Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is contributing to the blockade off Pakistan that is searching for al Qaeda fighters that are attempting to flee by the sea.

• Globe and Mail: Canada aiding naval blockade
  

• Halifax Daily News: Sailors’ morale high for holidays
  

• Halifax Herald: Fleet helping to block al-Qaida escape

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, her crew is learning to become proficient with small arms.

• Virginian Pilot: Roosevelt sailors trained for ship security
  

Background – Lessons Learned – The BBC’s defense correspondent on what lessons have been learned to date in this information-centered war.

• BBC: Analysis: The military lessons
  

US Marines – What life is like for a new recruit at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.

• SeaPower: For Corps and Country – Building the Next Generation of Marines

French Navy – The French military has been crippled by decreased defense spending, reorganizations, and poor administration. The most visible example of this is the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle which has been riddled with defects.

• Daily Telegraph: French farce of the force de frappe

US Navy – The Area Missile Defense System has been canceled due to cost overruns.

• Washington Post: Missile Defense System Canceled

US Navy – The US Navy will probably be moving to deployments lasting longer than 6 months during the war on terrorism.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy studying possibility of longer deployments
  

Background – Targeting – William Arkin shows how targeting is a very complex issue, and the JAG lawyers are not solely at fault when a potentially lucrative target is passed over as being too politically risky to attack.

• Washington Post dot mil: The Myth of Military Lawyers

US Marines – The US Marines will begin to move their base from Camp Rhino to the Kandahar airport.

• Washington Post: Marines in Desert Pulling Up Stakes

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy recent held joint exercises with the US Navy.

• BBC: India joins US naval exercises

Royal Australian Navy – The Australian Navy turned back another ship carrying illegal immigrants.

• Reuters: Australia Turns Back Boat Carrying 17 Migrants
  

Background – Strategy – William Arkin on how the strategy the US is using to hunt down the Al Qaeda leadership – leaving the fighting to Afghan proxies – may lessen the chances of actually finding those leaders.

• Los Angeles Times: Dropping 15,000 Pounds of Frustration

US Navy – The USS John F Kennedy battlegroup will deploy 2 months early to the Persian Gulf; in the meantime her commander was relieved due to the ship failing an operational readiness inspection. But is he being made a scapegoat for a system that has chronically underfunded maintenance for years?

• Virginian Pilot: Kennedy battle group will deploy 2 months early
• Virginian Pilot: Kennedy captain removed after ship fails inspection
• Florida Times-Union: Ousted Navy Commander Defends Ship

US Marines – On the ground with the Marines at Camp Rhino.

• Fox: Marines Make Base a Home Away From Home
• Tallahassee Democrat: Marines wary of possible attacks

US Navy – The US Navy has several ships in the Mediterranean under surveillance that are suspected of aiding terrorist causes.

• Associated Press: US Tracking Ships in Mediterranean

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, aircrews are setting operational records.

• Associated Press: Pilots Pushed to Limits in Afghanistan

US Marines – The US Marines have moved into the Kandahar airport.

• Daily Telegraph: Marines put on booby-trap alert as airport is repaired
• Washington Post: Marines Sweep Into Airport at Kandahar
• BBC: Marines take Kandahar airport
  

Background – Close Air Support – Jim Dunnigan on the historical evolution of close air support, and how it has been revolutionized in Afghanistan.

• Strategy Page: The Revolution in Close Air Support
  

US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk battlegroup is returning to its homeport in Japan.

• Associated Press: U.S. warship based in Japan returns from duty in war against terror

US Navy – The US Navy continues to actively board and search ships suspected of aiding al-Qaeda’s cause.

• Daily Telegraph: US navy scours oceans for bin Laden fleet

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the amount of ordinance being delivered by aircraft is falling off. Meanwhile the Italian aircraft carrier Guiseppe Garibaldi is working up to integrate itself into the task force.

• Associated Press: US fighters dropping about 50 percent fewer bombs on Afghanistan

US Navy – The USS Russell rescued crewman from a B-1 bomber who had to eject from the disabled aircraft 60 miles north of Diego Garcia.

• BBC: Crashed US bomber crew rescued
  

• Times of London: US crew eject as bomber crashes

US Navy – How to do your holiday shopping from a combat zone, aboard the USS Thedore Roosevelt.

• Associated Press: Even on fighting ships, they’re buying holiday gifts

US Navy – An overview of the Maritime Prepositioning Force.

• SeaPower: Situation Report: The MPF Ships
  

Royal Navy – Royal Navy ships have joined the patrol off Pakistan’s coast to ensure that al Qaida members do not flee Afghanistan and Pakistan by the sea.

• The Guardian: British ships join patrol off Pakistan

US Marines – More on the Marine patrols around Kandahar.

• Daily Telegraph:
  Marines block flight from Kandahar

US Navy – The last cruise of the Spruance-class destroyer USS Ray.

• The Herald: Ray’s final voyage home

Background – Special Forces – With the US Army special forces on the ground in Afghanistan, to see how they have been functioning in this conflict.

• Washington Post: . . And His U.S. Partners

US Marines – US Marines are patrolling the roads around Kandahar, searching for fleeing members of al-Qaida.

• Associated Press: U.S. Marines set up staging area near Kandahar in search for Taliban, al-Qaida fighters

US Navy – An excerpt from a book by the pilot of the EP-3 downed earlier this year off China.

• ABC: ‘Born to Fly’
  

Background – Intelligence – A summary of the intelligence community’s contributions and successes in the war so far.

• Times of London: How we won the spy game

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose pilots are now plinking caves.

• Associated Press: U.S. fighter jets target troops, caves in hunt for bin Laden

US Marines – On the ground with the US Marines at and around Camp Rhino.

• Associated Press: Marines hunt al Qaeda and Taliban leaders
• Los Angeles Times: ‘They Could Be Dying if We Didn’t Do Things Right’
  

US Marines – Why the US Marines are the United States leaders in expeditionary warfare, and why the US Army is not.

• Washington Post: Marines’ Mission Stirs Army Debate

Background – William Arkin on how destroying the cave complexes is turning out to be easier than earlier thought.

• Los Angeles Times: In 21st Century War, 2 Cavemen Stand Out
  

Background – Secretary of Defense Rumsfield gives his opinion of the war to date in an interview with Thomas Ricks.

• Washington Post: Rumsfeld’s Hands-On War

US Marines – US Marines see action on the ground in Afghanistan for the first time

• Associated Press: Marines Attack Taliban Convoy

US Navy – Viecques may remain open as a training range indefinitely.

• Virginian Pilot: Vieques range could remain open past 2003
  

US Navy – China has begun harrassing US ELINT flights off China again.

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

Background – Afghanistan – Sir John Keegan with an analysis of the campaign so far and how far it has to go.

• Daily Telegraph: The Taliban danger has gone, but al-Qa’eda remains

US Marines – With the Marines on the ground in Afghanistan.

• Washington Post: Improvising a Military Oasis
• Associated Press: Marines Detect ‘Credible Threat’

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, with her young Sailors.

• Washington Post: Out of High School and Into a Combat Zone

Canadian Navy – HMCS Toronto deploys to NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic in the Mediterranean. It replaces HMCS Halifax, which was sent to the Arabian Sea to join the fight against terrorism.

• Halifax Herald: Toronto crew heads to Mediterranean

Background – Special Forces – Sir John Keegan on the historical importance of special forces.

• Daily Telegraph: Beating the terrorist at his own game

US Marines – US Marines are engaging in more aggressive patroling around their airfield base in Afghanistan.

• Washington Post: Marines Block Roads To Taliban Stronghold

US Navy – The Bon Homme Richard amphibious ready ground carrying the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit has set sail for the Arabian Sea.

• North County Times: Solemn farewells as Marines, Sailors head for Middle East

US Navy – The US is set to embark on a closer military relationship with India, as more US Navy ships make port calls in India.

• Reuters: U.S. Plans ‘Unprecedented’ Military Ties with India
  

• Frontier Post: US naval ship to dock in Madras port

Background – Taliban military – James F. Dunnigan debunks myths about the Taliban military machine.

• Strategy Page: More Myths about the War in Afghanistan
  

US Marines – The Australian SAS is working out of the US Marine base in Afghanistan.

• Associated Press: Australian forces arrive at desert base; U.S. troops more aggressive in reconnaissance patrols

Russian Navy – More on the commissioning of the nuclear attack submarine Gepard.

• BBC: Putin unveils sub after Kursk purge
  

• The Guardian: Naval purge marks Putin’s new course
  

French Navy – The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has set sail for the Arabian Sea.

• Reuters: French Carrier Leaves for Indian Ocean

US Navy – A description of the amphibious exercise Kernal Blitz 01 held earlier this year and its focus on network centric warfare.

• SeaPower: “An Incredible Level of Situational Awareness”

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy will commission the nuclear attack submarine Gepard.

• Associated Press: Putin to launch Russian nuclear submarine, first since sinking of Kursk

US Navy – As the F-14’s days in the fleet are numbered, its testing days at Pax River come to an end.

• Washington Post: Navy’s Plans to Retire F-14 Tomcats Bring an End to an Era at Pax River

US Marines – On the ground, hygiene is everything???

• Associated Press: U.S. Marines note basic lesson for fighting in Afghanistan: hygiene

Background – Strategy – William Arkin on how it might not be all that difficult to topple Saddam Hussein.

• Washington Post dot mil: Should Iraq Be Next?

US Marines – With the US Marines in Afghanistan, liaison troops from the UK, Australia and Germany are also at the base.

• Washington Post: Marines at ‘Camp Justice’ on the Lookout for Taliban
• Washington Post: Marines Strengthen Presence in Afghanistan

US Navy – Thomas Ricks on how the new ability to hit emerging targets from the air holds lessons for the future of USAF and US Navy aviation.

• Washington Post: Bull’s-Eye War: Pinpoint Bombing Shifts Role of GI Joe

Royal Malaysian Navy – The Royal Malaysian Navy is beefing up patrols in Sabah waters in order to increase security on Malaysia’s eastern border with the Philippines.

• The Star: More navy vessels deployed in Sabah waters

US Navy – What the future holds for naval gun fire support for Marines.

• SeaPower: Naval Surface Fire Support: On Target
  

US Navy – The Newport News shipyard has been acquired by Northrup Grumman.

• Virginian Pilot: Northrop Grumman takes over Newport News Shipbuilding
  

US Coast Guard – Aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Forward in Chesapeake Bay.

• Times of London: US sea watch turns tide on terrorists

Russian Navy – The blame for the Kursk disaster slowly begins to be assigned.

• BBC: Kursk inquiry admirals punished
  

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theordore Roosevelt, some Sailors and Marines are pursing college course work.

• Associated Press: Sailors and Marines at war take classes at night aboard U.S. aircraft carrier

US Marines – On the ground with the US Marines in Afghanistan at Forward Operating Base Rhino.

• Washington Post: More Marines Land in Afghanistan
• Washington Times: Marines establish combat base

Canadian Navy – Canadian ships are now part of the US Navy battlegroups in the Arabian Sea.

• Halifax Herald: Halifax-based ships escorting U.S. carriers

Indonesian Navy – The CINCPACLFT says that Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore need to do more to combat the piracy in their territorial waters.

• Associated Press: US Pacific commander says Indonesia, neighbors should prevent terror attacks on shipping

Background – Strategy – Former US Navy Secretary James Webb on what we can learn from the British and Soviet empires as we devise new doctrines for the new threats we face.

• Wall Street Journal: A New Doctrine for New Wars

German Navy – The German Navy is spending more of its time in the Mediterranean.

• Jane’s: Surface solutions for the German Navy

US Marines – Who has the better assault rifle – the US Marines or the Taliban?

• Jane’s: M16 versus AK: an assessment from Janeís Infantry Weapons

US Navy – CINCLANT says the utility of aircraft carriers should not be doubted anymore.

• Virginian Pilot: Commander says carriers’ success leaves no doubt about value

US Marines – US Marines are patrolling outside Kandahar.

• Washington Post: Troops Face Serious Threat, Rumsfeld Says
  

Please note: – Updating of NOSI may be a bit erratic over the next few days???

US Marines – US Marine forces are already seeing combat in Afghanistan.

• Associated Press: U.S. Marines battle armored column near new base in southern Afghanistan
• CNN: Marines in action in Afghanistan
• BBC: US Marines launch first strike

French Navy – The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will join the US task force in the Arabian Sea in December.

• CNN: France to commit 5,000 troops
• Reuters: France to Send Carrier Group to Indian Ocean
• Associated Press: France to send aircraft carrier to Indian Ocean

US Navy – The US Navy may mothball all its Spruance-class destroyers years ahead of schedule to save money that can be spent on upgrading aviation assets; this will exacerbate the shortage of ships available for operations.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Navy may mothball entire Spruance class of destroyers

US Coast Guard – An essay on why homeland security is an important mission and why the US Coast Guard is the service to do it.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Homeland Security Is a Coast Guard Mission

US Marines – US Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Peleliu amphibious ready ground, and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Bataan amphibious ready group have landed outside Kandahar in order to join US and UK special forces in the hunt for Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.

• CNN: Up to 1,500 Marines destined for south Afghanistan
• Washington Post: Marines Sent Into Afghanistan

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – More Japanese ships have deployed to the Arabian Sea.

• Associated Press: Japanese warships deployed to support war on terrorism
• CNN: Japanese war effort sets sail

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy considers acquiring its own organic sealift capability.

• Edmonton Sun: We want ships!
  

Royal Marines – Why the Royal Marines’ SBS unit is going nowhere at Bagram airfield near Kabul.

• Daily Telegraph: How 680 Paras drove a wedge between London and Washington

Background – Strategy – The next countries targeted in the war against terrorism will be Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

• Sunday Times of London: The Allies’ next targets: US pledges bombs will give way to stiletto attacks on ‘the evil ones’
• Sunday Times of London: US targets three more countries

US Navy – A sign of China’s support of the war against terrorism: US ships are being allowed port calls in Hong Kong.

• United Press International: China okays U.S. carrier stop in Hong Kong

Canadian Navy – The Canadian supply ship HMCS Preserver in the Arabian Sea is having difficulty making enough fresh water.

• Victoria Times Colonist: Supply ship’s water woes keep Sea Kings from flying

Background – Ground War – How the ground war in the south of Afghanistan may shape up to be a true guerilla war.

• Washington Post: In the South, U.S. Faces a Guerrilla War

Background – Cruise Industry – More on how cruise ships are vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

• San Francisco Chronicle: Could it happen at sea?
  Cruise lines say they learned from 1985 attack

US Navy – Gathering intelligence on cargo vessel movements in the Arabian sea is a new important task for the US Navy.

• Reuters: USS Peleliu Counts on Snoopy Team for Surveillance

Background – Taliban – Historian John Keegan on the what the fate of the Taliban may be.

• Daily Telegraph: Death may be only way out for ‘Arabs’

Background – Disruptive Technologies – An essay on how the US military can take advantage of disruptive technologies.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Making Room for Risk: Managing Disruptive Technologies
  

US Navy – The US Navy has been ordered to search any vessel in the Arabian Sea suspected of carrying Osama Bin Laden.

• Washington Post: Navy Ordered to Block Any Bid By Bin Laden to Escape by Sea
• Virginian Pilot: U.S. sailors could search ships for fleeing terrorists

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy’s contribution to the coalition is now in the Arabian Sea, and another frigate – HMCS Toronto – will be dispatched to join it.

• Halifax Herald: Canadian ships in place in Mideast
• Canoe: Sixth warship to join coalition

Royal Navy – HMS Ark Royal has been placed back in commission.

• BBC: Queen Mother celebrates ship’s return

US Navy – The US Navy is testing a catamaran vessel to see what utility it may have in future operations. The vessel is similar to the Royal Australian Navy’s Jervis Bay which has been successfully used in support of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor.

• SeaPower: Services Combine EffortsOn High-Speed Catamaran