Navy

(Newser) - When Capt. John McCain turned down a chance to be admiral in 1981, deciding to run for Congress instead, he’d spent four years as the Navy’s Senate liaison, developing an appetite for what one observer called “the glamor of … political combat.” The New York Times profiles a key phase of the Republican nominee-in-waiting’s seduction by "the celebrity of power." More »

(Newser) - John McCain will give the media a glimpse of his medical records tomorrow, but restrictions will be tight, the Los Angeles Times reports. The campaign will allow a small group of reporters to review 400 pages of documents in 3 hours. They can take notes but can't remove the files or make photocopies. The 71-year-old senator had melanoma surgery in 2000 but says he's now in excellent health. More »

(Newser) - A US Navy drug-patrol plane violated Venuzuelan airspace Saturday night, exacerbating  the  already-tense relationship between the two nations. The S-3 Viking, used to spot and attack drug-running ships, flew over the line near the island of Curacao, reports CNN. The pilot realized he made a navigational error, contacted a Venezuela tower to acknowledge that, and returned to international air space—but the Venezuelans are furious and insist the fly-over was intentional. More »

(Newser) - Spain filed evidence today in support of its claim it is the rightful owner of a shipwreck loaded with $500 million in treasure discovered and looted by a US exploration firm, the AP reports. The Spanish government identifies the wreck, whose identity has been disputed over the past year, as the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, sunk by a British warship in 1804. More »

(Newser) - Prince William will soon be chasing cocaine smugglers in the Caribbean while he serves a temporary stint with the Royal Navy, the Daily Mirror reports. Military brass say Britain's possible future king needs experience as an officer with all the services, though officials ruled out sending him to Iraq or Afghanistan because he'd be too much of a target. More »

(Newser) - President Bush today expressed “heartfelt sympathy” to the victims of the Myanmar cyclone and called on the ruling junta to allow the US to offer more help, the Voice of America reports. The government has accepted $250,000 of US aid but balked at letting US Navy rescue teams assist in finding the 41,000 people who remain missing. More »

(Newser) - The southern Chilean town of Chaiten has been totally evacuated after a volcano, active since Friday, belched molten lava and ash more than 12 miles high, the AP reports. Around 4,000 people have already left the area since the volcano—believed dormant for thousands of years—began acting up, and navy ships evacuated any that remained today. More »

(Newser) - The US is preparing for a potential military action against Iran, the nation’s top military official said today. Such an attack would be “extremely stressing” on the military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, but it is on the table if a diplomatic solution can’t stop Iran’s alleged hunt for nuclear weapons and involvement in Iraq, the Washington Post reports. More »

(Newser) - A Navy officer accused of lying to investigators has been reprimanded and will take early retirement, the Navy Times reports. Rear Admiral John "Boomer" Stufflebeem was found to have made false statements about what was termed an "inappropriate relationship" while he was a military aide to former President Bush 18 years ago. The nature of the relationship was not disclosed. More »

(Newser) - Dozens of US sailors and Eastern European women have been arrested for their part in a purported mass-marriage fraud ring, CNN reports. Sailors allegedly tied the knot with women they barely kne