Wrong image at DNC convention shows Russian navy vessels

Democratic officials apologized yesterday for displaying an image of Russian navy vessels during a tribute to American veterans at the Democratic National Convention

On Sept. 6 an image of the Russian warships, many from the Soviet era, were projected on a giant screen at the DNC. The image was shown above 50 veterans as retired Admiral John Nathman honored U.S. veterans' contributions to the U.S. The error was spotted and Navy Times was notified and an apology was requested.

The DNC committee apologized on Wednesday (Sept 12) saying:

:"Due to vendor error, incorrect images appeared briefly on screen behind fifty-one veterans during the convention and the DNCC apologizes for this mistake...This error should not distract from the words of Admiral Nathman and others who spoke to President Obama's strong record on issues that impact those who have served our nation. We're proud of the service and sacrifice of our veterans and military families, and while they were an important and active part our of convention, Mitt Romney failed to even mention them in his speech in Tampa."

The DNC committee could not simply put a period after the apology but had to bring politics into it with a swipe at Mitt Romney.

There was no explanation of the vendor error. Naval experts who reviewed the image claimed that it was actually a composite of Russian ships together with F-5 trainer jets not used by the Russian navy streaking overhead. The experts were also able to identify specific ships including the cruiser Kerch now due to go to the scrap heap. The ships were identified as probably part of the Black Fleet.

There were a number of specific features of the ships that gave away their origin. Eric Wertheim noted several characteristic features associated with the Black Sea Fleet. The Kerch in the foreground had a square radar antenna at the top of the masthead he identified as the MR-700 Poberezovik 3D. Another ship had the MR-310 Angara air detection radar shaped like two bananas.

Another expert A.D. Baker III thought that the photo had been taken at least six years ago at a Navy Day parade near Sevastopol in the Ukraine where both the Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian Navy are based. A former Air Force pilot thought that the planes could be Turkish Stars a demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force. Some veterans were angry that the DNC had not been able to detect the wrong image beforehand. The image can be viewed here. Maybe the vendor was a Republican!

Cardinal Dolan criticizes gay marriage in final prayer at Democratic National Convention

Cardinal Timothy Dolan used the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention to implicitly attack gay marriage even after the Democratic Party has put marriage equality in their platform for the first time.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan prayed at both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention in Tampa. The complete text of his prayer at the close of the Democratic convention can be found here.

The choice of Cardinal Dolan by the Democrats is rather surprising. Cardinal Dolan is known for his conservative values. As a cardinal he is a staunch defender of the pro-life anti-abortion position and holds that the right to life begins at conception. He also defends celibacy for the priesthood and opposition to artificial contraception. He has even come into conflict with the Obama administration on the latter issue. He is also opposed to same sex marriage.

The cardinal was not likely to give a rabble rousing radical speech to get Obama's black and liberal base motivated. Perhaps he should have asked his former friend and mentor Reverend Jeremiah Wright to give the speech!

Cardinal Dolan defended the pro-life position in his prayer:

"Thus do we praise you for the gift of life. Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected."

This is a clear repudiation of abortion of any kind. As if this were not enough he went on to a more general expression of the view that the laws of God no doubt as expressed in official Catholic doctrine should be respected

"Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God. Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community."

This passage seems an implicit criticism of laws that would allow gay marriage but the criticism may be even broader as perhaps by implication criticizing any law promoting artificial contraception.

The cardinal had earlier criticized Obama for his support for same sex marriage saying that Obama's position undermined the "very cornerstone of society". Given that Obama lets Republicans set the Democratic agenda it is not too surprising that he should seek the benediction of a conservative who no doubt belonged at the Republican convention.The Democratic Party did not include video of Dolan’s benediction on their official convention YouTube page.