To All,
Good Saturday morning November 18, 2023
The rains came last night and came down heavy at times. We are supposed to get a break for a few days. No night visitors for two days.
Regards,
Skip
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
November 18
1889 The battleship Maine launches at the New York Navy Yard.
1915 - Marines participated in the Battle of Fort Riviere during the occupation of Haiti.
1922 In a PT seaplane, Cmdr. Kenneth Whiting makes the first catapult launching from an aircraft carrier at anchor, USS Langley (CV 1), in the York River.
1943 USS Bluefish (SS 222) sinks the Japanese destroyer Sanae and damages the oiler Ondo 90 miles south of Basilan Island.
1944 USS Blackfin (SS 322) diverts from her war patrol and picks up captured Japanese cryptographic and technical equipment, along with other secret documents, west of Camurong River on the north coast of Mindoro, Philippines.
1944 USS Peto (SS 265), USS Spadefish (SS 411), and USS Sunfish (SS 281) attack the same Japanese convoy in the East China. Peto sinks army cargo ships Aisakasan Maru and Chinkai Maru. Spadefish sinks auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 156 and Sunfish sinks army transport Seisho Maru.
1962 USS Currituck (AV 7) rescues 13 Japanese fishermen from their disabled fishing boat Seiyu Maru, which was damaged in Typhoon Karen.
2017 The U.S. Navy's Undersea Rescue Command (URC) deploys to Argentina to support the South American nation's search for the Argentinean Navy submarine A.R.A. San Juan in the Southern Atlantic. The boat went missing on Nov. 15. The Argentinian Navy called off the ensuing rescue mission on Nov. 30 and shifted its focus to locating the boat and determining the cause of its disappearance.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This day in World History
1477 William Claxton publishes the first dated book printed in England. It is a translation from the French of The Dictes and Sayings of the Philosopers by Earl Rivers.
1626 St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome is officially dedicated.
1861 The first provisional meeting of the Confederate Congress is held in Richmond, Virginia.
1865 Mark Twain's first story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is published in the New York Saturday Press.
1901 The second Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is signed. The United States is given extensive rights by Britain for building and operating a canal through Central America.
1905 The Norwegian Parliament elects Prince Charles of Denmark to be the next King of Norway. Prince Charles takes the name Haakon VII.
1906 Anarchists bomb St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
1912 Cholera breaks out in Constantinople, in the Ottoman Empire.
1921 New York City considers varying work hours to avoid long traffic jams.
1928 Mickey mouse makes his film debut in Steamboat Willie, the first animated talking picture.
1936 The main span of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is joined.
1939 The Irish Republican Army explodes three bombs in Piccadilly Circus.
1943 RAF bombs Berlin, using 440 aircraft and losing nine of those and 53 air crew members; damage to the German capital is light, with 131 dead.
1949 The U.S. Air Force grounds B-29s after two crashes and 23 deaths in three days.
1950 The Bureau of Mines discloses its first production of oil from coal in practical amounts.
1968 Soviets recover the Zond 6 spacecraft after a flight around the moon.
1978 Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones leads his followers to a mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, hours after cult member killed Congressman Leo J. Ryan of California.
1983 Argentina announces its ability to produce enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.
1984 The Soviet Union helps deliver American wheat during the Ethiopian famine.
1991 The Croatian city of Vukovar surrenders to Yugoslav People's Army and allied Serb paramilitary forces after an 87-day siege.
1993 Twenty-one political parties approve a new constitution for South Africa that expands voter rights and ends the rule of the country's white minority.
2002 UN weapons inspectors under Hans Blix arrive in Iraq.
2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules the state's ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional; the legislature fails to act within the mandated 180 days, and on May 17,
2004, Massachusetts becomes the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
: WEEK ONE OF THE COMMANDO HUNT CAMPAIGN… 12-17 November 1968
Skip… For The List for Monday, 13 November 2023… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)… the air interdiction campaign shifts to Laos… From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 11 February 2019… Week One of 170 weeks of hunting and destroying NVN trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
This one is about a rescue attempt that last two days and many aircraft that involved many services cooperating to get the pilot out
From Vietnam Air Losses site for Saturday November 18
November 18: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=68
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
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature.
https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Barrett ...
In case you're a serious F-14 aficionado …
The Big Rock Tomcat Mountain. Found WLFSE.
That happens a lot.
http://forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/f14_tomcat.html
Forgotten Jets (& Props) - A Warbirds Resource Group Site
Forgotten Jets tracking the service histories of military aircraft.
forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org
Disposition of numerous A models. Others w. no delivery dates but shows A models converted to B/D plus TARPS birds.
All Iranian s/ns included with BuNos.
N NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
THANKS TO INTERESTING FACTS
The 10 most spoken languages in the world
Published on November 17, 2023
Without considering the thousands of dead languages that were forever lost to time, it is currently estimated that there are more than 7,000 actively spoken languages in the world. However, only 23 are spoken by more than half the world's population.
Lucky languages get to pick the pace of current events, economic transactions, and international talks. But determining which are the most spoken languages isn't as easy as it sounds . Dialects and local linguistic variants make it difficult to determine the real population of speakers, as the very definition of language and dialect often overlap (and as many sociolinguists point out, a language is just a dialect with an army and navy ).
Complicating things further, establishing a difference between native and non-native speakers might also not be as easy a task as it seems. For example, non-native speakers are the reason English is at the top of the charts if the absolute number of speakers is your main metric. But when we prioritize native speakers over non-native ones we find that English only comes third on the list!
In any case, the numbers speak for themselves, and you can draw your own conclusions. And although you will in all likelihood be familiar with most languages in this list, there might be a few surprises ahead.
1
English
Total number of speakers: 1,132 million
Native speakers: 379 million
Non-native speakers: 753 million
English is regarded by many as the Latin or lingua franca of modern times , a universal language that became the default for international relations, politics, tourism, technology, and science. Think of this fact: if you are a bilingual person who happens to speak both English and Spanish, you will be able to easily read and understand over 60% of all content ever published online. And nowadays, if you are an English speaker, it is way more likely that you speak it as a second language, seeing the disparity in numbers between native and non-native speakers.
2
Chinese (Mandarin)
Total number of speakers: 1,117 million
Native speakers: 918 million
Non-native speakers: 199 million
Mandarin is the second most widely spoken language in the world, and the most widely spoken if you only count native speakers . The disparity between native and non-native speakers, however - especially when compared to English - illustrates just how difficult learning Mandarin proves for many, even when there is a vast pool of native speakers to spread the language around.
3
Hindi
Total number of speakers: 615 million
Native speakers: 341 million
Non-native speakers: 274 million
As one of the most populated countries in the world, you probably already guessed the main official language of India would be high on this list. However, the enormous linguistic diversity in the region (there are more than 1,600 coexisting languages) explains its high rate of non-native speakers, who use it as a bridge language for trade and other economic activities.
4
Spanish
**Total number of speakers:**534 million
Native speakers: 460 million
Non-native speakers: 74 million
In terms of native speakers, Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world , right after Chinese. Most South American countries speak Spanish, but it is also spoken in some regions of Africa and Asia. Due to immigration, the US is the second country with the largest number of Spanish speakers in the world.
5
French
Total number of speakers: 280 million
Native speakers: 77 million
Non-native speakers: 203 million
As with many other European countries, France managed to further its influence in the world mainly through its colonies, and the French language was the little gift it left everywhere for those under its rule. Because of this, today it is the official language of 29 countries on different continents.
6
Arabic
**Total number of speakers:**274 million
Native speakers: 245 million
Non-native speakers: 29 million
Arabic is a hot contestant among the up-and-coming languages in the world. Serving as the liturgical language of one of the main religions of the world, it reaches beyond just the Arab world and tight communities of immigrants.
However, just like Chinese, Arabic has so many different dialects that it is not always easy for native speakers to fully understand each other , depending on the region where they were born and the associated dialect.
7
Bengali
Total number of speakers: 265 million
Native speakers: 228 million
Non-native speakers: 37 million
With a whopping 265 million speakers, Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh, a small country almost completely encircled by India - except by a tiny shared border with Myanmar. It is also one of the official languages of India and Burma, and although it isn't as widely spoken as Hindi, the extreme population density of this region makes up for its lack of outward projection.
8
Russian
Total number of speakers: 258 million
Native speakers: 154 million
Non-native speakers: 104 million
No one who ever saw Russia on a map would be surprised by the presence of the Russian language in this top ten. However, being the official language of the single largest country in the world (the Russian Federation spans 11% of the world's landmass!), one could expect it to be further up on the list. Also, former countries of the Soviet Union usually include Russian as one of their official languages.
9
Portuguese
Total number of speakers: 234 million
Native speakers: 221 million
Non-native speakers: 13 million
Another European language that spread throughout the world during the colonial period, Portuguese is, nowadays, the official language of nine countries in the world , with speakers in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. However, Brazil is by far the country with the largest amount of native speakers.
10
Indonesian
Total number of speakers: 198 million
Native speakers: 43 million
Non-native speakers: 155 million
Notice the discrepancy between native and non-native speakers. Indonesia is a country with more than 200 languages, and as such official Indonesian is not the native tongue of most Indonesians. It serves mostly as a local lingua franca, vital for transactions and general understanding.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
From the archives
Thanks to Newell
A chuckle-worthy pessimistic observation of our times:
"We grew up with Bob Hope, Steve Jobs and Johnny Cash.
Now there are no jobs, no cash and no hope.
Please do not let anything happen to Kevin Bacon!"
Scorpio
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
From the archives
Retired Canadian general receives standing ovation after fiery anti-woke speech 'Can you imagine a military leader labeling half of his command as deplorables, fringe radicals and less-thans and then expect them to fight as one?'
OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) – After accepting a top award, a retired Canadian general received a standing ovation from senior military officers for giving a rousing speech blasting cancel culture, climate change policies, woke aspects of the armed forces, and leaders who "divide."
The speech was made by retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve on November 9 in Ottawa at a gala event, at which he accepted the prestigious Vimy Award.
During his speech, Maisonneuve, who is a 35-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran, was direct in his take on the current leadership of Canada under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, without directly naming people.
"Can you imagine a military leader labeling half of his command as deplorables, fringe radicals and less-thans and then expect them to fight as one?" Maisonneuve asked rhetorically.
"Today's leaders must find a way to unite; not divide."
Maisonneuve's statement seems to be a reference to a remark made by Trudeau during the anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protest – which featured noticeable support from active and retired members of the nation's armed forces – in which the prime minister said that those opposing his measures were of a "small, fringe minority" who hold "unacceptable views."
In the speech, Maisonneuve lamented how Canada was once a "great" nation, but in recent years has faltered in being a leader in the world.
"Since this is my speech, I get to share what I believe Canada needs to do to take the world stage again," said Maisonneuve. "What will it take? Well, I believe it will take leadership and service. These two crucial foundations of greatness for any nation have somehow become secondary — lost in these days of entitlement, 'me first', 'not my problem' and endless subsidies and handouts."
Maisonneuve noted how leaders "should" take "responsibility" when aspects of a nation fail, and that leaders have used social media as a tool in essence steer clear from being truthful.
He noted how today, "cancel culture still flourishes and there is no call for redaction or amendment even when accusations are proved false. Truth is not a requirement; once cancelled, you are done."
Maisonneuve then took a swipe at today's mainstream press, saying that "balanced journalism is difficult to find," adding that the practice of presenting the truth or "facts" is "no longer compulsory in mainstream media."
"The line between 'news' and op-eds has blurred and too often we are subjected to sermons written not by seasoned journalists but by first-year graduates of woke journalism schools," he charged.
Maisonneuve said that when it comes to forms of "extremism" on both the left and right, it seems to be "flourishing."
"Canada's prosperity is being sacrificed at the altar of climate change as opposed to being used to help the world transition to clean energy. Throwing soup and paint at the world's art treasures is as heinous as it is useless. The perpetrators should be punished, not celebrated," stated Maisonneuve.
Maisonneuve then noted how cancel culture and entitlement have resulted in one not taking "personal responsibility" for their actions, a phenomenon he says has "disappeared from the landscape while the phenomenon of collective apologies flourishes in our country."
"Individuals and groups fight over who gets to wear the coveted victim's cloak. But any role they may have played in their own fate or in injuring others is dismissed as learned behaviour, inherited flaws or generational oppression," pressed the veteran.
Maisonneuve said that "enough statues have been toppled," and that "erasing our history is not the solution."
He then gave his thoughts on new military dress codes which allow for those in uniform to color their hair, grow beards, and have more choices in what they wear.
"Today, I see a military woefully underfunded, undermanned and under-appreciated; a force where uniforms have become a means of personal expression rather than a symbol of collective pride and unity: uniforms are no longer uniform," he lamented.
"The idea of serving in our armed forces is getting little traction. Could it be because the moral contract under which our military serve is broken?"
Ending on a positive note, Maisonneuve said that despite all this, he still believes "we can make Canada better."
"We Canadians live in the greatest country in the world with almost unlimited resources, a tolerant and diverse people, and an educated population who can aspire to the greatest heights. We should be prepared to serve our country and be proud to do so. And our leaders must share this vision."
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
This Day in U S Military History November 18
1883 – At exactly noon on this day, American and Canadian railroads begin using four continental time zones to end the confusion of dealing with thousands of local times. The bold move was emblematic of the power shared by the railroad companies. The need for continental time zones stemmed directly from the problems of moving passengers and freight over the thousands of miles of rail line that covered North America by the 1880s. Since human beings had first begun keeping track of time, they set their clocks to the local movement of the sun. Even as late as the 1880s, most towns in the U.S. had their own local time, generally based on "high noon," or the time when the sun was at its highest point in the sky. As railroads began to shrink the travel time between cities from days or months to mere hours, however, these local times became a scheduling nightmare. Railroad timetables in major cities listed dozens of different arrival and departure times for the same train, each linked to a different local time zone. Efficient rail transportation demanded a more uniform time-keeping system. Rather than turning to the federal governments of the United States and Canada to create a North American system of time zones, the powerful railroad companies took it upon themselves to create a new time code system. The companies agreed to divide the continent into four time zones; the dividing lines adopted were very close to the ones we still use today. Most Americans and Canadians quickly embraced their new time zones, since railroads were often their lifeblood and main link with the rest of the world. However, it was not until 1918 that Congress officially adopted the railroad time zones and put them under the supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
1952 – F9F Panthers from the USS Oriskany shot down two Russian MiG jet fighters and damaged a third over North Korea. The Russian MiGs had been operating from a base near Vladivostok.
1955 – Bell X-2 rocket plane was taken up for its 1st powered flight. The Bell X-2 was a rocket-powered, swept-wing research aircraft designed to investigate the structural effects of aerodynamic heating as well as stability and control effectiveness at high speeds and altitudes. Two X-2 airframes, nicknamed "Starbuster," were built at Bell's plant in Wheatfield, N.Y., using stainless steel and K-monel (a copper-nickel alloy). The vehicles were designed to employ a two-chamber Curtiss-Wright XLR25 throttleable liquid-fueled rocket engine. It had a variable thrust rating from 2,500 to 15,000 pounds. The X-2 was equipped with an escape capsule for the pilot. In an emergency, the entire nose assembly would jettison and deploy a stabilizing parachute. Once at a safe altitude, the pilot would then manually open the canopy and bail out. The first attempt at a powered flight took place on Oct. 25, 1955, but a nitrogen leak resulted in a decision to change the flight plan. Everest completed the mission as a glide flight. An aborted second attempt ended as a captive flight. Everest finally made the first powered X-2 flight on Nov. 18, igniting only the 5,000-pound-thrust chamber. His maximum speed during the mission was Mach 0.95. Following several aborted attempts, Everest completed a second powered flight on March 24, 1956, this time only igniting the 10,000-pound-thrust rocket chamber.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
NIETZEL, ALFRED B.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant. U.S. Army. Company H, 16th Infantry Regiment. 1st Infantry Division. Place and Date: November 18, 1944, Heistern, Germany. Born: April 27, 1921, Queens, NY . Departed: Yes (11/18/1944). Entered Service At: Jamaica, NY. G.O. Number: . Date of Issue: 03/18/2014. Accredited To: . Citation: Nietzel is being recognized for his valorous actions in Heistern, Germany, Nov. 18, 1944. When an enemy assault threatened to overrun his unit's position, Nietzel selflessly covered for the retreating members of his squad, expending all his ammunition and holding his post until he was killed by an enemy hand grenade.
DAVIS, SAMMY L.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery C, 2d Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: West of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam, 18 November 1967. Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Born: 1 November 1946, Dayton, Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Davis (then Pfc.) distinguished himself during the early morning hours while serving as a cannoneer with Battery C, at a remote fire support base. At approximately 0200 hours, the fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack. Simultaneously, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault upon the fire support base. The attacking enemy drove to within 25 meters of the friendly positions. Only a river separated the Viet Cong from the fire support base. Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his guncrew, as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece. The resultant blast hurled the guncrew from their weapon and blew Sgt. Davis into a foxhole. He struggled to his feet and returned to the howitzer, which was burning furiously. Ignoring repeated warnings to seek cover, Sgt. Davis rammed a shell into the gun. Disregarding a withering hail of enemy fire directed against his position, he aimed and fired the howitzer which rolled backward, knocking Sgt. Davis violently to the ground. Undaunted, he returned to the weapon to fire again when an enemy mortar round exploded within 20 meters of his position, injuring him painfully. Nevertheless, Sgt. Davis loaded the artillery piece, aimed and fired. Again he was knocked down by the recoil. In complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Davis loaded and fired 3 more shells into the enemy. Disregarding his extensive injuries and his inability to swim, Sgt. Davis picked up an air mattress and struck out across the deep river to rescue 3 wounded comrades on the far side. Upon reaching the 3 wounded men, he stood upright and fired into the dense vegetation to prevent the Viet Cong from advancing. While the most seriously wounded soldier was helped across the river, Sgt. Davis protected the 2 remaining casualties until he could pull them across the river to the fire support base. Though suffering from painful wounds, he refused medical attention, joining another howitzer crew which fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled. Sgt. Davis' extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for November 18, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
18 November
1915: The 1st Aero Squadron started the first squadron cross-country flight for the Army Air Service by flying 6 Curtiss JN-3s 439 miles from Fort Sill, Okla., to Fort Sam Houston, Tex. (24)
1916: Seven JN-4s of the 1st Aero Company, New York National Guard, under the command of Capt Raynal Cawthorne Bolling, completed the first National Guard cross-country formation flight from Mineola to Princeton, New Jersey. They completed the return flight on the 20th. (24)
1917: With Tellier seaplanes, the Navy began US aerial coastal patrols in European waters flying from LeCroisic, France, at the mouth of the Loire River. 1923: The first aerial refueling-related fatality occurred during an air show at Kelly Field, when the fuel hose became entangled in the right wings of the refueler and the receiver aircraft. The Army Air Service pilot of the refueler, Lt P. T. Wagner, died in the ensuing crash. (18)
1944: Fifteenth Air Force sent 680 heavy bombers to oil refineries in Austria and Italian airfields at Aviano, Villafranca di Verona, Udine, and Vicenza, with 186 P-51s providing air cover over. (4)
1949: An Air Force C-74 Globemaster, "The Champ," flew from Mobile, Ala., across the Atlantic in 23 hours and landed at Marham, England, with a record of 103 passengers. It was the first aircraft to carry 100 passengers across the Atlantic. (20) (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. A USAF fighter group moved to N. Korea for the first time. The 35 FIG, the first fighter group based in S. Korea, settled at Yonpo Airfield, near Hungnam. (28)
1951: KOREAN WAR. F-86 aircraft strafed eight MiG fighters on the ground at Uiju, destroyed four, and damaged the rest. MiG-15s forced three flights of F-84 fighter-bombers to jettison their bombs and abort prebriefed rail-cutting missions near Sinanju. (28)
1952: KOREAN WAR. When USN Task Force 77 attacked the N. Korean border town of Hoeryong in the far northeast, unmarked but obviously Russian MiG-15s flying from Vladivostok attacked the fleet. Carrier-based F9F aircraft engaged several MiGs and downed one of them. In MiG Alley, a 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron pilot, Capt Leonard W. Lilley, scored his fifth MiG kill to become an ace. (28) KOREAN WAR. Through 19 November, six 98th Bombardment Wing B-29s attacked the supply center at Sonchon, 35 miles from the Manchurian border. In clear weather over the target area, enemy interceptors used new tactics to shot down one B-29. They dropped flares so that searchlights could lock on the bomber, and four fighter passes riddled it, which forced its crew to abandon ship over Cho-do. (28)
1954: The first flight test of an inertial guidance system for actual missile use (Navaho X-10) conducted at Downey. (24)
1955: Lt Col Frank K. Everest, Jr., flew the X-2 rocket plane on its first powered flight above Edwards AFB. (3)
1966: Maj William J. Knight flew X-15A-2 to a new speed record for X-15 aircraft by reaching 4,223 MPH. Lockheed delivered the first HC–130P to the ARRS. The HC-130P included a drogue system to permit aerial refueling from HH-3 helicopters. (18)
1967: Flight testing of laser guided bombs started at Eglin AFB. 1970: Through 16 December, MAC C-141s and C-130s delivered more than 140 tons of supplies and equipment from the US and from US bases in the Far East to East Pakistan after a cyclone flooded the country. (21)
1989: Northrop's B-2A bomber completed its seventh test flight. During the 7-hour 17-minute flight, the pilot shut down and restarted each engine. (8: Feb 90)
1994: A C-17 Globemaster III landed at North Field near Charleston AFB with a 161,000-pound payload on 2,100 feet of runway to set a new record and meet a critical program requirement to land fully loaded on a runway no longer than 3,000 feet. (16) (18)
1997: Operation PHOENIX SCORPION. The ANG's Northeast Tanker Task Force (TTF) in Bangor, Maine began 24-hour operations to support the movement of USAF aircraft to the Persian Gulf after Saddam Hussein refused to allow U.N. inspections of suspected weapons of mass destruction facilities. The TTF, with 4 USAF and 10 ANG KC-135s, delivered over 1 million pounds of jet fuel to USAF aircraft during the week-long operation. (32)
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - Israel/Gaza, Guatemala, Philippines/U.S., Jordan/Israel, Mexico/China, Ukraine/Russia, Japan/China, Turkey/Germany, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Senegal, Sub-Saharan Africa
Israel, Gaza: War Cabinet Authorizes Fuel Shipments Into Gaza as Northern Campaign Winds Down
What Happened: Israel's War Cabinet authorized the entry of two fuel trucks into the Gaza Strip at the request of the United States, despite criticism from Israel's right-wing parties, The Times of Israel reported on Nov. 17. Israel said it was nearing the end of its campaign in the northern Gaza Strip, as signs continued to mount that it would begin an assault on the south.
Why It Matters: Israel will likely further ease its blockade of Gaza as military operations reach their culmination across the strip and diplomatic pressure grows to end the war. Israel may increasingly prioritize taking ground to get ahead of diplomatic pressure, even if this strategy enables Hamas to melt back into the civilian population for a probable insurgency once Israeli occupation of the strip begins.
Background: Meanwhile, Israel said it recovered the bodies of two hostages near Shifa Hospital and released a video showing what Israel called a "Hamas tunnel" at the facility, a claim not yet verified by independent investigators or journalists. Human Rights Watch and other international organizations remain unconvinced that the weapons found at Shifa Hospital justify Israel's assault.
Guatemala: Authorities Seek to Remove Arevalo's Immunity, Opening Door to Possible Arrest
What Happened: A Guatemalan prosecutor announced that authorities will seek to remove immunity from President-elect Bernardo Arevalo and his running mate, Karin Herrera, for their alleged complicity in a 2022 incident in which students forcibly took over a university in the capital, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 16.
Why It Matters: If a court approves the prosecutor's request and the legislature votes to revoke Arevalo's immunity, Arevalo could be arrested. Most immediately, the prosecutor's announcement will risk reanimating protests, strikes and road blockades in the coming weeks. The more likely it appears that Arevalo will lose his immunity, the more aggressive his supporters will likely become, threatening street clashes, arson, looting and disruptions to transit. The effort to remove Arevalo's immunity will also draw more U.S. travel and financial sanctions on Guatemalan officials, as well as possible sanctions on specific sectors, especially if Arevalo's inauguration is increasingly in doubt. Finally, the move to seek the removal of Arevalo's immunity adds to the already high level of political uncertainty in the country and will significantly undermine Arevalo's ability to govern effectively should he take office as scheduled on Jan. 14, 2024. If Arevalo loses his immunity and is arrested (either before or after taking office), Guatemala would experience a political crisis that Western states would charge amounts to an extralegal coup.
Background: The move to revoke Arevalo's and Herrara's immunity is the latest in a series of actions taken by prosecutors that have drawn strong critiques from Western countries, pro-democracy nongovernmental organizations and Guatemalan activists for alleged democratic backsliding. Arevalo campaigned on a strong anti-corruption platform.
Philippines, U.S.: Manila and Washington Sign Landmark Nuclear Energy Pact
What Happened: The Philippines and the United States have concluded a pact on nuclear power cooperation under the Section 123 agreement framework, Reuters reported Nov. 17. The deal permits the United States to provide nuclear material, technology and knowhow in order for the Philippines to develop its nuclear energy sector in accordance with non-proliferation requirements.
Why It Matters: The deal eases major constraints on nuclear technology access and investment between Philippine and U.S. nuclear firms. Upon signing the agreement, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that nuclear energy would be part of the Philippines' energy mix by 2032. The U.S. Congress still needs to approve the deal, but congressional approval is likely because the United States is motivated to help the Philippines phase out carbon emissions while gaining further influence over Manila. The Philippines aims to reduce greenhouse emissions by 75% by 2030 and expects its energy demand to quadruple by 2040. Nuclear power plants coming online in 2032 will not immediately address the goal of phasing out carbon emissions, but it will significantly help accommodate the Philippines' growing energy needs in the long term. The deal additionally demonstrates that the two countries' alliance has grown stronger along the economic, development and infrastructure tracks, which is of notable significance as the Philippines moves away from China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Background: The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit after the two sides initiated negotiations in November 2022. The United States has 23 Section 123 agreements in force, which cover 47 countries as well as Taiwan and the International Atomic Agency.
Jordan, Israel: Jordan Refuses to Move Forward With Energy-for-Water Deal With Israel
What Happened: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi announced that Jordan will not move forward with an energy-for-water deal with Israel that was expected to be ratified in October and signed at the 2023 U.N. Climate Change Conference in November, Al Jazeera reported on Nov. 16. Under the deal, the United Arab Emirates would have funded a 600 megawatt solar plant in Jordan that would export clean energy to Israel in exchange for 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water per year from Israel.
Why It Matters: Jordan will refrain from signing any additional cooperative trade agreements with Israel amid the war in Gaza as Amman works to appease its pro-Palestinian populace and quell dissent. However, Jordan relies on Israel for water exports, so this or a similar deal may be up for discussion after the Israel-Hamas war ends if Jordan is unable to identify an alternative source. Regardless, Jordan's symbolic actions against Israel will not upend the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty.
Background: Amman recalled its ambassador to Israel on Nov. 1 as it denounced Israel's actions in Gaza. Additionally, Amman has arrested several activists planning sit-ins near Jordan's border with the West Bank and previously deterred Jordanians from crossing into the West Bank to support the Palestinian cause.
Mexico, China: Xi and Lopez Obrador Will Cooperate on Reducing Flows of Fentanyl
What Happened: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and China's President Xi Jinping discussed combating the illegal trafficking of precursor chemical inputs used in the production of the narcotic drug fentanyl, Reuters reported on Nov. 16.
Why It Matters: Increased efforts by the Chinese government to reduce the flow of precursor chemicals to cartel-organized production facilities in Mexico should make it more difficult for Mexican drug trafficking organizations to access key inputs for production. If Mexico's strategy focuses on interdiction, inspections will likely increase, which may lead to delays for shipping companies arriving at Mexico's ports. If the Mexican government is successful in its efforts, cartels may look to punish the government through overt acts of violence, increasing security risks for businesses operating in the country. Cartels could also diversify their operations by engaging more heavily in human trafficking, fuel theft or extortion.
Background: Lawmakers in the United States have increased rhetoric aimed at both China and Mexico recently for their role in supply chains that bring fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for the death of at least 70,000 Americans in 2021 — to the United States. President Joe Biden's strategy has focused largely on reducing the supply of the drug through diplomacy, detection at the border, and investing in addiction treatment facilities. More hardline U.S. conservatives have attempted to militarize the southern border to prevent drug-trafficking organizations from entering the country.
Ukraine, Russia: Kyiv Claims Multiple Bridgeheads Across the Dnieper
What Happened: Ukraine's troops secured multiple bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, one of Russia's most significant natural strategic barriers, AP reported on Nov. 17. Western officials said portions of three Ukrainian brigades are across the river and expected to make only small gains, though Russia forces have so far been unable to repel them.
Why It Matters: While Ukraine appears to be devoting more resources to operations on the left bank of the Deniper, a large push across the river remains unlikely because Ukrainian forces would face immense challenges securing long-term supplies for mechanized forces using vulnerable makeshift pontoon bridges and by boat. Still, Ukraine will continue and possibly step up these small-scale amphibious operations and diversionary raids in the region in order to distract and reveal the locations of Russian forces while supporting their own should Ukrainian forces eventually resume pushing south in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2024.
Background: Ukraine first began significant amphibious operations across the Dnieper in May and continued them during its summer offensive, even after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed on June 5, lowering water levels on the river. Ukraine increased the scale of these operations in October.
Japan, China: Xi and Kishida to Remain at Odds on Export Controls, for Now
What Happened: On the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to discuss export controls, while Kishida urged China to end its import ban on Japanese seafood, The Japan Times reported on Nov. 17. Kishida also expressed concern about China's military drills with Russia and emphasized the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Why It Matters: Beijing and Tokyo will remain at odds on security issues and will only remove trade restrictions slowly, if at all, as Beijing values economic coercion as a tool to punish foreign trade restrictions, especially the chip restrictions to which Japan is committed. However, if a Donald Trump presidency occurs in the United States following elections in 2024, China-Japan trade tensions could abate somewhat, though security disagreements will persist. The likelihood of eased tensions would also rise if Kishida resigns ahead of his party's leadership elections in September 2024.
Background: Top of mind for Japan are China's export licensing requirements for gallium, germanium and graphite, while Japan's chip export restrictions are weighing on China's high-tech development.
Turkey, Germany: Meeting Between Erdogan and Scholz May Advance Turkey-EU Relations
What Happened: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Nov. 17 amid tensions over the Israel-Hamas war, Turkey's delay in approving Sweden's NATO bid and the Turkish acquisition of Eurofighter jets, Reuters reported the same day.
Why It Matters: Although Turkey and Germany are unlikely to change their opinions on the Israel-Hamas war, they may gain traction on the other key issues. For instance, Germany will likely provide some support for Turkish initiatives, including the acquisition of 40 Eurofighter jets, in return for a firm timeline for Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO bid. It is also possible that Germany will support Turkey's push for visa liberalization with the European Union, though this is less likely. Erdogan will use these developments to attract support in Istanbul and Ankara ahead of Turkey's upcoming municipal elections in March 2024, although EU visa liberalization is unlikely to be implemented prior to the elections, even if talks make progress.
Background: Relations between Turkey and NATO member states have chilled during the Israel-Hamas war due to Turkey's criticisms of Israel and NATO's support for Israel. However, despite Erdogan's escalating rhetoric against Israel, Scholz's muted response to Erdogan's comments in advance of the meeting indicates that the Israel-Hamas war will not hinder other negotiations.
Pakistan: Government May Seek Another IMF Loan Following First Bailout Review
What Happened: Pakistan's caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said the country would "possibly seek another loan" from the International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 16. Akhtar's statement came a day after the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on a $700 million tranche of Pakistan's nine-month bailout following its first review.
Why It Matters: While Akhtar said the caretaker government would try to begin discussions with the IMF over a potential next program, national elections scheduled in February 2024 will likely complicate the prospects for and timing of another program. In the near term, the staff-level agreement on the IMF's first review of Pakistan's current bailout will bolster investor confidence and help Pakistan secure loans from other institutions and creditors, supporting the country's economic recovery. However, Akhtar's comments underline the gravity of Pakistan's economic challenges and burdensome external financing requirements, which the IMF estimates will average $30 billion annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2028; this will require Pakistan's continued commitment to painful reforms and austerity measures.
Background: The release of Pakistan's $700 million bailout tranche is now contingent on the IMF's executive board approving the first review. The IMF acknowledged Pakistan's progress and commitment to the fund's bailout conditions, which have helped foster "a nascent recovery…buoyed by international partners' support and signs of improved confidence." However, the fund also noted the country "remains susceptible to significant external risks," necessitating sustained reform implementation.
Afghanistan: Pakistan Outlines Regional 'Understanding' With Afghan Taliban
What Happened: Pakistan's special representative on Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, said Afghanistan's neighboring countries and Russia maintain a mutual "understanding" that facilitates "bilateral trade, currency swap, and barter trade agreements" with the Afghan Taliban, Voice of America reported on Nov. 16. Durrani also said the understanding stipulates that member countries would recognize the Afghan Taliban simultaneously and not unilaterally if certain conditions are met.
Why It Matters: If true, Durrani's statements suggest regional consensus on engaging with the Afghan Taliban and facilitating Afghanistan's economic development to mitigate risks of broader regional instability and insecurity. However, the purported understanding that regional countries would only recognize the Afghan Taliban simultaneously and not unilaterally will likely challenge the Afghan Taliban's prospects for recognition. This is because while many regional countries share similar demands for the Afghan Taliban before they consider recognition, like facilitating more inclusive governance, differing priorities between the countries would likely challenge consensus.
Background: The statements come as Pakistan has undertaken a nationwide deportation drive primarily of Afghan migrants in an apparent escalation of its spat with the Afghan Taliban for allegedly not responding sincerely enough to Pakistan's cross-border militancy concerns. The influx of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan is straining the country's already burdened resources and exacerbating its humanitarian crisis.
Senegal: Supreme Court Rejects Ousmane Sonko's Reinstatement on Voter Rolls
What Happened: The Senegalese Supreme Court rejected a lower court's reinstatement of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on voter rolls for the February 2024 presidential election, Reuters reported on Nov. 17.
Why It Matters: The Supreme Court ruling is a big setback for Sonko's Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity party, as the party does not appear to have any remaining legal recourse to reinstate Sonko on voter rolls ahead of the February election. It is unclear whether Sonko's supporters will vote for an alternative opposition candidate; a divided opposition would work in favor of ruling party candidate Amadou Ba.
Background: The same day, the Economic Community of West African States' Court of Justice ruled that the Senegalese government had not violated Sonko's rights to a fair trial, freedom to demonstrate or his basic human rights when he was placed under house arrest.
Sub-Saharan Africa: First Shipment of Russian Grain En Route to Burkina Faso and Somalia
What Happened: Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said Moscow had started shipments of free grain totalling up to 200,000 tons and destined for six African countries, Reuters reported on Nov. 17. Patrushev said shipments to Burkina Faso and Somalia had already left Russian ports, while additional shipments to Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Mali and the Central African Republic are imminent.
Why It Matters: The shipments are unlikely to make a meaningful dent in African hunger crises, but the grain deliveries are still a useful political tool that Russia will use to reward its closest regional partners. The grain is going to countries that already have some of the closest relations with Russia on the continent, and Moscow will likely point to the shipments as evidence of the benefits of its partnership, even though Western aid volumes still far outstrip Russian contributions to African food security.
Background: Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to deliver free grain to African countries in July during the Russia-Africa Summit after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SkipsList" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to skipslist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skipslist/CACTjsm3kva72%3DQwfXURfSjF%2B1Ge%3DoGgDwiohOA4bje4FX1MNFw%40mail.gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.