Nigerian Navy – Nigeria’s navy will attempt to end a hostage situation on several oil rigs.

• BBC: Nigeria oil rig crisis talks fail

Royal Marines – A Special Boat Squadron patrol that went wrong in Iraq???

• The Times: Two SBS survive ambush, desert trek and Syria jail

US Navy – The USS Abraham Lincoln battlegroup is almost home.

• Associated Press: USS Lincoln aircrews arrive at Navy bases along West Coast

US Navy – The Truman and Roosevelt battlegroups prepare to return home.

• Virginian Pilot: Roosevelt to Return in June

US Coast Guard – Patroling off of Iraq with the Coast Guard.

• Virginian Pilot: Patrol boats guard passage to Iraq

Background – Iraqi Army – Why the Iraqi Army performed so poorly.

• Washington Post: A Brief, Bitter War for Iraq’s Military Officers

Background – Imperialism – Niall Ferguson on why Americans don’t really have what it takes to rule the world.

• New York Times Magazine: The Empire Slinks Back