Posted on 01/31/2023 10:10:58 AM PST by MarMema
For a country constantly chest-thumping about the size of its economy, the United States is remarkably over-reliant on one form of "export" – war. For decades, the American-led political West used proxy wars to hurt its geopolitical adversaries. While most of these weren't a direct existential threat to US rivals and were relatively limited in scope, recent years brought a major shift to this strategic approach.
Washington DC has become more bellicose than at any point in its history, aggressively attacking the very heartlands of its opponents. In the case of Russia and China, the only reason America isn't directly attacking either of the superpowers is their ability to immediately "return the favor". And yet, the US keeps fanning up conflicts that are pushing the world ever closer toward another global conflict.
Ukraine and Taiwan are the two most prominent examples of America's strategy of "accelerated escalation", obviously designed to cause "irrational decision-making" in both Moscow and Beijing, according to the Pentagon-funded RAND Corporation. With Ukraine reaching a boiling point and Russia forced to intervene, Washington DC is determined to do the same with China in Taiwan. In recent years, top American officials, including several military commanders, have been warning about the "inevitability of war with China".
However, the latest statement is quite concerning, issued in the form of a memo by an active four-star general and circulated with an official order. This is particularly dangerous, especially when taking into account the fact that the general took the step of conveying it through the official chain of command. According to NBC News, General Mike Minihan sent it to his subordinate officers:
"A four-star Air Force general sent a memo on Friday to the officers he commands that predicts the U.S. will be at war with China in two years and tells them to get ready to prep by firing 'a clip' at a target, and 'aim for the head'. In the memo sent Friday and obtained by NBC News, Gen. Mike Minihan, head of Air Mobility Command, said, 'I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me will fight in 2025.'"
According to various sources, the US Air Force general commands approximately 50,000 US servicemen and nearly 500 planes, making his comments all the more concerning. This is particularly true when taking into account that USAF is in direct control of two arms of America's thermonuclear triad – its land-based ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) and nuclear-armed strategic bombers.
Perhaps the most alarming part of the grisly prediction is that it instructed commanders under him to "consider their personal affairs and whether a visit should be scheduled with their servicing base legal office to ensure they are legally ready and prepared." Minihan claims this is because China is allegedly "determined to make a move" against its breakaway island province of Taiwan within the next two years and that this would trigger a direct US military response.
He further called for "a fortified, ready, integrated, and agile Joint Force Maneuver Team ready to fight and win inside the first island chain." Minihan also issued an order that all steps in preparation for war with China were to be reported to him directly by February 28. As to why he thinks this is "inevitable" by 2025, NBC claims he stated the following:
"Minihan said in the memo that because both Taiwan and the U.S. will have presidential elections in 2024, the U.S. will be 'distracted,' and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have an opportunity to move on Taiwan."
The wording is quite concerning, especially when coming from a high-level military commander. General Minihan directed all Air Mobility Command personnel to "fire a clip into a 7-meter target with the full understanding that unrepentant lethality matters most. Aim for the head." Using such phrases when talking about the "coming war" with a nuclear-armed China is unwise, to say the least, not to mention the complete disregard for the most basic diplomatic etiquette. Additionally, China's conventional capabilities are very different in comparison to just a decade ago. Beijing has invested heavily in technological advances that rival or even surpass America's, particularly hypersonic weapons, in which Washington DC significantly lags behind.
Still, China has spent decades trying to resolve the Taiwan issue peacefully, especially through close economic ties with the island, but the US has been undermining these efforts, particularly in recent years. Beijing's attempts to achieve nonviolent political reunification with Taiwan have been severely compromised by American arms deliveries, with Taipei spending dozens of billions on weapons, most of which haven't even been delivered due to the current US focus on Ukraine. China has been warning Washington DC against fomenting the independence ambitions of its breakaway island province. However, the US hasn't only ignored this, but it seems it's already planning yet another war with another superpower.
When one looks at the Chairman of the JCS or the current Commandant of the USMC, or the current SecDef who was a four star general I think the answer is self evident.
This something much more existential. It is not enough for China to be able to exert substantial control over and the ability to manipulate much of the current political class. For China’s true purpose, which is a form of global hegemony to truly function the American empire must be destroyed and the US toppled in an unambiguous manner by military means. China today is akin to Imperial Japan in the late 1930’s but with far greater ambitions. Key to the realization of China attaining its ‘historic destiny’ is the military defeat of the USA.
Yes. And many of them feel that way.
There is no civil war in Taiwan and they are happily having their lives.
Here’s what I know. Trump a consistent opponent of China and Biden faking it for 2024.
Ukraine was 2022 mid-term election drama to distract confuse voters.
Knock it off
I should have said democrat politicians.
This sort of hysterical screaming is ridiculous. The article represents both silly propaganda and actual insights into Chinese thinking. Obviously the determination of some parts of the US defense establishment to contest with force Chinese efforts to breach the First Island Chain bothers Peking, good. However, your silly bloviating is just another indication of how many elderly people with declining faculties post here.
Could just as well be intended for anti-war response, to terrify the public into accepting upcoming concessions to China that will of course weaken our nation while enriching our represenemies.
This General Gets it, General Michael Minihan, USAF, leader of the Air Mobility Command....
In the last conflict between major powers, in WWII, it was the disruption of supply lines that crippled the Germans and Japan, at home, and, in their forward deployments.
Keeping the supply lines open for the US Military is vital with any extended conflict with a major power, over multiple fronts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJxhqC21tY
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