U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: SPECIAL BRIEFING IN GHANA ON SYRIA

Ghana Map Credit:  U.S. State Department
FROM: U.S. STATE DELPARTMENT
Background Briefing By a Senior State Department Official, Accra, Ghana
Special Briefing
Senior State Department Official
Accra, Ghana
August 10, 2012
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Thanks, [Moderator]. I want to just start by setting the context for this visit. We were last in Istanbul in early June for the Global Counterterrorism Forum, on the margins of which we held a Core Group meeting on Syria with a number of key stakeholders, and then approximately a month later in Paris, a Friends of the Syrian People meeting. Since the Friends of the Syrian People meeting, there have not been any high-level gatherings or ministerial level visits by the Secretary specifically on Syria, but in that timeframe a lot has happened.

You’ve had a series of high-level defections, a major bombing that took the lives of key security officials in the regime. You’ve had the opposition, the Free Syria Army and associated groups, consolidate gains on the ground that stretch from Aleppo up to the Turkish border, and gains elsewhere in the country as well, including showing increased operational effectiveness. And of course, over the past month you’ve had the Syrian economy continue to deteriorate, you’ve had a Security Council resolution vetoed by the Russians and the Chinese, and you’ve had the resignation of Kofi Annan effective at the end of this month, among a range of other things that have unfolded just in the last four weeks.

So after that Security Council resolution was vetoed, we made clear that we were shifting from New York to a focus on supporting the opposition in its efforts to hasten the day that Assad falls and to begin in earnest planning for the day after Assad falls in close coordination with our partners and in support of Syrian groups on the ground, who are going to be charged with, ultimately, building the new Syria and trying to safeguard institutions of the state and deal with all of the challenges that will come once the transition begins.

So that’s the frame within which this visit takes place. The Secretary is eager to have the opportunity to roll up her sleeves and have in-depth, lengthy, detailed conversations with the senior Turkish leadership, with the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and a number of other key officials in the Turkish Government to talk about the three broad pillars of our strategy.

The first is to discuss with the Turks both what it is that we’re doing and how we judge the effectiveness of what we’re doing in terms of supporting the opposition, to hear from them about the latest approaches they’re taking to support the opposition, as well as the picture each of us have of the work that other countries are doing and how our work and the Turks’ work can fit into that broader effort by the international community to coordinate and effectively deliver support for the opposition on the ground inside Turkey.

At the same time – so that goes for the nonlethal assistance that we’re providing. It goes for other forms of support and assistance that are being provided to the Syrian opposition. And it also goes for the work that the Arab League, the Turks, us, and others are doing with the political opposition groups that are trying to come together under an umbrella to have a single common plan, a transition plan and vision for a future Syria that’s pluralistic, democratic, and effectively maintains the institutions of the state. So we’ll also want to talk to the Turks about the July 3rd transition plan that the opposition groups collectively arrived at and the work that is ongoing right now to try to follow up on that and put additional meat on the bones as everybody plans for the day after.

The second --

MODERATOR: Sanctions.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Oh, sorry. Yes, I am reminded that in terms of supporting the opposition, we all have to remember that the overall goal here is to hasten the day that Assad goes. And part of that work is direct support but part of it also is pressure and isolation of the regime. And one of the key forms of pressure is economic sanctions, which in the coming days or very shortly we will be tightening even further with additional sanctions that drive at both Syrian entities and at those who are supporting the efforts of the Syrian Government to oppress its own people. So the sanctions piece and talking to the Turks about how we can most effectively both ramp up and enforce the sanctions on the books will also be a feature of the conversations.

The second area is humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian picture has grown more dire as the fighting has spread. That’s true both inside Turkey and in countries – I’m sorry, inside Syria and in countries bordering Syria, all of them, including Turkey. There are now more than 50,000 refugees that the Turks are supporting, and the need for international support in the form of funding and other types of tools and resources is growing.

So last week, the United States announced $12 million in additional assistance, a portion of which will go to refugees in Turkey or to support refugees in Turkey. And tomorrow, the Secretary will make further announcements both with respect to funding for UNHCR and for the specific Turkish appeal through IOM. And when the President and Prime Minister Erdogan talked on July 30th, one of the issues they discussed was how the international community can effectively support a growing burden on Turkey as it continues to be very generous in providing for refugees that come across its border. And they’re coming across every day in significant numbers.

MODERATOR: (Inaudible) more than a 1,000 a day –

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: The third area is transition planning and day after planning. The Secretary was very clear that we don’t want to put a date on Assad’s departure, because we can’t. We don’t know when that day will come, but it is our strong conviction that it will come and that the international community needs to be prepared to support the Syrians themselves as they deal with all of the challenges that will come with actually effectuating a transition to a new Syria.

There are political challenges in terms of organizing the state and protecting its institutions. There are economic challenges, both in terms of short-term stabilization and in terms of rebuilding a deteriorating Syrian economy. There are security challenges that may require international and multilateral assistance of various kinds. There are challenges related to securing, of course, weapons inside Syria to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. And there are humanitarian challenges related to the need to provide basic subsistence to displaced Syrians both inside and outside Syria.

So all of that work has to be conducted at the earliest possible point, which is why we’ve been working on it for some time now and why we want to intensify our collaboration with the Turks and with other key stakeholders.

So all of this will be on the agenda, and in a specific way when the Secretary sits down with her counterparts and with the Turkish leadership. And the goal here is to try, as much as possible, to be able to arrive at a common operational picture, to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of what we’re doing now and what more can be done, and then to take it from there and to coordinate effectively with the other key partners in the international community. And in that regard, the Secretary will be having conversations next week by telephone with key partners in Europe and elsewhere, and planning for another Friends of Syria gathering at some point in the coming weeks.

Also while she’s in Turkey, the Secretary will meet with activists, opposition activists, some of whom are just very recently arrived from Syria and have firsthand experience with what is going on on the ground in Aleppo and elsewhere. And she will talk to them about what their assessment is of where things are, where they’re headed, and what kinds of support they need from the United States and the international community. She’ll also have an opportunity to engage with the humanitarian and refugee issue in meetings as well.

So that’s a broad overview of where we’re headed, and I’ll take a few questions before we all have to go down to the van so we don’t miss our flight (inaudible).

MODERATOR: Anne.

QUESTION: On the activists, has she met any of these figures before? And can you characterize them anymore particularly than activists?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: She hasn’t met any of them before. They represent a cross-section of people from inside Syria and some now based outside Syria who are helping coordinate efforts to address the specific needs of the opposition. So you have students who are organizing student protests and student political opposition to the regime. You’ve got women who are working as part of a collection of women’s groups in Syria specifically addressing the needs of women who are part of the opposition. You’ve got those who are involved in communications, from Skype to Facebook to other web-based tools to try to get messages out and coordinate the public strategic communications dimension of the opposition.

So it is folks with a very hands-on set of experiences related to both resisting the Syrian regime and trying to organize and coordinate and effectively marshal various elements of those who are in the opposition or associated with the opposition on the ground in Syria.
QUESTION: And at this point, who’s doing the accountability – legal work on the ground in Syria?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: No actual rebel figures?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: No. When you say rebel figures, meaning armed --

QUESTION: Fighters. Armed fighters.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Armed fighters.

QUESTION: Armed fighters (inaudible).

QUESTION: Can I wait?

MODERATOR: Andy.

QUESTION: I just have a quick one. On the announcements of further sanctions regarding both Syrian entities and those who are supporting the efforts of the Syrian Government, is this going to represent sort of a broadening of efforts to get at Iranians groups or others who may be involved here?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: I think that’s pointed in the right direction. I’d prefer not to preempt the announcements, although [Moderator] will work, I think, over the course of today to see what’s possible in terms of getting you additional information.

QUESTION: Is it today? It will happen today in D.C.

MODERATOR: We’ll talk a little bit more about this in a minute.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: Does any of this discussion with the Turks or with the activists speak to any additional steps intervention or involvement, non-humanitarian, and kind of talking support that you’ve already offered?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, for starters, we’ve already gone beyond humanitarian by providing specific, tangible types of assistance that can help the opposition on the ground – communications equipment, medical assistance of different kinds. So – but I take your question to be moving beyond where we are now.

QUESTION: Right. Yeah, right.

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: One of the key things that the Secretary wants to achieve when she arrives in Turkey is to compare notes with the Turks so that she can sharpen her own operational picture of what’s happening on the ground. It’s a very fluid situation. The groups that are participating are themselves quite fluid. And what she would like to do over the course of the day is gain a clearer picture of the effectiveness of what we’re currently providing and how it can be made more effective, and then whether or not there are additional things that we can do to be helpful to the opposition that will add value rather than cause harm.

And over the course of her conversations and in trying to arrive at conclusions on that, she will shape her advice to the President and to her colleagues back in Washington about any further types of support or assistance that the United States might be prepared to provide.

QUESTION: Does that mean you do or do not rule out lethal assistance (inaudible)?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, I think you heard this week from both Susan Rice and John Brennan that we’re never in the business of categorically ruling things in or out. I think her focus will be on the effectiveness of what we’re doing, how we can make it more effective. But she certainly will be looking to see whether there’s anything else that we can do that will have a positive impact as opposed to a detrimental impact on the overall situation in Syria.

MODERATOR: Let’s do Matt and then (inaudible).

QUESTION: Do we have anything else? I know that you’re not going to – the questions that I would ask, you’re not going to be able to answer. So –

MODERATOR: Nicolas.

QUESTION: Just to make clear the first pillar of your strategy, we are still taking about nonlethal assistance?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: That’s what she’ll be focused on today.

MODERATOR: Okay. Thanks, everybody.

Marine Corps Officer Candidates School commissioning ceremony

Marine Corps Officer Candidates School commissioning ceremony

SYRIAN STATE OIL COMPANY SANCTIONED

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Syrian State-Run Oil Company Sanctioned under the Iran Sanctions Act
Press Statement
Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of Press Relations
Washington, DC
August 10, 2012
　
Today, the Administration imposed sanctions on the Syrian state-run oil company Sytrol under the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), as amended by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA), for conducting business with Iran’s energy sector. The United States remains deeply concerned about the close ties shared by the Iranian and Syrian regimes and is committed to using every tool available to prevent regional destabilization.

In April of this year, Syria and Iran engaged in two-way trade in the energy sector, in which Syria sent 33,000 metric tons of gasoline to Iran. The United States has determined that the value of the gasoline delivered by Sytrol to Iran in April was over $36 million, significantly exceeding the monetary thresholds for triggering sanctions under this law ($1 million threshold for individual transactions and the $5 million threshold for multiple transactions within a twelve-month period under U.S. law). This kind of trade allows Iran to continue developing its nuclear program while providing the Syrian government with resources to oppress its own people.

Though these sanctions are a direct result of Syria’s provision of gasoline to Iran, the United States views Iran’s broader support for the Assad regime as completely unjustifiable. Iran is actively advising, supplying, and assisting the Syrian security forces and regime-backed militias that are carrying out gross human rights abuses against the Syrian people. Iran is also providing the Assad regime with equipment to monitor opposition activity on the Internet. Iranian officials have boasted about Iran’s support to Assad. Iran’s actions in Syria underscore its fear of losing its only remaining ally in the Middle East and an important conduit to Hizballah.

Today’s sanctions action sends a stark message: the United States stands resolutely against sales of refined petroleum product to Iran and will employ all available measures to bring it to a halt. Moreover, any business that continues to irresponsibly support Iran’s energy sector or helps facilitate either nation’s efforts to evade U.S. sanctions will face serious consequences.

FORMER CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO COMMITTING FRAUD IN IRAQ

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Former Co-Owner of Contracting Company Pleads Guilty to Defrauding U.S. Government
　
WASHINGTON – A former co-owner of a U.S. civilian contractor company pleaded guilty today to falsifying official documents in connection with Iraq reconstruction government contracts, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas.

Jill Ann Charpia, 33, formerly of San Antonio and currently of Colorado, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad in San Antonio to a criminal information charging her with one-count of false statements to a government agency.

According to court documents, from 2008 through 2009, Charpia was the co-owner of Sourcing Specialist LLC, a privately owned company that contracted with the United States government to provide services in Iraq. In September 2008, she contracted to provide a turn-key housing facility located outside Iraq’s International Zone to facilitate the introduction of multi-national firms desiring to develop business opportunities in Iraq. That same month, Charpia signed and submitted to the Department of Defense (DOD) Joint Contracting Command Iraq/Afghanistan, for payment through the contract, a false invoice in the amount of $1,270,075.40 purportedly for mobilization costs. She followed up with two invoices, one representing that she had paid $700,000 for the rental of two villas in Baghdad, and the other representing that she had paid $570,075.50 on the purchase of three armored vehicles from an Iraqi company. In October 2008, as a result of her false and fraudulent statements, DOD caused $1,270,075.50 to be wired to Charpia’s bank account. Charpia admitted that she fabricated both invoices and forged the signatures on the documents. She also admitted that she did not purchase any armored vehicles and paid only half the submitted cost for the villas.

At sentencing, scheduled for Nov. 15, 2012, Charpia faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss, and up to three years of supervised release. As part of her plea agreement, Charpia agreed to pay $920,000 plus interest in restitution to the United States.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Trial Attorney Mark Grider of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, on detail from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith A. Patton of the Western District of Texas. The case is being investigated by SIGIR, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Major Procurement Fraud Unit of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGANISTAN AUGUST 10, 2012

011226-N-2383B-506 KANDAHAR (December 26, 2001) -- A U.S. Marine continues to stand watch as the sun sets at a forward operating base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. U.S. Marines are deployed to the U.S. Central Command region in support of Operation Enduring Freedom U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (Released)
　
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Combined Force Detains Numerous Suspected Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in the Shwak district of Afghanistan's Paktiya province today, military officials reported.

The Haqqani leader is responsible for facilitating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district, officials said.

Also today, a combined force detained one suspect during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Chimtal district of Balkh province. The sought-after Taliban leader directs attacks against Afghan security forces throughout the region. He is also responsible for conducting attacks against reconstruction projects in the province.

In Aug. 9 operations:
-- A combined force found and cleared an improvised explosive device in Ghanzi province's Ghazni district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Kapisa province's Tagab district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Khowst province's Gurbuz district.

-- A combined force killed one insurgent and detained two others in Laghman province's Mehtar Lam district.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Jalalabad district and another in the Khugyani district.

-- In Paktika province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sar Rowzah district.

-- In Paktiya province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Zurmat district.

-- In Parwan province, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing 18 rockets in the Bagram district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Wardak province's Sayyidabad district.

U.S. MAJ. GENERAL GOLDEN'S REMARKS ON NORTH KOREAN THREATS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Army Maj. Gen. Walter M. Golden Jr., the 8th U.S. Army's deputy commander, during his welcoming ceremony held on Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Hong Dong-kyun
General: High Readiness Key to Deter North Korean Threats
By Walter T. Ham IV
8th U.S. Army
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2012 - Maintaining a high state of military readiness is imperative to deterring North Korean threats on the Korean peninsula and in the region, the 8th U.S. Army's deputy commander said here today.
  "North Korea continues to threaten the peninsula and the region with its provocative actions and rhetoric as well as its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction," Army Maj. Gen. Walter M. Golden Jr. said during his welcoming ceremony on Yongsan Garrison.
  The 8th U.S. Army has partnered with South Korea to deter threats from Pyongyang for more than 60 years, the two-star general said.
  "As the U.S. military shifts its focus to the Pacific, this mission remains as important as ever," said Golden, who hails from Salida, Colo. "Deterring aggression requires a very high state of readiness and that is why it is imperative that we train together with our ROK allies as often as possible to maintain that level of readiness."
  Golden reported to 8th Army following his assignment as the deputy commander for police with the NATO training mission in Afghanistan.
  Senior officials attended Golden's welcoming ceremony, including the ROK Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-choon, Dongducheon Mayor Oh Se-chang and Army Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.
  The Dongducheon mayor had named Golden an honorary citizen of his city, which is adjacent to Camp Casey, during Golden's previous tour of duty when he was the assistant commander for maneuver with the 2nd Infantry Division.
  Golden "will play a crucial role on the 8th Army command team as we continue to defend liberty here with our ROK allies," said Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, 8th Army's commanding general.
  An Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and Harvard graduate, Golden said he jumped at the opportunity to serve in South Korea again.
  South Korea "is one of America's greatest allies and the ROK-U.S. alliance is the strongest military alliance in the world," Golden said. "Today, this modern, democratic and prosperous nation serves as a great example of what free people can accomplish together."

THE WHITE HOUSE WARNS OF TAX HIKES IN 2013

FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE

President Obama's Tax Cuts for the Middle Class
　
Unless the House of Representatives takes action before January 1, 2013, taxes will go up on 114 million middle-class families. Nearly everyone in Washington agrees that’s a bad idea. That’s why President Obama is calling for -- and the Senate has already passed -- legislation that will keep the middle class from paying thousands of extra dollars next year.
　
Republicans in the House of Representatives, however, are refusing to extend middle-class tax cuts without also giving massive tax cuts to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. In fact, House Republicans have proposed their own tax plan that would actually raise taxes on 25 million families making less than $250,000, while giving families making more than $1 million an average tax cut of $160,000 next year.

　
We’ve put together an infographic to help you understand some of the details behind the tax cut extension President Obama is asking Congress to pass, and how it differs with the House Republican proposal. Check it out, and if you agree with President Obama that extending middle-class tax cuts is the right thing to do, share it on your social networks and pass it on to your friends and family.
　

DAVE CAMP CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE COMMENTS ON "LOOMING TAX HIKE"

FROM: CONGRESSMAN DAVE CAMP, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Last week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Dave Camp (R-Midland) led the charge to stop the looming tax hike scheduled to go in effect on January 1, 2013. In a strong bipartisan vote, the House passed Camp’s H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, which extends current tax rates for all taxpayers and prevents a $4 trillion tax increase on all taxpayers - American families and small businesses alike. During the debate Camp said the need to stop the tax hike is a choice. Congress must choose between adopting a proposal that would raise taxes and, according to an Ernst & Young analysis, destroy 710,000 jobs or stopping the tax hike and enacting tax reform that, when paired with fiscal restraint, will spur the creation of a million new jobs.


The House also voted on H.R. 6169, the Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act of 2012. The legislation, which was sponsored by Camp, lays out bipartisan principles for comprehensive tax reform and provides an expedited process in the House and Senate for consideration of tax reform legislation in 2013. We all know the current tax code is too costly, too complex and too time-consuming. Since 2001, there have been almost 4,500 changes to the tax code. This complexity causes 9 out of 10 families to either hire a tax preparer or buy tax preparation software forcing individuals, families and employers to spend over six billion hours and $160 billion a year in compliance costs according to the National Taxpayer Advocate. Through comprehensive tax reform families and employers will get some long-overdue and much-needed relief and put America on a path for sustained economic growth and job creation.
　

GSA ASSERTS TRAVEL PROGRAM WILL SAVE ALMOST $6 BILLION

FROM: U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Travel Program Saves Billions for Federal Agencies
Air Travel program leverages government’s buying power to save nearly $6 billion annually

August 9, 2012
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. General Services Administration announced the award of its cost-saving air travel contracts for 2013, which save taxpayers an estimated $5.9 billion a year. Under GSA’s City Pairs Program, airfare rates for the federal government’s official travel are pre-negotiated and offer up to 73 percent off of commercial airfare for the federal workforce. In addition to offering considerable discounts, the City Pairs Program allows the federal government additional flexibility in how it books air travel.
　
"GSA’s mission is to help federal agencies save money, and that includes getting the best price for government travelers," said Mary Davie, Acting Commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. "By leveraging the government’s buying power, we are able to maximize cost-savings for federal agencies and save taxpayer dollars."
　
The City Pairs Program establishes standard airfare rates between cities where the federal workforce typically travels, and these pre-negotiated rates save the government money. GSA is able to negotiate best-value pricing for the government by using travel data. All major U.S. carriers participate in the City Pairs Program. The 2013 rates will become effective October 1, 2012.
　
For fiscal year 2013 the City Pairs Program retained all of the same benefits, which save the federal government on commercial travel rates. The program gives federal travelers the flexibility to book one- way, multileg, and round-trip airfare at the lowest cost possible, while retaining the ability to adjust or cancel flights at no additional cost to the government.
　
When awarding City Pairs contracts to airlines, GSA considers a number of criteria, including availability of nonstop service, total number of flights, flight availability, average elapsed flight time, and price of service. The program also offers dual fare markets to provide flexibility for immediate travel and discounted fares for booking flights early.

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON ADDRESSES EMBASSY STAFF AND FAMILIES IN NIGERIA

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at Meeting With Embassy Staff and Families

Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
U.S. Embassy
Abuja,, Nigeria
August 9, 2012
AMBASSADOR MCCULLEY: (In progress.) And thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to meet with our great mission team. In Nigeria, they say that rain brings a blessing. And based upon the rain we had two hours before you arrived and the rain we’ve had, your visit is quadruple-blessed. Friends and colleagues, join me in welcoming our Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Applause.)
　
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, thank you all very much. And let’s just feel blessed. (Laughter.) It’s a great pleasure to be back in Nigeria to see so many of you here today, even some familiar faces from my last trip.
　
But I do want to start on a somber note and take a moment to remember the friends and colleagues that were lost in the airplane crash two months ago. And I want to express my personal condolences to the families of Anthony Okara and the five Nigerians who worked for our local partner organizations. I know many of you worked closely with him. They were your friends. They were vital partners to all that we are doing together to really advance this important relationship. And we are very, very grateful.
　
It’s been three years since I was last here, and in that time Nigeria has made a lot of progress. We’ve seen elections that were free and fair, a government working to institute transparency and reform, admirable leadership in regional and global affairs. And at the same time, we know Nigeria is facing serious threats from extremism. But through every one of these issues and many, many more, you have provided invaluable assistance to the Nigerian people.
　
And I especially want to thank the Ambassador. Ambassador McCulley, you have led this mission through all the difficulties of the last year. You endured terrorist threats against the Embassy, the bombing of the UN headquarters, a strike that brought Abuja to a standstill, and still you and this team kept going. You all never wavered or put off your responsibilities. I understand that some of you were leaving home at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. to get to work before protestors barricaded the roads back in January. And that kind of dedication is extremely admired.
　
I also know that the security measures we have put in place, the curfew and travel restrictions to keep you safe, can be a real burden. But please know that nothing is more important to us than your safety, and making sure you have secure places to live and work is our top priority. So we are counting on the efforts moving forward toward completing construction on the new Embassy annex and a new residential compound. In the meantime, I want to make your lives a little easier, so I’m happy to say that we have officially approved a third R&R leave for post staff. (Applause.)
　
Now, I think that these gestures really speak volumes about the quality and quantity of work that is being done by the people at Mission Nigeria. Everyone at our Embassy, at our Consulate General in Lagos, our USAID and CDC staff, our Defense Department’s Walter Reed Program, and so much else, you work to deepen one of the most important strategic partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa, and we know that what you do is really making a difference.
　
I also want especially to thank our locally employed staff. Will all of the Nigerians who work here for the U.S. Embassy raise your hands, please, so we can give you a round of applause? (Applause.) We are so glad to have you as our colleagues on this team. We know that it’s not always easy, for all the reasons I mentioned, plus I’m sure others as well, but you are so valuable. And very honestly, ambassadors come and go, Secretaries come and go, everyone comes and goes, except our locally employed staff. And you remain kind of the memory bank, the continuity of everything that we do here and will do into the future.
　
So thank you again. Nobody ever wants to admit that you’re going to celebrate my departure on this very short trip. (Laughter.) But I don’t mind if you do. I will soon be the responsibility of Ghana and – (laughter) – but seriously, it was a short trip because of scheduling challenges, but it was a very important stop. And it just goes to underscore how much we count on you in every way regarding this vital relationship. So please keep up the very good work.
　
Thank you all. (Applause.)

SUPERFUND CLEANUP AGREEMENT REACHED FOR ASHLAND LAKEFRONT SITE IN WISCONSIN

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON – Northern States Power Co. will begin cleanup of the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund Site in Northwestern Wisconsin under a settlement the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The 40-acre site is located on the shore of Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior and was used for various industrial purposes for more than a century, resulting in the release of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, and semivolatile organic compounds, such as naphthalene, at the site.

Under the agreement, filed today with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., Northern States Power will design, construct and implement the cleanup plan for the on-land portion of the site. The on-land cleanup is expected to cost approximately $40 million. The United States will also require additional cleanup of sediments in Chequamegon Bay, and expects that Northern States Power and any other responsible parties will perform the rest of the cleanup. That work is not part of the agreement filed with the Court today.

Today’s agreement also requires Northern States Power to transfer approximately 990 acres of land along the Iron River to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and 400 acres within the reservation of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to the Bad River tribe. These parcels, worth about $1.9 million, will be preserved by the state and the Bad River tribe to enhance natural resources in the area that have been harmed by pollution from the site, such as fisheries in Chequamegon Bay and its rivers. In addition, the state of Wisconsin will transfer 114 acres of land to the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. That land will also be managed to preserve natural resources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also serve as trustees for natural resources in the area and joined the settlement on behalf of the United States.

"This agreement will begin the long-awaited cleanup of contamination at the Ashland Lakefront site," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The agreement will result in the preservation of land in the Chequamegon Bay watershed, including tribal lands, to conserve and enhance natural resources and aquatic habitat that have been harmed by more than a century of pollution at the site."

"Chequamegon Bay and Lake Superior will be better protected as a result of this agreement," said EPA Region 5 Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. "Removing the most highly contaminated soil from the site and controlling the flow of contaminated groundwater will prevent polluted water from entering the bay and harming fisheries."

For more than a century, the Ashland site has been home to various industrial uses, including sawmills, railroads, and a city wastewater treatment plant. The primary source of pollution at the site was the manufactured gas plant operated by Northern States Power’s predecessor company between 1885 and 1947. Pollution from the manufactured gas plant contaminated both the on-land portion of the site and the sediment in the bay.

The on-land cleanup will include removal of source material and impacted soil in Kreher Park and the adjacent bluff area and recovery wells designed to remove pollution from the Copper Falls aquifer. The work Northern States Power will perform under this agreement is expected to take approximately two to three years.

EPA will oversee the work to ensure that it follows the cleanup plan and complies with the agreement signed by the parties. The state of Wisconsin will support EPA in overseeing the work.

The proposed consent decree will be subject to public comment for 30 days prior to entry in federal court. The consent decree will be available at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

U.S. EXPORTED $185 BILLION OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN JUINE 2012

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
U.S. Exports in June Reach $185 Billion

Washington, D.C. – The United States exported $185 billion in goods and services in June 2012, according to data released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. This is an all-time high overtaking the previous record of $184.4 billion in March 2012.

"This is the highest value ever recorded for the export of U.S. goods and services," said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of Ex-Im Bank. "Exporting is paying off for American workers at home, and it is essential we continue to cultivate business overseas to support the U.S. economy."

U.S. exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.165 trillion, which is 37.1 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, U.S. exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 13.5 percent when compared to 2009.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in purchases of U.S. goods were Panama (38.1 percent), Turkey (29.5 percent), Argentina (29.1 percent), Hong Kong (28.3 percent), Chile (28.1 percent), Russia (26.4 percent), Honduras (26.1 percent), Peru (25.5 percent), Brazil (22.7 percent) and Ecuador (22.1 percent).

INVASION MARS CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This is one of the first full-resolution images of the Martian surface from the Navigation cameras on NASA's Curiosity rover, which are located on the rover's "head" or mast. The rim of Gale Crater can be seen in the distance beyond the pebbly ground.
FROM: U.S. LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
ChemCam sends digital ‘thumbs up’
Martian landing area could be a boon for scientific study
LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, August 8, 2012—Members of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover ChemCam team got a digital thumbs up about the operational readiness of their instrument just hours after the rover landed on Martian soil late Sunday evening.


Los Alamos National Laboratory planetary scientist Roger Wiens, Principal Investigator of the ChemCam Team, confirmed that the instrument sent word to its handlers on Earth that it was alive and healthy.


"Following the fantastic landing of Curiosity on Mars, ChemCam proceeded with an aliveness test within an hour of landing," Wiens announced. "This was essentially the same routine as performed five months earlier in the middle of its cruise (to Mars). All systems are go!"


The aliveness check means that, as far as the international team of scientists is concerned, ChemCam can begin its next task of transmitting photographic images of the rover as a system check.


The ChemCam instrument combines a high-resolution camera powerful enough to view a human hair from seven feet away with a high-power laser that can zap rocks from a distance of as much as 23 feet to determine their composition. If everything goes according to plan, ChemCam could fire its first laser pulses at a Martian rock on Sol 10 or 11 (August 18 or 19).


Because Curiosity’s mission is scheduled to last an entire Martian year, or 98 Earth weeks, the MSL science team—comprised of members from each of the rover’s 10 instruments—is proceeding slowly at first to ensure that the vehicle is ready and able to make its slow road trip on a geological sightseeing trip through Gale crater and the slopes of Mount Sharp.


The rover seems to have landed in a good spot within the crater, Wiens said.
"The idea is that the gravel we’re seeing is alluvium coming down from the rim of the crater," he said. "The alluvium from the rim is potentially more ancient than Mount Sharp," which some have suggested holds a billion years or more of Martian geological history within its strata.


Some members of the ChemCam team see the alluvial pebbles as a unique, drive-by study opportunity. Los Alamos post-doctoral researcher Nina Lanza has previously studied rock varnish on Earth rocks. The dark varnish appears on rocks in arid locations like the desert southwest. The weathered coating, while extremely thin, may provide clues about whether Mars once harbored ancient life.


"Rock varnish on Earth is not clearly understood," Lanza said. "It’s not yet certain whether a biological component is necessary for its formation."


The ability to study extraterrestrial rock varnish, if no indications of bacterial life are present on Mars, could help scientists better understand terrestrial processes by which these varnishes form on rock, or varnishes could serve as a possible confirmatory test that life was once present at locations beyond Earth and Mars.


ChemCam’s tiny bursts of laser energy can gently vaporize the coating bits at a time until it reaches the pristine rock below. The data from ChemCam’s laser and spectrometer can probe the makeup of rock varnish, or indicate to researchers whether the varnish is contaminated with layers of material from other weather-related geological processes.


"ChemCam is the perfect instrument to see these types of subtle chemistry changes through the surface of rocks," Lanza said.

Throughout the Curiosity rover’s mission, ChemCam has the ability to sample thousands of locations on Mars. The instrument is a collaboration between research organizations within the United States and France. More than 45 LANL scientists, students and other personnel comprise the entire ChemCam team.


Photo Caption:
Researchers from LANL and the French Space Agency examine data from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover from inside the ChemCam Operations Center at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, less than a day after the rover landed on Mars. The ChemCam team received signals indicating that the instrument is healthy and all systems are ready to go. Photo Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory/James E. Rickman

MEDICAL EVACUATION AT MCMURDO STATION IN ANTARTICA

FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The Albert P. Crary Science and Engineering Center at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The smaller brown building (at right) with the flag poles is the Chalet, the station's administrative center.
Credit: Peter Rejcek, National Science Foundation
　
August 8, 2012
National Science Foundation (NSF) officials have set in motion the necessary steps to airlift a patient from McMurdo Station, one of three year-round stations NSF maintains in Antarctica. The patient's condition may require treatment beyond what can be provided at the station's medical facility.

The patient, whose identity NSF is not releasing, is currently stable but may require immediate corrective surgery best delivered at a more capable facility than is available at McMurdo. The facility at McMurdo is equivalent to an urgent-care center in the U.S., and is not equipped for the type of procedure being contemplated.

As no U.S. aircraft are in a position to respond quickly to the situation, NSF has reached an agreement with the Australian Antarctic Division, which manages Australia's Antarctic research program, to make available an Australian A319 Airbus to fly the patient out. The Royal New Zealand Air Force will provide search-and-rescue coverage for the flight to and from McMurdo Station.

The three nations' Antarctic research programs have existing agreements under which such assets may be shared as needed.

Preparations are underway to ready the ice runway, known as Pegasus, near McMurdo Station for a flight near the end of this week, local time, weather permitting. (U.S. stations in Antarctica keep New Zealand time.). Pegasus is one of only a very few runways in Antarctica that can accommodate wheeled aircraft.

Antarctica is currently emerging from its six-months-long night, so there is a period of twilight at mid-day that could assist pilots in landing on the ice runway.

The evacuation flight comes shortly before a regularly-scheduled series of late winter flights to prepare for the coming Antarctic research season, which gets underway in October.

NSF manages the U.S. Antarctic Program, through which it coordinates all U.S. research and the necessary logistical support on the continent and aboard ships in the Southern Ocean.

U.S. NAVY RESCUES IRANIANS FROM BURNING VESSEL

FROM: U.S. NAVY
120808-N-ZZ999-021 GULF OF OMAN (Aug. 8, 2012) A starboard beam view photograph of a dhow flying an Iranian-flag, taken from the USS James E. Williams (DDG 95). The James E. Williams rendered assistance to 10 Iranian mariners who had to abandon their burning vessel. James E. Williams is currently deployed as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
　
USS James E. Williams Rescues Iranian Mariners
From Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) rescued 10 mariners from their burning vessel in the Gulf of Oman Aug 8.

The mariners - who claim to be Iranian - are being well cared for, receiving medical treatment and awaiting transport to aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), which is coordinating the repatriation efforts.


The vessel was flying an Iranian flag.


James E. Williams is currently deployed as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

Remarks Before the 2012 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting - Policy Choices Informed by Root Cause Analysis and the Audit Performance Feedback Loop – Investors are counting on all of us

Remarks Before the 2012 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting - Policy Choices Informed by Root Cause Analysis and the Audit Performance Feedback Loop – Investors are counting on all of us

American Beaches Receive Ratings on Cleanliness and Safety

American Beaches Receive Ratings on Cleanliness and Safety

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 9, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Army
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Taliban-affiliated InsurgentCompiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2012 - In the Andar district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province, an Afghan and coalition security force today arrested a Taliban-affiliated insurgent responsible for acquiring and emplacing improvised explosive devices along Highway 1, military officials reported.

The Taliban-affiliated insurgent also is responsible for several rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition convoys in the region, officials said.

At the time of his arrest, officials said, the insurgent was actively planning to conduct several more IED attacks along Highway 1, and also was planning to kidnap an Afghan government official.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents during the operation, officials said.

In other operations today:
-- In the Now Zad district of Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspects and seized several assault rifles during an operation to arrest a Taliban explosives cell leader. The Taliban leader controls an insurgent cell specializing in IEDs and suicide attacks.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained numerous suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban weapons supplier in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

-- In the Zharay district of Kandahar province, a combined force detained multiple suspects and seized more than 100 fake IDs during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for providing operational guidance to insurgent fighters, as well as planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force killed two insurgents, detained several suspects and seized several firearms during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The sought-after Taliban leader builds and emplaces IEDs that are used throughout the region. He also acquires heavy weapons and assault rifles for Taliban insurgents.

In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force killed three insurgents in Ghazni province's Ab Band district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Kapisa province's Nejrab district.

-- In Khost province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Sabari district and another in the Bak district.

-- A combined force killed three insurgents in Kunar province's Nari district.

-- In Logar province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Pul-e Alam district.

-- A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Logar province's Kharwar district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in the Bati Kot district.

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

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktia province's Gardez district.

-- Also in Paktia province, a combined force detained two insurgents who were found in possession of suspicious materials in the Shwak district.

TEST AIRCRAFT DROPS A BOMB

FROM: U.S. NAVY
120808-O-GR159-001 NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXTENT RIVER, Md. (Aug. 8, 2012) F-35B test aircraft BF-3, flown by Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin, completed the first aerial weapons release for any variant of the aircraft. BF-3 dropped an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition over an Atlantic Ocean test range from an internal weapons bay. The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., before delivery to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy Lockheed Martin/Andy Wolfe/Released)
　
F-35 Completes First Airborne Weapons Separation
By Victor Chen, F-35 Integrated Test Force Public Affairs
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The F-35 Lightning II accomplished a significant test milestone Aug. 8 when the aircraft successfully released a weapon in flight.

BF-3, a short take-off and vertical landing F-35 variant, executed an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) separation weapon over water in an Atlantic test range while traveling at 400 knots at an altitude of 4,200 feet.

"While this weapons separation test is just one event in a series of hundreds of flights and thousands of test points that we are executing this year, it does represent a significant entry into a new phase of testing for the F-35 program," said Navy Capt. Erik Etz, director of test for F-35 naval variants. "Today's release of a JDAM was the result of extraordinary effort by our team of maintainers, engineers, pilots and others who consistently work long hours to deliver F-35 warfighting capability to the U.S. services and our international partners."

The release was the first time for any version of the F-35 to conduct an airborne weapon separation, as well as the first from an internal weapons bay for a fighter aircraft designated for the U.S. Marine Corps, the United Kingdom and Italy.


The milestone marks the start of validating the F-35's capability to employ precision weapons and allow pilots to engage the enemy on the ground and in the air.


"[Using an internal weapons bay] speaks to how much capability the JSF is going to bring to the troops," said Dan Levin, Lockheed Martin test pilot for the mission. "Stealth, fifth-generation avionics and precision weapons ... coupled with the flexible mission capability of the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B is going to be huge for our warfighters."

An aerial weapons separation test checks for proper release of the weapon from its carriage system and trajectory away from the aircraft. It is the culmination of a significant number of prerequisite tests, including ground fit checks, ground pit drops and aerial captive carriage and environment flights to ensure the system is working properly before expanding the test envelope in the air.
Aircraft and land-based test monitoring systems collected data from the successful separation, which is in review at the F-35 integrated test force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., prior to delivery to the fleet.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

MEMORIAL DEDICATION HONORING HELICOPTER CRASH THAT CLAIMED 38 LIVES

FROM: U.S. NAVY
Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, right, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, right, and Force Master Chief (SEAL) Stephen Link salute as "Taps" is played during a memorial dedication ceremony at Naval Special Warfare Command in honor of the one-year anniversary of the Extortion 17 helicopter crash. The crash claimed the lives of 38 personnel, including 22 special operations forces in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geneva G. Brier (Released) 120806-N-CG160-082

SUICIDE ATTACK KILLS USAID FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Death of USAID Officer in Afghanistan
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
August 9, 2012

The United States strongly condemns the suicide attack yesterday in Kunar province, Afghanistan, that killed USAID Foreign Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah, three ISAF service members and an Afghan civilian, and injured a State Department Foreign Service officer. On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I have sent my deepest condolences to Ragaei’s family and to the entire U.S. Mission in Afghanistan.

Ragaei’s work over the last year was critical to our efforts to support Afghanistan's political, economic, and security transitions and was an example of the highest standards of service. Over the last 15 months -- partnering with local officials -- he worked in eastern Afghanistan to help establish new schools and health clinics, and deliver electricity to the citizens of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. Ragaei was so committed to our mission and to the people of Afghanistan that he volunteered to serve a second year.

With the work of people such as Ragaei, the civilian surge we launched in Afghanistan in 2009 has made a tremendous impact, strengthening the capacity of the Afghan Government and laying a foundation for long-term sustainable development. Though we are shocked and saddened by this loss and will miss Ragaei, our efforts will continue.

I send my thanks to our Diplomatic Security and military colleagues who work hard to ensure that our civilians in the field can get out each and every day to work side-by-side with our Afghan partners. Yesterday’s tragic incident is a reminder of our shared mission and shared sacrifice. It strengthens our resolve to continue working with the Afghan people to build their economy, democratic institutions, rule of law, and security so that Afghanistan can stand on its own as a stable, secure, and increasingly prosperous country.

I also want to send my appreciation today to all of my State Department and USAID colleagues around the world who work every day in challenging environments to advance U.S. interests and promote freedom and prosperity.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 4, 2012

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending August 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 361,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,250, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending July 28, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 28 was 3,332,000, an increase of 53,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,279,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,304,750, an increase of 4,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,300,250.
　UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 317,580 in the week ending August 4, an increase of 4,934 from the previous week. There were 354,408 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending July 28, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,239,100, a decrease of 7,551 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,580,433.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending July 21 was 5,750,084, a decrease of 214,367 from the previous week.

Extended benefits were only available in Idaho during the week ending July 21,

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,455 in the week ending July 28, an increase of 125 from the prior week. There were 2,418 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 104 from the preceding week.

There were 17,456 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending July 21, a decrease of 494 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 39,172, a decrease of 32 from the prior week.

States reported 2,412,938 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending July 21, a decrease of 119,890 from the prior week. There were 3,158,312 claimants in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending July 21 were in Puerto Rico (4.3), theVirgin Islands (4.1), New Jersey (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.8), Alaska (3.6), Connecticut (3.6), California (3.5), Rhode Island (3.4), New York (3.2), and Nevada (3.1).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending July 28 were in New York (+3,250), Washington (+485), Nebraska (+136), Mississippi (+111), and Connecticut (+46), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky (-4,884), California (-4,738), Georgia (-2,206), Florida (-1,840), and Ohio (-1,810).

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Update

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Update

CDC: Gradual drop in youth tobacco use continues, but significant problem areas remain

CDC: Gradual drop in youth tobacco use continues, but significant problem areas remain

U.S.-EQUATORIAL GUINEA RELATIONS

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENTThe United States established diplomatic relations with Equatorial Guinea in 1968, following the country's independence from Spain. Equatorial Guinea's President has held office for more than three decades, and his party dominates the legislature. Three major U.S. foreign policy issues form the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship with Equatorial Guinea -- good governance and democracy; the protection of human rights; and U.S. national security, especially access to energy resources. The United States seeks to encourage improved human rights, the development of a working civil society, greater fiscal transparency, and increased government investment in Equatorial Guinea's people in areas such as health and education.

U.S. Assistance to Equatorial GuineaU.S. assistance to Equatorial Guinea has focused on introducing the country’s military and police forces to the principles of human rights, good governance, and democracy, and on improving regional maritime security. The U.S. Agency for International Development has several small regional projects, but does not have a presence within the country. The Ambassador's Self-Help Fund annually finances a number of small grassroots projects. Equatoguineans visit the U.S. under programs sponsored by the U.S. Government, U.S. oil companies, and educational institutions.

Bilateral Economic RelationsEquatorial Guinea's hydrocarbon riches dwarf all other economic activity; the country's oil reserves are located mainly in the Gulf of Guinea. U.S. oil companies are one of Equatorial Guinea’s largest investors, and they have a lead role in oil and gas exploration and extraction. Equatorial Guinea's exports to the U.S. are dominated by petroleum products. In an effort to attract increased U.S. investment, U.S. passport-holders are entitled to visa-free entry for short visits. Imports from the United States include machinery, iron and steel products, optic and medical instruments, and inorganic chemical and rare earth minerals.

Equatorial Guinea's Membership in International OrganizationsEquatorial Guinea has used its oil wealth to expand its foreign presence, establishing diplomatic missions in other countries. Equatorial Guinea and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. The country also is an observer to the Organization of American States and World Trade Organization.

CFTC CHAIRMAN GENSLER OP-ED REGARDING INTEREST RATES

Photo:  CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler.  Credit:  CFTC
FROM: U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION
"Libor, Naked and Exposed – New York Times OP-ED"
Opinion by Chairman Gary Gensler

August 7, 2012AMERICANS who save for the future, use credit cards or borrow money for tuition, cars and homes deserve assurance that the interest rates on their savings and loans are set in a reliable and honest way.

That’s why the revelation that the British bank Barclays attempted to manipulate the London interbank offered rate, or Libor — one of the benchmark rates used to determine the cost of borrowing around the world — is so disturbing. But the Barclays case isn’t only about misconduct by large financial institutions. It also raises questions about the reliability and accuracy of these key interest rates, which are largely determined by the private sector, without significant government oversight.

When you save money in a money market fund or short-term bond fund, or take out a mortgage or a small-business loan, the rate you receive or pay is often based, directly or indirectly, on Libor. It’s the reference rate for nearly half of adjustable-rate mortgages in the United States; for about 70 percent of the American futures market; and for a majority of the American swaps market, where businesses hedge risks from changes in interest rates.

Libor is supposed to be the average rate at which the largest banks honestly believe they can borrow from one another unsecured (that is, without posting collateral). Libor was set up in the 1980s when banks regularly made loans to other banks on that basis.

However, the number of banks willing to lend to one another on such terms has been sharply reduced because of economic turmoil, including the 2008 global financial crisis, the European debt crisis that began in 2010, and the downgrading of large banks’ credit ratings this year.

Banks have shifted toward secured borrowing and, on occasion, borrowing from central banks like the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. As Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, said of Libor in 2008: "It is, in many ways, the rate at which banks do not lend to each other."

These changes in the markets raise questions about the integrity of this important benchmark.

First, why is Libor so different from another benchmark interest rate for borrowing in United States dollars — Euribor, or euro interbank offered rate? Both rates are calculated on the basis of banks’ answers to roughly the same question. For Libor, a bank is asked at what rate it thinks it can borrow, while for Euribor, a bank is asked at what rate it thinks other banks are able to borrow. And yet the Euribor for dollar borrowings is about twice as high as the comparable Libor.

Second, why have Libor and other benchmark rates typically not been aligned, since 2008, with the borrowing rates that would be implied by foreign exchange markets? A long-established financial theory known as interest rate parity says that the difference in interest rates between two countries should be roughly in line with the expected change in exchange rates between the countries’ currencies. (If it isn’t, that opens an opportunity for arbitrage, the practice of taking advantage of price differences.)

Until 2007, as the theory predicted, the difference between the borrowing rate in one currency and the lending rate in another could typically be derived from foreign currency exchange rates. In the last few years, that hasn’t been the case, and this divergence between theory and practice has yet to be adequately explained.

Third, why is the volatility of the dollar-denominated Libor so much lower than the volatility of other short-term credit market rates? Just like stocks and bonds, short-term interest rates experience a certain volatility. But Libor has less severe swings than comparable rates.

In addition, the variation in rates that some banks submit to the British Bankers’ Association — the private group that oversees Libor — don’t seem to match the variation in the rates for their credit default swaps (financial instruments that are similar to insurance and are one measure of a bank’s credit risk). There have been times when the swap rates have widened for particular banks (suggesting a growing credit risk) even as their Libor submissions have remained stable (suggesting that the banks’ borrowing costs haven’t changed).

Anyone saving or borrowing for the future has a real stake in the integrity of Libor and in the answers to these questions.

When the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees derivatives markets, began looking into interest-rate setting in 2008, we were guided not only by questions about the decline of actual unsecured lending among banks, the supposed basis of Libor, but also by our founding statute, the Commodity Exchange Act. The law prohibits attempts to manipulate and falsely report information that tends to affect the price of a commodity — including interest rates like Libor.

Markets work best when benchmark rates are based on observable transactions. The public is shortchanged if Libor, the emperor of rates, is not clothed in such transactions.

One solution might be to use other benchmark rates — like the overnight index swaps rate, which is tied to the rate at which banks lend to one another overnight — that are based on real transactions. There are also benchmark rates based on actual short-term secured financings (loans in which collateral is pledged) between banks and other financial institutions.

For any new or revised benchmark to be broadly accepted by the financial markets, borrowers, lenders and hedgers who rely on Libor would benefit from a process for an orderly transition.

The Barclays case demonstrates that Libor has become more vulnerable to misconduct. It’s time for a new or revised benchmark — an emperor clothed in actual, observable market transactions — to restore the confidence of Americans that the rates at which they borrow and lend money are set honestly and transparently.

Gary Gensler is the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

RECENT PHOTOS FROM U.S. AIR FORCE NATIONAL GUARD

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE NATIONAL GUARD
Air National Guard members, 167th Airlift Wing, unload equipment from a C-5 Galaxy aircraft for the Patriot Exercise in Volk Field, Wis., July 13, 2012. The 2012 Patriot Exercise gives 1100 guard personnel from 15 states the opportunity to integrate with local and state agencies during valuable training simulations. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Aaron Smith/Released)

Air National Guard members remove equipment from a C-17 Globemaster III in support of PATRIOT 12 Exercise. PATRIOT 12 held at Volk Field, Wis. is used to sharpen the skills of emergency responders. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Ralph J. Kapustka/Release)

CUTTING RED TAPE AND SAVING $9 BILLION ON HEALTH CARE

Photo:  Secretary of HHS Kathleen Sebelius
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Obama administration issues new rules to cut red tape for doctors and hospitals, saving up to $9 billion
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the release of a new rule that will cut red tape for doctors, hospitals, and health plans. In combination with a previously issued regulation, the rule will save up to $9 billion over the next ten years. The regulation adopts operating rules for making health care claim payments electronically and describing adjustments to claim payments.

"These new rules will cut red tape, save money and ensure doctors spend more time seeing patients and less time filling out forms," said Secretary Sebelius.

Studies have found that the average physician spends three weeks a year on billing and insurance related tasks, and, in a physician’s office, two-thirds of a full-time employee per physician is necessary to conduct these tasks. Many physician practices and hospitals receive and deposit paper checks, and manually post and reconcile the health care claim payments in their accounting systems. By receiving payments electronically and automating the posting of the payments, a physician practice and hospital’s administrative time and costs can be decreased.

The operating rules build upon industry-wide health care electronic fund transfer (EFT) standards that HHS adopted in January of this year. Together, the previously issued EFT standards and the EFT and electronic remittance advice (ERA) operating rules announced today are projected to save between $2.7 billion and more than $9 billion in administrative costs over ten years by reducing inefficient manual administrative processes for physician practices, hospitals, and health plans.

Operating rules include best business practices on how electronic transactions are transmitted and often target obstacles that physician practices and health insurers have with using electronic transactions. For instance, the rule announced today requires insurers to offer a standardized, online enrollment for EFT and ERA so that physicians and hospitals can more easily enroll with multiple health plans to receive those transactions electronically. The rule also requires health plans to send the EFT within a certain amount of days of the ERA, which helps providers reconcile their accounts more quickly.

Today’s rule, Administrative Simplification: Adoption of Operating Rules for Health Care Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) and Remittance Advice Transactions were developed through extensive discussions with industry stakeholders. The rule adopts the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare's Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CAQH CORE) Phase III EFT & ERA Operating Rule Set, including the CORE v5010 Master Companion Guide Template, with the exception of Requirement 4.2 of the Phase III CORE 350 Health Care Claim Payment/Advice (835) Infrastructure Rule. Collectively, these rules are referred to as the EFT & ERA Operating Rule Set.

FDIC GETS TOUGH ON TWO BANKS FOR EXCESSIVE NSF FEES ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

FROM: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
FDIC Announces Settlements With Higer One, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut, and the Bancorp Bank, Wilmington, Delaware for Unfair and Deceptive PracticesThe Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced settlements with Higher One, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut, (Higher One) and The Bancorp Bank, Wilmington, Delaware, for alleged unfair and deceptive practices in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (Section 5). Higher One is an institution-affiliated party of The Bancorp Bank. Under the settlements, both Higher One and The Bancorp Bank have agreed to Consent Orders and Higher One has agreed to provide restitution of approximately $11 million to approximately 60,000 students. In addition, the FDIC has imposed civil money penalties of $110,000 for Higher One and $172,000 for The Bancorp Bank.

The FDIC determined that Higher One operated its student debit card account program (OneAccount) with The Bancorp Bank in violation of Section 5. Among other things, the FDIC found that Higher One and The Bancorp Bank were: charging student account holders multiple nonsufficient fund (NSF) fees from a single merchant transaction; allowing these accounts to remain in overdrawn status over long periods of time, thus allowing NSF fees to continue accruing; and collecting the fees from subsequent deposits to the students' accounts, typically funds for tuition and other college expenses. The Bancorp Bank, as issuer of the OneAccount debit card, was responsible to ensure that Higher One operated the OneAccount program in compliance with all applicable laws.

The Consent Order requires Higher One to change the manner in which it imposes NSF fees. It is required: 1) to not charge NSF fees to accounts that have been in a continuous negative balance for more than 60 days; 2) to not charge more than three NSF fees on any single day to a single account; and 3) to not charge more than one NSF fee with respect to a single automated clearing house (ACH) transaction that is returned unpaid within any 21-day period. In addition, Higher One is required not to make misleading or deceptive representations or omissions in its marketing materials or disclosures and to institute a sound compliance management system.

Higher One has agreed to make restitution to eligible OneAccount holders for certain NSF fees for a period beginning July 16, 2008, to such time as Higher One ceased charging the fees in question. Restitution is estimated at $11 million and may be in the form of credits to current account holders and charged-off accounts, and by check where the account is closed, to the extent that the credit exceeds any charged off amount owed to Higher One.

The Consent Order requires The Bancorp Bank to increase board oversight of all compliance matters, improve its compliance management system, enhance its audit program, correct all violations, significantly increase its management of third party risk, and provide to the FDIC details relating to the termination of its relationship with Higher One. In addition, if Higher One fails to complete restitution, the FDIC may require The Bancorp Bank to establish a restitution account in the amount of restitution unpaid by Higher One.

In agreeing to the issuance of the Consent Orders, neither The Bancorp Bank nor Higher One admits or denies any liability. A copy of the FDIC's Orders issued against The Bancorp Bank and Higher One are attached.

U.S.-MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL BORDER ISSUES

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department
FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYAugust 8, 2012
US, Mexico Sign Agreement Addressing High Priority Border Environmental Issues
　
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson joined Mexico’s Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources Juan Elvira Quesada to sign the Border 2020 U.S.-Mexico Environmental program agreement. The signing was witnessed by a number of leaders including the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico E. Anthony Wayne, Vice Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation Wavalene Romero, California Secretary for Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriquez, Baja California Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán and Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante Anchondo. The Border 2020 agreement, developed with significant stakeholder input, will work to address high priority environmental and public health problems in the 2,000 mile border region. It follows the Border 2012 environmental agreement which ends this year.


"Addressing the environmental issues along the border has long been a priority we share with our colleagues in Mexico, because we know that environmental degradation, pollution, and the diseases they trigger don’t stop at the national boundaries," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Thanks to help from our partners in government, industry, academia and local communities, the Border 2020 agreement will build upon the significant progress already made, and families on both sides of the border will continue to benefit from cleaner, healthier communities for decades to come."


The Border 2020 program works to reduce pollution in water, air, and on land, reduce exposure to chemicals from accidental releases or terrorism, and improve environmental stewardship. It is the latest environmental program implemented under the 1983 U.S.-Mexico La Paz Agreement. It builds on the Border 2012 program and encourages meaningful participation from communities and local stakeholders through regional task forces.


Over the next eight years, the Border 2020 Environmental program will work towards significant improvements that will focus on five key areas:

- Reducing air pollution in bi-national air sheds by promoting vehicle inspection programs and road paving, and encouraging anti-idling technologies such as diesel truck electrification at ports-of-entry.


- Improving access to clean and safe water as well as improving water quality in the bi-national watersheds.


- Promoting materials and waste management, and addressing contaminated sites as well as management practices for addressing electronics, lead acid batteries, tires, and trash.


- Enhancing joint preparedness for environmental and emergency response.


- Enhancing compliance assurance and environmental stewardship.

The new Border 2020 program also strengthens its focus in regional areas where environmental improvements are needed most: establishing realistic and concrete goals, supporting the implementation of projects, considering new fundamental strategies, and encouraging the achievement of more ambitious environmental and public health goals.

Border 2012, which concludes this year, resulted in numerous achievements, including connecting households to drinking water and wastewater services benefitting more than 8.5 million border residents. In addition, the program helped remove more than 12 million scrap tires from dump sites border wide and more than 75.5 metric tons of obsolete pesticides from rural areas in California, Sonora, and Tamaulipas.


As the home to over 14 million people and one of the busiest cross-border trade regions in the world, protecting human health and the environment in the border region is essential to ensuring that the U.S. continues to be safe, healthy and economically productive. The Border 2020 U.S.-Mexico Environmental program will protect the environment and public health for 10 states on both sides of the 2,000-mile border, including 26 U.S. tribes and seven groups of Mexican indigenous people.


More information as well as a fact sheet on Border 2020: http://www.epa.gov/usmexicoborder/


A video on Border 2012 and 2020: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzUKe5NCEU0