Wednesday, September 5, 2012
ISAF NEWS FOR AUGUST 5, 2012
Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Involved in Aug. 7 Attack
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2012 - One of the Taliban leaders behind an Aug. 7 attack on a coalition base in Afghanistan's Logar province was killed by Afghan and coalition security forces in Logar's Pul-e Alam district yesterday, military officials reported.
Afghan and coalition security forces positively identified the Taliban leader, Bismullah, and two additional insurgents and killed them with a precision airstrike after confirming no civilians were in the area, officials said.
Bismullah is believed to have supplied suicide bombers with essential equipment for the Aug. 7 attack, which wounded several Afghan civilians but failed to cause any significant damage to the coalition base. At the time of his death, officials said, he was believed to be planning another large-scale attack and had transported several rockets across the region.
A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.
In other news, a combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Balkh province's Chimtal district today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader's suspected location, several insurgents opened fire and the security force returned fire.
In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force of coalition troops and Afghan special police in Kandahar province's Maiwand district seized a vehicle packed with nearly 3 tons of explosives. The Afghan-led team stopped the vehicle and detained its three occupants. The vehicle is believed to have been bound for bomb makers in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, officials said, and the explosives were destroyed on site.
-- The Wardak Provincial Response Company and coalition forces disrupted an insurgent attack on an Afghan army security patrol in Wardak province's Maidan Shahr district. Responding to a reported insurgent ambush on the patrol, the response company provided covering fire for the unit in contact and conducted a follow-on mission to investigate a suspected Taliban checkpoint.
SEC RAISES ALERT REGARDING "PAY TO PLAY" CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C., Aug. 31, 2012
– The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an alert to strengthen compliance with a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board rule that limits political contributions by municipal securities professionals to campaigns of public officials of issuers with whom they are doing or seek to do business.
The Risk Alert issued by the agency’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations notes that SEC examiners have observed practices that raise concerns about firms’ compliance with their obligations under MSRB Rule G-37, which clamped down on so-called "pay to play" practices. These concerns include:
Compliance with the rule’s ban on doing business with a municipal issuer within two years of a political contribution to officials of the issuer by any of the firm’s municipal finance professionals
Possible recordkeeping violations
Failure to file accurate and complete required forms with regulators regarding political contributions
Inadequate supervision
The Risk Alert identifies practices that examiners have seen some firms use to comply with applicable federal, state, and local rules on contributions. These include training programs for municipal finance professionals, self-certification of compliance with restrictions on political contributions, surveillance for unreported political contributions, and preclearance or restrictions on political contributions when permitted by state or local law. The Risk Alert stresses that the practices are described only to inform firms about approaches being used to strengthen compliance efforts; these practices may not be applicable to a particular firm, and other practices may be appropriate to consider instead.
"This Risk Alert is intended to help firms to strengthen their compliance and risk management efforts with regard to political contributions," said OCIE Director Carlo di Florio. "We hope that by describing practices that our examiners have observed, we will promote compliance by helping firms to consider how each of them can most effectively meet their obligations under MSRB rules."
The alert is the fourth this year and the sixth in a continuing series of Risk Alerts that the SEC’s examination staff began issuing in 2011. It is intended to assist senior management, risk management, and legal and compliance staff as they review compliance with Rule G-37 by brokers, dealers, and municipal securities dealers.
The following staff contributed substantially to preparing this Risk Alert: Robert Miller, Suzanne McGovern, Julius Leiman-Carbia, and George Kramer.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 31, 2012
– The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an alert to strengthen compliance with a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board rule that limits political contributions by municipal securities professionals to campaigns of public officials of issuers with whom they are doing or seek to do business.
The Risk Alert issued by the agency’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations notes that SEC examiners have observed practices that raise concerns about firms’ compliance with their obligations under MSRB Rule G-37, which clamped down on so-called "pay to play" practices. These concerns include:Possible recordkeeping violations
Failure to file accurate and complete required forms with regulators regarding political contributions
Inadequate supervision
The Risk Alert identifies practices that examiners have seen some firms use to comply with applicable federal, state, and local rules on contributions. These include training programs for municipal finance professionals, self-certification of compliance with restrictions on political contributions, surveillance for unreported political contributions, and preclearance or restrictions on political contributions when permitted by state or local law. The Risk Alert stresses that the practices are described only to inform firms about approaches being used to strengthen compliance efforts; these practices may not be applicable to a particular firm, and other practices may be appropriate to consider instead.
"This Risk Alert is intended to help firms to strengthen their compliance and risk management efforts with regard to political contributions," said OCIE Director Carlo di Florio. "We hope that by describing practices that our examiners have observed, we will promote compliance by helping firms to consider how each of them can most effectively meet their obligations under MSRB rules."
The alert is the fourth this year and the sixth in a continuing series of Risk Alerts that the SEC’s examination staff began issuing in 2011. It is intended to assist senior management, risk management, and legal and compliance staff as they review compliance with Rule G-37 by brokers, dealers, and municipal securities dealers.
The following staff contributed substantially to preparing this Risk Alert: Robert Miller, Suzanne McGovern, Julius Leiman-Carbia, and George Kramer.
U.S. AND AFRICAN AIR FORCE MILITARY LEADERS WORKING TOGETHERR
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| Gen. Philip Breedlove speaks with Brig. Gen. Alain Pereira during a group discussion at the Regional Air Chief Conference in Dakar Senegal, Aug. 29, 2012. The conference focused on promoting regional partnerships in Northern and Western Africa and to help find African solutions to African problems. Breedlove is U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Force Africa commander and Pereira is the Senegal air chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards) |
FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE
African air chiefs pledge cooperation, trust, solutions
by Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
U.S. Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
8/31/2012 - DAKAR, Senegal (AFNS) -- The 2012 Regional Air Chief Conference wrapped up here Aug. 30, leaving military leaders from multiple North and Western African nations excited about progress and resolutions involving an increase in regional coordination.
One of the main points was, "The need to share information," said Ghana air force Air Cmdr. Philip Ayisa, the commander of Tamale air force base, Ghana. "African countries need to come together to decisively coordinate and face these challenges together."
The attending African nations communally agree that each country, individually, does not have the equipment, resources or air power necessary to combat all aspects of national defense. However, they accept that together it can be done.
"Participation and cooperation (amongst African countries) is key to the improvement of our capabilities, our personnel readiness and the multiple challenges and security challenges in the region," said Nigerian Air Marshall M.D. Umar, chief of the Nigerian air force.
On the opening day, the group discussed cross-regional issues (common threats and challenges) affecting all African nations in attendance.
"This discussion group reflects a sincere commitment to our collective efforts," said Maj. Gen. Carlton Everhart, the 3rd Air Force vice commander. "Capacity building has continued to be the focus of what we have done here this week and I think we've learned a lot from each other."
The second day focused on the use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and strategic airlift in Africa and how to properly enable the sharing and inter-cooperation of these assets within the affected African nations.
"ISR is more than just an aircraft, more than just sensors, it takes a considerable amount of manpower to put it together and placed in the right hands in a timely manner," said Col. Gordon Hendrickson, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Force Africa director of intelligence. "It's important for us to draw together these air chiefs from throughout Africa and help guide them into coming up with those solutions to many of the unique challenges that they face."
Strategic airlift capabilities in African countries are also limited due to the limited resources available.
"Strategic airlift remains a critical supporting capability that should be achieved, maintained and improved," said Nana Adu-Gyamfi a Ghana air force wing commander. "A systematic use of pulled and shared (strategic airlift) assets would reduce duplication, overhead and medium and long-term capabilities."
The last subject discussed was the use of air-ground integration where Lt. Col. Craig McCarty, 435th Air Ground Operations Group commander spoke about the capabilities close air support can bring to the fight.
"CAS is something that can help bring together the African armies and air forces to allow them to work more efficiently with each other," McCarty said. "In the long term, it will act as the baseline information for when each country starts cooperating and working together."
The conference ended as a resounding success as military leaders packed up and prepared to leave Senegal to bring home lessons learned, an understanding of the challenges affecting the region and possible solutions to those challenges.
At the end of the conference, Everhart had a few parting words for all the attendees.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, it's an immense effort that we've put together here and I look forward to making great strides in progress for the benefit of these nations," said Everhart.
DOD STILL HAS CONCERNS REGARDING OSAMA BIN-LADEN RAID BOOK
Photo Credit: U.S. DOD FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Concerns Persist Over Ex-SEAL's bin Laden Raid Book
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2012 - Defense Department officials continue to weigh their legal options against a former Navy SEAL who may have revealed classified information in a book he wrote about the Osama bin Laden raid, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a news conference here today.
On Aug. 30, the Defense Department sent an advisory letter of material breach and nondisclosure violation to the author, who used the pen name Mark Owen to write "No Easy Day."
Officials maintain Owen may have divulged classified information that could jeopardize the safety of military members in future operations.
"When it comes to sensitive special operations missions such as the [one] that took down Osama bin Laden, it is important that those ... involved in such operations take care to protect sensitive and classified information," Little said. "And if I had been part of the raid team on the ground and I had decided to write a book about it, it wouldn't have been a tough decision for me to submit the book for prepublication review. That is common sense. It's a no-brainer, and it did not happen."
Little said Pentagon officials have read the book and are unwavering in their concerns about sensitive and classified information that they believe the book contains, but no plans have been put in place to withhold sale of the book in military exchanges or to the public.
"There's been no directive from this department to withhold sale of the book from military exchanges. ... [The] book is being made widely available in bookstores and online," Little said.
The Defense Department typically is not in the business of policing what goes on bookshelves, Little said. Rather, he added, it simply wants to protect classified information, as all current and former DOD employees have a "solemn obligation" to do.
"The sole yardstick is classification. ... This is a former service member who wrote a book," Little said. "This is about merely trying to protect classified information, ... not about trying to prevent the telling of a story."
GOLDEN HOUR BOX DEVELOPER HERO'S REFLECTIONS
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| Army Col. Frank Rentas, director of the Armed Services Blood Program, hosts a teleconference discussing an upcoming lessons- learned workshop in his Falls Church, Va., office, March 30, 2012. Armed Services Blood Program photo by Christine June |
Face of Defense: 'Golden Hour Box' Developer Reflects on Career
By Christine June
Armed Services Blood Program Office
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sept. 4, 2012 - One of the men who helped to invent a "box" that could save lives on the battlefield said he joined the Army for "three years -- tops."
"That was 31 years ago," Army Col. Francisco Rentas added with a smile, remembering what he said to his family gathered at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, on his way to basic training. "Everybody was crying, and I told them that it was for two or three years. I told them I would be back."
A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Rentas had every intention of returning home to his parents, sister and brothers.
"Every time we go by Fort Buchanan, we always remember -- just like a movie -- Francis sitting on a small wooden bench, carrying a small handbag," said his sister Hilda Rocafort, who was 12 years old when Rentas was born. "When he didn't return in two or three years as we expected, we were sad because of the distance, but deep inside, we knew that he was happy. He was focused on new achievements."
And there would be a multitude of worthy achievements, including one that has made a lasting difference in the lives of his military family -- the invention of the Golden Hour Human Blood Transport Container.
The 10-inch-square Golden Hour box is a device that carries blood far forward to the battlefield. No effective combat-environment, thermal, blood-carrying container existed in 2002 when U.S. troops were fighting in Afghanistan, far away from any fixed medical facility.
Rentas retires from the Army in a ceremony Sept. 21, as his latest tour of duty -- director of the Armed Services Blood Program Office -- winds to a close. In this role, he has overseen the disposition of blood products to the combat theater and elsewhere throughout the military medical community.
"[Special Forces units] needed a container to carry red blood cells that could operate in Afghanistan's desert and mountainous terrain and maintain the cells without freezing or cooking them," said Dr. Victor MacDonald, product manager and subject matter expert on blood products for the Pharmaceutical Systems Project Management Office at the U.S. Army Medical Material Development Activity at Fort Detrick, Md.
Transporting blood, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, is no simple task. MacDonald said red blood cells must be preserved at the correct temperature -- 1 to 6 degrees Celsius or 34 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit -- to be viable for transfusion.
"The beauty of the Golden Hour container is that it preserves red blood cells without the use of electricity, batteries or even ice," said MacDonald, a member of the original invention team. The team received the Army's 2003 Greatest Invention Award.
Rentas' path toward the science of blood banking would begin with his Army enlistment as a clinical laboratory technician in 1981. He said he wanted to be an enlisted soldier even though he had just earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico. Before a year was up, Rentas met his wife of 30 years. They now have two daughters.
He stayed enlisted for almost six years, attaining the rank of sergeant before earning a direct commission in 1987 as a second lieutenant in the Army's Medical Service Corps.
"I really enjoyed working in the lab behind the bench, testing blood and other samples -- plus, I was married," said Rentas, with his smile returning as he explained how his three-year homecoming never happened.
And for those whose lives have been saved by preserved blood products close at hand, many would agree that it is a very good thing that Rentas decided to make the Army a career.
"How [the Golden Hour container] works," Rentas explained, "is that there are panels inside the container that you freeze ahead of time, and when these panels go from frozen to liquid, everything inside stays at 4 degrees Celsius for about 72 to 75 hours, depending on the temperature outside."
Success of the Golden Hour container, Rentas and MacDonald said, is evident by the fact that it is still in use today -- not only in the U.S. military and civilian medical communities, but also in several countries.
"And not just for blood," Rentas said, "A lot of medical professionals are using the box for other temperature-sensitive, life-saving medical supplies -- platelets, vaccines and medications -- during emergencies as well as on the battlefield today."
"I know how important it is to have more time available to use blood products for patients," said Robert Rentas, a younger brother of the colonel and administrator of the Instituto de Radioterapia del Este in Humacao, Puerto Rico. "I feel very proud to have Francis as a brother, and I am completely sure that from heaven our Mami and Papi are smiling for all of his accomplishments, and for being a great father and husband."
Through his 30 years of service, Rentas' achievements include service as chief of military laboratories and blood bank centers; more than 20 medals, honors and awards; close to 50 published presentations and publications; a master's degree; a fellowship in blood banking; and a doctorate in clinical laboratory science. But being a part of military blood banking – the noble mission of saving lives -- has always inspired him, he said.
"Our motivation is driven by the pictures of those returning in flag-draped caskets that could not be saved or those of a young wife with two children at her husband's funeral," said Rentas, who plans to continue working in blood banking when he enters the civilian workforce.
"Every member of the Armed Services Blood Program throughout the world works hard to ensure we do whatever we can to take care of our customers while maintaining the safety of the military blood supply," he said. "I will miss them all."
U.S. PRIMARIES AND CONVENTIONS PRE-1900
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| Photo: Theodore Roosevelt. From: U.S. Library of Congress |
I can picture ... the great Democratic convention of 1894 at the old coliseum in Omaha... right now I can hear the Hallelluiahs of the assembled. Oh how I wish I had back the youth and the enthusiasm I felt that night, I jumped on a chair and ask[ed] that by a rising vote the nomination be made unanimous, how the people yelled, how the packed gallories applauded, it cheers an old man now to think about it.
Mrs. J.J. McCarthy's enthusiasm for party conventions wasn't shared by all of his contemporaries. Even before 1900, many sought to reform these conventions that uniformly ignored the will of individual voters in their selection of presidential candidates. Though these conventions were attended by delegates sent from their respective states, delegates were often chosen by state and party bosses with sway over the delegates' loyalties, instead of by state-wide or majority elections, called primaries. Before the 1920s, party bosses were often accused of trading convention floor votes for power, patronage, or even cash! These problems kept the representational method of nominating candidates by sending delegates to conventions from being truly representational.
In the first decade of the 1900s, states began to hold primary elections to select the delegates that would attend national nominating conventions. The introduction of these primary elections mitigated the corrupt control of party and state bosses. But the widespread adoption of primary elections was not immediate and so they did not play the role of virtually determining a party's candidate as they do today. 1912 was the first year in which a presidential candidate, two-time President Theodore Roosevelt, tried to secure his nomination through primary elections. That year, nine states elected delegates that supported Roosevelt, while incumbent, William Howard Taft, won only one primary election. Despite Roosevelt's wholesale victory of the popular vote, Taft received the Republican nomination. This was because only 42% of the delegates who attended the nominating convention had been selected through primary elections. The rest had been selected by party bosses who supported Taft and succeeded in granting him their party's nomination.
Failing to win the Republican nomination, Roosevelt and his supporters formed the Progressive Party, or Bull Moose Party, with Roosevelt as its presidential candidate. Roosevelt failed to win the Presidency that year, but with the help of the Progressive party, our country's primary system began to change. Fed up with corrupt party politics, Americans demanded and won reforms that reduced the power of party bosses. The introduction of the secret ballot had led the way in 1888. By the 1920's, almost every state had loosened the grip of political bosses and placed candidate selection more firmly in the hands of citizen voters.
The excitement and corruption of party politics was not limited to the national arenas and big party players. E.R. Kaiser paints a picture of local party politics in the late 1800s:
OVERVIEW: THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy.
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA)
U.S. Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
December 2004
Employee Benefits Security Administration
December 2004
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) offers protections for millions of American workers that improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.
HIPAA Protects Workers And Their Families By
Providing credit against maximum preexisting condition exclusion periods for prior health coverage and a process for providing certificates showing periods of prior coverage to a new group health plan or health insurance issuer.
Providing new rights that allow individuals to enroll for health coverage when they lose other health coverage, get married or add a new dependent.
Prohibiting discrimination in enrollment and in premiums charged to employees and their dependents based on health status-related factors.
Guaranteeing availability of health insurance coverage for small employers and renewability of health insurance coverage for both small and large employers.
Preserving the states’ role in regulating health insurance, including the states’ authority to provide greater protections than those available under federal law.
Preexisting Condition Exclusions
Group health plans and issuers may not exclude an individual’s preexisting medical condition from coverage for more than 12 months (18 months for late enrollees) after an individual’s enrollment date.
Under HIPAA, a new employer’s plan must give individuals credit for the length of time they had prior continuous health coverage, without a break in coverage of 63 days or more, thereby reducing or eliminating the 12-month exclusion period (18 months for late enrollees).
Creditable Coverage
Includes prior coverage under another group health plan, an individual health insurance policy, COBRA, Medicaid, Medicare, CHAMPUS, the Indian Health Service, a state health benefits risk pool, FEHBP, the Peace Corps Act, or a public health plan.
Certificates Of Creditable Coverage
Certificates of creditable coverage should contain information about the length of time you or your dependents had coverage as well as the length of any waiting period for coverage that applied to you or your dependents.
For plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2005, certificates of creditable coverage should also include an educational statement that describes individuals' HIPAA portability rights. A new model cerfiticate is available on EBSAs Web site.
If a certificate is not received, or the information on the certificate is wrong, you should contact your prior plan or issuer. You have a right to show prior creditable coverage with other evidence — like pay stubs, explanation of benefits, letters from a doctor — if you cannot get a certificate.
Special Enrollment Rights
Are provided for employees, their spouses and new dependents upon marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
Discrimination Prohibitions
Ensure that individuals are not excluded from coverage, denied benefits, or charged more for coverage offered by a plan or issuer, based on health status-related factors.
This fact sheet has been developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Washington, DC 20210. It will be made available in alternate formats upon request: Voice phone: 202.693.8664; Text telephone: 202.501.3911. In addition, the information in this fact sheet constitutes a small entity compliance guide for purposes of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
PYRAMID AND PONZI FINANCIAL SCHEMES
FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Pyramid Scheme
In the classic "pyramid" scheme, participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting new participants. The hallmark of these schemes is the promise of sky-high returns in a short period of time.
Pyramid scheme promoters may go to great lengths to make the program look like a multi-level marketing program selling legitimate products or services. But these fraudsters use money from new recruits to pay off early stage investors until eventually, the pyramid collapses. At some point, the schemes get too big, the promoter cannot raise enough money from new investors to pay earlier investors, and people lose their money.
Typical "hook
Earn high profits by making one payment and finding a set number of others to become distributors of a product. The scheme typically does not involve a genuine product. The purported product may not exist or it may only be "sold" within the pyramid scheme
Interaction with original promoter
Must recruit new distributors to receive payments.
Payments
Sometimes none. New participants may enter scheme at a different level
Source of payments
From new participants – always disclosed.
Ponzi Scheme
A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often promise to invest your money and generate high returns with little or no risk. But in many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters do not invest the money. Instead, they use it to pay those who invested earlier and may keep some for themselves.
With little or no legitimate earnings, Ponzi schemes require a constant flow of new money to survive. When it becomes hard to recruit new investors, or when large numbers of existing investors cash out, these schemes tend to collapse.
Ponzi schemes are named after Charles Ponzi, who duped investors in the 1920s with a postage stamp speculation scheme.
Ponzi scheme "red flags"
Many Ponzi schemes share common characteristics. Look for these warning signs:
High returns with little or no risk. Every investment carries some degree of risk, and investments yielding higher returns typically involve more risk. Be highly suspicious of any "guaranteed" investment opportunity.
Overly consistent returns. Investments tend to go up and down over time. Be skeptical about an investment that regularly generates positive returns regardless of overall market conditions.
Unregistered investments. Ponzi schemes typically involve investments that are not registered with the SEC or with state regulators. Registration is important because it provides investors with access to information about the company’s management, products, services, and finances.
Unlicensed sellers. Federal and state securities laws require investment professionals and firms to be licensed or registered. Most Ponzi schemes involve unlicensed individuals or unregistered firms.
Secretive, complex strategies. Avoid investments if you don’t understand them or can’t get complete information about them.
Issues with paperwork. Account statement errors may be a sign that funds are not being invested as promised.
Difficulty receiving payments. Be suspicious if you don’t receive a payment or have difficulty cashing out. Ponzi scheme promoters sometimes try to prevent participants from cashing out by offering even higher returns for staying put.
Typical "hook"
Earn high investment returns with little or no risk by simply handing over your money; the investment typically does not exist.
Payments
No recruiting necessary to receive payments.
Interaction with original promoter
Promoter generally acts directly with all participants.
Source of payments
From new participants – never disclosed.
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| Chart From: U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission |
Pyramid Scheme
In the classic "pyramid" scheme, participants attempt to make money solely by recruiting new participants. The hallmark of these schemes is the promise of sky-high returns in a short period of time.
Pyramid scheme promoters may go to great lengths to make the program look like a multi-level marketing program selling legitimate products or services. But these fraudsters use money from new recruits to pay off early stage investors until eventually, the pyramid collapses. At some point, the schemes get too big, the promoter cannot raise enough money from new investors to pay earlier investors, and people lose their money.
Typical "hook
Earn high profits by making one payment and finding a set number of others to become distributors of a product. The scheme typically does not involve a genuine product. The purported product may not exist or it may only be "sold" within the pyramid scheme
Interaction with original promoter
Must recruit new distributors to receive payments.
Payments
Sometimes none. New participants may enter scheme at a different level
Source of payments
From new participants – always disclosed.
Ponzi SchemeA Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often promise to invest your money and generate high returns with little or no risk. But in many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters do not invest the money. Instead, they use it to pay those who invested earlier and may keep some for themselves.
With little or no legitimate earnings, Ponzi schemes require a constant flow of new money to survive. When it becomes hard to recruit new investors, or when large numbers of existing investors cash out, these schemes tend to collapse.
Ponzi schemes are named after Charles Ponzi, who duped investors in the 1920s with a postage stamp speculation scheme.
Ponzi scheme "red flags"
Many Ponzi schemes share common characteristics. Look for these warning signs:
Overly consistent returns. Investments tend to go up and down over time. Be skeptical about an investment that regularly generates positive returns regardless of overall market conditions.
Unregistered investments. Ponzi schemes typically involve investments that are not registered with the SEC or with state regulators. Registration is important because it provides investors with access to information about the company’s management, products, services, and finances.
Unlicensed sellers. Federal and state securities laws require investment professionals and firms to be licensed or registered. Most Ponzi schemes involve unlicensed individuals or unregistered firms.
Secretive, complex strategies. Avoid investments if you don’t understand them or can’t get complete information about them.
Issues with paperwork. Account statement errors may be a sign that funds are not being invested as promised.
Difficulty receiving payments. Be suspicious if you don’t receive a payment or have difficulty cashing out. Ponzi scheme promoters sometimes try to prevent participants from cashing out by offering even higher returns for staying put.
Typical "hook"
Earn high investment returns with little or no risk by simply handing over your money; the investment typically does not exist.
Payments
No recruiting necessary to receive payments.
Interaction with original promoter
Promoter generally acts directly with all participants.
Source of payments
From new participants – never disclosed.
GUARDING AFGHAN DRIVERS
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| Credit: Wisconsin National Guard |
FROM: WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD NEWS: Wisconsin Guard Soldiers protect Afghan drivers
Date: August 31, 2012
By Sgt. Gregory Williams
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Afghanistan -The lives of soldiers and host nation truck drivers are intertwined every day as they hit the road together.
The drivers depend on the Soldiers for security and the Soldiers depend on the HNTs to get cargo from point a to point b.
Both play an integral part of the mission of Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan, which is to oversee the sustainment operations and other functions in Afghanistan.
The 1157th Transportation Company provided security for 25 host national truck drivers out of Jalalabad Airfield during a recent convoy mission.
Sgt. Michelle L. Meuer, a truck commander with the 1157th TC, said no mission is guaranteed to go smoothly for Soldiers of the Wisconsin National Guard unit and getting everyone to the base in one piece is always the focus of every mission.
With cars speeding by the convoy, gunners used laser escalation force system to signal drivers to slow down in order to avoid any unnecessary accidents.
Providing security does not just mean looking out for enemy fire and dealing with drivers, it also involves providing mechanical assistance, water and food to drivers as well.
"We have to make sure the HNTs and loads get to base safely so we try to provide basic life support to the drivers," Meuer said. "If you're nice to them the drivers will drive better, which helps us out."
Unfortunately for the 1157th TC, just when things were going as planned something happened disrupting the convoys movement. One of the vehicles broke down on the road causing the convoy to stop with oncoming traffic on one side and a cliff on the other.
"We inspect vehicles before we start each convoy to try to mitigate the risks, but you never know," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason R. Mattke, a convoy commander with the 1157th TC. "With the risks of attacks and unplanned incidents, we're responsible for the HNTs and it's all about getting them from point a to point b.
"Throughout all of this, you have to make sure you're communicating everything to the soldiers."
Over the course of two hours, radio communication intensified between the three truck elements making sure that each vehicle had eyes on their designated HNT vehicles.
Meuer said if a vehicle breaks down, it's not uncommon for Afghan drivers to leave their vehicles to talk to one another or even converse with Soldiers on the while waiting.
"They ask for cigarettes if we ever come to a halt and we'll chat with them for a while," Meuer said. "But when it's time to roll, we'll shine their trucks with a spotlight to make sure they know we're ready to go."
As the vehicle is fixed and the convoy starts to roll again, the 1157th TC has taken care of every situation that has come up.
The truckers finally pulled up to an entry control point after a nine-hour journey, which usually takes the drivers three hours to complete on a good day.
The Soldiers have once again successfully escorted another group of HNTs, but their mission will continue until all U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan end.
"The other day I read an article called "Afghanistan: The Forgotten War" and it made me mad because we're out here every day," Meuer said. "I hope people realize that soldiers are still busting their butts and that a majority of the Afghans do appreciate what we do for them."
RECENT NAVY PHOTOS OF HELICOPTERS
FROM: U.S. NAVY
120827-N-WW980-008 NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2012) TH-57 helicopters are cramped together in the hangar at Naval Air Station Whiting Field's South Field to protect them from the heavy winds and debris expected from Tropical Storm Isaac. (U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope/Released)
120816-N-MF277-298 EASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY (Aug. 16, 2012) - Two MH-60S helicopters from Navy Helicopter Sea Combat squadrons THREE (HSC-3) and TWO-ONE (HSC-21) prepare to conduct a water drop to combat a wildfire. HSC-3 and HSC-21 are assisting CALFIRE by providing aircrews flying specially-equipped MH-60S helicopters to conduct aerial water drops against several wildfires in eastern San Diego County. San Diego HSC squadrons are trained for fire-fighting missions at the Navy's Southern California offshore training ranges and conduct semi-annual joint training with CALFIRE to ensure interoperability and an immediate response capability in support of local authorities for emergency events. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (EXW) Sebastian McCormack/RELEASED)
120806-N-MH210-375 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2012) MH-60S Seahawk helicopters assigned to the Golden Falcons of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 fire flares during an air power demonstration above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during an air power demonstration. Lincoln is returning to the United States after the completion of an eight-month change-of-homeport deployment during which it operated in the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary A. Anderson/Released)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
RECENT U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTOS
FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE
Warthog Wingmen
A heritage flight that included two F-86 Sabres flanking an A-10 Thunderbolt II demonstrated the proud heritage of military aviation over the past 60 years at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Aug. 24, 2012. The 2012 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show included this and many other aerial demonstrations as well as ground shows and static aircraft displays. (U.S. Air Force photo/Josh Plueger)
Fill ‘er up
A B-1B Lancer is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 4, 2012. The 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron conducts missions out of the transit center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)
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