Five Thoughts on Friday

An excellent way to start Friday, pictures of North Korea's stealth Navy.

The Navy is headlining the news in Russia. David knows why.

Russia to restore a battleship (Красная Звезда в четверг). Military parades, amphibious assaults on TV, new submarine launched ballistic missiles, and nuclear battleships can give the look and feel of the old Soviet regime, but things aren't just skin deep in Russia. When I can read about the shipbuilding budget of 2007 and 2008 on the internet, read how the active core was originally funded for 2007 but not done (read corruption), and how it is again funded and planned in the 2008 budget it reminds me that despite the hype things have clearly changed in Russia. The transition is interesting...

Analysis of the PLA in action for the earthquake response. More PLA analysis here, and interesting observations here.

New twist to the hijacked ship off Somalia, the pirates claim the ship from Jordan they hijacked which was supposed to have aid from Denmark has weapons aboard. Eagle1 offers more plus analysis. Speaking of smuggling weapons into Africa, remember that Chinese ship loaded with arms that was almost seized in South Africa? Springboard has the rest of the story.