To All,
Good Saturday morning September 16, 2023
I hope that you all have a great weekend. I met Wiley Coyote this morning as I came out of my garage and headed to my car. We looked at each other and I stepped forward and he looked away and then looked back and proceeded up the hill at his own pace and he looked well fed.
Below is an attempt to put the video of the bobcat that my daughter took the other day. Its actions were such that on a whim she started to film it out of curiosity and got a one of a king video.
Regards
Skip
Today in Naval and Marine Corps History Thanks to NHHC
September. 16
1814 A squadron from the schooner USS Carolina attacks and raids the base of the pirate Jean Lafitte, at Barataria, La., capturing six schooners and other small craft while the pirates flee the attack.
1823 Samuel Southard becomes the seventh Secretary of the Navy, serving until March 3, 1829. During his tenure, he enlarges the Navy, improves administration, purchases land for the first Naval Hospitals, begins construction of the first Navy dry docks, undertakes surveying U.S. coastal waters and promotes exploration in the Pacific Ocean.
1854 Mare Island, Calif. becomes the first permanent U.S. naval installation on the west coast, with Cmdr. David G. Farragut as its first base commander.
1922 Cmdr. Halsey Powell in USS Edsall (DD 219 becomes the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey.
1944 USS Barb (SS 220) sinks the Japanese 11,700-ton tanker, Azusa, and the 20,000-ton escort carrier, Unyo, 200 miles southeast of Hong Kong. Additionally, while off Yokosuka, Japan, USS Sea Devil (SS 400) sinks the Japanese submarine I-364.
1947 The National Security Act becomes effective after the bill signed by President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947. The Act realigns and reorganizes the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. The Act merges the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment, headed by the Secretary of Defense, Adm. James Forrestal.
1958 USS Grayback (SSG 574) fires the first operational launch of a Regulus II surface-to- surface guided missile, while off the coast of California.
1966 USS Oriskany (CVA 34) helicopters rescue 44 men of British merchant ship, Aug. Moon, as she was breaking up in heavy seas on Pratas Reef 175 miles southeast of Hong Kong.
1994 USS Charlotte (SSN 766) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk. The 16th of the Los Angeles-class(improved) attack submarines, the boat is the fourth Navy ship to be named for the North Carolina city.
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Today in World History September 16
1620 The Pilgrims sail from England on the Mayflower.
1668 King John Casimer V of Poland abdicates the throne.
1747 The French capture Bergen-op-Zoom, consolidating their occupation of Austrian Flanders in the Netherlands.
1789 Jean-Paul Marat sets up a new newspaper in France, L'Ami du Peuple.
1810 A revolution for independence breaks out in Mexico.
1864 Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest leads 4,500 men out of Verona, Miss. to harass Union outposts in northern Alabama and Tennessee.
1889 Robert Younger, in Minnesota's Stillwater Penitentiary for life, dies of tuberculosis. Brothers Cole and Bob remain in the prison.
1893 Some 50,000 "Sooners" claim land in the Cherokee Strip during the first day of the Oklahoma land rush.
1908 General Motors files papers of incorporation.
1920 Thirty people are killed in a terrorist bombing in New York's Wall Street financial district.
1934 Anti-Nazi Lutherans stage protest in Munich.
1940 Congress passes the Selective Service Act, which calls for the first peacetime draft in U.S. history.
1942 The Japanese base at Kiska in the Aleutian Islands is raided by American bombers.
1945 Japan surrenders Hong Kong to Britain.
1950 The U.S. 8th Army breaks out of the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea and begins heading north to meet MacArthur's troops heading south from Inchon.
1972 South Vietnamese troops recapture Quang Tri province in South Vietnam from the North Vietnamese Army.
1974 Limited amnesty is offered to Vietnam-era draft resisters who would now swear allegiance to the United States and perform two years of public service.
1975 Administrators for Rhodes Scholarships announce the decision to begin offering fellowships to women.
1978 An earthquake estimated to be as strong as 7.9 on the Richter scale kills 25,000 people in Iran.
1991 The trial of Manuel Noriega, deposed dictator of Panama, begins in the United States.
1994 Britain's government lifts the 1988 broadcasting ban against member of Ireland's Sinn Fein and Irish paramilitary groups.
2007 Military contractors in the employ of Blackwater Worldwide allegedly kill 17 Iraqis in Baghdad's Nisour Square, further straining relations between the US and the people of Iraq.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Friday, September 15
Skip… For The List for Saturday, 16 September 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 16 September 1968…
The final flight of Moonglow Three… and Major John Robertson, USAF… RIP…
Thanks to Micro
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Saturday, September 16
September 16th: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=258
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
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend last week and I forgot to forward. The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
6 Interesting Facts About Exercising
Movement does our bodies good. But you know what's easier than running a marathon? Learning a few quick facts about exercise, no pain or gain required.
We aren't doctors, so we can't advise you on the best ways for you to exercise — but we can rattle off some trivia about it. Where did the 10,000 steps benchmark come from? What's the deal with a "runner's high"? These six interesting facts may not help you get fit, but at least you'll learn something.
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Exercise Can Get Some People High
You may have heard of a "runner's high," or a rush of euphoria after exercise that's not actually limited to runners. It's a real biological phenomenon, although it's relatively rare. The commonly held belief is that it's caused by hormones called endorphins, but they don't cross the blood-brain barrier. The more likely culprit is the endocannabinoid system, the same system that cannabis interacts with to create its psychoactive effects.
Exercise increases the amount of endocannabinoids in the bloodstream, which can cross the blood-brain barrier. For some people, this can cause a rush of euphoria, reduced anxiety, and improved mood. This isn't especially common, though, and there's much about the phenomenon scientists are still trying to figure out.
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Exercise Can Help You Think More Clearly
Ever take a walk to clear your head? It might not just be a change of scenery that gives you a much-needed reset. A growing body of research shows that exercise, including walking, increases cognitive ability.
Exercising increases blood flow, including to the brain. The increase in energy and oxygen could boost performance. But it gets more complex than that. When we exercise, the hippocampus, a part of our brain necessary for learning and memory, becomes more active — and when there's increased energy in the hippocampus, we think more effectively. Regular exercise could even help reverse age-related brain damage.
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Even Babies Need Exercise
Babyhood offers an unparalleled opportunity to mostly just eat and sleep, but in between, infants need at least some exercise. Giving infants several opportunities to move around each day could improve motor skills, bone health, and social development. Tummy time — supervised time with a baby lying face-down — strengthens babies' neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, too. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies are active several times a day, including at least 30 minutes on the stomach. Babies still get plenty of dozing time, though; the WHO recommends 12 to 16 hours of sleep for infants 4 months through 11 months of age.
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10,000 Steps Was Invented for Pedometer Marketing
If you have a smartwatch or other fitness tracker, you might get a little celebratory notification when you hit 10,000 steps — or maybe you've just heard someone refer to "getting their 10,000 steps in." That benchmark persists because it's a nice, round number that's easier to use in marketing materials, not because there's any scientific basis for it.
Way back in the 1960s, a Japanese company invented a pedometer called Manpo-kei, or "10,000 steps meter," building off momentum from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Nearly 60 years later, it's still the default setting in many step counters, including Fitbit devices.
While getting 10,000 steps a day is a healthy habit, you don't have to take that many to see benefits from walking, according to experts. One study found that just 4,400 steps a day can lower the risk of early death by 41%. Benefits increased with additional steps, but topped out at around 7,500 (at least in one study looking at mortality in older women). Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your goals, exercise pace, and general health, but there's no reason to feel discouraged if you're not getting a full 10,000 in every day.
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"Gymnasium" Comes From the Greek for "School for Naked Exercise"
Today, "gymnasium" or "gym" can refer to a lot of things having to do with physical activity, like a school gymnasium, a health club, or a playground jungle gym. It comes from the ancient Greek word gymnasion, or "school for naked exercise." Gymnos meant "naked," and the people using the gym didn't wear clothes — they just oiled or dusted themselves up. In ancient Greece, physical education was just as important as the arts, and these facilities eventually grew more elaborate, with surrounding changing rooms, baths, and practice rooms.
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Gardening Counts as Exercise
Getting your hands dirty in your garden isn't just a mood-boosting pastime — it's great exercise, too. All that digging, hauling, and moving works all your major muscle groups, improves mobility, and boosts endurance. It burns some serious energy, too: Even light gardening or yard work can burn more than 300 calories per hour for a 154-pound person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's comparable to going dancing or taking a hike. For heavy yard work, like chopping wood, the number jumps up to 440 calories per hour, although the exact number will vary depending on the nature of the work and each individual body.
It's easy to build a more strenuous workout from your existing gardening routine with simple adjustments like carrying heavier cans of water, switching to a push mower, or increasing walking around your yard. And there's an additional healthy bonus to garden exercise: Fresh veggies!
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Friday's Eye Candy and a little history…
Thanks to Captain Billy and Dr. Rich
. Here's a bit of history that many likely don't know about:
Pilot Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan sought permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly across the Atlantic from New York to Ireland, but he was turned down on the grounds that his plane was in poor condition.
Corrigan seemed to accept the ruling, but when he took off from New York on July 17, 1938, he banked sharply to the east and headed out over the ocean. Twenty-eight hours and 13 minutes later, Corrigan landed in Ireland, innocently explaining that his 180-degree wrong turn must have been due to a faulty compass.
No one believed Corrigan's explanation, especially the aviation authorities in both Ireland and America, who suspended the rebellious pilot's license and ordered his aircraft dismantled. Upon his return to America, 'Wrong-Way' Corrigan was greeted as a hero. More than a million people lined New York's Broadway for a ticker-tape parade honoring the man who had flown in the face of authority.
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Great video about ejection seat testing: (Thanks Norm).
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For those who built a B 17 model when kids… (Thanks to Dave R).
B-17 "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) Crew
Pilot- Ken Bragg Jr..
Copilot- G. Boyd Jr.
Navigator- Harry C. Nuessle
Bombardier- Ralph Burbridge
Engineer- Joe C. James
Radio Operator- Paul A. Galloway
Ball Turret Gunner- Elton Conda
Waist Gunner- Michael Zuk
Tail Gunner- Sam T.Sarpolus
Ground Crew Chief- Hank Hyland
In 1943 a mid-air collision on February 1, 1943, between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of WW II.
An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot, then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress named
"All American", piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron.
When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away. The two right engines were out
and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, the fuselage had been cut almost completely through connected only at two small parts of the frame,
and the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged.
There was also a hole in the top that was over 16 feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest; the split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunner's turret.
Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind and twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed, except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft miraculously still flew!
The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep
the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.
While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.
When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from
parachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tailgunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding
some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position. The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home.
The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky.
For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters.
The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.
Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the appendage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out.
The fighters stayed with the Fortress, taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" so five of the crew could not bail out.
He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane to land it.
Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away. It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.
When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition.
The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed.
This old bird had done its job and brought the entire crew home uninjured.
I love war stories with a happy ending !
The Borns Boys will appreciate this one. Their father flew B-17s during WWII and, later for PanAm. Hop they'll send me a sketch on their Dad with photos to add to a future Eye Candy...
Blue Skies & Tailwinds….
Https://CaptainBillyWalker.com
(480) 773-2823
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Thanks to Brett
What is going on in the world
Stratfor snippets - U.S., Russia/North Korea, EU/China, Afghanistan, Japan, Niger, U.S., South
U.S.: Pentagon Releases Summary of 2023 Cyber Strategy
What Happened: The U.S. Department of Defense published an unclassified summary of its 2023 Cyber Strategy on Sept. 12, in which it vowed to use cyberspace operations to limit, frustrate or disrupt adversaries' activities. The DOD also said it will work more closely with the private sector and other U.S. government agencies to defend the United States from cyber threats.
Why It Matters: The DOD's new strategy marks a shift toward cooperation with other parties, which should help boost U.S. cybersecurity and increase resilience. However, the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency primarily oversees domestic threats, so the DOD does face some limitations of authority in its operations on U.S. soil. The strategy also highlights that the DOD's Cyber Command will increasingly deploy teams to foreign countries in order to help boost their cybersecurity.
Russia, North Korea: Kim Meets Putin at Russian Space Center
What Happened: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia, Russia's main satellite launch facility, Yonhap News Agency reported Sept. 13. The two leaders discussed cooperation in rocket development, and Kim pledged support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Why It Matters: Despite there having been no public statement, it is likely that the two leaders agreed on a prospective arms deal, particularly in light of the fact that Kim brought along North Korea's top Party leadership, military brass, defense industry executives and his closest advisor (and possible heir apparent), sister Kim Yo-jong. Russia-North Korea relations are evolving along a munitions-for-technology track, with Pyongyang likely offering artillery shells to Russia in exchange for rocket and satellite technology. Pyongyang has failed to launch two spy satellites this year, and help from Moscow to develop this technology could be the final push that it needs to successfully develop its satellite reconnaissance capacity. If the blossoming Russia-North Korea relationship expands into proposed trilateral drills with China, it would elevate threat perceptions around the Korean Peninsula and pose new challenges for the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral partnership hatched at a Camp David summit earlier this year.
Background: Despite North Korea's failed satellite launches, the next launch attempt is reportedly scheduled for October. Declassified U.S. intelligence reports in late 2022 alleged that Russia has already been buying North Korean munitions for its war effort.
EU, China: Brussels to Launch Anti-Subsidy Investigation Into Chinese EVs
What Happened: The European Union will launch an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) that are "distorting" the EU market, Reuters reported on Sept. 13.
Why It Matters: The investigation may result in higher tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs, which could lead Beijing to retaliate economically. Even so, higher customs duties would be a significant win for France and Italy, as cheaper Chinese EVs pose a direct threat to their automakers, and neither country has a significant market share in China that could be threatened by retaliatory measures. By contrast, Germany is less likely to support higher customs duties, as its automakers feel less threatened by Chinese competition in the higher-end segment of the European market, and they fear restrictions to the Chinese market, which remains a key export destination.
Background: State aid, coupled with lower energy and labor costs, is giving Chinese automakers a competitive advantage over their European competitors. The investigation is part of a broader EU strategy to shield the bloc's industrial core from state-backed Chinese competition amid accelerating efforts to decarbonize the bloc's economy and "de-risk" its relationship with Beijing by reducing critical economic dependencies.
Afghanistan: New Chinese Ambassador Highlights Continued Engagement With Taliban
What Happened: China's new ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Sheng, presented his credentials to Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Reuters reported on Sept. 13. According to Taliban officials, this makes Zhao the first foreign ambassadorial-level appointment to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country in August 2021.
Why It Matters: The Taliban are likely exaggerating the importance of the appointment to emphasize a perceived victory amid the group's continuing diplomatic isolation. The Chinese Foreign Ministry's subsequent statement that the appointment was merely "a normal rotation of China's ambassador to Afghanistan" adds credence to the idea the move does not indicate China is strengthening its relations with the Taliban — let alone officially recognizing the regime. Nevertheless, the appointment does highlight China's active diplomatic engagement with the Taliban amid regional security and stability concerns, as well as Chinese interest in investing in the country.
Background: Zhao's appointment comes after China's previous ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, finished his tenure in August. China is among a handful of countries that maintain ambassadors to Afghanistan who were appointed before the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021. Most senior diplomats currently interacting with the Taliban are "charge d'affaires," which have similar responsibilities but are considered lower-ranking than ambassadors.
Japan: Cabinet Reshuffle Meant to Revive LDP Prospects, Kishida's Reputation
What Happened: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revealed 11 new members of a 19-member Cabinet, including five women (up from two previously), new defense and foreign ministers, and a mixture of figures from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) four largest factions, AP reported on Sept. 13.
Why It Matters: Kishida likely hopes the Cabinet reshuffle will improve support for him and his LDP. However, economic stimulus measures to be released in October, recovery from the bungled My Number national ID system launch, and Kishida's leadership of national security issues will be much more important drivers of his support level. Regardless, Kishida's balancing of LDP factions may help him maintain his party leadership ahead of LDP elections in September 2024. Should his support level recover from its current dip, Kishida could call a snap election ahead of the October 2025 deadline for general elections, but doing so could risk the conservative opposition Japan Innovation Party gaining seats.
Background: Kishida's government has faced a number of policy mishaps in recent months, including the error-riddled rollout of the My Number national ID system, used for doling out social benefits, and rising public concerns about the cost of living.
Niger: U.S. Resumes Counterterrorism Missions
What Happened: The U.S. military resumed counterterrorism missions in Niger after more than a month of interrupted activities due to the July coup, Voice of America reported on Sept. 13.
Why It Matters: The resumption of counterterrorism missions could indicate that the Nigerien junta is more open to an American security presence than a French presence, as demands for French withdrawal persist. A continued U.S. security presence in Niger would keep the country's security outlook from deteriorating as drastically as it would following a full Western withdrawal, as U.S. forces bolster Nigerien intelligence, reconnaissance and training capabilities.
Background: Since the July coup, the 1,100 U.S. troops stationed in Niger have been confined to their bases, with some military personnel and assets relocated from the air base near Niamey to the base in Agadez.
U.S.: Autoworkers Prepare to Strike as Deadline Nears
What Happened: The president of the U.S. United Auto Workers (UAW) union threatened to escalate strike action if the three largest automakers in Detroit, Michigan, (General Motors, Ford and Stellantis) do not agree to raise wages by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14, CNN reported on Sept. 14. However, the president added that UAW was not planning company-wide walkouts at this time.
Why It Matters: It is unlikely that UAW and automakers will reach a deal before the deadline, so the United States will likely experience its first coordinated strikes at the plants of all three automakers. These strikes could have a major impact on Michigan's economy and trickle down to Ohio and other states that produce key materials, such as steel and aluminum, used to build automobiles. A large 10-day strike would cost about $5 billion in lost economic output. Meanwhile, the tense negotiations are putting President Joe Biden in a difficult position, as he is seeking to present himself as a pro-union president, but large wage increases for autoworkers would risk raising the costs of producing electric vehicles. These higher prices would almost certainly be passed onto consumers, undermining Biden's electric vehicle transition plans.
Background: While automakers have raised their wage offers and UAW has also lowered its wage demands in recent days, automakers have rebuffed other demands by UAW, resulting in a stalemate. UAW's strike strategy is designed to "create confusion," as the union did not disclose which plants would experience strikes first.
South Korea: Rail Strike Indicative of Yoon's Long-Term Labor Stance
What Happened: The Korean Rail Workers' Union (KRWU) launched a four-day strike on Sept. 14, set to last through 9 a.m. on Sept. 18, Yonhap News Agency reported on Sept. 14. In response, national railway operator KORAIL will reduce passenger and cargo train operations by 20-60% and mobilize labor to ensure commuter train service is maintained at 70% capacity for rush hours.
Why It Matters: This strike is but one in a trend of greater South Korean labor unrest under President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has taken a combative stance against unions since coming to office. The rail strike will cause temporary disruptions to passenger commutes and freight traffic, while in the long term, Yoon's hard-nosed stance could inhibit the overseas expansion of South Korea's defense and automotive industries. Moreover, the opposition Democratic Party will continue to wield domestic labor issues and foreign geopolitical spats (e.g., Japan's Fukushima wastewater release plan) to constrain Yoon's People Power Party.
Background: KRWU is bargaining for better working conditions and access to the Suseo Station in southeast Seoul for KTX trains run by KORAIL. Labor minister Lee Jeong-sik cited economic disruption in urging the group not to strike on Sept. 13.
Yemen: Houthis, Omani Intermediaries Visit Riyadh to Discuss Cease-Fire
What Happened: Omani delegates and representatives of Yemen's rebel Houthi group are reportedly heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a cease-fire, Reuters reported on Sept. 14. While Saudi officials have not commented on the trip, the discussions will probably be geared toward building a permanent cease-fire in the Yemen conflict.
Why It Matters: The meeting marks the first time Houthi officials have been invited to Riyadh since the beginning of Yemen's civil war in 2014, and it will be the Houthis' second meeting with Saudi officials to discuss a cease-fire since April. Regardless of whether the talks produce an agreement, they reflect a degree of confidence on behalf of Riyadh that an agreement is possible, and they further reduce the risk of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
Background: The last cease-fire between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government expired in October 2022. Since then, the conflict has been marred by frequent clashes, punctuated by short-term cease-fires.
Bangladesh: Cyber Security Act 2023 Passed in Parliament
What Happened: Bangladesh's Parliament passed the 2023 Cyber Security Act (CSA), replacing the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA), which aimed to prevent hate speech and the spread of terrorist propaganda, The Daily Star reported on Sept. 13. However, few amendments were made to the CSA, making it very similar to the original DSA.
Why It Matters: Because definitions of offenses under the CSA are vague, the bill may permit arbitrary punitive action that enables the government to pursue its desired political objectives. Therefore, the government will likely use the CSA to weaken the opposition, suppress dissent, and more broadly infringe on freedom of speech, press and privacy. The opposition will likely exploit the passage of the bill to raise additional grievances against the government, which may exacerbate violence and ongoing protests.
Background: Despite the government receiving feedback from stakeholders and civil society, most of the controversial punitive actions of the DSA remain in the CSA. The main differences entail a reduction or replacement of jail sentences with fines, as well as select non-bailable offenses becoming bailable.
U.S.: More Sanctions Aim to Increase Russia's Isolation
What Happened: The U.S. State and Treasury Departments unveiled 150 new targets of sanctions to strengthen Washington's economic isolation campaign against Russia, Euronews reported on Sept. 14. While targets of the sanctions come from a variety of countries, the most high-profile sanctions target Turkey.
Why It Matters: Turkey will face renewed pressure to scrutinize commercial ties with Russia to avoid sanctions non-compliance, though Turkey's overall pro-trade position will not change. Individual businesses and companies will likely continue to try to use Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other neutral countries to try to evade sanctions, creating localized business risks.
Background: The targets include five Turkish companies accused of shipping dual-use technology used in the Russian military and/or of offering repair work on Russian military ships. A new Emirati company that reportedly provides engineering and technology for Russia's Arctic liquified natural gas projects will also be sanctioned. Additionally, the United States will sanction individuals and companies in Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates that are accused of helping Russia evade sanctions.
China: Defense Minister's Absence Sparks Rumors of More Turnover
What Happened: Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for two weeks, missing defense meetings with Vietnam and Singapore, Hong Kong Free Press reported on Sept. 14. The next day, the Financial Times cited three U.S. officials as saying Li may be under investigation and relieved of his duties.
Why It Matters: As Li's absence lengthens, rumors that he has been removed from office will build exponentially. Li's departure would be a strong sign of disunity or at least poor performance in Chinese President Xi Jinping's inner ranks. However, if the rumors prove baseless, the story would still reveal low public confidence in China's political (and thus policy) transparency, which is detrimental to the business environment and justifies Western perceptions of Xi as a dangerous dictator. These perceptions further reduce the small possibility of U.S.-China and Europe-China rapprochement.
Background: China excused Li's absence at the defense meeting with Vietnam by citing "health issues." China similarly cited health issues to explain former Foreign Minister Qin Gang's four-week absence from public events. Former Foreign Minister Wang Yi replaced Qin on July 25.
Poland: Government Announces Minimum Wage Rise Ahead of General Elections
What Happened: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced plans to raise the country's minimum wage by 18%, reaching 4,242 zlotys ($983) in January 2024 and then 4,300 zlotys from July, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 14.
Why It Matters: Morawiecki made this announcement to boost his government's popularity ahead of a tight election on Oct. 15. However, hiking the minimum wage will add significant inflationary pressures in the country, whose inflation rate is among the highest in Europe. Moreover, labor costs for companies will continue to grow. This means small and medium-sized companies may struggle to employ new workers and many businesses may have to reduce their investments, thus hurting the economy's overall competitiveness.
Background: The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has already promised other expansionary fiscal policies in the run-up to the general election, including a 60% increase in child benefit payments starting in 2024. Poland's private sector wage growth has been accelerating since February 2022, reaching 10.4% in July. The minimum wage has risen 89% since the ruling party's last electoral victory in 2019 and 146% since it first came to power in 2015.
EU: European Parliament Approves Text for Critical Raw Materials Act
What Happened: The European Parliament approved its final position on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), a package of measures the European Commission proposed in March to increase the bloc's access to secure and affordable supplies of critical raw materials, Euractiv reported on Sept. 14.
Why It Matters: The vote opens the way to intra-EU negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU member states, which already gave their approval in June, to reach a final agreement. The CRMA aims to scale up the European Union's domestic production and refining capacity for strategic raw materials needed for the energy transition, thereby reducing the bloc's reliance on supplies from China. The final text approved by the European Parliament also emphasized the need for strategic partnerships with producing countries like Australia and Chile while warning against deep-sea mining due to related environmental damage.
Background: The CRMA is part of the broader Green Deal Industrial Plan published in February, the European Union's strategy to support domestic manufacturing of green technologies and products in line with its 2050 climate-neutrality target. The European Union relies on supplies from China for green products like photovoltaics, batteries and wind turbines, as well as for metals to produce them such as cobalt, lithium and boron.
Sudan: RSF Floats Governing Authority in Khartoum
What Happened: The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) threatened to set up "civilian rule" in the areas under the RSF's control with Khartoum as its "capital," Radio Dabanga reported on Sept. 15. The threat is a response to a recent call from the rival Sovereign Council to form a caretaker government.
Why It Matters: It is unlikely that the RSF will follow through on its threat, especially since the Sovereign Council is also unlikely to form a caretaker government anytime soon. But if the RSF does attempt to set up civilian rule, it would likely fail to establish Khartoum as its capital, as the city would become a primary target of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Background: Deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF have persisted, and high civilian death tolls have been reported in Khartoum and South Darfur. Meanwhile, mediation talks initiated by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have continued to stall. SAF chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan has been on foreign trips to accrue international support, with his latest visit being to Turkey.
Dominican Republic, Haiti: Border Closure to Disrupt Travel, Trade
What Happened: Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader announced that his country would indefinitely close all borders with Haiti starting on Sept. 15, Reuters reported on Sept. 14. The border closure is in response to a continuing dispute over a Haitian farming group's construction of a canal using water from the countries' shared Dajabon River.
Why It Matters: The closure of the border will significantly disrupt travel and trade between the two countries, which will hurt Haiti's economy particularly hard since the country depends on food and supply shipments from the Dominican Republic. The closure will also prevent Haitian workers from entering the Dominican Republic to work and/or sell goods and bring money back to Haiti, and it will hinder supply chain shipments from textile manufacturers in Haiti. Additionally, the closure may limit available routes for citizens of the United States and other Western countries to depart Haiti.
Background: The Dominican Republic has tightened border security amid worsening gang violence in Haiti, and it has built a wall on part of the countries' land border to slow a surge in illegal immigration. The Haitian government issued a statement prior to the closure saying that the country has the right to exploit natural resources from the Dajabon River and that it will take all measures necessary to irrigate the Maribahoux plain, which has faced water shortages in recent years.
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This Day in U S Military History
1620 – The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the New World with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists–half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs–had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the "Pilgrims" reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December. Thirty-five of the Pilgrims were members of the radical English Separatist Church, who traveled to America to escape the jurisdiction of the Church of England, which they found corrupt. Ten years earlier, English persecution had led a group of Separatists to flee to Holland in search of religious freedom. However, many were dissatisfied with economic opportunities in the Netherlands, and under the direction of William Bradford they decided to immigrate to Virginia, where an English colony had been founded at Jamestown in 1607. The Separatists won financial backing from a group of investors called the London Adventurers, who were promised a sizable share of the colony's profits. Three dozen church members made their way back to England, where they were joined by about 70 entrepreneurs–enlisted by the London stock company to ensure the success of the enterprise. In August 1620, the Mayflower left Southampton with a smaller vessel–the Speedwell–but the latter proved unseaworthy and twice was forced to return to port. On September 16, the Mayflower left for America alone from Plymouth. In a difficult Atlantic crossing, the 90-foot Mayflower encountered rough seas and storms and was blown more than 500 miles off course. Along the way, the settlers formulated and signed the Mayflower Compact, an agreement that bound the signatories into a "civil body politic." Because it established constitutional law and the rule of the majority, the compact is regarded as an important precursor to American democracy. After a 66-day voyage, the ship landed on November 21 on the tip of Cape Cod at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts. After coming to anchor in Provincetown harbor, a party of armed men under the command of Captain Myles Standish was sent out to explore the area and find a location suitable for settlement. While they were gone, Susanna White gave birth to a son, Peregrine, aboard the Mayflower. He was the first English child born in New England. In mid-December, the explorers went ashore at a location across Cape Cod Bay where they found cleared fields and plentiful running water and named the site Plymouth. The expedition returned to Provincetown, and on December 21 the Mayflower came to anchor in Plymouth harbor. Just after Christmas, the pilgrims began work on dwellings that would shelter them through their difficult first winter in America. In the first year of settlement, half the colonists died of disease. In 1621, the health and economic condition of the colonists improved, and that autumn Governor William Bradford invited neighboring Indians to Plymouth to celebrate the bounty of that year's harvest season. Plymouth soon secured treaties with most local Indian tribes, and the economy steadily grew, and more colonists were attracted to the settlement. By the mid 1640s, Plymouth's population numbered 3,000 people, but by then the settlement had been overshadowed by the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony to the north, settled by Puritans in 1629. The term "Pilgrim" was not used to describe the Plymouth colonists until the early 19th century and was derived from a manuscript in which Governor Bradford spoke of the "saints" who left Holland as "pilgrimes." The orator Daniel Webster spoke of "Pilgrim Fathers" at a bicentennial celebration of Plymouth's founding in 1820, and thereafter the term entered common usage.
1920 – As lunchtime approached on September 16, 1920, New York's financial district was grinding through its regular motions–people were gathering outside to eat, and brokers were holed up inside, busily trading away the day. But before the clock hit noon, routine gave way to panic, as a horse-drawn wagon filled with explosives suddenly detonated near the subtreasury. Flames flooded Wall Street, shooting up nearly six-stories-high. The blast shattered windows around the area and sent a pipe crashing against the neck of a man strolling some six blocks away from the subtreasury. All told, 300 people were killed and a hundred more were wounded. The only famous financial figure to be injured was Junius Spencer, J.P. Morgan's grandson, who suffered a slight gash on one hand. Since radical bashing was in vogue at the time, Communists, Anarchists, and anyone else leaning too far to the left were accused of having staged a violent protest against capitalism. More pragmatic souls argued that the wagon belonged to an explosives operation and had simply strayed from its prescribed route. Whatever merits these theories have, the ensuing investigation failed to uncover the culprit or cause of the blast, and the case remains a mystery.
1940 – Under authority granted by Congress, President Franklin Roosevelt orders the Army to begin mobilizing the entire National Guard for one year's training prompted by the worsening conditions in Europe. The Nazis armies had conquered most of Western Europe except Britain. The president and Congress wanted the 242,000 men in the Guard to rapidly expand the Regular Army of only 190,000 men and begin to prepare in case of attack. The first of 18 increments enter active duty today, the last units will not be called up until the spring of 1941. Guardsmen report to forts located all across the country. Once settled in, they begin large maneuver training not usually available in peacetime. Guard aerial observation squadrons, separated from their parent divisions and placed in Army Air Corps groups, began antisubmarine patrols along the coasts. Helping to fill in the ranks were men drafted under a newly enacted conscription law passed by Congress. America was preparing for war.
1950 – The U.S. 1st Marine Division, assisted by four battalions of ROK Marines, secured the Inchon peninsula. The way was now clear for the landing of the rest of X Corps and the attack towards Seoul and Suwon.
1950 – The U.S. 8th Army broke out of the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea and began heading north to meet MacArthur's troops heading south from Inchon.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
PRESTON, ARTHUR MURRAY
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Reserve, Torpedo Boat Squadron 33. Place and date. Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, 16 September 1944. Entered service at: Maryland. Born: 1 November 1913, Washington, D.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 33, while effecting the rescue of a Navy pilot shot down in Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, less than 200 yards from a strongly defended Japanese dock and supply area, 16 September 1944. Volunteering for a perilous mission unsuccessfully attempted by the pilot's squadron mates and a PBY plane, Lt. Comdr. (then Lieutenant) Preston led PT-489 and PT-363 through 60 miles of restricted, heavily mined waters. Twice turned back while running the gauntlet of fire from powerful coastal defense guns guarding the 11-mile strait at the entrance to the bay, he was again turned back by furious fire in the immediate area of the downed airman. Aided by an aircraft smokescreen, he finally succeeded in reaching his objective and, under vicious fire delivered at 150-yard range, took the pilot aboard and cleared the area, sinking a small hostile cargo vessel with 40-mm. fire during retirement. Increasingly vulnerable when covering aircraft were forced to leave because of insufficient fuel, Lt. Comdr. Preston raced PT boats 489 and 363 at high speed for 20 minutes through shell-splashed water and across minefields to safety. Under continuous fire for 2l/2 hours, Lt. Comdr. Preston successfully achieved a mission considered suicidal in its tremendous hazards, and brought his boats through without personnel casualties and with but superficial damage from shrapnel. His exceptional daring and great personal valor enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*VITTORI, JOSEPH
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hill 749, Korea, 15 and 16 September 1951. Entered service at: Beverly, Mass. Born: 1 August 1929, Beverly, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an automatic-rifleman in Company F, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With a forward platoon suffering heavy casualties and forced to withdraw under a vicious enemy counterattack as his company assaulted strong hostile forces entrenched on Hill 749, Cpl. Vittori boldly rushed through the withdrawing troops with 2 other volunteers from his reserve platoon and plunged directly into the midst of the enemy. Overwhelming them in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle, he enabled his company to consolidate its positions to meet further imminent onslaughts. Quick to respond to an urgent call for a rifleman to defend a heavy machine gun positioned on the extreme point of the northern flank and virtually isolated from the remainder of the unit when the enemy again struck in force during the night, he assumed position under the devastating barrage and, fighting a single-handed battle, leaped from 1 flank to the other, covering each foxhole in turn as casualties continued to mount manning a machine gun when the gunner was struck down and making repeated trips through the heaviest shellfire to replenish ammunition. With the situation becoming extremely critical, reinforcing units to the rear pinned down under the blistering attack and foxholes left practically void by dead and wounded for a distance of 100 yards, Cpl. Vittori continued his valiant stand, refusing to give ground as the enemy penetrated to within feet of his position, simulating strength in the line and denying the foe physical occupation of the ground. Mortally wounded by the enemy machine gun and rifle bullets while persisting in his magnificent defense of the sector where approximately 200 enemy dead were found the following morning, Cpl. Vittori, by his fortitude, stouthearted courage, and great personal valor, had kept the point position intact despite the tremendous odds and undoubtedly prevented the entire battalion position from collapsing. His extraordinary heroism throughout the furious nightlong battle reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for September 16, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
September 16
1914: In Groton, Conn., the non-recoil, 6-pounder Davis airplane gun shown at the New London Ship and Engine Company. (24)
1919: Floods on the Texas border produced one of the earliest humanitarian uses of military aircraft. A relief detachment of four JN-4Ds and eight JN-4Hs left Kelly Field. After meeting at Corpus Christi, this detachment airdropped food to seven stranded victims. (18)
1940: A War Department announcement said the CAA would cooperate with the Army on the development of black aviation units. (21)
1944: Eighth Air Force sent seven fighter groups, four carrying bombs, to strafe Hannover, Bremen, Onasbruck and bomb Ahlhorn Airfield, Mannheim, and Kaiserslautern. (4)
1949: The first Air Force three-jet aircraft, the Martin XB-51, received its final checkout.
1952: KOREAN WAR. Fifth Air Force flew 110 B-26 sorties, the high figure for the month, mostly night armed reconnaissance and interdiction. Using the recently-developed roadblock tactics, the light bombers damaged or destroyed over 100 enemy vehicles. (28)
1958: A Regulus II missile, launched from a submarine off Point Mugu, flew 200 miles to Edwards AFB. (24) North American's T-39 Sabreliner made its first flight. (12)
1960: From Cape Canaveral, a 1.5-ton reentry nose cone on an Atlas missile flew on a 5,000-mile test flight. (24)
1978: Under a DoD-directed program, SAC transferred the 128th and last KC-135 (number 57-1438) from the 7 BMW at Carswell AFB to the 931 AREFG (AFRES) at Grissom AFB. (1) 1Lt Patricia M. Fornes, from the 381 SMW at McConnell AFB became SAC's first female officer to perform Titan II alert duty. (1) (6)
1983: MAC accepted the first of 11 Gulfstream III business jets, designated C-20A, into its inventory to replace C-140 special air mission aircraft. (18)
1995: Operation CARIBBEAN EXPRESS. After Hurricane Marilyn damaged or destroyed nearly 80 percent of the buildings on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean islands, in missions through 10 October AMC dispatched C-5s, C-17s, C-141s, and contracted commercial aircraft, and ACC sent C-130s on 212 missions to deliver 2,348 passengers and 3,617 short tons of cargo. (18)
1999: NASA's NB-52B (tail no. 52-0008) launch aircraft, nicknamed "Balls Eight," completed its 1,000th flight. (3)
2005: Travis AFB placed the restored C-141A Starlifter (tail number 63-8088), nicknamed the Golden Bear, on permanent static display. It was the USAF's first operational C-141A, the first to carry wounded troops from Vietnam to the US, the first to fly into Saigon, and in 1973 it helped fly the 566 military and 25 civilian former prisoners of war from North Vietnam to the US. (22)
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