The List 6021 TGB
Good Wednesday Morning March 2
A bit of history and some tidbits
Regards,
Skip
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
March 2,
1859 Launch of Saginaw at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S.
1867 Birthday of Civil Engineer Corps.
1945 USS Bowfin (SS 287) sinks Japanese transport Chokai Maru, and patrol bombers PB4Y-2 (VPB 119) sink transport Nichirin Maru in East China Sea.
1945, Barbara Miller Finch was the first female to enter an active combat zone. Four days later, Ensign Jane Kendeigh became the first female flight nurse to enter an active combat zone.
1952 During the Korean War, USS Endicott (DMS 35) silences enemy guns on the east coast of Chuuronjang, Korea, in a counter-battery engagement.
1973 The first four female U.S. Navy pilots begin training. The women are: Lt. j.g. Barbara A. Allen; Lt. j.g Judith A. Neuffer; Ensign Jane M. Skiles and Ensign Kathleen L. McNary..
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Today in History: March 2
1776 Americans begin shelling British troops in Boston.
1781 Maryland ratifies the Articles of Confederation. She is the last state to sign.
1797 The Directory of Great Britain authorizes vessels of war to board and seize neutral vessels, particularly if the ships are American.
1815 To put an end to robberies by the Barbary pirates, the United States declares war on Algiers.
1836 Texas declares independence from Mexico on Sam Houston's 43rd birthday.
1853 The Territory of Washington is organized.
1865 President Abraham Lincoln rejects Confederate General Robert E. Lee's plea for peace talks, demanding unconditional surrender.
1867 The first Reconstruction Act is passed by Congress.
1877 Rutherford B. Hayes is declared president by one vote the day before the inauguration.
1889 Congress passes the Indian Appropriations Bill, proclaiming unassigned lands in the public domain; the first step toward the famous Oklahoma Land Rush.
1896 Bone Mizell, the famed cowboy of Florida, is sentenced to two years of hard labor in the state pen for cattle rustling. He would only serve a small portion of the sentence.
1901 Congress passes the Platt amendment, which limits Cuban autonomy as a condition for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
1908 An international conference on arms reduction opens in London.
1908 Gabriel Lippman introduces the new three-dimensional color photography at the Academy of Sciences.
1917 Congress passes the Jones Act making Puerto Rico a territory of the United States and makes the inhabitants U.S. citizens.
1923 In Italy, Mussolini admits that women have a right to vote, but declares that the time is not right.
1930 Novelist D.H. Lawrence dies of tuberculosis in a sanitarium in Vence, France, at the age of 45.
1943 The center of Berlin is bombed by the RAF. Some 900 tons of bombs are dropped in a half hour.
1945 MacArthur raises the U.S. flag on Corregidor in the Philippines.
1946 Ho Chi Minh is elected president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
1951 The U.S. Navy launches the K-1, the first modern submarine designed to hunt enemy submarines.
1955 Claudette Colvin refuses to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks' famous arrest for the same offense.
1956 France grants independence to Morocco.
1965 More than 150 U.S. and South Vietnamese planes bomb two bases in North Vietnam in the first of the "Rolling Thunder" raids.
1968 The siege of Khe Sanh ends in Vietnam, the U.S. Marines stationed there are still in control of the mountain top.
1973 Federal forces surround Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which is occupied by members of the militant American Indian Movement who are holding at least 10 hostages.
1974 A grand jury in Washington, D.C. concludes that President Nixon was indeed involved in the Watergate cover-up.
1978 Czech pilot Vladimir Remek becomes the first non-Russian, non-American in space.
1981 The United States plans to send 20 more advisors and $25 million in military aid to El Salvador.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
… For The List for Wednesday, 2 March 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 2 March 1967… A preview of the long, hot and bloody summer and fall of 1967 Rolling Thunder ops in the Red River Valley and the skies of North Vietnam…
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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Thanks to Mike
Strenuous Activities
I'm exhausted just reading these……..
01) Beating around the bush...
02) Jumping to conclusions...
03) Climbing up the wall...
04) Swallowing your pride...
05) Passing the buck...
06) Throwing your weight around...
07) Dragging your heels...
08) Pushing your luck...
09) Making mountains out of molehills...
10) Hitting the nail on the head...
11) Wading through paperwork...
12) Bending over backwards...
13) Jumping on the bandwagon...
14) Balancing the books...
15) Running around in circles...
16) Eating crow...
17) Blowing your own horn...
18) Climbing the ladder of success...
19) Pulling out all stops...
20) Adding fuel to the fire...
21) Opening a can of worms...
22) Putting your foot in your mouth...
23) Setting the ball rolling...
24) Going over the edge...
25) Picking up the pieces...
Whew! That is some workout ! Now SIT DOWN, and...
26) Exercise Caution!
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Another from Mike
Why does Ukraine matter?
As starters for the followings, it matters one hell of a lot!! Hopefully for good reasons, Non-gender Potato Head will wake up and Sanction oil/gas production of Russia and blead him dry at his income source and open the USA drilling and pipeline income source! His track record of being on the WRONG side of every major international decision is still in tact and growing, He needs to get off this Extreme Left Green New Deal that will be the end of this country as we know it! He has even gotten Switzerland to break from it's neutrality position to condemn Russia! Nice Job non-gender Potato Head!
Cheers
It is the second largest country by area in Europe by area and has a population of over 40 million - more than Poland.
Ukraine ranks:
1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores.
2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves.
2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves);
2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons).
2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves.
3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters).
4th in the world by the total value of natural resources.
7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons).
Ukraine is an important agricultural country:
1st in Europe in terms of arable land area.
3rd place in the world by the area of black soil (25% of world's volume).
1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil.
2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports.
3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world.
4th largest producer of potatoes in the world.
5th largest rye producer in the world.
5th place in the world in bee production (75,000 tons).
8th place in the world in wheat exports.
9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs.
16th place in the world in cheese exports. Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.
Ukraine is an important industrialized country:
1st in Europe in ammonia production.
Europe's 2nd and the world's 4th largest natural gas pipeline system.
3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants.
3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km).
3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment.
3rd largest iron exporter in the world.
4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world.
4th world's largest manufacturer of rocket launchers.
4th place in the world in clay exports.
4th place in the world in titanium exports.
8th place in the world in exports of ores and concentrates.
9th place in the world in exports of defense industry products.
10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).
Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world.
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Thanks to NHHC and Admiral Cox
Click on the link below to read the entire H-Gram 59
H-Gram 059, 05 February 2021
30th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, February–March 1991
50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
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Thanks to Barrett and Barrel
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Thanks to Carl
Good read
AYOOB FILES: CONSUMMATE MARINE CHESTY PULLER, .45 IN HAND!
By Massad Ayoob on Mar 01, 2022
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This Day in U S Military History
1776 – Colonel Knox arrived near Boston with 80 sleds packed with cannons, mortars and other heavy equipment in February and General Washington saw his chance. Even though 2,000 of his 9,000 soldiers didn't have muskets, he figured out the perfect plan. On March 2 and 3, 1776, soldiers fired all night into the city of Boston from the west. This was a camouflage of what was really happening. South of the city there were hills named Dorchester Heights which reminded General Washington of Bunker and Breed's Hills. The men without guns moved the artillery brought by Colonel Knox south to Dorchester Heights and set them up so they could protect their gunners and could hit the British in the city.
1943 – U.S. and Australian land-based planes begin an offensive against a convoy of Japanese ships in the Bismarck Sea, in the western Pacific. On March 1, U.S. reconnaissance planes spotted 16 Japanese ships en route to Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea. The Japanese were attempting to keep from losing the island and their garrisons there by sending 7,000 reinforcements and aircraft fuel and supplies. But a U.S. bombing campaign, beginning March 2 and lasting until the March 4, consisting of 137 American bombers supported by U.S. and Australian fighters, destroyed eight Japanese troop transports and four Japanese destroyers. More than 3,000 Japanese troops and sailors drowned as a consequence, and the supplies sunk with their ships. Of 150 Japanese fighter planes that attempted to engage the American bombers, 102 were shot down. It was an utter disaster for the Japanese–the U.S. 5th Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force dropped a total of 213 tons of bombs on the Japanese convoy. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill chose March 4, the official end of the battle, to congratulate President Franklin D. Roosevelt, since that day was also the 10th anniversary of the president's first inauguration. "Accept my warmest congratulations on your brilliant victory in the Pacific, which fitly salutes the end of your first 10 years."
1965 – Operation Rolling Thunder begins with more than 100 United States Air Force jet bombers striking an ammunition depot at Xom Bang, 10 miles inside North Vietnam. Simultaneously, 60 South Vietnamese Air Force propeller planes bombed the Quang Khe naval base, 65 miles north of the 17th parallel. Six U.S. planes were downed, but only one U.S. pilot was lost. Capt. Hayden J. Lockhart, flying an F-100, was shot down and became the first Air Force pilot to be taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese. Lockhart was released in 1973 when U.S. POWs were returned under provisions of the Paris Peace Accords. The raid was the result of President Lyndon B. Johnson's decision in February to undertake the sustained bombing of North Vietnam that he and his advisers had been considering for more than a year. The goal of Rolling Thunder was to interdict North Vietnamese transportation routes in the southern part of North Vietnam and the slow infiltration of personnel and supplies into South Vietnam. In July 1966, Rolling Thunder was expanded to include North Vietnamese ammunition dumps and oil storage facilities as targets and in the spring of 1967 it was further expanded to include power plants, factories, and airfields in the Hanoi-Haiphong area. The White House closely controlled Operation Rolling Thunder and President Johnson occasionally selected the targets himself. From 1965 to 1968, about 643,000 tons of bombs were dropped on North Vietnam. A total of nearly 900 U.S. aircraft were lost during Operation Rolling Thunder. The operation continued, with occasional suspensions, until President Johnson halted it on October 31, 1968, under increasing domestic political pressure.
1972 – Pioneer 10, the world's first outer-planetary probe, is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet. In December 1973, after successfully negotiating the asteroid belt and a distance of 620 million miles, Pioneer 10 reached Jupiter and sent back to Earth the first close-up images of the spectacular gas giant. In June 1983, the NASA spacecraft left the solar system and the next day radioed back the first scientific data on interstellar space. NASA officially ended the Pioneer 10 project on March 31, 1997, with the spacecraft having traveled a distance of some six billion miles. Headed in the direction of the Taurus constellation, Pioneer 10 will pass within three light years of another star–Ross 246–in the year 34,600 A.D. Bolted to the probe's exterior wall is a gold-anodized plaque, 6 by 9 inches in area, that displays a drawing of a human man and woman, a star map marked with the location of the sun, and another map showing the flight path of Pioneer 10. The plaque, intended for intelligent life forms elsewhere in the galaxy, was designed by astronomer Carl Sagan.
2001 – In Afghanistan the Taliban began the destruction of the giant Buddha of Bamiyan despite int'l. protests. The United Nations tried in vain to persuade Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to reverse its decision to destroy a pair of giant, ancient statues of Buddha and other Buddhist relics that the regime considered idolatrous.
2002 – U.S. and Afghan forces launched an offensive, Operation Anaconda, on al-Qaeda and Taliban forces entrenched in the mountains of Shahi-Kot southeast of Gardez. The Mujahideen forces, who used small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars, were entrenched into caves and bunkers in the hillsides at an altitude that was largely above 10,000 feet (3,000 m). They used "hit and run" tactics, opening fire on the U.S. and Afghan forces and then retreating back into their caves and bunkers to weather the return fire and persistent U.S. bombing raids. To compound the situation for the coalition troops, U.S. commanders initially underestimated the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces as a last isolated pocket numbering fewer than 200. It turned out that the guerrillas numbered between 1,000–5,000 according to some estimates and that they were receiving reinforcements..
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*CUTINHA, NICHOLAS J.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Gia Dinh, Republic of Vietnam, 2 March 1968. Entered service at: Coral Gables, Fla. Born: 13 January 1945, Fernandina Beach, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While serving as a machine gunner with Company C, Sp4c. Cutinha accompanied his unit on a combat mission near Gia Dinh. Suddenly his company came under small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and rocket propelled grenade fire, from a battalion size enemy unit. During the initial hostile attack, communication with the battalion was lost and the company commander and numerous members of the company became casualties. When Sp4c. Cutinha observed that his company was pinned down and disorganized, he moved to the front with complete disregard for his safety, firing his machine gun at the charging enemy. As he moved forward he drew fire on his own position and was seriously wounded in the leg. As the hostile fire intensified and half of the company was killed or wounded, Sp4c. Cutinha assumed command of all the survivors in his area and initiated a withdrawal while providing covering fire for the evacuation of the wounded. He killed several enemy soldiers but sustained another leg wound when his machine gun was destroyed by incoming rounds. Undaunted, he crawled through a hail of enemy fire to an operable machine gun in order to continue the defense of his injured comrades who were being administered medical treatment. Sp4c. Cutinha maintained this position, refused assistance, and provided defensive fire for his comrades until he fell mortally wounded. He was solely responsible for killing 15 enemy soldiers while saving the lives of at least 9 members of his own unit. Sp4c. Cutinha's gallantry and extraordinary heroism were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 2, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
2 March
1910: Lt Benjamin D. Foulois began solo flying at Fort Sam Houston. Foulois was the only pilot and only one with flying duty assigned to the Signal Corps at that time. (21)
1913: First flying pay authorized. Officers detailed on aviation duty received a 35 percent bonus over base pay. (11)
1931: A contract to Hamilton Standard Propeller Company for two fighter aircraft propellers initiated a development program that led to the adoption of variable pitch propellers. (5)
1943: BATTLE OF THE BISMARCK SEA. Through 4 March, Fifth Air Force aircraft smashed a 16-ship Japanese troop convoy in this battle. This ended the enemy's effort to reinforce Lae. The aircraft sank over 40,000 tons of Japanese shipping, including eight troop-laden transports and four of eighth escorting warships. They also destroyed between 50-60 enemy planes. Modified B-25s used low-level skip bombing for the first time. (21) (24)
1961: The USS Observation Island made the first shipboard firing of an advanced Polaris A-2 missile, while cruising 10 miles off Cape Canaveral. (24)
1962: Operation BRISTLE CONE. This 12-day exercise examined the USAF/Army capability to airlifting 40,000 combat troops from Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Riley, Kans., to George AFB, Calif. (24)
1965: North Vietnam shot down Lt Hayden J. Lockhart's F-100 during his raid against an ammo dump north of the demilitarized zone. A week later, he became the first USAF pilot taken as a prisoner of war. He was not released until 12 February 1973. (21)
1968: Lockheed rolled out the first C-5A Galaxy at its plant in Marietta. (8)(12)
1971: At Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C., the 511 TFS became the first operationally ready A-7D unit. (26)
1972: The Pioneer X Jupiter probe, launched from the Eastern Test Range, reached the highest launch velocity ever attained, 32,000 MPH relative to earth. This mission tried to get scientific information from beyond Mars by investigating the interplanetary medium, asteroid belt, and Jupiter and its environment. The 569-pound spacecraft was be the first to attempt the Jupiter probe. (5)
1973: The Boeing T-43, the USAF's navigation trainer, rolled out of the plant at Renton. (5)
1987: First F-15E arrived at Edwards AFB for flight testing. (11)
1997: Operation DEEP FREEZE. The 60 AMW's last scheduled C-141 mission in support of this operation left Travis AFB. For more than 40 years, Travis aircrews flew Deep Freeze missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, to McMurdo Station to resupply scientists near Antarctica's southern polar ice cap. The 62 AW at McChord AFB took over the mission. (22)
2003: The 118th Airlift Wing, Tennessee ANG, mobilized 300 members to serve at an undisclosed location in a possible war against Iraq. (32)
2007: Exercise KOA LIGHTNING. At Andersen AFB, Guam, B-52s Stratofortresses from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 36th Operations Group, played in a Pacific Command exercise over the Hawaiian islands. The 6,880-nautical mile trip from Guam to the exercise area and back often exceeded 18 hours of continuous flight and required two air refuelings. In the exercise area, the aircrews tested their offensive and defensive skills with a wide variety of military units and aircraft from across the Pacific. (AFNEWS, "Andersen Bombers Participate in Koa Lightning Exercise," 5 Mar 2007)
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World News for 2 March thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Defense Budget Delays Could Postpone Tracking Layer Satellite Plans Breaking Defense | 03/02/2022 The Space Development Agency (SDA) has warned a program to build missile tracking satellites as part of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) could be pushed back a year if lawmakers do not pass a defense budget soon, reports Breaking Defense. If the fiscal 2022 budget for the Dept. of Defense is not passed within the next few weeks, the SDA might be forced to postpone the bidding process for the Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites, SDA Director Derek Tournear said. A request for proposals has been prepared, but the program cannot move forward without $750 million in additional funds included as a plus-up in the Senate appropriations defense subcommittee markup of the defense spending bill, according to Tournear. If the money is not included, the program will be pushed back until fiscal 2023 funds are available. The SDA plans to award contracts to two vendors for a total of 28 Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites. If the Tracking Layer satellites are delayed, the SDA would instead move forward with the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES), which involves satellites to host 18 UHF- and SHF-band payloads as part of a project to advance technology for future generations of the NDSA. Meanwhile, the SDA awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and York Space Systems on Monday to build 126 Transport Layer Tranche 1 satellites to provide communications for the NDSA constellation.
USA—Attack Sub Oregon Delivered U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command | 03/02/2022 The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of its newest Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, reports the Naval Sea Systems Command. The Oregon (SSN-793) was handed over in Groton, Conn., on Feb. 26, reported General Dynamics Electric Boat, which jointly builds the Virginia-class submarines with Huntington Ingalls Industries. The Oregon is the 20th Virginia-class submarine to be built for the Navy, and the 11th delivered by GDEB. It is the second in the Block IV configuration. The Block IV boats incorporate improvements to reduce total ownership costs, including reducing the number of availabilities throughout the submarine's service life from three to one, noted Naval News. The Navy plans to build 10 Block IV configuration submarines. Construction of the last of these, the Utah, began in March 2018.
USA—Navy Probes How Destroyer Damaged Sonar Dome Navy Times | 03/02/2022 The Navy is investigating how one of its destroyers damaged its sonar dome during operations in the Pacific earlier this year, reports the Navy Times. On Jan. 21, the sonar dome of USS Stockdale was damaged while she was underway with Task Force 71 in the waters of the Western Pacific, Navy officials said on Monday. The sonar dome is located on the hull of ships and submarines and holds electronics for navigation, ranging and detection. The incident was classified as a Class A mishap, meaning the cost of the damage exceeded $2.5 million. The Stockdale initially deployed from San Diego as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. At the time of the incident, she had separated from the carrier group and was assigned to Task Force 71 as part of U.S. 7th Fleet. The Stockdale is now in the port of Sasebo, Japan, while a repair plan is being developed. The cause of the damage is being investigated.
United Nations—Security Council Extends Measures Against Houthi Militants In Yemen U.N. Security Council | 03/02/2022 The U.N. Security Council has approved the extension of a series of measures against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. On Monday, the Security Council voted to extend the arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze by one year until Feb. 28, 2023, according to a council statement. Eleven member states voted in favor and four abstained. Some experts speculated that Russia's decision to support the measure was linked to the United Arab Emirates' abstention from two earlier Security Council votes on Ukraine, reported Reuters. Under the extension, the council agreed to expand a targeted U.N. arms embargo on several Houthi leaders to cover the whole group. The U.A.E. pushed to expand the arms embargo following recent uncrewed aerial vehicle and missile strikes on its territory as well as on Saudi Arabia. The measure included language condemning the attacks on the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. The Security Council also agreed to extend the mandate of the associated panel of experts until March 28, 2023.
United Nations—U.S. Expels Members Of Russian Delegation For Espionage Cable News Network | 03/02/2022 The U.S. has expelled a dozen members of Russia's delegation to the U.N., accusing them of being spies, reports CNN. On Monday afternoon, Amb. Richard Mills, the deputy representative of the U.S. to the U.N., announced that Washington was asking 12 Russian diplomats to leave. The diplomats allegedly engaged in "activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats," Mills said. The Russians had "abused their privileges of residency in the US by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security," said a spokeswoman for the U.S. Mission to the U.N., as cited by United Press International. The expulsions were taking place in accordance with the U.N.'s headquarters agreement with the U.S. and had been in the works for several months, the spokeswoman said. Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia said the explanation for the expulsions was not satisfactory. The diplomats are expected to leave the U.S. by March 7.
Bulgaria—Defense Minister Replaced For Downplaying War In Ukraine Balkan Insight | 03/02/2022 The Bulgarian Parliament has approved a replacement for Defense Minister Stefan Yanev after he refused to recognize the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine as a war and called for a neutral stance, reports Balkan Insight. On Monday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov announced his intention to dismiss Yanev, reported Politico Europe (Brussels). On Tuesday, the Bulgarian Parliament voted unanimously to formally remove him from his post. Yanev refused to call Russia's invasion a war, preferring the term "operation," similar to the language used by President Vladimir Putin. He also published a social media post on Sunday arguing that Bulgaria, which is a member of both the European Union and NATO, did not need to adopt a "pro-Russian, pro-American or pro-European position." Yanev is seen as close to President Rumen Radev and led two caretaker governments as premier in 2021. Radev condemned the move to fire Yanev in the middle of the crisis. Dragomir Zakov, who has served as Bulgaria's permanent representative to NATO since 2019, was named as the next defense minister. He has also served as the deputy political director at the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and first secretary at the Bulgarian mission to the U.N.
Poland—Plans Made To Buy Reaper Drones Defence24 | 03/02/2022 The Polish military plans to buy uncrewed aerial vehicles from the U.S. as an urgent operational requirement, reports Defence 24 (Warsaw). The procurement of MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones is being accelerated due to the security situation on Poland's eastern border, a Polish military spokesman said. The decision to move forward with an urgent procurement was made before Russia invaded Ukraine, the news site said. The purchase is separate from the Zefir MALE UAV program, which is intended to acquire four systems each with three drones. That program was previously expected to conclude by the end of 2022.
Sweden—Government To Boost Defense Spending In Response To Russian Threat Agence France-Presse | 03/02/2022 The Swedish government says it will boost defense spending in response to an increased threat level, reports Agence France-Presse. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said in a televised speech that "Sweden's defensive capabilities need to be strengthened, the rearmament needs to be brought forward." Andersson said that talks to increase defense spending and deliver those capabilities had begun. She emphasized that Sweden is not under a direct threat of armed attack but that the overall threat level has increased due to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Sweden boosted defense spending in 2014 following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, resumed mandatory military service in 2017 and reopened a garrison in the Baltic Sea in 2018. In October, the government added US$2.8 billion to defense spending plans from 2021 to 2025.
Ukraine—Russian Military Says It Controls Kherson Tass | 03/02/2022 Russian forces say they have gained control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, reports the Tass news agency (Moscow). On Wednesday, a military spokesman announced that Russian troops were in control of the city center in Kherson. The spokesman said that all transportation services and civilian infrastructure in the city was operating as usual. Officials had reported that Russian troops had encircled the city the day before, reported Agence France-Presse. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry denied the report, saying that fighting in Kherson continued and some parts of the city were still under its control. Separately, Russian airborne troops landed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and attacked a hospital, said the Ukrainian military. Russian troops have been accused of shelling residential areas and the city center, reported Deutsche Welle.
Moldova—Map Suggests Russia May Plan To Extend Invasion To Moldova The Week | 03/02/2022 Russia may be planning further aggression in Moldova, according to a map seen in a photo of a meeting of the Belarusian security council, reports the Week (New York). The photo shows Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in front of a map of Ukraine and Belarus, showing Ukraine divided into four operational command districts and arrows indicating planned troop movements. One of these arrows starts in Odesa on Ukraine's Black Sea coast and terminates on the other side of the Moldovan border in the Russian separatist-controlled Transnistria region. The region already hosts Russian forces. Some of the lines on the map align broadly with movements that have already occurred, noted the Hill (Washington, D.C.). In January, Ukrainian intelligence sources warned of a potential false-flag attacks in Moldova that could be used to justify an operation in Transnistria, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar).
Russia—Nuclear Forces Launch Drills In Barents Sea, Siberia The National | 03/02/2022 Russian strategic forces have begun exercises in the Barents Sea and Siberia, reports the National (Abu Dhabi). On Tuesday, the Russian Northern Fleet announced that several of its nuclear submarines were involved in training focused on maneuvering in stormy conditions. Warships assigned to protecting the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia, where many naval bases are located, would also join the exercises, the fleet said. Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers would practice clandestine deployments in forested areas of Siberia. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that nuclear forces would be placed on high alert amid his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. It was not immediately clear if the training was related to that announcement.
Japan—Jets Scrambled After Russian Helo Violates Airspace Japan Times | 03/02/2022 Japan says it scrambled fighter jets after a Russian military helicopter violated its territorial airspace near the northern island of Hokkaido, reports the Japan Times. On Wednesday, a Russian military helicopter flew over the Nemuro Peninsula, in the extreme northeast of Hokkaido prefecture, said the Japanese Defense Ministry. In response, Japan scrambled fighter jets, said the ministry. There were no reports of dangerous activity during the encounter. The incursion into Japanese airspace lasted less than a minute, reported national broadcaster NHK. Tokyo later filed a formal protest with the Russian Embassy, calling the incident "extremely regrettable." Japanese officials called increased Russian military activity in the region concerning in light of its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Philippines—3 Suspected Militants Killed In Lanao Del Sur Op Gma News | 03/02/2022 Three suspected terrorists have been killed in a military operation in the southern Lanao del Sur province, reports GMA News (Manila). On Tuesday, troops launched a combined air and ground operation against a suspected Dawlah Islamiyah camp in Maguing in Lanao del Sur, said a military spokesman. As the troops from the 5th, 51st and 55th infantry battalions approached, airstrikes were made to eliminate any anti-personnel land mines, he said. The operation targeted Hadji Satar, who also goes under the aliases of Zakaria, Abu Zacariah, Omar, and Jer Mimbantas, the leader of all Dawlah Islamiyah units in Lanao del Sur, reported the Manila Bulletin. The Philippine-based Dawlah Islamiyah has pledged allegiance to ISIS. Three militants and a soldier were killed in the fighting. Another four soldiers were injured, said the military. Philippine troops recovered two .50-cal machine guns; a .30-cal machine gun; an M16 rifle, an AK-47 rifle, an M14 rifle and a Garand rifle from the site of the clash. The troops also found three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 22 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), anti-personnel mines and various ammunition. An estimated 50 militants were in the area at the time of the attack and pursuit operations were continuing, the military said.
United Arab Emirates—F-35 Deal Still In The Works, Says U.S. Al Arabiya | 03/02/2022 The U.S. still intends to conclude the sale of fighter jets and combat drones to the United Arab Emirates, according to American officials quoted by Al Arabiya (Dubai). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis said that the U.S. remained in regular contact with Emirati officials regarding the sale of MQ-9 Reaper drones and F-35 fighter jets. "We are making sure that they have all of the information they need to move forward," she said. Lewis and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities Mara Karlin made their remarks on Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee. The Biden administration paused the proposed sales after they received State Dept. approval. Officials and analysts have cited the Emirati government's ties with China as a potential concern.
Syria—4 Killed In Rare Clash Between Government, SDF Syrian Observatory for Human Rights | 03/02/2022 At least four people have been killed in fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Syrian government forces, reports the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (U.K.). On Tuesday, fighters from the SDF's Tel Tamr Military Council clashed with Syrian troops in the Al Kouzlia area in western Tel Tamr in Hasakah province. Two Syrian soldiers and two Kurdish fighters were killed. Two regime soldiers were also wounded. This is the first known incident of fighting between the sides in the area. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said a U.S. patrol with SDF forces attempted to encroach on regime-held areas in Hasakah province. The SDF fighters attacked regime forces after soldiers prevented the patrol from passing, according to SANA. The news agency made no mention of any casualties. As part of an agreement brokered by Russia, regime personnel occupy checkpoints between Kurdish forces and Turkish soldiers and their proxies.
Colombia—Navy Trains With U.S. Sub, LCS City Paper Bogota | 03/02/2022 The Colombian navy has just completed an anti-submarine warfare exercise with U.S. Navy ships, reports the City Paper Bogota. The bilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise took place on Sunday and Monday in the Caribbean Sea, reported U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command. Participating in the drills were the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Minnesota and Freedom-class littoral combat ship Billings from the U.S. and the Colombian submarine Pijao, Almirante Padilla-class frigates Independiente and Almirante Padilla and various helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft. This was the first time that a U.S. nuclear submarine has operated in Colombian waters, officials said. The Minnesota is on her way to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as part of a homeport shift from Groton, Conn. The drill included maneuvering exercises and tested communications by conducting a photo exercise before dispersing to practice a variety of ASW elements. The ASW training covered detection and tracking; analysis and classification; and simulating attacks on targets at varying depths and conditions.
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