Good Monday Afternoon
I had a great appointment at the doctor's office. The pump is doing its job. The infection is reduced and the hole is a bit smaller and the doctor was happy and so was I
.Regards.
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Thanks to Mike
A little inspiration for those of us past mid life
Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.
... and the month is already over.
... and the year is almost over.
... and already 40, 50, 60, or 70 years of our lives have passed.
... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we
have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
afterwards, the day becomes the night...
afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today... The moment is now...
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be
done right away.
So let's see if you have time to read this message and then share it.
Or maybe you'll leave it for... ′′ later "...
And you'll never share it....
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Thanks to Al
Monday Morning Humor--My Sister's Birthday
These week's MMH is dedicated to my sister Susie celebrating her 78th birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Submitted by Mark Logan:
As you get older, you've got to stay positive. For example, the other day I fell down the stairs. Instead of getting upset, I just thought, "Wow, that's the fastest I've moved in years."
One minute you're really young and cool…and the next, you're getting all excited about a new vacuum.
You know you're getting old when "friends with benefits", means someone who can drive at night.
The leading cause for injury in old men is them thinking they are still young men.
I see people around my age mountain climbing, I feel good getting my leg through my underwear without losing my balance.
Don't worry about getting older. You're still gonna do dumb stuff only slower.
I really don't mind getting older, but my body is taking it badly.
Exercising can add years to your life. For example, I jogged four miles today and now I feel like I'm 85.
I'm so old I remember multiplication was called "times tables".
One minute you're 21, staying up all night drinking beer, eating pizza, and doing sketchy stuff just for fun. THEN…in a blink of an eye, you're 75+, drinking water, eating kale, and you can't do any sketchy stuff because you pulled a muscle putting on your socks.
Submitted by Lyle Bien:
Lessons Learned over the Years
When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.
To me, "drink responsibly" means don't spill it.
Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00pm is the new midnight.
It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of tortoises.
The older I get, the earlier it gets late.
When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time between yesterday and 15 years ago.
Cop: "Please step out of the car. "Me: "I'm too drunk. You get in."
I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.
I had my patience tested. I'm negative.
Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.
If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you, just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?"
When you ask me what I am doing today, and I say "nothing," it does not mean I am free. It means I am doing nothing.
I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days, but whatever.
I run like the winded.
I hate when a couple argues in public, and I missed the beginning and don't know whose side I'm on.
When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask, "Why, what did you hear?"
I don't remember much from last night, but the fact that I needed sunglasses to open the fridge this morning tells me it was awesome.
When you do squats, are your knees supposed to sound like a goat chewing on an aluminum can stuffed with celery?
I don't mean to interrupt people. I just randomly remember things and get really excited.
When I ask for directions, please don't use words like "east."
Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring. Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right out.
Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and changes you forever. We call those people cops.
My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.
Submitted by Dave Harris:
My sister, Susie, handed her bank card to a bank teller and said, "I would like to withdraw $500."
The female teller told her, "For withdrawals less than $5,000, please use the ATM."
My sister then asked, "Why?"
The teller irritably told her, "These are rules. Please leave if there is no other matter. There is a queue behind you." She then returned the card to Susie.
Susie remained silent… but then she returned the card to the teller and said, "Please help me withdraw all the money I have."
The teller was astonished when she checked the account balance. She nodded her head, leaned down and said to Susie, "My apologies ma'am, you have $3.5 million in your account and our bank does not have so much cash currently. Could you make an appointment and come again tomorrow?"
Susie then asked, "How much am I able to withdraw now?"
The teller told her, "Any amount up to $300,000"
My sister then told the teller that she wanted to withdraw $300,000 from her account.
The teller did so quickly and handed it to Susie respectfully.
Sharp as ever, Susie kept $500 in her bag and asked the teller to deposit the balance of $299,500 back into her account!
Submitted by Ernie Smith and Barbara Hunt:
12 Commandments for Seniors
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.
"In Style" are the clothes that still fit.
You don't need anger management. You need people to stop pissing you off.
Your people skills are just fine. It's your tolerance for idiots that needs work.
The biggest lie you tell yourself is, "I don't need to write that down. I'll remember it."
"On time" is when you get there.
Even duct tape can't fix stupid - but it sure does muffle the sound.
It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for ten minutes, then come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?
Lately, You've noticed people your age are so much older than you.
Growing old should have taken longer.
Aging has slowed you down, but it hasn't shut you up.
You still haven't learned to act your age, and hope you never will.
And one more:
"One for the road" means peeing before you leave the house.
Submitted by Colleen Grosso:
Getting older - and there is no senior discount for reading this.
Lying around, pondering the problems of the world, I realized that I don't really give a rat's ass anymore.
If walking is good for your health, the mailman would be immortal.
A whale swims all day, only eats fish, and drinks water, but is still fat.
A rabbit runs, and hops, and only lives 15 years, while a tortoise doesn't run, and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years. Exercise, I don't think so.
Now that I'm older, here's what I've discovered:
o I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
o My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.
o Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
o Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
o If all is not lost, then where the hell is it?
o It was a whole lot easier to get older than it was to get wiser.
o Some days, you're the top dog, some days you're the hydrant.
o I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them.
o Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
o Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
o It is hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
o The world only beats a path to your door when you're in the bathroom.
o If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on my knees..
o When I'm finally holding all the right cards, everyone wants to play chess.
o It is not hard to meet expenses . . . They're everywhere.
o The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth..
o These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter...I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what am I here after?
o Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
o It is a lot better to be seen than viewed.
o Have I sent this message to you before...or did I get it from you!?
Submitted by John Hudson:
One day God was looking down at earth and saw all of the rascally retiree's behavior that was going on. So He called His angels and sent one to earth for a time. When the angel returned, he told God, 'Yes, it is bad on earth; 95% of retirees are misbehaving and only 5% are not. God thought for a moment and said, 'Maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another opinion.'
So God called another angel and sent her to earth for a time. When the angel returned, she went to God and said, 'Yes, it's true. The earth is in decline; 95% of retirees are misbehaving, but 5% are being good.'
God was not pleased! So He decided to e-mail the 5% who were good, because he wanted
to encourage them, and give them a little something to help them keep going.
Do you know what the e-mail said?
Okay, I was just wondering, because I didn't get one either
Listen to Alan Jackson sing "The Older I Get" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-BemA7z8W0
Listen to "The Land That Made Me Me" at https://www.youtube.com/embed/J55S38xwxnQ?rel=0
Wishing all my best to Susie and all of you,
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"This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/.
Aug. 2, 1909
The U.S. Army Signal Corps purchased a Wright Flyer for $30,000. It became the first aircraft in the U.S. military inventory and was designated Signal Corps Airplane No. 1. The airplane was used to train Signal Corps pilots in San Antonio. It was crashed and rebuilt several times. After just two years' service, the airplane was retired. The Army donated Airplane No. 1 to the Smithsonian Institution. During test flights that were conducted before acceptance by the Army, Orville Wright with Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois, Daedalian Founder Member #321, as passenger (he was chosen because of his size and his ability to read maps), the Flyer achieved a two-way average 42.583 miles per hour over a 5-mile course. The Signal Corps specification allowed a bonus of $2,500 per full mile per hour above 40 mph. This increased the purchase price of the airplane from $25,000 to $30,000. The Army also required the airplane to be able to remain airborne for a minimum of one hour. Wright demonstrated its endurance at 1 hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds.
Aug. 3, 1972
During a 45-minute test flight at Edwards AFB, California, the McDonnell Douglas YF-15A-1-MC Eagle prototype, 71-0280, went supersonic for the first time, reaching Mach 1.5. An air-superiority fighter, the F-15 entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1975. More than 1,500 fighter, two-seat trainer, and two-seat F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bombers have been built by McDonnell Douglas and Mitsubishi. It is operated by allied air forces around the world and is expected to remain in front line service until 2025.
Aug. 4, 1950
During the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, wounded soldiers were evacuated from the battlefield by helicopter for the first time when a Sikorsky H-5F of Detachment F, 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron, U.S. Air Force Air Rescue Service, flew U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Claude C. Crest Jr. from the Sengdang-ni area to an Army hospital. By the end of combat in 1953, 21,212 soldiers had been medevaced by helicopters. Only the second military helicopter, the H-5 was frequently flown overloaded and outside of its center of gravity limits. The helicopter was not armed, though the pilot normally carried an M1911 .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and the crewman, a .30-caliber M1 Carbine.
Aug. 5, 1943
The new Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) arose after the Women's Flying Training Detachment merged with the Woman's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron under noted aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran. Meanwhile, Nancy Harkness Love became an executive within the Ferrying Division of Air Transport Command.
Aug. 6-7, 1942
Capt. Harl Pease Jr. led B-17s of the 93rd Squadron, 19th Bomb Group, on a strike against Rabaul, New Britain. He did not return. Pease, who had earlier evacuated Gen. Douglas MacArthur from Mindanao, the Philippines, to Australia, posthumously received a Medal of Honor. On Sept. 7, 1957, the air base at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was named Pease AFB in his honor.
Aug. 7, 1990
Operation DESERT SHIELD began when the U.S. military deployed in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
Aug. 8, 1944
Lt. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg assumed command of Ninth Air Force in England. He would go on to make his fourth star, and was the second chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. See his official bio HERE.
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Daily News for 3 August thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Missing Marines Presumed Dead After AAV Accident Los Angeles Times | 08/03/2020 Seven Marines and a sailor are presumed dead after a training accident near San Clemente Island, reports the Los Angeles Times. On July 30, an Amphibious Assault Vehicle from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit carrying 16 personnel reported taking on water during a routine exercise. One Marine was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were injured, one critically, and remained in the hospital. Five others were rescued. A search-and-rescue operation was called off late Sunday after 40 hours, the 15th MEU said in a statement. Seven Marines and a sailor were still missing and presumed dead when the search was called off. The vehicle went down several hundred feet from shore, in waters hundreds of feet deep, beyond the range of divers, Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, the commander of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, told KUSI (San Diego). An investigation into the accident has been launched.
USA—SASC Cancels Hearing For Controversial Pentagon Nominee Defense News | 08/03/2020 The Senate Armed Services Committee has canceled a planned hearing for the Trump administration's nominee for the post of undersecretary of defense for policy, reports Defense News. The hearing, which was scheduled for July 30, was canceled hours before it was set to begin, noted the Washington Post. The nomination of Anthony Tata drew criticism after it was revealed that he had made derogatory remarks about President Barack Obama and called Islam, "the most oppressive violent religion that I know of." He faced an uphill nomination after Democrats and some Republicans came out in opposition due to his conspiratorial, anti-Muslim and harshly partisan remarks, which he renounced in June. Tata served in the Army, attaining the rank of brigadier general before retiring in 2009 after being found to have violated the military prohibition against adulterous affairs at least twice. He has been serving as a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the SASC chairman, said that the cancellation was caused by delays in receiving the required documentation before the upcoming August recess. Tata formally withdrew his nomination and was designated "the official performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy reporting to the acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Dr. James Anderson," according to a Pentagon statement cited by CNN. The role essentially makes him the deputy of the position for which Tata was nominated. Analysts said the move was an "end-run around" federal law that prevents a person from being named to the same position they were nominated for unless they spend 90 days as the first assistant to the position.
USA—CNO Seeks More LCS Deployments Defense News | 08/03/2020 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday says he wants to increase deployments of the troubled Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), reports Defense News. There have been five deployments of the ships in the class since August, when he assumed the top Navy post, the CNO told the newspaper in an interview last month. Gilday said that he wants to increase that by 2.5 times over the coming years. To achieve this goal, the Navy will need to resolve issues with sustainability and reliability, he said. The problems are known, now fixes must be implemented, said the admiral. The LCS platform has been plagued by a plethora of problems, including maintenance and propulsion plant issues and problems developing and integrating some mission modules. Two sources told the newspaper that the mine warfare mission module is on track for final testing and evaluation by the end of the year. End-to-end testing is anticipated in fiscal 2021, with initial operational capability to follow in fiscal 2022. Testing on the anti-submarine warfare module began last year, although budget cuts have pushed the project back. The stresses of transoceanic travel on the propulsion systems of the ships may require them to be stationed forward for longer periods than initially anticipated to achieve the desired deployment goals, said analysts.
Spain—Government Makes Deal With Airbus To Reduce Job Losses Defense-Aerospace | 08/03/2020 The Spanish government and Airbus have agreed to a deal designed to limit job losses due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports defense-aerospace.com. On July 30, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Guillaume Faury, the Airbus CEO, and signed a joint communique on the agreement. Madrid committed to purchasing three A330 multirole transport-tankers (MRTTs) and four C-295 maritime patrol aircraft. The Spanish defense and interior ministries agreed to jointly purchase 36 H135 helicopters, with options for another 23, and four H160 helicopters for the interior ministry. Both programs would run for six years. Spain also committed to starting Phase II development of the Future Combat Air System program with France and Germany and provide payments and financing associated with the NH90 helicopter and A400M airlifter programs to increase the cash flow to Airbus. The Spanish government would also provide 185 million euros (US$219 million) in investment funding from the European Union COVID-19 recovery fund, reported Reuters. In return, Airbus committed to minimizing job cuts in Spain. The company had previously announced plans to cut 4 percent, or approximately 900 personnel, from its Spanish workforce.
China—Major Amphibious Drills Planned In S. China Sea Kyodo News Agency | 08/03/2020 China is planning large-scale amphibious drills later this month that would simulate the seizure of Taiwanese-held islands, reports the Kyodo news agency (Tokyo). In the August issue of a pro-Beijing magazine, Chinese National Defense University professor Li Daguang said that the drills would take place some time this month, without providing details. In May, Kyodo reported that the Chinese military was planning exercises on Hainan Island to simulate the capture of the Pratas Islands, about 200 miles (310 km) southeast of Hong Kong, which are held by Taiwan. That report was based on unnamed sources and had not previously been confirmed by anyone close to the Chinese military.
China—Hong Kong Executive Uses Emergency Powers To Postpone Legislative Elections South China Morning Post | 08/03/2020 Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has invoked emergency powers to delay legislative elections by a year, citing the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports the South China Morning Post. On Friday, Lam invoked the emergency power to push back voting from Sept. 6 to Sept. 5, 2021. The National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing would resolve any outstanding legal and constitutional issues due to the delay, officials said. Hong Kong has been experiencing a spike of COVID-19 cases, with at least 100 reported daily for the previous 10 days in what has been described as a third wave of infections for the city, reported BBC News on Friday. Lam defended the use of emergency powers because the law only permits the delaying of elections by up to 14 days, although such delays could be repeated indefinitely. She said she had to use emergency powers to avoid any legal challenges. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's pro-democracy opposition suffered a setback when 12 of its candidates were disqualified from running under the recently imposed national security law, reported Agence-France Presse.
South Korea—Military Leaders To Be Disciplined After Defector Escapes North Yonhap | 08/03/2020 The South Korean military says it will seek disciplinary measures against those responsible for permitting a former North Korean defector to escape over the border, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). The former defector returned to North Korea last month after coming under investigation over allegations of raping a female defector. Maj. Gen. Baek Gyeong Sun is expected to be relieved of command of the marine corps' 2nd Division, which is responsible for border security in the area, said officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Others found to be accountable will also be disciplined, the officials said. The division failed to stop the defector despite capturing his escape on five monitoring cameras and two thermal observation devices. He made his way over the border near the western island of Ganghwa.
Australia—Boeing's Red Hawk To Compete For Air Force Jet Trainer Program Flightglobal | 08/03/2020 Boeing has proposed its T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer for Australia's program to upgrade its training capabilities, reports Flight Global. In June, the Royal Australian Air Force issued a request for information for the AIR 6002 Phase 1 Future Lead-In Fighter Training System program, which will acquire a replacement for its Hawk Mk 127 aircraft.. Boeing's offer includes the aircraft and ground-based simulators and other equipment. Other firms that have expressed interest include BAE Systems and Leonardo. Korea Aerospace Industries said that it was reviewing the request. Serbia has also indicated that it could buy the T-7 to replace its aging G4 Super Galeb jet trainers and J-22 Orao attack aircraft, reported Jane's. Belgrade is considering buying up to 20 Red Hawks, government officials said on state television on July 25.
Philippines—Military Seeks To Boost Coastal Security With Light Boats From U.S. U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency | 08/03/2020 The U.S. State Dept. has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of scout, assault and light support boats to the Philippines, reports the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The proposed US$126 million deal covers 90 vessels for the Philippine army, including 36 30-foot (9-m) scout boats, 36 33-foot (10-m) assault boats and 18 53-foot (16-m) light support boats. The scout and assault boats would be built by Willard Marine in California while the light support boats would be awarded to the winner of an open competition. The possible sale also includes 156 7.62-mm M240B machine guns; 24 .50-caliber M2A1 machine guns; 36 7.62-mm M134D Gatling guns; 36 forward-looking infrared 280HD turrets; and night-vision and radio systems. The boats would be used to strengthen security in the inland and coastal waterways of the southern Philippines, said the DSCA.
Afghanistan—Day-Long Battle At Jalalabad Prison Ends With 29 Dead TOLONews | 08/03/2020 At least 29 people have been killed and 50 wounded in an attack on a prison in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, reports the Tolo News (Kabul). On Sunday, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near the entrance gate of the prison in Jalalabad. Following the blast, about 30 armed militants entered the facility and engaged security personnel, reported Reuters. After several hours of fighting, the Afghan army arrived to support security forces, said Gen. Yasin Zia, the Afghan chief of staff, who traveled to Nangarhar to oversee the fight. The attack ended after about 20 hours with eight militants dead and security forces in full control of the jail and a nearby shopping plaza, provincial police officials said. At least 700 prisoners were re-captured after they escaped, reported the Voice of America News. About 2,000 prisoners, many linked to ISIS and the Taliban, are held at the facility, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement via its Amaq news agency.
United Arab Emirates—1st Nuclear Reactor At Barakah Facility Begins Operations The National | 08/03/2020 The United Arab Emirates says the first nuclear reactor at its Barakah power plant is operational, making the country the first in the Arab world to produce nuclear energy., reports the National (Abu Dhabi). Unit 1 of the Barakah facility entered criticality -- a sustained nuclear reaction -- on Saturday. Located 170 miles (280 km) outside of Abu Dhabi, the facility will soon be connected to the nation's power grid for testing. It is expected to begin commercial operations later this year. The Barakah facility has four reactors, which are expected to supply up to a quarter of the U.A.E.'s power needs. The second reactor was recently completed. The third is 92 percent finished and the fourth, 85 percent complete. Barakah, which was built with South Korean assistance, was originally expected to begin operations in 2017 but suffered delays, noted Al Jazeera (Qatar). A report by the Nuclear Consulting Group released in 2019 found that the facility lacked certain safety features, including a core catcher to stop the effects of a potential meltdown; and Generation III Defense-In-Depth reinforcements in case of a direct military strike. The Emirati government has agreed not to enrich uranium for the power plant.
Israel—4 Killed After Crossing Border With Syria To Plant Bomb Times of Israel | 08/03/2020 The military says it has thwarted an attempted attack on an outpost in the Golan Heights, on the border with Syria, reports the Times of Israel. On Sunday, four unidentified people crossed into Israeli territory and planted explosive devices inside an empty Israeli military outpost near Tel Fares. The area was within Israeli territory but outside of a security fence, reported the Jerusalem Post. The military monitored the approach of the four and directed a special operations team to the area. When they crossed the border, the team and an unidentified aircraft opened fire, killing all four. No Israeli soldiers were injured in the operation. A military spokesman said it was unclear who was behind the attack, but Syria would be held responsible because the attack came from Syrian territory. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate following the death of one of its members in Syria in a suspected Israeli airstrike in July. Israel has said the death was unintentional.
Israel—Annual Defense Talks With U.S. Cover Regional Threats, Modernization Projects Breaking Defense | 08/03/2020 The U.S. and Israel last week held an annual meeting between senior defense officials, reports Breaking Defense. The two-day talks, held virtually due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, were co-chaired by Zohair Palti, the head of Israel's Defense Ministry Policy and Political-Military Bureau, and James Anderson, the American acting undersecretary of defense for policy, reported the Jerusalem Post. The talks covered key issues, such as joint defense planning, intelligence-sharing and arms sales. Israel requested a detailed plan on how the U.S. would provide assistance in the event of Iranian ballistic missile attacks. Israel also shared intelligence on Iranian supply lines through Iraq and Syria that are used to bring weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Recent published reports have suggested that Iraq is an increasingly critical link in that supply chain and a potential site for Iranian missile launches against Israel. The talks also covered planned arms purchases from the U.S., which are intended to strengthen Israel's capabilities. Among the plans are the purchase of another 25 F-35s as well as 25 F-15EX Eagle fighters, KC-46 Pegasus aerial tankers and a replacement for aging CH-53D Sea Stallions, with the CH-53K an CH-47F Block II competing for the program.
Lebanon—Foreign Minister Resigns Over Government's Failure To Implement Reforms Al Jazeera | 08/03/2020 Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti has resigned, citing the government's inability to implement needed structural reforms, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Monday, Hitti submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Hassan Diab, warning that Lebanon risked becoming a failed state. Diab accepted the resignation "on the spot," the prime minister's office said. Hitti criticized the government, which came to power in January following widespread protests, of lacking the will to enact necessary reforms that would undermine the country's traditional elite. Diab had pledged wide-ranging reforms at the time, which his government has struggled to implement amid a severe economic crisis. He also criticized Hezbollah, whose political wing backs the coalition government. That has complicated Lebanese ties with other Arab nations, due to the group's extensive ties with Iran. Lebanese media also reported that Hitti was displeased that former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil continued to exercise significant influence in the ministry.
Cameroon—16 Killed In Suspected Boko Haram Attack On IDP Camp Reuters | 08/03/2020 At least 16 people have been killed and seven wounded in a grenade attack on a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Cameroon's Far North region, reports Reuters. On Sunday, suspected Boko Haram assailants lobbed a grenade into a camp in Nguetchewe while people were sleeping, said local officials. The attackers arrived with a woman who carried the grenade into the camp, the officials said. That tactic has been used by Boko Haram, which has been increasing its operations in the area. The camp, along the Nigerian border, houses about 800 people.
Zimbabwe—Police Crack Down On Protesters Al Jazeera | 08/03/2020 Police in Zimbabwe have arrested several prominent activists, including an award-winning author, for protesting, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). Demonstrations were planned for Friday, the second anniversary of the election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which opposition groups say was fraudulent, to protest government corruption and the collapsing economy, reported Agence France-Presse. On Thursday, the police issued a ban on demonstrations and warned of a harsh response to any protests. Police were out in force staffing checkpoints, conducting random searches and beating individuals, reported the Daily Maverick (South Africa). Mnangagwa called the demonstrations a plot to overthrow him. To suppress protests, the government implemented overnight curfews and movement restrictions ostensibly to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Opposition activists accused Mnangagwa of using the outbreak as an excuse to crack down on dissent, reported Reuters. Several activists were arrested, including author Tsitsi Dangarembga and an opposition party spokeswoman. . .
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Thanks to Super
Cool way to visit the AF Museum!
Filmed by Paul Nurkkala (NURK FPV) with DJI drones and GoPro cameras, it provides the most amazing way to explore the collection of the Air Force Museum. Be prepared to be stunned by the quality of the videography, and also the incredible flying skills of the drone operators.
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4wLr8_Kaw4&feature=youtu.be
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This Day in US Military History
1804 – US Commodore Edward Prebble's squadron bombarded Tripoli inflicting heavy damages on the city though this engagement would be indecisive. In the late summer of 1804 President Thomas Jefferson sent Commodore Edward Preble and Captain Stephen Decatur with the Constitution, three brigs, three schooners, two bombs and six gunboats, manned by only 1,060 men to attack Tripoli. That Moorish city, at that time, was well walled, protected by judiciously constructed batteries mounting 115 pieces of heavy cannon, and defended by 25,000 Arabs and Turks. Besides, the harbor was encircled by 19 Moorish gunboats, two gallies, two schooners of eight guns each and a brig carrying 10 guns, forming a strong line of defense at secured moorings and extending more than two miles in length. Although energetically executed, Preble's attacks highlighted the difficulty of winning with bombardment. First, he had no intelligence on how the defenders were holding up under the attacks. More fundamentally, lacking any ground force to put ashore and compel capitulation, Preble had to hope that the enemy would decide to give in rather than endure.
1945 – An American communique announces that US B-29 Superfortress bombers dropping mines over Japan have now sealed off all of the main ports, leaving the country totally blockaded. In a report by the US 20th Air Force, it is noted that every harbor of consequence in Japan and all those in Korea have been mined and it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of tons of shipping have been sunk or damaged since the mining program began in March.
1950 – Eight Corsairs of VMF-214, the famed "Black Sheep" squadron of World War II, led by squadron executive officer, Major Robert P. Keller,launched from the USS SICILY and executed the first Marine aviation mission in the Korean War in a raid against enemy installations near Inchon. After the F4Us delivered their incendiary bombs and rockets on their targets, the Marines concluded their greeting to the Communist troops with a series of strafing runs.
1958 – U.S. nuclear submarine Nautilus accomplishes the first undersea voyage to the geographic North Pole. The world's first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus dived at Point Barrow, Alaska, and traveled nearly 1,000 miles under the Arctic ice cap to reach the top of the world. It then steamed on to Iceland, pioneering a new and shorter route from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Europe. The USS Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy's nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world's first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus' keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955. Much larger than the diesel-electric submarines that preceded it, the Nautilus stretched 319 feet and displaced 3,180 tons. It could remain submerged for almost unlimited periods because its atomic engine needed no air and only a very small quantity of nuclear fuel. The uranium-powered nuclear reactor produced steam that drove propulsion turbines, allowing the Nautilus to travel underwater at speeds in excess of 20 knots. In its early years of service, the USS Nautilus broke numerous submarine travel records and on July 23, 1958, departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on "Operation Northwest Passage"–the first crossing of the North Pole by submarine. There were 116 men aboard for this historic voyage, including Commander William R. Anderson, 111 officers and crew, and four civilian scientists. The Nautilus steamed north through the Bering Strait and did not surface until it reached Point Barrow, Alaska, in the Beaufort Sea, though it did send its periscope up once off the Diomedes Islands, between Alaska and Siberia, to check for radar bearings. On August 1, the submarine left the north coast of Alaska and dove under the Arctic ice cap. The submarine traveled at a depth of about 500 feet, and the ice cap above varied in thickness from 10 to 50 feet, with the midnight sun of the Arctic shining in varying degrees through the blue ice. At 11:15 p.m. EDT on August 3, 1958, Commander Anderson announced to his crew: "For the world, our country, and the Navy–the North Pole." The Nautilus passed under the geographic North Pole without pausing. The submarine next surfaced in the Greenland Sea between Spitzbergen and Greenland on August 5. Two days later, it ended its historic journey at Iceland. For the command during the historic journey, President Dwight D. Eisenhower decorated Anderson with the Legion of Merit. After a career spanning 25 years and almost 500,000 miles steamed, the Nautilus was decommissioned on March 3, 1980. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982, the world's first nuclear submarine went on exhibit in 1986 as the Historic Ship Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
1988 – Soviet authorities free Mathias Rust, the daring young West German pilot who landed a rented Cessna on Moscow's Red Square in 1987. Rust was serving a four-year sentence at a labor camp when the Soviets approved his extradition as a goodwill gesture to the West. On May 28, 1987, Rust, a 19-year-old with less than 40 hours of flying time, flew the light plane from Helsinki, Finland, to Red Square, the site of the Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, and frequent Soviet patriotic demonstrations. He had not been detected once during the 500-mile flight. Rust said his flight was in the interest of world peace, and he signed autographs in Red Square until he was arrested. His seemingly effortless penetration of Soviet air space raised serious questions about the USSR's ability to defend itself from air attack.
2005 – The Battle of Haditha continues. Two days after the deaths of six Marine snipers in Haditha, Marine forces launched Operation Quick Strike to disrupt insurgent presence in the Haditha area. Around 1000 Marines from the Regimental Combat Team 2 (RCT-2) and Iraqi soldiers started "Operation Quick Strike", which included efforts to find the insurgents responsible, however the primary intent was to interdict and disrupt militants' presence in the Haditha, Haqliniyah, and Barwanah areas. The operation began when Marines and Iraqi soldiers moved into Haqliniyah, about seven kilometers southwest of Haditha. 40 insurgents were killed, including four in a Super Cobra helicopter attack. On the second day of the operation, a Marine amphibious assault vehicle, which was transporting Marines to the initial assault, hit a huge roadside bomb. The vehicle was completely destroyed and 15 out of the 16 people that were inside it were killed, with only one Marine surviving. The lone surviving Marine was a young man from Mississippi. Among the killed was also an Iraqi civilian interpreter.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
WITEK, FRANK PETER
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: December 1921, Derby, Conn. Accredited to: Illinois. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, during the Battle of Finegayen at Guam, Marianas, on 3 August 1944. When his rifle platoon was halted by heavy surprise fire from well-camouflaged enemy positions, Pfc. Witek daringly remained standing to fire a full magazine from his automatic at point-blank range into a depression housing Japanese troops, killing 8 of the enemy and enabling the greater part of his platoon to take cover. During his platoon's withdrawal for consolidation of lines, he remained to safeguard a severely wounded comrade, courageously returning the enemy's fire until the arrival of stretcher bearers, and then covering the evacuation by sustained fire as he moved backward toward his own lines. With his platoon again pinned down by a hostile machinegun, Pfc. Witek, on his own initiative, moved forward boldly to the reinforcing tanks and infantry, alternately throwing handgrenades and firing as he advanced to within 5 to 10 yards of the enemy position, and destroying the hostile machinegun emplacement and an additional 8 Japanese before he himself was struck down by an enemy rifleman. His valiant and inspiring action effectively reduced the enemy's firepower, thereby enabling his platoon to attain its objective, and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Witek and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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