Editor's corner.

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.

Our cover story this month takes a broad look at Marine Corps vehicle programs and the shift in priorities as a result of the Iraq war. For the Marines, "transformation" is not the number-one concern. Rather, they are focused on meeting the needs of the troops in the field today and ensuring that vehicles are ready and properly equipped to go to war. Planned upgrades to the Light Armored Vehicle and the Abrams tank, as well as an update on the new Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, are part of a special story package beginning on page 30.

The survivability of combat trucks, meanwhile, is becoming a serious problem for the U.S. Army, as truck convoys suffer almost daily attacks in Iraq from roadside bombs, mines and improvised explosive devices. Shipments of up-armored Humvees cannot keep up with demand, and new armor kits designed to protect the doors are helpful, but the Army cannot produce them fast enough.

The question that vehicle developers are trying to answer is whether the next generation of Army trucks needs to be more survivable and equipped with the latest communications technology, to allow the vehicles to operate more closely with the combat force. This would undoubtedly make trucks very expensive, but also more capable to handle the demands of current and future battles, officials argue.

The debate will continue as the Army embarks on a $42 million technology demonstration program for the so-called Future Tactical Truck system, Turn to page 28 for more details.