Gates orders review of military mentor program

For immediate release: Feb 27, 2010 Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a high-level review of the military’s senior mentor programs, including whether retired officers hired as advisers are overpaid and whether their private work for contractors poses a conflict of interest, his spokesman said Wednesday. Gates “has real concerns about the levels of compensation, and …

Attacks on Christian churches in Malaysia deepen racial tension

For immediate release: Feb 26, 2010 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia  strongly condemned attacks on nine Christian churches and sought to assure foreign governments Monday of its commitment to religious freedom for minorities. The unprecedented attacks have strained ties between minority Christians and the majority Malay Muslims, denting Malaysia’s image as a moderate Muslim-majority country …

Fanny S. Chirinos Reports: Builder of ships eyes Naval Station Ingleside land

For immediate release: Feb 26, 2010 http://www.caller.com/news/2010/feb/26/special-port-of-corpus-christi-board-meeting-at/ CORPUS CHRISTI — A Houston-based international company has set its eyes on Naval Station Ingleside for the company’s shipbuilding subsidiary. Apex Group of Companies has submitted a proposal to lease the 576 acres of the base property and the 433 neighboring acres already owned by the port. The proposal has …

Obama’s budget proposal draws rapid fire from legislators

For immediate release: Feb 25, 2010 WASHINGTON — President Obama’s proposed $3.8 trillion budget ran into immediate trouble in Congress on Monday among lawmakers who said it tries to do too much while cutting the deficit too little. The quick response came as Obama sought to juggle his twin goals of creating jobs, which entails tax …

Military ‘mentor’ pay a main factor in review of program

For immediate release: Feb 21, 2010 WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ decision announced Wednesday to order a review of the Pentagon’s payments to retired senior officers for their advice was prompted in part by how much these “mentors” get paid. A USA TODAY review found: • The Navy pays its mentors an average of about …

Tylenol recall expanded to Motrin, Benadryl, more

For immediate release: Feb 19, 2010 NEW YORK (AP) — Johnson & Johnson issued a massive recall Friday of over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol, Motrin and St. Joseph’s aspirin because of a moldy smell that has made people sick. It was the second such recall in less than a month because of the smell, which regulators said …

Colo. firm employs most retired officers from mentor program

For immediate release: Feb 18, 2010 WASHINGTON — In a marketplace awash in consulting firms that help defense companies sell to the Pentagon, the Durango Group has a unique advantage. The Colorado-based firm has become a base of operations for retired officers who also are handsomely paid by the military for their advice. No other defense …

Retired officer’s dual roles for Pentagon raise questions

For immediate release: Feb 17, 2010 WASHINGTON — After retiring from the Marine Corps in December 2003, Emil “Buck” Bedard headed back to work — for both the Pentagon and defense contractors. Two months after leaving the service as a lieutenant general, Bedard became an adviser for the Pentagon’s Joint Forces Command, a job that this …

How some retired military officers became well-paid consultants

For immediate release: Feb 9, 2010 WASHINGTON — Six months after Marine Lt. Gen. Gary McKissock retired in 2002, he did what many other ex-military leaders do: He joined the board of directors of a defense contractor, a company doing business with his former service. McKissock also had a second job. The Marines brought him back …