In early 2010, an organization called Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), deployed a “study” on Eastern Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Exploration and Military Readiness. SAFE’s report–sanctioned by a rogues gallery of retired Admirals and Generals–said this:
“…it is our conclusion that opening further portions of the Gulf of Mexico east of the Military Mission Line to oil and gas field exploration and development will not come at the expense of feasibly, sufficiently, and adequately accomplishing military training and testing missions…”
Well, looks like that hypothesis just met a little thing called “epic fail”.
Aside from the fact that the Gulf spill has become a time-sink for the SECNAV and is sucking up much-needed Navy (and other military) resources, now comes news that the Gravely’s (DDG 107) sea trial was attenuated–giving the chronically troubled Northrop Grumman shipyards a much-needed lucky pass. And then there’s this:
Irwin F. Edenzon, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s Gulf Coast sector, said the sea trial was abbreviated because of the oil spill.
“We came back with a little blemish on the front of the ship,” Edenzon said, noting the oil restricting the company’s testing area may become a long-term issue for the company.
That’s not gonna cost us taxpayers a thing. Nuh-uh.
What do SAFE Leadership Council’s ex-military members (General John P. Abizaid, General Bryan “Doug” Brown, Admiral Vern Clark, General John A. Gordon, General John Handy, Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, General P.X. Kelley, John F. Lehman, General Michael E. Ryan and General Charles Wald) have to say about the current state of affairs?
Not much.
Encroachment on critical military areas is a serious hazard to military readiness. And when retired Flags–particularly those with undisclosed monetary stakes in the outcome–endow “pro-industry” activities with their “impartial expertise”, I get rather irritated.
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