Latest Breaking News

Ace Acme

(1,464 posts)

72. So a carrier, impractical for real warfare as it is, is an enormous profit opportunity

Mon Nov 11, 2013, 07:05 PM

Nov 2013

Last edited Mon Nov 11, 2013, 08:07 PM - Edit history (1)

... for the military industrial complex because its mere existence creates the need for a vast fleet of protective infrastructure.

OK, maybe I'll refine my position. Maybe, properly accessorized with $30 billion worth of support infrastructure, a carrier can be of military utility in an actual war.

Are they of any military utility in national defense? Can they do anything to defend our borders that land-based forces can not do? Or are they only of use in projecting force in places in the world where we are not wanted?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

73 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Navy christens next generation of aircraft carrier [View all] TexasTowelie Nov 2013 OP

They are making a big deal about this in my neck of the woods. longship Nov 2013 #1

If someone mentions it,....say, "Pardon?" Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #5

Bad Spitfire! Very bad! longship Nov 2013 #6

All that is fine and good - but when will the USS William Clinton be commissioned? TheDebbieDee Nov 2013 #2

I hope there will be a garbage scowl that will be approprately christened as George W. Bush Buddha_of_Wisdom Nov 2013 #3

Make the GW Bush ship out of wood adieu Nov 2013 #11

They would build an AC carrier and name it after him OnlinePoker Nov 2013 #16

They only name carriers... awoke_in_2003 Nov 2013 #18

There's the USS Jimmy Carter from a few years ago Recursion Nov 2013 #32

Reagan stayed stateside during WWII making military training films. Lasher Nov 2013 #69

The next ship will be the USS John F Kennedy (CVN 79). Nt hack89 Nov 2013 #37

I did not know that...thanks. nt awoke_in_2003 Nov 2013 #40

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) was decommissioned in 2007. Lasher Nov 2013 #70

JFK endorsed a UN proposal for total disarmament in 9/61 Ace Acme Nov 2013 #73

Sometime around Kelvin Mace Nov 2013 #21

No, but you can bet there will be a USS George W. Bush. It will probably sink. olddad56 Nov 2013 #22

One can only hope it will sink...... TheDebbieDee Nov 2013 #23

If there was a hint of justice... jmowreader Nov 2013 #64

Nothing but a giant machine designed to kill people tinrobot Nov 2013 #4

We should scrap every ship in the US Navy. The Coast Guard is enough to defend us. Bob Jones Nov 2013 #7

There may be a reason you do not worry about amphibious landings, other wise you would not have Rebellious Republican Nov 2013 #8

We currently have 10 sulphurdunn Nov 2013 #35

Is there any conceivable military utility to these carriers in an actual war? Ace Acme Nov 2013 #42

Carriers operate as part of a battle group jmowreader Nov 2013 #65

If recent history is any guide, a carrier would be vulnerable to unarmed airliners Ace Acme Nov 2013 #67

If recent history is any guide, so is a skyscraper jmowreader Nov 2013 #68

Nonsense caraher Nov 2013 #71

So a carrier, impractical for real warfare as it is, is an enormous profit opportunity Ace Acme Nov 2013 #72

Overruns? No problem. RandySF Nov 2013 #9

The Pentagon is not into saving . . . another_liberal Nov 2013 #25

Unlike the last president a carrier was named for, Ford was a carrier sailor jmowreader Nov 2013 #10

Save people, when it is easier to just kill them in the first place? RC Nov 2013 #53

The two hospital ships we have already are used to save people jmowreader Nov 2013 #61

Next generation? You mean there is going to be more of these things?? GreydeeThos Nov 2013 #12

Hey, we have only eleven aircraft-carrier strike task forces at present, and that's not even two indepat Nov 2013 #15

Put it up to eleven! Bosso 63 Nov 2013 #27

Safe not only from Terra warrant46 Nov 2013 #59

How many NEW schools and Hospitals penndragon69 Nov 2013 #13

High speed rail, even. pangaia Nov 2013 #39

Eisenhower's "Cross of Iron" Speech: Ace Acme Nov 2013 #43

Sickening and repulsive waste of money Glorfindel Nov 2013 #14

hardly, and you know better pasto76 Nov 2013 #20

Carriers are sitting ducks, helpless Ace Acme Nov 2013 #44

That's why carriers only travel in carrier groups Recursion Nov 2013 #49

The necessity of an entourage only underscores the carrier's vulnerability nt Ace Acme Nov 2013 #51

The military doesn't understand this: lastlib Nov 2013 #17

50 Years later, we're still ignoring Ike's warning! LongTomH Nov 2013 #54

They understand, they just don't care mwrguy Nov 2013 #66

halfway down the slip... awoke_in_2003 Nov 2013 #19

OMG someone named a ship after Ford. It's going to crash into all the other carriers and pam4water Nov 2013 #24

We'll show those Soviets who's boss! IDemo Nov 2013 #26

All for a guy that was selected and not elected... Historic NY Nov 2013 #28

JFK is getting a ship in this class Recursion Nov 2013 #34

JFK endorsed a UN proposal for total disarmament Ace Acme Nov 2013 #45

He was also a WWII Navy combat veteran. Nt hack89 Nov 2013 #38

Freakin' Lasers!! I hope it doesn't shoot lasers like Pres.Ford played golf underpants Nov 2013 #29

Ah, a mother ship for drones. nt bemildred Nov 2013 #30

I can't wait until they christen the USS Barack Hussein Obama jpak Nov 2013 #31

The Death Star will be named for Obama nt Ace Acme Nov 2013 #46

For those curious, here's the count of ships named for each President Recursion Nov 2013 #33

Sheesh...nothing for Millard Fillmore. Historic NY Nov 2013 #36

Or my state's own Herbert Hoover Sognefjord Nov 2013 #56

Surprised they had the nerve to name one for Grant Ace Acme Nov 2013 #47

He never benefited from it, his poor judgement to Historic NY Nov 2013 #55

He never benefited from making his supporters very, very grateful? I see. nt Ace Acme Nov 2013 #62

Just wanted to see it.. yuiyoshida Nov 2013 #41

It looks good sakabatou Nov 2013 #48

un.. yuiyoshida Nov 2013 #50

Sou da sakabatou Nov 2013 #52

Global military expenditures sulphurdunn Nov 2013 #57

It cost 12 billion dollars locks Nov 2013 #58

Should we call it the Ford? Tabasco_Dave Nov 2013 #60

Call it the Edsel. Ace Acme Nov 2013 #63