AJC: Ship Seizure Proves Iran is Fanning Flames of War

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee warned that yesterday's seizure by the Israeli Navy of a ship ferrying 500 tons of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist organization, is an unmistakable sign that the Tehran regime is fanning the flames of war and conflict in the Middle East.

"We applaud the Israeli Navy for taking this decisive action," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "The deadly cargo the ship was carrying would have enabled Hezbollah to broaden its murderous assault against Israel - a country which these terrorists, just like their Iranian paymasters, seek to wipe off the map."

The haul of weapons was ten times larger than that intercepted on the "Karine 'A'" ship in January 2002, when Iran sent weapons and ordnance to the Palestinian Authority under Yasser Arafat.

"In shipping these weapons, Iran has engaged in a major violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1747, which expressly forbid Iran from exporting or trading any form of weapons," Harris said. "Such flagrant violations have become routine for Iran's leaders, whether they are providing support to terrorist organizations or covertly developing their nuclear program."

Harris urged the international community to impose a new round of tough, robust sanctions against Iran. "Thirty years to the day that Ayatollah Khomeini's enforcers seized the US Embassy in Iran, little has changed: the regime continues to repress its own people and threaten its neighbors," Harris said.

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Iraqi, U.S. Forces Arrest Terrorist Suspects in Iraq

Iraqi forces, working with U.S. advisors, have arrested six suspects in connection with terrorist attacks throughout the country, military officials reported.

The latest arrests came yesterday, when Iraqi special operations forces, along with U.S. advisors, arrested two suspects with court-issued warrants in Baghdad. The two are believed to be part of al-Qaida in Iraq and responsible for terrorist attacks against Iraqi government officials and security forces in the Iraqi capital.

On Aug. 16, Iraqi special operations forces arrested a suspected terrorist cell leader and two other cell members in the western city of Asad in Anbar province. The suspects, arrested on court-issued warrants, are believed to be responsible for terrorist attacks on Iraqi security forces and civilians in the area.

On Aug. 15, an Iraqi commando battalion, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist in Tikrit, about 90 miles north of Baghdad in Ninevah province. The commandos arrested the suspect on a court-issued warrant for suspicion of recruiting potential insurgents, and for planning and executing numerous attacks against Iraqi security forces. The commandos arrested the suspect at his home without incident.

Officials said the U.S. unit was conducting a combined operation with Iraqi special operations forces in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, and that the arrests will disrupt terrorist groups.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Division South news releases, 8/18/09.)
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U.S. Forces Pursue Terrorists Linked to Drug Trade

U.S. forces are going after terrorists who feed off the drug trade in Afghanistan, a senior Defense Department spokesman said yesterday.

"There is a well-established connection between the drug trade and financing terrorism in Afghanistan," Bryan Whitman said.

Whitman emphasized that U.S. forces target terrorists linked to the drug trade, not drug traffickers linked to terrorists.

The difference, he said, is that counternarcotics is a law enforcement mission, and the Afghan government is in charge of that. The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency support Afghan authorities seeking to clamp down on drug traffickers.

But some drug lords finance terrorism. Officials estimate that the Taliban receive about $80 million per year from drug networks. In some instances, Taliban groups have entered the drug trade, and in others, Taliban fighters are providing protection for drug lords, State Department officials said.

The nexus between the drug lords and the Taliban creates a problem for U.S. troops conducting security and force protection. "That make them a legitimate target," Whitman said.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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Global Strike Command Will Stress Nuclear Mission

A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made today with the activation of the service's Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and intercontinental ballistic missiles under a single commander.

"Standing up the command is no small task, and actually we're doing it sooner than we anticipated," Donley said during a Pentagon news conference Aug. 5. "This command will provide the combatant commanders the forces needed to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations through ICBM, B-2 and B-52 operations."

Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz will command the organization. The headquarters will include 900 people, and is slated to reach full operating capability by Aug. 7, 2010, Donley said. The 20th Air Force, the service's missile organization, will come under the new command in December; and the 8th Air Force, the bomber component, will come under the command in April.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz stressed that the new command will be a major command like Air Combat Command or Air Force Special Operations Command. The role is to "organize, train and equip America's ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers, and prepare a cadre to do this important work with passion and professionalism," he said during the news conference.

Ensuring professionalism and pride in the nuclear field will be vital to the command's success, Schwartz said, noting that airmen with nuclear expertise had been leaving the service, feeling their work was not appreciated.

"The bottom line is retention has a lot to do with perceptions on how important people's work is, and how worthy that work is," the general said. "We've worked to make it clear to those who will serve in this command that the work is important to the country's defense and it will continue to be so."

Making the command a major command also will give airmen in the nuclear fields an advocate equal to the other commands, he said.

The creation of the command is an effort to boost security and reduce errors. In a 2007 incident, nuclear weapons were loaded aboard a B-52 bomber at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and flown to Barksdale before the mistake was discovered. In another incident, nuclear nose cones mistakenly were shipped to Taiwan. As a result, the service's top civilian and military officials -- Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley -- resigned.

Multiple studies of the incidents and the Air Force's atmosphere revealed that the service's nuclear forces and the entire enterprise lacked clear lines of authority and responsibility, officials said. The Global Strike Command is one of the solutions.

Donley said moves at the Air Staff and in the field have emphasized accountability and compliance with respect to nuclear issues at all levels. The service has re-emphasized training for inspectors and added $750 million over the Future Year Defense Plan for nuclear efforts, in addition to a $4.2 billion base budget. The service also is standing up another B-52 squadron, in part to provide for longer and more focused training.

A number of entities have an interest in the nuclear arena, including the U.S. Strategic Command and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. These agencies will play a key role in inspections of the new command, Schwartz said.

The command will have an inspector general, and the service has made a special effort to make the inspections "more challenging and intrusive to ensure that commanders get good feedback in how healthy their commands were," the general said.

Inspections will be demanding, he promised, and will include operations, security, maintenance and weapons.

The emphasis on the nuclear missions means that when a mission requires B-2s or B-52s to carry conventional weapons, they will be reassigned from the new command to the regional commanders for that mission. Global Strike Command will ensure that air and ground crews have expertise in conventional weaponry and raids, but the focus must remain on the nuclear capability, the chief of staff said.
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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Senate Approves 2010 National Defense Authorization Act

Includes Military Overseas Voting Amendment Sponsored by Chambliss, Isakson

U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Veterans’’ Affairs Committee, praised the Senate’s passage Thurday night of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill that authorizes funding for our servicemen and women and their families, critical military construction projects at Georgia bases, as well as Georgia-made weapons systems. Additionally, the bill includes a provision, sponsored by Chambliss and Isakson, to ensure that all ballots cast by U.S. troops overseas are counted in elections.

“This is an important bill that addresses many critical quality-of-life issues for our military men and women, said Chambliss. “I’m pleased an amendment to ensure that our military men and women serving overseas are able to participate in the electoral process was included in the final bill."

“Georgia is a big winner in this Defense Authorization bill, thanks in large part to the work of Senator Chambliss on the Committee,” said Isakson. “This legislation sets the priorities for our nation’s military needs, and I am proud of the strong commitment it shows to Georgia.”

The bill authorizes $679.8 billion in funding for the U.S. Department of Defense. It provides a 3.4 percent, across-the-board pay raise for all military personnel, authorizes a total of $163.5 billion for military members, including costs of pay, allowances, bonuses, death benefits, permanent change of station moves and health care. It also reauthorizes more than 25 types of bonuses and special pays aimed at encouraging enlistment, reenlistment and continued service by active-duty and reserve military personnel.

The bill includes the following provisions sponsored by Sen. Chambliss:

The Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (“MOVE Act”), which requires all states to provide military voters with ballots no later than 45 days before an election. It also requires states to institute and maintain an electronic and fax system for sending voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications.

A requirement for the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress detailing the types of duties performed for the National Guard by non-dual-status technicians, a description of the current requirements for non-dual-status technicians, and a description of various means of addressing any shortfalls in meeting such requirements, including both temporary and permanent shortfalls.

A provision directing the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to take appropriate steps to monitor and manage changes to requirements when program requirements are first established and the time when those program requirements are formally incorporated into a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP), and to ensure that changes are not made without appropriate consideration of cost impacts.

A provision requiring the task force on care and treatment of wounded warriors, as established in the bill, to examine the extent to which the Department of Defense, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, has established public and private partnerships to assist in the training of medical care case management personnel needed to support America’s returning wounded and ill service members.

A provision directing the secretary of defense, in conjunction with the secretary of the Air Force, to conduct a review and report on the feasibility of adding anti-jamming capability to commercial communications satellites no later than March 1, 2010.

A requirement for an additional report on the feasibility of exporting the F-22 to be prepared by a federally funded research and development center. This report will be in addition to the report on exporting the F-22 required by the Department of Defense.

A requirement for a report by the secretary of the Air Force on the alternatives for and value of re-engining the Joint STARS aircraft, stationed at Robins AFB, including a prohibition against the Air Force taking any actions that would adversely affect the re-engining effort until the report is delivered to Congress

A provision, sponsored by senators Kerry and Chambliss, making the reserve retirement provision enacted in the FY08 NDAA retroactive to include duty performed since Sept. 11, 2001.

A provision, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln, which allows for an increase in the Department of Defense’s share of expenses for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program to 100 percent of operating costs in the first two years of a state’s program, and 75 percent of operating costs for future years. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program trains and mentors at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18 who have dropped out of high school, and puts them on the path to become productive, employed and law-abiding citizens.

The bill also includes an amendment co-sponsored by Chambliss and Isakson that would establish a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to pair service dogs with veterans who have returned from service with physical or mental wounds, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Chambliss offered an amendment to restore military construction (MILCON) full funding for the brigade complex at Fort Stewart, but the amendment was not agreed to by the committee.

“I am also disappointed the bill does not include funding for the 7 additional F-22s included in the bill as reported out of Committee”, said Chambliss. “Air Force leaders have consistently affirmed their requirement for at least 60 additional F-22s, and it is regrettable that the bill does not support this requirement.”
““I’m extremely disappointed the Senate did not recognize how essential the continued production of the F-22 is to our national security. This aircraft is the most sophisticated fighter jet in the world with the latest stealth technology to reduce detection by radar, and this plane is vital to 21st century American military superiority,” Isakson said.
Additional Georgia-related projects included in the bill:

Transplantation for Combat Wounded Repair - $2 million – Intended for Emory University – Using this funding, Emory University will conduct research to develop methods to better support tissue repair and repair of lost limbs or organs.
Bioengineering for Enhanced Soldier Survivability - $2.5 million – Intended for Georgia Tech – Using this funding, Georgia Tech will conduct research in advanced tissue and bone regeneration and wound care and treatment issues relevant to military trauma care.
Advanced SAM Hardware Simulator Development - $4 million - Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) – This will allow for an in-depth understanding of the Chinese surface-to-Air missile (SAM) system to help the U.S. predict and identify weaknesses and potential aggression from the Chinese.
Cognitive Map-Based Modeling and Simulation for Tactical Decision Support - $4 million – Intended for Columbus State University – This supports a partnership between Columbus State University (CSU) and the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) which aims to explore cognitive map-based modeling and simulation to support tactical decision-making by military planners in training and operational scenarios.
National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center Research - $4 million – Intended for the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center in Swainsboro – Using this funding, the National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center will deliver innovative solutions to warfighter needs and gaps by utilizing nanotechnology enabled materials, devices and supporting equipment.
Integration of Design and Manufacturing (lDM) through Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) - $2 million – Intended for School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - This technology could result in improvements to flight technology and support advances in vertical takeoff and landing operations.
Advanced Lithium Battery Scale-Up and Manufacturing - $5 million – Intended for Excellatron Solid State, LLC, in Atlanta – This technology shifts the paradigm in battery performance by delivering more than five times the performance of the current state-of-the-art lithium battery.
Saft High Energy Li-Ion Technology for Aviation Batteries - $2 million – Intended for Saft America Inc. in Atlanta – Li-ion batteries will save weight on board aircraft, thus reducing fuel consumption and, ultimately, cost.
VICE - $4.9 million – Intended for Dynamic Animation Systems, Inc., in Fairfax, Va. – This project provides soldiers improved training capabilities and exposes soldiers to different, realistic scenarios. A major portion of the project will be conducted at Fort Benning Infantry School.

Military Construction Funding Authorized for Georgia:

Army
FORT BENNING
Battle Lab $30,000,000
Combined Arms Collective Training Facility $10,800,000
Dining Facility $15,000,000
Fire and Movement Range $2,800,000
Trainee Barracks Complex, Phase I $74,000,000
Training Area Tank Trails $9,700,000
Training Battalion Complex $38,000,000
Training Battalion Complex, Phase I $31,000,000
Training Battalion Complex, Phase I $31,000,000
Warrior in Transition (WT) Complex $53,000,000

TOTAL FORT BENNING $295,300,000

FORT GILLEM
Forensic Lab $10,800,000

FORT STEWART
Barracks & Dining, Increment 2 $80,000,000
Brigade Complex $48,000,000
Warrior in Transition (WT) Complex $49,000,000

TOTAL FORT STEWART $177,000,000

TOTAL ARMY (GEORGIA) $483,100,000

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Fort Benning Readiness Center $15,000,000

ARMY RESERVE
Atlanta Army Reserve Center/Land $14,000,000

TRICARE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY
Fort Benning, Blood Donor Center $12,313,000
Fort Benning, Dental Clinic $4,887,000

SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
Fort Benning, SOF Expand BN HQ $3,046,000

DOD DEPENDENT EDUCATION
Fort Benning, Wilson ES Gymnasium $2,330,000
Fort Stewart Elementary School $22,501,000

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE
Rescue Operations/Maintenance $8,900,000
Headquarters Facility

HUNTER ARMY AIR FIELD
Hunter Army Aviation Readiness Center $10,509,000


BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE RELATED MILCON

Fort Benning AAFES Troop Store $1,950,000
Fort Benning Armed Forces Reserve Center $18,000,000
Fort Benning Equipment Concentration Site $43,000,000
Fort Benning General Instruction Complex 2 $58,000,000
Increment 2
Fort Benning Maneuver Center $42,000,000
HQ & CDI Building Expansion
Fort Benning Medical Facility, Increment 2 $77,000,000


GEORGIA MILCON TOTAL $816,536,000


Additionally, the bill authorizes fiscal year 2010 active-duty end strengths for the Army of 547,400; the Marine Corps, 202,100; the Air Force, 331,700; and the Navy, 328,800. It also authorizes the secretary of defense to increase the Army’s active-duty end strength by 30,000 above 2010 levels during fiscal years 2011 and 2012 if sufficient funding is requested in the budgets for those fiscal years.

The bill also prohibits retirement of C-5 aircraft before the Air Force completes testing and reports on the results of tests of the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining program (RERP). It requires the secretary of the Air Force to submit certain analyses before retiring any of the strategic airlift aircraft after that prohibition expires.
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Defense Agency Simulates Biological Attack on Pentagon

The risk of attack against senior government and military officials always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said.

Paul Benda and Christina Murata -- director and deputy director, respectively, of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's chemical, radiological, nuclear and explosives directorate -- spoke about preparing for a biological attack on the Pentagon during a July 22 webcast of "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military" on Pentagon Web Radio.

Benda and Murata explained how they used a commercial garden powder to simulate a biological attack in a July 11 test of response procedures and decontamination methods, and how the findings of their test will affect future response to bio-weapon attacks.

More than 200 people participated in the test, including 87 volunteers who were exposed to the garden powder and washed down. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency has conducted tests regularly since 2005 to gather data to better protect people in the event of a biological attack.

"We spread [the powder] across the reservation," Benda said. "We had volunteers that got exposed to it. The building was exposed to it. We tracked where this powder went and where it went on our volunteers."

The directorate tested different options for decontamination, from portable showers to what Benda described as a "wall of water." More than a dozen organizations participated in the test in hopes of finding the easiest and most effective methods.

"We wanted to compare the different decontamination strategies," Benda said. "What's the fastest way to clean these people? What works the best?"

The quickest, most effective cleaner they found was water, Murata said. Simply flushing items with water cleaned more than 95 percent of contaminants from the road and more than 90 percent from vehicles.

"It's that old fireman's adage that there's no problem that enough water can't cure," Murata said. "Point for point, water did the best."

For personnel contaminated with a biological weapon, the best cleaning method was to make a "wall" of water using five fire trucks. Four pumper trucks fired water against each other while a ladder truck released water from above. Volunteers walked through the streams, scrubbing their body and hair to remove contaminants.

"This is a standard capability that every fire department has," Benda said. "Whether it's a volunteer fire department or a professional fire department, they're able to use their standard nozzles, connected to a hydrant, to create this decontamination capability."

The beauty of using fire trucks, beyond their accessibility regardless of location, is their effectiveness. It's not a new technology, but it performs on par with other decontamination methods.

"It works as well, if not better than specific technologies, and it gives us faster through-put," Benda said.

Once the team sorts the data from this test and figures out which questions have been answered and what new questions have arisen, they'll share the findings and begin planning for the next test.

And though certain information in tests related to security for Defense Department and other government employees is safeguarded, the information that applies to organizations nationwide will be spread through professional conferences and published articles.

"We do our best to get the information out that will protect the nation as a whole," Benda said.

By Ian Graham
Special to American Forces Press Service
(Ian Graham works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)
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Forces Probe Rocket Attack, Detain Suspected Terrorists in Iraq

U.S. forces made headway in an investigation of a rocket attack on a base in Iraq, and Iraqi-led forces detained suspected terrorists and seized weapons in recent operations in Iraq, military officials reported.

U.S. soldiers pursued criminals suspected of launching a rocket attack against Contingency Operating Base Basra on July 16 that resulted in the deaths
of three Multinational Division South soldiers.

Following the attack, U.S. troops were flown by helicopter to the suspected launch location, northeast of Basra Airport, where the soldiers were met by 14th Iraqi Army Division soldiers.

A U.S. patrol pursued a suspicious vehicle to a nearby house and searched for evidence related to the rocket launch. Meanwhile, a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol investigated another house nearby. Three men were questioned and released, and the investigation into the attack continues.

"The quick action of the 14th Iraqi Army Division inspires confidence that the criminals who committed this act will be brought to justice," said Army Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, commanding general of Multinational Division South. "We will not tolerate such acts of violence against our soldiers."

Elsewhere, the Iraqi 4th Emergency Response Battalion, aided by coalition advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 19 in Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad. The suspect is believed to have built and emplaced roadside bombs in support of a terrorist cell that targeted Iraqi security forces convoys.

In southern Iraq, Iraqi police from the Basra special weapons and tactics team, along with coalition advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists July 18 during an Iraqi-led operation.

The suspected terrorists are believed to be linked to an insurgent cell operating in Basra and are suspected of murder and roadside bomb and rocket attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.

The force also uncovered four previously used 107 mm launch tubes, four 107 mm high-explosive rockets, a 107 mm rocket-launch rail system and various bomb-making materials.

(American Forces Press Service; Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
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Chambliss, Isakson Statement on Administration’s F-22 Veto Threat

Senate Armed Services Defense Authorization Bill Includes Funding for Seven Additional F-22s

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today made the following statements regarding the administration’s veto threat over funding for additional F-22s:

"In the past several months, Air Force leaders have consistently stated before Congress and to the media that they have a requirement for additional F-22s beyond the 187 that have already been purchased. Repeatedly, military leaders have confirmed that the decision to limit funding to 187 planes is driven by budgetary decisions, not military requirements,” said Chambliss. “It is regrettable that the administration needs to issue a veto threat for funding intended to meet a real national security requirement that has been consistently confirmed by our uniformed military leaders.”

“The federal government must tighten its belt in these tough economic times just as Americans have to do, but we must also maintain a strong national defense in order to protect our country,” Isakson said. “The F-22A is the most sophisticated fighter jet in the world with the latest stealth technology to reduce detection by radar. This plane is vital to 21st century American military superiority and provides a priceless service to our Armed Services. The administration needs to seriously consider the ramifications of vetoing legislation that authorizes funding for our military men and women and their families as well as critical military construction projects.”

Today the Senate Armed Services Committee voted the Defense Authorization bill out of committee, which includes an amendment offered by Chambliss that fully funds seven additional F-22s. The bill now goes before the full Senate for consideration.

"Regarding the Senate Armed Services Committee's authorization for seven additional F-22s, I am pleased that a majority of my colleagues chose to support my initiative to fund these aircraft. Our debate and vote took place with full awareness of the administration’s veto threat, and the result of the vote speaks for itself,” said Chambliss. "I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the committee and with the leadership of the Air Force and the Department of Defense to ensure that our nation's military requirements are met."

“Thanks to the work of Senator Chambliss, the F-22 still has a fighting chance,” Isakson said. “I’m pleased the majority of the Senate Armed Services Committee recognizes that continued production of this aircraft is essential to both our national security as well as the many local economies and thousands of workers that would be devastated as a result of these cuts.”
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Missile Defense Reviews to Focus on Current, Long-Term Challenges

North Korea and Iran pose serious nuclear and missile proliferation concerns for the United States and other nations and will be major considerations in the U.S ballistic missile defense review, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told the Senate Armed Services Committee Monday.

"The risks and dangers from missile proliferation are growing problems," Lynn said. "The president has made clear that we will move forward with missile defenses. They're affordable, proven and responsive to the threat."

Lynn joined other defense leaders in describing the ballistic missile threat and reviews of missile defense policy and planning under way to address current as well as long-term security challenges.

The recently initiated Ballistic Missile Defense Review and other related reviews, he said, will focus on challenges posed by violent extremist movements, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, rising powers with sophisticated weapons and failed or failing threats, Lynn told the panel.

Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the global nature of the threats and the rapid pace of technological change imposes big challenges on any deterrent strategy.

"No longer will a monolithic, mutual-assured destruction approach deter our aggressors," Cartwright said. "Our deterrent strategy will need to handle the rapid advances in technologies across a broad range of threats and conditions."

Several broad principles will guide the efforts:

• Defending the United States from rogue states and protecting U.S. forces.

This includes more effective theater missile defenses and more capabilities to warfighters provided through shorter-range and mobile missile defense systems, Lynn explained. The fiscal 2010 budget request includes an additional $900 million to field more systems such as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships and Standard Missile-3 interceptors to defend deployed forces and allies, he said.

• Preparing for emerging threats.

This effort calls for continued investment in national missile defense systems upgrades
and research and development to pursue new and more effective technologies to confront theater missile threats, Lynn said.

• Ensuring the effectiveness of U.S. missile defenses.

Lynn emphasized the need for robust testing, while terminating the troubled kinetic energy interceptor and multiple kill vehicle programs and returning the airborne laser to a technology demonstration program.

• Using missile defense as the basis for fostering international defense cooperation.

No final decisions have been made regarding missile defense in Europe, Lynn told the panel. However, the U.S. approach to missile defense there will be to seek cooperation with international partners, including Russia, to reduce the threat from Iran.

Lynn called ballistic missile defenses an important part of current and future national strategy that must be integrated into broader deterrence and alliance considerations.

"Missile defenses play a key role in both responding to current threats and hedging against future contingencies," he told the senators. "As we move forward with missile defense plans and programs, the Department of Defense will ensure they are affordable, effective and responsive to the risks and threats that confront the United States, our friends and our allies."

Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said the $7.8 billion requested for missile defense in the fiscal 2010 budget will support these endeavors.

This funding, he said, will focus on three areas of improvement: current protection against theater and rogue nation threats, the United States' hedge against future threats and improving the acquisition of U.S. missile defense capability.

"Missile defense is expensive, but the cost of mission failure can also be very high," O'Reilly said, emphasizing that the system must be both affordable and effective.

"The department is proposing a balanced program to develop, rigorously test and field an integrated [ballistic missile defense system] architecture to counter existing regional threats, maintain our limited [intercontinental ballistic missile] defense, develop new technologies to address future risks and become more operationally and cost-effective as we prepare to protect against the more uncertain threats of the future," he said.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

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Disjointed Security Threats are New Normal, Commander Says

The threats that face the United States are more amorphous today than at any time in history, and the commands responsible for defending North America must maintain vigilance, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart said Monday.

"People believe we are getting back to something like normal after Sept. 11," the commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Command said during a morning briefing to members of the Capitol Hill Club. "I will tell you that that normal will never return."

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canadian command charged with early warning of threats. Formed 51 years ago, the command was aimed at defending North America from aerial threats from the Soviet Union. It has morphed into a command looking at threats from the air, space, land and sea.

The threats facing the United States take on many faces: terrorists and terror groups, nation states, drug cartels, uncontrolled immigration and natural and man-made disasters.

"We have to continue to grow our capabilities to ensure that we are prepared to defend the nation, anticipate the threats we may face and then defend the nation from these kinds of actions," Renuart said.

The enemy seeks to attack the seams and gaps in American defenses, the general said. These seams are between areas – such as the boundary between U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command; agencies like those between the departments of Defense and Homeland Security; and domains such as space and maritime.

"We have to be prepared to deter those threats and we have to be prepared to defeat them if they materialize," he said.

The command also has responsibility for missile defense – a capability increasingly in the public eye as North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.

"This is a core part of our mission each day," Renuart said. "We would all agree that [the North Korean] regime is unpredictable at best. It underlines the fact that there are and will continue to be nations out there that look to develop a long-range capability that will hold other countries at risk."

Iran poses a threat not to the United States directly, but to allies in the Middle East and Europe. "They certainly have an intermediate-range capability today, their long-range ability to strike the U.S. is a few years down the road," he said.

U.S. Northern Command is tasked with missile defense. The system is very capable against the threats it was designed to counter. "It's not designed to be a shield against all [intercontinental ballistic missiles]," the general said. "It is designed to meet a threat from a rogue nation like North Korea, and potentially like Iran down the road."

The system is capable, as testing has shown. "I can say with a high-degree of confidence that it is highly effective in those scenarios," Renuart said.

It's important to not create false expectations for the system, as it is still in operational test and development, Renuart said.

"The decision to turn a portion of the system over to the operational commander tasked with defending the homeland was a good one," he said. The command will continue to work with testing officials to stretch the system.

The drug cartels have developed a distribution system to rival the world's largest retailers. Some 280-plus cities have been touched by the Sinaloa Cartel, and competition between the drug cartels is increasing, Renuart said. That is causing increased violence and kidnappings along the U.S.-Mexico border, he said.

The possibility exists for terrorists to use the same network to move people, weapons or illicit materiel to hold the United States at risk. Forty-five federal agencies are integral members of U.S. Northern Command and they help plan operations and share intelligence around the government.

The reserve components make up a large portion of the command. Renuart said the decision to increase the budget to train and equip the reserve components has paid off.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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Warlord Targeted in Afghan Strike May Have Survived, Officials Say

An Afghan warlord and Taliban commander believed to have been killed in a June 9 air strike may have survived the attack, military officials reported yesterday.

Initial Afghan and coalition reports said Mullah Mustafa died in the strike, but credible reports surfaced today that Mustafa survived, U.S. Forces Afghanistan officials said.

Coalition forces had seen Mustafa moving by vehicle from his compound. When he stopped in a remote, unpopulated area in Afghanistan's Ghowr province, he was joined by a number of associates. After ensuring there were no civilians present, coalition forces used precision aerial munitions to strike the group.

Today, unsubstantiated reports of civilian casualties emerged, officials said, adding that they are working with Afghan partners to examine those reports. The officials emphasized that coalition forces took extensive measures to protect noncombatants and that a thorough review of intelligence and surveillance supports initial reports that all killed in the strikes were legitimate enemy targets.

"Mustafa is an enemy of Afghanistan, and we're working with Afghan officials to pursue him until he is captured or confirmed killed," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, a spokeswoman for U.S. Forces Afghanistan. "In addition, we are working closely with Afghan partners to investigate unconfirmed reports of civilians among Mustafa's party."

(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan news release.)
American Forces Press Service

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Security Remains Improved, Progress Continues, Odierno Says

From an overall perspective, security in Iraq remains improved, the Multinational Force Iraq commander said during a Pentagon briefing Friday.

"We continue to see overall levels of violence at or near the lowest level since the summer of 2003 inside of Iraq," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said.

In addition, Odierno said, the capacity and capability of the Iraqi security forces is much improved and the Iraqi people understand and continue to reject attempts by al-Qaida and other elements to create a new cycle of sectarian violence.

The general acknowledged that while violence is low, it hasn't been eradicated, as terrorists are intent on conducting high-profile suicide attacks designed to garner attention and spark sectarian discord. April was the deadliest month this year for both American and Iraqi forces.

"I would emphasize that this is not 2006 or 2007," he said. "We have yet to see sectarian retribution, [and] all the political parties and government officials are appropriately disavowing the recent attacks. We continue to see indications that the Iraqis want to move forward, whether it's in the form of voting for their elected leaders, improving economic conditions or normalizing relations with their regional partners."

As the Iraqi government takes greater control of its country's security, U.S. forces are stepping further into the background, Odierno said. Implementation of the status-of-forces agreement between the United States and Iraq is moving along as well, he added.

"We've closed more than 50 installations in Iraq," he said. "We've returned security of the Green Zone to the government of Iraq, and we've turned over the Republican Palace, which served as a U.S. embassy, among other examples."

The general noted that President Barack Obama announced that U.S. forces will end combat operations in Iraq at the end of August 2010, changing over to an advisory and training mission.

"We will maintain a force [of about 35,000 to 50,000] to ensure that we can achieve our new missions while providing sufficient force protection and still be able to conduct counter-terrorism missions," he said.

The Iraqi government also has assumed complete responsibility for paying the "Sons of Iraq" civilian security groups – "a clear sign of resolve" to continue the important program, Odierno said. In fact, the Iraqi government has budgeted more than $300 million to ensure full payment of members for 2009.

"Perhaps even more important, the leadership has shown its determination to move the [Sons of Iraq] members into the Iraqi security forces and other ministries," he said.

Iraq's Council of Ministers approved the integration of 80 percent of the Sons of Iraq into nonsecurity ministries, and 20 percent into the security ministries.

"We are fully aware that the challenges are still in front of us as Iraq continues to evolve," Odierno said. "And as it continues to improve, the problem set actually becomes more complex as we move forward."

Odierno cited evidence of Iran's continued funding, training and equipping of surrogates who continue to conduct disruptive operations in Iraq.

While Iranian interference has lessened, he said, this behavior is not what Iraq should expect from a neighbor. Iran has an opportunity to form a positive relationship with Iraq based on respect for Iraq's sovereignty, he said. Syria also could improve its relations with Iraq, he added, if it demonstrated a commitment not to allow foreign fighters intent on causing trouble in Iraq to stage from within its borders.

The impact of the global economic crisis has not been lost on Iraq either, Odierno said. With much of its economy tied to the price of oil, and with oil prices slipping, the Iraqi economy has taken some blows.

"[The Iraqi government] will have to make some very difficult decisions between Iraqi security force modernization, service improvement and infrastructure investment over the next couple years," he said.

At the end of 2011, when all U.S. forces are out of Iraq, it doesn't mean the U.S. relationship with the country will end, the general said, noting a second agreement between the two nations.

"The second was the strategic framework agreement, which is designed to ensure cooperation in many areas between the United States and the government of Iraq," Odierno said. "[This includes] areas such as medical, cultural, scientific, economic and other endeavors that will strengthen the country and help our two countries enjoy a long and enduring friendship based on mutual respect as sovereign nations."

He said he hopes Iraq can achieve long-term stability and develop a common vision for the way ahead.

"An Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors is able to defend and protect its people against internal and external threats and is a respectful participant in the community of nations is achievable, but much work is still ahead," Odierno said.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
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Better-equipped National Guard Still Faces Critical Shortages

Equipment critical to both domestic and warfighting missions and aircraft essential to guarding the nation's air sovereignty remain areas of concern for the National Guard.

That was the message Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard, and Army Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter, acting deputy director of the Army National Guard, gave members of the House Armed Services Committee's air and land forces subcommittee May 5.

"The Army has made great progress toward improving equipping levels within the Army National Guard," Carpenter said. "In recent years, the Army has made an unprecedented level of investment in Army National Guard equipment."

But both Carpenter and Wyatt said more needs to be done – and the Air Guard director sounded a warning about aging F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighter aircraft.

"Our primary concern is that 80 percent of the F-16s, the backbone of our air-sovereignty alert force, will begin reaching the end of their service life in eight years," Wyatt said. "We need solutions for what we in the Air National Guard refer to as the 'mid-term gap,' and for long-term recapitalization. Neither of these can be sacrificed.

"If we sacrifice the mid-term, we risk uncovering a critical line of defense. If we sacrifice the long term, or fifth generation, we risk what can best be referred to as our children and grandchildren's critical edge. Everything has to be on the table. This infrastructure of equipment is not just fighters; it includes tankers, air traffic control, command and control, security and communications – the entire system supporting and protecting our nation's last line of defense."

Critical dual-use items needed for both domestic and overseas missions are a top priority for the Army National Guard and the National Guard Bureau, Carpenter told committee members.

"It is ... important to note that a significant quantity of critical dual-use equipment, while it may have been issued to [Army National Guard] units, is chronically unavailable to governors ... due to continuing rotational deployments," Carpenter said.

Modernizing the truck fleet, procuring more battle command equipment and expanding stocks of water purification systems, generators, material-handling equipment, field feeding systems, tactical ambulances and aviation ground equipment are key concerns for the Army National Guard.

"We appreciate ... the strong interest of the Congress and the Department of Defense in closing the gap between our domestic requirements and the available equipment in our armories and motor pools," Carpenter said.

"Shortfalls in equipment will impact the Air National Guard's ability to support the National Guard's response to disasters and terrorist incidents in the homeland," Wyatt warned. "Improved equipping strengthens readiness for both overseas and homeland missions and improves our capability to train on mission-essential equipment."

The 1950s technology used by air traffic controllers and the 40 percent of the Air National Guard's vehicles that are at or beyond their life expectancy also are areas of concern for the Air Guard, he added.

The hearing was intended to get a straightforward assessment of the National Guard's equipment levels in light of the Commission of the National Guard and Reserves recommendation that the Guard be equipped and resourced as an operational reserve rather than the Cold War model of a strategic reserve, said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, the committee chairman.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is expected to provide Congress with a detailed budget in the coming weeks, and the directors said they could provide more information once that budget is released.

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
Special to American Forces Press Service
Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill serves at the National Guard Bureau
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Extremists' Defeat Requires Commitment, Centcom Commander Says

A substantial and sustained commitment is required to disrupt and ultimately defeat al-Qaida and other extremist elements in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command told a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on Friday.

"The strategy described by President [Barack] Obama several weeks ago constitutes such a commitment," Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told members of the military construction, Veterans Affairs and related agencies subcommittee. "Although ... additional resources will be applied in different ways on either side of the [border between Afghanistan and Pakistan], Afghanistan and Pakistan comprise a single theater that require comprehensive, whole-of-governments approaches that are closely coordinated."

Afghanistan requires a comprehensive counterinsurgency approach, which is what Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and NATO's International Security Assistance Force will work to execute with the additional U.S. and coalition resources that will arrive there over the summer, Petraeus said.

The additional forces will provide increased capability to secure and serve the people, pursue extremists, support Afghan security forces development, reduce illegal narcotics and help develop capabilities that will increase the legitimacy of both Afghan local and national governance, Petraeus said.

"A major focus of our efforts in Afghanistan is building the Afghan security forces so that they are capable of assuming full responsibility for their country's security over time," the general said. "As was the case in Iraq, additional forces will only be of value if they are employed properly."

The increase of U.S. forces in Afghanistan has created new critical infrastructure requirements. Expanded contingency construction authorities for Afghanistan and across the area of responsibility provide an important interim solution, Petraeus said. He added his gratitude for the committee's support of the expansion.

Turning to Pakistan, Petraeus said the situation there is closely linked to that in Afghanistan.

"The extremists that have established sanctuaries in Pakistan's rugged border areas not only contributed to the deterioration of security in eastern and southern Afghanistan, they also pose an ever-more serious threat to Pakistan's very existence," he said. "Al-Qaida senior leadership and other transnational extremist elements are located in Pakistan, and have carried out an increasing number of suicide bombings and other attacks."

In addition, they have carried out attacks in India and Afghanistan, as well as various countries outside the region, including the United Kingdom, Petraeus said, and also have continued efforts to carry out attacks in the United States.

Though the Pakistani military has stepped up operations in parts of Pakistan's ungoverned tribal areas in response to the increased concern over this activity, much more work is required, the general told the lawmakers.

"Given our relationship with Pakistan and its military over the years, it is important that the United States be seen as a reliable ally in assisting with that work," Petraeus said. "The Pakistani military has been fighting a tough battle against extremists for more than seven years."

The U.S. military will focus its assistance in two main areas, the general said. It will expand its partnership with the Pakistani military and help it build its counterinsurgency capabilities by providing training, equipment and assistance.

"Second, we will promote closer cooperation across the Afghan-Pakistan border by providing training, equipment, facilities and intelligence capabilities and by bringing together Afghan and Pakistani military officers to enable coordination between the forces on either side of the border," Petraeus said.

These efforts, he said, would be aided substantially by the Pakistani Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.

"Pakistan is a unique situation and nuanced authorities," the Centcom commander said. "[Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard] Holbrooke and I have determined that we need both foreign-military financing and PCCF to accomplish our mission."

He explained the Pakistani Counterinsurgency Capability Fund will allow the U.S. military to expand and focus its security development plan with Pakistan, but added that the rest of the region poses challenges.

"As we increase our focus on, and efforts in, Afghanistan and Pakistan, we must not lose sight of other important missions in the Centcom [area of responsibility]," Petraeus said. "There has for example, been substantial progress in Iraq, but numerous challenges still confront its leaders and its people."

Despite these challenges, Petraeus said, progress is being made in Iraq, especially in the development of the Iraqi security forces. This steady progress has enabled the continued transition of security responsibility to Iraqi elements, further reductions of coalition forces and the steady withdrawal of U.S. units from urban areas, he said.

"We are thus on track in implementing the security agreement with the government of Iraq and in executing the strategy laid out by the president," Petraeus said.

Iran also remains a major concern for Centcom, the general said. The country continues to carry out destabilizing activities in the region and is continuing development of nuclear capabilities and missile systems that many consider to be linked to the pursuit of nuclear weapons and delivery means.

"Iran's actions and rhetoric have, in fact, prompted our partners in the Gulf to seek closer relationships with us than we have had with some of them in decades," Petraeus said. "We are also helping to bolster the Gulf states and the Central Asian states to help them deal with threats to their security, which range from al-Qaida to robust militia and organized criminal elements."

The United States also is working with partner nations to counter piracy and to combat illegal narcotics production and trafficking, and to interdict arms smuggling. All of these activities threaten stability and the rule of law, and often provide financing for extremists, he said.

"Finally, in all of these endeavors, we seek to foster comprehensive approaches by ensuring that military efforts are fully integrated with broader diplomatic, economic and developmental efforts," Petraeus said. "There will be nothing easy about the way ahead in Afghanistan or Pakistan, or in many of the other tasks in the Central Command area.

"Much hard work lies before us," he continued, "but it is clear that achieving the objectives of these missions is vital, and it is equally clear that these endeavors will require sustained, substantial commitment and unity of effort of all involved."

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
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Mullen, Gates Share Deep Concern Over Pakistan

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed deep concern on Friday that "events continue to move in the wrong direction" in Pakistan and that the situation there may be approaching a tipping point.

"I think we're certainly closer to the tipping point," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told Ann Curry of NBC-TV's "Today" show, who is traveling with him in the region. "I don't think that we're there."

Mullen said he shares Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's concerns that the Taliban have taken full control of Pakistan's Swat Valley. Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 22 this trend "poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world."

U.S. officials fear it's giving extremists a safe haven for launching attacks in Pakistan as well as Afghanistan.

"I'm increasingly both concerned and frustrated at the progression of the danger," Mullen said.

Mullen's comments were aired this morning as yet-unconfirmed news reports said the Taliban had begun to withdraw its forces from the Buner Valley, 60 miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates emphasized the gravity of the Taliban's increasing influence and control in Pakistan, and the need for a strong Pakistani response.

"My hope is that there will be an increasing recognition on the part of the Pakistani government that the Taliban in Pakistan are in fact an existential threat to the democratic government of that country," Gates told reporters who traveled with him to Camp Lejeune, N.C., to visit deploying Marines.

"I think that some of the leaders certainly understand that, but it is important that they not only recognize it but take the appropriate actions to deal with it," Gates said.

What happens in Pakistan directly affects Afghanistan, he said. "The stability and longevity of democratic government in Pakistan is central to the efforts of the coalition in Afghanistan, and it is also central to our future partnership with the government in Islamabad," he told reporters.

"We want to support them. We want to be helpful in any way we can," Gates said. "But it is important that they recognize the real threats to their country."

Earlier this week, as Mullen visited Combat Outpost Deysie in Afghanistan, commanders reported that Taliban forces are flowing back into Afghanistan after a winter spent training and refitting in Pakistan.

An additional 17,000 U.S. combat troops will begin arriving soon in Afghanistan to focus on this vulnerable region. "We're going as fast as we can go right now," Mullen said. "We want to get it right."

But Mullen said the Pakistani military "has to increase pressure as pressure increases on this side to stop that insurgent flow."

Additional U.S. trainers being sent to Afghanistan will help build capabilities within the Afghan security forces to stand up to these threats. Mullen said success in Afghanistan depends on the Afghan military's ability to provide the security needed for other progress to occur.

"They have to take over the security for their nation," Mullen said. "That's the only way we're successful in the long run."

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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Mullen Cautions Iraq on Arab-Kurd Confrontations

Iraqi Kurds and Arabs must compromise to realize the full potential of the country, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during a visit to Erbil, Iraq yesterday. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with the president and prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government areas in Iraq. He also visited the U.S. Regional Reconstruction Team for the area. Mullen said there have been tense times between Kurds and Arabs in Iraq, but that any disagreements must be worked out. Cool heads must prevail, the chairman said.

"An outbreak of violence between the peshmerga (armed Kurdish fighters) and the Iraqi security forces would adversely impact the progress the country has made, and I told the Kurdish leaders that," Mullen said during the meeting with reconstruction team. "They know this must not be allowed to happen." The oil-rich city of Kirkuk is a flash point between the regional government and the national government. There have been confrontations between the peshmerga and Iraqi security forces – most recently in February – but they have no escalated to violence. Mullen was struck by the willingness to discuss and compromise from President Massoud Barzani in his meeting. The president also told Mullen that any solution to the PKK problem with Turkey, but be a political one. The PKK is a radical Kurdish group launching terrorist attacks inside neighboring Turkey. Development is key to the region's future, Mullen said.

"This is the civilian face of the Iraq surge," Lucy Tamlyn, the chief of the Regional Reconstruction Team, said to Mullen.

Tamlyn is an economic officer for the State Department. Her most recent assignment before taking the job was in the African nation of Chad. Now she is in charge of development for the three provinces that make up the Kurdistan Regional Government – Erbil, Dahuk and Sulamaniyah. Unlike the more well-known provincial reconstruction teams in the rest of Iraq and in Afghanistan, there are no U.S. servicemembers on the team, although they work with American servicemembers based in the region. The civilian workforce manages a large portfolio of projects aimed at improving life in the three provinces.

"The Kurds like us and they don't want us to leave," Tamlyn said. "We're working with the Kurds on goals they have set including essential services, rule of law issues and developing the private sector." The group also has a strong public diplomacy outreach effort. The area is peaceful and has been a "permissive environment" since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, she said. This means that team members are able to work closely with Kurdish officials on projects across the region. They are also able to train and mentor Kurdish Regional Government officials. Erbil is a booming city in the traditional sense. There are many new buildings and ground has been cleared for even more. Shops are modern and clean and there are road construction projects throughout the city.

"It gets more primitive out(side) of the cities, but that is part of the process as we move forward," Tamlyn said. The U.S. team is helping the Kurds build the infrastructure which includes water projects, electricity and the oil and gas infrastructure.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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WJS: Warnings on Iran

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the nuclear threat from Tehran.
Benjamin Netanyahu formally became Israel's Prime Minister last week, and he could not have been blunter about the strategic challenge ahead: "It is a mark of disgrace for humanity that several decades after the Holocaust the world's response to the calls by Iran's leader to destroy the state of Israel is weak, there is no condemnation and decisive measures -- almost as if dismissed as routine." He added, "We cannot afford to take lightly megalomaniac tyrants who threaten to annihilate us."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123897499619091093.html#mod=djemEditorialPage

Financial Crisis Puts New Urgency on Security, Chairman Says

The global financial crisis is adding a layer of uncertainty that could exacerbate problems in many parts of the world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on NBC-TV's "Today Show" Thursday morning.

"This global financial crisis in the months ahead could have a significant effect on security around the world," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told host Matt Lauer during the interview. "That creates an additional sense of urgency [for leaders] in resolving that as fast as we can."

The chairman did not speculate as to where problems might crop up. Some obvious groups may take advantage of the added uncertainty of the financial crisis in their areas, but there are other areas in which planners may not have advance warning.

"We're not very good at predicting the future," Mullen acknowledged. "My concern is that as governments struggle to take care of their people, those shortfalls could result in increased pressures on those governments to provide for their people. That could result in increased levels of instability."

Mullen also touched on the importance of civilian experts and the troop-level increase in Afghanistan.

Civilian experts are needed to help put the Afghan governance infrastructure in place and to coach Afghans in the various ministries. Civilian experts also are needed to advise provincial and village councils.

Building government entities, improving agriculture and creating jobs will help improve the long-range outlook for Afghanistan. "That aspect of moving forward is really critical, and we haven't had that to date," Mullen noted.

The increase in U.S. troop levels that President Barack Obama has announced will serve two purposes, the chairman said. The 17,000 additional forces are combat troops and "are really focused on turning the tide with respect to the violence level and providing security for the Afghan people," he said. "Our center of gravity is the Afghan people who we've got to get to a point where they feel secure."

The chairman said 4,000 additional soldiers will train the Afghan security forces, and are the long-term aspect of the new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy the president announced last week.

"The exit strategy in Afghanistan is to have them provide for their own security -- the police the army -- and those 4,000 troops will be focused on that," Mullen said.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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Social Software Keys Information Sharing, Security, Researchers Say

Social software such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter may close information gaps on the battlefield by advancing collaboration and information sharing among warfighters and analysts, according to researchers at the National Defense University.

"Social tools ... give people platforms to share information with each other in ways that you really can't do with e-mail or some more traditional forms of communication," said Mark Drapeau, associate research fellow at NDU's Center for Technology and National Security Policy during an April 1 "Armed with Science" audio webcast on Pentagon Web Radio.

"Every warfighter wants the right information at the right time, but in many cases it is very hard to know what the 'relevant' information is in advance," Drapeau said. "Social software can facilitate simple sharing of possibly relevant information to supplement traditional methods, yielding better knowledge for better decision-making."

Social software encompasses a broad range of tools that connect people and promote information sharing over networks such as the Internet. These tools include social networking, video and photo sharing, blogs, wikis, and instant messaging.

While many social software tools are freely available to the public, cyber security concerns, infrastructure limitations, employee demographics and existing federal policy have hindered the integration of these tools in the federal workplace.

"[The Defense Department] is simply the largest organization in the world. Large organizations, in general, are not very good at sharing information," Drapeau said.

Drapeau is working with Linton Wells II, former chief information officer for the Pentagon, on a soon-to-be published research paper that proposes a framework for how the department can use emerging social software to increase information sharing, transparency, and engagement with the public. The paper will address the national security and intelligence concerns that have limited the use of these tools, he said.

Drapeau compared the balance between information sharing and security to the balance between inhaling and exhaling. "We need both," he said.

"While cyber security is a very serious and important issue, completing your mission is a more serious and important issue," Drapeau said. "People need access to tools that will help them accomplish their mission."

Social software has played a role in a number of international events with U.S. national security implications. During last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, citizens used the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, to share information about the events as they happened in real-time. In March, the State Department used Twitter to deny rumors that could possibly have led to a siege on the American Embassy in Madagascar.

The push to incorporate social software into the Defense Department is in line with a memo President Barack Obama issued in January, "Transparency and Open Government," which directs leaders to foster in their agencies a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration by leveraging emerging information technologies, including social software.

Drapeau said this effort extends beyond just allowing the use of social software in the department.

"It means the government being more accountable to the people, being more transparent to the people, and working better with the people," he said.

(Author John Ohab holds a doctorate in neuroscience and works for the Defense Media Activity's Emerging Media directorate.)
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Heritage Foundation: North Korea Positions Missile on Launch Pad

The North Koreans are expected to launch a long range ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States some time during the next week. North Korea's actions indicate that America's enemies are working as diligently as ever to advance and test their ballistic missile capabilities. In response, America must continue to develop and enhance our ballistic missile defenses to counter this devastating threat.

The truth is brutal -- a missile launched from North Korea would take 33 minutes or less to hit the U.S.

33 Minutes, produced by The Heritage Foundation, opens our eyes to the reality that, many years after 9/11, Americans still remain vulnerable to a missile attack. Shot in high definition, 33 Minutes features breathtaking and dramatic footage as well as exclusive interviews with world leaders including Lady Margaret Thatcher, Attorney General Edwin Meese and others.
33 Minutes is your go to source to better understand the threats our enemies pose and what we need to do now to protect America. 33 Minutes on WTIC-AM Hartford!

Heads-up Connecticut! Don’t miss Heritage Foundation national security expert Peter Brookes on WTIC in Hartford this Friday, April 3rd, from 9-12 AM. Peter will be discussing 33 Minutes and the latest on missile defense. Be sure to tune in!

33 Minutes in your hometown!

Go to 33minutes.com to see a full list of upcoming screenings. Don't see a screening in your hometown? Host your own! Go to 33minutes.com for details.

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