Australia is transforming their naval forces to stay on top

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

Source: CNN.

I love Australia, and the Aussies are some of the most wonderful people. One thing I can tell you, they are quite independent. Just like we are. Wouldn't it be great if, even though it's for their own interest, they became the super-power in the Asian hemisphere? Yeah, baby!

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- Australia will build an A$11 billion ($9 billion) fleet of advanced destroyers and amphibious warships, Prime Minister John Howard said, underscoring the country's plan to remain a key Asian military power.

The purchases would transform Australia's navy into one of the most powerful in the Asia region, with two amphibious carriers able to land more than 2,000 troops, 16 attack and transport helicopters and up to 23 Abrams tanks. [Continue reading.]

So, you see that the only country who has stood shoulder to shoulder with us throughout our country's history is finally taking steps to move forward. Welcome! My only question: What took ya'll so long? (lol)

Japan war leaders turned spies

This is a very difficult article for me to write. I was not alive, I do not know that much about it; but that is not what makes it difficult. I have avoided history most of life because I could not bear the pain, the suffering, the hatred, the loss, to achieve a victory that was never promised.

I am referring to the Bataan Death March, for one. This is one of the items discovered since the CIA has disclosed that the Japanese have been spying on everyone during the war. I would be surprised if they had not! I just hope they were a lot better at it than they are nowadays.

CNN has written an article titled, "CIA files: Japanese war leaders spied in Cold War." Here is a sample:

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Col. Masanobu Tsuji was a fanatical Japanese militarist and brutal warrior, hunted after World War II for massacres of Chinese civilians and complicity in the Bataan Death March.

And then he became a U.S. spy.

Newly declassified CIA records, released by the U.S. National Archives and examined by The Associated Press, document more fully than ever how Tsuji and other suspected Japanese war criminals were recruited by U.S. intelligence in the early days of the Cold War.

If that link is no longer available, try this one.

Sources: CNN, Baldie: Maj. Richard M. Gordon (USA Ret.)

Chad, North Korea and Refugees from W. Africa

There is rising violence in Chad, according to an aid agency-Oxfam. They are urging immediately international intervention to help the situation in Chad. Read more. If this is no longer available, try this one.

There is much uneasiness in the so-called deal made with North Korea. There are no set timetables, and many of the six-party talks have their own agendas. The deal started to unravel before the ink hit the paper. Read more. If this link is no longer available, try this one. For the details of the deal, read here.

"The 400 migrants stranded off the West African coast for 10 days as the governments of two countries argued over their fate continued their wait on land and in the air Tuesday." This was on the 13th of February, and I still don't know if they settled on a place for these refugees. Read more. If this link is no longer available, please try this one.

News about NK and Missle Defense

Here are two articles concerning North Korea. One of them is about a successful hit from our missle defense system, and the other is about the UN's refusal to grant any aid to North Korea until they agree to an audit.

It is possible that one may query as to if the test was to tell North Korea to back off it's thirst for nuclear weapons. It may also be to let Iran know that America is protected, or at least allow them to think so. Either way, these are both good news articles. Have a nice day.