Secretary Gates concerned about China

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signaled his concern over China’s rapid military modernization
.
His move is highlighted by the latest picture of a Chinese stealth bomber, as he begins talks aimed at repairing security relations in Beijing today.

But Dr Gates warned China not to underestimate the US or the continuing power of its military.
“I’ve watched this sort of cyclical view of American decline come around two or three times, perhaps most dramatically in the latter half of the 1970s,” Dr Gates told reporters en route to China.

“And my general line for those both at home and around the world who think the US is in decline is that history’s dustbins are filled with countries that underestimated the resilience of the United States.”

This week’s discussions, which will include President Hu Jintao, signal an end to an 11-month hiatus in military-to-military relations between China and the US after the $US6.5 billion US sale of arms to Taiwan last February. They come amid mounting evidence Beijing’s arms spending spree is paying dividends.

As well as the stealth plane, Washington is worried about China’s plans for a groundbreaking anti-aircraft-carrier missile as well as longer-term plans for its own aircraft carriers.

“We’ve been watching these developments all along,” Dr Gates said. “I’ve been concerned about the development of the anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles ever since I took this job."

“We knew they were working on a stealth aircraft. I think what we’ve seen is they may be somewhat further ahead in the development of that aircraft than our intelligence had earlier predicted.
“They have the potential to put some of our capabilities at risk.”

Still, he questioned “just how stealthy” the aircraft would be.

China believes the US is not ready to accept another strong military power, especially in the Asia-Pacific. The leaking of the stealth fighter photos has been seen as intentional.

“Whether the reported new weapons are true or not, in the long run China will own first-class weapons that are capable of competing with the US war machine,” Communist Party-run nationalist tabloid Global Times said in an editorial last week.

“Apparently the US is not ready to treat China as a major power. They cannot accept the fact that China will . . . possess a first-class military. They are too used to the old power structure.”

In both countries, civilian governments have to battle with their military machines. Chinese generals regularly emerge in the media advocating more aggressive policies. Dr Gates has reached a compromise to cut $US78 billion ($78.5bn) from his defence budget — the biggest cut in decades — as the Obama administration searches for ways to reduce its massive deficit.

Mr Hu will visit Washington next week.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"


---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

DoD to Trim General and Flag Officers

The Department of Defense will trim it's senior ranks and freeze civilian staff levels.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said "The monetary savings from reductions in senior
personnel will be relatively modest, and mostly consist of the extra staff and amenities that,
by tradition, follow high rank."

"The primary purpose of reducing senior rank structure is to create fewer, flatter, more
agile-and thus more effective organizations," Gates said.

In August Gates said he would appoint a task force to asses the number of positions for general
and flag officers. As a result of that report the department will eliminate more than 100 of the
900 positions it now authorizes.

"Of those 28 billets that were created after 9/11, primarily for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan," Gates said. "They will be reduced as appropriate, as major troop deployments
wind down."

More than 80 general-officer of flag positions spread among the services, the Department
of Defense and the combatant commands "will be eliminated or downgraded," Gates said.

As DoD trims is senior staff, it will also freeze overall staff employees at the current
level for the next three years.

"The resulting review produced a number of opportunities to trim the size of the work force,
yielding more than $4 billion in savings over the next five years," he said "I will
recommend to the president that we hold to these limits in overall DOD staff levels
for the next three years."

I say a savings of $4 billion over 5 years would be more than enough to pay for a Cold
War Service Medal, which has been estimated to cost $25 million over ten years.

It is a medal that has been delayed and dismissed for too many years.

Recognize and honor our Cold War Veterans now.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember" 

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Secretary Gates says No to Israel

Speaking in Melbourne Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters that Israel had concerns about
the impact that international sanctions against Iran, and how effective they were.

This was a day after Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu told Vice President Joe Biden that only a credible threat would stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Gates said "We are prepared to do what is necessary but at this point we continue to believe that the
political-economic approach we are taking is in fact having an impact in Iran."

Gates is in Melbourne for security talks also signed a space defense surveillance agreement with Australia and promised the U.S. would work with Australia and enhance their military cooperation, including space and cyberspace.

On this issue Gates said "The Space Situational Awareness Partnership statement of principles signed
today, for example, will lead to great cooperation between our militaries  in the areas of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996