US submarine collision

The collision of a US submarine with a Japanese training vessel off the coast of Hawaii was not due to civilians being on board the submarine. The civilians were under the control of trained professionals and to suggest the sailors were distracted by the civilians does not do justice to the professionalism of our armed forces.

The fault lies in a flawed system in place for years by the Navy. To allow US submarines to practice an emergency surface maneuver in international waters is, and has always been, foolhardy. We have been fortunate until now that this practice has not taken more civilians lives and it is time the Navy owns up to its lack of judgement and bring some sense of reason to the performance of necessary training maneuvers.

These types of submarine maneuvers should be restricted to areas that are clearly marked off for such maneuvers and that civilian craft are not allowed to access.

2/17/01
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