I use this feature alot, to keep track of significant ( to me)stories when they go “dark” or when information is being held.
Lizzi Marriott’s death investigation has an alert.
I also use it for trifling stories. I set one other day and got my answer a day later. It was a story about a woman being attacked by a wolf in Manitoba. The initial report, accompanied with a photo of some bite marks on the women’s neck just sounded, well, funny. So, I set an alert. We of course all have heard of a mountain lion pouncing on some hiker or unsuspecting soul, but a wolf? That was new to me.
The next day my alert came in. It was revealed by a witness that the woman , supposedly set upon by a wolf beside the highway, had been feeding the wolf a bag of potato chips.
The woman had neglected say anything to the reporter about feeding a wolf in the first story.
“So now you know the rest of the story” ( Paul Harvey)
Benghazi.
At exactly the same time that militants were attacking the US Embassy last Fall two US military commanders were relieved of their command. A General Ham was relieved or sent home from his Africa Command( AFRICOM headquarters are in Germany) and a Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette commanding the Stennis Strike Force ( aircraft carrier) was sent home and replaced, in the midst of deployment
Oh boy, did the web go crazy over these two fellows.
The Russians even dropped a story that it was a coup gone wrong!
So many swallowed, especially those legions of Patriots out there that do not understand Military rules/law, or who has ultimate control, which is you and me .
The civilians.
So many web sites sprang up it was dizzying, all spinning the same yarn. That these fellows were sacked because they wanted to intervene in Benghazi, and were stymied in their efforts.
I fully understood the Africa change, the Chinese are not supplying guns and training to military units in Africa.
They have been very busy with establishing trade. African countries tired of War are making a choice. They are choosing to align themselves with China. Chinese citizens are setting up shop all over the continent.
So there is really less of a need for full on military intervention in Africa by the US as the Africans are turning away from war. They would prefer agricultural exchanges over military assistance.
So no need to set Google News alert for Ham.
I did set an alert for the Rear Admiral last Fall as the Navy fascinates me and I always have many questions. It was also grinding me the web sites crying over the dismissal. I actually thought he got canned for not having a combat ready ship. The carrier group was forced to sail by the Sec of Defense and may not have been ready to go. You are either ready to go or not. If not, as Commander of the Battle Group you are supposed to speak up. That’s what I thought had happened.
Nope.
I got my answer yesterday. The Admiral was disciplined for his salty language, not for a coup attempt, not for disobeying the Commander-in-Chief. He messed with a subordinate who the others on the bridge of the Stennis felt was driving the boat too fast in a crowded maritime environment. Here is a picture of the lead foot, Captain Reis,Commander of the Stennis playing chess in his State room aboard the Nassau an amphibious assault ship( now decommissioned) it was sort of a mini aircraft carrier. The Stennis is much larger vessel.
So you can now read all about how the Rear Admiral Gaouette ended a long career in the Navy. I have been struck by how the news outlets have not gone back as this post does, to reference the ridiculous Benghazi connection. Those screaming sites are still up for anyone to see, oh the work some did trying desperately to create a story , where none existed. It was just another firing in the Navy.
The link below is a list from the Navy Times of all the other people the Navy fired last year and the reasons why they were let go.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/11/navy-2012-co-xo-cmc-firings-list/
Mike
The Exeter Town Crier 