Complex??? The PLA is secretive about EVERYTHING they do, and you think a simple surprise first-strike is complex??? To me, it all boils down to the actual assets they have, and that is what is most worrisome. Strategic surprise. In depth.
And the simplest asymmetric attack of all: Ten or more major EMP blasts from SCUDS launched from anonymous Arab-registry ships above the continental U.S., and have Al-Quaeda take credit for it. Every U.S. city would be in almost the same straits immediately as New Orleans.
No phones. No electrical power. No communications. No gasoline able to be pumped. No computers. No banks. Not pretty.
"And the simplest asymmetric attack of all: Ten or more major EMP blasts from SCUDS launched from anonymous Arab-registry ships above the continental U.S., and have Al-Quaeda take credit for it. Every U.S. city would be in almost the same straits immediately as New Orleans.
"No phones. No electrical power. No communications. No gasoline able to be pumped. No computers. No banks. Not pretty."
There is one small problem: this "simple" attack would require operational capabilities far beyond al-Qaeda's. Indeed, only the US, Russia, China, Britain, and France could pull it off. 3 out of 5 are not guilty; a very plausible US response would be to incinerate the national governments of the remaining two.