The canal could be defended by the US...we have the technological capability presuming we had the control of enough land, air and sea space around it. We could have pressed for that.
Instead, we have chosen not to, and in fact have gone the other way.
As a result, others, particularly the Chinese, are in a position now to militarily hurt us by denying it to us. That is all.
40 posted on 03/08/2004 11:39:49 AM PST by Jeff Head
I am not sure I agree. The canal is so fragile mechanically (locks, dams) that it is hard to conceive of china not finding some way to do damage if that was their desire no matter what sort of hardware we had in the region. Heck, a traffic route runs 50-100 yards from the northeast chamber of Pedro Miguel. A road runs THROUGH gatun lock's north chamber.
"particularly the Chinese, are in a position now to militarily hurt us by denying it to us. That is all."
Agreed on the status-quo.
41 posted on 03/08/2004 11:47:47 AM PST by WoofDog123