US Marines and Royal Marines – The general consensus in the press is that the war will begin later this week. Here is the latest as the troops head towards their start lines.

• Washington Post: Marine Predicts Brief Bombing, Then Land Assault
• Daily Telegraph: Desert Rats and SAS to play crucial roles in invasion
• The Times: Marines prepare for first strike

US Marines – A look at the Marines’ amphibious assault vehicle.

• CNN: Marines’ leaky ski boat packs a punch

NATO – NATO is patroling the Strait of Gibraltar very carefully.

• BBC: Terror threat prompts shipping escorts

Russian Navy – Russia wishes to send a task force to the Gulf.

• Interfax: Russian warships ready to sail off within 10 days

Background – Shock and Awe – How the British see the attack evolving.

• The Times: Hi-tech blitzkrieg set to stun Iraq in first salvo

Background – Shock and Awe – ???but William Arkin wonders how it can go wrong???

• Los Angeles Times: Will ‘Shock and Awe’ Be Sufficient?

US Navy – Defense news from around the fleet.

• SeaPower: New Burke DDG Christened at NGSS Ingalls Honors Hawaiian Hero of Pacific Campaign

US Navy – More ships pass through the Suez Canal.

• Reuters: More US Missile Ships Head to Red Sea Through Suez

US Navy – Life for women aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

• Washington Post: Navy Women Finding Ways to Adapt to a Man’s World

US Navy – Food is important for morale???

• Virginian Pilot: Food turns gloom at sea into glee

US Marines – ???as is mail.

• Virginian Pilot: Erratic mail deliveries take toll on Marines’ morale

Background – Iraq – Rick Atkinson and Thomas Ricks review the current war plan and point out where its weak points are.

• Washington Post: Audacious Mission, Awesome Risks

Background – Iraq – Is America at a historical turning point, like 1898 or 1948?

• Washington Post: Bush Bets Future on Success in Iraq

Guyanaese Navy – Guyana and Suriname are having a border dispute.

• Associated Press: Guyana sends gunboat into waters disputed with Suriname

US Marines – A little R and R in Kuwait.

• Virginian Pilot: Marines get a taste of home at Camp Doha in Kuwait

US Navy – The USS Radford will become a testbed for DDX technology.

• Virginian Pilot: The destroyer Radford to see a new life

Royal Australian Navy – A review of Australian forces in the Gulf.

• BBC: Australia’s military role in Iraq

US Navy – With the bomb builders aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

• Washington Post: Building Bombs Aboard the Abraham Lincoln

US Marines – Sandstorms are a major occupational hazard in the Gulf.

• The Times: Restless Marines whipped up by a desert storm
• Washington Post: The Few, the Proud, the Green: Young Marines Learn on Job

US Navy – Escorts from the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Abraham Lincoln battlegroups move from the Med to the Red Sea.

• Associated Press: Armed U.S. Navy Ships Move to Red Sea

Royal Navy – Aboard HMS Ark Royal.

• Financial Times: British troops would rather face desert sandstorms than politicking back home

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan deploys an Aegis destroyer to the Sea of Japan in advance of expected North Korean missile tests.

• Associated Press: Japan Deploys Ship Amid Missile Reports

Background – Foreign Relations – Historian Simon Schama on why no one ever likes the U.S.

• The New Yorker: The Unloved American

US Navy – The USS Harry S. Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt may move from the Med to the Gulf if Turkey does not grant overflight rights.

• Voice of America: Pentagon May Shift Two Aircraft Carriers to Red Sea

Background – Turkey – James Dunnigan’s analysis of why the Turks won’t let US troops in.

• StrategyPage: With Turks as Friends, Who Needs Enemies?

US Navy – The USS Nimitz battlegroup makes a port call in Pearl Harbor.

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Nimitz battle group
  stops at Pearl
  

Background – Iraq – James Dunnigan on why Saddam is the master spin-meister.

• StrategyPage: Saddam as Master Media Manipulator

Sri Lankan Navy – Sri Lanka is back in combat with the Tamil Tigers.

• Associated Press: Sri Lanka Navy Destroys Tamil Rebel Boat

Royal Navy – The biggest threat to the Royal Navy in the Gulf – terrorists on speed boats.

• Daily Telegraph: British warships on ‘boat bombers’ alert

Canadian Navy – Canada takes delivery of its third Upholder-class submarine.

• Canadian Press: Canada takes possession of third sub

US Navy – Setting records aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

• Washington Post: Steaming Toward the Record Books, With No End in Sight
• New York Times: Weary Sailors Are Long Way and Long Time From Home

US Navy – Aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.

• Virginian Pilot: Anxious sailors await word on war

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

• CNN: ‘America’s Big Stick’ ready to strike

Background – Iraq – James Dunnigan and Thomas Ricks on why keeping the peace in postwar Iraq will be no piece of cake.

• StrategyPage: Winning The Peace in Iraq
• Washington Post: Army Fears Postwar Strife Will Test Occupation Force
  

US Navy – Aboard the USS Comfort in the Gulf.

• Associated Press: Doctors of U.S. Navy Hospital Ship Ready

Background – Iraq – John Keegan gives the historical parallels to the current situation outside Iraq.

• Daily Telegraph: The allies don’t need to take Baghdad to defeat Saddam

Background – War on Terror – James Dunnigan on how the War on Terror is going.

• StrategyPage: Al Qaeda is Not Well

Singaporean Navy – Singapore lays the keel of its first locally built stealth frigate.

• The Straits Times: S’pore building its first stealth frigate here

US Marines – With the Marines in the desert, learning about operations other than war.

• Washington Post: Marines Test Their Wits With What-Ifs of War

US Navy – Rest and Relaxation aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.

• Associated Press: Kitty Hawk Crew Holds ‘Steel Beach Party’

I apologize for the inability to update daily several times over the last 2 weeks, but Internet connectivity was not always assured where I was traveling. All is back to normal now, and I will be posting daily again, starting today.

US Marines – US Marines are operating in the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait, and large holes are being cut in the fence that separates the two countries.

• CNN: U.N.: Holes opened in Iraqi border fence

US Marines – The Marines latest UAV for use by troops in the field, the Dragon Eye.

• Washington Post: A High-Tech Pilot Who Keeps His Feet on the Ground

US Marines – The importance of history to the Marines.

• Los Angeles Times: The Marines: Always Faithful to Their History

Iranian Navy – Is India about to help the Iranian Navy?

• UPI: UPI Hears???

US Navy – The USS Carl Vinson will make a port call in Korea.

• The Korean Herald: U.S. carrier to make port call to Korea

US Navy – Osprey flight testing is suspended again.

• Associated Press: Navy suspends Osprey aircraft tests

Background – Iraq – Austin Bay shares his possible scenarios for war against Iraq.

• Washington Times: U.S. forces now ready to move

Background – Iran – After Iraq, Iran is next.

• Daily Telegraph: Britain’s role is crucial in next stage of war on terror – Iran

Background – Indian Ocean – China’s plan for dominating the Indian Ocean.

• Daily Times: India at the heart of Chinese entrapment

US Marines – How the Marines plan to deal with civilians in Iraq.

• Associated Press: Marines in Kuwait to Deal With Civilians

US Navy – With the airwing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

• Reuters:
  Video Games No Match for Fighter Pilot’s Reality

NOSI will next be updated on March 8th. See you then!

Royal Navy – HMS Iron Duke is off of Sierra Leone, to lend support if needed.

• Daily Telegraph: More troops deployed in defence of Sierra Leone

US Navy – Pearl Harbor is an al Qaeda target.

• Washington Times: Terrorists aim at Pearl Harbor

US Navy – Aboard the fast combat support ship USS Camden in the Gulf.

• The Herald: Supply ship maintains torrid pace

US Marines – With the 2nd MEF exercising in Kuwait.

• Virginian Pilot: n Kuwait’s barren desert, Marines wait

Canadian Navy – Canada sends more warships to the Gulf.

• CTV: Canada deploys HMCS Fredericton to the Gulf

US Marines – With Marines in Kuwait, waiting.

• Chicago Tribune: ‘Gut feeling’ tells them war is set to erupt

Background – Iraq – Thomas Ricks reviews the latest war plan for Iraq.

• Washington Post: War Plan for Iraq Largely in Place
• Washington Post: ‘A War of Bridges’

Background – Iraq – General Zinni’s sage advice on how to conduct operations other than war.

• StrategyPage: General Zinni’s Advice on Governing Iraq

Please note that there is again a slight chance that NOSI will not be updated again until March 8th???but I consider this highly unlikely.

US Marines – The USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group deploys early.

• Virginian Pilot: Iwo Jima to lead last large Hampton Roads deployment

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard moves out of the Department of Transportation into the Department of Homeland Security.

• Virginian Pilot: Some question Coast Guard’s expanded role under Homeland Security

Background – North Korea – Is the US drifting towards war in Korea?

• Washington Post: Observers See Rising Risk of U.S.-N. Korea Conflict

Background – International Law – Ralph Peters on how countries should not take their sovereignty for granted; they should have to earn it through good behavior towards their citizens.

• New York Post: The Sovereignty Con

US Navy – The Nimitz carrier battlegroup will sail for the Gulf next week, meanwhile the hospital ship USNS Comfort will be fully manned.

• Reuters: U.S. Adds 6th Carrier, B-2 Bombers to Iraq Build-Up
• Washington Post: Personnel From Bethesda Ordered to Hospital Ship

Canadian Navy – Canada’s third Upholder-class submarine sets sail for Canada.

• The Daily News: Third sub sets sail

Military Sealift Command – MSC ships are already unloading US supplies in Turkey.

• CNN: Vote near on Turkey-U.S. deal

US Marines – The Marine’s chemical detection gear is not always fullproof.

• Washington Post: Marines and Reporters Get a Scare

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan on what will happen to the troops if they have to wait several months to attack Iraq.

• StrategyPage: What If the Troops Have Wait All Summer In The Desert

US Navy – The USS George Washington will not be sent to the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: GW enters shipyard, freed of possible war duty
  

US Navy – The US submarine fleet is being worked extremely hard.

• Virginian Pilot: Subs could be exhausted early if heavy usage continues

US Navy – A look at the evolution of US aircraft carrier airwings since 1991???

• Virginian Pilot: Airpower of Navy has evolved since last Gulf War

US Navy – More about the Navy’s use of sea lions.

• Baltimore Sun: The Navy’s secret sentries

Background – Information War – A look at the information war currently being waged against Iraq.

• New York Times: Firing Leaflets and Electrons, U.S. Wages Information War

Background – Poor Bloody Infantry – A look at the research being performed at MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies on the infantryman of the future.

• Newsweek: Sci-Fi War Uniforms?
• Newsweek: Greetings From Natick, Mass.

Royal Navy – Iraqi oil smugglers try a new tactic to get around the naval blockade – the use of dhows.

• Associated Press: Iraqi Oil Smugglers Turn to Wooden Boats
• Reuters: British Navy plays cat and mouse with Iraqi smugglers

Canadian Navy – Canada is extending its deployments to the Gulf as well.

• Times Colonist: HMCS Winnipeg faces two more months at sea

Canadian Navy – Aboard HMCS Montreal in the Gulf.

• Toronto Star: Boredom biggest enemy aboard frigate

US Navy – Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her crew is ready for war.

• Daily Telegraph: We’re raring to do some damage, says US carrier crew

US Navy – There are a number of naval choke points affecting Persian Gulf bound ships.

• Virginian Pilot: On Edge in the Suez: Along shortcut, Navy ships keep guard
• Virginian Pilot: On Edge in the Suez, Part 2
• Virginian Pilot: Choke points are concern for Persian Gulf-bound ships

Background – Iraq – An interview with the new British Chief of the General Staff, that includes a discussion on Iraq.

• Daily Telegraph: ‘War is the easy part’

US Navy – An extremely well done, documentary, in-depth look at the Joint Strike Fighter competition.

• PBS Nova: Battle of the X-Planes
• PBS Nova: Transcript of show

Background – Iraq – A follow up to last week’s article on the administration’s plans for the Middle East after Iraq. – “The hawks think of themselves as neo-Wilsonian moralists. They really do want to change the whole world, through the use of, and the threat of, military force. That’s the whole idea. Whether it will work, and whether the American public will support it, is another question.”

• The New Yorker: Marching Forward

US Navy – The Navy faces a growing gap in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaisance assets.

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

US Navy – Was there a plot to sink a waship on 9/11 as well?

• The Guardian: ‘Plot to sink warship on 9/11’

US Marines – It is the Essex amphibious ready group that is being sent to the Phillipines.

• USA Today: U.S. troops to join combat against rebels in Philippines

Israeli Navy – Israel would like to buy 2 more Dolphin-class submarines, but does not know how to afford them.

• Haaretz: Navy eyes 2 new Dolphin submarines

Russian Navy – Russia completes another facility to help it dismantle its nuclear submarines.

• Agence France-Presse: Nuclear sub dismantling center built in Russia’s far east

US Navy A US amphibious ready group will be dispatched to actively take part in combat operations against terrorists in the Phillipines.

• Washington Post: U.S. to Attack in Philippines

US Navy – With the SEALS in the Gulf.

• Washington Post: Navy SEALs Ready To Hit Ground in Iraq

US Navy – The deployment of the Nassau amphibious ready group has been extended, indefinitely.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy extends deployment for amphibious ready group

US Navy – Why Navy corpsmen are key personnel in any Marine unit.

• Virginian Pilot: Corpsmen can mean life or death for Marines

US Navy – A busy day in the life of one sailor aboard the USS Kearsarge.

• Virginian Pilot: A day in the life of one sailor

Background – Iraq – Is Iraq hiding weapons of mass destruction at sea?

• Reuters: Report: Ships with Suspected Iraq Arms Tracked
• Reuters: Spy agencies fail to confirm Iraqi ships’ existence

Background – Information Warfare – A review of directed energy weapons. Although the US appears to be leading the field in their development, paradoxically the US is most vulnerable to them.

• New York Times: Weapons that disable circuitry may get first use in Iraq

NOSI will take a vacation day tomorrow, and next update on Friday. Please note there is a very small chance NOSI will not be updated again until March 8th???but that is highly improbable.

Background – Military Theory – The U.S. military labors under a misunderstanding of what Clausewitz meant by the ìcenter of gravityîóin fact, from several such misunderstandings. Employed as intended, and in situations for which it was intended, the concept pays dividends; misapplied, it incurs serious risk and cost.

• Naval War College Review: Clausewitz’s Center of Gravity – Itís Not What We Thought

Canadian Navy – Canada continues to do little to police her porous sea borders – mysterious ships are being seen off of Vancouver.

• Canada.com: ‘Mystery’ ships spotted off B.C. coast

US Navy – More on the use of sea lions to protect US ships.

• USA Today: Sea lions called to duty in Persian Gulf

US Navy – Will the US institute a naval blockade of North Korea to halt arms exports?

• Reuters: N.Korea threatens to scrap Korean War armistice

US Marines – Are the Army and Marine forces on Hawaii the strategic reserve for Korea?

• United Press International: Hawaii troops may be Korea reserve

US Navy – The Navy needs to start sending its enlisted sailors to universities to acquire the higher educations that are just as vital to their service careers.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Expand Education for Sailors

Background – Iraq – Thomas Friedman on why it is in China’s interest to be with the US on the issue of Iraq.

• New York Times: Order vs. disorder