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Dead Drop: September 16

Dead Drop: September 16

LOOSE LIPS: The Navy released some video last week of their new guided missile destroyer ZUMWALT getting underway from the shipyard in Bath, Maine bound for Baltimore where it will be commissioned next month. The stealthy warship looks like something out of Star Wars – or perhaps Star Trek is more appropriate since its commanding officer is named Captain James Kirk. The ship is so visually stunning that the Navy apparently didn’t listen to the audio of bystanders watching it glide past. Some cranky old guy can be heard complaining that the new generation of shipbuilders “haven’t got a clue” about what they are doing.  The observer fired a few shots across the bow of contractor General Dynamics saying: "It took like six to seven years to put that together and there's a lot of, I won't say corruption, but there's a lot of baloney going on with these things right now." The Navy eventually pulled down the video – but not before outfits, like The Washington Examiner, captured a copy.  You can see – and hear it on their website.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: The anonymous shipbuilding critique wasn’t the only surprise the Navy had to deal with recently.  According to Navy Times, on Saturday, a Petty Officer Third Class aboard the aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER reported to sick bay with an upset stomach.  The ship was operating in the Persian Gulf conducting operations against ISIS.  About nine hours later, on September 11, the sailor delivered a healthy, seven pound, baby girl.  Neither she or nor the Navy had been expecting any additions to their crew. Mother and baby were eventually flown to a hospital in Bahrain and are reportedly doing fine.  No word on a name for the baby.  What is the feminine version of IKE? The satirical website Duffleblog had a fun take on the story – suggesting that more than 2,000 sailors on the EISENHOWER had immediately put in requests for paternity leave.

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