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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bilow who wrote (45001)	9/18/2002 7:28:39 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Hi Carl - the status of the Cape Kennedy (which, by the way, isn't part of Fast Sealift) is fascinating to you and me but probably nobody else on the thread. MSC has over 100 vessels. Some of them are at sea. Neither you nor I know what they are doing, but we know for a fact that some of them will always be busy carrying this and that all over the world, because we have military stationed all over the world, from Alaska to Antarctica. I already told you what it would take to convince me that the Pentagon hasn't taken more MSC vessels out of mothballs. Call MSC up and ask them.

To: Bilow who wrote (45001)	9/18/2002 11:28:01 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

OT - says me - Hi Carl - I've been researching MSC some more. There are over 100 ships in active duty, then another 90 or so in the reserve ready, like the Fast Sealift ships. The Fast Sealift ships (FSS) can be activated within 96 hours, and can sail from the east coast to the Persian Gulf in two weeks. There's no reason to send them out unless action is imminent. globalsecurity.org The maritime prepositioning ships just sit around waiting in case they are needed. I posted last night the list of what they are carrying. You might find this satellite photo interesting - it's the maritime prepositioning ships stationed round-the-clock in Diego Garcia. globalsecurity.org As the US maritime industry has suffered from competition abroad, and US flag vessels have been sold, the Navy has been purchasing them so that they are available in case of war. I know I mentioned I have an LL.M. in admiralty law, but never put it to much use, so this is fascinating to me (but probably boring to most.)