Why has the Air Force abruptly ended its 16 year continuous presence on Guam?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33057/the-continuous-strategic-bomber-presence-mission-to-guam-has-abruptly-ended-after-16-years?fbclid=IwAR2ncJga6pKqxj71VIQ5UjzCryke-_dniObCGmBr9LOBGWgfcw5c1bfE2m4

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8232783/Air-Force-ends-presence-bombers-Guam-just-days-performed-elephant-walk.html?fbclid=IwAR2jNxv92eUIOHEEAonnfFsPRNdO0nbRaAdwGbMei_pSpDXEAX-yKmSEV1g

19 April, 2020

The United States Air Force has stopped its uninterrupted rotation of bombers in Guam, ending a more than 15-year presence in the area. 

Five B-52H Stratofortresses left the Andersen Air Force Base on Wednesday, just days after the aircrafts participated in a military might 'elephant walk' exercise aimed at China.  

The planes' flights were first reported by @AircraftSpots. 

No replacement aircraft was seen, bringing an end to the Continuous Bomber Presence Mission, the War Zone reports. The program started in 2004.

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Five B-52H Stratofortresses left the Andersen Air Force Base on Wednesday, just days after the aircrafts participated in a military might 'elephant walk' exercise aimed at China

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The planes' flights were first reported by @AircraftSpots. No replacement aircraft was seen, bringing an end to the Continuous Bomber Presence Mission

'In line with the National Defense Strategy, the United States has transitioned to an approach that enables strategic bombers to operate forward in the Indo-Pacific region from a broader array of overseas locations, when required, and with greater operational resilience, while these bombers are permanently based in the United States,' U.S. Air Force Major Kate Atanasoff, a U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) spokesperson, said in a statement. 

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'U.S. strategic bombers will continue to operate in the Indo-Pacific, to include Guam, at the timing and tempo of our choosing.' 

Under the Continuous Bomber Presence Mission, the Air Force deployed B-52s, b-1B Bone supersonic bombers and B-2A Spirit stealth bombers for six-month stints to Andersen. 

The program ensured that at least one task force of long-range heavy bombers would be ready to respond to potential issues in the Pacific Region. 

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On Monday, the Andersen Air Force Base, which is about 1,800 miles east of China, flexed its military strength with an elephant walk of at least a dozen aircraft from the US Navy and Air Force

Earlier this month, the Air Force had indicated that it wanted to implement shorter duration bomber deployments to Guam. 

The U.S. military has also been implementing the Dynamic Force Employment operations, which aims to make major deployments less predictable. 

By making them less predictable, potential opponents - like China and Russia -  would feel on edge. 

The Air Force has been experimenting with sending bombers to new or less common deployment locations in the Pacific and in Europe.  

There are still very serious problems that could erupt in the region, as seen in the need for the military to perform an 'elephant walk' of bombers on the base. 

On Monday, the Andersen Air Force Base, which is about 1,800 miles east of China, flexed its military strength with at least a dozen aircraft from the US Navy and Air Force. 

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A U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk, U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk, Navy MQ-4C Triton, Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses, and KC-135 Stratotankers stationed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, perform an 'Elephant Walk' April 13, 2020

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The elephant walk came just days after China sent its aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and fighter jets close to Taiwan (depicted above)

An elephant walk is a procession of military aircraft taxiing close in formation right before a minimum interval takeoff. 

According to The Aviationist, the procession included a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk, Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk, five Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers and six KC-135 Stratotankers. 

The elephant walk came just days after China sent an aircraft carrier and fighter jets close to Taiwan.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the Liaoning, China's first operational aircraft carrier, and five accompanying warships passed first through the Miyako Strait, located between Japan's islands of Miyako and Okinawa, to the northeast of Taiwan, on Saturday.

Whilst all this may seem fairly inexplicable one person is venturing an opinion on this

U.S. REMOVED 

"STRATEGIC ASSETS" 

FROM "FIRST-STRIKE" 

DANGER ZONE

https://admin.halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/breaking-news-u-s-removing-strategic-assets-from-first-strike-danger-zone

17 April, 2020

The United States has suddenly REMOVED -- ALL -- of it's forward-deployed B-52 Bombers from Guam.  The official stated reason is one thing; but my former colleagues in the Intelligence Community tell me something FAR different, and it is not good.

The U.S. Air Force has ended its uninterrupted rotations of bombers to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam, which have been ongoing since 2004, as it shifts to a less predictable concept of operations. 

Five B-52H Stratofortresses left yesterday with no replacement aircraft in place, bringing an end to what the service had called the Continuous Bomber Presence Mission.

This notably came just days after the bombers took part in a massive "elephant walk" readiness drill that also involved six KC-135R aerial refueling tankers, an RQ-4B Global Hawk drone, as well as a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone, and an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, which was seen as a significant statement of American resolve aimed China.

RADAR TRACK

USAF B-52Hs SEEYA01, 02, 03, 04 & 05 departed Andersen AFB, Guam en route home to Minot AFB, North Dakota.

The Official explanation offered by the Department of Defense is as follows:

"In line with the National Defense Strategy, the United States has transitioned to an approach that enables strategic bombers to operate forward in the Indo-Pacific region from a broader array of overseas locations, when required, and with greater operational resilience, while these bombers are permanently based in the United States," U.S. Air Force Major Kate Atanasoff, a U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) spokesperson, confirmed. "U.S. strategic bombers will continue to operate in the Indo-Pacific, to include Guam, at the timing and tempo of our choosing."

The SUDDEN removal of these aircraft, did not make sense one day after putting on the display below, aimed at China:

Turns out, what the public was TOLD about the move, is NOT the real reason.....

INTEL

According to well-placed sources in the United States military, the REAL reason these strategic bombers were suddenly removed from Guam, is far worse. 

The precise explanation provided to me is as follows:

"This was a force preservation measure.

They wanted them farther away from China because China can launch short or medium range ballistic missiles and destroy the base before the aircraft can launch."

UPDATE 11:48 PM EDT --

At 11:15 PM Eastern US Time Tonight, I got a communication via SECURE methods informing me of the following (VERBATIM):

"Valhalla, (my former FBI Code Name)  things are very bad and getting worse.  Listen closely . . .

COG (Continuity of Government) has already gone to Cheyenne mountain.
DHS (Department of Homeland Security) goes to PN mountain.
Reservists are called up (1 million).
Expats are called home.
People are told to "stay put at home and get masks."
Long standing military patterns are suddenly changed.
War rhetoric against China is at a TOP PEAK

What comes next?"

I respond with my personal assessment by saying "We are going to war with China."

His response to my personal assessment was as follows (VERBATIM):

"Look, China has been caught hacking our infrastructure during the entire time of the outbreak.  They are clearly trying to determine what we know about where this virus originated.  This would indicate the Virus outbreak was not an accident . When they find out that we have found out, we believe they will launch a first strike because they know we will strike them over a bio-weapon attack."

Hew went on: "It was definitely a man made virus. It did come from the Wuhan Virology Lab.  (I Reported this to you on February 22 HERE)

China then covered it up and purposely allowed people from Wuhan to travel all over the world. It was not a mistake that they let it spread.

Those B-52's were moved because the Pentagon does not leave strategic assets in any place they know will soon be a theater of battle."

From South Koean media

Kim Yeon-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Inje University, said Pyongyang is ultimately seeking to bargain with Washington.

"North Korea has maximized the threat level, but it is also asking for an excuse to suspend the threat," said Kim.

Pyongyang said in June that it can place a moratorium on its nuclear and missile tests if the U.S. suspends the military drills, but the allies rejected the idea.

(3rd LD) N.K. leader briefed on plan for missile strikes near Guam

Yonhap News,

15 August 2017,15.18 NZT

(ATTN: ADDS more details, quotes in paras 15-17)

SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been briefed on the military's plan to fire ballistic missiles near the U.S. territory of Guam, home to key American air and naval bases, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday.

After examining the plan, the North's leader said that he would watch Washington's behavior "a little more," but it will make an "important" decision if the U.S. continues its "extremely dangerous reckless actions" on the divided peninsula, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He made the remark on Monday during his inspection of the Strategic Force command which threatened last week to fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles towards Guam.

The North's unit in charge of missile launches said that the Hwasong-12 missiles will fly over Japan and splash down 30-40 kilometers from the western Pacific island.

"In order to defuse the tension and prevent dangerous military conflict on the Korean Peninsula, it is necessary for the U.S. to make a proper option first and show it through action," Kim said.

The latest remark may indicate that there are no imminent plans to fire off missiles by the repressive regime, but it could make provocations depending on how Seoul and Washington conducts their annual joint military drills slated for late this month.

The warning came after Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in Seoul that military options would come only after sanctions fail.

But the general made it clear that the U.S. is ready to make a "decisive" military response to Pyongyang's possible missile strikes near Guam.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis also warned Monday that the U.S. will go to war with the North if it fires missiles at Guam.

Guam, more than 3,000 kilometers southeast of North Korea, is a base for numerous high-profile U.S. military weapon systems, including strategic bombers, as well as the THAAD missile defense system.

Tensions rose amid a flurry of exchanges of bellicose rhetoric between the North and the U.S. after Pyongyang launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in July. The U.N. Security Council adopted a fresh U.S.-led sanctions resolution on the North in early August.

President Donald Trump said that the North will meet "fire and fury" should it continue to threaten the U.S. He also warned that military solutions are "in place, locked and loaded" for implementation.

There are concerns here that any miscalculation may trigger an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. But key U.S. officials dismissed the possibility of an imminent war with North Korea.

Experts said that tensions are likely to flare up again as South Korea and the U.S. conduct their Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise starting Aug. 21 for about two weeks. North Korea has claimed that the drill is a rehearsal for northern invasion, despite reassurances by Seoul and Washington that it is defensive in nature.

Some analysts interpret the North's latest wait-and-see stance as a signal that the standoff between U.S. and North Korea may enter a new phase in which related parties would explore diplomatic breakthroughs.

"By announcing how the country will move forward, the North has revealed its true intention of dealing with the U.S. in a systemic methodology," said a senior South Korean government official, who asked for anonymity.

Kim Yeon-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Inje University, said Pyongyang is ultimately seeking to bargain with Washington.

"North Korea has maximized the threat level, but it is also asking for an excuse to suspend the threat," said Kim.

Pyongyang said in June that it can place a moratorium on its nuclear and missile tests if the U.S. suspends the military drills, but the allies rejected the idea.

Seoul's defense ministry said Monday that it is not considering scaling down this year's exercises.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

Mainstream media on North Korea

The official word from the Empire

North Korea confirms Guam plans, but waits for US

Radio NZ,

15 August, 2017, 12.41 NZT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received a report on the state's plans to strike the area around Guam, but says he will watch the actions of the United States for a while longer before making a decision.

In a report by North Korea's state news agency, Mr Kim called for the US to show through actions that it wanted to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and prevent a dangerous military clash.

"The United States, which was the first to bring numerous strategic nuclear equipment near us, should first make the right decision and show through actions if they wish to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and prevent a dangerous military clash," Mr Kim was cited as saying in the report by KCNA.

The North's leader said the army should always be fire-ready in case he made a decision for action, the report said

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has warned that if North Korea fires a missile at the United States, the situation could escalate into war.

General Mattis told reporters that the US military would know the trajectory of a missile fired by North Korea within moments and would "take it out" if it looked like it would hit the US Pacific territory.

"The bottom line is, we will defend the country from an attack; for us [US military], that is war."

'Refrain from any further provocative action'

Meanwhile, the European Union's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the EU would intensify its diplomatic efforts with North Korea, the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan.

Ms Mogherini called on North Korea "to refrain from any further provocative action that can only increase regional and global tensions".

US officials and South Korea's president in recent days have played down the risk of an imminent conflict after Washington and Pyongyang exchanged fiery rhetoric last week.

President Donald Trump warned last week the US military was "locked and loaded" if North Korea acted unwisely after threatening to land missiles in the sea near Guam later this month.

General Mattis said that if a North Korean missile were headed toward the waters near Guam, instead of aimed directly at the island, then the president would decide what action to take.

US President Donald TrumpPresident Donald Trump has boasted that the US military was "locked and loaded". Photo: AFP

Concern that North Korea is close to achieving its goal of putting the mainland United States within range of a nuclear weapon has caused tension to spike in recent months.

Tension on the Korean peninsula had eased slightly earlier on Monday as South Korea's president said resolving North Korea's nuclear ambitions must be done peacefully.

World stocks rose along with US Treasury yields and the US dollar as investors regained an appetite for riskier investments amid an easing of tensions.

"There must be no more war on the Korean peninsula. Whatever ups and downs we face, the North Korean nuclear situation must be resolved peacefully," President Moon Jae-in told a meeting with senior aides and advisers.

"I am certain the United States will respond to the current situation calmly and responsibly in a stance that is equal to ours," he said.

General Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday sent a conciliatory message to North Korea in an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, which also appeared aimed at easing China's concerns about US intentions towards its neighbour.

"The US has no interest in regime change or accelerated reunification of Korea. We do not seek an excuse to garrison US troops north of the Demilitarised Zone," the officials said, addressing some of Pyongyang's fears that Washington ultimately intends to replace the reclusive country's leadership.

- Reuters