US Marines – Marines from the 1st Marine Division have joined up with their equipment in Kuwait which was delivered by the maritime prepositioning squadrons in Spain and Diego Garcia.

• Washington Post: Marines Are on the Front Line, And Now So Is Their Equipment

US Navy – More pro and con on the Navy’s conversion of Trident-class ballistic missile submarines to cruise missile / special operations submarines.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy has new mission for old class of subs
• Virginian Pilot: New missile program’s cost of $3.8 billion is unwarranted, some say

Military Sealift Command – More cargo ships from the Ready Reserve Force have been activated.

• Pacific Business News: U.S. activates reserve ships for Gulf buildup

US Navy – The US is using sea lions to defend its port facilities in Bahrain.

• Gulf Daily News: Sea lions guard navy

Chilean Navy – Chile rescues British explorers whose helicopter goes down off Antarctica.

• The Times: Phone call to wife scrambles international Antarctic rescue

Background – Iraq – Thomas Ricks on how this time, General Schwarzkopf is not so convinced we should take action against Iraq???

• Washington Post: Desert Caution

Background – Middle East – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 in the Middle East.

• Sea Power: A Year of War Between the Wars?