[NicknamedBob]

"So why the large scale military buildup, then?"

It's actually for internal consumption. Why did Saddam need such a buildup?

The oppressor needs to externalize the threat, in order to maximize control over the people.

But there are limits, even in China. They are perhaps the world's most patient people, but even they will work to throw off the yoke of oppression.

We have to show them that we are NOT their enemy, and that in fact the People's Army is only meant for the People's Oppression.

E-mail them a few messages.

[Das Outsider]

It's actually for internal consumption. Why did Saddam need such a buildup?

Right--that's basic state terrorism. My question has more to do with the technological end. It is one thing to amass a million man fighting force to act as instruments of terror, but quite another to heist information on the Aegis weapons system and the like--unless they plan on, a) providing a farcical war buildup to keep the citizenry captive to the Big Lie, or, b) someday applying that advanced technology on the mainland (or Taiwan), which is unlikely.