[Thisiswhoweare]

Great point!Panama is extremely serious, particularly to our SLOC.

However, for a serious launch facility, consider their massive containership docking and warehouse facility built off the east coast in Bermuda, the British Virgin Island and their largest - the one in the Bahamas:
http://www.hph.com.hk/business/ports/america/bahamas.htm

"The Port, endowed with one of the deepest natural harbours in the region, is just 65 miles off the east coast of Florida, USA and sits at the centre of a 230 square mile free-trade-zone."

Check out the photos-37 hectares in size and 65 miles off our coast, built during the presidency of you-know-who:
http://www.hph.com.hk/corporate/photo_gallery.asp?cat_id=3

Talk about a launch pad - you could support an army through there.

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[willyone]

Just think if they had gotten Long Beach all to themselves. And I heard that we have awarded Hutchinson-Whampoa the contract to provide security for our ports. Anyone who expects anyone in govt. to do anything about this need only look at the care and concern they have given to stopping illegal immigration. None.

[marron]

However, for a serious launch facility, consider their massive containership docking and warehouse facility built off the east coast in Bermuda, the British Virgin Island and their largest - the one in the Bahamas:

Even the best missile defense system would have trouble stopping cruise missiles from 65 miles away. If they weren't expected. Or suitcase nukes smuggled ashore from their base 65 miles away. It is not a knockout punch but the threat could be effective blackmail if they were to move on Taiwan while we were otherwise busy, say, in Iraq.

Faced with the need to re-direct a couple of carrier groups to Taiwan while we are knee-deep in Iraq, at the cost of small nukes in several major cities; or focusing on our business with Saddam and let Taiwan go... I suspect the decision has already been worked out in the simulations.