Faced with the prospect of a long war against violent extremists that could increasingly emphasize nontraditional missions, Navy and Marine Corps leaders are planning to significantly revamp fleet operations by dispersing naval forces more widely across the globe. The specifics remain to be decided, but Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee signaled the new direction Sept. 1 by signing a 36-page, high-profile pact, dubbed the Naval Operations Concept. Despite its brochure-like appearance,...
