Posted on 12/24/2005 12:43:29 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Correction to self. I do not believe the figures tell the whole story.
Chicom Navy ping.
Well, Eric, I think in all fairness you have to share that credit with our FBI. It seems Walker's wife tried to turn him in on a number of occasions times to the Massachusetts' offices of the FBI, but they were not interested in her story.
They were doubtless busy framing (or killing) members of the Boston Italian Mob for the Boston Irish Mob and helping Whitey Bulger get away.
Whitey's brother, a fine broth of a lad, was head of the UMASS system for years, and IMHO knows where Whitey is, but our FBI still doesn't.
Thanks to the Walkers, the Soviets read our mail, passed it on to their many advisors in country, and as a result the enemy knew targets ... primary and secondary, before we did. Communication bewteen the WH, The Pentagon, and the field was handled by the Navy, on Navy systems. The Walkers let them have it all ... for years.
As this article helps prove, China is going to be the major threat to the United States in the coming years. Combined with the threat of North Korea, the Islamic world, Venezuela,Russia, etc. we are going to be faced with quite a threat.
Kind of like Mordor, vs. Gondor (the US) as it were.
And China is using Russia just like Sauron used Isengard.
The weapons acquisition of these naval ships hardly constitute a massive arms build up but simply reflect a legitimate construction of a comprehensive force for national defense.
Can someone help me out and give me a dollar value of naval purchases for much smaller countries like Britain and Canada? Or other large developing countries like India and Brazil?
My understanding is that Russia still spends more than China on their military. And Russia's economy is between 1/4 to 1/3 the size of China's and the population is about 1/9 the size of China's.
Or it could be Russia using China?
C'mon for Pete sakes its the Commies where talking here, They have a space program 10x cheapers than ours, they undercut us in manufacturing with its cheap labor, Why am I not suprise they can build subs for only $275 Million.
"My understanding is that Russia still spends more than China on their military. "
China's actual military spending is several times what they officially state that it is. They spend MUCH more than Russia annually on their military, and it is increasing each year.
In fact, it is believed by some military experts that China's military spending is less than only the US and Japan.
Ping
"Or it could be Russia using China?"
Well they THINK they are using China to get money, since China buys all their junky military equipment.
But when those Russian made T-72s start rolling into Siberia or Moscow, they'll be singing a different tune.
Remember, Saruman thought he was using Sauron too, so Saruman could gain more power. But it was the other way around.
I feel sorry for the Chinese, given the poor quality of Russian subs.
In fact, it is believed by some military experts that China's military spending is less than only the US and Japan.
China claims 30 billion per year, the Pentagon claims its more like 90 billion. Lets go with the Pentagon estimate. Is 90 billion unreasonable for a country that is 10 times larger than Japan and 4 times larger than the US in population?
Also, with the revised estimate of China's GDP to over 2 trillion, 90 billion represents about 4.5% of China's GDP. This is not untypical for a nation's defense spending.
And, if China's military spending is increasing rapidly, it is because the economy has expanded even more and the military has been clamouring for some of that growth.
Finally, China has more shipping going in and out of their ports than any other country. Should they not participate more in providing security in the Pacific?
"China claims 30 billion per year, the Pentagon claims its more like 90 billion. Lets go with the Pentagon estimate. Is 90 billion unreasonable for a country that is 10 times larger than Japan and 4 times larger than the US in population? "
I guess from the Chinese point of view, it isn't unreasonable, and that they need to defend themselves.
Every country has the right to maintain an armed forces.
But that doesn't mean that the US shouldn't see China as an emerging threat.
Whenever there have been multiple superpowers in the world, the superpowers have always fought with each other.
Rome and Carthage
Britain and France (1754-1763 and other occasions as well)
The Napoleonic Wars
The USSR and the US had a cold war
So, the chances are, when China is ready to challenge us, and they feel they are strong enough to defeat us, they will attack us.
This is much more than just about Taiwan. China, forover 2,000 years, has largely seen itself as the rightful powerbroker in Asia, and they see the US as a threat to them in that regard. As long as the US is strong, they will feel threatened.
"The town isn't big enough for the 2 of us"
Remember that saying? That is how it works with superpowers.
So, as China, the strongest Communist country, and a dictatorship that has threatened to nuke the US on several occasions, is building up its military, we should be wary of the PRC and prepare for a conflict with them accordingly.
"Finally, China has more shipping going in and out of their ports than any other country. Should they not participate more in providing security in the Pacific?"
As I explained above, the US has every reason to be wary of a strong Chinese presence in the Pacific. As they strengthen their navy, they get more and more capabilities that could be used to attack the US, our air craft carriers, or our possessions like Guam, etc.
Russia/Fmr USSR has also been buying influence in Africa and Latin America, with their Chinese allies.
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