Kirk S. Lippold, Former USS Cole Commander and Senior Military Fellow at Military Families United, released the following statement concerning the second day of the standoff between the Navy and the Somali pirates. Due to a 50% reduction in the Navy over the last 20 years, the ability to respond to circumstances of this nature have been greatly hampered.

“Over the last 20 years the size of the United States Navy has been reduced by over 50%. The result of this substantial reduction was apparent yesterday during the rescue operation of the hijacked Maersk Alabama. The Navy ships on patrol against piracy in that region are expected to patrol an area larger than one million square miles. The closest U.S. warship was more than 300 miles away; yet, the decisions of the past and the crisis that unfolded on the Maersk Alabama once again highlight the perils of not having a Navy capable of defending our national interests worldwide. The decision by the Administration to propose budget cuts to the navy’s shipbuilding and aircraft plans and delay naval technologies and aircraft carriers will have long-term negative consequences for our national security. Congress must fund a Navy that prevents opportunities for piracy and maintains our naval superiority.”

The tilting point for my decision into the line of work I am in, was the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. We will have Mr. Lippold on the You Served radio show in a few weeks.