Pirates & such

[vsvo]

Kaplan links piracy in the Strait of Malacca to the USN pulling out of the Philippines. He also has some interesting things to say about maritime coalitions and their potential impact on piracy and terrorism.

Kaplan writes good stuff, but it's hard to focus on it given his penchant for self-aggrandizing chest-beating. Check out the opening paragraph in the article.

America's Elegant Decline

[hoot72]

I think he has his geography mixed up and has probably not realized the US Navy has a naval yard and station in Singapore, which is right next to the Straits of Melaka.

The closing of the naval base in the Phillipines was due to alot of political pressure within the Phillipines on top of an end to the cold war at the time. But given China's expansion plans of its Navy, perhaps he does have a point about reviewing that decision.

But as far as Piracy is concerned, I think he is wrong.