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War Straining Armed Forces
The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment exceeds 270 days, with sailors reporting low morale, plumbing issues, and supply shortages, exacerbated by regional tensions.
The USS Abraham Lincoln remains in the Middle East after more than 270 days at sea, with 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard facing grueling conditions during President Donald Trump's extended deployment.
Trump's military engagement lacks congressional authorization or a clear mission, creating an indefinite deployment that rivals the 326-day record set by the USS Gerald R. Ford under his administration.
Reports of attempted suicides, malfunctioning plumbing, and severe supply shortages have plagued the crew, though U.S. Central Command leader Adm. Brad Cooper recently dismissed concerns by noting fewer mental health cases than other carriers.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied reports of miserable conditions, with Trump stating the deployment had been "not nearly long enough" when asked about crew struggles.
Trump's rhetoric reflects a documented pattern of disdain for the military, including past disparagement of former prisoner of war John McCain and those killed in action as "suckers and losers.
Almost exactly six months after Donald Trump launched a war against Iran and directed military force into a campaign that lacked a clear or consistent goal, the United States has finally adopted a sensible strategy.