Volunteers, Airlines Lift Tons of Baby Clothes to Refugees Fleeing War in Afghanistan

The anguish of unrelenting cold in the camps is reflected in the face of this Afghan Boy

Image: Andrea Bruce, New York Times

Unusually Cold Afghanistan Winter Takes Toll on Most Vulnerable: Relief Effort Led by British Afghan Women’s Society; Mission Accomplished Through Unprecedented Rapid End-to-End Private Effort Airlift of Large Quantities of Aid Materiel Into Conflict Zone

      Kalitta Air and DHL Deployed their aircraft to assist in the rapid movement of relief goods to refugee camps outside of Kabul, Afghanistan in an unprecedented private airlift mission into a conflict zone    Image: Kalitta Air

“We were up all night trying to keep her warm, but there weren’t enough blankets.  Then we heard her cough.  It was her last breath.”  Mr. Samid Gul, on the loss of his infant daughter, as told to the BBC’s Andrew North


UPDATE:   Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan ( March 24-31, 2012)  - In the aftermath of a deadlier than usual winter for young children in Afghanistan, in which at least 40 children have frozen to death as a result of inadequate clothing, shelter, and blankets, a British Afghan Women’s Society  air cargo of warm baby clothes, baby formula, and other items has arrived in Kabul, and delivered to the refugee camps in Kabul where many of the freezing deaths occurred.  The cargo is the result of an outpouring of sympathy from Britons and people from around the world, who responded overwhelmingly to calls by the Society for donations of these items.

The cargo was transported through the generous donation of air transport services from a number of companies working together, picking up different legs of the trip.  It is believed that this is the first time a purely cooperative effort attempting end-to-end delivery of such a large quantity of donated relief items has been accomplished in the Afghan theater.  The donated items are being driven directly to the camps after sorting and will be put into the hands of the neediest families.

      Children of Kabul Refugee Camps Gather During Distribution of Relief Goods on 31 March, 2012; Amidst Squalor, a Quiet Dignity - Image: BAWS/DHSA

The refugee camps hold an estimated 35,000 people who have fled the violence and fighting in other parts of the country, and live in squalid conditions, mostly in tents and mud huts.Twenty three of the deaths occurred in the camps in Kabul, considered the most secure area of the country.  All were children under five.

The British Afghan Women’s Society gathered  over 2,000 kilos of children’s clothes and blankets, the weight  equivalent of a Ford Explorer.   The transport mission is led by former Newsweek special correspondent Mr. Myron D. Stokes of Global HeavyLift Holdings Inc. of Bloomfield Hills, MI,  working with strategic partners at Kalitta Air, DHL-United Kingdom/Bahrain/Bagram, Aviapartner Belgium, and Fast Forward Freight, Belgium.

British Afghan Women’s Society Director Zarghona Rassa and Sameer Ahmad Mastoor pose with DHL Bagram crew during pick up at Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan   Image: DHL-OAIX

The Mission Begins: 0745 ZULU/24 – Liege Airport, Belgium

The airlift took-off from Liege Airport in Belgium at 0745z March 23rd last weekend, briefly stopped at Bahrain, and arrived Bagram at 0500z/24, March 24.  Distribution was carried out Saturday March 31 in the refugee camps in Kabul following a news conference that morning from within the DHSA compound.   The flight has been christened “Ismail’s Flight,” after the youngest of the children who froze who were named in a New York Times report.  Ismail was 30 days old.

Sameer and DHL ground crew member reflect the cooperative spirit manifest throughout this relief mission. Image: DHL-OAIX

The donation of children’s items comes as relations between the Afghan government and the US government are at an all-time low, after recent incidents such as the Quran burnings last February and, more recently, the murder of 16 civilians allegedly by a US soldier now in custody.   The organizers noted that in addition to the great need for the winter baby clothes, the timing of the delivery to the refugee camps in Kabul is significant,  as it coincides with the Afghan New Year. “It’s the  first week of Afghan New Year.  This will mean so much to them” said a representative of the British Afghan Women’s Society.

Afghan tradition holds that on Nowruz, the week of celebrations for the New Year, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors, then the New Year will be a good one. As reported in the BBC by Mr. Andrew North on 21 February, “Nearly 40 children have frozen to death in Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials, as the country experiences one of its harshest winters in decades.”  More than half these deaths took place in and around Kabul, the most secure area in the country.

The DHL air crew handling the final leg of the mission into Afghanistan flew into the often dangerous airspace, at risk, in order to deliver the load.

Although death by cold or starvation, especially among young children, is a common occurrence every winter in rural areas in Afghanistan, this year the world was shocked as dozens of infants and young children froze in the most populous and secure city, the capital of Kabul.

In February Andrew North of the BBC reported the story of Mr. Samid Gul, who had recently lost an infant daughter.  Mr. Gul said:”We were up all night trying to keep her warm, but there weren’t enough blankets.  Then we heard her cough.  It was her last breath.”

The temperatures on the coldest nights in Kabul ranged from just below freezing to minus ten degrees Celsius, for refugees living, for all practical purposes, outdoors with no heat in such temperatures.

In January the BBC’s Bilal Sarwary reported of life in Kabul in general that “Many homes lack basic heating and many Afghans simply do not have enough clothes to keep them warm.”  The deaths in Kabul were also reported by Rod Nordland of the New York Times.

  

  Zarghona Rassa and Sameer Ahmad Mastoor pose with DHL crew after truck loading at Bagram Airbase     Image: DHL-OIAX

Bringing Together a Global Logistics Team

Myron D. Stokes of Global HeavyLift Holdings, Inc. said of the complex logistical team working together, “Not only are they happy to do this, they are excited.  We can’t thank the aviation professionals like Pete Sanderlin, Sean Pryce, Thomas Henry, Emil Pando, Mohamed Durgana, Benjamin Seamans, Heath Nicholl, Diana Bean and Connie Kalitta of Kalitta Air; Susan Westlake and Doug Choyce of DHL UK, Nick Mariano, DHL-Bagram, Ebrahim Abdulla and Sami Juma, DHL-Bahrain;  Bob Swindens and Aurelie Seron of Fast Forward Freight Belgium; Menno Van Goch and Stef Lemmens of IAS/Kalitta Belgium and innumerable others, enough for this extraordinary effort that moved significant relief goods across the world into a conflict zone in record time.  Even more significantly, I believe this represents a new humanitarian resource transport model that has demonstrably removed, via this mission, the typical and often frustrating complexities for moving such goods to the critical point of utilization.”

Stokes also commended Global HeavyLift’s Director of Middle East Operations Benjamin Ballout, who, after discussions with Ed Corcoran of Global Security and Jobs For Afghan’s Ralph Lopez, recommended the mission.   “He simply called and said, ‘We really need to do whatever we can to assist’, and that was the trigger”, Stokes said. "Of course, none of this would have been possible without the cooperation of the Bagram base personnel under the command of Maj. Gen. Darryl Roberson, USAir Force", he concluded.

DHL Aircraft at Bagram airfield, Afghanistan Image: Bagram AF

Stokes says he has to reserve special praise for the ground team in Kabul which required precise coordination between DHL-Bagram’s Nick Mariano, British Afghan Women’s Society Director Zarghona Rassa, Sameer Ahmad Mastoor, the transport convoy co-organized by Shahir Zahine of Development Humanitarian Services of Afghanistan (DHSA) Najim Dost, and NYE Express Marketing Director Sayed Hanif Ghanzafar.  

“The flexibility and resourcefulness demonstrated in the face of rapidly changing circumstances associated with pick up at Bagram Airfield to delivery and storage at the NYE Express warehouse is the stuff of movies”, said Stokes.  We’ll be re-telling the story for the rest of our lives, I think.  And, I don’t believe that on their best day Oprah Winfrey’s producers could find a grander example of strong, brave and resourceful women like Zarghona Rassa.”
[ENDIT]

Images

Background articles:

“Driven Away by a War, Now Stalked by Winter’s Cold” by Rod Nordland, New York Times, Feb.3, 2012
 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/world/asia/cold-weather-kills-children-in-afghan-refugee-camps.html?_r=2
“Uncovering the Sadness of Young Deaths”, by Rod Nordland/Andrea Bruce photography, New York Times, Feb. 8, 2012
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/uncovering-the-sadness-of-young-deaths/?scp=1&sq=nordland&st=cse
 “In the Midst of $2 Billion Per Week Spending on War, Babies Freezing in Kabul for Lack of Food, Fuel.”
 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/13/1064411/-In-the-Midst-of-2-Billion-Per-Week-Spending-on-War-Babies-Freezing-in-Kabul-for-Lack-of-Food-Fuel



About Global HeavyLift Holdings, Inc

Founded in 2002, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based GHH is a strategic air transport solutions entity that was born of a multi-year public/private effort (Commercial Application of Military Airlift Aircraft-CAMAA  ) among forward thinkers in both the private sector and government to mitigate emerging and observable vulnerabilities in the U.S. industrial base global supply chain. Such vulnerabilities are represented by the fact that no ocean-borne shipping is in U.S. hands at present, thus potentially subjecting American corporations, especially automotive, and their global operations to the whims and perhaps economically hostile activities of and by foreign governments. Add to this the risk of terrorist activities, which have, according to the Department of Homeland Security, targeted maritime operations; i.e., ships, ports and ocean containers.

Incorporated in Delaware and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) listed, (CCR.gov) it is the goal of GHH and its strategic partners around the planet to work with key logistics personnel within these corporations and government agencies to conceptualize, craft and structure long-term global supply chain alternative transportation methodologies through continuous — not stop gap or emergency — air augmentation solutions. Its most important mission, however, has been in the co-development of global architecture for infrastructure of a new American controlled industry, Heavylift, utilizing the excellent airlift performance characteristics of the Boeing BC-17.

Press Contact:
Ralph Lopez
617-412-9438
Ben Ballout
74 W. Long Lake Rd.
Suite 201
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
48304
626-616-1655
http://asimov52.wordpress.com/

“Ismail’s Flight” 

Euphemistic Audacity: eMOTION! REPORTS.com Responds to GM China's Kevin Wales Praise of "Innovation Through Commercialization" - Addendum to "GM's Transition to China" (2009)




GM China President and Managing Director Kevin Wales - Image: GM China



 "Once Again, The Chinese... Have Proven Themselves Masters of the Endgame, and True Progeny of Sun Tzu..."

Shanghai, China - (4 February 2012)  -  In this age of instantaneous communication accorded through cyberspace and cellular-based data conveyance, it is considered wise to weigh ones words carefully before pressing "send".

In acknowledgement of that wisdom, our global team of journalist/analysts -some of them among the best within academia, NGOs and government- did indeed weigh the following words, and the GM activities that induced them, then wondered why we didn't hit the "send" button within minutes of reviewing a recently published interview conducted with GM China's Kevin Wales.

What Kevin Wales euphemistically calls China's process of "Innovation through commercialization"  to accelerate technology prove-out and utilization, is simply considered, by every other industrialized society, as theft, industrial espionage, illegal acquisition of intellectual property, patent right infringement, unfair trade practice by government subsidization... In other words, economic war on a massive scale, coupled with an endgame strategy epitomizing zero sum.

Grammatically, we rank "Innovation through commercialization" right along with "ethnic cleansing" in sheer euphemistic audacity.

Mr. Wales and other GM executives have played -willingly or unwittingly- into the most reprehensible example of (perhaps) illegal transfer of wealth, technology, production process and economic stability at the DNA level in the history of the world. And of greater concern, a concomitant compromise of US national security through provision of sensitive technologies -like the neodymium magnets pioneered by former GM subsidiary Magnequench which was itself inexplicably purchased by the Chinese in the same time frame GM resumed sales in that county- with weapons applicability to China's military.  No, Mel Brooks (History of The World, Part I) is not laughing, nor is Ford amused amidst  recent reports of an F-150 "commercialization" by a Chinese car firm.   And yes, you should be worried: The Once Great Britain learned the hard way as it woke up to the fact that world renowned brands spawned within its borders were now owned by offshore others, while reducing its manufacturing base capacity to pre-industrial levels.

Echoes of a Cold War Mindset

The idea that those leading GM at the moment have been -and still are- so willing to give away a US company built on the sweat and blood of  fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and myriad other family and friends whose contributions created an industrial powerhouse long the envy of the planet (and a heretofore non-existent, successful, middle class) to a communist, dictatorial regime whose skirts are still awash in the blood of millions of its own people eliminated in the Mao ordered purges between 1949 and 1967, is at once disturbing and incomprehensible.  It behooves us to ask ourselves how this type of corporate behavior would have been viewed at the height of the Cold War, and what the consequences might have been.  And, need we add that GM is still partially owned by the US government?

The Spectre of A Corporation Responsible Only to Itself Amidst Inconsistent Trade Policy

One has to wonder to what extent GM sought guidance in the last 30 years relative to the level of risk they were willing to expose themselves to a a result of significant expansion in China (ask the Tibetans why Buick is one of the most coveted brands in that country for over six decades).  We refuse to believe that any credible risk assessment -given the historical and provable excesses of China's communist party- would have strongly recommended GM investing in this country no matter how rich and enduring its heritage as the oldest continuing civilization on this earth.

"I suspect that GM may have been told what so many other corporations seeking to tap the potential riches of an emerging market 1 billion plus people strong were advised:  No more exposure to potential losses in real estate, technology and people than they could effectively absorb", said one China analyst.  "In short, I doubt that it was terribly encouraging for the simple reason there was more at risk than just GM's bottom line."  (see Super-Globalism)

If the old GM hierarchy proceeded with an observable modicum of caution in line with the conclusions of a presumed risk analysis conducted, the current leadership, with extremely limited automotive industry management skillsets, has abandoned anything resembling caution despite warnings from learned, knowledgeable, extraordinarily well connected sources both governmental and private.  Indeed, one ignores the findings of the United States China Economic and Security Review Commission and the US Department of Defense only at their own peril.

Obviously, we cannot lay the current and lamentable state of  affairs squarely at the feet of corporate executives, for the simple reason that legally they can do no more than the trade policies of this government permit.  And unfortunately, such policies past and present, the last 25 years in particular, have not proven themselves as champions of US industrial base preservation.



 Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft During Signing Ceremony For  a new vehicle production plant in Yizheng, Jiangsu Province - Image: VW Group China





 "We state here and now... that if the production and sales numbers assigned to the Chinese market were scrutinized in line with traditional data compilation methodologies,  China's "Number 1 in Auto Sales and Manufacturing" title would disappear overnight." - eMOTION! REPORTS.com

VW (大众汽车(中国))  Has Substantial Reason to Protest "GM Number One in The World Again" Status

In spite of those pundits, "analysts" and other industry "observers" who have derided Volkswagen's current stance, the company is right to protest the "GM is Number One in The World Again" mantle conferred by those who have not bothered to do their homework in terms of determining how, and from where, those claimed sales and production numbers were formulated and derived.

It has been determined by several credible sources that such "official" PRC data is infamously unreliable, inaccurate and specifically designed to perpetuate a falsehood, indeed a facade -the Chinese "ghost cities" as a supreme example- of a quasi-reality.

We state here and now, based on inferential data collected by the USCC, that if the production and sales numbers assigned to the Chinese market were scrutinized in line with traditional data compilation methodologies,  China's "Number 1 in Auto Sales and Manufacturing" title would disappear overnight.  Yes, it may very well attain that status in the future, but not now nor in 2010.

SAAB

As a sidebar commentary, we feel it important to state categorically that GM will permit Zhejiang Youngman Lotus  to purchase -over the "objections" of Swedish receivers -  SAAB for the simple reason there was no true objection in the first place.  In fact, it was part of an GM internal strategy to create the appearance of strength and independence for GM -even a hint of altruism- as they publicly stated the "concerns" they had from a  market competitiveness, proprietary information and technology standpoint of Youngman acquiring the remnants of this Swedish icon.

Youngman, a novice on the international auto industrial scene, has been assured its overtures have not nor will be dismissed - if they are patient.  A patience, mind you that allowed China's auto industry to add the venerable MG nameplate to its repertoire of acquired Western brands. In this regard, we truly hope that GM renders the above assessment a falsehood.

"外国人" (Foreigners) Held in Derision

According to our sources, PLA  (yes, People's Liberation Army; every major corporation in China is under their control)  handlers of Western executives, are in all likelihood, privately laughing derisively at their level of  naivete`,  measurable only in a quantum universe. (see "Crisis on Asimov: A Vision of 2085")

To be sure, the recently announced higher tariffs, taxes and the intended limiting of foreign imports by China is just the beginning, followed by state ordered property confiscations utilizing a method that Warren Buffett's BYD is only all too familiar. It would be wise to remember also that both GM and Ford ceased operations in China following the Mao led Communist victory over Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek in 1949. And, more important to this discussion, the current government of China is ideologically the mirror of that established by Mao Zhe-Dong. Conversely, any firm doing or planning to do, business in this country should keep that fact in mind.

But GM needn't worry, for now at least:  They have been successfully absorbed by the PRC collective with DNA markers indistinguishable from the absorbing entity.  Nevertheless, according to our sources, the relationship is no longer symbiotic and the "host", GM, is of limited value in the same way that Boeing and Airbus are.  The latter in light of  China's rolling out a pre-production prototype of their first indigenously produced C919 airliner last year, incorporating Airbus A320, Boeing 737, 777 and 787 Dreamliner technology and process.

Once again, the Chinese, no matter their chosen course of governance, have proven themselves masters of the endgame and true progeny of Sun Tzu.

GM's transition to China... is now complete. -  Myron D. Stokes and the ER Global team

# # #

The Future of Personal Transport? GM China's EN-V  Image: GM

Related and Recommended Reading:

USCC Report To Congress 2011 http://www.uscc.gov/annual_report/2011/annual_report_full_11.pdf

Crisis On Asimov: A Vision of 2085 http://www.slideshare.net/GHHLLC/future-of-the-auto-industry-crisis-on-asimov-a-vision-of-2085-dr-sheila-ronis-e-motion-reportscom-myron-stokes-publisher-presentation

Super-Globalism: Strategies For Maintaining A Robust Industrial Base... http://www.slideshare.net/GHHLLC/superglobalism-strategies-for-maintaining-a-robust-industrial-base-through-technological-policy-and-process-improvement-presentation

Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2011  http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_cmpr_final.pdf

Project on National Security Reform - Vision Working Group Report and Scenarios http://pnsr.org/data/files/project_on_national_security_reform_vwg.pdf

Mighty MG: Direct From China (NZ Herald) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10783083

China's Youngman bids for bankrupt carmaker Saab  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/saab-idUSL5E8D32MF20120203

2010 Automotive Industry Analysis: 2008 Congressional Hearings http://www.slideshare.net/GHHLLC2/2008-automotive-industry-analysis-congressional-hearings-martha-hindes-emotion-reportscom

Restoration of GM  http://www.slideshare.net/GHHLLC/gm-analysis-e-motion-reportscom-restoration-of-general-motors-viability-a-european-solution-of-einsteinian-simplicity-presentation

Global HeavyLift Holdings Commends Senator McCaskill's Request For Commercial Certification of Boeing C-17 (BC-17) From FAA

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States, January 22, 2012 (PressReleasePoint) - Global HeavyLift Holdings, a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) listed (http://www.ccr.gov/) entity with principal offices in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is commending Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill's strong recommendation to the FAA that it fast track commercial certification of Boeing's workhorse C-17 Globemaster III strategic/tactical airlifter.

"GHH is exceptionally pleased that the Senator has demonstrated once again her unwavering support for this superlative airlifter, and the viability, if not the urgency, of establishing a U.S./NATO-controlled Heavylift industry based on very modestly modified C-17s -designated BC-17- for commercial use", says Global HeavyLift Holdings Managing Member Myron D. Stokes. "The Senator's actions are all the more notable when one considers the extraordinary efforts put forth by various parties in government and industry, both here and abroad, to kill C-17 by any means necessary."

World's Most Versatile Strategic/Tactical Airlifter: Boeing C-17 Globemaster III  Image: USAF

 

Global HeavyLift was founded in 2002 as a public persona of a public/private effort representing an atypically close collaboration between the U.S. Air Force, Boeing, themselves and other elements of industry at the direction of then SECAF Dr. James Roche. "The objective was to bring together the intellectual resources necessary to create a revamped (the first iteration of the strategy having been ruled as inadequate) architecture for infrastructure of a new globe spanning industry, Heavylift, while augmenting airlift requirements in the aftermath of Congressionally ordered force reductions post Cold War", says Stokes.  "Heavylift, currently controlled by the Russians with their commercialized An-124 Ruslan airlifter, is a subset of the air cargo industry that involves the movement of goods via air that are too large or outsized (Heavy Outsized Market-HOM) to fit in any door of any 747 or similar sized freighter, along with the Short Austere Market (SAM) that exploits the extraordinary short and rough/unfinished field capabilities of C-17. This is ideal for direct to site movement of heavy equipment and other materiel into the often remote, virtually inaccessible by ground transport, areas where gold, gas, diamonds and oil are found. Commercial C-17 utilization not only accelerates site preparation, but enables a significantly reduced time to market", he said.

A narrative of what was originally designated the CAMAA (Commercial Application of Military Airlift Aircraft) is linked here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Application_of_Military_Airlift_Aircraft

Stokes observes that up until now, the Russian/Ukrainian dominance of the Heavy and Outsized market was the primary concern, although not an insurmountable one. " It has always been GHH intent, as demonstrated by the 2008 visit of one of its people to Russian leadership in Moscow,  to work with them in a symbiotic way that allowed exploitation of the specific operational characteristics of both the C-17 and An-124.  The currently out of production Ruslan, while capable of carrying more outsized materiel and is quite robust, simply can't go where the Globemaster can and has - as proven in the crucibles of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Working in tandem, however, there is no let project anywhere on earth that cannot be serviced by these aircraft."

China C-17 Clone?
The new twist, Stokes says, is China's reported roll-out of its pre-production C-17 clone.  "This new airlifter, based on plans stolen by Chinese operatives in the same timeframe as the acquisition of extensive  technological and manufacturing data associated with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system along with F-22 and F-35, was projected to make its appearance in five to six years, as noted in an analysis presented to a Congressional committee in 2006. Moreover, there is every expectation China will seek to dominate the Heavy and Outsized market in the same way they have  carved out an exceptionally, and perhaps uncomfortably, strong presence in the global air cargo operations through extensive acquisition of B-747 aircraft of all configurations", Stokes says.  "Add this to their all but absolute control of ocean borne shipping -a clear and continuing concern to national security strategists- and one can understand the urgency of the FAA moving on this certification which can be completed within 12 months.

New Architecture
In anticipation of certification and permissions from involved Federal agencies including the State Department, GHH is revising its internal architecture, and has also advised its legal representation to incorporate in Delaware.  "This new architecture will allow more flexibility in terms of anticipated global operations", Stokes added, "And minimize the complexities of interaction with the financial sectors of multiple countries expected to serve as bases for GHH Air Operations Epicenters. In line with this, GHH financial advisors are already reaching out to those financial entities both here and abroad who survived the global economic meltdown of 2008, particularly those who were instrumental in creating GHH's comprehensive 30-year business plan."

As noted in previous releases, GHH has identified and has access to, financial instruments with a value up to USD5Billion. "We will leverage these instruments to help accomplish the mission outlined 11 years ago, inclusive of non-traditional aircraft acquisition methodologies as alluded to in the 2007 SpeedNews Jonathan Club Aerospace-Defense conference presentation in Los Angeles," Stokes said.  He  noted that despite the vigorous and continuous assaults on C-17's continued production, the bulk of which were based on flawed data, the GHH team remained confident that this indispensable airlifter would retain the mantle as primary resident of the Long Beach plant. "The reasons for our contending with those who sought C-17's -and Boeing's- demise were quite simple: No C-17, no heavylift."

Over the past 5 years, GHH representation -drawn from some of the best and brightest in industry and government- have traveled the world to assess potential bases in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.   "Through the efforts of GHH Director of Middle East Operations, Benjamin Ballout, an agreement was secured with the Sultanate of Oman", says Stokes.  This long time friend of the United States dating back to the 19th century Barbary Pirate Wars, is not only a profoundly strategic location, but is populated by a people of great intellect, solid values and ruled by a leader with clear vision.  I've been impressed with Sultan Qaboos since first becoming aware of him nearly 3 decades ago. 

"Also, there are active discussions with an Asian nation possessed of similar qualities, and expect to have an agreement by second quarter 2012.  And, now that the Long Beach and St. Louis production facilities, along with the supplier base, are secure until at least 2014, all involved parties can concentrate on global implementation of the HeavyLift initiative, and the rather significant economic stimulus benefits to participant countries", he said.   -Endit-

Previous releases: http://www.slideshare.net/GHHLLC/global-heavylift-holdings-llc-asks-boeing-c17-detractors-to-produce-internal-dod-analyses-supporting-kill-efforts
http://www.pressrelease365.com/pr/industry/military-and-defense/boeing-c17-2010-congressional-budget-dod-usaf-airlift-3650.htm
http://asimov52.wordpress.com/tag/global-heavylift-holdings-pushes-for-120-boeing-c-17s-for-2012-2020-dod-budgets/

About Global HeavyLift Holdings

Founded in 2002, GHH is a strategic air transport solutions entity that was born of a multi-year public/private effort among forward thinkers in both the private sector and government to mitigate emerging and observable vulnerabilities in the U.S. industrial base global supply chain. Such vulnerabilities are represented by the fact that no ocean-borne shipping is in U.S. hands at present, thus potentially subjecting American corporations, especially automotive, and their global operations to the whims and perhaps economically hostile activities of and by foreign governments. Add to this the risk of terrorist activities, which have, according to the Department of Homeland Security, targeted maritime operations; i.e., ships, ports and ocean containers.

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) listed, (ccr.gov/)  it is the goal of GHH and its strategic partners around the planet to work with key logistics personnel within these corporations and government agencies to conceptualize, craft and structure long-term global supply chain alternative transportation methodologies through continuous -- not stop gap or emergency -- air augmentation solutions. Its most important mission, however, has been in the co-development of global architecture for infrastructure of a new American controlled industry, Heavylift, utilizing the excellent airlift performance characteristics of the Boeing BC-17.    * * *

eMOTION! REPORTS MEDIA ADVISORY 12/20/11 - 2011/2012 Auto Industry Analysis: GM Bankruptcy Wholly Unnnecessary; Had More Assets Than Ford - US President Was Inappropriately Advised

Shanghai GM Headquarters; Chevy Volt    Image: GM

From the Publisher:

Detroit  -  (12/8/11) This new analysis, due out December 20, 2011, will show that GM's bankruptcy was forced and wholly unnecessary, especially in light of the fact that the company's global assets exceeded that of Ford, who, under the leadership of Alan Mulally, and supported by the Ford Family and company board, wisely chose not to follow GM's path. A path that nearly destroyed the company and contributed greatly to the country's economic meltdown.

Shenzhan: Urban Modernity Fueled by Western Naivete  Image:  PRC

Despite its relative success, and boasting of China production and sales milestones (note: the authenticity and accuracy of such numbers continue suspect due to provable falsification of China statistical manufacturing data over the past several years) GM is a mere shadow of its former self, run by an executive leadership mostly comprised of personnel who have no business running an auto company. Indeed, a leadership who is at this juncture acting as pawn to a communist, dictatorial China government where there is no true private industry. And, as laudable as their stance relative to SAAB apparently is, one cannot help but wonder if this is part of a grander strategy that will ultimately see that Swedish icon completely absorbed into the China auto industry collective with GM's blessing.

The analysis will also show that the coterie of Presidential advisors involved in the making of a momentous decision leading to bankruptcy, had no true industry expertise among them, but were instead acting in the best interest of certain elements of Wall Street in collaboration with the Chinese financial sector. Former GM Chair Rick Wagoner and the company's leadership overall believed up until the moment President Obama called at 9pm EST Sunday, 31 May 2009, that they would not be forced into bankruptcy. Moreover, they had been advised by their Capitol Hill based people that "bankruptcy was off the table".

As of now, GM has lain the groundwork wherein its US workforce rolls. both administratively and in manufacturing, will be pared to an absolute minimum, an assertion all but confirmed by CEO Dan Akerson's recent -and rather ironic- comments in the Detroit News likening GM corporate culture to that of "The Communist Party in China in the 1960's", while comparing the historically provable vastness of the "GM Empire" to the former "British Empire". Thus implying the sun had set on both as justification for his actions.

What will become clear is that GM's "sleeping with the Dragon" may well prove to be its undoing... From the 12/20/11 analysis - Myron D. Stokes

Related:

From the archives - http://slidesha.re/6QiDnp http://slidesha.re/K6brD

The Chinese Hand That Bailed Out GM (China Daily 12/9/11) http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/09/content_14236887.htm?bsh_bid=49705817

The United States China Economic and Security Review Commission Annual Report to Congress

http://www.uscc.gov/annual_report/2011/annual_report_full_11.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2011/09/chinas-puzzling-numbers/
http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/printpdf/431069
http://detnews.com/article/20111207/AUTO01/112070327/GM-trims-salaried-workers

Medical Researcher Advisory: On-going Intracerebral Hemorrhage Clinical Trial Participation or Case Study Creation Sought For Critical Patient

Brainmapping: Graphic from 2008 research paper Mapping the Structural Core of Human Cerebral Cortex

Flagler Hospital, St. Augustine, FL – Researchers currently conducting intracerebral hemorrhage clinical trials and/or proposing case studies in furtherance of developing more efficacious treatment regimes based on pharmacologic and vitamin E intervention (mitigation of biochemical cascade myelin de-sheathing effect on axonal connectors) immediately post insult, throughout the entire treatment timeframe among other approaches, and requiring additional study subjects are encouraged to contact Myron D. Stokes, Publisher, eMOTION! REPORTS; mstokes@emotionreports.com  and/or Dr. Walter F. Frady, wfrady@aol.com

904-794-5411.

Patient status: Update 11/22/11:  Patient is now home in  a controlled environment utilizing neuro-trauma isolation protocols involving low noise, low light and with physician and nurse visitation. Melodic intonation therapy is being used for memory/speech stimulation and relaxation. Patient remains on Valproic Acid wherein this legacy anti-seizure/anti-epileptic medication is being used for its recently understood (2010 University of Texas study by Dr. P.K Dash; et al) neuro-protective/new neuronal growth inducing characteristics. This treatment is in conjunction with high dose Vitamin E advocated in a recent (2010) study at Shiraz (Iran) University of Medical Sciences lead by Nuerosurgery resident Dr. Ali Razmkon.  http://www.acep.org/Content.aspx?id=75039  

While verbal communication is not possible at at this time, patient does engage in blink conversation and will move head, fingers and toes on command; suggesting an approximate cognition level of 11.5 on the Glasgow Scale.  Lastly, although outpatient status at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville was kindly directed by neurologists at this facility as of late October, pursuit of case study remains as operative approach.  --

Subject for consideration is in 8th week of critical condition following cerebral hemorrhage on 6/20/11. This is the third bleed for subject with previous events in 2005 and 2007, all of which patient encountered and survived systolic pressure exceeding 300 and diastolic above 150. Additional data available from primary care physician on request.

CT Abstract (Admission): “There is an intraparenchymal hematoma involving the right thalamic region exending into the superior right deep white matter. The hematoma measures approximately 3.5cm x 3.8 cm x 4.0 cm. There is a prominent rim of edema involving the deep white matter of the cerebrum.

“Intraventricular extension is noted with a prominent amount of blood with the right and left lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, the fourth ventricle. There is extension of blood into the peripontine cisterns bilaterally.


“There are probable obstructive hydrocephalic changes when compared to 3/19/11 (Acute ischemic infarct). There is approximate 6 to 8 mm of right to left subfalcine shift. No fractures are evident.”

Complete and current patient summary available from primary care physician on request.

                                                                     -Endit-

References:


IMPACT Database of Traumatic Brain Injury: Design and Description

http://www.tbi-impact.org/documents/design.pdf 

Mapping the Structural Core of Human Cerebral Cortexhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0060159

neurotraumaassociation.com/

www.braintrauma.org

AEROMÉXICO ANNOUNCES THE MOVE OF ITS RESERVATIONS AND AIRPORT CHECK IN PROCESSES TO ITS NEW SABRE TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM



Aeromexico Boeing 777-200ER



Mexico City, May 20th, 2011. Aeroméxico, Mexico’s global airline, has announced that it will migrate its reservations and airport check in systems to its new Sabre technological platform between 9 a.m. and 12 midnight Mexico City time this coming Sunday, May 22nd.

The Sabre system will improve Aeroméxico’s customer experience at all points of contact throughout the reservation, ticketing and check in processes.

Aeroméxico kindly requests that its customers purchase their tickets in advance and recommends that passengers traveling on Sunday, May 22nd, be at the airport three hours before their scheduled domestic flight departures, and four hours before their scheduled international flight departures, while also keeping in mind that they will have to be at the boarding gate at least 25 minutes prior to departure.

Customer Service teams at all passenger points of contact, including airports, and certain processes will be somewhat slow during the stabilization phase, so Grupo Aeroméxico appreciates its passengers’ understanding during this migration to the Sabre system, which will undoubtedly yield great results.

# # #

About Grupo Aeroméxico

Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V. is the holding company of a group of subsidiaries engaged in the commercial airline business in Mexico, and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Its fleet includes Boeing 777, 767 and 737 aircraft, and next generation Embraer 145 and 190 jets.


Grupo Aeroméxico operates its main hub out of Terminal 2 in the Mexico City International Airport. The Group offers 450 daily flights to different cities in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central and South America, and Europe and Asia.


Aeroméxico is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance partnering 13 airlines: Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, TAROM Romanian Air Transport and Vietnam Airlines. SkyTeam offers all partner airline passengers a large global network with more destinations and frequencies and improved connectivity. Passengers can earn and redeem miles with the different partners’ loyalty programs and enjoy the 415 airport lounges around the world. SkyTeam offers its 384 million annual passengers more than 12,500 daily flights covering 898 destinations in 169 countries. http://www.skyteam.com

Aeromexico communications: NEWLINK-GROUP.COM

Chrysler Group LLC Prices Debt Offerings

May 19, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC (“Chrysler Group”) announced today the pricing of its previously announced offering of new secured senior debt securities (the “Notes”) and credit facilities. The Notes will be issued in two tranches: $1.5 billion principal amount of 8% Secured Senior Notes due 2019 and $1.7 billion principal amount of 8-1/4% Secured Senior Notes due 2021. Chrysler Group will also enter into a new senior secured credit facility including a $3 billion term loan facility and a $1.3 billion undrawn revolving credit facility permitting Chrysler Group to borrow funds at 4.75% over LIBOR, subject to a LIBOR floor of 1.25% on the term loan facility.

Chrysler Group intends to use the net proceeds of the Notes offering, together with proceeds from the term loan facility and proceeds from the recently announced exercise by Fiat of an option to acquire an incremental ownership interest in Chrysler Group, to repay its loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments in full and to pay related fees and expenses. The Notes offering, the senior secured credit facility and the Fiat equity investment are expected to close concurrently on May 24, 2011.

Chrysler Group placed the Notes in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current views with respect to future events. 

The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project” and “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including market conditions and the price and market for securities to be offered and other risks relating to Chrysler Group’s business and industry, including, but not limited to: the effective implementation of the Chrysler Group LLC 2010 – 2014 Business Plan outlined on November 4, 2009, including successful vehicle launches; industry SAAR levels; continued economic weakness, especially in North America, including continued high unemployment levels and limited available financing for our dealers and consumers; introduction of competing products and competitive pressures which may limit our ability to reduce sales incentives; supply disruptions resulting from the natural disasters in Japan in March 2011; and our ability to realize benefits from our industrial alliance with Fiat. If any of these or other risks and uncertainties occur, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, then actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date on which it is made.

About Chrysler Group LLC

Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group’s culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat’s complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group’s product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Challenger and Ram 1500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

                                                                                # # #

Related:


eMOTION! REPORTS com Advisory: CHRYSLER'S “IMPORTED FROM DETROIT" TO BE NAMED AD OF THE DECADE... http://t.co/8uFFDrH

eMOTION! REPORTS AUTOMOTIVE ARCHIVES: CHRYSLER - "DER STURM" (The Perfect Storm) ... http://t.co/55Zznu8


Follow Chrysler news and video on:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrysler
Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm
Corporate website: http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/