Thursday, November 29, 2012
2 BROOKLYN CLINIC EMPLOYEES PLEAD GUILTY TO ROLES IN $71 MILLION MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEWednesday, November 28, 2012
Two Brooklyn Clinic Employees Plead Guilty in Connection With $71 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Co-Defendant Pleaded Guilty Yesterday for Role in Scheme
WASHINGTON – Two Brooklyn, N.Y., residents pleaded guilty today for their roles in a $71 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta E. Lynch; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Mary E. Galligan of the FBI’s New York Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas O’Donnell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Katherina Kostiochenko, 34, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon in the Eastern District of New York to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks. Sergey V. Shelikhov, 51, pleaded guilty today before Judge Gershon to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Co-conspirator Leonid Zheleznyakov, 28, pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Gershon to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for his role in the scheme.
Kostiochenko, Shelikhov and Zheleznyakov were employees of a clinic in Brooklyn that operated under three corporate names: Bay Medical Care PC, SVS Wellcare Medical PLLC and SZS Medical Care PLLC (Bay Medical clinic). According to court documents, owners, operators and employees of the Bay Medical clinic paid cash kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries and used the beneficiaries’ names to bill Medicare for more than $71 million in services that were medically unnecessary or never provided. The defendants billed Medicare for a wide variety of fraudulent medical services and procedures, including physician office visits, physical therapy and diagnostic tests.
According to the criminal complaint, the co-conspirators allegedly paid kickbacks to corrupt Medicare beneficiaries in a room at the clinic known as the "kickback room," in which the conspirators paid approximately 1,000 kickbacks totaling more than $500,000 during a period of approximately six weeks from April to June 2010.
Kostiochenko, Shelikhov and Zheleznyakov pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud for their roles in the Bay Medical scheme. Kostiochenko also pleaded guilty to paying cash kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries as part of the scheme.
At sentencing, Kostiochenko faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, and Shelikhov and Zheleznyakov both face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Kostiochenko and Zheleznyakov are scheduled for sentencing on March 12, 2013, and Shelikhov is scheduled for sentencing March 13, 2013.
In total, 16 individuals have been charged in the Bay Medical scheme, including two doctors, nine clinic owners/operators/employees and five external money launderers. To date, 10 defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. Six individuals await trial before Judge Gershon on Jan. 22, 2013.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sarah M. Hall of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Jones of the Eastern District of New York. The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS.
The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a joint initiative announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged more than 1,480 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $4.8 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON AND AFRICAN UNION CHAIRPERSON DLAMINI-ZUMA MAKE REMARKS AFTER MEETING
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| Photo: Hillside In Rwanda. Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With African Union Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma After Their Meeting
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
November 28, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon, everyone. It is such a personal pleasure for me to welcome the Chairperson here for our high-level meetings. This is our third high-level meeting, and we highly value the relationship and the increasing cooperation that we are enjoying with the African Union. And of course, I want to congratulate the Chairperson for becoming the first woman chair of the African Union.
I want to start by saying a few words about the ongoing situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The humanitarian impact of this conflict in the eastern part of the country is devastating. More than 285,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since this rebellion began back in April. They are in critical need of assistance. Health workers in Goma have been killed and abducted. Members of civil society, human rights activists, judicial authorities throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo have received death threats. The United States strongly condemns these tactics of fear and intimidation. And those who abuse human rights must be held accountable.
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson has been in the region holding discussions with leadership from the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda to try to help bring about a ceasefire. We strongly support continued cooperation among the leaders of these countries and throughout the region and commend the African Union for its recent decision to send a special envoy to the Great Lakes.
With regard to the M23 rebel group, there is only one way forward: They must meet their commitments under the Kampala Accords to cease their attacks, withdraw from Goma, and pull back to the July lines. Under the Kampala Accords, President Kabila’s government has agreed to hear and address the grievances of the M23 leaders, and we call on leaders and governments from throughout the region to halt and prevent any support to the M23 from their territory.
Now this is just one issue that illustrates the importance of enhanced, strong cooperation between the African Union and the United States. First, on peace and security, we strongly support the AU missions in Somalia and Darfur as well as the AU’s facilitation efforts in Sudan and South Sudan. And we are working to support the AU’s leadership with respect to the crises in Mali, and as I said, eastern DRC.
The AU is the partner who is best able to empower and mobilize the resources and the will throughout the continent to address crises, and we are very pleased to see this strong role getting even stronger. Secondly, we want to work together to promote credible elections and foster good governance, strong transparent institutions, and democracy. Third, we want to enhance trade and investment between the United States and Africa. As I never tire of saying, seven of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies are located in Africa. And we want to do more to really see greater prosperity across the continent.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. This high-level meeting builds on President Obama’s presidential policy directive on Sub-Saharan Africa, and we are going to do all that we can to promote peace and prosperity. So it’s a great pleasure to have this meeting, which is a two-day set of meetings here in the State Department and in agencies across our government, and to work together on a framework for implementation with timelines and accountability, something that both the Chairperson and I believe strongly in doing, so that everyone knows what we are trying to achieve together.
So, thank you so much.
CHAIRPERSON DLAMINI-ZUMA: Well, thank you very much. We are very happy to be here, and our approach to this meeting is that we have to have a balance between dealing with crises and peace and security matters with development, because we feel that these are two sides of the same coin. If we delay development, there’ll be more crises and more instability. But at the same time, if we don’t deal with the security situation, we can’t develop. So that balance for us is very important. And going forward, we are working as the AU towards a prosperous Africa which is at peace with itself and the world. And so all our efforts are geared towards those – towards that vision. And we have had very fruitful discussions. And obviously, discussions are as good as the follow-up, and we are going to make sure that we follow up on all the decisions that – and discussions that we’ve had. Thank you.
MS. NULAND: Good. We’ll take two this evening. We’ll start with CNN, Jill Doughterty.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you. I wanted to ask you about tomorrow. The Palestinians go to the United Nations, asking for non-observer status. We know that the U.S. objects, and we know many of the reasons. But why are you adamant about it at this point when Mahmoud Abbas could use some shoring up at home – he’s losing support – and even as Hamas is gaining support?
And then if I could ask you one question on Benghazi: Some are saying since the State Department is responsible for embassies, why wasn’t it you who was on the talk shows on Sunday, as opposed to Ambassador Rice?
Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first with regard to the Palestinian question, I have said many times that the path to a two-state solution that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people is through Jerusalem and Ramallah, not New York. We have made very clear to the Palestinian leadership – you know I met with President Abbas just last week – that we oppose Palestinian efforts to upgrade their status at the UN outside of the framework of negotiations to achieve a two-state solution, because no matter what happens at the United Nations, it will not produce the outcome that this government, this President, and certainly I strongly support. And the only way to get a lasting solution is to commence direct negotiations, and we need an environment conducive to that. And we’ve urged both parties to refrain from actions that might in any way make a return to meaningful negotiations that focus on getting to a resolution more difficult. So I may have more to say about that later, but certainly that’s our overall view.
Let me just say, first of all, that Susan Rice has done a great job as our Ambassador to the United Nations. And of course, this decision about my successor is up to the President, but I’m very happy he has the opportunity with a second term to make a decision. And I’m not going to answer any hypothetical questions about what could’ve happened but didn’t happen. I’m looking forward to being able to discuss all of the issues pertaining to this after the conclusion of the Accountability Review Board. My responsibility was to appoint such a board, which I did immediately. They have been hard at work. We are hoping that they will be finished with their work very soon, and we intend to make the results of their investigation publicly, and at that time I will be able to address all of these issues.
MS. NULAND: Last one this evening, (inaudible).
QUESTION: Madam Chairperson, Madam Secretary, can Rwanda be part of the solution in Kivu if it continues to deny that it’s part of the problem, specifically its support for M23? And do you think President Kagame has any personal responsibility to bear on what’s going on there now?
CHAIRPERSON DLAMINI-ZUMA: Well, our approach to this matter is that it doesn’t help us in fingerprinting – finger-pointing. We just need a solution. And we met in Kampala on Saturday, the summit took decisions that the M23 must be out, that there must be a special force, a neutral force to deal with that area, and that President Kabila should listen and evaluate the concerns of the M23. And so for us, what is important is to get that resolution of that problem, and the rest will be taken care of because Rwanda is part of the Great Lakes. They have taken a decision that there must be a neutral force there. And Rwanda was there. It supported that decision that M23 must move out of Goma. Rwanda was there. It supported that decision. So for us, that’s what is important.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And I would fully support the Chairperson’s comments. We have consistently called on all parties, including Rwanda, to play a positive role in helping to bring about a peaceful resolution of this conflict. And that includes ending any and all support for the M23. Any military assistance from anyone to the M23 is in violation of the UN arms embargo. And we were very heartened by the results of the Kampala summit. And as the Chairperson said, now we want to see it implemented. There was an agreement. There’s a path forward. But it is up to the parties now to hold themselves accountable, and each other, for acting on those agreements.
Thank you.
MS. NULAND: Thank you all very much.
AIR FORCE CYBER TAKES PART IN USCYBERCOM CYBER FLAG EXERCISE
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| LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, administers the Oath of Enlistment to basic training graduates on the parade grounds at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 15. The importance of defending cyberspace was taken to a new level last week when cyber training became a permanent fixture of the Air Force Basic Military Training curriculum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robbin Cresswell) |
FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE
AFCYBER takes part in second USCYBERCOM Cyber Flag exercise
by Tech. Sgt. Scott McNabb
24th Air Force Public Affairs
11/21/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- 24th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force's cyber component to U.S. Cyber Command, took part in the Cyber Flag 13-1 training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Oct. 29-Nov. 8.
USCYBERCOM designed Cyber Flag to bring together Department of Defense cyber and information technology professionals to hone their cyber skills against a realistic adversary in a tactical virtual environment.
"Our increasing dependency on reliable and efficient network connectivity and the growing threat posed by cyber adversaries highlight the importance of practicing combined operations in defense of the DOD information infrastructure," said Capt. Christian Mapp, 24th Air Force exercise branch chief. "As the service provider for Air Force networks, 24th Air Force participation with the other service components is critical to ensuring a synchronized and coordinated approach to DOD network defense being available and capable should the need ever arise."
Mapp said the Air Force assembled a total force team comprised of more than 70 active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard cyber warriors from across the nation.
This year's Cyber Flag was larger than the first Cyber Flag held in 2011 on the same cyber range. This year's exercise saw approximately 700 participants, up from last year's 300, and doubled the network size. All participants had a specific role to play, playing the part of a U.S. team or role-playing an adversary.
"Exercises like Cyber Flag test participants' readiness when faced with a realistic cyber event in a stressed environment against a dynamic and skilled adversary. This was not a simple 'capture the flag' event," said Col. George Lamont, director of USCYBERCOM Joint Exercises and Training.
The exercise included an opposing force whose mission was to penetrate and disrupt the computer networks of the "good guys," or Blue Force - made up of DOD cyber service components.
Lt. Col. Jamie Maki, 24th Air Force chief of exercise and training chief, said Cyber Flag is designed to provide realistic training opportunities for a number of DOD commands to deter and, if necessary, defeat a cyber attack. Additionally, much like Red Flag is to the air world, Cyber Flag aims to give cyber operators experience with tactics, techniques and procedures of our cyber adversaries and test our own tactics, techniques and procedures. The teams were given opportunities to coordinate actions across the offensive and defensive spectrum as well as partnering with our sister services.
Despite this only being the second Cyber Flag, Maki said some of the key successes of the exercise included such efforts as the integration of cyber intelligence analysts proving invaluable to the mission planning cell, ultimately enhancing the defensive posture and virtually eliminating stovepipe efforts. Additionally, the collaboration between teams detecting cyber intrusions and first responders leveraged tactical insights and skill sets yielding greater synergy and mission effectiveness. Finally, the exercise partnered service teams with coalition partners highlighting the global nature of the cyber domain.
"Through the use of a virtual network environment, individuals supporting Cyber Flag benefited by gaining exposure to problem sets they may not normally experience in their day-to-day jobs. Furthermore the event affords the opportunity to work in concerted effort with their sister-service counterparts to operate and defend DOD networks across the full spectrum of operations against a realistic adversary," Mapp explained.
Cyber security continues to be a priority across the government. The DOD has a critical role in developing and supporting the nation's cyber security efforts.
"Cyber Flag highlights the interconnected nature of the DOD information infrastructure, making the key takeaway from Air Force Cyber Command's participation in Cyber Flag the necessity to demonstrate a holistic approach for clearing the net and securing the high ground," said Mapp.
U.S. VA SUPPORTS WORLD AIDS DAY
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| Photo: U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Mercy. Credit: U.S. Navy |
FROM: U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
December 1 is World AIDS Day
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released its recommendations that all Americans ages 15 to 65 should be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime.
VA is ahead of the curve and has recommended routine HIV testing for all Veterans since 2009. VA policy is to test every Veteran at least once in their lifetime.
Currently, over 1.2 million Veterans, representing 20 percent of Veterans in care, have a documented HIV test in their electronic medical record. Routine HIV screening allows for care for HIV positive Veterans and reduces the potential for the virus to be transmitted to others.
VA’s Office of Public Health is encouraging VA staff to offer every Veteran an HIV test. Working together, we can create an AIDS-free generation!
To reinforce the importance of World AIDS Day, VA is issuing a unique and comprehensive HIV Prevention Manual, which is a compilation of VA policies and strategies to address primary and secondary HIV prevention.
Designed as a tool for front-line health care providers, it is an extremely valuable resource.
On World AIDS Day, VA joins the AIDS community in its "Facing AIDS" initiative, a campaign to help reduce stigma and promote HIV testing by putting a face to those with HIV and the people who support them.
"An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and yet one out of five doesn’t know it," according to Dr. Maggie Czarnogorski, Deputy Director of VA’s HIV, Hepatitis, and Public Health Pathogen Program. "World AIDS Day is an opportunity to take action. VA is the largest provider of care to those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. By diagnosing HIV infection as soon as possible, Veterans can receive excellent care and remain healthy for many years to come."
Join VA in recognizing World AIDS Day. Say yes to the test!
NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2012
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| Photo Credit: U.S. Army |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests District-level Taliban Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 29, 2012 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a district-level Taliban leader in Afghanistan's Kandahar province today, military officials reported.
The arrested insurgent leader had been in charge of coordinating the storage and transfer of Taliban weapons and ammunition, officials said, and also oversaw the construction of improvised explosive devices.
In other recent Afghanistan operations:
-- Coalition forces in Helmand province found and destroyed 538 pounds of heroin.
-- An Afghan security force, supported by coalition troops, killed several insurgents and detained two others in Laghman province Nov. 27.
-- A Taliban facilitator who oversaw the construction and emplacement of IEDs was arrested in Kandahar province Nov. 26.
THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL "WALL" GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
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| Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial "Wall" in Washington, D.C., Nov. 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley |
Panetta Honors Vets at 'Wall' Education Center Groundbreaking
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 - The education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial "Wall" will be a place to join the past to the future, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at the center's groundbreaking ceremony today.
By telling the stories of service members whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country will not be forgotten, he said.
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined Panetta at the ceremony, held near the memorial on the National Mall here. The groundbreaking included a large delegation of congressional and military leaders and members of Gold Star Families -- an organization for families that have lost loved ones in military service.
"It will be a site for future generations of Americans to learn, think and reflect on our nation's wars and those who fought them," Panetta said of the education center. "This is a very poignant moment, for a very special place in my heart for [Vietnam veterans]."
The center, which will honor veterans from several U.S. wars, will bring to life the stories of the more than 58,000 U.S. service members who were lost during the Vietnam War. Stories and photos of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan also will be featured until those veterans have their own national place of honor, event officials said.
"As I travel across the country and the world, I am always inspired by the strength and the resilience of our military families," Biden, also a military mom, told the audience.
"But there are many Americans who don't know anyone in the military," she added. "As a life-long educator, that's why the education center is so important. It will help ensure our veterans will always be remembered -- not just in name, by but by their actions. Those actions will become part of the lessons that educate and inspire us for years to come."
This year begins the 50th anniversary commemoration of the United States' participation in the Vietnam War, Panetta told the audience.
"We remember their bravery and heroism and we will never forget their sacrifices during that conflict," he said of U.S. service members who fought in Vietnam.
Panetta spoke of his recent travels to Vietnam, noting that Defense Department officials were working diligently in Hanoi to find and identify remains of U.S. service members who are missing in action there and throughout the region.
"It is our sacred duty to leave no one behind," Panetta said. "We will not rest until every MIA is brought home. I assure you that your government is committed to the fullest possible accounting of our missing service members from the Vietnam War."
Panetta said Americans failed to acknowledge the sacrifices of the nation's service members when they returned home after the war.
"America's recognition came too late," he said. "The Vietnam generation is graying now. Preserving stories requires more than a place of remembrance. It needs a place of education. [These veterans] must never be forgotten."
The center will focus on a divisive time in the nation's history from which it learned meaningful lessons, the secretary said.
"That war is always a last resort, that we must have a clear mission [to fight], that people can oppose a war and still support the troops, and that we should always cherish the legacy of valor and self-sacrifice our veterans represent and make America strong," he said.
Panetta said the center will honor the nation's military heroes "by telling the stories of brave American warriors, past and present, we help ensure we'll never forget the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price for their country."
"The torch of freedom these heroes carried into battle must be passed from generation to generation, so we never stop fighting for a better future for our children," the secretary said.
HURRICANE SANDY CAUSED ELECTRICAL FIRES IN BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY
FROM: FEMA
Belleville, N.J., Nov. 27, 2012 -- When Hurricane Sandy blew through Belleville, New Jersey on the night of Oct. 28, 2012, her high winds caused sparking in electrical wires in this home that resulted in a fire. Walt Jennings-FEMA
Belleville, N.J., Nov. 27, 2012 -- Electrical wiring problems spark fires. When Hurricane Sandy blew through Belleville, New Jersey on the night of October 28, 2012, her high winds caused sparking in electrical wires in this home that resulted in a fire. Walt Jennings-FEMA
U.S. ADMIRAL WINNEFELD SPEAKS OF U.S. DEFENSE STRATEGY AND BUDGET
+The+guided-missile+destroyer+USS+Michael+Murphy+(DDG+112)+arrives+at+its+homeport+of+Joint+Base+Pearl+Harbor-Hickam+for+the+first+time+web_121121-N-KT462-054.jpg) |
| PEARL HARBOR (Nov. 21, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrives at its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the first time. |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Winnefeld Discusses Defense Strategy, Budget Link
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 - The fiscal 2014 defense budget request will be a chance for the department to adjust funding to support the defense strategic guidance issued in January this year, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said here yesterday.
The admiral spoke at the Atlantic Council's Commanders Series.
"We are continuing to filter and refine the decisions we made ... last year," Winnefeld said. "It is going on now and it is going on pretty well."
Winnefeld took office the same day that Congress passed the Budget Control Act -- Aug. 4, 2011. "I arrived in this job at the high-water mark of the defense budget for the last 20 years," he said.
Defense leaders had already termed the national deficit as a threat to national security, he said, noting that DOD will do its part to reduce it. "We would forcefully state that we are not necessarily the cause of this problem, but we all need to pitch in," he said.
Since 9/11, the department had virtually unlimited resources, the admiral said.
"Now we're in a different place, and as Winston Churchill said, 'Gentlemen, we're out of money, and now we have to think,'" he added.
Under the old strategy, cutting $489 billion out of the department over 10 years increased the risk to the nation, Winnefeld said. DOD leaders needed to work together to examine the department's core missions, he said, and how to accomplish those missions with declining resources..
"We knew we had to link strategy with the budget-making process," the admiral said.
At the same time, leaders had to account for changes in warfare, he said. This included changes across the range of combat bred by the efficacy of networks to speed awareness. It also included understanding the benefits interagency partners provide to the military and the importance of cross-service cooperation at all levels.
On the equipment side, the strategy had to consider the effect of unmanned vehicles, cyber capabilities, stealth technology and the contributions of "the best people we have ever had in the U.S. military," Winnefeld said. The talent that young people bring to the military was actually folded into the new strategy, he said.
The plan made a number of changes in a shift to the Pacific, the emphasis on cyber operations, being able to project power and increased emphasis on efficiency in the department, he said. The strategy keeps the counterterrorism force robust and retains the nuclear deterrent, Winnefeld noted.
The strategy calls for less emphasis on long-term stability operations, the admiral said.
"The way President [Barack] Obama has put it was, 'Give me fewer Iraqi Freedoms and more Desert Storms,'" Winnefeld said. "The point was, go in, do the 'defeat,' and get the job done. Don't end up there for 10 years trying to do nation building. We're just not going to be allowed to do that. We can't afford it."
The guidance took three months to publish, and then leaders used this guidance to build the fiscal 2013 DOD budget request. "It was the first time in my career that I have seen such a tight connection between the strategy document ... to 'means' decisions -- the things we were going to buy or not buy," the admiral said.
The bottom line, he said, is that the strategy covers national interests -- the security of the United States and its citizens; a strong U.S. economy; respect for universal values; and an international order that promotes peace, stability and security through stronger cooperation.
Senior leaders measure their decisions against this strategy, Winnefeld said, and will continue to do so with the new budget.
Winnefeld said he's optimistic that Congress will avoid sequestration, but if it takes place and the department has to cut another $500 billion from the budget, then the strategic guidance could be made moot. A new plan would have to be drawn up, increasing the risk to the nation, the admiral said.
SEC CHARGES THREE TOP EXECUTIVES AT KCAP FINANCIAL INC., WITH OVERSTATING ASSETS DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS
FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C., Nov. 28, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged three top executives at a New York-based publicly-traded fund being regulated as a business development company (BDC) with overstating the fund’s assets during the financial crisis. The fund’s asset portfolio consisted primarily of corporate debt securities and investments in collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).
An SEC investigation found that KCAP Financial Inc. did not account for certain market-based activity in determining the fair value of its debt securities and certain CLOs. KCAP also failed to disclose that the fund had valued its two largest CLO investments at cost. KCAP’s chief executive officer Dayl W. Pearson and chief investment officer R. Jonathan Corless had primary responsibility for calculating the fair value of KCAP’s debt securities, while KCAP’s former chief financial officer Michael I. Wirth had primary responsibility for calculating the fair value of KCAP’s CLOs. Wirth, a certified public accountant, prepared the disclosures about KCAP’s methodologies to fair value its CLOs, and Pearson reviewed those disclosures.
The three executives agreed to pay financial penalties to settle the SEC’s charges.
"When market conditions change, funds and other entities must properly take into account those changed conditions in fair valuing their assets, said Antonia Chion, Associate Director in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. "This is particularly important for BDCs like KCAP, whose entire business consists of the assets that it holds for investment."
This is the SEC’s first enforcement action against a public company that failed to properly fair value its assets according to the applicable financial accounting standard — FAS 157 — which became effective for KCAP in the first quarter of 2008.
According to the SEC’s order instituting administrative proceedings against the fund and the three executives, KCAP did not record and report the fair value of its assets in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and in particular FAS 157, which requires assets to be fair valued based on an "exit price" that reflects the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
The SEC’s order found that Pearson and Corless concluded that any trades of debt securities held by KCAP in the fourth quarter of 2008 reflected distressed transactions, and therefore KCAP determined the fair value of its debt securities based solely on an enterprise value methodology. However, this methodology did not calculate or inform KCAP investors of the FAS 157 "exit price" for that security. Wirth calculated the fair value of KCAP’s two largest CLO investments to be their cost, and did not take into account the market conditions during that period.
According to the SEC’s order, in May 2010, KCAP restated the fair values for certain debt securities and CLOs whose net asset values had been overstated by approximately 27 percent as of Dec. 31, 2008. Moreover, KCAP’s internal controls over financial reporting did not adequately take into account certain market inputs and other data.
"KCAP should have accounted for market conditions in the fourth quarter of 2008 in determining the fair values of its assets," said Julie M. Riewe, Deputy Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s Asset Management Unit. "FAS 157 is critically important in fair valuing illiquid securities, and funds must consider market information in making FAS 157 fair value determinations and comply with their disclosed valuation methodologies."
KCAP’s overvaluation and internal controls failures violated the reporting, books and records, and internal controls provisions of the federal securities laws, namely Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-11, and 13a-13 thereunder. Pearson, Corless, and Wirth caused KCAP’s violations and directly violated Exchange Act Rule 13b2-1 by causing KCAP’s books and records to be falsified. Pearson and Wirth also directly violated Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 by falsely certifying the adequacy of KCAP’s internal controls.
Pearson and Wirth each agreed to pay $50,000 penalties and Corless agreed to pay a $25,000 penalty to settle the SEC’s charges. KCAP and the three executives, without admitting or denying the findings, consented to the SEC’s order requiring them to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations or any future violations of these federal securities laws.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Adam Aderton of the Asset Management Unit, Noel Gittens, and Richard Haynes, and was supervised by Assistant Director Ricky Sachar
MAURITANIA NATIONAL DAY
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| Map Of Mauritania. Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Mauritania National Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 28, 2012
2012 On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Mauritania on your 52nd anniversary of independence this November 28.
Mauritania and the United States continue to work closely to advance regional peace and security. The United States fully supports Mauritania’s democratic and economic development. And we look forward to finding new opportunities to collaborate on promoting human rights and expanding economic opportunities for all citizens.
I wish all Mauritanians a happy 52nd anniversary celebration. We are committed to building upon our partnership to promote prosperity and peace in the coming year.
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| Mauritania Locator Map. Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and ushered in a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009 and sworn in the following month. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
ASTROBIOLOGIST GRINSPOON ANSWERS QUESTIONS
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| Photo: Earth Cousins. Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
FROM: U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Inquiring Minds: An Interview with Astrobiologist David H. Grinspoon
November 29, 2012 by Erin Allen
(The following is a guest post by Jason Steinhauer, a program specialist in the Library’s John W. Kluge Center, as part of the blog series, "Inquiring Minds.")
American astrobiologist David H. Grinspoon began on November 1 as the inaugural Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology at the Library’s
John W. Kluge Center.
This unique position was established through an interagency agreement between the Library of Congress and the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) for research into the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe, and the societal and humanistic implications of such inquiry. The chair is named for Baruch S. Blumberg, late Kluge Center Scholars Council member, Nobel Laureate and founding director of the NAI.
Grinspoon is curator of astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, widely published writer, and currently serves on the Science Team for the Curiosity Rover mission to Mars.
Q:
Tell us about what you’ll be researching at the Library of Congress.
A: My intention is to study the Anthropocene Era from an astrobiology perspective. The Anthropocene is the phrase that some scientists are using to refer to the geological era that is defined by human activity. It’s still controversial among geologists, as it acknowledges that we are having a global-scale impact on the Earth and looks at humans as a geological force. I intend to apply the perspective of astrobiology, which is a deep time way of looking at life on Earth, towards the question of the Anthropocene. What does the human phenomenon on Earth look like viewed from an interplanetary perspective?
Q: Can you explain astrobiology and deep time a bit?
A: Astrobiology is the science of life in the Universe. It’s an attempt to scientifically deal with the question of whether or not we’re alone in the universe, looking at the past of life, the present of life and the future of life. It’s an interdisciplinary study incorporating astronomy, biology and the Earth sciences. We’re studying our own history, but over a timescale of billions of years and including not just Earth but the other planets as well, which gives us more perspective on the possible stories and fates of worlds like our own.
Q: How does one become an astrobiologist?
A: Astrobiology is a new field. It draws on the heritage of exobiology. People come from a wide range of scientific backgrounds. My particular background is planetary science. I study how planets work. There’s been a growing sense of the need to include biology as an integral part of the way planets evolve. More recently I’ve been folding biology into my research about planetary history
Q: Were you always interested in outer space?
A: I was. I’m a child of Apollo. I was thrilled by the astronauts landing on the moon when I was in fourth grade. I was a science fiction geek from an early age, enthralled by the questions of life in the universe. As I got older I learned that space exploration was real. I wanted to get involved in that. I knew I wanted to be a scientist. Now I’m on the science teams of spacecraft that are currently operating at Mars and Venus. Living the dream!
Q: What are you most excited to look at in the Library of Congress collections?
A: I’m very excited to explore the papers of notable scientists. I’m going to integrate the history of science into my research, and so it’s exciting to be able to find primary material. Beyond that, astrobiology is such a multi-disciplinary field with elements of philosophy, history, theology and spirituality that can be folded into this study. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have the resources of the Library at hand.
Q: Part of your role will be to organize public events. What are the ways that the public can get involved in astrobiology?
A: Astrobiology is a great point of contact for science outreach. The public is naturally interested in extra-terrestrial life. Astrobiology provides an accessible point of access that leads to deeper questions. In the museum where I work in Denver, astrobiology has been a great way to bring the public interest into scientific questions. Here at the Library, through workshops and colloquia I hope to explore the boundaries of science and the humanities. How do we illuminate the meaning of human existence through our science and its philosophical and spiritual dimensions? Collaboration with others at the Library and in Washington makes this an ideal place to do that.
FEMA TRYING TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE TO HURRICANE ISSAC SURVIVORS
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| LaPlace, La., Sep. 5, 2012 --Trash from flooded homes line the streets in LaPlace, La. FEMA is working with local, state and federal agencies to provide services for residents affected by Hurricane Issac. Photo by Patsy Lynch/FEMA |
FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
FEMA Working to Increase Assistance for Hurricane Survivors in Louisiana
November 28, 2012
BATON ROUGE, La. — More than $530,000 in additional disaster assistance is getting to Hurricane Isaac survivors as the result of an initiative launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Louisiana.
Under the initiative, 3,904 storm survivors are getting follow-up phone calls and even some home visits from a team of FEMA outreach liaisons. They are helping applicants with the appeal process, explaining letters they may have received from FEMA and assisting applicants with gathering the documentation needed for their claims.
So far, outreach specialists have helped survivors obtain more than $174,000 in Rental Assistance and nearly $358,000 in Housing Assistance.
Since Hurricane Isaac roared ashore in late August, the state and FEMA have approved more than $117 million in grants for eligible individuals and families in Louisiana. The grants are for temporary housing, home repair and reconstruction, and for other needs, including personal property replacement or disaster-related medical and dental expenses. The total includes more than $530,000 in assistance resulting from the outreach initiative.
"With this proactive approach we’re reducing the number of survivors determined ineligible for federal assistance because of incomplete or missing information," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar of FEMA. "The recovery process is stressful for those who suffered great losses, and we want to make sure all survivors get the maximum grant they are eligible to receive."
"Another benefit of survivor outreach is that FEMA can more quickly close cases and thus get survivors referred to long-term recovery committees to assist them with any unmet needs," said Susan Tompkins, head of FEMA’s Individual Assistance branch for the hurricane recovery mission. "This helps speed the pace of recovery for everyone."
The outreach effort will continue until FEMA contacts all eligible survivors in the parishes, Tompkins said.
For more information on Louisiana disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4080 or www.gohsep.la.go
U.S.-TURKEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION HOLDS MEETING
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| Image of the goddess Nike (Victory) in Ephesus, an important Greek and later Roman city in Asia Minor. Its fortunes declined because of invasions, earthquakes, and the silting up of its harbor. It was abandoned in the 15th century. |
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S.-Turkey Economic Partnership Commission Holds its 9th Meeting on November 28, 2012 in Washington, DC
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 28, 2012
Following is the text of a joint statement issued by the United States of America and the Republic of Turkey at the conclusion of the United States - Turkey Economic Partnership Commission (EPC) meeting, on November 28, 2012 in Washington, DC.
Begin Text:
Representatives from the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Turkey met on November 28 in Washington, DC for the ninth United States – Turkey Economic Partnership Commission (EPC) meeting. The EPC is a key component of strengthening the economic partnership between the United States and Turkey, as outlined in the U.S.-Turkey Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation. The meeting reflects our continued commitment to enhance trade and investment between our countries.
This ninth meeting of the EPC focused on exploring opportunities to promote joint commercial opportunities, develop specific areas of cooperation and innovation, and enhance business-to-business ties. Representatives from both countries discussed a wide range of issues related to trade, investment, and sectoral cooperation, including:
Cooperation on promoting infrastructure development. The delegations explored possibilities of cooperation in the field of infrastructure. The delegates discussed sectors such as transportation, information communications, technology, and urban development.
Commitment to promote economic development in third countries, particularly those in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The delegations discussed ongoing efforts in both countries to support the transition countries in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The United States expressed appreciation for Turkey’s participation as a regional partner in the Deauville Partnership for Arab Countries in Transition.
Discussion of expanding trade and investment in pharmaceuticals. The delegations reviewed progress on steps to increase bilateral trade and investment in the pharmaceutical industry, a fast-growing and innovation-based sector.
Ambassador Mehmet T. Gucuk, Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Turkish delegation, which included representatives of the Ministries of Economy; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Urbanization; Food, Agriculture, and Livestock; Transportation, Maritime, and Communication; the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey; the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency of Turkey; the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization; the Foreign Economic Relations Board; the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and Turkish Eximbank. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez led the United States delegation, which included representatives of the Departments of State, Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, and Transportation; the National Security Staff; the United States Trade and Development Agency; the Export Import Bank; Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and Trade and Development Agency.
In line with the decision to convene the EPC twice a year and in accordance with the bilateral wish to continue the momentum in Turkish-U.S. economic relations, the two delegations agreed to meet again next year in the Republic of Turkey.
End Text.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
NASA HISTORY: LAUNCH OF THE CENTAUR
FROM: NASA
Centaur - A NASA Workhorse
Workers at the Propulsion Systems Laboratory at Lewis Research Center, now John H. Glenn Research Center, develop the Centaur upper stage rocket. The Centaur was an ambitious rocket using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. It was the first rocket to ever use hydrogen as a propulsion fuel and underwent a difficult development period. It later became a highly successful upper stage used for hundreds of NASA, commercial and military payloads.
On Nov. 27, 1963, NASA had a successful launch of the first Atlas/Centaur. No payload was carried, but the powerful rocket scored a significant milestone: first in-flight burn of a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen engine. Major successes followed rapidly.
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