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.
US Marines – Marines drafting plan to send more troops to Afghanistan
Los Angeles Times – Marines drafting plan to send more troops to Afghanistan
Marine Corps leaders are devising a plan to send thousands of additional combat troops to Afghanistan to wage aggressive warfare against the Taliban that they expect could take years.
Chinese Navy – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat
IMINT & Analysis – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat
A fascinating post on how China can close the sensor-shooter loop to provide targeting for its anti ship ballistic missiles – “Over the horizon radar systems, once a source of long range early warning for Cold War enemies, have evolved to the point that their presence on the battlefield poses a serious threat to friendly forces. While many nations have developed OTH systems for various surveillance purposes, Chinese developments in this and other fields have effectively transformed the OTH from a missile warning system to a missile targeting system.”
(Special thanks to Cris for bringing this post and some other recent posts to my attention!)
Geopolitics / Russia – What Has Moscow Done? Rebuilding U.S.-Russian Relations
Foreign Affairs – What Has Moscow Done? Rebuilding U.S.-Russian Relations
The next president will have to reassess the U.S.-Russian relationship and find the right balance between pushing back and cooperating.
US Navy – Navy carrier makes maiden voyage in Pacific
Associated Press – Navy carrier makes maiden voyage in Pacific
Aboard the USS George Washington off of Japan…
Indian Navy – India navy sinks suspected pirate 'mother ship'
Associated Press – India navy sinks suspected pirate ‘mother ship’
An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate “mother ship” Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night.
Afghanistan – U.S. Seeks New Supply Routes Into Afghanistan
Washington Post – U.S. Seeks New Supply Routes Into Afghanistan
Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics…
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