Biden's Pier for Gaza Aid Might Not be Ready for 60 Days
U.S. President Joe Biden's plan to build a floating U.S. military port to speed up aid to Gaza could take up to 60 days to become a reality and involve more than 1,000 American troops, the Pentagon said on Friday.The Pentagon offered the timeline a day after Biden announced the initiative in his State of the Union speech, as he seeks to cool anger in his Democratic Party over his staunch support for Israel's offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7.The United Nations has warned that widespread famine in the Gaza Strip is "almost inevitable" without urgent action.
China Says US Military in South China Sea Not Good for Peace
The United States often sends ships and aircraft into the South China Sea to “flex its muscles” and this is not good for peace, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after a U.S. aircraft carrier group sailed into the disputed waterway.The strategic South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade flows each year, has long been a focus of contention between Beijing and Washington, with China particularly angered by U.S. military activity there.The U.S. carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt and accompanied by three warships…
UK joins U.S. in Gulf Maritime Security Mission
Britain on Monday joined the United States in a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect merchant vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized a British-flagged vessel.British officials stressed that there was no change to London's policy on Iran but joining the United States is the most significant non-Brexit foreign policy move to date of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 12-day-old government.Just two weeks ago, Britain was calling for a European-led naval mission. Now, it has joined what it said was a U.S.-led "international maritime security mission".
U.N. Bans Four Ships over N.Korea Coal, U.S. Mulls Four More
The United Nations Security Council has banned four ships from ports globally for carrying coal from North Korea, including one vessel that also had ammunition, but the United States postponed a bid to blacklist four others pending further investigation. The vessels are the first to be designated under stepped-up sanctions imposed on North Korea by the 15-member council in August and September over Pyongyang's sixth and largest nuclear test and two long-range ballistic missile launches. The Security Council North Korea sanctions committee, which operates by consensus, agreed at the request of the United States, to blacklist the ships on Oct. 3 for "transporting prohibited items from the DPRK" (North Korea), according to documents seen by Reuters on Tuesday. A U.N.
Change at the helm for Indian Ocean-based Maritime Prepositioning Squadron
Navy Capt. Charles “Gene” Emmert has relieved Navy Capt. Wesley Brown as commander of Military Sealift Command’s Indian Ocean-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two. Emmert, the squadron’s 27th commander, accepted command during a ceremony on board MSC Maritime Prepositioning Force ship USNS SGT William R. Button in Diego Garcia’s lagoon. The commander of MPS Squadron Two has a staff of 10 active duty sailors and is responsible for the tactical control and readiness of the squadron’s current fleet of 12 government-owned and -chartered noncombatant cargo carriers.
Deterring Piracy at Sea
Contrary to the romanticized portrayal of pirates that have populated folk tales and captured youngsters' imaginations, modern-day pirates pose a clear and present threat to lives, commerce and the environment as they lurk over shipping lanes attacking ships and crew without regard for nationality or cargo. Piracy in the Gulf of Aden not only poses a threat to global commerce, but also threatens aid delivery by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to victims of the ongoing civil war in Somalia.
USS Ohio Successfully Completes Sea Trials
submarine, took a significant step towards rejoining the fleet on Dec. sweep of its initial sea trials. The Ohio's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. with the ship's performance and noted its great potential. demonstrating the tremendous capability this ship brings to the fleet. options in the Navy," said Rear. Adm. Officer for Submarines. converted into SSGNs. USS Georgia (SSGN 729), are all slated to rejoin the fleet by 2007. Trident Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles. cruise missiles, for a maximum load of 154 missiles per boat. (SOF) lock-in/lock-out chambers. up to 66 SOF operators for an extended period of time. ranges for use by the operators. the lock-in/lock-out chambers as their docking sites. of missions," said Capt. David Norris, SSGN Program Manager (PMS 398).
