France Opens Navy Base

A French navy base near Abu Dhabi,the capital of the United Arab Emirates,has been opened by the President of France,Nicolas Sarkozy.The base will allow the French navy to project power in the Persian Gulf,protecting the oil and liquified natural gas shipments that transit the Gulf,as well as in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,where Somali pirates have beeen attacking merchant vessels.It is France's first military installation outside of Africa,and the first new foreign base since the 1960s.
Preseident Sarkozy is a close friend of U.S. President Barack Obama,and has reintegrated the French military into the NATO alliance.The French and U.S. navies are involved in a number of personnel exchanges,especially in the naval aviation field.The two navies participate in extensive joint training and operations.

Essex Withdraws

The USS Essex(LHD 2) and her task force of three ships have withdrawn from the coast of Myanmar.After 15 attempts to convince the Myanmar leaders to allow aid to the cyclone-ravaged land,Admiral Timothy J. Keating,Commander,U.S. Pacific Command,said he was saddened and frustrated by the leaders' unrelenting position.Keating had personally flown to the capital,Rangoon,and offered to permit Myanmar personnel aboard Navy ships and aircraft.British and French warships were also turned away.The Navy remains willing to assist,Admiral Keating said.