Russian Navy – The Russian Navy is steaming to assist a Russian fishing trawler that has been hijacked by gunman in the Pacific.

• Associated Press: Russian ships head for trawler reportedly seized by gunmen

French Navy – France and India are conducting Exercise Varuna 02/2.

• UNI: French Navy ships to arrive for joint exercise

South Korean Navy – South Korea warned off a North Korean naval vessel attempting to enter its territorial waters.

• Associated Press: South Korean navy boat fires warning shots at North Korean vessel

US Navy – Results are good so far with the Navy’s experimenting with decreased staffing on board its guided-missile cruisers.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Warship crew learns to like lean staffing

US Navy – The Navy’s flight safety record is taking a dive this year???

• San Diego Union Tribune: Navy officials concerned about surge in crashes
  

US Navy – The operating limits of the Navy’s Low Frequency Active Sonar are detailed.

• Environmental News Service: Controversial Navy Sonar Cleared for Limited Testing

Background – Afghanistan – James F. Dunnigan on why the Afghanistan Model is not the model for every future military conflict.

• Strategy Page: The Curse of the Afghanistan Model

Background – Information Warfare – Austin Bay on how the BBC is a powerful ally of good in information warfare.

• Strategy Page: The BBC Weapon of Mass Instruction
  

Nigerian Navy – Nigeria continues to fight oil pirates.

• Vanguard: Nigeria loses N105b to oil bunkering monthl

US Navy – An interview with the commander of SURFLANT.

• Virginian Pilot: Admiral faces sea of chang

US Navy – More on the pros and cons of the possible use of Eritrea as a naval base in the Horn of Africa.

• Associated Press: Horn of Africa port has potential as U.S. base, but oppressive government may make poor ally

US Navy – The US is resuming port calls in China.

• Associated Press: U.S. Navy Ship to Visit China

US Navy – The Kitty Hawk and Constellation battlegroups will soon make port calls in Hong Kong.

• Associated Press: U.S. battle groups to dock in Hong Kong

Background – Iraq – Part 3 of the series “Bush at War” by Bob Woodward, which illustrates the President’s leadership style.

• Washington Post: A Course of ‘Confident Action’
• Washington Post: Iraq on His Mind

Canadian Navy – HMCS St. John’s returns home from the Gulf.

• Halifax Herald: Tears of Joy in Freezing Rain

Royal New Zealand Navy – New Zealand recommits itself to a ban on port visits by US Navy ships.

• Associated Press: New Zealand prime minister upholds ban on ships fueled by nuclear power

Background – War on Terror – Thomas Friedman on the “new NATO” – the US, UK, Australia, and France – countries who are all sea powers – and who enjoy projecting their sea power.

• New York Times: A new military alliance, ‘NASTY,’ already works

History – Afghanistan – Part 2 of Bob Woodward’s “Bush at War” series. Is the real reason the Taliban fell so quickly that the CIA bribed the US’s way towards victory?

• Washington Post: Doubts and Debate Before Victory Over Taliban
• Washington Post: CIA Led Way With Cash Handouts

Background – Iraq – John Keegan asks why the US is being so slow at prepositioning land forces in the Gulf.

• Daily Telegraph: No sign of war plan as clock ticks on

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan with a nice summary of the information war steadily being waged against Iraq.

• Strategy Page: The Information War Against the Iraqi Leadership

Background – Iraq – A roundtable, presided over by former US UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke on what the pre-game, game, and post-game plans on Iraq should be.

• The New Yorker: The Next War

Background – Foreign Policy – David Isby on why we must reexamine our committment to the status quo in our foreign policy.

• Washington Times: Carrots, sticks and status quo

US Marines – The Marines are taking on more and more special operations tasks and missions. Is this a fundamental change in their direction?

• Washington Post: Distancing Tradition, Marines Eye Role in Special Operations

US Navy – Lessons learned from the sinking of an Iraqi tanker in the Gulf that cost the lives of two US sailors from the destroyer USS Peterson in 2001.

• Virginian Pilot: Tanker tragedy brought hard lessons

US Navy – Aboard a P-3 Orion over the Stratis of Hormuz, enforcing the UN’s oil sanctions against Iraq.

• Los Angeles Times: U.S. and Allies Tighten Noose on Illegal Oil Shipments Through Gulf

US Navy – How the US is trying to beef up security at the Suez Canal.

• Middle East Newsline: Egypt Refuses to Provide Special Security in Suez

US Navy – The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet has made its combat debut over Iraq on its first deployment.

• Jane’s: Super Hornet makes combat debut over Iraq
• Jane’s: Operations on USS Abraham Lincoln 2002 – Photo Gallery

US Marines – A look at what US forces are doing in Djibouti.

• New York Times: U.S. Turns Horn of Africa Into a Military Hub

US Marines – More Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force head for the Gulf.

• KFMB: Marines Deployed From Camp Pendleton to Persian Gulf

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – A look behind the technology of UAV’s.

• New York Times: Flying Solo, in the Extreme

Background – Bush’s War – Bob Woodward has a new book, being serialized, that gives an inside look on the War on Terror, drawn from interviews with Bush Administration members as well as the minutes of their meetings. A fascinating look into how national security decisions are really made.

• Washington Post: A Struggle for the President’s Heart and Mind
  

German Navy – Germany recommits to the war on terror.

• Associated Press: German Extends Mandate for Troops

US Navy – The US has agreed to scale back its testing of its low frequency active sonar system.

• Associated Press: U.S. Navy Agrees to Limit Sona

US Navy – How the US is keeping F/A-18 Hornet availability rates high.

• Aviation Week: Center Barrel Replacement Will Keep F/A-18s Flying

US Marines – An interview with the incoming Commandant of the Marine Corps.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Marines ready for war, next commandant says

Background – Open Source Intelligence – When do collectors of open source intelligence become identified as possible terrorists?

• Washington Post: Wronged Side of the Tracks?

Background – Falklands – A look at the economic resources the sea yields off of the Falklands.

• The Times: Gone fishing: the ten Falklands millionaires
  

Background – Iraq – Ralph Peters unfavorably critiques the current war plan against Iraq.

• Washington Post: Hobbling Into War
  

US Navy – The nuclear attack submarine USS Oklahoma City has collided with a Norwegian tanker near the Strait of Gibraltar.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Navy says submarine bumped surface ship in Mediterranean; no reported injuries
• Associated Press: Vessel Struck by U.S. Sub Was Tanker

US Marines – The Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle is “as transformational as it gets.”

• Sea Power: Before It Is Too Late!

Background – Iraq – An excellent synthesis of the military buildup around Iraq.

• Asia Times: Groundpounders to the war zone
  

Background – Translation – James F. Dunnigan on how to recruit battlefield translators.

• StrategyPage: Rules for Recruiting Battlefield Translators

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan is looking to acquire frigates from China.

• Islamic Republic News Agency: Pakistan Navy acquiring F-22 Frigates from China

US Navy – An interview with the CINCLANT.

• Wavy: Commander of Atlantic Fleet Has Forces Ready For Possible Conflict

Background – Tank – James F. Dunnigan on how the tank is or is not obsolete.

• Strategy Page: Is the Tank Really Obsolete?

US Navy – The USS Mount Whitney sets sail on what is only her second operational deployment.

• Virginian Pilot: Mount Whitney deploys on anti-terror mission

Background – Iraq – William Arkin on how the US, with or without the UN, is committed to regime change in Iraq by spring.

• Washington Post Dot Mil: War by Spring

US Marines – An interview With Gen. James L. Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

• Sea Power: The Marine Corps Today

Background – War on Terrorism – Thomas Friedman on how the loyal opposition to the Bush Administration consists of John McCain, Colin Powell, and Tony Blair — and how they must lead America towards addressing the root causes of 9-11.

• New York Times: A stronger role for Colin Powell

Royal New Zealand Navy – New Zealand will send a frigate and and P-3 Orion patrol aircraft to the Gulf to support the war on terror.

• IRN:
  NZ Beefs Up War Commitment
  

US Navy – Former Secretary of the Navy James Webb gave a speech last week at the Naval Post Graduate School in which he spoke against military action on Iraq.

• San Francisco Chronicle: At Navy school in Monterey, voices of skepticism about Iraq war
  

Background – Logistics – William Arkin on the importance of logistics in war, and the logistic preparations being made for action in Iraq.

• Los Angeles Times: Building a War: As Some Argue, Supply Lines Fill Up
  By William M. Arkin

Background – Iraq – The latest version of the war plan for Iraq is unveiled.

• Washington Post: War Plan For Iraq Is Ready, Say Officials
  

US Navy – The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George Washington may not be held in the Gulf after all???

• Washington Post: Military Faces Planning Dilemma

Background – Middle East – The challenges that the US faces in building strong lasting relationships in the Middle East.

• Naval War College Review: The US Military and the Evolving Challenges in the Middle East

US Navy – More on the USS Mount Whitney’s deployment to the Horn of Africa

• Virginian Pilot: Rarely deployed Mount Whitney being sent on anti-terror mission
• Associated Press: Marines to Step Up Terrorist Hunt in Africa

US Navy – The US farms out some of its aerial agressor training to civilian firms.

• Virginian Pilot: Firm plays the enemy against U.S.

Background – Afghanistan – The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says the war in Afghanistan is winding down.

• Washington Post: Afghan War Faltering, Military Leader Says
  

Background – Open Source Intelligence – The UK planespotters who were convicted of spying while gathering open source intelligence in Greece have had their conviction overturned.

• BBC: ‘We can’t wait to spot planes again’

Royal Navy – The nuclear attack submarine HMS Trafalgar has run aground off of Scotland.

• BBC: Nuclear sub accident sparks inquiry

US Navy – The Seabees’ “Can Do” spirit laid the groundwork–literally–for Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Sea Power: Seebees in Afghanistan

US Navy – More on the role the command ship USS Mount Whitney will play in the war on terror.

• Reuters: U.S. high-tech ship to anchor Africa terror hunt
  

Background – Nuclear Terrorism – An excellent essay on new technologies being developed to build “nuclear walls” around cities in order to screen shipping containers and trucks for nuclear weapons.

• Wired: Stopping Loose Nukes
  

Royal Navy – UK minesweepers pass through the Suez Canal on their way to the Gulf.

• UPI: Britain sends warships to the Persian Gulf

Royal Navy – HMS Endurance begins her annual 8 month deployment to the Antarctic.

• MercoPress: HMS Endurance heads for the Antarctic
  

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan renews its naval committment to the war on terror for another 6 months.

• Business Times: Japan extends navy’s presence in Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea

Taiwanese Marines – Taiwan receives its first AAVP7-A1 amphibious assault vehicles, which it would use for raids on China’s coast in time of war.

• Taipei Times: Marines unveil plans to obtain assault vehicles

US Navy – Retention in the US Navy continues to improve, facilitated by reenlistment bonuses.

• Virginian Pilot: Big bucks offered to retain sailors

US Navy – The US will start with CVNX-2 instead of CVNX-1.

• Washington Times: Rumsfeld comfortable with carriers proposal

US Navy – An overview of progress being made in aircraft carrier, surface warfare, expeditionary warfare, submarine, auxilliaries and aviation building programs.

• Sea Power: An Eclectic Overview of U.S. Navy Programs

Chinese Navy – China is looking to buy Slava-class cruisers and Akula-class nuclear attack submarines from Russia.

• Agence France Press: China ‘to buy more advanced Russian warships’

US Navy – The USS Constellation battlegroup deploys to the Gulf.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Carrier Constellation, battle group leave San Diego with possibility of war on horizon

US Navy – The US will create a new military command in the Horn of Africa to pursue terrorists, it will probably be located aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney.

• Associated Press: Pentagon to start new command in Africa
  

US Navy – More Ro-Ro cargo ships leave the US for destinations unknown???

• Reuters: Massive Military Cargo Ships Leave U.S. Ports – MSC
  

US Marine Corps – Tom Ricks interviews the Commandant of the US Marines.

• Washington Post: Top Marine Takes New Route: Moves On, Not Out of Service

Background – Iraq – David Isby on techniques Iraq might use to pursue asymetric warfare against the US.

• Washington Times: Asymmetric warfare and Iraq

Background – Nonlethal Weapons – The US Navy and Marine Corps are urged to develop more nonlethal weapons.

• Associated Press: Navy, Marines urged to give nonlethal weapon development top priority
  

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan again chases a Chinese spy ship away from its coast.

• Agence France Press: Taiwan ‘drove away Chinese spy ship’

Royal Navy – The UK is taking steps to enhance security around the Straits of Gibraltar against terrorist attack.

• Daily Telegraph: Navy switches IRA patrol boats to guard Gibraltar

US Navy – Sailors move in to the USS Ronald Reagan.

• Virginian Pilot: All aboard the new carrier Ronald Reagan

Military Sealift Command – The US is again looking to charter ships to carry ammunition to the Gulf.

• Reuters: US seeks more ships to carry ammunition to Gulf

Royal Air Force – The Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft upgrade continues to suffer setbacks.

• Daily Telegraph: RAF spends billions upgrading the Nimrod – but now the wings don’t fit

Background – Iraq – John Simpson on how the war with Iraq may play out???

• Daily Telegraph: America will prevail in battle with Iraq but the big question is how

Background – Pakistan – Robert Kaplan reviews 2 new books on Pakistan and concludes that if Musharraf fails in liberalizing Pakistan, the result will be disaster.

• New York Times Book Review: ‘Pakistan’: A Nuclear Yugoslavia

Background – Wargames – The role of the US Naval War College in helping to shape US Navy strategy – past and present.

• Sea Power: Thrusters, Cautionaries, and War Games

US Navy – Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf.

• New York Times: U.S. Pilots in Gulf Use Southern Iraq for Practice Runs

US Navy – More on the next generation carrier.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy may leapfrog to newer carrier design

US Navy – More on the court-ordered restrictions on the use of low frequency active sonar.

• Washington Post:
  Federal Judge Blocks New Navy Sonar

Background – Diego Garcia – The residents of Diego Garcia continue their quest to return home (this is a repost from Friday with the correct link)???and why Diego Garcia is so important to the US.

• BBC: Diego Garcia islanders battle to return
• BBC: America’s super bomber squadron

Background – Transformation – A panel discussion on the definition of transformation, and the barriers to implementing it in the US military.

• Naval War College Review: What Do We Mean by Transformation?

Royal Australian Navy – Australia continues to assist in blockading Iraq.

• ABC: Australian navy continues to enforce gulf blockade in Iraq

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is dangerously short of ships to deploy to the Gulf, if so required.

• Daily Telegraph: Half of Britain’s warships in dock
• UPI: Analysis: Britain’s Navy shrinks too far

US Navy – More on the report that acuses the Navy of not having a clear plan for the future of its carrier fleet???

• Aviation Week: Report Endorses Carrier Design, But Sends Navy To Drawing Board
• Washington Times: Pentagon agrees to Navy’s new generation of carriers

US Navy – The Second Fleet commander stresses that training determines outcomes of wars.

• Sea Power: Training for Tomorrow’s Battles

Singaporean Navy – Singapore is escorting merchant vessels through the Singapore Straits.

• UNI: Navy to escort ships and vessels through Singapore Straits
  

US Navy – A US judge has issued a preliminary injunction banning the US from operating its low frequency active sonar system.

• Environmental News Service: U.S. Navy Sonar System Blocked by Federal Court

Merchant Shipping – A new report released by a US non partisan commission shows just how vulnerable US ports are to terrorist attack.

• The Times: One year on, and America has still not learnt the vital lessons to defend its shores
  

Background – Diego Garcia – The residents of Diego Garcia continue their quest to return home.

• BBC: Diego Garcia islanders battle to return
  

Background – Urban Combat – US troops are training intensely for urban combat, which can be a very tricky business.

• Washington Post: Bracing for ‘Primordial Combat’
• Army Magazine: Challenges of Urban Warfare
• MIT: Urban Warfare: Options, Problems, and the Future

Canadian Navy – The chief of the Canadian Navy thinks his new submarines are a good deal.

• Windsor Star: Navy boss praises subs
  

Canadian Navy – Aboard HMCS Montreal in the Gulf of Oman, pursuing the war on terror.

• Vancouver Sun: Canadian Navy heads seagoing war on terror
  

• Southam News: Warship HMCS Montreal finding success at sea
  

Indian Navy – India will receive its first Talwar-class ship by the end of the year.

• The Hindu: First Talwar class warship by year-end

US Navy – At sea aboard the USS Kitty Hawk off of Iwo Jima.

• New York Times: At Sea, an Aircraft Carrier Is Ready for a 911 Cal

US Navy – At sea aboard the USS Constellation.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Carrier Constellation prepares for war
  

US Navy – At sea aboard the USS Harry S Truman.

• Virginian Pilot: Planning to deploy, bracing for war

US Navy – Despite their importance, the US does not have a clear plan for the future of its carrier fleet.

• Daily Press: Report builds case against carrier
  

US Navy – The US Navy, allied navies, and the Iranian Navy have nearly shut down the flow of illegal oil out of Iraq.

• New York Times: With Allies Likely and Unlikely, U.S. Navy Stems Flow of Iraqi Oil

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan wants to buy Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers from the US???while they try to decide whether to purchase the Kidd-class destroyers.

• Agence France Presse: Taiwan plan to buy Aegis destroyers sure to anger China
• China Post: Mainland Chinese warships navigate along east Taiwan

US Marines – US Marines are operating in Djibouti.

• UPI: Up to 800 Marines operating in Djibouti
• CNN: Sources: More U.S. Marines head to Djibouti

US Marines – The USS Nassau amphibious ready group and the 24th MEU are about to begin desert training.

• Sun Journal: Desert training is next for 24th MEU

US Navy – A review of the US build-up in the Gulf.

• BBC: US intensifies Iraq build-up
  

Background – Infantry Weapons – James F. Dunnigan on the history of the rifle.

• StrategyPage: A Tough Act to Follow

Royal Australian Navy – Australia is sending two more frigates to the Gulf.

• Agence France Presse: Aussie warships head to Gulf as Iraq tensions build

Chilean Navy – The UK would like to sell HMS Sheffield to Chile.

• Merco Press: HMS Sheffield offered to Chile

Canadian Navy – What Canada must do to help its navy.

• Time: Are Canadaís Defenses All at

US Navy – USS Constellation is ready to deploy to the Gulf.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Carrier Constellation prepares for war
  

• United Press International: US carrier should be in Gulf in December

US Navy – C-40 logistic support aircraft (modified 737’s) are rolling off the production line for the Navy.

• American City Business Journals: Boeing delivers C-40A to NAS Jax
  

US Navy – More on the Cooperative Engagement Capabilty on Aegis-equipped ships.

• St. Petersburg Times: Revolutionizing warfare
  

Background – Iraq – William Arkin supplies a reading list on Desert Storm I, to prepare us for Desert Storm II.

• Washington Post Dot Mil: Read All About It: Reading List for Desert Storm II
  

Royal Navy – The Type-23 frigate HMS St. Albans is hit by a ferry that was blown into it while it was tied up in port. The St. Albans is severely damaged.

• CNN: Warship a casualty of UK gales
  

US Navy – Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, with the ship’s chaplain.

• Los Angeles Times: To Chaplain, Warship’s Just the Place to Spread Message of Peace and Love
  

US Navy – Miscellaneous US Navy aviation news on the MH-60S Knighthawk and the Rapid Airborne Mine-Clearance System (RAMICS).

• Sea Power:
  Full-Rate Production Approved For Sikorsky’s Knighthawk Helo