Afghan Women Fighting to the Olympics

Despite the horrifying news from Afghanistan this past weekend, there are still positive stories to be told. For example, did you know that there is an Afghan women's boxing team hoping to compete in the Olympics?

A group of 20 inspiring Afghan women are looking to teach the world a little about boxing, and a lot about courage, determination and women’s rights.

They train and compete wearing in the traditional hijab beneath their tracksuits and are determined to make it to the London Olympics in 2012.

Meet one of the Olympic hopefuls, a young lady intent on showing the world that Afghan girls can fight.

Sadaf Rahimi, is just 17 years old. She is determined to win honor and dignity for herself and other women in Afghanistan, improving their image across the world. The 17-year-old told Reuters: “The difference between me and others is I want to show other countries that an Afghan girl can fight".

In an ironic, triumphant twist of fate, the Afghan women’s team now train in the infamous Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, a notorious spot, that was used in the 1990s by the Taliban as a place to publically stone women accused of adultery.

Sadaf has said she fears the return of the Taliban, "I hope the Taliban don't come back and take over… if they do, I urge them to let women engage in sports and go to school," She said.

Sadaf has spoken out about how her father, a taxi driver, regularly gets threatening letters because he allows his daughters to do sport, but she says that if she or any of the other young women make it to the Olympics, they will be sending out a message to the whole world about the women of Afghanistan.

It appears that she will be able to deliver this message personally. Her coach, Mohammad Saber Sharifi, a former professional boxer himself, and advocated of Afghan women’s rights, has announced that Sadaf has been granted a wild card to compete at the Olympics, meaning she can sidestep further qualifying rounds.

Leonie's Response to USA Today Article

Updated: Recent coverage in USA Today looked at the issue of outstanding tax obligations on the part of Leonie’s owners. As of March 23, 2012 all tax obligations for Leonie’s owners have been met.

As background: in the last few years, Leonie experienced some financial challenges not unusual for a government contractor of its size. Because of those challenges, Leonie’s owners deferred their shareholder compensation so that the company would have the funds available to meet its contractual obligations. As a result, the owners were unable to meet their personal tax obligations on time.

At no time did Leonie’s owners seek to avoid their responsibilities as taxpayers. Both owners have been faithfully paying their tax liabilities through installment plans with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including substantial late fees and penalties. The remaining federal tax liabilities were paid in March 2012. They would have been paid much sooner, but for the fact that Leonie was awaiting a significant client payment, which was ultimately paid in March, 2012. Thus, this matter has been fully resolved.

The issues described above relate solely to the owners’ personal tax obligations and have no bearing on the company or the important work it does. Leonie is an LLC, and as such, the tax obligations flow through to the owners. Leonie is up-to-date on all of its federal and state corporate tax obligations.

First Female US Air Force Four-Star Nominee

 A profile of Lt. Gen. Wolfenbarger

Last week the President nominated Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger for appointment to the grade of General, with assignment as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

If her nomination is approved by the Senate, Lt. Gen. Wolfenbarger will be the first female four-star General in the U.S. Air Force. She follows in the footsteps of US Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, who, on November 14, 2008, became the first woman in U.S. military history to achieve the rank of four-star General.

Air Force Materiel Command, where Lt. Gen. Wolfenbarger is currently Vice Commander, is the largest command in the Air Force with a yearly budget of $60 billion. At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base they conduct research, development, test and evaluation, and provide acquisition management and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war.

Lt. Gen. Wolfenbarger has held a variety of assignments at headquarters Electronic Security Command and Air Force Systems Command. She is a 1980 graduate of the Air Force Academy where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering sciences. She began her career in acquisition as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In 1985 she earned a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in 1994, she received a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy from National Defense University.

Lt. Gen. Wolfenbarger has received a number of major awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Pentagon officials have praised her nomination and a spokesman for Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, said: “General Wolfenbarger is an outstanding Air Force Officer. The fact that she is the first woman to wear a fourth star in the Air Force, if confirmed, is a testament to her skills, experience and dedication.”

This announcement took place in the same week that the Pentagon unveiled plans for expanded roles for women in combat, allowing them to fill thousands of frontline jobs - approximately 14,000 posts - including as medics, helicopter pilots, intelligence and communication analysts.