Archive for the ‘International’ Category

If NATO is “an essential source of stability in an unpredictable world,” heaven help us all

An American colonel, recently returned from Afghanistan, told me that when he asked an officer from a European NATO member country to lead a supply convoy one evening, the officer explained that he was only paid to work for a set number of hours and his working day was done. Reminded that there was a war in progress, the officer said, “Maybe your country is at war, but not mine.”

There was a time when Murdoc thought that the primacy of the UN as the main international body was over than that an expanding NATO would someday fill its place in global politics. That time is long, long past.

NATO isn’t completely worthless. But it seems to inch closer and closer to that state every day.

Though, to be fair, sometimes (a lot of times?) it’s hard to tell that America is at war, too.

Via Instapundit.

Back in 2007:

German minehunter Gromitz grounded in 2007

Missed this when it happened. Here’s a little more info:

German Navy Type 332 Frankenthal class mine hunter M106 Grömitz (built 1994) based in Kiel — will remain for some time on the rocks where it grounded in the night of Feb 21 off the harbor Floræ on way to Bergen. While hull remained so far undamaged in the grounding, the bunker fuel will have to be taken off before salvage. This probably will have to be undertaken by a sheerleg as a tug could cause hull damage when towing the ship off the rocks where Grömitz is stuck fast with its bow pointing to the sky. Cause of the grounding was said to be a navigational error, but the small island could possible not be detected by radar in snowy conditions. Ship was underway with other NATO-units within a mine hunting exercise. She was expected in Bremerhaven the forthcoming weekend but this is very unsure now.

Including RAF Apache helicopter attacks.

China aircraft carrier confirmed by general

The head of China’s General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has confirmed that China’s first aircraft carrier is under construction.

Gen Chen Bingde refused to say when the carrier – a remodelled Soviet-era vessel, the Varyag – would be ready.

It was sold by the Ukraine to China on the condition that it never be used as a warship.

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8 (CLB-8), 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Fwd.), arrive at the impact site with French soldiers to recover the wreckage of a French Mirage 2000 jet fighter aircraft northwest of Forward Operating Base Delaram, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 25, 2011. CLB-8 assisted the French forces in support of International Security Assistance Force operations. (DoD photo by SSgt Jeff Kaus, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

The plane went down Tuesday due to malfunction. The crew is safe.

IAEA: Target of Israeli Raid Likely A Syrian Nuke Facility

Even the IAEA thinks so, now.

Syria launches fresh strikes against anti-government activists

Syria sharply escalated its already deadly campaign to crush a five-week uprising early Monday, sending troops backed by tanks, snipers and knife-wielding security forces into the southern city [of Daraa] where the rebellion began, according to witnesses and activists.

About a hundred civilians have been killed in the past three days.

Chinese authorities block Easter service in Beijing

The site of a planned outdoor Easter service at one of China’s largest independent “house” churches was eerily silent Sunday as police blocked more than 500 worshippers from leaving their homes and detained more than 36 for attempting to attend religious services in Beijing, church officials said.

Via a reader.