Royal Australian Navy – An intervention force for the Solomons is being shipped via HMAS Manoora.

• Sydney Morning Herald: Aussie troops sail for Solomons

US Marines – More Marines are being sent to reinforce the embassy in Liberia.

• Associated Press: U.S. Sends Marines to Embassy in Liberia

Russian Navy – The first of Russia’s new class of diesel electric submarines – St. Petersburg – may go to sea in 2004.

• Jane’s: Russian submarine sea trials set for 2004

Background – Pakistan – More bad news on how close Islamic radicals are to taking over Pakistan.

• Washington Times: Heartbeat Away From Jihadi Nucs?

Background – Afghanistan – An excellent look at what the situation is like on the ground today in Afghanistan. In the hunt for Al Qaeda on the Afghan-Pakistani border ó perhaps the most dangerous place in the world ó intelligence is sketchy, the troops don’t trust their translators and even apprehending suspects increases the sense of futility.

• New York Times Magazine: Where the Enemy Is Everywhere and Nowhere