As the sun pulls away from the pier - and our CARRIER sinks slowly in the west..

[Ocklawaha]

Bad news, real bad, big, huge. Damn where is Admrial Yamamoto when we need him?

Virginia leaders pleased with Navy decision to reconsider carrier move.
By Hugh Lessig | 247-7821
April 10, 2009
The Defense Department will apparently postpone a decision on basing an aircraft carrier in Florida, much to the satisfaction of Virginia leaders who oppose the move.

Word of the decision came first from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., on Thursday, then from other members of the state's congressional delegation. Navy officials had no comment.

The proposed move will now be studied as part of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, a top-to-bottom analysis of all defense needs, Virginia leaders said.

The initial decision to base one carrier at Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, Fla., was reached in final days of the Bush administration, raising questions about whether it was politically motivated.



One candidate for the move would be the USS George H.W. Bush, based at Naval Station Norfolk. Jeb Bush, one of former President George H.W. Bush's sons, is a former Florida governor. (The Bush finishes its sea trials; see Page 5 of Nation &World.)

The Navy said dispersing the carrier fleet would make it less vulnerable to attack or natural disaster. And it never specified which ship would go to Mayport.

But Norfolk is the only East Coast carrier port, and Virginia leaders lobbied hard to block the move. They argued that it would waste resources because it would cost at least $500 million to make Mayport nuclear-carrier-capable.

Moving a carrier out of Norfolk, along with its 5,000-plus crew, would hit the economy like a big factory shutdown.

Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, and Glenn Nye, D-Norfolk, said they received word of the change in a conference call with Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn.

Wittman said the coming budget would include money for dredging and dock improvements at Mayport, allowing for a carrier. But it wouldn't include nuclear maintenance sites required for a carrier to be based there. "I think good public policy has risen to the top in this," he said.

Webb pronounced himself "gratified," and Nye called it "an important victory for Hampton Roads."

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said the news was "a promising development for the taxpayers and for the Navy." Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, said the Defense Department was putting "strategy before politics."

Frank Roberts, executive director of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, said Virginia officials must continue to press the region's case. "Constant vigilance is going to be required," he said.

There was no immediate comment from Florida officials.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Bill Nelson commented on this last night....and said the Navy assured him yesterday there were no plans to change their position....btw, Nelson was supposed to be in Jax. today touring the port

[Ocklawaha]

Yeah tufus1, I read that also, but the fact that the Navy told them they'd reconsider is spooky at best.

OCKLAWAHA

[urbanlibertarian]

So who's senators are lyin...uh I mean are misinformed?  Theirs or ours?

[tufsu1]

or maybe its the Navy that is doing some doublespeak

[heights unknown]

Because of the economy it's all about money my boy, all about money.  I would love to see a carrier or two at Mayport; and it might still go through, but there's a big fight a brewin on Capitol Hill. Look out for some "knock down drag out" on this one.

Heights Unknown

[JeffreyS]

The Mayport improvements are shovel ready.

[Ocklawaha]

Those who do not know their history are destined to repeat it...

"...If you tell me it is necessary that we must fight, then in the first six months to a year of the war against the U.S. and England I will run wild and I will show you a succession of uninterrupted victory's; I must also tell you that if the war is prolonged for two or three years I have no confidence in our ultimate victory..." Yamamoto

Yeah BOYZ tie up the whole damn fleet around FORD ISLAND, we have nothing to fear from the Japanese, they are short, near sighted, and not too bright.

Yeah BOYZ tie up the whole damn fleet around Norfolk, we have nothing to fear from the terrorists, North Korea, China or Russia, most of them are short, many ride camels and they're not too bright. [/color] [/b]



OCKLAWAHA

[mtraininjax]

The carrier is in the bag, I know a guy who knows a guy who knows the guy who typed the report. Its all BS, from DC. Its good to be in DC, just like the song says.

Relax, would Mel and Bill let you down?