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LTC Trent Klug
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Giving away control of the canal was a terrible mistake. We knew the Panamanians would never keep it functioning. He'll, there's a train the Panamanians ran that couldn't travel 600 meters due to no maintenance.

Allowing the Chinese to operate the Canal may have seemed like a good thing 25 years ago, but now it looks like a bum deal. All it would take to cripple shipping or extend it by weeks is for China to shut it down. What a deal for commerce.

Not to mention our warships would have to travel around South American to transit oceans if needed.

LTC Stephen Conway
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LTC Trent Klug
LTC Trent Klug
11 mo
SFC Thomas Butler

1)All it takes is one or two ships in the lane to block the passage either at Gatun or Panama City. You don't think the Chinese wouldn't do that? They've rammed our aircraft. I have zero doubt they wouldn't impede travel through the Canal.

3) I didn't say anything about our warships. Aircraft carriers and amphibious ships (LHA's) were always to big to transit. The Iowa class battleships barely fit but they were designed during WW2. But our destroyers cruisers, frigates, and support ships can make passage.

3) I was one of those Soldiers that went into Panama. We went in last time for one guy. I think the Canal is more of an economic risk for every country.
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SFC Thomas Butler
SFC Thomas Butler
11 mo
1. So we do what...take over the canal and deny its use by the PRC?
2. You said this about our warships; "Not to mention our warships would have to travel around South America to transit oceans if needed." Since aircraft carriers and LHA's can not transit the canal, they AND THEIR ESCORTS have to go through the Beagle Channel.
3. I also participated in Operation Just Cause. At that time we had forces at both ends of the canal, has rehearsed the operation for months, and STILL took 25 KIA. What are we supposed to tell the parents of the Soldiers/Marines who are killed based on a "what if the PRC does this or that?"
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SFC Thomas Butler
SFC Thomas Butler
11 mo
Wow! The unit I served in during Just Cause was the 3/27th IN Scout Platoon. Ha!
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LTC Trent Klug
LTC Trent Klug
11 mo
SFC Thomas Butler I expect we'll abide by the treaty in the end. Economics will win out.

There are cruiser squadrons as well as destroyers that operate with vessels other than carriers and amphibious battle groups.

Those families will be told virtually the same thing they were told in Just Cause, Desert Storm, and GWOT. We are just pounds of meat for the government to throw at a military problem. Whether it takes 10 pounds or 1,000, our government will throw it at a problem.
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LTC Stephen Conway
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COL President
COL (Join to see)
12 mo
Good article. "China does not operate the Canal, it only manages the two ports on either end, meaning it does not interact or influence all goods transiting the Canal. However, the increase of Chinese companies’ control over transshipment cargo operations bound for the United States and other countries is a point of contention."
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SGT Ruben Lozada
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Good afternoon COL (Join to see). Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this Sir.
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