Never been in the Navy, Army, nothing and my closest connection is to the Navy as my dad, upon retirement, was the head civilian employee at the Long Beach Naval Supply Center in Long Beach, Cal.

Just watched that Exocet video that someone posted and subsequent attached videos. War aint fun; but then again, being a student of history (which is another story) there are times I think we as a naval power really need to exert that power; if that means attacking first, then do it and deal with the consequences.

Just a rant in the early morning.

We do exert our naval power. The US Navy secures 85% of the world's commercial shipping. The #1 reason to keep a large standing army or navy is to deter war. The US Navy deters everything.

I make plenty of Navy jokes, but their power and impact cannot be understated.

I forget the number, but isn't some 80-90% of the world's population and industry within range of a carrier strike?

And that's not counting cruise missiles.

1stRangersAg:

I wasnt being negative; dont think of my conmment that way (maybe I am over reacting to yours?) Maybe I should say I would like to see us with another carrier battle group or two or three; I also do not want to see our defense budget cut like it will be in the not to distant future. I just want a greater presence in the oceans of the world, one that is a little more feared ala 25 years or so ago. This Iran thing is making my mind wander a bit.

"I make plenty of Navy jokes, but their power and impact cannot be understated."

Ditto.

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I make plenty of Navy jokes, but their power and impact cannot be understated.

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+2

But seriously, who came up with that blue camo?

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But seriously, who came up with that blue camo?

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You mean the Booberrys


[This message has been edited by Ulysses90 (edited 2/11/2012 8:38p).]

Monarch -
I wasn't being negative, or accusing you of being negative. I was simply replying that, despite the lack of Midway-scale naval battles, the US Navy is still out there in force. The reason they are not involved in large scale battles is because they have the world's shipping lanes (the only parts of the ocean that really matter strategically) locked down.

Iran ruffled its feathers, and told us not to send a carrier group. The Navy sent a carrier group anyway to deter Iran. Iran subsequently STFU. The Navy's greatest strength is deterrence. They do that exceptionally well, which prevents other nations from even considering attacking at sea.

My humble, ground-pounder opinion is that the US Navy creates a lot of breathing space for the ground forces by preventing incursions. THAT is their power projection.

Well said...

Go Navy

I taught naval history to one of those cheerleaders