Sample Cabinet Releases - by Targeted News Service

DOD ANNOUNCES IRAQ FORCE ADJUSTMENTS

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following press release:

The Department of Defense announced today a decision to not deploy portions of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based atFort Riley, Kansas to Iraq, and to modify the deployment orders of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany, to remain in Kuwait as a call-forward force.

This decision will result in a reduction of U.S. force levels of approximately two combat brigade-equivalents, or about 7,000 troops, in Iraq. This will bring the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15. The size and composition of the U.S. force in Iraq will continue to fluctuate as commanders continue to shift focus from combat operations to training and supporting the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). This will include increases in the number of U.S. forces involved in transition teams, intelligence support and logistics, to assist the ISF in continuing to assume responsibility for the security of their country. The effect of these adjustments will likely reduce the forces in Iraq by the Spring of 2006 below the 138,000 baseline.

This decision follows the demonstrated capabilities of Iraqi Security Forces in establishing primary security conditions in the recent Iraqi elections. Continued success in the handover of security responsibilities is making this U.S. force adjustment possible.

Elements of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will deploy to conduct missions such as providing security forces and conducting transition training for Iraqi Security Forces. U.S. and Coalition forces will continue to work with the Iraqi government to help strengthen the Iraqi security-related Ministries, and train professional Iraqi security forces.

The 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division has already deployed to Kuwait and will remain there available as a call-forward force for the commander, U.S. Central Command to support operations in Iraq. The decision on the length of the brigade's deployment will be based on the situation in Iraq. The deployment continues the U.S. commitment to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), yet provides the U.S. Central Command with flexibility in order to adjust to the conditions in Iraq.

U.S. troop numbers may continue to fluctuate in response to conditions and requirements as assessed by U.S. commanders. Commanders will continue to assess the situation on the ground for future force-level adjustments. We will continually adjust our military posture as conditions evolve and Iraqi capabilities grow.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INTRODUCES RISK-BASED FORMULA FOR URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANTS

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today $765 million in direct funding for high threat urban areas as part of the fiscal year 2006 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). UASI provides resources for the unique equipment, training, planning, and exercise needs of select high threat urban areas.

"The department is investing federal funding into our communities facing the greatest risk and demonstrating the greatest need in order to receive the highest return in our nation's security," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Our nation's preparedness and the support of our emergency responders on the frontlines of the war against terrorism must be a shared effort. We will continue to champion funding on the basis of risk and need, and we urge Congress to do the same to ensure that our finite resources are allocated and prioritized successfully."

In fiscal year 2006, the department identified 35 areas eligible to apply for and receive funding. These 35 areas encompass 95 cities with populations of 100,000 or more. This year's formula promotes a "super" UASI concept that is designed to build greater regional capabilities across a geographic area. In addition, 11 urban areas from the fiscal year 2005 UASI have been identified as eligible to apply for sustainment funding in fiscal year 2006, to ensure that strategic investments made thus far can be completed and to identify projects that, if funded, would significantly reduce risk.

All eligible applicants must submit an investment justification, which identifies needs and outlines the intended security enhancement plan to be addressed with funding, to meet the target capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal. Investment justifications will be reviewed, scored, and prioritized along with risk factors to determine which investments should be funded to best address need and minimize risk.

The fiscal year 2006 UASI list of eligible applicants and recipients is determined through a robust risk formula that considers three primary variables: consequence, vulnerability, and threat. Factors such as the presence of international borders, population and population density, the location of critical infrastructure, formal mutual aid cooperation, law enforcement investigations and enforcement activity are considered in correlation with the risk formula for UASI determinations.

Cities on the UASI list with shared boundaries were combined for fiscal year 2006 into a single entity and urbanized areas outside the official city limits were also included in order to establish a geographic area for enhanced risk analysis, reflecting a regional approach to shared risk and risk-mitigation. Other expansions to the program in fiscal year 2006 include the incorporation of threat analysis from intelligence community products that reflect risk as seen through various attack modes, such as the incorporation of transient populations and greater depth and breadth in infrastructure data.

More than $2.1 billion has been allocated through UASI since the 2003 fiscal year. Since 9/11, $8.6 billion has been provided in overall grant funding to states and territories to enhance first responder capabilities in preventing, protecting and responding to acts of terrorism.

U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, EDUCATION TO HOST U.S. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS SUMMIT

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following press release:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will co-host the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education January 5-6, 2006, in Washington, DC. The Secretaries will engage leaders of U.S. higher education in a renewed partnership to strengthen international education, emphasizing its importance to the national interest. Secretaries Rice and Spellings have called this Summit, organized by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to initiate a dialogue on the need for government to work collaboratively with the non-governmental sector on the future of U.S. higher education in a global arena.

"Through this Summit, Secretary Rice and Secretary Spellings and their respective Departments want to reach out to college and university presidents to reinforce a common interest in attracting foreign students and scholars to U.S. institutions," notes Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. "Of equal importance is seeking investment in educating globally competitive U.S. students to work in fields of international interest."

Summit attendees will represent the full richness and diversity of the higher education system in the United States, coming from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and will include leading public and private research institutions, as well as community colleges, historically black institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, religiously affiliated institutions, and women's colleges. Also invited are the principal presidential higher education associations and the heads of the federal science and humanities bodies.

The Summit will focus on how to attract foreign students and scholars to study in the United States, as well as how to encourage more American students to receive part of their education abroad. In addition, participants will discuss marketing of U.S. higher education programs abroad, reaching out to underserved populations, understanding visa and regulatory processes, cooperating to meet exchange priorities, and utilizing fully the international education resources of community colleges. The Summit will also draw attention to the key investments required to strengthen international higher education for Americans, including increasing access to study abroad, encouraging non-traditional study abroad locations, strengthening non-traditional language acquisition, developing dynamic international strategies at U.S. universities and colleges, and engaging the public and private sectors in a shared national vision for the future.