Current Events
<<<<<<< All these events are in the Newsletters
Sandy Hook School Shooting
On December 14 2012 Friday morning in Newton Connecticut, just when everybody thought it was a normal day at Sandy Hook Elementary School a pshycologically deranged man by the name of Adam Peter Lanza age 20 fatally wounded 22 Kindergardeners, 6 staff members, one including the principle himself and his mother.
12.20
Benghazi attack
The American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, in Libya, was attacked on September 11, 2012 by a heavily armed group. The attack began during the night at a compound that is meant to protect the consulate building. A second assault in the early morning the next day targeted a nearby CIA annex in a different diplomatic compound. Four people were killed, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Ten others were injured. The attack was strongly condemned by the governments of Lybia, the United Stated, and many other countries throughout the world. The failures were a result of a poor security plan "that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place," The board found that Washington tended to overemphasize the positive impact of physical security upgrades... while generally failing to meet Bendghazi's repeated request" to beef up personnel. Though it said there had been no specific, credible threats on the day of the attack, the significance off the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 had led Stevens to decide to hold the meetings on the compound on September 11 of last year.
12.21.12
The Fiscal Cliff
Barring any Congressional action, a series of tax increases and spending cuts will begin January 1, about $500 billion in tax increases and $200 billion in spending cuts are scheduled to take effect. Increasing GDP by 4% which would launch us into a recession. Observers have named that series on monetary policy actions as the "fiscal cliff" because it would send a shock through the U.S. economy. A number of tax cuts would expire, including several that lower income and payroll taxes and limit the alternative minimum tax. Some 90% of Americans would see their taxes rise. Just as significantly, large amounts would be slashed from the government benefits.
12.22.12
United States Army trains African Forces in Anti-Terror
A U.S. Army Brigade will begin sending small teams into as many as 35 African nations early this next year, part of an intensifying Pentagon effort to train countries to battle extremist and give the U.S. a ready and trained force to dispatch ta Africa if crises requiring the U.S. military emerge. The teams will be limited to training and equipping efforts and will not be permitted to conduct military operations without specific, additional approvals from the Secretary of Defense. The sharper focus on Africa by the U.S. comes against a backdrop of widespread insurgent violence across North Africa, and as the African Union and other nations discuss military intervention in northern Mali. The terror threat from Al-Qaeda liked groups in Africa has been growing steadily, particularly with the rise of extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram in Nigeria. The attack in Benghazi was believed to may have been carried out by those who had ties to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghred.
12.23.12
2 Fighter Fighters shot dead responding to call
The ex-con who lured two fire fighters to their deaths in a blaze if gunfire left a rambling typewritten note saying he wanted to burn down the neighborhood and "do what I like doing best, killing people," police said Tuesday as the recovered burned human remains believed to be the gunman's missing sister. Police Chief Gerald Pickering said 62 year old William Spengler, who served 17 year In prison for the 1980 hammer slaying of his grandmother, armed himself with a revolver, a shotgun and military styled .223-calier semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle with flash suppression rifle before he set his house afire to lure first responder into a death trap before dawn on Christmas Eve.
12.24.12
U.S. Marines subject to Blood Alcohol test U.S. Navy follows.
Marines and sailors will be subject to random blood-alcohol test twice a year in what is billed as the toughest anti-drinking policy in the U.S. military. Starting Jan. 1 any Marine or sailor with a BC of .01 percent or higher may be referred t counseling. Anyone who test at .04 percent or higher may be referred to medical personnel to determine fitness for duty. The Marine Corps policy is primarily aimed at deterrence and education, but nothing precludes commanders from handing out punishments, Lt. Gen. R.E. Milstead Jr., deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, said in a Dec. 12 directive. A study in September by the Institute of Medicine sponsored by the Department of Defense found that binge drinking, often called "sport drinking," is increasing among military personnel in all branched. In 1998 35 percent of personnel admitted to binge drinking in the previous year. In 2008, the last year for which statistics were available, the figure had risen to 47 percent. There have been 13 alcohol related deaths among Marines in this country alone. One from falling 17 stories from a building, one from attempting to run across a freeway near Camp Pendleton.
12.25.12
South Korea to buy 1.2 Million in drones uder U.S. Plan
The U.S. Denfense Department proposed selling South Korea four Global Hawk surveillance drones made by Northrop Grumman Corp. valued at 1.2 billion. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said yesterday that it notified Congress of the proposed sale, which includes infared and elctro-otical sensors, imagery analysis systems and moving target indicators on board the Global Hawk Block-30 unmanned aircraft. Congress disagreed with that lan, and the final version of this year's defense authorization bill, approved this month, would block the Air Force from retiring the Block-30 drones at least until the end of 2014.
12.25.12
Russia India sign weapons deal worth billions
Russia and India signed weapons deals worth billions of dollars Monday as President Vladimir Putin sought to further boost ties with an old ally. Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed cooperation between their countries as officials signed $1.6 billion deal for 42 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets that will be license-built in India from Russian components and a $1.3 billion contract for the deliver of 71 Mil Mi-17 military helicopters. "We agreed to further strengthen the traditions of close cooperation in the military and technical areas," Putin said after the signing. "India and Russia share the objective of a stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, free from extremism," Singh told reporters after the talks.
12.26.12
U.S. Army Looking for 'Super Black' Material to Improve Stealth Abilities
When people think of the United States Army and camouflage the first thing that comes to mind is probably the traditional urban green and brown look. Now the army is looking to add "super black" to there repertoire. Specifically the army is hoping to develop "super-black" materials that would be so dark it could absorb 99% of all light! The Army is soliciting new developers to help with what they hope to be a: "anti-reflective coating or surface treatment process for metals" to absorb stray light "in the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and far-infrared regions.
12.27.12
North Korea's missle shot was a wake up call for America: Raises nuclear stakes
Many nations, such as the United Stated and South Korea, consider the launch to be a cover for testing ballistic missile technology. The nuclear-armed North has insisted its aim was to place a scientific satellite in space. North Korea insist that its Unha-3 rocket, launched Dec. 12 to put an earth-observation satellite in orbit, was part of its peaceful space program. But intelligence officials and rocket scientists affiliated with the South Korean Defense Ministry said Sunday that through the rocket launching, North Korea was testing a ballistic missile that could fly more than 6,200 miles, with a warhead of about 1,100 to 1,300 pounds, putting the West Coast of the United States in range.
12.28.12
U.S. State Dept officials resign under pressure over Benghazi killings
Three senior U.S. State Department officials were asked to resign after an official inquiry harshly criticized their offices for failing to provide sufficient security in Benghazi, Libya, before in came under attack on September 11, a U.S. official said on Wednesday. Also said Eric Boswell, the assistant secretary for diplomatic security; one of his deputies, Charlene Lamb; and an unnamed official in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs were asked to step down because of the inquiry panel's report, which did not fault Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in connection with the attack.
12.27.12
Chuck Hagel to be nominated as Secretary of Defense
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) will in all likelihood be nominated as Secretary of Defense by President Barack Obama which would likely come Monday of Tuesday. NBC News said the decision had not been finalized. Other top candidates had included former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. Hagel had come under intense criticism from pro-Israel interest groups for the past comments. Drawing particular fire was a quote from his 2008 book, wherein he said, "I'm not an Israeli senator. I am a United States Senator." He added, "I support Israel, but my first interest is I take an oath of office of the Constitution of the United States, not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel. If I go run for Senate in Israel, I'll do that."
1.4.12
Obama's Second Inauguration.
