TheList 5753

The List 5753     TGB

 

Good Monday Morning 21 June

I hope you all had a Happy Father's Day.

Today my wife and I are flying to Montana to spend the week with my daughter and her family.

The list may be a bit spotty but the computer is making the trip and I will make the attempt to get a list out each day although a few might be a bit late.

Regards

skip

 

This Day in Naval History

June 21

1898 During the Spanish-American War, the cruiser USS Charleston captures the island of Guam without resistance from Spain, because the Spanish Navy had no sufficient ammunition for defense.

1919 The German navy scuttles its own fleet at Scapa Flow. After the Nov. 11 Armistice, the surrendered German ships are divided by Allies. German officers then organize a mass destruction of the fleet that occurs on this day.

1942 PBY aircraft from (VP 24) recovers a two-man torpedo bomber crew from USS Enterprise (CV 6) 360 miles north of Midway after their plane went down June 4. The aviators are the last survivors of the Battle of Midway to be recovered.

1944 USS Newcomb (DD 586) and USS Chandler (DMS 9) sink Japanese submarine (I 185), 90 miles east-northeast of Saipan. Also on this date, USS Bluefish (SS 222) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kanan Maru off southern approaches to Makassar Strait while USS Narwhal (SS 167) sinks Japanese powered sailboat No.2 Shinshu Maru, 12 miles southwest of Culasi.

 

Thanks to CHINFO

 

-----Missile-Armed F-22 Fighters Launched Again Today As Distant Russian Bombers Vectored Toward Hawaii

(STAR ADVERTISER 18 JUN 21) ... William Cole

Armed Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 fighters scrambled again today as Russian "Bear" bombers headed for the second time toward Hawaii as part of an ongoing Russian naval and air exercise several hundred miles west of the Aloha State, a U.S. official said

 

----Explosive USS Gerald R. Ford Shock Trial Registered as 3.9 Magnitude Earthquake

(USNI NEWS 19 JUN 21) ... Sam LaGrone

The Navy blasted its newest carrier with thousands of pounds of explosives in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday to simulate how the ship would perform in battle conditions, according to images released by the service and government earthquake monitors.

 

------Lawmakers Probe Navy's Plan to Decommission Cruisers, Navy Says Cuts Will Save $5B Across FYDP

(USNI NEWS 17 JUN 21) ... Mallory Shelbourne

The Navy's proposal to decommission seven guided-missile cruisers from the fleet in the next fiscal year met extensive questions from House lawmakers on Thursday.

 

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Today in History June 21

1667		The Peace of Breda ends the Second Anglo-Dutch War as the Dutch cede New Amsterdam to the English.
1675		Christopher Wren begins work on rebuilding St. Paul's Cathedral in London after the Great Fire.
1791		The French royal family is arrested in Varennes.
1834		C. H. McCormick patents the first practical reaper.
1862		Union and Confederate forces skirmish at the Chickahominy Creek.
1863		In the second day of fighting, Confederate troops fail to dislodge a Union force at the Battle of LaFourche Crossing.
1887		Britain celebrates the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria.
1900		General Douglas MacArthur offers amnesty to Filipinos rebelling against American rule.
1908		Mulai Hafid again proclaims himself the true sultan of Morocco.
1911		Porforio Diaz, the ex-president of Mexico, exiles himself to Paris.
1915		Germany uses poison gas for the first time in warfare in the Argonne Forest.
1919		Germans scuttle their own fleet at Scapa Flow, Scotland.
1939		Baseball legend Lou Gehrig is forced to quit baseball because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--a disease which wastes muscles.
1942		German General Erwin Rommel captures the port city of Tobruk in North Africa.
1945		Japanese forces on Okinawa surrender to American troops. After 92 days
1948		Dr. Peter Goldmark demonstrates his "long-playing" record.
1958		A federal judge allows Little Rock, Arkansas to delay school integration.
1963		France announces it will withdraw from the NATO fleet in the North Atlantic.
1964		Three civil rights workers disappear in Meridian, Mississippi.
1982		John Hinckley Jr. is found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to assassinate President Ronald Reagan.
1995		The U.S. Senate votes against the nomination of Dr. Henry W. Foster for Surgeon General.

 

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Thanks to Denis

When God created Fathers - by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame.

A female angel nearby said, "What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping."

...And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children have to look up to?"
And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy.

The angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do you know what you're doing? Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on ponytails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats."

And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child's face."

And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders.

The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right." she clucked. "Do you realize you just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him with the kid falling between his legs?"

And God smiled and said, " A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?"

And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross or scare off mice at the summer cabin or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."

God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words but a firm, authoritative voice and eyes that saw everything but remained calm and tolerant.

Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said,
"Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?"

The angel shutteth up.

Author: Erma Bombeck

 

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Thanks to Carl

 

https://www.dailyinfographic.com/fathers-day-facts

 

Father's Day Facts For Underappreciated Dads

 

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From the List archives thanks to Al

 

Little known facts about Fathers' Day:

It was inspired by a Civil War veteran 'superdad'—Father's Day was dreamt up at the turn of the 20th century by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Wash. Her widowed father, William Smart, raised his six children alone on a farm, and Smart Dodd believed that such exemplary fatherhood deserved celebration, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Father's Day has been formally recognized in the U.S. for nearly 50 years—Though the occasion was first celebrated on June 19 in 1910, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972 declaring the third Sunday in June as Father's Day forevermore.

But people have been honoring Dad much longer than that—Move over, people have been writing special notes to their fathers for thousands of years.  One of the earliest known cards dates back to roughly 4,000 years ago when Elmesu, a Babylonian youth, made a card out of clay to "wish his father good health and long life."

It's celebrated different days around the world—Father's Day is celebrated on St. Joseph's Day, March 19 in nations including Spain, Portugal, and Italy, making the celebrations just as diverse as the fathers being honored.

There is an official flower—Though Mom is usually the one being presented florals for her special day, Father's Day has its own official blooms too. According to the Times, a red rose can be worn on the lapel if one's father is living, and a white rose is worn in his memory if he has passed away.

 

 

     Father's Day has become way too commercial.  We've all forgotten the true meaning of walking from room to room tutting and turning off lights.

 

 

Rejected Hallmark sayings for Fathers' Day…

You're the world's greatest dad although my frame of reference is limited.

Dad, I'm sorry there weren't noise cancelling headphones when I was a kid.

Dad, may your Fathers' Day be better than your jokes.

Happy Fathers' Day to a dad who was smart enough to teach me how to mow the lawn so he wouldn't have to,

Dad, you've always been like a father to me.

Please accept this Fathers' Day card as a token of my poverty.

Happy Fathers' Day!  I got you a present but if you want to get technical, then technically you bought it.  By the way, can I borrow $20.

 

 

     I just signed my Dad's Father's Day card, "With love from your favorite son."  It'll be interesting to see which of us he thanks.

 

 

Things you'll never hear your Dad say:

Would you turn that music up, please?

Hey, that tattoo looks great. We should both go get new ones.

Yeah sure, go ahead and take my car. And here's 50 bucks for gas too.

Your mother and I are going away for the weekend. Why don't you invite all your friends round for a party?

Here, you have the remote.

 

 

     When I was 16, I finally got hold of my driver's license.

     In order to celebrate the special day, the whole family went out to the driveway and climbed into the car to enjoy my first official drive. However, dad went to the back seat, where he sat right behind me.   

     When I saw my dad I said "Dad, you must be fed up of the front seat after teaching me how to drive all these days Right?"

     "Nope!", came the quick reply from my dad. "I'm going to sit back here and kick the back of your seat while you drive, just like you've been doing to me for the last sixteen years!"

 

 

Just once on Father's Day I wish my kids would give me a #1 Dad mug instead of one with my actual ranking.—Andy Borowitz

Happy Fathers Day, Dad! I wouldn't trade you for anything. Of course, nobody's offered me anything.—Melanie White

For Father's Day we got my dad a t-shirt that says "Do Not Resuscitate." He wears it whenever mom takes him to the ballet.—Greg Tamblyn

Fathers Day, when you get that lethal combination of alcohol and new power tools.—David Letterman

At the very least, Fathers Day should mean unlimited channel surfing.—Melanie White

I enjoy Father's Day. It's a time when I pause to reflect on the joy that has come into my life thanks to my two wonderful children, whose names escape me.—Dave Barry

I got my Dad a GPS for Father's Day. Now someone other than my mom can tell him where to go.—Melanie White

Spoiler alert - despite what some companies might say, the "gifts dad really wants" do not include an under desk exercise bike, Bluetooth smart fork, or meat-scented candle.—The Athletic

I got my dad one of those typical Fathers Day cards. You know, with a picture of a hunting coat hanging on a peg, a duck decoy and some golf clubs leaning in the corner. Perfect card for him, because there's nothing Dad loves more than going out in the woods on a frosty morning and beating ducks to death with a 4-iron.—Daniel Liebert

I would give my dad what he really wants on Father's Day, but I can't afford to move out yet.—Melanie White

Tomorrow is Father's Day. My lovely kids said, "Do you need something like mom does or are you okay?"—Albert Brooks

On Father's Day, I'm doing something for my dad that he's wanted for years. I'm getting a job.—Melanie White

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."—Mark Twain

 

 

Have a great week,

Al

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Thanks to Mike

 

JP4 and Parkinson's..

 

A Good Friend Has this horrible disease and passed this along to me to spread the word...Those of us that were too close for too long need to be watching...

https://www.hillandponton.com/jet-fuel-exposure-syndrome-symptoms/

 

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for June 21

FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR June 21

THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

21 June

1908: Glenn H. Curtiss, designer, flew the June Bug. It was the third Aerial Experiment Association plane. (24)

1913: FIRST AMERICAN FEMALE PARACHUTIST: 18-year-old Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick jumped from Glenn L. Martin's plane at 1,000 feet near Los Angeles. (20)

1921: First peacetime Army Air Service in-plant inspection office formed at Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle. (12)

1944: Operation FRANTIC. Nearly 1,000 bombers with over 900 fighter escorts attacked targets in the Berlin area. Of those, 144 heavy bombers and 51 P-51s continued on in shuttle-raid fashion to land at Poltava, Mirgorod, and Piryatin in Russia to reload and restrike targets in Germany on their return to England. (4)

1954: Maj Gen Walter C. Sweeney, Jr., 15th Air Force Commander, led three 22 BMW B-47s on a 6700-mile nonstop flight from March AFB to Yokota AB in less than 15 hours with two KC-97 refuelings. This longest point-to-point B-47 flight to date marked its first appearance in the Far East. (1) The USAF directed the ARDC to create a Western Development Division under Brig Gen Bernard A. Schriever to accelerate the Atlas ICBM program. (21)

1957: An USAF precision team of six F-100C Super Sabres flew from Kindley AFB, Bermuda, to Bedford. They covered the 683 nautical miles in a record of 1 hour 13 minutes. (24)

1960: AIRCRAFT PHASEOUTS. The last operational flight of a B-29 ended on 21 June when an 6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron RB-29 landed at Naha AB after a routine electronic countermeasure training mission. On 30 June, the unit's last four aircraft were salvaged. In addition, PACAF's last C-119 Flying Boxcars were transferred to India under the Military Assistance Program. (17)

1964: The New York Times reported that B-52s were equipped with terrain-avoidance radar to operate at extremely low levels.

1965: Two Athena missiles were successfully launched in less than three hours from the Green River, Utah, test complex under the Advanced Ballistic Reentry Systems (ABRES) program. (16)

1968: The first group of US Marine Corps pilots to be trained by the USAF received their pilot wings at Laredo AFB. (16)

1972: The McDonnell Douglas DC10-30 first flew.

1982: Operation DEEP FREEZE. SAC's tanker operations accomplished another milestone when a KC-10A transferred a record 67,400 pounds of fuel to a MAC C-141 some 750 miles north of the South Pole. (16)

1984: A KC-10A from the 22 AREFW at March AFB, flying the first time from Christchurch IAP, New Zealand, refueled a C-141B three times on its way to resupply the US Antarctic bases at the South Pole and McMurdo Sound. (1) (26)

1985: Through 25 July, three C-123K Providers with aerial spray capabilities responded to an infestation of grasshoppers in southern Idaho. The aircraft treated over 735,000 acres in 73 sorties to end the agricultural threat to private croplands. (16)

1996: Cmdr David Cheslak became the first Navy flight officer to command an Air Force squadron when he assumed command of the 562d Flying Training Squadron at Randolph AFB. The unit provided joint navigation training to Air Force and Navy personnel. (26)

1999: Operation ALLIED FORCE. The 104th Expeditionary Operations Group (ANG) at Trapani AB, Sicily, flew its final A-10 airborne close air support alert sorties for this operation. (32)

2004: SpaceshipOne became the first private venture craft to successfully attempt to leave earth's atmosphere into space (62 miles up) and return to earth. Burt Rutan and his Scaled Composites Company designed the rocket-powered SpaceShipOne and its carrier aircraft, the twin-jet White Knight, for this attempted flight from Mojave, Calif., near Edwards AFB. Michael Melvill, a veteran test pilot, flew in Spaceship One under the White Knight to 47,000 feet, where he dropped off for a 10-second glide. The ignition of the rocket motor eventually carried SpaceshipOne to 328,491 feet before it reentered the atmosphere and returned to earth. (http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/SpaceShipOne2004)

2007: The 11th Reconnaissance Squadron flew an MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle past the 250,000 flying hour mark, and celebrated the historic event with a ceremony at Creech AFB, Nev. Major Robert Forino flew the Predator for this milestone. (AFNEWS, "Predator Reaches Quarter Million Flight Hours," 26 Jun 2007.)

 

 

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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War— ... … For The List for Monday, 21 June 2021… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

 

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 21 June 1966… "WHY WE FIGHT" explained by Dave Leue'

 

https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-21-june-1966-why-we-fight/

 

 

 

This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip

 

Vietnam Air Losses

Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:  https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.

 

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This Day in US Military History

 

1900 – After the Empress declared war on all foreign powers, the Boxers began a two-month assault on the legations in Beijing. An international force of Japanese, Russian, German, American, British, Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops put down the uprising by August 14. The Boxer Rebellion was a violent, anti-foreign uprising that broke out in reaction to years of foreign interference with Chinese affairs. Led by a Chinese secret society called Yi He Tuan–"the Righteous, Harmonious Fists"–the Boxers were aided by the Empress Dowager Ci Xi and pillaged the countryside, murdering foreigners and Chinese Christians.

1916 – The controversial U.S. military expedition against Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa brings the United States and Mexico closer to war when Mexican government troops attack U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing's force at Carrizal, Mexico. The Americans suffered 22 casualties, and more than 30 Mexicans were killed. Against the protests of Venustiano Carranza's government, Pershing had been penetrating deep into Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa. After routing the small Mexican force at Carrizal, the U.S. expedition continued on its southern course. In 1914, following the resignation of Mexican leader Victoriano Huerta, Pancho Villa and his former revolutionary ally Venustiano Carranza battled each other in a struggle for succession. By the end of 1915, Villa had been driven north into the mountains, and the U.S. government recognized General Carranza as the president of Mexico. In January 1916, to protest President Woodrow Wilson's support for Carranza, Villa executed 16 U.S. citizens at Santa Isabel in northern Mexico. Then, on March 9, he ordered a raid on the border town of Columbus, New Mexico, in which 17 Americans were killed and the center of town was burned. Cavalry from the nearby Camp Furlong U.S. Army outpost pursued the Mexicans, killing several dozen rebels on U.S. soil and in Mexico before turning back. On March 15, under orders from President Wilson, U.S. Brigadier General John J. Pershing launched a punitive expedition into Mexico to capture or kill Villa and disperse his rebels. The expedition eventually involved some 10,000 U.S. troops and personnel. It was the first U.S. military operation to employ mechanized vehicles, including automobiles and airplanes. For 11 months, Pershing failed to capture the elusive revolutionary, who was aided by his intimate knowledge of the terrain of northern Mexico and his popular support from the people there. Meanwhile, resentment over the U.S. intrusion into Mexican territory led to a diplomatic crisis with the government in Mexico City. On June 21, the crisis escalated into violence when Mexican government troops attacked a detachment of the 10th Cavalry at Carrizal. If not for the critical situation in Europe, war might have been declared. In January 1917, having failed in their mission to capture Villa, and under continued pressure from the Mexican government, the Americans were ordered home. Pancho Villa continued his guerrilla activities in northern Mexico until Adolfo de la Huerta took over the government and drafted a reformist constitution. Villa entered into an amicable agreement with Huerta and agreed to retire from politics. In 1920, the government pardoned Villa, but three years later he was assassinated at his ranch in Parral.

 

1966 – U.S. planes strike North Vietnamese petroleum-storage facilities in a series of devastating raids. These missions were part of Operation Rolling Thunder, which had been launched in March 1965 after President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a sustained bombing campaign of North Vietnam. The operation was designed to interdict North Vietnamese transportation routes in the southern part of North Vietnam and to slow infiltration of personnel and supplies into South Vietnam. During the early months of this campaign, there were restrictions against striking targets in or near Hanoi and Haiphong. In 1966, however, Rolling Thunder was expanded to include the bombing of North Vietnamese ammunition dumps and oil storage facilities. In the spring of 1967, it was further expanded to include power plants, factories, and airfields in the Hanoi and Haiphong area. The White House closely controlled operation Rolling Thunder and at times President Johnson personally selected targets. From 1965 to 1968, about 643,000 tons of bombs were dropped on North Vietnam. The operation continued, with occasional suspensions, until President Johnson halted in on October 31, 1968, under increasing domestic political pressure.
1

1969 – Approximately 600 communist soldiers storm a U.S. base near Tay Ninh, 50 miles northwest of Saigon and 12 miles from the Cambodian border. The North Vietnamese had been shelling the base for two days, followed by six attacks on the city itself and the surrounding villages. About 1,000 civilians fled their homes as Allied and communist troops fought in the city streets. The Americans eventually prevailed and it was reported that 146 communist soldiers were killed in the bitter street fighting. Ten Americans were killed and 32 were wounded. Total communist losses around Tay Ninh during the two-day battle were put at 194 killed.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

*MCWETHY, EDGAR LEE, JR.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Rank and organization: Binh Dinh province, Republic of Vietnam, 21 June 1967. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Born: 22 November 1944, Leadville, Colo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Serving as a medical aidman with Company B, Sp5c. McWethy accompanied his platoon to the site of a downed helicopter. Shortly after the platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, a large enemy force attacked the position from 3 sides with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and grenades. The platoon leader and his radio operator were wounded almost immediately, and Sp5c. McWethy rushed across the fire-swept area to their assistance. Although he could not help the mortally wounded radio operator, Sp5c. McWethy's timely first aid enabled the platoon leader to retain command during this critical period. Hearing a call for aid, Sp5c. McWethy started across the open toward the injured men, but was wounded in the head and knocked to the ground. He regained his feet and continued on but was hit again, this time in the leg. Struggling onward despite his wounds, he gained the side of his comrades and treated their injuries. Observing another fallen rifleman Lying in an exposed position raked by enemy fire, Sp5c. McWethy moved toward him without hesitation. Although the enemy fire wounded him a third time, Sp5c. McWethy reached his fallen companion. Though weakened and in extreme pain, Sp5c. McWethy gave the wounded man artificial respiration but suffered a fourth and fatal wound. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and demonstrated concern for his fellow soldiers, Sp5c. McWethy inspired the members of his platoon and contributed in great measure to their successful defense of the position and the ultimate rout of the enemy force. Sp5c. McWethy's profound sense of duty, bravery, and his willingness to accept extraordinary risks in order to help the men of his unit are characteristic of the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

MONTI, JARED C.*
United States Army
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Place and date: Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2006. Citation: Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with , in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers was lying wounded in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his Soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow Soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti's selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti's immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.

 

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Thanks to Mike

 

A sobering message

 

A very sobering message, especially to our politicians (Republicans
and Democrats) in Washington. "Real Time" host Bill Maher closed his
show Friday night by sounding the alarm on China's growing dominance
over the United States.  Why are Americans sleeping?...We aren't
sleeping, we are spending our time teaching and assisting little boys
how to become little girls!!! And, if we aren't busy doing that we
have the Secy of Defense, responding to an order from the 'commander'
in chief, designing stylish new uniforms for pregnant 'soldiers'.


"You're not going to win the battle for the 21st century if you are
such silly people. And Americans are all silly people," Maher began
the monologue, alluding to a "Lawrence of Arabia" quote.

Do you know who doesn't care that there's a stereotype of a Chinese
man in a Dr. Seuss book? China," he said. "All 1.4 billion of them
couldn't give a crouching tiger flying f--- because they're not silly
people. If anything, they are as serious as a prison fight."

Maher acknowledged that China does "bad stuff" from the concentration
camps of Uyghur Muslims to its treatment of Hong Kong.

But he stressed, "There's got to be something between an authoritarian
government that tells everyone what to do and a representative
government that can't do anything at all."

"In two generations, China has built 500 entire cities from scratch,
moved the majority of their huge population from poverty to the middle
class, and mostly cornered the market in 5G and pharmaceuticals. Oh,
and they bought Africa," Maher said, pointing to China's global Silk
Road infrastructure initiative.

He continued: "In China alone, they have 40,000 kilometers of
high-speed rail. America has none. ... We've been having
Infrastructure Week every week since 2009 but we never do anything.
Half the country is having a never-ending woke competition deciding
whether Mr. Potato Head has a d--- and the other half believes we have
to stop the lizard people because they're eating babies. We are such
silly people.

"Nothing ever moves in this impacted colon of a country. We see a
problem and we ignore it, lie about it, fight about it with each
other, endlessly litigate it, sunset clause it, kick it down the road,
and then write a bill where a half-assed solution doesn't kick in for
10 years," Maher explained.  Then the half-assed bill is forgotten.
"China sees a problem and they fix it. They build a dam. We debate
what to rename it."

The HBO star cited how it took "ten years" for a bus line in San
Francisco to pass its environmental review and how it took "16 years"
to build the Big Dig tunnel in Boston, comparing that to a 57-story
skyscraper that China built in "19 days" and Beijing's Sanyuan Bridge,
which was demolished and rebuilt in "43 hours."

"We binge-watch,  they binge-build. When COVID hit Wuhan, the city
built a quarantine center with 4,000 rooms in 10 days and they barely
had to use it because they quickly arrested the rest of the disease,"
Maher said. "They were back to throwing raves in swimming pools while
we were stuck at home surfing the dark web for black market Charmin.
We're not losing to China, we LOST. The returns just haven't all come
in yet. They've made robots that check a kid's temperature and got
their asses back in school. Most of our kids are still pretending to
take Zoom classes while they watch TikTok and their brain cells fully
commit ritual suicide."  Out teacher's unions are finding every single
way to keep themselves on the payroll, but keep students out of the
classrooms.    WAKE UP AMERICANS!!  That means ALL of YOU.

Maher then blasted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, accusing him of
degrading school standards by eliminating merit and substituting a
lottery system for admittance to schools for advanced learners.   Our
country is going down the toilet.

"Do you think China's doing that, letting political correctness get in
the way of nurturing their best and brightest?" Maher continued. "Do
you think Chinese colleges and universities are offering courses in
'The Philosophy of Star Trek, 'The Sociology of Seinfeld,' and
'Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse'?  Can this be real?   Well
let me tell you, China is real. And they are eating our lunch. And
believe me, in an hour, they'll be hungry again."

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bill-maher-gives-china-royals-043449080.html

 

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World News for 21 June thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—2 More Critical Deficiencies Uncovered On KC-46 Aerial Tankers Defense News | 06/21/2021 The Air Force has discovered two more serious technical problems with its new aerial refueling aircraft, reports Defense News. The first issue involves the drain tubes in the air refueling receptacle on the KC-46 Pegasus, which are used to remove water from the aircraft. The problem, which has occurred three times, occurs in cold temperatures when water in the tubes freezes and expands, causing cracks. The second issue involves a bug in the aircraft's flight management system that triggers software anomalies. The issue has only emerged during isolated incidents, according to the Air Force. Both problems have been designated Category 1 issues, or critical deficiencies. General Electric, the subcontractor for the flight management system, is currently testing a software solution. For the time being, Boeing has provided inspection guidance to the Air Force to mitigate known risk factors for the cracking issue. A permanent fix will require a redesign for the drain line tubes. Neither issue has resulted in operational restrictions on fielded KC-46s or Air Mobility Command's plan for KC-46 interim capability release, said an Air Force spokesman cited by Air Force magazine. Boeing will address both issues at its expense, said Air Force officials.

 

USA—Air Defense Systems, Fighter Jets Being Pulled From Middle East Wall Street Journal | 06/21/2021 The U.S. is reducing its military presence in the Middle East, reports the Wall Street Journal. White House officials said that eight Patriot anti-missile batteries from Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from Saudi Arabia are being withdrawn, said officials. The number of fighter jet squadrons deployed in the region is also being reduced. The drawdown began earlier this month after a June 2 call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from Saudi Arabia, where most of the reductions are occurring. The changes reflect changing priorities for the administration as it withdraws from Afghanistan and seeks to refocus its attention on China and Russia. The systems being withdrawn have been deployed for several years and need refurbishment, officials said. In addition, regional allies such as Saudi Arabia have strengthened their capabilities. The reductions bring the U.S presence in the region in line with more traditional levels, reducing increases that occurred under President Trump, said a senior Defense Dept. official. Following the announcement, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen said that the move would have little impact on Saudi air defense capabilities, reported Reuters. 

 

United Nations—General Assembly Condemns Coup In Burma Washington Post | 06/21/2021 The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution condemning the military coup in Burma, reports the Washington Post. On Friday, 119 members voted in favor of the measure, including Burmese Amb. Kyaw Moe Tun, who was selected by the civilian government before the coup and is still recognized as Burma's representative by the U.N. The resolution condemns the military leaders of the coup and calls for member states to cease arms sales to Burma. Thirty-six nations, including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran and Russia, abstained from the vote, reported Reuters. Only one, Belarus, voted against it, calling the resolution "politicized." Several of the abstaining countries said that the resolution did not go far enough in addressing the root causes of the Rohingya crisis. General Assembly resolutions against coups are rare and have only occurred three previous times: in 1991, 1993 and 2009, following coups in Haiti, Burundi and Honduras, respectively, noted Vox (Washington, D.C.). 

 

United Nations—Guterres Confirmed For 2nd Term U.N. News Center | 06/21/2021 Antonio Guterres has been reappointed for a second five-year term as secretary-general of the U.N., reports the U.N. News. Guterres took the oath of office in the General Assembly Hall in New York on June 18. He ran unopposed. It is customary for the secretary-general to serve two terms. Guterres had announced his intention to seek a second term in January, noted the Kyodo News Agency (Japan). The U.N. previously endorsed Guterres for a second term. He was appointed by unanimous consent after he was officially nominated by his home nation of Portugal. Guterres began his first term in January 2017. His second term will run from January 2022 to December 2026. 

 

Germany—Defense Ministry Seeks $5 Billion For Future Fighter Program Defense News | 06/21/2021 The German Defense Ministry has submitted a request for funding for the next phase of the multinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, reports Defense News. The budget and defense committees of the Bundestag are scheduled to review the request this week. The 4.5 billion euro (US$5.3 billion) request covers research and technology development, dubbed Phase 1b and Phase 2, from 2021 to 2027, with the goal of beginning test flights within that period. The ministry is also seeking a separate 750 million euros (US$890 million) for national development and to ensure German industry can take part at the same level as its French and Spanish partners. Defense officials said that Germany's national spending plan was vital, because the trinational program would not deliver a usable system. The program is too focused on fighter development with insufficient funding for capabilities such as satellite communications, sensor integration, avionics, electronic warfare, mission planning and weapon interfaces, the officials said. 

 

Armenia—Pashinyan Wins Majority In Snap Vote Tass | 06/21/2021 The party of acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has won a small majority in snap parliamentary elections, reports the Tass news agency (Moscow). Pashinyan secured 53.9 percent of the votes in Sunday's election, the head of the Armenian Central Election Commission said on Monday. Rival Robert Kocharyan said there were unspecified irregularities during the election and said that he would not concede until they were fully investigated, reported Agence France-Presse. Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance party won 21 percent of the vote. Pashinyan's Civil Contract party could receive additional votes from parties that did not meet the electoral thresholds, which is 5 percent for parties and 7 percent for blocs. Armenian law mandates that Parliament include three parties, although only two passed the 5 percent threshold. Accordingly, the I Have Honor Alliance, which won 5.23 percent of the vote, below the 7 percent needed for blocs, was expected to receive some seats Turnout was estimated at 49 percent. Pashinyan called the election in response to heavy criticism of his conduct of last year's war with Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Critics accused Pashinyan of accepting a humiliating deal that ceded Armenian territory and criticizing the performance of Russian equipment during the fighting. 

 

Kyrgyzstan—Former Deputy PM Arrested On Corruption Charges Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 06/21/2021 Kyrgyz security officials have arrested a former deputy prime minister on corruption charges related to the Kumtor gold mine project, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Taiyrbek Sarpashev was detained on June 17, said the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security (UKMK). He is alleged to have lobbied on behalf of the Canadian firm Centerra Gold and secured legislation to enable the company to work at higher elevations in the mountain where the Kumtor mine is located. Government officials now say that the work has caused environmental damage to two glaciers. The new government of President Sadyr Japarov has stepped up probes into the mine project since the beginning of the year. Other former government officials, including ex-Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov and presidential chief of staff Daniyar Narymbaev have been arrested as part of corruption investigations. The Kyrgyz government has also moved to temporarily take over the operation of the Kumtor mine, citing environmental and safety violations, under a law passed on May 14 that permits authorities to take control of any company for three months that operates under a concession agreement if that firm violates environmental regulations; endangers the local environment or lives of people; or causes other significant damage. The Kumtor Gold Co., a Kazakh subsidiary of Centerra, is the only firm to operate under such a concession agreement. It is also the largest taxpayer n Kyrgyzstan. Centerra announced on May 16 that it had initiated binding arbitration to enforce its rights under its investment agreement with the government. Centerra officials say Japarov's government has worked to undermine the operations of the Kumtor mine and has refused to engage with the Canadian firm on any areas of dispute. As an opposition politician, Japarov opposed the deal with Centerra and led unsuccessful efforts to nationalize the Kumtor mine. 

 

North Korea—Kim Discusses Challenges Facing North In Party Meeting Yonhap | 06/21/2021 Dictator Kim Jong Un pledged to overcome the difficulties facing North Korea during last week's ruling party conference, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). Throughout the four-day meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim discussed how to deal with economic challenges, including food shortages and responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic, reported the state-run Korean Central News Agency. He also discussed relations with the new Biden administration, warning that Pyongyang should be prepared for confrontation and dialogue, with a focus on confrontation due to the "fast-changing" situation on the Korean peninsula. Analysts said that the absence of bellicose rhetoric suggested that Kim was leaving the door open for talks. The Biden administration recently completed a review of U.S. policy toward North Korea and has advocated for a "calibrated, practical approach."

 

South Korea—Hundreds Of Miniature Satellites Planned To Bolster Space Industry Yonhap | 06/21/2021 The South Korean government says it plans to develop scores of small satellites over the next decade to strengthen domestic space industry, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Friday, the South Korean Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) said it would pursue the development of the satellites to encourage private sector involvement in the space industry. Mini satellites were being pursued because they could be developed in a short time period and at minimal cost, the ministry said. Some of the satellites would be used to establish a national security monitoring system for the Korean peninsula including radar and optical observation satellites. Fourteen satellites are planned for launch into low earth orbit by 2031 to establish a communications network to prepare for 6G technology and test autonomous ship-control systems and marine traffic services. Another 22 satellites are planned for development by 2028 to observe radio wave activity in space. Another 13 test satellites would be launched by 2031 as part of the development of future technologies, including autonomous satellite swarm operations and space debris removal. 

 

Iran—Technical Issue Forces Shut Down Of Bushehr Nuclear Plant Agence France-Presse | 06/21/2021 Iran's sole nuclear power plant has been shut down due to a "technical fault," reports Agence France-Presse. On Sunday, the Bushehr nuclear plant was temporarily shut down due to an unspecified problem, said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The body said that the plant was taken off the power grid due to the issue. An official from the Iran Power Transmission, Generation and Distribution Company (TAVANIR) told the semi-official Fars news agency (Tehran) that the plant would be closed for three to four days for technical repairs. There was a large fire near the plant in May, noted Reuters.  Iran—

 

Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi Wins Presidency Radio Farda | 06/21/2021 Conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi has been elected as president of Iran in an election that saw his most credible opponents disqualified, reports Radio Farda. On Saturday, Interior Minister Rahmani Fazli announced that Raisi had won 18 million out of 29 million ballots cast, reported CNN. Turnout was 48.8 percent, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Former central banker Abdolnaser Hemmati and hardline candidates Mohsen Rezai and Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi congratulated Raisi on his victory. Three moderates dropped out of the race on the last day. All presidential candidates are approved by the Guardian Council, which excluded critics of the regime from running. Raisi is a former judge and cleric who in 1988 oversaw a wave of rapid trials that led to the execution of thousands of political prisoners. Human-rights organizations say he is guilty of crimes against humanity and the U.S. has sanctioned him. Raisi has indicated support for continuing talks with the U.S. to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. A sixth round of negotiations concluded on Sunday in Vienna, noted the Times of Israel. 

 

Israel—Palestinians Call Off COVID Vaccine Swap Times of Israel | 06/21/2021 The Palestinian Authority has canceled a deal with Israel to swap novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, reports the Times of Israel. The vaccine swap deal was announced on Friday, and Israel began transferring an initial 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to the West Bank. The deal covered 1 million to 1.4 million doses to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority. In return, Israel later this year would receive the same number of doses previously earmarked for the Palestinian territories. Israel's current vaccine stockpile was sufficient for its needs, the office of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement. Palestinian Authority Health Minister Mai al-Kaila subsequently called off the agreement, saying that technical teams inspecting the first batch had determined that 90,000 of the doses did not conform to the specifications contained in the agreement, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). Accordingly, the PA canceled the exchange and returned the doses. The deal specified that the vaccines should have expiration dates in July or August to give authorities time to deliver them, reported Reuters. The doses provided would have expired in June, leaving too little time to distribute them. The PA came under heavy criticism after the swap was announced and was accused of accepting subpar vaccines that might not be effective. An Israeli Health Ministry official emphasized that there was nothing wrong with the vaccines provided. The Palestinian government has agreed to procure 4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, including the doses being transferred in the swap agreement, said al-Kaila. 

 

Israel—U.S. To Replenish Iron Dome Interceptor Stocks Times of Israel | 06/21/2021 U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says that work is underway to replenish Israel's inventory of interceptors after last month's conflict with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, reports the Times of Israel. On June 17, Austin said the Pentagon would soon send Congress a request for more Iron Dome missiles. Details of the request were still be worked out, he said during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Defense Dept.'s fiscal 2022 budget request. The secretary said he had also discussed Israel's requirements in a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said last week that Gantz planned to request US$1 billion from the Pentagon to replenish its Iron Dome stocks. The missile defense system saw heavy use during fighting last month, during which Hamas fired more than 4,300 rockets at Israel. 

 

Sudan—Government Orders Creation Of Joint Forces To Bolster Security Sudan Tribune | 06/21/2021 The Sudanese Sovereignty Council has ordered the establishment of joint security forces to improve security in the country, reports the Sudan Tribune (Paris). On June 17, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemetti, the vice chairman of the Sovereignty Council and chairman of the National Implementation Follow-Up Committee for the Juba Peace Agreement announced that Lt. Gen. Yasir Al-Atta had been tasked with forming the joint forces. The new units will consist of the armed forces, paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, police, general intelligence service, the representative of the attorney general and the parties to the peace process. Al-Atta was directed to develop an integrated plan to resolve security issues and restore law and order throughout the country. State governors were also directed to establish their own joint forces with assistance from military and security agencies, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). The transitional government agreed in the Juba Peace agreement to deploy 12,000 troops drawn from both sides to protect civilians in Darfur after the withdrawal of the U.N.-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The size of the force was later raised to 20,000 following tribal violence in Geneina in West Darfur province. The latest announcement extends the joint force concept to the rest of the country.  

 

Mali—Massive Car Bomb Hits French Forces In Gossi France 24 | 06/21/2021 Militants have attacked French forces in central Mali with a large car bomb, reports France 24. On Monday, the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was detonated in the Kaigourou area of the town of Gossi, local sources told the television network. Several soldiers from the French-led Operation Barkhane were injured in the blast, the sources said. Witnesses said that several military helicopters headed to the area following the blast. Car bombs are relatively rare in the region, noted experts, who said the attack was likely related to French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would reduce its military presence in the region. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. 

 

Liberia—Former Rebel Leader Convicted Of War Crimes In Swiss Court British Broadcasting Corp. | 06/21/2021 A former Liberian rebel commander has become the first person to be convicted for war crimes committed during Liberia's civil war, reports BBC News. On Friday, a court in the Swiss city of Bellinzona found Alieu Kosiah guilty on 21 of 25 charges, including ordering the killing of 13 civilians and two unarmed soldiers; murdering four civilians; raping a civilian; repeated orders to loot; and using a child soldier in armed hostilities. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which includes the six he has already served in detention. Kosiah was a leader with Alhaji Kromah's United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy, which fought troops loyal to Charles Taylor during the fighting from 1989 to 1997 and 1999 to 2003. He later fled to Switzerland and became a permanent resident. He was arrested in 2014 after the civil rights group Civitas Maxima presented the Swiss attorney general with evidence of his involvement in war crimes. Kosiah is the first person to be prosecuted under a 2011 Swiss law that enables the prosecution of individuals for war crimes committed beyond its borders. The trial also marks the first prosecution of a war crime in a Swiss court. This is the first time that a Liberian has been convicted for war crimes committed during the conflict. Liberia held a post-war truth commission that named individuals who could be prosecuted for war crimes, but the establishment of a special court to try them was held up by the fact that several of those named held key government positions.