The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The four congressmen who represent Hampton Roads sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday asking him to oppose any further reduction in the Navy’s fleet of aircraft carriers.
The letter was signed by Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott and Glenn Nye and Republican Reps. Rob Wittman and Randy Forbes.
They said they were concerned about news reports suggesting the Defense Department might further reduce the number of aircraft carriers, as part of its Quadrennial Defense Review.
“In recent years, Congress has approved several requests by the Navy for legislative relief in the deactivation and retirement of aging aircraft carriers. These requests led Congress to revise the original 12 carrier minimum and include the current 11 carrier minimum in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007,” the letter said. “However, we strongly believe that any further reductions below the current statutory minimum are not in our best national security interest.”
Click here to read the letter.
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Think this article is about the over all reduction of
our carrier and battle groups from 11 within the Navy to something less. What will this mean beyond the fact that some community will lose a carrier? Sure wish the Pilot would have gone a tad bit deeper then just linking another PAPERS article.
From my perspective, it either means we do not respond to every world crisis (will we have the resources to do that?), or we "put it on the backs of our Sailors and Officers" to find a way to maintain the present mission of showing the Flag, and keeping sea lanes open with a further reduced Navy. Reagan envisioned a 600 ship Navy, with way more then 11 carriers in the mid 80s, now we can do the job with less then 11 carriers. Is the Navy of tommorrow going to be fewer then 300 ships, 320? What? That is the National security this article is hinting at. I thought I read some reports that 11 carrier BG was the minimum we could go. That was like 10 years ago? Now it is safe for us to dip below this? How is that now possible when it was not before? Same carriers, same Sailors, same everything. Yes a very valid set of questions.
Their concern is the local economy
and JOBS!
Which side of your mouth?
So they state "aircraft carriers should remain a cornerstone of our future defense planning", yet they block any attempt by Gates to spread the carrier fleet out so they are not all homeported in one place.
I honestly don't believe either of these congressmen care one iota about maintaining the fleet for military purposes, they are concerned about money.
Actually
They are concerned about votes.