The Virginian-Pilot
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Top Navy officials yielded no ground Wednesday when Hampton Roads congressmen pushed them during a congressional hearing to prove it is strategically necessary to move a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla.
Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, said spending more than $500 million to upgrade the Florida base to homeport nuclear carriers has a higher priority than $530 million in unfunded Navy requests for other needs. The move could cost Hampton Roads about 6,000 jobs and $425 million in annual revenue.
Roughead's comments came after U.S. Reps. Randy Forbes and Rob Wittman asked why the Navy wants to build up Mayport when it has limited funds.
Referring to the Navy's unfunded projects, Forbes said, "There are some huge things in there. Engines that we can't do. Planes that we can't get. Ship maintenance that we can't get. The cost of moving that carrier to Mayport would cover every single one of the requirements unfunded on your list" - as well as those requested by the Marine Corps.
"Which is more important? Moving the carrier to Florida, or doing all the items on the unfunded priority list?" he asked.
Roughead did not answer Forbes directly but responded when Wittman asked a similar question.
Renovating Mayport to handle nuclear carriers would give the Navy "some strategic flexibility on the East Coast," Roughead said.... "For me, the strategic flexibility is important. That money in the plan to enhance the carrier port in Mayport is a priority."
The Defense Department has said keeping five East Coast carriers homeported in Norfolk presents a serious risk for terrorism and man-made or natural disasters. However, Roughead and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus did not answer more pointed questions about the Defense Department's failure to provide deeper analysis to back up that assertion.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, whose 2nd District includes Virginia Beach and part of Norfolk, told the Navy leaders that there has been a "lack of transparency" in their decision-making.
The meeting is the third hearing in recent weeks in which defense officials have "flatly refused" to provide specific evidence of threats to Norfolk, he said.
In response, Nye has called for a Monday meeting of the Hampton Roads Military Affairs Commission to determine what might be done next. The panel, which includes the region's congressional representatives as well as local elected leaders and retired naval officers, was organized by Nye in part to protect the region's military assets.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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We need answers
While the Navy has spoken, they have failed to provide the justification for their request to spend billions of dollars to duplicate nuclear facilities in Mayport; further, having been asked for that justification, they have stonewalled Representatives and Senators. We need answers, because cost effectiveness must be calculated when making a strategic assessment requiring billions of dollars that will take away from other initiatives that the Navy requires. We no longer face national conflicts, we face terrorism as our major threat, and it seems to me that security in that environment is much different. Just as post 9/11 the DoD establishment pulled back into secure enclaves, so does it seem to me that is the case for keeping the carriers here and increasing intelligence and surveillance. The ships are dispursed at sea most of the time anyway, so at some point, the Navy has to answer questions and provide the justification.
Billions???
Hyperbole much Mr. Barrett?? Where are you getting BILLIONS from? The Navy's estimate is $500 million to upgrade Mayport, not BILLIONS.
I do think it is hilarious how Virginia's politicians are jumping up and down and trying to make the Navy "prove" that they need to move a carrier to Mayport. Yet Virginia's politicians are all strangely silent on asking the Navy to "prove" they need another OLF? Could it be because the OLF will burden some rural community in NC and will be a benefit for Virginia? Export all the noise to some rural community while Va. Beach and the Commonwealth continue to reap the economic benefits of hosting the homebase for the jets??
Wow. Virginia's politicians aren't even trying to hide their hypocrisy.
National Defense vs. I'm a Politician who wants to be reelected
US Army and US Marine combat infantrymen are taught never to bunch together during combat engagements with enemy forces because a well placed grenade, RPG, or machine gun burst would likely take out a whole rifle squad. Fortunately for the highly motivated, highly dedicated, and highly insane enemy forces who have painted a big, red, bulls-eye on Hampton Roads Naval assets, Virginia politicians are acting like they firmly believe that the day after December 6, 1941 was December 8, 1941 and the day after September 10, 2001 was September 12, 2001. In other words, Virginia politicians believe Pearl Harbor never happened and that there are no terrorists who are determined enough to take extreme measures to blow up thousands of Americans. So bunch those aircraft carriers real close together, Virginia politicians. Why make it hard for the enemy?
relocating
didnt we learn from pearl harbor. we dont need to place our fleet all in 1 spot. granted our intelligence has improved. but those knot heads that want to destroy us can and might eventually find away to hurt us again, we dont need to jepardize our country's chance to protect us by placing everything in one location.
keep whining and see
what happens! They can very well take a second and some planes too. The world does not revolve around Hampton Roads in spite of what a few think.