Friday, November 09, 2007

Eskimos, Treasure Island and LAPD

Editor's Note: Two of the authors are former servicemembers.

November 9, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists nearly 800 state and local
police officers who have written books.

Jim Rowell was drafted into the United States Army in 1968. After Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training he was deployed to Vietnam. According to Jim Rowell, “I landed in Vietnam on a bright yellow and red Brannif jet airplane on July 21, 1968. My first impression? The 120 degree heat that knocked me off my feet and a song playing in the background on a loudspeaker”

After his
military service, Jim Rowell commenced a 28 year law enforcement career with the DeKalb County Police Department (Georgia). Suffering a heart attack in 1999, Jim Rowell retired from the DeKalb County Police Department Homicide Unit as a police captain. Throughout his law enforcement career, Jim Rowell served in uniform and as a detective in burglary, youth, sex crimes and homicide.

After retiring,
Jim Rowell renewed his efforts to publish a manuscript he had written ten years before for his two children. Calling his story Granny and the Eskimo; Angels in Vietnam; which “describes his journey through life from youth to Vietnam where he experienced what can only be described as a paranormal event involving his mother and grandmother the day he was wounded in an ambush. He also tells the reader about his friendship with his mentor on the battlefield, the Eskimo. It was the Eskimo's untimely death on a cold winter night in Anchorage, Alaska that prompted Jim to write his story.”

In 1973,
Larry Powalisz joined the Milwaukee Police Department’s police aide program, and, after a two year internship, was promoted to police officer, graduating from the City of Milwaukee Safety Academy in February 1976. During his tenure as a police officer, Larry patrolled one of Milwaukee’s busiest districts. He was later selected to become a member of the department’s Tactical Enforcement Unit—the full-time special weapons and tactics unit. He also served on the department’s Robbery Task Force.

In 1994,
Larry Powalisz was promoted to the rank of detective, where he investigated robberies, shootings, and other violent criminal offenses. He was also assigned to the Milwaukee PD’s nationally recognized Gang Crimes Unit/Intelligence Division. In addition, Larry also served as a military special agent, where he recently completed 20 years of service in the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

In an effort to create a positive set of values for our nation’s next generation of impressionable young people, Larry put pen to paper and created this book, The Island Treasure Hunt, featuring two very likeable characters who find themselves faced with an ethical dilemma. The message conveyed by The Island Treasure Hunt is that good deeds do not go unnoticed. It’s a positive message today’s young people will hopefully realize.

Louis Jackson is a former Los Angeles Police Department police officer and the author of Raw in Blue. According to the book description of Raw in Blue, “A six year veteran on the force is subjected to all the ups and downs that a day in a cop's life entails: family disputes, robberies, gangs, and the like. Suddenly his life changes in a matter of moments. Intrigued by a beautiful TV star, he wanders into an unforeseen set of circumstances involving other cops, drugs, and his life. Things get worse as one of his best friends turns out to be smack in the middle of a possible way out unscathed. A gun battle to the death is the only answer for some. Romance and a daring plan unfolds and ends at a beautiful resort. Death and survival are the order of the day.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 798 police officers (representing 360 police departments) and their 1706
law enforcement books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

China's Expansion into and U.S. Withdrawal from Argentina's Telecommunications and Space Industries and the Implications for U.S. National Security

Chinese involvement in the Latin American telecommunications and space industries has implications for U.S. national security. Unlike other commercial activities geared toward supplying raw materials to China’s 1.3 billion inhabitants, Chinese investment in space and telecommunications implies broader commercial and strategic interests that potentially put the Chinese into Western Hemisphere air and space. At present, Chinese activity in these industries is growing as U.S. engagement is diminishing. Globalization, advances in information technology, and China’s growing capacity and interest in Information Warfare make the United States particularly vulnerable should it abandon international telecommunications and space industries. In order to mitigate future threats, the United States should step up its commerce, aid. and diplomacy with Argentina and the region as a whole.

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=806

The Eastern Dimension of America's New European Allies

Without a realistic prospect for NATO and EU accession, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia will become sources of domestic and regional instability and objects of Russia’s neo-imperialist ambitions that will undermine American and European strategic interests. The new members of NATO and the EU have sought to develop credible policies for consolidating democratic reforms among their eastern neighbors, enhancing their prospects for inclusion in NATO and the EU, and containing a resurgent and assertive Russia. The new European democracies have also endeavored to more closely involve Washington in the process of Euro-Atlantic enlargement as a more effective Eastern Dimension jointly pursued by the U.S., NATO, and the EU would significantly consolidate trans-Atlantic security.

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=813

The United States and ASEAN-China Relations: All Quiet on the Southeast Asian Front

While the overall security situation in Southeast Asia is something of a mixed bag, with grounds for both optimism and pessimism, one of the most encouraging trends in recent years has been the development of ASEAN’s relations with major external powers. Relations between China and ASEAN in particular have demonstrated a marked improvement over the past decade, thanks to a combination of burgeoning economic ties, perceptions of China as a more constructive and responsible player in regional politics, and Beijing’s "charm offensive" toward Southeast Asia. Overall, the development of ASEAN-China relations poses few security challenges to the United States today: good relations between China and ASEAN enhance regional stability, and a stable Southeast Asia is clearly in America’s interests, especially with Washington focused on events in the Middle East. However, although ASEAN-China relations are very positive, this does not necessarily mean the United States is losing influence in Southeast Asia, or that ASEAN members are "bandwagoning" with China--in fact, they are hedging by keeping America engaged and facilitating a continued U.S. military presence. While ASEAN-China relations are relatively benign today, in the future several sources of potential friction could create problems in Sino-U.S. relations: these are Taiwan, Burma, and the South China Sea dispute. This monograph examines each of these scenarios in turn.

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http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=812

JCOC: Conference Participant Would Recommend Service to Own Children

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - If there is a decrease in support from community influencers due to the
war on terror, Craig Billingsley hasn't noticed. The vice president of Billingsley Holding Corp. in Lawton, Okla., is part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, which landed here today on its fourth day of a week-long tour of the military forces in U.S. Pacific Command.

He said support for
military service is strong among his peers in the small southwestern town that is home to the Army's Fort Sill, the home of field artillery.

"Obviously, what you seen in the general media may lead one to believe that some people, influencers, have lost patience with the war. Personally I don't see that. I haven't seen that with my contemporaries," he said.

Billingsley's father served stateside during the
Korean War, but other than that, he has no other family in the military.

He moved to Lawton in January 1997 when his family bought a car dealership there. Since then, he has become involved in the military co-op program at Fort Sill and has gotten to know soldiers at all levels, from privates to the commanding general.

He was so impressed with the caliber of soldiers that he met he wanted to learn more about the
military, Billingsley said. "I find it exciting. I find it very, very interesting to see and talk to and interact with our military personnel," he said.

That led to his interest in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. Billingsley said he wanted to expand his knowledge of the military, especially in the other branches of service.

"I've been fortunate that I've been able to spend time with a lot of
Army personnel. What I've enjoyed most of this is (seeing) the other branches of service, being able to meet the sailors and the airmen. I've had very little exposure to those services. It's very eye-opening," he said.

His first surprise on the trip was the expansive military operations in Guam.

"Two weeks ago I probably didn't even think about Guam or that we had such a presence there through the
Air Force and the Navy," he said.

Talking to servicemembers here has brought home the sacrifices that they make, no matter where they are deployed, Billingsley said.

"It's one thing when you see the folks at Fort Sill and you know they are deployed and you see what hardships that puts on their families back home. But until you go to where they are serving overseas, you don't really understand what that means until you're here," he said. "That probably brings it home more, to see the sacrifices firsthand that they make. But they do it gladly. It's amazing, their attitude. They ask nothing for it. They do it because they want to serve their country, and they do it proudly, and they do it of their own free will."

A true child of the 1960s, Billingsley said he was not always so impressed by
military service. In fact, he said, a decade ago he would not have recommended military service. Only since his time spent with soldiers at Fort Sill, and now his JCOC experience, has his opinion of military service been swayed. Now, Billingsley said he would even recommend it to his own children.

"If one of my children wanted to join any one of the services, I would not only recommend it, it would make me proud," he said. "To think that your son or daughter would be serving with the caliber of people that I personally have been able to experience, I can't imagine anything but good coming out of that."

Face of Defense: Former Sergeant Major of the Army Still Serves

By Beth Reece
Special to American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - Jack L. Tilley left the
Army twice -- first after a tour in Vietnam, then again in 2004. But he still thinks he's a soldier. “You can't just all of a sudden say, 'I quit.' You can't get it out of your heart," the former sergeant major of the Army said.

Tilley retired as the
Army's senior enlisted soldier in January 2004 after 35 years of service. He championed pay raises, saw the fielding of the black beret, and comforted soldiers and families after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon.

Still a man of action three years into retirement, he is the senior enlisted advisor to the sergeant major of the Afghan National Army and serves on the
U.S. Army's retirement board and the secretary of veterans affairs' special advisory committee for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Tilley also supports soldiers through the American Freedom Foundation, which is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that spotlights Americans' support of servicemembers.

Seeing the pain and startling motivation of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here moved Tilley to create the American Freedom Foundation, which raises money and awareness for veterans organizations helping soldiers wounded in the war on terror.

"I went to the hospital and talked to veterans, talked to wounded warriors, and it absolutely broke my heart," he said. "But it's sad for me, not them. They're all motivated and pumped up; they want to do things and get on with their lives."

Tilley gives motivational speeches and classes on
team building and leader-development, focusing on something he said soldiers often take for granted. "The civilian sector needs people with a lot of leadership experience. You look at a guy like me, ... I came into the service at age 17 and went straight to Vietnam. I've been a battalion, brigade and division sergeant major, moved a lot of troops and trained troops," he said. "The civilian sector needs our knowledge and expertise."

Without discounting the value of formal education, Tilley maintains that experience turns soldiers into leaders. "The way to be a good leader is to be a leader. From what I've seen, development comes with time," he said.

During a recent presentation in Pennsylvania, Tilley spoke about things that have touched his life: war, family separation, God, and the fact that America has seen about 3,800 soldiers killed and 27,000 wounded in the war on
terrorism.

"Then I got them to close their eyes and listen to a song from Lonestar, called 'Message from Home.' Everybody cried," he said. "My point to them was that we need to not just talk about things. Don't just talk about taking care of soldiers. Take care of them; show them your support," he said.

Tilley said he's deeply concerned about
post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injuries plaguing today's combat veterans. "I don't think we really know the damage we've done to the Army, and I don't think we'll know for years," he said. "But the Army will get through it."

He also said he's a fan of the
Army's current focus on families. "Families are taking so much stress right now. I think our country needs to be more aware of the things they're sacrificing for us. ... My spouse was just as much a soldier as I was."

When Tilley left the Army after
Vietnam and began work at a paneling factory, he still felt drawn to the military. He couldn't drive by a recruiting station without going in just to talk. And while in Seattle, he visited Fort Lewis just to watch soldiers train. "I got out of the Army, but the Army was still in me," he said.

Eventually a recruiter called Tilley to say he had one week left to rejoin and retain his rank of staff sergeant. "The next morning I was down there signing up," he said.

Tilley said he credits dumb luck for his selection as the 12th sergeant major of the
Army. "You look at guys like SMA (Richard) Kidd and SMA (Robert) Hall, ... they were my idols. To say I was as good as they were, that was a big step," he said.

(Beth Reece works for the Soldiers Media Center.)

Soldier Missing in Action from the Korean War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Cpl. Clem R. Boody,
U.S. Army, of Independence, Iowa. His burial date and location are being set by his family.

Representatives from the
Army met with Boody's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

In November 1950, Boody was assigned to Headquarters Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel's Head. On Nov. 1, parts of two Chinese Communist Divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division's lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. Boody was reported missing on Nov. 2, 1950 and was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.

In April 2007, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (D.P.R.K.), acting through the intermediary of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, repatriated to the United States six boxes of human remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers. The D.P.R.K. reported that the remains were excavated in November 2006 near Unsan in North Pyongan Province.

Among other
forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of Boody's remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

Reconstruction Team Begins $1.7 Million Bridge

By Gina Gillespie
Special to American Forces Press Service

Afghanistan, Nov. 9, 2007 - Construction is under way for a $1.7 million bridge across the Farah Rud River in Tojg. The project, funded by the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team, will employ several hundred local people for two years. The project will benefit not only the 10,000 residents of Tojg, but also people from the districts of Shib Koh, Qalay Ka, Lashe Jowain and Farah City.

In summer, the Farah Rud River meanders lazily through the desert rocks. But during the rainy season, the water levels rise up to 30 feet, spilling out of the channel and flooding the nearby plains.

The Farah Rud bisects the lower half of the province from north to south. It separates the people in the village of Tojg, from the main road and their farmlands. The nearest crossing is several hours away, in Farah City. Eight to 10 people drown annually attempting to cross the river.

The massive masonry and reinforced-concrete bridge will span 900 feet and rise 36 feet over the center span. The bridge foundation will include two semicircular abutments, including headwalls, one central pier and 15 minor piers, all keyed into the bedrock. The bridge superstructure will include two large masonry abutments, one masonry arch span and one central span. The bridge will support two lanes of traffic and two pedestrian lanes.

"If you live in Lashe Jowain and you want to cross the river to go see fields on the other bank of the river, then you have to drive all the way to Farah, a nine- or 10-hour drive, cross the river at Boghi Pol Bridge in Farah City, then come all the way back down," said
Navy Lt. j.g. Stephen Ramsey, an engineer with PRT Farah.

For the three or four months of the annual rainy season, villagers cannot reach facilities and resources on the other side of the river without making the drive to Farah City. "If anyone needs medical care during the winter months, there's almost zero chance of getting across without traveling all the way to Farah City," said
Army Maj. Harry Lorenzi, Civil Affairs Team chief with PRT Farah. "You're defeating the purpose of having schools and clinics there if the people can't get 100 feet across the river."

Due to the size and duration of the project, several local contractors joined forces to create a joint-venture company, pooling resources, equipment and manpower for the bridge construction. "This is the first time this has happened," Ramsey said. "It is a good way of building up one's business. The project is bigger than any one of them could support."

Haji Juma Khan owns the Bradaran Noori Construction Co., one of the companies in the joint venture. He agreed the joint venture is a good idea. "This joint construction company has the ability to do any kind of project. We prefer five companies working together," he said. "One hand clapping makes no sound."

By reducing travel time to the city center, this link will enhance economic activity, improve Afghan National
Army and Afghan National Police response times, and improve access to social services. The link also will extend the reach of the central government, allowing officials to conduct more frequent assessments of the outer districts.

"This project is right up there with some of the major projects we have done in Afghanistan," Ramsey said. "It's part of the foundation infrastructure, roads and bridges and dams, heavy infrastructure that allows transportation and goods and services to flow. Projects like this are critical for the functioning of the economy."

Why We Serve: Army Sergeant Brings Positive Message to Public

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - Serving in the
military was something Jose Munoz always wanted to do, but it wasn't until after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that he was spurred to enlist and fulfill that dream. Munoz, now a sergeant with five and a half years in the Army, said a lack of maturity stopped him from following through on his plan to join the Army after high school in 1999. However, when the Sept. 11 attacks happened, "I said to myself, 'Well, I can do this now,'" he said.

Munoz, who is originally from Mexico but moved to
Texas when he was 10, is stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and has deployed to Iraq twice. On his most recent deployment, he escorted and supplied security to logistics convoys. Although the convoys were hit several times by improvised explosive devices, his unit was able to cover nearly a million miles in the middle and southern portion of Iraq.

Munoz is one of 10 servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to tell the
military's story to the American people at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.

Munoz participated in his first Why We Serve speaking engagement Oct. 25 in Pittsburgh. He said it was a positive experience and the audience had a lot of questions. "It's pretty much just going out there and sharing with them my experiences overseas and my experience here," Munoz said of the program. "I'm not trying to recruit (anyone); that's not part of this. I just go out there and share my experience."

The American people don't often see positive stories about the
war on terror or the military in the media, Munoz said, so his goal is to let people see a different angle of the military and those who serve.

In May, Munoz received his United States citizenship. While he said it was a big event for him, it didn't constitute a big change. "Since I joined the
military, I always felt like I was part of the U.S.," he said.

Why We Serve began in fall 2006 and was originally the idea of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. Munoz and the other nine servicemembers in his group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.

Defense Leaders Honor Troops' Service, Sacrifice

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - This weekend Americans will celebrate the service and sacrifice of tens of millions of citizens who have donned a
military uniform for their country, the top two defense leaders said in their Veterans Day messages to the troops. "We owe each and every one of them a debt of gratitude," said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. "Today, volunteers are once again deployed on distant battlefields against those who would terrorize and intimidate the civilized world."

Veterans Day was originally created to commemorate the ending of
World War I. "We now set aside Nov. 11 to pay tribute to Americans who have fought and sacrificed not only in that conflict, but in every other, past and present," the secretary said.

"It is right that we set aside a day for those who have borne the burden of defending our country," said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen. "It is right that we recognize their sacrifice.

"But so, too, does Veterans Day remind us of the power of service, of giving oneself over to a cause – a purpose – far greater than the individual," Mullen said.

Gates said he takes the Defense Department's obligation to improve the treatment and benefits of those servicemembers who have sacrificed very seriously. He said the department is making significant changes to the current system to include the revision of the disability evaluation system and the assignment of recovery coordinators to manage the care of injured troops and they integrate into civilian life.

"Those rebuilding their lives after being injured in defense of their country must have excellent care from the time they leave the theater of battle through their return to civilian life," Gates said.

"To them, and to all American veterans, we celebrate your selflessness," the secretary said. "We honor you for putting your lives at risk to make our nation safer and bring about a more peaceful world."

Mullen, who recently visited servicemembers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and South Korea, said he knows troops are focused and proud of the difference they are making. "They do it not for the glory, but for each other, their families and their country," he said.

"To all our veterans – past and present – and your families, thank you for your service," the chairman said. "Thank you for making and keeping that promise. We are proud of you."

JCOC: Conference Participants Have Mixed Success on Flight Simulators

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - From the pilot's seat of a KC-130 air refueler, Mark Brainard carefully guided the craft over the ocean to the landing strip on the coast as his co-pilot coached him. "Pretty good," the co-pilot said of Brainard's approach. "Start grounding out, pulling back towards you a little bit."

Brainard, chief of staff for the governor of
Delaware, is part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, which landed here today on its fourth day of a week-long tour of military forces in U.S. Pacific Command.

As Brainard followed the co-pilot's guidance, an electronic voice reported the altitude -- 100, 50, 30 ... "All right, just hold that," his coach said.

That's when it all went wrong. Brainard dove too quickly, and if he had been flying a real plane, it would have been one rough landing.

"Woo hoo," his would-be passengers exclaimed from behind, and laughter broke out in the flight simulator. "Oh, oh, there went my lunch," one said.

"You shouldn't be yelling at the pilot like that," Brainard said and laughed as he slid from the seat. "You made me bounce in."

"That was actually a pretty good approach," the trainer pilot said.

"Everything was great until that sloppy end," Brainard said.

"I didn't say landing, I said approach," the trainer said and there was more laughter.

In addition to the refueler simulator, the participants seated themselves into the "cockpit" of an F-15 Eagle
tactical fighter. Most met with similar success, crashing and burning as they attempted to fly the highly technical craft. Others were able to pull off barrel roles and lived to tell the story. But, they took it all in stride and exited the multi-million dollar simulators with a lot of laughter and another vivid reinforcement of the skills of the servicemembers they have met throughout their stops in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and now Japan.

"I think everyone here knows in their own mind the sacrifice that the men and women provide for the country all over the world, but here we put a name and a face and so many human touches to understanding what's happening all over the globe," Brainard said. "This is just a little bit more of an exciting way to do that. This is an experiential way for us to understand what people are doing -- the expertise and professionalism and dedication and conscientious training that every single one of the men and women that we've met puts in their job every day."

Before the stop at the simulators, the group met with members of 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, and saw firsthand the Army's
technology behind shooting enemy missiles from the sky. Afterward, they sat in the grass and shared some field rations -- meals, ready to eat -- with the troops.

Some found opening the packages and preparing their lunch as confusing as they later did the simulators. Tony May, senior vice president and partner of Triad Strategies, in Harrisburg, Pa., said getting to his meal was a little difficult, despite what is supposed to be easy-open rip marks on the packages. "I can see why it is vermin proof. And you want to carry your Swiss army knife," he said.

Reviews of the meals were varied, but it was obvious that is was not the usual fare for this group of doctors, lawyers, educators and
business leaders.

Brainard had the beef enchilada with refried beans and a molasses cookie. "I gave the candy to the kid who opened it up and heated it up for me, because I didn't know what the heck I was doing," he said.

May was more impressed with the
Army's version of chili and macaroni. "I know for a fact that it tastes better than the ... canned version. The oatmeal cookie was as good as you can find in a supermarket," May said. "I can see why people find it a little odd, but it seems to be a good solution for the situation of being in the field."

Throughout the day, the group added more facts and figures on operational capabilities to their growing cache of military knowledge. They also met more troops and thanked each of them for their service. Some participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference have experience with particular branches of the
military, but as they make their way through this trip, exposure to different branches, locations and capabilities rounds out and broadens their understanding of the Defense Department as a whole.
Brainard said this trip has been an opportunity for him to learn about the sacrifices of the many who serve in his state.

"My job back home is going 80 miles an hour on a number of different things, and very rarely do I have an opportunity to take a breath and learn and get a better understanding," he said. "With so many of our men and women in the
Delaware Air and Army National Guard deployed all over the globe, it's a great way to learn not only what they're doing but what all the servicemen and women are doing around the world."

Brainard said he will take back "a real personal understanding" of the level of commitment that servicemembers bring to their jobs. "It's an unbelievable commitment and level of professionalism and dedication and a real love of country that they bring," he said. "Before we all left our hometowns we knew that, but until you see it and until you meet these folks, it's an extra level of learning that you wouldn't get back home."

May said he has been equally impressed with all of the services and said the level of discipline has impressed him most. "In general, most people say
Marines are the toughest guys, and then you meet Marines, you meet guys who are in the Army, and you meet guys who are in the Coast Guard. They are all disciplined, and I'm impressed with the level of discipline and skill that everybody displayed. I'm impressed with their apparent readiness for a lot of conditions that I wouldn't have guessed were going to exist," May said.

"It's reassuring for the public to know that the
Army and the other services all seem to be doing a great job," he said.
JCOC: Memorial Brings Home Sacrifice for Civilian Visitors
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 8, 2007 - Robert Perkowitz stepped up seven concrete stairs to a towering memorial and placed a flowered wreath at its base. In his pocket was a
military coin given to him by a Special Forces buddy in the hospital recovering from a gun battle in Afghanistan.

In his heart swelled a deep appreciation for his friend's service and the sacrifices of the nearly 17,000 dead American servicemembers whose graves are marked by white cross headstones dotting the 152-acre Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

"I felt like I owe something back to all these people who have done so much for us who just benefit from what they've done," Perkowitz said.

The executive from Charlotte, N.C., is part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference. The group flew to the capital city of the Philippines today on the third stop of a week-long expedition through U.S. Pacific Command. The JCOC is a defense secretary-sponsored program for influential civilian business and civic
leaders who want to broaden their knowledge of the military and national defense.

The group was briefed on U.S. operations in the country at the embassy and lunched with members of the Philippine
navy. Afterward, they were treated to an exhibition of the navy's terrorist-interdiction skills. The final stop this afternoon was at the memorial honoring servicemembers buried there. It was a sobering end to what has been to this point a wide-eyed and exciting tour of military might in the Pacific. More than 16,600 U.S. military members are buried here, along with 570 Philippine nationals who served with the U.S. forces. Most died defending the Philippines during World War II.

Perkowitz called his desire to honor those who have fought and died a "profound and internal thing."

"When Tom (his friend) got shot up, it just brought it all home to me personally. The war in Afghanistan is kind of abstract and remote. We don't really feel it. We don't really notice it," he said.

Perkowitz said his father served in the
Korean War and he had friends who served in Vietnam and Desert Storm. But it was the near death of his friend and the finality of those who gave their lives buried here that compels him to somehow give something back.

"Everybody I know has always come back. And you come here, and there are people from every state, ... every walk of life. We all have something in common with them; we're all Americans. But they all died. And in America there's not really any sacrifice that we're giving," he said.

Joining Perkowitz in the wreath-laying were three other Joint Civilian Orientation Conference participants. It was a simple but somber occasion that brought home for many in the group the reality of the ultimate sacrifice that the young servicemembers they have met along the trip may one day face.

Joan Weiner, a professor of management at Drexel University, in Philadelphia, said her participation was a mark of respect for those who died.

As she helped lay the wreath at the memorial, Weiner was thinking of her husband's buddies who died in
World War II. Weiner's husband, Gil, died in February. He flew B-24 bombers in Europe during the war. Her husband never talked a lot about the war, but did share some stories about his buddies who didn't come home, Weiner said.

"I was thinking of them and some of the names he talked about and how they died," she said.

"And thinking that this could have easily been the place where their final resting place was. This could easily have been the place were he died. And how do we work, ... how do we learn, how do we teach, what do we do to make a difference in not having it continue to happen?" Weiner said.

For Weiner, the memorial pulled together the meaning of everything the group had seen on their tour of
military bases and in their meetings with servicemembers up to this point.

"It's all very good. It's all really good stuff to keep us safe, to deal with things, but the consequences of not being successful are right here. It pulled it together," she said.

Paul Dimitruk, the chief executive of a Los Angeles corporation, has three sons serving in the
military. One, a Marine helicopter pilot, returned from Iraq on Nov. 4. By participating in the ceremony, Dimitruk wanted to honor not only those who died, but also the sacrifices of his sons' generation, he said.

"You have to recognize when you see places like this that when your children go to war, they are in harm's way. They may not come back. You may get what our fathers' generation ... called 'the knock at the door,'" Dimitruk said. "That's the same sacrifice parents are facing today when their sons and daughters go to war. So, yes, it does bring it home. But we have to honor both generations, : those who served in this Great War --
World War II -- and those who are serving now, for really the same purpose, the same cause, and the same values.

"There's real continuity in the values between 'the Greatest Generation' and our children today who are serving," Dimitruk said.

Denis Bilodeau, a city council member in Orange, Calif., has no direct ties to the
military. But, he said he still felt compelled to show his respect for those who served.

"I felt it was the utmost sign of respect for all the servicemen that are interred here. And I just thought it would be a special thing to do," he said. "It is just sort of overwhelming when you see the sacrifices that these servicemen and women made in the '40s for our freedoms."

Bilodeau said he feels many in the United States take for granted the country's freedoms earned by the blood of those who died to preserve them.

"To come here and see the sacrifices made by all these people -- it's just humbling and overwhelming to see all the people that sacrificed their lives for us," he said.

Bilodeau agreed that the memorial visit helped frame the service of those he has met on the trip in context with the overall importance of U.S.
military support in the region.

"I think it puts it all in perspective in terms of why the
United States military is here and why it should be here and here to stay for the long term," he said. "There were a lot of sacrifices made to liberate these islands, and I think it's important that we maintain democracy here so the sacrifices won't have to be made again."

Gates, Ishiba Discuss Future of Japanese-American Alliance

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 8, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba met here today to discuss the Japanese-American alliance and broader aspects of the Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty between the United States and Japan. Japan is the last stop in a six-day trip for the secretary that also included visits to China and South Korea. Before arriving at the Defense Ministry, Gates met with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

While the meeting at the Defense Ministry lasted just over an hour, the men were able to cover a large bit of ground. Even though the current Japanese government has been in office just over a month, the men running it are among the original architects of the transformation of the Japanese-American alliance, a senior defense official traveling with Gates said on background.

Gates and Ishiba spoke about regional defense matters and global responsibilities. "We were able to discuss the future of the alliance," Ishiba said during a news conference following the meeting.

Both men noted they discussed missile defense cooperation, realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, and
military roles, missions and capabilities.

The men also discussed North Korea, as well as Japan's contributions to the
war on terror, including the mission in Afghanistan, Gates said.

"The United States and Japan have a complex security agenda, an agenda that is critically important to ensuring that our two militaries are able to achieve our common strategic objectives, within the bilateral alliance, regionally and on a global scale as well," Gates said.

Ishiba discussed Japanese support to Operation Enduring Freedom, specifically oil tanker support to coalition vessels in the Indian Ocean. The refueling support was cancelled when the Japanese Diet, the country's legislature, could not extend legislative authorization for the mission. "The supply activity leads into the Japanese national interest," Ishiba said through a translator. "It leads to the Japanese responsibility that we have to play in the international community."

The minister said the mission in the Indian Ocean, which provided around 7 percent of the fuel for coalition vessels participating in Operation Enduring Freedom – is not directly related to the obligations of the U.S.-Japan treaty. "Nevertheless, it is very important for the alliance relationship," he said. The government has introduced legislation to reauthorize the mission.

The United States is grateful for Japan's contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom, Gates said. "I think it's important to remember that this is not a bilateral matter between the United States and Japan, but Japan's contribution to a broad international coalition that is involved in trying to bring freedom and keep freedom in Afghanistan."

While the United States is grateful to Japan for the refueling mission, U.S. officials would like to see Japan take a role on the international stage commensurate with its "role as one of the world's greatest and wealthiest democracies," Gates said. "There are a number of international peacekeeping activities where we believe Japan could play a constructive role."

The U.S. position is that all countries that benefit from the international system take responsibility for defending it, a senior defense official said. "That's not peculiar to Japan, and we welcome very much what Japan has done," the official said.

In Afghanistan, Japan has contributed money for economic development, reconstruction assistance and demobilization of Afghan irregular security forces.

"Japan has contributed a lot, and we recognize that, and we look forward to it continuing," the official said. "The Japanese are not doing OEF for us. This is part of the global coalition for a lot of beneficiaries, and it's ultimately in Japan's national interests to do so."

In a question-and-answer session at the news conference, Japanese reporters asked Gates if the United States was considering
military action against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The secretary said U.S. leaders have stated that Iran is a diplomatic problem that will be addressed diplomatically and in concert with other nations.

Ishiba said other nations of the world must "walk in lockstep" with the United States to pressure Iran into changing its nuclear policy. "Countries should work in unison and play their prospective roles," Ishiba said. "This is the desired solution, and this is the roadmap for the peaceful solution to this issue."

Bush Visits Wounded in Texas, Salutes Their Courage

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 8, 2007 - President Bush today saluted wounded troops recovering at the Center for the Intrepid, in San Antonio, for their courage. "The spirit of America is strong in facilities like this," Bush told a group of servicemembers being treated at the center. "Our country is a remarkable country, that has produced men and women who volunteer to protect our nation in the face of danger."

"And, there's no better example of finding those type of citizens than right here," the president said.

Wounded servicemembers undergoing rehabilitation at the Intrepid Center and at other medical facilities have demonstrated "incredible courage, love of country and resolve, Bush emphasized.

It was the president's first visit to the state-of-the-art Intrepid Center, which opened Jan. 29. Located next to Brooke
Army Medical Center on Fort Sam Houston, the Intrepid Center provides rehabilitation services for servicemembers recovering from amputations, severe burns, blindness and head trauma.

Bush said he's thankful for "the instructors and preachers and volunteers who are helping these people get back on their feet" in the process of restarting their lives.

Construction of the $50 million center was funded by donations to the nonprofit Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Two new Fisher Houses that accommodate visiting family members are adjacent to the 65,000-square-foot rehabilitation center.

The center was funded entirely by the contributions of more than 600,000 Americans, Bush said.

"The center is a tribute to the generosity of the American people," Bush said. "Make no mistake about it, the American people support the men and women who wear our nation's uniform."

Servicemen and women undergoing treatment at the center "have borne the burdens of battle. They have kept our country safe," Bush said.

"We honor them and their families by helping them with all we can," the president said.

The center uses state-of-the-art medical
technology in taking care of injured servicemembers and to provide them the opportunity to lead full and productive lives, he said.

"That's the mission," Bush said, noting the center features a pool, indoor running track, a prosthesis center, a climbing wall, and equipment that's used to teach patients how to drive an automobile. Nearby Fisher House facilities provide onsite living accommodations for up to 57 visiting families, he said.

The Intrepid Center provides a level of medical care for wounded warriors "that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago," Bush said.

Servicemembers being treated at the Intrepid Center and at other veterans' care facilities "are focused on what they have left to give, rather on what they have lost," Bush said.

Yet, although
technology has advanced, the military's medical care system for wounded troops needs to be modernized, the president said.

"We have an outdated system that can bog down some of those recovering in a maze of bureaucracy," Bush said, adding that's what had happened at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center. The doctors, nurses and other trained personnel at Walter Reed are some of the best in the world, Bush stressed.

Nonetheless, patient-care mistakes reportedly caused by bureaucratic delays and administrative failures at Walter Reed are simply unacceptable, the president said.

"It's unacceptable to me as the commander in chief, it's unacceptable to the families who deserve the best care, and it's unacceptable to the American people," Bush said.

The presidential commission formed to study
military health care for wounded troops headed by retired Sen. Robert J. Dole and former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chief Donna E. Shalala has submitted its recommendations, Bush noted.

Bush said he supports the commission's recommendations "for modernizing and improving out system of care" for wounded warriors.

In the next several weeks the first federal recovery coordinators will be hired, Bush said, noting these trained specialists will guide seriously wounded servicemembers through their recuperation.

"We don't want people to fall through the cracks of care," Bush emphasized. "We don't want people to be confused by the system." It's also paramount that families are "comfortable with the care that their loved one is receiving," he said.

There's also a pilot program to replace the two current disability assessment exams, one by the Defense Department, the other by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with just one, Bush said. The purpose of switching to one comprehensive disability exam is "to analyze somebody to make sure that they get that what they're entitled to quickly and without confusion," Bush explained.

There's also ongoing work to aggressively prevent and treat
post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, the president reported, noting several technical experts have recently been hired. Hiring PTSD and TBI experts harnesses the best practices available to treat injured troops, Bush pointed out.

"The real purpose is to make sure that we help those coming out of combat to be able to adjust to real life as a civilian," Bush said. The Defense Department also is working to ensure that the best health care professionals remain on duty at Walter Reed until the movement to a new facility in Bethesda, Md.

Tomorrow, the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin two studies that will help provide information needed to modernize the veterans' disability care system.

Bush recalled running with
Army Staff Sgt. Christian Bagge on the South Lawn of the White House in June. Bagge, an Oregon National Guard soldier, had lost both of his legs near Kirkuk, Iraq, in June 2005. When Bush visited Bagge at Brooke Army Medical Center on New Year's Day 2006, the soldier said he wanted to run with the president some day.

Bush took Bagge up on his request. Thanks to his prosthetic running legs, Bagge was able to run with the president. The courage displayed by Bagge and other wounded warriors serves as inspiration to the American people, the president said.

"As the result of the courage of his heart, (Christian) came to run with the president at the White House," Bush said. "Plus, he outran me."

Laughter Proves Best Medicine at Benefit Event

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 8, 2007 - Laughter and song can be indispensible weapons for wounded servicemembers undergoing painful convalescence, as hope and anguish battle for primacy. Last night, A-listers such as comedians Conan O'Brien and Robin Williams and musician Bruce Springsteen helped some move closer to recovery. During "Stand Up for Heroes," a benefit organized by the Bob Woodruff Family Fund to raise money for injured servicemembers, hundreds of men and women in uniform shared the red carpet with celebrities at the Town Hall Theater here.

"This is not a political cause," Woodruff, joined onstage by his wife, Lee, told the audience. "Left, right, center, one side or the other, (however) you feel about this war, this is all about how we treat the wounded right here when they return. This is about giving back to those who have given so much for this country."

In January 2006, Woodruff became the first American news anchor wounded in a war zone after an improvised explosive device detonated near him in Iraq. He and his family created the fund to raise awareness about the hidden injuries of war -- traumatic brain injury and
post-traumatic stress disorder -- and to assist those injured in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The intimate event, a delicate blend of poignant music and sidesplitting laughs, began with the
Marine Corps Band performing "Amazing Grace" and "Taps." As the band performed a medley of the service branch fight songs, audience members in uniform were encouraged to stand when their branch's song played.

One servicemember who stood as the medley reached its final round was
Marine Lance Cpl. James Scott MacKenzie, who served as a rifleman attached to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, in Rawah, Iraq.

One month after arriving to theater, MacKenzie and his lieutenant were hit by two IEDs in a coordinated attack. MacKenzie's jaw was shattered, and he received shrapnel wounds in his left arm. His lieutenant lost both legs in the attack.

"It is a pleasure to be here and be able to feel supported," said MacKenzie, who now works as
Marine liaison at the hospital in Camp Lejeune, N.C. "Just to know that you have the support and you're loved by the others is amazing."

Last night's master of ceremonies, Conan O'Brien, was joined by crowd-favorite Robin Williams, political comedian Lewis Black and up-and-coming talent Brian Regan.

As O'Brien took the stage, he reminded the crowd, "I'm a comedian following 'Taps'!"

"Ladies and gentleman, tonight is about Bob Woodruff, traumatic brain injuries and soldiers in Iraq. Now if that's not a recipe for comedy, I don't know what is," he said as the audience burst into laughter. On the red carpet before the show, however, the comedian took on a serious tone while discussing the night's themes with American Forces Press Service.

"These people have given so much to our country," O'Brien said of servicemembers. "Any time you talk about it, it sounds like a platitude, because it's just so obvious. These are people who were horribly injured trying to serve our country, so we should do whatever we can for them, and we can't raise enough money."

Marine Cpl. Murtha, who twice deployed to Iraq as a machine gunner, was hit by an explosion in Fallujah and later in Ramadi. As a result of the blasts, Murtha suffers from memory loss and has some difficulty finding the right words to express himself, he said.

"It feels pretty good to see people here helping us out," he said. "It's really good to know that people back home back us up, so I feel pretty good about myself.

"I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the guys I was with," he added.

During a musical interlude, Bruce Springsteen, with harmonica and acoustic guitar readied, appeared onstage to perform three songs, including "Thunder Road" and the "Devil's Arcade," which he dedicated to veterans. Later, "The Boss" rolled his chrome and white 1991 Fatboy Harley Davidson motorcycle onstage for a live auction hosted by Sotheby's.

Against the auctioneer's plea, Springsteen gripped the custom handlebars and revved the engine, shaking Town Hall Theater. Minutes later, a bidder near the front row pledged $85,000 for the bike, with proceeds going toward the Bob Woodruff Family Fund.

Dave Woodruff, Bob's brother, said the Woodruff family felt the tremors of Bob's injury. "We dropped our work obligations; we made a lot of changes to our lives. It changed our lives completely," he said.

Dave said laughter played an instrumental role in Bob's recovery, especially after he returned home. To be sure, Lee Woodruff revealed some of the banter that helped her husband smile through the pain. "I'm the only wife who can say her husband has rocks in his head and actually mean it," she said.

"Thinking back on it," Dave said, "the first thing that really returned to him was his sense of humor. He started cracking jokes right out of the box, literally the day he woke up."

Woodruff said his family was impressed by the bond he saw among servicemembers.

"The guys we saw at Bethesda (National Naval Medical Center, in Maryland) who were so badly injured, the first thing they would say to us is, 'We want to go back to my unit.'" he said. "That just impressed us so much that we really fed off that, and I think that's a lot of why we want to help these guys."

After the show, scores of servicemembers, still smirking from memories of the performances, poured out of the theater.

"It was great!"
Navy Petty Officer Paul Kurtz said. "It was also great to have all these servicemembers together to honor the guys that are wounded. Everybody here supports them, the servicemembers, the entertainers and the civilians."

Gates Discusses Asian Security Challenges, Opportunities

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - The U.S. security shield in the Pacific has improved the lives of billions of people, and the United States will remain committed to the region even as the alliance that guarantees that security changes, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told students at Sophia University here today. Gates, ending a trip to East Asia, used the speech to list challenges facing peace in the region and to ask Japan to do more to lead both in the region and around the globe.

Japan and other Pacific nations must do more collectively to guarantee security and stability, the secretary said. The United States has good bilateral relationships with many nations in the region, said Gates, who arrived in Japan after visiting South Korea and China. "We are working with South Korea to establish a new vision and force posture that goes beyond the current security situation on the Peninsula and meets the future global needs of both nations," he said.

The U.S. alliance with Australia is growing and changing, he said. "A newer and welcome development is that Australia is taking a larger role in regional and global security affairs with their
leadership role in East Timor and their deployments in recent years to the Middle East and Central Asia," Gates said.

The U.S. relationship with India, the world's largest democracy, has morphed "from an uneasy co-existence during the Cold War to a growing partnership today," the secretary said.

The U.S.
military is not standing still in the region either. New American capabilities and improved military infrastructure are helping address new threats and placing capabilities where they will do the most good in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, the secretary said.

While bilateral ties with these countries are valuable, multilateral ties are better. Gates quoted U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer as saying Asia's security architecture reflected a "hub and spoke" model, with the U.S. as the hub and the spokes being the different countries. "The U.S. alliance system has been the cornerstone of peace and security in Asia for more than a generation," Gates said. "These alliances are enduring and indispensable. But we would like to see more engagement and cooperation among our allies and security partners, more multilateral ties rather than hubs and spokes."

He said the trilateral dialogue among the United States, Japan and Australia is a good start.

The region needs these ties because no one nation can overcome the threats by itself. "
Terrorism and violent extremism are a threat to the very fabric of international society, and Asia is not immune" Gates said.

As examples he cited the extremist group that launched a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995, al Qaeda-affiliated
terrorists bombing a nightspot in Bali in 2002, and Abu Sayyaf attacking targets in the Philippines. Indonesia has had running problems with extremist groups, as well. "The terrorists have learned to exploit the strengths of modern societies -- our technologies and infrastructure -- and, in the case of democracies, our freedoms and openness, as well," he said.

Playing a bigger role in security matters does not necessarily mean building huge armies, navies or air forces. Gates said the international strategy in the region should not be to build bigger and stronger shields, but to address root causes of instability. "Failed states halfway around the world can have serious implications at home," he said.

Instability in the Middle East, from which Japan imports 80 percent of its oil, would have a devastating effect on the world's second-largest economy, he said.

The proliferation of nuclear and missile
technology and the possibility that extremists may get their hands on nuclear material other major threats that instability nourishes. "The United States knows we cannot block the flow of these weapons on our own," Gates said, "which is why we work with partners to improve physical security, interdict shipping and employ sanctions when necessary." The Proliferation Security Initiative is showing results in Asia, the secretary said.

Responding to and alleviating the results of calamities like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or 2005 Pakistan earthquake are security concern as well as a humanitarian priority for the United States. "The United States is committed to assisting Asian nations in their time of need, and we are working with partners to prepare and fine-tune our collective response before disaster strikes," Gates said.

While there has not been a major conflict in Asia for three decades, Northeast Asia is one of the last places on Earth with a potential for nuclear confrontation, Gates said. The United States is working with Japan, China, Russia and South Korea to pressure North Korea to denuclearize. "These talks have had a stabilizing effect on the region in the aftermath of the North's missile and nuclear tests of 2006," he said. "We now have a mechanism in place to forge cooperation on the long standing problems of North Korea's behavior and nuclear ambitions."

The rise of China and the re-emergence of Russia certainly complicate the strategic landscape, the secretary said.

Gates told the students that he does not see China as a strategic adversary to the United States. "It is a competitor in some respects and partner in others," Gates said.

He noted that during his visit to Beijing, he urged the Chinese to be more transparent and candid in their strategic
military motivations. "A lack of transparency carries the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation and naturally prompts others to take action as a hedge against uncertainty," Gates said.

The U.S. relationship with Russia is another that needs to overcome distrust and doubt, he said. Reaching out to the Russians to convince them of the need for ballistic nuclear defense is important for stability in the region and globally. "Our proposal to pursue partnership with Russia in this area was real and sincere," he said. "We look for Russia to be equally innovative and forthcoming."

Gates concluded with a discussion on the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance. Since the United States and Japan signed a mutual defense treaty in 1960, Japan has been a stalwart ally through the Cold War. During the Gulf War, Japan sent no troops but did pay for military operations. "At the time, Japan was criticized by some for what was called 'checkbook diplomacy,'" Gates said.

Since then, Japan has found more direct ways to contribute to regional and global security. Japan has sent its Self-Defense Force to Afghanistan and Iraq. The Maritime Self-Defense Force provided an oiler and a destroyer to refuel coalition vessels in Indian Ocean.

"Japan has an opportunity and an obligation to take on a role that reflects its political, economic and
military capacity," Gates said. "That is why the United States strongly supports Japan becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council."

The United States also expects Japan will chose to accept more global security responsibilities in the years ahead, he said.

The U.S.-Japan alliance is changing, and leaders in both countries need to ask what they can do to secure mutual interests. They need to ask if the two countries collectively or individually have the capabilities, mechanisms and infrastructure to face new threats. "The security landscape of the present and foreseeable future will be complex," he said. "Your generation will face many challenges, but it will also have undreamt opportunities, perhaps unseen yesterday, barely apparent today. What will remain constant is the partnership of shared interests and values between our two nations."

Opportunity Now for Asia to Develop Multilateral Relationships

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - Now is the time for Asian countries to develop multilateral relationships to deal with security challenges in the region, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a question-and-answer period following a speech at Sophia University here today. A student asked Gates if the change to American troop presence in Korea and Japan signaled a change to U.S. commitment to the region.

The secretary said the transformation of the U.S.
military relationship and presence in South Korea "is really a reflection of the growing wealth and maturity of South Korea itself and the ability of the Koreans to take on an increasing measure of responsibility for their own security."

In 2012, South Korea will receive wartime operational control of its
military from U.S. command.

"We will continue to have a presence there," Gates said. "We will continue to be committed to the security of South Korea and our other allies, like Japan, here in Asia."

Overall, the secretary said, repositioning American forces in the region is really a maturing of U.S. alliance relationships here in Asia, specifically with Japan and the Republic of Korea. "It does not in any way indicate a lessening of our commitment to either," he said.

With the maturation, the defense secretary would like to see a shift to a more multilateral approach in the region. "To be honest about it, for many years the United States had better relations with a number of different Asian nations than they had with each other," Gates said. "And it made the bilateral relations the centerpiece of our security relations."

But the end of the Cold War changed this dynamic. "Now it seems to us that there is an opportunity, for example, for closer U.S., Republic of Korea, Japan cooperation; U.S., Japanese, Australian cooperation; (and) the involvement of India," he said.

Now there is an opportunity here for the countries of the region to grow multilateral relationships where each country works to its strength in terms of the security situation in the region, he said. "It seems to me this also reflects the growing importance of these countries in terms of their own security and the importance of them taking responsibility for their own security and not just depending on the United States to be the guarantor," Gates said.

The secretary said this evolution from bilateral relationships, in which the United States played the principle security role, to a more equal relationship between the United States and its allies, "and then among our allies themselves, represents the next step forward in Asia. And I that's the picture we should aim for in 21st Century Asia."