The Destroyer that Won’t Die

Having determined that the DDG-1000 has minimal military value, the Navy and Congress have decided to compromise on three, rather than zero, of the remarkably expensive but utility-challenged vessels. Democracy in action, so to speak. I am reminded of Winston Churchill’s characterization of appropriation following the 1909 Naval Scare:

In the end a curious and characteristic compromise was reached. The Admiralty had demanded six ships; the economists offered four; and we finally compromised on eight.