PFT: Vikings GM has 'no intent' to trade Harvin

AP

On Friday, out of the blue, the Colts announced that they have parted ways with veteran defensive end/linebacker Dwight Freeney.? Technically, they haven?t.? Not yet.

More specifically, the Colts have decided that Freeney won?t be re-signed, which means that he?ll become a free agent on March 12.

Owner Jim Irsay gushed about Freeney in a release confirming the move, saying that ?[f]ew people have meant as much to the success of the Indianapolis Colts as Dwight Freeney,? that ?[h]e has been a dominant player,? and that he ?was an artist, a joy to watch, and the dedication he put toward his craft was a rare quality.?

Irsay also said that Freeney will be inducted into the team?s Ring of Honor.

But if the Colts and Irsay truly want to honor Freeney, they?ll do the honorable thing and cut him.? This would allow Freeney to have a three-week head start on free agency, searching for a team without having to box out the other various free agents who will all be chasing the same cap dollars.

If the Colts are, as they have declared, moving on, there?s no reason to squat on Freeney?s rights any longer.? So if they mean all those nice things they?re saying about Freeney, they?ll do something that will cost them nothing ? while also giving real meaning to the phrase ?part ways.?

UPDATE 9:37 p.m. ET:? A reader raised a valid point.? By cutting Freeney, the Colts would not be eligible for compensatory picks based on his departure via free agency.? However, the compensation drops significantly for players on the wrong side of 30, and with the Colts having so much cap space chances are they?ll sign more players than they lose in 2013, which means they?ll get no compensatory picks at all in 2014.? And if they didn?t cut Freeney in order to improve their standing in the compensatory draft pick formula, they should say so.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/15/spielman-says-vikings-have-no-intent-to-trade-percy-harvin/related/

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South Shore Frolics organizers urgently seeking donations for parade

The South Shore Frolics organizers are urgently seeking public and private donations to reinstate the event?s parade this summer. The parade was canceled last year when the Bay View Lions, who produce and sponsor the event, were unable to secure adequate funding to finance the parade.

The parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 13. This year marks the 64th annual Frolics event.

To date the Lions have raised 20 percent of the $30,000 required to underwrite the parade, Patty Pritchard Thompson announced today, in an emailed funding-appeal. ?The full $30K number needs to be reached no later than Thursday, February 28, for the Parade to continue! ? Thompson said.

The Bay View Business Improvement District (BID #44) matched the first $3,000.

In addition to sponsorships and donations, the Lions ask that members of the community help spread the word that funding is critical in order to save the 2013 South Shore Frolics parade.

Learn about sponsorship levels here.

For more information, contact Patty Pritchard Thompson or send your donation to:

Bay View Lions Club
Attn: Parade
PO Box 070104
Milwaukee, WI 53207

Checks are payable to the Bay View Lions Club

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Copyright 2012 by Bay View Compass. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://bayviewcompass.com/archives/13199

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Russia Oil Corp Rosneft seeking to borrow up to US$30-billion from China for possibly doubling oil supplies

Russian oil company Rosneft is seeking to borrow up to US$30-billion from China in exchange for possibly doubling oil supplies to the mainland. The move would make Beijing the largest consumer of Russian oil and further divert supplies away from Europe.

Industry sources told Reuters news agency that Rosneft?was in talks with the China National Petroleum Corporation. But Rosneft denied it was discussing the loan, and refused to comment on whether it might enter into negotiations at a later date.

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Tags: China, China National Petroleum Corporation, largest consumer of Russian oil, News, oil, politics, possibly doubling oil supplies, Rosneft, Russia, Russia to divert oil supplies away from Europe, US$30-billion

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Source: http://johnib.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/russia-oil-corp-rosneft-seeking-to-borrow-up-to-us30-billion-from-china-for-possibly-doubling-oil-supplies/

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Dominican Republic Strengthens its Military to Confront Organized Crime

Ra?l S?nchez-Azuara/Di?logo

13/02/2013

During CANSEC 2012, Major General Pedro Antonio C?ceres Chestaro, Deputy Minister of the Dominican Republic Armed Forces, told Di?logo that a bill was proposed to have Dominican troops participate in peace keeping operations as a UN member. (Photo: Sandra Marina/Di?logo)

Interview with Dominican Army Commander, Major General Pedro Antonio C?ceres Chestaro, Deputy Minister of the Dominican Republic Armed Forces

In terms of surface and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean. Its strategic geographic location places the island in a privileged position, which is not only attractive to tourists and foreign investments, but also to organized crime. In an interview with Di?logo during the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC), held in Miami, Florida, in December 2012, Major General Pedro Antonio C?ceres Chestaro spoke about the security challenges he faces as Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces, as well as the legislative and structural changes expected to take place in his country.

Di?logo: General C?ceres Chestaro, what are the most significant achievements accomplished by the Dominican Armed Forces in 2012?

Major General Pedro Antonio C?ceres Chestaro: As for significant achievements, we can mention the improvements in joint operations, organizational structures and our judiciary system, which resulted from the different legislative proposals on Security and Defense presented by the National Congress, such as the Armed Forces? Organic Law, the Intelligence National System Law, the Comprehensive Social Security Law, and the Peacekeeping Operations Law.

Di?logo: Has the military cooperation between the Dominican Republic and the United States contributed to these achievements in any way?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: The United States, through the Southern Command, constitutes a partner of vital importance to us. Their cooperation is crucial for the execution of multiple plans that resulted in various contributions in equipment and training, hence strengthening human and material capabilities of the Armed Forces. As a result, the level of training and development, obtained by our personnel in U.S. schools and military centers has been strengthened, as in the case of WHINSEC and CHDS for top level courses in National Defense and Security. We also developed a series of joint exercises aimed at helping people in need, as in the case of the New Horizons [humanitarian assistance exercise]. With regard to training, there are permanent teams working with our personnel in the fields of special operations, civil affairs and intelligence through the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S), with early execution and awareness on illicit actions. In all these cases, logistical support, exchange of doctrine procedures, and lessons learned provide strength and preparedness to the Forces? operational capacity.

Di?logo: In mid-2012, the Minister of the Dominican Republic Armed Forces started a process to reform the institution. What changes can be anticipated, and what are the expectations of this process?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: Admiral Sigfrido Pared P?rez has presented his management plan within the strategic plan for the Armed Forces 2012-2015, with very positive changes on the operational capability of the force and the wellbeing of soldiers. The Commission for the Armed Forces Reform and Modernization has also been strengthened, with the optimization of the Defense and Security capability, which will implement internal control standards for resources that will pave the road for a departmental culture aimed at planning, assessment and positive results.

Di?logo: What is the Dominican Republic?s role in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), involving Caribbean nations, and in the Conference of Central American Armed Forces (CFAC)?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: We are founding partners in this fortunate initiative, so we are constantly trying to integrate the objectives of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative by properly identifying common challenges and threats, knowing that transnational criminals are very clever and take advantage of any weakness we may show. Thus, it is important for us to remain united and vigilant against organized crime.

In regards to the CFAC, it is a conference that shows that our relationship is mature and has kept us working side by side in the area of operations and intelligence, and also in strengthening relations through the exchange of instructors, officer and cadet participation in schools and academies, the establishment of regional centers in partner nations supported by the existing strengths of those countries, as in the case of the Guatemalan Peacekeeping Operations Regional Command, the Honduran Humanitarian Assistance Regional Center, the Salvadoran Counter Terrorist Regional Center, the Nicaraguan Demining Regional Center, and the Dominican Republic?s CFAC Human Rights and International Humanitarian Rights Regional Center, which strengthens measures to promote trust among partner nations.

Di?logo: What security advancements are taking place with Haiti?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: The Dominican Armed Forces maintain and increase interaction and information exchange with internal security organizations from Haiti through the Haitian Ministry of Interior and their Armed Forces, by interacting with our Land Border Security Specialized Corps. With regard to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), we have always kept good relations in terms of communication, information exchange, and cooperation, which was very valuable after the earthquake in January 2010.

Di?logo: What is the opinion of the Armed Forces minister regarding the Dominican Republic?s possible participation in peacekeeping missions in the near future?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: The minister?s opinion has always been favorable, and his initiative to introduce the bill on Dominican troop participation as a UN member in peacekeeping operations into the National Congress is proof of that, as well as the importance he has conferred on the peacekeeping unit, and the strength and dynamism given to the School of Peacekeeping Operations since 2010. Officially created in October 2012, the school has generated very positive results, offering courses such as the Peacekeeping Basic Course, Peacekeeping Operations Instructor course, Peacekeeping Special Operations Senior Staff course, Peacekeeping Operations Military Observer course, and the War Correspondent and Peacekeeping Operations Leader course.

Di?logo: The theme of CANSEC 2013 deals with the importance of preserving the Armed Forces? resources in our countries, especially during these times of economic challenges. What specific steps are you taking in this sense?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: We give paramount importance to the preservation of our resources, and we manage them in the most appropriate way. We direct [the resources] to optimizing Security and Defense capabilities and the implementation of basic internal control within the Dominican State. Furthermore, the next revision of the Dominican Armed Forces? Joint Doctrine, performed every five years, represents an opportunity of improvement for the existing methods and of implementing those that will significantly contribute to the use and maintenance of equipment.

Di?logo: Your country has made important investments during the last year, for example, the purchase of Super Tucano aircrafts, pilot training in Brazil and Colombia, as well as the acquisition of airborne radars. Are there any other important investments planned for 2013?

Maj. Gen. C?ceres: The defense program including Super Tucano aircrafts and radars is part of an integral system aimed at strengthening national security; to protect our land, maritime and air borders and appropriately confront those threats that challenge us. The president has manifested a strong interest in national security, the acquisition and installation of security equipment by the Armed Forces for use in the Command, Control, Communications and Technologies Center, which will cover the different military components and specialized corps. At the same time, he has authorized the minister to proceed with installing of the equipment. The acquisition of sensors and devices to increase awareness levels has been set as top priority in the 2010-2030 national development strategy. These devices will improve our response capacity and prevent our jurisdiction areas from being used for illicit activities.

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Source: http://www.dialogo-americas.com/en_GB/articles/rmisa/features/regional_news/2013/02/13/feature-ex-3915

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Military exercise highlights US policy shift to Asia

Rosie Brown / Yankee-Brown Productions

A U.S. Navy landing craft arrives at Thailand's Hat Yao beach during Cobra Gold 2013, a military exercise involving 13,000 military personnel.

By Ed Kiernan, NBC News contributor

HAT YAO, Thailand -- An ear-thumping explosion reverberates around the bay as a plume of water shoots hundreds of yards into the air.

Two Marine F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets scream by overhead, while Huey and Super Cobra helicopters bank hard, simulating bombing runs. Heavily armed, amphibious assault vehicles churn up the sand as they unleash hordes of U.S. Marines onto one of Thailand's idyllic eastern beaches.

Cobra Gold 2013 -- the largest multinational military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region -- is officially under way.

Rosie Brown / Yankee-Brown Productions

A Thai marine waits patiently for instructions in the midday sun during Cobra Gold 2013.

The annual exercise is in its 32nd iteration and involves 13,000 military personnel countries, including Japan and South Korea, as well as observers from China and, for the first time, Myanmar.

For 10 days, these forces will conduct a variety of field exercises, from amphibious assaults and jungle warfare to humanitarian and civic assistance projects.

Leading the exercises are more than 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, part of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet.

Many of these servicemen and women will play a major role in America's new "Asia pivot" defense strategy, which calls for the strengthening of U.S. military power in the region.

"The pivot to the Pacific that President Obama has talked about is a refocusing of assets and efforts after over 10 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Capt. Cathal O'Connor, commander of Amphibious Squadron 11. "But the actual relationship of being out here in the Pacific goes back to the time of the Civil War."

Cobra Gold itself is a holdover from the Cold War when it was one of the key pillars of U.S. regional security.

'A deterrent'
During the height of the Cold War, the exercise regularly simulated invasions of Thailand from its northern and eastern borders.

Now with U.S. once again focused on the Pacific, Cobra Gold has taken on renewed significance, explained Jon Grevatt, an Asia-Pacific analyst for IHS Jane's.

"It has new purpose to show the strength of military collaboration between the U.S. and its partner nations, creating a deterrent to?Chinese and North Korean ambitions," he said.

Tensions have been rising in the region with the dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands ??known as Diaoyu in Chinese --?and North Korea's latest nuclear test.

Rosie Brown / Yankee-Brown Productions

Plumes of smoke rise from simulated bombing runs over Hat Yao beach in Thailand.

This strengthening has already begun with the Navy sending a newly upgraded, guided-missile cruiser, USS Antietam, to join the 7th Fleet based in Japan. The Antietam gives the Navy a more sophisticated air-defense system, particularly against ballistic missiles.

More ships will be arriving in the region in the near future as the Pentagon continues its plan to shift around 60 percent of all Navy warships to the Asia-Pacific theater by 2020.

And it's not just the Navy getting in on the action, the Marines have deployed two battalions -- nearly 2,000 troops -- to Okinawa in the last six weeks with more scheduled to arrive this summer. There are now more than 17,000 U.S. Marines based in Japan -- the most in over a decade.

Both Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have visited Southeast Asia in recent months, reinforcing how critical the Asia-Pacific theater has become to U.S. strategy.

"We all know that the Asia-Pacific is the traffic highway of so many goods and services. A great many things are manufactured in this part of the world," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, commander of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet. "The United States has been a presence in the Pacific for many, many years? and they will continue to be so."

Sheila A. Smith, an expert on regional security in Asia for the Council on Foreign Relations, said that despite the fact China had accepted an invitation to observe Cobra Gold "military exercises always raise eyebrows."

?The president is a Pacific president," she said. "I think he realizes that the region has been overlooked. It?s not threat-based or military-driven. The large part is an adjustment of diplomatic focus."

Rosie Brown / Yankee-Brown Productions

US Marines assault Hat Yao beach during an exercise as part of Cobra Gold 2013.

Matt Stumpf, an expert on U.S.-Asian relations at the Asia Society?think tank, added: "I think what?s notable about this year?s exercise is in the context of the rebalancing of U.S. policy toward Asia.

"The president and [former Secretary of State Hillary] Clinton have both spoken in depth on their views that Asia is critical to the United States in the 21st century. And with the drawdown in Afghanistan and the end of the war in Iraq, there was an opportunity in Asia to refocus diplomatic, defense and development tools for U.S. goals in the region."

NBC News Staff Writer John Newland contributed to this report.

Related:

North Korea crisis: China talks softly to avoid alienating nuclear-armed neighbor

Much at stake for US as tensions rise in troubled China seas

South Korean, US Marines join forces in half-naked snow run

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/15/16973088-huge-military-exercise-highlights-rebalancing-of-us-policy-toward-asia?lite

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Is historical claim behind the mystery group of (armed?) Filipinos in Borneo?

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Chrysler recalls 370,297 trucks for possible loose fastener

DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC said on Thursday it was recalling 370,297 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles globally because a loose fastener could cause the rear axle to lock up and make a driver lose control.

The recall, which expands on another recall announced last fall, affects 278,222 vehicles in the United States, 63,321 in Canada, 23,767 in Mexico and 4,987 in the rest of the world, Chrysler said.

Chrysler, which is controlled by Italy's Fiat, said it was recalling some Ram 1500 pickups from model years 2009 through 2012, Dodge Dakota pickup trucks from model years 2009 through 2011, and 2009-model Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango full-size SUVs.

A Chrysler spokesman said the U.S. automaker was aware of 15 accidents related to the recall, but no injuries.

Last October, Chrysler recalled more than 44,000 Dakotas and Ram 1500 pickups for the same problem. Further review of customer complaints and field reports, however, showed the problem also existed for vehicles not covered by the first recall, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Chrysler said some rear axles were assembled with a fastener that can loosen and lead to failure. It said its dealers will install a retainer, at no cost to customers, that secures the fastener.

The recall was expected to begin in March, according to NHTSA documents.

(Reporting By Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by M.D. Golan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chrysler-recalls-370-297-trucks-possible-loose-fastener-195722079--finance.html

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