[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

The Panama Canal is pretty much useless as an asset of war in this day and age.

I have to respectfully disagree if china makes a move on taiwan we will need to get our navy over there fast china now with holdings on both sides of the canal could bog it up by sinking a freighter in the canal forcing us to go around the world to get there. Sure we have missles and I still think we would whoop chinas ass I just would prefer to control it out of our national interest.

let me also say that I am not a military expert either but gertz and gaffney both say this was a colossal mistake by the united states.

[kylaka]

Ships are not going anywhere after it gets hit by a small tactical Nuke, or even a few 2000# convential bombs. That is the reason we have separate Atlantic and Pacific Naval commands. The Canal is not a strategic asset anymore to anyone. Heck, we haven't even defended it since WWII.

[KneelBeforeZod]

If china makes a move on Taiwan, we need to be there yesterday. The canal isn't going to come into play.

Although the Taiwan Nannies like to ignore it (with "China has no landing craft" diatribes), Taiwan has one of the biggest ports in the world, and it its easy to roll on in from the north end of the island at Tamshui. In fact they could take over the metro at Tamshui and ride into downtown Taipei no problem.