Rumsfeld Sees a New China: If press reports are accurate, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has changed his attitude—or approach—toward China’s increased defense spending. According to several news reports covering a meeting of Asian defense ministers, Rumsfeld indicated he believes Beijing is making more visible the scope of its military endeavors. That stands in marked contrast to Rumsfeld’s claim last year that China was upsetting regional stability, not to mention, the recently released Pentagon report on China.
The United States Air Force is flying less than historic norms and funding for acquisition and readiness is on a path to further hollow out this too small and old force to that is incapable of sustaining an enduring combat air campaign.
