Random News and Notes 8 June
On this day in 1874 Chiricahua chief Cochise dies and is buried somewhere in the Dragoon mountains of Arizona.
Hollywood figures, including film stars Fredric March, John Garfield, Paul Muni, and Edward G. Robinson, are named as Communist Party members in a FBI report released on this date in 1949. The report particularly pointed to the actions of the Academy Award-winning actor Frederic March. Suspicions about March were raised by his activities in a group that was critical of America’s growing nuclear arsenal (the group included other well-known figures such as Helen Keller and Danny Kaye). March had also campaigned for efforts to provide relief to war-devastated Russia. The report went on to name several others who shared March’s political leanings: actor Edward G. Robinson; activist, actor and musician Paul Robeson; the writer Dorothy Parker; and a host of Hollywood actors, writers and directors.
On this date in 1967 Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats attack the USS Liberty in international waters off Egypt’s Gaza Strip. There is a lot of intentional mis and dis information floating around about this incident.
Lets start with the basics, the Liberty was some 50 miles closer to the levantine coast than it should have been. According to the primary sources I’ve seen the IDF had reports of Egyptian coastal patrol boats in the that specific area and sent attack jets to take them out. Instead of Egyptian vessels, they found the US spy ship. Winds were calm, and the US ensign hung limp on the jackstaff, preventing the Israelis from making a positive ID.
After the initial air attack, Israel dispatched torpedo boats that made a single torpedo run, firing a spread of torpedoes, with one hitting the Liberty. At this point, it became clear to the Israelis that it was a US ship and not an Egyptian one and they broke off the attack.
By the time the attack was over, 64 Americans were killed and 171 were wounded. Israel apologized almost immediately and paid compensation first to the families of the dead and wounded and then to the US government.
I wrote a piece yesterday trying to describe the process I use when analyzing open source intel. In it I used reports of odd flight behavior in Iran as an example of things to look for. Well, It went kinetic as I thought it might. Iran launched several IRBMs at Israel last night. The Israelis managed to swat them all out of the sky and no major damage or casualties were reported.
At the time I signed off for the day yesterday, the IDF had not responded, and there were questions about there being a response at all. Well, that response came.
There are also unconfirmed reports that Ahmad Vahidi, Iran’s top IRGC commander, was killed in the strikes. The IDF denies that it specifically targeted him. Vahidi vowed yesterday to turn the Gulf of Oman into a graveyard for the U.S. Navy and end Israel’s existence.
Is it true? I do not know and the IDF isn’t saying.
The ball is in Iran’s court now. Israel says they are done for now, but if Hezbollah fires any more missiles into Israel, the IDF will respond which is what started this round of hostilities.
The Philadelphia pride parade was held this weekend. Independent journalist Frank Scales, known as SurgePhilly, shared a 78-second video from Philadelphia’s Pride March on Sunday along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, showing a man in a skirt blocking his interviews and a woman grabbing his microphone, cutting his hand.
Fat, drunk gay, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
A private jet crashed and burned at La Romana international in the Dominican Republic. Pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghazal, both US citizens, were killed.
The only reason this is newsworthy is that the plane was enroute to Austin TX to pick up ex Cardinals great Yadier Molina.
A powerful earthquake hit the Philippine island of Mindanao today. The 7.9 magnitude quake was centered just off shore in Sarangani province. At least 32 people are dead and scores injured.
The quake has toppled buildings and destroyed infrastructure. 138 aftershocks have been recorded up to magnitude 6.7.
