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April 27, 2012
April 27, 2012 | Testimony on North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Chairman Burton, Ranking Member Meeks, Members of the Committee, I am honored to speak to you today about the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago.
My name is Luke Coffey. I am the Margaret Thatcher Fellow in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation. The views I express in this testimony are my own, and should not be construed as representing any official position of The Heritage Foundation.
Having lived and worked in Europe dealing with defense and political issues for the past ten years before recently joining the Heritage Foundation, I have first hand understanding why a strong trans-Atlantic relationship is a necessity for America, and not a luxury. This is why the Summit in Chicago will be so important.
On May 20-21, 2012, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold its first summit in the U.S. in more than 13 years. This will also be the first NATO summit in the U.S. ever to be held outside Washington, D.C.[1] The theme running through the conference is expected to be renewing the transatlantic relationship between North America and Europe.
The agenda is likely to contain three major items:
Other issues, such as solidifying agreements made at the Lisbon Summit on NATO transformation, the future of NATO's ballistic missile defense, NATO's open door to enlargement, and the future of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, will also be addressed at the Summit.
Absent from the Summit will be enlargement, even though Macedonia is more than ready to formally join the alliance; Russia, which has chosen not to attend; and any meaningful discussion on Syria.
This Summit will also bring unique challenges for some NATO leaders. With the U.S. presidential election being held later this year the Administration will want a carefully choreographed and "good news" summit. The British Prime Minister David Cameron will be attending the Summit at a time when he is experiencing his lowest poll numbers since the election in May 2010. Finally, whoever wins the second round of the French presidential election on May 6 will be heading straight into the NATO Summit only a fortnight later.
In November 2010 NATO leaders met in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Alliance's 24th Summit. The main focus of this summit was publishing NATO's new Strategic Concept, which defined the Alliance's strategic priorities for the next decade. However, what the Summit was most remembered for was the formal beginning of the Afghan transition strategy and agreement by NATO to end combat operations by the end of 2014.
There were several notable outcomes of the Lisbon Summit:
Transition plan for Afghanistan. In addition to the usual Summit Declaration, two Afghan related declarations were also agreed: Declaration by NATO and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on an Enduring Partnership and the Declaration by the Heads of State and Government of the Nations contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The Summit formally agreed that ISAF-led combat operations would end in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 with full security transition to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) taking place during this time.
The publication of the Strategic Concept. This was the third NATO Strategic Concept published since the end of the Cold War. The document aims to chart a path for NATO over the next decade by examining what capabilities the Alliance will need in order to best be prepared for future threats.
NATO Transformation. This was probably the biggest accomplishment of the Summit but the one left largely unnoticed. After decades of bloated and costly NATO command structures, the new command structure agreed at Lisbon represents a significant reduction in the number of headquarters and in manpower totaling a savings of 35%. Also, agreed was the reforming and consolidation of NATO's 14 Agencies with the aim of reducing this number to three: namely the Communications and Information (C&I) Agency, the Support Agency, and the Procurement Agency.[2]
NATO-Russia relations. There was a NATO-Russia Council meeting at Lisbon which focused on mutual security concerns including Afghanistan, regional terrorism, and counternarcotics. Although vague, there was language in the Summit Declaration that invited Russia to cooperate with NATO on missile defense. However, there was also strong language in the Declaration calling on Russia "to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states."
In addition, NATO agreed at the Lisbon Summit to:
Develop a missile defense capability to protect all NATO European populations, territory, and forces.
Continue to review NATO's overall defense and deterrence posture. This further delayed the decision on U.S. tactical Nuclear weapons in Europe.
Maintain its open door policy for democratic European countries wishing to join the Alliance. Although NATO didn't grant Georgia a Membership Action Plan, the Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to eventual Georgian membership agreed at the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest.
The current situation in Afghanistan remains stable but fragile. As a result of the surge of U.S. and coalition troops, and the implementation of a robust population-centric counterinsurgency strategy in 2010, there have been notable security gains on the ground.
Levels of violence are also lower across the country, and the recent attacks in Kabul should not be viewed in isolation. Although Kabul accounts for almost 15% of Afghanistan's population, the city accounts for less than 1% of the country's violence. Nationally, the level of enemy-initiated attacks during the last three months is 21% lower compared with the same period in 2011. Each month since May 2011 had fewer enemy-initiated attacks than the corresponding month one year before. This is the longest sustained downward trend in enemy-initiated attacks recorded by ISAF. [3]
Since late 2009 the main effort for the military campaign in Afghanistan has been in the south and southwest of the country—mainly in Zabul, Kandahar, and Helmand provinces. This was considered to be the center of gravity for the Taliban-based insurgency. With the security situation largely improved in the southwest of Afghanistan[4] the main effort will shift to the east of the country, primarily Paktika, Paktiya and Khost provinces (known as the P2K region). This area is directly across the border from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, contains many of the traditional avenues of approach from the Pakistani border regions to Kabul, and is the operating home base for the Haqqani Network. Also, securing Highway One between Kabul and Kandahar will be a priority for ISAF.
At the 2010 Lisbon Summit NATO agreed on a plan to transition security responsibility to the Afghans. The first tranche of provinces, districts, and municipalities comprising 25% of Afghanistan's population was handed over to the Afghans in July 2011. The second tranche of provinces, districts, and municipalities to be transitioned was announced in November 2011. Currently, the Afghans have the security lead for more than 50% of the country's population.[5] The next round of transition will take place before this summer and the final stages are expected to be decided at the Chicago Summit. The goal is that by the end of 2014 all of Afghanistan would have transitioned over to Afghan security lead.
For the Chicago Summit to be considered a success two outcomes regarding Afghanistan must be realized.
First, even as more of the country is transitioning from ISAF to Afghan security lead this cannot be used as an excuse for countries to leave Afghanistan prematurely. Any withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan must be based on improved conditions on the ground and on military advice. When these security conditions are met, NATO's withdrawal should be a phase-out and not a walkout.
The language used in the Lisbon Declaration stated that "transition will be conditions-based, not calendar-driven, and will not equate to withdrawal of ISAF-troops."[6] Since then the use of "conditions-based" language has all but disappeared. NATO leaders must ensure that similar language is used in the Chicago Declaration. However, words are not enough and NATO must implement a conditions-based strategy in practice.
Many European NATO allies are coming under considerable public and political pressure to leave Afghanistan. The situation was exacerbated earlier this year when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated that the transition process could be completed by 2013[7]—earlier than the end of 2014 deadline agreed at the Lisbon Summit.[8] Comments suggesting that the U.S. may end combat operations earlier than agreed at the Lisbon Summit could potentially persuade many of our European allies to leave Afghanistan sooner than originally planned.
The UK will soon decide its rate of withdrawal when its National Security Council meets later this year. In fact, it would come as no surprise if Prime Minster Cameron announced further troop reductions at Chicago. Such an announcement would be popular back in the UK at a time when the government is polling low. It is well known across Whitehall that there are cabinet members in the British government who would leave Afghanistan tomorrow if given the opportunity.
Some European partners have announced troop reductions for 2012. The issue of Afghanistan has featured prominently in the recent French presidential campaign. President Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to speed up France's withdrawal timetable, pulling out 1,000 troops instead of the originally planned 600 by the end of 2012 with the rest of French troops leaving the country by the end of 2013.[9] His socialist presidential contender, Francois Hollande, has campaigned on bringing all French troops home in 2012.
Most recently, Australia has announced that all of its troops will be leaving Afghanistan by the end of 2013 instead of the end of 2014, as previously planned. There are concerns in Australia that this announcement was politically motivated by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, as the new timeline of withdrawal would mean that Australian troops would be home before the next general election.[10]
On a positive note, it is worth pointing out that Georgia is the only country committing more troops to Afghanistan in 2012. It will be doubling its contribution later this year in Helmand Province, making it the largest per capita troop contributing nation in ISAF—an example for all of NATO.
Secondly, there must be some clear commitment to Afghanistan made for the NATO-Afghan relationship post 2015. Afghanistan will need financial support from the international community for the foreseeable future.
A major part of the post-2015 commitment to Afghanistan will be mentoring, training, and funding the ANSF. The current size of the Afghan National Army is 176,350 and more than 143,000 for Afghan National Police. Added to this will be integrating the members of the Afghan Local Police[11] program currently numbering around 12,000 personnel with a goal of 30,000.[12]
Under current plans the total number of the ANSF is expected to fall to 240,000 sometime after 2014. This will come with a price tag of approximately $4 billion per year for the international community— or equal to what the U.S. currently spends every 12 days in Afghanistan.[13] While an agreement may not be finalized at Chicago, it is important that the groundwork is laid for the next international summit on Afghanistan in Tokyo this summer.
However, there is currently a debate inside NATO on how big the ANSF should be. Of course, this will affect its future funding requirements. NATO leaders should not be tempted to reduce the size and capability of the ANSF, and therefore the security of the Afghans, simply for financial reasons. As the Afghan Defense Minister, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, recently pointed out:
Nobody at this moment, based on any type of analysis, can predict what will be the security situation in 2014. That's unpredictable. Going lower [in Afghan troop numbers] has to be based on realities on the ground. Otherwise it will be a disaster, it will be a catastrophe, putting at risk all that we have accomplished together with so much sacrifice in blood and treasure.[14]
The ANSF are for the first time reaching a standard of capability required to carry out autonomous operations. The ANSF are far from being perfect, but that was never the goal. The goal is to get the forces to a level where they can handle the insurgency themselves, without tens of thousands of Western troops on the ground. Paraphrasing T. E. Lawrence on the Arabs, it is better that they do it tolerably than we do it perfectly.
Smart Defense
After Afghanistan, the Smart Defense initiative will feature prominently on the Summit's agenda.
According to the NATO website, Smart Defense aims to encourage allies to cooperate in developing, acquiring, and maintaining military capabilities in a more economically efficient manner in the new age of economic austerity and defense cuts. In sum, the goal is to do more with less as a result of changing NATO members' mindset on how to do business and being "smarter" when investing in defense capabilities.
Smart Defense is the brainchild of the NATO Secretary General and he has invested a lot of personnel and political capital in developing it. While the aims of Smart Defense are noble, and the plan is ambitious, it is likely to amount to very little in terms of substance and real capability. For this reason NATO leaders should avoid placing all of their hope on Smart Defense as the panacea for NATO's capability shortfalls.
Although Smart Defense was not a Lisbon Summit issue, the leaders of NATO endorsed the Lisbon Package of reforms which planted the seed of Smart Defense.
The goal of the Lisbon Package was to provide a renewed focus inside the Alliance to ensure that critical capabilities required by members were available on time and on budget. In turn, this would allow NATO to meet the demands of its ongoing operations, prepare for evolving and emerging security challenges, and acquire key enabling capabilities.[15] While NATO has been good at identifying the trend of future threats, its members have not been good at funding the capabilities needed to address them.
As Libya and other NATO campaigns have demonstrated time and again, Europe relies too much on the U.S. to pick up the slack when key enablers such as air-to-air refueling and ISTAR are required for Alliance operations. This is mainly the result of a decrease in defense investment by the members of NATO since the end of the Cold War and the lack of political will to use military capability when and where it is needed.
Many leaders in Europe say that the first duty of government is the defense of the realm, but few leaders actually implement this view in practice. Spending is about setting national priorities. To this end Europeans have become complacent about their own defense and overly dependent on the U.S. security umbrella.
Since 2008 16 European members of NATO have decreased their military spending. Real-terms declines for many of these countries have exceeded 10%.[16] Information provided by NATO shows that in 2011 just three of the 28 NATO members—the United States, Britain, and Greece—spent the 2% of GDP on defense that is required. As expected, France fell below the 2% mark in 2011.[17] However, Estonia claims it might reach the 2% requirement this year.[18]
To put this into perspective, with an annual budget of $4.5 billion, New York City spends more on policing than 13 NATO members spend on defense.
The UK is currently meeting the 2% benchmark only because of its expenditure on combat operations in Afghanistan. The current British government has only committed to the 2% benchmark through the end of its current Parliament in 2015.[19] It is difficult to tell if America's number one ally will even meet the NATO threshold by 2015.
What makes this even more worrying is that the definition used by NATO to define what can be counted towards the 2% benchmark is very generous. It includes the core defense budget, extra expenditure on operations, and expenditure on military pensions. Even so, only a handful can meet this benchmark of 2%.
Spending on European Union (EU) defense initiatives also exacerbates the dire financial situation since it diverts scarce resources away from NATO. For example the proposal to create a permanent EU headquarters would have cost hundreds of million of euros at a time when NATO is streamlining and reducing the number of its headquarters. Thankfully, this was vetoed by the British.
Every euro or pound spent on EU defense is one less that could be invested in NATO. For this reason the U.S. should send a clear and unequivocal message that it does not support EU defense investment and integration.
Proponents of EU defense integration argue that EU capabilities can be also be made available to NATO. I would caution against the belief that capabilities developed through the EU will be readily available for NATO. There are six veto-wielding members of the EU that are not members of NATO. Some of which, for example Cyprus, are politically hostile towards NATO as an alliance.
The European Union can never be a serious defense actor, because it has six neutral member states[20] and it excludes two important NATO defense partners, Norway and Turkey, from its defense and security decision-making process. Furthermore, NATO and the EU cannot formally cooperate because Cyprus regularly blocks NATO–EU cooperation for self-serving reasons. Therefore, EU defense initiatives are not only a waste of resources but also are politically pointless.
At the Chicago Summit we can expect NATO to agree on a number of Smart Defense measures. These measures will include areas such as force protection, communication, surveillance and intelligence gathering, and missile defense.
However, some of NATO's best examples of Smart Defense have proven to be neither new nor smart. For example, two examples of Smart Defense regularly given are Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS) and Baltic Air Policing.
Allied Ground Surveillance is a NATO initiative designed to increase the Alliance's intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities. However, the development and agreement of AGS by NATO took 20 years—hardly a model for Smart Defense.
The addition of Baltic Air Policing in 2004 was the natural extension of the comprehensive system of air surveillance that has been in place since the 1970s—not particularly a new way of doing business.
It is also expected that the Chicago Summit will formally approve the Secretary General's Connected Forces Initiative as a key part of Smart Defense. According to the Secretary General the Connected Forces Initiative will complement Smart Defense by "mobilizing all of NATO's resources so we strengthen our ability to work together in a truly connected way." There are three parts to the Connected Forces Initiative:
For Smart Defense to work there must be willingness by NATO members to potentially give up certain capabilities so that the Alliance can collectively fund and maintain them. However, there is a risk that the capability being shared by NATO won't be available, or be authorized for use, when it might be needed by a member state.
For example, AWAC[22] planes have been shared by the Alliance since 1982. This has allowed member states to pool a niche capability that allowed them to free up investment for other capabilities. However, during the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war Turkey requested support from NATO, in the form of NATO AWACs, to defend its airspace, against possible Iraqi intrusion. Initially, this request for NATO support was vetoed by Germany, Belgium, and France on the grounds that any move by NATO to protect Turkey's airspace would be implicit support of the pending U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Eventually an agreement was made and NATO assets were deployed but only after a parliamentary procedure was used allowing NATO to agree to deployment inside its Defense Planning Committee, which at the time did not include France. With French opposition sidelined, Germany and Belgium eventually supported the move. If it wasn't for this fact Turkey would have been denied the use of a capability that it had invested in and in which it thought was required for its national security.
A similar situation occurred with AWACs during the recent NATO-led Libya operation. Germany would not allow its crews to operate the NATO AWACs over Libya so German crews had to backfill other NATO crews serving in Afghanistan so they could be diverted to support NATO operations over Libya.
The Smart Defense initiative runs the risk of allowing European countries to believe that they can do more with less, when in actuality they will be doing less with less. Smart Defense has been the topic of countless conferences, meetings, and seminars across Europe but has resulted in very little beyond a list of aspirations. The language describing Smart Defense may read well in a Summit Declaration but until there is real money, backing up real investment, delivering real capability to the modern-day battlefield this will be meaningless to the men and women serving on the front lines.
For Smart Defense to work, it requires real military capability and real money. No clever nomenclature can get around this problem.
NATO Partnerships
The 2010 Strategic Concept states that cooperative security is one of NATO's three essential core tasks[23]. As NATO becomes a security actor in more places around the world the Alliance will have to continuously adjust how it manages its external relationships.
There is not a NATO led mission currently taking place that does not include non-NATO partners. There are 22 non-NATO partners in Afghanistan.[24] There are seven non-NATO partners in Kosovo as part of NATO's KFOR, including more than hundred Moroccans.[25] NATO's counter-piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield, regularly cooperates with non-NATO countries, including Russia and India. Most recently, the NATO led operation in Libya included four non-NATO partners. So it is important that NATO is able to plan, coordinate, and fight alongside non-NATO partners.
Currently, NATO manages its relationships with regional and global partners through a myriad of networks with non-NATO countries. These are:
The Euro Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace. These form the basis of NATO's relations with Euro-Atlantic partners who are not formally part of the alliance for various reasons.
The Mediterranean Dialogue. Launched in 1994, this grouping forms the basis of NATO's relations with its Mediterranean partners. Participants include Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. Although these relations are normally done on a bilateral basis (NATO+1) there have been occasions when this forum meets as NATO+7, meaning Israel would be at the same table as some of its regional neighbors, where it otherwise would not be.
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Launched in 2004, this grouping forms the basis of NATO's relations with the Gulf States. Initially all six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council were invited to join but only four, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait, have become participants so far.
Contact Countries or Global Partners. This concept allows NATO to cooperate with countries well out of the traditional Euro-Atlantic area such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
Any nation participating in any of these schemes can also agree to establish an Individual and Partnership Cooperation Program (IPCP).[26] The IPCP allows increased political and security cooperation on a bilateral basis in order to meet the specific needs of the participating country.
The Lisbon Summit Declaration agreed to further develop political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO partner nations. The importance of these relationships was strongly reiterated but there were few concrete proposals beyond the usual flowery language to take these relations to the next level.
Although it has been touted as one of the big three agenda items, it is unclear how NATO leaders plan to enhance NATO's partnerships at Chicago. However, in light of the 2011 popular uprisings across North Africa and the Middle-East, the nuclear threat from Iran, and the recent NATO-led operation in Libya, many in NATO have rightly decided to place a renewed focus on how NATO works with regional partners on its periphery.
To date both the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative have received mere lip service. Beyond the occasional meeting or limited joint training exercises little has been done between NATO and these organizations. One proposal that could come out of Chicago would be a formal invitation for Libya to join the Mediterranean Dialogue. This idea has already been floated by the U.S. Ambassador to NATO.[27] This would illustrate NATO's commitment to the new Libyan government simply formalize an already existing relationship.
Building on lessons learned from Libya there could be more concrete proposals to enhance the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. For the first time air forces from the UAE and Qatar were fully integrated into a NATO command during the Libyan operation. This experience could be used to increase cooperation and reach out to other countries in the Middle East who are not participating in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. . The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, with its focus on the Gulf region, could become increasingly important as Iran continues to develop its nuclear weapons program.
In the Mediterranean Dialogue only Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia have IPCPs with NATO. None of the participants in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative have an IPCP with NATO. The Chicago Summit could offer an opportunity to invite Gulf States like Qatar and the UAE, both of which have proven to be credible partners, to agree to IPCPs with NATO.
Absent from the Summit's agenda: the enlargement of NATO. Since taking office, President Obama has done little to support the membership of qualified candidates.
NATO's "open door policy" is critical to mobilizing Europe and its allies around a collective transatlantic defense. According to Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, any European state that fulfills the requirements of the treaty and demonstrates the competency to contribute to the alliance's security is eligible for membership. The U.S. should take steps to make sure that the open door policy is not stifled.
There are four countries that are considered NATO aspirant countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, and Montenegro. On a positive note there is expected to be a "NATO+4" meeting during the Summit.
Macedonia. Upon completing its Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2008, Macedonia anticipated an invitation to join the alliance at the NATO summit in Bucharest. Yet, despite fulfilling all necessary requirements for membership, Macedonia's accession was unilaterally vetoed by Greece, with which Skopje is engaged in a long-standing dispute regarding its constitutional name. The International Court of Justice found last December that Greece's veto was in blatant violation of the 1995 United Nations-brokered Interim Accord, in which Athens agreed not to impair Macedonia's integration into Europe. Greece has jeopardized NATO's open door policy and NATO members should pressure Greece to work with Macedonia to seek reconciliation.
Montenegro. Montenegro is making steady progress in its path toward NATO membership. Having received a MAP in 2009, Montenegro is currently in its second Annual National Program (ANP) cycle. Despite its progress, Montenegro will not be ready to join the alliance by May.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Offered its MAP in 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina must make substantial improvements politically and militarily before it can be considered a serious NATO aspirant. Bosnia and Herzegovina has made some progress and has even deployed troops to Afghanistan. However, before its government can begin work on the MAP, it must register all immovable defense properties as state property, for use by the country's defense ministry. Little progress on this has been made.
Georgia. At the Bucharest Summit in 2008, Georgia was promised NATO membership. However, owing to opposition from France and Germany, the alliance substituted a MAP for the NATO–Georgia Commission. Unfortunately, the NATO–Georgia Commission is not expected to meet during the Chicago Summit.
Georgia has made significant strides toward defense reform and spends approximately 4 percent of GDP on defense, when the NATO average is less than half of that. While many NATO members have announced troop reductions in Afghanistan for 2012, Georgia is the only country committing more troops to the mission this year. Georgia has become a serious security actor in recent years. In addition to Afghanistan, Georgia has contributed to peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and, at the time of the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, was the second-largest troop contributor to Iraq after the United States.
The biggest hurdle for Georgian membership from a western perspective is the continued Russian occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, equating to 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory. Privately, Georgian officials say that they are happy to accept a NATO membership arrangement/compromise that temporarily excludes the two occupied territories from NATO's Article 5 security guarantee until there is a peaceful resolution to the matter with the Russians. NATO should continue to support and assist with Georgia's reform process and offer a MAP. However, the U.S. should also point out that MAP is not the only way towards NATO membership.
In conclusion, it is in America's interest to see a successful Summit. With the perception that the Administration is shifting its defense priorities from Europe to Asia, America's NATO allies should not be forgotten. NATO has done more for Europe to promote democracy, peace, and security than any other multilateral organization, including the European Union. It is essential that the United States continue to be an active participant in the Alliance's future.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee.
I look forward to answering your questions.
Show references in this report
[1] Press Release, "We Know Chicagoans Will Warmly Welcome our NATO Allies," Offices of U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), March 30, 2012, at http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=467 (April 19,2012).
[2]Press Release, "NATO Achieves Important Milestone in Reform of its Agencies," North Atlantic Treaty Organization, January 23, 2012, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_83637.htm (April 18, 2012).
[3] International Security and Assistance Force, ISAF Monthly Data Trends through March 2012, April 22, 2012, at http://www.isaf.nato.int/images/20120422_niu_data_release_final.pdf (April, 24 2012).
[4] In Regional Command Southwest, enemy initiated attacks in the last 12 months are 35 percent lower compared to the same 12 months one year earlier.
[5] Press Release, "Statement by NATO Secretary General on Afghan transition announcement," North Atlantic Treaty Organization, November 27, 2011, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-656CC458-77FAA000/natolive/news_81068.htm?mode=pressrelease (April 20. 2012).
[6] Press Release, "Lisbon Summit Declaration Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Lisbon," North Atlantic Treaty Organization, November 20, 2010, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_68828.htm?mode=pressrelease (April 21, 2012).
[7] Press Release, "Media Availability with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta," Department of Defense, February 1, 2012, at http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4967 (April 23, 2012).
[8] Press Release, "Lisbon Summit Declaration Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Lisbon," North Atlantic Treaty Organization, November 20, 2010, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_68828.htm?mode=pressrelease (April 21, 2012).
[9] News Wires, "France to leave Afghanistan in 2013, Sarkozy says," Associated Press, January 28, 2012, at http://www.france24.com/en/20120127-karzai-sarkozy-visit-paris-military-withdrawal-afghanistan-nato (April 22, 2012).
[10] British Broadcasting Cooperation, "Australian PM Sets Out Afghan Exit Plan", April 17, 2012, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17737592 (April 22, 2012)
[11] Established in July 2010, the Afghan Local Police allows local Afghan villages to have a stake in their own security where there is limited or no formal ANSF presence. The ALP is closely monitored and falls under the responsibility of the Afghan Ministry of Interior.
[12] CJ Radin, "Report: Afghan Local Counterinsurgency Programs Prove Successful," The Long War Journal, April 4, 2012, at http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2012/04/report_local_counterinsurgency.php (April 22, 2012).
[13] Based on an American monthly expenditure of $10 billion.
[14] Yaroslav Trofimov, "Afghan General Sounds Alarm: Defense Minister Says New U.S. Proposal to Cut Local Troop, Police Forces Risks Endangering Nation," The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2012, at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204059804577229081438477796.html (April 20, 2012).
[15] Press Release, "Lisbon Summit Declaration Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Lisbon," North Atlantic Treaty Organization, November 20, 2010, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_68828.htm?mode=pressrelease (April 21, 2012).
[16]Press Release, "Military Balance 2012" International Institute for Strategic Studies, March 7, 2012, at http://www.iiss.org/publications/military-balance/the-military-balance-2012/press-statement/ (April 22, 2012).
[17] Press Release, "Financial and Economic Data Relating to NATO Defence." North Atlantic Treaty Organization, April 13, 2012, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_85966.htm?mode=pressrelease (April 22, 2012).
[18] Claudio Bisogniero, "Speech on NATO's Smart Defence Initiative" North Atlantic Treaty Organization, December 15, 2012, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-59141228-30D24899/natolive/opinions_83096.htm (April 22, 2012).
[19] UK Ministry of Defense, "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review," October 2010, p. 3 at http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf (April 17, 2012).
[20] Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, and Austria.
[21] Anders Fogh Rasmussen, "Remarks at the Munich Security Conference," North Atlantic treaty Organization, February 4, 2012, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-AD1FADE5-491706F7/natolive/opinions_84197.htm (April 19. 2012).
[22] Airborne Warning and Control System.
[23] Collective Defense and Crisis Management are the other two.
[24] North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "ISAF troop numbers and contributions." April 2012, at http://www.isaf.nato.int/troop-numbers-and-contributions/index.php (April 23, 2012).
[25] North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "Kosovo Force: Key Facts and Figures," March 30, 2012, at http://www.nato.int/kfor/structur/nations/placemap/kfor_placemat.pdf (April 22, 2012).
[26] Formally known as the Individual Cooperation Program.
[27] Press Release: "Foreign Press Center Roundtable with Ambassador Ivo Daalder, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO: The Success of NATO Operations in Libya and the Vital Contributions of Partners Outside of NATO," U.S. Department of State, November 7, 2011 at http://nato.usmission.gov/fpcroundtable2011.html (April 23, 2012).


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Made to mil-spec standards and with a flip up rear sight this rifle is perfect for adding optics.
Federal law requires this product to be transferred through a licensed FFL dealer. For Stag Arms transfer requirements CLICK HERE
Weight: 6.5 pounds
Length: 32.5" collapsed, 35.75" extended
Action: Semi-auto direct impingement
Chamber: 5.56 NATO. This rifle will also shoot .223
Twist Rate: 1/9 button rifled
Muzzle Device: A2 flash hider (Stag Arms Compensator on post ban models)
Barrel: 16", 4140 steel, chrome lined, government profile, manganese phosphate coated
Handguard: Thermoplastic with double heat shields
Upper Receiver: Forged and mil-spec 7075 T6 aluminum with type 3 hard coat anodizing and a picatinny rail on top
Bolt Carrier: Enhanced semi-auto with a manganese phosphate coating
Charging Handle: Standard mil-spec
Front Sight: F-marked A2 front sight, side sling swivel, and bayonet lug (no bayonet lug on post ban models)
Rear Sight: Midwest Industries ERS flip up sight
Lower Receiver Material: 7075 T6 aluminum with a type 3 hard coat anodizing
Hammer/Trigger pin size: Mil-spec small pin .154"
Pivot/Takedown Pin Size: Mil-spec small pin - .250"
Caliber Marking: 5.56 NATO
Buttstock: Mil-spec 6 position (Post-ban stock looks the same non-adjustable at the furthest extension)
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Skip to comments.DONT BLAME SOCIAL ISSUES FOR ROMNEY LOSS
Posted on 11/13/2012 9:29:14 PM PST by neverdem
Republicans post-election loss ritual of scapegoating and finger pointing has begun, and, as is almost always the case, conservatism, and in particular values issues, is getting the bulk of the blame.
Republican elites will soon join liberal commentators in declaring that the party must moderate on social issues or risk consigning itself to permanent minority status. But while the GOP would benefit from a period of reflection and self-examination, and while the party does need to adjust how it communicates with voters on social issues, its core values cannot change.
It would be difficult to argue that November 6th was a good day for those of us who support traditional marriage. The voters of four states voted for same-sex marriage. But that doesnt mean the GOP should abandon its support of normal marriage.
In a national exit poll of 800 voters conducted on my behalf by the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, 8 percent of respondents said that the definition of marriage was their top issue, while another 20 percent called it one of their three top issues.
Interestingly, 44 percent of voters said they would be less likely to support a candidate who supports same-sex marriage (including 32 percent who said they would be much less likely), while 40 percent said theyd be more likely (including 21 percent who said they would be much more likely).
Other exit polls showed voters essentially tied on the question of whether same-sex marriage should be legal. That corresponds with most opinion polls. And remember, 38 states have voted to ban same-sex marriage, most via constitutional amendment, most recently in North Carolina in 2012. The truth is, America is still divided almost evenly on this question.
Then theres abortion. That the issue motivates voters continues to baffle professional pundits. In our poll, when asked how important abortion was to their vote, 13 percent of respondents said it was their top issue, while another 24 percent listed it as one of their top three issues.
The media consensus seems to be that the election was a vindication of the lefts attacks on Republicans so-called war on women. But the election wasnt a repudiation of the pro-life position, but rather a repudiation of conservatives who talk about abortion ineptly.
The view that all human life is sacred wasnt what made headlines during the campaign. It was stupid comments about legitimate rape and offensive references to a young abortion activist as a slut and a prostitute.
The relevant issuesforcing taxpayers to pay for abortions; Obamacares coercion of religious institutions into paying for abortion drugscould have been political winners for Romney and other Republicans, if they hadnt allowed the Democrats to frame any attempt to limit abortion as part of a broader war on women. But Romney chose to let the attacks go unanswered.
In a bit of good news for pro-lifers, a referendum to legalize assisted suicide lost in Massachusetts, and an abortion parental notification law passed overwhelmingly in Montana.
Even on the broader question of values, the conservative position prevailed. A clear majority, 58 percent, of exit poll voters said that the decline of American morality and values was a challenge for future generations. In an ABC exit poll, Romney beat Obama by 13 points among voters who prioritized a candidate who shares my values.
The upshot is that values issues still matter, and that they are a net positive for conservative candidates who can talk about them with precision and compassion.
Historically, Republican candidates win when they embrace conservative positions on social issues. And it could help them with the group of voters everyone believes the GOP needs to attract: Hispanics.
Hispanics make up growing share of the electorate (10 percent this year), and they vote overwhelming and increasingly for Democrats. But they are also more religious and more socially conservative than most Democrats. They should be a natural fit for the Republican Party.
An under-examined reason why Romney and other Republican candidates lost had to do with the three million white evangelical voters who cast a ballot in 2008 but didnt vote this year. In an election decided by fewer than three million votes, they would have been pivotal. And I think its safe to assume they didnt stay home because of Mitt Romney wasnt liberal enough on social issues.
Looking ahead, the Republican Partys strengths are its conservative House and its roster of up and coming conservative party leaders. Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Bobby Jindal, Gov. Scott Walker and Gov. Bob McDonnell, to name a few, are all across-the-board conservatives.
America remains a sharply divided nation. Obama received only 50 percent of the vote. Republicans retained control of the House and now control 30 governorships, the most since 2000. The Republican Party doesnt need candidates who will ignore values issues; they need candidates who can present their positions on those issues to voters in a reasonable, compassionate and straightforward way.
Who knows who voted or not? With the massive voter fraud even if Romney got every living evangelical soul the polls, the Democrat Revolutionaries would have manufacture 3 million votes above that total.
I don't blame social issues, but I will give part, and only part, of the blame to certain candidates who are focused on social issues and who were clearly awful candidates.
There are good people out there who are:
A: correct on all or most of the issues, social included.
B: NOT part of the GOP establishment
C: have an IQ of over 80.
D: have ability, talent, some presence, and can articulate.
Sadly, too many jump on the bandwagon of candidates with only items and A and B. I suggest we also consdier items C and D. Funny, Bauer himself was one of the items A and B only kind of candidates....years ago....
Oh and same to you, you stay at home evangelicals.
Your temper tantrum has cost us the future of the United States of America.
HEY GARY! You are just as clueless as the RINO's...Let's talk sophisticated Voter Fraud...d'oh!
If it was matter of turn out, why did Romney win Indiana when Mourdock lost? why did Romney win Missouri when Akin lost especially considering that McCain lost both these states in 2008.
I'm skeptical of this rumor about 3mil evangelicals who supposedly stayed home. Are there any real numbers to back that claim?
Assuming this were actually true, I don't see why the GOP needs to pander to these single-issue infantile voters next cycle. Considering the consequences at stake in this election, staying home was inexcusable.
But our side sold the "economy only stupid" idea
McCain lost in Indiana, not Missouri, IIRC.
Pander to us? take a hike RINO!!
And I voted for the sorry SOB!!
There you go again. The GOP did not, has not, and will not, pander to evangelicals. Romney stunk as a candidate and the liberals pegged him to the wall. Why is there not one word from the Romney camp about alllllll the vote fraud? How about all those machines calibrated to vote Obama when a Romney vote was cast. The so called Bible belt states voted overwhelmingly for Romney. You have been the one stuck on one single issue.
Massive huh? LOL As that July 2012 video you pinged me with proves?
To: sickoflibs
Freepers.....This is a video well worth the time to watch!
6 posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 12:04:54 AM by wintertime
turn out in Ohio Counties at 139% Boston 135%, Philly at 145%?
Prove it to your self.
Considering Bauer doesn't provide a source, I think this qualifies, to use technical terminology, as a "Bald-Faced Lie."
Romney did better than McCain in the "Bible Belt" states.
Hey temper tantrum boy, Evangelicals voted for Romney by
How did your group vote?
You know that Evangelicals voted republican by 79%, something not even approached by any other category, and you know that the people that think like you voted in the almost equal percentage (tinier number of course)for Obama, so why are the Evangelicals the "infantile voters"?
call me old fashioned, but when we lost a football game we should of won, the fans and administration knew exactly who to blame: that would be the team and the coach.
well it seems to me that, romney was the "coach" and his campaign was the team. the score being total votes, romney would have lost to both obama and mccain in the last two presidential elections.
i think that puts the "blame" squarely where it belongs.
"But our side sold the economy only stupid idea"
Economy only but without the Obamacare part. Even fiscal cons were bummed by Romney.
"Assuming this were actually true, I dont see why the GOP needs to pander to these single-issue infantile voters next cycle. Considering the consequences at stake in this election, staying home was inexcusable."
OK but don't be surprised to end up with a Chris Christie or a Colin Powell.
To me that looks like there was actually decreased enthusiasm for Obama and mostly typical enthusiasm for the Republican and it also looks like radical conservatism was rejected in favor of more moderate views considering that Akin and Mourdock were both rejected in states that Romney carried.
I'm sure there were conservatives who didn't vote but to say that the election was lost because of them is pure horsesh*t. We lost because we were unable to tap into key demographic groups in swing states. We were unable to break the democratic coalition and the reason for that is pretty obvious, because a couple of nuts tainted the entire party and platform with their extreme nuttiness and drove independenta and moderates back into the arms of the Democrats.
these guys were so wrong and so destructive to our agenda that I am utterly convinced that they aren't even in favor of actually ending abortion. I think they were sabateurs and you'll never convince me otherwise because they couldn't have been more destructive to our cause if they had tried.
beats a barack obama with a senate majority.
Let me show you a little something about how the Republicans were overrun.
This site was set up in early 2010:
Voter Fraud!
Not only did Ryan lose his home state, but Romney lost all of his home states.
Massive coordinated election fraud.
As far as Romney goes, are you really surprised he lost Michigan after his bailout remarks? and then of course there's Massachusetts. We managed to take Ted kennedy's seat from him and then lost it to a woman caught lieing about her Indian heritage. More squandered momentum.
It isn't just that we lost on social issues, we failed to break into any of the Democrat's key demographic groups in places where we needed to. we needed to break into the hispanics in Florida and probably virginia. We didn't. We needed to break into the female vote and the union vote in ohio. We didn't. I still contend that Donna Glisman was a better candidate that Josh Mandel because she would have given females in Ohio something to vote for besides the D. mandel was just one more mistake in a long line of GOP mistakes spanning from 2010 to 2012. we played a great game in the first half but we blew it in the second.
Radical conservatism? What part of the constitution do you wish to toss out?
"In the eyes of his shriller, more spittle-fueled adherents and apologists hereabouts, Mittens is much like a cow wandering placidly through the streets of downtown Cairo: immune to any/all criticism and/or impediment by divine principle, if not an object of abject veneration outright.
"The cow is holy. The cow is perfect. If the cow, for whatever reason(s) -- by whatever unguessable confluence of events, in the course of its dull, plodding amblings -- doesn't end up wherever the hell it was it wanted to go to in the first place: that's your fault, not the cow's."
The CINOs neither can nor will admit -- now or EVER -- that their rote, repeatedly failed p!ss-on-the-base-and-grovel-for-disaffected-liberals campaign strategy is what's genuinely at fault, Jim.
The cow is holy.
The cow is perfect.
Evangelicals did not sit out the election.
That union fight was heroic, and Romney didn't belong in republican politics, and much less as the leader of the party.
Does this lead you to think that we ran a social conservative?
August 9, 2912 Mitt Romney, President Obama affirm support for gay Boy Scout leaders
August 27, 2012 CBS News Scott Pelley Interview, party platform & abortion
PELLEY: Well, the platform as written at this convention for the Republicans does not allow for exceptions on abortion with regard to the health of the mother or rape or incest. Is that where you are?
ROMNEY: No. My position has been clear throughout this campaign. Im in favor of abortion being legal in the case of rape and incest, and the health and life of the mother.
December 2011 On allowing gays to serve openly in the military:
Thats already occurred. Im not planning on reversing that at this stage.
Past Mitt on Abortion;
My position has been the same throughout my political career, and it goes back to the days of 1970, he said. There was a woman who was running for political office, U.S. Senate. She took a very bold and courageous stand in 1970, and that was in a conservative state. That was that a woman should have the right to make her own choice as to whether or not to have an abortion. Her name was Lenore Romney, she was my mom. Even though she lost, she established a record of courage in that regard.
Past Mitt on homosexual military;
For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponents record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.
One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clintons dont ask, dont tell, dont pursue military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nations military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share.
They were 26% of the 131M total in 2008, or 34M. McCain got 74%, or 25M. That means Obama got about 9M.
The final total is not in yet, but it is currently about 123M. Let's say that total ends up at 125M, which is probably on the conservative side. At 78% support, Romney would get about the same number of evangelical votes as McCain.
Using the 125M figure and 22% support, Obama would end up with about 7M.
So there's a couple of million evangelical voters who sat it out, but it cost Obama, not Romney.
We are now a 50-50 nation.
Yeah, that's a winning ticket.
Don't call me a boy, mf'er. I am going by what bauer says.
If you don't fix voter fraud issues, there will never be a fair election in this country in the future.
Obama kept using the word 'fair' in his campaigns, but his party is the one that cheated enough to 'win'.
Is this country so poorly educated in simple mathematics that they cannot see the numbers??
Hey temper tantrum boy, Evangelicals voted for Romney by
How did your group vote?
Col West has opened the door.
We must fight election fraud.
It falls on We the People.
Silence is consent
Theres overwhelming evidence of fraud.- Here
SARAH PALIN speaks out on Twitter about massive Obama machine voter fraud:
>Sarah Palin News @SarahPalinLinks Between suppression of the military vote and voter fraud, Obama stole another election. http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/46302 DEMAND A RECOUNT! #VoterFraud
>Sarah Palin News @SarahPalinLinks People need to stop pointing fingers within the GOP and investigate the Dems' massive voter fraud and suppression of the military vote.
>MITT ROMNEY in 2012! @PlanetRomney #tcot The Competent Conservative: Elections Have Not Yet Been Certified, Heres What You Can Do:
>> These electi... http://bit.ly/Zzam8Y
Excerpt from Mitt Romney's reference:
These elections are NOT certified yet. The only way to get this investigated, much less recounted or overturned, is through the Secretary of State of each of the five key states: Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. EVEN IF YOU ARE IN ANOTHER STATE you can help. But it wont do any good to dilute our effort to challenge California or Michigan or other states. Until a major group gets involved to do more, here is the plan: Contact the Secretary of State of the state in question. See contact information below...
Read the rest- Here
The website,'Barack Obama Vote Fraud 2012' is keeping a running account of cases of voter fraud and what to do about it:
(Astonishing!) > Visit the site- Here
Sign this petition- Here
Another website:
Is There Enough Evidence of Voter Fraud To Merit a Recount? If you wish to add your voice, click here and sign the petition for a recount Here-
< Hannity and Col Allan West slam voter fraud Nov 12- Here
Photo of SOMALIANS brought to Ohio voting stations by busload, 95% of whom did not speak English, and told to vote for Obama, straight Dem ticket- Here
Must watch videos!
VIDEO-- Programmer Testifies About Rigging Elections With Vote Counting- Here
VIDEO- Illegal Aliens Caught Voting and Stealing Elections In Florida In Vast Numbers- Here
VIDEO- MICHAEL SAVAGE: How Obama fixed the 2012 election- Here
VIDEO- Massive voter fraud discovered in April- Here
VIDEO- Whistle blower speaks out about voter fraud- Here
We can not wait for 2014 and 2016 to regroup and figure out new strategies. By then it will be too late. The Marxist/Muslim usurper will have completed his planned distruction of America. That's what people fail to understand.
We must act NOW.
Start with the election. If we let the Rats get away with this massive voter fraud, we're no better than a bananna republic.
We must keep digging and pounding him every day, in every way we can- phony birth certificate, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, his hidden life, records....
We are FReepers. We must fight!
Those who shrug and accept this atrocity without a fight are not worthy to be called Freepers!
Join us!! See thread, 'BARACK OBAMA FRAUD 2012- (MUST READ- MUST GO VIRAL!)' thread- Here
Thank you very much. This is very useful.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Big news. Last week, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) adopted a new Development Strategy for partnering with developing countries. The multilateral organization, founded as part of the post-World War II Marshall Plan, took this significant step in fulfillment of a commitment made a year ago under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's chairmanship of the OECD 50th anniversary Ministerial. Last year, OECD members adopted a new vision statement committing the organization to look outward and engage with the developing world.
After a good deal of heavy lifting, the new strategy advances the Obama Administration's policy on global development and will increase the efficiency of U.S. aid funding.
We're particularly excited because the strategy will leverage for developing countries the OECD's knowledge, resources, and storehouse of economic policy best practices in areas such as tax, investment, economic growth, anti-corruption, and good governance. Non-members, such as Ghana and Malawi, will be partners in the effort working with the OECD's Development Assistance Committee and Development Centre.
In this era of shrinking foreign aid budgets, the United States supports the new Development Strategy as a means of working smarter through better, more strategic collaboration, both across the OECD and with outside partners. Development assistance, no longer the major flow of resources to the developing world, is increasingly catalyzing other forms of finance and technology. In this way, the strategy is building on the achievements of the Busan High Level Forum and the New Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, emphasizing a more diverse range of partners and a more targeted focus on transparency, results, and accountability.
Of course, there is still much to be done. Pilot projects will test the organization's ability to work across expert areas in a useful partnership, set ambitious targets and metrics, and track progress through rigorous evaluation. It is certainly a big step in re-orienting the OECD's business practices to improve the challenges and opportunities of today's economic development.
Ashim C. in India writes:
It is indeed paradoxical that US as a countries talks of new development strategy while President Obama as a second time presidential candidates positions himself against outsourcing. Different developing countries are in different stages of development and have both great need for future technology relevent to their stage of development technologically and otherwise. India for instance needs clean technology for energy security. US is found generally not sufficiently forthcoming in offering energy related technologies.
let me share here that recent US decision to increase it's naval presence in Asia. Given India's commitment to non alignment, logically, this move should be opposed in India. But one's sense is that it is just the opposite.
This signifies that India an Asian countries are quite open to US but US too must be more open in technology trade and less prohibitive in trade terms to create jobs backhome. More importantly, US must be consistent. It can't say one thing today and another tomorrow.


text:
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Last call for AAC Representative and AAC Alternate nominations for the upcoming quad! Nominations close Wednesday, Nov. 14th (5pm MT)!
Attention all athletes that participated in the 2003 and 2011 Pan Am Games! This is the last call for AAC Representative and AAC Alternate nominations for the upcoming quad. If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else from the eligible athlete list, please do so by end of business Wednesday, Nov. 14th (5pm MT) by emailing your name, brief bio, and why you would like to be the AAC representative to firstname.lastname@example.com. The AAC job description is posted below.
Note: the eligible athlete list is anyone that was on the 2003 and/or 2011 Pan Am Games roster
USOC Athletes' Advisory Council
This document is meant to be a general guide for AAC representatives in order to provide a basic understanding of the requirements and expectations of their position. The position of AAC representative is a dynamic one and it is to be expected that there will be tasks and challenges that do not fall within the following job description.
~The AAC representative should ensure that the athletes in his/her sport know who he or she is and their contact information. Ask the NGB to publish your contact information on the NGB website.
~Familiarize yourself with the bylaws and written policies of your NGB.
~Review any Code of Conduct documents, commercial terms agreements or any other athlete agreements promulgated by your NGB and provide input on behalf of the athletes. Solicit input from the athlete pool regarding key issues.
~Familiarize yourself with the "Ted Stevens Act" (Olympic and Amateur Sports Act), the USOC Bylaws, specifically Sections 8, 9, and 10, and the AAC Bylaws.
~Attend all scheduled AAC meetings. There will be three meetings per year, including the Olympic Assembly. If you cannot attend, make sure that the alternate attends.
~Participate in your AAC Division to the best of your ability. Make every effort to participate in all conference calls and to meet deadlines for division projects.
~Communicate with the athlete pool regarding important information, including current anti-doping developments, USOC news, athlete support issues, etc.
~Maintain regular contact with your sports partner at the USOC.
~Review NGB selection procedures for Pan Am Games, Olympic Games, as well as other Operation Gold events. If you have objections to the selection procedures, communicate them to the NGB. If you are unable to resolve the objections, raise them with your sport partner at the USOC and the USOC Athlete Ombudsman.
~Participate in the development of the High Performance Plan. This should include meaningful involvement in the drafting of the HPP, and being personally present when the plan is presented to USOC staff. If you have concerns or objections to the HPP, communicate them to the AAC leadership in order that they may be addressed at USOC resource allocation meetings.
~Monitor NGB compliance with Ted Stevens Act, to include 20% athlete voice and vote on all committees and the executive council. Serve on the NGB Board of Directors (it is the strong recommendation of the AAC that all AAC representatives have a position on their NGB's Board).
~Maintain a close connection to the athlete pool in your sport, even if you are not still competing. Advise the athletes of their rights and the resources available to them.
~As necessary, work with individual athletes who have grievances or concerns. Attempt to mediate such disputes using the USOC Ombudsman.
~Be up to date with anti-doping information, including but not limited to testing protocol and changes in the banned substance lists. Advise the athlete pool regarding current developments in anti-doping and solicit input from athletes.
~Ensure that your NGB has written procedures for the election of AAC representatives and alternates and that the procedures comply with the AAC requirements. Ensure that the athlete pool is aware of the elections, which must take place between the Summer Olympics and the end of that calendar year.
In addition to the above mentioned points, USATH would like the athletes to have high character and integrity. It is very important to the organization to have the "best foot forward"-that said all actions on and off the field of play define the USATH AAC representative.


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LU V13 (Imipramine 50 mg)
Pill imprint LU V13 has been identified as Imipramine hydrochloride 50 mg.
Imipramine is used in the treatment of enuresis; interstitial cystitis; irritable bowel syndrome; adhd; depression (and more), and belongs to the drug class tricyclic antidepressants. FDA has not classified the drug for risk during pregnancy. Imipramine 50 mg is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).
- Imprint:
- Strength:
- 50 mg
- Color:
- Red
- Shape:
- Round
- Availability:
- Prescription only
- Drug Class:
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Pregnancy Category:
- N - Not classified
- CSA Schedule:
- Not a controlled drug
- Manufacturer:
- Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- National Drug Code (NDC):
- 68180-0313
- Inactive Ingredients:
- microcrystalline cellulose
calcium phosphate dihydrate dibasic
ferric oxide red
ferric oxide yellow
hypromellose 2910 (6 mPa.s)
magnesium stearate
polyethylene glycol 8000
povidone k30
sodium starch glycolate type A potato
titanium dioxide
More about imipramine
Consumer resources
- Other brands: Tofranil, Tofranil-PM
Professional resources
Related treatment guides
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 2017 Drugs.com, National Library of Medicine, Truven Health Analytics and Cerner Multum, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Storm invited to play in USHL prospects game
HOUGHTON – Laurium native Ben Storm is one of four members of the United States Hockey League's Muskegon Lumberjacks invited to the 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
The contest will be held in the Lumberjacks' home rink Jan. 23.
"I am very thankful for this opportunity to showcase my talents in front of all the NHL teams," said Storm in a press release from Lumberjacks. "I have been working hard on my game all season long, and being nominated to play in this game means that my goals of playing in the NHL are beginning to grow."
Storm, a 6-foot-6 defenseman who has committed to play college hockey at St. Cloud State, has four assists and is a plus-one in 22 games with Muskegon. His most recent point was a primary in Muskegon's 6-5 overtime loss at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
The Lumberjacks are second in the USHL's Eastern Conference with a record of 19-12-3. They play Friday at Cedar Rapids (Iowa).
Former Calumet High School teammate Levi Erkkila scored his fourth goal of the year for the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League Sunday in an 8-1 home blowout of Johnstown (Pa.)
Erkkila also had an assist in the game for the first multi-point outing of his NAHL career. It also ended a pointless streak that extended back into November.
Erkkila now has four goals and four assists in 31 NAHL games.
The Warriors have won five straight but remain in eighth place in the NAHL's North Division with a 13-18-5 record. They play a home-and-home with Kalamazoo this weekend starting Saturday in Flint.
That Kalamazoo team features another Copper King, defenseman Jesse Junttila. Junttila has played in 27 games for the Jr. K-Wings and averaged more than a shot per game. He has two assists and a plus-one rating in that span.
His K-Wings are faring a little better in the standings, third in the North Division with a 21-13-3 record.
Devin Kero of Hancock has played in eight games for a Coulee Region squad struggling in the NAHL's Central Division with a 9-20-5 mark.
Ben Johnson and the Windsor Spitfires will try to break a seven-game losing streak in Ontario Hockey League play tonight with a home game against Brampton.
Despite the team's struggles, Johnson is producing in his second year of Major Junior play, scoring twice in an 8-5 defeat at Sarnia Friday night.
Johnson, now an assistant captain, was the No. 3 star.
Johnson also scored at Saginaw Dec. 29 and has nine goals and eight assists through 39 games.
Windsor, which has made several deals ahead of today's OHL trade deadline, is fifth in the West Division of the Western Conference at 14-19-1, though it has games in hand on every team in the conference.
Shifting gears to basketball, Hancock alumna Maria Almquist and the Northern Michigan women are 5-3 in GLIAC play entering a game tonight at Grand Valley State.
Almquist posted five points and three rebounds off the bench in a 68-63 home win over Lake Erie College Saturday in Marquette.
Almquist drew a tremendously tough assignment Thursday, as she guarded Ashland's Kari Daugherty, the reigning GLIAC player of the year, throughout the second half. She still had a chance to collect seven points and three rebounds in the game.
Almquist is averaging 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds for the Wildcats.
Houghton alumna Taylor Dillinger has played in all 11 games for Minnesota Duluth.
The freshman has averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in spot duty for UMD, which is 8-3 overall and 5-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play after a pair of home wins over Minot State and University of Mary in league play last weekend.
UMD is at Sioux Falls Friday night.
Several local products are contributing to the basketball programs at Gogebic Community College.
Wednesday, Ewen-Trout Creek alum Jordan LaPlant had 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting as GCC dropped Hibbing Community College 78-71.
The women routed Hibbing 100-38 with help from 12 points from L'Anse's Autumn Swanson and 10 from Dollar Bay's Adeline Kariainen on 4-for-4 shooting from the field.
The Gogebic men are 12-3 and women 14-3. The men are in action next this weekend in a tournament at UW-Marshfield, while the women play at UW-Marinette Wednesday.


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Wednesday, January 30, 2013
NTSB 787 Dreamliner Investigation Gets Microscopic
|NTSB investigator Joseph Panagiotou examines a battery
cell from the JAL B-787 with a stereo microscope.
The investigative work by experts in Japan and the United States has now entered its fourth week, with officials still unable to say what caused the battery fire on the JAL 787 and a separate incident that forced another 787 to make an emergency landing in Japan. NTSB said the examination will include mechanical and electrical tests to determine the performance of the battery and reveal signs of any degradation in performance.
All 50 in-service Dreamliners operated by carriers around the world remain grounded as the investigation continues. Officials from NTSB and FAA still have not provided a possible timetable for when the grounded 787s can return to commercial service.
"Our first order of business for 2013 is to resolve the battery issue on the 787 and return the airplanes safely to service with our customers," said Boeing CEO Jim McNerney in a statement Wednesday.
Boeing is continuing production of the 787, but has suspended deliveries of the plane until FAA lifts the airworthiness directive issued on Jan. 16 to cease operations. More
Follow @AviationToday


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The situation in Côte d'Ivoire is extremely precarious and volatile, yet the U.S. government remains committed to supporting Côte d'Ivoire's fight against HIV/AIDS through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR has a long history of working in Côte d'Ivoire and other countries in conflict. In these settings, PEPFAR partners have exhibited incredible courage and dedication, working in challenging environments to ensure HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care services.
In the face of the current circumstances in Côte d'Ivoire, PEPFAR partners have led heroic efforts to keep life-saving programs running. I am committed to doing everything in my power to continue to support PEPFAR's vital work. My colleagues and I take this duty extremely seriously, as we recognize that the lives of people depend on our continued support for essential services.
At PEPFAR, we are working to find real solutions to the variety of challenges our partners are facing in Côte d'Ivoire. Unfortunately, with the reports of spreading violence and instability, the safety of partners and program beneficiaries is a major concern.
During this difficult period, PEPFAR has prioritized programs that provide essential services. These services include antiretroviral drug distribution, HIV/AIDS treatment services for existing patients, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs. They also include support for orphans and vulnerable children and some prevention services, such as those that ensure the safety of the blood supply and provide post-exposure prophylaxis for victims of sexual violence. To address challenges due to the closure of international banking institutions, we are working with a variety of partners to mobilize funds to keep these essential programs running.
Access to antiretroviral treatment is particularly critical because people on treatment rely on this medication to stay alive. As noted above, we are working with our partners to support Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to maintain the drug supply in-country. With the aid of the Supply Chain Management System, a PEPFAR-established partner consortium, we have been able to carefully track drug stocks. We are also working with partners like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- another key supporter of HIV programs. Earlier this month, the Global Fund approved a $2.5 million procurement of antiretroviral drugs, which will help to ensure the availability of medications.
As the next step in our emergency planning, we are supporting key activities in the national contingency plan by supporting efforts to establish two antiretroviral drug distribution sites in every health district, and pre-position additional drug stocks in these sites. We are also exploring a way for clients in Côte d'Ivoire to access antiretroviral treatment at sites just across the border in Ghana. These preparations will help us to continue to respond in the event that treatment access is compromised.
Although the situation in Côte d'Ivoire is changing daily, we will continue to work to make sure that our HIV programs serve those in need. I hope for a swift end to the violence, for the continued safety of PEPFAR beneficiaries and partners, and for peace for all the people of Côte d'Ivoire.
Armand S. in Massachusetts writes:
Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
As you know, the Pepfar Program was meant to help save lives by the millions. But this program is not used effectively in Cote-d'Ivoire.
In fact, beside the drug supply and medical assistance components of this program, emphasis could be further placed in the areas of capacity building and technology transfer to bridge the efficiency the gap between the Western and African laboratories.
These genuine upgrades will have for purpose to increase tests variability and affordability as well as the speed and accuracy of laboratory results delivery, reporting and quantitative and qualitative administrative and financial accountabilities.
My advise is that Pepfar should never be cut in Cote-d'Ivoire or elsewhere under any circumstances but should rather be a precursor to successful World Health related funding programs.
In fact Excellency, I believe that it will be fitting that politics and wars should not hinder the availability of therapeutic drugs or fund destined to stop the spread of TB, AIDS, Malaria and much less, that of any other types of infections because the metabolic rate of infectious pathogens in a patient remains independent to the political issues or environments a country faces.
No patients should be deprived of their rights to therapeutic drugs.
Armand S.
Zenaza Biomedical


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Draft riots paralyze New York City
When Federal officials began using the Enrollment Act to draft men on July 13, 1863, riots erupted in New York City. In this urgent letter, Maj. Gen. John E. Wool requests reinforcements to restore the peace. More than 5,000 troops were dispatched from Gettysburg. Nevertheless, an estimated 20,000 rioters ruled the city for 4 days, and more than 105 people died.
National Archives, Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands


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Bread "Gnocchi" with Tomato and Basil
- 8 slices day old, good quality Italian bread
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan
- 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups (2-ounce cans) tomato sauce
- 3 small plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- Several fresh basil leaves, torn
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella, smoked mozzarella or provolone cheese
Preheat broiler.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Chop bread into bite size pieces. Add extra-virgin olive oil, butter and garlic to the skillet. Melt butter into oil then add the bread. Season the bread with salt and pepper. Toss and cook the bread 7 to 8 minutes then add the tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes. Turn to coat and warm the tomato sauce, 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove the bread gnocchi and tomatoes from heat and transfer to a casserole dish, top with basil then cover the dish with cheese. Place the casserole under the broiler and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese browns and bubbles. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Charred Corn Panzanella
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Grilled Eggplant Caponata Bruschetta with Ricotta Salata
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay
Mock Mascarpone Crostini
Recipe courtesy of Melissa d'Arabian


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Who needs a god when you've got Big Macs?
1/9 Municipal Waste/Repulsion/Terrorizer LA/Ghoul
Who needs a god when you've got Big Macs?
1/9 Municipal Waste/Repulsion/Terrorizer LA/Ghoul
Who needs a god when you've got Big Macs?
14: The Message
Group: Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five
Members: Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem
Producer: DJ GRAND MASTERFLASH
Recorded: 1981-1982
released: 1982
album title: THE MESSAGE
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was an influential American hip hop group formed in the South Bronx of New York City in 1978. Composed of one DJ (Grandmaster Flash) and five rappers (Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Cowboy, Mr. Ness/Scorpio, and Rahiem), the group's use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying, choreographed stage routines and lyricism was a significant force in the early development of hip-hop music.
The group rose to fame in the early 1980s with their first successful single "Freedom" and later on with their magnum opus "The Message", which is often cited as among the most influential hip hop songs. The Message was also their debut studio album released in 1982 on Sugar Hill Records. It is considered one of the most prominent records in the history of hip-hop music with its most notable single being "The Message", which is often listed as one of the most influential hip-hop songs. However, in 1983, relations between Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel began straining and the group disbanded.
It still blows me away that these guys only lasted for five years(78'-82') and only came out with two albums....although they are legendary fucking records...
I'm pretty sure every single person on this board has heard the song "The Message" which is considered to be by many as hands down one of the most important songs ever created in the genre and a major influence to a lot of rising stars during the late 80s-90s. Hands down one of the most influential rap songs ever created. Although there was already tons of rap acts popping out in the 70s and 80 there just wasn't a group quite like grand master flash and the furious five. The group as well as their debut record help push the envelope in an already developing genre that was still barley getting started(don't forget that hip hop started popping off not too long ago in the mid to late 70s).The lyrics were ahead of its time and the song as well as this record was a corner stone in helping move and push rap into a more wider audience and help push the envelope commercially on the radio by developing a unique sound that would soon be mimicked by a lot of acts. Nothing came close or sounded close to the originality of this CD. Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five released one of the greatest Old school records of all time in 1982 with the Message, and the song the message will go down as one of the greatest songs ever.. Those who don't see the importance of this group, record and influence need to stop reading this thread, please and thank you...
it's like a jungle out there it sometimes makes me wonder how i keep from going under...
"The Message" was the first prominent hip hop song to provide a lyrical social commentary. It took rap music from the house parties to the social platforms later developed by groups like Public Enemy, N.W.A., and Rage Against The Machine. Melle Mel said in an interview with NPR: "Our group, like Flash and the Furious Five, we didn't actually want to do the message because we was used to doing party raps and boasting how good we are and all that." It is credited as the catalyst for the conscious Hip-Hop or political sub-genre of Hip-Hop music. It is a social narrative that details the struggles and difficulties due to living in poverty in the inner-city. In addition, it embodies the distress, anger, and sadness an individual experiences when confronting these inequalities. The description of various social and economic barriers followed by the mantra "don't push me cause I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head" exemplifies that it is not just the disparity in opportunity that is oppressive but also the emotional response that is debilitating. It is frequently referred to as the greatest record in hip hop history and was the first Hip-Hop record ever to be added to the United States' National Recording Registry of historic sound recordings. Though not the first in the genre of rap to talk about the struggles and the frustrations of living in the ghetto, the song was unique in that it was set to a slower beat, refocusing the song on the lyrics over the music.
The Message
Christ all mighty reviving this thread has got me back on my hip hop fix once again, christ all mighty I forgot how fucking incredible and ahead of its time this song and album was. The deep social commentary presented on this song and record is so legendary and put simply set a corner stone for future acts living in the struggling ghetto to come out and take the style that grandmaster group had and mold into there own. Kinda like rising death metal/thrash bands who took older bands formulas and molded to make their own kind of style..
8/31 - Sleep
11/10 - Judas Priest
11/14 - Slayer
Last edited by Sepultura69; 12-05-2012 at 07:03 PM.
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smiling on you but he's frowning too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto, living second rate
And your eyes will sing a song of deep hate
The places you're playin', where you stay
Looks like one great big alley way
You'll admire all the number book takers
Thugs, pimps, pushers and the big money makers
Driving big cars, spending twenties and tens
And you wanna grow up to be just like them, huh,
Smugglers, scrambles, burglars, gamblers
Pickpockets, peddlers even panhandlers
You say: "I'm cool, I'm no fool!"
But then you wind up dropping out of high school
Now you're unemployed, all non-void
Walking 'round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Turned stickup kid, look what you've done did
Got sent up for a eight year bid
Now your manhood is took and you're a may tag
Spend the next two years as a undercover fag
Being used and abused to serve like hell
Till one day you was found hung dead in a cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so young
Anybody who says this shouldn't be in the top 5 lyrical performances of all time should be excommunicated from any hip-hop discussion group. Anyone who says it doesn't count because it was written by executives needs to be stabbed in the throat with fiberglass.
I thought for sure this spot would be Run DMC though.
George W. Bush is the son of a swine. I hope that one day his body is identified by the teeth marks on my penis.
13. Rappers Delight
Group: The Sugarhill Gang
Members: Wonder Mike Master Gee Big Bank Hank
Recorded: 1979
Released: 1980
Album title: Rappers Delight
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for its 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight," the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. The song uses an interpolation of the instrumental track from the classic hit "Good Times" by Chic as its foundation. While it was not the first single to feature rapping, it is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. The song's opening lyric, "I said a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie to the hip hip hop," is world-renowned. The song was recorded in a single take.
This album really needs no post. The 14 minute classic "rappers delight" alone is worth the listen and seriously put hip hop on the map all across the U.S...hell i donno what rap would be like if it wasn't for sugar hill gangs "rappers Delight" LP...once again, those that don't agree with the post can stop checking this shit out, although i'm sure you won't
Rappers Delight
This song is one of the greatest songs ever... and this album is legendary...but the next 12 albums to be posted take rap to the next level of lyricism, beats, samplings, dating from albums from 1994, 1993, 1995,2001, 1998, 1993.
till next time folks..
8/31 - Sleep
11/10 - Judas Priest
11/14 - Slayer
Midnight Marauders
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Blueprint (I fuckin hope not)
Enter The 36 Chambers
George W. Bush is the son of a swine. I hope that one day his body is identified by the teeth marks on my penis.
12. Ready to Die
Artist: Notorious B.I.G. AKA biggie smalls
Producer: Easy Moe Bee, Lord Finesse, Puff Daddy and DJ Premier
Recorded: 1993-1994
Released: 1994
Album Title: Ready To Die
"Ready to Die tell God I said Hi" - Biggie Smalls
Ready to Die is the debut album of American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released September 13, 1994 on Bad Boy Records. The first release on the label, it features production by record producer and Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of The Notorious B.I.G.'s experiences as a young criminal, referring to himself as "the black Frank White". Ready to Die is his only studio album released during his lifetime; B.I.G. was murdered days prior to the release of his second album Life After Death (1997). Ready to Die gained strong reviews on release and became a commercial success, reaching quadruple platinum sales. It was significant for revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene, amid West Coast hip hop's commercial dominance. Ready to Die has been regarded by several music critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. The Notorious B.I.G.'s lyrics on the album were generally praised by critics. The album is also noted for its dark tone and sinister sense of depression.
EVERYONE should be familiar with notorious BIG and this album, and if not, well SHAME ON YOU because This is not only one of the most well known albums of the genre, but it's pretty popular amongst those that listen to hip hop and those that don't.. Even those that don't like hip hop or listen to much of it should know classics such as "Big Poppa", and "Juicy" which are both found on this classic record as well as played constantly on the radio on a daily basis.. For those that aren't familiar with Notorious B.I.G., Well I pitty you fool, MR T STATUS. Notorious B.I.G was an up coming hip hop artist during the early 90s where he rose to fame from his battle rap freestyle that he would spit on the corners of new york while slanging crack cocain. Eventually time passed and biggie was sick of that lifestyle so he broke off the mold and decided that he wanted to become one of the biggest artists of all time. This was also around the same time when Biggie also befriends a very young and premature P-diddy who went by the name Puff Daddy back then. Through this epic friendship the two set out to get biggie a deal so the two of them can rise to fame and to release one of the greatest CDs of all time. Biggie and puff daddy rose to critical fame/acclaim with this album. He braught out a style, chrasimia, and flow that would forever be untouched in the world of hip hop. The lyrics are dynamite and the beats stand still to this day stand the test of time. PERSONALY I didn't think biggie smalls was very deep or poetic, but Biggies flow was harder than a bag of stones and had that golden voice that would forever be remember for years to come. In a way he was kind of ahead of his time and if he didn't get killed at such an early age I think he would have grown to be the top rappers of all time. It blows me away that this guy only released two albums and died at such an early age.. He died at age 24 to be exact....So young and so much gift and potential to be shown to the entire world...only to be taken away......REST IN PEACE BIGGIE SMALLS
The production on this album is some of the greatest of all time. So much layered sampling and incredible drum beats with heavy bass by productions from legendary gangstarr member DJ PREMIER, as well as some production from underrated hip hop producer EASY Moe bee. For those that donno, Easy moe bee is probably one of the most slept on producers of all time. He's so underground and yet has worked with so many incredible artists such as 2PAC, biggie, Wu Tang members, Jamal, and more. The beats he produces on tracks such as "gimmi the loot" and "Ready to die" are just heavy and haunting filled with epic jazzy loops. It matches well with biggies gritty raps on the fucked up shit that goes on in his side of the streets. Best tracks are practically the entire album ahahha. Everyone scoping this album out should first listen to the song "Suicidal Thoughts". The lyrics are haunting and fucked up as well as backed up by a sinister mellow beat that is just head knobbing yet incredibly addicting to jazz out too. In my opinion it's the best song on the album it's just too bad the song is too damn short!!! Here is the track as well as a fatt chunk of this classic record for ya'll to scope out... Digg it and enjoy
Ready to Die
Suicidal Thoughts
Gimmi The Loot
The Warning
Things Done Changed
The What feat. METHOD MAN
Big Poppa
Me and My Bitch
8/31 - Sleep
11/10 - Judas Priest
11/14 - Slayer
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Katelyn Houston plays for the 95 Rush. She recently went to florida to guest play in the Orange Classic with a team from Kansas. After the tournament she and her dad took the opportunity and went on a college road trip. Here is the story in her own words...
"My trip started out in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I had the great opportunity to guest-play with a team called Omega Select. I figured that since it was a select team, none of the girls would really know each other, however, after the first practice I soon learned that I was pretty much one of the only new girls. Regardless of just jumping in, the more time I spent with the team the closer we grew, especially on the field.
The first game we won 2-0. I was lucky to have one of my great friends, Katie Fraine, who's played on ATL Beat this last season, come and watch my first game. Our second game was actually a tie, 2-2. The other keeper, who is committed to NC state, and I both had 1 go in on us, but the team managed to come back and tie it up in the last couple minutes, it still felt like a win.
Our last game was definitely the best, we were all very comfortable with each other at this point, much of that credit goes to the coach, Gaspard D' Alexis, he did a great job of getting the team close in a short period of time. We played what seemed to be a team of giants, they were big, they were cocky, and they were talented.
Since I was splitting halves, I went in second half and it was 0-0. It seemed like forever but finally we scored and put it at 1-0! I was incredibly lucky to play with a team that had girls that were so willing to fight and play as hard as they did, and I'm looking forward to playing with them again soon.
After the tournament was over, my dad and I started our college trip adventure. We drove through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and then back to Florida. I saw a ton of universities including; UCF, UF, FSU, UGA, Young-Harris College, UT, UNC Charlotte, USC (one of my favorites), and SC state. I was able to talk to a pretty great number of coaches, especially for nothing being planned—my dad and I just showed up and found the coaches—and got quite a few tours of the soccer facilities.
Seeing the colleges in person is so incredibly different than looking over a college online. Some schools I got to and I fell in love, schools I hadn't even thought about before, USC being one of them, and some I had gotten to and said "no way." I would encourage any soccer player that's looking into playing in college to do something like this, guy or girl. Being from Alaska doesn't exactly make things easier when it comes to picking out a college, however, a trip like this could really help put a perspective on what you desire from your college experience."