USNS Howard O. Lorenzen missle tracking tests begin

This link is to an article provided by the Nuclear Threat Initiative webpage, specifically the Global Security News portion.  Here is the beginning:

By Bob Brewin

Nextgov.com

WASHINGTON -- The Naval Sea Systems Command has kicked off sea tests of the Air Force’s newest ship, the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (see GSN, June 27).

The $1.7 billion, 534-foot-long vessel is equipped with a massive radar system, known as the Cobra Judy Replacement, to track foreign ballistic missiles to ensure compliance with strategic arms treaties. It will take over missions performed by similar missile tracking systems housed on the aging USNS Observation Island, which was launched in 1953 and converted to its missile tracking role in 1977 after a stint in the late 1960s conducting test launches of Navy ballistic missiles. (Cont'd.)
*******************************************************************************

1973 Navy video on USNS Observation Island, linked here

New National Security Archive Collection: 38 Documents on FBI Counter-terrorism

Thirty-eight declassified documents collected by GWU's National Security Archive, documenting decades of FBI involvement in confronting terrorism.  See here.  Interesting examples include the Hansen and Ames espionage investigations, and historical documents on Latin America, Iran, the Soviet Union, and al Qaeda, as well as domestic terrorism including skinheads and eco-terrorists.

Watching Now (CSPAN): Brookings Institution: Foreign Policy & Election

C-SPAN @ the Brookings Institution.  Richard Williamson for Romney and Michele Flournoy for Obama.  I didn't catch it from the beginning but a good debate, now in the audience Q&A session, including from foreign media. I'm not familiar with Williamson, will look him up in a minute.  I know I've seen scholarship by Flournoy produced prior to her work with the Obama administration and campaign, but I don't recall specifics.  More attention is being paid to Williamson, as the point is to clarify the positions that distinguish Romney from Obama.  Two or three times now Williamson has said "Governor Reagan" instead of "Governor Romney."   Now on China. Williamson lists litany of issues, says Romney will use WTO more aggressively. He's complimentary to Obama on pursuing human rights vis-a-vis China, and to SecState Clinton on building a regional alliance (Vietnam, et al).

Overall good debate.

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Campaigns39-Senior-Foreign-Policy-Advisers-Debate-International-Agenda/10737432606/

U.S. debt to China and Japan, 2001-2011

The following figures from the Treasury Department indicate the amount of debt owed by the United States to China and Japan. Today each of these countries holds about 7-9% of U.S. debt.  From January 2001 to December 2008 (aka the George W. Bush administration) the amount owed to China grew from $61.5 billion to $727.4 billion, the latter figure nearly 12 times the earlier figure. In the first four years of the GWB presidency, the debt to China increased nearly 4 times. Under President Obama, this has continued, though the growth rate has slowed.  In January 2009 the debt to China was $739.6 billion, rising to $1151.9 billion in December 2011, about 1.5 times the earlier figure.  U.S. debt to Japan doubled in the 8 years of the Bush administration, and under Obama the debt to Japan is nearly double what it was when he took office. 

 In billions of U.S. dollars

           1/01    10/01  12/01   06/02   12/02    12/03    12/04     12/05    12/06   12/07     09/08

China  61.5      72.3   78.6      96.5    118.4    159.0    222.9     310.0    396.9   477.6      618.2

Japan 312.3   314.5 317.9    335.8     378.1   550.8    689.9     670.0    622.9   581.0      617.5

           12/08     01/09      12/09       06/10     12/11

China 727.4     739.6       894.8      1112.1    1151.9
Japan  626.0     634.8      765.7        799.9    1058.0

Recommended: Two Works on Afghanistan

Both on Afghanistan. The first, a clear-eyed assessment of five lessons we should learn from the past decade's adventures in Afghanistan.  Published on American Security Project's website, the Joshua Foust article is found here.

The second is by Major General Michael T. Flynn, USA, Capt. Matt Pottinger, USMC, and Paul D. Batchelor of the Defense Intelligence Agency.  The three have long been steeped in intel in Afghanistan and elsewhere.  The paper, titled Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan, can be found here. It's a strongly worded and very valuable contribution to our understanding of the problems and possibilities for the intelligence community in Afghanistan and in its relations with the IC and policymakers in Washington, DC.

Mapping Afghanistan's Minerals

Very important in analyzing the geopolitical future of Afghanistan and the interests of the US, China, India and Russia.  See BBC report here

Ralph Peters on Redrawing the Borders of the Middle East

In a 2006  Air Force Journal article, "Blood Borders" Ralph Peters thinks outside the map to offer his ideas on what may be happening, and what could and should happen to borders in the 21st century Middle East.  For those not familiar with Peters, he's a former Army officer whose scholarship and commentaries have been praised mostly by conservative hawks. The piece linked here is not a polemic, but a thought-provoking and clear-eyed work