USA news on Youtube Feb 16 2019

 Golfing legends and popular pairing Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington are red-hot favourites to become the new Ryder Cup captains for Team Europe for the 2020 and 2022 Ryder Cup tournaments against the USA

 Reports from the Daily Mail suggest that consideration is being given to both candidates and that they could be confirmed in a joint announcement in the new year

 The dynamic pair will be playing alongside outgoing victorious Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn in the Sky Sports British Masters at Walton Heath on Thursday, and Bjorn has given his blessing to both men to eventually captain team Europe

 The 47-year-old Dane selected both Westwood and Harrington as his vice-captains in this year's Ryder Cup in Paris, of which Europe emerged victorious for the fourth time in five tournaments against the USA

 Bjorn is one of five people charged with making the decision on the next European captain, and he has given his public backing for an unprecedented double announcement of Harrington and Westwood in the new year

 "When you think that Padraig is a three-time major champion and all that Lee has done in the Ryder Cup, I think we can all agree they should both do the job at some time," explained the Dane

 Partnering Bjorn in choosing his successor are Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley and a yet unnamed representative of the players' committee

 "What's important is they both want to do the job. I can see why a double appointment would work if that was considered the best way to proceed," explained Bjorn

 Lee Westwood publicly ruled himself out of the running for the role of captain at the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits only a few days ago, having previously expressed an interest in the job

The 45-year-old Brit has described Harrington as the 'better candidate' to lead the team in Wisconsin, USA

 It is now understood that Westwood would prefer to wait until Rome 2022 to take up any leadership opportunities that may lay in wait

This has left the door wide open for 47-year-old Irishman Harrington to take the reigns in two year's time

 However, there are still a few reasons why a double announcement might not be the best way forward

Paul McGinley will no longer be part of the selection committee after the 2020 Ryder Cup, his position being filled by the captain of the 2020 team, and also the identity of the players representative could change

 McGinley being replaced by Harrington, should he be declared the 2020 coach wouldn't change the decision process around Westwood's potential captaincy in 2022, however, and given Westwood's distinction and achievements in the tournament in the past, it is hard to see anyone opposing the popular Nottinghamshire-born player's captaincy

 Harrington's inauguration into the Ryder Cup captaincy should happen in January or February of 2019 but Bjorn insists there is no need to rush to announce the new captain of the team, so shortly after winning the tournament in Paris

 "As much as when we lose, we try and calm ourselves down, I think we also need to calm ourselves down when we win," Bjorn said

 "We've got to let these 12 players enjoy this Ryder Cup and what was 2018 in Paris before we start looking forward to Whistling Straits

"

For more infomation >> Europe so certain on next two Ryder Cup captains they could be announced together [Mail] - Duration: 3:13.

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Amphibious assault craft take beach in US Thai war Cobra Gold drills Daily Mail Online - Duration: 5:46.

Amphibious assault craft take beach in US Thai war Cobra Gold drills Daily Mail Online

With weapons drawn, camouflaged troops leaped out of amphibious assault craft while explosions sounded and parachutists glided in from above as the annual Cobra Gold war games took over a placid Thai beach Saturday.

Now in its 38th year, Cobra Gold is one of the largest military exercises in Asia, bringing thousands of forces from the United States, Thailand and seven other countries come together for 11 days of training on Thai shores. 

This years drill includes some 2,000 US Marines, 1,000 US soldiers and hundreds from the countrys Navy and Air Force.

On Saturday, American, Thai and South Korean forces descended on Namsai beach in Chonburi province in a joint drill intended to simulate securing the territory.

Now in its 38th year, Cobra Gold is one of the largest military exercises in Asia, bringing thousands of forces from the United States, Thailand and other countries together for 11 days of training

U.S. soldiers take part in the Amphibious Assault Demonstration during the Cobra Gold multilateral military exercise on Hat Yao Beach

Captain Melvin Spiese told AFP the goal was to bring power from ship to shore and be ready for any kind of future crisis we might need to respond to with our Thai counterparts.

Helicopters buzzed overhead and fighter jets roared across the skies.

Cobra Gold exercises span air, land and sea and feature a jungle survivalist session where participants take turns drinking blood from a severed cobra and snack on insects and scorpions.

Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia also took part in the war games.

US soldiers land with an amphibious assault vehicle and secure the beach head on Hat Yao beach in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand, Saturday

The exercises feature a jungle survivalist session where participants take turns drinking cobra blood and snacking on insects and scorpions

A US Marine holds a tarantula during jungle survival training with Thai soldiers

A Thai soldier handles snakes while US Marines observe during jungle survival training

At the opening ceremony to the exercises in the northern Thai province of Phitsanulok on Tuesday, Peter Haymond, acting head of the US diplomatic mission in Thailand, said that the aim of the exercise, first held in 1982, is to strengthen cooperation and interoperability.

The ceremony was attended by Thai Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri and the commander of the US Army First Corps, Lt. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, representing the US Indo Pacific Command.

We have witnessed that this Thai American initiative has become a significant milestone of military collaboration that has expanded to the regional level, a statement issued by the exercise quoted Pornpipat as saying.

Thai soldiers parachute down during the ongoing Cobra Gold U.S. Thai joint military exercise on Hat Yao beach in Chonburi province, eastern Thailand, Saturday

Marines rest after amphibious assault training at a military base in Chonburi province, Thailand

Marines in action during amphibious assault training on Saturday

A 2014 army coup in Thailand tested ties with Washington and the kingdom tilted towards China with high profile arms buys.

But US military sales continued and the two countries have upped their engagement under President Trump, who has stepped back on human rights issues and invited junta chief Prayut Chan O Cha to the White House.

Prayut, who led the 2014 coup, is standing for prime minister in elections set for March 24.

A ball of fire from explosives rises during the ongoing Cobra Gold U.S. Thai joint military exercise on Hat Yao beach

Marines haul landing craft up the beach after an amphibious landing in Chonburi

Marines occupy the beach in amphibious assault vehicles during a landing in Chonburi

Those arent soldiers. Theyre Marines. Theres a ...

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