Sudan: South Sudan secession a risky precedent

George Clooney is on board, folks. Isn't that all we need to know?

I am still waiting for China to engage in joint naval operations with the Sudanese Navy.  Maybe a few life fire exercises to show the world that the Sudanese government still has the right to defend itself.  

I was being sarcastic.  I actually tried to learn Mandarin a few years ago and discovered that I not only have no apptitude for languages but also Mandarin's tonal nature was very hard for me to hear.  Speaking of militarized merchantilism how about these babies?  A return to the great age of American gunboat diplomacy.  These boats are designed with the Red Sea and Somalian coast in mind.

Of course if the MIC ever gets them built it will be with government funds, borrowed from the Chinese mostly.  

Quote:

The LCS requirement has been identified as part of a broader surface combatant force transformation strategy, which recognizes that many future threats are spawning in regions with shallow seas, where the ability to operate near-shore and even in rivers will be vital for mission success.

That requires the ability to counter growing “asymmetric” threats like coastal mines, quiet diesel submarines, global piracy, and terrorists on small fast attack boats. It also requires intelligence gathering and scouting, some ground combat support capabilities, and the ability to act as a local command node, sharing tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and joint units.

At the same time, however, the US Navy needs ships that can act as low-end gap-fillers in other traditional fleet roles, and operate in the presence of missile-armed enemy vessels and/or aerial threats.

Given the diversity of possible missions in the shallow-water and near-shore littoral zones, and the potential threats from forces on land, any ship designed for these tasks must be both versatile and stealthy. Meanwhile, the reality of ships that are expected to remain in service for over 30 years gives rise to a need for electronic longevity. As the saga of the USA’s cost-effective but short-lived FFG-7 frigates proved, “future-proofing” and upgradeability for key systems, electronics, and weapons will be critical if these small surface combatants are to remain useful throughout their mechanical lives.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-usas-new-littoral-combat-ships-u...

Sudan Oil - War Spiral Could Split World Powers (and vid)

http://rt.com/news/sudan-south-sudan-war-338/

"...South Sudan broke away from its northern neighbour last July after decades of on-off civil war. But the two never agreed on how to share the oil wealth found in the region between the two countries, and the border was never fully demarcated. Meanwhile their border war threatens to provoke a conflict among the permanent members of the UN Security Council

South Sudan is an ally of the US, while Khartoum has close ties with Russia and China. Some reports allege that the West is already providing arms to South Sudan through its Middle Eastern partners. For instance, South Sudan's Al-Intibaha newspaper writes that Israel might be supplying weapons to Juba. There are also persistent rumours that the US plans to set up a military base in South Sudan - the biggest in Africa.."

Uganda Warns Sudan Over Threats to Attack South Sudan

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsworld.php?id=660621

"Uganda will intervene if the fighting between South Sudan and Sudan escalates into a full scale war, and would not just sit and witness its northern neighbour being attacked, said the CHief of Defense Forces of Uganda, Aronda Nyakairima on Friday. South Sudan is Uganda's biggest export trading partner. If the fighting escalates to all-out warfare, Uganda is likely to lose billions  of US dollars and grapple with a humanitarian crisis as refugees stream across the northern border into its territory.."

West, Zionists Aid South Sudan Against Sudan, Muslims (and vid)

http://presstv.com/detail/237753.html

"Tensions between Sudan and South Sudan have escalated with both sides battling over the oil rich town of Heglig - each declaring it as part of its own sovereignty. Interview with Abdullahi Al Azreg Ambassador of Sudan, to further discuss the issue.."

UN Forces To Protect Oil in South Sudan (and vid)

http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/12/25/341934/un-forces-to-protect-oil...

"Press TV has conducted an interview with Randy Short, political commentator, about the United Nations Security Council approving the deployment of nearly 6,000 more peacekeeping troops to South Sudan..."

Any More US 'Stabilization' and Africa Will Collapse

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37220.htm

"If the US efforts in South Sudan were isolated, it would be tragedy enough. However, the US militarization of Africa paints such a sad similar picture that it bears recapping here.."

US Military Forces Mobilised Amid South Sudan Crisis

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/12/24/ssud-d24.html

"A possible US-led intervention force is being readied in the context of heightened great power rivalries across the region. Washington is determined, above all, to prevent Beijing establishing a diplomatically and strategically dominant position in the continent thereby securing control of its vast natural resources.

South Sudan is, however, the third-largest oil exporter in sub-Saharan Africa..."