I’d suspect we’d relocate forces to the coast of current-South Korea in a series new(er) Naval bases. These could house 5,000-10,000 Marines, and a few assets from the US 7th Fleet, which would take the pressure off US bases in Japan, and keep a credible “triangle” of US forces near the SCS.

Budget cuts...

I’ve been waiting to comment until I heard back from a friend who’s connected to the Syrian crisis. He told me something that backs up your assertion on MANPADS, Mr. Rogoway.

I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing (or hearing) the F-4's in flight. Harriers, F/A 18s, F-14s, F-16s, B-2s, F-117s, heck even the F-22 Raptor— but never an F-4.

The problem with smoke— it works both ways. They can’t see you, but you also can’t see them. Certain thermal optics can see through the smoke clouds, and have come a long way in just 8 years. Some are miniaturized enough that they can be attached to a rifle scope/optics, for example.

“China would trade NK for a US withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula.”

I guess people’s sense of humor vanishes when it's turned on Iron Maiden...

HUH!? SPEAK UP, WOULD YA?

That was ear splitting even in the video with the volume cranked up!

William, I was there. I was there between 2001 to early 2003 before being redeployed for OIF until 2007 when my unit rotated back to OEF.

It’s a fundamental choice: do we want to continue providing CAS operations to Afghan forces to boost their force multiplication abilities at our own expense (procurement, operational wear-and-tear, fuel, pilot expenses, munition costs, etc).

Interesting point.

To be clear: I “starred” your post for the diving information, not because you got “nitrogen narcosis”... Haha.

I love that all North Korean subs sill have the OEM Soviet “rust” paint job.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric

Haha! I just noticed Ronald McDonald providing rear security on the left-hand side of President Clinton’s ‘Merica illustration.

Funny thing is, I don’t know if a lot of Americans would be upset if DC was wiped off the map— so long as Congress was in session when the missile hit.

They can’t make it tonight. Budget cuts, and reduced hours...

You assume the cruise missiles would be nuclear tipped, rather than just conventionally armed.