Excargodog

Your military experiences with the US State Department are clearly more favorable than mine. I think, generally, they are officious idiots. But while I have never been on a cruise, I have been on a carrier (albeit briefly) during blue water operations, and I would readily concede that there probably exists no more hazardous operational environment in peacetime and some casualties are almost inevitable.

But just how important that port visit was...? We’ve been at peace with Vietnam for a LONG time now. Heck, the Van’s company has been subcontracting making quick build kits for RVs to them for at least a decade, to my certain knowledge. And they seem as uncomfortable with the idea of Chinese expansion as we are.

rickair7777

DOS is of course involved in anything of that nature but the move to expand our pol-mil relationships in the Pacific was initially driven by senior Pac AOR military leadership... they are the experts and have pushed and sold that agenda to congress and the fed. It took off from there (I lived and breathed it).


It's not about being at peace with them, as you said we're already there, it's about closer alignment and potentially eventual alliance.

Vietnam, like many other Pacific Rim nations, is VERY concerned with where China is going, if not outright invasion they fear military intervention in their affairs, loss of resources, loss of access to global commons, violation of established norms on resource ownership, and economic extortion.

They would definitely like us to be present in the region as a counter to PRC's ambitions (yes, Global Cop).

We need their help, cooperation, and support. That's in their own national interest.

The catch 22 for them: If they weigh in on the side of the US, they will alienate and antagonize the PRC. So in order for them to go there, they MUST have a strong sense that the US is in it for the long-haul, and will not leave them hanging out to dry at an inopportune moment. Even our close ally Australia is limited in that regard.

So the point of following through with the port call was to demonstrate our resolve and commitment to the regional players (all of them, not just Vietnam). Today COVID would be a good enough excuse to delay such a port visit, but a few weeks ago it was not even if there was some known risk involved.

If they're not certain about our resolve in the region, it's safer for them to just knuckle under to their new masters in Beijing.

That's the big picture, rank and file sailors on TR may not get all that, but their CO sure as hell should have.

JamesNoBrakes

You have to read between the lines here. It's simple:

South China Sea.

That's why we are making out so friendly with Vietnam. Whether it was a good decision considering everything else? Probably not, but the whole response appears to have not been well thought out considering when it was known to be spreading. It will at least help shape protocol for the future.

JBird

If you have the time. Here's a well done article about this whole ordeal.

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proce...love-got-do-it

Regarding the point of port calling in Vietnam, keep in mind that relationships - big and small - require maintenance and care. Peace isn't necessarily declared as it is sustained.

Packrat

Historically speaking, the Vietnamese and the Chinese are blood enemies. They only teamed up to fight off the French and then the Americans in the '50s through the '70s.

Excargodog

and they make a helluva nice Rv-7 quick-build kit...







https://www.vansaircraft.com/order-a...uickbuild-kit/

aeroengineer

I never knew the kits were built there.

I've said before I feel like I'm in a "Twilight Zone " world now.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/re...cid=spartanntp

I certainly get his dilemma. He was basically TIC with and invisible enemy from all sides in desperate need of CAS.

rickair7777

No kidding. Such a re-instatement has NEVER to my knowledge happened in the modern history of the USN.

galaxy flyer

More likely, the Admirals saying “get out of our business” to the Dept of Navy civilians.

GF

Profane Kahuna

Secretary of the Navy apparently exaggerated claims against Captain Crozier

https://www.businessinsider.com/thom...-report-2020-4