Disputed islands once had strategic role

Armchair warriors, neocons, always trying to stir up trouble; leave it to the Naval War college to show some sense.

Oh, and run "removing Taiwan from the first island chain" by me one more time. Territories with people, including the populations of Taiwan and Japan, treated like pawns in the latest Great Game. Our tax money chases the chimera of 'economic enemies' the militarists create, to our great shame.

Sorry, I meant 'budgetary enemies' as in "left to their own devices, militaries everywhere are tempted to create 'budgetary enemies' in order to justify defence" budget increases (Lim, R., The Geopolitics of East Asia, p. 50) http://books.google.co.jp/books?isbn=0415360307. That is, the rival countries' military-related special interests both benefit from the hyped up threats. If huge countries are turned into pawns, what does that make us?

It is a good thing the Ospreys are near. It is the only craft that can transport the Marines safely to the islands! Nice pic Steve.

Actually, it comes into the picture as events unfolds to virtual possibilities, these disputed chain of islets could be the destined "home base" for the ospreys. Literally relocating MCAS Futenma together with the thousands of USMC's there thus ending the Okinawan's cry for the 2006 Road To Reallignment's realization. Could be still seen far from now to be true, but who knows, it coud be already drawn in the scrapbooks. Like the article said, "Whoever contols the gate, controls the pacific"... commercially and militarily...!

This chain is what has prompted the Chinese to redraw all their maps with a red dotted line, thrown out like a net, to include everyone and everything within it.

The article itself seems to be more about Taiwan, though.

I'm not sure what US Marines would do there, precisely. A few military aircraft could easily secure the islands from an "invasion." Or ship born missiles, for that matter.

Steve, what exactly are you trying to say? LOL