Gruntle Enterprise

Eric:

As we've discussed a bit, I'm writing a new book for Regnery about China, its military buildup, and the likelihood that we will, at some time in the next decade. be in a shooting war with them. The manuscript is due in late November so I'm eager to get as much going as soon as I can. The deadline is subject to revision if SECDEF makes a trip to china and I get to join the group accompanying him).

I will characterize China as a regional superpower (which, I hope, is not an oxymoron). It is, I think, not a "peer competitor" of the United States, but on the verge of being a "peer antagonist".  The book will present a strategic picture, a discussion of Chinese militaryl/political doctrine, using the new DoD report, "The Military Power of the Peoples Republic of China 2005" as a starting point. The book will also set forth about five scenarios on how a war is most likely to break out and how it might be fought.

To best do this, I would greatly appreciate your help in arranging interviews with senior DoD officials to discuss these principal questions:

1. Is there a Sino-Russian military alliance? Some analysts think so. The recent joint exercises--coupled with Chinese purchase of all sorts of top Russian weapon systems--indicate something more than just a thawing of Cold War-era hostility;

2. How unified is the Chinese government? Is it factionalizcd, and how much power does Hu Jintao have personally? How dangerous to them is the increasing unrest among the populace? It seems too small to portend much real instability.

3. The "24-character strategy": How do our strategistsand policy makers deal with the emphasis on deception and concealment?

4. This year's QDR is aimed, in significant part, at Chinese intentions and capabilities. Why? In top-level terms, what does that mean for our force structure, especially weapon system development? How did SECDEF express his (and the president's) concerns in the terms of reference to the QDR?

5. Space and counter-space: Chinese investment in weapons to reduce or destroy our satellite nav/comm/defense structure seems enormous.  What's our answer to an enormous vulnerability?

6. The most far-out scenario is one based on the "Unrestricted Warfare" book bv Liang and Xianesui. A war that could destroy America withom a shot fired, an aircraft leaving the ground or a ship leaving port. Cyberwar, and counter-cyber war. Hackers--and not just the government organized Chinese hackers--seem to be able to access all but our most highly-protected systems. HOW are we dealing with this vulnerability?

7. The Chinese seem to be adopting our "network-centric" warfare. How well are they doing it, and what's the answer to it? and

8. Is China involved in nuclear/other WMD proliferation? Did they cooperate with the A.Q. Khan network? Are they encouraging North Korean missile and weapons proliferation?  I realize some of these questions may require answers I'm not going to get. And I know of one particular gent over there who doesn't answer hypothetical questions. I hope to interview him, and promise to avoid same.

Many thanks in advance for all the help.

Best,

Jed.

from the Source Watch "Pentagon military analyst program" documents

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