Hello all and happy May! This week the news seemed to center on the campus protests which have not only spread across the United States, but internationally in Canada, France, and as far away as Australia. In the U.S., police have moved in to clear encampments and make arrests though that doesn’t seem to be diminishing the student appetite for protest. President Biden spoke out against the violence occurring in some of the protests in a public address.
In regards to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the basis for the campus protests, a recent ceasefire proposal is still awaiting approval from both sides. The details of the agreement are unclear but the basic premise has always been the return of all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for a pause in fighting. Hamas officials have yet to respond to the deal, though it has been described as a very generous offer from Israel. However, Israel also might renege on the deal as Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to move forward with military operations in Rafah despite any potential ceasefire deal.
A combined 30 Marines and Sailors were injured during a training exercise off the coast of Florida. Apparently, they had been training on LCAC (Landing Craft, Air Cushion) ship-to-shore vessels. Details of the training exercise and the injuries sustained are still forthcoming.
On Capitol Hill there were numerous hearings related to defense and the sea services, with military housing and healthcare receiving significant attention after years of alleged neglect. However, the headline story is the ongoing effort by hardline House Republicans to oust Speaker Johnson with a Motion to Vacate. The effort is expected to fail as Democrats seem inclined to back the Speaker based on his efforts to pass the recent foreign aid bills. But on the Hill, no one has a crystal ball and the drama could heat up any day now.
The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs last month, below expectations. This disappointing news might actually bode well for inflationary pressures, hopefully cooling the economy enough to keep inflation in check and even allow the Fed to cut interest rates later this year.
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The State of the Sea Services
Barracks problems take center stage at military readiness hearing – Military Times / May 2
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee readiness panel called for increased privatization of military barracks during a hearing Tuesday on fiscal year 2025 budget requests from the military services.
*Ukraine*
French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed that he’d consider sending French troops to Ukraine and spelled out the conditions in which that could take place.
Great Power Competition
Marines sending new amphibious vehicles to Japan in the summer – Marine Times / May 2 Marines in Japan will receive the Corps’ new amphibious vehicles for the first time in the summer. Twelve amphibious combat vehicles will arrive at the Okinawa, Japan-based 4th Marine Regiment in July, Col. Tim Hough, the Corps’ program manager for advanced amphibious assault, said on Wednesday at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington.