US Aircraft Carrier Sails to Caribbean, 'Defending Our Interests' (Whose, Exactly?)
Newsweek offers up visually stunning photos of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier sailing through the Caribbean, noting its 'presence operations' and 'maritime security.' A lovely postcard from the world's most expensive floating airbase, designed to project 'power and influence.' What Newsweek (and most mainstream outlets) conveniently overlooked, however, was the Ford's previous recent
deployment post-October 7th, when it was swiftly dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean, positioning itself to deter any regional actors from interfering with Israel's military operation in Gaza. That deployment, which ran for months, was a stark reminder of America's unwavering military-industrial commitment. (Newsweek URL cited:
https://www.newsweek.com/photos-us-aircraft-carrier-caribbean-gerald-r-ford-10942432 ). So while the Ford now enjoys the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, its more consequential mission earlier this year directly facilitated one of the most devastating military campaigns against civilians in recent memory. One might wonder if Newsweek’s sudden interest in tropical deployments is a subtle attempt
to redirect attention from where significant U.S. military power was *actually* employed. It appears 'defending our interests' has a very specific, and heavily subsidized, interpretation these days.