NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR DECEMBER 26, 2012

Map:  Afgahnistan.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained one other suspected insurgent during an operation in the Now Zad district of Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The arrested Taliban leader coordinated and executed direct-fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Dzadran district of Paktiya province, a combined force arrested a local Haqqani leader who was responsible for planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district. The arrested Haqqani leader commanded a number of insurgents who constructed, transported and emplaced IEDs. The security force also detained one other suspect.

In Dec. 25 operations:

-- An Afghan-led security force of more than 1,000 soldiers and police killed multiple insurgents and detained dozens of suspects at the conclusion of a five-day coalition-supported operation in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The operation was conducted by the Provincial Response Company Laghman, along with elements of the Afghan Local Police, the Afghan Uniformed Police, and the Afghan National Army. The security force also seized IED-making materials, suicide vests, weapons, ammunition, and some illicit drugs.

-- In the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who coordinated the distribution of weapons, ammunition and explosives for insurgents' use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained one other suspect.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader and detained one other suspect in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The arrested Taliban leader coordinated direct-fire and IED attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader and a Taliban facilitator in the Rodat district of Nangarhar province. Both men were involved in planning the Dec. 2 attack on Jalalabad Airfield. They also organized and executed other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and were involved in the acquisition of vehicle-borne IEDs. The security force also detained several other suspects and seized weapons and ammunition.

-- A combined force arrested a Haqqani leader, detained three other suspects, and seized more than 1,300 pounds of illicit drugs, weapons and ammunition in the Jaji district of Paktiya province. The Haqqani leader directed multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also emplaced IEDs and organized the storage of insurgent weapons.

-- In the Andar district of Ghazni province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who commanded more than a dozen fighters in the district and planned and executed ambushes and IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained three other suspects.

In Dec. 24 operations:

-- A combined force killed the Taliban leader, Qadir, and three other insurgents in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province. Qadir commanded a group of insurgents who conducted IED attacks in the district. He was also responsible for the movement of weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials for insurgents in the province.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader in the Khanabad district of Kunduz province. The detained Taliban leader was involved in the planning of IED attacks on Afghanistan government officials and Afghan and coalition security forces. He was also a financial facilitator who coordinated funding to support the insurgency.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader and two other suspects in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province. The detained Taliban leader commanded a direct-action cell within the Nad 'Ali district. He also directed IED and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader and detained one other suspect in the Jalalabad district of Nangarhar province. The arrested Taliban leader was directly involved in planning attacks on the Afghan government.

-- A combined force detained four insurgents seized firearms during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Musa Khel district of Khost province. The sought-after Haqqani leader is responsible for distributing, planning and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces within the district.

In Dec. 23 operations:

-- A combined force killed Taliban leader, Obaidullah, in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. Obaidullah, also known as Saifullah, directed the Oct. 12 indirect-fire attack on Forward Operating Base Fenty. He was also responsible for laundering money to fund Taliban attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitated the movement of weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials throughout Nangarhar province.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader and seized weapons and ammunition in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province. The arrested Taliban leader was in contact with senior Taliban leaders in the province and coordinated and conducted IED and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Khanabad district of Kunduz province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader and detained several other suspects. The arrested Taliban leader planned and executed IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also distributed IEDs to insurgents in the Khanabad and Kunduz districts.

-- In the Pul-e 'Alam district of Logar province, a combined force arrested a Haqqani leader who coordinated attacks in the district. One other suspect was also detained.

-- A combined force detained a suspected insurgent during a search for a Taliban leader in the Hisarak district of Nangarhar province. The detained suspect allegedly laundered money used to fund attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force arrested a Haqqani leader and detained one other suspect in the Khost district of Khost province. The arrested Haqqani leader planned, facilitated and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Pul-e 'Alam district of Logar province. He also emplaced IEDs and directed the movement of Haqqani fighters.

-- A combined force detained two suspects during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Sharan district of Paktika province.

In Dec. 22 operations:

-- The Kabul Crisis Response Unit discovered a weapons and explosives cache during a coalition-supported operation in the Surobi district of Kabul province. This was the first mission planned and led by the CRU. The cache included 772 pounds of homemade explosives, other weapons and ammunition.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban facilitator and detained one other suspect in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province. The arrested Taliban facilitator procured and transported homemade explosives, IEDs and other weapons for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force arrested a Haqqani leader, detained three other suspects and seized weapons and some Afghan National Security Force uniforms in the Jaji district of Paktiya province. The arrested Haqqani leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

In Dec. 21 operations:

-- A Taliban leader was arrested in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district, Zabul province. The arrested Taliban leader transported and delivered weapons and ammunition to insurgents operating in the Tarnek wa Jaldak and Qalat districts.

-- A combined force detained three suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district of Zabul province. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for planning and conducting IED and other attacks against Afghan government leaders and Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Achin district of Nangahar province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained two suspects and discovered a drug cache containing 882 pounds of opium and drug-processing equipment. The security force destroyed the drugs and equipment.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force arrested a Haqqani facilitator who procured and transported weapons, homemade explosives and IEDs for insurgents. The security force also detained three other suspects and seized weapons.

CFTC COMMISSIONER CHILTON'S REMARKS ON UBS SETTLEMENT

FROM: U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Statement of Commissioner Bart Chilton on UBS Settlement
"A Conscience Isn't Nonsense"
December 19, 2012

Every so often, folks wonder if some in the financial sector believe that having a business conscience is nonsense. Financial sector violations are hurtling toward us like a spaceship moving through the stars. All too often, penalties have been a simple cost of doing business. That needs to change.

The UBS settlement is serious and significant and will provide a definite deterrent.

This $700 million settlement is the granddaddy of CFTC penalties. Combined with other regulator settlements, UBS will pay $1.5 billion. Even for a mega-bank, that amount serves as a direct deterrent. It serves as a deterrent not only for UBS, but for the biggest of the big schemers in the financial world.

One of the most egregious aspects of this case was that even when the bank knew it was being investigated for these violations of the law, it continued the wrongdoing. It was a corrupt culture.

One of the crooked characters in this debacle went so far as to pay off brokers at other firms in return for falsifying rates. All told, he made at least 2,000 attempts to manipulate the benchmark in a three-year period.

Whether the manipulated rates moved higher or lower (and rates went both ways) really isn’t what matters. They were not true rates. They were fictitious and that can throw off the normal balance of the global economy. When somebody is making false profits, somebody else pays the price.

These interest rate benchmarks are extremely important affecting virtually anything consumers purchase with credit. The entire benchmark rate regime needs to be revisited. We need to ensure that the rates are based upon transparent, actual trades. The numbers should not be consolidated by a trade association and there should never be a profit motive involved in submitting rates.

Finally, I’ve asked Congress to revisit this issue of puny penalty authority for the CFTC. Our authority needs to be revised and enhanced to ensure we continually protect consumers from violations of the law.

President Obama Speaks to Servicemembers on Christmas | The White House

President Obama Speaks to Servicemembers on Christmas | The White House

OSHA CITES U.S. POSTAL SERVICE FOR WORKER'S DEATH

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Dec. 17, 2012

US Labor Department's OSHA cites US Postal Service
for worker's heat-related death in Independence, Mo.

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the U.S. Postal Service Truman Station in Independence, Mo., with a willful violation for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat. OSHA initiated an inspection in July after a mail carrier developed heat-related illness symptoms, collapsed while working his route and was taken to the hospital where he died as a result of his exposure to excessive heat.

"This tragedy underscores the need for employers to take proactive steps to keep workers safe in extreme heat," said Charles Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City. "If this employer had trained workers in recognizing the symptoms of heat stroke, and taken precautions to ensure workers had access to water, rest and shade, this unfortunate incident may have been avoided."

The willful violation addresses the hazard of multiple employees who were required to work during periods when excessive heat advisories and warnings were issued by the National Weather Service. The employer did not have procedures in place to address worker concerns during times of excessive heat. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.


Penalties of $70,000 have been proposed. The Postal Service has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Kansas City, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

NEAR TERM EXTINCTION OF AMAZON TREE SPECIES UNLIKELY TO BE CAUSED BY CLIMATE WARMING

Phoito:  Tropical Forest Brazil.  Credit:  Wikimedia Commons.

FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Climate Warming Unlikely to Cause Near-Term Extinction of Amazon Tree Species
December 13, 2012
New genetic analyses show that some common Amazon tree species are more than 8 million years old.

The analysis also reveals that these surprisingly old species have endured past periods of significant climate warming. It therefore appears unlikely that human-caused temperature increases alone will cause mass extinctions of the trees in the coming century.

Results of a study by evolutionary biologist Christopher Dick of the University of Michigan and colleagues show that some trees in the Amazon rainforest have survived warm periods similar to the global warming scenarios forecast for the year 2100.

"In the absence of other major environmental changes, near-term high-temperature-induced mass species extinction is unlikely" in the Amazon forest, Dick and colleagues conclude in a paper published online today in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

"The rapidly changing climate of our planet has the potential to put great stresses on plants and animals," said Sam Scheiner, program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology, which funded the research.

"To prepare for these changes, we need to know how species have adapted to past climate change," Scheiner said. "Much more is left to be learned about the effects of climate change."

The new results are at odds with earlier findings based on ecological niche-modeling scenarios that predict tree species extinctions in response to relatively small increases in global average air temperatures.

Dick used a molecular clock approach to determine the ages of 12 widespread Amazon tree species.

Then he and other scientists looked at climate events that have occurred since those tree species emerged. In general, the older the tree species, the warmer the climate it has previously survived.

The researchers determined that nine of the tree species have been around for at least 2.6 million years, seven have been present for at least 5.6 million years and three have existed in the Amazon for more than eight million years.

"These are surprisingly old ages," Dick said. "Previous studies have suggested that a majority of Amazon tree species may have originated during the Quaternary Period, from 2.6 million years ago to the present."

"The most lasting finding of our study may be the discovery of ancient geographic variation within widespread species, indicating that many rainforest tree species were widely distributed before the major uplift of the northern Andes," said paper co-author Eldredge Bermingham of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Air temperatures across Amazonia in the early Pliocene Epoch--3.6 million to 5 million years ago--were similar to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections for the region in 2100 using moderate carbon-emission scenarios.

Air temperatures 5.3 to 11.5 million years ago in the late Miocene Epoch were about the same as IPCC projections for the region in 2100 using the highest carbon-emission scenarios.

"Our results provide evidence that common Neotropical tree species endured climates warmer than the present, implying they can tolerate near-term future warming under climate change," said Dick.

Paper co-author Simon Lewis of University College London and the University of Leeds cautioned that the good news for Amazon trees is not a panacea.

"The past cannot be compared directly with the future," he said.

"While tree species seem likely to tolerate higher air temperatures than today, the Amazon forest is being converted for agriculture and mining, and what remains is being fragmented by roads and fields.

"Species will not move as freely in the Amazon as they did in previous warm periods, when there was no human influence. Today's climate change is extremely fast, making comparisons with the past difficult."

The 12 tree species used in the study are broadly representative of the Amazon tree flora.

Primary forest collection sites were in central Panama, western Ecuador and Amazonian Ecuador. Additional collections were in Brazil, Peru, French Guiana and Bolivia.

Other plant samples were obtained from herbarium specimens.

To determine the age of each tree species, the researchers extracted and sequenced DNA from plant samples, then looked at the number of genetic mutations contained in those sequences.

Using a molecular clock approach and population genetic models, they estimated how long it would take for each of the tree populations to accumulate the observed number of mutations, which provided a minimum age for each species.

Tropical rainforests have existed in South America for at least 55 million years.

The future of the contemporary Amazon forest is uncertain, however, as the region is entering conditions with no past analog, combining rapidly increasing air temperatures, high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, possible extreme droughts and extensive removal and modification of the forest by humans.

The findings imply that droughts, direct human effects and their interactions "may be more immediate threats to the integrity of Amazon rainforests, and should remain a focus of conservation policy," the authors conclude.

"An important caveat is that because we've been in a cold period over the past 2 million years--basically the whole Quaternary Period--some of the trees' adaptations to warmth tolerance may have been lost," Dick said.

In addition to Dick, Bermingham and Lewis, Mark Maslin of University College London is a co-author of the paper.

Additional support for the research was provided by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the University of Michigan and the Royal Society.

 

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS REGARDING REFERENDUM ON EGYPTIAN CONSTITUTION

 

Reliefs showing the god Horus defeating his uncle Seth at the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The reliefs probably were damaged by early Christians to remove faces and hands.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Referendum on the Egyptian Constitution
Press Statement
Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 25, 2012
This past weekend, the draft Egyptian constitution passed a public referendum. We have stood with Egyptians as they have engaged in the difficult work of democratic transition. We have consistently supported the principle that democracy requires much more than simple majority rule. It requires protecting the rights and building the institutions that make democracy meaningful and durable.

The future of Egypt’s democracy depends on forging a broader consensus behind its new democratic rules and institutions. Many Egyptians have voiced deep concerns about the substance of the constitution and the constitutional process. President Morsi, as the democratically elected leader of Egypt, has a special responsibility to move forward in a way that recognizes the urgent need to bridge divisions, build trust, and broaden support for the political process. We have called for genuine consultation and compromise across Egypt’s political divides. We hope those Egyptians disappointed by the result will seek more and deeper engagement. We look to those who welcome the result to engage in good faith. And we hope all sides will re-commit themselves to condemn and prevent violence.

Only Egyptians can decide their country’s future. The United States remains committed to helping them realize the aspirations that drove their revolution and complete a successful democratic transition. Egypt needs a strong, inclusive government to meet its many challenges. Its future depends not on the ability of one side to prevail over the other, but on the commitment of all to engage in an inclusive process to negotiate their differences - on the constitution and on the laws implementing it - and to find a more united path forward.

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD CHARGED BY SEC WITH FRAUD

 

FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

SEC Charges Former Chairman of Board In Connection With A Fraudulent Plan To Evade The Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) announced today it filed a civil action against Lee S. Rosen, the former Chairman of the Board of publicly traded New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc., alleging that he fraudulently evaded the reporting requirements concerning his ownership interest in New Generation shares held in five separate trusts in violation of the antifraud provisions and beneficial reporting provisions of the federal securities laws. According to the Commission's complaint, at various times from June 2007 through May 2010, Rosen, directly or indirectly profited from the sale of New Generation shares held in two of the five trusts and benefited from using shares in two trusts as payment toward an ultimately unsuccessful purchase of a yacht. The complaint alleges that Rosen received at least $666,000 in direct payments from sales of New Generation stock held in three of the trusts and from a trustee's individual brokerage account. The complaint also alleges that Rosen indirectly benefited from using New Generation shares held in two trusts as partial payment in an effort to purchase a yacht. Further, the complaint alleges that Rosen failed to disclose these transactions and his true holdings in New Generation securities in various Commission filings and that Rosen made false and misleading statements and omissions in Commission filings regarding his true beneficial ownership of New Generation shares.

The SEC's complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, charges Rosen with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 10(b), 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5, 13d-1, 13d-2, 16a-3, and 16a-8 thereunder. Rosen has agreed to settle the SEC's charges without admitting or denying the allegations. Rosen consented to a permanent injunction, and an order requiring him to pay $666,000 in disgorgement, plus $50,484 in prejudgment interest, a $195,000 civil money penalty, and barring him from serving as an officer or director.

GALAXY EVOLUTION

FROM: NASA

　

The Hubble Legacy: Galaxy Evolution
Three astronomers explain how Hubble acts like a time machine by detecting which galaxies are moving toward and away from us.

U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETS ABOUT REFORMATION OF THE PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Friday, December 21, 2012
Justice Department Enters into Agreement to Reform the Puerto Rico Police Department

The Justice Department (DOJ) today entered into a sweeping agreement with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Governor Luis Fortuño to resolve its civil investigation of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD). The complaint and the agreement were filed today in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico, along with a joint motion requesting a temporary stay of the proceedings until April 15, 2013 to provide the incoming administration of Governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla sufficient time to review the agreement.

The comprehensive agreement addresses wide-ranging and ongoing constitutional violations by PRPD that were documented in a lengthy DOJ report issued in September 2011. The department found reasonable cause to believe that PRPD engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, use of unreasonable force designed to suppress protected speech, and unconstitutional searches and seizures. The agreement also addresses allegations that PRPD fails to investigate sex crimes and domestic violence, and engages in discriminatory policing.

"We appreciate the hard work of Governor Fortuño, Superintendent Hector Pesquera, and their staff. Together, and with great input from the public, we have designed a comprehensive blueprint for reform that provides a solid foundation that will professionalize and support the hardworking men and women of PRPD as they protect the people of Puerto Rico," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We have also met with Governor-elect Garcia-Padilla, who recognizes that constitutional policing and effective policing go hand in hand. We look forward to working with Governor-elect García Padilla and his incoming administration to finalize the agreement and begin the critical work of rebuilding PRPD. Ensuring effective, constitutional policing is not a partisan issue, and we appreciate the commitment of Governor Fortuño and Governor-elect García Padilla to the reforms embodied in the agreement. The successful implementation of the reforms contained in this agreement will help to reduce crime, ensure respect for the Constitution and restore public confidence in PRPD."

Today’s agreement was reached after extensive negotiations with commonwealth officials and their police consultants. The agreement provides a comprehensive blueprint for meaningful, sustainable reform and reflects the input of many community stakeholders from throughout the Commonwealth, including police affinity groups, members of the Puerto Rico business community, students, representatives of the Dominican community, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender communities.

The agreement addresses the policies, procedures, training, internal and external oversight, disciplinary systems and information and data integrity mechanisms that caused or contributed to the pattern or practice of misconduct. It also details necessary changes intended to ensure that police services are delivered to the people of Puerto Rico in a manner that is effective, complies with the Constitution, and promotes the community’s trust in PRPD. For instance, the agreement contains provisions that are designed to increase transparency and promote PRPD’s responsiveness to the community, including measures that require regular meetings with community representatives to facilitate cooperation and communication; collection and dissemination of accurate and up-to-date crime statistics; community outreach programs in each PRPD region; and independent and periodic compliance assessments that are available to the public.

The purpose of the joint motion requesting a temporary stay of the proceedings is to provide the incoming administration with a meaningful opportunity to review the agreement. The department and representatives of Governor Fortuño have met independently with Governor-elect García Padilla and his transition team to brief them on the investigation’s findings and the agreement. The stay, requested until April 15, 2013, will provide Governor-elect García Padilla and his incoming administration with a meaningful opportunity to review the agreement, and either accept it or negotiate necessary changes, before the department and Commonwealth request approval and entry of the agreement as an order. During this period, the department will continue its ongoing outreach into communities across Puerto Rico to seek input and feedback. Once approved and entered by the district court, the agreement will resolve the department’s civil action, and the implementation phase will immediately begin.

Holidays at the White House 2012 | The White House

Holidays at the White House 2012 | The White House

U.S.-MALAWI RELATIONS

 

Map:  Malawi.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

The United States established diplomatic relations with Malawi in 1964, following its full independence from the United Kingdom. Malawi saw one-party rule from 1966 to 1994. The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy in 1994 strengthened bilateral relations between the United States and Malawi. The two countries have worked together to advance health, education, agriculture, energy, and environmental projects. In 2012, the U.S. reinstated the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact partnership with Malawi following a number of reforms enacted by the Government of Malawi.

U.S. and Malawian views on the necessity of economic and political stability in southern Africa generally coincide. Through an assessment of its own national interests and foreign policy objectives, Malawi advocates peaceful solutions to the region's problems through negotiation. The country works to achieve these objectives in a variety of regional and international forums. The United States and Malawi engage in military-to-military programs. Malawi was the first southern African nation to receive peacekeeping training under the U.S.-sponsored African Crisis Response Force Initiative and has joined its successor, the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance program.

U.S. Assistance to Malawi

U.S. assistance in Malawi seeks to promote food security and agriculture-based economic growth and poverty reduction; preserve Malawi’s unique biodiversity and its ability to mitigate climate change; strengthen public and private institutions for better delivery of social services; empower the private sector and civil society; and advance democracy, human rights, and good governance. U.S. partnerships with the Government of Malawi, civil society, and other donors aim to address weaknesses and gaps that constrain the government’s efforts to meet the basic needs of its citizens, support regional stability, and help the government remain a responsible actor on the international stage.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Malawi is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. U.S. exports to Malawi include wheat, low-value shipments, pharmaceutical products, baking-related products, and machinery. U.S. imports from Malawi include tobacco, apparel, tea, macadamia nuts, and sugars.

The United States has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, of which Malawi is a member.

Malawi's Membership in International Organizations

Malawi and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.



Malawi Locator Map. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in May 2009. As president, he oversaw some economic improvement. He died abruptly in April 2012 and was succeeded by his vice president, Joyce BANDA. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

IMAGINE THE FUTURE 2030

 

Water and alternative energies will become increasingly important in the year 2030 and beyond. Here, Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division, and local residents, install a solar-powered water filter in Chaka 1, Lutifiyah Nahia, Iraq. Photo courtesy of the Department of the Army

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 'ARMED WITH SCIENCE'

by jtozer
Army Leaders Probe 'Deep Future'
Trying to anticipate what the world might be like in 2030 would seem to be in the realm of science fiction writers, but the

Army is interested too.

Helping the Army to get a better sight picture on the future are some of the world’s greatest minds, from the academic and scientific communities, as well as the Army and Defense Department. Many of them met here at the Bolger Center for a week of participation in Unified Quest break-out study groups on future trends.
And, incidentally, science fiction writers, many of whom have advanced degrees in science and whose future visions are sometimes on target, were part of the collaboration process of Unified Quest.
STRATEGIC TRENDS

The Army’s senior leaders think it is important for planning purposes to know where the service will be in 2030 and beyond, dates it terms the "deep future."

The reason deep future is important is because plans often take decades to materialize into reality. First there are discussions and concepts leading to models and simulations; then to live experimentation, aka field exercises, to "battle-test" those plans with real soldiers; and, finally to put it in doctrine, from which real-world decisions are made in manning, materiel, tactics and strategy.

The process is dynamic, meaning these plans and concepts are continually revised based on new technologies and the ever-changing world.

Leading the future planning effort is the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, the organization which heads the Campaign of Learning, of which Unified Quest 2013, the deep future study portion, is part.

To promote the candor necessary for open and meaningful dialog, names of the panelists and the some 100 participants could not be used for attribution, except during the media roundtable which followed, with Maj. Gen. Bill C. Hix, TRADOC’s director of the Concepts Development and Learning Directorate; and Col. Kevin M. Felix, TRADOC’s chief of the Future Warfare Division.

Hix emphasized that deep future thinking "is not about teleporting or trying to predict the future. Rather, it is about understanding trends and plausible scenarios so leaders today are better informed in their decision making and are not caught off guard by surprises."

REGIONAL FACTORS

Hyper-empowered individuals are terrorists and criminals who are empowered by modern technologies, which they would be willing to use to cause harm and even threaten national security.

These non-state actors are expected to proliferate. As they do, nation states are expected to form regional alliances and to grow more agile in responding to these threats, as well as to build a level of political and psychological resilience. Terrorist groups will continue to use social media as a tool to network and spread.

Nation-states may become less relevant than they are now as people with common ideologies or grievances such as the haves and have-nots connect via social media. The Arab Spring was an example of how quickly word, followed by actions, can spread.

The Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region will still be important in 2030 and beyond, with China and India growing as strong, regional military powers.

"The global economy will likely still depends on Middle East oil and because of our interconnection with the global economy, that region will still be in our strategic interest, even though it will be unlikely that we get our oil from there," Hix said.

Henry Hudson’s 17th-century dream of finding the Northwest Passage may become a reality as global warming accelerates the melting of the Polar icecap. This will open the sea lanes for navigation and exploitation of natural resources. Russia in particular is expected to benefit from these climate changes.

As many nations continue to age, third-world countries like those in Africa will have a "youth-bulge," which could lead to displaced persons and civil unrest as poverty there increases, along with a climate less favorable for agriculture.

Water will become an increasingly strategic asset, as nations in the Middle East and South Asia build dams upstream, denying water to those downstream. Also, desalination plants could become targets for terrorists, as their importance becomes increasingly important.

As these scenarios play out, "we have to ask ourselves if it is in our vital interest to intervene," Felix cautioned.

Overall, economies of the world will likely grow, resulting in a brain drain, as many scientists in the U.S. return to their native countries.

"We need to work harder at attracting the best minds into the fields of science and technology rather than letting them to disperse around the globe," Hix suggested.
He said the possibility of an improved world economy "is not a problem for us as more boats are lifted by the rising tide of prosperity."
Hix added that economic competition is good for everyone, but that America must maintain its military edge so that prosperity and freedom will continue.

HUMAN FACTORS

The Army needs to put better corporate human factors into its design of future technology as funding for training and materiel tightens. Human factors include such things as user-testing and matching the best functions of machines with human physiological and psychological capabilities.
Humans have certain advantages over machines like creativity and judgment.
Repetitive and monotonous tasks are best done by machines so manpower is not wasted, experts said.

Machines will continue to increase their advantage at processing information at a phenomenal rate of speed and robots will continue to proliferate on the future battlefield, putting soldiers out of harm’s way, some experts said. This could mean Army recruits will be valued even more so for their technological abilities as they are for their physical prowess.

Biomechanics, nanotechnology and medicine will make it likely that super powerful and intelligent soldiers could be developed. Discussions in society regarding the ethics and possible restrictions of this science need to take place, some warned as they raised an important question: If others have access to these advancements, will they be as concerned about the ethics?

COST FACTORS

The Army will need new partners, not just with the other services and treaty allies. These partners could include multinational and transnational business leaders. The partnership will be increasingly important as manufacturing becomes more global and decentralized and as machines become more intelligent.

Hix discussed the symbiotic relation the Army could have with industry, helping them with the development cost, and in turn, acquiring those products at lower cost due to the economies of scale that the Army brings with its large size.

Industry is already leading the way in new technologies that could conceivably be adapted for use by the Army. For instance, Google has already figured out how to make a self-driving car and manufacturers are producing 3-D printers.

The convergence of those capabilities and trends could lead to a leaner sustainment footprint, eliminate a soldier’s need to operate in convoys, and enable a more expeditionary Army, Felix said.

"It is likely we will have increased robotics capabilities to enhance soldiers and operations, but technology and economic constraints may limit the full realization of the convergence of robots with artificial intelligence by 2030, Felix continued.
Hix concluded that "this is just the first step in looking at the future. But it’s an important step. We need to have some idea what’s over the horizon."
By David Vergun

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Releases Child Labor Business Toolkit - US. Department of Labor

Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Releases Child Labor Business Toolkit - US. Department of Labor

Global Counterterrorism: A Progress Report

Global Counterterrorism: A Progress Report

U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA IS ANGY OVER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER'S PROBLEMS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Panetta 'Disappointed, Angry' at Child Development Center Lapses
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is "deeply disappointed and angry" at lapses at the Fort Myer, Va., child development center, Pentagon spokesman George Little said today.

Two workers at the Fort Myer facility were arrested Sept. 26 for assaulting children under their care. An investigation revealed that other workers had derogatory information in their background that called into question their suitability for working with children, officials said.

"The Army has launched an investigation into hiring processes not only at Fort Myer, but throughout the United States Army military child care system," Little said.

Panetta learned of the problems at the facility yesterday, and immediately ordered the other services to examine their hiring procedures as well.

Little said he has no information that the problems are more widespread. "But let me be very clear: the secretary believes that the care of our children is paramount, ... and he will settle for nothing less than the highest standards of care for our military children," he added.

More than 1 million children belong to U.S. military families throughout the world. "They are part of the DOD family, and we will do whatever we can to protect them, wherever they may be," Little said.

The press secretary said he expects the investigation to move beyond child development centers and cover youth activities programs and the DOD Education Activity facilities on bases and installations around the world.

In addition to looking at the hiring practices, Little said, the secretary is looking into why it took three months for news about the Fort Myer situation to reach him.

"No one likes to be surprised," Little said. "I don't know where the breakdown [in communications] was. It's something we're looking into, and clearly this information didn't get reported up the chain of command as quickly as we think it should have."

"iTRADE" STUDENTS LEARN HARD "iLESSON" ABOUT INVESTMENT ADVISOR FRAUD

FROM: U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

CFTC Settles Charges against Virginia Resident Alexander Giap for Engaging in Two Fraudulent Commodity Futures Trading Schemes

Federal Court in Virginia orders Giap to pay over $700,000 in restitution and penalties and permanently bars him from the commodities industry

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced that it obtained a federal court order requiring defendant Alexander Giap of Falls Church, Va., to pay $456,743 in restitution to defrauded customers and a $250,000 civil monetary penalty for violating the anti-fraud provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) (see CFTC Press Release 6191-12, February 27, 2012, as a Related Link). The consent order of permanent injunction, entered on December 17, 2012, by the Honorable Claude M. Hilton of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, also imposes permanent trading and registration bans against Giap and prohibits him from violating the CEA, as charged.

The order finds that Giap engaged in two schemes in which he acted as an unregistered Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA). In the first scheme, which took place in 2009, Giap solicited customers to participate in iTRADE, a purported "school" that Giap used to conduct his CTA business, according to the order. iTRADE "students" provided Giap with "tuition" ranging from $4,000 to $20,000 and traded under Giap’s direction, the order finds. Giap and iTRADE offered a money back guarantee under which the iTRADE students would retain all profits from trading until they had recovered their initial deposit, the order finds. However, Giap’s trading resulted in substantial losses, losing money seven out of the nine months from January 2009 through September 2009, according to the order.

Furthermore, the order finds that Giap made a number of material misrepresentations and failed to disclose material facts when he solicited customers to engage his services, including that he was a convicted felon who still owed restitution relating to his criminal conviction and was subject to Internal Revenue Service liens for delinquent taxes. Giap also failed to disclose the full extent of his history of losses incurred trading commodity futures, that he was not registered with the CFTC as a CTA, and that he had never traded commodity futures prior to January 2009, according to the order.

In Giap’s second commodity futures trading scheme, which began in October 2009, he defrauded three additional customers through the same material omissions as his first scheme, and his trading resulted in substantial financial losses to customers, according to the order.

The CFTC thanks the Virginia Corporation Commission for its assistance.

CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this matter are Allison Baker Shealy, Jason Mahoney, Timothy J. Mulreany, George Malas, Rainey Perez, John Einstman, Paul G. Hayeck, and Joan Manley.

VEHICLE OPERATOR RUNNING A PERSONNEL SHOP

 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher McDaniel explains an inprocessing sheet to a visiting service member at the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Zabul province, Dec. 17, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrice Clarke

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Vehicle Operator Runs Personnel Shop
By Air Force Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2012 - "Just go to the training so we have someone trained until the actual S1 gets here."

That statement is what ultimately landed Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher McDaniel, a vehicle operator deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., in his current position as the noncommissioned officer in charge of personnel, or S1, for the provincial reconstruction team and Forward Operating Base Smart here.

This deployment, his fourth, is his first working outside his vehicle operator career field. When he joined the Air Force more than 10 years ago, he said, his career choice was driven by time, not position.

"I always knew I was going to join the Air Force -- since I was a little kid," McDaniel said. "I knew that it was something I wanted to do, and even then knew that it was ... something I was going to retire from." When he walked into the Air Force recruiter's office a year after high school, he added, he told the recruiter he wanted to join and wanted to leave in about a month. He was given a list of five available Air Force specialty codes and he ultimately chose 2T1X1, or vehicle operator.

"Vehicle operations sounded fun to me," he said.

Being a vehicle operator has been fun, the Detroit native said. In his previous deployments, he amassed more than 34,000 combat miles on convoys in Iraq.

"Once I started doing convoys, it really let me see the bigger picture, where [vehicle operators] fit into the bigger mission," McDaniel said. "At home station, you're driving bus routes or something like that, and you don't really see how you fit into the overall mission. Deployed, you're moving stuff that is integral to someone, somewhere. You are taking vital supplies and cargo to other bases that need it."

After his last deployment, McDaniel even logged instructor time at the Air Force's Basic Combat Convoy Course at Camp Bullis, Texas, training other vehicle operators on the ins and outs of convoys before they deployed. Though he enjoyed instructor time, McDaniel said, he wanted to deploy again. When the opportunity arose for a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan as part of a provincial reconstruction team, he jumped at the chance.

"When the unit deployment manager told everyone there was a deployment to Afghanistan, I immediately said, 'Send me,'" he said. "I hadn't deployed in a while, and I wanted to get back out there."

Many provincial reconstruction team members have to attend months of training before deploying, and McDaniel was no different. He attended his first training related to the deployment in June for an October departure.

"I was training as a vehicle guy," he said with a laugh. But when McDaniel arrived at Camp Atterbury, Ind., in July for more training with the team, the team's needs changed the plan.

"We thought I was just going to fill this position at Atterbury until the real, trained S1 arrived," he said.

Army Sgt. Maj. Gregory Rowland, the provincial reconstruction team's sergeant major, said three things factored in the decision to choose McDaniel as the interim S1.


"The first was rank, second was what section could afford to lose one of its noncommissioned officers, and the third was personality," Rowland said. "McDaniel fit the bill."

Now, three months into the deployment, McDaniel continues to be the interim S1 and has embraced his position, despite his lack of formal training. "Here, the job is all about accountability -- being accountable for the other people on your team," he said.

McDaniel is in charge of accountability for every member on the forward operating base, including the military members, civilians, contractors, interpreters and local employees. He also takes care of personnel issues such as emergency leave, reports, awards and decorations. At Smart, the S1 also is the lead mail handler. McDaniel takes it all in stride.

"I would say the biggest obstacle is that I'm not an admin person and I don't have some of the answers or access to [answers for] people's questions right away," he said. "I find those answers, though. It's all about adapting to your environment and completing the mission. I'm learning as we go."

His leaders have noticed his drive and dedication.

"I thought it was pretty amazing that he could make the transition so quickly from an operational job like that to a more administrative position," said Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Kraft, the provincial reconstruction team's commander. "Frankly, he's doing a great job, not just with the S1 position, but with everything he's taken on," Kraft said.

McDaniel also has taken on the role of morale and welfare coordinator, hosting poker and spades tournaments and other events.

"That's something you usually don't get from an S1 -- or a trucker for that matter," Kraft said. "He really cares about the unit, and his esprit de corps is something that most people should emulate."

Though he spends a majority of his time wearing the S1 hat, McDaniel is still able to take a turn behind the wheel and has racked up some Afghanistan miles as well. He advises anyone who is put in a position outside their level of expertise to keep an open mind.

"You don't know if you are going to like the position or not," he said. "Remember that whoever put you in that position must believe you can handle it. I thank [my leaders] for the opportunity to expand my breadth of experience."

PRESIDENTIAL INAGURATION PREPARATION

Members of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Fife and Drum Corps march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009. More than 5,000 service members are providing ceremonial support to the Jan. 21, 2013, presidential inauguration, which is a military tradition dating back to George Washington's 1789 inauguration. DOD photo by Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Kingston

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

Troops Prepare to Support Presidential Inauguration Events
Joint Task Force – National Capital Region 57th Presidential Inauguration

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2012 - The Joint Task Force – National Capital Region announces military participation for the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade following President-elect Barack Obama's second swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address on Jan. 21, 2013.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee officially announced several selections of Inaugural Parade participants, including military organizations, Dec. 18. Military support is designed to provide appropriate honors to the commander in chief, recognize civilian control of the military and celebrate democracy.

Traditionally, military units from each of the five branches have marched in the Presidential escort and in the Inaugural Parade. More than 2,100 military personnel will be marching in the parade, with a total of about 5,000 troops supporting the inauguration.

Additionally, for the current inauguration, 2,807 groups applied to march in the parade. All applications were collected and organized by JTF-NCR and 317 were submitted to the PIC, which is appointed by the President-elect. These applications were reviewed by the PIC with assistance of the JTF-NCR, including members of several military bands, musical acts and drill teams.

"The Inauguration day parade is the largest, most complicated event that takes place in the nation's capital, which requires a multitude of mission partners to work together," said Army Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, JTF– NCR's commanding general. "The role of the military in this event is one of support. We are here to support the Presidential Inauguration Committee, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and the other civilian agencies."

Service members involved in the 2013 Presidential Inauguration represent an integrated Total Force -- soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guard members -- proudly serving their country at home and around the world. This support comprises musical units, marching bands, color guards, salute batteries and honor cordons, which render appropriate ceremonial honors to the commander in chief.

Below is the list of military organizations selected to participate in inaugural activities on Jan. 21, 2013:

-- Military support to the Presidential Escort;

-- JTF-NCR senior service representatives led by Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington;

-- Joint Staff led by Army Col. James C. Markert, commander 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) Regiment;

-- The United States Army Band (Pershing's Own), led by Drum Major, Master Sgt. Scott Little;

-- 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard);

-- U.S. Marine Corps. Ceremonial Guard Company, Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.;

-- Armed Forces Color Guard;

-- U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard;

-- U.S. Air Force Honor Guard;

-- U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard;

-- The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps led by Drum Major Master Sgt. William White; and

-- The Commander and Chief's Guard.

The Presidential Escort is often viewed by the general public as part of the Inaugural Parade. However, the Presidential Escort is actually a smaller, distinct procession that, in addition to the President and Vice President, includes the U.S. Army Band, Commander-in-Chief's Guard, Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Honor Platoons for each of the armed services, and the Armed Forces Color Guard.

There are five distinct parade divisions and each division is comprised of various elements of the five armed services.

Division 1

-- U.S. Army, Staff comprising academy, active, guard and reserve members;

-- The U.S. Army Field Band;

-- The U.S. Military Academy Marching Company, West Point, N.Y.;

-- The U.S. Army Marching Company, 3rd U.S. Infantry;

-- The U.S. Army Color Guard, 3rd U.S. Infantry;

-- The U.S. Army National Guard, D.C. National Guard;

-- The U.S. Army Reserve, 200th Military Police Command, Fort Meade, Md.; and

-- The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

Division 2

-- U.S. Marine Corps, Staff comprising active and reserve members;

-- The U.S. Marine Band (The President's Own);

-- The U.S. Marine Corps Marching Company, Ceremonial Guard Company;

-- The U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard; and

-- The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Marching Company.

Division 3

-- U.S. Navy, Staff comprising academy, active, guard and reserve members;

-- The U.S. Navy Band;

-- The U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.;

-- The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard;

-- The U.S. Navy Color Guard; and

-- The U.S. Navy Reserve.

Division 4

-- U.S. Air Force, Staff comprising academy, active, guard and reserve members;

-- The U.S. Air Force Band;

-- The U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.;

-- The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard;

-- The U.S. Air Force Color Guard;

-- The U.S. Air National Guard, 113th Wing, D.C Air National Guard; and

-- The U.S. Air Force Reserve, 459th Air Refueling Wing.

Division 5

-- U.S. Coast Guard, Staff comprising academy, active and reserve members;

-- The U.S. Coast Guard Band;

-- The U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn.;

-- The U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard;

-- The U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard;

-- The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve;

-- The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Staff Element;

-- The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band;

-- The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Color Guard; and

-- The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

In addition the PIC has selected the following military elements as representatives of their home states: Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard, Fort Riley, Kan., in historic cavalry uniforms, and the 81st Reserve Support Command Wildcats Color Guard, Fort Jackson, S.C., in historic World War I era uniforms.

Military involvement in the Presidential Inauguration is a centuries-old tradition. The U.S. military has participated in this important American tradition since April 30, 1789, when members of the U.S. Army, local militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted President George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City.

RECENT PHOTOS FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS

FROM: U.S. MARINE CORPS
Coalition Forces Conduct Presence Patrol in Farah Province
A coalition force member talks to a villager during a presence patrol in Afghanistan's Farah province, Dec. 16, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau.


　

A coalition force member speaks with a villager during a presence patrol in Afghanistan's Farah province, Dec. 16, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau.

A small Afghan boy salutes coalition force members during a presence patrol in Afghanistan's Farah province, Dec. 16, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau.

 

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

 

FROM: U.S. NAVY
121220-D-UJ980-325 BEAUFORT, S.C. (Dec. 20, 2012) Sailors assigned to Naval Hospital Beaufort wrap presents for local military and civilian children in need. The presents were donated from members of the community due to the efforts of Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Donna Patrick, who for the past four years has volunteered to ensure local children have a happy holiday season. (U.S. Navy photo by Regena Kowitz/Released)

121220-N-AF077-084 NORFOLK (Dec. 20, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is moored at Naval Station Norfolk during the station's 16th Annual Operation Decorama competition. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean Hurt/Released)
 

U.S. CONDEMNS LATEST ATTACKS BY SYRIA AGAINST CIVILIANS IN TOWN OF HELFEYA

Map:  Syria.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Syrian Regime Attacks Against Civilians
Press Statement
Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 24, 2012

The United States condemns in the strongest terms the latest vicious attacks by the Syrian regime against civilians, most notably the attack on people waiting to buy bread at a bakery in the town of Helfeya. Brutal attacks such as these show that this regime has no future in Syria. Those that commit atrocities will be held accountable. The United States calls on all parties that continue to assist the regime in executing its war against the Syrian people to end their support.

The visit of Joint Special Representative Brahimi to Damascus and his work offers an opportunity to move a political transition forward and the United States continues to support his efforts. We urge the regime to capitalize on the Joint Special Representative's efforts in order to transition to a new government and end the brutal repression of the Syrian people.

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY

The 1,000-ton deckhouse of the future destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is craned toward the deck of the ship to be integrated with the ship's hull at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ship launch and christening are planned in 2013. U.S. Navy photo (Released) 121214-N-ZZ999-201

The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS San Francisco (SSN 711) departs San Diego for a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anthony Walker (Released) 121218-N-QC706-003

 

YES, VIRGINIA THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS



Credit:  Wikimedia Commons.

FROM: U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
December 24, 2012 by Erin Allen
I remember the moment I found out that jolly old St. Nick was more an idea than a physical person shimmying down a chimney to deposit presents underneath the tree. First clue, we didn’t have a fireplace.

I can’t remember exactly how old I was, probably elementary school age. The night before Christmas I could never fall asleep, which is probably the way of most kids. I remember hearing noises coming from the far side of the house and the screen door off the carport slamming from time to time. As I inched closer to the bedroom door to investigate the ruckus, I remember hearing my dad ask my mom – not quietly enough apparently – where she wanted him to put the presents.

The thing is, I can’t remember being too terribly upset. Christmas was, and still is, wonderful at my house. It’s a time of happiness, silliness, love and giving.

I think Santa still lives on in us, regardless of whether you actually believe – he appeals to the hope and imagination of young and old alike.

Perhaps this editorial for the Sept. 21, 1897, issue of the New York Sun says it best.

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial. The work of veteran newsman Francis P. Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
"Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would the world be if there were no Santa Claus. …. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.
"Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men see. … Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
"A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
Happy holidays to you and yours!

COURT ACTS TO CURB POTENTIAL SALMONELLA INFECTIONS CAUSED BY PEANUT BUTTER PRODUCTS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Friday, December 21, 2012
District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against New Mexico-Based Producer of Peanut Butter Products and Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer

WASHINGTON - U.S. District Court Judge William P. Johnson entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Sunland Inc., a Portales, N.M.-based producer of peanut butter, and Jimmie D. Shearer, president and chief executive officer of Sunland, the Justice Department announced today. The department, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asked the court to enter the consent decree.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that since September 2012 at least 35 people from 19 states have been infected with a strain of Salmonella Bredeney. Eight of these individuals were hospitalized as a result of their infection. Peanut butter manufactured by Sunland was identified by FDA and the CDC as a likely source of this outbreak.

As set forth in the complaint filed by the United States on December 20, FDA conducted an inspection of defendants’ facility from Sept. 9 to Oct. 16, 2012. According to the complaint, FDA analyses of samples collected during the 2012 inspection confirmed that certain of Sunland’s nut products were contaminated with Salmonella Bredeney and established the widespread presence of Salmonella Bredeney in Sunland’s facility. Salmonella Bredeney is a pathogenic organism that has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans.

FDA suspended the registration of Sunland’s food facility on Nov. 26, 2012. As the FDA’s suspension letter explained, the FDA’s analysis found that the Salmonella Bredeney detected at Sunland was indistinguishable from the Salmonella Bredeney identified in the multistate outbreak and the FDA’s investigation uncovered a number of practices that likely result in cross-contamination between raw peanuts and peanuts that had been roasted or brined. Specifically, packaging equipment was not effectively cleaned to prevent contamination; collapsible mesh totes used to store and transport nuts were not cleaned and sanitized between uses; employees came into contact with ready to package, roasted, in-shell peanuts with their bare hands; and processing equipment had unused connections that could facilitate the growth of pathogenic bacteria by allowing food material and water to accumulate.

The FDA concluded that unless and until Sunland implemented a number of corrective actions, and FDA evaluated the completed corrective actions to assure their adequacy, food manufactured and held by Sunland would continue to pose a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.

Shortly after the suspension of Sunland’s registration, the United States filed suit to permanently enjoin Sunland and Shearer from delivering adulterated foods into interstate commerce. The consent decree entered resolves that suit by requiring Sunland to take a wide range of actions to correct its violations and ensure that they do not happen again. Among other actions, Sunland must develop and implement sanitation control programs; provide FDA the opportunity to inspect the facilities to assure Sunland’s compliance with the consent decree, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and applicable regulations; and receive written authorization from FDA to resume operations. Sunland must also implement testing, monitoring and remediation protocols.

"This consent decree prohibits Sunland from selling processed foods to consumers until it fully complies with the law," said Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. "As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice and FDA will work together to protect the health and safety of Americans by making sure that those who produce and sell the food we eat follow the law."

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Delery thanked the FDA for referring this matter to the Department of Justice. Roger Gural, Trial Attorney at the Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department, in conjunction with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hoses in the District of New Mexico, and Scott Kaplan and Jillian Wein Riley, Counsel at FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, brought this case on behalf of the United States.

THE RIGHT STUFF: FROM HEROS TO JOB CREATORS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Heroes on the Homefront: New Report Highlights Veterans as Job Creatorsby Marie Johns
 
I’m excited to announce the release of a report by the Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development called "Heroes on the Homefront: Supporting Veteran Success as Small Business Owners." This is the second report of its kind where task force members from seven agencies have come together to collaborate on small business issues that are unique to Veteran business owners.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) believes that two of America’s greatest assets are the service of our returning veterans and the economic dynamism of our small businesses. It is no secret that entrepreneurs and small businesses are the engines of American innovation and economic prosperity. For example, our nation’s 28 million small firms employ 60 million Americans, or half of the private sector workforce, and they are responsible for creating 2 out of 3 net new private sector jobs across the country. And, these numbers are even better when looking at Veteran Owned Small Businesses:
U.S. military veterans own 2.4 million businesses, or nearly 1 in 10 of all businesses nationwide. 8.3 percent of veteran business owners have service-connected disabilities.
Veteran-owned businesses generate $1.2 trillion in receipts and employ nearly 5.8 million people.
In the private sector workforce, veterans are at least 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.
The focus of this year’s report, the Task Force’s second, is to provide updates on the 18 recommendations that were made in last year’s report. The recommendations are organized around three priority areas for engaging the Federal government: (1) Increase Opportunities for Growth; (2) Improve and Expand Counseling and Training Services; and (3) Reduce Barriers to Growth and Improve Coordination and Efficiencies.

We are pleased to report great progress has been made since the Task Force’s initial review. In FY 2012, the Task Force, along with the interagency Veterans Employment Initiative, developed and piloted a re-designed military transition program, entitled Transition GPS, that includes an entrepreneurship training program called "Operation Boots to Business: from Service to Startup." This program is expected to be rolled out nationally in the coming year. The Task Force has also worked to streamline programs and cut paperwork for veteran small businesses through support for initiatives such as BusinessUSA and QuickApp for surety bonds and it has continued the efforts begun last year to make the process of winning Federal government contracts simpler and easier for service-disabled veterans and veteran-owned small business.

We know that our nation’s veterans helped reshape the American economy following World War II. They helped to build one of the longest periods of economic growth in our country’s history. And we know they can do it again if they are simply given the right tools and the right opportunities.

That’s why the SBA and the entire Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that these amazing men and women have the access and opportunity they need to fully realize their potential as entrepreneurs and small business owners.

These men have women have served our country so well. And as they begin this next chapter in their lives, we are prepared to be with them every step of the way.

Marie Johns is Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is responsible for management and oversight of the agency, and leads the agency’s efforts to reach underserved communities.

First Lady Michelle Obama Reads 'The Night Before Christmas' with Kermit the Frog | The White House

First Lady Michelle Obama Reads 'The Night Before Christmas' with Kermit the Frog | The White House