THE "SCAREWARE" INFECTION CRIME

Credit:  U.S. GSA

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Friday, December 14, 2012
Payment Processor for Scareware Cybercrime Ring Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison

WASHINGTON – A Swedish credit card payment processor was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in an international cybercrime ring that netted $71 million by infecting victims’ computers with "scareware" and selling rogue antivirus software that was supposed to secure victims’ computers but was, in fact, useless, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny A. Durkan and Special Agent in Charge Laura M. Laughlin of the FBI Seattle Division.

Mikael Patrick Sallnert, 37, a citizen of Sweden, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman in the Western District of Washington. In addition to his prison term, Sallnert was ordered to pay $650,000 in forfeiture.

"Mikael Patrick Sallnert played an instrumental role in carrying out a massive cybercrime ring that victimized approximately 960,000 innocent victims," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "By facilitating payment processing, Sallnert allowed the cybercrime ring to collect millions of dollars from victims who were duped into believing their computers were compromised and could be fixed by the bogus software created by Sallnert’s co-conspirators. Cybercrime poses a real threat to American consumers and businesses, and the Justice Department is committed to pursuing cybercriminals across the globe."

"Payment processors like this defendant are the backbone of the cybercrime underworld," said U.S. Attorney Durkan. "As an established businessman, this defendant put a stamp of legitimacy on cyber criminals. He was involved in defrauding thousands of victims, and his actions contributed to insecurities in e-commerce that stifle the development of legitimate enterprises and increase the costs of e-commerce for everyone."

"Partnerships are central to the FBI in accomplishing its mission," said Special Agent in Charge Laughlin. "This cyber crime ring spanned multiple countries—increasing the threat it posed and complicating the necessary law enforcement response. Thanks to the commitment of many foreign partners and FBI entities across the nation, we were able to dismantle that threat and ensure Mr. Sallnert faced justice. The FBI and its partners will continue to work tirelessly until we bring in the remaining perpetrators of this malicious scheme."

Sallnert was arrested in Denmark on Jan. 19, 2012, and extradited to the United States in March 2012. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 17, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.

The prosecution of Sallnert is part of Operation Trident Tribunal, an ongoing, coordinated enforcement action targeting international cybercrime. The operation targeted international cybercrime rings that caused more than $71 million in total losses to more than one million computer users through the sale of fraudulent computer security software known as "scareware." Scareware is malicious software that poses as legitimate computer security software and purports to detect a variety of threats on the affected computer that do not actually exist. Users are then informed they must purchase what they are told is anti-virus software in order to repair their computers. The users are then barraged with aggressive and disruptive notifications until they supply their credit card number and pay for the "anti-virus" product, which is, in fact, fake.

The scareware scheme used a variety of ruses to trick consumers into unknowingly infecting their computers with the malicious scareware products, including web pages featuring fake computer scans. Once the scareware was downloaded, victims were notified that their computers were infected with a range of malicious software, such as viruses and Trojans and badgered into purchasing the fake antivirus software to resolve the non-existent problem at a cost of up to $129. An estimated 960,000 users were victimized by this scareware scheme, leading to $71 million in actual losses.

According to Sallnert’s plea agreement, he agreed to establish and operate credit card payment processing services for the scareware ring, knowing that his co-conspirators were intentionally causing fake and fraudulent messages to display on victims’ computers that would fraudulently induce the victims into purchasing the rogue security software. According to court documents, between approximately August 2008 and October 2009, the payment processing mechanisms established by Sallnert processed approximately $5 million in credit card payments on behalf of the scheme.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Seattle Division Cyber Task Force and other FBI entities. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Carol Sipperly and Ethan Arenson of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman Barbosa and Kathryn Warma of the Western District of Washington. Substantial assistance was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.

Critical assistance in the prosecution was provided by the Security Service of Ukraine, German Federal Criminal Police, Netherlands National High-Tech Crime Unit, London Metropolitan Police, Latvian State Police, Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, Swedish National Police Cyber Unit, French Police Judiciare, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Romania’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, Cyprus National Police in cooperation with the Unit for Combating Money Laundering and the Danish National Police.

To avoid falling victim to a scareware scheme, computer users should avoid purchasing computer security products that use unsolicited "free computer scans" to sell their products. It is also important for users to protect their computers by maintaining an updated operating system and using legitimate, up-to-date antivirus software, which can detect and remove fraudulent scareware products.

Additional tips on how to spot a scareware scam include:

• Scareware advertising is difficult to dismiss. Scareware purveyors employ aggressive techniques and badger users with pop-up messages into purchasing their products. These fake alerts are often difficult to close and quickly reappear.

• Fake anti-virus products are designed to appear legitimate and can use names such as Virus Shield, Antivirus or VirusRemover. Only install software from trusted sources that you seek out. Internet service providers often make name-brand anti-virus products available to their customers for free.

• Become familiar with the brand, look and functionality of the legitimate anti-virus software that is installed on your computer. This will assist you in identifying scareware.

Computer users who think they have been victimized by scareware should file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov.

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK LOANS $1 BILLION TO FINANCE MANUFACTRUING EQUIPMENT EXPORT TO GERMANY

Part of Schloss Cecilienhof where the Potsdam Conference - which established post-World War II order in Europe - took place in the summer of 1945.

FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

Ex-Im Approves $1 Billion Direct Loan to Finance Export
of U.S. Manufacturing Equipment to Germany


Washington, D.C. – In a decision that will support nearly 10,000 high-tech jobs, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a $1.03 billion loan to GLOBALFOUNDRIES to finance the export of American-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Germany.

The transaction, which is Ex-Im Bank’s third with GLOBALFOUNDRIES and its related entities, will support approximately 9,700 jobs, according to Bank estimates derived from Departments of Commerce and Labor data and methodology.


Four American exporters from California, Massachusetts, and Oregon will participate in the transaction.

Ex-Im Bank’s credit will support the expansion of the GLOBALFOUNDRIES Fab 1 silicon-wafer-fabrication facility in Dresden, Germany. The expansion will increase the company’s capacity to manufacture semiconductor products, which are critical components of personal computers, tablets, and smart phones.

"Our financing allows American manufacturers to capture a larger share of a growing market," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "The export sales will in turn support U.S. jobs and increase American competiveness in a vital industry."

Launched in March 2009 and based in Milpitas, Calif., GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the second largest dedicated semiconductor foundry in the world. Its global footprint is supported by major facilities for research, development, and design enablement. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is owned by the Advanced Technology Investment Company.

Applied Materials Inc., one of the exporters involved in the transaction, is a global leader in providing innovative equipment to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductors. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., Applied Materials has more than 7,000 employees in the U.S., located primarily at corporate, manufacturing, and research-and-development facilities in California, Massachusetts, Montana, and Texas.

"The ability of our customer GLOBALFOUNDRIES to access this financing benefits Applied Materials’ manufacturing and R&D in the United States, as well as our supply chain, at a time of tremendous global competition for high-tech jobs," said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials, Inc.

Atradius of the Netherlands is also lending to GLOBALFOUNDRIES as part of an export-credit-agency facility totaling $1.5 billion.

DVIDS - Video - Sec. of Defense Panetta, President Karzai Joint Press Conference

DVIDS - Video - Sec. of Defense Panetta, President Karzai Joint Press Conference

VIDEO: THE DEVASTATING CRISIS IN EASTERN CONGO

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

RECENT U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. MARINE CORPS

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), land at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2012. HMLA-169 conducted Operation Aero Hunter in Southern Helmand. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Keonaona C. Paulo
　

U.S. Army Capt. Peggy Hu, Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs officer, speaks with a local child during a routine patrol in the Zabul Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 21, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrice Clarke

KAZAKHSTAN'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

Map:  Kazakhstan.  Credit:  CIA

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Kazakhstan's Independence Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 14, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Kazakhstan as you celebrate your Independence Day this December 16. The United States was the first country in the world to recognize Kazakhstan's independence in 1991, so this December also marks 21 years of U.S.-Kazakhstani relations.

Today, through our Strategic Partnership Dialogue, the people of the United States and Kazakhstan continue to work closely together to improve economic ties, chart a responsible and reliable energy future, promote innovation through cooperation on science and technology, and enhance regional and global security. In Seoul this past spring, President Obama was privileged to meet with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and honor Kazakhstan’s global leadership on non-proliferation and disarmament issues. The United States is also working with Kazakhstan’s civil society, private sector leaders, and government officials to improve human rights and help build a more stable, secure, democratic, and prosperous future.

As you celebrate this special day, know that the United States joins with you in honoring Kazakhstan's cultural heritage and working together towards a peaceful and prosperous future.
　

Kazakhstan Locator Map.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook

ADDITONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Ethnic Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-ethnic Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 drove many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states largely due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness; developing a multiparty parliament and advancing political and social reform; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

OVER $50 MILLION IN SETTLEMENTS ENTERED INTO FOR CLEAN UP OF SUPERFUND SITE IN RIALTO, CALIFORNIA

Credit:  U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service.

FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Wednesday, December 5, 2012
US and Local Governments Achieve $50 Million Settlement to Address Contamination at Superfund Site in Rialto, Calif.

WASHINGTON – The United States has entered into two settlements worth more than $50 million to clean up contamination from the B.F. Goodrich Superfund Site in San Bernardino County, Calif. There are a dozen settling parties including Emhart Industries and Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. (PSI), as well as the cities of Rialto and Colton and County of San Bernardino.

The Superfund site has been used to store, test and manufacture fireworks, munitions, rocket motors and pyrotechnics and was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List in September 2009. The area’s groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchlorate, which have resulted in the closure of public drinking water supply wells in the communities of Rialto and Colton.

"After decades of harmful groundwater contamination and following protracted and costly litigation, the parties responsible for releases of TCE and perchlorate at the BF Goodrich Superfund Site have agreed to a comprehensive long-term plan to clean up the contaminated groundwater at the site," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The commitment made under the consent decrees announced today will provide immeasurable benefits to the environment and the communities who live in Rialto and Colton, California."

"For decades, the defendants have been polluting this critical source of drinking water with both perchlorate and industrial solvents," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Today's historic settlement ensures that the impacted communities in Southern California will finally have their drinking water sources restored."

Under one agreement, Emhart will perform the first portion of the cleanup, which is estimated to cost $43 million over the next 30 years to design, build and operate groundwater wells, treatment systems and other equipment needed to clean up the contaminated groundwater at the site. A significant portion of these funds will come from other settling parties, including the Department of Defense. The cities of Rialto and Colton will receive $8 million.

The Emhart settlement includes the following entities: Emhart Industries Inc., Black & Decker Inc, American Promotional Events Inc., the Department of Defense, the Ensign-Bickford Company, Raytheon, Whittaker Corporation, Broco Inc., and J. S. Brower & Associates Inc. and related companies, as well as the cities of Rialto and Colton and the County of San Bernardino.

As part of the second agreement, six entities, including PSI and its former subsidiary, will pay a combined $4.3 million to the EPA toward cleanup at the site and $1.3 million to the cities of Rialto and Colton and San Bernardino County. The entities involved in this settlement are PSI; Astro Pyrotechnics (a defunct subsidiary of PSI); Trojan Fireworks; Thomas O. Peters and related trusts; and Stonehurst Site, LLC.

EPA used government funds to pay for investigation and clean up work at the site while investigating potentially responsible parties for their role in the contamination. The United States, on behalf of EPA, sued Emhart and PSI, as well as the Goodrich Corporation, the estate of Harry Hescox and its representative, Wong Chung Ming, Ken Thompson Inc. and Rialto Concrete Products, in 2010 and 2011 to require cleanup and recover federal money spent at the site. Prior to EPA’s lawsuit, the cities of Rialto and Colton initiated litigation against many of the settling parties, including the Department of Defense, in 2004.

A company acquired by Emhart manufactured flares and other pyrotechnics at the site for the military in the 1950s. PSI has operated at the site since 1979, designing fireworks shows produced throughout the United States.

TCE is an industrial cleaning solvent. Drinking or breathing high levels may cause damage to the nervous system, liver and lungs. Perchlorate is an ingredient in many flares and fireworks, and in rocket propellant, and may disrupt the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones needed for normal growth and development.

The consent decree for the Emhart settlement (City of Colton v. American Promotional Events Inc., et al.) will be lodged with the federal district court by the U.S. Department of Justice and is subject to a comment period and final court approval. Copies of the proposed decrees are available on the Justice Department website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. The PSI settlement is also subject to court approval.

U.S. LABOR DEPT. RELEASES TOOLKIT TO BATTLE CHILD AND FORCED LABOR

Where Are The Kids?  Credit:  U.S. EPA. 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

US Department of Labor releases toolkit to help businesses combat child and forced labor in global supply chains

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today introduced Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor: A Toolkit for Responsible Businesses, the first guide developed by the U.S. government to help businesses combat child labor and forced labor in their global supply chains.

"Encouraging businesses to reduce child and forced labor in their supply chains helps advance fundamental human rights that are at the core of worker dignity, whether here in the U.S. or abroad," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said in a video message announcing the toolkit.

The free, easy-to-use toolkit was unveiled during an event at Labor Department headquarters for representatives of government, industry, labor and civil society organizations that are at the forefront of efforts to prevent labor abuses in the production of goods. Speakers included Carol Pier, acting deputy undersecretary of ILAB; Eric Biel, acting associate deputy undersecretary of ILAB; and David Abramowitz, vice president of policy and government relations at Humanity United.

The toolkit highlights the need for a social compliance program that integrates a company's policies and practices to ensure that the company addresses child labor and forced labor throughout its supply chain. It provides practical, step-by-step guidance on eight critical elements that will be helpful for companies that do not have a social compliance system in place or those needing to strengthen existing systems. An integrated social compliance system includes: engaging stakeholders and partners, assessing risks and impacts, developing a code of conduct, communicating and training across the supply chain, monitoring compliance, remediating violations, independent review and reporting performance.

HOW TO KNOW IF A NUKE STILL NUKES IF YOU CAN'T NUKE WITH NUKES NO MORE

Photo Credit:  NASA

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Enhanced U.S. Nuclear Weapon Stockpile Surveillance Tools
Fact Sheet
Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
December 13, 2012


Key Point: The use of data from surveillance of our nuclear weapons enables us to predict how the weapons will perform over time without nuclear explosive testing. This capability has improved significantly over the past decade and provides us with the capability to ensure an effective nuclear stockpile.

Surveillance information is critical for the predictive models used in the annual nuclear weapon assessment process. These tools and the detailed quantitative modeling they support serve as key elements of the capability to maintain a safe, secure and effective U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without underground nuclear explosive testing

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) annual assessment process has evolved significantly since the end of underground nuclear explosive testing to ensure an effective nuclear weapons stockpile. The current approach aims to achieve a comprehensive, science-based understanding of nuclear weapon systems. Surveillance tools and models play critical roles in providing information essential to assessing weapon safety, security, and performance changes that would impact military effectiveness without performing underground nuclear explosive tests.

These surveillance tools aid in the understanding of two conditions of weapons systems: the "as-built" and "as-aged" conditions. The "as-built" condition reflects the frequency and severity of original design or manufacturing defects. The "as-aged" condition reflects the evolution of age-related changes in materials, components, and subsystems that can alter performance. Over the last few years, several advances in this area have contributed to a better understanding of the condition of our existing nuclear weapons and the ways in which the current condition could affect safety, reliability or performance.

Through the weapons surveillance program, we have in-depth knowledge of the core plutonium components housed within weapons, also referred as "pits," by using technologies such as laser gas sampling, and high-resolution pit computed tomography (commonly referred to as a Pit CT). System tests also assess the functionality of all major non-nuclear components.

As an example, Pit CT enables the evaluation of the nuclear weapon’s "pit" to assess aging issues that were previously not detectable. Data collected from these and other advanced diagnostic tools help to ensure that predictive models reflect both the "as-built" condition and age-related changes. With this information, models can be used to assess changes in performance relative to the design baseline.

ISS RECAP FOR DECEMBER 14, 2012

FROM:  NASA

NEW YORK STATE HURRICANE SANDY SURVIVOR APPROVED FUNDS TOP $780 MILLION

 

Photo:  Just After Hurricane Sandy Struck New York State.  Credit:  U.S. Army.

FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Approved Funds for New York State Hurricane Sandy Survivors Tops $780 Million
December 14, 2012

NEW YORK — Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mission has been to help individuals and families recover from the disaster and will continue to support residents until the mission is completed. As of today, FEMA has approved more than $784 million in individual assistance for New York Sandy survivors.

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties, focusing on the hardest hit areas of New York state. Assistance to the hardest-hit areas includes:
Bronx $2 million
Kings $169.1 million
Nassau $257.8 million
New York $11.5 million
Queens $200.4 million
Richmond $80.6 million
Suffolk $57.9 million
FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster-recovery effort as of December 14:

FEMA is reaching out to all 13 designated counties, focusing on the hardest hit areas of New York state. Assistance to the hardest-hit areas includes:
Bronx $2 million
Kings $169.1 million
Nassau $257.8 million
New York $11.5 million
Queens $200.4 million
Richmond $80.6 million
Suffolk $57.9 million
FEMA provides the following snapshot of the disaster-recovery effort as of December 14:
More than 253,000 New Yorkers have contacted FEMA for information or registered for assistance with FEMA and more than $784 million has been approved. More than 128,000 people have applied through the online application site at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or on their smart phone at m.fema.gov.
26 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites, and to date more than 94,000 survivors have been assisted at DRCs in New York.
114 inspectors in the field have completed 160,986 home inspections – completing 98 percent of inspections.
2 Points of Distribution or PODs remain open providing meals, water and blankets, both in Nassau County.
13 New York counties are designated for both individual and public assistance. These are Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved nearly $163 million in disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses. The SBA has staff members at every FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center and 19 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance.

U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA MEETS WITH AFGHAN LEADERS

Morning In Afghanistan.  From:  U.S. Army

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Panetta Meets with U.S., Afghan Leaders
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, 2012 - Over two days in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has met with U.S. and Afghan leaders here and in Kandahar, gathering information he says will help inform the decision President Barack Obama will soon make on troop levels there after 2014.

Last night here Panetta spent an hour-long meeting with Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

Afterward, Panetta and Allen attended a dinner with other military leaders. The event was closed to press but according to a pool report Panetta and Allen each made comments while photographs were being taken before dinner.

Panetta walked around the table, shaking hands with each general officer in attendance, including Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Thomas, commanding general at Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan; Army Maj. Gen. William C. Mayville, ISAF Regional Command-East commander; Army Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, commander of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan; Army Maj. Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commander of ISAF Regional Command-South and others.

Allen said the leaders here were honored to have Panetta with them for a candid conversation and to hear the secretary's guidance and views.

Panetta wished them all the best for the holidays, adding that the people of the United States appreciate their service and sacrifice.

The secretary said he traveled to Afghanistan to understand the "situation on the ground" and plans to meet with Afghan leaders in advance of President Obama's upcoming decision about future troop levels in post-2014 Afghanistan.

This morning, Panetta met with Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and Afghan Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang here, then flew to Kandahar Air Field to meet with the leadership of Regional Command-South, including Abrams.

Afterward the secretary spoke with and took questions from troops who serve at RC-South headquarters.

The RC-South area of responsibility includes Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul and Daykundi provinces. The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division soldiers at headquarters are joined by troops from NATO member nations Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Non-NATO member nations Australia, Jordan and Singapore also have troops there.

Panetta stood in near-freezing temperatures with the troops around him, talking about the progress made in Afghanistan.

"As far as I'm concerned, 2011 was a real turning point. We've seen levels of violence go down. We've seen that the Taliban has found it almost impossible to regain any of the territory that they lost during that period," he said.

The Afghan army now conducts 85 percent of patrols, he said.

"That's moving it in the right direction," Panetta said. "They're taking over more and more of the responsibility, which has to happen if we're eventually going to have an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself."

Every country that has troops in Afghanistan has spilled blood over nearly 11 years to complete the mission there, the secretary said.

"The bottom line is that those sacrifices -- all of those sacrifices -- are not in vain," Panetta said. "We have made good progress in achieving the mission that we're embarked on, and it's because of all of you."

"That's why I'm here -- to say thank you for all of your service and for your sacrifice. Thank you for giving back -- giving back in duty is the kind of service that is at the heart of our strength," he added.

"Military strength, as far as I'm concerned ... none of that would be worth a damn without the men and women in uniform who serve this country. You are the real strength of our military power," Panetta said.

In response to a question from one of the troops, Panetta said his proudest achievements as defense secretary include working with the Joint Chiefs and other military leaders to formulate a new defense strategy for the future, and helping open up service in the military to anyone who wants to serve by expanding roles for women and in 2011 ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

"I think that when it comes to serving the United States of America, anybody who wants to serve this country ought to have the opportunity to do it," he said.

After Panetta and his group left Kandahar and returned to Kabul, insurgents detonated a vehicle bomb near Kandahar Airfield, killing one service member and wounded three others and several Afghans.

Hanukkah at the White House 2012 | The White House

Hanukkah at the White House 2012 | The White House

SEC ALLEGES CREATION OF FRAUDULENT VALUATIONS OF COMPANY STOCK

Photo:  Patterns In Nature.  Credit:  National Science Foundation.

FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

SEC Charges Massachusetts Company, CEO and Promoters With $9 Million Securities Fraud


The Securities and Exchange Commission filed an enforcement action today in federal court in Boston against BioChemics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Danvers, Massachusetts, its CEO and two individuals it paid to solicit investors. The SEC alleges, among other things, that the defendants made false statements to investors about collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies and the status and results of drug trials of the company’s main product, and that they created fraudulent valuations of the company’s stock in order to raise millions of dollars from investors. The action charges BioChemics, its CEO John Masiz of Topsfield, Massachusetts, Craig Medoff of New York, New York and Gregory Kroning of Norwood, New Jersey, with violating the federal securities laws in a fraudulent scheme that raised at least $9 million from 70 investors in 19 states from at least 2009 until 2012.

According to the SEC’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, BioChemics purportedly makes a transdermal drug delivery system. The defendants allegedly told investors that BioChemics was engaged in active research and development collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies, that it had two drugs under FDA review, and that it was conducting specific clinical trials—all of which was false. According to the complaint, when BioChemics finally did conduct one clinical trial, it misrepresented the results of that trial. The SEC’s complaint further alleges that defendants Masiz and Medoff created and gave to investors fraudulent valuations setting the worth of BioChemics at between $500 million and $2 billion. However, according to the complaint, the valuations had no reasonable basis and the defendants’ representations that the valuations had been developed by reputable independent investment banks were false. In addition, the complaint alleges that defendants told investors their money would be used to fund clinical trials and for operating expenses, but in fact used some investor funds to pay for personal expenses for Masiz including meals, massages, clothes and sporting goods and to make interest-free loans of over $200,000 to Kroning in addition to paying for his personal expenses including a leased BMW.

Masiz and Medoff have previously been sued by the Commission in connection with earlier securities frauds. Masiz was a defendant in a 2004 SEC enforcement action alleging false and misleading statements by VASO Active Pharmaceuticals, a BioChemics subsidiary. A final judgment by consent was entered against Masiz that permanently enjoined him from violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Medoff was a defendant in a 1993 SEC enforcement action alleging the fraudulent offering of unregistered securities. That case resulted in a final judgment by consent against Medoff in 1994 that permanently enjoined him from violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The Commission also issued an Order in January 1995 barring Medoff from associating with, among others, brokers, dealers, and investment advisers. In a separate case involving different conduct, Medoff also pled guilty to criminal securities fraud charges in 1995.

The complaint charges all defendants with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and also charges Kroning and Medoff with violating Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act by acting as unlicensed brokers and Medoff with violating Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act by acting as a broker after being permanently barred from the industry in a previous action by the Commission. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties, as well as an order barring Masiz from serving as an officer or director of any public company. The complaint also seeks an order barring Masiz and Medoff and any entity they own or control from participating in the issuance, offer, or sale of any security aside from their own personal trading accounts.

MARINE VOLUNTEERS TIME AND FISHING SKILLS WITH WOUNDED VETS

 

Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua T. Shakeshaft, a combat engineer and head instructor for improvised explosive device awareness at the Battle Skills Training School on Camp Lejeune, N.C., accepts the 2012 Veteran of the Year award from Mayor Sammy Phillips of Jacksonville, N.C., during a ceremony held Nov. 20, 2012. Shakeshaft received the award for his ongoing efforts to help wounded veterans. Photo by Lisa Miller

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Marine Shares Love of Fishing With Injured Vets
By Marine Corps Cpl. Paul Peterson
2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Dec. 13, 2012 - They called his name, and the rest was just a blur

Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua T. Shakeshaft, a combat engineer and head instructor for improvised explosive device awareness at the Battle Skills Training School here, walked to the head of the council chambers at City Hall in Jacksonville, N.C., Nov. 20 to accept the 2012 Veteran of the Year award.

Jacksonville is proud of its unique bond with local veterans, said Mayor Sammy Phillips, who personally handed the award to Shakeshaft. Every year since 1988, the city takes a moment to recognize veterans from each of the city's veteran organizations for demonstrating outstanding volunteerism, support and leadership.

More than 100 people filled the council chambers as Phillips thanked each of the 30 recipients for their continued service to the local community and the nation.

"I was perfectly happy with a pat on the back," said Shakeshaft, who accepted the award as the nominee for Heroes on the Water, an organization that provides wounded and disabled veterans with an outlet for stress though kayak fishing. "The last thing I ever expected was to get an award from the mayor."

Shakeshaft, a Castle Rock, Colo., native and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, first became active with the organization after returning to the states to be with his mother, who was dying of cancer.

He instantly found an outlet for his own combat stress and personal loss through an activity he loved from his time back home: fishing.

"He was hooked the very first time he went out with us, and he has gone out ever since," said Patrick Curley, one of Shakeshaft's personal mentors and the Chrystal Coast Chapter coordinator for Heroes on the Water. "He has found something he enjoys doing, and now he is sharing it with other people."

Shakeshaft saw his participation as a personal means of healing and a way to help his fellow veterans struggling with visible and unseen wounds. It increasingly consumed his free time.

"No one here knew I was taking veterans out fishing every weekend," Shakeshaft said. "I don't expect recognition for it. I'm doing it for me. I'm doing it for my gratification -- helping people helps me. I got that from my mom."

Shakeshaft continues to share his expertise with IEDs as an instructor during his working hours here, but his weekends belonged to the waterways of North Carolina.

"It has changed my life," he said. "It is like the brotherhood you see when you are in combat ... [whether] it is a double amputee or someone who has post-traumatic stress disorder, everybody can relate with each other."

Shakeshaft said his wife, Traci, is his biggest supporter. Fishing and volunteering cut into the couple's small amount of free time, but she understands its importance and even tells him to go out.

He takes particular joy in seeing what he calls a "hero's moment," when a wounded warrior finds a few minutes of peaceful sleep in a kayak while his feet dangle in the water.

Shakeshaft's contributions to the community quickly grew after his first volunteering experience with the group. He regularly brought new participants to events and became increasingly involved in other volunteer opportunities.

Whether it is mentoring local youth, participating in veterans meetings and parades or simply providing an open ear to a fellow service member, he said the gratification of doing something good helps him heal.

Shakeshaft is planning additional outreach programs. He hopes someday to return to Colorado, where he can help veteran communities find some of the peace he experiences nearly every weekend in North Carolina.

USO KICK-OFF

 

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, center-left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaliga, center-right, the chairman's senior enlisted advisor, join a group of USO celebrities and some of the Carrier Strike Group 3, USS John C. Stennis' crew, for a photo opportunity aboard the aircraft carrier, Dec. 13, 2012. The chairman began his annual USO holiday tour aboard the USS Stennis. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Dempsey Praises Troops During USO Tour Kick-off
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS, Dec. 14, 2012 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff greeted deployed sailors and Marines on this huge aircraft carrier as he kicked off his annual USO holiday tour yesterday.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey introduced this year's lineup of USO talent with Washington Nationals Major League Baseball players Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen; Matt Hendricks, a Washington Capitals' National Hockey League player; comedian Iliza Schlesinger, winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing; as well as country music singer Kellie Pickler.

The chairman was joined by his senior enlisted advisor, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, their spouses, USO President Sloan D. Gibson, and Shane Hudella, of "Defending the Blue Line," an organization that donates hockey equipment to military families.

"On behalf of all of the million-plus men and women serving in uniform, let me thank you for your service," Dempsey said, as the USO talent presented their inaugural show to the ship's crew.

"When the itinerary for the chairman's annual holiday USO tour was being formed, the only thing I said to my staff was, 'Look, we've got to go to the Stennis because we've asked more of those young men and women than we've asked of anybody else in the past year,'" he said.

The chairman acknowledged many of the sailors were assigned to this deployment soon after a short five-month turnaround from a previous combat tour that ended in March.

"You're out here keeping commerce flowing [in the Arabian Gulf], making sure that our potential enemies know that we're alert and ready, and just being the best possible representatives of our great country," Dempsey said.

"So on behalf of the Joint Chiefs, all of us -- the senior leaders of the military -- let me say thanks to you," he said. "And also I want you to pass that to your family members when you have a chance to talk to them."

Dempsey added, "I do want you to tell them how much we appreciate the service of the John C. Stennis Strike Group. We're really, really proud of you."

Battaglia was equally grateful to the crew of the aircraft carrier and pointed to the ship's motto, "Honor, Commitment and Courage," as a symbol of their commitment to military service.

"I was just noticing the powerful-looking image that we have standing behind us," he said, noting an enormous USS Stennis flag, serving as a backdrop for the USO show.

"It's not only the image of naval sea power in its best of form," Battaglia said. "It's those three words that define our profession. It's moving to be able to share that with you -- honor, courage and commitment."

It's tough on troops during the holiday season when they're deployed away from home protecting the nation and its interests, the sergeant major acknowledged.

"[But] we're excited to be here -- we really are," he said. "And we know that you came down here for a specific reason ... you've come here to see some celebrities and entertainers and we're going to get that to you."

"So enjoy the show," Battaglia said. "Thanks, [USS] Stennis!"

Statement of the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative

Statement of the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative

Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT | The White House

Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT | The White House

NATO FACES LEAN TIMES

Czech Republic A10 Thunderbolt II Air Craft.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force 

 
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Smart Defense Team Helps NATO Face Lean Times
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 – As the cost of militaries increase, NATO allies can benefit from an efficiencies-driven Smart Defense program, Allied Command Transformation officials said here yesterday.

Army Lt. Col. William Brown III, ACT Core Team member, and Richard Perks, ACT Capability Development Strategist spoke with reporters during the 2012 Chiefs of Transformation Conference. The event brings together NATO, partner, industry and government agency professionals to share best practices and expand collaboration.

"What Smart Defense really tries to do is help allies work together," said Perks, adding that even a small uptick in multinational group projects could significantly reduce the burden on individual allies.

"It’s about facilitating allies’ efficiency in their own defense programs … and by doing so it’s better for NATO," he said.

Brown agreed, noting that NATO aims to build and maintain capabilities that increase its effectiveness and relevance.

"Smart Defense is one of the ways that we are helping the nations to meet the demands of capability requirements as we go forward," Brown said. "We try to align the capabilities, achieve economies of scale and reduce duplication."

To do that, Brown explained, Smart Defense first examines the capabilities under a conceptual lens in helping to produce policy through NATO-level discussion. Next, he said, the core team takes a pragmatic approach to execute the ideas.

"We have 148 Smart Defense projects and proposals that cover a wide range of areas from procurement to training … a lot of them in the logistical realm," he said.

Brown cited a recent helicopter maintenance success story in which allies merged powers and unearthed major savings.

"Instead of nations having to send their experts and their maintenance people to Afghanistan to do scheduled maintenance on the aircraft, they are able to work together through the NATO logistics committee [in which the U.S.] had the lead and several nations participated," Brown said.

Ultimately, Brown explained, the Smart Defense project saved a nation 1.2 million Euros by enabling it to leave the aircraft in place for repairs instead of sending it back to its home station.

Equally important is operational readiness, Perks said.
"The helicopter stayed there, and whereas it would’ve been three or four months before it was available again, it was available in three or four weeks," he added.

Perks also emphasized that NATO’s capabilities are largely rooted in what the allies bring to the alliance. Because some NATO members have experienced difficult financial times, Brown said, Smart Defense is not a new concept, rather one brought to the foreground based on necessity.

Brown also noted the value of smaller countries that have positively impacted the alliance.

"It’s great to see a country like Slovakia or the Czech [Republic], who both have robust programs in the chemical and biological area [and] are providing some of the expertise on the projects related to that," Brown said.

The Czech Republic’s flight training program has been a feather in the nation’s cap, Brown added.

"Instead of every nation having to train five to 10 pilots per year, let’s work together on that. You can just imagine fixed costs when you run a flight school," Brown said.

"Smart Defense will continue if we’re able to get the mindset included in everybody’s beam," he said. "It’s not always going to be about pushing projects or proposals under the Smart Defense banner, but we need to make it so that it is included as part of the [NATO Defense Planning Process]."

NATO’s defense planning process, according to Brown, is a top-down approach where the requirements for member nations are being provided by NATO, while Smart Defense helps provide a bottom-up feed with the projects and proposals the nations use.

"The nations have come up with these ideas," Brown said. "If they believe that a project is important for them to pursue, the fact that they’re working in a multinational effort instead of trying to do it themselves … you see the efficiencies of these projects as they go forward."

Perks shared Brown’s sentiment.

"Smart Defense addresses the fiscal reality head on," Perks said. "Capabilities are big, they’re expensive, they’re complex and it’s increasingly difficult to build them, so we have to come together -- it’s the way ahead."

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS TO NATION REGARDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING

 

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE:
This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.

We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there's not a parent in America who doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers -- men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today -- for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.

As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it's an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago -- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we'll tell them that we love them, and we'll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. And I will do everything in my power as President to help.

Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need -- to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours.

May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO COUNTER IEDs, JIEDDO DIRECTOR TELLS SENATE

Sgt. Michael Quandt, an Afghan Local Police trainer with Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, attached to 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, relays instructions through an interpreter to an ALP officer during an improvised explosive device training lane at Joint Combat Outpost Masaw, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2011. The lane focused on teaching the ALP about identifying and securing IEDs.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

More Effort Needed to Counter IEDs, General Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2012 – The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization has made progress against IEDs, "but it isn’t enough," Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.

In Afghanistan, much of the fertilizer used in explosives comes from Pakistan, and Barbero, who directs JIEDDO, said he understands the importance of working with Pakistani officials.

"The U.S., led by the State Department, continues to seek a relationship with Pakistan that is constructive and advances both U.S. and Pakistani interests," the general told the Senate panel yesterday.

The importance of countering the threat posed by IEDs and of attacking threat networks cannot be overstated, Barbero said.

"Counter-IED is an area ripe for cooperation between the United States and Pakistan and I am also encouraged by the recent positive tone in our discussions with the government of Pakistan and the assurances from our Pakistani counterparts," he said.

But Barbero emphasized that Pakistan must do more. More than 60 percent of U.S. combat casualties in Afghanistan, both killed and wounded in action, are caused by IEDs. This year IEDs killed or wounded almost 1,900 Americans. Pakistanis have also suffered from these devices.

"It is in their interest to increase counter-IED cooperation with us and take effective actions against these networks," Barbero said.

Afghanistan has banned ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers. Yet these remain the main explosive used in IEDs. "Today more than 85 percent of the IEDs employed against coalition forces are homemade explosives," Barbero said. "And of those, about 70 percent are made with ammonium nitrate derived from the fertilizer calcium ammonium nitrate, referred to as CAN, a common agriculture fertilizer produced in and transited through Pakistan."

While the fertilizer is produced elsewhere, Pakistan is almost exclusively the source of the chemical compound used in IEDs, he said. Another chemical compound, potassium chlorate, is used in Pakistan’s textile and matchstick industries, and is also being used to make IEDs in Afghanistan.

"In concert with our Pakistani partners, we must address the continued flow of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers and other IED materials into Afghanistan," the general told senators.

Coalition and Afghan forces seized 30 tons of fertilizer in 2009, compared to 440 tons so far in 2012. "The high number of IED incidents and the growing seizure rates highlight the continued lack of effective measures to impede the supply of IED materials into Afghanistan from Pakistan," he said.

Barbero said he is working with the Pakistani fertilizer producer to counter the illicit use of the product as an explosive. The general said he is also working with U.S. and international fertilizer organizations to put controls in place on fertilizers.

"While international and U.S. professional fertilizer associations are receptive and actively addressing these issues, the producers within Pakistan have been less than cooperative," he said. "Despite making minor packaging, tracking and marketing changes, they have not implemented any effective product security or stewardship efforts."

The Pakistani producers can and must do more, Barbero said.

"While the government of Pakistan has taken military actions to address the IED threat and go after these networks, these efforts remain focused on Pakistan’s domestic threat and have had no measurable effect on the number of IED events in Afghanistan, on the flow of precursor materials smuggled across the border, or on the threat of networks operating in Pakistan who attack our troops in Afghanistan," the general said.

He emphasized that the U.S.-Pakistan dialogue has been improving, but more still must be done.

"We must move from discussing cooperation to actual cooperation," Barbero said, noting Pakistan has passed legislation, but has done little to implement the laws.

Military cooperation also remains stalled, Barbero told committee members.

"We must move beyond talking about cooperation to developing a comprehensive framework and then work together to address the shared problems," he said.

U.S. JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN WARNS OF SEQUESTRATION CONSEQUENCES

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Dempsey Warns of Sequestration's Potential Impact
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 14, 2012 - The potential impact of sequestration, if it happens, could significantly degrade the Defense Department's overall readiness for years to come, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs said here yesterday.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey was responding to a sailor's question on the possible effects of the massive budget cuts that could take effect in January, while speaking to an audience from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet.

Sequestration is a mechanism built into the Budget Control Act which would trigger across-the-board cuts in federal spending -- including an additional $500 billion cut in defense -- if Congress and the president cannot agree on a plan to reduce the federal deficit before Jan. 2, 2013.

"It'll be a significant degradation," Dempsey said. "How does it translate to you? Stretched out maintenance periods, less flying hours before deployment, less training, potentially some interruptions of PCS movements or schools."

The Defense Department has spread the word that allowing sequestration to occur would be "a really bad idea," Dempsey said.

"It will have an effect, and I think it'll be an effect felt for two or three years," the general said. "There are some who think we can just let it happen, and then sweep it up over the next six months."

The chairman explained how he and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta requested military manpower be exempt from the additional proposed budget reductions.

"We went to [President Obama] and asked him to use his authority to exempt manpower," Dempsey said. "If we hadn't done that, in an almost inconceivable way, we would have had to cut the endstrength by 8 percent as part of the package."

The president approved the exemption, he said, but the "bad news is it puts a bigger burden on the other accounts," which include operations, maintenance, training and infrastructure.

"So those will now be impacted at about a 10 percent blow across the board," Dempsey said. "What does this mean to your particular community? I can't say for sure because the CNO -- chief of naval operations -- is the one who has to figure that out."

However, operations won't be impacted by sequestration if it occurs, the chairman said.

"So now I just told you we've exempted two places. Now when I say operations, I mean deployed operations," he said.

The Joint Strike Fighter is among defense projects that would be disrupted by sequestration, Dempsey said, adding that
civilian DOD employees would likely also feel the impact.

"There could be some civilian employees placed on unpaid furloughs," the chairman said. "So it's really serious."

U.S.-CANADA VISA AND IMMIGRATION INFORMAITON-SHARING AGREEMENT

 

Peggys Point Lighthouse in Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia is a very popular tourist
site operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The lighthouse, the second one on
this site, was built in 1914 and is 15 m (50 ft) tall.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 14, 2012　

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson and the Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney signed a U.S.-Canada Visa and Immigration Information-Sharing Agreement on December 13, 2012.

This agreement will enable Canada and the United States to share information from third country nationals who apply for a visa or permit to travel to either country. This will better protect the safety and security of Americans and Canadians and facilitate legitimate travel and business. Increased information sharing will support better decision-making by both countries to confirm applicants’ identities, and identify risks and inadmissible persons at the earliest opportunity. It will increase safety and security, as both countries work to identify terrorists, violent criminals, and others who pose a risk before they reach our borders. All officers working on immigration and refugee protection will be equipped with more information to make decisions. This will better protect the safety and security of Americans and Canadians alike and further facilitate legitimate travel.

The agreement authorizes development of arrangements under which the United States may send an automated request for data to Canada, such as when a third country national applies to the United States for a visa or claims asylum. Such a request would contain limited information, such as name and date of birth in the case of biographic sharing, or an anonymous fingerprint in the case of biometric sharing. If the identity matches that of a previous application, immigration information may be shared, such as whether the person has previously been refused a visa or removed from the other country. The same process would apply in reverse when a third country national applies to Canada for a visa or claims asylum. Biographic immigration information sharing is set to begin in 2013, and biometric sharing in 2014.

Under the agreement, information will not be shared regarding U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Any information shared on travellers and asylum seekers will be handled responsibly and, as with other information sharing agreements, exchanged in accordance with relevant U.S. and Canadian laws.

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY
121207-N-QP351-021 SAN DIEGO (DEC. 07, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) returns returns to San Diego Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J. Michael Schwartz/Released)

121206-N-ZQ794-050 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec. 6, 2012) Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 fast rope from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 during a demonstration for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars and divas. WWE athletes visited EODGRU 2 as part of the 10th annual WWE "Tribute to the Troops" in Hampton Roads. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kay Savarese/Released)

 

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN STATEMENT ON CONNECTICUT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Newtown, Connecticut, School Shootings

December 14, 2012"School shootings are always incomprehensible and horrific tragedies. But words fail to describe today's heartbreaking and savage attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the father of two children in elementary school, I can barely imagine the anguish and losses suffered today by the Newtown community.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to every parent, child, teacher, staff member, and administrator at Sandy Hook and the surrounding community. And our thanks go out to every teacher, staff member, and first responder who cared for, comforted, and protected children from harm, often at risk to themselves. We will do everything in our power to assist and support the healing and recovery of Newtown."

JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN ADDRESSES SAILORS' CONCERNS

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, center, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanks sailors, their families and Defense Department civilians from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, during a stop on his annual holiday USO tour in Manama, Bahrain, Dec. 13, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Chairman Addresses Deployed Sailors' Concerns
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service


MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 14, 2012 - Members of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, had the opportunity to voice their concerns during a meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his senior enlisted advisor here yesterday.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, joined by Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, met sailors, families and Defense Department civilians, and provided them an opportunity to ask questions of their senior leaders during a meet and greet on his annual holiday United Service Organizations tour in the region.

"You're doing an incredible job," Dempsey told the group. "We are really in 21-year conflict that started in this region in 1991 with Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

"We were deeply engaged in trying to keep stability in this part of the world," the chairman continued. "And then, of course, along came 9/11, and many of the threats that created that challenge for our country emanated out of here."

The chairman told service members assembled around him that they represent "the latest generation of young men and women who have answered the call, as your country has asked, to come and serve here. And you're really, really making us proud."

Today there are "any number of challenges facing our nation," Dempsey said, citing rising powers as well as the possibility of available technology and weaponry falling in to the hands of nonstate groups, making them "more dangerous than they really should be to us."

"And then there's also our financial situation, which we share with many countries in the rest of the world," he added.

The United States, however, will weather through today's period of uneasiness, Dempsey said, as it has done before.

"We figure stuff out, even when we appear a little uncertain or unsettled," the chairman said. "We will, at the end of the day, do what's right, and get it right 100 percent of the time."

The chairman said the current generation of military leaders serving the nation at home, in Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the globe makes him confident of the future.

As long as leaders remain committed to the mission, to their own development as individuals, and to their families, Dempsey said, "I think we're going to be fine."

The chairman also rebuked the notion that the U.S. military is in decline.

"It is not in decline and it will never be in decline," Dempsey said. "We won't let it be in decline. It might get bigger some years and smaller in others; we might stretch part of the force more one time than another -- it always seems to level out over time.

"But like I said, we will figure it out -- I promise you that," he continued. "So during this holiday season let me just tell you, 'Thanks.' And I wish you everything that could possibly come your way."

Dempsey added, "However you chose to worship, I wish you all of the blessings that come, because you, more than anyone in our country, has earned those blessings. And I promise you, we will not forget that as we do our part of the fight back in Washington, D.C."

Following his remarks, the chairman fielded questions from the audience on topics such as the future of the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law which currently defines marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman.

"The Supreme Court did agree to take it up sometime between now and June," Dempsey said. "[And] yes, we do have plans in place ... if the law is repealed. We will put in place methods to ensure same-sex partners have the same benefits, if they're married, as a heterosexual couple will."

However, he did note that the Defense Department is "bound by law" until the act is "repealed or overturned" by the Supreme Court.

On a question about future operations in Afghanistan, Dempsey said after the next two years, "the president has made clear, our war in Afghanistan will be over." However, he added, "we'll be there in more modest numbers to support [Afghan security forces]."

Dempsey also addressed concerns about a change in the current military retirement system, and assured the audience that he, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, will keep faith with "anybody already in the system."

The 18th chairman concluded his visit by serenading the crowd with a rendition of "Christmas in Killarney," then wished everyone a "Merry Christmas."

ISS UPDATE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF FOOD (IN SPACE)

FROM: NASA

ISS Update: Nutrition Manager Talks About Children's Book "Space Nutrition"
NASA Public Affairs Officer Brandi Dean interviews Scott Smith, Manager of Nutritional Biochemistry at Johnson Space Center, about the children’s book he co-authored called "Space Nutrition." The book talks about the history of space flight, the various space programs and of course space food.