Führer Xi is occupying his Rhineland in the seas east of China.
As with the Putin invasion of Ukraine in 2014, President Obama set a dangerous precedent by offering no meaningful response PRChina’s occupying and militarizing South China Sea features.
If we didn't want Russia to invade the Ukraine NATO/US shouldn't have pushed them into it by threatening admittance to NATO. If we'd made a "meaningful response" we'd have had our asses handed to us.
Just like with China now. Have you not been understanding the articles from this very blog?
Stop listening to Fox News, it's as bad as CNN or MSNBC.
Russia had a defensively organized military when they invaded, and had to completely reorg their military at great cost to get to where they are now. Simplicius has a lot of great stuff on this.
Russia could add their former desert republics if they wanted to put more red on a map, but they don't because they realize that empire is too expensive. Past time the US learned that lesson.
"Russia could add their former desert republics if they wanted to.."
One of Putin's apparatchiks floated that trial balloon late last year. There's a reason why the 'Stans are moving closer to China and it's not just for economic reasons.
as long as Ukraine acted like Borussia, then everything was fine. Once Ukraine looked west because of russian backed corruption and vassal status, then all bets were off. it was a matter of time before russia was going to apply pressure and or invade.
No, it was about NATO/ US being able to stage nukes and military forces ~250 miles from Moscow. As Putin said repeatedly. Watch the below video before you speak further.
The Obama/Biden administrations were foolish to toy with making Ukraine a NATO member — if maintaining peace between Russia and independent Ukraine was the goal.
The time to respond to Führer Xi militarizing SCS features was during Obama’s second term.
"In examining the political aspects of the occupation of Hainan, this action while it may be an exaggeration to look upon it as a direct reply to the American, British and French notes of October and November last, can be considered as a perfectly sure indication of the indifference with which the Japanese regard the recent rumors of Anglo-American joint action against Japan.
My French colleague has merely informed his Government of the announcement and will take no action unless instructed."
Exactly. Let western Pacific nations lead the push-back against the ChiComs if it means that much to them.
As Sal reminded everyone yesterday (as if we needed reminding), the U.S. is beyond broke. If WestPac countries want our Navy to do it, then let them reimburse us for the expense of a Strike Group, right down to the last cent.
Obviously it doesn't mean that much to them. Why would they care with hegemon they are forced to do business with?
US boomers seem to have a hard-on for pounding their chest about facing down China, as if they haven't been reading the articles on this very blog about how our navy would fair against the Chinee navy.
This “boomer” (and damn lucky to be in this demographic) doesn’t.
I was as anti-communist/anti-Soviet as they came in the Cold War (my beer mug in McGuire’s says “Sluggo” on one side, “Non-Communist” on the other). Still am. But…that was then, this is now. We. Are. Beyond. Broke.
Let other countries police their own “AOR”s. We cannot afford, literally, to be the world’s protector. Those days are past.
…and time to stop that. Use our national defense assets for OUR national defense. Same for S Korea, Germany, et al. Bring our forces home. We. Are. Beyond. Broke.
When the ChiComs hold exercises off of San Francisco, Jacksonville, in the Gulf of America, THEN I’ll give a sh!t about the ChiComs.
I’d prefer WestPac nations take care of the WestPac.
And frankly, Taiwan is not worth one drop of US blood; certainly none of my sons’, who are F/A-18 pilots. Go shed your blood for Taiwan if it matters that much to you. And take the kids of DC politicians and war drum beaters with you.
given that " seize Taiwan, make SK and PI into vassals, neutralize JP and the Aussies" is clearly visible as their plan you sound like Chamberlin in 1938
Having had the misfortune of living in Hawaii as a young Navy brat, I'd be OK with selling Hawaii to the Chinese. If it were possible, I'd go back in time and ensure that they were never discovered by any western nations, because there's nothing that the Hawaiian people deserve more than to experience the tender mercies of the Imperial Japanese.
That's not possible, but the US could pay off some debts if we sold them to the Chinese. They don't actually want to be part of America anyway, and don't even slightly respect the Constitution, so... let them have that.
(Yes, I'm aware of why it would be a poor idea tactically to do so, and am being slightly tongue in cheek. But I really don't like the Hawaiians all that much.)
Sluggo: The Chicoms are already operating in San Francisco, Jacksonville and the Gulf of America and everywhere else in CONUS (plus Alaska and Hawaii). Every Costco and Walmart is a ChiCom Forward Operating Base.
Just like what WE WATCHED THEM DO in the Spratlys; first, they dredged the lagoons around the sensitive coral reefs, then they built an island, then they built an airfield, and now they are all militarized. GHW Shrub ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
And just what were we going to do about it? Were we going to go all military over some make believe island-Nothing Atoll? No, not then, not now, not ever. If we were that concerned we could arm up the Vietnamese and let them do it. But they wouldn't do it because they want the oil or access to it. Better to teach them how to slant drill from their own make believe island. Zorost and Sluggo got it-no steroids involved.
The Chinese Fishing Fleet is an international pariah on the High Seas. When encroaching on EEZs in some places the offended countries just sink their vessels.
Korea should take the opportunity to deal with this as a police matter. If it is aquaculture in their EEZ then they can force removal without starting a war.
You can blame George W. Bush who was distracted by our mostly pointless endeavors in the Land of Sand, and Barack Obama who was also distracted. They could have stopped this but it didn't have their attention.
$4T and a lot of unnecessary death later, plus broken ships, planes and materiel, we figured out that China was pretty busy while we were pretty distracted doing Israel's bidding. What else would you expect from architects of war who were draft dodgers back when they could have been sent to Vietnam instead?
Our preparedness is lower than at any point in many decades. We have zero chance of rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy.
The Chinese dont NEED to invade Taiwan...they just keep the excercises disrupting shipping going... Tell civilian ship owners these are live fire practice zones. Accidents CAN happen you know... We are in no position to go to war with the nation we shipped all our industrial capacity to. All our shipbuilding capability is now in...China.
Considering the complex history of China/Korea, I doubt Korea is too happy about Chinese assertion of power, but may feel there isn't much they can do about it. Not sure Korea wants the US to direct its diplomacy. When Japan did this Korea ended up as its colony.
Führer Xi is occupying his Rhineland in the seas east of China.
As with the Putin invasion of Ukraine in 2014, President Obama set a dangerous precedent by offering no meaningful response PRChina’s occupying and militarizing South China Sea features.
wasn’t obama on record as being an admirer of ccp ability to “get things done”?
I believe that was Justin Trudeau. A fellow traveller anyway.
If we didn't want Russia to invade the Ukraine NATO/US shouldn't have pushed them into it by threatening admittance to NATO. If we'd made a "meaningful response" we'd have had our asses handed to us.
Just like with China now. Have you not been understanding the articles from this very blog?
Russia wants to rebuild the Soviet Union. Extending NATO may have prompted early action, but it was always the plan to reclaim Eastern Europe.
Stop listening to Fox News, it's as bad as CNN or MSNBC.
Russia had a defensively organized military when they invaded, and had to completely reorg their military at great cost to get to where they are now. Simplicius has a lot of great stuff on this.
Russia could add their former desert republics if they wanted to put more red on a map, but they don't because they realize that empire is too expensive. Past time the US learned that lesson.
"Russia could add their former desert republics if they wanted to.."
One of Putin's apparatchiks floated that trial balloon late last year. There's a reason why the 'Stans are moving closer to China and it's not just for economic reasons.
as long as Ukraine acted like Borussia, then everything was fine. Once Ukraine looked west because of russian backed corruption and vassal status, then all bets were off. it was a matter of time before russia was going to apply pressure and or invade.
No, it was about NATO/ US being able to stage nukes and military forces ~250 miles from Moscow. As Putin said repeatedly. Watch the below video before you speak further.
https://youtu.be/on1RrmspFIQ?t=7
The Obama/Biden administrations were foolish to toy with making Ukraine a NATO member — if maintaining peace between Russia and independent Ukraine was the goal.
The time to respond to Führer Xi militarizing SCS features was during Obama’s second term.
Hitler already had Rhineland. What he did was march the Wehrmacht in in violation of Versailles which he advertised for years.
South Korea has no way to run any EEZ and has no ally wiling to put guns out front to underwrite what they d not have navy for.
However, I agree the French pols of the pre war time are superior to the US' current crop.
RoK, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia are all affected.
Darn it; Second. [First!] Your subtitle is reminiscent of that oft-repeated definition from the UCMJ "any penetration, however slight."
As Douglass says, they are Salami Slicing their way to WW3
The only thing PRC understands clearly is a hard push back. Want them to recognize your position? A 2X4 smack in the forehead works every time.
OK boomer. If you've been reading this blog you know that there is no one capable of doing that to China militarily.
lots of SK -CCP trade that could be in play
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time. We're seeing that in action from the PRC. I'm wondering when things will get shooting bad at this point.
Sounds like February 1939 in the South China Sea with a different belligerent.
The Ambassador in Japan to the Secretary of State
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1939v03/d95
"In examining the political aspects of the occupation of Hainan, this action while it may be an exaggeration to look upon it as a direct reply to the American, British and French notes of October and November last, can be considered as a perfectly sure indication of the indifference with which the Japanese regard the recent rumors of Anglo-American joint action against Japan.
My French colleague has merely informed his Government of the announcement and will take no action unless instructed."
The bayonet hit mush then too.
The ROK ought to send a fully armed flotilla sailing right through that third zone, post haste. Dare that pudgy bastard to flinch.
just after telling the US ,,, not asking. telling
I think the current administration would be fine with that.
Exactly. Let western Pacific nations lead the push-back against the ChiComs if it means that much to them.
As Sal reminded everyone yesterday (as if we needed reminding), the U.S. is beyond broke. If WestPac countries want our Navy to do it, then let them reimburse us for the expense of a Strike Group, right down to the last cent.
Obviously it doesn't mean that much to them. Why would they care with hegemon they are forced to do business with?
US boomers seem to have a hard-on for pounding their chest about facing down China, as if they haven't been reading the articles on this very blog about how our navy would fair against the Chinee navy.
This “boomer” (and damn lucky to be in this demographic) doesn’t.
I was as anti-communist/anti-Soviet as they came in the Cold War (my beer mug in McGuire’s says “Sluggo” on one side, “Non-Communist” on the other). Still am. But…that was then, this is now. We. Are. Beyond. Broke.
Let other countries police their own “AOR”s. We cannot afford, literally, to be the world’s protector. Those days are past.
"We. Are. Beyond. Broke."
Amen.
unlike Taiwan, this area is well within SK and JP airbases with USAF assets
…and time to stop that. Use our national defense assets for OUR national defense. Same for S Korea, Germany, et al. Bring our forces home. We. Are. Beyond. Broke.
When the ChiComs hold exercises off of San Francisco, Jacksonville, in the Gulf of America, THEN I’ll give a sh!t about the ChiComs.
you'd prefer they seize Taiwan, make SK and PI into vassals, neutralize JP and the Aussies and demand bases in Hawaii first?
I’d prefer WestPac nations take care of the WestPac.
And frankly, Taiwan is not worth one drop of US blood; certainly none of my sons’, who are F/A-18 pilots. Go shed your blood for Taiwan if it matters that much to you. And take the kids of DC politicians and war drum beaters with you.
given that " seize Taiwan, make SK and PI into vassals, neutralize JP and the Aussies" is clearly visible as their plan you sound like Chamberlin in 1938
Having had the misfortune of living in Hawaii as a young Navy brat, I'd be OK with selling Hawaii to the Chinese. If it were possible, I'd go back in time and ensure that they were never discovered by any western nations, because there's nothing that the Hawaiian people deserve more than to experience the tender mercies of the Imperial Japanese.
That's not possible, but the US could pay off some debts if we sold them to the Chinese. They don't actually want to be part of America anyway, and don't even slightly respect the Constitution, so... let them have that.
(Yes, I'm aware of why it would be a poor idea tactically to do so, and am being slightly tongue in cheek. But I really don't like the Hawaiians all that much.)
Sluggo: The Chicoms are already operating in San Francisco, Jacksonville and the Gulf of America and everywhere else in CONUS (plus Alaska and Hawaii). Every Costco and Walmart is a ChiCom Forward Operating Base.
Just like what WE WATCHED THEM DO in the Spratlys; first, they dredged the lagoons around the sensitive coral reefs, then they built an island, then they built an airfield, and now they are all militarized. GHW Shrub ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
And just what were we going to do about it? Were we going to go all military over some make believe island-Nothing Atoll? No, not then, not now, not ever. If we were that concerned we could arm up the Vietnamese and let them do it. But they wouldn't do it because they want the oil or access to it. Better to teach them how to slant drill from their own make believe island. Zorost and Sluggo got it-no steroids involved.
The Chinese Fishing Fleet is an international pariah on the High Seas. When encroaching on EEZs in some places the offended countries just sink their vessels.
Argentina did that, *before* Javier Milei took office.
Korea should take the opportunity to deal with this as a police matter. If it is aquaculture in their EEZ then they can force removal without starting a war.
They best figure out how to grow fish, 'cause Argentina ain't havin' none of it.
Aquaculture? seems kinda fishy to me!
You can blame George W. Bush who was distracted by our mostly pointless endeavors in the Land of Sand, and Barack Obama who was also distracted. They could have stopped this but it didn't have their attention.
$4T and a lot of unnecessary death later, plus broken ships, planes and materiel, we figured out that China was pretty busy while we were pretty distracted doing Israel's bidding. What else would you expect from architects of war who were draft dodgers back when they could have been sent to Vietnam instead?
Our preparedness is lower than at any point in many decades. We have zero chance of rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy.
Maybe getting ready to repeat the mistake by fighting Iran in behalf of Israel.
Iran is just a symptom, and their ultimate objective goes beyond Israel.
Ocean-cage aquaculture is a real thing. Putting it in another nation's EEZ is trespassing though. Time for a couple of arrests.
The Chinese dont NEED to invade Taiwan...they just keep the excercises disrupting shipping going... Tell civilian ship owners these are live fire practice zones. Accidents CAN happen you know... We are in no position to go to war with the nation we shipped all our industrial capacity to. All our shipbuilding capability is now in...China.
Considering the complex history of China/Korea, I doubt Korea is too happy about Chinese assertion of power, but may feel there isn't much they can do about it. Not sure Korea wants the US to direct its diplomacy. When Japan did this Korea ended up as its colony.
that yellow platform looks like a perfect target for USNavy gunnery practice.
It will take one helluva lot of 57 mm to sink that thing, I doubt we have enough in stock.
then bring out the big (real) guns