Target Centermass

Day: July 26, 2004

  • Banned In Boston!

    Apparently, the USA Today just doesn’t get Ann Coulter.

    USA Today: IS THAT LAST SENTENCE SARCASTIC? IF SO, YOU SURE LOST ME.

  • Pentagon Report Examines China’s Military

    Is there another arms race around the corner?

    The Pentagon has taken a new look at China’s military modernization program. A recent Pentagon report concluded that after decades of relying on Eastern bloc technology, Beijing is striving to achieve a quality of weapons equal to those in the developed world within the next decade.
    The Pentagon says it has much to learn about the strategic ambitions and decision-making behind Beijing’s military modernization. One thing is known though. A decade of sustained economic growth in China has helped the Peoples’ Liberation Army to close the weapons technology gap with the United States.

    While China is closing the gap, assessment of the report is that the technology gap will not disappear.

    The report concludes the Chinese military has directly benefited from what has been a five-fold increase in the country’s economic growth, enabling Beijing to upgrade missiles, aircraft, and submarines, while looking to achieve the same level of technology as the industrialized world within the next five to 10 years.

    But the Pentagon’s latest assessment of China’s military capabilities concludes Beijing is likely to fall short of fully meeting that goal. Richard Bitzinger is a researcher at the Defense Department’s Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

    “The concern is obviously that the Chinese are going to be moving from a military that was largely a 1950s and 1960s technology base to one that is certainly 20-25 years further on down the line,” said Richard Bitzinger.

    This is important as, on the ground, China has the obvious numerical advantage. Their problem would be in projecting this power. The areas they are focusing upon (missiles, aircraft, subs) are crucial in their ability to threaten Taiwan and blunt our ability to support the Taiwanese defenses.

    Does this leave open the chance for another arms race? Seemingly yes, though there is no guarantee. If it does occur, it could possibly happen while the U.S. is facing strong economic competition from the EU and China and still engaged in the fight against Islamic terror.

    Not a pretty picture.

  • Star Wars ROTS

    I’m not too sure Lucas gave any thought to the acronym before he announced the title of the next Star Wars movie.

    Next year’s third and final installment of the “Star Wars” prequels will be called “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” the film’s producers said Saturday.

  • Apparently, the Blogging World Waits

    All weekend, my blogroll has been relatively quiet, leaving little to advocate or cause comment.

    Unfortunately, monitoring Google, Yahoo!, CNN, etc., I find little of worth to blog about on these. Does the world wait on the DNC convention? Goodness, I hope not. I wonder what the next few days of the blogging world will be like if we must rely on a heavily-orchestrated event like the DNC National Convention for news.

    But, wait … this means possibly two things.

    First, the rest of the world is seemingly relatively quiet, waiting, not wanting to interfere. This could be something or nothing, as it would have to be compared relative to the upcoming RNC gathering. Who makes noise? Who voices their vested stake?

    Second, the Dems are toning down their ABB (Anybody But Bush) message because the 9/11 Commission has shown that terrorism is an ongoing threat. This week, Kerry has to show that he can get better international support for our efforts than Bush has managed — more support from the French, et al, than they provided to Saddam. Kerry has to show that he can improve the intelligence community, despite his voting history of cutting funding to it. Kerry has to show that he can assist the military in their efforts, despite his stances to deprive them of funding, especially the Iraq-related funding. Kerry has to support the troops, after trashing the military, and himself, for war crimes.

    It’s sad that a major contender for president has allowed his message to shift so much without conceding he was wrong.

    Kerry about jobs: well, it’s pretty quiet now.

    Kerry about pre-emption: Never against it, but quiet now.

    Kerry about WMD: They’re there. They are not there. Quiet now. ‘Cause they’re there (found) and elsewhere (unfound, but mark Gunner at his word).

    Kerry about the UN: We should act in our own best interests. No, we should act in accordance with every country acting in their own best interest but phrase it as if they are worldly and we are selfish. That is how to lead decisively.

    Instead, I expect a low-key, patriotic Dem convention over the next few days. “We could do better.” Lots of patriotic music, little policy.

    Here’s hoping Teresa Heinz says something cool, but Gunner money is against it. Dean and his ilk would’ve been fun, at least.