Show the World--Power of Love....Amnesty International

Every Valentine's Day, women in Zimbabwe take to the streets to spread a message of love. They are met by club-swinging anti-riot police intent on silencing them. Stand up for their rights. Show Zimbabwe the power of love. Now Amnesty has issued a fresh call to Show the World--The Power of Love. Letter sent by Amnesty has been given below...--Rector Kathuria


Dear Rector,

Valentine's Day is recognized the world over as a day of love. For the women of Zimbabwe, however, it can mean a day of terror.

The Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) commemorate Valentine's Day by peacefully taking to the streets to spread their message of love: "love of self, of family, of community and of country."

Their message is not welcomed by authorities.

Instead, club-swinging anti-riot police beat the members of WOZA to intimidate activists and deny them their right of free expression and assembly. Just this month, 14 people were arrested, some with violence, as WOZA marched for education reform.

Show the world the power of love. Send Valentines to Zimbabwe.

Later this year Zimbabweans are expected to vote on a new constitution, but the process of constitutional reform has been contentious. The voices of human rights defenders like WOZA are needed now more than ever.

Urge the Zimbabwe authorities to respect human rights and demonstrate their love and care for the people of Zimbabwe. Let WOZA know that they are not alone in their struggle for human rights in Zimbabwe.

Send your Valentines cards, photos and videos to the members of WOZA. Boost their spirits and overwhelm them with love!

From all of us at Amnesty International, we wish you peace, love and dignity this Valentine's Day and every day of the year.


In Solidarity,

Michael O'Reilly
Campaign Director, Individuals at Risk
Amnesty International USA

Face of Defense: Airman Reaches Out to Ethiopian Children

By Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Stevenson Special to American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON: For one Air Force family stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea, the service's focus on the Year of the Air Force Family means providing an even greater impact by meeting the needs of others through adoption.

Air Force Col. John Marselus and his wife, Kim, pose for a photo with their adopted 5-year-old son, Caleb, Feb. 1, 2010, at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The Marselus's adopted Caleb from Ethiopia . Marselus is the 607th Air and Space Operations Center commander.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The Year of the Air Force Family is an initiative focused on enhancing the support and care provided to those who firmly stand behind our airmen on a daily basis.

Air Force Col. John Marselus, commander of the 607th Air and Space Operations Center, and his wife, Kim, traveled to Addis Adaba, Ethiopia, in January where they picked up their newest son, Caleb, a 5-year-old orphan whom they adopted.

"The adoption process took about two years, but in reality this journey started well over two decades ago," Marselus said. The couple's trip to Ethiopia opened yet another opportunity to meet face-to-face with one of the many children they had sponsored worldwide for almost three decades.

As a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the colonel started sponsoring needy children across the globe. The Marselus family was able to provide food, clothing and school supplies for dozens of children over the past 27 years. One of the children they sponsored was an Ethiopian girl named Meseret.

"We first started sponsoring Meseret about a decade ago when she was only 8 years old," Marselus said. "Here was this poor little girl, literally living on the other side of the planet in an environment we couldn't even begin to comprehend, and we were getting these touching letters from her thanking us and telling about the difference our involvement was having in her life."

After 25 years of sponsorship of multiple children, the Marselus family decided it was time to have an even greater impact on a needy child. It was at that point they decided to pursue the option of adoption.

"Sponsoring needy children like Meseret is great, but we were convicted to see if there was a child who needed a family," Marselus said. "We strongly felt that the right thing to do was provide an orphaned little boy or girl the love and nurturing they so desperately deserve."

After contacting an adoption agency and beginning the adoption process, the Marselus family was pleasantly surprised to discover the many programs and benefits the Air Force has in place to support adoptive parents. The National Defense Authorization Act provides for reimbursement of up to $2,000 of expenses per adoption with a maximum of $5,000 reimbursement per year. Additionally, AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, allows upward of 21 days of permissive temporary duty for travel associated with qualified adoptions.

"These are exactly the types of benefits needed for airmen who are pursuing adoption," Marselus said. "We are extremely pleased to see this commitment from the Air Force to help anyone who would pursue this option."

While in Ethiopia finalizing the adoption of their new son, the couple met Meseret, the girl they started sponsoring 10 years ago.

"It was an incredible experience getting to finally meet this amazing young lady who has changed our lives in so many ways," the colonel said. "We were able to celebrate her 18th birthday with her and were quite impressed with her and how well she was thriving in such an impoverished environment. Sponsorship had obviously had a positive impact as she recently completed high school and now has her eyes on becoming a doctor."

Reflecting on the whirlwind of emotional and life-changing events over the past few weeks, the Marselus family gives the Air Force great credit for their successful adoption of Caleb.

"Beyond the financial support and permissive TDY time provided by our Air Force, several on-base agencies such as the chapel, Aarman and family readiness center, the military personnel section and medical group have been amazing in helping Caleb transition from being an impoverished orphan into a healthy, cared-for and truly happy Air Force dependent," the colonel said. "Without a doubt traveling to Ethiopia, meeting Meseret and having Caleb become a part of our family was the adventure of a lifetime."

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Stevenson is assigned to the 607th Air and Space Operations Center.)

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal Demands Study, Gates Says

By Donna Miles of American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON : The Defense Department's review of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, which bans gays from serving openly in the military, will help to ensure readiness and unit cohesion remain intact if Congress repeals it, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview aired last night. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with Greta Van Susteren, host of the Fox News program "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren," during an interview in Rome, Feb. 7, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gates also discussed the close cooperation he and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have forged between their two departments during an interview with Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren, conducted last week as he visited Rome. Expressing his personal support for a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law -- support shared by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen -- Gates emphasized the need for a full review to ensure it's done right if it happens. "This is a force that's been under stress for eight years, been at war for eight years," he said. "And I don't want to do anything that makes the situation more difficult for those men and women in the fight." Gates conceded that some consider the review a stalling tactic, but he called it critical to the process. "The review that I am launching is to help inform the legislative process of some facts about the attitudes of our men and women in uniform, what they think about a change in the law, [and] what their families think," he said. "The truth is, we don't have any facts." The ramifications go beyond the level of acceptance within units, the secretary explained. "We need to understand all of the different things that have to be dealt with in terms of housing and benefits, and regulations and fraternization rules, and conduct and training, and so on," he said. This way, if Congress does change the law, "we can inform that process and offer some suggestions on mitigation if there are going to be negative consequences so we can figure out how to mitigate those consequences," he said. "And if the law is passed," he added, "then we're in a much better position to be able to go forward and implement those changes in a way that doesn't undermine unit cohesion and readiness." Gates emphasized the need for a careful, deliberate process. "The military culture is a very strong one. It's a very different culture than a civilian culture," he said. "These people do not have choices about who they associate with. They can't just up and walk off the job if they don't like somebody that they're working with. And so we have to take all that into account." Turning the discussion to enhanced Defense-State cooperation, Gates said the tone he and Clinton are setting at the top will affect both agencies so they're better able to partner to address challenges and threats. The goal, he said, is to use all elements of the interagency process to prevent conflicts from happening in the first place so U.S. troops don't have to take action. "So building the capabilities, both civilian and military, of governments around the world who are our friends and partners, is key," he said. "And we've got to cooperate to do that." Gates pointed to the way former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, when he was commander of Multinational Force Iraq, worked together toward shared goals in Iraq. "I think Ph.D. dissertations should be written about the relationship between Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, because it is a model of a relationship between the senior civilian and the senior military officer," Gates said.

Biographies: Robert M. Gates Related Articles: Gates: Afghan Strategy Bears Fruit, Iraq on Track

Singing Army Wife Meets Leno Between Recording Sessions

Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq.....Bomb blasts, firing, suicide attacks, hangings, air attack....news are full of violence, hate, worry and tension.....but recently I received a different news which was posted to me on Feb 4, 2010 at 01:23 AM. This news item came to me as a fresh air which is still full of sweet smell. This news of Army Capt. Matt Pratt and his songstress wife, Lisa. Report of Tim Hipps Special to American Forces Press Service is given below as it received. --Rector Kathuria

ASADENA, Calif.:Army Capt. Matt Pratt and his songstress wife, Lisa, lived the dream in southern California Feb. 1, thanks to an Army morale and recreation program that supports soldiers and their families. Joey Beebe of Army Entertainment Division supports 2009 Operation Rising Star winner Lisa Pratt while her husband, Capt. Matt Pratt, watches from outside the recording booth at DMI Music's Firehouse Studios in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 1, 2010. Army photo by Tim Hipps  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Lisa Pratt earned an all-expenses-paid trip to record a three-song demonstration CD at DMI Music's Firehouse Recording Studios here after winning the 2009 Operation Rising Star singing contest. Rising Star is one of hundreds of programs the Alexandria, Va.,-based Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command provides for soldiers and their families. After her first session in the recording studio, Pratt sang the praises of the Army Family Covenant, which supports soldiers and their families with resourced programs that deliver a quality of life commensurate with their service and sacrifice to the nation. "The Army Family Covenant; this is what it is," Lisa said, before departing the recording studio to attend "The Jay Leno Show" in Burbank, where she got to meet one of the world's most- famous comedians. "I never knew that Operation Rising Star was going to open all these doors for me," she said. For Lisa, the journey to serve as an ambassador for FMWRC's Army Entertainment Division had just begun. For Matt Pratt, who redeployed from Mosul, Iraq, last autumn and accompanied his wife from Fort Carson, Colo., to Hollywood, the Operation Rising Star winner's journey reaffirmed his belief in the Army's promise to support soldiers and families. "I'm trying to take it all in, but it's an emotional time for me because I get to see Lisa do what she absolutely loves doing," said Pratt, a 2006 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. "For the past year while I was in Iraq, she was supporting me and what I was doing. Now the Army has provided me the opportunity to sit here and support her with what she does." Pratt never had the opportunity to sit back and watch his wife of nearly four years perform until she took the stage to compete in Operation Rising Star, a program best described as "American Idol" for the military. "In church, I play the guitar and she sings," he said. "But to see her under the lights and me be on the receiving end as part of the audience, I'd never had the opportunity to do that. Pratt knew that his wife had won a recording session, but he had no idea what level of professionalism awaited them in Pasadena. "That's part of the magic. It's overwhelming to see the level that she's at and to see her basking in it. It still seems very surreal," he said. "I asked her, 'Is this really happening?'" Pratt recalled. "And she said, 'I don't think it is.' So, I think both of us are sort of caught in some sort of hyper-reality right now." Capt. Pratt, too, is praising the Army Family Covenant program. "So, here we are in sunny Los Angeles right now," he said, "and the Army Family Covenant is the reason we're here, and I couldn't be more grateful." The trip to California with his wife, Pratt said, ranks among his best-ever family experiences. "The only thing I would compare this to, as far as the level of emotion I feel, was walking into the gym and seeing Lisa for that first time after I came back from Iraq," he said. "This is up there. It's on par with that sort of feeling of surreal. This is one of the most exciting times since Lisa and I have been together." Pratt then sped away to drive his wife to meet Leno. (Tim Hipps works with Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command public affairs.)  (Issued on Feb. 3, 2010)

Operation Rising Star winner Lisa Pratt, wife of Army Capt. Matt Pratt who is stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., records a song at DMI Music's Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 1, 2010. Army photo by Tim Hipps  Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution Operation Rising Star winner Lisa Pratt and husband Capt. Matt Pratt leave DMI Music's Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., to drive to Burbank to meet comedian Jay Leno and attend the Feb. 1, 2010 taping of The Jay Leno Show. Army photo by Tim Hipps  Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

Guardsmen Prepare for Second Major East Coast Storm

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke  Special to American Forces Press Service ARLINGTON, Va.: Schools are closing, weekend activities are being cancelled and the federal government here will shut down four hours early today, but the National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm. About 660 Guardsmen have been activated for a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds to the northern and western parts of Virginia and then continue north up the East Coast this weekend. "This storm will bring severe weather to many parts of Virginia," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. "As the storm affects your area, please stay off the roads and contact local authorities if help is needed." McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3, and the state's Department of Military Affairs is staging more than 400 personnel from the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force at key locations in the commonwealth. If needed, the DMA will bring an additional 100 personnel on duty when the weather picture and state and local support requirements become clearer, according to a news release from the state. "We are moving DMA personnel into position in order to be on standby for possible missions to assist state and local emergency response organizations with rescue and transportation operations," said Army Col. Rob McMillin, a Virginia National Guard joint operations officer. Personnel were expected to be in place yesterday and to be ready for duty this morning, Guard officials reported. McMillin stressed that the Virginia National Guard receives its missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct support requests from the public. "During the winter storm in December 2009, we received calls directly from citizens, and we are not able to respond to those requests." McMillin said. "We urge people who need assistance to make a request through their local dispatcher or 911 services, and that request will be forwarded to the DMA when appropriate." McMillin said the initial plan is to place Virginia National Guard personnel with Humvees on duty at locations throughout the commonwealth. This is the third time since the middle of December the DMA has called up Guardsmen for weather-related duty. The DMA had nearly 250 soldiers, airmen and members on duty throughout southern Virginia on Jan. 29 and 700 on duty after a storm that began Dec. 18. In Maryland, the National Guard has pre-positioned its forces and equipment to provide support to civil authorities. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to declare a state emergency later today. "The Maryland National Guard always stands ready to support the governor and the citizens of Maryland," said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, the state public affairs officer. "We provide essential, lifesaving services when local and state response capabilities are overwhelmed, including the capability to provide transportation, shelter, food, water and medical support. He added that the National Guard has 34 armories across Maryland that also will be used to support this ongoing operation. In the District of Columbia, Washington Mayor Andrew Fenty declared a snow emergency this morning. The National Guard will provide 12 Humvees and 60 soldiers to help in implementing the district's Snow Emergency Management Plan. In Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is prepared to declare a state of emergency, his spokesman said. If needed, the Delaware National Guard will be mobilized. In South Dakota, 16 Guardsmen are still on duty helping to re-establish road and utility infrastructure and conduct search-and-rescue operations as required by local authorities. The state experienced strong winter storms with high winds, snow, and freezing rain on Jan. 23, and more than 2,000 residents are currently without power throughout the state. National Guard missions normally performed during snow operations include assisting local law enforcement with transportation and evacuation, distribution of supplies, road clearing and snow removal, search and rescue, security and law enforcement airspace coordination, aircraft support and patient evacuations, airspace coordination, and sheltering assistance. (Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves at the National Guard Bureau. Army Maj. Cotton Puryear of the Virginia National Guard contributed to this report.)

Related Sites: National Guard Bureau

Face of Defense: Wounded Soldier Continues Service

By Kari Hawkins
Special to American Forces Press Service


REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala., Feb. 4, 2010 - A chance meeting with Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell in June led to a dream job for Iraqi war veteran and Purple Heart recipient Army Sgt. Sophia Malone.

The Alabama National Guard soldier, assigned to the community-based warrior transition unit here, is continuing her service to the nation as a human resources administrative assistant at the Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. She takes care of administrative requirements for awards, appraisals, in-processing actions and other personnel actions. "General Campbell wanted to bring wounded warriors on here," Malone said. "I met him at the wounded warrior Army birthday bash they had here in June. ... General Campbell is the best general I've ever met. He and his wife are awesome." Malone, a former military police soldier, said her co-workers have eased her transition. "The people here work with me," she said. "I know I've found a home here." In 1989, at age 19, Malone joined the active Army, serving a four-year stint that took her to Operation Desert Storm to support multiple-launch rocket system maintenance. With her enlistment, she continued her family's tradition of serving in the military. Her grandfather served in World War II, and her father was a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran. Her brother is in the reserves, and other family members also serve. Malone left the Army for nine years, during which she married and had three children – twin daughters Lacy and Lexy, now 15, and son E.Z., who's 10. But 9/11 led her to recommit to national service. "I had to do something. I had to get back in," she said. "I joined the National Guard so that I could be a part-time soldier and a mom at the same time. But I've been on active duty orders since 2005 as a battalion career counselor with the 203rd Battalion out of Athens. I've done more with the National Guard than I did while on active duty." Her full-time Guard service included hurricane relief efforts following hurricanes Ivan, Rita and Katrina, during which she participated in military police security activities. In October 2006, she deployed with the 128th Military Police Company for a year to Iraq, during a time that was extremely volatile in the war-torn country. "Our squad would get hit all the time. The 3rd Platoon became known as the IED magnets," she said, referring to improvised explosive devices. "We were rolling so much outside the wire that we took a lot of hits and we lived through a lot of ambushes. We were ambushed twice while crossing the Tigris [River}. Once, we rolled up on an IED attack on a unit where a guy with the Air Force was killed by shrapnel. We saw other convoys attacked and a lot of other stuff." In one situation, when a mosque was blown up with a vehicle-borne bomb, Malone and several other soldiers from the 128th put their training as combat lifesavers to work. They assisted Army medical personnel in providing first aid to Iraqi civilians injured in the attack. Malone served as a truck commander and team leader in a military police training force. She and her fellow soldiers helped to reduce the violence by training the Iraqi police force. "I was part of a police transition team that trained Iraqi police," she said. "We left our base every day to travel to Iraqi police stations in the different cities." Each day, upon arrival, her team, consisting of nine to 12 soldiers, would set up a security perimeter around the police station. Then they would assess the station's training and equipment needs, meet with police chiefs and establish working relationships with the police station personnel. "We started from scratch at every station," she said. "At some of these stations, they had never seen an American soldier before. Ours was such a new mission, the rules of engagement were changing all the time, and we were all learning about the Iraqi society and culture. So it was a real challenge." Malone and her team worked at police stations in Muqdadiyah and Tikrit. At times, Malone's unit went on patrols with Iraqi police officers and interacted with Iraqi civilians in the marketplaces. They also went on special missions with the 82nd Airborne Division, including a surprise visit at an Iraqi jail to search for contraband. Malone said her gender met with varying results. "Some Iraqi police chiefs wouldn't even talk to me or work with me at all," she said. "Others were very friendly. It depended on how Westernized they were. To many Iraqi police and civilians, I was a novelty. They were curious about me. They wanted to take pictures of me on their cell phones. "But with the soldiers of the 128th," she continued, "I was very well respected. They knew me and how I reacted to certain situations, and they knew I wasn't afraid to do what I had to do. They knew I wouldn't expect them to do anything I wouldn't do." There were plenty of intense situations that called on Malone to be at her best as her unit's lead soldier. Twice, Malone's convoy took direct hits as the lead vehicle traveling through Tikrit. The impact of the attacks left her with shoulder, neck and back injuries that cause her daily pain, and that she hopes to overcome through surgery and physical therapy. The first direct hit with an IED happened in November 2006, when two anti-tank mines wired together exploded and damaged the front right corner of Malone's Humvee. "The IED was set off by a command wire," she said. "The enemy panicked and set off the command wire too early. If he had waited, the IED would have been directly under my seat, and I wouldn't be here right now." The explosion left Malone's Humvee severely damaged in the "kill zone." Malone, her driver, gunner, interpreter and Iraqi police logistics officer were evacuated by a quick readiness force. The attack left Malone with occasional tingling in her right arm. In August 2007, a second direct attack occurred as Malone's Humvee, which was the lead vehicle carrying the platoon sergeant, was traveling on a main supply route. As they crossed a bridge, the Humvee traveled over a pressure plate, with the IED exploding directly on the passenger side of the vehicle. "My arm was resting on the window," Malone said. "Some kind of slivers went into my arm, and it was injured. We were only 12 minutes outside the gate. The third truck in our convoy pulled us home. My gunner also had shrapnel injuries. We both went to the [combat support hospital]. But I was more upset that they blew up my truck than I was about what happened to me. I had just gotten it out of the shop." After two days of recuperation, Malone was back out on missions. She safely returned to her family in October 2007. But instead of taking time to focus on recuperating from her experience and addressing physical ailments caused by the impact of the two IED explosions, Malone accepted an instructor position at Camp Shelby, Miss. Her days were filled with training other National Guard soldiers for deployments through various simulation exercises. "I was still in Humvees rolling around," she said. After the instructor assignment, Malone was required to go through a medical screening before she could return to her National Guard position with the 128th. Her shoulder and neck injuries were identified, and she was sent to Fort Gordon, Ga., in January 2009 for further medical evaluation. "I was having numbness and tingling in my fingers and arm. I had neck and shoulder pain," she said. "But when you are out the wire and have all that adrenaline flowing, you don't think about that. And there was no way I was going to let my guys roll without me. In that situation, if you take one piece out of the unit, everyone else has to work twice as hard. There was no way I was going to do that to my guys. "Then, when I was at Camp Shelby," she continued, "the workload was twice that of the students. As instructors, you spend a lot of time preparing and then a lot of time training. I didn't have time to think about what had happened to me and what was going on with my neck and shoulder." But her time at Fort Gordon made Malone aware that she did need to address her physical issues. In April, she was assigned to the community-based warrior transition unit here, which has worked with her to develop a plan of surgical treatment, physical therapy and pain management that will get her back to 100 percent health. The unit allows soldiers to live at home and work at local armories and installations while undergoing medical treatment. "This is the best thing that ever happened to me," Malone said. "I am able to be with my children while at the same time I am getting healthy and I am able to work. It was like a sigh of relief for me when I got this assignment, because I can see a future here for myself as a civilian while still serving in the National Guard. I want to get healthy. I want to return to duty with the 128th." Malone said she expects the 128th will be deployed again, possibly to Afghanistan. And she plans to be with them. "That unit is filled with my brothers and sisters. We went through hell together. We have a very close camaraderie," she said. "I think we still have another deployment in us. I know I have another one in me. Serving my country, being with my guys -- it's kind of hard to explain." Even with a Purple Heart to her credit, Malone brushes off any suggestions that she is a national hero. "I wasn't the only one in a truck that got blown up," she said. "And there were the guys who risked their lives to pull us out of those situations. We all signed up. We knew what we were doing, what we were getting into. You do your job and keep going." (Kari Hawkins works in the U.S. Army Garrison Redstone public affairs office.)

Army Sgt. Sophia Malone spends time getting to know a group of Iraqi youths during her deployment in 2006 and 2007. U.S. Army photo

Army Sgt. Sophia Malone

Wounded Warrior: Blind Soldier Becomes Company Commander

By Tommy Gilligan Special to American Forces Press Service West Point, N.Y. : Soldier, infantryman, Airborne Ranger, combat diver, mountain climber, skier, tri-athlete, surfer, husband and father are just a few words to describe Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley. Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley salutes 1st Sgt. Deon E. Dabrio after returning the guidon during the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Unit change of command ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2010. Smiley is the first blind officer and second wounded warrior to hold a position of command. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Yesterday, the title of company commander was added to Smiley's distinctive resume, as he became the first blind officer to lead a company as he assumed command of the Warrior Transition Unit at the U.S. Military Academy here. Smiley was wounded and permanently lost his vision during his 2005 deployment to Iraq. He attributes his strength and drive during his recovery to his family, faith and friends. "It was my wife, my family and friends who were in my hospital room singing songs and reading the Bible that gave me the strength during my recovery," said Smiley, a member of the USMA Class of 2003. "It was all of this which allowed me to put one foot in front of the other," he continued, "and has allowed me to accomplish everything that I have done to get to where I am today." Over the past six months, Smiley had been an instructor with the academy's Behavioral Sciences and Leadership department, teaching a leadership course to third-year cadets. Smiley's "endurable spirit and character are traits that the cadets can just relate to," said West Point instructor Lt. Col. Eric Kail. "He has overcome so much, through his attitude and desire to excel in life. Scott is a great teacher." After receiving medical attention following his tour in Iraq, Smiley was transferred to the Ft. Lewis, Wash., Warrior Transition Unit, where he began his recovery and journey to return to active status. "There were some very long dark days, physically and mentally, but I just had to keep pushing on," Smiley said. Smiley said he'd looked at what had happened to him in Iraq and made the decision that he was not going down the same path as the character Gary Sinise played in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. Sinese's character of Army Lt. Dan had been grievously wounded in Vietnam and was initially portrayed as bitter and self-destructive. "The decisions that Lt. Dan made after his injuries never came into my mind. I wanted to take care of myself -- physically, mentally and spiritually," Smiley said. "I just did not want to give up because of something that negatively happened to me." Smiley transitioned back to active duty, working at the U.S. Army Accessions Command at Ft. Monroe, Va. After being there for some time, Smiley's commander told him he had been selected to go to graduate school. "I thought he was kidding me. I was absolutely shocked," Smiley recalled. "Then, they are going to let me go teach -- that was awesome." Smiley attended Duke University where he received his Masters of Business Administration. While there, he cultivated a friendship during the summer of 2007 with legendary Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, a 1969 graduate of the Military Academy. This was just before the men's basketball world championships and Olympics, Smiley recalled, noting his brigade commander had approached him and asked if he'd like to speak to the premier U.S. men's basketball squad. "Why would the national basketball team want me to talk to them?" Smiley said he wondered to himself at the time. "The first time I met him, he spoke to the Olympic team in Las Vegas. We were trying to teach the team about selfless service," Krzyzewski said. "They not only heard what Scott had to say, but they truly felt what he had to say. "When I think of Scotty, I think of ultimate service, especially selfless service," Krzyzewski added. After completing his master's degree, Smiley returned to start a new chapter of his life at West Point, where his military career began in the summer of 1999. Smiley's former commander at Accessions Command and present U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, shared his thoughts on the occasion. "Scott brings a whole new dimension to soldiering and leadership," said Van Antwerp, a 1972 graduate of the Military Academy. "When you are around him, you can't help but want to do your best -- without complaining -- because he gives his best every day." About Smiley being the second Wounded Warrior to hold a command position, Van Antwerp said, "Scotty will be a great commander. He will lead from the front like he has always done. I am proud of him and proud of our Army for giving him this opportunity." Krzyzewski seconded Van Antwerp's pride and confidence in Smiley. "He may not have the eyes to see, but he sees more things than most leaders could ever see," he said of Smiley's leadership abilities. At West Point, Smiley now takes command of a company that he personally understands. "I know what they are going through. I understand the dynamics of the company, how it works and areas of concern that need to be improved," Smiley said. With only half of his command based on West Point's grounds, Smiley will travel from the rocky shorelines of Maine to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania to ensure his troops are being taken care of and doing what they need to do to recover. "It is now my responsibility to inspire them and to continue to help them get the job done," Smiley said. (Issued on Feb 02, 2010) (Tommy Gilligan is the assistant editor for The U.S. Military Academy's "Pointer View")

Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley speaks briefly as cadre stands in formation after he accepted command during the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Unit change of command ceremony Feb. 1, 2010 at West Point, N.Y. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan  Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley passes the guidon back to 1st Sgt. Deon E. Dabrio during the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Unit change of command ceremony at West Point, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan  Related Sites: Warrior Care Web Portal Warrior Care News Tiffany Smiley holds her youngest son while watching her husband, Army Capt. Scott M. Smiley, salute the colors during the U.S. Army Warrior Transition Unit change of command ceremony, Feb. 1, 2010, West Point, N.Y. Smiley is the first blind officer and second Wounded Warrior to hold a position of command in the Army. U.S. Army photo by Tommy Gilligan

Transport to a medical station in Haiti

U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Port Security Unit 307 take a Haitian man with multiple gunshot wounds to a small boat in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, for transport to a medical station Jan. 31, 2010. The Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development are in Haiti supporting Operation Unified Response, a multinational, joint-service operation to provide humanitarian assistance to Haitians affected by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the region Jan. 12, 2010. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Eggers, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)

Missile Defense Agency Requests Bigger Budget

By John J. Kruzel of American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON :  The Defense Department agency responsible for U.S. missile defense systems has requested $8.4 billion for fiscal year 2011, an increase of about a half billion dollars. Video

Missile Defense Agency Executive Director David Altwegg conducts a press conference to discuss the fiscal year 2011 defense budget request and the fiscal year 2010 supplemental war funding request at the Pentagon, Feb. 2, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The request comes after an announcement last September that the United States would move away from a ground-based missile defense system to defend against Iranian and North Korean threats, to a sea-based platform.

"The budget supports continuous emphasis on development, testing, fielding, sustainment," David Altwegg, the executive director of the Missile Defense Agency, told Pentagon reporters yesterday.

"We have shifted our emphasis from the ground-based defense against intercontinental ballistic missiles to the regional threat, short- and medium-range missiles, which comprise about 99 percent of the ballistic missile threat extant," Altwegg said.

When Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced plans to move from ground-based components in Poland and the Czech Republic, the rationale he offered was that the new sea-based approach is better suited to intelligence on Iranian threats and would provide protection sooner.

Going a step further, Gates -- a former CIA director -- said the new arrangement is preferable even if intelligence that Iran is more focused on developing short-range missiles over long-range capabilities prove incorrect.

But Gates emphasized that the United States would continue working with European allies on developing a system to defend against threats to the continent.

"We are starting the four-phased approach to fielding a capability in Europe against the emerging Iranian threat, initially against the short- and medium-range threat that exists," Altwegg said, "and hence our initial emphasis will be on southeastern Europe."

The Missile Defense Agency briefing fell on the same day the department released its first Ballistic Missile Defense Review, slated to take place every four years.

The review released yesterday aligns U.S. missile defense posture with near-term regional missile threats, and sustains the ability to defend the homeland against limited long-range missile attack, said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters yesterday, Flournoy said the review identified six major priorities that will shape the U.S. missile defense approach: enhancing the country's ability to

defend against a ballistic attack, defending against growing threats, execute realistic tests, develop new capabilities, being adaptable to changing threats and leading international missile defense cooperation.

"We believe this approach will provide reassurance to our allies that the United States will stand by our security commitments to them, will help to negate the coercive potential of regional actors attempting to limit U.S. influence and actions in key regions, and help strengthen regional deterrence architectures against states who are acquiring weapons of mass destruction," she said. (Issued on Feb 02, 2010)

Record Crowds Cause Unrest at Distribution Point

By Fred W. Baker III of American Forces Press Service   PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti :  You could hear the crowd before you could see it. Army Capt. Jon Hartsock stands in a crowd of women waiting for food and water to be distributed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 19, 2010. Hartsock is assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, and runs the day-to-day distribution of humanitarian aid. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. From the top of the hill that serves as a landing zone for disaster relief here, the crowd looked massive, the largest yet at this U.S. military relief point. It spanned the base of the hill, stretching into the wooded areas to the east and west and sprawled deep into the survivor camp to the north. The calls and cries and dust from the crowd rose into the air as the desperation hit a high. The end of the day was near and it was obvious that many would leave empty-handed. It took the soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment here, alongside many local Haitian volunteers, several attempts to calm the crowd. It came dangerously close at times to spilling past the makeshift perimeter set up by the soldiers. A handful of elderly women were pulled from the crowd, overcome by the heat and the dust. Local Haitians walked the line with bullhorns trying to talk the crowd of women into sitting down but those in the back continued to push forward. The soldiers and volunteers on the perimeter at times held hands to form a human chain to hold the crowd back. Those passing out the food and water simply sat down, stopping the distribution, as a sign to the crowd that as long as they did not cooperate, they would get nothing. Eventually the crowd calmed and the distribution restarted, but the event was a likely premonition of relief efforts to come as the military here works to increase the number and push these points farther into the city. "Just that many people in a confined area you're going to get a little pushing and shoving. And you can understand. They're hurting for food and water," said Army Capt. Jon Hartsock, the commander in charge of the daily distribution here. Keeping it civil is the challenge, he said. The captain is not concerned about the locals trying to hurt his troops, but if the crowd gets out of control, some of the locals could be injured. And, in the end, the stronger would receive the aid, and the weaker would do without. "I don't want this turning into a free for all, throwing water and food and letting them fend for themselves. I want it to be orderly," he said. Part of the problem, officials said, is that word is getting out around Port-au-Prince that this is the place to come for food and water. Yesterday's estimate put 25,000 people at the base of the hill waiting for some sort of relief. The troops passed out more than 25,000 bottles of water and nearly 8,000 meals. All totaled in the few days the troops have been here they have passed out nearly 50,000 bottles of water and almost 15,000 meals. To avoid yesterday's crush on the distribution point, Hartsock wants to put distribution points away from the forward operating base here, initially into the survivor camp, and then beyond into the city. Already troops have taken food and water to a distribution point at a community center in the city. Hartsock meets today with a loosely formed "tent city council" made up of a local preacher who has been holding services there at night, and four leader volunteers. The group has agreed to divide the camp evenly and manage the distribution from there. This fits well in Hartsock's plan to put the distribution in the hands of the Haitians. "We want them distributing food. Our soldiers are out here just to maintain order on the lines," he said. Hartsock will finalize plans today and visit the proposed sites for distribution. He hopes to be able to start moving the food and water there in the next few days. There are still details to be worked, but most likely the soldiers will move the goods in the non-peak hours and stay to secure the distribution. Distribution between the points will be simultaneous and will actually go faster, Hartsock said. "There's more of a chance that the food and water will get out to everybody," he said. "Because right now, it's just the people at the front of the line." When it comes to Hartsock's military career, he said this is one of the most challenging jobs he's been assigned. While deployed to Iraq he ran small humanitarian missions, but nothing to this scale. "Every day we learn something new out here," he said. "We've tried different things. Sometimes it goes smooth. Sometimes it doesn't go smooth and it's about adjusting." "It's hard because one second I'm feeling good ... and other times it's frustrating." This mission is also difficult, because there is no enemy. And, because many of the soldiers have families, the cries of the women and children do not fall on deaf ears. "I've had to tell my soldiers to turn away the little boy who jumps to the head of the line. And that's tough," Hartsock said. "But it's something that we've got to do because if we let that one, then the next one and the next one and the next one [will jump the line] and then it's just chaos."  (Issued on: Jan 20, 2010)

Related Sites: Special Report: Haiti Earthquake Relief

A little girl peers through the legs of U.S. Army soldiers who form a human chain to secure the distribution of humanitarian aid in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 19, 2010. The 82nd Airborne's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, provided security for the distribution point out of its makeshift forward operating base. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution An elderly woman overcome by the heat and the dust is lifted over the crowd by volunteers at a humanitarian aid distribution point in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 19, 2010. Soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, partnered with a nongovernmental organization to pass out more rations. This resulted in record crowds for the site and toward the end of the day they became volatile. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

Now Amurt is active in Haiti to assist

Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team AMURT is a part of Anand Marga and known for its services to the humankind. First AMURT group was formed about 34 years ago.Anand Marga was established by Shri Shri Anand Muurti who fasted on a liquid diet for more than 5-1/2 years and given a new socio-economic theory..currently providing emergency disaster relief in Haiti: Detail posted to me on Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 10:49 PM is given below.   ---Rector Kathuria

AMURT & AMURTEL continues the work on the ground in Port Au Prince after the massive 8.0 earthquake last week by providing soup kitchens and canteens offering ready-to-eat meals and bringing in critical resources that are still virtually impossible to attain in Haiti, such as food and fuel. The feeding program is being extended and reinforced next week through several partnerships that will enable the team to offer meals to even more people, for an extended period of time, and in several different locations in the city. The emergency medical clinics and soup kitchen at the Ananda Marga Schools are providing much needed care to thousands of local residents. Most people have been staying outside as a result of the aftershocks.

AMURT & AMURTEL brought in the latest round of relief supplies through the Dominican Republic on Saturday, accompanied by several more team members. The additions to the team have been vital in setting up an additional office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where many agencies are setting up their coordination centers. There is also a large shipment of medical supplies and other aid materials en route via Florida, scheduled to leave from Miami this Wednesday by boat to the Dominican Republic. These items will then be transported over land into Haiti. Additional medical teams and volunteers are scheduled for deployment within the week.

AMURT & AMURTEL have also made significant progress in contacting and partnering with other agencies on the ground, including Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Food Program. Through these partnerships they will immediately start developing programs based on their objectives of targeting vulnerable and marginalized populations – people with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children. The programs will include easily accessible food programs and child friendly trauma evacuation centers.

AMURT & AMURTEL have more than two decades of experience with relief work in Haiti, and have facilitated many ongoing development projects there. AMURTEL particularly focuses on meeting the special needs of women and children in disasters. The teams are responding to this calamity as rapidly and effectively as possible, and will remain far after the triage and immediate relief has been completed.


Amurtel needs your donations to alleviate the suffering caused by this catastrophe. You can donate online on the websites given below:

http://www.amurt.us
http://www.amurt.net
http://www.amurtel.org

To provide humanitarian assistance....

U.S. Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit embark aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) Jan. 15, 2010, in Morehead, N.C., during preparations by the Bataan Amphibious Relief Mission for a disaster response effort in Haiti. Bataan departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the aftermath of the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson, U.S. Navy/Released)

Hillary Clinton speaks to the media in Haiti

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the media during a trip to Troussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 16, 2010. Clinton met with U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, deputy commander of U.S. Southern Command, and Haitian President Rene Preval to discuss humanitarian aid assistance. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg, U.S. Navy /Released)