U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALLEGES RESALE OF CREDIT REPORT DATA

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,

Thursday, October 11, 2012
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Three Related Companies for Violating Fair Credit Reporting Act

The United States has filed a complaint against three related companies that bought and sold consumer credit reports, the Justice Department announced today. The government’s complaint charges these companies with violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The companies have agreed to pay a $1.2 million civil penalty to resolve these charges.

In a complaint filed Oct. 9, 2012, the United States alleged that Direct Lending Source Inc., and Bailey & Associates Advertising Inc., both Florida corporations, Virtual Lending Source LLC, based in San Diego, Calif., and the principals of all of these entities, Robert M. Bailey, Jr. and Linda Giordiano , violated the FCRA by failing to comply with provisions forbidding the sale of credit reports without a "permissible purpose." The complaint alleges that the defendants purchased thousands of "pre-screened" consumer lists, or collections of credit report data. The only permissible purpose under the Act for using such prescreened lists is to make "firm offers of credit or insurance" to consumers. However, the complaint alleges that the defendants re-sold the lists to dealers who marketed loan modification, debt relief and credit repair services rather than making firm offers of credit. According to the complaint, some of the dealers who purchased the defendants’ credit report data have become the subject of law enforcement actions or warnings involving fraud committed against consumers in financial trouble.

The complaint also alleges that the defendants did not take reasonable steps to identify the ultimate purchasers of the credit reports. In some cases, according to the complaint, the defendants sold lists to brokers who then re-sold them to unidentified entities.

"The sensitive financial information in credit reports must be protected from those who would use it to target vulnerable consumers for sham offers," said Stuart Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. "We will work with the Federal Trade Commission to aggressively enforce the laws that safeguard these reports."

Along with the $1.2 million civil penalty, the defendants agreed to injunctions against future FCRA and FTC violations in a proposed consent decree that must be approved by the court. The proposed order would prohibit the defendants from using, obtaining or reselling consumer reports for unauthorized purposes. The proposed order also would prohibit the defendants from selling consumer reports in connection with solicitations for debt relief and mortgage relief services that charge advance fees.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which oversees the FCRA, referred the case to the Department. The lawsuit, United States v. Direct Lending Source et al., was filed in the Southern District of California.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Delery thanked the FTC for referring this matter to the Department. The Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division brought the case on behalf of the United States.

USDA SECRETARY VILSACK DESIGNATES 1 MILLION MORE CONSERVATION ACRES

Photo Credit:  USDA

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Fulfills Commitment to Designate 1 Million Additional Conservation Acres to Support Wildlife Habitat Restoration

Failure to Pass Food, Farm and Jobs Bill Puts Enrollments in Jeopardy LEWIS, Iowa, Oct. 8, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today underscored the Obama Administration’s commitment to partnerships in conservation by announcing the allocation of 400,000 acres to support conservation and restoration of wildlife and their habitats as part of the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP. Under Vilsack’s leadership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has enrolled more than 12 million acres in CRP, a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use marginal and environmentally sensitive land to bring conservation and economic benefits for their land and communities. Today’s announcement of 400,000 state acres for wildlife enhancement (SAFE acres), fulfills Vilsack’s commitment made last spring to commit 1 million acres for special initiatives to restore grasslands, wetlands and wildlife habitat.

"Since 2009, USDA has worked with producers and private landowners to enroll a record number of acres in conservation programs," said Vilsack. "These efforts have not only conserved our natural resources, but bolstered rural economies for current and future generations. That’s why it’s important for Congress to pass comprehensive, multi-year food, farm and jobs legislation—so that America’s rural communities have certainty that millions of acres of conservation lands will be there tomorrow to sustain and create jobs in the small businesses that reinforce our tourism and recreation industry."

With 400,000 SAFE acres available, USDA will work with producers and landowners to target habitat for high-priority species like the lesser prairie chicken and sage grouse, as well as game species like pheasants and quail that providing hunting opportunities and support rural jobs. Existing projects in 20 states will be able to add up to 280,000 combined acres for all projects, including prairie, wetlands, forest and savanna habitat restoration.In addition, more than 100,000 acres were added to target species as diverse as northern scarlet snakes, ferruginous hawks and the American woodcock.

SAFE is a voluntary continuous CRP practice that conserves and restores habitat for wildlife species that are threatened or endangered, have suffered significant population declines or are important environmentally, economically or socially. SAFE is currently capped at 1.25 million acres nationally. Acres are now allocated across 97 SAFE projects located in 36 states and Puerto Rico. Under SAFE, state fish and wildlife agencies, non-profit organizations and other conservation partners work collaboratively to target CRP delivery to specific conservation practices and geographic areas where enrollment of eligible farm land in continuous CRP will provide significant wildlife value. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) monitors SAFE and other continuous CRP activity and manages available acres to ensure that CRP goals and objectives are being met.

The Food Security Act of 1985, Section 1231(a), as amended, provides authority to enroll land in CRP through September 30, 2012.However, no legislation has been enacted to reauthorize or extend this authority; therefore, CRP currently is unable to enroll new acres.

In March, Secretary Vilsack announced USDA’s intent to enroll up to 1 million acres in a new CRP grasslands and wetlands initiative meant to target environmentally sensitive land through continuous signups. FSA has set aside acres within CRP for specific enrollments that benefit duck nesting habitat, upland birds, wetlands, pollinators and wildlife. In addition, USDA announced a continuous sign-up of highly erodible cropland, which seeks to protect the nation’s most environmentally sensitive lands. The Highly Erodible Cropland initiative permits landowners to enroll up to 750,000 acres of land with an Erodibility Index (EI) of 20 or greater.

CRP is one of America’s most valuable and vital conservation efforts, ensuring cleaner air and water, preventing soil erosion, and enhancing economic opportunity in rural America by supporting recreation and tourism. The approach to target the most sensitive lands is essential to maintain the substantial benefits of CRP while ensuring that productive farmlands continue to produce America’s food, feed, fiber and renewable fuel.

Highlights of CRP include:

CRP prevents the erosion of 325 million tons of soil each year, or enough soil to fill 19.5 million dump trucks;
CRP has restored more than two million acres of wetlands and two million acres of riparian buffers;
Each year, CRP keeps more than 600 million pounds of nitrogen and more than 100 million pounds of phosphorous from flowing into our nation’s streams, rivers, and lakes;
CRP provides $1.8 billion annually to landowners—dollars that make their way into local economies, supporting small businesses and creating jobs; and
CRP is the largest private lands carbon sequestration program in the country. By placing vulnerable cropland into conservation, CRP sequesters carbon in plants and soil, and reduces both fuel and fertilizer usage. In 2010, CRP resulted in carbon sequestration equal to taking almost 10 million cars off the road.
As part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, the Administration is opening up recreational access to lands and waters, supporting the creation of urban parks and trails, increasing youth employment in conservation jobs and making historic investments in large landscapes such as the Everglades. The initiative is empowering locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation efforts, from supporting the working landscapes of the Dakota Grasslands and longleaf pine in the southern U.S., to designating the Chimney Rock National Monument inColorado, to countless other success stories across the country.

In 2011, USDA enrolled a record number of acres of private working lands in conservation programs, working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and prevent soil erosion. Moreover, the Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, has worked tirelessly to strengthen rural America, implement the Farm Bill, maintain a strong farm safety net, and create opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its most productive periods in American history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers.

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Updat: Robots on the Front Lines

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Update

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT DAILY BRIEFING FOR OCTOBER 11, 2012

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ARMY GENERAL MARTIN E. DEMPSEY SAYS ROLES OF SERVICES CHANGING

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Land, Sea Roles Changing, Dempsey Says
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2012 - While the Navy's aircraft carrier fleet is sized correctly to carry out its mission, land forces are facing "significant changes," Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said here today.

"At this point in time, I believe we've got what we need," Dempsey said in response to questions following his speech at a National Press Club luncheon.

After the Budget Control Act of 2011 imposed about $500 billion in defense spending cuts over 10 years, he said, the Defense Department had to examine its strategic positions.

"Strategy that's not sensitive to resources is nothing more than rhetoric," he said. "There's always this balance between ends, ways and means. So the means changed. We had to take a look at the ends and the ways."

Part of that strategy includes a rebalancing of forces in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

The Pacific is largely a maritime domain, the chairman said. "You've got to go a long way before you find anything with dirt on it," he noted. This makes the Navy and its capabilities crucial to the region, he said, at the same time they're doing a "remarkable" job of meeting defense needs in the Gulf.

In addition, the Navy has successfully balanced that mission with the maintenance requirements inherent to a nuclear fleet, he continued, but there's always the question of what's next.

"Is it something smaller? ... Is it something submersible?" he asked, noting the Navy's asymmetric advantage under the sea.

As U.S. strategy evolves, the Defense Department will attempt to answer those questions while continuing to examine the makeup of the fleet, he said, but at least until 2020, he believes the carrier fleet is what the United States needs.

As the chairman of the joint force, Dempsey said, he likes having four different service chiefs around the table. The Navy's role in the future force, he added, is just one part of a larger picture.

The idea that land forces are no longer necessary is a bad one, the chairman said. "I'm not in the camp that says, 'You know, you'll never fight another significantly big land conflict,'" he added, noting that the nature of land combat is changing.

When he entered the Army during the Cold War, Dempsey said, it was built by assembling the large organizations first -- the corps and divisions. "And then we said to ourselves, 'If we need something less than that, we'll disaggregate it,'" he said.

"I think that the era we're entering now requires us to think exactly the opposite," Dempsey said. "That is to say, we need to think about empowering the squad -- the 10-man group of individuals with everything we can empower them with -- and then figure out how to grow it from the bottom up."

That will take land forces in a different direction, he said, not just in the way they're designed, but also in the way they're equipped and trained.

"There are some significant changes coming ... in the way we think about building our land component," Dempsey said. "And I would suggest it's not from the top down, but rather from the bottom up."

GETTNG READY TO DEPLOY: ON THE FIRING RANGE WITH A M240B MACHINE GUN

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Sgt. Raymond Ramos, left, counts Army Pfc. Samuel Oehring's hits after firing an M240B machine gun at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, Oct. 7, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antuan Parrish

Face of Defense: Soldier Makes Mark at Firing Range


By Army Staff Sgt. Antuan Parrish
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ORCHARD COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Idaho, Oct. 11, 2012 - For Army Pfc. Samuel Oehring, who grew up in the rural areas of Texas and Arkansas, shooting was a part of everyday life.

Even though Oehring -- an allied trade specialist assigned to Forward Support Company, 864th Engineer Battalion -- has shot many other weapons, he explained that shooting the M240B machine gun takes a lot of skill and focus.

"The 240 has more recoil," he said. "If you don't pay attention to the recoil and tuck it tight into yourself, you'll lose your sight picture. Also, if you put too much of your finger on the trigger, the weapon will pull left and right. You have to pay attention to the small details to properly shoot this weapon."

Oehring's company went to the range here Oct. 7 to fire their M240B machine guns during their battalion's deployment preparation training. For Oehring, it was only his second time firing the weapon, and he admitted the first time wasn't that great of an experience. He didn't qualify, scoring only a 33.

"I didn't do so well during the last qualification," he acknowledged. "The [noncommissioned officers] have been coaching and teaching us on how to use the weapons properly."

Army Sgt. Raymond Ramos, who was working safety at the range, said he ensures that Oehring and the other soldiers in the platoon know every aspect of the weapon and not just how to pull the trigger.

"I first make sure they always clean their weapons," said Ramos, a native of Pacifica, Calif. "I also teach them function checks, assembly and disassembly, and to know all the parts."

Oehring later qualified with a 35, which is the minimum score to qualify. He was ecstatic when walking off the range about how he had improved.

"I just want to make sure they know what they're doing before going to combat," said Ramos, a 10-year veteran.

Oehring's father served in the Army and was part of the reason he joined two years ago.

"My father passed while I was in [advanced individual training]," Oehring said. "I promised him before he passed that I'd do my part to serve my country."

Oehring said he is looking forward to the upcoming deployment and is confident in his leaders' abilities.

"They've got us ready for whatever comes our way, and have done a great job at doing it," he said.

HYDROLOGY AND CHANGES IN THE ARTIC LANDSCAPE

FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

A team of scientists is working to understand how local changes in hydrology might bring about major changes to the Arctic landscape, including the possibility of a large-scale carbon release from thawing permafrost. Bryan Travis, an expert in fluid dynamics, is author of the Mars global hydrology numerical computer model, or MAGHNUM, used for calculating heat and fluid transport phenomena. (MAGHNUM was previously used to model hydrological phenomena under freezing conditions on other planets, including Mars.) Travis advanced the MAGHNUM software with a variety of improvements and additional components into a new program, called ARCHY, a comprehensive Arctic hydrology model. A LANL team's goal is to make ARCHY capable of accurately modeling Arctic topography, thawing, and erosion. Because it includes advective heat transport, ARCHY will help to predict how quickly and how extensively the Arctic permafrost will thaw.  Photo From:  Los Alamos National Laboratory.

SPAIN'S NATIONAL DAY

Map:  Spain.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

On the Occasion of Spain's National Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
October 10, 2012


On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Spain as you celebrate La Fiesta Nacional de España this October 12.

With the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s landing in Florida approaching, we are reminded of Spain’s important contributions that have made a profound role in shaping this nation’s history. Today the United States and Spain are working closely together to tackle the challenges of an increasingly globalized world. We share a common desire to strengthen peace and security worldwide, protect the environment, and promote economic prosperity. The United States deeply values the strong alliance between our two nations as well as Spain’s important contributions to international organizations such as NATO, the United Nations, and the OECD.

On this Fiesta Nacional de España, we join with Spain in the spirit of friendship and look forward to deepening our cooperation in the years to come.




North facade of the Royal Palace in Madrid

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. The government's major focus for the immediate future will be on measures to reverse the severe economic recession that started in mid-2008

ROVER STUFF OR MARTIAN METAL? THE SHINY THING?

View of Curiosity's First Scoop Also Shows Bright Object
This image from the right Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows a scoop full of sand and dust lifted by the rover's first use of the scoop on its robotic arm. In the foreground, near the bottom of the image, a bright object is visible on the ground. The object might be a piece of rover hardware.

This image was taken during the mission's 61st Martian day, or sol (Oct. 7, 2012), the same sol as the first scooping. After examining Sol 61 imaging, the rover team decided to refrain from using the arm on Sol 62 (Oct. 8). Instead, the rover was instructed to acquire additional imaging of the bright object, on Sol 62, to aid the team in assessing possible impact, if any, to sampling activities.

For scale, the scoop is 1.8 inches (4.5 centimeters) wide, 2.8 inches (7 centimeters) long.
Image credit-NASA-JPL-Caltech-MSSS

 

VORTEX SURFING

C-17 Aircraft.  Credit:  U.S. Air Froce.

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE

'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary
by Roger Drinnon
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
10/10/2012 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Migrating birds, NASCAR drivers and Tour de France bicyclists already get it. And now the Air Force is thinking about flying gas-guzzling cargo aircraft in formation -- 'dragging' off one another -- on long-haul flights across the oceans.

Flight tests with C-17s "vortex surfing" at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 6 and Oct. 2, have demonstrated potentially large savings of fuel and money by doing what geese do naturally. Tests show that flying in formation might be smarter than flying alone for Airmen, and not just for birds.

As one effort in the Air Force drive to reduce its overall fuel consumption, vortex surfing may be the wave of the future.

"The concept, formally known as Surfing Aircraft Vortices for Energy, or $AVE, involves two or more aircraft flying together for a reduced drag effect like what you see with a flock of geese," said Dr. Donald Erbschloe, the Air Mobility Command chief scientist.

A series of test flights involving two aircraft at a time, allowed the trailing aircraft to "surf" the vortex of the lead aircraft, positioning itself in the updraft to get additional lift without burning extra fuel.

Early indications from the tests promise a reduction of fuel consumption by up to 10 percent for the duration of a flight. Over long distances and with even a small fraction of Air Mobility Command's average of more than 80,000 flights a year, the fuel and cost savings could reach into the millions of dollars, experts say.

Next up: The Air Force Research Laboratory will analyze the data from for possible applications to other aircraft on a variety of missions.

Dr. Erbschloe said larger air mobility aircraft like the C-17 can fly in formations that are potentially easy to maintain and which do not require the planes to be exceptionally close together.

"The test flights were flown at longitudinal separations of 4,000 or greater," said William Blake, one of the key developers of $AVE at the AFRL.

According to AFRL officials, modified C-17 formation flight system software enabled precise auto-pilot and auto-throttle systems to ensure the trailing aircraft achieved and maintained proper flight position without active assistance from pilots.

"The autopilot held the position extremely well -- even close to the vortex," said Capt. Zachary Schaffer, an aircraft commander on one of the test flights. "The flight conditions were very safe; this was as hands-off as any current formation flying we do."
Other pilots found differing levels of ride quality and discovered some flight test points might be difficult for long-endurance flights.

"The key will be finding the right balance of quality for improving fuel efficiency and ride," said Maj. Eric Bippert, another aircraft commander on one of the test flights.

Bippert said being a part of the test program with so many talented engineers was a remarkable experience, and the concept could eventually impact global air transportation, overall.

"AMC has done really well with fuel efficiency at the operational level," said Erbschloe. "The command has worked to gain efficiencies from the 'low-hanging fruit' such as optimizing flight routing, reducing weight where possible, and by not carrying excess fuel. $AVE offers significant efficiency gains, if employed in concert with these initiatives."

He said early indications show the tests meet AMC criteria of the concept regarding safety and minimization of aircrew and aircraft strain while also being operationally sensible with a viable return on investment.

"AMC consumes 20 percent of the fuel used by the overall federal government, so we're constantly looking for pragmatic ways to improve our fuel efficiency," said Erbschloe.

"Assured energy advantage for our Air Force is only possible through revolutionary energy initiatives like $AVE," said Dr. Mark Maybury, Air Force chief scientist, upon hearing the results of the tests.

The $AVE concept was previously highlighted in the 2011 Energy Horizons study, sponsored by the Secretary of the Air Force and chaired by Maybury.

The tests were the culmination of an ongoing, combined effort between AMC, the AFRL, the 412th Test Wing, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Boeing Company and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.


　

　

　

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Bureau Of Land Management

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending October 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 339,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 369,000. The 4-week moving average was 364,000, a decrease of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average of 375,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending September 29, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 29 was 3,273,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,288,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,279,250, a decrease of 7,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,287,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 327,063 in the week ending October 6, an increase of 25,990 from the previous week. There were 405,906 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the week ending September 29, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,778,396, a decrease of 42,837 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.5 percent and the volume was 3,113,245.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending September 22 was 5,044,649, a decrease of 43,970 from the previous week. There were 6,819,938 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending September 22.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,545 in the week ending September 29, an increase of 230 from the prior week. There were 2,514 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 4 from the preceding week.

There were 17,283 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending September 22, an increase of 704 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 38,511, a decrease of 18 from the prior week.

States reported 2,106,072 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending September 22, a decrease of 36,977 from the prior week. There were 3,016,035 persons claiming EUC 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 September 22 were in Puerto Rico (3.9), Alaska (3.7), Virgin Islands (3.7), Pennsylvania (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), California (3.1), Connecticut (2.9), Nevada (2.7), and Oregon (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending September 29 were in New York (+2,764), California (+2,069), North Carolina (+1,217), Pennsylvania (+989), and Arkansas (+538), while the largest decreases were in Mississippi (-3,393), Michigan (-2,639), Florida (-1,972), Ohio (-1,723), and Oregon (-1,135).

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 11, 2012

Photo:  Harrier Jet In Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. DOD. 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Insurgent Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 11, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan financial facilitator yesterday in Afghanistan's Kunduz province, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader is suspected of being heavily involved in purchasing and trafficking weapons for use in attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also detained several other suspected insurgents.

In other operations yesterday:

-- Afghan police and coalition forces seized and destroyed weapons believed to be linked to a Taliban leader in Baglan province. The Afghan-led force recovered rockets, an anti-tank mine, more than 40 mortar rounds and two hand grenades.

-- A combined force killed Haqqani network insurgent leader Nasrullah with a precision airstrike in Paktia province after positively identifying him engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians.

Rebotando en Titán

Rebotando en Titán

Breast cancer and sleep

Breast cancer and sleep

TWO FORMER U.S. CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES SENTENCED FOR PARTS IN KICKBACK CONSPIRACY IN IRAQ

Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment maneuver their M1 Abrams tank during a combat patrol in Tall Afar, Iraq, Feb. 2, 2006. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combat Patrol
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Two U.S. Contractor Employees Sentenced for Kickback Conspiracy and Tax Crimes Related to Iraq Reconstruction Efforts

WASHINGTON – Two former employees of The Parsons Company, an international engineering and construction firm, were sentenced in federal court in the Northern District of Alabama for their participation in a kickback conspiracy in Iraq and related tax crimes, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Joyce White Vance.

Billy Joe Hunt, 57, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon in federal court in Huntsville, Ala., to 15 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $66,212 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and forfeiture of $236,472. Gaines R. Newell Jr., 53, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Virginia Hopkins in federal court in Birmingham, Ala., to 27 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $1,102,115 in restitution ($861,027 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and $241,088 to the IRS) and forfeiture of $861,027.

On May 8, 2012, Hunt pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and pay kickbacks, and one count of subscribing a false tax return. On April 10, 2012, Newell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and to pay kickbacks, and one count of subscribing a false tax return.

According to court documents, Newell and Hunt were employed by Parsons in Iraq as program manager and deputy program manager, respectively, under a contract that Parsons held to support the Coalition Munitions Clearance Program operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Huntsville. The Coalition Munitions Program sought to preclude insurgents and other unfriendly groups from getting munitions that had been stockpiled, abandoned or seized, and using them against Coalition forces or the Iraqi public. In their plea proceedings, Newell and Hunt admitted taking over $1 million in kickbacks from subcontractors from 2005 to 2007, in return for arranging to award contracts on the munitions clearance program to subcontractors. Newell and Hunt also admitted filing false federal income tax returns by not disclosing kickback income.

On May 21, 2012, Hunt and Newell’s co-conspirator Ahmed Sarchil Kazzaz, 45, pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme. Kazzaz and his business, Leadstay Company, were indicted in the Northern District of Alabama in September 2011 for paying over $947,000 in kickbacks to Newell and Hunt. According to the plea agreement, between March 2006 and June 2007, Kazzaz agreed to pay kickbacks to Newell and Hunt totaling 13 percent of the amounts paid by Parsons, and thus obtained over $23 million in subcontracts providing materials and equipment to Parsons. After Kazzaz’s arrest in Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2011, this case was transferred to the Central District of California, where Kazzaz pleaded guilty. His sentencing is set for Oct. 29, 2012 before U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in the Central District of California.

The cases are being prosecuted by Catherine Votaw, Director of Procurement Fraud for the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Estes of the Northern District of Alabama. The investigation was handled by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the IRS-Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI.

SBA NAMES NATIONAL MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Photo:  Small Business.  Credit:  Wikimedia.  

FROM: U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Idaho Contractor Named National Minority Small Business Person of the Year; GSA and Kansas Company Also Take Top Awards

SBA Launches New Online Training Series for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – Kaleo Nawahine, a native Hawaiian and president of Performance Systems, Inc., an 8(a) and HUBZone-certified general contractor from Fruitland, Idaho, was named National Minority Small Business Person of the Year today by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the National 8(a) Training, Business Matchmaking and Awards event at the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C.

Curt Koutelas, president and founder of Arrowhead Contracting, Inc. of Lenexa, Kan. received the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year award which recognizes 8(a) companies that have benefited from and exited the 8(a) program as intended by Congress and best exemplify the spirit and intent of the 8(a) program. The General Services Administration received the Administrator’s Leadership award, which recognizes the recipient’s tireless efforts and unwavering commitment on behalf of the nation’s minority small business community at the event co-hosted by the U.S. Black Chamber, Inc, the National 8(a) Association and J.P. Morgan Chase, N.A.

"The 8(a) program is one of the most effective tools we have to help small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities grow and succeed," said SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns. "Kaleo and Curt are a testament to how effective the program can be in supporting small business growth. At the SBA, we continue to develop and improve our programs, so that more small businesses, in more communities, have the access and opportunity they need to build successful businesses that create good jobs."

Johns also announced the launch of an online pre-8(a) Business Development training series to help more small disadvantaged businesses gain access to SBA’s 8(a) Program. "This is another step in the right direction towards expanding outreach to underserved and minority business communities and helping them gain access to business development training and access to federal contracting opportunities," she said.

The first two parts of the new multi-part training series consists of four self-paced online courses introducing prospective small disadvantaged businesses to the 8(a) Business Development Program. The first course is a 30 minute tutorial with audio titled: Setting Expectations, which provides an overview of the 8(a) program, including eligibility requirements, step-by-step application instructions and a downloadable workbook. The second course, Introduction to Federal Contracting, is a 40-minute tutorial describing programs and initiatives that help small businesses win government contracts, including government-wide goals, size standards, set-asides and contracting methods used by the government. It also includes a downloadable workbook.

The two remaining courses in the training series are scheduled to be released by the end of the year. They will discuss marketing effectively to the government, business development, proposal writing, business and strategic planning and operational aspects of managing an 8(a) firm. The new comprehensive Pre-8(a) Business Development Program Training Series is featured in SBA’s Government Contracting Classroom at: www.sba.gov/gcclassroom.

Winners’ Biographies

National Minority Small Business Person of the Year

Kaleo Nawahine, a native Hawaiian is president of Performance Systems, of Fruitland, Idaho, and is certified in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development and HUBZone Programs. Some of its major contracts include projects at the Boise airport and construction of the West Boise Waste Water Treatment Plant. The company maintains offices in Washington and Hawaii with 78 employees. Performance Systems was chosen from a group of 10 regional winners representing Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Louisiana, Missouri, California and Montana.

8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year

Curt Koutelas, is founder and president of Arrowhead Contracting , Inc. of Lenexa, Kan., a diversified construction contractor headquartered in metropolitan Kansas City. Established in 1990, the company has an impressive track record of continuous growth, diversification and stability. Arrowhead’s services include general construction, civil construction, remedial construction, homeland security services and facility operation and maintenance. Some of its major projects include Department of Homeland Security projects such as: mass communication systems, level-5 bullet resistant window systems and cctv cabling, cameras, monitors and multiplexing systems.

NATO CHIEF SAYS TROOP NUMBERS WILL NOT CHANGE IN KOSOVO

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, left, speaks with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, right, before a conference of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 10, 2012. Panetta is scheduled to meet with several defense ministers during the two-day event. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Troop Numbers to Remain Stable for Kosovo, Rasmussen Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2012 - NATO has no plans to reduce its Kosovo Force, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels today.

About 1,650 troops, including around 760 Americans, serve in the Kosovo Force, known as KFOR. Alliance defense ministers discussed the situation in the country during their meeting this week and will not make any changes in the make-up of the force, Rasmussen told reporters as the NATO defense ministers conference wrapped up.

"We agreed that KFOR continues to play an indispensable role in Kosovo," he said. "And ministers made clear that they remain committed to sustaining that role."

The ministers agreed that the security situation and freedom of movement have improved in Kosovo over the last six months, "but that we must remain vigilant and strong," he said.

NATO ministers welcome renewed contacts between Serbian and Kosovar officials, and NATO nations are fully committed to furthering that dialogue, the secretary general noted. "All need to live up to their responsibilities and move the whole region forward," he said.

NATO has no plans to reduce the troop presence in Kosovo, Rasmussen said. "We have the ambition to gradually reduce our troop presence in Kosovo as the security situation, hopefully, continues to improve," Rasmussen said. "But because of the volatile situation we have witnessed during the recent year, we have postponed the decision to reduce the number of troops."

The secretary general reiterated that what happens in Kosovo will be dictated by the security situation on the ground. "We will not take any step that can deteriorate the security situation in Kosovo," he said. "We will stay committed to fully implementing the United Nations Security Council's mandate to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo."

Military commanders may change where troops are deployed in the country, Rasmussen said. "You will see some rebalancing in the coming months with a stronger focus on the north of Kosovo, taking into account the situation we have witnessed there," he said.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ALLEGES FRAUD IN CANDY VENDING MACHINE BUSINESS INVESTMENT

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Ten Individuals Indicted in National Business Opportunity Fraud Scam

The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging 10 individuals in connection with a vending machine "business opportunity" that defrauded thousands of victims across the country.

The indictment alleges that managers, sales representatives and operators of "locating companies" associated with Multivend LLC, d/b/a Vendstar, made material misrepresentations about the profits customers would make from and the locations customers would receive for bulk candy vending machines. The indictment also alleges that, during these telemarketing calls, Vendstar’s sales representatives falsely claimed to operate their own profitable vending machine businesses.

According to the indictment, Vendstar advertised nationwide in newspapers and on the Internet. Vendstar sales representatives promised to provide consumers with everything they needed to operate a successful business, including vending machines, an initial supply of candy, assistance in finding locations for the vending machines, training and ongoing customer assistance. The locating companies who worked with Vendstar to close deals had no special skills, tools or expertise in finding locations and generally placed consumers’ machines wherever they could as quickly as they could, often in businesses that had not consented to housing the machines and that soon demanded that the machines be removed. The vending machines generated little business and Vendstar’s customers lost nearly all if not all of their investments. The typical customer paid about $10,000 for the business opportunity.

"Business opportunity fraud is a serious crime that insidiously targets Americans in search of a better future for their families. We will continue to work with the Postal Inspection Service and use our law enforcement resources to investigate and uncover business opportunity fraud," said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, which includes the Consumer Protection Branch that handles criminal cases.

Tony Gomez, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Miami Division, stated: "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure that the U.S. Postal Service isn’t used as a conduit to defrauding the American consumer. The protection of our citizens is at the cornerstone of our mission."

"Business opportunity schemes, like this candy vending machine venture, take advantage of individuals through misrepresentations and outright fraud," said Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. "Instead of becoming successful entrepreneurs, the individual investors become victims of fraud, often losing their life’s savings. In this way, business opportunity schemes tarnish the American Dream of success through hard work. We will help protect the investing public by prosecuting these cases aggressively."

Vendstar was incorporated in Indiana and operated until July 2010 from Deer Park, N.Y., according to the indictment. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Miami. The charges are part of a continuing crackdown by federal authorities on business opportunity fraud that during the last several years has resulted in more than 100 convictions in the Southern District of Florida alone.

Each of the defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and an enhanced penalty for telemarketing , which together provide for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Weaver, Kaplan, Benowitz, Goldberg, Linick, Raia, Strauss and DiRenzo also are charged with mail fraud, and/or wire fraud, each of which carry a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The indictment contains only accusations against the defendants and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Delery commended the investigative efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Patrick Jasperse and Adrienne Fowler, Trial Attorneys, U.S. Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL RASMUSSEN'S REMARKS ON 'SMART DEFENSE INITIATIVE'

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

NATO Ministers Discuss 'Smart Defense' Initiative
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2012 - NATO defense ministers held discussions in Brussels today on the alliance's "Smart Defense" initiative and how to provide security during tough financial times, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen briefed reporters on the defense ministers' consultations, in which Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is participating.

"This is one of the most urgent challenges facing our alliance today," Rasmussen said, noting that during May's summit in Chicago, the alliance's heads of state and government endorsed the program for the NATO militaries to work together more closely.

"Today, we took stock of the progress we have made, and we discussed the work which lies ahead," he said.

Because NATO nations must work together to develop and field technologies and capabilities that one country alone cannot afford, the summit yielded a list of more than 20 multinational projects "that will give allies more capabilities, more effectively," Rasmussen said.

Smart Defense includes projects related to use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, and it also looks toward improving joint logistics and maintenance. Other projects stress better force protection and better training.

Since the Chicago summit, Rasmussen said, NATO has kept up the Smart Defense momentum, agreeing to two more projects. "Over the coming months, I would expect us to agree to around 10 more, and dozens more ideas are under consideration," he added.

The effort reaches across the alliance, and all are involved. The secretary general stressed that the European allies are playing a central role in Smart Defense. "European countries are involved in every one of the 24 projects we have set in motion so far," he said. European nations are leading two-thirds of the projects, and one-third of the projects are purely European, he said.

The interest shows European allies are aware of their security responsibilities and are looking for smart ways to strengthen the alliance, the secretary general said.

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE PANETTA'S REMARKS AT NATO MINISTERS MEETING IN BRUSSELS

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta meets with Afghan Defense Minister Bismullah Khan during a meeting at a conference of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 10, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta; NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen; George Little, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; and Admiral James G. Stavridis (USN), Commander, European Command, and Supreme Allied Command

 

Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting, Brussels, Belgium

MR. GEORGE LITTLE: Good afternoon. I'm pleased to introduce Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who is joined by the secretary general. With them are Admiral James Stavridis, NATO supreme allied commander-Europe and commander, United States European Command, General John Allen, commander, ISAF, and commander, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and General Joseph Dunford, assistant commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Following an announcement by the secretary and the secretary general, we'll transition to a press conference with Secretary Panetta. Thank you.

Over to you, sir.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON E. PANETTA: Okay. Thanks, George.

Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be back again at NATO headquarters here in Brussels for my fifth meeting with my fellow defense ministers as secretary of defense and for our first gathering since the Chicago summit in May.

Over the past two days, I've taken part in a series of very good meetings with my counterparts from NATO, from our partner nations, and from ISAF contributing nations. The goal of all of these discussions is to ensure that the alliance follows through on the commitments made by NATO political leaders at the Chicago summit, including investment in needed capabilities and implementation of the Lisbon framework on Afghanistan.

We have made significant progress in Afghanistan. Last month, U.S. and ISAF forces concluded the surge of forces to the fight. For the United States, sending an additional 33,000 men and women to war was no easy decision, but it was the right decision, and it made a decisive difference.

As a result, the Taliban could not regain lost ground in 2011 and lost even more ground in 2012. Compared to a year ago, more Afghans are secure, and the conflict has moved farther away from the population centers. Coalition casualties have decreased by 30 percent from last year, a trend that emerged months before we fully removed the surge forces.

The number of Afghan security forces has now grown to about 350,000. And that larger force has maintained its recruitment and retention rates. Those forces have taken the lead to very complex combat operations, and they are suffering the vast majority of coalition casualties, a further sign that the Afghans have the willingness to sacrifice and take the fight to the enemy for their own -- for their own future.

With the surge complete, we have reached a critical moment for the alliance and for this war. There are three keys to future success. First, we must maintain a strong coalition partnership with the Afghan forces. We must do everything we can to help Afghan security forces successfully transition and take the lead for security throughout all of Afghanistan as planned next year.

That includes building the capabilities of the Afghan army and police, by providing security force assistance teams with embedded trainers and mentors. I encourage my fellow ministers to eliminate the shortfalls that we have in providing those teams on the ground.

Second, we must have an effective response to insider attacks. Insider attacks are a tragic part of every war, and the enemy exploits them to undermine mutual trust and cohesion. General Allen and I briefed the coalition leaders on the steps that we are taking alongside our Afghan partners to diminish and defeat this threat.

Those steps include enhancing training, adapting our partnering based on real-time threat information, expansion of vetting and counterintelligence operations, and the use of guardian angels to deter and stop attackers. I made very clear that what tests the coalition is not so much the problem of insider attacks, but rather how effectively we respond to those attacks. Partnering even closer will frustrate the enemy's designs to capitalize on this problem.

And, third, we have to have a careful execution of the campaign plan. As we look to the mid-2013 milestone, and to the end of the transition in December of 2014, we anticipate that we will operate from fewer bases, that the net flow of materiel will turn outbound from Afghanistan, that U.S. enabler support for ISAF partners will continue, but the scope of support will change as the transition proceeds and as we jointly reduce our forces, and that as Afghan forces assume full responsibility, ISAF forces will continue stepping back.

While we have yet to determine the necessary size and composition of the force that will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, NATO's presence should be steadfast and effective.

My fellow ministers and I came out of today's meeting united on three key points. First, we are succeeding in implementing the campaign plan that General Allen put together and that was agreed to in Chicago. Secondly, whatever tactics -- whatever tactics the enemy throws at us, IEDs, insider attacks, car bombs, we will not allow those tactics to divide us from our Afghan partners and we will not allow those tactics to divert us from the mission that we are dedicated to. And, thirdly, we have to remain committed to the principle of in together, out together.

ISAF will complete our mission to help Afghanistan secure and governance itself. And as I said to my fellow ministers, we've come too far, we've fought too many battles, we have spilled too much blood not to finish the job that we are all about.

A clear signal of U.S. commitment to the alliance and to the mission in Afghanistan is the quality of our NATO-ISAF leadership team. And now I'd like to share with you some of the very important changes that we are making to that team.

General Allen has committed ISAF through a very crucial period. And his leadership has put the campaign on the path to success. He oversaw the war at the height of its combat strength, and he oversaw the surge recovery. Under his leadership, ISAF has put relentless pressure on the enemy and built up Afghan security forces. We have turned an important corner. And all of that is now demonstrating their readiness, the readiness of the Afghans, to take the security lead.

I want to express my deep and very heartfelt thanks to General Allen and to his leadership team, to the allied and partner forces in Afghanistan, and to our Afghan partners for their commitment to this effort and to the considerable sacrifices that have been made.

I'm very pleased to announce that President Obama will nominate General Allen to succeed Admiral Jim Stavridis as commander, U.S. European Command, and NATO supreme allied commander in Europe. General Allen is well known to all of you. And if confirmed, as I expect he will, his experience as head of the ISAF forces will be absolutely instrumental in his broader role and in leading NATO's oversight of the mission in Afghanistan.

President Obama will also nominee General Joseph Dunford, United States Marine Corps, to succeed General Allen as commander, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, and commander of ISAF. General Dunford currently serves as the assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is an exceptionally gifted strategic leader. He's combat-tested, and he believes in ISAF, and if confirmed, as I believe he will be, will be an extraordinary leader of that effort.

And lastly, let me take my -- my opportunity here to thank General Stavridis, Jim, for his service. I've trusted his wise counsel. He's been a good friend. And I've depended on his ability to sustain our military and political relations in Brussels and across the region.

While Jim will be here until the spring, we'll have much more opportunity to talk about his leadership and service. But I can't tell you how much I am thankful for all you've done in this capacity. As an Italian, it's nice to say that about a Greek. (Laughter.)

Owing to the tradition in the United States, Generals Allen and Dunford will refrain from public comment on their nomination in advance of their confirmation testimony before the United States Senate. Ladies and gentlemen, I am privileged to give the floor to Secretary General Rasmussen, and then I'd like to invite General Stavridis to say a few words, as well.

SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Secretary Panetta, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for me to announce today that allies have approved the appointment of General John Allen, currently our commander in Afghanistan, as the new supreme allied commander in Europe, following the nomination by President Obama, and, of course, pending confirmation by the United States Senate.

General Allen is doing an outstanding job in Afghanistan. I have been impressed by his leadership, determination, and commitment. And if confirmed, I look very much forward to working with him even more closely once he takes on his new role in the spring. And until then, I will continue to rely as ever on Admiral Jim Stavridis, who continues to excel as our supreme allied commander.

And if confirmed by the Senate, I also look forward to working with General Dunford of United States Marine Corps, who is being nominated to take over command in Afghanistan.

This is a critical time in our mission. The transition of security responsibility to the Afghan forces is progressing according to the timeline we have agreed. We're on track to complete it by the end of 2014 when our combat mission will come to an end. We must ensure we keep up the momentum of transition and continue to build professional and strong Afghan security forces capable of securing their own country.

I'm certain that General Dunford will take on those challenges with great skill and energy. And I'm sure we will work closely together to build on the hard-fought gains we have made.

And with that, I would now like to hand the floor over to SACEUR, Jim.

SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER JAMES STAVRIDIS: Thank you, Anders.

Thank you very much, Secretary General, Secretary Panetta, my two secretaries, it's a pleasure to appear today very briefly to say a word of pending Senate confirmation in the United States about two extraordinary U.S. Marine Corps officers.

I first would like to say I've known Joe Dunford for almost two decades. I've tracked his career. I've seen him in combat, and I have seen him take on the toughest responsibilities throughout that period, including his current service as a four-star officer and the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. Joe, you will be superb in this role. We are all counting on you.

Above all, John Allen, who I've known for 40 years, we walked into the U.S. Naval Academy together in 1972, graduated together in 1976, have known and served together lo these four decades, and I assure you, Mr. Secretary and Secretary General, you have selected the right officer to be the next supreme allied commander.

Congratulations, classmate, friend, brother, thank you. Thank you all. (Applause.)

NEUTRON CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AIDING DRUG DESIGN

File Photo:  Chemistry.  Credit:  Wikimedia. 

FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

Neutron Crystallography Aids Drug Design

Precisely tailored pharmaceuticals could reduce medical side effects



LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, October 9, 2012—Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have used neutron crystallography for the first time to determine the structure of a clinical drug in complex with its human target enzyme. Seeing the detailed structure of the bonded components provides insights into developing more effective drugs with fewer side effects for patients.

 

The atomic details of drug binding have been largely unknown due to the lack of key information on specific hydrogen atom positions and hydrogen bonding between the drug and its target enzyme. In this research, scientists used the drug acetazolamide (AZM) -- a sulfonamide drug that has been used for decades to treat a variety of diseases such as glaucoma, altitude sickness, and epilepsy. But when the drug binds with the wrong form (called an isoform) of the target enzyme for the disease, it can produce unpleasant side effects in patients (so called "off-target" drug binding).

 

Enter neutron crystallography – the use of neutron scattering to paint a picture of these bonds.

 

By providing precise information on hydrogen bonding between target enzymes and the treatment drugs (carbon anhydrase II targeted by AZM in this study), the research enables improvements in targeted binding with fewer side effects. Neutron crystallography offers a new and unique insight into these details, providing imagery of the exact structures involved.

 

Scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory collected the data at the Protein Crystallography Station using neutrons from the accelerator at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, LANSCE. The Journal of the American Chemical Society published the research, "Neutron Diffraction of Acetazolamide-Bound Human Carbonic Anhydrase II Reveals Atomic Details of Drug Binding".

 

Researchers include Zoë Fisher and Mary Jo Waltman of the Los Alamos Bioenergy and Environmental Science group, Andrey Kovalevsky formerly of Los Alamos and currently at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Robert McKenna, David Silverman and Mayank Aggarwal of the University of Florida.

 

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science funds the Protein Crystallography Station at LANSCE. Zoë Fisher received partial support through a Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Early Career Award.

 

 

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE LOOKS FOR THREATS

Photo Credit:  U.S. Army

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Medical Intelligence Center Monitors Health Threats
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

FORT DETRICK, Md., Oct. 10, 2012 – From a windowless building behind barriers and fences here, scientists, physicians and other experts monitor a range of intelligence and open-source channels for threats to the health of U.S. forces and the homeland.

But the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Center for Medical Intelligence, known as NCMI, is an intelligence organization, not a public health organization.

The job, NCMI Director Air Force Col. (Dr.) Anthony M. Rizzo told American Forces Press Service, is not to tell the public what is happening. "It is our responsibility to tell policymakers and planners … what we believe is going to happen," he explained.

The center’s intelligence targets are medical and scientific issues. Its products, like those of the rest of the intelligence community, are predictive analysis and products for warning, produced in four divisions whose experts follow developments in infectious disease, environmental health, global health systems and medical science and technology.

NCMI is the primary source of medical intelligence in the federal government, Rizzo said, "so as a consequence, we have to write for all levels, all customers, … from the president down to the most tactical intelligence officer or surgeon in the field."

In the hallways and offices of the nondescript NCMI building are a broad range of scientists, many with multiple advanced academic degrees, many of them leaders in their fields.

"We take these very smart people," Rizzo said, "and turn them into intelligence officers."

Downstairs is a typical operations center -- multiple desks and computer monitors face large, wall-mounted screens that carry news reports from around the world.

Also at work in the building are scientists from many partner organizations.

"We are an all-source organization, and thus we have to use every means available to get our data. And the intelligence community partners who provide national technical means are physically located here," the director said.

"But we also have responsibility for intelligence for homeland health protection," he added, "[and] we could not do that job without a large number of non-intelligence-community partners who are also resident here -- fully cleared and full-up members of the organization."

Resident partners include organizations like the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Agriculture Department. And Rizzo said he has NCMI experts embedded at other intelligence agencies.

Each NCMI division needs a certain amount of baseline data to do its job, the director explained.

"In the Infectious Disease Division, the baseline requirement is to understand the risk of every type of [endemic] infectious disease in every country. You can imagine why," Rizzo said.

"If an outbreak of mystery disease occurs in a country, we need to be able to say that we know in that country that Ebola, malaria and dengue are very common, so my people can look at the symptoms of mystery disease and know" the most likely suspects, Rizzo said.

"If mystery disease doesn’t fit the things that are most likely," he added, "then we have to start looking really differently."

At NCMI, every division also has a baseline product in addition to alerts and threat forecasts. In the Infectious Disease Division, it’s the Infectious Disease Risk Assessment, a predictive product, Rizzo noted, "that says if you go to a place unprotected, we predict these are the diseases your people will get, and … these are the numbers of cases."

Every federal organization that sends Americans overseas uses this product, along with baseline products from the other divisions.

Also at NCMI is a cross-divisional pandemic warning team that spends all its time monitoring highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza and other potential pandemic diseases.

In April 2009, two months before the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially declared the global outbreak of H1N1 influenza a pandemic, NCMI published an intelligence product for senior U.S. policymakers that predicted H1N1 would be a pandemic.

"That does not make us better than [CDC]," Rizzo said, "What it does do is make us different, because [CDC] has to be right. We in the intelligence community love to be right, but we also know that in order to provide timely warning, warning in time for the customer to take action to mitigate what we’ve predicted, we have to be early. And the earlier we predict, … the less certainty we have."

At NCMI, the Environmental Health Division monitors toxic industrial chemicals, materials and facilities worldwide. Its baseline product is the Environmental Health Risk Assessment, which addresses the quality of air, food, soil, water and risk from chemical exposure worldwide. The division also does what Rizzo calls predictive hazard area modeling.

"We can tell you with 99 percent accuracy," the director said, "if this thing that’s full of chemicals leaks next Thursday, here’s where the hazard area is, here’s where you should not be standing, and here’s where it’s OK to stand."

The division monitors several facilities around the clock and can forecast dispersion events at those places immediately, but it also can do similar forecasts for any chemical or nuclear facility on the planet, Rizzo said.

Every day of the year, the director said, "there is a biological or chemical event somewhere in the world, sometimes many of them. And we own the responsibility of assessing whether or not those events … are manmade or naturally occurring, and then making predictions about them."

The Global Health Systems Division is responsible for understanding the medical capabilities of every country in the world, and it monitors the quality of every nation’s blood supply. The division’s baseline product is the Medical Capabilities Assessment for each country, and it is responsible for maintaining Defense Department databases that characterize overseas medical facilities, including hospitals, clinics, labs, blood banks and pharmaceutical production facilities.

"If you’re a planner," the director said, "and I don’t care who you’re a planner for, you’re using that Infectious Disease Risk Assessment, you’re using that Medical Capabilities Assessment, you’re using the Environmental Health Assessment to decide, ‘What do I use to protect my people? What do I have to bring? What can I leave home?’"

The NCMI Science and Technology Division is responsible for understanding every nation’s medical defense capabilities against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.

"If you understand a country’s medical defense capabilities, that can very much help you understand what their other capabilities might be and what their intent is," Rizzo said. "People plan medical defense based on what they think is going to happen to them or what they think they can do."

Along with the baseline products that come out of each NCMI division, all produce warnings, alerts and special products during crises.

"When it comes to a crisis such as the earthquake in Haiti or an invasion of a country or a NATO bombing campaign against a country, … we have to tailor products to support the U.S. government and the governments of our allies," Rizzo said. "So while we are writing all the time, we’re also very responsive to world events. When the earthquake in Haiti occurred, we put out close to 100 products."

Most products start out in a classified version, but the director said his people are very good at writing products to be shared with NCMI’s non-intelligence community partners.

"We don’t get credit," Rizzo added, "but that doesn’t matter."

NCMI itself is an important partner in the multiagency effort to implement the nation’s first U.S. National Strategy for Biosurveillance, released this summer by the White House to make sure that agencies can quickly detect a range of global health and security hazards.

"When we think of the word biosurveillance, we think of the kinds of things that the public health community does -- collecting cases, taking cultures, deciding which disease is which," Rizzo said. "But we in the intelligence community are looking way before that to determine [if there are] threats on the horizon."

When the experts at NCMI communicate a threat to the public health community, the director added, "they can focus … their public health efforts, and so we are very much involved in biosurveillance, but … at the front end of the process."

The whole world deals with limited resources, Rizzo added, and CDC, the World Health Organization and other public health organizations can’t look at everything all the time.

"But if we in the intelligence community, especially we in medical intelligence, are able to say, ‘Here’s a threat on the horizon that we perceive,’ … then it’s up to our customer to decide whether or not they will think about it," the director added.

"We have very good, nonadversarial, very supportive relationships with our partners," Rizzo said, "and typically if we say we’re concerned, they respond."

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY, USS ENTERPRISE
121004-N-ZZ999-016 ARABIAN SEA (Oct. 4, 2012) Two F/A-18 Super Hornets fly above the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. America's Sailors are Warfighters, a fast and flexible force deployed worldwide. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Josh Hammond/Released

121006-N-AB355-338 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 6, 2012) Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Ryan Beaton pilots a rigid-hull inflatable boat from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) with Engineman 2nd Class Jonathan Hendry, left, and Electronics Technician 2nd Class Mark Galetti as porpoise leap beside the boat during Exercise Joint Warrior. Joint Warrior takes place off the coast of Scotland and is designed and led by the joint tactical exercise planning staff in the United Kingdom. It is intended to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participants for a role in a joint maritime environment during deployments. America's Sailors are Warfighters, a fast and flexible force deployed worldwide. Join the conversation on social media using #warfighting. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Foster Bamford/Released)