INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION NEWS FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2012

FROM:  NASA

The Health Care Law Is Moving Forward

The Health Care Law Is Moving Forward

President Obama's Bilateral Meeting with Premier Wen of China | The White House

President Obama's Bilateral Meeting with Premier Wen of China | The White House

DEBRISTREK, THE FRONTIER WE FEAR

Orbital debris, or space junk, is any man-made object in orbit around the Earth that no longer serves a useful purpose. This image was made from a model used to track debris in low-Earth orbit. NASA image

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

Next DOD Space Policy Addresses Safety, Security, Access
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2012 - The new Defense Department space policy, updated to reflect the fast-growing use and sometimes misuse of the space domain, addresses issues of safety, sustainability and security in space for the 21st century and beyond.

The policy, signed Oct. 18, 2012, by Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, follows the release in 2010 of President Barack Obama's National Space Policy, and in 2011 of the National Security Space Strategy, the first such strategy to be cosigned by the defense secretary and the director of national intelligence.

DOD's space policy also reflects the 2012 DOD Strategic Guidance, which acknowledged growth in the number of spacefaring nations and threats.

According to the guidance, the United States will continue to lead global efforts with allies and partners to assure access to and use of the global commons of space by strengthening international norms of responsible behavior and maintaining interoperable military capabilities.

"Space capabilities have long provided strategic national security advantages for the United States," Carter said in a statement.

"This updated space policy," he added, "institutionalizes the changes the department has made in an increasingly constrained budget environment to address the complex set of space-related opportunities and challenges."

For DOD, space systems are critical to ground navigation, smart bomb precision, and to relay unmanned aerial vehicle feeds to troops. Space also is necessary for early warnings of missile launches and for keeping the president connected to U.S. nuclear forces.

In an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service, Dr. John F. Plumb, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, described the policy's main points.

"One is that the Department of Defense will deter attacks on our space systems and the systems of our allies, and [the policy] lays out some ways we're going to do that," Plumb said.

Methods to deter disruptions or attacks against space-based systems, according to the policy, include supporting the development of international norms of responsible behavior related to the space domain, building coalitions to enhance collective security, enhancing the resilience of the U.S. space enterprise, and being able to respond to an attack on U.S. or allied space systems using all elements of national power.

The policy also "makes a declaration of how the United States will view interference with our space systems," the acting deputy assistant secretary said, adding that such interference would be seen as an infringement of U.S. rights and would be "irresponsible in peacetime and during a crisis could be escalatory."

Plumb noted, "The policy states this very clearly and it's a message we want to make sure people understand."

One of the international norms of responsible behavior will target a growing problem for spacefaring nations -- space debris.

"Today there are 60 countries operating in space [and] there are thousands of pieces of debris, pieces of [derelict] rockets or old satellites ... flying around in space," he said.

According to the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, more than 21,000 pieces of orbital debris larger than 10 centimeters exist in orbit, along with 500,000 smaller pieces and more than 1 million pieces smaller than 1 centimeter.

"We need to have an international system of norms of responsible behavior for operating in space to mitigate debris," Plumb said. "That's something we're working on and it's something the strategy points toward."

Generally, the policy identifies how DOD will promote international cooperation and commercial partnerships, drive changes within DOD space architectures and acquisition processes, and work to shape the space environment.

Saving money on expensive space assets is another goal of the department, Plumb said, and working with allies and commercial partners can help accomplish this.

The Defense Department has begun to work with commercial space companies to reduce department costs and to help energize the industrial base.

"We [also] need to make sure that U.S. companies are able to compete fairly for international contracts," Plumb added, referring to satellites and many systems, subsystems, parts and components that are controlled by the U.S. government for security reasons but that already are being sold commercially by companies around the world.

In April, for example, officials from the Defense and State departments released a report that urged Congress to move communications and some remote-sensing satellites off the tightly controlled U.S. Munitions List and into the commercial enterprise.

The policy also directs DOD to expand international cooperation in space matters, Plumb said, which "allows you to leverage capabilities together so instead of having to build your own system you can use somebody else's system."

He added, "It also buys you a sense of collective security. If you're operating as a coalition in space, you have more partners relying on the same assets. An attack on those space assets by an adversary would no longer necessarily be against you but against a coalition."

As an example, during a trip to Perth, Australia, last week, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced that the United States would place two key space systems in Australia.

One system, an Air Force C-band space-surveillance radar, will track space assets and debris, increase the security of space-based systems and increase coverage of space objects in the Southern Hemisphere.

The other system is an advanced U.S. space surveillance telescope designed and built by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In Australia, the system will help to leverage space surveillance capabilities for both nations, officials said.

DOD also must be ready to mitigate the effects of attacks on its space systems, Plumb said. One way to do that, spelled out in the policy, is to plan for resilience in space systems, he added.

"Resilience means being able to survive an attack," the acting deputy assistant secretary said, and it means strategically distributing space capabilities among different satellites rather than putting many on one satellite.

"If that [one] satellite goes down," he said, "whether it's due to a solar flare or an attack or bad wiring, we don't want to lose all these mission capabilities. These things are very expensive, so resilient architecture would be more distributed."

The second part "of mitigating the ability of an adversary to attack us would be to make sure that we can operate effectively on the battlefield even if our space capabilities are being degraded," Plumb added.

The growing threat to U.S. and allied space systems, he said, is real.

"Other nations and nonstate actors are developing direct ascent anti-satellite weapons, jammers and ground-based lasers, all designed to interfere with or destroy satellites," Plumb said.

"We need to be prepared and enhance our resilience so these types of capabilities don't prevent us from operating in space," he added. "So we need to move forward with the way we operate in space, for future conflicts in particular. This space policy gives us a good pathway forward."

NASA VIDEO: TALKING TURKEY FROM SPACE

FROM:  NASA

SEC CHARGES MICHIGAN BUSINESSMAN DEFRAUDED INVESTORS IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT SCHEME

Photo Credit:  U.S. National Guard.

FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it has obtained an emergency court order against a Bay City, Michigan-based real estate promoter, and that it has suspended trading in one of the promoter's companies, American Realty Funds Corporation.

According to the SEC's complaint, Joel I. Wilson defrauded investors who bought unregistered securities offered by his company, Diversified Group Partnership Management, LLC, and sold through his brokerage firm, W R Rice Financial Services, Inc. Wilson raised approximately $6.7 million from approximately 120 investors who bought Diversified Group's securities from September 2009 through October 2012, and used the funds to finance his business of buying, renovating, and selling houses in and around Bay City, the SEC alleged.

Although Wilson promised investors that he would invest their money in real estate that would yield returns of 9.9% per year, he used most of it to make unsecured loans to his real estate business, which did not generate enough income to repay the investors. Wilson also diverted $582,000 of investor money to pay personal expenses, including $75,000 he used to buy W R Rice Financial, $46,780 he spent on travel, and $35,000 for his wife's business. In addition, the SEC said Wilson used investors' money to pay for a sponsorship and tickets to the Saginaw Sting football team and to buy thousands of dollars worth of tickets to the Detroit Red Wings.

The SEC alleges that Wilson raised additional funds for his real estate business through stock sales for another of his companies, American Realty Funds Corporation, which trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol ANFDE. The complaint alleges that there were misrepresentations and omissions in some of the reports the company filed with the SEC, which Wilson signed, including that American Realty has failed to make loan payments and that its purportedly independent directors have undisclosed personal and business relationships with Wilson. American Realty is delinquent in filing its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, which was due October 15, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, which was due on November 14. Because of the questions concerning the accuracy of publicly disseminated information in the company's public filings and financial statements, the SEC issued an administrative order suspending trading in American Realty stock until 11:59 p.m. EDT on November 29, 2012.

The SEC's complaint, filed on November 15, 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, charges Wilson and Diversified Group with violations of the registration and antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and American Realty with violations of the antifraud and reporting provisions of the federal securities laws. The Court granted the SEC's request for an order prohibiting the defendants from altering or destroying documents and an order granting the parties leave to conduct expedited discovery. The Court scheduled a hearing on the SEC's motions for an asset freeze and preliminary injunction for December 10, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. District courthouse located at 1000 Washington Ave. in Bay City, Michigan.

THE ASEAN REGION AND MODERN SLAVERY

　
FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Addressing Modern Slavery in the ASEAN Region
Fact Sheet
Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
November 20, 2012
With its partners at home and around the world, the United States is committed to enhancing efforts to end human trafficking, a crime President Obama has called a "debasement of our common humanity…which must be called by its true name—modern slavery."

Together with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and in partnership with civil society, the United States looks forward to enhancing regional efforts to protect and rehabilitate trafficking survivors, bring traffickers to justice, and raise awareness so that trafficking can be stopped before it starts.

During the ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 19, 2012, President Obama and the 10 ASEAN heads of state agreed to improve cooperative efforts to tackle modern slavery, including the forced labor and sex trafficking of women, men, and children. The United States agreed to work with ASEAN members to harmonize legal frameworks in defining and prohibiting human trafficking, increase cross-border joint investigation, and build capacity for a standardized response to trafficking victims’ needs. To advance these objectives, the United States pledged $500,000 in technical assistance and training for ASEAN and its member states.

This new commitment complements these existing U.S. Government programs in the region:
In Cambodia, the United States works with the Royal Government of Cambodia and civil society to provide psychological support and other services to address trauma and other mental health needs of victims of sex and labor trafficking. Assistance also provides economic support to trafficking victims through training and job placement.
In the Philippines, the United States helps build the capacity of frontline service providers and funds victim support activities, which makes prosecution efforts more effective and increases conviction rates. The programs support awareness campaigns as well as comprehensive and integrated protective services to trafficking victims to ensure they gain new life skills and reduce their vulnerability to re-trafficking. In addition, the Partnership for Growth between the Philippines and the U.S. will promote inclusive growth that is focused on generating meaningful employment and income opportunities for the traditionally neglected segments of the population—those most vulnerable to human trafficking.
In Vietnam, U.S.-funded efforts have led to valuable research on victim protection and prosecution procedures, and key pilot projects have improved shelter conditions and services provided to victims.
In an anti-trafficking prevention effort across the region, USAID funds MTV-EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), a global multimedia campaign. In Southeast Asia, the program raises awareness of trafficking among youth and vulnerable populations to prevent human trafficking in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, and will open in Burma in December through a public concert held in Rangoon’s People’s Square. Since 2006, MTV EXIT has produced 30 major concert events, 76 television and online programs, and dozens of outreach activities and has engaged over 700,000 regional youth. Beginning in late November, ASEAN and MTV Exit will host a Youth Session to provide training in social media to combat TIP and build regional networks to further enhance awareness. Read more at mtvexit.org/liveinmyanmar.

BURMA: This September, President Obama made a public commitment to enhancing the United States’ partnership with Burma on trafficking in persons, as part of our continued support for Burma’s ongoing reforms.

"Last week I was proud to welcome to the Oval Office not only a great champion of democracy but a fierce advocate against the use of forced labor and child soldiers—Aung San Suu Kyi. And as part of our engagement, we’ll encourage Burma to keep taking steps to reform—because nations must speak with one voice: Our people and our children are not for sale."

To honor this commitment, and in light of the progress made by the Government of Burma on combating trafficking in persons over the last two years, this week the Governments of the United States and Burma announced a new joint plan to counter trafficking in persons, which will include the establishment of a formal, senior-level dialogue. The United States is committed to enhancing Burma’s progress through the sharing of technical knowledge and best practices, heralding a new era of U.S.-Burma cooperation.

Areas of cooperation under the joint action plan include:
Identifying trafficking offenses;
Investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenders;
Providing victims with access to services in line with existing international guidelines; and
Preventing Burmese citizens from being subjected to sex trafficking or forced labor either within the country’s borders or abroad.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

FROM: U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
 
Let’s Give Thanks
November 21, 2012
 by
Erin Allen

Thanksgiving is just a day away, and I’ve been noticing on Facebook, friends posting what they are thankful for this holiday season. Those statuses certainly have given me pause to count my own blessings.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my family, who, no matter how far away I am from them, help me stay grounded in where I came from. You can take the girl out of Mississippi, but you can’t take Mississippi out of the girl!

I’m thankful for roller derby. Yes, that may be a strange thing to say, but it’s through participation in this sport that I have not only found lifelong friends but also strength and courage to stick with something very challenging and really live up to the "never give up" mantra. There’s definitely a life lesson in that.

Last but certainly not least, I’m thankful for having the opportunity to really learn something new every day. Part of the mission of the Library of Congress is to further human understanding by providing access to knowledge through its amazing collections. I can honestly say that I really do take advantage of that. And, so can you. Currently, the Library makes freely available on its website more than 31 million items, from manuscripts and newspapers to films, sound recordings and photographs.

To bring it home in celebration of turkey, stuffing, pecan pie, a table full of friends and family and anything else you can think of that makes Thanksgiving special to you, here are some interesting facts I’ve learned about the holiday thanks to working here at the Library.

One could argue the first "thanksgiving" was actually celebrated In May 1541, when Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and 1,500 men celebrated at the Palo Dur Canyon — located in the modern-day Texas Panhandle — after their expedition from Mexico City in search of gold. In 1959 the Texas Society Daughters of the American Colonists commemorated the event as the "first Thanksgiving."

Another "first Thanksgiving" occurred on June 30, 1564, when French Huguenot colonists celebrated in a settlement near Jacksonville, Fla. This "first Thanksgiving," was later commemorated at the Fort Carolina Memorial on the St. Johns River in eastern Jacksonville.

The harsh winter of 1609-1610 generated a famine that caused the deaths of 430 of the 490 settlers in Jamestown, Va. In the spring of 1610, the surviving colonists enjoyed a Thanksgiving service after English supply ships arrived with food. This colonial celebration has also beenconsidered the "first Thanksgiving."

Following the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress recognized the need to give thanks for delivering the country from war and into independence. Congress issued a proclamation on October 11, 1782, which proclaimed the observation of Thursday the twenty-eight day of November next, as a day of solemn Thanksgiving to God for all his mercies."

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. But that was not always the case.

When Abraham Lincoln was president in 1863, he proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be our national Thanksgiving Day. Newport native Sarah Josepha Hale had written a letter to President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War, entreating him to make Thanksgiving an official national holiday

In 1865, Thanksgiving was celebrated the first Thursday of November, because of a proclamation by President Andrew Johnson, and, in 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant chose the third Thursday for Thanksgiving Day. In all other years, until 1939, Thanksgiving was celebrated as Lincoln had designated, the last Thursday in November. Then, in 1939, responding to pressure from the National Retail Dry Goods Association to extend the Christmas shopping season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday back a week, to the next-to-last Thursday of the month.

Weekly Address: Wishing the American People a Happy Thanksgiving | The White House

Weekly Address: Wishing the American People a Happy Thanksgiving | The White House

LEBANON'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

Map:  Lebanon.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook. 

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Lebanon's Independence Day
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 21, 2012


On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Lebanon as you celebrate the anniversary of your independence this November 22.

The United States strongly values its ties with the people of Lebanon, who have faced and overcome adversity time and again and committed to building a society based on religious diversity, democratic values, and security. As Lebanon contends with regional and internal challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty, and stability.

We firmly believe that preserving a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, and stable Lebanon is essential for the security of the Lebanese people and for the region. I wish the people of Lebanon a happy independence day. We will continue to deepen cooperation between our countries and our institutions, as we help build a future defined by freedom, security, and prosperity.



Lebanon Locator Map.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

ADDITONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920, and granted this area independence in 1943. A lengthy civil war (1975-90) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections. Most militias have been reduced or disbanded, with the exception of Hizballah, designated by the US State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and Palestinian militant groups. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 and the passage in September 2004 of UNSCR 1559 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces. The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 22 others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"), and Syria withdrew the remainder of its military forces in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. In July 2006, Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers leading to a 34-day conflict with Israel in which approximately 1,200 Lebanese civilians were killed. UNSCR 1701 ended the war in August 2006, and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed throughout the country for the first time in decades, charged with securing Lebanon's borders against weapons smuggling and maintaining a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon with the help of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The LAF in May-September 2007 battled Sunni extremist group Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, winning a decisive victory, but destroying the camp and displacing 30,000 Palestinian residents. Lebanese politicians in November 2007 were unable to agree on a successor to Emile LAHUD when he stepped down as president, creating a political vacuum until the election of LAF Commander Gen. Michel SULAYMAN in May 2008 and the formation of a new unity government in July 2008. Legislative elections in June 2009 again produced victory for the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI, but a period of prolonged negotiation over the composition of the cabinet ensued. A national unity government was finally formed in November 2009 and approved by the National Assembly the following month. Inspired by the popular revolts that began in late 2010 against dictatorships across the Middle East and North Africa, marches and demonstrations in Lebanon were directed instead against sectarian politics. Although the protests gained some traction, they were limited in size and unsuccessful in changing the system. Opposition politicians collapsed the national unity government under Prime Minister Sa'ad HARIRI in February 2011. After several months in caretaker status, the government named Najib MIQATI Prime Minister.

　

　

　

　

STATE MARIJUANA LAWS VS FEDERAL LAW AND UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE

On election day, the state of Colorado voted to legalize marijuana; however, its use is still against federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even for service members stationed in the state. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau)

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Caution urged to service members after Colorado legalizes marijuana

by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

11/16/2012 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- On election day, the state of Colorado voted to legalize marijuana; however, its use is still against federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even for service members stationed in the state.

This should come as no surprise to military members as the use of narcotics, in or out of uniform, is illegal. For family members and civilians with access to the base, they need to remember one crucial fact if they do participate in recreational marijuana use -- marijuana is not allowed on Buckley or any other military base.

"Once they cross over that threshold and enter a federal installation, they are under our jurisdiction and will be prosecuted," stated 1st Lt. David Bruton, 460th Security Forces Squadron acting commander. "There is no give, no fine line; it's black and white."

There are many scenarios that could place an Airman in the crossfire when it comes to marijuana exposure, especially now that there may be increased usage by civilians within the state. Military members should be continuously cautious of their surroundings and know when they're at a house where the drug is present, be aware if marijuana is baked into food, or realize when they are in an establishment that allows recreational use of the drug. All of these situations are potential pitfalls a service member could fall into if not careful, but Bruton offers advice to Team Buckley to stay out of trouble.

"Play it smart and just stay away from it," explained the 460th SFS acting commander. "Be aware of your surroundings and who you hang out with, because it is usually that other person that gets you in trouble."

The passing of the new amendment will have no affect on the Drug Demand Reduction Program, and random drug testing will continue as scheduled to ensure individuals are in compliance with the UCMJ.

"Amendment 64 does not change the UCMJ," said Chief Master Sgt. William Ward, 460th Space Wing command chief. "If our members are engaging in the use of marijuana and are found out through random urinalyses or other investigative means, I would expect commanders to bring the full force of the UCMJ. Marijuana use immediately jeopardizes their continued service in the United States Air Force."

With a drug that is federally illegal, tested for regularly and ends military careers, the best option is to simply avoid marijuana.

"You're saving yourself a lot of trouble by just staying away from it all together," stated Capt. Eric McCutchen, 460th Space Wing Judge Advocate Office chief of military justice.


　

TURKEY'S REQUEST FOR PATRIOT MISSILE SUPPORT CONSIDERED BY U.S. AND UN

Photo:  Turkey/Syria Coast.  Credit:   U.S. CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S., NATO Consider Turkey Request for Missile Support
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2012 - The U.S. will work closely with its NATO allies to determine the best way to respond to a recent request from Turkey for Patriot missile support, a defense official said today.

Turkey is seeking to deploy the Patriot missiles along its southeastern border in an effort to de-escalate crisis conditions due to the civil war in neighboring Syria, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement.

"The deployment would be defensive only," Rasmussen said. "It will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation."

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in a Nov. 15 Voice of America interview that the U.S. was talking with Turkey about the threats to its security. "Turkey is obviously facing a difficult situation as refugees pour into their country and they're threatened by the instability in Syria," he said.

"They have asked that we work with them to try to see what we can do to give them some missile defense capability," he continued. "And we are working with them. And our hope is that we can help provide that kind of assistance."

"If approved, the deployment would be undertaken in accordance with NATO's standing air defense plan," Rasmussen said. "It is up to the individual NATO countries that have available Patriots -- Germany, the Netherlands and the United States -- to decide if they can provide them for deployment in Turkey and for how long."

"We will remain in close dialogue with our NATO allies as we work through this request for support. We take Turkey's concerns very seriously," the defense official said.

SUCCESSFUL U.S.-UK TALKS IN NEW BOSTON ON OAKHANGER TRACKING STATION

Members of New Boston Air Force Station, N.H., Air Force Space Command and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense held talks for the first time at NBAFS Nov. 7 and 8.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
U.S., U.K. talks prove success at New Boston
by Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

11/20/2012 - NEW BOSTON AIR FORCE STATION, N.H. -- For the first time, New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire, hosted talks with the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense Nov. 7 and 8.

Twice a year for the past seven years, the United States, through Air Force Space Command, and the U.K. Ministry of Defense, met to discuss issues and the site status of Oakhanger Tracking Station, call sign LION. The talks typically alternate between Oakhanger and Air Force Space Command Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. After the spring 2012 talks in England however, the 23rd Space Operations Squadron volunteered to host the fall meetings.

LION is a geographically separated unit of the 23 SOPS who oversee operations, maintenance and facility support for the site.

The base is a British military installation with a U.S. military mission and is physically located in the village of Oakhanger, Hampshire, U.K. The site has conducted operations in support of the U.S. Air Force since 1978.

The unique partnership is mutually beneficial. The U.S. is able to strategically position its antennas, and in return, the U.K. is able to utilize those antennas to operate British communications satellites.

"The United Kingdom is one of our strongest partners and this relationship is very important to both countries," said Lt. Col. David Hanson, 23 SOPS commander. "Plus, it allows the U.K. to have access to space."

Topics covered at the talks included spectrum issues, support plan annexes, a five-year project outlook, site familiarization and finances. Attendees included Squadron Leader Dempster Hamilton, TCS Oakhanger base commander, Maj. Nate Case, the 23 SOPS operations officer assigned to LION and other notable distinguished visitors from both the U.S. and U.K.

"These discussions are integral to understanding and solving complex foreign relations, contracting, financing and general state of health issues at Oakhanger Tracking Station," said Hanson. "As LION is the busiest of the seven tracking stations in the AFSCN, it is important we continue to meet with our British counterparts to work through these issues and ensure operations and support functions continue to flourish."

　

　

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY
Family members of Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) gather to greet the ship as it returns to Fleet Activities, Yokosuka. George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Amanda S. Kitchner (Released) 121120-N-IY633-264

An F/A-18 Hornet launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dwight D. Eisenhower is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support mission as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller (Released) 121117-N-YX169-171

U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA'S THANKSGIVING DAY MESSAGE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Thanksgiving Day Message

As Written by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, The Pentagon, Wednesday, November 21, 2012

This week, as Americans everywhere gather to recount the blessings of freedom and prosperity that we enjoy as citizens of the greatest country on earth, I want to extend my deepest thanks to you, the men and women of the Department of Defense, and your families.

Whether serving in uniform or as a civilian, whether deployed abroad or stationed here at home, you are fighting and working every day to secure for all Americans the blessings that we celebrate on Thanksgiving. I hope that wherever you are, you take a moment on Thanksgiving to reflect on the vital role you play in defending our nation and our values, and take pride in the contribution you have made to help make America more safe and secure.

I know that for service members on deployment and for their families back home, this time of year is especially difficult to be away from loved ones. But I also know that what you are doing, on this day and every day, is making a profound difference for the country. America is blessed that there are those who are willing to fight and die for all of us, and I know that all Americans will keep you in their thoughts and prayers this Thanksgiving.

You give this country its spirit and strength, and you give me hope and confidence in a better future. We are thankful to God for his blessings on our nation, our families, and our men and women in uniform. Thank you again and best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

U.S. PRESIDENT OBAMA THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATIKON

 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

President Issues Thanksgiving Day ProclamationAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2012 - "As we reflect on our proud heritage, let us also give thanks to those who honor it by giving back. This Thanksgiving, thousands of our men and women in uniform will sit down for a meal far from their loved ones and the comforts of home. We honor their service and sacrifice. We also show our appreciation to Americans who are serving in their communities, ensuring their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay," President Barack Obama said in his proclamation issued today declaring Nov. 22 as Thanksgiving Day.

The proclamation reads:

"On Thanksgiving Day, Americans everywhere gather with family and friends to recount the joys and blessings of the past year. This day is a time to take stock of the fortune we have known and the kindnesses we have shared, grateful for the God-given bounty that enriches our lives. As many pause to lend a hand to those in need, we are also reminded of the indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.

"Many Thanksgivings have offered opportunities to celebrate community during times of hardship. When the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony gave thanks for a bountiful harvest nearly four centuries ago, they enjoyed the fruits of their labor with the Wampanoag tribe -- a people who had shared vital knowledge of the land in the difficult months before. When President George Washington marked our democracy's first Thanksgiving, he prayed to our Creator for peace, union, and plenty through the trials that would surely come. And when our Nation was torn by bitterness and civil war, President Abraham Lincoln reminded us that we were, at heart, one Nation, sharing a bond as Americans that could bend but would not break. Those expressions of unity still echo today, whether in the contributions that generations of Native Americans have made to our country, the Union our forebears fought so hard to preserve, or the providence that draws our families together this season.

"As we reflect on our proud heritage, let us also give thanks to those who honor it by giving back. This Thanksgiving, thousands of our men and women in uniform will sit down for a meal far from their loved ones and the comforts of home. We honor their service and sacrifice. We also show our appreciation to Americans who are serving in their communities, ensuring their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay. Their actions reflect our age-old belief that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and they affirm once more that we are a people who draw our deepest strength not from might or wealth, but from our bonds to each other.

"On Thanksgiving Day, individuals from all walks of life come together to celebrate this most American tradition, grateful for the blessings of family, community, and country. Let us spend this day by lifting up those we love, mindful of the grace bestowed upon us by God and by all who have made our lives richer with their presence.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2012, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to join together -- whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors -- and give thanks for all we have received in the past year, express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and share our bounty with others."

EXPEDITION 33 LANDS IN KAZAKHSTAN

FROM: NASA

Expedition 33 Lands in the Snowy Steppe of Kazakhstan
Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineers Aki Hoshide and Yuri Malenchenko undocked from the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft at 5:26 p.m. EST Sunday Nov. 18, 2012. The trio landed just before sunrise in the snowy steppe of Kazakhstan at 8:56 p.m. Sunday (7:56 a.m. Monday, Kazakhstan time).
Credti-NASA/ISS

U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2012

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA


In the week ending November 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 410,000, a decrease of 41,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 451,000. The 4-week moving average was 396,250, an increase of 9,500 from the previous week's revised average of 386,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending November 10, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 10 was 3,337,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,367,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,285,000, an increase of 19,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,265,500.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 397,671 in the week ending November 17, a decrease of 80,872 from the previous week. There were 440,157 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent during the week ending November 10, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,926,884, a decrease of 36,314 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7 percent and the volume was 3,374,259.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending November 3 was 5,241,296, an increase of 244,125 from the previous week. There were 6,728,664 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.

Extended Benefits were only available in New York during the week ending November 3.

Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 2,076 in the week ending November 10, an increase of 532 from the prior week. There were 2,801 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 152 from the preceding week.

There were 19,368 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending November 3, an increase of 968 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 39,603, an increase of 671 from the prior week.

States reported 2,156,363 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending November 3, an increase of 60,758 from the prior week. There were 2,896,640 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 3 were in Alaska (5.1), Puerto Rico (3.8), New Jersey (3.6), Virgin Islands (3.5), Connecticut (3.4), Pennsylvania (3.3), California (3.2), New York (3.1), Oregon (3.1), Arkansas (2.8), Nevada (2.8), and West Virginia (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 10 were in New York (+43,956), New Jersey (+31,094), California (+24,693), Pennsylvania (+7,037), and Connecticut (+1,808), while the largest decreases were in Ohio (-4,996), Indiana (-877), Arkansas (-665), Massachusetts (-607), and Maryland (-576).

U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing - November 21, 2012

Daily Press Briefing - November 21, 2012

HORMATS MAKES REMARKS AT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND FULLER SYMPOSIUM ON WILDLIFE CRIME

Photo Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks: World Wildlife Fund: Fuller Symposium on Wildlife Crime

Remarks
Robert D. Hormats
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium
Washington, DC
November 14, 2012
(as prepared)
Thank you Ginette for inviting me to speak today at this wonderful event. Thank you and the World Wildlife Fund for your inspiration and leadership on this issue, and thank you to the Fuller Symposium for hosting this important event.

The issue of the illegal slaughter and trafficking in wildlife is one that has personally captivated and increasingly enraged me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you today about the efforts the State Department is making.

Our aims are: to raise the profile and political will to address wildlife slaughter and trafficking, to raise awareness through our public diplomacy efforts, to enhance enforcement and training action, and to develop strategic partnerships to eliminate wildlife slaughter and trafficking and the criminality it represents.

As you've heard from the experts earlier today - wildlife slaughter and trafficking is escalating in scale and sophistication. It is more organized, more lucrative, and more dangerous than ever before. While the full statistics for 2012 are not in yet, CITES reports three of the five largest annual ivory seizures on record were 2011, 2010, and 2009. Additionally 2012 does not look better. We have seen single incidents where hundreds of elephant are slaughtered at a time. The situation for rhinos is also exceedingly grim.

This has to stop. Massive poaching is compromising the future of some of these species and the associated ecosystems. It is also quite likely a source of financing for transnational criminal networks, and possibly even terrorist groups. This undermines the stability, security, and economic opportunities for communities in many countries around the world. These in turn undermine the ability to govern in nascent democracies or fragile states.

During our trip to Africa this summer, Secretary Clinton and I heard firsthand about the challenges South Africa that is facing. And before I joined her in South Africa, I received similar information in Botswana and Namibia, although so far they have not encountered the kind of slaughter now taking place in South Africa and other parts of that continent.

Many other African countries are dealing with major slaughter and border incursions as well. Many are having to militarize their national parks in order to defend these animals and maintain control over these vast lands. The poachers have access to more sophisticated tools, like night-vision goggles, AK-47s, and helicopters, leaving park rangers often outmanned and outgunned. There have been retaliatory killings of park rangers for protecting these animals. Upwards of one hundred park rangers are killed annually. With the prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn soaring, the financial incentive to commit these crimes is growing. The high prices in turn fuel the engine of corruption that keeps the illegal enterprise thriving.

Hearing these problems from the highest levels of Southern African leadership - following similar alerts from NGOs with whom we have spoken over the last couple of years, including, of course, WWF- were the wake-up calls that led to unprecedented levels of attention at the State Department.

Secretary Clinton and I returned from the trip seized with this issue, and both of us were inspired by what we heard and really angered by these horrible criminal acts. We and our colleagues developed the "Conservation Matters" Strategy at the State Department, which lays out a four pronged approach.

First, we are working to raise the level of political attention and political will to combat wildlife slaughter and trafficking through our diplomatic engagement in multilateral and in bilateral relationships. Quite frankly, this issue so far has not garnered the appropriate attention at the highest levels.

At APEC in Vladivostok in September 2012, we were successful in getting language into the Leaders' Statement and the outcome document. President Obama and Secretary Clinton will also look to advance this issue in the East Asia Summit meeting next week, November 19, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In addition to the formal multilateral engagement, Under Secretary Maria Otero, for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, and I recently hosted a roundtable with many ambassadors here in Washington. We used this dialogue to identify our common challenges and to look at efforts that governments can take to combat the trafficking. This was a good first step in looking at how harmonizing and coordinating our actions can address this problem.

And, as many of you know, last week, Secretary Clinton hosted "Wildlife Trafficking and Conservation: A Call to Action." Secretary Clinton appealed for governments, the private sector, and NGOs to work together urgently to eliminate wildlife trafficking.

So, as you can see, we are making good headway in using our diplomatic engagement to advance the political will to address this issue. We will continue to advance these issues through the CITES 40th Anniversary in March, and beyond. But clearly this is just the beginning.

Our second goal is to raise public awareness. Stemming from the Secretary's Event, I have had the opportunity to meet with press from a variety of international media outlets. This will help to get our message out to many audiences in Asia and Africa. I know many of you have been doing this for a long time.

To further public awareness, we have designated December 4 as "Wildlife Conservation Day." We are asking our embassies around the world to host events and to use all of the tools at their disposal, including social media, to raise awareness with partner governments, NGOs, and the private sector. I will be in Beijing, and will work with our partners there and our embassy to do several events, including one with the Chinese NGOs, as part of Wildlife Conservation Day.

We are looking to the youth to take on this issue and use social media tools to spread the message that consuming endangered wildlife parts is not a "cool" thing to do, or the right or moral thing to do. Social status, in some cases, is driving upswings in consumption - we need to address this demand head on. We need to make sure that people realize that it is not acceptable – and indeed, highly immoral - to buy and consume these products.

The recent NGO survey suggesting that 70% of Chinese consumers think that elephants are not slaughtered for their ivory is shocking – and needs to be corrected.

There are many other misconceptions out there that are quite horrendous, such as - rhino horn can cure cancer. We must address these through education and awareness campaigns.

Our efforts here are a good first step, but we really need trusted local voices to amplify this message in high-demand countries. We will work with other countries to do this.

Our third goal is to strengthen law enforcement capacity through training. We have a number of successful existing efforts underway, and we are building on these. We provide multilateral, regional law enforcement training through the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Gabarone and Bangkok. We also provide bilateral training to improve investigation and prosecution of wildlife crimes. The Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) are good models for regional cooperation on enforcement and prosecution. Central Africa, and the Horn of Africa are taking promising steps to build up this type of cooperation to improve enforcement.

Last week, we committed $100,000 to support the establishment of a global system of regional wildlife enforcement networks. This effort will leverage the respective strengths of each affiliate to improve communication, enforcement and prosecutorial capabilities. It will also help to reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products. We believe the Global System should have a strong technological component, taking advantage of new and innovative technologies to improve communication and information sharing. These are just some of the programs we have underway, and we will look for opportunities to enhance these and other efforts.

This brings me to the final aspect of our strategy - working with partners. We support the expansion and strengthening of existing partnerships, such as the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), to engage governments, civil society, and the private sector to combat wildlife crime. We are working with the transportation industry, NGO’s, and relevant organizations to develop best practices to prevent the illegal transport of wildlife and wildlife products. We look forward to other partnerships moving forward.

For me, protecting wildlife is a very personal issue and a deeply moral issue. I spent a year in Kenya and Tanzania as a graduate student, where I experienced the spectacular beauty of wild animals in magnificent national parks such as Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. That's why I'm especially appalled - on a very personal level - by the horrendous pace, scale, and violence associated with wildlife crime.

We all, collectively, share a moral and political responsibility to protect the worlds’ wildlife, to be good stewards of our planet, and to support the development and security of countries suffering from wildlife slaughter and trafficking. That's why wildlife conservation and anti-trafficking are foreign policy priorities for the Department of State. Our governments and citizens cannot afford to stand idle while poachers and wildlife traffickers hunt down and kill elephants, rhinos, tigers, bears, or any threatened species.

We need to show collective outrage against wildlife crimes to galvanize bold, comprehensive, worldwide action. Let’s call it what it is – organized crime against these majestic animals, against dedicated wildlife rangers, the many countries where these animals live, and against future generations. None of us is doing enough. Secretary Clinton's meeting last week was a call to action to work harder, and to work together.

We can put an end to wildlife crime by supporting the efforts of governments whose animals and rangers fall victim to poachers: by strengthening and strictly enforcing laws against poaching and wildlife trafficking; by educating our citizens about the horrors of poaching; and by encouraging them to stop buying ivory, rhino horns, animal skins, exotic birds, and other endangered animals and their products.

Anything less than bold and comprehensive efforts will result in further decimation of nature's magnificent legacy to our planet. That would be the world's loss and our generation's shame.