Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Asian Allies Mull US Military Capability ...
I don't think China wants to engage the USA militarily at this point. I think they'll try to buy us first, which might well succeed.
However, looks like media reports of US military capability during the Iraqi war have given Asians much to think about. With some interesting conclusions:
From Insight Magazine, title link: The overwhelming assessment by Asian officials, diplomats and analysts is that the U.S. military simply cannot defeat China. It has been an assessment relayed to U.S. government officials over the past few months by countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea...
Most Asian officials have expressed their views privately. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has gone public, warning that the United States would lose any war with China.
"In any case, if tension between the United States and China heightens, if each side pulls the trigger, though it may not be stretched to nuclear weapons, and the wider hostilities expand, I believe America cannot win as it has a civic society that must adhere to the value of respecting lives," Mr. Ishihara said in an address to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Yes. For example, if Jose Padilla had been captured by the Chinese with plans to set off a "dirty bomb" in Beijing -- do you think he'd be gifted with a host of rights? How many Chinese civil rights groups would have clamored to support him? How many Chinese newspapers would have editorialized on the injustice of his plight?
Mr. Ishihara said U.S. ground forces, with the exception of the Marines, are "extremely incompetent" and would be unable to stem a Chinese conventional attack. Indeed, he asserted that China would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against Asian and American cities—even at the risk of a massive U.S. retaliation.
The governor said the U.S. military could not counter a wave of millions of Chinese soldiers prepared to die in any onslaught against U.S. forces. After 2,000 casualties, he said, the U.S. military would be forced to withdraw
Now, I wonder what would have given him the idea that the US loses heart after 2000 casualties? The "Death" parties by US leftists, perhaps? The US mainstream media crying crocadile tears over troop deaths? In America, we may dimly understand the hollow wailing over casualties as partisan wrangling ... but, the rest of the world is drawing a much, much different conclusion.
The article continues: Officials acknowledge that Mr. Ishihara's views reflect the widespread skepticism of U.S. military capabilities in such countries as Australia, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. They said the U.S.-led war in Iraq has pointed to the American weakness in low-tech warfare.
"When we can't even control parts of Anbar, they get the message loud and clear," an official said, referring to the flashpoint province in western Iraq.
Really? From the BBC, today: US forces have concluded a major counter-insurgency operation near the Syrian border, the US military said.
A spokesman said 139 insurgents and 10 US marines died in the 17-day assault targeting al-Qaeda-linked militants...
Operation Steel Curtain marked the first major deployment of the Iraqi army in the restive western province of Anbar, the US military said.
According to the US, the border towns of Husayba, Karabila and Ubaydi have been rid of insurgents.
The assault "set the conditions for local citizens to vote in the upcoming December 15 elections", it added.
Reuters is reporting that "Operation Lion" aimed specifically at cleaning out Ramidi is beginning. It will be the third operation in Anbar launched in a week.
In addition, Bill Roggio has been reporting that the fighting in Anbar has been so fierce because the insurgents have been denied escape routes. And, US troops are methodically killing them.
I guess that's not control, though ... to an unnamed official who sounds, once again, remarkably like Richard Clarke, and who seems to "cherry pick" the news for anti-war propaganda ...
Now -- just who cares about making America safer? I'll throw out a clue: it's not the liberal media, or US Democrats.
(StetsonTip to Cao, for being the hostess with the mostest trackbackparties!) ¶ 7:30 AM
However, looks like media reports of US military capability during the Iraqi war have given Asians much to think about. With some interesting conclusions:
From Insight Magazine, title link: The overwhelming assessment by Asian officials, diplomats and analysts is that the U.S. military simply cannot defeat China. It has been an assessment relayed to U.S. government officials over the past few months by countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea...
Most Asian officials have expressed their views privately. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has gone public, warning that the United States would lose any war with China.
"In any case, if tension between the United States and China heightens, if each side pulls the trigger, though it may not be stretched to nuclear weapons, and the wider hostilities expand, I believe America cannot win as it has a civic society that must adhere to the value of respecting lives," Mr. Ishihara said in an address to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Yes. For example, if Jose Padilla had been captured by the Chinese with plans to set off a "dirty bomb" in Beijing -- do you think he'd be gifted with a host of rights? How many Chinese civil rights groups would have clamored to support him? How many Chinese newspapers would have editorialized on the injustice of his plight?
Mr. Ishihara said U.S. ground forces, with the exception of the Marines, are "extremely incompetent" and would be unable to stem a Chinese conventional attack. Indeed, he asserted that China would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against Asian and American cities—even at the risk of a massive U.S. retaliation.
The governor said the U.S. military could not counter a wave of millions of Chinese soldiers prepared to die in any onslaught against U.S. forces. After 2,000 casualties, he said, the U.S. military would be forced to withdraw
Now, I wonder what would have given him the idea that the US loses heart after 2000 casualties? The "Death" parties by US leftists, perhaps? The US mainstream media crying crocadile tears over troop deaths? In America, we may dimly understand the hollow wailing over casualties as partisan wrangling ... but, the rest of the world is drawing a much, much different conclusion.
The article continues: Officials acknowledge that Mr. Ishihara's views reflect the widespread skepticism of U.S. military capabilities in such countries as Australia, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. They said the U.S.-led war in Iraq has pointed to the American weakness in low-tech warfare.
"When we can't even control parts of Anbar, they get the message loud and clear," an official said, referring to the flashpoint province in western Iraq.
Really? From the BBC, today: US forces have concluded a major counter-insurgency operation near the Syrian border, the US military said.
A spokesman said 139 insurgents and 10 US marines died in the 17-day assault targeting al-Qaeda-linked militants...
Operation Steel Curtain marked the first major deployment of the Iraqi army in the restive western province of Anbar, the US military said.
According to the US, the border towns of Husayba, Karabila and Ubaydi have been rid of insurgents.
The assault "set the conditions for local citizens to vote in the upcoming December 15 elections", it added.
Reuters is reporting that "Operation Lion" aimed specifically at cleaning out Ramidi is beginning. It will be the third operation in Anbar launched in a week.
In addition, Bill Roggio has been reporting that the fighting in Anbar has been so fierce because the insurgents have been denied escape routes. And, US troops are methodically killing them.
I guess that's not control, though ... to an unnamed official who sounds, once again, remarkably like Richard Clarke, and who seems to "cherry pick" the news for anti-war propaganda ...
Now -- just who cares about making America safer? I'll throw out a clue: it's not the liberal media, or US Democrats.
(StetsonTip to Cao, for being the hostess with the mostest trackbackparties!) ¶ 7:30 AM
