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November 13, 2008
Technology transfer and some Indian public relations
The UK lifts ban on nuclear exports to India, the Indian navy sends an armed helicopter with marine commandos to have a word with some pirates and the Russians consider ordering French aircraft carriers. In an ideal world, I would have linked those three ideas in a clever sentence using the navy, nuclear and India as the pertinent tropes. But it was not to be.
More on those carriers.
The linked piece suggests the sale is unlikely due to technology transfer issues with the Americans, though quite what those might be is not spelled out. I would have imagined the British would have a rather larger objection to make.
Related: Taylor & Co. offers a much more detailed account of the INS Tabar's encounter with pirates. I am also pleased to note HMS Cumberland has also been doing what the Royal Navy is supposed to do
Posted by Ghost of a flea at November 13, 2008 07:37 AM
Comments
As much as I applaud the actions of the Royal & Indian Navies, I have to say, this whole idea of having pirate ships to board is mystifying. I rather agree with the Times' first commenter:
"I'm not sure I understand- a pirate dhow opens fire on a British frigate, and only two pirates are killed, and the dhow is left standing so it can be boarded?
After that confrontation, the pirate dhow should have been splinters of wood swirling around in the water."