Russia Is Increasing Its Military Footprint In Africa

Soldiers in Burkina Faso conducting drills. The country is among a group of sub-Saharan African nations whose leaders have appealed to Moscow for help in combating the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.CreditLaetitia Vancon for The New York Times

New York Times: Russia’s Military Mission Creep Advances to a New Front: Africa

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Russia has been steadily expanding its military influence across Africa, alarming Western officials with increasing arms sales, security agreements and training programs for unstable countries or autocratic leaders.

In the Central African Republic, where a Russian has been installed as the president’s national security adviser, the government is selling mining rights for gold and diamonds at a fraction of their worth to hire trainers and buy arms from Moscow. Russia is seeking to ensconce itself on NATO’s southern flank by helping a former general in Libya fight for control over his government and vast oil market.

Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, brought in Russian mercenaries in January to help shore up his rule against nationwide protests. And last spring, five sub-Saharan African countries — Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania — appealed to Moscow to help their overtaxed militaries and security services combat the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

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WNU Editor: This blog has always stated that the next "Great Game" will be in Africa. Russia. China. Europe. The U.S.. They are now positioning themselves to play it.

U.S. Marines Are Considering Transforming Amphibious Ships Into Light Aircraft Carriers

An F-35B Lightning II aircraft takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1). US Navy Photo

David Axe, National Interest: Light Aircraft Carriers: The U.S. Marines Might Have More F-35s Fighting from the Sea

The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in March 2019 deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with no fewer than 10 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters on board. An assault ship usually embarks just six F-35s or older AV-8B Harrier jump jets. In sailing with nearly twice as many vertical-landing fighters than is normal for an assault ship, Wasp is helping to prove a concept the Marine Corps seriously has been mulling over for years now -- transforming amphibious ships into light aircraft carriers.

The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in March 2019 deployed to the Indo-Pacific region with no fewer than 10 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters on board. An assault ship usually embarks just six F-35s or older AV-8B Harrier jump jets.

In sailing with nearly twice as many vertical-landing fighters than is normal for an assault ship, Wasp is helping to prove a concept the Marine Corps seriously has been mulling over for years now -- transforming amphibious ships into light aircraft carriers.

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WNU Editor: The sentiment in the Pentagon is to limit the number of super-carriers, so maybe the thinking is that they may accept a lot more "smaller carriers" as an alternative.

On The Afghan War Front Line: U.S. Marines' Film In Spotlight

WNU Editor: From Al Jazeera ....

.... It is the longest war in United States history and there is still no end in sight for the combat in Afghanistan. While talks between the US and the Taliban are making progress, a controversial new film is getting all the attention. Filmed by US Marines in Afghanistan, Combat Obscura gives viewers a more realistic look at life on the front line.

A Visual Map Of The World’s Major Religions

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Open Culture: A Visual Map of the World’s Major Religions (and Non-Religions)

“The nones are growing,” we hear all the time, a reference to the huge increase in people who check the “none” box in documents that ask about religious beliefs. In the U.S., at least, the response to this news seems to be fivefold: fear, denial, anger, celebration, and speculation that can seem to go beyond what the data warrants. National Geographic, for example, trumpets “The World’s Newest Major Religion: No Religion,” though it’s not exactly clear what no religion means.

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WNU Editor: China's religious breakdown is interesting.

China Wants Its Shipping Fleet To Be Able To Carry Long-Range Missiles

Israel Aerospace Industries

Washington Free Beacon: China Building Long-Range Cruise Missile Launched From Ship Container

Disguised weapon turns freighters into warships, ports to missile bases.

China is building a long-range cruise missile fired from a shipping container that could turn Beijing's large fleet of freighters into potential warships and commercial ports into future missile bases.

The new missile is in flight testing and is a land-attack variant of an advanced anti-ship missile called the YJ-18C, according to American defense officials.

The missile will be deployed in launchers that appear from the outside to be standard international shipping containers used throughout the world for moving millions of tons of goods, often on the deck of large freighters.

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WNU Editor: The Israelis have been successful in developing this type of missile system .... Israel Tests Sea Launched LORA Missile (YouTube)

Two Marine pilots Flying An AH-1Z Viper Helicopter Are Killed During A Routine Training Mission

Two Marine pilots were killed as a result of an AH-1Z Viper helicopter crash in the vicinity of Yuma, Arizona, at approximately 8:45pm on Saturday (file photo)

Daily Mail: Two Marine pilots are killed during a routine training mission after their helicopter came down in the Arizona desert

* Two Marine pilots were killed as a result of an AH-1Z Viper helicopter crash in the vicinity of Yuma, Arizona, at approximately 8:45pm on Saturday
* Both pilots were conducting a routine training mission as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course
* The cause of the crash is currently under investigation
* The names of the pilots are behind withheld until next-of-kin have been notified

The U.S. Marine Corps reports two pilots have died in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Arizona.

A statement from the Marine Corps Air Station that was posted on Facebook says the crash occurred at about 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

The Marine Corps says the pilots of the AH-1Z Viper were conducting a routine training mission.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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More News On Saturday's Marine Helicopter Crash

Two Marine helicopter pilots killed in training crash -- NBC
Two Marine Corps Pilots Killed in Arizona Helicopter Crash -- Military.com
2 Marine pilots killed in Arizona helicopter crash, officials say -- FOX News
2 Marine pilots killed in helicopter crash in Yuma, Arizona -- CBS/AP
2 Marines killed in helicopter crash in Arizona -- CNN

Tweets For Today

Venezuelans set up burning barricades over lack of power, water https://t.co/liIW2d2bKO pic.twitter.com/5JoDrh0t4K

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 1, 2019

Opposition candidate says he won Istanbul based on the count, adding it’s no longer possible to bridge the divide ⁦@AFP⁩ pic.twitter.com/imNbBZDMal

— Fulya Özerkan (@FulyaOzerkan) March 31, 2019

Algeria's Bouteflika preparing to announce his resignation: Ennahar TV https://t.co/QCRFoBPUys pic.twitter.com/jkEzMFRdOD

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 31, 2019

When you wake up and there’s a Topol-M in the Neighbourhood.
(📷 via effaceurs on Reddit) pic.twitter.com/XfFqJ46Zxc

— 🇷🇺Only In Russia 🇷🇺 (@CrazyinRussia) March 31, 2019

Seven countries and over 2,000 military personnel join together for exercise #AfricanLion2019. African Lion is hosted by the Moroccan armed forces 🇲🇦 and is an annual exercise to promote counter-terrorism training and increase regional stability. #KnowYourMil pic.twitter.com/EzGxWbQD9o

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) March 31, 2019

Intimate details of #Putin's Siberian vacation revealed https://t.co/0SopxLxN06 pic.twitter.com/NWb33S2k9N

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 31, 2019

For The First Time Since 2011 Chinese Jets And Warships Have Crossed The Median Line In The Taiwan Strait

Photo for illustrative purposes / CNA file photo

SCMP/AFP: Taiwan blasts China for ‘reckless and provocative’ fighter jet incursion

* It is highly unusual for Chinese jets and warships to cross the so-called median line in the Taiwan Strait, a widely agreed upon boundary
* Taiwanese news media said the last time Chinese jets had crossed the line was in 2011

Taipei hit out at China on Sunday for what it said was a “reckless and provocative” incursion by two fighter jets across a largely respected line dividing the two sides in the Taiwan Strait.

The Defence Ministry said Taiwan scrambled its own aircraft on Sunday morning and broadcast warnings after two J-11 fighter jets crossed over the “median line” within the waters that separate the island from the mainland.

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Update #1: Taiwan condemns Beijing after Chinese jets cross maritime line (Reuters)
Update #2: Taiwan fighter jets intercept Chinese war planes in Taiwan Strait (Taiwan News)

WNU Editor:I am willing to bet that this will not be the last time that China will be doing this.

Picture Of The Day

Spark Fire

A soldier returns fire during a training exercise at Kelly drop zone in San Antonio, March 23, 2019, during the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise, an annual large-scale airborne drop and mobility mission. Army Spc. Jeffery Harris (US Department of Defense)

China Warns U.S. On F-16 Sales To Taiwan

Taiwan buying more—and more advanced—F-16s from the US would not please China. Reuters/Pichi Chuang

Quartz: “Extremely dangerous”: China warns US on F-16 sales to Taiwan

The US hasn’t sold advanced fighter jets to Taiwan since 1992, primarily because it has been wary of antagonizing China. In the eyes of Beijing, of course, Taiwan—despite its democratic elections and self-governing status—is part of China.

Earlier this month, however, the Trump administration gave its tacit approval (paywall) to Taiwan’s request to purchase 60 F-16V fighter jets. A formal request would still need US congressional approval, but the news has already rattled Beijing.

Addressing the issue on Thursday (March 28), defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that China “resolutely opposes” such sales to Taiwan and that any words or actions that undermine the one-China policy are “extremely dangerous.”

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WNU Editor: I guess he is making them nervous .... Trump’s Sale of F-16 Jets to Taiwan Is Making China Nervous (Bloomberg).