WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- On April 18 the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Defense published an "Interim final rule" on the "Management and Mobilization of Regular and Reserve Retired Military Members" in the Federal Register.
The Interim final rule will allow the Pentagon to expand its pool of reserve personnel eligible for military service by allowing it in peacetime to recall former military personnel up to the age of 60.
The summary states that "This rule prescribes uniform policy and guidance governing the peacetime management of retired military personnel, both Regular and Reserve, in preparation for their use during a mobilization."
Section 64.1 "Purpose" states that "This part implements 10 U.S.C. 688, 973, 12301(a), and 12307 by prescribing uniform policy and guidance governing the peacetime management of retired Regular and Reserve military personnel preparing for their use during a mobilization."
According to Section 64.3 "Definitions," those eligible for military service include, "(c) Military retiree categories. (1) Category I. Non-disability military retirees under age 60 who have been retired fewer than 5 years. (2) Category II. Non-disability military retirees under age 60 who have been retired 5 years or more. (3) Category III. Military retirees, including those retired for disability, other than categories I or II retirees (includes warrant officers and healthcare professionals who retire from active duty after age 60). (d) Military retirees or retired military members. (1) Regular and Reserve officers and enlisted members who retire from the Military Services under 10 U.S.C. Chapters 61, 63, 65, 1223, 367, 571, or 573, and 14 U.S.C. Chapters 11 and 21. (2) Reserve officers and enlisted members eligible for retirement under one of the provisions of law in Sec. 64.3(d) who have not reached age 60 and who have not elected discharge or are not members of the Ready Reserve or Standby Reserve (including members of the Inactive Standby Reserve)."
The justification for the Interim Rule is contained in Section 64.4 "Policy," which states, "(a) It is Department of Defense policy that military retirees be ordered to active duty as needed to perform such duties as the Secretary concerned considers necessary in the interests of national defense as described in 10 U.S.C. 12301 and 688."
Beijing is assuring Pakistan that China will assist it in meeting its energy needs "to a reasonable extent."
Specialists expect that the deal will be finalized during Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's state visit to China in two months. Chinese President Hu Jintao is currently visiting Washington for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush on a broad range of topics.
Dawn reported on April 18 that Pakistani sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that Pakistan will seek Chinese assistance to construct an additional four to six nuclear power plants at a cost about $6.5 billion in addition to two worth $1.2 billion that were negotiated with Beijing earlier this year. Pakistan believes it will need an additional 8,800 megawatts of electrical power generation by 2030.
The arrangement is an outcome of Islamabad's negotiations with the United States, which has refused to develop civil nuclear cooperation with Pakistan, despite a recent agreement with India. Sources said that Pakistan had no current option except to seek "active cooperation from China" to build the needed new electrical power generation facilities.
Musharraf intends to discuss with China's leadership the Bush administration's attitude of treating Pakistan less equally with India on the issue of civilian use of nuclear technology despite Pakistan's support of the administration's war on terror, the report said.
Pakistani sources said the Bush administration was indirectly exerting pressure on China through the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group not to supply more than two nuclear power plants to Pakistan because of the alleged involvement of some senior-level Pakistani scientists in covert proliferation activity.
In a quid pro quo arrangement, the sources said that China had agreed to provide cutting-edge military technology to Pakistan to develop the accuracy and range of its weaponry. The sources added that during Musharraf's visit it was expected that he would request that the Chinese leadership assist in the development of Pakistan's ability to improve its manufacture of improved artillery and tank ammunition along with other high-tech arms.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Kazakhstan next month, underlining Kazakhstan's increasing importance as an oil exporter.
The United States is the currently the largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan, with more than $15 billion. Last year bilateral trade totaled $1.65 billion, with U.S. imports of oil and minerals accounting for $800 million.
Crude oil production in Kazakhstan in January-March 2006 totaled 12.53 million tons.
Kazakhstan's News Bulletin announced on April 19 that Kazakhstan's Vice President Moukhit Akhanov had invited Cheney and the visit would strengthen our bilateral relationship on the basis of our shared strategic interests and desire to promote democratic reform and economic development."
Cheney is also visit Lithuania and Croatia during his time abroad. In Lithuania, Cheney will address a summit of leaders of the Baltic and Black Sea regions on May 4, after which he will fly to Kazakhstan, returning via Croatia.
A White House announcement posted on the State Department's Web site on April 19 said that Cheney will meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev "to strengthen our bilateral relationship on the basis of our shared strategic interests and desire to promote democratic reform and economic development."
Kazakh Ambassador Kanat Saudabayev commented, "Vice President Cheney's upcoming visit is a landmark event demonstrating a special priority of relations with Kazakhstan for the United States and recognition of our leadership in economic and political reforms in Central Asia. We are hopeful the upcoming meetings in Astana will give a new important boost to further strengthening of our strategic partnership, both in bilateral and multilateral dimensions."
