Early Bird summary
Friday’s Early Bird leads with an article from the Washington Post about Iraq’s elections, stating that Saturday's vote marks perhaps the most competitive election in the country's history, as Iraqis choose the leadership of 14 of 18 provinces. Sunni Arabs largely boycotted the last vote, delivering Shiites and Kurds disproportionate power in some provinces, including Baghdad, Diyala and Nineveh. In predominantly Shiite southern Iraq and Sunni western Iraq, power coalesced around ostensibly religious parties, building on clandestine organizations in exile, underground networks under Saddam Hussein, support from Iran and other neighbors and, occasionally, the end of a militiaman's gun.
The New York Times reports that Iraqi government officials announced this week that they had refused to give a license to operate to Blackwater, whose guards were involved in shootings that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead in Baghdad in September 2007.The State Department responded Thursday by saying that it would comply with Iraq’s order, though a spokesman said no decision had yet been made on how the department would replace Blackwater.But last month, State Department officials met with representatives from Blackwater and two other security contractors, Dyncorp International and Triple Canopy, said participants in the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the subject.Under the State Department’s current contract, the companies divided diplomatic security work along regional lines in Iraq. Blackwater holds the largest contract because it handles security in central Iraq, including Baghdad and the American Embassy.At the meeting, State Department officials asked all three companies to submit proposals explaining how they would handle security in Iraq. Participants in the meeting said it was clear that the officials wanted to be prepared if the Iraqi government moved against Blackwater.
Other noteworthy stories in Friday’s EB:
§ The New York Times reports that Afghan officials said Thursday that they had decided to postpone the country’s presidential election until August, saying they needed more time to prepare. But the decision, which appeared to contravene Afghanistan’s Constitution, raised questions about the legitimacy of what could be President Hamid Karzai’s final months in office.Azizullah Ludin, the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, said his office had decided to put off the voting until Aug. 20, which would give election workers more time to register candidates and set up voting machinery, and soldiers more time to bring dozens of chaotic districts under control. Mr. Ludin said the new date would allow the presidential election to take place under more favorable weather.
§ Bloomberg.com reports that Admiral Michael Mullen, the most senior American military officer, said the U.S. will probably deploy close to 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan to shore up deteriorating security there.In an interview, Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, also said he is hopeful that other NATO nations will contribute additional military and civilian resources this year to the fight against a resurgent Taliban. The Islamist militia, which once ruled Afghanistan and sheltered al-Qaeda, is threatening large areas of the country with mounting attacks.Mullen said the new resources are needed to buy time for a broad, long-term buildup of Afghan security forces that will allow the U.S. to “put an Afghan face” on the effort and dispel perceptions of a foreign occupation.
§ The New York Times reports that The Obama administration has picked Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, a former top military commander in Afghanistan, to be the next United States ambassador to Kabul, an administration official said Thursday.Tapping a career Army officer who will soon retire from the service to fill one of the country’s most sensitive diplomatic jobs is a highly unusual choice.But Afghanistan specialists say that General Eikenberry, who served in Afghanistan twice, including an 18-month command tour that ended in 2007, knows the players and issues there well. That is a valuable commodity in a year when the United States will send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan and the country will hold presidential elections.
§ London Times reports that Britain’s top military commander has admitted for the first time that America was right to criticise the way in which British troops carried out counter-insurgency operations against the Taleban in southern Afghanistan when they first deployed to Helmand province in 2006.Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff and a former head of the RAF, blamed commanders for being “smug and complacent” about the challenges they faced in Helmand.His words echoed accusations made by Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, and several senior American military officers who claimed that their British counterparts spent too much time boasting about their experiences in Northern Ireland.
§ The International Herald Tribune reports that Russia seems to be testing the ground for a shift in policy, which could emerge at the annual gathering in Munich on security policy that two years ago was the forum used by then-President Vladimir Putin to take a much harsher tone with the West and announce Moscow's hard-nosed return as a force in international affairs.According to a defense source cited by the Interfax news agency, Russia may even be reconsidering its threat to deploy new missiles near Kaliningrad in response to a U.S. antimissile system that would be based in Eastern Europe. That may be a trial balloon to see how the new U.S administration and the Europeans will respond, particularly when governments on both sides of the Atlantic are preoccupied with the global financial crisis rather than pouring billions into new defense systems.
§ Meanwhile, Financial Times reports that Russia on Thursday stepped up plans to build a significant military outpost in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, announcing it would deploy the air force in the region as well as building a naval base.In the latest in a series of announcements causing concern within Nato, Moscow said it wanted to deploy about 20 military aircraft at a former Soviet airfield near Gudauta. The move came just days after the Kremlin suggested it would seek to build a naval base at Ochamchira, giving Russia a fresh port in the Black Sea.
§ The Washington Post says that President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the past week have sent repeated signals to Iran that the door is now wide open for direct talks between the two countries three decades after the Iranian revolution, but U.S. officials say the method, the pace and the tenor of that diplomacy still remain to be settled.
§ The New York Times reports that since 1997, Harold Nicholson has been locked in a federal prison in Oregon, the highest-ranking officer of the Central Intelligence Agency ever convicted of espionage.But even as federal inmate No. 49535-083, Mr. Nicholson never really retired as a Russian spy, federal prosecutors say. In an indictment unsealed Thursday, Mr. Nicholson and his 24-year-old son, Nathan, were charged with using jailhouse visits, coded letters and clandestine overseas meetings to sell more secrets to the Russians over the last three years, in a scheme Mr. Nicholson hatched from his prison cell. The Nicholsons pleaded not guilty on Thursday in federal court in Portland, Ore., and the public defender’s office was appointed to represent them.
Media summary
1. Leading newspaper headlines: Just in case the recent flood of depressing economic indicators hasn't been enough to convey how great this recession really is, the Washington Post leads with more data that came down the pipeline yesterday. (Slate Magazine)
2. Tight security before Iraq polls: A full-scale security clampdown is being rolled out in Iraq ahead of regional elections this weekend. (BBC)
3. U.S. ‘actively seeks’ Mid-East deal: The US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has said Washington is committed to "actively and aggressively" seeking lasting peace. (BBC)
4. HBO and Comcast to host the Virginia premiere of HBO Films’ “Taking Chance” Feb. 10 at the Quantico Marine Corps Base. (Broadcast News Room)
5. N.C.-based 2nd Marine Division celebrates birthday: A series of events for the birthday celebration of a North Carolina-based Marine Corps division is wrapping up. (WRAL.com, N.C.)
6. ‘Misperception,’ letter to the editor by LtCol Bracknell: 'Troubled minds and Purple Hearts' (op ed, Jan. 27) hits the mark on every point but one. (Virginian-Pilot)
Leading newspaper headlines
Just in case the recent flood of depressing economic indicators hasn't been enough to convey how great this recession really is, the Washington Post leads with more data that came down the pipeline yesterday. Sales of new homes plunged, 13,000 U.S. jobs were slashed, corporate earnings went deep in the red, and unemployment increased. The New York Times leads with President Obama harshly criticizing Wall Street bankers for receiving nearly $20 billion in bonuses last year even as the economy collapsed. "That is the height of irresponsibility," Obama said. "It is shameful."
The Wall Street Journal leads its world-wide newsbox with Illinois senators voting unanimously to remove Rod Blagojevich from office. He will now go down in history as the first Illinois governor to be impeached. USA Today leads with news that the Super Bowl will mark the first time that federal behavior-detection officers will be used at a major event. The Transportation Security Administration will be sending dozens of these officers, who normally work in airports, to join forces with local police and watch for suspicious behavior among the fans entering the Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Civil liberties advocates worry that this sets a dangerous precedent. "If we're going to use this at high-profile sporting events, why not start using it on streets?" an ACLU analyst said. The Los Angeles Times leads with a judge ordering California officials to comply with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's order that state employees take two days off a month without pay. The move would represent "the biggest rollback of the state payroll in decades."
As bad as yesterday's news on the economy was, it's expected to pale in comparison with a report on how the U.S. economy did in the last three months of 2008 that will be released this morning. Many think it will show the economy contracted by as much as a 6 percent annual rate, the worst level since 1982. But even without that report, there was plenty of bad news to go around. New home sales tumbled 14 percent in December from the month before, and it was the worst month on record since the early 1960s. Another record was reached in unemployment claims. Around 4.8 million people claimed unemployment insurance for the week ending Jan. 17, the highest level since records began to be kept in 1967. Ford also made history by recording its worst annual performance ever with a $14.6 billion loss. Analysts are now predicting the economy won't recover until late this year, but many are holding out hope that things won't get much worse.
Obama criticized Wall Street bankers after he ended a private meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Saying that "they should know better," Obama sounded "more like a frustrated schoolmarm than a president," notes the Post. But it seems clear that with his harsh words Obama sought to reassure lawmakers and the public that he is willing to impose more restrictions on executive compensation before the new administration takes any further steps to rescue banks. Sen. Christopher Dodd, the chairman of the Senate banking committee, said he will call executives to testify if it turns out that any taxpayer money was involved.
After impeaching him, Illinois senators held a second vote to bar Blagojevich from public office in the state. Blagojevich's troubles are far from over as he could still face federal charges of corruption and could go to prison. After boycotting the state Senate hearings for most of the week, he gave a speech before lawmakers voted. "I have done absolutely nothing wrong," he said. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn became the state's 41st governor last night.
The NYT spent the day with Blagojevich and paints an interesting portrait of a man who was clearly shocked and saddened by the turn of events but remained defiant. "We should have been more selfish, not selfless," he said. "It sounds probably perverse for me to say that based on what some people are saying about me. But it's true. My family, we didn't take advantage of all these things that people do."
Following up on a WP story from earlier this week, the WSJ fronts word that administration officials are looking into implementing a multipronged approach to stabilize the financial system that would involve buying banks' toxic assets and offering a guarantee against future losses. No decision has been made yet, but what does seem clear is that the Obama administration wants to put forward a "comprehensive" effort rather than the seemingly haphazard rescues that have been the norm.
There is still one central question, though, which readers will recognize as the same question that was being asked before TARP became a household acronym: How much will the government pay for the toxic assets? Now there's finally a hint that a roadmap is being created. It seems that what is being called the government "bad bank" would buy only assets that have already been heavily marked down. The other bad assets, which are a substantial amount and would include mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, "would be covered by a type of insurance against future losses." Many worry that the government will try to do too much and put together too many disparate initiatives that won't fit together smoothly. "You have to decide, 'Should I pay Peter? Should I pay Paul?' You do have to make some choices here," a former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers said.
The LAT off-leads a look at how Republicans seem to be at a loss over how to respond to Obama's stimulus package and what they should be proposing as an alternative. Individual Republicans have lots of ideas, but there is no consensus on what their priorities should be or whether the government should get involved at all. "There is not a coherent Republican message at this moment," a former GOP House member said.
The WP fronts, and everyone covers, news that the Senate passed a bill to expand health insurance to low-income children. The State Children's Health Insurance Program would continue coverage for 7 million youngsters and would also cover an additional 4 million children by 2013. Significantly, the vote was 66 to 32, with only nine Republicans joining Democrats. Many had hoped that the bill would have broad bipartisan support and that it could pave the way for discussing larger health care issues. But many Republicans dropped their support of the bill, largely because of a new provision that allows states to enroll children of legal immigrants, when an earlier compromise had limited it to those who had been in the country for more than five years.
The NYT and LAT report that Obama is considering offering Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire the position of commerce secretary. The White House denies that Obama has narrowed the list to one candidate. But if Gregg takes the job, it could prove to be a political gift to Democrats because his replacement would be chosen by New Hampshire's Democratic governor. If the seat were to go to a Democrat, and assuming Al Franken of Minnesota prevails in the ongoing court challenge, Obama's party would have a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority.
The NYT fronts, and the WP goes inside with, news that the highest-ranking CIA officer ever convicted of espionage tried to continue to sell secrets to Russia from his jail cell via his 24-year-old son. According to court papers, Harold Nicholson was after a "kind of retirement 'pension' available to him in Russia." At first he tried to use fellow inmates to pass on information, but in late 2006, he apparently turned to his son. Russia was at least partly interested in finding out details about how Nicholson got caught to learn how other agents might avoid the same fate.
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Tight security before Iraq polls
The US military is sending heavy troop deployments onto the streets
A full-scale security clampdown is being rolled out in Iraq ahead of regional elections this weekend.
It comes after gunmen killed three candidates in separate incidents across the country, after a relatively violence-free campaign.
Millions of Iraqis are expected to vote for provincial councils, in the first country-wide elections since 2005.
They are being seen as a test of Iraq's improving stability and a guide to the general election later this year.
The shooting of Sunni election contenders happened on Thursday in Baghdad and in the northern city of Mosul. In Diyala province, a candidate and two campaign workers were also killed.
Whereas the January 2005 elections helped put Iraq on the path to all-out civil war, these polls could represent another, far more peaceful turning point
International Crisis Group
The level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years. The security measures, however, include closing Iraq's international borders, ordering traffic bans across Baghdad and major cities, halting air traffic and night-time curfews.
Hundreds of women, including teachers and civic workers, have also been recruited to help search women voters after a rise in female suicide bombers last year, according to the Associated Press.
Iraqi and US military commanders have in recent days warned that al-Qaeda poses a threat to the elections.
The International Crisis Group, which studies conflict-torn nations around the world, has emphasised the importance of the poll.
In a report, it said: "Whereas the January 2005 elections helped put Iraq on the path to all-out civil war, these polls could represent another, far more peaceful turning point."
PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS
Vote could mark Iraq turning point
Iraq voices: provincial elections
Iraq: Key facts and figures
The election is also being seen as a quasi referendum on the leadership of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
Four years ago, Iraq's Sunni Arabs boycotted the legislative election, allowing Shia and Kurdish parties to take control of parliament, but Sunnis are now expected to take part in large numbers.
Saturday's elections are being held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats.
It is being organised by the United Nations and Iraq's Independent High Election Commission, with 800 international observers expected to oversee the balloting.
Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration and oversee finance and reconstruction projects. Security forces remain under federal government control.
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US 'actively seeks' Mid-East deal
George Mitchell visited a UN warehouse full of aid bound for Gaza
The US envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has said Washington is committed to "actively and aggressively" seeking lasting peace.
He announced that President Barack Obama had directed him to spend $20.3m (£14.1m) on food and medical aid to the wounded and displaced in Gaza.
Mr Mitchell is on a regional tour aimed at consolidating ceasefires declared by Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza.
Earlier, Mr Mitchell met Israeli politicians and intelligence officials.
Top of the Document
HBO and Comcast to host the Virginia premiere of HBO Films' 'TAKING CHANCE,' February 10, at the Quantico Marine Corps Base
January 30, 2009 --
QUANTICO, Va., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- HBO and Comcast will co-host the Virginia premiere of HBO Films' TAKING CHANCE, February 10, at Quantico Marine Corps Base, during an invitation-only screening event at the Little Hall Theater. Lead actor Kevin Bacon; director, executive producer and writer Ross Katz; writer Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.); executive producers Brad Krevoy and Cathy Wischner-Sola and HBO Films president Len Amato are scheduled to attend.
In spring 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl came across the name of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed in action in Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany Chance's remains to his family in Dubois, Wyoming.
Based on Strobl's personal journal of the same name, TAKING CHANCE chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that take place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home.
Strobl, who recently retired after serving 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, developed the original story with the strong support of Phelps' parents, John Phelps and Gretchen Mack, both of whom are also scheduled to attend the Virginia premiere.
Strobl's first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military's policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media.
An HBO Films presentation of a Motion Picture Corporation of America and Civil Dawn Pictures production, TAKING CHANCE marks the directorial debut of two-time Oscar(R)-nominated producer Ross Katz ("Lost in Translation"). The screenplay is by Lieutenant Colonel Strobl and Katz, based on the journal of the same name by Strobl, who also serves as military consultant. The executive producers are Brad Krevoy ("A Love Song for Bobby Long"), Cathy Wischner-Sola and Ross Katz; the co-executive producer is William Teitler (HBO's "Empire Falls"); and the producer is Lori Keith Douglas ("The Notorious Bettie Page"). HBO Films vice president Jenni Sherwood is the executive in charge of the production.
Kevin Bacon ("Frost/Nixon") stars in HBO Films' TAKING CHANCE, which debuts SATURDAY, FEB. 21 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
CAST AND FILMMAKER BIOS
Kevin Bacon (LtCol Michael Strobl) made his film debut as Chip in "National Lampoon's Animal House," which led to roles in "Diner" and "Footloose," the movie that propelled him to stardom. His film credits also include "Murder in the First" (voted Best Actor by The Broadcast Critics Association), "Apollo 13," "Mystic River" and "The Woodsman" (IFP Spirit Award nomination). Bacon's directing credits include "Loverboy," starring Kyra Sedgwick. He was recently seen in the feature films "Death Sentence" and "Rails & Ties," and he can currently be seen in the acclaimed "Frost/Nixon."
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC (Ret.) (writer, military consultant) enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983 and served in all three active duty Marine divisions as a field artilleryman. He has deployed to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf region with the 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units, and participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as part of the 1st Marine Division. Strobl's last assignment was at Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, Manpower and Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Va. He wrote the journal "Taking Chance" while serving with the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico in April 2004. He retired from the Marine Corps in 2007 and currently works as a defense analyst at the Pentagon.
Ross Katz (director, writer, executive producer) is a two-time Academy Award(R) nominee for producing and has now taken on the role of writer and director with TAKING CHANCE, his first feature film. As a producer, Katz received Best Picture Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe nominations and won Best Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards for Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation." He also garnered Best Picture Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe nominations for Todd Field's "In the Bedroom," which premiered at Sundance. Previously, Katz earned an Emmy(R) nomination as an executive producer of HBO Films' "The Laramie Project." Katz also produced Coppola's "Marie Antoinette." His first feature as producer was Jim Fall's "Trick." One of Katz's upcoming projects as writer and director is "Amateur American," based on the political thriller by J. Elmore Saunders, and produced by A Likely Story.
Brad Krevoy (executive producer) founded the Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) in 1986, and has played a key role in the finance, development, production and distribution of more than 100 motion picture and television projects. His producing credits include the smash hit comedy "Dumb and Dumber," the Peabody Award-winning TV movie "Annie," Kevin Spacey's directorial debut, "Albino Alligator," "A Love Song for Bobby Long," starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson, "Kingpin," "Jungle 2 Jungle" and "Beverly Hills Ninja." In 1996 Krevoy sold MPCA and became co-president of Orion Pictures, where he produced "Dead Poets Society," which brought Tom Schulman an Academy Award(R) for original screenplay, and released films such as Victor Nunez's critically acclaimed "Ulee's Gold," presented by Jonathan Demme and starring Academy Award(R) nominee Peter Fonda, as well as Sergei Bodrov's "Prisoner of the Mountains," an Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. Krevoy revitalized Orion Pictures, quickly positioning the company for sale to Kirk Kerkorian's MGM/UA in 1997, and subsequently restarted MPCA. He is currently prepping "Rainbow Bridge," written by two-time Academy Award(R) nominee William Nicholson.
Cathy Wischner-Sola's (executive producer) projects currently in development include "The Badlands," "Esperanza Rising" and "The Last Beach Bungalow." A former vice president of original programming at TNT, she was involved in such projects as "Pirates of Silicon Valley," "King of Texas," "Animal Farm" and "Smudge," which won a Humanitas Prize for Best Children's Movie. While an executive with Daniel H. Blatt Productions, she supervised "Common Ground" and "Sworn to Silence," among others. Wischner-Sola currently serves on the faculty of the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory.
William Teitler's (co-executive producer) producing credits include HBO Films' "Empire Falls," as well as "Zathura," "The Polar Express," "How to Deal," "Tuck Everlasting," "The Hurricane," "Jumanji," "Looking for Richard," "Mr. Holland's Opus" and "Picture Perfect." Teitler's television credits include HBO's CableACE Award-winning series "Tales from the Crypt" and "Tales from the Dark Side." His upcoming films include "Robot Taekwon V" and "The Widow's Broom."
Lori Keith Douglas (producer) began her film career in development and moved into physical production shortly thereafter. She worked with the production team at New Line Cinema, aiding in the development and production of more than a dozen films, including the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series and "The Mask," starring Jim Carrey. Her other credits include Mira Nair's "The Namesake," the HBO Films/Picturehouse release "The Notorious Bettie Page," "Requiem for a Dream," "The Savages" and the upcoming "The Rebound."
SOURCE HBO
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N.C.-based 2nd Marine Division celebrates birthday
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A series of events for the birthday celebration of a North Carolina-based Marine Corps division is wrapping up.
The 2nd Marine Division said more than 2,300 current and former Marines will take part in the events on Friday at Camp Lejeune. The events include a memorial service, awards ceremony and birthday banquet.
Marines celebrated earlier in the week with tank and artillery live-fire demonstrations.
The infantry division was founded Feb 1, 1941, and numbers more than 15,000 enlisted members and officers.
Members of the division have served in conflicts around the world since World War II.
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Misperception
'Troubled minds and Purple Hearts' (op ed, Jan. 27) hits the mark on every point but one: a proposed alternate award for service members returning with post-traumatic stress. Such an award would, in the military culture, be a nonstarter for the very reasons the author identifies: the perception of stigma by those with mental wounds. While the conventional wisdom long ago accepted that PTSD (and traumatic brain injury) are not signs of weakness, but real illnesses, a perception of dishonor still exists in some quarters of the military culture. Simply put, many service members wouldn't wear the medal for worry that it might mark them as less worthy than their physically wounded (or unwounded) peers. Where the Purple Heart is worn by some as a badge of honor, noting sacrifice and service in armed combat, a separate award recognizing mental injuries and TBI could be seen to mark the wearer as weak or attach some other shame to the individual's mental health status.
I can see one reasonable solution, and it is for the Department of Defense to reverse its policy of denying the Purple Heart to service members returning from combat with PTSD, particularly in the cases where the diagnosis of PTSD can be linked to TBI to some degree of medical certainty.
While the DOD may have raised irregular warfare, with its unconventional tactics such as improvised explosive devices, to the same level for funding and policy as traditional major combat missions, the fact that the department is resistant to adjusting the criteria for awarding the Purple Heart demonstrates that some senior leaders may not have fully internalized the paradigm shift.
Lt. Col. Robert G. Bracknell
Virginia Beach
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Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
29 January 2009
Early Bird summary:
Thursday’s Early Bird leads with a story from the Los Angeles Times, followed by similar stories from the Washington Post, New York Times and USA Today, reporting that Obama met for nearly two hours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the secure Pentagon conference room known as Tank. He emerged to shake hands with troops and promised to increase the involvement of civilian U.S. government agencies to work on governance, agriculture, civil justice and other issues in Afghanistan. The pledge addresses a long-standing Pentagon complaint.The meeting and Obama's comments follow recent indications that the new administration intends to limit U.S. goals in Afghanistan while intensifying the military aspects of the war. Vice President Joe Biden, who accompanied Obama, said this week that U.S. forces would step up action to counter recent Taliban advances.
The Associated Press reports that thousands of U.S. troops originally destined for Iraq have deployed south of Afghanistan's capital in the first illustration of a military refocus on the increasingly difficult fight in the South Asian nation, NATO said yesterday.Nearly 3,000 American soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., moved into the provinces of Logar and Wardak to the south of Kabul, the military alliance said.The latest deployment indicates the shifting focus in military operations from Iraq to Afghanistan, where the U.S. and its allies are trying to turn the tide of Taliban gains and prop up the government of embattled President Hamid Karzai.
Other notable stories in today’s EB:
§ The New York Times says that a Russian news report on Wednesday that Russia is putting off its plan to deploy missiles near the Polish border raised speculation that the Kremlin is seeking ways to lower tensions with the United States now that a new administration has taken office.The report, from the Interfax news agency, was attributed to an unidentified Russian defense official, and when contacted later in the day, other Russian defense and Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow would not confirm it or comment on it.
§ The Financial Times reports that Nato member states are concerned by Russia’s decision to build a naval base in the breakaway territory of Abkhazia, a move which the alliance believes would further underline Moscow’s violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.Although Russia and Nato have seen a gradual improvement in relations in recent weeks, Jaap de Hopp Scheffer, Nato’s secretary-general is set to raise the issue when he meets Sergei Ivanov, the Russian deputy prime minister, next week.
§ DefenseNews.com carries a story from Agence France-Press reporting that the United States and its allies might have to deploy up to 460,000 soldiers to North Korea to stabilize the country if it collapses and an insurgency erupts, a private U.S. study said Jan. 28.The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think tank outlined what amounted to a worst-case scenario in the event the country descends into total chaos and foreign troops intervene after a failed succession upon Kim Jong-Il's death.The South Korean agency Yonhap, quoting "well-informed intelligence sources," reported this month that Kim, 66, had named his third son, Kim Jong-Un, 24, as successor. Kim is reported to have suffered a stroke in August.
§ United Press International reports that New software being tested by U.S. Central Command would enable military computers for the first time ever to be connected at the same time to both classified and unclassified networks - including the public Internet.Officials say the technology, if it proves secure, could save more than $200 million for CENTCOM and eliminate the need to use work-arounds like thumb drives to move data between networks containing different levels of classified information."It has been called the Holy Grail," Elwood "Bud" Jones, a program manager for multinational information sharing at CENTCOM told United Press International.Mr. Jones said CENTCOM was engaged in a piloting and testing process called a Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration Project, code-named "One Box, One Wire," or OB1, which would end after three years with the rollout of the software throughout CENTCOM.
Media summary
1. Leading newspaper headlines: The House approved the $819 billion stimulus package, but President Obama's efforts to bring Republicans to his side didn't pay off. (Slate Magazine)
2. President to Muslim world – “Americans are not your enemy”: Transcript of President Barack Obama’s interview with al-Arabiya television network
3. BAE receives $9.9 million Marine contract: Military contractor BAE Systems said Wednesday it has received a $9.9 million contract to provide gun shields for troops fighting in urban environments. (Associated Press)
4. FAA release of Marine crash tape delayed: (San Diego Union Tribune)
5. Iraq safer, but is democracy catching?: U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General John Kelly is on his second tour as a commander in Anbar province. He calls the security improvements in what was once Iraq's most dangerous area, "stunning, just stunning." (CBS News)
6. II Marine Expeditionary Force deploys: Around 200 Camp Lejeune marines and sailors packed their bags and began a long journey to Al Anbar Province in Iraq. (WNCT TV-9, CBS Affiliate, Greenville, Jacksonville, New Bern N.C.)
7. National Museum of the Marine Corps remains top Virginia destination: (Market Watch)
8. Iraq ends licence for Blackwater: Iraq will not renew the licence of US security firm Blackwater, which was involved in an 2007 incident in which at least 14 civilians were killed. (BBC)
Leading newspaper headlines
The House approved the $819 billion stimulus package, but President Obama's efforts to bring Republicans to his side didn't pay off. The bill passed without a single Republican vote, and 11 Democrats also opposed the measure. The Los Angeles Times declares that the package is "the largest attempt since World War II to use the federal budget to redirect the course of the nation's economy." The Washington Post specifies that the price tag is larger "than the combined total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so far," and the Wall Street Journal points out the cost of the bill is "almost equal to the entire cost of annual federal spending under Congress's discretion."
The New York Times notes that the lack of Republican support for the bill "seemed to echo the early months of the last Democratic administration, when President Bill Clinton in 1993 had to rely solely on Democrats to win passage of a deficit-reduction bill that was a signature element of his presidency." But USA Today says that "Obama's chance of winning GOP Senate votes next week is better." Indeed, Obama suggested that he will welcome changes to the bill in the Senate that might attract more support from Republicans. And a few Republicans hinted that they might support the final version of the bill if some changes are implemented in the Senate, suggesting the unanimous voting was a tactic to get Democrats to pay attention to their demands.
Implementing some changes requested by Republicans has already pushed the total cost of the bill in the Senate to almost $900 billion. And that's bound only to increase. The WP details that senators are preparing new amendments to the bill that include a reduction in taxes on corporate profits earned abroad and brought back to the United States. There are likely to be more amendments in the coming days as a variety of interest groups are busy clamoring for a piece of the pie. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure next week, and Democrats continue to emphasize that they want to get the package to Obama's desk by Feb. 13, before Congress goes on recess for Presidents Day.
So, what exactly is in the package? Several of the papers, particularly the WSJ, do an admirable job of trying to enumerate the main aspects of the package, and USAT provides a handy outline. But, as the LAT summarizes, it ultimately "contains an almost-bewildering array of provisions, many of them funded at all-but-unprecedented levels." Whichever way you look at it, the bill would be a major change in the way Washington goes about trying to boost the economy. As the WSJ notes, whereas the Bush administration leaned toward tax cuts that benefitted those in the middle class and above, the tax cuts in this stimulus package focus on lower-income Americans. And that's without considering the dizzying mixture of spending that makes up two-thirds of the total cost and includes both short-term and long-term projects.
In a piece inside, the WSJ highlights that the final version of the package "could include dozens of special-interest provisions" that were championed by lawmakers to help their constituents. And lobbyists are working overtime to try to get senators to throw a little bit of stimulus their way. In typical sausage-making fashion, some things were added to the bill that don't even have anything to do with the economy. For example, one Democratic lawmaker added a measure to give federal workers more whistle-blower protections.
The WP devotes a separate front-page piece to a provision in the Senate version of the package that would require "all stimulus-funded projects use only American-made equipment and goods." It is turning out to be one of the most controversial aspects of the bill as many of the largest American companies are characterizing it as a war against free trade. There are fears that if the provision stays in the bill, it would lead other countries to retaliate against U.S. companies and might encourage similar measures around the world, which could usher in a new era of protectionism.
In a front-page analysis, the NYT's David Herszenhorn says that while it's clear that some of the stimulus "will start to be felt within weeks" of Obama's signature, estimating the package's effectiveness "is a far more complex calculation requiring almost line-by-line scrutiny of the 647-page bill." The increase in unemployment benefits and food stamps would almost certainly produce a quick jolt to the economy, and the aid that would be provided to states is also generally seen as an area where the stimulus could be effective. One of the big unknowns is the infrastructure spending because it would generally take longer to implement. That could be good if the recovery is slow, but if the economy recovers quickly, these projects "could start just in time to compete with renewed private spending."
If there is one thing that was made clear this week, it's that partisan politics is alive and well in Washington, notes the LAT in an analysis piece inside the paper. While the approval of the bill was undoubtedly a victory for the new administration, it "also marked a victory of sorts for [Rush] Limbaugh and other conservative opinion leaders." In a tactic that dutifully followed the partisan playbook, Republicans focused much of their attention on some sections of the bill that were easy to mock. Limbaugh's power was in full view yesterday as one Republican lawmaker found himself apologizing after he criticized the radio host.
In an op-ed piece in the WSJ, Limbaugh writes that the "porkulus" bill is designed to "cement the party's majority power for decades." In a funny-if-it-weren't-so-sad moment, Limbaugh urges a bipartisanship approach to the bill, saying that since Obama got around 54 percent of the vote, then that same percentage of the stimulus package should be decided by Democrats, while the rest should "be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me." The current crisis "is an opportunity to unify people, if we set aside the politics."
Moving on to another part of the ailing economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said yesterday that the administration is working on a plan to "repair the financial system." Geithner didn't release any details, but the WSJ hears word from officials that the Obama administration is looking at spending another $1 trillion to $2 trillion in its attempts to bolster financial institutions. And that huge figure might be optimistic. The NYT says some estimate it may take up to $3 trillion to $4 trillion to buy up the toxic assets currently plaguing banks' balance sheets. This, of course, would mean that the administration would have to go to Congress to ask for more funds since only $350 billion of the $700 billion financial bailout is still available, and some of that has already been earmarked for certain projects.
Just because financial companies across Wall Street lost billions of dollars and asked for help from Uncle Sam, that doesn't mean they didn't pay their employees enviable bonuses. The NYT reports that the New York state comptroller revealed that employees at financial companies received around $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008, and that's without counting stock option awards. Although far less than recent years, it was the sixth-largest bonus season on record. It's unclear whether the companies used taxpayer money to pay for the bonuses, but it's a distinct possibility.
The Food and Drug Administration issued "one of the largest food recalls in history" yesterday when it announced that all products made from peanuts processed by Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Georgia over the last two years should be thrown out, the Post reports on Page One. The dramatic move came after investigators discovered that the plant knowingly shipped salmonella-contaminated products a dozen times in 2007 and 2008. One lawmaker said she would ask the Justice Department to investigate whether criminal charges should be filed against plant officials. Eight people have died and more than 500 people were sickened by salmonella poisoning linked to the Georgia plant.
Although Obama has been in office for barely a week, he has already managed to change the White House culture, notes the NYT. A photograph showing Obama sans suit jacket in the Oval Office shocked Bush administration officials, who were always required to wear one. Obama's advisers say the president likes it warm and had cranked up the heat (um, what about that global warming thing?), but it's clear the new president is less hung up on protocol than his predecessor. He is allowing staff members to dress "business casual" on weekends, roams the halls, and comes into work later and stays later than Bush did.
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President to Muslim World: “Americans are not your enemy”
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
In his first interview with an Arab television station, President Barack Obama offered a bold change to America's relations with the Muslim world.
"My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives," President Obama told Al Arabiya. "My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy."
In the interview, conducted in the White House map room, President Obama also expressed his commitment to tackling the Middle East peace process immediately.
"Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now," he said. "It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now."
The interview is part of the President’s broader outreach to the Muslim world, which includes a promise to make a major address from the capital of a Muslim nation.
Al Arabiya is a 24-hour Arabic-language news channel based out of Dubai.
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Transcript:
Q Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Q Sir, you just met with your personal envoy to the Middle East, Senator Mitchell. Obviously, his first task is to consolidate the cease-fire. But beyond that you've been saying that you want to pursue actively and aggressively peacemaking between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Tell us a little bit about how do you see your personal role, because, you know, if the President of the United States is not involved, nothing happens -- as the history of peacemaking shows. Will you be proposing ideas, pitching proposals, parameters, as one of your predecessors did? Or just urging the parties to come up with their own resolutions, as your immediate predecessor did?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals.
And so what I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating -- in the past on some of these issues -- and we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. He's going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.
Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.
And it's going to be difficult, it's going to take time. I don't want to prejudge many of these issues, and I want to make sure that expectations are not raised so that we think that this is going to be resolved in a few months. But if we start the steady progress on these issues, I'm absolutely confident that the United States -- working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region -- I'm absolutely certain that we can make significant progress.
Q You've been saying essentially that we should not look at these issues -- like the Palestinian-Israeli track and separation from the border region -- you've been talking about a kind of holistic approach to the region. Are we expecting a different paradigm in the sense that in the past one of the critiques -- at least from the Arab side, the Muslim side -- is that everything the Americans always tested with the Israelis, if it works. Now there is an Arab peace plan, there is a regional aspect to it. And you've indicated that. Would there be any shift, a paradigm shift?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, here's what I think is important. Look at the proposal that was put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia --
Q Right.
THE PRESIDENT: I might not agree with every aspect of the proposal, but it took great courage --
Q Absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: -- to put forward something that is as significant as that. I think that there are ideas across the region of how we might pursue peace.
I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I've said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.
Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.
And so what we want to do is to listen, set aside some of the preconceptions that have existed and have built up over the last several years. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs.
Q I want to ask you about the broader Muslim world, but let me -- one final thing about the Palestinian-Israeli theater. There are many Palestinians and Israelis who are very frustrated now with the current conditions and they are losing hope, they are disillusioned, and they believe that time is running out on the two-state solution because -- mainly because of the settlement activities in Palestinian-occupied territories. Will it still be possible to see a Palestinian state -- and you know the contours of it -- within the first Obama administration?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state -- I'm not going to put a time frame on it -- that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life.
And, look, I think anybody who has studied the region recognizes that the situation for the ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved. And the bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child in the Palestinian Territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security? And if we can keep our focus on making their lives better and look forward, and not simply think about all the conflicts and tragedies of the past, then I think that we have an opportunity to make real progress.
But it is not going to be easy, and that's why we've got George Mitchell going there. This is somebody with extraordinary patience as well as extraordinary skill, and that's what's going to be necessary.
Q Absolutely. Let me take a broader look at the whole region. You are planning to address the Muslim world in your first 100 days from a Muslim capital. And everybody is speculating about the capital. (Laughter.) If you have anything further, that would be great.
How concerned are you -- because, let me tell you, honestly, when I see certain things about America -- in some parts, I don't want to exaggerate -- there is a demonization of America.
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.
Q It's become like a new religion, and like a new religion it has new converts -- like a new religion has its own high priests.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q It's only a religious text.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q And in the last -- since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and -- and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q How concerned are you and -- because people sense that you have a different political discourse. And I think, judging by (inaudible) and Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden and all these, you know -- a chorus --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I noticed this. They seem nervous.
Q They seem very nervous, exactly. Now, tell me why they should be more nervous?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that when you look at the rhetoric that they've been using against me before I even took office --
Q I know, I know.
THE PRESIDENT: -- what that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt. There's no actions that they've taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them.
In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you've built, not what you've destroyed. And what they've been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognized that that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction.
Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.
Q The largest one.
THE PRESIDENT: The largest one, Indonesia. And so what I want to communicate is the fact that in all my travels throughout the Muslim world, what I've come to understand is that regardless of your faith -- and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers -- regardless of your faith, people all have certain common hopes and common dreams.
And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.
But ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words but by my actions and my administration's actions. And I think that what you will see over the next several years is that I'm not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what's on a television station in the Arab world -- but I think that what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I'm speaking to them, as well.
Q Tell me, time is running out, any decision on from where you will be visiting the Muslim world?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not going to break the news right here.
Q Afghanistan?
THE PRESIDENT: But maybe next time. But it is something that is going to be important. I want people to recognize, though, that we are going to be making a series of initiatives. Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now. It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now. We're going to follow through on our commitment for me to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital. We are going to follow through on many of my commitments to do a more effective job of reaching out, listening, as well as speaking to the Muslim world.
And you're going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq, so that Iraqis can start taking more responsibility. And finally, I think you've already seen a commitment, in terms of closing Guantanamo, and making clear that even as we are decisive in going after terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, that we're going to do so on our terms, and we're going to do so respecting the rule of law that I think makes America great.
Q President Bush framed the war on terror conceptually in a way that was very broad, "war on terror," and used sometimes certain terminology that the many people -- Islamic fascism. You've always framed it in a different way, specifically against one group called al Qaeda and their collaborators. And is this one way of --
THE PRESIDENT: I think that you're making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations -- whether Muslim or any other faith in the past -- that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name.
And so you will I think see our administration be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaeda -- that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it -- and people who may disagree with my administration and certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down.
But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.
Q Can I end with a question on Iran and Iraq then quickly?
THE PRESIDENT: It's up to the team --
MR. GIBBS: You have 30 seconds. (Laughter.)
Q Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.
Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that's not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past -- none of these things have been helpful.
But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.
Q Shall we leave Iraq next interview, or just --
MR. GIBBS: Yes, let's -- we're past, and I got to get him back to dinner with his wife.
Q Sir, I really appreciate it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Q Thanks a lot.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Top of the Document
BAE receives $9.9 million Marines contract
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Military contractor BAE Systems said Wednesday it has received a $9.9 million contract to provide gun shields for troops fighting in urban environments.
BAE Systems will provide 442 Marine Corps Transparent Armored Gun Shield turret kits used on vehicles such as the Bradley and M1 Abrams tanks and assault amphibious vehicle.
The design of the gun shield turret kits allows troops direct vision "while providing protection against blast fragmentation and small arms fire to the crew while in the turret," said Ann Hoholick, vice president of BAE Systems' amphibious vehicles and armor kits.
Work will begin immediately in York, Pa., and Santa Clara, Calif., and activity on the initial delivery order is expected to be completed in June.
The contract is managed by the Marine Corps Systems Command.
BAE Systems Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of London-based BAE Systems PLC.
Top of the Document
FAA release of Marine crash tape delayed
By Steve Liewer (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
FAA officials have granted the military's request to delay the release of radio communications between its air traffic controllers and the Marine pilot whose jet crashed into a University City neighborhood last month.
The Federal Aviation Administration will wait until Feb. 27 to make public the recording, which is expected to shed light on what happened before the F/A-18 Hornet killed four people and damaged six homes.
“Our legal staff reviewed the Marine Corps' request and determined there was legal justification for temporarily delaying the release of the audio,” said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman.
Marine lawyers argued that public airing of the recording would jeopardize their investigations into the Dec. 8 crash. An aide to Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Lakeside, said the service is finishing its preliminary investigation and expects to issue a report in February.
“I don't think there's any doubt they'll be released eventually,” said Maj. Eric Dent, a spokesman at Marine Corps headquarters. “We asked that it be delayed so (investigators) can consider it.”
FAA officials had signaled they would release the 16-minute recording yesterday to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests filed by The San Diego Union-Tribune and The Associated Press.
The recording could help answer why the student pilot decided to fly his crippled jet over several miles of densely populated neighborhoods near Miramar Marine Corps Air Station instead of diverting to North Island Naval Air Station, which offers an over-water approach.
Shortly before noon, the aircraft lost an engine on takeoff from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln during an offshore training exercise. The second engine sputtered and failed as the F/A-18 flew over University City.
The pilot, Lt. Dan Neubauer, ejected safely seconds before the jet slammed into Cather Avenue, then plowed through the home of Don Yoon, a 37-year-old businessman, and left it a fiery ruin.
Yoon was at work at the time. But his wife, Youngmi Lee, 36; his two young daughters, Grace and Rachel; and his mother-in-law, Seokim Kim, all died. In the days afterward, Yoon's grace and his public forgiveness of Neubauer touched people around the world, with hundreds attending a prayer service and the funeral for his family.
Marine officials said they will make public the findings of their legal investigation into the crash. But Maj. Jay Delarosa, a Miramar spokesman, said it's unclear when that will happen.
“It's not complete,” he said. “We're still committed to doing the job right.”
Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition in San Rafael, said the Marine Corps appears to be within its rights to request a delay if the investigation is still ongoing.
“If it were to turn out that there was no real risk of jeopardizing the Marine investigation, delay of disclosure would raise serious legal questions,” Scheer said. “Any delay whose real purpose is to enable the Marine Corps to manipulate media coverage of the results of any investigation would be highly inappropriate.”
Top of the Document
Thursday’s Early Bird leads with a story from the Los Angeles Times, followed by similar stories from the Washington Post, New York Times and USA Today, reporting that Obama met for nearly two hours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the secure Pentagon conference room known as Tank. He emerged to shake hands with troops and promised to increase the involvement of civilian U.S. government agencies to work on governance, agriculture, civil justice and other issues in Afghanistan. The pledge addresses a long-standing Pentagon complaint.The meeting and Obama's comments follow recent indications that the new administration intends to limit U.S. goals in Afghanistan while intensifying the military aspects of the war. Vice President Joe Biden, who accompanied Obama, said this week that U.S. forces would step up action to counter recent Taliban advances.
The Associated Press reports that thousands of U.S. troops originally destined for Iraq have deployed south of Afghanistan's capital in the first illustration of a military refocus on the increasingly difficult fight in the South Asian nation, NATO said yesterday.Nearly 3,000 American soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., moved into the provinces of Logar and Wardak to the south of Kabul, the military alliance said.The latest deployment indicates the shifting focus in military operations from Iraq to Afghanistan, where the U.S. and its allies are trying to turn the tide of Taliban gains and prop up the government of embattled President Hamid Karzai.
Other notable stories in today’s EB:
§ The New York Times says that a Russian news report on Wednesday that Russia is putting off its plan to deploy missiles near the Polish border raised speculation that the Kremlin is seeking ways to lower tensions with the United States now that a new administration has taken office.The report, from the Interfax news agency, was attributed to an unidentified Russian defense official, and when contacted later in the day, other Russian defense and Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow would not confirm it or comment on it.
§ The Financial Times reports that Nato member states are concerned by Russia’s decision to build a naval base in the breakaway territory of Abkhazia, a move which the alliance believes would further underline Moscow’s violation of Georgia’s sovereignty.Although Russia and Nato have seen a gradual improvement in relations in recent weeks, Jaap de Hopp Scheffer, Nato’s secretary-general is set to raise the issue when he meets Sergei Ivanov, the Russian deputy prime minister, next week.
§ DefenseNews.com carries a story from Agence France-Press reporting that the United States and its allies might have to deploy up to 460,000 soldiers to North Korea to stabilize the country if it collapses and an insurgency erupts, a private U.S. study said Jan. 28.The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think tank outlined what amounted to a worst-case scenario in the event the country descends into total chaos and foreign troops intervene after a failed succession upon Kim Jong-Il's death.The South Korean agency Yonhap, quoting "well-informed intelligence sources," reported this month that Kim, 66, had named his third son, Kim Jong-Un, 24, as successor. Kim is reported to have suffered a stroke in August.
§ United Press International reports that New software being tested by U.S. Central Command would enable military computers for the first time ever to be connected at the same time to both classified and unclassified networks - including the public Internet.Officials say the technology, if it proves secure, could save more than $200 million for CENTCOM and eliminate the need to use work-arounds like thumb drives to move data between networks containing different levels of classified information."It has been called the Holy Grail," Elwood "Bud" Jones, a program manager for multinational information sharing at CENTCOM told United Press International.Mr. Jones said CENTCOM was engaged in a piloting and testing process called a Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration Project, code-named "One Box, One Wire," or OB1, which would end after three years with the rollout of the software throughout CENTCOM.
Media summary
1. Leading newspaper headlines: The House approved the $819 billion stimulus package, but President Obama's efforts to bring Republicans to his side didn't pay off. (Slate Magazine)
2. President to Muslim world – “Americans are not your enemy”: Transcript of President Barack Obama’s interview with al-Arabiya television network
3. BAE receives $9.9 million Marine contract: Military contractor BAE Systems said Wednesday it has received a $9.9 million contract to provide gun shields for troops fighting in urban environments. (Associated Press)
4. FAA release of Marine crash tape delayed: (San Diego Union Tribune)
5. Iraq safer, but is democracy catching?: U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General John Kelly is on his second tour as a commander in Anbar province. He calls the security improvements in what was once Iraq's most dangerous area, "stunning, just stunning." (CBS News)
6. II Marine Expeditionary Force deploys: Around 200 Camp Lejeune marines and sailors packed their bags and began a long journey to Al Anbar Province in Iraq. (WNCT TV-9, CBS Affiliate, Greenville, Jacksonville, New Bern N.C.)
7. National Museum of the Marine Corps remains top Virginia destination: (Market Watch)
8. Iraq ends licence for Blackwater: Iraq will not renew the licence of US security firm Blackwater, which was involved in an 2007 incident in which at least 14 civilians were killed. (BBC)
Leading newspaper headlines
The House approved the $819 billion stimulus package, but President Obama's efforts to bring Republicans to his side didn't pay off. The bill passed without a single Republican vote, and 11 Democrats also opposed the measure. The Los Angeles Times declares that the package is "the largest attempt since World War II to use the federal budget to redirect the course of the nation's economy." The Washington Post specifies that the price tag is larger "than the combined total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so far," and the Wall Street Journal points out the cost of the bill is "almost equal to the entire cost of annual federal spending under Congress's discretion."
The New York Times notes that the lack of Republican support for the bill "seemed to echo the early months of the last Democratic administration, when President Bill Clinton in 1993 had to rely solely on Democrats to win passage of a deficit-reduction bill that was a signature element of his presidency." But USA Today says that "Obama's chance of winning GOP Senate votes next week is better." Indeed, Obama suggested that he will welcome changes to the bill in the Senate that might attract more support from Republicans. And a few Republicans hinted that they might support the final version of the bill if some changes are implemented in the Senate, suggesting the unanimous voting was a tactic to get Democrats to pay attention to their demands.
Implementing some changes requested by Republicans has already pushed the total cost of the bill in the Senate to almost $900 billion. And that's bound only to increase. The WP details that senators are preparing new amendments to the bill that include a reduction in taxes on corporate profits earned abroad and brought back to the United States. There are likely to be more amendments in the coming days as a variety of interest groups are busy clamoring for a piece of the pie. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure next week, and Democrats continue to emphasize that they want to get the package to Obama's desk by Feb. 13, before Congress goes on recess for Presidents Day.
So, what exactly is in the package? Several of the papers, particularly the WSJ, do an admirable job of trying to enumerate the main aspects of the package, and USAT provides a handy outline. But, as the LAT summarizes, it ultimately "contains an almost-bewildering array of provisions, many of them funded at all-but-unprecedented levels." Whichever way you look at it, the bill would be a major change in the way Washington goes about trying to boost the economy. As the WSJ notes, whereas the Bush administration leaned toward tax cuts that benefitted those in the middle class and above, the tax cuts in this stimulus package focus on lower-income Americans. And that's without considering the dizzying mixture of spending that makes up two-thirds of the total cost and includes both short-term and long-term projects.
In a piece inside, the WSJ highlights that the final version of the package "could include dozens of special-interest provisions" that were championed by lawmakers to help their constituents. And lobbyists are working overtime to try to get senators to throw a little bit of stimulus their way. In typical sausage-making fashion, some things were added to the bill that don't even have anything to do with the economy. For example, one Democratic lawmaker added a measure to give federal workers more whistle-blower protections.
The WP devotes a separate front-page piece to a provision in the Senate version of the package that would require "all stimulus-funded projects use only American-made equipment and goods." It is turning out to be one of the most controversial aspects of the bill as many of the largest American companies are characterizing it as a war against free trade. There are fears that if the provision stays in the bill, it would lead other countries to retaliate against U.S. companies and might encourage similar measures around the world, which could usher in a new era of protectionism.
In a front-page analysis, the NYT's David Herszenhorn says that while it's clear that some of the stimulus "will start to be felt within weeks" of Obama's signature, estimating the package's effectiveness "is a far more complex calculation requiring almost line-by-line scrutiny of the 647-page bill." The increase in unemployment benefits and food stamps would almost certainly produce a quick jolt to the economy, and the aid that would be provided to states is also generally seen as an area where the stimulus could be effective. One of the big unknowns is the infrastructure spending because it would generally take longer to implement. That could be good if the recovery is slow, but if the economy recovers quickly, these projects "could start just in time to compete with renewed private spending."
If there is one thing that was made clear this week, it's that partisan politics is alive and well in Washington, notes the LAT in an analysis piece inside the paper. While the approval of the bill was undoubtedly a victory for the new administration, it "also marked a victory of sorts for [Rush] Limbaugh and other conservative opinion leaders." In a tactic that dutifully followed the partisan playbook, Republicans focused much of their attention on some sections of the bill that were easy to mock. Limbaugh's power was in full view yesterday as one Republican lawmaker found himself apologizing after he criticized the radio host.
In an op-ed piece in the WSJ, Limbaugh writes that the "porkulus" bill is designed to "cement the party's majority power for decades." In a funny-if-it-weren't-so-sad moment, Limbaugh urges a bipartisanship approach to the bill, saying that since Obama got around 54 percent of the vote, then that same percentage of the stimulus package should be decided by Democrats, while the rest should "be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me." The current crisis "is an opportunity to unify people, if we set aside the politics."
Moving on to another part of the ailing economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said yesterday that the administration is working on a plan to "repair the financial system." Geithner didn't release any details, but the WSJ hears word from officials that the Obama administration is looking at spending another $1 trillion to $2 trillion in its attempts to bolster financial institutions. And that huge figure might be optimistic. The NYT says some estimate it may take up to $3 trillion to $4 trillion to buy up the toxic assets currently plaguing banks' balance sheets. This, of course, would mean that the administration would have to go to Congress to ask for more funds since only $350 billion of the $700 billion financial bailout is still available, and some of that has already been earmarked for certain projects.
Just because financial companies across Wall Street lost billions of dollars and asked for help from Uncle Sam, that doesn't mean they didn't pay their employees enviable bonuses. The NYT reports that the New York state comptroller revealed that employees at financial companies received around $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008, and that's without counting stock option awards. Although far less than recent years, it was the sixth-largest bonus season on record. It's unclear whether the companies used taxpayer money to pay for the bonuses, but it's a distinct possibility.
The Food and Drug Administration issued "one of the largest food recalls in history" yesterday when it announced that all products made from peanuts processed by Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Georgia over the last two years should be thrown out, the Post reports on Page One. The dramatic move came after investigators discovered that the plant knowingly shipped salmonella-contaminated products a dozen times in 2007 and 2008. One lawmaker said she would ask the Justice Department to investigate whether criminal charges should be filed against plant officials. Eight people have died and more than 500 people were sickened by salmonella poisoning linked to the Georgia plant.
Although Obama has been in office for barely a week, he has already managed to change the White House culture, notes the NYT. A photograph showing Obama sans suit jacket in the Oval Office shocked Bush administration officials, who were always required to wear one. Obama's advisers say the president likes it warm and had cranked up the heat (um, what about that global warming thing?), but it's clear the new president is less hung up on protocol than his predecessor. He is allowing staff members to dress "business casual" on weekends, roams the halls, and comes into work later and stays later than Bush did.
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President to Muslim World: “Americans are not your enemy”
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
In his first interview with an Arab television station, President Barack Obama offered a bold change to America's relations with the Muslim world.
"My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives," President Obama told Al Arabiya. "My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy."
In the interview, conducted in the White House map room, President Obama also expressed his commitment to tackling the Middle East peace process immediately.
"Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now," he said. "It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now."
The interview is part of the President’s broader outreach to the Muslim world, which includes a promise to make a major address from the capital of a Muslim nation.
Al Arabiya is a 24-hour Arabic-language news channel based out of Dubai.
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Transcript:
Q Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Q Sir, you just met with your personal envoy to the Middle East, Senator Mitchell. Obviously, his first task is to consolidate the cease-fire. But beyond that you've been saying that you want to pursue actively and aggressively peacemaking between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Tell us a little bit about how do you see your personal role, because, you know, if the President of the United States is not involved, nothing happens -- as the history of peacemaking shows. Will you be proposing ideas, pitching proposals, parameters, as one of your predecessors did? Or just urging the parties to come up with their own resolutions, as your immediate predecessor did?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals.
And so what I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating -- in the past on some of these issues -- and we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. He's going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.
Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.
And it's going to be difficult, it's going to take time. I don't want to prejudge many of these issues, and I want to make sure that expectations are not raised so that we think that this is going to be resolved in a few months. But if we start the steady progress on these issues, I'm absolutely confident that the United States -- working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region -- I'm absolutely certain that we can make significant progress.
Q You've been saying essentially that we should not look at these issues -- like the Palestinian-Israeli track and separation from the border region -- you've been talking about a kind of holistic approach to the region. Are we expecting a different paradigm in the sense that in the past one of the critiques -- at least from the Arab side, the Muslim side -- is that everything the Americans always tested with the Israelis, if it works. Now there is an Arab peace plan, there is a regional aspect to it. And you've indicated that. Would there be any shift, a paradigm shift?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, here's what I think is important. Look at the proposal that was put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia --
Q Right.
THE PRESIDENT: I might not agree with every aspect of the proposal, but it took great courage --
Q Absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: -- to put forward something that is as significant as that. I think that there are ideas across the region of how we might pursue peace.
I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I've said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.
Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount. But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.
And so what we want to do is to listen, set aside some of the preconceptions that have existed and have built up over the last several years. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs.
Q I want to ask you about the broader Muslim world, but let me -- one final thing about the Palestinian-Israeli theater. There are many Palestinians and Israelis who are very frustrated now with the current conditions and they are losing hope, they are disillusioned, and they believe that time is running out on the two-state solution because -- mainly because of the settlement activities in Palestinian-occupied territories. Will it still be possible to see a Palestinian state -- and you know the contours of it -- within the first Obama administration?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state -- I'm not going to put a time frame on it -- that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life.
And, look, I think anybody who has studied the region recognizes that the situation for the ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved. And the bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child in the Palestinian Territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security? And if we can keep our focus on making their lives better and look forward, and not simply think about all the conflicts and tragedies of the past, then I think that we have an opportunity to make real progress.
But it is not going to be easy, and that's why we've got George Mitchell going there. This is somebody with extraordinary patience as well as extraordinary skill, and that's what's going to be necessary.
Q Absolutely. Let me take a broader look at the whole region. You are planning to address the Muslim world in your first 100 days from a Muslim capital. And everybody is speculating about the capital. (Laughter.) If you have anything further, that would be great.
How concerned are you -- because, let me tell you, honestly, when I see certain things about America -- in some parts, I don't want to exaggerate -- there is a demonization of America.
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.
Q It's become like a new religion, and like a new religion it has new converts -- like a new religion has its own high priests.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q It's only a religious text.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q And in the last -- since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and -- and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q How concerned are you and -- because people sense that you have a different political discourse. And I think, judging by (inaudible) and Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden and all these, you know -- a chorus --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I noticed this. They seem nervous.
Q They seem very nervous, exactly. Now, tell me why they should be more nervous?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that when you look at the rhetoric that they've been using against me before I even took office --
Q I know, I know.
THE PRESIDENT: -- what that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt. There's no actions that they've taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them.
In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you've built, not what you've destroyed. And what they've been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognized that that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction.
Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.
Q The largest one.
THE PRESIDENT: The largest one, Indonesia. And so what I want to communicate is the fact that in all my travels throughout the Muslim world, what I've come to understand is that regardless of your faith -- and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers -- regardless of your faith, people all have certain common hopes and common dreams.
And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.
But ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words but by my actions and my administration's actions. And I think that what you will see over the next several years is that I'm not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what's on a television station in the Arab world -- but I think that what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I'm speaking to them, as well.
Q Tell me, time is running out, any decision on from where you will be visiting the Muslim world?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not going to break the news right here.
Q Afghanistan?
THE PRESIDENT: But maybe next time. But it is something that is going to be important. I want people to recognize, though, that we are going to be making a series of initiatives. Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now. It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now. We're going to follow through on our commitment for me to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital. We are going to follow through on many of my commitments to do a more effective job of reaching out, listening, as well as speaking to the Muslim world.
And you're going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq, so that Iraqis can start taking more responsibility. And finally, I think you've already seen a commitment, in terms of closing Guantanamo, and making clear that even as we are decisive in going after terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, that we're going to do so on our terms, and we're going to do so respecting the rule of law that I think makes America great.
Q President Bush framed the war on terror conceptually in a way that was very broad, "war on terror," and used sometimes certain terminology that the many people -- Islamic fascism. You've always framed it in a different way, specifically against one group called al Qaeda and their collaborators. And is this one way of --
THE PRESIDENT: I think that you're making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations -- whether Muslim or any other faith in the past -- that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name.
And so you will I think see our administration be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaeda -- that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it -- and people who may disagree with my administration and certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down.
But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.
Q Can I end with a question on Iran and Iraq then quickly?
THE PRESIDENT: It's up to the team --
MR. GIBBS: You have 30 seconds. (Laughter.)
Q Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?
THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.
Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that's not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past -- none of these things have been helpful.
But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.
Q Shall we leave Iraq next interview, or just --
MR. GIBBS: Yes, let's -- we're past, and I got to get him back to dinner with his wife.
Q Sir, I really appreciate it.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.
Q Thanks a lot.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Top of the Document
BAE receives $9.9 million Marines contract
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Military contractor BAE Systems said Wednesday it has received a $9.9 million contract to provide gun shields for troops fighting in urban environments.
BAE Systems will provide 442 Marine Corps Transparent Armored Gun Shield turret kits used on vehicles such as the Bradley and M1 Abrams tanks and assault amphibious vehicle.
The design of the gun shield turret kits allows troops direct vision "while providing protection against blast fragmentation and small arms fire to the crew while in the turret," said Ann Hoholick, vice president of BAE Systems' amphibious vehicles and armor kits.
Work will begin immediately in York, Pa., and Santa Clara, Calif., and activity on the initial delivery order is expected to be completed in June.
The contract is managed by the Marine Corps Systems Command.
BAE Systems Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of London-based BAE Systems PLC.
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FAA release of Marine crash tape delayed
By Steve Liewer (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
FAA officials have granted the military's request to delay the release of radio communications between its air traffic controllers and the Marine pilot whose jet crashed into a University City neighborhood last month.
The Federal Aviation Administration will wait until Feb. 27 to make public the recording, which is expected to shed light on what happened before the F/A-18 Hornet killed four people and damaged six homes.
“Our legal staff reviewed the Marine Corps' request and determined there was legal justification for temporarily delaying the release of the audio,” said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman.
Marine lawyers argued that public airing of the recording would jeopardize their investigations into the Dec. 8 crash. An aide to Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Lakeside, said the service is finishing its preliminary investigation and expects to issue a report in February.
“I don't think there's any doubt they'll be released eventually,” said Maj. Eric Dent, a spokesman at Marine Corps headquarters. “We asked that it be delayed so (investigators) can consider it.”
FAA officials had signaled they would release the 16-minute recording yesterday to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests filed by The San Diego Union-Tribune and The Associated Press.
The recording could help answer why the student pilot decided to fly his crippled jet over several miles of densely populated neighborhoods near Miramar Marine Corps Air Station instead of diverting to North Island Naval Air Station, which offers an over-water approach.
Shortly before noon, the aircraft lost an engine on takeoff from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln during an offshore training exercise. The second engine sputtered and failed as the F/A-18 flew over University City.
The pilot, Lt. Dan Neubauer, ejected safely seconds before the jet slammed into Cather Avenue, then plowed through the home of Don Yoon, a 37-year-old businessman, and left it a fiery ruin.
Yoon was at work at the time. But his wife, Youngmi Lee, 36; his two young daughters, Grace and Rachel; and his mother-in-law, Seokim Kim, all died. In the days afterward, Yoon's grace and his public forgiveness of Neubauer touched people around the world, with hundreds attending a prayer service and the funeral for his family.
Marine officials said they will make public the findings of their legal investigation into the crash. But Maj. Jay Delarosa, a Miramar spokesman, said it's unclear when that will happen.
“It's not complete,” he said. “We're still committed to doing the job right.”
Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition in San Rafael, said the Marine Corps appears to be within its rights to request a delay if the investigation is still ongoing.
“If it were to turn out that there was no real risk of jeopardizing the Marine investigation, delay of disclosure would raise serious legal questions,” Scheer said. “Any delay whose real purpose is to enable the Marine Corps to manipulate media coverage of the results of any investigation would be highly inappropriate.”
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Iraq safer, but is democracy catching?
Posted by Cami McCormick 7
This story was written by CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick, reporting from Anbar.
Posted by Cami McCormick 7
This story was written by CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick, reporting from Anbar.
(AP Photo/Wathiq Khuzaie)
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General John Kelly is on his second tour as a commander in Anbar province. He calls the security improvements in what was once Iraq's most dangerous area, "stunning, just stunning." "It's not a safe place by any means, but the al Qaeda insurgency is gone." That's one major hurdle out of the way. But Iraq's provincial elections, taking place this Saturday, will be a key test as to whether the Sunni majority in Anbar is now willing to join the country's political process. Kelly says he tells them, "if you don't vote, don't complain". But he believes they will. "This is a province that had something like three percent or less vote in the last election. During the month of August, we did a voter registration drive, and virtually 100 percent of the citizens signed up and registered to vote," says Kelly. On election day, 28,000 police officers from Anbar will protect the province's voters. The police were expected to move into the 227 polling places days beforehand, to secure them. But Kelly isn't convinced there will be violence in Anbar, and he points out that its not suicide bombers the people here fear most. "When they talk about security during the elections, they talk about the security of those ballots," he said. "That Shiite officials don't somehow manipulate the vote in Baghdad." The ballots will be counted first at local polling places, then sealed and moved to a "central location" and "re-counted." Transparency is key, Kelly believes, and he will have his Marines observing much of the local vote counting. Anbar was once the most dangerous province for U.S. troops, but Kelly now talks of a trust that's developed between himself, his troops and the sheiks and people of the massive western province. "On the morning after the elections, if I can tell the people here... that in my view, this was a free and transparent election... that the ballots once cast were protected and counted properly, they will accept it," says Kelly. The commander, who has criticized Iraq's Shiite-dominated central government for what he sees as neglect in Anbar province, adds, "if I can't say it was a good election, the government of Iraq will have some problems."
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II Marine Expeditionary Force Deploys
By Laura VescoReporterPublished: January 28, 2009
Around 200 Camp Lejeune marines and sailors packed their bags and began a long journey to Al Anbar Province in Iraq. The II Marine Expeditionary Force will focus on maintaining security. Even though most Marine Corps families understand how important a marine’s job is as Nine on Your Sides Laura Vesco explains it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. A year from now, Sergeant Cato Johnson’s tiny bundle of joy won’t seem so small but he says one thing will remain the same. “She will get a little taller but she will still be sweet. She will still be daddy’s little girl,“ says Johnson.
Many Marine Corps parents struggle with leaving their kids behind, including mothers like gunnery Sergeant Sherrie Moore. “It’s real difficult because I’ve had them ever since they were born so its going to take time for me to get used to somebody else taking care of them and giving them the authority and the confidence they can do it as well as I can,“ says Moore.
However, for these marines they say looking at their children makes them remember why they’re willing to go in harms way. Johnson says, “We do it for the family. We want to keep our families safe and when we get that call, we go do what we gotta do.“
Once their boots hit Iraq Major General Richard Tryon says his marines dedication may soon pay off. Tryon says, “Today marks a journey in the marine experience in Iraq which may ultimately lead to the final deployment of the marines to operation Iraqi freedom.“
A final deployment is music to Marine Corps families ears because no matter how small or big your baby is saying goodbye never gets any easier.
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National Museum of the Marine Corps Remains Top Virginia Destination
Museum Attracts Over Half Million Visitors in Second Year
TRIANGLE, Va., Jan 27, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The National Museum of the Marine Corps has announced over 500,000 visitors recorded in 2008, maintaining its position as a top Virginia attraction. In its second full year open to the public, the Museum's attendance was bolstered by attracting Marines and families not only from the region but from across the nation. Since opening to the public in November 2006, the Museum has received over 1.2 million visitors.
"We are extremely pleased, though not surprised, by the number of visitors we received in 2008," said Lin Ezell, the Museum's Director. "Today people are looking for economical ways to spend time with their families and as a free, cutting-edge and educational attraction located off I-95, we provide a great and convenient destination for them."
The Museum will soon expand to include three additional galleries with exhibits interpreting the periods from 1775 through World War I, each featuring new, state-of-the-art visitor immersive experiences. Construction on the new galleries, expected to open in the spring of 2010, has already begun. Despite construction on future galleries, the Museum remains open to the public, with several exhibits moving temporarily within the Museum and remaining on public display, including combat photographs of the Global War on Terrorism and a Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle.
New exhibits and artifacts will also soon come to the Museum, including the Marine Corps flag that survived the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon and the traveling exhibit, "Memories of World War II", which includes photographs from the Associated Press archives. The black and white photography exhibit will be on display at the Museum January 30 through March 29.
With funding provided by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and its donors, the adjacent Semper Fidelis Memorial Park will also expand in 2009 with the addition of a new chapel slated to open in September. The $5 million nondenominational chapel is made possible by a gift from the Timothy Day Foundation of Phoenix, AZ and will be a quiet and contemplative space where visitors can honor the sacrifices of those who serve and have served the nation. The structure will evoke images and memories of the improvised field chapels familiar to all service members.
The initiatives to expand the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Heritage Center are fulfilling the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's vision of creating a multi-dimensional, world-class facility to be enjoyed by visitors time and time again.
For more information on the National Museum of the Marine Corps, visit http://www.usmcmuseum.org/ or call 1-877-635-1775 to speak to a staff member during normal business hours.
SOURCE: National Museum of the Marine Corps
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Iraq ends licence for Blackwater
The incident in Baghdad in September 2007 caused anger across Iraq
Iraq will not renew the licence of US security firm Blackwater, which was involved in an 2007 incident in which at least 14 civilians were killed.
An interior ministry spokesman said the US embassy had been told it will have to use another security company.
Five former Blackwater guards have gone on trial in the United States over the killings in Baghdad.
They have pleaded not guilty to killing 14 Iraqi civilians and wounding 18 others by gunfire and grenades.
"The contract is finished and will be not be renewed by order of the minister of the interior," said interior ministry spokesman Maj Gen Abdel Karim Khalaf.
He said the decision had been sent to the US embassy in Baghdad and "they have to find a new security company".
He added that the decision had been prompted by the incident on 16 September 2007.
The killings took place when Blackwater guards opened fire in Nisoor Square, Baghdad, while escorting an American diplomatic convoy.
The firm says its guards were acting in self-defence but witnesses and relatives of those killed maintain that the shooting was unprovoked.
Children were among the victims.
The killings strained Iraq-US relations and raised questions about the oversight of US contractors operating in war zones.
After the incident, the Iraqi government pressed Washington to withdraw Blackwater from the country, but the security firm's contract was renewed in 2008.
A new US-Iraqi security agreement gives Baghdad the authority to determine which Western security companies operate in the country.
A US embassy official confirmed it had received the Iraqi decision, and said US officials were working with the Iraqi government and its contractors to address the "implications of this decision".
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
28 January 2009
Early Bird Summary
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ testimony on Capitol Hill yesterday leads Wednesday’s Early Bird, with the Washington Post (echoed in reports from the Los Angeles Times and Financial Times) reporting that Gates signaled sharply lower expectations for the war in Afghanistan, warning the conflict will be "a long slog" and that U.S. and allied military forces, even at higher levels, can achieve limited goals.
Gates said the U.S. military expects to be able to send three additional combat brigades -- between 10,000 and 12,000 troops -- to Afghanistan between late spring and midsummer to address a security vacuum "that increasingly has been filled by the Taliban."
The Miami Herald, meanwhile, reports that Gates says he is troubled by Iranian activities in
Gates didn't say just what he thinks
Gates shrugged off Russian naval tours in places like
European Stars and Stripes focused on Gates’ comments about longer dwell times, reporting Gates’ remarks that combat troops should get 15 months home for every 12 months deployed by October, and 30 months dwell time by October 2011.
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gates said the anticipated drawdown in
"I think we’re on the right track, though the next few months will continue to be hard," he said.
The New York Times reports that President Obama intends to adopt a tougher line toward Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, as part of a new American approach to
Mr. Karzai is now seen as a potential impediment to American goals in
Other noteworthy articles in Wednesday’s EB:
§ The Washington Post reports that President Obama has launched a determined effort to change the tone, if not yet the substance, of U.S. relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds, saying he is eager to listen to their concerns and acknowledging that Americans "have not been perfect" in their dealings with them.
The early appointments of presidential emissaries to the Middle East and to Afghanistan and Pakistan; the announced closure of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; the choice of Arab satellite network al-Arabiya for the first formal interview of his presidency; first-week National Security Council meetings on Iraq and Afghanistan; and telephone calls to regional leaders on his first full day in office were reflections both of the seriousness of the issues and a message to governments and the public, administration officials said.
§ The Associated Press reports that William J. Lynn, who was chosen to be deputy defense secretary, has pledged to sell his stock in the Waltham-based company before taking the job. Senate Democrats and Republicans initially balked at
Financial disclosure documents obtained yesterday by the Associated Press show Lynn owns Raytheon "incentive" stock valued between $500,001 and $1 million that is set to vest in February, plus "unvested restricted stock" valued between $250,001 and $500,000.
§ The Washington Post reports that The nation's top military officer said Tuesday the United States did all it could to intercept a suspected arms shipment to Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, but its hands were tied.
Separately, Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other
Mullen confirmed that a Cypriot-flagged ship intercepted in the Red Sea last week was carrying Iranian arms and that
§ Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that
Sketching out an ambitious diplomatic agenda, Mrs. Clinton also suggested that there could be some form of direct communication between the
§ The London Daily Telegraph reports that
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said
“This year, it’s very likely that Iran will have produced enough low-enriched uranium which, if further enriched, could constitute enough fissile material for one nuclear weapon, if that is the route Iran so desires,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, the senior fellow for non-proliferation at the IISS.
§ London Times reports
The recent naval manoeuvres in the Mediterranean and
Media summary
1. Leading newspaper headlines: All the papers give front-page play to the massive economic stimulus package that will come up for a vote in the House today, which USA Today says is President Obama's "first test of the bipartisanship he pledged in his campaign." (Slate Magazine)
2. USMC Chief talks Obama, JSF, MRAPs: The U.S. Marines investigated President Barack Obama before the election -- and they say they are encouraged by what they found, according to the Marine commandant. (Aviation Week)
3. Iranian leader demands U.S. ‘apology’:
4. Russia halts ‘missile deployment’:
5. Children in Swat face bleak future: Many families in Swat district, in Pakistan's embattled north-west, are packing up and leaving after Islamist militants began attacking schools, reports the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who is travelling in the region. (BBC)
6. Vietnam Wall coming to county: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall is coming to Murphy in October. (Cherokee Scout, N.C.)
7. Gibson lived to tell tale of bloody Battle of Hill 881: The Battle of Hill 881 was one of the bloodiest battles during the Vietnam War and as a forward air controller, Ron Gibson of Shenandoah was in the thick of things with other members of the 226 (2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Corps). (Valley News Today, Shenandoah, Iowa)
All the papers give front-page play to the massive economic stimulus package that will come up for a vote in the House today, which USA Today says is President Obama's "first test of the bipartisanship he pledged in his campaign." Obama visited Capitol Hill yesterday to urge Republican lawmakers to support the $825 billion stimulus plan, but most Republicans are still unconvinced even as they were careful to praise the president for listening to their concerns. The New York Times goes with a two-story lead examining the stimulus package's effect on education as well as a look at how the bill would provide Democrats a fast-track way to fund many initiatives that have long been priorities for the party. The Wall Street Journal points out that the Senate version of the bill is now getting close to reaching the $900 billion mark.
The Washington Post leads with a look at how Obama's advisers are discussing several options to prop up the nation's financial system. They're all bound to be unpopular and, as a bonus, there's absolutely no guarantee that any of them will work. It seems the White House will try a combination of several programs instead of hoping that one plan provides the magic touch, which raises the risk that the response will be seen as haphazard. None of the ideas being discussed is new: a federal protection against losses backed by mortgages and loans, a new institution to buy up toxic assets, and an injection of taxpayer money into troubled firms in exchange for ownership, which could result in "nationalization in all but name." The Los Angeles Times leads with data that show more than 236,000 homes went into foreclosure in California last year, which is more than the previous nine years combined, and a record 404,000 borrowers defaulted on their payments. While previous foreclosures could mostly be blamed on people who took on mortgages they couldn't afford, now it looks like many of those who are defaulting are doing so because of the loss of a job or income in a state that now has 9.3 percent unemployment.
Obama spent almost three hours yesterday in separate meetings with House and Senate Republicans where he urged them to come together to support the stimulus package. "I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now," Obama said. But Republican lawmakers were unconvinced. Republican lawmakers said the plan was too expensive and complained that Democratic congressional leaders had shut them out of the process. The White House made it clear that it is ready to compromise on some issues, and Democrats said they would drop a provision from the House bill that would have increased funding for contraception and family planning services. The administration also suggested it would agree to a $69 billion proposal that would allow millions of Americans to avoid having to pay the so-called alternative minimum tax, which was folded into the Senate version of the bill.
The package that House members are expected to vote on today includes $550 billion in spending, and $275 billion in tax cuts. Obama once again told Republicans he's willing to consider including more tax cuts for small businesses, but most GOP lawmakers signaled that wouldn't be enough to change their minds. Regardless, the Democratic majority in Congress makes it virtually certain that the package will be approved. Even if he didn't win them over yesterday, Obama may have wanted to build goodwill for a later date. The WP notes inside that the stimulus "represents the first step" in a "complex process that could cost many hundreds of billions in additional funding, and is likely to require Republican cooperation."
The WP's Dana Milbank says that while Obama "ushered in the post-partisan era" last week, it now looks like "the post-post-partisan era is already upon us."
In one of its lead stories, the NYT details that the $150 billion in new federal spending on "nearly every realm of education" would "more than double the Department of Education's current budget." This massive influx of aid has the potential to dramatically change the role that the federal government plays in education, an area normally controlled by state and local governments. Many are also raising concerns about how school districts will be able to spend so much money so quickly and wonder what will happen when the money ends in two years.
The NYT also notes that the stimulus package isn't simply a way to provide a boost to the economy, but also a way for Democrats to rewrite "the social contract with the poor, the uninsured and the unemployed, in ways they have long yearned to do." Quite simply, the package would allow Democrats to quickly fund programs without hearings or a protracted debate.
That's not to say all Democrats are happy with the stimulus package. In a front-page piece, the WP says some Democrats think Obama is losing a golden opportunity to remake the American economy. Some say the plan should be split into two parts, one to provide immediate stimulus and the other, which would take longer to formulate, to look into ways that the economy can be transformed. "We need to think of it as a first step," Rep. Jay Inslee said. "The question is: Are we going to step up to the plate to sustain this effort?" The problem is that many Democrats fear that the appetite for new initiatives will wane after the stimulus bill passes.
"It's raining money," said Republican Rep. Michael C. Burgess. And all that cash has resulted in what the WSJ calls "a rough-and-tumble competition" between lobbyists from a variety of industries, including concrete, asphalt, shoes, and cattle, to name a few.
A key question of the stimulus package is how quickly the massive cash infusion will be able to make its way through the economy. The Congressional Budget Office released a report yesterday saying that 64 percent of the money would be spent within the first 18 months, but also noted that due to interest payments its total cost could be more than $1 trillion.
The NYT's David Leonhardt writes while that pace may be "slower than ideal … it isn't terrible." Overall, the package "does pretty well by several important yardsticks." But the "one major flaw" that Leonhardt identifies is that it just isn't very original. Obama came into office pledging to change
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding Republican resistance to the stimulus package, it may have been easy to miss what a rare sight it is to see a president travel to Capitol Hill and even talk to reporters from the same spot where senators often hold their news conferences. When a president needs to talk to lawmakers, he usually does it on his turf. For a second "it might have seemed that Mr. Obama was back in the Senate," notes the NYT.
Another day, another lobbyist joins the Obama administration. USAT gives big play to news that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner chose a former Goldman Sachs lobbyist, Mark Patterson, as his chief of staff. The announcement came on the same day as Geithner announced new rules that aim to prevent the influence of lobbyists on the department. Patterson signed a pledge to recuse himself from issues relating to his former employer, undoubtedly a difficult proposition considering that Goldman Sachs received $10 billion from the financial bailout program, which, of course, is overseen by the Treasury.
The NYT gets word that the Obama administration intends to be much tougher on Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Whereas the Bush administration largely saw Karzai as an ally, he "is now seen as a potential impediment to American goals in
USMC Chief Talks Obama, JSF, MRAPs
Jan 26, 2009
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Iranian leader demands | ||||||
The "Those who speak of change must apologise to the Iranian people and try to repair their past crimes," he said. President Obama has offered to extend a hand if President Barack Obama discussed the possibility of a softening of 'Strong tirade' The Iranian president welcomed the possibility of "First is a fundamental and effective change... The second ... is a change of tactics. It is very clear that, if the meaning of change is the second one, this will soon be revealed," he said.
The remarks are the first Iranian comment on the The BBC's Jon Leyne in Our correspondent says we may see twists and turns out of While he was playing to the crowd, adds our correspondent, he could also be staking out his position ahead of Mr Ahmadinejad congratulated Mr Obama after his election in November but the message was criticised in Nuclear issue Mr Ahmadinejad also attacked "If you talk about change it must put an end to the The "If someone wants to talk with us in the language that [George W] Bush used... even if he uses new words, our response will be the same that we gave to Bush during the past years". Relations between The new The | ||||||
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| Russia's military has announced it will halt its plans to deploy short-range missiles in its Baltic enclave Kaliningrad, Interfax news agency says. A Russian military official said a change in The In November last year, Mr Medvedev announced that short-range Iskander missiles would be deployed in The Kremlin hopes While the Russian defence ministry has not confirmed the latest Interfax report, the BBC's James Rodgers in Interfax quoted an unnamed military official as saying that "the implementation of these plans has been halted in connection with the fact that the new If the official's statement is borne out it may signal a wider hope in the Kremlin that the US under President Barack Obama will roll back the plans for the missile defence shield, our correspondent says. Before he took office on 20 January, Mr Obama's transition team said he had not made a commitment to deploying the missile defence system in eastern Europe and would wait to see if the technology proved workable. If President Obama spoke to President Medvedev by telephone on Monday. The two men pledged to stop the "drift" in their countries' relations, the White House said. Any decision not to deploy the Iskanders could also provide impetus to wider wider strategic arms talks between The 1991 Start I treaty, which provides a mechanism to monitor the two countries' nuclear arsenals, is up for renewal in December. Soured relations The The proposed system has Nato-wide backing. The The | |||||
Many families in Swat district, in Pakistan's embattled north-west, are packing up and leaving after Islamist militants began attacking schools, reports the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who is travelling in the region. Can the security forces establish the government's rule in Swat and protect schools against attacks by Islamist militants? Will the militants revoke the ban they recently announced on girls' education before the winter vacations are over? For parents of schoolchildren who can afford to leave Swat and settle elsewhere, the answer is obvious. Leave. For those who have to remain, there are no easy answers. People are generally sceptical about the ability of the security forces to push the insurgents into a corner before 1 March, when school vacations end. "Taleban are everywhere, but the army is only behind barricades," says one resident who, like most people in Swat these days, does not want to be named. "It can only make things worse." Morale More than a week ago, a Taleban deadline to ban female education came into force. The militants also bombed a number of schools, including those of boys, casting a shadow over the future of education here. The army is now moving into the remaining school buildings to protect them against possible Taleban attacks. But parents fear that schools where the army is deployed will attract more-deadly attacks by the militants, endangering the lives of their children.
Swat is paralysed by a two-year-long armed insurgency by Taleban militants, who want to impose their brand of Islamic law in the district. The government moved in thousands of troops in the last quarter of 2007 to try to contain the insurgency. During this time, the militants have been able to put the security forces on the defensive by conducting a spate of suicide attacks on checkpoints, convoys and camps. The forces have also provoked anger among people by causing "collateral damage" as they struggle to hit militants who mix freely with the civilian population. This appears to have hurt the morale of the troops and has boosted that of the militants. The militants now control most areas outside the main town of Destroying the government's education infrastructure is one aspect of the Taleban's campaign to uproot the existing system and replace it with their own.
"In about 20 months or so, we have had 187 of our schools bombed out, of which 121 are girls' schools," says Sher Afzal Khan, the district head of the education department. Another 86 schools cannot be used because they are camps for the army or the Taleban, or they are in combat zones where children and staff cannot go, he says. "Nearly 60,000 students have been affected," says Mr Khan. Institutions of higher learning are no exception. "Three months ago, the Taleban banned male medical students from attending practical lessons in the gynaecology ward and the labour room," says a professor at Mingora's Soon afterwards, the Taleban started sending representatives to keep a watch at the college hospital to ensure the ban was not being violated. "We had to shift gynaecology classes to Mardan (another district in the north-west). There is now a proposal to shift the entire college to Mardan, along with its staff and equipment," the professor says. Moving away Khpal Kor (Our Home) is a local boarding school that made its name by offering education to orphaned children.
The school's revenue system was designed in such a way that fees raised from every five children of affluent families, called the "revenue students", would pay for one orphaned child's education. In addition, Khpal Kor ran a number of commercial ventures such as a tent service and an IT college to raise salaries for its teaching, janitorial and kitchen staff, all of them well-paid by local standards. "The tent service closed down due to absence of tourists, and almost all the students of the IT college have left as their families moved to other cities," says Imran Khan, Khpal Kor's coordination officer. "We also have information that more than half of our 500 "revenue students" are unlikely to return to school after the vacations as their families, too, have moved away. This will put us under pressure to provide for more than 100 orphans." But many parents are still here and their children face an uncertain future. "I have nothing but hope," says a college teacher who has a son and two daughters that go to school. "I hope the army will establish the government's writ in Swat in a month's time. If not, I hope the Taleban will revoke their ban on education." | |||||
Memorial Moving Wall will be at
By DWIGHT OTWELL
dotwell@cherokeescout.com Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:05 PM CST
Murphy – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall is coming to Murphy in October.
The half-size replica of the
Valenty, representing Cherokee Detachment 1011 of the Marine Corps League, said it is the goal of the organization to bring the moving wall to Murphy in 2009. There are two Vietnam Memorial replica walls touring the country. The
Cherokee County Schools has agreed to provide student bands for the event. It appears that grades 5-12 will participate, Valenty said.
“Everyone may not be able to go to
Valenty asked commissioners for their support, whether it is money or labor.
Help will be needed to erect a foundation for the wall. A $2,000 deposit will be required for putting up the base of the wall, and another $2,500 will be needed for chaperones for the wall once it is here, Valenty said. The estimated total amount needed is $10,000, including 24-hour security and lighting.
Names of those killed in the Vietnam War, more than 50,000, are displayed on both sides of the wall, Valenty said.
The wall contains about 1,300 names of those still missing in action. Among the names are seven nurses, Valenty said.
Commission Chairman David Sumpter said the commission will help coordinate the financial aspects of the project.
The commissioners will consider providing financial help when it meets in a few months to consider the county’s budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“We won’t say ‘no.’ We will say ‘maybe,’ ” Sumpter said.
“I look forward to our community participating,” Commissioner Jonathan Dickey said. “We will discuss [financial] help when we talk about the budget in April. I am sure that people in the community also will come forward.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) will come to Murphy for the opening ceremony for the wall, Valenty said.
Gibson lived to tell tale of bloody
TESS GRUBER NELSON, Staff Writer
The Battle of Hill 881 was one of the bloodiest battles during the Vietnam War and as a forward air controller, Ron Gibson of Shenandoah was in the thick of things with other members of the 226 (2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Corps).
Gibson not only fought on Hill 881 during the Battle of Khe Sahn, but also in the
A graduate of
"I would have been drafted if I wouldn't have," said Gibson. "That's when they had the lottery and I had a real low number so I thought, at least I could pick where I want to go. I was going to get taken one way or another."
By June, Gibson was in
"Then, at the end of November '65, I was sent overseas to
After two months with the 1st Marines, Gibson was transferred to the 7th Marines in the
"We were about 20 or 30 miles south of Chu Lai in a peninsula we took from the Viet Cong," he said. "I had a team of five air controllers that I was with."
A forward air controller was a part of the infantry that called in air-strikes; medi-vac choppers and anything else that had to do with aircraft support explained Gibson.
"I liked what I did. It was fun to control a bomb run," said Gibson.
As a forward air controller, Gibson would be at the front of the edge of the action, so he was able to see what was going on at all times.
Gibson said the weather wasn't much better than the fighting.
"The monsoon season was the worst. It rained all day, every day for three months, or as long as it lasted. There was no way of getting dry. You stayed wet the whole time.
And when it wasn't raining, it was hot and humid."
Gibson was in
"I spent two months in a
Without the eye infection, Gibson only would have been in
Gibson was sent back to the
"We were radio operators between the radar stations along the coast," he said.
After putting in orders to be sent overseas to
"In November 1967 they sent me back again to
For his second tour, Gibson was stationed at Khe Sahn; during the Tet Offensive of 1968. This time he was with the 226 (2nd Battalion, 26th Marines).
"Khe Sahn was up closer to
Gibson was on Hill 881, 861 and 558 at one time or another, but added 881 was the worst of them.
"We couldn't get out; we were surrounded. They called in the 1st
Gibson said when they first arrived at Khe Sahn it was a beautiful mountain range, but by the time they left, it was nothing.
"What they didn't bomb, they put agent orange on to strip off the leaves and foliage."
When they got out of Khe Sahn, Gibson said they went to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) to Firebase 3, even farther north than Khe Sahn.
"You could see into
After they got out of Firebase 3, Gibson said they went down to Dung Ha to regroup and get replacements. After two or three weeks there, it was time for Gibson to go home. He had survived another 13 months in
"I don't regret my time in the Marines," said Gibson. "It was a good experience."
When Gibson returned to the States for the second time, he was once again sent to
"That time they put me on a Sergeant of the Guard because they didn't have anything else for me to do until my time was up in two or three months."
Gibson was discharged from the Marine Corps after a four-year enlistment. He returned to Shenandoah and attended the
When electronics school had been completed, Gibson had several careers such as an Eaton Corporation employee, volunteer Shenandoah fireman, Shenandoah Police Officer and the owner/operator of Ron's T.V. and Appliance.
In 1995, after he closed Ron's T.V. and Appliance, he started working at the Clarinda Post Office. Although permanently assigned to the Clarinda Post Office, Gibson also works at the Riverton Post Office from time to time.
Married to Shenandoah native Sherri Jackson, the Gibsons have two daughters, Shira and Megan and one granddaughter, Ava.
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