re: "Is Italy a Failing State?"

Mark Tempest at EagleSpeak ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") looked at speculation of Italian devolution.

"What might happen if Italy falls apart? Revival of Piedmont, Tuscany, Lombardy, Venice and the kingdom of Naples?

Or might this current crisis cause the country, despite, Mr. Gilmour's words, to pull together or attempt to do so? Do the regions all hang together or wither separately? Go full Balkan or cobble together alliances?"

Great questions to consider for any multi-region or multi-ethnic confederation under stress.

11/18

re: "The EagleSpeak Suggested Way to Reduce the Military Force"

Mark Tempest at EagleSpeak ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") wondered where some of these people have been hiding for the past decade.

Money quote(s):

"There will come a time, soon probably, that there will be a call to reduce the
size of the military services (excluding the Coast Guard, which is too damn
small anyway). I offer up my thoughts on how to approach the problem in
two steps:

Identify every member of the military* who has not received combat pay** for
any of the last 10 years that we have been at war.

Once these people have been identified, fire them. If they are flag
officers, fire them twice. "

You'll get no argument from me on this.

_____

* Who has at least 10 years service

** Meaning "imminent danger pay" or
submarine pay and/or whatever AF missileers get.

8/30

re: "Don't Care About "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" But The Headline Is Wrong"

Eagle1 at EagleSpeak ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") pretty much captures my thinking on this. Word for word.

Money quote(s):

"The military will obey the law - as it has been all along.

Now, let's see that big race to the enlistment office."

Read the whole thing.

re: "Somali Pirates: Proposal to attack Somali pirate safe havens? Don't hold your breath . . ."

Eagle1 at EagleSpeak ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") notes some proper and appropriate contingency planning.

re: "Somali Pirates: What about the Filipinos? Piracy focus seen as hypocritical"

Eagle1 at EagleSpeaks ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") notes that not all those held by the pirates of the Somali coast are American.

Money quote(s):

"Americans tend to focus on Americans. But in my readings of the media of the Philippines, China, India and other countries who have sailors captured by pirates or who have engaged the pirates, I note a strong bias toward covering their own citizens."

&

"(T)he Philippines is free to send its own warships and personnel to do whatever it wants to do to free the Filipino hostages held by the pirates."

re: "Well Said"

Eagle1 at EagleSpeaks ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") explains the deliberateness of our response.

Money quote(s):

"It's a serious mistake to view trying to save an individual citizen with weakness or tolerance for pirates."

re: "Southern Command Chief Says: Iranian Influence, Terrorist Links, Threaten Latin American Security"

Eagle1 at EagleSpeaks ("The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear.") highlighted ADM Stavridis' recent remarks.

Money quote(s):

"ADM Stavridis is not alone in his concerns. Iran has been messing around with Nicaragua for some time."