The Atlantic – Obama’s Foreign Policy: Buying in at the Bottom Robert D. Kaplan writes that George W. Bush has poised America for a diplomatic rebound, which the next administration will get the credit for carrying out.
Monthly Archives:: November 2008
French Navy – Somali pirates hijack 1 ship, free another
Associated Press – Somali pirates hijack 1 ship, free another Somali pirates seized control of a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and a French naval helicopter, too late to prevent the hijacking, picked up three security guards who jumped into the sea.
Afghanistan – From Great Game to Grand Bargain: Ending Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Foreign Affairs – From Great Game to Grand Bargain: Ending Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan Ahmed Rashid writes that the crisis in Afghanistan and Pakistan is beyond the point where more troops will help. U.S. strategy must be to seek compromise with insurgents while addressing regional rivalries and insecurities
Piracy – Avast the pirates
Washington Times – Avast the pirates Thomas P.M. Barnett opines on what to do about piracy…
German Navy – What's German For "Avast, Lubberly Scum"?
Defense Technology International – What’s German For “Avast, Lubberly Scum”? The German Ministry of Defense will make up to 1,400 military personnel available for the EU’s anti-piracy naval operation…The frigate that Germany plans to contribute to the mission only requires 500 men for alternating crews but it is also planned to place commandos on German-owned [...]
Indian Navy – India navy defends piracy sinking
BBC – India navy defends piracy sinking The Indian navy has defended its action in sinking a ship near Somalia that maritime officials have confirmed was a hijacked Thai fishing boat.
Indian Navy – Indian navy 'sank Thai trawler'
BBC – Indian navy ‘sank Thai trawler’ The owner of a Thai fishing trawler has said the Indian navy sank it off Somalia’s coast last week after wrongly assuming it was a pirate “mother ship”.
Russian Navy – Venezuela welcomes Russian ships
BBC – Venezuela welcomes Russian ships Russian warships have arrived for joint exercises with Venezuela’s navy, the first deployment of its kind in the Caribbean since the Cold War.
Piracy – Shippers seek naval blockade of Somali coast
Associated Press – Shippers seek naval blockade of Somali coast Shipping officials from around the world called for a military blockade Monday along the coast of Somalia to intercept pirate vessels heading out to sea.
US Marines – Marines drafting plan to send more troops to Afghanistan
Los Angeles Times – Marines drafting plan to send more troops to Afghanistan Marine Corps leaders are devising a plan to send thousands of additional combat troops to Afghanistan to wage aggressive warfare against the Taliban that they expect could take years.
Chinese Navy – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat
IMINT & Analysis – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat A fascinating post on how China can close the sensor-shooter loop to provide targeting for its anti ship ballistic missiles – “Over the horizon radar systems, once a source of long range early warning for Cold War enemies, have evolved to the point that their [...]
Geopolitics / Russia – What Has Moscow Done? Rebuilding U.S.-Russian Relations
Foreign Affairs – What Has Moscow Done? Rebuilding U.S.-Russian Relations The next president will have to reassess the U.S.-Russian relationship and find the right balance between pushing back and cooperating.
US Navy – Navy carrier makes maiden voyage in Pacific
Associated Press – Navy carrier makes maiden voyage in Pacific Aboard the USS George Washington off of Japan…
Indian Navy – India navy sinks suspected pirate 'mother ship'
Associated Press – India navy sinks suspected pirate ‘mother ship’ An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate “mother ship” Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night.
Afghanistan – U.S. Seeks New Supply Routes Into Afghanistan
Washington Post – U.S. Seeks New Supply Routes Into Afghanistan Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics…
Chinese Navy – China defends ambition to build aircraft carriers
Daily Telegraph – China defends ambition to build aircraft carriers China has no plans to use aircraft carriers to achieve global power and challenge the United States’ dominance, a senior general has said in a pointed defence of its rapid military expansion.
Geopolitics / Finance – Team 'Chimerica'
Washington Post – Team ‘Chimerica’ Niall Ferguson on how China+America=Chimerica.
Iranian Navy – Iran opens new naval base in Gulf
Daily Telegraph – Iran opens new naval base in Gulf Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have opened a fourth naval base along Iran’s Gulf coast in the port of Assalouyeh. It will control a 190-mile stretch of coastline west of the strait between Kish Island and the port of Dayyer.
Royal Australian Navy – Australia navy off for Christmas
BBC – Australia navy off for Christmas Most of Australia’s navy is to be given two months off over Christmas as part of a new strategy to cope with crew shortages, the defence minister says.
Piracy – Pirates Exploit Confusion About International Law
Wall Street Journal – Pirates Exploit Confusion About International Law A nice explanation of why it is so difficult to prosecute pirates after they are captured. The Times – Iranian grain ship seized as Somali pirates hold world to ransom
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