AFGHAN FORCES WILL SOON TAKE LEAD IN NATION'S SECURITY

President Barack Obama and Ambassador Capricia Marshall, Chief of Protocol, wave to President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan as he departs from the North Portico of the White House, Jan. 11, 2013.(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Afghan Forces Accelerate Taking Security Lead in Country
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2013 - Afghan forces will take the lead for security throughout Afghanistan this spring rather than at mid-year, President Barack Obama announced at a White House news conference today.

Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke following White House meetings.

The Afghan president emphasized that the number of American forces that will remain in Afghanistan after the NATO mission concludes at the end of 2014 is not crucial.

"Numbers are not going to make a difference to the situation in Afghanistan," Karzai said. "It's the broader relationship that will make a difference to Afghanistan and beyond in the region. The specifics of numbers are issues that the military will decide and Afghanistan will have no particular concern when we are talking of numbers and how they are deployed."

Afghan forces will be in the lead sooner than planned, Obama said. U.S. and NATO forces have been training Afghan police and soldiers, who have progressed to the point where they are able to take the lead, Obama said. "We are able to meet those goals and accelerate them somewhat," he said. "What's going to happen this spring is that Afghans will be in the lead throughout the country."

U.S. forces will still be in the fight, the president said. "It does mean, though, that Afghans will have taken the lead and our presence, the nature of our work, will be different," he said. "We will be in a training, assisting, advising role."

This will lead to a responsible end to the war in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the president said. "This progress is only possible because of the incredible sacrifices of our troops and our diplomats, the forces of our many coalition partners, and the Afghan people, who've endured extraordinary hardship," he added.

Obama noted that more than 2,000 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001, and tens of thousands have been wounded. "These are patriots that we honor today, tomorrow, and forever," he said.

The president promised that the number of U.S. service members in Afghanistan will continue to drop over the next year. Some 66,000 Americans are deployed to the nation now. "I've pledged we'll continue to bring our forces home at a steady pace," he said. "And in the coming months, I'll announce the next phase of our drawdown, a responsible drawdown that protects the gains our troops have made."

Karzai and Obama discussed the still to be worked out bilateral security agreement between the two nations. Part of this is a status of forces agreement, which will protect American service members. Both said they think an agreement is possible this year.

DOD TARGETS HUMAN TRAFFICKING

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE

DOD heightens training, prevention to target human trafficking
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
1/2/2013 - WAWSHINGTON (AFNS) -- To spark awareness and vigilance against a growing global human rights crisis, President Barack Obama has proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Linda Dixon, the Defense Department's program manager for combating trafficking in persons, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service in a recent interview that DOD has strengthened training modules and reporting avenues to combat trafficking in persons, a criminal enterprise that generates roughly $32 billion per year worldwide.

"That's the second-largest source of revenue for criminal enterprises, and it's growing," Dixon said. "Trafficking is a zero-tolerance policy; it's not only immoral, but it is illegal."

The United Nations International Labor organization estimates more than 12 million human trafficking victims worldwide, with an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 new victims each year.

Some victims are Americans, Dixon said, but most victims come from elsewhere.

"Source countries are usually areas that are poverty-stricken," she said, "but trafficking is everywhere."

The Trafficking Victim Protection Act defines trafficking in persons as the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person to provide labor or services or commercial sex.

The crime, Dixon explained, can run the gamut of exploitation, and includes elements of recruiting, harboring, transportation, providing or obtaining a person for the purpose of exploitation.

State Department officials said the three most common forms of trafficking are labor trafficking, sex trafficking and child soldiering.

Child soldiering entails the unlawful recruitment of minors who, as young as age 7, are sexually and physically abused and forced to commit atrocities in more than 57 armed conflicts worldwide, according to State Department officials.

DOD's demand-reduction and prevention program is a mechanism to report violations and thwart offenses, Dixon said.

In addition to a general awareness training module, she added, the program also includes law enforcement, contractor and leadership-specific training modules.

"We have put together training modules ... (and) a clause in our contracts to prohibit contractors from being involved in trafficking," Dixon said. "All of the agencies have a (trafficking in persons) point of contact -- the services, the combatant commands (and) defense agencies."

Indicators include heavily guarded areas where workers appear intimidated or are being escorted from a facility to their home, or who lack personal documents such as passports or other identification, Dixon explained.

"You should report it to your local authorities; report it through your chain of command," Dixon said.

If DOD personnel are involved in trafficking offenses, she added, the inspector general investigates the type and scope of the offense to determine a course of action.

Noting that 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Dixon said the year will feature summits, events and conferences to sharpen awareness and eradicate trafficking.

"In DOD, we're charged with making sure that we protect our country's security, and trafficking in persons is a threat to that security," she said.

Dixon said great strides have been made at the highest level to stop this modern-day slavery and restore human dignity.

"There's an education process that's taking place, not only with people in general, but with our law enforcement, to recognize it, understand and know that it is a chargeable offense," Dixon said. "It is a danger to our troops. It's a danger to national security."

RECENT OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOS

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, in the Oval Office, Sept. 28, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama and Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi pet Bo, the Obama family dog, at the conclusion of their meeting in the Oval Office, Sept. 19, 2012. Danny Russel, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton watch at left. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

PRESIDENT OBAMA PROCLAIMS GOLD STAR MOTHER'S AND FAMILY'S DAY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
President Proclaims Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2012 - President Barack Obama asked the nation to "rededicate ourselves to upholding the sacred trust we share with our Gold Star families and the heroes we have laid to rest," in his proclamation issued today declaring Sept. 30, 2012, as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day.

The proclamation reads:

"From the revolution that gave life to our Republic to the trials of our times, our men and women in uniform have put themselves in harm's way to defend the people they love and the land they cherish. Their actions attest not only to the depth of their sacrifice, but also to a belief in their country so profound they were willing to give their lives for it. Today, we pay solemn tribute to all who did. Sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, they were all patriots -- and with a devotion to duty that goes without equal, these proud Americans gave of themselves until they had nothing more to give.

"As a grateful Nation honors our fallen service members, so do we honor the families who keep their memory burning bright. They are parents who face the loss of a child, spouses who carry an emptiness that cannot be filled, children who know sorrow that defies comprehension. The grief they hold in their hearts is a grief most cannot fully know. But as fellow Americans, we must lend our strength to those families who have given so much for our country. Their burdens are ones that no one should have to bear alone, and it is up to all of us to live our lives in a way worthy of their sacrifice.

"On this day of remembrance, let us rededicate ourselves to upholding the sacred trust we share with our Gold Star families and the heroes we have laid to rest. Let us always remember that the blessings we enjoy as free people in a free society came at a dear cost. Let us hold the memories of our fallen close to our hearts, and let us mark each day by heeding the example they set. Finally, let us forever keep faith with our men and women in uniform, our veterans, and our military families by serving them as well as they have served us. Our Union endures because of their courage and selflessness, and today, we resolve anew to show them the care and support they so deeply deserve.

"The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat. 1985 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as 'Gold Star Mother's Day.'

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 30, 2012, as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day. I call upon all Government officials to display the flag of the United States over Government buildings on this special day. I also encourage the American people to display the flag and hold appropriate ceremonies as a public expression of our Nation's sympathy and respect for our Gold Star Mothers and Families."

DETAILS OF ATTACK IN BENGHAZI

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Official Details Benghazi Attack, Vows to Support LibyaBy Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2012 - A senior government official today revealed details of yesterday's deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four State Department officials and wounded three others.

Today, President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta all condemned the attack and the senseless deaths of Americans, and extended their deepest sympathies to the families and colleagues of those who were killed and wounded in Benghazi.

During a teleconference given on background to reporters, the official described the scene of an attack whose elements are unclear or unknown but that killed U.S. Amb. J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service information management officer Sean Smith and two others whose names are being withheld until State Department officials notify their families. Three other Americans were wounded in the attack.

All Benghazi consulate personnel have been evacuated to the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli in a series of flights that included the three wounded personnel and the remains of the fallen State Department officials, the official said.

The Benghazi consulate staff will be transported to Germany, she said.

"The staff that is well is going to stay in Europe on standby while we assess the security situation," she said. "The wounded will be treated [at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center] in Germany, and the remains will come home."

In the meantime, the official said, "we have taken our embassy in Tripoli down to emergency staffing levels and ... we have requested increased support from the Libyans while we access the security situation."

Last night, she said, State Department officials ordered all diplomatic posts around the world to review their security posture and to take all necessary steps to enhance that posture.

During the briefing, warning that details may change as the attack is investigated, the official offered a timeline of events surrounding the attack.

The consulate in Benghazi is an interim facility acquired before the fall of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. It consists of a main building, several ancillary buildings, and an annex a little further away, she said.

"At about 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time yesterday, which was about 10 p.m. in Libya, the compound ... in Benghazi began taking fire from unidentified Libyan extremists. By about 4:15 p.m. attackers gained access to the compound and began firing into the main building, setting it on fire," she said, "and the Libyan guard force and mission security personnel responded."

At the time, three people were inside the building -- Ambassador Stevens, a regional security officer, and Smith -- and while trying to evacuate they became separated by heavy, dark smoke.

"The regional security officer made it outside and then he and other security personnel returned into the burning building in an attempt to rescue Chris and Sean," the official said.

They found Smith, who had died, and pulled him from the building. They were unable to locate Stevens before fire, smoke and small-arms fire drove them from the building, the official said.

"At about 4:45 p.m. Washington time, U.S. security personnel assigned to the mission annex tried to regain the main building but that group also took heavy fire and had to return to the mission annex," the official said.

"At about 5:20 p.m.," she added, "Libyan security personnel made another attempt and that time were able to regain and secure the main building."

The rest of the staff were evacuated to the nearby annex, which itself came under fire at around 6 p.m. Washington time and continued under fire for about two hours, she said.

During that ongoing attack, the official said, two more U.S. personnel were killed and two more were wounded.

At about 8:30 p.m. Washington time, or 2 a.m. in Libya, Libyan security forces helped regain control of the situation, she said.

"At some point in all of this, and frankly we do not know when, we believe that Ambassador Stevens got out of the building and was taken to a hospital in Benghazi," she said, adding, "We do not have any information about his condition at that time. His body was later returned to U.S. personnel at the Benghazi airport."

The official said Stevens made regular and frequent trips to Benghazi to check on developments in the east.

"He had been the secretary's and the president's representative to the Transitional National Council before the fall of Gadhafi and had spent a lot of time in Benghazi and built deep contacts there," she explained. "So this was one of his regular visits."

She said security in Benghazi included a local guard force outside the compound, "which is similar to the way we are postured all over the world. We had a physical perimeter barrier and ... a robust American security presence inside the compound, including a strong component of regional security officers."

About the protests, the official said, "We frankly don't have a full picture of what may have been going on outside the compound walls before the firing began [and] ... we are not in a position to speak any further to the perpetrators of this attack."

The complex attack will require a full investigation, she added.

"We are committed to working with the Libyans both on the investigation and to ensure that we bring the perpetrators to justice," the official said. "The FBI is already committed to assisting in that but it's just too early to speak to who [the attackers] were and if they might have been otherwise affiliated beyond Libya."

As Clinton said very clearly today, the official added, "We are as committed today as we have ever been to a free and stable Libya that is still in America's interest, and we are going to continue to work very strongly to help them have the future that they want and they deserve."

She added, "I would simply note how quickly and how strongly senior members of the Libyan government came forward to condemn this attack, to offer support to us.

She noted that the consulate's Libyan security forces stood with U.S. security forces in defending the consulate buildings.

"One of the local militias that was friendly to the embassy came to assist as well," the official added, "and I think that really speaks to the relationship that we have built with Libya."

Also here this afternoon, Libyan ambassador to the United States Ali Suleiman Aujali held a press conference to condemn the attack on the Benghazi consulate and the deaths of embassy personnel.

"It is a sad day in my life. I knew Chris personally. He's my tennis partner. He comes to my house. We have breakfast together. I've known him for more than six years. He may be the first American diplomat to [have arrived] in Tripoli ... after the revolution. He's very welcomed by the people. He visited the Libyans. He [ate] with them. He [sat] with them," Aujali said.

Aujali also offered his country's "deep condolences" to the American people, to the families, and the president.

"We are very sorry for what happened," Aujali said. "We will do everything possible ... to [ensure] that we have better relations, better protection [for] the American diplomats and [for] the international community ... working in our country."

PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS/VETS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Obama: Improve Mental Health Access, Care for Military, Vets

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2012 - President Barack Obama today signed an executive order that provides increased access to mental health services for service members, military families and veterans.

The order, signed as Obama left Washington for a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, directs the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other key federal departments to expand suicide-prevention strategies and to take new steps to meet the demand for mental health and substance abuse treatment services, White House officials said.

The president is expected to share details about the new initiative today during a private roundtable discussion with soldiers and their families at Fort Bliss and during an address to the troops.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the new provisions underscore the U.S. government's commitment to strengthening the health of the military force and providing additional support to combat "two unseen wounds" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.

The executive order:

-- Strengthens suicide-prevention efforts across the force and in the veteran community;

-- Enhances access to mental health care by building partnerships between the Department of Veterans Affairs and community providers;

-- Increases the number of VA mental health providers serving veterans; and

-- Promotes mental health research and development of more effective ways to prevent, identify and treat PTSD, TBI and other related injuries.

More than 2 million service members have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001, serving tours of unprecedented duration and frequency, White House officials noted in announcing the new executive order.

"Long deployments and intense combat conditions require optimal support for the emotional and mental health needs of our service members and their families," they said.

The executive order builds on efforts already under way within the Defense Department, VA and other federal agencies to ensure veterans and active, Guard and Reserve service members and their families get the support they deserve, officials noted.

In terms of suicide prevention, the executive order directs VA to increase the capacity of its veteran crisis line by 50 percent by the year's end. It also calls on VA to ensure that no veteran who reports being in crisis should have to wait more than 24 hours to be connected to a mental health professional or trained mental health worker.

VA also will work with the Defense Department to establish a national, 12-month suicide prevention campaign focused on connecting veterans to mental health services, officials reported.

To ensure veterans have access to these services, the executive order also calls on VA and the Department of Health and Human Services to establish at least 15 pilot sites where VA can partner with local mental health providers. This initiative, officials said, will help ensure services are available in regions where VA has had trouble hiring or placing providers.

The order also directs VA and HHS to develop a plan to increase access to mental health care in rural communities.

In addition, VA will hire 800 peer-to-peer support counselors to help veterans support each other and ensure that their mental health needs are met.

That's on top of VA's ongoing effort to hire 1,600 new mental health care professionals by June 2013. VA has hired more than 3,500 mental health professionals since 2009, and the new executive order includes recruiting incentives to build on that momentum.

The new order rallies interagency support in confronting mental health and substance abuse support for veterans, service members and their families. It establishes an interagency task force to recommend new strategies, and calls on DOD, VA, DHHS and the Department of Education to devise a national plan to improve PTSD and TBI diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive study included in that plan will delve into better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these and other mental health challenges, officials said.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CONCERNED ABOUT INSIDER ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Obama 'Deeply Concerned' About Afghanistan Insider Attacks

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2012 - President Barack Obama said today that he, senior coalition military leaders and their Afghan counterparts will continue intensifying measures to thwart the spate of insider attacks by people wearing Afghan military and police uniforms.


During a White House news conference, the president said he spoke with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was in Afghanistan today, and plans to speak with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.


"[Dempsey] is having intensive consultations not only with our commander, [Marine Corps Gen.] John Allen, on the ground, but also with Afghan counterparts," Obama said. "And I'll be reaching out to President Karzai as well, because we've got to make sure that we're on top of this."


Some of the attackers, the president said, are members of the Afghan security forces, and others have donned Afghan military or police uniforms to carry out their attacks. Coalition forces already have a range of successful vetting measures in play, he added, and pressure needs to remain.


As of yesterday, there have been 32 insider attacks this year that have resulted in 22 deaths, a senior defense official said. In all, 40 coalition personnel had been killed and 69 others have been wounded in such attacks. Over the same period in 2011, the official added, 16 attacks resulted in 28 deaths and 43 wounded.


The security transition under way in Afghanistan includes navigating the complexities that stem from closer contact with Afghan troops as coalition trainers prepare them to take responsibility for security throughout the country, Obama said.


"Part of what we've got to do is to make sure that this model works, but it doesn't make our [troops] more vulnerable," he added. "In the long term, we will see fewer U.S. casualties and coalition casualties by sticking to our transition plan and making sure that we've got the most effective Afghan security force possible."

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SPEAKS ABOUT DROUGHT IN WEEKLY ADDRESS

FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
August 11, 2012

Hi, everybody. Today, I want to talk about something that most of you know already – it’s hot outside. It’s really hot. And if this feels worse than normal, that’s because it is. We just found out that the month of July was the warmest month on record – warmer than any other month since we began keeping track more than a century ago.

But the heat is just half the story. We’re also suffering through one of the worst droughts in over 50 years. More than a fifth of this country is experiencing what we call "extreme" or "exceptional" drought – with states like Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas getting hit harder than most.

That’s bad news for a lot of people, but it’s especially tough on our farmers. Right now, half of the corn crop in America is in poor or very poor condition. Cattle farmers are struggling to feed their animals. Many folks are seeing their livelihoods dry up in front of their eyes. And if we don’t get relief soon, Americans everywhere will start feeling the pinch, with higher prices on grocery store shelves all across the country.

We can’t let that happen. That’s why, at my direction, the Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Vilsack, has been working with other agencies across the federal government to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help farmers and ranchers fight back and recover from this disaster. Already, we’ve given farmers across 32 states access to low-interest emergency loans.

We’ve opened up more federal land for grazing. And we’re working with crop insurance companies to give farmers a short grace period on their premiums, since some families will be struggling to make ends meet at the end of the year.

This past week, we went even further – announcing an additional $30 million to help get more water to livestock and restore land affected by the drought. We’re making it easier for even more farmers, ranchers and businesses to get emergency loans. And the Department of Transportation is helping more truck drivers deliver supplies to states that need them the most.

This is an all-hands-on-deck response, and we’ll be doing even more in the coming weeks to help families and communities that are suffering right now.

But my Administration can’t do it alone. Congress needs to do its part, too. They need to pass a farm bill that not only helps farmers and ranchers respond to these kinds of disasters, but also makes necessary reforms and gives them some certainty year-round. That’s the single best way we can help rural communities right now, and also in the long-term.

So call your Members of Congress, write them an email, and tell them that now is the time to come together and get this done. Too many Americans are suffering right now to let politics get in the way. Let’s help farmers, ranchers and business owners recover. Let’s make sure that families who already stretch their budgets to the limit don’t have to pay more for groceries this fall.

In the meantime, I’ll keep doing everything I can to help respond to this disaster. Because at times like these, it doesn’t matter if you live in Des Moines or Detroit – we’re Americans first. And if we look out for each other, we’ll come out of this stronger than before.

Have a great weekend, everybody. And stay cool.

PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES OHIO DISASTER

Photo Credit:  White House. 

FROM:  FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Ohio to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms beginning on June 29, 2012, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all 88 counties in the State of Ohio.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

W. Michael Moore has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK REAUTHORIZATION IS SIGNED INTO LAW

Photo:  President Obama During A Weekly Address.  Credit:  White House.
FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
President Obama Signs Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act into Law
Washington, D.C. – Surrounded by more than 150 small and medium-sized business owners and other invited guests from across the country, President Obama today signed the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 into law. Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred P. Hochberg joined the President at the White House for the signing ceremony.

“Today is a great day for U.S. businesses – both large and small,” said Chairman Hochberg. “By signing this bipartisan bill into law, President Obama has once again demonstrated his strong commitment to America’s business owners, workers, and exporters. The President has been a strong champion of Ex-Im Bank, and thanks to his leadership more U.S. companies are exporting to more countries. With our reauthorization now achieved, the Bank will continue to do what it does best – help our nation’s workers compete globally and support U.S. jobs at no cost to American taxpayers.”

The Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012 extends the Bank's authority through 2014 and ultimately increases its portfolio cap to $140 billion. This provides much-needed certainty and predictability to U.S. exporters and their workers.

About Ex-Im Bank:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved $32.7 billion in total authorizations in FY 2011 -- an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6 billion directly supporting small-business export sales -- also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $41 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 290,000 American jobs in communities across the country.

NATO 2012 SUMMIT IN CHICAGO

Photo:  Soldier Field Viewed From McCormick Place, Chicago.  Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Secretary General Kicks Off NATO Summit in Chicago
By Cheryl Pellerin
CHICAGO, May 20, 2012 - NATO's largest-ever summit opened here today to focus on keeping Afghanistan secure, ensuring NATO's capability in the 21st century, and enhancing the alliance's global network of partners, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

Representatives from 60 countries and organizations have gathered in this busy midwestern U.S. city for a meeting that NATO officials characterize as preparation for the alliance's future.

President Barack Obama arrived this morning after hosting a daylong G-8 summit at Camp David in Maryland with leaders of Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is here to participate in discussions and attend North Atlantic Council sessions on 21st-century NATO capabilities, the long-term commitment of nations participating in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and NATO partnerships.

Panetta also will convene a working dinner of his fellow defense ministers, attend a signing ceremony for the purchase by 13 NATO allies of a ground surveillance system for future alliance operations, and join Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki for a visit to a first-of-its-kind joint Defense Department-VA hospital in north Chicago.

During a short preliminary briefing on the first day of the two-day international meeting, Rasmussen said discussions today will focus on security in an age of austerity.

"We will ensure that the alliance has the capabilities to deal with the security challenges of the future, even as we tackle the economic challenges of the present," he told reporters at the summit's media center at McCormick Place on the shore of Lake Michigan.

"We will adopt a concrete package of multinational projects which can provide greater security for all our citizens at lower cost, we will embrace a renewed culture of cooperation which we call 'smart defense,' and I expect we will take the first step to make our missile defense system operational," he added.

Tomorrow, on the second day of the summit, Rasmussen said, "we will meet 13 of our most active partners around the globe, from Europe to Asia and the Middle East, because today's security challenges are global and they need global solutions."

NATO will continue to cooperate with partners from around the world, building on successes "so that we can provide more security for NATO, for our partners, and for the world," he added.

Tomorrow also will be the day that summit participants shape the next stage of NATO's engagement with Afghanistan. "We will complete transition of security responsibility to the Afghans by the end of 2014, but we will continue to support them for the long term," Rasmussen said.

NATO officials and ISAF partners will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, leaders of many countries in the region and beyond, and key international organizations, the secretary general added.

"This will be a powerful demonstration of the commitment of the whole international community to the future of Afghanistan," he said.

U.S. PRESIDENT OBAMA MEETS WITH NATO SECRETARY GENERAL RASMUSSEN

Photo:  White House Oval Office.  Credit:  Wikimedia
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE 
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2012 - President Barack Obama met today with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the Oval Office to discuss preparations for the May 20-21 NATO summit meeting in Chicago, according to a White House press release.

Obama and Rasmussen agreed that the summit would focus on three important topics: Afghanistan, defense capabilities, and partnerships, according to the release.

On Afghanistan, the President and Rasmussen agreed that the NATO Summit should reaffirm allied commitment to the transition framework agreed to at Lisbon, the release said, while planning for the final stages of that transition -- including a shift next year from combat to a support role, as well as enduring support for sufficient and sustainable Afghan forces.

Obama and Rasmussen also agreed that the Chicago NATO meeting should highlight the commitment of allies to field the defense capabilities that NATO needs for the 21st century, according to the release. They discussed their expectation that allies would be in a position to announce progress on a number of key capabilities initiatives, including on missile defense.

Finally, the President and the Secretary General discussed the importance of NATO's partnerships with non-NATO countries, the release said. NATO is now a hub for a global network of security partners which have served alongside NATO forces in Afghanistan, Libya, and Kosovo.

Recognizing the important contributions provided by NATO partner nations, Obama and Ramussen said they welcome the recent decision by allies to invite a group of thirteen partner nations to Chicago for an unprecedented meeting to discuss ways to further broaden and deepen NATO's cooperation with partner nations.

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH KENTUCKY MEN'S WILDCATS BASKETBALL TEAM

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
President Barack Obama welcomes the University of Kentucky men’s Wildcats basketball team to the East Room of the White House to celebrate their 2012 NCAA championship, May 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) 

Today, President Obama welcomed the University of Kentucky Wildcats to the White House to congratulate the team on its 2012 NCAA championship.
Although he didn’t have the Wildcats at the top of his bracket, the President said he “knew Kentucky was good.”

I had them in the championship game.  But in the end, I thought, they got all these freshmen.  These guys are too young. And keep in mind, at this time last year, three of the Wildcats’ five starters were still in high school.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist couldn’t even vote yet.

But let’s face it, sometimes talent trumps experience.  And sometimes, a bunch of young players, even if they’re used to being big fishes in their ponds, even if they’ve never played together before, they can buy into a system, they understand the concept of team, and they do something special right away.  And that’s exactly what happened in Kentucky.

And playing basketball isn't all the Wildcats are good at, President Obama said, and thanked the team for their community service:

And I want to congratulate them for doing their share of community service in the Lexington community -- from packing backpacks full of food for kids who don’t have enough, to raising money for tornado victims.
So these guys do it all.  Everybody’s got to take a good look now, because a whole bunch of these guys are going on to the NBA. Who knows, one of them might end up here in Washington. We’ll take him

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."

PRESIDENT REPORTS ON CURRENT MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN

Photo:  White House

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

President Updates Nation on Afghanistan Mission

By Jim Garamone

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2012 - After joining Afghan President Hamid Karzai in signing a strategic partnership agreement in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul today, President Barack Obama took to the airwaves at Bagram Airfield to update the American people on the mission in Afghanistan.

The speech from the large NATO base about 35 miles from Kabul was the last event of an eventful night that saw the president fly in to Afghanistan, sign the agreement and meet with American service members.

Bagram is the headquarters for the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command East, and is an outpost for the war on al-Qaida. Obama said it is important for Americans to remember why U.S. service members are in such a place. "Here, in Afghanistan, more than half a million of our sons and daughters have sacrificed to protect our country," he said.

Afghanistan was where Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror group planned, trained and financed the attacks that killed almost 3,000 men, women and children on Sept. 11, 2001. "And so, 10 years ago, the United States and our allies went to war to make sure that al-Qaida could never again use this country to launch attacks against us," the president said.

American and anti-Taliban Afghan groups had initial success, but bin Laden and his lieutenants escaped across the border and established safe havens in Pakistan. "America spent nearly eight years fighting a different war in Iraq, and al-Qaida's extremist allies within the Taliban have waged a brutal insurgency," the president said.

But the tide has turned, he added, and the Taliban's momentum has been broken.

"We've built strong Afghan security forces," the president said. "We devastated al-Qaida's leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders. And one year ago, from a base here in Afghanistan, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I set – to defeat al-Qaida and deny it a chance to rebuild – is now within reach."

The president said the key to completing the mission is transitioning security responsibility to Afghans. He noted that half of the population of the country is already protected by Afghan soldiers and police, and the Afghans are prepared to move into the lead in other parts of the nation. At the NATO summit in Chicago later this month, he said, leaders will endorse a plan to turn security responsibility over to the Afghans in 2013.

"International troops will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghans, and fight alongside them when needed," Obama said. "But we will shift into a support role as Afghans step forward."

American forces already have started coming home. In 2011, 10,000 troops from the Afghan surge returned to their bases. Another 23,000 will return by the end of September. "After that, reductions will continue at a steady pace, with more and more of our troops coming home," the president said. "And as our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014, the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country."

The coalition is working to train Afghan soldiers and police to shoulder that security burden. This summer there will be 352,000 members of the Afghan security forces. As it stands, Afghanistan will field an army and police force at that number for three years, and then reduce the size of the force.

The United States is building an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, the president said, citing the strategic partnership agreement he and Karzai signed earlier at the presidential palace in Kabul. "It establishes the basis of our cooperation over the next decade, including shared commitments to combat terrorism and strengthen democratic institutions," Obama said. "It supports Afghan efforts to advance development and dignity for their people. And it includes Afghan commitments to transparency and accountability, and to protect the human rights of all Afghans – men and women, boys and girls."

Within this agreement, the president explained, the United States will work with Afghan partners to accomplish two narrow security missions beyond 2014: counterterrorism and continued training. "But we will not build permanent bases in this country, nor will we be patrolling its cities and mountains. That will be the job of the Afghan people," he said.

The United States is working with Afghan government leaders to negotiate a peace in the country. "My administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban," Obama said. "We have made it clear that they can be a part of this future if they break with al-Qaida, renounce violence, and abide by Afghan laws."

Many members of the Taliban are looking at this offered hand, and many already have taken it, the president said. "A path to peace is now set before them," said he added. "Those who refuse to walk it will face strong Afghan security forces, backed by the United States and our allies."

Finally, the United States seeks to build a global consensus to support peace and stability in South Asia, and needs Pakistan to be part of the process. "It can and should be an equal partner in this process in a way that respects Pakistan's sovereignty, interests and democratic institutions," he said. "In pursuit of a durable peace, America has no designs beyond an end to al-Qaida safe-havens and respect for Afghan sovereignty."

Working on a timeline provides a sense of urgency, spares treasure and saves lives, Obama said. "Our goal is to destroy al-Qaida, and we are on a path to do exactly that," he added. "Afghans want to assert their sovereignty and build a lasting peace. That requires a clear timeline to wind down the war."

Withdrawing immediately, he said, would leave Afghanistan vulnerable to a new civil war and re-establishment of terrorist safe havens. "We must give Afghanistan the opportunity to stabilize," he said. "Otherwise, our gains could be lost, and al-Qaida could establish itself once more. And as commander in chief, I refuse to let that happen."

The best course, Obama said, is to end the war responsibly.

"My fellow Americans, we have traveled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war," he said. "Yet here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon. The Iraq War is over. The number of our troops in harm's way has been cut in half, and more will soon be coming home. We have a clear path to fulfill our mission in Afghanistan, while delivering justice to al-Qaida."

The future is possible, the president said, because of American service members, who have deployed to Afghanistan and other dangerous areas time and again.

"In an age when so many institutions have come up short, these Americans stood tall," he said. "They met their responsibilities to one another, and the flag they serve under. I just met with some of them, and told them that as commander in chief, I could not be prouder. In their faces, we see what is best in ourselves and our country."

Obama stressed that America must honor its debts to these service members. "We must give our veterans and military families the support they deserve, and the opportunities they have earned," he said. "And we must redouble our efforts to build a nation worthy of their sacrifice."
 

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S DEMISE

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

White House Photo

Obama Notes bin Laden Mission as Anniversary Nears

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2012 - President Barack Obama today praised the U.S. military and intelligence communities as he reflected on the approaching one-year anniversary of the mission that killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Speaking during a news conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the president praised the intelligence effort of tracking bin Laden down and the May 2, 2011, military mission that killed him.

"It's a mark of the excellence of our intelligence teams and our military teams -- a political process that worked," the president said. "And I think for us to use that time for some reflection, to give thanks to those who participated, is entirely appropriate, and that's what's been taking place."

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, commenting April 27 on a return trip from South America, noted "America has become a safer place" since a team of Navy SEALs killed bin Laden in his Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound. Panetta was director of the CIA at the time of the raid.

"I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation," Panetta told reporters traveling with him. But al-Qaida remains a threat, he added.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CRACKS DOWN ON SCHOOLS TARGETING SERVICE MEMBERS WITH MISLEADING INFORMATION

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Grand Foyer of the White House, April 27, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Obama: Executive Order Protects Military, Vet Students
By Donna Miles
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2012 – President Barack Obama dedicated his weekly radio and video address today to describing the advantages of a new executive order designed to crack down on bad actors who prey on service members and veterans considering higher education.

Obama, who traveled yesterday to Fort Stewart, Ga., to unveil the new order, called it vital protection to brave men and women who are often bombarded by schools that provide false or misleading information about things like interest rates on loans, credit transfers, and job placement programs.

The order, he explained, will make it easier for military members and veterans to make informed decisions about financial aid and paying for college and also takes a number of steps to fight deceptive practices by some institutions.

“These men and women have fought with bravery and honor in some of the most dangerous places on the planet,” the president said today, noting that some never returned. “But those who did are now fighting a different kind of battle here at home,” he said. “They’re looking for new jobs, new opportunities, and new ways to serve.”
For many, Obama said, that means returning to school with help from the 9/11 GI Bill and tuition assistance program to help defray costs. Last year, these measures supported more than a half-million veterans and more than 300,000 service members who are pursuing a higher education, he noted.

“That’s progress,” he said. “But it’s not enough to just help our veterans and service members afford school -– we need to make sure they have all the tools they need to make an informed decision when it comes to picking the right program.”

Obama recognized the sad truth that some unscrupulous people are “less interested in helping our men and women in uniform get ahead and more interested in making a buck.” They game the system, he said, bombarding potential students with high-pressure tactics and steering them toward high-interest loans and misleading credit transfers and job placement programs.

“That’s appalling. It’s disgraceful,” he said. “And even though the vast majority of schools do the right thing, we need to guard against the bad actors who don’t.”
The new executive order will make it tougher for those who try to prey on service members and veterans. It will ensure they get the straight facts and make it easier to file complaints, he said.
The result, the president said, will be more security for service members, veterans and their families.

“When our men and women in uniform succeed, our country succeeds,” Obama said. “ They have our back; now it’s our turn to have theirs. And as long as I’m president, I’m going to make sure that anyone who serves this country gets every opportunity they deserve.”

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON'S PRES STATEMENT ON MASS ATROCITIES

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Preventing Mass Atrocities
Press Statement Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
April 23, 2012
In a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, President Obama made clear that the United States is taking concrete steps to prevent mass atrocities, protect civilians, and ensure that we hold the perpetrators of atrocities accountable. Presidential Study Directive-10, released last August, stated that “preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States.” And as the President outlined, that is why this administration has led the international effort to bring pressure to bear on the Qhadafi and Asad regimes, supported diplomacy to end the crisis in Sudan, and is supporting efforts to track down Joseph Kony and senior leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa. But we are not just working to stop atrocities today. We are taking a number of steps to strengthen the U.S. government’s capacity to prevent them in the future -- including creating an Atrocities Prevention Board, enhancing the collection and analysis of intelligence, and expanding our multilateral diplomatic efforts. And while we pledge to do everything we can, preventing mass atrocities is a responsibility that the United States and all peoples and countries around the world share, and that is why we must all commit to work together to turn our promise of “never again” into a reality.

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"WE MUST TELL OUR CHILDREN" SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
President Barack Obama tours the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., with Sara Bloomfield, museum director, and Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor, April 23, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Yesterday, President Obama spoke at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum about honoring the pledge of "never again" by making sure we are doing everything we can to prevent and end atrocities and save lives.
After being introduced by Professor Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, the President spoke of the importance of telling our children -- and all future generations -- about the Holocaust:
We must tell our children. But more than that, we must teach them. Because remembrance without resolve is a hollow gesture. Awareness without action changes nothing. In this sense, "never again" is a challenge to us all -- to pause and to look within.

PRESIDENT GIVES PRAISE FOR DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICIES

FROM: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

President Praises Defense Leaders for Department's New Sexual Assault Policies

By John Valceanu

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2012 - President Barack Obama released a statement today praising the Defense Department's senior leaders for issuing new policies designed to combat sexual assault in the military.

"I applaud the initiatives that Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and [Army] Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have announced to further combat sexual assault in the military," Obama said in the statement.

Under new policy guidance issued by Panetta on April 20, unit commanders at the company or squadron level no longer have authority to decide whether to take further action in reported cases of attempted rape, forcible sodomy or sexual assault.

Defense officials said the new policy will allow more experienced and less partial officers to make the initial decision on whether a sexual assault case goes to trial, and it will add consistency to how such cases are handled.

"Elevating these cases to a higher level of command review is a very important step," Obama said.

The president said he believes sexual assault has no place and in the military, and service members "deserve an environment that is free from the threat of sexual assault, and in which allegations of sexual assault are thoroughly investigated, offenders are held appropriately accountable, and victims are given the care and support they need."

Obama expressed his appreciation for the senior leaders' attention to the issue.

"I thank Secretary Panetta and Chairman Dempsey and look forward to seeing continued progress on this important issue," the president said.