Why Diego Garcia Is America's Most Controversial Military Base

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The island of Diego Garcia grants the United States Military an excellent location for a military base but it is not without controversy. Learn about the history of this extremely isolated island and what it is being used for today.
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Animations courtesy of Vincent de Langen

[@weldin]

My 8th grade math teacher was stationed here when he was in the navy. He talked about it all the time. It’s weird how much this island pops up in my life.

[@dudecontroversial8114]

Cinestar Productions okay then.

[@dudecontroversial8114]

Don’t ask

[@ZBlue0]

It's your destiny to go there sometime

[@Dim.g0v]

Did he ever speak about the people fighting for their homeland?

[@sohaibkazi5909]

Then you visit at least chagos archepalago

[@cmdr1911]

I would say guantanamo bay is the most controversial military base. This is really interesting though.

[@raphaeldean5801]

Idk, I mean, Cuba is much less sympathetic, so much less of the global community would be keen to fight the US for their benefit. What happens at Guantanamo is certainly controversial as well, though. I think they are certainly the two most controversial.

[@ZontarDow]

Guantanamo Bay is controversial because of what has happened there in the past 20 years Diego Garcia is controversial because it exists

[@cmdr1911]

@@ZontarDow last 20? The base has been in US control durring the Spanish American War. Then during the Cold War Cuba was aligned against the US, now it is used as a blacksite, the Cuba has demanded the land back. It has a long and contested history.

[@ZontarDow]

@@cmdr1911 It's the actions which have happened on the base over the past 20 years which have made it controversial.

[@markos9531]

@@ZontarDow At least in the eyes of the Cuban govt, it's been controversial since 1959 as Cuba has continually demanded it be returned.

[@gbjr727]

Not only emergency landing for aircraft, but also the NASA Space shuttle. I was stationed there back in 96-97. NASA came out to train us in case they ever needed to use the airstrip. Although isolated, I loved it there.

[@Jahmercy21]

How did it feel to be illegally occupying that island like the russians are occupying the donbass???

[@StatmanRN]

"I am Diego Garcia. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

[@simon77047]

John Pinette

[@AmericanIdiot7659]

Haven't seen a reference like this in a looong time.

[@benn454]

Stop saying that!

[@CitySlicker34]

*Okinawa has left the chat*

[@Cpt_Boony_Hat]

Hehe

[@pinakinkale]

Air Force profile picture gang

[@Cpt_Boony_Hat]

@@pinakinkale Nope Navy squadron. But your comment was funny

[@Matter655]

@@Cpt_Boony_Hat that's not his comment

[@Cpt_Boony_Hat]

@@Matter655 he said Air Force picture gang. My profile picture is a Navy squadron not Air Force

[@flashstar1234]

How to legally get to Diego Garcia: Fly so many times over the Indian Ocean that by incredible odds, you have an emergency landing where you have to land at Diego Garcia.

[@tuckersmoak6632]

or join the US Navy or become a civilian federal employee for navy bases.

[@a_human8489]

Or just sabotage the plane to force an emergency landing

[@warbirdgaming8091]

@@a_human8489 FBI wants to know your location

[@navdasone4710]

Ship leaving Mauritius,for the Chagos Archipelago ,including Diego Garcia soon. Please notify Mauritius if you wish to secure a place on ship.

[@KozzieJ]

Sounds like a decent job. Why would I want to work

[@gavinstuart6704]

i was there last year with the royal navy as one our stops, truly amazing. wildlife, beaches with no tourists, very peaceful there and chilled out

[@12Agonzo]

Spent two years on the island in the late 70's. Loved the place.

[@TomDeann1995]

Me to built the pipe line to fuel storage.See Bees

[@cartwright8920]

What's it like?

[@NoKOzKamui]

UN: Hey! You have to leave! US and UK: Why don't you make us. UN: Alright, we'll vote you out. US and UK: Oh that's nice, who's going to enforce it? The Police? We are the Police.

[@DoctorDeath147]

UK: What are you gonna do about it? Phone the polis? Mate, we are the polis.

[@thesaltycabbage]

US and UK: Vito

[@kjj26k]

US and UK: "HA, democracy has No power here!"

[@petert1692]

The MetaGamer It doesn’t exist in both places anyway.

[@Callsign_Prophet]

@@petert1692 Ah I found a trendy US/UK hater that gets offended by jokes

[@MrBossEpic]

Indian Ocean: 62% of world's oil America: Allow me to introduce myself

[@MrSafa61]

Lol you are funny. Dog bites because dog is angry. Dog must be castrated and told to not sit on the couch is what you mean.

[@leexingha]

@@willoughby1888 "China, Russia, India, you name them ,they wouldn't just dismiss oil out there for sale. The next guy would grab it up for sure. It's not like the US steals oil either." - are you serious?

[@mobiyan10]

@@willoughby1888 you sound either brainwashed or braindead probably a unhealthy dosage of the two my man really out here glorifying and justifying imperialism

[@cancelanime1507]

Willoughby 1888 Hey someone has common sense in the comments for once! That’s new!

[@cancelanime1507]

Xing Ha Lee But he has a point! No country would dismiss oil out there for sale! He is also right that the US hasn’t actually stolen any oil! These oil/us jokes are getting SO OLD and they have never been funny in the first place!

[@luvslogistics1725]

I been. Fascinating lagoon, bright water from pink sparkling sand near shore and huge fish further out (there’s no fishing fleets) so it’s pristine. The coconut crabs are huge. Lots of cool things in a spot so tiny, in some places the road has a narrow strip of sandy beach on each side and a wave can wash over from one side to the next.

[@JosephGelis]

Spent a 3-day USN port-o-call there in the late 80s. Got my Shellback on the way down and certainly enjoyed my stay on this beautiful atoll. I have been to many beaches around the world, but Diego Garcia has the clearest and most pristine water of them all. I guess being so dang far from any other civilization makes a difference.

[@osamabinladen824]

Can I go there as an outsider?

[@bobdob6612]

@@osamabinladen824 lol

[@bobdob6612]

Knew an old hard hat diver from the navy, her was in early 70's maybe late 60's viet nam era. He's got a Zippo he picked up in diego garcia around the 70's and still uses it to this day.

[@rogergraham5092]

Amazingly enough if you would have gone to the ocean side beaches you would find garbage from fishing boats, medical waste, plastic milk jugs, etc. We had weekly beach cleanups while I was on DG for a year. The lagoon is beautiful and so is the ocean but you do not want to become part of the food chain on the ocean side. The island harbors an immense fish population including sharks which you can observe feeding each evening from Cannon Point and other locations.

[@todo9633]

Another reason is the lack of civilians mucking around. Some of the cleanest shorelines are the ones next to military bases and nuclear power plants, because kids can't get into the shoals and ruin the ecology and there's no garbage being left on the beaches.

[@kotnkandy]

“Diego garcia” is the most stereotypical ex boyfriend name

[@cancelanime1507]

Lol

[@nobleactual7616]

@@cancelanime1507 because it sounds hispanic?

[@davisoares7174]

@@nobleactual7616 I mean... it is spanish

[@hala4725]

Trump wouldnt be happy if he heard what you said

[@jayyi5064]

Luke blackmouth?

[@iLupi]

Can we really call it the most controversial though? I feel like that statement could be said about a lot of US military bases overseas.

[@wafflesaurus_supreme]

Guantanamo, Okinawa, pretty much any of the bases in Iraq... The clickbait is real.

[@evilotto9200]

What if the US military gassed everyone's pet doggo or paid the lease with discounted submarine launched nuclear missiles?

[@knockeledup]

Most US military bases don’t have to kick locals out.

[@imjashingyou3461]

@@knockeledup us didnt do that though. The british did.

[@cancelanime1507]

Evil Otto Stfu

[@jacquesbeatty9755]

I lived on Diego for 4 years ('07-'1)1. There is a commercial airline which transports people from the island but it's only quarterly and it's called the "Contract Flight" which is provided by Philippine Airlines (PAL). This flight is primarily for the Filipino workers who are either leaving or returning from their 90 day vacations taken every 2 years. US contractors are allowed to take the PAL flight for free and can choose to either disembark in Paya Lebar Singapore, or continue on to Manila, Philippines. The natives are escorted back to the island during certain times of the year to visit the land and the grave sites of loved ones. It's really conflicting having worked there and seen the natives returning. Prior to the UN vote, Britain tried to offer the natives any or all of the remaining islands of the archipelago EXCEPT "Diego Garcia", the one with infrastructure. Another interesting thing about the island is how it survived the tsunami despite being only 5-10tf above sea-level at its highest point. This place also boast some of the best deep ocean fishing in the world (I've been told) and the trips are provided by the MWR, which was very good on the island. I could go on for a while, lol but I'going to close here...

[@MichaelFloodSr]

I was stationed there twice for the Navy Broadcasting Service. The first time we had only open air huts and JP5 can outhouses. During the space shuttle program it was an emergency landing site during launch.

[@musling4307]

Why did you reupload this? CIA at the door?

[@FloridaMan69.]

because I disliked the last one and he got upset

[@t_cheating8239]

At*

[@runguardian6868]

He uploaded the same video on 2 channels

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

@videos_with_ads_get_disliked What a sad life you must lead. Your channel just screams 14 year old edginess.

[@tkoll01]

He needs to do a bricklaying tutorial for the first 30s so the gov doesn't notice, HAI has been flying under the radar ever since :D

[@Fightre_Flighte]

"3 nautical mile radius" >Proceeds to show a 30+ nautical mile radius...

[@heraclitus6100]

Hell of a lot more than that!

[@Fightre_Flighte]

@@heraclitus6100 Honestly I was initially thinking 300+, but I was lazy and didn't want to figure out scaling for half an hour, so I took the easy way: a fine understatement.

[@Lyle-xc9pg]

More like 300

[@Fightre_Flighte]

@@Lyle-xc9pg Glad to see you read the rest of the comments in this thread.

[@brownstonecustomcabinetry5309]

It was correct. That was 3 US aircraft carrier miles. They are slightly larger(x100) than English miles.

[@skyhawk_4526]

My two favorite deployments were at what many would call the two most controversial US military bases: Guantanamo Bay and Diego Garcia. Having said that, I was in GTMO in the mid-90s, prior to the War on Terror as part of JTF-160 during the mass Cuban migrations. The infamous "Camp X-Ray" existed when I was there, but it was for the high-threat Cubans (confirmed murderers, rapists, etc.) in our custody. The vast majority of would-be Cuban migrants lived in other camps on the base that were more like refugee camps than prisons. The ones detained at Camp X-Ray were slated to be "repatriated" back to Cuba because of the severity of their crimes. While I was there, we processed about 20,000 migrants and the vast majority were allowed to immigrate to the US. I got to know quite a few of them, and they used to invite us into the camps off-duty and cook traditional Cuban meals for us. They were by-and-large very nice people. I was at Diego Garcia in 2002 as part of the War on Terror. We launched many of the heaving bombing missions in Afghanistan from DG. I was there as Security Forces and we nicknamed the deployment, "Gilligan's Island with Guns." Even though it was the height of the US War on Terror, we were literally in the middle of the Indian Ocean and the biggest threat we faced were the sting rays lurking in the sand in the lagoon. They were both actually very enjoyable deployments. In both places, the weather, beaches, scenery and swimming were absolutely amazing. I miss those days. I did learn about the displaced native population when I was at Diego Garcia, and I do understand and empathize with their anger at the British for removing them from their home island.

[@kazardomain]

and they claimed MH370 was held hostage there.

[@dorijane008]

Thank you for understanding the anger of my people 😢

[@aliciakrull5671]

Thank you for the information

[@lbbotpn5429]

You might want to check the definition of 'indigenous. People brought to work plantations in Diego Garcia are not indigenous to Diego Garcia.

[@MarqFJA87]

I believe he was talking about their descendants that had been born on the islands one generation after another.

[@lbbotpn5429]

@@MarqFJA87 By definition, the descendants are not indigenous either. I am a white-as-marshmallow-fluff American - my family has been here for at least four generations. Do you think I could claim to be part of the 'indigenous American population'?

[@rageraptor7127]

It’s a broad term, but since they had enough time to develop a culture and were technically the ones that colonized it. Not the French who actually never did settle it just sorta took the economic output and left. They could be classified as indigenous. The people were also removed as British held citizens which is illegal in most global democratic governments. I would say even if they weren’t classified as indigenous they could still pose that claim.

[@MarqFJA87]

@@lbbotpn5429 You completely glossed over the part that the island had no previous human inhabitants, unlike the Americas. That said, your example is part of the reason why "Native American" as a term for the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas/North America/USA is controversial for being technically inaccurate in its application.

[@senoJSR]

@@lbbotpn5429 ...yes, actually, you could. Europeans were in North America before the native American Indians by thousands of years. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9110838/Stone-age-Europeans-were-the-first-to-set-foot-on-North-America.html

[@thepug991]

The UN is like the hall monitor. Can’t do anything to stop bad stuff other than saying “stop that”

[@User31129]

They're like the Chief Justice in an impeachment trial

[@Cpt_Boony_Hat]

No the Chief Justice actually does something. If nothing else he can probably have someone held in contempt

[@PoweredByLS2]

UN mandates don't really apply to the 5 members of the security council (or Israel either apparently). Only to other countries....

[@generalkenobi5173]

@@PoweredByLS2 let me guess the countries so number 1 the u.s number 2 the u.k number 3 the french nimber 4 china and number 5 germany or russia. Have i got them all?

[@PoweredByLS2]

@@generalkenobi5173 Hello there! 😁 Indeed, all those countries you mentioned except Germany are the permanent security council members. Israel might as well be a member cause it can get away with anything.....

[@Jameski07]

been there, done that. interesting island with some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises ever.

[@jasonramos5634]

Did a year there in the late 90's. Good fishing, great sunsets and beaches.

[@christopheremerick]

I’ve been to this island a few times. It is absolutely beautiful. Wish they’d open it up for Space A. I’d totally go!

[@dewe6037]

my father was station here during the first gulf war, he was a airplane mechanic. so glad to learn more about the island and his past

[@warren5037]

Sorry to ask this question. How would your father react if he knew about its history or he knew about it, how did he react to it?

[@dewe6037]

@@warren5037 well i cant say for sure how he feels because we have not talked about it much. but he didnt know this stuff while he was there and for the most part he dosnt care all that much

[@warren5037]

@@dewe6037 I see. I guess he was just a simple soldier just following orders, not knowing what happened before. Thank you for replying though, even though your comment was 10 months ago 😊

[@SkullKing11841]

You know a lot of those 800 military bases are just a small groups of soldiers guarding an embassy or facility. There not all like the ones in Germany for example.

[@kyledavis4202]

How many groups of foreign soldiers do we have stationed on duty here in the US though? I’ll wait

[@thatsmadcrazy8953]

@@kyledavis4202 Britain, Germany, Singapore and more which you can find yourself Thanks for waiting

[@kyledavis4202]

Zxzi Hmmm, I’ve lived all over the US and have been to 40 of the 50 states, and I’ve never seen foreign troop in uniform on American soil. Never. Certainly not the way I see US troops in Japan, Germany, etc

[@thatsmadcrazy8953]

@@kyledavis4202 look harder then

[@tristan2203]

@@kyledavis4202 The most powerful nation in the world doesn't need foreign soldiers in it's country, but they do go there to train with American soldiers

[@briana.1878]

Beautiful beaches, awesome fishing. The old plantation was interesting to explore.

[@bonusround5490]

is there a malaysian airline parked anywhere there? i’ve heard a few times there maybe one there somewhere .

[@utkarshverma9045]

🤣🤣🤣 MH370 😂😂😂

[@albesunim5603]

I was a Seabee. NMCB 62. We were the second battalion on Diego. At the time 1972-73 it had the clearest water I have ever seen. Spent a year in the blue water navy before the bees.

[@outrageousastronaut537]

Hoorah I’m currently serving in NMCB133

[@mrkuechler]

Was there with NMCB 62 in 82, last battalion before all work was handed over to the civilian contractors.

[@ericwiedemann1070]

I spent a year on this island when i was in the navy. It was kind of like Gillian island.

[@MrAWD-ox3gk]

Did you see MH 370??? 🤐🤐🤐

[@jerrystephenson1172]

WOW!! was Mary Anne & Ginger there...hahahah

[@briana.1878]

1982-83...Ginger and Mary Ann were definitely not there!😄

[@SuperSaltydog77]

I also spent so time there while with the navy in 76. Yep, like gilligans island.

[@gerardweis43]

@@SuperSaltydog77 Stationed there also in1976 out at the airfield.

[@ahughan]

I was stationed there in 86/87 and it was amazing. A great year

[@bradbeam7254]

Spent a little time there and loved it.

[@gerardweis43]

Stationed on Diego Garcia while in the Navy back in 1977 for 1 entire year.Worked out at the primitive POL and airfield.Had P3 Orions flying out of there at the time.Air Force would fly C141s out on Wednesdays and Saturdays for supplies.Had a C5 with a U2 fly in together.Could not get near that U2.British and French planes would make occasional visits and one occasion a KC135 with someone with very high ranking aboard.Rumors that there was something secret on one off the three tiny islands at the entrance.Were not allowed to go out there.Nights we went to the enlisted club and drank 10 cent Olympia beer.Get shit faced for $1.No women on the island didn't make it fun though.Wish I could go back there now.

[@John-os6ti]

1980 the airstrip was being extended for b 52s

[@RDBean]

B52s could take off at nite in 73, just sying. I remember the quansit hut barracks, dirt floor E club, no women. Still was and it paced to be able to control IO. Why marxists want USA out. Has nothing to do with human rights

[@RDBean]

Where did 3k come from? Less than 100! Its a small island

[@liamtahaney713]

Great video and channel. I find the use of stock images distracting though. It's sometimes hard to tell if a place is the place you're talking about or just a stock video. Thank you for the video

[@bclee__]

Thank you for bringing this up!

[@hala4725]

Yeah sure would be cool to get 10mins 28 sec of stock images of an american base

[@williamjamesrapp7356]

I served 1 year there with the USMCSFC, I was on the base recreation council committee and the Ships Store committee

[@jonross8925]

I was in the US Navy and station there around 2001-2003. love it there, especially the coconut crabs :)

[@petemccormick1450]

Wow I didn’t see any of that, just P3 Orion’s there, beautiful water great fishing and coconut crabs 🦀 everywhere.

[@LAH92]

Diego Garcia what a place! I want to go back😍😍

[@WhatTheFuckIsAHandle]

Was a beautiful place and an easy day

[@anthonycoleman7786]

There 92-93

[@ralphbuschman3364]

I agree was there with MCB 4 , back in 70's. We were still building out runway to allow for C5 and other heavy haul planes. We were told it was a communication station. I don't think anyone really believed the communication station story. I rem🎉the fishing as being incredible. We used to take the landing boats out of harbor on Sundays to go for bigger fish.

[@LAH92]

@ralphbuschman3364 flipping heck! You would have been there when it was getting built up then!! I went there and somebody in like 50 years got attacked by a shark. Beautiful place without a doubt ☀️☀️

[@ralphbuschman8141]

Yes we were still building out all of everything except for flush toilets. Most of us bought a set of fish gear and ate what we could catch not dining hall food. Often was a shark or tuna over 5 foot long. Would love to see " finished product ".

[@maverick6010]

I’ve worked there for a couple months, it’s pretty chill there. It’s a little paradise.

[@phila3884]

I spent 2 weeks there about 12 years ago. You are always aware of how remote you are. Some parts of the island are really idyllic, like those "Beaches of the World" wall calendars.

[@chrisdains8499]

Spent two tours of 9 months each there in the late '70's .. "The Rock". Beautiful place right near the equator - awesome weather all the time ... like nowhere else in the world

[@TomDeann1995]

Me 2,seabees

[@fjb4932]

CBMU-302 Diego Det '78 CAN DO

[@yourmum2560]

The UN trying to tell the British and Americans what to do is like me fighting Tyson fury, I can try it. Dont suppose I'll get very far

[@KaLuno21]

Worked with a Mauritian chef who worked on the island as a civilian contractor. He told me about it and was surprised they showed it in one of the Transformer movies considering its history

[@Albe3331]

I was stationed on Diego Garcia in 72-73 while assigned to NMCB62.

[@ma_junia]

8:20 The U.S./UK: “The United Nations? The _United Nations_ ? I *AM* THE UNITED NATIONS”

[@georgesamuelson4003]

5:33 that's Prague airport!!!! I've been there

[@retirednavy8720]

Spent a year on that island working Harbor Ops. It was a long year. Fishing was good but I was happy to get off it.

[@Madmax-zc2gk]

Been to Diego many, many times... was flying missions outta there 2 months after 9-11... very humid out there, but awesome place to get a tan and snorkel...

[@MS-jv4fn]

It's so weird that I've been looking at this atoll today on google maps (because of playing EU4). And now there is a video about it.

[@fjb4932]

Maarten Scholten No. They are NOT ! Tracking you ...

[@silverjohn6037]

For the most part a fairly balanced documentary. Some of the stock footage you're using though is inaccurate and, in one case, appears to have been deliberately chosen to be misleading about the circumstances you're trying to report. This could hurt your credibility if you're trying to advocate for the islanders. At 5:12 you're using a Canadian ship (the Maple Leaf flag at the stern being a dead giveaway) instead of an American one. At 6:05, where you're illustrating the 3 nautical mile exclusion zone but using an animation that appears to be several hundred miles across as if the Americans were trying to claim a quarter of the Indian Ocean. These can be put down to limited time and resources but, at 7:16, you showed stock footage of a violent protest with burning trucks and helmeted protesters throwing rocks and debris. As you didn't mention a protest of any kind in the text, let a alone a violent one of this scale, using this footage creates a provocative image. Remember, credibility is everything in legitimate documentary work. You don't have to be utterly unbiased and can certainly advocate to address social injustices but you have to do it with the facts and not propaganda.

[@DuragAllDay]

@EK89 k

[@DuragAllDay]

Point number one is wholly irrelevant.

[@hrdknox55]

Silver John And why might you think that is? Any ideas or suggestions! Huh

[@leiryehl7502]

ok boomer

[@amiablekangaroo9934]

Yeah. I'm Chagossian and I agree. But the facts still stand. It's proven fact that we were illegally deported, our houses were illegally destroyed and our pets were illegally gassed.

[@mikegonzalez8398]

It's super beautiful and if I could go back I would. Besides the terrible heat and humidity, it's like a vacation world. I've spent 3 months on the island and I wish I had appreciated it more. 11/10 would recommend.

[@pimpslapahoe]

What time of year did you go bro?

[@mikegonzalez8398]

@@pimpslapahoe can’t remember but i’ve been there 3 times I think. We had a long repair period out there.

[@ginacantabene8629]

Great scuba diving off Diego Garcia. Worked there briefly as a civilian contractor.

[@scottdavidson526]

I was there in the late '80's as a serviceman in the U.S. Navy. It was known then as the Footprint of Freedom.

[@Martell364]

Leave it to Americans to think their country is the only one in the world where there's freedom...

[@remembertotakeshowerspleas355]

@@Martell364 When did anyone say that?

[@yapyapthedestroyer8379]

@@Martell364 we dont need licences for memes so...

[@liuhc]

0:22 I don't think it is possible that there is a us military base in Hainan, mainland China.

[@liang2492]

you have a small brain, its offshore

[@liuhc]

@@liang2492 I am not sure which one is smaller, your brain or your eyes. Its clearly right on Hainan Island.

[@kukuri007]

He means Hainan is an island.

[@liuhc]

@@kukuri007 Nevertheless, Hainan is still a part of mainland China, even though it is also an island.

[@kukuri007]

I know it belongs to mainland China. I thought you didn’t understand what he meant. All’s good.

[@wes326]

Been there four times. Good ocean fishing and good sailing inside the lagoon.

[@chardtomp]

I spent a few days there when I was in the navy back in 1987. Interesting place.

[@chardtomp]

@Growler Thunder I didn't see any.

[@ThomasStephenForster]

2:50 is actually the coast of California below Monterey.

[@waynesimpson4081]

As the harbor and bridge is Port of Los Angeles, and the Stealth bomber @ Edwards AFB.

[@etbuch4873]

Nah. Diego Garcia is right in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Go check with the Google Map. Then or simultaneously, go watch this video:　Stealing a Nation - How the UK/US Stole the Diego Garcia Island (a Documentary by John Pilger, an Australian journalist, 2004), kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpuxl4uBa7ajp7s

[@goob_1191]

Notice how all the countries that get help from the base and are close to it voted to keep it

[@ihsanbajwa3974]

very nice...helpful

[@ec1628]

Talking about the Indian Ocean at 2:50. While showing PCH and then San Pedro Harbor and the Vincent Thomas Bridge

[@pedrofrancochau2643]

Title should be, "Getting screwed by Imperial powers with no vaseline"!

[@magmum1992]

Something missing there, u forgot to mention how Mauritius is fighting hard to get the island rather the return of the Chagossians to the island.

[@munchermuncher7663]

African is siding with Mauritius

[@G1ennbeckismyher0]

@@munchermuncher7663 the entire continent huh?

[@PlumbNutz]

I spent three months in Diego Garcia in 1983. Our u.s. Navy ship was anchored in the lagoon. We served as a repair ship. We could take a small Liberty boat ashore but there really wasn't much to do besides drink. There were a few Filipino civilians working on the island but there was not one single woman on the entire Island. A few times I walked around the island in an afternoon. The water inside the Lagoon is rather murky and stirred up. It's very windy there, a small sailboat would have been fun inside the Lagoon. Everyone was glad to leave.

[@idolhanz9842]

We called that place "Devil's Island" , like from that book Pappillion. I remember my last mission there during the Tora Tora bombings. I remember we brought in salvage boats for a recovery operation of a crashed B-1 . I remember the nose gear wouldnt extend and I had to get it down. Tired after a 24 hour duty day, and now that! Glad I took lots of pics over 20 years worth of visits there and Africa.

[@TheDrexxus]

Just like the rest of history... Spain: Whoo! Found something-- France: Nope, tis mine. Spain: Awww :( Britain: Pardon me, coming through, excuse me. Just going to colonize this island. France and Spain: :(

[@alansolocinski5172]

Love it!!

[@tennisgleem]

slaughter and slavery.......again

[@shanebowen3335]

@@tennisgleem ...

[@solfennell8981]

@@tennisgleem yep, just like everyone else

[@pranayamdev411]

If I am right it was Portugal who discovered those islands before france

[@DrRich-mw4hu]

Been there, landed, survived a hurricane, passed out on a beach (lagoon side, surf side is deadly 💀 ) Learned Budweiser really doesn’t have an expiration date😁👍

[@alansolocinski5172]

because... formaldehyde. Gave me a headache every time I drank it. That's why we drank Tusker from Kenya. No extra preservatives!

[@LottiDotti76]

Ah Diego Garcia! That was my first deployment in the Air Force. I was there for 3 months. I loved my time there. I hooked up with a Filipina who was one of the many contractors there. She worked at the Enlisted Club in the cashiers cage. Anyway, I had a very enjoyable time there.

[@levijom]

I know a guy who used to live there to monitor space debris. He said it was the most boring place and job he has ever had. Only payed $10/hr lol

[@checkitout554]

food ,housing , trans paid for but just a little bit more than $10

[@alvinfrazier4152]

LIsten up yeah, there’s nothing to do there except fish.

[@manganvbg90]

UN: america, please leave? US: Make me, biatch!

[@howardkerr8174]

When I was in the Navy my unit "supposedly" flew in and out of there. I worked ground support so never got to go, plus it was during the Vietnam War years, so no one was supposed to know anything about Diego Garcia. What little leaked out in conversations left me with the impression that it was 1 giant rock with a landing strip and a literal "handful" of buildings. Picture one of those VERY rudimentary air bases you see in WW II movies...that was the picture I was given of the place. But then, that was also 45 years ago, I imagine there has been significant upgrading since the 70s-80s.

[@sandy_sd10]

The beaches are amazing! I love this place.

[@6ft8incyclist]

Me. Too

[@dougthethug2405]

I was stationed there for a year in 1974. I worked at the islands power plant and lived in a plywood hutch on the beach as there were no real buildings. We caught and cooked coconut crabs. The Sea Bees would come and build buildings like a barracks, chow hall, etc. There were only a few of us on the island and 12 crazy Brits. A year was a long time to spend on isolated duty.

[@danieljones317]

Sounds like a perfect place for an INFJ type person.

[@skyhawk_4526]

That's interesting to me. I spent about 5 months there in 2002. We were under strict orders not to mess with the coconut crabs (or "the Queen's crabs" as we called them). There was something like a $500 fine and an Article 15 if you got caught with one. The main base area ("downtown") was pretty developed when I was there, but I gotta admit, I had seen everything on the island after a couple weeks and, despite the beautiful scenery and water, it got boring pretty quickly. I still view it as one of my favorite deployments though.

[@ems7623]

@@skyhawk_4526 and you guys still don't tell us what else goes on there? Come on. Please?!. Lol Actually I can see the known uses of the island being enough for the US to defend it fiercely. It's really a shame that they built this all on a human rights abuse. That's really bad PR, reminding people of what happened to the natives of Bikini Atoll. It better be worth it. If it turns out, twenty years from now, that it wasn't worth it when the public gets more information, I'm going to be super-pissed.

[@Jigalipuff]

Hey Doug

[@kukuri007]

Is this guy including embassies and places we may have something to track/communicate with astronauts as well as weather stations?

[@Argentvs]

Think so, Puerto Madryn is a dock for cargo and tourist cruisers in Argentina and is listed there as a US military base. There is no US military base here. At most you have the embassy security, DEA coordination office and Argentine Space Agency lending antennas to NASA.

[@atheistgenocideinthebible1102]

Good, good, very good Video!!!

[@WilliamHedy]

I was in NMCB40. I did a full detachment to DG in 1979. And 6 months later I went back with my battalion. Two 9 month back to back deployments there. One of the most beautiful places I ever seen. Lived in old Vietnam type plywood huts which was great since it was so hot there. I’m sure it’s all motel style barracks now. Also back then it was only guys. If there was a women in your battalion she was sent on a det somewhere. It’s to bad such a great little place had to be turned into what it is. But it’s a very important base.

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

DEJA VU; I´ve just been in this place before.

[@ASADALI-wp3wv]

Higher on the beat And I know it's a place not to go

[@skeptikal_potato4348]

Calling you and the search is mystery Standing on my feet

[@esra_erimez]

Can you do a video about how controversial the UN has become and how it has been overrun by small despotic governments?

[@petert1692]

Why, the US would be upset. They’ve installed most of those despotic govts, including the British.

[@conors4430]

Esra Erimez if anything the UN has been over run by the victors of World War II who veto any real change. 190 nations could agree on something and any of the five founding members can just say nope. And usually with some digging you’ll find those despotic governments have some kind of mutual interest with one of the five founders

[@andro7862]

Ah yes, the small "despotic" government of democratic Mauritius that has never invaded a single nation in history.

[@Henry-lk2be]

The Navy sent me there to wait for my next ship USS Cook FF-1083 in the 80’s. Played volleyball and drank beer. The beer was loaded with formaldehyde- terrible headaches. 😆 H. Vegter MCPO, USN Ret.

[@preacherman85379]

I was there in 1990, cool place

[@angelortega]

Fact Check: More than half of those bases aren't active anymore.

[@dougmc666]

Normally the island is home to about 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors

[@okman9684]

So if I will get drafted this is the place I will call home

[@boatymcboatface45yearsago59]

No

[@lavapop1900]

your new home would most likely be Norfolk, VA lolol

[@dean1039]

No, if you get drafted that will mean a major catastrophic war has broken out. Meaning chances are what you will call home, will be a 6ft hole in the ground... If you're lucky.

[@f.wallace8969]

Nah, theyll probably send you too Northern Alaska. Theres a little guard shack up there that needs to be manned.

[@ketchfishshow3001]

I wouldn't worry about getting drafted. There hasn't been an active draft since 1975 and it would pretty much take WWIII for them to start calling people up again.

[@ex-navyspook]

I was stationed there for a year; it's remote, it's tropical, and small. The British Royal Police provide internal security, the British Marines provide security in the waters around, the US maintains the airfield and other...stuff. There's a large contingent of Filipino contractors who maintain the facilities, cut the grass, maintain roads, generators, etc.

[@osamabinladen824]

Why Filipinos?

[@kazardomain]

is it true MH370 held captive there?

[@romeoreyes3351]

I was stationed here last 1983 to 1985..I liked the weather and the beaches

[@stevenmetter8835]

It’s where they flew MH 317 with 250 corpses that where gassed, then tempted piloted to Diego Garcia,

[@Vkpz]

But why that plane specifically?

[@beverlyann111]

@@Vkpz There were 30 scientist on board,

[@elena79rus]

MH370 Yeah, we all want to know what was so important on that plane and what they did to it after it landed there.

[@elena79rus]

@@beverlyann111 What happened to those scientists?

[@jamesmoriarty9433]

Hey, you finally reuploaded it. Any reason it came down yesterday?

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

Beautiful island with turquoise blue, crystal clear water. Also great sport fishing. The fishing boats will clean & take your catch to the base all hands club. The Club then prepares a wonderful feast for however big your group is. I landed a 54 lb Tuna. Matched with the other catches of the day, the Club fed anyone who wanted to eat that night. It was deeeeeelicious! My idea of paradise! Cheers, Lt Col Jet

[@davidc6510]

Fascinating.

[@jeffgannon1]

I spent 6 weeks there in the 80’s “guarding” the base. Big sharks and a lot of coconut crabs.

[@brendanlaven1697]

“Big sharks” you mean like Hector the hammerhead?

[@erickbush1167]

If the Chagosan were transported there by the French then they're not indigenous. They may claim it as home but that is not the same as indigenous. Use words correctly.

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

@Dominic Taijah by your logic alaska should also return to canada

[@maakinsaeed8675]

@@raptorfromthe6ix833 fun fact Alaska was sold to America from the Russian's

[@godonlylovesme1638]

@@msmit3669 Either the Mauritanian History is a lie or the channel didn't do their research because the Chagausian was living in Mauritius when they were evicted from Diego Garcia. The Chagausian even went to Britain to fight their case and they were granted British Citizenship.(not sure if all of them got British Citizenship)

[@sendyramen]

His words are correct by Wikipedia definition - "Indigenous peoples, also known in some regions as First peoples, First Nations,..."

[@sendyramen]

@@msmit3669 chagos is part of the biot/uk. But it has claims from mauritius. Basically before mauritius independence, chagos was part of mauritius territories which explains what he learn at school. In 1965, before giving mauritius independence, uk split chagos and annexed it to biot which under UN resolution is illegal.

[@SuperSaltydog77]

Spent some time on "the rock" in 76 while serving with the navy. We were there to build up the islands infrastructure. Used to drink at the royal marines club until we got kick out/banned for fighting to often. Very hot, humid during the dry season and hot, humid and wet during the wet (monsoon) season. I served as a mechanic for the construction equipment, our shop was right next to the parking apron at the airport, where we extended the runway to handle 52's. Also started building barracks for af personal and started on pier construction. Not much to do there except work, drink and fight, but not necessarly in that order.

[@gerardweis43]

Fueled the P3s out there daily and got to know the crewmembers and pilots well.Had the chance to go up a couple of times and fly around the island for awhile.When a P3 would fly back to the Philippines I would put an order in for a couple of cases of San Miguel.Better than that Olympia beer on the island.Never brought me back a sweet Filipina girl though.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

What super cool geography!

[@robear152565]

My wife and mother-in-law were both stationed there in the 70's and 90's.

[@scottblevins4925]

I was in and out of there, many times in the 1979-81 era, there eere no woman stationed there at that time

[@bendover1525]

That's where the passenger plane that went missing a few years ago ended up.

[@franklombardisr7774]

I heard that flight 370 was guided there by remote control and the ones from england made 6 trillion on the deal

[@elena79rus]

@@franklombardisr7774 What deal? Why did they need to hijack the plane, and what did they do to it afterwards, and to the passengers?

[@hala4725]

Wow one of my favorite youtuber talking bout my country

[@sdimas73]

It was also an emergency landing site for Space Shuttle and on the pacific site Hawaii.

[@topherh8928]

I was stationed on Diego Garcia in ‘04. It was one hell of a year! 👍

[@stuartsprigg8914]

Its a very important military base which has kept peace and stability in the Indian ocean for decades. Not controversial at all! Thank you US Navy from Western Australia.

[@ravikantbhisham370]

Thanks👍

[@GoldenEagle0007]

amazing place

[@daddyshrek7376]

“You know it’s Slaughter Gang, when the smoke is Immortal”