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Maritime Strategy: Check and Countercheck
| Article
# : |
10043 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1986 |
1,527 Words |
| Author
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Ray S. Cline
Ray S. Cline, former CIA deputy director for intelligence, is
chairman of the United States Global Strategy Council. |
Casual reference to 16 oceanic "chokepoints" popped up in one of President Ronald Reagan's recent press conference comments on the strategic importance of air and sea bases in the Philippines. This nationally televised reminder of a fundamental geopolitical bit of wisdom received little notice amid the firestorm of commentary surrounding the change of government in Manila. Both the public and media pundits alike could benefit if they paid close attention to the bedrock strategic concepts that determine the general thrust of U.S. policy-making.
Preserving American military presence in areas near the narrow sea passages of the world, the ones President Reagan called chokepoints, is an essential piece of bedrock geopolitics. It needs hammering home so that a consensus will always form in support of the concept Reagan brought up in his passing remark. The great American air base at Clark Airfield and the even more vital naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines provide the underpinning of American military power in the West Pacific. This fact goes far to explain why Washington had to play an active role in Manila, trying to restore stability and responsible government in the climate of the collapsing authority of the Marcos government.
Sixteen is not a magic number and some military experts might choose a few more or a few less to identify the sea passages critically important for maritime traffic in peacetime and control by navies in time of war. Sixteen is good enough, however, and the picture of the globe and the sea-lanes conjured up by the string of chokepoints is one that should be indelibly imprinted on the mind of every American citizen who thinks about national security and international affairs. Nothing is more important
... (1996 of 9324 Characters)
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