The Navy is weighing whether to have Marines hitch a ride on foreign warships, citing a shortage of U.S. vessels due to recent budget cuts -- raising bipartisan security concerns about the leverage this could give other countries.
A key concern is whether a warship host nation could deny Marines permission to come ashore.
"Ceding our amphibious ships to other countries -- it's almost silly and I can't believe it is even an option for the Navy," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who served as a Marine in Iraq. "Now we are going to have to ask other countries, much less financially stable countries than America, to loan us their ships so that we can base our Marines on their ships. It's almost embarrassing."
The Navy currently has 30 amphibious transport ships to carry Marines, but estimates it would need 38 to cope with rising crises across North Africa. It won't reach that number until 2028 under current budget constraints.
"We are a maritime nation, and we communicate across the world through our sea services, and ... the size of the Navy right now is way too low," said former Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat who is weighing a presidential run. Webb was a decorated Marine infantry officer in Vietnam and was appointed Navy secretary under President Ronald Reagan.
"It was 568 ships when I resigned as Secretary of the Navy. It's down to about 280 right now," he said.
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13 comments:
Maybe they could nix the obama phone free-bees and free school lunch program and pay for the constitutionally mandated military!
This is simply nuts
I don't see why not ! We'll have one world government soon! May as well start getting use to it.
THIS is the new world order ppl. I can't imagine marines getting aboard a foriegn naval vessel. WTF Obama!!! Do you really want rebellion that badly?
Disgraceful!
All of this coming to a head as Jade Helm 15 moves into position. We are circling the drain folks.
I feel sorry for people who arent ready.
All congressional leaders need to be voted OUT!! Both Democrat and Republicans need to be removed. That's the only way to begin to get things turned around. We have the power just have to use it.
New World Order
What's next, rainbow camouflage BDUs?
...because that's what the world's best military does. LMAO!
Votes no longer matter. These people tell you one thing while they're running and do something completely different once elected. We're on a fast track to bedlam
The military top brass not purged by Obama are coming up with theses wonderful ideas.
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