US Navy – Pentagon Said to Offer Cuts in the Billions

New York Times – The Pentagon plans to retire one of the Navy’s 12 aircraft carriers – the USS John F. Kennedy, buy fewer amphibious landing ships for the Marine Corps and delay the development of a costly Army combat system of high-tech arms as part of $60 billion in proposed cuts over the next six years, Congressional and military officials said Wednesday.
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Port Security – "Seacurity": Improving the Security of the Global Sea-Container Shipping System

RAND – The purpose of this document is to raise awareness concerning the current status of maritime security and its vulnerability to terrorism. The main obstacles in achieving a less vulnerable maritime system are identified. Beginning with issues regarding threats to maritime andómore specificallyóto container commerce, the report discusses the issues and possible solutions that these issues raise. The report concludes with a number of recommendations and references.

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Geopolitics / Palestine – The Future of Palestine

Foreign Affairs – The current turmoil in the Gaza Strip represents the most serious challenge to Yasir Arafat’s authority in decades. Israel’s planned disengagement from Gaza brought to a boil long-simmering tensions among Palestinian factions demanding a change in the status quo. Holding national elections before the pullout may be the only way to avoid chaos and save any chance at Middle East peace.

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