***Solvency*** General Solvency, Laundry List Belinson 12 “Why the U.S. Must Build More Icebreakers Now” in Popular Mechanics By Jerry Beilinson, science journalist, February 17, 2012 12:30 PM: yet it has just The United States is the world’s colossus when it comes to every other kind of military hardware, one functioning icebreaker: the medium-strength USCGC Healy, which is primarily used for research. The ship made headlines recently for to aid in the delivery of much-needed fuel. It was a great mission, but it may have left an overly upbeat impression of American capabilities. The country also owns two heavy-duty icebreakers: One of the aging vessels is being decommissioned, and the other is being refurbished after years of disuse. not good enough. That’s While it’s encouraging to finally see some progress being made in the current budget proposal, the problem is Here are three things to know about far from solved—and the United States has national interests in icy waters. icebreaking capabilities. 1. Coast Guard cutters are America’s huge northern coast is barely patrolled. America’s stationed in the Bering Sea, and C-130s take infrequent flights over American waters beyond the North Slope. However, what call the United States does not have a persistent maritime presence in the Arctic, a region you’d
***Solvency*** General Solvency, Laundry List Belinson 12 “Why the U.S. Must Build More Icebreakers Now” in Popular Mechanics By Jerry Beilinson, science journalist, February 17, 2012 12:30 PM: The United States is the world’s colossus when it comes to every other kind of military hardware, yet it has just one functioning icebreaker: the medium-strength USCGC Healy, which is primarily used for research. The ship made headlines recently for to aid in the delivery of much-needed fuel. It was a great mission, but it may have left an overly upbeat impression of American capabilities. The country also owns two heavy-duty icebreakers: One of the aging vessels is being decommissioned, and the other is being refurbished after years of disuse. That’s not good enough. While it’s encouraging to finally see some progress being made in the current budget proposal, the problem is far from solved—and the United States has national interests in icy waters. Here are three things to know about America’s icebreaking capabilities. 1. America’s huge northern coast is barely patrolled. Coast Guard cutters are stationed in the Bering Sea, and C-130s take infrequent flights over American waters beyond the North Slope. However, the United States does not have what you’d call a persistent maritime presence in the Arctic, a region
Icebreakers%20Affirmative.docx