The American Spectator

I find it interesting that almost no one in the pro-Fallon camp wants to discuss his active leadership as a charter member of the “China is not a problem” club. This is a stance that is particularly embedded among the flag ranks in the Navy, but there are proponents in the other services also.

On Adm. Fallon’s watch as PACOM we have see the Red Chinese launch a huge upgrade and boat building campaign to improve their diesel sub fleet. This upgrade and build has significantly quieted their diesel subs. This build up was totally missed by our intel community and our military until, all of a sudden, we found out as new boats already launched were detected by our forces almost by accident. This at the same time that Red China was buying nuke subs from Russia and the appropriate technology that goes with them. All the while the top echelon of the Chinese military was talking about how they could and would launch missiles that could reach the U.S.

While this has been going on, Adm. Fallon has been out front in promoting high level military to military exchanges with the Red Chinese. According to public reports, the Chinese have been shown entirely too much about our attack submarine fleet and our Aegis Combat Control Centers aboard ships. Also according to public reports, the Chinese have shown our military people little more than Chinese Army troops drilling on the parade ground. According to published reports, Adm. Fallon has directed that the Chinese military visitors be shown just about everything that they request to see, while the Chinese have routinely denied access to what our military has asked to see.

Of course there is a dedicated cadre of “China is not a problem” people at CIA. It is often suggested that this is exactly why the CIA consistently “misses” advances made by the Chinese military. Porter Goss was trying to get rid of or break up this group, instead Bush fired Goss.

Amb. Negroponte, the Natl. Intel. Czar that is heading over to be the #2 official at the State Dept. is also named as a member of this “China is not a problem” group, and the State Dept. also has a significant group with this mindset.

We also know that the man that took Condi Rice’s place as head of the Natl. Sec. Council, is a dedicated believer in the “China is not a problem” viewpoint. When I say “China is not a problem” I am speaking in the sense that they can be negotiated with, and that they certainly will not really directly confront the U.S. Of course no one can show where the Chinese have heroically co-operated with us to solve the fiasco with N. Korea. No one can show where China has stopped selling weapons and military technology to our opponents, like Iran.

Now Adm. Fallon may be the real fighter that Mr. Babbin claims. On the other hand, I have seen no synopsis of his performance in aerial combat or combat support in an actual shooting war. Maybe there is such a synopsis, but it hasn’t been prominently displayed publicly. Also, he was not a Navy pilot. He was a Naval Aviator — a navigator. He may be that absolute right choice, a real member of the A-Team, but I have yet to see a convincing argument to show that. There is a lot of talk within the upper echelons of officers that have been involved in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, that he got the job because he will tell Bush what Bush wants to hear, instead of the hard answers that Bush got from Gens. Casey and Abizaid.

p>I would also opine that a troop surge is the absolute wrong decision at this time in an insurgency or guerrilla type war. That, however, is a separate subject, and deserves is own separate debate. br> — Ken Shreve /p>

I live in rural East Texas. I am thankful for this fact and for the cattle and horses we raise. I read TAS every chance I get to absorb knowledge from folks who live in a stratosphere of Washington politics and see and hear things when they happen. Every now and then, however I wonder if folks shouldn’t be using a crystal ball, instead.

I am certain Mr. Babbin’s piece is right on but I’d add one thing. I have observed this war most closely due to a son’s repetitive service “over there”. My observation is this…..I believe we went there for many reasons, chief among them is Iran. Till we get that finished we haven’t gotten it done! If we bug out as the Dems proclaim they were elected to do, then I am readying the fortress in the hills to go live, as others, not Reps or Dems, will govern this great country.

p>Calling it as I see it… br> —