Future Foe?

The Chinese military build-up and modernisation programme has been reasonably well documented- and they appear to be building a military force designed to oppose the USA- so this should really not be too much of a surprise.

American military chiefs have been left dumbstruck by an undetected Chinese submarine popping up at the heart of a recent Pacific exercise and close to the vast U.S.S. Kitty Hawk - a 1,000ft supercarrier with 4,500 personnel on board.

By the time it surfaced the 160ft Song Class diesel-electric attack submarine is understood to have sailed within viable range for launching torpedoes or missiles at the carrier.

Mad Ogre has written more than once about the threat that China could one day pose to America- make sure to head on over and search the site for more. Despite this, some people still seem to think that military planners in the States should be shaping the Army there to be most effective against terrorists. For example, the infantry is dealing with lightly armed and un-armoured "insurgent fighters" so the thinking goes that the Army needs a rifle with less penetration capability. If nothing else the Chinese sub incident should highlight the grave mistake that adapting an Army based on the current or last enemy fought- rather than a field of potential future enemies. It is never a good idea.