China: Big U.S. Fleet Nears Disputed Islands, But What For?

Time ^ | September 30, 2012 | Kirk Spitzer

[TigerLikesRooster]

Big U.S. Fleet Nears Disputed Islands, But What For?

By Kirk Spitzer | September 30, 2012

TOKYO – It’s probably just a coincidence; no need to worry yet. But the U.S. has quietly assembled a powerful air, land and sea armada not far from where Japan and China are squaring off over disputed islands in the East China Sea.

Two Navy aircraft carrier battle groups and a Marine Corps air-ground task force have begun operating in the Western Pacific, within easy reach of the Senkaku Islands. That’s where Japanese and Chinese patrol boats are engaged in an increasingly tense standoff.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[stboz]

Are they allowed to have armed weapons? Or are they being sent for target practice?

Is Hussein posturing?

[stuartcr]

yeah, just a coincidence...

[Rockingham]

It is like the coach showing up nearby when two kids known to be at odds begin to act up on the playground. That old technique tends to improve behavior without even having to make any sort of comment or warning.

[hosepipe]

Hussein just wants to play “Yo momma is” with the chinese..
But the Japs may get offended not understanding “the game”..

[KantianBurke]

Good question. 0% of Americans would countenance having two battle groups at serious risk from China so that Japan’s rights to desolate rocks in the Pacific are upheld.

[green iguana]

I wonder if a Chinese sub will pop-up beside one of our carriers...

[apillar]

Well, I believe that by treaty were are still responsible for Japan's defense and the Islands are Japanese territory which China has been making some provocative moves toward. I'm just surprised that Obama would actually allow anything that might be viewed as aggressive toward China, (of course with the election coming up, it might just be a diversion so he appears tough, lets just hope he doesn't start World War III in the process...)

[oneolcop]

China: Big U.S. Fleet Nears Disputed Islands, But What For?

How about because Japan is our ally and Communist China is not?

[Daus]

Because this is chess, not checkers.

If the flag goes up in the Middle East and we engage Iran, China strolls on over and takes these islands knowing we wont open another front (even for the Japanese).

[stuartcr]

Desolate rocks...and the oil and gas underneath

[KantianBurke]

We have plenty of both in this country and from Canada. If Japan wants it, let them foot the bill.

[stuartcr]

They are. You don’t think we provide our military to them for free, do you?

[tumblindice]

"It's the white man's burden, Lloyd. The white man's burden."

[mrsmith]

.

We’re there to support the #1 and #2 funders of our welfare programs debts.

One battle group will fight for the Chinese, the other for the Japanese...

[Uncle Miltie]

Silly you. You got that backwards ... it’s 0bamaland, remember!

[traumer]

[Candor7]

Nihon Pingu!!!

How is this all playing out in Japan?

Is Obama ready to shove the Chinese around? LOL.

[familyop]

Senkaku islands? China already recently took the Paracels and the Spratlys with the major media purposely ignoring those moves. China now owns the ocean between the Philippines and Vietnam. It’s not all about commodities. China is wanting ocean routes and a consolidation of all people related by genetics/history/heritage into China first. Then, the world.

IMO, the big war is far more probable than most people realize. Nuke exchanges will soon be far more likely than in the past, too (see the SCO’s pit bulls: Iran, Syria, Sudan, all).