In our homeland defense planning process we must come together inorder to anticipate the operational and tactical requirements ableto be met by all agencies, so that we fuse that national competencyinto a well-prepared plan oriented toward each one of the 15national planning scenarios.
How should the Coast Guard transform to meet the missions of a post-9/11 environment? At a recent Heritage Foundation lecture, Admiral Thomas H. Collins, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, gavean overview of how the Coast Guard plans to meet the current andfuture challenges of the post-9/11 world and the Coast Guard's manymaritime domain responsibilities, from homeland security toprotecting natural resources.
In recent years, Russia has aggressively expanded its presence in the Arctic, while the United States has largely neglected this strategic area. Given the rising demand for oil and gas and the likelihood that Arctic sea-lanes will become more navigable, the U.S. should move resolutely to establish U.S. sovereign rights in the Arctic. Establishing a robust U.S. presence will require, among other steps, significantly increasing the number of U.S. polar-capable icebreakers. The U.S. should continue coordinating efforts with Canada and its other NATO allies, working with Russia when feasible and prudent. However, the U.S. should oppose Russia’s territorial claims in the Arctic without becoming party to the Law of the Sea Treaty.