Benerson Little

Whaling Protests Heat Up. Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activists aboard the Steve Irwin hurled stink or acid bombs made from rancid butter at a Japanese whaler, and claim that some of the whaler's crew fired bullets in return, a charge the Japanese vigorously deny. One of the protesters claims he felt something strike his kevlar vest, and upon examination discovered it was a bullet. The Japanese claim that coast guard members aboard the whaler only threw "warning devices," apparently "flash-bang" grenades. If the devices were actually flash-bangs and not more dangerous devices, then they are not designed to throw hazardous fragmentation or to harm people, although most do have some hard parts which do not disintegrate in the blast. Japanese authorities have vigorously protested the attacks. Both Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd group have been shadowing the whalers, and in January two Sea Shepherd activists were captured when they boarded a whaler. Branded as terrorists, they were released two days later. Sea Shepherd activists have been far more aggressive and confrontational than their Greenpeace counterparts. (Sources: BBC, author's)

Whaling Conference. The annual international whaling conference was held in late March, with possible solutions proposed to the contentious state of whaling. For details, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6689541.stm

Iceland Asks for Whale Quota. Iceland has asked for a quota of 100 minke whales and perhaps as many as 150 fin whales for the upcoming season. Last year Iceland killed 45 minke whales for meat. Iceland resumed whaling in 2006. (Source: BBC)

Native Americans Plead Guilty. Three members of the Makah tribe Washington pled guilty in Tacoma, Washington to misdemeanor charges to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act by harpooning a gray whale last fall in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The US Coast Guard arrested the men before they could finish killing the whale, which lived for seven more hours with numerous wounds. Two other defendents are expected to stand trial in April. The men arrested are considered "rogue whalers," for they acted without tribal authorization. Whaling is traditional among the Makah, but the US Government has denied the tribe a permit to take a whale since 1999. Anti-whaling activists intend to prevent the tribe, or anyone else, from hunting whales. The Makah argue that their 153 year old treaty with the US permits them to whale, and those arrested are regarded by some as "treaty warriors." (Sources: Seattle Post Intelligencer, UPI)

White (Killer) Whale. A rarely seen white killer whale was recently spotted in the Aleutians by the crew and scientists of the Oscar Dyson, an NOAA research vessel. The whale, previously sighted in 1993 and 2001, is white with hints of light yellows and browns. An adult male estimated at twenty-five to thirty feet long, it probably weighs ten thousand pounds or more. Scientists do not believe the whale to be a true albino. (Sources: AP, et al)

Pygmy Whales Rescued by Dolphin. Two pygmy sperm whales stranded on the New Zealand coast were encouraged to survive by a dolphin named Moko by local inhabitants. Witnesses stated that the whales were exhausted after the stranding and rescue efforts, but that their spirit and energy were renewed when the dolphin began calling to them. The whales, led by the dolphin, returned to sea. (Source: BBC)

Military Beacons May Save Marine Mammals. Developers of a naval beacon designed to mark channels cleared of mines might be adapted to fishing nets. The devices, developed at the British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, are acoustic reflectors, and might make the nets "visible" to whales and dolphins. (Source: BBC)

Threat to Stellar Sea Lions. The US government is evaluating the threat to Stellar sea lions from commercial fishing. The western population of Stellar sea lions, whose range extends from the eastern Gulf of Alaska to beyond the western Aleutians, is endangered. (Source: AP)

Seal Hunting in Canada. The European Union is considering action against the annual Canadian seal hunt. This year's limit has been expanded to 275,000 seals, 5,000 more than last year. Canadian seal products are banned in the US, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In a related incident, three seal hunters drowned in the icy St. Lawrence when their fishing boat capsized. Two others were rescued, and another was listed as missing. (Source: BBC, Australian.news.com)

Sea Lions Sentenced to Death. The National Marine Fisheries Service has authorized the killing of sea lions at the Columbia River dam, if they cannot be caught. The sea lions' crime is feasting on salmon. Critics claim that there is no need to kill the sea lions, and suggest that fishermen catch far more salmon on the river than the sea lions eat. Further, US statistics indicate that hydroelectric dams kill sixty percent of the juvenile fish. (Sources: NY Times, AP)

Polar Bear Suit. On March 10, conservation groups filed suit against the US Department of the Interior for missing the deadline for a decision on whether or not to list the polar bear as a threatened species. The decision was due in early January, but the Department postponed it, citing the need for a few more weeks. The potential listing of polar bears as threatened is based on the loss of Arctic sea ice, and, given the Bush administration's history on global warming, environmental protection, and conservation, not to mention its desire to open the Arctic for oil exploration, is likely a politically sensitive decision for the Department. Some accuse the Department of stonewalling, or otherwise refusing to address the issue. (Sources: Huntsville Times, author's)

Fish and Fishing

Salmon Fishery. The US National Marine Fisheries Services indicated it will close the salmon fisheries from Oregon to Southern California due to depleted stocks.

Missing Salmon. Chinook salmon who annually travel up the Sacramento River, and which are considered the most significant source of the salmon south of Alaska, have disappeared. So far, scientists are unsure of the cause. Some point to mismanagement of the Sacramento River, others to various recent ocean conditions. (Source: NY Times)

Sick Salmon. Salmon in Chile's offshore fish farms are afficted with a virus (infectious salmon anemia), killing millions and raising doubts about the efficacy of raising fish in pens at sea. Scientists point to the breeding of salmon in crowded pens, leading to unsanitary conditions, as the culprit. (Source: NY Times)

Hibernating Fish? British Antarctic Survey scientists have discovered that in winter the Antarctic cod (unrelated to the cod most of us are familiar with) puts itself in a state similar to hibernation, probably to save energy. (Source: BBC)

Eavesdropping Fish? Researchers from Edinburgh University have discovered that reef fish on Australia's Great Barrier Reef use their acute sense of hearing to scout locations before they choose where to live. (Source: BBC)

Medical Sea Cucumbers. Medical researchers hoping to treat Parkinson's and other diseases by implanting electrodes in the brain have been stymied by the requirement that electrodes be stiff enough to implant, yet pliable enough not to cause scarring, which interfere with electrical signals. Sea cucumbers, whose skin is pliable, yet can become rigid when the sea cucumber is threatened, may hold the key in the "nanocomposite material" of their skin. (Source: BBC)

Cloning Dollars. Scientists at the University of Washington report that when threatened, sea dollars clone themselves. When sand dollar larvae were exposed to fish mucus, they cloned themselves within twenty-four hours. (Source: livescience.com)

Woman Killed by Sea Ray. A 75 pound sea ray killed Judy Kay Zagorski on March 20 when it leaped from the water and struck her as she rode as a passenger in a pleasure craft. Ms. Zagorski apparently died of the impact. According to marine biologists, rays leap to "to escape a predator, give birth and shake off parasites." (Source: NY Times)

Teenage Boy Killed by Shark. An Australian teenager was killed by a shark on April 8 while body-boarding on the east coast of Australia. Approximately 15 attacks occur per year in Australia, with an average of one fatality per year, making it the most dangerous place in the world for shark attacks. Shark attacks are actually quite rare, as compared to the almost innumerable number of times people enter the sea every year. (Sources: LA Times, author's)

Pollution, Global Warming, and the Health of the Seas

The State of Coral Reefs. Australian scientists have recently postulated that healthy fish populations may be one of the keys to keeping reefs healthy, especially in view of climate change and ocean pollution. Fish graze on the reefs, helping keep them free of unwanted algae and invasive plant species. (Sources: BBC, et al)

The Effect of Plastics on the Sea. Research shows that as plastics degrade in the ocean, they deposit significantly increased amounts of toxins, with the risk that the toxins are being ingested by various sea life. Plastic particles make up a significant portion of the "sandy material" gathered on many beaches at the highwater line. Larger plastic objects, as yet undegraded, pose risks to marine life, including birds, often getting wrapped around or caught on the animals, restricting their movement or preventing their feeding. (Source: BBC)

Arctic Ice Cover. Scientists state that the Artic is losing its old ice at a much faster rate than anticipated. Among other virtues, the ice reflects sunlight back into space, as opposed to absorbing it as the ocean does. (Source: BBC)

Oil Spill Charges. John Cota, pilot of the container ship Cosco Buscan when she collided with the San Francisco Bay Bridge on November 7, 2008 and spilled 58,000 gallons of fuel oil, has been charged with criminal negligence and breaking various enviromental laws. (Source: BBC)

Exploration

Russian Scientists Honored. The Explorers Club in New York recently honored Russian scientists for their work exploring the Arctic seabed. Diving in the twin Mir submersibles, the expedition not only discovered and investigated sea life, but surveyed the undersea Arctic as a means of substantiating Russia's claim to almost half the Arctic floor, and some observers believe this was the expedition's primary mission. The exploration was headed by Anatoly M. Sagalevitch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. (Source: NY Times, author's)

Storms

Cyclones and El Nino. Due to the phenonmenon of El Nino, in which temperature drops in the equatorial zone of the eastern Pacific, the number of cyclones in the southwestern Indian Ocean has peaked this season. The area has already suffered twelve cyclones, some of them wreaking havoc on Madagascar in the most devastating season in recollection. Nine is the seasonal average, and not for a decade has a season seen a dozen. The season is considered to end on April 30 or May 15. Scientists are uncertain whether the increase in storms is linked to global climate change, but believe that climate change will lead to an increase in tropical cyclones. The majority of Madagascar's population live in poverty, and food scarcity and malnutrition are chronic. (Source: IRIN)

British Coast Battered. Gale force winds struck the southern English coast on March 10, causing various damage and power outages, and closing several ports including Dover. Wind speed was in excess of eighty miles per hour. The storm forced Swedish oil tanker Astral to drag her anchor, resulting in a damaged rudder when the ship struck a shallow bank. The Astral was towed to safety by two coastguard tugboats, with a RNLI lifeboat standing by. On March 12, a second storm struck the northern coasts of England, Wales, and Ireland. (Sources: BBC, Huntsville Times)

Shipwrecks

Fishermen and Trawler Lost. The fishing vessel Alaska Ranger sank in Alaskan waters on March 23 after losing control of her rudder and taking on water. Four of her 47 crew died of hypothermia, and another was listed as missing at sea: skipper Eric Peter Jacobsen, chief engineer Daniel Cook, mate David Silveira, crewman Byron Carrillo, and fish master Satoshi Konno (missing, now declared dead). Captain Jacobsen did not abandon ship until his entire crew had. Spread out over a mile in high seas and at times blinding snow, the survivors were rescued by the US Coast Guard, with the assistance of sister ship Alaska Warrior. The 189 foot catcher-processor trawler was headed for mackerel fishing grounds when it sank. (Source: NY Times, Seattle Times, Anchorage Daily News)

Tourist Vessel Aground. On March 13 the Greek tourist vessel MV Giorgis, carrying 313 passengers and crew on a day cruise, ran aground on a reef near the island of Poros, southwest of Athens. The vessel quickly began on water, and helicopters were sent to evacuate passengers and crew. The weather at the time of the grounding was clear, but the sea was reported as choppy. The Giorgis is Greek-flagged. (Sources: BBC, AP)

Sunken Vessels

WWII Cruiser HMAS Sydney Discovered. The HMAS Sydney, sunk during an engagement with the disguised German commerce raider Kormoran off the coast of Australia in 1941, has been found. The Australian government intends that the Sydney will lie untouched, except for limited research, as a memorial to her entire crew of 645, all of whom went down with the ship. The Sydney was a modified Leander class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy, with a recent history of exceptional service in the Mediterranean against two Italian light cruisers. The Kormoran was a converted freighter whose guns were hidden behind drop-down screens. The German warship was disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakka, and when the Sydney came within range of the Kormoran's guns and torpedos, the German struck her Dutch colors, hoisted the German ensign, and opened fire, taking out the Sydney's bridge and forward gun turrets. Caught by surprise, the Sydney was soon aflame and mortally wounded but returned fire gallantly, giving a mortal wound to the Kormoran. The Sydney soon sank. The Kormoran's captain ordered his sinking ship scuttled, and he and the survivors among his crew--the Kormoran lost 78 men--were interred as prisoners of war. (Source: Aus. Herald Sun)

Lost Over the Sea

Antoine St. Exupéry. Lost on a mission during WWII while he served as a pilot in the Free French Air Force, the exact circumstances of the death of the author of The Little Prince has remained a mystery until now. All that was apparent was that he failed to return from a night mission, and was probably lost over the Mediterranean. In 1998 a bracelet belonging to St. Exupéry was discovered in a fishing net off Marseilles, and in 2004 French diver Luc Vanrell located part of the wreckage of Exupery's P-38 Lightning. Lino von Gartzen of the Bavarian Society for Underwater Archaeology and M. Vanrell joined forces to discover the cause of St. Exupéry's death. Mr. von Gartzen interviewed hundreds of Luftwaffe pilots, and came in contact with fighter pilot Horst Rippert, who had shot down a P-38 Lightning on the night and in the area St. Exupéry went missing. Mr. Rippert was a fan of St. Exupéry, and said he was horrified to later discover that he had probably shot down the famous author, no matter that he was an enemy at the time, so he kept this knowledge to himself until contacted by Mr. von Gartzen. St. Exupéry was an early aviator who wrote poetically of his experiences. He has been called the "Joseph Conrad of the air," and his other works include Night Flight; Wind, Sand and Stars; Flight to Arras; and Southern Mail. (Sources: BBC et al)

Medicine at Sea

International Medical Guide for Ships. A new edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships has just been published by the World Health Organization (WHO), on behalf of the International Maritime Organization (IM0), the International Labour Organization, and WHO. A list of authorized vendors is published on the IMO website (www.imo.org). (Source: IMO, author's)

Terminology

Vessel Prefixes. Of the most common, MV stands for Motor Vessel (typically, but not always, a merchant ship), MS for Motor Ship and is interchangeable with MV, SS for Steamship, RMS for Royal Mail Ship (UK, usually a passenger ship), and RV for Research Vessel. The difference between a steamship and a motor vessel, two terms often used for commercial vessels, is that the former is propelled by a steam turbine or steam engine, the latter by a diesel engine or turbine. However, SS is seen much less often now, and MV is often used in its stead. Prefixes are further complicated by the common use of a shipping line's acronym in front of the ship's name, for example MSC Baleares, where MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company, or CSAV Caribe, where the prefix stands for Compañía SudAmericana de Vapores.

Among warships, USS stands for United States Ship, USNS for United States Naval Ship (civilian crew, a Military Sealift Command transport), USCGC for United States Coast Guard Cutter, HMS for Her (or His) Majesty's Ship, HMAS for Her (or His) Majesty's Australian Ship, and HMCS for Her (or His) Majesty's Canadian Ship. Most other nations have designations for their warships as well. Denmark, for example, uses KDM (Kongelige Danske Marine). A few nations, such as Spain and Germany, do not use prefixes for their warships' names. The list of common merchant and warship prefixes is extensive, running to more than a hundred. (Sources: various, author's)

Technology

Sea-Powered Vessel Sets Sail. In March the Suntory Mermaid II set sail from Hawaii for Japan on its maiden voyage. The vessel is wave-powered, and derives its propulsion from the action of the sea operating on bow fins, much in the manner in which a dolphin swims. Wave-powered vessels are nothing new, dating back at least to the late nineteenth century, but the technology has yet to prove efficient: the Suntory Mermaid II is expected to sail along at three knots. (Source: BBC)

Modern Piracy

Somali Pirates Capture Luxury Yacht. Ten to twelve pirates in two speedboats and armed with AK-47s and RPGs attacked and captured the 288 foot commercial luxury yacht Le Ponant in the Gulf of Aden. Shots were reportedly fired. Of the 30 (or 32 as reported in some instances) crew members aboard, 22 were French, and the remainder included Ukranians, South Koreans, and, in some reports, Filipinos. No passengers were aboard. The French aviso (corvette) Le Commandant Bouan tracked the vessel, which anchored at Eyl in Somalia. (The warship was incorrectly named Commandant Rouen and described as a frigate in several news reports.) The pirates had earlier attempted to come ashore at Garaad, Somalia, but were refused entry. A gunfight ensued with local gunmen, the pirates killing two of them. Other coalition forces were reportedly involved in tracking the Ponant, including a helicopter from the Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown. French authorities indicated a willingness to ransom the vessel, and by all accounts did. The hostages were released April 11. Military action, which might incline pirates to avoid making such attacks in the future, would have been difficult, although by no means impossible, to carry off successfully without harm to some of the hostages aboard. The commandos-marine--the elite French naval commando force--may have been the unit most likely to conduct a raid on the vessel at sea, if force were authorized. One report indicates that ten members of the French Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN), the French counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit, were on standby, although other forces would have been involved as well had a rescue been undertaken. Ten is by far too few for a hostage rescue. If the hostages are imprisoned ashore, other units might be called in to make the rescue. Le Ponant is an 850 ton, three masted luxury yacht that can carry up to 64 passengers. (Sources: BBC, NY Times, International Herald Tribune, webinfrance.com, IMB Piracy Report, The Independent, author's, et al)

Update: French commandos attacked the pirates after the hostages were released, capturing six of the modern day sea rovers, and recovering much of the $2 million ransom. News reports have not identified the commandos, except to note that fifty commandos-marine were nearby, as was a small team of GIGN. (Sources: BBC, Times Online)

Tanker Escapes from Pirates. On April 1 three Somali pirate boats attacked a tanker in the Gulf of Aden. Firing automatic weapons and RPGs, the pirates damaged the ship's funnel and lifeboat but were unable to board due to evasive action taken by captain and crew. An hour later, five boats attacked the tanker, but again were unable to board the ship due to the vessel's increased speed and evasive maneuvers. (Source: IMB Piracy Report)

Piracy Update. At present, pirate tactics against commercial shipping at sea are of two sorts: an accelerating attack in which the pirates in small craft run down their prey, and a deceptive attack in which pirates pretend to be a commercial ship, fishing boat, or other vessel in need of assistance. At anchor, shipping is usually attacked surreptiously. Recent measures taken against Somali pirates operating off its east coast have caused them to move their operations to the Gulf of Aden and its busy shipping lane. (Sources: IMB Piracy Report, Lloyd's, author's)




Amphibious Ship New York Christened. On March 1 the San Antonio class amphibious assault ship New York (LPD-21) was christianed in Avondale, Louisiana, before an audience that included friends and family members of some of those who died in the attack on the World Trade Center, as well as NYC first responders. The ship's bow stem contains seven and a half tons of steel salvaged from the ruins of the World Trade Center, and her motto is "Never Forget." The New York is expected to be commissioned in 2009, and will then be referred to as the USS New York. The ship was named at the request of Governor Pataki, who asked in honor of the victims of September 11 that it be given to a surface warship that would be involved in the war on terror. The ship will be able to carry up to 700 Marines and their equipment, including helicopters. Ships are christened at their launching; US warships are given the prefix USS when formally commissioned into the US Navy after the successful completion of sea trials and other tests, often a year or more later. (Sources: AP, ussnewyork.com)

Sri Lankan Patrol Boat Destroyed. On March 22 a Sri Lankan fast attack craft exploded late at night near Nayaru, approximately 185 miles north of the city of Colombo. The 82 foot vessel, on routine patrol with a similar vessel and armed with heavy and light machineguns, was destroyed, and ten of her sixteen man crew were killed. The six survivors--one officer, five crewmen--were rescued. Sri Lankan authorties believe the vessel struck a Tamil Tiger mine, although the rebel group claims the vessel was destroyed by a Black Sea Tigers suicide squad after a forty-five minute firefight, and that three Tigers were killed in the attack. This is the second Sri Lankan patrol vessel destroyed by the Tamil Tigers this year. Five Sri Lankan sailors were killed when the first vessel was lost. Pakistani forces retaliated against the Tamil Tigers for the latest incident, bombing Tamil Tiger strongholds, particularly radar and command sites. Ground forces attacked and captured Tamil Tiger positions near Parayanakulam, reportedly killing fifteen rebels. The war began in 1983. (Sources: BBC, NY Times)

Admiral Fallon Retires Early. Admiral William Fallon, Commander of the United States Central Command and in charge of US Forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq, stepped down from his command in order to retire early. The decision was by all accounts based on differences he had with the current administration on its Middle East policies. Like many naval personnel, Admiral Fallon is plainspoken, a virtue deriving from the exercise of ships upon the sea, although a virtue often unsuited to politics and those who engage in it. (Sources: NY Times, BBC, author's)

Japanese Admiral Relieved of Duty. Admiral Eiji Yoshikawa, head of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, was relieved of duty on March 21, and 87 other officers and officials were reprimanded in the wake of a collision last month between a Japanese destroyer and a fishing boat, in which two fishermen lost their lives. (Source: International Herald Tribune)

Navy Officer May Face Disciplinary Action. US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca C. Dickinson may face disciplinary action after testifying on April 10 that she worked as an escort for Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the "DC Madam," while on staff at the United States Naval Academy. Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson used the name "Renee" while working as an escort. (Source: Baltimore Sun)

Iraqi Troops Move on Basra. Iraqi forces attacked militia in Basra, at first unilaterally. Coalition forces later provided support. Most analysts state that the attack proved that Iraqi forces are not yet able to hold their own against the various opposing armed forces in Iraq. Basra is a famous and ancient Iraqi port, even frequented by the fictional Sinbad the Sailor. (Sources: NY Times, BBC, author's)

Marine Pilots Killed. Two US Marine Corps pilots were killed when their T-34C Mentor turboprop aircraft crashed on the rim of Chandler Mountain, roughly sixty miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. Major David Yaggy, the instructor, and 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Prezioso, the student, were stationed at Training Squadron Six, NAS Whiting Field, near Milton, Florida, where Navy and Marine Corps aviators undergo primary flight training. (Source: Miami Herald)

Naval Special Warfare

Navy SEAL Killed. Chief Petty Officer Chief Lance Vaccaro died in a parachute training accident in Arizona on March 6. Chief Vaccaro was the second Navy SEAL to die in a parachuting accident within a month. A third SEAL died in a shooting accident in February. The incidents prompted a safety standdown. (Source: Navy Times)

Navy SEAL Receives Medal of Honor. On April 8, Petty Officer Second Class Michael Monsoor, USN, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. While providing security for a sniper team in Ramadi on September 29, 2006, an insurgent threw a grenade that bounced off Monsoor's chest. He immediately shouted "Grenade!" and dove on the explosive device, covering it with his body and shielding his comrades from its blast. He survived for half an hour. Two of his Teammates were wounded in the blast, but survived. Monsoor had previously been awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star for actions in Iraq. (Sources: various)

Retired SEAL "Moki" Martin Honored. On March 14, 2008, retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Philip "Moki" Martin was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with V for valor for his role in the aborted attempt to rescue US POWs during the last days of the Vietnam war. Lieutenant Spence Dry, recently awarded the Bronze Star with V for valor, was killed in the operation. For more details see http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,164539,00.html (Source: Military.com, author's)

Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. The Mahoney Navy SEAL bill has passed in the House. If the bill (H.R. 2779) becomes law, it will "designate the Ft. Pierce Museum [as] the Official National Museum of Navy SEALs and Their Predecessors." See http://www.navysealmuseum.com/news.mahony.php

Former Navy SEAL Pleads Guilty. Elbert Tillman Jr., a former Navy SEAL, pled guilty this month to charges deriving from the unlawful possession of weapons. Tillman, who was turned in by his girlfriend, possessed a stock of firearms, ammunition, unregistered explosives, and illegal steroids. He acquired the arms and explosives while a Navy SEAL, although there was no indication he intended to use either for any criminal purpose. His attorney blamed the US Navy for not ensuring that explosives and ammunition were turned in when not used. (Source: Daily Press, WAVY.com)

Arms Smuggling

Arms Dealer Arrested. Reputed notorious arms dealer and arms smuggler Viktor Bout--aka the "Merchant of Death"--was detained at the behest of the US government on March 6 in Bangkok, Thailand, on suspicion of supplying arms to the terrorist FARC in Colombia. Mr. Bout, the apparent inspiration of the main character in the film Lord of War, is a former Soviet air force officer who used as many as fifty Russian aircraft and numerous companies in his enterprise. One company reportedly even subcontracted to transport US troops and contractors in Iraq. Although reports have circulated that Bout was once an officer of the KGB or GRU, he has denied any such association. Some have even accused the Russian government or its secret services of involvement. Bout has never been prosecuted, and fled to Russia in 2002 after Belgium issued a warrant for his arrest. His arms deals have helped fuel conflict around the world, and according to various agencies and reports, destinations include arms-embargoed Bulgaria, Slovakia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the FARC in Colombia. Although the majority of his arms smuggling appears to have been by aircraft, ships have also been used, including a Greek-flagged cargo ship smuggling arms to Africa. Bout is expected to be extradited to the US to stand trial. Mr. Bout's lawyers protest that he is innocent, the mere owner of an air transport company who happened to do business in war-torn African nations. (Sources: NY Times, BBC, The Scotsman)




Pakistani Naval War College Bombed. Two suicide bombers struck the Pakistan Naval War College in Lahore, on March 4. Casualty figures conflict, but at least four were killed and fourteen wounded, and perhaps as many as seven are dead and nineteen wounded. One bomber blew himself up in order to breach a gate, and the other ran inside the compound and blew himself up in a much larger detonation. Pakistan is currently fighting Islamist terrorists, whose attacks have been sparked in part by Pakistan's support of US and coalition efforts against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The Pakistani Navy consists primarily of frigates and smaller surface combatants, including missile boats and gunboats. Five diesel submarines are also in service, and also, according to various sources, four Italian-built midgit submarines, three of which are operated by Pakistani naval commandos. Naval special operations are conducted by the Special Service Group Navy, formed in 1991 and reportedly modeled after the US Navy SEAL Teams and the British Special Boat Service. (BBC, NY Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, et al)

Cruise Missile Attack. Two or more Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from a US submarine at a house in Dhobley, a small town in southern Somalia, on March 4. The target was Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, a Kenyan wanted by the US for terrorist attacks in the Kenyan seaport of Mombasa in 2002. Southern Somalia is increasingly under the control of members of the Islamist movement. (Source: NY Times)

Former US Sailor Convicted. On March 5, Hassan Abu-Jihad, formerly known as Paul R. Hall, was convicted of giving material aid to terrorists and of disclosing classified national defense information. Abu-Jihad is a former signalman in the US Navy, and while stationed aboard the USS Benfold (DDG-65) leaked information about the ship and its associated battle group to an Internet site believed linked to terrorist groups. (Sources: AP, NY Times)

US Merchant Ship Fires on Small Boat. The MV Global Patriot, a roll-on/roll-off container ship chartered by the US Navy's Military Sealift Command and carrying war materiel, opened fire with small arms on March 25 when approached by a small motorboat in the Suez Canal. According to the crew and US officials, the boat was warned several times to turn away, and warning shots were fired. The approaching boat carried three local Egyptian traders. One person, Mohammed Fouad, was killed, and two others wounded. Traders commonly approach merchant vessels in the Canal. The incident is under investigation by US and Egyptian authorities. US warships and associated transports are leery of approaching vessels, given that small craft have been used by terrorists. (Sources: BBC, author's)