#16 always right

OK, how about a different metaphor. Instead of the SS Titanic, how about the IJMS Shinano?

Shinano was, at the time of her sinking, literally the largest ship in the world. A converted Yamato class battleship, she had been made into a huge aircraft carrier. Before being completed [watertight doors not yet installed and testing of damage control systems not done] she was ordered to go to a different port that was considered safer from American attack. She and her 3 destroyer escorts sailed on November 28, 1944.

She was spotted by the submarine Archerfish. Despite being slower than Shinano, Archerfish was able to use the Shinano’s defensive zigzag pattern to get into firing position and launched a full spread of 6 torpedoes before being forced to dive by the escorts.

Several hit, and water poured in. Remember, no internal watertight doors. Despite the best efforts of the crew, the ship was sinking. For 4 hours, the captain ordered the course to the original destination [Kure] maintained, at full speed, despite the flooding. There were several ports within range he could have made, or places he could have deliberately run the ship aground so she could be salvaged and repaired; but not until shortly before she sank did he try to beach her. Didn’t make it. Most of the crew died, and Japan lost its newest and largest warship because the captain was sure that she [and he] were invincible, despite immediate evidence to the contrary that she was mortally wounded.

Obama would rather that the nation “sink gloriously” rather than deviate from THE PLAN.

Subotai Bahadur