As he does.
Politics: Marines looking to deploy on foreign ships because the U.S. doesn’t have enough
by Dan Calabrese
Enough what?
Oh yeah: ships.
And leading from behind.
Faced with a shortage of U.S. Navy ships, the Marine Corps is exploring a plan to deploy its forces aboard foreign vessels to ensure they can respond quickly to global crises around Europe and western Africa.
The initiative is a stopgap way to deploy Marines aboard ships overseas until more American vessels are available, said Brig. Gen. Norman Cooling, deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa.
The Marines will be able to respond quickly to evacuate embassies or protect U.S. property and citizens, a need highlighted by the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.
“There’s no substitute for U.S. amphibious” vessels, Cooling said. “We’re looking at other options” in the meantime, he added.
The Marines have been working with Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and other close allies to determine the suitability of the foreign ships for U.S. personnel and aircraft.
The units would be designed for limited operations and not major amphibious assaults. A ground force of about 100 to 120 Marines would be deployed along with three or four Ospreys, which fly like airplanes but can take off and land like helicopters.
The U.S. Navy has 30 amphibious ships but says it needs 38 to fulfill war fighting requirements. It won’t reach that level until 2028 because of budget constraints, according to the Navy.
One would ask: are you kidding me?
We kid you not.
So now we don’t have enough ships for the Marines to do their jobs, and they’re seriously having to seek space on foreign ships.
Thanks ever so kindly, you who voted for this ignoramus.
BZ
I’m right there with you that obozo is a piece of shit and that he is doing everything to weaken this country. And being the son of a career Marine I am highly biased towards a favorable view of the USMC. But since when has the leathernecks done anything amphibious recently? I digress.
Improvise, adapt, overcome. Just who is it decrying only 78% of future estimated ships? I don’t know enough about Brig Gen Cooling to comment however, since when has the cry for more MEF assets not been heard?
And, Richard, just how much of a blue water navy are we? Or are we focusing on the littorals because we don’t value big navies any more?
BZ
Not defending the SCOAMF and his social justice cult members but note my father went to Australia and India on a civilian passenger liner.