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Pentagon Said to Offer Cuts in the Billions
The New York Times ^ | 12/30/04 | Eric Schmitt

Posted on 12/29/2004 9:49:50 PM PST by 1LongTimeLurker

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 - The Pentagon plans to retire one of the Navy's 12 aircraft carriers, buy fewer amphibious landing ships for the Marine Corps and delay the development of a costly Army combat system of high-tech arms as part of $60 billion in proposed cuts over the next six years, Congressional and military officials said Wednesday.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: budget; defense; defensecuts; dod; military; pentagon
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To: rommy

Interesting story. Just one more to add to my Kennedy file.

I honestly think if she had been christined any other name, she would have been gone before Saratoga and Independence. But its a political thing for Democrats to be able to talk about the Kennedy being on station in the worlds hot spots. And reporters would rather be onboard her than any other ship just to say "Reporting live from the USS John F Kennedy".


21 posted on 12/29/2004 10:57:32 PM PST by Magnum44 (Terrorism is a disease, precise application of superior force is the ONLY cure)
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To: need_a_screen_name

I believe eight.

USS Langley, USS Lexington, USS Saratoga, USS Ranger, USS Yorktown, USS Enterprise, USS Wasp and USS Hornet.


22 posted on 12/29/2004 10:59:53 PM PST by rommy
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To: need_a_screen_name

Three http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-9.htm


23 posted on 12/29/2004 11:00:01 PM PST by ProudVet77 (MERRY CHRISTMAS, damn it!)
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To: 1LongTimeLurker
....We need free prescription drugs more....

< /sarcasm >

24 posted on 12/29/2004 11:00:30 PM PST by lewislynn (The meaning of life can be described in one word...Grandchildren)
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To: rommy; ProudVet77

Thanks guys! Interesting stuff!


25 posted on 12/29/2004 11:31:51 PM PST by need_a_screen_name
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To: need_a_screen_name

Onet thing to consider though when it comes to numbers. The only reason to even have a carrier is to put planes in striking distance of an enemy. But with mid-air refueling and forward air bases, it may be time to rethink their value. Also the cruise missile has changed the picture as well.


26 posted on 12/29/2004 11:35:15 PM PST by ProudVet77 (MERRY CHRISTMAS, damn it!)
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To: 1LongTimeLurker

Why don't we kick out the UN and dissolve our ties. How much money will that save? Reduce foreign aid. If they have a disaster, then we can ante in as needed. Put all the Congressmen on social security and cut their golden pension plan.


27 posted on 12/29/2004 11:50:07 PM PST by Ruth A.
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To: rommy

JP-5 is not flammmable at atmoshpheric conditions. Flash point is 140 degrees Farenheit. That's why they carry it on ships. I know. We had an issue with this recently and to make sure that I knew what the hell I was talking about I threw a cigarette into an ashtray filled with JP-5 and it went out. Tried to light it with a lighter and it wouldn't light. Left the cigarette in the ashtray and it lit the cigarette like a wick in a candle. No big deal. JP-8 (Air Force uses) has a flashpoint of 100 degrees and would be concern. JP-4 (commercial avgas if I'm not mistaken) has a flashpoint of -40 degrees and will light up like a roman candle. Twin towers.

Don't know the Navy regs on avgas cleanup.


28 posted on 12/30/2004 12:04:17 AM PST by Sodbuster
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To: need_a_screen_name

Great picture.... taken before 9/11.


29 posted on 12/30/2004 12:05:47 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: 1LongTimeLurker

When I first read the headline I thought it said:

Pentagon Said to Offer Cats in the Billions

Naturally, I tied this in with the tsunami damage at first and wondered what India and the other affected places where going to need billions of cats for?

Maybe it'll be an Onion story tomorrow.


30 posted on 12/30/2004 12:49:16 AM PST by Duke Nukum ("They think we're not generous? Mr. Scott, prepare to beam over billions of cats to the U.N.")
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To: Ruth A.
It's not true that Congresspeeples don't pay into the Social Security fund. They pay into the fund just as most everyone else does.

Prior to 1984, Congress members did not pay into SS because they participated in a special program for civil servants. That program was closed to government employees hired after 1983.

Leni

31 posted on 12/30/2004 1:01:48 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: SubMareener
This must be why Senator Trent Lott was attacking the SECDEF.

I'd personally like to horsewhip that little dweeb.

32 posted on 12/30/2004 1:08:33 AM PST by Howlin
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To: MinuteGal

Do you have a source? I would be glad to see that. It is my understanding that they still have a killer pension plan.


33 posted on 12/30/2004 1:15:36 AM PST by Ruth A.
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To: ProudVet77
Yes, cut back on a carrier, and build more F - 22 s ,
If this article is the one I saw at the Drudge Report, then, this news article is from the NYTIMES , I can just imagine, they put out this article with snickers and glee.
34 posted on 12/30/2004 1:22:14 AM PST by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
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To: Ruth A.
www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp

It's an urban myth that congresscritters don't pay into Social Security.

The charges of outrageous sums of pension money paid to them is also urban myth. The average annuity paid to retired congressmen and women is $46,908. While sweet, it is certainly not the hundreds of thousands of pension dollars allegedly paid annually to these retirees.

Leni

35 posted on 12/30/2004 1:25:55 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: 1LongTimeLurker

Could this be the first indication that the Administration expects to keep 100,000 plus troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for the foreseeable future?


36 posted on 12/30/2004 4:10:40 AM PST by Non-Sequitur (Jefferson Davis - the first 'selected, not elected' president.)
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To: 1LongTimeLurker; Mo1; Howlin; Peach; BeforeISleep; kimmie7; 4integrity; BigSkyFreeper; ...
Oh, this is just dumb IMO.

While China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (to a small extent) are ramping up and preparing for war we're going to DOWNSIZE our war fighting machines?!?!?

This just does NOT make any sense!


PING...
37 posted on 12/30/2004 4:43:57 AM PST by OXENinFLA
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To: Magnum44
JFK's keel was put down to be a nuclear carrier like Enterprise (so was America). When USN changed their mind, both JFK and America had to have engineering plants designed for them. As a result, both ships plants were unique. Whenever a major part failed, they, literally, had to machine a new one.

I did a tour as JFK navigator in 88/89 and took her through a PSA at the yard in Portsmouth. We had to manufacture new boiler skirts from scratch, as well as numerous parts for the SSTG's and other engineering systems. You should've seen the electrical switchboards..looked like old telephone operator stations.

All-in-all though a great ship. It is the only carrier that can use both bow catapults while recovering aircraft, as the angle is slightly wider and the port side JBD doesn't foul the landing area.

I did two cruises in VA-34 on her in the late 70's. Amassed about 400 traps and was the top tailhooker on the second cruise. Stateroom on the 02 level underneath WR 1 was great...cold and quiet. Life was good in those days.

What did you fly? East coast or "left" coast?

Warm regards form another tailhooker.

38 posted on 12/30/2004 5:19:51 AM PST by a6intruder (downtown with big bombs, 24/7, rain or shine, day or night)
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To: 1LongTimeLurker

The John F. Kennedy, one of the Navy's oldest carriers, would be retired under a set of proposed reductions for the Defense Department.

39 posted on 12/30/2004 6:22:44 AM PST by OESY
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To: OXENinFLA
Actually there is no force reduction. There will be less of certain systems, but more of others. We have to look at the impact of new technology in planning.
A recent development allows our Aegis class ships to carrier 4x the number of surface to air missiles as they currently do. Four Aegis class ships could probably hold off the entire ChiCom AF now.
Beyond that, the Navy needs to look at the impact of rail guns on the need for carriers. With a range of 200 miles and a flight time of 6 minutes, the amount of destructive power from a single rail gun can equal the destructive power of an entire F-18 CAW.
40 posted on 12/30/2004 6:56:07 AM PST by ProudVet77 (2004 is worn out, time to start 2005)
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