Asian Defense News: AFP
January 07, 2010 WASHINGTON - TWO F-15 fighter jets intercepted an airliner bound for Hawaii on Wednesday and escorted it back to Portland, Oregon after a passenger caused a 'disturbance,' the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.
The Hawaiian Air plane was intercepted at about 1pm local time (2100 GMT, 5am Singapore time) after taking off from Portland, Norad said in a statement.
'Shortly after take-off, a passenger caused a disturbance on the plane and the pilot decided to return the aircraft to Portland,' it said.
The fighter aircraft led the plane back to Portland airport at about 1.15pm and law enforcement officers were investigating the incident, according to the statement, which offered no other details.
Norad, a joint US-Canada mission, scrambles fighter jets to respond to possible terrorist threats from the air, after the attacks of Sept 11, 2001 involving hijacked airliners.
Based in the central US state of Colorado, Norad was created during the Cold War in 1958 to protect North America against air attacks.
The Source of Asia and Pacific Rim Comprehensive Financial, Political, Technology, Social, Defense News Updates
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
2 Arrested For Theft Of Malaysian F-5 Engines
Asian Defense News: Malaysia-Today.net
Only rank and file personnel and not senior military officers were involved in the theft of the two engines of F-5E jet fighters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said Monday.
He said the decision on whether to charge those involved in the incident would be made "in the very near future".
He also said that all efforts would be made by the government to recover as soon as possible the two missing engines, last traced to Uruguay.
"We are now engaging into mutual legal assistance procedures with certain countries in trying to get those engines back," he told reporters.Abdul Gani said the police had completed their investigation into the missing engines, which revealed that they were sent to an address in Subang Jaya, Selangor, on Dec 30, 2007 and Jan 1 last year.
"The military realised the loss only on May 22, 2008 and, when they found out, they proceeded with the investigation and then on Aug 4, 2008, a police report was made."
On May 4, 2008, a container carrying the engines was shipped abroad and we traced it to Argentina, and from Argentina, the engines were offloaded onto another ship to Uruguay," he said.
Abdul Gani said Interpol was aware of the case, and added that he believed that the United States was also aware, based on the published reports.
Asked about the buyer of the engines, Abdul Gani said he could not say anything about that because the investigation for their recovery was still going on.
Asked how much the actual cost of an engine was, he said one should be realistic about it as the jets were bought in 1975.
Only rank and file personnel and not senior military officers were involved in the theft of the two engines of F-5E jet fighters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said Monday.
He said the decision on whether to charge those involved in the incident would be made "in the very near future".
He also said that all efforts would be made by the government to recover as soon as possible the two missing engines, last traced to Uruguay.
"We are now engaging into mutual legal assistance procedures with certain countries in trying to get those engines back," he told reporters.Abdul Gani said the police had completed their investigation into the missing engines, which revealed that they were sent to an address in Subang Jaya, Selangor, on Dec 30, 2007 and Jan 1 last year.
"The military realised the loss only on May 22, 2008 and, when they found out, they proceeded with the investigation and then on Aug 4, 2008, a police report was made."
On May 4, 2008, a container carrying the engines was shipped abroad and we traced it to Argentina, and from Argentina, the engines were offloaded onto another ship to Uruguay," he said.
Abdul Gani said Interpol was aware of the case, and added that he believed that the United States was also aware, based on the published reports.
Asked about the buyer of the engines, Abdul Gani said he could not say anything about that because the investigation for their recovery was still going on.
Asked how much the actual cost of an engine was, he said one should be realistic about it as the jets were bought in 1975.
Isro to launch Cartosat-2B in March 2010
Asian Defense News: PTIThiruvananthapruam: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is planning to launch Cartosat series 'Cartosat-2B' remote sensing satellite in March this year, Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan said here today.
The testing of Cryogenic engine system for GSLV will also be held soon, Radhakrishnan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of 'IIST@Schools', an initiative of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to introduce to schoolchildren, space activities and its social implications.
Inputs received through Cartosat are mainly used to plan development activities in rural and urban areas of the country.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, he said India has outlined a series of challenging and exciting space programmes, including Chandrayan-2 and man-mission to space.
"India is capable of sending a man to space and bringing him back with our GSLV technology," the Isro chief said.
Other developed nations were planning to send men to Mars by 2030. "India's mission of sending a man to space is the first step to be with other nations in space technology," he said.
Radhakrishnan said ISRO now not only launches satellites for the country's use, but also satellites of other nations.
"Presently, Isro is on the job of making 20 satellites for other countries. India is one among the six nations that have developed indigenous space technology and also a model to the whole world on how space technology can be used for the development of a nation," Radhakrishnan said.
Speaking on the occasion, IIST director BN Suresh said the institute, which has entered its third year of existence,was emerging as a world class centre for learning and reasoning.
The IIST campus, which at present functions at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre complex, will be shifted to its own premises at Velliyamala by March-April.
The Institution currently offers undergraduate (B Tech) programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences, he said.
The testing of Cryogenic engine system for GSLV will also be held soon, Radhakrishnan said on the sidelines of the inauguration of 'IIST@Schools', an initiative of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to introduce to schoolchildren, space activities and its social implications.
Inputs received through Cartosat are mainly used to plan development activities in rural and urban areas of the country.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, he said India has outlined a series of challenging and exciting space programmes, including Chandrayan-2 and man-mission to space.
"India is capable of sending a man to space and bringing him back with our GSLV technology," the Isro chief said.
Other developed nations were planning to send men to Mars by 2030. "India's mission of sending a man to space is the first step to be with other nations in space technology," he said.
Radhakrishnan said ISRO now not only launches satellites for the country's use, but also satellites of other nations.
"Presently, Isro is on the job of making 20 satellites for other countries. India is one among the six nations that have developed indigenous space technology and also a model to the whole world on how space technology can be used for the development of a nation," Radhakrishnan said.
Speaking on the occasion, IIST director BN Suresh said the institute, which has entered its third year of existence,was emerging as a world class centre for learning and reasoning.
The IIST campus, which at present functions at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre complex, will be shifted to its own premises at Velliyamala by March-April.
The Institution currently offers undergraduate (B Tech) programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences, he said.
Suspected U.S. drones kill 12 in Pakistan
Asian Defense News: By Rasool Dawar ASSOCIATED PRESS
ISLAMABAD Wednesday, January 6, 2010 (AP) -- Two suspected U.S. drone missile strikes killed at least 12 people Wednesday in an area of Pakistan's volatile northwest teeming with militants suspected in a recent suicide attack that killed seven CIA employees in Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.
The lawless North Waziristan tribal area hit Wednesday is home to several militant groups that stage cross-border attacks against coalition troops, including the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Counting the latest strikes, suspected U.S. drones have attacked North Waziristan four times since the CIA bombing a week ago, killing at least 20 people.
The Obama administration has pressed Pakistan to crack down on the Haqqani network, but the government has resisted, saying it has its hands full battling local Taliban militants waging war against the state. In response, Washington has stepped up drone strikes in the country's tribal area near the Afghan border.
In the first attack Wednesday, a suspected drone fired two missiles at a house in the Datta Khel region of North Waziristan, killing seven people, said the intelligence officials.
A second strike occurred as locals were retrieving bodies from the rubble of the house, killing five people, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The identities of those killed in the attacks were unknown.
The Americans "have concluded that the Haqqani network is causing major problems in eastern Afghanistan and they seem determined to hit the network, so we should expect more frequent attacks in North Waziristan," said Mahmood Shah, former security chief for Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal area.
U.S. officials rarely discuss the missile strikes, and although Pakistan's government publicly condemns them as violations of its sovereignty, many analysts believe the two countries have a secret deal allowing them.
ISLAMABAD Wednesday, January 6, 2010 (AP) -- Two suspected U.S. drone missile strikes killed at least 12 people Wednesday in an area of Pakistan's volatile northwest teeming with militants suspected in a recent suicide attack that killed seven CIA employees in Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.
The lawless North Waziristan tribal area hit Wednesday is home to several militant groups that stage cross-border attacks against coalition troops, including the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Counting the latest strikes, suspected U.S. drones have attacked North Waziristan four times since the CIA bombing a week ago, killing at least 20 people.
The Obama administration has pressed Pakistan to crack down on the Haqqani network, but the government has resisted, saying it has its hands full battling local Taliban militants waging war against the state. In response, Washington has stepped up drone strikes in the country's tribal area near the Afghan border.
In the first attack Wednesday, a suspected drone fired two missiles at a house in the Datta Khel region of North Waziristan, killing seven people, said the intelligence officials.
A second strike occurred as locals were retrieving bodies from the rubble of the house, killing five people, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The identities of those killed in the attacks were unknown.
The Americans "have concluded that the Haqqani network is causing major problems in eastern Afghanistan and they seem determined to hit the network, so we should expect more frequent attacks in North Waziristan," said Mahmood Shah, former security chief for Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal area.
U.S. officials rarely discuss the missile strikes, and although Pakistan's government publicly condemns them as violations of its sovereignty, many analysts believe the two countries have a secret deal allowing them.
Yemeni forces capture 3 al Qaeda suspects
Asian Defense News: By Lee Keath ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN'A, Yemen -- Yemeni security forces arrested three suspected al Qaeda militants from a cell that the U.S. has s
aid was linked to a plot against the American or other embassies, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.
The arrests were the latest move in Yemen's U.S.-backed crackdown on al Qaeda's offshoot here, as Yemeni officials trumpet that they are taking on the militant group.
Yemen's foreign minister, meanwhile, said his country opposes any direct intervention by U.S. or other foreign troops in the fight against al Qaeda.
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told the Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that "there is a lot of sensitivity about foreign troops coming to Yemeni territory."
U.S. military personnel are currently in Yemen training its counterterrorism forces, and Mr. al-Qirbi said Yemen would welcome more personnel as trainers, "but not in any other capacity."
He said "direct intervention complicates things."
Washington has increased its counterterrorism aid to Yemen to fight al Qaeda but has indicated it does not seek to put troops on the ground.
The U.S. and British embassies closed for two days this week because of a threats that al Qaeda was planning an attack. Other Western embassies also took security precautions, closing to the public or limiting access.
The two missions reopened on Tuesday, after the United States said an assault by Yemeni security forces on an al Qaeda cell northeast of the capital a day earlier had "addressed" the threat.
In those clashes, Yemeni forces attacked a group of al Qaeda fighters moving in the mountains in the Arhab region. The troops were aiming to capture al Qaeda's suspected leader in the area, Mohammed Ahmed al-Hanaq, and a relative Nazeeh al-Hanaq, the ministry said.
aid was linked to a plot against the American or other embassies, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.The arrests were the latest move in Yemen's U.S.-backed crackdown on al Qaeda's offshoot here, as Yemeni officials trumpet that they are taking on the militant group.
Yemen's foreign minister, meanwhile, said his country opposes any direct intervention by U.S. or other foreign troops in the fight against al Qaeda.
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told the Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that "there is a lot of sensitivity about foreign troops coming to Yemeni territory."
U.S. military personnel are currently in Yemen training its counterterrorism forces, and Mr. al-Qirbi said Yemen would welcome more personnel as trainers, "but not in any other capacity."
He said "direct intervention complicates things."
Washington has increased its counterterrorism aid to Yemen to fight al Qaeda but has indicated it does not seek to put troops on the ground.
The U.S. and British embassies closed for two days this week because of a threats that al Qaeda was planning an attack. Other Western embassies also took security precautions, closing to the public or limiting access.
The two missions reopened on Tuesday, after the United States said an assault by Yemeni security forces on an al Qaeda cell northeast of the capital a day earlier had "addressed" the threat.
In those clashes, Yemeni forces attacked a group of al Qaeda fighters moving in the mountains in the Arhab region. The troops were aiming to capture al Qaeda's suspected leader in the area, Mohammed Ahmed al-Hanaq, and a relative Nazeeh al-Hanaq, the ministry said.
They escaped, but two fighters with them were killed and several others were wounded.
On Tuesday, security forces captured three of the wounded militants while they were being treated at a hospital in Reyda, a region northwest of the capital, San'a, the ministry said. Also arrested were four people suspected of transporting the militants to the hospital and hiding them there, it said.
No identities were given for the captured militants.
Yemen's government has increasingly claimed successes against al Qaeda in recent days, a sign of officials' anger over suggestions the state is too weakened to handle the fight against terrorists as the United States dramatically ramps up its counterterrorism aid to the unstable, impoverished nation.
The embassy closure on Sunday became a case in point, rankling some officials who said it gave the appearance that Yemeni security forces could not protect the facilities.
On Tuesday, as the embassy reopened, the Interior Ministry insisted the fight against al Qaeda was under control, saying Yemeni forces "have imposed a security cordon around al Qaeda elements everywhere they are present and...are observing and pursuing them around the clock."
The ministry said it had captured five other militants in recent days around San'a and in the western region of Hodeida. Thousands of troops have been sent to provinces east of the capital where the terror group has set up strongholds in a bid to strengthen government control in the areas.
The government also has carried out a series of U.S.-backed strikes against militant hideouts in the past month.
More broadly, the intensified partnership with the U.S. presents dilemmas for Yemen.
The government is concerned that too public an American role in the anti-terror campaign could embarrass the government, presenting it as weak before a Yemeni public where mistrust of the United States runs high. It also could bring a backlash from Islamic conservatives who are a major pillar of support for President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Moreover, Yemeni officials appear worried American aid will come with pressure on Saleh to reform his rule in this unstable, divided nation.
The government is deeply sensitive over any hint of meddling in its internal affairs. But at the same time, it is being battered by multiple crises and needs assistance.
It has little control outside the capital, and heavily armed tribes hold sway over large parts of the mountainous, impoverished nation. Many tribes are disgruntled with Saleh, and some have allowed al Qaeda fighters to take refuge. On other fronts, it is battling Shiite rebels in the north and a revived separatist campaign in the once-independent south.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday praised Yemeni action but warned that al Qaeda's offshoot in Yemen has become a global threat. The group is being blamed for planning the Christmas attempt to bomb a U.S. passenger jet.
AP correspondent Ahmed al-Haj in San'a contributed to this report.
Click here for reprint permissions! Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
On Tuesday, security forces captured three of the wounded militants while they were being treated at a hospital in Reyda, a region northwest of the capital, San'a, the ministry said. Also arrested were four people suspected of transporting the militants to the hospital and hiding them there, it said.
No identities were given for the captured militants.
Yemen's government has increasingly claimed successes against al Qaeda in recent days, a sign of officials' anger over suggestions the state is too weakened to handle the fight against terrorists as the United States dramatically ramps up its counterterrorism aid to the unstable, impoverished nation.
The embassy closure on Sunday became a case in point, rankling some officials who said it gave the appearance that Yemeni security forces could not protect the facilities.
On Tuesday, as the embassy reopened, the Interior Ministry insisted the fight against al Qaeda was under control, saying Yemeni forces "have imposed a security cordon around al Qaeda elements everywhere they are present and...are observing and pursuing them around the clock."
The ministry said it had captured five other militants in recent days around San'a and in the western region of Hodeida. Thousands of troops have been sent to provinces east of the capital where the terror group has set up strongholds in a bid to strengthen government control in the areas.
The government also has carried out a series of U.S.-backed strikes against militant hideouts in the past month.
More broadly, the intensified partnership with the U.S. presents dilemmas for Yemen.
The government is concerned that too public an American role in the anti-terror campaign could embarrass the government, presenting it as weak before a Yemeni public where mistrust of the United States runs high. It also could bring a backlash from Islamic conservatives who are a major pillar of support for President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Moreover, Yemeni officials appear worried American aid will come with pressure on Saleh to reform his rule in this unstable, divided nation.
The government is deeply sensitive over any hint of meddling in its internal affairs. But at the same time, it is being battered by multiple crises and needs assistance.
It has little control outside the capital, and heavily armed tribes hold sway over large parts of the mountainous, impoverished nation. Many tribes are disgruntled with Saleh, and some have allowed al Qaeda fighters to take refuge. On other fronts, it is battling Shiite rebels in the north and a revived separatist campaign in the once-independent south.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday praised Yemeni action but warned that al Qaeda's offshoot in Yemen has become a global threat. The group is being blamed for planning the Christmas attempt to bomb a U.S. passenger jet.
AP correspondent Ahmed al-Haj in San'a contributed to this report.
Click here for reprint permissions! Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Beijing fires warning shot on arms sales to Taiwan
Asian Defense News: By Agence France-PresseBEIJING China has warned the United States against selling arms to Taiwan, amid media speculation that Washington could soon act on the island's request for new weapons.
"We firmly oppose the U.S. selling arms to Taiwan," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters at a regular briefing Tuesday. She said Beijing has had "serious consultations" with Washington on the issue.
"We urge the U.S. to recognize the gravity of selling arms to Taiwan, … cancel any plans to sell arms to Taiwan and stop selling arms to Taiwan so as not to damage China-U.S. relations."
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, despite warming ties with Beijing, has appealed to the United States for weapons, saying the island must stay on guard in light of the mainland's sharp rise in military spending.
China's military cut off relations with the Pentagon in October 2008 to protest the announcement of U.S. plans to sell $6.5 million in arms to Taiwan, including attack helicopters, missiles and missile defenses.
A Taiwanese defense official said Taipei urgently needs additional F-16 jet fighters to replacing aging F-5 fighters and to bolster its current force of F-16s. Taipei also has asked to buy U.S. Black Hawk helicopters and wants to move ahead with U.S. plans to provide diesel electric submarines.
The Obama administration is weighing the latest arms request and is expected to announce its decision on new arms sales in the next several months, according to U.S. officials.
Washington is the leading arms supplier to self-ruled Taiwan, despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.
China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Beijing still views the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
During his visit to China in November, President Obama reiterated that the United States thinks there was only one China.
U.S. policy on arms sales to Taiwan is outlined in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which calls for supplying defensive arms to Taiwan.
Beijing insists that U.S. arms sales must be phased out under a U.S.-China joint statement signed in the 1980s.
The U.S. defense contractor Raytheon announced in December it had been awarded a contract worth $1.1 billion for new Patriot missile systems to Taiwan, but that the missiles themselves would be part of a separate contract.
Hindsight - The Most Newsworthy Events of 2009
Hindsight - The Most Newsworthy Events of 2009
By Albert Mohler
By Albert Mohler
The year 2009 is still very close in the rear-view mirror, and what a year it was. The year was signifi
cant for any number of reasons, including the fact that it marked so many anniversaries. 2009 marked the fortieth anniversary of Woodstock and the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. A good many young Americans see both as ancient history.
cant for any number of reasons, including the fact that it marked so many anniversaries. 2009 marked the fortieth anniversary of Woodstock and the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. A good many young Americans see both as ancient history.How will 2009 be remembered? Looking back over the year, ten major developments seem most important to me from this vantage point. A few years from now, 2009 might be remembered differently, but these markers stand out as 2010 begins:
1. The Inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States
The inauguration of an American president is an act of solemnity and national purpose. The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States came with all the usual fanfare and formality, but also with controversy and deep concerns. History was made as the nation inaugurated its first African-American president, and one of its youngest chief executives. The inaugural ceremony was marked by controversy over the ministers chosen for public prayer. The choice of Pastor Rick Warren of California's Saddleback Church was hardly a surprise, given the prominence of the Saddleback Presidential Forum during the campaign. But Warren became unexpectedly controversial when homosexual activists complained about his support for California's Proposition 8 - the measure that put an end to the state's brief season of legalized same-sex marriage. Obama later chose Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly-homosexual Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, to pray at the opening event on the Mall. Soon after taking office, the new President discovered what every newly-elected president learns - Congress has a mind of its own.
2. The Uprising in Iran
The year began as the thirtieth anniversary of the Iran Revolution that toppled the regime of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and led to the establishment of Iran as an Islamic republic under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni. It ended with big questions about the survival of the current regime under the rule of the ayatollahs and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The spark for the uprising came as Iran underwent a national election. Thousands of Iranians, including many students, took to the streets of Tehran and other major cities to protest electoral fraud and to support opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Despite the protests, Ahmadinejad declared himself the winner and police eventually won back the streets. Nevertheless, the harshly repressive action seemed very reminiscent of the efforts of the Shah to hold back the anger of the Iranian people. At the same time, Iran continued to flaunt international efforts to end its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program.
3. The Travail of the Global Economy
The global economic recession was foremost on most minds as the year began and the Obama administration took office. Working in tandem with a Democratically-controlled Congress, the Obama administration undertook the most significant governmental take-over of the American economy since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, with massive Federal investments in virtually all sectors of the economy. The unthinkable became the actual as General Motors declared bankruptcy and American taxpayers became the company's largest stockholders - and General Motors was just the tip of the economic iceberg. As the year ended, some declared the "Great Recession" officially over, but a declining home values and rising unemployment underlined both hardship and the expected length of the economic recovery. Furthermore, the role of China as America's creditor loomed as a long-term worry that had been largely unknown by most Americans.
4. The Death of Michael Jackson and the Nation's Addiction to Celebrity
Notable deaths of 2009 included Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Evangelist Oral Roberts, but the most widely-covered death of the year was the unexpected demise of entertainer Michael Jackson. A digital search of the year's headlines will reveal the international fascination with Jackson, a brilliant marketer and entertainer, but a tortured soul whose various presentations of himself made him a focus of endless speculation and concern. His death - presumably by a drug-induced cardiac arrest - came as the entertainer was working on a comeback tour. His sensational trial and acquittal on charges of child sexual abuse in 2005 failed to stem his international appeal, but financial sources argued that his net worth surged once again only after his death. His memorial service was broadcast around the world, drawing an estimated 1 billion viewers. Cable news networks and other channels fed a national mania for Jackson that continued weeks after his death, underlining the nation's seemingly insatiable appetite for celebrity.
5. The Rise of Twitter and the Growing Domination of Social Media
Twitter, the micro-blogging sensation that took the year by storm, will soon register its 100 millionth user. "Tweets" of 140 characters or less became the communication medium of the year. At the same time, Facebook registered over 350 million members worldwide, with users spending 10 billion minutes there every day. By the end of 2009, Facebook had reached 54.7 percent of all Americans ages 12 to 17 - up from just 28.3 percent in 2008. The Age of Social Media had clearly arrived by 2009, changing the way Americans communicate and relate to each other. As one observer noted, even those in business who had dismissed social media as nothing more than notes about who was eating a doughnut with whom ended the year worried that their competition was eating their lunch.
6. The Battle over Heath Care Reform
The President began 2009 with a focused determination to transform the nation's health care system - a complex that includes no less than one-sixth of the nation's economy. The President's ambitious goals, articulated during the 2008 presidential campaign, gave way to political reality as the Obama administration discovered that its preference for a so-called "public option" was doomed in the U.S. Senate. The national debate over health care indicated that most Americans are not ready for a revolution in health-care delivery - much less for a major change in their own health insurance. As the year ended, the President had put the prestige of his administration clearly on the line, and the U.S. Senate barely passed a compromise bill on Christmas Eve. A much more liberal version adopted by the House of Representatives must now be reconciled with the Senate's more gradualist approach.The biggest surprise of the health care debate was the so-called "Stupak Amendment" adopted by the House of Representatives that may well be the most significant pro-life legislation to pass either house of Congress since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Americans gained a rare view of the kind of political shenanigans used by congressional leaders in order to negotiate much-needed votes. The year ended with the President declaring a major victory, but with huge concerns about abortion coverage and other issues looming.
7. The Leftward March of Liberal Protestantism
Though hardly surprising, the continued leftward march of liberal Protestantism meant further tragedy for several denominations. In particular, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) stood the Lutheran tradition on its head by legitimating "bound conscience" as a means of subverting biblical authority. That denomination officially sanctioned the service of partnered homosexual clergy during its churchwide meeting in August. The Episcopal Church continued its headlong rush to flaunt its refusal to abide by a biblical standards of sexuality by declaring an end to the moratorium on electing openly-homosexual bishops and blessing same-sex unions. As the year drew to a close, the church's Los Angeles diocese elected an openly-lesbian priest as auxiliary bishop, setting the stage for in an evitable head-on collision with the worldwide Anglican Communion.
8. The Climate Summit in Copenhagen
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference was supposed to produce a binding legal agreement to limit international carbon emissions. Instead, the Copenhagen Summit ended without any such agreement and the failure of the global event appeared to signal the ineffectiveness of the United Nations in terms of addressing climate change. Of course, the event itself became the focus of intense controversy over the scientific arguments related to global warming and climate change - controversy fueled by leaked e-mails that demonstrated scientific malfeasance among some leading researchers. In the end, President Obama and other leaders claimed to have cobbled together a "meaningful agreement," but harsh divisions between developed and developing nations led to an undeniable impasse. Nevertheless, the Copenhagen Summit may actually open the door to a far more reasonable approach to limiting carbon emissions - an approach that would rely on new technologies, market forces, and natural economic incentives. The unspoken conclusion of the process is the realization that the cost of limiting carbon emissions as called for by climate activists outweighs the potential threat in terms of immediate harm. In other words, when it comes to global warming, there is hope that cooler heads will prevail.
9. The Swine Flu Epidemic and the New International Hygiene
If anything, 2009 was a boom year for manufacturers of hand sanitizer. Worries about an epidemic of the H1N1 flu virus led to panic in many contexts and to what may well prove to be permanent changes in personal habits. Hand sanitizer dispensers are now increasingly ubiquitous in schools, churches, shopping malls, and restaurants. Concerns about the spread of the highly infectious virus led to mass immunization campaigns, a public health alerts, and a new hesitation about shaking hands. As the year drew to a close, it became increasingly clear that the virus was actually less deadly than the normal seasonal flu virus, and a major health catastrophe was averted. Nevertheless, the human race was reminded that we are vulnerable to microscopic viruses - a necessary and incredibly humbling knowledge.
10. The Spotlight on Private Scandals and Public Consequences
Every year seems to bring its own revelations and moral sensations, but the year 2009 seems particularly scarred by moral scandal. Sensational revelations of adultery were made by prominent leaders and celebrities including entertainer David Letterman, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and golfer Tiger Woods. All three of these men found their lives open to public scrutiny in the aftermath of adultery.
David Letterman made his admission in the opening segment of his comedy program, leaving a bewildered audience uncertain whether to laugh or cry.
Mark Sanford, the Republican Governor of South Carolina, destroyed his political career and his marriage when he was caught in an adulterous affair with a woman in South America - an affair the Governor clearly did not want to end.
The year concluded with golfer Tiger Woods facing devastating financial losses as sponsors pulled their support in light of the media spotlight on his own marital infidelity. These scandals, added to so many others, served as reminders that private acts bring public consequences, that character does matter, and that marital vows do indeed mean something - even in this confused age.And now 2009 has passed into history books, but we must not let it recede into memory without considering its lessons. The year to come will bring lessons of its own - can we see them coming?
Related Links
Obama must speak out on Iran, ex-adviser says - CNN
Obama must speak out on Iran, ex-adviser says - CNN
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