8 of 10 Coast Guard cutters yanked off patrol in Keys

What is Jebbie up to?

"Coast Guard engineers, joined by counterparts from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, which were awarded the Deepwater contract, tried to correct the problems..."

Miami Herald ^ | 12/01/2006 | CAMMY CLARK
KEY WEST - The U.S. Coast Guard, one of the key lines of defense in the Florida Straits on homeland security, drug smuggling and migrant interdictions, took eight of its 10 Key West-based patrol cutters out of action indefinitely Thursday because of structural problems. The decision, announced by the Coast Guard's top commander, Adm. Thad Allen, who flew to Key West to tell crews personally, will create a hole in surveillance and law enforcement of the Florida Straits at a potentially critical time, with the failing health of Fidel Castro. ''I would say there is no good time for this,''...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16136686.htm

tinfoil hat time!

It wouldn't do for her to get busted for smuggling again so maybe this will allow her to return unnoticed and un-searched.

:rofl:

:sarcasm:

Drug men will be getting fat :rofl::rofl:

Drug sales?

some of the stuff coming over. I wouldn't want their lives endangered by W's crime spree.

Leaving the doors and windows unlocked?

Or else they are anticipating Castro's death and prepared to move Black Ops in to "stabilize" the region.

Duck and cover.

from Afghanistan

It's not that uncommon with the bases nearby, but I wonder if there's anything in the timing.

Just wait. The right wingie-dingies will blame the Coast Guard cutter's problems on Bill Clinton. That's what right-wingers do--dodge accountability and deny responsibility.

It isn't part of some evil plan. The Coast Guard decided to modify these cutters under a plan that took effect in the late 90's. Turns out their structure can't handle the extra stress caused by their extended length due the the addition of 13 extra feet to the rear of the ship. They added a small boat launch on the rear of the cutter. Some engineers probably oversold the modification and now they are being taken out of service for safety reasons. I've seen the pictures of one of these boats' deck buckling because it was a bad design mod. Doesn't have anything to do with politics, just bad math and physics on somone's part. Glad to see it actually for the safety of the crews, don't need any boats breaking in half in heavy seas, good move I say.

Cliffs Notes:

The USCG got jammed for a jillion dollars in boat rehab/retrofit costs, the 'improved' boats are garbage, and as a result we have the vast majority of them out of commisssion at the moment. IMO the contractors should provide free rentals/loaners so proper CG patrols can continue.

repairing these said vessels. I'm sure I read that somewhere.
Sp.