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Gates suggests big changes coming for Navy
AFP via Google News ^ | 5/3/2010 | AFP via Google News

Posted on 05/03/2010 4:36:43 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday called into question the Navy's heavy and expensive arsenal of ships and subs.

In a speech before naval officers and contractors, Gates did not say he was planning to cut any programs or its budget.

But he did say the military must rethink whether it can afford such a massive naval fleet at a time when the Army and Marine Corps need more money to take care of troops and their families.

"Do we really need 11 carrier strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one?" Gates asked.

He noted that the Navy's most expensive resources aren't on the front lines when it comes to countering many modern threats, such as piracy.

"As we learned last year, you don't necessarily need a billion-dollar guided missile destroyer to chase down and deal with a bunch of teenage pirates wielding AK-47s" and rocket-propelled grenades, Gates said.

John Pike, director of the GlobalSecurity.org defense website based in Alexandria, Va., said this is the first time, as far as he knows, that Gates has addressed the cost of maintaining the roughly 300-ship Navy.

Pike said that Gates, by raising the issue of the size and composition of the fleet with the Navy league, had entered "the Lion's den" — a reference to the pushback he's likely to get from Congress. Many lawmakers protect the Navy shipbuilding industry because it means jobs in their districts.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defensedepartment; navair; navalships; robertgates; usmc; usmilitary; usnavy
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To: hondact200

BREAKING THE WAR MENTALITY
By Barack Obama
March 10, 1983
The Sundial

Most students at Columbia do not have firsthand knowledge of war. Military violence has been a vicarious experience, channeled into our minds to television, film, and print.

The more sensitive among us struggle to extrapolate experiences of war from our everyday experience, discussing the latest mortality statistics from Guatemala, sensitizing ourselves to our parents war time memories, or incorporating into our framework of reality as depicted by a Mailer or a Coppola. But the taste of war-the sounds and chill, the dead bodies-are remote and far removed. We know that wars have occurred, will occur, are occurring, but bringing such experience down into our hearts, and taking continual, tangible steps to prevent war, becomes a difficult task. Two groups on campus, Arms Race Alternatives (ARA) and Students Against Militarism (SAM) work within these mental limits to foster awareness and practical action necessary to counter the growing threat of war. Through the emphasis of the two groups differ, they share an aversion to current government policy. These groups, visualizing the possibilities of destruction and grasping the tendencies of distorted national priorities, are throwing their weight into shifting America off the dead-end track.

“Most people my age remember well the air raid drills in school, under the desk with our heads tucked between our legs. Older people, they remember the Cuban missile crisis. I think those kinds of things left an indelible mark on our souls, so we are more apt to be concerned” says Don Kent, assistant director of programs and student activities at Earl Hall center. Along with the community Volunteer Service Center, ARA has been Don’s primary concern, coordinating various working groups of faculty, students, and staff members, while simultaneously seeking the ever elusive funding for programs.

“When I first came here two years ago, Earl Hall had been a holding tank for five years. Paul Martin (director of Earl Hall) and I discussed our interests, and decided that ARA would be one of the programs we pushed.” Initially, most of the work was done by non-student volunteers and staff. “Hot issues, particularly El Salvador, were occupying students at the time. Consequently, we cosponsored a lot of activities with community organizations like SANE (Students Against Nuclear Energy).”

With the flowering of the nuclear freeze movement, and particularly the June 12 rally in Central Park, however, student participation has expanded. One wonders whether this upsurge stems from young people’s penchant for the latest ‘happenings’ or from growing awareness of the consequences of nuclear holocaust. ARA Maintains a mailing list of 500 persons and Don Kent estimates that approximately half of the active members are students. Although he feels the continuity is provided by the faculty and staff members, student attendance at ARA sponsored events-in particular in November 11 convocation on the nuclear threat-reveals a deep reservoir of concern. “I think students on this campus like to think of themselves as sophisticated, and don’t appreciate small vision. So they tend to come out more for the events; they do not want to just fold leaflets.”

Mark Bigelow, a graduate intern from Union theological seminary who works with Don to keep ARA running smoothly, agrees. “It seems the students here are fairly aware of the nuclear problem, and it makes for an underlying frustration. We try to talk to that frustration.” Consequently, the thrust of ARA is towards generating dialogue which will give people a rational handle on this controversial subject. This includes bringing speakers like Daniel Ellsberg to campus, publishing fact sheets compiled by interested faculty, and investigating the possible development of an interdisciplinary program in the Columbia curriculum dealing with peace, disarmament, and world order.

Tied in with such a thrust is the absence of what Don calls “a party line.” By taking an almost apolitical approach to the problem, ARA hopes to get the university to take nuclear arms issues seriously. “People don’t like having their intelligence insulted,” says Don, “so we try to disseminate information and allow the individual to make his or her own decision.”

Generally, the narrow focus of the freeze movement as well as academic discussions of first versus second strike capabilities, suit the military industrial interests, as they continue adding to their billion dollar erector sets. When Peter Tosh sings that “everybody’s asking for peace, but nobody’s asking for justice,” one is forced to wonder whether disarmament or arms control issues, severed from economic and political issues, might be another instance of focusing on the symptoms of a problem instead of the disease itself. Mark Bigelow does not think so. “We do focus primarily on catastrophic weapons. Look, we say, here’s the worst part let’s work on that. You’re not going to get rid of the military in the near future, so lets at least work on this.”

Mark Bigelow does feel that the links are there, and points to fruitful work being done by other organizations involved with disarmament. “The freeze is one part of a whole disarmament movement. The lowest common denominator, so to speak. For instance, April 10-16 is Jobs for Peace week, With a bunch of things going on around the city. Also, the New York City Council may pass a resolution April calling for greater social as opposed to military spending. Things like this may dispel the idea that disarmament is a white issue, because how the government spends its revenue affects everyone.”

The very real advantages of concentrating on a single issue is leading the national freeze movement to challenge individual missile systems, while continuing the broader campaign. This year, Mark Bigelow sees the checking of Pershing II and Cruise missile deployment as crucial. “Because of their small size and mobility, their deployment will make possible arms control verification far more difficult, and will cut down warning time for the Soviets to less than 10 minutes. That can only be a destabilizing factor.” Additionally, he sees the initiation by the US of the Test Ban Treaty as a powerful first step towards a nuclear free world.

ARA encourages members to join buses to Washington and participate in a March 7-8 rally intended to push through the Freeze resolution which is making its second trip through the house. ARA will also ask United Campuses to Prevent Nuclear War (UCAM), an information lobbying network-based and universities, nationwide, to serve as its advisory board in the near future. Because of its autonomy from Columbia (which does not fund political organizations) UCAM could conceivably become a more active arm of disarmament campaigns on campus, though the ARA will continue to function solely as a vehicle for information and discussion.

Also operating out of Earl Hall Center, Students Against Militarism was formed in response to the passage of registration laws in 1980. An entirely student run organization, SAM casts a wider net than ARA, although for the purposes of effectiveness, they have tried to lock in on one issue at a time.

“At the heart of our organization is an anti-war focus”, says junior Robert Kahn, one of SAM’s fifteen or so active members. “From there, a lot of issues shoot forth-nukes, racism, the draft, and South Africa. We’ve been better organized when taking one issue at a time, but we are always cognizant of other things going on and collaborate frequently with other campus organizations like CISPES and REELPOLITIK.”

At this time, the current major issue is the Solomon Bill, the latest legislation from Congress to obtain compliance to registration, the law requires that all male students applying for federal financial aid submit proof of registration, or else the government coffers will close. Yale, Wesleyan, and Swarthmore have refused to comply, and plan to offer non-registrants other forms of financial aid. SAM hopes to press Columbia into following suit, though so far President Sovern and company seem prepared to acquiesce to the bill.

Robert believes students tacitly support non-registrants, though the majority did not comply. “Several students have come up to our tables and said that had they known of the ineffectiveness of prosecution, they would not have registered.” A measure of such underlying support is the 400 signatures on a petition protesting the Solomon Bill, which SAM collected the first four hours it appeared. Robert also points out that prior to registration, there were four separate bills circulating in the House proposing a return to the draft, but none ever got out of committees, and there have not been renewed efforts. An estimated half million non-registrants can definitely be a powerful signal.

Prodding students into participating beyond name signing and attending events is tricky, but SAM members seem undaunted. “A lot of the problem comes not from people’s ignorance of the facts, but because the news and statistics are lifeless. That’s why we search for campus issues like the Solomon Bill that have a direct impact on the student body, and effectively link the campus to broader issues.” By organizing and educating the Columbia community, such activities lay the foundation for future mobilization against the relentless, often silent spread of militarism in the country. “The time is right to tie together social and military issues,” Robert continues, “and the more strident the Administration becomes, the more aware people are of their real interests.

The belief that moribund institutions, rather than individuals are at the root of the problem, keep SAM’s energies alive. “A prerequisite for members of an organization like ours is the faith that people are fundamentally good, but you need to show them. and when you look at the work people are doing across the country, it makes you optimistic.”

Perhaps the essential goodness of humanity is an arguable proposition, but by observing the SAM meeting last Thursday night, with its solid turnout and enthusiasm, one might be persuaded that manifestations of our better instincts can at least match the bad ones. Regarding Columbia’s possible compliance, one comment in particular hit upon an important point with the Solomon Bill, “The thing that we need to do is expose how Columbia is talking out of two sides of its mouth.”

Indeed, the most pervasive malady of the collegiate system specifically, and the American experience generally, is that elaborate patterns of knowledge and theory have been disembodied from individual choices and government policy. What the members of ARA and SAM try to do is infuse what they have learned about the current situation, bring the words of that formidable roster on the face of Butler Library, names like Thoreau, Jefferson, and Whitman, to bear on the twisted logic of which we are today a part. By adding their energy and effort in order to enhance the possibility of a decent world, they may help deprive us of a spectacular experience-that of war. But then, there are some things we shouldn’t have to live through in order to want to avoid the experience.


41 posted on 05/03/2010 5:10:02 PM PDT by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: sonofstrangelove
"He noted that the Navy's most expensive resources aren't on the front lines when it comes to countering many modern threats, such as piracy."

That's because we haven't the will to use them. Our Navy could have virtually ended piracy off the east coast of Africa in less than 24 hours their been enough collective testosterone in the oval office to order it so.

42 posted on 05/03/2010 5:10:38 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: magslinger

ping


43 posted on 05/03/2010 5:21:44 PM PDT by Vroomfondel
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To: sonofstrangelove

But he did say the military must rethink whether it can afford such a massive naval fleet at a time when the Army and Marine Corps need more money to take care of troops and their families.


So....the primary purpose of the Military is not to defend the Nation, but to take care ot its employees. Good Lord, has this guy got it a$$ backwards.


44 posted on 05/03/2010 5:22:48 PM PDT by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: sonofstrangelove

Obama's dream US Navy... aka The SS Minnow

45 posted on 05/03/2010 5:24:13 PM PDT by tophat9000 (It ain't about Black... It ain't about White...It's about a Red...Trying to take our rights!)
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To: sonofstrangelove

He only parrots the thoughts of his boss. He is another Mouth of Obama.


46 posted on 05/03/2010 5:24:38 PM PDT by muleskinner ("You know the Germans always make good stuff')
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To: sonofstrangelove; Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; ...

The list, ping


47 posted on 05/03/2010 5:25:50 PM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: sonofstrangelove

“When word of a crisis breaks out in Washington, it’s no accident that
the first question that comes to everyone’s lips is:
‘Where’s the nearest carrier?’”

President Bill Clinton
March 12, 1993
aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt


48 posted on 05/03/2010 5:35:29 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Nachum

lol they going to take thier ships away...


49 posted on 05/03/2010 5:36:40 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: sonofstrangelove
"As we learned last year, you don't necessarily need a billion-dollar guided missile destroyer to chase down and deal with a bunch of teenage pirates wielding AK-47s" and rocket-propelled grenades, Gates said.

This guy is a freaking moron.

Hey, Gates! Why don't we just sell the ships to China and be done with it? God I can't wait till this group gets deposed.

50 posted on 05/03/2010 5:40:04 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Everyone needs valid ID except illegal aliens and the President - only in America)
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To: sonofstrangelove
when the Army and Marine Corps need more money to take care of troops and their families.

Hmmmm, I remember being told that if it was not issued in my seabag, it was my problem, not the military's.

Does the Army issue families now?

51 posted on 05/03/2010 5:41:32 PM PDT by 2aberro
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To: Beaten Valve

I don’t know. I have seen the Pirate movies, and I think the Navy could take Johnny Depp down.


52 posted on 05/03/2010 5:48:05 PM PDT by Delta Dawn (The whole truth.)
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To: Delta Dawn

LOL...I was visualizing him standing on his vessel out there waving his sword, and the CWIS lets loose...:)


53 posted on 05/03/2010 5:52:35 PM PDT by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
"Do we really need 11 carrier strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one?" Gates asked... "As we learned last year, you don't necessarily need a billion-dollar guided missile destroyer to chase down and deal with a bunch of teenage pirates wielding AK-47s" and rocket-propelled grenades, Gates said.
Thanks sonofstrangelove.
54 posted on 05/03/2010 5:53:35 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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To: sonofstrangelove
Yeah Gates, you moron. Let's be just like everybody else.

Nam Vet

55 posted on 05/03/2010 5:56:25 PM PDT by Nam Vet (Are you better off than you were 4 trillion dollars ago?)
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To: Delta Dawn

>>I have seen the Pirate movies, and I think the Navy could take Johnny Depp down.<<

After the 3rd one, it should have been a standing order.


56 posted on 05/03/2010 6:09:13 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who rides on a scorpion should not be surprised when he last hears "it is my nature.")
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To: Cold Heat

What more can they do? Sell it to China to offset part of the debt.


57 posted on 05/03/2010 6:11:35 PM PDT by Ingtar (My dog died yesterday, but less than expected. - Freeper Juan Meden)
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To: GOP Poet

“military must rethink whether it can afford such a massive naval fleet”

Of course, the CIC has made the call on this one. Screw the military and military might - - lets just take care of the “homies” - - the money is put to better use there!!


58 posted on 05/03/2010 6:13:02 PM PDT by Mr. Wright
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To: sonofstrangelove
Gates suggests big changes coming for Navy The USN is going to standardize on OS X instead of Windows?
59 posted on 05/03/2010 6:14:14 PM PDT by BlazingArizona
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To: sonofstrangelove

Hey!Gate’s you dope.Maybe we should sell a few of our carriers to China that way there would be Parity.

What a dope.


60 posted on 05/03/2010 6:22:32 PM PDT by puppypusher
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