[devane617]

This does not sound good. More open border problems about to occur; plus an increase in drug traffic.

[cripplecreek]

Makes you wonder why they want to announce it to the world.

[RegulatorCountry]

Wouldn't want to interdict refugees fleeing the collapse of Castro Cuba after he officially "dies," now would we?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, the Navy and Department of Transportation have (shamefully) starved the Coast Guard of money and resources for decades, so I guess the CG cutter fleet finally (and literally) reached its breaking point. Now, they're going to have to scramble to fix a mighty big whole in our coastal defenses off Florida.

[Popman]

Dollars to Donuts this lack of strategic planning can be traced back to Bubba

There is no way the Coast Guard should have a majority of their assets at the end of their life cycle all at the same time.

This is going to be a serious problem

The drug cartels are going to pour their poison into the country.

[deport]

Any comments or input?......

[Popman]

Key West, Fla. -- Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, speaks to the crew of the 123-foot patrol boats about his decision to stop service of the fleet of eight in Key West. Adm. Allen travelled to Key West specifically to inform the crew face-to-face about his decision and tour several of the patrol boats moored at the pier. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Dana Warr.

[hinckley buzzard]

I hope Grumman and Lockheed pay dearly for this fiasco. I'm not holding my breath however, for their checks to arrive in the mail.

[Popman]

I visit the two Coast Guard facilities in the St Pete, Fl. area about once a month because of my job.

I have seen these cutters in dock and just now realized those bucket of bolts, I saw are the ones they are talking about.

I can understand completely why they were pulled from service.

They are in very bad shape.

[LibKill]

Ah, poop!

Are there no old Navy ships in mothballs that we might reactivate for the Coast Gaurd?

Are there no confiscated speedboats that might be fitted with a .50 cal?

I agree that the safety factor put these particular boats out of action, but can't we replace them at least in the short term?

[TexanToTheCore]

I wonder if we have any spare A10 Warthogs that could be thrown into the breach.


That'd get the druggies back to that ole time religion.

[Veto!]

The Coast Guard can't find some other cutters? Crikey.

[newbie 10-21-00]

So The Manitou reincarnated as a boat in Florida? Whoda thunkit. Long live Tony Curtis!! Gitchee Manitou (one of the all time great, bad B movies)!

[Ladycalif]

ping for later

[rottndog]

Couldn't they use Naval Vessels in a pinch?

At least for patrolling and surveillance?

[Sam Cree]

WTF?

As a Key rat, I'm spooked. a little.

[khnyny]

bump for later read.

[cyborg]

Coast Guard is so pathetically underappreciated. No excuse for this imho.

[OKIEDOC]

Looks like on the surface someone or company may have taken the US Government to the cleaners err I mean didn't do their jobs.

So this upgrade was authorized but mishandled.

I think for the amount of money spent the Democrats need to have and investigation of the Clinton administrators mishandling of this conversion.

[Kimberly GG]

"This does not sound good. More open border problems about to occur; plus an increase in drug traffic."

Keep in mind, devane, that 'open borders' are, in fact, not a problem to the OBLers who want them open. And make no mistake, the appointment of Martinez was no accident. Thankfully, I no longer live in Florida. Hopefully, our anti-OBL leadership will put a stop to any plans that might be in the works for accepting an insurmountable number of Cuban 'refugees'.

And yes, I do find this timing of this suddenly absolutely necessary removal of all 8 of only 10 cutters, to be suspect of such an agenda.

[Phsstpok]

Florida Keys ping

Maybe now is the time for the Conch Republic to declare independence?