* Reuters: As Russia growls, Swedes, Finns eye defence options, NATO.
* The Lithuania Tribune: NATO preps for military exercises in Baltic airspace.
* The US Defense Logistics Agency delivered ready-to-eat meals to Ukraine, as ordered by an Administration which is apparently ignoring the poor optics (already lampooned by The Onion) of such token actions in response to Russia’s belligerence. Yesterday Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin was openly mocking on Twitter NATO’s decision to freeze cooperation with Russia.
* Decreasing Ukrainian and European reliance on Russian gas will be much more effective, but this will take years.
US Acquisitions and Exports
* The latest Defense AT&L [PDF] ponders the distinction between schedule- versus event-driven programs, and notes that “some programs that are promoted as urgent and designed with a schedule-driven acquisition strategy don’t appear in hindsight to have been as urgent as advertised.”
* The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security is planning a series of seminars on export controls reform and compliance. They are taking place across the country from April to September.
* The Wichita Eagle reports that a federal judge revived a $2.3 billion whistle-blower lawsuit alleging Hawker Beechcraft (as the company was known at the time of the alleged facts) used defective parts in military trainers sold to the government.
Pre-Electoral Climate in India, Afghanistan
* In India’s dna, a scathing charge against defense minister AK Antony:
“If anyone ever wanted a patron saint for incompetence, they need look no further than India’s defence minister, AK Antony. Ostensibly given the portfolio by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in October 2006 because of his clean image, the country’s defence preparedness has plummeted to rock bottom during Antony’s tenure. By presiding over an era marked by policy inertia, procurement paralysis, and administrative fumbling, the UPA has brought India’s defence preparedness to its lowest point since October 1962.”
* A suicide bomber blew himself up earlier today at the Afghan interior ministry, killing 6 police officers. The Taliban did promise to disrupt the coming elections.
Hmm, Why Could Japan Possibly Do This?
* Congratulations to state-owned CCTV for keeping a straight face while reporting about the evolution of Japan’s posture as if it was happening in a vacuum, rather than prodded by China. Video below:
