Obama Unveils Strategy for Smaller, Agile Future US Military
President Barack Obama and U.S. defense officials have unveiled the results of a new strategy review to maintain U.S. military superiority with leaner and more efficient forces capable of responding to global challenges.
The strategic review was ordered by President Obama last year to help guide Pentagon decision-making and setting of priorities in an atmosphere of budget austerity, and sharp partisan debate over deficits and debt.
In recognition of its significance, Obama appeared with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the military Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey as the results were formally announced at the Pentagon.
Obama pointed to the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, the drawing down of forces from Afghanistan, the killing of Osama bin-Laden, and the successful NATO operation in Libya. He said these have brought the United States to a moment of transition.
"As we look beyond the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the end of long-term, nation-building with large military footprints, we will be able to ensure our security with smaller conventional ground forces," said the president. "We will continue to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems so that we can invest in the capabilities we need for the future, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; counter terrorism; countering weapons of mass destruction; and the ability to operate in environments where adversaries try to deny us access."
Obama said military forces will be "agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats." The U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region will be strengthened, and Obama said, as he did in Australia in November, that reductions "will not come at the expense of this critical region."
Secretary Panetta said the new strategy is aimed at cutting defense spending in a balanced way by about $487-billion over 10 years, but should not mean a choice between national security and fiscal responsibility.
Panetta said a "smaller, ready and well-equipped" joint force would focus on the Pacific, and the Middle East.
"This region is growing in importance to the future of the U.S. economy and our national security,' he said. "This means, for instance, improving capabilities that maintain our military's technological edge and freedom of action. At the same time, the U.S. will place a premium on maintaining our military presence and capabilities in the broader Middle East."
Panetta said the U.S. military must be able to fight in several conflicts at the same time, and "confront and defeat more than one adversary at a time."
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dempsey was asked by a reporter what message the results of the defense review would send to Iran.
"The message that we have had consistently for Iran is that we expect them to be a responsible member of the community of nations, not deny freedom of navigation, freedom of movement, freedom of access, and we are determined that they will not acquire a nuclear weapon," he said.
In his remarks, President Obama said details would be emerging in coming weeks.
"I would encourage all of us to remember what President Eisenhower once said. That “each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs.” After a decade of war, and as we rebuild the source of our strength, at home and abroad, it is time to restore that balance," he said.
Obama said the U.S. defense budget will grow more slowly over the next 10 years, but it will meet U.S. global responsibilities.
Asked about force reductions in specific areas, such as Europe, Secretary Panetta said the United States will maintain commitments to Europe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dempsey said the countrty will always act on the foundation of traditional strategic partnerships, such as NATO.
Runaway US girl Jakadrien Turner deported to Colombia
Immigration officials are attempting to unravel the mystery of how a 14-year-old American runaway was deported to Colombia despite having no Colombian ID and speaking no Spanish.
When arrested for theft in 2010, Jakadrien Turner gave Houston police the name of a 21-year-old Colombian.
She maintained this identity through a court case and the deportation process.
Colombian officials say she is now in protective custody but they plan to release her to US officials on Friday.
They had been working to confirm her identity before agreeing to hand her over. On Thursday Bogota said the US embassy had submitted documents to allow for her return.
Ms Turner's grandmother, Lorene Turner, had contacted Dallas police when she found Jakadrien's Facebook page under an assumed name.
The teenager had run away from home in 2010 and was reported missing on 19 November that year. Her information was on record with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She was arrested by Houston police in April 2011 on the charge that eventually led to her deportation after she claimed she was called Tika Lanay Cortez, the name of a Colombian woman born in 1980.
"They didn't do their work," Lorene Turner told a local TV station. "How do you deport a teenager and send her to Colombia without a passport, without anything?"
'Worst end'
US immigrations officials said they found nothing after her arrest that contradicted her story or assumed name, but were investigating the circumstances which led to the accidental deportation.
A spokesman for the the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said the agency "takes these allegations very seriously".
During the deportation process a representative from a Colombian consulate reportedly interviewed her and issued a travel document, the Associated Press reports.
Once she had arrived in Colombia, Ms Turner appears to have spent several months living and working in the capital Bogota.
Johnisa Turner, her mother, said she was devastated when Jakadrian first went missing.
"When your child doesn't come home from school, of course you go to the worst end of the spectrum," she told the Associated Press.
Now that Jakadrien appears to be returning to the US, she said she wanted to put the incident behind her.
"I want her home so we can move from this day forward."
US Sentences Pakistani Man to 50 Months for Supporting Taliban
A U.S. court in Washington, DC Thursday sentenced a Pakistani man to 50 months in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, often referred to as the Pakistani Taliban.
Irfan Ul Haq was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Bates, who last month sentenced two co-defendants — Qasim Ali and Zahid Yousaf — on the same charge to 40 and 36 months in prison respectively.
On September 12, 2011, each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the TTP — a designated terrorist organization. As part of their plea deal, the three agreed to a stipulated order of returning to Pakistan upon the completion of their criminal sentences.
Ul Haq, Ali and Yousaf were arrested in Miami on March 13, 2011. They admitted that between January 3 and March 10, 2011, they conspired to provide false documentation and identification to the TTP, knowing that the group engaged in terrorism.
According to court documents, law enforcement agents directed confidential sources to ask the defendants, who were residing in Ecuador at the time, for their assistance in smuggling an individual they believed to be a Pakistani Taliban member into the United States.
Ul Haq allegedly said “it was not their concern what this person wanted to do in the U.S. — sweep floors or blow something up.” The defendants accepted payment from the confidential sources for the operation and procured a false Pakistani passport for the individual.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco said “the case underscores our continuing commitment to dismantle networks that facilitate terrorist travel.”
John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said his agents “will continue to use every available resource to protect the American public from terrorist organizations and individuals who support them.”
Pastor: Gunmen Kill 10 in Northern Nigeria Church
The pastor of a church in northern Nigeria says gunmen burst into a Thursday night service, killing six worshippers and wounding 10.
Pastor Johnson Jauro of the Deeper Life church in Gombe says his wife is among the dead. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and police have not yet commented.
The radical Islamic group Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is a sin” in the Hausa language, has said it was responsible for other deadly attacks against Christians. They included the Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic church in Abuja that killed more than 30 people.
Nigeria is divided between a mainly Muslim north and a chiefly Christian south.
Boko Haram gave Christians in the north a three-day deadline this week to leave the area or face death.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 15 regions last week, closing parts of the borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Mr. Jonathan has vowed to crush Boko Haram. But his critics complain that he has done little to rein in the group.
Apple to launch iPhone 4S in the TCI & other International Countries
The iPhone 4S is set to launch in China and 21 additional countries across the world on Friday, January 13, as Apple continues the rapid international roll-out of its latest smartphone.
Apple announced the forthcoming debut of the iPhone 4S in China in a press release yesterday. The announcement brings to an end months of speculation as the device made its way through China’s regulatory approval process.
“Customer response to our products in China has been off the charts,” Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a statement. “With the launch in China next week, iPhone 4S will be available in over 90 countries making this our fastest iPhone roll-out ever.”
In addition to China, January 13 will also mark the launch of the iPhone 4S in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guam, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Senegal, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and Uganda.
Samsung expects bumper profits on smartphone sales gain
Samsung Electronics has said it expects to report a big jump in profits for the final three months of last year, thanks largely to record smartphone sales.
The South Korean firm said it expects operating profits for the period to be 5.2tn won ($4.5bn; £2.9bn), 73% higher than a year a earlier.
Samsung overtook Apple as the world's biggest-selling smartphone maker in the second half of last year.
The firms have been locked in a number of patent battles in recent months.
Analysts said Samsung's profits were likely to grow again this year.
"Samsung is likely to continue record-breaking earnings this year as earnings from flat screens and memory chips will improve, making up for any potential slowdown in handset growth rates," said Lee Seung-woo at Shinyoung Securities.
"I'd expect profits to grow by another 5tn won this year."
The company is due to publish its official results for the fourth quarter of 2011 later this month.
Stocks flat after day of big gains
Stock indices were flat Wednesday after a big gain to open the trading year.
Specialty stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond rose after a report that mall shopping was strong in the days after Christmas. Bank stocks, health-care companies and utilities fell slightly.
But nothing moved much. Investors appeared content with Tuesday's gain of almost 180 points in the Dow Jones industrial average, which brought the Dow to its highest level since July.
"It's healthy to see that after a big rally," said Randy Warren, chief investment officer for Warren Financial Service. "People need to sit back and think about it."
Just before 2 p.m. EST, the Dow was up 14 points at 12,411. The Dow lost 60 points in early trading, then came back to break even at midday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up a third of a point at 1,277. The Nasdaq was up a fifth of a point at 2,648.
Retailing-industry stocks rose 0.8 per cent as a group, after the report on after-Christmas sales, which were up 5.3 per cent compared with a year ago. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. rose 2.4 per cent, and Ross Stores Inc., which sells discounted clothes, was up 2.3 per cent.
However, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. fell 1.2 per cent, making it the biggest decliner among the Dow's 30 stocks. Target Corp. fell 2.3 per cent. Analysts have been concerned that some stores raised holiday sales with deep discounts that will hurt profits.
Automakers delivered a strong end to 2011. Analysts had been expecting December to be a strong sales month for cars on the theory that more confidence in the economy would unlock pent-up demand. Ford Motor Co. stock rose 29 cents to $11.43.
European markets declined, and the euro fell back below $1.30, to $1.2945, within a penny of its lowest level in a year. Another increase in borrowing costs for Italy renewed worries about Europe's efforts to restore confidence in its debt-hobbled governments.
Swiss National Bank head says he has not broken law
The chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), Philip Hildebrand, has denied any "legal breaches" resulting from his wife's currency trades.
He said he would not resign as a result of the claims.
Kashya Hildebrand bought $504,000 (£323,024) in August, three weeks before the bank intervened to reduce the value of the Swiss franc. She later sold the dollars to buy a property.
It is the first time the SNB chairman has spoken about the issue.
Integrity
Speaking to journalists, Mr Hildebrand said more transparency was needed in future.
"I understand that some of the transactions now discussed and the way in which they have been portrayed and interpreted in the media and in public could bring my integrity into doubt," he said.
"The most important lesson, which I can take from the events is: a further improvement of transparency in every aspect that concerns financial transactions of members of the board of the Swiss National Bank is essential."
On Wednesday, the SNB published details of an internal investigation by auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers which, it said, cleared the bank head and his family of breaking any rules.
Alongside the investigation the SNB also published its own internal rules which had not previously been made public.
Mr Hildebrand said his behaviour had been both legally and morally appropriate.
Investigation
"I have at all times acted not just according to the rules but also correctly," Mr Hildebrand told journalists.
The conference comes after state prosecutors in Switzerland announced an investigation into a 39-year old man suspected of leaking information about the Mr Hildebrand and his family from a private bank.
Mr Hildebrand said he currently had no intention of stepping down as a result of the criticism.
"So long as I have the confidence of the government and the bank council, stepping down is not an issue for me."
Former Olympus boss ends takeover bid for camera firm
The ousted boss of Olympus has given up on his attempts to regain control of the Japanese camera and medical equipment maker.
Michael Woodford was fired after highlighting accounting irregularities that sparked a police probe and stock-price slump.
After denying the accusations, Olympus eventually admitted it hid $1.5bn (£968m) of losses over twenty years.
Mr Woodford said his return had failed to win support from main shareholders.
"Despite my having done the right thing, none of the major Japanese institutional shareholders have offered one word of support to me," Mr Woodford said in a statement.
Mr Woodford also claimed that the Olympus issue had caused his family and wife distress.
Current team
When the scandal broke, a number of theories were mooted about why the losses were covered up, including allegations of criminal activity.
At the start of December, an independent panel appointed by Olympus found that while the "core part of management was rotten", there was no link to organised crime.
It said legal action should be taken against those involved in the cover up, adding that those who knew about the situation should be replaced.
Mr Woodford was trying to win support for himself and a new group of directors to take over the running of Olympus.
While Mr Woodford won the support of some shareholders, many of the company's key investors still backed the current management, headed by chief executive Shuichi Takayama.
Olympus shares dropped more than 4% in early trading in Tokyo on Friday.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's inaugural address
My fellow Jamaicans, I am thankful to God for guidance and strength;and to you the people of Jamaica for the faith and trust that you have placed in me and my team. I am deeply humbled that, once again, you have chosen me to lead our nation as it stands at a crossroads.
The Team, which I am privileged to lead, is just as conscious as I am of the difficult times that confront us on our journey.
In our political history, it is a rare opportunity to be given a second chance to lead. It is also a sobering experience. But, I have been strengthened by the experience of going through the first phase of the journey. And, I have emerged like the steel in “It Takes A Mighty Fire” which H. D. Carberry, our Jamaican poet, wrote about in his poems of discovery and self awareness. And, after being tested and tempered, I stand before you, today, a stronger and better person, who is prepared to be of service to my country and people.
I know that we face an awesome task. There is greater debt, increased poverty levels, tighter fiscal space.
My administration will not engage in a blame-game. We will present the facts to the Jamaican people, based on rigorous analysis. Our approach must be to right the wrongs and insist on accountability. Let us learn from our past, absorb the lessons and go forward. We only need to look back to confirm where we are coming from, and to correct our errors and weaknesses as we look to the future. That is the way of progress.
The mandate which Jamaicans gave the People's National Party on December 29 is a call to action. It is a signal from our people that we, the government, must earn their trust. It also gives us the opportunity to ease the burdens and the pressures of increasing poverty, joblessness and a deteriorating standard of living.
The mandate is a cry for us to restore hope.
The mandate calls on us to protect the good name of Jamaica, at home and in the eyes of the international community. Jamaica must remain for all, a “quality brand,” which gives citizens, from all walks of life, the opportunity to achieve their goals.
The Jamaican people have sent a clear message. They want a more accountable and transparent government which consults them; and, they should expect nothing less.
On my watch, I pledge that the rule of law will be paramount; and we will serve with humility.
On my watch,I pledge that we will honour the faith and trust of the Jamaican people.
On my watch,I pledge that we will reject governmental extravagance and be vigilant in eliminating corruption.
My fellow Jamaicans, the first order of business for the members of the Leadership Team will be to inform ourselves about the true state of the Jamaican economy.
Then we must act.
We remain committed to a vibrant partnership with all critical stakeholders; local private sector; the public sector—civil servants who play a pivotal role in nation building; our international partners; and, in particular, with the International Monetary Fund, as we identify the basis for a new Agreement.
Our policies are based on the principle that the private sector is a major participant in shaping the economy of our country. However, in a time of crisis, government must act to stimulate growth and to restore confidence in the country's ability to pay its way. Hence, in the short and medium term, we will use state resources to stimulate employment through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). We will do so in a transparent and non-partisan manner, to improve critical areas, such as the infrastructure and the environment, which support economic growth.
Let me say emphatically to our business community, at home and overseas…we will pursue a tight fiscal policy, reduce our debt to GDP ratio, maintain the key macro-economic fundamentals; and be very careful and prudent in our debt management.
We will do all of this while seeking to improve the social conditions of our people, including a serious reduction of the chronic state of unemployment in this country, particularly among our young people.
I also assure you that we will work with anyone who is prepared to work in Jamaica’s interest and who shares our vision that people must be at the centre of our development.
Our investors, including foreign direct investors, must contribute to making Jamaica a truly competitive economy. Now, more than ever, we must also make it easier to do business in Jamaica. Investors demand no less, and our future social and economic prospects depend on it.
Our Administration will be marked by greater Openness in Government and frankness in our relations with the global community. This candidness will also be seen in the meetings of Parliamentary Committees, which Members of the Opposition will continue to chair; and, to which the media and the public will have full access.
This government will also broaden and deepen our input into the Regional Integration Movement. We will restore the vibrant and vigorous participation of our country. Previous PNP Administrations have given quality time and expertise to this Regional Integration Movement.
One important agenda item will be to establish the Caribbean Court of Justice in its final appellate jurisdiction; and in this way, end judicial surveillance from London. We must fully repatriate our sovereignty. And, in going forward, we invite the Opposition to follow through on the statements which it recently made that we were “not far apart” in our respective positions. Let us, together, complete this aspect of Regional Integration within the life of this Administration.
My fellow Jamaicans…it is time for us to build a gentler, more respectful and responsible society. My Administration will be marked by respect and responsibility. The Jamaican people have elected us to lead, and we will lead. We will take responsibility for the society and we will be responsible to the society. I urge all Jamaicans to become more respectful of ourselves, more respectful of each other, more respectful of our senior citizens, more respectful of persons with disabilities, and more respectful of our national symbols and national institutions.
We will seek to earn your respect by how we conduct ourselves and the nation’s business.
We will strive for more civil and respectful behaviour in our Parliament.
As we continue on this journey, we will seek to make this country a nation of brothers and sisters, not one of rivals and victims.
This Administration will extend the hand of participation to everyone, who wishes to play a role in our development. Jamaicans in the Diaspora will be given every opportunity to contribute and to be respected equally as Jamaicans at home.
As we journey together, I call on all Jamaicans to take responsibility for our lives. Be the best student you can be; the best parent; the best teacher; doctor or nurse; politician, public servant or private business person; athlete or entertainer; designer, dressmaker, hairdresser or barber; and strive to improve ourselves by reinvesting in our personal development.
That is how people ultimately make progress. This government can provide the context and the opportunity. That is the partnership I want.
Partnership between the government and the people is not a matter of choice but an absolute necessity. This is critical if we are to extend our already world renowned power to true national, economic and social triumph. Absolutely nothing can make our magnificent country fail if we all put aside our differences and strive for our ultimate goals.
As we continue our journey, this is the Jubilee Year of Jamaican Independence. This 50th Anniversary year will be a time for reflection on the lessons of the past; and, as we celebrate our achievements as an independent nation, we now need to complete the circle of independence. In this regard, we will, therefore, initiate the process for our detachment from the Monarchy to become a Republic with our own indigenous President, as Head of State.
Year 2012 is also an Olympic Year, and our athletes are already poised to make us proud again, in this international arena. This mandate, therefore, presents a unique opportunity for us to unite and work together as one people, and take full advantage of the prospects that will emerge…as we invite the rest of the world to “Meet Jamaica” in London in July and August.
My fellow Jamaicans, those who have gone before blazed a trail of success, and passed the baton to us. We are all conscious of the achievements of our National Heroes and Heroines, former leaders and the thousands of other Jamaicans who have played their part.
We are the proud beneficiaries and successors of their legacy.
Today we embark upon a new phase of our Jamaican journey. In the ‘Global Trade Winds’ of change we are not always at liberty to direct these winds but we must set our sails to pilot the Good Ship Jamaica through these turbulent economic waters to safe harbour.
In the face of these dramatic winds of change, I am calling for all hands on deck. This nation requires the strength, the creativity, the innovation and the steely courage of every Jamaican man, woman, youth and child to place this vessel on a path to prosperity.
Today, I invite you to hold my hands, as I hold yours. Today, I invite you to hold your neighbours’ hands. Let us form a strong bond of patriotic unity and let us move forward together on this journey into our collective future.
I believe that today marks a critical turning point in our journey. You must believe this with me and you must play your part in this process of transformation.
"It is shining time again." It is our time to shine. The challenges will not disappear overnight, but together we can overcome and we shall rise and we shall shine.
I begin this leg of our journey with an unfaltering belief in my people. I invite you to join me in this confidence in ourselves. Together, we shall rise and together with the guiding hand of the Almighty, we will succeed.
May God bless Jamaica. May God bless us all.
Thank you.