Naval War College Review – The United States has for over a decade pursued a cautious and incremental approach to limiting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. It has led, supported, and devised valuable initiatives and procedures, but it has characteristically refusedólargely for reasons of domestic politicsóto participate in formal, legally binding international arrangements. This approach could harm both unstable regions and perceptions of American commitments among allies and partners.
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Miscellaneous – £9m aircraft carrier for sale at theme park
Daily Telegraph – The former Soviet Navy’s aircraft carrier Minsk is for sale???
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Transformation – Long War
Defense and the National Interest – William Lind comments on the Quadrennial Defense Rubberstamp.
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Iraq – The Lessons of Counterinsurgency
Washington Post – The last time the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment served in Iraq, in 2003-04, its performance was judged mediocre, with a series of abuse cases growing out of its tour of duty in Anbar province. But its second tour in Iraq has been very different, according to specialists in the difficult art of conducting a counterinsurgency campaign — fighting a guerrilla war but also trying to win over the population and elements of the enemy. Such campaigns are distinct from the kind of war most U.S. commanders have spent decades preparing to fight. Thomas Ricks writes about the work of Colonel H.R. McMaster.
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Geopolitics / India-Pakistan – The Nuclear Edge
New Yorker – An examination of the moment, in 2002, when India and Pakistan almost went to war – with the potential for the first use of nuclear weapons in a conflict since Nagasaki.
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US Marines – Low-cost access to orbit: space Marines to the rescue
Space Review – The Marines are showing interest in reusable launch vehicles to move troops around the planet.
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Iraq – Next Act
Defense and the National Interest – Wars, most wars at least, run not evenly but in fits and starts, settling down into sputtering Sitzkrieg for long intervals, then suddenly shooting out wildly in wholly unpredicted directions. The war in Iraq has fallen into a set pattern for long enough that we should be expecting something new. William Lind identifies three factors ñ there may be more ñ which could lead to some dramatic changes, soon.
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Wargaming – Virtual Reality Prepares Soldiers for Real War
Washington Post – A look at the growing use of videogames to train soldiers and Marines for combat.
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US Navy – Navy plans major Pacific exercises in summer
San Diego Union Tribune – Following the directions of the recently released defense review to shift its focus westward, the Navy plans to hold a series of major exercises involving four different aircraft carriers in the Pacific this summer, the Pacific Fleet commander said Tuesday.
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Indian Navy – Navy's show of strength impresses Kalam
Daily Times – The aircraft carriers INS Viraat and USS Ronald Reagan are exercising together.
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Russian Navy – Russia urged to prepare for Black Sea fleet withdrawal
Xinhua – Russia’s Black Sea Fleet must prepare for its withdrawal from the Ukrainian territory from now on.
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US Marines – Assignment: Iraq — Valentine's Day in Ramadi
Virginian Pilot – This the latest in a series of stories written for asap by Marine Capt. Rory Quinn, who is stationed in Iraq.
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US Marines – Bond-Relationship Targeting
Marine Corps Gazette – Reverse engineer the bond-relationship target and be successful against the insurgency.
Indian Navy – Navy's show of strength impresses Kalam
The Hindu – A Presidential Fleet Review occurs in India, the Indian President states his views of the future of the Indian Navy.
Indian Express – Kalam endorses Navyís new Eastward incline
The Peninsula – Kalam calls for powerful subs
The Tribune – Kalam outlines Navyís future role
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Royal Marines – Commandos prepare for Afghanistan
Scotsman – A team of elite Royal Marines Commandos is preparing to leaving for Afghanistan. In total, 150 men from 42 Commando are to head for their mission in the Helmand province.
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US Navy – Future Navies ó Present Issues
Naval War College Review – As the U.S. Navy transforms itself for new missions in a new strategic environment, five issuesócivilian mariners and sea basing, unmanned aerial and underwater systems, hospital ships, the Law of the Sea Convention and the future of naval warfare, and conflict resolution in the exclusive economic zoneóemerge as having particular importance not only for the serviceís planners but for their legal advisers as well.
Military Space – I Spy
Wired – Amateur satellite spotters can track everything government spymasters blast into orbit. Except the stealth bird codenamed Misty.
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US Navy – US searches for Yemen fugitives
BBC – US Navy ships are patrolling the Yemeni coast to try to recapture 23 convicts who broke out of jail on Friday, in case they try to flee by sea.
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Iraq -At Busy Air Base, A Different Mission
Washington Post – Thomas Ricks looks at how the US Air Force is delivering close air support in Iraq.
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US Navy – Navy submits plan seeking more ships but one fewer carrier
Associated Press – The Navy submitted a plan today for reversing the decline in the size of the U.S. fleet, expanding from 281 ships this year to 313 within several years, though the number of aircraft carriers would drop by one, to 11.
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US Navy – Enlisted sailors get shot at a seat in the cockpit
Virginian Pilot – Enlisted sailors who worked on the Navyís aircraft for years, cleaned their windshields, even changed their engines but could never fly them unless they joined the officer corps can now apply to wear wings of gold.
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Indian Navy – India opts out of US Navy aircraft deal
Daily Times – The Indian Navy has decided not to lease two US Navy P-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft (MRA) because they are too expensive.
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US Marines – Assignment: Iraq — Five months in Iraq: strain & focus
Associated Press – This the latest in a series of stories written by a Marine captain in Iraq. It is aimed at offering one voice from someone on the ground in Iraq.
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US Navy – Defense review reflects focus on terrorism, the Pacific
Virginian Pilot – A look at how the QDR affects the US Navy.
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Geopolitics / Conflict – A Natural History of Peace
Foreign Policy – Humans like to think that they are unique, but the study of other primates has called into question the exceptionalism of our species. So what does primatology have to say about war and peace? Contrary to what was believed just a few decades ago, humans are not “killer apes” destined for violent conflict, but can make their own history.
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