THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409230050
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Slick Willie's jolly little police action, peacekeeping expedition - whatever - against Haiti may have side effects that affect the future economy of Hampton Roads.
Our military leaders, Congress and Newport News Shipbuilding can learn a lot about future force-level requirements by noting the forces the commander in chief deemed necessary to subdue those villains in Port-au-Prince.
Consider aircraft carriers. Two were committed. Using only comparative land areas, it appears that eight carriers would be needed to handle Cuba. North Korea would take nine.
Aren't we supposed to be capable of taking on two such situations almost simultaneously? Considering it takes three carriers to maintain one on station, it looks as if we need considerably more than the 10 the administration talks about.
DONALD E. BABCOCK
Virginia Beach, Sept. 15, 1994 by CNB