Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/416679
ByRobertBurns TheAssociatedPress MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. The Pentagon will spend an additional $10 billion to correct deep problems of neglect and mismanage- ment within the nation's nuclear forces, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel de- clared Friday, pledging firm action to support the men and women who handle the world's most powerful and deadly weapons. Hagel ordered top-to- bottom changes in the nu- clear arsenal's manage- ment, which he said had been allowed over the years to backslide, afflicted by broken and missing equip- ment, poor leadership and inadequate training and staffing. Hagel told a Pentagon news conference Friday morning — before flying to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota where many of the nuclear force troubles began — that the Defense Department will boost spending on the nuclear forces by about 10 percent a year for the next five years, saying there is no problem on this issue the Pentagon can't fix. That would be a total increase of about $10 billion over the five years. Currently the Pentagon spends about $15 billion a year on the nuclear mis- sion. "The internal and ex- ternal reviews I ordered show that a consistent lack of investment and support for our nuclear forces over far too many years has left us with too little mar- gin to cope with mounting stresses," said Hagel, who was flanked by senior Air Force and Navy officers. "The root cause has been a lack of sustained focus, at- tention and resources, re- sulting in a pervasive sense that a career in the nuclear enterprise offers too few op- portunities for growth and advancement." Hagel received briefings at Minot and then delivered a pep talk to a few hundred nuclear bomber and mis- sile force members. Urging them to take pride in their jobs — an allusion to con- cern about lagging morale — he told the airmen, "You are an indispensable ele- ment of our national secu- rity." Hagel ordered two re- views in February — one by Pentagon officials and a sec- ond by outside experts — as a result of a series of Asso- ciated Press stories that re- vealed lapses in leadership, morale, safety and security at the nation's three nuclear Air Force bases. The good news, Hagel said, "is there has been no nuclear exchange in the world." The head of his Stra- tegic Command, Navy Adm. Cecil Haney, also noted the nuclear force has been op- erating securely. "You don't see the mush- room cloud or that sort of thing. We must continue that," he told reporters. Hagel acknowledged years of neglect since the Cold War's end rendered America's nuclear mission less relevant in a world of drones and counterterror- ism. And he vowed renewed accountability. One of Hagel's predeces- sors, Robert Gates, fired his top military and civilian Air Force leaders in 2008 be- cause of similar problems. But Hagel said, "Previous reviews of our nuclear en- terprise lacked clear follow- up mechanisms." The new reviews con- cluded that the manage- ment structure of U.S. nu- clear forces is so incoher- ent that top-level officials often are unaware of trou- ble below them. The re- views also found a "discon- nect" between what nuclear force leaders say and what they provide to troops in the field. To illustrate the degree of decay in the intercontinen- tal ballistic missile force, the reviews found that mainte- nance crews had access to only one tool set required to tighten bolts on the war- head end of the Minuteman 3 missile, and that this sin- gle tool set was being used by crews at all three ICBM bases, in North Dakota, Wy- oming and Montana. When one crew needed it, it was sent by another — by Fed- eral Express. That "was a metaphor for how far things had fallen," said Deputy Defense Secre- tary Robert Work, adding that eventually crew mem- bers stopped reporting the problem. "They had re- ported it over and over, and they just worked around it." Hagel said Friday the crews now have tool kits at each of the three bases and will soon get two each. The reviews also noted the poor morale across the force, saying that that cul- ture debilitates people who might otherwise flourish. Missile crews in Launch Control Centers complained that equipment remained broken for months or years, and launch centers were even forced to shut down because of problems that persisted for a decade. Among his more signif- icant moves, Hagel autho- rized the Air Force to put a four-star general in charge of its nuclear forces, accord- ing to officials. The top Air Force nu- clear commander currently is a three-star. Lt. Gen. Ste- phen Wilson is responsible not only for the 450 Minute- man ICBMs but also the nu- clear bomber force. Hagel has concluded that a four- star would be able to exert more influence within the Air Force and the appoint- ment would send a signal to the entire force that the mission is taken seriously, the defense officials said. Hagel also OK'd a pro- posal to upgrade the top nuclear force official at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon from a two-star general to a three-star. The review's authors, re- tired Air Force Gen. Larry D. Welch and retired Navy Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., found fault with one of the unique features of life in the nuclear forces. It is called the Personnel Reli- ability Program, designed to monitor the mental fit- ness of people entrusted with the world's deadliest weapons. Over time, that program has devolved into a burden- some administrative exer- cise that detracts from the mission, the authors found. Hagel ordered an overhaul. TOP-TO-BOTTOM CHANGES Ha ge l or de rs n uc le ar f or ce s ha ke up EVANVUCCI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel pauses during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday where he announced that he is ordering top-to-bottom changes in how the nation's nuclear arsenal is managed. By Seth Borenstein The Associated Press WASHINGTON The United States is giving $3 billion to a U.N. fund to help poorer vulnerable coun- tries prepare for a chang- ing climate and develop cleaner energy. President Barack Obama will announce the contribution at meeting of world leaders in Australia, the administration said. The United Nations is trying to raise at least $10 billion for its Green Cli- mate Fund to help devel- oping nations adjust to ris- ing seas, warmer temper- atures, and more extreme weather. It also would help the nations come up with energy sources that limit or reduce heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from coal, oil and gas. The American pledge would be the biggest to date and would double contributions to $6 billion, according to international environmental groups. France has promised $1 billion, with Germany pledging nearly as much. Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland have all pledged at least $100 mil- lion, while Denmark, Nor- way, Mexico, Luxembourg, Czech Republic and Indo- nesia have pledged lesser amounts, according to of- ficials at Oxfam America. The South Korea-based fund, which also accepts money from private chari- ties,wassetupbytheUnited Nations Framework Con- vention on Climate Change. Former Sen. Timothy Wirth, vice chairman of the United Nations Foun- dation and a politician who been on both House and Senate budget committees, said he doesn't see how the Obama administration can get the money without ap- proval from a Republican Congress, which he said is unlikely to happen. But Wirth said that will work out because "almost all of this is going to be done by the private sec- tor." The idea is eventually to have about $100 billion flowing to the developing nations, he said. "Symbolically, I think it shows bold action to keep advancing his climate agenda" despite a Repub- lican Congress that may not even believe in global warming, said Paul Wap- ner, a professor of inter- national relations and en- vironmental politics at American University. Chip Knappenberger of the conservative Cato Institute said his prefer- ence is for private money to go the fund. And if fed- eral money goes to the fund it should be more to help the nations adapt to a changing climate rather than push greener energy sources, he said. Along with several en- vironmental activist groups, former Vice Pres- ident Al Gore cheered the announcement as "strong leadership," heading into intense climate negotia- tions for a new interna- tional treaty next year. Sen. James Inhofe, R- Okla., who will likely be the new chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Commit- tee, blasted the pledge in a statement, saying it's part of more than $120 billion in spending on climate change since the president took office: In 2008, President George W. Bush pledged $2 bil- lion to a similar fund. The Obama administration said it is building on that pledge. UN FUND US giving $3 billion to help poor nations with climate change By Hamza Hendawi The Associated Press BAGHDAD Iraqi govern- ment forces on Friday drove Islamic State militants out from their remaining strongholds inside the oil refinery town of Beiji, two security official said, in a key victory over the terror group that has captured much of northern and west- ern Iraq in a stunning sum- mer offensive. The Iraqi troops, backed by allied Sunni militiamen, also lifted the Islamic State group's siege of the oil re- finery, Iraq's largest, and hoisted Iraq's red, white and black flags atop the complex hosting the facility. Reached by telephone in Beiji, the officials said the army used loudspeak- ers to warn the small num- ber of residents still holed up in the town to stay in- doors while bomb squads detonated booby-trapped houses and remaining bombs planted on the roads. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity be- cause they were not autho- rized to speak to the media. State Iraqi television also reported the "liberation of Beiji," quoting the top army commander there, Gen. Ab- dul-Wahab al-Saadi. Islamic State extremists captured Beiji during their summer offensive. The Iraqi forces had collapsed in the face of that onslaught but have since partially re- grouped and went on the of- fensive, with Beiji the big- gest locality they have re- captured to date. The two officials said fierce battles were fought early on Friday around the refinery and that govern- ment warplanes strafed Islamic State positions around the facility on the northern edge of the town. The refinery's capacity of some 320,000 barrels a day accounts for a quarter of Iraq's refining capacity. Beiji will now likely be a base for staging a push to take back from the Is- lamic State Saddam Husse- in's hometown of Tikrit to the south. KEY VICTORY Iraqi forces drive IS from refinery town THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Smoke rises Thursday from an oil refinery in Beiji, some 155miles north of Baghdad, PLEASERECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. Thankyou! By Ian Deitch The Associated Press JERUSALEM A Jerusalem holy site at the heart of re- cent tensions between Is- raelis and Palestinians was quiet on Friday, po- lice said, after age restric- tions for Muslim men who wanted to pray there were lifted for the first time in weeks, but minor clashes with Palestinian protest- ers continued in the West Bank. Police have said age re- strictions banning Mus- lim men under the age of 35 are occasionally im- posed on the holy site in an attempt to reduce vio- lence that often involves young Palestinians throw- ing rocks and firecrackers in protests held at the com- pound — which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Palestinians have pro- tested against age limita- tions in the past. It's not clear if the calm Friday was due to the lifting of the restrictions — a pos- sible confidence building measure — or the result of diplomatic progress the night before. The development came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- yahu met with U.S. Secre- tary of State John Kerry and Jordan's King Abdul- lah II in an attempt to re- store calm in the holy city that has seen months of tension and violent con- frontations. The Imam of the com- pound's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Ekrima Sabri, said "no in- structions" were given for the calm Friday. "Police treated the worshippers peacefully so they were peaceful," he said. Azzam Khatib, direc- tor general of the, Waqf, Jordan's Islamic authority which manages the site, said "40,000 worshippers came today peacefully and prayed and left the mosque quietly. We hope it's a new page. We will monitor the Israeli performance in the coming days and weeks." Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the site was open to Muslims of all ages for weekly prayers and there were no imme- diate reports of violence. In recent weeks, Pales- tinians have clashed with police at the holy site, some- times in response to visits by Jewish worshippers. HOLY SITE Israel li s Muslim age limits for Jerusalem site By Haruna Umar The Associated Press MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA Is- lamic extremists in Nigeria have seized Chibok, forc- ing thousands of people to flee the town where insur- gents kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in April, a local official said Friday. The Boko Haram insur- gents entered the town Thursday, shooting from pickup trucks and motorcy- cles, Bana Lawan, chairman of the Chibok local govern- ment, said. "Nobody can tell you what is happening there today because everybody is just trying to escape with their lives," he said. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. is closely monitoring the sit- uation in Chibok. " We condemn these at- tacks in Chibok, a commu- nity that has already suf- fered too much. ... We re- main committed to helping the government of Nigeria address the threat posed by extremist organizations, Psaki told reporters. In a separate develop- ment, a bomb exploded Fri- day night in northern Kano city, the second largest pop- ulation center in Nigeria, killing six people including three police officers, accord- ing to the police. Resident Aliyu Yusuf Ho- toro said many buildings shook from the force of the explosion from a car bomb in a gas station on a main road leading to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. NIGERIA Militants seize hometown of kidnapped schoolgirls GoldExchange The 3 rd Annual Christmas for A Cause Nov. 15 th -Dec. 13 th 423WalnutSt.,RedBluff 528-8000 www.ChristmasForACause TehamaCounty.com *ForDetailsand *Wish list* BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION Visit www.tehamafamilyfitness.com Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St. Red Bluff • 528-8656 WELLNESS FACT: • Don't smoke • Drink alcohol only in moderation • Exercise regularly • Make healthy food choices At the Tehama Family Fitness Center (TFFC) we are uniquely qualified to help you with the aforementioned. We are the only fitness center with college educated Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).� This certification is one of only two that are accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Of the four hundred plus organizations in the United States that purport to certify personal fitness training, most are internet courses or weekend retreats. At TFFC, we care about your well-being.� We want to improve your quality of life. We have the professional staff to get the job done safely and scientifically.� You will have a well defined program, purpose and plan. In conclusion, anyone can give advice or teach regarding wellness, but the true predictor of a facilities' knowledge is certification by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). (Malek et al. 2002). Myoffertoyou:IfyoutakeatourwithTroyorAubrie-Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am to 6pm, you will receive a free 2 week trial pass to try out the facility. *Offer valid through December 31st, 2014. Ed Stroman- Owner, PTATC CSCS 365S.MainSt. Red Bluff www.lariatbowl.com 527-2720 Family Fun Day November15 th 12:00-1:30 $7.50/person Callfordetailsonboth. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 7 A