U.S. CHAIRMAN JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF MEETS WITH COUNTERPART IN AUSTRAILIA



Map Credit:  U.S. State Department.



FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
PERTH, Australia, Nov. 12, 2012 – After meeting with his Australian counterpart here today, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has met with the military leaders of America’s three closest allies in the Asia-Pacific region during his current overseas trip.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey met Gen. David Hurley, chief of Australia’s defense force, upon his arrival for the annual ministerial consultations between the United States and Australia.

Earlier today, the chairman met with Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki, chief of staff of the Japanese joint staff. Yesterday, he met with his South Korean counterpart Gen. Jung Seung-jo following a full day of meetings in the South Korean capital of Seoul and a trip to Korea’s Demilitarized Zone.

In an interview, Dempsey said the alliances among the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia are the most enduring in the Asia-Pacific. "What I’m trying to do is rise above the very topical and tactical issues and to gain some clarity and consensus on how we can find our way forward together," he added.

Reason exists to pursue multilateral architectures in the Asia-Pacific region, "but we have to take into account their preferences," the general said. He noted that a number of significant exercises have taken place in the region, citing the Thai-hosted Cobra Gold and the U.S.-sponsored Rim of the Pacific exercises as examples of multilateral cooperation among the region’s nations.

Asia-Pacific nations also are working more closely together in the counterpiracy mission from the Straits of Malacca to the Gulf of Aden.

Generally, the allies in the Pacific are comfortable with bilateral relations with the United States as a step toward multilateral relations, the chairman said.

During his trip to South Korea, Dempsey visited U.S. and South Korean troops at the Demilitarized Zone. Though he has been to Korea a number of times, it was his first visit to the frontier between the North and South.

"What I was struck by was 60 years of vigilance and partnership, and what that has meant," he said. "This generation of young Korean and American service members are following in the footsteps of previous generations. I felt damn glad to have them up there."

While he and Jung discussed the changes in North Korea, Dempsey said, they didn’t dwell on them. "We took stock of activities over time, whether it’s the obvious ones like the shelling of islands of the sinking of the Cheonan, or GPS jamming or the missile tests," he said. "Then we looked at not only what we should be doing to better prepare ourselves for whatever the future security situation brings up."

The alliance is successful, but it is going to change, the chairman said, noting that he and Jung discussed what needs to happen to transition to the strategic alliance of 2015. The United States will remain committed to the defense of South Korea, he explained, but the command relationship will change, and he and Jung discussed the path the two countries are on and what still needs to happen.

In Australia, Dempsey will join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta in meetings with their counterparts. "This shows we are paying more attention to the Asia-Pacific," he said. "How that will manifest itself will be determined."

Dempsey said he expects the conversations to run the full gamut of issues both nations are concerned with, including force posture and partnering, freedom of navigation, counterpiracy, and all things that affect the maritime domain.

"I will also try to encourage a conversation about how in the Asia-Pacific there is a nexus or convergence of maritime issues with space issues with cyber issues," he said. "This convergence is worthy of our time to think through together."

GEN. MARTIN E. DEMPSEY LEADS DELEGATION TO THE PARALYMPICS IN LONDON

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, right, a member of the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team, is interviewed by Army Sgt. Abigail Waldrop during team processing at the University of East London campus prior to the start of the Paralympic Games, in London, Aug. 28. Snyder advocates wounded warriors using sports to aid their rehabilitation and boost confidence. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

Chairman Leads U.S. Delegation for Opening of Paralympic Games
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

LONDON, Aug. 29, 2012 - A U.S. delegation led by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived here yesterday ahead of opening ceremonies for the 2012 Paralympic Games and visited today with Paralympic athletes.

Members of the delegation toured the Sports Dock at the University of East London campus, viewing one of the facilities athletes are using to prepare for the games.

"The biggest thing that we're doing is we're here to support our athletes," said Kareem Dale, special assistant to President Barack Obama for disability policy. "The president and the entire administration are behind them, rooting for them and cheering them on."

Dale, who is blind, had a message for the 227 U.S. Paralympians competing here.

"The message that not only I would send, but the president would send, is that we know, given the opportunity, our ... Paralympic athletes can achieve anything that they desire," he said. "And for those aspiring Paralympians, they should know that their country supports [them, too]. The people of America support you, and we believe in you."

Dale noted the current group of wounded warriors and other athletes with disabilities who are Paralympians already are achieving great things. Wounded warriors served their country extremely well, he added, so Americans need to make sure they are serving them.

"Certainly, one of the ways is sports," Dale said. "[It] is such a great tool so that people can get back in the swing of life, feel useful, feel productive and continue building on that team spirit that they learn in the military. It's just a great way for people to rehab and to get back into the swing of life.

"So for our wounded warriors," he continued, "we're going to continue to support them when they come home." Opportunities like the Paralympics help wounded warriors integrate back into society, he added.

Lisa Jackson, administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also is part of the U.S. delegation. "It's an incredible honor to be able to represent the administration and all folks back home who would love to be here to cheer on our men and women," she said.

Jackson said she is excited to be able to support all the U.S. athletes.

"I will be in the stands cheering our athletes on when they enter the stadium, and be able to witness firsthand the excitement that comes with the anticipation of letting them get out and do what they do best, which is compete and represent our country."