U.S. to keep 11 aircraft carriers

(AP) 

ABOARD THE USS ENTERPRISE - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told sailors aboard the country's oldest aircraft carrier that the U.S. is committed to maintaining a fleet of 11 of the formidable warships despite budget pressures, in part to project sea power against Iran.

Panetta also told the crowd of 1,700 gathered in the hangar bay of the USS Enterprise that the ship is heading to the Persian Gulf region and will steam through the Strait of Hormuz in a direct message to Tehran.

Iran has warned it will block the Strait, a major transit point for global oil supplies, and bluntly told the U.S. not to send carriers into the Gulf. The U.S. has said it would continue to deploy ships there.

"That's what this carrier is all about," said Panetta. "That's the reason we maintain a presence in the Middle East ... We want them to know that we are fully prepared to deal with any contingency and it's better for them to try to deal with us through diplomacy."

There was speculation that budget pressures would force the Pentagon to scale back the number of carriers, perhaps to 10, and Panetta's predecessor, Robert Gates, questioned maintaining 11 ships.

But Congress has expressed strong support for the current U.S. carrier fleet and has passed a law requiring the Defense Department to maintain 11 of the ships.

After his speech, Panetta told reporters traveling with him that the department will be looking for cuts in other areas. He added, "Our view is that the carriers, because of their presence, because of the power they represent, are a very important part of our ability to maintain power projection both in the Pacific and in the Middle East."

Keeping 11 of the warships, he said, "is a long-term commitment that the president wants to put in place."

Panetta's remarks came amid the roar of fighter jets taking off and landing on the flight deck above, as the Enterprise conducted training operations about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Georgia.

Known as the Big E, the warship and the other six ships in the carrier strike group will deploy to the Middle East in March. Its presence there will allow the U.S. to maintain two carrier strike groups in the Gulf region, where they can support battle operations in Afghanistan, anti-piracy efforts and other missions in the area.

"The Big E is going to be an important symbol of that power in that part of the world," said Panetta, whose tour of the ship included stops on the bridge and the flight deck, as fighter jets catapulted off the ship.

This is Panetta's first visit to a carrier during operations at sea. He was to spend the night on the ship.

The decision to maintain 11 carrier groups, Panetta said, is part of the Defense Department's five-year budget plan that will include $260 billion in savings. Overall, the Pentagon must come up with $487 billion over the next 10 years.

The USS Enterprise, which is based in Norfolk, Va., was built 50 years ago as the first nuclear-powered carrier, and is now the oldest active duty ship in America's Naval fleet. The ship's upcoming deployment will be its 22nd and final tour, after which it is scheduled to be deactivated.

It is being replaced by the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is the first in a new class of technologically advanced carriers. There will be about a 33-month gap before the Ford is commissioned, but Congress has granted a waiver allowing the Navy to drop to 10 carriers for that period of time.

The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group includes the carrier itself, Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg, guided-missile destroyers USS Porter, USS James E. Williams and USS Nitze. Together they carry more than 5,000 personnel, with about 4,500 of them on the USS Enterprise. The ship's personnel include fewer than 400 women.

The air wing includes more than 50 aircraft, ranging from fighter jets and helicopters to electronic warfare aircraft.

The USS Enterprise has had a long and storied career. In October 1962, it helped set up a blockade around Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis. The Big E, as the ship is called, also was dispatched to the North Arabian Sea after the Sept. 11 attacks, unleashing more than 800,000 pounds of ordnance during the early days of the Afghanistan war.

The White House is in the final stages of deciding specific cuts in the 2013 budget, which President Barack Obama will submit to Congress next month.

A sweeping defense strategy Obama unveiled earlier is intended to guide the budget cutting decisions. The eight-page document contained no details about how broad concepts for reshaping the military — such as focusing more on Asia and less on Europe — will translate into troop or weapons cuts.

The Army and Marine Corps are already planning substantial troop cuts and Panetta said last week that he will slash the number of Army brigades stationed in Europe from four to two.

[surfwhenucan]

erhart, I think the 1.5T is dicretionary spending. The actual budget is 3.8T. 55 billion is 1.5% of that, which really isn't that much. It's only .36 of one percent of the total deficit.

Predictably, articles like this, which don't represent much of anything important, bring out all the Paul crazies and conspiracy theorists.

[rockymountainskip]

It is not a conspiracy if it is proven true. Check out the facts, go to Debka and Israeli news sites. Next week you will hear about European sanctions against Iran and the tightening of US sanctions to include shipping.

[oldsarge84]

It is amazing to me the posts I have read here today. I have been a member of this country's service for over 29 years. I just did a tour and returned from Afghanistan last July. I wonder why so many people think that the military is running the country into the ground? Last I knew it was the elected representatives of our great nation that decide what to spend the taxpayers money on. If the constituents want a change they use the power of voting to make their voice heard. As for this deficit, why did the USA bail out an Italian or was it a Greek Bank for 5T. Last conservative estimates as to what is sitting in the Federal Reserve in the accounts is in the neighborhood of 40+T. That is right folks. Don't buy the rhetoric. Read and research. Note: The Federal Reserve is not part of the US Government. Research that as well. Oil? The USA has had 90+ percent of it's oil wells either capped or pumping to send to other nations, research that. Our problem in the US is not the crude it is the refineries which the environmentalist hate. The last US oil refinery is something like 40+ years of age, research that. When folks get upset look up answers outside the main streams, you will be surprised what you find. The US policy has been to run the middle east out of oil so that our oil is all there is left so we will be the power. A foolish policy, research that too. We pay more taxes that any nation on the planet for the comforts we now possess. You want more income and less protection find another home.

[rockymountainskip]

False Flag operation planned?
The USS Enterprise is the oldest ship in the navy, it is 50 years old. The USS Enterprise is to transit the strait of Hormuz in March if Iran doesn't accept America's terms to negotiate ( an end to its nuclear program). America plans to tighten the terms of its sanctions against Iran by March to include Iran's oil tankers, so thereby effectively an oil embargo. Iran pocesses anti ship missiles that no ship can guard against IN THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. The strait is less than 50 miles wide, no ship anti-missile defense system will have time to react in the confines of the strait. Who ever came up with this plan would be pure evil if they are willing to sacrifice the lives of sailors, but worry about lossing a more advanced war ship, to achieve a Pearl Harbor event. History buffs will recall that during WWII America imposed an oil embargo on Japan before the Pearl Harbor attack. America knew Japan would strike but America didn't know where or when. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into WWII.

[ToolMangler1]

by rockymountainskip January 22, 2012 2:14 PM EST
"False Flag operation planned? no ship anti-missile defense system will have time to react in the confines of the strait. "


Sorry but the Phalanx system was designed "JUST" for this type of defense. It came into use in them 80's and almost every US warship is armed with at least two of them (One each side). That Battle group is not going into 'harms way' unprotected..

[B_Erhart]

11 X $5 Billion + = $55 Billion A YEAR on a -$1.5 Trillion annual budget of a $15 Trillion national deficit. Sooner or later the numbers WILL matter. Dr Paul been pillaged by fundowacko teabag lackeys for telling the truth. Media blackout of the truth doesn't mean the fiscal realities don't exist...

[djfpga]

The US does not have the most powerful military in the world, it has the most expensive one.

[ToolMangler1]

You had best do some research. There is "NO" Military force on earth that can take on the US Military by themselves. China, Russia, N,Korea and Iran would have to attack America 'together' to have a chance (without either side using Nukes) and absolutely "NO" chance of winning if they did use Nukes..

[robert1129]

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told sailors aboard the country's oldest aircraft carrier that the U.S. is committed to maintaining a fleet of 11 of the formidable warships despite budget pressures, in part to project sea power against Iran.
-----------------------------------
And how many carriers of like capabilities does Iran have? These carriers, not to mention our nuclear subs, all have the firepower to equal the firepower of one first world country. Since they can strike anywhere at any time, why do we need so many bases overseas?Congress is failing the USA by now holding public meetings on this. The media is also failing the public by not highlighting this also.

[Conway193]

"The Army and Marine Corps are already planning substantial troop cuts and Panetta said last week that he will slash the number of Army brigades stationed in Europe from four to two."

WHY do we have any troops stationed in Europe AT ALL?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[ibsteve2u]

So they can help evacuate if the PRC decides they need lebensraum.

[mgunn89512]

what is PRC? china? its because of their help with low-cost financing that we can even think of having a military as big as we do.

[lonestar9000]

When I was in the Army, a group of once were once told by a full Colonel that in order to keep the public from demanding huge reductions in military spending, that the U.S. would always have an enemy, somewhere. Even if we had to create a hostile situation ourselves.

[booooooooooCBSboooooooooo]

or we could get rid of a few and increase foooooood staaaaaamps!

[wtcmedic911]

Sounds like most of you that have posted are Ron Paul idiots!

[buttnakedfishing]

That's all fine, but there has to be a replacement grey ghost..(Big E). Do they plan on commissioning another one? The name and class are legendary! The U.S. has to have an Enterprise!