T&T: Small Boats seen as threat

[Todd Mains]

Arild writes:  "There was a big deal made of the fact something like 600
small craft patrol vessels were ordered for homeland Defense. No doubt some
of you have seen these boats on the water. But 600 boats to cover the entire
US coast line. Get real!"

My question:  Are we talking about an additional 600 boats?  The US Coast
Guard already has about 1400 boats, to go along with a couple hundred
aircraft and around 150 Cutters (vessels over 65').  Seems to me that if 600
boats are added we are talking about a sizable increase.  

The United States has a lot of coastline, but it seems to me that this force
is concentrated in and around ports and harbors. Seems "real" to me.

Todd Mains