Congress hears US forces ready for Chinese threat

[dArKeR]

By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Friday, Apr 02, 2004,Page 3

Admiral Thomas Fargo, US Navy Commander of the US Pacific Command

The top US naval commander in the Pacific has told Congress that US forces are well-positioned to deal with any Chinese military activity aimed at Taiwan, but says that the US has not seen any indication of an immediate military threat in the period surrounding Taiwan's presidential election.

Admiral Thomas Fargo, the Navy Commander of the US Pacific Command, made his comments in testimony on Wednesday before a House Armed Services Committee hearing on defense budget issues and US security concerns in the Pacific region.

Asked about US forces' ability to deal with a miscalculation that could be "catastrophic" for Taiwan, Fargo said, "I'm pretty confident of our deterrent capability. Certainly, we're well-postured right now. We understand the problem. Our forces are well-trained. So our ability to dissuade and deter China, I think, is really very good."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/04/02/2003116340

[markus]

1. Yes, the impressment gangs are standing by all over the West Coast

and the sticks are thoroughly sharpened, and next to the rock piles.

What sort of drugs exactly is it they don't test for the in Navy.

Granted, they're probably ready to kick the Chinese Navy's ass but will that be enough? Are we really going to intervene against a nuclear power with an army of millions?

And would any American politician intervene in a war on the side of Taiwain, given that our economy would go into collapse in the time it takes for the just in time inventory chain from China to collapse?

[w4rma]

6. I would hope that the US military *would* intervene on the side of Taiwan.

If they invade and occupy Taiwan, successfully and without resistance from the US, why would they stop there?

[Renew Deal]

2. It takes 6 months to get a soldier drafted and trained.

No way we are ready for that. They would have to fire up the draft and do nothing but build weapons to fight the chinese. I don't think we are ready for that.

[puerco-bellies]

8. Ex Navy here.

Never in the history of mankind has there been a more capable blue-water force as the modern U.S. Navy. We have been able to dominate the world's oceans and coast lands for the nearly a century. More so today then yesterday. Very few surface combatants are the equal of U.S. Naval vessels, and the personnel's professionalism and valor are only closely matched by the Brits though not quite. Like it or not the U.S. Navy can and will, on orders secure or deny the lines of communication(oceanic surface, sub-surface, and air lanes) for any ally or against any foe at a moments notice. If most americans don't know this that's ok, our potiential foes do.

[Renew Deal]

11. I didn't know.

I thought we were over stretched. Wouldn't it take a massive force to take on China?

[puerco-bellies]

12. On land yes

At sea sufficient forces can be deployed in time. If China was going to try land an infantry attack across the Taiwan Straight she would tip her hand gathering her assets giving us time to station enough forces to hold off most of the attackers until other units arrive to focus overwhelming firepower on everything that dares to cross on, under or over the Chinese coast. China's only hope to stop the U.S. Navy is through the use of nuclear armed ballistic missiles. If she does that, all and I mean all, bets are off.

[madrchsod]

3. what would walmart say?

there will be no war between the usa and china for at least 20 yrs. if ever. economic war- yes.

[sam sarrha]

5. say... dont kill all the Tibetans we need the slaves

[sam sarrha]

4. they hold 3 Trillion of our debt.. they own us, they wont invade. besides

would cancel the paper and null the debt..ha

[Voltaire99]

7. China's ownership of US debt...

...is one of the few things keeping the US under control.

That, of course, and a little place called Iraq.

[Rex]

9. Exactly when did the U.S. decide it was a global military?

Right after WWII? Vietnam? We spend 6 billion dollars on welfare programs to help working mothers. We spend 400 billion on our military.

At what point did we decide killing was more fun than producing viable citizens?

[puerco-bellies]

13. Look to Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet

That was the first time we demonstrated global power projection.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq42-1.htm

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. Somehow I would have to doubt that the US

is prepared to fight the Chinese army. Unless, of course, they know something that I don't.

[puerco-bellies]

14. Your right.

We are not ready to fight a full scale LAND war.