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VANITY-HOW FAR DO WE LET THE LEFT GO IN MITIGATING OUR MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS

Posted on 08/09/2007 9:44:10 PM PDT by titleist975

What is the number one threat to U.S. aircraft carriers? You guessed it: enemy submarines.

What is the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) trying to do? www.nrdc.org

You guessed it: limit our abilitity to use active sonar in training to counter enemy submarines. They say we kill marine mammals. The scientific community does not agree. But yet, we spend millions of tax payers dollars defending the Navy's position in court. Yeah, the Ninth Circuit where we don't stand a chance. Are there better ways to spend the same money? Yes, in training our ships to be more proficient in anti-submarine warfare.

The latest challenge by the NRDC has been favorably approved by some parts of the California Congressional Delegation who also support the California Coastal Commission. This commission also seeks to limit the Navy in using sonar.

One must first understand that Navy ships and submarines do not sail freely through the water using active sonar. That would give away our position. To retsrain us from using active sonar in a training environment limits our ability to "train as we fight". That is a national security issue. There are as many scientists on the Navy side as there are on NRDC's side. One only needs to look at where NRDC is getting their money.>

It's absolutely sad that we have to be sidetracked with issues like this when China is building a fleet of submarines that is far outpacing ours in numbers. Does the left want China to gain superiority?

I'm even told (don't know to be true) that the DoJ lawyer arguing on behalf of the Navy has given money to Al Gore's campaign. We know how green he is. What kind of argument will we gain from a person who believes in "green".

It truly amazes me that we, as a super power, are doing all we can to limit our military effectiveness. Truly sad, indeed!


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: democrats; envirowackos; leftists; military; usnavy

1 posted on 08/09/2007 9:44:16 PM PDT by titleist975
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To: titleist975

The scientific community doesn’t agree on half of the BS that the libs are trying to shove down our throats in the name of conservation. If Al Gore gets his way our economy is doomed.


2 posted on 08/09/2007 10:02:01 PM PDT by mazza
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To: titleist975
What is the number one threat to U.S. aircraft carriers? You guessed it: enemy submarines.

What is the number one threat to U.S. aircraft carriers? You guessed it: enemy submarines. The Democrat Party.

Sentence fixed.


3 posted on 08/09/2007 10:42:06 PM PDT by quantim (The U.S. 110th Congress is the first duly elected 'Politburo' of the new millennium.)
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To: magslinger

Ping...


4 posted on 08/09/2007 10:50:58 PM PDT by Thunder90
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To: quantim

Time to sink the dems.


5 posted on 08/09/2007 11:59:58 PM PDT by strikebackusa.com
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To: titleist975

The answer to your question is: There is NOTHING too low for the RATS when it comes to defeating our Sailors, Soldiers and Marines. Nothing.

If I woke up and saw that the Rats had proposed legislation to fund the terrorist insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would not surprise me one bit. Not one bit.

They are despicable, America-hating, military despising scumbags.


6 posted on 08/10/2007 3:57:37 AM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: titleist975

I believe one should never underestimate an opponent, but it is sometimes equally dangerous to overestimate one as well.

I read a very good article last month on the state of the Chinese sub fleet, and Chinese subs are pretty lousy, as is their ability to operate them.

They are averaging only two patrols a month.


7 posted on 08/10/2007 4:03:54 AM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: titleist975

The problem is a lack of leadership at the very top. Pres. Bush showed leadership reletive to the weak kneed sort that passes as leadership today but he failed to take absolute control of the situation at the start. In my view there are few if any men today who would (or could)have done more than the president. The failing is cultural. We have let the Left act with impunity thereby effectivly abandoning our own position. How much can we believe in the seriousness of the situation if, when it is slighted we don’t bear down?

Our enemies have been given heart by our cowardice and the Left’s Evil selfishness and we’re going to go where events take us, like it or not. We are not in control.


8 posted on 08/10/2007 4:05:56 AM PDT by TalBlack
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To: Vroomfondel; SC Swamp Fox; Fred Hayek; NY Attitude; P3_Acoustic; Bean Counter; investigateworld; ...
SONOBUOY PING!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium volume pinglist.

9 posted on 08/10/2007 6:46:05 AM PDT by magslinger (Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors. And miss. R.A.Heinlein)
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To: magslinger

“I’m even told (don’t know to be true) that the DoJ lawyer arguing on behalf of the Navy has given money to Al Gore’s campaign. We know how green he is. What kind of argument will we gain from a person who believes in “green”. “

That needs to be verified, and if it is he needs to go. Those representing us must be 100% with us or they will not do their best.


10 posted on 08/10/2007 7:12:42 AM PDT by Martins kid
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To: titleist975
I’m no lawyer...How does the 9th Circuit or any other court in California have jurisdiction over international waters?

The Navy won’t be using active sonar 5 miles off shore. It’ll be hundreds of miles out to sea.

11 posted on 08/10/2007 7:29:32 AM PDT by ryan71 (I refuse to label anything I post, "sarcasm".)
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To: titleist975

Hello,

My name is Petty Officer Shane Tuck, and I have some information on the Navy’s perspective on this issue. The Navy issued the following release regarding the court decision:

Aug. 6, 2007

Court halts Navy’s ability to train realistically off Southern California

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Navy officials say they are deeply concerned by today’s federal court ruling that prohibits the Navy from training realistically before deploying Sailors and Marines potentially into harm’s way.

A U.S. district judge in Los Angeles granted a preliminary injunction — requested by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental and animal protection groups — that bars the Navy from using active sonar during critical joint task force training exercises and composite training unit exercises through 2009 in the ocean off Southern California.

“We are disappointed in the court’s decision and plan to appeal the imposition of an injunction,” said Mr. Don Schregardus, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for the environment. “The decision puts Sailors and Marines at risk by ordering the Navy to stop critical anti-submarine warfare training while we complete Environmental Impact Statements on our training ranges.”

Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear, the San Diego-based commander of the U.S. Third Fleet who oversees naval training in the Eastern Pacific, said, “To the extent this court decision prevents us from using active sonar, it potentially puts American lives and our national security at risk.”

The integrated sonar training exercises are essential for naval units to complete before they deploy to the Western Pacific and beyond, including support for combat operations in the Arabian Gulf.

The Navy has conducted similar exercises in the Southern California Operating Area for 70 years and has used similar active sonar technology for the past 40 years.

“In all those years, not a single stranding or injury of a marine mammal has been associated with the Navy’s use of MFA sonar in the Southern California Operating Area,” Locklear said.

The injunction is part of a lawsuit filed in March by the Natural Resources Defense Council and others against the Navy’s use of MFA sonar.

“Active sonar is integral to anti-submarine warfare, or ASW, which is the Pacific Fleet’s top war-fighting priority,” said Locklear. “ASW is also the single-most difficult warfare area to master and maintain proficiency.”

He added, “Today, dozens of countries – including North Korea and Iran – have extremely quiet diesel-electric submarines, and more than 180 of them operate in the Pacific, within reach of critical choke points and navigational sea-lanes. Active sonar is the best system we have to detect and track them.”

“The Navy takes our responsibility to the environment and marine life very seriously, as demonstrated by our implementation of science-based, effective mitigation measures approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service,” Locklear said. “We are responsible environmental stewards while our sonar operators receive the realistic training and experience at sea they need.”

To minimize the risk to marine life, the Navy takes a number of steps when operating at sea, such as posting additional lookouts specifically trained to detect marine mammals.

The Navy is a world leader in marine mammal research, dedicating more than $14 million last year alone. In addition to the significant sonar-related research, scientists and veterinarians working with the Navy’s marine mammal program have made important advances in the care, diagnosis and treatment of marine mammal diseases.

The Navy is preparing environmental impact statements for the Southern California Operating Area and other Navy range complexes where training and testing occur.

For more information, I recommend viewing http://www.whalesandsonar.navy.mil/


12 posted on 08/10/2007 7:49:07 PM PDT by ShaneTuck
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