An Associated Press article about the tensions between China and the United States had an interesting photo as a lead in:
At least one cross, with a second cresting the hill in the background. The caption for the photograph doesn’t say what the crosses are, just that the photo Read more
Mark Mueller of the Star-Ledger has an interesting piece on the Rev Ray Leonard — the contract Catholic priest and military chaplain who sued for access to his congregation during the government “shutdown.” It turns out Chaplain Leonard served for 10 years as a priest in China:
During a decade spent teaching and helping the needy in some of China’s most impoverished and oppressed regions, the New Jersey priest learned what it was like to live in a land without religious freedom.
It kindled a greater appreciation for his liberties at home.
That may have played a role in how he reacted to the US government forbidding him from serving his parish: Read more
Zhen Guan, a monk originally from China, was recently sworn in as the US Army’s latest Second Lieutenant and Buddhist chaplain candidate. He gave his oath with his hand on the Vimalakirti Sutra, which is a Buddhist text.
Guan’s oath was administered by Chaplain Read more
According to the New York Times, the Obama administration has decided against allowing Taiwan to purchase new F-16C/Ds, but it will allow them to purchase the material to upgrade their existing fleet of F-16A/Bs. Some have called this “buckling to pressure from China,” which generally criticizes military support for what it considers a breakaway state.
“If the reports are true,” Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, said in a written statement on Friday, “today’s capitulation to Communist Read more
The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 authorizing “all necessary means” except an invasion to enforce a no-fly zone and “protect civilians” in Libya. China, Russia, Germany, Brazil and India abstained from the vote. The UN Security Council:
Authorizes Member States…to take all necessary measures…to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya…while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.
Establish[es] a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians;
Authorizes Member States…to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights…
Fighter pilots and other American military members around the world are undoubtedly preparing for their eventual role in this conflict, which, like virtually every other conflict since Korea, remains politically controversial. (For example, The Washington Times quotes then-candidate and Senator Barack Obama apparently contradicting his current actions as President.)
Ironically, Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi tried to paint this latest conflict as a Christian crusade against Muslims: Read more
There’s been much ado lately regarding the normally secretive Chinese allowing photos and videos of their new “stealth plane” to make its way onto the internet.
Interestingly, it comes as the current administration has cancelled the F-22 future acquisitions, is planning to shrink the Defense Department’s budget, and may potentially cancel some portions of the F-35. The Stars and Stripes repeats speculation the administration has been “caught flat-footed.”
Last week a North Korean MiG-21 reportedly crossed the border into China and flew 90 miles before crashing. Reports indicated it was due to mechanical failure, and the pilot died in the crash.
A South Korean news agency speculated it was an attempt to defect.