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 ...
If China were smart they’d turn it into a duty-free sovereign economic zone with banks, casinos, and scuba diving outfitters.
“It’s been reported by other sources that the ship they are sending is the USS Lassen.”
Lassen come home. Timmy fell down the well.
Yup. He’s the laughing stock.
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg82/Pages/USS-Lassen-Promotes-Maritime-Security-in-South-China-Sea.aspx#.Vi6TW2TBzGc USS Lassen Promotes Maritime Security in South China Sea
By Lt. j.g. Lauren Chatmas, USS Lassen Public Affairs
SOUTH CHINA SEA – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) continues to patrol the South China Sea since the end of May 2015 in support of security and stability in the region.
Since August 2013, Destroyer Squadron 15 DDGs have operated in the South China Sea. During these patrols, safe interactions with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels at sea, courteous radio conversations, and prudent shiphandling establishes U.S. Navy’s commitment to maritime security and informs our Chinese counterparts the U.S. Navy intends to operate freely in international waters.
“It is a unique opportunity for Lassen to read about U.S. defense policies which affect the region and then be called to the tip of the spear to execute these policies,” said Lassen’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Robert Francis. “These are priceless lessons for our young junior officers, and will undoubtedly shape them into the skilled mariners who will one day lead our Navy.”
Additionally, Lassen assists U.S. Navy aircraft with safety of flight through the area. These aircraft have been queried throughout their flight, and these queries have become ordinary as the U.S. Navy conduct patrols in the South China Sea, a major sea line of world-wide communication for commercial shipping traffic.
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Smith runs the air controller console on board Lassen. As an air controller, she is one of the personnel responsible for the safety of flights. She sums up the experience as “this is just another day at work in South China Sea.”
On board Lassen, in clear and perfect English, it is common to hear Chinese voices over the radio in the combat information center. Lassen conducts daily flight operations with her two embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51, also known as the “Warlords.” During these flights, Warlords are often queried by the Chinese. The pilots on the helicopter respond in a professional manner by reiterating they are operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.
Lassen, Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Yokosuka, Japan and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, is on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.
It’s like he wants us to get in a confrontation we will lose. After shorting the military for resources, and withdrawing it strategically, he thinks NOW is the time to puff out our chests in several theaters simultaneously?
The Canadian Obama.
That is a heckuva counterweight that he has.
The Flakiest Gun in the West.
Are there any adults in Washington D.C. that will Stop Obama if he actually sets us up for total destruction? He's already doing it in lots of subtle and indirect ways, but not nuclear yet. I can't wait until January 20, 2017.
Are we going to make it? I'm serious. I've thought about this a lot. I honestly feel Obama is a national security risk. Let's hope some good people intervene when it's crunch time. . .
I think a sewage skow is more appropriate for Baraq.
The Destoyer is my favorite sub at Larry’s Giant Subs. Think the Chinese would be happy that Obama sent them one.
There is a time that someone with predilections such as his would be under surveillance if not in jail, never mind holding public office and being the President.
There is no intelligence security. I will bet that every single member of his administration would have been hard pressed to get any kind of security clearance at one point in the past.
Why?! Can’t he just keep his grimy claws off the rest of the planet? Who wants more war?
Light in the loafers?
I can’t believe I’m actually saying I agree with homobama. We absolutely should sail our ships anywhere international nautical boundaries permit. Where homobama screwed up is in not sailing a carrier group or two right around every one of the Spratley’s.
Yes it is a win win situation for him. He gets to have a destroyer taken out and all the military personnel as well. Gets to re-up military members with his gay/anti-American types and not re-up a destroyer.
Maybe that’s the idea...the Lassen will be a gift.
My guess the Chinese ando Obama have both spoken to each other and already decided what’s going to happen, it’s all for show.
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