To All,
Good Wednesday morning March 23 2023.
A BIT OF HISTORY AND A LOT OF TIDBITS
Well we did get a lot of rain yesterday and I started the pump to keep it from getting to high. Just before it got dark I just pulled the plug on the pump and before I went to bed just looked out to see it had not gotten any higher. When I looked out this morning I was surprised to see the pool was down a lot. Well after a minute I checked the end of the hose that went into the drain and the water was coming out at a very reduced rate and it hit me. Can you spell syphon?
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History March 22
1820
Commodore Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded in a duel with Capt. James Barron at Bladensburg, Md., over criticism Decatur had when Barron lost his ship, USS Chesapeake, to HMS Leopard in 1807.
1915
"Naval Aviator" replaces the title "Navy Air Pilot" for officers who become qualified as aviators.
1929
Destroyers USS Robert Smith (DD 324), USS Moody (DD 277), and USS Selfridge (DD 320) protect Americans and their property during the Mexican Cristero uprising.
1943
USS Gudgeon (SS 211) attacks a Japanese convoy 30 miles north Surabaya, Java, sinking an army cargo ship while surviving the depth charge attack by her escort vessels. Also on this date, USS Tambor (SS 198) damages a Japanese transport in the Sulu Sea, off Negros, Philippines.
1946
USS Missouri (BB 63) departs the U.S. to return the body of deceased Turkish ambassador, Mehmet Munir Ertegun, back to his homeland for burial, arriving in Istanbul on April 5.
1991
USS Macdonough (DDG 39) and USS Nicholas (FFG 47) arrive back at their homeport at Naval Base Charleston, S.C., the first Navy surface combatants to return to CONUS after participating in Desert Storm.
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This date in World history
March 22
1622 Indians attack a group of colonists in the James River area of Virginia, killing 350 residents.
1630 The first legislation prohibiting gambling is enacted in Boston.
1664 Charles II gives large tracts of land from west of the Connecticut River to the east of Delaware Bay in North America to his brother James, the Duke of York.
1719 Frederick William abolishes serfdom on crown property in Prussia.
1765 The Stamp Act is passed, the first direct British tax on the American colonists.
1775 British statesman Edmund Burke makes a speech in the House of Commons, urging the government to adopt a policy of reconciliation with America.
1790 Thomas Jefferson becomes the first U.S. Secretary of State.
1794 Congress passes laws prohibiting slave trade with foreign countries although slavery remains legal in the United States.
1834 Horace Greeley publishes New Yorker, a weekly literary and news magazine and forerunner of Harold Ross' more successful The New Yorker.
1901 Japan proclaims that it is determined to keep Russia from encroaching on Korea.
1904 The first color photograph is published in the London Daily Illustrated Mirror.
1907 Russians troops complete the evacuation of Manchuria in the face of advancing Japanese forces.
1915 A German Zepplin makes a night raid on Paris railway stations.
1919 The first international airline service is inaugurated on a weekly schedule between Paris and Brussels.
1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill legalizing the sale and possession of beer and wine.
1935 Persia is renamed Iran.
1946 First U.S. built rocket to leave the Earth's atmosphere reaches a 50-mile height.
1948 The United States announces a land reform plan for Korea.
1954 The London gold market reopens for the first time since 1939.
1968 President Lyndon Johnson names General William Westmoreland as Army Chief of Staff.
1972 The U.S. Senate passes the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment fails to achieve ratification.
1974 The Viet Cong propose a new truce with the United States and South Vietnam, which includes general elections.
1990 A jury in Anchorage, Alaska, finds Captain Hazelwood not guilty in the Valdez oil spill.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Skip… For The List for Wednesday, 22 March 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 22 March 1968… Colonel Ted Guy: …"men were left behind"…
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.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
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Military Milestones from Patrick Henry's Speech to the First Medals of Honor by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
This Week in American Military History:
Mar. 22, 1820: Commodore Stephen Decatur – "America's Lord Nelson," the hero of Tripoli, and the author of the famous aphorism, "Our country, right or wrong" – is mortally wounded in a duel with Commodore James Barron near Bladensburg, Maryland.
Mar. 23, 1775: In a speech before the House of Burgesses, future Virginia governor (and colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment) Patrick Henry exclaims, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Mar. 23, 1776: As a force-multiplier for the fledgling Continental Navy, the Continental Congress authorizes the employment of privateers (privately owned and armed merchant ships) against "enemies of these United Colonies,"
specifically Great Britain, her commercial shipping, privately owned vessels, and ships of the Royal Navy.
Mar. 23, 1815: Though the War of 1812 has officially ended – communications being what they are in the early 19th century – the Royal Navy sloop-of-war HMS Penguin under the command of Capt. James Dickenson engages the sloop USS Hornet (the third of eight so-named American Navy
ships) under Capt. James Biddle off the South Atlantic archipelago Tristan da Cunha. The fighting is quick and hot: Both captains are wounded; Dickenson mortally. HMS Penguin surrenders in less than one half hour.
Mar. 23, 1943: Elements of Germany's vaunted Afrika Korps clash with U.S.
Army forces near the oasis of El Guettar in Tunisia.
In previous fighting at Kasserine Pass, inexperienced and marginally led American troops had been defeated. At El Guettar, however, the American soldier under the command of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr., literally outfights his German and Italian counterpart. At one point during the battle, Patton – observing the destruction of German forces – remarks, "My God, it seems a crime to murder good infantry like that."
Mar. 23, 2003: Task Force Tarawa (2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade) under the command of Brig. Gen. (future Lt. Gen.) Richard F. Natonski attack – and will ultimately defeat – Iraqi forces in heavy fighting at An Nasiriyah.
Mar. 24, 1945: Paratroopers of Maj. Gen. (future four-star general) Matthew B. Ridgway's XVIII Airborne Corps – composed of the U.S. 17th Airborne "Thunder from Heaven" Division and their British 6th Airborne Division comrades – strike and seize key German positions on the enemy side of the Rhine River.
Codenamed Varsity, the airborne assault is the last major parachute and gliderborne operation of World War II. During the fighting, Ridgway himself will be wounded by a grenade blast.
Mar. 25, 1863: Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton presents six Union Army soldiers – members of Andrews' Raiders – with the first-ever Medals of Honor.
Today, America recognizes all of its Medal of Honor recipients on National Medal of Honor Day – Mar. 25 (of each year) – the anniversary of the first presentations.
Mar. 25, 1864: Confederate cavalry under the command of Maj. Gen. (future Lt. Gen.) Nathan Bedford Forrest, "the wizard of the saddle," strike Union forces under Col. Stephen G. Hicks in the Battle of Paducah, Kentucky.
Forrest's horsemen quickly seize the town. Hicks' men retreat to prepared defenses at nearby Fort Anderson where Forrest issues an ultimatum: "If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter."
Hicks refuses. A detachment of Forrest's cavalry attempts to take the fort, but the troopers are repulsed by both the defenders and two gunboats on the Ohio River. Forrest withdraws.
Nevertheless, Forrest's previous and future exploits will earn him a reputation as one of the most feared and respected cavalry commanders of the Civil War.
Forrest will be wounded four times over the course of the war. Twenty-nine horses will be shot out from under him. But he will purportedly kill 30 men in single combat, spawning the boast that he has one up over the Federals (Some sources say 30 horses and 31 men, but you get the idea).
In the decades following the war, U.S. and foreign military officers alike will study Forrest's campaigns. It has even been speculated that some aspects of the German Blitzkrieg were patterned after some of Forrest's operations.
Union Gen. William T. Sherman will describe Forrest as "the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side." And when Confederate Gen.
Robert E. Lee is asked to name the greatest soldier under his command, he will purportedly respond, "A man I have never seen, sir. His name is Forrest."
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Thanks to Brett
Geopolitical Futures:
https:geopoliticalfutures.com
Daily Memo: Latin America in the US-China Space Race
Partnerships and strategic locations are in high demand.
By: Allison Fedirka
March 22, 2023
Next week, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his science and technology minister will be in China to negotiate the construction of a new satellite. They want the satellite for climate observation and to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. Brazil and China have more than two decades of history working together on satellites, but this potential project takes place in a very different geopolitical context than past dealings. Space has emerged as a serious battleground in the U.S.-China rivalry, and Washington is sensitive to any Latin American space collaborations involving Beijing. Anxious about security risks in its own hemisphere, the U.S. has only recently emphasized space cooperation with its southern neighbors.
Situational Awareness
Space is a critical domain for national defense. Businesses and militaries worldwide depend on satellites for information and communications. A few countries – the United States, China, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and, arguably, India – boast robust space programs with military applications. Historically, the Americans are the dominant player in space, but thanks to massive public investment the Chinese are quickly catching up. For the rest, partnerships are essential to overcome the immense technical and financial challenges.
First, a primer. The space domain includes terrestrial, orbital and link segments. Fixed, secure ground locations are required to monitor space activity and communicate with hardware in orbit. Ground stations support telemetry, tracking and command of satellite and spacecraft operations. However, ground stations can't communicate with satellites when large objects – the Earth, for example – get in the way. Instead, states need a global network to maintain space situational awareness. This includes the detection and tracking of launched and orbital objects, threat assessments, and data integration and exploitation. Situational awareness enables warfighters to predict the future location of space objects and the overall operational environment. The broader the satellite and observation network, the more complete the coverage. Therefore, interstate cooperation is critical, and it presents opportunities for regions like Latin America to accrue the funding and expertise to develop their own space capabilities.
National space programs in Latin America are more than 60 years old, but funding has always been a problem. Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. government allocated $22.7 billion to space programs, while Brazil, Argentina and Mexico together spent roughly $100 million. Until fairly recently, space was not a priority in the region. China's emergence in the sector, combined with the falling cost of launching a satellite, helped change this. Vast borders are ripe for smuggling, while remote areas are difficult to monitor for illegal mining or deforestation. Satellites would boost governments' abilities to secure their borders and enforce the law within them.
China was quick to develop space partnerships in the Western Hemisphere. Determined to become a leading space power, Beijing targeted middle-income countries for partnerships and leveraged its technology and expertise through commercial agreements. Moreover, ground stations close to the equator provide more robust satellite coverage, making South America even more attractive. Today, China operates or can access a series of space observation centers across South America.
Beijing's growing footprint in the Latin American space sector triggered alarm in Washington. The U.S. worries that China could use the proximity of its space facilities to spy on U.S. communications. There is hardly any daylight between civilian or commercial space research and military applications, especially in the Chinese case. (For example, GPS is useful whether you are trying to pinpoint a local restaurant or armed insurgents.) Latin American governments have few problems with this, given their own interest in the technology's contributions to national security. For instance, Brazil's national defense strategy promotes heavy use of satellites to monitor the border. Although its satellite negotiations with China will center on deforestation, the areas of interest significantly overlap with Brazil's military interests.
Washington Joins the Race
The U.S. strategy for countering China's ambitions for space in Latin America started to take shape last year. Last summer, U.S. Southern Command and the Space Force's Space Training and Readiness Command hosted their first Latin America Space Doctrine Conference, intended to incorporate space into the U.S. security cooperation framework for the region. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay attended. A second conference in January 2023 attracted 11 Latin American countries. Washington hopes to convince Latin American states to adopt U.S. standards and procedures so that they can share information – and shut China out. It has highlighted the immediate payoffs of cooperation, such as access to information to counter illegal logging, mining and fishing, as well as crop monitoring. Eventually, the U.S. says it wants to conduct large-scale space-based exercises with Latin American militaries, which China has never done.
Alignments in much of the region are practically settled. Venezuela and Bolivia are firmly in China's camp, while traditional U.S. security allies Colombia, Chile and Peru are sticking with Washington. The current focus of the U.S.-Chinese competition for space partnerships is the southernmost part of South America. The Southern Cone countries, along with Mexico, have the most advanced space programs, and their alignments will shape security in the Antarctic region. A presence there is important to keep the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage free and clear for navigation.
By far the most prized relationship is with Brazil, the Latin American country with the most advanced space program. Brazil is well positioned to monitor most of the South Atlantic and hosts the Alcantara Space Center, the closest launching base to the equator. Five years ago, the U.S. and Brazil signed an agreement to share information about known space objects, including Brazilian satellites. They also discussed a deal to permit the U.S. to launch satellites from Alcantara. Some of the Space Force's first international outreach efforts in 2020 involved discussions with Brazil about opportunities to collaborate. Not to be outdone, China has leveraged its decades-old relationship with Brazil in satellite development and launches as well as telecommunications.
After Brazil, Chile was the next Latin American country that U.S. Southern Command engaged in direct space talks. China leases some facilities at the Santiago Satellite Station in Chile, but the station's operator, the Swedish Space Corp., has said it will not renew the contracts. The U.S. will probably fill the void. Meanwhile, Argentina hosts China's most important space observation facility in the region. The secretive Espacio Lejano station in Neuquen is owned and operated by China; even the Argentine government's access is restricted. The intelligence community assumes China conducts both scientific and military activity there.
Mexico is the exception to the U.S.-China competition for space partnerships. Mexico is too close to the U.S. to form a strong partnership with China, but space is too sensitive for Mexico to depend on the United States. Therefore, Mexico has advocated the creation of a Latin American and Caribbean space agency. A regional grouping to pool resources makes sense for Mexico – and many countries have signed on – but funding and the huge technological disparities between members remain obstacles. Mexico will likely have to give the U.S. major concessions to secure a partnership, or accept that it will trail its regional peers.
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Thanks to Barrell
British Empire
In the great days of the British Empire a new commanding officer was sent to a remote African bush outpost to relieve the retiring colonel.
After welcoming his replacement and showing the usual courtesies, gin and tonic, cucumber sandwiches etc, decreed by protocol, the retiring colonel said, "You must meet my Adjutant, Captain Smithers. He's my right-hand man and is really the strength of this entire post. His talent and energy are simply boundless."
Captain Smithers was summoned and introduced to the new CO, who was surprised to meet a hunchback, one-eyed, toothless, hairless, scabbed and pockmarked specimen of humanity, a particularly unattractive man less than three feet tall. "Smithers, old man, tell your new CO about yourself".
"Well, sir, I graduated with honours from Sandhurst, joined the regiment and won the Military Cross and Bar after three expeditions behind enemy lines. I've represented Great Britain in equestrian events and won a Silver Medal in the middleweight boxing division of the Olympics. I have researched the history of....."
At which point the colonel interrupted, "Yes, yes, never mind that Smithers, he can find all that in your file.
Tell him about the day you told the witch doctor to fuck off."
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets -
Finland, Sweden: Turkey, Hungary to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid, but Delay Sweden's Bid
What Happened: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, Mate Kocsis, said they would both back a vote for Finland's accession to NATO, Politico reported on March 17. However, Kocsis said Hungary would decide whether to approve Sweden's accession later, and Erdogan did not comment on Sweden's NATO bid.
Why It Matters: While these announcements bode well for Finland's NATO accession, Sweden's bid remains in limbo. Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been reluctant to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO because the party is using Sweden's perceived ties to Kurdish groups to fuel nationalist sentiment at home ahead of the May general elections. Therefore, Turkey will be more likely to ratify Sweden's accession after the elections conclude. However, if there is a split result or political paralysis after the May election, Sweden will likely have to wait even longer to join NATO.
Background: Sweden and Finland both bid to join NATO in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Turkey signaled that it would be more likely to support Finland's bid in part because the country's perceived ties to Kurdish groups were weaker.
Kuwait: Court Annuls 2022 Legislative Election Results, Denying Opposition a Majority
What Happened: Kuwait's Constitutional Court annulled the 2022 legislative election results and said it would reinstate the 2020 National Assembly due to the "invalidity of the electoral process," AP reported on March 19.
Why It Matters: In the 2020 National Assembly, the opposition had 24 of 50 seats instead of the 28 seats opposition lawmakers won in the 2022 election, so the court's decision means the opposition will no longer have a majority, although it will still have significant negotiating power. The opposition and civil society organizations will argue that this decision further proves their claims that the Kuwaiti government is corrupt and needs more oversight, and protests are possible.
Background: Of the authoritarian, monarchical Gulf Cooperation Council states, Kuwait has the most democratic legislative body. Still, the unelected leaders in government — including the royal family — have de facto veto power over the National Assembly's decisions.
Kazakhstan: Ruling Party Retains Majority Despite Falling Support
What Happened: Preliminary results suggest Kazakhstan's ruling Amanat party won a majority of seats in the country's early parliamentary election, receiving at least 53% of the votes cast for the 98 seats in the lower house, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on March 20.
Why It Matters: Although the Amanat party won a majority, its vote share fell substantially from 71% in 2021, which reflects tepid support for the ruling party and a desire among many Kazakhs for continued reforms. Skepticism toward the election and ruling party was also reflected in the estimated nationwide turnout of 54%, down from 63% recorded in 2021. However, the early elections will likely further President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's goals of maintaining stability and providing him a mandate for further modest reforms in the country.
Background: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe found the elections had brought "Kazakhstan closer to holding elections in line with international standards," but it noted possible irregularities and limits on the participation of opposition parties and candidates. On Nov. 20, 2022, Tokayev secured a seven-year term in a snap election, winning 81.31% of the vote.
Thailand: House Dissolved, Clearing the Way for Early Election
What Happened: Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha dissolved the country's House of Representatives (the lower house of the National Assembly) via a decree endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the Bangkok Post reported on March 20. Per the 2017 constitution, the next general election must occur within 45-60 days of the dissolution, on or before May 14.
Why It Matters: Due to a niche election rule, the dissolution will give Prayuth's upstart Ruam Thai Sang Chart (RTSC) party extra time to accumulate defectors from other parties, which will increase RTSC's chances of victory in the general election. Both RTSC and the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) stand to benefit from the country's military-written 2017 constitution that heavily stacks electoral institutions in favor of military-backed parties, but the rivalry between the two will split the military-royalist vote. This split may boost the opposition Pheu Thai party's chances, especially since its polling lead is already expanding. However, to achieve a victory significant enough to enable Pheu Thai to select Thailand's next prime minister, the party would need to control enough of the 400-seat House to override the 250-seat military-appointed Senate.
Background: Early House dissolution triggers a niche election rule allowing party defectors a shortened 30-day window to be with their new parties before being eligible to run for office, whereas allowing the term to expire naturally just a few days later on March 24 would have extended that window to 90 days. RTSC has taken in dozens of defectors from the PPRP and other parties.
Taiwan: Third Party Could Hand 2024 Elections to Opposition, Improving Cross-Strait Ties
What Happened: A number of polls over the week of March 13 showed that the third-party Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je, had heavy support from younger Taiwanese, who are a traditional support base of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan News reported on March 19.
Why It Matters: The TPP is not on track to win the January 2024 presidential election, but it could split the DPP's voter base, helping the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which favors closer relations with China, win the race. This could improve cross-strait relations, and it would reduce, but not eliminate, Beijing's willingness to use economic coercion against Taiwan. The economic drivers of Taiwanese voters' dissatisfaction with Taipei, however, would persist under the KMT, highlighting the potential for a KMT president to be hampered by a split legislature and/or low public support.
Background: A My-Formosa poll from March 17-18 showed 45% of voters aged 20-29 supporting Ko compared with 22% supporting DPP candidate William Lai. Similarly, Ko led in the 30-39 age group with 33.7%, followed by Lai's 30.7%.
Prolonged Unrest May Hamper IMF Bailout Program
What Happened: A Pakistani court canceled former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest warrant after his supporters clashed with police outside of a judicial complex at which Khan appeared as part of the cases against him, CNN reported on March 18. The police subsequently charged Khan and several leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party with terrorism.
Why It Matters: The political showdown between Khan and the government may result in more violent clashes between Khan's supporters and the police in the coming weeks. Because this volatility is close to Pakistan's general elections that will occur later in 2023, the country could experience policy uncertainty, which could hamper the implementation of austerity measures mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a prerequisite for its $6 billion bailout program. Without the IMF funds, Pakistan's economic crisis would continue unabated, which would increase the risk of social unrest.
Background: Police and Khan's supporters clashed violently on March 14 at his residence when police came to arrest Khan over a corruption case. The confrontation ended when a court order stalled Khan's arrest.
France: Government, Pension Reform Bill Survive No-Confidence Votes
What Happened: The French government survived two no-confidence motions following President Emmanuel Macron's decision to invoke article 49.3 of the French constitution to pass his unpopular pension reform plan through Parliament without a vote, Le Monde reported on March 20. Meanwhile, disruptive strikes and violent protests against the reform continue across the country.
Why It Matters: Although the government and its pension reform bill survived the no-confidence votes, Macron's need to invoke special constitutional powers to pass his reform bill has significantly weakened his ability to work with Parliament. Against this backdrop, the president may still ask Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to resign over the coming days in a government reshuffle aimed at regaining political support. However, Macron's damaged reformist agenda and weakened leadership mean any government under his presidency will struggle to pass legislation. Popular opinion is also against Macron, and France will experience a large-scale coordinated strike against the reform on March 23 that is expected to paralyze the country.
Background: The French government does not control a majority of seats in Parliament's lower house, which means Macron needs support from opposition lawmakers to pass its legislation. Both no-confidence motions would have required a minimum of 287 votes to pass, which was not expected since almost half of the 61 center-right Republicans lawmakers in the lower house would have had to vote in favor of the motion, despite their leader pledging to back the government.
Sri Lanka: International Monetary Fund Approves Bailout
What Happened: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $2.9 billion bailout plan for Sri Lanka, BBC reported on March 20. The 48-month extended fund facility will start with an immediate disbursement of $333 million.
Why It Matters: The IMF's approval will facilitate Sri Lanka's access to financial assistance from other bilateral and multilateral lenders, as well as domestic efforts to raise funds by selling stakes in national assets. These forthcoming funds will enable the country to buy essential imports and move toward economic recovery in the coming months. However, the Sri Lankan government's continued implementation of unpopular austerity measures and even more complex upcoming debt restructuring negotiations with bilateral creditors may disrupt future IMF support.
Background: Sri Lanka and the IMF agreed on a $2.9 billion provisional loan in September 2022, but the government had to implement austerity measures and get assurances from bilateral creditors for debt restructuring before the IMF approved the loan. Colombo officially defaulted on its foreign debt in April 2022 due to the previous government's economic mismanagement combined with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global: Drastic Emissions Reductions Needed to Hit Paris Climate Goals
What Happened: The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned there was a rapidly closing window for addressing climate change, saying global warming will likely exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius during the 2030s, AP reported on March 20. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on wealthy countries to try to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by around 2040.
Why It Matters: The IPCC report will put more pressure on governments to make more concrete commitments to reduce emissions in the coming years. However, the IPCC will not release its next report until 2027, and the lengthy gap between major IPCC report releases could reduce pressure on governments from scientists at such a critical time for climate change, likely resulting in less action than what the IPCC believes is necessary. Additionally, many wealthy countries appear unlikely to meet Guterres' call, as most Western nations — with a few exceptions like Finland, Germany and Sweden — have set their net-zero carbon emissions goal as late as 2050, and two major emitters — China and India — have goals beyond 2050.
Background: The IPCC's scientists said there was a "feasible, but narrow pathway" to avoid the worst effects of climate change, but doing so would require cutting greenhouse gasses by 43% globally by 2030 and 60% by 2035, with even higher CO2 emissions reductions. The report warns that implementing current policies announced by governments would result in global warming reaching an estimated 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Jordan, Israel: Comments by Far-Right Israeli Politician Spark Diplomatic Tension
What Happened: Jordan's foreign minister summoned Israel's ambassador over Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's March 19 remarks that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian people," as well as his use of a banner that showed a far-right map of "Greater Israel," which included territory now controlled by Jordan, Axios reported on March 20. Israel's government said it disavowed Smotrich's map and respected Jordan's territorial integrity.
Why It Matters: Far-right members of the Israeli government will continue to upset Israeli-Arab ties, potentially leading to diplomatic disruptions or downgrades, even with friendly countries like the United Arab Emirates. Far-right comments and policies, like a visit by Smotrich or far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount holy site in Jerusalem, could even spark violence abroad, particularly in Jordan or Egypt.
Background: Jordan-Israel ties are often strained because of Israeli pro-settlement policies and incidents at the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount, as Jordan helps Israel manage the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque at the site. While Jordan is a key partner of Israel, Jordanian public sympathies remain with Palestinians.
U.K.: Northern Ireland's Unionists to Vote Against U.K.-EU Windsor Framework
What Happened: Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will unanimously vote against the U.K.-EU "Windsor Framework" that would end outstanding issues concerning post-Brexit trade arrangements between the European Union and the United Kingdom concerning Northern Ireland, Bloomberg reported on March 20.
Why It Matters: The DUP's opposition does not endanger parliamentary approval of the framework since the opposition Labour Party has pledged to support the agreement. And while some hard-line Brexiteers within the United Kingdom's ruling Conservative Party may be reluctant to approve the framework due to the DUP's oppositional stance, these hardliners' fading influence and overall Brexit fatigue make an internal rebellion over the deal unlikely. This is especially true since eventual early elections following a government crisis would most likely lead to a landslide victory from the opposition Labour Party. Meanwhile, since the DUP has so far refused to form a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland with the republican Sinn Fein party over post-Brexit trade disagreements, its rejection of the very framework intended to solve those disagreements indicates that the party will continue to resist forming a government.
Background: The DUP's statement comes ahead of a first parliamentary vote on March 22 in the British House of Commons on the Windsor Framework, to which Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed in February.
Argentina: Government Intervenes in Private Energy Company
What Happened: Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa announced a temporary state intervention in energy distribution company Edesur, which is privately owned by Italian company Enel, Deutsche Welle reported on March 20. Argentina's National Electricity Regulation Entity will take control of Edesur for 180 days to monitor compliance with the agreement the country has with the company, as well as to improve the overall service of the company.
Why It Matters: The temporary takeover of Edesur demonstrates that the leftist Argentine government is willing to intervene in privately-owned companies, potentially renewing expropriation concerns for companies operating in the country. These concerns could spook potential investors in Argentina's energy market, possibly undermining the government's efforts to increase incentives for the private sector to enter the Vaca Muerta shale play.
Background: The takeover comes after tens of thousands of homes lost power on March 2 for several days in the middle of a heat wave. Edenor and Edesur have controlled energy distribution to the capital city of Buenos Aires and the broader Buenos Aires province since the privatization of the service in 1992.
Indonesia: Jakarta Passes Controversial Jobs Law to Boost Foreign Investment
What Happened: Indonesia's House of Representatives voted to pass President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's emergency jobs decree into law, The Jakarta Post reported on March 21. The law seeks to streamline investment processes, enhance labor competitiveness and cut down on bureaucratic red tape, but it also lowers severance benefits, institutes new minimum wage limits and removes some mandatory paid leave.
Why It Matters: The new law will pick up where Indonesia's controversial and recently revoked November 2020 Omnibus Law on Job Creation left off, solidifying its provisions and reducing regulatory uncertainty. The government has credited the 2020 law with Indonesia's 44% increase in foreign direct investment in 2022, and the newest version of the law will likely attract even more foreign investors looking for favorable laws and regulations in Southeast Asia's largest economy. However, provisions that are unfavorable to workers will lead to protests and sustained political opposition.
Background: Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that the Omnibus Law on Job Creation was "conditionally unconstitutional" in 2021. Jokowi subsequently issued a presidential decree in December 2022 to maintain the provisions of the struck-down omnibus law.
Ethiopia: Officials Condemn U.S. Allegations That 'All Sides' Committed War Crimes
What Happened: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 20 that all sides of the Tigrayan war — including the Ethiopian National Defense Force, the Eritrean Defense Forces, Amhara regional militias and Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) combatants — committed war crimes during the two-year civil war, Reuters reported the next day. The Ethiopian foreign affairs ministry called Blinken's remarks "inflammatory," "untimely" and "unwarranted."
Why It Matters: Ethiopia's condemnation of Blinken's remarks on the war indicates that the post-war reconciliation process is unlikely to include accountability mechanisms, which is unsurprising but will likely inhibit national cohesion over the long term. While in the short term, the cessation of hostilities signed in November 2022 shows no signs of breaking down, peacebuilding research shows that post-conflict reconstruction processes without accountability mechanisms tend to break down in the long run, meaning crimes committed during this most recent iteration of fighting will likely sustain generations-old grievances between ethnic Amharas and ethnic Tigrayans.
Background: The United Nations, United Kingdom-based nongovernmental organization Amnesty International, U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch and other human rights bodies have documented human rights violations by all sides, including extra-judicial killings, rapes, looting and forced displacement.
Japan: Kishida Visits Ukraine, Highlights Japan's Expanding Global Security Role
What Happened: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine, on a previously unannounced visit to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Reuters reported on March 21. Japan's Foreign Ministry claimed Kishida was there to "pay tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people" for defending their homeland, as well as "firmly reject Russia's aggression" and "reaffirm our determination to defend the international order based on the rule of law."
Why It Matters: Kishida's visit is indicative of Tokyo's increased willingness to take an active role in global security, with Japan also expanding its own military budget to push back against China's growing military role in the Western Pacific. Japan's security engagement with the world will continue to generally align with the security interests of the United States, as evidenced by the Kyiv visit and Tokyo's budding rapprochement with Seoul, which is aimed at responding to China's expanding role in the region and North Korea's military provocations.
Background: Kishida just finished a trip to India to bolster Indo-Pacific security and Japan's economic investment and infrastructure portfolio in South and Southeast Asia, partially as a means of economic competition with China.
Nigeria: Main Parties Dominate Gubernatorial Elections as Labour Party Challenges Presidential Election
What Happened: Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party and main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) dominated the country's gubernatorial elections on March 18, with the APC winning 15 states, the PDP winning seven states and the Labour Party winning one state, Reuters reported on March 21. On the same day, Peter Obi, the Labour Party's failed presidential candidate, filed a court petition challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.
Why It Matters: The strong showing by the ruling APC in the gubernatorial elections will very likely strengthen the mandate of president-elect Bola Tinubu (the APC's candidate), which was uncertain following the Labour Party's strong support in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory during the presidential election. On the other hand, Labour Party supporters' disappointment in the gubernatorial elections and the high likelihood that the Supreme Court will reject Obi's petition will likely deepen political disenfranchisement among Nigeria's youth and reinforce disenchantment with the central government in Nigeria's southeast. These factors could lead separatist groups to dig in over the coming years.
Background: The APC won gubernatorial elections in states including Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Lagos, Kwara, Niger, Yobe, Nasarawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, Benue, Kaduna and Borno, while the PDP won Plateau, Bauchi, Oyo, Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. The New Nigeria People's Party won Kano. The results of the elections in Abia and Enugu states were delayed following disputes between the Labour Party and the PDP over results from some local government areas.
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This Day in U S Military History
22 March
1621 – The Plymouth Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe lead by Chief Massassoit reach a treaty agreement. They form a defensive alliance. Squanto, who speaks English because he had been captured by the English in 1615 and spent two years in England, brokers the pact.
1622 – The Powhattan Confederacy massacred 347-350 colonists in Virginia, a quarter of the population. On Good Friday over 300 colonists in and around Jamestown, Virginia, were massacred by the Powhatan Indians. The massacre was led by the Powhatan chief Opechancanough and began a costly 22-year war against the English. Opechancanough hoped that killing one quarter of Virginia's colonists would put an end to the European threat. The result of the massacre was just the opposite, however, as English survivors regrouped and pushed the Powhattans far into the interior. Opechancanough launched his final campaign in 1644, when he was nearly 100 years old and almost totally blind. He was then captured and executed.
1945 – The carriers of US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) are attacked by Japanese Kamikaze aircraft that fail to achieve significant success. However, it is noted that many of the attacks are made by manned rocket bombs. Admiral Spruance, commanding the US 5th Fleet, is present for the operations.
1953 – Chinese forces, supported by artillery and mortar fire, assaulted Hill Hedy and Bunker Hill. Hand-to-hand combat ensued before the enemy was finally forced to disengage.
1991 – A US warplane shot down a second Iraqi jet fighter that had violated the cease-fire ending the Persian Gulf War.
2003 – In the 4th day of Operation Iraqi Freedom intermittent explosions were heard throughout the day in Baghdad and by late afternoon at least 12 huge columns of smoke could be seen rising from all along the southern horizon of the city. US and British forces reached half way to Baghdad and British forces were left surrounding Basra. Special operations forces have taken control of an airfield in western Iraq and secured several border positions. Major-General Stanley McChrystal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announces that US ships and warplanes have hit Iraq with 500 cruise missiles and several hundred precision weapons.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
McNERNEY, DAVID H.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place and date: polei Doc, Republic of Vietnam, 22 March 1967. Entered service at: Fort Bliss, Tex. Born: 2 June 1931, Lowell, Mass. Citation: 1st Sgt. McNerney distinguished himself when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese battalion near polei Doc. Running through the hail of enemy fire to the area of heaviest contact, he was assisting in the development of a defensive perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed the enemy but was painfully injured when blown from his feet by a grenade. In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun position that had pinned down 5 of his comrades beyond the defensive line. Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been killed, he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within 20 meters of the position in a daring measure to repulse enemy assaults. When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved into a nearby clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. In spite of enemy fire he remained exposed until he was certain the position was spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel to its highest branches. Then he moved among his men readjusting their position, encouraging the defenders and checking the wounded. As the hostile assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to evacuate the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he crawled outside the relative safety of his perimeter to collect demolition material from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he returned with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing zone. Disregarding the pain of his injury and refusing medical evacuation 1st Sgt. McNerney remained with his unit until the next day when the new commander arrived. First Sgt. McNerney's outstanding heroism and leadership were inspirational to his comrades. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 22, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
22 March
1915: "Naval Aviator" replaced the former "Navy Air Pilot" designation for naval aviators. (24)
1944: Through 23 March, Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupted and buried Pompeii airdrome, where the 340 BG conducted operations against retreating German forces. Lava cinders destroyed or damaged some 88 B-25s in what may have been the worst single loss of aircraft in the war. (5)
1946: Douglas built America's first rocket to escape earth's atmosphere. It reached 50 miles in altitude. (24)
1948: Lockheed T-33 Tee Bird (the TF-80C) made its first flight. (5)
1950: First four of 70 B-29s, called the Washington in British service, for the Royal Air Force (RAF) under the Atlantic Pact arms aid program reached Marham, England. (24)
1957: Lt Ralph S. Barnett (USN) flew an A3D Skywarrior to an unofficial coast-to-coast speed record of 3 hours 39 minutes 24 seconds for the 2,076-mile flight from Burbank to Miami. (24)
1962: The first Minuteman to be launched at night from a silo at Cape Canaveral flew 4,000 miles. (24)
1962: Following reports that unidentified aircraft had been spotted flying over South Vietnam, four Convair F-102 Delta Daggers are deployed to Tan Son Nhut AB in South Vietnam from their bases in the Philippines.
1963: The National Rocket Club presented the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy to Astronaut (Lt Col) John H. Glenn, USMC, for advancing missile, rocket, and space flight programs. (5) (16)
1966: The UK ordered 10 F-111s and components for 40 more aircraft. (16)
1967: A B-52 base is established at U-Tapao, Thailand to absorb overflow bombers from Andersen AB, Guam, here more than 150 BUFFs cover the Andersen AB ramp
1976: A U-2 reconnaissance plane left U-Tapao Airfield, Thailand, and became the last SAC aircraft to leave SEA. In February 1964, a U-2 also became first SAC aircraft deployed to the area. (1) Davis-Monthan AFB received the first A-10 for operational testing and evaluation. (11)
1982: Through 30 March, the Space Shuttle Columbia completed its third mission. That third launch made it the first three-time spacecraft in history. Pilots Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton also successfully landed the Columbia at White Sands, when heavy winter rains made Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB unusable. (3)
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