On 10/8/2013 5:07 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:


"amdx" wrote in message ...


"Mr.Luddite" says...

I agree, it's time we got to hell out of the idea that we are the world
police.


"It's not rocket science.
Done. I've dealt with the national debt.
Implement it and consider the debt reduction goals in it sacrosanct."

So is this the solution to our national debt with you have dealt?

Mikek

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Not sure to whom you addressed your question Mikek, but my point was
that our Navy is structured for the Cold War Era when bigger and badder
was important. That's not the case anymore.

We could cut the size of our Naval battle groups in half and still be 5
times the size of any other Navy in the world. Hank's idea of giving a
few away to trusted allies is an excellent idea. Maintains the original
overall strength and shares the cost of operating and maintaining the
fleets.

One of the new carriers currently under construction is the USS Gerald
R. Ford (CVN-78). Total cost, including research and development is
currently projected to be over $14 billion. When commissioned it will
have a *daily* operating cost of $7 million. Might not pay off the
national debt, but it's money we really don't need to spend. There are
two more scheduled after the Ford. Meanwhile, the last of the Nimitz
class aircraft carriers (which the Ford class replaces) won't be taken
out of service until 2058.

We donate about 25 percent of ex-Navy destroyers and cruisers to allies
now, rather than scrap them. Why not give away a few battle groups?


My followup was to iboater.

I get you want cut military spending. I do think other nations should
pick up some of the tab. I don't know how many carriers we can get rid
of, I think it has lot to do with whether we have enough ICBM's that
are accurate and can reach anywhere. A carrier carries about 80 aircraft
with multiple bombs. I don't have the knowledge to tell anyone how many
carriers we need and I'm sure those that make the decisions have some
saying the world has changed.
I have some isolationism in me.
Mikek