To All
Good Thursday Morning August 10 2023.
I hope that your week has been going well.
Regards,
Skip
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This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History:
August 10
1812 The frigate USS Constitution captures and burns the brig, HMS Lady Warren, off Cape Race, off Labrador, Canada.
1831 The U.S. flag gains the nickname of Old Glory from William Driver, master of the brig USS Charles Daggert.
1916 The first naval aircraft production contract begins when the Bureau of Construction and Repair contacts Glenn H. Curtiss via telegram asking him to supply 30 school hydro aeroplanes. The N-9s become the Navy's most popular training aircraft during World War I.
1921 The Bureau of Aeronautics is established by General Order. Medal of Honor recipient, Rear Adm. William Moffett is the first Bureau Chief.
1942 Off Kavieng, New Ireland, USS S-44 (SS 155) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese cruiser, Kako, as she retires from the Battle of Savo Island.
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This Day in WorldHistory
August 10
0955 Otto organizes his nobles and defeats the invading Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld in Germany.
1539 King Francis of France declares that all official documents are to be written in French, not Latin.
1557 French troops are defeated by Emmanuel Philibert's Spanish army at St. Quentin, France.
1582 Russia ends its 25-year war with Poland.
1628 The Swedish warship Vasa capsizes and sinks in Stockholm harbor on her maiden voyage.
1779 Louis XVI of France frees the last remaining serfs on royal land.
1831 William Driver of Salem, Massachusetts, is the first to use the term "Old Glory" in connection with the American flag, when he gives that name to a large flag aboard his ship, the Charles Daggett.
1846 The Smithsonian Institution is established in Washington through the bequest of James Smithson.
1864 Confederate Commander John Bell Hood sends his cavalry north of Atlanta to cut off Union General William Sherman's supply lines.
1911 The House of Lords in Great Britain gives up its veto power, making the House of Commons the more powerful House.
1913 The Treaty of Bucharest ends the Second Balkan War.
1941 Great Britain and the Soviet Union promise aid to Turkey if it is attacked by the Axis Powers.
1949 National Military Establishment renamed Department of Defense.
1950 President Harry S. Truman calls the National Guard to active duty to fight in the Korean War.
1954 The groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Lawrence Seaway is held at Massena, New York.
1954 English jockey Sir Gordon Richards retires with a world-record total of 4,870 victories, later broken by Johnny Longden of the United States. Richards was the first jockey ever to be knighted.
1960 NASA launches Discoverer 13 satellite; it would become the first object ever recovered from orbit.
1970 Rocker Jim Morrison tried in Miami on "lewd & lascivious behavior." Although convicted and sentenced to jail, he was free on bond while his case was being appealed when he dies in Paris, July 3, 1971.
1975 David Frost purchases the exclusive rights to interview Richard Nixon.
1977 US and Panama sign Panama Canal Zone accord, guaranteeing Panama would have control of the canal after 1999.
1997 The last British troops leave Hong Kong. After 156 years of British rule, the island is returned to China.
2003 For the first time ever, temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit when thermometers hit 101.3 F (38.5 Celsius) at Kent.
2006 All toiletries are banned from commercial airplanes after Scotland Yard disrupts a a major terrorist plot involving liquid explosives. After a few weeks, the toiletries ban was modified.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
Thanks to THE BEAR
Subject: ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED… 8 AUGUST
Skip… For The List for Thursday, 10 August 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 10 August 1968…
A book—The Betrayal: Pertinent then, and pertinent now and forever…
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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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Devil's advocate was once an actual position in the Catholic Church.
The term "devil's advocate" is a familiar label for someone who argues a position they don't agree with just to make a point, but its origins are more literal than you might expect. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V established the position of advocatus diaboli, or "devil's advocate," as part of the process of beatification or canonization — aka becoming a saint. The devil's advocate was the church's skeptic, picking apart stories of reported "miracles" and more to argue against someone's sainthood. The advocate had to be present for any part of the sainthood process to be considered valid. However, the title was primarily a popular moniker — the position's official designation was the "promoter of the faith," or promotor fidei.
For hundreds of years, sainthood was relatively rare, but Pope John Paul II (head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005) believed the church needed more examples of sanctity, so he effectively abolished the position of devil's advocate in 1983 as part of a revision of the canonization procedures. He also shortened the posthumous waiting period for saints from 50 years after death to just five years. These and other changes ushered in an unprecedented number of new saints. In the 600 years before John Paul II, around 300 people were declared saints. In the less than three decades of his papacy, John Paul II oversaw the canonization of 482 saints. The current pope, Pope Francis, has continued this new tradition by canonizing nearly 900 people (including Mother Teresa, Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman, and Swiss seamstress Marguerite Bays) — whether the devil likes it or not.
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St. Patrick was not Irish (or named Patrick).
Many saints predate the canonization process, which was created in the early Middle Ages. One of these saints is St. Patrick, the holy mascot of that famous day in March. But contrary to popular belief, St. Patrick wasn't Irish at all. He was born in Britain around the fourth century CE, and given the name Maewyn Succat. Eventually he made his way to Ireland, where he became a Christian priest and took the name Patrick, derived from the Latin word "pater," meaning "father." Patrick's extensive missionary work did take place on the Emerald Isle (back in the fifth century CE, Ireland mostly practiced a form of Celtic polytheism), but mischaracterizations continue beyond just his name and hometown. Patrick had no documented love of shamrocks or intense hatred of snakes; many of these well-known tales were created centuries after his death.
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Thanks to Shadow and Black
Skip,
I finally got Jim "Black" Lucas to write about the barstool and case of Primo. As you know, Jim was the Black in Black Shadow Aviation… spent some of the best years of my life with Jim as my running mate at BSA. Jim is a great but reluctant writer. Been after him for years to open up. Now that we've broken the ice, maybe we can get him to write more… trust me, he's one of a kind! And if he'll do it, I'd love for him to write about his and Tom "Trees" Morgenfeld's appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Trees and Black were selected to fly the YF-17 and were called to testify about it. Hint… Black had a hilarious interchange during the Q&A… with Senator Gary Hart… a classic case of "What we have here is a failure to communicate". A Politician's failure to understand blunt Marine speak. LMAO! Wish I could have been there for that.
Shadow
From: James L Lucas <j.l.l.43@icloud.com>
Skip,
Am writing this at the request Roy Stafford (Shadow) who was always amused when I recalled the story - hence thought I should share this with some on your list, in particular those who remember the MCAS Kaneohe Bay Officers' Club in the late 60's - 80's.
THE Barstool and a case of Primo
In the spring of 1968, after a tour at Danang, I joined VMF-212 (with F-8 Bravos) at MCAS Kaneohe Bay on the windward side of Oahu. At the time there was but one fighter squadron at the base.
A couple of months later we started transferring our Crusaders in preparation for the transition to F-4's. Larry Adkinson & I flew 212's last two F-8's to NAS Barbers Pt on May 2nd. Shortly after, the the Navy transferred them out.
A small group of us (pilots) then went to NAS Miramar for a short NAMO (sp?) course, after which we returned to K-Bay. By early June the squadron had joined several F-4 pilots & RIO's returning from WestPac tours. Other than those of us who went to NAMO the rest of the squadron's F-8 pilots were PCS'd elsewhere. That included Adkinson, which was probably for the best since both of us had "Black" as a callsign.
We did not go through the F-4 RAG at Miramar.
In June of 68 we began transitioning to F-4J's at NAS Barbers Pt given K-Bay's single runway was closed for scheduled repairs/resurfacing. Suffice to say, several of our squadron "instructors" were bemused with our (F-8 guys) antics around the field.
As an aside, 212 was not scheduled to receive its first Phantoms until later in the year. That changed when then CG, FMFPAC "Brute" Krulak wanted F-4's for a fly by at his upcoming retirement ceremony at K-Bay.
It was held on the flight line adjacent to the old seaplane ramps, constructed when PBY Catalinas were stationed at then NAS Kaneohe.
I have no idea how it happened, but there I stood in front of the throng of probably 2000 guests at the COC with microphone in hand emceeing the whole shitteree, no doubt thinking WTFO the entire time.
The squadron had been re-designated as VMFA-212 by then, which then gave us the green light to bomb pesky goats on the island of Kahoolawe, birds on Ka'ula Rock south-southeast of Niihau, and cockroaches at the National Guard's Pahakuloa Training Area near Mauna Loa on the Big Island.
VMFA-235 came aboard in September of 68, also transitioning from F-8's. Two years later in September, 1970, VMFA122 became the third Phantom squadron at K-Bay. It was one exciting and happening place.
During this time Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Lou Legarie then stationed at K-Bay, commenced running the Officer's Club while still on active duty. He continued running the club well into retirement from the avy for over 20 years.
If one drove by the hospital at 0800 you could not miss Lou's sailors in formation as he inspected them like a Marine Drill Instructor would.
You WILL be impressed reading Lou's biography and obituary (links at bottom).
That K-Bay tour for me lasted 3 1/2 years, all in 212, through five CO's.
Today, it seems surreal: a 24 year-old bachelor driving a new Jaguar XKE roadster, living at a "Snake Ranch" at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains across the bay, racing about in a motorcycle and flying the best the Marine Corps had at one of the best air stations in the Corps.
Of course, I did throttle back a bit after marrying one of Lou's bartenders in 1970 … no more 140 mph jaunts on the Kahekili Hwy past the Valley of the Temples.
I did see Lou a couple of times in 1976 and 1977 while head of the MAWTUPAC's F-4 Branch while on K-Bay dets to ACT(I) certify F-4 crews.
The last time I saw Lou was in March of 1984 when, as CO of VMFA-531 we flew four F/A-18's armed with live Sidewinders and Sparrows from MCAS EL Toro to K-Bay by way of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands.
We utilized a USAF KC-10 tanker crossing the "pond" and a Marine KC-130 loitering in the Barking Sands Restricted area to top us off while waiting for target drones to be launched.
Sidewinders and Sparrows were successfully launched using scenarios coordinated with VX-4; not just straight & level canned launches.
We landed at K-Bay and logged 8.6 hours since takeoff at El Toro.
It was the first F/A-18 Hornet TransPac as well as the most flight time logged for F/A-18 single sorties at that time.
Finally we're at THE Barstool and case of Primo segment -
After we landed at K-Bay the O'Club was our (well, at least my) first stop. While on my first beer someone tapped me on the shoulder & said "Lou Legarie wants to see you in his office downstairs."
So I obliged. While the two of us were exchanging pleasantries, one of his assistants entered the room dragging an old worn bar stool and case of Primo beer.
Lou gleefully exclaimed, "I knew you would be back one of these days. I saved the exact seat you always sat in at the bar when we remodeled the club a few years ago and a case of Primo they no longer make."
That meant more to me than winning the lottery!
We remained at K-Bay for another week or so flying dissimilar air-to-air vs two F-4 squadrons. It was a great experience for all of us, including our six nuggets.
The bar stool and case of Primo arrived safely at MCAS El Toro in our pack up.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit now MCB Kaneohe, check out the O'Club which has a room dedicated to him. Lift a glass to a Sailor man who spent 19 of his 20 years in the Navy with Marines!
Sadly, Lou passed away on September 10, 2020 at the age of 95. He is buried at the Miramar National Cemetery.
His biography and obituary are quite something!
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/385883/his-marines-called-him-gunny
https://obituaries.stripes.com/obituary/mr-warren-lou-g-legarie
Sadly, the bar stool and case of Primo were lost in a divorce :-(
Black
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Thanks to Mugs
Subject: TOMORROW HAS ARRIVED
Lest We Forget;
Most Already Have!
SHAME, SHAME!!
SUBJECT: TOMORROW HAS ARRIVED
HISTORY......tells us many things.... who'll remember it in 10 years, if it's not taught at home (forget the school system) ??
Now it is clear why the media hardly relays this.
Maybe this will explain why General Eisenhower warned us.
It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.
He did this because he said in words to this effect: 'Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.
This week, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims it never occurred. It is not removed as yet. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.
It is now more than 70 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated' while many in the world looked the other way!
Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.
This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people! Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute this around the world.
How many years will it be before the attack on the World Trade Center 'NEVER HAPPENED', because it offends some Muslims?
Do not just delete this message; it will take only a minute to pass this along.
Remember when all classrooms had an American flag in them?
Do they even teach our children about the World Trade Center attacks in 1993 and 2001, or did it go the way of Pearl Harbor and Veterans Day?
Don't even mention Christmas or Hanukkah or prayers in school. Many schools no longer recite the Pledge of Allegiance and many children do not know the words to our National Anthem, or that we even have one!
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Thanks to Boris
I watched a show on the history channel last night on Guadalcanal and even though I have read about it and had a lot of items in the List over the years including the H-Grams from Admiral Cox I agree with Boris' statement below because it was a close run thing and could have gone south a number of times.
Skip,
Thanks for the recent add from my series 1942; The Year of the Carrier related to Guadalcanal and the beginning of Close Air Support. CAS was a tough mission to accomplish in those days due to mostly lack of communications capability and the endless "mother-may-I" loops you had to go through.
In that regard, a couple of things:
• I became a reader on the Battle of Midway as a teenager after reading Walter Lord's book Incredible Victory and have continued that pursuit now over 50 years. May have noted before that when I was stashed at Mugu after getting my wings in Sept 69 my boss was a LCDR/past enlisted aviator/past radioman-gunner in Bombing Six and on that first strike against the Japanese carriers and the NMC commander, Adm Lewis Hopkins had been an Ensign flying Dauntless #13 in VB-6 also. I've told that story on the site so won't repeat here. That interest was a big factor in starting the 1942 series but…
• While I consider myself well read on Midway, was surprised at how low my knowledge level was on the Guadalcanal campaign. My original intent was a handful of posts on the four carrier battles – Coral Sea, Midway, Eastern Solomons , and Santa Cruz Islands. Once I started research/reading on the last two battles, I realized how much I didn't know about how tightly interwoven the land, sea, air aspects were nor how the air piece of land/sea was so intertwined. Indeed I probably separated Cactus as land and CV ops as sea to the extent that I was missing an awful lot. Anyway the series went from 5-6 posts to 30.
• Along the way also found information on a long distance relative William Morris Beakley who was the CAG on Wasp and directed all the air support on the first day over Tulagi. He was a former Wildcat CO and went on to command our USS Midway and eventually Seventh Fleet. I knew about him from my Dad, but had very little detail. This post from the series discusses him at the end: http://rememberedsky.com/?p=2283
• Of all the stuff I've posted on rememberedsky since 2012, the 42 series received by far the most readers and comments including recommendations to turn it into a book. I have consolidated the posts into a word document, but there's a lot of difference in computer/internet posts and a book. Biggest problem is all the pictures I used and properly noting references/bookmarks. I "borrowed" a lot from really legit writers and historians and tried religiously to give credit but did not document like a history book.
• Have looked into self-publishing a bit but don't know if I can pull this off. Thought now is self-publish with print on demand. A publisher told me I can probably get by with small numbers without big documentation "mother-may I's" which would just be a killer.
• Final two points (sorry for the length here… I'm sending similar type e-mail to a few folks like Barrett Tillman for thoughts)
o For me the CV ops of 42 are the real core of carrier aviation: 1) incorporation of the 20s and 30s battle problems lessons learned, 2) reasonable warfighting capability (Wildcat, Dauntless) and 3) operations to hold-the line until 43 and the Essex class CVs, 4) development of technology and operations that made CV aviation what it became by 44/45; and the basis for everything Naval Aviation does today
o With China's efforts and threat of war in South China Sea, worth revisiting the whole island chain philosophy. Indeed I have multiple articles indicating China is studying that subject in depth.
Closing, I know you have plenty of ammo for the List, but one focus point for the rest of the year could be a piece here or there on Guadalcanal and how those ops have influenced carrier aviation. I know Adm Cox has pieces and all of my stuff is yours for the taking.
Just a thought and very open to any thoughts.
Fly Navy, THE BEST ALWAYS HAVE
Boris
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This Day in U S Military History…….10 August
1680 – The Pueblo Revolt, an uprising of most of the Pueblo Indians against the Spanish colonizers in the province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, present day New Mexico, begins. The Pueblo killed 400 Spanish and drove the remaining 2,000 settlers out of the province. Twelve years later the Spanish returned and were able to reoccupy New Mexico with little opposition.
1942 – An American submarine sinks the Japanese heavy cruiser Kako while it was returning to Rabual after the battle at Savo Island.
1943 – Another Allied amphibious operation is carried out on the north coast. Forces land at Brolo, east of Cape Orlando. The Germans again fall back.
1944 – On Guam, American forces have secured the island. Insignificant groups of Japanese continue their resistance. American casualties amount to 7000, including 1300 killed. Only 100 Japanese prisoners have been taken, out of a garrison estimated at over 10,000 men.
1944 – US 3rd Army continues attacking. The US 8th Corps, in Brittany, has cleared St. Malo and Dinard of their German garrisons. The US 20th Corps captures Nantes and reaches the Loire River near Nantes. The US 15th Corps advances toward Alencon from Le Mans. German forces around Mortain pull back because of pressure from US 1st Army and the growing threat of encirclement from the converging Canadian and American armies.
1945 – US and British battleships bombard the city of Kimaishi, cocentrating on the steel mills.
1945 – US aircraft strike strategic targets on Honshu. In an effort to destroy Japanese aircraft moved to northern Honshu Island, US and British carrier aircraft attack airfields in continuous waves. A total of 34 Allied aircraft are lost, while 397 Japanese aircraft are claimed destroyed and 320 damaged
1945 – Just a day after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan submits its acquiescence to the Potsdam Conference terms of unconditional surrender, as President Harry S. Truman orders a halt to atomic bombing. Emperor Hirohito, having remained aloof from the daily decisions of prosecuting the war, rubber-stamping the decisions of his War Council, including the decision to bomb Pearl Harbor, finally felt compelled to do more. At the behest of two Cabinet members, the emperor summoned and presided over a special meeting of the Council and implored them to consider accepting the terms of the Potsdam Conference, which meant unconditional surrender. "It seems obvious that the nation is no longer able to wage war, and its ability to defend its own shores is doubtful." The Council had been split over the surrender terms; half the members wanted assurances that the emperor would maintain his hereditary and traditional role in a postwar Japan before surrender could be considered. But in light of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, Nagasaki on August 9, and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, as well as the emperor's own request that the Council "bear the unbearable," it was agreed: Japan would surrender. Tokyo released a message to its ambassadors in Switzerland and Sweden, which was then passed on to the Allies. The message formally accepted the Potsdam Declaration but included the proviso that "said Declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as sovereign ruler." When the message reached Washington, President Truman, unwilling to inflict any more suffering on the Japanese people, especially on "all those kids," ordered a halt to atomic bombing, He also wanted to know whether the stipulation regarding "His Majesty" was a deal breaker. Negotiations between Washington and Tokyo ensued. Meanwhile, savage fighting continued between Japan and the Soviet Union in Manchuria.
1950 – The first Marine Corps helicopter rescue of a downed pilot was successfully made by VMO-6.
1966 – Troops of the First Battalion, Fifth Marines fight a bitter battle against NVA forces in Quang Tin province, 60 miles west of Tam Ky. In Thailand, a U.S.-built air base is opened in Sattahib. Ultimately, there would be five major airbases and over 49,000 U.S. military personnel in Thailand. The bases would be turned over to the Thais and the U.S. troops withdrawn in 1973.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
BOQUET, NICHOLAS
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 1st lowa Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: Burlington, lowa. Born: 14 November 1842, Germany. Date of issue: 16 February 1897. Citation: Voluntarily left the line of battle, and, exposing himself to imminent danger from a heavy fire of the enemy, assisted in capturing a riderless horse at large between the lines and hitching him to a disabled gun, saved the gun from capture.
IMMELL, LORENZO D.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 2d U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Ross, Ohio. Date of issue: 19 July 1890. Citation: Bravery in action.
SCHOFIELD, JOHN M.
Rank and organization: Major, 1st Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 29 September 1831, Gerry, N.Y. Date of issue: 2 July 1892. Citation: Was conspicuously gallant in leading a regiment in a successful charge against the enemy.
WHERRY, WILLIAM M.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company D, 3d U.S. Reserve Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo. Born: 13 September 1836, St. Louis, Mo. Date of issue: 30 October 1895. Citation: Displayed conspicuous coolness and heroism in rallying troops that were recoiling under heavy fire.
WOOD, H. CLAY
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 11th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: Winthrop, Maine. Birth: Winthrop, Maine. Date of issue: 28 October 1893. Citation: Distinguished gallantry.
*MESTROVITCH, JAMES 1.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 111th Infantry, 28th Division. Place and date: At Fismette, France, 10 August 1918. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Birth: Montenegro. G.O. No.: 20, W.D., 1919. Citation: Seeing his company commander Iying wounded 30 yards in front of the line after his company had withdrawn to a sheltered position behind a stone wall, Sgt. Mestrovitch voluntarily left cover and crawled through heavy machinegun and shell fire to where the officer lay. He took the officer upon his back and crawled to a place of safety, where he administered first-aid treatment, his exceptional heroism saving the officer's life.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for 10 August, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
10 August
1912: Through 17 August at Bridgeport, Lts Thomas DeWitt Milling and Benjamin D. Foulois flew Signal Corps planes in Army maneuvers for the first time. (4) (24)
1914: Tony Jannus, a hydroairplane pilot of St. Petersburg-Tampa Airline, received the first government license issued in America for aircraft. (24)
1938: First Berlin to New York nonstop flight by a B-18 took 24 hours 54 minutes.
1950: KOREAN WAR. President Truman mobilized the first two AFRES units, the 437 TCW and the 452 BW, for Korean War service. The 22 BG, 92 BG, and 98 BG dispatched 46 B-29s to bomb an oil refinery and railroad shops at Wonsan, N. Korea. (21) (28)
1958: Seven F-101 Voodoo jets set a 5,933-mile distance record for formation flying by completing a flight from Austin, Tex., to Brentwood, England. (24)
1960: At Cape Canaveral, the first operationally configured Titan I launched successfully. (6)
1961: An F-105 lifted the largest load ever carried aloft by a single-engine aircraft in dropping over seven tons of conventional bombs on a target. (24)
1962: The DoD revealed that Lockheed's VZ-10 Hummingbird turbojet vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft built for the Army had completed its first flight. (24)
1965: Bell Aerosystems began the first scheduled hovercraft service in the US between Oakland and San Francisco. 1966: Lunar Orbiter I launched from Cape Kennedy, and 92 hours later it entered a lunar orbit to take photos of possible Apollo landing sites.
1967: Maj Bernard F. Fisher received the Cheney Award, given annually for an outstanding act of valor. He rescued a fellow pilot in Vietnam while under enemy fire. (See 10 March 1966) (16)
1968: The 375 AAW at Scott AFB received the first McDonnell-Douglas C-9A Nightingale. It was the first military aeromedical evacuation aircraft to be jet powered. (18)
1976: Boeing's YC-14 flew its maiden flight around Seattle. The Boeing YC-14 is a twin-engine, short take-off and landing (STOL), tactical military transport aircraft. It was Boeing's entrant into the USAF's Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition, which aimed to replace the Lockheed C-130 Hercules as the USAF's standard STOL tactical transport. Although both the YC-14 and the competing McDonnell Douglas YC-15 were successful, neither aircraft entered production. The AMST project ended in 1979 replaced by the C-X program.
1979: Through 17 August, MAC flew 31 C-141 missions from Lubumhashi, Zaire, to Rabat-Sale, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Lome, Togo; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to return 1,440 troops and 603.3 tons of cargo from a temporary Inter-African peacekeeping force in Zaire. (18)
1983: SECDEF Caspar W. Weinberger directed the USAF to deploy 100 Peacekeeper missiles in Minuteman Silos. (16) (26)
1988: Fighting between rebel and government forces in southern Sudan drove hundreds of thousands of people seeking food and shelter to refugee camps. At the request of the Sudanese government, the 60th and 436 MAWs flew humanitarian missions to furnish 70 tons of plastic sheeting for shelters in addition to food and other supplies. (26)
2006: NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB began flight tests on the Quiet Spike project to study the suppression of sonic booms. The tests involved NASA's F-15B fitted with a 24-foot-long retractable spike on its nose. The spike, built of composite materials, changed its length in flight to create three small shock waves traveling parallel to each other, all the way to the ground. (3)
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Thanks to Brett for keeping us in step with the world
Stratfor snippets - China, India, Russia, China/U.S., Russia/Ukraine, Iraq,
Stratfor Worldview
China: Floods, Heat Will Raise Grain Prices, Stoke Asian Food Insecurity
What Happened: China's northeastern province of Heilongjiang, a key grain-producing region, is experiencing heavy rains and flooding in the aftermath of Typhoon Doksuri, which pummeled the capital of Beijing and the surrounding Hebei province earlier the same week with the heaviest rainfall in 140 years, Reuters reported on Aug. 4.
Why It Matters: Extreme weather will hurt China's annual grain output, which will drive Chinese firms to purchase more grain in international markets, raising global rice prices that are already nearing decade highs. As a result, China's grain issues will stoke food insecurity and higher household expenditures, as well as potential unrest, in some of the poorer corners of Southeast Asia.
Background: This comes after a heatwave in July and early rains in June reduced China's summer harvest, which dropped 0.9% overall, the first dip since 2018. China's grain output topped 650 million tons in 2022, but Beijing aims to hit 700 million tons by 2025. India's July ban on non-basmati rice exports contributed to soaring global rice prices.
India: Supreme Court Suspends Opposition Leader's Defamation Conviction
What Happened: India's Supreme Court stayed Indian National Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi's defamation conviction, Hindustan Times reported on Aug. 4. The lower house's secretariat announced that it would consider revoking Gandhi's parliamentary suspension after it reviewed the Supreme Court's order.
Why It Matters: The stay on Gandhi's conviction paves the way for his return to Parliament and renews his ability to contest in elections, which would boost opposition morale ahead of remaining state assembly elections in 2023 and general elections in mid-2024. Nevertheless, political rivalries, policy differences and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's long-standing popularity will continue to challenge opposition parties' electoral prospects.
Background: The Supreme Court's decision follows several failed legal challenges filed by Gandhi in lower courts and, most recently, in the Gujarat state High Court. Gandhi was convicted of defamation in March for comments made during a 2019 campaign speech, in which he asked, "Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?" Gandhi was reportedly referencing banned cricket executive Lalit Modi, fugitive diamond tycoon Nirav Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conviction ultimately prompted his suspension from Parliament.
Russia: Legislator Proposes Harsher Punishment for Evasion of Military Service
What Happened: The head of Russia's defense affairs committee, Andrei Kartapolov, proposed a bill introducing criminal penalties for evading military service and conscription, TASS reported on Aug. 3. Other legislators have already expressed support for the bill, and the lower house will consider it in the fall.
Why It Matters: The bill's implementation would increase pressure on Russians to accept mobilization, though people would likely continue to find ways to evade military service, such as by offering more expensive bribes to officials. However, the bill also runs the risk of increasing public dissatisfaction, and with presidential elections approaching in March of 2024, popular disapproval could harm President Vladimir Putin in the polls. The fact that the Kremlin is pushing the bill anyway indicates that Russia's government is concerned that it will not have sufficient troops to continue the invasion of Ukraine in the long run.
Background: The proposal comes as draft evasion has become more common, with current penalties consisting of a small fine. The new bill looks to target this loophole and ensure that the Russian army receives its necessary reinforcements outside of volunteers. Kartapolov also reassured the public that no expanded mobilization efforts will take place in the fall.
China, U.S.: Working Groups on Asia, Broader Issues Under Consideration
What Happened: The United States and China are considering forming up to three working groups to discuss Asia-Pacific regional and maritime issues, as well as broader issues, the Financial Times reported on Aug. 4. However, a fourth Financial Times source warned that discussions were not finalized.
Why It Matters: If the working groups are finalized, it would signal the most notable expansion of U.S.-China dialogue channels since August 2022, and they would build momentum for a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November. In the meantime, still unconfirmed visits by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China and newly reinstated Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the United States could signal how likely these working groups (if formed) are to markedly improve bilateral ties and reduce room for unintentional escalation.
Background: U.S.-China communications rapidly deteriorated following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022, after which China canceled eight dialogue channels, including communications on military affairs, drug trafficking interdiction and climate change.
Russia, Ukraine: Kyiv Strikes Russian Naval Base on Black Sea
What Happened: Ukrainian naval drones attacked Russia's Black Sea naval base at the Novorossiysk port, damaging a large Russian naval vessel sufficiently to render it unable to carry out combat missions, Reuters reported on Aug. 4. However, the port's oil and grain export infrastructure, including a terminal to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, remain undamaged and operational.
Why It Matters: This is the first time Ukraine has targeted a Russian commercial port since the war began in February 2022, suggesting that this was a retaliatory strike over Russian bombardments on Ukraine's commercial ports in Odessa. With the attack occurring at a commercial port, it may also signal Kyiv's plans to threaten Russia's agricultural infrastructure and maritime transport capabilities, such as oil tankers and grain silos. Moreover, Kyiv intends to weaken Russia's naval capabilities and free up passage through the Black Sea, a strategy that will continue as long as Russia maintains its blockade of the Black Sea and attacks on Odessa. Meanwhile, shortages and economic struggles have hampered Russia's naval repair and reinforcement capabilities, making the Russian Black Sea fleet more vulnerable to Ukraine's attrition strategies.
Background: The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is responsible for transporting oil through Russia from a number of countries, especially Kazakhstan, which uses the pipeline to move more than 80% of its oil exports. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's navy and naval infrastructure have increased since Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17 and subsequent attacks on Ukrainian grain infrastructure. The Russian navy currently blocks transport across the Black Sea, discouraging shipping companies from risking journeys to Ukraine's Black Sea ports.
Russia: Navalny Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison <https://stratfor.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=74786417f9554984d314d06bd&id=511702471f&e=3969d849b4>
What Happened: Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in a "special regime" penal colony on charges of extremism, adding onto his 11.5 year term at a maximum security facility on a variety of charges, AP News reported on Aug. 4.
Why It Matters: This is the longest sentencing Navalny has received, but it was expected given his detainment since 2021. The sentencing confirms that Navalny will be in prison at least as long as President Vladimir Putin remains in power. The charges of extremism also indicted and criminalized the activities of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation and associates, after the organization was outlawed in 2021 and labeled an extremist group.
Background: The type of penal colony to which Navalny is being sent generally holds criminals who are serving life sentences. Navalny's sentencing drew outrage and calls for his release from Western officials, such as the president of the European Commission. In June, Navalny called upon the Russian people to protest the Putin regime and the invasion of Ukraine.
Iraq: Federal Government, Kurdistan Agree to Draft New Federal Oil Law
What Happened: Iraq's Oil Ministry and representatives from the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) agreed on Aug. 5 to establish a committee that will draft a joint hydrocarbon law, Rudaw Media Network reported the next day. The ministry said the negotiations will involve representatives from other oil-producing provinces in the rest of the country.
Why It Matters: Although the new committee will face longstanding obstacles, recent rulings have increased Baghdad's leverage over Kurdistan, where most of Iraq's oil is produced, which will aid the federal government's attempts to establish a new legal framework for the oil and gas sector. Additionally, Iraq's new budget law gave Baghdad even more leverage over the KRG by making the latter's 12.6% of the federal budget conditional on handing over most oil exports to the federal oil marketer for sales. However, Iraq's oil exports are still frozen due to a Turkey-Iraq dispute.
Background: In February 2022, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court nullified Kurdistan's 2007 oil and gas law, and in March 2023, an international arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Kurdistan and Turkey regarding control over Iraqi oil exports. Ankara subsequently cut Kurdistan's 450,000 barrels per day of oil exports through Turkey on March 25
China, Philippines: Beijing Maintains Maritime 'Grey Zone' Tactics While U.S. Stands By
What Happened: The Philippines is lodging a formal diplomatic complaint against China over Chinese vessels' Aug. 5 deployment of water cannons against a Philippine resupply mission to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, The Manila Times reported on Aug. 7. China then reiterated its demand that the Philippines remove the grounded warship it maintains as a small marine base on the shoal.
Why It Matters: The United States does not consider the water canon incident or China's other "gray zone" tactics (actions that fall between war and cooperation) to be "armed attacks" against the Philippines. As a result, these incidents do not trigger U.S. defense commitments to intervene on Manila's behalf, despite the reinvigoration and expansion of the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States. China will use this de facto standard to reinforce to the Philippines that U.S. guarantees are unreliable. Additionally, Washington's reaction to the incident could embolden China to conduct more assertive maritime action in the Asia-Pacific region.
Background: Chinese vessels have gathered around the shoal for a month, rising in number from one ship to 36. The U.S. military presence in and around the Philippines is increasing as well following the expansion of the EDCA in February and the clarification of attendant U.S. defense commitments in May. On Feb. 6, the Chinese coast guard shined a military-grade laser at Philippine sailors, causing temporary blindness.
Russia, Ukraine: Ukraine Declares Russian Black Sea Ports Zones of Military Threat After Striking Tanker
What Happened: A Ukrainian naval drone struck a Russian tanker likely carrying fuel to Syria on Aug. 4, and Kyiv announced shortly afterward that it will consider six Russian Black Sea ports zones of military threat, Meduza reported on Aug. 5. Kyiv's warning applies to the ports of Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi and Taman.
Why It Matters: Ukraine's strike on the tanker and subsequent declaration of the danger to Russian Black Sea ports suggests Kyiv is attempting to obstruct maritime commercial trade to and from Russia in the Black Sea by threatening Russia's export infrastructure and shipping. However, Ukraine remains unlikely to strike commercial vessels that are not entirely controlled by Russia, and will likely seek to minimize any threat to the oil exports of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, key partners that also export oil through southern Russia. Still, the possibility of further Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports and shipping could put upward pressure on oil prices, which could lead some countries to pressure Kyiv to remove the threat.
Background: Ukraine struck the Russian oil tanker Sig near the Kerch Bridge, and it was towed to a nearby Russian port. The head of Ukraine's security service, Vasily Malyuk, claimed that the attacks on Russian ships and Crimea are "completely legal," as they are taking place in Ukrainian territory. The United States sanctioned Sig and its owner, Transpetrochart, in 2019 for providing fuel to Russian forces in Syria.
Niger: ECOWAS Announces Summit on Niger on Aug. 10
What Happened: Following the expiration of the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) deadline for the Nigerien junta to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, the regional bloc announced that it will hold a new extraordinary summit on the political situation in Niger, Reuters reported on Aug. 7.
Why It Matters: While ECOWAS could still announce a military intervention in Niger, numerous constraints — like resources, financing and domestic support in Niger for the new junta — remain in place. Alternatively, ECOWAS could continue to buy time with more extraordinary summits and/or agree to a timeline for the junta to transition back to civilian rule, which may serve as a useful facade for the junta while it further consolidates power.
Background: The Nigerien junta partially closed its airspace for all international flights except for those to and from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya and Chad.
Senegal: Opposition Leader Admitted to Hospital After Hunger Strike
What Happened: Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was admitted to a hospital in the capital Dakar after a week on a hunger strike, Africanews reported on Aug. 6.
Why It Matters: Sonko's hunger strike and hospitalization highlight his potential injury or death as likely triggers for widespread civil unrest across Senegal. Meanwhile, the ruling party's increasingly repressive actions against the opposition will likely stoke support for Sonko in the short term, while undermining Senegalese democratic institutions and its electoral process in the years to come.
Background: On July 31, the government dissolved the opposition party Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), which Sonko founded. Sonko started the hunger strike on July 30, two days after he was arrested on charges of "corrupting youth."
Ukraine: Attendees Describe Jeddah Talks as Productive, Hint at Future Discussions
What Happened: Senior officials from 42 countries attended an Aug. 5-6 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss peace frameworks for the Russia-Ukraine war, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 6. Notable countries in attendance included Ukraine, the United States and Russia's fellow members of the BRICS trade bloc (Brazil, India, China and South Africa).
Why It Matters: While the summit did not result in any formal memorandums or dates for future discussions, Western and Ukrainian officials described the talks as productive. Officials added that talks would likely continue in a similar format on the sidelines of the Sept. 5 U.N. General Assembly or at the Sept. 9-10 Group of 20 summit in India. Kyiv hopes countries from the Global South will ultimately believe that Russia's interests regarding the terms of an eventual peace settlement diverge from their own.
Background: China's envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, reportedly "actively participated" in the summit and is looking forward to another meeting in the near future after meeting with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on the sidelines of the event. Though Ukraine did not push for the acceptance of its 10-point plan, other countries did not push for its rejection, nor did they challenge Ukraine's demand that Russia withdraw its troops from occupied territories.
Turkey: Expected Opposition Party Merger Demonstrates Strategic Pivot Following Defeat
What Happened: Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will hold an extraordinary congress on Aug. 27 during which it is expected to announce a merger with the Green Left Party (YSP), Rudaw Media Network reported the next day.
Why It Matters: This potential merger is part of the HDP's attempt to appeal to a broader range of Kurdish and non-Kurdish voters, and it would also convey confidence that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) cannot continue to legally trim the HDP's political power. If the merger goes through, Turkey's 2024 local elections will test the strategy ahead of the 2028 general election. Other opposition parties will also recalibrate their tactics following defeat in the country's May general elections.
Background: The HDP unofficially ran under the YSP's umbrella in the 2023 general election, which helped the HDP deflect legal challenges presented by the government. Despite polls indicating strong support for the opposition ahead of the general election, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP remained in power.
China, Japan: Chinese Hackers Compromised Japanese Defense Networks in 2020
What Happened: Chinese military hackers compromised classified defense networks in Japan in the fall of 2020, The Washington Post reported on Aug. 8. According to senior U.S. officials, the hackers accessed extensive data, including military plans, capabilities and assessments of military shortcomings, and the hack was deemed one of the most damaging incidents in Japan's history.
Why It Matters: Although revelations about this campaign are only now coming out, the incident was nevertheless significant and reflects China's widespread efforts to garner intelligence from Western allies' most sensitive networks, a trend that will continue to pose national security risks to these countries. Japan is one of the United States' most important allies in the region, and its insufficient cybersecurity defense protocol could have significant implications for Western intelligence housed in Japanese defense networks if these systems continue to be compromised. This vulnerability could undermine information-sharing activities between Japan and the West in the future.
Background: Since the hacking campaign occurred, Japan has made strides to bolster its defensive and offensive cybersecurity capabilities. In December 2022, the Japanese government adopted a new national security strategy, which included pledges to spend 8 trillion yen ($58 billion) over the next five years on cross-domain defense, including cybersecurity and space. The strategy also included pledges to increase the Japanese military's cybersecurity force fourfold to 4,000 people by 2027.
Italy: Rome Announces Surprising 40% Windfall Tax on Banks
What Happened: The Italian government announced a 40% windfall tax on record-high bank profits, and the expected 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in government revenue will fund relief measures for mortgage holders struggling with rising interest rates and households coping with the cost-of-living crisis, Reuters reported on Aug. 8. Banking shares subsequently tumbled in Italy and across Europe, and Italian stocks plunged by 9.5 billion euros ($10.4 billion) in combined market value.
Why It Matters: The country's banking sector will likely resist the measure, lobbying lawmakers to tank the proposal or at least amend it as the government tries to secure parliamentary backing. The sector could also challenge the measure in court if it is approved. Regardless, other EU countries with limited fiscal space could implement similar taxes to fund cost-of-living support measures, as Spain and Hungary have done already.
Background: Citi estimates that the tax, due by the end of June 2024, will amount to nearly 20% of Italian banks' 2023 net income. The government will apply the tax to banks' net interest margin (corresponding to banks' income generated by the gap between their lending and deposit rates). Banks have been raising record-high profits in Europe, as lenders tend to translate higher interest rates into higher borrowing costs while holding off paying more on deposits.
Central African Republic: Country Passes Constitutional Referendum Abolishing Term Limits
What Happened: Voters in the Central African Republic passed a July 29 constitutional referendum abolishing term limits and extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 7.
Why It Matters: The referendum will enable President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who is in the middle of his second term, to seek reelection in 2025, likely enabling him to win fraudulent elections in 2025. Troops affiliated with Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group have played a large role in insulating Touadera from threats to his power, so Touadera's extended mandate would likely facilitate the group's continued presence in the country.
Background: The National Electoral Authority said 95% of voters approved the referendum, but opposition parties and civil society groups boycotted the vote.
South Africa: Forthcoming Ruling on Zuma's Sentence Could Spark Unrest
What Happened: South Africa's Department of Correctional Services said on Aug. 4 that it will soon announce whether former President Jacob Zuma will be required to serve additional prison time for his July 2021 contempt of court conviction, the Mail and Guardian reported on Aug. 6. The department will also consider whether the November 2021 ruling that allowed Zuma's release on medical parole was unlawful.
Why It Matters: Regardless of which way the court rules, the decision could spur unrest, although a ruling requiring Zuma to return to prison would be more likely to result in significant unrest, given that South Africa's 2021 protests were against Zuma's imprisonment. However, such unrest would likely be limited to localized disturbances, as South African security forces have made significant improvements to their operations since the mass protests two years prior, including proactively deploying in advance of high-risk developments like elections.
Background: Zuma remains a popular figure among many in South Africa, while others view him as emblematic of the country's extensive corruption challenges. The 2021 imprisonment of Zuma triggered weeks of violent protests in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal that left more than 350 people dead and cost the economy an estimated $3 billion.
India: Government Restricts UAV Manufacturers From Using Chinese Parts
What Happened: India has restricted domestic manufacturers of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from using Chinese components amid security concerns, Reuters reported on Aug. 8.
Why It Matters: The reported ban will likely be difficult to implement effectively given China's status as a dominant manufacturer of relevant components, and it will likely increase costs for UAV manufacturers. In this way, the ban highlights the financial and technical limitations delaying India's push to modernize its military and specifically boost domestic manufacturing of military equipment. As a result, India remains reliant on other countries for materiel and critical components, sustaining consequent vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the restrictions underline India's continuing mistrust of China, especially as China-linked malicious cyber actors have targeted India in recent years.
Background: India's own domestically manufactured UAVs have been delayed for years, in part driving India's June purchase of 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs from the United States. In 2022, India implemented a phased ban on imports of foreign-made UAVs, although the ban makes exceptions for defense and research and development purposes. Other countries — including the United States and United Kingdom — are also shifting away from Chinese-made components and equipment amid security and availability concerns.
India: Lower House Passes Personal Data Protection Bill
What Happened: On Aug. 7, India's lower house passed the Personal Data Protection Bill, which would limit companies' ability to compile and transfer user data, The Economic Times reported the next day. The upper house must still pass the bill before it becomes law.
Why It Matters: The bill would exempt government agencies from many of its data privacy provisions on grounds of national security, which would increase New Delhi's ability to surveil and arrest alleged threats. This development would fuel opposition parties' fears of political suppression, decreased press freedom and increased censorship. Compounding this risk, a provision in the bill violates India's Right to Information Act (2005) by omitting the existing legal foundation that allows government bodies to divulge personal information, thereby influencing how the public obtains information. Besides these political and social concerns, the bill would also increase compliance costs for companies as they build data collection systems that cater to the bill's provisions.
Background: India's government says the bill will establish a legal framework to foster accountability in digital markets, protect the privacy of digital citizens and enable a safe framework for digital markets. However, opposition parties and digital right activists remain concerned that the bill will facilitate government surveillance and dilute digital privacy. Previous iterations of the bill amassed similar pushback, leading to repeated demands that the bill be sent to a parliamentary panel for further deliberation and revision.
Niger: Nigeria Announces More Sanctions Ahead of ECOWAS Meeting
What Happened: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu unveiled new sanctions against Niger after the military junta rejected a joint visit from West African states, the African Union and the United Nations, Reuters reported on Aug. 8. The Tinubu administration said that it still prefers a diplomatic solution to the coup in Niger, but that all options will be on the table at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting on Aug. 10.
Why It Matters: As diplomatic methods of negotiating deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum's reinstatement appear to be falling short, ECOWAS is keeping its options open, meaning that military intervention is still possible. While a military intervention still faces numerous constraints, France and the United States have hinted that they would support it, potentially alleviating some of the financing and/or equipment burdens on ECOWAS states.
Background: Following the expiration of the ECOWAS deadline for the Nigerien junta to reinstate Bazoum on Aug. 6, the regional bloc announced that it will hold a new extraordinary summit on the political situation in Niger on Aug. 10. Meanwhile, the African Union's deadline for Bazoum's reinstatement is Aug. 13.
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