August 3, 2001
Notes from the Pentagon
Militarized freighters
U.S. intelligence officials told us three Chinese freighters took part in the recent war games, including one that had artillery mounted on the deck that fired on land targets.
The use of commercial ships for military operations undermines the widely held view in the U.S. intelligence community and some parts of the military that China lacks military forces for amphibious attacks against Taiwan.
The use of the commercial ships shows that China could mount an amphibious attack on the island using large numbers of its nonmilitary vessels, ranging from freighters to fishing boats.
Missile-miss details
The missile nearly hit the spy plane and caused the pilot to be thrown forward in the cockpit by the turbulence from the missile passing the aircraft.
New NIC China hand
U.S. government officials say the leading candidate for the influential National Intelligence Council post, known as the NIC, is Robert S. Ross. Mr. Ross, a Boston College professor, is viewed by critics in Congress and the Bush administration as part of the China-is-not-a-threat school of analysts known to populate the CIA's analytical ranks.
A 1998 book Mr. Ross co-authored concludes China is Asia's weakest power and poses no danger. The book also contains the outdated claim that China's relationship with Moscow has gone from bad to worse an embarrassing prediction in light of last month's strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Beijing.
And on China's arms-proliferation record, which the CIA has identified in several reports to Congress as a major problem, Mr. Ross stated in a 1997 journal article that "Overall, Chinese policy has supported the development of the global non-proliferation order." That view is clearly out of step with the Bush administration and the CIA.
The White House, we are told, was asked to intervene in the appointment of Mr. Ross but decided not to block CIA Director George J. Tenet's NIC East Asia choice.
"This indicates the George Tenet soft line regime is continuing," said one official, who reminded us that Mr. Tenet is a Democratic holdover from the Clinton administration.
A CIA spokesman declined to comment on the candidates for the NIC position but said as of yesterday no one was offered the post.
IG probe
"They've called who they want to talk to in a very confidential manner," Col. Williams said.
The Washington Times reported yesterday that a female officer anonymously filed a hot-line complaint with the IG. She charges that Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, who heads Southern Command, tolerated anti-female attitudes that included a mandatory weekly run designed to make women drop out.
Command officials defend the run, saying participants were divided into groups according to ability.
Marine colleagues of Gen. Pace's say the Vietnam combat veteran is one of the Corps' finest officers. Gen. Pace has been under consideration as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, say Pentagon officials.
Asked if Gen. Pace would discuss the probe, Col. Williams said, "I don't think he can talk to you or anyone else can talk to you until the investigation is complete."
Base closing retreat
"The [defense] secretary can block any additional closure or realignment, or the expansion of any realignment, by written notice to the commission," states a Pentagon briefing document we obtained.
Congressional sources said a number of staffers objected to that provision when Pentagon officials briefed them on Wednesday. By yesterday, the department was backing off that proposal.
"It is an independent commission," Pete Aldridge, the Pentagon acquisition chief, told reporters. "It has the list. It can make any decisions that it desires. Now, we're still working out some details. Suppose there is a significant difference between what the commission wants and the secretary wants, and that has to be worked out. We haven't gotten to that point yet."
Congressional staffers are already making fun of the Pentagon's new name for the old, painful practice of closing bases. The new name is the Efficient Facilities Initiative of 2001, or (EFI). Some aides have taken to calling it "Iffy," signifying the difficulty the administration faces in winning Congress' approval.
Intercepts
The Army was reportedly fearful that Mr. Bartlett's proposal, once included in the House Armed Services Committee budget bill approved on Wednesday, would ultimately force the service to retrieve millions of berets already handed out.
Mr. Bartlett issued a statement yesterday saying: "Revisiting the issue of headgear would further detract from the Army's transformation into a 21st century force. The ultimate goal is improving our national security. As someone responsible for making tough choices with limited resources, now is the time to move forward in the mutual goal of assuring that the U.S. Army is the greatest military force in the world."
Other instructions: "Soldiers reporting to [Europe] on permanent assignment from units where the beret is already being worn will store their berets until all soldiers in theater begin wearing them."
Gen. Toney is being succeeded by Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Lambert.
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