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POPSNavy Destroyer Named After Marine Medal Of Honor Winner Jason L. Dunham
In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq. After composing herself and taking a deep breath, Deb Dunham smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of the 510-foot warship Jason Dunham, then held the bottle aloft before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 people. She was joined by the Marines who served with her son, by her husband, Dan Dunham, and their daughter Katelyn Dunham. Two other Dunham boys also were in the audience. Retired Gen. Michael Hagee, a former Marine commandant who was with the Dunhams when their son died at Bethesda Naval Hospital days after the explosion, said Jason gave the “gift of valor.” Hagee said the warship will serve as a reminder that freedom “is paid for by the men and women who wear the cloth of this nation.”
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POPSN.Korea defiant over sanctions threat... The USS John S. McCain was shadowing the vessel, the Kang Nam, the first ship to be monitored under a UN resolution imposed a week ago that bans arms shipments to and from North Korea, the official said. Pentagon officials declined to comment on a television report the Navy destroyer was heading to intercept the North Korean vessel. The officials stressed that the UN sanctions do not authorise military force and that Washington was pursuing a diplomatic strategy.
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POPSChinese Sub to USS McCain: "Kan Yu Heer Mi Nau?" Clang! And the USS McCain did not detect them? Or it seems the Chinese sub did not detect the "sonar array" being towed behind the McCain. Speculation in military forum clipped. Interesting "cat and mouse" play in Pacific. There is some ironic symbolism to all this, between China and McCain's namesake vessel.
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POPSGet Ready Because Fleet Week Starts Tomorrow (like tug of war; Saturday, May 23), and a Memorial Day ceremony with the unfurling of a 100-foot flag, a 3-volley rifle salute, and military flyover (Monday, May 25). Six ships will be taking part in the parade in a "wedge formation": At the front of the wedge is the U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Katherine Walker. The rest of the wedge consists of three U.S. Navy coastal patrol craft - the Tempest, Hurricane and Thunderbolt, and two Army vessels - the Gelding and Hayward. Following the wedge is the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), then two Canadian ships, the air defense destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, and the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS Fredericton. Next in line is the U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter Spencer, followed by two more Canadian ships, the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS Montreal, and the multi-role patrol frigate HMCS St. John’s. The final ship in the Parade of Ships is the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
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POPS American Hero ~ Captain Richard Phillips Snipers on the fantail of the destroyer USS Bainbridge, which was towing the lifeboat with a 100-foot line, opened fire when they "observed the pirates with their heads and shoulders exposed," Gortney said. The captain, widely hailed for giving himself up as a hostage to save his crew and for his valiant escape attempt Friday, was unhurt and safely aboard the USS Boxer. He (Captain Phillips) told his boss, John Reinhart, head of the Maersk Line shipping company, that he wasn't comfortable with the hero label. "'The heroes are the Navy, the Seals, and those that have brought me home.' That was his quote," Reinhart said.
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POPSStandoff Negotiations Break Down as Navy Fears Pirates... This is a created crisis that has been allowed to escalate to humiliating proportions. The Navy vessel turned tail and ran!!!....not wanting "to escalate the situation." If the President doesn't allow the military to deal with 4 pirates in a lifeboat, we are INDEED doomed when confronted by Iran, Russia, N. Korea, etc... It's now more understandable as to why the military's budget is being cut; there's no plans to use our military!
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POPS Resolved: Vikings > Pirates There could be some political pushback about a force exclusively staffed by burly blonde males, but Democrats from the northern Midwest should be happy to have those types out of their districts for good. Expect newly minted Minnesota senator Al Franken to co-sponsor the Viking Authorization Bill, building up his defense bona fides. "But Jon, why use swords, clubs and battle-axes when we have a modern, well-equipped Navy already in the region?" First Ninjas, now this? You sir, are a foreign policy dilettante. Sure, we could send a destroyer to sink a fleet of Somali dinghies, but where's the fun in that? In politics, perception is reality and Vikings vs. Pirates is flat-out COOL. Can you imagine the YouTube videos? Cable news would help fund the initiative just for the ratings boost. Exurban League calls on President Obama to do the right thing for our country, free trade and our entertainment: Use Vikings to kill the Pirates. If not for us, Sir, then for the children.
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POPSAmerican Captain Tries Daring Escape from Somali Pirates by another warship, the Halyburton, which carries two helicopters. The pirates also claim to be sending reinforcements, hijacked ships with their captured crews as human shields. "The pirates have summoned assistance -- skiffs and motherships are heading towards the area from the coast," a Nairobi-based diplomat told the Associated Press. "We knew they were gathering yesterday." A Somali pirate identified as Mohamed Samaw in the pirate stronghold in central Eyl, told the AP that among the ships heading to their colleagues' rescue was a Taiwanese fishing vessel seized Monday and the German cargo ship Hansa Stavanger, seized earlier this month. "They had asked us for reinforcement and we have already sent a good number of well-equipped colleagues, who were holding a German cargo ship," said another pirate. "We are not intending to harm the captain, so that we hope our colleagues would not be harmed as long as they hold him," Badow said.
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POPSChinese heros save the day!!! The crew on the Chinese ship, MV Yandanghai, had prevented the pirates from boarding by taking evasive manoeuvres and training their fire hoses on their skiff. Two of the Yandanghai's crew were reported to be lightly injured in the attack.
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POPSRussia Counters Bush/NATO with Cuba Naval Visit International waters near the U.S., sending Obama a message (who takes the exact same position as Bush, McCain, and the neocons on provoking Russia). Sort of a reminder, maybe of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is close to what the U.S. just did in missile treaties surrounding Russia. The chess game continues.
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POPS Indian Navy Nabs 23 Pirates in Gulf of Aden Sources said the marine commandos had sighted pirates carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic weapons. As Mysore engaged the pirates, the commandos boarded the Salahaddin and arrested the pirates, who decided not to hold out as they were no match for the Indian warship.
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POPSEU wants control off Somalia coast Here we go guys- the EU over stepping it's bounds.... let's not forget that this waterway is also crucial to the middle eastern oil trade. Is someone trying to take over the Oil as well?
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POPSIt's a Pirate's World Aye, they be e'erywhar,and some people in the world you just don't screw with. Unfortunately you can't always tell who those people be until tis' too late. Aye, the Wall Street and corporate scandals that began with Enron may be astonishin' for the scope and audacity o' their criminality, but they be not by any means unprecedented. In fact, Wall Street has been dogged by spectacular acts o' financial banditry since its earliest days. Gar We would ne'er glamorize criminals. We don't want any o' our young t' grow up t' rob or steal, at least not from us. Gar, Where can I find a bottle o'rum?
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POPSThousands of Georgians Demand Russian Troops Leave U.S. Destroyer, Laden With Relief And Cruise Missiles, in Port On Sunday, a U.S. Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid for Georgia anchored in the southern Georgian port of Batumi. It was the first of five American ships scheduled to arrive this week with supplies. The McFaul is loaded with 72 pallets of humanitarian aid, and is also outfitted with an array of weaponry, including Tomahawk cruise missiles. U.S. Air Force flights that have brought in more than 1 million pounds of humanitarian relief. “There are very specific requirements for Russian withdrawal. Putting up permanent facilities and checkpoints are inconsistent with the agreement. We are in contact with the various parties to obtain clarification,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office said he had pressed Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a phone conversation Saturday to quickly remove Russian troops from an axis between the Georgian towns of Poti an
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POPSU.S. Deploys Nuclear Sub to Persian Gulf Egyptians witnesses, and were on high alert. Just another provocatory deployment and form of saber rattling in the region, near Iran, on the heels of Cheney's visit to the region. What if an Iranian military vessel were deployed into the Gulf of Mexico?
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POPSUS Sends Warships to Middle East Region Watch out for a "Gulf of Tonkin" incident. They are looking for a way to engage Syria or Lebanon. Recall Israel and the neocons threatening both during the bombing of Lebanon over a year ago. Israel is the singular cause of all middle east conflict and US involvement in that region, period!
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POPS Report: Chinese Ships Confronted USS Kitty Hawk Adm. Timothy Keating, who heads the U.S. Pacific Command, is in Beijing this week to discuss what he has called China’s “perplexing” refusals, its worrisome weapons programs and U.S.-China military ties. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own, vowing to attack the self-ruled island if it moves to formalize its de facto independence. The U.S., Taiwan’s chief security benefactor, is legally obligated to help defend the island in the face of Chinese saber-rattling.
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POPSUS vs. Iran - Part II (Iran airs contrasting footage of US navy standoff) I'm actually starting to lean towards Iran's version here... This actually does sound rather fishy. Like my comment on yesterday's story, I just don't see how Iran would benefit froma confrontation with the US. The "peace talks" IMO, will do no real good. So any mischief here would nierther add to the process or take away from them in the long run. If anything it would hurt Iran, not help them. Ie: it makes no sense that they would pull this kind of move. Plus the voice just sounds too "fake" to be what an Iranian wouls say... granted, I don't know that many Iranians :P
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POPSSayōnara, George. Yellow Ribbon time for Japanese It's been three long years Do ya still want me? If I don't see a ribbon round the old oak tree I'll stay on the bus Forget about us Put the blame on me If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree Bus driver, please look for me 'cause I couldn't bear to see what I might see I'm really still in prison And my love, she holds the key A simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me free I wrote and told her please Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree It's been three long years Do ya still want me? If I don't see a ribbon round the old oak tree I'll stay on the bus Forget about us Put the blame on me If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree Now the whole damned bus is cheerin' And I can't believe I see A hundred yellow ribbons round the old oak tree I'm comin' home Sorry, no Japanese translation.
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POPSU.S. Navy Helps Hijacked Ship The North Korean Vessel the Dai Hong Dan was attacked Off Somalia. the USS James E. Williams, investigated a phoned-in tip of a hijacked vessel. A helicopter demanded by bridge-to-bridge radio that the pirates give up their weapons. The crew of the Dai Hong Dan then overwhelmed the hijackers, leaving two pirates dead, according to preliminary reports, and five captured, the military said. Three seriously injured crew members were brought aboard the Williams.
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