During the debates, President Barack Obama mockingly said “[t]here are these things called aircraft carriers ...” Unfortunately, Obama’s policies are jeopardizing the effectiveness of the carriers.
Currently, the USS Lincoln is docked in Virginia waiting to be refueled, a process that takes several years. Refueling the nuclear reactors has been put on hold because of a lack of funding. Delaying the Lincoln’s maintenance cost $10 million a month.
Besides wasting money, it delays refueling other carriers, forcing the remainder, and their crews, to deploy more frequently and for longer periods of time.
There would be enough money to refuel the Lincoln if Obama did not insist that the Navy use biofuels costing $26 a gallon. One naval exercise in the Pacific cost the Navy $12 million.
A diminished carrier fleet emboldens dictators, reduces the Navy’s ability to provide humanitarian aid and demoralizes sailors and their families.
- Roland E. Camp, Munster
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