Sunday, June 09, 2013

Obama, Xi Agree North Korea Must Denuclearize

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2013 – During their two-days of informal talks in Rancho Mirage, Calif., that concluded yesterday, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jingpin agreed that North Korea must denuclearize, and that the United States and China will work together to resolve cybersecurity and other issues, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon told reporters in Palm Springs, Calif., yesterday.

“I’d say at the outset that the President had very good discussions in an informal atmosphere, uniquely informal atmosphere, with President Xi over the last two days,” Donilon told reporters. “The discussions were positive and constructive, wide-ranging and quite successful in achieving the goals that we set forth for this meeting.”

A specific goal of the talks, Donilon said, was “to build a personal relationship between the President and President Xi, and have an opportunity not under the pressure of being on the margins of another multilateral meeting to really sit down and explore the contours of the U.S.-China relationship.”

During dinner on June 7, Obama and Xi “had a lengthy discussion about North Korea,” Donilon said. China, he added, has taken a number of steps in recent months to send a clear message to North Korea, including through enhanced enforcement of sanctions and through public statements by the senior leadership in China.
Obama and Xi “agreed that North Korea has to denuclearize; that neither country will accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state; and that we would work together to deepen U.S.-China cooperation and dialogue to achieve denuclearization,” Donilon said.

Obama also emphasized to President Xi “that the United States will take any steps that we need to take to defend ourselves and our allies from the threat that North Korea presents,” he added.

“The two sides stressed the importance of continuing to apply pressure both to halt North Korea's ability to proliferate and to make clear that its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons is incompatible with its economic development goals,” Donilon said. “The discussions on this issue, I believe, will allow us to continue to move ahead and work in a careful way in terms of our cooperation to work together to achieve our ends.”

The bottom line, Donilon said, “is I think we had quite a bit of alignment on the Korean issue -- North Korean issue, and absolute agreement that we would continue to work together on concrete steps in order to achieve the joint goals that the United States and China have with respect to the North Korean nuclear program.”

Yesterday morning, Obama and Xi discussed economic issues, during which cybersecurity and other cyber issues were an important topic, Donilon said. The United States and China, he said, have a half-a-trillion-dollar-a-year trade relationship.

“Obviously, given the importance of our economic ties, the President made clear the threat posed to our economic and national security by cyber-enabled economic espionage,” Donilon said. “And I want to be clear on exactly what we're talking about here. What we're talking about here are efforts by entities in China to, through cyber attacks, engage in the theft of public and private property -- intellectual property and other property in the United States. And that is the focus here, which is why it was in the economic discussion this morning.

“And again, we had a detailed discussion on this,” he continued. “The President underscored that resolving this issue is really key to the future of U.S.-China economic relations. He asked President Xi to continue to look seriously at the problem that we've raised here.”

The Chinese have agreed to look at this, Donilon said, noting that Obama and Xi have provided guidance to the new cyber working group that’s been established as part of the U.S.-China strategic economic dialogue.
The cyber working group “will engage in a dialogue on the rules and norms of behavior in cyberspace that will explore confidence-building measures,” Donilon said. “And we instructed the teams to report back on their discussions to the leaders.”

Obama and Xi also discussed military-to-military relationships between the United States and China, Donilon said.

“It's the military-to-military relationship that lags behind our political and our economic relationship,” Donilon said. “This was acknowledged on the Chinese side, and we actually have some momentum behind increasing and deepening these relationships as we go forward here, as we try to build a comprehensive and positive relationship with China.”

Returning to the two presidents’ discussion about North Korea, Donilon said, “The important point here is full agreement on the goals -- that is denuclearization; full agreement that in fact the Security Council resolutions which put pressure on North Korea need to be enforced, and full agreement that we will work together to look at steps that need to be taken in order to achieve the goal.”

If North Korea continues to pursue a nuclear weapons program, that would allow it to become a proliferator, which would present a threat to the United States … “and which would allow them to really up-end, if you will, security in Northeast Asia,” Donilon said.

“A recognized nuclear weapon state in Pyongyang, weapons program in Pyongyang would of course have profound implications in the rest of Northeast Asia, and these are obviously results that the Chinese don’t want to see,” Donilon added. “They’re results the United States doesn’t want to see. So I think what you have essentially underway here is a shared threat analysis and a shared analysis as to what the implications and impact would be of North Korea pursuing a nuclear weapons program.”

JB MDL commemorates triumph at Midway

by Tom Worsdale
NAVAIR Public Affairs


6/6/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint base community members came together to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Midway June 4, 2013, at Hangar One here.

Gerry Little, Ocean County New Jersey Freeholder, addressed more than 100 attendees which included active-duty Navy, Marine, Air Force and Army personnel, civilian Navy employees, World War II and other veterans, as well as community dignitaries.

Considered the combat turning point in the Pacific theater during World War II, the Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942. A vastly outnumbered U.S. Navy soundly defeated the Japanese Navy, resulting in the sinking of four carriers, one heavy cruiser and 291 aircraft. The losses greatly diminished Japan's ability to project it's naval and air power and enabled America to remain on the initiative for the remainder of the war.

Little, a Marine veteran, whose father was a World War II pilot and whose son is preparing to graduate from the Navy's Officer Candidate School, remarked how honored he was to be in historic Hangar One, the hub of early naval aviation and to represent Ocean County, a county with over 60,000 veterans.

"The men who went to sea in June of 1942 helped to directly change the course of history in WWII," said Little. "They were the pioneers of the greatest Navy to ever sail the oceans of the world."

"The Navy, Marine and Army pilots who flew the missions, the Sailors on the ships, the code breakers who intercepted the Japanese message traffic and the civilian dock workers who repaired the USS Yorktown in record time to enable her to participate in the battle, all contributed immeasurably in enabling America to overcome tremendous odds and defeat the powerful Japanese Navy at Midway," said Little. "And like our brave veterans of WWII, the men and women who wear the uniforms of the United States military today remain the most skilled, trained and dedicated of any military on the face of the earth."

Little mentioned the recent passing of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, who at 89 was the last World War II veteran actively serving in the senate, and he acknowledged the presence at the ceremony of Seaman William Askew from Brick, N.J., a surviving veteran of the Battle of Midway.

Following his comments, Little, along with Air Force Brig. Gen. Martha Meeker, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center vice commander and Navy Capt. Bill Bulis, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst deputy commander, presented a plaque from Ocean County to Carl Jablonski, Navy Lakehurst Historical Society president, for their organization of the ceremony and their continued support of the Navy community at Lakehurst.

Taps was played and a wreath was dedicated to the memory of all those who served and those who died during this historic naval battle at the conclusion of the commemoration ceremony.

Former Warrior of the North 'pays it forward'

By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

6/6/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Senior Airman Taylor Lilley has a heart for service to others.

The 24-year-old native of Lynchburg, Va., grew up in a household where volunteering for a variety of projects and organizations, as well as church mission trips, was a way of life.

That's why when her mother, Millie McDowell, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2010, just one week after Lilley's arrival at Grand Forks AFB, she determined she still wanted to do something to help others around her in their fight against cancer, even if it couldn't directly benefit her mom.

"I personally struggled with being so far away and not being able to help her as much as I wanted to while being in Grand Forks," Lilley said. "It occurred to me that just because I couldn't help her as she underwent treatment, there would surely be other cancer patients in the local area that I could assist."

That is what led Lilley to volunteer at the Altru Cancer Center in the city of Grand Forks once a week.

There, she noticed a concerning trend: a few patients were unable to pay for their own meals at the hospital. When she brought it to the attention of the nurses, they offered to pay for the meals out of their own pockets.

After seeing this, Lilley came up with an idea for a fundraiser that would help support the patients.

"Senior Airman Alan Phair (319th Security Forces Squadron) and I ordered wristbands and sold them for $5 each, resulting in a profit of more than $500," she said. "We chose wristbands because it was cost effective and could yield a higher profit margin. We also hoped the idea would catch on quicker when people witnessed others wearing them in support of cancer awareness."

For her efforts, Lilley was presented the Diamond Sharp Award and an Air Force Achievement Medal shortly before her humanitarian reassignment to the 633rd Security Forces Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., to be near her mother, whose condition has taken a turn for the worse.

After numerous bouts of chemotherapy and radiation treatments and back-and-forth assessments of remission and re-diagnosis, the cancer turned malignant and began spreading to other organs in her body. Her diagnosis is now terminal.

Lilley said her family is managing the situation the best way they know how; her brother has returned home after completing his service to the Navy, and her father takes time off work to help her get to and from her medical appointments. Lilley is also doing her best to help support her mother, with the help of her new unit.

"My squadron here has been very supportive by allowing me time off to help my family," she said. "It is immeasurable how much it means to me to just be able to spend time with her."

Lilley said her passion for helping people continues to live on.

"I hope that I will be able to raise awareness at Langley AFB for cancer awareness to support the local patients here," she said. "Because of my schedule and frequent trips to Lynchburg, I'm struggling to find the time to get it started, but it will happen one day. My mom's strength and struggle motivate me further, and have shown

Military and Police Books of the Year



Between the three websites, more than 2,500 American Heroes and their books are listed.

June 9, 2013, (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press, the publishers of www.military-writers.com, www.police-writers.com and www.firefighter-writers.com, announced the results of their annual recognition.

2013 Military Book of the Year:

Pass Me the Rice by Robert G. Kay

2013 Police Book of the Year:

Fatal Destiny: The Carjacking Murder of Dr. Pam Basu by James H. Lilley

The Military-Writers.com 2013 Book of the Year
Robert G. Kay is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and currently resides in Pensacola, Fla. with his Vietnamese wife. He retired from the US Navy as a lieutenant in 1969 after being wounded and losing his leg in Vietnam. He returned to Vietnam as a civilian advisor to the Vietnamese Navy at the request of the commander of US Naval Forces in Vietnam. He held this post until the military left the country in March 1973. He then worked for the Defense Attaché Office in Saigon until the fall of South Vietnam in April 1975. He retired from Civil Service in 1997, where he worked as a supervisory repair engineer for PERA (Surface) in the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.  Robert G. Kay is the author of Pass Me The Rice.
   
According to the book description of Pass Me the Rice, “Vietnam. It’s perhaps one of least known yet most controversial wars in American history. What’s even more obscure are the tales of Americans serving in the country and interacting with the culture of war-torn Vietnamese civilians. Pass Me the Rice shares these experiences with readers.

In Pass Me the Rice, author Robert G. Kay reveals the everyday life of an American advisor during the Vietnam War in a true, historical and often humorous account of his experiences while serving the first two of his eventual eight years in country. The book provides a unique perspective on the early Vietnam War by offering a glimpse of Americans’ encounters with Vietnamese armed forces and civilians.

As an expert in Vietnamese culture, Kay’s novel also sheds light on the value of casting off ethnocentric worldviews. It offers an inside look at a country in a prolonged war for survival and a period of history frequently cast aside. “The book shows how to deal with another culture in the most dire of circumstances and why we shouldn’t judge other cultures by our own standards,” Kay says. “It is necessary to be aware of culture and avoid making mistakes that are viewed as insulting.”


The Police-Writers.com 2013 Book of the Year
James H. Lilley is a former Marine and Police Sergeant with the Howard County Police Department (Maryland). He worked in the Uniformed Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Forensic Services (CSI) and Drug Enforcement Division. His Street Drug Unit was featured in the book "Undercover" by Hans Halberstadt and published by Simon and Schuster. Some of his awards include The Medal of Valor, Four Bronze Stars, Four Unit Citations and the Governor's Citation. He is also an 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate and the first American to be promoted to the rank of Black Belt by Mr. Takeshi Miyagi. James Lilley is the author of seven books: The Eyes of the Hunter; A Miracle for Tony Clements; The Far Side of the Bridge; A Question of Honor; Just Retribution; Death Knocks Twice; FATAL DESTINY - The Carjacking Murder of Doctor Pam Basu; and, Mr. Miyagi and Me.

According to the book description of FATAL DESTINY - The Carjacking Murder of Doctor Pam Basu, “The brutal death of Doctor Pam Basu and forcible taking of her car on September 8, 1992 is the singular incident, which defined carjacking. Her senseless killing was truly the murder reported around the world. From CBS, NBC and ABC to CNN and FOX News, People and Time Magazines, her death created a media frenzy.

The outcry over Pam Basu's murder brought thunderous applause from members of her community when they were told the suspects could face the death penalty. But, the cries for justice continued, and her death became the catalyst for House Bill H.R. 4542, The Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992. President George H. W. Bush signed that bill into law in the presence of members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police on October 25, 1992.

The case continues to make national news, as suspects pursue appeals and challenge legislation and court rulings. The crime has been cited in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, New York Times, London Times, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and others. The media has referred to the Basu carjacking as "the crime that won't go away." The crime stands as a lead case cited in legal documents, court cases and dictionaries. It has been cited as a primary case in West's Encyclopedia of American Law and Webster's Online Dictionary.

Yet, this hideous killing held a double twist that seemed better suited to a Hollywood Thriller. Pam's husband, Steve, while videotaping her departure from their home with their daughter, Sarina, captured the images of the two men who would moments later brutally beat and drag to death his loving wife. And, she lived and died in a town called Savage, Maryland.  Howard County Police Officer, Jody Ann Tookey (the first officer on the scene of the crime), said, "Two days after the murder I sat down to dinner and suddenly became sick.  I couldn't touch my food, because I could see her body lying there in the road. And, sometimes, my stomach still turns. I had nightmares for days. I saw the victim standing in the roadway asking me for help. She would yell at me to do something and her child would cry. In the days before the first trial I had the nightmares again. I still have the horrible dreams, but not as often. People tell me I'll always have them."


About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books.  Currently, the site lists 1360 servicemembers and their more than 4000 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books.  Currently, the website lists 1180 state or local police officers and their more than 2,500 books.  Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book.  Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.

American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
909.599.7530

Museum renovations update old exhibits

by Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs


6/7/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- Visitors to the Barksdale Global Power Museum will soon enjoy updated exhibits thanks to the efforts of the museum staff and volunteers.

New initiatives include rebuilding and renovating rooms to highlight historic events, aircraft, places and people from Barksdale.

"Our goal is for our visitors to learn something new every time they walk into the museum," said Amy Russell, museum director. "My staff and I have been working to keep the rooms and display items up to date and ever changing."

The museum director estimates by October all seven room renovations and new displays will be finished and ready.

"One of the rooms that we are excited about is the early aviation room," said Russell. "The room is going to have 'hands-on' exhibits where children can do experiments and other activities."

Along with the planned early aviation room, the museum has completed renovations on two art-gallery rooms and a Barksdale the man room, which highlights Barksdale Air Force Base's namesake: Lt. Hoy Barksdale.

"In the Barksdale the man room we have a replica of Lt. Barksdale's house where he grew up," said Russell. "From furniture, a fireplace mantle to other artifacts from Lt. Barksdale's home and life, the room showcases the man who Barksdale is named after."

History and technology could also soon be merging with exhibits. With virtual tours and smart phone technology, the museum will take a step into interactive participation with visitors.

"I am looking into getting an audio tour set up so visitors can listen to Barksdale history while walking through either the museum or air park," Russell said. "With the addition of smart phone technology, we will be able to set-up QR codes that visitors can scan and get more information on specific exhibits."

According to museum records, the majority of visitors to the museum and air park are retired military, but renovations and reworked displays will give base history a new look and possible new and younger visitors.

"I am incredibly pleased with what Amy has done with the museum since being here," said Bruce Stewart, Air Force Global Strike Command historian. "She has brought new ideas and enthusiasm to the museum, and far exceeded our expectations; I never would have imagined that the museum would have progressed this far so fast."

The museum staff and volunteers are the constant driving force, behind the renovations that have been, and are currently, in work.

"Without my staff and the volunteers, the renovations or many of the other jobs out here couldn't be done," Russell said. "We can always use volunteers to help with taking care of the aircraft in the air park or helping us to work on projects for the museum."

To volunteer or more information on the museum or upcoming exhibit openings contact the museum at 456-2840.

Members of German NATO school pay visit to Travis

by Nick DeCicco
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs


6/7/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif, -- Approximately 50 students from a German NATO officer school visited Travis Monday as part of a four-site tour of America.

During the two-hour stop, the group sat for a briefing on the base's history, structure, deployments and mission before touring a C-5 Galaxy and KC-10 Extender.

The purpose of the visit was for them to see the capabilities and mission of Air Mobility Command as well as Travis' role as the gateway to the Pacific.

For many of the students, such as Maj. Martin Wrzos, seeing the massive mobility aircraft was the highlight of the trip.

"From my point of view, we don't have these kind of aircraft," Wrzos said. "Many of the people in our service don't see this in their whole life."

Wrzos was one of several officers who stood on the flightline near the C-5 taking photographs of himself with the plane as well as Travis' surroundings. The students explored the flight deck and boom operator seat on the KC-10 and the upper deck seating area in the back of the C-5.

Brig. Gen. Dirk Bachen, German Armed Forces Command and Staff College NATO defense attache, echoed Wrzos' comments about the planes.

"We are really keen to see your aircraft," Bachen said. "We are proud to have a chance to see America's first choice."

The primarily German students represent the top 10 percent of their class, said Capt. Roland LaFrance, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron installation deployment officer, although officers are accepted from all participating NATO countries.

From Travis' perspective, LaFrance said it was an opportunity for Travis to demonstrate its location and versatility on a global scale.

"It's always good to be able to showcase your base," he said. "The U.S. military does not always act alone and it's interesting to work together with our allied nations."

Capt. Gereon Buchholz, who presented 60th Maintenance Group Commander Col. Mark Weber with a coin, emphasized that cooperation between the countries is an "integral part of the alliance."

The German Armed Forces Command and Staff College, located in Hamburg, Germany, is comparable to the Air Force's Air Command and Staff College. Both target mid-grade officers to improve and develop their skills in leadership and command.

NATO is a 28-nation pact to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. These nations are primarily located in North America and Europe.

The other stops on the group's trip include San Diego, New York City and Washington D.C.

A second group of students is scheduled to visit Travis June 23.

Medics provide support

by 1st Lt. Angela Martin
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs


6/7/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Aerial Port Squadron here loaded 2.5 tons of medical support equipment onto a C-130 Hercules May 31 for transportation to various locations in Hawaii in support of Tropic Care 2013.

Tropic Care is a Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training operation scheduled for early June to conduct deployment and readiness training for military personnel. The operation also provides free medical, dental and optometric care to residents of remote locations in Hawaii.

Individuals from active duty, Reserve and National Guard units from across the country come together in support of Tropic Care. Travis is represented in the operation by 15 members of the 349th Medical Squadron who deployed to Maui, Lanai and Hawai'i island.

According to Master Sgt. Danny Nottis, 349th MDS commander support staff NCO in charge, these members will be serving the community as a dietician, clinical nurses, a pharmacy technician, a clinical social worker, medical technicians, a public health technician, a unit training manager and medical materials.

"We are proud to have had the opportunity to ship critical medical supplies for fellow Americans in need, certainly one of the most rewarding things we do as aerial porters," said Capt. Kelly Smith, 60th APS operations officer.

The 60th APS is no stranger to assisting with humanitarian operations. Last November, the squadron moved more than 850,000 pounds of life saving equipment and supplies to the East Coast following Hurricane Sandy.

As part of the Denton Amendment Act, the 60th APS shipped about 36,000 pounds of donated winter clothing, shoes, computers, household items and rice to Afghanistan last January. They also shipped a half dozen pallets of medical equipment to the Kandahar region of Afghanistan last May.