U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has questioned the U.S. Navy’s need for 11 aircraft carriers.
Speaking at a conference of the Navy League of the United States, Gates asked: “Do we really need 11 carrier strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one”.
He warned that long-range anti-ship cruise missiles and stealthy submarines are threatening America’s aircraft carriers.
GREAT idea. Hey, why don’t we just surrender the western Pacific to China, the Persian Gulf to Iran and the Indian Ocean to Somali Pirates, think of the cost savings.
Moron. O’bama administration bootlicker.
Obviously he’s ben reading the same arguements that have been put forth over the last sixty years and not held water. Aircraft carriers are the bes, most mobile basing platform we have to project power. Nor do they need basing or overflight rights-a lesson learned again in Afghanistan, but obviously he’s decided to ignore that “inconvienet truth”.
Gates has been treated as a demi-god. He is just a man who has made some pretty bad decisions. Yes carriers are vulnerable, so lets make them less vulnerable. We need to stop worshiping this guy in the media and start rebuilding our capabilities.