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September 17, 2009
Robert Gates: China could undermine US military power in Pacific
China could undermine US military power in Pacific: Gates
China's increasingly advanced weaponry could undermine US military power in the Pacific, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday.
Echoing US intelligence guidelines released on Tuesday that warned of Beijing's military modernization, Gates said US naval carriers and air bases in the Pacific faced new threats from China.
"In fact, when considering the military-modernization programs of countries like China, we should be concerned less with their potential ability to challenge the US symmetrically -- fighter to fighter or ship to ship -- and more with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options," Gates said in a speech to the Air Force Association.
"Investments in cyber and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, and ballistic missiles could threaten America's primary way to project power and help allies in the Pacific -- in particular our forward air bases and carrier strike groups," Gates said in National Harbor, Maryland.
The new threats meant long-range military aircraft would take on greater importance as the latest weaponry would "degrade the effectiveness of short-range fighters and put more of a premium on being able to strike from over the horizon -- whatever form that capability might take," he said.
Defense analysts have warned that the US military will soon lose its dominance on the high seas, in space and in cyberspace as China and other emerging powers obtain sophisticated weaponry and missiles.
The United States released its 2009 National Intelligence Strategy document Tuesday, in which China's "natural resource-focused diplomacy and military modernization" were cited as factors making it a "global challenge."
The intelligence guidelines for the next four years also elevated the importance of the cyber domain, singling out China as "very aggressive in the cyberworld."
Wild Thing's comment........
If so then who is to blame, not conservatives. I blame Obama and the Congress. Obama wants to reduce a possible replacement for the USAF Air Superiority fighter. There is no excuse to not strive for superiority.
....Thank you JohnE PFC U.S. Army for sending this to me.
Soldier/Generator Mechanic
Companies: 288TH Q.M. Co
Posted by Wild Thing at September 17, 2009 05:45 AM
Comments
We can also blame Clinton for selling them the technology during his administration.
Posted by: BobF at September 17, 2009 07:13 AM
OOooo... I just love their pretty white gloves. Nice touch to a camo uniform...they would look good with red blood soaking them.
Posted by: Steve, USMC at September 17, 2009 09:01 AM
BobF - my first thought also.
America has never been prepared for any war it has gotten into. You see how easily we won Gulf War I, but remember that Bush 41 had already begun a military drawdown(the Peace Dividend). Only because we still had a mighty military left over from the Reagan Era were will able to kick Saddam's ass so easily.
Now we are again minimizing our military which is already small in proportion to the population. The upcoming devaluation of the dollar is going to hurt modern weapons procurement and a liberal Congress and anti American president are going to direct those dollars to social schemes to advance their reelection chances.
Yes, China is going to be a big military influence in the Pacific.
Posted by: TomR at September 17, 2009 01:23 PM
Well, not only could they cause military chaos, they could also quit buying our bonds and leave us with the bill. China knows exactly what it's doing and they have a wonderful ally in the Obama administration. He'll let them do whatever they want to us and we'll be powerless to stop it.
Posted by: Lynn at September 17, 2009 02:04 PM
Wow... Are those guys the best china has to offer? Oh, This is too easy; they look absolutely ridiculous. I'd be laughing if I weren't so pissed. If we used our long range capabilities, and improve our cyber security; we could beat them without having to set foot on chinese soil.
The negrito wants to get into bed with people who break into our patent office to make cheap/fake copies of our weapons because they haven't been capable of an original original idea since gunpowder, which by my estimation is a couple thousand years ago.
I guess part of the blame must also fall on Mr. "Yes Man" Gates and the American taxpayer who bought the sombitch's snake oil. He even said he'd cut defense but because people take safety for granted, want to feel good, are so willing to throw the Military under the bus, and want get free stuff they voted for him.
Posted by: JohnE PFC U.S. Army at September 17, 2009 09:09 PM
Thank you so much all of you I appreciate it.
Thank you JohnE, I am very concerned about
what is going on with our relationship with
China and what they are up to. I appreciate
that you sent me this link.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 18, 2009 12:34 AM
