The United States is not as independent as peoplethink. We must import most of our raw materials.Actually, we import no fewer than 77 resources tomaintain our present economy. As an example, weimport 85 percent of the manganese we need to makesteel. We use columbite to make nuclear reactors,stainless steel, rockets, and missiles; we import 90percent of it. We also import bauxite (used to refinealuminum) and chromite (used to strengthen steel).More than 90 percent of the tin we need in this countrywe import. At one time, the U.S. consumed more thanone-third of the entire world’s supply of oil. However,through conservation efforts we have reduced that oilconsumption. Half of the free-world mineral productiongoes into the industrial needs of the United States. Of allour needed minerals, only about 11 are found within ourborders; the U.S. is a raw-material-deficient nation. TheUnited States could not possibly produce enoughaircraft to move all the goods that now travel by water.Our economy depends on waterborne commerce.The United States, like all nations of the world,acknowledges freedom of the seas under internationallaw. When fighting wars, nations do whatever is in theirpower to prevent the enemy from using the seas. Theyaim to cut commercial shipping lanes to prevent theenemy from receiving critical raw materials for the wareffort. Throughout history, the great nations have beenthose which controlled the seas. From the ancient timesof Persia to the World War II days of Japan, loss of seapower has caused many nations to fail.Before World War I, we were a quiet nation andstayed mostly to ourselves. When we were drawn intoWorld War I, we became the most industrialized nationin the world. Our economy slowed down after the war;when World War II started, we once more becamehighly industrialized. We have remained that way eversince. Our defense depends on a highly productiveindustrial system. We must keep the sea-lanes open sothat the supply of essential raw material continues toflow in our direction. Halting the flow would be a greatblow to the safety and economy of the United States. Inthe wars of this nation, we have managed to maintain aconstant supply of raw materials. But, to keep our troopssupplied, we have had to ship over 97 percent of ourproducts overseas.You should realize the importance of the UnitedStates’ ability to maintain control of the seas for the useof the free world. To protect our national security andsustain our economy, our nation must continue to takethe following actions:Import raw materials from throughout the world,convert them into manufactured goods, andexport them to the world marketplaces by oceanshipping.Keep the sea-lanes open and secure in times ofpeace and tension, and deny them to the enemy intimes of war.Many areas of sea power are covered in theremainder of this chapter. Keep in mind that no matterwhere your station is, your job plays an important role inour nation’s sea power. Your job helps keep us all freeand secure.REVIEW 1 QUESTIONSQ1. What is sea power?Q2. List the principal operational components of ournation’s sea power.a.b.c.d.Q3. According to Alfred Mahan, there are sixconditions required for a nation to have seapower. List these conditions.a.20-3Student Notes:
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