Associated Press – France agrees to sell Russia advanced warship

France has agreed to sell Russia the Mistral amphibious warship and is considering a Russian request for three more, French defense officials said Monday. It would be the first major arms deal between Russia and a NATO member.

Esquire – The Awakening of Robert Gates

Thomas P.M. Barnett writes that after a career built on avoiding risk, the defense secretary is (finally) ready to get back in the game and gamble, all-in.

Bangkok Post – Japan refuelling ships end Afghan mission

Japanese naval ships returned home on Saturday ending a refuelling mission for US-led military efforts in Afghanistan, while its peacekeeping troops are now set to depart for quake-hit Haiti.

New York Times – As Marines Move In, Taliban Fight a Shadowy War

The Marine infantry company, accompanied by a squad of Afghan soldiers, set out long before dawn. It walked silently through the dark fields with plans of arriving at a group of mud-walled compounds in Helmand Province at sunrise.

Virginian Pilot – Quadrennial review says Navy ‘will’ base carrier in Florida

Defense officials made clear Monday they’re backing the Navy’s desire to relocate a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla. Whether the Navy is successful may come down to a nasty fight in Congress, say some Virginia legislators, who argue the military hasn’t provided any solid research to justify the relocation.

New York Times – Counterinsurgency, One Stuck Truck at a Time

CJ Chivers in Afghanistan with the Marines.

Washington Post – Critics say proposed sale of French Mistral ship to Russia will harm region

When the French navy’s 23,700-ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship dropped anchor in St. Petersburg’s frigid harbor Nov. 23, it was doing more than paying a friendly visit to the Russians. The boxy 600-foot vessel — an advanced helicopter carrier, command center and hospital built for power projection and landing operations — was also advertising its many high-tech virtues with an eye on selling a copy to the Russian navy for about $750 million.

The Times – Carriers versus tanks: Royal Navy joins battle for resources

The commitment to spend £20 billion on a replacement for Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines risks damaging the Royal Navy as it faces possible cutbacks in its manpower and fleet.

New York Times – As Marines Move In, Taliban Fight a Shadowy War

The Marine infantry company, accompanied by a squad of Afghan soldiers, set out long before dawn. It walked silently through the dark fields with plans of arriving at a group of mud-walled compounds in Helmand Province at sunrise.

Defense Technology International – Another Collins-class Submarine in Dry Dock

And the troubles in Australia’s submarine fleet continue: there is apparently now just one operational submarine after Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Crane confirmed in late January that a generator failure on board HMAS Farncomb meant the submarine had to be put into dry dock for urgent repairs.

New York Times – Marines Invest in Local Afghan Projects

Following the emphasis on a more assertive counterinsurgency approach mandated last year by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of American forces in Afghanistan, here on some of the country’s most dangerous ground, Marine infantry units are using this winter to try a soft touch.

Los Angeles Times – Marine assault vehicles key to Afghan strategy

As U.S. and Afghan troops prepare for an offensive in Helmand province, the Assault Breacher Vehicle – a cross between a tank and a bulldozer – is intended to conquer the terrain and roadside bombs.

New York Times – U.S. Speeding Up Missile Defenses in Persian Gulf

General Petraeus said that the acceleration of defensive anti-missile systems in the Persian Guolf — which began when President George W. Bush was in office — included “eight Patriot missile batteries, two in each of four countries.” Patriot missiles are capable of shooting down short-range offensive missiles. He also described a first line of defense: He said the United States was now keeping Aegis cruisers on patrol in the Persian Gulf at all times.

Sea Power – 2010 Almanac Highlights – Status of US Maritime Administration

The status of the US Maritime Administration as of January 2010.

Christian Science Monitor – China joins multinational naval force to fight Somali piracy

With Somali piracy still posing a severe threat, China agreed Thursday to join the US, Europe, and others in a multilateral naval force. Since late 2008, China has dispatched four flotillas to the Gulf of Aden area, expanding its military activity abroad.

Foreign Affairs – The Soviet Victory That Never Was

Could the Soviet Union have won its war in Afghanistan? Today, the victory of the anti-Soviet mujahideen seems preordained as part of the West’s ultimate triumph in the Cold War. To suggest that an alternative outcome was possible — and that the United States has something to learn from the Soviet Union’s experience in Afghanistan — may be controversial. But to avoid being similarly frustrated by the infamous “graveyard of empires,” U.S. military planners would be wise to study how the Soviet Union nearly emerged triumphant from its decade-long war.

New York Times – Shave Every Day. Shower Every Two Months.

CJ Chivers with the Marines in Afghanistan.

Defense Technology International – The Tenth Fleet

The U.S. Navy will stand up its cyber operations unit, the so-called Tenth Fleet, this week.

Virginian Pilot – Navy sued to halt training near endangered whales

Environmental groups sued the Navy on Thursday to halt plans for an offshore training range that they fear would threaten endangered right whales, which migrate to nearby waters off Georgia and Florida each winter.

New York Times – The Hidden Dangers of Helmand Province, Part II

More from CJ Chivers with the Marines in Afghanistan.