Continuing to make the rounds hyping his planned major military spending increase, President Trump today delivered a speech on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, talking about a plan for a substantial buildup in the number of ships in the Navy.
During the speech, Trump lamented the Navy is the “smallest” since World War One, which is only true in physical ship numbers, since of course naval warfare is wildly different a century on. In his promise of expansions, he declared his intention for the US to have a “12 carrier fleet.”
At present, the US has 10 active duty aircraft carriers, and that doesn’t include the Gerald R. Ford itself, which is built and will be commissioned later this year. A 12th carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, is already under construction, which suggests that President Trump’s 12 carrier fleet goal would just require him to wait for already ordered ships to be finished.
Any additional ship construction could cut deeply into that $54 billion, as the Gerald R. Ford cost roughly $13 billion itself, and other ships would presumably be Ford-class ships of similar cost.
Trump insisted the carriers were essential for “taking the war to America’s enemies.” A focus on building aircraft carriers, however, would conflict with the Navy’s more recent focus on getting a larger number of boats in the water by making smaller ships of limited value. The Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) program, which aimed to build a series of riverine boats to get the number of US boats in the water up, has been roundly criticized for cost overruns, and the tendency of the boats to sink or break down.
All those carrier fleets?
Bit obsolete aren’t they.
The Russians have missiles you can’t see coming and can wipe out an entire carrier group.
Status 6 – the whole fleet.
Much better to go back to Trump plan A.
Peaceful co existence.
Russia is becoming impenetrable.
It wants peace.
Better to spend your money on collapsing bridges, dams and other infrastructure Donald and give over trying to turn the planet into neo con inspired ash.
Will they even have piloted aircraft 20 years from now?
Will drones require aircraft carriers?
tendency of the boats to sink or break down…
The lapdogs in the MSM which is the PR wing for the
MIC, claim Trump’s buildup is needed to continue the
so-called ‘War on Terror’ and ensure ‘us’ masses of
‘America’s commit to the defense of freedom worldwide…’
Where have I heard that bullsh*t before? The truth is,
more USG taxpayer dollars squandered on pork barrel.
Is this megalomania?
It’s Madness.
If you want ‘America Great Again’, start building things at reasonable cost that don’t break down. Once America did.
Is this consistent with the claim that Trump is opposed to more wars?
There would be something quite peculiar in Trump’s campaign promise of improved relations with Russia. That is, if he would repeat any part of it again since his campaign ended.
And so there’s really nothing about Trump that can offer hope for our antiwar cause.
All it’s become now is the worthy cause of the Repub supporters being just that, and opposing the Dems. Domestic politics spelt pure and simple.
Note: My challenge still stands for any Trump supporter to show some evidence of Trump mentioning anything about that promise since his campaign ended. I’m becoming more and more confident that it just doesn’t exist.
Maybe somebody could ask Raimondo. He’s still with Trump for “some” reason?
And in the meantime Trump continues to rattle his sabres on various countries in a way that perhaps no president has ever done so openly before! China? Iran? N.Korea? Ukraine (hint) (only) during his campaign?
I hate Trump’s racism, but there is no sign that he’s planning any new wars.
This story is only about regular pork barrel politics, lining pockets with spending on weapons no one will use.
We all certainly hope that Trump isn’t planning more wars!
Trump has voiced a lot of war talk and has done sabre rattling against several countries. Probably now to a higher degree than any other president in modern times. But on the positive side, Trump is known for saying a lot that he doesn’t mean. Just imagine if people took everything he said seriously!
Sadly, a lot of people took what he said on US/Russia relations improving. He didn’t mean it. Sadly, he’s gained popularity with those he’s duped and that could have energized him and caused him to feel secure with his threats on China, Syria, N.Korea, etc.
It will be over eventually. Even Raimondo can’t pretend that he’s still hoping where there is no hope.
Life without hope is hopeless
Increased ‘defence’ spending is pleasing to the congress critters’ ears though. And to the senior pentagon staff whose future fortunes from grateful arms manufacturers will be assured.
Whist there is little bang for the buck in economic terms, it helps in political terms.
What a complete and total waste of money (except of course for the war profiteers who will get the lucrative contracts.
So, we’re getting a $13 Billion Ford?