[Doe Eyes]

Yeah, I mean a real one, fitting it’s sea lanes, wealth, and dependency on trade and oil.

And how would you define that, relative to the other Navies of the world?

World's largest Navy? 2nd? 3rd?

[Leisler]

Size doesn't matter. Effectiveness does. If you are number two with the need for number one size, you are in trouble.

Getting back to my original theme. Japan, Europe, the World, has benefited by open sea lanes for sixty years, complements of the US Taxpayer and the officers and sailors of the US Navy.

In the case of Japan, if they don't like it, then the Japanese taxpayer can pick up the tab, say another $100 billion US per year, and 50 or so sailor deaths, for making sure Japan gets its oil and can deliver it's goods through the rougher neighborhoods of the world.

I doubt that will happen anytime soon. Too expensive and too political, so it's left up to the ugly Americans to pay and do.