The decline of U.S. shipbuilding

US port fees on China built vessels would hit grain exporters

Maritime historian, professor, and YouTuber, Sal Mercogliano, who rose to mainstream fame with appearances on the CNN network a year ago on the Dali incident provided comments with a deep historical context.

He pointed to decisions in the time following World War 2 (late 1940s through the late 1970s), where: “…the United States allowed its merchant marine to remain stable, while global ocean trade grew exponentially.”

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USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier collides with Turkish merchant vessel near Egypt

What’s Going on With Shipping?

The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, collided with a Turkish merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Egypt late Wednesday, the U.S. Navy confirmed Thursday.

The Besiktas-M, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, is owned by Istanbul-based Black Hawk Shipping Ltd. and operated by Synergy Ship Management Turkiye Pte. Ltd. also based in Türkiye.

USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier collides with Turkish merchant vessel near Egypt

Related:

UPDATED: USS Harry S. Truman Collides with Merchant Vessel in Mediterranean Sea

The last known collision between a carrier and a merchant ship was on July 22, 2004, when USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) collided with a small dhow in the Persian Gulf during the night helicopter operations. The commander of the carrier was relieved after an initial investigation.

2 new Chinese warplanes could mean the end of US air superiority

As if not enough is going on in the world, the Chinese military has flown two new stealthy jets. Some military observers consider them a tangible threat to the U.S. One is a bomber and one is a fighter. Lexington Institute military analyst Rebecca Grant joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss what it all means.

2 new Chinese warplanes could mean the end of US air superiority

Related:

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When was the Democratic Party anti-war?

Once in a while, I listen to “establishment controlled” Democracy Now. Today, I decided to listen to their episode with Bernie Sanders’ former foreign policy adviser, Matt Duss. They talked about how the Democratic Party has become “The Party of War” as if it’s something that’s recently happened. Left out of this conversation was if the Democratic Party was ever anti-war? I don’t recall a time in my life in which the Democrats were.

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U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident + Experts Cast Doubt on US Claims of F-18 Downing by Friendly Fire in the Red Sea

Ward Carroll

Two U.S. Navy aviators are safe after their two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet was shot down by an American ship by mistake, according to a late Saturday statement from U.S. Central Command.

U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down Over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident; Aviators Safe

Related:

Experts Cast Doubt on US Claims of F-18 Downing by Friendly Fire in the Red Sea

Here’s why the story about a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet getting taken down in a friendly fire incident by a US Navy destroyer while engaged in anti-Houthi operations is suspect… 1/

2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says

It wasn’t immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication.

Marcos Says Philippines Won’t Send Warships After China Clashes

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his nation won’t deploy Navy warships to the South China Sea in response to recent clashes with Beijing in disputed waters.

Marcos Says Philippines Won’t Send Warships After China Clashes

Previously:

Philippines to match China’s gray zone tactics in South China Sea

What’s Really Going On In the South China Sea Between the Philippines and China