Japan unveils largest warship since World War II

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest warship since World War II, a huge flat-top destroyer that has raised eyebrows in China and elsewhere because it bears a strong resemblance to a conventional aircraft carrier.

The ship, which has a flight deck that is nearly 250 meters (820 feet) long, is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters. Japanese officials say it will be used in national defense – particularly in anti-submarine warfare and border-area surveillance missions – and to bolster the nation’s ability to transport personnel and supplies in response to large-scale natural disasters, like the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Though the ship – dubbed “Izumo” – has been in the works since 2009, its unveiling comes as Japan and China are locked in a dispute over several small islands located between southern Japan and Taiwan. For months, ships from both countries have been conducting patrols around the isles, called the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyutai in China.

Will Russian And Chinese Military Forces On Syrian Soil Prevent Obama From Bombing Syria?

As reported in the first link:

According to ShamLife, China had gained Egyptian approval to allow 12 Chinese ships carrying military equipment to pass through the Suez Canal, and that these vessels would reach the Syrian ports of Tartous and Latakia in two weeks’ time.

ShamLife said Syrian air defense missiles and its coastal defense would be put to the test in the military exercises, and that 90,000 troops from the four countries would be involved in the war games along with 400 aircraft and 1,000 tanks and “hundreds of rockets.”

Everyone knows that the Obama administration has been steadily gearing up for a military campaign against Syria.  Everyone also knows that Russia and China do not want to see this happen.  Now Russia and China are sending military forces to Syria.  It is being reported that Russia, China, Iran and Syria will be conducting the “Middle East’s largest ever military exercise” next month.  Apparently tens of thousands of troops will be involved.  This will be the first time that the Russians and the Chinese have jointly deployed large numbers of troops in Syria.  Will this show of military power be enough to prevent Barack Obama from bombing Syria?  Or will Obama go ahead anyway and risk ruining relations with the Russians and the Chinese?  Tensions are rising in the Middle East and the region is a powder keg that could erupt at any time.  If someone makes the wrong move we could end up with World War III.

A number of sources have reported that the Obama administration has been contemplating a military campaign in Syria similar to what happened in Libya.  The U.S. would institute a no-fly zone, bomb the Syrian government and the Syrian military, and provide heavy military hardware for the rebel forces on the ground.

According to a recent Debka report, the plans for such a campaign in Syria are close to being finalized….

Full article: Will Russian And Chinese Military Forces On Syrian Soil Prevent Obama From Bombing Syria? (The American Dream)

Russia To Conduct Inspection Mission Over United States

A group of Russian military observers will carry out an inspection mission over the United States under the Open Skies Treaty on April 8-16, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian inspectors, accompanied by U.S. officials, will be flying on board a Tupolev Tu-154 LK-1 plane from the Travis Air Force Base in California along a designated route totaling 4,250 kilometers (2,640 miles).

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It will be the eighth observation mission carried out by Russian inspectors over territories of Open Skies Treaty member countries in 2012.

The Open Skies Treaty, signed in 1992 at the initiative of U.S. President George W. Bush, establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its 34 member states to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities.

Full article: Russia To Conduct Inspection Mission Over United States (Eurasia Review)