Defense Technology International – Icebreaker Break-down, and the USCG’s Crossroads

One of the U.S. Coast Guard’s three polar icebreakers, the Polar Sea, likely will be in maintenance and unavailable for operations until at least January 2011, the armed service announced Friday afternoon. The breakdown means the icebreaker will skip its fall Arctic patrol, and it will most likely keep the cutter from providing standby capability to support resupply of McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

New York Times – General Faces Unease Among His Own Troops, Too

CJ Chivers writes about the negative effect on morale that restrictive rules of engagement is having on Marines and Soldiers in Afghanistan.

BBC – Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship

More than 10 people have been killed after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army says.

BBC – North Korea role in warship sinking ‘obvious’

South Korea’s foreign minister says it is “obvious” that North Korea sank a South Korean naval ship in March. Yu Myung-hwan said there was enough evidence to take the issue to the United Nations.

RIA Novosti – Russia set to keep Typhoon class nuclear subs until 2019 – Navy

Russia’s Typhoon class strategic nuclear-powered submarines will remain in service with the Navy until 2019.

Wall Street Journal – Standoff Over Ship Escalates in Koreas

An excellent summary of the South Korean situation to date.

Daily Telegraph – North Korean torpedo ‘sank South Korean warship’

South Korea’s military believes a torpedo fired from a North Korean submarine sank its navy ship last month, based on intelligence gathered jointly with the United States.

BBC – US Navy moves to let women serve on submarines

The US defence department has decided to allow women to serve aboard submarines, according to officials.

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

More from CJ Chivers with the Marines in Afghanistan.

Associated Press – After 2-plus decades, Navy destroyer breaks record

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers such as the USS Ross and USS Cole, which survived a terrorist suicide bombing in Yemen, have proven to be durable workhorses in the U.S. Navy.

Virginian Pilot – Despite naval forces, Pirate attacks off Somalia nearly double

Pirate attacks nearly doubled in 2009 over a year earlier, despite the deployment in December 2008 of the European Union Naval Force – the first international force specifically to counter Somali pirates.

Reuters – Chinese admiral floats idea of overseas naval bases

A Chinese rear admiral has urged the nation to set up navy supply bases overseas in an interview posted on the Ministry of Defense website after China paid ransom to free a ship held for nine weeks by Somali pirates.

New York Times – In Shift, U.S. Talks to Russia on Internet Security

The United States has begun talks with Russia and a United Nations arms control committee about strengthening Internet security and limiting military use of cyberspace.

Wall Street Journal – Soviets’ Afghan Ordeal Vexed Gates on Troop-Surge Plan

The future of the war in Afghanistan was on the line as Gen. Stanley McChrystal met with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a secret rendezvous at a Belgian airbase in August. Gen. McChrystal, the top Western commander in Afghanistan, pushed for more U.S. troops to roll back the spreading Taliban-led insurgency. Mr. Gates, officials say, was skeptical. A quarter-century ago, he was a top Central Intelligence Agency officer aiding the anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan, and he remembered how a 1985 decision by the Soviet Union to widen that earlier war had failed to turn the tide.

Ottawa Citizen – Cold Call

Security specialist says nuclear sub’s northern exposure sends a message that Canada should heed: Take Arctic claims seriously.

(Thanks to Justin for the link!)

Associated Press – Keel laid for new carrier Gerald R. Ford

Construction of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford got its official kickoff Saturday with a keel-laying ceremony at the shipyard where the $7 billion nuclear-powered ship is being assembled.

San Diego Union Tribune – New Navy ship in shape

The dry-cargo vessel’s USNS Wally Schirra’s sea trials go ‘splendidly.’

Washington Post – U.S. General Sees Afghan Army, Police Insufficient

Greg Jaffe writes that Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the newly arrived top commander in Afghanistan, has concluded that the Afghan security forces will have to be far larger than currently planned if President Obama’s strategy for winning the war is to succeed.

DefenseTech – Shipbuilding Program Is A Mess

Norman Polmar writes that the US Navy ship building program is a mess.

BBC – French warship captures pirates

A French warship has captured 11 pirates off the coast of Kenya

Los Angeles Times – In It Together Part 3

Part 3 of a series by David Zucchino following 3 friends through boot camp to deployment and back. Thirteen weeks of boot camp put Daryl, Daniel and Steven through grueling challenges. They learn how to focus, how to kill a man, how to ignore pain.