European military prowess

From: Alan Minyard

f course we would not be stupid enough to fight the PRC in a "ground
war". We would utterly destroy their command and control, their
air force etc.

Interesting article on the Chinese air forces in issue 119 of Policy Review.
Excerpt:

"China now has the second largest defense budget in the world, with
expenditures to boost its intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal and
acquire nuclear submarines and destroyers. Yet the Chinese air force remains
very weak, with capabilities dramatically inferior to the U.S.’s. The
arsenals of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (plaaf) and Naval Air
Force (planaf) consist mostly of fighter planes (used primarily for defensive
purposes) imported from Russia. The scarcity of bombers (used for offensive
purposes) and China’s continued reliance on foreign planes pose a puzzle to
U.S. defense planners. Apparently content to rely on missiles to project power,
China’s doctrine contrasts sharply with American ideas about the importance
of air superiority.

"Following the successful air campaigns of the 1991 Gulf War, Chinese defense
analysts tuned in to the American debate over the possibility of relying on air
power alone and the connection between the use of air power and avoiding
friendly military and foreign civilian casualties. In recent publications,
generals from China’s military academies have treated air power-related
themes — including what America’s strategic air advantage consists in and
how it might be mitigated or neutralized — at length. Chinese observers also
noted how the wars in Kosovo and Afghanistan confirmed American faith in the
increasing efficacy of air power in light of dramatic technological advances."

Complete article at:

http://www.policyreview.org/jun03/newmyer.html


Chris Mark

The scarcity of bombers (used for offensive
purposes) and China’s continued reliance on foreign planes pose a puzzle to
U.S. defense planners.

Well, I suppose it's possible that here is a nation with no offensive
intentions! (And apart from Taiwan, I suppose that's true.)

Let's face it: China has been very good at getting what it wants,
short of war. The only significant combat it's fought outside its
borders, the Korean War, began a result of a significant threat to its
borders.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put CUB in subject line)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

Yeah I guess facts are rather silly... but I aint the inventor of
those facts...

That's obvious, you just make up your "facts".

Have you ever worked together with U.S. troops? They must always have
bodyguards from other countries when going from place A to place B.

Hogwash. The only time I've been protected by other than US forces was at
Fairford where British MoD forces guarded the perimeter and US forces the
interior. This arrangement was required because US forces have no arrest
authority outside of the fence. The same arrangement is in place throughout
the world, its a legal matter genius.

Do you know that the U.S. sends U.N. observers to some places?

That would be interesting since the US, nor any single country, has the
authority to "send" UN forces anywhere.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"

Yes, that one would have come in handy on several occasions. Of course our
desire to complete the mission would have ended up with us being court
martialed
for violating it :-)

Yeah, but if you going to violate a military regulation, I always found it
useful to know exactly which one you were "bending"


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"

On 02 Nov 2003 14:20:57 GMT, (BUFDRVR) wrote:

Yes, that one would have come in handy on several occasions. Of course our
desire to complete the mission would have ended up with us being court
martialed
for violating it :-)

Yeah, but if you going to violate a military regulation, I always found it
useful to know exactly which one you were "bending"


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"

Roger that :-)

Al Minyard

Mentioning grooming standards reminded me of that superior officer who
made the Special Forces guys shave their beards and cut their hair in
Afghanistan, immediately blowing their cover. Another example of a
careerist 'garritrooper'.
Bet he never ever left the compound except to go home to the ZI.
Walt BJ