USS Bonhomme Richard, Amphibious Assault Ship, on fire with explosions reported

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Airedale260

Well-known member
Aaron Fox said:
The main reason for the Obama administration deferring the maintenance is because, well, as you said the War on Terror simply sucked away funds, and let's be honest, he couldn't actually raise taxes to regain that money (or, alternatively, get enough funding to the IRS so it can actually go up against rich folk so they get forced to pay their full) or he'll have a metaphorical riot on his hands.
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Actually the IRS doesn't have any funding problems...the real problem is that the tax laws are written in such a way that those who have the money to hire good lawyers can avoid (not evade) some taxes. Keep in mind that 1) Most government agencies are actually self-funded through fees and fines and 2) IRS-CI (the criminal investigations division) has the best record among federal LE agencies for convictions/successful cases.

That's why I laugh whenever I hear this. The issue isn't a lack of staffing or funding, especially when "the rich" already pay a disproportionate amount of all taxes in this country anyway.

But to get back on topic...

Sailor.X said:
Knowing Biden he might try to institute the draft again just to fill numbers. And before anyone say no remember this is senile as hell Biden we are talking about. And how the media will shill for him on this too.
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Doubt it. Not only because Biden and Co don't give a shit about the military beyond whether they're up to snuff on their diversity training, but also because it would mean having to answer hard questions about WHY the military is having these problems. The press could TRY to cover for Biden on this, but that would mean some very difficult questions about how the military was allowed to decay so badly, coupled with why nobody in the press said anything, especially if they were so eager to blame Trump for all sorts of problems but never said anything about this.
 
Zachowon

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Airedale260 said:
Actually the IRS doesn't have any funding problems...the real problem is that the tax laws are written in such a way that those who have the money to hire good lawyers can avoid (not evade) some taxes. Keep in mind that 1) Most government agencies are actually self-funded through fees and fines and 2) IRS-CI (the criminal investigations division) has the best record among federal LE agencies for convictions/successful cases.

That's why I laugh whenever I hear this. The issue isn't a lack of staffing or funding, especially when "the rich" already pay a disproportionate amount of all taxes in this country anyway.

But to get back on topic...



Doubt it. Not only because Biden and Co don't give a shit about the military beyond whether they're up to snuff on their diversity training, but also because it would mean having to answer hard questions about WHY the military is having these problems. The press could TRY to cover for Biden on this, but that would mean some very difficult questions about how the military was allowed to decay so badly, coupled with why nobody in the press said anything, especially if they were so eager to blame Trump for all sorts of problems but never said anything about this.
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Navy was having issues under Trump. It isn't solely a Biden admin issue.
 
A

Airedale260

Well-known member
Zachowon said:
Navy was having issues under Trump. It isn't solely a Biden admin issue.
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Oh, I don't disagree. My point is that Biden wouldn't be able to institute a draft to get people in because that's the sort of thing reserved for when we need massive ground forces. Other than the Royal Navy and its old practice of impressment (which IIRC hasn't actually been a thing since the early 19th century), I don't think there's ever been a draft used to shore up naval power.

It's not like the Army where you can just run a people through basic and then make most of them infantry or cavalry/armor. Navy generally requires more technical/specialized skills, especially on warships.

Edit: I should add that's not a knock against the Army, mind you. Just saying.
 
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Zachowon

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Airedale260 said:
Oh, I don't disagree. My point is that Biden wouldn't be able to institute a draft to get people in because that's the sort of thing reserved for when we need massive ground forces. Other than the Royal Navy and its old practice of impressment (which IIRC hasn't actually been a thing since the early 19th century), I don't think there's ever been a draft used to shore up naval power.

It's not like the Army where you can just run a people through basic and then make most of them infantry or cavalry/armor. Navy generally requires more technical/specialized skills, especially on warships.

Edit: I should add that's not a knock against the Army, mind you. Just saying.
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You di know the majority of the Army is not Infantry/cav/armor right?

Also, we technically had a draft before Vietnam, that never really stopped.
 
A

Airedale260

Well-known member
Zachowon said:
You di know the majority of the Army is not Infantry/cav/armor right?

Also, we technically had a draft before Vietnam, that never really stopped.
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Yes. My point was that a draft is mainly when you need a lot more manpower like an actual war, or a standoff with a peer competitor like the Cold War.

Actually now that I think about it, the Soviets did a lot of conscription for their navy and it didn't go well at all. But even if we did do that, we don't have the ships for them to man. While I'm happy Trump and Co got the Constellation-class rolling, we need to do a lot more to get the USN back into really good shape.
 
A

Airedale260

Well-known member
Zachowon said:
We are in a new cold war against China
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I know that. The problem is convincing the public in general. Historically, it takes a major shock for the public to support a large military buildup (Pearl Harbor, Korea, shaking off the post-Vietnam malaise, etc). And I think China is savvy enough to know this, because they prefer economic and psychological warfare. They won’t really risk coming to blows with us unless they’re certain they can win and make it stick.

Now, personally I think 350 is too low and we should be aiming for 450. And we need to do a better job of attracting talent. I just think a draft, even a partial one, would not accomplish that and would actually backfire, and I think even Biden (or at least Ron Klain) is savvy enough to know that trying that is unrealistic, because it would alienate his base and probably most of the rest of the country as well.
 
Zachowon

Zachowon

The Army Life for me! The POG life for me!
Founder
Airedale260 said:
I know that. The problem is convincing the public in general. Historically, it takes a major shock for the public to support a large military buildup (Pearl Harbor, Korea, shaking off the post-Vietnam malaise, etc). And I think China is savvy enough to know this, because they prefer economic and psychological warfare. They won’t really risk coming to blows with us unless they’re certain they can win and make it stick.

Now, personally I think 350 is too low and we should be aiming for 450. And we need to do a better job of attracting talent. I just think a draft, even a partial one, would not accomplish that and would actually backfire, and I think even Biden (or at least Ron Klain) is savvy enough to know that trying that is unrealistic, because it would alienate his base and probably most of the rest of the country as well.
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We need to make sure everyone knows to blame China for WuFlu, and make Taiwan more prominent in the media
 
Knowledgeispower

Knowledgeispower

Ah I love the smell of missile spam in the morning
Airedale260 said:
I know that. The problem is convincing the public in general. Historically, it takes a major shock for the public to support a large military buildup (Pearl Harbor, Korea, shaking off the post-Vietnam malaise, etc). And I think China is savvy enough to know this, because they prefer economic and psychological warfare. They won’t really risk coming to blows with us unless they’re certain they can win and make it stick.

Now, personally I think 350 is too low and we should be aiming for 450. And we need to do a better job of attracting talent. I just think a draft, even a partial one, would not accomplish that and would actually backfire, and I think even Biden (or at least Ron Klain) is savvy enough to know that trying that is unrealistic, because it would alienate his base and probably most of the rest of the country as well.
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I will note that 350 is what the USN says is the minimum to do what policy makers ask of it in the long term. Ideally the USN wants another hundred hulls on top of that figure
 
Aaron Fox

Aaron Fox

Well-known member
Zachowon said:
We are in a new cold war against China
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Well, if you want something more specific, it is more against one specific faction within China than China itself. If I remember what I've been told of Chinese politics right, right now we're in a period where the 'militarist' faction is in power. Much of the China leadership beforehand is far more pragmatic in that regard.

The sad reality is that if we have China leave the current geopolitical system of 'trade or else', we'll be seeing a world war within the decade. Bar none.
 
Bacle

Bacle

When the effort is no longer profitable...
Founder
www.nbcsandiego.com

Unsealed NCIS Warrant Sheds Light on Sailor Accused of Starting Fire Aboard USS Bonhomme Richard

A Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) search warrant unsealed Tuesday reveals details about the investigation of the fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard last July, including evidence that led to the arrest of a sailor accused of starting the blaze.
www.nbcsandiego.com www.nbcsandiego.com

www.nbcsandiego.com

Navy Accuses USS Bonhomme Richard Sailor of Starting Fire That Destroyed the Ship

Charges were brought forth against a Navy sailor in response to evidence found during the criminal investigation into the fire onboard USS Bonhomme Richard last year, according to a Navy spokesman.
www.nbcsandiego.com www.nbcsandiego.com

New details about the person suspected of starting the fire, and how everything occurred.
 
PsihoKekec

PsihoKekec

Swashbuckling Accountant
Reminds me of the shipyard worker who started fire on the submarine he was working on so he could go home early, also resulting in a write-off.
 
Knowledgeispower

Knowledgeispower

Ah I love the smell of missile spam in the morning
PsihoKekec said:
Reminds me of the shipyard worker who started fire on the submarine he was working on so he could go home early, also resulting in a write-off.
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Although that sub was at least fixable via application of parts and material from retired sister ships if Congress had forked over the dough.
 
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