Air Force B-1 bombers fly over East Siberian Sea in latest US show of force
Three B-1 Lancer bombers flew above the East Siberian Sea near Russia on the eastern edge of U.S. European Command’s territory this week, the military said Friday.
The B-1s, assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, “demonstrated how U.S. strategic bombers are able to support any mission, anywhere around the globe at a moment’s notice,” EUCOM said.
The 14-hour mission on Thursday was a precursor to the 345th’s long-planned deployment to Europe, EUCOM said. After the flight, the aircraft and crew moved to Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, to prepare for the deployment.
During the past two weeks, the Air Force has been flexing its muscles in Europe, where six B-52s have recently flown missions stretching from the Baltic and Black Seas to northern Africa.
While the B-1s were flying toward Russia, Air Force B-52s, F-15s, F-16s and Marine Corps F-35s conducted drills in the North Sea with dozens of other allied aircraft. In all, more than 50 aircraft, including warplanes from Britain and the Netherlands, took part in the one-day Point Blank drill in the North Sea.
The B-1s’ 4,300 nautical-mile journey marked the first time a European Bomber Task Force mission was supported by a U.S. Air Force Reserve B-1 Lancer unit, EUCOM said.
The exercises in Europe, which are aimed at deterring Russian aggression, have prompted complaints from Moscow and led Russia to launch several intercept flights, including some in international airspace.
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/air-force-b-1-bombers-fly-over-east-siberian-sea-in-latest-us-show-of-force-1.644703
US embassy to challenge Germany over attempts to tax American troops
STUTTGART, Germany — Germany is violating an international treaty when it asks U.S. military personnel to pay taxes in the country, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin said as it jumped into a long-running fiscal dispute that has affected hundreds of U.S. troops and civilians.
The U.S. Embassy and military commands “are aware of this long-standing issue and working closely in concert to address what we believe to be a misinterpretation of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement,” embassy spokesman Joseph Giordono-Scholz said in a statement this week.
“The Department of Defense and Department of State are engaged to try and reach a resolution,” Giordono-Scholz said, giving the first indication that the issue is being tackled at a higher level than military commands in Germany, which have been unable to resolve it after years of trying.
State and Defense Department lawyers are hashing out the details of a plan that will be turned over to the embassy for action in the weeks ahead, a State Department official told Stars and Stripes this week.
The involvement of senior U.S. officials comes after Stars and Stripes earlier this year spotlighted how Germany has threatened to impose hefty tax penalties — some in six figures — on troops and civilians who it says have special ties to the country. It’s aimed at getting the German federal government to issue guidance that would stop regional tax offices from levying taxes on Americans living in the country with SOFA protections, military officials have said.
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/us-embassy-to-challenge-germany-over-attempts-to-tax-american-troops-1.644667
Sheriff: Venice men accused of having child sex abuse files
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested five people Thursday after they followed up a tip about child sexual abuse files.
According to the Sheriff's Office, detectives executed a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of Holly Road in Venice after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that files of child sexual abuse, also known as child pornography, were uploaded to the internet from the address.
Cellphones belonging to two men at the home, Stephen M. Manders, 24, of Venice and Michael J. Smith, 39, of Venice were found to have images and videos of child sexual abuse.
Manders was arrested and charged with 200 felony counts of possession of child pornography and drug charges. He remains in custody on $203,000 bail. Smith was arrested and charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography and other charges. He remains in custody on $30,000 bail.
Drugs and weapons were also found at the home and three other people inside were arrested.
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/crime/2020/09/11/sarasota-county-sheriff-venice-men-accused-having-child-sex-abuse-files/3468578001/
Crime Stoppers searching for registered sex offender
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Crime Stoppers is asking for the public's help in the search for a convicted sex offender who is accused of violating his parole.
The organization is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest of William Smith. He is wanted by the state department of Corrections and Community Supervision for violating his parole on a sentence for first degree attempted rape.
Smith, a registered level three sex offender, should be considered dangerous, according to Crime Stoppers. Anybody with information is asked to call (716) 867-6161 or use the free Crime Stoppers mobile app "Buffalo Tips."
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime/crime-stoppers-searching-for-convicted-sex-offender/71-9bbfb3c8-e61e-4897-899b-26d7b349d951