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Archive July 2001 - December 2001
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Monday, December 31, 2001
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Bahrain Navy - Bahrain will send a frigate to join the coalition forces in the Arabian Sea. The frigate is the Bans Sabha, an Oliver Hazard Perry class ship.
Royal Navy - An excellent overview of the choices facing the Royal Navy as it plans for its future naval aviation force.
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Sunday, December 30, 2001
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US Navy - William Arkin on the importance of troop rotation in what will be a long war against terrorism.
US Navy - How forces and scenarios are designed to be tested in the US Navy's annual Global War Game run at the Naval War College.
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Saturday, December 29, 2001
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Japanese Coast Guard - The sinking of a suspected North Korean spy trawler remains controversial in Japan.
US Navy - Life aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, which just returned to port.
US Navy - The stress of life at sea for 100 days straight aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Royal Navy - The firm which made Nelson's signal flags at Trafalgar has just gone out of business.
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Friday, December 28, 2001
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Royal Marines - More of 40 Commando has arrived in Kabul.
US Navy - "Armchair generals talk tactics; real generals talk logistics..."
US Coast Guard - US Coast Guard law-enforcement detachments are now deployed on board US Navy warships, which has given the Coast Guard new powers in the war on drugs.
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Thursday, December 27, 2001
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Royal Navy - A Royal Navy task force, including HMS Illustrious is taking holiday R+R in Kenya...
US Navy - ...Meanwhile there are reports that US Navy ships are helping to search for Al-Qaeda elements in nearby Somalia as there is continued concern Osama Bin Laden may escape Afghanistan via the sea.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force - The JMSDF is pursuing another unknown ship in its economic exclusion zone; meanwhile they are considering raising the unknown ship sunk the other day to learn more about it; and North Korea criticises the attack without claiming ownership of the ship.
US Navy - A description of the X-47 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)
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Wednesday, December 26, 2001
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US Navy - An account of US Navy SEALs and the role they played reconoitering Camp Rhino in Afghanistan.
Royal Marines - The Royal Marines in Afghanistan have still not been issued with the new, reliable version of the SA80 assault rifle.
Indian Navy - The US and Indian navies have conducted unprecedented joint exercises in the areas of search and rescue and maritime surveillance.
Background - Open Source Intelligence - Just to keep in things in perspective, a list of things we do *not* know about this war...
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Tuesday, December 25, 2001
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US Navy - What the USS Kitty Hawk did during the war - served as a base for US Army and Air Force special forces and Navy SEALs. Aircraft embarked included a dozen MH-60 Blackhawk assault helicopters, a half-dozen MH-47 Chinook medium-lift transport helicopters and several MH-53 Pave Low helicopters.
Canadian Navy - Canadian CP-140 Auroras are deploying to the Arabian Sea.
Japanese Coast Guard - More on the sinking of a suspected North Korean spy ship by the Japanese, who call it an act of self defense.
Royal Navy - A ship suspected of carrying terrorist materials into the UK has been given the all clear after a thorough inspection.
Background - Smart Weapons - Decreasing the time lag between the sensor and the shooter coupled with precision-guided weapons has revolutioned the delivery of aerial ordinance.
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Monday, December 24, 2001
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Royal Navy - Searching of a ship suspected to contain terrorist supplies continues and will be done in exacting detail. Meanwhile, UK ports have been placed on a terrorist alert for suspect materials being shipped into the UK.
Royal Marines - Royal Marines are patrolling in Kabul.
Background - Taliban Strategy - Why the Taliban's strategy failed against US forces.
Background - Iraq - Options being put forward for how to deal with Iraq.
Background - Afghanistan - How the al-Qaeda effectively hijacked the government of Afghanistan.
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Sunday, December 23, 2001
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US Marines - A description of a US Marine ambush of a Taliban convoy near Kandahar. The US Marines are being used not for set piece battles, but instead as special forces.
Japanese Coast Guard - The Japanese Coast Guard has attacked and sunk a ship of unidentified nationality that was in its exclusive economic zone.
Background - Diego Garcia - Citizens of Diego Garcia have filed a class-action suit against the US Government for reparations after being forcibly removed from their home islands.
Background - Next Step Iraq? - It will be difficult to overthrow Saddam Hussein using the strategy used in Afghanistan - Special Forces and airpower coupled with locally raised armies. The reason is there is no longer any organized resistance Iraq.
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Saturday, December 22, 2001
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Royal Marines - Royal Marines are heading up the peacekeeping force in Kabul.
Royal Navy - Anti-terrorist police are searching a cargo ship from Mauritius which they intercepted in the English Channel on Friday morning which is suspected of carrying terrorist material.
Russian Navy - A new class of Russian corvette was laid down.
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Friday, December 21, 2001
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US Navy - A tanker suspected by the US Navy of smuggling oil for Iraq is said to be innocent by the Iranians.
US Coast Guard - Ice breaking on the Great Lakes.
US Navy - a Pan-American naval task force has been proposed to fight drug smuggling.
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Thursday, December 20, 2001
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US Navy - Carrier battlegroups will aim to be certified earlier in their training cycle for overseas deployments so they can be made available when needed.
Chinese Navy - Strategies for an invasion of Taiwan.
US Navy - Norman Friedman on what the US Navy can do about asymetrical warfare.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2001
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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.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, her crew is learning to become proficient with small arms.
Background - Lessons Learned - The BBC's defense correspondent on what lessons have been learned to date in this information-centered war.
US Marines - What life is like for a new recruit at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2001
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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.
US Navy - The Area Missile Defense System has been canceled due to cost overruns.
US Navy - The US Navy will probably be moving to deployments lasting longer than 6 months during the war on terrorism.
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.
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Monday, December 17, 2001
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US Marines - The US Marines will begin to move their base from Camp Rhino to the Kandahar airport.
Indian Navy - The Indian Navy recent held joint exercises with the US Navy.
Royal Australian Navy - The Australian Navy turned back another ship carrying illegal immigrants.
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.
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Sunday, December 16, 2001
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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?
US Marines - On the ground with the Marines at Camp Rhino.
US Navy - The US Navy has several ships in the Mediterranean under surveillance that are suspected of aiding terrorist causes.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, aircrews are setting operational records.
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Saturday, December 15, 2001
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US Marines - The US Marines have moved into the Kandahar airport.
Background - Close Air Support - Jim Dunnigan on the historical evolution of close air support, and how it has been revolutionized in Afghanistan.
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Friday, December 14, 2001
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US Navy - The USS Kitty Hawk battlegroup is returning to its homeport in Japan.
US Navy - The US Navy continues to actively board and search ships suspected of aiding al-Qaeda's cause.
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.
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Thursday, December 13, 2001
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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.
US Navy - How to do your holiday shopping from a combat zone, aboard the USS Thedore Roosevelt.
US Navy - An overview of the Maritime Prepositioning Force.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2001
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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.
US Marines - More on the Marine patrols around Kandahar.
US Navy - The last cruise of the Spruance-class destroyer USS Ray.
Background - Special Forces - With the US Army special forces on the ground in Afghanistan, to see how they have been functioning in this conflict.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2001
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US Marines - US Marines are patrolling the roads around Kandahar, searching for fleeing members of al-Qaida.
US Navy - An excerpt from a book by the pilot of the EP-3 downed earlier this year off China.
Background - Intelligence - A summary of the intelligence community's contributions and successes in the war so far.
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Monday, December 10, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose pilots are now plinking caves.
US Marines - On the ground with the US Marines at and around Camp Rhino.
US Marines - Why the US Marines are the United States leaders in expeditionary warfare, and why the US Army is not.
Background - William Arkin on how destroying the cave complexes is turning out to be easier than earlier thought.
Background - Secretary of Defense Rumsfield gives his opinion of the war to date in an interview with Thomas Ricks.
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Saturday, December 8, 2001
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US Marines - US Marines see action on the ground in Afghanistan for the first time
US Navy - Viecques may remain open as a training range indefinitely.
US Navy - China has begun harrassing US ELINT flights off China again.
Background - Afghanistan - Sir John Keegan with an analysis of the campaign so far and how far it has to go.
US Marines - With the Marines on the ground in Afghanistan.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, with her young Sailors.
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.
Background - Special Forces - Sir John Keegan on the historical importance of special forces.
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Thursday, December 6, 2001
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US Marines - US Marines are engaging in more aggressive patroling around their airfield base in Afghanistan.
US Navy - The Bon Homme Richard amphibious ready ground carrying the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit has set sail for the Arabian Sea.
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.
Background - Taliban military - James F. Dunnigan debunks myths about the Taliban military machine.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2001
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US Marines - The Australian SAS is working out of the US Marine base in Afghanistan.
Russian Navy - More on the commissioning of the nuclear attack submarine Gepard.
French Navy - The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has set sail for the Arabian Sea.
US Navy - A description of the amphibious exercise Kernal Blitz 01 held earlier this year and its focus on network centric warfare.
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Tuesday, December 4, 2001
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Russian Navy - The Russian Navy will commission the nuclear attack submarine Gepard.
US Navy - As the F-14's days in the fleet are numbered, its testing days at Pax River come to an end.
US Marines - On the ground, hygiene is everything...
Background - Strategy - William Arkin on how it might not be all that difficult to topple Saddam Hussein.
US Marines - With the US Marines in Afghanistan, liaison troops from the UK, Australia and Germany are also at the base.
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.
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.
US Navy - What the future holds for naval gun fire support for Marines.
US Navy - The Newport News shipyard has been acquired by Northrup Grumman.
US Coast Guard - Aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Forward in Chesapeake Bay.
Russian Navy - The blame for the Kursk disaster slowly begins to be assigned.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theordore Roosevelt, some Sailors and Marines are pursing college course work.
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Saturday, December 1, 2001
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US Marines - On the ground with the US Marines in Afghanistan at Forward Operating Base Rhino.
Canadian Navy - Canadian ships are now part of the US Navy battlegroups in the Arabian Sea.
Indonesian Navy - The CINCPACLFT says that Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore need to do more to combat the piracy in their territorial waters.
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.
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Thursday, November 29, 2001
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German Navy - The German Navy is spending more of its time in the Mediterranean.
US Marines - Who has the better assault rifle - the US Marines or the Taliban?
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Wednesday, November 28, 2001
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US Navy - CINCLANT says the utility of aircraft carriers should not be doubted anymore.
US Marines - US Marines are patrolling outside Kandahar.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2001
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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.
French Navy - The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will join the US task force in the Arabian Sea in December.
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.
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.
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Monday, November 26, 2001
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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.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force - More Japanese ships have deployed to the Arabian Sea.
Canadian Navy - The Canadian Navy considers acquiring its own organic sealift capability.
Royal Marines - Why the Royal Marines' SBS unit is going nowhere at Bagram airfield near Kabul.
Background - Strategy - The next countries targeted in the war against terrorism will be Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
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Sunday, November 25, 2001
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US Navy - A sign of China's support of the war against terrorism: US ships are being allowed port calls in Hong Kong.
Canadian Navy - The Canadian supply ship HMCS Preserver in the Arabian Sea is having difficulty making enough fresh water.
Background - Ground War - How the ground war in the south of Afghanistan may shape up to be a true guerilla war.
Background - Cruise Industry - More on how cruise ships are vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
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Saturday, November 24, 2001
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US Navy - Gathering intelligence on cargo vessel movements in the Arabian sea is a new important task for the US Navy.
Background - Taliban - Historian John Keegan on the what the fate of the Taliban may be.
Background - Disruptive Technologies - An essay on how the US military can take advantage of disruptive technologies.
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Friday, November 23, 2001
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US Navy - The US Navy has been ordered to search any vessel in the Arabian Sea suspected of carrying Osama Bin Laden.
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.
Royal Navy - HMS Ark Royal has been placed back in commission.
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.
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Thursday, November 22, 2001
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Ghanan Navy - The US Marines are exercising with their counterparts in Ghana as part of the West African Training Cruise.
US Marines - James F. Dunnigan on how the US Marines keep their fighting edge.
US Marines - How USAF Colonel John Boyd helped the US Marines adopt a strategy of maneuver warfare.
Background - Land War - The way the land war may now evolve...
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Wednesday, November 21, 2001
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US Navy - New double-deck piers at Norfolk make ship servicing easier and safer.
US Marines - The US Marines from the Bataan and Peleliu amphibious ready groups off Afghanistan may soon go ashore and assist in the hunt for al Qaeda operatives.
US Marines - An essay on expeditionary maneuver warfare.
US Coast Guard - The threats that cruise ships face from terrorists.
US Coast Guard - The nightmare of trying to make US ports secure from terrorist attack.
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Tuesday, November 20, 2001
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New Feature - Search - You can now Search NOSI. Simply click on the Search link on any page, and you may search the contents of the entire site, dating back to February 18, 2000.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, with her young crew. Meanwhile, her pilots say that it is more and more difficult to pick out legitimate targets on the ground after the Taliban's front lines have collapsed.
US Navy - US Navy ships serving in the Arabian Sea are taking port calls in India, for the first time since 1996.
US Navy - Have US aircraft carriers guaranteed their existence in future US force structures, on the basis of their contribution to this conflict?
Background - William Arkin on whether or not the US military will learn any lessons from this conflict.
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Monday, November 19, 2001
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US Navy - An Iraqi tanker suspected of smuggling oil in the Persian Gulf, that had been boarded by US Navy sailors, has sunk with 2 sailors reported missing.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Vella Gulf in the Arabian Sea.
Russian Navy - The final fate of the Kursk has been decided - it will be scrapped.
US Navy - A US Navy JAG officer is accused of being overly concerned about collateral damage from bombing, thus thwarting attacks against the al Qaeda leadership.
Background - CIA - Meanwhile the CIA is running its own air war with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
Background - Targeting - A look at the pros and cons of the US targeting strategy in Afghanistan.
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Sunday, November 18, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson, a close look at the Navy's air war.
Royal Marines - A review of what British forces will be committed on the ground for peacekeeping, namely The Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines, and what they can be expected to do. Meanwhile, there is controversy over the initial deployment of Royal Marines in Kabul - the Northern Alliance wants them removed.
Royal Marines - Who are the Special Boat Service (SBS)?
Background - UAVs - How Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being used in combat roles.
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Saturday, November 17, 2001
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US Navy - The US Navy has launched its next generation of signal intelligence satellites that are the follow-on series to the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) satellites.
US Navy - The 200th anniversary of the US Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.
Background - Afghanistan - James F. Dunnigan on how difficult peacekeeping in Afghanistan will be.
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Friday, November 16, 2001
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Royal Marines - A small detachment of Royal Marines is on the ground in Kabul, to help prepare the ground for humanitarian operations.
US Navy - Fewer and fewer targets are available to US pilots.
Royal Navy - The NH-90 helicopter is being modified for maritime use.
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Thursday, November 15, 2001
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US Coast Guard - How secure are our ports?
US Navy - Life aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Ross.
Background - Afghanistan - John Keegan tries to put the last few day's events in a historical perspective.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2001
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Canadian Navy - Elements of the Canadian Navy task force are nearing the Gulf.
US Navy - US carrier pilots can take responsiblity for helping to break open the Taliban's line's in the north of Afghanistan.
US Navy - Is the US bombing strategy too conservative?
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Tuesday, November 13, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, her pilots claim some responsibility for the current successful Northern Alliance ground campaign.
US Navy - Aircraft carriers have demonstrated their value in the campaign to date; their future in the US Navy seems assured.
US Navy - The USS John Stennis deploys; she will relieve the USS Carl Vinson.
US Navy - Why tiltrotors are important, if only they could be made to work well.
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Monday, November 12, 2001
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US Navy - On board the USS Theodore Roosevelt - going after the caves with her pilots.
US Coast Guard - Aboard the USCGC Diligence, providing homeland security.
Background - Strategy - A look at the evolving US strategy.
Background - James F. Dunnigan on how today's Afghan soldier is little different from his ancestors.
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Sunday, November 11, 2001
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US Navy - The Royal Air Force's tankers are winning high praise from US Navy pilots over Afghanistan.
US Marines - US Marines are helping to provide security for the world trade conference in Qatar.
Background - UAV's - A review of the usage of UAVs in Afghanistan to date, stating their pros and cons.
US Navy - A review of the current SAM threat over Iraq that faces the pilots enforcing the no-fly zones.
Background - Saudi Arabia - James F. Dunnigan on the balance of power in Saudi Arabia.
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Saturday, November 10, 2001
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Royal Australian Navy - More problems with refugees trying to gain entry to Australia.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Thedore Roosevelt, her pilots are now attacking more and more targets chosen by forward air controllers on the ground.
US Navy - The USS Enterprise's air wing looks back on their missions over Aghanistan.
US Coast Guard - On patrol with the Coast Guard's latest asset, the US Navy's Cyclone-class patrol craft.
Background - Afghanistan - Journalist Robert Kaplan's insight into the current situation in Afghanistan.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force - 2 destroyers and a supply ship from the JMSDF have deployed to the Indian Ocean in support of operations against the Taliban. They will have a supportive, rather than combative mission.
US Navy - The USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group may be moved to the Indian Ocean, to join the USS Peleliu.
US Navy - The USS John Stennis will deploy 3 months earlier than planned to the Indian Ocean.
Overview - A summary of the war at one month.
Background - Special Forces - A way to differentiate between "special forces" such as SEALs and "raiders" such as the Royal Marines.
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Thursday, November 8, 2001
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Italian Navy - Italy will sent a naval task force, including the aircraft carrier Guiseppe Garibaldi, to the Arabian Sea.
US Navy - The US Navy is running out of precision guided munitions, and there is a request to send a fourth aircraft carrier to the theater of operations.
US Coast Guard - Why the Deepwater program is more important than ever.
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Wednesday, November 7, 2001
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Royal Marines - 40 Commando is currently on R+R. It will take them some time to get their kit sorted and made ready for operations in Afghanistan.
US Coast Guard - The US Coast Guard will be acquiring the services of 5 of the US Navy's coastal patrol boats, to use for off shore patroling.
US Navy - Former Secretary of the Navy James Webb's opinion on how the US should proceed.
Background - Strategy - The current strategic view, from the United Kingdom - are we currently headed for a large land campaign?
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Tuesday, November 6, 2001
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Russian Navy - The Russians now feel a torpedo explosion inside the Kursk was the most likely cause of her loss.
Russian Navy - More about the Granit missiles being removed from the Kursk.
US Navy - R+R aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Russian Navy - The Varyag broke loose from the vessels towing it and was adrift but now has been taken back in tow.
US Navy - The USS Enterprise is steaming towards its home port.
US Navy - The US Navy will base the new aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan in San Diego.
US Navy - An analysis of the US targeting strategy.
Background - Nuclear Weapons - How secure are Pakistan's nuclear weapons?
Chinese Navy - The former Soviety Navy carrier Varyag has transitted the Bosporus Strait on its way to China.
US Navy - US Marine Harriers from the USS Peleliu took part in air strikes against Afghanistan for the first time.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Peleliu, the Marine troops wait for the call to action.
Royal Navy - The Royal Navy is investigating ways to defend its ships from attacks from small fast craft
Background - Nuclear Weapons / Radiological Weapons - The threat of an attack against the US from terrorists armed with nuclear or radiological weapons is higher than most assume.
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Saturday, November 3, 2001
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US Navy - The DD-21 program has been effectively canceled. A new, modular design adaptable to several missions, will be solicited from the design teams.
US Navy - Air to air refueling is a key component of every US Navy strike over Afghanistan, and S-3 Vikings are performing yeoman work in that regard.
US Navy - With the ordinance specialists on the USS Thedore Roosevelt.
Greek Navy - An interview with the Commander in Chief of the Greek Navy.
US Navy - Somewhere over Aghanistan, with pilots from the USS Carl Vinson.
US Marine Corps - The MV-22 Osprey will be grounded until next spring, and then will require 2 years of flight test to certify it is truely ready for production.
US Navy - A possible breakthrough in submarine communications.
Background - Biological Weapons - An absolutely chilling essay on what biological weapons could potentially do.
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Thursday, November 1, 2001
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US Navy - With the aviation mechanics aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Royal Marines - 40 Commando continues to prepare for action, but how will they be used?
US Coast Guard - A new icebreaker will be built for use on the Great Lakes, to replace the USCGC Mackinaw which dates from WWII.
Background - Biological Weapons - Smallpox - An excellent history of smallpox as a disease, and how it can be turned into a lethal weapon.
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Wednesday, October 31, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson with the bunker busters.
US Navy - Why the use of "kinetics" is not the way to win in Afghanistan.
Royal Australian Navy - Refugees continue to try to land in Australia.
Background - Afghanistan - An excellent history, from 1985, by the military historian John Keegan that covers the history of Afghanistan including the British and Russian invasions in great depth and describes which tactics work and don't work in Afghanistan.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2001
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US Navy - The true effect the air raids are having on Afghan morale, as seen by the correspondent John Simpson who is an observer on the ground. Simpson claims that the US technological precision does not awe the Afghans, but instead makes them regard the US as being effete. Read this, then read the next essay from 12 years ago to see if we have learned the lessons from the last war in Afghanistan...
Background - The Soviet Defeat - An interesting essay from 1989 written by Robert Kaplan that says the reason the Afghans ultimately defeated the Russians was the Afghan's willingness to die.
US Navy - The USS Enterprise is on her way home.
Canadian Navy - The second Upholder-class attack submarine, HMCS Windsor, has arrived in Canada.
Given the current interest in biological weapons, in the next few days I will be bringing to your attention a few excellent background articles on biological warfare from the New Yorker magazine.
Background - Anthrax - A historical case report of one of the last anthrax cases in the United States, from the early 1960's, told in story form. A good review of what anthrax does to humans.
Royal Marines - 200 Royal Marines from 40 Commando will stay in the Persian Gulf and assist in the campaign. They will be based on HMS Fearless and will have their helicopters based on HMS Illustrious.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force - Japan may send naval ships to the Indian Ocean, but not to the Persian Gulf.
US Navy - Does the US Navy still need it's Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) communications network for communicating with ballistic missile submarines?
US Navy - Night air operations aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
US Navy and Marines Corps and Royal Navy - Lockheed-Martin wins the competition to build the Joint Strike Fighter which will be the next generation fighter for the US and the British militaries.
Russian Navy - A look inside the Kursk.
Russian Navy - Russia will officially close its naval base in Vietnam at Cam Ranh Bay.
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Saturday, October 27, 2001
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US Navy - The life of a landing signals officer aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
US Navy - Part of the Enterprise battlegroup has returned to port, but the USS Enterprise remains at sea.
US Marines - The Marines of the USS Peleliu amphibious ready group are ready to go.
Russian Navy - The nuclear attack submarine Gepard will soon be commissioned.
Background - Strategy - How the strategy is evolving.
Russian Navy - Work begins on removing the Granit missiles from the Kursk.
US Navy - With the pilots aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
Royal Marines - It seems likely Royal Marine Commandos will be committed to the battle.
Background - Strategy - The long view of the war, from Britain's top military officer.
Background - John Keegan on why al-Qa'eda must be extinguished.
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Thursday, October 25, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The USS Enterprise may be heading home soon.
US Navy - Hand held computers are revolutionizing naval life.
Royal Marines - The Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade are ready for cold weather warfare.
Danish Navy - The Danish Navy will send a ship to join NATO's nine-ship Standing Naval Force Mediterranean, to free up other NATO members ships for operations in the Persian Gulf.
Background - Collateral Damage - Has the Pentagon become too concerned with causing civilian casualties?
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Wednesday, October 24, 2001
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Canadian Navy - HMCS Halifax has cleared the Suez Canal on her way to the Gulf.
US Navy - Underway replenishment aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
US Marines - More on the US Marines Mountain Warfare Training Center.
Background - National Security Agency (NSA) - An essay on what went wrong at the NSA that allowed the US to be blindsided on September 11 - a desire to live in the cryptological past rather than trying to embrace the future.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2001
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Royal Australian Navy - HMAS Kanimbla, an amphibious ship, has departed for service in the Persian Gulf. The frigate HMAS Anzac remains in the Gulf.
Romanian Navy - More on the sale of Type 22 frigates from the Royal Navy to Romania.
Background - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Royal Marines - The 24 man strong Royal Marine Brigade Patrol Troop specializes in winter recce work.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson with one of the few female F-14 Tomcat pilots.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Background - Middle East - Is the US winning the battle but loosing the war? The view from inside the Beltway.
Background - CIA - What is wrong with the CIA and why it missed predicting the events of September 11.
Royal Australian Navy - The Australian Navy has intercepted more refugees seeking asylum in Australia.
US Marines - The US Marines will form an antiterrorist unit.
Canadian Navy - The state of the Canadian Navy today.
US Navy - Aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, which is not in the Persian Gulf.
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Saturday, October 20, 2001
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US Navy - US special forces, staging from the USS Kitty Hawk, have raided Taliban targets on the ground.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the latest aircraft carrier to arrive in theater.
Royal Marine - The Royal Marines will be offered to the US for use in ground operations.
Background - Taliban troops - The caliber of the troops US forces will face on the ground, by analyst James F. Dunnigan.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Enterprise's air group.
US Navy - Prototype systems that help shorten sensor to shooter time lags may be deployed to help US forces.
Ground War - It was confirmed today that US special forces are on the ground in southern as well as northern Afghanistan.
Background - Saudia Arabia - This essay paints a disturbing picture of our "allies" the Saudis - a corrupt regime that has bankrolled the fundamentalists who are trying to overthrow it.
US Air Force - The USAF has for the first time armed its RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles with Hellfire antitank missiles. This is truely a revolution in military affairs, and is actually covered in more detail at the end of the above New Yorker article.
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Thursday, October 18, 2001
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US Navy - The USS Theodore Roosevelt is now participating in the air war. Also, the USS Kitty Hawk has loaded special forces troops and helicopters and is now in theater.
Canadian Navy - The Canadian Navy task force has departed for the Persian Gulf.
Royal Australian Navy - Australia's contribution will be larger than expected and will include a SAS Squadron, 2 P-3 Orions, 2 frigates and an amphibious command ship.
US Coast Guard - The US Coast Guard is nearing the breaking point in terms of platforms and personnel as it provides increased levels of homeland defense; the US Navy may help it out.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2001
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Royal Navy - Aboard HMS Illustrious with the media.
US Navy - The life of the air boss aboard USS Carl Vinson.
US Marines - More on exercise Bright Star in Egypt.
Phillipine Navy - The Phillipine Navy continues to battle Islamic terrorists.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2001
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Royal Marines - 3 Commando Brigade, currently exercising in Oman, may be deployed to Afghanistan. They are the mountain and winter warfare experts of the British military.
US Marines - Meanwhile the US Marines maintain a Mountain Warfare Training Center in California to distribute mountain and winter warfare expertise throughout the Corps.
US Navy - The former residents of Diego Garcia who were evicted from the island 30 years ago fear this conflict will delay their court-ordered permanent return to their home islands.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the Gulf.
Background - Airpower Analysis To Date - A critical look at the ineffective nature of the air campaign to date.
US Navy - Aboard USS Enterprise.
US Navy - The USS Kitty Hawk's role may be to serve as a base for US Army Apache attack helicopters.
Background - Endgame Afghanistan - Robert Kaplan on how the post Taliban era should happen in Afghanistan.
US Navy - Two articles that demonstrate the only bases the US can count on in time of war are bases in the US, in the UK (Diego Garcia) and carrier battlegroups.
US Navy - US Navy battlegroup deployments will now stretch beyond 6 months, due to the nation being at war.
Background - Strategy Update - Update along with a current Allied Order of Battle.
Background - Russian Lessons Learned
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Saturday, October 13, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Enterprise.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
Background - Further insight from historian Sir John Keegan.
Background - History of Afghanistan - An excellent multi-part history of Afghanistan. Follow the links down the left-hand side of the page.
Canadian Navy - Aboard the Canadian Navy's frigates.
US Navy - The Essex amphibious ready group is exercising off Japan.
Royal Australian Navy - The last of the refugees have left HMAS Manoora and landed on Nauru...
Royal Australian Navy...meanwhile refugees continue to attempt to land in Australia and are being intercepted at sea.
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Thursday, October 11, 2001
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Russian Navy - The Kursk has been towed back to port.
Royal Navy - Background on the Royal Navy's Trafalgar-class and Swiftsure-class nuclear attack submarines which took part in the initial wave of cruise missile attacks on Sunday.
US Navy - The USS Theodore Roosevelt may leave the Bright Star exercise early in order to relieve the USS Enterprise in the Gulf. Meanwhile the USS Kearsarge is on her way home.
US Navy - The USS Essex amphibious ready group has set sail from its homeport for a destination that was not named.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2001
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US Navy - Aboard the USS Carl Vinson battlegroup.
US Navy - Aboard the USS Enterprise battlegroup.
Canadian Navy - Canada has pledged a naval task force to coalition forces in the Persian Gulf, including a destroyer, three frigates, a supply ship and maritime patrol aircraft. This is the largest Canadian naval deployment in 50 years and the ships will be integrated completely into the US battlegroups.
Background - History - Sir John Keegan gives the historical background to this week's air strikes.
US Navy - A second round of strikes has been launched, similar in composition to the first.
US Navy - Life aboard the USS Enterprise.
Royal Navy - Life aboard HMS Illustrious.
Russian Navy - The Kursk has been sucessfully raised and is headed towards shore.
Background - Surface to air missiles (SAMs) - The bane of the pilot - short range SAMs.
The battle has been joined - US Navy carrier-based aircraft from the USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise have participated in attacks on Afghanistan, joined by cruise missiles launched by US and Royal Navy submarines and US surface ships as well as by USAF long range bombers.
Background - Afghanistan - Could this be the US strategy on the ground?
Russian Navy - The raising of the Kursk has begun.
Royal Navy - The Captain of HMS Illustrious is stressing that his ship has not yet received orders to participate in attacks against Afghanistan.
NATO - NATO has agreed to move its Standing Naval Force Mediterranean to the Eastern Med to show resolve.
Royal Australian Navy - The RAN may send an amphibious command ship to accompany the squadron of SAS it is committing to the action in Afghanistan.
Sri Lankan Navy - The Sri Lankan Navy has engaged in yet another sea battle with the Tamil Tigers.
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Saturday, October 6, 2001
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US Navy - The skipper of the USS Greenville was relieved of his command after running the submarine aground in Saipan.
US Navy - At sea with the USS Theodore Roosevelt battlegroup.
Background - Information Warfare - How information warfare was applied in Kosovo may give insight into how it is used in Afghanistan.
US Navy - The USS Enterprise will not be returning home on schedule, she will remain at sea beyond her normal 6 month cruise length.
US Navy - More details on the sailing of the USS Kitty Hawk.
US Navy - The Chief of Naval Operations has begun to standardize training and operations between the Pacific and Atlantic fleets.
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Thursday, October 4, 2001
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Royal Navy - Life aboard HMS Illustrious in the Gulf.
Background - Pakistan - Another article by Robert Kaplan describing the current political situation in Pakistan and stating we should view Pakistan as a vital ally.
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Wednesday, October 3, 2001
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Iranian Navy - The Iranian Navy's view of the naval buildup in the Persian Gulf.
US Marines - The multinational Exercise Bright Star is occuring in Egypt.
US Navy - An interview with the new Secretary of the Navy, in which he outlines his priorities.
US Navy - the USS Kitty Hawk has formally deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. It is without many of its fixed-wing aircraft.
Royal Navy - HMS Illustrious has arrived off Oman. Meanwhile, the nuclear attack submarine HMS Triumph has joined the task force.
US Navy - An essay by William Arkin on how we must plan for a new type of unconventional war and take our time to do so -- and that taking such time has the added benefit of putting terrorists on the defensive for once.
Russian Navy - The raising of the Kursk continues to be delayed by bad weather.
Background - Special Forces operations - One potential way to go after enemy forces in caves in Afghanistan.
Background - Afghanistan - Historian John Keegan argues that more has been accomplished than meets the eye to date.
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Sunday, September 30, 2001
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US Navy - An excellent overview of the military options available to the US.
Background - Wargaming - An essay by William Arkin on how recent wargames have helped to define US strategy for how the war on terrorism will proceed.
Background - Afghanistan - An essay on how the Taliban came to power, and how due to their behavior they are no longer appreciated by the average Afghan.
Background - Afghanistan - Why all the Taliban's neighbors in Central Asia are willing to work with the US to see them removed from power.
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Saturday, September 29, 2001
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US Navy - How an old technology - the Fresnel lens - is being used today to help avoid ship collisions.
Background - Afghanistan - The soon-to-come Afghan winter will be a deterrent to any military operations.
Background - Afghanistan - Bin Laden's real goal is to overthrow the House of Saud.
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Friday, September 28, 2001
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Russian Navy - Work continues on raising the Kursk.
Background - Afghanistan - What combat in Afghanistan would be like, from an SAS trooper who trained the Afghanis in the 1980s and served with them in-country.
Background - Afghanist |