AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES ATTACKS ON ISAF TRAINERS DEEMED AS "INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF GRIEVANCE"

Photo:  Afghan Military Personnel in Firefight.  Credit:  U.S. Army.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Most 'Green on Blue' Attacks Individually Motivated
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2012 - The Defense Department believes recent incidents in which members of the Afghan National Security Forces have attacked their coalition trainers are individual acts of grievance, a senior DOD spokesman said today.
"It's often difficult to determine the exact motivation behind an attacker's crime because they are, very often, killed in the act," Navy Capt. John Kirby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for media operations, told reporters at the Pentagon.

Kirby said these types of attacks have only been tracked since 2007. Between 55 and 60 such attacks, he added, have occurred during this time.

"Based on the limited evidence that we have been able to collect, we believe that less than half, somewhere in the neighborhood of three to four out of every 10 [attacks] is inspired, or resourced, or planned or executed by the Taliban or Taliban sympathizers," he said. "In other words, that it's related to an infiltration attempt."

Kirby said it may not even be a deliberate infiltration, but a "legitimate soldier or police officer [who] turned Taliban."

Yet, the majority of attacks, he said, are acts of individual grievance.
"You know how seriously affairs of honor are to the Afghan people," Kirby said. "We believe, again, that most of these [attacks] are acted out as an act of honor for most of them representing a grievance of some sort."

The spokesman said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, believes the recent video of U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of Taliban inspired at least one attack.

Regardless of the motivations, Kirby emphasized the attacks leave lasting impressions on the families of the service members who've been killed.

"We believe the majority of all of them are individual acts of grievance, but look, that doesn't lessen the pain for family members who suffer from this," he said. "It doesn't lessen the importance of it whether it's an act of infiltration or not.

"It's an issue that we're taking very, very seriously," Kirby added. "But we don't believe the majority of them are Taliban inspired, resource planned [or] executed."

British Army Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw, ISAF's deputy commander, told Pentagon reporters during a May 9 video teleconference from Kabul that Afghanistan's National Army and police force are working to "root out this problem with great determination."
"We've had several hundred National Directorate of Security counterintelligence operatives now join the Afghan National Army on attachment," Bradshaw told reporters. "They are embedded down to battalion level, and they are carrying out rigorous counterintelligence operations. The commanders are taking great note of where their people go on leave [and] whether their families have come under pressure."

The British general said the vetting process for Afghan army and police recruits has been refined and there's also "retrospective vetting of people in the force" with a "ruthless" approach to those members displaying signs of enemy complicity. "So a number of effective measures have been taken, and we continue to bear down on this problem very seriously indeed," Bradshaw said.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED WITH SITUATION IN MALI

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

The Political and Security Situation in Mali

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 11, 2012

The United States is deeply concerned about the deteriorating political situation in Mali. We call on the junta leader Sanogo and the CNRD to step aside and allow for the return of full civilian rule. The CNRD’s continued interference in the government has undermined democracy in Mali, led to the de facto partition of the country, and crippled the ability of the country to respond to a developing humanitarian crisis in northern Mali.

We hold the CNRD directly responsible for the increasing suffering of the Malian people. The military needs to stand aside completely in order to let the interim administration led by President Dioncounda Traoré and Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra govern freely and to organize presidential elections as expeditiously as possible. A strong, stable democratic government in Mali is essential in order for the country to deal successfully with its multiple economic, social, and security challenges.

The U.S. will maintain its targeted sanctions against Captain Sanogo and other CNRD leaders as well as the Malian government until the military stands down and democracy is returned to Mali.

SAILORS FROM USS UNDERWOOD RESCUE PERUVIAN FISHERMEN

FROM:  U.S. NAVY 

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 10, 2012) Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) assist a disabled Peruvian fishing vessel in the Pacific Ocean. The fishermen were stranded at sea for ten days after their transmission failed. Underwood is deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of Southern Seas 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Phillips/Released) 


Underwood Rescues Peruvian Fishermen
By Lt. Stephanie Homick, Southern Seas 2012 Public Affairs
USS UNDERWOOD, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) rescued six Peruvian fishermen drifting in a disabled vessel off the coast of Peru, May 10.


The fishermen were isolated at sea for ten days after developing mechanical problems with their vessel. They were unable to radio for help after their 12-volt batteries died.


The fishermen signaled Underwood as the ship passed by. Underwood Sailors then boarded a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and approached the vessel.


"When we got there, [we saw] it was this small, broken down fishing boat," said Gas System Turbine (Mechanical) 3rd Class (SW) Brian Stankowitz. "There was a kid who was about 11 years old and he was using a manual bilge pump because they were taking on a lot of water. They were basically sinking." 


After providing food and water to the fishermen, the Sailors returned to Underwood to recharge the fishermen's 12-volt batteries so they would not have to rely on the manual bilge pump to keep afloat. 


"There was a language barrier for me because I don't speak Spanish, but when we gave them food and water, I could see the thanks in their eyes," said Stankowitz. "They ate all the food and drank all the water immediately and they were laughing."


After resupplying the fishermen, the RHIB was kept in the water on standby to assist as necessary until the Peruvian coast guard arrived. 


"We were out there for about five hours and then we came back and did a crew swap so the RHIB could go back out and take care of any needs that might come up," said Engineman 2nd Class (EXW) Zachary White, who was sent to evaluate the condition of the boat's outboard motor and assist with repairs if possible. "We swapped in a fresh crew so we could stay by their side until they got help."


White and Stankowitz expressed how good it felt to be in the RHIB, assisting fellow mariners in a significant way.


"We sometimes forget the big picture of what we do when we deploy," said White. "We get worn out and we get tired, but when we actually go out and help people that need help and it's a matter of life or death, it opens your eyes to what we're doing while we're out here. It's a very, very good feeling." 


"I think the biggest thing for me is that it was a great way to start a deployment," said Stankowitz. "We're just giving and helping people."


Underwood is deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of Southern Seas 2012.


U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

CDC SAYS SUNBURNS, TANNING BEDS ARE COMMON HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS CAUSING SKIN CANCER

Photo:  Credit NASA  
FROM:  U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
High-risk behaviors for skin cancer common among young adults
Half of adults younger than age 30 report being sunburned; indoor tanning rates highest among white womenYoung adults are increasing their risk for developing skin cancer, according to two studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute.

One study, of people aged 18-29, found that 50 percent reported at least one sunburn in the past year, despite an increase in protective behaviors such as sunscreen use, seeking shade, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Another report found that indoor tanning is common among young adults, with the highest rates of indoor tanning among white women aged 18-21 years (32 percent) and 22-25 years (30 percent). Both reports evaluated data from the National Health Interview Survey’s Cancer Control Supplement. They are published in today’s issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“More public health efforts, including providing shade and sunscreen in recreational settings, are needed to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and sunburn prevention to reduce the burden of skin cancer,” said Marcus Plescia, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. “We must accelerate our efforts to educate young adults about the dangers of indoor tanning to prevent melanoma as this generation ages.”

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer.  Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from indoor tanning equipment is the most important preventable risk factor for skin cancer. Indoor tanning before age 35 increases a person’s risk of getting melanoma by 75 percent. Sunburn indicates too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

“Efforts to shape public policies awareness regarding indoor tanning generally have been targeted toward adolescents rather than young adults to help change behavior of minors,” said Anne Hartman, study coauthor from the Applied Research Program of NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences.  “This study suggests that as adolescents mature into young adults, they may continue to need environmental support to develop and maintain healthy behaviors and to change their perspectives about tanning.”
Findings from the two studies:
Among adults aged 18-29 years, whites reported the highest sunburn prevalence (66 percent in 2010) whereas the lowest rates were among blacks (11 percent in 2010). Although sunburn is not as common among blacks as compared to whites, blacks can get sunburned.
The most common sun protective behaviors reported among women aged 18-29 years in 2010 were using sunscreen (37 percent) and staying in the shade (35 percent).  White women were less likely to stay in the shade, and black women were less likely to use sunscreen compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Among men aged 18-29 years, the most common sun protective behaviors reported in 2010 were wearing long clothing to the ankles (33 percent) and staying in the shade (26 percent).

Among white women aged 18-21 years who reported indoor tanning, an average of 28 visits occurred in the past year. White women aged 18-21 years were the most common users of indoor tanning.

The highest prevalence of indoor tanning was reported among white women aged 18-21 years residing in the Midwest (44 percent), and those aged 22-25 years in the South (36 percent).

Among white adults who reported indoor tanning, 58 percent of women and 40 percent of men used one 10 or more times in the previous year.

People should take these steps to protect themselves from ultraviolet light exposure that could lead to skin cancer by:
Seeking shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
Wearing clothing to protect exposed skin.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
Wearing wrap-around sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible.  Sunglasses safeguard your eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts and ocular melanoma.
Using sunscreen with sun protective factor 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
Avoiding indoor tanning.

LT. BEN. ADRIAN BRADSHAW OF BRITISH ARMY SAYS CAMPAIGN ON TRACK IN AFGHANISTAN

Photo:  U.S. Navy Convoy In Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Navy

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Afghanistan Campaign on Track, Deputy Commander Says

By Karen Parrish

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2012 - The message from coalition commanders in Afghanistan is loud and clear that the campaign is "in a good place right now," the deputy commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said today.

Lt. Gen. Adrian J. Bradshaw of the British army told Pentagon reporters today via video link from Kabul that Afghan forces are gaining depth, and their partnered operations with ISAF troops in 2011 and this year have reversed Taliban and Haqqani network momentum.

"Across the theater, [we've seen] Afghan national security forces increasing in strength, capability and confidence," Bradshaw said. Meanwhile, he added, coalition commanders get reliable reporting of Taliban commanders feeling under pressure with lack of weapons, equipment and money.

Afghan army and police forces are coordinating with civil authorities to plan, lead and carry out sophisticated, brigade-level operations, the general said.

"ISAF troops [are] more and more ... providing advice and assistance, but letting the Afghans get to grips with the major combat operations," he said. "They have surprised us, and I think they've surprised themselves, with how well they've performed in a whole range of different sorts of operations across the theater."

Bradshaw said he has witnessed partnered operations teaming Afghan and Italian, U.S. and British forces over recent weeks. In all cases, he added, he's seen "high morale, an awareness of the threat, but a confidence that we are on track."

The strategic agreement President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed last week, leading up to NATO's summit in Chicago later this month, enhances Afghan confidence that the coalition will support security efforts beyond 2014, the general said.

"It sets a very good baseline for the Chicago conference, where we hope and expect that nations will come forward and commit funding to the Afghan forces for beyond 2014," Bradshaw said. "And so it's a major achievement."

Rebuilding the security relationship with Pakistan is important to future Afghan security, the general noted.

"We've got a common interest in addressing the terrorist insurgent problem that crosses the Pakistan-Afghanistan border," he said. NATO and Pakistani officials are in talks, Bradshaw added, "and things are moving in the right direction there."

Pakistan is also important to the long-term defeat of the Taliban, he said.

"As long as [insurgents] can operate with relative impunity from sanctuaries outside the country, it's quite difficult to defeat them militarily," he said. "I would argue that in a counterinsurgency campaign, it's got to be a combination of military, economic, political and other measures anyway to effect a total elimination of this problem."

The deputy commander said coalition and Afghan leaders take very seriously the issue of "green on blue" incidents, in which Afghan army and police attack and sometimes kill coalition members. Bradshaw said the number of attacks is small, considering the Afghan force has grown to a third of a million very rapidly in recent years. "Nevertheless," he added, "we treat every one with extreme seriousness, and I can tell you that our Afghan partners do as well."

Afghan commanders are aggressively pursuing green-on-blue countermeasures, including embedding counterintelligence operatives down to the battalion level, where they are carrying out rigorous counterintelligence operations, the general said. Commanders also regularly vet new recruits and their established troops, he added.

"The commander of the Afghan National Army has told his people who have family in Pakistan that they need to get their families into country," he said, "and that his commanders are to take note of any possible linkages with insurgents [so they know] if people have come under pressure when they go on leave. And if there are doubts, ... then they're asked to leave the service," he added.

Overall, the campaign in Afghanistan aims to keep "ruthless pressure" on insurgents, Bradshaw said.

"We've got plenty of work still to do," he acknowledged. "We've got to continue building the capability, the institutional depth, I would say, of the Afghan national security forces."

Coalition leaders believe Afghan forces will take on the counterinsurgency mission by the end of 2014 and execute it to good effect, the general said.

"By that time, we expect to have considerably enhanced their logistics capabilities, their leadership, their capabilities across a range of areas which are being built right now," Bradshaw added. "We have great confidence that they'll be able to take on the job and maintain security for the government of Afghanistan."

SEC CHARGES FORMER OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVE WITH INSIDER TRADING

Photo:  NYSE.  Credit:  Wikimedia
FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
May 11, 2012
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against a former executive at a Bakersfield, Calif.-based oil and gas production company for insider trading in his company’s stock using confidential information received while he was the CEO and chairman of the board.

The Commission alleges that Frank Lynn Blystone received e-mail updates prior to his March 5, 2010, retirement from Tri-Valley Corporation that contained confidential information about the company’s ongoing efforts to raise capital and problems it had encountered in a securities offering. Based on the non-public information he received, Blystone liquidated stock he held in a brokerage account shortly before a Tri-Valley announcement on April 6, 2010, that it had entered into an agreement with six institutional investors to sell its securities at a deep discount from the prevailing market price. Blystone avoided losses of approximately $36,000 when the company’s stock price fell 38 percent after the announcement.

Blystone has agreed to pay $75,000 to settle the Commission’s charges without admitting or denying the allegations.

According to the Commission’s complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, based on the confidential information he received, Blystone concluded that the terms of a contemplated securities offering by Tri-Valley would be onerous. He foresaw that either the company’s securities would be sold at a discount to the market price or additional securities would be issued if the price of the stock fell, which would dilute the value of Tri-Valley’s stock. After leaving the company, Blystone’s concerns about Tri-Valley’s securities offering were reinforced when he learned of plans to sell two oil drilling leases in what he characterized in an e-mail to a friend as a “fire sale.” Therefore, Blystone liquidated 50,100 shares of Tri-Valley stock that he held in a brokerage account. He sold 90 percent of those shares on April 5, the day before Tri-Valley’s public announcement.

The complaint charges Blystone with violating Section 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder. Blystone agreed to pay disgorgement of $36,267, prejudgment interest of $2,493, and a penalty of $36,267. He also agreed to the entry of a final judgment permanently enjoining him from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 and barring him from serving as an officer or director of a public company. The settlement is subject to court approval.

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD AND CANADIAN IN WARFIGHTER EXERCISE

FROM:  WISCONSIN ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
NEWS: Canadian military training with Red Arrow Brigade
Col. Martin Seifer, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, briefs Canadian Brig. Gen. Paul Bury, deputy commander of Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West, and Canadian Area Reserve Chief Warrant Officer Gordon Crossley, in the brigade tactical operations center during a visit to the brigade's Warfighter Exercise at Fort McCoy, Wis., on Wednesday (May 9). The Canadian delegation visited Canadian troops who are participating in the exercise by developing the brigade's defensive measures. The Canadian delegation also visited Joint Force Headquarters in Madison, Wis.; the 426th Regional Training Institute at Fort McCoy, and Volk Field, Wis. Wisconsin National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson 

Date: May 11, 2012
By 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson
Wisconsin National Guard
The Wisconsin Army National Guard is training with its northern neighbors - Soldiers of the Canadian Land Force Command - as part of a joint Warfighter Exercise being held at Fort McCoy, Wis., May 7-18.

Soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are fully engaged in the Warfighter Exercise - which tests the Brigade's ability to use available units and equipment to respond to battle situations and meet different threats.

Warrant Officer Dan Merlin, a platoon sergeant with the 38th Canadian Brigade Group Artillery Tactical Group, has seen and done many things in his 35-year military career. He has served two tours in Germany, one tour in England, three tours in Bosnia as part of the 10-year NATO Stabilization Force effort, one U.N. peacekeeping tour in Cyprus, and two tours in Afghanistan. His time in service is almost evenly split between the active duty and reserve components of the Canadian Army, referred to as the Land Force Command. He has served in a joint environment in Afghanistan.

Still, he described the past week serving with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team during its Warfighter exercise at Fort McCoy, as "a real learning experience."
"This is the first time I've ever worked with the National Guard in a warfighting environment," Merlin said. "That's brand new to me."

Merlin is one of seven Canadian soldiers who volunteered for the opportunity to train with the 32nd IBCT. The group consists of four officers and three enlisted, with skills ranging from artillery, infantry, logistics and armor. They originally had intended to serve individually in units with matching skill sets, but an issue with security clearances prevented the Canadians from using proprietary U.S. military equipment. Instead, they are serving as a "Canadian cell" tasked with planning the brigade's defense during the exercise.
"It's been a good experience," Merlin said. "There's definitely some points to improve on, but it's only going to get better. We understand that there are some issues to iron out for the next group to come down here."

Lt. Col. Dave Fraser, who works with the 38th Brigade Headquarters in Canada, said that most of the Canadian cell has never worked in a joint environment.
"Just going through the acronyms has been an experience," he said. "All in all, it's very value-added."

Canadian Brig. Gen. Paul Bury, deputy commander of Land Force Western Area, visited his troops at Fort McCoy on Wednesday (May 9), accompanied by Area Reserve Chief Warrant Officer Gordon Crossley, the equivalent to a sergeant major. Bury acknowledged the mission change for the Canadian soldiers.

"The processes are there for a reason," he said. "I'm glad you're integrated as much as possible."

"At least we found these things out right away," Fraser added.
Bury asked Col. Martin Seifer, 32nd Brigade commander, about future joint training opportunities.

"They're outstanding soldiers and individuals," Seifer said of the Canadians. "They bring a lot to the fight. It's good to have them on the team.
"I'm not averse to inviting them to the National Training Center with us next summer," he continued. "I think that would be a great opportunity for both."
Seifer noted that the Wisconsin Army National Guard may also have an opportunity to join in an upcoming Canadian exercise in the western provinces.
Planning for Canadian participation in the 32nd Brigade's Warfighter exercise began in January with the Wisconsin National Guard's Joint Staff. That discussion with the Canadian Army reserve led to a five-man squad from the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry taking part in a one-day military skills competition March 17 in Winnepeg, Manitoba, as well as the Warfighter exercise.

"We should have been doing this many, many years ago," Merlin said. "But this is the start of building a greater relationship with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. I couldn't have met a better group of people."

HERBAL COMPANY FOUND IN CONTEMPT

Photo:  North Carolina Botanical Gardens
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Friday, May 11, 2012
Rhode Island-based Sellers of Herbal Products Held in Contempt
  A U.S. district court judge has held Daniel Chapter One, an herbal products company located in Portsmouth, R.I., and its officers, James and Patricia Feijo, in civil contempt of court for violating the terms of a preliminary injunction order, the Justice Department announced today.

In 2008, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged Daniel Chapter One and James Feijo with making deceptive claims that shark cartilage and certain other herbal formulations prevent, treat, and cure cancer, and lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.   The lawsuit was part of Operation False Cures, a law enforcement sweep conducted by the FTC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Competition Bureau Canada aimed at peddlers of phony cancer remedies.

Following an administrative hearing and appeal, in January 2010 the FTC ordered defendants to send a letter notifying purchasers that the FTC had found the advertising claims for the products deceptive because they were unsubstantiated.   The FTC further ordered defendants to stop making health claims about their products unless the claims were substantiated by scientific evidence.

Defendants refused to comply with the FTC’s Order.   At the FTC’s request, the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch sued Daniel Chapter One and James Feijo in federal district court seeking civil penalties for the violations of the FTC’s order and a court order requiring compliance with the FTC order The District Court entered a preliminary injunction requiring defendants to comply with the FTC Order.

Nevertheless, Daniel Chapter One, James Feijo, and his wife, Patricia Feijo, continued to tell consumers that their products could treat and cure cancer, and refused to send the corrective notice to past purchasers.   The United States then sought civil contempt sanctions against the defendants.

Following a hearing on May 9, 2012, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that clear and convincing evidence demonstrated that Daniel Chapter One, James Feijo, and Patricia Feijo were violating the preliminary injunction through statements on their radio show, statements on their websites, and by failing to send the corrective notice.

The court has provided the defendants with two weeks to remove the offending statements from their websites, send the corrective notice, and make a sufficient representation to the court that they will cease making the offending statements on their radio show.   If they fail to do so, they will begin accruing fines and face imprisonment for their contempt of court.

“Those who make unsubstantiated claims that their products can cure cancer are taking advantage of extremely vulnerable Americans,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division.   “In today’s online world, it can be hard to identify where the truth ends and the scam begins.   The Department of Justice is committed to protecting consumers from bogus cancer cures.”

Marketers of phony cancer treatments tend to use tactics like the following:

                      Claiming that the same treatment will work for everybody and every type of cancer;
                      Advising customers to avoid surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other conventional treatments;
                      Using customer testimonials to “prove” the effectiveness of the treatment;
                      Offering “miracle” treatments for serious illnesses;
                      Discrediting scientific studies, the Food and Drug Administration, and doctors.

Additional information on how to spot a scam or bogus cancer cure is available on the Federal Trade Commission’s website at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/curious/index.shtml.     The corrective notice defendants must send their customers states that it is important for consumers to talk to their doctor or health care provider before deciding to take any herbal product instead of taking cancer treatments that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective in humans.

STABILITY AND MISSILE DEFENSE

Photo:  Missile Interceptor Test.  Credit:  U.S. Navy
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Reinforcing Stability through Missile Defense
Remarks
Frank A. Rose
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
National Defense University Congressional Breakfast Seminar
Washington, DC
May 11, 2012
Thank you so much for inviting me to speak today. I attended a number of these breakfasts as a Congressional Hill staffer myself, so I’m very pleased to be on the opposite side of the podium today.

At the State Department, I am responsible for overseeing a wide range of defense policy issues, including missile defense. In that capacity, it was my responsibility to negotiate the details of the BMD agreements with Poland, Romania, and Turkey that will enable the United States to implement the European Phased Adaptive Approach. I will touch more on this later in my presentation, but suffice to say that I have been focused over the last couple of years on ensuring that we are able to meet the vision the President laid out in his 2009 announcement regarding the European Phased Adaptive Approach.

Missile Defense Policy
Today, the threat from short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles to our deployed forces, allies, and partners is growing. This regional threat is likely to increase in both quantitative and qualitative terms in the coming years, as some states are increasing their inventories, and making their ballistic missiles more accurate, reliable, mobile, and survivable.

Recognizing the seriousness of the ballistic missile threat, the United States seeks to create an environment, based on strong cooperation with allies and partners, which will eliminate an adversary’s confidence in the effectiveness of ballistic missile attacks. This will devalue and provide a disincentive for the development, acquisition, deployment, and use of ballistic missiles. To that end, President Obama has made international cooperation on missile defense a key priority, and we are pursuing a region-by-region approach based on the following three principles:

1) First, the United States will deter adversaries through strong regional deterrence architectures built upon solid cooperative relationships with an eye toward efficiently incorporating assets and structures that our partners already have today or are seeking.

2) Second, the United States will pursue Phased Adaptive Approaches (PAAs) within key regions that are tailored to their unique deterrence requirements and threats, including the scale, scope, and pace of their development, and the capabilities available and most suited for deployment. We will phase in and implement the best available technology to meet existing and evolving threats, and adapt to situations that evolve in an unforeseen manner.

3) Third, recognizing that our supply of missile defense assets cannot meet the global demand we face, the United States is developing mobile capabilities that can be relocated to adapt to a changing threat and provide surge defense capabilities where they are most needed.

Missile defense plays an important role in the broader U.S. international security strategy, supporting both deterrence and diplomacy. Missile defense assures our allies and partners that the United States has the will and the means to deter and, if necessary, defeat a limited ballistic missile attack against the U.S. homeland and regional ballistic missile attacks against our forward deployed troops, allies, and partners.

NATO and European Missile Defense
I’d like to focus today on our work in Europe, which continues to receive a great deal of attention. In order to augment the defense of the United States and a future long-range threat and provide more comprehensive and more rapid protection to our deployed forces and European Allies against the current threat, the President outlined a four-phase approach for European missile defense called the European Phased Adaptive Approach or EPAA. Through the EPAA, the United States will deploy increasingly capable BMD assets to defend Europe against a ballistic missile threat from the Middle East that is increasing both quantitatively and qualitatively.

The EPAA will protect our deployed forces and our allies and partners in Europe, as well as augment the defense of the U.S. homeland against a potential by ICBMs from the Middle East in several ways. As part of Phase 1, we have deployed to Turkey missile defense radar, referred to as the AN/TPY-2 radar, which will provide data earlier in the engagement of an incoming ballistic missile from the Middle East. This radar enhances the homeland missile defense coverage of the United States provided by our Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) capabilities in Alaska and California.

A year ago last week, we concluded negotiations with Romania to host a U.S. land-based SM-3 BMD interceptor site, designed to provide protection against medium-range ballistic missiles. The land-based SM-3 system to be deployed to Romania is anticipated to become operational in the 2015 timeframe. We also reached an agreement with Poland to place a similar U.S. BMD interceptor site there in the 2018 timeframe.

Defense of the homeland will be further augmented by the basing in Poland of the SM-3 IIB interceptor, which is a future evolution of the SM-3 series of interceptors. The SM-3 IIB interceptor will provide us an opportunity for an early-intercept against potential long-range missile launched from the Middle East. It is important for everyone to know that we are already protected from limited ICBM attacks by the GBIs we have deployed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg, California.

The EPAA will eventually provide us with additional protection, ensuring that we can take multiple shots at a long-range missile heading to the United States. The EPAA – in all of its phases – also provides protection to for the thousands of U.S. military personnel based in Europe.

The Obama Administration is implementing the EPAA within the NATO context. At the 2010 Lisbon Summit, NATO Heads of State and Government approved a new Strategic Concept and decided to develop the capability to defend NATO European populations and territory against the growing threat from ballistic missile proliferation. The Allies also welcomed the EPAA as a U.S. national contribution to the new NATO territorial missile defense capability, in support of our commitment to the collective defense of the Alliance under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. At the Lisbon Summit, NATO Heads of State and Government also decided to expand the scope of the NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) program to serve as the command, control, and communications network to support this new capability. NATO allies have committed to investing over $1 billion for command, control, and communications infrastructure to support NATO missile defense.

These decisions have created a framework for Allies to contribute and optimize their own BMD assets for our collective defense. Our Allies possess land- and sea-based sensors that could be linked into the system, as well as lower tier systems that can be integrated and used to provide point defense. For example, Germany and the Netherlands each have Patriot PAC-3s while Spain and Greece have Patriot PAC-2s. Turkey is also considering Patriot PAC-3s to address its air defense and BMD requirements. On the sea-based side, the Dutch announced in September 2011, their intention to upgrade the SMART-L air search radars on their De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates with an extended long-range (ELR) mode. In December 2006, the Dutch frigate Tromp participated in an Aegis BMD test during which it demonstrated the capability of a modified radar to track ballistic missiles.

Germany also has the SMART-L and Active Phased Array Radars (APARs) on its F-124 frigates and may decide to pursue a BMD capability in the future, while Spain has frigates equipped with a version of the SPY-1 radar used on our Aegis BMD ships. In June 2007, the Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez, participated in a BMD test off of Kaui, Hawaii, during which it was able to detect and track a ballistic missile with a minor modification to its Aegis Weapon System. Italy and Germany are also working with the United States to develop a Proof of Concept for MEADS, which will allow all three nations to harvest the advanced technologies of MEADS for follow-on systems.

Later this month on May 20-21, the NATO Heads of State and Government will meet in Chicago for the NATO Summit. Our goal is to declare an interim NATO MD capability at the Summit. What this means is that the United States could transfer select missile defense assets to NATO operational control should conditions warrant which results in a limited NATO missile defense capability. Over time, through additional contributions by the United States and other Allies, NATO missile defense will become even more capable.
Separate from the EPAA, it is important to note that our European allies are contributing directly to the defense of the United States today. The United Kingdom and Denmark each host an Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Fylingdales and Thule, Greenland, respectively. These radars are critical to the defense of the United States against a potential long-range missile threat from the Middle East. I would also note that U.S. EPAA capabilities will provide protection for these important assets. Therefore, I think it’s fair to say that the defense of the U.S. homeland is linked to the defense of Europe.


Russia
An update on missile defense cooperation with Europe should also include a discussion of our efforts to pursue cooperation with Russia. Missile defense cooperation with Russia is a Presidential priority, as it has been for several Administrations going back to President George H.W. Bush in the early 1990s.

When President Obama announced his new vision for missile defense in Europe in September 2009, he stated that “we welcome Russia’s cooperation to bring its missile defense capabilities into a broader defense of our common strategic interests.” Missile defense cooperation with Russia will not only strengthen our bilateral and NATO-Russia relationships, but also could enhance NATO’s missile defense capabilities. Successful missile defense cooperation would provide concrete benefits to Russia, our NATO Allies, and the United States and will strengthen – not weaken – strategic stability over the long term.
This means it is important to get Russia inside the missile defense tent now, working alongside the United States and NATO, while we are in the early stages of our efforts. Close cooperation between Russia and the United States and NATO is the best and most enduring way for Russia to gain the assurance that European missile defenses cannot and do not undermine its strategic deterrent.

Through this cooperation, Russia would see firsthand that this system is designed for the ballistic missile threat from outside the Euro-Atlantic area, and that NATO missile defense systems will not threaten Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent capabilities. Cooperation will also allow Russia to see that the EPAA is designed to be flexible. Should the ballistic missile threat from nations like Iran change, our missile defense system can be adapted accordingly. Working together on missile defense would also send a strong message to proliferators that the United States, NATO, and Russia are working to counter their efforts.

That said, Russia has raised the issue of a legal guarantee with a set of “military-technical criteria” that could, in effect, create limitations on our ability to develop and deploy future missile defense systems against regional ballistic missile threats such as those presented by Iran and North Korea. We have also made it clear to Russia that we cannot and will not accept limitations on our ability to defend ourselves, our allies, and our partners, including where we deploy our Aegis ships. These are multi-mission ships that are used for a variety of purposes around the world, not just for missile defense.

The United States cannot accept any Russian proposal that limits the operational areas of U.S. or allied ships. Such limits are contrary to international law on navigational rights and freedom of the sea. We also will not accept limitations on the capabilities and numbers of our missile defense systems. Let me be clear, our missile defense capabilities are critical to our ability to counter a growing threat to our deployed forces, allies, and partners; therefore, no nation or group of nations will have veto power over U.S. missile defense efforts.

And while we seek to develop ways to cooperate with Russia on missile defense, it is important to remember that under the terms of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO alone will bear responsibility for defending the Alliance from the ballistic missile threat. This is why the United States and NATO cannot agree to Russia’s proposal for “sectoral” missile defense. Just as Russia must ensure the defense of Russian territory, NATO must ensure the defense of NATO territory.

We would, however, be willing to agree to a political framework including a statement that our missile defenses are not directed at Russia. Any such statement would be politically binding and would publicly proclaim our intent to work together and chart the direction for cooperation, not limitations. Our bottom line is that missile defense cooperation with Russia will not come at the expense of our plans to defend against regional ballistic missile threats or our plans for the defense of the U.S. homeland.

Conclusion
Today’s ballistic missile threats continue to increase in number and sophistication. This increasing threat reinforces the importance of our collaborative missile defense efforts with partners around the world, which not only strengthen regional stability, but also provide protection for our forces serving abroad and augment the defense of the United States.
Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your questions.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS SETTLE HIV DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS

Photo:  Lady Justice.  Credit Wikimedia.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Friday, May 11, 2012
Health Care Providers Settle with Justice Department Over Complaints of HIV Discrimination

The Justice Department announced that it has reached two settlements today resolving claims that health care providers refused to serve people with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The first complaint was filed by a man with HIV who went to the Mercy Medical Group Midtown Clinic in Sacramento, Calif.   After meeting with the patient and examining him, a podiatrist at the clinic informed the patient of his treatment options.   Although surgery was one of the treatment options, the podiatrist incorrectly told the patient that he could not perform the surgery because of a risk that he would contract HIV from the patient during surgery.   The United States determined that the podiatrist’s actions violated the ADA by denying the patient the full and equal enjoyment of the services offered at the clinic on the basis of his disability.

The second complaint was filed by a man with HIV who went to the Knoxville Chiropractic Clinic North in Knoxville, Tenn., for chiropractic treatment following an automobile accident.   After examining him, the doctor determined that the patient required 24 subsequent appointments to treat his injuries.   On his third visit to the clinic, however, the receptionist informed him that the doctor would not see him because they could not treat people “like him.”   The United States determined that Knoxville Chiropractic Centers had a blanket policy of refusing treatment to persons with HIV in violation of the ADA.

“It is critical that people with disabilities, including HIV, not be denied equal access to goods and services, especially to health care services.   The Civil Rights Division takes discrimination based on unfounded fears and stereotypes about HIV very seriously,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.   “We applaud Mercy Medical Group and CHW Medical Foundation, as well as Knoxville Chiropractic Centers, for working cooperatively with the Justice Department to resolve these matters quickly and fairly.”

The settlement agreements require the entities to develop and implement a non-discrimination policy and to train staff on the requirements of the ADA.   In addition, Mercy Medical Group and CHW Medical Foundation are required to pay $60,000 to the complainant and $25,000 as a civil penalty, and Knoxville Chiropractic Centers is required to pay $10,000 as a civil penalty.

The ADA requires public accommodations, like doctors’ offices, medical clinics, hospitals and other health care providers, to provide individuals with disabilities, including people with HIV, equal access to goods, services, privileges, accommodations, facilities, advantages and accommodations.

The Department of Justice provides a webpage specifically dedicated to information about the ADA and HIV at www.ada.gov/aids.   Those interested in finding out more about these settlements or the obligations of public accommodations under the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov.  ADA complaints may be filed by email toada.complaint@usdoj.gov.

FIRST LADY AT WHITE HOUSE MOTHER'A DAY TEA

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE
First Lady Michelle Obama greets guests during a Mother’s Day Tea in the East Room of the White House, May 10, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)


White House Women's Update: Happy Mother's Day!
Friends --
Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!


Yesterday, the President released a presidential proclamation to celebrate the special role mothers play as cornerstones of our families and our communities, and on Thursday, First Lady, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Mother's Day Tea for military families in the East Room of the White House and we hosted a Twitter Chat with the leadership of MomsRising.org, Mocha Moms, and Mamiverse – who were joined by their children and parents.

Additionally, please take a moment to read a new post by Lynn Rosenthal, the first-ever White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and Senior Policy Director for Immigration, Felicia Escobar on the risk of Rolling Back Protections for Domestic Violence Victims.

We hope that you took a moment to watch the President's interview with ABC News on Wednesday, where he said that, "I think same sex couples should be able to get married." He made it clear that he believes that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships from getting married.
Happy Mother's Day and thank you for all that you do!
The White House Council on Women & Girls

TESTS PILOTS AND CYBERSPACE

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Test Pilot School adds cyberspace training to its program.
by Laura Mowry

5/11/2012 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has a long, rich history of educating the best of the best in air and space. Apollo 13 astronaut, Fred Haise; X-15 pilot, Joe Engle; and the first man to break the sound barrier, Chuck Yeager; are just a few of the notable Test Pilot School alumnae who have cemented their places in history books for their impressive accomplishments in both air and space.

Now that cyberspace is an integral part of the Air Force mission - it is time for TPS to educate the next generation of heroes.

"We are the place where the world comes to learn about test and evaluation. With the introduction of the Cyber Systems Test Course, we can now teach our graduates and others the framework for testing cyber systems in a contested environment," said Col. Noel Zamot, USAF TPS commandant. "This is the first course of its kind that includes a disciplined, yet flexible approach to testing cyber intensive systems."

The Cyber Systems Test Course provides Test Pilot School students with the knowledge and resources for successfully identifying and testing cyber vulnerabilities on a variety of systems. It provides students with a construct developed for identifying and testing cyber vulnerabilities, loosely based on a common decision making process known as the OODA Loop, which stands for observe, orient, decide, and act.

"The rigorous thought process applies to a wide variety of systems, whether it's testing vulnerabilities of a support system for the Joint Strike Fighter, the radar signal processer of a Global Hawk, or even a laser targeting pod for the B-1 or F-16," said Zamot. "We're asking students to think broadly about cyber vulnerabilities. I expect that students will look at systems in a disciplined fashion."

The course ensures that Test Pilot School students are better able to recognize cyber vulnerabilities, such as interference with precision airdrop missions and gives them the resources to not only identify that threat, but create an experiment to challenge it.

According to Zamot, the intensive curriculum of the Test Pilot School ensures that each graduate knows the entire test process, which includes mitigating cyber risks and vulnerabilities. It is their job as test professionals to lead people, bring experts together, and function as the glue and grease of the test program, even when it comes to cyber systems.

The need for the course became apparent during a visit approximately 18 months ago from Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Air Force Material Command commander, during which he questioned how the school was integrating cyberspace studies into the curriculum.

"We were a little behind when it came to teaching cyber," said Zamot. "We were glad to have General Hoffman's support and interest. So, we talked to a number of folks and everyone agreed that the perfect person to help us develop the course was Dr. Kamal Jabbour."

The school immediately contacted Dr. Jabbour, the Air Force's senior scientist for information assurance, at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate facility located in Rome, N.Y. The school invited Jabbour to take the Senior Executive Short Course to better understand the test culture and asked for his assistance in developing a cyber curriculum.

Jabbour, the Air Force's premiere information assurance scientist, with more than 30 years of experience developing systems-related curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels, was the ideal candidate to work with the TPS on developing the Cyber Systems Test Course.

"We needed someone who has extensive knowledge of cyber and understands test and evaluation, as well as Test Pilot School limitations and constraints. In my mind, there was only one person in the world, and that was Dr. Jabbour," said Zamot.

Throughout his career, Jabbour has spent an immense amount of time educating top military leaders on the inherent threat associated with cyber vulnerabilities.

According to Jabbour, he began teaching Air Force ROTC cadets ten years ago and gradually made his way up to helping develop and even teaching the Cyber Operations Executive Course at Air University. Just a few years back, he taught every cyber component for flag officer courses at Air University, educating more than 200 General officers in one year.

His valuable expertise played a critical role in the development of the Cyber Systems Test Course, as he worked with the school to create a curriculum that will provide students with resources to evaluate and mitigate risk associated with cyber vulnerabilities, which will evolve as technology continues to advance.

"Aircraft functional dependence on software increased from next-to-nil with the F-4 Phantom to approximately 85 percent with the Joint Strike Fighter. It is increasingly important for testers to understand this dependence and test accordingly," said Jabbour.

After five months of working with the school and three visits to Edwards, the Cyber Systems Test Course was ready to be taught for the first time to the senior class, during the systems phase of the intensive year-long masters program.

"We sought to educate future developmental testers on evaluating weapons systems in a contested cyber environment through development of hypothesis, design of experiment, and creating of a test plan," said Jabbour. "I want the students to think critically about developing hypotheses to explain and challenge thoughts on aircraft functions."

Currently, the class has been taught three times to a variety of students, including during the school's first-ever Enlisted Flight Test Course. Initial feedback from all three classes was positive.

The intent moving forward is to expand on the class, which would drastically increase the length from four to six hours, to perhaps as lengthy as one week. Additionally, preparations are underway to write and present a formal scientific paper at a conference about the Cyber Systems Test Course framework.

USS LABON DURING TRAINING MISSION

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) fires its MK-45 5-inch/54-caliber lightweight gun during a live-fire exercise. Laboon, part of Carrier Strike Group 8 is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Jamieson 

"BATTLESHIP" THE MOVIE

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Hooper, films an interview between a KTLA Channel 5 reporter and writers of the movie "Battleship," Jon and Erich Hoeber, on the "blue" carpet at the premiere of the film. Universal Pictures gave service members the celebrity treatment alongside cast members of the movie and invited them to attend the special screening of the film prior to its release in more than 3,000 theaters nationwide. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Trevor Welsh (Released)

GENERAL DEMPSEY SAYS LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION SHOULD BE RATIFIED

Photo:  U.S. Department of Defense

F

ROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Dempsey Urges Ratification of Law of the Sea Convention

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2012 - Ratifying the Law of the Sea Convention is the right thing to do for American national security, the U.S. military's highest-ranking officer said here today.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Pew Charitable Trusts gathering on the treaty that he joins each chairman since the document was signed in 1994 to urge the Senate to ratify it.

Republican and Democratic administrations have both urged approval. And, Dempsey maintains, the treaty is good for American military rights.

"It codifies navigational rights and freedoms essential for our global mobility," he said. "It helps sustain our combat forces in the field."

The treaty also guarantees the right of innocent passage through foreign territorial seas, the right of transit passage through international straits and the right to exercise high seas freedoms in foreign exclusive economic zones — all without permission or prior notice.

In addition, the treaty also affirms the sovereign immunity of U.S. warships and other public vessels. "And it gives us the framework to counter excessive claims by states seeking to illegally restrict movement of vessels and aircraft," Dempsey said. "These are all rights and capabilities that we want and that we need. In fact, they are of our own making. We negotiated them into the convention to advance our national security interests."

The United States could, of course, not ratify the treaty and depend on the same strategy an infant republic used more than 200 years ago, the chairman said. "At that time, we commissioned the Navy's first ships to safeguard our seaborne merchants against the Barbary pirates," he said.

The force of arms should not be America's only national security instrument, the chairman said, and the Law of the Sea Convention provides an additional way to navigate an increasingly complex international security environment.

"Ratification now represents an unprecedented opportunity," the chairman said. "The convention offers an opportunity to exercise global security leadership."

More than 160 nations are now a party to the convention. "Even so, the world looks to us for leadership," he said. "We have the world's largest and most capable navy, largest economy, and the largest exclusive economic zone. We will become the leader within the convention as soon as we enter it. And that's never been more important."

Dempsey said that on, over and under the oceans, nations are making competing claims or posturing themselves to restrict the movement of others, and these actions affect the United States, its allies and friends.

"As a party to the convention, we can help resolve conflicts, strengthen alliances and foster innovative partnerships," he said. "We have never been better poised – or more welcomed – to lead a global security order benefiting all peaceful nations."

The convention secures legitimate global freedom of access for the U.S. armed forces, Dempsey told the audience. "Today, we rely on customary international law and assert it through physical presence – warships and aircraft transiting and challenging illegal restrictions," he said. "Some say this alone is sufficient."

But this works against U.S. rights in that nations will continue to try and bend customary law to restrict movement on the ocean, he said, and it puts U.S. ships, subs, aircraft and personnel at risk to continually challenge these claims.

"We are strong enough for this role. We can and will continue to defend our interests, and we'll do that with force when necessary," Dempsey said. "But we can also be smart. We can leverage law to mitigate the need for physical assertion. Under the Law of the Sea Convention, we can be both strong and smart."

Ratifying the convention also strengthens the U.S. position in Asia, the chairman said.

Finally, Dempsey said, joining the Law of the Sea Convention will strengthen America's strategic position in Asia. "The Western Pacific is a mosaic of competing claims for territory and resources," the chairman said. "This is a critical region where, as a Pacific nation, our security and economic prosperity are inextricably linked."

The United States wants to mitigate any conflict in the Pacific, Dempsey said. "The convention gives us another tool to effectively resolve conflicts at every level," he added. "It provides a common language, and therefore a better opportunity, to settle disputes with cooperation instead of cannon fire."

SEC CHARGES APARTMENTS AMERICA AND ITS OWNERS IN SCHEME TO DEFRAUD INVESTORS

Photo:  Wikimedia
FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
May 11, 2012
On May 10, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged a California-based real estate company and its owners with defrauding potential investors by boasting a false company track record to tout their purported real estate expertise while concealing the bankruptcy of their previous company.

The SEC alleges that Michael J. Stewart, John J. Packard, and Randall A. Smith created Apartments America, LLC to pool investor proceeds from an unregistered offering of securities and invest primarily in apartment buildings in Southern California and Arizona. They solicited potential investors through a website, Internet advertisements and postings, cold calls, solicitation letters, and advertising in a national newspaper. They boasted a track record of producing more than a 60 percent annual return on investment and creating more than $100 million in net equity.

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in federal court in Orange County, California, what potential investors did not know is that Apartments America was a new company with no assets and no track record. Stewart, Packard, and Smith were merely using the same investment strategy and selective statistics from their prior bankrupt company that had defaulted on $91.6 million in promissory notes held by 647 investors.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Stewart lives in San Clemente, California, and Packard and Smith each live in Long Beach, California. Together they formed Apartments America in September 2009, just three months after Pacific Property Assets (PPA) filed for bankruptcy. Stewart and Packard owned PPA and Smith worked for them. In the months prior to defaulting on its promissory notes, PPA was actively soliciting investor funds and promising an annual interest rate of 24 to 30 percent.

The SEC alleges that under Apartments America, whose securities have never been registered with the SEC, Stewart, Packard, and Smith similarly solicited investor funds with the same plan to purchase apartment buildings. But they engaged in a concerted scheme to distance themselves from PPA and its bankruptcy. In communications to potential investors, they selectively and misleadingly used some of PPA’s historic investments and touted them as Apartments America data. For instance, they arrived at their fabricated statistic of a 60 percent annual return on investment by cherry-picking PPA’s successful property investments while omitting the losses incurred on more than 50 properties in PPA’s portfolio at the time of its bankruptcy. Stewart, Packard, and Smith also misrepresented that they had created more than $100 million in net equity by calculating some of PPA’s property investments while omitting information about its bankruptcy and the losses on its bankrupt properties. They also falsely represented to potential investors that they were managing a property portfolio valued at more than $200 million when that in fact referred to PPA’s bankrupt property portfolio, which was actually being managed by the bankruptcy trustee.

NEW ENGLAND CRIME BOSS SENTENCED FOR RACKETEERING AND EXTORTION

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 
Friday, May 11, 2012
Former New England Organized Crime Leader and Associate Sentenced for Racketeering and Extortion Activities

WASHINGTON – Luigi “Louie” Manocchio, an admitted former boss and underboss of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN), was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison for his leadership of and participation in a racketeering and extortion conspiracy that demanded and received between $800,000 and $1.5 million in “protection” payments from several Rhode Island adult entertainment businesses from 1995-2009.
Raymond R. “Scarface” Jenkins, an admitted associate of the NELCN, was also sentenced today to 37 months in prison for his admitted participation in a conspiracy to extort $25,000 from a Rhode Island individual and his wife by using implied threats of violence, including a visit to the individual’s residence.

The sentences were announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Peter F. Neronha, U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Providence, R.I., Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Pare.

Manocchio and Jenkins were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith in the District of Rhode Island.  Manocchio, 84, was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.  Jenkins, 47, was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Manocchio pleaded guilty on Feb. 22, 2012, to one count of racketeering conspiracy and Jenkins pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act by participating in extortion.

Manocchio and Jenkins are among eight Rhode Island men charged in a second superseding indictment returned on Sept. 22, 2011, for crimes involving racketeering and extortion.  Edward “Eddy” Lato, an NELCN leader; NELCN member Alfred “Chippy” Scivola; and NELCN associates Albino “Albie” Folcarelli, Thomas Iafrate and Richard Bonafiglia pleaded guilty to participating in racketeering and extortion activities.  Iafrate was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2011, to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  The remaining defendants are awaiting sentencing.

An eighth defendant named in the second superseding indictment, Theodore Cardillo, pleaded not guilty to three counts of racketeering conspiracy and three counts of extortion conspiracy.  He is awaiting trial.

A third superseding indictment was returned in this matter on April 24, 2012, which charges Anthony L. Dinunzio, 53, of East Boston, Mass., the alleged acting leader of the NELCN, with one count each of racketeering and extortion, and five counts of travel in aid of racketeering.  He entered a plea of not guilty on April 25, 2012, and was ordered detained while awaiting trial.

GOVERNMENT SAYS "WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT" BOOSTS EUCOM'S EFFECTIVENESS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Ambassador Lawrence Butler, U.S. European Command's deputy to the commander and foreign policy advisor, discusses regional security issues with U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Judith Garber, during the Baltic Sea Region Senior Leadership Seminar at the Eucom headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, April 20, 2012. U.S. European  

'Whole-of-Government' Focus Boosts Eucom's Effectiveness’
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
STUTTGART, Germany, May 11, 2012 - Some staff members at U.S. European Command, the oldest and in some people's view, most traditional of the U.S. combatant commands, thought the "whole-of-government" concept introduced about three years ago was nothing but a fad.

Mike Anderson, acting director of Eucom's Interagency Partnering Directorate, said he knew differently from the start. The idea of promoting interagency collaboration that leverages all elements of national power to address challenges in Europe and Eurasia simply made too much sense to fade with the times, he said.
Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis had already seen the benefits of interagency collaboration as commander of U.S. Southern Command when he arrived here three years ago to take the helm at Eucom. Because the Eucom staff interfaces with NATO and European militaries , Stavridis opted to assign a Napoleonic "J code" to the command's new interagency partnership directorate to help synchronize it with the NATO structure and elevate its stature within his own command.

Southcom, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Pacific Command have since adopted the same J9 model, Anderson noted. U.S. Northern Command, Centcom and U.S. Special Operations Command all also have standalone interagency directorates, although they do not designate them as "J9" staffs.

"It's one thing organizationally to make a change, but the more important thing, in my humble opinion, is the cultural change," Anderson said during an interview with American Forces Press Service. The cultural change didn't come overnight at Eucom, he admitted, but thanks to the commander's emphasis, visible contributions, and repeated reinforcement, it has taken hold.

"Two-and-a-half years into it, it is almost second nature," Anderson said. "The mindset has changed."

What's accelerated that, he said, is more than simply command emphasis. The proof has been in the pudding, the value that comes from incorporating interagency partners directly into the staff.

Stavridis' civilian deputy to the commander, Ambassador Larry Butler, brings a State Department perspective as he advises Stavridis regarding the command's missions and activities.

In addition, the Interagency Partnering Directorate -- a staff of about 30 military members, DOD civilians and agency partners from throughout the federal government -- contributes specialized expertise throughout the command. The directorate hosts representatives from the departments of State, Justice, Energy and Treasury, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Justice Department's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program.

This sprinkling of "soft power" and law enforcement representatives throughout the command brings "vital depth and breadth to our command, its operations and our outreach across the continent," Stavridis said. That, he said, contributes directly to the mission and increases Eucom's effectiveness and ability to speak and act across various organizational cultures.

"There's been a huge return on investment," Anderson agreed. "This military headquarters of nearly 1,000 people has realized that the relatively small investment of 30 people in this directorate makes the plans they are working on and the exercises they are training on more realistic and better informed than when they previously were informed by just a single, Defense Department vantage point."

Interagency partnering has become a foundation for applying "Smart Defense" at time when budgets may be shrinking, but threats aren't, Stavridis recently told Congress.
Today's complex security environment exceeds the capacity of any single government organization, the admiral told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March.
"It demands whole-of-government solutions that draw strength and effectiveness from the collective judgment, training and experience of the many public servants in government who, working together, can effectively synchronize the elements of national power," Stavridis said.

And particularly in light of constrained resources, he said, there's clear recognition of the benefits of bringing both "soft" and "hard" power to the table. "At European Command, we believe that 'no one of us is as smart as all of us, thinking and working together,'" Stavridis told the Senate panel.

The interagency partners' contributions extend far beyond their representation on the Eucom staff, Anderson explained. Each has direct reach-back to other experts within their agencies, as well as working relationships with their counterparts in U.S. embassies in Europe and Eurasia. Besides hosting federal agency partners, the J9 directorate serves as the command's lead for interacting with international and non-governmental organizations, the private sector, think tanks and academia.

The presence of other agency expertise at a military command has had a huge payoff at Eucom, enhancing the support it's able to provide allied and partner nations. For example, Eastern European nations that come to Eucom for help in securing their borders -- not a traditional U.S. military mission -- can tap into expertise from other U.S. agencies that specialize in that function.

"Now, we have border-security experts right down the hallway," Anderson said, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and DEA. And when needed, they can call on their respective agency headquarters to dispatch "A teams" to advise and train partner nations.

"So when you talk about 'bang for the buck,' there's been a realization on the staff here that by having this relatively small footprint of interagency partners, we have so much more reach-back to the rest of the 'whole-of-government,'" Anderson said.
As the United States draws down its forces in Afghanistan and shifts it focus to preserving strategic partnerships with European allies, Anderson said the "strategic bridges" established throughout the U.S. interagency can't be forgotten.

"We also don't want to lose the strategic partnerships we have developed with our own federal partners," he said. "They are strategic partners as well, and our strengthened relationships with them were also born of crisis, after 9/11. And they, too, will be critical to our country as we face the future."

TESTING THE COLD TEMPERATURES OF SPACE

Testing Webb Telescope‘s OSIM and BIA Instruments – The OTE (Optical Telescope Element) Simulator or OSIM wrapped in a silver blanket on a platform, being lowered down into a vacuum chamber (called the Space Environment Simulator, or SES) by a crane to be tested to withstand the cold temperatures of space. (Photo Credit NASA Goddard/Chris Gunn

U.S. RENEWS SECURITY RELATIONS WITH BAHRAIN

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Photo Credit:  Vladimir Arshinov([User:Vladimir_arsh GFDL CC-BY-SA-3.0 
Renewal of U.S. Security Cooperation With Bahrain
Press Statement Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
May 11, 2012
Today, the Administration informed Congress that for national security interests we have decided to release additional items and services for the Bahrain Defense Force, the Coast Guard, and the National Guard for the purpose of helping Bahrain maintain its external defense capabilities. Bahrain is an important security partner and ally in a region facing enormous challenges. Maintaining our and our partners’ ability to respond to these challenges is a critical component of our commitment to Gulf security.

We have made the decision to release additional items to Bahrain mindful of the fact that there are a number of serious unresolved human rights issues that the Government of Bahrain needs to address. We will continue to maintain the holds on the TOW missiles and Humvees that were notified to Congress last October. Certain additional items for the Bahrain Defense Force, as well as all items for the Ministry of the Interior, excepting the Coast Guard and units deployed in Afghanistan, will also remain on hold. The items that we are releasing are not used for crowd control.

While the Government of Bahrain has begun to take some important steps to implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report, the country is becoming increasingly polarized and much work remains to be done. We are concerned about excessive use of force and tear gas by police. At the same time, we are concerned by the almost daily use of violence by some protestors. We urge all sides to work together to end the violence and refrain from incitement of any kind, including attacks on peaceful protestors or on the Bahraini police.

Going forward, we will continue to engage with Bahrain to encourage meaningful progress on human rights and reform. The United States believes that addressing the underlying causes of last year’s unrest and undertaking meaningful political and institutional reforms are critical to Bahrain’s stability and the strength of our countries’ longstanding partnership. All Bahrainis have a significant stake in participating in dialogue that leads to reform, and we call on the Bahraini government and people to resolve their issues through discussion. We remain committed to supporting Bahrain in achieving progress in these areas.