US Navy denied port visit to Hong Kong

USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group returning to port in Yokosuka, Japan

By U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

Posted: 11/23/2007

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SOUTH CHINA SEA -- After the USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group had been refused entry into the port of Hong Kong yesterday, building seas and deteriorating weather conditions necessitated the strike group’s departure from the area. The strike group is returning to Yokosuka, Japan.

Kitty Hawk Strike Group ships originally scheduled for the Nov. 21-24 port visit are: USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), and USS Mustin (DDG 89). The Los Angeles class nuclear fast attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) was also due to enter port with the Strike Group.

The USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group is permanently forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. It is commanded by Rear Adm. Richard B. Wren.

 

Also reporting:  Associated Press, courtesy of the Globe and Mail

After snub by China, U.S. carrier battle group sails home

ERIC TALMADGE

Associated Press

November 23, 2007 at 1:46 AM EST

TOKYO — Thousands of sailors aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and its carrier battle group had to mark the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday at sea after they were denied entry to Hong Kong for a port call that had been planned months in advance, navy officials said Friday.

China turned the ships away when they neared the port for the planned four-day stop. Beijing later reversed its decision but by that time the aircraft carrier, along with four warships and a nuclear submarine, were already leaving the area under heavy weather.

China has given no reason why it refused the ships entry.

The top U.S. military commander in the Pacific said he's “perplexed and concerned” by China's move.

“It's hard to put any kind of positive spin on this,” Adm. Timothy Keating told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday while flying back to the U.S. after visiting troops in Iraq.

“The crew members were disappointed but that did not deter them from celebrating Thanksgiving on the ships with meals and movies,” said Lt.-Cmdr. Steven Curry, a spokesman for the 7th Fleet, which has its home port in Yokosuka, Japan, just south of Tokyo.

The Kitty Hawk and its strike group were on their way back to Yokosuka on Friday, he said.  link to article in Globe and Mail

Related Articles:

• China's U-turn: U.S. Navy can visit Hong Kong
• U.S. warships refused entry to Hong Kong

Technorati tags: uss kitty hawk, 7th fleet, hong kong, communists, us navy, china, us warships, port of call, japan, yokosuka, uss shiloh, uss fitzgerald, uss mccampbell, uss mustin, uss topeka, admiral richard b wren, uss kitty haw strike group, south china sea, happy thanksgiving

 

Keeping the Meaning of Thanksgiving Alive

Courtesy of CBN NEWS

By Wendy Griffith, CBN News Senior Reporter

November 22, 2007

CBNNews.com - Millions of Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving today, a holiday tradition that dates back hundreds of years. But some say there's an attempt to remove the religious significance from this great American holiday.

President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving official in 1863. He proclaimed the last Thursday in November to be "a national day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent father who dwelleth in the heavens."

But for most of us - when we think of that first Thanksgiving - we think about the Pilgrims and the Indians.

RELATED STORY:
Thanksgiving and the True Story of Squanto

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. Weak and sick - they began to die. The Pilgrims needed help to survive and they got it from an English-speaking Indian named Squanto.

Historian Peter Marshall explained, "Here comes this American Indian suddenly who speaks perfect English, who offers them his services. So they plant all this corn under his tutelage. In October the corn is ripe finally, and they want to have a celebration, a Thanksgiving celebration."

Marshall continued, "So they invite Chief Massasoit, who had taken Squanto in when he had no family, no relatives. So Massasoit and 90 braves show up for this celebration festival, and they had a three day celebration of feasting, bow-and-arrow shooting contests, foot races and relay races and games."

Although some would say it was just a day of celebration - historical records show it was a time to give thanks to God.

Rev. Paul Jehle said, "They looked at everything as a gift from God, even the sorrowful things they saw as God allowing that to perfect their character. So they were amazing Christians and great examples for us today."

For a lot of people thanksgiving has become a day to watch football, eat turkey, and watch the Macy's Day Parade. And these are not bad things, but some believe the most important part of Thanksgiving - giving thanks to God for our many blessings - is being down-played or left out altogether.

That's why private Christian schools like Stonebridge Christian School in Virginia make a point of teaching children the real Thanksgiving story - including the religious aspects.

"God was very much a part of that first Thanksgiving and we teach that," said Stonebridge history teacher Ed Sotto."

Parent Steve Elliott says he's glad his four daughters are learning the whole story.

And the students, who recently re-enacted the story of the Pilgrims at Jamestown, agree that the Thanksgiving story they're learning now is not the one they were taught in public school.

"In public school, we colored turkeys and it was all about the turkeys - like they were an idol," ninth-grader Anastasia Peele said.

Colson Vorwald, also in the 9th grade, said, "We were taught that the Pilgrims were thanking the Indians - not God - for the blessings."

What's sad is that here in the U.S. the day after Thanksgiving is often more celebrated than Thanksgiving itself. But many people like the teachers

Technorati tags: thanksgiving, pilgrims, liberal left, indians, religion, usa, uniited states, priviate schools, public schools. guilt, leftists, christians, squanto, holiday

Attention Mayor Sanders, is anyone home?

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views on the Rick Roberts  are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of The Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with Bosun.

ATTENTION: MAYOR SANDERS/CITY COUNCIL/COUNTY SUPERVISORS
Courtesy of  Rick Roberts, KFMB AM 760, San Diego
November 2nd, 2007

On this blog you will find a growing list of potential fire locations. These are illegal alien encampments, where illegals are known to start illegal campfires to cook food, stay warm, etc.

With the pending Santa Ana’s and the fact that the Harris fire, among several other fires in San Diego County history, was started by illegal alien encampments (according to County Supervisor Dianne Jacob), we feel it is our duty to keep San Diego neighborhoods safe from this fire hazard.

If I went camping this week, there would be several State and Federal permits I would be required to obtain and follow to start a campfire and with good reason. The combination of open fires, the Santa Ana winds and our dry brush is a recipe for another wildfire sweeping through our county.

Why is the city and county doing nothing about this potential fire hazard?

Could it be that we are IN FACT a SANCTUARY CITY, MAYOR SANDERS???

Hopefully the Mayor, or someone with guts, will do something about cleaning up this potential fire danger and health hazard once and for all.

Today, we asked listeners of The Rick Roberts Show to call with the illegal alien encampment locations throughout San Diego County. It is a long and growing list that we hope City, County, and Fire officials review and take seriously.

Please feel free to add more locations in the comments section of this blog.

It’s bad enough that American citizens have stopped hiking and biking in our parks and canyons for fear of being attacked by groups of unknown men… It’s bad enough these illegal encampments are full of human waste and stolen goods…

BUT IT IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGOUS TO SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD BE TOLERANT TO THE POINT THAT IT BURNS DOWN OUR HOMES AND THREATENS OUR LIVES!

PLEASE MAYOR SANDERS AND ALL SAN DIEGO CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS; IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

Comments at Rick Roberts KFMB San Diego »

Technorati tags: illegal aliens, encampments, ICE, Immigration and customs enforcement, Homeless encampments, San Diego, California, Wild Fires