posted by Chris @ 6/27/2005 07:11:00 PM  
Timetables

Yikes! Donald Rumsfeld says that defeating the Iraq insurgency could take up to twelve years. Well, it could take longer. Those people live there, or in neighboring countries. It's not like they're going to be moving anywhere else. Just look at the lingering Israeli/Palestinian conflict and you can get an idea of how tenacious native peoples can be.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is concerned that China could invade Taiwan within two years. Are you kidding?! First, China will host the Olympics in 2008, THEN they'll invade Taiwan.

If you thought China's acquisition of Hong Kong marked China as a superpower, what will they be when they acquire Taiwan? A super-superpower?

Let's hope the U.S. doesn't lose its shirt in the coming confrontation over Taiwan. Taiwan is a long way from home, and I don't think even a dozen or so carrier battle groups will be able to hold off a billion Chinese. We could lose all of our carriers, our prestige, plus all of our sensitive military equipment (surveillance/eavesdropping etc.) in Taiwan.

The United States needs to start shoring up its alliances, including one with India, a country that not only boasts a billion people of its own, but also has more English speakers than any other country, including the U.S. You can thank the Brits for that (the English speakers, not the billion people).

0 comments