Editor's corner.

• Position: Proliferation Security Initiative

The U.S. Navy is taking a leading role in the enforcement of a Bush administration initiative, aimed at curtailing the spread of weapons of mass destruction around the world. The Navy is preparing to tackle increasingly more complex "maritime interdiction" missions in support of the Proliferation Security Initiative, or PSI.

The United States and 10 other nations have signed on to the PSI, a somewhat controversial plan that will seek to block shipments by air, land or sea of andy cargo suspected to be used in making weapons of mass destruction.

Since May, when the administration launched the PSI, the Navy and allied forces have conducted five maritime-interdiction exercises in the Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Another one, the first to be led by the United States, is scheduled later this month in the Arabian Sea. Four more are planned in coming weeks. Cooperating with the United States on PSI, thus far, are Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In all, more than 50 countries have indicated support for PSI, said administration officials. Turn to page 35 for more details on this program and the Navy's plans for future training in maritime interdiction operations.

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