That's Show Biz

Sea Power, Aug 2005 by Barnard, Richard C

Ronald Reagan, the actor and president, said, "Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while and then have a hell of a close." The Coast Guard today is in that middle phase and working feverishly to ensure its "close" is the kind that Reagan usually enjoyed.

Long a favorite on Capitol Hill, the service this year was whacked by the House, which cut its Deepwater budget by almost half. The Senate approved nearly the full request of $966 million, but even Coast Guard stalwarts such as Sen. Olympia Snowe, the Maine Republican, have thrashed service leaders for what they perceive as backsliding 011 procurement requests. Snowe and other senators want more new aircraft in the service's revised Deepwater plan, though the commandant, Adm. Thomas H. Collins, says his request for up to 244 planes, helicopters and unmanned vehicles would fulfill his future requirements.

The fight over Deepwater funding is far from over, and the Hill's brighter lights tell us the Coast Guard likely will come out of it in reasonably good shape. Assistant Editor David W. Munns covers the issues beginning on p. 11.

In April, a four-man training team from the U.S. Coast Guard's International Affairs Training Division arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, to conduct a one-week training course for the Maritime Brigade of the Border Police. Many of the Azerbaijanis were wearing USCG pins they received as gifts during last year's training session. The division is an assertive but little-known outfit that conducts about 140 missions a year in 65 countries. Its training courses range from crisis management to search and seizure, but the ultimate goal is to build relationships with young officers who hopefully will form a future network of cooperating countries.

Associate Editor Sue A. Lackey reports (p. 20) that one of International Affairs' more successful ventures is operating the training tender Gentian. With a crew of 46 that includes about 15 international students, the Gentian will conduct training classes in 22 countries during this year's six-month deployment.

Our guest columnist for "In My Own Words" is Marine 1st Lt. Laura Schmitz, a cool and gutsy combat leader who tells us (p. 64) about a long night last April when her convoy was attacked by the Mujahadeen Militia while en route from Al Taqaddum to Fallujah. Schmitz's awesome vignette is a reminder of what Marines are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. There are a lot of young leaders out there just like her, and Americans are lucky to have them.

RICHARD C. BARNARD, Editor in Chief

Richard C Barnard

We are eager to get your feedback. Contact me at rbaniard@iiavyleague.org or by mail at Seapower, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3308.