roig

joined 1 year ago
MODERATOR OF
workingclasscalendar
sorted by: new top controversial old
1
Lebanon Crisis (1958) On this day in 1958, the U.S. invaded Lebanon with 54,000 troops in the name of anti-communism, occupying the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport, its first overt... (stahmaxffcqankienulh.supabase.co)
 

Lebanon Crisis (1958)

Tue Jul 15, 1958

Image

Image: Lebanese people greeting a USMC LVTP-5 entering Beirut

On this day in 1958, the U.S. invaded Lebanon with 54,000 troops in the name of anti-communism, occupying the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport, its first overt military action in the Middle East.

The pro-Western president of Lebanon, Camille Chamoun, had asked for U.S. assistance after armed groups in Lebanon began rebelling against his administration. While not overtly communist in character, the rebels had burned down a U.S. propaganda outlet and were generally aligned with Gamal Nasser and the United Arab Republic (UAR).

Using the anti-communist "Eisenhower Doctrine" as justification, on July 15th, President Eisenhower authorized "Operation Blue Bat", a military occupation of Lebanon with more than 14,000 footsoldiers, supported by a fleet of 70 ships and 40,000 sailors, to keep Chamoun in power.

Occupying the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport, the forces remained in Lebanon until October 25th, when President Chamoun completed his term as president of Lebanon.

According to historian Maurice Labelle, "this was the first overt U.S. military intervention in the region", demonstrating the U.S.'s willingness to act as an imperialist power in the Middle East, willing to commit to overt military action to manage its interests in the region.

0
Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior (1985) On this day in 1985, the French government, in an act of state-sponsored terror, bombed the Greenpeace-operated boat Rainbow Warrior, which was en route to... (stahmaxffcqankienulh.supabase.co)
 

Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior (1985)

Wed Jul 10, 1985

Image

Image: The Rainbow Warrior in Marsden Wharf in Auckland Harbour after the bombing by French secret service agents. © Greenpeace / John Miller [greenpeace.org]

On this day in 1985, the French government, in an act of state-sponsored terror, bombed the Greenpeace-operated boat Rainbow Warrior, which was en route to protest a nuclear weapons test planned by the French state. The bombing, later found to be personally ordered by French President François Mitterrand, killed a freelance photographer on board named Fernando Pereira.

France had been testing nuclear weapons on the Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia since 1966. In 1985 eight South Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia, signed a treaty declaring the region a nuclear-free zone.

Since being acquired by Greenpeace in 1977, Rainbow Warrior was active in supporting a number of anti-nuclear testing campaigns during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including relocating 300 Marshall Islanders from Rongelap Atoll, which had been polluted by radioactive fallout by past American nuclear tests.

For the 1985 tests, Greenpeace intended to monitor the impact of nuclear tests and place protesters on the island to observe the blasts. Three undercover French agents were on board, however, and they attached two limpet mines to Rainbow Warrior and detonated them ten minutes apart, sinking the ship.

France initially denied responsibility, but two of the French agents were captured by New Zealand Police and charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, willful damage, and murder.

The resulting scandal led to the resignation of the French Defence Minister Charles Hernu, while the two agents pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to ten years in prison. They spent a little over two years confined to the French island of Hao before being freed by the French government.

In 1987, after international pressure, France paid $8.16m to Greenpeace in damages, which helped finance another ship. It also paid compensation to the Pereira family, making reparation payments of 650,000 francs to Pereira's wife, 1.5 million francs to his two children, and 75,000 francs to each of his parents.

0
Gabriela Silang (1731 - 1763) Gabriela Silang, born on this day in 1731, was a Filipina revolutionary who led a revolt against Spanish colonizers after her husband's assassination, vowing to... (stahmaxffcqankienulh.supabase.co)
 

Gabriela Silang (1731 - 1763)

Mon Mar 19, 1731

Image

Image: A painting of Gabriela Silang by artist Carlito Rovira, showing her on horseback and wielding a saber [liberationnews.org]

Gabriela Silang, born on this day in 1731, was a Filipina revolutionary who led a revolt against Spanish colonizers after her husband's assassination, vowing to avenge his death. The Spanish captured Gabriela, executing her at age 32.

Gabriela married Diego Silang, an Ilocano resistance leader, in 1757. Diego was imprisoned after he suggested to the Spanish authorities that they abolish the tribute, colonialist tax, and replace Spanish functionaries with native people. Together, Diego and Gabriela resisted colonial rule, engaging in skirmishes with Spanish troops.

Gabriela took over the reins of her husband's revolutionary movement after his assassination on May 28th, 1763. She led Ilocano rebels for four months before being captured and executed on September 20th that year by the colonial government of the Spanish East Indies. Spanish forces executed her later that year, at age 32.

"Her undaunted determination, along with her skill and strength is what the people of the Philippines will never forget, and why she is regarded as the pioneering female Bayani. Today her courageous leadership became a symbol for the importance of women in Filipino society, and their struggle for liberation during colonization."

- Margarita Mansalay