Israel: On Ground Updates - November 04, 2009

Israel: On Ground Updates
Israeli Navy Intercepts and Seizes 500 Tons of Hezbollah-Bound Iranian Weapons
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
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About above photo: Weapons unloaded from the Karin A ship which was intercepted by the Navy in 2002
Photo: Archives, IDF Spokesperson
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* Bloomberg.com brings us the following report and it starts off like this... The Israeli Navy intercepted a ship heading for Syria and seized an unprecedented 500-ton haul of weapons from Iran intended for the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, the army said... “This is the largest cache of smuggled weapons ever to be seized by Israel,” an army spokeswoman, Avital Leibovitz, said in a phone interview today. “The cache includes thousands of rockets as well as hand grenades and mortar shells.”... Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem, rejected Israel’s allegations during a joint press conference in Tehran today, Iran’s state-run Press TV reported... Israel seized the ship 100 miles (160 kilometers) off its Mediterranean coast and discovered 40 containers carrying the weapons, Leibovitz said. The vessel was flying the flag of Antigua and was stopped late yesterday due to “suspicions” about the vessel, she added...
Read the full report at link below...
Israel Seizes 500 Tons of Hezbollah-Bound Iran Arms
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* JPost.com has this take... Hundreds of tons of weaponry, ten times the size of the Karine A shipment of 2002, were seized in an overnight raid Tuesday by the Israeli navy, some 100 nautical miles west of Israel, officials said... Defense officials said the 140-meter long Francop, intercepted near Cyprus, was carrying arms sent by Iran and destined for Syria and possibly also Hizbullah... The weapons seized on the ship, which was sailing under an Antiguan flag, included some 3,000 rockets of various types, as well as bullets and ammunition... The transfer of such large amounts of weapons out of Iran could "create a balance of power" between Israel and terrorist organizations, assessed Brigadier General Rani Ben-Yehuda, deputy commander of the Israeli navy, at a press conference following the seizures...
Read this report in full at link below...
Weapons bound for Syria, Hizbullah
> Also from JPost.com is the following report...
PM: Ship proves Iran's support for terror organizations

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Israeli Commandos Seize Hezbollah-bound Ship

About this News Video: Israeli commandos seized a ship Wednesday that defense officials said was carrying hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas -- the largest arms shipment Israel has ever commandeered.
This video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress
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Israel Navy Intercepts Iranian Weapons en route to Hezbollah, November 4th

About this News Video: The Israel Navy intercepted the "Francop" cargo ship, which was laden with roughly 500 tons of weapons hidden amongst civilian cargo. The 36 weapons containers were sent from Iran and meant for the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon. For further information on how the interception occurred and what was uncovered, see...
- Official IDF Announcement at link below -
Massive Arms Shipment Intended for Hezbollah Intercepted by Israel Navy
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To all those involved in this weapon seizure, I say this --

Job Well Done!!!
AubreyJ………

Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher Search Details Announced

No. 590-09 August 07, 2009
Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher Search Details Announced Above is a Navy file photo of Navy Capt. Michael “Scott” Speicher, the F/A-18 "Hornet" pilot who was shot down over Iraq on the opening night of Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
U.S. Navy file photo.

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The Navy announced today additional details regarding the recent discovery of the remains of Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher in Iraq. Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on Jan. 17, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.
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Acting in part on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, Multi National Force – West's (MNF-W) personnel recovery team went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Speicher's jet. The Iraqi, a Bedouin, was 11 years old at the time of the crash and did not have direct knowledge of where Speicher was buried, but knew of other Bedouins who did. He willingly provided his information during general discussion with MNF-W personnel and stated he was unaware of the U.S. government's interest in this case until queried by U.S. investigators in July 2009.
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The Iraqi citizens led MNF-W's personnel recovery team to the area they believed Speicher was buried. The area where the remains were recovered was located approximately 100 kilometers west of Ramadi, in Anbar province. There were two sites that teams searched. One site was next to the downed aircraft that was discovered in 1993 and the other site was approximately two kilometers away. The second site was where Speicher's remains were recovered.
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The recovery personnel searched two sites from July 22-29. The personnel recovery team consisted of approximately 150 people, mostly Marines and other forces under MNF-W.
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The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Based on visual examination of the remains and dental records at the site, a preliminary assessment was reached that the remains were that of Speicher. After searching the site another day, no further remains were recovered.
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On July 30, the remains were turned over from the recovery team to MNF-W mortuary affairs at Al Asad. The remains were then transported to Dover Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del. They were examined by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology's (AFIP) Armed Forces medical examiner who positively identified them as those of Speicher on Aug. 1.
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Positive identification by AFIP was made by comparing Speicher's dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth were a match, both visually and radiographically. AFIP's DNA Lab in Rockville, Md., confirmed the remains to be Speicher on Aug. 2 via DNA comparison tests of the remains by comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members.

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For additional information, please contact Navy public affairs at (703) 697-5342.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Identifies Remains Recovered In Iraq as Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher

No. 571-09 August 02, 2009
Remains Identified as Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher
.(Oct. 11, 2002) Navy file photo of Navy Capt. Michael “Scott” Speicher, the F/A-18 "Hornet" pilot who was shot down over Iraq on the opening night of Operation Desert Storm in 1991
U.S. Navy file photo
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The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has positively identified remains recovered in Iraq as those of Captain Michael Scott Speicher.
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Captain Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on January 17th, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.
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"Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher's family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country," said Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy. "I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicher home."
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"Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be," said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. "We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us."
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Acting on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, US Marines stationed in Al Anbar Province went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Captain Speicher's jet. The Iraqi citizen stated he knew of two Iraqi citizens who recalled an American jet impacting the desert and the remains of the pilot being buried in the desert. One of these Iraqi citizens stated that they were present when Captain Speicher was found dead at the crash site by Bedouins and his remains buried. The Iraqi citizens led US Marines to the site who searched the area.
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Remains were recovered over several days during the past week and flown to Dover Air Force Base for scientific identification by the AFIP's Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.
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The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Positive identification was made by comparing Captain Speicher's dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth are a match, both visually and radiographically.
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While dental records have confirmed the remains to be those of Captain Speicher, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology DNA Lab in Rockville, Maryland is running DNA tests on the remains recovered in Iraq and comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members. Results will take approximately 24 hours.

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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

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Remains of Pilot Missing 18 Years in Iraq Found

About this AP News Video: The remains of the first American lost in the Persian Gulf War have been found in Iraq, the military said Sunday, after struggling for nearly two decades with the question of whether he was dead or alive.
This Video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress

Navy and Army Name First Three Joint High Speed Vessels

Navy and Army Name First Three Joint High Speed Vessels
Thursday, July 16, 2009
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Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Secretary of the Army Pete Geren today announced the names of the first three Joint High Speed Vessels as Fortitude (JHSV 1), Vigilant (JHSV 2) and Spearhead (JHSV 3).
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A cooperative effort between the Navy and the Army, JHSVs will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, vehicles and equipment. The program highlights a Department of Defense acquisition objective of leveraging the expertise of one military branch to assist another. The Army is procuring Fortitude and Spearhead, while the Navy is procuring Vigilant, and each service will be responsible for operating and maintaining its ships following delivery.
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JHSVs will be capable of transporting 700 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2). Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations. JHSVs will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces and fixed berthing for 104 more.
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Joint military combatant commanders will have the flexibility to use JHSVs in a variety of roles to include supporting overseas contingency operations, special operations forces, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and emerging joint sea basing concepts.
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Constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., the detail, design and construction contract covers 10 ships, five for the Army and five for the Navy. Long lead time material options for the first three ships have already been exercised. Construction on the first JHSV will begin following a successful Production Readiness Review (PRR), currently scheduled for fall 2009. The JHSV PRR will be a review of design maturity, availability of materials and components, and the shipbuilder's readiness to successfully start fabrication.

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Read more on the JHSV HERE
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From DoD Press Release #522-09
U.S. Department of Defense - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

Navy Re-Establishes U.S. Fourth Fleet

Navy Re-Establishes U.S. Fourth Fleet
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the re-establishment of the U.S. Fourth Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its new commander. Fourth Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

U.S. Fourth Fleet will be dual-hatted with the existing commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO), currently located in Mayport, Fla. U.S. Fourth Fleet has been re-established to address the increased role of maritime forces in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of operations, and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to regional partners.

"Re-establishing the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and signals our support and interest in the civil and military maritime services in Central and South America," said Roughead. "Our maritime strategy raises the importance of working with international partners as the basis for global maritime security. This change increases our emphasis in the region on employing naval forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests."

Effective July 1, the command will have operational responsibility for U.S. Navy assets assigned from east and west coast fleets to operate in the SOUTHCOM area. As a result, U.S. Fourth Fleet will not involve an increase in forces assigned in Mayport, Fla. These assets will conduct varying missions including a range of contingency operations, counter narcoterrorism, and theater security cooperation (TSC) activities. TSC includes military-to-military interaction and bilateral training opportunities as well as humanitarian assistance and in-country partnerships.

U.S. Fourth Fleet will retain responsibility as NAVSO, the Navy component command for SOUTHCOM. Its mission is to direct U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean, and Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies to shape the maritime environment.

Kernan will be the first Navy SEAL to serve as a numbered fleet commander.

For more information on U.S. Fourth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, including the map of its area of responsibility, go to http://www.cusns.navy.mil/

From DoD press release #338-07, April 24, 2008

Map of Area of Responsibility
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Let’s see now... Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez goes and buys around nine submarines from Russia, (these are 636-model Varshavianka-class diesel electric submarines if I’m correct,) and President Bush answers with the U.S. Fourth Fleet.
That’s just GOTTA PO Chavez’s fat butt!!!
AubreyJ.........

Pentagon Says It’s Very Confident Missile Hit Satellite

Pentagon Says It’s Very Confident
Missile Hit Satellite
Fuel Tank Destroyed
Thursday, February 21, 2008

About Photo: The USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 at a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph over the Pacific Ocean on Feb. 20, 2008.

Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy
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Navy Missile Hits Decaying Satellite Over Pacific Ocean
News Release February 20, 2008

A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering the earth's atmosphere, defense officials announced in a press release. Video footage HERE

At approximately 10:26 p.m. EST today, a U.S. Navy AEGIS warship, the USS Lake Erie (CG-70), fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) hitting the satellite approximately 153 miles (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. USS Decatur (DDG-73) and USS Russell (DDG-59) were also part of the task force.

The objective was to rupture the fuel tank to dissipate the approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous fuel which could pose a danger to people on earth, before it entered into earth's atmosphere. Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.

Due to the relatively low altitude of the satellite at the time of the engagement, debris will begin to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere immediately. Nearly all of the debris will burn up on reentry within 24-48 hours and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days.

From A DoD/American Forces Press Service, News Article

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Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite on First Attempt

About Video: The Pentagon says a missile launched from a Navy ship struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing over the Pacific Ocean
News Video posted on YouTube by AssociatedPress