188th's Brown receives Air Force Combat Action Medal

by Staff Sgt. Hannah Dickerson
188th Wing Public Affairs

9/23/2015 - EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark.  -- Master Sgt. William Brown of the 188th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was presented an Air Force Combat Action Medal by Col. Bobbi Doorenbos,188th Wing commander Sept. 19, during commander's call.

Brown received his AFCAM for his active participation in combat, having been under direct and hostile fire in connection with military operations.

During his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, more than 10 years ago, Brown was assigned to the Army's 917th Corps Support Group, 1058th Gun Truck Detachment as a gun truck commander where he was responsible for essential communications between convoy commanders, gun truck crews and other gun trucks in Tikrit, Iraq.

On June 3, 2005, Brown's supply truck convoy was transporting mission critical supplies and Third Country Nationals from forward operating base Speihcher to Logistic Support Area Anaconda in Iraq via the main supply route Tampa. During this time, Brown's vehicle encountered enemy personnel in the passing lane who engaged the convoy with AK-47 automatic rifles that impacted Brown's truck cab leading up to the turret and narrowly missed the windows and all personnel inside the vehicle. The gunner was unable to return fire at the time due to the risk of collateral damages with the civilian population in the area.

After the attack ended Brown quickly assessed the situation, found no injuries in his team members and expeditiously radioed in his report detailing the enemy contact containing critical information for the quick reaction force team to locate the insurgent vehicle.

The 188th Wing expressed its appreciation for Brown's heroism and meritorious service in Iraq during the commander's call, where he received a standing ovation from the crowd.

"This is the first time in my career that I've had the privilege of giving out a combat action medal and I'm astounded by the heroes who walk among us," Doorenbos said. "Thank you for your service and heroism during that time. It's such an honor to be able to recognize those who are deserving of such awards and we are proud to have you as a member of this wing."

Brown was joined by his wife and family for the award presentation. He is one of a select few 188th Wing members to be presented the AFCAM since the start of the global war on terror in 2001.

Task Force Assesses Likely Impact of bin Laden’s Death

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011 – News of Osama bin Laden’s death raced through the tents and plywood buildings that make up the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team here this morning.

Within minutes of the president’s televised announcement brigade leaders met this morning in their daily battle update briefing, and soldiers checked in by cell phone with buddies on other parts of the base: “OK, just wanted to be sure you heard.”

Task Force Currahee is on its second deployment to Afghanistan, responsible for counterinsurgency operations in Paktika province. Soldiers here smiled as they discussed the death of the terrorist responsible for murdering nearly 3,000 Americans and other nations’ citizens in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Army Maj. Rob Born, brigade operations officer, said bin Laden’s death won’t require the task force to change its operations significantly.

“The assessment was in many ways, he was more of a symbolic, moral and figurative leader than he was involved in the command and control of day-to-day operations,” Born said. “I think we will find out whether or not that hypothesis was true, and what the impact is.”

He said the task force will analyze the effects of the Al Qaida leader’s death within its area of operation over the coming days and weeks.

“We definitely expect and anticipate retaliatory attacks,” he said. “[But] if they’re hasty and not well planned, it’s not going to work out well for the insurgents.”

Born said bin Laden’s death is a validation of the nation’s efforts to combat terrorism.

“I think it’s a tremendous achievement,” he said. “It shows that persistence and attention to detail, agility, flexibility, working together with special operations forces and the intelligence community – it pays off.”

The positive demonstrations outside the White House and in New York City during Obama’s announcement were encouraging, Born said.

“It just shows that the American public is really engaged in what’s going on, and they take pride in the achievements of their armed forces,” he said. “That really was the best thing that I saw.”

Army Capt. David McKim, the brigade’s assistant intelligence officer, termed bin Laden’s death an example of how his profession operates.

“That’s truly how it does work for us,” he said. “Things don’t happen instantly, sometimes. A lot of our successes take time to build.”

He said for his shop, the mission in Regional Command East remains finding the enemy in Paktika and protecting the soldiers and population.

Enemy forces the task force faces in Paktika are not necessarily closely linked to al-Qaida, McKim said, though many in Regional Command South are.

Insurgents in Paktika are likely to respond to bin Laden’s death in one of two ways, McKim said: their morale could suffer, or their activities could increase in retaliation.

The al-Qaida leader’s death comes at a time when I think everybody had given up,” he said. “They thought, ‘He’s either dead, or we’re not going to find him.’ But that’s how things work in our business – you don’t know when.”

The fact that the military did find bin Laden “gives you that justification that yes, we are doing the right things,” McKim said.

In the overall counterinsurgency campaign, McKim said, bin Laden’s death is a powerful counter to enemy propaganda, which claimed America would never capture him.

There is no likely successor to bin Laden who will have the same stature, McKim said.

“He was tall, he spoke very eloquently, … [he had] power, influence, money,” the intelligence officer said. “Granted, there are lots of other bad guys out there that will try to take his place.”

Other insurgents may now think twice about attacking U.S. and coalition forces, he said.

“I think this is definitely a good thing,” McKim said.

Special Forces Soldier

On May 22, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. United States Army (ret.).

Program Date: May 22, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Special Forces Soldiers
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/23/Special-Forces-Soldiers-

About the Guest
Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata Jr., USA (ret.) was an Army Special Operations NCO and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2003 after 28 years of service with the U.S. Army Special Forces. He now lives in Gilroy (California). Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. is the author of Desperate Lands: The War on Terror through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier.

According to the book description of Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier it “is the unprecedented story of U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and the missions they have carried out while fighting the war on terror in the Horn of Africa and in Afghanistan. The book is unique and timely, in that it tells the compelling story of our nations struggle and of its soldiers fighting a new and different kind of war never fought before a Global War on Terror. This true story comes at a time when our nation has divided feelings and opinions about this war a division that exists among both government leaders and the American people. These pages offer a different perspective that of lower enlisted soldiers reflecting their personal experience in combat zones in Africa and Afghanistan as they witnessed and experienced the fog of war. The author Special Forces Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. shares his extraordinary journey through ancient and desperate lands at the front lines of this ongoing war. Here are true stories of sacrifice, bravery, excitement, horror, anger, tedium, fear, camaraderie, and more a firsthand look behind the headlines at the reality of the exceptional and difficult challenges U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers face as they defend America against the terrorist threat.”

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, Law Enforcement 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/2009/05/23/Special-Forces-Soldiers-

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Bush, Pakistani Prime Minister Hold White House Talks

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 28, 2008 - President Bush and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani discussed greater cooperation in the war on terror and economic matters during a White house meeting today. The two leaders spoke with reporters after their Oval Office meeting.

"We talked about the common threat we face: extremists who are very dangerous people," Bush said. "We talked about the need for us to make sure that the ... Afghan border is secure as best as possible."

The president said Pakistan has committed to securing the border. Bush told Gilani the United States is committed to helping the Afghan democracy succeed. A peaceful, democratic country on its western border is in Pakistan's interest, the president said.
"We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are destroying and making the world not safe," Gilani said. "This is our own war. This is a war which is against Pakistan, and we'll fight for our own cause. And that is because I've lost my own leader, Benazir Bhutto, because of the militants."

Gilani assured the American people that the people of Pakistan "want the peace in the world, and they want to cooperate."

Bush stressed that the United States respects Pakistan's national sovereignty. "We also appreciate the prime minister's strong words against the extremists and terrorists who not only would do us harm but have harmed people inside Pakistan," Bush said.

This was Bush's second meeting with Gilani, who took office March 24.

CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- July 14, 2008

Iran denied using African monkeys for ‘secretive’ laboratory test
“An Iranian lab denied that Iran was using monkeys for biological weapons experiments, saying that the monkeys purchased from Africa were used for testing the safety of polio vaccines, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported Saturday. […] Abdolhossein Dalimi-Asl, head of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute said that these monkeys have been purchased from a Tanzanian dealer for testing the safety of polio vaccines and the weight of such subjects is determined based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute has been buying monkeys from Tanzania for scientific purposes since 1971, he added.” (Trend News; 13Jul08) http://news.trendaz.com/?show=news&newsid=1245991&lang=EN

[Vice President] Cheney Thought He Had Lethal Anthrax Dose [in October, 2001]
“Vice President Dick Cheney was convinced that he had been subjected to a lethal dose of anthrax, according to a new book. […] Jane Mayer, who authored ‘The Dark Side, The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals,’ that the scare contributed to Cheney's insistence on hard-line tactics for fighting terror. […] On Oct. 18, 2001, a White House alarm went off indicating that sensors had detected dangerous levels of radioactive, chemical or biological agents. According to Mayer, anyone who had entered the White House situation room, including Cheney, had been exposed.” (ABC News; 14Jul08; Mark Mooney)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5368813&page=1

'Masters of Disaster' Rule Out Anthrax in Hate Mail [Okaloosa County, Florida]
“The yellow tape went up and the employees of Destin attorney Kevin Helmich were quarantined -- all for Johnson & Johnson's baby powder. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Okaloosa County EMS, Destin Fire Control District and the Hazardous Materials Technicians of Okaloosa County Special Operations Unit responded to a call from 4481 Legendary Drive on Wednesday morning. Office administrator Kelly Helmstetter was opening the mail as usual, when the unexpected happened. Battalion chief David Messerschmidt told The Log that when Helmstetter opened the letter -- with a pregnant coworker standing in the doorway -- white powder fell all over her dress.” (Red Orbit; 12Jul08; Jennifer Rich) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1474900/masters_of_disaster_rule_out_anthrax_in_hate_mail/

Judge rejects leniency request for Moyer [Peoria, Illinois]
“A federal judge looked a Pekin woman square in the face Friday and told her she was out of chances after twice violating her probation for writing a threatening letter to President Bush two years ago. U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm flatly rejected a request for leniency and instead doubled what federal prosecutors sought to punish Jessica A. Moyer. […] Moyer wrote a letter in March 2005 to the president at the Pekin Public Library. In that letter, she criticized the country's involvement in the war and called the president several names. She then wrote: ‘Your time is almost through. Yes, that's right. That's a threat. I have enclosed some anthrax and I hope it is enough to kill you and if it is not, I can send someone to shoot you or something. You are not safe.’“ (Journal Star; 11Jul08; Andy Kravetz) http://www.pjstar.com/news/x875598203/Judge-rejects-leniency-request-for-Moyer

Gregg County [Texas] gets bioterrorism preparedness grant
“Gregg County commissioners on Monday accepted a more than $63,000 state grant to help ensure the county is prepared in the event of bioterrorism.”
(Longview News Journal; 14Jul08; Randy Ross) http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/07/15/07152008_gregg_comish.html

New 'Scrubber' Speeds Removal Of Powerful Anthrax Clean-up Agent
“Researchers in New Jersey report discovery of a fast, efficient method for removing a powerful pesticide used to sterilize buildings and equipment following anthrax attacks. Their chemical ‘scrubber’ removes 99 percent of the pesticide following fumigation and could pave the way for its broader use in anthrax clean-up efforts, the scientists say. […] Bielski and Joyce documented the effectiveness of their removal method in experiments with an empty office trailer filled with air containing methyl bromide.” (Science Daily; 14Jul08) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714094453.htm

‘Powder mystery put to rest [Dodoma]
“The National Assembly yesterday clarified that at no point was the powder found in parliament building linked to witchcraft rituals. Deputy Speaker, Ms Anna Makinda said yesterday that the Speaker, Mr Samuel Sitta has been dismayed by some people and the media that blew the matter out of context. […] ‘it was decided that the matter be put to rest after it was discovered that the powder was not harmful to human beings,’ she said.” (Daily New Online; 12Jul08; Kilasa Mtambalike)
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/magazine/?id=5837

Biological weapons 'greatest terror threat to UK'
“The Institute for Public Policy Research's (IPPR) national security commission, which is co-chaired by Lord Ashdown and Lord Robertson, is not due to reveal its initial findings until its interim report in October. […] Mr Kearns explained the real danger was not potentially-devastating technologies being acquired by terrorist groups but by individuals. ‘This is going to be a century-long thing, we're not talking about specific terrorist groups [we're talking about]... lone weirdoes with expertise - people who have very high-level knowledge skills and access to the right materials who could use it for devastating purposes,’ he continued.” (In The News; 11Jul08) http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/science/biological-weapons-greatest-terror-threat-uk-$1231187.htm

Another Nerve Gas Leak At Blue Grass Army Depot [Kentucky]
“For those living near an Army depot where deadly chemicals are stored, ‘leak’ is the one word they never want to hear. Officials at Blue Grass Army Depot have confirmed that Sarin, an extremely toxic nerve agent, has been found leaking from a storage igloo, the same storage facility where another Sarin leak was discovered last August. The Army says that igloo has been continually filtered and monitored since the initial leak and poses no risk to the public.” (WKYT; 12Jul08; Denny Trease) http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/24752259.html

Poison Perfume and Dead Presidents
“‘A court forensic expert said Wednesday that former Chilean President Eduardo Frei Montalva was assassinated in January 1982,’ according to McClatchyDC.com. Medical officials had long asserted that infection after a simple hernia operation was the cause of death. Turns out ‘that a combination of toxins, including mustard gas, gradually administered to the former president ultimately killed him.’ […] The finger points to Eugenio Berrios, described as Chilean dictator ‘Augosoto Pinochet's Mad Scientist,’ and the regime's resident expert on lethal chemicals.” (Wired; 12Jul08; David Hambling) http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/07/dead-presidents.html

Fabric Blocks Radiation, Chemical, Biological Hazards
“Ronald DeMeo places a radioactive wafer about the size of a silver dollar on his desk and waves a handheld Geiger counter over it. The machine chatters wildly, the numbers on the readout spin upward and visitors instinctively lean back. But when the Coral Gables doctor covers the disc, which is designed for materials testing and quite safe, with a thin piece of fabric, the numbers dive and the noise from the Geiger dips to a low growl. […] The patented fabric -- just slightly thicker than denim -- is embedded with metal particles and other compounds capable of blocking X-rays, low-energy gamma rays and other types of nuclear emission that might be found anywhere from a doctor's office to the site of a dirty bomb blast.” (Red Orbit; 14Jul08; Jim Wyss of The Miami Herald) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1476735/fabric_blocks_radiation_chemical_biological_hazards/

Iran’s missile-rattling ups the ante
“Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely (U.S. Army, ret.), former deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Pacific and current co-chairman of the Iran Policy Committee (IPC), tells me. ‘They are currently fine-tuning their systems to include perfecting command-and-control, launching, tracking, trajectory, those kinds of things. They’ve yet to perfect putting a warhead on the Shahab, but they’re working toward full-capability, including nuclear, biological, and chemical.’ Dr. Jill Dekker, a bio-warfare expert and consultant to NATO, agrees. ‘Both Iran and Syria possess highly advanced chemical and biological weapons programs,’ says Dekker. ‘Syria’s chem program is more advanced than Iran’s, but both countries’ bio-programs have benefited from former Soviet labs and more recently from North Korea. And Iran has a very advanced bio program, which is highly imbedded in their pharmaceutical industry.’” (Canadian Free Press; 13Jul08; W. Thomas Smith Jr.)
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3945

Mediterranean union wants to rid Mideast of WMD
“The leaders of 43 nations from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa have launched a Union for the Mediterranean, a brainchild of French President Nicolas Sarkozy that aims to improve cooperation in the region with practical projects that parallel efforts toward Mideast peace. […] Nearly all of the 43 nations sent a president or prime minister to the summit. […] In a final declaration, Israel, Syria and the Palestinians along with countries across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa agreed to ‘pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction.’ The summit declaration also condemned ‘terrorism in all its forms’ and announced six major projects, from a common university and easier travel visas for students to depolluting the Mediterranean sea and promoting solar power.” (Associated Press; 14Jul08; Angela Charlton) http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAkOZStYXZmgvjv2pwHJenHcOCwAD91TGD600

Security beefed up in Beijing to ensure safe Olympics
“With the Olympics just around the corner, final preparations are under way here and in surrounding areas to deal with possible threats, including terrorism. […] To ‘mobilize the enthusiasm of the masses in maintaining public security, as well as to control and eliminate hidden dangers to the Olympic Games,’ residents who report substantial information on major threats from July 10 to October 31 would get rewards of 10,000 yuan (US$1,460) to 500,000 yuan. […] The firefighters could be called on to help deal with terrorists who used nuclear or chemical weapons and explosives, he said. The bureau had also organized 46 counter-terrorist drills in Olympic venues and subway stations, he noted.” (China Daily; 14Jul08)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/14/content_6844122.htm

‘Kuwait ready to tackle N[uclear]-radiation in case of war’
“Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Emergency Technique Dr Khaled Al-Sahlawi says the ministry has enough active iodine to ward off the harmful effects of radiation leakage into the country within the first 72 hours. Al-Sahlawi affirmed the ministry has various units in charge of several stages of prevention and cure in case of biological and chemical warfare.” (Arab Times; 13Jul08; Dhuha Barqawi)
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/client/pagesdetails.asp?nid=19716&ccid=9

'Serious' video games aid training for real world emergencies
“This 'virtual' crisis, used in training for emergency services workers, is part of a so-called ‘serious game’, an emerging niche in the video game industry. The game ‘Triage Training’, developed in Coventry, central England, by a subsidiary of the Blitz Game group is aiming to be as realistic as possible. […] It is cheaper to do training in the virtual world. […] They plan to test the British capital's readiness in response to a dirty bomb explosion. ‘On the plus side, it's very much cheaper and cost-effective to do the training in the virtual world,’ Wortley said, noting that shutting an entire city centre down in real life would cause chaos.” (Macau Daily Times; 13Jul08; Lucie Godeau of AFP)
http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13064&Itemid=33

City [San Francisco, California] at risk seeks security funds
“An aerosol anthrax attack in downtown San Francisco that could expose 330,000 people, killing 99 percent of those who are untreated. […]A 10-kiloton nuclear warhead dropped on a major city in the Bay Area, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the evacuation of 500,000 people. Each horrific outcome is being considered by local officials, according to Vicki Hennessey, acting executive director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, the agency in charge of overseeing The City’s emergency plans as well as the regional effort to secure and spend federal Homeland Security dollars earmarked for urban cities. In May, the region submitted to the federal government its wish list of $112 million worth of emergency preparation needs — from personnel to equipment — and is expected to hear how much funding it received this summer. “ (Examiner; 14Jul08; Will Reisman) http://www.examiner.com/a-1486315~City_at_risk_seeks_security_funds.html

Terrorism is hard [Book Review of Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear]
“His second move is somewhat more protracted, involving an interesting discussion of the Aum Shinrikyo ‘doomsday’ cult in Japan. Here was an organization that had an extraordinary amount of money at its disposal, several well-equipped labs and as many as 100 highly-trained scientists, working full-time, dedicated exclusively to the task of figuring out how to inflict mass casualties upon the Japanese population, in an attempt to provoke an apocalyptic war. Nevertheless, over the course of 17 different attacks, using a range of biological and chemical weapons, they never managed to kill more than a few dozen people. The most ‘successful’ was the 1995 sarin nerve gas attack in the Tokyo subway, which killed 12 people and severely injured another 42. Many people found this attack terrifying, yet for Gardner, it was also strangely reassuring. After all, it would be difficult to imagine circumstances more propitious for the success of a terrorist plot […] Yet they came nowhere near accomplishing their ends.” (The Ottawa Citizen; 12Jul08; Joseph Heath)
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/observer/story.html?id=b327c240-1b26-4825-b4ce-ded51b38f1e6

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

Gates Speaks of Troops' Courage, Dedication, Patriotism

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 12, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivered a tribute to servicemembers' courage, dedication, adaptability and patriotism to the Daughters of the American Revolution's Continental Congress, yesterday. "Whenever I meet with troops, I am impressed by their resilience, their good humor, their courage, and their determination in the face of personal sacrifice," Gates said to the more than 3,000 members of the group in Constitution Hall, here. Gates was the featured speaker at the organization's national security night.

It is important to remember that, when Americans talk about national security, it is the men and women in uniform who make the discussion possible, Gates said. Servicemembers carry out the policies of the United States, and they "shoulder the burdens of this complex and dangerous world," he said.

The war on terror is the longest war the United States has fought with an all-volunteer force since the American Revolution. "Frankly, our military, our government and our country were not prepared for such a long and grueling conflict," he said. "Despite this, our troops have persevered and overcome incredible obstacles.

"Often, they live in Spartan quarters, work in combat theaters and face the uncertainties of non-traditional war in an era when any mistake -- even the perception of a mistake -- can be transmitted around the globe in seconds.

American troops serve not only as warriors, but as diplomats and development officers as well, the secretary said. "In the face of these challenges, they have maintained a steely resolve," Gates said.

And they are staying with the missions. All services are meeting or exceeding their recruiting and retention targets. "High retention rates continue to be nothing short of remarkable, especially when considering that those most likely to re-enlist are those most often deployed," Gates said.

The courage of those serving cannot be doubted, Gates told the group. The country has awarded five Medals of Honor; 38 Distinguished Service Crosses, Navy Crosses or Air Forces Crosses; nearly 700 Silver Stars, and almost 5,000 Bronze Stars with valor devices, the secretary said. "Each represents a story of bravery and sacrifices so great they are almost impossible to comprehend -- from men and women who have fallen on grenades to save comrades to others who have sprinted through firefights to save a buddy," he said.

The troops and their commanders exhibit adaptability that is key to winning a counterinsurgency fight. In 2006, coalition forces forecast a bleak future for Anbar province in Iraq. Al-Qaida in Iraq just about ruled the province's capital of Ramadi. "When all hope seemed lost in Anbar, the unit in charge of Ramadi dramatically changed its tactics -- moving out of heavily fortified bases and into combat outposts in the middle of the fight," Gates said. "Through heavy fighting, through great sacrifices, they won Ramadi back from al-Qaida. Many of the tactics successfully employed there would be replicated across Iraq."

Gates also spoke of the sacrifices military families make, calling them the "unsung heroes" of the war on terror. Families, too, are affected by multiple deployments around the world. "Words cannot describe how grateful our troops are for their wives and husbands, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- the network of love and support that carries on in their absence," he said.

Those wounded in the nation's service deserve the best the country can give, Gates said. He said the American people may disagree about the war, but they still support the troops. "You ... see it in efforts by the Congress to make sure our wounded have all they need to make the transition to the next phase of their life," he said.

Americans also see this appreciation through bipartisan legislation President Bush signed last week that greatly increases the benefits of the G.I. Bill for troops and their families.

Gates said it is "deeds, not words" that count. American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are performing those deeds to ensure the nation's safety and protecting U.S. allies around the world. "In both principles and deeds, our men and women in uniform embody the best our country has to offer," he said. "We are truly blessed to have among us citizens of such tremendous and awe-inspiring courage."

Home-Front Support is Key to Success, Soldier Says

By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 26, 2008 - Support from their fellow citizens is vital to the success of servicemembers fighting the war on terror, a soldier who earned the Bronze Star Medal in Iraq said today. "Support means everything," Army Staff Sgt. John Aughtman saidin an interview on the "ASY Live" program on BlogTalkRadio. "A letter, a care package, a telephone call, a visit, a blanket -- anything means everything."

"ASY Live" is part of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad. As a squad leader, Aughtman earned the Bronze Star Medal for his leadership after an attack in Tikrit. He cared for his soldiers and led them to safety before taking care of his own injuries. He has served three combat deployments, and plans to go back.

"I've had some good times and bad times, and I can't wait to get back in," he said.

Aughtman talked about his time being deployed before his injury, and emphasized the importance of support organizations that helped to keep him connected to what was going on back home.

"The home-front groups go above and beyond, doing great things for us," he said. "It may not be a lot, but it is something when they are far away from home."

In particular, Aughtman said, care packages, letters from people around the country and notes from elementary school children really warmed his heart. "They would send care packages and movies around the holidays – it kind of warms you up when you get something like that and have been deployed for awhile," he said.

On April 22 2007, the day he was injured, Aughtman was on a routine patrol returning to his forward operating base when his vehicle was struck by a grenade. He was knocked unconscious for about a minute and a half.

"When I woke up," he said, "I started testing the other soldiers for injuries, and I found that one soldier had shrapnel wounds to about 90 percent of his right leg and one soldier had internal injuries." Without hesitation, Aughtman treated the soldier with the shrapnel wounds and kept the other soldier conscious before deciding to get back to the forward operating base on a "self-medevac" to get attention for his own injuries.

Although many would agree that Aughtman is a hero, he doesn't view himself that way. "I am just doing my job and doing what I am supposed to do. ... The men to your left and right are going to do anything and everything to help you out as long as you do the same," he said. "I lost a friend in Iraq. "He paid the ultimate sacrifice and is a true hero."

While recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Aughtman received a wide variety of care and support that he credits with assisting in his speedy recovery.

"I received blankets clothes, money, letters everything you think you would need while you are in the hospital," he explained. "One group gave us a credit card to buy clothes, because we didn't have any when we had to self-medevac. Another group gave me a handmade quilt that is very nice and warm.

"The thing that stands out the most," he continued, "were the people at Walter Reed. They came around every day to check on me and talk to me and see how I was doing. They were just there to talk and make the experience a little better."

To support groups that work tirelessly to provide for servicemembers, Aughtman had words of encouragement to offer. "Continue your support, and don't forget about us," he said.

(Jamie Findlater, host of "ASY Live," works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)

U.S. Airmen Teach Iraqis Western-Style Command, Control

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 11, 2008 - U.S. airmen are teaching command-and-control techniques to their counterparts at the Iraqi air operations center at Camp Victory here. The operations center is the hub that controls all Iraqi air force missions, where mission planners analyze weather conditions, intelligence and the status of their aircraft to make decisions regarding the command and control of air operations within the rebuilding country.

A team of 10 U.S. Air Force advisors from the Coalition Air Force Training Team are teaching Western-style command-and-control structure to the Iraqis, most of whom are more familiar with Soviet-style command structure.

"In the Soviet style of managing command and control, it was very rigid," said Air Force Lt. Col. Gary Kubat, the top advisor at the Iraqi air operations center. "Any decisions that were made had to be made by the top."

Western command and control encourages more information sharing throughout command channels so airmen aren't totally reliant on the highest levels of leadership to get things done. Kubat said he has spent the past year encouraging Iraqis to empower their mid-level commanders to make more decisions that are appropriate for their level.

In its position between the Iraqi air force's top leaders and the tactical units that perform the missions, the operations center fulfills a key role in Western-style command and control. For the Iraqis, the changes in command structure initially were as foreign as the U.S. airmen who were teaching them.

"When it first started out, there weren't a lot of Iraqis looking to do command and control," the colonel said. "They didn't quite understand that they had decisions to make at this level. When anything would happen, they would push it up the leadership chain and expect somebody else to make the decision."

Change is starting to take effect at the operations center.

"Now as we have been moving along, they have been aggressively taking on more and more of that decision making at lower levels," Kubat said .

The growing capabilities of the operations center are illustrated by the increasing number of missions flown by Iraqi airmen. Last year, the Iraqi air force flew fewer than 100 missions per week. In past three months, the average weekly number of flights has jumped to 271, with a record of 383 flown in mid-April. So far this year, the Iraqi air force has flown more than 5,000 missions in support of the global war on terror, including combat operations in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City.

The operations center also controls noncombat missions that contribute to the security of the Iraqi people and their democratic government. This year, Iraqi surveillance aircraft exposed smugglers who were damaging the government's oil pipeline. Additionally, other Iraqi aircraft flew above a religious pilgrimage, discouraging terrorist groups from attacking them.

"This, in turn, tends to makes the population a little bit happier with their government, because things are becoming more stable," Kubat said. "While they may not recognize the direct impact of the air force, they're seeing their government as an entity become more secure, more stable and providing for their needs."

The public's improved confidence in the government should make things tougher on terrorist insurgents.

"They are less likely to rebel against their government or provide aid to the people who are causing the problem," Kubat said.

Though they've experienced plenty of progress at the operations center throughout the past year, the advisors have had to overcome many challenges. Cultural differences are the most visible hurdle to teaching Western methods of airpower to the Iraqis.

Kubat said strong relationships with their Iraqi counterparts play a substantial role in the advisors' ability to teach command–and-control structure. An earnest appreciation of Iraqi social etiquette can go a long way toward improving the relationships between the airmen, he noted.

"We have a different sense of timeline in the West," Kubat said. "We tend to be a little more brusque, a little more up-front." Iraqis typically prefer to get to know a person before they become comfortable in working or conducting business together, he said.

Another challenge facing the advisors is the significant technology gap between the two nations' airmen. While much U.S. Air Force business is accomplished on computers, the Iraqis more commonly rely on paper or verbal dialogue. This forces the advisors to innovate, adjusting their systems and programs that would normally run on a computer into a manner that is more accessible to the Iraqi airmen's work culture.

"Very often we'll scratch our heads and say, 'Yeah, that could work,' and it actually ends up working more effectively than what we would have put in place," Kubat said.

The operations center, like the Iraqi air force, will expand rapidly over the course of the next few years. While only 12 Iraqis work there now, that number will soar to 88 within a year, and finding the right airmen to staff the opening is a considerable challenge.

"Right now, what you have is a military where previous air force officers have come in from the old regime, and they've been vetted and are trustworthy, and they've been taken into senior leadership positions," the colonel said.

These senior-level airmen have military experience, but they are not yet comfortable with the Western style of command and control, he explained. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are plenty of new, inexperienced Iraqi airmen who are eager to serve as junior officers while they learn on the job.

Unfortunately, there is a wide chasm between the senior and junior officers. There are very few suitable mid-level officers with experience, because Iraqi airmen were not being developed during the time between the first Gulf War and the current war.

As the senior officers draw nearer to retirement age, the lack of mid-level leadership to take their place will be a tough challenge for the Iraqi air force and U.S. advisors, Kubat said.

Another challenge is integrating Iraqi air force operations with coalition operations. Not only must the center learn a completely new way of doing business, it must learn quickly so it can integrate Iraqi air force activities into the coalition's air missions.

Kubat said the challenge of implementing a Western-style air force can be overcome, but it should not be rushed.

"Change here isn't going to happen anywhere near as fast as what Americans like. That's not the mentality here in the Middle East," he said. "Things take time."

The advisors plan to stick around until the mission is accomplished.

"The Iraqi airmen, and especially their chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kamal Barzanjy, are especially grateful for the expertise and sacrifice the Coalition Air Force Training Team advisors are giving," said Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, CAFTT commander. "They know they have a long road ahead to develop a robust command-and-control capacity, but they are confident, because the advisors will be with them every step of the way."

(Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones serves with U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs.)

CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- June 6, 2008

Bush Overstated Iraq Evidence, Senators Report
“The report was released Thursday after years of partisan squabbling, and it represented the close of five years of investigations by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence into the use, abuse and faulty assessments of intelligence leading to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. That some Bush administration claims about the Iraqi threat turned out to be false is hardly new. But the report, based on a detailed review of public statements by Mr. Bush and other officials, was the most comprehensive effort to date to assess whether policy makers systematically painted a more dire picture about Iraq than was justified by the available intelligence.” (New York Times; 06Jun08; Mark Mazzetti & Scott Shane) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/world/middleeast/06intel.html?hp

Grand exploits of a China scholar [Joseph Needham]
“A committed socialist and Communist sympathizer, Needham lent his authority to a dubiously documented investigation whose report, issued in 1952, concluded that the United States had used biological weapons in Manchuria and North~Korea. Blacklisted by the Americans well into the 1970s and denounced for his political naïveté by the British establishment, Needham retreated into the scholarly realm, where his accomplishments did much to restore his good~name.” (International Herald Tribune; 05Jun08; Alida Becker) http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/07/arts/IDLEDE7.php

Fake disaster helps agencies to prepare [Lumberton, North Carolina]
“During the drill, some ‘victims’ moaned in pain while others begged for help as members of the Environmental Hydrogeological Consultants Inc. Hazardous Waste team from Red Springs walked among bodies. […] Only supervisors from agencies that handle emergency situations were made aware of Wednesday’s exercise. Organizers said they wanted the event to be as real as possible. […] Each victim had a card listing injuries and any other health issues.” (The Fayetteville Observer; 05Jun08; Venita Jenkins) http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=295870

Bioterrorism: Smallpox and Biotech Companies
“In order to encourage companies to develop drugs against Smallpox and other biological weapons, Congress passed the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), which President Bush signed into law June 12, 2002. Thereafter, Project Bioshield Act of 2005 was passed into law. These two acts undertook measures to induce the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry to come up with new drugs to combat bioterrorism and biological warfare.” (Seeking Alpha; 05Jun08; Ketan Desai) http://seekingalpha.com/article/80152-bioterrorism-smallpox-and-biotech-companies

Nation’s First Public Health Ready State Enhances Incident Command and Critical Resource Visibility [Idaho]
“East Idaho Public Health District has implemented the Previstar Continual Preparedness System (CPS) to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities. […] The district installed Previstar’s latest software release, CPS 5.1. The new release includes CPS 5.0 current suite of planning, response, and recovery capabilities, but now users can customize their user interface based on organizational and ICS roles, enable CPS server-to-server information sharing, utilize CAP [Common Alerting Protocol] messaging, and have more streamlined resource management. Tammy Cox, Director, Health Preparedness, Promotion, and Surveillance, was part of a team that studied a range of software offerings before determining that Previstar was the partner of choice. ‘It took us two years to find the right software. […]’” (Previstar; 05Jun08; Joe Gordon) http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080605005700&newsLang=en

Brucella abortus S19 genome sequenced; points toward virulence genes
“Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech and the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, and collaborators at 454 Life Sciences of Branford, Conn., have sequenced the genome of Brucella abortus strain S19. […] Scientists have long wanted to know what genetic features make strain S19 suitable for use as a vaccine in cattle because it may hold the secret as to why other Brucella strains cause disease and trigger the abortion of developing embryos in livestock. The researchers have discovered a group of 24 genes that are linked to virulence by making comparisons of the newly available S19 genome sequence to previously sequenced genomes of two virulent strains of B. abortus. The paper ‘Genome sequence of Brucella abortus vaccine strain S19 compared to virulent strains yields candidate virulence genes’ was published recently in PLoS One (May 2008, Volume 3, Issue 5, e2193).” (Eureka Alert; 05Jun08; Barry Whyte)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/vt-bas060508.php

AlphaVax Continues to Expand the Use of Its [smallpox] Vaccine Platform
“AlphaVax, Inc. recently received notification from the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the granting institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that it has been awarded a second grant to continue development of a smallpox vaccine based on AlphaVax's proprietary vector platform. The grant will support additional studies in rodents and non-human primates to further characterize the high-level protection observed previously in these species.” (The Earth Times; 06Jun08) http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/alphavax-continues-to-expand-the-use-of-its-vaccine-platform,423527.shtml

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference Begins June 8 In Denver [Colorado]
“The top epidemiologists in the nation and U.S. territories are set to gather in Denver, Colorado June 8-12 for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) 2008 Annual Conference. […] This year's conference theme is ‘Public Health Epidemiology: Adapting to a Changing World.’” (The Earth Times; 06Jun08) http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/council-of-state-and-territorial,423151.shtml


[Computer Sciences Corporation] CSC's DynPort Vaccine Company to Continue Plague Vaccine Development
“DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), a CSC company, has been notified by the Department of Defense (DoD) that all future funding for advanced development of plague vaccine will be allocated to the existing DVC contract […] According to the decision, DVC will continue development of a recombinant plague vaccine candidate, rF1V, up to and including possible licensure by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine candidate is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.” (The Earth Times;
05Jun08)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/cscs-dynport-vaccine-company-to-continue-plague-vaccine-development,421494.shtml

India to test vaccine against anthrax
“Around 20 vials of the vaccine Biothrax has just reached Central Drug Laboratory (Kasauli) which will test the vaccine's potency and sterility. Each vile contains 10 doses of the vaccine. […]’The vaccine can't be injected to all civilians but only to the first responders to reach the spot of attack, like the military and laboratory workers who may enter or re-enter contaminated areas. Countries are now preparing such battalions and vaccinating them in advance so that they develop complete immunity against anthrax before such an attack occurs. Inhalation anthrax is the most lethal form with fatality rates reaching up to 90%,’ [Joseph Chettiar of the Hyderabad-based distributor] added.” (The Times of India; 05Jun08; Kounteya Sinha) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_to_test_vaccine_against_anthrax/articleshow/3100835.cms

Bioterrorism conference held [Brussels, Belgium]
“A bioterrorism countermeasures conference was held Thursday in Brussels that was designed to elevate threat awareness among officials in Europe. […] The conference was designed as an effort to reduce the threat of biological terrorism through opening a dialogue about effective biodefense measures. Presenters included Tom Waytes, Emergent BioSolutions vice president of medical affairs, among others. Emergent manufactures the only anthrax vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” (United Press International; 06Jun08)
http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/06/06/Bioterrorism_conference_held/UPI-39731212772918/

Gas leak in China contained phosgene - Russian ministry
“A recent gas leak in northeast China near the Russian border that killed three people contained phosgene, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday citing environmental experts. ‘An expert evaluation confirmed that the leak contained phosgene gas,’ Andrei Nesterenko said, adding that eight people had been poisoned as a result of the leak. […] Earlier Friday, a Russian emergencies ministry spokeswoman quoted Chinese authorities as saying the chemical leak in the town of Qiqihar in the Heilongjiang province was no threat to the environment. Irina Andrianova quoted the Chinese general consulate in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk as saying that on June 5 a cylinder containing unidentified gas ‘disintegrated’ causing a gas leak. […] The official quoted the Chinese side as saying that air, water and soil samples taken immediately after the accident contained no contaminants.” (RIA Novosti; 06Jun08) http://en.rian.ru/world/20080606/109426611.html

Pakistan: New wave of violence a bid to undermine president
“According to political analysts, the violence suddenly flared up after former Prime Minister and party leader, Nawaz Sharif, called for Musharraf to be accountable for his so-called ‘crimes’ including what is known as the Lal Masjid Massacre, or the Red Mosque Massacre. The Red Mosque Massacre was a bloody conflict between Pakistani security forces and students who barricaded themselves inside the Red Mosque and demanded Sharia law in July 2007. At least 100 people died when security forces stormed the mosque in a bid to end the siege and flush out pro-Taliban militants from the complex. Retired general Jamshed Gulzar Kiyani then demanded Musharraf's execution for using chemical weapons (phosphorous grenades) during the Lal Masjid operation and supporting the Bush Administration in its War on Terror.” (AND Kronos; 06Jun08; Syed Saleem Shahzad)
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2231529027

Army: U.S. chemical weapons incineration on track [Anniston, Alabama]
“[…] now, more than half the nation's aging cache of 31,500 tons of nerve agents and mustard gas has been burned or chemically neutralized at seven sites with no major accidents in the 18 years since the program began. […] Officials say the most deadly chemicals were destroyed first and almost all the risk to residents has been eliminated. […] Critics still challenge the safety of the program, arguing the incinerators scattered across the United States belch unknown amounts of deadly chemicals on an unsuspecting public. The incinerators heat the agents and their containers at thousands of degrees, then run the exhaust through pollution-removing filters and afterburners.” (Post-Bulletin; 05Jun08; Jay Reeves, AP)
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=49&a=346092

New detector uses nanotubes to sense deadly gases
“Using carbon nanotubes, MIT chemical engineers have built the most sensitive electronic detector yet for sensing deadly gases such as the nerve agent sarin. […] The technology, which could also detect mustard gas, ammonia and VX nerve agents, has potential to be used as a low-cost, low-energy device that could be carried in a pocket or deployed inside a building to monitor hazardous chemicals. […] The nanotube sensors require very little power--about 0.0003 watts. One sensor could run essentially forever on a regular battery. ‘It's something that could sit in the corner of a room and you could just forget about it,’ Strano said. […] The lead author of the paper is Chang Young Lee, a graduate student in chemical engineering. Richa Sharma, another MIT graduate student in chemical engineering, is also an author of the paper. Adarsh Radadia and Richard Masel at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed the microcolumn technology.” (Physorg; 06Jun08) http://www.physorg.com/news131977245.html

Emergency Drill Tests Response [Pueblo, Colorado]
“An explosion of weapons containing half-century-old mustard agent sending a plume of deadly gas across the prairie. That was the scenario presented Wednesday morning to just about every emergency agency in Pueblo County. Fortunately, the mustard agent accident was mostly virtual but the school bus-tanker truck accident involved a more realistic setup on the grounds of an airport industrial park plant where such an accident could really happen. It was the annual Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program exercise, giving local agencies a chance to test their ability to work together and respond to an emergency. Federal funds are provided to communities like Pueblo that have chemical weapons stockpiles to set up response systems. As Wednesday's exercise showed, that preparedness extends beyond just accidents at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.” (Red Orbit; 05Jun08; John Norton) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1418596/emergency_drill_tests_response/

'Poison cloud from chemical plant could've been prevented'
“On April 14, a white cloud of azinphos methyl, an organophosphorus pesticide related to chemical warfare agents devoloped during World War Two, swept out of the Machteshim factory, over the regional council's office and into the surrounding area. The regional council workers were rushed into protective shelters after the cloud passed through and were sent home later in the day, many of them feeling ill. […] According to the committee's report, the factory lost electrical power at around 10:30 in the morning, at which time the management decided to destroy the Azinphos Methyl being prepared, because without proper temperature and pressure conditions the compound becomes a toxic gas. […] the management attempted to deal with the problem internally. Rigging a makeshift procedure took so long that the compound in two of the containers being transferred to the neutralizing machine underwent a phase change, thus causing the cloud, as well as a stream of pollutants into the surrounding area, discovered by the committee during an inspection.” (The Jerusalem Post; 04Jun08; Ehud Zion Waldoks) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212041481558&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Suspected terrorists talked about making homemade chemical weapons:
wiretap
“The alleged ringleaders of a suspected terror plot to attack Canadian targets talked about making homemade chemical weapons from a ‘mujahed cookbook’ and worried about being ‘sitting ducks’ for police, wiretaps played in a courtroom Friday suggested. While going through a Tim Hortons drive-thru, the wiretapped conversations of the alleged ringleaders of the so-called ‘Toronto 18’ talk about Arabic books that give step-by-step instructions on making homemade weapons. […] Eighteen men and youth were arrested two years ago in Canada's largest anti-terrorism operation since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Defence lawyers have since questioned the strength of the case after charges against seven of the accused men were stayed, whittling the Toronto 18 down to 11. Defence lawyer Mitchell Chernovsky has said the alleged plot was nothing more than a fantasy.” (Canadian Press; 06Jun08) http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jA3I0FFw4RmF3cY593VtRAuWibDg

Radioactive material devices to be installed at Port of Hueneme [California]
“Devices intended to detect dangerous radioactive material in cargo containers coming into the United States will be installed at the Port of Hueneme by February or March of next year, a federal official in charge of the project said. […] The toll booth-like devices already have been installed at the 22 largest seaports in the United States, accounting for
98 percent of all containerized cargo coming into the country, [Todd Hoffman, director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport] said.” (Ventura County Star; 05Jun08; José L.
Sánchez Jr.)
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/05/no-headline---nxxphradiation06/

Ethiopian to be charged with war crimes
“A Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainee will be charged with war crimes for allegedly participating in a plot to detonate a ‘dirty bomb,’ the Pentagon said. Binyam Mohammed, 29, of Ethiopia, allegedly was part of an al-Qaida plot to use the bomb and blow up apartment buildings in the United States, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. […] His attorneys say Mohammed was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 and taken by the CIA to Morocco where he was beaten, hung from poles during long interrogation sessions and cut in his genitals by a scalpel, the Times reported.” (United Press International; 04Jun08) http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/04/Ethiopian_to_be_charged_with_war_crimes/UPI-98461212582141/

Kazakhstan holds exercise to hone response to nuclear terrorism threat [Almaty]

“Kazakhstan's army held a large-scale military exercise Friday as part of a U.S.-backed program to prevent the use of radioactive materials by terrorists. More than 900 troops and emergency personnel took part in organizing the mock terrorist siege at a nuclear research facility near the Central Asian country's largest city, Almaty.” (The Union Tribune;
06Jun08)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080606-0950-kazakhstan-terrorexercise.html

Botox - man's new best friend
“It's one of the world's most popular cosmetic treatments, the ‘no scalpel’ anti-aging cosmetic treatment that smoothes the foreheads of everyone from stressed executives to youth-obsessed celebrities. It is, of course, Botox, a type of botulinum toxin first developed in 1946 as a tool of biological warfare, and later used to treat cerebral palsy in children. […] Although national figures don't exist, anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of Kiwi men using Botox is steadily increasing. Not as much as in the UK, however, where Botox for men is such big business (one-fifth of all patients are now men) […] Men, however, often need a higher dose of Botox than women, as they generally have stronger and larger facial muscles.” (New Zealand Herald; 07Jun08; Sharon Stephenson)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10514613

Local responders brush up on skills: Military conducts hazmat training
“Boyle and the 21 other members of the Seventh WMD Civil Response Team from Fort Leonard Wood were in Columbia this week for a four-day training class that ended yesterday. The Civil Response Team, a full-time National Guard unit in existence since 1999, is capable of responding across the state to potential chemical, biological and nuclear threats. The sessions offered an opportunity for the military unit to train and pass tips along to first responders, who would be first on the scene of a possible threat.
Firefighters from across the state, including three from Columbia, participated in the training run by Army contractor Dugway Proving Ground of Utah.” (Columbia Tribune; 06Jun08; Joe Meyer) http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Jun/20080606News004.asp

Terrorism's Two Front War
“The main question: is al-Qaeda still a disciplined organization with a central command or a loose network of self-directed amateurs? […] The dispute isn't purely academic -- al-Qaeda's current form and function will determine the course of future American counter-terrorism policy. If al-Qaeda has morphed into a virtual organization of amateur homegrown jihadis, quelling them becomes a largely internal matter best left to law enforcement. But if al-Qaeda still has a central command and a robust global network, they are capable of attacks that match -- and may surpass -- the horror of September 11th. Overcoming this threat means bringing the diverse instruments of American military, economic, and political power to bear. As each perspective warrants a vastly different strategic approach, the question of al-Qaeda's present state has provoked fierce debate.[…] Al-Qaeda's affiliate organizations have also wreaked havoc in the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia. It is important to emphasize that these organizations have only an ideological connection to their supposed patron -- but are just as dangerous. While never a major player in Iraq's factional game, al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) seized the world's attention through a slew of bombings, massacres, and even low-grade chemical warfare employing chlorine.” (Huffington Post; 04Jun08; Adam
Elkus)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-elkus/terrorisms-two-front-war_b_105304.html

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

Mullen Remembers Sacrifices, Praises Troops During Memorial Day Interviews

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

May 26, 2008 - Americans can be proud of the men and women in uniform and must remember the sacrifices military personnel have made, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told television morning shows today. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also said there has been dramatic progress in Iraq, but that any withdrawal of American troops remains rooted in the actions on the ground.

Mullen spoke with NBC, CBS, CNN and FOX news networks from the Pentagon. The highest-ranking member of the U.S. military said morale among the troops is high and they are proud of the work they are doing.

"They are the best troops I've ever been around and I have almost 40 years of service," Mullen said. "They are serving a noble cause, and serving it exceptionally well."

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but it should also be a day to remember and help those wounded in service to America, Mullen said.

Thousands of American servicemembers have been wounded in the war on terror and have returned home, he noted.

"We need to reach out as a country take care of them, take care of their families," he said. "We have the resources and to do it in a way that recognizes their great sacrifices for our country."

In addition to the young men and women lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mullen personally remembers uncles who served in World War Two and classmates from high school and the Naval Academy who died in Vietnam.

He urged Americans that if they see Americans in uniform, "simply go up and say thank you. It means a lot."

The morning anchors asked Mullen about conditions in Iraq. The past week saw the lowest number of incidents in the country since 2004, according to Defense officials.

"Things are better in Iraq, and it's principally because the troops have performed so well in the surge," he said. "We're at a point now where they've created security so the politicians can move forward, and that's happened. I'm modestly optimistic right now."

The chairman stressed that any further withdrawal of American troops after July will only take place if conditions on the ground merit it.

Al-Qaida in Iraq's capabilities have been significantly degraded. But the terrorists "remain a very lethal enemy, very dangerous and they are certainly not gone," Mullen said. "But we've had them on the run now for the better part of several months and we will continue to press."

Iraqi military operations in Basra, Sadr City and Mosul have been going very well, the chairman said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the operations against criminals and Special Groups in Shiia areas and al-Qaida.

The Iraqi troops have done well, Mullen said. "They may have turned a corner in that regard," he said. "They've executed some good operations so I'm a little bit more optimistic than I was a year ago.

"The prime minister himself clearly has generated political support that he didn't have before," he added. "He's taken charge of his military – they are more successful."

Iran is still a troublemaker in the Middle East, Mullen said. The United States has to use all elements of national power – economic, financial, diplomatic and political, as well as military.

"I think we need to bring pressure on the Iranians to change their behavior in that part of the world," he said.

Mullen has visited Iraq and Afghanistan a number of times and met with military personnel from all levels. He said troop morale is high.

"They know they are on important missions and they are performing exceptionally well," he said.

Odierno Tells Senate U.S. Military Headed in Right Direction in Iraq

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

May 22, 2008 - The United States "is not out of the woods yet" in Iraq, but the nation is headed in the right direction, the man nominated to be the next Multinational Force Iraq commander said today. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would not take the job "if I didn't think that we could be successful" in Iraq.

Odierno, who served as Multinational Corps Iraq commander until October 2007, said Iraq has made significant progress, specifically over the past 18 months. "I believe a self-reliant government of Iraq that is stable, one that is committed to governance and protecting its own people and serving all its people, a place that's denied as a safe haven for terrorists and extremists and one that is integrated into the international community and a partner of the war on terror is absolutely possible in Iraq," he said. "And I think it's closer today than it has been."

Odierno told the senators that he would not make sweeping pronouncements about Iraq, but he did say that, generally, the increased capability of the Iraqi security forces has been extremely important to progress here.

"What we've seen consistently over the last 12 to 14 months is an improvement in the command and control, the ability of the Iraqis; they're learning," he said. "They're starting to understand the command and control at brigade, battalion, company level. We've seen significant improvements in that and in their ability to do planning.

However, the Iraqis don't have the capacity yet to sustain operations, Odierno said. "We still have to work on their full capacity to do this across the entire force, but we are seeing consistent improvement in these areas, and that's what we have to continue," he said.

He added that the United States needs to continue to send military and police transition teams, noting that it's important for U.S. and coalition units to continue partnering with Iraqi units.

Odierno emphasized that different places in Iraq require different solutions, but that it is important for the Iraqi government to be part of all these solutions. "In Sadr City and in Basra, I would argue ... that it's important for the Iraqis to lead in those areas and take on the majority of the responsibility," he said.

The general said he is humbled and honored to be considered as the next Multinational Force Iraq commander. "I understand the great cost that our nation has endured in Iraq," he said. "I also understand the importance of our mission there and the responsibility that comes with this position.

"I'm inspired, and I feel a tremendous sense of awe for the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and their families for their demonstrated resilience and accomplishments and commitment to the tasks at hand," he said. "I consider myself blessed that I've had a chance to continue to serve in their ranks. And if confirmed, I will do so with integrity, commitment and drive that such a special position of trust and responsibility demands."

Petraeus Discusses Challenges in Central Command Area

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

May 22, 2008 - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus gave senators his view of the U.S. Central Command during confirmation testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee here today. Petraeus, nominated to be the next CentCom commander, currently commands Multinational Force Iraq.

The general spoke of the challenges in the diverse and strategically important CentCom area, which he described as "a region of regions," and spoke frankly on the threat Iran poses to the region and the world.

Violent extremism is the biggest threat in CentCom, where U.S. servicemembers are engaged in two wars, Petraeus told the committee. "Al-Qaida is, of course, the highest-priority terrorist threat to many states in the region as well as to the United States and many of our allies around the world," he said.

But there are other extremist groups in the region, and the governments in Tehran, Iran, and Damascus, Syria, support militant groups and proxies in the region, he said.

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, delivery systems and the spread of technical expertise is another worry in the region, Petraeus said.

"The lack of transparency in efforts by countries such as Iran and Syria to develop their nuclear programs is a major concern to states in the region and could spark a destabilizing regional arms race," he said. The command also worries about terrorist groups getting nuclear weapons, he added.

Though CentCom is a combatant command, its leaders also are concerned about the lack of sustainable economic development in some countries of the region, the general said. Per capita income ranges from $200 in the Horn of Africa and some countries of Central Asia to more than $70,000 for the citizens of the Persian Gulf states, he noted.

"This is not just a domestic social or humanitarian issue; it is a serious security concern, as well, for without economic opportunity, poor and disenfranchised communities can serve as hotbeds for the spread of violent extremism," the general said. "We have seen this in a number of areas in the region in recent years."

Narcotics and arms trafficking, piracy and smuggling are also transnational threats in the region. "These damage societies, threaten legitimate commerce and the flow of strategic resources, and often benefit terrorist networks," he said. "These activities must be addressed if international efforts to combat terrorist financing are to succeed."

Petraeus gave the senators a rundown of key issues in CentCom's area of responsibility.

"In Iraq, Iraqi and coalition forces continue to build on the security gains of the past 15 months as we also continue to reduce U.S. forces and transition responsibility to Iraqi security forces, strive to maintain the conditions necessary for political progress, help build governmental capacity, and seek to foster economic development," he said.

Last week saw the lowest number of security incidents in the country in more than four years, Petraeus told the committee.

"It appears that the week that ends tomorrow will see an even lower number of incidents," he said. "This has been achieved despite having now withdrawn three of the five brigade combat teams scheduled to redeploy without replacement by the end of July and also with the reduction of the two Marine battalions and Marine expeditionary unit."

Operations in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City have demonstrated the Iraqi forces' training, resilience and resolve, Petraeus said.

"As always, tough fights and hard work lie ahead," he said. "Nonetheless, I believe that the path we are on will best help achieve the objective of an Iraq that is at peace with itself and its neighbors, that is an ally in the war on terror, that has a government that serves all Iraqis and that is an increasingly prosperous and important member of the global economy and community of nations."

Iran is a destabilizing force in the region, the general said. Iran continues its nuclear program and continues to fund, train and arm dangerous militia organizations, he said.

"Iran's activities have been particularly harmful in Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Afghanistan," the general said. "In each location, Tehran has, to varying degrees, fueled proxy wars in an effort to increase its influence and pursue its regional ambitions."

Afghanistan has been and remains one of the poorest countries on Earth. NATO's International Security Assistance Force is helping Afghanistan build and rebuild. Allies are helping the country provide basic services, develop infrastructure and create legitimate alternatives to poppy farming, Petraeus said.

"Due to the scale of the challenges involved and the difficulties in the security arena in particular, we should expect Afghanistan to require substantial international commitment and support for many years to come," the general said.

Pakistan remains an important partner in efforts to combat terrorism, but its newly elected government "faces serious economic difficulties and energy shortages, and it is still solidifying its coalition and coming to grips with how to respond to internal threats that have global implications," Petraeus said.

Taliban and al-Qaida capability and control in the federally administered tribal areas in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier province continue to grow. "Foreign fighters continue to flow from Pakistan into Afghanistan, where they're a violent and destabilizing influence," the general said.

The countries of Central Asia have abundant opportunities for building security and economic partnerships and for pursuing common interests, Petraeus told the committee.

Terrorist activities and instability continue in Lebanon and Syria, while the United States continues building security partnerships with Jordan and Egypt. "In Lebanon, the government is grappling with the political and militia activities of Lebanese Hezbollah," he said.

Petraeus told the senators that if he is confirmed as CentCom commander he will seek to strengthen international partnerships.

"We will continue to pursue strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships and to identify, further develop and pursue mutual interests," he said. "Engagement will be a central aspect of my responsibilities as the CentCom commander if confirmed."

The command also will seek to partner with other departments and agencies within the U.S. government, "taking a whole-of-government approach to the challenges and opportunities," he said.

"In most of the issues we'll address, a purely military approach is unlikely to succeed," he noted, "and our strategy must recognize that."

He said he'd seek to deal with the underlying causes of challenges in the region.

"Finally, we should both support the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensure readiness for possible contingency operations in order to be prepared to assist in the event of natural disasters to ensure sufficient deterrence of actions that might threaten regional partners and, if necessary, to be ready to defeat aggressors that threaten our vital interests in the region," he said.