VIEW ON "RIGHT TO WORK" FROM A LIBERTARIAN LEADER'S PERSEPECTIVE

FROM: CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL'S WEBSITE

Right to Work is Part of Economic Liberty
Many observers were surprised when Michigan, historically a stronghold of union power, became the nation’s 24th "Right to Work" state. The backlash from November’s unsuccessful attempt to pass a referendum forbidding the state from adopting a right to work law was a major factor in Michigan’s rejection of compulsory unionism. The need for drastic action to improve Michigan’s economy, which is suffering from years of big government policies, also influenced many Michigan legislators to support right to work.

Let us be clear: right to work laws simply prohibit coercion. They prevent states from forcing employers to operate as closed union shops, and thus they prevent unions from forcing individuals to join. In many cases right to work laws are the only remedy to federal laws which empower union bosses to impose union dues as a condition of employment.

Right to work laws do not prevent unions from bargaining collectively with employers, and they do not prevent individuals from forming or joining unions if they believe it will benefit them. Despite all the hype, right to work laws merely enforce the fundamental right to control one’s own labor.

States with right to work laws enjoy greater economic growth and a higher standard of living than states without such laws. According to the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, from 2001-2011 employment in right to work states grew by 2.4%, while employment in union states fell by 3.4%! During the same period wages rose by 12.5% in right to work states, while rising by a mere 3.1% in union states. Clearly, "Right to Work" is good for business and labor.

Workers are best served when union leaders have to earn their membership and dues by demonstrating the benefits they provide. Instead, unions use government influence and political patronage. The result is bad laws that force workers to subsidize unions and well-paid union bosses.

Of course government should not regulate internal union affairs, or interfere in labor disputes for the benefit of employers. Government should never forbid private-sector workers from striking. Employees should be free to join unions or not, and employers should be able to bargain with unions or not. Labor, like all goods and services, is best allocated by market forces rather than the heavy, restrictive hand of government. Voluntarism works.

Federal laws forcing employees to pay union dues as a condition of getting or keeping a job are blatantly unconstitutional. Furthermore, Congress does not have the moral authority to grant a private third party the right to interfere in private employment arrangements. No wonder polls report that 80 percent of the American people believe compulsory union laws need to be changed.

Unions’ dirty little secret is that real wages cannot rise unless productivity rises. American workers cannot improve their standard of living simply by bullying employers with union tactics. Instead, employers, employees, and unions must recognize that only market mechanisms can signal employment needs and wage levels in any industry. Profits or losses from capital investment are not illusions that can be overcome by laws or regulations; they are real-world signals that directly affect wages and employment opportunities. Union advocates can choose to ignore reality, but they cannot overcome the basic laws of economics.

As always, the principle of liberty will provide the most prosperous society possible. Right to work laws are a positive step toward economic liberty

TIGER 2.0: THE BATTLEFIELD GARBAGE-TO-ENERGY MACHINE

TGER 2.0 is a deployable machine tactically designed to convert military field waste into immediate usable energy for forward operating bases. It could also prove beneficial in commercial areas such as oil and mining operations, camp sites, hospitals, mess halls and post-natural disaster events like Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 'ARMED WITH SCIENCE'

by jtozer
Army Scientists Improve Garbage-to-energy Prototype

The year was 2008 and the on-going war in Iraq was a dangerous landscape for soldiers on the ground. Especially for convoys traveling to and from base camps.

Roadside bombs and enemy ambushes were frequent occurrences for U.S. Armed Forces transporting fuel, a risk that may be reduced if camps are equipped with a Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery prototype.

"If you’re a forward-operating base, you don’t want a local contractor coming in to haul your garbage out because you don’t know if they’re good guys or bad guys," said Dr. James Valdes, a senior technologist at the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. "You also don’t want to be hauling fuel in because those convoys are targets and risk the lives of soldiers and contractors."

For 90 days, Camp Victory in Baghdad was home to the first two TGER prototypes, a deployable machine tactically designed to convert military field waste into immediate usable energy for forward operating bases.

The biorefinery system is a trailer-mounted hybrid technology that can support a 550-person unit that generates about 2,500 pounds of trash per day, and converts roughly a ton of that garbage–paper, plastic, packaging and food waste—into electricity via a standard 60-kilowatt diesel generator.

"We picked a forward operating base in Iraq because we wanted to really stress the system. All other energy systems had been tested in laboratories or under ideal conditions and temperature climates. What we really wanted to do was stress it with heat, sand and real world trash in a low infrastructure environment," Valdes said.
"You know that old Chinese saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for, you might get it’? Well, we got it," We learned an awful lot over there about what works, what doesn’t work and what’ll break."
As ECBC project director for TGER, Valdes is responsible for leading a team that has successfully implemented the necessary re-engineering of the new prototype, TGER 2.0. Among them is an automated interface that uses a touch-screen panel, which makes it easier for workers to input information and monitor every part of the machine, from oxygen levels in the gasifier-to-ethanol production and power output.

What used to take three technicians to operate the machine now takes two people: one person to feed the garbage and another person to monitor the progress. But Valdes hopes that as the prototypes advance, TGER could eventually be used by one technician or soldier.

One of ECBC’s most valuable lessons learned while the TGER was deployed in Iraq was the realization that the downdraft gasifier had a tendency to get clogged if there was too much plastic in the fuel pellets. Additionally, a large percentage of the synthetic gas was inert and could not be used as viable fuel. To fix the problem, Valdes’ team developed a horizontal gasifier with an auger device that rotates the trash, eliminating the mechanical step of pelletizing the trash.

The TGER 2.0 prototype also enables steam to be injected into the gasifier, which allows a larger conversion of output gas to become energetic. According to Valdes, the old system produced 155 BTUs (British Thermal Unit)/cubic foot of gas, whereas the new TGER 2.0 prototype produces 550, more than tripling the amount of usable energy.
Also, TGER 2.0 is environmentally friendly with its zero-carbon footprint.
"We think of garbage in terms of volume, not weight. There are things that take up a lot of space in landfills but they don’t weigh much, like Styrofoam. TGER reduces the volume of waste in 30 to one ratio. If you start off with 30 cubic yards of trash, you end up with one cubic yard of ash, and that ash has been tested by the Environmental Protection Agency. They call it a benign soil additive. You could actually throw it on your roses," Valdes said.

The advanced prototype was shipped back to the manufacturer for modifications after undergoing a final field trial on Sept. 20 here, where the green technology was tested to see how long it could run at the highest levels of garbage input before breaking down.

Within two hours of powering on, TGER 2.0 can make synthetic gas that enables a generator to be run on about ¾ power.

Within 12 hours, alcohol is produced and blended with the synthetic gas to run on full power at a steady state if the machine is continually fed.

One of the innovations Valdes said he would like to capitalize on is recapturing the excess heat that the machine produces with a heat exchanger that can apply the energy to field sanitation and heating water. The new TGER prototype could also be transitioned into the commercial sector, Valdes said.

"Longer term, we will be talking to project managers about transitioning it but we’ll also be talking to some companies that do things like support oil and gas operations in places such as Mongolia and parts of the world that are difficult to have camps in," Valdes said.

Oil and mining operations, camp sites, hospitals, mess halls and even post-natural disaster events like Hurricane Katrina are just a few of the places the green technology could prove beneficial.

ECBC and contracting firm SAIC recently entered into a cooperative research and development agreement–an agreement between a government agency and a private company–to speed the commercialization of the technology.

"It’s really geared for where there’s a concentration of people and there’s a need to get rid of garbage and make energy. If an oil exploration company is out in Mongolia, they’ve got a lot of people there. Those camps can be as big as 10,000 people," he said.

"TGER is geared toward a smaller base camp but industrial operations start off small and build up. They still have to get rid of garbage and they have to somehow get energy in. So what they’re looking for is ways to get rid of the trash and generate power. If you think about it, there are far more commercial opportunities for TGER than there are Army applications."

ECBC and defense contractor SAIC are also working with the TGER Technologies, Inc., Defense Life Sciences LLC and Purdue University.

By Ms. Kristen Dalton (RDECOM)

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY

121219-N-TB177-875 NORFOLK (Dec. 19, 2012) The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), right, returns to Naval Station Norfolk after a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg/Released)

121219-N-RI884-004 PEARL HARBOR (Dec 19, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is moored at its homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The new destroyer is named in honor of Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat as leader of a four-man reconnaissance team in Afghanistan. Murphy was the first Medal of Honorrecipient for actions in Afghanistan, and the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)

White House Time-Lapse: The 2012 Gingerbread Dough White House | The White House

White House Time-Lapse: The 2012 Gingerbread Dough White House | The White House

THE DAY AFTER AND THE MYAN PREDICTION OF THE END OF THE WORLD

 

NASA is so sure the world won't come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012, that they already released a video for the day after. More questions about December 21, 2012?

U.S. ATTORNERY GENERAL'S REMARK'S AT PAN AM FLIGHT 103 MEMORIAL SERVICE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Annual Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Service

Washington, D.C. ~ Friday, December 21, 2012

Good afternoon. It is an honor to take part, once again, in this important annual ceremony. And it’s a privilege to join with so many friends and colleagues – including FBI Director Mueller, Deputy National Security Advisor McDonough, and Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division Monaco – as we pay tribute to the 270 innocent people who were taken from us, 24 years ago today, by a senseless act of terrorism in the skies above Lockerbie, Scotland.

I’d like to thank the Families of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 for bringing us together this afternoon. For nearly two and a half decades, your remarkable strength – and the spirit of unity that, year after year, calls you back to this hallowed place – has been a source of inspiration for us all. The example of resilience you’ve provided – and the unyielding resolve you’ve shown – have fueled our efforts to achieve justice for the victims of this unspeakable tragedy. And your work continues to ensure that none of us will ever forget the passengers, crew members, and bystanders on the ground whose lives were stolen – or shattered – on the 21st of December 1988.

Although no speech or ceremony can erase the pain that you’ve carried with you since that terrible night – by gathering to exchange stories, to share memories, and to lift up the legacies of those we’ve come to remember – I am confident that this community can continue to heal, to grow, and to move into a brighter future. And I pledge that our nation and its allies will continue to seek justice.

From Lockerbie to lower Manhattan – at home and around the world – at every level of today’s Justice Department, my colleagues and I are committed to standing with victims of terrorism and their families, wherever they are found. We’re determined to move aggressively to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms – and to hold accountable those who threaten innocent civilians and seek to undermine our way of life. Above all, we’re dedicated to upholding the highest ideals of our justice system – while using every appropriate tool and resource to protect the American people.

Particularly in recent years – thanks to many of the leaders gathered here today – I’m proud that we have made significant, and in many cases historic, progress in taking these efforts to a new level. I’m encouraged by all that we’ve done – alongside allies from around the world –in order to identify and disrupt potentially deadly terrorist plots. But I also recognize – as you do – that this work is never complete.

That’s why, as we come together this afternoon – to honor and extend the legacies of those no longer with us – we must also recommit ourselves to the urgent task of preventing more of our citizens from being victimized. We must never hesitate in our aggressive pursuit of those who carry out such despicable and cowardly acts. We must never falter in our determination to eradicate the threats our people face. And – in this case and all others – we must never tire, never waver, and never rest – until justice has been done.

May God continue to bless our efforts. May God bless the families and friends gathered here today. And may God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY

The aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) are in port at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., the world's largest naval station. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ernest R. Scott (Released) 121220-N-ZN152-189

121221-N-AO362-301 BUSAN, Republic of Korea (Dec. 21, 2012) Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) arrives in Busan for a scheduled port visit. La Jolla, homeported in Pearl Harbor, is on a deployment to the western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Jared Apollo Burgamy/Released)

U.S. DOL AWARDS $5 MILLION TO REDUCE CHILD DOMESTIC WORK IN INDONESIA

 

The Sea Temple of Pura Luhur at Uluwatu in south Bali dates back to the 11th century.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

US Department of Labor awards $5 million to reduce child domestic work and promote decent work for domestic workers in Indonesia

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded a $5 million cooperative agreement to the International Labor Organization for a project to support efforts to reduce child domestic work by building the capacity of domestic worker organizations and promoting decent work for domestic workers in four provinces of Indonesia.

Under the agreement, the International Labor Organization's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor will partner with the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy in Indonesia, the Network of Indonesian Child Labor NGOs, and the Action Committee for Protection of Domestic Workers and Migrant Workers. The project will draw on the proven strengths of different organizations, associations, agencies and government institutions at the local, national and international levels.

The organizations will focus on: expanding legal protection to child and adult domestic workers; broadening the outreach and responsiveness of domestic worker organizations at the national and regional levels to combat the problem of child domestic work and improve decent work of domestic workers through targeted capacity building; promoting in-country and regional knowledge sharing; raising awareness using non-traditional media and innovative partnerships; and analyzing and documenting project outcomes.

Since 1995, the Labor Department has funded 260 projects implemented by more than 65 organizations in 91 countries, which have resulted in the rescue of approximately 1.5 million children from exploitative child labor. ILAB currently oversees more than $210 million of active programming to combat exploitative child labor.

NASA VIDEO ON FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL

FROM: NASA

NASA Now Minute: The Future of Space Travel
NASA astronaut Greg Johnson joins NASA Now to discuss the future of space exploration and the logical progression of sending humans to Mars. He talks about sending astronauts back to the moon and the possibility of building a lunar habitat to understand more about working and living in space. NASA Now Minutes are excerpts from a weekly current events program available for classroom use at the NASA Explorer Schools Virtual Campus located at:
› http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.

THE REMOTELY-CONTROLLED MINE-CLEARING VEHICLE



Soldiers from First Army Division West’s 5th Armored Brigade "Task Force Rampant," and the 321st Engineer Company (Route Clearance), from Conroe, Texas, receive instruction on the M160 MV4 remotely-controlled mine clearance vehicle, at McGregor Range, N.M. The M160 MV4 is currently used in Afghanistan by route clearance units

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 'ARMED WITH SCIENCE'
 
by jtozer
Soldiers Train With Remote-controlled Mine-clearing System

Tripping improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance in a controlled way to avoid soldier injury has become an automated process now for soldiers here and at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Soldiers are now training on the M160 MV4 DOK-ING, a remote-controlled, tracked mine clearance system to trip hidden improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, unexploded ordnance, known as UXOs, and anti-personnel mines.

By sending the system out to look for explosive dangers, soldiers can clear a route without putting themselves in danger.
"Never send a man to do a machine’s job," said Mark Decker, a technician trainer and instructor with the Robotics Systems Joint Project Office.
The M160 MV4 is the first of its kind here and is the latest addition to the Mobilization Training Center, the route clearance training program at Fort Bliss.

Several soldiers from First Army Division West’s 5th Armored Brigade’s "Task Force Rampant," recently trained on the vehicle, along with joint warfighters who are training with Rampant in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

The M160 MV4 is currently used in Afghanistan by route clearance units.

"Having this equipment available to train our reserve-component forces during their premobilization training will allow these units to arrive in their forward-deployed theaters with a unique and critical skill set," said Lt. Col. Aaron Dorf, Task Force Rampant commander.

Fielding of the M160 MV4 has been a priority of Task Force Rampant for some time now, said Task Force Rampant Command Sgt. Maj. Leonard Meeks.
"We are constantly striving to acquire combat systems that emulate what these joint warfighters will encounter downrange," Meeks said. "The more training we can provide to them in this environment the better. It’s our job to prepare them for success, and having the right tools of the trade is key for this mission."
The M160 MV4 employs a rotating shaft with chains attached to disturb the surface of the ground in an attempt to detonate or unearth deadly mines and unexploded ordnance. The flailing action is designed to establish a safe path of travel for dismounted troops in the area.

During the first day of the two-day training event, soldiers received familiarization of the system’s internal and external components, and training on the fuel system. This was followed by instruction on preventive maintenance checks and services and the proper methods to inspect the track area, engine compartment and its attachments.

"PMCS training and testing of the equipment is as important as operating it," said Master Sgt. Warner Stadler, the Task Force Rampant senior mechanic. "Without formal training on the care of equipment, it is very likely the equipment will not be available and ready when required."

Following PMCS, the soldiers were taught to program the system and operate it using basic driving techniques. As part of the basic driving training, soldiers were required to maneuver the system in forward and reverse, as well as negotiate left and right turns in a controlled environment.

Once proficient at maneuver, the soldiers were taught methods for employing the robot to reducing obstacles. The flailing block of instruction was conducted on a 3,100-meter test lane that was used to simulate entering an unclear area.

The key to effective flailing was the ability to employ the M160 MV4 using a variable tool speed, the correct downward pressure and gear. Prior to entering the unclear area, soldiers must perform a soil test to check the effectiveness of the settings, and then adjust as necessary.

"The M160 is definitely an asset to any deploying unit," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Denny, after two days of flailing. "I’m excited to be able to provide future training to engineer soldiers."

A practical exercise allowed soldiers to get a better feel for the machine and its combat role. Each soldier took turns holding the remote control to maneuver the M160 MV4 along the training lane.
"The remote-control-operated vehicle is actually fun to drive and maneuver, said Staff Sgt. Chamberlain Wolfe. "However, its mission is very serious and critical to our safe maneuver in what at times is a dangerous region."

By Capt. Jose A. Lopez, 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West

FOOD ALERGIES AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN U.S. JUSTICE AND LESLEY UNIVERSITY

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, December 20, 2012

Justice Department and Lesley University Sign Agreement to Ensure Meal Plan Is Inclusive of Students with Celiac Disease and Food Allergies

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., to ensure that students with celiac disease and other food allergies can fully and equally enjoy the university’s meal plan and food services in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Food allergies may constitute a disability under the ADA. Individuals with food allergies may have an autoimmune response to certain foods, the symptoms of which may include difficulty swallowing and breathing, asthma and anaphylaxis. For example, celiac disease, which is triggered by consumption of the protein gluten (found in foods such as wheat, barley and rye), can cause permanent damage to the surface of the small intestines and an inability to absorb certain nutrients, leading to vitamin deficiencies that deny vital nourishment to the brain, nervous system, bones, liver and other organs. Celiac disease affects about 1 in 133 Americans.

"By implementing this agreement, Lesley University will ensure students with celiac disease and other food allergies can obtain safe and nutritional food options," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The agreement ensures that Lesley’s meal program is attentive to the schedules and demands of college students with food allergies, an issue colleges and universities across the country need to consider."

Under the settlement, Lesley University agrees to amend its policies and practices to:

· Continually provide ready-made hot and cold gluten- and allergen-free food options in its dining hall food lines;

· Develop individualized meal plans for students with food allergies, and allow those students to pre-order allergen free meals, that can be made available at the university’s dining halls in Cambridge and Boston;

· Provide a dedicated space in its main dining hall to store and prepare gluten-free and allergen-free foods and to avoid cross-contamination;

· Enable students to request food made without allergens, and ensure that a supply of allergen-free food is available;

· Work to retain vendors that accept students’ prepaid meal cards that offer food without allergens;

· Display notices concerning food allergies and identify foods containing specific allergens;

· Train food service and University staff about food allergy related issues;

· Pay $50,000 in compensatory damages to previously identified students who have celiac disease or other food allergies.

The settlement agreement was reached under the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public accommodations, including colleges and universities, in their full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, and facilities.

HELPING CONGOLESE ARMY HELPS U.S SECURITY

Democratic Republic Of The Congo. Credit:  CIA World Factbook

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Official: DOD Aid to Congolese Army Bolsters U.S. Security
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2012 – The Defense Department plays a critical role in building security capacity in the central African Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials from the departments of Defense and State told the House Armed Services Committee today.

Aiding the armies of DRC and nearby nations such as Uganda can help to disrupt growing links between instability in central Africa and the global terrorist threat, the officials said, and push back against nonstate actors and regimes, such as those in Syria, Iran and North Korea, that directly threaten the United States and its allies.

Derek Chollet, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, and Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of African Affairs, testified before the full committee.

"The U.S. has many competing security priorities in Africa, from Somalia to Sudan to Libya to Nigeria to Mali," Chollet said.

"But the DRC also remains important because of the potential opportunity lasting stability would bring and because of the imperative to prevent mass atrocities, which is a priority for this administration," he added.

The DRC’s army, and the state military organization responsible for defending the nation, is called the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its acronym, FARDC, stands for the French version of the name -- Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo.

"The security and humanitarian situation in the DRC is the most volatile and violent in Africa today," Carson said. "An estimated 5 million people have lost their lives since 1998, and millions more have been uprooted and displaced."

A key threat facing Congolese civilians, particularly in the eastern DRC, is an array of violent armed groups, most notoriously including the March 23 Movement, called M23, the Lord’s Resistance Army, and the remnants of genocidal militias that now call themselves the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, or FDLR, the assistant secretary noted.

Another danger to civilians is an undisciplined state security force, Chollet said, "particularly when the forces are not well supported, have absorbed armed groups without vetting them for human rights abuses, operate under a separate chain of command or have not been trained in their legal obligations."

This confluence of security concerns, he added, "is prompting the Defense Department to closely follow security developments of DRC in the Great Lakes region and is actively involved along with our State Department colleagues to address them."

Chollet said the unfolding crisis highlights the Congolese government’s failure to provide effective security, governance and services in the eastern provinces.

"It also highlights continued political and economic tensions between the DRC and its eastern neighbors, especially Rwanda," the assistant secretary said.

Outside support, particularly from Rwanda, has helped to make the M23 a significant threat that seriously challenges efforts to stabilize eastern DRC and protect civilians, Chollet said. President Barack Obama told Rwandan President Paul Kagame in a telephone call yesterday that "any support to M23 is inconsistent with Rwanda’s desire for stability and peace," he added.

The Rwandan military is a capable partner in peacekeeping operations outside the immediate region, but their support for M23 prompted the Obama administration to suspend Rwanda’s foreign military financing, Chollet told the panel.

"As the situation in eastern Congo develops," he said, "we will continue to monitor reports of external support closely and respond appropriately, including by reviewing our assistance."

Inside the DRC, the United States is prioritizing private-sector reform.

"This means working with our partners and the DRC to develop a comprehensive approach that addresses all three elements of [the] security sector -- the Congolese defense forces, military justice and the police," the assistant secretary said.

"We must work to develop more professional forces that respect human rights and protect both DRC’s territorial integrity and population," he added.

DOD has provided training to the Congolese military, including a light-infantry battalion in 2010, incorporating sexual and gender-based violence protection and human rights training into every aspect of the effort, Chollet said.

"In addition to ongoing training on human rights and law, Defense Department engagements with the FARDC have included logistics, exercise participation, basic military intelligence training, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and humanitarian mine action," the assistant secretary said.

Moving forward, he added, DOD stands ready to work with its State colleagues to determine the best way ahead and support security-sector reform, including by providing more infantry training for the FARDC.

The scale of the need is significant, Chollet said.

"Today we have trained one battalion of 500 soldiers [out of] a military that numbers approximately 150,000. Other European and African partners have also provided training but the FARDC’s absorptive capacity for assistance is limited," he said.

"The Congolese defense ministry has been slow to respond to our requests [to provide] appropriate personnel for training and information needed for congressionally mandated human rights vetting. The lack of English-language capacity further inhibits training opportunities," Chollet added.

While the DRC works to develop its own security capabilities, the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation, called MONUSCO, is essential for providing security for the DRC civilian population.

"MONUSCO has a challenging mandate in a very fluid security climate. We are reviewing options for improving MONUSCO’s ability to meet the civilian protection requirements in the DRC," Chollet said.

"To help MONUSCO," he added, "DOD has seconded three U.S. military officers who are hoping to support operational efforts in ensuring an efficient flow of information between MONUSCO headquarters and field components."

Despite many challenges, the assistant secretary said, DOD has "an enduring interest in helping develop a more capable Congolese military, and this fits within [Defense] Secretary [Leon E.] Panetta’s broader policy emphasis on building partner capacity."

FACT SHEET: U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPON COMPUTER SIMULATIONS

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

U.S. Nuclear Weapon Computer Simulations
Fact Sheet
Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
December 20, 2012

Key Point: Advances in simulation and computing capabilities, aided by investments in the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP), provide confidence in the ability to model and evaluate the performance and safety of nuclear weapons without nuclear explosive testing.

Since the end of U.S. nuclear explosive testing in 1992, investments in science-based Stockpile Stewardship have led to dramatic improvements in simulation capabilities. Computers have become at least a hundred-thousand times more powerful, and modern integrated design codes now more realistically capture the behavior of real nuclear devices. As of December 2012, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has the world’s fastest supercomputer used for nuclear weapons simulations and modeling. The supercomputer, named Sequoia, is also the second fastest supercomputer in the world overall. As a result of these advancements, our modern, integrated nuclear weapon design codes have reduced a number of adjustment parameters, which previously required a nuclear explosive test to be calibrated. Weapons designers can now conduct hundreds of calculations to determine where the results are most sensitive to model uncertainties or fundamental data. This is a critical element to inform expert judgment and guide SSP experiments.

Today, weapons designers benefit from better simulation tools and computers capable of running highly detailed calculations. Successes to date indicate that a cadre of world-class scientists and engineers can employ physics-based simulations, modern experiments, validations against collections of re-analyzed data from previous underground nuclear explosive tests, and peer reviews to support stockpile decisions well into the future without the need to return to nuclear explosive testing. These computer simulation advances provide the United States with the ability to monitor and maintain the nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear explosive testing.

NASA GOLD RAINING DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS

 

Fragments of the Sutter’s Mill meteorite fall collected by NASA Ames and SETI Institute meteor astronomer Dr. Peter Jenniskens in the evening of Tuesday April 24, two days after the fall. This was the second recovered find.
Image credit: NASA / Eric James

FROM: NASA
NASA Researchers Strike Scientific Gold With Meteorite

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - Scientists found treasure when they studied a meteorite that was recovered April 22, 2012 at Sutter's Mill, the gold discovery site that led to the 1849 California Gold Rush. Detection of the falling meteorites by Doppler weather radar allowed for rapid recovery so that scientists could study for the first time a primitive meteorite with little exposure to the elements, providing the most pristine look yet at the surface of primitive asteroids.

An international team of 70 researchers reported in today's issue of "Science" that this meteorite was classified as a Carbonaceous-Mighei or CM-type carbonaceous chondrite and that they were able to identify for the first time the source region of these meteorites.

"The small three meter-sized asteroid that impacted over California’s Sierra Nevada came in at twice the speed of typical meteorite falls," said lead author and meteor astronomer Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif., and NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "Clocked at 64,000 miles per hour, it was the biggest impact over land since the impact of the four meter-sized asteroid 2008 TC3, four years ago over Sudan."

The asteroid approached on an orbit that still points to the source region of CM chondrites. From photographs and video of the fireball, Jenniskens calculated that the asteroid approached on an unusual low-inclined almost comet-like orbit that reached the orbit of Mercury, passing closer to the sun than known from other recorded meteorite falls.

"It circled the sun three times during a single orbit of Jupiter, in resonance with that planet," Jenniskens said. Based on the unusually short time that the asteroid was exposed to cosmic rays, there was not much time to go slower or faster around the sun. That puts the original source asteroid very close to this resonance, in a low inclined orbit.

"A good candidate source region for CM chondrites now is the Eulalia asteroid family, recently proposed as a source of primitive C-class asteroids in orbits that pass Earth," adds Jenniskens.

After the asteroid broke up in the atmosphere, weather radar briefly detected a hailstorm of falling meteorites over the townships of Coloma and Lotus in California. This enabled a rapid recovery that permitted the most pristine look yet at a CM-type carbonaceous chondrite.

"This was the first time a rare carbonaceous chondrite meteorite was recovered based on such weather radar detection," said Marc Fries of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, who pioneered the use of this technique. "Meteorites were found mostly under the radar footprint."

Of the estimated 100,000-pound asteroid, less than two pounds was recovered on the ground in the form of 77 meteorites. The biggest was 205 grams. Some of the key meteorites discussed in this work were found by volunteer search teams led by Jenniskens.

"The entire Ames community really came together in the search for these meteorites. People work at NASA because they love science and that was very evident when we saw the overwhelming response of volunteers from Ames wanting to be a part of this," said Pete Worden, director of NASA Ames Research Center.

"The meteorite was a jumbled mess of rocks, called a regolith breccia, that originated from near the surface of a primitive asteroid," said meteoriticist Derek Sears of NASA Ames.

NASA and the Japanese space agency (JAXA) have plans to target asteroids similar to the one recovered at Sutter’s Mill. The Sutter's Mill meteorite provides a rare glimpse of what these space missions may find.

"NASA's robotic OSIRIS-REx mission is currently being prepared to bring back a pristine sample of an asteroid named 1999 RQ36," said co-author and mission co-investigator Scott Sandford of NASA Ames. "In addition, Sutter's Mill has the same reflective properties as near-Earth asteroid, 1999 JU3, the mission target of the Hayabusa 2 sample return mission currently being prepared by the Japanese space agency, JAXA."

The rapid recovery resulted in the detection of compounds that quickly disappear once a meteorite lands on Earth. Mike Zolensky, a mineralogist at NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center, Houston, was surprised to detect the mineral oldhamite, a calcium sulfide, known in the past to disappear from contact with water by simply breathing on it.

"This mineral was known before mainly from rare enstatite chondrites," said Zolensky, "and its presence in the regolith breccia could mean that primitive and highly evolved asteroids collided with each other even at early times when the debris accumulated that now makes the meteorite matrix."

A wide array of carbon-containing compounds was detected that quickly reacted with water once in the Earth's environment. It is thought that the carbon atoms in our body may have been brought to Earth by such primitive asteroids in the early stages of our planet’s history.

"Amino acids were few in this meteorite because this particular meteorite appears to have been slightly heated in space before it arrived at Earth," said Danny Glavin of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

It appears that different parts of the meteorite had a different thermal alteration history. Heating also removed some of the water that used to move salts around in the asteroid.

"Samples collected before it rained on the meteorite fall area still contained such salts," said George Cooper of NASA Ames, "but Sutter's Mill was less altered by water in the asteroid itself than other CM type meteorites."

"Only 150 parts per billion of Sutter's Mill was actual gold," said co-author and cosmochemist Qing-zhu Yin of U.C. Davis, Davis, Calif., "but all of it was scientific gold. With 78 other elements measured, Sutter's Mill provides one of the most complete records of elemental compositions documented for such primitive meteorites."

To view a video about the search for this meteorite, visit:

SEC CHARGES 4 INDIVIDUALS IN ALLEGED FRAUDULENT PENNY STOCK SCHEME

Picture:  Black Hole.  Credit:  NASA

FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C., Dec. 21, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged four securities industry professionals with conducting a fraudulent penny stock scheme in which they illegally acquired more than one billion unregistered shares in microcap companies at deep discounts and then dumped them on the market for approximately $17 million in illicit profits while claiming bogus exemptions from the federal securities laws.

The SEC alleges that Danny Garber, Michael Manis, Kenneth Yellin, and Jordan Feinstein acquired shares at about 30 to 60 percent off the market price by misrepresenting to the penny stock companies that they intended to hold the shares for investment purposes rather than immediately re-selling them. Instead, they immediately sold the shares without registering them by purporting to rely on an exemption for transactions that are in compliance with certain types of state law exemptions. However, no such state law exemptions were applicable to their transactions. To create the appearance that the claimed exemption was valid, they created virtual corporate presences in Minnesota, Texas, and Delaware. The SEC also charged 12 entities that they operated in connection with the scheme.

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Garber, Manis, Yellin, and Feinstein all live in the New York/New Jersey area and operated the scheme from 2007 to 2010. They each have previously worked in the securities industry either as registered representatives or providers of investment management or financial advisory services.

"These penny stock purchasers had enough securities industry experience to know that their penny stock trading was not exempt from the securities laws as they claimed," said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office. "They repeatedly violated the registration provisions and in the process also committed securities fraud. We will continue to fight microcap stock abuses that result in the unregistered distribution of shares without vital information about those companies being known to investors."

The SEC’s complaint alleges that Garber, Manis, Yellin, Feinstein and the named entities violated Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933; Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The SEC’s complaint seeks a final judgment, among other things, ordering all of the defendants to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest and financial penalties; permanently enjoining all the defendants from future violations of the securities laws; and permanently enjoining all the defendants from participating in penny stock offerings.

The SEC’s investigation, which is continuing, has been conducted by Michael Paley, Laura Yeu, Elzbieta Wraga, Haimavathi Marlier, Yitzchok Klug and Paul Gizzi of the New York Regional Office. Mr. Gizzi and Ms. Marlier will lead the SEC’s litigation.

JAPAN'S NATIONAL DAY

Photo:  Imperial Palace In Tokyo.  From:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Japan National Day Message
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 21, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to His Imperial Majesty on his 79th birthday this December 23rd, and to congratulate the people of Japan on this national day of celebration.

This year marked the one hundredth anniversary of Japan’s historic gift of three thousand cherry trees to the United States, a lasting symbol of the friendship between our nations. Our strong partnership has flourished under the common values of our people and our shared goals for the Asia Pacific region and around the world. We are grateful for the many important contributions Japan has made to development and democracy and look forward to finding even more ways for collaboration in the future.

I wish His Imperial Majesty a wonderful birthday, and I hope all Japanese people around the world enjoy the blessings of peace and prosperity in the coming year.

　

Photo:  Lotus Blossom.  From:  CIA World Factbook.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power. Following three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains a major economic power. In March 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake, and an accompanying tsunami, devastated the northeast part of Honshu island, killing thousands and damaging several nuclear power plants. The catastrophe hobbled the country's economy and its energy infrastructure, and tested its ability to deal with humanitarian disasters.

Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Extend a Holiday Greeting and Thank our Troops for their Service | The White House

Weekly Address: The President and First Lady Extend a Holiday Greeting and Thank our Troops for their Service | The White House

EPA UPDATE ON HYDRAULIC FRACTURING STUDY

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

EPA Releases Update on Ongoing Hydraulic Fracturing Study

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today provided an update on its ongoing national study currently underway to better understand any potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Results of the study, which Congress requested EPA to complete, are expected to be released in a draft for public and peer review in 2014. The update provided today outlines work currently underway, including the status of research projects that will inform the final study. It is important to note that while this progress report outlines the framework for the final study, it does not draw conclusions about the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, which will be made in the final study.

As the administration and EPA has made clear, natural gas has a central role to play in our energy future, and this important domestic fuel source has extensive economic, energy security, and environmental benefits. The study EPA is currently undertaking is part of EPA’s focus to ensure that as the Administration continues to work to expand production of this important domestic resource safely and responsibly.

Among the information released today are updates on 18 research projects and details on the agency’s research approach as well as next steps for these ongoing projects and analyses. Today’s update follows the public release, in November 2011, of the agency’s final study plan, which underwent scientific peer review and public comment.

EPA has engaged stakeholders, including industry, to ensure that the study reflects current practices in hydraulic fracturing. EPA continues to request data and information from the public and stakeholders and has put out a formal request for information which can be accessed through the federal register at: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/11/09/2012-27452/request-for-information-to-inform-hydraulic-fracturing-research-related-to-drinking-water-resources

EPA also expects to release a draft report of results from the study in late 2014. The study has been designated a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment, meaning it will receive the highest level of peer review in accordance with EPA’s peer review handbook before it is finalized. The 2014 draft report will synthesize the results from the ongoing projects together with the scientific literature to answer the study’s main research questions.

EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) is forming a panel of independent experts which will review and provide their individual input on the ongoing study to EPA. The SAB will provide an opportunity for the public to offer comments for consideration by the individual panel members.

SPACE FENSE TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL BY 2020



Muai GEODSS
Maui Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance achieved intial operating capability on 1 Oct 1982. (courtesy photo)

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Space Fence program moving forward
by Patty Welsh
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

12/21/2012 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center here recently put out a request for proposal to move the Space Fence program forward.

Space Fence will be a system of up to two land-based radars, the first site located at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, to track objects entering Earth's orbit. According to program officials, it will form the foundation of improved space situational awareness by expanding the ability to detect, track, identify and characterize orbiting objects such as commercial and military satellites, smaller objects, maneuvering satellites, break-up events and lower inclination objects.

"Space situational awareness is a continual concern and challenge for U.S. and ally nations," said Ken Francois, Space Fence program manager. "The Space Fence program will increase the capability to provide predictability in reducing the chance of a collision or attack."

The RFP is for the final development and construction of the Space Fence Operations Center, Site 1, and an option for Site 2. It is a full and open competition that will conclude with a contract award, currently anticipated in spring 2013. The award will bring the program forward to final system development, fielding and initial operational capability.

During a Defense Acquisition Board held in August, some changes were made to the program's acquisition strategy.

"The most significant change is that we are moving to an incremental approach. Increment 1 includes the Space Operations Center and Site 1 facilities construction and radar build," said Francois. "Increment 2 includes Site 2 and system integration. This approach maximizes our efficient use of resources and will allow us to reduce costs to the Defense Department and the Air Force, ultimately saving money for the taxpayer."

A lot of previous work got the program to this point.

In early 2011, awards were made to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for an 18-month period of performance to develop preliminary system designs and prototypes and conduct radar performance analyses, evaluations and other technical activities.

As part of that, two preliminary design reviews for the Space Fence program were completed with final events demonstrating working radar prototypes capable of detecting and tracking a resident space object.

"The PDRs were conducted through a series of four detailed incremental reviews, leading up to the two-day final events," said Francois. "This approach was used so the government could review various aspects of the designs over time and provide timely feedback on any issues."

The incremental reviews included overall system design and architecture, radar hardware and software configuration items, allocated baseline, logistics, facilities, test, modeling and simulation along with the radar prototype demonstration. Following the reviews, the contractors worked on risk reduction activities and design maturation.

"All the work up to now and as we go forward is so we can ensure the mature technologies that are needed are available and to reduce risks associated with the program," said Francois.

Initial operational capability for Space Fence is anticipated in 2017 and full operational capability in 2020.

ENRON BROADBAND SERVICES EXECUTIVES SETTLE FRAUD CHARGES WITH SEC

FROM: U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that former Enron senior vice presidents Rex T. Shelby and Scott Yeager and the former chief financial officer of Enron Broadband Services (EBS) Kevin A. Howard have agreed to settle the SEC's pending civil actions against them.

The SEC charged Shelby and Yeager with securities fraud and insider trading on May 1, 2003, amending a complaint previously filed March 12, 2003, which charged Howard and Michael W. Krautz, a former senior director of accounting at EBS, with securities fraud. The SEC’s civil case was stayed by the U.S. District Court while criminal proceedings occurred against these defendants.

To settle the SEC’s action against them, Shelby agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1 million, and Yeager and Howard agreed to pay civil penalties of $110,000 and $65,000, respectively. In addition, they each consented to the entry of a final judgment enjoining them from violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and permanently barring them from serving as an officer or director of a public company. Howard also agreed to be permanently enjoined from violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Rule 13b2-1, and aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(a) and 13(b)(2)(A) and (B) of the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Rules 12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13. These settlement agreements are subject to court approval. Separately, Howard also consented to the entry of an Administrative Order, pursuant to Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, suspending him from appearing or practicing before the Commission as an accountant.

In the related criminal proceedings, the Department of Justice previously entered into plea agreements with Shelby and Howard on related charges. Shelby and Howard agreed to respectively forfeit $2,568,750 and $25,000 that, along with the Commission's civil penalties announced today, will contribute $3,658,750 for the benefit of injured investors through the Commission's Enron Fair Fund. Yeager was acquitted in a related criminal proceeding.

As alleged in the Commission's complaint, Shelby, Yeager and other EBS executives engaged in a fraudulent scheme to, among other things, make false or misleading statements about the technological prospects, performance, and financial condition of EBS. These statements were made at Enron's annual analyst conference and in multiple press releases during 2000. While aware of material non-public information concerning the true nature of EBS' technological and commercial condition, Shelby and Yeager sold a large amount of Enron stock at inflated prices. In another part of the scheme, Howard engaged in a sham transaction, known as "Project Braveheart," in which Enron improperly recognized $53 million in earnings in the fourth quarter of 2000 and $58 million in earnings in the first quarter of 2001.

The Commission also announced today that it filed notices of voluntary dismissal of its case against Krautz, along with its case against Schuyler M. Tilney and Thomas W. Davis, two former Merrill Lynch executives who were charged on March 17, 2003 with aiding and abetting Enron’s securities fraud. Krautz was acquitted at trial in a related criminal proceeding.

U.S.-ALBANIA RELATIONS

Map:  Albania.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

U.S. Relations With Albania
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Fact Sheet
December 20, 2012


The United States established diplomatic relations with Albania in 1922, following its 1912 independence from the Ottoman Empire. U.S.-Albanian diplomatic relations were ended in 1939 due to Albania's occupation by Italy (1939-43) and Germany (1943-44) during World War II. After the war, Albania saw 40 years of isolation and underdevelopment under its Stalinist leader, who died in 1985. With the 1991 fall of communism, the Albanian Government sought closer ties with the West in order to improve economic conditions and introduced basic democratic reforms. Diplomatic relations between the United States and Albania were reestablished in 1991.

The United States has been a strong partner and friend to Albania as it has made progress to consolidate democracy, to open up its economy, and to provide opportunity for all its people. Albania and the United States have signed and ratified a number of agreements, including a treaty on the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the promotion of defense and military relations; the Adriatic Charter on Euro-Atlantic integration; and an agreement regarding the non-surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court. The United States supports Albania's European Union membership goal, as it did Albania's pursuit of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership.

Albania has contributed to regional and global security. Albanians credit the 1999 NATO intervention against the then-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with saving thousands of Kosovo Albanians, and supported United Nations mediation efforts in Kosovo. Albania has supported the U.S. policy of expanding the number of countries extending diplomatic recognition to Kosovo. Within the Adriatic Charter, Albania has acted as a mentor to new NATO aspirants. It has provided military troops for U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and has supported U.S. counterterrorism efforts by freezing terrorist assets, shutting down non-governmental organizations with possible links to terrorist financing, and expelling extremists.

Locator Map:  Albania.  From:  CIA World Factbook.

U.S. Assistance to Albania

U.S. Government assistance aims to help Albania strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law; promote sustainable, broad-based economic growth; and integrate the country into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Trade with the United States accounts for an insignificant part of Albania's trade volume, focusing on a narrow range of goods and products. Major imports from the U.S. include food (mainly meat), transportation equipment (vehicles), machinery, and computer and electronic equipment, while the main exports to the United States are agricultural products, footwear, and textiles. Albania is eligible to export certain products duty-free to the United States under the Generalized System of Preferences program. The United States and Albania have signed a bilateral investment treaty.

Albania's Membership in International Organizations

Albania and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Albania also is an observer to the Organization of American States.

Seventy percent of the surface of Albania is covered by the mountains of the Dinaric and Pindus Alps. The 1,230-meter tall Mount Dajti of the Dinaric range overlooks Tirana.  From:  CIA World Factbook.

　
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997; however, there have been claims of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-Communist elections. The 2009 general elections resulted in a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure.

NORAD PROVIDES SANTA TRACKING APPS

Credit:  Wikimedia.

FROM: NORAD

NORAD Provides Website, Apps to Track Santa
From a North American Aerospace Defense Command News Release

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Dec. 3, 2012 - Children of all ages will be able to track Santa Claus on his annual journey, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The "NORAD Tracks Santa" website at http://www.noradsanta.org is up and running. The site features a holiday countdown, games and daily activities, video messages from students around the world and more, officials said, and it is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese.

Official apps also are available in the Windows Store, Apple Store, and Google Play so parents and children can count down the days until Santa's launch on their smartphones and tablets. Tracking opportunities also offered on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus. Santa followers just need to type "@noradsanta" into each search engine to get started.

Starting at midnight Mountain Standard Time on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa make the preparations for his flight. Then, at 4 a.m. Mountain time, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa's whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.

NORAD's "Santa Cams" also will stream videos as Santa makes his way over various locations.

NORAD Tracks Santa is possible, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors, officials said. New to this year's program are Bing, HP, iLink-Systems, Kids.gov, Microsoft's Windows Azure, BeMerry! Santa, and SiriusXM. Returning collaborators include the 21st Space Wing, Acuity Scheduling, Air Canada, American Forces Network, Analytical Graphics Inc., Avaya, Citadel Mall, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council, CradlePoint, Defense Video Imagery Distribution System, the Federal Aviation Administration, First Choice Awards and Gifts, Globelink Foreign Language Center, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Meshbox, the National Tree Lighting Ceremony, Naturally Santa's, the Newseum, OnStar, PCI Broadband, the Pentagon Channel, RadiantBlue, Space Foundation, TurboSquid, twtelecom, UGroup Media, Verizon and VisionBox.

Santa's Countdown Calendar and the Santa Cam videos will feature music by military bands, including the Naden Band of the Maritime Forces Pacific, the Air Force Academy Band, the Air Force Band of Liberty, the Air Force Band of the Golden West, the Air Force Band of the West, the Air Force Band, the Air Force Heartland of America Band, the U.S. Army Ground Forces Band, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band, the Air Force Band of Mid-America, and the West Point Band.

It all started in 1955, when a local media advertisement directed children to call Santa direct – but the number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center. NORAD has carried the tradition on since the command was created in 1958.

THE COUNTER-DRUG MISSION OF THE U.S. MILITARY

 

U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Navy Boat Team Practices Counter-drug Mission
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., Dec. 21, 2012 - As waves tossed the two small assault boats around the sailors aboard were on watch for movement on the water as their vessels made their way to the insertion point.

Cold water splashed over the boats' gunnels but the sailors didn't deviate from their course. They stood ready to deploy into the wet marshlands, where intelligence informed them of the location of a small weapons cache.

Their mission was to quietly insert, recover the cache and get out undetected. Navy Riverine Squadron 2, Detachment 22 accomplished its mission. The ground team recovered three rifles buried under some dead shrubs and sticks and they moved back to the boats for extraction.

Although this was just a training scenario, this is a situation these sailors might face while conducting anti-drug operations in South America, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dwayne Brown, an operations specialist with the team.

The boat team recently conducted several training exercises on the waterways surrounding Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic and Cherry Point during their trip here from Little Creek, Va.

"The land and waterways around this area are similar to what we will be seeing on deployment," Brown said. "That is the reason for choosing this location. We can give these sailors real-life training with real-world similarities to the locations we will see in South America."

MCOLF Atlantic provides the sailors with a quiet, austere location for their training. They constructed shelters and tents, and there is very little to no cell phone reception, putting the sailors in a state of seclusion.

"We want them to get used to this type of place," Brown said. "That way it will not be a shock to them while on deployment."

During the training, the sailors found themselves dealing with different weather patterns including freezing winds and sharp, stinging rain.

"A lot of the weather patterns we deal with make the waters rough and choppy," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Oyler, an engineer and gunner for the squadron. "We have to be prepared for any type of scenario. We have to be on alert for enemy contact, weather, and even water depth."

The team fought the cold water and high winds and successfully concluded their training.

"Anytime we can come out and get some great training on the water is a great step towards mission accomplishment," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dave Cearley, the executive officer of Riverine Squadron 2.