5/16/2008 11:15:07 AM Charles Hale
The recent quake represents a great opportunity to determine the true capabilities of the Chicom's military and governmental abilities.
Before I go on, this cannot in any way be compared to Katrina. Katrina was a natural disaster as well, and the military was heavily involved. However, our system in the US means is a bottom-up, instead of a top-down. Local leaders must petition the Feds for help in the US, and they failed to do so in Louisiana. China has the ability to mandate military intervention, regardless of what the locals think.
A VOA article, titled "US, China Cooperate on Disease Prevention in Quake Zone" led to a thought. We can gain key intelligence, as well as operational experience from this tragedy.
First, it gives our scientists real-world experience to compare to their computer models of disease spreading during catastrophic events. This sort of event does not come around very often. Data collected will be analyzed for years to come, improving our disaster responses for generations.
More importantly, we are going to know the military capabilities of the Chicoms. We will know how long it takes to make decisions. We will know why they are made (international embarrasement, local revolt, actually caring about its citizens). And we will know key facts in relation to Taiwan: what they can bring to bear, how long it takes to get it there and what it looks like while assembling.
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