Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 25. Oktober 2011 / Time Line October 25, 2011
Version 3.524. Oktober 2011, 26. Oktober 2011
10/25/2011
Panetta Discusses
Okinawa Issues During Japan Visit
By Karen Parrish, American Forces Press Service
TOKYO, Oct. 25, 2011 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and
Japanese leaders discussed the relocation of U.S. forces on Okinawa
and other security issues during a series of meetings here
today.
Panetta met separately with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda,
Foreign Affairs Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Yasuo
Ichikawa. In a joint news conference, Panetta and Ichikawa told
reporters both are committed to the realignment roadmap and
strengthening the U.S-Japan military alliance.
The secretary said all three Japanese officials confirmed their
government is working to complete the environmental impact
assessment required to move ahead with the plan that will
significantly adjust U.S. forces on Okinawa. The 2006 roadmap
signed by Japan and the United States would relocate Marine Corps
Air Station Futenma, now in the center of Okinawa's Ginowan City,
to a more remote area of the island. The plan also would move about
8,000 Marines now based on Okinawa to Guam.
10/25/2011
NNSA Announces Dismantlement of Last B53 Nuclear Bomb
1960s-era system eliminated as President Barack Obama seeks to reduce
the number of nuclear weapons WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that the
last B53 nuclear bomb has been dismantled. The announcement was
made at a ceremony at NNSA’s Pantex Plant outside Amarillo,
Texas. Officials from the Department of Energy, National Nuclear
Security Administration and Pantex joined elected officials to
commemorate the dismantlement of the final B53 nuclear bomb.
The dismantlement of the 1960s-era weapon system is consistent with
President Obama’s goal of reducing the number of nuclear
weapons. In his 2009 speech in Prague, the President said “We
will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security
strategy, and urge others to do the same.” The dismantlement
of the last remaining B53 ensures that the system will never again
be part of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
"The dismantlement of the B53 bomb - the oldest weapon in America's
arsenal and one of the largest in U.S. history - is a major
accomplishment that has made the world safer and for which everyone
involved should be proud," said Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel
Poneman. "Safely and securely dismantling surplus weapons is a
critical step along the road to achieving President Obama's vision
of a world without nuclear weapons."
NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National
Laboratories designed the B53 bomb and after being introduced into
the stockpile in 1962, the B53 served a key role in the United
States’ nuclear deterrent until its retirement in 1997. The
B53 bomb is one of the longest lived and highest yield nuclear
weapons ever fielded. Its sheer size and weight – about the
size of a minivan and approximately 10,000 pounds – provided
many challenges for the project team responsible for developing a
dismantlement program that meets the requirements of NNSA’s
rigorous SS-21 process.
Editors note: The B53 was built at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant
in Burlington, Iowa.
10/25/2011
Romney Pledges Triple Fence
By Don Monkerud
Not to be outdone by rivals, Mitt Romney recently attacked illegal
immigrants with a pledge to build a triple fence along the entire
length of U.S. Mexican border.
The three-layer fence would include a 52-foot wall built with
materials imported from Israel, a 40-foot electric fence, and a
series of posts, manned by troops pulled from Afghanistan and Iraq.
A militia sponsored by Rural American Tribunal, or RAT, will
establish additional barriers.
"Some think a 52-foot-high fence is overkill, but I heard if we
built a 50-foot fence, someone would build a 51-foot ladder," said
Romney. "So we have to go higher."
The original fence, begun by George W. Bush in 2005, was intended
to deter terrorists after they already attacked. After spending a
billion dollars on the first mile of fencing, and building an
additional 7000 miles through Los Angeles, the Department of
Homeland Security discovered Halliburton had over-charged. After
breaking 40 Federal laws to build the fence, an electronic fence
built from used Nintendo kits replaced the original plan. That too
was abandoned after dozens of Sarah Palin's hairdressers escaped
detection while crossing the border.
"Michele Bachmann's double fence is a good idea but it isn't
enough," Romney told a cheering audience at Oral Roberts Junior
Lawyer's Conference in Faith, Texas. "I will build four, five, six
fences if necessary, but I will not let illegal aliens disrupt my
campaign."
Romney's proposal is a response to recent calls by GOP rivals
Michelle Bachmann, who views illegal immigration as " a sin against
God and Country," and Herman Cain, who wants to electrocute illegal
immigrants." Bachmann recently signed a pledge by the Securing Our
Homeland Foundation, promising to complete the fence, and Herman
Cain is recording a new song, "No Pizza for Immigrants," based on
"When Everyone Becomes Unfaithful," a WWII German marching
song.
"Illegal immigration has cost American taxpayers $100 trillion
dollars, and it, not the banks, caused the recent recession,"
Romney told students. "We can't allow lazy people to come to this
country, have babies and get on welfare. When I'm president, we'll
greet them with a hail of bullets."
Bernie Makeoff, along with top scholars from the Center for
Reclaiming America for the Ladder Day Saints, the Ron Paul Scouts
of Alabama, and the Oral Roberts University Glee Club assisted in
developing the plan. Among the most influential advisors is
104-year-old Thomas Sht. Mole, former editor for the Desert Rats
News in Dogcollar, Utah.
"The House passed a bill to remove legal protection of gays and
lesbians, and they'll soon remove legal barriers to mistreating
illegal aliens," said Sht. Mole. " They will be fair game, and we
will be able to legally tell fag and wetback jokes again."
The Romney campaign expects to unveil several new initiatives in
the coming weeks to gain support of Republicans. Under
consideration are plans to elevate the Book of Moron to a
foundation document along with the Bible and the Constitution, to
execute women who exercise their right to an abortion, and to
replace the President's Cabinet with war, oil and gas, banking, and
insurance ministries.
"By streamlining the Cabinet, we can run government more like a
business," Romney said. "These are the players who pay to play; we
won't waste time on unemployed citizens."
Romney is also seeking approval from Americans for the Rich of an
entrance fee for anyone entering America. The group's no taxes
ever-anywhere pledge was signed by 485 GOP presidential contenders.
A complication is being worked out with the Workers Enslavement
Federation and the Chamber of Commerce, who want to extend the fee
to everyone in America making less than one million dollars a
year.
"I'll impose mandatory citizenship training at Disney World for all
new immigrants to create jobs," Romney told the students as they
threw tiny crosses on the stage.
A new plan to overhaul the nation's legal system includes allowing
religious denominations to create their own lists of sins and
misdemeanors. The code would replace our "overcomplicated legal
system."
"A one-size-fits-all approach in a faith-based world is outmoded,"
said Romney. "My new legal system will take into account a person's
beliefs. It doesn't matter if someone committed the crime. It's
what's in their heart that counts."
The new plan is based on the Mormon doctrine that everyone sins,
and whether they should be punished depends on whether they
faithfully wear their magic underwear. This will enable them to
become saints and contribute to Bishop Romney's campaign.
Some of the more egregious plans, such as abolishing the
environment, declaring war on the United Nations, and putting
America on the gold standard, may not make it through the vetting
process. Ditto for a proposal that all GOP nominees for office must
make over $50 million a year.
The jury is still out on whether these proposals will be enough to
win support from conservative voters. Confidential sources reveal
that Romney may be over-relying on his magical underwear to protect
him from Republican rivals for the presidential nomination.
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