Good Saturday Morning January 6, 2024 The weather is supposed to be nice and cool for the next few days. The doctor appointment with the specialist did not go as well as we had hoped yesterday. We found out what a specialist does. Which was nothing except the part of the arm in which he was the specialist. He would not look at any other part of the arm or her body. It was very frustrating for both of us..
I hope that you all enjoy your first weekend of 2024. Except for Barrel who continues to break record for snow fall this year.
Anchorage breaks yet another snow record for season-to-date https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/01/05/snowfall-record-anchorage/
Regards,
Skip
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
January. 6
1813 During the War of 1812, USS Hornet, commanded by J. Lawrence, captured the merchant schooner, Ellen, off the coast of Brazil.
1942 Japanese capture 11 Navy nurses in Manila, Philippines. They served most of their internment at Los Baños before being liberated in February 1945.
1943 PBY-5A (VP 83) sink German submarine U-164 off Brazil. Before being sunk, U-164 sank three Allied merchant vessels, none from the United States.
1945 USS Walker (DD 723) is attacked by four kamikazes while laying mines. After the third plane struck the ship, burning gasoline envelopes the bridge and Cmdr. George F. Davis, the commanding officer, is horribly burned. Remaining on his feet, he conns the ship, directs damage control efforts and sees to the destruction of the fourth plane. Assured of the ship's survival, Davis is taken down below, where he dies a short time later. For his heroic conduct, Davis is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
1996 USS Hopper (DDG 70) launches. The guided-missile destroyer is named for Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computing.
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Today in World History: January 6
1066 Harold Godwineson is crowned King Harold II - King of England.
1540 Henry VIII of England marries his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. The marriage will last six months.
1861 The Governor of Maryland, Thomas Hicks, announces his opposition to the state's possible secession from the Union.
1904 Japanese railway authorities in Korea refuse to transport Russian troops.
1910 Union leaders ask President William H. Taft to investigate U.S. Steel's practices.
1912 New Mexico becomes the 47th U.S. state of the Union.
1918 Germany acknowledges Finland's independence.
1919 Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, dies at the age of 60 in his home at Sagamore Hill, New York.
1921 The U.S. Navy orders the sale of 125 flying boats to encourage commercial aviation.
1937 The United States bans the shipment of arms to war-torn Spain.
1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt asks Congress to support the Lend-lease Bill to help supply the Allies.
1945 Boeing B-29 bombers in the Pacific strike new blows on Tokyo and Nanking.
1946 Ho Chi Minh wins in the Vietnamese elections.
1958 Moscow announces a reduction in its armed forces by 300,000.
1967 Over 16,000 U.S. and 14,000 Vietnamese troops start their biggest attack on the Iron Triangle, northwest of Saigon.
1987 Astronomers report sighting a new galaxy 12 billion light years away.
2001 In one of the closest Presidential elections in U.S. history, George W. Bush was finally declared the winner of the bitterly contested 2000 Presidential elections more than five weeks after the election due to the disputed Florida ballots.
2005 Former Ku Klux Klan organizer Edgar Ray Killen is arrested as a suspect in the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi.
2014 US Senate confirms Janet Yellen as the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve Bank in the central bank's 100-year history.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for Monday, 25 December 2023 through Sunday, 7 January 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT I (1968-1972)… Weeks 7 & 8…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for December 1968…
Christmas Season 1968: historic events, painful losses and heroic sacrifice…
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
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "Saturday 6 January
6: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=951
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.
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
(This site was sent by a friend . 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 History Facts
It may be a while before this one hits the top 100
The most surprising cash crop of colonial America
Indigo dye was once so valuable it was known as "blue gold." In colonial South Carolina, the prized dye was even used as a bartering tool for trade and a form of currency to buy goods and services. The rich blue color was in high demand in the royal courts of Europe, particularly in Britain, and in the mid-1700s, indigo exports helped make South Carolina the wealthiest colony in America. Native to West Africa and other warm weather regions, indigo was first used to dye textiles around 6,000 years ago in Peru, and in West Africa it became a cultural cornerstone in the region, representing fertility, wealth, and abundance. The dye is extracted by fermenting the indigo leaves, which eventually creates a blue paste that's formed into cakes and left to dry. The process is delicate, time-consuming, and was considered a valuable skill passed down through generations. As such, enslaved West Africans became integral to indigo production in America.The plant took root in South Carolina in the 1740s, when plantation owners began experimenting with indigofera seeds brought to the colony through the transatlantic slave trade. It thrived in the balmy summer climate, and, due to the forced labor of enslaved people, indigo quickly became the colony's second-largest cash crop, after rice. The indigo trade dominated the South Carolina economy from the 1740s until the 1790s, when the newly independent United States lost its biggest market after breaking with the British Empire. At the crop's peak in 1775, roughly 1.1 million pounds of dye were exported to England, valued at more than $40 million today.
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
China's J-20 Mighty Dragon Stealth Fighter: Just a Stolen F-35?
January 5, 2024
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
It may be a while before this one hits the top 100
An ongoing music performance at a German church is scheduled to continue until 2640.
For one organ concert currently being played at a German church, every chord change makes international news. That's because this performance of avant-garde composer John Cage's "Organ²/ASLSP" is slated to last centuries. In 1985, when Cage (1912–1992) wrote a piano version of what later became "Organ²/ASLSP," he directed musicians to play his notes "as slowly as possible." They've complied.
The performance began on what would have been Cage's 89th birthday: September 5, 2001. A collection of music aficionados, scholars, and former collaborators planned a one-of-a-kind tribute to Cage in Halberstadt, Germany, where the first modern keyboard organ is thought to have originated. They dreamed up a performance that would last as long as the Halberstadt instrument, believed to have been built in the city's cathedral in 1361. Since that was 639 years before the turn of the millennium in 2000, the group settled on a 639-year concert. A custom organ was constructed at the medieval church of St. Burchardi in Halberstadt. The performance opened with a 17-month pause, and one chord lasted nearly seven years. (Sandbags, moved by human hands, weigh down the pedals to engage the organ's pipes.) As of press time, only 15 chord changes have occurred; the next is scheduled for February 2024. So far, private donors have raised about $1.2 million to fund the project, but more is needed for the concert to continue uninterrupted all the way through its scheduled end — in 2640.
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I flew RF-8s besides F-8s and Shadow's description below about being a Flathatter's dream brings back a lot of great memories..skip
Another from Shadow.
BUZZ JOB
Let's take a break… Just got a book from C.P. Weiland yesterday and read some
comments about flathatting… which in my day we called buzz jobs. It is the bane of
every squadron commander and the JO's dream… what good is flying one of these
marvels if you can't share the experience with someone on the ground… Sorry C.P., but
like any other junior birdman… I loved it!
My last tour in the Corps, I was flying the RF-4B Recon-Phantom. The mission and the
plane were a flathatters' dream. Ninety percent of our mission was single plane, solo
sorties. And we made our living "down in the dirt"… We were about the only people left
in the military; that did low level, VFR Operations on almost a daily basis.
A normal mission for us was to leave El Toro, fly the standard instrument departure (SID)
… and upon crossing Saddle Back Mountain, heading for the Salton Sea… call LA
Center, request descent to FL 180 and upon arrival cancel the instrument flight plan for
the next 40 minutes and go VFR down into the desert. We'd usually fly pre-planned
routes and take pictures of all kinds of targets. This was usually from no higher than five
hundred feet and seldom at less than five hundred knots. You have no idea what real
speed feels like… until you've been 1.1 Mach, at less than 100 feet! What a rush!
On occasion… targets of opportunity would pop up in the desert and the hunt was on…
the only worry we usually had, was who was in the back seat… most guys in the
squadron knew within a month who the players were… compared to the passengers…
and if you had a good guy back there… You could have a lot of fun. Things were a little
loose then, most of us had been to Vietnam and we were a pretty salty bunch. The kids
flying in the military today couldn't imagine the freedom we had… and the limits we
could stretch it to.
My secondary MOS was as a Maintenance Officer… I was also a post maintenance check
pilot and as such, used to fly most of my functional flight tests over the Salton Sea… I
hated the idea that if I ever had to shuck the bird (ejecting)… of coming down in the cold
waters in Warning Area. The desert; from the Salton Sea east to the Gila Bend Range and
south to the Mexican border and north to Hoover Dam was our playground… Got to
know to know the area like the back of my hand.
About a month before the fateful day… one of the twidgets from the electronics shop…
came up to me and said, "Boss… the next time you're out in the desert… have the
backseater crank this frequency into the HF Radio… and see what happens".
Now my family's Coat of Arms… bears a Latin inscription that roughly translates…
"Beware of those bearing gifts". Heritage and experience made me alert… and suspicious
(This bunch had already gotten me once… when they submitted… and I approved… a
requisition chit for fallopian tubes). I looked this young stud right in the eye and said,
"What is it"?
He was coy and evasive at first… but finally said, "I don't know if it'll work in the
airplane… but in the shop… with a dummy load on the antenna and on the lower
sideband… we can talk to the truckers up and down the freeway out here". He went on to
say he thought it might be fun. I took the frequency, put it into my survival vest and
promptly forgot about it.
About a month later, Denny Fitz and I and our two backseaters set out to make a parts
run over to Hill AFB. Hill was the Air Force Supply Depot for F-4 parts… and I had
made the acquaintance of an Air Force MSgt. there… who… with adequate priming,
could produce any hard to get part… RFI… Regardless of the paper work! Since the
Marine Corps was always sucking hind teat when it came to parts… this Air Force MSgt.
became an irreplaceable cog in my maintenance management plan. In plain English… It
was easier to steal the shit from the Air Force than to get it through our own supply
system! The Sgt. was our inside man, who made all things possible.
We had the forward camera bay of Denny's airplane loaded with two inop parts (CSD
generators), which we would turn in for new ones… and two bottles of Jack Daniels
(primer fluid). We had a 0600 brief and by 0700 were on our way out to the aircraft…
It was a beautiful day… the stars and moon were in all the right places… the air was crisp
and I was about to leave the surly bonds of earth once again. I used to love these early
morning takeoffs! The lights were still bright and the nine to fivers'… were just getting
up. Looking down on them, you couldn't help but feel superior… the drones were just
getting up to service the queen bee and here I was… high above them, seeing what they
could only dream about… and I was getting paid to do it! Life was good.
In the brief, I was to lead going over and Denny would lead coming back… At the end of
the runway, we did our run-ups, nozzle checks, controls, gauges… and I looked over at
Denny and he gave me a thumb's up… "Show Time… Rock and Roll"!
I absolutely loved the acceleration of the Phantom… it was awesome. After I rotated and
got airborne, I came out of burner at 350 knots and let the good times roll… a few
seconds later, Denny radios, "Two's up" and I looked down on him as he joined up and
slid into position.
The Phantom was an airplane that could look so different from various angles… from the
side, it could look sleek and fast, especially the RF with its' long slender nose… But if
you looked down on top of the aircraft in flight… it looked fat and brutish… like a down
lineman in football… ugly and not something you'd want to fuck with. From below, the
way the wings melded with the fuselage… it once again looked rakish… The RF-4
looked like… and was the thoroughbred of the species. Like a young stallion… it just
wanted to run… there was not a fighter on the west coast that could stay with us in basic
engine or burner… We probably had the last true… Mach II birds left in the fleet… time
and weight had slowed all the other F-4's down. At the top end, only the Vigilante's could
give us a run for our money.
Note: Lost a race to a Vigi one day… passing 1.8 he just walked off and left me… I asked
the guy in the wardroom later… "Just how fast is the son of a bitch"? With a twinkle in
his eye he said, "Don't know… never had enough gas to find out".
Back to paradise; We're climbing through about 23,000 feet… when my aircraft gave a
noticeable thump, lurch and the "Master Caution" light came on… I looked down at the
telelight panel and saw the right generator had dropped off line and the buss tie had
stayed open… I already knew that from the planes actions and I'd started losing some of
the associated equipment… I reset the generator and all seemed well for about two
minutes when it failed again. Hmmm… Not looking good. I called Denny on the radio
and explained what was going on.
Now flying on one generator was no big deal… but taking off with only one was
forbidden. If I continued on to Hill and landed… I'd be stuck there until the thing was
fixed. We talked it over and decided the best course of action was for Denny to go on and
I'd RTB (return to base) to El Toro. I called LA Center on the radio and made
arrangements to split the flight… with Denny proceeding as planned… and me returning
to El Toro.
That settled, I kissed Denny off and turned back to the southwest. Hooters was my
backseater that day (He was so named, because his wife had the biggest set of all the
wives in the squadron). As soon as I set course, I tried to re-set the generator once
again… voila… it worked. I looked down and we were approaching the town of Thermal,
near the north end of the Salton Sea… and I still had almost a full bag of gas… 13,000
lbs internal… and still had some fuel in my drop tank. I decided it would be a shame to
waste all that gas by dumping in order to land… So I called LA Center and asked for a
descent to FL 180 and canceled my IFR flight plan and told them I would do a pickup in
45 minutes. Center approved and upon reaching 180… we canceled instruments.
Now Marines can get pretty creative, especially living on the edge as we were in those
days… and we generally flew on hot mike… that way we didn't have to key the mike in
order to have a conversation. I asked Hooters if there was any place he wanted to see…
"Naw, let's just cruise around". After circling the Salton Sea… we were bored. Then I
remembered the note in my survival vest!
I then said, "Hey Hoots… Crank up the HF radio". A little explanation here... The RF-4
was the only Phantom that had the HF installed… as far as I know. It was so we could
communicate while over "Indian territory" (North Vietnam) and out of UHF range. The
frequency control box for the radio was in the rear cockpit and only the backseater could
set frequencies… The pilot could however… once the frequency was set… take control
of the radio in the front cockpit by simply flipping a switch (a feature obviously designed
by a pilot).
The radio itself was a boomer… 300 watts output and the whole tail of the aircraft was
the antenna… and of course whatever altitude you were at (in this case about 17,000 feet)
… that was the height of the antenna. Plainly put… we were a 300 watt, mobile radio
transceiver… with a 17,000 foot antenna. We had a lot of range!
Hoots then asked me if I wanted to make a phone patch through NORAD? "Nope" I
replied, "I got a new frequency for you to try". Hoots plugged in the frequency and tried
to load the antenna… which in Marine parlance… meant he blew and whistled into the
radio mike… No go… The antenna was not responding (actually this was common
procedure with HF radios, base or mobile). I then said, "Let me try". I took control of the
radio and I blew into the mike and almost instantly… we started hearing… "Breaker,
breaker one nine" and all kinds of other gibberish…
Reading my mind (not hard in those days); Hoots says… "You're Not"! I said…
"Fuckin' A… This is too good to pass up"! For the next minute or so, we carried on the
last rational and sane conversation that would emanate from the cockpit for the next half
hour… "Shadow… You know how many watts we put out"? "Yeah, 300… Now shut up
and let me find one close". "Do you know what the average CB radio puts out"? "No…
listen". "It's about 6 watts max". (Fuckin' backseaters… they were always so anal
retentive… and tech oriented) "So what"? "Well I was just thinkin'… If you do this, you
may fry a few radios". "Naw, ain't gonna happen".
No sooner had I said that, then we hear… loud and clear… "Breaker, breaker one nine…
any station… this is Georgia Boy… How do you hear me…over?"
The thought then occurred to me, that great moments in life… can be preceded, by the
simplest of statements!
Before Hoots could throw water on this great opportunity… I keyed the mike and said,
"Georgia Boy… This is Recon 05… I hear you loud and clear… How me, over"?
Immediately he came back… "Ooweee man"! "What kind of radio is that…?" "You just
about blew me outta my cab! Hell Bubba… I'm illegal… and you pegged my needles"…
You a base station or something…?"
"Nope", says me… "I'm mobile".
"Mobile my ass… You must be on some mountaintop around here… You better shut that
thing down Bubba… before the Feds are on you… like stink on poo"!
"Georgia Boy, I assure you I'm mobile".
"Yeah, right".
At this moment… I had a stroke of pure genius… if I do say so myself… I had turned
back toward Thermal… I keyed the radio and said, "Georgia Boy… Where are you…?
I'll prove to you I'm mobile".
"Where are you"? He replied.
"I'm near Thermal", I said.
"Well Son… I'm east bound, down… and just passed Desert Center… I got my… peddle
pegged to the metal… and I ain't stopping until I gets to Phoenix…Arizona"!
"I'll catch you before you get to Blythe… I'll prove to you I'm mobile"…says I.
"Oowee… Shit man… you ain't fooling me… You in Thermal… you got to be a base
station on a mountain top".
"I assure you… I'm mobile"!
He then said something that was too good to be true…
"Recon… Old Georgia Boy… is east bound and down… You ain't catching me… 'Lessen
you in a Rocket ship"!
Hoots says, "Aww fuck… Why'd he have to go and say that"?
This was going to be one of those cherished little moments in life… By now, I knew he
was on Interstate 10… between Desert Center and Blythe… We had to be just southwest
of him about fifty miles away… Now if the genies of fate… didn't urinate on the best of
intentions of man… this was gonna be one for the ages!
I brought the power up…. and started downhill!
One of the marvels of the desert… is that on a clear day… from altitude… you could
literally see forever…. for miles and miles and miles. My mind went tactical… I knew he
still believed I was really stationary… but just in case… I figured he would be checking
his rear view mirrors. My plan was to come from the southwest… the desert… He
wouldn't be expecting me to come from there.
Hoots then chimes up… "You gonna boom 'em"? You're .98 and accelerating".
(Sometimes I think the only reason those guys were back there… was to bring an extra
conscience along… in case your own went into… fail mode… which I was fast
approaching)
"No… Don't think I wanna do that". (But my mind was saying… Great fucking idea
though!) With both consciences in order; I backed off about 3%…
Going supersonic was now off the table… so I had to think of something else… In a
nano-second it came to me… A few of us had discovered… that if you get fast enough…
and low enough… out in the desert… You can leave a dust trail about a quarter of a mile
behind you from your shock wave and wing vortices! (Before you say bullshit… I have
plenty of others who can back me up on this… You also need to understand… Low and
fast was where we had to live in order to survive our mission… Some of us just liked to
go a little lower… and a little faster… than others.
Glenn Hyde saw it first hand one day when he tried to follow me down in the weeds in a
straight F-4 (he was supposed to be flying chase at 5,000 feet)… his backseater later
accused both of us of trying to kill him. Glenn tried to follow me up the contour of a
mountain and then through a saddle in a ridge line… where he hit my jet wake; which
flipped him upside down at less than 100 feet AGL and at over 580 knots! Glenn had
been a crop duster before joining the Marines… and kept his cool, pushed on the stick
and climbed inverted until he had enough altitude to roll upright. His backseater was still
shaking over an hour later, during the de-brief. By the way, Glenn's call sign was
"Crazy"… obviously a well deserved tribute.
Back to Georgia Boy...after less than five minutes… I was now down to about a thousand
feet, holding .98 Mach and could see the back of a white truck about 10 miles just
northeast of me… I keyed the radio and asked… "Georgia Boy… What color is the back
of your truck"?
"It's white… like my Georgia Cracker ass"!
As he answered, I saw the truck ahead do a little wiggle in the road… He was obviously
clearing his six!
I saw no other traffic on the road in either direction for over ten miles (even the car Gods
were co-operating). I told Hoots over the ICS… "Man, we're getting' down in the dirt…
it's Show Time!
I dropped down as low as I dared… and timed the merge for me to be in the center
divider (it is very wide in that part of the desert)… just as we would pass abeam Georgia
Boy… About a half mile in trail… Hoots confirmed a dust trail behind us as I moved into
the center divider, keyed the radio and said…
"GEORGIA BOY… LOOK OUT YOUR LEFT WINDOW"!!!
At this point… and at those speeds and low altitude, everything is usually a blur in your
peripheral vision if you're not looking sideways; all I remember seeing was the two
biggest white eyes I ever saw… Looked like goose eggs! I didn't see much else… 'cause
I was soo low and soo fast…
As the cab passed my peripheral vision… I stroked both engines into afterburner… and
pulled up at about 5 G's… When the nose reached 60 degrees… I unloaded and did two
full deflection rolls…
Simultaneous with this I hear two voices… "Holy… Sweet Peter… Mother… Joseph and
Jesus… he swapped lanes!" Hoots exclaimed.
"Oh my Gawd… You were in a fucking Rocket Ship"!!! Yelled out Georgia Boy.
That my friends… as they say in the commercial… was priceless… and worth what ever
price there was to pay, short of losing ones' wings.
Then Hoots says… "Holy Shit… You almost blew him off the road… Man, he swapped
lanes two times"!
I continued out ahead for about 2 or 3 miles and pulled up through the vertical… over the
top… and started downhill for another merge… this time head on… As I rolled upright;.
Georgia Boy could see me… and he read my mind…
"Oh God No… Don't do that!" "Puleease… Don't do that"! Passing through about
5,000 feet… I regained my senses and I leveled off and made a wide sweeping turn
around the truck.
Now relieved of another attack… Georgia Boy gets diarrhea of the mouth…. "Hot
damn… Nobody's gonna believe this! Nobody will believe I got run off the road by a
Rocket Ship…! Recon… Give me your phone number… I'm gonna win some money at the
bar tonight… Shit… Fire… this is unbelievable!" Even Hoots was laughing now… I
happened to look up into the side mirror and noticed the crows feet around my eyes that
the oxygen mask caused from my smiling… this was a wonderful moment… one you'll
never forget.
I finally came back to reality and saw I was below 7,500 lbs. of fuel… I called him on the
radio and said… "Georgia Boy… We'd love to stay around a play… But I'm running out
of gas… We're gonna have to break it off and head back to base". If I'd had one ounce of
gray matter still working… instead of operating on pure adrenaline… I wouldn't have
said another word… But whoever said Marines were smart?
Now I didn't want some Redneck calling my house in the middle of the night… drunk
and trying to settle a bar bet… I wasn't about to give him my home phone number. But
my mouth engaged before my brain reacted… and I said, "Hey, here's the Ready Room
phone number… call me there and I'll back you up".
What a stupid son of a bitch I was!
The rest of the flight was uneventful… The generator stayed on line, I picked up my
clearance, flew back to El Toro, landed and as I signed the Maintenance forms… Phil
Seward… my Maintenance Chief… said "Boss… Don't know what you did… But the
CO, XO and OPS-O… are waiting for you in the Ready Room"!
Euphoria was about to turn into HACQ (House Arrest, Confined to Quarters)… I'll spare
you the details… I got a butt chewing and thought I was toast… until the XO smiled
when he said I had to answer all these damn phones calls from all over the West Coast
(Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and California)… 300 watts does indeed… go a long
way… One poor old lady who heard my next to last radio transmission and was sure I
was running out of gas out in the desert, said someone needs to go… "Help that Boy".
He then said, "What freq were you using"? I handed him the note from the twidget… and
he smiled and tore it up.
When word got around the squadron… I enjoyed new status with the troops… But I had
to "check six" for a long time… especially around the Heavies… But you want to know
the truth…
I ENJOYED EVERY FREAKIN' SECOND OF IT!
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This Day in U S Military History
6 January
1838 – Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph system using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code). Vail was central, with Samuel F. B. Morse, in developing and commercializing the telegraph between 1837 and 1844. Vail and Morse were the first two telegraph operators on Morse's first experimental line between Washington, DC, and Baltimore, and Vail took charge of building and managing several early telegraph lines between 1845 and 1848. He was also responsible for several technical innovations of Morse's system, particularly the sending key and improved recording registers and relay magnets. Vail left the telegraph industry in 1848 because he believed that the managers of Morse's lines did not fully value his contributions. His last assignment, superintendent of the Washington and New Orleans Telegraph Company, paid him only $900 a year, leading Vail to write to Morse, "I have made up my mind to leave the Telegraph to take care of itself, since it cannot take care of me. I shall, in a few months, leave Washington for New Jersey, … and bid adieu to the subject of the Telegraph for some more profitable business."
1919 – Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, dies at Sagamore Hill, his estate overlooking New York's Long Island Sound. A dynamic and energetic politician, Theodore Roosevelt is credited with creating the modern presidency. As a young Republican, Roosevelt held a number of political posts in New York in the 1880s and '90s and was a leader of reform Republicans in the state. In 1898, as assistant secretary to the U.S. Navy, Roosevelt vehemently advocated war with Spain. When the Spanish-American War began, he formed the "Rough Riders," a volunteer cavalry that became famous for its contribution to the United States victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. The publicity-minded Roosevelt rode his military fame to the New York governor's seat in 1898 and to the vice presidency in 1900. In 1901, President William McKinley was assassinated, and Roosevelt, 43 years old, became the youngest president ever to assume the office. He stamped the presidency with a vitality that delighted most Americans and was elected to a second term in 1904. As an American expansionist, Roosevelt asserted his executive powers to defend U.S. interests throughout the Americas as he sought to balance the interests of farmers, workers, and the business class at home. He insisted on a strong navy, encouraged the independence of Panama and the construction of the Panama Canal, promoted the regulation of trusts and monopolies, and set aside land for America's first national parks and monuments. In 1906, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in the negotiations to end the Russo-Japanese War. In 1912, three years after finishing his second term, Roosevelt ran for president again as the new Progressive Party candidate. Challenging his former vice president, President William Howard Taft, he campaigned on his "Square Deal" platform of social reform. In November, the divided Republican Party was defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson. In the last few years of his life, Roosevelt became a vocal advocate of the U.S. entrance into World War I and even sought to win a commission to lead a U.S. Army division in Europe. President Wilson declined, and after the war Roosevelt was a vocal opponent of his League of Nations. In 1919, Roosevelt died at his home in New York. The tropical diseases he had contracted during his travels likely caught up with him, and he died at the age of 60.
1930 – The first diesel-engined automobile trip is completed, from Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York, New York. Cummins Engine Company owner Clessie Cummins mounted a diesel engine in a used Packard Touring Car and set out for the National Automobile Show. The 800-mile trip from Indianapolis to New York City used 30 gallons of fuel, which cost $1.38, and showed that diesel was a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine.
1944 – A joint RAF-USAAF statement discloses the hitherto secret development of jet aircraft in Britain and the USA. Full details of the Whittle turbojet given to General Arnold (USAAF) in July 1941 are revealed.
1960 – National Airlines Flight 2511, a domestic passenger flight from New York City, New York to Miami, Florida, exploded in midair. The National Airlines Douglas DC-6 was carrying five crew and 29 passengers, all of whom perished. The Civil Aeronautics Board investigation concluded that the plane was brought down by a dynamite bomb. No criminal charges were ever filed, nor was the blame for the bombing ever determined. The investigation remains open today. One of the victims was retired US Navy Vice Admiral Edward Orrick McDonnell, a Medal of Honor recipient and veteran of both World Wars.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
*DAVIS, GEORGE FLEMING
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 23 March 1911, Manila, Philippine Islands. Accredited to: Philippine Islands. Other Navy awards: Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Walke engaged in a detached mission in support of minesweeping operations to clear the waters for entry of our heavy surface and amphibious forces preparatory to the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 6 January 1945. Operating without gun support of other surface ships when 4 Japanese suicide planes were detected flying low overland to attack simultaneously, Comdr. Davis boldly took his position in the exposed wings of the bridge and directed control to pick up the leading plane and open fire. Alert and fearless as the Walke's deadly fire sent the first target crashing into the water and caught the second as it passed close over the bridge to plunge into the sea of portside, he remained steadfast in the path of the third plane plunging swiftly to crash the after end of the bridge structure. Seriously wounded when the craft struck, drenched with gasoline and immediately enveloped in flames, he conned the Walke in the midst of the wreckage; he rallied his command to heroic efforts; he exhorted his officers and men to save the ship and, still on his feet, saw the barrage from his guns destroy the fourth suicide bomber. With the fires under control and the safety of the ship assured, he consented to be carried below. Succumbing several hours later, Comdr. Davis by his example of valor and his unhesitating self-sacrifice, steeled the fighting spirit of his command into unyielding purpose in completing a vital mission. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
BRADY, PATRICK HENRY
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade. Place and date: Near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1968. Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 1 October 1936, Philip, S. Dak. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Maj. Brady distinguished himself while serving in the Republic of Vietnam commanding a UH-1H ambulance helicopter, volunteered to rescue wounded men from a site in enemy held territory which was reported to be heavily defended and to be blanketed by fog. To reach the site he descended through heavy fog and smoke and hovered slowly along a valley trail, turning his ship sideward to blow away the fog with the backwash from his rotor blades. Despite the unchallenged, close-range enemy fire, he found the dangerously small site, where he successfully landed and evacuated 2 badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers. He was then called to another area completely covered by dense fog where American casualties lay only 50 meters from the enemy. Two aircraft had previously been shot down and others had made unsuccessful attempts to reach this site earlier in the day. With unmatched skill and extraordinary courage, Maj. Brady made 4 flights to this embattled landing zone and successfully rescued all the wounded. On his third mission of the day Maj. Brady once again landed at a site surrounded by the enemy. The friendly ground force, pinned down by enemy fire, had been unable to reach and secure the landing zone. Although his aircraft had been badly damaged and his controls partially shot away during his initial entry into this area, he returned minutes later and rescued the remaining injured. Shortly thereafter, obtaining a replacement aircraft, Maj. Brady was requested to land in an enemy minefield where a platoon of American soldiers was trapped. A mine detonated near his helicopter, wounding 2 crewmembers and damaging his ship. In spite of this, he managed to fly 6 severely injured patients to medical aid. Throughout that day Maj. Brady utilized 3 helicopters to evacuate a total of 51 seriously wounded men, many of whom would have perished without prompt medical treatment. Maj. Brady's bravery was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
JENKINS, DON J.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place and date: Kien Phong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1969. Entered service at: Nashville, Tenn. Born: 18 April 1948, Quality, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Jenkins (then Pfc.), Company A, distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission. When his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex, S/Sgt. Jenkins unhesitatingly maneuvered forward to a perilously exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his own machine gun jammed, he immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant. He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun. Displaying tremendous presence of mind, he then armed himself with 2 antitank weapons and, by himself, maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position. After moving back to the friendly defensive perimeter long enough to secure yet another weapon, a grenade launcher, S/Sgt. Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was again exhausted. During this time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel. Undaunted and displaying great courage, he moved forward 100 meters to aid a friendly element that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. This he did with complete disregard for his own wound and despite having been advised that several previous rescue attempts had failed at the cost of the life of 1 and the wounding of others. Ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds, and hindered by darkness, he made 3 trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety. S/Sgt. Jenkins' extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. S/Sgt. Jenkins risk of his life reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
*WICKAM, JERRY WAYNE
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Troop F, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Place and date: Near Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1968. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 19 January 1942, Rockford, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Wickam, distinguished himself while serving with Troop F. Troop F was conducting a reconnaissance in force mission southwest of Loc Ninh when the lead element of the friendly force was subjected to a heavy barrage of rocket, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from a well concealed enemy bunker complex. Disregarding the intense fire, Cpl. Wickam leaped from his armored vehicle and assaulted one of the enemy bunkers and threw a grenade into it, killing 2 enemy soldiers. He moved into the bunker, and with the aid of another soldier, began to remove the body of one Viet Cong when he detected the sound of an enemy grenade being charged. Cpl. Wickam warned his comrade and physically pushed him away from the grenade thus protecting him from the force of the blast. When a second Viet Cong bunker was discovered, he ran through a hail of enemy fire to deliver deadly fire into the bunker, killing one enemy soldier. He also captured 1 Viet Cong who later provided valuable information on enemy activity in the Loc Ninh area. After the patrol withdrew and an air strike was conducted, Cpl. Wickam led his men back to evaluate the success of the strike. They were immediately attacked again by enemy fire. Without hesitation, he charged the bunker from which the fire was being directed, enabling the remainder of his men to seek cover. He threw a grenade inside of the enemy's position killing 2 Viet Cong and destroying the bunker. Moments later he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Cpl. Wickam's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 6, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
6 January
1945: Taking off from Chengtu, China, 45 B-29s bombed the Omura aircraft plant, enemy installations, and targets of opportunity in occupied China. (24)
1951: KOREAN WAR. As the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division defended the U. N. line across S. Korea, Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command dispatched C-47s from the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron with 115 tons of cargo to Wonju, and C-119s from the 314th Troop Carrier Group to drop 460 tons of supplies to the division. (28)
1964: The Supersonic Transport (SST) Evaluation Group, under the Federal Aviation Authority, convened in Washington DC to evaluate airframe and engine design proposals for the SST. (5)
1965: The General Dynamics F-111A demonstrated the ability to fly with its wings swept back in its first flight. (5)
1977: The Department of Defense placed the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) program into full scale development and set up a joint cruise missile project office. (12)
1978: Vandenberg AFB, Calif., launched a Minuteman III, carrying three Mark 12A reentry vehicles, to study an experimental nose tip and heat shield materials. (5)
1979: The 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, accepted the Tactical Air Command's first F-16. (12)
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - Iran/Russia, Vietnam, Argentina, Iran, Ethiopia/Somalia, West Africa, Iraq, Chad, Israel/Gaza, EU/China, Iran, Senegal, North Korea/South Korea
Iran, Russia: US Warns of Short-Range Ballistic Missile Deal
What Happened: U.S. officials assessed that Russia intends to purchase short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 4. Deliveries could begin by early spring, though the United States does not think the deal has been completed.
Why It Matters: A deal would enable Russia to better overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses and radar systems by firing a barrage of missiles at once. In return, Iran would likely receive military technology that would upgrade its conventional military systems, like aircraft, or its missile technology.
Background: In recent weeks, Russia has been ramping up missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets, due in part to the delivery of short-range ballistic missiles from North Korea to eastern Russia. Russia's missile production capacity has been bogged down by the high demand of the war and Western sanctions targeting its defense sector. In October 2023, the U.N. arms embargo for ballistic missile and drone technology on Iran expired, making it even easier politically for Russia and Iran to conclude a missile deal.
Vietnam: Former PetroVietnam Boss and Deputy Minister Detained in Corruption Probe
What Happened: Hoang Quoc Vuong, Vietnam's deputy trade minister from 2015-2020, has been arrested for alleged abuse of power after retiring from his position as chairman of the country's state-owned energy conglomerate, PetroVietnam, Bloomberg reported Jan. 4.
Why It Matters: The move is a continuation of purging so-called technocrats from Vietnam's party-state power structure, which in the past year has targeted the country's foreign ministry and its industry and trade ministry, along with those ministries' alumni (such as former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who was ousted last year along with two deputy prime ministers in his camp). Politically, these ministries will continue to be targeted, with officials from the Ministry of Public Security and the party apparatus conversely ascending. The anti-graft campaign serves several purposes, one of which is to straightforwardly address endemic corruption in the party-state. But it also serves to forestall factionalism ahead of the 2026 party congress, which will usher in new leadership. The Vietnamese Communist Party is aiming to shore up its governing legitimacy and enforce party discipline, which will continue to manifest in the elevation of national security officials and party hard-liners at the expense of so-called technocrats.
Background: Officials at the Ministry of Industry and Trade up to the deputy minister level have been arrested and prosecuted in recent months, including a deputy trade minister in December following an investigation into bribe-taking with a separate domestic oil company. Vietnam's "blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign, in place since 2016, has seen the arrest of thousands of VCP members, government officials and businesspeople. In November, VCP General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong vowed that the campaign would continue "for the long term."
Argentina: Milei's Labor Reforms Face First Judicial Setback
What Happened: Argentina's National Chamber of Labor Appeals issued a temporary stay order to freeze a set of labor reforms included in President Javier Milei's Dec. 20 emergency decree, Bloomberg reported Jan. 3. The court's decision has already been appealed by the government.
Why It Matters: Although the decision only suspends the decree's subset of labor reforms, the court's ruling is a setback for Milei's government. Furthermore, the president's long list of extensive social and economic reforms will face additional challenges in court, as well as in Congress, where Milei's Freedom Advances party and allies lack a majority. As the courts and Congress deliberate the president's ''mega-decree,'' businesses operating in Argentina will be tasked with navigating an environment of elevated policy uncertainty. In the meantime, tensions between labor groups and the government will probably increase in the coming months, and will likely manifest in the form of heavy street protests and labor strikes, which may disrupt business operations in Buenos Aires.
Background: The request to block Milei's labor reforms was initiated by the General Confederation of Labor, a powerful labor union that has been one of the government's staunchest critics thus far and has called for a general strike to go into effect on Jan. 24. Alejandro Sudera, a member of the court that issued the stay order, questioned Milei's ability to bypass congress using presidential decrees generally restricted to use during times of necessity or urgency. The ''mega-decree,'' which includes over 300 measures to deregulate the economy, went into effect on Dec. 29, and the reforms to labor included pro-business provisions that would eliminate penalties for employers, extend the trial period for new workers, reduce pregnancy leave, and limit workers' ability to strike. The Supreme Court announced that it will deliberate another claim against Milei's decree raised by the La Rioja province in February.
Iran: Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Kerman Bombings
What Happened: The Islamic State issued a statement on Telegram claiming responsibility for the Jan. 3 twin bombings targeting an event in Iran's Kerman city commemorating slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani that killed nearly 100 people and wounded hundreds of others, Reuters reported Jan. 4.
Why It Matters: The Islamic State's claimed responsibility for the attack underscores the group's continuing enmity with Iran driven by ideological differences and Iran's long-standing support for and conduct of anti-Islamic State counterterrorism operations. It also highlights Iranian security services' inability to prevent even higher-profile and deadlier extremist attacks in Iran. In response, Iran has already begun bolstering security along its border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, and will likely offer support to and/or press the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani government to target local Islamic State militants. Iran is unlikely to conduct independent military action against Islamic State in Afghanistan — where the group's regional affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) is based — given Iran's disinterest in getting embroiled in Afghanistan and the challenged efficacy of such operations due to ISKP's fragmented structure.
Background: The twin blasts were the deadliest to hit Iran in decades. Shortly after, the chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, blamed the attack on ''bloodthirsty people who were sponsored by America and the Zionist regime.'' Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed ''a harsh response'' for those responsible.
Ethiopia, Somalia: African Union Calls for Calm as Tensions Escalate Over Somaliland Deal
What Happened: In a statement issued on Jan. 3, the African Union urged Somalia and Ethiopia to refrain from any actions that might unintentionally harm their bilateral relations. The statement comes after Ethiopia signed a controversial deal with the breakaway republic of Somaliland that has since inflamed tensions with Somalia, which has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations.
Why It Matters: The AU's call for calm follows Somalia's rejection of the deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which it has called a violation of its sovereignty. Regional bodies and influential countries in the Horn of Africa are expected to engage in diplomatic efforts and negotiations to prevent Somalia from resorting to stringent actions against Somaliland in response to the new deal with Ethiopia. These actions could potentially include economic sanctions or restrictions. The diplomatic row also risks reducing cooperation between Ethiopia and Somalia, particularly in their joint military operations against the militant group al Shabaab.
Background: In a historic Jan. 1 deal, Ethiopia agreed to recognize Somaliland's independence in exchange for Somalia's breakaway region granting Ethiopia's Naval Forces basing rights at the Gulf of Aden port of Berbera. The agreement has since triggered widespread condemnation, with Egypt and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressing solidarity with Somalia. The United States has also issued a statement affirming recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia within its 1960 borders.
West Africa: US Pursues Drone Bases Along West African Coast to Counter Islamist Progression
What Happened: The United States is seeking to set up drone bases along the West African coast to counter the growth of al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, The Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 3, citing U.S. and African officials. The United States is reportedly engaged in initial discussions aimed at permitting unarmed U.S. surveillance drones to utilize airstrips located in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Benin, which are situated along the Atlantic Ocean.
Why It Matters: The utilization of drones will likely enable U.S. forces to conduct aerial surveillance of militant activities along the coast, offering real-time support to local troops in combat scenarios. This strategic move is poised to enhance counterterrorism operations at a time when France's influence in West Africa as a military partner is diminishing, notably seen in the expulsion of its troops from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The deployment of U.S. drones also highlights concerns about Niger's stability following the July 2023 coup and raises questions about its reliability as a strong U.S. partner, especially considering the presence of the U.S. Agadez drone base.
Background: Following the Niger coup, the United States promptly halted aid to Niger's military. The U.S. Africa Command significantly reduced its troop presence to approximately 650 soldiers. U.S. officers stated that drones from Agadez now primarily focus on safeguarding the remaining U.S. forces.
Iraq: US Strike Kills Leader of Pro-Iranian Militia
What Happened: A Jan. 4 U.S. strike on a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) logistics facility in Baghdad killed Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi, a top commander of the pro-Iranian Harakat al-Nujaba militia group, along with two other unidentified individuals, The Times of Israel reported the same day. U.S. officials confirmed the U.S. military was responsible for the strike, saying it targeted a Harakat al-Nujaba commander without naming him specifically.
Why It Matters: The U.S. drone strike comes amid ongoing Iran-backed militia attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq, which have occurred nearly daily since the Hamas-Israel war broke out in October in response to Washington's continued support for Israel. The commander's killing will increase the risk of more escalatory militia attacks, which will subsequently increase the risk of proportionate U.S. strikes in retaliation — creating a tit-for-tat cycle of violence that could expand the Gaza conflict to Iraq and other nearby countries, like Syria. U.S. attacks against pro-Iranian militias will also increase anti-U.S. sentiment in Iraq, especially if they result in more Iraqi casualties. Recent remarks made by Iraq's prime minister, as well as members of the Shiite Coordination Framework, have indicated an interest in removing U.S. troops from the country. However, many Iraqis view military cooperation and access to U.S. training and resources as beneficial, which — combined with rivalries and stalemates in the Iraqi parliament — make significant diplomatic changes in the U.S.-Iraq relationship unlikely, even as attacks between Iraqi militias and U.S. troops escalate.
Background: Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, along with those in Syria, have launched at least 118 attacks against U.S. targets since the start of the Hamas-Israel war on Oct. 7, which have prompted retaliatory strikes from U.S. forces. On Dec. 26, another U.S. strike killed an Iraqi security service member and wounded over a dozen more, spurring condemnation from Baghdad.
Chad: Ex-Opposition Leader's Appointment as Prime Minister Stirs Controversy
What Happened: Opposition groups in Chad have raised concerns about the intent behind the junta's recent appointment of former opposition leader Succes Masra as prime minister of the transitional government, arguing the move is strategically aimed at consolidating power ahead of the country's October 2024 elections, VOA reported Jan. 3.
Why It Matters: Masra's sudden shift from an exiled opposition figure to Chad's new prime minister is seen as a calculated move by the junta to reduce the impact of opposition voices and present an appearance of inclusivity within the transitional government. Consequently, the move will likely continue to weaken the opposition's unified stance against the military leadership, potentially undermining their influence in crucial decision-making processes preceding the October election, thereby raising concerns about the fairness of the upcoming ballot.
Background: Masra was recently permitted to return from exile in the United States following violent opposition protests in 2022 against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby's move to extend reign, during which hundreds of demonstrators were killed.
Israel, Gaza: Defense Minister Offers First Formal Plan for Gaza Occupation
What Happened: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant offered the government's first proposed plan for post-war Gaza, The Times of Israel reported on Jan 4. The plan foresees permanent Israeli military oversight of the strip with a Palestinian civil administration supported by an international task force made up of the United States, European states and moderate Arab states that would provide aid for the reconstruction of the strip.
Why It Matters: After the Israel-Hamas war ends, the Gaza Strip will likely remain under Israeli military occupation that seeks Palestinian civil control, in line with Gallant's proposal. The government may try to convince its far-right elements to support this plan by offering concessions such as encouraging Gazans to relocate to the West Bank through tactics like work permits or housing. However, Egypt and Gulf Arab states initially will resist cooperating with Israel's plan due to fears of being seen as enabling Israel's reoccupation of Gaza. Palestinian civilian authorities, including the Palestinian Authority that governs part of the West Bank, will do the same. This means Israel will be responsible for the whole strip until these actors consider cooperation. Israel may eventually attempt to resettle the strip, but this option remains unlikely in the immediate term.
Background: Gallant's plan includes four phases, the first of which involves Israel reorganizing Gaza's civil administration. Next, the international coalition would step in to support the transition with aid, and third, Egypt would take control of the Rafah border crossing. Lastly, the Palestinian officials who governed Gaza before Hamas would resume civil authority over the strip.
EU, China: Beijing Launches Anti-Subsidy Probe Into Imports of EU Brandies
What Happened: China launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of brandy from the European Union in containers of less than 200 liters (44 gallons), the Financial Times reported on Jan. 5. The investigation will focus on wine-derived brandy, which means it will mostly target French products like cognac and Armagnac.
Why It Matters: The probe comes in retaliation to similar ongoing investigations in the European Union over Chinese products, particularly electric vehicles. This move shows that China is willing to engage in a trade dispute with the bloc over moves that Beijing views as protectionist but not excessively escalatory. The scope of the probe is rather limited, affecting only about $1.57 billion worth of imports compared with the $12.7 billion worth of electric vehicles China exports to the European Union. Additionally, the focus on French products is likely not a coincidence, as France has been among the most vocal proponents of anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese EVs. Still, the potential impacts on the affected industry would be significant, with China accounting for about 10% of the sector's export market. Moreover, China may launch additional investigations affecting EU products with a much larger dependence on sales in China, including wine and other liquors.
Background: The probe, allegedly prompted by a complaint from the China Liquor Industry Association, comes only three months after the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of EVs from China. Brussels also recently launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Chinese biodiesel and is reportedly considering further probes into imports of steel and wind turbines from China.
Iran: Tehran Vows Retaliation, Makes Initial Arrests for Kerman Bomb Attacks
What Happened: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to retaliate against those responsible for the Jan. 3 twin bomb attacks in the city of Kerman after the Islamic State claimed responsibility, Al Jazeera reported on Jan. 5. On the same day, the Iranian Interior Ministry announced that it had arrested individuals suspected of planning the attacks, though the ministry did not reveal the number of arrests or the identities of those arrested.
Why It Matters: The attribution of the attack to the Islamic State and the subsequent arrests reduces the likelihood that Iran will blame Israel and the United States and retaliate against them. Tehran's next steps will depend on where the perpetrators originated and will likely become more apparent as the government reveals more information about the recent arrests. If the attackers are affiliated with Islamic State Khorasan Province, which operates out of Afghanistan, Iran may increase its cooperation with the Afghan Taliban to promote information sharing and increase pressure to contain the group along the Iran-Afghanistan border. However, if the perpetrators are members of Iraqi and Syrian cells, Iran may increase strikes to counter those groups. Such strikes would be independent of the Israel-Hamas war and unlikely to escalate the war into a regional conflict.
Background: An attack on Jan. 3 in Kerman, Iran, killed at least 89 people and injured nearly 300 more. The following day, the Islamic State released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack
.
Senegal: Constitutional Council Rejects Opposition Leader's Presidential Candidacy
What Happened: Senegal's Constitutional Council declined jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko's candidacy for the February presidential election due to the incompleteness of his application, according to Sonko's lawyer, Agence France-Presse reported on Jan. 5.
Why It Matters: The Constitutional Council's decision will likely trigger pushback from Sonko's party and supporters and possibly short-term unrest, particularly in the capital, Dakar, and Ziguinchor where Sonko was mayor. Nonetheless, if Sonko continues to be held in custody, unable to participate in the February elections, the likelihood of unrest stemming from his calls for protests would diminish.
Background: On Jan. 4, the Supreme Court confirmed Sonko's six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation, a sentence widely seen as making him ineligible for the presidential election. In December 2023, a Senegalese court ordered Sonko's reinstatement on the electoral list. Before encountering legal challenges, Sonko's position as the third-place contender in Senegal's 2019 presidential election solidified his role as a prominent opposition figure in the race to succeed President Macky Sall.
North Korea, South Korea: Artillery Exchange Highlights Risk of Escalation
What Happened: North Korea fired roughly 200 artillery shells into a maritime border zone west of South Korea, causing evacuations of the meagerly populated South Korean islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong, Yonhap News Agency reported on Jan. 5. In response, South Korean artillery units on those islands fired back 400 shells into the maritime border zone.
Why It Matters: Though they caused no casualties, such military demonstrations will increase in frequency as tensions between North and South Korea rise, raising the chance of limited casualties — like Pyongyang's 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong that killed two South Korean soldiers and two civilians. Such casualty events could trigger a disproportionate South Korean response that causes the Korean Peninsula to enter a state of higher security risk, frightening investors even though the chance of war would remain low.
Background: The last time Pyongyang fired into the border zone was in December 2022, and Seoul has not done so since the two sides signed a border agreement in 2018. Pyongyang scrapped that agreement altogether in November 2023 after Seoul partially suspended it.
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