By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 13, 2007 - The Defense Department's Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the U.S. Service Academies, released late last week, concludes that the Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., all have made "great progress" in establishing prevention and response programs. These programs begin during cadets' and midshipmen's first terms at their respective schools, laying the foundation for follow-on instruction that continues every term throughout their academy years.
The report, which covers the 12-month period that ended May 31, evaluates the academies' expanded sexual assault prevention and response programs, their sexual harassment programs, and feedback from cadet and midshipmen focus groups about how they're working.
The report cites "robust" programs that ensure every cadet and midshipman understands what sexual harassment and sexual violence is, what to do if they or someone else is victimized, and their responsibility as leaders to intervene. It holds the academies up as a model for other colleges and universities, noting that they've fully implemented their sexual assault prevention and response programs and that they blend "seamlessly" into their curricula.
Army Col. Jeanette McMahon, the U.S. Military Academy's special assistant to the superintendent for human relations, said these efforts underscore the academies' -- and the military's -- zero tolerance for sexual harassment and sexual assault. Meanwhile, she said, it helps ensure a common base of understanding for all cadets and midshipmen.
"Prevention is a long-term changing of people's outlooks and behaviors," she said. "We are looking at our climate and how we can educate and train the cadets ... to a common set of values that we abide by in the military and the Army and also here at West Point."
Navy Cmdr. Ricks Polk, the Naval Academy's sexual assault response coordinator, emphasized the negative effect of sexual misconduct. "It degrades good order and discipline and erodes the very fabric of unit cohesion," he said.
"If those things are going on behind the scenes, ... they are going to just tear apart the very thing we are trying to build," he said. "We are trying to build a team. This is going to destroy that team."
If Army Maj. Dave Cushen at West Point had to boil down the concepts being instilled at the academies to one word, he'd sum it up as "respect" for oneself and others, he said. As assistant to the Military Academy's commandant on issues of respect and equal opportunity, Cushen called respect a critical element of leadership that cadets and midshipmen will draw on long after graduating from their respective schools.
Those lessons begin at the academies as students come to recognize their responsibility as leaders to do what's right, including stepping forward when they see situations of sexual assault or harassment, Polk said.
"Even though you are fourth class (a first-year midshipman) and you don't necessarily see yourself as a leader yet, you can still be a leader by the fact that you step up when you see something that's not right," he said.
By building a climate of respect, both for cadets themselves and for others, the academies are instilling principles cadets and midshipmen will draw on long after their academy years, he said.
"The fact is, they are going to see these things going on when they are in leadership positions, both here at the academy and when they get to the fleet," Polk agreed. "They are going to see situations where someone has said (something) or taken action inappropriately, and they will need to react to it. They are responsible for moving forward on it."
When they take these principles to the field and fleet as junior officers, academy graduates will set an example through their personal behavior and the way they talk to and treat others, Burger said.
"And I think it always goes back to the respect foundation, that bedrock," she said. "As a leader, if you are being respectful of yourself and others, then you are going to be going in the right direction in setting a command climate of how ... your subordinates treat each other and what's acceptable to you and what's not," she said. "That carries weight. ... It's the impact of one person and how many people they can influence."
Saturday, December 15, 2007
America Supports You: USO Elves to Host Troops at BWI Airport
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 13, 2007 - Santa's USO elves will be checking their list twice this weekend to ensure they're ready to host about 2,000 troops slated to transit through Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport before catching flights home to their families and loved ones. The elves – actually volunteers from United Service Organizations of Metropolitan Washington – will work through the night Dec. 15 to prepare for a mass holiday exodus to begin at the suburban Maryland airport at 6 the following morning.
As some 1,800 soldiers attending advanced individual training at nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., await their flights, BWI's USO International Gateway Lounge will offer up a host of freebies and services, Nicole Causey, USO communications manager, told American Forces Press Service.
Another 7,000 or so soldiers training at Fort Lee, Va., will get similar treatment as they pass through the airport in the wee hours of the morning later in the week, she said.
All transiting troops will get full access to a host of free offerings, including refreshments, travel assistance, international calls, Internet access and movies, Causey said. USA Cheerleaders, a professional promotional team, will be on hand to cheer the troops on, and volunteers will pass out care packages along with holiday cheer.
"It's a good way for the soldiers to be touched, both by the USO and through our donors who help contribute to these great lounges," Causey said. "It shows the troops that people care and gives them that little bit of TLC."
Although BWI's USO lounge typically operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Causey said it frequently extends its hours, sometimes staying open all night to accommodate troops passing through the airport. "If we know in advance a large group of soldiers is going through, we'll stay open," she said.
At 5,000 square feet, the lounge is the USO's largest in the United States and offers a full range of services. Troops can watch a wide-screen TV, log on to the Internet or call anywhere in the world for free on a voice-over-Internet phone donated to the facility, Causey said.
Military families with children can take advantage of play and nap areas. And troops wanting some shut-eye themselves can catch their Z's in the lounge's sleep room. They simply take a nap until a USO volunteer awakens them in time for their flight, Causey said.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 13, 2007 - Santa's USO elves will be checking their list twice this weekend to ensure they're ready to host about 2,000 troops slated to transit through Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport before catching flights home to their families and loved ones. The elves – actually volunteers from United Service Organizations of Metropolitan Washington – will work through the night Dec. 15 to prepare for a mass holiday exodus to begin at the suburban Maryland airport at 6 the following morning.
As some 1,800 soldiers attending advanced individual training at nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., await their flights, BWI's USO International Gateway Lounge will offer up a host of freebies and services, Nicole Causey, USO communications manager, told American Forces Press Service.
Another 7,000 or so soldiers training at Fort Lee, Va., will get similar treatment as they pass through the airport in the wee hours of the morning later in the week, she said.
All transiting troops will get full access to a host of free offerings, including refreshments, travel assistance, international calls, Internet access and movies, Causey said. USA Cheerleaders, a professional promotional team, will be on hand to cheer the troops on, and volunteers will pass out care packages along with holiday cheer.
"It's a good way for the soldiers to be touched, both by the USO and through our donors who help contribute to these great lounges," Causey said. "It shows the troops that people care and gives them that little bit of TLC."
Although BWI's USO lounge typically operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Causey said it frequently extends its hours, sometimes staying open all night to accommodate troops passing through the airport. "If we know in advance a large group of soldiers is going through, we'll stay open," she said.
At 5,000 square feet, the lounge is the USO's largest in the United States and offers a full range of services. Troops can watch a wide-screen TV, log on to the Internet or call anywhere in the world for free on a voice-over-Internet phone donated to the facility, Causey said.
Military families with children can take advantage of play and nap areas. And troops wanting some shut-eye themselves can catch their Z's in the lounge's sleep room. They simply take a nap until a USO volunteer awakens them in time for their flight, Causey said.
Gates: Lack of Supplemental Funds Would Hurt Afghan Mission
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - A lack of supplemental war funding from Congress would affect U.S. training efforts for Afghan soldiers and police, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told federal legislators at a Capitol Hill hearing yesterday. The supplemental contains about $2.7 billion allocated for training and equipping Afghan security forces, Gates, who recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, told House Armed Services Committee members.
Consequently, if funding isn't received, "we wouldn't be able to do that" kind of training in Afghanistan, Gates explained to the committee.
Congress has passed a $460 billion Defense Appropriations Act for 2008, but it doesn't contain enough money to fund ongoing overseas operations.
The House passed a $50 billion bill in November with funds to continue operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it included legislation that directs the president to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by December 2008. The measure failed in the Senate. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill that includes a troop-withdrawal timetable.
Gates noted during the committee hearing that "the money runs out for the Army in about mid-February and for the Marines in about mid-March."
The department officially has notified Congress that it will begin a furlough process that possibly could affect up to 100,000 civilian employees as part of efforts to save money for overseas war operations in case the supplemental legislation's passage is further delayed in Congress. The Defense Department also has told Congress that the Army and the Marines would have to divert on-hand funding previously earmarked for installation needs to pay for overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a letter to Congress dated Dec. 7, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England provided legislators the required 45-day notice before starting furloughs.
"The furlough will negatively affect our ability to execute base operations and training activities," England wrote. "More importantly, it will affect the critical support our civilian employees provide to our warfighters -- support which is key to our current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
With no supplemental funding forthcoming, Army officials anticipate they would begin to furlough affected civilians sometime in February, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who accompanied Gates at the hearing, said.
In addition, "you stop doing your training to deploy, you stop rotating to other parts of the world," Mullen continued in explanation of how the lack of funding would affect the Army.
The Army's annual operational budget is about $27 billion, Mullen said. Today, he said, the Army is spending about $6.5 billion monthly "to run the Army" and "to support the efforts with respect to this war."
Also, the Marine Corps' recruiting mission would come to a halt without the needed money contained within the stalled supplemental appropriation, Mullen said.
The current situation "has a very debilitating effect on those two services," Mullen emphasized, adding that's why receiving the supplemental funding as quickly as possible "is really important for all the men and women who are serving, as well as their families."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - A lack of supplemental war funding from Congress would affect U.S. training efforts for Afghan soldiers and police, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told federal legislators at a Capitol Hill hearing yesterday. The supplemental contains about $2.7 billion allocated for training and equipping Afghan security forces, Gates, who recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, told House Armed Services Committee members.
Consequently, if funding isn't received, "we wouldn't be able to do that" kind of training in Afghanistan, Gates explained to the committee.
Congress has passed a $460 billion Defense Appropriations Act for 2008, but it doesn't contain enough money to fund ongoing overseas operations.
The House passed a $50 billion bill in November with funds to continue operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it included legislation that directs the president to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by December 2008. The measure failed in the Senate. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill that includes a troop-withdrawal timetable.
Gates noted during the committee hearing that "the money runs out for the Army in about mid-February and for the Marines in about mid-March."
The department officially has notified Congress that it will begin a furlough process that possibly could affect up to 100,000 civilian employees as part of efforts to save money for overseas war operations in case the supplemental legislation's passage is further delayed in Congress. The Defense Department also has told Congress that the Army and the Marines would have to divert on-hand funding previously earmarked for installation needs to pay for overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a letter to Congress dated Dec. 7, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England provided legislators the required 45-day notice before starting furloughs.
"The furlough will negatively affect our ability to execute base operations and training activities," England wrote. "More importantly, it will affect the critical support our civilian employees provide to our warfighters -- support which is key to our current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
With no supplemental funding forthcoming, Army officials anticipate they would begin to furlough affected civilians sometime in February, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who accompanied Gates at the hearing, said.
In addition, "you stop doing your training to deploy, you stop rotating to other parts of the world," Mullen continued in explanation of how the lack of funding would affect the Army.
The Army's annual operational budget is about $27 billion, Mullen said. Today, he said, the Army is spending about $6.5 billion monthly "to run the Army" and "to support the efforts with respect to this war."
Also, the Marine Corps' recruiting mission would come to a halt without the needed money contained within the stalled supplemental appropriation, Mullen said.
The current situation "has a very debilitating effect on those two services," Mullen emphasized, adding that's why receiving the supplemental funding as quickly as possible "is really important for all the men and women who are serving, as well as their families."
Congressional Report Confirms Furlough Predictions
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - A Congressional Research Service report confirms the Defense Department estimate for when the Army and Marine Corps will run out money and be forced to furlough civilians and shutter bases. The report, released Dec. 6, says the Army will run out of operations and maintenance money by mid-February, and the Marine Corps will run out of funds a month later. Amy Belasco, Stephen Daggett and Pat Towell wrote the report, titled "How Long Can the Defense Department Finance FY2008 Operations in Advance of Supplemental Appropriations?"
The service, a part of the Library of Congress, affirmed the DoD projections. The report says that the Army and Marine Corps may be able to push that date back a bit by transferring funds and slowing down spending. "These measures would, however, reduce remaining financial flexibility and may disrupt day-to-day operations," the report says. And even these steps will only delay the inevitable for a couple of weeks.
The president requested $189.3 billion for war on terror supplemental funds. Congress approved about $17 billion for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, but the rest of the funds are tied up in a disagreement between Congress and the president over a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.
Without the supplemental funds, the Army will be forced to curtail training and shutter many bases. The service also will be forced to furlough about 100,000 civilian employees and lay-off about 100,000 contractors. Furlough notification letters will go out to unions and employees beginning next week, DoD officials said.
"The Defense Department may be able to sustain operations longer by invoking the Feed and Forage Act or by using novel, unprecedented measures, such as assigning the Navy and Air Force to pay costs of Army operations overseas," the report says.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today that the department already is using reprogramming authority as much as it can. "It would require Congress to authorize more reprogramming authority than they already have," he said.
"But the real danger is, if you use up all the Navy and Air Force operations and maintenance budgets, what you do is start to chip away at what I would call the strategic capability of this nation in terms of being able to provide capability for other contingencies around the world," he said. "With a fairly committed Army and Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be a dangerous thing to have the Navy and Air Force unable to operate and provide basic strategic reserve we have."
Congress is scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 21. If it does not reach an agreement on funding, the legislation will not be considered until after Congress reconvenes, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - A Congressional Research Service report confirms the Defense Department estimate for when the Army and Marine Corps will run out money and be forced to furlough civilians and shutter bases. The report, released Dec. 6, says the Army will run out of operations and maintenance money by mid-February, and the Marine Corps will run out of funds a month later. Amy Belasco, Stephen Daggett and Pat Towell wrote the report, titled "How Long Can the Defense Department Finance FY2008 Operations in Advance of Supplemental Appropriations?"
The service, a part of the Library of Congress, affirmed the DoD projections. The report says that the Army and Marine Corps may be able to push that date back a bit by transferring funds and slowing down spending. "These measures would, however, reduce remaining financial flexibility and may disrupt day-to-day operations," the report says. And even these steps will only delay the inevitable for a couple of weeks.
The president requested $189.3 billion for war on terror supplemental funds. Congress approved about $17 billion for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, but the rest of the funds are tied up in a disagreement between Congress and the president over a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.
Without the supplemental funds, the Army will be forced to curtail training and shutter many bases. The service also will be forced to furlough about 100,000 civilian employees and lay-off about 100,000 contractors. Furlough notification letters will go out to unions and employees beginning next week, DoD officials said.
"The Defense Department may be able to sustain operations longer by invoking the Feed and Forage Act or by using novel, unprecedented measures, such as assigning the Navy and Air Force to pay costs of Army operations overseas," the report says.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today that the department already is using reprogramming authority as much as it can. "It would require Congress to authorize more reprogramming authority than they already have," he said.
"But the real danger is, if you use up all the Navy and Air Force operations and maintenance budgets, what you do is start to chip away at what I would call the strategic capability of this nation in terms of being able to provide capability for other contingencies around the world," he said. "With a fairly committed Army and Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be a dangerous thing to have the Navy and Air Force unable to operate and provide basic strategic reserve we have."
Congress is scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 21. If it does not reach an agreement on funding, the legislation will not be considered until after Congress reconvenes, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15.
Kosovo Force Watches Fighting, Shooting – NHL Style
By Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Just after the Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of negotiating the status of Kosovo, servicemembers assigned to NATO's Kosovo Force sat back in their chairs and enjoyed the fighting and shooting. The fighting was actually thousands of miles away, where hockey players were throwing punches and shooting pucks during the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers hockey broadcast on Versus, the national cable home of the National Hockey League.
During this critical period in Kosovo's history, pictures of American soldiers, airmen and sailors deployed to camps Film City and Bondsteel, Kosovo, were shown to a national television audience in the United States.
At the same time the troops' family members were watching the game at home, about 35 servicemembers gathered at Camp Film City's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at 1 a.m. Dec. 12 to watch the live broadcast on the American Forces Network.
When the first pictures of KFOR members appeared on the screen, the troops erupted with cheers and clapping. The sporting, yet relaxed, atmosphere gave some soldiers the chance to unwind for a little while and forget about the stress of the deployment.
"I e-mailed everyone I know," said Army Lt. Col. Elaine Berkowitz. "I'm from Pittsburgh, and I came to see my Penguins win. I think this is a fabulous event, and it's great for camaraderie."
The idea for the game came about when a small group of troops gathered for the Oct. 24 game between the Penguins and New York Rangers. A story was written about the game and sent to Versus. Eventually, Michael Baker, coordinating producer of the National Hockey League on Versus, received an e-mail with the story. Baker contacted the author of the story to thank the troops for watching the game. Through e-mails, they worked together to put on the Dec. 11 show.
"My mom and dad in Michigan are watching," said Army Spc. Graham Besonen. "It's important for them to see me and know I'm safe. I'm really a Red Wings fan, but I came to enjoy a hockey game and for my family to see me."
Most of the pictures were sent to Versus at least a week prior to the game. However, the network wanted to make sure all of the troops were recognized. Just prior to the start of the game, a group photo was taken and e-mailed to Baker. During the third period, the picture was shown on TV.
"I was really impressed with Versus and the NHL putting our pictures on during the game," said Army Sgt. Rich Allen. "I've always been a hockey fan, and to be deployed and see myself on television during a game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
The game ended with the Flyers dominating the Penguins, 8-2. This was disappointing for Penguins fans in the crowd, but being recognized at home was the most important thing for most of the people involved.
In addition to American troops, a few other NATO and Partnership for Peace troops were on hand at the MWR Center to cheer for their favorite team. Camp Film City, which serves as the Kosovo Force Headquarters, is a deployed home to troops of 34 nations.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith is assigned to Kosovo Force Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Just after the Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of negotiating the status of Kosovo, servicemembers assigned to NATO's Kosovo Force sat back in their chairs and enjoyed the fighting and shooting. The fighting was actually thousands of miles away, where hockey players were throwing punches and shooting pucks during the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers hockey broadcast on Versus, the national cable home of the National Hockey League.
During this critical period in Kosovo's history, pictures of American soldiers, airmen and sailors deployed to camps Film City and Bondsteel, Kosovo, were shown to a national television audience in the United States.
At the same time the troops' family members were watching the game at home, about 35 servicemembers gathered at Camp Film City's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at 1 a.m. Dec. 12 to watch the live broadcast on the American Forces Network.
When the first pictures of KFOR members appeared on the screen, the troops erupted with cheers and clapping. The sporting, yet relaxed, atmosphere gave some soldiers the chance to unwind for a little while and forget about the stress of the deployment.
"I e-mailed everyone I know," said Army Lt. Col. Elaine Berkowitz. "I'm from Pittsburgh, and I came to see my Penguins win. I think this is a fabulous event, and it's great for camaraderie."
The idea for the game came about when a small group of troops gathered for the Oct. 24 game between the Penguins and New York Rangers. A story was written about the game and sent to Versus. Eventually, Michael Baker, coordinating producer of the National Hockey League on Versus, received an e-mail with the story. Baker contacted the author of the story to thank the troops for watching the game. Through e-mails, they worked together to put on the Dec. 11 show.
"My mom and dad in Michigan are watching," said Army Spc. Graham Besonen. "It's important for them to see me and know I'm safe. I'm really a Red Wings fan, but I came to enjoy a hockey game and for my family to see me."
Most of the pictures were sent to Versus at least a week prior to the game. However, the network wanted to make sure all of the troops were recognized. Just prior to the start of the game, a group photo was taken and e-mailed to Baker. During the third period, the picture was shown on TV.
"I was really impressed with Versus and the NHL putting our pictures on during the game," said Army Sgt. Rich Allen. "I've always been a hockey fan, and to be deployed and see myself on television during a game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
The game ended with the Flyers dominating the Penguins, 8-2. This was disappointing for Penguins fans in the crowd, but being recognized at home was the most important thing for most of the people involved.
In addition to American troops, a few other NATO and Partnership for Peace troops were on hand at the MWR Center to cheer for their favorite team. Camp Film City, which serves as the Kosovo Force Headquarters, is a deployed home to troops of 34 nations.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith is assigned to Kosovo Force Public Affairs.)
Gates Plans Scotland Trip to Discuss Afghanistan With Allies
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, for meetings with allies with troops in southern Afghanistan, defense officials said here today. British Defense Minister Des Brown will host the meeting. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns will accompany Gates to the meeting. In addition to the United States and the United Kingdom, defense and foreign ministers from Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Romania and Estonia are participating in the meeting.
All the forces are part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command South, which is has its headquarters in Kandahar. The area was a Taliban stronghold and is an active battleground. NATO forces and Afghan National Army soldiers have been campaigning in the south.
"RC South remains the focal point for operations in Afghanistan," said Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary, during a news conference here today. "In fact, daily attacks have doubled since NATO's International Security Assistance Force took over there."
Still, Gates is optimistic about the situation in the region. "Secretary Gates returned from his trip to Afghanistan last week even more convinced that the Taliban's recent resurgence in some parts of the nation is not a threat militarily, but is clearly undermining the coalition's efforts to stabilize and develop that country," Morrell said. Gates has clear ideas about what is wrong with the Afghan strategy and how it should be adjusted. "Over the course of the next couple of days in Edinburgh, he will have a chanc
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, for meetings with allies with troops in southern Afghanistan, defense officials said here today. British Defense Minister Des Brown will host the meeting. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns will accompany Gates to the meeting. In addition to the United States and the United Kingdom, defense and foreign ministers from Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Romania and Estonia are participating in the meeting.
All the forces are part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command South, which is has its headquarters in Kandahar. The area was a Taliban stronghold and is an active battleground. NATO forces and Afghan National Army soldiers have been campaigning in the south.
"RC South remains the focal point for operations in Afghanistan," said Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary, during a news conference here today. "In fact, daily attacks have doubled since NATO's International Security Assistance Force took over there."
Still, Gates is optimistic about the situation in the region. "Secretary Gates returned from his trip to Afghanistan last week even more convinced that the Taliban's recent resurgence in some parts of the nation is not a threat militarily, but is clearly undermining the coalition's efforts to stabilize and develop that country," Morrell said. Gates has clear ideas about what is wrong with the Afghan strategy and how it should be adjusted. "Over the course of the next couple of days in Edinburgh, he will have a chanc
Friday, December 14, 2007
Airmen Missing in Action from Korean War are Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Col. Douglas H. Hatfield, of Shenandoah, Va., and Capt. Richard H. Simpson, of Fairhaven, Mich., both U.S. Air Force. Funeral dates have not been set by the families.
On April 12, 1951, Hatfield and Simpson were two of eleven crewmembers on a B-29 Superfortress that left Kadena Air Base, Japan, to bomb targets in the area of Sinuiju, North Korea. Enemy MiG-15 fighters attacked the B-29, but before it crashed, three crewmembers were able to bail out. They were captured and two of them were later released in 1954 to U.S. military control during Operation "Big Switch." The third crewmember died in captivity. He and the eight remaining crewmembers were not recovered.
In 1993, the North Korean government turned over to the United Nations Command 31 boxes containing the remains of U.S. servicemen listed as unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Four sets of remains from this group were subsequently identified as crewmembers from the B-29.
In 2000, a joint U.S./Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated an infantry fighting position in Kujang County where they recovered remains which included those of Hatfield and Simpson.
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 the remains recovered in 2000.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
They are Col. Douglas H. Hatfield, of Shenandoah, Va., and Capt. Richard H. Simpson, of Fairhaven, Mich., both U.S. Air Force. Funeral dates have not been set by the families.
On April 12, 1951, Hatfield and Simpson were two of eleven crewmembers on a B-29 Superfortress that left Kadena Air Base, Japan, to bomb targets in the area of Sinuiju, North Korea. Enemy MiG-15 fighters attacked the B-29, but before it crashed, three crewmembers were able to bail out. They were captured and two of them were later released in 1954 to U.S. military control during Operation "Big Switch." The third crewmember died in captivity. He and the eight remaining crewmembers were not recovered.
In 1993, the North Korean government turned over to the United Nations Command 31 boxes containing the remains of U.S. servicemen listed as unaccounted-for from the Korean War. Four sets of remains from this group were subsequently identified as crewmembers from the B-29.
In 2000, a joint U.S./Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated an infantry fighting position in Kujang County where they recovered remains which included those of Hatfield and Simpson.
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 the remains recovered in 2000.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
New Year Brings Higher Housing Allowance to Most Recipients
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Most servicemembers receiving a housing allowance will see more in their 2008 paychecks. The average increase more than doubled for 2008 at 7.3 percent over last year's 3.5 percent average increase.
The Defense Department will pump an additional $600 million into the housing allowance program, for a total of $17.5 billion for 2008. This is paid out to 1.2 million servicemembers receiving the allowance.
Overall, members with dependents will see an average increase of $83 a month, according to a Defense Department release. An E-4 with dependents will see about a $63-per-month increase, while an E-8 will pocket about $79 more.
Not all rates saw increases, though. Rates are based on average current rent, utilities and renter insurance by market. In markets where those costs decreased, allowances went down accordingly. But a DoD rate-protection feature locks in rates for servicemembers already living in an area to protect their current rental leases. The cost of buying a home is not included in the data.
Officials collect data on 369 military housing areas in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. They then calculate 48 different rates per area based on pay grade and dependant status, to come up with more than 17,000 different rates. Of those, just under 12 percent of the allowance rates saw a decrease, according to officials.
Not surprisingly, cities in California, New York and Hawaii took most spots on the top 10 highest allowance rates in the United States. San Francisco saw the top rates for allowances with dependents at an average of $2,853 monthly.
Military housing allowances have come under heavy scrutiny by Congress and senior department officials since the 1980s and have increased historically since 2000.
In 2005, housing rate increases represented a final phase of a DoD plan to eliminate servicemembers' out-of-pocket housing expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses were estimated at nearly 20 percent in 2000, according to DoD releases.
"It's come a long way. It just gets better and better every year. The members are seeing increases in most locations every year, so the program is doing what it's supposed to do," said Susan Brumbaugh, director of the Basic Allowance for Housing, Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Most servicemembers receiving a housing allowance will see more in their 2008 paychecks. The average increase more than doubled for 2008 at 7.3 percent over last year's 3.5 percent average increase.
The Defense Department will pump an additional $600 million into the housing allowance program, for a total of $17.5 billion for 2008. This is paid out to 1.2 million servicemembers receiving the allowance.
Overall, members with dependents will see an average increase of $83 a month, according to a Defense Department release. An E-4 with dependents will see about a $63-per-month increase, while an E-8 will pocket about $79 more.
Not all rates saw increases, though. Rates are based on average current rent, utilities and renter insurance by market. In markets where those costs decreased, allowances went down accordingly. But a DoD rate-protection feature locks in rates for servicemembers already living in an area to protect their current rental leases. The cost of buying a home is not included in the data.
Officials collect data on 369 military housing areas in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. They then calculate 48 different rates per area based on pay grade and dependant status, to come up with more than 17,000 different rates. Of those, just under 12 percent of the allowance rates saw a decrease, according to officials.
Not surprisingly, cities in California, New York and Hawaii took most spots on the top 10 highest allowance rates in the United States. San Francisco saw the top rates for allowances with dependents at an average of $2,853 monthly.
Military housing allowances have come under heavy scrutiny by Congress and senior department officials since the 1980s and have increased historically since 2000.
In 2005, housing rate increases represented a final phase of a DoD plan to eliminate servicemembers' out-of-pocket housing expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses were estimated at nearly 20 percent in 2000, according to DoD releases.
"It's come a long way. It just gets better and better every year. The members are seeing increases in most locations every year, so the program is doing what it's supposed to do," said Susan Brumbaugh, director of the Basic Allowance for Housing, Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee.
Face of Defense: Cancer Can't Stop Man's Dream of Air Force Service
By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - Kyle Causey fulfilled a lifelong dream Nov. 20 when he left Massachusetts for Texas to attend Air Force Basic Military Training. It took him more than six years, and he had to defeat cancer to reach this milestone. The former Hanscom Air Force Base pool lifeguard had always dreamed of following his father's example by serving in the armed forces. His father, John Causey, a former Army soldier, now works at Hanscom as a contractor for 66th Medical Support Squadron.
Now an airman basic at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Kyle y said his father encouraged him consider the Air Force because of the high quality of life the service offers members.
He is "the biggest Air Force advocate there is," Causey said of his father.
During his senior year in high school, everything seemed to be all systems go for Causey. He met with an Air Force recruiter and was set to leave for basic training shortly after graduation. Then a week before his departure date, he learned he had been permanently disqualified from all military service.
Two years earlier, Causey had had a tumor removed from his abdomen. The tumor turned out to be cancerous, and Causey underwent another surgery so doctors could ensure they had removed the cancer entirely.
Despite the surgery's complete success, he was disqualified from the service and lifestyle he had always dreamed about.
"That pretty much crushed those dreams," Causey said.
He changed plans and enrolled in the criminal justice program at Fitchburg Stage College. "I decided that since I couldn't do what I had always hoped to do, to go to college," he said.
His dreams of serving in the military, however, persisted. While attending college, he learned that he could apply for a waiver to enter the service since he had been cancer-ree for more than four years.
Applications for waivers required documentation that he had no reoccurrence of cancer and an OK by the Air Force surgeon general. After getting approval to join, he received a call with the news that he would be allowed to serve in the Air Force at last. "That was a great phone call," he said of learning from his recruiter that his waiver had been accepted in January.
He has since been on delayed-entry status for his chosen career field, air traffic control.
Causey said he has had a taste of Air Force camaraderie by working at Hanscom for the past five years and by playing intramural sports. He has been an "asset to the base pool," said Stephanie Herlihy, the 66th Services Squadron aquatics director. Causey saved two lives while on lifeguard duty at the pool.
"He was always reliable and someone for the staff to look up to," she said. "Kyle always went above and beyond, increasingly taking on additional responsibility. It is a great loss to the Hanscom community and a tremendous gain to the Air Force."
Causey said that joining the military family, as he has wanted to do for so long, will be very special to him. "That first day I get my uniform issued is going to be touching for me," he said.
Though his journey to becoming an airman has spanned years, Causey said he felt there was a reason for it.
"I feel maybe the reason why I was (disqualified) in the first place was so I could get a college education," he said. "I was the first person in my family to go to college. After that was completed, I found out that I could still make this dream come true. I am very thankful for everything that has happened."
One goal Causey said he hopes to attain one day is to become an Air Force officer, but added that he will be happy to serve regardless of his rank.
"As long as you stay strong as a person, everything that you want to come true will come true," he said. "As much as everybody says it and people don't like hearing it, everything does happen for a reason."
(Air Force 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek is assigned to 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - Kyle Causey fulfilled a lifelong dream Nov. 20 when he left Massachusetts for Texas to attend Air Force Basic Military Training. It took him more than six years, and he had to defeat cancer to reach this milestone. The former Hanscom Air Force Base pool lifeguard had always dreamed of following his father's example by serving in the armed forces. His father, John Causey, a former Army soldier, now works at Hanscom as a contractor for 66th Medical Support Squadron.
Now an airman basic at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Kyle y said his father encouraged him consider the Air Force because of the high quality of life the service offers members.
He is "the biggest Air Force advocate there is," Causey said of his father.
During his senior year in high school, everything seemed to be all systems go for Causey. He met with an Air Force recruiter and was set to leave for basic training shortly after graduation. Then a week before his departure date, he learned he had been permanently disqualified from all military service.
Two years earlier, Causey had had a tumor removed from his abdomen. The tumor turned out to be cancerous, and Causey underwent another surgery so doctors could ensure they had removed the cancer entirely.
Despite the surgery's complete success, he was disqualified from the service and lifestyle he had always dreamed about.
"That pretty much crushed those dreams," Causey said.
He changed plans and enrolled in the criminal justice program at Fitchburg Stage College. "I decided that since I couldn't do what I had always hoped to do, to go to college," he said.
His dreams of serving in the military, however, persisted. While attending college, he learned that he could apply for a waiver to enter the service since he had been cancer-ree for more than four years.
Applications for waivers required documentation that he had no reoccurrence of cancer and an OK by the Air Force surgeon general. After getting approval to join, he received a call with the news that he would be allowed to serve in the Air Force at last. "That was a great phone call," he said of learning from his recruiter that his waiver had been accepted in January.
He has since been on delayed-entry status for his chosen career field, air traffic control.
Causey said he has had a taste of Air Force camaraderie by working at Hanscom for the past five years and by playing intramural sports. He has been an "asset to the base pool," said Stephanie Herlihy, the 66th Services Squadron aquatics director. Causey saved two lives while on lifeguard duty at the pool.
"He was always reliable and someone for the staff to look up to," she said. "Kyle always went above and beyond, increasingly taking on additional responsibility. It is a great loss to the Hanscom community and a tremendous gain to the Air Force."
Causey said that joining the military family, as he has wanted to do for so long, will be very special to him. "That first day I get my uniform issued is going to be touching for me," he said.
Though his journey to becoming an airman has spanned years, Causey said he felt there was a reason for it.
"I feel maybe the reason why I was (disqualified) in the first place was so I could get a college education," he said. "I was the first person in my family to go to college. After that was completed, I found out that I could still make this dream come true. I am very thankful for everything that has happened."
One goal Causey said he hopes to attain one day is to become an Air Force officer, but added that he will be happy to serve regardless of his rank.
"As long as you stay strong as a person, everything that you want to come true will come true," he said. "As much as everybody says it and people don't like hearing it, everything does happen for a reason."
(Air Force 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek is assigned to 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs.)
America Supports You: Artist Gives Music, Time to Troops
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Johnny Ondrasik turns 8 years old this Christmas Eve, but he isn't asking for any presents on his birthday -- at least not for himself. "Daddy, can I have my friends donate money ... for the Fisher House?" he instead asked his father. The Fisher House is a charity that provides wounded warrior family members free housing near military hospitals.
"I'm like, 'You get it,'" a beaming elder John Ondrasik said in an interview in Alexandria, Va., yesterday. "You hear it a million times, and you tell your kids that if you give, you get. But it's true."
Ondrasik, the singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name Five for Fighting, is in Washington to sing to members of Congress and to help promote his latest CD project. But the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist isn't actually selling anything. He is giving it away.
When finished, the musician will give away some 200,000 free CDs for U.S. troops, compliments of Ondrasik and some 13 superstar friends who partnered to make a "thank you" music disc for servicemembers. The contributing artists include Billy Joel, the Goo Goo Dolls, Brooks and Dunn, Melissa Ethridge and even actor Gary Sinise's Lt. Dan Band.
The CD will be distributed in Iraq and Afghanistan and can be downloaded now at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's Web site. Officials expect as many as 1.5 million downloads.
It's a deal that record industry officials have heralded as "historic," with such top artists basically giving away copies of their most popular songs. Ondrasik offered up Five for Fighting's "100 Years" from his platinum-selling album, "The Battle for Everything."
For Ondrasik, it's the least he can do, he said.
"A lot of other people have given a hell of a lot more than I have. And they're examples to me," he said.
He compared what he's doing to what the troops do, and said the troops do much more. "Someone said the other day, 'Wow, you take two weeks out of your life and you leave your family and you go play these shows for these troops. Wow, you're really cool,'" he said. "Some of these (troops) spend ... years in (the war zone). I take two weeks out of my life to go sing a song. That's not cool. What they do is cool. What they do is important."
While growing up in suburbia Los Angeles, Ondrasik said, he never really gave a lot of thought to military service or those who served. None of his family served. His closest kin serving was one "kind of" second cousin, he said. None of his friends joined the military after graduating from high school, he said, and while his family had a "healthy respect" for service, it was foreign to his way of life.
Then came the Gulf War in 1990.
"That kind of shook me. And I wrote a bunch of songs about that, because as an adult I had not had that experience," Ondrasik said. "It's different when you are glued to CNN for three weeks watching the first Gulf War. From then on, I was invested and not only just in our troops but in our country and in our values.
"You don't necessarily appreciate the policeman until somebody's trying to rob you. I think it's just natural in our culture. We can become complacent. We can become apathetic. That's one of the luxuries of democracy," Ondrasik said.
"Until all of the sudden you are afraid to go the mailbox because of anthrax," he continued. "Or you are afraid to get on an airplane, or you're afraid to go into a mall, and then all of the sudden, 'Wow, I'm sure glad we have our soldiers. I'm sure glad someone's ready to take a bullet for me,'" he said.
But while the imagery of war and politics filtered into some of his songs, Ondrasik had no one-on-one contact with servicemembers until after Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, he has played USO concerts for troops, met with families and talked to veterans. He's also visited wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army medical Center here and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
The stories have filtered into his music, such as the song "Two Lights," which portrays the mixed emotions of a Vietnam veteran watching his son leave for war in Iraq.
In his album released last year, Ondrasik wrote in the song "Freedom Never Cries" that "I never loved a soldier until there was a war." In his travels, he has had the chance to lunch with families, drink beers with troops and listen to their stories.
"Some tear your heart out, some make you proud, some make you laugh," he said.
Most poignant was playing for about 100 Army National Guardsmen stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he said. Singing in a little bar called "Club Survivor," Ondrasik said he could see the American flag outside lit by the moon. He could also see the fence that marked freedom's edge. He sang "Freedom Never Cries."
"Singing for those people, in that environment with that song, was something I'll never forget," the artist said. "When you see a fence that on the other side freedom does not exist; when you meet the families who have lost loved ones; when you meet the injured troops at Walter Reed or Bethesda, it becomes personal and real. It's not writing from afar any more."
Ondrasik said he has a song titled "4th of July in Gitmo" on his next album, not yet released.
For Ondrasik, singing for the troops and putting together the CD project is simply his contribution to supporting the troops.
"I can't pick up an M-16 and go to Baghdad, but I can write a song, or I can shine the light on the realities some of the military face, or I can go do a concert. So for me, it's what can I do," he said.
"Troops pay the ultimate price for our freedom and rights, and there is obligation to say thanks and recognize troops, families and veterans," Ondrasik said.
Ondrasik, a father of two, said his son loves to play army.
When asked how he would react if his son wanted to join the military, Ondrasik responded with the mixed emotions of most fathers.
"As a father, you don't want to put your son's life at risk. So the inclination is, 'Don't join the Army ... don't join the military. I don't want to lose you,'" he said. "At the same time, as an American, and one who believes in our values, if his passion leads him to a military career, I couldn't be more proud of him."
As for his daughter, Olivia, age 6, "She's hard-core. I wouldn't want to serve under her. She's a terror, and she would do just fine," the musician said and laughed.
This week, Ondrasik will return home to finish his album, enjoy a family Christmas and contemplate a second CD for the troops, maybe a comedy version, he said. He also will continue to spotlight servicemembers' efforts.
"We put athletes and celebrities on a pedestal and on the front with all the headlines. And sometimes I think we get it backwards," he said. "Whatever we can do to put the spotlight on those who deserve it is probably the right thing to do."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Johnny Ondrasik turns 8 years old this Christmas Eve, but he isn't asking for any presents on his birthday -- at least not for himself. "Daddy, can I have my friends donate money ... for the Fisher House?" he instead asked his father. The Fisher House is a charity that provides wounded warrior family members free housing near military hospitals.
"I'm like, 'You get it,'" a beaming elder John Ondrasik said in an interview in Alexandria, Va., yesterday. "You hear it a million times, and you tell your kids that if you give, you get. But it's true."
Ondrasik, the singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name Five for Fighting, is in Washington to sing to members of Congress and to help promote his latest CD project. But the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist isn't actually selling anything. He is giving it away.
When finished, the musician will give away some 200,000 free CDs for U.S. troops, compliments of Ondrasik and some 13 superstar friends who partnered to make a "thank you" music disc for servicemembers. The contributing artists include Billy Joel, the Goo Goo Dolls, Brooks and Dunn, Melissa Ethridge and even actor Gary Sinise's Lt. Dan Band.
The CD will be distributed in Iraq and Afghanistan and can be downloaded now at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's Web site. Officials expect as many as 1.5 million downloads.
It's a deal that record industry officials have heralded as "historic," with such top artists basically giving away copies of their most popular songs. Ondrasik offered up Five for Fighting's "100 Years" from his platinum-selling album, "The Battle for Everything."
For Ondrasik, it's the least he can do, he said.
"A lot of other people have given a hell of a lot more than I have. And they're examples to me," he said.
He compared what he's doing to what the troops do, and said the troops do much more. "Someone said the other day, 'Wow, you take two weeks out of your life and you leave your family and you go play these shows for these troops. Wow, you're really cool,'" he said. "Some of these (troops) spend ... years in (the war zone). I take two weeks out of my life to go sing a song. That's not cool. What they do is cool. What they do is important."
While growing up in suburbia Los Angeles, Ondrasik said, he never really gave a lot of thought to military service or those who served. None of his family served. His closest kin serving was one "kind of" second cousin, he said. None of his friends joined the military after graduating from high school, he said, and while his family had a "healthy respect" for service, it was foreign to his way of life.
Then came the Gulf War in 1990.
"That kind of shook me. And I wrote a bunch of songs about that, because as an adult I had not had that experience," Ondrasik said. "It's different when you are glued to CNN for three weeks watching the first Gulf War. From then on, I was invested and not only just in our troops but in our country and in our values.
"You don't necessarily appreciate the policeman until somebody's trying to rob you. I think it's just natural in our culture. We can become complacent. We can become apathetic. That's one of the luxuries of democracy," Ondrasik said.
"Until all of the sudden you are afraid to go the mailbox because of anthrax," he continued. "Or you are afraid to get on an airplane, or you're afraid to go into a mall, and then all of the sudden, 'Wow, I'm sure glad we have our soldiers. I'm sure glad someone's ready to take a bullet for me,'" he said.
But while the imagery of war and politics filtered into some of his songs, Ondrasik had no one-on-one contact with servicemembers until after Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, he has played USO concerts for troops, met with families and talked to veterans. He's also visited wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army medical Center here and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
The stories have filtered into his music, such as the song "Two Lights," which portrays the mixed emotions of a Vietnam veteran watching his son leave for war in Iraq.
In his album released last year, Ondrasik wrote in the song "Freedom Never Cries" that "I never loved a soldier until there was a war." In his travels, he has had the chance to lunch with families, drink beers with troops and listen to their stories.
"Some tear your heart out, some make you proud, some make you laugh," he said.
Most poignant was playing for about 100 Army National Guardsmen stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he said. Singing in a little bar called "Club Survivor," Ondrasik said he could see the American flag outside lit by the moon. He could also see the fence that marked freedom's edge. He sang "Freedom Never Cries."
"Singing for those people, in that environment with that song, was something I'll never forget," the artist said. "When you see a fence that on the other side freedom does not exist; when you meet the families who have lost loved ones; when you meet the injured troops at Walter Reed or Bethesda, it becomes personal and real. It's not writing from afar any more."
Ondrasik said he has a song titled "4th of July in Gitmo" on his next album, not yet released.
For Ondrasik, singing for the troops and putting together the CD project is simply his contribution to supporting the troops.
"I can't pick up an M-16 and go to Baghdad, but I can write a song, or I can shine the light on the realities some of the military face, or I can go do a concert. So for me, it's what can I do," he said.
"Troops pay the ultimate price for our freedom and rights, and there is obligation to say thanks and recognize troops, families and veterans," Ondrasik said.
Ondrasik, a father of two, said his son loves to play army.
When asked how he would react if his son wanted to join the military, Ondrasik responded with the mixed emotions of most fathers.
"As a father, you don't want to put your son's life at risk. So the inclination is, 'Don't join the Army ... don't join the military. I don't want to lose you,'" he said. "At the same time, as an American, and one who believes in our values, if his passion leads him to a military career, I couldn't be more proud of him."
As for his daughter, Olivia, age 6, "She's hard-core. I wouldn't want to serve under her. She's a terror, and she would do just fine," the musician said and laughed.
This week, Ondrasik will return home to finish his album, enjoy a family Christmas and contemplate a second CD for the troops, maybe a comedy version, he said. He also will continue to spotlight servicemembers' efforts.
"We put athletes and celebrities on a pedestal and on the front with all the headlines. And sometimes I think we get it backwards," he said. "Whatever we can do to put the spotlight on those who deserve it is probably the right thing to do."
Army Looks at Long-term Need for Mine-resistant Vehicles
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - The Army has not made a formal proposal to cut the number of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles the service will buy, but officials are looking at the service's long-term need, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today. "It would not surprise me if (the Army) made an adjustment," Morrell said during a news conference. "You saw the Marines have made an adjustment to what they feel is necessary for their future operations. But I do not believe that a formal proposal has been put forth yet by the Army in terms of asking the secretary or anybody else to adjust downward what they wish to buy in the long term."
The Defense Department will continue to buy as many MRAP vehicles as it can, as fast as it can, the press secretary said.
The vehicles have proven to be life-savers on the battlefield. The armored V-shaped hull deflects the effects of improvised explosive devices away from soldiers or Marines riding in the vehicles. They've been especially effective against what the military calls "improvised explosive projectiles," IEDs designed especially to pierce armor. The department has contracted to buy 8,800 of the MRAP vehicles.
In November, DoD received 809 MRAP vehicles. The goal for the month was 997. Even with the shortfall, the number was almost twice the 419 vehicles the department received in October. The December goal is to build 1,200 MRAP vehicles.
"The good news is that we are well on our way to our goal of delivering vehicles to theater," Morrell said. The department's goal is to get 1,500 vehicles to the fighting fronts by the end of the calendar year. Through Dec. 5, the department had delivered 1,117 vehicles to the combat theater, Morrell said.
"So if we expeditiously get those or many of those that we produced during the month of November to theater, we will get to that 1,500 mark and it will be to the benefit of our troops over there," the press secretary said.
The vehicles are having an enormous impact. Very few American soldiers or Marines have been killed in an MRAP. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said getting these vehicles to the troops is one of his priorities.
"There is a huge capability that's brought on when we bring those ... vehicles to theater, and we hope to get as many of them as possible as soon as possible over there," Morrell said.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - The Army has not made a formal proposal to cut the number of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles the service will buy, but officials are looking at the service's long-term need, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today. "It would not surprise me if (the Army) made an adjustment," Morrell said during a news conference. "You saw the Marines have made an adjustment to what they feel is necessary for their future operations. But I do not believe that a formal proposal has been put forth yet by the Army in terms of asking the secretary or anybody else to adjust downward what they wish to buy in the long term."
The Defense Department will continue to buy as many MRAP vehicles as it can, as fast as it can, the press secretary said.
The vehicles have proven to be life-savers on the battlefield. The armored V-shaped hull deflects the effects of improvised explosive devices away from soldiers or Marines riding in the vehicles. They've been especially effective against what the military calls "improvised explosive projectiles," IEDs designed especially to pierce armor. The department has contracted to buy 8,800 of the MRAP vehicles.
In November, DoD received 809 MRAP vehicles. The goal for the month was 997. Even with the shortfall, the number was almost twice the 419 vehicles the department received in October. The December goal is to build 1,200 MRAP vehicles.
"The good news is that we are well on our way to our goal of delivering vehicles to theater," Morrell said. The department's goal is to get 1,500 vehicles to the fighting fronts by the end of the calendar year. Through Dec. 5, the department had delivered 1,117 vehicles to the combat theater, Morrell said.
"So if we expeditiously get those or many of those that we produced during the month of November to theater, we will get to that 1,500 mark and it will be to the benefit of our troops over there," the press secretary said.
The vehicles are having an enormous impact. Very few American soldiers or Marines have been killed in an MRAP. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said getting these vehicles to the troops is one of his priorities.
"There is a huge capability that's brought on when we bring those ... vehicles to theater, and we hope to get as many of them as possible as soon as possible over there," Morrell said.
Defense Department Notifies Congress of Furlough Moves
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - The Defense Department has officially notified Congress that the department will begin the furlough process for civilian employees of the Army, the Marine Corps and the combatant commands. Congressional leaders have released a letter from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England dated Dec. 7. In it, England gave legislators the required 45-day notice before beginning furloughs.
The furloughs will become necessary if Congress does not pass a global war on terror spending bill. "Without GWOT funding, only operations and maintenance funds in the base budget are available to cover war-related costs," England said in the letter. "O&M funds also cover salary costs for a large number of Army and Marine Corps civilian employees."
England reminded legislators of a letter he sent Nov. 8 to explain what would happen without supplemental war funding. "I emphasized that without this critical funding, the department would have no choice but to deplete key appropriations accounts in order to sustain essential military operations around the world," he wrote in his Dec. 7 letter.
The House passed a $50 billion bill last month with funds to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it included legislation that directs the president to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by December 2008. The measure failed in the Senate. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill that includes a troop-withdrawal timetable.
England's letter begins a process that could affect 100,000 civilian employees. "Specific furlough notices will be issued in mid-January," England said in his letter. "The department will also begin notifying appropriate labor organizations."
If the legislation does not pass, the Army will be the first service affected, in mid-February, and the Marine Corps about a month later. The services will be forced to divert operations and maintenance funds to continuing combat operations. Civilian employees in the United States and overseas would be affected.
"The furlough will negatively affect our ability to execute base operations and training activities," England wrote. "More importantly, it will affect the critical support our civilian employees provide to our warfighters -- support which is key to our current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
Congress has passed a $460 billion Defense Appropriations Act for 2008, but this is not enough to fund ongoing operations.
England told the lawmakers the Defense Department has no choice but to begin the furlough process. "While these actions will be detrimental to the nation, there are no other viable alternatives without additional congressional funding," he wrote.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - The Defense Department has officially notified Congress that the department will begin the furlough process for civilian employees of the Army, the Marine Corps and the combatant commands. Congressional leaders have released a letter from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England dated Dec. 7. In it, England gave legislators the required 45-day notice before beginning furloughs.
The furloughs will become necessary if Congress does not pass a global war on terror spending bill. "Without GWOT funding, only operations and maintenance funds in the base budget are available to cover war-related costs," England said in the letter. "O&M funds also cover salary costs for a large number of Army and Marine Corps civilian employees."
England reminded legislators of a letter he sent Nov. 8 to explain what would happen without supplemental war funding. "I emphasized that without this critical funding, the department would have no choice but to deplete key appropriations accounts in order to sustain essential military operations around the world," he wrote in his Dec. 7 letter.
The House passed a $50 billion bill last month with funds to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it included legislation that directs the president to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq by December 2008. The measure failed in the Senate. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill that includes a troop-withdrawal timetable.
England's letter begins a process that could affect 100,000 civilian employees. "Specific furlough notices will be issued in mid-January," England said in his letter. "The department will also begin notifying appropriate labor organizations."
If the legislation does not pass, the Army will be the first service affected, in mid-February, and the Marine Corps about a month later. The services will be forced to divert operations and maintenance funds to continuing combat operations. Civilian employees in the United States and overseas would be affected.
"The furlough will negatively affect our ability to execute base operations and training activities," England wrote. "More importantly, it will affect the critical support our civilian employees provide to our warfighters -- support which is key to our current operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq."
Congress has passed a $460 billion Defense Appropriations Act for 2008, but this is not enough to fund ongoing operations.
England told the lawmakers the Defense Department has no choice but to begin the furlough process. "While these actions will be detrimental to the nation, there are no other viable alternatives without additional congressional funding," he wrote.
America Supports You: Chilean Winery Lends Group Top-Shelf Support
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - A Chilean winery, through its U.S. marketer, is helping to make sure servicemembers stationed away from home this holiday season can stay in touch with loved ones. Santa Rita wines and Palm Bay International, a Florida-based wine importer, are working to donate $100,000 to help Cell Phones for Soldiers send phone cards to servicemembers this holiday season, Michael Preis said.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"There are three components to our program," said Preis, a portfolio director for Palm Bay International who works with Santa Rita. "One is a cash contribution."
Preis presented Cell Phones for Soldiers founders, siblings Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, with a $25,000 check on behalf of Santa Rita during Veterans Day weekend.
The cash donation is in addition to the 2,500 drop boxes located at participating retailers around the country where Santa Rita consumers can donate their used cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers collects and recycles cell phones, and uses the proceeds to purchase pre-paid phone cards for servicemembers.
Publicity is the third component of support the wine maker is offering. "We have put out not just the drop boxes, but 500,000 'neckers' that go on bottles," Preis said. "(They) give information about the charity and how people can contribute directly."
The program is raising awareness about Cell Phones for Soldiers on a national basis, Preis said. He added that support in all aspects of this has been "unbelievable and without precedent."
"It goes to show that social marketing causes where you're supporting charitable efforts really have an impact and a link with consumers," he said.
Preis said there's a very reasonable, and historic, explanation for why a Chilean winery wants to support U.S. soldiers. The story begins with an 1840 battle fought on what is now Santa Rita property.
"(The) battle was ... led by a gentleman by the name of Gen. Bernardo O'Higgins," he said. "He was basically the Chilean equivalent of George Washington."
As it turns out, O'Higgins would be instrumental in the country's struggle to emancipate itself from Spain's rule. Because of that history, Santa Rita officials identify with the United States, its early struggles for freedom and its strong support for the military, Preis said.
The winery expressed its desire to support U.S. servicemembers during a strategic planning meeting with Palm Bay International personnel in March, he said. It was shortly after that meeting that he learned about the Bergquists and Cell Phones for Soldiers while reading a New York newspaper.
"We wanted to do a focused program for (the Army and Air Force Exchange Service) and (Navy Exchange Service Command) showing that Santa Rita supported the troops," he said. "Buying phone cards was one of the ideas that came up, and in the New York Times ... was this article about these two unbelievable teens that had started Cell Phones for Soldiers three years ago."
After contacting the Bergquist family directly, the rest, Preis said, is history.
The program supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers will continue through Dec. 31, and Palm Bay International is accepting requests for cell phone collection boxes. Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters and Boy Scout troops, among other groups, have requested boxes, Preis said. "(The extended outreach) been a really nice side benefit," he said.
Even nicer for the Bergquists is the fact that Santa Rita and Palm Bay International are working on extending their support of Cell Phones for Soldiers.
"We are going to be working with them on an ongoing basis, and the relationship will continue," Preis said. "We're actually looking at ways right now to extend the program into 2008 and beyond."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - A Chilean winery, through its U.S. marketer, is helping to make sure servicemembers stationed away from home this holiday season can stay in touch with loved ones. Santa Rita wines and Palm Bay International, a Florida-based wine importer, are working to donate $100,000 to help Cell Phones for Soldiers send phone cards to servicemembers this holiday season, Michael Preis said.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"There are three components to our program," said Preis, a portfolio director for Palm Bay International who works with Santa Rita. "One is a cash contribution."
Preis presented Cell Phones for Soldiers founders, siblings Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, with a $25,000 check on behalf of Santa Rita during Veterans Day weekend.
The cash donation is in addition to the 2,500 drop boxes located at participating retailers around the country where Santa Rita consumers can donate their used cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers collects and recycles cell phones, and uses the proceeds to purchase pre-paid phone cards for servicemembers.
Publicity is the third component of support the wine maker is offering. "We have put out not just the drop boxes, but 500,000 'neckers' that go on bottles," Preis said. "(They) give information about the charity and how people can contribute directly."
The program is raising awareness about Cell Phones for Soldiers on a national basis, Preis said. He added that support in all aspects of this has been "unbelievable and without precedent."
"It goes to show that social marketing causes where you're supporting charitable efforts really have an impact and a link with consumers," he said.
Preis said there's a very reasonable, and historic, explanation for why a Chilean winery wants to support U.S. soldiers. The story begins with an 1840 battle fought on what is now Santa Rita property.
"(The) battle was ... led by a gentleman by the name of Gen. Bernardo O'Higgins," he said. "He was basically the Chilean equivalent of George Washington."
As it turns out, O'Higgins would be instrumental in the country's struggle to emancipate itself from Spain's rule. Because of that history, Santa Rita officials identify with the United States, its early struggles for freedom and its strong support for the military, Preis said.
The winery expressed its desire to support U.S. servicemembers during a strategic planning meeting with Palm Bay International personnel in March, he said. It was shortly after that meeting that he learned about the Bergquists and Cell Phones for Soldiers while reading a New York newspaper.
"We wanted to do a focused program for (the Army and Air Force Exchange Service) and (Navy Exchange Service Command) showing that Santa Rita supported the troops," he said. "Buying phone cards was one of the ideas that came up, and in the New York Times ... was this article about these two unbelievable teens that had started Cell Phones for Soldiers three years ago."
After contacting the Bergquist family directly, the rest, Preis said, is history.
The program supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers will continue through Dec. 31, and Palm Bay International is accepting requests for cell phone collection boxes. Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters and Boy Scout troops, among other groups, have requested boxes, Preis said. "(The extended outreach) been a really nice side benefit," he said.
Even nicer for the Bergquists is the fact that Santa Rita and Palm Bay International are working on extending their support of Cell Phones for Soldiers.
"We are going to be working with them on an ongoing basis, and the relationship will continue," Preis said. "We're actually looking at ways right now to extend the program into 2008 and beyond."
Face of Defense: 'Doc' Becker Defines Combat Medic
By Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Army Pfc. Sarah Becker has spent most of her year deployed as an Army medic gaining the respect of soldiers across Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. "It's a very prestigious thing to be called 'Doc' when you're around people that you work with," said Becker, of 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), Special Troops Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Military Police platoon. "It means that they respect you. It's not about the rank; it's about what you can do for them."
The Greenwich, Ohio, native, who is young and petite, spends much of her time teaching Afghan National Police personnel her specialty. She held her last class Dec. 1 in Jalalabad.
Becker estimated she has conducted 20 to 30 classes since she's been in Afghanistan. Her supervisor, Army Staff Sgt. Victor M. Diaz, explained why there is such a high demand for these classes. "We always get new (Afghan police) coming in," Diaz said. "So we're constantly training the new personnel for each situation such as how to give first aid, how to react to contact and so on."
The classes focus on first-responder care. Afghan national security forces frequently are faced with life-or-death situations on the battlefield, and their knowledge of first aid can save many of their own lives. Although the classes are focused on battlefield situations, Afghan forces are encouraged to take their new knowledge of first aid to help their local communities with more common health issues.
In an evaluation of Becker's performance in the field and in the classroom, Diaz explained that Becker is a competent and thorough professional. "She does an outstanding job. She knows what she's doing," Diaz said. "When she gives a class, she goes step by step. She doesn't miss any steps. Soldiers ask her questions, and she answers in detail. That's the way that we want her to do it."
Becker's last class focused on having an Afghan police platoon learn the meaning of the acronym MARCH. "MARCH is an acronym that one of my senior-ranking (noncommissioned officers) taught me," Becker said. "It stands for massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation and head trauma. It's all things that you can look at in your initial assessment as you're packaging up your casualty to get them on to higher facility care."
Becker's instruction sticks with her students, who practice the techniques she teaches, said Afghan National Police 2nd Lt. Abdul Waqaf, operation team leader. "We review it with our soldiers," Waqaf said. "We get a lot of good training from (coalition forces). If we don't review, then we will not be able to remember."
Afghan troops listen to Becker because she brings with her ample combat experience. Over the past summer she was attached to 66th Military Police Company in Camp Torkham, near the Pakistani border here in Nangarhar province. She has been on convoys that have been attacked and has treated numerous combat injuries.
"I actually had four traumas that I took care of," Becker said. "They were on different days, about a week apart."
When she's not conducting a class or treating injuries, Becker is pulling security duty like every other soldier in her platoon. "The No. 1 priority every time we get out of the vehicle is to pull security," Becker said.
The life of a combat medic is stressful, the missions are plenty, and the hours are long, but Becker handles the challenge well and manages to keep up the spirits of the "Sky Soldiers" she works with. "She's very friendly; she's kind. She likes to work; she's a hard worker," Diaz said. "She's constantly going on missions because she's the only medic we have in the platoon. If we have two missions in one day, she has to go on both missions. We'll come back from one and she'll jump from one vehicle and go into the other. She never complains."
Becker is a well of inspiration to those around her. She loves the people in her unit and the local Afghans, especially the children. Her inspiration comes from helping people, she said. "Being a medic I get to help people," Becker said. "I get to not only help U.S. soldiers, but I help the kids too. And, as you can see, it puts a smile on my face."
(Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel is assigned to 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 12, 2007 - Army Pfc. Sarah Becker has spent most of her year deployed as an Army medic gaining the respect of soldiers across Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. "It's a very prestigious thing to be called 'Doc' when you're around people that you work with," said Becker, of 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), Special Troops Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Military Police platoon. "It means that they respect you. It's not about the rank; it's about what you can do for them."
The Greenwich, Ohio, native, who is young and petite, spends much of her time teaching Afghan National Police personnel her specialty. She held her last class Dec. 1 in Jalalabad.
Becker estimated she has conducted 20 to 30 classes since she's been in Afghanistan. Her supervisor, Army Staff Sgt. Victor M. Diaz, explained why there is such a high demand for these classes. "We always get new (Afghan police) coming in," Diaz said. "So we're constantly training the new personnel for each situation such as how to give first aid, how to react to contact and so on."
The classes focus on first-responder care. Afghan national security forces frequently are faced with life-or-death situations on the battlefield, and their knowledge of first aid can save many of their own lives. Although the classes are focused on battlefield situations, Afghan forces are encouraged to take their new knowledge of first aid to help their local communities with more common health issues.
In an evaluation of Becker's performance in the field and in the classroom, Diaz explained that Becker is a competent and thorough professional. "She does an outstanding job. She knows what she's doing," Diaz said. "When she gives a class, she goes step by step. She doesn't miss any steps. Soldiers ask her questions, and she answers in detail. That's the way that we want her to do it."
Becker's last class focused on having an Afghan police platoon learn the meaning of the acronym MARCH. "MARCH is an acronym that one of my senior-ranking (noncommissioned officers) taught me," Becker said. "It stands for massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation and head trauma. It's all things that you can look at in your initial assessment as you're packaging up your casualty to get them on to higher facility care."
Becker's instruction sticks with her students, who practice the techniques she teaches, said Afghan National Police 2nd Lt. Abdul Waqaf, operation team leader. "We review it with our soldiers," Waqaf said. "We get a lot of good training from (coalition forces). If we don't review, then we will not be able to remember."
Afghan troops listen to Becker because she brings with her ample combat experience. Over the past summer she was attached to 66th Military Police Company in Camp Torkham, near the Pakistani border here in Nangarhar province. She has been on convoys that have been attacked and has treated numerous combat injuries.
"I actually had four traumas that I took care of," Becker said. "They were on different days, about a week apart."
When she's not conducting a class or treating injuries, Becker is pulling security duty like every other soldier in her platoon. "The No. 1 priority every time we get out of the vehicle is to pull security," Becker said.
The life of a combat medic is stressful, the missions are plenty, and the hours are long, but Becker handles the challenge well and manages to keep up the spirits of the "Sky Soldiers" she works with. "She's very friendly; she's kind. She likes to work; she's a hard worker," Diaz said. "She's constantly going on missions because she's the only medic we have in the platoon. If we have two missions in one day, she has to go on both missions. We'll come back from one and she'll jump from one vehicle and go into the other. She never complains."
Becker is a well of inspiration to those around her. She loves the people in her unit and the local Afghans, especially the children. Her inspiration comes from helping people, she said. "Being a medic I get to help people," Becker said. "I get to not only help U.S. soldiers, but I help the kids too. And, as you can see, it puts a smile on my face."
(Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel is assigned to 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Active, Reserve Components Meet November Recruiting Goals
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - All military components met their recruiting goals in November, Defense Department officials said here yesterday. It was the sixth month in a row that all services made their recruiting goals, officials said.
The military is recruiting in a difficult environment, defense officials said. Only three out of every 10 Americans in the targeted age group qualifies for military service. A good American economy and feelings against the Iraq war degrade the propensity of young Americans to enlist, officials said.
Still, the military is doing well. On the active-duty side, the Marine Corps made 108 percent of its recruiting goal, accessing 2,444 recruits against a goal of 2,263.
The Army had a November goal of 4,750 and signed up 4,783, for 101 percent of its goal. "This is a result of hard work by more than 8,000 recruiters nationwide," Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith said. "It is a difficult recruiting environment, but we have a great benefits package for young men and women, and we are making the best use we can of the service bonus programs."
The Navy made 100 percent of its goal of 2,732 recruits, and the Air Force met its goal of 1,836.
The Air National Guard and Army National Guard easily made their November goals at 133 percent and 116 percent, respectively. The Air National Guard had an accessions goal of 551 and signed up 735 airmen.
The Army National Guard brought in 5,135 soldiers, with a goal of 4,423. Officials at the National Guard Bureau said they enlisted 264 soldiers under the Active First program in November. That program gives recruits an enlistment bonus upon joining the active-duty force and another bonus when they transfer to the Guard.
The Army Reserve also exceeded its accessions goal for November at 101 percent. The component enlisted 2,980 soldiers, with a goal of 2,954.
The Air Force Reserve made 100 percent of its enlistment quota of 558; the Navy Reserve made 100 percent of its goal of 895; and the Marine Corps Reserve made its goal of 572.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 11, 2007 - All military components met their recruiting goals in November, Defense Department officials said here yesterday. It was the sixth month in a row that all services made their recruiting goals, officials said.
The military is recruiting in a difficult environment, defense officials said. Only three out of every 10 Americans in the targeted age group qualifies for military service. A good American economy and feelings against the Iraq war degrade the propensity of young Americans to enlist, officials said.
Still, the military is doing well. On the active-duty side, the Marine Corps made 108 percent of its recruiting goal, accessing 2,444 recruits against a goal of 2,263.
The Army had a November goal of 4,750 and signed up 4,783, for 101 percent of its goal. "This is a result of hard work by more than 8,000 recruiters nationwide," Army Recruiting Command spokesman Douglas Smith said. "It is a difficult recruiting environment, but we have a great benefits package for young men and women, and we are making the best use we can of the service bonus programs."
The Navy made 100 percent of its goal of 2,732 recruits, and the Air Force met its goal of 1,836.
The Air National Guard and Army National Guard easily made their November goals at 133 percent and 116 percent, respectively. The Air National Guard had an accessions goal of 551 and signed up 735 airmen.
The Army National Guard brought in 5,135 soldiers, with a goal of 4,423. Officials at the National Guard Bureau said they enlisted 264 soldiers under the Active First program in November. That program gives recruits an enlistment bonus upon joining the active-duty force and another bonus when they transfer to the Guard.
The Army Reserve also exceeded its accessions goal for November at 101 percent. The component enlisted 2,980 soldiers, with a goal of 2,954.
The Air Force Reserve made 100 percent of its enlistment quota of 558; the Navy Reserve made 100 percent of its goal of 895; and the Marine Corps Reserve made its goal of 572.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The INF Treaty and the Washington Summit: 20 Years Later
D.C., December 10, 2007 - Previously secret Soviet Politburo records and declassified American transcripts of the Washington summit 20 years ago between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev show that Gorbachev was willing to go much further than the Americans expected or were able to reciprocate on arms cuts and resolving regional conflicts, according to documents posted today by the National Security Archive at George Washington University (www.nsarchive.org).
Today's posting includes the internal Soviet deliberations leading up to the summit, full transcripts of the two leaders' discussions, the Soviet record of negotiations with top American diplomats, and other historic records being published for the first time.
The documents show that the Soviet Union made significant changes to its initial position to accommodate the U.S. demands, beginning with "untying the package" of strategic arms, missile defense, and INF in February 1987 and then agreeing to eliminate its newly deployed OKA/SS-23 missiles, while pressing the U.S. leadership to agree on substantial reductions of strategic nuclear weapons. Gorbachev's goal was to prepare and sign the START Treaty on the basis of 50 percent reductions of strategic offensive weapons in 1988 before the Reagan administration left office. In the course of negotiations, the Soviet Union also proposed cutting conventional forces in Europe by 25 percent and starting negotiations to eliminate chemical weapons.
The documents also detail Gorbachev's desire for genuine collaboration with the U.S. in resolving regional conflicts, especially the Iran-Iraq War, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Nicaragua. However, the documents show that the U.S. side was unwilling and unable to pursue many of the Soviet initiatives at the time due to political struggles within the Reagan administration. Reading these documents one gets a visceral sense of missed opportunities for achieving even deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals, resolving regional conflicts, and ending the Cold War even earlier.
The documents paint the fullest declassified portrait yet available of the Washington summit which ended 20 years ago today and centered on the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty--the only treaty of its kind in actually eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons. By eliminating mainly the missiles based in Europe, the treaty lowered the threat of nuclear war in Europe substantially and cleared the way for negotiations on tactical nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as negotiations on conventional forces in Europe.
Under the Treaty, the Soviet Union destroyed 889 of its intermediate-range missiles and 957 shorter-range missiles, and the U.S. destroyed 677 and 169 respectively. These were the missiles with very short flight time to targets in the Soviet Union, which made them "most likely to spur escalation to general nuclear war from any local hostilities that might erupt." These weapons were perceived as most threatening by the Soviet leadership, which is why the Soviet military supported the Treaty, even though there was a significant opposition among them to including the shorter-range weapons.
The Treaty included remarkably extensive and intrusive verification inspection and monitoring arrangements, based on the "any time and place" proposal of March 1987, which was accepted by the Soviets to the Americans' surprise; and the documents show that the Soviets were willing to go beyond the American position in the depth of verification regime. The new Soviet position on verification not only removed the hurdle that seemed insurmountable, but according to then-U.S. Ambassador to the USSR Jack Matlock, became a symbol of the new trust developing in U.S.-Soviet relations, which made the treaty and further progress on arms control possible.
The documents published here for the first time give the reader a unique and never-previously-available opportunity to look into the process of internal deliberations on both sides and the negotiations both before and during the summit in December 1987.
Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information about today's posting. http://www.nsarchive.org
Today's posting includes the internal Soviet deliberations leading up to the summit, full transcripts of the two leaders' discussions, the Soviet record of negotiations with top American diplomats, and other historic records being published for the first time.
The documents show that the Soviet Union made significant changes to its initial position to accommodate the U.S. demands, beginning with "untying the package" of strategic arms, missile defense, and INF in February 1987 and then agreeing to eliminate its newly deployed OKA/SS-23 missiles, while pressing the U.S. leadership to agree on substantial reductions of strategic nuclear weapons. Gorbachev's goal was to prepare and sign the START Treaty on the basis of 50 percent reductions of strategic offensive weapons in 1988 before the Reagan administration left office. In the course of negotiations, the Soviet Union also proposed cutting conventional forces in Europe by 25 percent and starting negotiations to eliminate chemical weapons.
The documents also detail Gorbachev's desire for genuine collaboration with the U.S. in resolving regional conflicts, especially the Iran-Iraq War, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Nicaragua. However, the documents show that the U.S. side was unwilling and unable to pursue many of the Soviet initiatives at the time due to political struggles within the Reagan administration. Reading these documents one gets a visceral sense of missed opportunities for achieving even deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals, resolving regional conflicts, and ending the Cold War even earlier.
The documents paint the fullest declassified portrait yet available of the Washington summit which ended 20 years ago today and centered on the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty--the only treaty of its kind in actually eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons. By eliminating mainly the missiles based in Europe, the treaty lowered the threat of nuclear war in Europe substantially and cleared the way for negotiations on tactical nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as negotiations on conventional forces in Europe.
Under the Treaty, the Soviet Union destroyed 889 of its intermediate-range missiles and 957 shorter-range missiles, and the U.S. destroyed 677 and 169 respectively. These were the missiles with very short flight time to targets in the Soviet Union, which made them "most likely to spur escalation to general nuclear war from any local hostilities that might erupt." These weapons were perceived as most threatening by the Soviet leadership, which is why the Soviet military supported the Treaty, even though there was a significant opposition among them to including the shorter-range weapons.
The Treaty included remarkably extensive and intrusive verification inspection and monitoring arrangements, based on the "any time and place" proposal of March 1987, which was accepted by the Soviets to the Americans' surprise; and the documents show that the Soviets were willing to go beyond the American position in the depth of verification regime. The new Soviet position on verification not only removed the hurdle that seemed insurmountable, but according to then-U.S. Ambassador to the USSR Jack Matlock, became a symbol of the new trust developing in U.S.-Soviet relations, which made the treaty and further progress on arms control possible.
The documents published here for the first time give the reader a unique and never-previously-available opportunity to look into the process of internal deliberations on both sides and the negotiations both before and during the summit in December 1987.
Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information about today's posting. http://www.nsarchive.org
America Supports You: Deployed Units Get Boost From Donated Computers
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - Many deployed servicemembers have received a morale boost thanks to computers donated by a Michigan-based organization. "We are a group of volunteers (who) rebuild laptop computers and supply them to deployed units for (morale, welfare and recreation), education and entertainment," said James R. Payne, a Vietnam veteran who's president of JDS Computer Donations.
The group accepts laptops, which it refurbishes and donates to nonprofit groups, public schools, and most recently, to deployed servicemembers. Nearly 500 of the refurbished machines already have been sent overseas to help servicemembers keep in touch with their loved ones back home.
Payne and his volunteers have received many responses from grateful servicemembers, many of which appear on the JDS Computer Donations Web site. One from the executive officer of Company A, 50th Signal Battalion, is a good summary of the sentiment expressed by others.
"On behalf of the soldiers, NCOs, and officers of Alpha Company, 50th Signal Battalion, I want to express how grateful we are for the donation of laptops to our unit," said Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Quimby. "Especially with the price of telephone minutes being so high, being able to use computers to communicate to loved ones back in the States is a convenience that we do not take for granted.
"Your effort in supporting our deployed soldiers is inspiring and represents the true heart of the American people," he concluded.
JDS Computer Donation as part of the Any Soldier Inc. support team. Both JDS Computer Donations and Any Soldier Inc. are supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - Many deployed servicemembers have received a morale boost thanks to computers donated by a Michigan-based organization. "We are a group of volunteers (who) rebuild laptop computers and supply them to deployed units for (morale, welfare and recreation), education and entertainment," said James R. Payne, a Vietnam veteran who's president of JDS Computer Donations.
The group accepts laptops, which it refurbishes and donates to nonprofit groups, public schools, and most recently, to deployed servicemembers. Nearly 500 of the refurbished machines already have been sent overseas to help servicemembers keep in touch with their loved ones back home.
Payne and his volunteers have received many responses from grateful servicemembers, many of which appear on the JDS Computer Donations Web site. One from the executive officer of Company A, 50th Signal Battalion, is a good summary of the sentiment expressed by others.
"On behalf of the soldiers, NCOs, and officers of Alpha Company, 50th Signal Battalion, I want to express how grateful we are for the donation of laptops to our unit," said Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Quimby. "Especially with the price of telephone minutes being so high, being able to use computers to communicate to loved ones back in the States is a convenience that we do not take for granted.
"Your effort in supporting our deployed soldiers is inspiring and represents the true heart of the American people," he concluded.
JDS Computer Donation as part of the Any Soldier Inc. support team. Both JDS Computer Donations and Any Soldier Inc. are supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Understanding Helps Families, Soldiers Deal With Brain Injuries
By Kimberly Gearhart
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - A pilot program is assessing soldiers returning here from Iraq for possible mild traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injury, or mTBI, has been called the signature wound of the war on terror. Identifying and treating that injury has become a priority for Army medical commands worldwide.
The pilot testing program uses "automated neuropsychological assessment metrics" to identify affected soldiers. The first post-deployment mTBI screenings are being conducted here as part of the reintegration process for soldiers of 2nd "Dagger" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
"The screening is intended to take pre-deployment measurements for a baseline, then retest after the deployment to measure for differences," said Army Lt. Col. Daniel Duecker, Schweinfurt Health Clinic commander.
In the case of the soldiers of the Dagger Brigade, however, no baseline reading was taken prior to their deployment. Consequently, Army Col. Mary Lopez, project officer in charge of the testing project, was unsure of what results -- if any -- her team would unearth.
"I didn't expect the testing to tell us much without the baseline for comparison, but the garrison commander (requested) it, ... because it's the right thing to do for the soldiers," said Lopez, who is a member of the Army's Surgeon General Office.
Lopez added that the range of results considered normal is broad, and of all pre-screenings performed, "we've not found anyone that legitimately fell below the norms."
This is why having a baseline for comparison is more precise, as it allows for a comparison between soldiers' post-deployment performance and their own norms.
What they found in testing Schweinfurt soldiers, however, surprised Lopez and her team. Thanks to key questions imbedded in the tests, Lopez and her team were able to identify soldiers at risk for mTBI and recommend follow-up through the Schweinfurt Health Clinic.
The key factors in a case of mTBI include an injury event -- such as a blow to the head -- which causes an alteration of consciousness. Such "alteration" can be losing consciousness, seeing stars or simply being temporarily disoriented. "Compared to those who reported no injury, we found significant differences in reaction time, concentration, and short-term memory" in soldiers reporting at-risk incidents, Lopez explained.
Results from the first groups to complete mTBI screening were provided to the area medical command. "Colonel Lopez's team was able to ... let the providers here know what they can expect to see in Schweinfurt, so that we can channel our resources in the best way to help these soldiers," said Army Col. Theresa Schneider, Bavarian Medical Department Activity commander.
Once the pilot program is fully tested, Lopez hopes to push it out to medical facilities in theater, where soldiers can be tested and their recovery tracked by doctors downrange, she said. "Soldiers (with mTBI), like football players on the field, look physically normal, but they're different. Their reaction time is off, concentration is off, and in a war-time environment, that's very dangerous," Lopez said.
With the assessment tool, doctors will be able to monitor recovery in such a way as to ensure soldiers are not returned to the fight until their recovery is complete, she said. "It is a treatable condition. They do recover," Lopez said, noting that patience, time and understanding are keys to coping with and treating mTBI.
Once soldiers return from deployment, family members may begin noticing irritability, sleeplessness, chronic headaches, clumsiness, and memory problems. This five-symptom cluster is a common sign of mTBI, with families often the first to notice such changes.
"The family is the most important element in any kind of rehab," Lopez stressed. "We see the soldier for an hour or two; you are with him every day. It is important for families to understand what the recovery process is and what they can do to help."
"The (soldier) is different, but they do recover. You have to understand that they are going to forget things and they're going to be irritable, but once the headaches stop and the sleeplessness ends, there will be improvement," the colonel said.
Soldiers often may be reluctant to seek treatment, Schneider noted, and it may fall to spouses to ensure soldiers are helped. Overall, she said, "there are (many) avenues available: the clinic, family readiness group, chain of command and the chaplain. The important thing is to get people talking about and aware of the situation."
(Kimberly Gearhart is assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - A pilot program is assessing soldiers returning here from Iraq for possible mild traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injury, or mTBI, has been called the signature wound of the war on terror. Identifying and treating that injury has become a priority for Army medical commands worldwide.
The pilot testing program uses "automated neuropsychological assessment metrics" to identify affected soldiers. The first post-deployment mTBI screenings are being conducted here as part of the reintegration process for soldiers of 2nd "Dagger" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
"The screening is intended to take pre-deployment measurements for a baseline, then retest after the deployment to measure for differences," said Army Lt. Col. Daniel Duecker, Schweinfurt Health Clinic commander.
In the case of the soldiers of the Dagger Brigade, however, no baseline reading was taken prior to their deployment. Consequently, Army Col. Mary Lopez, project officer in charge of the testing project, was unsure of what results -- if any -- her team would unearth.
"I didn't expect the testing to tell us much without the baseline for comparison, but the garrison commander (requested) it, ... because it's the right thing to do for the soldiers," said Lopez, who is a member of the Army's Surgeon General Office.
Lopez added that the range of results considered normal is broad, and of all pre-screenings performed, "we've not found anyone that legitimately fell below the norms."
This is why having a baseline for comparison is more precise, as it allows for a comparison between soldiers' post-deployment performance and their own norms.
What they found in testing Schweinfurt soldiers, however, surprised Lopez and her team. Thanks to key questions imbedded in the tests, Lopez and her team were able to identify soldiers at risk for mTBI and recommend follow-up through the Schweinfurt Health Clinic.
The key factors in a case of mTBI include an injury event -- such as a blow to the head -- which causes an alteration of consciousness. Such "alteration" can be losing consciousness, seeing stars or simply being temporarily disoriented. "Compared to those who reported no injury, we found significant differences in reaction time, concentration, and short-term memory" in soldiers reporting at-risk incidents, Lopez explained.
Results from the first groups to complete mTBI screening were provided to the area medical command. "Colonel Lopez's team was able to ... let the providers here know what they can expect to see in Schweinfurt, so that we can channel our resources in the best way to help these soldiers," said Army Col. Theresa Schneider, Bavarian Medical Department Activity commander.
Once the pilot program is fully tested, Lopez hopes to push it out to medical facilities in theater, where soldiers can be tested and their recovery tracked by doctors downrange, she said. "Soldiers (with mTBI), like football players on the field, look physically normal, but they're different. Their reaction time is off, concentration is off, and in a war-time environment, that's very dangerous," Lopez said.
With the assessment tool, doctors will be able to monitor recovery in such a way as to ensure soldiers are not returned to the fight until their recovery is complete, she said. "It is a treatable condition. They do recover," Lopez said, noting that patience, time and understanding are keys to coping with and treating mTBI.
Once soldiers return from deployment, family members may begin noticing irritability, sleeplessness, chronic headaches, clumsiness, and memory problems. This five-symptom cluster is a common sign of mTBI, with families often the first to notice such changes.
"The family is the most important element in any kind of rehab," Lopez stressed. "We see the soldier for an hour or two; you are with him every day. It is important for families to understand what the recovery process is and what they can do to help."
"The (soldier) is different, but they do recover. You have to understand that they are going to forget things and they're going to be irritable, but once the headaches stop and the sleeplessness ends, there will be improvement," the colonel said.
Soldiers often may be reluctant to seek treatment, Schneider noted, and it may fall to spouses to ensure soldiers are helped. Overall, she said, "there are (many) avenues available: the clinic, family readiness group, chain of command and the chaplain. The important thing is to get people talking about and aware of the situation."
(Kimberly Gearhart is assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt Public Affairs.)
New Pentagon Channel Program Serves Its First Course
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - The Pentagon Channel today served hungry television audiences its newest recipe for entertainment, a half-hour cooking show called "The Grill Sergeants." With a military flavor, each episode will teach audience members how to prepare a single food theme -- cakes, pies or turkey entrées, for example -- while the in-house Army jazz quartet "The Taste Buds," who also act as official taste testers, play the show's score. To pique the appetites of Defense Department staffers ahead of the program's noon debut, the program's host and producer served the chef's signature Louisiana-style gumbo in the Pentagon concourse.
"I love cooking gumbo," said host Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Turner, taking a break from serving cups filled with sausage, seafood and chicken gumbo to hungry workers. "It is probably the easiest dish to feed a mass of people, and it's filling, it's wonderful, and whomever I'm cooking for, I can always adapt it to them."
Turner is stationed at Fort Lee, Va., and was one of several military "Grill Sergeants" chosen to host the program. The chef, a charismatic showman with nearly 17 years of military experience, said "The Grill Sergeants" differs from other cooking shows in that it caters to a servicemember audience, with much of the dialogue peppered with military overtones.
In his favorite episode, titled "Saving Private Dining," Turner serenades The Taste Buds' bassist and his wife as they share a romantic fare that includes shrimp scampi and bananas foster cheesecake, which Turner had just cooked. "They just sat and eyeballed each other and took some time to be together," the chef said. "It doesn't get much better than that."
Turner's palette is borne of a New Orleans passion for food and, like many natives of the Big Easy, doesn't eat to live; he lives to eat. The chef said his favorite part of cooking is the unity that emerges through preparing meals.
"I give (the audience) the ability to share themselves with other people," the host said. "If you bake cookies with your kids, if you take time to cook with your spouse, if you take time to do that, that kind of gesture is irreplaceable."
Turner hopes "The Grill Sergeants" will encourage families, especially military families distanced by deployments and busy work schedules, to relish moments in the kitchen together, preparing dishes in easy steps outlined in the follow-along cooking show.
"You gotta eat three times a day," he said. "When your stomach says you're hungry, why take some time to think, 'Who have I not spoken to today?' That's three times a day that you can show love."
Linda Doditch, producer of "The Grill Sergeants," said the program was conceived as a way to expand the Pentagon Channel's offering of "lifestyle" programming. "It focuses on healthy eating, nutrition and food safety tips," she said. "And, of course, we're incorporating a lot of fun and good recipes and down-home cooking that anybody can make."
Doditch noted that recipes appearing on the show will be available on the program's Web site. One of the satisfied Pentagon staffers who enjoyed the gumbo medley said she plans to download the recipe and prepare it for her family.
"The gumbo is delicious; I want seconds," Defense Department employee Joanne Johnson said. "I certainly am going to try making this."
"The Grill Sergeants" will air Mondays at noon Eastern Time and also will be available on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, www.pentagonchannel.mil.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2007 - The Pentagon Channel today served hungry television audiences its newest recipe for entertainment, a half-hour cooking show called "The Grill Sergeants." With a military flavor, each episode will teach audience members how to prepare a single food theme -- cakes, pies or turkey entrées, for example -- while the in-house Army jazz quartet "The Taste Buds," who also act as official taste testers, play the show's score. To pique the appetites of Defense Department staffers ahead of the program's noon debut, the program's host and producer served the chef's signature Louisiana-style gumbo in the Pentagon concourse.
"I love cooking gumbo," said host Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Turner, taking a break from serving cups filled with sausage, seafood and chicken gumbo to hungry workers. "It is probably the easiest dish to feed a mass of people, and it's filling, it's wonderful, and whomever I'm cooking for, I can always adapt it to them."
Turner is stationed at Fort Lee, Va., and was one of several military "Grill Sergeants" chosen to host the program. The chef, a charismatic showman with nearly 17 years of military experience, said "The Grill Sergeants" differs from other cooking shows in that it caters to a servicemember audience, with much of the dialogue peppered with military overtones.
In his favorite episode, titled "Saving Private Dining," Turner serenades The Taste Buds' bassist and his wife as they share a romantic fare that includes shrimp scampi and bananas foster cheesecake, which Turner had just cooked. "They just sat and eyeballed each other and took some time to be together," the chef said. "It doesn't get much better than that."
Turner's palette is borne of a New Orleans passion for food and, like many natives of the Big Easy, doesn't eat to live; he lives to eat. The chef said his favorite part of cooking is the unity that emerges through preparing meals.
"I give (the audience) the ability to share themselves with other people," the host said. "If you bake cookies with your kids, if you take time to cook with your spouse, if you take time to do that, that kind of gesture is irreplaceable."
Turner hopes "The Grill Sergeants" will encourage families, especially military families distanced by deployments and busy work schedules, to relish moments in the kitchen together, preparing dishes in easy steps outlined in the follow-along cooking show.
"You gotta eat three times a day," he said. "When your stomach says you're hungry, why take some time to think, 'Who have I not spoken to today?' That's three times a day that you can show love."
Linda Doditch, producer of "The Grill Sergeants," said the program was conceived as a way to expand the Pentagon Channel's offering of "lifestyle" programming. "It focuses on healthy eating, nutrition and food safety tips," she said. "And, of course, we're incorporating a lot of fun and good recipes and down-home cooking that anybody can make."
Doditch noted that recipes appearing on the show will be available on the program's Web site. One of the satisfied Pentagon staffers who enjoyed the gumbo medley said she plans to download the recipe and prepare it for her family.
"The gumbo is delicious; I want seconds," Defense Department employee Joanne Johnson said. "I certainly am going to try making this."
"The Grill Sergeants" will air Mondays at noon Eastern Time and also will be available on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, www.pentagonchannel.mil.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Arab World Must Support Iraqi Progress, Gates Says
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on Iraq's Arab neighbors today to help the Iraqis build on progress being made to ensure it succeeds as a peaceful, stabilizing force in the region. "Whether the positive trends of recent months continue will be determined largely by where we go from here," Gates told about 200 delegates from 23 countries here at the International Institute for Strategic Studies' annual Manama Dialogue. "And by 'we,' I mean not only the United States and the Iraqi government, but also the governments of every nation represented at this dialogue."
Gates urged the Arab world to "exercise your influence with the Iraqis and encourage them to meet their own goals and expectations, to live up to their own promises."
"I also urge you to help them in every way that you can – by dampening homegrown insurgencies, by alleviating sectarian strife, by providing economic and diplomatic support," he said.
Gates reminded the audience that what happens in Iraq will affect the entire region, and that they have a big stake in ensuring a positive outcome.
He said playing Monday-morning quarterback regarding the situation offers important lessons, but that dwelling on the past stands in the way of a positive outcome. "We have to get the next sequence right," he said during a question-and-answer session following his address. "The consequences of not doing so are huge."
The secretary painted a bleak picture of the ripple effect of a failure in Iraq, most immediately right in its own and in its' neighbors' own backyards. A failed state of Iraq would adversely affect every country in the region, he said.
"The forces that would be unleashed – of sectarian strife, of an emboldened extremist movement with access to sanctuaries – do not recognize national boundaries and would surely target any government perceived to be a hindrance to their expansion of power," he said.
Gates, who visited Iraq en route to the conference, said he saw signs of real progress. He noted a dramatic drop in violence, and economic and political progress that, while slower than it had been hoped to be, still offers promise.
Any nation that stands in the way of that progress – whether by supporting insurgents or illegal militias in Iraq directly or indirectly, or simply by withholding support – ultimately hurts itself, Gates said.
"But just as the nations of the Middle East have the most to lose from chaos in Iraq, they also have the most to gain from a secure, stable, and prosperous Iraq," the secretary said.
Gates called nations represented at the summit to become full partners in building an Iraq that contributes to security in the Persian Gulf region, provides a strong trading partner and serves as an example of good governance and reconciliation.
He assured them the United States will remain with them in the effort, even as it begins drawing down its force presence in Iraq.
Gates said he's seen a growing appreciation in the United States of the need for some kind of residual force to remain in Iraq under terms agreed to be the Iraqi government. Such a force likely would continue pursuing al Qaeda, assist with border security and training and equipping of Iraqi security forces, and "be some kind of a stabilizing force," he said.
The secretary noted doubts by some at last year's Manama Dialogue -- set against a backdrop of deteriorating security and escalating sectarian violence in Iraq -- about whether the United States could continue to stand by its commitments to Iraq and the region.
"The record of American activity over the past year should dispel that uncertainty," the secretary said. "The United States remains committed to defending its vital interests and those of its allies in Iraq and in the wider Middle East."
Also during his address, Gates pressed today for expanded multilateral cooperation in the region, which he said would provide broader protection against Iran and other destabilizing forces.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on Iraq's Arab neighbors today to help the Iraqis build on progress being made to ensure it succeeds as a peaceful, stabilizing force in the region. "Whether the positive trends of recent months continue will be determined largely by where we go from here," Gates told about 200 delegates from 23 countries here at the International Institute for Strategic Studies' annual Manama Dialogue. "And by 'we,' I mean not only the United States and the Iraqi government, but also the governments of every nation represented at this dialogue."
Gates urged the Arab world to "exercise your influence with the Iraqis and encourage them to meet their own goals and expectations, to live up to their own promises."
"I also urge you to help them in every way that you can – by dampening homegrown insurgencies, by alleviating sectarian strife, by providing economic and diplomatic support," he said.
Gates reminded the audience that what happens in Iraq will affect the entire region, and that they have a big stake in ensuring a positive outcome.
He said playing Monday-morning quarterback regarding the situation offers important lessons, but that dwelling on the past stands in the way of a positive outcome. "We have to get the next sequence right," he said during a question-and-answer session following his address. "The consequences of not doing so are huge."
The secretary painted a bleak picture of the ripple effect of a failure in Iraq, most immediately right in its own and in its' neighbors' own backyards. A failed state of Iraq would adversely affect every country in the region, he said.
"The forces that would be unleashed – of sectarian strife, of an emboldened extremist movement with access to sanctuaries – do not recognize national boundaries and would surely target any government perceived to be a hindrance to their expansion of power," he said.
Gates, who visited Iraq en route to the conference, said he saw signs of real progress. He noted a dramatic drop in violence, and economic and political progress that, while slower than it had been hoped to be, still offers promise.
Any nation that stands in the way of that progress – whether by supporting insurgents or illegal militias in Iraq directly or indirectly, or simply by withholding support – ultimately hurts itself, Gates said.
"But just as the nations of the Middle East have the most to lose from chaos in Iraq, they also have the most to gain from a secure, stable, and prosperous Iraq," the secretary said.
Gates called nations represented at the summit to become full partners in building an Iraq that contributes to security in the Persian Gulf region, provides a strong trading partner and serves as an example of good governance and reconciliation.
He assured them the United States will remain with them in the effort, even as it begins drawing down its force presence in Iraq.
Gates said he's seen a growing appreciation in the United States of the need for some kind of residual force to remain in Iraq under terms agreed to be the Iraqi government. Such a force likely would continue pursuing al Qaeda, assist with border security and training and equipping of Iraqi security forces, and "be some kind of a stabilizing force," he said.
The secretary noted doubts by some at last year's Manama Dialogue -- set against a backdrop of deteriorating security and escalating sectarian violence in Iraq -- about whether the United States could continue to stand by its commitments to Iraq and the region.
"The record of American activity over the past year should dispel that uncertainty," the secretary said. "The United States remains committed to defending its vital interests and those of its allies in Iraq and in the wider Middle East."
Also during his address, Gates pressed today for expanded multilateral cooperation in the region, which he said would provide broader protection against Iran and other destabilizing forces.
Multilateral Cooperation Critical to Gulf Region Security, Gates Says
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pressed today for expanded multilateral cooperation that could better protect the Persian Gulf region against threats from Iran and other destabilizing forces. While emphasizing the importance of U.S. bilateral ties with many countries in the region, Gates told delegates at the Manama Dialogue here, it's time to pool their efforts more closely to bolster their collective security.
The annual summit, now in its fourth year, brings together about 200 senior military leaders from 23 countries to discuss mutual security interests.
Gates called broader security relationships, with closer multilateral ties and cooperation, "an absolute necessity" that will enhance the entire region's security. Such a framework could help pave the way for a regional air and missile defense system that would provide a regional defense umbrella and deter a missile attack, he added. Some elements that could contribute to such a system already are in the works. Just this week, the Defense Department notified Congress that it might sell upgraded AWACs airborne early warning systems to Saudi Arabia, and also announced a proposal to sell Patriot missile defense and early warning systems to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
"We should bear in mind the deterrent effect such a system would have," Gates said. "If the chances of a successful attack are greatly reduced, then so too is the value of pursuing offensive weapons systems and delivery systems."
Gates told the delegates regional cooperation also would enhance maritime security by providing a better "maritime surface picture" and standardized procedures to improve defenses. These would help protect against seaborne threats such as terrorism, piracy, narcotics trafficking and smuggling, the secretary explained.
He also urged more cooperative military training and exercise participation to promote interoperability among participating countries' armed forces.
While urging leaders to get their countries to work more closely together, Gates emphasized that the United States remains committed to the region. He told them operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the challenges they present, haven't diminished U.S. resolve.
Gates quickly set the record straight when one delegate questioned whether some U.S. actions in the region consider U.S. interests alone.
With 40 years of personal engagement in the region, Gates told the questioner, he doesn't have "enough fingers and toes to count the times when the United States has helped its friends and allies in the region – all of its friends and allies."
He cited the U.S. role in liberating Kuwait from an Iraqi invader as a signal event, but said U.S. support goes far deeper.
"We have been the primary sponsor of virtually every peace agreement and cease-fire that has been signed in this region for the last 35 years."
"We have exercised a constructive influence in trying to promote positive change," he said.
Gates said the United States welcomes regional countries' efforts to "create their own narrative" or chart their own courses.
"That's the way it happens with sovereign states," he said. "But the United States is a friend and an ally, and we are prepared to work with you. And the truth of the matter is, we help you create the security climate in which you can create your own narrative."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pressed today for expanded multilateral cooperation that could better protect the Persian Gulf region against threats from Iran and other destabilizing forces. While emphasizing the importance of U.S. bilateral ties with many countries in the region, Gates told delegates at the Manama Dialogue here, it's time to pool their efforts more closely to bolster their collective security.
The annual summit, now in its fourth year, brings together about 200 senior military leaders from 23 countries to discuss mutual security interests.
Gates called broader security relationships, with closer multilateral ties and cooperation, "an absolute necessity" that will enhance the entire region's security. Such a framework could help pave the way for a regional air and missile defense system that would provide a regional defense umbrella and deter a missile attack, he added. Some elements that could contribute to such a system already are in the works. Just this week, the Defense Department notified Congress that it might sell upgraded AWACs airborne early warning systems to Saudi Arabia, and also announced a proposal to sell Patriot missile defense and early warning systems to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
"We should bear in mind the deterrent effect such a system would have," Gates said. "If the chances of a successful attack are greatly reduced, then so too is the value of pursuing offensive weapons systems and delivery systems."
Gates told the delegates regional cooperation also would enhance maritime security by providing a better "maritime surface picture" and standardized procedures to improve defenses. These would help protect against seaborne threats such as terrorism, piracy, narcotics trafficking and smuggling, the secretary explained.
He also urged more cooperative military training and exercise participation to promote interoperability among participating countries' armed forces.
While urging leaders to get their countries to work more closely together, Gates emphasized that the United States remains committed to the region. He told them operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the challenges they present, haven't diminished U.S. resolve.
Gates quickly set the record straight when one delegate questioned whether some U.S. actions in the region consider U.S. interests alone.
With 40 years of personal engagement in the region, Gates told the questioner, he doesn't have "enough fingers and toes to count the times when the United States has helped its friends and allies in the region – all of its friends and allies."
He cited the U.S. role in liberating Kuwait from an Iraqi invader as a signal event, but said U.S. support goes far deeper.
"We have been the primary sponsor of virtually every peace agreement and cease-fire that has been signed in this region for the last 35 years."
"We have exercised a constructive influence in trying to promote positive change," he said.
Gates said the United States welcomes regional countries' efforts to "create their own narrative" or chart their own courses.
"That's the way it happens with sovereign states," he said. "But the United States is a friend and an ally, and we are prepared to work with you. And the truth of the matter is, we help you create the security climate in which you can create your own narrative."
Gates Calls for Continued International Pressure on Iran
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Days after a new national intelligence estimate concluded that Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons program but could restart it any time, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on the international community to keep up its pressure on Tehran. Gates told delegates at the Manama Dialogue security conference here that the report underscores the need for the international community to continue pressuring Iran to "come clean" about its activities and abandon the program altogether.
The NIE, issued Dec. 3, says the U.S. intelligence community believes Iran halted its covert nuclear weapons program -- which it denied existed -- in the fall of 2003. The report cites international scrutiny and pressure as the probable reasons.
Gates warned about 200 delegates from 23 nations attending the annual regional security conference about "cherry-picking" the NIE's findings rather than accepting "the full story" it gives.
"The report expresses with greater confidence than ever that Iran did have a nuclear weapons program – developed secretly, kept hidden for years, and in violation of its international obligations," he said.
The NIE unveils ongoing activities, too, Gates said. "It reports that they do continue their nuclear enrichment program, an essential long-lead-time component of any nuclear weapons program. It states that they do have the mechanisms still in place to restart their program," he said.
"And, the estimate is explicit that Iran is keeping its options open and could re-start its nuclear weapons program at any time – I would add, if it has not done so already."
Gates pointed to Iran's activities that defense officials report have left many of its neighbors feeling threatened. "Everywhere you turn, it is the policy of Iran to foment instability and chaos, no matter the strategic value or the cost in the blood of innocents," Gates said.
Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command and part of the U.S. delegation here, told reporters yesterday Iran's meddling – from supplying weapons to insurgents in Iran and Afghanistan to its seizure in March of 15 British sailors – is destabilizing to the United States as well as the Persian Gulf region.
"Their behavior has really been a problem, and to the extent that it destabilizes the region, which it does, then it becomes a problem for us," he said. "Everything they've done publicly has been a problem."
Gates said during a question-and-answer session following his address he's "not confident" high-level dialogue between the United States and Iran would do any good in light of Iran's inflammatory foreign policy. "Iran has to take some steps" for such a dialogue to be meaningful, he said.
Iran had been scheduled to send a delegation to the Manama Dialogue, but cancelled at the last minute.
In the meantime, Gates pointed to the international community as the only barrier to Iran re-starting its nuclear weapons program.
He urged Gulf-region leaders to pull together to demand that Iran "come clean" about past activities, suspend enrichment and openly affirm it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons. He also argued for them to demand inspections to make sure Iran lives up to its commitments and can't restart its nuclear weapons program at a moment's notice, or "at the whim of its most militant leaders."
Gates pressed for the international community to "continue – and intensify – our economic, financial and diplomatic pressures on Iran to suspend enrichment." He urged leaders to take the "peaceful but effective measures necessary to bring a long-term change of policies in Tehran."
Asked if the United States is planning a military confrontation with Iran, Gates emphasized that the U.S. focus is "100 percent diplomatic and economic."
The focus now, the secretary said, is trying to get the Iranians to change policies and practices that "should be a matter of grave concern to every government in world."
"We would like nothing better than for Iran to become a constructive player" in the region, he said.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2007 - Days after a new national intelligence estimate concluded that Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons program but could restart it any time, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on the international community to keep up its pressure on Tehran. Gates told delegates at the Manama Dialogue security conference here that the report underscores the need for the international community to continue pressuring Iran to "come clean" about its activities and abandon the program altogether.
The NIE, issued Dec. 3, says the U.S. intelligence community believes Iran halted its covert nuclear weapons program -- which it denied existed -- in the fall of 2003. The report cites international scrutiny and pressure as the probable reasons.
Gates warned about 200 delegates from 23 nations attending the annual regional security conference about "cherry-picking" the NIE's findings rather than accepting "the full story" it gives.
"The report expresses with greater confidence than ever that Iran did have a nuclear weapons program – developed secretly, kept hidden for years, and in violation of its international obligations," he said.
The NIE unveils ongoing activities, too, Gates said. "It reports that they do continue their nuclear enrichment program, an essential long-lead-time component of any nuclear weapons program. It states that they do have the mechanisms still in place to restart their program," he said.
"And, the estimate is explicit that Iran is keeping its options open and could re-start its nuclear weapons program at any time – I would add, if it has not done so already."
Gates pointed to Iran's activities that defense officials report have left many of its neighbors feeling threatened. "Everywhere you turn, it is the policy of Iran to foment instability and chaos, no matter the strategic value or the cost in the blood of innocents," Gates said.
Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command and part of the U.S. delegation here, told reporters yesterday Iran's meddling – from supplying weapons to insurgents in Iran and Afghanistan to its seizure in March of 15 British sailors – is destabilizing to the United States as well as the Persian Gulf region.
"Their behavior has really been a problem, and to the extent that it destabilizes the region, which it does, then it becomes a problem for us," he said. "Everything they've done publicly has been a problem."
Gates said during a question-and-answer session following his address he's "not confident" high-level dialogue between the United States and Iran would do any good in light of Iran's inflammatory foreign policy. "Iran has to take some steps" for such a dialogue to be meaningful, he said.
Iran had been scheduled to send a delegation to the Manama Dialogue, but cancelled at the last minute.
In the meantime, Gates pointed to the international community as the only barrier to Iran re-starting its nuclear weapons program.
He urged Gulf-region leaders to pull together to demand that Iran "come clean" about past activities, suspend enrichment and openly affirm it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons. He also argued for them to demand inspections to make sure Iran lives up to its commitments and can't restart its nuclear weapons program at a moment's notice, or "at the whim of its most militant leaders."
Gates pressed for the international community to "continue – and intensify – our economic, financial and diplomatic pressures on Iran to suspend enrichment." He urged leaders to take the "peaceful but effective measures necessary to bring a long-term change of policies in Tehran."
Asked if the United States is planning a military confrontation with Iran, Gates emphasized that the U.S. focus is "100 percent diplomatic and economic."
The focus now, the secretary said, is trying to get the Iranians to change policies and practices that "should be a matter of grave concern to every government in world."
"We would like nothing better than for Iran to become a constructive player" in the region, he said.
Why We Serve: Marine from Big City Transformed by Iraqi Desert
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 7, 2007 - When the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks stoked his sense of patriotism, a 15-year-old from Queens, N.Y., decided to enlist in the U.S. military following high school graduation. "I felt like the country needed me to help fill a void in military service," said Marine Cpl. Sean M. Henry, who grew up just miles from downtown Manhattan, where hijackers barreled planes into the World Trade Center towers. "So I made the choice that I was going to join the Marine Corps in 2004 straight after high school."
Henry is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military's story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Before Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., Henry had no experience living outside the bustling New York City borough he calls home. And though anecdotes shared with him by Marines returning from Iraq helped him prepare for an impending deployment to Qaim, it did little to blunt the perennial city boy's culture shock upon landing in the desert town near the Iraq-Syria border.
"I'm from the city; you know what I'm saying? And everything in the Marines, especially in Iraq, was about map reading, finding the North Star and all that stuff," Henry said. "And me, being the kid from Queens, I'm like, man, where's the subway?"
As if being away from the cosmopolitan perks of the Big Apple weren't difficult enough, Henry found himself ensconced in the sandy, pastoral desert life of Qaim -- a western Anbar town with a dubious electrical grid -- attempting to bridge the enormous American and Arab cultural divides while battling an elusive enemy.
"I call them 'ghosts,' because the insurgents would fire at us, and we'd never see them," the corporal recalled, "then we'd fire back."
On average, Henry and his comrades waged war with proverbial ghosts a few times a week. Once, while Henry's unit was at a re-transmission post -- a tiny military structure located between main bases and fortified only by sandbags -- a torrential sandstorm engulfed the Marines.
"I said to myself, 'Wow, this is the perfect time for the enemy to attack us,'" Henry said. "And as soon as I finish my sentence, a piece of wood clips me and my ear starts bleeding."
When Henry looked into the distance, he saw muzzle flashes coming from a bridge about 600 feet away. "And I'm only 19 years old you know, and this is real hectic," he recalled. "So I get on my mortar pitch, and I'm firing 100-round relay mortars onto the bridge.
"After that, we stopped hearing them firing on us," he said.
The insurgents who tried to overtake the re-transmission post that day likely would have succeeded if Henry and his team had succumbed to the pressure of the firefight surrounding them, he said. "But I was just thinking to myself that I've gotta get those mortars on target or else we're history, because they're moving pretty quick -- they had vehicles too," he recalled. "Fear doesn't really come into play."
Henry said that because the Marines had trained him to perform amid the tension of a mortar fight, he maintained calm professionalism. Similarly, because Henry had expanded his cultural horizons while deployed in Qaim, he thrived in a second deployment that required him to work among local Iraqis in Habbaniyah.
"When we first got (to Habbiniyah), there weren't kids playing soccer in the street; there weren't military-age males going to and from work or to the market; that was something that we brought to them," he said. "They weren't allowed to walk outside, but all that stopped once we got there."
At the beginning of the deployment, Henry and his unit were fired upon regularly, he said. But during the middle and nearing the end of his deployment, the situation had improved dramatically, he said.
By that point, the mission took on a new humanitarian angle, he said, and shifted from regularly engaging in indirect-fire fights with insurgents, to stabilizing neighborhoods at the grassroots level. Near the end of the deployment, for instance, Henry spent time ensuring that Iraqi children were attending school and that they were equipped with pencils, paper, books and other school supplies.
Asked if the efforts of he and his fellow Marines were noticeable, the corporal replied, "Oh my goodness, yes."
Henry was hungry for action as a 19-year-old enlistee in Qaim, he recalled. But halfway through that first deployment, and during his second deployment in Habbiniyah, Henry said, he was eager to help train younger guys, adopting a kind of mentor role.
"Sometimes tears would come to (the young Marines') eyes when they would help the Iraqi people and the kids," he recalled.
Henry, who will marry his fiancée, Miranda, in June, seems imbued with a sense of youthful wisdom after his experience in Iraq.
"The most important thing Iraq taught me is that no matter what happens, it can always be worse," he said. "I've been in some of the world's most messed up situations, and then I get to the (United) States and I say, 'People think they have it bad, but they don't.'"
Henry said he's unsure how his life would have turned out had he not joined the Marines. "I probably would have gone to some community college, been struggling for money, ... I don't know," he said. "It wouldn't have been better than the circumstance I'm in now.
"I'm definitely happy with my choice," he said. "I look back on some of my buddies back home, and they're pretty much in the same situation as when I left them, and when I tell them about all the wonderful things I've done -- and the things that I'm doing -- their experiences can't compare."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 7, 2007 - When the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks stoked his sense of patriotism, a 15-year-old from Queens, N.Y., decided to enlist in the U.S. military following high school graduation. "I felt like the country needed me to help fill a void in military service," said Marine Cpl. Sean M. Henry, who grew up just miles from downtown Manhattan, where hijackers barreled planes into the World Trade Center towers. "So I made the choice that I was going to join the Marine Corps in 2004 straight after high school."
Henry is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military's story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Before Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., Henry had no experience living outside the bustling New York City borough he calls home. And though anecdotes shared with him by Marines returning from Iraq helped him prepare for an impending deployment to Qaim, it did little to blunt the perennial city boy's culture shock upon landing in the desert town near the Iraq-Syria border.
"I'm from the city; you know what I'm saying? And everything in the Marines, especially in Iraq, was about map reading, finding the North Star and all that stuff," Henry said. "And me, being the kid from Queens, I'm like, man, where's the subway?"
As if being away from the cosmopolitan perks of the Big Apple weren't difficult enough, Henry found himself ensconced in the sandy, pastoral desert life of Qaim -- a western Anbar town with a dubious electrical grid -- attempting to bridge the enormous American and Arab cultural divides while battling an elusive enemy.
"I call them 'ghosts,' because the insurgents would fire at us, and we'd never see them," the corporal recalled, "then we'd fire back."
On average, Henry and his comrades waged war with proverbial ghosts a few times a week. Once, while Henry's unit was at a re-transmission post -- a tiny military structure located between main bases and fortified only by sandbags -- a torrential sandstorm engulfed the Marines.
"I said to myself, 'Wow, this is the perfect time for the enemy to attack us,'" Henry said. "And as soon as I finish my sentence, a piece of wood clips me and my ear starts bleeding."
When Henry looked into the distance, he saw muzzle flashes coming from a bridge about 600 feet away. "And I'm only 19 years old you know, and this is real hectic," he recalled. "So I get on my mortar pitch, and I'm firing 100-round relay mortars onto the bridge.
"After that, we stopped hearing them firing on us," he said.
The insurgents who tried to overtake the re-transmission post that day likely would have succeeded if Henry and his team had succumbed to the pressure of the firefight surrounding them, he said. "But I was just thinking to myself that I've gotta get those mortars on target or else we're history, because they're moving pretty quick -- they had vehicles too," he recalled. "Fear doesn't really come into play."
Henry said that because the Marines had trained him to perform amid the tension of a mortar fight, he maintained calm professionalism. Similarly, because Henry had expanded his cultural horizons while deployed in Qaim, he thrived in a second deployment that required him to work among local Iraqis in Habbaniyah.
"When we first got (to Habbiniyah), there weren't kids playing soccer in the street; there weren't military-age males going to and from work or to the market; that was something that we brought to them," he said. "They weren't allowed to walk outside, but all that stopped once we got there."
At the beginning of the deployment, Henry and his unit were fired upon regularly, he said. But during the middle and nearing the end of his deployment, the situation had improved dramatically, he said.
By that point, the mission took on a new humanitarian angle, he said, and shifted from regularly engaging in indirect-fire fights with insurgents, to stabilizing neighborhoods at the grassroots level. Near the end of the deployment, for instance, Henry spent time ensuring that Iraqi children were attending school and that they were equipped with pencils, paper, books and other school supplies.
Asked if the efforts of he and his fellow Marines were noticeable, the corporal replied, "Oh my goodness, yes."
Henry was hungry for action as a 19-year-old enlistee in Qaim, he recalled. But halfway through that first deployment, and during his second deployment in Habbiniyah, Henry said, he was eager to help train younger guys, adopting a kind of mentor role.
"Sometimes tears would come to (the young Marines') eyes when they would help the Iraqi people and the kids," he recalled.
Henry, who will marry his fiancée, Miranda, in June, seems imbued with a sense of youthful wisdom after his experience in Iraq.
"The most important thing Iraq taught me is that no matter what happens, it can always be worse," he said. "I've been in some of the world's most messed up situations, and then I get to the (United) States and I say, 'People think they have it bad, but they don't.'"
Henry said he's unsure how his life would have turned out had he not joined the Marines. "I probably would have gone to some community college, been struggling for money, ... I don't know," he said. "It wouldn't have been better than the circumstance I'm in now.
"I'm definitely happy with my choice," he said. "I look back on some of my buddies back home, and they're pretty much in the same situation as when I left them, and when I tell them about all the wonderful things I've done -- and the things that I'm doing -- their experiences can't compare."
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