DoD Official: Successful Syrian Strikes Only the Beginning

By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 - Successful U.S. military and partner nation strikes last night against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, were only the beginning of the fight to degrade and defeat the brutal terrorist group, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Adm. John Kirby said today. Army Lt. Gen. William C. Mayville Jr., director of operations for the Joint Staff, describes the airstrikes U.S. and coalition forces conducted on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Sept. 23, 2014. DoD photo by Casper Manlangit.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Coalition partners in the strikes included Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with Qatar in a supporting role, the admiral said during a press briefing here, adding that all continue to be a critical part of the strategy against ISIL. "Secretary Hagel appreciates their partnership and in particular the hard work and the strong leadership shown by our Central Command Commander Gen. Lloyd Austin," who kept Hagel updated throughout the operation, Kirby added. Hagel is also "immensely proud of the U.S. personnel who participated in and supported these missions," the admiral said, "and he deeply appreciates their service and their sacrifices." About the operation itself, Kirby said Centcom did not coordinate with the Assad regime. "While the United States did inform the Syrian regime through our U.N. ambassador of our intent to take action, there was no coordination and no military-to-military communication." Joining Kirby at the press briefing was Army Lt. Gen. William Mayville, director of operations, or J3, for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who described the operation's targets and evolution. The coalition strikes targeted ISIL training camps, headquarters, command-and-control facilities, logistical nodes, armored vehicles and leadership, Mayville said. "U.S. military forces also executed unilateral precision strikes against the Khorasan group, an [al-Qaida]-affiliated terrorist organization located in northwest Syria," he said, adding that intelligence reports indicated the Khorasan Group was in the final stages of plans to execute major attacks against Western targets and potentially the United States. "We've been watching this group closely for some time. ... We know that the Khorasan group has attempted to recruit Westerners to serve as operatives or to infiltrate back into their homelands," the general said. "The Khorasan group is clearly not focused on the Assad regime or the Syrian people. They are establishing roots in Syria ... to advance attacks against the West and the homeland." Mayville said the strikes were organized in three waves. The first wave began around midnight in Syria, or 8:30 Eastern time, when "the USS Arleigh Burke in the Red Sea and the USS Philippine Sea in the northern Arabian Gulf launched more than 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles in eastern and northern Syria." On a map, Mayville indicated a target area around Aleppo and Ar-Raqqah. Most of the Tomahawk land-attack missile strikes were against Khorasan Group compounds, their manufacturing workshops and training camps, he said. The second wave consisted of F-22 Raptors in their first combat role, F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16s, B-1 bombers and drones that launched from bases in the region around 9:00 p.m. Eastern timeagainst targets in northern Syria, the general said. The final wave occurred just after midnight. F-18s from the USS George H.W. Bush in the northern Arabian Gulf and regionally based U.S. F-16s, among others, the general said, attacked targets in eastern Syria, including ISIL training camps and combat vehicles near Dayr az-Zawr. "Coalition partners participated in the second and third waves, supporting with a range of combat capabilities that began with combat air patrols to actual strikes on targets," Mayville added. "The preponderance of coalition support was in the third wave." The general noted that 96 percent of all delivered munitions were precision-guided, and he displayed before-and-after photographs illustrating the munitions' tightly targeted effects. One photograph showed an intact ISIL finance center in Raqqah. After it was engaged with Tomahawk Cruise missiles fired from the USS Philippine Sea, Mayville pointed out, the building was still intact and only a small communications array on the building's roof was damaged. The Tomahawk cruise missiles detonated as air bursts and their effects focused only on the communications array, he said. Another photograph showed an intact ISIL command-and-control building in Raqqah that was targeted by U.S. Air Force F-22s during the second wave of strikes. "This strike was the first time the F-22 was used in a combat role. The flight ... delivered GPS-guided munitions, precision munitions, targeting only the right side of the building. You can see ... that the command-and-control center where it was located in the building was destroyed," Mayville said. The strikes involved multiple aircraft and cruise missiles from several countries, he added, "and careful planning and coordination of U.S. Central Command's combined air operations center located in the region [ensured] that these strikes were successful with minimal collateral damage." Mayville said last night's strikes are the beginning of a credible and sustainable persistent campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL. "Our immediate tasks," he said, "are to continue the degradation of ISIL in Syria and Iraq [and] to build and strengthen regional partners and to build a regional coalition." Other immediate tasks, Mayville said, are to help place Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga forces on the offensive, to support broader diplomatic efforts in the region, to implement a Syrian train-and-equip program, and to continue working with Iraqi security forces and ministries.

Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Chicago Area Tax Return Preparers

The Justice Department announced today that it has asked a federal court in Chicago, Illinois, to permanently bar Anna Platos and Theodore (Ted) Platos, who do business as Midway Accounting Services, from preparing federal tax returns.  According to the complaint, Ted Platos began doing business as API Tax Solutions in 2013.  The civil injunction suit alleges that Anna Platos and Ted Platos claim bogus deductions and credits on customers’ federal tax returns.

Anna Platos and Ted Platos allegedly claim head-of-household filing status on customers’ tax returns in order to increase customers’ standard deductions, even though Anna Platos and Ted Platos are aware that the customers do not qualify to claim that filing status.  Anna Platos and Ted Platos also allegedly fabricate claims for education credits, unreimbursed employee business expenses, charitable contributions, medical expenses, and state and local taxes paid on tax returns that they prepare.  The complaint further alleges that Anna Platos fabricated a receipt purportedly supporting an energy credit that she claimed on a customer’s tax return, presented that fabricated receipt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and instructed the customer to lie to the IRS. 

The complaint also requests that the federal court require Anna Platos and Ted Platos to provide the government with a list of customers for whom they have prepared tax returns beginning with the 2009 tax year, to contact those customers to inform them of the injunction order, and to post a copy of the injunction order at their place of business.

Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS' Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014.  The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a tax preparer.  In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers.  Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.  An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page.  If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division

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Tax Division

A Word of Caution as Open Enrollment for Obamacare Coverage Approaches

By: Richard B. Alman

Open enrollment for 2015 health insurance coverage from the government marketplace is proposed to begin Nov. 15.People who plan to shophealthcare.gov should understand the rules or risk facing serious consequences down the road.

Granted, the rules were confusing to begin with and have been changed and re-arranged with little public explanation or education. Additionally, policies available through HealthCare.gov have been marketed as providing better coverage at lower subsidized prices than what’s available to most individuals shopping privately or covered through employer-sponsored programs.

Many policies purchased through the Health Care Act websites also qualify for government subsidies for the purchaser. Those subsidies are not available for policies purchased through other means.

That allure, and the public’s failure to understand the rules, is leading many to inadvertently break them, which may result in stiff penalties for individuals and families down the road.

Under the law, employers with 50 employees or more must offer policies that meet or exceed the new Health Care Act rules which, for instance, require certain preventative measures to be 100 percent covered. Some employees, unhappy with their companies’ offers, are instead purchasing through the marketplace in hopes of a better deal.

That’s a violation of the rules.

The IRS has been collecting data from all employers about who has access to an employer health plan. The IRS, according to information publicly available at this time, will not act on database comparisons that show which individuals with access to employer plans have instead purchased a plan through Obamacare.

That means those individuals will not get an early warning that they’ve violated the rules.

The result may be an IRS financial nightmare for those individuals, with the potential for fines, penalties, interest and having to return to the employer policy.

Before you sign up for a policy, ask an accountant, licensed insurance professional, or other person who understands the rules for a personal review and opinion of your specific circumstances. Each person will have a different set of issues that may determine which course of action is proper for your family.

About Richard B. Alman

Richard B. Alman is the principal and chief career/employment strategist of Recruiter Media Inc., the world's largest owner/operator of career websites,www.RecruiterNetworks.com. Recruiter Networks offer recruiters, employers and job seekers a smarter alternative to the impersonal, less specific “universal” employment websites. It has been the only national, city-specific job board on the planet for more than a decade, serving more than 1,000 U.S. cities with each city having it’s own unique career website. Alman has worked in all aspects of recruiting and career/employment strategies with corporations such as General Motors and UBS and privately owned multi-national companies.

OPERATIONS BRIEFING

09/23/2014 12:53 PM CDT

Army Lt. Gen. William C. Mayville Jr., director of operations for the Joint Staff, describes the air strikes U.S. and coalition forces conducted on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Sept. 23, 2014.

PENTAGON BRIEFING

09/23/2014 12:46 PM CDT

Army Lt. Gen. William C. Mayville Jr., director of operations for the Joint Staff, briefs reporters on current operations in Syria as Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby looks on at the Pentagon, Sept. 23, 2014.

IRS – Investigate - Arrest - Shut down REPEAT

By Dr. Laurie Roth

 

 

It is known all over America by now that during the last 6 years of Obama’s tyrannical reign, he has used the IRS to do just what he said he would do – punish his enemies.  The IRS has been caught red handed targeting, harassing, ignoring and auditing conservative groups.  This harassment and endless auditing push has forced many into bankruptcy and non-existence…which was exactly the plan.

 

As investigations began to unfold in 2013, it was revealed that dozens of Tea Party groups had been harassed and audited by the IRS.  In fact, as of May 2014 at least twenty-five conservative and Tea Party groups had filed suit against the IRS.  

 

The IRS has become one of Obama’s favored assault weapons against conservatives and those who dare oppose him.  He has assigned the dreaded IRS as head of the UN Constitutional Obamacare roll out.  Imagine how healthy we all feel at the end of a hard work week just knowing that we can look forward to the long lines for health care, minimized care as we need it and data mining of our  personal business.  

 

The joys of Obama’s nearly 700 million dollar computer failing again and again while losing, chewing up or selling our personal information is beyond what anyone can take. The cherry on top is the forced health insurance that we all must have or we get to be put on the IRS ‘punish and growing fines list.’

 

Ironically, for those who blindly wanted to jump in and ‘obey’ Obama and the IRS, they couldn’t.  The computer system was brazenly incompetent, full of glitches and not even safe against hackers.  We all know now that millions of us were dumped from our insurance plans. Many insurance companies had to go under or drop all kinds of clients since they couldn’t afford to comply. That was the plan.

 

Back to the bigger picture and vision of the IRS under Barack Hussein Obama

 

Obama threatens, manipulates, rewards and punishes through our now, highly compromised health care system…headed by his SS – the IRS.  Just like in the days of Adolph Hitler,  Obama with his god complex will attempt to control everyone’s health  and life span

 

Obama and the IRS will continue their slaughter by auditing, threatening and harassing conservative groups and the Tea Party world.  Obama can’t have groups organizing against him and his progressive backbone by raising money and getting more volunteers.  Conservatives must be threatened and audited until they are beyond distraction and crushed.

 

The investigation under Rep. Trey Gowdy

 

Representative and criminal prosecutor Rep. Trey Gowdy is investigating and shining the light on the many crimes and lies of the IRS against the people.  Lois Lerner tried to plead the 5th a few times but that didn’t quite work.  Then she wanted protection from prosecution if she did testify…so the game of self-protection goes.  

 

Emails between Lois Lerner and other high ups connecting all the way back the White House have been found.  The crimes and droppings on the trail are become clearer and clearer as Rep. Gowdy digs and finds more.  Pray for Gowdy folks.  He is standing tall and investigating the crimes in Benghazi and the IRS, let alone other scandals that keep surfacing with this administration.

 

The IRS must be disbanded and arrests must be made for their crimes against conservatives that have no doubt shaped the last Obama election in a fraudulent way.

Americans are still forced to file our taxes and submit to IRS demands and threats or else the endless fines and seizing of assets.  

 

Many in our country have been buried with the ongoing recession and very challenged job and housing markets.  Millions have found themselves not able to pay all their taxes or are simply behind, just trying to keep in their homes.

 

To do list

 

We don’t all have a Rep. Trey Gowdy to help us with our situation…and we are all in a potentially growing, nightmare situation of tax threats, fines and controls laced all through Obamacare.  I am with you and waiting on what they will try next if the HOUSE and SENATE can’t and won’t destroy and/or defund Obamacare.

 

We must write, email, fax and call our Representatives and Senators to build the pressure for them to demand justice regarding the IRS.  They need to be dramatically pushed back and preferably shut down…along with many arrests for their crimes against the people.

 

If we find ourselves in business or personal tax trouble or in an audit nightmare don’t face the IRS alone.  They will threaten and manipulate you into submission and likely take most of what you have before you can even breath.  Not every group can really help you but many can sure make things worse.  A group, I researched, read reviews on and found was www.taxtiger.com.  They are known for their ethics, service and bottom line help strategies for normal folks like us.  I have personally interviewed the CEO of this company Kathy Hill and have bludgeoned her with endless questions.  She didn’t waver at my heat and I was most impressed.  So, if you are one of the countless sea of people caught in the IRS net of horror try them out.  Do your own research and think carefully.

 

Keep really detailed and good records and move some of your money, especially for family, bills and emergencies out of some of your accounts that might get garnished or messed with if you are in trouble.

 

Let us make the 2014 elections count and get back our SENATE while fortifying our HOUSE.  Once we get both the HOUSE and the SENATE back…and I think we will, the real work begins.  It is time for us to keep regular and vivid pressure on our Representatives and Senators to 1) destroy and defund Obamacare in whatever way possible 2) finish the investigation about Benghazi  - with arrests 3) finish the investigation of the IRS – with arrests and closers  4) Demand that our military be built back to what it was 5) Demand a complete tax overhaul to encourage business growth and economic healing. 6) finish the investigation with the NSA –with arrests.

 

I want way more heat on the  IRS not us.  We already have very dark tans and sun burns from their heat.  I do believe the sun lamp is coming their direction.  I hope they have their papers ready.

 

I am starting a new IRS series on my national radio show every Friday from 7-8pm PAC.  Join me and hear experts, make plans and learn how to survive.  This will start October 3rd, 2014.  Listen in at www.ksbn.net.  

 

Join me each day as I take on these issues from 7-10pm PAC. You can listen to my show from 7-10pm PAC atwww.ksbn.net  Or later on the show archives atwww.therothshow.com.  

 

 

 

 

Venezuela: Dangerous Inertia

The end of street protests does not mean the end of Venezuela’s crisis. Rising economic problems and unaddressed political demands could lead to renewed violence and threaten national stability.

Violent protests on Venezuela’s streets have calmed down, but the government’s perceived victory over the opposition belies simmering political dissent. Opposition demands, such as to restore independence to the justice system and other key institutions, have not been heeded. Most of the killings during the protests remain unsolved. The economic recession and a critical shortage of basic goods, including food and medicines, require urgent action, which the government delays. Internal dissent on both sides has also contributed to a reluctance to resume the negotiations that stalled in May. The International Crisis Group’s latest briefing, Venezuela: Dangerous Inertia, outlines ways to address the root causes of the crisis that, if left to fester, might well worsen, with repercussions beyond Venezuela.

The briefing’s major findings and recommendations are:

• Any solution to Venezuela’s long political crisis must go hand in hand with the development of autonomous rule-of-law institutions capable of applying the law impartially. The government and opposition must therefore agree on a viable timeframe and trustworthy mechanism to appoint new members of the Supreme Court, the National Electoral Council and other key institutions.


• The international community should supervise and assist in this process to validate the integrity of the selection of personnel and to ensure that civil society actors, free from political pressures, participate in the selection as provided for by the constitution. The opposition clearly requires an impartial observer able to offer reassurances, while the government would benefit by bringing in credible external actors to bolster it in some of the difficult decisions it faces.


• The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) seems best placed to play this role, but as a relatively young organisation it might benefit, itself, from support. Other actors, like the UN, should, where needed, offer technical and political assistance. This might initially focus on, for example, reinforcing the capacity of UNASUR to produce analysis and policy recommendations and helping to design a credible framework for talks.


• UNASUR and the international community should likewise promote a return to negotiations and support calls for a release of those detained for non-violent political protest.

“The roadmap for addressing the crisis does not need to be drafted from scratch, it is available in the constitution” says Javier Ciurlizza, Latin America Program Director. “Venezuela’s neighbours and the broader international community have a crucial role in bringing both sides back to the negotiation table and reforming Venezuela’s political system. If they don’t succeed, the quiet on Venezuela’s streets might be the calm before the next storm”.

Al Qaeda Spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghayth Sentenced to Life in Prison

Al Qaeda Spokesman Sulaiman Abu Ghayth Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to Life in Prison for Conspiring to Kill Americans, Providing Material Support to Terrorists

Sulaiman Abu Ghayth Appeared with Usama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri Immediatelv After September 11, 2001, Threatening Additional Attacks Against the United States

United States Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton announced that Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, aka “Salman Abu Ghayth,” Usama Bin Laden’s son-in-law and the former spokesman for al Qaeda at the time of the September 11th terrorist attacks, was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to serve life in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.  Abu Ghayth, who was arrested overseas on Feb. 28, 2013, and first appeared in this district on March 1, 2013, was found guilty on March 26, 2014, following a three-week jury trial, of conspiring to kill U.S. nationals, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists. 

 “Justice has been served,” said Attorney General Holder.  “This outcome ensures that Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, a senior member of al Qaeda and an associate of Usama bin Laden, will never again set foot outside a prison cell.  From beginning to end, this trial, conviction and sentencing have underscored the power of America’s Article III court system to deliver swift and certain justice in cases involving terrorism defendants.  We will continue to rely on this robust and proven system to hold accountable anyone who would harm our nation and its people.  And we will never waver, and never relent, in our pursuit of violent extremists.”

“As the face and voice of al Qaeda in the days and weeks after the 9/11 attacks, Abu Ghayth conspired with Usama Bin Laden and others and announced to the world al Qaeda’s deadly intentions to continue to attack America,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin.  “For his role in al Qaeda's plot to kill Americans, Abu Ghayth will now spend the rest of his life in prison.  This case highlights our resolve to find and bring to justice - no matter how long it takes - those who plot to attack our citizens and our interests around the world.  I want to thank all of the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this result.”

“Sulaiman Abu Ghayth was the mouthpiece of murder and menace for al Qaeda,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara.  “Hours after the 9/11 attacks, Abu Ghayth, Usama bin Laden’s propaganda minister, was exhorting others to pledge themselves to al Qaeda in the cause of murdering more Americans.  It has been 13 years since that terrible day, but from the day Abu Ghayth was brought to the United States 19 months ago, justice for him has been swift and fair.  Today, having been afforded a fair and impartial trial in an American civilian court at which a jury unanimously convicted him of material support to al Qaeda and conspiring to kill Americans, Abu Ghayth has been sentenced to life in prison.   No sentence can restore what was taken from the families of al Qaeda’s victims.  But today’s sentence ensures that Sulaiman Abu Ghayth will never be free to incite or support mass murder again.” 

“As the spokesman for al Qaeda, Abu Ghayth espoused messages of terror, hate and fear to motivate others to harm our country, underestimating the resiliency of the United States to stand strong in the face of violence and adversity,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos.  “Today's sentence is the culmination of years of hard work and cooperative efforts among law enforcement professionals to seek justice for those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.  Along with its law enforcement partners, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force will vigorously pursue those who support this radical terrorist agenda.”

“Sulaiman Abu Ghayth was a key spokesman for al-Qaida and had access to the terrorist group's senior leadership as he took to the airwaves and threatened further attacks as our city was recovering from the horror of 9-11,” said NYPD Commissioner Bratton.  “His capture, trial and conviction is a reminder that the NYPD detectives and FBI agents of the Joint Terrorist Task Force will follow leads anywhere in the world to bring terrorists to justice.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, statements made during other public proceedings including today’s sentencing, and other court documents:

Since around 1989, al Qaeda has been an international terrorist organization, dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence.  Usama Bin Laden served as the leader, or “emir,” of al Qaeda until his death on or about May 2, 2011.  Members of al Qaeda typically have pledged an oath of allegiance, called bayat, to Bin Laden and to al Qaeda. 

The core purpose of al Qaeda, as stated by Bin Laden and other leaders, is to support violent attacks against property and nationals, both military and civilian, of the United States and other countries.  Between 1989 and 2001, al Qaeda established training camps, guest houses, and business operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries for the purpose of training and supporting its agenda of violence and murder.  Members and associates of al Qaeda have executed a number of terrorist attacks, all in furtherance of the organization’s stated conspiracy to kill Americans, including the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, which killed approximately 2,976 people.

From at least May 2001 up to around 2002, Abu Ghayth served alongside Bin Laden, appearing with Bin Laden and his then-deputy and now the declared leader of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, speaking on behalf of al Qaeda and in support of Bin Laden’s terrorist objectives, recruiting young men to join al Qaeda and its murderous mission against the United States, and warning that attacks similar to those of Sept. 11, 2001, would continue. 

In particular, around May 2001, Abu Ghayth urged young al Qaeda recruits at a guest house in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to swear bayat to Bin Laden, shortly before these men were brought to an al Qaeda training camp.  On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, immediately after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Bin Laden summoned Abu Ghayth and asked for his assistance, which Abu Ghayth agreed to provide.  On the morning of Sept. 12, 2001, Abu Ghayth appeared with Bin Laden, Zawahiri, and another al Qaeda leader, and spoke on behalf of al Qaeda in a speech that would be disseminated around the world, warning the United States and its allies that “[a] great army is gathering against you” and called upon “the nation of Islam” to do battle against “the Jews, the Christians and the Americans.”  Also, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Abu Ghayth delivered speeches in which he addressed the then-U.S. Secretary of State and warned that “the storms shall not stop, especially the Airplanes Storm,” and advised Muslims, children, and opponents of the United States “not to board any aircraft and not to live in high rises.”  At this time, in Afghanistan, Bin Laden and others within al Qaeda were plotting to detonate shoe bombs aboard flights within or en route to the United States.

Abu Ghayth continued to speak on behalf of al Qaeda as the terrorist organization’s spokesperson through 2002, repeatedly working to drive more young men to al Qaeda.  Also in 2002, Abu Ghayth arranged to be, and was, successfully smuggled from Afghanistan into Iran, where he was later arrested with other al Qaeda leaders.

*                      *                      *    

In addition to a prison term of life, Abu Ghayth was ordered to forfeit all foreign and domestic assets derived from, involved in, and used and intended to be used to commit terrorism against the United States, its citizens and residents, and their property, and was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment fee.

Abu Ghayth’s conviction is the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – which consists of law enforcement officers of the FBI, NYPD, United States Marshals Service, and other agencies – and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State also provided assistance.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Cronan, Nicholas J. Lewin and Michael Ferrara of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, Tara M. LaMorte of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and Diane Gujarati, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Obama Says He'll Continue Building Support for Coalition

By Nick Simeone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 - President Barack Obama said today that he will use the coming days to build additional support for a coalition to confront the "serious threat to our peace and security" posed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists.

Obama's brief address from the South Lawn of the White House came just hours after the U.S. military announced that American forces -- along with those from Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- had undertaken military action against ISIL in Syria, damaging or destroying multiple targets, including those at ISIL's base in Raqqah.

'Not America's fight alone'

"The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this is not America's fight alone," Obama said in televised remarks. "Above all, the people and governments of the Middle East are rejecting ISIL and standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserve."

Obama's statement comes a month after U.S. airstrikes against ISIL targets began in neighboring Iraq, and it marks the start of the campaign by the United States and its allies to take the fight against the terrorist group to its stronghold in Syria. ISIL now holds wide swathes of territory in both countries.

"I made clear that as part of this campaign, the United States would take action against targets in both Iraq and Syria so that these terrorists can't find safe haven anywhere," Obama said today. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command officials say U.S. airstrikes are continuing against ISIL targets in Iraq, with nearly 200 strikes having been carried out since they began last month.

In addition to attacking ISIL targets in Syria overnight, Obama and military officials say the United States -- separate from the actions carried out with its coalition allies -- struck a network of al-Qaida veterans in Syria known as the Khorasan group, attacks that Centcom officials said were intended to "disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests."

'Will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists'

"Once again, it must be clear to anyone who would plot against America and try to do Americans harm that we will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists who threaten our people," Obama said.

The president said he has received bipartisan support from leaders in Congress for the actions he has ordered, and that he will use his visit to the United Nations this week to continue building support for the coalition against ISIL. But he did sound a note of caution.

"The overall effort will take time," he said. "There will be challenges ahead. But we're going to do what's necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group for the security of the country and the region and for the entire world."

NASA Sees Tropical Depression Fung-Wong Becoming More Frontal

Tropical Depression Fung-Wong skirted the coast of mainland China and is moving through the East China Sea. NASA's Aqua satellite captured cloud top temperature data that showed strongest thunderstorms were stretched out as the storm continues to look more frontal in nature.

When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Fung-Wong on Sept. 22 at 1:23 p.m. EDT, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument read cloud top temperatures. AIRS detected strongest, highest storms, those with the coldest cloud tops stretched out from northwest to southeast giving the depression an appearance more like a cold front than a depression.

On Sept. 23 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) Tropical Depression Fung-Wong had maximum sustained winds near 30 knots 34.5 mph/55.5 kph). It was centered near 32.8 north latitude and 123.5 longitude, about 351 nautical miles west of Sasebo, Japan. It was moving to the northeast at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph).

On Sept. 23, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that there is a defined center of circulation near the southern edge of the large area of frontal clouds. There was also very limited thunderstorm development pushed over the northeastern quadrant by wind shear. That wind shear is pretty strong, blowing at up to 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph).

Fung-Wong isn't long for the world as it is also interacting with a frontal system located over the West Sea and South Korea. The storm has already started converting to an extra-tropical storm (the core of the storm is going from warm to cold).

Fung-Wong is expected to turn east-northeast toward southern Korea and gain frontal characteristics.

Happy First Day of Fall

Happy first day of fall! This is the perfect time to visit many...

09/23/2014 11:40 AM EDT

Happy first day of fall! This is the perfect time to visit many of America’s amazing public lands and see fall colors. For a list of fall color travel ideas, click here.

Photo from Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Charles Wickham

Hagel Supports Changes to U.S. Policy on Landmines

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel fully supports changes to U.S. antipersonnel landmine policy announced by President Barack Obama today, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.

In a statement, Kirby said the Defense Department:

-- Will not use antipersonnel landmines outside the Korean Peninsula;

-- Will not assist, encourage or induce others outside the Korean Peninsula to engage in activity prohibited by the Ottawa Convention; and

-- Will undertake steps to begin the destruction of antipersonnel landmines not required for the defense of South Korea.

A White House statement said the change to U.S. policy builds on a June announcement by the U.S. delegation at the Third Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention in Mozambique that the United States will not produce or otherwise acquire any antipersonnel munitions that are not compliant with the Ottawa Convention, including to replace such munitions as they expire in the coming years.

It also follows previous steps the United States has taken to end the use of all nondetectable mines and all persistent mines, which can remain active for years after the end of a conflict, the statement said.

The U.S. commitment to South Korea's defense and unique circumstances on the Korean Peninsula preclude changing U.S. antipersonnel landmine policy there, White House officials said.

"We will continue our diligent efforts to pursue material and operational solutions that would be compliant with, and ultimately allow us to accede to, the Ottawa Convention while ensuring our ability to meet our alliance commitments to the Republic of Korea," the White House statement said. "The security of the Republic of Korea will continue to be a paramount concern as we move forward with these efforts."

Transcom Official Explains Vehicle Shipment Issues

From a U.S. Transportation Command News Release

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Sept. 23, 2014 - Peak moving season, a contract protest, litigation and insufficient transition time all have played a part in challenges to the Defense Department's program to ship privately owned vehicles overseas and back to the United States under a new contract, a U.S. Transportation Command official said.

"This peak season was hampered significantly when legal actions interrupted the planned transition between contractors," said Gail Jorgenson, Transcom's director of acquisition.

But in the long run, she added, Transcom and International Auto Logistics are committed to service members and committed to getting things right.

Protest by former contractor

When Transcom awarded the contract to IAL in October 2013 with a start date that December, American Auto Logistics, the former contractor, filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, Jorgenson said. That put a hold on performance on the contract until after the GAO's ruling. The GAO ruled in Transcom's favor at the end of January, she added, and a week later, the former contractor filed a lawsuit with the Court of Federal Claims, which again prevented IAL from preparing to take on the new contract.

The court found in Transcom's favor in a sealed oral opinion March 7 and denied AAL's request for an injunction, and AAL has filed a notice of appeal to that decision. Even though the GAO and Court of Federal Claims determined that AAL's allegations were unfounded, Jorgenson said, Transcom continued to pay for AAL's services rather than stop vehicle shipments altogether during the protest and litigation.

IAL began work on the new contract May 1, when the last extension with AAL ran out, and AAL refused Transcom's request to continue shipping vehicles for an additional two weeks, Jorgenson said. This curtailed efforts to conduct a smooth transition for the new contractor and government personnel, she added.

Start date pushed into peak season

In addition, she said, this pushed the start date into the beginning of peak season for service members and civilian employees moving to or from overseas assignments, which dramatically cut short the time necessary to prepare for adequately for a successful peak season.

Jorgenson has a pointed response to those who want to turn back the clock or pull the contract.

"Obviously," she said, "we can't go back to May. We can only learn from this experience, implement improvements to the [vehicle] shipping process, and ensure our military families receive the service they deserve when they undergo a permanent-change-of-station move."

Overall, Jorgenson said, the new contract is a "best value" solution for the federal government, saves a substantial amount of money and moves more responsibility for performance to the contractor. It also provides enhanced services to service members, she said. The recent contract award saves the government about $50 million annually in comparison to the previous contract, with a potential savings of $250 million over the life of the contract, Jorgenson noted.

The contract also requires IAL to be responsible for the entire move within established timelines, she said.

"In the previous contract, the contractor was not responsible for delays or damage caused by the ocean carriers, which often meant required delivery dates were targets for AAL rather than contractual mandates," she explained.

Jorgenson also pointed out that service member entitlements are more comprehensive with IAL than with the former contractor.

"Every service member must know the contract protects them through entitlements," she said. "We are looking at preparing a customer bill of rights to facilitate the members' understanding of their entitlements and the process to obtain those benefits."

Contractor has been responsive

IAL is obliged to assist service members under this new contract, and has been very responsive in handling claims well before the contract's 90-day requirement, Jorgenson said. "IAL must reimburse the government and service members for damages, rental cars, and on a case-by-case basis for inconvenience," she explained.

She said that IALs performance is improving under the contract, noting that current-month statistics show that the company is delivering twice as many vehicles per week as it had a month ago. Also, as peak moving season winds down, shipments have reached a point where more vehicles are being delivered than the number of those entering the system.

Transcom's acquisition director said she understands the delayed delivery of vehicles and the inability of service members to track vehicles can overshadow the overall benefits of the new contract.

"We know there are areas that need greater attention," she acknowledged. "We want service members to have easy access to shipment information. We need our contracting officer representatives to be actively engaged in the work at vehicle processing centers and ensure service members receive the best possible customer service."

Dialogue will continue

Going forward, Jorgenson said, Transcom and IAL representatives will continue their dialogue and hold meetings before, during and after peak moving season to make sure that during the next peak moving season, service members will face fewer difficulties.

"Moves and changing duty stations are tough on our service members and families," she said. "From all indications, we predict even further improvements to this system and a positive peak season experience for our service members next year."

For claims information for IAL, call 1-855-389-9499, Option 3, or email claims@ialpov.us. The email address for the Transcom inspector general's privately owned vehicles customer support team is usarmy.scott.sddc.mbx.pov-ig-response@mail.mil.

Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination Claim Against Major Airline

The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with United Continental Holdings Inc. resolving a claim that divisions of the company previously operating as Continental Airlines discriminated against individuals because of citizenship status in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).   

The department’s investigation was initiated based on a telephone call to the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices’s (OSC) hotline.  The department found that the company requested lawful permanent resident employees, but not U.S. citizen employees, to complete additional Forms I-9 and provide additional proof of employment eligibility after hire even though the law prohibits this practice.  The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from placing additional documentary burdens on work-authorized employees during the employment eligibility verification process based on their citizenship status. 

“The INA’s anti-discrimination provision protects individuals from being singled out for unnecessary and unauthorized employment reverification based on their citizenship or immigration status,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran for the Civil Rights Division.  “We commend Continental’s willingness to resolve the issues uncovered during the department’s investigation.”

Under the settlement agreement, Continental will pay $215,000 to the United States, create a $55,000 back pay fund to compensate individuals who may have lost wages due to the company’s practices, and undergo training on the anti-discrimination provision of the INA.  The company will also be subject to departmental monitoring of its employment eligibility reverification practices for a period of two years.    

The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices within the Justice Department is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA.  Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation. 

For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call OSC’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688(1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call OSC’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar atwww.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/webinars.php, email osccrt@usdoj.gov

Email links icon

; or visit OSC’s website atwww.justice.gov/crt/about/osc.   

Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to: different documentary requirements based on their citizenship status, immigration status, or national origin; or discrimination based on their citizenship status, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, should contact OSC’s worker hotline for assistance.

Army, Air Force Share Joint Information Network

U.S. Army News Release

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 - This month the Army and Air Force achieved major network security and capacity upgrades at Joint Base San Antonio in partnership with the Defense Information Systems Agency. This is the first Department of Defense location to achieve the pairing of new switching technologies and security stacks.

Online traffic for both Fort Sam Houston and Lackland Air Force Base now flow through a new Joint Regional Security Stack or JRSS. Full operational capability is expected this winter. In addition, network speed for end users has increased dramatically.

New joint capability

"This is a tremendous step in terms of transitioning to a joint security architecture and making the joint information environment a reality," said Mike Krieger, Army Deputy Chief Information Officer/G-6. "It also speaks to successful teaming by the Army, DISA and Air Force, and the Army's initial investment in this new joint capability."

New Joint Regional Security Stacks will cut DOD-wide top-level security stacks from approximately 1,000 worldwide to just 50. This means the cyber perimeter becomes much more defensible.

"The JRSS Management Suite allows us to monitor and centrally control our security configurations. As new threats emerge, we can quickly assess the risk and more effectively mitigate identified risks across the enterprise," said Mark Orndorff, DISA Mission Assurance Executive. "JRSS also lowers costs for the entire Defense Department."

Making data move faster

To maximize bigger information "highways", the Army and Air Force along with DISA are implementing Multi-Protocol Label Switching or MPLS, a virtual traffic management system that makes data move faster, improves command and control, and prioritizes and smooths data flow. This reduces the chances of data being stalled or lost due to high volume and congestion.

This year MPLS-supported routers are being installed at 22 locations. DISA plans to finish implementation for a total of 90 sites by September 2015. MPLS upgrades also help set the conditions to deliver enterprise services from the enterprise to installations and the tactical edge.

Current DISA/Army efforts will increase network backbone bandwidth more than ten-fold to 100 gigabits per second (gbps) and individual Army installation capacity will increase dramatically as well. This year the Army is replacing all aging building switches at nine Army installations with 11,000 ethernet switches capable of providing 10 gbps. The Army expects to upgrade more installations in 2015.

Lessons learned

Lessons learned at JBSA will inform full-scale implementation across the continental United States and around the world. Short term targets include refining network upgrades at Wiesbaden, Germany by December 2014 to achieve an initial operating capability; and installing two JRSS in Southwest Asia.

"A modern network means having enough capacity and reach to support all operational and institutional needs; enough flexibility to add new technologies as soon as they are available; and strong enough security to prevent compromise of the network itself and the information it carries," Krieger said.

Sunrise at the Soyuz Launch Pad

 

The sun rises as the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft is rolled out by train to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Sept. 23, 2014. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 4:25 p.m. EDT (Sept. 26 at 2:25 a.m. Kazakh time) and will carry Expedition 41 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, and Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station.