Posted on 10/25/2010 2:33:04 PM PDT by rxsid
"US to build £8bn super base on Pacific island of Guam
The US is building an £8 billion super military base on the Pacific island of Guam in an attempt to contain China's military build-up.
A B-1B Lancer takes off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in 2003
The expansion will include a dock for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a missile defence system, live-fire training sites and the expansion of the island's airbase. It will be the largest investment in a military base in the western Pacific since the Second World War, and the biggest spend on naval infrastructure in decades.
However, Guam residents fear the build-up could hurt their ecosystem and tourism-dependent economy.
Estimates suggest that the island's population will rise by almost 50 per cent from its current 173,000 at the peak of construction. It will eventually house 19,000 Marines who will be relocated from the Japanese island of Okinawa, where the US force has become unpopular.
...
Local residents' concerns, however, have been sidelined by the US-China strategic competition. China has significantly expanded its fleet during the past decade, seeking to deter the US from intervening militarily in any future conflict over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own, and to project power across disputed territories in the gas and oil-rich South China Sea.
Beijing's naval build-up is also intended secure the sea lanes from the Middle East, from where China will import an estimated 70-80 per cent of its oil needs by 2035 supplies it fears US could choke in the event of a conflict.
..."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Island ‘Tip Over’ ALERT!!!!!
ping
But won’t that make the Island tip over from all the weight?
Just had to get that one in. No doubt that Georgia clown is running 30 points ahead in his District.
Gee, what a great place to base the KC-45 tanker, what with it’s larger fuel load than the KC-767...
Nice move, miliatrily....but useless if the US continues subsidizing the ChiComs via Free Trade with Communist China.
The whole island is a military “base”. It is also a colonial holding of USA which Bambi will get around to abolishing. He’ll give it to the Hawaiians as part of their reparations.
Wow!!!!! We are building an American base using British Pound Sterling. I guess the dollar is really in more trouble than I realized.
Wonderful.
The government supports policy and trade to give the Chi-conms and advantage economically, financially, militarily......then goes and spends billions to contain them.
Way to go Uncle Sugar, way to go.
When China goes "stupid", we'll simply blow them off the face of the earth. Have to stay "moveable"...
FDR needed a target.
LOL - I remember I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that comment.
I forget which RAT said - anyone?
From what I’ve heard and read the good folks of Guam don’t care for the American presence they already have and that position is acknowledged by the Japanese gub mint.
Cam Ranh Bay and Russias new interest there come to mind here.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.