Saturday, February 2, 2013

2/2/2013 NEWS BREAK

SUEZ CANAL STILL OPEN AMID MOUNTING THREATS

The Suez Canal remains open this morning despite mounting threats from unrest, work and service interruptions, and a disabled ship near the mouth. Lead ins and links to full press coverage are at the bottom of the Station ID and Notice Board under the heading : IN THE NEWS TODAY. If you are concerned with Suez operations you may want to check the Notice board several ties today. We have been monitoring Egyptian and Global sources all night and the situation appears highly unsettled. Basically the Egyptian Army is presently running the canal. To reach the Station ID and Notice Board scroll down

1/2/2012 Station Identification and Notice Board Weekend Edition (3) News update

WELCOME TO AMERICAN ADMIRALTY BOOKS!

"NO FLUFF" WEEKEND EDITION !

Barque: ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLT II, Named for the Oceanographer
Photo by Hans Georg Schroder

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2013

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THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PERFORMED BY"MADISON RISING":
Click on the link below the flag to get your day off to the right start!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8C7i9kdEf8

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UNLOCKING THE MARITIME WORLD: Our mission is literally to unlock the maritime world by making all English language data readily locatable, available, evaluated when possible, and affordable.We suggest checking our subject pages first by clicking on the subject section most like your particular interest to your right. These pages will bring you to free links, free videos, book reviews and book lists on the subjects. If that doesn't answer your question come back here and click on "The Mother of All Maritime Links": http://www.boat-links.com/boatlink.html#top Or look for it within the special interest section

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Its been a hell of week with Namazu pouring fourth on the global naval situation, the USS GUARDIAN salvage story continuing, a blown at sea space launch, an important naval conference on the West Coast...no time or space for fluff pieces this weekend. The entire staff is at work till Superbowl Kick Off ( we're not that heartless). So check in often with us this weekend because the maritime world is 24/7 and we are your "Portal to the Maritime World". Don't believe we're your portal to the maritime world, check it out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFw32RRJY98:

And we are kind to our moms and don't beat our dogs.

IN THE BLOG SPACE TODAY (AND LATE FRIDAY)

Two Reports From The Naval Institute's West 2013 Conference "Pivot Towards the Pacific" with links to full transcripts and videos. In Report 3 notice the similarity of the speaker's view on the Chinese Navy and that of our own analyst Namazu. Note the speaker believes his opinion is politically incorrect and wonders out loud if he will ever be invited back. From our knowledge and experience of the Naval Institute, we have no doubt of his welcome to the only naval forum where they encourage you to "think, speak, and write". Not a member? Why not sign up now?

http://www.usni.org/membership

If you are a naval professional there is no greater haven of freedom of professional thought and speech than the Naval Institute unless your name is Namazu and you work here.

STUFF IN THE BLOG YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS PAST WEEK

He's back! If you haven't noticed it yet Namazu is holding forth on the naval short comings of, and naval threats to the "English Speaking World." He started Monday with part one and is already on part four. He actually had to takle a break for anger management today but he assures us he isn't finished with the series. It's shaping up to be a pretty lengthy "My Dear Bipeds" politically incorrect articulation of profound maritime truth. We know you have heard of "Rogue States" and "Failed States" in the news, but what do you know about "Thug States", "Punk States", and their links to CNGOs (Criminal Nongovernmental Organizations)? Once again the catfish explains all.

YESTERDAY IN THE BLOG SPACE:
NAMAZU ADDRESSED THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES ON , PIRACY , FAILED STATES , MARITIME NARCO AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

EARLIER IN THIS PAST WEEKS's BLOGS:

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD PART 3 CNGOs Criminal Nongovernmental Organizations

HOW FAR WILL THE DRAGON SWIM? A continuing series

PIVOT TO THE PACIFIC Link to a special report from the Naval Institute

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES Part 2 Punk and Rogue States

Argentine Destroyer that Lead The Attack on The Falklands Sank At The Dock

USS GUARDIAN AGROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES TO BE BROKEN UP ON SCENE

USS GUARDIAN IS STILL HARD AGROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES, FUEL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE FUEL TANKS FILLED WITH SALT WATER TO HELP STABILIZE THE SHIP. ADDITIONAL SALVAGE CRAFT ARE ENROUTE. BUT THE NAVY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SHIP WILL BE CUT UP ON SCENE AND CAN NOT BE SALVAGED WHOLE.

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES PART I

SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC APPEARS NORMAL DESPITE CONFLICT

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IN THE NEWS YESTERDAY IN THE BLOG SPACE TODAY

Sea Launch AG says a U.S. communications satellite was lost after a booster rocket carrying it into space failed shortly after its launch from a floating platform in the Pacific.

We are planning a post on this item in the near future. Sea Launch is a commercial launch service that we believe started in the United States and then the majority interest was sold to Russia. The sea launch concept is interesting in that by moving the launch site to the desired latitude of the orbit of the satellite lower power and cheaper rockets can be used. The Russians may be finding out with this launch that there is a limit to how inexpensive a rocket can be for this purpose. The sale of this company which we think was once based out of Seattle is also a matter worth exploring. We will be back to you on this development soon.

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IN THE NEWS TODAY

SUEZ CANAL TRAFFIC NOT AS SAFE AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Port Said protesters threaten civil disobedience, work stoppage at Suez Canal

On Friday, thousands of protesters in the Mediterranean city of Port Said at the northern tip of Suez Canal, which witnessed the worst clashes and biggest number of causalities the past days, pumped their fists in the air while chanting, "Leave, leave, Morsi." They threatened to escalate pressure with civil disobedience and a work stoppage at the vital Suez Canal authority if their demand for punishment of those responsible for protester death is not met.

http://news.yahoo.com/egyptians-march-fresh-protests-nationwide-131651442.html

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This just in at 0010CST: As if worry over protesters closing the canal was not enough:

BREAKING: Troubled Maersk vessel risks blocking the Suez Canal

Water leakage puts monumental container ship, Emma Maersk, in trouble at the Northern entrance of Egypt's Suez Canal

Ahram Online, Saturday 2 Feb 2013

Emma Maersk, one of the world's largest container ships, is currently facing mechanical problems at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal after water leaked inside its engines room, putting the ship at the risk of drowning, an official in the Suez Canal Authority told Ahram Online.

Editors Note Near where the Emma Maersk is having difficulties the canal breaks off into two branches, so even if she sinks the canal is unlikely to be completely blocked but traffic handling capacity would be deminished. Below is the link to the complete stroy with pictures from Ahram Online: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/63844/Business/Economy/BREAKING-Troubled-Maersk-vessel-risks-blocking-the.aspx

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Suez Canal Seen Kept Open by Army as Ship Agent Suspends Service

Egypt’s army is maintaining shipping services through the Suez Canal, which handles about 8 percent of world trade, amid unrest that’s suspended some port services, Inchcape Shipping Services, a global maritime agent said.

“The canal is a controlled military zone, therefore there are no transit issues,” Sheila Armstrong, spokeswoman for the Chafford Hundred, England company, said in an e-mailed response to questions. The agency hasn’t been providing ship supplies or organising crew changes since Jan. 29 for vessels calling at Egypt because they can’t guarantee safety to ports, she said.

Egypt’s army is using cameras and helicopters to guard traffic through the 193 kilometer- (120 mile)-long canal that earned $5.13 billion in tolls in 2012, amid rioting. A week ago, demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the Jan. 25 uprising that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak unleashed street battles that led to a state of emergency being declared and curfews in three provinces.

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG

LINK TO FULL STORY: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-01/suez-canal-seen-kept-open-by-army-as-ship-agent-suspends-service.html

2/2/2013

Somali Pirate Kingpin 'Big Mouth' Retires

NAMAZU, former Japanese giant catfish demigod , now AAB Analyst and Commentator recently completed the first four parts of his series on the the naval threats to global peace and his recommended actions for the English speaking world. He noted that during the era of the Barbary Pirates, piracy had become virtually a state enterprise. He notes that Somalia if not cured of piracy soon could evolve into a virtual pirate state. He noted that the pirate business was so routine now in Somalia that he read of the first pirate retirement in our news service. We thought this a good time to reprint our lead and link to that story. As usual the big catfish has it right, pirate "admirals" can retire peacefully and rich, even today.

One of Somalia's most notorious pirates, who terrorized vast areas of the Indian Ocean, generating multi-million dollar ransoms from the ships he seized, has announced his retirement.

Mohamed Abdi Hassan, aka 'Big Mouth', says he is quitting after spending eight years as a pirate leader.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-11/notorious-somali-pirate-king-pin-27big-mouth27-retires/4460276

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Friday, February 1, 2013

2/1/2013 Sea Launch UPdated 1/12/2020

THE SAGA AND IMPLICATIONS OF SEA LAUNCH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Launch

A 2009 successful sea launch, photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/with/3460124131/License:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Editor's Note: 1/12/2020 SEA LAUNCH ended operations when Russia invaded the Ukaraine and was involved with litigation in 2015 as their equipment sat idle and the various owners which included Boeing and various Russian interests fought over it, potential buyers began to come forward. As of 2015 serious negoiations were in progress to sell the business , vessels, and equipment to a new owner who intended to resume launch services. It is not known for certain when or if launch services will begin again. As it turns out this story that we posted in 2013 was probably the final failed launch for the company under the old regime. Sea Launch did not have many failed launches and the ability to move the launch site made a big difference in the cost of launchs into cetain orbits. We continue to follow developments. For a broader history of te company go to:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Launch

BELOW IS THE POST WE PUBLISHED IN 2013

We recently linked you to the following FOX NEWS story, Now as Paul Harvey used to say...."the rest of the story

"Sea Launch AG says a U.S. communications satellite was lost after a booster rocket carrying it into space failed shortly after its launch from a floating platform in the Pacific.

The company said in a statement Friday the Intelsat 27 satellite was lost 40 seconds after the launch due to the failure of the Zenit-3SL rocket. The Boeing. Co-built spacecraft was launched Thursday from the Odyssey ocean platform.

Sea Launch AG President Kjell Karlsen said the cause of the failure is unknown and the company is working to evaluate it.

An affiliate of Russia's RKK Energia state-controlled rocket manufacturer owns 95 percent of stock in Sea Launch, with the remainder being held indirectly by Boeing Co. and Norwegian Aker ASA. The Zenit booster is manufactured by Ukraine's Yuzhmash rocket plant."

SEA LAUNCH COMMANDER THE ASSEMBLY COMMAND AND CONTROL SHIP

The ship is designed similar to a conventional merchant marine "RORO" (roll on roll off, note ramp in upright position at stern)

SEA LAUNCH PLATFORM "ODYSSEY",

ODYSSEY is a self propelled semi submersible vessel similar to the well established designs used in mobile offshore drilling units (MODUS). Both photos are by: Frank Leuband, taken at the Port of Long Beach, CA on April 17, 2004 used under GNU Free Doc. Lic: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:GNU_Free_Documentation_License_1.2

SEA LAUNCH is a commercial space launch service that uses the semi submersible self propelled launch vessel ODYSSEY pictured above for equatorial launches of commercial payloads into outer space, low earth orbit. In many ways corporate commercial space launch services are the start of the evolution of a "Merchant Marine" of outer space. That's not an original turn of phrase so much as an adaptation. When Pan AM first began to develop regular passenger air travel including transoceanic routes via their famous "flying boats", the company adopted nautically influenced air crew uniforms and even began to advertise themselves as "The Merchant Marine Of The AIR". As space exploitation/travel begins its very early commercial stage it's interesting that like Pan Am's flying boat connection there is a very traditional merchant marine connection to at least one commercial launch service. Not only is the launch platform the ODYSSEY technically and legally a ship, but every launch is actually a two ship operation, and one is very recognizable as a very typical modern ship design. THE SEA LAUNCH COMMANDER is the rocket /payload assembly ship and launch command vessel. The COMMANDER is based on the design of a conventional "RORO" (Roll on Roll Off") commercial ship. The rocket and pay load are assembled on the Commander,then both ships proceed to the launch site. At the launch site the rocket and payload are transferred to the ODYSSEY launch vessel and made ready for launch. The crew of the ODYSSEY then transfers to the COMMANDER where the launch is controlled. It was expected that this shipboard launch system coupled with an equatorial launch site would make space launches for certain sized commercial pay loads most often communications satellites very economical. The company's profits have probably suffered more from a turnaround learning curve and occasional slack demand than any failure to realize the expected efficiencies from the the maritime system.

The company has twice fallen on hard times and each time it emerges from bankruptcy /reorganization more of the owner ship is taken over by a government we find positively ominous. There is a market for commercial space launch, and travel services but it is not quite large enough for companies that are not capitalized with large cash reserves to survive. The United States has no coherent maritime policy and this has resulted in the demise of our deep sea merchant marine. We also have no comprehensive space policy and have gradually dropped out of the manned space flight game. We say we believe in private industry in space but we are unwilling to lend any kind of governmental hand to insure the survival of innovative American corporate space industries unless they are part of the production line for NASA projects. But that old bear, the thug state Russia has no problem dipping into the public purse to support corporate space endeavor, as long as they end up with the controlling corporate interest. The Sea Launch company being a case in point.

Sea Launch was established in 1995 as a consortium of companies from Norway, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States managed by the American Boeing Company with participation by all of the stockholders. Commercial customers lined up and Sea launch successfully lofted payloads for clients such as ECHO STAR, DIRC TV, XM SATELLITE RADIO, and PAN AM SAT. The ODYSSEY and SEA LAUNCH COMMANDER operated out of Long Beach California. The failed launch described in the quoted and linked story at the top of this posting was not the company's first launch failure. In those early days of the company there were three failed launches and one "partial failure" (probably failure to achieve optimum orbit). There were only a total of little over thirty launches so three failures put the predicted success rate at roughly 90%+.
Not bad in the history of space launches generally but that is pretty much a history of governmental endeavor in massive projects carried out by the lowest bidders. When you expect to get paid for doing something, a commercial endeavor customers are less patient than tax payers. In June of 2009 Sea Launch Co.LLC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in a U.S. court. It emerged in October 2010 reorganized with a majority ownership by ENERGIA OVERSEAS LTD, a Russian corporation. This most recent launch failure isn't the first trouble since October of 2010. It won't be the last either but there is no sign that ENERGIA is throwing in the towel. In fact the company is starting up a second launch site ashore. The Russians are in the commercialization of space to stay. Last year we serialized a group of essays that we called "Space as an Ocean" which you can read in our Maritime Literature Section where it is being evolved into a book tentatively titled "PROTOCOLS". In that series of posts we compared the present age of space exploration with the earlier age of European Ocean exploration. During that early stage of commercialization of newly "discovered" areas the first corporations had heavy governmental support and governmental like powers. These were the famed "East India Companies". As the era of space exploration passes into commercialism Russia has an evolving East India type organization and we, well we have no policy, few space craft of late , no manned space flight capability. As our own giant catfish buddy would say:

"Thug states One, English Speaking People Still in the starting blocks."

2/1/2013 Pivot to the Pacific USNI Report

PIVOT TO THE PACIFIC :

THE U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE'S WEST COAST FORUM

REPORT : DAY 2

File:US Navy 060701-N-8157C-291 An aerial view of ships involved with Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006.jpg

Pearl Harbor Today, U.S. Navy Photo

From The Naval Institute:
"The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet told a morning audience at the WEST 2013 convention that the Pentagon’s decision to rebalance its focus to Asia and the Pacific is strategically sound militarily and vital in helping to ensure a stable world economy.

Adm. Cecil D. Haney noted that 15 of the world’s 20 largest seaports are in Asia and the Pacific, and $5.3 trillion in global trade passes through the South China Sea alone. “Clearly, we, the United States of America, have an interest in that area,” Haney said.

“The economic engines of the world depend on the freedom of the seas for the movement of goods,” Haney said. “We continue to provide security at sea for prosperity on shore.”

Full address and photos via this link:

http://www.usni.org/events/2013-west-conference-exposition/on-scene-report/2013-01-30?utm_source=U.S.+Naval+Institute&utm_campaign=92c3243dd7-WEST+2013+On+Scene+Report+Day+Two&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=92c3243dd7&mc_eid=63ae43d70a

If you are only reading about this here you probably aren't a member of the Naval Institute. Why? Click on the link below to join:

http://www.usni.org/membership

2/1/2013 Station Identification and Notice Board (2) News Update

WELCOME TO AMERICAN ADMIRALTY BOOKS!

Barque: ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLT II, Named for the Oceanographer
Photo by Hans Georg Schroder

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2013

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PERFORMED BY"MADISON RISING":
Click on the link below the flag to get your day off to the right start!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8C7i9kdEf8

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We may never complete our goal of reviewing and evaluating all books in print on maritime subjects. We urge you to read those we have reviewed but if you don't find what you need click into the Amazon general search engine via the link below. Every day we try to make it easier for you to discover what you need in our pages but until we have finished construction these two links assure you a "portal into the maritime world."

GENERAL MARITIME BOOK SEARCH :

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=admiralty%2C+marine%2C+maritime%2C+boating

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IN THE BLOG SPACE TODAY:

He's back! If you haven't noticed it yet Namazu is holding forth on the naval short comings of, and naval threats to the "English Speaking World." He started Monday with part one and is already on past part three in what looks like a pretty lengthy "My Dear Bipeds" politically incorrect articulation of profound maritime truth. We know you have heard of "Rogue States" and "Failed States" in the news, but what do you know about "Thug States", "Punk States", and their l;inks to CNGOs (Criminal Nongovernmental Organizations)? Today he explains Failed States, Piracy, and other Maritime Crime syndicates. Once again the catfish explains all.

TODAY IN THE BLOG SPACE:
NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES , PIRACY , FAILED STATES , MARITIME NARCO AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

YESTERDAYS BLOGS:

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD PART 3 CNGOs Criminal Nongovernmental Organizations

HOW FAR WILL THE DRAGON SWIM? A continuing series

PIVOT TO THE PACIFIC Link to a special report from the Naval Institute

IN THE BLOG SPACE THIS PAST WEEK

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES Part 2 Punk and Rogue States

Argentine Destroyer that Lead The Attack on The Falklands Sank At The Dock

USS GUARDIAN AGROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES TO BE BROKEN UP ON SCENE

USS GUARDIAN IS STILL HARD AGROUND IN THE PHILIPPINES, FUEL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THE FUEL TANKS FILLED WITH SALT WATER TO HELP STABILIZE THE SHIP. ADDITIONAL SALVAGE CRAFT ARE ENROUTE. BUT THE NAVY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SHIP WILL BE CUT UP ON SCENE AND CAN NOT BE SALVAGED WHOLE.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Sea Launch AG says a U.S. communications satellite was lost after a booster rocket carrying it into space failed shortly after its launch from a floating platform in the Pacific.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/01/us-satellite-lost-in-failed-russian-launch-from-pacific/#ixzz2Jf3ZNVLJ

2/1/2013 Namazu Addresses the English Speaking World Part 4

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD

PART 4 Failed States , Piracy, and Related Criminal Activity

"HIS CATFISHNESS": NAMAZU "THE EARTH SHAKER"

Greetings English speaking Bipeds. Today I wish to speak to you about "Struggling States",and how they descend into "Failed States" and who comes into the territory after failure. Indeed some of the unrepentant miscreants we will discuss today usually come in before a Struggling State becomes a Failed State and help insure the nation's descent into failure. Where you have a "Failed State" like Somalia near a busy shipping lane you get piracy. History tells us you may even evolve a virtual Pirate State. In the early days of the American Republic the U.S. Navy had to deal with the Barbary Pirates. The Barbary Pirates operated along the Coast of North Africa and often much farther afield even to the British Isles and Iceland on a few occasions. Their strong holds were the ports of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers. Tunis and Tripoli were under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. It was not unusual for the Ottoman Emperor to send trained troops into the area in support of the pirate captains.

One of the main trade items of the Barbary Pirates was Christian Slaves and captives for ransom. It was quite possible given the status of the harboring pirate ports as virtual city states to exchange diplomatic agents and this greatly facilitated the collection of ransoms. Another product of the Barbary "States" was a "protection" racket. For a price called "tribute" the pirates would allow the ships of tribute paying nations access to the North African Coast and virtual immunity from attack. Morocco, one of the Barbary States was actually the first foreign power to formally recognize the United States. Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers could be accessed at the consular level for ransom, tribute, or arranged passage matters or one could go through the King of Morocco or The Ottoman empire for communications at the ambassadorial level. These were truly Pirate States within Thug State federations or empires.

Now think about Somalia today. The pirates have a safe haven, lawyers , and bankers on call. There are safe and secure ways of establishing contact and discussing ransom demands. The original pirate depredations were by local fishermen bereft of a government and Coast Guard attempting to protect their own fishing grounds. They got away with a few jobs and then the organizers began to show up. Recently we carried in these pages the story of one Somali pirate "admiral" who recently retired peacefully. Really, Pirate pensions, and you think a pirate state can't emerge in the 21st century?The Ottoman Emperor didn't hesitate to refer to his leading pirate leaders as "Admiral". Piracy emerged in Somalia as it became a failed state. Piracy has emerged as big business and if it survives the present attempts at suppression Somalia may actually start to reemerge as a pirate state.

Actually right now piracy is down in terms of numbers of ships taken but the Western world is tiring of the effort. Chasing pirates on stolen mother ships and $1,000 Panga boats with multi billion dollar war ships is uneconomic to say the least. It is a bit like shooting gnats with an elephant gun. The effort has been going on for years with no end to the mission in sight. Pirates with no naval training supported by organizations that can only arise in failed and failing states are tying up major naval tasks forces of America, the EU, NATO, and Australia with occasional contributions from China, Japan, and fairly regular participation and support from India. However for China their typical two to three ship contribution provides power projection mission training while not providing the Western Powers much real relief from the operational tempo. In short if China were to break out into a shooting spree to take the regions they covet, piracy in the Indian Ocean ,and Arabian Sea works for them tying up naval units that might otherwise be used to support Japan and the Philippines.

English speaking bipeds lend me your ears! Here is a truth that you must understand. All manner of maritime disorder works for the Thug States, even when they appear to be participating in the suppression of a particular activity in a particular place. To form a more effective union among the English speaking peoples America and Great Britain must start to value and trust more the evolving members of the community of English speaking nations and stop always breezing in and taking charge. In the case of Somali piracy there is a nation with a common border with Somalia, that has consistently tried to help out. In a sea of Islam this nation is 83% Christen, English is one of two official languages and is generally spoken by the government officials. The nation has about 43 different language groups living within it, so English is spreading as a useful tool of unity. This nation had a rocky colonial experience and some tough times after independence, but has evolved into a constitutional democracy with an independent and competent judiciary. This nation is Kenya and frankly they have far more in common culturally with the English speaking world than with some of their neighbors. The heads of government of Great Britain, Australia, and the United States could have regular telephone consultations with the President of Kenya with out need of interpreters. Have the big but distant English speaking powers ever simply asked Kenya what they would like to do to solve the piracy problem next door? Kenya did the best that they could in providing fair, just , and respected trial courts for captured pirates reducing the "catch and release factor". Unfortunately what Kenya doesn't have is a correctional system that could accommodate their own nationals convicted of crimes and an ever increasing load of pirates, so they had to partially close the judicial spigot. Perhaps being the pirate tribunal of choice was not the role that Kenya would have chosen for itself. What does Kenya think of leaving the pirate sanctuaries ashore in tact? Captain Woods Rogers didn't clear the Caribbean of pirates by sitting in Nassau and allowing the pirates to maintain strong holds on various islands. Pirates raided towns and the British marines raided pirate support centers. Kenya has a very competent army and could reach the pirate strong holds over land. But the question is what does Kenya want to do? If need be our shipping can avoid the area at considerable cost. Kenya's shipping can not avoid the area. Kenya has the problem for as long as it lasts.

There is a powerful navy belonging to the World's largest democracy in the region as well. India has a stake in the suppression of piracy and has a great deal of naval competency and no small amount of naval assets. While "non aligned", India has English as a useful common language in a multi- lingual nation, and it is an important official language. Once again the larger English speaking naval powers are able to confer with India at all levels from the heads of government to naval officer to naval officer , even petty officer to petty officer without interpreters for the most part. What if the community backed up, and asked India and Kenya to confer on how they would deal with the regional piracy problem together if they had to go it alone, then respond to their call for assistance from the larger but more distant English speaking powers?

On the flight deck of American aircraft carriers there is an unusual organization that works very well. A nineteenth century English speaking naval officer would be in a state of shock seeing it work. On the flight deck there is a rank structure but as the process of getting a plane out of the hanger bay and onto the deck progresses to the launch there are hand offs of the aircraft from one team of plane handlers and launch signalmen and supervisors to another. The hand off is not always from senior to junior in rank, sometimes its reversed and there is one moment when the entire "ballet in steel" comes to a stop and everyone regardless of rank gathers around what is often one of the most junior sailors for leadership. When something goes wrong like a loose part rolling around the flight deck, or a lost part that can cause damage the first crew member to see and perceive the danger gives a single command and everyone converges around this person in silence to hear what the problem is and his or her thoughts on the cure. In these situations for at least a few minutes Chief Petty Officers and Lieutenant Commanders pay careful attention to the temporary leadership of someone who often turns out to be a teen aged seaman apprentice.

Some times in extremely complex situations serial leadership works and most often when things go extremely wrong the serial exercise of leadership works in reverse with the most junior , being closest to the problem starting the show. This is the type of naval union the English speaking world needs to grow, one where the member closest to the problem is sought out first and listened to and supported most intently. English speaking bipeds, if American, British, and Indian sailors can do this on a flight deck why can't your leaders do it in naval commands and national governments?

Where might we be now if half the money we spent on chasing panga boats with destroyers and cruisers were spent on measures that had major inputs from Kenya and India, the English speaking nations closest to the problem. Wouldn't such an institutional attitude help draw nations like Kenya and India into deeper association and identity with the English speaking world? These are nations you have a shared history with even if it has some dark chapters. These are nations that are reasonable and societies with moral and ethical values that are similar to those of the more commonly thought of former British colonies. These are nations on the move that will become important regional powers. But only if you respect that, can you expect them to move closer to the English speaking community where the efforts of everyone are needed to resist the rising tide of sea based anarchy and thuggery over taking the Earth.

Piracy isn't the only plague of criminal activity that comes out of failed, failing, and deeply challenged states. Narco and human traffickers plague the Gulf of Mexico assaulting the U.S.Border. During the first Iraq war the U.S. Navy asked for the services of the Coast Guard's Island Class (125ft) patrol boats. For the first time in history the U.S.Coast Guard did not respond as asked by the Navy to a call to arms. The Congress balked and didn't want to pull these patrol boats off the Gulf of Mexico drug line. Narco traffickers denied the U.S. Navy sister service support just by constantly pursuing their trade. Saddam Hussain couldn't have hired better help for himself but he didn't have to. Seaborne narco and human traffickers aren't the only drain on Coast Guard resources on the Southern Border. We have carried the story in these pages of the Mexican drug cartels' use of the navigable portions of the Rio Grande and the unanswered request of Texas for a "persistent Coast Guard presence" on the Rio Grande. No such presence has responded. Texas, finally at great expense and at some considerable risk of an international incident, launched its own "navy" on the Rio Grande, again a story covered in these pages.

In the High Arctic the President and the Commandant of the Coast Guard have called for a persistent Coast Guard presence on the Arctic Ocean. So far we can lump that item of wishful thinking under "unfunded mandates". Wake up America! Your Navy and Coast Guard are over stressed and too small for what must be done. Naval/Coast Guard build up must be a budget priority over and above foreign aid, support of PBS, other favorite programs of special interests. You are a nation that must import by sea 66 of 77 strategic materials. You must move to a coherent national maritime policy. Wake up English speaking nations, you are no longer under an invincible American naval umbrella, you too must rebuild your navies and Coast Guards into right sized organizations and the most economic way is to work together to build a combined force that all members may rely on. We have barely touched these last few days on the naval threats the English speaking democracies and their allies face. Your naval forces are dying a death of a thousand cuts, the worst of which are being cut by your own elected officials who have lost sight of the English speaking peoples as a seafaring and sea dependent community. Arise! Build ships! Pull together English speaking bipeds or each of your nations will fall into ruin serially and alone. Victory can be yours if you pull together. The thug states have only a confederacy of self serving opportunists. You have a coherent community of nations, some of the most remarkable on Earth. The Thug states have to rely on coincidental cooperation or coerced cooperation. You the English speaking bipeds have shown a willingness in the past to actually sacrifice for each other. Don't lose that, formalize it in every way that you can.

Namazu