@hawkeye10,
Quote:If we no longer police the oceans we no longer need more than a couple aircraft carriers.
Your ignorance of what aircraft carriers are for is incredible.
They are not acting as the oceans police, they are used to "project" power.
An aircraft carrier can be a deterrent simply by being on scene somewhere.
For example,
if communist China decides to challenge Taiwan, or if they decide to hold war games close to Taiwan, the fact that a US carrier is there to "observe" works to keep things from getting out of hand.
If American interests or allies are threatened, a carrier can be in place within 48 hours, ANYWHERE in the world.
They can evacuate American citizens, they can provide support for ground troops, and they can act as floating hospitals.
Carriers also provide disaster relief.
It was a US carrier that was first on scene after the tsunami hit Thailand, and it provided thousands of meals, thousands of gallons of fresh drinking water, medical care, and other supplies to those affected by the tsunami.
They are also used to support US military actions.
There are 2 carriers in the gulf, providing support for ongoing military operations in Iraq.
There is another carrier providing support for operations in Afghanistan.
So before you decide to eliminate something, you should have some knowledge about what that something actually does.