The most far-reaching decision at the Budapest meet was NATO's decision to establish a naval presence in the Indian Ocean, ostensibly for protecting World Food Program ships carrying relief for famine-stricken Somalia.
One wonders, of course, how effective the force will be if they are saddled with the same "national caveats" that prevent one-third of the force in Afghanistan from firing a shot in anger.
In what's rapidly becoming Cold War-level predictable, the Russians have responded with a sailing of their own:
Last Tuesday, even as the NATO naval force left for the Indian Ocean, it was stated in Moscow that a missile frigate from Russia's Baltic fleet - aptly named Neustrashimy [Fearless] - was already heading to the Indian Ocean 'to fight piracy off Somalia's coast'. Moscow claimed that the Somali government sought Russian assistance.
By: Brant
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