The Virginian-Pilot
©
NEWPORT NEWS
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Friday he won't support reducing the number of aircraft carriers as the Pentagon considers where to trim hundreds of billions from its budget.
After taking a tour of Newport News Shipbuilding, U.S. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon said the Navy's fleet of 11 carriers, which will drop temporarily to 10 late next year, is vital to preserving worldwide commerce and guard against threats.
"I don't want to see it go below that until they can show me the world is safer," the California Republican said.
Without mentioning China by name, McKeon said the United States has to be able to overcome any potential threats. The Chinese are building up their naval force and recently sent their first aircraft carrier on sea trials.
"When you weaken yourself, you open up possibilities for those who would like to challenge you to take risks to challenge you. We don't want to do that," McKeon said. "We don't want to send our people into any fair fights. We want to have the power that puts them in the least harmful situation so that they can return safely."
Standing outside the shipyard's corporate offices with the carrier Theodore Roosevelt behind him, McKeon said the Navy plays a critical role in the nation's economy by keeping the sea lanes open for commerce.
"Without that presence that we've had around the world, we probably wouldn't have the type of lifestyle that we've enjoyed all these years since World War II," he said. "I don't want to see that end."
Although the Navy has not made any public statements, some news reports have stated that internal discussions of defense cuts have included considering reducing the number of carriers and delaying construction of the next Ford-class carrier, the John F. Kennedy.
Defense News reported last month that discussions in the Pentagon included possibly decommissioning the George Washington, now based in Japan, when its nuclear fuel runs out rather than conducting a refueling overhaul in 2016 to extend its life.
The Navy also had considered whether to extend the construction time for new carriers.
The carrier force is expected to drop to 10 ships starting in 2012 when the Enterprise is decommissioned. Its replacement, the Gerald R. Ford, is under construction in Newport News and is not expected to be completed until 2015.
When asked about how the current plans to cut about $460 billion from the defense budget might affect Hampton Roads, McKeon said, "We don't know what those details are yet."
The Pentagon probably will release the specifics in early 2012, he said.
McKeon said he opposes any further cuts in defense spending, adding that the debate about budget cuts and defense is not a partisan fight.
He said the ranking Democrat on his committee, Washington Rep. Adam Smith, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta both agree with him that "the defense has been cut enough."
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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Protectors of the World
The “defense has been cut enough,” statement is wrong. Obama increased defense spending for the last three years, and under Bush II the defense budget was doubled. Supporting WWII relics (aircraft carriers) that China can now wipe out with one missile makes about as much sense as letting our schools decay while we spend that money on our 55 thousand troops stationed in Germany so they can spend their military money on social programs. Anyone who thinks spending 1/3 of our tax dollar on defense just to protect the rest of the world (9 times more than China and 17 times more than Russia) should take a good look at what happened to the Roman Empire.
china can wipe out a carrier with one missle? Really?
What link can you provide that demonstrates this might? That is one extremely powerful weapon at their disposal.
I give a greater chance that our liberal left can do more harm to one of our carriers than a Chinese missile can. The chinese will never stop one of our carriers, but Congress has already brought us from 15 to 11 carriers in my adult life time. Yet these carriers, and the supporting assets are what helped make us powerful.
Just because some now feel strength should take a back seat to diplomacy doesn't mean strength is pointless. A strong military enhances diplomatic desires, and when diplomacy fails, a strong military is there to minimize the damage to us.
Love them relics for they help make us safe.
the military is more important than you make it out
and maintaining these relics is making it so we can enjoy the life we now enjoy. Power projection has done more good, and won more wars than most people wish to acknowledge. When the bad guys see one of these ships on their door step, they pretty much stop their lunatic plans. When they see what a carrier battle group can do, it further reduces their desire to move forward with their plans. Thus wars won by not fighting them.
Showing the flag is a vital role to keeping us safe and what better way than to show a battle ensign from the yard arm of a super carrier and 5+ ships. Most nations, that is their entire military at their door step. We dont use this to be bullies, but to implement safety for the entire global world.
Peace ensured!