LANDMARK $10.5 MILLION DISABILITY HOUSING LAWSUIT SETTLED

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, June 25, 2012
Justice Department Obtains Landmark $10.5 Million Settlement to Resolve Disability-Based Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced its largest-ever disability-based housing discrimination settlement fund to resolve allegations that JPI Construction L.P. and six other JPI entities (collectively “JPI”) based in Irving, Texas, discriminated on the basis of disability in the design and construction of multifamily housing complexes throughout the United States.

Under the settlement, which was approved today by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, JPI will pay $10,250,000 into an accessibility fund to provide retrofits at properties built by JPI and to increase the stock of accessible housing in the communities where these properties are located.  The settlement also requires JPI to pay a $250,000 civil penalty.  This is the largest civil penalty the Justice Department has obtained in any Fair Housing Act case.

“Today’s historic settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the fair housing rights of persons with disabilities,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “Builders of multifamily housing must consider accessibility at the outset, or they risk significantly greater expense to retrofit properties.  As a result of this settlement, multifamily housing complexes will be retrofitted to comply with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and persons with physical disabilities will be afforded an equal opportunity to live in and visit these properties.”

“Equal access to housing for persons with disabilities is an important right protected by federal law,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Sarah R. Saldaña.  “This settlement will help eliminate barriers and send a clear message that disability discrimination will not be tolerated.  Disabled residents should know that this district remains committed to protecting their fair housing rights.”

The lawsuit was filed in March 2009, after the Justice Department conducted an investigation and found accessibility barriers at various JPI properties.  Since 1991, JPI and its affiliates built 210 multifamily properties in 26 states and the District of Columbia; trial involving 32 of JPI’s properties was scheduled to begin July 9, 2012.

In addition to the $10.5 million payment, the consent order prohibits JPI from discriminating on the basis of disability in the future and from interfering with or preventing the retrofitting that will take place at the JPI properties.  Although JPI is no longer in the multifamily development and construction business, if JPI reenters the business, it is required to design and construct covered multifamily dwellings to fully comply with the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The JPI entities that are responsible for paying the settlement amount are: JPI Construction L.P.; Multifamily Construction L.L.C.; JPI Apartment Development L.P., dba JPI Campus Quarters; Lifestyle Apartment Development Service L.L.C.; Jefferson Bend L.P., dba Jefferson at Mission Gate Apartments; Jefferson Lake Creek L.P., dba Jefferson Center Apartments; and Apartment Community Realty L.L.C.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.  Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination should call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line (1-800-896-7743) or email the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov.  Such persons may also contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.

ESA Portal - Czech Republic - Ve stínu saturnových prstenců

ESA Portal - Czech Republic - Ve stínu saturnových prstenců

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SPEAKS ON CRIME-TERROR PIPELINES

Photo:   Army Sgt. David Smitt Maintains Watch In Afghanistan.    Credit: U.S. Army.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on Combating Crime-Terror Pipelines
Remarks Maria Otero
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights National Defense University
Washington, DC
June 25, 2012

Good morning.
Thank you, Mr. Miklaucic, for your kind introduction, and to the Center for Complex Operations for hosting this Dialogue. The National Defense University continues to make great contributions to research and programs dedicated to enhancing civilian security and the stability of institutions against threats such as terrorism and organized crime. It is my pleasure to welcome everyone today to this beautiful campus.

I would like to thank the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Department of Defense’s Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy for their sponsorship of this Dialogue and their leadership in helping to combat today’s national security threats across the globe.

I also would like to commend our partner, the United Kingdom and, in particular, the Home Office, which continues to be an active leader in realizing the joint commitment of Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama to work together to combat transnational threats. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to ensure that the Dialogue we advance today is an ongoing one that yields results.

In the spirit of partnership, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our colleagues who have traveled here from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia to offer both their expertise and experience to this workshop in support of their commitment to dismantle crime-terror pipelines. On behalf of the United States Government, I commend your efforts to defeat threat networks and safeguard our states, economies, and societies.

Protecting communities around the world from harm and exploitation at the hands of organized crime and terrorist networks requires collective action. Those of you here today recognize the need for broad collaboration—not only within governments and between governments but with a wide array of partners outside of government.

Nearly one year ago, President Obama released the National Security Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime. The Strategy challenges the U.S. government and our international partners to work together to combat crime networks and terrorists not as separate threats, but as interlocking groups that use common tools and strategies to inflict harm on society.

From the FARC in Colombia to the Taliban in Afghanistan to al-Shabaab in Kenya, we are witnessing how terrorists and insurgents turn to transnational organized crime as they finance and carry out violent acts. With each act, they intend to destabilize democratic governments and intimidate civilian populations. The same forces of globalization that have stimulated economic growth and the movement of people and goods throughout the global economy also present new opportunities that terrorists and criminals can exploit. The convergence of these criminal and terrorist threats undermines good governance, development, the rule of law, and the integrity of competitive markets.

Terrorists and criminals also take advantage of cultures of corruption to further their illicit enterprises. From corrupt public officials to courts that tolerate impunity, criminals and terrorists thrive where accountability falters and good governance fails. It is vital that we fight corruption and empower citizens to promote transparency and accountability in their communities. The Open Government Partnership, which the United States launched with the United Kingdom and many other countries last year, is one innovative way that we are increasing reforms around accountability and transparency so that criminal actors have less room to operate.

As we devote more attention to the threat of crime-terror interaction, we shrink the space in which terrorists and criminals maneuver. Beginning today, we will redouble our efforts to enhance international cooperation to fight against these threat networks, and against those who conspire to harm our governments, our economies, and our communities.

So thank you for your efforts in this important area. I now have the pleasure of passing the microphone to Philip Barton, the Deputy Head of Mission of the United Kingdom here in Washington.

PANETTA RECOGNIZE PARALYMPIC WARRIORS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta congratulates Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ronald Sullivan at the 2012 Warrior Games recognition ceremony held in the Pentagon courtyard, June 25, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  

Panetta, Army Chief Recognize Paralympic Warriors' Achievements
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today led a Pentagon celebration for wounded warriors who competed in Paralympic sports during the upcoming 2012 Warrior Games.
"It is, for me, a real pleasure to have
 the opportunity to be with you today, and to especially be with our warrior athletes and their families," Panetta said. "It's an honor for me to be able to celebrate the remarkable achievements that all of you have done, [and] your resilience.

"I cannot tell you how much you inspire us with your courage, with your determination, with athletic prowess, [and] with your physical strength," he added. "It's an incredible inspiration."

Panetta was joined by Gen. Ray Odierno, Army chief of staff, and Charlie Huebner, chief of Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"It's an important day for all of us," Odierno said. "We recognize incredibly inspirational and motivated young men and women."

The Army chief noted that 50 world-class athletes representing the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as U.S. Special Operations Command and the Coast Guard, were on hand for the ceremony to represent the 220 total participants in the Warrior Games, held in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 30 to May 5. The Marines, Odierno said, won the coveted Chairman's Cup with a total of 89 medals.

"Athletics has always been key to our military culture," Odierno said. "In 1928, Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur was given a leave of absence authorized by the 12th Army chief of staff, Gen. Charles Summerall, to serve as the president of the American Olympic Committee – predecessor of the U.S. Olympic Committee."

MacArthur went on to lead the U.S. Olympic team to winning the most medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Odierno said. Women were allowed to compete officially for the first time in those games, he noted.

Panetta praised the perseverance of all the wounded warriors for their ability to overcome immense odds.

"I believe the strength, the integrity, the character of many American service members who have persevered in the face of huge challenges," he said. "Their stories represent the fighting spirit of the brave men and women who serve on the front lines around the world."

Panetta referred to Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, who was present at the celebration, as an example. Snyder was blinded while serving as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, the secretary said, but he refused to give up hope.

"He was determined not to let the loss of his sight stop him," Panetta said, noting that Snyder has competed at a high level in track and swimming, earning three gold medals in track and four in swimming during the games. Additionally, the secretary said, Snyder won all five of his swimming events during the U.S. Paralympic swimming trials and set a world-best time for vision-impaired athletes in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events.

"When Brad steps up to the blocks in London on Sept. 7 to compete in the Paralympic games, it will be one year to the day since his injury," Panetta said. "Brad, we're all in awe of your determination and personal spirit, and all of us are going to be cheering your success in London."

The secretary noted that he often meets hospitalized warriors just days after they've been wounded in battle. "In that acute phase of recovery," he said, "I know that it's hard for some to imagine ever competing for an athletic event."

Panetta lauded the "sheer guts" these warrior athletes displayed in overcoming their mental and physical obstacles and called it "a miracle of emotional, physical and mental strength."

The defense secretary said the nation owes it to all of its wounded warriors to never forget their service and sacrifice, and that the Defense Department is committed to helping them to return to service or transition to civilian life.

"The American people and communities throughout our nation must be partners in this effort, and they are," Panetta said. "In the past decade of war, we've learned a lot about treating our wounded warriors, including the value of sports, competition, of recreation and strengthening minds and strengthening bodies. We owe these brave young people no less than the very best. As a nation, we are truly blessed by the men and women in uniform who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect this country."

EX-IM BANK APPROVES $1.2 BILLION FINANCING TO PEMEX

FROM:  U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Ex-Im Approves $1.2 Billion in Export Financing to Pemex, Supporting 8,500 jobs in Texas, California. Louisiana and Elsewhere
Pemex To Offer Ex-Im Guaranteed Bond Issuances to Capital Markets
Washington, D.C. – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has authorized $1.2 billion in export financing in four separate transactions to support the export of U.S. goods and services to Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Mexico’s national oil and gas company. The amount includes a $200 million small-business facility, which will support exports from U.S. small businesses.

For the first time, Pemex will offer Ex-Im-guaranteed bond issuances to capital markets to fund the transactions. Pemex anticipates four-to-seven bond offerings that will occur from June to September 2012. In the event the funding cost is prohibitive, Pemex may exercise the option to seek Ex-Im direct loans.

The Bank’s approval will enable the American exporters involved, most of which are headquartered in Texas, California, and Louisiana, to supply their products, equipment and services to Pemex oil and gas projects. The transactions will support an estimated 8,500 jobs.

“Ex-Im Bank is pleased to partner with Pemex yet again to finance the purchase of U.S. goods and services to Mexico,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “The financing support will directly benefit U.S. small businesses in the oil and gas industry, an industry that is absolutely vital to the growth of our nation’s economy.”

The Mexican projects involved in these latest financing transactions are the Cantarell Complex, Mexico’s largest oil field; the Strategic Gas Program, one of Mexico’s largest gas programs; and the New Projects of Pemex Exploration and Production (PEP), a program devoted to onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration ventures.

Ex-Im Bank’s financing was necessary to enable U.S. exporters to compete for Pemex contracts against foreign companies backed by their governments’ export credit agencies (ECAs). Each of the four transactions has a 10-year repayment term that matches terms offered by other ECAs.

Pemex ranks as Ex-Im Bank’s top borrower. Since 1998, the Bank has approved approximately $10.6 billion in financing to support Pemex’s activities in the oil and gas sector.

The Bank’s four transactions will increase its total credit exposure in Mexico, one of the Bank’s nine key markets, to $6.3 billion.

About Ex-Im Bank:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance, and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved $32.7 billion in total authorizations in FY 2011 -- an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6 billion directly supporting small-business export sales -- also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank's total authorizations are supporting an estimated $41 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 290,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.exim.gov.

LOAN OFFICER SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN $9.2 MILLION MORTGAGE FRAUD

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OFF JUSTICE
Monday, June 25, 2012
Loan Officer Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Role in Mortgage Fraud Scheme That Resulted in More Than $9.2 Million in Losses
WASHINGTON – A loan officer for a Florida mortgage company was sentenced today in Miami to 54 months in prison for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General David A. Montoya.

Alejandro aka “Alex” Curbelo, 32, of Miami was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard.  In addition to his prison term, Curbelo was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $9.2 million in restitution to HUD.  Curbelo was indicted and arrested on Jan. 24, 2012, and pleaded guilty on April 16, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to court documents, from approximately February 2006 through July 2008, Curbelo was employed as a loan officer for Great Country Mortgage Bankers.  In this role, he assisted in the sales and financing of condominium units at two complexes in Florida – Dadeland Place and Pelican Cove on the Bay.  The borrowers who Curbelo assisted at these two complexes were unqualified to obtain mortgage loans due to insufficient income, high levels of debts and outstanding collections.

Curbelo admitted that he conspired with others to create and submit false and fraudulent Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage loan applications and accompanying documents to the lender on behalf of the unqualified borrowers.  Curbelo and others offered the borrowers cash back after closing as an incentive for them to purchase the units.  These payments were not disclosed properly during the loan application process.  According to court documents, the closing costs were paid on behalf of the borrowers by interstate wire.  After the loans closed, the unqualified borrowers failed to meet their monthly mortgage obligations and defaulted on their loans.

According to court documents, when the loans went into foreclosure, HUD, which insured the loans, was required to take title to the units and pay the outstanding loan balances to the lenders.  As of the date of the sentencing hearing, HUD paid more than $9.2 million for losses related to Curbelo’s conduct.

This case was investigated by the HUD Office of Inspector General, as participants in the Miami Mortgage Fraud Strike Force.  Trial Attorney Mary Ann McCarthy of the Fraud Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
               
This prosecution is part of efforts under way by the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.  President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources.  The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

ESA Portal - Czech Republic - Být v kontaktu i na moři – díky družicím

ESA Portal - Czech Republic - Být v kontaktu i na moři – díky družicím

FIRST QUALIFIED FEMALE SUBMARINE SUPPLY OFFICER RECEIVES SUPPLY DOLPHINS

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
120622-N-FD743-001 BREMERTON, Wash. (June 22, 2012) Lt. Britta Christianson, a Gold Crew supply officer assigned to the guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), is presented with her Submarine Supply Corps "dolphins" by her commanding officer, Capt. Rodney Mills, during a ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as Capt. Dixon Hicks, Ohio's former commanding officer, looks on. Christianson is the first female Supply Corps officer to qualify in submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Chris Calnan/Released) 

First Qualified Female Submarine Supply Officer Receives Supply Dolphins
From Commander, Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs
BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to USS Ohio (SSGN 726) became the first female supply officer to qualify in submarines, June 22.

Lt. Britta Christianson of Ohio's Gold Crew received her Submarine Supply Corps "dolphins" from the Gold Crew Commanding Officer Capt. Rodney Mills during a brief ceremony at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF).

"I'm very proud of Lt. Christianson's accomplishments today," said Mills, "and I'm glad to welcome her to the elite community of dolphin-wearing submariners, past and present. She is a superb supply officer, an excellent watchstander, and she will be critical to ensuring the ship's success during our upcoming deployment."

Ohio is currently undergoing maintenance at PSNS & IMF, having returned to the Pacific Northwest in March after a 14-month forward deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Christianson, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., joined the Gold Crew in November 2011 during Ohio's deployment. She is one of 13 women - four supply officers and nine submarine line officers under instruction - assigned to Ohio and USS Maine (SSBN 741) at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash. Twelve other women are assigned to USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729), based in Kings Bay, Ga.

In order to receive her Supply dolphins, Christianson - already a qualified Naval Flight Officer and surface supply officer - was required to demonstrate knowledge in basic submarine operations and engineering fundamentals, perform damage control functions, and qualify as a diving officer of the watch (DOOW).

"I was honored to be given the opportunity to serve aboard a submarine, so receiving my dolphins is like icing on the cake for me," said Christianson. "It was a lot of hard work, but at the end of the day, two things bring us and our submarine home safely: knowledge of the submarine and our ability to execute the mission, and that basically sums up what dolphins are all about. I owe a lot of my thanks to my captain, chiefs and crew members who trained me and helped me to learn my boat."

Prior to reporting to their boats beginning in November 2011, Christianson and the other women assigned to Ohio, Maine, Wyoming and Georgia graduated from the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, Conn. In addition, the submarine line officers under instruction graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power School at Charleston, S.C., and underwent naval nuclear prototype training.

Ohio and USS Michigan (SSGN 727) are homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor and forward deployed to Guam.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, orwww.twitter.com/usnavy.

2012 PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE AWARD

FROM:  U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Honors 2012 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Winners
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized innovative chemical technologies that have the potential to prevent pollution in the United States. These awards recognize leading researchers and industrial innovators who create safer and more sustainable chemical designs, processes, and products that reduce the need to use chemicals that pollute the environment and threaten Americans’ health. The awardees were honored during the 17th Annual Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.  

“EPA congratulates the 2012 winners for designing, developing, and implementing these innovative green chemistry technologies that will help create more sustainable industries and greener, safer products to protect people’s health and the environment,” said Jim Jones, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “These are exciting technologies that have great potential to improve the safety of the detergents and personal care products we use in our homes; reduce energy consumption and hazardous waste in industrial metal production processes; improve the paper goods and plastics we use daily so that they are made with a smaller environmental footprint and can be recycled more effectively; and even a potential alternative to BPA-based can linings,”

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards include five categories: Academic, Small Business, Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions and Designing Greener Chemicals.

This year, EPA is recognizing two winning academic technologies:

    Robert M. Weymouth, PhD, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., and James L. Hedrick, PhD, San Jose, Calif., for organic catalysis — an innovation that removes hazardous metals used in the production of plastics. The technique creates a safer end product that allows bottle-to-bottle recycling, thereby providing an opportunity to reduce the millions of pounds of plastics that end up in landfills.

    Geoffrey W. Coates, PhD, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., for synthesizing biodegradable polymers from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that can be used in a wide range of adhesives, foams, plastic and potentially lead to the development of a BPA-alternative for use in can linings.

In the small-business category, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc., Woodridge, Ill., is being recognized for the production of high-performing, green specialty chemicals at advantageous costs. These green chemicals can be produced with less energy, significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to petrochemical technologies, and used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products and processes.

Winners in the “Greener Reaction Conditions, Designing Greener Chemicals, and Greener Synthetic Pathways,” categories include:

    Cytec Industries Inc., Woodland Park, N.J. for MAX HT “Bayer Process” scale inhibitor products that result in a drastically more energy efficient and less hazardous process for the production of alumina, a raw material for making aluminum. Application of this technology can result in reducing hazardous acid waste by millions of pounds annually and preventing billions of pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

    Buckman International, Inc., Memphis, Tenn., for enzymes to be used in papermaking that modify the cellulose in wood to increase the number of “fibrils” that bind the wood fibers to each other. The innovation produces paper with improved strength and quality without additional chemicals or energy. The process also allows papermaking with less wood fiber and higher percentages of recycled paper, enabling a single plant to save $1 million per year.

    Codexis, Inc., Redwood City, Calif., and Yi Tang, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles for a more efficient, safer green chemistry approach to manufacturing the drug Simvastatin, a leading statin drug used to treat cardiovascular diseases.

By recognizing groundbreaking scientific solutions to real-world environmental problems, EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Program award winners have significantly reduced the hazards associated with designing, manufacturing, and using chemicals. The program promotes research and development of less-hazardous alternatives to existing technologies that reduce or eliminate waste, particularly hazardous waste, in industrial production. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute selected the 2012 winners from among scores of nominated technologies.

During the 17 years of the program, EPA has received 1,492 nominations and presented awards to 88 winners. Winning technologies alone are responsible for reducing the use or generation of more than 825 million pounds of hazardous chemicals, saving 21 billion gallons of water, and eliminating 7.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent releases to air. These benefits are in addition to significant energy and cost savings by the winners and their customers.

MARTIAN SAND DUNES

FROM:  NASA
Flowing Barchan Sand Dunes on Mars
Image Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA
Explanation: When does Mars act like a liquid? Although liquids freeze and evaporate quickly into the thin atmosphere of Mars, persistent winds may make large sand dunes appear to flow and even drip like a liquid. Visible on the above image right are two flat top mesas in southern Mars when the season was changing from Spring to Summer. A light dome topped hill is also visible on the far left of the image. As winds blow from right to left, flowing sand on and around the hills leaves picturesque streaks. The dark arc-shaped droplets of fine sand are called barchans, and are the interplanetary cousins of similar Earth-based sand forms. Barchans can move intact a downwind and can even appear to pass through each other. When seasons change, winds on Mars can kick up dust and are monitored to see if they escalateinto another of Mars' famous planet-scale sand storms.

TURKISH FIGHTER SHOOT-DOWN BY IRAN CONCERNS U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS 

SERVICE

Turkish Fighter Shootdown Concerns Panetta, Press Secretary Says

By Cheryl Pellerin

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shares the State Department's deep concern over the June 22 shootdown by Syrian forces of a Turkish F-4 fighter and two Turkish pilots, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

After speaking with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on June 24, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton condemned what she called a "brazen and unacceptable act."

"It is yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities' callous disregard for international norms, human life, and peace and security," Clinton said.

"The [Syrian] action speaks for itself," Little told reporters, "and we believe that it was, to use Secretary Clinton's words, a 'brazen act' ... and the Syrian regime needs to answer for it."

Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said the Defense Department has seen nothing to indicate the shootdown wasn't deliberate.

After the shootdown, Little said, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozelto, to express concern over the loss of the Turkish pilots.

Navy Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, also spoke with one of his Turkish counterparts, Little said, adding that Greenert traveled to Turkey June 19-22 to foster the relationship between U.S. and Turkish naval forces.

Turkey has called for a consultation of the North Atlantic Council under Article 4 of the NATO treaty. The meeting will take place tomorrow in Brussels. Under Article 4, any ally can request consultations whenever they believe their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.

The council includes ambassadors of all 28 NATO allies, and Little said the discussion will be led by the State Department, represented by Ambassador Ivo Daalder.

"We will be present at the discussions in Brussels with our NATO allies," the press secretary added, "and beyond that, it's really for our counterparts to discuss what may or may not happen."

The Defense Department maintains a very strong military relationship with its Turkish allies, Little said, and department officials will "continue to have discussions with them about the equipment they need to defend themselves."

The press secretary said Defense Department officials stand ready to assist the Turkish government in the rescue and recovery effort for the missing pilots "if they request such help."

WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD 153RD AIRLIFT WING ACTIVATED TO FIGHT ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIRES

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Air Force Master Sgt. Kevan Johnson, 153rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Cheyenne, Wyo., prepares to load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting System II onto a Wyoming Air National Guard C-130, June 24, 2012. The Wyoming Air National Guard MAFFS unit has been activated to support the Rocky Mountain area fires, and will base out of Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natalie Stanley

Guard Wing Activates to Aid Firefighting Effort
By Deidre Forster
153rd Airlift Wing
CHEYENNE, Wyo., June 25, 2012 - Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s and crews equipped with the U.S. Forest Service's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System will arrive at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., today to support wildland firefighting efforts in the Rocky Mountain region.

The Wyoming Air Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, one of four military units nationwide equipped with the MAFFS II system, was activated yesterday.

Select aircrews from the wing are certified annually by the U.S. Forest Service to fly the aerial firefighting mission. The MAFFS II system can disperse 3,000 gallons of fire retardant per load.

The Wyoming Air National Guard began aerial firefighting in 1975, with the original Modular Airborne Firefighting System. The unit has fought fires throughout the United States and in Indonesia.

U.S. SEC. OF DEFENSE PANETTA COMMENDS EGYPTIAN MILITARY

Photo Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Panetta Commends Egyptian Military for Supporting Elections

By Cheryl Pellerin

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta commends Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, the country's top military officer, and his staff for supporting a secure, free and fair election in Egypt, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

Egypt's election commission announced June 24 that Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi won the presidential runoff over Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

Little said the secretary placed two phone calls to Tantawi, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, late last week to express his desire for the Egyptian military to support a free and fair election, "and that's precisely what occurred."

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke this morning with his Egyptian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Enan, Little added.

"The tenor of all these discussions has been to express a desire to encourage the Egyptian military to support the democratic process," the press secretary said, "and we've seen what's occurred in Egypt."

Egypt has an enduring role as a security partner and leader in promoting regional stability, "and we look forward to working with the new government on a host of issues," Little told reporters last week.

ISAF JOINT COMMAND REPORT FROM AFGHANISTAN: JUNE 25, 2012

Photo:  F-15E Refueling Over Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.

FROM:  AMERICAN 

FORCES PRESS SERVICE 

Combined Force Detains Taliban Explosives Expert

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban explosives expert in the Gardez district of Afghanistan's Paktia province yesterday, military officials reported.

The detained explosives expert led bomb-attack network, trained insurgents throughout the region, and was responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force seized a pistol, a grenade launcher, rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and bomb components.

Also yesterday, an Afghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained several suspected insurgents and seized assault rifles, mortar equipment and ammunition during an operation to detain a Haqqani network leader in Khost province's Sabari district. The Haqqani leader has been directly involved in attacks against coalition forces in the area.

In June 23 Afghanistan operations:

-- An Afghan-led security force in Kandahar province's Maiwand district, supported by coalition troops, apprehended a Taliban leader responsible for bomb attacks against coalition forces in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The security force detained an additional suspected insurgent in the operation.

-- In Zabul province's Tarnak wa Jaldak district, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader who participated in direct-fire and roadside-bomb attacks and distributed weapons and other aid to insurgents. The security force detained another suspect in the operation and seized explosives and bomb components.

GEN. DEMPSEY AT GOLD STAR MOTHERS GALA

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Dempsey Lauds New Generation at Gold Star Mothers Gala
By Amaani Lyle
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lauded the sacrifices and dedication of modern-day service members during remarks at the American Gold Star Mothers 75th annual national convention gala here last night.
"We're building on a foundation of greater strength than probably at any time in our history," Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said.

The chairman recalled the 17-year gap between his own graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and his first combat experience in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

"There was a time in the intervening years when you do wonder ... is the fabric tough enough?" the chairman asked. "Will we have courage like our predecessors did? Will we be willing to sacrifice?"

Now, the chairman said, the answer is clear.
"If we can't answer that question in the affirmative now, we're just not paying attention," he said. "The kids that are out there are courageous, they're selfless, they're smart, they're dedicated, and they're just irrepressible -- they will do anything to take care of this country and what it stands for."

On June 4, 1928, a group of 25 mothers met in the District of Columbia to plan a national organization that would be later known as the American Gold Star Mothers to honor mothers of those killed while in the armed forces, to promote patriotism and to assist veterans.

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER'S REMARKS ON HIGH COURT ARIZONA STATUS LAW

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Monday, June 25, 2012
Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Arizona v. The United States
Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today:

 “I welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down major provisions of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 on federal preemption grounds.  Today’s ruling appropriately bars the State of Arizona from effectively criminalizing unlawful status in the state and confirms the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate in the area of immigration.

“While I am pleased the Court confirmed the serious constitutional questions the government raised regarding Section 2, I remain concerned about the impact of Section 2, which requires law enforcement officials to verify the immigration status of any person lawfully stopped or detained when they have reason to suspect that the person is here unlawfully.  As the Court itself recognized, Section 2 is not a license to engage in racial profiling and I want to assure communities around this country that the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce federal prohibitions against racial and ethnic discrimination.  We will closely monitor the impact of S.B. 1070 to ensure compliance with federal immigration law and with applicable civil rights laws, including ensuring that law enforcement agencies and others do not implement the law in a manner that has the purpose or effect of discriminating against the Latino or any other community.

“We will also work to ensure that the verification provision does not divert police officers away from traditional law enforcement efforts in order to enforce federal immigration law, potentially impairing local policing efforts and discouraging crime victims, including children of non-citizens, victims of domestic violence, and asylum seekers, from reporting abuses and crimes out of fear of detention or deportation.  We will continue to use every federal resource to protect the safety and civil rights of all Americans.”

DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND TWO INVESTIGATORS FOUND GUILTY OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Friday, June 22, 2012
Veteran D.C. Defense Attorney Charles F. Daum and Two Investigators Found Guilty of Obstruction of Justice Charges

Veteran District of Columbia defense attorney Charles F. Daum, 66, of Arnold, Md., was found guilty today of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, three counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of subornation of perjury, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Chief Cathy L. Lanier of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

Daum’s co-defendants, private investigators Daaiyah Pasha, 62, of Washington, D.C., and Iman Pasha, 32, of Springfield, Va., were also found guilty today on one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

After a six-week bench trial, Senior U.S District Judge Gladys Kessler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued her verdict today.   Daum was acquitted on one charge of witness tampering.

The charges resulted from Daum’s representation of Delante White, who was indicted in March 2008 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on federal drug trafficking charges following the execution of a search warrant on Feb. 23, 2008.

“In his zeal to defend his client, Mr. Daum betrayed his profession and obstructed justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.  “He and his co-conspirators fabricated evidence to submit in his client’s criminal trial, and he further suborned perjury from two defense witnesses.  It’s astounding that a lawyer could commit these crimes, which undermine the integrity of our criminal justice system.  The court found Mr. Daum guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he now faces prison time as a result.”

Judge Kessler found beyond a reasonable doubt that Daum, after entering his notice of appearance in the White case, devised a plan to obtain and produce false evidence designed to convince the jury that the drugs seized by the police on Feb. 23, 2008, did not belong to White.  Daum enlisted the help of Daaiyah and Iman Pasha, whom Daum had hired as investigators, and others to help carry out his scheme.   Following Daum’s directions, the co-conspirators obtained duplicates of several items that were seized as evidence during the execution of the search warrant, including a digital scale, a razor blade, plates, an Adidas shoe box and a pair of Gucci boots.   Once those items were obtained, Daaiyah and Iman Pasha made arrangements to take staged photographs of another individual depicted with the items, while apparently “cutting” “rock cocaine” in order to make it appear as though the seized drugs actually belonged to the other individual.   Daum later submitted the staged photographs, as well as other fabricated items, as evidence during White’s criminal trial.

Judge Kessler also found that Daum solicited and presented the perjured testimony of two witnesses, to further obstruct and impede the administration of justice.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge.   Daum faces an additional maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of obstruction.   Daum also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge of subornation of perjury.   Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Donnell Turner, Darrin L. McCullough and Tritia Yuen of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  The case was investigated by the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

JOINT EXERCISES IN SOUTH KOREA AND WAR ANNIVERSARY

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters from the 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade participate in a live-fire exercise June 22, 2012, in Pocheon, South Korea. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Kim Jae-you  
Allies Conduct Exercise to Mark Korean War Anniversary
By Walter T. Ham IV
8th U.S. Army
POCHEON, South Korea, June 25, 2012 - American and South Korean forces conducted a large live-fire exercise June 22 to mark the anniversary of the Korean War at a range close to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

More than 2,000 South Korean and U.S. troops and 38 military units participated in the exercise, held three days before today's 62nd anniversary of the start of Korean War.
Numerous South Korean and U.S. government and military officials attended the exercise, including South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, as well as Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, commander of 8th U.S. Army.

Marshaling the alliance's combined military might, crews of U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division Apache attack helicopters and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets trained with units from South Korea's army and air force.

During the integrated air and ground operations, artillery units, tanks, fighting vehicles, tactical aircraft and attack helicopters peppered and pummeled their targets in a precise fusillade that echoed across the range and filled the summer air with the acrid smell of gun smoke.

The exercise culminated with a South Korean army airborne unit parachuting into the mountains on the eastern end of the rugged training range.

Col. Andrew C. Mutter, 8th Army public affairs chief, said the exercise sends a clear message about the alliance's enduring commitment to deterring aggression on the Korean peninsula and maintaining security in Northeast Asia.

"[South Korean] and U.S. forces train together all year round here to ensure we remain ready fight and win," he said. "Our ability to conduct such complex combined, joint live-fire exercises is a testament to the professionalism and readiness of our militaries."

FIRST ROCKET LAUNCH FROM CAPE CANAVERAL

FROM:  NASA
Explanation: A new chapter in space flight began on 1950 July with the launch of the first rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida: the Bumper V-2. Shown above, the Bumper V-2 was an ambitious two-stage rocket program that topped a V-2 missile base with a WAC Corporal rocket. The upper stage was able to reach then-record altitudes of almost 400 kilometers, higher than even modern Space Shuttles fly today. Launched under the direction of the General Electric Company, the Bumper V-2 was used primarily for testing rocket systems and for research on the upper atmosphere. Bumper V-2 rockets carried small payloads that allowed them to measure attributes including air temperature and cosmic ray impacts. Seven years later, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I and Sputnik II, the first satellites into Earth orbit. In response in 1958,, the US created NASA.

USDA FOOD SAFETY TIPS AFTER FIRE DEVASTATION

Photo:  AC130 Hercules Makes Drop On Fire.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.   
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety Tips for those Recovering from Wildfires, Other Fire Devastation

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2012 - Due to the potential threat from flames like those recently caused by the High Park wildfire in Colorado and the Whitewater-Baldy Complex wildfire in New Mexico, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing recommendations to minimize the likelihood of foodborne illness during the recovery or clean-up phase after a fire.

Each year, two million American homes and families experience losses from wildfires or flames sparked by accidental fires.

"Food safety is a critical public health issue, especially during times of emergency," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "A fire in the home can expose foods to toxic fumes and chemicals, making them unsafe to eat. Loss of power can also create unsafe foods. Consumers can find more information about how to be food safe after fires, power outages and other emergencies through FSIS'AskKaren.gov."

Steps to follow after a fire in your home or business 
Heat from a fire, smoke fumes and chemicals used to fight fire can compromise food.

Food in cans or jars may appear to be unaffected, but if they've been close to the heat of a fire, they may no longer be safe. Heat from a fire can activate food spoilage bacteria. If a can ruptures as a result of a blaze, the food inside will be unsafe.

Toxic fumes, released from burning materials, can kill and they can also contaminate food. Any type of food stored in permeable packaging — cardboard, plastic wrap, etc. — should be thrown away. Surprisingly, food stored in refrigerators or freezers can also become contaminated by fumes. The refrigerator seal isn't airtight and fumes can get inside. If food from your refrigerator has an off-flavor or odor, throw it away.

Chemicals used to fight fires contain toxic materials and can contaminate food and cookware. The chemicals cannot be washed off of food. Foods that are exposed to firefighting chemicals should be thrown away. This includes food stored at room temperature, as well as foods stored in permeable containers like cardboard and screw-topped jars and bottles.

Canned goods and cookware exposed to chemicals can be decontaminated by washing items in a strong detergent and then dipping them in a bleach solution composed of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water for 15 minutes.

When in doubt, throw it out!

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atwww.AskKaren.gov or m.AskKaren.gov on your smartphone. Mobile Ask Karen can also be downloaded from the Android app store. Consumers can also email, chat with a live representative, or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline directly from the app. To use these features on the app, simply choose "Contact Us" from the menu. The live chat option and the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), are available in English and Spanish from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. Podcasts [in English and Spanish] as well as SignFSIS video-casts in American Sign Language featuring text-captioning are available online at:www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/multimedia.