U.S.-COLUMBIA RELATIONS REGARDING NARCO-TRAFFICKING

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Narcotics and Narco-Trafficking
The United States and Colombia continue to enjoy a close counternarcotics partnership. Under Plan Colombia, significant U.S. funding, technical assistance, and material support has been provided to Colombian-led counternarcotics programs aimed at interdicting and eradicating drugs at the source as well as expanding the capacity of Colombian police, military, and judicial institutions.

Colombia remains one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of cocaine, as well as a source country for heroin and marijuana. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2010 Cocaine Signature Program, 95.5% of the cocaine seized in the United States originates in Colombia. Colombia’s marijuana is typically not sent to the United States, but feeds internal and Latin American consumption. The Colombian Government, with U.S. support, has made progress in weakening drug trafficking organizations, disrupting the supply of illicit drugs to the United States, and establishing a security presence in former conflict regions. The United States Government found that the area devoted to coca cultivation in 2010 was down 14% compared to 2009, from 116,000 to 100,000 hectares (ha). Crediting sustained aerial and manual eradication operations and aggressive enforcement activity in 2010, the U.S. Government also reported a decline in potential pure cocaine production of 7.4%, from 290 metric tons (MT) in 2009 to 270 MT in 2010--and a 60% drop from the 700 MT estimated pure cocaine production potential in 2001.

Colombia’s counter-insurgency/counternarcotics efforts show promise that they will free up areas previously influenced by narco-trafficking and terrorism. Strong eradication and interdiction programs continue to be essential for disrupting narco-trafficking networks and for thwarting cultivation in Colombia’s more remote areas. The Colombian Government’s National Consolidation Plan, which the U.S. Government supports, is helping to bring the civilian elements of the state to remote, previously ungoverned parts of the national territory. As the state extends its reach, more rural citizens are enjoying access to basic services and protection from FARC influence and intimidation. Some farmers previously forced to grow coca can now safely plant legal, alternative crops without fear of guerrilla retribution.

The United States supports locally-led programs designed to confront multiple aspects of the drug trade and assists the Government of Colombia in re-establishing control and the rule of law in areas threatened by drug-related violence. Primary elements of this comprehensive assistance include illicit crop eradication, interdiction operations, alternative livelihoods programs, institution building, and justice sector reform. Eradication efforts are aimed at preventing and destroying illicit cultivation, while alternative livelihoods projects implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provide economic alternatives to illicit crop production through projects, enterprise development, natural resource protection, institutional strengthening, and promoting access to markets. Work with government and civil society to advance drug demand prevention programs in schools and communities is also an important part of U.S. assistance programs in Colombia.

The United States also provides support to improve the efficiency of Colombia’s accusatory judicial system. U.S. programs help train judges, prosecutors, and police; promote timely and effective investigations and prosecutions of human rights violations; and support the identification and return of missing remains.

The United States and Colombia have an excellent relationship with regard to the extradition of narco-criminals. In 2009, 186 criminals were extradited to the United States, including former AUC leader Hebert Veloza-Garcia (aka "HH") and FARC member Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramirez (aka "Cesar"). In 2010, 119 criminals were extradited to the United States, and 195 criminals were extradited in 2011.

GEN. ALLEN'S COMMENTS ON 60 MINUTES REGARDING INSIDER ATTACKS

Anti-Taliban Fighter, 2002.  Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Allen Discusses Insider Attacks in '60 Minutes' Interview
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2012 - In an interview on the CBS program "60 Minutes" last night, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan said he takes his mission personally and is angered by insider attacks by Afghan security forces and militants wearing Afghan uniforms

"I'm mad as hell about them, to be honest with you," Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, told CBS correspondent Lara Logan. "We're going to get after this. It reverberates everywhere across the United States. We're willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign, but we're not willing to be murdered for it."

The general said it is important to understand the Afghan people still support ISAF troops and their mission to guide Afghan troops as they prepare to take full responsibility for security in their country.

"The key point is for us to understand that the vast majority of the Afghans, ... they're with us in this," Allen said. "They understand right now the severity of this problem and the urgency of what's happening."

Afghans have been killed trying to save coalition forces when some attacks have been under way," the general noted. "[It] was the only reaction that they could have taken ... to try to save us at that moment of attack," he said.

More than 50 coalition members have been killed by insider attacks this year. Allen said insurgents recognize the vulnerability posed as coalition forces work alongside Afghan counterparts, and they have adapted their tactics to exploit it.

"In Iraq, the signature weapon system that we hadn't seen before was the [improvised explosive device]," he said. "We had to adjust to that. Here, I think the signature attack that we're beginning to see is going to be the insider attack."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, also interviewed in the segment, acknowledged the attacks and pledged to help ISAF eliminate the threat. "These attacks are sad," he said. "This is something I have discussed in detail, something that I bear responsibility for to correct."

Allen also discussed the presence of al-Qaida and ISAF's commitment to continuing to "target and eliminate them."

"Al-Qaida has come back, [and] is a resilient organization," he said. "But they're not here in large numbers. But al-Qaida doesn't have to be anywhere in large numbers."

The terrorist organization is not significant in a traditional military sense, Allen said. "Al-Qaida has significance beyond its numbers, frankly," he added. "And so for us, our 24-hour-a-day objective is to seek out those al-Qaida cells."

It is important to ensure al-Qaida doesn't feel as though it can put down roots in Afghanistan, the general said, and while security isn't perfect around the country, there has been much improvement.

"An awful lot of the population of this country is living in an area where there is vastly improved security from where it was just a few years ago," he said.

Meanwhile, Allen said, coalition officials are doing a great deal to address terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, and the relationship between ISAF forces and the Pakistani military has improved dramatically.

"There's a very complex relationship with Pakistan, and we'll work very hard and very closely with the Pakistani military to achieve common objectives," he said. "But to some extent, the Pakistani military has been successful in cooperating with us in the last several months with regard to complementary operations on both sides of the border, but much more needs to be done."

ISAF is doing everything it can within its authority to hunt down and kill Haqqani network operatives in Afghanistan who "ultimately threaten my troops, threaten the Afghan troops and the Afghan society, the Afghan civilians, and ultimately the Afghan government," Allen said.

The general also described his intense commitment to the mission in Afghanistan, which he said often leads him to "turn around and go back" to work some nights after asking himself while he's walking home if he's done enough.

"I came here believing this would be the last job I'd ever have," Allen said. "I don't care about anything beyond this. This is what's important to me. I almost can't remember ever having been anywhere else.

"This is completely consuming for me, and I am dedicated 24 hours a day to these magnificent troops, to the Afghans, to this cause, and ultimately to successful completion," he continued. "This is very personal to me. And I take it very personally."

U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER SPEAKS AT DEFENDING CHILDHOOD INITITIVE PRESS CONFERENCE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Defending Childhood Initiative Press Conference

Cleveland ~ Friday, September 28, 2012

Thank you, Steve. It’s a pleasure to be back in Cleveland. And it’s a privilege to join with you, County Executive Fitzgerald – and so many dedicated partners – to discuss an exciting step forward in our ongoing fight to protect the safety, health, and potential of our young people.

This morning, I’m pleased to announce that the United Way’s 2-1-1 "call-for-service" line is now partnering with the Justice Department, and other key stakeholders, to more effectively identify – and assist – children who’ve been exposed to violence. The 2-1-1 community access line – which already operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – has proven to be a critical tool in enabling members of the public to access help with foreclosure prevention, as well as general health and human service needs. And, now, members of the community can also call 2-1-1 to access screening, assessment, and treatment services for children who have been victims of – or witnesses to – violence.

This new service is the result of strong leadership – by local officials, service providers, and advocates; and of strong support – from the Cleveland Foundation and the United Way of Greater Cleveland. And I’m confident that it will enhance the important work that’s now underway here in Cleveland – and in other cities currently working to reduce high rates of community violence – as part of the Justice Department’s landmark Defending Childhood Initiative.

All 2-1-1 staff have been trained to help determine whether the treatment services that are available here in Cleveland – as part of this city’s Defending Childhood Initiative – should be utilized. As a result, we expect community-based agencies and mental health organizations to be able to respond more effectively in screening, assessing, and treating the young people who need our help and – when necessary – engaging the appropriate authorities.

This marks yet another important step forward for the Defending Childhood Initiative – and for the children and communities we’re working to serve. Two years ago, the Department launched this initiative for one simple, unfortunate reason: we are facing a national crisis. In America today, the majority of children – more than 60 percent of them – have been exposed to violence at some point in their lives, often repeatedly. Here in Cuyahoga County, nearly two-thirds of at-risk children have seen someone beaten up in their own neighborhoods; and a quarter of these young people have experienced violence in their own homes. This is an alarming problem – with devastating, often long-term, consequences.

Research has shown that children who experience and witness violence are more likely than their peers to abuse drugs and alcohol. They are at a heightened risk – not only for depression, anxiety, and other post-traumatic disorders – but also for developing chronic diseases, having trouble forming emotional attachments, and committing acts of violence themselves. Fortunately, studies also have revealed that intervention and treatment can be highly effective, and that it is possible to counter the negative impact of violence – and to help our children heal, grow, and thrive.

That’s one reason why today’s announcement – and the effort to more effectively connect children in need with the assistance and support that can improve their lives and their communities – is so promising. I’m confident that it will build on the $2 million investment that the Justice Department awarded to Cuyahoga County last year, as part of the Defending Childhood Initiative. These resources have helped to bring more than 150 public and private sector experts from across the Cleveland area together in recent months – to analyze public safety strategies and diagnostic tools; to develop violence prevention plans; and to find the most effective ways to identify children who’ve been exposed to violence, assess their level of trauma, and map out a proper course of treatment.

This is precisely the type of broad-based engagement and local leadership that my colleagues and I had in mind when we launched the Defending Childhood Initiative – in order to make federal funding, resources, and experts available to relevant authorities in eight jurisdictions nationwide . Since last year – when I visited the Boys and Girls Club on Fleet Avenue, and heard about the challenges facing young people in this area – we’ve been actively engaged in driving this effort forward right here in Cleveland.

In fact, earlier today, I had the chance to meet with a number of the men and women who have been helping to guide our efforts here in Cuyahoga County – from policy experts like Elsie Day, to law enforcement leaders like U.S. Attorney Dettelbach and Cleveland Police Chief McGrath – and even public health professionals like Dr. Barksdale, Chief of Surgery at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. I also had the privilege of hearing from a few of the students who have been instrumental in guiding, informing, and raising awareness about our ongoing work – and our latest effort to identify, screen, and treat kids in need.

As a result of their extraordinary efforts, hundreds of area children have already undergone the initial screening process since it was implemented by local authorities in July. With today’s announcement – which opens this process to the general public, and which should allow approximately 1,000 children to be screened, assessed, and – if necessary – treated each month – I am confident that we can continue to extend the momentum that’s been established here in Cleveland.

This morning, as this work begins to enter a new phase, I’d like to thank all of the leaders, partners, and supporters gathered here – for your hard work, dedication, and steadfast commitment to protecting the young people who need, and deserve, our help. I look forward to the progress that we will continue to make – together.

CASSINO CHEATER GETS 36 MONTHS FOR ROLE IN DEFRAUDING 29 CASSINOS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

WASHINGTON – Van Thu Tran was sentenced today in San Diego to 36 months in prison for her role in a scheme to cheat casinos across the country out of millions of dollars, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy for the Southern District of California.

In addition to her prison sentence, Van Thu Tran, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston in the Southern District of California to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $5,753,416 in restitution, payable to several casinos. The court ordered the forfeiture of her interests in various assets, including jewelry and bank accounts.

Van Thu Tran entered her guilty plea in San Diego on Jan. 14, 2011.

In her plea agreement, Van Thu Tran admitted that in approximately August 2002, she, along with co-conspirators Phuong Quoc Truong, Tai Khiem Tran and others, created a criminal enterprise defined as the Tran Organization, based in San Diego and elsewhere, for the purpose of participating in gambling cheats at casinos across the United States. In her plea agreement, Van Thu Tran also admitted that she and her co-conspirators unlawfully obtained up to $7 million during card cheats.

The investigation of the Tran Organization led to the filing of three separate indictments in 2007, 2008 and 2009. A three-count indictment was returned in San Diego on May 22, 2007, and unsealed on May 24, 2007, which charged Van Thu Tran and 13 others each with one count of conspiracy to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise; one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also charged five separate individuals each with one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents, the defendants and others executed a "false shuffle" cheating scheme at casinos in the United States and Canada during blackjack and mini-baccarat games. Court documents also show that members of the criminal organization bribed casino card dealers and supervisors to perform false shuffles during card games, thereby creating "slugs" or groups of unshuffled cards. Court documents also show that, after tracking the order of cards dealt in a card game, a member of the organization would signal to the card dealer to perform a "false shuffle," and members of the group would then bet on the known order of cards when the slug appeared on the table. By doing so, members of the conspiracy repeatedly won thousands of dollars during card games, including winning several hundred thousand dollars on one occasion.

Court documents also show that the members of the organization used sophisticated mechanisms for tracking the order of cards during games, including hidden transmitter devices and specially created software that would predict the order in which cards would reappear during blackjack games.

To date, 42 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the casino-cheating conspiracy: Van Thu Tran, Phuong Quoc Truong, Tai Khiem Tran, Anh Phuong Tran, Phat Ngoc Tran, Martin Lee Aronson, Liem Thanh Lam, George Michael Lee, Tien Duc Vu, Son Hong Johnson, Barry Wellford, John Tran, Willy Tran, Tuan Mong Le, Duc Cong Nguyen, Han Truong Nguyen, Roderick Vang Thor, Sisouvanh Mounlasy, Navin Nith, Renee Cuc Quang, Ui Suk Weller, Phally Ly, Khunsela Prom, Hop Nguyen, Hogan Ho, Darrell Saicocie, Bryan Arce, Qua Le, Outtama Keovongsa, Leap Kong, Thang Viet Huynh, Don Man Duong, Dan Thich, Jimmy Ha, Eric Isbell, Brandon Pete Landry, James Root, Jesus Rodriguez, Jason Cavin, Nedra Fay Landry, Connie Holmes and Geraldo Montaz. These defendants admitted to targeting, with the aid of co-conspirators, a combined total of approximately 29 casinos in the United States and Canada during the course of the conspiracy:

1) Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Miss.;
2) Casino Rama, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada;
3) Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn.;
4) Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Miss.;
5) Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, La.;
6) Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Tunica, Miss.;
7) Isle of Capri Casino in Westlake, La.;
8) Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Ind.;
9) Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, Conn.;
10) Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas;
11) Resorts East Chicago Hotel and Casino in East Chicago, Ind.;
12) Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, Calif.
13) Cache Creek Indian Bingo and Casino in Brooks, Calif.;
14) Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.;
15) Imperial Palace Casino in Biloxi;
16) Argosy Casino in Baton Rouge, La.;
17) Trump 29 Casino in Coachella, Calif.;
18) Isle of Capri Casino in Bossier City;
19) Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif.;
20) Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, Calif.;
21) Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.;
22) L'Auberge du Lac Casino in Lake Charles, La.;
23) Nooksack River Casino in Deming, Wash.;
24) Barona Valley Ranch Casino and Resort in Lakeside, Calif.;
25) Caesars Indiana Hotel and Casino in Elizabeth, Ind.;
26) Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas;
27) Harrah’s Casino in Lake Charles;
28) Golden Moon Casino in Choctaw, Miss.; and
29) Viejas Casino in Alpine, Calif.

Two other defendants, Ha Thuy Giang and Tammie Huynh, pleaded guilty to tax offenses stemming from the investigation, and Khai Hong Tran admitted to the offenses alleged in a 2007 U.S. indictment when he pleaded guilty to casino-cheating offenses in Canada.

On Dec. 15, 2010, defendant Mike Waseleski, a former casino card dealer, was found guilty by a federal jury in San Diego for his role in the Tran Organization’s cheating scheme to steal approximately $1.5 million from Resorts East Chicago Casino.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Diego Field Office; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; the San Diego Sheriff’s Department; and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control. The investigation has received assistance from federal, state, tribal and foreign authorities, including: the Ontario Provincial Police; the National Indian Gaming Commission; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington; FBI Resident Agencies in Gulfport, Miss., Tacoma, Wash., and Toledo, Ohio; the Indiana State Police; the Rumsey Rancheria Tribal Gaming Agency; the Sycuan Gaming Commission; the Barona Gaming Commission; the Mississippi Gaming Commission; and the Washington State Gambling Commission.

U.S. ARMY RIGHT-SIZING ENERGY PRODUCTION WITH ADVANCED MOBILE POWER SYSTEMS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE- ARMED WITH SCIENCE PUBLICATION 
The U.S. Army’s new tactical generators, known as Advanced Medium Mobile Power Systems, or AMMPS, are being fielded to Afghanistan as part of an energy "right-sizing" plan that includes a comprehensive assessment of current equipment on hand, the amount and type of power required, and the operational status of each power-generating system. (Photo by the U.S. Army)
Afghanistan Power That's Just The 'Right Size'

By jtozer
As the  U.S. ARMY changes its energy culture through policy and new technologies, it is already fielding its next generation of streamlined operational energy systems to Afghanistan.

In August, the newest fuel-saving generators, known as Advanced Medium mobile power systems, or AMMPS, were delivered to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat team in Afghanistan.

But they’re not arriving alone.

In fielding AMMPS, the Army’s Project Manager Mobile Electric Power is also delivering a new approach to power management and power distribution as a model for the Department of Defense on how to right-size energy requirements for military operations.

The tactic includes four phases: plan, assess, equip and train. Already PM MEP completed the planning and assessment stages during the months prior to delivering the AMMPS. In August, they began shipping the equipment and in September training began.

"This approach of plan, assess, equip and train is how delivery of AMMPS should be done," said Lt. Col. Michael Foster, product manager for medium power sources at PM MEP. "This is not just ‘rack and stack.’ We do an assessment and look at everything that runs on power, then right-size the generator to meet the amount of power needed. We’re also providing the training so soldiers are comfortable operating the equipment."

Power distribution and power management, tailored to each location, are approached through a comprehensive assessment that includes a review of current equipment on hand, the amount and type of power required and the operational status of each power-generating system.

In August, PM MEP put three teams of five people each, including senior management, on the ground to provide operational energy solutions to six combat outposts, one patrol base and one forward operating base in support of an airborne brigade combat team with 3,500 soldiers.

AMMPS can cut fuel consumption by as much as 21 percent across the fleet of generators, and they are 95 percent more reliable than the generators currently in use. However, if the AMMPS are not right-sized for proper power distribution, efficiency is reduced.

Cutting down on fuel consumed on the battlefield is not just a cost and energy savings, but it also reduces the number of convoys needed to supply that fuel. Since these supply convoys are often targeted by enemy attacks, taking them off the roads removes soldiers from harm’s way.
"The more reliable they are and the more efficient they are, the less fuel they burn and the less need for resupply," said Foster. "Through proper power management and power distribution, we’ll demonstrate that not only are they going to save fuel, but that soldiers will also have more reliable clean power."
When fully fielded, this new line of tactical generators is expected to save about 250,000 gallons of fuel each month in Afghanistan. With these fuel savings the Army will be able to remove 1,000 fuel tankers each year from supply convoys traveling to remote outposts.

"That’s the significance of power management and power distribution," said Col. Brian Cummings, project manager for MEP. "AMMPS give combat power back to the soldiers who can spend less time transporting fuel, maintaining generators or conducting combat operations."

At a time when the DOD is pursuing efforts to cut fuel consumption and leverage alternative energy sources, AMMPS serve as an operational energy model.

"Soldiers need power to run communications gear, weapons systems, tactical operations centers and more," said Foster. "Especially in Afghanistan, units cannot depend on clean and reliable power that operates in austere conditions; therefore, they have to take power with them. To be able to do that in an efficient way allows soldiers to focus on combat operations instead of tactical power."

So far the effort is well received.

"The AMMPS are brand new and have arrived in OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) at the perfect time to replace the old Tactical Quiet Generators," said Chief Warrant Officer Jose Cruz, the Bravo Company, BSB, 173rd ABCT Power Generation Maintenance Officer. "The AMMPS offer less fuel consumption, and the power output does not fluctuate when a load is applied. It is a lot better than the current TQGs we have here in theater."

AMMPS, being fielded by PM MEP in partnership with the Rapid Equipping Force and the 249th Engineer Battalion, also greatly reduce maintenance costs and time. Once fully implemented, the new generators are expected to reduce maintenance manpower by 346,000 hours per year in Afghanistan. Ranging in size from 5 kilowatts to 60 kilowatts, AMMPS offer a 10 percent reduction in size and weight.

PM MEP, assigned to Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical, continues to field innovative power solutions that better leverage energy efficiency and ultimately help protect soldiers on the battlefield. As they complete the mission with the 173rd, they will shift support to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, providing a similar power generation, distribution and right-sizing power plan.

By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, PEO C3T

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FALL COLORS

 


Photo:  Fall Colors.  Credit:  Wikimedia. 

FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The Colors of Fall: Are Autumn Reds and Golds Passing Us By?

The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold ...

It was 1947 when Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to the popular song "Autumn Leaves." Sixty-five years ago, Mercer likely didn't think the reds and golds of fall might someday fade.

But that's what's beginning to happen in U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Autumn colors were different there a century, or even a half-century, ago, and they will likely continue to change, says ecologist David Foster, principal investigator at the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Massachusetts.

Harvard Forest is one of 26 such NSF LTER sites around the world in ecosystems from forests to deserts, grasslands to coral reefs.

"The brilliant fall foliage so emblematic of New England forests was not always so, as the history of Harvard Forest shows," says Saran Twombly, NSF LTER program director.

"Today the current, rapid changes linked with climate are unpredictable," says Twombly, "threatening both the forests and our deep appreciation of them."

The changes are largely a result of human activity: land-use change, introduced pests and diseases that affect forests, and climate change from fossil fuel emissions.

To date, the timing of leaf color change has stayed fairly consistent from year to year, says Foster, although out-of-sync weather conditions can advance it or hold it back.

At the start of the 20th century, much of the New England landscape south of Maine, famed for its brilliant maples, was covered by white pine forests that filled in abandoned fields and pastures left fallow.

As the white pines were harvested, they were succeeded by broadleaf, or deciduous, trees: maples, oaks, birches and others.

Autumn color flared across the landscape.

American chestnuts, whose leaves turn yellow in fall, were common trees in these forests, says Foster. But mature chestnuts were killed by an introduced fungal disease, Chestnut Blight.

Now only small chestnut sprouts linger. "Our forests would have produced more yellows and fewer reds with chestnuts in the mix," says Foster.

With many sugar maples, the forests turned a striking red. The trees' abundance in eastern Massachusetts and coastal southern New England is a result of extensive planting along roadsides during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Sugar maples provided a source of sap for maple sugar, important in the commerce of the day.

The maples are near the southern end of their range in Massachusetts. It's likely, says Foster, that they will move north over the next century, thanks to increasing temperatures.

Massachusetts may one day seem like Virginia to the trees--and to the September and October people who come to see them.

"Over time," Foster says, "the autumn colors of our forests may fade as conditions become less favorable for northern trees such as sugar maples."

The result will reverberate not only through forest ecosystems, but through a region economically dependent on fall foliage tourism.

Trees that are left behind, such as ashes, dogwoods and others, may face diseases already spreading through the forest. These diseases may be exacerbated by warmer temperatures.

For some trees, however, the yellows and reds of fall appear to offer a defense mechanism. The colors may repel insects and keep them from laying eggs on leaves, reducing damage to forests the following year.

Birches' bright yellow may be a "go away" sign to egg-laying insects: the color is a clue that the leaves are unpalatable or toxic. Insects move on, attracted to plants without defenses.

Deciduous trees aren't the only ones affected by environmental change and diseases. The loss of evergreen trees may also have an effect on autumn colors.

Hemlocks--conifers common in valleys, on steep slopes and along streams--are disappearing from Northeastern forests. The culprit is an introduced insect pest, the woolly adelgid.

At Harvard Forest, hemlocks are infested with woolly adelgids. The trees will begin to die over the next few years.

"It's not clear how far north these insect pests will move," says Foster. But as hemlocks fall, they will be replaced by black birches, whose leaves turn yellow in autumn.

Lack of rainfall in summer, such as this year's extensive drought, also affects trees and their ability to produce the shades of autumn.

They may lose their leaves prematurely or start to turn color earlier than usual. Their hues may look dull and washed out when they should be vibrant.

If April showers bring May flowers, July and August rains lead to the bright reds and yellows of September and October.

The Northeast is becoming a place of warmer temperatures, increasing droughts, changes in land use, and tree diseases and insect pests. All are on-the-march through the forest.

NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Deputy CIO: Computer Users Must Practice Cyber Security
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2012 - National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October lasts just 31 days, but practicing good cyber security is important 365 days a year, the Defense Department's deputy chief information officer said yesterday.

Because users engage with the network on a daily basis, good cyber security practices should be second nature, Robert J. Carey, DOD's deputy chief information officer, said during a joint American Forces Press Service and Pentagon Channel interview.

This means "changing our culture to be more mindful of the fact that the information needs to only be transmitted to those who are fit to consume it [and] who are authorized the right accesses," he said.

Specific cyber security practices vary depending on the type of users, but Carey said there is one overriding concept: everyone is responsible for protecting information.

Commanders rely on information relayed through electronic networks to make life-and-death decisions, but, Carey asked, what if they couldn't trust that information?

"What if [they] trusted it but it was wrong?" he said.

Understanding how that information traversed the network -- whether it came from the person it's supposed to have come from -- is essential to commanders, he said.

And while information technology can be a complicated subject, with an equally complicated lexicon, Carey said his office is working to ensure that DOD adopts policies and strategies that help users at all levels to understand exactly why cyber security is so important. This way, he said, they can be confident that they're taking the right steps to protect information.

"The most important link is the user. Each of us, when we engage the network, is either an asset or a vulnerability, depending on our actions," he said. "The human becomes the weakest link, and so the more we can strengthen that weakest link, the better we will be."

Responsible network access means users are aware of what they're clicking on, Carey said.

"If you click on a link that you don't know where it came from and suddenly bad things happen ... well the link has already provided the information to your computer," he said, "so now you have bypassed a lot of the protections that the system has."

The Department of Homeland Security has adopted "Stop. Think. Connect" as the motto for National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Carey said the program asks users to consider their actions and remember that what they do online may affect others.

"If you're ... cutting corners and you're doing the wrong things, you can be a vulnerability to this big thing called the network," he said. "People don't realize the extent of it. They think if my machine has a problem that that's the extent of it. It's generally not the extent of it."

Network users should ask themselves if they're doing the right things or exhibiting the right behaviors to perform risk management of the information they're going to access, he said.

This thought process should continue even when people aren't accessing the network from their workplace, Carey added.

"At home you don't think about security," he said. "When you get on your computer at home and you engage the internet, it's highly unlikely that you have a firewall [and] it's highly unlikely that you have a smart card to log on, so the layers that afford us security aren't generally present."

People may feel annoyed when security layers are added to the home experience, but, Carey said, "that operational overhead is a necessary evil to ensure that the information stays protected."

"If we can keep the information secure, the layers, they're just a necessary part of the accessing process," he added.

Carey said that every user is front and center in the battle to ensure networked information remains secure.

"It is ... a cost of doing business in the information age; you just have to be aware," he said.

U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO LIBYA

Photo: Roman Theatre at Sabratha Libya. From: CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

August 14, 2012

The United States has a strategic interest in a stable and prosperous Libya, and is supporting Libya’s democratic transition in cooperation with the UN and other international partners. Recognizing Libya’s own substantial resources, the United States has focused on building Libyan institutions and increasing its capacity to govern effectively, hold free and fair elections, and manage public finances transparently and responsibly. We have also provided targeted assistance to support the development of Libyan civil society and its security forces. Investing modestly in Libya’s future will help further advance Libya’s democratic transition, promote stability, and strengthen the U.S.-Libya partnership.

Since February 2011, the United States has provided $170 million in assistance, mostly in response to urgent humanitarian and security challenges in the immediate aftermath of the beginning of the conflict. We have also focused on supporting capacity building efforts within government institutions, developing civil society, and facilitating free and fair elections. All programs advance key U.S. interests by filling critical capacity gaps within U.S.-Libya identified transition priorities. All projects are being coordinated with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The United States has also resumed a full range of people-to-people programming and exchanges, to include scholarships, fellowships, English-language education, educational advising, cultural preservation, and short term visits and training in the United States.

Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law, Human Rights

Constitutional Development: The United States, in coordination with the UN, is working with civil society, government, and the media to ensure the process of constitutional development is transparent and participatory to ensure broad public support for the final document. A particular focus will be ensuring the constitution guarantees rights for minorities and women.

Election Management and Administration: The United States provided technical assistance and support for election management and administration, including developing legal electoral frameworks, creating a voter registry, and strengthening the election management body, all in close cooperation with the Government of Libya, the European Union and the UN.

Independent Media: The United States is working to strengthen local and independent media, and to provide training that improves journalistic standards and enhances the ability of Libyan media to report on the activities of government.

Elections Monitoring: The United States contributed support to an international elections observation mission to help ensure electoral transparency and credibility during Libya’s first national elections. The U.S. also provided technical assistance to a network of Libyan partners to organize nationwide domestic elections monitoring efforts.

Political Party Development and Voter Outreach: The United States is providing technical assistance to new political parties as they work to develop the platforms, messages, and core skills needed to effectively participate in public discussion and debate. The United States is also supporting civil society efforts to launch country-wide civic and voter education initiatives.

Supporting New Representative Bodies: The United States is developing programming to support representative bodies at the national and local level, including on developing outreach mechanisms for engaging the public..

Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration: The United States is assisting the Government of Libya in navigating the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militia members. Together, the civilian and military elements of the U.S. government are working with the Government of Libya to help them formulate this critical area of programming.

Justice and Security Sector: The United States is working with Libyan authorities to develop ways to support the delivery of justice and security in a manner that promotes democratic values now and as constitutionally determined structures build themselves.

Transitional Justice: The United States is working with government, civil society, and other informal community leaders to build transparent systems for justice and reconciliation in the wake of the revolution. This includes working with the UN Commission of Inquiry's ability to catalogue its documentation of human rights abuses .

NGO Development: The United States is providing technical assistance to NGOs throughout Libya to bolster their administrative, financial, and programmatic capacities. This includes bolstering the ability of local bar associations and advocacy groups to advocate for rule of law reform during the democratic transition.

Forensics and Mass Graves: The United States is providing forensic technical assistance, including mapping human rights and international humanitarian law abuses and preserving evidence by: mapping the number and extent of mass graves; providing technical expertise on forensic-based exhumations; providing training and capacity building to civil society organizations on human rights documentation practices and the use of forensic evidence; and engaging and empowering victims’ groups and families of the missing to ensure that they are a supportive part of the transitional justice process.

Economic Revitalization

Public Financial Management: The United States is providing targeted technical assistance to the Government of Libya to promote financial transparency and improve governance of Libya’s financial and economic resources.

Economic Growth and Trade Facilitation: The United States is providing technical advice to the Government of Libya on public infrastructure-related projects and facilitating meetings with US businesses who can source services and equipment for reconstruction.

Africa Diaspora Marketplace: The United States added Libya to the 2012 African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) initiative. This public-private partnership encourages sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting U.S.-based diaspora entrepreneurs with startups and established businesses on the African continent.

Women’s Economic Empowerment: The United States is developing an assistance program to bolster economic empowerment opportunities for women by providing business skills training activities to women and key actors in the business community.

Security Assistance

Presidential Drawdown Authority for Non-Lethal Equipment: The United States has provided non-lethal assistance, including personnel protective gear, uniforms, and halal Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), to Government security forces through the Presidential drawdown authority.

Conventional Weapons Destruction: The United States is supporting international mine action NGOs to clear unexploded ordnance and destroy unsecured conventional weapons, including man-portable air defense systems (MANPADs).

Weapons Abatement: The U.S. committed significant assistance for conventional weapons mitigation efforts, including the survey, inventory and disposal of known weapons and ammunition storage sites in Libya.

Border Security Training: The Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program is resuming engagement with the Government of Libya (GOL) with targeted technical assistance focused on land border security. As part of an overall U.S. Government effort, EXBS developed an approved list of immediate deliverables for near term border security assistance.

Ministry of Defense Advisory Support: The Department of Defense is providing advisory support through the Defense Institution Reform Initiative (DIRI) to the Libyan Ministry of Defense to assist in the process of establishing defense institutions and armed forces that are unified, capable, and subject to civilian control and the rule of law. This effort supports other USG and international initiatives aimed at broader security sector reform.

Chemical weapons security and destruction: The United States has provided support for improving the near-term security of Libya’s chemical weapons and is working closely with the Libyan authorities to facilitate the eventual destruction of these weapons with the oversight of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons..

Health

Support for the War Wounded: The United States facilitated collaboration between the Government of Libya and U.S. hospitals to provide advanced medical treatment to warriors who were severely injured in combat. Currently, the U.S. is assisting the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs in improving the management and technical capacity of the Libyan health care system to care for the war wounded. This assistance includes the development of pairing relationships with U.S. based institutions.

Humanitarian Assistance

Refugee and IDP Relief: In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, the United States provided humanitarian assistance to international organizations and NGOs aiding internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrants in Libya and neighboring countries through health, humanitarian protection, logistics, water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, as well as the distribution of emergency relief supplies and food assistance.

People-to-People Exchanges

Higher Education Task Force: In May 2012, the United States and Libya launched the U.S.-Libya Higher Education Task Force to expand educational exchanges and cooperation.

Fulbright: Libyan students who were scheduled to participate in the Fulbright program prior to the revolution have had their candidacies restored. In the 2012-2013 academic year, Libya will send 14 Fulbright students to the United States—double the size of the previous cohort. Approximately 1,700 Libyans submitted applications for the 14 grants.

Educational Advising: EducationUSA is expanding its virtual and on-the-ground presence to provide educational advising to Libyan students interested in studying in the United States.

English Language: The English Access Microscholarship Program has three active programs in Libya—one in Tripoli and two in Benghazi—with a total of 80 Libyan students ages 14-18. Embassy Tripoli is currently exploring partnerships to further expand the Access Program, as well as other means of meeting the substantial nationwide demand for classes in English as a Second Language.

Cultural Preservation: The United States is providing resources toward a partnership between Oberlin College and the Libyan Department of Antiquities to document and preserve endangered archaeological sites.

International Visitor Leadership Programs (IVLP): Approximately 30 Libyan government officials, youth and civil society representatives, women leaders, and journalists will participate in three-week professional development IVLPs during the FY 2012 fiscal year.

Youth Leadership Program: Libyan high school students will join participants from Egypt and Tunisia for a three-week leadership and cross-cultural exchange in the United States in August 2012.

NEW WAYS TO MAKE COMBAT RATIONS TASTE GOOD

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Lauren Oleksyk at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center's Combat Feeding Directorate, is working to revolutionize what warfighters eat on the battlefield. U.S. Army photo by Bob Reinert

Military Explores New Processes, Packaging for Combat Rations
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

NATICK, Mass., Sept. 28, 2012 - When a warfighter bites into a combat ration, Lauren Oleksyk wants it to taste as good as if it had been cooked up that morning at a local bistro -- even if it's been stored for years, transported thousands of miles in sweltering or bone-chilling temperatures and airdropped by parachute from 100 feet overhead.

"Our mission is to provide warfighters with near-fresh, high-quality, shelf-stable rations," said Oleksyk, team leader for food processing, engineering and technology at the Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center here.

"What we are really going for is that, even if they get something that may be three years old, for them to feel like it was made yesterday, or even that same day," she said.

In the quest to produce "fresh-like" combat rations and broaden the array of foods they can deliver, Oleksyk and her team are working with their industry and academic partners to push the envelope in food processing and packaging.

Meals, Ready to Eat, the individual combat ration that's the centerpiece of the combat feeding program, are processed using retort thermosterilization, The process is similar to canning, Oleksyk explained, with items cooked at high temperatures and under pressure for as long as three hours to kill any bacteria.

"You get the sterilization that you need," she said. "But because it involves cooking a product for a long period of time, it can be detrimental to the product itself." Foods typically become stew-like, with mushy textures, bland colors and little flavor after extended cooking. The nutritional value drops, too.

That led Natick engineers to explore new processing methods that commercial food service companies are emulating.

One of the most promising technologies the Natick center pioneered is microwave-assisted thermal sterilization. The process uses giant commercial microwaves that kill bacteria within just eight minutes and heats packaged foods uniformly in a way that traditional microwaves don't.

The result is higher-quality products, Oleksyk said, with firmer textures, more natural colors and fresher-tasting flavors. It's also expanding the possibilities in terms of what foods can be included in combat rations.

Pasta, for example, tends to get mushy and lumpy using the retort method. The protein in fish and seafood breaks down, giving entrees a soft texture and an unpleasant "fishy" flavor and odor. Eggs take on a greenish cast. Fruits and vegetables become the consistency of baby food.

But a new developmental dish Oleksyk and her colleagues are advancing, Cajun chicken pasta, shows the difference microwave sterilization makes. When presented side-by-side with the same recipe processed using the retort method, the microwaved entree features al dente noodles, juicy chicken pieces and a just-cooked consistency and flavor.

"When you taste the microwave sterilized chicken, you really wouldn't know that it was processed two years ago," Oleksyk said. "You would think it was just prepared. And that is the goal."

A salmon-in-alfredo-sauce MRE under development using microwave sterilization delivers a firm texture and fresh-caught taste. "It's a very high-quality product, but also shelf-stable for three years," said Jeremy Whitsitt, technology integration analyst for the center's Department of Defense combat feeding directorate.

But the Natick team isn't putting all its proverbial eggs in one basket. They're working with industry and academia to advance a process using high pressure rather than intense heat to sterilize combat rations. "We're not quite as far along with this as microwave sterilization, and we haven't yet achieved the pressures necessary for full sterilization," said Oleksyk. "But we are at the point where we are getting pasteurization using pressure, and pursing this [technology]."

A Natick research program still in its infancy is using supercritical carbon dioxide -- essentially, carbon dioxide that's been heated and pressurized so it's somewhere between a gas and a liquid -- to sterilize foods.

The commercial food industry uses this process to extract caffeine from coffee. But what Oleksyk found particularly interesting was learning that the medical field uses supercritical carbon dioxide to sterilize bone fragments, tendons and other tissue samples for transplant surgeries.

"When we found out it was being used for that, we said, 'Why not look at it to see if it can sterilize foods?'" she said.

The Natick center partnered with a company that uses the process for medical sterilization to see if that's feasible. "The program is still in the early stages of the research and development, but it is very promising," Oleksyk said.

Osmotic drying is another new process being explored. This involves grinding up meat or vegetables, using a conveyor to roll them into a sheet, then running them through an osmotic tank that removes the moisture. The product remains in its raw form until the end, when it can be put into a smoker or otherwise cooked.

The result, unlike beef jerky in a combat ration that gets hard and brittle over time, is closer to the sliced deli meats one might find at the local supermarket.

"We are thinking of all kinds of applications for this product," Oleksyk said. One is a "combat sandwich" of osmotic-dried meat, and shelf-stable cheese and -bread. Another is osmotic-dried pepperoni that could be used on a shelf-stable pizza.

Working with a large commercial meat producer in South Carolina, the team plans to prototype "all kinds of products" using this technology within the next fiscal year, Oleksyk reported.

While researching novel ways to process combat rations, the staff continues to investigate better packaging methods that will stand up to combat rigors and shelf-life requirements.

One program is looking into a variety of ways to keep combat rations sterile: controlling the amount of moisture in them, increasing their acidity and adding nisin, a proven antimicrobial compound. Another project involves injecting oxygen scavengers into food packages to reduce spoilage and extend shelf life. That process, Oleksyk said, could enable packaged bread to last in an MRE for as long as three years.

Oleksyk said she and her team are driven to provide warfighters the tastes of home, no matter where they may be deployed.

"We want them to have the kinds of foods they want, with the best quality possible," Oleksyk said. "That's the inspiration behind everything we do here."

　

NIGERIA NATIONAL DAY

From:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Nigeria National Day Message
Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 28, 2012

I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day this October 1.

From:  CIA World Factbook.

The strong ties between Nigeria and the United States are grounded in our shared values and mutual interest in fostering good governance, increasing economic growth, and promoting regional stability. We value this partnership and remain dedicated to working together to meet the challenges of the future.

On the 52nd anniversary of your independence, I wish all Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous year.

ADDITIONAL: FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Map Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
　
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 27, 2012
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of China as you celebrate your National Day this October 1. The United States and China share close ties between our students, business leaders, scientists and scholars, and their ideas, talent, and energy strengthen our cooperation in ways large and small.

As we continue to expand our work on the consequential issues of our time, we must continue to build on this historic opportunity to deepen our relationship, because a thriving China is good for America and a thriving America is good for China. As you celebrate this day with family, friends and loved ones, I wish the people of China continued prosperity and a joyous National Day.



The Mao Zedong Mausoleum (or Chairman Mao Memorial Hall) was constructed in 1977 on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Mao's body lies in a crystal casket for public viewing.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

From: CIA World Factbook.
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life. After 1978, MAO's successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight. China since the early 1990s has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations.
.

A crenellated walkway on top of the Great Wall. The Wall stretched for many thousands of miles linking fortresses. Signal towers were used for communication. Credit: CIA World Factbook

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U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK GUARANTEES PNC $6.4 MILLION LOAN TO FINANCE SOLAR POWER IN BARBADOS

BARBADOS MAP CREDIT:  CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

Ex-Im Guarantees PNC Loan to Finance Solar Power in Barbados;

Supports Small Business Jobs in Five States
 Washington, D.C. – Ex-Im Bank provided a $6.4 million loan guarantee to finance the export of solar modules from West Coast-based SolarWorld Americas to Williams Industries Inc.-Williams evergreen Ltd. of St. Thomas, Barbados. This project, one of the largest in the Caribbean, includes engineering services and solar-system racking exported from two American companies.


"Ex-Im export financing for this deal supports several American businesses and helps support jobs in five states, including California, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "Our financing is good for American jobs, boosts American manufacturing and supplies clean, renewable energy to Barbados."

Williams Industries-Williams evergreen Ltd will use the solar-power system to provide 1.4 megawatts of on-site power to ten sites within the Williams Group portfolio. The immediate savings in power costs will also furnish a hedge against future increases in electricity prices. Williams Industries, established in 1972, controls 13 wholly owned and 17 joint venture companies in Barbados, St. Lucia and other Caribbean islands. These companies are active in manufacturing, electrical engineering, construction, agriculture, tourism waste recycling, real estate development, and water desalination.

"Without the assistance of Ex-Im Bank, Williams Industries through its subsidiary Williams evergreen would not have been able to build 1.4 megawatts of solar capacity over the last six months," said Williams Industries chairman Ralph "Bizzie" Williams. "As a Feed In Tariff is legislated for Barbados, we are looking forward to working with the Ex-Im Bank to build a very significant expansion of our output of electricity from the sun."

SolarWorld Americas, a subsidiary of SolarWorld AG, employs about a thousand U.S. workers at its headquarters manufacturing facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, and its sales and marketing hub in Camarillo, California. Engineering corporation CH2M HILL of Colorado provided engineering services to the project. The Tucson, Arizona manufacturing plant of Schletter Inc. US exported the necessary solar-system racking.

"With its sun-drenched tropical setting and reliance on imported oil for energy generation, the Caribbean is an ideal location for solar," said Raju Yenamandra, vice president of sales and business development for Solar World. "In Williams Industries, we found a perfect partner for island solar development. By combining SolarWorld’s high-quality solar equipment with Williams’ knowledge of the Caribbean electrical sector, we can provide significant oil savings to the island and lower payments for Williams. With Ex-Im Bank financing, this project makes good economic and environmental sense."

The Bank partnered with PNC Bank to provide the $6.4 million, 10-year loan guarantee. Barbados accounted for approximately $ 3.8 million of the Bank’s worldwide credit exposure as of the end of FY 2011. The Bank’s Environmental Export Program offers enhancements such as repayment terms of up to 18 years for eligible U.S. exports to renewable energy and water-related projects.

TRANSFORMING CYBER OPERATIONS INTO CLOUD COMPUTING

Photo Credit:  U.S. General Services Administration 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Officials Discuss Cybernet Transformation EffortsBy Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2012 - Defense officials gathered at the National Press Club yesterday discussed DOD efforts to transform its cyber operations into cloud computing technology that's envisioned to provide added agility, security and cost effectiveness.

Robert J. Carey, DOD's principal deputy chief information officer; Grant M. Schneider, Defense Intelligence Agency deputy director for information management and CIO; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr., Defense Information Systems Agency director, comprised the discussion panel at the 3rd Annual Billington Cybersecurity Summit here.

The discussion included presentation of the DOD's cloud computing strategy that transforms the department's redundant and costly current network applications silos to an end state that ideally fosters a more agile, secure, and cost effective service environment.

Cloud computing is a converged infrastructure that allows greater application set-up and speed with improved manageability and reduced maintenance, enabling technicians to more quickly adjust to and protect against threats, officials said. DISA has been named enterprise cloud service broker maintaining mission assurance and information interoperability within the strategy.

The speakers agreed that an enterprise cloud environment offers tangible benefits.

"There's a great recognition in the importance of this space in our business," Carey said. "Going to cloud computing is a product of consolidating and standardizing the infrastructure and [enables us to] really thrive off those savings."

Though developed in an era of fiscal constraint, the strategy also offers a roadmap to the creation of department core data centers, he said, and future budget cycles should include appropriate funding for ongoing cybersecurity growth and training.

"The resources are drawing down and drying up," Hawkins said of current budget concerns. "The true issue ... is that there is ... an initial start-up cost to get there."

Both a consumer and provider of infrastructure services across the intelligence community and DOD, Schneider examined what will likely be required in years to come in order to optimize cloud computing and data consolidation.

"As we drive towards more standardization and more normalization ... at a very tactical level [with] more interconnectivity ... doing it in ways that [are] generally headed in the same direction from enterprise architecture is absolutely critical," Schneider said.

Equally important are the people who will be implementing these strategies and methods, Hawkins said.

"[We've got to] look at standing up the right academic setting," Hawkins said. "We are trying to build that capability from a joint perspective within the cyber workforce."

In training, the overall goal is to teach people to react in what Carey calls "internet speed" with a sharper focus on skill sets rather than rank or professional origin.

"We're moving toward proficiency-based training," Carey said. "Training a defender like an attacker and an attacker like a defender is a really important skill set. It works in football and it'll work in this game too."

U.S. STUDENT LOAN DEFAULT RATES

 

Photo Credit:  U.S. DOD.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
First Official Three-Year Student Loan Default Rates Published

Department continues efforts to help students better manage their debt.
September 28, 2012
The U.S. Department of Education today released official FY 2010 two-year and official FY 2009 three-year federal student loan cohort default rates. This is the first time the Department has issued an official three-year rate, which was 13.4 percent nationally for the FY 2009 cohort, a slight decrease from the trial three-year rate of 13.8 percent for the FY 2008 cohort. For-profit institutions had the highest average three-year default rates at 22.7 percent, with public institutions following at 11 percent and private non-profit institutions at 7.5 percent.

"We continue to be concerned about default rates and want to ensure that all borrowers have the tools to manage their debt," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "In addition to helping borrowers, we will also hold schools accountable for ensuring their students are not saddled with unmanageable student loan debt."

The Department is in the process of switching from a two-year cohort default rate to a three-year measurement as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The national two-year rate rose to 9.1 percent for the FY 2010 cohort, from 8.8 percent in FY 2009.

Congress included this provision in the law because there are more borrowers who default beyond the two-year window, and the three-year rate captures a more accurate picture of how many borrowers ultimately default on their federal student loans. In particular, for-profit colleges demonstrate a large increase in borrowers who defaulted during year three.

To help students access the tools and resources they need to avoid the negative consequences of defaulting on their student loans, the Department has redoubled its efforts to make borrowers aware of their student loan repayment options, including plans like Income-Based Repayment, which allows borrowers to cap their monthly student loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income. The Department also recently released an interactive financial aid counseling tool that helps borrowers with their college financing decisions, including information on flexible loan repayment options.

Calculation and breakdown of the rates
The two-year cohort default rates (CDRs) announced today represent a snapshot in time, with the FY 2010 cohort consisting of borrowers whose first loan repayments came due between Oct. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2010, and who defaulted before Sept. 30, 2011. More than 4.1 million borrowers from nearly 6,000 schools entered repayment during this window, and almost 375,000 defaulted for an average of 9.1 percent.

The two-year CDR increased over last year’s rates for both the public and private non-profit sectors, rising from 7.2 percent to 8.3 percent for public institutions, and from 4.6 percent to 5.2 percent for private non-profit institutions. CDRs decreased for for-profit institutions from 15.0 percent to 12.9 percent, though the sector still has the highest average two-year rate.

The FY 2009 three-year rates announced today capture the cohort of borrowers whose loans entered repayment between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009, and who defaulted before Sept. 30, 2011. More than 3.6 million borrowers from over 5,900 schools entered repayment during this window of time, and approximately 489,000 of them defaulted.

Sector differences also exist when comparing the increase in the CDR from the two-year to the three-year rates for the FY 2009 cohort, with for-profit schools displaying the biggest jump in rates from year two to year three. The Department reported the two-year CDR for the FY 2009 cohort last year. The increases from the two-year to the three-year rates were 7.2 percent to 11 percent for public institutions, 4.6 percent to 7.5 percent for private non-profit institutions, and 15.0 to 22.7 percent at for-profit schools.

Sanctions
Two schools are subject to sanctions for having two-year default rates of 25 percent or more for three consecutive years: Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tidewater Tech in Norfolk, Va. As a result, these schools face the loss of eligibility in federal student aid programs, unless they bring successful appeals.

No sanctions will be applied to schools based on the three-year rates until three annual rates have been calculated. During this transition period, sanctions will continue to be based on the two-year CDR. However, any school with a three-year CDR of 30 percent or more must establish a default prevention task force and submit a default management plan to the Department. There were 218 schools that had three-year default rates over 30 percent, and 37 schools had three-year default rates in excess of 40 percent.

BP PRODUCTS NORTH AMERICA AGREES TO IMPROVE SPILL RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS AT OIL TERMINALS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Thursday, September 27, 2012
BP Products North America to Improve Spill Response Preparedness at Oil Terminals Nationwide

Company Also Agrees to Pay $210,000 Penalty for Oil Spill Response Violations at Maryland Facility

BP Products North America, Inc. will pay a $210,000 penalty and implement an enhanced oil spill response program at its oil terminals nationwide, as well as a comprehensive compliance audit to resolve alleged violations of oil spill response regulations at its Curtis Bay Terminal in Maryland, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced today. The enhanced oil spill response program will help ensure that BP Product’s oil terminals are better prepared to respond to oil spills that could impact human health and the environment.

EPA alleged that BP Products violated federal regulations requiring oil storage facilities to conduct drills and exercises to respond to oil spills at its Curtis Bay Terminal. The civil penalty is EPA’s highest to date for violations of oil drills and exercises requirements where there was no discharge of oil.

"This agreement will help BP Products strengthen its spill response capabilities across the nation at 33 onshore oil terminals, implementing enhanced oil spill response measures, and requiring an independent auditor to evaluate a dozen high-risk onshore facilities for their readiness to respond to oil spills," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. "Taking these steps will help instill a culture of readiness and preparedness that will help protect many communities, and the natural resources upon which they rely, from future harm."

"Being prepared to respond to an oil spill can be the difference between dealing with a small, contained event or a full-blown environmental disaster," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "After twice failing to pass oil spill response exercises at its Curtis Bay facility, under the settlement, BP is required to put preventative measures into place at all of its terminals nationwide that will reduce the threat of oil spills and protect our nation’s valuable waterways. These measures also raise the bar for forward-looking companies seeking to ensure that their facilities are ready to respond quickly in the event of a spill."

Under the settlement filed today in federal court by the U.S. Department of Justice, BP Products will implement a first-of-its-kind program of spill prevention measures at its 33 non-refinery petroleum products terminals across the country.

As part of this program, the company will review and revise response plans for these facilities to ensure safeguards are tailored to the conditions at each facility. BP Products will also perform enhanced training, drills and exercises, exceeding regulatory requirements, and will repeat any failed drills and exercises within 90 days.

In addition, BP Products has agreed to an independent compliance audit of 12 of its marine and high-risk petroleum product terminal facilities. The audits will ensure that each audited facility is in compliance with spill response requirements, and to evaluate whether the facilities have resources to respond to major spills. The results of the compliance audits will also be incorporated into the enhanced spill prevention and response program being implemented at all of BP’s petroleum terminals.

EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard twice conducted unannounced government-initiated oil spill response exercises at the Curtis Bay Terminal. During these exercises, BP Products was required to demonstrate its response to a small scale discharge of fuel oil from the facility into Curtis Creek by being prepared to deploy 1,000 feet of oil containment boom within one hour and subsequently deploying the boom. On both occasions, the company did not complete the exercise in the allotted time and failed to adequately deploy the containment boom.

The Curtis Bay Terminal, which can store about 22 million gallons of oil, is located less than a quarter mile from Curtis Creek, a tributary of Curtis Bay, the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay.

High-risk onshore facilities that store oil, such as the Curtis Bay Terminal, must have a plan for responding to oil spills that includes employee training, spill response equipment, and a "worst case" contingency plan for containing and cleaning up spills.

Based on the failed drills, EPA cited the company for failing to adequately implement a response plan, failing to identify sufficient spill response resources at the facility, and deficiencies in the facility’s training, drills and exercises program.

Weekly Address: It’s Time for Congress to Help Responsible Homeowners | The White House

Weekly Address: It’s Time for Congress to Help Responsible Homeowners | The White House

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)