WBUR
"Defense Secretary Austin says he didn't handle news of hospitalization 'right'"
Tom Bowman
February 01, 2024
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, under fire from Capitol Hill for not disclosing to the White House his hospital stay for prostate cancer, told reporters Thursday, "We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right."
"I should have told the President about my cancer diagnosis."
"I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility."
Austin, in his first Pentagon press briefing in more than a year, appeared thin and walked with a slow gait as he approached the podium and said he was recovering and working with a physical therapist.
He said he was a private person and did not want to burden Biden with his diagnosis, saying he later apologized to President Biden and does not plan to resign.
"I've told him that I'm deeply sorry for not letting him know immediately that I received a heavy diagnosis and was getting treatment," Austin, 70, said.
"And he responded with a grace and warm heart that anyone who knows President Biden would expect."
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December.
He was hospitalized for the procedure on Dec. 22, and the next day he transferred his authority to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks.
But neither Biden nor Hicks was aware he was in the hospital, or that he returned on New Year's Day with complications.
It was not until several days later that Biden learned he was in the hospital, and another week before the president was made aware of Austin's cancer treatment.
But Austin did not answer a repeated question about whether any staff members knew of his hospitalization on Dec. 22 and if so, why didn't they tell the White House.
His chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, who would normally inform her White House counterpart, was sick with the flu at the time.
She was not seated among the staff at the Pentagon on Thursday, though she would normally be in attendance.
And another unnamed staff member told a radio dispatcher to send an ambulance to Austin's home but to make sure the ambulance did not have its siren or lights on.
Austin said Thursday he did not direct his aide to say that.
Magsamen has ordered a 30-day review of the communications breakdown.
Another review is being carried out by the Pentagon's Inspector General.
Some Democrats faulted Austin's secrecy and Republicans have been particularly critical.
Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, wrote Austin a letter on Jan. 18, saying Austin promised transparency but failed to answer some of his questions.
"Specifically, I am alarmed you refused to answer whether you instructed your staff to not inform the President of the United States or anyone else of your hospitalization," Rogers wrote.
"Unfortunately, this leads me to believe that information is being withheld from Congress."
"Congress must understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of the whereabouts of a cabinet secretary."
Rogers said he would call a hearing of the full committee on Feb. 14 because of Austin's "unwillingness to provide candid and complete answers."
Austin was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Jan. 15.
He returned to work at the Pentagon this week.
Austin also addressed the recent suicide drone attack by Iranian-backed militias that killed three American soldiers at a remote base in Jordan and wounded dozens more.
"The president will not tolerate attacks on American troops – and neither will I," Austin said, reading from prepared remarks.
The Pentagon has prepared tiered strikes against militia groups in both Iraq and Syria that have targeted U.S. forces in at least 165 attacks since last fall.
Those attacks are expected to begin any day now.
https://www.wbur.org/npr/1228363556/llo ... talization
THE DOD
Re: THE DOD
Bloomberg
"Iraq Says 16 Killed in US Strikes, Calls Security Risk Grave - US strikes overnight came in retaliation for troop deaths - Iran says Washington is stoking regional instability"
By Khalid Al Ansary and Jennifer Jacobs
February 3, 2024 at 5:27 AM EST
Iraq’s government said civilians were among at least 16 people killed in a wave of US airstrikes that the Middle Eastern country called a grave risk to security in the region.
Dozens of US strikes late Friday targeted Iranian forces and militias in Iraq and Syria and were taken in retaliation for a drone attack a week ago in northeast Jordan by an Iran-linked militant group in which three American soldiers were killed.
The strikes also injured at least 25 and damaged residential building, Iraq said.
“This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of an abyss,” Basim Al-Awadi, a spokesman for Iraq’s government, said in a statement issued on Saturday.
“Iraq reiterates its refusal to let its lands be an arena for settling scores.”
Separately, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called the US airstrikes a “strategic mistake,” without specifying whether the country’s assets were targeted, and Russia’s foreign ministry said it would ask the UN Security Council to discuss the strikes as soon as possible.
The “adventurous move” by Washington “will have no outcome but escalating tension and instability in the region,” ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement, adding that the strikes were “violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of both Iraq and Syria.
A number of civilians and soldiers were killed or wounded in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, the state-run SANA news service reported, citing a statement from the nation’s military.
Significant damage was inflicted on public and private property, it added.
Meeting in Brussels, European foreign affairs officials called for an urgent de-escalation, describing the Middle East as a boiler set to explode.
The region has edged closer to an all-out conflict since Hamas militants struck Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages, and Israel’s government declared war on the group, deemed a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union, in the Gaza Strip.
Following a day-long meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, once again urged de-escalation.
“We don’t have a military presence on the ground, the only thing we can do is use our diplomatic capacity to avoid this increasing reaction,” Borrell told reporters.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups continue to represent a direct threat to the stability of Iraq, the region, and the safety of Americans. We will continue to take action, do whatever is necessary to protect our people, and… pic.twitter.com/Y53nvRfjjx
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024
In Friday’s incursion, aircraft including long-range B-1 bombers flown from the US struck 85 targets at seven locations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force and militant groups that Iran funds, according to US officials.
The US attacks came days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a fifth trip to the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel.
He’s expected to touch down in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank over five days.
Blinken’s visit is a bid to help secure a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza that officials believe could serve as a tentative step toward ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
While backing Israel’s right to defend itself after the October attack, US officials believe a cease-fire could deny Iranian proxies a reason to keep attacking American forces.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement on Friday that President Joe Biden has directed more action against the IRGC and militias backed by the group, though he didn’t say when that would happen.
US military bases scattered across Iraq and Syria had come under attack more than 160 times since Hamas’s October attack on Israel, but the Jan. 28 fatalities were the first deaths.
The US strikes targeted “logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and Coalition forces,” Central Command said.
Briefing reporters afterward, US officials said the Iraqi government was informed beforehand.
The US blamed the deadly attack in Jordan on an Iranian-backed umbrella group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
That group is part of what’s known as the Axis of Resistance, a web of anti-Israel and anti-US militants in the region that encompasses groups in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, as well as Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It also includes the Kata’ib Hezbollah militant group, which said earlier in the week that it was halting military operations in Iraq after pressure from the Iraqi government.
The US “is purposefully trying to plunge the largest countries in the region into conflict,” Russian foreign ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
“It’s obvious the airstrikes are specifically designed to further inflame.”
Like the US, Iranian officials have sought to balance promises of retaliation against assurances that they don’t seek a wider conflict.
Earlier in the week, an IRGC commander said the country wasn’t seeking a confrontation with the US but has “no fear of war.”
Separately on Saturday, US Central Command described a series of skirmishes in a Red Sea operational update posted on X, saying it shot down drones in three separate incidents on Friday.
“These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” the US said.
— With assistance from Arsalan Shahla, Natalia Drozdiak, and Katharina Rosskopf
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ify%20wall
"Iraq Says 16 Killed in US Strikes, Calls Security Risk Grave - US strikes overnight came in retaliation for troop deaths - Iran says Washington is stoking regional instability"
By Khalid Al Ansary and Jennifer Jacobs
February 3, 2024 at 5:27 AM EST
Iraq’s government said civilians were among at least 16 people killed in a wave of US airstrikes that the Middle Eastern country called a grave risk to security in the region.
Dozens of US strikes late Friday targeted Iranian forces and militias in Iraq and Syria and were taken in retaliation for a drone attack a week ago in northeast Jordan by an Iran-linked militant group in which three American soldiers were killed.
The strikes also injured at least 25 and damaged residential building, Iraq said.
“This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of an abyss,” Basim Al-Awadi, a spokesman for Iraq’s government, said in a statement issued on Saturday.
“Iraq reiterates its refusal to let its lands be an arena for settling scores.”
Separately, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called the US airstrikes a “strategic mistake,” without specifying whether the country’s assets were targeted, and Russia’s foreign ministry said it would ask the UN Security Council to discuss the strikes as soon as possible.
The “adventurous move” by Washington “will have no outcome but escalating tension and instability in the region,” ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement, adding that the strikes were “violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of both Iraq and Syria.
A number of civilians and soldiers were killed or wounded in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, the state-run SANA news service reported, citing a statement from the nation’s military.
Significant damage was inflicted on public and private property, it added.
Meeting in Brussels, European foreign affairs officials called for an urgent de-escalation, describing the Middle East as a boiler set to explode.
The region has edged closer to an all-out conflict since Hamas militants struck Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages, and Israel’s government declared war on the group, deemed a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union, in the Gaza Strip.
Following a day-long meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, once again urged de-escalation.
“We don’t have a military presence on the ground, the only thing we can do is use our diplomatic capacity to avoid this increasing reaction,” Borrell told reporters.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups continue to represent a direct threat to the stability of Iraq, the region, and the safety of Americans. We will continue to take action, do whatever is necessary to protect our people, and… pic.twitter.com/Y53nvRfjjx
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 3, 2024
In Friday’s incursion, aircraft including long-range B-1 bombers flown from the US struck 85 targets at seven locations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force and militant groups that Iran funds, according to US officials.
The US attacks came days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on a fifth trip to the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel.
He’s expected to touch down in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank over five days.
Blinken’s visit is a bid to help secure a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza that officials believe could serve as a tentative step toward ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
While backing Israel’s right to defend itself after the October attack, US officials believe a cease-fire could deny Iranian proxies a reason to keep attacking American forces.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement on Friday that President Joe Biden has directed more action against the IRGC and militias backed by the group, though he didn’t say when that would happen.
US military bases scattered across Iraq and Syria had come under attack more than 160 times since Hamas’s October attack on Israel, but the Jan. 28 fatalities were the first deaths.
The US strikes targeted “logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and Coalition forces,” Central Command said.
Briefing reporters afterward, US officials said the Iraqi government was informed beforehand.
The US blamed the deadly attack in Jordan on an Iranian-backed umbrella group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
That group is part of what’s known as the Axis of Resistance, a web of anti-Israel and anti-US militants in the region that encompasses groups in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, as well as Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It also includes the Kata’ib Hezbollah militant group, which said earlier in the week that it was halting military operations in Iraq after pressure from the Iraqi government.
The US “is purposefully trying to plunge the largest countries in the region into conflict,” Russian foreign ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
“It’s obvious the airstrikes are specifically designed to further inflame.”
Like the US, Iranian officials have sought to balance promises of retaliation against assurances that they don’t seek a wider conflict.
Earlier in the week, an IRGC commander said the country wasn’t seeking a confrontation with the US but has “no fear of war.”
Separately on Saturday, US Central Command described a series of skirmishes in a Red Sea operational update posted on X, saying it shot down drones in three separate incidents on Friday.
“These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” the US said.
— With assistance from Arsalan Shahla, Natalia Drozdiak, and Katharina Rosskopf
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ify%20wall
Re: THE DOD
State Of The Union
"Fox Suggests Diversity Initiatives to Blame for Soldier Deaths in Jordan"
Story by Jordan Andrews
4 FEBRUARY 2024
U.S. officials are facing questions after three Army reservists were killed by a drone strike in Jordan.
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo suggested that diversity initiatives may have played a role in the attack.
Republicans have criticized the military’s focus on diversity and inclusion, using terms like “wokeness” and “DEI” as criticisms.
“Maybe [the military is] focused too much on DEI,” Bartiromo said.
“There’s a concern at the FBI because they’re dropping the FBI special agent requirements in the name of DEI."
"I’m just wondering if that has anything to do with missing an important drone that just killed three of our heroes.”
This is part of a broader conservative trend to attack diversity efforts in various industries, including the aviation sector.
“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified,’” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk said.
These critiques have been ongoing, with figures like Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump expressing concerns about the military’s readiness and capabilities.
There have been instances of Republican obstruction of military functioning, such as delays in approving military appointments and criticisms of initiatives aimed at addressing racism within the armed forces.
However, military officials like Gen. Mark Milley have refuted claims that the military is too “woke,” asserting that it remains strong and ready.
“This military is a lot of things, but woke, it’s not."
"So I take exception to that."
"I think that people say those things for reasons that are their own reasons, but it’s not true."
"It’s not accurate,” Milley said.
“What I see is a military that’s exceptionally strong."
"It’s powerful; it’s ready."
"In fact, our readiness rates, the way we measure readiness, is better now than they’ve been in years.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fox-s ... 3729&ei=13
"Fox Suggests Diversity Initiatives to Blame for Soldier Deaths in Jordan"
Story by Jordan Andrews
4 FEBRUARY 2024
U.S. officials are facing questions after three Army reservists were killed by a drone strike in Jordan.
Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo suggested that diversity initiatives may have played a role in the attack.
Republicans have criticized the military’s focus on diversity and inclusion, using terms like “wokeness” and “DEI” as criticisms.
“Maybe [the military is] focused too much on DEI,” Bartiromo said.
“There’s a concern at the FBI because they’re dropping the FBI special agent requirements in the name of DEI."
"I’m just wondering if that has anything to do with missing an important drone that just killed three of our heroes.”
This is part of a broader conservative trend to attack diversity efforts in various industries, including the aviation sector.
“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified,’” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk said.
These critiques have been ongoing, with figures like Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump expressing concerns about the military’s readiness and capabilities.
There have been instances of Republican obstruction of military functioning, such as delays in approving military appointments and criticisms of initiatives aimed at addressing racism within the armed forces.
However, military officials like Gen. Mark Milley have refuted claims that the military is too “woke,” asserting that it remains strong and ready.
“This military is a lot of things, but woke, it’s not."
"So I take exception to that."
"I think that people say those things for reasons that are their own reasons, but it’s not true."
"It’s not accurate,” Milley said.
“What I see is a military that’s exceptionally strong."
"It’s powerful; it’s ready."
"In fact, our readiness rates, the way we measure readiness, is better now than they’ve been in years.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fox-s ... 3729&ei=13
Re: THE DOD
Time
"The U.S. Navy Is Sinking in Middle East Sand"
Story by Gil Barndollar
13 FEBRUARY 2024
The U.S. has a range of options for dealing with Yemen’s Houthis, none of them good.
But a long campaign of naval strikes and interception against them, as is now being floated by the Biden Administration and outside experts, is certainly the worst response of all.
That’s because it means the U.S. Navy continuing to sink into Middle East sand for an unachievable goal all while losing ground in the far-more important Pacific.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have summoned Tomahawk cruise missiles and Top Gun pilots from the deck of the USS Eisenhower.
The newly-renamed Operation Poseidon Archer is just two weeks old, and the Biden Administration is already drawing up plans for a longer effort, despite admitting that defeating the Houthis is not viable.
There is a risk of escalation in the Middle East, especially with the death of three U.S. soldiers after a drone strike in Jordan.
But the effects on the U.S. Navy will be predictable, because they have all happened before: overworked ships and sailors, expenditure of precious precision munitions, and a continued punt on the pivot to the Pacific.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is the crown jewel of American military might.
Its 5,000 sailors and 90 jet-strike aircraft can guarantee sustained ship-to-shore pummeling of adversaries and the purported deterrence this provides — in effect modern gunboat diplomacy.
In any geopolitical crisis, it’s said the U.S. President will demand to know where the carriers are.
For the past two decades, throughout the “Global War on Terror” (GWOT), the answer has usually been the Middle East.
From 2001 to 2015, United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which includes North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, had at least one carrier assigned at all times.
As late as 2020, the Middle East drew almost as much carrier presence as the entire Pacific.
Because of this relentless demand, carriers often have their deployments extended or are “double-pumped,” conducting back-to-back deployments without a major maintenance period in between.
The last three carriers deployed in the Mediterranean were all extended: the USS Gerald R. Ford was at sea for 239 days, the USS Harry S. Truman for 285, and the USS George H. W. Bush for 257.
This overwork has consequences.
After the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower did two sets of double pumps, its subsequent 14-month maintenance period ballooned to 23 months because of wear and tear.
The utility and survivability of carriers in a major war are also in question.
In 1982, the legendary Admiral Hyman Rickover stunned Congress by testifying that in a war with the Soviet Union, U.S. aircraft carriers would survive for “48 hours.”
In the four decades since, the carrier’s vulnerability has dramatically increased.
Anti-ship missiles have become far more accurate and long-ranged since Rickover’s testimony, as the unrefueled range of an aircraft carrier’s air wing has shrunk from well over 1,000 nautical miles to barely 600 now.
This leaves carrier commanders with two unpalatable options: stay out of enemy range but become operationally irrelevant or sail close enough but put a $13 billion vessel and its 5,000 sailors at risk.
The narrow waters of the Persian Gulf and chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen’s Bab-el Mandeb only magnify this dilemma.
Yet the overworked carrier fleet and questions about its utility in a major war are only part of the larger problem of U.S. naval overstretch.
Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. Navy has become addicted to global “presence” as a demonstration of its value to the nation.
Over the past two decades, the Army and Marine Corps could point to their efforts, successful or not, on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
To maintain its status and budget, the Navy also needed to contribute, at sea and ashore.
With the all-volunteer military stretched to the breaking point, the Pentagon started looking to the Navy to step in.
Some 120,000 sailors would go on to serve on land during the GWOT.
Many of these sailors, especially the reservists who are critical in any major war, have become “sailors in name only,” their naval proficiencies and mindset atrophying due to prolonged service ashore.
All of this significantly strained U.S. naval manpower, causing ships to deploy undermanned and for longer durations.
The Navy’s overstretch may have also contributed to a pair of tragic accidents.
In 2017, a pair of Navy destroyers, the USS McCain and the USS Fitzgerald, collided with civilian ships in the Pacific in separate incidents, killing 17 sailors.
A report on the collisions found that rest and training were sacrificed for naval presence.
One of the Navy’s most senior retired enlisted sailors, Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer Paul Kingsbury, explicitly blamed the Navy’s GWOT augmentation program for the degraded safety culture that led to the McCain and Fitzgerald disasters.
The future looks grim for the overworked fleet.
Like the rest of the U.S. military, the Navy is facing an unprecedented recruiting crisis, fueled in part by fatigue from time away from home during extended deployments.
In an all-volunteer force, sailors will vote with their feet.
A shrinking fleet is the likely outcome, regardless of how many warships America has.
The most immediate danger of overstretch, though, is munitions not manpower.
The opening Jan. 12 strike on the Houthis expended 80 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, more than half the missile’s annual production.
In the near term, expending hundreds of these missiles in a tertiary operation like Prosperity Guardian could have major impacts in a far more important theater in the Pacific.
Precision strike missiles like the Tomahawk are vital to the U.S. military’s ability to deter, and if necessary, defeat a Chinese attack in the Pacific — a contingency where the Navy will be carrying most of the fight, unlike in America’s Middle East wars.
The U.S. may already lack sufficient precision munitions for a shooting war with China.
The Navy’s newest Middle East operation adds further risk to the service’s most essential mission.
On September 10, 2001, the U.S. was the unchallenged global superpower, with naval preeminence as the bedrock of American military dominance.
The U.S. Navy outgunned China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) by more than 100 warships.
China had no aircraft carriers and just 21 diesel submarines.
Some 20 years later, America’s sailors look out at a different world.
PLAN is now the world’s largest navy (though the U.S. Navy still boasts more tonnage).
China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, is nearing its sea trials.
In the time since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, PLAN has commissioned 313 ships.
Recent wargames suggest the U.S. Navy would struggle mightily to defeat a Chinese fleet that was an afterthought just two decades ago.
The future trajectory is even worse: Chinese shipbuilding capacity now exceeds that of the U.S. by a factor of 200, according to unclassified data from the Office of Naval Intelligence.
Rebuilding the U.S. Navy is a long-term project that has barely begun, despite lip service from both political parties for years.
Ships, to say nothing of shipyards, are not built overnight.
Lost time and lost opportunities cannot be recovered.
But the U.S. can stop digging its navy into a deeper hole through Middle East-driven overwork of ships and sailors.
Fixing the fleet requires snapping the CENTCOM noose as quickly as possible.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-u ... 03bb&ei=39
"The U.S. Navy Is Sinking in Middle East Sand"
Story by Gil Barndollar
13 FEBRUARY 2024
The U.S. has a range of options for dealing with Yemen’s Houthis, none of them good.
But a long campaign of naval strikes and interception against them, as is now being floated by the Biden Administration and outside experts, is certainly the worst response of all.
That’s because it means the U.S. Navy continuing to sink into Middle East sand for an unachievable goal all while losing ground in the far-more important Pacific.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have summoned Tomahawk cruise missiles and Top Gun pilots from the deck of the USS Eisenhower.
The newly-renamed Operation Poseidon Archer is just two weeks old, and the Biden Administration is already drawing up plans for a longer effort, despite admitting that defeating the Houthis is not viable.
There is a risk of escalation in the Middle East, especially with the death of three U.S. soldiers after a drone strike in Jordan.
But the effects on the U.S. Navy will be predictable, because they have all happened before: overworked ships and sailors, expenditure of precious precision munitions, and a continued punt on the pivot to the Pacific.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is the crown jewel of American military might.
Its 5,000 sailors and 90 jet-strike aircraft can guarantee sustained ship-to-shore pummeling of adversaries and the purported deterrence this provides — in effect modern gunboat diplomacy.
In any geopolitical crisis, it’s said the U.S. President will demand to know where the carriers are.
For the past two decades, throughout the “Global War on Terror” (GWOT), the answer has usually been the Middle East.
From 2001 to 2015, United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which includes North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, had at least one carrier assigned at all times.
As late as 2020, the Middle East drew almost as much carrier presence as the entire Pacific.
Because of this relentless demand, carriers often have their deployments extended or are “double-pumped,” conducting back-to-back deployments without a major maintenance period in between.
The last three carriers deployed in the Mediterranean were all extended: the USS Gerald R. Ford was at sea for 239 days, the USS Harry S. Truman for 285, and the USS George H. W. Bush for 257.
This overwork has consequences.
After the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower did two sets of double pumps, its subsequent 14-month maintenance period ballooned to 23 months because of wear and tear.
The utility and survivability of carriers in a major war are also in question.
In 1982, the legendary Admiral Hyman Rickover stunned Congress by testifying that in a war with the Soviet Union, U.S. aircraft carriers would survive for “48 hours.”
In the four decades since, the carrier’s vulnerability has dramatically increased.
Anti-ship missiles have become far more accurate and long-ranged since Rickover’s testimony, as the unrefueled range of an aircraft carrier’s air wing has shrunk from well over 1,000 nautical miles to barely 600 now.
This leaves carrier commanders with two unpalatable options: stay out of enemy range but become operationally irrelevant or sail close enough but put a $13 billion vessel and its 5,000 sailors at risk.
The narrow waters of the Persian Gulf and chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen’s Bab-el Mandeb only magnify this dilemma.
Yet the overworked carrier fleet and questions about its utility in a major war are only part of the larger problem of U.S. naval overstretch.
Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. Navy has become addicted to global “presence” as a demonstration of its value to the nation.
Over the past two decades, the Army and Marine Corps could point to their efforts, successful or not, on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
To maintain its status and budget, the Navy also needed to contribute, at sea and ashore.
With the all-volunteer military stretched to the breaking point, the Pentagon started looking to the Navy to step in.
Some 120,000 sailors would go on to serve on land during the GWOT.
Many of these sailors, especially the reservists who are critical in any major war, have become “sailors in name only,” their naval proficiencies and mindset atrophying due to prolonged service ashore.
All of this significantly strained U.S. naval manpower, causing ships to deploy undermanned and for longer durations.
The Navy’s overstretch may have also contributed to a pair of tragic accidents.
In 2017, a pair of Navy destroyers, the USS McCain and the USS Fitzgerald, collided with civilian ships in the Pacific in separate incidents, killing 17 sailors.
A report on the collisions found that rest and training were sacrificed for naval presence.
One of the Navy’s most senior retired enlisted sailors, Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer Paul Kingsbury, explicitly blamed the Navy’s GWOT augmentation program for the degraded safety culture that led to the McCain and Fitzgerald disasters.
The future looks grim for the overworked fleet.
Like the rest of the U.S. military, the Navy is facing an unprecedented recruiting crisis, fueled in part by fatigue from time away from home during extended deployments.
In an all-volunteer force, sailors will vote with their feet.
A shrinking fleet is the likely outcome, regardless of how many warships America has.
The most immediate danger of overstretch, though, is munitions not manpower.
The opening Jan. 12 strike on the Houthis expended 80 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, more than half the missile’s annual production.
In the near term, expending hundreds of these missiles in a tertiary operation like Prosperity Guardian could have major impacts in a far more important theater in the Pacific.
Precision strike missiles like the Tomahawk are vital to the U.S. military’s ability to deter, and if necessary, defeat a Chinese attack in the Pacific — a contingency where the Navy will be carrying most of the fight, unlike in America’s Middle East wars.
The U.S. may already lack sufficient precision munitions for a shooting war with China.
The Navy’s newest Middle East operation adds further risk to the service’s most essential mission.
On September 10, 2001, the U.S. was the unchallenged global superpower, with naval preeminence as the bedrock of American military dominance.
The U.S. Navy outgunned China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) by more than 100 warships.
China had no aircraft carriers and just 21 diesel submarines.
Some 20 years later, America’s sailors look out at a different world.
PLAN is now the world’s largest navy (though the U.S. Navy still boasts more tonnage).
China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian, is nearing its sea trials.
In the time since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, PLAN has commissioned 313 ships.
Recent wargames suggest the U.S. Navy would struggle mightily to defeat a Chinese fleet that was an afterthought just two decades ago.
The future trajectory is even worse: Chinese shipbuilding capacity now exceeds that of the U.S. by a factor of 200, according to unclassified data from the Office of Naval Intelligence.
Rebuilding the U.S. Navy is a long-term project that has barely begun, despite lip service from both political parties for years.
Ships, to say nothing of shipyards, are not built overnight.
Lost time and lost opportunities cannot be recovered.
But the U.S. can stop digging its navy into a deeper hole through Middle East-driven overwork of ships and sailors.
Fixing the fleet requires snapping the CENTCOM noose as quickly as possible.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-u ... 03bb&ei=39
Re: THE DOD
Business Insider
"US warships are shooting down weapons no one's ever faced in combat before, and a Navy commander says it's a 'great opportunity'"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
18 FEBRUARY 2024
* The US Navy has been battling anti-ship ballistic missiles, weapons used in combat for the first time only recently.
* Business Insider recently visited a destroyer that has shot down some of the Houthis' missiles.
* Navy commanders say that American forces are gaining valuable intelligence from these engagements.
US Navy warships off the coast of Yemen have been battling Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, a dangerous weapon that no military has ever faced in combat until very recently.
These weapons could be significant threats in potential future conflicts, especially one with China in the Western Pacific.
But American forces are learning from their recent battles in the Middle East and gaining valuable intelligence from these engagements, Navy commanders say.
"First time a ballistic missile has been shot, either at a warship or at maritime traffic that's next to a warship," a carrier strike group commander told Business Insider during a visit to the Red Sea this week.
"And that has yielded us a lot of information."
The Houthis began to employ anti-ship ballistic missiles — alongside anti-ship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones — toward the end of last year, marking the first time "in history" that these weapons have been used, as US President Joe Biden has said.
The use of these missiles complicates the threat environment.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired dozens of anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sometimes even striking commercial vessels.
These repeated provocations have drawn in the Navy and forced it to respond.
Over the past two months, US warships operating in the region have shot down a handful of anti-ship ballistic missiles — most recently in early February.
The US has also conducted preemptive strikes targeting these missiles in Yemen before they are launched.
Business Insider recently traveled to the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the Red Sea that has been on the front lines of these efforts and has shot down several Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles.
The ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Brian Sanchez, hailed his sailors as "resilient" and said they have months of training under their belts to prepare for these sorts of engagements.
"Now that we're out here, this is what we've trained to do," he said in an interview with Business Insider.
"We might be seeing it for the first time, but it's nothing new, because we've had those repetitions of training."
Sanchez said that the data his warship collects is sent back to the US, where the performance of weapons systems is analyzed for any technical and tactical improvements or adjustments.
He credited his sailors for being able to respond to these engagements the way that they were trained to do.
"They've been doing a very good job reacting the way we expect them to react and then getting right back to business and making sure the ship continues to stay ready for another engagement," the CO said of his sailors.
The Gravely is part of the Navy's Carrier Strike Group 2, which consists of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, four destroyers, and a cruiser.
The carrier strike group's commander, Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, said he's already received feedback from some of the data that has been sent back to the US, including that ship weapons systems are performing "exactly as intended."
"We do have some new capabilities that were fielded over the last couple of years, and it's paid huge dividends when it comes to basically defeating this ballistic missile threat," he told Business Insider during a visit to the Ike this week.
The Houthi rebels boast a rather sizable arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles, some of which are Iranian in origin, while others just contain parts from Tehran, according to an analysis published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in early January.
US Central Command, or CENTCOM, called attention to the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles but has not specifically identified which missiles have been used in any of the attacks.
Long before the Houthis began attacking international shipping lanes with anti-ship ballistic missiles, these weapons had emerged as a growing concern for the US military as it looked across the Pacific to China given the country's growing arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles and rising tensions.
Were Washington and Beijing to go to war at some point in the future, the maritime domain would likely be a key battleground, making anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities and defenses designed to defeat them important considerations.
Experts say the Houthis' anti-ship ballistic missiles don't quite stack up against China's arsenal, which is much more sophisticated, particularly in terms of guidance technology, and is increasingly expanding.
Beijing has invested heavily in the development of its Rocket Force and has even built mock-ups of American naval vessels, which are thought to be used for target practice.
China also has a wide range of sensors — like radars and satellites — that it can use to direct its missiles.
But while there may be a difference between the threat environments and capabilities in the Middle East and Western Pacific, any anti-ship ballistic missile could cause catastrophic damage, and current and former military officers agree that the Navy is gaining extremely valuable experience through its regular engagements with the Houthis, as well as a certain degree of reassurance.
"Not that we like getting shot at," said Miguez, the Carrier Strike Group 2 commander, "but it was a great opportunity to prove that the systems that we did purchase, and we fielded, and we trained to, actually work when asked."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 51b8&ei=42
"US warships are shooting down weapons no one's ever faced in combat before, and a Navy commander says it's a 'great opportunity'"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
18 FEBRUARY 2024
* The US Navy has been battling anti-ship ballistic missiles, weapons used in combat for the first time only recently.
* Business Insider recently visited a destroyer that has shot down some of the Houthis' missiles.
* Navy commanders say that American forces are gaining valuable intelligence from these engagements.
US Navy warships off the coast of Yemen have been battling Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, a dangerous weapon that no military has ever faced in combat until very recently.
These weapons could be significant threats in potential future conflicts, especially one with China in the Western Pacific.
But American forces are learning from their recent battles in the Middle East and gaining valuable intelligence from these engagements, Navy commanders say.
"First time a ballistic missile has been shot, either at a warship or at maritime traffic that's next to a warship," a carrier strike group commander told Business Insider during a visit to the Red Sea this week.
"And that has yielded us a lot of information."
The Houthis began to employ anti-ship ballistic missiles — alongside anti-ship cruise missiles and one-way attack drones — toward the end of last year, marking the first time "in history" that these weapons have been used, as US President Joe Biden has said.
The use of these missiles complicates the threat environment.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired dozens of anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sometimes even striking commercial vessels.
These repeated provocations have drawn in the Navy and forced it to respond.
Over the past two months, US warships operating in the region have shot down a handful of anti-ship ballistic missiles — most recently in early February.
The US has also conducted preemptive strikes targeting these missiles in Yemen before they are launched.
Business Insider recently traveled to the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the Red Sea that has been on the front lines of these efforts and has shot down several Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles.
The ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Brian Sanchez, hailed his sailors as "resilient" and said they have months of training under their belts to prepare for these sorts of engagements.
"Now that we're out here, this is what we've trained to do," he said in an interview with Business Insider.
"We might be seeing it for the first time, but it's nothing new, because we've had those repetitions of training."
Sanchez said that the data his warship collects is sent back to the US, where the performance of weapons systems is analyzed for any technical and tactical improvements or adjustments.
He credited his sailors for being able to respond to these engagements the way that they were trained to do.
"They've been doing a very good job reacting the way we expect them to react and then getting right back to business and making sure the ship continues to stay ready for another engagement," the CO said of his sailors.
The Gravely is part of the Navy's Carrier Strike Group 2, which consists of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, four destroyers, and a cruiser.
The carrier strike group's commander, Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, said he's already received feedback from some of the data that has been sent back to the US, including that ship weapons systems are performing "exactly as intended."
"We do have some new capabilities that were fielded over the last couple of years, and it's paid huge dividends when it comes to basically defeating this ballistic missile threat," he told Business Insider during a visit to the Ike this week.
The Houthi rebels boast a rather sizable arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles, some of which are Iranian in origin, while others just contain parts from Tehran, according to an analysis published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in early January.
US Central Command, or CENTCOM, called attention to the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles but has not specifically identified which missiles have been used in any of the attacks.
Long before the Houthis began attacking international shipping lanes with anti-ship ballistic missiles, these weapons had emerged as a growing concern for the US military as it looked across the Pacific to China given the country's growing arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles and rising tensions.
Were Washington and Beijing to go to war at some point in the future, the maritime domain would likely be a key battleground, making anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities and defenses designed to defeat them important considerations.
Experts say the Houthis' anti-ship ballistic missiles don't quite stack up against China's arsenal, which is much more sophisticated, particularly in terms of guidance technology, and is increasingly expanding.
Beijing has invested heavily in the development of its Rocket Force and has even built mock-ups of American naval vessels, which are thought to be used for target practice.
China also has a wide range of sensors — like radars and satellites — that it can use to direct its missiles.
But while there may be a difference between the threat environments and capabilities in the Middle East and Western Pacific, any anti-ship ballistic missile could cause catastrophic damage, and current and former military officers agree that the Navy is gaining extremely valuable experience through its regular engagements with the Houthis, as well as a certain degree of reassurance.
"Not that we like getting shot at," said Miguez, the Carrier Strike Group 2 commander, "but it was a great opportunity to prove that the systems that we did purchase, and we fielded, and we trained to, actually work when asked."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 51b8&ei=42
Re: THE DOD
Bloomberg
"Pentagon Has Opened Over 50 Criminal Probes on US Aid to Ukraine"
Story by Tony Capaccio
24 FEBRUARY 2024
(Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon’s inspector general said its criminal investigators have opened more than 50 cases related to aid provided to Ukraine, including some involving contractors, but have yet to firm up any allegations.
The investigations, which are at different stages, are looking at issues including “procurement fraud, product substitution, theft, fraud or corruption, and diversion,” the inspector general, Robert Storch, said in a briefing Thursday.
“We have not substantiated any such allegations, though that may well change in the future,” he said.
Storch also cautioned there would likely be more investigations into abuse or diversions of US equipment “given the quantity and speed” of gear flowing into Ukraine.
The Pentagon is leading Washington’s efforts, along with the State Department and US Agency for International Development, to monitor the roughly $113 billion in aid and funds appropriated for Ukraine, not all of which has been spent, as part of the US-led “Atlantic Resolve” effort to dislodge Russia.
A similar process was undertaken for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Auditors have so far uncovered “stresses and gaps” in providing assistance, he said.
For example, audits uncovered incomplete manifests for shipments transfered to Ukraine through Poland.
“As a result, DoD personnel did not have required visibility and accountability of all types of equipment during the transfer process,” they said in a June assessment.
Despite those issues, Storch said the Pentagon so far “has responded well” to Ukraine’s military assistance needs “with the agility to carry out what’s essentially a train and supply mission” before much of the equipment gets to Ukraine.
Storch’s office has over 200 people engaged in Ukraine oversight, and aims to increase the number working inside the country from the current 28, which includes two at the US embassy in Kyiv.
Among other audits still in the works, the Pentagon is evaluating issue around 155-millimeter artillery shells, a key munition for Ukraine, to determine whether the US met its goals while balancing the needs for its own reserves, training and operations.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pe ... b5a2&ei=22
"Pentagon Has Opened Over 50 Criminal Probes on US Aid to Ukraine"
Story by Tony Capaccio
24 FEBRUARY 2024
(Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon’s inspector general said its criminal investigators have opened more than 50 cases related to aid provided to Ukraine, including some involving contractors, but have yet to firm up any allegations.
The investigations, which are at different stages, are looking at issues including “procurement fraud, product substitution, theft, fraud or corruption, and diversion,” the inspector general, Robert Storch, said in a briefing Thursday.
“We have not substantiated any such allegations, though that may well change in the future,” he said.
Storch also cautioned there would likely be more investigations into abuse or diversions of US equipment “given the quantity and speed” of gear flowing into Ukraine.
The Pentagon is leading Washington’s efforts, along with the State Department and US Agency for International Development, to monitor the roughly $113 billion in aid and funds appropriated for Ukraine, not all of which has been spent, as part of the US-led “Atlantic Resolve” effort to dislodge Russia.
A similar process was undertaken for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Auditors have so far uncovered “stresses and gaps” in providing assistance, he said.
For example, audits uncovered incomplete manifests for shipments transfered to Ukraine through Poland.
“As a result, DoD personnel did not have required visibility and accountability of all types of equipment during the transfer process,” they said in a June assessment.
Despite those issues, Storch said the Pentagon so far “has responded well” to Ukraine’s military assistance needs “with the agility to carry out what’s essentially a train and supply mission” before much of the equipment gets to Ukraine.
Storch’s office has over 200 people engaged in Ukraine oversight, and aims to increase the number working inside the country from the current 28, which includes two at the US embassy in Kyiv.
Among other audits still in the works, the Pentagon is evaluating issue around 155-millimeter artillery shells, a key munition for Ukraine, to determine whether the US met its goals while balancing the needs for its own reserves, training and operations.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pe ... b5a2&ei=22
Re: THE DOD
Business Insider
"Houthi attacks on ships are giving the rebels and Iran intel on how to hunt down and strike naval targets, war experts say"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
24 FEBRUARY 2024
* The Houthis have spent the past few months lobbing missiles and drones at ships off Yemen's coast.
* These threats have not hit US Navy ships in the region, but they have struck merchant vessels.
* War experts say these attacks are giving Iran and the rebels, Tehran's proxies, valuable data.
After months of constantly firing missiles and drones at ships off the coast of Yemen, the Houthis are showing no signs of ending their relentless provocations.
During this time, their weapons have struck several commercial vessels, come dangerously close to a US Navy warship, and introduced a deadly new threat into naval combat.
War experts say the rebels and Iran, their main backer, have been learning key information from the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute think tanks said the Houthis and Iran are likely using the attacks to "test and refine their approach to striking naval targets."
Tehran's military advisors have reportedly been providing the rebels with critical targeting intelligence.
"These Houthi attacks provide Iran and the Houthis opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of different strike packages to understand how they can evade and overwhelm US defenses more effectively," these analysts wrote in a Thursday assessment of conflicts across the Middle East.
The Houthi rebels boast a sizable arsenal of one-way attack drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, and anti-ship ballistic missiles, the latter of which had never been used in combat until recently.
They also possess an inventory of surface and underwater drones.
Some of the capabilities, like the anti-ship missiles, are Iranian in origin or are made up of parts from the country, according to an analysis the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank published in early January.
As the Houthis continue to lose missiles and drones to US military intercepts and strikes — preemptive actions designed to take out the threats before they launch — it is unclear how often the rebels are being rearmed and resupplied by Iran.
American forces have, on several occasions over the past few weeks, intercepted small boats smuggling advanced weaponry from Tehran to Yemen in a bid to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis.
"We still believe that they continue to be supported by the regime in Tehran — materials, weapons systems are still being supplied," White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday, adding that the US is continuing to conduct operations to intercept Houthi-bound weaponry at sea.
"We'll obviously do everything we can to try to limit and stem that flow, but the flow is ongoing," he said.
But despite losing combat capabilities to US forces, the Houthis still manage to consistently launch threats into key international shipping lanes off the coast of Yemen.
And while the rebels have been unable to score a hit on the incredibly well-defended American warships operating in the region, they have struck multiple commercial vessels with drones and missiles.
These hits have largely caused only minor damage to the ships, and they were still able to keep sailing toward their destinations.
On occasion though, these engagements prove to be more costly.
Earlier this week, for example, a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile hit a bulk carrier, forcing its crew to issue a distress call and abandon the vessel.
The frequency of the Houthi missile and drone attacks has raised questions about how long these engagements might go on for and the sustainability of the US Navy's operations in the region.
US officials continue to assert that the military's strikes against the Houthis — some of which have been widespread and coordinated with the UK while the vast majority are unilateral — have managed to degrade the rebels' capabilities to a notable extent.
Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, told reporters this week that the Houthis still have a large number of capabilities, but US and coalition forces have been able to chip away at this.
And the White House has said the same.
"We do believe that we have had an impact on not just the degradation of their capabilities, but the way in which they're using the capabilities they have available to them," Kirby said on Friday.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... b5a2&ei=46
"Houthi attacks on ships are giving the rebels and Iran intel on how to hunt down and strike naval targets, war experts say"
Story by jepstein@businessinsider.com (Jake Epstein)
24 FEBRUARY 2024
* The Houthis have spent the past few months lobbing missiles and drones at ships off Yemen's coast.
* These threats have not hit US Navy ships in the region, but they have struck merchant vessels.
* War experts say these attacks are giving Iran and the rebels, Tehran's proxies, valuable data.
After months of constantly firing missiles and drones at ships off the coast of Yemen, the Houthis are showing no signs of ending their relentless provocations.
During this time, their weapons have struck several commercial vessels, come dangerously close to a US Navy warship, and introduced a deadly new threat into naval combat.
War experts say the rebels and Iran, their main backer, have been learning key information from the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute think tanks said the Houthis and Iran are likely using the attacks to "test and refine their approach to striking naval targets."
Tehran's military advisors have reportedly been providing the rebels with critical targeting intelligence.
"These Houthi attacks provide Iran and the Houthis opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of different strike packages to understand how they can evade and overwhelm US defenses more effectively," these analysts wrote in a Thursday assessment of conflicts across the Middle East.
The Houthi rebels boast a sizable arsenal of one-way attack drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, and anti-ship ballistic missiles, the latter of which had never been used in combat until recently.
They also possess an inventory of surface and underwater drones.
Some of the capabilities, like the anti-ship missiles, are Iranian in origin or are made up of parts from the country, according to an analysis the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank published in early January.
As the Houthis continue to lose missiles and drones to US military intercepts and strikes — preemptive actions designed to take out the threats before they launch — it is unclear how often the rebels are being rearmed and resupplied by Iran.
American forces have, on several occasions over the past few weeks, intercepted small boats smuggling advanced weaponry from Tehran to Yemen in a bid to stem the flow of arms to the Houthis.
"We still believe that they continue to be supported by the regime in Tehran — materials, weapons systems are still being supplied," White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday, adding that the US is continuing to conduct operations to intercept Houthi-bound weaponry at sea.
"We'll obviously do everything we can to try to limit and stem that flow, but the flow is ongoing," he said.
But despite losing combat capabilities to US forces, the Houthis still manage to consistently launch threats into key international shipping lanes off the coast of Yemen.
And while the rebels have been unable to score a hit on the incredibly well-defended American warships operating in the region, they have struck multiple commercial vessels with drones and missiles.
These hits have largely caused only minor damage to the ships, and they were still able to keep sailing toward their destinations.
On occasion though, these engagements prove to be more costly.
Earlier this week, for example, a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile hit a bulk carrier, forcing its crew to issue a distress call and abandon the vessel.
The frequency of the Houthi missile and drone attacks has raised questions about how long these engagements might go on for and the sustainability of the US Navy's operations in the region.
US officials continue to assert that the military's strikes against the Houthis — some of which have been widespread and coordinated with the UK while the vast majority are unilateral — have managed to degrade the rebels' capabilities to a notable extent.
Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, told reporters this week that the Houthis still have a large number of capabilities, but US and coalition forces have been able to chip away at this.
And the White House has said the same.
"We do believe that we have had an impact on not just the degradation of their capabilities, but the way in which they're using the capabilities they have available to them," Kirby said on Friday.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... b5a2&ei=46
Re: THE DOD
Daily Express US
"Huge NATO strike force takes command of 5,000 US Navy marines and sailors at key location"
Story by Max Channon
2 MARCH 2024
A NATO strike force has taken command of 5,000 US Navy sailors and Marines - plus a flotilla of warships - at a key location that controls access to the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia.
The Transfer of Authority was executed earlier this week in the East Mediterranean.
It takes place in parallel to Steadfast Defender 2024 - which is the largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War.
However, the US Navy has stressed these "vigilance activities" in the East Mediterranean are "distinct from Steadfast Defender."
Multiple US Navy landing ships - including the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde, plus the destroyer USS Arleigh Burk - are now under NATO command.
The UK's Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, RFA Argus - a Royal Navy support vessel is also part of the huge strike force being assembled by NATO.
Turkish Naval Forces have supplied two frigates to NATO.
Marine traffic logs suggest the Turkish and US Navy Vessels are set to rendezvous with RFA Argus, which was at anchor in Cyprus yesterday.
The US government, in its Integrated Country Strategy, describes the island in the East Mediterranean as a "critical geo-strategic area at the crossroads between Europe and Eurasia, as well as northern Africa and the Middle East".
The UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) has a base in Cyprus - from which it has launched bombing raids on Houthi rebels in Yemen in recent months.
The location also provides naval access to Israel and Gaza - and the Russian Navy's Tartus base in Syria.
In a press release about the transfer of command to NATO, a US Navy spokesperson said: "Concerted, collaborative efforts such as the seamless transition of national assets to NATO reinforce the interchangeability of Allied Forces and the agility of Allied command and control structures."
"This transfer of authority constitutes a tangible, transparent display of advanced capabilities in the maritime domain and the defensive commitment of the NATO Alliance across Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR) Area of Responsibility."
"Emphasizing DDA as NATO's foundational pillars, these interactions serve as the perfect stage to display formidable capabilities via agile military forces, all the while testing the ability to conduct a short-notice transfer of authority."
"Transferring Allied units to NATO's control has become a regular function for STRIKFORNATO, a fact that speaks to the organization's role within the DDA family of plans."
"It is important to clarify that these vigilance activities are distinct from Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO's most significant exercise in decades."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hu ... d423&ei=63
"Huge NATO strike force takes command of 5,000 US Navy marines and sailors at key location"
Story by Max Channon
2 MARCH 2024
A NATO strike force has taken command of 5,000 US Navy sailors and Marines - plus a flotilla of warships - at a key location that controls access to the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia.
The Transfer of Authority was executed earlier this week in the East Mediterranean.
It takes place in parallel to Steadfast Defender 2024 - which is the largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War.
However, the US Navy has stressed these "vigilance activities" in the East Mediterranean are "distinct from Steadfast Defender."
Multiple US Navy landing ships - including the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde, plus the destroyer USS Arleigh Burk - are now under NATO command.
The UK's Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, RFA Argus - a Royal Navy support vessel is also part of the huge strike force being assembled by NATO.
Turkish Naval Forces have supplied two frigates to NATO.
Marine traffic logs suggest the Turkish and US Navy Vessels are set to rendezvous with RFA Argus, which was at anchor in Cyprus yesterday.
The US government, in its Integrated Country Strategy, describes the island in the East Mediterranean as a "critical geo-strategic area at the crossroads between Europe and Eurasia, as well as northern Africa and the Middle East".
The UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) has a base in Cyprus - from which it has launched bombing raids on Houthi rebels in Yemen in recent months.
The location also provides naval access to Israel and Gaza - and the Russian Navy's Tartus base in Syria.
In a press release about the transfer of command to NATO, a US Navy spokesperson said: "Concerted, collaborative efforts such as the seamless transition of national assets to NATO reinforce the interchangeability of Allied Forces and the agility of Allied command and control structures."
"This transfer of authority constitutes a tangible, transparent display of advanced capabilities in the maritime domain and the defensive commitment of the NATO Alliance across Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR) Area of Responsibility."
"Emphasizing DDA as NATO's foundational pillars, these interactions serve as the perfect stage to display formidable capabilities via agile military forces, all the while testing the ability to conduct a short-notice transfer of authority."
"Transferring Allied units to NATO's control has become a regular function for STRIKFORNATO, a fact that speaks to the organization's role within the DDA family of plans."
"It is important to clarify that these vigilance activities are distinct from Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO's most significant exercise in decades."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hu ... d423&ei=63
Re: THE DOD
essanews.com
"Pentagon ends XM1299 super howitzer program amid technical challenges"
Story by BAK
18 MARCH 2024
On March 8, the Pentagon announced the discontinuation of the XM1299 super howitzer program, created to augment the older M109s.
This marks another in a series of recent program cancellations.
The XM1299, a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer program, faced insufficient funding in the fiscal year 2025.
Doug Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, disclosed that despite completing prototypes in the previous fall, they didn't meet the criteria for production.
A total of 20 prototypes were constructed: two designated for destruction during mine and ballistic tests, and the remaining 18 for further testing by an artillery battalion.
The primary reason for halting the funding was technical issues encountered during trials.
Notably, the exceptionally long 58 calibers barrel (almost 29.5 feet) showcased excessive wear.
Abandoning an Expensive Endeavor
For context, most modern 155 mm caliber self-propelled guns feature barrels of 52 calibers, like the Krab, whereas American counterparts, including the M109 family and the M777, possess only 39 calibers.
Nonetheless, the Army Futures Command is exploring various "existing solutions" to assess their technological maturity.
Among the possible alternatives is the M109-52, essentially an enhanced M109A7 outfitted with the same German artillery found in the Panzerhaubitze 2000.
The XM1299 was developed as part of the ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) program, aimed at securing a substantial range advantage for the US Army over potential adversaries.
The long barrel and enlarged ammunition chamber were expected to enable ranges between 43-93 miles using standard ammunition and 81-93 miles with rocket-assisted projectiles.
Moreover, it boasted a high rate of fire — up to 10 rounds per minute — while maintaining a relatively light mass of about 44 tons.
Additionally, its new fire control system promised enhanced firing accuracy.
Unfortunately, American artillery units will continue to look enviously at their Polish, French, or German counterparts, a sentiment not unfamiliar in the history of the US Army.
Maintaining Traditions Beyond the XM1299
Just a month prior, the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program was another casualty of budget restraints and strategic shifts, originally intended to supply the US Army with new reconnaissance and attack helicopters to replace the retired Bell OH-58D Kiowa.
Competitors for the program included the Bell 360 Invictus and the LM S-97 Raider.
Aside from financial reasons, a strategic reassessment on the battlefield influenced the decision, favoring drones for reconnaissance duties over manned helicopters.
Consequently, the AH-64D/E Apache attack helicopters will lack manned support.
The extent to which drones can bridge this gap is still to be determined.
In September 2023, the US Army also recommended discontinuing the M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams program, aimed at replacing the SEPv3 variant, among other upgrades.
The new Abrams variant was to feature an updated fire control system, competitive communication systems, self-diagnostic capabilities, and a data link for utilizing programmable ammunition XM1147.
The decision was influenced by the current development path of the Abrams, considered unsustainable due to its substantial weight (approximately 74 tons, over 79 tons when fully equipped) and high fuel consumption.
Focus has shifted towards developing a new version that aims to be lighter, more mobile, and more cost-effective while maintaining the safety and firepower required by the crew.
In May 2021, the Strategic Long-Range Cannon (SLRC) program, which aimed to achieve a firing range of up to 1000 miles, was presumably canceled following the US withdrawal from the INF disarmament treaty.
Throughout history, several similar programs have been terminated, such as the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche helicopter project in 2004 after $7 billion in spending, and the XM2001 Crusader in 2002 after an investment of $11 billion.
The most costly was the Future Combat Systems program, which, costing American taxpayers $32 billion, was closed in 2009 after attempting to replace nearly all of the US Army’s heavy weaponry with a new family of light tracked vehicles.
Was It Wasteful?
These cancellations don't necessarily equate to squandered resources.
On the contrary, they represent continuous development efforts by the US Army and parallel advancements in the national defense industry.
These seemingly unsuccessful programs often lay the groundwork for future successful initiatives by contributing valuable technological advancements.
Moreover, by engaging in projects like the FCS, XM907, or FARA, American engineers accumulate significant experience crucial for designing future weapons systems.
The history of these projects illustrates the importance of investing in research and development: without the Crusader, there would be no XM1299, and the XM1299 paves the way for the future of American artillery technology.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pe ... 530&ei=125
"Pentagon ends XM1299 super howitzer program amid technical challenges"
Story by BAK
18 MARCH 2024
On March 8, the Pentagon announced the discontinuation of the XM1299 super howitzer program, created to augment the older M109s.
This marks another in a series of recent program cancellations.
The XM1299, a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer program, faced insufficient funding in the fiscal year 2025.
Doug Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, disclosed that despite completing prototypes in the previous fall, they didn't meet the criteria for production.
A total of 20 prototypes were constructed: two designated for destruction during mine and ballistic tests, and the remaining 18 for further testing by an artillery battalion.
The primary reason for halting the funding was technical issues encountered during trials.
Notably, the exceptionally long 58 calibers barrel (almost 29.5 feet) showcased excessive wear.
Abandoning an Expensive Endeavor
For context, most modern 155 mm caliber self-propelled guns feature barrels of 52 calibers, like the Krab, whereas American counterparts, including the M109 family and the M777, possess only 39 calibers.
Nonetheless, the Army Futures Command is exploring various "existing solutions" to assess their technological maturity.
Among the possible alternatives is the M109-52, essentially an enhanced M109A7 outfitted with the same German artillery found in the Panzerhaubitze 2000.
The XM1299 was developed as part of the ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) program, aimed at securing a substantial range advantage for the US Army over potential adversaries.
The long barrel and enlarged ammunition chamber were expected to enable ranges between 43-93 miles using standard ammunition and 81-93 miles with rocket-assisted projectiles.
Moreover, it boasted a high rate of fire — up to 10 rounds per minute — while maintaining a relatively light mass of about 44 tons.
Additionally, its new fire control system promised enhanced firing accuracy.
Unfortunately, American artillery units will continue to look enviously at their Polish, French, or German counterparts, a sentiment not unfamiliar in the history of the US Army.
Maintaining Traditions Beyond the XM1299
Just a month prior, the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program was another casualty of budget restraints and strategic shifts, originally intended to supply the US Army with new reconnaissance and attack helicopters to replace the retired Bell OH-58D Kiowa.
Competitors for the program included the Bell 360 Invictus and the LM S-97 Raider.
Aside from financial reasons, a strategic reassessment on the battlefield influenced the decision, favoring drones for reconnaissance duties over manned helicopters.
Consequently, the AH-64D/E Apache attack helicopters will lack manned support.
The extent to which drones can bridge this gap is still to be determined.
In September 2023, the US Army also recommended discontinuing the M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams program, aimed at replacing the SEPv3 variant, among other upgrades.
The new Abrams variant was to feature an updated fire control system, competitive communication systems, self-diagnostic capabilities, and a data link for utilizing programmable ammunition XM1147.
The decision was influenced by the current development path of the Abrams, considered unsustainable due to its substantial weight (approximately 74 tons, over 79 tons when fully equipped) and high fuel consumption.
Focus has shifted towards developing a new version that aims to be lighter, more mobile, and more cost-effective while maintaining the safety and firepower required by the crew.
In May 2021, the Strategic Long-Range Cannon (SLRC) program, which aimed to achieve a firing range of up to 1000 miles, was presumably canceled following the US withdrawal from the INF disarmament treaty.
Throughout history, several similar programs have been terminated, such as the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche helicopter project in 2004 after $7 billion in spending, and the XM2001 Crusader in 2002 after an investment of $11 billion.
The most costly was the Future Combat Systems program, which, costing American taxpayers $32 billion, was closed in 2009 after attempting to replace nearly all of the US Army’s heavy weaponry with a new family of light tracked vehicles.
Was It Wasteful?
These cancellations don't necessarily equate to squandered resources.
On the contrary, they represent continuous development efforts by the US Army and parallel advancements in the national defense industry.
These seemingly unsuccessful programs often lay the groundwork for future successful initiatives by contributing valuable technological advancements.
Moreover, by engaging in projects like the FCS, XM907, or FARA, American engineers accumulate significant experience crucial for designing future weapons systems.
The history of these projects illustrates the importance of investing in research and development: without the Crusader, there would be no XM1299, and the XM1299 paves the way for the future of American artillery technology.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pe ... 530&ei=125
Re: THE DOD
TrendyDigests
"$80 MILLION REPAIR BILL AND 2026 RETURN FOR USS CONNECTICUT AFTER SEAMOUNT COLLISION"
BY EMMA TAYLOR
MARCH 21, 2024
On October 2nd, 2021, the USS Connecticut, one of the US Navy’s formidable Seawolf-class nuclear fast attack submarines, encountered a disaster that would mark a years-long setback for its operational readiness.
Striking an underwater mountain, the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) sustained severe damage, prompting a costly and time-consuming repair process that is reflective of broader maintenance and readiness challenges facing the Navy.
The incident left the submarine’s bow and sonar dome sheared off, vanished beneath the waves.
It hobbled to Guam for preliminary damage assessment and some repairs before embarking on a slow journey across the Pacific, surfaced all the while, ultimately docking at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for extensive repairs.
Nearly two years after the collision, drydocking began on July 12, 2023, signaling the start of an arduous repair process that won’t see completion until at least early 2026.
The repair costs, as communicated by a NAVSEA spokesperson, are estimated at a staggering $80 million.
The complexities of repairing the USS Connecticut are manifold.
Not only is the Seawolf class long out of production — limiting access to replacement parts — but the unique construction of the class, which only ever comprised three boats, poses unparalleled challenges.
In the past, the Navy might have leveraged decommissioned submarines for parts, but with such a limited class, this traditional salvage path is closed.
It is a situation that underscores the importance of the Connecticut as a prized asset, despite it having been in operation for 25 years.
Contributing to the intricacy of the submarine’s plight are the concurrent seismic upgrades being undertaken at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
The Navy has embarked on “construction efforts include drilling holes for the installation of anchors inside the dry dock walls to enhance structural integrity and ensure the safety of the workforce, community, environment, and submarines.”
As of November 2022, nearly 40% of the Navy’s submarine fleet found itself sidelined in maintenance or awaiting such, a condition that has been termed a slow-moving crisis.
The decision to undertake the expensive and lengthy repairs on the Connecticut may be, in part, an effort to mitigate this strategic disadvantage.
Notably, the propulsion plant of the USS Connecticut was unaffected by the impact and “continues to operate as designed.”
The Navy’s commitment to returning this particular submarine to service underscores the vessel’s value and the critical capabilities it brings to the fleet.
Furthermore, the extensive repair period presents an opportunity for potential upgrades to the boat’s systems, though specifics remain undisclosed.
https://trendydigests.com/2024/03/21/80 ... collision/
"$80 MILLION REPAIR BILL AND 2026 RETURN FOR USS CONNECTICUT AFTER SEAMOUNT COLLISION"
BY EMMA TAYLOR
MARCH 21, 2024
On October 2nd, 2021, the USS Connecticut, one of the US Navy’s formidable Seawolf-class nuclear fast attack submarines, encountered a disaster that would mark a years-long setback for its operational readiness.
Striking an underwater mountain, the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) sustained severe damage, prompting a costly and time-consuming repair process that is reflective of broader maintenance and readiness challenges facing the Navy.
The incident left the submarine’s bow and sonar dome sheared off, vanished beneath the waves.
It hobbled to Guam for preliminary damage assessment and some repairs before embarking on a slow journey across the Pacific, surfaced all the while, ultimately docking at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for extensive repairs.
Nearly two years after the collision, drydocking began on July 12, 2023, signaling the start of an arduous repair process that won’t see completion until at least early 2026.
The repair costs, as communicated by a NAVSEA spokesperson, are estimated at a staggering $80 million.
The complexities of repairing the USS Connecticut are manifold.
Not only is the Seawolf class long out of production — limiting access to replacement parts — but the unique construction of the class, which only ever comprised three boats, poses unparalleled challenges.
In the past, the Navy might have leveraged decommissioned submarines for parts, but with such a limited class, this traditional salvage path is closed.
It is a situation that underscores the importance of the Connecticut as a prized asset, despite it having been in operation for 25 years.
Contributing to the intricacy of the submarine’s plight are the concurrent seismic upgrades being undertaken at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
The Navy has embarked on “construction efforts include drilling holes for the installation of anchors inside the dry dock walls to enhance structural integrity and ensure the safety of the workforce, community, environment, and submarines.”
As of November 2022, nearly 40% of the Navy’s submarine fleet found itself sidelined in maintenance or awaiting such, a condition that has been termed a slow-moving crisis.
The decision to undertake the expensive and lengthy repairs on the Connecticut may be, in part, an effort to mitigate this strategic disadvantage.
Notably, the propulsion plant of the USS Connecticut was unaffected by the impact and “continues to operate as designed.”
The Navy’s commitment to returning this particular submarine to service underscores the vessel’s value and the critical capabilities it brings to the fleet.
Furthermore, the extensive repair period presents an opportunity for potential upgrades to the boat’s systems, though specifics remain undisclosed.
https://trendydigests.com/2024/03/21/80 ... collision/