Fort Dix

So everyone knows that tale of a threat to American soldiers stationed, transiting or otherwise visting Fort Dix, as set out here.

No proof of an al Qaeda link, the talking heads say. Right. Just using the terrorist websites for "training" and so forth.

Underreported in my esimation is the Kosovo/Albanian link:

Prosecutors described the men as "radical Islamists," with four coming from the province of Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia, where the ethnic Albanian population of Muslims fought one of the several wars that grew out of the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Suspect Agron Abdullahu, who faces only weapons violations in the case, was described in court papers as a "sniper in Kosovo."
***
U.S. officials said intelligence reports from the Balkans have identified a support structure for several terrorist groups, including al Qaeda, among the Muslim communities in Albania and in the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia.
"When it comes to extremists, we're talking about very, very small pockets in Albania, as well as among the ethnic Albanian populations in Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and other parts of the Balkans," said one official with access to intelligence reports.
***
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders often mention Bosnia as an important example of jihad, or holy war.

I guess we have "small pockets" in our population, too. Now, is this an incident of "domestic" terrorism or part of "foreign" plot?

Say a little prayer

Honor the fallen: Navy: 5 killed in Nev. helicopter crash

Latest ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report (to 2 May 07)

Latest ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report (to 2 May 07) is found here.

Highlights:

1. GULF OF ADEN: There has been no let up in Gulf of Aden smuggling deaths, per
10 Apr reporting. Mariners are advised to be aware of the potential need to render assistance
to stranded migrants, or the need to ward off unscrupulous smugglers while transiting the Gulf
of Aden, particularly between Bosaso, Somalia (11:17.04N 049:10.56E) and Bir Ali, Yemen
(14:01.30N 048:20.30E). Background: At a press briefing on 10 Apr, a spokesman for the
office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) explained that at
least 34 people being smuggled from Somalia drowned after being forced overboard by smugglers in deep waters off the coast of Yemen. The incident occurred on 06 Apr when
three smuggling boats approached the Yemeni coast near Bir Ali following a two-day voyage
from the Bosaso region of Somalia. When Yemeni authorities fired warning shots and tried to
intervene, smugglers moved to deeper water where they forced the migrants overboard, beating
and stabbing those that resisted. On 15 Apr, the UN Integrated Regional Information Network
(IRIN) reported a similar incident on 12 Apr where warning shots from the Yemeni Coast
Guard reportedly frightened migrants onboard an overloaded small boat causing it to capsize,
drowning 130 people. Another two smuggling vessels fled the scene after which one forced
passengers overboard before reaching the coast, killing an additional 35 migrants. In 2006,
some 26,000 people made the perilous voyage across the Gulf of Aden and at least 330 died.
Another 300 were reported missing and are believed dead. A 10 Apr report estimated more
than 5,600 migrants have landed on the Yemeni coast so far in 2007, and at least 200 people
have died trying.
***
3. NIGERIA: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel (MYSTRAS)
attacked, hostages taken early 3 May while at anchor 55 NM off the coast from Port Harcourt,
Okono Oil Field. The Italian oil firm Eni SpA confirmed hostages were taken from the vessel
managed by its subsidiary. The nationalities of the hostages are two Croatian, one Briton, one
Romanian, and one Australian. Later the same day, the Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta reportedly said in an e-mail that the hostages were on their way back to Port
Harcourt by boat and a local official confirmed authorities planned to receive them at the state
government headquarters (AP).
.
4. NIGERIA: Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel (OLOIBIRI) attacked, hostages
taken 1 May, offshore Bayelsa State. Gunmen armed with dynamite seized six foreign workers
and killed a Nigerian government security member in an attack on the Chevron Nigeria Ltd.
vessel. The nationalities of the hostages are four Italians, one Croatian, and one American. The
vessel was moored near the Funiwa Platform. The FSO supports fields that currently produce
approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day (gross production). The fields have been shut down
to avoid any additional security or safety incidents (Chevron, AP, LM).
.
5. NIGERIA: Security vessel (MIKE ONE) attacked 19 Apr in the evening, Delta Region.
Security sources stated that gunmen attacked the vessel and abducted three Nigerian staff as well
as seizing weapons and equipment. Another six people were injured and airlifted out of the area.
The security vessel was supporting drilling rig (TRIDENT 8) which was later shut down. The
incident occurred within a 10 minute boat ride from the oil rig (DON WALKER), and the staff
there had requested security reinforcements from the nearest naval base. Sources said the attack
on the vessel appeared to be criminal rather than politically motivated (REUTERS).
***
9. OMAN: LPG Tanker reported attempted boarding 22 Apr, at 0545 UTC while underway
in position 20:28.7N-059:17.0E, approximately 20NM Northeast of Masirah Island. The master
reported a white speedboat with three people onboard approached the vessel from the aft
starboard quarter. The speedboat had two engines manned by one person while two people stood
forward by a white container and were holding a hook with a long line. The speedboat got
within 2 to 3 meters. The men were reportedly well equipped with their faces covered and
wearing rubber gloves. No weapons were observed. The master sounded the alarm, the crew
mustered and took appropriate actions. The speedboat continued following for 8 minutes then
returned to a group of three similar speedboats 1NM away. ONI Note: ONI is aware of four
other incidents geo-located in this area in the past, all remarkably similar in nature, with the first
incident reported in Feb 2002. All describe speedboats aggressively maneuvering within close
quarters of passing vessels. Some report seeing masked individuals on the speedboats. The
vessels were never boarded and no weapons were positively identified. These incidents all plot
close to a 73 NM line drawn between the SW and NE most incidents (20:28.7N 059:17.0E and
21:43.8N 059:52.2E respectively). This line comes within 20 NM of the coast and roughly
parallels the 100 fathom contour curve near an area that drops to 1000 fathoms in as quickly as 5
to 10 NM. As such, this is a likely area of nutrient upwelling and high living marine resource
productivity. Mariners transiting this area are likely to encounter fishermen aggressively
protecting fishing gear or seeking retribution for damaged fishing gear. Other unscrupulous
small boat operators could take advantage of this environment by attempting to rob passing
mariners. Vessels transiting a parallel course 15 NM SE of this area, where the water depths
drop to greater than 1000 fathoms, are not as likely to encounter these aggressive small boat
interactions (ONI, OPERATOR, IMB).
***

Piracy down, caution up

Amid all the gloom and doom in the news coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan, the anxiety over the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, and the struggle in the war on terror, comes a ray of sunlight: Piracy is down in Southeast and South Asia.

The International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, says in a fresh report that the number of pirate attacks in Asia plunged to 17 in the first quarter of this year from 68 in the comparable period last year. The bureau, which tracks pirate assaults around the globe, also reported a worldwide downward slide to 239 attacks last year from 445 in 2003.

All as reported here.

Remember that the vast majority of the reported piracy attacks are the functional equivalent of ship burglary followed, maybe, by larceny or robbery. There is always the question whether all incidents are being reported to authorities or whether there is underreporting due to fears of insurance rate hikes. Incidents of the kidnapping of ship officers or crew and them for ransom still occur,but the number of such has apparently declined. A major source of sea robberies, seems to have fallen off the map-Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh, where

Forty seven incidents have been reported since 28.01.2006. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor.

The most recent reports have reflected no activity by pirates in that area.

Increasing patrols, cooperation between adjacent states may also have had a effect. Land operations against potential terrorist and pirate organizations has had an effect. Certainly, the threat of some combination of piracy/terrorism grabbed attention:

Equally important, the possibility of a potentially devastating lash-up between pirates and terrorists in that part of the world has lessened.

"Our greatest fears are the possible nexus between terrorists and weapons of mass destruction and the use of a large commercial vessel as a weapon," retired Admiral Thomas Fargo said in 2005.

The former commander of US forces in the Pacific told a conference on maritime security in Honolulu: "Armed with these weapons, undeterrable, unaccountable enemies could inflict enormous damage without warning. If pirates or sea robbers can board a ship, what is achievable by a trained terrorist willing to give up his life?"

I'm not sure how we can quantify any reduction in risk of such an attack. There have been recent boarding where the pirates have grabbed ships or fishing vessels or crew, for example: (1) Chinese fishing boats captured in the Spratlys (see here), (2) 263 sailor hostages and 3 deaths last year (see here), (3) Tamil Tiger forces capturing a ship and stealing its cargo, presumably using the booty for funds to allow them to continue their operations (see here). And this curious incident from March 2007:

3. INDONESIA: Tanker (AI MARU) boarded 14 Mar at 1630 local time while underway
in position 01-07.29N 105-03.66E approximately 30NM east of Pulau Bintan. Ten heavily
armed pirates intercepted and boarded the product tanker in two navy grey fiberglass speed crafts with outboard engines. The men were dressed in camouflage and carried shot guns, rifles and daggers. One of them had on a ski mask. They boarded the tanker and tied up all crew members and blindfolded them. The master of the ship was punched several times with no serious injuries. The gunmen also damaged the ship’s radio communications equipment and took the ship’s documents, crew passports, seaman books, cash, and hand phones before they fled in their speedboats. After steaming for 45 minutes the pirates smashed all the communication equipment. The ship’s engines stalled 40NM from Horsburgh, Lighthouse. When the pirates could not restart the engines they abandoned the ship and escaped in their speedboats. All crew were accounted for with no injuries and all cargo intact. The master reported that there was not a single shot fired by the men during the incident. The ReCCAP ISC Focal Point (Singapore) advises ship-owners and masters to exercise vigilance while transiting this location (ReCAPP ISC, IMB).

There is one trend that is very positive - the increasing cooperation among neighboring states:

"The continued coordination and cooperation within and between nations is probably the biggest contributor to the positive trend," the spokesman said.
***
An obstacle to cooperation has been the legacy of anti-colonialism. Asian nations, having rid themselves of Western colonial rulers have been reluctant to engage in operations that might seem to infringe on their sovereignty, such as allowing ships of a neighboring nation enter their waters in hot pursuit on police missions.

Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was quoted in the report as pointing to more coordination between his nation, Singapore and Indonesia.

"The formation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the increase in coordinated patrols among the authorities of the littoral states has proved most effective in securing the straits." he said.

I'd advise keeping a wary eye when transiting certain areas.

Yacht burns, only person on board rescued

Story and video at Man Rescued After Yacht Burns In Strait Of Juan De Fuca - News Story - KIRO Seattle.

Opening day of yacht season? Gas fumes in bilges? See here: Gas Fumes + Bilge + Spark = Explosion

That would be my guess.

Anyone else care to speculate? Anyone?

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Somalia: Puntland Court fines fishing poachers in Somali waters

The original headline was about pirates capturing "Finnish" fishing boats, though that seems to have been confused (see here).

Now, as set out here, a Court in Puntland (a "semiautonomous" part of Somalia) has fined the crews of vessels caught fishing in Somali waters without permission:

The Supreme Court in the semiautonomous provincial administration of Puntland passed a ruling on foreign fishermen who were seized with their boasts early May while illegally fishing from the territorial water of the region in northeast Somalia.

The administration stated the boats originated from Europe and Middle East were caught while fish trawling from offshore of the regional government without permission.
***
Therefore Puntland Supreme Court sentenced the defendants to pay the following quantity of money: Each captain of the ship was sentenced to pay $500, and the captain of the boats is to pay $2,500 while each of the crew members is to pay $1,000. The nine boats were fined to pay $100,065 and the three ships are to pay $403,000."

Those sentenced are Yemeni and Egyptians. No Finns appear to have had anything at all to do with this affair.

Brits working with Algerians on maritime security

As set out here:

British frigate HMS Northumberland landed in the port of Algiers on Sunday (May 6th) for a three-day stopover as part of the reinforcement of bilateral military cooperation between the Algerian and British navies...
***
The British frigate's captain, Thomas Guy, told the press that the visit aims also at launching a maritime security co-operation programme between the Royal navy and Algeria's maritime forces. The programme is not confined to counter-terrorism efforts or illegal migration, Guy stated. It also includes co-operation in staff training, research and rescue operations.

Maritime Monday 58 at Fred Fry International

It's time for Fred Fry International: Maritime Monday 58 with a very diverse collection of info this week, ranging from a cable layer (not a chicken of some sort) to a tale of a real bird interfering with a watch stander (who probably needed to be distracted)to a bit on the relative safety of LNG vice LPG, if you know what I mean.

Had the great pleasure of meeting Fred at the MilBlog conference.

The Battle for Australia - Battle of the Coral Sea

Imagine the momentum built up by an empire that has rapidly expanded, seemingly unstoppable, sweeping through its enemies, your defenses. Imagine that empire headed your way, relentlessly nearing your homes, your beaches, your country.

That's what living in Asia was like as the Japanese rolled to victory after victory. In early May, 1942, they were driving toward Port Moresby in New Guinea, a place that could allow them to dominate the northern part of Australia. And they got stopped.

Not in one of those "we have met the enemy and he is ours" moments, but in a battle in which the tactical losers gained a strategic advantage that came to full fruition later. Australian and US forces engaged the Japanese and stopped them. It was the The Battle for Australia - Battle of the Coral Sea:

The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of naval engagements off the north-east coast of Australia between 4 and 8 May 1942. It was fought by Allied (United States and Australian) and Japanese aircraft against four different major groups of warships.
***
It was the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought, and the first naval battle in which the opposing forces of surface ships at no stage sighted or fired at each other. All attacks were carried out by aeroplanes.It is also the largest naval battle that has ever been fought off Australia’s shores.

The battle was significant for two main reasons:

* it was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation; and
* the battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby. Others will cover the carrier battle better than I can (see Steeljaw Scribe here). But I want to take exception with the assertion that the "two main reasons" set forth above were the most significant. As the same author notes, the Japanese plan was not necessarily to invade Australia, but to make it unusable to the Allies:

By early 1942 the Japanese had achieved their initial aim of having a defensible perimeter around their territorial gains.

A war plan of November 1941 identified areas to be rapidly occupied or destroyed as soon as the war situation permitted, and ‘important points in the Australian area’ were part of that.

But there was now disagreement between the Japanese Army and Navy leaders about what should be done next. The Army favoured continuing the offensive beyond New Britain, to include capturing Port Moresby, the Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa. This would cut off communication and supplies between Australia and the United States, thereby isolating Australia and negating its potential as a supplier of fighting personnel and commodities, and a base from which resurgent American military might could be applied against Japan’s new possessions.

The failure of that plan, as a result of the Battle of the Coral Sea, coupled with the American victory at Midway, allowed the island hopping campaign that pushed back the Japanese defense perimeter to the Japanese homeland.

It kept a vital sea line of communication open and helped seal the ultimate victory.

Three Medals of Honor were awarded for actions during the Battle, as set out here.

Sixty-five years ago.

Admiral: Asian economic prosperity depends on protecting "sea lines of communication"

Admiral Roughhead moves to a new assignment and talks about the importance of sea comerce in the Pacific, as set out here:

Adm. Gary Roughead, the Pacific Fleet commander for nearly two years, maintains that the continual economic prosperity now experienced in Asia depends on protecting "sea lines of communication" in the Pacific Basin.
***
"We who live here really understand the energy that is taking place in the Pacific today -- the trade, the increasing prosperity and the emergence of the economies here," said Roughead, who has commanded two of the Navy's most advanced warships, an Aegis destroyer and cruiser.

"As we look to the future, it is clear that our prosperity is inextricably linked to the economies that are rising. The fact of the matter is that whenever you talk about trade, you have to talk about the oceans.

"The sea lines of communications that bring the resources into Asia, the fuel, the products that Asia produces that flow out into the global market, almost all of it moves on the water. The one thing that has been clear to me ... is the recognition on the part of our friends and partners in the region that security of what we call the sea lines of communication is key to that prosperity continuing to increase."

Another article featuring Adm Roughhead and the U.S. in the Pacific here:

Roughead said officials are working on the placement of forces in the Pacific, but Hawaii and Guam will maintain critical naval presence. Hawaii has a key Navy shipyard and remains a critical node and forward base for ships, submarines and maritime patrol aircraft. The Navy is putting more submarines in Guam, which will also absorb 8,000 Marines who will relocate from Japan.

Guam “is going to figure into the Pacific Navy heavily,” he said. With the Marines’ moves, “we are looking at Apra Harbor,” the Navy’s main port and shore support in the Marianas. He envisions that Guam will support swapping of Littoral Combat Ship crews and mission modules; amphibious ships carrying Marines; and training in Guam and nearby islands.

“I see Guam as a place where the Navy and Marine Corps can move rapidly throughout the western Pacific,” he said, adding, “It’s going to become very important to us strategically.”

Sunday Ship History: The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842

May 7 marks the start of the Battle of the Coral Sea, but no discussion of that World War II battle should be had without a review of how the United States came to be involved in the Pacific Ocean to begin with.

Remember that in the early days of the Republic, the original colonies were on the Eastern seaboard, cuddled up to the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the North American continent was unexplored by those colonists, though Spain and Mexico had claims on much of the Pacific coast and the British Empire was working into the Pacific Nortwest. Lewis & Clark set out in 1804 to see if there was a water route to the Pacific and returned 2 1/2 years later having seen only a part of the territory acquired in the Louisana Purchase and starting the great westward migration. Much of country and the world was unexplored and thereby "unknown" the "civilized" world. Countries, as they had since the time of Colombus, mounted expeditions to fill in their gaps of knowledge (and, of course, empire). The voyages James Cook, of the Beagle with Charles Darwin, of Ross to seek the Northwest Passage across Canada. Great explorations fired the imaginations of the leaders of the times.

The United States was not to be left out in this race to explore. After a series of false starts and delay, there came The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842:

On August 18, 1838, six United States Navy ships left Norfolk, Virginia on an expedition to the South Pacific. On board were 424 officers and crewmen and nine scientists, setting off on a mission to explore and survey the islands of that region, investigate their commercial potential, and assert American power. The launch happened after ten years of political debate and personal disputes between various factions, but with the departure finally at hand, those on board felt the excitement of knowing they were making history.

The expedition may have discovered the continent of Antarctica (though that claim may be controversial), explored the Fiji Islands, explored the areas now part of the states of Washington, Oregon and California, including Puget Sound, the Columbia River and more.

Nathaniel Philbrick has written a fine account of the U.S. Ex-Ex, as it came to be known, in Sea of Glory: America’s Voyage of Discovery, The U.S. Exploring Expedition. This book describes the voyage as:

A journey on a scale that dwarfed the journey of Lewis and Clark, six magnificent sailing vessels and a crew of hundreds set out to map the entire Pacific Ocean—and ended up naming the newly discovered continent of Antarctica, collecting what would become the basis of the Smithsonian Institution, and much more.

From the Preface:

With the U.S. Ex. Ex., America hoped to plant its flag in the world. Literally broadening the nation’s horizons, the Expedition’s ships would cover the Pacific Ocean from top to bottom and bring the United States international renown for its scientific endeavors as well as its bravado. European expeditions had served the cause of both science and empire, providing new lands with which to augment their countries’ already far-flung possessions around the world. The United States, on the other hand, had more than enough unexplored territory within its own borders. Commerce, not colonies, was what the U.S. was after. Besides establishing a stronger diplomatic presence throughout the Pacific, the Expedition sought to provide much-needed charts to American whalers, sealers, and China traders. Decades before America surveyed and mapped its own interior, this government-sponsored voyage of discovery would enable a young, determined nation to take its first tentative steps toward becoming an economic world power.

The Expedition was to attempt two forays south—one from Cape Horn, the other from Sydney, Australia, during the relatively warm months of January, February, and March. The time in between was to be spent surveying the islands of the South Pacific—particularly the little-known Fiji Group. The Expedition’s other priority was the Pacific Northwest. In the years since Lewis and Clark had ventured to the mouth of the Columbia River, the British and their Hudson’s Bay Company had come to dominate what was known as the Oregon territory. In hopes of laying the basis for the government’s future claim to the region, the Ex. Ex. was to complete the first American survey of the Columbia, and would continue down the coast to California’s San Francisco Bay, then still a part of Mexico. By the conclusion of the voyage—after stops at Manila, Singapore, and the Cape of Good Hope—the Expedition would become the last all-sail naval squadron to circumnavigate the world.

By any measure, the achievements of the Expedition would be extraordinary. After four years at sea, after losing two ships and twenty-eight officers and men, the Expedition logged 87,000 miles, surveyed 280 Pacific islands, and created 180 charts—some of which were still being used as late as World War II. The Expedition also mapped 800 miles of coastline in the Pacific Northwest and 1,500 miles of the icebound Antarctic coast. Just as important would be its contribution to the rise of science in America. The thousands of specimens and artifacts amassed by the Expedition’s scientists would become the foundation of the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Indeed, without the Ex. Ex., there might never have been a national museum in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Botanic Garden, the U.S. Hydrographic Office, and the Naval Observatory all owe their existence, in varying degrees, to the Expedition.

As noted here:

Lieutenant Charles Wilkes commanded the expedition. At the time of his appointment he was in charge of the Depot of Charts and Instruments at Washington, D.C., an organization now known as the Naval Observatory. His experience in coastal surveying and planetary physics made him an ideal candidate for the position, but he was a junior lieutenant in terms of time-in-rank, which in the perquisite-conscious Navy was a serious shortcoming. Several senior lieutenants had to be passed over in appointing Wilkes, some of whom the Navy now assigned to serve under him. He also had relatively little sea duty, only about 6 years, less than many junior officers.

Being a peaceful expedition of discovery, the ships were stripped of heavy armament and its space was given over to scientific exploration. The nine civilian scientists, referred to as the "scientifics" by the sailors, were tasked with observing and describing the resources of the various islands. These men were among the most able in their fields: James D. Dana, Minerologist, Charles Pickering, Naturalist, Joseph P. Couthouy, Conchologist, Horatio C. Hale, Ethnographer, William Rich, Botanist, William D. Brackenridge, Horticulturalist, Titan Ramsay Peale, Naturalist, and Joseph Drayton and Alfred Agate, the two artists, or "draughtsmen."

Wilkes appears to have been a difficult man to work for, but he did get the job done. In 1840, he headed his ships south:

After enjoying Christmas Day in Sydney, the squadron departed on 26 December for Antarctic waters at the height of the summer season. They were stocked with ten months' provisions for their three-month voyage in case they became trapped in the ice and special care had been taken to make sure the ships were well caulked against leaks. Crewmen made hurricane shelters for themselves over their berthing for extra comfort from the weather and Wilkes performed inspections of the crew's uniforms twice a day in order to make sure they were dressed properly for the weather conditions.
***
Vincennes and Porpoise first saw icebergs on 10 January at 61° 08' S latitude and 162°32' E longitude. They became more numerous and soon formed a barrier preventing passage further south. The ships followed the barrier to the west, looking for an opening. Because of Wilkes' desire to be the first to confirm the existence of an Antarctic continent and the punctiliousness that he practiced and demanded of his officers, some events of the next few days later became controversial. The published narrative of the expedition asserted that on 15 January Lieutenant Ringgold of Porpoise first claimed to see mountains in the distance. The next day all three ships reported that land was visible, and so Wilkes dated the discovery of Antarctica from that date. Eager to maximize the opportunity for gathering information, two days later Wilkes told the other ships that they no longer needed to remain in company and should rendezvous at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand in March. On the morning of 19 January he asserted land was most certainly visible.

The dates of these sightings became controversial after the completion of the expedition because of the manner in which they were recorded, or not recorded, in the ships' logbooks and the fact that a French expedition under Dumont D'Urville was also in the same waters and recorded discovery of land on the afternoon of the 19th. Who was first is still a point of dispute. On the afternoon of 19 January, D'Urville in his ship Astrolabe had sighted an explosed rock on an island, and in a style worthy of the great explorers of centuries before, landed on it with a French flag and claimed the continent for France, naming it Adelie in honor of his wife. They then sailed on, like the Exploring Expedition, seeking a way to it through the ice barrier. On 30 January at 135°E longitude, Astrolabe and Peacock sighted each other. After weeks of sailing in the desolate climate, the sight of another ship was a welcome one - at least at first. The two tried to come within hailing distance, but through a misinterpretation of each other's maneuvers both commanders came to the conclusion that the other wished to avoid contact. They sailed on, each convinced of the other's rudeness.

The voyage may not have ended in the triumph Wilkes would have wanted, but the gain in knowledge of the Pacific was significant.

Just about 100 years after Wilkes brought remnants of his fleet back to New York, the great sea battles of the Pacific erupted in the waters he traveled and mapped. Even Pearl Harbor may owe something to Wilkes:

In 1840... Commodore Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, under orders to chart the islands of the Pacific for the U.S. Government, called at Oahu. During his visit, Kamehameha III requested him to make a survey of Pearl Harbor. The chart resulting from his work represents the first technical work by the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor. It is interesting to note that this survey was limited to sounding across the bar and through the channel only as far as Bishop's Point or just within the land-locked area. Some of the landmarks noted on this chart still stand, but the Hawaiian Dredging Company's camp at Watertown occupies the location marked as a "Poi Village."

In referring to Pearl Harbor, Commodore Wilkes stated that "the inlet has somewhat the appearance of a lagoon that has been partly filled up by alluvial deposits" and expressed the opinion that "if the water upon the bar should be deepened, which I doubt not can be effected, it would afford the best and most capacious harbor in the Pacific."

How right he was.

As a beneficiary of the work of the Expedition, the Smithsonian, fittingly, has a nice guide here

Port Security: The Hong Kong Model

Reported here:

While U.S. ports scan about 5 percent of the containers moving over their docks, workers at the Port of Hong Kong use sophisticated radiation and gamma-ray screeners to peer into every single outgoing container at two of the port's busiest terminals.

"The approach was that if it could work in a port as busy as Hong Kong, it can work anywhere," said Jackie Wong, Hong Kong's top port security official.
***
On a recent misty morning inside a control room at Modern Terminals, a private company that runs one of Hong Kong's nine mega-terminals, security officials stood by a bank of flat-screen monitors overlooking a sea of containers. Every year, Modern Terminals moves the equivalent of 5.4 million 20-foot containers through Hong Kong, nearly three times as many as Charleston's terminals.

Outside, a truck hauling a maroon container rumbled through a portal that looked something like an X-ray machine you might see at a dental office, though much larger. The portal contained machines that used gamma rays to scan the inside of the container, while digital cameras captured images of the container's unique identification numbers.

The truck then rolled through a second portal that measured radiation levels. Inside the control room, images popped up on the monitors showing that this particular container held a car. All this data went into a bank of computer servers for storage.

The entire process took about 12 seconds.

"Every truck that comes through the main gate will come through here," said Ronald Cheng, security coordinator for Modern Terminals. "So now you can transfer all this information well before the ship arrives in the U.S. It's all done on real time."

Some clueless people, among whom is Senator Schumer, don't seem to understand that Hong Kong and other foreign ports are exactly the right place to have this technology:

As for scanning 100 percent of the nation's containers before they enter U.S. waters, a top customs official said in March that the concept is unproven and too expensive, "basically an impossible task" that's "unrealistic at this point in time."

Not everyone thinks so. In late March, a group called WakeUpWalMart.com (see here) began airing TV ads juxtaposing images of a nuclear explosion, Osama bin Laden and a container ship. The ad accuses Wal-Mart of putting America's security at risk by lobbying against the 100 percent scanning concept. Wal-Mart officials called the ads tasteless and said they don't oppose 100 percent scanning; they just don't believe the technology exists to do it efficiently.

Earlier this year, Democrats pushed for 100 percent scanning. One of the biggest cheerleaders was Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, who visited Hong Kong last year and testified in a hearing that, "Hong Kong is more advanced than any American port I've seen, and we should be ashamed they inspect every container and we don't." Republican lawmakers, buoyed by concerns from retailers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and shipping interests, opposed Schumer's push, and the issue petered out in the Senate several weeks ago.

Look, the point is to screen containers before they are put on a ship bound for the U.S. If the Hong Kong project works, as does ship monitoring, then there is no reason to have to rescreen all these containers as they enter the U.S. Schumer should be ashamed that he's so clueless, as should the reporter who got this story wrong. As noted in an earlier post, what has been said by the Homeland Security people and Wal-Mart is:

Some say America's best chance at preventing terrorists from sneaking bombs into the ports is to require all cargo containers to go through radiation and imaging detection equipment overseas. Just two weeks ago, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) convinced his colleagues to amend their 9/11 Commission Bill to require the Department of Homeland Security to come up with a plan for 100 percent scanning.

But others, including Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, have advised against prematurely making a commitment to scanning all cargo at foreign ports. They have argued that America ought to wait for the results from a pilot project starting this year at several foreign ports before setting deadlines for scanning all containers.

Wal-Mart, along with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, say they support 100 percent scanning "in concept," according to Traynhman.

"But it's our understanding that the technology is not ready," he said.

If the SAIC systems is ready, so much the better, but the screening should be done offshore, not in our ports.

SAIC port security product info here, here and here.

While I was out...

Hard day at the office, followed by a dash up I-85/95 to the site of the MilBlog Conference. Arrived very late but in time to meet some people at the reception and stayed until they began pulling the rug out from under.

I toddled off to find some sleep, while the cool kids went off in search of further adventure (see here).

Glad that I got some rest, because I actually made it to the start of the conference and was stunned by the opening welcome: Video (h/t: Gateway Pundit):

Wow!

RADM Fox followed on a VTC link from Iraq and I became a spectator to some remarkable people who have made the MilBlogs a community that deserves such respect. The first two panels were both terrific, featuring as they did "bloggers who have been there" (including Doc and Sgt Hook from the "troop" side and Bill Roggio and Bill Ardolino from the "embed" blogger side).

The second panel was "All in the Family" with a simply awesome group of bloggers who have not only had to deal with the issues of being family members of soldier,sailors, Marines and airmen, but who have reached out to others in their situation with advice and listening ear for those to whom the experience is new or strange (especially, as part of the panel noted, to the families of National Guard and reserve members who do not live near military communities and cannot find common ground with others going through the experience). I know as a deploying sailor that 99% my days were spent doing boring or routine stuff - but I hadn't really thought of the fact that the people you leave behind are caught up in 24/7 concern over your well-being. The families hunger for news - of any kind. Communications having changed so much since I first deployed (6-8 weeks between letters), I hope that unit commanders are using group emails for weekly newsletters just letting family members know that PFC or Seaman Jones's birthday did not pass unnoticed or that showers are available or whatever. The panel was inspiring, as was their guest speaker, Mike Stokely talking of his son, killed in combat, see here.

An underlying theme of these sessions was "bloggers v MSM" which came to its head in Session 3, the panel on which I sat (old guy, beard at far right) when Noah Shachtman offered himself up to defeat myths of the MSM. Not really my field of expertise. The discussion devolved (as I recall it) into Public Affairs and their role and whether units ought to have "unit bloggers." In my view there is a fine line to be drawn between "getting the word out" (good) and engaging in "info ops" (spinning the facts- bad). We all try to walk that line. Any editing and selection of facts to present in writing can be considered spin. If the report is that 9 U.S. troops died in Iraq today that's a fact, but it ignores the fact that 240,000 troops did not die in Iraq today. I gather that the anger of many of the crowd toward the MSM was the selective manner of the reported stories -bad news leads, never story of a successful school opening or new well being dug. These stories are underreported even in blogs. And, if posted, seem to pass without comment. When Slab suggested unit blogging, he may have meant either "combat cameramen" or a guy from the 47th Army Reserve Well Drilling unit. In my view they both have an important story to tell. Let's get reports from the SeaBees/Engineers and the contracting officers who are building up Iraq's infrastructure. The major ground combat is over and all those "nation-building things" need to be covered. Heck, pay my way and I'll embed to cover them. Of course, my comments are written with 20/20 hindsight. I took at whack at the MSM reporting to the depth where it puts people's lives at risk. Thanks to those who invited me to sit on the panel with so many bloggers I admire.

Lorie Byrd covered panel 4 better than I could here. The panel was Moderator Chuck Z, Sandra Edens for Sew Much Comfort, Roxie Merritt for OSD/America Supports You, Patti Patton-Bader for Soldier's Angels, and Mary Ann Phillips for Soldier's Angels Germany. You know, people who are making a difference in other people's lives. When persons speak of "supporting the troops" they should follow these examples.

It was fun to put faces to names when there was time to meet and greet. Lex, Noonan, SteelJaw Scribe, Curt from Chaotic Synaptic Activity, Fred Fry, Bill Roggio, Sgt Hook, Fuzzy Bear Lioness, DadManly, Lorie Byrd, SMASH (yes, he was there), Ward Carroll of Military.com, streiff from RedState, AW1 Tim (who often comments here), Andi, Matt from BlackFive. And so many more who were kind enough to take the time to chat.

The conference was great! Andi did a wonderful job and deserves more than simple words can offer. Thanks to her and to everyone else who put it together. And thanks to Soldiers Angels and all the others who really do support the troops.

And thanks to the troops and their families!

Off to Milblog Conference

Going to be quiet afternoon and evening here as I head off to the Milblog Conference. Naturally my trusty old iBook has chosen to go toes up the day before departure, leaving me with few good options for blogging on Friday night or Saturday (until my return home). Murphy's Law, I suppose.

If you aren't going to be at the Conference in person, you can catch the Webcast (Starting Saturday at (good Grief!) 8am)) and, if you've got the desire, participate in the Chat Room.

The non-traveling part of my Friday is looking like rather hectic. Which means the traveling part will have to be high speed, low drag. Yikes!

How's that song go? Sorta like:

DC bound and down, loaded up and truckin',
We gonna do what they say can't be done.
We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.
I'm DC bound, just watch ol' "Eagle One".

My apologies to Jerry Reed.
UPDATE: Making this a "sticky" by moving the time forward.

Global Sea Base Concept test

Reported and explained here:

The leased U.S. Navy catamaran Swift -- "High Speed Vessel" in milspeak -- is headed to Latin America to test the Navy's new "Global Fleet Station" concept, which envisions transport ships acting as miniature sea bases, hauling and supporting contingents of engineers, boat crews, civil affairs specialists and doctors, all specializing in stabilizing and rebuilding failing states.

Navy Press Release here. Photo caption:

High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift, along with Commander Task Group 40.9, is deploying as part of the Global Fleet Station (GFS) pilot to the Caribbean Basin and Central America. This deployment is designed to analyze the GFS concept for the Navy, by enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for the participating partner nations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Holly Boynton

Inflation adjusted gasoline prices from Chart of the Day

Found at Chart of the Day:

Gasoline prices continue to surge as geopolitical tensions continue and suppliers struggle to keep up with demand. Over the last three months, the average US price for a gallon of unleaded has shot up over 80 cents per gallon and is once again near the psychological $3.00 per gallon level. It is also worth noting that, when adjusted for inflation, gasoline prices are not far off the inflation-adjusted peak of $3.29 that occurred back in 1981.

Protecting cruise ships

Security Zones to begin, as set out here:

The summer 2007 tourist season will start next week, with the arrival of this year's first cruise ship. As in years past, the Coast Guard will be enforcing the High Capacity Passenger Vessel (HCPV) and Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) security zone.

An HCP vessel is defined as a passenger vessel over 100 feet in length that is authorized to carry more than 500 passengers for hire. An AMHS vessel is defined as any vessel owned or operated by the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The security zone extends 100 yards around and under all escorted HCP and/or AMHS vessels during their transit in the navigable waters of Alaska. The security zone will only be in effect when there is a designated on scene representative present during the escort of the HCP or AMHS vessel.

The HCP or AMHS vessels will be accompanied by one or more Coast Guard, Federal, State or local law enforcement agencies (surface or air assets). These are called the "designated on scene representatives".

No person or vessel (except commercial fishing vessels while actively engaged in fishing) may enter the security zone unless authorized by the designated on scene representative.

Small boat security planning

As reported here:

Top maritime, federal and state government officials have been invited to attend a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Small Vessel Security Summit in June.

The DHS said that during the two-day invitation-only event, participants will discuss ideas for improving security for vessels not covered by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
***
"We want to hear ideas from the people who regularly use our ports and waterways to determine how we can better structure new safety and security regimes that will have a minimal impact on those who rely on our waterways for their livelihood, as well as recreation," Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said.

"We've done a great deal in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to secure our ports from potential threats posed by commercial ships, but we know very little about the 77 million U.S. boaters or the 13 million recreational vessels that ply U.S. waters."

Future U. S. Maritime Strategy?

It's being worked on, the future Maritime Stratgy, that is, as set out here:

Navy officials are looking to adopt a new strategy for fighting terrorism over the next 15 to 20 years, said Dr. Andrew Winner, a professor of strategic studies at the Naval War College in Providence.
***
Winner said he and his colleagues have been working over nine months to develop a “strategic framework for thinking about what the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard ought to be doing” in terms of national security. He said the last maritime security strategy was developed over 20 years ago.

“I don’t think we have a national security strategy that looks out into the future right now,” Winner said.
***
Traditionally, the U.S. has only faced state-based threats. Winner said these threats include North Korea, Iran and Pakistan. However, countries such as China and Russia could potentially be threats based on their relationship with the U.S. in recent years. In the ongoing India-Pakistan standoff, maintaining stability is critical, Winner said.

“Pakistan is a huge issue,” Winner said, because of the country’s ethnic makeup, nuclear capabilities and terrorist presence. Many military officials have speculated that Pakistan is where Osama bin Laden is taking refuge. Non-traditional states, such as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Shiite radicals also pose a huge problem. ***
Q: Is the U.S. Maritime Strategy classified or is it available to the public?

A: There’s no strategy yet. The Naval War College came up with five different options, which we were able to whittle down to three plans to present to the navy. These plans are currently under review and a final strategy will be released in the fall, under the current plan. This will be a public document, upon release.

Good backgrounder on "Africom"

From the Council on Foreign Relations The Pentagon’s New Africa Command:

hree U.S. regional commands currently share responsibility for American security issues in Africa. The Europe Command is responsible for the largest swath of the continent: North Africa, West Africa (including the Gulf of Guinea), and central and southern Africa. The Central Command covers the Horn of Africa—including Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Sudan—as well as Egypt. The Pacific Command is responsible for Madagascar, the Seychelles, and the Indian Ocean area off the African coast.

Because Africa has been subsumed under other regional commands, the continent has never been a priority for the U.S. military. “Africa has been divided up and been the poor stepchild in each of these different commands and not gotten the full attention it deserves,” Susan Rice, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Clinton administration’s assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told NPR.

The Pentagon has floated plans for a unified command for over ten years. Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld convened a planning team for such a command in mid-2006, and in December, President Bush authorized its creation. The president announced the command in February 2007, stating that it “will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy, and economic growth in Africa.” Ambassador Robert G. Loftis, senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of Political and Military Affairs and a member of the Africa Command transition team, says the command will promote “a greater unity of effort across the government.” He notes that aid to Africa under President Bush has tripled since 2001, but “if we don’t have security in Africa, a lot of that development assistance will not be helpful.”

Somali pirates grab 3 Finnish fishing boats

Reported here:

Pirates have hijacked three Finnish fishing vessels off the coast of Somalia's semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland, a maritime official said on Thursday.

"We are still investigating the nationality and the number of the crew as well as the ownership of the vessels," Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenyan branch of the Seafarers Assistance Programme, told AFP.

He said an unspecified number of gunmen hijacked the boats early on Wednesday.

It should be noted that the Somali pirates have asserted, on occasion, that they are the de facto Coast Guard of Somalia, trying to protect Somali fishing waters and its EEZ from incursion and exploitation by foreign forces. See here (Somaliland v. Yemen on fishing), here (US Navy asked to protect Somali waters) and here (contains a discussion of territorial waters and EEZ).

On the other hand, they might be pirates, capturing crews and ships for ransom, which is probably way more profitable than fishing or farming.

INSTANT UPDATE: Not surprisingly, there seems to be some confusion in the initial reports. The BBC says:

Three foreign trawlers are being held in the semi-autonomous Somali area of Puntland for fishing illegally.

Puntland official Abshir Abdi Jama said the boats were seized last week and denied reports they had been hijacked.

The Finnish ambassador in Kenya has denied initial reports that the trawlers are from Finland, saying he had been told they were from Egypt.
***
Earlier, Kenyan maritime officials expressed fears that the trawlers had been hijacked by pirates.

"The vessels captured belonged to some Arab and European countries and we have still not made contact with their governments," Mr Jama said.

Fallout from a coup in North Carolina: Jail terms - but how do we get our government back?

Following the 2002 elections in North Carolina, the Republicans should have had a majority in the state legislature. Except that a couple of corrupt politicians managed to void the election and the Democrats kept power for the 2003 General Assembly. Much of what happened is set out in this opinion piece from the Charlotte Obersver. The key players were the then Speaker of the House, Jim Black (D) and Michael Decker (Republican who accepted a bribe to convert to Democrat).

Judge James Dever didn't miss his calling, but if he had become a preacher or teacher, he'd have done just fine from the pulpit or the lectern.

When he laid down the law Friday and sentenced former state Rep. Michael Decker to four years in prison for instigating the worst corruption scandal in modern state history, his lecture on the devastating costs of dishonesty in public office and his sermon on the evils of greed for money and power were riveting.

Former House Speaker Jim Black wasn't in the courtroom, but Dever made it clear he believed Decker and Black conspired in a three-year scheme to defraud their legislative colleagues, hoodwink voters and betray a tradition of honest service when Black bribed Decker to switch parties and support him for speaker.

It's a shame the N.C. General Assembly wasn't present to hear the judge's view of what happened. There would have been a lot of seat-squirming -- and possibly some dawning understanding of how bad this really was.

Here's some of what Dever said during a sentencing hearing that rambled over five hours and two breaks:

"Mr. Decker sold his office for money, and Speaker Black bought it for power."

Their scheme to thwart the 2002 election and wrest control of the House "was breathtaking in its purpose and scope."

Their deal created "a profound loss of public confidence in North Carolina government."

The two "did not operate in shades of gray or merely outmaneuver their opponents," but "attacked the core of representative government" in North Carolina.

Decker and Black "duped all members of the General Assembly" and the public in a conspiracy that "fuels public perception of corruption."

The two "engaged in an epic betrayal" of their oath of office, their constituents, their colleagues and all former members of the General Assembly, "living or dead."

Their conspiracy "adds currency to the false notion that every member" of the legislature is for sale and "all politicians are corrupt. They are not."

Decker gets 4 years, Black is yet to be sentenced:

Dever gave Decker a longer sentence than prosecutors wanted and a $50,000 fine because of the damage caused by the bribery and extortion scheme. It resulted in legislation that might never have passed the legislature without the conspiracy. I don't even think we'd have a lottery, which passed in 2005, without Black's clinging to power in the 2003 session and surviving another term.

Prosecutors thought Decker deserved a much shorter sentence because he volunteered to cooperate in March 2006 after finding he could not live with the crimes he had committed. He told prosecutors he had promised Black he would support him for speaker for $50,000 and a staff job that went to his son.

Decker then switched parties and helped thwart Republican control of the 2003 legislature and led to a co-speakership with Black and Republican Rep. Richard Morgan that year. In 2005, Democrats regained control and Black served a fourth term as speaker, arguably the most powerful in legislative history, until things fell apart a year ago. He has pleaded guilty in federal and state courts and is to be sentenced in mid-May.

I doubt North Carolina will be winning any awards for good government in the immediate future. "Third world-like" may be a more apt description.

How do the citizens get the government they elected in 2002 back? Coups like this in a true third-world country might have resulted in people being lined up against walls. Decker is lucky that parts of the rule of law are intact. Black better be planning on a long prison stay.

Chavez completes takeover of Venezuela's oil fields

Reported as Takeover of oil fields in Venezuela is complete, though there's more to the story:

President Hugo Chavez's government took over Venezuela's last privately run oil fields Tuesday, intensifying a power struggle with international companies over the world's largest known single petroleum deposit.

Newly bought Russian-made fighter jets streaked through the sky as Chavez shouted "Down with the U.S. empire!" to thousands of red-clad oil workers, calling the state takeover a historic victory for Venezuela after years of U.S.-backed corporate exploitation.

"The nationalization of Venezuela's oil is now for real," said Chavez, who declared that for Venezuela to be a socialist state it must have control over its natural resources.
***
While the state takeover had been planned for some time, BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, France's Total and Norway's Statoil remain locked in a struggle with the Chavez government over the terms and conditions under which they will be allowed to stay on as minority partners.

All but Houston-based ConocoPhillips signed agreements last week agreeing in principle to state control, and ConocoPhillips said Tuesday that it too was cooperating.

Analysts say the companies have leverage because the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, cannot transform the Orinoco's tarlike crude into marketable oil without their investment and experience.

U.S. Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism 2006

U. S. Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism 2006 is found here.

U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. This annual report is entitled Country Reports on Terrorism. Beginning with the report for 2004, it replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism.

The report covers developments in countries in which acts of terrorism occurred, countries that are state sponsors of terrorism, and countries determined by the Secretary to be of particular interest in the global war on terror. As provided in the legislation, the report reviews major developments in bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation as well.

The report also provides information on terrorist groups responsible for the death, kidnapping, or injury of Americans, any umbrella groups to which they might belong, groups financed by state sponsors of terrorism, reports on all terrorist organizations on the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list, and other terrorist groups determined by the Secretary to be relevant to the report.

Beginning with the report for 2005, Country Reports on Terrorism will also address terrorist sanctuaries and terrorist attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction. It will also include statistical information provided by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) on the number of individuals killed, injured, or kidnapped by terrorist groups.

From Chapter 1:

Several states continue to sponsor terrorism. Iran remains the most significant state sponsor of terrorism and continues to threaten its neighbors and destabilize Iraq by providing weapons, training, advice, and funding to select Iraqi Shia militants. Syria, both directly and in coordination with Hizballah, has attempted to undermine the elected Government of Lebanon and roll back progress toward democratization in the Middle East. Syria also supports some Iraqi Baathists and militants and has continued to allow foreign fighters and terrorists to transit through its borders into Iraq.

***
...we have seen a trend toward guerrilla terrorism, where the organization seeks to grow the team close to its target, using target country nationals. Through intermediaries, web-based propaganda, and subversion of immigrant expatriate populations, terrorists inspire local cells to carry out attacks which they then exploit for propaganda purposes. This circumvents the need to insert a team across borders or clandestinely transfer funds and materiel. The 2004 Madrid bombing, the London attacks of July 2005, and the thwarted August 2006 attempt to attack passenger jets operating from British airports include elements of this approach.
***
A deeper trend is the shift in the nature of terrorism, from traditional international terrorism of the late 20th century into a new form of transnational non-state warfare that resembles a form of global insurgency. This represents a new era of warfare, and countering this threat demands the application of counterinsurgency techniques that focus on protecting, securing, and winning the support of at-risk populations, in addition to targeting violent extremist networks and individual terrorists.

State sponsors of terrorism, as set out here are identified as Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Sudan. Reading this, could lead to the conclusion that Venezuelajust missed the cut:

In reviewing Venezuela's overall level of cooperation in U.S. efforts to fight terrorism, the Secretary of State certified Venezuela as "not fully cooperating" with U.S. antiterrorism efforts. ***
President Hugo Chavez persisted in public criticism of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, deepened Venezuelan relationships with Iran and Cuba, and was unwilling to prevent Venezuelan territory from being used as a safe haven by the FARC and ELN, effectively flouting UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1540, which form part of the legal basis of international counterterrorism efforts.

Chavez' ideological sympathy for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) limited Venezuelan cooperation with Colombia in combating terrorism. FARC and ELN units often crossed into Venezuelan territory to rest and regroup with relative impunity. Splinter groups of the FARC and another designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the United Self- Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), operated in various parts of Venezuela and were involved in narcotrafficking.

It remained unclear to what extent the Venezuelan government provided material support to Colombian terrorists. However, limited amounts of weapons and ammunition -- some from official Venezuelan stocks and facilities -- have turned up in the hands of Colombian terrorist organizations. The Venezuelan government did not systematically police the 1,400-mile Venezuelan-Colombian border to prevent the movement of groups of armed terrorists or to interdict arms or the flow of narcotics.

Some interesting deescriptions of terrorist groups here:

Hizballah remains the most technically capable terrorist group in the world. It has strong influence in Lebanon's Shia community, which comprises about one-third of Lebanon's population. The Lebanese government still recognizes Hizballah as a legitimate "resistance group" and political party. Hizballah maintains offices in Beirut and elsewhere in the country, has official liaison officers to the security services, claims 14 elected officials in the 128-seat Lebanese National Assembly and was represented in the Cabinet for the first time, by the Minister of Water and Electricity Mohammed Fneish, until his resignation, along with other Shia ministers on November 11, 2006. Hizballah has largely withdrawn its military presence from southern Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 1701, although likely maintains weapons caches in southern Lebanon and justifies its continued arms status by claiming to act in defense of Lebanon against acts of Israeli aggression, such as regular Israeli overflights of Lebanese airspace. Hizballah alleges that Israel has not withdrawn completely from Lebanese territory because, in Hizballah's view, the Shebaa Farms and other areas belong to Lebanon. Hizballah supports a variety of violent anti-Western groups, including Palestinian terrorist organizations. This support includes the covert provision of weapons, explosives, training, funding, and guidance, as well as overt political support.
***
The Southeast Asia-based Jemaah Islamiya (JI) is a terrorist group that seeks the establishment of an Islamic caliphate spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and the southern Philippines. More than 300 JI operatives, including operations chief Hambali, have been captured since 2002. Several are no longer incarcerated, however, including JI emir Abu Bakar Bashir who was released from prison in 2006 after serving a 25-month sentence for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings. The death of top JI bombmaker Azahari bin Husin in November 2005, and further arrests of several close associates of senior JI operative Noordin Mat Top in 2006 likely disrupted JI's anti-Western attacks­ that occurred annually from 2002-2005.

Many other groups in that section, including the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) of Sri Lanka , Shining Path of Peru (killed over 35,000), FARC, and way too many others. The Tamil Tigers are singled out as innovators in the world of terrorism:

Many LTTE innovations, such as explosive belts, vests, and bras, using female suicide bombers, and waterborne suicide attacks against ships, have been copied by other terrorist groups.

Interesting reading and worth a visit.

A bitter look at Kosovo

Found here:

To a large extent, the Kosovo war was a gang warfare. The Serb criminal organization known as Yugoslavia against the Albanian gang known as the KLA. It was a war over turf and lucrative businesses. In what used to be the Third World and moreso in the post-communist countries in transition, criminal activities often accompany "wars of liberation". In Congo, in Sierra Leone, in Chechnyia, in Kashmir - wars are as much about diamonds, oil and opium poppies as about national aspirations. Kosovo is no exception but it was here that the West was duped into intervention. NATO was called upon to arbiter between two crime gangs. There is no end to the mischievous irony of history.

Ouch.

And some odd irony found here:

he day after Ramush Haradinaj resigned as Kosovo's prime minister, Sen. Joseph Biden, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised him as a patriot and a statesman.

"I want to publicly salute him for his personal courage," said Biden (D-Del.), who described Haradinaj as a young man who looked like he could lift an ox out of a ditch.

The U.S. State Department, French foreign ministry and United Nations also were generous in their praise for the 38-year-old political leader—a nice send-off for a fellow who had just been indicted by the international war crimes tribunal in the abduction, torture and murder of 40 of his countrymen and women.

Other than that, he's a real role model.

Gasoline supplies

Don't panic, depsite what the first part of piece says. I'll bet the man from the NPRA is more correct:

Charlie Drevna, executive vice president of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association described the Iowa shortages as isolated incidents that do not represent broad supply problems. "We've got a pretty sophisticated supply and distribution system in this country," he said. "We're pretty good at adapting and getting fuel to the areas where they need it."

A series of refinery accidents and outages, including shutdowns in Texas, Indiana and Oklahoma, have contributed to the recent decline in gas supplies. The Energy Department released data last week showing an unexpected drop of 2.8 million barrels in nationwide gasoline stockpiles, as refinery utilization declined to roughly 88 percent of capacity.

Port of Los Angeles Tightens Security and so do others

LA's port increases security, as set out here:

he port of Los Angeles in southern California is tightening its ship emission policy and boosting maritime security, the port's executive director said in an interview on Tuesday.

Amid concerns about securing the U.S. borders and preventing potential terror attacks at strategic facilities, the port has doubled its police force to 200 and increased surveillance of ships with the help of more cameras and patrol boats.

"We are increasing our physical presence in the port," Dr. Geraldine Knatz said. "We are installing a new screening system at the cruise passenger terminal this year."

The Port of LA is not alone in improving maritime security, as indicated here in a piece on the Arabian Gulf states:

Maritime security is extremely important and the fact that the regional states have taken a constructive step in discussing the situation and setting up mechanism with a jointly-drawn strategy is very encouraging, for “it cannot be achieved by one country alone,” a senior official of the International Organisation (IMO) stressed here.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Chris Trelawny, who represented the IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios Mitropoulos, to the first-of-its-kind Regional Seminar on Maritime Security in the Arabian Gulf, highlighted that “maritime security is a complex exercise as it encompasses a number of things such as prevention pollution, protection of the marine environment, countering piracy, terrorism, armed robberies against ships, drugs and weapons smuggling, illegal migration as well as human trafficking.”
***
“Common sense tells us that we cannot achieve security in isolation. If, despite our own best efforts in our own territories, our neighbours, albeit advertently, provide a haven for those who would wish to do us harm, then no one can claim to be genuinely secure...”

Historical Top Level Correspondence at Steeljaw Scribe

SJS manages to reveal the inner workings of "Big Government" as it used to be here.

Latest ICC CCS Wekly Piracy Report (to 1 May 07)

ICC Commercial Crime Services Weekly Piracy Report found here. Highlights among various boardings of ships by robbers:

29.04.2007: 0435 LT: Posn 01:05.60N - 103:28.20E, Off Karimun Island, Singapore Straits.
Four robbers boarded a chemical tanker at anchor via the poop deck by using hooks attached to a rope. Ship's crew tried to prevent them from boarding but failed. The robbers entered the engine room by breaking the engine room door lock. The robbers caught the duty wiper. They stole engine spares and escaped. Authorities informed. Indonesian coast guard informed their officers were on their way however, the coast guard boarded the ship on 29 April 2007 at 1115 LT and left at 1145 LT after conducting an investigation.
***
21.03.2007: 0950 LT: Posn 14:03.6N - 049:07.0E, East Coast Yemen, Gulf of Aden.
Two suspicious vessels approached a yacht underway at high speed. Alarm raised, crew mustered and activated fire hoses. Yacht increased speed and took evasive manoeuvres. Vessels aborted the attempt and moved away.

Al Qaeda's New Program: Bombs in Schools

Al Qaeda's clever way of winning "hearts and minds" - the new "Al Qaeda" Bombs in Schools" program:

U.S. soldiers in Baghdad have found and defused “numerous” improvised explosives planted in a school for girls that was set to reopen later this month, military officials said Monday.

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division searched the school in Tarmiyah after “discovering a command wire leading from the school’s outer perimeter to one of the rooms” at the school, a news release read.
***
Soldiers found five artillery shells fashioned into explosives in the classroom. In addition, two large explosive-filled propane tanks were buried underneath the school’s floor “and numerous projectiles [were] emplaced underneath electrical conduits in front of each classroom,” the release read.

Well, al Qaeda certainly teaches us a lot about themselves.

China's claimed territorial limits and Vietnam offshore gas fields

China claims a chunk of the Nam Con Son Basin about 370 kilometers off Vietnam's southeast coast, as set out here:

Just when it seemed China and Vietnam had buried their conflicting claims to the Spratly Islands, Beijing is contesting a new Hanoi-tendered, BP-led, US$2 billion natural-gas project near the rocky group of islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The flare-up marks perhaps the strongest indication yet that Beijing's soft-power overtures toward Southeast Asia are hardening when it comes to energy-security concerns.
***
The contested Moc Tinh and Hai Thach gas fields, in the Nam Con Son Basin about 370 kilometers off Vietnam's southeast coast, are both run by British energy giant BP through a production-sharing contract with state-owned PetroVietnam and in partnership with US oil firm ConocoPhillips.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on April 12 claimed that the project encroached on its territory, saying "any unilateral action taken by any other country in these waters constitutes infringement into China's sovereignty, territorial rights and jurisdiction. We are firmly opposed to this." Hanoi has countered that the multinational-led project lies in its territorial waters and exclusive economic area, consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Operations map from here.

BP operations described here. Click on images to make them bigger.

Tamil Tigers "dismantle" captured ship

Reported here:

The chairman of the Salam International Transport and Trading Company, Saeed Suleiman, said earlier this week that it was no longer possible to recover the Jordanian ship, Farah 3, which was seized by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers in December 2006.

In a statement to Al Rai newspaper, Suleiman said Tamil Tigers had actually dismantled the vessel and stolen its cargo of 14,000 tonnes of Indian rice bound for South Africa.
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Farah 3 was seized by the pirates at the end of last year when it drifted into rebel waters after developing engine trouble. The ship was scheduled to stop in the Sri Lankan port of Colombo for refuelling before continuing to South Africa.

Tamil Tiger pirates boarded the vessel firing four warning shots and forced the ship's 25 crew members to board rebel boats.

Tamil propaganda pages on crew turnover here. Earleir posts on capture here (Crew says" "It was piracy") and here (initial ppst).