Is it true that the US military consumes as much oil as the whole civilian economy?

Discussion in 'Politics' started by crgarcia, Apr 23, 2008.

  1. piezoe

    piezoe

    If you are concerned about the Chinese military build-up, you shouldn't be. Let them waste their resources on armies and useless, obsolescent military hardware. That will certainly lead to their ultimate economic decline, just as it has other nations before, including the US, by the way. Try to get a grip and recognize that this is the 21st century, not 1940.
     
    #21     Apr 24, 2008
  2. You are completely right, no one can predict the future. It is ridiculous how some economists predict that China will possess the world's strongest economy by 2050. It is unlikely that it can sustain so much growth for several decades. IMO I think China can easily collapse because of its authoratarian communist government. The statistics are greatly exeggerated on its economic performences... a characteristic of a communist society.

    It can be argued that China is predominately a capitalist society. Certainly the trend is for more liberalization. But this aspect does not coorelate with their government. Authoratarian regimes can sustain growth for just so long. It reminds me of the case in the USSR. Shortly before Stalin died, in the mid 1950s, the Soviet economy was booming. It frightened America. By the 60s, however, the bubble burst and the world's superpower gradually declined.

    In the case of China's military, yes it is difficult to predict the future. Still, the U.S. military is much further ahead than a decade. Also, as I noted earlier, the problem with China's military rise is that neighboring countries such as India, Russia and Japan are extremely skeptical. Japan has no formal military, but it can transform its coast guard into the navy very easily. China's navy and airforce is horrible. India possesses a stronger airforce as well. 1,000,000+ foot soldiers can also be neutralized by India's 800,000+ foot soldiers.

    About stealing military secrets, China is equally corrupt as India and Russia. Probably even more so. Corruption is the core of any communist government.

    I agree that China is a very dangerous country nevertheless. As for your lunatic Muslim country statement, I disagree. Muslim country's are protecting themselves from Western imperialism. Yes they do horrible things such as suicide bombings and killing innocent people, but thats their only potentially succesful tactics. During the American Revolution, we fought in unconvential ways as well. Had it been the traditional way, Great Britain's numbers and superior organization would have probably massacred us.
     
    #22     Apr 24, 2008
  3. It's not about size, it's about skill. A squad of properly armed Rangers could hold off a platoon of lesser trained soldiers.

    If fact, this is common in history where more discipline fighters have defeated armies several times their numbers.
     
    #23     Apr 24, 2008
  4. And....There is nothing in the world deadlier than a Nuclear Submarine.
     
    #24     Apr 24, 2008
  5. That's good. That said, can you imagine the heat signature that a troop buildup that size would entail? We could neutralize 70 percent of their forces before contact.
     
    #25     Apr 24, 2008
  6. toc

    toc

    'India possesses a stronger airforce as well. 1,000,000+ foot soldiers can also be neutralized by India's 800,000+ foot soldiers.'

    I think India has 1.1M foot soldiers and another million in reserves. But the quality of forces is no better than China. Airforce is one area where India can check the Chinese for like two weeks or so.

    In a two front war against China and Pakistan, the Indian forces can best hope for a stalemate and UN brokered ceasefire. Indians can count of Israel for only very selective Airforce and ground spec-ops help and some with the supply of items like artellery shells and repair parts. Other than that Indians are all on their own. Russians too feeble to do anything except in the UN. It can go nuclear quickly in the event any of the three lose lots of ground and military assets.

    Doubt India and China have any 'war on impulse' type ambitions. Pakistan is another story, probably the most dangerous nation on earth with nukes.
     
    #26     Apr 24, 2008
  7. Cool insights.
     
    #27     Apr 24, 2008
  8. Sqd vs. platoon is 3:1 RCPA.....ranger squad/Infantry sqd etc. Properly armed? Have you served in a bat or did you just watch a couple movies?

    his thread is de-railed.
     
    #28     Apr 24, 2008
  9. If China does anything hostile towards India, the American Navy will intefer and have its way. Also, an invading China will struggle to get passed the Himilayas. There are several corriders where both Indian and China troops defend the territory. Which ever side will advance, they will suffer. The only way to get passed the corridors is with an incredibly strong airforce.

    In the case of Pakistan, it is a threat, but the regime is completely unstable. They have their own internal problems. As much as they want to gain Kashmir from India, their attention is towards the consequences of Musharaff's military dictatorship. Pakistan certainly gained China's nuclear technology in 1997, but its power has greatly declined. Obviously their possession of nukes is a big deal. But China's alliance with Pakistan is more geared as providing as a buffer state for China's oil interests in the Middle East. If there is any war, China will need oil, and the U.S. Navy is surrounding their sea border with all the large cities. Pakistan serves as the a location where oil can be transported from the Middle East and then via land, without having to travel passed India's and eventually the American Navy. Look how much infrastructure China is investing in Tibet and Pakistan. Their building railroads mainly for this reason. Pakistan marginalizes India, but cannot defeat it even with China. America and Europe have better relations with India (a democratic and not a communist country) and will not allow China to do something like invade it. Ties between India and the ASEAN states and Japan are also increasing to marganilize China's rise.
     
    #29     Apr 24, 2008
  10. toc

    toc

    'If China does anything hostile towards India, the American Navy will intefer and have its way.'

    I do not think so, Indians have too many rosy assumptions :D

    Why would China depend on middle eastern oil via Pak, when Kazakstan is plush with energy supplies and borders China way and beyond the shorelines.

    EU, Japan or ASEAN will be more than happy to be out of any mess between the nuclear powers. Other than limited help from Israel, India cannot count of any one else.

    Performance of Indians in Kargil war was borderlining shabby both in terms of preparedness and performance. Do not blame the lower echelon soldiers, they were victims of higher level incompetence.
     
    #30     Apr 24, 2008