The Insider

MDA's IT Priorities
By John Liang
March 15, 2012 at 6:12 PM

The Missile Defense Agency's major information technology activities in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 "will be concentrated in IT services delivery and support, information assurance support, IT infrastructure recapitalization, and Defense business system migration efforts," according to the agency's FY-13 IT budget request.

Overall, MDA has the following activities planned for FY-12 and FY-13, according to the budget book:

* Implement a more advanced applications interface for mobile devices

* Plan, engineer and buildout IT for the Von Braun IV facility in Huntsville and the P609 Building in Dahlgren, Virginia

* Operate and maintain the classified and unclassified IT infrastructure for all MDA locations

* Field a unified communications collaboration capability that integrates voice, video and documents into a single environment

* Sustain hardware, software and maintenance licenses while focusing on consolidating procurements

* Continue to implement web-based applications to enhance MDA business processes and improve efficiency

* Sustain global classified and unclassified communications to support personnel at all MDA locations

* Operate and maintain general purpose conference rooms and auditoriums Video Teleconferencing (VTC) capabilities in order to minimize travel costs.

As for information assurance in particular, MDA has the following activities planned for FY-12/13:

* Actively monitor MDA test and administrative IT systems via the MDA Computer Emergency Response Center (CERT)

* Continue to test and certify all MDA systems in accordance with DoD Information Assurance policy and instructions

* Provide IA engineering and planning guidance for all MDA IT acquisition programs

* Continue implementation of classified Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

* Upgrade network equipment to comply with DoD Instruction 8500.2 and DoD Global Information Grid architecture plan.

For more coverage of DOD's FY-13 IT budget, check out this story from today's Inside the Pentagon:

DOD Seeks $37B For IT Spending With Goal Of IT 'Anywhere, Anytime'

. . . as well as this related story:

In IT Reform Effort, DOD Touts Acquisition Instruction Revision, Programs

. . . and stay tuned for more coverage in tomorrow's Inside the Air Force.

The Buck Stops Here
By Sebastian Sprenger
March 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM

Many lawmakers have said they want to find a way to avoid defense cuts under the oft-cited "sequestration" mechanism of the Budget Control Act. Today, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) went a step further, saying he would work against all the cuts required under the legislation.

"I held my breath and voted for the BCA, with the hopes that we could fix the serious problems with the bill shortly after,” McKeon said in a speech at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA. “That’s why one of my top priorities is getting that half a trillion dollars back."

Congress passed the BCA last summer as a precondition to raising the nation's debt limit. The law mandates roughly $500 billion in reductions to planned defense spending over 10 years. Because a congressional "Supercommittee" was unable to agree on deficit-reduction measures last fall, an additional BCA stipulation is now in effect, which says an additional $500 billion must be cut.

The Pentagon's fiscal year 2013 budget proposal begins the process of scaling back defense spending. The FY-13 request includes the first tranche, a reduction of $45 billion over projections last year, to a total of $260 billion over the five-years spending plan.

Special Relationship
By John Liang
March 14, 2012 at 4:55 PM

President Obama held meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron this morning, with defense cooperation among the topics discussed. Here are some excerpts from a fact sheet released by both countries:

Today President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron reaffirmed their commitment to continue close cooperation on defense as the United States and United Kingdom build their Armed Forces for the future. The U.S. and UK share an unprecedented defense relationship that has helped secure our shared interests and values since the World Wars of the last century.  We have developed unparalleled military interoperability and interconnectedness, working together to meet the challenges of the Cold War, leading in NATO, and fighting side-by-side in defense of global interests. At every level of our defense establishments British and American service men and women train together, learn together, develop capability together and, when called upon, fight together.

Standing Together: British and American forces routinely operate side-by-side across a wide range of operations. A century of shared battlefield experience has led to a level of interoperability and familiarity that is unique in its breadth.  This is exemplified in Afghanistan today where the U.S. and UK are the two largest contributors to ISAF, and our Armed Forces are working together to degrade the insurgency and to train and mentor the Afghan Forces to provide security in Afghanistan.  For example, in Helmand province the U.S. Marines' Task Force Leatherneck and the UK-led Task Force Helmand are working together to deliver stability. . . .

Training, Learning, and Developing Together:  The ability of American and British forces to operate on the battlefield effectively is due in large part to the close-knit and constant training and exchange opportunities undertaken together.  As close Allies, the U.S. and UK host each other's forces in order to conduct training, be prepared to forward-deploy when necessary, and in many cases conduct current operations.  The U.S. currently has over 9,000 personnel permanently stationed in the UK, primarily on shared Royal Air Force (RAF) bases such as RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall, where U.S. units conduct fighter, transport, and aerial refueling operations.  The Joint Analysis Center (JAC) at RAF Molesworth is a prime example of cooperation, where U.S. and British analysts monitor the world’s trouble spots together.  All four U.S. services send exchange officers to work with the British services, and exchange both junior and senior military officers with British defense schools.

The UK currently stations over 800 British personnel in the U.S., conducting a wide variety of activities from conducting RPAS (Remotely Pilot Air Systems) operations in Afghanistan from Creech AFB, Nevada, to working side by side with American colleagues on major acquisition projects such as the Joint Strike Fighter and C-17 projects, to working with U.S. counterparts on cyber and space cooperation.  Approximately 200 British officers are on exchange with the American services to develop joint approaches to develop capability and increase interoperability. . . .

Collaborating for the Future: The President and the Prime Minister agreed that both defense departments will continue to push for increased interoperability across the spectrum of military operations after today’s operations come to an end.  The U.S. Defense Strategic Guidance and UK Strategic Defence and Security Review reached many common conclusions, including the need for increased cooperation in dealing with the threats we face. We are committed to working together, and with other close allies, wherever possible.

• Navy -- Secretary Panetta and Secretary Hammond recently signed a Statement of Intent directing the U.S. and Royal Navies to seek ways to better develop aircraft carrier doctrine and maritime power projection capabilities.

• Land -- We will also seek to develop similar initiatives to enhance the already close ground force relationship though increased training opportunities in Europe and unit exchanges in the U.S.

• Air -- The UK is a tier-one partner in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter - a unique program in which each country’s defense industries are sharing in the development of a common platform that will ensure the U.S., UK, and other partners own the cutting edge in air superiority for the next generation.

• Cyber -- The U.S. and UK, along with other capable nations, are working together to protect vital information infrastructure from cyber attack. We are committed to building our interoperability in this vital new space, building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011.

• Space -- The UK and U.S. will work with other partner nations to explore the potential for collaboration and information sharing in this expanding realm of activity.

• Management of defense -- Both countries are committed to ensuring that our Armed Forces have what they need for the future, are given the support they and their families deserve, while maximizing the value of the resources spent on defense. There are many areas where we can work together to make this happen, ranging from our Service Personnel Task Force, to work on future energy requirements, science and technology, to nuclear sharing.

Senate Sunshine
By John Liang
March 14, 2012 at 4:03 PM

A coalition of organizations is urging the Senate Armed Services Committee to make the unclassified portion of its annual defense authorization bill mark-up hearing open to the public again.

"The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last year authorized more than $662 billion of taxpayer dollars for FY 2012, but was drafted and debated behind closed doors in the Senate Armed Services Committee," according to a Project On Government Oversight statement released this morning. The statement further reads:

The "Open NDAA" campaign urges Senators to shine a light on the defense budget by making the draft bill and amendments available in advance of the markup, as well as opening the mark-up -- or committee votes -- to the public.

Because the NDAA is one of the few bills passed annually, it attracts many proposals, some of which would be considered by other committees -- and some have been very controversial.

For the past few years, the SASC has voted to close the entire markup for the NDAA -- instead of closing only the portions of the session dealing with classified information. Last year, 17 senators voted to close the markup and 9 voted against closing the mark-up.

Consequently, POGO today sent thank-you letters to the committee members who in the past have called on re-opening the mark-up process to the public, and a separate letter to those panel members who voted for keeping the mark-up closed urging them to change their minds.

Arctic Access
By John Liang
March 13, 2012 at 9:08 PM

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal year 2012 budget requests of U.S. Northern and Southern commands, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) asked NORTHCOM chief Gen. Charles Jacoby today about the possibility that commercial ships would be regularly transiting the Arctic Ocean for two months out of the year by 2020. Jacoby responded:

Arctic is a unique domain and it's changing every day for us. We work closely with the Canadians on how they think about the Arctic and how they are planning for it. They really are working in three five-year blocks towards some of the same things we are considering.

Today, [U.S. Coast Guard Commandant] Adm. [Robert] Papp and I are going to sign a white paper that we've done -- a capabilities gap assessment, principally in the areas of communications, domain awareness, infrastructure and presence, and what we will recommend for the future that might lead to prudent investments to position us for that eventual opening of the Arctic.

Traffic's already increased over 61 percent in the Arctic since 2008. They'll be drilling starting in the Beaufort Sea prior to the close of the spring, so security interests follow closely behind economic interests, and we will be participating in a number of venues to help lead that for the Department of Defense.

Following a March 2 speech he gave in Louisville, KY, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was asked about climate change and its possible effect on national security. In his response, he touched on the melting polar ice cap:

In addition, obviously, we do look at the polar ice cap and are able through imagery to determine what's happening with polar ice cap and just how quickly is it melting and what that impact will be.  I can tell you.  As the polar ice cap melts, the national security implications are that countries like Russia and others are going to be looking for the opportunity to go into those areas and try to go after the resources in the Arctic.  They've already made claims to that effect.

Further, a Jan. 13 Government Accountability Office report on DOD policy toward the Arctic found:

While DOD has undertaken some efforts to assess the capabilities needed to meet national security objectives in the Arctic, it is unclear whether DOD will be in a position to provide needed capabilities in a timely and efficient manner because it lacks a risk-based investment strategy for addressing near-term needs and a collaborative forum with the Coast Guard for addressing long-term capability needs.

Sequestration Scenarios
By John Liang
March 12, 2012 at 4:20 PM

Credit Suisse, which co-hosted an aerospace and defense conference last week with McAleese and Associates, came away from the event with the notion that while sequestration is "highly unlikely," it's still a "rising concern," according to a just-released research note.

"While we agree the expiring Bush Tax Cuts should drive a negotiated compromise during the lame-duck session, we see increased headline risk building into the summer," the note reads. Further:

Share Downside Outweighs Upside; Boiling Frog Still Possible:  We think defense stocks are discounting zero-to-little chance of Sequestration (which adds >$500B in incremental cuts over 9 years).   We expect ultimate negotiation to yield $100B-$300B in incremental cuts.  However, the closer the end result to the lower end, the greater the chance that further cuts become necessary in the out-years (the Boiling Frog scenario).

The note also lists the companies Credit Suisse analysts had varying degrees of bullishness if sequestration did in fact take place:

* Most Bullish: BA (OP-$85): Based on our discussions, Boeing is the only company specifically preparing for a sequestration.  While it needs new orders to keep the F-18 line open beyond 2014, we see it as best positioned in the near-term.  We note universally positive commentary on Tanker progress from all relevant DoD stakeholders.

* Slightly Bullish: LMT (N-$80): We heard resounding DoD support for F-35, but customer still frustrated by cost & schedule. Int’l demand solid, but buyers laser focused on holding price.  See building confidence in ES revs and IS&GS margins.

* Developing Risk: HII (N-$30): CVN-78 (Ford) is under pressure with overrun currently estimated at >$800M; Congress pushing to zero HII’s profit, although DoD it expected this to mitigate somewhat.

* Incremental: GD (OP-$85): Gulfstream sounds great, Marine sounds good, but Combat remains challenged.  Further, we see risk for GD’s guidance for back-ended 2012 year at IS&T with GD’s expectation for combined effect of likely FY13 CR and Sequester overhang.

Check out InsideDefense.com's coverage of the Credit Suisse conference:

Hale: Costly Submarines Will Force Cuts To Other Priorities

Venlet: Navy To Test F-35C Tailhook Mods This Summer At Pax River

PEO Aircraft Carriers Working To Cut Man Hours, Cost In Future Ships

Mabus: Navy To Move 2,000 Sailors From Desk Jobs To Piers

Venlet: JSF Deferment Will Lead To Pricing Adjustments

Hale: DOD Unmoved By Senator's Warning On More Cuts

Senior Defense Officials: DOD Plans Naval Buildup In Pacific

Nuke Bill
By John Liang
March 9, 2012 at 8:07 PM

House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee Chairman Michael Turner (R-OH) this week introduced legislation that would "directly link reductions in U.S. nuclear forces with successful execution of the president's nuclear modernization plan," according to a statement from his office. Further:

It would require construction of key new plutonium and uranium facilities, prevent asymmetries between the sizes of U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, and codify the President's promise of full funding for modernization of the nuclear stockpile. Further, the bill would refuse funding for implementing the results of the President's ongoing nuclear employment strategy review to allow ample time for Congress to consider it. Reports in the media have stated that the President's review could recommend unilateral reductions of up to 80 percent of U.S. nuclear forces.

Click here to view the bill.

Saudi Sale
By John Liang
March 8, 2012 at 11:21 PM

The Pentagon late this afternoon formally announced the award of an $11.4 billion foreign military sales contract to Boeing for 84 new F-15 fighter aircraft for Saudi Arabia. The agreement to sell the F-15s to the Saudi government was struck last December.

"This particular undefinitized contract action covers development efforts for the new aircraft and retrofit as well as procurement of the 84 new production aircraft," according to a Defense Department statement. "The locations of the performance are El Segundo, CA, Ocala, FL, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Work is expected to be completed October 2020. ASC/WWQ, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, is the contracting activity."

Last month, InsideDefense.com reported that DOD hopes to ratchet up foreign sales of U.S. weapons, seeking new deals that could advance numerous policy aims including higher procurement rates that would aid the U.S. military as it braces for a prolonged period of fiscal belt-tightening. Further:

Acting DOD acquisition chief Frank Kendall told Wall Street investors and defense industry executives that he is working with the Pentagon's top policy official -- who guides decisions about foreign military sales in cooperation with the State Department -- to find ways to facilitate more overseas deals.

"We've always been supportive of FMS but I think we can up our game a little bit," Kendall said at an aerospace and defense conference organized by Cowen and Company, an investment bank. "And maybe in some cases take a look at taking a little bit more risk then we've been willing to take in the past."

Government-to-government sales of U.S. military equipment totaled $28.3 billion in fiscal year 2011, with Afghanistan, Taiwan and India accounting for more than 50 percent of the total, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which manages foreign sales for the Pentagon (DefenseAlert, Dec. 5).

DSCA estimates it will secure foreign military sales worth $30.5 billion this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, a Pentagon official told InsideDefense.com today. If realized, that estimate would reflect a 2.1 percent increase over FY-11.

The $30.5 billion "baseline" forecast does not include the $29.3 billion sale to Saudi Arabia of F-15 fighters and combat helicopters finalized in December. Once the Saudi deal -- an unusually large arms package -- is factored in, the Pentagon estimates foreign military sales in FY-12 will total $59.8 billion, a previously unreported figure.

NNSA And Sequestration
By John Liang
March 8, 2012 at 4:57 PM

If the National Nuclear Security Administration were to face funding cuts due to sequestration, NNSA would have to work with the Defense Department to understand DOD's priorities, the head of NNSA told reporters this morning.

NNSA is actively working on extending the lives of the B61 and W76 nuclear warheads, and studying how it would go about extending the service life of W78 and W88 warheads, according to the agency's fiscal year 2013 budget justification book. If sequestration were to take place, NNSA would "work with [DOD] to figure out which of these three priority projects can we defer, push back the date on, and what's more important," agency Director Thomas D'Agostino said this morning at a Defense Writers Group breakfast, adding:

It's not just us in isolation -- sequestration is a much broader thing for us. I don't want to tell you what gets cut, because I don't know . . . if we would take any kind of cut at all in sequestration. I just don't know. But I will tell you that taking care of the stockpile, doing the surveillance work is kind of No. 1. We will work then with the Defense Department to determine, given the challenges that they might face in this particular environment and determine whether it impacts force structure, and if it does impact force structure . . . then it could impact the systems we work on.

But as Inside Missile Defense reports this week, D'Agostino hopes he won't need a backup plan in the event the federal government goes into sequestration:

"We don't have a sequestration plan," Thomas D'Agostino told members of the House Appropriations energy and water subcommittee at a Feb. 29 hearing on his organization's fiscal year 2013 budget request. "When I think of plans, I think of a . . . written-down document that has been approved in the organization of, if this happens, we're going to implement plan X, Y, and Z over here. I don't have that written-down document."

C-17 Engines To U.K.
By John Liang
March 7, 2012 at 7:41 PM

The Pentagon is asking for congressional permission to sell $300 million worth of C-17A Globemaster engines to the United Kingdom, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement released this afternoon:

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has requested the possible sale of 20 F-117-PW-100 engines, engine exchange kits, support equipment, Global Positioning Systems, communications equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and all other related elements of program support. The proposed sale supports the continued UK access to the United States Air Force/Boeing GLOBEMASTER III Sustainment Partnership program supporting the UK’s fleet of eight Boeing C-17A GLOBEMASTER III aircraft. The estimated cost is $300 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to maintain and improve the security of a key NATO ally that has been, and continues to be, an important force for major political stability and economic progress throughout Europe.

The UK was the first foreign customer for the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III cargo aircraft. Continued sustainment of this system by the UK helps alleviate the burden placed on U.S. forces supporting NATO operations. The C-17 provides the UK with an increased force protection capability that enhances regional and global stability. The UK will have no problem absorbing these additional engines and support into its armed forces.

CAPE Reshuffling
By John Liang
March 6, 2012 at 7:20 PM

The Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office is reshuffling some of its personnel, according to a statement issued this afternoon.

Eric Brumer, head of CAPE's program analysis division, will become director of the office's strategic defensive and space programs division. He will succeed Dennis Evans, who has been appointed director of CAPE's tactical air forces division.

Elaine Simmons, the current tactical air forces head, has been assigned to head CAPE's land forces division, according to the Defense Department.

New Antiterrorism Policy
By John Liang
March 5, 2012 at 6:41 PM

The Pentagon's assistant secretary for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs has been given the antiterrorism (AT) program portfolio, according to a March 1 memo issued by acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller.

Miller's memo states that the ASD(HD&ASA) is now responsible for:

a. Serv[ing] as the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the USD(P) to provide overall direction and supervision for policy development, program planning and execution, and allocation of resources for DoD AT activities  . . .

b. Coordinat[ing] with the Chair of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) Physical Security Review Board on physical security matters that affect DoD AT planning conducted in accordance with DoDI 5200.08 and DoD 5200.08-R . . .

c. Coordinat[ing] with the Chair of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) Physical Security Equipment Action Group on physical security technology development and the application of new technologies to meet AT needs in accordance with DoDI 3224.03 . . .

d. Coordinat[ing] with the CJCS to validate submissions for CCIF requests.

e. Monitor[ing] resource requirements resulting from Joint Staff Integrated Vulnerability Assessment trends in coordination with the CJCS; the USD(AT&L); the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (USD(C))/Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Department of Defense; and the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Overall, the memo decrees DOD's antiterrorism policy as follows:

a. DOD Components and DoD elements and personnel shall be protected from terrorist acts through a high-priority, comprehensive AT program using an integrated systems approach.

b. The DOD AT Program is an element of [Combating Terrorism] and focuses on defensive measures used to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and property to terrorist acts, including rapid containment by local military and civilian forces. The minimum elements of an AT program shall be AT risk management, planning, training and exercises, resource application, and comprehensive program review, as defined in the Glossary. All response planning undertaken pursuant to this Instruction will be consistent to the maximum extent possible with Secretary of Homeland Security Publications. . . . As such, plans for response to a terrorist incident must be incorporated into and synchronized with incident response plans prepared in accordance with [a January 2009 DOD instruction on the Installation Emergency Management Program] to ensure continued application of AT measures throughout the incident.

c. Commanders and DOD civilian managers have the authority to enforce appropriate measures to ensure the protection of DOD elements and personnel subject to their control while pursuing mission accomplishment, and shall ensure the AT awareness and readiness of all DOD elements and personnel assigned or attached.

d. Geographic Combatant Commanders have tactical control (TACON) for force protection (FP) over all DOD personnel within their geographic areas of responsibility (AORs) as directed in Secretary of Defense Memorandum ["DOD Force Protection Responsibilities"], with the exception of DOD personnel for whom the chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions (COMs) have security responsibility as described in [agreements with the State Department regarding the security of DOD personnel at U.S. embassies abroad].

e. The Combatant Commander Initiative Fund (CCIF) or the Combating Terrorism Readiness Initiative Fund (CbT-RIF), if funded, will be maintained as a flexible means to respond to emergent and emergency AT requirements. . . .

f. The standardized DOD methodology described in [a February 2004 "Antiterrorism Handbook"] shall be used to determine the terrorist threat to DOD personnel, facilities, and interests and to establish terrorism threat levels (TTLs).

g. DOD Components shall implement Force Protection Condition (FPCON) measures as outlined in [an October 2006 "antiterrorism standards" instruction memo] in anticipation of or in response to a terrorist threat or attack. Commanders and civilian managers at all levels must continually update risk assessments to ensure all appropriate measures are applied for the mitigation of terrorist threats.

h. DOD elements and personnel shall comply with the theater, country, and special clearance requirements in DoDD 4500.54E and the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide (References (v) and (w)) before traveling outside the United States on official travel.

i. DOD shall assist [the State Department], when feasible and normally on a reimbursable basis, in supporting efforts to protect U.S. citizens abroad in accordance with section 4805 of Reference (l) or other applicable provisions of law. DOD contract provisions shall be developed in accordance with Reference (i) and shall require that contract firms, companies, and entities obtain AOR-specific AT guidance issued by the applicable geographic Combatant Commander, and require compliance by personnel performing DoD contracts outside the United States, consistent with the terms of the contract.

j. DOD will comply with the No-Double-Standard Policy (as described in the Glossary) on the dissemination of terrorist threat information.

Eying China
By Christopher J. Castelli
March 5, 2012 at 6:01 PM

The Defense Department was not surprised by published reports over the weekend that China would boost its defense spending by 11.2 percent, according to Pentagon Press Secretary George Little. The Associated Press reported that China's defense spending would increase in 2012 to $106.4 billion.

"This is not something that was unexpected," Little told reporters today. "They have continued to try to advance their military capabilities. This is not a surprise. The important thing for us, of course, is to continue to forge ways of developing an even-more-cooperative mil-to-mil relationship with Beijing." The recent visit to the Pentagon by China's vice president, Xi Jinping, was an important step, Little said. Xi is slated to be China's next president. DOD believes there is a strong chance that the two militaries can develop greater cooperation, Little said.

The department also wants China to increase transparency about its military investments, Little said, reiterating a mantra that U.S. officials have stated repeatedly in recent years. The Associated Press reported Chinese defense spending may be 50 percent higher than claimed given China excludes outlays for nuclear missiles and other programs. Little could not say whether China is under-reporting its planned military investments at roughly $106 billion. "We assume that number is correct," he said. "I'll leave it to others to make that judgment though."

Panetta On Climate Change
By John Liang
March 2, 2012 at 5:06 PM

Following a speech he gave this morning in Louisville, KY, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was asked about climate change and its possible effect on national security. Here's what he said, according to a Pentagon transcript:

With regards to climate change, the -- actually, what we developed at the CIA was an intelligence branch of the CIA that focused on that issue actually for intelligence purposes, because of the implications that these changes might have with regards to national security.

For example, when we incur greater droughts, when we incur areas that in fact have less rain and are incurring unusual climate impacts, it creates obviously an impact in terms of the population.  It's something we have to be aware of because that can create chaos.  We've seen that happen in Africa.  We've seen that happen in other parts of the world.  So we need to have that kind of intelligence.

In addition, because of the ice melt, there are indications of a rising ocean.  We've already seen that take place.  And there our concern is how will that impact on ports, how will that impact on facilities, how will that impact on low line levels that could be impacted by that?  So we continue to try to get intelligence on that as well.

In addition, obviously, we do look at the polar ice cap and are able through imagery to determine what's happening with polar ice cap and just how quickly is it melting and what that impact will be.  I can tell you.  As the polar ice cap melts, the national security implications are that countries like Russia and others are going to be looking for the opportunity to go into those areas and try to go after the resources in the Arctic.  They've already made claims to that effect.

So clearly as it melts, as those opportunities increase, then there are countries that are going to assert themselves, try to gain access to the resources that are there.  That also constitutes an issue that relates to national security.

So from an intelligence point of view, it's important for us to keep track of those trends.  You know, this isn't about the battle of climate change and the issues related to that.  This is about what we are seeing happen and the intelligence that flows from that.  And that is important for us to consider as we look at issues that can threaten America's national security.

A Defense Science Board report published last November said that the Pentagon must better prepare for conflict and humanitarian disasters triggered by climate change by adopting a raft of alterations to its organization, policy, force structure, facilities, training, security assistance and coordination with other agencies. As InsideDefense.com reported:

The DSB's "Task Force on Trends and Implications of Climate Change for National and International Security" calls on the Pentagon to develop a "strong climate information system database" to predict where weather patterns are likely to cause instability, according to an October report, released this week. The report focuses on the potential for climate change-related crises to affect African nations.

"Climate change will only grow in concern for the United States and its security interests," Paul Kaminski, chairman of the Defense Science Board, writes in an Oct. 4 memo forwarding the task force's recommendations to the Pentagon's acquisition executive. "This report offers guidance to the Department of Defense on how to become a leader in mitigating and adapting to its growing effects."

The task force was directed last year by Ashton Carter, then the Pentagon's top acquisition official, to conduct a sweeping assessment of the trends and implications of climate change for national and international security. Carter has since been named deputy defense secretary.

The Defense Department, according to the task force, "can play an important role by providing climate change data and warning" as well as assisting foreign militaries in understanding how dramatic weather events could impact their force structure, facilities and overall security situation.

"Climate change is likely to have the greatest impact on security through its indirect effects on conflict and vulnerability," states the report. "Climate change is more likely to be an exacerbating factor for failure to meet basic human needs and for social conflict, rather than the root cause."

Dicks To Retire
By Christopher J. Castelli
March 2, 2012 at 4:52 PM

House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) is praising Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), the panel's top Democrat and a big Boeing proponent, following Dicks' announcement today that he plans to retire from Congress at the end of the year.

“Norm Dicks and I have been friends and colleagues for many years, and I have rarely had the chance to work with someone of his decency, strong work ethic, jovial character, and honesty," Rogers said in a statement. "He has served this institution with dignity and a true dedication to the people of the 6th District of Washington. Despite our ideological differences, Norm has never hesitated to work together to maintain the comity and spirit of bipartisanship that is the hallmark of the Appropriations Committee. I look forward to working side by side with Norm over the next few months, and will truly miss his presence in the next Congress. I wish him all the best in this next stage of life.”