Adm. William Fallon says China is “sitting on the largest cash hoard in the world,” and Beijing aims to use it to continue purchasing weapons and developing systems, “like this anti-satellite shot,” that’s “clearly designed to counter our capabilities.” However, the head of US Pacific Command told House Armed Services Committee members last week that China “has a long way to go,” so it’s not “particularly threatening right now.” Fallon, who is going to take over US Central Command, endorses continued military-to-military exchanges, particularly at the mid-level officer level because they are the “up and coming decision-makers in the future.” Fallon noted that in his own follow-on visits, he had gotten to see more and “engage in more useful and realistic dialogue.”
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
