Washington Post – A Single-Minded Focus on Dual Wars
Greg Jaffe on Secretary of Defense Gates’ attempt to change the military.
Geopolitics / Spratleys – China asserts sea border claims
BBC – China asserts sea border claims
A UN commission hoping to agree new maritime boundaries looks set to pit China against some of its neighbours.
Afghanistan – In Bleak Afghan Outpost, Troops Slog On
New York Times – In Bleak Afghan Outpost, Troops Slog On
C.J. Chivers accompanies another US Army patrol in Afghanistan.
Geopolitics / Arctic – Russia warns of war within a decade over Arctic oil and gas riches
The Times – Russia warns of war within a decade over Arctic oil and gas riches
Russia raised the prospect of war in the Arctic yesterday as nations struggle for control of the world’s dwindling energy reserves.
Piracy – Sailors on Blackwater anti-piracy ship claim harrassment
Virginian Pilot – Sailors on Blackwater anti-piracy ship claim harrassment
If three pending legal cases are any indication, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the Blackwater counterpiracy ship.
Afghanistan – Petraeus's Tougher Fight
Washington Post – Petraeus’s Tougher Fight
David Ignatius has a nice review of what General Petraeus’ strategy will be…
Fourth Generation Warfare – In Attics and Closets, 'Biohackers' Discover Their Inner Frankenstein
Wall Street Journal – In Attics and Closets, ‘Biohackers’ Discover Their Inner Frankenstein
Hobbyists are tinkering with the building blocks of life in the comfort of their own homes. But are these biohackers a threat to national security?
Royal Navy – Britain and Argentina lodge rival claims to seabed around Falklands
Daily Telegraph – Britain and Argentina lodge rival claims to seabed around Falklands
Britain and Argentina have lodged competing claims for 460,000 square miles of seabed around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
Afghanistan – In Afghanistan, Soldiers Bridge 2 Stages of War
New York Times – In Afghanistan, Soldiers Bridge 2 Stages of War
New York Times – Turning Tables, U.S. Troops Ambush Taliban With Swift and Lethal Results
New York Times – Pinned Down, a Sprint to Escape Taliban Zone
Here are three other articles written by acclaimed journalist and former Marine officer C.J. Chivers about US Army troops in Afghanistan in April 2009.
Wargaming – North Korea Invades! (And Other Pentagon War Games)
Time – North Korea Invades! (And Other Pentagon War Games)
A look at some current wargames being run by the US military.
Afghanistan – A Young Marine’s Dream Job
New York Times – A Young Marine’s Dream Job
Journalist C.J. Chivers, a former Marine, visits a Marine unit in Afghanistan.
US Navy – All at sea
Economist – All at sea
Foreign military bases have both political and practical difficulties. “Seabasing” may offer a solution
US Navy – Will cash crisis leave Navy high and dry?
San Diego Union Tribune – Will cash crisis leave Navy high and dry?
A serious Navy cash crunch is threatening to leave sailors in San Diego and across the fleet stranded ashore, unable to change duty stations and without the bonuses that have long encouraged them to stay in uniform. In recent weeks, Navy officials have instituted a series of austerity measures to reduce costs or postpone them until the next fiscal year, which begins Oct 1.
Geopolitics / Iraq – A Tale of Two Wars
Foreign Affairs – A Tale of Two Wars
Richard Haass’ perceptive insider’s account of the policymaking leading up to both Iraq wars — one a “war of choice,” the other a “war of necessity” — holds key lessons for future U.S. leadership in the Middle East and beyond.
US Navy – Norfolk-based ship fends off pirates off Somalia
Virginian Pilot – Norfolk-based ship fends off pirates off Somalia
A case of mistaken identity for the pirates of Somalia…
Fourth Generation Warfare – COIN lies we love
Armed Forces Journal – COIN lies we love
Ralph Peters dissects the myth that the military has only a supporting role to play in counterinsurgency.
Indian Navy – Warship sent to protect Seychelles from pirates
Daily Telegraph – Warship sent to protect Seychelles from pirates
An Indian warship have been sent to protect the Seychelles from Somalian pirates who have attacked eight merchant vessels in the area in the last week.
Geopolitics / Iran – Why Iran Won't Stop Loving the Bomb
Esquire – Why Iran Won’t Stop Loving the Bomb
Thomas P.M. Barnett writes that even if voters walk out on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June’s election like delegates did at yesterday’s U.N. conference on racism, don’t expect the new government to forgo nuclear pursuits — not at this crossroads. A preview of Tehran’s battle ahead.
Royal Navy – New Royal Navy frigates to be based at Portsmouth
Daily Telegraph – New Royal Navy frigates to be based at Portsmouth
The next generation of frigates are to be based at Portsmouth Naval Base as part of a major shake-up of the Royal Navy announced by the Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth.
US Navy – US navy halts aid vessel over flu
BBC – US navy halts aid vessel over flu
The US navy is postponing an aid mission to the South Pacific after a sailor on the vessel scheduled to take the trip developed swine flu.
US Navy – Lawmakers seek openness after Navy closes reports
Virginian Pilot – Lawmakers seek openness after Navy closes reports
Amid reports that Navy inspectors found six ships unfit for their missions last year, some members of Congress are pressing the service to reconsider a decision to shroud its most detailed inspection reports.
Geopolitics / Pakistan – Pakistan's Critical Hour
Washington Post – Pakistan’s Critical Hour
Ahmed Rashid on the current state of affairs in Pakistan.
South Korean Navy – SKorean warship rescues NKorean vessel off Somalia
Associated Press – SKorean warship rescues NKorean vessel off Somalia
South Korean snipers hovering in a helicopter Monday chased away pirates pursuing a North Korean freighter, a rare instance of recent cooperation between the two Koreas.
Information Warfare – Blinders
Defense and the National Interest – Blinders
William Lind describes the importance of open source intelligence asks why is the Pentagon censoring the US military’s access to it?
Chinese Navy – Chinese Navy Requires Supercruising Fighter
Defense Tech – Chinese Navy Requires Supercruising Fighter
A supercruising combat aircraft is a high priority of the Chinese navy, the country’s top admiral says in a revealing official interview that gives strong clues of perceived shortcomings and future directions for the maritime force.
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