Features News 5
Advertising
9
Kim Komando
18
Inside Track
20
Marketplace
23
Insider Advisor
24
Classifieds
26
Say What?
28
Back Issues
7
Florida CFO Atwater Annouces Arrests of 7 in Miami P.I.P. Fraud Sweep
8
A1A Statement on Sen. Ben Nelson’s Appointment as CEO of the NAIC
9
Want to Delete Yourself From the Internet? Kim Komando Shows You How
10
What is Physical Evidence of Loss? - by Barry Zalma, Esq.
Table of Contents Continued...
2
The Underwriter’s Insider
News 27 34 11
Florida Orders Three Unauthorized Entities to Cease & Desist
Florida Releases Fun Insurance Facts for 2012
Exclusive Insider Interview! Part II Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf 1934-2012 Reprint of 2005 Interview
Sponsors 4 6 7 8 11 12 15 16 17 18 22 23 25 31 33
www.underwritersinsider.com
The Agency Advantage Modern Insurance Consultants Florida Insuance School Broadway Premium Funding Broadway Premium Funding FYI Georgia View & News St. James Insurance Company Aggressive Insurance United Automobile Ins Company
NASA - Eclipse Agency Mgt. Accu-Auto Encore HR Personnel Solutions
Orrin R. Beilly, Esq.
Barry Zalma The Towing & Rental Group
3
4
The Underwriter’s Insider
Shocked by the rising cost of advertising? Relax... Reach tens of thousands of industry eyeballs for as little as $89 per month.
EZine (Online) Per Issue Rates All advertisements include a 200X600 pixel banner ad on The Underwriter’s Insider home page - as well as appearing on our weekly magazine announcement. All ads will link to the advertiser’s home page unless other instructions are given.
Size/Frequency
1X
www.underwritersinsider.com
Ad Size
3X
6X
12X
Full-Page
259
239
219
199
1/2 Page
199
179
169
154
1/3 Page
159
149
139
129
1/4 Page
139
129
119
99
1/8 Page
114
104
99
89
Questions? ron@insurmedia.com
www.underwritersinsider.com
Ad Specs
Insider Rate Chart
561.718.0745
Full Page 1/2 Page 2/5 Page 1/3 Page 1/4 Page 1/8 Page
Option 1 8.00” X 10.50” 4.00” X 10.50” 4.00” X 8.60” 8.00” X 3.25” 4.00” X 5.25” 2.50” X 4.60”
Option 2 8.00” X 5.25” 8.00” X 4.20” 5.30” X 5.25” 2.30” X 9.00” 4.60” X 2.50”
Full-Bleed 8.50 X 11.00
Banner Ads: 200X60 pixels, JPEG, PNG or GIF Format
The Insider can accomodate advertisements submitted in almost any format - but best results can be achieved with a 300DPI TIFF image. If your ad is in PDF, EPS, PSD, JPG or PNG format - send it in. Ad creation is usually free with agreements of 3X frequency or better. There will be a small charge for stock images when needed.
FREE CLASSIFIEDS! HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS CLICK HERE! 5
➨ Modern Insurance Consultants is a nationwide insurance agents E&O specialist and the #1 writer of agents E&O in Florida (FSLSO 2004 through 2010) ➨ Serving independent agents since 1994 ➨ One application gives you access to 18 markets writing agents E&O ➨ Modern Insurance Consultants has the E&O coverage you need • Limits available up to $10,000,000 • Premiums starting at $1,200 and deductibles as low as $1,000 • Exclusive E&O programs from A rated carriers • Insolvency, Defense Costs Outside the Limit and First Dollar Defense coverages available • 24 hour quote turnaround with our exclusive 2 page QuickQuote Application for agents and brokers available on our website
Have you been declined, non-renewed or rate increased? Apply now at www.modernins.com 1348 Old Dixie Highway Homestead, FL 33030 ph: 305.248.9495 fax: 305.248.9496 www.modernins.com info@modernins.com
6
The Underwriter’s Insider
CFO JEFF ATWATER ANNOUNCES ARRESTS OF ACCIDENT CLINIC OWNER AND 6 OTHERS IN MIAMI P.I.P. FRAUD SWEEP
T
ALLAHASSEE – Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Madelaine Osoria, 41, massage therapist and owner of Well-Care Rehab Services, Inc., for insurance fraud for her role in filing false Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance claims from staged auto accidents. Six other clinic employees or staged accident participants were also arrested.
www.underwritersinsider.com
“We continue to send a clear message to these criminals: if you steal money from honest, hardworking Floridians, you will be put behind bars,” CFO Atwater said. “My office is committed to putting these fraud clinics out of business for good.” This latest investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) discovered that participants from a staged accident in early 2012 were referred to Well-Care Rehab Services, Inc. and
Table of Contents
Integral Medical Rehab. The patients fraudulently signed documents for treatments they would never receive and claims in excess of $60,000 were filed. Arrested today was the organizer of the staged accident, Yunior Montes Mahia, as well as massage therapists Greenly Rodriquez Fernandini and Rosa Gonzalez Cardenas. Also arrested were staged accident participants Elvis Arrondes, Marisella Castellanos and Rayner Couceiro. All subjects were booked into the
See Miami P.I.P. Fraud Page 35 7
CONTENTS 2013 • Issue 2
A Publication of AdMax Media Corp Corporate Offices P.O. Box 31551 P. Beach Gardens, FL 33420
Ron Manera Editor/Publisher
561.718.0745
ron@insurmedia.com
© Entire Contents 2013
To best navigate The Insider, begin with the Table of Contents and select your topic. On the bottom of most pages is a Table of Contents link that will immediately return you for your next topic selection. EVERY SPONSOR AD LINKS DIRECTLY TO THE SPONSOR’S WEBSITE. CLICK ON ANY AD TO VISIT OUR FINE SPONSORS!
AIA STATEMENT ON SEN. BEN NELSON’S APPOINTMENT TO BECOME CEO OF THE NAIC
W
ASHINGTON, D.C., January 22, 2013 Leigh Ann Pusey, president and CEO of the American Insurance Association (AIA), issued the following statement regarding the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) announcement that former Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has been named the next chief executive officer of the organization. Sen. Nelson succeeds Dr. Therese (Terri) Vaughan who
8
stepped down as the NAIC’s chief executive on November 30, 2012. Ms. Pusey’s statement follows: “Sen. Nelson brings a high-level of knowledge, experience and leadership that will benefit the NAIC and the insurance marketplace. He has a firsthand understanding of the important role that insurers play in the economy given his prior experience as a governor, insurance company CEO, and previously
Table of Contents
as Director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance. Indeed, AIA has maintained a strong relationship with Senator Nelson in his various public and private sector capacities for nearly four decades. “AIA looks forward to working with the Senator and the NAIC on state, national and international regulatory issues that aim to promote a vibrant and healthy property-casualty insurance marketplace while preserving safety and soundness.” The American Insurance Association (AIA) is the leading property-casualty insurance trade organization, representing approximately 300 insurers that write more than $100 billion in premiums each year. The Underwriter’s Insider
HOW TO DELETE YOURSELF FROM THE INTERNET by Kim Komando
A
re there days when you wish you could just disappear from the Internet?
Maybe you’re haunted by things you’ve said on social networks, or you’re just sick of having companies track and catalog your every digital move. Yeah, it’d be nice to pull the plug on the whole thing, but it would be easier to stop a runaway train, right? Actually, it’s not terribly difficult to pull the Internet equivalent of escaping to a deserted island. All it takes is time and tenacity. A good place to start is with a Google search of your name to see if anything unsavory pops
up. Remember that Google isn’t your enemy; it’s just the messenger. If you want to remove some embarrassing things you’ve said in a forum - or bad things that have been said about you somewhere - you need to get it removed from the original source. Find an email address or phone number for the website in question and talk to a person who has the authority to grant your takedown request. Most websites have a Contact Us link at the bottom of their home pages. If you can’t find contact information, a “Who Is” Google search will tell you who registered the site. Type “whois www.name-of-site. com” in quotes. Website operators are under no obligation to remove content unless t h e y get a
court order. But most will give you a fair hearing if you’re polite and explain that the content is untrue, hurts your reputation or is making it hard for you to get a job. If it’s a site’s policy to not remove content, ask whether your name can be removed from the post or whether the content can be blocked from appearing in search engines. If you succeed at changing a site, it can take Google a while to show updated search results. Fortunately, you can speed up the process using Google’s URL Removal Tool. You need to have a Google account to make the request. Google isn’t the only information collector around. Anybody who’s willing to pay online information brokers - also known as people-search sites - can learn your phone number, address, criminal record and a lot more. Primary data brokers like Intelius collect information from public records. Secondary data brokers like Spokeo aggregate information from primary brokers and add data collected from social networks and other online sources. If you truly want to disappear from the Internet, you should search for yourself on these sites and remove yourself from their databases. The privacy company Abine maintains a list of 25 major data vendors and instructions for opting out of each one. Click here to view it. Each site’s opt-out procedure is
See Kim Komando Pg 33 www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
9
WHAT IS PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF LOSS? By Barry Zalma, Esq. Duty of Insurer to Prove Exclusion Applies
B
FACTS
Elegant Slumming is a jewelry store specializing in selling precious jewelry, gold, platinum, gemstones, fashion jewelry and costume jewelry, owned by Phillip Livingston. The
urglary and theft are usually easy to prove: there is a broken window or door, full shelves are empty, cases are broken, debris is left by the burglars, or there are holes drilled in safes. Missing property, with little or no physical evidence of criminal activity is more difficult. When two packages of jewelry were not entered into inventory after delivery and could not be located a claim was made to National Grange Mutual Insurance Company and The Main Street Insurance Group (collectively “NGM”) who denied coverage for lack of physical evidence of theft. NGM appealed from a trial court grant of summary judgment Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE is a California attorney in favor of Elegant Slumming, specializing in insurance coverage, insurance Inc (“Elegant Slumming”), its claims handling and fraud who serves as insured, in a property insurance a consultant and expert for insurers and coverage dispute over the policyholders. He founded Zalma Insurance application of an exclusion Consultants in 2001 and serves as its senior consultant. He recently published an e-book, requiring physical evidence of “Insurance Fraud,” which is available at his Web loss in National Grange Mutual site, www.zalma.com. Go to Zalma Books at Insurance Company and v. http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm. Elegant Slumming, Inc. , No. 278, 2012 (Del. 01/09/2013). The Supreme Court of Delaware was store has three fulltime employees, faced with NGM’s contention that one of whom is Benjamin Killebrew. the trial court erred in finding that the property insurance policy at issue requires only “some evidence,” Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog: rather than “physical evidence,” http://www.zalma.com/blog to show what happened to lost property.
10
Table of Contents
Merchandise would often arrive at the store via the mail. Such packages contained very valuable items, so would need to be signed for by one of the three full time employees. When received, the packages would be placed under what was called the “wrap desk.” The packages would be opened later and the jewelry placed in a safe until they could be inventoried. On the morning of June 24, 2010, Elegant Slumming received two packages. Delivery receipts signed by Killebrew indicate the packages contained jewelry worth $141,640. Killebrew placed the package under the wrap desk. Livingston remembers seeing the packages under the wrap desk on the day in question. That day was a busy and stressful one for the employees of Elegant Slumming. Killebrew testified at his deposition he was particularly frustrated with the performance of a part-time employee. While closing up shop that afternoon, Killebrew began cleaning out trash located near the wrap desk. Livingston realized two days later that the two packages for which he signed had not been inventoried. He then searched for the packages to no avail. Livingston called Killebrew, See Zalma Pg 31 The Underwriter’s Insider
S ch wa r zkopf General H. Norman
INTERVIEW PART II - By Ronald J. Manera, Editor
E
ditor’s Note: In 2005 I was given the opportunity to interview General Norman H. Schwarzkoph, that iconic American military hero that so brilliantly engineered our victory in Operation Iraqi freedom. General Schwarzkoph passed away on December 27, 2012, in Tampa, Florida, at age 78 due to complications from pneumonia. We thought it would be appropriate and fitting if we would reprint that very interesting interview. Last month, we reprinted Part I of the interview, ncompassing the General’s entire career, and in this issue we reprint Part II. All date references are accurate to the 2005 interview:
T
h i s month, T h e I n s i d e r concludes our two-part interview with one of A m e r i c a’s great combat soldiers, General H.
Norman Schwarzkopf. In Part I, he led us through his early military experiences including two combat tours in Vietnam. We learned a lot about the man, whose credo was “duty, honor and country,” and a lot about the military officer — who preferred to command his troops in the trenches rather than from the rear. Part II includes General Schwarzkopf’s role as Deputy Commander of the Grenada invasion in 1983, and how men died needlessly following a direct order from Washington D.C. which no one later claimed. He describes his center-stage role as Commander of all U.S. Forces, C’n’C Centcom, during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm — more commonly referred to as the Gulf War. He explains why the fight to oust Iraq from Kuwait was so one-sided, how Dick Cheney came up with his own war-plan and how the Marines wanted to charge across a mine-laden beach and into the face of Iraqi artillery. You’ll find out how the U.S. forces were able to deliver the lethal “left-hook” to the Iraqi forces by attacking through vast desert areas even the Saudis believed impassable. Also in Part II, the general shares his unique point of view on Operation
Iraqi Freedom, Don Rumsfeld and our current dilemma in Iraq. He talks about what lessons we learned — or may not have learned — in Vietnam and why he will never run for public office. Finally, this man who was responsible for delivering so much mayhem to the enemies of America, talks about his passion for bringing relief to children stricken with terrible diseases and some of the organizations he founded or helped to promote that are taking on that important task. In 1992, General Schwarzkopf wrote his autobiography, the best-seller, It Doesn’t Take a Hero. It’s an excellent read and I encourage you to buy, beg or borrow a copy. Like his father, he knows how to tell a story. I sat with the General for almost two and onehalf hours conducting this interview. I came away with a renewed respect for his integrity, his intelligence and his service. I just wish all of you could have sat there with me as General Schwarzkopf added to the lore that surrounds his life and career and described the great part he has played in our nation’s history.
See Schwarzkoph Page 12 11
www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
Continued From Page 11
SCHWARZKOPH PART II INSIDER: General, in 1983, you were selected to represent the army in an advisory role in the impending invasion of Grenada. You said when you walked into Atlanta command in Norfolk to meet your naval counterparts, you felt about as welcome as a case of mumps. SCHWARZKOPF: (laughs) I didn’t think I said mumps. I think I said syphilis or venereal disease. It was far worse than mumps! Believe me! INSIDER: Tell me how that works. Is it the old Army/Navy rivalry? SCHWARZKOPF: Grenada was going to be a Navy operation commanded by naval officers but it would involve Ranger battalions and 82nd Airborne, and so we were going to be involved too. There was some concern that the naval officers really didn’t know the idiosyncrasies of Army units. Certainly the Rangers were concerned that they might be misused. So the solution to that was to find an officer, a general officer, who would accompany the command and control group to make sure that these units were not misused. So I wasn’t there at the request of the Navy. It sure wasn’t at the request of the naval admiral who was going in. When I arrived at the headquarters of Atlantic Command, they had a three-star admiral in charge that basically took me aside and said, “Look here, General, we didn’t want you here and just stay the hell out of the way.” INSIDER: But as it turned out, the two-star admiral conducting the campaign asked for your help when it came time to conduct the ground offensive, correct? SCHWARZKOPF: Yes. The two-star admiral was the one that went down and was in charge of the military operation but again, he got down there and realized right away that… INSIDER: He was out of his element in the ground operation, right? SCHWARZKOPF: Well, yes. From a Naval standpoint he knew what he was doing. And you also had the Marines involved. So you had three different services, each one of which were convinced that they knew more about how to run this show than anybody
12
else. At this point, we hadn’t yet evacuated the students. I was standing up on the ship, the carrier Guam, where I could see the beach over where the students were located. At the same time, I turned around and looked and here was a helicopter. I got a Ranger battalion with all of their helicopters sitting out on the airfield and also I had the Navy helicopters, and I said, “Well wait a minute...” Now, the 82nd Airborne was moving down towards the students to rescue them, but we also had a sense of urgency. There was quite some concern as to what would happen to these students — would they be used as hostages or something like that. I looked over and saw these helicopters and I thought, well why don’t we just fly the helicopters over where the students were, land them, load the students in and fly them back out? We can do that and get them the hell out of there while they are still in no particular danger rather than waiting until fighting is going on all around them. I said to the admiral in command, “Look, there’s helicopters, there’s a Ranger battalion, and the 82nd, but it’s going to be awhile before they get to the students, so why don’t we just fly the helicopters over there, load them up, bring them back and done deal?”
derstand, my troops are here on their way to go over to the Beirut barracks and further, we don’t put Army troops in a Marine helicopter.” And so I said something to him like, “Fine, I’m giving you a direct order and you’ve got one of two choices. You can either obey that order or you are going to be court-martialed.” That’s when the Admiral came by, and he was a feisty guy, I took him aside and said look, “I’m telling you right now, if I’m going to do this job for you, I’m going to do it the right way, then I can’t go around having Marines refusing to accept my orders because I’m an Army officer. And secondly, when you tell me to do something, and I go set it up, I expect them to respond.” He immediately called the Marine commander up and said, “Do it!” I told the admiral, “You’ve got to put me officially in your chain of command.” He said, “Fine.” He called his staff together and said, “Schwarzkopf is now the Deputy Commander of this operation. He speaks with all my authority. “ INSIDER: There was a building in Grenada that was called the Calivigny Barracks. Apparently intelligence indicated there were enemy troops in those barracks and orders came in from the Joint Chiefs to attack those
So he said to me, “Well yeah, that’s a good idea. Why don’t you make that happen?” He had to leave to go meet with some press someplace off the carrier and so I went down and said, “OK, I’ll make it happen, fine.” I called the Ranger commander and I said, “Here’s what we’re going to do. Get your guys ready to do that, you can start doing your recon.” Then I went down to the Marine commander and said, “OK, here’s what we’re going to do.” And the Marine commander said, “BS, we’re not going to do that!” I said, “Look I’m not here on my own, speaking for myself. I’m here because the admiral in command told me to set this up. “ This guy looked me in the eye and said, “You don’t understand, General, I didn’t bring these Marines along to do this. These Marines are headed to Beirut!” (to replace those killed in the Beirut Marine barracks bombing.) INSIDER: And he didn’t want to fly (Army) Rangers on a Marine helicopter? SCHWARZKOPF: He said, “You don’t un-
Table of Contents
The Underwriter’s Insider
barracks. You said that the timing’s wrong. There’s no reason for an immediate attack. SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah, the 82nd Airborne was on its way over there. And they were within striking distance of a day or two. INSIDER: So there was no military necessity for a quick attack, although there apparently was some political reason for expediency which you didn’t go into in your book. Your description of it was that as a result of having to attack immediately, there was a helicopter collision at the barracks. Rotors came off and there were massive casualties. Twelve dead and four injured. Hadn’t the politicians learned this lesson from Vietnam by 1983? That you can’t micro-manage a battlefield from Washington?
for this mission for forty straight years. And they were top-notch units, I mean really good units. When I did the left hook thing, who did it? 24th Mech (Mechanized) did it. That was my division. There was never any doubt in my mind that they were going to do a great
SCHWARZKOPF: As the operation was beginning, I flew down from Saudi Arabia to go out and visit the Marines. Flew out in a helicopter and spent the day with the Marines and I had been ordered to do a press conference. Up until that time, I had avoided the press like the plague. I flew back and went to the hotel where the press conference was going to take place. I came upstairs, as I recall, and the door was partially opened and, my God, I looked out there and here were all these TV cameras and a hundred people sitting in that room! I thought I was going to be talking to one person!
SCHWARZKOPF: Even to this day I don’t think they’ve recognized that! (laughs) Some people think they can micro-manage it right out of the Pentagon.
I was filthy dirty from being out in the desert and somebody said, “We’ve got a room over here on the side where you can cool off and relax before you do this press conference.”
INSIDER: But they’ve got a general officer on site with an eyeball on the situation… SCHWARZKOPF: You’ve got to remember, I received this direction to attack as a direct order, “You will seize Calivigny Barracks by tonight.” But when I went back later to be debriefed in Washington, D.C., nobody would own up to having made that order. I don’t know if in the meantime, because it went through Atlantic Command, the guy didn’t end up talking to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Chairman might have said, “Well, we need to do that (attack the barracks) so this guy may have sent the order down and said, “You have been ordered.” But when I debriefed the Army staff and the Joint Staff on the operation in its entirety, I made a point of telling them about this and everybody said, “Not me, we didn’t do it!” INSIDER: Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm – historical operations that brought you front and center on the world stage. Incredible successes for the American military and you were right in the middle of it. A commander’s dream? SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah! What people don’t realize — even to this day, is we were fighting a war that we had been preparing for forty years. For forty years, we were going to fight a tank-heavy battle on open plains with huge air support. The only difference was, in concept, we were going to be fighting the Russians on the plains of Europe. Not in the Middle East. Other than that, we had a great army and a great air force that had been trained
www.underwritersinsider.com
on you all day. You know what to say, what not to say. And you handled the media like you’d been doing it all your life — like it was your profession. How did you pull that off? Where did you learn your media skills or was it intuitive?
job. And the 82nd Airborne was out there. Although everybody looks back in hindsight and says, “Wow, what a great victory!” But there was never any question. It got over a little bit quicker than I thought it was going to get over with and I can tell you a story about that. At the end of the first day of the attack, I had a call from the commander of 18th Airborne Corp. He called up and said, “I just thought I would debrief you on the operation so far. I wanted to give you a sit-rep on where we stand.” He said, “Well, first of all, we’ve accomplished all of today’s objectives.” I said, “Hey, great!” He said, “We’ve also accomplished all of tomorrow’s objectives.” I said, “Wonderful!” And he said, “We’ve also accomplished all of the day-after-tomorrow’s objectives. And not only that, but we have 18,000 prisoners.” I thought, wow, this is obviously headed for a great, great victory far exceeding anything that we imagined. But it’s because we were that good. It was our war. We were ready. We had the equipment, the men, the training. We had it all. INSIDER: All of a sudden, you’re cast on the world stage. CNN has their cameras
Table of Contents
See Schwarzkoph Page 14
DO YOU KNOW A KEY PERSON IN THE CIGAR MFG. BUSINESS? National brokerage seeks individual with connections in cigar manufacturing and distribution. Exclusive business opportunity! Call John or Matt 1-800-359-5102 13
Continued From Page 13
SCHWARZKOPH I went in there and I sat down and I thought, “Son of a bitch, all these TV cameras out here! What am I supposed to do?” And I thought, “Let me stop and think about what you shouldn’t do and what people have done in the past.” I thought, “Number one, I don’t need to explain my actions to these guys at all. You know more about what is going on than they do and that’s the reason they are asking you questions and you are answering the questions. So from that standpoint, just tell them like it is and give them straight-up stories.” Number two, was, “You don’t have to answer every question.” The press likes to make you think because they ask a question, you’ve got to answer it — but you don’t have to answer every question. “You can use your judgment, Schwarzkopf! When they ask a question, whether you want to answer it or not, and if you don’t want to answer it, don’t answer it!.”
INSIDER: What was the “embedded” situation as regards the press? How did it compare to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003?
I used that formula for every press conference that I had after that.
SCHWARZKOPF: We ended up forming press pools that would normally be fifteen reporters and they would fly out and they would spend time with a given unit. A group of reporters would go out and spend a week with a unit and at that point they would be rotated and another press pool would fly out. Well that was great when you flew them out there. But when it came time to fly back, then it wasn’t so great because as far as they were concerned, well, “We’re out here now and we ought to be able to stay here.” Or, “I’m from the New York Times, I’m more important than Vanity Fair. Therefore, I should stay out here, but Vanity Fair, you can send them back.”
INSIDER: But you were still the darling of the media…
INSIDER: Were they embedded?
SCHWARZKOPF: That’s not entirely true. There were some guys from the media that hated my guts. I’ll never forget, there was one guy from the New York Times who thought that he had exclusive access to me because he was from the New York Times.
S C H WA R Z K O P F : They were right with the unit. Right on the ship.
What really got us in trouble in Vietnam was we lied to the American public. And so I said, “Number three, don’t ever, ever, ever lie to the American public. You don’t have to answer every question. And if you don’t want to answer a question, just don’t answer it.”
INSIDER: Probably not your favorite paper anyway… SCHWARZKOPF: Right. I said to him, “I don’t give a damn. So what!” For everybody that came into that theater, they had to get clearance from the Saudi government to act as a reporter in that theater and therefore we had a careful count of how many people were there. There were something like eight hundred and some odd correspondents in the country, all of whom thought that they were the most important person. Every one of them thought that they should get the exclusive story. Obviously, I couldn’t accommodate them.
14
There was one guy from the New York Times that absolutely got adamant and infuriated and then he and another guy literally set out on a “get Schwarzkopf” vendetta. We’re going to get that S.O.B. and they were always looking for bad news. They were always looking to smear me and I knew about it because I’d get reports. I ended up having one of the guys removed from the country.
INSIDER: Did they travel with the armored divisions? SCHWARZKOPF: They were right out with the unit. INSIDER: So it’s very similar to what it was like in 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom. SCHWARZKOPF: Similar, but the reporters weren’t embedded. Embedded was when they went exclusively to a unit and stayed with that unit the entire time. And in this case, we were rotating them through the press pool. The problem with the press was that you end up having all these people – we had everybody from Soldier of Fortune to Vanity Fair.
Table of Contents
INSIDER: How could you prioritize that? You didn’t have that many slots. SCHWARZKOPF: Every one of them wanted to have their own vehicle and their own driver. One of the biggest favors that was done for us was Bob Simon from CBS. He didn’t realize it, but Simon said, “BS, I don’t have to agree with these military directives. I’m going to do what I want to!” He climbed into a truck, drove out into the middle of the desert, got captured by the Iraqis and spent the remainder of the war in an Iraqi jail with US bombs going off all around him. But we would tell the press, “Look the desert is a tough place to find your way around. You go driving around out there; you’re going to get lost. Or worse yet, you’re going to get captured, or you’re going to get killed. We don’t know where you are. We fire our artillery, if you are underneath the artillery…” But you know, they would say, “Oh, look at Ernie Pyle!” (famous WWII reporter) Then I would have to tell them, “You forget one thing: Every story that Ernie Pyle ever filed was censored. He never filed a single story that wasn’t censored in those days.” INSIDER: In your biography, you made little effort to hide your occasional annoyance with the Secretary of Defense at the time, Dick Cheney. As a matter of fact, if I recall, one time he didn’t think your battle plan was imaginative enough so he and his staff drafted one of their own. You had to spend some of your time pretending to consider it? SCHWARZKOPF: Yes and no. Colin Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was out of town. He was in Russia, as I recall, and Colin was the guy who generally I could talk to and we could work out what could be done about these things. Next thing I know, I’m getting directed by Cheney’s office to review this plan. INSIDER: What was Cheney’s military experience? Did he have any?
The Underwriter’s Insider
SCHWARZKOPF: None. INSIDER: So you handled it as diplomatically as you could. SCHWARZKOPF: It wasn’t very diplomatic! INSIDER: What did you tell him? SCHWARZKOPF: His plan was that we were going to go out to western Iraq and we were going to then capture a large piece of territory and then we were going to offer to trade and we would give them their piece of Iraq back and they would give us all the POW’s back and they would withdraw from Kuwait. That was the plan. INSIDER: That’s right off of Saturday Night Live! SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah, or Forest Gump or something… But the thing was, I had to explain why this wasn’t a very good idea. I tried to tell them the distance we were talking about was like a distance between, as I recall, Palm Beach, Florida and Washington, DC. INSIDER: So you would have had to have an extremely long supply line… SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah! How in the world
www.underwritersinsider.com
are you going to supply those people? How am I going to get them there in the first place? Parachute them all in? Biggest problem of all was the re-supply thing. How in the world would you have a supply line that long? We just don’t have that capability. And, oh, by the way, there is nothing out there, so once we seize this huge pile of desert and rock, we tell the Iraqis the can have it back if they get out of Kuwait? It was totally unrealistic. INSIDER: So you were glad when Colin Powell came back. Did you guys have a good laugh? SCHWARZKOPF: We weren’t laughing at the time! INSIDER: I’ll bet you weren’t. That was a critical time. There are a couple of guys who wrote a book. I think it was Gordon and Trainor. And they said, in essence, “Schwarzkopf failed to realize the Battle of Khafji was the defining moment of the war.” In their opinion, Khafji revealed the Iraqis could not put up a vigorous defense and a major change in the overall warfare was required if you were going to destroy the Iraqi Republican Guard. According to the authors, you ignored Khafji and refused to change the plan and as a result, the Marine fixing action
Table of Contents
in Kuwait began a major offensive pushing the Iraqis out of Kuwait before the Army’s “Hail Mary” left hook could trap the Republican Guard. How do you respond to that? SCHWARZKOPF: First, Trainor was a Marine. As far as he was concerned, the battle of Khafji was won by the Marines. It was not won exclusively by the Marines by any long shot. The Marines had Arab units there that fought very well, as a matter of fact, and our air power was the principal thing that stopped the column of tanks that was coming down from Iraq. It was really the Air Force that stopped the Iraqis. INSIDER: Khafji was the little town just inside the Saudi border. If I recall, your recommendation at the time was let it go. It has no military significance. The townspeople have left. We’ll deal with it later. SCHWARZKOPF: First of all, the Saudi King said, “Okay we’ve got these bad guys in Khafji.” They (Iraqi forces) came down to Khafji and stopped right there. The King said, “OK, I want you to destroy Khafji.“ I said, “We’re not going to destroy Khafji.” He
See Schwarzkoph Page 16 15
Continued From Page 15
SCHWARZKOPH said, “I want you to destroy Khafji! The Iraqis have captured it and we cannot allow these dirty Iraqis to be on Saudi soil, so destroy Khafji!” But the principal thing that won the Battle of Khafji was not the Marines, it was the Air Force. The Air Force found these columns of troops coming in tanks, coming down, and just absolutely devastated them. The important thing I learned from Khafji, because we had been told that the Iraqi artillery was very, very good, well I found out that they weren’t good at all. They were very inaccurate. The second thing was that the fifth Iraqi division, which was reported as being right underneath the Palace guard; that they were really one of their top notch units.
We beat the hell out of them in no time at all! Number one, their artillery wasn’t as good as we’d been told. This unit was not anywhere near as good as it had been touted to be. INSIDER: What would Trainor have had you do at that point? What was his criticism? SCHWARZKOPF: For the entire war, the Marines wanted to go in over the beach. They wanted to make an amphibious landing over the beach. INSIDER: Because that’s what they do? SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah. But, if you looked at the Iraqi defenses, the Iraqis expected us to do that. So they had sown all the beaches with land mines. And they had very heavily mined beaches, all of them. And also they had live artillery focused on the beaches. And some of their heavier units were moved on the beaches because they thought we were going to go into Kuwait City over the beaches. Obviously, when they load all their forces in
that area, that’s not where I’m going to go! But the Marines always felt that they should make an over-the-beach landing. It’s interesting, but the Navy, prior to the end of the war, tried to go into that area and they hit a sea mine. And the Navy backed off immediately. The amphibs would never have gone in there without a preparation and they had to sweep all of the mines out of there. And most of all, why go in with an attack where the preponderance of their forces lined up, looking out to sea, waiting for us to come in? Trainor is an apologist for the Marine Corp. and always has been. He always felt that Central Command should have been commanded by a Marine. Central Command was rotating commanders. They would have a Marine Commander one time, an Army commander, a Marine commander, an Army commander. INSIDER: There was quite a competition on the slot that you filled as Commander-inChief Central Command? SCHWARZKOPF: Oh yeah. And when I got the job, at one point there was an attempt to block me from getting the job and going through Admiral Crowell, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to put a Navy Admiral in charge of that thing. Well, the Navy had always been violently opposed to Central Command to begin with. INSIDER: He would have just dismantled it? SCHWARZKOPF: Probably. I think they would have dismantled it. But Trainor and Gordon were a thorn in my side. To this day… Well, just don’t get me started on those two! INSIDER: In Desert Storm, you held out for massive troop strength, double what you had for Shield before you could guarantee a successful ground offensive. Obviously, it was an incredible success, and with miraculously small casualties on our side. Twelve years later, Operation Iraqi Freedom, General Franks took Baghdad with a considerably smaller force, also very successful and also with miraculously small coalition losses. Explain why you needed so many troops in Desert Storm in 1991. What was the difference in that scenario versus what General Franks was facing? SCHWARZKOPF: When you plan — you plan for the worst case. You don’t best-case plan, you worst-case plan. The Iraqis had just won a major victory over the Iranians and were touted as the best fighting force in
See Schwarzkoph Page 22 16
Table of Contents
The Underwriter’s Insider
www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
17
B
measured. Drivers who participate in the program get a 5 percent discount immediately, and then are eligible for further cuts of up to 50 percent after six months of monitoring, depending on what the record shows.
rown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) announced that the Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share. The dividend is payable on February 13, 2013 to shareholders of record on January 30, 2013.
employee introduced malware into the turbine control systems and into engineering workstations. The contractor routinely used his USB drive to perform updates on control systems as well as workstations in the power plant.” - Source EWeek.
A
A
vatier Corp., a leading identity and access risk management solutions provider, takes a closer look at password reset software, and suggests requiring more complicated passwords for the office is a doubleedged sword in “Making the Case for Password Reset Software: The 25 World’s Worst Passwords.” “Easily remembered passwords can also be the weakest, inviting hackers and generally compromising the security of an organization’s network,” said Nelson Cicchitto, chairman and CEO, Avatier. “However, while they will ensure a higher level of security, complicated passwords also require greater help desk intervention, mostly associated with password resets or unlocking accounts due to forgotten passwords.”
ccording to the Wisconsin State Journal: “Since early December, State Farm Insurance has been offering Wisconsin residents the chance for deep discounts on their auto coverage, if they agree to let the company, in effect, ride shotgun. State Farm says the program, dubbed Drive Safe and Save, allows for a more accurate calculation of risk, by way of a small device added to a vehicle’s diagnostic port that tracks real-time driver behavior. Factors such as speed, mileage, lane changes, location, time of day and braking urgency are
F
ox News reports: “Insurance regulators said they have stopped monitoring the claims payment practices of UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health carrier, after concluding that the company had met all compliance benchmarks set out under a 2007 settlement agreement. The oversight began after chief insurance regulators from Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, and New York identified some areas of concern related to timely payment of claims by the unit of UnitedHealth Group.
T
ime recently released a list of the 25 Worst Passwords for 2012. According to Time, “The top three -- “password,” “123456,” and “12345678” -- have not changed since last year. New ones include “jesus,” “ninja,” “mustang,” “password1,” and
A
ccording to a recent report by Business Insurance, “A San Francisco restaurant will spend about $320,000 to settle a complaint from city officials that it did not comply with San Francisco’s 2006 law that requires employers to spend a minimum amount of money ($2.33 per hour) on employees’ health care coverage.”
“
The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team reports that a U.S.-based power generating facility was shut down after a contract
18
Table of Contents
The Underwriter’s Insider
“welcome.” Other passwords have moved up and down on the list.” The complete list: 1. password 2. 123456 3. 12345678 4. abc123 5. qwerty 6. monkey 7. letmein 8. dragon 9. 111111 10. baseball 11. iloveyou 12. trustno1 13. 1234567 14. sunshine 15. master 16. 123123 17. welcome 18. shadow 19. ashley 20. football 21. jesus 22. michael 23. ninja 24. mustang 25. password1
T
here is speculation that Tiger Woods may be getting back together with ex-wife Elen Nordegren whom he divorced in 2010 after a extensive series of wellpublisized infidelities came to light. The kicker? Elen reportedly wants a $350 million “no cheating” clause in a new pre-nuptial. If Tiger cheats, and Elen can prove it, he will forfeit that very significant sum to his wife. Now that’s true love. Woods is one of the most winningest golfers ever with 16 World Golf Championships and 14 major golf championships - second only to the great Jack Nicklaus at 18.
M
cDonalds has settled a $700,000 lawsuit initially brought by Ahmed Ahmed Ahmed, www.underwritersinsider.com
a muslim living in Dearborn, MI who bought a chicken sandwich in September of 2011 from a local McDonalds. Ahmed Ahmed Ahmed later claimed that the chicken was not prepared according to “halal” standards as advertised. Islam forbids consumption of pork, and God’s name must be invoked before an animal providing meat for consumption is slaughtered. The suit alleged that the fast food restaurant used regular chicken product to substitute when it ran out of halal chicken. Poor Ahmed Ahmed Ahmed will receive only about $20K of the $700K settlement with the balance going to a muslim clinic, a muslim museum and, of course, the attorneys.
problem. When a consumer contacts the department seeking information and does not express a grievance with a regulated entity, it is classified as an inquiry.
F
lorida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida State Attorney Bill Eddins, today announced the arrest of Jeffrey J. Del Monte for grand theft and aggravated white collar crime for the misuse of more than $500,000 in public funds. The arrest, made in Panama City, resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the nsurance Commissioner Jim FL CFO Jeff Atwater Florida Department Donelon announced that of Financial Services’ insurance policyholders across the (DFS) Office of Fiscal Integrity (OFI) state received an additional $6.4 and the Office of the State Attorney, million in payments during 2012 1st Judicial Circuit. During 2008 and by requesting assistance from the 2009 Del Monte, conducting business Louisiana Department of Insurance as Del Monte Construction, Inc., was (LDI). The recovered funds result contracted to perform construction from insurance claims disputes in at the Topsail Hill Preserve State which the LDI worked with insurance Park. The project was funded by companies and the Florida Department of consumers to Environmental Protection recover funds in receiving more than $2.2 addition to the million in funds from the State original amounts of Florida. The investigation offered to consumers revealed Del Monte, through by their insurance the submission of false companies. Funds statements, received state recovered are from funding and misappropriated formal complaints $506,855.18 that belonged regarding property to the contractors who had and casualty, completed work at Topsail health, and life and LA Insurance Comm. Hill Preserve State Park. Del annuities products. Monte received monthly Jim Donelon The LDI received payments for the project nearly 5,000 consumer inquiries after claiming that he had paid the and more than 3,000 consumer sub-contractors and employees for complaints in 2012. A formal the work completed. OFI investigators complaint involves communication found that Del Monte misappropriated from a member of the public, in which more than 500,000 that was owed to that person expresses a grievance or 18 contractors.
I
Table of Contents
19
Marketplace Recently Announced P&C Markets
M
Agent’s E&O
odern Insurance Consultants - #1 writer of Agent E&O in Florida 18 markets - 24 hour quote turn-around. 305.248.9495 - www.modernins.com info@modernins.com
P
rofessional Underwriting Group - $974 min premium - $1K to $10K ded. New Agencies OK - Association discount. 800281-4234 - info@puginsuranceagency.com www.professionalunderwritinggroup.com
N
ational Ins Underwriting - Limits $300K to $2M - Premiums starting at $1400 with low ded. Available most states. Discounts for loss-free experience and losscontrol efforst. Call Craig Calver - 800-3382680 X 507.
A
Aviation
viation Products & Liability Insurance from Arlington/Roe & Company - MGA - representing mulitple markets. Contact: 800.878.9891 X 2401. Cfrench@ arlingtonroe.com [11-6]
F
Chemical Mfg & Distribution Risks
uel additives, Industrial gases, paints, varnishes, lacquers, enamels, solvents, adhesives, sealants and a multitude of other chemical manufacturing and distribution risks. Min Prem $20,000 and other underwriting criteria. See Sloan Mason: Contact Grant Kanamori @ 619-814-2488 or grant@sloanmason.com. [11-7]
A
Collectables
merican Collectors announces updated specialty coverage for valued collections. The company claims coverage available for almost any type of collection with multiple coverage options. www.AmericanCollectors.com/Agents (800) 620-5052 12-7
N
Commercial Auto
ational Ins Underwriting - Light, medium & heavy up to 66,000 lbs. up to 500 mile radius, Up to $1M CSL or $1/$2M split, Phys Dam up to $100K - Med Pay, Hired and NOL. Contact: Call Craig Calver - 800338-2680 X 508.
K
ingsway/Amigo Competitve commercial auto program. Any size fleet, - all types of cars, light trucks and vans - specialty services, like landscaping, electrical, plumbing, lunch trucks and other various occupations. info@ kinswayamigo.com
T
Condo Assoc Program
rident is offering tailored coverage designed for condominium town home and single-family community associations claiming competitive rates and terms. Coverages available include property, including flood, earthquake and coastal windstorm, general liability, D&O, umbrella, worker’s comp, auto, crime and property mgrs E&O. Trident Community Association Program - 5100 N. O’Connor Blvd, #200, Irving, Texas 75039 or email to csmktgprograms@argogroupus.com 877590-0775 [11-6]
H
Contractors
eavy construction risks including steel erection contractors, concrete contractors, roofing contractors, bridge, street & road contractors, etc. Norman Spencer - Contact Brian Harrold p: 937.432.1469 brianharrold@normanspencer.com [11-7]
M
Contractor’s Pollution
ost contractors - including those with mold exposures and cleanup contractors. Program includes CPL - Occurrence or Claims Made form - mold coverage available - Annual & Per Project policies. Highly competitive rates claimed. All Risks, Ltd - Lou Ann Cook - 800-3665810 X 3030 email: nspflyer@allrisks.com [12-4]
A
Convenience Store
rgo Insurance announces expanded program and competitive rates for convenience store accounts. Company is looking for stores open until 11PM, fuel sales up to 90%, alcohol sales up to 30% with no fuel hauling exposure. Not available in Florida at this time. Email csmktgprograms@argogroupus.com 877590-0775 [11-6]
20
Design & Construction Industry
A
rchitects, engineers & surveyors, construction managers, contractors, environmental consultants, landscape architects, specialty construction consultants. Contact Jeff Grigsby 877.453.2071 - JeffG@schinnerer.com [116]
O
Energy & Utility Risks
il & Gas Companies, pipeline operations, utilities, HVAC contractors and water & sewer contractors. Contact Victor O. Schinner & Co., Inc. Jeff Grigsby - 877-453-2071 or jeffg@ schinnerer.com [12-1]
P
ropane Dealers - PowerWrap is an endorsed insurance program offering specialized, full spectrum coverage. Contact Alteris: 877-590-0775 [12-1]
K
Entertainment & Sports
&K Insurance claims “over 75 programs available on admitted paper with no prior approval or appointment needed to submit applications for quotation. “ The MGA can be reached at 800-637-4757 or www. kandkinsurance.com. [11-6]
G
Group Homes
roup Homes Programs for such risks as Hospice, Agencies for Aging, Homeless Shelters, Rehab Facilities, Adult Day-Care Facilities, etc. Comprehensive packages available - limits up to $1M/$3M - customize with many optional coverages. AFC Insurance - Toll Free: 877-456-5323
S
Hair & Beauty Insurance Program
ASS - Salon & Spa Specialty Insurance administered by Brownyard Group open to agents seeking access to program. 888-823-9380 or Email: sassi@brownyard. com [11-7]
The Underwriter’s Insider
Table of Contents
A
Health & Human Services
FC Insurance - Package programs or ala carte. Contact: 877-4565323 www.afcins.com submissions@ afcins.com [12-2]
N
Homeowners
A
Kidnap & Ransom
ational Ins Underwriting -Webbased quick quotes, most protection classes & zip-codes OK - $40K - $750K dwelling values with replacement cost available. No credit scoring. Renters policies available. Contact: Craig Calver - 800-338-2680 X 508.
cademic institutions, energy companies, engineering firms, hospitals and healthcare, houses of worship, manufacturing firms, etc. Contact Victor O. Schinner & Co., Inc. Jeff Grigsby - 877-453-2071 or jeffg@ schinnerer.com [12-1]
L
Life Agent E&O
ife agent E&O from Rockwood Programs. Coverage limits from $250K to $1 Million. Base rates from $400 to $550. Individual policies. Indentity theft included. No shared aggregates. Includes mutual fund placement. Call 877-242-2487 or email sales@rockwoodinsurance.com. [12-4]
Marine Risks Worker’s Comp & Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Comp
S
eaBright Insurance Company offers high quality workers’ compensation coverage for your clients who are small maritime employers and other marine-related businesses. SeaBright provides seamless cov All Risks, LTD 410-828-5810 rlang@allrisks. com or Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. – Oak Ridge, TN 865-425-1051 warren. palmer@appund.com or Peachtree Special Risk Brokers – Metairie, LA 504830-7347 jlasseigne@psrllc.co [11-7]
N
Marine, Recreational
orman Spencer announces availability of a market for multiple and vaious recreational marine risks including marinas, docks, boat rentals, boat mfgs, charters and more. Contact Corky Breeden at 937432-1631. 12-7
Have a P&C Product Announcement? Send your press release or one-paragraph announcement to ron@insurmedia.com
K
Martial Arts
&K Insurance announces expanded coverage & lower minimum premiums on martial arts coverage. General Aggregate Limit increased to $5M - Participants Med Pay to $150K. The MGA can be reached at 800-637-4757 or www. kandkinsurance.com. [11-6]
W
Ocean & Inland Marine
prdwode Facilties, Inc. Contractors doing: piers, docks, wharfs, bridges, breakwaters, cranes, dredging, etc. 6455 East Johns Crossing, Suite 115 Johns Creek, GA 30097 (678) 736-6720 • Facsimile: (678) 736-6726 - Carter, Kimberly - 678 736-6720, Ext. 1000 - kcarter@ wwfi.com [11-7]
T
Professional Liability
echnology & Cyber, Architects & Engineers, RE Agents, Insurance Agents E&O, Misc. Pro Liability - and more: Contact Atlantic Specialty Lines lorie@atlanticspecial.com 877545-9100 [12-1]
V
ictor O. Schinnerer - A-rated carriers -Real Estate Agents, Healthcare Consultants, General & Artisan Contractors, Architects, engineers & consultants, public entities such as school leaders and public officiials. Contact: 877-4532071 www.schinnerer.com jeffg@ schinnerer.com
C
Real Estate E&O
overage for open houses, mold, network risks and privacy claims are now part of Victor O. Schinnerer & Company’s Real Estate E&O policy. Schinnerer includes the three new coverages at no additional premium. Call to ck on your state: Starr Crusenberry Starr.N.Crusenberry@Schinnerer.com - 301-951-6904 [11-6]
A
Restaurant
rgo Insurance announces l o we r rates filed on restaurant c o ve r a g e including fo o d s p o i l a g e c o ve r a g e. Fu l l commission and no agency a p p o i n t m e n t n e c e s s a r y. Co m p a ny i s l o o k i n g fo r f a m i l y s t y l e, f a m i l y g r i l l s, c a s u a l s t y l e, f i n e d i n i n g a n d limited cooking restaurants such a s p i z z a a n d s u b s h o p s. Email csmktgprograms@argogroupus. com 877-590-0775 [11-6]
N
o r m a n S p e n c e r ’s R e a l E s t a t e Pr o g r a m - “o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m p r e h e n s i ve p o l i c i e s i n t h e m a r k e t w i t h h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i ve p r i c i n g” Co ve r a g e i s av a i l a b l e to risks whose ser vices include R e s i d e n t i a l a n d Co m m e r c i a l S a l e s, Le a s i n g, Pr o p e r t y M a n a g e m e n t , Real Estate Co n s u l t i n g, Au c t i o n e e r i n g, Mortgage B r o k e r i n g, B P O ’s a n d A p p r a i s a l, and Escrow Ser vices - Michael R yd e r m i c h a e l r yd e r @ n o r m a n s p e n c e r. c o m 800.477.9192 x204 [11-7]
B
Security Guard
r o w ny a r d Pr o g r a m s announces c o ve r a g e fo r security g u a r d s, claiming to insure 15 of the top 40 security g u a r d c o m p a n i e s i n t h e U. S . B r o w ny a r d Pr o g r a m s w w w. b r o w ny a r d p r o g r a m s. c o m or pvancott@brownyardprograms. com [12-4]
Tech Consultants E&O
M
odern Insurance Co n s u l t a n t s we b s i t e d e s i g n , s o f t w a r e d e ve l o p m e n t , d a t a b a s e a d m i n , we b h o s t i n g, software/hardware sales - and m o r e. I T c o n s u l t a n t s u p t o $ 1 5 M i n a n n u a l s a l e s. Co n t a c t A n d r e w Lawrie - 305-248-9495 X 9108 a l a w r i e @ m o d e r n i n s. c o m [ 1 2 - 2 ]
21
www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
Continued From Page 16
SCHWARZKOPH that part of the world. INSIDER: The Iraqis were the fourth largest standing army at the time. We were only the 12th. SCHWARZKOPF: Exactly. So, I knew how good we were and I knew what we were capable of doing. But, I wasn’t going to attack squarely into the mouth of the Iraqis when I knew where they were deployed. I had a map in my office and every morning the intel guys would come up and brief me. I watched very carefully where these Iraqi troops were and where they were going and what they were doing. There came a point where I said, “I’ve got you!” Now I know exactly what I’m going to do. Because when you looked at the troop positions, most of them were looking out towards the water. Or they were hanging way back up north around Baghdad. There was this giant gap. If you look at the border of Kuwait, the border of Kuwait came down the
22
ocean, the gulf and then went over to this point here and literally stopped in the middle of nowhere. Everything north of that was Iraq and south of that was Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Now the Iraqis had placed their forces all along this border. But it got out to here and it stopped. There was nothing to the left of it. All of their troops there were along the border facing south into Saudi Arabia or over in Kuwait facing out towards the water. And there was nothing there! INSIDER: And that’s where the 24th Mechanized Division came in? SCHWARZKOPF: And the 101st. And the whole so called “left hook.” And I said, “Wait a minute, why go ahead and attack into the teeth of the Iraqi military when I can envelope them?” Back in West Point, one of the very first classes was a course called the History of Military Art — they taught various maneuvers and one of them was the direct attack and
Table of Contents
one of them was the envelopment and one of them was the turning movement where you go way out and turn around. But, again we are back to Trainer and Gordon. They wanted me to come across the beach, take on all sorts of land mines, all the artillery was zeroed in on that area… Instead (of coming across the beaches), why not use them (Marines) to hold the Iraqis right where they are? I waited. We kept watching out there and watching out there and the time came when I said, “I’ve gotcha!” Now, because that’s when the air assaults started, I was pinning them down where they were. I was cutting off their ammunition; I was cutting off their food, their water. They couldn’t move their trucks. We just ruined their transportation system. But more importantly, they couldn’t reinforce out to the west. It was wide open.
See Schwarzkoph Page 30 The Underwriter’s Insider
The INSIDER’S
“The Final Authority on Everything!” Shutter At The Thought!
I want to take better pictures but I’m afraid that I could not master a more complicated camera like a DSLR. What does DSLR stand for anyway and why does it have to be so complicated? Thanks for the Insider! - B. A., Chattanooga, TN DSLR stands for Digital Single-Lens Reflex. When you look through the viewfinder on a Single-Lens Reflex or SLR camera, via a prism/mirror assembly, you see directly through the lens that will capture the image. At the instant you press the shutter button, the mirror pops up and out of the way, the shutter opens and the film (or digital sensor) is exposed to the image. This all happens in as little as 1/8000 of a second. A DSLR is simply a digital SLR, having replaced film with a digital sensor. Earlier cameras were “range finders” with a viewing window usually up and to the side to the actual lens; you didn’t get to see the actual image that registered on the film - especially if you were using wideangle or telephoto lenses. Modern DSLR cameras are computers with a lens attached - and they can seem complicated and daunting to the new user - yet the basics of photography haven’t changed much since Matthew Brady won fame photographing the Civil War. All film has an optimum sensitivity to light - and therefore an ideal exposure. It’s the same on a digital camera’s sensor. You control that www.underwritersinsider.com
ADVISOR
exposure through two main devices - the shutter speed and the aperture. The length of time the shutter remains open - usually between 1/30th to 1/500th of a second - precisely meters the light - as does the lens aperture, an adjustable opening (adjustment steps are referred to as an “f-stop”) within the lens that also precisely meters the amount of light that travels through the lens. By combining these two settings, a photographer can properly expose the film. (or sensor in the case of a digital camera). The adjustment of these two controls depends on the amount of ambient light available on the subject of the photo. The less light, the greater must be the time the shutter is open or the wider the aperture - or some combination thereof - the more light on the subject, the shorter must
Table of Contents
Have a question for The Advisor?
Click HERE!
be the time the shutter is open and/or the smaller the aperture. But it get’s a little trickier. You may want a faster or slower shutter speed to freeze or show action (shutter preferred) - and so you would use your aperture to compensate. You may want a wider aperture to decrease your depth of field (blur the background) or a more narrow aperture to increase your depth of focus and sharpen things up (aperture preferred) - and would use your shutter speed to compensate for your choice of aperture. When you add flash, of course, you change the whole equation. Thankfully, all modern cameras have computer controlled flash exposure controls to make it mostly automatic.
23
CLASSIFIEDS
FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider. com/classifieds. Ads must be less than 501 characters plus a title line. Eligible free classifieds include help wanted, position wanted, personal ads, agency for sale/purchase, or the one-time sale of an item or items. REGULAR CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www. underwritersinsider.com/classifieds. Only $1.00 per word, including title line and response info. Payment must be received prior to print date.
Position Wanted in Premium Finance, Carrier or MGA Marketing in Florida Experienced Relationship Manager with established agency base seeking salaried position with premium finance company, MGA, carrier or vendor. Licensed Fla. 2-20 Agent, years of experience calling on personal lines and commercial lines agencies in south and central Florida. Able to travel - proven performer. Contact fbrosnan99@hotmail.com for resume. 9-12
220 Producer Anywhere in Florida Well established commercial agency specializing in the realm of workers’ comp seeks producer. You can be located anywhere in Florida. Excellent commission splits - training and leads. Other commercial markets also available - GL, etc.Contact: pcbizbuyer21@gmail.com 9-5
Coral Springs, FL Experienced 2-20 Agents Experienced P & C Agents required for a Coral Springs office. Good commission and renewal offered. Contact: tamiller91@yahoo.com 9-1 24
Let’s combine... Agency looking to Merge Don’t just sell your book of business and loose income. Why not merge and keep your client base. Contact: Peralta Insurance We have been in business for over twelve years, and have a large book of business and looking to expand. We carry all forms of insurance including; Health, Life, Commercial, Auto, Home, and many more. 12039 sw 132ct Miami Fl 33186 305-969-6960 peralta_ins@ bellsouth.net 9-5
Dir of P&C Claims, LV, NV Claims Director or Manager position wanted. 20 years experience in non-standard P&C Ins Claims for NV, NM, & AZ. 60+ employees supervised; including Claims, SIU, & Legal. Corporate budget & goal planning. Contract negotiations for all states. Resume & References available upon request. Available immediately for hire. Home is LV, NV. However, would consider southern California opportunity as well. Please contact @ 702-292-4215 or captainpaul52@gmail.com 10-1
CSR 440 or 220 Agent N Miami area Looking for a 2-20 agent or CSR Bilingual ( English-Spanish ), Excelent on Customer service Email resume to jamie@ jmendezandassociates.com 10-1
Table of Contents
FREE! free insider subscription! sign up yourself or any associate at this link
HERE 2-20 Producers Wanted: Miami Westchester Area
Looking for Personal & Commercial Lines producers. Salary plus commission!!! Rapidly expanding ageny. Please contact us via email or call Yudanis or Luis @ 305-225-9550 or: yudanis@optioninsurancesolutions.com
9-6
Looking to Expand Book of Business
Looking to buy independent books in Hillsborough County, Florida, full or in part. Please contact me for a confidential discussion.
abinsdmeyer@yahoo.com 9-4 The Underwriter’s Insider
INSURANCE AGENTS Growing commercial insurance agency looking for sales professionals in 48 States who have a huge appetite to sell and make a difference! Great support team and marketing strategy. With training, work ethic and the great support you are your only limitation. You can work from home if you have the discipline ! Bring your own book or build one with option to own the book. Send response to : TRUCKRISKMANAGEMENTPARTNER@GMAIL.COM 9-10
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy. Its only inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
www.underwritersinsider.com
FREE CLASSIFIEDS HERE Foreign Insurance Organization Wanted Part-time position wanted to represent, administrate or manage London or other foreign insurance organization in any U.S. states. I have all state insurance licenses required. Contact:dnmiweiss@yahoo.com 9-6
Franchised Insurance Agency For Sale Well Est. Florida 2-20 Licensed and Franchised General Insurance Agency. Owner consolidated 2 locations into one in 2012 reducing expenses & increasing profits as a result. Pre-qualified for SBA Lender Financing w/ $81,250 Down. Terms are approximate. Asking $325K. Contact Corporate Investment Business Brokers | (239) 936-1718 | www.floridabusinessbrokers.com 9-5
Table of Contents
IMPORTANT! You may also place FREE position-wanted classified ads in this section. Just click on the link below and fill out the simple form and we’ll get you online.
HERE! Profitable Independent Agency For SALE Kissimmee Area
Profitable agency , with low overhead expenses in Central Florida (Kissimmee Area). Motivated Seller. Email: Essie.noboa@gmail.com
9-7 25
“I’m proud to be President of the United States.” -
None other than gaffe-machine Joe Biden at the Iowa State Society inauguration ball.
“I 100 percent thought that I had flood insurance. My “ That’s not a rate increase, it’s a greed increase.”
- 49 year old secretary and North Carolina homeowners Monika Smith commenting on Allstate’s recent request to raise her homeowner’s premium 53% over the prior year. Allstate stated it would non-renew without the approval, called a “consent to rate” form. Under NC’s laws, Allstate could only raise the rates beyond state approved rates if they have the insured’s consent.
“ Technically
speaking, it’s more like fascism. Socialism is where the government owns the means of production. In fascism, the government doesn’t own the means of production but they do control it. And that’s what’s happening with our health care program with these reforms. I believe that, if the goal is universal health care, our country would be far better served by combining free enterprise capitalism with a strong governmental safety net for our poorest citizens and those with preexisting conditions, helping everyone to be able to buy insurance. This is what Switzerland does and I think we would be much better off copying that system than where we are currently headed in the United States. Clearly, I would prefer free enterprise capitalism in health care because it would greatly increase innovation and progress - just like it does in every other aspect of our lives, wherever it is allowed to exist.” - John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, expressing an opinion on Obamacare that was largely unpopular among his Volvo-driving, Birkenstock-wearing, health food ingesting liberal customer base - who mostly viewed his comments as some sort of heresy.
“ I always viewed Whole Foods as a progressive
leader in providing consumers with a wonderful variety of organic and healthy food. I have done my weekly shopping at WF for years. I was truly shocked to hear Mr Mackey’s comment regarding health care. Your comments were offensive and hateful. Sorry to say, I can no longer patronize your business.” - Diane Navarro, according to the MailOnline, a former devotee of Whole Foods proving once again that liberals, who love to talk up “tolerance,” brook no dissent when it comes to their progressive politics. 26
house is 20 feet from the water. Why would I not have flood insurance?” It’s traumatic to lose your house and everything you own. On top of this, you find out your insurance is not helping you at all, that you’re totally on your own after years of paying them.” - Homeowner Susan Sharif, who along with her husband Ahmad plan to sue both her insurance broker and carrier after discovering their homeowner’s policy only covered the windstorm damage to aluminum siding on their beach side bungalow after Hurricane Sandy roared through New Jersey recently.
“He’s
full of crap! He doesn’t understand what’s going on, and if he would sit and listen to us, he would understand. He probably listens to a lot of staffers who are young and just listen to the far right like the Mississippi Center for Public Policy and tea party groups. In my opinion the governor has decided it’s more important to be in line with the Republican Governor’s Association and Texas and Louisiana than to take care of the state of Mississippi. I think he believes it gives him an edge up in national politics. … I firmly believe that if you invite the federal government to come in and be our insurance nanny, you have invited the very thing that the core values of the Republican Party — what we are against. I stop just short of saying the governor has abandoned the core values of the Republican Party.” Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, (R) lambasting Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) for his position on Mississippi establishing a health insurance exchange. Chaney wants it - Bryant doesn’t. Chaney is getting some support from independent insurance agents who stand to lose their jobs if the federal government comes in and sets up the exchange.
“In effect, Mr. Obama endorsed the entire liberal
agenda as the guiding star of his next four years in the White House. He reached out to various interest groups in the Democratic coalition—gays, minorities, feminists, the poor, immigrants. But to Republicans, he offered nothing, not even a vague desire to meet them halfway or reach bipartisan agreements on taxes, spending or anything else.’’ - Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard writing in The Wall Street Journal. But, then, Mr. Obama, the “Great Uniter,” has never been about bringing Americans together - and this country has never been more divided.
Table of Contents
The Underwriter’s Insider
FLORIDA ORDERS THREE ENTITIES TO CEASE & DESIST THE UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLICENSED SALE OF INSURANCE
T
ALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has issued cease and desist orders to three entities for engaging in the unauthorized and unlicensed sale of insurance in the state of Florida. The three entities include:
with the Florida Secretary of State to do business in Florida.
Dental Care Alliance (DCA), LLC d/b/a Dentrite Dental Services, Sarasota, Florida – Ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the unlicensed business of a discount medical plan organization. DCA Arkidus Home Protection (AHP), offers its Dentrite discount dental Miami, Florida – Ordered to cease plan via its website, www.dentrite. and desist from operating an com. Dentrite’s plan’s participating unlicensed home warranty providers include 4 dental service. AHP offers plans via practices which are located its website, http://theahp.net. at a combined 25 locations The plan offers coverage for in various cities throughout common household appliances Florida. DCA has never been and systems. AHP has never been granted a license to operate granted a certificate of authority to in Florida as a discount transact insurance or a license to medical plan sell home warranties in organization. the state of Florida. This is the second time International that DCA Pacific Assurance has been Florida Insurance Associates (IPAA), Commissioner Kevin McCarty sanctioned by Temecula, California the Office for – Ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the unlawful transaction engaging in the unlicensed business of discount medical plans in the state of a surety insurance company. IPAA of Florida. has offered for sale and sold payment bonds for non-federal construction In all three cases, the Office conducted projects in the state of Florida, in investigations and determined the violation of the Florida Insurance companies were unlawfully offering Code. IPAA has never been granted insurance products and services a certificate of authority or license to without being licensed in Florida. sell insurance as a surety, or in any Each of these entities has 21 days to other capacity, in the state of Florida. respond to their respective Order. In addition, IPAA has not registered www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of CoMy wife wants
To Visit Insider Sponsors, simply click on the Sponsor’s ad!
FREE! free insider subscription! sign up yourself or any associate at this link
HERE 27
SELECT BACK ISSUES
2013 Issue 1
2012 Issue 9
2012 Issue 11
2012 Issue 8
2012 Issue 10
2012 Issue 7
INSURANCE • POLITICS • TECHNOLOGY • PEOPLE VOLUME 9 • 2012 • ISSUE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2012 Issue 6 28
2012 Issue 5
Table of Contents
2012 Issue 4 The Underwriter’s Insider
SELECT BACK ISSUES
2012 Issue 3
2012 Issue 2
2012 Issue 1
2011 Issue 7
2011 Issue 6
2011 Issue 5
2011 Issue 4 www.underwritersinsider.com
2005 Issue 2
Table of Contents
2005 Issue 5 29
Continued From Page 22
SCHWARZKOPH Because they didn’t think anybody could get out there. When I first got over there, they said, “Oh you can’t use tanks in the desert.” The Saudis told me the desert is too terrible. The Saudis had a plan where they were here but they weren’t here in the middle.
Freedom , it appears that he disregarded the expertise of the military — that he gives the perception when he is on TV that he is driving the train and everybody else better fall in line behind him. SCHWARZKOPF: Look at General Eric Shinseki. That’s the guy that said it was going to take 300,000 troops to do the job over there — and he was Chief of Staff of the Army. They retired him early and kicked him out in disgrace. Rumsfeld didn’t even go to his retirement ceremonies. General Shinseki was a great guy who served his country
I said to the Saudis, “How come you don’t have troops in the middle? They said, “Oh, well you can’t drive through there anyway.”
INSIDER: The only thing that saved you, according to Colin Powell, was that there were fifteen different magazines and they all had a different battle plan and nobody on the other side knew which one was real. How fate works… Now you went on record early in maybe 2000 saying you had concerns about Operation Iraqi Freedom battle plan as articulated by the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Talk about that for a second. SCHWARZKOPF: Rumsfeld is not my favorite person. So, just leave it at that. INSIDER: You said that when he was making his comments regarding Operation Iraqi
30
INSIDER: Were you surprised that President Bush kept him on for another term in 2004?
That we were able to accomplish our mission and at the same time save American lives in the process of doing so. But it wasn’t just me. We had a great team. We had been practicing for that war for forty years and they did a magnificent job and I’m proud of every single one of them. I just happened to be lucky enough! The truth of the matter is, you can’t tell me the name of the guy I took over from. And there are a lot of other guys out there.
So there came that moment when the intel briefers met with me that morning, and I said, “I’ve gotcha! You’ve got to stay where you are now, you can’t move, you’ve got a giant hole along your flank!”
SCHWARZKOPF: Put the whole plan out there. I was upset, to say the least!
SCHWARZKOPF: I had a lot of feedback from guys that were in the Pentagon at that time who were very upset with what was going on there at the time and felt that their years and years of military experience and planning were just junk on the wind. Rumsfeld was apparently abusive and threatening and that sort of thing. These are reports I was getting from guys who were there.
SCHWARZKOPF: Not really. Probably couldn’t get anyone else to take the job! I’m not particularly enamored with the way they’ve run the operation to date. You certainly can’t say we’ve won the day by a long shot. But, again, I had my war. He’s got his war. I’m very proud of what I did and I’m very, very proud of the low number of casualties we had.
I said, “OK, fine.” Well, then I flew out to look around. It was like a super highway, the sand was packed down so hard. Anybody could have driven through there. But the Saudis themselves thought that that was impassable. That’s exactly why the Iraqis lined up on the other side. With this concept of “It’s impassable; they can’t get through there.”
INSIDER: And wasn’t there a CNN reporter that essentially gave your strategy and position away? And Newsweek published your entire…
INSIDER: But you did express some concerns...
INSIDER: Or the guy that took over after you, for that matter. for many years, was severely wounded… INSIDER: You said there are guys at the Pentagon who have been involved in operational planning for their entire lives. This wisdom has been acquired during many operations of war. For that wisdom and knowledge to be ignored, and to be replaced by the opinion of somebody who doesn’t have any of that training — concerns you. That pretty much describes the situation, doesn’t it? SCHWARZKOPF: Right. INSIDER: Rumsfeld was a fighter pilot, wasn’t he? SCHWARZKOPF: 1941 - maybe in a glider or something! I think he was a Navy… No, I don’t know. But the fact remains, you’d be much better off talking to (General) Tommy Franks than you would me, because I wasn’t there.
Table of Contents
SCHWARZKOPF: But, they were great generals and they were fours-star generals, and they retired after brilliant military careers. And no one can remember their names. I just happened to be lucky enough to be at the right time, and the right place for my training. But as I say, we were training to do this for forty years. INSIDER: What would have happened if we had fought the actual battle in Europe against the Soviets that we trained for? How would that have gone? SCHWARZKOPF: Well, first of all, every one of our tanks had to kill ten Soviet tanks in order to succeed. But, one of the great stories of the Gulf War is because of that, we knew that the maximum range of a Soviet tank was 2000 meters. So we designed our
See Schwarzkoph Page 36 The Underwriter’s Insider
Continued from Page 10
ZALMA who initially stated he did not remember the packages, but offered to come into the store to assist in the search.
happened to it, such as shortage disclosed on taking inventory.” Elegant Slumming brought suit in the Superior Court and the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The trial court denied
On his way to Elegant Slumming, Killebrew remembered his hasty disposal of the trash near the wrap desk. He made the connection, and it became clear to him that he had thrown away the packages by accident. Killebrew explained to Livingston http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm that there were open and empty boxes right next to the wrap desk, and he threw away NGM’s motion and granted Elegant closed boxes along with the empty Slumming’s motion, finding that the ones. Killebrew is “100%” sure he coverage limitation only “requires threw the two boxes away. The some evidence of what happened to the missing property.” After further boxes have never been located. briefing and a hearing on damages, Livingston submitted a claim to his the trial court awarded Elegant property insurance carrier, NGM, Slumming $141,640 as payment for which is a subsidiary of the Main the lost jewelry. Street America Group. The claim was denied. NGM denied the claim based IS THERE on the following coverage exclusion PHYSICAL EVIDENCE? in Elegant Slumming’s insurance policy: NGM first claims the trial court erred “We will not pay for loss or damage in finding that the insurance policy to property that is missing but there requires only “some evidence,” rather is no physical evidence to show what than “physical evidence,” to show what happened to lost property. The policy states “physical evidence” is required to “show what happened” FREE to the lost property.
CLASSIFIEDS!
HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS
DECISION & ANALYSIS
CLICK HERE!
The Delaware Supreme Court agreed with NGM that the trial court erred in concluding that verbal
www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
testimony satisfies the physical evidence requirement because it is not physical evidence. Clear and unambiguous language in an insurance policy should be given its ordinary and usual meaning. When the language of an insurance contract is clear and unequivocal, a party will be bound by its plain meaning because creating an ambiguity where none exists could, in effect, create a new contract with rights, liabilities, and duties to which the parties had not assented. To find that a requirement of “physical evidence” is satisfied exclusively by testimonial evidence would be contrary to the plain and ordinary meaning of the term. “Physical evidence” means any article, object, document, record or other thing of physical substance. The Supreme Court concluded that testimonial evidence, by itself, is insufficient to constitute the “physical evidence” intended by the coverage exclusion. The Supreme Court’s holding that testimonial evidence, by itself, does not constitute “physical evidence” did not end its analysis. Since it was dealing with an exclusion the burden was upon NGM to demonstrate that the policy exclusion applies. Elegant also presented “physical evidence” – as the court defined the term – by introducing the purchase order invoices, the shipping receipts for the jewelry, photographs of the wrap desk area where the jewelry packages were placed upon arrival and photographs showing See Zalma Pg 35 31
Experts and Consultants for Insurance Disputes 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard Culver City, California 90230 310-390-4455 zalma@zalma.com http://www.zalma.com
Consultation from Zalma Insurance Consultants (ZIC) can save you or your client thousands of dollars in the defense or prosecution of an insurance dispute. ZIC provides expert advice and counsel insurers and plaintiffs’ counsel find indispensable. Consultation from ZIC can save you, your counsel or client hundreds of hours of investigative and legal work. ZALMA INSURANCE CONSULTANTS is a service of Barry Zalma, Inc. a California professional corporation. Barry Zalma is an internationally recognized expert on insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith, insurance fraud detection, the defeat of false and fraudulent claims, Barry Zalma, Esq. insurance claims handling, and the resolution of insurance disputes. As a consultant, expert witness, lawyer, author, mediator or arbitrator he serves all parties who need consultation or expert testimony on matters relating to insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance fraud and the tort of bad faith. Barry Zalma founded Zalma Insurance Consultants to help resolve any insurance claim problem faced by you or your clients that do not need Mr. Zalma’s services as a lawyer. His experience and skill as a consultant and expert witness can make the difference before a jury or other trier of fact. For more than 44 years as a claims person and insurance coverage attorney, Barry Zalma has represented insurers, advised insurers on claims handling, interpreted coverages and testified as an insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, insurance claims handling and insurance fraud expert on behalf of insurers and policyholders in state and federal courts.
Expert Testimony
Zalma Insurance Consultants serves insurers, policyholders, underwriters, brokers, agents, adjusters, public insurance adjusters, lawyers and any person involved in an insurance dispute. Because he is an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California M r. Zalma may be prohibited by California case law from acting as a consultant or expert witness and, therefore, refuses to serve in any situation where a past client of his law firm, Barry Zalma, Inc. is adverse to anyone seeking his services.
Y ou can obtain M r. Zalma’s C.V . at http://www.zalma.com and his e-book publications http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm and blogs daily at Zalma on Insurance, http://zalma.com/blog.
32
Table of Contents
at
The Underwriter’s Insider
Continued From Page 9
KIM KOMANDO different. Some even require letters and faxes. But it’s the same routine that Abine’s data-removal specialists follow if you sign up for the company’s Delete Me subscription service. It just takes a bit more time.
When you feel the urge to go back online - and you will - be smart about protecting your hard-fought online privacy. Use an alias to hide your real name and identity and use a disposable or alias email address to go with your online persona. Copyright 2013, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Kim Komando hosts the nation’s largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the show or find the station nearest you, visit: http://www.komando.com/ listen. To subscribe to Kim’s free email newsletters, sign-up at: http://www. komando.com/newsletters.
Don’t let your guard down after you opt out. Keep searching for yourself on people-finder sites every few months to make sure the data collectors haven’t added you again. When an amateur sleuth or average crazy person wants to find you, the first place they’ll look is Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr and other social networks. It’s easy to delete your profiles on all the big networks. You can find full instructions on sites like Account Killer. If you can’t bear giving up a network, go into your account settings and at least make sure your profile is private and can’t be found by search engines. If you come up against a website that won’t delete your account, there’s a workaround. Go into the account and remove all of your personal information. If a site won’t let you leave fields blank, fill in with fake information. Make sure your real email address isn’t associated with the account. If it is, create a new, free email account with a random user name. Associate your fake email address to the account. After the site emails you to confirm, cancel your fake email account. www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
33
FLORIDA RELEASES FUN FACTS 2012
34
Table of Contents
The Underwriter’s Insider
Continued from Page 31
ZALMA the close proximity of the trash bins to this area. These items of physical evidence, together with the testimony explaining their relevance, show what happened to the property and, therefore, the trial court’s judgment was affirmed for different reasons than stated in its judgment.
ZALMA OPINION This is an odd decision because it turned on photographs that do not show what happened but describe a scene and invoices showing receipt of the product, into physical evidence of the loss. The court is reasoning backwards from a desire to indemnify the insured rather than to apply the wording of the policy of insurance. The jewelry packages could just have easily been taken by a customer during a busy day, by the less than effective part-time employee, or tossed away in the trash. The exclusion should be read to mean that there must be physical evidence, as defined by the court, that shows there was a loss by an insured cause of loss. I would suggest revising the wording to read: We will not pay for loss or damage to property where the loss is a result of:
3. Shortage of property claimed to have been shipped when the package is received by the consignee in apparent good condition with the seals unbroken. 4. Property that is found missing from the last place it was seen and where there is no physical evidence showing it was taken as a result of theft or robbery. 5. Property that is missing where there is no physical evidence to show what happened to it.
FREE! free insider subscription! sign up yourself or any associate at this link
HERE
1. Unexplained or mysterious disappearance. 2. Shortage found upon taking inventory.
www.underwritersinsider.com
Table of Contents
Position Wanted: Premium Finance, Carrier or MGA Marketing in Florida
Experienced Relationship Manager with established agency base seeking salaried position with premium finance company, MGA or carrier or vendor. Licensed Fla. 2-20 Agent, years of experience calling on personal lines and commercial lines agencies in south and central Florida. Able to travel - proven performer. Contact fbrosnan99@hotmail.com for resume. 9-12
Continued from Page 7
MIAMI P.I.P. FRAUD SWEEP YIELDS 6 Miami-Dade County Jail. Prosecuting the charges in this case will be Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. If convicted the individuals face up to 25 years in prison. This case is part of a continuing crackdown by CFO Atwater’s Division of Insurance Fraud and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in the fight against auto insurance fraud in Florida. In 2012, PIP fraud related arrests increased by 44 percent. The division was assisted by the Hialeah Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol in this arrest sweep. 35
Continued From Page 30
coded into the military or political doctrine: this “let the military fight the war doctrine?”
SCHWARZKOPH
SCHWARZKOPF: (laughs) Given what you read about Rumsfeld, we may already have forgotten that!
tanks so they could fire at 3000 meters. Every American tank, if we’d had to go to war in Europe, had to kill ten Soviet tanks in order for us to succeed. So we had to build them as stand-off weapons.
INSIDER: But is Rumsfeld hand-picking targets?
The same thing happened when we were going against the Iraqis. They were using Soviet surplus equipment and we had the finest tanks in the world. So we were out there engaging their tanks at 3000 yards and they couldn’t even see what was shooting at them.
SCHWARZKOPF: I don’t know what he was doing. (laughs) I do know that (General) Tommy Franks kept getting called back to Washington. At one point, Tommy went public and said, “I called him up and told him, if you don’t have confidence in me, I’ll be happy to step aside and put somebody else in there.”
There is this wonderful story of the Iraqi tank battalion commander whose tanks were blowing up all around him and he didn’t know what in the hell was happening and he ran out of this bunker and overhead there was a drone. So he tried to surrender to the drone! (laughing) Because something was blowing up the tanks but they couldn’t see where it was so it had to be that damn thing that was flying overhead!
INSIDER: So were we, I might add. SCHWARZKOPF: Thank you. INSIDER: In 1991, and again in 2003, we were fortunate enough to have Presidents who held the US Military in high regard and allowed it to do what it does best. Fight wars. There wasn’t any micro-managing, there wasn’t a Lyndon Johnson picking gunnery targets from the Oval Office. You might have answered this question already today, but has this philosophy in anyway been hard-
36
INSIDER: In reading your analysis in It Doesn’t’ Take a Hero, it was easy to sympathize with Colin Powell who was caught between you on one end with your battlefield assessments and then on the other side, the politicians with their political expedients — and this poor guy is trying to bring it all together… SCHWARZKOPF: But that’s his job. Anybody who is in that position, that’s what you are supposed to do. As a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, you are the number one military guy. Don’t forget, he was also the National Security Advisor before that. It’s just inconceivable to me, quite frankly, that with the expertise that is out there, any “politician” would insert themselves into the (military) decision making process like happened in Vietnam. Chuck Horner, who was my Air Component Commander in Iraq, would bristle if there was any hint that somebody might be directing targets. We had a huge array of targets all over Iraq. Different kinds for different purposes. But you had some Pentagon lawyers that would get involved, saying you can’t do this or you shouldn’t do that.
INSIDER: There was one Iraqi commander who said that during the Iran war, the tank was his friend. It offered him protection. In Desert Storm, it was his worst enemy. He wanted to stay away from it. It was a target; a bull’s eye. SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah. To go back to my point, and that point is, there were great generals out there who were my predecessors and there were great generals who were my successors and they are lost to the history books. I just happened to be lucky enough to be the guy who was there and I was lucky enough that all the training I had received from my first day as a cadet at West Point until the first day of the war was what I had been trained to do. And I was just damn lucky.
him and he knew in detail. But there was never, except for one or two times, when there was any micro-management coming out of Washington, DC.
INSIDER: And that’s when Rumsfeld backed off? SCHWARZKOPF: I’ve heard other people say that many was the shouting match that went on over the plan. I briefed the President on the (Gulf War) battle plan on Thanksgiving when he came over to the theater and visited the troops. I briefed him on the airplane. We were together from one side of Saudi to the other. I just laid out a piece of paper in front and showed him in general terms exactly what we were going to do. Very general terms. Not specifics, but just here is what we are going to do, here is where they are, here is where we’re going to go. And that’s all I had to do. And the President said, “Looks good to me.” Now, Colin Powell, I briefed in detail. And Colin took the plans and maps and rolled them up and took them to Washington with
Chuck Horner would go ballistic because he was in Vietnam when McNamara was picking targets for the Air Force without regard to any campaign plan whatsoever and in many cases, as Chuck would tell you, and were targets that had already been struck! Our boys had taken a lot of casualties; planes were shot down striking those targets, and then they’d be ordered to go back in again for no reason. There was somebody, a systems analyst in Washington, DC working for McNamara that was picking targets. Horner would go ballistic if he even detected anything closely approaching that. Now if I can make one point. I got very angry with him once because I directed that something happen and they strike a certain target, and when they were briefing me on the final few days before the operation, those targets weren’t being hit. I was furious that they weren’t being hit. I ordered directly that they were going to be hit. He was just as furious that I ordered that those targets should be hit because I shouldn’t be in the picking targets business. We got eyeball to eyeball on that one. And we were both right as far as I’m concerned. INSIDER: You were prescient in you 1992 prediction that the post-war management of Iraq might leave us like a “dinosaur in a tar
The Underwriter’s Insider
pit.” Are we going to ever climb out of that pit? SCHWARZKOPF: (long thoughtful pause) I hope so. But it’s not very encouraging right now. Again, I said to someone, “I never fully understood the definition of Byzantine until I got involved with that part of the world.” It’s a part of the world that we don’t really understand very well. But there is a great book called “The Arabs” by Lamb, I think his name was. He has a line in there that, back when the Europeans were living in mud huts, and fighting each other, the Arabs were conducting poetry contests. We tend to forget that their civilization is much older than our Europeanoriented concept of civilization and history. The culture and the religion are deeply embedded over there.
INSIDER: You knew those guys personally? SCHWARZKOPF: Sure I did. They were the last (South Vietnamese) troops fighting and when they died… INSIDER: They did die in that final siege? SCHWARZKOPF: drunk.
Yes.
I cried and got
INSIDER: But we can’t just leave it alone, can we?
SCHWARZKOPF: I told you in the book, it was very simple, at Tan Son Nhut air base, the headquarters of the South Vietnamese Airborne – they were the last ones fighting.
www.underwritersinsider.com
SCHWARZKOPF: Not really. I always knew that, hey, there is a finite end to this whole thing. I was lucky because I got to serve longer than most people did — by far. But I’d always known that one day the time would come when I would take off the uniform. I would put on civilian clothes and I would just be Norm Schwarzkopf.
SCHWARZKOPF: No. Because we won! Vietnam was different. My first term in Vietnam I got on the airplane to leave my comrades behind and I was devastated. I looked out the window and there was the Vietnamese airplane getting ready to go out on a mission and I wasn’t with them. And I felt terrible about it. I didn’t feel terrible at all when I got on the airplane to come home from Desert Storm.
SCHWARZKOPF: I think there are a lot of things that would make us happy to leave it alone.
INSIDER: Not only to the Vietnamese but what about the men and the families of men that had lost lives and limbs? What did it make you feel like? You spent all those years and risked your life on dozens of occasions…
INSIDER: You retired from the whirlwind of Commander in Chief, Central Command, in August of 1991. It had to be a tremendous decompression — to come back to Tampa and adjust to a simple family life…
INSIDER: So the day you got arrived back in Tampa, you’re sitting at home with your children and your wife, and you went, “This is as good. I don’t miss the action, the fight, the command.”
INSIDER: Wouldn’t we be happy to leave it all alone if it weren’t for Islamo-terrorists and the direct threat that they focus on the U.S.?
SCHWARZKOPF: No. But, people said we couldn’t get out of Vietnam either. And then we cut and ran. And the Congress of the U.S., in their great wisdom, voted to cut off all supplies — and we were winning. The worst part about it is we were winning. We had it won! There is a new book out written by a classmate of mine that clearly shows that the war was won! Then Congress cut off supplies. We left behind our helicopters, we left behind our tanks, we left behind our artillery. And we said to the Vietnamese, “Here, this is all for you in fighting your battle — and then Congress cut off all of the ammunition. It was terrible, terrible betrayal of the Vietnamese as far as I’m concerned.
years, the Tet Offensive has always been discussed in terms of how valiant the VietCong were and how they fought this and won. Pure BS. Absolutely not true.
INSIDER: You didn’t miss the attention, the command?
INSIDER: They were good men? SCHWARZKOPF: Yeah. They were good men… INSIDER: Your book, It Doesn’t Take a Hero, is the only place that I’ve ever read that the South Vietnamese were fighting for their country just like we would fight for ours. I’ve never heard that before. I always heard that they’d cut and run at first opportunity. SCHWARZKOPF: No, that’s BS! It’s just like the Tet Offensive over there in Vietnam. For years, the American public had been fed this BS that the Tet Offensive was a great victory for the enemy and for the V.C. It turns out that was BS. It was actually a huge military victory for the South Vietnamese. The South Vietmanese did most of the fighting and they did it well. A big victory. A huge victory. And for years and years and
SCHWARZKOPF: Miss the attention? I was delighted to not have the attention! But there were other things. Do you remember the ice cream story? INSIDER: Tell me a little bit about it. SCHWARZKOPF: My wife had been avoiding the press while I was over there. And finally somebody came to her and said, you’ve got to talk to the press. They’re going to think something is wrong with your marriage so you need to talk to the press. So they had three or four leading female correspondents and they were interviewing my wife. And one of the things they said is when your husband gets home, what is the first thing you are going to serve him? And Brenda said, oh gosh, that is a tough question. He likes filet mignon stuffed with Roquefort cheese but the one thing I know he is going to want, is Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. It’s his very favorite kind of ice cream and that’s one thing I’ll guarantee he’ll want.” So I’m over
See Schwarzkoph Page 38 37
Continued From Page 37
SCHWARZKOPH there in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and my aid comes in a looks at me and says, “Sir, do you know anything about Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Ice Cream?” (laughing) I said, “No, what are you talking about?” He said, “An airplane just landed out at the airfield, loaded with Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Absolutely loaded! What are we going to do with this thing?” I said, “Well, it’s 120 degrees outside. I really wish I could give it to those infantrymen that are out there in the desert now, but the best thing we can do is just drive around the airfield and every troop that is there, hand them some Breyer’s Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream! INSIDER: You did save some for yourself? SCHWARZKOPF: (laughs) Yes! I said, “Make damn sure that I get my share!” But now, why did I tell you that story? When I got home, our house was full of ice cream. Not just Breyer’s, but other companies that said, “Oh, you think their ice cream is good? You ought to try our ice cream!” We had a freezer full of ice creams of all different brands. So, the house was loaded with memorabilia that people had sent us. All sorts of shapes and sizes. So what I’m saying is, when I got home, I wasn’t dwelling on gosh, “you’re decompressing.” Because there was still pressure from all sides. INSIDER: But at some point in time, you just had to sit back in your easy chair with your family surrounding you and that became normal. SCHWARZKOPF: I went fishing, and when I left my chain of command, I said to my son, come on Christian, let’s go fishing. And we went to Canada and fished. That, if anything, was my decompression. INSIDER: You had probably unlimited political opportunities after your retirement. You could have been the governor of Florida by now. A seat in the senate, a bid for the presidency. You had no interest in that, did you? SCHWARZKOPF: Somebody once said something that I agree with wholeheartedly. And they had meant to insult me, but somebody had asked the question, “Why doesn’t
38
Gen. Schwarzkopf go into politics?” And they said, “Schwarzkopf would make a lousy politician because he says exactly what he thinks.” I absolutely have no desire to go into politics. I hate politics. INSIDER: You had to play against it for so many years. SCHWARZKOPF: And back then, it was the politicians that sold my Vietnamese Airborne down the tubes. They passed the law cutting off all ammunition, all spare parts, and everything else. They guaranteed their demise. And you want me to go work with these congressmen and senators? It can’t happen. INSIDER: Has there ever been talk of a movie about your life? SCHWARZKOPF: I’ve been approached, but … INSIDER: Who would you pick to play Norman Schwarzkopf? SCHWARZKOPF: (laughs) Danny Devito? INSIDER: (laughs) No! SCHWARZKOPF: wouldn’t work?
(laughs) No?
That
INSIDER: I don’t think so. SCHWARZKOPF: Jack Nicholson? INSIDER: No, he’s too much of a wise guy. You know who Fred Thompson is?
INSIDER: You obviously have a lot of life left in you. Which reminds me of a quote I’m sure you’ve heard a thousand times. When General Douglas MaCarthur retired, he said, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” But you don’t look like you are fading away. You’re not following the script! SCHWARZKOPF: (laughs) Well, I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of opportunities. Wrote the book; had time to do that. I’m on TV a lot as a consultant. I’ve been able to really start some wonderful charities. INSIDER: I’ve read you are very active in cancer charities… SCHWARZKOPF: Children’s charities. I shoot sporting clays. Just last month, I had a tournament out here at our range. Over three hundred people showed up and we raised $360,000 for the children’s home in one weekend. And that’s just because I’m the host. We have a wonderful place called Boggy Creek. It is located north of Orlando. It is a camp that I’m one of the founders of with Ted Forstmann and Paul Newman. It is a camp for children who couldn’t go to camp otherwise because they have a terrible disease. And we bring in the cancer kids for one week and the facial/cranial kids the next week and asthma kids the next week. And this is paradise for these kids. That little emblem over there (points to a child’s artwork near his desk) that says “over the rainbow starts here!” And it was done by a kid at Boggy Creek.
SCHWARZKOPF: Yes - a conservative actor from Tennessee. INSIDER: A nice guy. A tough guy. I think he could pull off the demeanor, the character. SCHWARZKOPF: No, he’s too busy being the district attorney on Crime and Punishment!
“Somewhere over the rainbow?” Not a bad metaphor for the General, after 30 years in the maelstrom of combat and service, now able to enjoy his retirement and bask in the gratitude of his countrymen.
INSIDER: One more question. You had prostate cancer in 1984 and knee replacement surgery just a few months ago. Other than that, you’re in pretty good shape. You look like you haven’t aged a whole lot since I saw you holding press conferences in the desert on CNN. How do you do it?
Stop for a moment and consider how fortunate we are to have men like Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Men who put duty, honor and country before themselves; men who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that rest of us can relax and enjoy the freedoms of this wonderful country.
SCHWARZKOPF: I’ve got all the problems that old men have. I’m 71 years old. I hate being 71 years old! I detest being 71 years old!
You may wish to say “Thank You” by making a donation to Boggy Creek (see info on next page) in the name of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf. You would be hard-pressed to find a more worthy organization or a more laudable cause than that of children stricken with a terrible disease.
INSIDER: What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and you were thirty? SCHWARZKOPF: 30? Why enlist, of course! No, I don’t want to be 30. Fifty would be nice. But I hate being 71 years old. I really do.
- Ronald J. Manera, Editor
The Underwriter’s Insider
, , n u f t � n . s i s i r “Cance eek r C y g g o but B Through the generous support of people like you, Camp Boggy Creek is able to serve thousands of seriously ill children each year at no cost to their families. Call us or visit our website to find out how you can help.
www.BoggyCreek.org 1-866-Go-Boggy 30500 Brantley Branch Road Eustis, FL 32736
www.underwritersinsider.com
39