TSA Administrator John Pistole Issues Public Service Announcement

WASHINGTON - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole today issued a public service announcement to thank the traveling public for their continued support and partnership and address new implemented procedures. The message is being made available to airports nationwide to play on public announcement systems during this holiday travel season in order to ensure passengers are prepared for screening when coming through airport security checkpoints. This public service announcement is just one in a series of steps by TSA to communicate to the traveling public, including a video message to travelers, posters at airports and messages to the TSA workforce on how to carry out these procedures in the most professional and responsible manner.
Here is a transcript of the public travel announcement/message:
"Hello. This is TSA Administrator John Pistole. On behalf of the more than 50,000 Transportation Security Officers across the country, thank you for being our partners in security. For your safety, we have instituted new screening procedures at checkpoints. Please take a moment to read the materials available about these procedures and your options as a passenger. We appreciate your patience as we all work together to keep travel safe."

USCIS Introduces First-Ever Fee Waiver Form

New Form Results from Extensive Collaboration with the Public
WASHINGTON—For the first time, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is introducing a standardized form for requesting waivers of the fees charged for immigration-benefit processing. Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, will become available for use on Nov. 23, 2010 – the same day USCIS’s latest fee schedule takes effect.
“Our goal is to bring clarity and consistency to immigration-benefit services,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas.  “The development of the new fee waiver form reflects our commitment to making improvements through extensive collaboration with the public.”
The fee waiver form reflects significant input from stakeholders, community-based organizations, and the general public. In stakeholder meetings, USCIS heard concerns that the absence of a standardized form led to confusion about the criteria and standards used to approve waivers. In July, USCIS published and sought comments on a proposed form through the Federal Register, generating input from numerous interested parties. Comments reflected applicants’ past experiences in requesting fee waivers and recommended changes to the proposed form and instructions to make them easier to understand for non-native English speakers.
The new form identifies clear requirements for documenting a fee waiver request. The form’s instructions also give information on the methodology that USCIS uses to evaluate the requests. For example, if an applicant can show that he or she is receiving a means-tested benefit and presents evidence to document that claim, then there is no requirement to submit further evidence. USCIS will use the same methodology in reviewing all fee waiver requests, whether submitted on the new Form I-912 or in a written statement generated by the applicant.
USCIS announced today that it is also now seeking feedback on a new guidance memorandum documenting the agency’s consolidated policy for reviewing fee waiver requests. Stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to visit www.uscis.gov/outreach to review the new memorandum and offer their input.
USCIS’s latest fee rule, which takes effect Nov. 23, 2010, expands the availability of fee waivers to several new categories. The final rule also increases fees by a weighted average of about 10 percent, but does not increase the fee on naturalization applications.
 

Another Exclusive Sneak Peek of “America By Heart”

Another exclusive for the Buffalo, NY market


Sarah Palan is now offering another excerpt from her new book on her Facebook page.

The excerpt can not be offered here, due to copyright, but can be viewer CLICK HERE

 

CBP Officers in Buffalo Arrest Imposter on False Claim to Citizenship/ Fraud and False Statements

Lewiston, N.Y. - U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the arrest of a citizen of Honduras on charges of false claim to United States citizenship.

On November 13, CBP officers encountered a 26-year-old male as he applied for admission into the United States at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge border crossing in Lewiston, N.Y. The subject stated that he was a United States citizen born in Puerto Rico, and presented a social security card and Texas driver’s license as proof of citizenship and identity. The subject advised CBP officers that he was enroute from his home in Massachusetts to visit his girlfriend in Michigan, but made a wrong turn and ended up crossing the international bridge in Lewiston. The subject was referred to CBP secondary inspection to verify his claim to U.S. citizenship. 

During the secondary interview, the subject was again questioned about his place of birth, in which he replied Puerto Rico. However, throughout the interview the subject was unable to answer simple questions that would confirm his claimed identity and residency in Puerto Rico. A query of the subject’s fingerprints resulted in the discovery of a record indicating that the prints were not those of a United States citizen but rather belonged to Marlon Bulnes-Macias, a Honduran citizen who had been previously deported from the United States in 2007.

Mr. Bulnes-Macias later admitted his true identity, and advised CBP officers that after being deported, he reentered the United States illegally on foot in Texas sometime in 2008. He claims that he purchased a Puerto Rican birth certificate and social security card, which enabled him to obtain a Texas driver’s license. He later moved to Massachusetts where he lived and worked illegally in the construction industry. Mr. Bulnes-Macias was being held at the Batavia Federal Detention Facility pending case review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office

On November 19, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York charged Mr. Bulnes-Macias with fraud and false statements, false claim to Unites States citizen and reentry after deportation. Mr. Bulnes-Macias was arraigned today in Federal Court and remains in custody without bail.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Face of Defense: Air Force Reservist Conquers Mount Kilimanjaro

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
3rd Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska, Nov. 19, 2010 - Many people dream of traveling the world or conquering large obstacles.

Air Force reservist Maj. Lisa Reaver, center, poses with fellow mountain climbers Lauren Drietzler, left, and Heather Ruhle, after summiting Mount Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak in Tanzania. Courtesy photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Maj. Lisa Reaver, an Air Force reservist with the 477th Fighter Group here, was able to do both when she and a group of friends climbed Africa's highest peak -- Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. "A teammate of mine from rugby did the climb a couple of years ago and said it was a life-changing experience," Reaver said.
Kilimanjaro's highest point, Uhuru Peak, rises to an altitude of 19,341 feet above sea level, according to the CIA World Factbook.
Reaver left Alaska Sept. 17 en route to her mountain-climbing quest with a group from the Global Alliance for Africa, a non-profit organization that benefits children orphaned by HIV and AIDS.
The major said she was among the four people of her six-person group that were able to reach Uhuru Peak.
"Mount Kilimanjaro does not look capable of such intensity, but just like the people that guided us up it, you can't judge a book by its cover," she said. "Those men are capable of carrying not just their pack, but yours too, on their head, just as Mount Kilimanjaro is capable of keeping people off its peak. It is harder than it looks."
Reaver said if she had to take one lesson away from her trip it would be, "You don't know what you are capable of until you're put to the test."
The trip to Africa, she said, "was a challenge on a couple of fronts, mainly fundraising, as well as the climb. I'm not an expert in either area, and was pushed out of my comfort zone to accomplish both."
Reaver added, "I learned that I can rely on my friends and family, myself and my faith. Trusting in that, I can succeed at just about anything."

ICE arrests 13 convicted criminal aliens, fugitives in eastern Idaho enforcement surge

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - A total of 13 convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives have been arrested following a four-day enforcement operation in eastern Idaho carried out by officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
During the operation, which ended Friday morning, ICE officers located and took into custody 12 immigration fugitives who had outstanding orders of deportation or had been previously deported and returned to the United States illegally. Ten of those arrested had criminal histories ranging from drug possession, felony assault, counterfeiting and driving under the influence. Three were non-criminal immigration fugitives with outstanding final orders of deportation.
"This multi-day, ICE operation targeted criminal and fugitive aliens throughout eastern Idaho," said ICE Director John Morton. "These surge operations, and our daily targeting of aliens with criminal convictions, are some of the many tools that ICE uses to effectively reduce crime at the street level in communities throughout the United States."
Twelve of those arrested during the operation are from Mexico and one is from Guatemala. The arrests were made in seven Idaho communities including American Falls, Firth, Hamer, Idaho Falls, Lewisville, Shoshone and Sugar City.
Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. ICE turned one of those arrested over to the sheriff's department in Bonneville County, Idaho, to face battery charges after it was determined there was an outstanding arrest warrant for him. He has a 2006 felony conviction for third degree assault in Hermiston, Ore.
The four-day surge was conducted by the ICE ERO Office in Boise, Idaho, and was spearheaded by ICE's Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams (FOTs) give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.
The officers who conducted this week's operation received substantial assistance from ICE's Fugitive Operations Support Center (FOSC) located in Williston, Vt. The FOSC conducted exhaustive database checks on the targeted cases to help ensure the viability of the leads and accuracy of the criminal histories. The FOSC was established in 2006 to improve the integrity of the data available on at large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives nationwide. Since its inception, the FOSC has forwarded more than 550,000 case leads to ICE enforcement personnel in the field.
ICE's Fugitive Operations Program is just one facet of the Department of Homeland Security's broader strategy to heighten the federal government's effectiveness at identifying and removing dangerous criminal aliens from the United States. Other initiatives that figure prominently in this effort are the Criminal Alien Program, Secure Communities and the agency's partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies under 287(g).
Largely as a result of these initiatives, ICE removed a record 195,772 convicted criminal aliens from the United States in fiscal year 2010.

Remarks by Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Margo Schlanger at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago's Annual Community Dinner

Release Date: May 22, 2010
Rosemont, Ill.
Donald Stevens Convention Center
I am truly pleased and privileged to join the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago during this very impressive and valuable annual community dinner. Organizations like yours and events like this really do live up to tonight's title, "Leadership in Action."
Secretary Napolitano sends her regrets for not being able to join us this evening due to schedule conflicts beyond her control. However, it is an honor for me to be speaking on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and I thank you for this opportunity.
I'm only four months into this job at DHS, but in that time, I have gotten to know Dr. Sahloul and several others here a little bit. First, from the many interactions my office has had with the Council and others, as part of our regular community engagement roundtables in Chicago - which have been going on for quite a few years at this point. In fact, the very first one of our roundtables in which I was able to participate was here in Chicago, a couple of months ago, and I was able to meet a couple dozen of the many hundreds of people here tonight. I have also had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Sahloul twice, at high-level information sessions my office has put together - one in January and the other just two days ago - in Washington, D.C., with Secretary Napolitano, other DHS senior leadership, and leaders of American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities.
More generally, since being appointed by President Obama as the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in January, I have learned about and been impressed by this Council's effective work in representing the interests of the ethnically diverse 400,000 Muslims in the Greater Chicago area. I know your work in promoting interfaith dialogue, civic engagement and community service among area Muslims has served as an example for others to follow not only in Chicago but nationally. The Council has also taken significant steps in working with youth to facilitate their full inclusion. Your projects in promoting an civic agenda for Illinois Muslims, effectively condemning violent extremism, combating obesity, promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle during the "Green Ramadan" campaign, proactively addressing domestic violence, and your response to President Obama's call by partnering with the "United We Serve" campaign are all examples of the very impressive diversity of issues in which this Council exerts leadership. I thank you for your wonderful work in all these area and for your partnership in DHS's Chicago roundtable for the past six years.
The first rule of before-dinner speeches is that they should be short, so I have only a few minutes to speak to you. I thought I'd use those few minutes to talk about my office and the role we play at DHS, and about a few broader ideas about what it means to be a government civil rights office.
The Department of Homeland Security's foundational statute and a recent important report by the Department to Congress, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Report, set out DHS's varied missions. We are trying to achieve a safe, secure and resilient homeland in which the American way of life can thrive, by securing our homeland from a variety of natural and manmade treats, administering a fair and effective immigration system, and promoting commercial and human interchange. Right there in that foundational statute (as a law professor, I'm bound to say that it's in 6 U.S.C. § 111) Congress instructed DHS that it should carry out these homeland security missions without diminishing civil rights and civil liberties.
As a result, my office, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties - we call it CRCL - is involved in all the Department's missions. We perform four key functions to integrate civil rights and civil liberties into Department activities from preventing terrorism to administering the immigration system, preparing and responding to disasters, and cybersecurity. Specifically:

• We are part of the Department's leadership, and play a key role in advising personnel about civil rights and civil liberties issues, ensuring respect for civil rights and civil liberties in policy decisions and implementation of those decisions. This covers not only DHS headquarters, but the component agencies, which include Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• In work I'll talk more about in a minute or two, my office also communicates with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by Department activities, informing them about policies and avenues of redress, and promoting appropriate attention within the Department to their experiences and concerns.
• Another key role of CRCL is investigating and resolving civil rights and civil liberties complaints filed by the public.
• Finally, I also lead the Department's equal employment opportunity programs and promote personnel diversity and merit system principles.

So after hearing that list, it's useful to ask, what is civil rights and civil liberties? There are, it seems to me, three basic civil rights and civil liberties values: liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. Sometimes people talk about "balancing" security against liberty. But my perspective is different. In my view, liberty, fairness, and equality under the law are the very features of American life that we are trying to secure and allow to flourish. Security doesn't compete with these foundational values; security should serve them. To quote Chicago's favorite son; our President; "we will not succumb to a siege mentality that sacrifices the open society and liberties and values that we cherish as Americans, because great and proud nations don't hunker down and hide behind walls of suspicion and mistrust."
If that's right - if the goal is to keep our society open, and protect liberty, fairness, and equality under the law, how can a government civil rights office do that? We need to do two things. First, offices like mine must ensure that attention is paid to civil rights constraints on government activity. The government cannot, for example, implement policies driven by racial, ethnic, or religious animus or fear. It cannot constrain or punish speech. It must afford all persons accused of wrongdoing a fair process to contest those charges before infringing their liberty as a result. My office works hard on this agenda, bringing civil rights expertise and a civil rights perspective into policy development processes, and using our complaint investigations to figure out where things may be going wrong, or could go better. This is a vitally important agenda, but in a way, it's a negative agenda - it's making sure that civil rights are not negatively affected by DHS activities.
But a civil rights office can and must do more - it must implement the foundational insight of our democracy, to quote another President from Illinois, that the American system is government of the people, for the people, by the people. Here the people rule; you are the sovereigns. So it is part of being a civil rights office that we must always seek out community views, insights, responses, and partnerships. That is, we have an affirmative obligation to engage communities.
This isn't only a civil rights agenda. The entire administration is committed to open and responsive government, and Secretary Napolitano has established those goals as a top priority for DHS. This is a part of basic good governance more broadly. But I think that as a civil rights office, CRCL must be a leader in this effort. We are trying to do that. We are revamping our website, our complaints process, our congressional reporting, and so on - all with the twin goals of improving effectiveness and reasonable transparency. (In fact, in the coming weeks, our community stakeholders will be hearing from my staff as we seek your ideas on the complaint process in particular).
But the largest way in which we meet what I've just called our affirmative obligation to engage is work we do around the country in meetings and other programs involving community partners, where we bring together not just staff from my office but other DHS officials - from TSA, ICE, CBP, USCIS - and other government officials from DOJ, FBI, and other agencies. The idea is to explain governmental policies, solicit views, and seek to address any individual or more collective complaints or grievances.
The work we do with American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities, including our work with the Council and its constituent organizations here in Chicago, is part and parcel of this broad effort to ensure that all communities in this country are, and feel, active participants in the homeland security effort. Our engagement efforts build crucial channels of communication, both educating us about the concerns of communities affected by Department activities and giving those communities reliable information about policies and procedures. They build trust by facilitating resolution of legitimate grievances; they reinforce a sense of shared American identity and community; and they demonstrate the collective ownership of the homeland security project.
We structure these engagement efforts with several types of regular events or programs: community leader roundtables; youth roundtables; a rapid response communication network; and promotion of a prestigious internship for Arabic-speaking college students and graduates in partnership with the George Washington University.
Over the past four years, CRCL has established regular roundtable meetings for community and government leaders in eight regions across the country: Boston, Chicago, Columbus (Ohio), Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. These locations have diverse Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian communities, and we have nurtured broad community participation and partnership.
The roundtables cover a range of homeland security, civil rights, and other areas. With the assistance of our federal and local government partners, sessions have canvassed (in no particular order): rules governing remittances to foreign relatives; immigration and naturalization policies; access to information about basic government services in different languages; roles and responsibilities of law enforcement; detention of national security suspects; how government can work with communities to promote civic engagement; services for newly-arrived refugees; crime prevention; how communities can work with government to counter violent extremism; protection of civil rights in employment, voting, housing, and other areas; prosecution of hate crimes; and border searches. So the meetings provide opportunities for community leaders to learn about significant government policies - at the Chicago meeting I chaired this past February, we included presentations on the privacy protections as part of TSA's use of new Advanced Imaging Technology scanners and on CBP's "Trusted Traveler" program, which facilitates expedited international travel for preapproved, low risk travelers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. The meetings also let their participants raise specific issues of concern in a format that emphasizes accountability for answers - the government participants will be back again the following quarter.
So these engagement meetings and events provide an excellent opportunity for government officials and their agencies to learn about the concerns of diverse communities. But one important point that I have emphasized since taking office is that for our engagement efforts to be sustainable and effective, grievances and challenges should not only be heard - they should be addressed, where possible.
A recent success story is the change that DHS recently made to transportation security screening procedures. As many of you know, immediately following the December 25, 2009, attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight #253 over Detroit, DHS took the emergency step of instituting screening policies that focused on what country travelers were from to impose additional screening measures. That kind of broad-brush approach burdens too many people with extra screening for insufficient reason; it's simply not smart enough. So last month - just three months after the initial response, which for the government is the blink of an eye - DHS adjusted, substituting new, real-time, intelligence-driven transportation security screening measures that are smarter and more precise, so that they strengthen the security of all travelers while respecting civil rights and civil liberties.
Another, smaller, recent success story is the meeting of interfaith religious leaders that I chaired in partnership with TSA, in Washington, D.C., to help understand and perhaps address modesty concerns related to the new Advanced Imaging Technology tools - whole body imaging - DHS is placing in airports around the country. We learned a great deal from these leaders and have since been able to institute some changes to standard operating procedures, to ameliorate, somewhat, some of those concerns.
In short, our effort is for CRCL's activities to serve as a model for constructive engagement between your communities and government, in order to implement the most basic commitments of American democracy and protect liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. I believe that the partnership between my office and the communities represented here is strong, and I very much look forward to deepening it as we together face old and new challenges. Thank you again for inviting me to be with you tonight.

"If You See Something, Say Something" Expands in D.C



Secretary Napolitano delivers remarks on
"If You See Something, Say Something" campaign
Photo by: Barry Bahler/DHS

"If You See Something, Say Something" - that's what Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole are urging you to do.  Together, they announced the expansion of the nationwide “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign to Washington, D.C. today.

The goal is simple: encourage everyone to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper law enforcement authorities.

Secretary Napolitano made the announcement at DC's Reagan National Airport (DCA) alongside Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Chief Stephen Holl and Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn.

“As Americans head into the busy holiday travel season, it is important to remember that every individual has a role to play in keeping our country safe and secure,” said Secretary Napolitano.

"If You See Something, Say Something" messages will soon be visible in DC-area airports, public transit, movie theaters, gas stations, and will be heard on local radio stations.  The goal is to encourage citizens everywhere to speak up if they see or observe something out-of-the-ordinary, and give individuals information about where to go with that information if they see suspicious activities.

TSA Administrator John Pistole with TSO's
Photo by: Barry Bahler/DHS

"The partnerships we build in communities and with travelers are critical to supporting our security mission, " said TSA Administrator Pistole. "We saw with the failed Times Square attack the impact alert travelers can have and we ask for the public's continued partnership to help keep our skies safe."

We all play a huge role in making this campaign a success and in keeping our nation safe.  So remember, "If You See Something, Say Something."

For more information on the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, visit http://www.dhs.gov/.

Labels: preparedness, travel security, TSA

Joint Press Availability with Secretary Gates and Minister Ravinet de la Fuente from Santiago, Chile

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

[Note:  Translated remarks from Minister Ravinet de la Fuente and questions from Spanish to English were inaudible]                 SEC. GATES:  Good morning.  I'd like to thank Minister Ravinet and the people of Chile for your warm hospitality.  I enjoyed hosting your defense minister at the Pentagon this past September and am happy to have the chance to return the visit today.                 I'll take this opportunity to congratulate you on your bi-centennial year.  What should have been a year of celebration was interrupted by natural disaster, but became an opportunity for you to display to the world your nation's fortitude and resilience.  Americans were deeply impressed with the manner in which the Chilean government, military and people responded to the horrific earthquake and tsunami that struck in February.  The losses were tragic, but would have been far worse without the swift and skillful response that saved many lives and rebuilt many communities.  And then of course, we all witnessed and cheered the extraordinary rescue of 33 trapped miners -- a tribute to the spirit, courage, and ingenuity of not only those men, but of Chile as a nation.                 My meeting with Minister Ravinet was a welcome opportunity to discuss what our hemisphere can learn from Chile's experience and achievements in dealing with crises and natural disasters.  We also spoke about ways to deepen and strengthen our bilateral defense relationship.  The United States and Chile share common values, interests, and the overarching goal of peace and stability in this hemisphere.  Our two militaries have collaborated on defense modernization, and Chile has forged a partnership with the state of Texas to share experience and build capability in areas such as crisis response.                 In our meeting, we also discussed revitalizing multi-lateral institutions such as the Inter-American Defense Board, and spoke about the upcoming Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas, which we will both attend on Monday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  I believe this forum has a vital role to play in fostering cooperation between the governments and militaries in this hemisphere and allowing us to address those challenges which we all face, whether the fight against drug, arms, and human trafficking or the need to improve disaster response capability.  I especially look forward to discussing potential regional mechanisms to improve our responses to natural disasters by creating a framework to share information, expertise, and to deliver life-saving capabilities more quickly and effectively than was possible in Haiti.                 Chile can offer real experience and accomplishment in this area. In addition to its domestic expertise, it has long been an important contributor to the multi-national peacekeeping force in Haiti, playing a critical role in the United Nations stabilization mission there before and in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake they suffered.                 As we move forward to address these and other challenges, the United States will continue to be grateful for the friendship and partnership of the Chilean people.  I want to thank Minister Ravinet for his generosity in hosting a dinner for me tonight, and for arranging my trip this afternoon to Fuerte Lautaro.  I'm very much looking forward to seeing Chile's elite special forces.                 Thank you.                 Q     Hi.  My name is Anne Gearan with the Associated Press.  Secretary Gates, there's been a fair amount of confusion about what the 2014 timeline means in Afghanistan.  Can you clarify whether you foresee a U.S. combat role beyond that date?  And if so, isn't that a rather extraordinary thing to be saying in 2010 that a war that began in 2001 might not be over for U.S. forces in 2014?                 SEC. GATES:  No, I think what we have done is embrace a goal that was established by President Karzai that by the end of 2014, primary responsibility for security across all of Afghanistan would have been transferred or transitioned to Afghan forces, Anne.  So I think the intention is that by 2014, that the lead role in all security activities across the entire country would have been transitioned to Afghanistan and to their security forces.                 I anticipate that the international forces -- some fraction of them will remain to do training and to provide support for the Afghans.  But I think anything that remains after 2014 would be very modest and very much focused on the kind of train and advise and assist role that we are now taking on in Iraq.                 Q     (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 SEC. GATES:  I'm sorry, could you repeat the question?                 Q     (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 SEC. GATES:  The interpretation, frankly, was a little broken up.  But if I understood the thrust of the question, I think from the United States' standpoint, these kinds of issues are bi-lateral in nature.  And we would leave it up to the countries involved to work this out.  I think that one of the subjects that the Minister and I discussed was the contribution that UNASUR [Union de Naciones Suramericanas -- Union of South American Nations] and the South American Defense Council can play in building trust among the different nations in South America, we obviously would like to see that.  We obviously want to see South America remain a zone of peace.  The percentage spent on the military in South America is among the lowest in the world.  This is a good thing.  And so in that broad framework, the specific issue, I would say, we would leave to the countries involved.                 Q     David Alexander from Reuters.  Secretary Gates, if the Senate fails to pass the START treaty, what impact will that have on U.S. ability to re-supply in Afghanistan through the northern route? And what effect might it have on Russia's support for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program?                 SEC. GATES:  Well, I think that this actually is one of the subjects that has not received much attention in terms of the debate on the new START treaty in the United States.  And that is the consequences of the failure to ratify the treaty.  First, the one we've spoken of most frequently is the absence of any ability to conduct any on-site inspections in Russia.  And we have been without this ability.  And the verification measures that have been developed in previous strategic agreements with the Russians in terms of verifying what their capabilities are and monitoring and keeping track of their strategic developments.  We lose all of that on an enduring basis if the treaty isn't passed.                  I think that it is an unknown what the consequences politically would be of a failure to ratify the agreement.  It isn't just limited to this narrow subject, but reflects on the relationship as a whole.  And the truth of the matter is the Russians in the last year or two have been very cooperative, first of all, in helping us establish the northern distribution network to help supply Afghanistan including a recent decision at my request to allow us to move these mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles -- MRAPs -- across Russia.  And they were also supportive of the UN Security Council resolution, the most recent one, with respect to Iran.                  So what happens to all of these political relationships, the impact on the internal political situation in Russia, if this treaty is voted down?  These are all unknowns, but, I think, potential worries if the treaty isn't ratified.                  The reality is, despite what anybody says, I as Secretary of Defense, and the entire uniformed leadership of the American military believe that this treaty is in our national security interests.  We believe it does not limit our ability to deploy missile defense.  Anything that we have in mind, now or in the years to come that we have even thought of, is not prohibited of what we think we would like to do.  And at the same time, it does continue to provide predictability in terms of strategic deployments on both sides.  It doesn't limit us when it comes to prompt global strike.  And part of the arrangements, part of the discussions are that support for the treaty also will bring support for the modernization of the U.S. nuclear enterprise.  I think the failure to ratify the treaty puts that at high risk.                  So I think that there are significant consequences in the failure -- there would be significant consequences in the failure to ratify the new START treaty.                  Q     (To Minister Ravinet - Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 MIN. RAVINET DE LA FUENTE:  (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 Q     Jordi Zamora, AFP.  Secretary Gates, following the recent visit of President Chavez -- Venezuelan President Chavez -- the touring of Russia and other countries, and the announcement especially of the construction of a nuclear plant in Venezuela, have you updated your assessment of what does it mean for the U.S. national security that the construction of the nuclear plant and the general arms agreement program in Venezuela.                 And just a quick one for the Chilean Minister -- (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 SEC. GATES:  First of all, I think that we certainly have no objection to civilian nuclear power, and the right of countries to have civilian nuclear power.  We've said this even with respect to Iran.                  But what we feel strongly about is that if countries are going to move in that direction that it be done within the framework of the non-proliferation regimes, the UN resolutions, and, above all, the international safeguards to ensure that a plant is, in fact, limited only to providing civil power and cannot be used for weapons.  So, having it under the umbrella of the International Atomic Energy Commission, having it under the umbrella of all the rules relating to proliferation around the world, if those circumstances are all met, then we believe that other countries have the right to have their own nuclear power along these lines.                  And, by the way, I might just intercede.  The Minister might actually correct me here, but I actually think the initiative on transparency is a Chilean initiative, not an American initiative.                 MIN. RAVINET DE LA FUENTE: (Laughs) (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 Q     (To Minister Ravinet - Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)                 MIN. RAVINET DE LA FUENTE: (Laughs) (Spanish to English Translation -- Inaudible)

DOD Establishes Wounded Warrior Task Force

           The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness announced today the names of 14 people who will serve on the Department of Defense Task Force for Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured Members of the Armed Forces.
           The four year mission of the congressionally directed task force is to provide independent advice and recommendations to the department, ensuring comprehensive services are provided to wounded members of the armed forces and their families.
           The task force will look at areas including medical and non-medical case management; staffing of wounded warrior units; performance and accountability systems; services for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as the effectiveness of the centers of excellence.  Individual service members, their families, and the public will have the opportunity to provide input to the task force as it develops its recommendations on DoD's wounded warrior programs.
           "Caring for our wounded, ill and injured is job one.  Our goal is to lead the way in integrated service, including case management, information resources, family member support, and transitioning our wounded warriors to civilian life," said Clifford L. Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.  "The collective expertise and knowledge of the task force members will play a critical role in guiding our efforts to provide the best possible quality of life for service members and families."
           Membership consists of seven DoD members and seven non-DoD members with expertise in areas such as medical care and coordination; medical and non-medical case management; vocational training; the disability evaluation process; veterans' benefits; experience in wounded warrior care; and treatment of TBI and PTSD. 
           The 14 appointees are:
           DoD Co-Chair Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles B. Green, Air Force, M.D.
           Navy Cmdr. Timothy Coakley, Navy, M.D.
           Justin Constantine
           Ronald Drach
           Marine Corps Col. Timothy E. Frank
           Dr. Karen S. Guice
           Army National Guard Master Sgt. Brett Hightower
           Army Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst
           Suzanne Crockett-Jones
           Air Force Master Sgt. Christian S. MacKenzie
           Dr. Steven J. Phillips
           Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Richard A. Stone, M.D.
            David Rehbein
            Russell A. Turner, Ph.D.
         The non-DoD co-chair will be named at the group's first official meeting.
         The task force will operate within the Federal Advisory Committee Act guidelines and will be responsible to the secretary of defense, through the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.  The task force will present it's independent findings and recommendations to the secretary of defense within twelve months.  Following review by the secretary, the task force's report and recommendations will be sent to Congress.

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2010 - Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents, found weapons and uncovered drug caches during operations today in southern and eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported. Forces detained the suspect during a combined foot patrol in Kapisa province, just north of Kabul. He is believed to be involved in a cache of rocket-propelled grenades, rifles and money recently found in the province's Tagab district. Additional caches were found in Helmand province's Sangin and Marjeh districts. Bomb-making materials, including several mortar rounds, pressure plates, rifles, small-arms munitions and 120 pounds of ammonium nitrate were taken into coalition custody to be destroyed. The patrols also confiscated more than 800 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of opium. In operations last night: -- Combined Afghan and coalition forces in Paktiya province killed two suspected Taliban members after the two threatened them when they arrived to search a compound in the Zurmat district. One of the two armed men was Fared Gul, who is believed responsible for roadside bombs and ambushes on coalition convoys and aircraft, officials reported. The force detained several other suspects and destroyed multiple weapons caches in place. In operations yesterday: -- In Helmand province, combined forces captured several suspected militants, including two alleged Taliban leaders. One was detained in the Now Zad district and is believed responsible for coordinating direct- and indirect-fire attacks and roadside bombings on Afghan and coalition troops. The second man was captured in the Lashkar Gah district and allegedly is linked to a bombing cell in Kandahar. -- In Khost province, Afghan and coalition forces in multiple operations detained numerous suspects allegedly connected to a Haqqani Network improvised explosive device cell. -- In Kandahar province, combined forces seized nearly 1,000 pounds of opium in the Maiwand district during a vehicle interdiction operation. Multiple intelligence reports from local residents led to the operation. In operations Nov. 20: -- Afghan and coalition forces killed a Taliban leader in Farah province's Bakwah district. Mullah Hafiz Janan was the district's shadow governor and known for trafficking, training and supporting foreign fighters. Janan and an associate were shot and killed after threatening the coalition force with small-arms. Several other suspected insurgents were detained. -- Another Taliban leader responsible for roadside bomb and small-arms attacks on coalition and Afghan troops was captured during an operation in Logar province's Baraki Barak district. The man was detained after a coalition airstrike on his location left him and several other suspected insurgents wounded. One militant was killed during the airstrike. -- Combined forces killed one insurgent and wounded three others during an airstrike in Baraki Barak that targeted a Taliban leader responsible for roadside bombs and other attacks on coalition forces in the region. The wounded insurgents were taken to coalition facilities for medical attention, officials said. -- Combined forces killed numerous insurgents during a firefight in Helmand's Sangin district. The coalition patrol was pinned down by small-arms fire and called for artillery and close-air support. Artillery fire took out the enemy positions. Coalition forces continued their patrol, but were attacked again. Aviation assets engaged the insurgent force, officials said. -- In Helmand's Garm Ser district, combined forces seized more than 2,200 pounds of opium during a vehicle-interdiction operation. Tips from local residents led to the operation.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

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ICE removes terrorist to Pakistan

MIAMI - A Pakistani national convicted for conspiracy to levy war against the U. S government through terrorism was removed Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Miami.
Hamad Riaz Samana, 26, was admitted to the United States at Los Angeles, CA as a lawful permanent resident on Aug. 5, 2000. After Samana admitted membership in the JAM'IYYAT UL-ISLAM IS-SAHEEH cell during an FBI interview, he was arrested on Aug. 2, 2005.
On Aug. 31, 2005, Samana was indicted for terrorism-related conspiracy charges, and 11 counts of robbery. Subsequently, on Aug. 17, 2009, Samana was convicted in the Central District of California for conspiracy to levy war against the U. S government through terrorism and sentenced to 70 months in federal prison.
On Aug. 30, Samana entered ICE ERO custody after he was served with a notice to appear charging him as removable on several grounds, including under section 237(a)(2)(D)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as an alien convicted of a crime relating to treason and sedition. On Sept. 30, Samana was ordered removed to Pakistan by an immigration judge.
"ICE removals of identified terrorists and those individuals that have intent to do harm against the United States are critical in securing America's borders and safeguarding the country," said Marc Moore, field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Miami. "ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those who are a threat to the national security of the United States and as a result, our communities are safer and more secure."
Upon his Nov. 18 arrival in Pakistan, Samana was turned over to Pakistani law enforcement.

ICE takes accused international Ponzi schemer into U.S. custody

ORLANDO, Fla. - Special agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) traveled to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, yesterday to pick up David A. Smith, who stands charged in the Middle District of Florida with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
Authorities in Turks and Caicos handed Smith over to U.S. authorities pursuant to an official request by the United States government for Smith to be brought to Orlando to face federal charges.
Smith currently is serving a 6 1/2 year prison sentence in Turks and Caicos for fraud and conspiracy offenses. He pleaded guilty to those crimes in September.
On August 18, Smith was charged with four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and eighteen substantive counts of money laundering.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.
"One of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations' critical missions is investigating the flow of illicit money across U.S. borders and the criminal enterprises behind that money," said ICE Director John Morton. "Not only do these kinds of financial schemes damage the lives of the thousands of victims, but the international money laundering involved poses a direct threat to the security of the U.S. financial system."
The court notified Smith that the United States intends to forfeit certain items of property that are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense, including a money judgment in the amount of $128 million; a residence located in Windemere, Fla.; precious gemstones, precious metals; jewelry, and $40,103.90 involved in a wire transfer that was conducted on July 24, 2006.
According to court documents, for more than three years, Smith executed a scheme to defraud more than 6,000 investors in Florida and elsewhere out of over $220 million. In addition to defrauding those investors, Smith conspired to launder the proceeds of his criminal activities.
Smith will remain in federal custody, and he will make an initial appearance before a Federal Magistrate Judge.
This case is being investigated by ICE HSI in Orlando, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), FBI, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), National Futures Association (NFA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.

Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain Insurgents, Find Caches

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2010 - Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents, found weapons and uncovered drug caches during operations today in southern and eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported. Forces detained the suspect during a combined foot patrol in Kapisa province, just north of Kabul. He is believed to be involved in a cache of rocket-propelled grenades, rifles and money recently found in the province's Tagab district. Additional caches were found in Helmand province's Sangin and Marjeh districts. Bomb-making materials, including several mortar rounds, pressure plates, rifles, small-arms munitions and 120 pounds of ammonium nitrate were taken into coalition custody to be destroyed. The patrols also confiscated more than 800 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of opium. In operations last night: -- Combined Afghan and coalition forces in Paktiya province killed two suspected Taliban members after the two threatened them when they arrived to search a compound in the Zurmat district. One of the two armed men was Fared Gul, who is believed responsible for roadside bombs and ambushes on coalition convoys and aircraft, officials reported. The force detained several other suspects and destroyed multiple weapons caches in place. In operations yesterday: -- In Helmand province, combined forces captured several suspected militants, including two alleged Taliban leaders. One was detained in the Now Zad district and is believed responsible for coordinating direct- and indirect-fire attacks and roadside bombings on Afghan and coalition troops. The second man was captured in the Lashkar Gah district and allegedly is linked to a bombing cell in Kandahar. -- In Khost province, Afghan and coalition forces in multiple operations detained numerous suspects allegedly connected to a Haqqani Network improvised explosive device cell. -- In Kandahar province, combined forces seized nearly 1,000 pounds of opium in the Maiwand district during a vehicle interdiction operation. Multiple intelligence reports from local residents led to the operation. In operations Nov. 20: -- Afghan and coalition forces killed a Taliban leader in Farah province's Bakwah district. Mullah Hafiz Janan was the district's shadow governor and known for trafficking, training and supporting foreign fighters. Janan and an associate were shot and killed after threatening the coalition force with small-arms. Several other suspected insurgents were detained. -- Another Taliban leader responsible for roadside bomb and small-arms attacks on coalition and Afghan troops was captured during an operation in Logar province's Baraki Barak district. The man was detained after a coalition airstrike on his location left him and several other suspected insurgents wounded. One militant was killed during the airstrike. -- Combined forces killed one insurgent and wounded three others during an airstrike in Baraki Barak that targeted a Taliban leader responsible for roadside bombs and other attacks on coalition forces in the region. The wounded insurgents were taken to coalition facilities for medical attention, officials said. -- Combined forces killed numerous insurgents during a firefight in Helmand's Sangin district. The coalition patrol was pinned down by small-arms fire and called for artillery and close-air support. Artillery fire took out the enemy positions. Coalition forces continued their patrol, but were attacked again. Aviation assets engaged the insurgent force, officials said. -- In Helmand's Garm Ser district, combined forces seized more than 2,200 pounds of opium during a vehicle-interdiction operation. Tips from local residents led to the operation.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Pasco County drug dealer sentenced to life imprisonment

TAMPA, Fla. - Ronald "Shine" Jiles, 48, of Zephyrhills, Fla., was sentenced to life imprisonment today for possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute, following an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into cocaine smuggling and distribution in and around eastern Pasco County.
The OCDETF operation was conducted by agents and officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Jiles was found guilty on Sept. 1, and sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday.
His criminal history, which includes eight prior felony drug convictions, was a basis for the imposition of the life sentence.
According to court documents, in late 2009 and early 2010, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office employed confidential informants to make controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Jiles' residence in Zephyrhills.
On May 21, Pasco County deputies and DEA agents executed a search warrant at Jiles' residence. Officers found him in the master bedroom. During the search, officers found 191 grams of crack cocaine intended for distribution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

CBP Arrests Two Illegal Aliens Hidden in a Dump Truck Full of Sand

Tecate, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of Tecate foiled an attempt to smuggle a man and a woman on top of a load of sand inside a dump trailer.

Wednesday at 11:25 a.m. a CBP officer from the Tecate Port of Entry inspected a white 1998 Volvo tractor truck pulling two 1978 dual-bottom dump trailers and referred the conveyance and driver for further inspection.

During the in-depth inspection, officers instructed the driver to off-load the sand from the trailers. When the sand was off-loaded, officers noticed movement and rescued a 21-year-old man and 38-year-old woman from the pile of sand.

CBP officers immediately checked the two individuals for their safety and, when the woman began to cough up sand, officers trained as medical first responders administered first aid and notified 911. San Diego County paramedics arrived, evaluated them and cleared the two individuals.

The two illegal aliens were both Mexican citizens with no lawful documents to enter the country. CBP officers arrested both aliens and transported them to the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

The driver a 48-year-old Mexican citizen and resident of Tijuana, B.C. is under investigation.

“People expose themselves and others to grave danger when attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. If the CBP officers had not reacted so quickly this might have ended tragically,” said Pete Flores, acting director of Field Operations in San Diego.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Secretary Napolitano and Senator Lautenberg Announce Expansion of the "If You See Something, Say Something" Campaign Across New Jersey

Release Date: November 22, 2010
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Trenton, N.J. - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Senator Frank Lautenberg today joined New Jersey State Police Deputy Superintendent of Homeland Security Lt. Col. Jerome Hatfield to announce the state-wide expansion of DHS' national "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign across New Jersey - raising public awareness and strengthening security throughout the state as the busy holiday season commences.
"Homeland security begins with hometown security, and everyone has a role to play in keeping our country safe and secure," said Secretary Napolitano. "Expanding the 'If You See Something, Say Something' campaign across New Jersey will help ensure citizens know how to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper law enforcement authorities."
"Terrorists are looking for any way possible to harm Americans, cause destruction and wreak havoc," said Senator Lautenberg, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. "During this busy travel season, it is especially critical that New Jerseyans be vigilant and mindful that the fight against terrorism begins with each of us. Everyone must step up and speak up."
The "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign—originally implemented by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and funded, in part, by $13 million from DHS' Transit Security Grant Program—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.
This state-wide expansion will bring the "If You See Something, Say Something" message to residents of New Jersey, as well as travelers and visitors during the busy holiday season—utilizing advertisements on New Jersey public transit throughout the state, as well as in movie theaters, gas stations and on local radio stations in the Atlantic City and Trenton, N.J. areas.
The expansion of the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign throughout New Jersey also leverages the state’s active participation in the national Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) initiative—an administration effort to train state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators related to specific terrorist threats and related crime—and underscores DHS’ continued commitment to working with and providing resources to the state and local law enforcement community while engaging the public in identifying and reporting suspicious activity.
Since the beginning of the summer, DHS has worked closely with its state, local and private sector partners to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign to communities throughout the country—launching new partnerships with organizations including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the general aviation industry and state and local fusion centers.
In the coming months, the Department will continue to expand the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign nationally with public education materials and outreach tools designed to engage America's businesses, communities, and citizens to remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the county safe.

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Mullen: North Korea's Nuclear Actions 'Very Dangerous'

By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2010 - Revelations that North Korea has secretly built a large uranium enrichment facility validates long-standing concerns about that nation's nuclear intentions and is a destabilizing force in the region, the top U.S. military officer said today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" and ABC's "This Week " TV programs this morning. "The assumption certainly is that [North Korea] continues to head in the direction of additional nuclear weapons," Mullen said. "They are also known to proliferate this technology, so they're a very dangerous country." According to a story that appeared yesterday in The New York Times, North Korean officials allowed visiting Stanford University professor Siegfried Hecker, former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, to tour a sophisticated new uranium enrichment plant that North Korea has built in secret and may have been built with foreign help. "I've been concerned for a long time about instability in that region and North Korea has been at the center of that," Mullen said. "We've worked hard with other countries to try to bring pressure on them" to comply with strict United Nations Security Council resolutions related to North Korea's nuclear ambitions. "This in fact violates United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 [2006] and 1874 [2009]," Mullen said. "And it violates what they said they'd do in 2005 with respect to getting to the six-party talks [aimed at addressing the country's nuclear program]. So they're a country that routinely we are unable to believe they will do what they say." North Korea is the greatest threat to peace in Northeast Asia and the focal point of the defense posture on the peninsula. North Korea is believed to have at least 1.5 million military members along with its nuclear capabilities. In March, North Korea torpedoed and sank the South Korean navy ship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. In October, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young participated in the 42nd Security Consultative Meeting here, after which they told reporters that the U.S.-South Korea military alliance has never been stronger. Both men called on North Korea to end provocative actions like the Cheonan attack. The news that the ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has anointed his son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor has the alliance preparing to defend against all possible North Korean threats. "We have to continue to bring pressure on [Kim Jong-il]," Mullen said, specifically through the six-party-talk countries -- Russia, China, the United States, Japan and South Korea. President Barack Obama "sent out a team to each of the capitals this weekend to re-engage. That's where we are right now and I'm sure we will continue to do that," Mullen said. "We've been engaged with China for an extended period of time with respect to North Korea," Mullen added. "A great part of this will have to be done through Beijing."

Biographies: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen Related Articles: U.S.-South Korea Alliance Remains Strong, Leaders Say

Biden Calls on Congress to Fund U.S. Commitments to Iraq

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2010 - Iraq has made tremendous progress, but the country still needs American support, Vice President Joe Biden said in a commentary that ran in The New York Times this morning.
Biden is the Obama administration's point man for Iraq.
The vice president praised the Iraqis for forming an inclusive government in Baghdad and made the case that the United States must maintain support for the fledgling democracy.
"Since the elections there in March, our administration has said that the Iraqi people deserve a government that reflects the results of those elections, that includes all the major blocs representing Iraq's various communities and that does not exclude or marginalize anyone," Biden wrote. "That is what they will now have."
The Iraqis are using politics, not force, to work through the nation's issues. "It hasn't always been pretty, but politics rarely is, in Iraq, in America or anywhere else," the vice president said. "By agreeing to form a national partnership government, however, Iraqi leaders have sent an unmistakable message to their fellow citizens, their region and the world: after more than seven years of war and decades of dictatorship, Iraqis seek a nation where the rights of all citizens are recognized and the talents of all are harnessed to unlock the country's full potential."
Iraq, however, still faces enormous challenges, and the United States must continue its engagement with Iraq. That engagement will change from a military to a civilian lead.
About 50,000 American troops are in Iraq, down from a high of more than 166,000 in 2007. The troops who remain are in advise and assist brigades, and work to train the more than 650,000 members of the Iraqi army and police.
"Meanwhile, we are establishing a diplomatic presence throughout the country and, under the terms of our Strategic Framework Agreement, building a dynamic partnership across a range of government sectors, including education, energy, trade, health, culture, information technology, law enforcement and the judiciary," Biden said.
Iraq today is far safer and more stable than at any time since the outbreak of war in 2003, he said. In 2009, Iraqi forces took charge of security in major cities, and in August, they assumed primary security responsibility nationwide.
"In recent months, using their own intelligence, Iraqi forces have killed or captured dozens of senior leaders of al-Qaida in Iraq and other terrorist groups," the vice president said. "The weekly tally of violent incidents throughout Iraq has dropped to about 160, from nearly 1,600 in 2007."
But Iraqi forces are not yet ready to operate fully on their own, and the United States must continue its support.
The United States also must help the Iraqi government with civilian challenges including conducting a census, continuing to integrate Kurdish security forces, maintaining commitments to the Sons of Iraq, and resolving disputed internal boundaries and the future of the northern city of Kirkuk, which is claimed by both Arabs and Kurds.
The Iraqis still must pass a hydrocarbon law and stabilize the economy to encourage foreign investment.
"While the day will come when Iraq's vast natural wealth can fully finance its security and investment needs, and when its civilian institutions no longer require such intensive support, it has not yet arrived," Biden said. "Iraq has increased its own spending in these areas, and with sustained American engagement, it will emerge from generations of trauma to become a stable and self-reliant nation."
This hope is why the United States -- even as it faces economic troubles of its own -- still needs to fund important initiatives in Iraq. Biden is asking Congress to approve budget requests to support the broader diplomatic presence, modernization for Iraqi security forces and financing for a police development program.
"The drawdown of American troops will save $15 billion in the coming fiscal year -- we seek to direct less than one-third of that amount to provide needed assistance to Iraq's security forces and to our State Department's civilian-led efforts," he said.
"The Iraq war has cost our nation dearly, with the greatest price of all paid by the 4,430 heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice," the vice president said. "Now it is in America's fundamental interest to help preserve the gains Iraq has made, prevent the re-emergence of violent extremists and encourage Iraq to become a pivotal American ally in a strategically critical region, and a responsible regional actor in its own right."

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