Free Republic

Now that the Department of Defense has made clear its intent to move a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla., the battle between Florida and Virginia shifts to Congress. Members of the Hampton Roads congressional delegation have pledged to fight tooth and nail to block any more money for the project. They’re taking on Florida’s congressional delegation, who outnumber the Virginians by more than two to one and are already claiming victory. Hampton Roads representatives said they are not ready to talk about what might happen if the carrier battle is lost. “We have to continue to have a united...

The littoral combat ship USS Freedom will depart from Mayport Feb. 16 for its maiden deployment to the Southern Command and Pacific Command areas of responsibility. Freedom will deploy to the waters surrounding Latin America to conduct counter-illicit trafficking operations and theater security cooperation activities while en route to its new homeport of San Diego, Calif. The ship will embark Detachment 2 from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 in Norfolk, Va.; the first tailored LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package from San Diego; and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 704 from Miami to meet these mission requirements. "This deployment comes...

NORFOLK The Navy could spend nearly $500 million to ready Mayport Naval Station in Florida for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier - perhaps from Norfolk - by 2014. Or it could choose to make no changes in the base's operations. A draft report released Friday by the Navy proposed a range of options for the future of Mayport, the Jacksonville base that lost its only carrier, the John F. Kennedy, when the ship was decommissioned last year. The Navy's decision, expected early next year, could determine whether ships and perhaps thousands of sailors from Hampton Roads relocate to northern Florida. Mark...

45 Muslim doctors planned US terror raids By John Steel, Crime Correspondent Last Updated: 2:25am BST 05/07/2007 A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist internet chat site. Police found details of the discussions on a site run by one of a three-strong "cyber-terrorist" gang. They were discovered at the home of Younis Tsouli, 23, Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London heard. One message read: "We are 45 doctors and we are determined to undertake jihad and take the battle inside America....

ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) pulled into Boston Harbor May 19 for a four-day goodwill visit. The port call marked the carrier’s first in five years and afforded the residents of Boston the opportunity to get a closer look at the national strategic asset. “It’s great to be back,” said Kennedy’s Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis FitzPatrick. “Our namesake says it all: This is Boston’s aircraft carrier.” In addition to ship’s company and Sailors from Carrier Air Wing 17, Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are taking part...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- To ease tuition sticker-shock, President George W. Bush wants to raise the maximum Pell Grant award by $100 each year and fix a persistent shortfall in the nation's chief college aid program. That would put the maximum grant at $4,550 by 2010, up 12 percent from the $4,050 currently offered. Bush is expected to make the announcement at a town hall meeting on higher education and job training at Florida Community College at Jacksonville's South Campus that begins at 1 p.m. Advance tickets to the event were snapped up in less than two hours earlier this week,...