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	<title>The Scoop Deck &#187; The Middle East</title>
	<atom:link href="http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/category/the-middle-east/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck</link>
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		<item>
		<title>End of an era</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/12/06/end-of-an-era/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/12/06/end-of-an-era/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:53:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill McMichael</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[6th Fleet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amphibious operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amphibious Ready Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Combat support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commanding officers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight deck certification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homecoming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine Corps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine Expeditionary Unit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mine warfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Norfolk Naval Station]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Odyssey Dawn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ponce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=9743</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On May 7, 1970, the Beatles released their last single: &#8220;The Long and Winding Road.&#8221; Last week, the amphibious transport dock Ponce, launched 13 days after the song and commissioned in July 1971, completed its own long journey, coming home for the last time after four decades of service. Those years were filled with significant [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/12/06/end-of-an-era/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mason, arriving</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/07/27/mason-arriving/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/07/27/mason-arriving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:28:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill McMichael</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[5th Fleet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6th Fleet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deployment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homecoming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine Security Cooperation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Norfolk Naval Station]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Med]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Theater Security Cooperation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=8758</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Norfolk-based destroyer Mason finally made it home today, bringing up the rear of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, most of which arrived at home ports or bases July 15. One of the happy sailors was Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Eugene Andal, who was selected to debark and receive the traditional first kiss from his [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The ship that buried bin Laden</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/06/14/the-ship-that-buried-bin-laden/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/06/14/the-ship-that-buried-bin-laden/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:02:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=8431</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; It&#8217;s gotta be at least a little frustrating. You&#8217;re just wrapping up a highly successful deployment and you&#8217;ve finally got a whole mess of reporters who want to talk to you about it. But they don&#8217;t. They want to talk about that. You know. That guy you buried at sea and now utterly defines [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/06/14/the-ship-that-buried-bin-laden/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bush to make first-ever overseas deployment</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/05/05/bush-to-make-first-ever-overseas-deployment/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/05/05/bush-to-make-first-ever-overseas-deployment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 18:22:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill McMichael</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Admirals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Naval aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Med]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=8221</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The vision that began with a January 2001 contract award will be fully realized on Wednesday, May 11, when the carrier George H.W. Bush leaves Norfolk to begin its first-ever combat deployment. The 1,092-foot Bush is the 10th and final carrier of the Nimitz class. Commissioned in January 2009, the carrier, as well as its [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/05/05/bush-to-make-first-ever-overseas-deployment/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Daly: Amphibious forces are more relevant than ever</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/04/01/daly-amphibious-forces-are-more-relevant-than-ever/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/04/01/daly-amphibious-forces-are-more-relevant-than-ever/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bill McMichael</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Admirals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amphibious operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amphibious Ready Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gator Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Korean War]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine Corps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine Expeditionary Unit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Med]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=8074</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The deputy commander of Fleet Forces Command used his keynote speech at the decommissioning of the amphibious assault ship Nassau in Norfolk March 31 to stump for continued support for the &#8220;Gator Navy&#8221; and the capability to launch U.S. Marines onto contested shore, arguing that such a capability reduces the need for U.S. bases on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2011/04/01/daly-amphibious-forces-are-more-relevant-than-ever/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Another Gulf War?</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/12/02/another-gulf-war/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/12/02/another-gulf-war/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:05:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=7384</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thankfully, this battle is more semantic than deadly. Thursday morning, the popular-yet-normally-benign Facebook page for the U.S. Navy was hit by cyber activists demanding that a certain body of water be referred to as the &#8220;Persian Gulf.&#8221; The Navy, as you know, calls it the &#8220;Arabian Gulf,&#8221; although not always. The moderator of the Navy [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/12/02/another-gulf-war/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Aftermath and legacy</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/10/12/aftermath-and-legacy/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/10/12/aftermath-and-legacy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:55:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=6520</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ten years after the bombing of the destroyer Cole, could a U.S. warship today handle a similar attack? Crew members today are more alert for small boats, ships have new weapons specifically to keep potential threats at bay, and the Navy seems generally more mindful about sending ships into ports where unpleasantness might occur. But [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/10/12/aftermath-and-legacy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Can the Navy close the flying boat gap?</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/09/28/can-the-navy-close-the-flying-boat-gap/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/09/28/can-the-navy-close-the-flying-boat-gap/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:29:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=6410</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Zounds! That dastardly Chief Commander of Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Mohammad Ali Jafari &#8212; he&#8217;s done it again! First he built a navy with 100 vessels for every one U.S. warship, then he built an indefatigable 60-knot attack craft and now, worst of all, he&#8217;s fielding entire squadrons of flying boats! That&#8217;s right: If [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/09/28/can-the-navy-close-the-flying-boat-gap/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>11</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Swarm warning</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/25/swarm-warning/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/25/swarm-warning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:01:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=6086</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Eagle1 has some great coverage this week about Iran&#8217;s invincible, 29,000-vessel strong hyper-navy, which has just added a new, unstoppable, 60 knot missile-armed small attack craft. This sounds like another one of those game over situations; when Congress comes back from summer vacation, it might as well just disestablish the Navy and liquidate the fleet. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/25/swarm-warning/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Off you go, then</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/23/off-you-go-then/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/23/off-you-go-then/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:54:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=6049</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After what must have felt like a long interlude as guests of the U.S. Navy, eight Iranian seafarers are &#8212; one presumes &#8212; on their way home again. Helicopters from the carrier Harry S. Truman rescued the men last week after their vessel caught fire in the Arabian Sea, and the Americans sailors fed, clothed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/23/off-you-go-then/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Gulf War plus 20</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/17/the-gulf-war-plus-20/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/17/the-gulf-war-plus-20/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:40:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Historical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5981</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The U.S. military entered its modern era in 1990, when it began a campaign that would deliver a devastating, quick and apparently (but not actually) bloodless defeat to an international villain. The force exorcised the demons of Vietnam, proved after decades of nuclear tension that it could win a decisive conventional victory, and did it [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/17/the-gulf-war-plus-20/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The doc on the beat</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/11/the-doc-on-the-beat/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/11/the-doc-on-the-beat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:41:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[The greenside]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5904</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Marine Corps photographer Cpl. Lindsay Sayres has a great set of photos this morning about HM2 Claire E. Ballante, a member of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines&#8217; Female Engagement Team, which helps keep the peace in Helmand Province. Above, Ballante patrols with the Marines in her unit in Musa Qa&#8217;leh. Ballante and her FETmates are specifically [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/11/the-doc-on-the-beat/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The oil police</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/09/the-oil-police/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/08/09/the-oil-police/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:38:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5871</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Information Dissemination author Bryan McGrath has a must-read post this morning that links to a great writeup in Foreign Policy magazine about a subject nobody likes to discuss: How much does our oil addiction really cost? I think regular unleaded was $2.78 a gallon at the Shell Station of Excellence around the corner, but as [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What damaged the M Star? Here&#8217;s what it wasn&#8217;t</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/29/what-damaged-the-m-star-heres-what-it-wasnt/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/29/what-damaged-the-m-star-heres-what-it-wasnt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:05:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[merchant ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5786</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s another high-seas mystery: The oil tanker M Star docked in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday after it had been damaged somehow during a transit through the Strait of Hormuz. That much we know. What we do not know is causing a buzz in maritime circles online. Maybe it hit some floating wreckage, or, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/29/what-damaged-the-m-star-heres-what-it-wasnt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Iran&#8217;s massive armada</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/26/irans-massive-armada/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/26/irans-massive-armada/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:40:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5734</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Navy wants to eventually build a fleet of 313 warships, but that won&#8217;t matter if the proverbial balloon goes up and unpleasantness occurs between the U.S. and Iran, according to a new report: Iran says it has 100 vessels for every American ship, making it effectively invulnerable at sea. Quick back-of-the-envelope math: Today&#8217;s Status [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/07/26/irans-massive-armada/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Reporter&#8217;s Notebook: CNO @ Heritage Foundation</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/14/reporters-notebook-cno-heritage-foundation/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/14/reporters-notebook-cno-heritage-foundation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 15:56:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ballistic missile defense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pacific]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=5021</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Date: May 13, 2010 Location: Heritage Foundation, Washington D.C. Subj: CNO comments In a speech and response to questions offered at the Heritage Foundation Thursday, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead urged fiscal responsibility yet downplayed talk of further cuts to Navy ships and programs. He agreed with Defense Secretary Robert Gates&#8217; call for [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seven in Seven</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/07/seven-in-seven-5/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/07/seven-in-seven-5/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 15:44:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Naval Academy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NECC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Officers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sea Air Space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEALs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Defense Secretary Robert Gates dropped the bomb of the week. In his first invitation to the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space symposium, Gates suggested a need for cutting carriers, sinking SSBN(X) and eliminating Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. You can read Gates&#8217; speech here,  and find out how this affects you in Monday’s edition of Navy Times. Speaking of amphibious [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Iranians filming the Eisenhower?</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/04/iranians-filming-the-eisenhower/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/04/iranians-filming-the-eisenhower/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 16:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Tilghman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4900</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So what was that Iranian aircraft doing buzzing over the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower last week? Filming it, according to the Iran&#8217;s naval chief. TEHRAN &#8211; An Iranian navy plane that came close to a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf was filming the vessel, the Fars news agency quoted Iran’s naval chief as saying [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/04/iranians-filming-the-eisenhower/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eyeball to eyeball</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/29/eyeball-to-eyeball/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/29/eyeball-to-eyeball/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:31:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4844</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As recently as Monday, we were asking which navy was going to take the place of Russia as the world&#8217;s aggressive high-seas bad boy &#8212; China is a contender, and now Iran wants to play, too. An Iranian navy maritime patrol plane last week decided to trip the light fantastic in the airspace above the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/29/eyeball-to-eyeball/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Catching the cool breezes, when you can</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/27/catching-the-cool-breezes-when-you-can/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/27/catching-the-cool-breezes-when-you-can/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mine warfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4831</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Look: The north end of the Persian Gulf is really hot. It is really humid. It is really, really unpleasant. A surreal yellow haze hangs over everything: One minute you can pick up the sleek, ominous silhouette of a U.S. destroyer on patrol, the next minute you can&#8217;t. Would you wear long pants in that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/27/catching-the-cool-breezes-when-you-can/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seven in Seven</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/seven-in-seven-3/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/seven-in-seven-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:45:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military Sealift Command]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NECC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ordnance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recruiting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEALs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The deckplates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The greenside]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pacific]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4764</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Green Hornet on Thursday took to flight – the fighter jet, not the super hero. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and JP-5. That same day, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/seven-in-seven-3/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>See for yourself: Iran&#8217;s naval war games</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/see-for-yourself-irans-naval-war-games/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/see-for-yourself-irans-naval-war-games/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:36:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Check out this fresh video of Iran&#8217;s latest naval exercises in the Persian Gulf, in which  a swarm of small boats takes on what appears to be a large, helpless gray warship. An Mi-8 Hip helicopter makes an appearance at 0:50, but otherwise it&#8217;s a lot of shaky, blurry surface action stuff. Iran&#8217;s state-sponsored English-language [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/22/see-for-yourself-irans-naval-war-games/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seven in Seven</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/16/seven-in-seven-2/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/16/seven-in-seven-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:45:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seabees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The greenside]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pacific]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uniforms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4656</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Navy’s 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock will be named for Rep. John Murtha – a story first reported by Scoop Deck’s own Phillip Ewing. An unfortunate T-39 crash killed four in Georgia also made headlines, as did [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/16/seven-in-seven-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When the admiral doesn&#8217;t care to elaborate</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/15/when-the-admiral-doesnt-care-to-elaborate/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/15/when-the-admiral-doesnt-care-to-elaborate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:25:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEALs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4650</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Instructions for torturing Pentagon reporters: 1. Bring in four-star admiral &#8212; say, Naval Forces Europe commander Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, for a very rare sit-down with the Puzzle Palace hackoisie. 2. Have someone ask him a question about uses for the Navy&#8217;s guided-missile submarines, or SSGNs (or &#8220;goomers,&#8221; as we tried, and failed, to get people [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/15/when-the-admiral-doesnt-care-to-elaborate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>CO: Mesa Verde is running like a top</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/14/co-mesa-verde-is-running-like-a-top/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/14/co-mesa-verde-is-running-like-a-top/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:45:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4631</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite almost four months and one high-level intervention, there sure hasn&#8217;t been much new information about the Navy&#8217;s problems with workmanship and mechanical deficiencies aboard warships built by Northrop Grumman&#8217;s yards on the Gulf Coast. The assessments are ongoing, officials say. Mitigation measures are under consideration. Etc. But there was no such hedging on Wednesday [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/14/co-mesa-verde-is-running-like-a-top/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>CNO wraps up Middle East tour</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/02/cno-wraps-up-middle-east-tour/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/02/cno-wraps-up-middle-east-tour/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:52:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[individual augmentees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4479</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead recently visited Africa and the Middle East to strengthen maritime partnerships and spend time with sailors in the region. During his visit to the destroyer Cole, Roughead described the ship as symbol of strength. “Remember the special heritage that this ship has,&#8221; he said. “It represents the resiliency [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/04/02/cno-wraps-up-middle-east-tour/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Just Call it &#8216;Can-Do Kung Fu&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/31/just-call-it-can-do-kung-fu/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/31/just-call-it-can-do-kung-fu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:27:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lance Bacon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NECC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seabees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The greenside]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Seabees of  Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 can really pack a punch. When they catch a break from ops in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, they focus on hand-to-hand and close-quarters combat techniques taught in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Two Seabees endured three months of gruelling, accelerated training to become instructors. One is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/31/just-call-it-can-do-kung-fu/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>ISAF: Enough of all this nice stuff</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/26/isaf-enough-of-all-this-nice-stuff/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/26/isaf-enough-of-all-this-nice-stuff/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:01:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[individual augmentees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4363</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;re headed for Afghanistan, or you&#8217;re already there, get ready to say goodbye to Orange Julius. The Jules, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen and other Morale, Welfare and Recreation spots across the &#8216;Stan are going away, so U.S. and international forces there can focus on fightin&#8217;. That was the word this week from [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/26/isaf-enough-of-all-this-nice-stuff/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The persistant pirate problem</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/24/the-persistant-pirate-problem/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/24/the-persistant-pirate-problem/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:58:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4300</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most Americans will start hearing about pirates again in a few weeks when the publicity tour kicks up for the release of &#8220;A Captain&#8217;s Duty,&#8221; the memoir of former pirate captive Richard Phillips, but as Scoop Deck readers know, the pirate situation never went away. As a matter of fact, Somali pirates hijacked two ships [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/24/the-persistant-pirate-problem/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The pirate fightin&#8217; manual</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/04/the-pirate-fightin-manual/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/04/the-pirate-fightin-manual/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:12:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[merchant ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=4027</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Americans who grew up at a certain time may remember the cartoon characters Goofus and Gallant, of Highlights magazine fame, who represented the worst and best ways, respectively, to do anything.  Gallant might be shown holding the door open for a little old lady to enter a church, for example, while Goofus would be shown [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/03/04/the-pirate-fightin-manual/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Iran&#8217;s new destroyer that isn&#8217;t</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/irans-new-destroyer-that-isnt/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/irans-new-destroyer-that-isnt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:25:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3831</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lots of chatter online today about Iran&#8217;s new domestically built &#8220;destroyer,&#8221; as reports are calling it, keyed off a top item on Iran&#8217;s state-run, English language Press TV news site. The official story describes the new vessel, Jamaran, as a &#8220;guided missile destroyer,&#8221; armed with &#8220;a variety of anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles,&#8221; as well as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/irans-new-destroyer-that-isnt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8220;Operation New Dawn:&#8221; Thoughts?</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/operation-new-dawn-thoughts/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/operation-new-dawn-thoughts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:22:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shore duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The deckplates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3826</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;re heading out to the sandbox as an individual augmentee, or your ship is going to be up in the Persian Gulf supporting operations in Iraq, you&#8217;ve got to get in as many references as you can to &#8220;Operation Iraqi Freedom,&#8221; because that&#8217;s going away. Oh-Eye-Eff, as we colloquially say, will become Oh-Enn-Dee &#8212; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/02/19/operation-new-dawn-thoughts/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>They build, they fight &#8212; you watch</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/29/they-build-they-fight-you-watch/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/29/they-build-they-fight-you-watch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:15:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Seabees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3604</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are the ingredients for a TV program you can set your watch by: Start with a bunch of Devil Dogs from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit having some fun in the sun over in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, throw in some Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, and get National Geographic there to catch [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/29/they-build-they-fight-you-watch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The perils of being a pirate</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/19/the-perils-of-being-a-pirate/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/19/the-perils-of-being-a-pirate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:25:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[merchant ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3434</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes it&#8217;s dangerous to get what you want. In piracy the maritime risk-adjustment industry, for example, the goal is to get as much money as possible for the crews, vessels and cargo you seize. When you succeed, however, there can be unforeseen consequences &#8212; as when two pirates enjoying a good day at the office [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/19/the-perils-of-being-a-pirate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SNA day 2: Proclamations and predictions</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/13/sna-day-2-proclamations-and-predictions/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/13/sna-day-2-proclamations-and-predictions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:57:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mine warfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After the second day of speeches, press avails and panel discussions, here are a few of the voices that attendees heard today at SNA, selected completely arbitrarily, with some statements and prognostications they made about the world as it is and the world to come: &#8220;Optimistically, we&#8217;re looking at a 275-ship Navy &#8212; which is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/13/sna-day-2-proclamations-and-predictions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>MCPON: &#8220;Boom!&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/07/mcpon-boom/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/07/mcpon-boom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chiefs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/SW) Rick West greeted Aviation Boatswain&#8217;s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Nikita Boles on Wednesday in the hangar bay aboard the carrier Nimitz in the North Arabian Sea. Will West begin asking sailors to &#8220;hit the rock,&#8221; much as he has made &#8220;hoo-yah&#8221; his catchphrase? His belief in muscle-display [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/01/07/mcpon-boom/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>The terror threat at sea</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/31/the-terror-threat-at-sea/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/31/the-terror-threat-at-sea/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:15:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3210</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All of a sudden, there is lots of discussion online about terrorist threats to U.S. warships in the Middle East. Galrahn has an excellent post today about a new warning for ships,  including this money quote: &#8220;We assess a direct, grave threat, by Al Qaeda, against U.S. Navy warships and U.S.-flagged vessels. Moreover, if U.S.-flagged [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/31/the-terror-threat-at-sea/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Consolidated cutthroat up 3.25: The pirate stock exchange</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/30/pirate-stock-exchange/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/30/pirate-stock-exchange/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:12:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3180</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If, like so many other people in this dire economy, you&#8217;re looking for new places to park your money, Reuters reporter Mohamed Ahmed brings you an exotic new investment opportunity: The pirate stock exchange. In his extraordinary story, Ahmed describes how Somali pirates have adopted the same techniques that have worked for centuries in the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/30/pirate-stock-exchange/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Vinson sailor goes to Africa, comes back with novel</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/21/vinson-sailor-goes-to-africa-comes-back-with-novel/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/21/vinson-sailor-goes-to-africa-comes-back-with-novel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:57:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[individual augmentees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shore duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3120</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If serving ashore as an individual augmentee is going to stay a reality of sailor life for a long time to come &#8212; which is what service officials keep saying &#8212; here&#8217;s a good example of how to make the best of it: IT2 Angela Bryant, of the carrier Carl Vinson, was sent to Djibouti [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/21/vinson-sailor-goes-to-africa-comes-back-with-novel/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Beware, sucka MCs, Petraeus spits hot fire</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/15/beware-sucka-mcs-petraeus-spits-hot-fire/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/15/beware-sucka-mcs-petraeus-spits-hot-fire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:40:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3061</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You learned here a few weeks ago that Gen. David Petraeus, head of Central Command, likes to use his visits with the Navy as a chance to cut loose a little bit, but you probably didn&#8217;t know that he also uses them to push rhymes like weight. According to the Navy, Petraeus gave a &#8220;spirited&#8221; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/15/beware-sucka-mcs-petraeus-spits-hot-fire/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The only way to travel</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/09/the-only-way-to-travel/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/09/the-only-way-to-travel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:40:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shore duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=3010</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Edwin Sharpe has come up with an elegant solution to a problem that has plagued military rear ends since 1957, when the C-130 Hercules made its debut with the U.S. military. Sure, it&#8217;s a useful aircraft, but it can be less than&#8230; ah&#8230; comfortable to sit on a mesh [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/09/the-only-way-to-travel/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>When Petraeus visits, it&#8217;s a party</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/04/when-petraeus-visits-its-a-party/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/04/when-petraeus-visits-its-a-party/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:30:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carriers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2985</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You get the sense that Gen. David Petraeus, head of Central Command, really enjoys when he can escape the cube-farm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., or the Iraqi sands, or the Afghan dust, and get out to catch some cool breezes on a Navy warship. When he came aboard the destroyer Bainbridge this summer, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/04/when-petraeus-visits-its-a-party/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>All that sweet, sweet beer!</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/03/all-that-sweet-sweet-beer/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/03/all-that-sweet-sweet-beer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:10:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Royal Navy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2968</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Scoop Deck doesn&#8217;t mind admitting a weakness for an ice-cold brewski every once in awhile during the off-duty hours, and as such, found this item shocking: The U.S. Army reportedly destroyed 7,000 cans of beer that were the former property of the Royal Navy in Iraq. After the Americans took over a British base in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/03/all-that-sweet-sweet-beer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>A sailor surge in Afghanistan?</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/02/a-sailor-surge-in-afghanistan/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/02/a-sailor-surge-in-afghanistan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[individual augmentees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seabees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shore duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2956</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At first blush, it might not seem like the Navy would be much affected by President Obama&#8217;s announcement last night that he is sending 30,000 more troops to land-locked Afghanistan by next year. But there are thousands of mountain sailors across Afghanistan, and it seems likely that more could begin deploying there as part of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/12/02/a-sailor-surge-in-afghanistan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Cyber-citizens back SEALs</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/27/cyber-citizens-back-seals/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/27/cyber-citizens-back-seals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:42:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Scutro</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEALs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2919</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the social media world, there&#8217;s growing disbelief over the detainee abuse allegations against three Navy SEALs, which came to light this week. The three were charged in connection with the alleged abuse of the purported mastermind of the 2004 ambush in Fallujah, in which four contractors from Blackwater were hanged and burned. After the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/27/cyber-citizens-back-seals/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Of course the fighter jets make you look cool, man</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/of-course-the-fighter-jets-make-you-look-cool-man/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/of-course-the-fighter-jets-make-you-look-cool-man/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:16:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Science and technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2900</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of Scoop Deck&#8217;s favorite non-naval bloggers is the user-experience researcher Jan Chipchase, a globe-trotting explorer of how people and cultures interact with technology. Classic example: On a trip to Kabul, Chipchase discovered that the latest trend for young men is to commission heavily edited portraits of themselves. We&#8217;re not just talking about a few [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/of-course-the-fighter-jets-make-you-look-cool-man/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>This year&#8217;s Navy Thanksgiving load-out</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/this-years-navy-thanksgiving-load-out/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/this-years-navy-thanksgiving-load-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:40:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The deckplates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pacific]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2890</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You can start to tell from the thinning crowds along the elegant boulevards here in the National Capital Region (and in the Christmas music that has already reared its ugly head downstairs in the Cafeteria of Excellence) that the holidays are nigh. This week, Americans will travel home to give thanks for flightless birds; the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/this-years-navy-thanksgiving-load-out/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Seabee links</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/seabee-links/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/seabee-links/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:25:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seabees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Submarines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2880</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Heavy equipment operatin&#8217;, expeditionary base constructin&#8217;, nail hammerin&#8217;, toothpick chewin&#8217;, buildin&#8217;, fightin&#8217; links, bringing you updates and info even to the most austere forward settings: The crew of the amphibious transport dock New York gets on national TV; companies put out press releases so people will know their products are involved with it somehow. The [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/23/seabee-links/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>High-seas rescue</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/19/high-seas-rescue/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/19/high-seas-rescue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:14:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[merchant ships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pirates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2863</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Navy&#8217;s new slogan may have gotten a mixed reception internally, but there are three Yemeni fishermen, at least, who would probably agree it really is a global force for good. The cruiser Chosin spotted the men on Tuesday clinging to a piece of wood in the Gulf of Aden, and sent a launch to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/19/high-seas-rescue/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Watch your step out there, sir</title>
		<link>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/18/watch-your-step-out-there-sir/</link>
		<comments>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/18/watch-your-step-out-there-sir/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:18:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Phil Ewing</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Foreign navies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maritime operations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Middle East]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=2847</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Quick sea anecdote: One time Scoop Deck was standing in the upper vehicle stowage bay of the amphibious assault ship Makin Island, at sea in the Gulf of Mexico, waiting to climb down a Jacob&#8217;s ladder into a boat moored alongside. It was clear and sunny, but the sea was choppy enough that people were [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/11/18/watch-your-step-out-there-sir/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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	</channel>
</rss>
