China's Beachhead at Panama Canal

Insight Magazine ^ | Oct. 31, 2005 | J. Michael Waller

[EDINVA]

when was this published? clearly Clinton couldn't have replaced an Ambassador who made statements 3 years ago. And, for that matter, Adm. Moorer died over a year ago.
This was litigated up to the Supreme Court on 12/31/99, the day of the turnover of the Canal to Panama.

[Mr. Mojo]

when was this [originally] published?

Hell if I know, but it's published in the Oct. 31, 2005 issue of Insight Mag., and there's no mention of a previous pub. date.

[Jeff Head]

The cariers are the principle vessels that will not fit...but the destroyers, frigates, supply ships, ammo ships, the large amphibious assault ships, etc. do fit.

There is significant militatry meaning to the canal to this day. If a major conflict broke out in the Western Pacific, a lot of ships, men and material would be transfered from bases and duty stations in the Atlantic to the Pacific (or vice versa).

Without the canal...ALL of that would have to go around South America. Which would add significant time and danger to the transfer and reinforcement over the long haul.

[backhoe]

Unresolved Questions- the Panama canal, good, bad, or a waiting disaster?--thread II

[Arizona Carolyn]

Didn't Carter have a democratic congress?

[Thunder90]

Add Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Fidel Castro, and an authoritian Russia to the mix, and you have lots of fun.

[Thunder90]

The Panamanians, Venezuelans, or Cubans could lease bases to China or Russia for Nuke projection.

[j_accuse]

The Panama Canal cannot be defended by anyone including the Chinese. It could be disabled for months with some kerosene, fertilizer and blasting caps. The "yellow peril" may exist, but it probably it is in Vancouver, B.C. 39 posted on 11/02/2005 3:10:28 PM PST by shrinkermd

Or in Baltimore, Boston, and all the other US cities where the China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has warehouses...

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http://www.cosco-usa.com/about/aboutCCLA.htm

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[j_accuse]

Do you really think some little enterprising chinaman hasn't figured out that maybe, possibly stacking some demolitions munitions next to the locks is a good idea in case we do that? We could take it but then we would have a wrcked canal. Which is still loads better than letting the Chinese having it available in a war. 7 posted on 11/02/2005 1:35:23 PM PST by Centurion2000 ((Aubrey, Tx) --- America, we get the best government corporations can buy.)

Extremely unlikely. Considering the Chinese already have "bases" in sensitive ports like Secaucus and Long Beach, they have a better access to wreck US ports of entry. In addition, the Panamanians are the ones controlling the Panama Canal, as you may have noticed during your last visit to Panama....

U.S. President Bush, right, crosses the Panama Canal as he tours Miraflores Locks with Panama's President Martin Torrijos, in Panama City Monday, Nov. 7, 2005. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

U.S. President George W. Bush (3rd L) and first lady Laura Bush (2nd R), are given a tour by Panama President Martin Torrijos (2nd L) of the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, November 7, 2005. (L to R) Panama first lady Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, Torrijos, Bush, Administrator of the Panama Canal Alberto Aleman Zubieta, Panama Minister of Economy and Finances Ricaurte Vasquez, and Laura Bush. Bush said on Monday the United States and Panama were close to completing a free trade agreement as he ended a Latin American tour that fell short of his goal of reviving talks on a hemispheric-wide trade zone. Bush wrapped up his trip to Argentina, Brazil and Panama with a visit to the Miraflores lock of the Panama Canal, nearly 99 years after Theodore Roosevelt came in 1906 to see the canal construction in the first visit abroad by a U.S. president. REUTERS/Larry Downing

[Rebelbase]

"Well if we have trouble with access to the canal. I am sure we will sieze it."

Before or after Canal infrastructure are destroyed?

[cynicom]

And?? Do you suspect the Canal would not be usable for a long time???