Quote:
Originally Posted by Barrett
Buz, thank you. It's nice to hear from somebody who agrees with me for a change!  Feel free to contribute to "Comment & Discussion."
Here's the link for those who may be interested:
Proceedings Story - U.S. Naval Institute
Contrary to what's been claimed (apparently by those who jump on the title rather than, like, yaknow, READ THE ARTICLE) I do not state we don't need a navy. I do wonder if we need the navy we actually have. Moreover, I note the undeniable trend since 1945 that navies no longer determine the course of history, and if we want to keep a viable fleet at all, the naval community dangwell should be asking the questions I raise. Considering that the current admin AND congress is talking DoD cuts up to 25%, the admirals and pentagonal suits should be discussing "F&L" in rawther detailed fashion.
I also note that the Royal Nivey is already where we may be headed: too small to matter beyond some local feuds, leading to establishment of "savethenavy.com" web sites.
It's a real dilemma: we are not repeat not gonna fight China because that would ruin both economies. And since even with 280 ships & subs we have about 2.5X the force of the chinese and russians combined, nobody's in a position to challenge us even if they wanted to commit economic suicide. So what sorta navy should we have for the XXI century?
I ended the article by saying "Let the discussion begin" but instead it's more of a knee-jerk, defensive response. In any case, at least I can say "I tried." |
Hi Barrett,
Whilst knowing only a little of U.S. present day Navy dilemmas---I still wonder about your confident assertion regarding China?
With the future spending ---even for the richest country on the planet---going more and more to paying for an ever increasing elderley population, and (vital i think) no creditable threat---in the sense of the cold war threat level to keep defense budgets high on peoples agenda's-----the military are going to suffer spending restrictions in the next 15/20 years---exactly when China is going to start suffering from it's profligate short term gain policies as at present!
It's unsustainable economic 'boom' will cause it serious environmental and social problems.
Will the navy (U.S.) go for the kind of force it will need to be to wage long,justifiable but drawn out wars on Isl--oops! terror--which, ideally would be a somewhat different navy-----or will it retain it's historical blue/green water mastery for fighting a high end war against a major power ----the only one --i'm afraid---is China!!!
The two different 'navies' are, i think, exclusive, by which i mean it is one or the other.
I'm thinking about how we (England)only JUST managed to scrape together a 'task force' to recapture the Falklands---because we had 'lost' our navy in the process of becoming more 'European orientated'
Strange day's to come, i feel
Dave.