French Navy – France has deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Eastern Mediterranean. Its Super Etendards are being modified to carry JDAMs. Will it participate in operations against Iraq?

• Daily Telegraph: France talks peace but sends warships east
• International Herald Tribune: France quietly polishing its arms in case it joins U.S. in war

European Navy – A European aircraft carrier battlegroup will be kept on standby at all times for power projection. The aircaft carriers will come from the UK, France, Italy, and Spain.

• Daily Telegraph: Blair and Chirac back EU naval fighting force
• BBC: UK and France admit Iraq differences

US Navy – Aboard the USS Ashland, in the Mediterranean Sea.

• Virginian Pilot: Ships’ phones, mail often unreliable

US Navy – ???while a trio of amphibious ready groups (Kearsarge, Bataan, Saipan) transits the Suez Canal.

• Washington Post: U.S. Warships Cross Suez Canal for Gulf

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt battlegroup deploys directly from its training cruise to the Gulf.

• Associated Press: Virginia-based carrier deploys overseas, straight from Caribbean

US Navy – The Navy continues to trim its force size.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy plans to cut ships, planes by fall of 2004

US Marines – With the 7th Marine Regiment, undergoing intensive training, on the border of Iraq.

• Washington Post: Troops in Kuwait, at the Edge of War

US Marine Corps – The Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs provides an overview of the departmentís mission and vision for the future.

• Marine Corps Gazette: ManpoweróShaping Combat Power for Today and Tomorrow

US Navy – The USS Abraham Lincoln battlegroup has reentered the Gulf.

• Associated Press: 3rd U.S. Carrier Near Iraq; 4th to Come

US Navy – An overview of the state of the US Navy today.

• Sea Power: U.S. Navy Mission and Organization

Background – Technology – James F. Dunnigan reflects how in regards to high tech weapons, there is nothing much new under the sun???

• StrategyPage: Perfected Technology

Royal Navy – The HMS Ark Royal amphibious ready group has passed through the Suez Canal.

• Daily Telegraph: RAF to triple Gulf presence this week

Background – Congress – A look at the US Congress’ naval year in review.

• Sea Power: Congress

Background – Information Warfare – The potential effect of electromagnetic weapons.

• The Economist: Come fry with me

Background – Iraq – A look at what the US war plan will entail.

• The Economist: Preparing for the worst

US Navy – It was my privilege to have met CDR Laurel Clark at a NASA scientific meeting in Houston several years ago. She truely had the “Right Stuff.” She and her colleagues aboard the space shuttle Columbia who died so tragically yesterday will be missed, but never forgotten.

• Washington Post: Navy Kept Challenges Coming to Physician
• New York Times: Dr. Laurel Blair Salton Clark: After Sea and Sky Moving on to Space

Canadian Navy – Canada’s special operations unit, JTF-2, will take on maritime operations soon.

• CBC: JTF-2 plans maritime operations

Background – Iraq – The current war plan – “shock and awe???”

• New York Times: War Plan Calls for Precision Bombing Wave to Break Iraqi Army

Background – Information Warfare – The current state of development of network centric warfare.

• Aviation Week: Nascent Net-Centric War Gains Pentagon Toehold

Background – Iraq – The major problem with exile groups lies in the fact that they would have to be put in power by the United States and probably maintained there by American forces if they are to survive until a new constitutional regime can be established. With the exception of the Kurds, who cannot take over Baghdad on their own, the oppositionís leadership and organization is outside Iraq.

• Naval War College Review: Iraq the Day After – Internal Dynamics in Post-Saddam Iraq

US Navy – CINCPAC has requested the USS Carl Vinson battlegroup as a deterrent against North Korea.

• New York Times: Admiral Seeks Deterrent Force in Korea Crisis

US Navy – Life aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Austin in the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Norfolk-based amphibious group patrols Persian Gulf

US Navy – Aboard some of the smaller ships in the USS Kearsarge amphibious ready group.

• Virginian Pilot: Smaller Navy ships bullied by rough seas

Background – Information War – The US military faces a bandwidth crunch.

• Wired: Military Faces Bandwidth Crunch

Background – Merchant Marine – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 for the Merchant Marine.

• Sea Power: Red Sky in the Morning

US Navy – Aboard the USS Constellation, patroling the no-fly zones over Iraq.

• Virginian Pilot: Danger of ”no-fly” patrols rises
• Washington Post: On Its Last Legs, but Set to Strike First
• Los Angeles Times: U.S. Carrier Welcomes Bush’s Message

Royal Navy – The contract for the UK’s two new aircraft carriers is announced.

• BBC: BAE Systems wins carrier deal
• Daily Telegraph: BAE wins aircraft carriers contract

US Navy – The USS Nimitz battlegroup is ready to deploy.

• San Diego Channel: Officials: USS Nimitz Ready To Be Deployed

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt battlegroup is likely to be sent to the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Direct deployment for Roosevelt looking more likely

Background – Force Protection – James F. Dunnigan on the difficulty of protecting troops from terrorist attacks.

• StrategyPage: Force Protection Follies

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

• Sea Power: Pacific Overtones and Bellicose Rhetoric

US Navy – Aboard the USS Kearsarge, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.

• Virginian Pilot: Ships sailing toward trouble zone glad to see land near Gibraltar

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard is sending 8 110-foot cutters to the Gulf to provide force security.

• Virginian Pilot: Coast Guard to send ships, personnel to gulf

US Navy – The USS Harry S. Truman battlegroup is exercising with Albania.

• Associated Press: U.S. Carrier in Albanian Joint Exercise

Background – NATO – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 with NATO.

• Sea Power: Does NATO Still Have The Will?

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?

US Navy – The submarine force is being utilized at an extremely high rate.

• Virginian Pilot: Subs in high demand, force commander says

US Navy – The USS Carl Vinson battlegroup is operating off of Kauai.

• Honolulu Star Bulletin: Navy ships off Kauai prepare for war in Iraq
  

Royal Navy – The HMS Ark Royal task group is exercising off of Cyprus.

• The Times: Navy and Marines to start training in Cyprus

Background – Transformation – James Fallows continues his discussions with two authors on how to transform the US military.

• The Atlantic: The American Way of War – Part 3
• The Atlantic: Reply – Robert Coram
• The Atlantic: Reply – Donald Vandergriff

US Navy – Aboard the soon to be converted Trident-class submarine USS Florida, conducting antiterrorism exercises with SEALs.

• Associated Press: Sub, Navy SEALs run anti-terrorism drill

US Navy – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 for the Navy and Marine Reserves.

• Sea Power: Reserves

Background – Wargaming – James F. Dunnigan on how wargames could be used to aid transformation???and on how bad the military’s wargames currently are.

• StrategyPage: Military Transformaton With Wargames

Background – Iraq – Thomas Friedman explains why conservatives underestimate what is involved in the successful removal of Saddam Hussein.

• New York Times: Thinking About Iraq (II)

US Navy – A summary of naval forces in and around Iraq.

• Washington Post: Invasion Forces Assemble Slowly

Background – Reserves – Does the US need to rethink its reliance on its reserve forces?

• New York Times: U.S. Military Considers Limits on Role of the Reserve Forces

Background – Nuclear Weapons – William Arkin on how nuclear weapons are being considered for use preemptively against Iraq.

• Los Angeles Times: The Nuclear Option in Iraq

Background – France – For a nation that has consistently claimed to have a civilizing mission, the French are evincing remarkable anguish at Americaís global struggle against terrorism, on behalf of civilization. They have strong points to make, but why the rage and vitriol? How can we explain this gulf between Europe and America, this widening division?

• Naval War College Review: Letter From France

Russian Navy – The Russian journalist who exposed Russia’s practice of dumping nuclear waste at sea, and was subsequently convicted of espionage, has been released from prison.

• Washington Post: Russian Journalist Convicted in Spy Case Is Freed on Parole

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan reviews what the Iraqi war strategy would be.

• StrategyPage: Iraqi Strategy

US Coast Guard – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 for the Coast Guard.

• Sea Power: Still Maritime ??? Still Military ??? Still Multimission

Malaysian Navy – Singapore and Malaysia continue their territorial dispute over Pedra Branca / Batu Puteh island.

• Agence France Press: Malaysia defiant over patrols near island

US Marine – At sea with the Marines aboard USS Kearsarge, many of whom are on their first sea voyage.

• Pilot Online: Marines learn dangers of shipboard life

US Marines – Marine Commandants Change, But Corps Values Endure.

• Sea Power: Continuing the March

Royal Australian Navy – The amphibious ship HMAS Kanimbla sails for the Gulf.

• Associated Press: Australian Troops Head to Middle East

US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk is to serve as a deterrent to North Korea.

• Dow Jones: US Carrier Kitty Hawk Leaves To Monitor N Korea – Kyodo

US Navy – Today’s Navy, and Tomorrow’s: Solid Accomplishments, Daunting Challenges and a Host of Institutional Obstacles.

• Sea Power: A Vision of Continuing Excellence

Background – Iraq – Thomas Friedman explains why liberals under-appreciate the value of removing Saddam Hussein.

• New York Times: Thinking About Iraq (I)

US Navy – The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier battlegroups have been ordered to assume station off of Iraq. They will join the USS Constellation and USS Harry S. Truman battlegroups.

• Virginian Pilot: Roosevelt battle group ordered toward Iraq

US Navy – Patroling the Gulf’s shipping lanes aboard P-3 Orions.

• Virginian Pilot: Aerial missions have new focus under threat of war

US Navy – Joint Venture HSV-X1 is sailing for the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Experimental high-speed catamaran tapped for Mideast deployment

Background – Oceanography – Looking back at 2002 and forward to 2003 for the field of oceanography.

• Sea Power: A Year of Peaceful Turbulence

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan calculates the cost of a war against Iraq.

• StrategyPage: The Costs of the War on Terror

US Navy – Does the Pacific Fleet face a crisis in intelligence analysis?

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Pacific Faces Crisis in Intel Analysis

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s first indigenously-built Agosta-class submarine has begun sea trials.

• APP: Agosta trial successful

Indian Navy – India hopes to ink a deal in March for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, Tu-22 bombers, and nuclear powered submarines from Russia.

• IANS: Russian bombers, submarines to beef up Indian arsenal

Background – US Military – James Fallows continues a fascinating exchange with the authors of two recent books on the role of character in US military affairs today. They continue to discuss USAF Col. John Boyd’s influence on the military, and why the US military remains mired in “second generation warfare” thought.

• The Atlantic: The American Way of War – Part 2
• The Atlantic: Robert Coram’s reply
• The Atlantic: Donald Vandergriff’s reply

Please note that the Search command is functioning again. I am unsure as to why it was broken, but I have temoporarily patched it and it seems to be working again???

US Navy – At sea with the USS Kearsarge as it heads to the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Kearsarge leads way for ships heading across Atlantic

Background – History – An interview with Captain Edward L. Beach, about his career in the US Navy.

• Naval History: ‘We’ll Go Around the World’

US Marines – The Marines are unloading their maritime prepositioning ships in Kuwait.

• Associated Press: Marines unload equipment in Kuwait

US Navy – The USS Boxer and USS Bon Homme Richard amphibious ready groups set sail for the Gulf.

• New York Times: Tears Are the Rule of the Day as an American Armada Leaves

Background – Information Warfare – Space assets are poised to play a much more useful role compared with 1991.

• Aviation Week: Milspace Will Be a Major Player in ‘Gulf War 2’

Iraqi Navy – A large part of Iraq’s navy is bottled up in port – in Italy.

• The Independent: Lying idle off Italy’s coast, the pride and joy of the Iraqi navy

Canadian Navy – At sea, off Canada, in HMCS Iroquois.

• Halifax Herald: For the love of the sea, and the ship

Royal Navy – The helicopter carrier HMS Ocean links up with HMS Ark Royal.

• BBC: HMS Ocean joins task force

US Navy – More ships will sail from Norfolk this weekend.

• Virginian Pilot: 25,000 leave Hampton Roads on deployment

US Navy – Even more on the Sea Power 21 Vision – Sea Basing.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Sea Basing: Operational Independence for a New Century

US Navy – The US accelerates the development of littoral combat ships.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy steps up schedule for ”littoral combat ships”

US Navy – Life aboard the USS Constellation in the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Carrier takes war watch one last time

Background – Iraq – Sir John Keegan provides his analysis of the situation in Iraq.

• Daily Telegraph: Faint hearts should not undermine efforts of President

US Navy – The US takes out a Silkworm antiship missile launcher in Iraq.

• The Times: US hits anti-ship missile launcher in Iraq

Background – Caspian Sea – An overview of the oil rights issues in the Caspian Sea, which has been the scene of naval posturing over the last year.

• The Economist: Fields of dreams

Background – American Empire – Another look at the benign nature of the American Empire.

• The Times: The American empire, a fine old British tradition

Canadian Navy – Onboard HMCS Winnipeg, patroling in the Persian Gulf.

• CTV: Denelle Balfour: On patrol in the Arabian Sea

US Navy – More on the surge of Atlantic Fleet amphibious assests to sea???.

• Virginian Pilot: Bataan, Kearsarge, Portland and Ashland get orders
• Virginian Pilot: Amid tears, troops leave in haste

US Navy – ???as the Pacific Fleet surges amphibious assets to sea???

• Associated Press: Navy planning to send thousands more Marines to Gulf aboard seven ships from West Coast

US Navy – The USS Carl Vinson battlegroup heads to sea.

• Associated Press: Aircraft carrier leaves Bremerton

US Navy – The Chief of Naval Operations reflects on 2002 and looks forward to 2003.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy chief says service will retire ships faster

Royal Navy – HMS Ark Royal picks up supplies in Scotland before heading to the Gulf.

• BBC: Ark Royal in Scottish stopover

Royal Navy – It cost $3 million to bring HMS Nottingham back to the UK from Australia where it ran aground.

• BBC: Crippled warship’s £3 million bill

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan thinks the Iraqi military are ready to oust Saddam.

• StrategyPage: Iraq: “An Offer You Can’t Refuse”

Background – al Qaeda – An excellent view of the war on terrorism through the enemy’s eyes, by David Ignatius.

• Washington Post: What the Enemy Sees

Royal Australian Navy – Australia is deploying P-3 Orions to the Gulf.

• Reuters: Australia to Deploy Aircraft to Gulf

US Marines – The Marines maritime prepositioning ships in Diego Garcia are being activated.

• Washington Post: Rumsfeld Orders 62,000 More GIs To Join 60,000 in the Persian Gulf

Background – Iraq – William Arkin on the low-tech weapons that will be used against Iraq.

• Los Angeles Times: An Old-Fashioned Fight

Background – Afghanistan – A review of Afghanistan’s progress over the last year.

• The Economist: The rebirth of a nation

Royal Navy – The HMS Ark Royal amphibious ready group sets sail for the Gulf.

• BBC: Ark Royal sets sail for Gulf
• BBC: Ark Royal crew braced for war

US Navy – The USS Iwo Jima and USS Bataan amphibious ready groups are getting ready to deploy alongside the USS Saipan amphibious ready group; Military Sealift Command cargo ships will load US Army heavy equipment for the Gulf next week.

• Virginian Pilot: 13 local ships will deploy early for possible conflict

US Navy – More about the end of the use of Vieques.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy relinquishes Vieques range after six decades

US Navy – The US gets a new information superiority weapon – the Coriolis satellite which can track ocean winds speeds and detect solar storms, and pass this information back to US naval forces so they may modify their operations in advance of weather and solar flare induced operational disruptions.

• Space.com: Titan 2 Lifts Military Research Satellite Into Earth Orbit

US Coast Guard and US Navy – What can the Coast Guard and Navy do to help each other perform their respective missions?

• Naval War College Review: It’s Time for a National Fleet