Good Monday Morning March 8 .
I hope that you all had a great weekend
Regards,
Skip
Today in Naval History
March 8
1822
Crew from the schooner Enterprise capture and burn seven small pirate vessels off Cape Antonio, Cuba.
1862
The ironclad CSS Virginia destroys the wooden ships USS Cumberland and USS Congress in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
1943
PBY-5 Catalinas from VP-53 sink German submarine U 156 east-northeast of Trinidad.
1945
Phyllis Daley becomes the first African-American ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps and serves at the Naval Dispensary at Boston, Mass.
1945
Navy patrol bombers hit a Japanese convoy, sinking cargo vessel No. 21 Yusen Maru in Formosa Strait.
1950
Operation Portrex begins. The two-week-long exercise is the first use of airborne troops in support of an amphibious landing and takes place on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.
1961
USS Patrick Henry (SSBN 599) returns from patrol to become the first ballistic missile submarine to use Holy Loch, Scotland, as a refit and upkeep anchorage.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appeared in an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday.
• Trade and local press reported on the nominations of Adm. John Aquilino to head INDOPACOM and Vice Adm. Samuel Paparo to lead PACFLT.
• Local and trade press reported on USS Nimitz's return to Naval Base Kitsap after a record breaking deployment.
Today in History: March 8
1618 Johannes Kepler discovers the third Law of Planetary Motion.
1702 Queen Anne becomes the monarch of England upon the death of William III.
1790 George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address.
1853 The first bronze statue of Andrew Jackson is unveiled in Washington, D.C.
1855 The first train crosses Niagara Falls on a suspension bridge.
1862 On the second day of the Battle of Pea Ridge, Confederate forces, including some Indian troops, under General Earl Van Dorn surprise Union troops, but the Union troops win the battle.
1862 The Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (formerly U.S.S. Merrimack) is launched.
1880 President Rutherford B. Hayes declares that the United States will have jurisdiction over any canal built across the Isthmus of Panama.
1904 The Bundestag in Germany lifts the ban on the Jesuit order of priests.
1908 The House of Commons, London, turns down the women's suffrage bill.
1909 Pope Pius X lifts the church ban on interfaith marriages in Hungary.
1910 Baroness de Laroche becomes the first woman to obtain a pilot's license in France.
1921 French troops occupy Dusseldorf.
1921 Spanish Premier Eduardo Dato is assassinated while leaving Parliament in Madrid.
1941 Martial law is proclaimed in Holland in order to extinguish any anti-Nazi protests.
1942 Japanese troops capture Rangoon, Burma.
1943 Japanese forces attack American troops on Hill 700 in Bougainville. The battle will last five days.
1945 Phyllis Mae Daley receives a commission in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. She will become the first African-American nurse to serve duty in World War II.
1948 The U.S. Supreme Court rules that religious instruction in public schools is unconstitutional.
1954 France and Vietnam open talks in Paris on a treaty to form the state of Indochina.
1961 Max Conrad circles the globe in a record time of eight days, 18 hours and 49 minutes in Piper Aztec.
1965 More than 4,000 Marines land at Da Nang in South Vietnam and become the first U.S. combat troops in Vietnam.
1966 Australia announces that it will triple the number of troops in Vietnam.
1970 The Nixon administration discloses the deaths of 27 Americans in Laos.
1973 Two bombs explode near Trafalgar Square in Great Britain injuring 234 people.
1982 The United States accuses the Soviets of killing 3,000 Afghans with poison gas.
1985 Thomas Creighton dies after having three heart transplants in a 46-hour period.
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Thanks to Carl
6 of the Most Famous Dogs in Science History
by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker March 08, 2021
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Thanks to Tom This week in NASA
Folks-
Busy week!
Not mentioned in this video is the repair of the Russian segment cabin leak. Think about it – drilling holes to terminate crack propagation, then applying the equivalent of JB Weld on it to seal it. the leak of course is the 10-11 psi of the cabin to a total vacuum of space. Like we all found out in the recent freeze – one leak in a line caused the whole line to be shut off – same here – a leak anywhere caused issues for the whole ISS. Think about being half way to Mars and having a leak….not 220 miles up and out, but 100 million miles…..
Perseverance is working well . Unfortunately the video doesn't address the fact this rover on Mars is the culmination of work over the last 3-4 terms of presidency and multiple congresses – no small feat keeping it alive!
Space-X CREW-2 is the second of the Space-X crew launches that are not "Demo" flights. Given this one goes well, the goaL of American assets launching from America American astronauts will have been delivered. NO SMALL FEAT!!! I predict that this is the pathfinder to most low –earth orbit activities that NASA has historically done – it will be handed off to industry to do and NASA refocus on lunar / Mars activities. We will have to let 5-10 years elapse to see….and I will be sipping lemonade on the porch, and not too concerned! ;-)
Webb Telescope – progress is continuing! Again, a LONG-term development across many government regimes….in of itself an accomplishment.
It is also Women's History Month ….. I must be getting old because I remember working at JSC when there were no women astronauts! CONGRATS to all who have achieved this lofty goal.
LARGE UAVs in our future? Obsoleting pilots? The analog of self-driving cars only in 6 Degrees of freedom (aircraft dynamics) – very significant. Pretty soon we might be living a life like Bruce Willis in the 5th Element!
Stay safe and ENJOY!!
Tom
AGENCYWIDE MESSAGE TO ALL NASA EMPLOYEES
Points of Contact: Jim Wilson, jim.wilson@nasa.gov and Andre Valentine, andre.valentine-1@nasa.gov, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
View the Latest Edition of "This Week @NASA" (Published March 5, 2021)
View the latest "This Week @NASA" produced by NASA Television for features on agency news and activities. Stories in this program include:
President Biden Congratulates Mars 2020 Team
A Pair of Spacewalks Outside the Space Station
NASA Previews Next Commercial Crew Mission
Milestone Tests Move Webb Closer to Launch-Ready
Celebrating Women in Space
Advanced Air Mobility Helicopter Tests
To watch this edition of "This Week @NASA" dated March 5, 2021, click on the image below:
Watch the Video
To access this edition of "This Week @NASA," you may also visit:
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Thanks to THE Bear
Dutch... reference 8 March 1966 RTR and Skip's List for 8 Mar... This is what I saw —about 60 in the group—and intended to strafe. My conscience spoke to me in the run—"Don't shoot: may be a group of nuns out for a picnic."... I safed the 20mm guns and waved off on the attack. This is the pix the Ensign AI showed me in the mission debrief back on Enterprise. A company of NVN regulars headed south with everything they needed to sustain their first year of combat in South Vietnam. Thereafter? No mercy—if it moved, it died... Conscience stifled for the duration...Bear
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/
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Rolling thunder remembered Thanks to the 'bear
LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—8 March 1966...
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com "Nuns On a Picnic"...
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-8-march-1966/
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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This Day in U S Military History
1943 – US Ambassador to the USSR, Admiral W.M. Standley, claims that the Soviet leaders are not telling their people about all the aid the US is sending. On March 11, Soviet Ambassador to the US, Maxim Litvinov, thanks the US for its aid.
1944 – USAAF heavy bombers raid Berlin for a second time. About 10 percent of the force of 580 bombers is lost despite the escort of 800 fighters.
1945 – On Iwo Jima, the forces of US 5th Amphibious Corps continue pushing northward with heavy fire support. Japanese forces are now all within one mile of the north end of the island.
1958 – Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is decommissioned, leaving the Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895.
1965 – The USS Henrico, Union, and Vancouver, carrying the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade under Brig. Gen. Frederick J. Karch, take up stations 4,000 yards off Red Beach Two, north of Da Nang. First ashore was the Battalion Landing Team 3/9, which arrived on the beach at 8:15 a.m. Wearing full battle gear and carrying M-16s, the Marines were met by sightseers, South Vietnamese officers, Vietnamese girls with leis, and four American soldiers with a large sign stating: "Welcome, Gallant Marines." Gen. William Westmoreland, senior U.S. military commander in Saigon, was reportedly "appalled" at the spectacle because he had hoped that the Marines could land without any fanfare. Within two hours, Battalion Landing Team 1/3 began landing at Da Nang air base. The 3,500 Marines were deployed to secure the U.S. airbase, freeing South Vietnamese troops up for combat. On March 1, Ambassador Maxwell Taylor had informed South Vietnamese Premier Phan Huy Quat that the United States was preparing to send the Marines to Vietnam. Three days later, a formal request was submitted by the U.S. Embassy, asking the South Vietnamese government to "invite" the United States to send the Marines. Premier Quat, a mere figurehead, had to obtain approval from the real power, Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu, chief of the Armed Forces Council. Thieu approved, but, like Westmoreland, asked that the Marines be "brought ashore in the most inconspicuous way feasible." These wishes were ignored and the Marines were given a hearty, conspicuous welcome when they arrived.
1968 – A Soviet submarine, code-named K129, sank in the Pacific at a depth of almost 20,000 feet. A US sub, the Halibut, found the Soviet vessel 6 months later and recovered 3 missiles with nuclear warheads, Soviet code books and an encryption machine. In 1974 the CIA attempted to recover the sub. A 100 foot section was pulled in by the Glomar Explorer with 2 nuclear tipped torpedoes and the bodies of 6 Russian sailors.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
FITZ, JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 24 May 1886, Austria. Accredited to: lowa. G.O. No.: 19, 1 May 1906. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Pampanga, Mount Dajo Jolo, Philippine Islands, 8 March 1906. Serving in the presence of the enemy on this date, Fitz displayed bravery and extraordinary heroism.
*WATSON, GEORGE
General Order: Citation: For extraordinary heroism in action on 8 March 1943. Private Watson was on board a ship which was attacked and hit by enemy bombers. When the ship was abandoned, Private Watson, instead of seeking to save himself, remained in the water assisting several soldiers who could not swim to reach the safety of the raft. This heroic action, which subsequently cost him his life, resulted in the saving of several of his comrades. Weakened by his exertions, he was dragged down by the suction of the sinking ship and was drowned. Private Watson's extraordinarily valorous actions, daring leadership, and self-sacrificing devotion to his fellow-man exemplify the finest traditions of military service.
*LA BELLE, JAMES DENNIS
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 22 November 1925, Columbia Heights, Minn. Accredited to: Minnesota. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to the 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Filling a gap in the front lines during a critical phase of the battle, Pfc. LaBelle had dug into a foxhole with 2 other marines and, grimly aware of the enemy's persistent attempts to blast a way through our lines with hand grenades, applied himself with steady concentration to maintaining a sharply vigilant watch during the hazardous night hours. Suddenly a hostile grenade landed beyond reach in his foxhole. Quickly estimating the situation, he determined to save the others if possible, shouted a warning, and instantly dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and thereby protecting his comrades from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, he had unhesitatingly relinquished his own chance of survival that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless fight against a fanatic enemy His dauntless courage, cool decision and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. LaBelle and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
*LUMMUS, JACK
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 22 October 1915, Ennie, Tex. Appointed from: Texas. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to the 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting without respite for 2 days and nights, 1st Lt. Lummus slowly advanced his platoon against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting positions. Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he unhesitatingly moved forward of his front lines in an effort to neutralize the Japanese position. Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close by, he immediately recovered himself and, again moving forward despite the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked, and destroyed the occupied emplacement. Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of a supporting pillbox and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade but, courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, staunchly continued his heroic 1-man assault and charged the second pillbox, annihilating all the occupants. Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and directing the fire of supporting tanks against other stubbornly holding Japanese emplacements. Held up again by a devastating barrage, he again moved into the open, rushed a third heavily fortified installation and killed the defending troops. Determined to crush all resistance, he led his men indomitably, personally attacking foxholes and spider traps with his carbine and systematically reducing the fanatic opposition until, stepping on a land mine, he sustained fatal wounds. By his outstanding valor, skilled tactics, and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Lummus had inspired his stouthearted marines to continue the relentless drive northward, thereby contributing materially to the success of his regimental mission. His dauntless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
*MATHIS, JACK W. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 359th Bomber Squadron, 303d Bomber Group. Place and date: Over Vegesack, Germany, 18 March 1943. Entered service at: San Angelo, Tex. Born: 25 September 1921, San Angelo, Tex. G.O. No.: 38, 12 July 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy over Vegesack, Germany, on 18 March 1943. 1st Lt. Mathis, as leading bombardier of his squadron, flying through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire, was just starting his bomb run, upon which the entire squadron depended for accurate bombing, when he was hit by the enemy antiaircraft fire. His right arm was shattered above the elbow, a large wound was torn in his side and abdomen, and he was knocked from his bomb sight to the rear of the bombardier's compartment. Realizing that the success of the mission depended upon him, 1st Lt. Mathis, by sheer determination and willpower, though mortally wounded, dragged himself back to his sights, released his bombs, then died at his post of duty. As the result of this action the airplanes of his bombardment squadron placed their bombs directly upon the assigned target for a perfect attack against the enemy. 1st Lt. Mathis' undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 8, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
8 March
1913: Shakir S. Jerwan, chief pilot for the Moisant International Aviators, delivered an airmail letter to former President William H. Taft. He dropped the letter from his monoplane in front of Taft's hotel in Augusta. (24)
1918: Majs Edward C. Schneider and James L. Whitney reached an artifical altitude of 34,000 feet in 24 minutes in a simulated altitude flight at Signal Corps Laboratory, Mineola, N. Y. (24)
1944: Eighth Air Force attacked Berlin with 623 bombers, escorted by 891 fighters. (4)
1946: The Civil Air Authority (CAA) gave the Bell Model 47, a two-place helicopter, the first commercial helicopter license (NC-1H). (24)
1949: William P. Odom, in a Beechcraft Bonanza, set an FAI world distance record for light planes by flying 5,273 miles from Honolulu to Teterboro, N. J., in 36 hours 2 minutes. (9) (24)
1955: At Great Falls AFB, the USAF formed the 91 SRS to perform a unique mission. It could launch and recover F-84F Thunderstreaks from B-36 bombers. (24)
1960: The first Atlas D equipped with an all-inertial (open loop) guidance system intended for the E and F-models launched from Cape Canaveral. (6)
1961: F-86D PHASE-OUT. PACAF sent three of its few remaining F-86Ds to the Military Assistance Program; the remainder went to salvage by 10 March. On 3 March, the last programmed F-102 Delta Dagger arrived at Clark Air Base for the 509 FIS. This completed the replacement program begun in 1960. (17)
1965: SAC phased out its first B-52B (number 52-8714) from the 22 BMW at March AFB. The bomber went to Chanute AFB, Ill., for use in training. (1) Major Dan D. Fulgham of Edwards AFB took part in the Gemini personnel recovery system tests by jumping from 15,000 and 23,000 feet in the Gemini suit and egress equipment. (3) The 431st Air Refueling Squadron, the last in TAC, inactivated at Biggs AFB, Tex. (11)
1979: Orbital Space Shuttle "Columbia" left Palmdale overland to Edwards AFB for its flight to Patrick AFB, Fla. (12)
1985: First TAC F-16C/D Fighting Falcon arrived at Shaw AFB. (16) MAC helicopters assisted Bahamian police and U.S Drug enforcement officials in confiscating 1,800 pounds of cocaine worth $320 million. (16)
1991: The first Martin-Marietta Titan IV, propelled by a heavy lift space booster, launched from Vandenburg AFB. The Titan IV had two upper stage options, which allowed the missile to carry critical military payloads. (16) (26)
2007: The Air Force marked its 50th consecutive successful launch with an Atlas V loaded with six experimental satellites. The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., successfully launched the rocket from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., using the 45th Space Wing spacelift team. The firsts on this mission include: The first launch of an Air Force payload on an Atlas V; the first flight of an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adaptor; the first Air Force mission with six unique spacecraft; the first dedicated Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle mission for the Department of Defense Space Test Program; and the first Atlas V mission to carry multiple satellites to two different low-Earth orbits. The Atlas carried: NextSat and ASTRO for the Defense Advanced Projects Agency; STPSat-1 for the Space Test Program; Cibola Flight Experiment for the Los Alamos National Laboratory; MidSTAR for the U.S. Naval Academy; and FalconSat-3 for the U.S. Air Force Academy. (AFNEWS, "Air Force's Satellite-Loaded Atlas V is 50th Launch Success," 12 Mar 2007.)
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World News for 8 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—B-52s Fly Over Middle East Again In Message To Iran U.S. Central Command | 03/08/2021 The U.S. Air Force has conducted another bomber flight over the Middle East, reports U.S. Central Command. On Sunday, a pair of B-52Hs flew a multinational patrol mission over the Middle East to deter aggression and reassure partners, the command said. The bombers originated from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., according to flight tracking data cited by the Air Force Times. This was the seventh such mission in six months and fourth in 2021, reported the Jerusalem Post. It was the second to take place under the Biden administration. U.S. Air Force and partner nation fighters, including from Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, accompanied the bombers at different points, said CENTCOM. While flying through Israeli airspace, the B-52s were escorted by eight Israeli F-15 fighter jets, reported the Times of Israel. The mission was widely seen as a message to Iran amid stalled efforts to hold talks on the multinational nuclear deal. The Biden administration has expressed a willingness to return to the deal but has emphasized that Iran must return to compliance before any sanctions can be lifted.
USA—Air Force Conducts 2nd Swarming Munition Test The War Zone | 03/08/2021 The Air Force recently conducted a second test of its swarming munition demonstration program, reports the War Zone website. The test on Feb. 19 involved a two-seat F-16D fighter jet launching four Collaborative Small Diameter Bombs (CSDB), according to photos released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on March 3. The CSDB is a Small Diameter Bomb modified with networked swarming technology as part of the Golden Horde program to develop air-launched, swarming munitions. The photos showed four CSDB impacts in close proximity. It was not clear how successful the test was or what the trial parameters were. An initial Golden Horde test with two CSDB munitions in December failed due to an improper weapon software load that prevented collaboration guidance commands from being sent to the weapon navigation system. The Air Force does not appear to have plans to field the CSDB. Instead, the technology may be integrated with other weapons, such as the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) or ADM-160 Miniature Air-Launched Decoy, the website said.
USA—Military Seeks To Better Screen Social Media In Fight Against Extremism Military.Com | 03/08/2021 The Dept. of Defense is looking at stepping up the screening of the social media presence of servicemembers as part of efforts to weed out extremism, reports Military.com. In training materials distributed as part of a standdown to discuss extremism, the Pentagon said that it was examining a scalable means of screening social media as part of the background investigation progress. The materials indicated that servicemembers and civilian employees of the Pentagon will have to consent to having their public social media presence reviewed when submitting an SF-86 form to start a background check progress. It is also indicative of department plans to be more aggressive in monitoring the social media presence of troops, said experts. Such monitoring could flag when troops violate DoD regulations banning the advocacy of supremacist, extremist or criminal gang doctrine, ideology or causes or violence or sedition against the government.
Italy—MBDA Wins Order For Albatros NG Air Defense System MBDA Missile Systems | 03/08/2021 MBDA Systems says it has won its first order for a new naval air defense system. The order from an unidentified country covers Albatros NG air defense systems, which employ MBDA's Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Extended-Range (CAMM-ER). The value of the deal was not made public. Under the terms of the contract, the system will be in service by 2024. The CAMM-ER has a range of more than 25 miles (40 km). The Albatros NG can be easily integrated on ships from patrol vessels to destroyers, said MBDA.
Lithuania—Plans Made To Open Trade Office In Taiwan Baltic News Service | 03/08/2021 The Lithuanian government has announced its intention to open a business representation office in Taiwan later this year, reports the Baltic News Service. On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the economy minister said that a Lithuanian enterprise office would be opened in Taiwan by the end of the year as part of government efforts to strengthen and diversify economic diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region. Like many countries, Lithuania does not have formal ties with Taiwan, which Beijing claims as Chinese territory. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it opposed any country that it has ties with, including Lithuania, setting up any official institutions in Taiwan, or accepting them on its territory as well as making any form of official visit. The move would also mark a break by Lithuania with the 17 + 1 informal trade group of 17 Central and Eastern European countries and China. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Lithuania received "almost no benefits" from its membership in the trade group and that it was dividing Europe in an interview with Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT). Landsbergis said that there were no plans to leave the group, while saying that the government needed to consider whether it was a useful platform for building a relationship with China. Last month, the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Parliament agreed that Lithuania should leave the 17 + 1 group. The trade group has failed to lead to tangible outcomes and perceptions of China's security risk and human-rights record have resulted in a reassessment by several countries, experts said.
China—Defense Budget Set For US$14 Billion Boost Global Times | 03/08/2021 China plans to increase its defense budget this year by 6.8 percent, or US$14 billion, reports the state-run Global Times newspaper. On Friday, the National People's Congress released a draft budget report, which included US$209 billion for the People's Liberation Army. Defense spending rose by 6.6 percent last year, despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is the sixth consecutive year of single-digit growth for the defense budget, noted Bloomberg News. China maintains that it has steadily but slowly raised its defense spending in alignment with its needs. Analysts said that the increase was in line with China's overall GDP growth. Chinese officials argue that the military still uses many outdated systems that need replacement and steps need to be taken to improve living conditions for troops. Critics argue that Beijing hides defense projects in other portfolios, obscuring the overall figure.
North Korea—Satellite Photos Show New Activity At Suspected Nuclear Site Yonhap | 03/08/2021 The South Korean Defense Ministry has confirmed that it is working with the U.S. to monitor North Korean nuclear sites after satellite imagery reportedly showed new construction at one suspected facility, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Tuesday, CNN reported that images from Feb. 11 showed that Pyongyang was trying to hide a facility at the Yongdoktong site, which the U.S. believes is used to store nuclear weapons. The work included building new structures to obscure a pair of underground tunnel entrances leading to the possible nuclear weapon storage facility. On Wednesday, the 38 North website, which monitors North Korea, reported that commercial satellite imagery showed that North Korea had reactivated a coal-fired steam plant at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor complex after it had been shut down for two years. This could mean that North Korea might be preparing for spent fuel reprocessing to extract plutonium for nuclear weapons, the website said. Alternatively, it could indicate that the steam plant was being prepared to handle radioactive waste, analysts said, noting that no unusual activity had been noted at the 5-MW reactor or spent fuel storage building at the Yongbyon complex.
South Korea—Cost-Sharing Agreement Reached With U.S. Reuters | 03/08/2021 South Korea has agreed to increase its payments to offset the cost of maintaining U.S. troops on the peninsula, reports Reuters. The parties have agreed in principle to a new six-year special measure agreement to replace the previous one, which lapsed in 2019, said a State Dept. spokeswoman. The agreement includes an undisclosed increase in South Korea's contributions, she said. A spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed the agreement but offered no details. South Korea previously proposed to raise its contributions by 13 percent to about US$1 billion, but negotiators from the Trump administration rejected the offer, demanding up to US$5 billion. The agreement must still be approved by the South Korean legislature. It is expected that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will sign the agreement during a visit to South Korea later this month, reported the Yonhap news agency (Seoul).
Japan—Government Considers Sending SDF To Senkakus South China Morning Post | 03/08/2021 Japan is mulling additional steps to ward off increasing Chinese activity around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, reports the South China Morning Post. This could include dispatching Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to the disputed islands, which is permitted under Japanese domestic law, one official told the newspaper. Japanese officials have also sought to increase diplomatic pressure on Beijing, including during bilateral talks with British officials in February. On March 3, the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) and Japanese coast guard held a joint exercise in Japan's southwestern waters that simulated an attack on a facility by foreign vessels, reported NHK. The MSDF sent a destroyer to the drill for the first time in eight years. Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that the MSDF could deploy to the Senkakus if Chinese incursions continue. MSDF ships would operate under the same use-of-force standards as the coast guard, including the ability to fire on foreign ships committing violent crimes, he said. China increased its patrols around the islands, which it calls the Daioyus, to twice in a week in February.
Philippines—9 Killed After Duterte Unleashes Security Forces On Suspected Communists Rappler | 03/08/2021 Human-rights groups have accused Philippine police of killing nine activists during anti-communist rebel operations in the Calabarzon region southeast of Manila, reports the Rappler (Manila). On Sunday, police launched raids in the Batangas, Laguna and Rizal provinces. Police said that they were serving search warrants, but opposition figures described the operations as executions. Many of the victims were aligned with liberal or left-wing causes. It was not clear whether any were members of the New People's Army (NPA) rebel group. Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, the head of the anti-terrorism task force, told Reuters that the operations were legitimate and targeted militants with weapons and explosives. Six people were also arrested as part of the Synchronized Enhanced Management of Police Operations (SEMPO) dragnet that involves massive numbers of troops and police to flush out suspects, reported the Benar News (Philippines). The violence comes after President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday that security forces should kill any armed communists that they encounter, rather than bring them in alive. International observers, including from the U.N., have warned that the process of labeling opponents of the government as communists ("red-tagging") has led to the killings of individuals not associated with the long-running insurgency.
Iran—European Countries Abandon Censure Push At IAEA Deutsche Welle | 03/08/2021 France, Germany and the U.K. have decided to hold off on a resolution to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reports Deutsche Welle. The three countries, with U.S. support, planned to submit a resolution criticizing Iran for its suspension of some cooperation with the IAEA. The decision came after Iran reached an agreement with the IAEA to discuss several outstanding issues. On March 4, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that Iran had agreed to meet with international experts investigating the discovery of uranium particles at several undeclared sites. Iran also accepted a series of meetings with the IAEA to discuss other issues, he said. The goal is for the inspectors to report back to an IAEA board meeting slated for June, said Grossi, as quoted by the Guardian (U.K.). A diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse that the three countries decided to suspend the resolution to give space for diplomacy, citing signs of "good faith" on the Iranian side in response to Grossi's proposals.
Israel—Minster Accuses Iran Of 'Environmental Terrorism' In Oil Spill Times of Israel | 03/08/2021 An investigation into an oil spill off the Mediterranean coast of Israel has been linked to a Libyan vessel originating from Iran, reports the Times of Israel. The oil spill came to light in mid-February, when large amounts of black tar began appearing along the Israeli coast. Since then, over 1,000 tons of tar have been cleaned up, reported the Washington Post. On Wednesday, Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel said that investigators had linked the disaster to an unregistered Libyan-owned, Panamanian-flagged vessel, the Emerald. The Emerald allegedly picked up crude oil from an Iranian port and turned off its transponder when approaching the Israeli coast before continuing to Syria. The spill was an act of environmental terrorism, Gamliel claimed. The ship may have floated off the Israeli coast for a day purposefully discharging the oil before sailing on. Senior security officials quickly disputed the charge, saying there was no evidence of a deliberate act of terror. Experts noted that it would be difficult to ensure that an oil spill in one part of the Mediterranean would reach Israel. The spill was likely due to a malfunction or a deliberate discharge for an operational reason. The investigation cited by Gamliel did not involve Israel's intelligence service or navy, said officials with those services cited by Haaretz (Jerusalem).
Morocco—Navy, Air Force Train With U.S. Carrier Group Carrier Strike Group 2 | 03/08/2021 The Moroccan air force and navy have been training with a U.S. carrier strike group, reports Carrier Strike Group 2. Last week, elements of the Moroccan navy and air force took part in Exercise Lightning Handshake with Carrier Strike Group 2, centered on the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the Atlantic Ocean. The strike group includes the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Mitscher (DDG-57) and Porter (DDG-78). The Moroccan contingent included the frigate Tarik Ben Ziyad; a navy headquarters maritime operations center; an air force headquarters operation center; a Panther helicopter; and two F-16 and two F-5 fighter jets. The training was focused on strengthening interoperability and covered surface warfare; anti-submarine warfare; air and strike warfare; combined logistics support; and maritime interdiction operations.
Somalia—20 Killed In Car Bombing At Mogadishu Restaurant Cable News Network | 03/08/2021 At least 20 people have been killed and 30 injured in an explosion outside a restaurant in downtown Mogadishu, reports CNN. On Friday, a car bomb detonated outside of the Luul Yemeni restaurant, followed by gunfire, said witnesses and police. The explosives were fitted into the back of a rickshaw, said a police spokesman cited by Agence France-Presse. The blast destroyed several buildings and businesses in the area. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. The same restaurant was previously attacked by the Al-Qaida-affiliate in August 2020.
Burkina Faso—6 Killed in Soum Ambush Agence France-Presse | 03/08/2021 Five civilian volunteers and a Burkinabe soldier have been killed in an ambush in Burkina Faso's northern Soum province, reports Agence France-Presse. On Saturday, militants ambushed a unit from Gaskinde composed of professional soldiers and volunteer militia members, said a security source. The Kourao Volunteers for the Defense of the Nation (VDP) unit was patrolling when it came under fire. A military unit came to its aid and was targeted by heavy gunfire, said a security source. One soldier was injured. The militants suffered an unknown number of casualties in the encounter. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. The VDP was established to help Burkina Faso's overstretched and underequipped army combat militants. The volunteers receive 14 days of training and light arms before being deployed on patrol and surveillance missions.
Equatorial Guinea—17 Killed In Blast At Military Base In Bata Washington Post | 03/08/2021 At least 17 people have died in an explosion at a military base in Equatorial Guinea, reports the Washington Post. The explosion on Sunday rocked the base outside Bata, the largest city in the country, and destroyed dozens of buildings. Medical sources told state-run TVGE television that as many as 20 people were killed. More than 400 were injured. Reuters reported that 500 people had been wounded in the blast. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema attributed the explosion to poor storage of dynamite and munitions at the base and the burning of stubble by farmers nearby, reported BBC News. He ordered an investigation into the incident. Nearly all buildings in the city were damaged in the blast, Obiang Nguema said.
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