The aging aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln's condition and the challenges faced by its crew have been described as a metaphor for a superpower in decline, according to columnist Peter Hitchens. In an opinion piece published on September 5, 2026, Hitchens characterized the warship as "huge, costly, nearing the end of its usefulness and increasingly decrepit."
The article paints a picture of the USS Abraham Lincoln as appearing "crusted with rust, stained by slime," and suggests it would cost approximately £10 billion to replace. Hitchens notes that the ship's company endured 260 days at sea without significant respite. Reports from the ship indicated issues such as insufficient food, moldy plumbing, and long queues for basic necessities, with rumors of sailors jumping overboard, though officially one incident was attributed to a fall.
Hitchens contrasts the carrier's condition with wartime naval operations, stating that the vessel had not been engaged in combat against a dangerous enemy. He speculates that the ship's problems may stem from the impact of Iranian actions, specifically the destruction of the U.S. Navy's former base in Manama, Bahrain. According to Hitchens, Iranian missiles inflicted around £300 million in damages, leading to the abandonment of the base with no plans for its return. He posits that such events are indicative of "badly led countries which think they are more powerful than they are, and is a sign of physical decay, bad strategy and bad leadership."
The commentary also touches on President Trump's recent remarks regarding the Falkland Islands, suggesting a lack of reliable support from the U.S. during the 1982 conflict. Hitchens questions the value of diplomatic efforts, such as King Charles's visit to the White House.
Beyond naval matters, the author raises concerns about the public discourse surrounding potential conflict with Russia, suggesting a lack of open debate and a tendency to label dissent as disloyalty. He argues that opposing British involvement in a conflict with Russia can be a patriotic stance based on the potential harm to the United Kingdom.