$3.5-Billion Nuclear Carrier Commissioned
The Navy commissioned a $3.5-billion nuclear aircraft carrier Saturday and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said the country must keep its military strong despite the liberalization sweeping Eastern Europe.
“We look forward to a Europe that is whole and free,” Cheney said at commissioning ceremonies at Norfolk Naval Station.
“NATO is a rock in that sea of change. This is not the time to reduce any of our commitments,” he said.
Speaking of the rapid change in East Germany--where the government opened its borders with the West last week--and reforms in many other Warsaw Pact nations, Cheney said those reforms were brought about by the United States’ military strength.
“We are seeing the fruits of our patience. But we know from history that the Kremlin is capable of rapid shifts of intention,” Cheney said. “It took five years to build this carrier. Intentions can change overnight.”
The 100,000-ton, 1,092-foot Abraham Lincoln, the Navy’s heaviest warship, will have a crew of 6,000.
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