserKey=
General Mourns Airmen Killed in F-15E Crash
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - The commander of U.S. Air Forces Central expressed condolences to the families and friends of two Air Force officers killed early July 18 in the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was flying in support of coalition operations in eastern Afghanistan. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones ... and to the airmen and the joint and coalition team members who called them friends and will miss their fellow warriors," Air Force Lt. Gen. Gary North said.
Air Force Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn., and Air Force Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colo., were killed in the crash. They were assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
The airmen's bodies will be returned to their families through a dignified transfer from Afghanistan to the United States, officials said.
The crash was not due to hostile fire, officials said, and a board of officers will investigate the crash.
Meanwhile, an Army helicopter made an emergency landing in Afghanistan's Kunar province yesterday.
The aircraft landed near a military base, and the site was immediately secured upon landing, officials said. No enemy activity was reported in the area at the time. Personnel on the aircraft were treated on site and evacuated to the nearest medical facility for further treatment.
The incident is under investigation.
(Compiled from U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
July 20, 2009 - The commander of U.S. Air Forces Central expressed condolences to the families and friends of two Air Force officers killed early July 18 in the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was flying in support of coalition operations in eastern Afghanistan. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones ... and to the airmen and the joint and coalition team members who called them friends and will miss their fellow warriors," Air Force Lt. Gen. Gary North said.
Air Force Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn., and Air Force Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colo., were killed in the crash. They were assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
The airmen's bodies will be returned to their families through a dignified transfer from Afghanistan to the United States, officials said.
The crash was not due to hostile fire, officials said, and a board of officers will investigate the crash.
Meanwhile, an Army helicopter made an emergency landing in Afghanistan's Kunar province yesterday.
The aircraft landed near a military base, and the site was immediately secured upon landing, officials said. No enemy activity was reported in the area at the time. Personnel on the aircraft were treated on site and evacuated to the nearest medical facility for further treatment.
The incident is under investigation.
(Compiled from U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, died July 19 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at (760) 725-8766.
Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, died July 19 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at (760) 725-8766.
Gates: U.S. 'Sparing No Effort' To Locate Missing Soldier
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said American commanders are "sparing no effort" to locate a U.S. soldier who went missing early this month in Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters today during a Pentagon news conference, Gates also expressed his disgust at the exploitation of Army Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, who the Defense Department identified as the missing soldier and who is featured in a video apparently released yesterday on the Internet by his captors.
"Our commanders are sparing no effort to find this young soldier, and I also would say that my personal reaction was one of disgust at the exploitation of this young man," Gates said.
In a news release yesterday, the Defense Department identified Bergdahl as the 23-year-old Army private from Ketchum, Idaho, listed as "missing-captured" on July 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Bergdahl is a member of 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Appearing alongside Gates today was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who denounced the situation in similar terms.
"I deplore the exploitation of this young man," Mullen said.
On a visit to Afghanistan last week, the chairman said he spent time with forces conducting operations to find Bergdahl.
"They are extensive, vast, they're on it 24-7," Mullen said. "We're doing absolutely everything we can to get him back."
American Forces Press Service
July 20, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said American commanders are "sparing no effort" to locate a U.S. soldier who went missing early this month in Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters today during a Pentagon news conference, Gates also expressed his disgust at the exploitation of Army Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, who the Defense Department identified as the missing soldier and who is featured in a video apparently released yesterday on the Internet by his captors.
"Our commanders are sparing no effort to find this young soldier, and I also would say that my personal reaction was one of disgust at the exploitation of this young man," Gates said.
In a news release yesterday, the Defense Department identified Bergdahl as the 23-year-old Army private from Ketchum, Idaho, listed as "missing-captured" on July 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Bergdahl is a member of 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Appearing alongside Gates today was Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who denounced the situation in similar terms.
"I deplore the exploitation of this young man," Mullen said.
On a visit to Afghanistan last week, the chairman said he spent time with forces conducting operations to find Bergdahl.
"They are extensive, vast, they're on it 24-7," Mullen said. "We're doing absolutely everything we can to get him back."
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21, of Rosemount, Minn., died July 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington of wounds suffered July 10 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
For more information, contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005.
Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21, of Rosemount, Minn., died July 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington of wounds suffered July 10 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
For more information, contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
DoD Identifies Operation Enduring Freedom Soldier
The Department of Defense announced today the identity of a soldier listed as Missing-Captured on July 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, of Ketchum, Idaho, was declared Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) on July 1 and his status was changed to "Missing-Captured" on July 3.
Pfc. Bergdahl is a member of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
For more information on the soldier, media may contact Lt. Col. Timothy Marsano at (208) 422-5268 or the Fort Richardson public affairs office at (907) 240-3126 or (907) 384-2072.
Pfc. Bergdahl is a member of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
For more information on the soldier, media may contact Lt. Col. Timothy Marsano at (208) 422-5268 or the Fort Richardson public affairs office at (907) 240-3126 or (907) 384-2072.
Air Force Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 17 in a F-15E crash near Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
Killed were:
Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colo. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
For further information, please contact Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Public Affairs office at (919) 722-0027.
Killed were:
Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colo. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
For further information, please contact Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Public Affairs office at (919) 722-0027.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died July16 in Basra of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using indirect fire.
Killed were:
Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Minn.;
Spc. James D. Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn.; and
Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove, Minn.
All three soldiers were assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minn.
For more information on these soldiers, media may contact the Minnesota Army National Guard Public Affairs Office at 651-282-4410.
Killed were:
Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Minn.;
Spc. James D. Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn.; and
Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove, Minn.
All three soldiers were assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minn.
For more information on these soldiers, media may contact the Minnesota Army National Guard Public Affairs Office at 651-282-4410.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Jihad and American Medicine
On September 11, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Former Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin, M.D., MBA, USN, on Jihad and American Medicine.
Program Date: September 11, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Jihad and American Medicine
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
About the Guest
Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin, M.D., MBA, USN, “served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the Navy in July of 1990. Like his father, he is proud to have served our country as a member of the armed forces. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin has been in private practice as an anesthesiologist and medical director for nearly fifteen years. He has managed and chaired several anesthesia departments on both the east and west coasts. He has been a volunteer surveyor of freestanding surgery centers across the country and an avid writer for medical journals. He also sits on several editorial boards. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin is currently the Medical Director of the SHARP Grossmont Plaza Surgery Center, and is an Anesthesiologist at the Grossmont Hospital, Surgery Center and Women’s Center. Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin is the author of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System.
According to the book description of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System, “Jihad and American Medicine predicts exactly what happened in the UK, and will likely happen again. Namely, that healthcare workers are uniquely positioned to fly 'under the radar of homeland security' and carry out terrorist missions virtually unimpeded. Dr. Dorin is a physician, author, and expert in healthcare safety and security. He has written what is essentially a counter-terrorism manual geared toward the public, healthcare professionals and government officials on the national security vulnerabilities inherent to the way medicine is practiced in developed nations.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: September 11, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Jihad and American Medicine
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
About the Guest
Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin, M.D., MBA, USN, “served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the Navy in July of 1990. Like his father, he is proud to have served our country as a member of the armed forces. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin has been in private practice as an anesthesiologist and medical director for nearly fifteen years. He has managed and chaired several anesthesia departments on both the east and west coasts. He has been a volunteer surveyor of freestanding surgery centers across the country and an avid writer for medical journals. He also sits on several editorial boards. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin is currently the Medical Director of the SHARP Grossmont Plaza Surgery Center, and is an Anesthesiologist at the Grossmont Hospital, Surgery Center and Women’s Center. Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin is the author of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System.
According to the book description of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System, “Jihad and American Medicine predicts exactly what happened in the UK, and will likely happen again. Namely, that healthcare workers are uniquely positioned to fly 'under the radar of homeland security' and carry out terrorist missions virtually unimpeded. Dr. Dorin is a physician, author, and expert in healthcare safety and security. He has written what is essentially a counter-terrorism manual geared toward the public, healthcare professionals and government officials on the national security vulnerabilities inherent to the way medicine is practiced in developed nations.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News, July 17, 2009
Collaborating for profits in nanotechnology
"In the midst of [California's $26 billion budget deficit] there is a promise for the future in the collaboration by California's university research centers, small companies and venture finance firms in an emerging area called nanotechnology. […] Nano particles improve performance and open new possibilities in activities as varied as water purification, biomedicine, battery power, environmental repair and agriculture. The universities have been essential in this development process. In some cases, they make direct equity investments in start-up companies. Other times, universities grant licenses to their research and give small compa
"In the midst of [California's $26 billion budget deficit] there is a promise for the future in the collaboration by California's university research centers, small companies and venture finance firms in an emerging area called nanotechnology. […] Nano particles improve performance and open new possibilities in activities as varied as water purification, biomedicine, battery power, environmental repair and agriculture. The universities have been essential in this development process. In some cases, they make direct equity investments in start-up companies. Other times, universities grant licenses to their research and give small compa