Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (54729)	7/17/2004 6:16:07 AM
From: D. Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793745

Is the Deployment Surge Just an Exercise? Certainly spooked the Chinese. Flat out called it "intimidation". Derek

To: LindyBill who wrote (54729)	7/17/2004 9:12:00 AM
From: unclewest	Respond to of 793745

I took that embellished it a bit and fired it into a retired military e-mail channel. Is the Deployment Surge Just an Exercise? American Digest U.S. Navy - Status of the Navy tells us that 92% of our surface ships are currently underway or deployed, and that 91% of our submarine fleet is either underway or deployed. This includes 8 of our 12 carriers. Most or all of our 18 Trident ballistic missile submarines are believed to be underway. Each Trident carries between 5-8 nuclear MIRV warheads in each of 24 tubes. A carrier may have even more firepower. The numbers deployed are incredible...Normally no more than 1/3 would be expected to be deployed. In the past, the likely ratio was at best 1/3 deployed, 1/3 in maintenance and 1/3 in reserve. We are supposedly conducting an exercise called summer pulse...But some are wondering about what seems to be, in terms of killing power, the largest US Naval deployment since WWII. Considering the very recent Homeland security warnings to us; the scheduled political conventions; and The Olympics, the move offshore does seem prudent. Nobody wants another Pearl Harbor. Yet I know we cannot sustain such a deployment rate forever. This begs the question, why now? I have also read several very recent reports about the FBI conducting interviews and questioning people nationwide including recent overseas arrivals. I am sure we have all seen the reports of thousands of recent military retirees and discharged folks being recalled, as well as thousands of reservists and National Guard being recalled immediately for a 2nd tour. Many active duty folks are being locked in and denied retirement and end of term of service discharges. In the past and taken individually, I could consider each of these activities to be defensive in nature. But we are at war. Looking at the broad range of activity across so many federal and military agencies, it appears our country is assuming an extreme offensive attack posture. And we civilians are being asked to prepare our own defense. Defense is important. Big "D" wins football and basketball games. Defense also works to save lives in war. We need a good defense for ourselves. But wars are not won by the defense. In war, the best defense is a good offense. Our offensive military assets are all moving forward to what the military calls assembly areas. These assembly areas are just short of "Lines Of Departure" from where we initiate attacks. Is something up? I know that after 42 and 1/2 years of being around Special Forces and the US Army, I have no recollection of ever deploying over-tired troops for a major worldwide exercise when we know we need them in an on-going war zone very soon. If something is up, I know sneaky and tricky works well in combat and I like the quiet way we are beefing up and deploying critical assets. If something is up, our military is ready. A more important question today is, if something is up, have you prepared your defense? It seems to me that we have been amply warned, while our military quietly builds personnel strength (best they can without the draft) and assumes the strongest tactical and strategic war footing in decades. unclewest