> And why, pray tell, would you believe that reducing military budgets > prevent the use of the Navy as a missile deterrent? The military, even > with modest budget decreases, has a metric ass ton of money. The > question is not whether they have the money but rather what they > prioritize to use it on.
Having been at sea when the last Democrat President decided to cut budgets, I can tell you with all sincerity that an aircraft carrier becomes nothing more than a steel island if the brass are worried about being able to afford jet fuel. Bruce might even be able to remember round rationing. Let's reduce things to make it easier. You have $1500 per week. It costs $75 to fly an air wing for a day and $50 to keep a missile boat on station for a day. Pilots have to train at least once a week and the boats have to be on station 7 days a week. There are 3 active air wings in theater and 4 missile boats. To run all of them for the minimum need will cost $1625. That doesn't take in to account fixing any problems with planes, performing required maintenance and feeding the crews. It's not just a matter of "spending money wisely" (not something our Federal government has any grasp of now anyway) it is, in fact, a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul. If James comes looking for his share, you're screwed. If recruiting levels are scaled back, units are disbanded and ships decommissioned then the only logical answer is that it will be more difficult for any military branch to provide extended support for a growing number of operations, regardless of branch or location. It *is* true that there are always three Fleets on active operation - Pacific, Asian and Atlantic. That's one Battle group - a carrier supported by subs, destroyers and fast frigates. The "small boys" are the floating missile platforms that would need to provide "missile defense" from sea and a carrier doesn't support anything as large as a 747. But all that costs money. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:304459 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
