INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND SAYS DEBT FROM DEVELOPED NATIONS COULD FORCE WORLD ECONOMY BACK INTO CRISIS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Holding off economic disaster in Greece is just one example cited by the International Monetary Fund what will happen with most industrialized nations if the debt crisis is not solved soon. An IMF report, released today, details that while the world economy is recovering, thanks to various governments intervening, a crisis may return if debts of industrialized nations are not addressed.

"The report cut its estimates of write downs of bad loans and securities that banks—mostly in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States— will have to take during the period 2007 to 2010 from $2.8 trillion last October to $2.3 trillion (see table). Banks already have written off about $1.5 trillion of the $2.3 trillion. The IMF summarizes the world economic prognosis saying,

• Credit recovery will be “slow, shallow and uneven,” as heavy government borrowing soaks up available funds and banks continue their reluctance to lend to repair their balance sheets.

• There is little evidence, at least so far, of bubbles in asset prices in emerging markets, despite strong portfolio flows to Asian and Latin American countries from investors seeking higher returns.

• Authorities must address a number of policy issues, including how to manage borrowing and spending to minimize sovereign (debt of industrialized nations) risk.

The IMF warned that the increase in sovereign risk can hit banking systems and the real economy that produces goods, services, and jobs. Even with weaker private credit demand, governments could crowd out business and household borrowers, retarding recovery. Full text of IMF statement, click here. 04/20/2010

PRESIDENT WANTS MORE ADVANCED SPACE VEHICLE AND MISSIONS / FLIGHTS TO MARS RATHER THAN MOON / AID FOR NASA FAMILIES AFFECTED BY TRANSITION

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - In bold sweeping changes for the NSAS space program, President Obama has announced he is changing course of previous plans. Obama wants to give up missions to the moon, instead moving toward a more advanced space vehicle for deeper space missions and a manned mission to Mars. Addressing those nervous about possible layoffs, the President says he is wants $40 million for transition and training programs to keep as many NASA's employees intact as possible as the current manned space shuttle program comes to a close in 2012. Obama says his goal is to boost the level of employment around the Kennedy Space Center by 2,500 employees within the next two years. The President was influenced in part by the current space vehicle project being behind schedule and not much more advanced in space capabilities as the current space shuttle program.. Obama wants a more advanced vehicle "not to do the same thing we've been doing". This leaves moon missions open to private companies who are also interested in lower orbital flights. Full text of President speech (soon), click here. 4/15/2010

MCCHRYSTAL RESIGNS /AFGHANISTAN HANDED TO GENERAL PETRAEUS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- In a brief statement, in stark contrast to the contemptuous remarks reported in Rolling Stone magazine, General Stanley McChrystal said,

"This morning the President accepted my resignation as Commander of U.S. and NATO Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. I strongly support the President’s strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations, and the Afghan people. It was out of respect for this commitment -- and a desire to see the mission succeed -- that I tendered my resignation. It has been my privilege and honor to lead our nation’s finest".

Fourth: We need a new approach to reducing emissions that recognizes the different needs of our different industries. The American Power Act includes separate, targeted mechanisms for the three major emitting sectors: power plants, heavy industry and transportation. Each approach is tailor-made to ensure a smooth transition into our collective clean energy future.

EVIDENCE IN HOUSE HEARING REVEAL FAULTS WITH ILL FATED OIL DRILL WHICH CONTINUES TO SPEW OIL

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- During a hearing today before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D) CA accused those responsible for the oil rig explosion and fire, which led to 11 crew deaths, of promising more than what have been able to deliver to prevent and handle the disaster. Waxman told the sub committee that as more facts have emerged in the investigation, there was confusion among the companies over tests connected to the safety of the well. As for B-P, which is ultimately responsible for the well, Waxman told the committee the company said it could handle a spill of 250,000 barrels a day, "...yet, it is struggling to contain a spill of 5-25,000 barrels a day". B-P America Chairman and President Lamar McKay told the subcommittee that the company knows it is being watched by the rest of the world as it tries to stop the flow of oil from the blown well. McKay explained that B-P "and the rest ot the industry, ...will learn from this terrible event and emerge from it stronger, smarter and safer". Transocean, which was performing the actual well drilling for B-P, was accused of putting its own interests ahead of their employees, forcing the survivors to sign documents in an attempt to limit legal liability. Transocean CEO Steve Newman told the subcommittee the company was only interested in getting information from employees to find out what happened. Video and full text of Waxman and McKay statements and document evidence from investigation, click here. 05/12/2010

FEDERAL AGENCIES CAVED TO OIL INTERESTS TO EASE ENFORCEMENT ON GULF OIL DRILLING

More in this article from the New York Times, click here- 05/07/2010

INVESTIGATORS SAY MORE EVIDENCE POINTING TO PAKISTANI TALIBAN INVOLVEMENT IN TIMES SQUARE ATTEMPTED BOMBING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Investigators now believe that accused attempted car bomber, Faisal Shahzad, had help from the Pakistani wing of the Taliban. This despite reports early in the investigation that the crude construction of the bomb and the loose connections to others he was in contact with, presented evidence more consistent with a "Lone Wolf" , acting with little, if any, help. Officials had been quick to discount the Pakistani Taliban claim on Sunday that it was responsible for the plot. That was before Shazad started talking, continuing to offer details of his involvement, even after being advised of his legal rights. Now officials close to the investigation believe the group had a role in the attempted bombing at Times Square, though the extent remains unclear. So far, investigators will not say whether the group provided financing for Shazad.

On another front, despite Shazad being offered his "Miranda Rights" (right to legal counsel), he has continued to provide what investigators consider "Actionable Evidence" to his connections in Pakistan and other plans the group and others Shazad had contact with, might have been working. Shazad was arrested Sunday night after boarded a jet for Dubai, which had been ordered to return to a boarding gate as it taxied away from the passenger terminal at JFK Airport. Shazad was able to purchase a ticket in a cash transaction without being detected. However, an Emirates Airline employee noticed his name on the "No Fly" list. The airline notified police after Shazad checked in at the boarding gate. Despite the near miss in apprehending Shazad, federal officials said they were confident they would have caught up with him before he reached Dubai, perhaps ordering the jet to land at an alternative location where he could have been apprehended. Still, the incident exposed a weakness in the "No Fly" reporting procedure, whereas airlines, effective today, by order of the TSA, (Transportation Security Administration) must now update their lists every two hours, instead of every 24 hours. The change was ordered in part, due to Emirates Airlines criticism of the update system, after it came udder fire from New York city Mayor Michael Bloomerg for being lax on security. The airline fired back that it did it's job based on the information it had received, when it was received, and that the suspect was caught, due to the airlines's actions. The information obtained by investigators since Shazad was offered his "Miranda Rights" has also been used as evidence to support more reasonable treatment of suspected terrorists, as an alternative to hard line procedures of interrogation, such as water boarding. Harsher tactics have been opposed by many government interrogators, who claim suspects and defendants under those circumstances, shut down, offering little "Actionable Evidence". 05/06/2010

Above-Department of Justice graphic of Times Square SUV bomb configuration- DOJ Photo

COLLECTION OF ARTICLES: TIMES SQUARE SUSPECT WAS ON NO FLY LIST AT TIME HE PURCHASED ESCAPE TICKET / SUSPECT TELLS INVESTIGATORS HE TRAINED IN TERRORIST TRAINING CAMP

More on the "No fly list didn't work", click here. More on what suspect told investigators about terrorist training, click here - Actual court filing against suspect, click here. 05/04/2010

U-S CITIZEN OF PAKISTANI ORIGIN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED CAR BOMBING IN TIMES SQUARE

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Attorney General Etic Holder, at 1:30 this morning Eastern Time, made the following announcement on the arrest of a suspect in the attempted bombing at Times Square.

"Earlier this evening, Faisal Shahzad was arrested in connection with the attempted car bombing in New York on Saturday.  Mr. Shahzad, an American citizen, was taken into custody at JFK Airport in New York as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai.

Since this plot was first uncovered on Saturday night, the FBI, prosecutors and intelligence lawyers in the National Security Division of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys Offices in Manhattan and Connecticut, along with the NYPD have worked night and day to find out who was responsible for what would have been a deadly attack had it been successful.  Over the course of the day today, we have gathered significant additional evidence that led to tonight’s arrest, which was made by agents from Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection.

This investigation is ongoing, as are our attempts to gather useful intelligence, and we continue to pursue a number of leads.  But it’s clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans. 

FBI agents are working with their state and local counterparts in New York, Connecticut and other jurisdictions to gather evidence and intelligence related to this case.  We are also coordinating with other members of the President’s national security team to ensure we use every resource available to the United States to bring anyone responsible to justice.

We continue to gather leads in this investigation, and it’s important that the American people remain vigilant.  The vehicle in Times Square was first noticed on Saturday by a citizen who reported it to authorities, and, as always, any American who notices suspicious activity should report it to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

This investigation is ongoing, it is multi-faceted, and it is aggressive.  As we move forward, we will focus on not just holding those responsible for it accountable, but also on obtaining any intelligence about terrorist organizations overseas.

Because of the fast-moving nature of this investigation, I am not able to make any further information public at this time.  But the American people should know that we are deploying every resource available, and we will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice".Full text of Holder announcement, click here.

Editors Note: Officials later released this statement:

The defendant will appear in Manhattan federal court (500 Pearl Street, 5th Floor, New York, N.Y.) on May 4, 2010, at a currently undetermined time to be presented on formal charges. No further details are available at this time.Ful text of investigators statement, click here. 05/04/2010

OWNER OF VEHICLE IN TIMES SQUARE ATTEMPTED BOMBING FACING ARREST WARRENT / SAID TO BE U-S CITIZEN FROM PAKISTAN WHO RECENTLY RETURNED FROM THAT COUNTRY

More from the New York Times, click here- 05/03/2010

INTERNATIONAL TIES EMERGE IN PROBE OF TIMES SQUARE ATTEMPTED BOMBING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- White House officials today revealed emerging international connections to the attempted bombing of Times Square Saturday night. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, in his morning briefing, saying the incident was an "act of terror". Investigators say they have talked with the former owner of the Nissan Pathfinder that was abandoned in Times Square with various types of explosive materials. New York Police say the vehicle had recently been sold on Craig's List in Connecticut for $1,800 cash. Investigators claim they have talked with the owner of the vehicle, who they say is NOT a suspect, but refuse to say whether the vehicle might have been stolen at the time it was used to carry the explosives. Meanwhile, the White House has been tight lipped about specifics as to international connections. New York Police officials are privately saying that the release of pictures of the man shown on Times Square surveillance video, as well as additional leads from detective work are producing increasingly successful leads, which are "pointing in that direction", according to one New York Police source who did not want to be identified. What has become obvious to investigators is that numerous details could not have been handled by one individual. Video of person of interest, click here. 05/03/2010

FLOODING INUNDATES NASHVILLE, OTHER AREAS OF THE SOUTH

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Areas of western Tennessee, including around Nashville were expecting eight inches of rain. they got 18 with more possible. The effect has been the inundation of many top tourist areas, the loss of homes and vehicles, and an economy, already troubled from the recession, now dealives you a sense of, relative to the populations, what has happened in Haiti.  No nation could respond to such a catastrophe alone.  It would require a global response.  And that’s exactly what we have seen these past two months.

Mr. President, even as you and other Haitian leaders have endured your personal tragedies -- losing your own homes, your loved ones -- you have carried on with great courage and determination.  You’ve persevered, leading an international effort with critical support from the United Nations, many partner nations and countless nongovernmental organizations.  Representatives of some of the NGOs are here today, and for the extraordinary work that you’ve done to uplift lives every day -- in Haiti and around the world -- often at great risk to your own lives, we salute you as well".

President Preval responded,

"I would like to thank the American people, I would like to thank Congress, I would like to thank the administration, and you, in particular, Mr. President, as well as your wife, not only for the material aid, but also for the moral support, the psychological support, that helped us realize that we were not alone and that provide us great comfort in our distress.

You, thanks to your statements, sent a message to all of those who provided help to Haiti.  Needless for me to repeat that which you said.  So I would like to thank you for having made it possible for these people to come to help us.

Mr. President, for me this is also an opportunity to express my sympathy, my condolences, to all of the American families for whom members of their families were killed, injured in Haiti during this earthquake.

Dear friends, we must draw the lessons from what occurred in Haiti.  These are lessons for all of mankind.  The Haiti earthquake was immediately followed by the earthquake in Chile, as well as other earthquakes throughout the world.  And the countries that have seismic risks are not merely those countries which are located on top of seismic faults.  In fact, the tsunamis, which are the repercussions of break in faults, threaten other regions as well as the United States.

In addition to earthquakes and tsunamis, global warming is a major concern for the entire planet.  We must draw the lessons from what occurred in Haiti -- the massive, spontaneous, generous help was a good response to the disaster.  However, its effectiveness must be improved, because effectiveness depends on the quality of coordination.

This is why I support the idea of the creation of so-called “red helmets” within the United Nations, and these would be an observatory, a warning system, a provision system for natural disaster, and a humanitarian force which would be the equivalent of the blue helmets.  It was proposed that there should be so-called “red helmets,” a humanitarian force in order to intervene, and that would work in a coordinated manner as soon as the first minutes after a disaster, which are fundamental to saving lives.

Mr. President, during our meeting I mentioned what Haiti’s preoccupations and priorities were.  Our priorities are, first and foremost, as you said, protection of those people who today are homeless and who must be relocated.  And in parallel, we must prepare the rainy season, which just last week has already caused the deaths of 15 people". Full transcript of the White House News conference, click here. 03/10/2010

TWO GUARDS SHOT AT PENTAGON RAIL STATION, ASSAILANT DIES

More from the Emeritus Newsroom-

John Patrick Bedell

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Washington DC- Investigators say a lone gunman shot at two guards after pulling a gun at the Metro rail station at the Pentagon. The suspect, 36 year old John Patrick Bedell of California, was critically wounded as the guards returned fire, but died last night at George Washington University Hospital , from gunshot wounds to the head. Officials say Bedell had previous run ins with the law, but did not have details. Bedell was described as a US citizen, well educated, not connected with any terrorist organization and acting alone during the attack, carrying two 9mm pistols with additional ammunition. Investigators say there was more ammunition in his car, which he used to travel to Washington DC from California, during a meandering trip over a two week period. His last known address was Irvine, California. He was known as an opponent of big government and the military from his blogging in recent years, although officials have offered no direct evidence for the motives in Thursday night's attack.

The guards escaped serious injury and were also treated at George Washington University Hospital. No one else was injured, despite the fact the attack came near the end of evening rush hour, about 6:35 pm. More security was put in place at the station after the 911 attacks when a plane was crashed into the Pentagon by terrorist hijackers. The guards are placed there to check credentials of those entering the Pentagon.

THE LA TIMES IS REPORTING that Bedell's parents, from Holister, California, had reported him missing in January and asked local authorities to hold him, concerned about his mental health. Officials said the family's concerns stemmed from a call from a Texas state trooper on Jan. 3. The trooper said he had stopped their son for speeding on a freeway heading west outside Amarillo The trooper used Bedell’s cell phone to call Bedell’s parents, apparently trying to determine whether there was sufficient cause for a mental-health hold on Bedell. Full text of LA Times article, click here. 03/04/2010

SENATORS AND REPRESENTITIVES QUITTING CONGRESS LEAVE MILLIONS IN CAMPAIGN FUNDS / WHAT CAN THEY DO WITH THE $$$$ ?

More in this article from the Center for Responsive Politics, click here- 03/04/2010

CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL BROWN ANNOUNCES HE WANTS HIS OLD JOB BACK

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who served as the state's governor from 1975-1983, has decided to run for that office again. Brown said that, "Not knowing is not good" , a reference to current Govenror Arnold Swarzenegger, who is not a career officeholder. He promised no new taxes unless approved by the voters and also to reduce the size of state government, making it leaner and more efficient. Brown was twice elected governor before an unsuccessful bid for a for a U-S Senate seat in 1982. After years of remaking himself, Brown returned to politics winning the Mayor's race in Oakland in 1998 and serving until eventually returning to state government as Attorney General in 2007. Brown claims that during his last stint as governor, he:

"....significantly reduced taxes and built up the largest state surplus ever. His eight years in office are generally considered among the most innovative in California history. He established the first agricultural labor relations law in the country, enacted collective bargaining for teachers and other public employees, started the California Conservation Corp (CCC), signed into permanent law the California Coastal Protection Act, earned federal protection of Northern California wild and scenic rivers, brought about the country's first building and appliance energy efficiency standards and made California the leader in solar and alternative energy". Full text of Brown's announcement, click here.

But in 1982, during his U-S Senate campaign, Brown's took much criticism for his alleged mishandling of a medfly infestation of the state's fruit farms. His approval ratings plummeted and Republican Pete Wilson defeated Brown. 03/02/2010

WALL STREET UP TO OLD TRICKS MAKING MONEY, BETTING GREECE WILL DEFAULT / GREECE SAYS BETS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO HEAD OFF CRISIS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- American financial firms are selling credit default swaps, essentially betting that the government of Greece will default on its debts. The government of Greece says those bets are making it more difficult for them to restructure and raise money to pay those debts. The situation has brought more calls for financial reforms on Capitol Hill, already raw from the credit default swap scandal that helped take down financial markets in 2008. During questioning this morning at a Senate Banking Committee hearing , Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed was looking into activities by Goldman Sachs and other U-S financial firms regarding sales of credit default swaps on the Greece financial crisis. Bernanke told the panel, "Obviously, using these instruments in a way that intentionally destabilizes a company or a country is counterproductive". Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd suggested congress should act to prevent gain for profit through discouraging loans and financial destabilization. Video of Senate Banking Committee hearing, click here. 02/25/2010

FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON HOSPITALIZED

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Former President Bill Clinton was taken to a New York area hospital, Columbia campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital, after having chest pains. He underwent a procedure to put two stents to improve blood flow to his heart. In a statement from the former president's office, Clinton was treated, then released the next day did not suffer a heart attack, was doing well, and is expected to make full recovery. Reports have emerged from friends and family that he refuses to cut the pace of his recent high stress lifestyle in Haiti, assisting with diplomatic efforts to secure aid for the country. Clinton's wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was attending a meeting at the White House when she was notified of the developments. The former president had bypass surgery about six years ago due to arterial blockages, but had improved his regimen of exercise and diet and had dropped much of the extra weight he had during his presidency. Fluid buildup in his heart and scar tissue put him back in a hospital in 2005, which he also recovered from. 02/12/2010

OBAMA BUDGET HAS TAX CUTS, HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED, MILITARY FAMILIES, STIMULUS, AND SPENDING FREEZE ON SOME PROGRAMS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - With the U-S facing a growing deficit, pressure is mounting on the Obama Administration to cut costs and get more out of what is being spent to get more people back to work, help small business, do more for military personnel and their families, cover the uninsured. Some of the key proposals to accomplish all this were outlined today in the presetation of the 2011 budget, sent to Congress today by President Obama and the Director of Management and Budget, and former Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag, In December in the President's job creation address before the Bookings Institution, and last week before a business group at a factory in Baltimore.

Orszag's summary of the main points in the 2011 budget include:

The Budget institutes a three-year non-security discretionary freeze that will save $250 billion over the next decade.  We're not putting forward an across-the-board freeze, but rather an overall cap on non-security discretionary funding in which key investments are expanded but we cut back on programs that are ineffective, duplicative, or just wasteful.  As part of that overall effort, we identified more than 120 programs across the government that should be terminated or reduced – generating $20 billion in savings.

At the same time, we are making critical investments in the areas critical to building a strong economy in the 21st century. That is why we increase funding at the Department of Education by $2.9 billion or 6.2 percent, make the largest proposed request for Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs while reforming it to be more effective, and provide more money for Pell grants and Race to the Top.

To build a more modern infrastructure, the Budget establishes a new $4 billion dollar National Infrastructure Innovation & Finance Fund to focus on infrastructure investments of national and regional significance.

To help put the nation at the top of the pack when it comes to the new clean energy economy, the Budget includes more than $6 billion in funding for clean energy technologies while also eliminating existing fossil fuel subsidies. And to continue our country’s proud, innovative history, the Budget invests $61.6 billion for civilian research and development – an increase of $3.7 billion, or 6.4 percent, over 2010 levels. 

As we focus our efforts on spurring job creation and jump starting economic growth, we also have to change business as usual in Washington and restore fiscal responsibility. Because of the irresponsibility of the past decade, we’ve seen a projected 10-year surplus of over $5 trillion at the end of the Clinton administration turn into a projected 10-year deficit of over $8 trillion the day President Obama took office.

The Budget lays out a plan to put the country back on a sustainable fiscal path.

First, we have already taken action to avoid making the hole any deeper. The Administration proposed, and the Senate just joined the House in passing, statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) legislation. PAYGO forces us to live by a simple but important principle:  Congress can only spend a dollar on an entitlement increase or tax cut if it saves a dollar elsewhere.  In the 1990s, statutory PAYGO encouraged the tough choices that helped move the Government from large deficits to surpluses, and it can do the same today.

Second, economic recovery – on its own – would take our deficits from 10 percent of GDP to 5 percent of GDP. To take them down further, the Budget proposes a series of policies including: the three-year non-security freeze mentioned above; restoring some balance to the tax code by allowing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts to expire only for those making more than $250,000 a year and reducing the rate at which these same households write-off itemized deductions; ending subsidies for oil, gas, and coal companies and closing other loopholes; and putting in place a responsibility fee on the largest banks to compensate taxpayers for the extraordinary direct and indirect help they provided while also discouraging excessive leverage.

Third, these policies will take deficits down to 4 percent of GDP – amounting to $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction excluding war savings. But that is still not enough, and the only way to solve this is to change Washington, and bring Republicans and Democrats together to work on this problem. That is why the President wants to establish a bipartisan, fiscal commission to look at a range of proposals and put forward a bipartisan recommendation to balance the budget excluding interest payments on the debt by 2015. This type of process has worked in the past, and if everyone in Washington puts the national interest first, we are confident it will again.

Finally, as I have said many times before and will again (since it’s still true!), the key to our long-term fiscal future is fiscally-responsible health insurance reform. All our steps to rein in the deficit will be for naught if we do not reduce the rate of health care cost growth over time.  The legislation passed by both the House and Senate will reduce the deficit over the next decade and put in place the key pieces that will help to bring down health care costs over time. Congress must now deliver on this promise of fiscally responsible health reform – the stakes are high, both for the millions of Americans who lack a stable source of health insurance coverage and for the fiscal well-being of the Nation itself. 

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATEMENT ON BUDGET, COPY CLICK HERE.

WASHINGTON POST SUMMARY BY AGENCY, COPY CLICK HERE.

Full Text of Brookings address, copy click here. Full Text of Baltimore address, copy click here.Winners and losers in the 2011 Budget, from the Washington Post, copy click here. Michelle Obama's address to military wives on boosting aid to military families, copy click here. Budget overview from Office of Management and Budget Director, Peter Orszag, copy click here. Congressional Quarterly review of budget proposal, copy click here. 02/01/2010

NASA BUDGET FOR MANNED SPACE FLIGHTS SCALED BACK / MOON MISSION CUT

More from the New York Times, copy click here. 02/01/2010

UNDER THE RADAR: NEW OUTLINE FOR FUTURE U-S MILITARY

From the Armed Forces Press Service-The Quadrennial Defense Review, released today, seeks to rebalance the military to better fight today's wars and to institutionalize department reforms, the undersecretary of defense for policy said.

The report to Congress provides a strategy-driven framework used for determining the department's priorities, Michele Flournoy said in a recent interview.

People and today's wars, she said, are the most important aspects of the report.

The report, Flournoy said, mirrors Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' priorities. The first is to prevail in today's wars. The second is to prevent and deter conflicts. The third is to prepare the department for a wide range of contingencies and the fourth is to preserve and enhance the all-volunteer force.

For the first time the QDR "places the current conflicts at the top of our budgeting, policy and programming priorities, thus ensuring that those fighting America's wars and their families – on the battlefields, in the hospital, or on the home front – receive the support they need and deserve," Gates wrote as an introduction to the report.

The QDR, Flournoy said, reflects Gates' desire to re-balance the U.S. military to be more capable of handling today's wars – Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaida and its allies.

Senior defense planners who've worked on the QDR wanted to ensure "there are very strong links between the strategy, the program and the budget," Flournoy pointed out.

The QDR, she said, "pays particular attention to the enablers that are so critical to giving the force the flexibility it needs to succeed, and that have been in critical short supply in places like Afghanistan."

These enablers include increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, more helicopters, counter-improvised explosive device capabilities and increased emphasis on special operations forces. "So you'll see a real investment in those areas in support of today's fight," Flournoy said.

The review also focuses on the welfare of the department's people. "Every QDR talks about people being the No. 1 priority of the department," she said. "I think that's true, but this QDR, given the strain on the force and the strain on families, actually treats that as a strategic priority area for investment."

The QDR reflects continued attention on military compensation, health care and warrior care. "Probably the biggest additional investment is in areas of family support," Flournoy said. "This is a force that's been at war for eight years. We're seeing the need to give greater support to the families who make sacrifices alongside their loved ones."

Building alliances and partnerships is another essential theme of the review. "This administration and this secretary of defense believe it is going to be very rare indeed when the United States undertakes a military operation all on its own," Flournoy said.

The United States will maintain the capability to act alone to protect vital national interests, "but when you look time and time again, we are operating in concert with partners, with allies and others," she said. "It's in our interests to invest in helping them build their competence and capabilities and that serves our interests."

Flexible funding authorities, Flournoy said, are key to this endeavor. "We see a lot of other opportunity there," she said. "Yemen is a case in point. Yemen is facing a very serious al-Qaida threat and they want to do the right thing and deny a safe haven in their country. But they need some help in terms of training and equipment and so forth."

The State and Homeland Security departments also are doing QDR-like reviews which, Flournoy said, should be complementary and interconnected.

"One of the most interesting and valuable aspects of this whole review [process] is the degree that it is happening in a whole-of-government context and we're integrated with the other reviews that are going on in parallel," she said.

Past QDRs set out the military's force-sizing construct, and this report changes that, Flournoy said. Senior defense officials believe the future security environment is so complex, she said, that forces need the maximum versatility across the maximum range of conflict.

"So rather than optimize the force for two canonical, conventional wars – it used to be Iraq and North Korea – what we did this time is look at a variety of combinations that might come simultaneously," she said. "First and foremost, what do we need to prevail in today's wars? Then, what do we need on top of that to do our foundational activities of deterrence, conflict prevention, et cetera, in key theaters."

The department looked at multiple combinations of possible scenarios and tested that force across the range.

"There is no simple bumper sticker, there is no simple formula, but what we have is a force that has been tested in a much more robust and rigorous manner," Flournoy said. "We have much more confidence that it has not only the capacity, but the flexibility and versatility to deal with lots of different combinations that may come our way."

Is the force large enough? Flournoy said that is a challenging question because of the strain on the force. She implied that the current size is enough, but that deployment time to dwell time has to come into balance.

The QDR may be the most important report DoD provides Congress, Flournoy said.

"It really requires the department to step back and think strategically about the present and the future," she said, "to set its priorities and objectives and then to connect those to the program and to the budget."

The review, which includes input from senior military and civilian defense leaders, provides the framework for what DoD will do for the next four years.

Gates understands his first concern is people "and making sure they have very clear guidance on what their mission is, that they have the equipment and the support they need to be successful in that mission, and that they can count on the department to actually support them as human beings and as family members," Flournoy said.

"It's not just words. It's a strongly felt commitment that governs how he approaches every day," she said.

Full text of AFPS press relase, copy click here. 02/01/2010

STATE OF THE UNION: OBAMA PITCHES FOR JOBS, SPENDING CUTS, AND DETERMINATION TO FINISH HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- President Obama, realizing political realities of a declining job market, concerns about financial reforms and national security, made clear he intends to finish what he started. The President proposed more tax credits for education and child care. Tax credits for small business including the elimination of capital gains taxes and for hiring additional workers. The President also said he was determined to finish health insurance reform, linking it to the country's ability to pays it debt and provide coverage to the uninsured. And the President provoked a non verbal negative head shaking and lip moving (not true) response from Supreme Court Justice Joseph Alito, after speaking against the court's decision to remove limits on special interest campaign contributions. Some of the other points from the President's speech:

• The President called on the Senate to pass a financial reform package. “A strong, healthy financial market makes it possible for businesses to access credit and create new jobs. It channels the savings of families into investments that raise incomes. And that can only happen if we guard against the same recklessness that nearly brought down our entire economy.” Essential reforms include measures to protect consumers and investors from financial abuse; close loopholes, raise standards, and create accountability for supervision of major financial firms; restrict the size and scope of financial institutions to reign in excesses and protect taxpayers and address the ‘too big to fail’ problem; and establish comprehensive supervision of financial markets.
• A vision for a clean energy economy. “…to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, and more incentives.” We will build on the historic $80 billion investment made through the Recovery Act.  The President’s vision includes investments in important technologies to diversity our energy sources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, including:  the renewal of our nation’s nuclear energy industry after a 30-year hiatus, cutting edge biofuel and clean coal technologies, and additional offshore oil and gas drilling.  To fully transition to a clean energy economy and create millions of new American jobs, we must pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to promote energy independence and address climate change.
• The President will continue his push to invest in the skills and education of our people. “This year, we have broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. The idea here is simple: instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. In this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than their potential.” The Obama Administration supports a new vision for increasing student achievement, delivering opportunity, and supporting excellence in America’s public schools. The President’s 2011 budget supports a new framework for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that will foster innovation, reward excellence, and promote reform in our schools, as well as invests an additional $1.35 billion to continue the historic Race to the Top program to open it up to districts in order to spur innovation and additional progress. At the same time, the Administration is moving to consolidate ineffective policies and practices. The President’s Budget eliminates six programs and consolidates 38 others into 11 new programs that emphasize using competition to allocate funds, giving communities more choices around activities, and using rigorous evidence to fund what works.
• The President is committed to making college affordable for all Americans. “(I)n this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job.” To increase college access and completion, the Administration will make student loans more affordable by limiting a borrower’s payments to 10 percent of his/her income and forgives remaining debt after 20 years – 10 years for public service works. We will also make permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit. The President urges the Senate to pass the American Graduation Initiative, which invests more than $10 billion over the next decade in reforming our nation’s community colleges, promoting college completion, and moving toward the President’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. The President is also asking colleges and universities to do their share to make college affordable for all Americans cutting their own costs.
• The President is making investments to ensure that the middle class benefits from this economic recovery.   “(T)he price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing middle-class families. That’s why last year I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on Middle Class Families.” The President has outlined immediate steps to reduce the strain on family budgets and help middle class families manage their child and elder care responsibilities, save for retirement and pay for college. He will double the child tax credit this year, make it easier to save for retirement with automatic IRAs for workers without access to existing retirement plans, provide  larger tax credits to match retirement savings for millions of additional workers, and provide new safeguards to protect retirement savings.
• Changing the way we do business. “To close that credibility gap, we must take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work more openly; and to give our people the government they deserve.” The President has called for additional new lobbyist reforms, including enhanced disclosure of lobbyist contacts, strict campaign contribution limits by lobbyists, and a single earmark database, so American taxpayers find out what earmarks are being requested, and where their money is going.
• Countering Citizens United. “I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities.” Last week’s Supreme Court Citizen’s United decision opens the floodgates to special interests and foreign countries and companies bankrolling national campaigns.  The President called for bipartisan support for legislation that will remedy the Supreme Court’s unprecedented and troubling decision. 
• The President stands by military families. “Tonight, all of our men and women in uniform … must know that they have our respect, our gratitude, and our full support.” The President’s 2011 budget announces significant new investments, totaling more than $8 billion, and protections for our nation’s military families, including increased military pay and housing allowances, increased funding for family support programs, expanded availability of affordable, high-quality child care, the renovation or replacement of schools, and expanded and improved care for wounded, ill and injured service members. 
• The President is establishing a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force.  “We are going to crack down on violations of equal pay laws – so that women get equal pay for an equal day’s work.” To make sure we uphold our nation’s core commitment to equality of opportunity, the Obama Administration is implementing an Equal Pay initiative to improve compliance, public education, and enforcement of equal pay laws. The Task Force will ensure that the agencies with responsibility for equal pay enforcement are coordinating efforts and limiting potential gaps in enforcement. The Administration also continues to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, and is increasing funding for the agencies enforcing equal pay laws and other key civil rights statutes. 
• Immigration reform. “And we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system – to secure our borders , enforce our laws so that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.” The President is pleased Congress is taking steps forward on immigration reform that includes effective border security measures with a path for legalization for those who are willing to pay taxes and abide by the law. He is committed to confronting this problem in practical, effective ways, using the current tools at our disposal while we work with Congress to enact comprehensive reform.

Full Text of State of the Union Speech, copy click here. 01/28/20

OREGON VOTERS DEFY ANTI-TAX FEVER / PASS TWO STATE ISSUES TO RAISE TAXES ON WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - According to the Oregonian, two statewide tax issues in Oregon, Measures 66 & 67 passed tonight, with roughly eight percentage points separating "Yes" and "No" votes. Measure 66 raises the income tax paid by households earning at or above $250,000 a year or individual filers who make $125,000 or more. Measure 67 raises the state's $10 minimum corporate income tax.

Together they generate an estimated $727 million, which has already been budgeted by the 2009 Legislature for public schools and other state services.

The tax measures were strongly supported by the state's teachers and other public employee unions. They argued that schools and public services would face damaging cuts.

A coalition of Oregon businesses, including the state's grocers, mounted a campaign to defeat the taxes, arguing that they would cost jobs at a time when the economy is already struggling.

The Oregonian, the primary daily newspaper in Portland, is reporting:

Measure 66 raises the income tax paid by households earning at or above $250,000 a year or individual filers who make $125,000 or more. Measure 67 raises the state's $10 minimum corporate income tax.

Together they generate an estimated $727 million, which has already been budgeted by the 2009 Legislature for public schools and other state services.

The tax measures were strongly supported by the state's teachers and other public employee unions. They argued that schools and public services would face damaging cuts.

A coalition of Oregon businesses, including the state's grocers, mounted a campaign to defeat the taxes, arguing that they would cost jobs at a time when the economy is already struggling.

House Speaker Dave Hunt said he and other supporters "have been hopeful from the beginning that Oregonians would be committed to strong schools, access to services and a healthy business climate."

When members of the Legislature return to Salem next week for a special session, Hunt said state leaders will be "very much focused on job creation."

Bob Tiernan, chairman of the Oregon Republican Party issued this statement at 9 p.m.: "The success of a nationally-bankrolled campaign does not accurately reflect the views of all Oregonians. Voters across the state want their legislators to tighten their belts along with the rest of us. Oregonians expect their representatives in Salem to work together to find a solution that addresses the challenges of today's economy without crippling tomorrow's." 01/26/2010

CONGRESISONAL BUDGET OFFICE RELEASES ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR 2010-2020

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- The CBO forecast for 2010 through 2020:

Projected deficits average about $600 billion per year over the 2011–2020 period. As a share of GDP, deficits drop markedly in the next few years but remain high—at 6.5 percent of GDP in 2011 and 4.1 percent in 2012, the first full fiscal year after certain tax provisions originally enacted in 2001, 2003, and 2009 are scheduled to expire. Thereafter, deficits are projected to range between 2.6 percent and 3.2 percent of GDP through 2020.

Those accumulating deficits will push federal debt held by the public to significantly higher levels. At the end of 2009, debt held by the public was $7.5 trillion, or 53 percent of GDP; by the end of 2020, debt is projected to climb to $15 trillion, or 67 percent of GDP. With such a large increase in debt, plus an expected increase in interest rates as the economic recovery strengthens, interest payments on the debt are poised to skyrocket. CBO projects that the government’s annual spending on net interest will more than triple between 2010 and 2020 in nominal terms (from $207 billion to $723 billion) and will more than double as a share of GDP (from 1.4 percent to 3.2 percent).

As for 2009 and 2010, the CBO says the federal budget would show a deficit of $1.3 trillion for fiscal year 2010. At 9.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), that deficit would be slightly smaller than the shortfall of 9.9 percent of GDP ($1.4 trillion) posted in 2009. Last year’s deficit was the largest as a share of GDP since the end of World War II, and the deficit expected for 2010 would be the second largest. Moreover, if legislation is enacted in the next several months that either boosts spending or reduces revenues, the 2010 deficit could equal or exceed last year’s shortfall.

The large 2009 and 2010 deficits reflect a combination of factors that are discussed in CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal years 2010-2020.  Those factors include: an imbalance between revenues and spending that predates the recession and turmoil in financial markets, sharply lower revenues and elevated spending associated with those economic conditions, and the costs of various federal policies implemented in response to those conditions.

Full text of CBO Director's blog, copy click here. 01/26/2010

OBAMA REPORTED TO BE PLANNING THREE YEAR FREEZE ON NON NATIONAL SECURITY FUNDING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - Major news organizations are reporting that President Obama will propose a three year freeze on spending not related to national security. Exactly what that translates to has not been explained by the White House. But, according to a report in the Washington Post, it is believed the freeze would take effect in October and limit the overall budget for agencies other than the military, veterans affairs, homeland security and certain international programs to $447 billion a year for the remainder of Obama's first term, senior administration officials said Monday, imposing sharp limits on his ability to begin initiatives in education, the environment and other areas of domestic policy. Increasing conern over the federal deficit has excalated as the costs of the financial system bailouts and stimulus programs. Continued high unemployment has spurred more talk of spending for projects and initiatives, such as green jobs to help the economy and boost the Obama administration's environomental agenda. Additionally, until the unemployment rate is significantly improved, congress is likely to continue paying extended unemployment benefits, including subsidization of COBRA health insurance for those still eligible to purchase it from their former employers. Those benefits are set to run out at the end of February. Washington Post story on obama proposal, copy click here. New York Times story on Obama proposal, copy click here. 01/26/2010

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE LATEST PROJECTIONS ON: THE WARS, THE DEFENSE BUDGET & HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - In a letter to Senator Jeff Session, (R) AL, Doug Elmendorf, Director of the Congressional Budget Office says the passage of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), as passed by the Senate on December 24the, would cut the deficit and keep the Medicare Part "A" hospital trust fund solvent. Elmendorf's letter to Sen. Sessions states:

"On the basis of the economic forecast and technical assumptions in CBO’s March 2009 baseline, CBO projected that, under current law, the HI trust fund would be exhausted—that is, the balance of the trust fund would decline to zero—during fiscal year 2017. Enacting PPACA, including the manager’s amendment, would reduce net outlays for Part A of Medicare by $245 billion over the 2010–2019 period relative to that baseline, CBO estimates. Enacting that legislation would also increase HI payroll tax receipts by about $113 billion over that period, according to estimates by CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT). Together, those changes in outlays and revenues would diminish budget deficits and add to trust fund balances by $358 billion over that 10-year period. Given those changes in the financial flows of the trust fund, CBO estimates that the HI trust fund would have a positive balance of about $170 billion at the end of fiscal year 2019". Full text of the CBO PDF report, copy click here.

The net effect of the Senate version of reform has come under increasing fire for special provisions granted some states, especially, Nebraska, in defraying costs of Medicaid, and other provisions restricting payment for abortions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the Senate version, as is, will not pass in the House. The budgetary effects of both the House and Senate versions have much the same effect on the Medicare Part "A" trust funds. Negotiations continue on a combined bill that will pass in the House and Senate.

The CBO also issued a report on the Defense Department budget projecting that :

"Carrying out DoD’s 2009 plans for 2010 and beyond—excluding overseas contingency operations
(the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and some much smaller military actions elsewhere)—would require
defense resources averaging at least $573 billion annually (in 2010 dollars) from 2011 to 2028. That
amount, CBO’s base projection, is about 7 percent more than the $534 billion in total obligational authority (TOA) the Administration requested in its regular 2010 budget, again excluding overseas contingency operations. The projection also exceeds the peak of about $500 billion (in 2010 dollars) during the height of the Reagan Administration’s military buildup in the mid-
1980s. During that period, for example, DoD was pursuing a Navy fleet of 600 battle force ships,
more than twice the size of the current fleet of 287. Assuming no changes to the department’s plans, its resource requirements could be even greater. CBO has also estimated some “unbudgeted” costs that reflect the likelihood that weapon systems would cost more than initially estimated; that medical costs would grow at rates faster than DoD has anticipated; and that pay raises the Congress enacts for military personnel and DoD’s civilian employees might exceed the percentages in the department’s
plans. Furthermore, additional appropriations may be necessary to fund overseas contingency operations. Including the unbudgeted costs increases the projection to an annual average of $632 billion through 2028, or 18 percent more than the regular funding requested for 2010. Some 35 percent of the total unbudgeted costs between 2013 and 2028 are associated with overseas contingency
operations; in particular, 30,000 troops engaged in contingency operations from 2013 through 2028
would increase funding requirements by about $20 billion per year. The total costs of $670 billion at the endpoint in 2028 would approach the peak of the past three years (measured in 2010 dollars), which includes the height of operations in Iraq. Full text of CBO PDF report on Defense Department spending, copy click here.

As for Iraq and Afghanistan, The CBO projects:

"Based on recent trends in spending on overseas operations, the Department of Defense (DoD) would probably require further appropriations in 2010 to support an additional 30,000 troops in Afghanistan as well as other war-related operations. The Cost of Additional Forces in Afghanistan CBO estimated the costs of increasing the number of troops in and around Afghanistan from about 70,000 at the end of fiscal year 2009 to about 100,000 by July of 2010, averaging 85,000 personnel for fiscal year 2010.
The estimate assumes that the number of troops would begin to decline in August 2011 and that the additional personnel would be fully withdrawn by January 2012. On this timetable, an average of roughly 100,000 troops would be deployed in Afghanistan in fiscal year 2011. This scenario is consistent with the Administration’s plans to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by 30,000 and to maintain that larger force throughout most of fiscal year 2011.Under that scenario, additional operating and personnel costs would total roughly $30 billion over the two-year period of fiscal years 2010 and 2011
(see Table 1). Another $1 billion in such costs would be incurred in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 as the remaining additional personnel are withdrawn. About $5 billion would probably be needed in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 to repair and replace equipment that was worn out, damaged, or destroyed during the deployment. In total, deploying an additional 30,000 personnel to Afghanistan would probably cost about $36 billion over the four-year period of 2010 through 2013". Full text of CBO PDF report on Iraq and Afghanistan, copy click here. 01/25/2010

MAJOR CORPORATE EXECS TELL POLITICIANS TO GET PUBLIC FUNDED CAMPAIGNS AND STOP ASKING FOR MONEY

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- It took less than a day after the US Supreme court ruling struck down corporate campaign contribution limits. A group of 40 current and former corporate executives demanded that congress create public funding for campaigns and stop begging them for cash. The request has brought up an interesting dynamic, whereby some corporate executives were obviously glad the limitations had existed, as reason to limit their donations. With that now gone by virtue of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling, the execs issued an ad in the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call asking for support of House Resolution 1826 and Senate Bill 752, which create public campaign funding. The ad states;

"We are on the receiving end of Senators’ and Representatives’ endless fund-raising calls. And trust
us: we hate getting those calls every bit as much as they hate making them.
Each hour in 2008, campaigners for federal office got on the horn and raised $600,000. That’s
$14 million each day, $100 million each week, $5 billion for the year!
Elected officials spend so much time dialing for dollars it’s as if they’re moonlighting a second job.
With the economy, health care, energy and so many other issues at stake, who has time for that?
So let’s terminate this mutually wasteful, degrading process. Let’s pass the Fair Elections Now Act.
Fair Elections candidates agree not to take contributions of more than $100 from anyone.
Not lobbyists, not special interests, not their PACs. In return for swearing off high-dollar fundraising,
they receive ample public funding to run a vigorous campaign.
The American people wholeheartedly support Fair Elections. So do we. Let’s get it done".-

The ad is cosponsored by Common Cause and the Public Campaign Action Fund. PDF full text of the ad, copy click here. Fair Elections Now webpage, click here. 01/22/2010

REPUBLICANS END DEMOCRATS 60 VOTE SUPERMAJORITY / REPUBLICAN BROWN DEFEATS COAKLEY TO REPLACE TED KENNEDY

More from the Emeritus Newsroom-President Obama has phoned Republican State Senator Scott Brown to congratulate him for winning the special election to determine the successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy. He will be the first Republican senator from the state since 1978. Brown capitalized on a lackluster campaign by Coakley who took three weeks off from the campaign and blew a 15 point lead in the polls during that time. Brown also scored with independent voters who were not satisfied with progress over the past year on employment, health care reform, and financial reform. Strangely enough, polling had shown many voters who said they would vote for President Obama again were not planning to vote for Coakley. 01/19/2010

ACLU SUES LIBRARY OF CONGRESS OVER FIRING OF EX-GITMO PROSECUTOR / LIBRARY OBJECTED TO OPINION ARTICLE IN MAJOR PAPERS / ACLU CLAIMS RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH VIOLATED

More from the Emeritus Newsroom-The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit against the Library of Congress on behalf of Col. Morris Davis, the former chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo military commissions, who was terminated from his job at the Library's Congressional Research Service (CRS) because of opinion pieces he wrote about the military commissions system. The lawsuit charges that CRS violated Davis's right to free speech and due process when it fired him for speaking as a private citizen about matters having nothing to do with his responsibilities at CRS. After 25 years in the United States Air Force, Davis resigned from his position as chief prosecutor in the military commissions in October 2007 because of his belief that the system was fundamentally flawed. He then became a vocal critic of the commissions, writing articles, giving speeches and testifying before Congress. In December 2008, Davis began working as the Assistant Director of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division at CRS, a position that is not related to the military commissions.

On November 11, 2009, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece and the Washington Post published a letter to the editor in which Davis argued against having a two-tiered system of justice in which some Guantanamo detainees are tried in military commissions and others in federal courts. Both pieces were written by Davis in his personal capacity, made clear that he was writing as a private individual and former chief prosecutor of the military commissions and made no mention of CRS. Davis wrote the pieces on his home computer during non-work hours. In meetings that followed, Davis's supervisor at CRS, Daniel Mulhollan, informed Davis that as a result of the pieces his employment would be terminated. Davis was transferred to a temporary 30-day position at CRS, which will expire on January 20. The ACLU filed the lawsuit against James Billington, the Librarian of Congress, and Mulhollan in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Attorneys on the case are Fine, Alexander Abdo and Jameel Jaffer of the national ACLU and Arthur Spitzer and Frederick Mulhauser of the ACLU of the National Capital Area. ACLU press release, copy click here. 01/08/2010

OBAMA SAYS AIRLINER ATTEMPTED BOMBING COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED / ORDERS STOP OF GITMO PRISONERS TO YEMEN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- President Obama, in a very stern tone, today said that the suspect in the attempted bombing of an airliner near Detroit could have been stopped had the intelligence community connected all the dots of the information it had. It was the most firm statement yet from the President about the security lapse that took place which allowed attempted bombing,Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to board Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam for the trip to Detroit. The President also stated that the transporting of Gitmo prisoners to Yemen would be stopped . Intelligence reports have claimed that two former Gitmo prisoners are now involved with the Al Qaeda group operating in Yemen. Obama explained in his statement to the media:

"It now turns out that our intelligence community knew of other red flags -- that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula sought to strike not only American targets in Yemen, but the United States itself.  And we had information that this group was working with an individual who was known -- who we now know was in fact the individual involved in the Christmas attack.

     The bottom line is this:  The U.S. government had sufficient information to have uncovered this plot and potentially disrupt the Christmas Day attack.  But our intelligence community failed to connect those dots, which would have placed the suspect on the "no fly" list.
In other words, this was not a failure to collect intelligence; it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had.  The information was there.  Agencies and analysts who needed it had access to it.  And our professionals were trained to look for it and to bring it all together". 

Full text of President Obama's statement to the media. Video of President Obama's statement at right on Emeritus News YouTube. 01/05/2010

UNITED NATIONS SUSPENDS FOOD AID TO ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN SAMALIA AS FIGHTING ERUPTS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- The United Nations World Food Program says their humanitarian operations in southern Somalia have been under escalating attacks from armed groups, leading to this partial suspension of humanitarian food distributions in much of southern Somalia.WFP is deeply concerned about rising hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable due to these unprecedented and inhumane attacks on purely humanitarian operations.WFP is continuing to provide life saving food distributions in the rest of the country, including the capital, Mogadishu, reaching more than two-thirds of the hungry it has been targeting - or 1.8 million people.  In addition, resources and relief workers are being re-deployed from southern areas in the event that people start moving away from areas where food distributions have been suspended.WFP is an impartial, non-political humanitarian agency that has been working in partnership with the people of Somalia for more than 40 years, providing assistance to the poorest of the poor throughout Somalia’s years of conflict and before.  The recent pressures on our work from armed groups in southern Somalia are impeding our humanitarian mandate.

Even in good years, Somalia is only able to meet 40 per cent of the food needs of its population through internal production.  In the last five years, local production has averaged only about 30 per cent of food needs in Somalia.  WFP’s operation in Somalia is fully funded in the coming months to reach all the projected beneficiaries. Full text of United Nations World Food Program, copy click here. 01/05/2010

T-S-A ORDERS MORE SCREENING FOR PASSENGERS FROM TERRORIST SYMPATHETIC COUNTRIES TO GET MORE SCREENING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - As a result of recent security problems including the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253, the TSA issued new security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S., effective January 4, 2010.

The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners.

Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights. The TSA website does not reveal those countries, but state department and other government reports have previously indicated those countries included with other countries, which terror organizations have used to travel through, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Full text of TSA statement, copy click here. 01/04/2010

CENSUS 2010 KICKS OFF MASSIVE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - Twelve simultaneous road trips across the US began today as the US Census Bureau promotes the importance of being counted in 2010.  During the next four months, the tour will be part of the largest civic outreach and awareness campaign in U.S. history — stopping and exhibiting at more than 800 events nationwide. From local parades and festivals to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four, the Census Bureau will attempt to motivate America’s growing and increasingly diverse population to complete and mail back 10-question census forms when they arrive in mailboxes March 15-17.

     “The Road Tour seeks to educate and empower every person living across our country to take part and participate in the 2010 Census,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. “Attendees at Road Tour events will learn about the census, how it affects their local communities and even share their personal stories about why the census is important to them at interactive kiosks and exhibits". Census data are used to reapportion congressional seats to states and directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest census questionnaires in history and takes about 10 minutes to complete. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

     The regional vehicles offer a similar user experience, including GPS technology that allows visitors to track the tour online as it happens and through daily social media postings on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube. Press release on Census Bureau Tour, copy click here.

YouTube video from Census 2010, click here. 01/04/2010

OBAMA PROMISES TO GO AFTER AL QAEDA IN YEMEN / SAYS PRELIMINARY PROBE SHOWS ATTEMPTED AIRLINER BOMBING SUSPECT WAS TRAINED IN YEMEN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- In his weekend address delivered in a noticeably agitated and and accelerated delivery, President Barack Obama announced that early details of the probe into the suspect accused in the attempted bombing of an airliner near Detroit, was trained by Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen. Obama confirmed in his address, that he had received the anticipated preliminary report on the incident and the security breakdown. The President said, "  I've directed my counter terrorism and homeland security advisor at the White House, John Brennan, to lead these reviews going forward and to present the final results and recommendations to me in the days to come". Obama added, " I will do everything in my power to make sure our hard-working men and women in our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security communities have the tools and resources they need to keep America safe.  This includes making sure these communities-and the people in them-are coordinating effectively and are held accountable at every level.  And as President, that is what I will do". In comments regarding the suspect in the attempted bombing,Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in Amsterdam, with a makeshift bomb hidden in his underwear, Obama said, "We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies.  It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group-al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America". Obama said the U-S would continue to work with the government in Yemen to step up attacks against Al Qaeda positions in that country. "Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted.  And all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know-you too will be held to account'. Obama said . Transcript of address, copy click here. MP 4 Video of President's address, click here. 01/02/2010

YEMEN AMBASSADOR TO U-S SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE RAIDS AGAINST AL QAEDA / OBAMA HOLDS TUESDAY BREIFING / ADMITS INTELLIGENCE BREAKDOWN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- yemen's ambassador to the U-S, Mohammed Albasha, today said it was Yemen, not the U-S, which has carried out the recent raids on Al Qaeda positions in their country. But the Ambassador says the U-S has been given aid to the country in its attempt to rid the country of Al Qaeda hideouts. The raids are reported to be the motive behind Al Qaeda's attempt to bomb Northwest Airlines Flight 253 before it landed in Detroit on Christmas Day. Al Qaeda claims it was supplied suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, with the makeshift bomb, hidden in his underwear, before he boarded the plane. The suspect then tried to set off the explosive, which triggered a fire shortly before the plane landed. Witnesses claim a passenger tackled him, preventing detonation of the device. During a quickly arranged news conference in Hawaii today, President Obama admitted there was a breakdown in American intelligence involving the suspect, whose family warned state department officials about his extremist conversion. Obama suggested there was more evidence regarding the suspect even before his family came to American officials, which should have placed him on the "No Fly" list. Obama hinted that more information regarding the government's probe could be made available on Thursday. In the meantime, security has continued to increase at international airports with scheduled flights to the U-S, including Amsterdam, where the suspect boarded flight 253. Audio of the President's Tuesday news conference from Hawaii, click here. 12/29/2009

DHS CHIEF NAPOLITANO SAYS SECURITY FAILED / OBAMA ORDERS PROBE / AL QAEDA CLAIMS CREDIT

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Reports from the middle east are saying Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility for attack on the Detroit bound jetliner. This, in apparent retaliation for attacks on Al Qaeda bases in the past week. Meanwhile, a court appearance for the alleged suspect in the Christmas Day attempted bombing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has been put off until, at least, January 8th. For now, he is being held in a federal in federal custody in Milan, Michigan prison. Abdulmutallab was reportedly in possession of a volatile chemical called, "PETN". It was also the chemical of choice for attempted jet bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23 year old Nigerian, whose family said had developed increasingly extremist views. The suspect was tackled while starting a fire attempting to set off a chemical hidden in a waistband. PETN was the same chemical used by another attempted airline bomber, Richard Reed 8 years ago. Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, in an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press", said passengers and staff acted appropriately in subduing the suspect. However, Monday on the NBC "Today" show, Napolitano admitted that security failed. She has refused to speculate whether the suspect in the Northwest flight incident was connected to Al Qaeda. Napolitano suggested that all air travelers over the holiday period, "get to the airport a little bit earlier" due to increased airport security since the incident. In response to a question from Meet the Press host David Gregory whether the explosive was enough to bring down the plane on Friday, Napolitano responded, "We're far from knowing". As to why the suspect was on a "Watch List" but not on a "No Fly" list, Napolitano responded, "One of the things we will do, go back and look and change some of those protocols". White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told Gregory that, "President Obama has been briefed by staffers in Hawaii, and is doing everything that he can to protect the American people". Gibbs explained that Obama has ordered an investigation of protocols as to how the incident was handled, and the information about the suspect that was known at the time. Gibbs said, "We want to insure that information sharing is happening as it should. That, they "want to know how he could get onto the plane with the explosives that he had". Gibbs added, "Going forward, the President believes that this has to be a non partisan issue". That statement followed accusations from New York Congressman Peter King (R) that the Obama administration was not doing enough to protect the country. Gibbs responded, "We added air marshals to flights coming in and out of this country", Gibbs added. This "Meet the Press" broadcast also covered health care reform, Iran and political climate in the U-S, with a great panel of guests, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Security experts have also called for more money to improve explosive substance detections systems, which are still in developmental infancy. Former State Department terrorism expert Larry Johnson, during an interview on CNN, said, 'We can't count on Al Qaeda to be incompetent in the future". Johnson suggested the U-S develope a "Manhattan" style project to improve explosive detection devices. The"Manhattan Project", was the secret project undertaken by the US in the 1940s to develope a nuclear weapon. Johnson noted that it was also hard to push for such dev elopement when there have been only three Al Qaeda attempts. WE RATE SUNDAY 11/27/2009 BROADCAST OF "MEET THE PRESS" AS ONE OF ITS BEST IN RECENT MEMORY AND A "MUST SEE". CLICK HERE FOR REPLAY. 12/28/2009

BREAKTHROUGH IN COPENHAGEN: PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS DEAL REACHED TO CUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS / ADMITS SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME SLACK SINCE MUCH OF THEIR COUNTRIES NOT YET ELECTRIFIED / DEAL "NOT LEGAL BINDING AGREEMENT" ACCORDING TO OBAMA / GREENPEACE PANS DEAL

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Developing nations, along with China, Russia and the U-S have announced, what one official termed as a "breakthrough for a framework to the future", in the battle to control greenhouse gas emissions. Full text of summary obtained by New York Times, copy click here. The agreement is "non-binding", according to President Obama, who told a news conference in Copenhagen that industrialized nations must cut some slack for developing nations such as China, where much of the country is not even electrified yet. The President told conference attendees earlier in the morning that, "...We must have financing that helps developing countries adapt, particularly the least-developed and most vulnerable to climate change. America will be a part of fast-start funding that will ramp up to $10 billion in 2012. And, yesterday, Secretary Clinton made it clear that we will engage in a global effort to mobilize $100 billion in financing by 2020, if - and only if - it is part of the broader accord that I have just described".

Experts say it difficult for countries such as China to commit to future emission cuts, since it is unknown when the country will be fully electrified. A total of 193 nations gathered together in Copenhagen to forge an agreement. The U-S is the #2 global polluter has agreed to reduce emissions by 4% by 2020 and give money to poor countries to help them technology and equipment to reduce emissions. While China is the #1 polluter, it is considered a third world country when it comes to electrification and other infrastructure which is a stark contrast to industrialized portions of the country. The agreement was largely worked out by President Obama, and the Prime Ministers of China, India, South Africa. Full text and video of President Obama's speech at Copenhagen conference. Text of news conference held by President Obama Friday night in Copenhagen, click here. Environmental activitst group Greenpeace and their Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, said in a statement released by the group:

"Not fair, not ambitious and not legally binding. The job of world leaders is not done. Today they failed to avert catastrophic climate change".

Full text of Greenpeace statement, copy click here. 12/18/2009

PETERSON-PEW COMMISSION ON BUDGET REFORM SAYS U-S MUST GET DEBT UNDER CONTROL BY 2018 OR FACE ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - In releasing their report today, the Peterson Pew Commission on budget Reform says the country faces a crisis as early as 2018 unless the levels of debt are reduced and obligations related to health care and an aging population are successfully managed. The report says, "The 2009 budget deficit was $1.4 trillion, almost 10 percent of GDP. The public debt grew 31 percent from $5.8 trillion to $7.6 trillion. And the total debt, which includes what the government has borrowed from itself, grew from almost $10 trillion to $11.9 trillion. Total government ending—driven by an aging population and rising health care costs—rise from 25 percent of GDP today to 36 percent in 2038. Revenue—which fell to below 15 percent of GDP during the recession—grow gradually to 18.5 percent in 2018, surpassing historical averages, but not by nearly enough to keep pace with spending. Deficits slip from their current level of 10 percent of GDP to below 6 percent over the next five years but rise to above 16 percent in 2038. Without a dramatic shift in course, the debt will grow to
unprecedented levels, breaking the 200 percent mark in 2038. Well before the debt approaches such startling heights, fears of inflation and a prospective decline in the value of the dollar would cause investors to demand higher interest rates and shift out of U.S. Treasury securities. Full text of report, copy click here. Video of news conference held by Peterson-Pew Commission on Budget Reform. 12/14/2009

SENATE PASSES $1.1 TRILLION DOLLAR SPENDING BILL / MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, VETERANS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- The Senate on Sunday passed a $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill, which represents half of twelve annual appropriations bills to fund federal operations for the current fiscal year that began October 1st.

The package includes: A TWO PER CENT RAISE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS, $650 billion for Medicare and Medicaid, $626 billion for defense that only serves as a foundation for other defense spending bills yet to emerge from congress, Veterans Health Administration gets a $4.1 billion dollar boost over last year with the new budget set at $45.1 billion, and the National Institutes of Health gets an increase of $692 million for a new budget total of $31 billion. The debt ceiling to $12 trillion allowing the Treasury Department to borrow more money.

Although Republicans complained about nearly $4 billion in local pork barrel projects, many of them were for members of their own party. Some of them pay for restoration and construction projects at historic sites, which many civic groups support, as well as recreation facilities in rural areas.

As part of a job creation initiative, the package also provides tax breaks to businesses, including small business for job creation and federal money for public works projects in every state.

SENATE APPROPRITATIONS COMMITTEE SUMMARY OF APPROPRITATIONS, COPY CLICK HERE. 12/15/2009

OBAMA TELLS NOBEL FOLLOWERS ARMED CONFLICT SOMETIMES MORALLY JUSTIFIED

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - Given the Nobel Prize in the first year of his presidency, President Barack Obama found himself justifying his decisions to escalate armed conflict as a way to prevent others. A world leader addressing what he hopes will be the understanding of what he does not want to do but, perhaps throughout the rest of his presidency may be forced to use. It presents a conflict of purpose and certainly a conflict of the Nobel Prize itself, not always a straight line to the dream of peace. Accepting his award at 7:30 am Eastern time during an afternoon ceremony at the Oslo City Hall in Norway. Obama detailed the challenge in his speech following the award ceremony.

"The resurgence of ethnic or sectarian conflicts; the growth of secessionist movements, insurgencies, and failed states -- all these things have increasingly trapped civilians in unending chaos.  In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn asunder, refugees amassed, children scarred. I do not bring with me today a definitive solution to the problems of war.  What I do know is that meeting these challenges will require the same vision, hard work, and persistence of those men and women who acted so boldly decades ago.  And it will require us to think in new ways about the notions of just war and the imperatives of a just peace". 

His award preceded by the explanation of the Nobel Committee Chairman, Thorbjørn Jagland, of the committee's resolve to name Obama despite the early stage of his presidency, and perhaps to answer those who felt it premature to bestow such an award on a young politician who has yet to prove himself over the long term. Jagland said,

"The question was actually quite simple. Who has done most for peace in the past year? If the question is put in Nobel's terms, the answer is relatively easy to find: it had to be U.S. President Barack Obama. Only rarely does one person dominate international politics to the same extent as Obama, or in such a short space of time initiate so many and such major changes as Obama has done. The question for the Committee was rather whether it would be bold enough to single out the most powerful man in the world, with the responsibility and the obligations that come with the office of the President of the United States.The Committee came to the conclusion that it must still be possible to award the Nobel Peace Prize to a political leader. We cannot get the world on a safer track without political leadership. And time is short. Many have argued that the prize comes too early. But history can tell us a great deal about lost opportunities.It is now, today, that we have the opportunity to support President Obama's ideas. This year's prize is indeed a call to action to all of us".

Full Text of President Obama's acceptance speech, click here. Full text of Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland's speech, copy click here. 12/10/2009

U-S EPA DECLARES THREAT FROM GREENHOUSE GASES / RESPONSE TO COURT SUIT AND COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE

More from the Emeritus Newsroom - U-S EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that after a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and careful consideration of public comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared greenhouse gases (GHGs) a threat to public health and welfare of the American people. EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.

GHGs are the primary driver of climate change, which can lead to hotter, longer heat waves that threaten the health of the sick, poor or elderly; increases in ground-level ozone pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses; as well as other threats to the health and welfare of Americans.

“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said Jackson. “Business leaders, security experts, government officials, concerned citizens and the United States Supreme Court have called for enduring, pragmatic solutions to reduce the greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate change. This continues our work towards clean energy reform that will cut GHGs and reduce the dependence on foreign oil that threatens our national security and our economy.”

EPA’s final findings respond to the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision that GHGs fit within the Clean Air Act definition of air pollutants. The findings do not in and of themselves impose any emission reduction requirements but rather allow EPA to finalize the GHG standards proposed earlier this year for new light-duty vehicles as part of the joint rulemaking with the Department of Transportation.
Jackson also announced she had signed two distinct findings regarding greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act:

• Endangerment Finding: The Administrator finds that the current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases--carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)--in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.
• Cause or Contribute Finding: The Administrator finds that the combined emissions of these well-mixed greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the greenhouse gas pollution which threatens public health and welfare.

These findings do not themselves impose any requirements on industry or other entities.  However, this action is a prerequisite to finalizing the EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles, which were jointly proposed by EPA and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration on September 15, 2009. EPA press release, copy click here. 12/07/2009

OBAMA GIVES ORDERS FOR 30,000 MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN / TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL SET FOR 2011 / NATO COMMITS ANOTHER 5,000 TROOPS / VIDEO OF OBAMA AND NATO SPEECHES

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- "The status quo is not sustainable", President Obama told an audience tonight at West Point Military Academy. And he said, "I owe you a mission that is clearly defined" . Laying out his case to boost troops in Afghanistan, President Obama said America and "our allies" have been acting to contain Taliban forces in that country, where the people responsible for the 9/11 attack have been harbored. Obama admitted that the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. The President stressed the basis of the his addition of 30,000 U-S troops and continued involvement in the country is due to the fact Al Qaida has achieved a safe haven and that the Taliban has gained strength. Obama has also been concerned about poorly trained Afghan security forces and the problems with corruption in the internationally recognized government. There will be more than 100-thousand troops in Afghanistan after the troop surge. Obama said, "We have been at war for 8 years with enormous costs in lives... I am making this decision because I believe our security is at stake. We must increase the stability of our partners in the region. New attacks are being plotted as I speak".

Obama also fought back against critics on issues which have caused the most controversy:

1) "Afghanistan is not another Vietnam...that we should withdraw. this depends on False reading of history. Forty three nations have recognized legitimacy of our actions. The American people were attacked from Afghanistan. To abandon now, would hamper our ability to keep pressure on (extremists) who want to attack us. The status quo would be to just muddle through. It would prove more costly because we would never be able to train Afghani forces to stand on their own".

2) The president set an exit timetable for 2011, saying, "Afghans must take care of their own security" .

3) Obama told the audience the war has been costly in American lives and resources. He added, "...as we end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan we must rebuild here at home. And that "...the U-S must compete in this century as we did in the last. The nation I am most interested in building is our own".

Full text of the President's speech, click here.

IN ADDITION, NATO OFFICIALS SAID NON U-S TROOP STRENGTH FOR THE AFGAHNISTAN WAR EFFORT WILL INCREASE BY AT LEAST 5,000. NATO OFFERED THE INCREASE IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCED SURGE. Full text of the NATO announcement, click here.12 01/2009

SEATTLE AREA SUSPECT SHOT TO DEATH / WANTED IN SLAYINGS OF FOUR OFFICERS IN COFFEE SHOP / PREVIOUS SENTENCE COMMUTED IN 2000 BY FORMER ARK. GOV. HUCKABEE

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- A Tacoma man, wanted in the slayings of four suburban Seattle police officers, was shot to death in South Seattle this morning. The suspect, 37 year old Maurice Clemmons, was shot to death by a Seattle police officer who had stopped to investigate a stolen car. While in his squad car, the officer noticed a man matching Clemmons description approaching from behind. The officer confronted Clemmons who, officials say, refused to stop. The officer fired and Clemmons died at the scene. Officials say Clemmons was carrying a gun belonging to one of the fallen officers from Sunday's shootings. The case began Sunday morning at a coffee shop in suburban Lakewood. The victims, three men and a woman, were gunned down and killed as they worked on laptop computers preparing for the start of their shifts today. Two of the officers Officials have identified the officers as, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards. All four were members of the Lakewood, Washington, Police Department. Officials say they were ambushed at the Forza Coffee Shop on Steele Street South. Police say Clemmons, who had recently been released from jail after being bonded out on a child rape charge involving a 12 year old relative, was being helped by friends and relatives to elude police search. Officials this morning said one man, suspected of being the getaway driver in the Sunday shootings, has been arrested. Other arrests of those involved in hiding Clemmons are expected. Clemmons has a history of mental health and behavioral issues according to media reports. His sentence in Arkansas for robberies, theft and fraud charges was commuted in 2000 by former presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee after parole officials there suggested he be released. COVERAGE OF SHOOTING FROM KING-TV SEATTLE, CLICK HERE. MORE COVERAGE FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES, CLICK HERE. 11/29/2009

OBAMA REPORTED READY TO SEND ANOTHER 30,000 TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN / WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION DECEMBER 1ST

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- It has been widely reported today that President Obama has decided to send 34,000 more troops to Afghanistan in an effort to secure the country from increasing threats from the Taliban and other extremist groups. He is expected to announced his decision on December 1st. The President, caught between recommendations of military officers and opponents, including many of his closest advisors. With the American public increasingly against the war, Obama faces a no win decision on a war his administration was handed without an exit strategy. Obama held a meeting today with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he was hosting the Indian Prime Minister, visiting Washington for a state dinner amid talks on nuclear weapons and the world economic crisis. Sources indicate the soldiers to be deployed will come from Fort Drum, near Attrition, New York and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 11/24/2009

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MY LOSE BILLIONS AFTER COURT LOSS ON NEW ORLEANS DISASTER

More fromNOLA.Com, click here- 11/19/2009

WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS $98 BILLION WASTED ON IMPROPER PAYMENTS / OBAMA CALLS FOR REFORM OF ACCOUNTING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- In 2008, improper payments totaled $72 billion; in 2009, they totaled $98 billion. That's according to the White House Office of Management and Budget. The OMB claims that the year to year increase is driven by improved detection and the significant increase in federal outlays associated with the economic downturn. As a result of the losses, President Obama has called for more accounting reforms and will soon be singing an executive order that the White House claims will:

Boost transparency. In line with the President’s commitment to openness, the Administration will take the following steps: 

• Create an online dashboard of key indicators and statistics on improper payments.
  
• Create and publicize a single mechanism for the public to report suspected incidences of waste, fraud, or abuse.
  
• Require agencies to establish more frequent error reduction targets, and more frequent error measurement for certain high-priority programs.
  
• Issue recommendations on ways to measure program access for intended beneficiaries, with a view to including those measures in the dashboard.

• Require each agency to designate a current, Senate-confirmed appointee to be accountable to the President for meeting improper payment reduction targets.
  
• Require that all targets for improper payments show reduction and/or improvement and share the agency’s measurement methodology and plans for meeting the reduction targets with the agency’s Inspector General.
  
• Issue recommendations on new internal techniques agencies could use to better detect and mitigate improper payments.
  
• For programs where targets for reducing payment error rates are not met for two years in a row, require the agency head, Chief Financial Officer, and the agency Inspector General to provide the OMB Director a report describing the likely causes of the agency’s failure and actions it will take to meet reduction targets.
  
• Increase data-sharing among agencies to improve eligibility verification and pre-payment scrutiny.
  
• Require agency quarterly submissions and publication of reports on any high-dollar errors identified by the agency and actions the agency will take to recover the improper payment and to prevent future improper payments.
  
• Demand that agencies’ plans for reducing program error not unduly burden program access and participation for legitimate beneficiaries, and hold agencies accountable for implementing those plans alongside reductions in improper payments.

• Pursue administrative actions to provide state, local, and other organizations with incentives for reducing improper payments.
  
• Seek to enhance contractor accountability by pursuing methods such as subjecting contractors to debarment, suspension, and financial penalties for failing to timely disclosing credible evidence of significant overpayments received on government contracts. 
  
• Revisit the Single Audit Act requirements.

HUNGER AT 14 YEAR HIGH IN U-S / REPORT FROM U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SHOWS HUNGER UP MORE THAN 11% IN 2008

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Not since the beginning of the food security survey in 1995 has hunger in the U-S been as prevalent. The USDA, in its report released today claims,

"....children as well as
adults experienced instances of very low food security in 506,000 households (1.3 percent of households with children)
in 2008, up from 323,000 households (0.8 percent of households with children) in 2007".

Regionally, food insecurity was most prevalent in the South, intermediate in the Midwest and West, and least prevalent in the Northeast.

Text Summary of report from USDA, copy click here. Links to full report, click here. 11/16/2009

IMMIGRATION REFORM LIKELY IN 2010 ACCORDING TO HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY NAPOLITANO

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- In a speech today to the Center for American Progress, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said during the "first part of 2010" immigration reform will begin to move. The former Arizona Governor said,

"We know that one-sided reform, as we saw in 1986, cannot succeed. During that reform effort, the enforcement part of the equation was promised, but it didn’t materialize. That helped lead to our current situation, and it undermined Americans’ confidence in their government’s approach to this issue. That mistake can’t happen again, and it won’t happen again.The American people expect us to act. Americans value our identity as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Unfortunately, too many politicians and pundits have treated these values as contradictory. They are not, and we will pursue reforms that emphasize both. The immigrant story is part of what it means to be an American – but failing to fix a broken system that undermines our shared values of lawfulness and fairness is not".

And Napolitano stressed the administration's efforts to put more resources into border security with Mexico has yielded significant results.

"Compared to last year, seizures in all categories—drugs, smuggled cash, and illegal weapons—are up dramatically. For example, just looking at bulk cash, Customs and Border Protection has seized at the border more than $34 million in cash being smuggled southbound so far this year—more than four times as much as at this time last year. Moreover, the immigration debate in 2007 happened during a period of historically high levels of illegal entry into the United States. Two years later, because of better enforcement and the current economic circumstances, those numbers have fallen sharply. The flow has reduced significantly – by more than half from the busiest years, proving we are in a much different environment than we were before".

Full Text of Napolitano speech, copy click here. 11/13/2009

FORT HOOD SHOOTING DEFENDANT OFFICIALLY CHARGED / MAY BE PARALYZED FROM WAIST DOWN

More from the New York Times, copy click here- 11/13/2009

STATE BUDGET PROBLEMS: THE WORST IS YET TO COME / CONCLUSION FROM STUDY FOR PEW RESEARCH CENTER

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- The Pew Center on the States, in a report released today called, " Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril", says, the same pressures that have pushed California toward economic disaster are wreaking havoc in a number of other states, with potentially damaging consequences for the entire country. Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin join California as the 10 most troubled states. The Pew report cites several major factors:

(1) loss of state revenues; (2) the relative size of budget gaps; (3) increasing joblessness; (4) high foreclosure rates; (5) legal obstacles to balanced budgets--specifically, a super majority requirement for tax increases or budget bills and (6) poor money-management practices.

Another factor: Unbalanced economies. A number of states on the list, including Florida, Michigan, Nevada and Oregon, have struggled in part because their economies have depended so heavily on a particular industry. This reliance on a sector may have paid off in times past, but it put these states at greater risk when the recession hit. States cannot choose their natural resources, of course, but they can budget and manage for additional volatility that can result from dependence on a particular sector. States increasingly are seeking to diversify their economies.

So the Pew report's outlook for next year...."States' fiscal situations are widely expected to get worse even if the national economy starts to recover. At the end of 2010, federal stimulus money that helped states meet some of their expenses begins to run out. Plus, states historically have their worst years shortly after a national recession ends, when they are coping with higher Medicaid and other safety-net expenses and when revenues lag because of stubborn unemployment". Pew Report press release and direct link to full report, copy click here. 11/11/2009

REPORT FOR CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT SUGGESTS OFFSHORE DRILLING TOO COSTLY & ENVIRONMENTALLY DANGEROUS

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- In a report entitled, "Five Alternatives that Make More Sense than Offshore Oil", author Whitney Leonard says, "Proponents of offshore oil drilling ignore reality: offshore oil reserves are too small to significantly impact world oil prices or U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Offshore oil, which necessitates costly and environmentally dangerous drilling, would produce about 514 million barrels annually by 2030—less than 1 percent of global oil production". Leonard suggests:

1. Increasing fuel economy standards: This is the single most important, efficient, and cost-effective way to reduce petroleum consumption. Raising the average fuel economy from 23 to 35 mpg could save 1.2 billion barrels of oil and up to $150 billion per year.
   
2. Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs): If half the cars on the road by 2030 were HEVs, the United States could reduce petroleum consumption by 1.2 billion barrels per year, saving consumers up to $120 billion annually.
   
3. Alternative commuting patterns: If twenty percent of Americans worked from home three days a week, they could collectively save 149 million barrels of oil. Additionally, the United States could save 54 million barrels of oil a year if half of eligible workers switched to a four-day work week.
   
4. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs): While currently constrained by cost and technological advancements, plug-in hybrids could be an attractive option in the future, potentially saving 1.6 billion barrels of oil if PHEVs one day accounted for 50 percent of vehicles. But the full environmental benefits from plug-in hybrids will only be realized if the electric grid in the United States can be converted to use more renewable energy sources.
   
5. Cellulosic ethanol: Unlike corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol—produced from the fiber of plants like switchgrass—could reduce emissions 87–94 percent compared to gasoline. Cellulosic gasoline is predicted to produce 133 million barrels of oil annually by 2030, saving consumers $5.6 billion dollars per year.

Whitney Angell Leonard graduated from Williams College in 2008 and was
a 2008–2009 junior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment’s Energy and Climate
program. She is currently working as a wildlife advocate at the Natural Resources
Defense Council in Livingston, Montana. Text of summary and direct link to full report, copy click here.

11/11/2009

FORT HOOD SHOOTING SUSPECT MAJOR HASAN STILL STABLE AND REFUSING TO TALK ABOUT INCIDENT / WILL BE TRIED IN MILITARY COURT / ATTORNEY APPOINTED

More from the Austin (TX.) Statesman, copy click here- 11/11/2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA RECALLS VIRTUES OF THOSE WHO DIED IN FORT HOOD SHOOTING / CALLS THEIR EFFORTS PROOF OF AMERICAN GOODWILL AND COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY / SUSPECT MAJOR HASAN STILL STABLE AND REFUSING TO TALK ABOUT INCIDENT

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- "No God looks upon these acts with favor", said President Obama, speaking today at the memorial service in honor of those who died in the mass slayings at Fort Hood last Thursday. The President said of Hasan that, "...He will be judged in this world and the next". Obama gave recognition heroic effort both in the military mission and that during the shootings, "Americans serving together to protect our people", Obama adding that the fallen helped make possible the opportunities of people in the U-S and abroad. The suspect, psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan, remains in stable condition at a San Antonio hospital, is conscience, off a ventilator, and still refusing to talk about the incident. He was shot during his alleged rampage by two civilian base police officers. Names in article from Austin Statesman, copy click here. THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS PUBLISHED PICTURES OF THOSE KILLED , COPY CLICK HERE. Two others originally believed to have been the shooter's accomplices, were released Thursday night. Major Hasan who was reported to be using two handguns before he was shot, was assigned to military mental health services. Officials now confirm he is a US born citizen of Jordanian heritage and was upset about being deployed to Afghanistan. Investigators say Hasan had been in contact with an Imam who had connected himself with extremist Muslim causes, though the communications between Hasan and the Imam did not contain any mention of those causes. The Imam once presided over a mosque Hasan attended while living in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington. Hasan is reported to have spoken during two lectures on war time stress, regarding the ability conscientious objectors to withdraw from military service, how it would prevent "adverse events" and improve moral. It was earlier reported that Hasan was being deployed to Iraq, but Army officials confirmed he was to be sent to Afghanistan. The incident took place around 1:30 pm Texas time (Central Time) on Thursday. Other than Major Hasan being upset about his deployment, there are still no other motives known. The shooting took place near the east end main gate of Fort Hood near Killeen, at a personnel processing or readiness center where soldiers must report for deployment. The base was in lock down Thursday afternoon with personnel restricted from moving out of their locations. The lock down was lifted Thursday evening. The attack happened a day after Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged mental health providers to demonstrate leadership in developing effective programs to treat wounded warriors. He told a teleconference of commanders,

“We have too many troopers who get out who have been living very structured lives,” he said. “Many of them have seen hell, and now they are out there all alone. They have no support network, and they don’t know where to go to get help. We need to do everything we can to help.” Press release on Adm. Mullen teleconference, click here.

One of the top organizations for American Muslims condemned the attack saying no religious or political ideology could justify the shootings. Text of The Council on American-Islamic Relations press release, copy click here.

National media outlets are waiting till the end of the immediate emergency before they push for an explanation for the Arm's poor handling of public information. Several hours passed after the first briefing from base officials, when media were told the attacker had been shot to death. The Army later Thursday night admitted the attacker, by then identified as Major Hasan, was the only attacker involved and was alive, in stable condition. Also, the Army had first reported that the Major Hasan was being deployed to Iraq. It turned out to be Afghanistan. Executives at CNN were openly upset with the unfolding events they say were complicated by the Army either giving no information or the wrong information, even after the facts were firmly established and known to military officials for hours. CNN's Larry King read a statement during his show that the network would get to the bottom why the Army's information was so badly handled. 11/06-09/2009

REPUBLICAN SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM TAKES HEAT FROM HOMESTATE REPUBLICANS FOR WORKING WITH DEMOCRATS FOR GLOBAL WARMING COMPROMISE

More from the Miami Herald, copy click here- YouTube video and New York Times article, click here. 11/11/2009

STUDY SHOWS INCREASING NUMBER OF MILITARY ENLISTEES TOO FAT AND UNDER EDUCATED TO SERVE / 75% OF YOUNG ADULTS INELIGIBLE

Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve, full report, copy click here - 11/05/2009

REPUBLICANS ARE NO SHOW AS SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES GLOBAL WARMING AND ENERGY BILL / REPUBLICAN SEN. GRAHAM JOINS DEMOCRAT SEN. KERRY TO CALL FOR ACTION

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- By a vote of 10-1, the Senate Environment and public Work Committee Chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer sent a comprehensive energy bill, including legislation to cut use of fossil fuels, to the Senate floor for consideration. Three Senators, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) SC, Sen. John Kerry (D) MA and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) CT, today called for action on a comprehensive energy bill to address global warming. Their news conference was a stark contrast to a contentious Senate Environment and Public Works Committee meeting where Republicans boycotted a presentation of an EPA report on the issue, and a vote on the proposal. Later, during the news conference with Senators Graham, Kerry and Lieberman, Sen. Graham said Republicans do care about the problem and realize the high stakes of doing nothing. Senators Kerry and Lieberman said they believe congress will act to lessen use of fossil fuels as part of a comprehensive energy bill. Video of the Graham, Kerry and Lieberman news conference, click here. Text of bill passed by Senate Environment and public works committee . 11/04/2009

REPUBLICANS WIN GOVERNORSHIPS IN NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA / DEMOCRAT WINS REPUBLICAN UPSTATE N-Y CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

More from the Emeritus News - Governorships in Virginia and New Jersey were taken by Republicans. Although Republicans were quick to point out a changing tide against President Obama's election last year, Virginia Gov. Elect Robert McDonnell was able to get independent support by steering away from the more socially conservative issues to promote bipartisanship. He easily defeated Democratic State Senator Creigh Deeds, even in some counties of northern Virginia which had gone Democratic in recent years. McDonnell had 59% of the vote to Deeds 41%.

In New Jersey, the outcome was much different as incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine was defeated by Republican Chris Christie in a bitter campaign over political corruption and recent state government financial problems, which pushed many independent voters toward Christie.

The 23d Congressional District in upstate New York, a normally Republican district, may turn an embarrassment. At last report, Democrat Bill Owens defeated Republican and Conservative party candidate Douglas Hoffman. Hoffman was able to force out onetime leader and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava. Scozzafava quit the race last week and endorsed Owens. The 23d Congressional District was represented by Republican John McHugh until he was picked by President Obama to be Secretary of the Army. 11/03/2009

HEARING REVEALS WARTIME CONTRACTOR K-B-R FACING POSSIBLE $200 MILLION IN PENALTIES FOR TOO MANY EMPLOYEES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Significant waste, abuse and fraud. That's what a special commission on wartime accounting feels is continuing despite all the audits and oversight of private contractors working in American war zones. Former Congressman, Christopher Shays and Michael Thibault, Co‐Chairs The Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a joint statement made today during the commission's hearing on contractor expenses and accounting, said:

"The most troubling gap we observed, however, was the one between the results of the two systems. As noted in our June report, the SPOT database counted about 160,000 active contractor employees as of April 2009 in the CENTCOM area that includes Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and several less active venues. CENTCOM’s manual census had counted more than 242,000 contractors just a month earlier. As a trained auditor who can do the easy math, I can tell you that’s a difference of more than 80,000 people". Along with concerns over the number of people working in American war zones, is the expense. The commission, in a report released on September 21, 2009 stated, "The two primary government agencies involved, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), are not effectively working together to protect government interests. As an Example the report cites :

"Through research and hearings, the Commission learned that many contractor business
systems cannot be relied upon to ensure that proposed and incurred contract costs are
reasonable. Many deficiencies identified by the DCAA have remained uncorrected for
years because the government failed to insist that the contractor make the necessary
corrections. DCAA conducts audits and offers recommendations, but the power to
accept audit recommendations, compel action, and impose consequences rests with the
DCMA. For example, the Commission reviewed records that show DCMA contracting
officials generally contradicted DCAA’s negative audit findings of Kellogg Brown &
Root International, Inc. (KBR) business systems. In every case, DCMA found KBR’s systems adequate, overruling DCAA’s professional audit opinion".

The result has led to accusations of mismanagement and over billing by KBR in their $33.8 billion 10 year federal contract it signed with the federal government in 2001. Associated Press reports that the Defense Department has warned KBR to cut its workforce or face a possible $200 million in penalties. AP report, copy click here.

Text of Sept. 21 2009 report from Commission on Wartime Contracting, copy click here.

The Commission on Wartime Contracting is a bipartisan legislative commission established as a watchdog of American interests in war zones. 11/02/2009

NEW G-A-O REPORTS QUESTION HANDLING OF PENSIONS, EDUCATION FINANCIAL AID, AIR TRAVEL SAFETY, COSTS & LOGISTICS OF WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAR ZONES

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- It has been a busy week for the Government Accountability Office, which has handed down more than 35 reports in the past seven days. Perhaps the most interesting report is that on delays in pension distributions in failed pension plans taken over by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The GAO claims pensioners, in plans supervised by the PBGC, "... must wait about 3 years for PBGC to complete the benefit determination process and provide their finalized benefit amounts, but the vast majority are not affected by overpayments or the recoupment process. Nevertheless, long delays and uncertainty over final benefit amounts make it difficult for workers to plan for retirement, and for retirees who may have come to depend on a certain level of monthly income". The GAO report suggests As the influx of large, complex plan terminations continues, improvements in PBGC's processes are urgently needed. Text of GAO summary and direct link to full PBGC report, copy click here. The GAO also suggested improvements in proposals to automatically add tax information to STUDENT FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS to speed consideration and processing. The GAO says, "While it is feasible to electronically transfer tax data directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to the FAFSA by using income data one year older than what is currently required, participants expressed some concern about the potential implications of such a change. Specifically, using older tax data might result in increased aid eligibility for some applicants whose data may not reflect their current economic needs. In addition, it may be more difficult for applicants who do not file taxes to provide sufficient documentation of their income from two years earlier. Education and the IRS have begun developing a plan to allow some applicants to electronically access their tax data when they apply for aid online. However, because taxpayers can submit their data as late as April 15, these data will not be available in time to accommodate most aid applicants". Text of GAO summary on Student Financial Aid and direct links to full report, copy click here. ANOTHER REPORT SUGGESTS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE raising the retirement age of airline pilots to 65 has sacrificed airline safety. The report also claims more information is needed to make a determination. Text of GAO summary on airline pilot age restrictions, copy click here. AND THE GAO ALSO CITED COMPLICATIONS IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO DRAW DOWN FORCES FROM IRAQ. THE AGENCY NOTES,

"Efficient execution of the drawdown from Iraq, however, may be complicated by crucial challenges that, if left unattended, may hinder MNF-I's ability to meet the time frames set by the President, the Security Agreement, and MNF-I's phased drawdown plan. First, DOD has yet to fully determine its future needs for contracted services. Second, the potential costs and other concerns of transitioning key contracts may outweigh potential benefits. Third, DOD lacks sufficient numbers of contract oversight personnel. Fourth, key decisions about the disposition of some equipment have yet to be made. Fifth, there are longstanding incompatibility issues among the information technology systems that may undermine the equipment retrograde process. And sixth, DOD lacks precise visibility over its inventory of some equipment and shipping containers. While much has been done to facilitate the drawdown effort, the efficient execution of the drawdown will depend on DOD's ability to mitigate these challenges. We will continue to assess DOD's progress in executing the drawdown from Iraq and plan to issue a report". Text of GAO summary and direct link to full report on DoD planning, copy click here. ANOTHER REPORT, WITH MUCH THE SAME FOCUS, was the basis of reporting by other media about more personnel being hired than needed by contractor KBR for assignment in Iraq and Afghanistan.The GAO concluded:

"The agencies' (DoD, State Dept. & Agency for International Development) lack of complete and accurate information on contractors supporting contingency operations may inhibit planning, increase costs, and introduce unnecessary risk, as illustrated in the following examples: (1) Limited visibility over contractors obscures how extensively agencies rely on contractors to support operations and help carry out missions; (2) Without incorporating information on contractors into planning efforts, agencies risk making uninformed programmatic decisions; (3) A lack of accurate financial information on contracts impedes agencies' ability to create realistic budgets; (4) Lack of insight into the contract services being performed increases the risk of paying for duplicative services; and (5) Costs can increase due to a lack of visibility over where contractors are deployed and what government support they are entitled to. DOD, State, and USAID have made progress in implementing the Synchronized Predeployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT). However, as we reported last month, DOD, State, and USAID's on-going implementation of SPOT currently falls short of providing agencies with information that would help facilitate oversight and inform decision making, as well as fulfill statutory requirements".

Text of GAO summary and direct link to contractor report, copy click here. 11/02/2009

SEN. JOHN KERRY SAYS U-S SHOULD HAVE MORE LIMITED ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- Senator John Kerry today said the current debate over policy in Afghanistan is flawed and needs to address, "...a comprehensive strategy, military and civilian combined.” Although he believes that General Stanley McChrystal understands the challenge of dealing with Afghanistan, Kerry said, he believes the General's plan, "reaches too far, too fast". Sen. Kerry, who has returned from last week's fact finding trip to the country and talks with U-S military and diplomatic leaders, said, "We do not yet have the critical guarantees of governance and development capacity. I also have serious concerns about the ability to produce effective Afghan forces to partner with, so we can ensure that when our troops make heroic sacrifices, the benefits to the Afghans are clear and sustainable". Kerry says three conditions must be considered in any plan to provide additional troops to the country.  

• “First, are there enough reliable Afghan forces to partner with American troops—and eventually to take over responsibility for security? The quickest way out of Afghanistan for our troops is to speed up the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army and police so that they can defend their own country.” 

• “The second question to ask is, are there local leaders we can partner with? We must be able to identify and cooperate with tribal, district and provincial leaders who command the authority to help deliver services and restore Afghans’ faith in their own government.” 

• “Third, is the civilian side ready to follow swiftly with development aid that brings tangible benefits to the local population? When they support our troops, Afghans need to see their lives improve.”

President Obama is still considering how many more military personnel to move into Afghanistan as questions remain surrounding any pullout from Iraq which continues to battle insurgent bombings and the strain on reserve armed forced who continue to be assigned additional deployments.

Senator Kerry press release, copy click here. Video of Senator Kerry's speech before the Council of Foreign Relations, click here. 10/26/2009

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL ALLOW EXTERNAL REVIEW OF BODY ARMOR TESTING / RESPONSE TO G-A-O REPORT

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- After earlier reports that the Department of Defense would not allow external review of body armor testing, The DOD has announced it will involve consultants outside the department to advise them on testing. The move comes as the Government Accountability Office released a report last week questioning the credibility of testing on new body armor designs. The GAO reported that the agency refused the GAO recommendation to involve external help in correcting inconsistencies in testing protocol. The DOD, in a press release, stated:

While the GAO report 90-827 points out some weaknesses in procedures and discrepancies in testing recently conducted by ATC (Aberdeen Test Center), it is the DoD’s position that these findings have no significant impact on the test results and the subsequent contracting actions taken by the Army.” Even though the Army has every confidence that the body armor is effective, it is important to note that the body armor referenced in this study has not been issued to our soldiers.  There is no higher priority for the Army than the safety of our soldiers.  Anything that erodes the confidence soldiers and the American people have in the body armor provided is of the utmost importance to the Army and Army leadership.  We are confident our body armor continues to be the best available and the Army is ready to answer all concerns raised in the GAO report.

Related story about the GAO report is below. Department of Defense press release, copy click here. 10/19/2009

G-A-O REPORT CITES FAULTY DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TESTING OF BODY ARMOR / WANTS EXTERNAL REVIEW OF TESTING

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- The Defense Department says it will NOT allow independent outside testing of body armor used by military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, as suggested by Government Accountability Office investigators, after a review gave the department poor parks for testing. A report released today by the Government Accountability Office says that, in the most consequential of the Army's deviations from testing protocols, the Army testers incorrectly measured the amount of force absorbed by the plate designs by measuring back-face deformation in the clay backing at the point of aim rather than at the deepest point of depression. Army testers recognized the error after completing about a third of the test and then changed the test plan to call for measuring at the point of aim and likewise issued a modification to the contract solicitation. At least two of the eight designs that passed Preliminary Design Model testing and were awarded contracts would have failed if measurements had been made to the deepest point of depression. The deviations from the testing protocols were the result of Aberdeen Test Center's incorrectly interpreting the testing protocols. In all these cases of deviations from the testing protocols, the Aberdeen Test Center's implemented procedures were not reviewed or approved by the Army and Department of Defense officials responsible for approving the testing protocols. Testers deviated from the established testing protocols in one instance by improperly scoring a complete penetration as a partial penetration. As a result, one design passed First Article Testing that would have otherwise failed. More surprising is the Department of Defense position regarding GAO recommendations. The GAO claims DOD did not concur with their recommendation for an independent evaluation of First Article Testing results and accordingly plans to take no action to provide such an assessment. The GAO report says DOD asserted that the issues GAO identified do not alter the effects of testing. However, GAO says analysis and findings produced evidence questioning the credibility of the tests. Text of GAO summary and links to full report, click here. 10/16/2009

OBAMA WINS NOBEL / SAYS HE SHARES AWARD WITH ALL WHO SEEK JUSTICE / SEES AWARD AS A CALL TO ACTION

More from the Emeritus Newsroom -More from the Emeritus Newsroom- President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Diplomacy today. Later in the morning he spoke to reporters about the win saying that his daughters reminded him it was also "Bo's" birthday. Bo is the Portuguese Water Dog adopted by the Obamas after they moved into the White House. The President explained that he considered the award a call to action for him and leaders of all nations to work toward peace, justice and security for humanity. Video of President's response to award, click here. Video response from Nobel Committee why Obama was chosen, from Reuters news report, click here. 10/09/2009 10/09/2009

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES CHANGES TO PATRIOT ACT / SENT TO FULL SENATE WHERE MORE CHANGES EXPECTED

More from the Emeritus Newsroom- By a vote of 11-8 the Senate Judiciary Committee today passed and sent to the full Senate changes in the Patriot Act, which is due to expire, in part, by the end of the year. The Patriot Act has come under fire for its provisions allowing spying on suspects believed involved with terrorism, including wiretapping and confiscation of records law enforcement believes crucial to their investigations. The Patriot Act rewrite passed by the committee today would renew the Patriot Act for four more years. Of particular concern are changes to the so call, "National Security Letters" which allow wiretapping and document access without a court order. Although the revisions put restrictions on what can be done without a court order, some Democrats the changes are not enough to prevent abuse by federal prosecutors and investigators. New York Times editorial on Patriot Act, copy click here. Patriot Act Text of S. 1692. 10/08/2009