Haiti earthquake: Awaiting the aid tsunami

January 13, 2010

Five years ago, in days after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, I wrote an op-ed for the Boston Globe–a piece that, with the Haiti disaster, remains a relevant cautionary tale today: The tsunami response, being hailed as one of the biggest U.S. military disaster relief missions in history, has been less effective than portrayed. When a deployment of just 40 […]

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In press: Blackwater’s pirate-fighting navy

January 7, 2010

I’ve got an interview in the January 6 print edition of the Virginian Pilot (Here’s the Jan 5 online teaser): The Blackwater ship was an ineffective weapon against such attacks, according to Craig Hooper, a San Francisco-based national security strategist. “The McArthur was no pirate-fighter,” Hooper said in an e-mail . “Like any private mega-yacht, […]

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MV-22 Ospreys: Not helpful at home?

January 3, 2010

Can the MV-22 Osprey help at home? Read my latest piece over at the North Country Times/The Californian. Some lessons here: First, where’s the utility? Notice how the Marine Corps has been trying to change the program narrative?  By saying that the MV-22 should no longer be considered a replacement for CH-46 helicopters–but approached as an entirely different kind of platform? In […]

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With a conventional Trident within reach, why fear China's anti-ship ballistic missile?

December 30, 2009

China’s anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) is an untested, largely notional national distraction.  But now that we’ve freaked out–thanks to a ready corps of willing fear-mongering dupes–America is prepping to spend untold billions to defeat ASBMs.  The threat isn’t that urgent.  In fact, we should look to our own strengths and, well, feel a bit better about ourselves.  You see, America is far ahead of China in […]

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Has the Marine Corps manipulated MV-22 safety records?

December 25, 2009

I’m looking at the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Volume II)  for the West Coast Basing of the MV-22.  It tells me, among other things, that, according to the Navy Safety Center’s Aviation Hazard Data Base, the V-22 has not suffered a single Class A mishap since FY 2001 (page 6-239). (the entire set of MV-22 EIS documents […]

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Why salvage assets are important:

December 24, 2009

Divers operating off the USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) are quietly getting Saipan’s channel to the point where that delightful isle will be able to host deep-draft vessels.  After this visit–the latest of at least two–the main channel will be clear to at least 36 feet, say the divers:  “… the main priority of this mission is the removal of five […]

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Ahh, The Coalition Life:

December 17, 2009

China and Russia having issues over the continuing maintenance of China’s next fleet.  With 12 Kilos and four legacy Russian 956E/EM DDGs, China is trying to figure out how to best maintain the backbone of their fleet–with Russia, or go solo.  Decisions have been slow in coming, and the two countries, according to UPI, have been talking […]

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