Yemen Coast Guard gets some UK help

Reported here:

Yemeni and British navy forces began yesterday a three-day joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden aimed at boosting the capabilities of the Yemeni coast guard, Yemen’s official news agency Saba reported.

The exercise, in which five British naval ships were participating, was being held some 90km off the coast of the southern post city of Aden, the agency said.

“The exercise is bound to strengthen abilities of the Yemeni coast guard forces in intercepting ships and combating terrorism and sea piracy,” Saba said.

Of course, the piece indicates that Yemen is a close ally in the war of terror, though some might argue that the escape of the USS Cole bombing suspects makes that claim somewhat ironic. Jane over at Armies of Liberation always has great coverage of Yemen.

Somalia: Islamic Court takeover provides some stability

Some people are in favor of the Somali Islamic Court taking over parts of Somalia as noted here:

The stabilisation of Mogadishu after Islamist leaders ousted US-backed warlords has dealt a blow to pirates and given a boost to business in the Horn of Africa nation, a prominent Somali businessman said.
“We never had business like this before,” said Abdulkadir Nur, who manages the strategic El Maan port just north of the Somali capital, as six ships from Dubai unloaded wood, sugar and cooking oil on the beach behind him.
Considered one of the most powerful entrepreneurs in Mogadishu, Nur is a staunch supporter of the Islamic Courts. Earlier this month, in battles that killed at least 350 people, their militia ended a 15-year rule of the capital by warlords.
“Before, there was theft of trucks, kidnappings, but since the Islamic Courts have taken over, there has been no trouble,” said Nur, who chairs the Benadir Maritime and Port Operation which runs El Maan, Somalia’s largest port.
“Now Mogadishu is 90% safe. Look at the price of munitions - down. That’s good for peace, and so for business.”
Support for the Islamic Courts’ militia from local businesses tired of being extorted by warlords was considered a critical factor in their defeat.
“I am happy with the outcome of the war. Our people are 100% happy,” Nur, who has a variety of business interests, added in an interview late on Friday on the shore at El Maan.
As well as increased trade, another tangible gain from the extra security since the Islamists took over was a reduction in piracy, Nur and colleagues said.
In the absence of government since the toppling of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, local pirates had turned the waters off Somalia into some of the most dangerous in the world.
Now Nur’s colleague said the pirates are afraid.
“They heard that we have an army and that the courts have become active,” said Ahmed Moallim, a director of El Maan port.
“Before, we had two or even three attacks a day. Now, you see, the ships are coming in more safely,” he added, saying a new anti-pirate militia had been set up with more than 100 boats to patrol Somali territorial waters.

I note that Mussolini and other dictators gained power at times of chaos and tumult in their countries. Sometimes they even contributed to increasing the chaos and tumult.

More reports of improving life in Somalia here:

The thugs manning the roadblocks are gone. The warlords are on the run. And the guns in a city long regarded as among the world's most heavily armed have fallen silent. Most, in fact, have disappeared from view.

Since Islamic militias took control of this city last week, U.S. and other Western officials have worried that Mogadishu's new leaders would impose a severe, Taliban-style government and harbor terrorists. But after 15 years of deadly chaos, residents expressed nothing short of jubilation that somebody has made their city safe, and that for now, the daily crackle of gunfire is finally gone.

"Our ears are resting now," said Diiriye Jimcaale, 45, who has been unemployed since the onset of inter-clan warfare forced him to close his small clothing shop in 1991. "Now we hear nothing."

Anxiety remains, both about the militias' ability to maintain order and about the possibility that extremist elements within the movement will go too far in imposing Islamic rule.
***
Leaders of the Islamic militias have said repeatedly that they intend to negotiate with the government so that it could eventually move into Mogadishu and reunite the country. They also have said they will disarm their own militia, turn over any terrorists and not resort to extremist Islam.

"The only thing we would concentrate on is to bring peace and stability to this region," said Abdulkadir Ali Omar, the second-in-command of the Islamic militia.

Within Mogadishu, the militias already have largely succeeded in their stated goal, though the toll remains high from the long years of violence.

Moderates among the supporters of the Islamic militias acknowledge a rising extremism within the country. More women than before cover their faces rather than just their hair. Strict Islamic justice is popular. City leaders warn that without massive and rapid rebuilding, anti-Western forces such as al-Qaida are certain to grow in their appeal.
***
Several placards, handwritten in English, captured the mixture of political feelings coursing through Mogadishu.

"America Open Your Ears And Eyes," one read. Another read, with broken syntax, "Democracy Go To The Hell."

He may get his wish...

Father's Day 2006

Been out of pocket for a couple of days. My two sons cooked up a trip with dear old Dad to Gettysburg.

Overnight camping, battlefield tour and books covering the battle were part of the deal. The books are good, but not until you walk the ground does it all become clear. Five minutes sooner to Little Round Top by the Confederate force and we might have needed a passport to cross the Mason Dixon line...

Golf at #1 son's local course in Newport News. Some excellent meals. Some shared expenses.

The shared experience, of course, is beyond value.

I am a very blessed man.

And a salute to my own dad, who set the example I try to follow.

Unnecessary U.S. deaths - government official says "devastating"

Another day, another milestone.

Senseless deaths at record levels in 2005 as reported here:

Total U.S. traffic deaths in 2005 reached 43,200, according to the statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Every year this country experiences a national tragedy that is as preventable as it is devastating," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a statement.

Some 16,972 of those deaths were alcohol related.

During the period from 2003 to 2006, over 120,000 Americans will have been killed getting from Point A to Point B.

UPDATE: Projecting from 2003 and 2004 figures,California alone will have over 3300 deaths from incidents involving a driver with a blood alcohol level above .08 for the period 2003 through 2006. Did I mention totally preventable?

A warning for the Northern Arabian/Persian* Gulf

Found here:

Government vessels of every nation state may query commercial vessels requesting information concerning the vessel’s identification and the activity in which it is engaged.

However, we have received an increasing number of reports from commercial vessels, including fishing vessels, of incidents of harassment by small craft. These incidents are occurring in the Northern Persian Gulf. . The small craft have an official look about them and some are clearly armed. Persons on board the small craft, representing themselves as Iranian authorities, have coerced the operators of the commercial vessels to allow them to board. Many of these boarding have resulted in the mental and physical abuse of the master and/or crew of the commercial vessel, up to and including extortion and armed robbery of Ship’s equipment; Cargo; Personnel property; and Cash.

Although no deaths have been reported, the approaching onset of an active fishing season raises the possibility of more incidents of this nature.

While we do not in any way encourage physical resistance to an armed assault, we do encourage vessel owners and operators to consider carefully the areas in which they operate or transit.

You know, like stay farther away from Persia uh- Iran.

* Iran has now banned The Economist magazine for referring to the the sea area off Iran as "the Gulf" instead of as the "Persian Gulf" on a map in a recent issue as reported here. The Persian JournaL says that as a result, nothing in The Economist can be trusted:

Why should anyone trust Economist magazine reports anymore, when they 'alter the historical fact' to appease arabs today, tomorrow they will alter the news to appease another readers. That makes magazines like Economist nothing but just 'another worthless tabloids'.

In the mean time, Iran has banned The Economist magazine for describing the Persian Gulf as merely "the Gulf" in a map published in the latest edition, state television reported late Wednesday.

I kinda thought "the Gulf" was sorta of a nice compromise, but there seems to be no pleasing some people. I guess magazines should abandon the use of "Beijing" and revert to "Peking", etc. so as to prove they are not slaves to revisionism.

'Course there is that nasty dig at the end of the Persian Journal piece:

While Iran dominates the eastern side of the waterway, the western shores are held by tiny Arab countries.

Like Iraq, Kuwait and Saudia Arabia, among others, I suppose.

Ain't got the mission creep blues

This is really good.

IMB supports taking Strait of Malacca off risk list for piracy

Reported here:

An international maritime watchdog has urged leading insurer Lloyd's to remove the Malacca Strait from a list of dangerous waterways, saying piracy attacks have fallen sharply there.

'Based on the figures, there is no justification for them to include Malacca Strait in the list, unless Lloyd's has some other information that we are not aware of,' said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre.

Choong said the Malacca Strait is 'not a hot spot at the moment' as the three states bordering the strategic waterway -- Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have launched aggressive joint patrols.

Why the Proliferation Security Iniative isn't popular in Indonesia

Found here:

First, from the legal point of view, the principles of "interdiction" as the main provision of the PSI are in contradiction with the 1982 UN Law of the Sea Convention. There is nothing in the provisions of the convention that would allow a country to intercept a vessel in international waters on suspicion that it is carrying weapons of mass destruction.

While suspicions about such vessels or ships will be based on intelligence information, we should bear in mind the controversy over the legitimacy of intelligence information provided by the U.S. and the UK in the case of WMD in Iraq.
***
Furthermore, the nuclear-weapon-states such as the U.S., the UK and France have continuously worked to ensure that their ability to transit weapons of mass destruction is not hampered by nuclear-weapon-free-zones in some regions. They also have asserted their rights to transit nuclear materials through the high seas and through the EEZ's of coastal states, including Indonesia. It is also apparent, for the sake of commercial purposes, some major supplier countries do export sensitive WMD materials and technology upon the high seas and territorial waters of states.

Second, from the political point of view, the process of formulating the PSI was selective, unilateral in nature and not multilaterally negotiated. The goal of this Initiative through interdiction is pre-emptive and originally targeting only the "proliferators" of the "Axis of Evil" states.
***
... Many Asian countries remain reluctant to be openly associated with a U.S.- sponsored program like the PSI, either because they fear it may override national sovereignty and freedom of navigation, or they do not want to be tagged as a follower of the U.S.

Finally, it is a matter of principle that international law cannot maintain its integrity if applied discriminately, or if defined only by a "coalition of willing states". If members of the international community begin to allow the erosion of the UN Law of the Sea Convention, they should not expect that such concessions would be easily reversed.

In other words, US bad. Even if the goal is to curb terrorism and keep the sea lanes open.

UPDATE: Corrected title per comment by Alex.

Yemen and Somali refugees

Interview with Yemen's foreign minister here:

QUESTION: Yemen has been generous to Somali refugees, yet they struggle to find jobs, healthcare and education. There have also been allegations of discrimination. What is the government's response to this?

ANSWER: I think we're taking a responsible attitude toward the Somali refugees because we look at it as a humanitarian issue. We also look at it from a religious point of view - as Muslims who have to care for Muslims - and also as countries that have historical connections. There are many Somalis of Yemeni descent, and many Yemenis of Somali descent, so there's a lot of history there.

As for discrimination, this is always the case. Refugees in any part of the world will always think they're not getting their rights. I think if you ask refugees in Egypt or Europe, some of them will claim they aren't getting their rights as refugees. This may be true, but as far as Yemen is concerned, I think it's exaggerated. Actually, we know that the number of refugees registered officially is probably one-third or one-fourth of the total number of Somali refugees in the country, because the rest of them are moving completely freely and are integrated into society.

Q: But they continue to face problems accessing jobs, healthcare and education.

A: Yes, but Yemenis themselves have difficulty getting jobs, the right medical care and education. This is a general issue for the Yemeni government. I think what they feel is exactly what Yemenis feel as far as what the government provides. This is why we've called upon donors - Europeans, Japan, the United States of America - to increase their allocation for the refugee commission in Yemen, because we know that Yemen itself cannot provide all the resources necessary for them.

And couple pieces on Somali refugees here and here.

It is a tragedy with international dimensions. Yet in Bosasso port, smugglers continue to have a free hand to peddle their extraordinary wares: drugs and guns brought into Somalia, people shipped out.
***
In Bosasso’s harbour are fleets of small fishing boats. These are the smugglers stock in trade: drugs and guns in, people out. Heroin and morphine are said to be among the main “imports” from India, distributed through East Africa. Guns – small arms, Kalashnikovs and rifles – are brought in from Yemen and sold throughout the region. According to local security officials, an automatic rifle costs about $50 in Yemen, and can be sold for between $230 and $300 elsewhere.

The regional smuggling network plays an important part in moving weapons. Dealers organise distribution according to areas of conflict. “If there is fighting in Kismayo [a port in southern Somalia], the dealers organise to take the guns from the boats straight down there – and it will be like that for two or three weeks, until somewhere else comes up,” explained a security source.

Of course, these weapons play an important role in the on-going Somali war between clans, warlords and the Islamic Court crowd. Time to engage in weapons and refugee interdiction?

U.S. Army Birthday

To the Senior Service: Happy Birthday!

My father started out in the Army before moving over to the Air Corps/Air Force. And my father-in-law was Army - tanks.

Follow-on to Baltimore LNG NIMBY situation

Initial coverage of local overreaction to Sparrows Point LNG terminal proposal here.

Follow-up found here, the politics of misinformation and irrational fear-mongering:

Council Chairman John Olszewski, D-District 7, said he proposed a bill that would ban oil refineries and LNG facilities within five miles of residential zones in response to his district’s opposition to Virginia energy firm AES Corp.’s plan. Olszewski grilled AES project manager Kent Morton and others who spoke against the bill at a council work session Tuesday.

Residents, joined by politicians at every level, including Gov. Robert Ehrlich, have said they fear the terminal could explode, attract terrorists or disturb toxic pollutants that would be dredged to the surface.

“If I can put another obstacle in front of these people, I’ll do it to represent the community I was elected to represent,” Olszewski said.
***
The nearest homes are 1.3 miles from the site, too far to be damaged by an explosion that is unlikely to occur in the first place, said environmental consultant Chris DeBernard.
***
“These monstrous ships will be sitting in people’s yards,” said Sparrows Point resident Fred Thiess. “They will be living in fear for the rest of their lives.”

Cowering in their basements wearing tin foil hats...probably.

Disaster relief from the sea

The experience of the training ship State of Maine following Katrina reported here:

Our experience shows that you can do disaster relief in the perimeter and in the river systems of the United States via the water. It’s a very good way to do it. It worked well in New Orleans with road and rail infrastructure that was not damaged. And then you think about what could happen in San Francisco or Los Angeles area with an earthquake. Out there, the infrastructure of roads and railroads would be destroyed, so the only way you could help people would be by water.

See earlier post on the topic of disaster logistics from the sea here.

More info on Maine Maritime Academy here.

More attention gathering by the North Koreans?

Possible Taepodong-2 missile* test fretted about over here :

North Korea is preparing for a possible test of an intercontinental ballistic missile with the potential to hit the US, according to Washington officials.

A senior official said there were “enough indications” to suggest that Pyongyang was getting ready to fire a Taepodong-2 missile from a launch pad in eastern North Korea. It would be the Stalinist state’s first test of a longer-range missile since 1998 when Pyongyang generated an international crisis by unexpectedly firing an intermediate-range Taepodong-1 over Japan.

My favorite part of the article is -

Pyongyang – which is keenly aware that the US can monitor its preparations by satellite – could be bluffing. Kim Jong-Il, the North Korean leader, has a history of performing eye-catching stunts when he feels he is being ignored, which has happened recently as Washington focuses on resolving nuclear tensions with Iran. Another US official said he might be “playing games” to get attention.

He should get some attention like Zarqawi

Last warning of a TPD-2 was in June 2006. Stratfor article here. Map of potential ranges of TPD-2 from here. TPD-2 images from Global Security. org here. Kim image from Team America.

*Kim the Ill-Begotten reportedly said this about the TPD-2:

"According to Kim Kil Son, who prior to defection to south Korea in August 1997 worked in a publications department of north Korea's Number 2 Research Center, development of this missile started in 1987 after Kim Jong Il gave on the spot guidance to the Number 2 Research Center saying that "If we can develop this we have nothing to fear. Even the American Bastards won't be able to bother us. Whether we live or die, we must quickly develop the Hwasong 6."

UPDATE: (6/13/06) Spook86 has an intel post here with a link to an article about a DPRK intercept of an RC-135 that might give some context to my earlier post about a North Korean threat to attack US "spy planes."

Somalia: Another CIA flop?

A mocking look at the alleged CIA funding of Somali warlords here:

Apparently, for the past two years, CIA case officers based in Nairobi have been making trips to Somalia laden with briefcases packed with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The cash was given to the main Somali warlords. The idea was for the warlords to wage a proxy war on behalf of the US on suspected terrorist targets in Somalia.

Initially, I could not tell whether this was raw arrogance or just plain old idiocy on the part of the Americans. Just for clarity's sake, why did they not check with their Kenyan counterparts? Kenya's intelligence is authoritative on matters Somalia.

Kenya's spies would have told the Americans that their proposal is counter-intuitive. They would have advised that anti-US sentiments in Somalia still outweigh any inter-clan animosity.

Of course, word of the CIA's illicit transactions with the Somali factions was bound to leak. It always does. So why didn't someone at the CIA think beyond that?
***
"Espionage, as carried out by the CIA and others, is a self-serving sham, carried out by career bureaucrats who have managed to deceive several generations of American policy-makers and the public about the necessity and value of their work."

What Aldrich is saying is that the CIA types overrate their importance and spook politicians and the public into letting them have their way.

The quote is from former CIA agent and traitor Aldrich Ames. I have what I suspect is a healthy line officer set of doubts about intel. However, with all the alleged intel reforms, I would have hoped that if the CIA is springing into action that they would do it in a way not to make matters worse, or even not to make themselves the butt of jokes.

UPDATE: Nice StrategyPage piece on Somalia here:

Several known al Qaeda operatives have been spotted in southern Somalia. However, Somalia isn't a very good base for al Qaeda, or anyone else. The country has minimal infrastructure. While there are some cell phone providers, operating under the protection of one warlord or another, any phone traffic in or out can be easily tapped by American intelligence agencies. Al Qaeda members have to be careful where they go, for warlords tend to get trigger happy when strangers wander into their territory.
***
American counter-terrorism forces have not been idle in all this, but they have been secretive. And for good reason. The Somalis are quite willing to let American troops come in and do their fighting for them. However, American Special Forces would rather play by Afghan rules (a few dozen Special Forces troops directing the delivery of smart bombs, followed by local troops exploiting the destruction.) But the Somalis are more fractious and unreliable than Afghan warlords. Backstabbing is considered a national sport in Somalia, and unity a weakness.
***

HMS Illustrious on rescue duty

Vastly overloaded Pakistani "deportee ship" gets some help as reported here:

The Portsmouth-based carrier went to the aid of an estimated 750 people who were crammed onto the vessel in the Arabian Sea.
The vessel is thought to only have a capacity for 100 people.

"What if" features more piracy in the Med, other security issues

Set out here:

One of Britain’s most senior military strategists has warned that western civilisation faces a threat due to future migrations and North African "barbary" pirates could be attacking yachts and beaches in the next ten years making it unsafe to sail a yacht between Gibraltar and Malta, The UK Sunday Times reported.

While not claiming that all the threats will come to fruition, Rear Admiral Chris Parry, head of the development, concepts and doctrine centre at the Ministry of Defence (UK), is warning that such a situation is likely to happen if threatening factors such as agricultural decline, booming youth populations, water shortages, rising sea levels and radical Islam are not addressed by politicians with the consequences surpassing effective government control.

Parry was reported as saying that Europe could be undermined by large immigrant groups with little allegiance to their host countries. “These groups would stay connected to their homelands by the internet and cheap flights,” he said.

If a security breakdown occurred, he said, it was likely to be brought on by environmental destruction and a population boom, coupled with technology and radical Islam which results he compared to “the 5th century Roman empire facing the Goths and the Vandals".

Hmmm.

UPDATE: (6/13/06) Link to original article here. Hat tip to CDR Salamander for having the link.

Reads like an LCS press release

Navy's Littoral Combat Ship gets some press.

The first of a new breed of Navy ship — faster and easier to maneuver — is expected to launch later this year to meet threats including modern-day pirates and terrorists who turn speedboats into suicide weapons.

The Littoral Combat Ship is powered by steerable waterjets, so it doesn't need propellers or rudders. It's designed to go more than 50 mph; traditional destroyers have had the same top speed — about 35 mph — since World War II.

The LCS has a shallow draft and its waterjets let the ship zoom close to shore without getting stuck and to turn on a dime, allowing it to chase smaller boats. The name itself is taken from the coastal "littoral" waters in which the ship will operate.

The LCS will be more lightly armored than bigger ships, but its speed will give it a tactical advantage in combat, said Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton, program executive officer for ships, who's overseeing the project from Washington.

The Navy envisions several of the ships working together on missions using unmanned vehicles, helicopters and other weapons, he said. An LCS will have a core crew of only 40 sailors, and berthing for up to 75, compared to 330 sailors aboard a destroyer.

Smaller. Faster. Lighter. And if the Navy can't use them, maybe the Coast Guard can. Sorta like those hydrofoil things in the 70's...

Top images are of General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works version of an LCS.

(hydrofoil photo from Warboats).

Like a spoiled child craving attention, North Korea threatens the U. S., again

The DPRK, apprently deciding it needs more attention, threatens the US as set out here.

The Korean People's Army (KPA) Air Force Command said an RC-135 plane had flown over territorial waters on 6, 8 and 10 June .

In a statement it said the US flights were "openly crying out for a pre-emptive attack" on the country.

The command said the espionage missions were a "violent infringement of [North Korea's] sovereignty and a grave violation of international law".

It continued: "The KPA Air Force seriously warns the US imperialists that it will sternly punish the aggressors if their planes continue illegally intruding into the sky ... on espionage missions.

"They had better not forget the wretched fate of the EC-121 large spy plane in the 1960s," it added.

Background on EC-121 shootdown here. Now, if they threaten to capture a US spy ship, history will be repeating itself.
RC-135 photo info:

The hog-nosed RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, with its extensive antennae array, provides vital real-time battle management information to mission planners, commanders and warfighters. The aircraft is a high-altitude version of the C-135, which is a militarized version of the Boeing 707. The Rivet Joint aircraft, owned and operated by the 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., provides direct, near real-time reconnaissance information and electronic warfare support to theater commanders and combat forces. The Rivet Joint crew consists of members of several 55th Wing squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo)

US wants meeting on Somalia

Reported here:

The United States will invite other nations to a strategy session next week on Somalia, where an Islamic militia group has routed U.S.-backed warlords and tightened its grip on the lawless nation.
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State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday that European and African nations are among the members of an international consortium that will try to coordinate support for Somalia, which has had no fully working government for 15 years.

Pretty hasty, perhaps too hasty in my view. Someone needs to remind the State Department that you should "never let them see you sweat."

Turkish ship hit by Greek ship - tit for tat for F-16 collision?

Odd report here perhaps designed to stir up feelings between two NATO allies?