Today is (yet another) dissertation day, which means more puzzling inconsistencies in the work of eminent political scientist John Wilson Lewis. In “China/’s Ballistic Missile Programs” (International Security 17:2, Autumn 1992, 30), he claims the original design plans for China/’s solid-propellant ballistic missiles (DF-21/JL-1, DF-31/JL-2) called for a 500 kg warhead with a 200-300 kt …
Pfc. Hammer Finds a Home; No Word on Pfc. Goodwin
by | 2004-04-24 | No Comments
The American Forces Press Service has a heartwarming story today about an Iraqi kitten that was adopted by a company in the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq and eventually settled into a home in the United States, entitled “Pfc. Hammer Finds a Home.” “A tiger-striped Iraqi kitten that wiggled its way into the hearts of …
Chinese Defense Expenditures
by | 2004-04-23 | No Comments
Yet again, the strange alliance of incompetence between the Defense Department and the press creates wildly exaggerated estimates of Chinese defense spending. AFP reports that “China is more than doubling its budgeted defense spending this year as part of an aggressive military modernization strategy, including deterring any moves by Taiwan to declare independence, the Pentagon …
Defense Science Board Task Force on Future Strategic Strike Forces
by | 2004-04-22 | No Comments
I’ve just spent the entire day en route home from Beijing, so this will be short. I arrived to find an e-mail from Wade Boese at ACA pointing out some of the less sane remarks in the Defense Science Board Task Force on Future Strategic Strike Forces Study (Feburary 2004). Wade passes along this passage: …
