New Yorker – Letter From Pashmul: Policing Afghanistan
Patrolling a Taliban stronghold – an ethnic-minority force enters a Taliban stronghold.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Piracy – Yo Ho EU!
Defense Technology International – Yo Ho EU!
The EU anti-piracy operation launched by European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today will be a first for the EU in more than one way. It will be the first naval operation conducted by the EU. It will also be the first time the EU has relieved NATO in an operation which is ramping up rather than being scaled down.
Piracy – A look at how Somali pirates operate
Associated Press – A look at how Somali pirates operate
As piracy explodes off Somalia’s lawless coast, the questions become ever more stark: How can ragtag bands of Somali pirates stand up to international warships? And why not just shoot the bandits when they try to clamber aboard? First, the pirates are not as ragtag as one might expect. And second, it’s a big ocean.
Royal Navy – Admirals walk the plank after Iranian humiliation
The Times – Admirals walk the plank after Iranian humiliation
The Royal Navy has been accused of carrying out a discreet purge of senior figures involved in the fiasco over the arrest by Iranian Revolutionary Guards of 15 British sailors and Marines.
Geopolitics / India – Behind Mumbai
The Atlantic – Behind Mumbai
Robert D. Kaplan offers insight into the Hindu-Muslim tensions festering within India
Royal Navy – Falkland Islands to be left without warship
Daily Telegraph – Falkland Islands to be left without warship
The Falkland Islands are to be left without the protection of a British warship for the first time since the war with Argentina because the Royal Navy no longer has enough ships to meet all its commitments.
Russian Navy – Russian ship sails through Panama
BBC – Russian ship sails through Panama
A Russian warship has sailed through the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II.
Geopolitics / China – Their Own Worst Enemy
The Atlantic – Their Own Worst Enemy
James Fallows writes that as China prepares to take its place as the world’s dominant power, it faces confounding obstacles: its insularity and sheer stupidity in delivering the genuine good news about its own progress.
Danish Navy – Danish navy blows up 'pirate' ship
The Times – Danish navy blows up ‘pirate’ ship
Danish forces have scuppered a vessel belonging to Somali pirates after rescuing its crew in a storm.
Information Warfare – Marching off to cyberwar
The Economist – Marching off to cyberwar
Attacks launched over the internet on Estonia and Georgia highlight the difficulty of defining and dealing with “cyberwar”
Chinese Navy – Is China Moving Towards A Carrier?
DefenseTech – Is China Moving Towards A Carrier?
Norman Polmar writes that after more than a decade of speculation about China obtaining an aircraft carrier, there appears to be some movement in that direction — although not related to procurement of a ship.
Russian Navy – Russia to Send Warship Through Panama Canal
Associated Press – Russia to Send Warship Through Panama Canal
Russia said Wednesday it is sending a warship through the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II, a short journey loaded with symbolic weight: the destroyer will dock at a former U.S. naval base, showcasing Russia’s growing influence in the region.
Russian Navy – Russian warships hold exercises with Chavez's navy
Associated Press – Russian warships hold exercises with Chavez’s navy
Russian warships have ended training exercises with Venezuela’s navy in Moscow’s first such Caribbean deployment since the Cold War.
US Navy – More Navy ships undertaking humanitarian missions
Virginian Pilot – More Navy ships undertaking humanitarian missions
The USS Kearsarge is just one of the Norfolk-based ships that has undertaken a humanitarian mission in recent months, and these deployments signal a shift in the military’s role on the world stage. As these ships arrive on distant shores, their goal is to back up U.S. talk of friendship with action.
US Navy – New Rescue System Replaces Submersibles
DefenseTech – New Rescue System Replaces Submersibles
Normal Polmar writes that the US Navy has officially placed in service a new submarine rescue capability, replacing its long-serving and highly versatile rescue submersibles. The Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS)replaces the submersible Mystic, the Navy’s last Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
Royal Australian Navy – RAN silent, RAN deep: Australia's Submarine Plans Under Review
Defense Technology International – RAN silent, RAN deep: Australia’s Submarine Plans Under Review
The Royal Australian Navy is undertaking a sweeping review of how it operates its submarines and what the next-generation hull may look like.
Geopolitics – Obama's Foreign Policy: Buying in at the Bottom
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.
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 cargo ships.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.