On Thursday, November 27th, which was Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Secretary of Defense Haggis visited the latest aircraft carrier stationed in Latin America, the “USS Gerald R. Ford,” to wish the officers and soldiers a happy Thanksgiving. He also expressed prayers for two National Guard members who were shot in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the Pentagon released a video in which Haggis extended Thanksgiving greetings to everyone on the aircraft carrier through the public broadcast system.
“As the Secretary of Defense, I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. The President of the United States also sends his Thanksgiving wishes to all of you,” he said.
On Wednesday afternoon at 2:15 Eastern Time, in a location just a few blocks from the White House at the corner of 17th and I streets in Washington D.C., two National Guard members were shot at close range, and their condition was critical. The suspect, a national of Afghanistan, has been detained. Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department described the incident as a “targeted ambush.”
Addressing the incident on the USS Ford, Haggis said, “I know you all saw the news yesterday about the two National Guard members being ambushed in Washington D.C. We pray for them, and we hope you will pray for them too.”
“They, like you, remind us of the courage and selflessness of Americans. In their prime, risking their lives for the American people, they engage in many dangerous activities. Whether in our nation’s capital, on patrol, or anywhere else, including combating drug traffickers at sea, you defend the American people, and we thank you,” he said.
“You know, I work at the Pentagon with many equally outstanding senior U.S. officials. All of us are here to serve you. We work hard to make you the most needed, capable, and formidable warriors in our country. Therefore, on this Thanksgiving, I, along with my wife Jennifer (who is also with me and will meet many of you), express our most sincere gratitude to you! We are deeply appreciative and reaffirm our commitment to you and your families,” Haggis added.
About a week ago, the most advanced American aircraft carrier, the USS Ford, arrived in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Navy announced in a statement that the arrival of the USS Ford aircraft carrier and other warships symbolizes a crucial phase in the drug interdiction operation dubbed by the Trump administration as “Operation Southern Spear.”
On November 13th, Haggis officially named this operation “Operation Southern Spear,” emphasizing the increasing importance and persistence of U.S. military activities in the region. Following the USS Ford’s arrival, nearly 12 naval vessels and 12,000 sailors and Marines will participate in U.S. military operations in the area.
The deployment of the USS Ford aircraft carrier provides Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with a new command post and continuous monitoring capabilities. Departing from the Caribbean region, its aircraft can coordinate operations with carrier-based aircraft at the Muniz Air National Guard Base in Puerto Rico and the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base or be refueled from tankers anchored at Guantanamo Bay. Guantanamo Bay has a deep-water port and an 8,000-foot runway for heavy logistics aircraft takeoffs and landings. The combination of these facilities allows the USS Ford carrier strike group to maintain a near-continuous operational tempo without signing new basing agreements, which holds significant political advantages in regions where hosting foreign troops is approached with caution.
Since September, the U.S. military has launched attacks on at least 21 drug boats in the Caribbean and along the Pacific coast of Latin America, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 suspected drug traffickers.