FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Release of the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Maria Otero
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
Luis CdeBaca
Ambassador-at-Large, Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Vincent Paraiso
Benjamin Franklin Room
Washington, DC
June 19, 2012
UNDER SECRETARY OTERO: Good afternoon, everyone. And welcome to the Department of State. It’s wonderful to have you all here. I want to especially welcome Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith for being here with us. Thank you for being here. (Applause.)
Every year, this event brings together committed leaders and activists from across the anti-trafficking movement, and the enthusiasm that’s surrounding this rollout shows us the momentum that we have built in the struggle against modern slavery.
I am Maria Otero. I am the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. My office oversees the bureaus that help countries and governments create just societies, societies that are grounded in democratic principles that guarantee respect for human rights and that apply the rule of law. Whether we’re helping strengthen judicial systems or we’re denouncing human rights abuses or helping build strong law enforcement capacities or combating trafficking in persons, we’re aiming to help countries protect the individual citizens in their countries.
Trafficking challenges are one of the problems that we have. And it is also the one area that deals with one of our most fundamental values. That is the basic freedom and dignity of every individual. Trafficking also tears at the very fabric of society. It rips families apart. It devastates communities. It holds people back from becoming full participants in their own political processes in their own economies. And it challenges the ability of countries to build strong justice systems and transparent governments. That’s why fighting modern slavery is a priority for the United States. In that fight, we partner with governments around the world to improve and increase the prosecution of this crime, to prevent the crime from spreading, and to protect those individuals who are victimized by it.
While governments bear this responsibility of protecting their individual citizens, this fight depends on a broader partnership as well. Without the efforts of civil society, the faith community, the private sector, we would not be able to advance and we would not be able to see the advances that the report highlights. The report that we are issuing today guides our work. It represents the very best knowledge and information on the state of modern slavery in the world today. It shows the fruit of partnerships around the world. It shows the strides that we’ve made in protecting individuals, and it shows how far we yet still have to go to assure the basic human rights.
I want to thank everyone who has worked this last year to compile these reports, from the NGOs that submit this information to the governments that provide us with data, from the diplomats in our overseas missions, to the staff of the Office of Monitor and Combating Trafficking in Persons who are here today. And today really is the culmination of tireless work over many months that they have taken on. And for that reason, it is really my pleasure and my privilege to be able to introduce my colleague who runs that office and who has shepherded and given leadership to this process, our Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR CDEBACA: Thank you, Madam Under Secretary, for the introduction and for your leadership here at the State Department. Bringing so many different issues together under this label of civilian security over the last year has allowed room here in the State Department and across the U.S. Government for constructive collaborations, whether we’re dealing with human rights, migration, criminal justice, war crimes, counterterrorism, or, as today, human trafficking. Because building democracy, growing economies, unleashing the full potential of the individual, these things don’t just happen. They start with people.
Around the world in the last year, we’ve heard those people, their voices calling, calling out for democracy, for greater opportunity. We recognize that sound. It’s the sound of hope. And traffickers ensnare their victims by exploiting that hope, especially the hope of the vulnerable. "Come with me, I’ll help you start a modeling career. Pay me $10,000, I’ll get you that job. I love you. I’ll take care of you. Just do this for us." As long as the Trafficking in Persons Report is needed, we will find in its pages account after account of traffickers peddling false hope.
But that’s not all that we find in the pages of this report because every year that passes, those false hopes are overtaken more and more by real hope; the real hope that the modern abolitionist movement provides. And just as trafficking takes many forms, the way that we fight slavery today, the way that we provide hope for those who have been exploited, is growing. It is growing more diverse and more innovative, and so are the people who are stepping up.
We see it in the private sector, where corporate leaders are using their business skills. They’re hearing from consumers who don’t want to buy things tainted by modern slavery. Leaders like CEO Tom Mazzetta. When he read a report about forced labor in the fishing industry, he wasn’t just shocked. He acted. He wrote two letters. The first was to the company he used, until that day, to source calamari. The second was an open letter to all of his customers telling them that his brand was his family, his family name, and he would not taint it or his customers with slavery in his supply chain. We’re inspired by his principled stand.
We see it among activists like Jada Pinkett Smith and her family, who have a unique platform from which to act. When her daughter Willow began asking about these types of subjects, she didn’t just explain it away as something that happens over there. She got to work. She’s launching a new website to serve as a resource for victims and survivors and is an information hub for those who seek to learn more about this crime. Jada, we thank you for your advocacy.
We see it in people’s day to day lives, like when Aram Kovach was watching CNN one day. He saw the story of a young boy castrated because he refused to take part in a begging ring. He wasn’t just horrified by the reality of modern slavery. Aram did something. He got in touch with the boy’s family and he paid for him to come to the United States for surgery. Mr. Kovach we’re moved by your compassion.
And if I can take a moment of personal privilege, we see it in the men and women who contribute to this report: our colleagues at embassies around the world, in our regional bureaus here in Washington, and especially the reports in political affairs team of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. We thank you all for your rigor, your commitment, and the zeal with which you attack this problem.
And we see it ultimately in the victims, the survivors, whether they choose to become activists or whether they choose to lead a life of quiet anonymity. When you log on to slaveryfootprint.org – and I hope you do – and it asks you how many slaves work for you, remember that those victims are not statistics. It’ll give you a number, but these people are not numbers. They are people with hopes, with dreams, with courage, and with names. Remember their names, names like Amina, Maria Elena, Joel, Ashley. It’s their courage that challenge us to deliver on this promise, this promise of freedom.
And it’s my pleasure to introduce someone who has never turned away from that challenge. From the start of this effort, when most people didn’t want to talk about modern slavery, to this day, when we recommit ourselves to the vision of a world without slavery, ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary of State. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you all very much. And I am delighted to see a standing room only crowd here in the Benjamin Franklin Room for this very important annual event. I welcome all of you here to the State Department. And I want to begin by thanking Ambassador CdeBaca and his team for all the hard work that goes into this report, and the passion that they bring to the fight against modern slavery. I would like, Lou, for you and your team to either stand or wave your hand if you’re already standing. Could we have everyone from – (applause) – thank you. I so appreciate what you do every day, not just when we roll out the report, and I’m very proud to be your colleague.
I also want to welcome our 10 TIP heroes, whose work is making a real difference. You will hear more about each one individually when we recognize them, but I want, personally, to thank them because they do remind us that one person’s commitment and passion, one person’s experience and the courage to share that experience with the world, can have a huge impact. And I am delighted to welcome all of our TIP heroes here today. Thank you. (Applause.)
And I will join Lou in thanking Jada Pinkett Smith and Will for being here, and through you, your daughter. Because, as Lou said, it was their daughter who brought this issue to Jada’s attention, and I am so pleased that she has taken on this cause. And we look forward to working with you.
In the United States today, we are celebrating what’s called Juneteenth. That’s freedom day, the date in 1865 when a Union officer stood on a balcony in Galveston, Texas and read General Order Number 3, which declared, "All slaves are free." It was one of many moments in history when a courageous leader tipped the balance and made the world more free and more just. But the end of legal slavery in the United States and in other countries around the world has not, unfortunately, meant the end of slavery.
Today, it is estimated as many as 27 million people around the world are victims of modern slavery, what we sometimes call trafficking in persons. As Lou said, I’ve worked on this issue now for more than a dozen years. And when we started, we called it trafficking. And we were particularly concerned about what we saw as an explosion of the exploitation of people, most especially women, who were being quote, "trafficked" into the sex trade and other forms of servitude. But I think labeling this for what it is, slavery, has brought it to another dimension.
I mean, trafficking, when I first used to talk about it all those years ago, I think for a while people wondered whether I was talking about road safety – (laughter) – what we needed to do to improve transportation systems. But slavery, there is no mistaking what it is, what it means, what it does. And these victims of modern slavery are women and men, girls and boys. And their stories remind us of what kind of inhumane treatment we are still capable of as human beings. Some, yes, are lured to another country with false promises of a good job or opportunities for their families. Others can be exploited right where they grew up, where they now live. Whatever their background, they are living, breathing reminders that the work to eradicate slavery remains unfinished. The fact of slavery may have changed, but our commitment to ending it has not and the deeply unjust treatment that it provides has not either.
Now the United States is not alone in this fight. Many governments have rallied around what we call the three P’s of fighting modern slavery: prevention, prosecution, and protection. And this report, which is being issued today, gives a clear and honest assessment of where all of us are making progress on our commitments and where we are either standing still or even sliding backwards. It takes a hard look at every government in the world, including our own. Because when I became Secretary of State, I said, "When we are going to be issuing reports on human trafficking, on human rights that talk about other countries, we’re also going to be examining what we’re doing," because I think it’s important that we hold ourselves to the same standard as everyone else.
Now, this year’s report tells us that we are making a lot of progress. Twenty-nine countries were upgraded from a lower tier to a higher one, which means that their governments are taking the right steps. This could mean enacting strong laws, stepping up their investigations and prosecutions, or simply laying out a roadmap of steps they will take to respond.
But this issue and the progress we’ve made are about much more than statistics on prosecutions and vulnerable populations. It’s about what is happening in the lives of the girls and women I recently met in Kolkata. I visited a few months ago and was able to meet with some extraordinary women and girls who were getting their lives back after suffering unspeakable abuses. One young girl, full of life, came up and asked me if I wanted to see her perform some karate moves. And I said, "Of course." And the way she stood up so straight and confident, the pride and accomplishment in her eyes, was so inspiring. This was a child who’d been born in a brothel to a young mother who had been forced and sold into prostitution. But when her mother finally escaped and took her daughter with her, they were out of harm’s way and finally able to make choices for themselves.
Now I don’t know what’s going to happen to that young girl, whose image I see in my mind’s eye, in the years and decades ahead. But I do know that with a little help, her life can be so much better than her mother’s. And that’s what we need to be focused on, and it’s what we need to try to do for all victims and survivors.
That’s why in this year’s report, we are especially focused on that third P, victim protection. And in these pages, you’ll find a lot of proven practices and innovative approaches to protecting victims. This is a useful and specific guide for governments looking to scale up their own efforts. What kind of psychological support might a victim need? How should immigration laws work to protect migrant victims? How can labor inspectors learn to recognize the warning signs of traffickers? And what can you and all of us do to try to help?
When I met with the people who were working with victims in Kolkata, I met several young women from the United States who had been inspired by reading about and watching and going online and learning about what was happening in the efforts to rescue and protect victims. And they were there in Kolkata, working with organizations, NGOs, and the faith community, to do their part. So this is a moment for people to ask themselves not just what government can do to end modern slavery, but what can I do, what can we do together.
Ultimately, this report reminds us of the human cost of this crime. Traffickers prey on the hopes and dreams of those seeking a better life. And our goal should be to put those hopes and dreams back within reach, whether it’s getting a good job to send money home to support a family, trying to get an education for oneself or one’s children, or simply pursuing new opportunities that might lead to a better life. We need to ensure that all survivors have that opportunity to move past what they endured and to make the most of their potential.
I’m very pleased that every year we have the chance to honor people who have made such a contribution in this modern struggle against modern slavery. And I’m also pleased that this is a high priority for President Obama and the Obama Administration. It’s something that is not just political and not just a policy, but very personal and very deep. You might have seen over the weekend a long story about Mrs. Obama’s roots going back to the time of our own period of slavery and the family that nurtured her, which has roots in the fields and the houses of a time when Americans owned slaves.
So as we recommit ourselves to end modern slavery, we should take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, here in our country and around the world, but how much farther we still have to go to find a way to free those 27 million victims and to ensure that there are no longer any victims in the future.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)
AMBASSADOR CDEBACA: We are joined today by 10 amazing individuals representative of thousands of more amazing individuals who work so hard to do their part in this fight. And I’d ask that the TIP heroes from this side of the stage come over and join us starting with –
SECRETARY CLINTON: Stand over here?
AMBASSADOR CDEBACA: I think we’re going to do it right over here. Starting with Marcelo Colombo. Marcelo Colombo from Argentina, in recognition of his profound influence on efforts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases and take a bold stance against corruption and official complicity. Marcelo Colombo. (Applause.)
In recognition of her extraordinary commitment to uncovering human trafficking cases, her innovative strategy to raise public awareness in spite of limited resources, and a proactive approach to providing protection services to victims in Aruba, Jeannette Richardson-Baars (Applause.)
In recognition of her ambitious efforts to strengthen legislative and criminal justice responses to trafficking in Southeast Asia and her substantial contribution to identify the core elements of a comprehensive anti-trafficking model from Australia, Anne Gallagher. (Applause.)
In recognition of his amazing courage to escape slavery and his remarkable activism to end human trafficking, raising awareness of labor exploitation in the fishing industry of Southeast Asia, Vannak Anan Prum. (Applause.)
In recognition of his unwavering efforts in the face of threats and acts of violence against him and his family to provide aid to trafficking victims in the Republic of the Congo, Raimi Vincent Paraiso. (Applause.)
In recognition of his dedication to victim protection and support and his tireless work to enlist new partners in anti-trafficking efforts in Greece, Phil Hyldgaard. (Applause.)
For her compassion and courage in bringing attention to the suffering of the human trafficking victims in the Sinai and her groundbreaking projects that identify these abuses, Sister Azezet Habtezghi Kidane. (Applause.)
For her ongoing and exemplary leadership to increase engagement and strengthen commitments to fight trafficking in the OSCE region, Judge Maria Grazia Giammarinaro. (Applause.)
In recognition of her courageous advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people and her pioneering work to outlaw slavery once and for all in Mauritania, a country in which she was the first woman lawyer, Fatimata M’Baye. (Applause.)
The founder of International Justice Mission, an internationally recognized human rights organization, for his work to preserve rule of law around the globe, Gary Haugen. (Applause.)
UNDER SECRETARY OTERO: If I could ask Vincent to please come to the podium and speak on behalf of the TIP heroes, please. (Applause.)
MR. PARAISO: Bonjour. (Via interpreter) Madam Secretary, honorable under secretaries, honorable ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, distinguished guests. On behalf of my organization, Alto-Afrique Enfants, and of all the heroes here that I have the honor to represent, I would like to thank the United States Government for honoring us with this award at this unforgettable moment.
The phenomenon of human trafficking has reached alarming proportions around the world. My country, the Republic of Congo, and many others represented at this meeting are unfortunately not spared from this crime. Therefore, the international community cannot remain silent against this evil and must continue to respond relentlessly. I would also like to thank the U.S. embassies in our respective countries for their advocacy and dialogue with host country governments in the fight against this phenomenon.
In my career as a medical doctor, the numerous traumatic injuries I have seen inflicted and cured on child victims of trafficking led me to stand as a pillar of support for hundreds of children. These child victims of trafficking have been identified, rescued, protected, and sometimes supported by our organization in the Republic of the Congo. This work has led to several kidnapping and assassination attempts against me by potential traffickers. But it has also filled me with joy and happiness when, for instance, I heard a Senegalese teenager who I rescued tell me, "You are my father."
I have the honor to represent Alto-Afrique Enfants, and we will continue the fight against traffickers with passion. As for its commitments to the fight and trafficking and forced labor, Alto will continue to work jointly with the government, UNICEF, and other international and national organizations. This is a problem that must be resolved through a joint effort. Human trafficking is a human rights violation.
An approach grounded in human rights in the prevention of and the fight against trafficking has several requirements in both law and practice. Most of all, victims’ rights must be fully respected and they must be clearly identified. Finally, these victims are entitled to justice, reparations, and should be treated with close attention, as they are vulnerable. Perseverance and collaboration will lead us to success, meaning the eradication of this phenomenon.
Madam Secretary, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, I would like to conclude by stating that I hope we can work together to build a better future for all children of the world. Thank you. (Applause.)
UNDER SECRETARY OTERO: Merci beaucoup, Vincent. C’est magnifique. C’est tres magnifique. (Laughter.) Your words are inspiring and your leadership in this struggle is also inspiring. You and all the TIP heroes are once again reminding us that the individual actions of each human being has tremendous impact and that we are all responsible for playing a role in eradicating this horrible crime that continues to persist in our societies.
I want to thank you all for joining this event today. The commitment, the passion, the responsibility that all of you take on and that is represented in this room, once again reminds us that we are not only moving in the right direction, but that we are going to make this goal be within our reach. So thank you very much for being here with us today. Thank you, Madam Secretary. (Applause.)
Monday, February 4, 2013
TWO MEMBERS OF ARYAN BOTHERHOOD OF TEXAS PLEAD GUILTY FOR CRIMES RELATED TO MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEThursday, January 31, 2013
Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Members Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges
Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang (ABT) pleaded guilty to racketeering charges related to their membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.
Ben Christian Dillon, aka "Tuff," 40, of Houston, and James Marshall Meldrum, aka "Dirty," 40, of Dallas, each pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.
According to court documents, Dillon, Meldrum and other ABT gang members and associates, agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang. Dillon, Meldrum and numerous ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things.
Dillon and Meldrum admitted to being ABT gang members and engaging in multiple acts in support of the criminal enterprise. Dillon admitted to trafficking in methamphetamine, acting as an enforcer to collect drug debts owed to the ABT enterprise, committing acts of arson for the gang and attempting to kill a fellow ABT gang member who had been marked for death by senior ABT officials. Meldrum admitted to trafficking in methamphetamine and severely beating a subordinate gang member.
According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system. The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s. According to the superseding indictment, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism. Over time, the ABT has expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.
Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and oftentimes associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as "direct orders."
According to the superseding indictment, in order to be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member. Once sponsored, a prospective member must serve an unspecified term, during which he is referred to as a prospect, while his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.
At sentencing, Dillon and Meldrum each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Dillon’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24, 2013, and Meldrum’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2013.
Dillon and Meldrum are two of 34 defendants charged in October 2012 with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges.
This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General; Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office; Atascosa County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Orange County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Waller County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Fort Worth, Texas, Police Department; Alvin, Texas, Police Department; Carrollton, Texas, Police Department; Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office; Atascosa County District Attorney’s Office; and the Kaufman County, Texas, District Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman of the Southern District of Texas.
U.S. DOD LEADERS SAY TERRORISTS WILL NOT HAVE BASES IN MIDDLE EAST
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DOD Leaders Vow to Deny Terrorists Middle East, Africa Bases
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - The need for U.S. vigilance in thwarting terrorism throughout the Middle East and North Africa led the conversation during dual interviews Pentagon senior leaders took part in today.
In television segments that aired today on CNN's "State of the Union" and NBC's "Meet the Press," Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey addressed lessons learned following the Benghazi, Libya, embassy attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, and the embassy attack in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 1, 2013. They also discussed their continued focus on eradicating al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM.
Panetta said that before his retirement, expected later this month, he expects to testify on Capitol Hill about the Benghazi attacks on Sept. 11, 2013. He noted defense officials are working with the State Department to review embassy security around the – "especially around that part of the world." He added, "We are taking steps."
But better security is one of three essential considerations in protecting U.S. embassies, he noted. "You still need to build up the host-country capacity," Panetta said. "[And] you've got to harden these embassies as much as possible."
Panetta and Dempsey described the complexities of orchestrating personnel and aircraft distance, intelligence and other factors to respond to an attack such as Benghazi.
"This is not 911," Panetta said. "You cannot just simply call and expect within two minutes to have a team in place; that's the nature of it."
Dempsey said the nearest armed aircraft were in Djibouti, Africa, at the time of the Benghazi attacks.
"The distance from Djibouti to Benghazi is the difference from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles," Dempsey said. "There are some significant physics involved."
The chairman also maintained that with the alert time and intelligence information available at the time, the U.S. was "appropriately responsive."
"We've learned a lot from the Benghazi incident," Dempsey said. "We work with the State Department in surveying those parts of the world where there's a new norm ... of instability."
Dempsey and Panetta agree that many stymied attacks by the U.S. often go virtually unnoticed. Panetta noted the Feb. 1 suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, which left the bomber two gatehouse security guards dead, occurred at the perimeter "nowhere close to the embassy."
"I think that was good security and ... [was] an example of good intelligence ... [guiding] us so that we could prevent something more serious from happening," he said.
Both leaders acknowledged that while AQIM remains a menace to Middle Eastern and North African regions, the U.S. will work with partner nations to contain terrorist organizations and prevent their acquiring chemical or other weapons in the region.
"We're better when we operate with partners," particularly in the Middle East, Dempsey said. "We've got options for any number of military contingencies, and we're maintaining both a deterrent and preparedness posture."
Dempsey said current U.S. planing involves working with partners in Turkey, Jordan and Israel, all of whom "share common interests in making sure these spill-over effects don't affect them."
Panetta said as al-Qaida affiliate leaders become more brazen in their movements, as recently happened in Mali, he is pleased with the French initiative to push back extremist encroachment and prevent burgeoning safe havens.
The secretary added that the U.S. and its partners have successfully targeted senior al-Qaida leaders in the federally administered tribal areas in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border, as well as in Yemen and Somalia. Planners have long foreseen the eventual need to contain extremists in North Africa has long been foreseen, he added.
"We were always aware that there was AQIM [there]," Panetta said. "Now we're focused on AQIM as a result ... of the French action, but we were also anticipating that we would have to move into North Africa."
Panetta said he hopes the massive changes happening in the Middle East and North Africa in the wakrt of the "Arab spring" will move toward greater democracy and stability in those regions, but operations against terrorist cells must not ebb.
"Wherever they are, we have to make sure they have no place to hide," Panetta said. "Bottom line is, al-Qaida is our enemy and we have to make sure we go after them."
DOD Leaders Vow to Deny Terrorists Middle East, Africa Bases
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - The need for U.S. vigilance in thwarting terrorism throughout the Middle East and North Africa led the conversation during dual interviews Pentagon senior leaders took part in today.
In television segments that aired today on CNN's "State of the Union" and NBC's "Meet the Press," Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey addressed lessons learned following the Benghazi, Libya, embassy attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, and the embassy attack in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 1, 2013. They also discussed their continued focus on eradicating al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM.
Panetta said that before his retirement, expected later this month, he expects to testify on Capitol Hill about the Benghazi attacks on Sept. 11, 2013. He noted defense officials are working with the State Department to review embassy security around the – "especially around that part of the world." He added, "We are taking steps."
But better security is one of three essential considerations in protecting U.S. embassies, he noted. "You still need to build up the host-country capacity," Panetta said. "[And] you've got to harden these embassies as much as possible."
Panetta and Dempsey described the complexities of orchestrating personnel and aircraft distance, intelligence and other factors to respond to an attack such as Benghazi.
"This is not 911," Panetta said. "You cannot just simply call and expect within two minutes to have a team in place; that's the nature of it."
Dempsey said the nearest armed aircraft were in Djibouti, Africa, at the time of the Benghazi attacks.
"The distance from Djibouti to Benghazi is the difference from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles," Dempsey said. "There are some significant physics involved."
The chairman also maintained that with the alert time and intelligence information available at the time, the U.S. was "appropriately responsive."
"We've learned a lot from the Benghazi incident," Dempsey said. "We work with the State Department in surveying those parts of the world where there's a new norm ... of instability."
Dempsey and Panetta agree that many stymied attacks by the U.S. often go virtually unnoticed. Panetta noted the Feb. 1 suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, which left the bomber two gatehouse security guards dead, occurred at the perimeter "nowhere close to the embassy."
"I think that was good security and ... [was] an example of good intelligence ... [guiding] us so that we could prevent something more serious from happening," he said.
Both leaders acknowledged that while AQIM remains a menace to Middle Eastern and North African regions, the U.S. will work with partner nations to contain terrorist organizations and prevent their acquiring chemical or other weapons in the region.
"We're better when we operate with partners," particularly in the Middle East, Dempsey said. "We've got options for any number of military contingencies, and we're maintaining both a deterrent and preparedness posture."
Dempsey said current U.S. planing involves working with partners in Turkey, Jordan and Israel, all of whom "share common interests in making sure these spill-over effects don't affect them."
Panetta said as al-Qaida affiliate leaders become more brazen in their movements, as recently happened in Mali, he is pleased with the French initiative to push back extremist encroachment and prevent burgeoning safe havens.
The secretary added that the U.S. and its partners have successfully targeted senior al-Qaida leaders in the federally administered tribal areas in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border, as well as in Yemen and Somalia. Planners have long foreseen the eventual need to contain extremists in North Africa has long been foreseen, he added.
"We were always aware that there was AQIM [there]," Panetta said. "Now we're focused on AQIM as a result ... of the French action, but we were also anticipating that we would have to move into North Africa."
Panetta said he hopes the massive changes happening in the Middle East and North Africa in the wakrt of the "Arab spring" will move toward greater democracy and stability in those regions, but operations against terrorist cells must not ebb.
"Wherever they are, we have to make sure they have no place to hide," Panetta said. "Bottom line is, al-Qaida is our enemy and we have to make sure we go after them."
U.S. DEPUTY DFENSE SECRETARY CARTER VISITS FRANCE
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEParis Visit Honors Important Relationship, Carter Says
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Feb. 1, 2013 - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter spent a rainy day in Paris today, meeting face-to-face with that nation's top military leaders and their advisers.
Carter deliberately chose France as his first stop on a six-day trip to countries in Europe and the Middle East, he said, "to emphasize the importance of our relationship."
As part of that bond, the United States has joined other countries and institutions in Europe and Africa in supporting France's effort to chase Islamic extremists from Mali and bolster the capability of Mali's own military forces to keep them out.
Mali and the path forward there was a large part of discussions today between Carter and French defense officials.
"I want to compliment the extraordinary performance of French units in Mali," Carter said, adding that more work remains but he wanted to recognize the courage and professionalism of French forces working with Malian and other partners.
This morning Carter and his staff met with the U.S. Embassy country team in Paris before heading to the Secretariat for Defense and National Security. There he met with Francis Delon, general secretary for defense and national security in the office of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Carter also met with Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian, Presidential Military Adviser Gen. Benoit Puga, Ministry of Defense Senior Political Adviser Jean-Claude Mallet, and Chief of Defense Adm. Edouard Guillaud.
The U.S. government is committed to supporting French efforts, the deputy defense secretary said, including with airlift capabilities, with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and the help of military planners.
Carter also said the Defense Department plans to support contributing institutions like the United Nations, the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States as they equip and train regional forces and provide airlift capabilities.
Carter left Paris today bound for Germany, where he will participate tomorrow, along with Vice President Joe Biden and many other U.S. and international officials, in the 49th Annual Munich Security Conference that began today.
The major, intensive security policy conference draws security experts, foreign ministers and defense ministers from around the world.
U.S. CONTINUES TO ASSIST FRANCE IN MALI
FROM: U.S. AIR FORCEU.S. Airmen and French soldiers load equipment onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Istres, France, Jan. 21, 2013. The United States has agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) (Released)
A French military vehicle is secured inside a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft in Istres, France. The United States has agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) (Released)
USS GUARDIAN IS BEATEN BY WAVES: NAVY SAYS IT IS A COMPLETE LOSS
FROM: U.S. NAVY
Heavy waves crash against the grounded mine countermeasure ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea on Jan. 17. U.S. Navy photo (Released) 130129-N-ZZ999-033
130128-N-ZZ999-001 SULU SEA (Jan. 28, 2013) The U.S. Navy-contracted Malaysian tug Vos Apollo removes petroleum-based products and human wastewater from the mine countermeasure ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea on Jan. 17. No fuel has leaked since the grounding and all of the approximately 15,000 gallons aboard Guardian was safely transferred to Vos Apollo during two days of controlled de-fueling operations. The grounding and subsequent heavy waves hitting Guardian have caused severe damage, leading the Navy to determine the 23-year old ship is beyond economical repair and is a complete loss. With the deteriorating integrity of the ship, the weight involved, and where it has grounded on the reef, dismantling the ship in sections is the only supportable salvage option. Since Guardian's grounding, the Navy has been working meticulously to salvage any reusable equipment, retrieve the crew's personal effects, and remove any potentially harmful materials. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
PENTAGON LEADERS SAID ON TV SENATE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO CURRENT ISSUES
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Pentagon Chiefs Say Senators Should Focus on Current Issues
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - The Pentagon's senior leaders offered some pointed advice -– basically, "pay attention to the issues" -- to the Senate Armed Services Committee during two television interviews that aired today.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sat side-by-side and responded essentially with one voice to questions about defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel's Jan. 31 confirmation hearing before that committee. They offered their assessment of the turbulent 8-hour proceedings during joint interviews with both CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union" and NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press."
President Barack Obama announced in January his nomination of Hagel to succeed Panetta, who will retire. Hagel is a Vietnam combat veteran who earned two Purple Hearts during his 1967-68 enlistment. After a business career during which he founded a cellular phone company, Hagel won election to two Senate terms representing Nebraska, ending in 2009.
The secretary, a who served nine terms in Congress as representative for California's 16th congressional district, observed during his responses on the "Sunday shows" that "the political knives were out" during the hearing.
Panetta noted to Todd that much of the committee's questioning focused on statements Hagel had made, sometimes in the Senate, during previous administrations. The committee's members, he said, largely neglected the issues the now confront the nominated leader of the Defense Department.
"What about the war in Afghanistan?" the secretary asked. "What about the war on terrorism? What about the budget sequester and the impact it's going to have on readiness? What about Middle East turmoil? What about cyber attacks? All of the issues that confront a secretary of defense – frankly, ... we just did not see enough time discussing those issues, and in the end, that's what counts."
While the Senate has yet to vote on the nomination, Hagel is "absolutely" prepared to step into his own current role leading the department, Panetta said.
"I know Chuck Hagel," the secretary told Crowley. "And I think he's got good experience with regards to public service. He understands the issues of the Defense Department. I think he'll be a great secretary of defense."
The chairman agreed with the secretary's view of the hearing and zeroed in on the current conflict, telling Todd he, too, was "somewhat surprised at the things that weren't discussed in depth" during the proceedings.
"I'm always concerned when Afghanistan isn't prominent in any conversation we're having as Americans, because we've got 68,000 young men and women serving there," Dempsey said.
The general said he's had a chance to get to know Hagel and get to know his opinions on strategic issues.
"We had several opportunities to talk about strategy, and I found him well-prepared and very thoughtful," the chairman said.
Dempsey noted he wouldn't by principle criticize a "potential boss," but added, "I think he's got great credentials. My personal contacts with him have been very positive. And if he's confirmed, I look forward to working with him."
Pentagon Chiefs Say Senators Should Focus on Current Issues
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - The Pentagon's senior leaders offered some pointed advice -– basically, "pay attention to the issues" -- to the Senate Armed Services Committee during two television interviews that aired today.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sat side-by-side and responded essentially with one voice to questions about defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel's Jan. 31 confirmation hearing before that committee. They offered their assessment of the turbulent 8-hour proceedings during joint interviews with both CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union" and NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press."
President Barack Obama announced in January his nomination of Hagel to succeed Panetta, who will retire. Hagel is a Vietnam combat veteran who earned two Purple Hearts during his 1967-68 enlistment. After a business career during which he founded a cellular phone company, Hagel won election to two Senate terms representing Nebraska, ending in 2009.
The secretary, a who served nine terms in Congress as representative for California's 16th congressional district, observed during his responses on the "Sunday shows" that "the political knives were out" during the hearing.
Panetta noted to Todd that much of the committee's questioning focused on statements Hagel had made, sometimes in the Senate, during previous administrations. The committee's members, he said, largely neglected the issues the now confront the nominated leader of the Defense Department.
"What about the war in Afghanistan?" the secretary asked. "What about the war on terrorism? What about the budget sequester and the impact it's going to have on readiness? What about Middle East turmoil? What about cyber attacks? All of the issues that confront a secretary of defense – frankly, ... we just did not see enough time discussing those issues, and in the end, that's what counts."
While the Senate has yet to vote on the nomination, Hagel is "absolutely" prepared to step into his own current role leading the department, Panetta said.
"I know Chuck Hagel," the secretary told Crowley. "And I think he's got good experience with regards to public service. He understands the issues of the Defense Department. I think he'll be a great secretary of defense."
The chairman agreed with the secretary's view of the hearing and zeroed in on the current conflict, telling Todd he, too, was "somewhat surprised at the things that weren't discussed in depth" during the proceedings.
"I'm always concerned when Afghanistan isn't prominent in any conversation we're having as Americans, because we've got 68,000 young men and women serving there," Dempsey said.
The general said he's had a chance to get to know Hagel and get to know his opinions on strategic issues.
"We had several opportunities to talk about strategy, and I found him well-prepared and very thoughtful," the chairman said.
Dempsey noted he wouldn't by principle criticize a "potential boss," but added, "I think he's got great credentials. My personal contacts with him have been very positive. And if he's confirmed, I look forward to working with him."
Sunday, February 3, 2013
THE TDRS-K LEAVES PLANET EARTH
FROM: NASA
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Launches
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket streaks away from Space Launch Complex 41 into the night sky over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K, TDRS-K, to orbit.
The TDRS-K spacecraft is part of the next-generation series in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a constellation of space-based communication satellites providing tracking, telemetry, command and high-bandwidth data return services. Photo credit-NASA-Glenn Benson
LOS ZETAS CARTEL MEMBER PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CONSPIRACY CHARGES
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEThursday, January 31, 2013
High-Ranking Member of Mexican "Los Zetas" Cartel Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Charges
Jesus Enrique Rejon Aguilar, aka "Mamito" and "Caballero," a high ranking member of the "Los Zetas" drug cartel, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to import multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Administrator Michele M. Leonhart of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Rejon Aguilar, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein in the District of Columbia. Rejon Aguilar was extradited to the United States in September 2012 and was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.
On Nov. 4, 2010, Rejon Aguilar and 19 co-defendants were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana for importation into the United States. The indictment charges that between 2000 and 2010, members of Los Zetas, including Rejon Aguilar, engaged in a conspiracy with members of the Gulf Cartel in an arrangement referred to as the "Company" to import drugs into the United States. Rejon Aguilar was an original member of Los Zetas and held a high ranking position with the Company.
"As a leader of the Company’s drug trafficking operation, Rejon Aguilar ensured that mass quantities of cocaine and marijuana were brought into the United States for distribution," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. "The Justice Department is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to bring cartel members and associates to justice for their crimes."
"As an original and high-ranking member of the Los Zetas cartel, Jesus Enrique Rejon Aguilar was responsible for funneling massive amounts of marijuana and cocaine into the United States while using violence to intimidate anyone that stood in his way," said DEA Administrator Leonhart. "Rejon Aguilar’s plea today was possible only with the strength and power of international law enforcement cooperation. DEA, along with our Mexican counterparts, are committed to bringing violent criminals like Rejon Aguilar, to justice."
According to the indictment, the Company transported shipments of cocaine and marijuana by motor vehicles from Mexico to cities in Texas for distribution to other cities within the United States. The indictment alleges that Rejon Aguilar, his co-defendants and others organized, directed and carried out various acts of violence to retaliate against and to intimidate anyone who interfered with, or who were perceived to potentially interfere with, the cocaine and marijuana trafficking activities of the Company.
On April 15, 2009, under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the President identified Los Zetas as a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker. On March 24, 2010, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) named Rejon Aguilar as a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker. On July 25, 2011, an executive order was issued that blocks the transfer, payment or export of property belonging to certain transnational criminal organizations, including Los Zetas.
The department expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the government of Mexico for its assistance in this matter.
At sentencing, Rejon Aguilar faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by trial attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in the extradition. The investigation in this case was led by the DEA’s Houston Field Division and the DEA Bilateral Investigation Unit.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORTS ON 'RACE TO THE TOP' ACCOMPLISHMENTS
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
States Continue Progress During Second Year of Race to the Top
February 1, 2013
The U.S. Department of Education released state-specific reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress on transforming education at the local level. The reports highlight the second-year work and accomplishments of states awarded funding through the first two phases of Race to the Top: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Tennessee.
"Race to the Top has sparked dramatic changes, and in only the second year of the program we’re seeing those results reach the classroom," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Most states have made tremendous strides and met aggressive timelines on work that has the potential to transform public education for years to come. Comprehensive education reform isn’t easy, and a few states have faced major challenges in implementing their plans. As we reach the halfway point, we need to see every state show results."
The 12 reports provide detailed, transparent summaries of each state’s accomplishments and challenges in year two, which covered the 2011-12 school year, as well as the milestones they have ahead for year three. Each state’s work is measured against its own plan and progress in year two of its Race to the Top grant.
States reached a number of benchmarks in year two, as they implemented unique plans built around Race to the Top’s four assurance areas: implementing college- and career-ready standards and assessments, building robust data systems to improve instruction, supporting great teachers and school leaders, and turning around persistently low-performing schools. Some states made strategic investments to develop tools and resources for educators, students and parents; launch state-level support networks; or develop additional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) schools or programs. Others launched new pipelines for teachers and leaders, supported key efforts to turn around low-performing schools, or implemented teacher and principal evaluations to better support educators and inform continuous improvement.
The Department’s Implementation and Support Unit (ISU) has partnered with states to track progress and provide feedback as they implement large-scale reform. Where states encountered delays and challenges, the ISU worked with them on adjustments to help move the work forward, while holding states accountable to their commitments. ISU officials will continue to provide annual updates about states’ progress under Race to the Top.
In addition to the year two state reports, today the Department posted Annual Performance Report (APR) data from states that received Race to the Top funding in phases one, two and three. This data helped to inform the year two reports, which were also developed with information from site visits, communications with state staff, and other performance reports. The APR helps to advance the Department’s efforts to provide transparent information and allow the public to follow grantees’ progress in implementing reform plans and meeting ambitious goals for student outcomes, including performance measures, student growth and closing achievement gaps.
The Race to the Top program, which made its first awards in 2010, has provided 24 states and D.C. with about $5 billion through three phases of the flagship competition and two rounds of the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Last year, the Department launched the first Race to the Top-District program, which will fund 16 applicants – representing 55 school districts across 11 states and D.C. – with close to $400 million to support locally developed plans that will prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers. The Department’s fiscal year 2013 budget requested an additional $850 million for the Race to the Top program to address the unmet demand of states and districts that have demonstrated a commitment to aggressive and comprehensive education reform.
States Continue Progress During Second Year of Race to the Top
February 1, 2013
The U.S. Department of Education released state-specific reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress on transforming education at the local level. The reports highlight the second-year work and accomplishments of states awarded funding through the first two phases of Race to the Top: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Tennessee.
"Race to the Top has sparked dramatic changes, and in only the second year of the program we’re seeing those results reach the classroom," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Most states have made tremendous strides and met aggressive timelines on work that has the potential to transform public education for years to come. Comprehensive education reform isn’t easy, and a few states have faced major challenges in implementing their plans. As we reach the halfway point, we need to see every state show results."
The 12 reports provide detailed, transparent summaries of each state’s accomplishments and challenges in year two, which covered the 2011-12 school year, as well as the milestones they have ahead for year three. Each state’s work is measured against its own plan and progress in year two of its Race to the Top grant.
States reached a number of benchmarks in year two, as they implemented unique plans built around Race to the Top’s four assurance areas: implementing college- and career-ready standards and assessments, building robust data systems to improve instruction, supporting great teachers and school leaders, and turning around persistently low-performing schools. Some states made strategic investments to develop tools and resources for educators, students and parents; launch state-level support networks; or develop additional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) schools or programs. Others launched new pipelines for teachers and leaders, supported key efforts to turn around low-performing schools, or implemented teacher and principal evaluations to better support educators and inform continuous improvement.
The Department’s Implementation and Support Unit (ISU) has partnered with states to track progress and provide feedback as they implement large-scale reform. Where states encountered delays and challenges, the ISU worked with them on adjustments to help move the work forward, while holding states accountable to their commitments. ISU officials will continue to provide annual updates about states’ progress under Race to the Top.
In addition to the year two state reports, today the Department posted Annual Performance Report (APR) data from states that received Race to the Top funding in phases one, two and three. This data helped to inform the year two reports, which were also developed with information from site visits, communications with state staff, and other performance reports. The APR helps to advance the Department’s efforts to provide transparent information and allow the public to follow grantees’ progress in implementing reform plans and meeting ambitious goals for student outcomes, including performance measures, student growth and closing achievement gaps.
The Race to the Top program, which made its first awards in 2010, has provided 24 states and D.C. with about $5 billion through three phases of the flagship competition and two rounds of the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Last year, the Department launched the first Race to the Top-District program, which will fund 16 applicants – representing 55 school districts across 11 states and D.C. – with close to $400 million to support locally developed plans that will prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers. The Department’s fiscal year 2013 budget requested an additional $850 million for the Race to the Top program to address the unmet demand of states and districts that have demonstrated a commitment to aggressive and comprehensive education reform.
COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE 'SMALL-FOOTPRINT' APPROACH
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
'Small-footprint' Operations Effective, Official Says
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 - Counterterrorism operations in Somalia and Yemen demonstrate the value of "small-footprint" approaches and building partner capacity, the Pentagon's special operations chief said yesterday.
Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, spoke here about the threat of terror in those and other countries during remarks at the National Defense Industrial Association's 24th Annual Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Symposium, which ended yesterday.
Sheehan pointed out the defense strategy released in January 2012 called for "innovative, low-cost approaches" in widely distributed counterterrorism efforts. In the year since that guidance was issued, such approaches have brought good results, he added.
"A year ago in Yemen, al-Qaida had taken over vast swaths of territory ... and was really threatening the state in Yemen, and also threatening to re-establish some capabilities that were very problematic," he said. "Over the past year, we've made great progress in Yemen."
With the support of U.S. special operations forces, he said, counterterror efforts there have "turned the corner."
Somalia also shows progress over the past year, he said, with al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that controlled large parts of the country, pushed out of the major cities.
"They haven't gone away," he added. "They're a persistent group. ... [But] you can see in our strategies, our policies and programs in Yemen and Somalia, some of the components of how our strategy might look in the months and years ahead."
Sheehan said while terror groups are known to spread and metastasize, the three traditional areas where al-Qaida is an entrenched threat are the mountainous area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Yemen, and in East Africa.
"Those three traditional areas ... have been and will continue to be areas of al-Qaida persistence," he said. "Fortunately for us, we've been able to batter them in all of those three areas over the last 10 or 11 years with a great deal of success."
The measure of success against terror groups is their inability to mount strategic attacks, Sheehan said. He credits constant pressure on al-Qaida with diminishing that organization's ability to train and equip terrorists.
"Some people say we've been a little bit lucky, with the underwear bomber and other incidents that haven't quite gone right for al-Qaida, but I'd say it's more than luck," he said. "Because we put more pressure on them around the world, because it's more difficult for them to train and deploy operatives, they make more mistakes."
Sheehan said the failed May 1 bombing in New York's Times Square demonstrated his point. Faizal Shazad, an American citizen later sentenced to life in prison for the bombing attempt, failed, Sheehan said, because "he was trained by the Pakistan Taliban. He couldn't get to al-Qaida."
The bomb Shazad created didn't work, and he had no network to support him, Sheehan said. "He also wasn't a suicide bomber," the special operations chief noted. "Why? Because he wasn't in those camps long enough to be indoctrinated."
The factors that caused the attack to fail weren't just luck, Sheehan said, but "the result of enormous pressure put on the organization, that prevents them from planning, training and launching skilled operatives."
Maintaining that pressure against al-Qaida and similar groups is a task U.S. special operations forces and partner militaries are focused on around the world, he said. If such groups find sanctuary and a place where they can act with impunity, he warned, they can rebuild their strategic capability.
New and evolving terrorist threats are emerging in Syria and North Africa, Sheehan noted.
In Syria, where Bashar Assad's government forces and the people have battled for two years, Sheehan said, the al-Nusra Front is "very closely associated with al-Qaida ... and we believe they are trying to hijack [the] struggles of the Syrian people ... and perhaps put their own agenda on a post-Assad Syria."
In Africa, the Maghreb region along the Mediterranean Sea and the Saharan area of the Sahel "are of major concern to us," he said.
Libya, he added, is "awash with weapons," while Mali was the scene of a Tuareg tribal rebellion that was hijacked by al-Qaida and other affiliates, who gained control of an area about the size of Texas in the country's north.
The French have had great initial success in pushing back al-Qaida advances in Mali, Sheehan noted, but the whole northern part of the continent is seeing increased terrorist presence and involvement.
"All these groups share a similar al-Qaida narrative. ... In many ways, al-Qaida is seeking to rebrand itself and diversify into Africa, because they're able to find, in those ungoverned spaces, the sanctuary they need ... to become strategic," he said.
Northern Africa has the four elements al-Qaida needs to do just that, Sheehan said: ungoverned space, terrorist groups, weapons and funding. Countering al-Qaida requires both direct action and security force assistance, Sheehan said.
"In the long term, we recognize that we can't solely rely on precision strikes to defeat enemy networks and foster the kind of stability we need in these regions," he said. Such stability can best be established by aiding friends, partners and allies, he added.
Special operations forces play a major role in security force assistance as well as in direct action, Sheehan noted. Security force assistance takes two approaches, he explained: training local forces to control border areas and deny space and sanctuary to terrorists, and training specialized counterterror forces.
U.S. special operations forces have, throughout their history, focused largely on training host-nation militaries, Sheehan said.
In Somalia, he noted, "the African Union and a multinational force led by the Ugandans ... did a darn good job, and we helped them. Their job was to control space ... and push al-Shabaab off." Meanwhile, he added, other units focused on high-value targets and other leaders of the organization.
"Coupled together, we had a strategy that worked," Sheehan said.
Sheehan acknowledged that a partnered strategy holds risks. Other countries may embarrass the United States, or U.S. forces could get pulled into other conflicts, he said. But the risk of inaction is greater, he added, as it holds the danger of al-Qaida or other groups developing a strategic attack capability.
Special operations troops understand those risks and have the experience and maturity to manage them, Sheehan said. He noted security force assistance is a "classic" role for special operations forces.
They can deploy to far-flung places in small numbers to protect U.S. national interests and to work with partners "to continue to crush al-Qaida," he said.
'Small-footprint' Operations Effective, Official Says
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 - Counterterrorism operations in Somalia and Yemen demonstrate the value of "small-footprint" approaches and building partner capacity, the Pentagon's special operations chief said yesterday.
Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, spoke here about the threat of terror in those and other countries during remarks at the National Defense Industrial Association's 24th Annual Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Symposium, which ended yesterday.
Sheehan pointed out the defense strategy released in January 2012 called for "innovative, low-cost approaches" in widely distributed counterterrorism efforts. In the year since that guidance was issued, such approaches have brought good results, he added.
"A year ago in Yemen, al-Qaida had taken over vast swaths of territory ... and was really threatening the state in Yemen, and also threatening to re-establish some capabilities that were very problematic," he said. "Over the past year, we've made great progress in Yemen."
With the support of U.S. special operations forces, he said, counterterror efforts there have "turned the corner."
Somalia also shows progress over the past year, he said, with al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that controlled large parts of the country, pushed out of the major cities.
"They haven't gone away," he added. "They're a persistent group. ... [But] you can see in our strategies, our policies and programs in Yemen and Somalia, some of the components of how our strategy might look in the months and years ahead."
Sheehan said while terror groups are known to spread and metastasize, the three traditional areas where al-Qaida is an entrenched threat are the mountainous area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Yemen, and in East Africa.
"Those three traditional areas ... have been and will continue to be areas of al-Qaida persistence," he said. "Fortunately for us, we've been able to batter them in all of those three areas over the last 10 or 11 years with a great deal of success."
The measure of success against terror groups is their inability to mount strategic attacks, Sheehan said. He credits constant pressure on al-Qaida with diminishing that organization's ability to train and equip terrorists.
"Some people say we've been a little bit lucky, with the underwear bomber and other incidents that haven't quite gone right for al-Qaida, but I'd say it's more than luck," he said. "Because we put more pressure on them around the world, because it's more difficult for them to train and deploy operatives, they make more mistakes."
Sheehan said the failed May 1 bombing in New York's Times Square demonstrated his point. Faizal Shazad, an American citizen later sentenced to life in prison for the bombing attempt, failed, Sheehan said, because "he was trained by the Pakistan Taliban. He couldn't get to al-Qaida."
The bomb Shazad created didn't work, and he had no network to support him, Sheehan said. "He also wasn't a suicide bomber," the special operations chief noted. "Why? Because he wasn't in those camps long enough to be indoctrinated."
The factors that caused the attack to fail weren't just luck, Sheehan said, but "the result of enormous pressure put on the organization, that prevents them from planning, training and launching skilled operatives."
Maintaining that pressure against al-Qaida and similar groups is a task U.S. special operations forces and partner militaries are focused on around the world, he said. If such groups find sanctuary and a place where they can act with impunity, he warned, they can rebuild their strategic capability.
New and evolving terrorist threats are emerging in Syria and North Africa, Sheehan noted.
In Syria, where Bashar Assad's government forces and the people have battled for two years, Sheehan said, the al-Nusra Front is "very closely associated with al-Qaida ... and we believe they are trying to hijack [the] struggles of the Syrian people ... and perhaps put their own agenda on a post-Assad Syria."
In Africa, the Maghreb region along the Mediterranean Sea and the Saharan area of the Sahel "are of major concern to us," he said.
Libya, he added, is "awash with weapons," while Mali was the scene of a Tuareg tribal rebellion that was hijacked by al-Qaida and other affiliates, who gained control of an area about the size of Texas in the country's north.
The French have had great initial success in pushing back al-Qaida advances in Mali, Sheehan noted, but the whole northern part of the continent is seeing increased terrorist presence and involvement.
"All these groups share a similar al-Qaida narrative. ... In many ways, al-Qaida is seeking to rebrand itself and diversify into Africa, because they're able to find, in those ungoverned spaces, the sanctuary they need ... to become strategic," he said.
Northern Africa has the four elements al-Qaida needs to do just that, Sheehan said: ungoverned space, terrorist groups, weapons and funding. Countering al-Qaida requires both direct action and security force assistance, Sheehan said.
"In the long term, we recognize that we can't solely rely on precision strikes to defeat enemy networks and foster the kind of stability we need in these regions," he said. Such stability can best be established by aiding friends, partners and allies, he added.
Special operations forces play a major role in security force assistance as well as in direct action, Sheehan noted. Security force assistance takes two approaches, he explained: training local forces to control border areas and deny space and sanctuary to terrorists, and training specialized counterterror forces.
U.S. special operations forces have, throughout their history, focused largely on training host-nation militaries, Sheehan said.
In Somalia, he noted, "the African Union and a multinational force led by the Ugandans ... did a darn good job, and we helped them. Their job was to control space ... and push al-Shabaab off." Meanwhile, he added, other units focused on high-value targets and other leaders of the organization.
"Coupled together, we had a strategy that worked," Sheehan said.
Sheehan acknowledged that a partnered strategy holds risks. Other countries may embarrass the United States, or U.S. forces could get pulled into other conflicts, he said. But the risk of inaction is greater, he added, as it holds the danger of al-Qaida or other groups developing a strategic attack capability.
Special operations troops understand those risks and have the experience and maturity to manage them, Sheehan said. He noted security force assistance is a "classic" role for special operations forces.
They can deploy to far-flung places in small numbers to protect U.S. national interests and to work with partners "to continue to crush al-Qaida," he said.
OUTGOING SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON ON NEW PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Secretary Clinton Announces Up to $86.5 Million in New Public-Private Partnerships
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 31, 2013
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today launched up to $86.5 million in new public-private partnership commitments to support a range of activities including women’s clean energy entrepreneurship, clean cookstove investments, support for programs that advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, and access to affordable internet in low-income communities. These announcements were made at an event celebrating the public-private partnerships launched during Secretary’s tenure, and recognizing their success in promoting sustainable solutions to key global challenges.
"..Partnerships have been a hallmark of what we’ve done in the last four years here at the State Department, because many of the challenges that we face extend beyond traditional, political, and even geographic divisions," said Secretary Clinton. "And I’m confident that the United States, under our next Secretary and in the Obama Administration and, I hope, for years to come, will continue building this capacity for creating and nurturing and growing partnerships that produce results around the world."
The new partnerships commitments include:
wPower. With an amount that is anticipated to grow to more than $10 million subject to Congressional appropriations, wPower is designed to advance women’s clean energy entrepreneurship around the world. It is supported by the State Department, USAID, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. This innovative new partnership will unlock women’s capacity to increase energy access across India, East Africa, and Nigeria by empowering more than 7,000 women to launch small businesses around small-scale energy technologies including solar lanterns and clean cookstoves. The partnership will provide training and business assistance and scale efforts to build women’s distribution networks.
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. The Alliance, launched by Secretary Clinton in 2010 to address the 4 million premature deaths that occur each year due to exposure to toxic cookstove smoke, announced four new commitments today to clean cookstove technologies from leading firms. These include:
A $4 million commitment between the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and General Electric under the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to finance a cookstove manufacturing project in East Africa in coordination with Burn Manufacturing Company. The partnership will establish a clean cookstove manufacturing facility in Kenya and satellite assembly plants in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, which are expected to manufacture and sell 3.6 million clean cookstoves in the region by 2020.
A partnership between Philips and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) to fund the development of a new company, African Clean Energy, to manufacture the cleanest solid biomass cookstoves made in Africa that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested. The pilot manufacturing of 5,000 stoves has been a success. Both Philips and the IDC are now working with channel partners and through direct consumer sales, to make the Philips clean woodstove available across the African market so that cleaner air and reduced fuel usage may benefit many, particularly the poor.
Mongolia and France officially joined the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as partners.
Other partnership commitments include:
Announced the Alliance for Affordable Internet. The Alliance will promote affordable access to the Internet and reduce the gender gap associated with connectivity in low-income communities by working with governments and regulators and private sector partners. The Alliance is supported by the State Department, Omidyar Network, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.K. Department for International Development, Google, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Yahoo and several civil society organizations and the World Wide Web Foundation.
U.S. –ASEAN Prize for Women in Science. The Department of State and Underwriters Laboratories will recognize the accomplishments and contributions of women scientists in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region through the newly established U.S.-ASEAN Prize for Women in Science. The competition will raise the profile of women scientists and seek to enhance and sustain science and technology cooperation in the ASEAN region.
Partners for a New Beginning. The partnership is releasing its
Benjamin Kane Gupta Fellowship. The Fellowship will enable youth and others interested in public service to spend a year working in the Global Partnership Initiative learning about partnership building. The Fellowship will be funded by the Gupta family and administered by the George Washington University in honor of Ben Gupta, a former colleague in the office of the Global Partnership Initiative. The first Gupta Fellows will start at the Department in the fall of 2013.
Since 2009, the Secretary has worked to strengthen and deepen U.S. diplomacy and development around the world through partnerships that leverage the creativity, innovation, and core business resources of private sector partners for greater impact. To date, the Department has worked with over 1,100 partners and leveraged more than $650 million in public and private resources to support key foreign policy objectives including climate change mitigation, women’s empowerment, economic growth, and human rights.
VFW WORKS TO GET VETERANS GROUPS $3.7 BILLION
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
VFW Helps Disabled Veterans Recoup $3.7 Billion
Veterans of Foreign Wars News Release
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 - Last year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States helped 125,000 disabled veterans recoup more than $3.7 billion in earned compensation and pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This exceeds 2011's record totals by 23,000 veterans and almost $1.7 billion, and provides further proof that all eligible veterans and transitioning military members should seek help from an accredited service officer before they file a VA disability claim.
"No wounded, ill or injured veteran should ever complete the detailed 12-page VA claims form without the professional -- and free -- assistance of an accredited veterans' service officer," said VFW National Commander John E. Hamilton, a Vietnam War Marine Corps rifleman and triple Purple Heart recipient.
"And no military person should ever separate or retire without first seeking assistance from a veterans' service officer stationed on their installation through the Pentagon's Benefits Delivery at Discharge program," Hamilton added. "It literally means the difference between receiving VA benefits or not."
The VFW's nationwide force of 1,200 VA-accredited service officers includes more than 200 working inside the 57 VA regional offices, as well as advocates inside the VA Board of Veterans Appeals, who have a win percentage that surpasses attorney-assisted appeals.
VFW's BDD service officers are stationed on Army Forts Bragg, Campbell, Hood, Lewis and Stewart; Marine Corps Camps Lejeune and Pendleton; and in military-populated regions like Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and the Military District of Washington, to include Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where the VFW has a special relationship with the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment to assist previously discharged wounded, ill and injured Marines with their VA claims or appeals.
"Health care is important to every generation, and with very few exceptions, you cannot get into the world class VA medical system without an approved claim first," Hamilton said. "Seeing an accredited service officer before filing a VA claim needs to be a mandatory checklist item for every veteran and every military Transition Assistance Program class."
VFW Helps Disabled Veterans Recoup $3.7 Billion
Veterans of Foreign Wars News Release
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 - Last year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States helped 125,000 disabled veterans recoup more than $3.7 billion in earned compensation and pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
This exceeds 2011's record totals by 23,000 veterans and almost $1.7 billion, and provides further proof that all eligible veterans and transitioning military members should seek help from an accredited service officer before they file a VA disability claim.
"No wounded, ill or injured veteran should ever complete the detailed 12-page VA claims form without the professional -- and free -- assistance of an accredited veterans' service officer," said VFW National Commander John E. Hamilton, a Vietnam War Marine Corps rifleman and triple Purple Heart recipient.
"And no military person should ever separate or retire without first seeking assistance from a veterans' service officer stationed on their installation through the Pentagon's Benefits Delivery at Discharge program," Hamilton added. "It literally means the difference between receiving VA benefits or not."
The VFW's nationwide force of 1,200 VA-accredited service officers includes more than 200 working inside the 57 VA regional offices, as well as advocates inside the VA Board of Veterans Appeals, who have a win percentage that surpasses attorney-assisted appeals.
VFW's BDD service officers are stationed on Army Forts Bragg, Campbell, Hood, Lewis and Stewart; Marine Corps Camps Lejeune and Pendleton; and in military-populated regions like Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and the Military District of Washington, to include Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where the VFW has a special relationship with the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment to assist previously discharged wounded, ill and injured Marines with their VA claims or appeals.
"Health care is important to every generation, and with very few exceptions, you cannot get into the world class VA medical system without an approved claim first," Hamilton said. "Seeing an accredited service officer before filing a VA claim needs to be a mandatory checklist item for every veteran and every military Transition Assistance Program class."
COMPANY PAYS FINE FOR COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM MINORS
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENTSocial Networking Company to Pay $800,000 for Collecting Personal Information from Minors
The company that operates Path, an online social networking application, agreed to pay an $800,000 penalty to settle charges that it violated the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, the Justice Department announced today.
In a complaint filed on Jan. 31, 2013, the United States alleged that San Francisco-based Path Inc. violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule by collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 without obtaining parental consent. According to the complaint, in over 3,000 instances, Path collected personal information from the address books in children’s mobile devices, including the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of the child’s contacts. Path also collected personal information from children during the registration process and by allowing them to post content online.
"The rules established by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act play an important role in keeping kids safe online," said Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. "Companies that market to children must respect their privacy by getting parental consent before collecting any personal information, and the Justice Department will work with the FTC to ensure that they do."
According to the complaint, Path also violated the FTC Act by failing to disclose to consumers that it was automatically collecting information from users’ address books on their mobile devices. Path’s privacy policy and "Add Friends" feature led consumers to believe that this information would be collected only with the user’s consent.
Along with the civil penalty, Path agreed to an injunction barring future violations of the FTC Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. Path further agreed that it would delete all information previously collected from children under age 13, implement a comprehensive privacy program, and submit to regular assessments by an independent third party.
The FTC, which oversees the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, referred the case to the Justice Department. The lawsuit, United States v. Path Inc., was filed in the Northern District of California.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Delery thanked the FTC for investigating this matter and referring it to the department. The Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division brought the case on behalf of the United States.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending January 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, an increase of 38,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 330,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 351,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending January 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 19 was 3,197,000, an increase of 22,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,175,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,192,250, a decrease of 9,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,202,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 366,596 in the week ending January 26, a decrease of 70,429 from the previous week. There were 422,287 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week ending January 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,656,964, a decrease of 54,066 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent and the volume was 4,058,236.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending January 12 was 5,914,983, an increase of 255,501 from the previous week. There were 7,655,224 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2012.
Extended Benefits were not available in any state during the week ending January 12.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,878 in the week ending January 19, a decrease of 476 from the prior week. There were 2,740 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 297 from the preceding week.
There were 22,900 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending January 12, an increase of 829 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 40,094, a decrease of 290 from the prior week.
States reported 2,112,559 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending January 12, an increase of 418,762 from the prior week. There were 3,007,696 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2012. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 12 were in Alaska (6.9), Pennsylvania (4.5), New Jersey (4.2), Wisconsin (4.2), Connecticut (4.1), Montana (4.1), Puerto Rico (4.1), Illinois (4.0), Rhode Island (4.0), and Oregon (3.9).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 19 were in Florida (+1,157), Arizona (+295), and Vermont (+77), while the largest decreases were in Pennsylvania (-12,625), Texas (-10,448), North Carolina (-9,287), New York (-7,379), and Indiana (-6,069).
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending January 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, an increase of 38,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 330,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 351,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending January 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 19 was 3,197,000, an increase of 22,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,175,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,192,250, a decrease of 9,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,202,000.
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 366,596 in the week ending January 26, a decrease of 70,429 from the previous week. There were 422,287 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent during the week ending January 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,656,964, a decrease of 54,066 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent and the volume was 4,058,236.
The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending January 12 was 5,914,983, an increase of 255,501 from the previous week. There were 7,655,224 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2012.
Extended Benefits were not available in any state during the week ending January 12.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,878 in the week ending January 19, a decrease of 476 from the prior week. There were 2,740 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 297 from the preceding week.
There were 22,900 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending January 12, an increase of 829 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 40,094, a decrease of 290 from the prior week.
States reported 2,112,559 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending January 12, an increase of 418,762 from the prior week. There were 3,007,696 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2012. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 12 were in Alaska (6.9), Pennsylvania (4.5), New Jersey (4.2), Wisconsin (4.2), Connecticut (4.1), Montana (4.1), Puerto Rico (4.1), Illinois (4.0), Rhode Island (4.0), and Oregon (3.9).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 19 were in Florida (+1,157), Arizona (+295), and Vermont (+77), while the largest decreases were in Pennsylvania (-12,625), Texas (-10,448), North Carolina (-9,287), New York (-7,379), and Indiana (-6,069).
SPECIAL TACTICS OFFICER SAVES WOMAN IN AUTO ACCIDENT
 |
| Maj. Francis Damon Friedman, the director of operations at the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C., saved the life of a woman Jan. 29, 2013 when her Toyota Tundra veered off the road into a tree-lined ditch. Friedman was the first responder on scene, applying First Aid and remaining in the truck with the victim until medics could extricate her from the vehicle. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Lisa Ray) |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
by Rachel Arroyo
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
2/1/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In the midst of smoke and blood, the special tactics officer's training kicked in, and he set to work.
This time he was not operating in the deserts of Afghanistan. He was administering lifesaving care in Fayetteville, N.C.
Maj. Francis Damon Friedman, director of operations at the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C., was on his way to work the morning of Jan. 29 when he saw a Toyota Tundra veer off the road, hit an electrical pole at about 65 mph, and launch into a tree-lined ditch.
Friedman immediately rushed to the accident site where he found one woman, the driver of the vehicle, trapped in the truck.
He said his first thought was "I need to gather a team to see if we can get to the victim."
Friedman said he felt a sense of urgency to help the woman because the engine block was smoking heavily and looked like it was on fire.
He corralled three onlookers to assist him in tearing tree limbs away from the entrance door only to find he could not pry it open. So, he smashed the truck bed cab window and climbed inside.
He administered First Aid care to the victim, who was slipping in and out of consciousness and was in a state of shock, Friedman said.
When responders from the Spring Lake Fire Department arrived, they found Friedman talking to the woman and supporting her neck and spine.
Capt. Steven Barker of the Spring Lake Fire Department credited Friedman for applying the C-spine hold on the woman, which he said is critical to preventing paralysis in the case of an accident of this magnitude.
"The gentleman was asked if he wanted to come out [of the truck] which he denied," Barker said. "By doing this it spared us an extra person to assist in the extrication process."
The paramedics were not able to fit in the truck with Friedman and the victim, so Friedman reported vitals, gave the medics his initial assessment of her condition, assisted with the IV and applied her neck brace.
He stayed with the woman holding her up for approximately an hour until the Jaws of Life were used to cut open the door, giving the medics access to her.
Lt. Col. Spencer Cocanour, commander of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, called Friedman an outstanding representative of the special tactics community.
"Maj. Friedman was in the exact right place at the right time," Cocanour said. "I am glad to see he was able to take his warfighting training and apply it during peacetime."
Friedman said he was humbled by the attention garnered by his heroic act.
"I was doing exactly for that lady what any of my operators would do for me," Friedman said. "Any one of my guys would do that, and that's just our breed in special tactics. I am just honored it was my time to help."
U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS LAWSUIT TRIES TO STOP INCREASED BEER PRICES
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| Credit: Wikimedia. |
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES ANTITRUST LAWSUIT CHALLENGING ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV’S PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF GRUPO MODELO
Merger Would Result in U.S. Consumers Paying More for Beer, Less Innovation; Lawsuit Seeks to Maintain Competition in the Beer Industry Nationwide
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (ABI) proposed acquisition of total ownership and control of Grupo Modelo. The department said that the $20.1 billion transaction would substantially lessen competition in the market for beer in the United States as a whole and in 26 metropolitan areas across the United States, resulting in consumers paying more for beer and having fewer new products from which to choose.
Americans spent at least $80 billion on beer last year. According to the department, ABI’s Bud Light is the best selling beer in the United States and Modelo’s Corona Extra is the best-selling import. Because of the size of the beer market in the United States, even a small increase in the price of beer could result in billions of dollars of harm to American consumers, the department said.
The department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to prevent the companies from merging and to preserve the existing head-to-head competition between the firms that the transaction would eliminate.
"The department is taking this action to stop a merger between major beer brewers because it would result in less competition and higher beer prices for American consumers," said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. "If ABI fully owned and controlled Modelo, ABI would be able to increase beer prices to American consumers. This lawsuit seeks to prevent ABI from eliminating Modelo as an important competitive force in the beer industry."
ABI and Modelo–the largest and third largest beer firms, respectively–together control about 46 percent of annual sales in the United States. MillerCoors, the second largest beer firm, accounts for about 29 percent of nationwide sales. Beer is generally grouped into four distinct segments by industry participants–sub-premium, premium, premium plus and high-end. The sub-premium segment includes: Busch (owned by ABI); and Keystone (owned by MillerCoors). The premium segment includes: Bud Light; Coors Light; and MillerLite. The premium plus segment includes: Michelob (owned by ABI); and Modelo Especial (owned by Modelo). The high-end segment includes: imports such as Corona (owned by Modelo) and Heineken; and a variety of craft beers.
According to the department’s complaint, the U.S. beer market is already highly concentrated, and prices are increased by strategic interactions among the largest brewers, including ABI and MillerCoors. ABI generally acts as the price leader, implementing annual price increases in the sub-premium, premium and premium plus segments of the U.S. beer industry. MillerCoors and other brewers have typically joined the ABI price increases, while Modelo has not. By pricing aggressively, Modelo–through its importer, Crown Imports–puts pressure on ABI to maintain or lower prices, especially in certain parts of the country. As a result, Modelo has become a particularly important competitor in the U.S. market.
The complaint quotes internal company documents demonstrating both ABI’s determination to maintain its upward price leadership in the U.S. beer industry and Modelo’s present-day position as a significant competitive threat to ABI:
ABI believes that its conduct plan provides the highest possibility of "sustaining a price increase" and "ensuring competition does not believe they can take share through pricing";
By contrast, Modelo’s pricing strategy in the United States is known as the "momentum plan" and aims to narrow the "price gap" between Modelo’s imports and domestic premium beers, such as ABI’s Bud Light, stealing market share from ABI by enticing consumers to "trade up" to Modelo beer; and
ABI executives acknowledge that Modelo has "put increasing pressure" on ABI competitively, and that Modelo’s strategy is at odds with ABI’s well-established practice of leading prices upward with the expectation that its competitors will follow.
The complaint also discusses ABI’s efforts to target Corona. ABI considered Corona to be a significant threat, and launched Bud Light Lime in 2008 to compete with Corona. ABI went as far as to mimic Corona’s distinctive clear bottle. Ultimately, instead of trying to compete head-to-head with its own product, Bud Light Lime, ABI is thwarting competition by buying Modelo.
The department alleges that ABI’s acquisition of total ownership and control of Modelo would eliminate the existing competition between ABI and Modelo, further concentrating the beer industry, enhancing ABI’s market power and facilitating coordinated pricing between ABI and the remaining large players. Consumers would, as a result, see higher prices and less innovation.
The department’s complaint also alleges that ABI and Modelo efforts to remedy the anticompetitive aspects of their transaction are inadequate. The complaint states that ABI has agreed to sell Modelo’s existing 50 percent interest in Crown to its Crown joint venture partner, Constellation. ABI would also enter into an exclusive agreement to supply Constellation with Modelo beer to import into the United States, although ABI can terminate this supply agreement after 10 years and would retain the Modelo brands and its brewing and bottling facilities.
"The companies’ attempt to fix this anticompetitive deal through the sale of Modelo’s existing interest in Crown and a temporary supply agreement is not sufficient to prevent consumer harm from ABI’s acquisition of its competitor, Modelo," said Baer.
The complaint states that the combined effect of the proposed acquisition of Modelo and the proposed fix is to eliminate from the marketplace a sophisticated brewing firm with a long history of success and replace it with an importer which will own no brands or brewing facilities and be totally dependent on ABI for its supply of Corona and other Modelo brands. The documents in the case show that as Crown’s CEO wrote to his employees after the acquisition was announced: "our #1 competitor will now be our supplier…it is not currently or will not, going forward, be ‘business as usual.’" The department’s complaint said that not only will competition be harmed by the loss of Modelo as a competitor, but by removing an independent brewer–Modelo–from the market, strategically coordinated pricing will become easier in the future.
ABI is a Belgian corporation with its principal place of business in Leuven, Belgium. In 2011, ABI had revenues of approximately $39 billion. ABI currently has a 43 percent voting interest and a 50.35 percent economic interest in Modelo. ABI has stated in its annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it does not have voting or other effective control of Modelo. Through the proposed acquisition, ABI would acquire control of, and the remaining economic interest in Modelo.
Modelo is a Mexican corporation with its principal place of business in Mexico City. In 2011, Modelo had revenues of approximately $7 billion.
'IRAN PRESENTS A DANGER' SAYS HEAD OF U.S. JOINT CHIEFS ON NBC'S "MEET THE PRESS"
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Joint Chiefs Chairman Calls Iran 'Disruptive' to Region
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - Beyond threatening countries in the Middle East through its potential acquisition of nuclear weapons, Iran presents another danger, said the U.S. military's top-ranking officer on today's segment of NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Iran is ... very disruptive and a malicious influence in Syria," Dempsey said on the Sunday news show where he appeared with soon-to-retire Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.
"[Iran] smuggles weapons. They are active in any number of ways," Dempsey said.
Panetta said intelligence indicates Iran has not made "the decision" to proceed with the development of a nuclear weapon.
"I can't tell you [Iran is] in fact pursuing a weapon because that's not what intelligence says they are doing right now," he said. "But every indication is they want to continue to increase their nuclear capability. And that's a concern, and that's what we're asking them to stop doing.
"They are developing and enriching uranium. They continue to do that. They continue to work at developing their capability," the secretary said.
"They say they're doing it to develop their own energy source. I think it is suspect that they continue to enrich uranium, because that is dangerous, and that violates international [law]," Panetta added.
But if intelligence does indicate Iran's potential production of nuclear warheads, Dempsey said, the U.S. military is ready for that possibility.
"We have the capability to provide options to the president in any number of scenarios to include their acquisition of nuclear weapon," Dempsey said. Iran's capability could be destroyed by the U.S. military, he noted, but added that Iran's intentions would "have to be influenced through other means."
Joint Chiefs Chairman Calls Iran 'Disruptive' to Region
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2013 - Beyond threatening countries in the Middle East through its potential acquisition of nuclear weapons, Iran presents another danger, said the U.S. military's top-ranking officer on today's segment of NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Iran is ... very disruptive and a malicious influence in Syria," Dempsey said on the Sunday news show where he appeared with soon-to-retire Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.
"[Iran] smuggles weapons. They are active in any number of ways," Dempsey said.
Panetta said intelligence indicates Iran has not made "the decision" to proceed with the development of a nuclear weapon.
"I can't tell you [Iran is] in fact pursuing a weapon because that's not what intelligence says they are doing right now," he said. "But every indication is they want to continue to increase their nuclear capability. And that's a concern, and that's what we're asking them to stop doing.
"They are developing and enriching uranium. They continue to do that. They continue to work at developing their capability," the secretary said.
"They say they're doing it to develop their own energy source. I think it is suspect that they continue to enrich uranium, because that is dangerous, and that violates international [law]," Panetta added.
But if intelligence does indicate Iran's potential production of nuclear warheads, Dempsey said, the U.S. military is ready for that possibility.
"We have the capability to provide options to the president in any number of scenarios to include their acquisition of nuclear weapon," Dempsey said. Iran's capability could be destroyed by the U.S. military, he noted, but added that Iran's intentions would "have to be influenced through other means."
U.S. WARNS NORTH KOREA ABOUT FURTHER NUCLEAR AND MISSILE TESTING
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
North Korean Nuke and Missile Tests Undermine Stability
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 - North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs constitute a serious threat to international peace and security and undermine the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as well as the Northeast Asia region, officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea said in a joint statement.
The Defense Department issued that statement following the annual Defense Trilateral Talks, held in Tokyo Jan. 30-31.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, non-proliferation, the regional security situation and North Korea, according to the release.
The joint statement said if North Korea carries out any further provocations, including a nuclear test, it will bear responsibility for the consequences for disregarding the overwhelming views of the international community.
The United States, South Korea, and Japan will closely coordinate to deter a potential North Korean nuclear test and to respond to ballistic missile threats, according to the release. In this process, the release said, the three countries will closely cooperate with the international community, including China and Russia.
The DTTs are a regular cooperative dialogue between the United States, Japan and South Korea and have been held annually since 2008.
North Korean Nuke and Missile Tests Undermine Stability
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 - North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs constitute a serious threat to international peace and security and undermine the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as well as the Northeast Asia region, officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea said in a joint statement.
The Defense Department issued that statement following the annual Defense Trilateral Talks, held in Tokyo Jan. 30-31.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, non-proliferation, the regional security situation and North Korea, according to the release.
The joint statement said if North Korea carries out any further provocations, including a nuclear test, it will bear responsibility for the consequences for disregarding the overwhelming views of the international community.
The United States, South Korea, and Japan will closely coordinate to deter a potential North Korean nuclear test and to respond to ballistic missile threats, according to the release. In this process, the release said, the three countries will closely cooperate with the international community, including China and Russia.
The DTTs are a regular cooperative dialogue between the United States, Japan and South Korea and have been held annually since 2008.
U.S.-LIBERIA PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE SIGNING CEREMONY
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| Map: Nigeria. Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
Remarks at the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue Signing Ceremony
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Liberian President Sirleaf
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
January 15, 2013
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, welcome to the Treaty Room. I am delighted to have this occasion, once again, to host President Sirleaf, a very good partner over many years, and especially, I would say, over the last four years it has been a great personal pleasure for me to work with her to strengthen that partnership between the United States and Liberia. And I also am grateful, as well, for her personal friendship.
Today, we are taking another important step to deepen the partnership between our nations and to support Liberia as it continues down the path of democratic and economic reform. The partnership dialogue we are about to sign will expand the cooperation between our countries and ensure high-level engagement for years to come.
This agreement establishes working groups in three key areas – first, agriculture and food security; helping Liberia’s farmers use their land more effectively and get their crops to markets more efficiently will be critical to improving the health and prosperity of people throughout Liberia. This working group will review progress under the Feed the Future Initiative, look for new opportunities to attract private investment in the agriculture sector, and recommend policies to promote food security and better nutrition.
Second, energy and power infrastructure. We know that access to affordable, reliable energy is essential to creating jobs and sparking growth that helps to build a strong economy. So we will take stock of outstanding needs for the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy, promote a regulatory environment that’s friendly to new investments in energy, and look for ways to accelerate the development of a well-governed and inclusive energy sector.
And finally, we want to look at human development with a real emphasis on creating more economic opportunity for the people of Liberia to expand access to education and employment so that many more Liberians have a chance to not only better themselves and their families, but make a contribution to their nation.
I think it is more than fair to say that this last decade has been a success story for Liberia. The people of Liberia have emerged from a time of violence and lawlessness and have made tremendous commitments to both economic and political reform. The United States has stood by Liberia during this challenging process, but I think it is also more than fair to say it was aided considerably by the leadership, the determination of a woman who understood in every fiber of her being what was at stake. And so, Madame President, let me, on behalf of the United States, thank you for the great progress under your leadership, pledge our continuing support and partnership and friendship to you and to the people of your country. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF: Secretary of State Clinton, members of the Administration, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be here today for several reasons. First, I feel privileged to have been invited to the State Department this week, one of the last weeks that you, Madame Secretary, will be in office, to say thank you for all that you have done for Liberia and the Liberian people, to say thank you for always being there for Liberia.
Second, for me personally, it was important to be here today to see that you have fully recovered – (laughter) – from your recent illness, to embrace you, and to let you know that all of Liberia prayed for your speedy recovery.
Third, I have always seen Liberia’s progress as underpinned by its special relationship with the United States. The launching today of the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue is an historic achievement, one that will cement the strategic cooperation between our two countries for generations to come regardless of the occupants of the White House or the Executive Mansion. Dear friends, today for us marks an historic day for the Government and people of Liberia, the fulfillment of a wish first articulated last June for the institutionalization of the longstanding bilateral relationship between Liberia and the United States of America.
Just seven months ago, we made the rounds among congressional and U.S. Government officials. We put forward proposals on how the United States could work with Liberia as a partner to consolidate its gains. One proposal called for the establishment of a joint United States-Liberia bi-national commission established (inaudible) in the 1960s, which aimed to ensure that the partnership would endure for 50 years or more.
I recall vividly when I made the case to you, Madame Secretary, your support was instantaneous. You assured me that you would figure out how to embed such a relationship in our governments and countries, and here we are today for the signing of the statement of intent, Liberia’s chance with the United States as a reliable partner in the region. The U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue would allow our two countries to look at our relationship strategically with a view towards the long term and focus on those areas that encourage broad-based economic growth, including agriculture and food security, energy and power infrastructure, and human development.
We look forward to carrying out the first meeting of the U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue under the leadership of Secretary of State designate, Senator John Kerry, who also has been an essential supporter of Liberia during his long service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including his time as chairman. We recognize that this will not just be a job for our two governments, but also for the business communities of both countries and other stakeholders in Liberia.
Madame Secretary, I’m especially pleased that we were recently declared eligible for compact status by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Coming just two years after being awarded a threshold program and seven years after the reestablishment of democracy in Liberia, this is one of Liberia’s proudest achievements. I would like to recognize the presence here of MCC President Daniel Yohannes and to promise you that we will deliver a compact program that will be comprehensive and resulting.
I take this opportunity to thank Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson for his steadfast leadership on Africa policy over the past four years. Ambassador Carson, we wish for you the best and hope you will continue to find a way to stay engaged with us in Liberia. We also congratulate President Barack Obama on his forthcoming inauguration to a second term of office. We trust that we can count on him and on Africa’s continued support under his leadership to Liberia and to Africa.
Madam Secretary, Hillary – (laughter) – you’ve been a true friend of Liberia and to me personally. We are pleased that in the history of our bilateral relationship, which spans more than a century and a half, you made two trips to Liberia while in office as Secretary of State. You have supported our country’s progress, championed our political process, and pushed to settle Liberia’s external debt. As we bid you farewell, I remain convinced that in this era of economic challenge, history will show that your support and the investment of the U.S. Government and the American people in Liberia will return significant dividends.
We’ll continue to guard the peace, promote reconciliation, build strong democratic institutions, and show good governance and transparency, and encourage broad-based economic development. We will continue to strive to be a post-conflict success story. For that, Madam Secretary, is America’s success also. Thank you. (Applause.)
MODERATOR: Secretary Clinton and President Sirleaf are signing a statement of intent between the United States and the Republic of Liberia to establish a partnership dialogue. The U.S.-Liberia Partnership Dialogue will ensure sustained high-level bilateral engagement on issues of mutual interest.
(The document was signed.) (Applause.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thanks to everyone who helped work on this. I see a lot of the faces from across the State Department. Let’s get a picture with everybody coming up behind us, perhaps.
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