Preparing for War with China? General Dynamics, Pandemic Prep, +

"Key Resolve"

U.S. aircraft carrier Nimitz arrives for joint exercise
http://www.kois.go.kr/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080228020

A 97,000-ton U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea’s southern port city of Busan Thursday (Feb. 28) for a weeklong exercise that will begin early next week, the public affairs office of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) said.The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, and its 5,300 crew members will play a key role in the annual joint exercise of South Korean and U.S. forces here.The exercise, Key Resolve, mainly aims to test the combined forces’ ability to host over 600,000 U.S. troops to be deployed here in case of an armed conflict while effectively defending the country from enemy hostilities."Key Resolve is a joint/combined command-post exercise designed to provide training for the ROK-US Combined Forces Command in various aspects of Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration of forces from bases outside of the country," CFC said in a press release, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. Key Resolve replaces what was simply called RSO & I.....

IN THE DRAGON'S LAIR US prowls for China in the Philippines

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JB28Ae01.html

Since the closure of its military bases in the country in 1991, the United States has incrementally regained, transformed and deepened its military presence and intervention in the Philippines. The manner in which the US has attempted to re-establish basing in the Philippines illustrates its attempts to radically overhaul its global offensive capabilities to become more agile and efficient while overcoming mounting domestic opposition to its presence around the world. The objectives with which the United States has sought to achieve this in the Philippines - a country that is firmly within what US analysts and strategists call "the dragon's lair" - point to the
emerging US strategy toward what it has officially identified as the one country with "the greatest potential to compete with the United States" - China. In this strategy, the Philippines, by virtue both of its location as well as its political disposition towards the US relative to its neighbors, plays a crucial role.....

The Nightly News, Courtesy of General Dynamics

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/02/the-nightly-new.html

Forget lighting guns, I've decided that my new favorite punching bag is going to be the not-yet-established "strategic communication agency." Look, it's too late with lightning guns, the company formerly known as Ionatron is laughing all the way to the bank. But with the strategic communication agency, there's still hope. Actually, maybe it is all over.
Check out this job advertised on journalismjobs.com:
General Dynamics [the same company making those armed robotic sentries below -- ed.] is seeking English and foreign language editors in preparation for the launch of a string of web-based news sites around the world....

StratCom chief backs investing in new nukes
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_stratcom_022708w/

The nation’s nuclear stockpile is safe and reliable now, but Strategic Command boss Gen. Kevin Chilton told Congress Wednesday that more research is needed to develop a nuclear warhead to replace those built for the Cold War.
Chilton made his case for Congress to invest in the Reliable Replacement Warhead Design Definition and Cost Study at the U.S. Strategic Posture Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request for Strategic Programs hearing in order to provide more information into the viability of building a post-Cold War warhead....

Army Manual Upgrades Nation-Building

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgPXz3dl2glsJmXPEki7sfnqqlVgD8V3FAB00

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — The Army on Thursday rolled out the first revision of its operations manual since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, putting stability operations — nation-building — on par with combat.
Army officials said the revision reflects a focus on fighting terrorism.
"The field manual is our Army's blueprint for an uncertain future," said Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV, commander of Fort Leavenworth, where the document was produced. "It does provide the blueprint for how we, as an Army, will operate over the next 10 to 15 years."......

OSI Geospatial Signs US$2.2 Million U.S. Marine Corps Contract

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/finance/article/osi-geospatial-signs-us22-million-marine-corps-contract_496712_9.html

OSI Geospatial Inc. delivers advanced geospatial systems and software that enable shared real-time situational awareness for military, safety and security applications. Our products and services enable our customers to integrate and visualize live data with any combination of sensor data, imagery, maps and charts. This capability provides our customers with enhanced operational performance, safety and security through shared real-time situational awareness...

States Prepared to Respond to Pandemic Flu Outbreak, Says Report

http://www.govtech.com/gt/268160?topic=117677

States are rapidly improving their preparedness for a pandemic outbreak, according to a new interim report by the NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center).
The report catalogs the results of five regional workshops involving 27 states and territories held between April and August 2007. The NGA Center convened the workshops to identify gaps in state pandemic preparedness, specifically in non-health-related areas such as continuity of government, maintenance of essential services and coordination with the private sector. In addition, the workshops examined strengths and weaknesses of coordination activities among levels of government, both vertically (state-federal and state-local) and horizontally (state-state and state-private sector).....

FEATURE-ER of future fights threats big and small http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN27619730

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Like every U.S. hospital emergency room, the one at Washington Hospital Center is overwhelmed -- on any day patients lie on gurneys in the corridor, hooked up to monitors. Others wait for hours to see a doctor.But next door to the old and crowded emergency department is a bright oasis of calm. Backed by a $2.2 million federal grant and drawing on 600 different ideas from a task force of experts, the hospital is putting in what emergency department chairman Dr. Mark Smith hopes will be a first draft of the emergency department of the future.It is designed to handle a sudden influx of mass casualties from a natural disaster, biological attack or a pandemic, and at the same time prevent the ongoing disaster of hospital-acquired infections."Our goal is to build a center as a demonstration facility -- a model test bed for the rest of the country," Smith said in an interview.