SHOW OF FORCE

New York Post ^ | 8/02/04 | PETER BROOKES

[kattracks]

August 2, 2004 -- SEVEN American aircraft- car rier strike groups are plying the world's seven seas right now in one of the biggest military exercises since the end of the Cold War. Officially, it's the first test of the Navy's new strategy, the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). Unofficially, it puts America's potential foes on notice: The U.S. Army may be stretched pretty thin at the moment — but the U.S. Navy isn't.

It's a bold statement of U.S. power reminisent of one President Teddy Roosevelt sent in 1907 — the two-year global circumnavigation by the Great White Fleet.

Each carrier strike group (CSG) includes one carrier with 75 aircraft, 4 combat ships, a submarine, cruise missiles and 6,500 sailors. No other nation can put to sea — anywhere on earth — such an incredible display of military might.

With China holding its yearly war games off Taiwan, Iran cracking open U.N.-sealed nuclear facilities and North Korea's continued belligerent nuclear blustering, the exercise, Summer Pulse '04, couldn't come at a more important time.

This exercise is extraordinary. Rarely does the U.S. have more than two of its 12 carriers at sea at any one time. That's because American carriers operate on a two-year cycle — six months at sea, followed by 18 months in the shipyards in overhaul and in training for its next deployment.

Under the Navy's new strategy, the smaller, more responsive CSG has replaced the vaunted, behemoth aircraft-carrier battle group (which consisted of one carrier, 10 to 15 ships and subs and 10,000 sailors) as the Navy's core carrier unit.

The Pentagon wants to be able to send six CSGs anywhere in the world in less than 30 days. Moreover, it plans to have two more CSGs ready within another 90 days to reinforce the first six carriers or relieve two of them.

(Six aircraft carriers — at a minimum — would be needed for a China-Taiwan contingency or a second Korean war.)

But there's more to it than sending 45,000 sailors to sea for the summer, giving a sea trial to the new strategy or sending a shot across the bow of potential troublemakers:

[Savage Beast]

The November Presidential Election will be an even bolder statement to America's enemies, domestic and foreign.

These enemies, domestic and foreign, are determined to prevent the re-election of President Bush.

The election of Kerry and Edwards would have them dancing in the streets, as they danced in the streets after the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States.

In fact, a Kerry/Edwards victory would be their second victory since 9/11, and it would be a far more devastating blow to the United States!

President Bush has prevented a repeat of 9/11.

It is now up to the American electorate to prevent a 9/11 repeat in November.

A Kerry/Edwards victory would be more devastating than 9/11. In fact, it would be a repeat 9/11!

[playball0]

Kewl. Go get 'em George.

[KeyWest]

The article is not quite accurate in the comment that only 2 carriers are at sea. Should say deployed, but even that is incorrect since there are usually more than 2 (they may have been thinking theaters of operation, so 2 in Pacific and 2 in Atlantic), or in transit.

And I think we still have one in Japan which is on permanent "deployment".