U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE SPEAKS IN KYRGYZSTAN



Map:  Kyrgyzstan.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Robert O. Blake, Jr.
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
January 17, 2013

Assistant Secretary Blake: Thank you very much, and I’m delighted to be back here in Bishkek. I was very pleased to participate in the second Annual Bilateral Consultations and I want to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Foreign Minister Otorbayev for his leadership and for his very strong partnership.

I also had the opportunity yesterday to meet with his Excellency President Atambayev, Prime Minister Satybaldiyev, and First Deputy Prime Minister Otorbaev.

We have had productive discussions about the broadening scope of bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Kyrgyz Republic as well as about the transitions in Afghanistan and their impact on the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia.

I also expressed our strong appreciation for the support the Kyrgyz Republic government has provided to regional security, including its support for the Transit Center at Manas.

I welcomed the Kyrgyz Republic’s work to advance regional economic integration through important projects such as the transport corridors of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program, as well as the CASA 1000 project; its embrace of an open trading system; and its accession to the WTO.

We also discussed a wide range of U.S. assistance programs to the Kyrgyz Republic which include more than $40 million over the last year and more than $1.3 billion since 1992. These totals do not include the considerable economic impact of the Transit Center at Manas which contributed approximately $200 million to the Kyrgyz economy last year alone.

Finally, we had a productive discussion on U.S. support for the Kyrgyz Republic’s democracy, human rights, rule of law and anticorruption efforts. The Kyrgyz Republic’s democracy is a model for the region. It has taken important steps to ensure an inclusive political process whereby civil society and business organizations provide their input on draft laws and government action plans. I urged the government to make progress on issues related to the 2010 violence in southern Kyrgyzstan and I welcomed the announcement of a new national strategy on inter-ethnic relations.

I also want to say that I was privileged to attend a lunch yesterday hosted by Ambassador Spratlen in which we had the opportunity to meet with civil society representatives.

Finally, I just want to take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Spratlen and her great team for the great work that they continue to do to represent the United States in this very important country for the United States.

We would be very glad to take whatever questions you have.

Question: [Through Interpreter]. The question is that maybe you know some experiences in the past from other countries within the United States or outside [inaudible] total success in cases where [inaudible] violence more or less was addressed and results.

Assistant Secretary Blake: I would say that every single case is different so you don’t want to try to apply a cookie-cutter approach to ethnic reconciliation. As I said, we welcomed the President’s efforts to establish an action plan on inter-ethnic issues, but we also talked about the importance of ensuring economic opportunity for not only the citizens of the south but also for all the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. And we also talked about the importance of justice and accountability for the crimes that were committed in the course of the June 2010 violence.

Question: [Through Interpreter]. Associated Press, [inaudible]. The first question, what kind of steps the United States has suggested to the Kyrgyz Republic regarding following the agreement term of [inaudible]? Second question, would U.S. join this effort to establish a logistical hub in the place of the Transit Center after 2014?

Assistant Secretary Blake: First of all, I expressed our appreciation to President Atambayev and to the Deputy Foreign Minister for the Kyrgyz Republic’s continued hosting of the Manas Transit Center, which is an important logistics and transportation hub which supports international efforts to establish a stable, prosperous and secure Afghanistan in a stable, secure and prosperous region.

We are engaged in discussions now with the Kyrgyz Republic about the future of the Transit Center, but I don’t want to speculate about the outcome of such discussions. We understand the President’s desire to establish a commercial and logistics hub at Manas and we’ve supported that effort and have given some advice about that.

Question: [Through Interpreter]. President Atambayev ordered [inaudible] 2014 [inaudible] Manas International Airport, and [inaudible] that Kazakhstan is willing to provide the airport [inaudible] for the French Republic to use it to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. So the question is that will the United States be more active in seeing alternative ways to use it for withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The second question is that there was talks that in south Kyrgyzstan there will be training facility open. Do you have anything on that? Any focus on that?

Assistant Secretary Blake: First of all with respect to your question about Manas, as you know, President Karzai visited with President Obama last week. They described the process that is underway now toward a negotiated Bilateral Security Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that will help to determine the number of troops that the United States might keep on the ground in Afghanistan after 2014. Once those important decisions are made, then we’ll be in a better position to plan for ourselves what kind of facilities we might need either in Afghanistan or in the wider region. Again, I don’t want to speculate on the future of what those might be.

As to your second question, that didn’t come up today in our conversations.

RECENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center, meets with members of Parliament in London, Jan. 18, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta visits Sir Thomas More's cell in the Tower of London with Dick Harrold, governor of the Tower of London, in London, Jan. 18, 2013. Panetta is on a six-day trip to Europe to visit with defense counterparts and troops. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo


　

THE WORK OF THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Ten Things You Should Know About the State Department
Fact Sheet
Bureau of Public Affairs
January 10, 2013


What do the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) do for the American people? With just over one percent of the entire federal budget, we have a huge impact on how Americans live and how the rest of the world engages America. For example:

1. We create American jobs. We directly support 20 million U.S. jobs by promoting new and open markets for U.S. firms, protecting intellectual property, negotiating new U.S. airline routes worldwide, and competing for foreign government and private contracts.

2. We support American citizens abroad. In 2011, we provided emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in countries experiencing natural disasters or civil unrest. We assisted in 9,393 international adoptions and worked on more than 1,700 child abduction cases -- resulting in the return of over 660 American children.

3. We promote democracy and foster stability around the world. Stable democracies are less likely to pose a threat to their neighbors or to the United States. In South Sudan, Libya and many other countries we worked through various means to foster democracy and peace.

4. We help to make the world a safer place. Together with Russia, under the New START Treaty, we are reducing the number of deployed nuclear weapons to levels not seen since the 1950s. Our nonproliferation programs have destroyed stockpiles of missiles, munitions and material that can be used to make a nuclear weapon. The State Department has helped more than 40 countries clear millions of square meters of landmines.

5. We save lives. Strong bipartisan support for U.S. global health investments has led to worldwide progress against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, smallpox and polio. Better health abroad reduces the risk of instability and enhances our national security.

6. We help countries feed themselves. We help other countries plant the right seeds in the right way and get crops to markets to feed more people. Strong agricultural sectors lead to more stable countries.

7. We help in times of crisis. From earthquakes in Haiti, Japan and Chile to famine in the Horn of Africa, our dedicated emergency professionals deliver assistance to those who need it most.

8. We promote the rule of law and protect human dignity. We help people in other countries find freedom and shape their own destinies. Reflecting U.S. values, we advocate for the release of prisoners of conscience, prevent political activists from suffering abuse, train police officers to combat sex trafficking and equip journalists to hold their governments accountable.

9. We help Americans see the world. In 2011, we issued 12.6 million passports and passport cards for Americans to travel abroad. We facilitate the lawful travel of international students, tourists and business people to the U.S., adding greatly to our economy. We keep Americans apprised of dangers or difficulties abroad through our travel warnings.

10. We are the face of America overseas. Our diplomats, development experts, and the programs they implement are the source of American leadership around the world. They are the embodiments of our American values abroad. They are a force for good in the world.

For a very small investment the State Department and USAID yield a large return by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world.

FEMA SAYS $1.5 BILLION PROVIDED FOR NEW YORK HURRICANE SURVIVORS

Breezy Point, N.Y., Jan. 16, 2013 -- FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Fort Tilden Park in Breezy Point, NY is still open to assist Hurricane Sandy survivors. Several FEMA partners are stationed here to provide one-stop assistance to residents affected by the storm, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), Housing & Urban Development (HUD), NY State Department of Motor Vehicles and the US Post Office. Andre R. Aragon-FEMA
 

FROM: U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Nearly $1.5 Billion Provided by FEMA, SBA to New York Hurricane Sandy Survivors
January 18, 2013

NEW YORK — Federal disaster assistance to New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy totals almost $1.5 billion.

FEMA continues to reach out to all 13 counties designated for Individual Assistance, focusing on the hardest-hit areas. Assistance to residents in affected counties includes:
Bronx $2.3 million
Kings $188 million
Nassau $277 million
New York $12.8 million
Queens $218 million
Richmond $87.9 million
Suffolk $63.9 million
FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved almost $1.5 billion for Hurricane Sandy survivors. FEMA has approved more than $855 million for individuals and households, including nearly $753 million for housing assistance and more than $102 million in assistance for other needs.
SBA has approved more than $590 million in disaster loans to homeowners and renters and nearly $40 million in disaster loans to businesses. The SBA has staff members at every FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center and 17 Business Recovery Centers in the New York area to provide one-on-one help to business owners seeking disaster assistance.
20

Disaster Recovery Centers are open in the affected areas. These include mobile sites as well as fixed sites. To date, nearly 133,000 survivors have been assisted at Disaster Recovery Centers in New York. 59 inspectors are currently in the field. To date, 172,727 home inspections have been completed, making a 99.4 percent completion rate.
13 New York counties are designated for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. These are Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Greene County has been designated for Public Assistance only.
More than $1.4 billion has been paid to National Flood Insurance Program policy holders in New York for losses resulting from Sandy. The National Flood Insurance Program, administered by FEMA, offers flood insurance to all homeowners, renters and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP.
Since Hurricane Sandy made landfall, FEMA has provided more than $413 million in Public Assistance grants in New York State. The FEMA PA program reimburses state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of costs for disaster-related expenses associated with emergency protective measures, debris removal, and the repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure. In order to qualify, damage must be a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR TALKS TO "THE ONE PERCENT"

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks to service members at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport in Gulfport, Miss., Jan. 17, 2013. Battaglia and his wife, Lisa, toured the base. DOD photo by Army Master Sgt. Terrence L. Hayes

 FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
'Earn the Title,' Battaglia Tells Military Recruits
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18, 2013 - The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff returned home to New Orleans and the Military Entry Processing Station here today, retracing a route similar to the one he took when he enlisted in 1979.

The New Orleans MEPS is no longer in the same place as it was when Marine Corps Sgt. Major Bryan B. Battaglia first took the oath of enlistment. It was relocated to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in 2010, but the tour still "a walk down memory lane," the sergeant major said.

After the tour, the sergeant major administered the oath of enlistment to 16 recruits who represented the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

"Earn the title," he told them. It's not enough to just meet the standard, he added. Most of their peers are ineligible for military service, he noted. "You're the one percent."

Being located on the base is a good opportunity for applicants to see a military installation, some for the first time, said Army Maj. Troy Alexander, the New Orleans MEPS commander.

More than 10,000 applicants a year come through the New Orleans MEPS, which serves 35 parishes in Louisiana and 4 counties in Mississippi, Alexander said.

Applicants undergo a series of aptitude exams and medical tests before speaking with a liaison from their chosen branch of service, Alexander said.

The final stop is the oath room, a wood-paneled space with flags lining one wall. Opposite the flags is a glass wall, so family members can watch as the oath of enlistment is administered.

The room is dedicated to John Besh, a New Orleans chef and philanthropist who served in the Marine Corps from 1986-1992.

Besh was chosen for the honor, said Army Capt. Jason Oradat, the New Orleans MEPS assistant operations officer, because "we wanted to showcase how the military is a stepping stone in life. Not everyone stays in for 20 years, and you don't have to serve 20 years ... [or] die in combat to be a hero."

"The oath of enlistment is given every day on the hour as long as applicants are here," Oradat said.

"When I took the oath, ... many years ago, ... I didn't know what I was in store for," the sergeant major told the recruits. He intended to serve only four years, he said, but "got addicted."

"It took ahold of me," Battaglia said. "If it does that to you, just let it ... if it doesn't, that's okay."

Battaglia said he was excited and honored to administer the oath of enlistment and help the recruits take the first step on their military journeys. Military service will help them attack life, he said.

"We want you to be proud of that, and represent your service," he said.

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Update

U.S. Department of Defense Armed with Science Update

U.S. GOVERNMENT ISSUES FINAL RULE ON APPRAISALS FOR HIGH-PRICE MORTGAGE LOANS

FROM: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
Agencies Issue Final Rule on Appraisals for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans

WASHINGTON— Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued the final rule that establishes new appraisal requirements for "higher-priced mortgage loans." The rule implements amendments to the Truth in Lending Act made by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act). Under the Dodd-Frank Act, mortgage loans are higher-priced if they are secured by a consumer's home and have interest rates above certain thresholds.

For higher-priced mortgage loans, the rule requires creditors to use a licensed or certified appraiser who prepares a written appraisal report based on a physical visit of the interior of the property. The rule also requires creditors to disclose to applicants information about the purpose of the appraisal and provide consumers with a free copy of any appraisal report.

If the seller acquired the property for a lower price during the prior six months and the price difference exceeds certain thresholds, creditors will have to obtain a second appraisal at no cost to the consumer. This requirement for higher-priced home-purchase mortgage loans is intended to address fraudulent property flipping by seeking to ensure that the value of the property legitimately increased.

The rule exempts several types of loans, such as qualified mortgages, temporary bridge loans and construction loans, loans for new manufactured homes, and loans for mobile homes, trailers and boats that are dwellings. The rule also has exemptions from the second appraisal requirement to facilitate loans in rural areas and other transactions.

The rule is being issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Federal Register notice is attached. The rule will become effective on January 18, 2014.

In response to public comments, the agencies intend to publish a supplemental proposal to request additional comment on possible exemptions for "streamlined" refinance programs and small dollar loans, as well as to seek clarification on whether the rule should apply to loans secured by existing manufactured homes and certain other property types.

　

EPA SAYS AIR POLLUTANTS CONTINUE TO DECLINE

Photo:  Green Energy.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA’s 2011 Toxics Release Inventory Shows Air Pollutants Continue to Decline
Total toxic chemicals increase as result of mining

WASHINGTON – Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8 percent from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published today.

The annual TRI provides citizens with vital information about their communities. The TRI program collects information on certain toxic chemical releases to the air, water and land, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities by facilities across the country. TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste facilities.

"The Toxics Release Inventory provides widespread access to valuable environmental information. It plays a critical role in EPA’s efforts to hold polluters accountable and identify and acknowledge those who take steps to prevent pollution," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Since 1998, we have recorded a steady decline in the amount of TRI chemicals released into the air, and since 2009 alone, we have seen more than a 100 million pound decrease in TRI air pollutants entering our communities. This remarkable success is due in part to the TRI program and concerted efforts by industry, regulators and public interest groups to clean up the air we all depend upon."

Among the HAPs showing decline were hydrochloric acid and mercury. Likely reasons for the decreases seen over the past several years include installation of control technologies at coal fired power plants and a shift to other fuel sources.. Releases into surface water decreased 3 percent and releases to land increased 19 percent since 2010, with the latter again due primarily to the metal mining sector, as explained below.

Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit harm to people’s health and the environment.

The 2011 TRI data show that 4.09 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were disposed of or released into the environment (i.e., air, water or land), an 8 percent increase from 2010. The difference is mainly due to increases in land disposal at metal mines, which typically involve large facilities handling large volumes of material. In this sector, even a small change in the chemical composition of the ore being mined - which EPA understands is one of the asserted reasons for the increase in total reported releases - can lead to big changes in the amount of toxic chemicals reported nationally. Other industry sectors also saw smaller increases in releases, including the hazardous waste management sector.

EPA has improved this year’s TRI national analysis report by adding new information about facility efforts to reduce pollution, insights into why air releases are declining, and an enhanced analysis of releases on tribal lands. With this report and EPA’s web-based TRI tools, citizens can access information about TRI-listed toxic chemical releases in their communities and across the country.

Facilities must report their toxic chemical releases to EPA under the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) by the beginning of July each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals. Also, EPA’s TRI mobile application, myRTK, geographically displays nearby facilities that report to the TRI program, as well as facilities with EPA air, water or hazardous waste program permits.

U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND WILL ADD 1,000 NEW PEOPLE

Left to Right: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joel Melendez, Naval Network Warfare Command information systems analysis, Air Force Staff Sgt. Rogerick Montgomery, U.S. Cyber Command network analysis, and Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Harding, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade cyber systems analysis, at an exercise during Cyber Flag 13-1, Nov. 8, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Lancaster

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Air Force Space Command to Bolster Cyber Force
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2013 - The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for the 2014 fiscal year, the command's chief said here yesterday.

Speaking with reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Gen. William L. Shelton said direction for the hires would come from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, fueled by the U.S. Cyber Command.

"Cyber Command is in the midst of determining how they are going to operate across all the geographic combatant commands as well as internal to the United States," Shelton said, "and it looks like we will be tapped for well over 1,000 additional people into the cyber business, so you can see [cyber] is starting to take root."

If budget restrictions allow the increase in personnel, they will be hired over two years beginning in fiscal 2014, and 70 percent to 80 percent will be civilians "if it turns out like we think it's going to turn out," the general said.

This will represent about a 15 percent increase over 6,000 cyber professionals working today for the 24th Air Force, he added, noting that the 24th Air Force is the numbered Air Force that works under Air Force Space Command.

A numbered Air Force is a tactical Air Force organization that is subordinate to a major command and has assigned to it operational units like wings, squadrons and groups.

Within the 24th Air Force, subordinate units for cyber operations include the 67th Network Warfare Wing and the 688th Information Operations Wing at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and the 689th Combat Communications Wing at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

"I have the responsibility of major command headquarters but in terms of where the work really gets done to operate and defend Air Force networks, to provide exploitation capabilities and develop attack capabilities, that's the 24th Air Force," he said.

"They are also the Air Force component to U.S. Cyber Command," the general said, "so when U.S. Cyber Command wants Air Force capability or wants capabilities the Air Force has developed, that's where they go."

Those who work in the Space Command's cyber arm tend to operate, defend, exploit and attack rather than address cyber policy, Shelton said, "but the 24th Air force certainly gets into the policy area as well just because of the newness of this business."

The general observed that the policy and legal regimes are not as mature as they need to be because it's so difficult to segment them.

"The cyber domain -- I call it the Wild West because you can be anywhere and do anything and be effective," Shelton said. "All you need is an Internet connection, the right skills and a laptop and you're in the game."

In cyber there are many parallels to the space domain, Shelton said, "because it's global in nature and yet the effects you want are in somebody else's backyard in terms of geographic combatant commanders' ownership. So getting a model that works efficiently and effectively and also respects the geographic combatant commanders' authorities -- that's the challenge."

Shelton said one of his biggest problems in planning for the future, including the future of Air Force cyber and space operations, is the uncertainty of the DOD budget process.

"We don't have an appropriations bill for [fiscal 20]13 so we're not sure what the '13 picture is, and here we are over a quarter [of the way] into '13," the general said. "That affects planning for the president's budget for '14 and that, in turn, impacts ... the '15-and-out budget, which we're in the throes of right now."

The budget situation, he added, "is the worst I've seen in thirty-six-and-a-half years in this business [in terms of] the pressures on all of us now to try to make decisions without good information. And it is the national security of the nation we're talking about here."

Shelton said he'd looked at 2012 as a year to make "a pretty good move into cyber ... to show progression, to show grasping the reins of the cyber capabilities of the Air Force. Whether or not we're going to be able to do that is the question, whether or not we're going to have sufficient funding."

But as the budget process plays out, the general said he plans to be a strong advocate for priorities like space and cyber.

"There will be strong advocates coming from other functional areas within the United States military as well," he added, "so it's going to be literally the strategy that we adopt based on the budget authority that will be available, and then you let the chips fall from there."

U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PANETTA COMMENTS ON TERRORIST ATTACKS

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right, holds a joint news conference with British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond at Lancaster House in London, Jan. 19, 2013. Panetta is on a six-day trip to Europe to visit with defense counterparts and troops. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Panetta Calls for 'Innovative' Allied Action
By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

LONDON, Jan. 19, 2013 - The hostage crisis in Algeria has ended, but information on what exactly happened and how many people were killed remain unclear, the U.S. and British defense chiefs told reporters here today.

During a news conference at Lancaster House, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said both their governments remain in close contact with Algerian officials, and are working to establish firm details of the assault, kidnappings and murders that took place at a remote natural gas facility in Algeria.

Panetta confirmed Americans were among those held hostage, but he said the possible number of U.S. deaths remains unclear. He pledged continued close consultation with Algerian authorities, and emphasized the attackers bear full and sole responsibility for all loss of life.

"Just as we cannot accept terrorist attacks against our cities, we cannot accept attacks against our citizens and our interests abroad," he said. "Neither can we accept an al-Qaida safe haven anywhere in the world."

Since 9/11, Panetta said, "we've made very clear that nobody is going to attack the United States of America and get away with it." The nation and its allies and partners have fought terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, and will take the fight to North Africa as well, he said.

Both Panetta and Hammond stated they have no plan to put their nations' troops on the ground in Mali, where French forces are fighting the advance of terrorist factions. Both nations are assisting French operations, the defense chiefs said, but they agree that the ultimate solution to countering terrorism in Africa is to train and assist forces on that continent to provide their own security.

Terrorists, particularly regional factions of al-Qaida, remain a determined enemy, Panetta said. It's important that the United States and its allies continue to work with developing militaries in the places where terrorists seek to establish operations, he added.

"What I care about is that [regional forces] do everything they can to ensure al-Qaida does not establish a safe haven. ... If we continue to pressure al-Qaida, we can keep them on the run. ... [But we] cannot be complacent," he said.

The secretary arrived here the evening of Jan. 17, and has attended meetings with Prime Minister David Cameron, other senior government officials and members of Parliament.

Panetta told reporters he also met with some British troops who recently returned from Afghanistan. "I expressed my deepest appreciation to them and to their families," he said.

The secretary expressed his sorrow for the families of Great Britain's troops killed in Afghanistan. "The American people will forever mourn the more than 400 fallen British heroes of this war," he said.

Sustaining Afghan forces beyond 2014 is crucial to ensuring those and all deaths in Afghanistan since 9/11 are not in vain, he said, and to ensuring Afghanistan can secure and govern itself into the future.

Panetta praised Britain's commitment to the coalition mission in Afghanistan, and his meetings with British leaders and defense officials, he said, "reaffirmed the continued strength of the historic relationship between our two nations."

Those discussions also underscored the numerous security challenges the United States, Great Britain and their partner nations face, the secretary noted.

He listed some of those threats: ongoing operations in Afghanistan, turmoil in the Middle East, a growing terrorist threat in Africa, Iran's focus on nuclear proliferation, the murder of Syrian citizens by Bashar al Assad's regime, ceaseless cyberattacks and the shadow of record deficits and growing budget pressures.

His discussions with Hammond addressed those issues and others, the secretary said. He praised Britain's leaders for their focus on sustaining and improving the NATO alliance, and in planning effective, allied approaches to common threats.

As he has throughout this trip, the secretary also spoke of budget crises facing American and many of its allies, and the resulting increased need for partner nations to cooperate in defense investments and operations. The United States and the United Kingdom, he noted, are pursuing a mutual aircraft carrier initiative that "will bring our navies closer together than ever."

Panetta repeated a message he has delivered consistently throughout his travels this week: "It is when resources are constrained and security challenges are growing that we need to be creative and innovative in ... [developing] alliances."

The secretary quoted the World War II British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "This is no time for ease and comfort; this is a time to dare, and to endure."

BEIJING AIR QUALITY AS SEEN FROM SPACE

FROM: NASA
Air Quality Suffering in China
Residents of Beijing and many other cities in China were warned to stay inside in mid-January 2013 as the nation faced one of the worst periods of air quality in recent history. The Chinese government ordered factories to scale back emissions, while hospitals saw spikes of more than 20 to 30 percent in patients complaining of respiratory issues, according to news reports.

At the time that this Jan. 14 image was taken by satellite, ground-based sensors at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reported PM2.5 measurements of 291 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Fine, airborne particulate matter (PM) that is smaller than 2.5 microns (about one thirtieth the width of a human hair) is considered dangerous because it is small enough to enter the passages of the human lungs. Most PM2.5 aerosol particles come from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass (wood fires and agricultural burning). The World Health Organization considers PM2.5 to be safe when it is below 25.

Also at the time of the image, the air quality index (AQI) in Beijing was 341. An AQI above 300 is considered hazardous to all humans, not just those with heart or lung ailments. AQI below 50 is considered good. On January 12, the peak of the current air crisis, AQI was 775 the U.S Embassy Beijing Air Quality Monitor—off the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scale—and PM2.5 was 886 micrograms per cubic meter. Image Credit-NASA-Terra - MODIS

PRESIDENT OBAMA BLAMES TERRORISTS FOR DEATHS IN ALGERIA

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Obama: Blame for Algeria Tragedy Rests With Terrorists
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2013 - The nation's thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in the terrorist attack in Algeria, and the blame for the tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out, President Barack Obama said today.

In a statement, the president said the United States condemns the terrorists' actions "in the strongest possible terms."

"We have been in constant contact with Algerian officials and stand ready to provide whatever assistance they need in the aftermath of this attack," Obama said. "We also will continue to work closely with all of our partners to combat the scourge of terrorism in the region, which has claimed too many innocent lives."

The attack is another reminder of the threat posed by al-Qaeda and other violent extremist groups in North Africa, the president said.

"In the coming days, we will remain in close touch with the government of Algeria to gain a fuller understanding of what took place so that we can work together to prevent tragedies like this in the future," he added.

During a news conference in London today, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said both of their governments remain in close contact with Algerian officials, and are working to establish firm details of the assault, kidnappings and murders that took place at a remote natural gas facility in Algeria.

Panetta confirmed Americans were among those held hostage, but he said the possible number of U.S. deaths remains unclear. He pledged continued close consultation with Algerian authorities, and emphasized the attackers bear full and sole responsibility for all loss of life.

"Just as we cannot accept terrorist attacks against our cities, we cannot accept attacks against our citizens and our interests abroad," he said. "Neither can we accept an al-Qaida safe haven anywhere in the world."

Since 9/11, Panetta said, "We've made very clear that nobody is going to attack the United States of America and get away with it." The nation and its allies and partners have fought terrorists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, and
will take the fight to North Africa as well, he said.

(Karen Parrish of American Forces Press Service, traveling with Panetta in London, contributed to this report.)

　

EPA FINALIZES CHANGES IN CLEAN AIR STANDARDS FOR STATIONARY ENGINES

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Finalizes Revisions to Clean Air Standards for Stationary Engines
Updated rule provides extensive public health protections, slashes costs of compliance

WASHINGTON – Today, in compliance with settlement agreements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized revisions to standards to reduce air pollution from stationary engines that generate electricity and power equipment at industrial, agricultural, oil and gas production, power generation and other facilities.

The final revised rule announced today will reduce the capital and annual costs of the original 2010 rules by $287 million and $139 million, respectively, while reducing harmful pollutants, including 2,800 tons per year (tpy) of hazardous air pollutants; 36,000 tpy of carbon monoxide; 2,800 tpy of particulate matter; 9,600 tpy of nitrogen oxides, and 36,000 tpy of volatile organic compounds.

Pollution emitted from the engines can cause cancer and other serious health effects including: aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease; premature deaths in people with heart or lung disease; neurological, cardiovascular, liver, kidney health effects; and effects on immune and reproductive systems.

EPA estimates annual health benefits of the updated standards to be worth $830 million to $2.1 billion.

The final amendments to the 2010 "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE)" reflect new technical information submitted by stakeholders after the 2010 standards were issued. The updates will ensure that the standards are cost-effective, achievable, and protective, while continuing to provide significant emission reductions.

SUPPORTING THE 'DEEP FREEZE'

Antarctica-bound Military Sealift Command-chartered container ship MV Ocean Giant departed Port Hueneme, Calif., loaded with supplies on Jan. 17, 2013. U.S. Navy photo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Supply Ships Support 'Deep Freeze' Antarctica Operation
Military Sealift Command

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2013 - Two supply-laden Military Sealift Command-chartered vessels are en route to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, marking the start of resupply efforts in support of Operation Deep Freeze, according to a MSC news release issued today.

The container ship MV Ocean Giant departed Port Hueneme, Calif., Jan. 17, loaded with nearly seven million pounds of food, building supplies, vehicles, and electronic equipment and parts, the release said.

The tanker ship MT Maersk Peary departed the European area of operations in December, carrying more than six million gallons of diesel fuel, jet fuel and gasoline, according to the release. Both ships are participating in the annual Joint Task Force Support mission to resupply the remote scientific outpost.

The MSC-chartered ships will deliver 100 percent of the fuel and about 80 percent of the supplies that researchers and support personnel in Antarctica will need to survive and work over the course of a year, according to the release.

Maersk Peary will arrive in Antarctica first and discharge its fuel cargo, followed by Ocean Giant in mid-February, the release said. Ocean Giant is scheduled to off-load its cargo at a 500-foot ice pier that juts out from the Antarctic coast. The cargo will be off-loaded by members of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One working around-the-clock for eight days.

Following the off-load, the release said, the Ocean Giant will be loaded with retrograde cargo for transportation off the continent, including ice core samples carried back to the United States in sub-zero freezer containers, as well as trash and recyclable materials for disposal and equipment no longer required on station.

In 2012, unfavorable weather conditions made the ice pier at McMurdo unusable for dry cargo operations, the release said. Members of the Army's 331st Transportation Company constructed a floating dock to ensure cargo operations could be conducted.

"Even though we've been conducting ODF missions for many years, every year we have challenges to face," Tom Brown, MSC Pacific Sealift Prepositioning and Special Mission Team Lead, said in the release. "We try to address as much as possible in the planning phase, but because we are working with Mother Nature, we can't always know what will happen.

"Because of this," Brown continued, "we really have to function as a team, not just within the Navy, but with all the other organizations who participate in this mission to ensure that we get the critical cargo onto the ice and on time to support the people who live and work there."

Due to adverse winter conditions in Antarctica, the ODF mission must take place during a small window of opportunity in the Antarctic summer months of January to March. This can mean tight schedules for everyone involved in the mission, from the ship's crew, to the cargo handlers on the ice, to the mission schedulers in the United States.

"Operation Deep Freeze is a very critical mission for the people who live and work in Antarctica," Navy Capt. Sylvester Moore, commander of MSC Pacific, said in the release. "Without this resupply mission, all operations in Antarctica would end, and the scientific community would lose the opportunity to conduct research and study not only the continent of Antarctica, but its impact on our global climate."

An MSC-chartered cargo ship and tanker have made the challenging voyage to Antarctica, which includes passage through a 15-mile ice channel in places more than 13 feet thick every year since the station was established in 1955.

MSC operates approximately 110 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners, the release said.

PREPARING AN INTERNATIONAL LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENT ON MERCURY POLLUTION

Graphic:  National Institutes of Health 

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Opening of the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Programme's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury

Remarks
Daniel A. Reifsnyder
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Geneva, Switzerland
January 13, 2013

Let me first thank you, Chair Lugris, and the Government of Switzerland for hosting this crucial fifth session, where we expect to conclude our work. My delegation also extends its appreciation to the Secretariat for the many hours invested in organizing and guiding our efforts.

The United States remains committed to finalizing a robust and effective instrument this week, bringing us one step closer to our shared objective – to reduce global mercury pollution to protect human health and the environment. At home, we have made significant progress in reducing mercury exposure through a number of tools including regulation, policies, voluntary initiatives, and public-private partnerships. For example, over the last 30 years we have reduced mercury emissions significantly in key sectors through the application of pollution control technologies, and we have steadily reduced the availability and use of mercury-added products.

Mr. Chair, I’d like to take a moment to speak to what we see as a significant environmental challenge here – and the largest global source of mercury pollution to be addressed under this Convention -- air emissions.

If this Convention is to achieve our shared objective, all parties must reduce emissions of mercury from a set of defined sources. At past INCs, some have proposed that air emissions be addressed only through voluntary measures. Those proposals seem to reflect two concerns. The first is the need for flexibility in implementation. We believe there is a way to balance clear obligations to reduce emissions with provisions that are inherently flexible in their implementation. We made some progress at INC-4 in this regard. There we worked with other delegations to capture the inherent flexibility of best available techniques (BAT), and we are convinced that here we can build on that foundation to achieve an agreement with clear obligations on air emissions this week with the needed element of flexibility in their implementation.

The second concern is the perception that any obligations with respect to air emission of mercury are somehow inconsistent with development goals, particularly the needs of countries to supply energy to their citizens. Let me be very clear -- we recognize the need for continued growth and development, including the use of coal for power generation. The United States does not advocate an obligation that would require any Party to stop burning coal. But this draft convention does not present a choice between environment and development. Rather, the issue here is whether development will take place sustainably, in a way that protects human health and the environment from mercury pollution. We believe that this convention has no more important purpose than to meet this objective.

Finally, a few words with respect to your text. Like all others, we thank you for your work in putting together this text. At the same time, we have a few concerns. First, we were surprised to see changes to some previously unbracketed, agreed text that went through legal review at INC-4. For example, in paragraph one of Article 20, the nature of the obligation has changed from "should" to "shall." Where the parties have spent much time in reaching an acceptable solution and that solution has been through legal review, we think no changes should be made. We will thus ask to return to previously agreed text there and in other places such as in Article 12. Second, we have concerns with some of the policy choices reflected in the text. For example, we do not think there is consensus that releases to land and water should be addressed in a manner identical to atmospheric emissions. Another example is in Article 15, where the introduction suggests that the Chair’s revision was not intended to eliminate policy options. However several important elements-- a broadened donor base, voluntary resources, and the varying capacities of countries, to name three -- are not adequately captured for consideration in the revised article, and we intend to reinsert them in our deliberations this week. To be clear, we are not seeking to go back to the text from INC4 - my delegation is prepared to negotiate from the basis of your text – but we will need to address these kinds of issues as we go forward.

Mr. Chair, my delegation stands ready to continue to work with you, our many able co-chairs, and all delegations and meeting participants to conclude a comprehensive, balanced and effective new instrument on mercury this week.

And finally, The United States will submit for the record a statement regarding Palestinian status, and we request that the statement be included in the report of the meeting.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A CITY WORKS TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

Photo:  U.S. Air Force.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

New Orleans Works to End Veteran Homelessness
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18, 2013 – In 2009, the same year the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans Veteran’s Transitional Facility opened, President Barack Obama and the Veterans Affairs Department set a goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015.

Lisa Battaglia, wife of the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the facility here yesterday and spoke to American Forces Press Service after visiting with residents and staff.

"As a woman veteran myself, finding ways in getting our veterans off the streets remains a priority for my husband and me," she said.

The facility arose out of a need for ways to assist homeless veterans transition out of homelessness, said Melissa Haley, director of supportive services for veteran families for Volunteers of America.

Its existence is a sign that people in the greater New Orleans area, as in cities across the country, have taken the president’s call to action to heart, Battaglia said.

Around 400 veterans have come through the transition program since the facility opened, said Gerald Rooks, the program director. About 88 percent successfully completed it, meaning they are permanently off the streets, he said. "We try every day to increase that number," he added.

Veterans arrive at the facility in a number of ways, Rooks said. The staff seeks out veterans at places where the homeless gather, he said, but veterans can either self-refer or be referred by the VA.

Norman Adams, a Navy veteran residing at the facility, said he found the transitional facility through the staff’s outreach program.

"I retired from nursing after 45 years," Adams said. "I lived a pretty good life until it just went off the road."

After several months of homelessness -- during which he made his way to New Orleans -- outreach personnel told him about the transitional facility.

"This is where I belong right now. … I’m going to move on," he said, "but I want to be right when I move on."

The main facility has space to house up to 40 male veterans, while two other locations can house a total of 16 men. Currently, residents range in age from 34 to 68, Rooks said.

"We’re starting to see younger vets," he added, noting that four homeless veterans in their 20’s have sought assistance from the program in the past 12 months.

Rooks said he’s also seen an increase in female veterans with children seeking assistance through the facility’s non-resident programs. He added that there are only 5 beds in all of New Orleans available to female veterans, and they don’t accept children.

The term "homeless veteran" should be an oxymoron, Haley said.

"When you’re a veteran, you have a home," she said. "This is America, this is your community." Her goal, she said, is to ensure veterans are homeless for as short a period of time as possible.

The organization works closely with the city of New Orleans and the New Orleans regional Veterans Affairs office to find funding, educational opportunities, employment and housing for veterans, Rooks said.

Programs for residents include life skills classes like resume writing and money management, peer and group counseling and assistance with obtaining benefits from the VA, he said.

"I get to help fallen heroes get back on their feet," he said.

"We are committed to working with people who hire veterans," Haley said, "because we know that [veterans] have transferrable skill sets."

"I’d hate to see what it would be like if the program wasn’t here for others," said Wayne Duvall, an Army veteran residing at the transitional facility. "I’m prepared to make that transition … and get out."

"When I first came here, it was just a hideout … I’d just get lost in the background," said Adams. But the staff helped him get on track, he said, and he has reconnected with his family and found a place to volunteer his time.

"Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope," VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said when he announced an initiative in 2011 highlighting local services for homeless veterans, their families and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Now Is The Time to Take Action Against Gun Violence | The White House

Now Is The Time to Take Action Against Gun Violence | The White House

FITNESS, AGING AND DIABETES

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Even if we’re healthy, we still lose about 10 percent of our aerobic ability each decade after about age 40 or 50. But diabetes takes an extra toll on our cardiovascular system, and makes it look older than it should. At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Amy Heubschmann looked at data on people with diabetes:

"There’s been about 20 percent worse fitness levels in adults with diabetes as compared to adults without diabetes. That’s the case in teenagers, middle aged adults and older adults."

However, she says moderate physical activity can raise fitness levels to close to what moderately active people without diabetes should have.

The study presented at a joint meeting of physiology organizations was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

CONGRESSMAN DAVE CAMP COMMENTS ON "PROTECT OUR KIDS ACT OF 2012"

FROM: U.S. CONGRESSMAN DAVE CAMP'S WEBSITE
Protect our Kids Act Signed Into Law
Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement after the President signed into law the "Protect our Kids Act of 2012," H.R. 6655. The legislation, coauthored by Camp, establishes a commission to study data on child fatalities from abuse and neglect, to review current prevention methods and best practices, and to evaluate the adequacy of current programs in order to recommend a comprehensive strategy to reduce fatalities from child abuse and neglect.


"I want to thank the President for signing the Protect our Kids Act of 2012 into law, and I look forward to working with him and House and Senate leaders to select members of the commission created by this legislation. Once selected, they can begin their important work to reduce child deaths from abuse and neglect."

EPA ANNOUNCES VOLUNTARY CLEAN AIR PROGRAM CALLED 'PM ADVANCE'

FROM: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA launches new voluntary program to help reduce harmful soot pollution

WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new voluntary clean air program, 'PM Advance,' to help communities continue to meet soot pollution standards, improve air quality and protect public health.

PM Advance focuses on working with communities to develop strategies for reducing harmful fine particle emissions.

Soot, also known as fine particle pollution, can penetrate deep into the lungs and has been linked to a wide range of serious health effects, including premature death, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as acute bronchitis and aggravated asthma among children.

On December 14, 2012, EPA updated the national air quality standards for PM 2.5 by revising the annual standard to 12 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). Updated last in 1997, the revised annual standard will have major economic benefits with comparatively low costs. EPA estimates health benefits of the revised standard would range from $4 billion to over $9 billion per year.

The PM Advance program is designed to help communities who meet current standards continue to meet the standards. Early work to reduce fine particles, such as PM Advance participation, can be incorporated into required planning. Through the program, participants will commit to taking specific steps to reduce fine particle pollution, such as putting in place a school bus retrofit program or an air quality action day program, while EPA will supply technical advice, outreach information, and other support.

While federal rules are expected to ensure that most areas meet the new standards, areas can participate in PM Advance to help them remain in attainment.