RESEARCHERS LOOK AT THE BRAIN

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Engineers ask the brain to say, "Cheese!"

How do we take an accurate picture of the world’s most complex biological structure?

Creating new brain imaging techniques is one of today's greatest engineering challenges.

The incentive for a good picture is big: looking at the brain helps us to understand how we move, how we think and how we learn. Recent advances in imaging enable us to see what the brain is doing more precisely across space and time and in more realistic conditions.

The newest advance in optical imaging brings researchers even closer to illuminating the whole brain and nervous system.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Vienna achieved simultaneous functional imaging of all the neurons of the transparent roundworm C. elegans. This technique is the first that can generate 3-D movies of entire brains at the millisecond timescale.

The significance of this achievement becomes clear in light of the many engineering complexities associated with brain imaging techniques.

An imaging wish list

When 33 brain researchers put their minds together at a workshop funded by the National Science Foundation in August 2013, they identified three of the biggest challenges in mapping the human brain for better understanding, diagnosis and treatment.

Challenge one: High spatiotemporal resolution neuroimaging. Existing brain imaging technologies offer different advantages and disadvantages with respect to resolution. A method such as functional MRI that offers excellent spatial resolution (to several millimeters) can provide snapshots of brain activity in the order of seconds. Other methods, such as electroencephalography (EEG), provide precise information about brain activity over time (to the millisecond) but yield fuzzy information about the location.

The ability to conduct functional imaging of the brain, with high resolution in both space and time, would enable researchers to tease out some of the brain's most intricate workings. For example, each half of the thalamus--the brain's go-to structure for relaying sensory and motor information and a potential target for deep brain stimulation--has 13 functional areas in a package the size of a walnut.

With better spatial resolution, researchers would have an easier time determining which areas of the brain are involved in specific activities. This could ultimately help them identify more precise targets for stimulation, maximizing therapeutic benefits while minimizing unnecessary side effects.

In addition, researchers wish to combine data from different imaging techniques to study and model the brain at different levels, from molecules to cellular networks to the whole brain.

Challenge two: Perturbation-based neuroimaging. Much that we know about the brain relies on studies of dysfunction, when a problem such as a tumor or stroke affects a specific part of the brain and a correlating change in brain function can be observed.

But researchers also rely on techniques that temporarily ramp up, or turn off, brain activity in certain regions. What if the effects of such modifications on brain function could then be captured with neuroimaging techniques?

Being able to observe what happens when certain parts of the brain are activated could help researchers determine brain areas' functions and provide critical guidance for brain therapies.

Challenge three: Neuroimaging in naturalistic environments. Researchers aim to create new noninvasive methods for imaging the brain while a person interacts with his or her surroundings. This ability will become more valuable as new technologies that interface with the brain are developed.

For example, a patient undergoing brain therapy at home may choose to send information to his or her physician remotely rather than go to an office for frequent check-ups. The engineering challenges of this scenario include the creation of low-cost, wearable technologies to monitor the brain as well as the technical capability to differentiate between signs of trouble and normal fluctuations in brain activity during daily routines.

Other challenges the brain researchers identified are neuroimaging in patients with implanted brain devices; integrating imaging data from multiple techniques; and developing models, theories and infrastructures for better understanding and analyzing brain data. In addition, the research community must ensure that students are prepared to use and create new imaging techniques and data.

The workshop chair, Bin He of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, said, "Noninvasive human brain mapping has been a holy grail in science. Accomplishing the three grand challenges would change the future of brain science and our ability to treat numerous brain disorders that cost the nation over $500 billion each year."

The full workshop report was published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

An imaging breakthrough

Engineers, in collaboration with neuroscientists, computer scientists and other researchers, are already at work devising creative ways to address these challenges.

The workshop findings place the new technique developed by the MIT and University of Vienna researchers into greater context. Their work had to overcome several of the challenges outlined.

The team captured neural activity in three dimensions at single-cell resolution by using a novel strategy not before applied to neurons--light-field microscopy, using a novel algorithm to reverse distortion, a process known as deconvolution.

The technique of light-field microscopy involves the shining of light at a 3-D sample, and capturing the locations of fluorophores in a still image, using a special set of lenses. The fluorophores in this case are modified proteins that attach to neuron and fluoresce when the neurons activate. However, this microscopy method requires a trade-off between the sample size and the spatial resolution possible, and thus it has not been before used for live biological imaging.

The advantage presented by light-field microscopy, here used in an optimized form, is that the technique may quickly capture the neuronal activity of whole animals, not simply still images, while providing high enough spatial resolution to make functional biological imaging possible.

"This elegant technique should have a large impact on the use of functional biological imaging for understanding brain cognitive function," said Leon Esterowitz, program director in NSF's Engineering Directorate, which provided partial funding for the research.

The researchers, led by Edward Boyden of MIT and Alipasha Vaziri of the University of Vienna, reported their results in this week's issue of the journal Nature Methods.

"Looking at the activity of just one neuron in the brain doesn't tell you how that information is being computed; for that, you need to know what upstream neurons are doing. And to understand what the activity of a given neuron means, you have to be able to see what downstream neurons are doing," said Boyden, an associate professor of biological engineering and brain and cognitive sciences at MIT and one of the leaders of the research team.

"In short, if you want to understand how information is being integrated from sensation all the way to action, you have to see the entire brain."

-- Cecile J. Gonzalez,
Investigators
Edward Boyden
Bin He
Related Institutions/Organizations
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY'S STATEMENT ON DETAINED U.S. CITIZEN AMIR HEKMATI

FROM:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT 

Detained U.S. Citizen Amir Hekmati

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

May 26, 2014

---

On this Memorial Day, we honor brave Americans who gave their lives for the notion that someone else's freedom is connected to our own. But this Memorial Day also marks another milestone: 1,000 days since an American veteran, Amir Hekmati, was unjustly detained while he was visiting his family in Iran.

Mr. Hekmati has spent almost three years in an Iranian prison on false espionage charges. We remain especially concerned about reports of Mr. Hekmati’s health in prison.

Mr. Hekmati’s family in the United States has endured the hardship of his absence for too long. He is the eldest son, and his family misses him and needs him home.

We respectfully request that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran release Mr. Hekmati so that he may be reunited with his family in the United States.

A MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE FROM MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE U.S. NAVY

FROM:  THE U.S. NAVY

Right:  140401-N-OT964-081 WASHINGTON (April 1, 2014) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens salutes during the opening ceremony of the 121st birthday of the chief petty officer rank at the U.S. Navy Memorial.  U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Martin L. Carey.

2014 Memorial Day Message

Story Number: NNS140523-15Release Date: 5/23/2014 6:52:00 PM A  A  A    Email this story to a friend    Print this story.

By Mike Stevens, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Shipmates, Navy Families, and friends,

This weekend we will reflect on our Navy history and core values with great pride. We often hear the words, "Freedom is not free." We preserve our freedoms by supporting and defending, and at times sacrificing our lives for the guarantee of rights, liberties, and pursuit of happiness to every citizen. There is absolutely no greater sacrifice than giving one's life for their country.

Memorial Day also allows us to remember our fallen heroes, our loved ones who served and pay our respects to many shipmates who have donned the uniform of a United States Sailor. You have put service before self. It is because of your selfless contributions that missions are completed, battles are won, and our nation continues to thrive in freedom. From supporting homeland defense and deployments downrange with ground forces to participation in disaster response and months underway on ships, your role in every diverse aspect of our Navy's mission is critical.

I encourage each of you to pause and reflect on those that have given their all in defense of freedom.

Theresa and I would like to give our heartfelt gratitude for your dedication, strength and support.

May God richly bless each of you, our nation, and our Navy.

Very Respectfully,

MCPON

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAGEL ADDRESSES NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS OF 2014

Right:  Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel advises U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2014 graduates to connect with those they will lead, to understand different perspectives, and to stay humble during commencement activities in Annapolis, Md., May 23, 2014. U.S. Naval Academy photo  

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Hagel Addresses U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2014
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this morning congratulated the future Navy and Marine Corps officers of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 2014, advising the graduates to connect with those they will lead, to understand different perspectives, and to stay humble.

From a sunlit stage on the grounds of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, Hagel joined Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Michael H. Miller in addressing the midshipmen, then shook the hand of each graduate.

“As you conclude four years of education and training on the Yard, our nation is concluding 13 years of war, the longest in our history … [and] you will soon be presented with great 21st century challenges and opportunities,” Hagel told the graduates.

The Yard is long-used name for the USNA campus, which began as the 9.9-acre Fort Severn Army post in 1845 to a 340-acre campus today.
“Meeting those challenges, seizing the opportunities, and managing through this period of uncertainty and transition will require exceptional leadership,” the secretary added, noting that helping lead America’s sailors and Marines through such a defining time is a heavy responsibility.

Toward their success, Hagel offered three suggestions.

“These are not just my ideas,” he cautioned. “They’re what enlisted sailors and Marines tell me all the time. It’s what I believed as an enlisted infantryman in 1968.”

First, Hagel told them to personally connect with people they will lead.
“When you do, you’re forging a bond that you can rely on years down the road and under different circumstances. Having built close relationships on the Yard, you will soon do so across the fleet,” the secretary said.

“With new technologies and social media making our relationships sometimes seem less relevant,” he added, “it’s more important than ever to be personally invested in your people and build relationships face-to-face. Take the time to ask them about themselves. Get to know them. Listen to them. That earns their respect.”

Second, Hagel told them, try to understand different perspectives.
“From the diverse group of people you’ll serve with to the allied and partner forces you’ll interact with, being able to see the world through their eyes, through the eyes of others, will be critically important,” he said.

“Seek out allies and partners,” Hagel added, “and opportunities to build relationships and engage in the world. Understanding the intentions and experiences of other militaries is a skill that’s vital to our national security and America’s future.”

The secretary’s third suggestion was that the future leaders be humble and stay humble.

“Humility is about respect for others. Give credit to others and remember … someone else will always have something to teach you,” said Hagel, who then shared a personal story about his own experience of leadership from his service in Vietnam.

A few months ago, after a long search, Hagel and his brother Tom who served in the Army together in Vietnam found their then-commanding officer, former Army Lt. Jerome Johnson, living in Chicago with his family and spoke with him for the first time since 1968.

Speaking to the graduates, Hagel described 1968 as the worst year for the nation during which 16,000 fallen Americans were sent home from Vietnam, and racial unrest was evident within the military’s ranks and in the populace at home.
“Our country was in trouble,” the secretary said.

That year in Hagel’s unit in Vietnam, he said, “this young African-American lieutenant out of Chicago stepped into the middle of this and brought everyone together. He said we were going to take care of each other … and the force of this one young African-American lieutenant in this white unit brought that company together like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

Hagel added, “That’s stepping up. That’s leadership.”

The secretary also used Johnson’s character to illustrate humility, describing how the lieutenant earned a Silver Star in Vietnam but never told his wife of 40 years or his children or grandchildren.

“That’s an individual who lived something pretty special,” Hagel said.
The secretary also asked the graduates to remember that the first principle of leadership is accountability.

“Once you take up your duty stations and the responsibility of leadership … at times you’ll be pressured to succeed at any cost,” he said, adding, “ … Small actions can reverberate in large ways, whether it’s sharing answers on a test, looking the other way when someone denigrates another human being, or taking advantage of the trappings of your office.”

As future officers, Hagel said, the graduates will be counted on to lead in helping eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault of their sisters and brothers in uniform.

“You’ve seen what these crimes do to the survivors, their families, institutions and communities,” he added, “and you know how they tear people and units apart, how they destroy the bonds of confidence and trust that lie at the very core, the center, the heart of our military.”

The secretary added, “Take this knowledge and do whatever you can to make sure everyone is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We’re all accountable, from new recruits to four-star admirals and generals, from second lieutenants to the Secretary of Defense.”

As Hagel praised the midshipmen’s accomplishments he also remembered three classmates who lost their lives earlier this year -- Will McKamey, class of 2017, Hans Loewen, class of 2016, and Max Allen, class of 2014;, and Nick Tarr, class of 2014, who passed away two years ago.

“I knew Hans Loewen and I know his wonderful family. His sister Zatha is here among you today [and she] will be commissioned today as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps,” Hagel said to cheers from the midshipmen.

“This community will always remember their enthusiasm and compassion …,” the secretary said, adding, “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of all these midshipmen and their friends here at the Academy.”

The men and women who graduated today from the U.S. Naval Academy, Hagel said, will lead from the bottom up and will help bring about a renewed sense of the collective responsibility to take care of each other and watch out for each other.

“If you stand together and face your challenges head on, you and your fellow sailors and Marines will be a force for good throughout the world,” the secretary told them.

“So go forth, class of 2014,” he said. “Connect with people. Understand different perspectives. Stay humble. Be there for your people and their families. And may you always be officers worthy not only of the people you lead but the nation you serve.”

EX-IM BANK 2014 GOAL: SUPPLY $2 BILLION IN FINANCING BUSINESS AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK   

Ex-Im Bank Sets Goal of $2 Billion in Financing of U.S.-Manufactured Business Aircraft and Helicopters in 2014 

Bank Expects To Achieve New Goal by Year’s End

Washington, D.C. – Today the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) announced a new goal of $2 billion in financing for U.S.-manufactured business aircraft and helicopters by the end of 2014.

The Bank reached its previously announced goal of $1 billion in support of these exports in December 2013, 10 months ahead of schedule.

In FY 2014 to date, Ex-Im Bank has authorized approximately $740 million for exports of business aircraft and helicopters made in the United States by companies that include Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. based in Savannah, Ga., Beechcraft based Wichita, Kan., and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., which manufactures nonmilitary helicopters in Coatesville, Pa. Ex-Im Bank’s financing also supports sales and jobs of U.S. small businesses in the supply chains of these manufacturers.

“Ex-Im Bank has exceeded its goal to increase export financing of U.S.-made business aircraft and helicopters to $1 billion by 2014, and we expect to double that amount by the end of the calendar year. The Bank’s support is enabling these manufacturers and their workers to create American jobs and meet the growing global demand for their excellent products, particularly in markets where other sources of buyer financing are not readily available,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg.

Ex-Im Bank topped its previous goal in December 2013 with the guarantee of a $300 million loan extended by Apple Bank for Savings to Minsheng Financial Leasing Company Ltd. of Tianjin, China, that is financing the purchase of a fleet of eight aircraft manufactured by Gulfstream.

AG HOLDER'S REMARKS AT ETHEL KENNEDY BRIDGE DEDICATION

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Attorney General Holder Delivers Remarks at the Dedication of the Ethel Kennedy Bridge

~ Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Thank you – and good afternoon, everyone.  It’s a privilege to be here today, and to be a part of this dedication ceremony.  And it’s a great pleasure to join so many distinguished guests, devoted public servants, passionate community leaders, Earth Conservation Corps members – and members of the Kennedy family – in honoring an extraordinary woman who not only witnessed, but helped to shape, a critical period of American history; a leader who has stood as a pillar of strength – not just for her family, but for our communities and our nation; and a pioneer who has served, throughout her life, as a champion for causes ranging from civil rights to the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of young people, and the conservation of the Anacostia River right here in Washington, D.C.

As we’ve heard this afternoon, Ethel Kennedy is no less than an American icon, and nothing short of a living legend.  But she is also a steadfast friend to those in need, a staunch advocate for those at risk, and a principled leader in this community.  From those singular years at Hickory Hill, half a century ago, when she and her husband regularly convened gatherings of luminaries from around this city and across the globe, to her example of grace and resilience in the face of great tragedy; from her leadership and extensive travels on behalf of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, to her tireless work on behalf of the people of Southeast Washington – she has devoted her life to the betterment of others.  And like her late husband, my most accomplished predecessor as Attorney General – and like so many other members of the storied Skakel and Kennedy families – she has never been afraid to roll up her sleeves, rally those around her, and lead from the front lines of the fight for change.

Nowhere is this more evident than here on the banks of the Anacostia, in vibrant neighborhoods that have been too often forgotten – amid a fragile environment that’s been too long neglected.  During my service as a judge – and later as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, in the mid-1990s – I saw firsthand the intractable public safety challenges, and the vicious cycle of poverty, criminality, and incarceration, that have gripped this community and stolen far too many promising futures.

Indeed, as we’ve heard this afternoon, a shocking number of ECC members – the best and the brightest; the future of this city – have fallen victim to senseless violence since this effort began.  But as a result of the courage, the resolve, and the tireless work of community activists, Corps members, and leaders like Ethel Kennedy, over the last two decades, we have seen tremendous progress and brought about lasting, positive change.  There’s no question that significant challenges remain before us – but thanks to the principled stands you’ve taken, the fight Mrs. Kennedy is helping to lead, and the work of community members who have rallied to build the brighter futures that every D.C. resident deserves – countless lives have been improved and even saved.  And these beautiful natural areas are being preserved.

That’s why it’s fitting that we gather today – alongside ECC leaders and proud residents of Wards 6, 7 and 8 – to thank Ethel Kennedy for the work she has championed.  To bestow just a small measure of the recognition, and the public acclaim, that she richly deserves.  And to honor her indelible contributions to this community by naming one of the original connectors that links Anacostia to greater Washington in her honor.

Throughout her extraordinary life, Ethel Kennedy has shown us – by word and by deed – that every American has not just the power, but the responsibility, to help improve and transform the world around them.  And through her service, she has inspired countless individuals in and far beyond this crowd – including me – to follow her example.  She has never pursued the national spotlight.  But she has also never failed to embrace the considerable duties – and the substantial burdens – that circumstance and history have placed squarely on her shoulders.

Today, we pay tribute to this remarkable leader.  We thank her for bearing these burdens, and leading these efforts, with grace and with poise.  We declare that she is not merely one of the best among us – she is a national treasure.  And we pledge that we will honor her achievements by rededicating ourselves – here and now – to the work that must remain our common cause; by carrying on the fight for juvenile and environmental justice; and by continuing to support and empower those who need our help the most, across the country as well as here in Washington – on both sides of the bridge that will forever bear her name.

Thank you once again, Mrs. Kennedy, for all that you have done, and meant, to this community and to our nation.  I am honored to share this auspicious moment with you.  And I look forward to all that we will do and achieve together in the months and years to come.

THE SANDS OF THE SAHARA MEET THE WATER

FROM:  NASA 

On May 23, 2014, Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson posted this photograph -- taken from the International Space Station -- to Instagram. Swanson noted, “Western Sahara – the contrast between the sand and the water is spectacular from here.” Swanson uploaded the first image from space to Instagram on April 7. He began posting imagery to the social media site during his pre-flight training. › View Instagram imagery from the International Space Station The three Expedition 40 crew members aboard the International Space Station worked advanced science this week while awaiting a new trio, set to lift off on Wednesday, May 28. Soyuz Commander and cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and European astronaut Alexander Gerst will launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-13M spacecraft at 3:57 p.m. EDT (1:57 a.m. May 29 Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Image Credit: NASA

PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES STATEMENT ON ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Statement by the President on Elections in Ukraine

On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate the people of Ukraine for making their voices heard by voting in their presidential election today. Despite provocations and violence, millions of Ukrainians went to the polls throughout the country, and even in parts of eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatist groups sought to disenfranchise entire regions, some courageous Ukrainians still were able to cast their ballots. We commend the resolve of all those who participated, as well as the efforts of the Ukrainian government to conduct these elections in the face of those threats.

Throughout the last few months, the Ukrainian people have repeatedly demonstrated their desire to choose their leaders without interference and to live in a democracy where they can determine their own future free of violence and intimidation. This election is another important step forward in the efforts of the Ukrainian government to unify the country and reach out to all of its citizens to ensure their concerns are addressed and aspirations met.

The United States looks forward to working with the next President, as well as the democratically elected parliament, to support Ukraine’s efforts to enact important political and economic reforms. We also continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemn and reject Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, and remain committed to working with Ukraine and other partners to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITS TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Remarks by the President to the Troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

TO U.S. TROOPS

 

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan

 

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Bagram!  (Applause.)  Well, I know it's a little late, but I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by.  (Applause.)  First of all, I want everybody to give a huge round of applause to your commander, General Joe Dunford. Please give him an outstanding, rousing acknowledgement.  (Applause.)  I am grateful to him for his leadership of our coalition here in Afghanistan, and for his lifetime of distinguished service -- to the Marine Corps and to America.

And can everybody please give it up to Brad Paisley?  (Applause.)  Now, I want to say this about Brad.  First of all, he’s a great supporter of our troops, a great supporter of your families.  Two years ago we had him at the White House to perform for troops and military families during the Fourth of July celebration.  Him coming here today was not easy.  He had just started a tour and he had to juggle a lot of stuff and had to try to figure out how to explain it to people without explaining it to people, and his wife and two young sons, and promoters and agents -- and without going into details, this was a big sacrifice for him.  And he did it because he cares so deeply about you.  So I'm so grateful to him. 

I want to make clear, though, I will not be singing so --

AUDIENCE:  Awwww --

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, you really want me to sing?  (Applause.) No, but I do want to just say to Brad, thank you so much for doing this.

I want to acknowledge our outstanding Ambassador, Jim Cunningham, who’s here, with his lovely wife.  And Jim leads an incredible team of civilians -- at our embassy and across this country.  They are also making sacrifices, also away from their families, oftentimes themselves at risk as they serve.  I know those of you in uniform couldn’t do your jobs without these Americans as your partners.  So we salute the dedicated service of all the civilians who are here, led by Jim Cunningham.  Give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

Now, I guess I also should mention that we've got a few folks here as part of the 10th Mountain Division -- (applause) -- “Climb To Glory.”  (Applause.)  We got the 455th Airwing in the house.  (Applause.)  Task Force Muleskinner -- (applause) -- Task Force Thunder -- (applause -- Task Force Rugged -- (applause.)   

To all of you, I’m here on a single mission, and that is to thank you for your extraordinary service.  (Applause.)  I thank you as your Commander-in-Chief because you inspire me.  Your willingness to serve, to step forward at a time of war, and say “send me,” is the reason the United States stays strong and free. Of all the honors that I have serving as President, nothing matches serving as your Commander-in-Chief.  (Applause.) 

But I’m also here representing 300 million Americans who want to say thank you as well.  (Applause.)  I know sometimes when you're over here, away from home, away from family, you may not truly absorb how much the folks back home are thinking about you.  So I just want you to know when it comes to supporting you and your families, the American people stand united.  We support you.  We are proud of you.  We stand in awe of your service.   

And you can see it in American actions every single day.  You see it in the kids across America who send you all those care packages -- and all those Girl Scout cookies.  (Applause.)  Those are pretty popular, huh?  (Applause.)  You like those cookies, huh?  (Applause.)  All right.  I'll bet you’ll get some more now. (Applause.) 

You see it in the neighbors and the coworkers who volunteer to help your moms and dads, and wives and husbands, and sons and daughters at school and on their sports teams.  You see it at the airport when you return stateside -- all the folks standing up, applauding, lining up to shake your hand and welcoming you home.

We see it when entire stadiums get to their feet to salute our troops and our veterans.  Just the other day, I welcomed the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks -- (Applause and boos.)  Listen, I'm a Bears’ fan, but I -- (applause) -- but the one thing I saw and I've seen in every sports team that comes to the White House is the work that they do, visiting Walter Reed, Bethesda, doing work with military families.  In fact, to help announce their draft picks this month, the Seattle Seahawks selected Jeff Baker, who’s a Seahawks fan but also a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and a proud sergeant in the U.S. Army, to make that draft pick.  (Applause.)  Because they wanted to send a signal that we love our sports and we love our football -- that's fun and games, but this is the competition that counts and these are the real heroes.  (Applause.)     

You see America’s gratitude every time I present a veteran of Afghanistan with our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.  We bestow that medal on an individual.  But every time -- every time that we bestow that medal, whoever is the recipient says he accepts it on behalf of the whole team and everybody who wears the uniform of the American Armed Forces.  And when those citations are read, Americans all across the country stop and they listen -- and they’re stirred by the sacrifices you render for each other, and for all of us. 

So I'm here to say thank you and I'm here to say how proud I am of you.  (Applause.)  And I'm here to say how proud I am of your families -- (applause) -- because in some ways, in ways large and small, they’re sacrificing just like you are.    

But I’m also here because after more than a decade of war, we’re at a pivotal moment.  Last year marked a major milestone -- for the first time, Afghan forces took the lead to secure their own country.  And today, you’re in a support role -- helping to train and assist Afghan forces.  For many of you, this will be your last tour in Afghanistan.  (Applause.)  And by the end of this year, the transition will be complete and Afghans will take full responsibility for their security, and our combat mission will be over.  America’s war in Afghanistan will come to a responsible end.  (Applause.)   

Now, that progress is because of you and the more than half a million Americans -- military and civilian -- who’ve served here in Afghanistan.  And I don’t want you to ever forget why you are here or how vital your mission is to our national security. 

Some of you may know, recently, I was in New York City, and we were there to dedicate the new 9/11 Museum.  I had time to spend with the survivors, and with families who lost loved ones, and with the first responders who had rushed to the scene -- and had a chance to ponder the portraits and the biographies of the thousands who were killed that day, and to think about those who were killed in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.  And once again, we resolved to never forget what happened on that September day -- and to do everything in our power to prevent something like that from ever happening again.  That’s why you’re here.  That's why you're here.

And I notice -- some of you don't remember -- because as I was getting a briefing while Brad was singing, I saw a picture of the Twin Towers in the Operation Room nearby, so I know you don't forget. 

And four years ago, on my first visit to Bagram as President, I laid out our mission.  And General Dunford and Ambassador Cunningham just gave me a briefing on your progress.  And today, every single one of you, everybody who has served here, and all the members of our coalition can be proud because you are completing our mission.  You're completing the mission.

We said that we were going to deny al Qaeda safe haven.  And since then, we have decimated the al Qaeda leadership in the tribal regions, and our troops here at Bagram played a central role in supporting our counterterrorism operations -- including the one that delivered justice to Osama bin Laden.  (Applause.)  So, along with our intelligence personnel, you’ve helped prevent attacks and save American lives back home.  Al Qaeda is on its heels in this part of the world, and that’s because of you.

We said that we were going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum.  And so you went on the offensive, driving the Taliban out of its strongholds.  Look, everybody knows Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place.  Insurgents still launch cowardly attacks against innocent civilians.  But just look at the progress that you’ve made possible -- Afghans reclaiming their communities, and more girls returning to school, dramatic improvements in public health and life expectancy and literacy.  That's your legacy.  That's what you did.  Even with all the challenges, more Afghans have hope for their future.  And so much of that is because of you.  

We said that we were going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan forces so they could take more responsibility for their own security.  So you’ve been training Afghan forces and building Afghan forces up.  And we know they’ve still got a long way to go.  But for nearly a year, Afghans have been in the lead, and they’re making enormous sacrifices.  You look at the casualties they’re taking on.  They are willing to fight.  Afghan forces are growing stronger.  Afghans are proud to be defending their own country -- and, again, so much of that is because of you.

Think about last month’s election.  Despite all the threats from the Taliban, the Afghan people refused to be terrorized.  They registered to vote.  Afghan security forces secured thousands of polling places.  Then millions of Afghans lined up to cast their ballot.  And next month’s runoff will be another step toward the first democratic transfer of power in the history of this nation.  That’s a tribute to the courage and determination of the people of Afghanistan.  But it is also a tribute to you and the sacrifices of so many Americans and our coalition partners -- everything that you’ve done over the years.

We know that this progress has come at a heavy price.  Tomorrow is Memorial Day.  At bases here in Afghanistan and towns across America, we will pause and we'll pay tribute to all those who’ve laid down their lives for our freedom.  And that includes nearly 2,200 American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice, that last, full measure of devotion, right here in Afghanistan.  I know you’ve stood in front of those battle crosses.  I know many of you carry the memories of your fallen comrades in your heart today.  We will honor every single one of them -- not just tomorrow, but forever.  

I want you to know our gratitude is shared by the Afghan people.  One of them -- one of Afghanistan’s leading women, a member of parliament -- recently wrote an open letter.  I don't know if many of you had a chance to see it.  She described all the changes that have taken place here, including millions of girls going to school and pursuing their dreams.  And she wrote this -- I want you to listen to this -- she wrote:  “It’s been a difficult journey, marked by blood and violence, but we have made significant gains and achievements, which would not have been possible without the generous support of the international community, especially the American people.”  Especially the American people.  She’s talking about all of you.  She’s talking about your families.  She’s talking about those who we've lost.  That’s the difference -- and the legacy -- that you can be proud of.

Now, even as our combat mission ends later this year, I want everybody to know, in this country and across the region, America’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan will endure.  With our strategic partnership, we’ll continue to stand with Afghans as they strengthen their institutions, as they build their economy, as they improve their lives -- men and women, and boys and girls.

I’ve made it clear that we’re prepared to continue cooperating with our Afghan partners on two security missions -- training and equipping Afghan forces and targeting -- counterterrorism targets against al Qaeda.  And once Afghanistan has sworn in its new president, I’m hopeful we’ll sign a bilateral security agreement that lets us move forward.  And with that bilateral security agreement, assuming it is signed, we can plan for a limited military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Because after all the sacrifices we’ve made, we want to preserve the gains that you have helped to win.  And we’re going to make sure that Afghanistan can never again, ever, be used again to launch an attack against our country.

So our combat mission here will come to an end.  But our obligations to you and your families have only just begun.  The al Qaeda leadership may be on the ropes, but in other regions of the world al Qaeda affiliates are evolving and pose a serious threat.  We’re going to have to stay strong and we're going to have to stay vigilant.  And fortunately, we’ve got the best-led, best-trained, best-equipped military in human history.  (Applause.)  And as Commander-in Chief, I’m going to keep it that way.  (Applause.) 

We’re going to stay strong by taking care of your families back home.  First Lady Michelle and Vice President Joe Biden’s wife Jill have made this their mission -- because your families serve, too.  They’re heroes on the home front.  And so we’re going to keep Joining Forces to make sure more Americans are stepping up to support and honor those extraordinary families.

We’re going to stay strong by taking care of our wounded warriors and our veterans.  (Applause.)  Because helping our wounded warriors and veterans heal isn’t just a promise, it’s a sacred obligation.  As you come home, some of you will return to civilian life, and we want to make sure you can enjoy the American Dream that you helped to defend.  So with the transition assistance to help you begin the next chapter of your life -- that's going to keep America strong.  The credentials and licenses to help you find a job worthy of your incredible skills -- that will keep America strong.  Making sure the Post-9/11 GI Bill is in place and delivering for you the kind of education that you have earned -- that will keep America strong.  (Applause.)

And I keep on saying to every company back home -- if you want somebody who knows how to get the job done, hire a vet.  (Applause.)  Hire a vet.  Hire a vet.  (Applause.)  Because like generations before you, we need you to help us write the next great chapter in the American story, and I know you’ll do that because I’ve seen the character of your service, and I know the strength of our country. 

Going back to New York and thinking about that tragedy 12 years ago, in those awful moments after the Twin Towers fell, as the wreckage was still burning, those at the scene were desperately looking for survivors -- one of those searching was a detective with the NYPD.  And as he climbed through the debris, he spotted something in the rubble -- it was a flag.  It was torn up.  Parts of it were burned, but it was still intact.      

And today, that flag is at the 9/11 Museum.  It’s dusty. And it's torn, and you can see the burn marks from the fires.  That flag has been through a lot.  But the thing you notice is its broad stripes and bright stars still shine.  (Applause.)  Its red, white and blue still inspire.  After all it’s been through, after all America has been through, our flag is still there.  (Applause.)    

And our flag is still there because when our nation was attacked, a generation -- this generation, the 9/11 Generation -- stepped up and said “send me.”  Our flag is still there because you’ve served with honor in dusty villages and city streets, and in rugged bases and remote outposts, in Helmand and Kandahar, and Khost and Kunar and Paktika and Nuristan.  Our flag is still there because through this long war you never wavered in your belief that people deserve to live free from fear -- over here and back home.  Our flag will always be there, because the freedom and liberty it represents to the world will always be defended by patriots like you.  (Applause.) 

So I'm here to say thank you.  I'm here to say I'm proud of you.  The American people are proud of you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States Armed Forces.  And God Bless our United States of America.  (Applause.) 

Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.) 

                           END           10:35 P.M. AFT

U.S. EXPLANATION FOR UN VOTE ON SYRIA

 FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, On the Security Council Vote on Syria

Samantha Power

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 

New York, NY, United States

May 22, 2014

AS DELIVERED

Thank you. Today is about accountability for crimes so extensive, so deadly, that they have few equals in modern history. Today is about accountability for Syria. But it is also about accountability for this Security Council.

It is this Council’s responsibility to stop atrocities if we can and – at a minimum – to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocities are held accountable. It was toward that minimum that we sought to make progress today. My government applauds the vast majority of members of this Council who voted to support – and the some 64 countries who joined us in co-sponsoring – this effort to refer these atrocities to the International Criminal Court.

Sadly, because of the decision by the Russian Federation to back the Syrian regime no matter what it does, the Syrian people will not see justice today. They will see crime, but not punishment.

On April 15th, the members of this Council were briefed on a report that included 55,000 gruesome photos of the emaciated and tortured bodies of dead Syrians, who world-renowned international lawyers concluded had been methodically eliminated by a government killing machine. The pictures were reportedly provided by an individual – alias “Caesar” – who worked for 13 years as part of the Syrian military police. When the fighting began, he says that he was instructed to record the images of people starved, beaten, tortured, and executed by Syria’s security forces.

These photos shock and horrify, even after some of us wondered if there was anything the regime could do that would still shock. Syrian soldiers already had compelled doctors not to care for the wounded, dragged patients out of hospital beds, laid siege to whole neighborhoods, cut off access to desperately-needed supplies, and carried out chemical weapons attacks and barrel bomb attacks with the full confidence that meaningful action by this Council would be obstructed.

A judicial process does more than hold perpetrators accountable. It also allows victims to speak. The vetoes today have prevented the victims of atrocities from testifying at The Hague for now. But nonetheless it is important for us here today to hear the kind of testimony we might have heard if Russia and China had not raised their hands to oppose accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Because of the vetoes just cast, one of Assad’s victims, Qusai Zakariya, will not soon be called to testify before the International Criminal Court. But Qusai’s story of life in Moadamiya during the siege, as hard as it is to hear, must be heard. Qusai Zakariya is here with us today, and I’d like to ask him to stand.

Today I will tell Qusai’s story, as he told it to us. Qusai’s home, Moadamiya, just outside of Damascus, was one of the Assad regime's prime targets. During the August 2013 chemical weapons attacks, Quasi ran out to the street and tried to help his neighbors. He quickly lost his ability to breathe. His eyes afire, Qusai’s heart stopped and he was left for dead until a friend stumbled upon him and realized he had again begun breathing. Qusai recounts his bewilderment as he watched neighbors suffocate, friends panic, and families perish. He remembers the face of a 13 year old boy just a few feet from his home. He describes the boy as “so innocent.” He recalls, “He had done nothing.” Yet the expression on this 13 year old’s face was the most terrifying thing Qusai has ever seen, as white foam streamed from his mouth and death crept in.

If Qusai could testify, he might tell the story of his neighbor, Abu Mohammed, a waiter in Damascus while his wife and daughter lived in Moadamiya. Abu Mohammed’s daughter was 7 years old. She had a heart condition that required medication not available in besieged Moadamiya. So Abu Mohammed did what any father would do and attempted to bring her medicine from Damascus. He was captured by Assad’s mercenaries, tortured with acid, and ultimately killed. His body was thrown on Highway 40. And without medicine to treat her heart condition, Abu Mohammed’s 7 year old daughter died.

Qusai might also tell the story of Rana, an 18 month old baby girl. Rana’s dad ran a grocery store before the siege. After the siege, he watched as his daughter Rana died from malnutrition because she couldn’t get milk that used to sit on his store’s shelves.

Qusai has said that when he walks around the United States, he notices people in restaurants, getting on with day to day life. He notices the small leftovers we leave on our plates. And he remembers watching his neighbors desperation to get a small piece of rotten bread in Moadamiya.

Qusai’s account of his experiences in Moadamiya deserves to be heard. It deserves to be examined by an independent court. And if crimes are proven, those responsible deserve to be held accountable. The vetoes cast today prevent that from happening. Strikingly, the vetoes cast today also protect monstrous terrorist organizations operating in Syria. Those who would behead civilians and attack religious minorities will not soon be held accountable at the ICC either. For Russia and China’s vetoes today protect not only Assad and his henchmen, but also the radical Islamic terrorists who are pursuing a fundamentalist assault on the Syrian people that knows no decency or humanity. These vetoes have aided impunity not just for Assad, but for terrorist groups as well.

In the past, when extraordinary crimes have been carried out, the International Criminal Court has been able to act. Why is it that the people of Uganda, Darfur, Libya, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Kenya deserve international, impartial justice, but the Syrian people do not? Why should the International Criminal Court pursue accountability for atrocities in Africa but none in Syria where the worst horrors of our time are being perpetrated? For those who have asked the Security Council this very reasonable question, today you have your answer: the Russian and Chinese vetoes.

Our grandchildren will ask us years from now how we could have failed to bring justice to people living in hell on earth. The history books may well depict photos taken by “Caesar” of emaciated, acid-scarred corpses juxtaposed next to a photo of the two members of this Council who prevented justice for victims like Qusai who long to see the end of such horrors.

Today is therefore about accountability, not just for the victims of Assad’s regime, not just for Qusai and his neighbors in Moadamiya, but for the members of this Security Council. Month after month, and year after year, we have each spoken about the importance of justice and the need for accountability in Syria. Victims and survivors have begged for action and cried for justice. The international community has supported ad hoc efforts to collect evidence, to record testimony. We’ve launched commissions of inquiry to find facts, and we’ve held meeting after meeting. But we have not, before today, brought forward a resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. We have not done so because we were afraid that it would be vetoed.

But the victims of the Assad regimes’ industrial killing machine and the victims of terrorist attacks deserve more than to have more dead counted. They deserve to have each of us, the members of this Security Council, counted and held to account. They deserve to have history record those who stood with them, and those who were willing to raise their hands to deny them a chance at justice. While there may be no ICC accountability today for the horrific crimes being carried out against the Syrian people, there should be accountability for those members of this Council that have prevented accountability.

Now, the representatives from Syria, and perhaps Russia, may suggest that the resolution voted on today was biased. And I agree – it was biased in the direction of establishing facts; tilted, as well, in the direction of peace – the peace that comes from holding individuals – not whole groups, not “Allawites,” not “Sunni,” not “Kurds,” but individuals – accountable.

The outcome of today’s vote, disappointing as it is, will not end our pursuit of justice. My government will continue to work with so many other governments and organizations to encourage and facilitate the further gathering of evidence. There is no limit to our determination to see that the victims of atrocities in Syria, and their loved ones, receive answers in accordance with the majesty of law. In this quest, we will be guided by a fundamental principle of civilization, a principle that has truly stood the test of time. And I quote: “Those who are not wronged, no less than those who are wronged, must exert themselves to punish the wrongdoers,” end quote. So said Solon, the Athenian sage, more than 2500 years ago; and so affirmed the overwhelming majority of this Council today.

Thank you.

U.S. ANNOUNCES CIVILIAN LANDMINE TEAM SENT TO SERBIA, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Civilian Landmine Team Deploys to Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina To Support Local Efforts in Landmine-Contaminated Areas Affected by Widespread Flooding

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 25, 2014

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The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement is deploying the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), a group of civilian explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts, to Serbia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The QRF will arrive May 26 and work with local officials of both the Serbian and BiH Mine Action Centers to survey landmine-contaminated areas affected by the recent widespread floods. Heavy rains in the Balkans have caused widespread flooding that has led to the possible shifting and uncovering of some of the 120,000 landmines remaining from the 1992-1995 conflict associated with the break-up of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The flood waters also may have washed away many of the markers delineating the minefields. Efforts are currently in place by the local authorities to begin mapping the most affected areas and informing their communities about the imminent danger posed by mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Residents in flood-affected areas are reporting discoveries of mines and UXO. On May 21, a landmine dislodged by the devastating floods near the town of Brcko, BiH exploded underwater, but caused no damage or casualties. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina estimates that 320 square kilometers of the flood zones are potentially contaminated by shifting mines or UXO. In Serbia, preliminary reporting from the Serbian Mine Action Center indicates that a similar problem with the shifting and uncovering of numerous landmines and explosive ordnance has occurred. Local commercial demining companies and both the Serbian and BiH Armed Forces demining units are very well versed in regular demining operations, but they will be facing clearance operations in unfamiliar circumstances – assessing large areas, clearing mines from landslides, and conducting underwater demining.

Since 2008, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs has deployed QRF teams to countries including Congo-Brazzaville, Cyprus, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, and Vietnam to address emergency issues related to the removal or mitigation of abandoned or otherwise at-risk conventional weapons and munitions, landmines, and unexploded ordnance. Also, since 1993, the United States has invested more than $2.3 billion in more than 90 countries around the world to reduce the harmful effects of the explosive remnants of conventional weapons in post-conflict environments, including more than $96.7 million in BiH, and over $15.7 million in Serbia.

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS GET HELP FROM NASA TO REVIVE OLD SPACECRAFT

FROM:  NASA 

Right:  Artist's concept image of ISEE-3 (ICE) spacecraft.

Image Credit: NASA

NASA has given a green light to a group of citizen scientists attempting to breathe new scientific life into a more than 35-year old agency spacecraft.

The agency has signed a Non-Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (NRSAA) with Skycorp, Inc., in Los Gatos, California, allowing the company to attempt to contact, and possibly command and control, NASA’s International Sun-Earth.

Explorer-3 (ISEE-3) spacecraft as part of the company’s ISEE-3 Reboot Project. This is the first time NASA has worked such an agreement for use of a spacecraft the agency is no longer using or ever planned to use again.

The NRSAA details the technical, safety, legal and proprietary issues that will be addressed before any attempts are made to communicate with or control the 1970’s-era spacecraft as it nears the Earth in August.

"The intrepid ISEE-3 spacecraft was sent away from its primary mission to study the physics of the solar wind extending its mission of discovery to study two comets." said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington. "We have a chance to engage a new generation of citizen scientists through this creative effort to recapture the ISEE-3 spacecraft as it zips by the Earth this summer."

Launched in 1978 to study the constant flow of solar wind streaming toward Earth, ISEE-3 successfully completed its prime mission in 1981. With remaining fuel and functioning instruments, it then was redirected to observe two comets. Following the completion of that mission, the spacecraft continued in orbit around the sun. It is now making its closest approach to Earth in more than 30 years.

The goal of the ISEE-3 Reboot Project is to put the spacecraft into an orbit at   a gravitationally stable point between Earth and the sun known as Lagrangian 1 (L1). Once safely back in orbit, the next step would be to return the spacecraft to operations and use its instruments as they were originally designed. ISEE-3's close approach in the coming weeks provides optimal conditions to attempt communication. If communications are unsuccessful, the spacecraft will swing by the moon and continue to orbit the sun.

NASA has shared technical data these citizen scientists to help them communicate with and return data from ISEE-3. The contributions of any citizen science provided by the spacecraft, if it is successfully recovered, depend on the current condition of its instruments. New data resulting from the project will be shared with the science community and the public, providing a unique tool for teaching students and the public about spacecraft operations and data gathering. The data also will provide valuable information about the effects of the space environment on the 36-year old spacecraft.

The ISEE-3 mission opened new pathways for scientific exploration, helping scientists better understand the sun-Earth system, which at its most turbulent can affect satellites around Earth and disrupt our technological infrastructure.

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY DARBY TESTIFIES ON WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING CRISIS

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

The Escalating International Wildlife Trafficking Crisis: Ecological, Economic, and National Security Issues

Testimony

M. Brooke Darby

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

Statement Before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittees on African Affairs and East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Washington, DC

May 21, 2014

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Chairmen Coons and Cardin, Ranking Members Flake and Rubio, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittees on African Affairs and East Asian and Pacific Affairs, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the threat posed from wildlife trafficking and the efforts of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to address it.

I testify before you today alongside committed champions and long-time supporters of enhancing conservation efforts, improving land management, protecting endangered species, and strengthening law enforcement capacities that safeguard natural resources and prevent and prosecute environmental and wildlife trafficking crimes. And while this may be an area that INL is somewhat new to, you can rest assured that we are now much more actively engaged, taking to heart the call-to-action by both the President and Secretary of State, to leverage all instruments at our disposal to strengthen our partners’ law enforcement and criminal justice capacities to combat wildlife trafficking.

Let me provide some insights into the breadth and scale of the challenge posed by the global illicit trade in wildlife. Increasing demand for illegally traded wildlife products in the last several years has fueled a massive uptick in poaching, particularly in Africa, and growing engagement by sophisticated transnational organized criminal networks, drawn to profits that can rival or in some cases even exceed those derived from drug trafficking. Conservative estimates of $8-10 billion in illicit revenues per year place wildlife trafficking among the top five most lucrative forms of transnational organized crime. In addition to searching out opportunities for high rewards, criminals also exploit environments with low risks of detection and meaningful punishment – and they find that in the illicit wildlife trade where they are able to exploit porous borders, corrupt officials, insufficient enforcement and investigative capacities and penalties, weak legal regimes, and lax financial system oversight.

All of us need to be concerned about the wide-ranging impact of the illegal wildlife trade, and organized criminal organizations’ involvement in it. I’d like to talk about the serious impact this crime has on humans and our security from INL’s perspective:

• The high tech weaponry and violent, aggressive tactics now employed by poachers threaten the safety and security of civilian populations, particularly in supply (also known as “range”) states. Park rangers are at special risk and many have been killed trying to protect wildlife.
• The corruption that both fuels, and is fueled by, the illegal wildlife trade undermines good governance and the rule of law, and erodes citizens’ confidence in their government institutions.
• Wildlife trafficking crimes create and exacerbate border insecurity, creating new vulnerabilities that other criminals, terrorists, and militias can exploit.
• The depletion of natural resources, and related corruption, weakens financial stability and economic growth, particularly in countries for which tourism is a major revenue source. Furthermore, illicit trade in illegally harvested marine species threatens food security, potentially undermining political stability in many developing nations.
• Terrorists and militia groups may seize the opportunity to benefit from the wildlife trade. We have some evidence that the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Janjaweed have done so, for example, trading wildlife products for weapons or safe haven.

For these reasons, the President issued an Executive Order calling for a whole of government response to combat wildlife trafficking on July 1, 2013 and released the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking on February, 11, 2014. The Strategy calls on agencies and departments to address wildlife trafficking by: (1) strengthening domestic and global enforcement; (2) reducing demand for illegal wildlife products; and (3) building international cooperation and public-private partnerships.

INL is primarily involved in implementing the enforcement and international cooperation goals of the strategy through programmatic and diplomatic initiatives. We are not complete newcomers to the game -- for over a decade, we have provided wildlife investigative training delivered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of our International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) program. But within the last year, with strong support from Congress, we have begun to greatly expand our programs, drawing on our experience in addressing other forms of transnational criminal activity. We have organized our work around four key areas.
First, we will work with interested partners to strengthen legislative frameworks to make wildlife trafficking a serious crime with strong penalties in order to provide investigators and prosecutors the legal tools they need to put the traffickers behind bars.

Second we will improve law enforcement and investigative capabilities – including intelligence, evidence collection and analysis, investigative skills and methods, and collaboration across agencies and governments – with our partner agencies to promote intelligence-led investigations and operations that strive not simply to pick up individual poachers but rather to better understand and begin to dismantle the organizations for which they work.
Third, we will work to build prosecutorial and judicial capacities with our partners. As we have learned, rangers and police will not continue to apprehend the bad guys if they believe prosecutors or judges will just let them go. So as we improve legislative frameworks and offer up new tools, we need to ensure prosecutors and judges know how to use those tools effectively and creatively.

And fourth, we will enhance cross-border law enforcement cooperation, particularly by working with the regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) with other agencies. There is much that we need to learn about how wildlife trafficking organizations operate – but we do know that illegal wildlife products often make their way through multiple transit points as they move from supply states to demand markets. So we need to build alliances and processes across borders for sharing information and intelligence and collaborating on operations.
The National Strategy stresses the need to marshal and strategically apply federal resources through a coordinated approach. Our work in these areas will be done on a bilateral and regional basis looking at priority areas and landscapes for U.S. foreign assistance in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. When the President announced the Executive Order to Combat Wildlife Trafficking last July, he also announced that $10 million would support law enforcement efforts in Africa. Those funds, coupled with approximately $6 million in prior year funding, are supporting bilateral INL programming in Kenya and South Africa; regional capacity building efforts in Africa and East Asia and the Pacific, and global programs, including efforts through INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Customs Organizations, all of which are part of the International Consortium for Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). The approximately $15 million recently directed in FY 2014 International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds will enable us to expand efforts begun or piloted using prior year resources, such as training for customs officers at ports of entry, prosecutorial training, and joint capacity building-operational exercises across regions and continents.

INL’s engagement extends beyond assistance programming. We also are tapping into tools developed to address transnational organized crime, to tackle the specific challenge of wildlife trafficking, including the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which Congress authorized in 2013. In November 2013, Secretary Kerry announced the first reward offer under the program of up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network. The Xaysavang Network, based in Laos and operating across Africa and Asia, facilitates the illegal trade of endangered elephants, rhinos, and other species.

Through diplomatic outreach and engagement, we are building international consensus around the importance of dismantling wildlife trafficking networks. For example, at the U.N. Crime Commission in April 2013, the United States introduced a successful joint resolution with Peru encouraging governments around the world to treat wildlife trafficking as a “serious crime” pursuant to the U.N. Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Making it a serious crime unlocks new opportunities for international law enforcement cooperation provided under the Convention, including mutual legal assistance, asset seizure and forfeiture, extradition, and other tools to hold criminals accountable for wildlife crime. The U.N. Economic and Social Council adopted the resolution in July 2013, further elevating wildlife trafficking as a major concern for the United Nations. These measures provide the mandate that we need, as members of a larger body of concerned nations, to harness our collective capabilities to learn more about these trafficking networks, share information, and collaborate on plans and programs that will undermine them.

Another early success to which we can point is a recent month-long global law enforcement cooperative effort, known as “Cobra II,” that we helped to support. Participants from 28 countries, including representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with participation from USAID, executed this global operation in February 2014 to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching which resulted in more than 400 arrests and 350 major seizures of wildlife and wildlife products across Africa, Asia, and the United States. The operation demonstrated to participants the benefits and results that can be achieved by working together and we will seek to build on the positive momentum it generated.

Although we have more to learn about the links that exist between wildlife trafficking organizations and other transnational criminal groups, we do know that wildlife traffickers do not operate in a vacuum. Criminal organizations tend to use the same routes and shipping methods as smugglers of weapons, drugs, and counterfeits. They bribe the same customs officials. They deploy poachers in the same restive regions where terrorists and other criminals may sow instability and conflict and exploit weak institutions and porous borders. Money and corruption are common denominators of all forms of transnational organized crime, and wildlife trafficking is no exception.

INL is looking at ways to connect our anti-corruption and unit vetting programs used effectively in narcotics-producing regions, to support willing governments afflicted by wildlife trafficking. We are also examining the broader use of Presidential Proclamation (PP) 7750, which is used to bar entry into the United States of high-level corrupt officials and their family members, against wildlife traffickers and their enablers.

Following the money is equally important. All illicit criminal networks need money to finance their activities and as illicit funds move through the international financial system, they can be detected and monitored. In addition to exercising leadership within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), we are promoting and applying tools like asset recovery and forfeiture to combat transnational organized crime and money laundering. Through the FATF style regional body for Eastern and Southern Africa, we are working with international partners to uncover and counter money laundering and other illicit financial flows related to wildlife trafficking. We then will develop capacity building projects to address gaps this study identifies.

Illicit networks undercut the ability of law enforcement to protect citizens, deprive the states of vital revenues, promote corruption, and contribute to bad governance. But as organized crime has evolved and diversified, so has INL. Our programs are tailored to specific and cross cutting threats, including wildlife trafficking, to target the common facilitators of all types of crime.
Thank you, Chairman Coons, Chairman Cardin, and Distinguished Members of the Subcommittees for your attention to and support of our collective efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. I welcome your questions.

TEXAN PLEADS GUILTY IN COUNTERFEIT VIAGRA TABLETS CONSPIRACY

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

May 20, 2014

Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle and Traffic Counterfeit Viagra Tablets

A Texas man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to smuggle and to traffic in counterfeit and misbranded pharmaceuticals, including Viagra tablets, from China, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.

Nasif Baqla, 26, of Houston, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, to introduce misbranded prescription drugs into interstate commerce and to import such goods contrary to U.S. law.

Baqla was indicted on Aug. 22, 2012, as were two other individuals – Jamal Khattab, 49, of Katy, Texas, and Fayez Al-Jabri, 45, of Chicago – in a separate, but related case.  Khattab and Al-Jabri each pleaded guilty on Dec. 3, 2013, and March 21, 2014, respectively, to the same conspiracy charge as Baqla, as well as trafficking in counterfeit goods and introducing counterfeit drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

According to court documents, in July 2010, a package of counterfeit Viagra tablets was shipped from China to Houston, intended for Baqla and Khattab.   The package was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection officers.   Baqla claimed the pills were his and that he received them on behalf of a friend.  Although the tablets were marked with trademarks substantially indistinguishable from the genuine marking on a legitimate Viagra pill, the drugs in the package were counterfeit and misbranded.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, Diplomatic Security Service and police departments in Houston and Chicago.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief for Litigation John Zacharia of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kebharu Smith of the Southern District of Texas.

SEC ANNOUNCES ANOTHER CASE INVOLVING ALLEGED SECURITIES PRICE MANIPULATION IN A MICROCAP COMPANY

FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Litigation Release No. 23000 / May 22, 2014

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the latest in a series of cases against microcap companies, officers, and promoters arising out of a joint law enforcement investigation to unearth penny stock schemes with roots in South Florida.

In complaints filed in federal court in Miami, the SEC charged five penny stock promoters with conducting various manipulation schemes involving undisclosed payments to induce purchases of a microcap stock to generate the false appearance of market interest. The SEC also charged a Massachusetts-based microcap company and the CEO with orchestrating a pair of illicit kickback schemes and an insider trading scheme involving the company's stock. A stock promoter in Texas was charged for his role in the insider trading scheme.

The SEC has now charged 48 individuals and 25 companies in this series of penny stock investigations out of the agency's Miami Regional Office, which has worked closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The first of the joint enforcement actions was announced in October 2010.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida today announced criminal charges against many of the same individuals charged today by the SEC.

According to the SEC's complaint against Boca Raton, Fla.-based stock promoters Kevin McKnight and Stephen C. Bauer, they engaged in market manipulation fraud involving the penny stock of Environmental Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (EIHC). They generated the appearance of market interest in EIHC to induce investors to purchase the stock and artificially increase the trading price and volume. In a separate complaint against Jeffrey M. Berkowitz of Jupiter, Fla., the SEC alleges that he participated in a market manipulation scheme involving the stock of Face Up Entertainment Group (FUEG) and similarly worked to falsely generate the appearance of market interest in that stock. The SEC's complaint against Eric S. Brown of Brooklyn, N.Y., alleges that he engaged in a pair of market manipulation schemes involving the stock of International Development & Environmental Holdings Corp. (IDEH) and DAM Holdings Inc. (DAMH), the latter of which is now known as Premier Beverage Group Corp. (PBGC). And according to an SEC complaint against Boca Raton, Fla.-based stock promoter Richard A. Altomare, he engaged in a market manipulation scheme involving the stock of Sunset Brands Inc. (SSBN).

The SEC alleges in a separate complaint that North Andover, Mass.-based Urban AG Corp. (AQUM) and its president and CEO Billy V. Ray Jr. of Cumming, Ga., schemed to make an undisclosed kickback payment to a hedge fund manager in exchange for the fund's purchase of restricted shares of stock in the company. In a separate kickback scheme, Ray made an inducement payment to a stock promoter who would purchase shares of Urban on the open market ahead of planned press releases to help him manipulate the stock. Meanwhile, stock promoter Wade Clark participated in Ray's insider trading scheme involving Urban stock by providing the hedge fund fiduciary with an advance copy of a press release containing material nonpublic information about the company so the hedge fund manager would purchase stock prior to the news being issued.

The SEC's complaints allege that Altomare, Bauer, Berkowitz, Brown, Clark, McKnight, Ray, and Urban AG Corp. violated Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5(a) and 10b-5(c). The SEC is seeking financial penalties, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, and permanent injunctions. The SEC also seeks penny stock bars against all of the individuals charged in these cases as well as an officer-and-director bar against Ray.

The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Miami division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF GEORGIA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Statement on the Occasion of Georgia's National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

May 24, 2014

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On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Georgia on the anniversary of Georgia’s Independence on May 26.

The United States and Georgia have built a deep and vibrant partnership based on a shared commitment to democratic values. We commend Georgia on its progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. In the face of challenging developments in the region, the United States will continue to support the development of Georgia’s democracy and uphold its commitment to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Our security partnership is especially strong. We honor the commitment of your troops who serve in Afghanistan and in other missions that build a more peaceful and prosperous world.
I congratulate all the people of Georgia and look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come.