IIRC, Mahan wrote that a nation's sea power resided in its merchant fleet and that a navy's purpose is to secure access by this fleet to the world's seas.
If this was so a century or more ago, what is the case now?
Can we safely dispense with a blue ocean navy although we may retain the means to support ground forces from seaward?
How important is unfettered ocean commerce to our nation's security? Is it necessary for us to be responsible for the security of the world's sea lanes? Are there any potential threats to that security?
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