Soft Power Conducted Two Ways

When ADM Roughead brags about the Arleigh Burke class destroyer as a soft power instrument, I think it sounds rather absurd. I won't back down from that position, because even if it makes perfect sense the argument simply does not sell, and it opens up the Navy to unneeded criticism because the argument is an obvious distraction absent honest transparency in our intentions and actions. With that said, let us stop and examine what it looks like on the big board when you examine the chess board.

We begin in the Black Sea.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was shown around the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, at the southern port of Novorossiisk on Tuesday.

The Russian cruiser Moskva is a cool ship, but I know of one that is better.

The guided missile destroyer the USS Stout on Tuesday anchored off Batumi, where its commander, Mark J. Oberley, was welcomed ashore with Georgian music and wine.

"This visit and the combined training demonstrate the U.S. and Georgian commitment to work together, to cooperate and maintain maritime security," Oberley said.

USS Stout (DDG-55) isn't just some Flight I Arleigh Burke class destroyer, she is a BMD capable Arleigh Burke destroyer that just happens to be in the Black Sea, the best sea location to track any ballistic missile attack that originates from Iran. Sure the visit functions as a bit of gunboat diplomacy, but tell that to the Russian Air Force - which for the record, wouldn't want a piece of USS Stout (DDG-55) either.

Russian warplanes, meanwhile, conducted mock bombing runs in exercises just a few hundred kilometers northwest.

That is a lot of Black Sea friendly relations just a week after the conference in Moscow. USS Stout (DDG-55) will be working with two Georgian Coast Guard vessels in training exercises over the next few days. USS Stout (DDG-55) is 9000 tons of ass kicking, while the combined displacement of both ships may be around 900 tons. It is absolutely rediculous that ADM Roughead calls this soft power, and at the same time, deep in my heart - I honestly do admire him so much for doing exactly that!

The 6th Fleet isn't done conducting naval diplomacy though, because several thousand miles south of the Black Sea, in South Africa, the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) is conducting another soft power deployment, sometimes referred to as the East African Partnership Station. Again, even though South Africa has the largest naval force on the African continent, it just seems ridiculous that an Arleigh Burke class is acting as a Global Fleet Station. GFS is supposed to be a purely soft power naval engagement activity. The ship has already made port visits in Djibouti and Kenya and is scheduled to continue similar port visits to Mauritius and Tanzania in the coming months. The USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) probably displaces more than the entire Coast Guards of Mauritius, Tanzania, and Djubouti... although I admit in South Africa a Burke can be a productive vessel for engagement.

"It's always great when two partner nations can schedule meaningful and productive events such as these," said Captain James Tranoris, Commander, Task Force 363. "It not only enhances the professional element of each of our navies' ability to work with one another for a safer maritime domain, but renews the strong ties of partnership we have with South Africa. For some of our Sailors, this will be their first time interacting with the South African Navy. It's a superb opportunity for them to make new friends and learn how another foreign navy operates."

The 6th fleet is currently operating two very powerful DDG-51s in partnership and engagement activities with countries that the ships are complete overmatch. OK, so I concede South Africa, but I won't concede Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Djubouti.... or Georgia for that matter. I think the Navy needs to clearly state, and find some agreement with Turkey, the intention to operate an AEGIS BMD capable ship in the Black Sea as often as possible. Unless Turkey wants to pay for BMD capabilities, that is where the NATO BMD shield belongs.

I still say the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) is just a bad fit for an African Partnership Station. If anything, that is probably the best argument yet to SLEP the Figs, which are much better suited for engaging an African military, particularly if combined with a MSC charter. Sending a Burke to Africa to build coast guard capacity is like sending a logistics ship to hunt a submarine. Given the activities between Israel and Iran, there is probably a legitimate unstated reason why USS Stout (DDG-55), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS James E Williams (DDG 95) basically form a line respectively from the tip of Africa to the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea to the Black Sea.

Now compare these engagement activities with others taking place globally.

First there is CARAT 2009 going on, currently engaged in Thailand.

Since 1995, the CARAT bilateral exercise series has provided the U.S. and six other Southeast Asian nations - Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia - the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expand and sharpen maritime security through shared training, equipment and manpower.

Ships and aircraft from both Thailand and the U.S. comprise the combined CARAT task group, under the leadership of Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Chaiyot Sunthornnak, Commander, Frigate Squadron 2, and Commodore William Kearns III, Commander, Task Group 73.5.

Task Group 73.5 consists of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90), guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) and rescue-salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50).

Other units participating in CARAT Thailand include P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, U.S. Navy Seabees, a U.S. Coast Guard training team and a U.S. Navy mobile security squadron.

By any definition, that is a well balanced force using an amphibious ship, a salvage ship, and a Fig to engage a broad spectrum of capabilities within the level of regional partners. Balance. Task Force 73.5 has a broad spectrum of capabilities for engagement, an obvious reflection the folks planning the annual CARAT exercise are on top of their game.

Then there is the Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) conducting Pacific Partnership 2009, the medical diplomacy deployment in the Pacific.

Pacific Partnership 2009 departed Samoa July 10 after working alongside Samoans and other partners and friends, delivering a variety of humanitarian civic assistance programs.

"When we first arrived, our goal was to grow in friendship, learn from one another and build skills that will allow us all to respond in the event of any future humanitarian crisis," said Commodore Andrew Cully, Pacific Partnership 2009 mission commander, during his speech at the closing ceremony at National Hospital in Apia.

"There is no question that we have accomplished that and so much more."

A big MSC ship with a large medical detachment. Was intended to be an amphibious ship, but all signs suggest the Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) has been doing fine, and I do wonder if the Navy is conducting the operation at a lower cost using the T-AKE instead of the amphibious ship. Would be interesting to know what the cost difference was, because it could be higher.

What about USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) conducting Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2009.

USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) conducted joint maritime exercises with the Uruguayan Navy in the Atlantic Ocean July 9 as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2009.

Oak Hill participated in a mine-sweeping exercise with several Uruguayan ships. Uruguayan pilots were also given the opportunity to land their helicopters on the Oak Hill's flight deck during flight operations.

Capt. Brad Williamson, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 2 said the exercises were important because they embodied the spirit of SPS 2009.

Finally, there is a West African Partnership Station soon to begin, with an appropriately sized vessel for developing regional security.

Departing from Portsmouth, Virginia July 1, 2009, Coast Guard cutter Legare is on its way to the African continent to conduct maritime safety and security exchanges with countries along the west and central coast.

During the three-month Africa Partnership Station (APS) mission, the 270-foot cutter and its crew will visit and work with countries to include Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Cape Verde.

I think the contrasts are interesting. It is possible to say the USS Stout (DDG-55) is in Georgia as a form of gunboat diplomacy with Russia. I can buy that, indeed, I think the Obama administration will bring back gunboat diplomacy (something progressives might find shocking). The fact is, I see President Obama as a remarkably creative diplomat. Gunboat diplomacy can be offensive, but it has a reputation of preventing conflict, not actually starting a conflict. President Obama doesn't strike me as the type of guy who says "Nope, I don't want to use that diplomatic option for quiet, yet apparent diplomatic escalation."

One can even say the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) activities in South Africa makes sense, although that argument doesn't really apply to Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Djubouti. The fact is, a Coast Guard cutter, a Littoral Combat Ship, or a Fig could do what the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) is doing, and actually be better sized for that role. Is optimization for these types of engagements important? I think so, yes.

We highlight and take time to explain in depth the limit of our resources (ship numbers) for conducting a security operation like anti-piracy off Somalia, and yet the Navy will publicly promote sending a $2 billion, 9000 ton Burke for the stated purpose of exercising with the Mauritius Coast Guard or the Georgian Coast Guard? Does the Navy realize the perceptions at work these kinds of talking points?

I don't want to suggest the Burke can't do the job, but at $2 billion, I am not sure this is efficient manage of these low end activities. The Burkes can do work for the fleet better in tune with the capabilities of the destroyer, specifically securing US interests in the maritime spaces the bad guys are operating in today.