The Obama Administration is seeking to render permanently unavailable six ships for possible emergency service at a time when China has grown more aggressive in the South China Sea, and Russia has been more aggressive in Eastern Europe.
These might have been old carriers, but having them in reserve would beat having no carriers in reserve. And when it takes seven full years to build a new carrier, scrapping the old is bad strategy, Would it not have made more sense to refurbish the old carriers to enable them to be quickly reactivated in time of crisis – or war? The Navy also could have given USS Enterprise (CVN 65) a second RCOH at the same time USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was being refueled.
In the 1980s, President Reagan sought a 600-ship Navy with 15 carriers. It might not be a bad idea to get back to that total at a minimum – if not to shoot for an even 16, which would be the highest carrier total since 1973.
Source: The Daily Caller
The refurbishment, though, would only be a short-term solution to making sure there are enough carriers. Given the long lead time needed to build new carriers, it’s only logical to assume that if America goes to war, it will be with the carriers we have, not the ones that we need to build. Between refurbishing and re-commissioning the older carriers, and buying one Ford-class carrier a year would enable the United States to reach a 16-nuclear carrier fleet by the end of the 2020s.
The choice is between spending money now for ships, or spending blood and money later. The war that isn’t fought costs America nothing in blood and treasure. Reagan’s vow of “Peace through Strength” is valid and should be followed.
A previous Truth and Action article explored how 105 retired Admirals are saying Obama is making the country unsafe due to cuts in the military.
Our national safety is at an all time low.
Have you ever served, Diane? These ships are no longer serviceable, and if you had served, you would know this. Folks like you are the reason I beleive that EVERY person should serve 2 years in the Armed Forces of the US, no exception except for medical, to become a citizen, No service, no citizenship. Obama would have never become president with that in place, and neither would some of the fools that think they know anything. You disparaged Mr. Bledsoe and his service, and I suggest you apologize, or else you are nothing but an unAmerican hater of the military.
Hector, I spent 18 months on the John F Kennedy in 1977 and 78. The Forrestal was a nasty ship then. Even the the Kennedy has been decommissioned, I heard some group is trying to make a museum out of it. Who knows?
Thank you for the advise
he should be in jail