The List 6027 TGB
Good Tuesday Morning March 8
I hope that you all had a great weekend
Regards,
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps 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.
Today in World 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 Micro
: Slavery....what all schools should teach, instead of CRT and Equity..
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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 Tuesday, 8 March 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 8 March 1967… "Walter Mitty in the White House"…
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 Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
Keeping the future in focus
Daily Memo: Evaluating Russia's Performance in Ukraine
By: George Friedman
March 8, 2022
The Russian invasion of Ukraine had two goals. The first was to take control of Ukraine, intending to complete the task begun in Belarus – the task of rebuilding Russia's strategic buffers and securing Russia from attack. The second goal was to demonstrate the capabilities and professionalism of the Russian military and to further deter hypothetical acts and increase Russia's regional influence. The two goals were interlocked.
The occupation of Ukraine has not been achieved, but it is not a lost cause. Perceptions of the strength of Russia's military, however, have been badly damaged. There is no question but that Russian planners did not want to fight the war Russia has been fighting. Rather than a rapid and decisive defeat of Ukraine, Russia is engaged in a slow, grinding war unlikely to impress the world with its return to the first ranks of military power. At this point, even a final victory in its first objective will not redeem the second. It is important to start identifying the Russian weaknesses.
The first problem was a loss of surprise. Carl von Clausewitz placed surprise at the top of warfare. Surprise contracts the time an enemy has to prepare for war. It also imposes a psychological shock that takes time to overcome, making it more difficult to implement existing plans. And it increases the perceived power of the enemy. In Ukraine, however, extended diplomacy gave Kyiv time to adjust psychologically to the possibility of war.
Moscow failed to understand its enemy. Russia clearly expected Ukrainian resistance to collapse rapidly in the face of the massive armored force it had gathered. It did not expect the Ukrainian populace to fight back to an extent that would at least delay completion of the war.
The purpose of war is to break the enemy's military capability. The Ukrainian military had a diffuse center of gravity and was at distance from the Russian armored battle groups. In addition, the population has fought back, increasing the amount of time necessary to end the resistance.
Russian war plans centered on three armored groups based in the east, south and north. Tanks have become vulnerable to infantry anti-tank weapons. Rather than brushing infantry aside, Russia now must use infantry to clear away deadly threats to its tanks. The use of armor as the decisive force on the battlefield, and therefore the main force, has evolved. This seems not to have been accepted by Russian planners. Armored war peaked in World War II. Armor remains present, but we have not seen armor-to-armor combat since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and to some extent in Desert Storm. This was a generation ago. War has moved on.
The three Russian armored battle groups were widely separated. They did not support each other. Instead of a single coordinated war, the Kremlin opted for at least three separate wars, making a single decisive stroke impossible. A single integrated command, essential for warfighting, seemed to be lacking.
The use of armor vastly increased the pressure on Russian logistics. Instead of focusing supplies on a single thrust, it had to focus on three, plus other operations. Logistics for the major armored forces seemed to have broken down, making war termination impossible and further extending the war.
In recent days, Russia has adapted and turned toward taking cities. This is generating an effective counterforce among fighters who understand the streets and alleys and use them to delay Russia's progress. Fighting in cities is among the costliest and most time-consuming actions in war. Capturing cities takes resources and is not the key to victory. Cities take on importance only after the enemy force has been defeated and demoralizing the nation is essential. The city is the prize of war, not the military goal. Russia turned the conflict from a counter-military to a counter-population war, which increased resistance by sowing desperation in the cities.
Behind this was the fact that Russia simply failed to identify Ukraine's center of gravity. It concentrated armor and sought a similarly concentrated force to defeat. Instead, the center of gravity has been essentially an informal guerrilla force constantly dispersing and reforming, not threatening the Russians with defeat but keeping them off balance.
This pushed Russia further toward a counter-population strategy, which decreased the effectiveness of its armor – both slowing its progress and pitting it against small groups that it's not designed to fight.
Russia failed to shut down Ukrainian communications internally and with the rest of the world. Rather than isolating the enemy internally and externally, it allowed Kyiv to wage psychological warfare against the Russian attack on all fronts, undermining the Russian psychological goal of being seen as an overwhelming force.
All of this culminated in the Russians' final mistake. They expected the overwhelming availability of armor to cause a rapid capitulation. Ukraine is a large country, and if it is to be occupied by armor, the armor must move rapidly. Obviously, they expected shock and awe to break Ukraine's will to resist. The shock was dissipated by the loss of surprise. The awe was limited by Russia's inability to concentrate strategic force, and ultimately by Ukraine's mobilization of its population as a resistance force.
The Russians needed a rapid war to achieve their goals. The way in which they fought the war was not at odds with a final victory, but it was at odds with a fast one. Russia defeating Ukraine over the course of weeks or months is not awe-inspiring given their relative power. And Russia's goal of displaying a first-rank military in order to appear awesome to its neighbors will not be achieved.
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Thanks to Carl
The Lies of Pfizer: The Billion Dollar Cash Payment from Biden to Media
By Alexandra Bruce
Forbidden Knowledge TV
March 8, 2022
The Lies Of Pfizer; The Billion Dollar Cash Payment From Biden To Media - https://rumble.com/vwjj67-episode-1687-the-lies-of-pfizer-the-billion-dollar-cash-payment-from-biden-.html
A Freedom of Information Act request filed by TheBlaze has revealed that Biden's Health and Human Services Department paid $1 billion of your tax dollars to bribe all the major news outlets to tell you to get vaccinated.
"HHS revealed that it purchased advertising from major news networks including ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as cable TV news stations Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, legacy media publications including the New York Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post, digital media companies like BuzzFeed News and Newsmax, and hundreds of local newspapers and TV stations. These outlets were collectively responsible for publishing countless articles and video segments regarding the vaccine that were nearly uniformly positive about the vaccine in terms of both its efficacy and safety.
"Hundreds of news organizations were paid by the federal government to advertise for the vaccines as part of a 'comprehensive media campaign,' according to documents TheBlaze obtained from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Biden administration purchased ads on TV, radio, in print, and on social media to build vaccine confidence, timing this effort with the increasing availability of the vaccines. The government also relied on earned media featuring 'influencers' from 'communities hit hard by COVID-19' and 'experts' like White House chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci and other academics to be interviewed and promote vaccination in the news."
We weren't supposed to see this information for 75 years. It was the fight of people like Dr Robert Malone and Dr Naomi Wolfe and others that got this disclosed and the two joined Steve Bannon for this episode of the War Room.
Dr Malone tells Steve, "The courts have forced Pfizer and the FDA to comply with the law, which is that after licensure is granted, these documents must be made available. Previously, they're considered confidential – and remember that, as Naomi's about to discuss and what the truckers are so upset about: we have been forced to take these vaxxines, and we have been told that they're totally safe and effective.
"What this documents is the government has been well aware that they are not fully safe and has hidden this information from us. How that really matters for Pfizer is that the indemnification clauses require that Pfizer disclose known adverse events and this documentation demonstrates they didn't do so. So, a lot of the lawyers are licking their chops over this, because it seems to indicate a break in the veil, that may allow legal action, basically due to fraud and concealment of these risks from the general public.
"This is why you have not been able to have full informed consent, is they've hidden all this information from you and they've used all the propaganda and censorship tools – which you're about to cover – and paid media to keep all this information from you and spin it, so that you think the left is right and the down is the up and the Moon is made of green cheese."
Bannon refers to so some "Pretty big events that are happening early in the week," the details of which he's not at liberty to reveal but in which Dr Malone will be involved and which he will be back on the show to discuss.
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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 (TWO MORE FROM Iwo Jima)
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—Navy Begins Arctic Ice Exercise U.S. Navy | 03/08/2022 The U.S. Navy has kicked off its latest Ice Exercise (ICEX) in the Arctic Ocean, reports the service. The training began on March 4 following the arrival of two Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines and the establishment of a temporary ice camp on an ice floe. This year's exercise is focused on research, testing and evaluating operational capabilities in the harsh Arctic environment. In addition to the U.S. Navy, personnel from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Canadian air force and navy and British navy are taking part. About 200 personnel are participating. Diminishing sea ice and thickness is expected to increase maritime activity in the region, according to the Navy. The Arctic Submarine Laboratory (ASL), based in San Diego, Calif., is the lead organization for coordination, planning and execution of the five-week exercise.
USA—DoD Orders Closure Of Hawaii Fuel Storage Site Dept. Of Defense | 03/08/2022 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the closure of a fuel storage facility in Hawaii responsible for contaminating local drinking water, reports the Defense Dept. On Monday, Austin ordered Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to permanently close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Oahu. The site was temporarily closed in November after a fuel leak that sickened many in the community and contaminated drinking water sources, reported CNN. Fuel at the site will be repositioned to a few new locations, said a Pentagon spokesman. Del Toro and the director Defense Logistics Agency will provide a safe and expeditious defueling plan for the Red Hill facility no later than May 31, with the goal of completing the work within 12 months, Austin said. Work will then focus on permanently closing the facility and conducting any necessary environmental remediation in the area, he said. A review of the November leak is still underway and will be released publicly upon its completion, said the spokesman.
USA—Pentagon Transfers '20th Hijacker' To Saudi Custody Dept. Of Defense | 03/08/2022 The U.S. Defense Dept. has announced the transfer of another prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to his home country. Mohammad Mani Ahmad Al Qahtani, often known as the 20th hijacker for his role in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, has been transferred from the U.S. naval facility at Guantanamo Bay to his native country of Saudi Arabia, the department said on Monday. A Periodic Review Board determined that Al Qahtani no longer posed a significant threat in June 2021, said a Pentagon release. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the planned transfer to Congress in February. Shayana Kadidal, senior managing attorney of the Guantanamo project at the Center for Constitutional Rights, told CBS News that Al Qahtani has suffered from schizophrenia from a young age and would be able to receive needed care he was deprived of during his time at Guantanamo. In 2009, Susan Crawford, the Bush administration official in charge of recommending prosecution for 9/11 suspects, declined to recommend Al Qahtani for prosecution, saying his treatment during portions of his detention amounted to torture. Al Qahtani was supposed to take part in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but was stopped by border officers in Orlando, Fla., and returned to Saudi Arabia. He was later captured in Afghanistan.
Latvia—Government Urges Permanent U.S. Troop Presence Reuters | 03/08/2022 The Latvian government says it wants to the U.S. to permanently station forces on its territory, reports Reuters. In a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riga on Monday, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said that a permanent U.S. presence would be welcome. "Looking at the most recent developments we would be very happy about the permanent presence of U.S. forces here in Latvia," Rinkevics said. "We have no illusions about Putin's Russia anymore," said the foreign minister, pointing to Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. As part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence program, Latvia hosts an alliance battlegroup led by Canada.
Ukraine—21 Civilians Die In Russian Airstrike In Sumy Interfax-Ukraine | 03/08/2022 At least 21 civilians have been killed in a Russian airstrike in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, reports Interfax-Ukraine. On Monday, the Russian forces struck a residential area of Sumy, killing at least 21 people, including two children, the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. The office said that the act amounted to a war crime and indicated that criminal proceedings had begun. Sumy is one of the cities covered under an agreement to establish evacuation corridors, noted the Guardian (U.K.). Evacuations from the area began on Tuesday, reported Reuters.
Ukraine—Russian General Killed In Fighting Near Kharkiv Newsweek | 03/08/2022 Ukrainian officials say a second high-ranking Russian officer has been killed in fighting in northeastern Ukraine, reports Newsweek. On Monday, the Ukrainian Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Defense Ministry said that Maj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov had been killed during fighting near Kharkiv. Several other senior Russian officers were killed and wounded in the fighting, said the directorate. Open-source investigative outfit Bellingcat said it had confirmed the death of Gerasimov. The general served as chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army, reported CNBC. The Ukrainian intelligence agency said that Russians were experiencing significant communication issues that were hindering its ability to evacuate defeated units. A Ukrainian sniper killed Maj. Gen. Andrey Sukhovetsky, the commander of the 7th Airborne Division and a deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army, near Mariupol on Feb. 28.
Russia—Syrians Being Recruited To Fight In Ukraine Wall Street Journal | 03/08/2022 Russia is recruiting Syrian fighters with experience in urban warfare in preparation for anticipated city fighting in Ukraine, according to U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. U.S. officials said that Russia has been seeking to recruit Syrians to help take Kyiv, which has been preparing for a Russian assault for days. Some fighters are believed to have already arrived in Russia, said one official. It was not clear how many Syrians may have been recruited. The Syrians may be employed in a support role, similar to how they have worked with Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries in Syria, said experts. Some analysts have questioned the utility of Syrian fighters in Ukraine, where they lack local knowledge and language skills. Russia has offered between US$200 and US$300 for Syrians to travel to Ukraine for work as guards, according to one Syrian publication. Human-trafficking tactics have been commonly employed in similar situations, hiding the true nature of the job until after a recruit arrives, noted analysts. https://www.militaryperiscope.com/news/navy-drills-underway-s-china-sea-near-vietnam#:~:text=China%E2%80%94Navy%20Drills,South%20China%20Sea.
North Korea—Latest Satellite Photos Show Ongoing Work At Yongbyon Nuclear Facility 38 North | 03/08/2022 Work appears to be continuing at a key nuclear site in North Korea, according to the latest satellite imagery cited by 38 North, which monitors developments in North Korea. In a March 3 report, the website published satellite imagery showing activity at the Yongbyon nuclear facility. Evidence included melting snow on top of the building housing the reactor at the site and several support buildings. The activity observed is consistent with the production of plutonium and enriched uranium, says the report. Work on an experimental light water reactor also appeared to be continuing, based on similar snow melt on the roof of the turbine building. The new facility could be nearing completion, which would significantly increase Pyongyang's plutonium production capacity, experts said. North Korea has also gradually expanded personnel housing at the facility, suggesting that activity at the site could increase on short notice.
Taiwan—Government Raising Money For Ukrainian Refugees Central News Agency | 03/08/2022 The Taiwanese government is backing a campaign to raise money for Ukrainians driven from their homes by Russia's unprovoked invasion, reports the Central News Agency (Taipei). On Monday, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced that the government would donate US$3.53 million to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The donation will come from government-designated account that has so far raised US$10.8 million to help displaced Ukrainians. The fundraising account will remain active until April 1, Wu said. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that it would accept donations of relief materials for 12 days. The supplies would be shipped to Slovakia to help Ukrainian refugees there.
Iran—2nd Military Satellite Reaches Orbit Islamic Republic News Agency | 03/08/2022 The Iranian military says it has put a new reconnaissance satellite into orbit, reports the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. On Tuesday, a three-stage Qased rocket launched the Noor-2 satellite into a low Earth orbit, at an altitude of about 310 miles (500 km), said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force. The rocket was launched from Shahroud in northeastern Iran, reported the semi-official Tasnim news agency (Tehran). Iran put its first military satellite, the Noor-1, into orbit in April 2020. In July 2020, it released satellite imagery of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where thousands of U.S. personnel are stationed. The U.S. asserts that these launches violate U.N. Security Council resolutions constraining Iran's missile ballistic programs, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Some analysts have expressed concern that Iran could share satellite imagery with militant groups in the region.
Yemen—New Video Demonstrates Houthi Links To Hezbollah Long War Journal | 03/08/2022 Houthi rebels in Yemen have published a new military training video that threatens Israel should a new conflict break out with Hezbollah or the Palestinians, reports the Long War Journal, which monitors militant groups. The video shows militants performing various exercises, including hand-to-hand combat and weapons firing against targets that resemble the flag of Israel. The video is similar to several published by Hezbollah in the last two years, revealing the ongoing influence the Lebanese militant group has within the Yemeni organization. There have been several reports that Hezbollah has been directly involved in the Yemeni conflict. The Houthis oppose Israel and have regularly called for its destruction. The militants have also accused the Jewish state of participating in the war in Yemen.
Syria—2 Die In Suspected Israeli Strike Syrian Arab News Agency | 03/08/2022 At least two people have been killed in a suspected Israeli strike outside Damascus, reports the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). On Monday morning, missiles struck "civilian property" in the Harasta suburb of Damascus. Two civilians were killed, according to the state media agency. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the strikes targeted a weapons and ammunition depot near the airport used by Iran-backed militias, reported Agence France-Presse. The strikes killed two pro-Iran militiamen and injured four others, the observatory said.
Tunisia—16 Get Death Sentence In 2016 Attack New Arab | 03/08/2022 A Tunisian court has handed down death sentences to 16 people for their role in a deadly terrorist attack in 2016, reports the New Arab (London). On Saturday, the special terrorism court handed down its rulings from the trial of 96 people accused of staging a bloody siege on the border town of Ben Guerdane in March 2016. The remaining defendants received sentences ranging from four years to life in prison. A small number was acquitted. The assault on the border town was attributed to the Islamic State branch in neighboring Libya. Tunisia has observed a moratorium on capital punishment since 1991, analysts noted.
Mali—French Forces Kill Senior Al-Qaida Leader Near Timbuktu Agence France-Presse | 03/08/2022 The French military says it has killed a senior terrorist leader in Mali, reports Agence France-Presse. On the night of Feb. 25-26, French forces killed Yahia Djouadi in an air-ground operation about 100 miles (160 km) north of Timbuktu, the French military said in a statement. Djouadi, an Algerian also known as Abu Ammar Al Jazairi, was a senior figure in Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) responsible for financing and logistics, reported the North Africa Post (Morocco). He fought in Libya before fleeing to Mali in 2019, where he set up in the Timbuktu region to help coordinate supplies, financing and logistics for the terrorist group. The French army said Djouadi's death would weaken Al-Qaida governance in Mali, calling him a major link with the Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) group.
Venezuela—U.S. Officials Pay Visit Over Oil Concerns New York Times | 03/08/2022 U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela this weekend to meet with representatives of the Maduro regime, reports the New York Times. On Saturday, senior U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela as part of efforts to coordinate the international response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The delegation included Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs; Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Council's senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs; and Jimmy Story, the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, reported the Washington Post. The visit is the highest-level since the Trump administration broke off relations with President Nicolas Maduro and recognized Juan Guaido as the leader of Venezuela following controversial elections in 2018. The U.S. has imposed significant sanctions on oil exports and Venezuelan officials. Russian companies and financial institutions have played a key role in helping Venezuela to continue exports despite the U.S. measures. The goal of the visit was to gauge whether the Maduro regime might distance itself from Russia in return for the easing of U.S. sanctions on its oil sector, reported the Miami Herald. Venezuela could emerge as a vital replacement for Russian oil as countries around the world seek to reduce purchases from Moscow, said analysts. Venezuela's exports currently total about 10 percent of Russia's, Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin American Energy Program at Rice University in Texas, told the Post. Some analysts have expressed concern that a U.S. agreement with Maduro would significantly weaken Guaido's position.
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