Monday, May 31, 2010

Submarines in the News

Submarines’ stealth capabilities are serverely eroded when they make the “news,” but the “news” is not often meant to inform.  Rather, the “news” is often meant to broadcast certain agendas, or send messages not necessarily “received.”

With the above in mind, I point to two “news” stories.  First, from Debka.com, under the headline A US nuclear submarine crosses into Strait of Hormuz, which informs us of the following.

Tehran reports that an Iranian naval patrol Thursday, May 27, detected a US nuclear submarine sailing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which most of the oil produced by Persian Gulf states passes on its way to world markets. debkafile’s Iranian sources report Tehran has placed its navy and army on high alert.

Western intelligence and naval sources confirm that a nuclear-armed American submarine has in fact entered the Persian Gulf. This confirms debkafile’s report of May 20 that the Obama administration had decided to boost US military strength in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf regions in the short term with an extra air and naval strike forces and 6,000 Marine and sea combatants. Carrier Strike Group 10, headed by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, was due to sail out of the US Navy base at Norfolk, Virginia Friday, May 21.

The second story, in the Times Online, under the headline Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran, informs us of this.

Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.

The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including air bases and missile launchers.

The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.

I sincerely hope that the Captains of these submarines, and the naval chains of command, are working together more cooperatively than Obama has appeared to work with the leaders of Israel.

Both sub stories linked via Fred Lapides.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/31 at 10:46 AM
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Memorial Day Thoughts

It’s Memorial Day.  A small thunderstorm is marching in.  It seems appropriate that the storm’s rumblings are currently muffled, like artillery in the distance.

Memorial Day was originally referred to as Decoration Day, and was first officially celebrated on May 30, 1868.  Though most Americans know Memorial Day was set aside as a day to remember and honor American military dead, it is interesting to note that in May 2000, a Memorandum on the White House Program for the National Moment of Remembrance was thought needed to remind Americans of exactly why Memorial Day is observed.  I think one can more clearly understand why this memorandum was promulgated if they read the Wikipedia entry for Memorial Day.  It begins this way.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May…

The Wikipedia entry does provide additional history and other information on Memorial Day, but it is a sad reflection on our times that the entry regarding Memorial Day begins by noting Memorial Day is a federal holiday, rather than a day to honor war dead.

There are a plethora news stories regarding Memorial Day, but I want to point to a few personal thoughts.

First, Malone Vandam, who writes the following.

What a thing it is, to give your life as a soldier for the United States of America. It is such a great giving that no one can repay it, except perhaps by loving this great place with a promise never to take it for granted that freedom is a gift from God that paradoxically men must defend.

Next, the American Mercenary, who shares this old story.

After a long four day firefight in Vietnam the choppers came in to pick up the dead. A Major and a Sergeant Major took the first flight in, and the Major went up and down the rows of dead soldiers looking at dog tags.

“Only 18, so young” the Major lamented. He continued. “Only 20, only 19” He turned to the Sergeant Major, “They are all so young.”

The Sergeant Major replied. “They are dead sir, it doesn’t get any older than that.”

It is a morbid little story about the value of life, the disconnect of senior officers from the reality of combat, and the grim resignation of enlisted men.

But this Memorial day it is time to remember those who will not get any older.

At the end of that story, American Mercenary shares the names of three individuals who will not get any older, whom I can only assume have more recently joined the ranks of men deserving of Americans’ honor.

It seems appropriate that my last link is to a Prayer for Memorial Day.

Lord God, grant us the faith that will truly honor those we remember this day.

They died for their country; give us the faith to live for our country.

They died to bring peace; give us the faith to live for peace.

They died believing in us, their fellow Americans; give us the faith to believe in one another and in our future.

Grant us the same sense of commitment to people and their right to justice and peace as those we remember.

Teach us to honor all our relationships, from those dearest to us to those whom we will never meet but with whom we share this common planet.

Grant us wisdom, give us hope, grant us dreams and visions like those that inspired people to give their lives, believing that through adversity and conflict would come peace and justice.

Lord, save us from complacency and prejudice – those very things that create conflict and cause young lives to be lost in battle or in despair. Make us instruments of your peace:

where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is discord, unity;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, love;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come unto you. Amen.

So be it.

UPDATE:  A post at Primordial Slack titled Remembrance is Survivial.  Go and listen to the Tussing Elementary School 3rd graders sing Thank You, Soldiers.  It is our children who we must raise up as lovers and defenders of liberty, freedom and opportunity.  We must release our children from the culture of State dependency currently infecting American society.  An infection which is being nourished and groomed from within the highest office in this land.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/31 at 05:52 AM
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