Ronald O'Rourke, a CRS Specialist in Naval Affairs, has produced many quality reports for the Congressional Research Service, his latest covers the Medium Landing Ship (LSM). The report is packed with information on the Marine Corps and the LSM. The author, however, could not have predicted that just as his report was published, a late breaking development has changed the entire issue of funding the LSM.
Before getting to the latest LSM funding development, it is worth looking at the inception of the LSM. No one should be allowed to pick up a wrench to start building the LSM, without first examining more fundamental questions. The first question is 'why?' Is there any good reason to build any LSMs? The LSMs have been proposed as a crucial part of the Marine Corps' controversial plan to place Marine missile units on islands in the Pacific. Before any answer can be given about constructing the LSM, questions need to be asked about Force Design itself and about its related operational concept, EABO - Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
In his LSM report, Ronald O'Rourke lists 9 issues for Congress related to the LSM, Force Design, and EABO. In addition, O'Rourke provides a substantial index of published articles that explore the LSM, Force Design, and EABO. The answers to the issues he raises are contained in the articles O'Rourke lists and others.
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