Posted on 10/26/2015 1:46:41 PM PDT by amorphous
For anyone who might still be somehow unaware, the US is currently in a superpower staring match with both Russia and China. The conflict in Syria has put Moscow back on the geopolitical map (so to speak), creating an enormous amount of tension with Washington whose regional allies have been left to look on in horror as Russian airstrikes and an Iranian ground incursion dash hopes of ousting President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, in The South China Sea, Beijing has built 3,000 acres of new sovereign territory atop reefs in the Spratlys and although the reclamation effort itself isn’t unique, the scope of it most certainly is and Washington’s friends in the South Pacific are crying foul.
Beijing has continually insisted that it doesn’t intend to use the islands as military outposts, but the construction of runways and ports seems to tell a different story and so, Washington felt compelled to check things out over the summer by sending a Poseidon spy plane complete with a CNN crew to the area. Once the PLA spotted the plane the situation escalated quickly with the Chinese Navy telling US pilots to “Go Now!”
After that, an intense war of words developed with Defense Secretary Ash Carter insisting that the US would sail and fly anywhere it pleased and Beijing assuring the US that sailing within 12 nautical miles of the islands would prompt a harsh response from the PLA.
For weeks, the US was rumored to have been planning a freedom of navigation exercise in the Spratlys which, as we’ve pointed out several times this month, amounts to sailing by the islands just to see if China will shoot.
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
Thanks Obummer!
Oh great. Not that it shouldn’t be done, but by Obama...
All the while they are buying Texas mineral right and land.
Has Obama installed tails on our ships. It seems he will be ordering them to tuck them between their legs and run.
Who could believe that our C-in-C would meaningful confront anyone, unless it is as a method for bringing down the military of the US.
God bless our troops and sailors and airmen.
It’s been reported by other sources that the ship they are sending is the USS Lassen.
He’s sending a destroyer, it will lower itself in the water and let the chinese ships hump it’s brains out.
Obama can always call on our dreamy new Prime Minister to stand up against China. Lolololololololo - oh man, I crack myself up. Both of them together doesn’t amount to one man.
Zero Hedge has to be the most worthless website posted on Free Republic. I can’t think of a single worthwhile article from it ever posted here.
It’s hard to draw a line in the ocean.
But then the Executive Anus gets the same results drawing them in the sand.
And yet according to USNI that is precisely what is about to happen: citing US Navy officials, USNI reports that he three ships about to dock in the US are the Type 052C Luyang II-class guided-missile destroyer Jinan (152), the Type 054A Jiangkai II-class guided-missile frigate Yiyang (548) and the Type 903 Fuchi-class fleet oiler Qiandao Hu (886).
“Three vessels are on an around-the-world deployment and will conduct the goodwill visit after completing port calls in Europe,” read a statement from Navy Region Southeast. “The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) will serve as the host ship. In Mayport, sailors from both navies will participate in sporting events and interact during ship tours.”
The close navy encounters go both ways: yesterday, a collection of about two dozen U.S. naval officers paid a visit to the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in China, according to Chinese state controlled press and confirmed by the Navy.
U.S. officials would not elaborate if there would be an at-sea training component to the visit slated to run from Nov. 3rd to the 7th.
https://glblgeopolitics.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/three-chinese-warships-to-dock-in-florida-port/
“Who could believe that our C-in-C would meaningful confront anyone”
Putin is kicking sand all over our wimpy president for a long time, and yet again in Syria.
The danger of weak leader, as has been stated many times, is that they ALWAYS over-react when pushed. He’s trying to “butch up”, and improve his image. right now, the world views him, (AND US, as well) as a doormat.
If someone told Trudeau that China was going to destroy all the world’s weed, he might get involved.
Saw that - crazy!
Too funny!!
Sacrificial lambs. If challenged and our ships boarded and captured, does anyone believe Obama would respond with force? Most likely he would profusely apologize to the Chinese and do nothing to retrieve our men, all while playing golf to the end of his failed term in office.
We need to do this china just can not claim anything it wants. We will have freedom of navigation its a non-starter.
But... but.... he’s the light sender. Or lighthouse mender. Or light-something. The panzy unicorn riding love and peace guy...
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