The US Merchant Marine Fleet Is Dying — And It May Hurt America's Ability To War Around The World...

May? No. It WILL. America simply cannot prosecute wars outside our shores without the Merchant Marine. Something like 80% of war materiel is delivered to the various theaters around the world by the MM. The Navy and the AF simply cannot replicate that capability.

Everyone is worried about "losing the next war" We are by far the strongest military force on the face of the earth, then add our allies both NATO and non-NATO. The deterrent is so great and their equipment so unreliable I don't see it starting.

Thanks for posting this article PO1 Tony Holland . It plays a little fast and loose with some facts (there were never 25,000 members of the 1st US Volunteer CAV ("the Rough Riders") in the Spanish-American War), but the overall message of the necessity of the Merchant Marine is spot on. The detrimental effect of flags of convenience is touched upon, but isn't given the centrality to the argument that is required. Of course, a more stable, long-term policy on the US Merchant Marine as advocated for is needed, but, in the US where no policy lasts more than eight years, such talk is for editorials and commentaries and not a true course of action and policy for government.