Marine Corps

An American Warship In Israel

By Christopher P. Cavas in Intercepts, International, Israel, Marine Corps, Navy, Operations No Comments

Tourism Trumps Terror in the Gulf of Aqaba, Where Israel and Jordan Vie for Visits from US Warships

The amphibious assault ship USS KEARSARGE berthed at the commercial port in Eilat, Israel on May 15. The Jordanian shore is visible across the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. (photo by Barbara Opall-Rome)

By BARBARA OPALL-ROME

EILAT, Israel — Old Glory waves alongside Harrier jump jets on the aft deck of the USS Kearsarge docked just a short distance below my rooftop apartment in the Red Sea port town of Eilat. On the other side of this flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, hosting the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit on an 8-month deployment in the region, the zoom on my Iphone can make out a squadron of MV-22 Ospreys and a few other rotary wing aircraft.

I tried to get a closer look by driving down to the dock, but security guards quickly waved me away. Turns out my rooftop vantage offers one of the best views not only of the first visit of a U.S. warship here in 14 years, but of the dynamics at play in the Gulf of Aqaba between Israel and Jordan, its precarious peace partner of nearly 19 years.

Across these inviting aquamarine waters, Israel and its Hashemite neighbor strive on multiple fronts to shield bilateral relations from the spillover of escalating regional tensions. Here, in the Gulf of Aqaba, tourism and commerce trumps the war on terror as the two nations vie for revenue from merchant vessels, travel agencies and the right to host the U.S. 5th Fleet for rest, relaxation, maintenance and repair services.  More

Photo of the Day: May 17, 2013

By John T. Bennett in Air Force, Army, DoD, Marine Corps, Navy, Obama, Policy No Comments Tags:

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks following a meeting with Pentagon leaders on Thursday in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Obama met with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, service secretaries, and service chiefs to discuss sexual assault in the military. The U.S. military is dealing with a wave of sexual assault cases, the latest being a soldier who worked in a rape prevention program who is accused of forcing a subordinate into prostitution. The latest revelation marked the second time in a week that a member of the military assigned to work in its sexual assault prevention program has been placed under investigation for alleged sexual crimes. Notably, the president has not yet fired any uniformed officer nor a senior civilian Pentagon official due to the military's sexual assault crisis. (AFP PHOTO/Mandel Ngan/Getty)

‘Sequestration-palooza’ Week Kicks Off. There Will be Live Tweeting.

By John T. Bennett in Air Force, Army, Budget, Capitol Hill, DoD, Industry, Intercepts, Marine Corps, Navy, New Tech, Operations, Policy, Space Tags: ,

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will have a busy week of testimony on Capitol Hill about sequestration. (Defense Department photo)

One might call this week on Capitol Hill “Sequestration-palooza.” That’s because there are three hearings featuring senior Pentagon officials focused on the pending decade-long reduction in planned national defense spending. And other hearings will focus on the nation’s overall budget and economic situation, including sequestration.

First up is a Tuesday Senate Armed Services Committee hearing featuring Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey and all four service chiefs. Expect gloomy predictions of canceled weapon programs, massive layoffs, unmet combatant commander requirements, and more. Your Defense News/Intercepts correspondents will be live-blogging the deliberations. Follow Congressional Reporter John T. Bennnett, Land Warfare Reporter Paul McLeary and Air Warfare Reporter Aaron Mehta for live updates.

How Big Would DoD Budget be Under Sequestration? Historically Big, It Turns Out.

By John T. Bennett in Acquisition, Air Force, Army, Budget, Capitol Hill, DoD, F-35, Industry, Intercepts, International, Marine Corps, Navy, New Tech, Operations, Policy, Shipbuilding, Space Tags: ,

How big would the U.S. defense budget be if sequestration happens? Turns out, despite the sometimes-apocalyptic rhetoric, big. And how would the post-Afghanistan defense budget draw down compare to slowdowns in Pentagon spending that occurred after the Korean, Vietnam and Cold wars? Turns out, it would be smaller.

All of that is according to the work of a study group commissioned by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), released earlier today.

As the above CSIS graph shows, under sequestration, annual Pentagon spending would drop 31 percent from its 2010 peak to its sequester-era low. That compares to a 33 percent decline after Vietnam, and a 36 percent post-Cold War drop. And after the Korean war, yearly Defense Department budgets fell off by 43 percent.

That means after America’s longest war (Afghanistan) ever, Pentagon spending would undergo the smallest post-1952 draw down, according to CSIS. More

Live Blog: Senate Committee Will Grill Chuck Hagel Over Israel, Iran, Defense Cuts

By John T. Bennett in Acquisition, Afghanistan, Air Force, Army, Budget, Capitol Hill, DoD, F-35, Industry, Intercepts, International, Israel, Marine Corps, Navy, Operations, Policy, Shipbuilding, Space Tags: , , , ,

Former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., leaves the office of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., after the two Vietnam War veterans met Jan. 22. McCain and other senators will grill Hagel today about his defense secretary nomination. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Today is the day so many have been waiting for. No, it’s not Super Bowl Sunday. Yet. Rather, former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee about his nomination to replace Leon Panetta as defense secretary.

Since Hagel’s name was floated for the post in early December, Hagel has been sharply criticized by his former fellow-GOP senators and pro-Israel groups for his past comments on the U.S.-Israel alliance, whether the Pentagon budget can and should be trimmed, how to confront Iran over its nuclear arms program, gay rights and the proper size of the U.S. nuclear arms fleet. Expect questions on all those topics. Another likely line of questioning could come from Republicans about allegations that Hagel is hard on staffers.

In answers to written policy questions provided to the panel this week, Hagel largely tried to align himself with the views of President Barack Obama. For instance, he took the same tone as Panetta, saying pending defense sequestration cuts would undermine U.S. military power. Defense News senior reporters John T. Bennett and Marcus Weisgerber will be here throughout the hearing — yes, including on a possible second day — live blogging the action. Please check back early and often for updates.

5:49 p.m. — Sen. Levin gavels this epic hearing to a close. Thanks for stopping by. ANALYSIS: Not a dominating performance by Hagel. He labored a bit, and seemed to contradict himself at times. Doubt he lost any Democratic support, however. — John T. Bennett

5:42 p.m. — Sen. Cruz calls Hagel “the most antagonistic” member in Senate (ever?) against Israel, and most unwilling (ever?) to confront Iran. Levin asks Cruz to submit any remaining questions for the record, but never looked directly at Cruz, instead icily gazing straight ahead. There’s tension there.  – John T. Bennett

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Today in Military History: Jan. 29, 1991, Operation Desert Storm

By Blair Tomlinson in Marine Corps, Today in Military History Tags: ,

On January 29, 1991 the first intense ground fighting took place in Operation Desert Storm. An attack was mounted by Iraqi forces along a 40-mile stretch into Saudi Arabia. Iraqi troops focused their attack on the port city of Khafji, just six miles from the boarder.

Saudi and Qatari troops, along with United States Marines from the 1st Marine Division, countered the attack. U.S. Marines supported their allies with artillery and attack helicopters and other allied coalition aircraft. The city of Khafji was recaptured within two days.

 

Another Top House Republican Says Sequestration Cuts Are a Done Deal

By John T. Bennett in Acquisition, Air Force, Army, Budget, Capitol Hill, DoD, F-35, Industry, Intercepts, Marine Corps, Navy, New Tech, Policy, Shipbuilding, Space Tags: ,

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sequestration is going to happen. At least that’s what yet another Republican U.S. House leader says.

“I think the sequester is going to happen,” House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc.,  said Sunday on “Meet the Press.” More

Today in Military History: Jan. 25, 1856, Battle of Seattle

By Blair Tomlinson in Intercepts, Marine Corps, Today in Military History Tags: , ,

A map of Seattle, drawn at the time of the Battle of Seattle, part of the Puget Sound War.

On January 25, 1856, Marines and seamen from the USS Decatur went ashore from Elliot Bay to the village of Seattle, Washington. The troops were sent to protect the settlers of Seattle from Native American raids. The Native Americans attacked the village for seven-hours straight. However, the Marines held them off and the Native Americans retreated later that same day, after suffering severe losses. There were no Marines or sailors lost but two settlers volunteering for the fight were killed.

 

 

 

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