Interesting Links of Interest

I may pick up some of these topics later, or other authors may want to chime in, but I want to briefly mention a few news items from earlier this week:

1) Somali Navy Plans Action Against Piracy - the Somali Navy thinks they are ready to make a difference. Things are not going well in Somalia though, with many rumors that the AU no longer believes they are fighting for the winning side. Lets face it, the TFG is a failure, but lucky for them there isn't a plan B.

2) Who Attacked al-Shabab? The Rebel Leader Speaks - No one seems to know which country made a helicopter attack on al-Shabab. Normally I would be tempted to say it was us, but I honestly don't think it was governments of either the US or the Europeans this time. All indications are the attack was conducted by a single helicopter that fired unguided rockets that missed the intended target. Well, to me that sounds like mercenary work.

If I was making an educated guess, I would highlight that we have pictures of a meeting earlier this month that includes officials of the TFG and the owner of a private security company, followed not long after by an attack from a single helicopter using ammunition less sophisticated than what would normally be used by the naval forces offshore. If you want to know who is flying helicopters over Somalia attacking al-Shabab on behalf of the TFG, then ask Michele Lynn Ballarin. You think I highlight strange events in Somalia for no reason? Come on, you've been reading the blog long enough to know better - I've been expecting this type of thing.

3) Keeping the Pacific Pacific: The Looming U.S.-Chinese Naval Rivalry - when Seth Cropsey speaks, I take notes. Follows the Kaplan article from Sunday. Is it time for the United States to begin discussing the next step beyond regional partnership and naval exercises in how to manage the PLA Navy growth in the Pacific? My answer is no for two reasons:

First, the US Navy is too guarded on the information of PLA Navy developments. China's lack of transparency is a serious problem that prohibits any outside observer, specifically the American people and anyone without a security clearance from getting good information on PLA Navy development until folks like Feng post pictures. Second, the DoD has all their eggs in the "land war in Asia" basket, not "the AirSea Battle doctrine to hedge PLA Navy growth" basket. Until the DoD is willing to give better information outside random Congressional testimony and an annual report on the PLA, and actually has a plan - I say the time is not right.

4) Read this list as a reminder where we are right now. I follow these lists to insure I balance my perspectives.

5) Strategic Defence and Security Review: Britain faces impossible choices in an uncertain world - What a load of crap. Britain has plenty of money. I am tired of listening to a nation with the worlds 6th largest economy complain they don't have enough money for defense. Britain's problem isn't money; it is leadership and priorities. No worries, the US has a similar problem with the only exception being our nations wealth hasn't led to a drop in defense... yet.

6) "Deadliest Catch" stars quit Discovery show - oh yeah... this is important stuff. I watch almost no TV, but among the few shows I program on the DVR is Deadliest Catch. This will almost certainly leave me with little reason to watch Deadliest Catch, so Whale Wars and Top Chef will become my only non-sports TV viewing for awhile. I'm probably better for it.

7) The Importance of Understanding Wikileaks - Matt Armstrong is all over this topic, and by the third paragraph you'll see why this article is important. See also this CRS Report (PDF) on the topic.

8) Defining the Marine Corps’ Strategic Concept - Fabius Maximus is trending towards becoming a Marine Corps advocacy blog with G. I. Wilson and H. Thomas Hayden now contributing - and I love FM for it. This article is an important contribution.