# "Naval Power" in Afghanistan? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120 "2012-04-27T13:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/1 "2012-04-27T13:17:31Z")
I recently ran across this comment on a (US) political candidate: “…advocates increasing use of naval power to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan rather than increasing ground troop levels.” For the record, here’s Afghanistan: [Afghanistan is landlocked](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=afghanistan&hl=en&ll=33.431441,65.720215&spn=14.04316,19.753418&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.815565,79.013672&hnear=Afghanistan&t=m&z=6) I’m putting this in IMHO because we can only guess at what this person might mean. At first glance, seeing as Afghanistan is landlocked, one might think he’s referring to using carrier airpower. Leaving aside the question of whether bombing will “stabilize the situation” at all, carrier planes would still have to overfly one of the bordering countries. Land-based planes in the region could do the same thing, so there’s no particular advantage to using naval aviation, and if you’re just talking about planes, why not just _say_ airpower? Perhaps he just feels – with some justification – that the US will be able to beat Afghanistan in naval power, seeing as they’re landlocked, so we should stick to our strengths? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/2 "2012-04-27T13:23:53Z")
He’s a [retired Navy Captain.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Sullivan) It seems to me that he’s so ingrained in Navy-think that he can’t break free. Indicates a rigidity of thought that would probably dissuade me from voting for him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/3 "2012-04-27T13:27:33Z")
Your snippet of a supposed quote does not give context. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/4 "2012-04-27T13:31:37Z")
Nevermind I did your research for you. > [@](#): > > On the Middle East, Sullivan favors using a naval strategy as the fight shifts to Afghanistan, using sea-launched cruise missiles to hit terrorist targets. Courtney favors inserting up to three more divisions of troops. Its from a debate in **2008**. Talk is about a draw down now. Not increasing troop levels. Not too relevant now. Things have changed in 4 years. [http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x1272963745/Courtney-Sullivan-debating-in-New-London#axzz1tFNxZetl](http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x1272963745/Courtney-Sullivan-debating-in-New-London#axzz1tFNxZetl) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/5 "2012-04-27T13:31:38Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Your snippet of a supposed quote does not give context. Well, I was trying to be nonpartisan, but since I’ve already been outed above, here’s the _entire range_ of political opinions his Wikipedia page contains: > [@](#): > > **Stances on issues** > > Sullivan is a proponent of spending control in Washington and places the blame for increased spending on Congress rather than on President Bush. He believes health care should be administered by the states even if funding comes from the Federal Government. He advocates increasing use of naval power to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan rather than increasing ground troop levels.[9] > > He is a strong advocate for nuclear power and supports removing political obstacles to building new plants. You’ll note that the ONLY word I’ve cut from the entire “Stance on Issues” section in regards to both naval power AND Afghanistan is “he.” So, now that you know he’s male, how does that inform your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/6 "2012-04-27T13:32:37Z")
> [@](#): > > On the Middle East, Sullivan favors using a naval strategy as the fight shifts to Afghanistan, using sea-launched cruise missiles to hit terrorist targets. Courtney favors inserting up to three more divisions of troops. [http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x1272963745/Courtney-Sullivan-debating-in-New-London#axzz1tFOjrlzh](http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x1272963745/Courtney-Sullivan-debating-in-New-London#axzz1tFOjrlzh) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/7 "2012-04-27T13:34:28Z")
So was I the only one who noticed the date on that article? Think anyone is advocating three more divisions in Afghanistan now? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/8 "2012-04-27T13:36:45Z")
Its just some guy who badly lost an election 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/9 "2012-04-27T13:43:41Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So was I the only one who noticed the date on that article? Think anyone is advocating three more divisions in Afghanistan now? I didn’t, but it wasn’t really relevant to my angle. The guy is one of those who will put forth the solution promotes their service, regardless of whether it would be the best course of action. Cruise missiles and ground troops are two completely different tools; they’re not interchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/10 "2012-04-27T13:46:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So was I the only one who noticed the date on that article? Good point. Did Afghanistan have a seacoast or a navy 4 years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/11 "2012-04-27T14:05:04Z")
That was not what he was proposing. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/12 "2012-04-27T14:07:43Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Good point. Did Afghanistan have a seacoast or a navy 4 years ago? > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I didn’t, but it wasn’t really relevant to my angle. The guy is one of those who will put forth the solution promotes their service, regardless of whether it would be the best course of action. > > Cruise missiles and ground troops are two completely different tools; they’re not interchangeable. Totally agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/13 "2012-04-27T15:30:16Z")
I think the US once invited the Swiss Navy to join in some conference/military games…the Swiss found this to be quite amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/14 "2012-04-27T15:51:05Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I think the US once invited the Swiss Navy to join in some conference/military games…the Swiss found this to be quite amusing. Well, Switzerland has managed to win an America’s Cup, despite not being on an ocean! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/15 "2012-04-27T15:59:46Z")
A [recent proposal by Wyoming’s legislature to equip their own navy with an aricraft carrier](http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/04/09/2100592/news-brief-09weirds.html) was defeated, despite 27 votes in favor. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/16 "2012-04-27T17:44:44Z")
Maybe Afghanistan can hire retired naval Captain von Trapp, of the Austrian Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/17 "2012-04-27T18:17:06Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > A [recent proposal by Wyoming’s legislature to equip their own navy with an aricraft carrier](http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/04/09/2100592/news-brief-09weirds.html) was defeated, despite 27 votes in favor. They voted for it on the grounds that “It would be really cool.” I concur. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/18 "2012-04-28T22:29:51Z")
You do realize there are Navy sailors, Navy Reserve sailors, Naval SPECOPs, expeditionary units, security forces, Naval aircraft, etc that have been there since the beginning of the war, right? That’s in addition to carrier air power. Having said that, I agree that leveraging the Navy is not substitutable with leveraging the Marine Corps and/or Army. The Navy is not suited for counter-insurgency operations, taking land, or occupying it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/19 "2012-04-29T00:39:42Z")
> [@flyboy](#): > > The Navy is not suited for counter-insurgency operations, taking land, or occupying it. But if you need a beach free of enemy resistance, they can do that for you. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120/20 "2012-04-29T00:42:42Z")
The Navy can help soften the target, but the Marines will actually take the beach. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naval-power-in-afghanistan/620120.md?page=2)