Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Grump
From 1784 to 1787 there was no standing army because it had been disbanded. A little break in the chain there you forgot about. The official birthdate is still October 13, 1775. From 1783 to 1797, America's armed maritime service was the Revenue Cutter Service. It might have stayed that way if it hadn't been for the Barbary pirates which caused congress to authorize the building of 6 ships. Congress had tried to appease the pirates with payments but you know you just can't trust pirates. Shippers of most nations are making the same mistake today by legitimizing piracy with ransom payments.
Doesn't make any difference, none of our forces would be worth much without the others. We all do what we do best.
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Regardless of what birth dates we go with, original or "rebirth" the Army comes out as the senior service.
The mistake being made regarding the modern pirates isn't just being made by the shippers, it is being made by the governments of the world! The Obama administration could easily under international law could sove this problem. But you also have to blame GWB administration.
Under international law there is a right to defend you ships in transit in international law. A small detachment of service men on a feighteer with .50 caliber M2 machine guns could cut the small boats the pirates use in half.
There is an international force of Navies now patroling to stop the pirates. But to me they are a little slow on the trigger.
I agree 100%, the armed services need each other.