DISA DELIVERS 2.0 OF DEPS ON SECRET INTERNET PROTOCOL NETWORK (SIPPRNeT)

DISA RELEASES DOD ENTERPRISE PORTAL SERVICE 2.0 FOR CLASSIFIED NETWORK

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY 
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) delivered version 2.0 of the DoD Enterprise Portal Service (DEPS) on the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet) Feb. 28.

DEPS 2.0 introduces both dedicated and shared service offerings. The environments allow mission partners the flexibility to select the offering that best supports their mission from a range of capacity and storage options. The 2.0 version for the Sensitive, but Unclassified Internet Protocol Network (NIPRNet) will be available in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

DEPS provides a scalable, cloud-based collaboration capability that facilitates information sharing through an independently managed community of mission-focused sites, including:

Shared document libraries, calendars, task lists, blogs, and workflows.
Global, anytime access to shared resources.
Increasing operational efficiency by leveraging highly secure Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECCs), which consolidate administrative, hardware, and software resources.
“DEPS 2.0 is another example of how DISA’s enterprise services are evolving to meet the needs of our mission partners. 2.0 will offer the ability to select shared or dedicated operating environments, while adhering to the principles of an enterprise service and delivering operational and budgetary efficiencies for the DoD,” said Alan Lewis, DISA’s program executive officer for enterprise services.
Both dedicated and shared DEPS environments offer the benefits of a DISA-managed common infrastructure, including security and data replication.

NEW BIONIC ARM SHOWCASED BY DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Right:  A military-funded advanced mechanical arm is controlled by a volunteer with paralysis via his brain signals recorded by electrocorticography in September 2011. It was the first time ever a prosthetic arm was controlled this way by a paralyzed person. DARPA photo.

FROM:  MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM
Military’s Bionic Arm Enhances Life for Amputees
Amaani Lyle  |  American Forces Press Service
January 15, 2014

WASHINGTON– It’s metal, sleek and precise. It pivots and flexes like a real hand, or at least one from a science-fiction movie.

But with no Hollywood special effects involved, brain research experts at last week’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Congressional Tech Showcase here demonstrated an artificial arm and hand that can do everything from picking up cups to playing the piano, powered by the user’s brain.

Mike McLoughlin, chief engineer for research and exploratory development at Johns Hopkins University’s applied physics laboratory, said the defense agency’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program developed the device over about five years to improve the quality of life for service members who have suffered the loss of an upper extremity.

“Five, six years ago [an amputee’s] option was essentially a hook,” McLoughlin said. “We want to give them a much greater level of functionality, because what they really want to do is go back and contribute to society.”

The demo also featured an excerpt from a 60 Minutes episode that aired in 2013 showing Jan, a patient suffering from a neurological condition, with two electrode chips, each about the size of a fingernail, in her brain.

Even simple tasks such as picking up a cup of coffee are the result of a complex series of commands and information “behind the scenes” in the brain, McLoughlin explained. “We’re able to take those complex things and reduce them down to simple thoughts.”

With the help of the arm and hand, Jan moved, interacted and grasped objects in a more natural way, McLoughlin said, adding that the arm also can function with information gleaned from a computer script.

He described the arm’s future and range of potential applications as “exciting” for service members and civilians alike.

“Think about the elderly,” he said. “If somebody has trouble getting around, and we can provide assistance through exoskeleton devices, that has huge impact, not only to the individual in terms of quality of life and being independent, but it also has huge financial implications, possibly saving them hospice care expenses.”

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 3, 2012

Photo:  U.S. Navy

FROM:  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Financier

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban financier in the Zurmat district of Afghanistan's Paktiya province today, military officials reported.

The financier extorted money and supplies from local villagers to fund Taliban operations, officials said. He also directed improvised explosive device attacks throughout the district.

Officials said the security force also detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized several firearms.

In other operations today:

-- A combined force detained two suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Chimtal district of Balkh province. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Jani Khel district of Paktiya province, a combined force-directed airstrike killed several insurgents conducted an operation to find a group of armed insurgents. The airstrike did not injure any civilians or damage civilian property.

In Aug. 2 operations:

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni province's Qarah Bagh district.

-- In Ghazni province's Sayyidabad district, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing IED-making materials.

-- A combined force found and cleared five IEDs in Khowst province's Sabari district.

-- In Khowst province, a combined force detained six insurgents in the Khowst district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Logar province's Pul-E Alam district.

-- A combined force detained five insurgents who were emplacing an IED in Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Bati Kot district and another in the Kuz Kunar district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktika province's Sar Rowzah district.

-- In Paktiya province's Jani Khel district, a coalition airstrike killed eight insurgents and wounded two others who were emplacing IEDs. The wounded insurgents received medical care and were transferred to a base for questioning.

-- A combined force found and cleared two IEDs in Wardak province's Sayyidabad district.

NATO AND FOSTERING ABILITY TO ACT WITH PARTNERS

Photo:  NATO Ministers Meeting.  Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
NATO to Strengthen Ability to Act with Global Partners
By Cheryl Pellerin
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 - NATO seeks to assume a more global perspective, play its part globally and strengthen its ability to act with partners around the globe, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in London yesterday.

In a speech at Chatham House, Rasmussen said forging closer links with partners in Asia, Africa and elsewhere is crucial to guaranteeing future security in the Euro-Atlantic area.
"Today we hold regular consultations with all our partners on security issues of common interest," he said. "I would like to see those consultations become much more frequent, focused and substance driven."

Rasmussen described the development of clusters of willing and able allies and partners ready to cooperate in specific areas. "I see these clusters being flexible enough to accommodate different groups of partners, yet focused enough to deliver concrete results," he said, in areas such as training and education, emerging security challenges and "smart defense," which is a NATO initiative based on allies and partners pooling and sharing capabilities, setting priorities and coordinating efforts.

Many partner countries participate in NATO's military education, training and exercises on an ad-hoc basis, and Rasmussen called for a more structured approach and for the broadest possible range of national participation in such activities.

"From Afghanistan to the Balkans and last year over Libya, our partners have played a vital role in the operational outcome and the political legitimacy of our missions," Rasmussen said.

"They have made NATO stronger and kept the world safer," he added, "so it is as important for NATO to invest in strong partnerships as it is to invest in modern military hardware and in flexible forces."

An example of such flexibility, the secretary general said, includes cooperation among special operations forces, the use of drones, and collaboration on cyber security issues.
Cooperation among special operations forces, Rasmussen said, offers considerable potential to learn more and do more, both for NATO and for its partners. "We must build on the lessons we learned together in action in Afghanistan so we can boost our ability to act together in the future," he said.

Rasmussen said allies' use of unmanned aircraft does not constitute a problem for NATO. "We actually try to promote the use of drones to improve gathering of information and intelligence, surveillance [and] reconnaissance." In fact, he said, drones helped NATO to conduct what he called a "precision campaign in Libya" while minimizing civilian casualties and collateral damage.

Partners also could do more together to deal with emerging security challenges such as those in the cyber domain, the secretary general said.
"We are very focused on cybersecurity," Rasmussen said, adding that NATO gives strength in cybersecurity its highest priority and has taken steps to strengthen its own systems.

"The latest statistics indicate that we are attacked 100 times a day, so you can imagine that there is a strong interest out there in what NATO is doing," he noted. "We have to protect our systems more effectively, and we have taken a number of steps in that direction."
NATO ally Estonia suffered weeks of cyber attacks in 2007, he noted.

"It's not just theory -- it's a reality," Rasmussen said of the existence of cyber threats and of the necessity to develop methods to confront them. Toward that purpose, he said, NATO has established a center of excellence in Estonia's capital of Tallinn that provides information and facilitates the sharing of experience and best practices.

"We have established a unit that can help allies that are cyber attacked if they don't have the capacity themselves to counter such attacks," he said. Confronting such threats successfully, Rasmussen added, demands a high degree of consultation, coordination and cooperation.

Along with expanding the range of issues in which NATO and its partners cooperate, Rasmussen said, the alliance also must expand the range of nations it engages, including China and India.

China, for example, is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and is playing an increasingly important global role, he said.

"As an organization that is driven by the U.N. Charter of Principles, NATO needs to better understand China and define areas where we can work together to guarantee peace and stability," Rasmussen added. "There are other important countries too, such as India, with whom we should increase our dialogue and seek opportunities for cooperation."

But one partnership stands out above all the others, the secretary general said.
"The transatlantic bond lies at the very heart of NATO, [representing] our common belief in freedom, democracy and the rule of law. And it provides shared leadership between North America and Europe," he said.

Rasmussen said some see the U.S. pivot to focus on the Asia-Pacific region as the end of this unique partnership. But they are wrong, he said.

"The security of America and Europe is indivisible," Rasmussen said. "We are stronger and safer when we work together, and that is why NATO remains the indispensable alliance."

Around this essential transatlantic bond, the secretary general said, NATO must strengthen its partnerships in Europe, with Russia and around the globe, "because in the 21st century, we are all connected whether we want it or not."
A positive connection and continued engagement with partners, Rasmussen said, "is a cure for pessimism, a cause for optimism, and key for the security we all seek."

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BRIEFING FROM AFGHANISTAN BY GEN. RICHARD CRIPWELL

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Presenter: Director of Strategic Transition Group, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Brig. Gen. Richard Cripwell 
DOD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Cripwell via Teleconference from Afghanistan


            CAPT JANE CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR, PRESS OPERATIONS:  Good morning here in the briefing room, and good evening in Afghanistan. I'd like to welcome the ISAF Strategic Transition Group Brigadier General Richard Cripwell, British army, to the Pentagon Briefing Room.

            Brigadier Cripwell assumed duties at ISAF headquarters in April of this year. Since 1982 he has served in junior regiment appointments with the Royal Engineers and the Queen's Gurkha Engineers and in field and amphibious regiments. He commanded 34 Field Squadron (Air Support) and 26 Engineer Regiment, supporting a number of Royal Air Force and mechanized brigade deployments.

            Brigadier Cripwell has also served in command and staff positions in Kosovo, Mozambique and Iraq. He has also served operations in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and various parts of the Middle East and the Balkans.

            This is Brigadier Cripwell's first time with us in the Pentagon Briefing Room. He will provide brief opening remarks on progress towards transition in Afghanistan and then take your questions.

            And with that, sir, I'll turn it over to you.

            BRIGADIER RICHARD CRIPWELL:  Thank you.

            Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. As was said, my name is Brigadier General Richard Cripwell, and I am the director of the Strategic Transition and Assessments Group here at ISAF headquarters.

            Thank you all for being here. I'm pleased to have this opportunity to talk to you about the transition of security responsibility from ISAF to the Afghanistan National Security Forces, a process that is placing the lead for security in Afghanistan with the police and the armed forces.

            It is a process that was initiated by the Lisbon conference in late 2010, a process that is defined by the Inteqal agreement or the transition agreement and which is regulated by the Joint Afghan-NATO Inteqal Board, which is responsible for making recommendations to the president of Afghanistan about transition.

            There are plans to be five tranches to transition. And as you will be aware, on the 13th of May, President Karzai announced the details of tranche three. As a result of that, every capital in all 34 provinces in Afghanistan has now entered transition. This tranche will see three-quarters of Afghanistan's population living in areas where the ANSF is in the lead for security.

            The importance of this process cannot be overstressed. President Karzai stated in Chicago that it remains his highest joint strategic priority. And we are on track, with our Afghan colleagues, to complete the process of entering transition by the middle of 2013, with completion of the process by the end of 2014. After 2014, we will maintain an equally strong partnership with Afghanistan, as the Strategic Partnership Agreement and many bilateral agreements make clear.

            I would conclude these brief opening remarks by saying a few words about how the Afghan National Security Forces are going to assume the lead for security within the country. I am fortunate enough to work with the army and the police every day and to see them all over the country. The responsibility for leading security is not one they take lightly, but it is one that they relish.

            They are growing in capability all the time, and their confidence in themselves is growing exponentially. During recent high-profile incidents across Afghanistan, the ANSF have taken leading roles and responded aggressively, with little or no coalition support. In simple terms, they know what they have to do, and that they are proving that they can do it every day.

            Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes my opening remarks. Again, thank you for attending, and I look forward to hearing your questions.

            Q:  Hi, General. This is Courtney Kube from NBC News.

            I realize that current ops aren't really in your daily purview, but there was a suicide attack in Khost earlier today, and we've been having a hard time getting the ground truth on what happened. Can you give us an idea? It seems -- our understanding is there were both Afghans and Americans killed. Can you give us your understanding of what happened?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  All I can tell you, and this is -- I've been, in fact, out of the capital for most of the day -- I'm aware that there was a suicide bomb attack in Khost, that there have been ISAF casualties, and I understand there have been a great deal of Afghan civilian casualties as well. But I have no more details than that, and I think it would be inappropriate for me to speculate. The ISAF spokesman will have more details in due course.

            Q:  General, Otto Kreisher with SEAPOWER Magazine and others.

            We've had another incident recently of green-on-blue. That's a continuing problem that kind of erodes the confidence our troops have in working with their allies. How do you appraise that situation? And what's being done, you know, to avoid those?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Well, firstly, I'm not aware that there have been any recent green-on-blue attacks, although I'm aware there's been some accusations of them. But to approach your question more broadly, of course any death out here is an absolute tragedy, and it is more so when it is caused by Afghan forces.

            But I should be clear, firstly, that it's a tragedy as much for the Afghans themselves.

            Every single day there are tens of thousands and more ongoing relationships between ISAF forces and the Afghans. We work extremely closely. We work extremely well together. These attacks are absolutely not representative of the huge, huge majority of the Afghan forces, and they are dismayed by them as we are.

            In answer to your question of what's being done, I -- the Afghans are doing an enormous amount to ensure the loyalty of every single member of the police and the army. The deputy commander here has spoken about this in the past, but it includes biometric testing, it includes the deployment of a national directorate of security officials into units. And as I say, they are turning every stone they can to ensure the loyalty of their own forces.

            Q:  Yes, thanks for speaking with us. This is Kristina Wong from The Washington Times.

            Last summer there was a highly critical ISAF report called "The Crisis of Compatibility," on the relationship between ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces. I'm wondering, what recommendations from that report have been implemented? And has that relationship between ISAF and ANSF forces improved?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I can't speak to the detail of the report, but I can tell you -- and as I said in my introductory remarks -- I am out almost every day with Afghan army officials and Afghan police officials, and that we work extremely closely together. And we see that in my area in transition all of the time.

            The whole point of transition is to put the ANSF in the lead and for ISAF to be in support of them. And those relationships, day in, day out, across the country are working extremely well.

            Q:  What metrics are used to gauge the ANSF other than performance in those high-profile attacks?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I'm sorry, could I ask you to repeat the question? It got lost in transmission.

            Q:  What metrics are used to gauge the progress of the -- and competence of the ANSF other than performance during those high- profile attacks? And why are they -- why are they deemed better than expected?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I think that -- actually I think it's not just that they're doing better than expected; I think they're also surprising themselves with their ability and their capability. It's not simply an ability to deal with high-profile attacks. The fact remains is the Afghans are out dealing with incidents of all sorts every day. Their ability to plan and conduct operations is improving all of the time. And they are now routinely, for example, planning and conducting brigade operations around the country. This is very serious soldiering, and it's a significant achievement on their part to have -- to have come this far in the time that they have.

            Q:  Dan De Luce from Agence France-Presse.

            What would cause you, if anything -- what would cause ISAF to reconsider the pace of this transition? Is there anything that could somehow slow down this scheduled transition?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I've certainly seen nothing to date at all that questions the pace of transition.

            As I'm sure you are aware, transition is simply about the security forces being able to be in the lead. It doesn't necessarily mean that all of the challenges that lie within a district or province have been solved. But to date, in tranches one and two there has been no regression in terms of security or governance or development in those areas.

            And whilst clearly there are challenges ahead in tranche three, I've seen no indication at all that either the Afghan national forces would not be able to deal with those problems or that they would put the rough timetable for transition into question.

            Q:  And then in that context, how concerned are you about the ethnic composition of the Afghan force and the relative shortage of southern Pashtuns in the force?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Well, the details of the makeup of the ANSF are, you know, beyond the issues that I look at. But all I can say is that whatever the ethnic diversity of the security forces, I've seen absolutely no impression of that in the areas that I visited and in the reports that I read of their performance around the country.

            Q:  Hi, my name is Ben Iannotta. I'm editor of an intelligence magazine called the C4ISR Journal.

            The decision not to plug the ANSF into the Afghanistan Mission Network, is that driven by strategy or cost, or is it a sign of a lack of trust between ISAF and ANSF?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I don't know is the simple answer to that question. I think I'd have to refer you to the spokesman or to a particular expert on that.

            But there is no -- to be clear, there is no lack of trust in the ANSF. We are going on operations with them every day. They are leading, certainly in transitioned areas, nearly 50 percent of operations. You absolutely have to trust your comrades and colleagues when you're operating in that kind of environment. So there is absolutely no lack of trust between us and our Afghan colleagues.

            Q:  Hi, General. John Harper with the Asahi Shimbun.

            How many ISAF troops do you think will need to remain in Afghanistan in 2013 to ensure the transition moves along smoothly?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  You'll be surprised to hear that I'm not going to indulge in speculation over troop levels in Afghanistan. But I am absolutely confident that the ANSF, first and foremost, will be absolutely in a position to assume the lead for security across the country, supported by ISAF forces, by roughly the middle of 2013.

            Q:  Thank you, General. This is Lalit Jha from Pajhwok Afghan News.

            As we are post-2014, what do you think the key challenge is which ANSF are facing now and that needs to be addressed on a priority basis before 2014?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Well, I think the -- again, you'd be better off asking those who are responsible for equipping and training the ANSF that question.

            I've certainly seen on my travels nothing that is stopping the ANSF conducting operations as they choose to and stopping them from reacting to incidents in a manner that they choose to. ISAF support is there, but increasingly, the Afghans are more than capable and more than content to deal with operations entirely dependent on their own capabilities.

            Q:  Otto Kreisher again.

            Let me follow up on that. There's been, you know, substantial reports about their lack of air cover -- indigenous air cover, their logistics problems, their intelligence and communications. You don't see those as a problem?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  All I'm saying, as I -- as I said to the -- to the last question, I think the details of those issues -- these are issues that are not affecting transition, and that that clearly is the bit that I am most focused on. I have not seen issues about enablers impacting on the ability of the Afghan security forces, be it army or police, to maintain the lead in transitioning areas.

            Q:  Good morning. Larry Shaughnessy from CNN.

            The talks to try to reopen the Pakistan border to ISAF convoys fell apart not long ago. I know the Northern Distribution Network is working, but at a tremendous cost. Is there something besides money that is a problem created by the lack of a southern distribution network, for lack of a better term, through Pakistan? Or is it just a matter of it costs more to do everything?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I haven't been privy to the negotiations that have been going on over the opening of the Pakistan GLOC. Now, clearly I'm aware that there have been some very detailed negotiations in the past, and I'm sure there will in the future.
            I'm not aware of the detail, other than to say -- as, again, the deputy commander said not so long ago -- that ISAF is managing perfectly well at the moment in its conduct of operations. But the detail of the discussions over the GLOC, I'm afraid I haven't got any information on that.

            Q:  If I could follow up. But beyond the discussions, in practical, day-to-day operations, is the lack of a GLOC with Pakistan causing you any operational, day-to-day problems? I know he's saying it's working right now, but do you anticipate a problem that cannot be easily solved using the Northern Distribution Network?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  I'm not aware of one, no.

            Q:  Chris Carroll, Stars and Stripes.

            Is progress being made throughout the entire ANSF? We continually hear anecdotes about, you know, a large number of Afghan forces who are not well-trained and who are not easy to operate with. Is it the case that there's a small group or, you know, a minority of well-trained professional soldiers and a larger group that are not progressing at the same rate?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  You know, I must say, I've never heard that.
            Again, at the risk of repeating myself, you can't -- you cannot mount -- wherever you may be in this country, you cannot mount, as the Afghans are doing, brigade-level operations and hope that a thin veneer of professionalism is in some way hiding a basic incompetence below that. You know, a brigade operation requires a properly trained and, indeed, resourced force. They're doing that around the country.

            So I certainly haven't heard the apocryphal stories that you mention, and I don't believe the evidence on the ground would support them either.

            Q:  Just a follow-up question. What kind of capabilities are the ANSF developing -- for example, explosive, ordnance disposal, logistics, special forces, you know -- that we might not hear about every day?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Well, it's kind of you to think that I would know, but I'm afraid that is -- that is well beyond my brief on transition, and you would be far better up close, not least because you would be speaking to someone who knows, to speak to somebody else on this.

            Q:  General, it's Luis Martinez of ABC News.

            Every region in Afghanistan brings its own security challenges. How do you tailor ANSF forces to each region? I imagine they bring their own unique characteristics that require specific training to -- and so it's going to vary from region to region. How can you -- how do you do that?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Well, you're absolutely right, of course, that the, you know, various parts of Afghanistan bring challenges of their own. And the Afghans deal with this as any other army in the world would deal with it, that there is -- there is always a level of basic training that is provided to every member of security forces, which is then honed when you get down to a unit in a particular area.

            It is the responsibility of the Afghan corps and the Afghan brigades to make sure that that -- the special training, if you like, sensitive to the environment, is conducted. And of course ISAF is absolutely part of that training process and mechanism in various parts of the country. But the Afghans would treat this in -- no differently to any other army in the world.

            CAPT. CAMPBELL:  One more.

            Q:  If I could follow up, sir. With the push into the eastern portions of -- eastern regions of Afghanistan this year, does that mean that you see more of a kinetic force among the ANSF that go in there? Or do you try -- find a mix, given that you're going to have to turn that over towards the security transition in the future?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  If I understand your question correctly, again, I don't think that -- the nature of basic training doesn't change. Wherever a unit may go to thereafter, whether it be -- wherever it may be deployed in the country, there will always be special training that will be conducted before it goes into a certain area.

            I don't think, wherever you may go in this country, that you should assume that operations will be more or less kinetic. The important thing is that the forces will get the appropriate training, the appropriate assistance wherever they may get deployed.

            Q:  Another question. Can you describe from what you've seen, you know, personally, the relationship between ISAF and Afghan forces? How close do they interact when they're not training? Are they eating together?

            Are they -- can you -- are they friends? Are they -- you know, how do they interact with one another, besides from during training, that you've seen?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Yeah. I mean, working together means all of those things. Going out on a patrol or an operation is just part of working together.

            Our troops and Afghan troops absolutely in the field eat together. It's clearly difficult to socialize together, but they are -- they are together. And I think, as much as people who may well be speaking different languages can be, there are unquestionably some very close relationships all over the country between ISAF forces of all nationalities and the Afghans.

            So this isn't simply coming together as you prepare to go out the gate on a patrol. These are -- you know, as I say, the patrol is, if you like, just the pointy end of some very strong relationships across the country.

            Q:  Excuse me. General, Chris Carroll from Stars and Stripes again.

            Is there any update on the numbers from the recent 1230 report on the percentages of Afghan units able to operate, you know, with advisers or with partners, et cetera?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  In simple terms, no, there isn't. As you know, the 1230 comes out every six months or so. The next one will be due in the late fall. And yeah, that will be the appropriate time, not least because, obviously, the data is being collected. So in simple terms, the answer is no to your question.

            CAPT. CAMPBELL:  General, we'll wrap it up with one last question here and then turn it back over to you.

            So one more question on our end, sir.

            Q:  Matt Schofield, McClatchey Newspapers.

            You know, going forward, the future of -- the future success of the ANSF, we've heard there is some backsliding on the success against poppy production. This is a primary source of funding.

            What's the -- what's -- going forward, how do you see that moving? I mean, is there -- does there need to be a renewed effort to go back after poppy, to decrease the funding of Taliban, et cetera? Or do you -- are you happy with the way things are going, or is that -- is that not an operational thing -- is that not a transitional issue?

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  It's not a transitional issue. But what I will say is that the governor-led eradication schemes this year have been more successful than they ever have been. And you know, as an example of the Afghans taking responsibility for their own future, I think it's an excellent example. But it doesn't impact on transition. No, it doesn't.

            CAPT. CAMPBELL:  General, we're grateful for your time that you've devoted to speak with us this evening your time, this morning our time. And I'd like to just turn it back over to you for a few closing remarks on your end, sir. And again, thank you from the Briefing Room.

            BRIG. CRIPWELL:  Thanks very much indeed. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your questions.

            I would just reiterate what I said at the start, that transition is a strategically important process for this country. It is one not simply that is being imposed on the Afghans; it is one that they are absolutely part of.

            And the success of the Afghan National Security Forces to date in assuming the responsibility for 75 percent of the population of their country, and the success that I have no doubt that they are going to enjoy in the future, is absolutely critical to them assuming responsibility and ensuring the sovereignty and peace in this country in the future.
            Thank you very much, indeed, for your time.

            CAPT. CAMPBELL:  General, thank you.

DEFENSE BRIEFING ON CHINA'S MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE VISIT

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Presenter: Senior Defense Official May 07, 2012
Background Briefing on the Visit of China's Minister of National Defense from the Pentagon
             STAFF:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I know we're just a couple minutes late, so I won't delay with this.
            We have with us today (briefer name and title deleted).  (Briefer schedule deleted.)  I've asked him today to provide a little bit of perspective on today's visit from the Chinese minister of defense.   And he will be, for reporting purposes, a senior defense official.
            Just a couple of housekeeping notes:  We got about 30 minutes.  So again, I'd ask you to please limit your follow-up questions so that everybody can get a chance.  Please identify yourself and who you're with before you ask the question.  I'll call on you.  And I think that's it.  I thought I had -- (off-mic exchange) -- oh, yeah, thanks.  Yeah, this is -- (chuckles) -- the most important thing.  These discussions -- embargoed until 1500, till the arrival of the -- of General Liang.  So 1500 embargo is when it's lifted.
            We good?  Yeah?  OK, sir.
            SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Actually, one initial point of clarification before we begin.  My title is actually (briefer title deleted).  (Laughter, cross talk).
            STAFF:  But since you're only going to be referred to as a senior defense official, it doesn't matter.
            (Cross talk.)
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Right.
            STAFF:  I mean, it matters, but not -- (inaudible).  (Laughter.)  No offense -- (inaudible).
            Q:  Yeah, it's just like this building to grab more territory.  (Laughter.)
            STAFF:  OK, sir.  I'm going to give it over to you for a few minutes if you'd like to take that up.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Thank you very much.  And thank you all for being here.  As indicated, I'm going to be talking today about the visit of China's minister of defense, General Liang Guanglie, who's visiting the United States as a guest of Secretary Panetta.
            This is the first visit by a Chinese minister of defense to the United States in nine years.  Secretary Panetta looks forward to receiving General Liang this afternoon, where he'll have an extended meeting with him, as well as hosting him for dinner this evening.
            This visit is occurring at an important time for our two militaries as we're seeking to expand cooperation, improve mutual understanding, build greater mutual trust and reduce our differences.
            We seek to develop a military-to-military relationship that's healthy, stable, reliable and continuous.  And senior levels -- senior-level visits such as the one we're having today as well as upcoming visits to both countries as part of our mutually agreed-to military-to-military exchange program are important parts of achieving the vision that our two presidents have of building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive U.S.-China relationship.
            We're working to expand areas of cooperation such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and counterpiracy, really looking to find ways where we can expand those areas where our interests converge and build our ability to work together to deliver international public goods.
            At the same time, we do continue to discuss differences that we might have, questions that we have about each other's defense modernization programs, areas like space and cyber, nuclear and missile defense.  These are all important issues to talk about in the military-to-military relationship.  They're critical because they can help to reduce the chances for miscalculation or misperceptions.
            As part of General Liang's visit, he'll be going to a number of U.S. defense installations, which is customary for secretary of defense-hosted counterpart visits.  The visits were chosen to highlight areas of existing or potential cooperation, such as a visit yesterday to the San Diego Naval Base, where the delegation discussed counterpiracy operations with the commander of a U.S. naval ship that recently returned from the Gulf of Aden.
            In addition, the sites were selected to highlight the contributions of the United States military to global peace and stability and to demonstrate what the United States means when we discuss transparency.  And I can talk a little bit later about some of the additional places that the general will be visiting on this trip.
            Again, this is a very important visit.  It's the highest level military-to-military exchange that we've had to date this year, and I look forward to taking any questions that you have.
            STAFF:  Just one minor clarification, I think that the San Diego was Saturday, isn't that right?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Saturday --
            STAFF:  I think you said yesterday.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Yeah.
            STAFF:  It was actually on Saturday.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  So, OK, yep, on Saturday.
            Q:  So you're even -- corrected each other once?
            STAFF:  That's right.  We are even now.
            (Inaudible.)
            Q:  No.
            STAFF:  Go ahead.
            Q:  Hi, is this more symbolic since -- well, (briefer's colleague name deleted), before he stepped down, he said, the only time he went to China was for the S&ED (Strategic and Economic Dialogue) at the invitation of Secretary Clinton.  And he said that there was no other level contacts other than the high-level strategic talks.  So I don't know whether you can explore on that?  And also, when can we get a China military power report out this year?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I would -- first, I would say that this -- the visit that the secretary's having with General Liang is important and that there will be -- it is part of a substantive set of exchanges where we're trying to maintain --
(inaudible)--
            STAFF:  -- South Carolina?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Right -- (laughter) -- where -- this visit is part of -- is part of our military-to-military exchange program where we cover a whole range of very substantive topics.  Obviously there's an important symbolic aspect to the visit itself.  But make no mistake:  When we have these types of discussions, when we have these dialogues, we're talking about, you know, critical issues in our relationship, where we can -- where we can cooperate, but also to be able to talk about questions or to be able to manage any differences that we might have.  This is -- this is, you know, the very essence of what we're trying to achieve with our military-to-military relationship.
            Q:  Would the South China Sea and Taiwan be -- come up?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, the meeting actually hasn't happened yet.  So I think I'd probably defer to the outbrief of that meeting.  But these are all important issues, and these are issues that routinely come up in these types of exchanges.
            STAFF:  Again, please identify yourself -- (inaudible).
            Thom.
            Q:  Thom Shanker with the Times.  I'll ask my question and the follow-up together, at the same time.  Are there going to be deliverables expected out of the meeting today?  A small question.
            And the bigger one:  This building and the government's made a big deal about the pivot to Asia.  The Chinese view that as hostile and containment.  How do you answer that criticism?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I'll answer the first question.  There's no specific deliverable that we have set up for this -- for this visit.  While there's no specific deliverable, I think the -- there are outcomes that will come out of it, and that's maintaining a sustained senior-level dialogue between our two militaries, maintaining open channels of communication, which is an important part of what we're trying to do with the military-to-military relationship.  It offers opportunities to build mutual understanding, improve and build towards greater mutual trust.  So that in and of itself, I think, is an important product and outcome of this meeting.
            I mean, in terms of the rebalance towards Asia, I mean, this is something that we've talked about with our -- with our Chinese counterparts in the past.  And what we've tried to do is use the opportunity -- every opportunity that we have to engage the PLA [People's Liberation Army], to be able to, you know, help them to improve the understanding of what we're doing -- what we're doing in Asia, not only from a defense perspective but across the U.S. government.
And I think the very fact that we're having the talks are intended to assuage concerns by being very open and transparent about what we're doing in the region.
            STAFF:  Yeah, Bob?
            Q:  Bob Burns of AP.  Do you expect Secretary Panetta to raise in any way the question of China eventually joining into international nuclear arms reduction talks at some point?  And also, is the secretary planning to go to -- has that been worked out for the secretary to go to Beijing?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  The secretary very much looks forward to visiting Beijing.  We're still working details with our -- with our Chinese counterparts on when that could happen.  And I'd prefer not to speculate on the specific things that might come up in the meeting today on nuclear.
            Q:  I thought we were here to hear about what the U.S. side was planning to raise or not raise or what to expect from the meeting.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, they're going to talk about a whole -- a whole range of issues, but talking specifically the issue of entering into arms control, I don't believe that's on the agenda for today.
            STAFF:  John.
            Q:  (Inaudible)  Have any Chinese officials raised concerns or had any discussions with your side about the administration's agreement to accept Senator Cornyn's request to look into further arms sales to Taiwan?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Taiwan is something that -- I mean, Taiwan arms sales is a topic that frequently comes up in our exchanges with the Chinese.  And our position on that has been very clear.  Our policy is guided by the three joint U.S.-China communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, and under the Taiwan Relations Act, we'll make available to Taiwan defense articles and services that are necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense; and that the Senator Cornyn letter -- or, actually, it was a letter from the White House to Senator Cornyn, is fully consistent with that policy.
            Q:  But have Chinese officials specifically addressed that issue of talks yet?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Not that I'm aware of.
            STAFF:  Julian.
            Q:  Julian Barnes, Wall Street Journal.  Does the Chen asylum case and events surrounding that -- do you anticipate that -- what effect will that have on these talks?  Obviously, it was not anticipated when this visit was planned.  Is it going to be discussed?  Do you plan to discuss it openly?  Would -- is it straining the talks in any way that you see, or is this a normal -- that's settled, doesn't matter?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I'd have to refer you to the State Department on --
            Q:  No, but the effect on your talks, not their talks?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  We're not planning on raising it.
            Q:  Gopal Ratnam with Bloomberg News.  Of the January 2012 defense strategy, one of the key elements of that was the Anti-Access/Area Denial by some of the adversaries.  And the last time Secretary of Defense Gates was in Beijing, China did a test flight of a J-20, the stealth aircraft program.  And also, there've been -- reported that they're developing this anti-ship missile.  To what extent are some of those military capabilities a concern to the United States, and are they likely to come up in this meeting?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I -- you know, part of -- one of the real values that we get out of these exchanges is we have the opportunity to, you know, improve greater understanding in terms of what China's military modernization program is.  I don't know if specific weapon systems or capabilities will come up, but certainly we have some questions about the direction that China's military is taking.  And that's a pretty standard part of -- part of our dialogue is to help to get greater openness and a better understanding of where they're going with their military modernization.
            Q:  William Wan -- from the Washington Post.  I was wondering, can you talk about the trajectory of the communication, where you hope it ends up?  You know, there that was that period of radio silence between the military, and it seems like you're building towards something.  What would the end goal be?  Would it be, like, annual kind of bilateral talks?  Or what's -- like, where is it headed?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I -- yeah, I think -- I don't know if there is necessarily an end goal in sight.  I mean, it's -- and I appreciate the question.  I mean, what we're trying to do is build a military-to-military relationship that is -- that is healthy, stable, reliable and continuous.  And so that means that we're trying to establish a foundation for the military-to-military relationship that is solid enough and strong enough to be able to weather the types of turbulence and friction that's natural and a relationship that's as broad, diverse and complex as the relationship that we have with China.
            Yeah, as you know, in the past there have been ups and downs in the military-to-military relationship.  And we're looking to break the on-again-off-again cycle of our military-to-military exchanges and institutionalize some of these types of interactions.
            You know, we're looking, obviously, to be able to maintain senior-level communication so that if there are questions that we have or that China has about something that we're doing, that we have the ability to have open communication between both sides to help to address any misperceptions that may occur in the relationship.  So I think maintaining that type of healthy, stable, reliable and continuous dialogue is our objective.
            Q:  Were you going to detail some of the different stops?  You had mentioned the -- (inaudible).
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Yes.  In addition to the San Diego Naval Base, which is on Saturday, he's meeting at the Pentagon today, this afternoon.  After he leaves Washington, D.C., he's scheduled to travel to USSOUTHCOM to meet with General Fraser.
            Then he's going to be traveling to -- on Wednesday, traveling to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for some meetings and interactions with II MEF, or the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.  He'll also travel to Fort Benning, Georgia.
            And then on Thursday he will visit Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and he will also visit West Point, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Thursday as well, and then he departs -- departs the country on Thursday.
            Q:  And are there goals toward -- you talked about San Diego has a specific goal -- just highlighting other -- just like a top three or any kind of --
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Like, for example, the meeting with SOUTHCOM is going to be an opportunity to highlight opportunities for practical cooperation in things like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and expand the conversations that we have with the PLA on nontraditional security cooperation efforts, such as counternarcotics, which is something that is an important part of USSOUTHCOM's mission area.
            The visit to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force will be an opportunity to meet and interact with some of the senior noncommissioned officers that are part of our Marine Corps.  And one of the main objectives there is to provide an opportunity to meet and interact with some of those -- you know, our NCOs in the Marine Corps.
            The visit to Fort Benning, Georgia, is to be able to observe some very basic level training, and it demonstrates openness and transparency on the U.S. side.
            The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base -- again, he'll have an opportunity to view some flight training activities with F-15E aircraft.  And again, this just demonstrates the openness and transparency from the U.S. military.
            The visit to West Point is fully consistent with our efforts to enhance military academic and professional military education exchanges between our two sides.  And West Point is just a fantastic institution for that.
            Q:  Is he going to speak there, by any chance?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I don't believe he's scheduled to speak at West Point.
            STAFF:  No, there's no speaking -- (inaudible).
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Yeah.  He is ongoing to have lunch with cadets, though, in the mess hall.
            STAFF:  Ma'am, you've had your hand up there.  You're --
            Q:  Thank you.  Wei Jing from the Global Times of China.   Two questions.  What is the Pentagon's position on the Filipinos' claims or dispute on the Chinese island of Scarborough Island, the Huangyan Island?  And secondly, can -- are you confident that the Pentagon can maintain a good relationship -- military relationship with the Filipino military at the same time with the Chinese military?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  In terms of your first question, you know, our policy on that has been -- has been very clear.  We -- the United States has a national interest in freedom of navigation, in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, and unimpeded lawful commerce everywhere in the world, including in the South China Sea.
            We don't take a position on competing territorial claims over land features in the South China Sea, and we support a collaborative diplomatic process by all claimants to resolve their disputes without coercion.  That position has been -- has been consistent, and that hasn't -- that hasn't changed.
            And I also -- to address your second question, I don't see any challenge or conflict in maintaining good and positive relations with our Philippine treaty allies and the PRC.
            STAFF:  Just to remind, we had a very productive two-plus-two meeting last week with the -- with the foreign minister and the defense minister from the Philippines.
 Chris.
            Q:  Does the secretary plan to bring up or gauge the current state of China's relationship with North Korea, in terms of does the secretary expect to come away with a better understanding of exactly how much influence China currently has in North Korea?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Certainly that's going to be an important -- and important topic.  And I think that, you know, one of the aspects of this -- of this visit will be a discussion of regional security issues.  And so I'm sure North Korea will come up in that context.
            The specific nature of that -- of that conversation -- I mean, I think that, you know, we'll highlight our concerns over North Korean behavior, in particular the recent missile launch, and encourage China, as we do other countries, to encourage North Korea to adhere to its international obligations.
            STAFF:  Chris.
            Q:  Two ideas that have been mentioned before -- establishing a defense hotline to Beijing and possibly doing a -- like, an INCSEA [Incidents at Sea] agreement with China.  Either of those still on the table?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, actually, we do have a defense telephone link, which is a defense hotline.  And that's been in place since, I think, 2007.  And so that's already -- that's already been in place.
            Q:  But the issue is whether they pick up the phone when it rings, right?  (Inaudible) -- have, that's been -- I mean, you reference yourself improving communications between senior leaders.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, we have used the defense telephone link a number of times.  And when we've -- when we've called, they've -- they have answered it.  So I mean, that defense telephone link is in place.
            Q:  Right.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  But I mean, quite frankly, it's always going to be an open question given any -- on any given issue whether or not they'll answer the phone.  To date, though, they have answered it.
            Q:  And on the --
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  On the -- on the INCSEA, right now what we have is an agreement that was signed in 1998, it's called the U.S.-China Military Maritime Consultative Agreement.  And that agreement is focused on improving our capabilities to work together to focus on operational and tactical safety in the -- in the maritime domain and the airspace above it.  At this time, I think the MMCA agreement, Military Maritime Consultative Agreement, provides for the same types of things that the INCSEA agreement provided for in the Cold War with -- between the United States and the Soviet Union.  And that's the agreement that we have.
            Q:  There was no plenary meeting on that last year, right?  No main meeting?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  We did have a meeting last year on it.  I think it was a -- it was a working group.  And we're looking to schedule a plenary meeting this year, probably sometime this summer.
            STAFF:  Lalit.
            Q:  Lalit Jha from Press Trust of India.  How do you balance your -- (inaudible) -- relationship with India and China in Asian context?  And could Afghanistan be coming up in the talks here, the drawdown of troops or the security position in Afghanistan?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I'm pretty sure in the context of a discussion of regional security issues, the question of Afghanistan will come up.
            And in terms of our -- in terms of our relationship with China and India, I mean, same with the earlier question about the Philippines -- we can and do maintain positive relations with India and China at the same time.  We're working to build a strategic partnership with India, as we talk about in the Defense Strategic Guidance, and that is in no way in conflict with the type of military-to-military relationship that we're seeking to develop with China or the -- or, you know, the larger cooperative partnership that we're seeking to develop with China based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.  There's no conflict there.  We can pursue both.
            Q:  Rob Gentry with TV Asahi.  I wanted to follow on one of the points you mentioned about the meeting in Camp Lejeune will involve senior NCOs.  Who are they meeting with?  And in the past, there's been an emphasis from your side on trying to develop some sort of program of midlevel to junior-level officer exchanges.  Is that a topic you're going to bring up again and are you expecting any progress on that?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I don't have specific details on who specifically they're going to meet outside of noncommissioned officers from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
            Q:  But -- (inaudible) -- the Chinese side.
            (Cross talk.)
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  (Inaudible) -- what he's saying?
            Q:  Yeah.
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I mean, the Chinese -- the Chinese -- the Chinese delegation has got a good number of folks from across the different services on China.
            Just to give you a list of some of the -- some of the top individuals that are part of this group:  General Liang Guanglie, who, as you know, is the minister of defense; General Zhang Youxia, who is the commander of the Shenyang Military Region, is part of this delegation; Vice Admiral Su Shiliang, he's the deputy commander of the PLA Navy; Lieutenant General Yang Guohai, he's the chief of staff of the PLA Air Force; Major General Gao Jin, he's the chief of staff of the PLA 2nd Artillery Corps.
            So again, we have, you know, senior officers from all the different services in China are part of this delegation.  And it totals 24 different people, so it's a pretty good-size -- pretty good-size group.
            Q:  Are there going to be any Chinese NCOs?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  There are no Chinese NCOs on this delegation.  And -- yeah, there are no Chinese NCOs on this delegation.
            And then as part of your second question on the midgrade and junior-officer exchange program, we have had a number of rounds of that exchange in the past, and we obviously would be looking to continue that in the future, but we don't have the next iteration of that midgrade and junior-officer exchange planned right now.
            STAFF:  We'll get you a list of the delegation, if that's what you guys are asking for.
            Yeah, Luis.
            Q:  Way in the back here.  Luis Martinez with ABC.  Did they have a wish list of facilities that they intended to visit and that you may have decided not to let them go to?  I only bring it up because I think in the past, American secretaries have visited the 2nd Artillery Corps and I think you've said that that was something that you desired to visit and that they relented.  What did they want to see here that you may not have wanted them to see?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I guess the only thing I could say is the Chinese have expressed satisfaction with the itinerary that we developed in concert with them.
            So I mean, it's something that we've worked out with them over the course of the past several weeks.  So there's some things that they wanted, some things that they are in there.  Other things that they wanted may not have been available at the time.  But we worked very hard to put together a program that would meet both of our objectives, the Chinese objectives and U.S. objectives.  And the Chinese have expressed satisfaction with all the arrangements that we've made.
            Q:  And what were some of the ones that they wanted?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I don't have the specific details on the ones that they wanted.  I know that they do want and they are -- they're very pleased with the ones that they've got.
            STAFF:  Lita.
            Q:  On -- you mentioned cybersecurity.  Can you give us just a little better idea of what type -- the tenor of the discussion about cybersecurity?  I mean, obviously, the U.S. intelligence community has come out fairly strongly about China cyberattacks, particularly data exfiltration.  Is that going to be part of the conversation, or is it more along the lines of international cooperation on cybersecurity issues?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I mean, I think the -- you know, I mean, cyber issues is an important area for dialogue and discussion with the Chinese government and the Chinese military in particular.  I mean, we obviously have some concerns about some behavior, cyber behavior that appears to originate in China.  This is something that we've talked about in the past.  We've mentioned it in our annual report to Congress on military and security developments involving the People's Republic of China.  I mean, there's -- I guess there's two aspects to that.  And you know, one is the question of norms, and another is the question of intrusions.  And you know, these are all important issues that we need to be able to talk about with the Chinese.
            Q:  But will they come up?  Will these four come up?  Will they come up?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  I think, yeah, cyber as a general topic will likely come up, yeah.
            STAFF:  Again, so we started late, so we're going to go just a couple more minutes.  (Inaudible.)
            Q:  Jim Miklaszewski, NBC.  What specific questions does the U.S. have about China's military modernization?  And what sort of answers have you received in the past when you ask about that?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  Well, I think, you know, we would like to have a better understanding of the purposes, you know, objectives and desired end states of China's military modernization.  We'd like to be able to understand a little bit more about why the Chinese are investing in this very robust and rapid military modernization program, given the security environment that we see in the Asia-Pacific today, which is a region that's at peace.  And so we'd like to understand what is motivating China to invest so much of their resources at such a rapid pace.
            We have had some success in getting greater openness from the Chinese in years past.  The Chinese now routinely publish defense white papers every other year, and that provides greater insights on what they're doing with their military and where they'd like to take the military in the future.
            They've done things like establish a Ministry of National Defense press office and information office to better provide -- make more information available about the military.  But we think that there's a lot more that can be said by the Chinese about the direction that its military is taking.
            STAFF:  OK.  This is going to be the last question.
            Q:  Thank you.
            STAFF:  (Inaudible.)
            Q:  (Inaudible) -- with -- (inaudible).  As you know -- (inaudible) -- North Korea has -- (inaudible) -- underground nuclear test.  (Inaudible) Secretary Panetta raised this issue at this time?
            SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL:  We continue to have significant concern about peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and -- particularly as North Korea continues to engage in provocative actions that risk instability in Northeast Asia.  I had mentioned earlier North Korea's failed missile launch.  That's one example of provocative behavior, and we're watching very carefully for the potential for additional provocation from North Korea.  And as I had mentioned before, I mean, this is -- this is a topic that will likely come up with the secretary, in particular given China's long-standing relationship with North Korea and its status as a country that has perhaps the greatest influence over North Korea.
            STAFF:  OK, guys, thanks.  I appreciate it.
            Just a little housekeeping -- (inaudible).  I forgot to mention that we do now have the press briefing scheduled at 1630 here in the -- (inaudible) -- finally worked out all the kinks.  So 1630 on camera with both Secretary Panetta and the minister.

DOD AND CONSUMERS FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU PARTNER TO PROTECT SERVICE MEMBER FINANCES

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Robert L. Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, and Holly Petreaus, who heads the office of service members affairs for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, prepare to sign a joint statement of principles for protecting service members and their families from financial and consumer fraud and abuse during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2012. DOD photo by Steven Wood
DOD, Financial Protection Bureau Underscore Partnership
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2012 - Defense Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials attended a Pentagon ceremony here today where they signed a joint statement of shared principles that underscores their partnership to protect the finances of service members.

Robert L. Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy who signed for the department, said the ceremony was another example of the DOD and the bureau coming together to protect service members.
"This is just the beginning," Gordon said, "... as we think of novel and new ways to form a great partnership for our community."

Holly Petraeus, who signed for the bureau and leads its office of service member affairs, said the ceremony was "an outward expression of what we're already doing."
Petraeus, wife of retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus who now serves as CIA director, said it was important to put on paper DOD's and the bureau's shared interests. As spelled out in the statement, those include:

-- Protecting service members and their families from illegal consumer financial practices and products;

-- Enabling the department and the bureau to provide input to each other to reduce financial risk for service members and their families;
-- Working together to address consumer financial concerns of military members and their families;

-- Reducing risk in the small-dollar lending market; and
-- Supporting financial literacy among service members and their families.
The statement says the department and bureau will work together to monitor market trends directed at service members and their families, coordinate consumer protection measures, identify risky small-dollar loans, and identify ways to improve laws related to financial protection of military members and their families.
"We feel that financial fitness is part of resilience and it's part of readiness for our service members and their families," Gordon said.

Too often, Petraeus said, scam artists prey on service members and their families and many have learned how to get around the language of the law. Service members and their families, she said, should take any concerns about financial and consumer protection to their installation's financial or legal offices.
"That can hold off a lot of trouble," Petraeus said.

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY A DEFENSE PRIORITY

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Motorcycle Safety Remains Top Priority for Defense Leaders

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2012 - Preventing motorcycle accidents and fatalities remains a top priority for Defense Department leaders, a senior defense official said today, with training and awareness reducing the number of incidents.

"We had seen fatalities and accidents increasing as motorcycle ownership increased," Joseph Angello, DOD's director of operational readiness and safety, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service. In 2008, the peak year for fatalities, he added, 124 service members died in motorcycle accidents.

"Since that time -- through training, through emphasis, through leadership [and] through the phenomenal work of our military services -- we've brought that number down," he said. "We lost 92 [service members] last year, and this year our trends look like we will be at that level or less."

Every loss is tragic and affects spouses, parents other family members, the service member's unit and the Defense Department, Angello said.

"We don't want anyone to lose their life in a motorcycle accident," he said. "We want them to drive safe; we want them to wear protective gear -- helmets, appropriate shoes, appropriate attire, and leathers. ... But sometimes, the best protection against a motorcycle accident is awareness, training and control. That's your best protection."

As a motorcycle rider since age 11, Angello said, he knows how much fun riding can be. But it's important for riders to respect the fact that motorcycles also are inherently dangerous, he added.

"It takes effort to ride a motorcycle properly," he said. "Accidents happen in the blink of an eye, [and] those mistakes are unforgiving." Riders who ride safely 99 times out of 100, he added, can experience a "high regret factor" the one time they don't.

The director noted motorcycle training is mandatory for all DOD personnel. In addition, military personnel are required to wear personal protective equipment, such as long sleeves, eye protection and helmets, even if they are in a "no-helmet" state.

"If you are a military member and you want to ride a motorcycle, you must have the training," Angello said. "Each of our services -- a lot of them are common courses -- have a basic motorcycle safety course. You must take it or a refresher course, an advanced rider course, or a sports bike course."

The Navy and Marine Corps developed the sports bike course in 2008 and shared it through the Defense Safety Oversight Council Private Motor Vehicle Task Force. "Sports bikes are phenomenal pieces of engineering, with power-to-weight ratios like we've never seen before," Angello said. "As a result, they are very dangerous. If ridden properly, it's enjoyment -- it's fun. But they are unforgiving."

Numerous deployments over the last decade have had an impact on the number of service members involved in motorcycle accidents, Angello said.

"We have noted, and other studies have noted, there is an increase in motorcycle accidents when people return from deployment," he said. "Our data shows [it happens] particularly within the first year when returning from deployment."

Theories as to why these fatalities are occurring include service members not having the opportunity to ride a motorcycle during deployment or the change in driving conditions when they're back home, Angello said.

"Others talk of theories such as, 'You become 'bulletproof' from your experience in theater, and you take more risks at home,'" he said. "Whatever the cause, we in DOD are taking it very seriously. When people return from deployment our leaders are ensuring people get trained."

Angello, who noted he has taken motorcycle training himself, urged all service members to take advantage of "some of the best training offered in this nation."

"Right now, the courses are for service members," he said. "Some of the installations, on a space-available basis, make arrangements for family members. However, any military member who has a dependent who wants to ride a motorcycle -- they should be trained."

Angello lauded military leaders for their commitment to addressing motorcycle safety for having "offered courses that make a difference in people's lives," and urged all military members to be ready to ride, just as they are ready for the mission when they serve in uniform.

"Ready to ride -- right equipment, right training, right conditions," he said. "Keep your awareness up, and you're ready to ride.

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN

Photo:  White House

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Obama Praises Military, Highlights 'New Chapter in Afghanistan'

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2012 - In his weekly address today, President Barack Obama discussed his trip to Afghanistan, where he signed a historic agreement setting the stage for a long-term partnership.

"As commander in chief, nothing is more humbling or inspiring than the chance to spend some time with our troops," Obama said. "At Bagram Air Base, I visited with some of our outstanding men and women in uniform. I thanked them for their extraordinary service. And I let them know that America honors their sacrifice."

Because of their bravery and dedication, the president said, the Taliban's momentum has been broken, a strong Afghan security force has been established and al-Qaida's leadership has been devastated.

"One year ago, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden," Obama said. "The goal that I set – to defeat al-Qaida and deny it a chance to rebuild – is within reach.

"Because of the progress we have made," he continued, "I was able to sign an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries: a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states -- a future in which the war ends and a new chapter begins."

Though the "enormous sacrifices" of U.S. men and women are not over, Obama said, many are already returning home.

"Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan," he said. "Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014, the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country."

Urging the American people to help "secure the care and benefits our veterans have earned, so that we serve them as well as they have served us," the president praised the courage, commitment, selflessness and teamwork of troops. They have something to teach the rest of the nation, he said.

"If we follow their example," Obama said, "then I have no doubt we will preserve the promise of this country, protect the freedoms we cherish, and leave for our children an America that's built to last."

SAPLINGS PLANTED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR ARBOR DAY AND SERVICE MEMBERS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
From Left to Right: American Forests Chief Executive Officer Scott Sheen, Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, and cemetery arborist Stephen Van Hoven place soil around a ribbon-laden sapling at the end of an Arbor Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, April 27, 2012. DOD photo by Terri Moon Cronk

Arlington National Cemetery Plants Saplings to Honor Troops
By Terri Moon Cronk
ARLINGTON, Va., April 27, 2012 - In honor of Arbor Day and to pay respects to U.S. service members, officials planted five oak tree saplings at Arlington National Cemetery here today.

saplings were grown from acorns taken from the renowned "Arlington Oak," a 220-year-old tree that was felled by Hurricane Irene in August 2011. The old oak tree stood in the area of the cemetery's Kennedy family burial site. Several years ago, the nonprofit American Forests organization collected acorns from the old oak and grew the saplings.

Three of the saplings were planted near the Kennedy family gravesite. Of the remaining two saplings, one was planted in section 26, near the old amphitheater and the other in section 36, near Custis Walk.

"On this ground we have the opportunity to re-establish a lost national landmark with its very own offspring," said keynote speaker Katherine Hammack, the assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment. "We can do this because Arlington National Cemetery and American Forests had foresight. They collected acorns from that landmark tree next to President [John F.] Kennedy's gravesite to prepare for an inevitable future."

Cemetery historian Tom Sherlock said when President Kennedy visited Arlington House in the spring of 1963, the Arlington oak was prominent in his view as he looked down upon Washington, D.C.

Kennedy said he was taken with the "magnificent" view, Sherlock said, noting the president also remarked that he "could stay there forever." That area near the tree was later chosen as Kennedy's burial site.

Today, a single oak sapling where the old tree once stood also represents a tribute to U.S. service members, Hammack said.

"When we were planning today's ceremony, the 1973 song, 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree' came to mind," she said. "We have lost the old oak tree of a 220-year legacy, but we have an opportunity to tie a yellow ribbon around the young oak tree."
Arlington cemetery's saplings, Hammack said, remind Americans "of those men and women who are serving in harm's way" to protect the nation.
"On behalf of a grateful nation and the U.S. Army, this serves as a welcome home to all service men and women," she said.

Hammack then tied a yellow ribbon around the young tree.