Bits 'N' Pieces
National Alliance of Families Newsletter
April 1, 2006
On March 30th, the National Alliance of Families was invited to a meeting in Washington, D.C., hosted by Mr. Robert Newberry, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs. Present were representatives from POW/MIA family and Veterans Groups. Topics discussed were the following, the schedule for appointing a permanent Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs, the appointment of a new chairperson for the US/Russian Joint Commission, the current shortfall in the JPAC budget for fiscal year 06 and potential reduction in budget for fiscal year 07.
Also discussed briefly, after the meeting, among representatives of the National Alliance of Families, Lynn O'Shea and Michael Benge, Mr. Frank Metersky of the Korea/Cold War Families of the Missing, and Ms. Robin Piacine of the Coalition of Families of Korean & Cold War POW/MIAs, were the results of the recently provided Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) study to "Assess the U.S. - Russian Joint Commission on POW/MIAs." All were in basic agreement that the IDA study missed the mark. More on this but first:
Yellow Ribbon Day Ð Clermont County Ohio has declared April 9th "Yellow Ribbon Day." We propose to take "Yellow Ribbon Day" nationwide in support of Army Sgt. Mat Maupin, captured in Iraq on April 9th 2004.
Show your support for Sgt. Maupin by putting up and wearing a yellow ribbon on April 9th.
Now to the March 30th meeting:
New DASD - Mr. Newberry informed all gathered that the new permeant DASD for POW/MIA Affairs would be chosen sometime in April.
As our regular readers know, the National Alliance of Families, along with the Korea/Cold War Families of the Missing, the Korean War POW/MIA Network, the Coalition of Families of Korean & Cold War POW/MIAs, the POW Network, Help Free POW*MIA's Now, the Northeast POW/MIA Network, and the Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action CT Forget-Me-Nots, Inc. have all endorsed Mr. Norman Kass for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for POW/MIA Affairs.
Our voices need to be heard and we need your help. We need more faxes, letters and emails of support for the appointment of Norman Kass for the DASD position. If you've sent your faxes, letters and emails send another. This is the final push. The appointment of Mr. Kass will insure competent and qualified leadership at DPMO. As you will see as outlined in this newsletter, past failed DPMO leadership has left the mission of accounting for our service members in grave peril. The appointment of Mr. Kass to the DASD position would provide our cause with a strong voice. The personal respect and trust he enjoys with POW/MIA family members will go a long way in restoring trust in DPMO.
Email the President at president@whitehouse.gov
Fax your letters to:
Presidential Personnel Office
Mr. Jim O'Beirne
Presidential Personnel Office
C/O Ms. Margaret Hemenway
The White House
White House Liaison
Washington, DC 20502
Fax: 202-456-1121
Dept of Defense
Pentagon Rm 3D964
Fax: 703-693-6908
Chairman of the U.S./Russian Joint Commission (USRJC) - Again, Mr. Newberry advised us that the appointment of a new Chairman would come sometime in April. Based on his knowledge of the situation Mr. Newberry estimated that the chances were 90% that the new Chairman would come from outside the Department of Defense. This announcement was met with the support of POW/MIA family groups.
The National Alliance of Families had opposed the Chairmanship of the Commission going to the DASD for POW/MIA Affairs whomever he might be. The positions of DASD and Chairmanship of the USRJC require a distinct independence. The disastrous dual tenure of Jerry Jennings as both DASD and Chairman of the USRJC proves this point.
We are pleased to see that the White House and the Department of Defense recognize this fact.
JPAC Efforts - This is a disaster and how we reached this point can only be attributed to the lack of leadership at DPMO, under Mr. Jennings. It seems to us as though no one fought for JPAC funding and as a result JPAC efforts are now jeopardized.
The scheduled 10-5-10 Operational Planning representing 10 operations in Southeast Asia, 5 in North Korea and 10 operations worldwide (this includes South Korea) represents a 20% reduction over previous years' JPAC field activities. Additionally, there is a budget shortfall of 3.6 million dollars for fiscal year 2006. If this shortfall is not covered, one field activity scheduled for Laos will in all probability be canceled.
The budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, currently under discussion, calls for additional cuts to JPAC funding. This will further jeopardize recovery operations.
To complete operation at an acceptable level JPAC requires a budget of 60 million dollars. We need to find members of congress who will support a budget line item allocating specific funding directly to JPAC, for FY 07, in the amount of $53 million for recovery operation in Southeast Asia and World Wide with an additional $7 million allocated for recovery operations in North Korea, when recovery operations are resumed in that country.
With regard to the 2006 shortfall jeopardizing a currently scheduled field activity in Laos, we must act now. Contact President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov Urge him to call for an allocation of 3.6 million dollars to complete all scheduled recovery operations for fiscal year 2006.
Letters should also be faxed to Mr. Gordon R. England, Deputy Secretary of Defense, asking that the Department of Defense address the current $3.6 million JPAC shortfall, with additional funding and the FY07 budget to allow JPAC to operate at past levels. Letters to Mr. England should be addressed to:
Mr. Gordon R. England
Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Fax: 703/ 697-7374
We urge you all to fax letters, calling for full funding of the JPAC mission.
The mission is far from over and we cannot let budget cuts jeopardize the search for our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.
Our Voices Must Be Heard!
Restructuring of Field Activities - Briefly touched upon is a plan currently under consideration to restructure field activities. As currently scheduled 2 - 3 teams deploy 4 - 6 times a year for periods of 30 days. The plan currently under consideration would schedule deployments would be twice a year, with a larger number of teams and a possible 45 day stay.
We look forward to future updates on this restructuring plan along with specific details as to the number of teams to be deployed on a twice year basis, and the duration of their stay as compared to current operations.
IDA Study - The study represents yet another attempt to diminish or perhaps eliminate the U.S./Russian Joint Commission and the Joint Commission Support Directorate (JCSD). The study's cost of $800,000 is roughly the equivalent of the JCSD operational budget for one year. Perhaps it is this study that is the perfect monument to the wasteful and totally directionless tenure of Jerry D. Jennings.
Received this week, we have given the study only a cursory review but found the following recommendations objectionable to the National Alliance of Families:
Phase out JCSD work outside Russian and the Ukraine
- This would eliminate all efforts in former Soviet Bloc countries including the Czech Republic. Czech involvement with POWs in the Korean War is well known and their involvement with POWs from the Vietnam war is highly probably. To eliminate this avenue of investigation as well as avenues of investigation in other former Soviet Bloc countries would be criminal.
Continue to designate the Director of DPMO as the U.S. Co-chair fo the USRJC
- Based on information provided in the March 30th meeting, it would seem this recommendation will be ignored, as it should be.
We do support the IDA recommendation of increased staff to " expedite Korean War related activity." However, JCSD has long requested additional competent staffing. We disagree with the IDA assessment that this staffing is not needed across the board. Had $800,000 not been wasted on this study, funding of additional staff would not be a problem.
We also disagree with the IDA study comment stating; "the considerable improvement in U.S. relations with Vietnam, in recent years suggests the ability to obtain information directly from Vietnamese sources on MIAs will continue to increase and further diminish the relative importance of information on Southeast Asia from former Soviet sources."
The 1998 National Intelligence Estimate discussed the issue of POWs from Vietnam transferred to the former Soviet Union and stated; "A few reports of transfers of US POWs to Russia and other countries are unexplained, and the books remain open." Unless something has changed, those reports of transfers to the former Soviet Union and other countries remain unexplained and "the books remain open." To suggest that JCSD curtail activities in Russia regarding POWs from Southeast Asia is irresponsible.
We are sure an in-depth review of this study will provide additional recommendations objectionable to the National Alliance of Families.
Enough With the Studies - Over the last 6 - 7 years DPMO commissioned both the Anser Mission Area Analysis Study and the IDA study. Costs of these studies approach the $2 million ranged. Both were wastes of time and precious funds.
For the future, sit-downs with POW/MIA family groups, for their input, would be far more beneficial, and far less expensive, than over blown studies by individuals with no grasp of the POW/MIA issue.
Why Does Johnie Webb still have a job?
National Alliance of Families 17th Annual Forum is scheduled for June 22th - 24th, 2006. We have no idea if DPMO will again hold a concerned citizens briefing. As soon as we hear anything, we will let you know.
Our forum is conducted to coincide with the Government's annual Vietnam POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to attend this years government briefings. The government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the government briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend these briefings and you DO NOT have to belong to an organization to attend the government briefings.
This year the Alliance meeting will be held at the Sheraton Crystal City located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, in Arlington Va. Rate for single or double occupancy for is $99.00 per night plus tax. This rate applies to Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you are arriving on Wednesday rate is $109.00 plus tax. Parking is $10.00 per day. The Sheraton is located across the street from both the Crystal City Underground Food Court and the Metro Stop. The Sheraton is within a short walking distance of the hotel hosting the government briefings. The Alliance is working on transportation between hotels for those who prefer to ride. To make your reservations, call 703-486-1111 or 800-864-7666 and remember to say you want the special National Alliance of Families rate. Reservation must be made by May 25th to get the special Alliance rate.
The Alliance is an all volunteer organization. Our meetings are open to all, without charge. At this time of year, we actively seek contributions to finance our forum. If you wish to contribute, donations may be mailed to:
National Alliance Of Families
P.O. Box 40327
Bellevue, WA. 98015.
Remember all contributions are tax deductible.
The clock is ticking.......