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posted by janrinok on Friday May 04 2018, @04:38PM   Printer-friendly
from the keeping-an-eye-on-things dept.

US warns China after lasers injure American pilots in Africa

The United States has issued a formal warning to China after personnel at the Asian country's military base in Djibouti used lasers to interfere with U.S. military aircraft, minorly injuring two pilots, according to the Pentagon.

Top Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White told reporters Thursday that the U.S. is confident the Chinese are behind the "very serious incidents," which have increased in the past few weeks.

"There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen. We have formally demarched the Chinese government. And we've requested that that Chinese investigate these incidents," White said during a Pentagon briefing.

The U.S. government, meanwhile, has warned airmen to be cautious when flying in certain areas in Djibouti, in Africa, due to the recent incidents.

Also at CNN.

Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @08:39AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @08:39AM (#676023)

    It's the difference between looking at someone and poking a stick in their eye.

    Eh?, if you think the act of looking is passive then clearly you've never had the pleasure of drinking at some of the more 'salubrious' pubs and bars out there where a mere wrong glance at someone (or their wife/girlfriend/sister) can start a full scale fight (fun times...)

    Got what you meant though..

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @11:56AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @11:56AM (#676040)

    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/salubrious [dictionary.com]
    I don't think it means what you meant, even with single quotes.

    • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Saturday May 05 2018, @12:21PM

      by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 05 2018, @12:21PM (#676049) Journal

      First: You are entirely correct in addition to being helpful and you are entirely in the right.

      Second: Directed to this site's sizeable contingent insistent upon on misusing language and calling it "progress": Shall we now modify "salubrious" to mean any random thing as well?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @05:24PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @05:24PM (#676094)

      No, the use of the word 'salubrious' here to describe a pub/bar where you're likely to have at least one fight a night heralded by the words 'are you looking at my wife|girlfriend|sister?' was perfectly correct.

      I do know what the word means, but in context here it's an obvious example of the deliberate misuse of the word to describe a pub/bar which is the exact opposite of the pleasant/agreeable/high-class one that the use of that word normally conjures up, written sarcasm, if you like.

      Obviously an idiomatic use that didn't cross the pond.