Why the U.S. Military Is Reviving Abandoned WWII-Era Airfields | WSJ

[@wsj]

China launches sea and air drills around Taiwan: on.wsj.com/3NwxUL9

[@RubyFox_YT]

Make a video on it. Fly to Taiwan and talk to their military and officials about it. Inform us.

[@waskoNzoo]

terrible.

[@sdebeaubien]

The CCP has had its eyes on Taiwan forever. The conflict is not far off.

[@user-tz9jh6pv2j]

Free Palestine. Free Hawaii

[@KamBar2020]

Slava TSMC 🇹🇼 Free Tibet and Hong Kong from 🇨🇳

[@ReasonableGuy-l7o]

Fun fact. The northern airfields were constructed in late WW2 by US Navy SeaBee units. At the time (and maybe still holds the record?) is was the largest expeditionary airfield ever constructed. Six months after completion the war had ended and the Sea Bee unit was decommissioned. A couple of decades ago my Navy ship had a port call at Saipan and some friends and I took the ferry over to Tinian and biked around the island visiting WW2 sites. As we were taking selfies standing in the bomb pit (where Fat Man was uploaded to a B-29) a tourist bus full of Japanese arrived. This nice old man strode over to see us. That was an awkward moment.

[@EdmundWChan]

Rah

[@wuhaninstituteofvirology5226]

Fortunately, the USA didn't experience WW2 at home like China, but it seems the USA will do experience WW3 at home.

[@BitBangerUSA]

My ship, USS Peoria, visited Tinian about 1973. Didn't get to see much of the island sadly.

[@robertcampomizzi7988]

Planes were WAY smaller back then. The largest plane in 1945 was puny. You should find a size comparison. Braking wasn't as good but still.

[@ReasonableGuy-l7o]

@@robertcampomizzi7988 A B-29 bomber was about 100 feet long and 141 wingspan. B-52's are larger but the B-29 wasn't a tiny aircraft.

[@markeissler]

Interesting how at the beginning of the video the MSGT is describing how difficult it was to uncover the abandoned airfields. But could you imagine how difficult the work was without GPS and no previous runways to uncover back when they first built this stuff?

[@External2737]

There is a reason it was 100,000 workers to build this. For 1945, the busiest airport in the world.

[@markeissler]

Now that’s how you get things done! Cool.

[@donaldduck830]

Otoh, back then they could start from scratch and did not need to find stuff buried. So the difficulty level is about even, imho.

[@DebbieOnTheSpot]

​@@donaldduck830these guys are so soft compared to the old timers. Look how the first guy is walking through the woods like he is on a different planet.

[@331SVTCobra]

FWIW, in an early episode of Leave It To Beaver, they established that the dad was an architect who built runways in the Pacific. This established his character as a builder rather than a fighter.

[@TheModelGuy]

“The Guam Killer” Well…that’s oddly specific.

[@Bingpot_Cowabunga]

I wonder what it’s purpose is?

[@Joesolo13]

@@Bingpot_Cowabunga Peaceful, civilian energy purposes, surely.

[@gus473]

Guam has the last big K-Mart store. Coincidence?

[@gordonwardhaugh8266]

No way the us is going to land multi-million and billion dollar jet airplanes on gravel runways they better fix that s*** fast❤❤

[@cainiaowu]

sending a message to the americans

[@mauwalker]

You’ll know it’s really real when they reopen places like the old Japanese base at Truk, the Ulithi anchorage, and the base at Manas.

[@porcupineparty8598]

WWIII coming in hot!

[@michaelmazerat8765]

@@porcupineparty8598 they are opening 5 bases in the Philippines, some for naval purposes.

[@spikespa5208]

Subic Bay, Clark Field............ we're baaaaack.

[@porcupineparty8598]

@@michaelmazerat8765 Yeah, naval purposes = war with China and WWIII

[@Baxterbrookies]

Americans have over 700 bases worldwide, fingers in everything for decades, now the bill comes due, they LOVE them some war!

[@tommysonnier9848]

This video proves WWII history is still relevant.

[@danstrayer111]

75 million Americans have learned nothing from it.

[@inerekazu1673]

​@@danstrayer111americans learned, but they forget

[@LaurenGlass-i7x]

Victor Davis Hanson is a wonderful historian. He has book the Second Wars- there were so many fronts fought in the Second World War. You can watch his interviews speaking about history.

[@danstrayer111]

@@inerekazu1673 the generation which learned is NOT the one that just voted.

[@trevorn9381]

@@danstrayer111 The President who will be leaving office in January has lead us closer to WWIII than at any time since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

[@jamesgunnyreed]

I spent 6 weeks on Tinian Island in 2002. Back then there was only 1 runway (Runway B) that could land C-130's. The old coral pavement took a toll on tires. We lived on Runway A at one end in tents and the other end is where we had all the helicopters and maint area.

[@hansj.hobein5762]

No Outhouse and toilet paper.

[@marytyndall8044]

Sounds like too little to late.

[@mattshussett8063]

Coral pavement sounds so wrong.

[@johnrogers9481]

You almost had it! Too little too late, too big, too short, too tall, too wrong good night…

[@SmokingSevens]

So what you're saying is that we have 3 years until WW3...

[@Bluecolord]

Yes.

[@organicallyprocessed4257]

2027 is the deadline for informing the public of extraterrestrial life as well. The next 5-10 years will probably be one of the most interesting milestones in human history.

[@megamanx466]

If we think it's 2027, then it seems it'd make sense for them to "start" earlier. 🤷‍♂

[@ralphholiman7401]

If we’ve lucky.

[@汤圆-y7f]

US will NEVER attack China even the PLA launches attack on Taiwan today, the reason is simple, both nations can wipe each other off the world map, China recent just demoed their DF-31 ICBM, which can reach most part of the US mainland, and they have DF-41, an even longer range missile. US can obviously completely destroy China with Minuteman and other missiles, but then you have to ask, would US risk a total nuclear war with China for Taiwan? not in a million years. Oh, by the way, if Trump wins, at this moment it's very possible, he has zero interests to fight for another country.

[@razorsedge7100]

My mother's cousin was killed on this island during WWII. He was so very young. His name was Raymond J. Gilmore. He was from McKeesport Pa. She told me about him and showed me his obit. when I was a kid in the 1950's and 60's. (I still have that obit.) I had a professional historical researcher give me info on him. It took him 2 years because of the covid limitations but I got way more than I ever thought. 10 pages and 1 picture of him. Even told where he lived in McKeesport. The researcher's name was Bill Beigel.

[@SuzanneTheme]

Thank goodness for sharing his memory with us. Peace be with you.🇺🇸

[@razorsedge7100]

@@SuzanneTheme Thankyou Suzanne for your kindness.🥰

[@neil4uk175]

How did he die?

[@razorsedge7100]

@@neil4uk175 I never got an answer to that. I assume he took a bullet.

[@neil4uk175]

@@razorsedge7100 Hopefully you can find out one day. Thanks for this with us all.

[@jdestefa1]

My 4th Marine Division father was in the amphibious landings against fortified Saipan and Tinian that were Japanese strongholds. I wish he was here today to see what is happening on Tinian, how the jungle covered the runways and how they were reclaimed for current and future usage.

[@realamarica]

So many of today's youth has no idea the horrors of war. When history is forgotten, it is doomed to be repeated. These are not games. They are tragedies and unbelievable horrors in the making. The world leaders sit back in their protected environment and conscript the pawns sending them to their death. All because the 'leaders' can't lead at all. Following in the paths of their ancestors.

[@rossmendoza6536]

So true with today's youth and worse, today's leaders. They never learned from history

[@robertocatuara4496]

realamerica, Cuanta verdad tienen tus palabras. Esperemos que los lideres tengan un poco de lucidez. Cordiales saludos.

[@CThomas-wg4gc]

Am so sick of US Government propaganda, it’s ALWAYS seeking to confiscate and force power, never making an actual difference: LOOK AT MANILA PHILIPPINE !!

[@bruceritchie4382]

It seems to me that America try's to destroy it's history on a regular basis. Tearing down monuments, destroying art, and allowing ignorance to fester to the point that seems like no one cares and still nothing is rectified. Pure ignorance

[@Bossoutfitter-hy8nx]

Freedom is never free.

[@LEARTY528]

It really sucks that we all spend so much money, energy and beautiful land on war

[@abhimanyunath2001]

That's the way it is since the beginning

[@danw2112]

Peace Sells, but who's buying?

[@mainsmain]

​@@danw2112 Holy Wars

[@rc-pf1wq]

@@abhimanyunath2001very true, this is just a part of reality that we have to accept

[@gr8bkset-524]

As they were clearing out the land, I imagine whatever plants and animals that lived there aren't happy having their homes taken over by a more dominant species. Human beings are operating planet earth at god-like levels.

[@chrisneumann4202]

Interesting! I was in Palau on vacation in June 2024 and visited Peleliu Island, the site of one of the bloodiest battles in WWII. I ran into a group of SeaBees and USMC Marine engineers who were clearing out a WWII era runway on the island. Not only did they complete the job quickly but landed and launched a few C-130's a few days after I left. What's not talked about on this video is not only were they clearing out the area but they were also doing EOD clean up. A couple of the Marines showed me some pics of what they had found, there was a lot of "bang" left over from that era including old weapons cashes, land and sea mines and thousands of rounds of ammo. Being an ex Sailor I had a great time talking to the guys and gals who were working there. I offered to buy everyone some beer but the Gunny said, "no can do." "Sorry folks, I know better to go against the Gunny on this one!" Beer or not, we sat out on the hotel patio sharing stories, staying up way too late, and it was one of the best nights of my life and hopefully I'll never forget it. On the other side I understand the motivation of doing these types of projects, but as a combat veteran I don't wish for another war, let alone a large scale one. Most vets will tell you that war, especially an unjust one is not something that any of us really want. We've seen what can happen and it's not pleasant. I wasn't on the line with a rifle but I did see on many occasions videos of what a 500, 1000, and 2000 pound bomb and other ordinance can do since part of my job was to review footage before sending it up to intelligence. So yeah, I wasn't an infantryman, but working on and loading ordinance on aircraft on a flight deck at night (which has its own element of extreme danger) and seeing people walk around and then watching them getting vaporized...not something I want to repeat let alone have anyone else do a job like that. All men and women in uniform must perform their duties, no job is more important than the other even in peace time, but the ugliness of war is something that I wish on no one regardless of their duty. I hope it doesn't come to that but if it does I'm 100% behind our servicemembers, period, end of story.

[@GM8101PHX]

I too never witnessed combat, or had bullets coming at me, I served with the 92d Security Police Squadron securing our nuclear loaded B-52s in our restricted area, many ended up at gunpoint, but thankfully we never had to shoot!! Everyone knew messing with Security Police would be a very bad career move!! Our base would have been vaporized in a few minutes, so we did our jobs. We lived up to our motto Peace Is Our Profession!!

[@frankroy9423]

Time to resurect those hard working, famous Sea bees. They always got the job done.❤ Thank you for your service.

[@biohazard_613]

No need to resurrect the SeaBees, they are STILL getting the job done. The old ‘Bees from that time might need resurrected but the organization has never went away. The difficult we Can Do now, the impossible takes a little longer!

[@Paladin1873]

@@biohazard_613 Yes, and it is primarily Air Force Red Horse units doing the reformation work, ably assisted by the Seabees. It's a team effort.

[@ricardoharriman205]

@@Paladin1873 red horse did a lot of the initial site work for the marines coming to Guam back in 08 and 09 when i worked on phase 1 water tanks/change gears/pump houses

[@Paladin1873]

@@ricardoharriman205 Thanks for the update. I haven't kept pace with too many USAF activities since I retired in '07. I recall we were planning to upgrade Wake Island which at the time was being tended by a couple of unfortunate contractors.

[@LaurenGlass-i7x]

Should never have demobbed the Sea Bees. We quit building our Navy , thought blue waters would police themselves. Now China almost has the world’s largest navy. They have more ports than people know. We keep thinking when our enemies are taken down it is the end of history, we are committing political suicide in the US on purpose. Agencies have turned against the citizens

[@ericcranston8158]

I'm glad to see that there are some Generals doing their job....

[@maxsmodels]

The significance of it being Tinian cannot be lost on the CCP.

[@sparc4ux]

Tinian and other potential airfields are know and will be targeted during first wave. Focus should be more on SSGNs and SSNs.

[@tiberianexcalibur]

Tinian means sky or heaven in chinese

[@AfricaMind]

@@tiberianexcalibur No it doesnt 😂

[@tiberianexcalibur]

@@AfricaMind ok and Africa is not a country🤣

[@BRUCE_the_MOOSE_]

Xi has a grand vision for a grand new world order . And it looks suspiciously similar to the inside of a concentration camp.

[@StuSaville]

“Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into her side, Chief. We was comin’ back from the island of Tinian to Leyte. We’d just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in 12 minutes. Didn’t see the first shark for about a half-hour... " - Quint, Jaws

[@ole9421]

That scene alone, was worth the price of the ticket.

[@randolph229]

I got it in the second sentence. One of my favorite scenes!

[@morrisonreed1]

exactly

[@juliankremer1900]

Anyone else read that in Quint's voice? Lol

[@MarkPulford-p7i]

Did not know that. US fighting men and women were the best. We owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to Uncle Sam's men and women on the battlefield and the home front. Thanks from this Brit.

[@loomsack2873]

The scale of those runways are insane. They can compete with some of the world largest airports if they were all in full operation.

[@GarySpeight-cv5sw]

As a student of military history I recognise these names. Absolutely insane.

[@williamwest9204]

Next thing u know the Iowa Class will be back in action

[@deadmeat8754]

Red Horse (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) are the "SeaBees" (Construction Battalions) and Combat Engineers of the USAF.

[@NAMCBEO]

Red Horse are (USAF) units - - - SeaBees are (US Navy) units - - - Combat Engineers are (US Army) units - - - (ARMY CORP of ENGINEERS) and to make it more confusing, all can be considered Combat Engineers due the fact they may need to operate under enemy fire.

[@GM8101PHX]

They set up the alarm towers in our bomber and weapons storage areas, built our new fire team facility among other projects SAC had in mind!!

[@samsamaniego3251]

I was stationed at Lake Mead Base, area 2 , Las Vegas, Nv. With the 820 RED HORSE 1974 - 1976 .

[@ibk9987]

It seems that the dark clouds of war will become more INTENSE in the coming days instead of dissipating.

[@林振华-t4v]

It will. But this time, North America wont be a save Heaven. The other side can reach the continent. From pacific, artic circle.

[@robmccormick3197]

Yep. Until we stop coveting another’s land and wealth,nothing will change. And it’s been the same since we fought with rocks and sticks. People never learn. Giving up your freedom,taxes and rights to appease others wanting a “Peace Dividend” for social justice always ends badly. We found that out in WW1 and WW2. We were extremely lucky during WW2 to survive. And we have nowhere near the industrial capacity we had back then. Not even close.

[@gayedawn1]

And which country is at the forefront talking about it? The great industrial military complex is worth so many billions if not trillions of 💰The loss of lives especially 27 MILLION IN RUSSIA fighting N@Z!§ in WW2 is often ignored as if they had no part in winning.

[@gayedawn1]

@@robmccormick3197so true. How many “Western” and European countries like France still “Occupy” smaller countries/Islands and control them even though they are far from their own country especially for resources or other reasons not always aligned with the smaller country’s wishes or benefit? Is it also greed?

[@JayMiller-fo3lf]

All the more reason to get Trump elected and inaugurated. I always thought they would wait til the last minute to pull this string to disrupt the eletion.

[@scarface6271]

that clip of china simulating bombing a base in guam looks a lot like a scene in the movie The Rock, where they bomb alcatraz

[@JoeJ4684]

lol, I was about to say “wait a minute was that the Rock”

[@markkuuss]

they copy everything even our movies

[@mediocre2]

A Chinese military propaganda video simulating a bombing raid used clips from Hollywood blockbusters, including Transformers and The Rock, reports say. -- says BBC

[@njuhrig]

That was The Rock!

[@OPSMPQ]

That scene at 4:11 is exactly from the Rock. Her voice over makes it worse, “on a simulated attack on what appears to be Anderson Airforce base in Guam”. How about the WSJ not spread misinformation and perform some fact checking and give credit to Michael Bay.

[@danjohnston9037]

This Is The Second Island Chain " Third island chain begins at the Aleutian Islands and runs south across the center of the Pacific Ocean towards Oceania, through the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa and Fiji, to reach New Zealand. Australia serves as the staple between the second and third chains." ( Everyone Learn " Waltzing Matilda " )

[@bwhog]

Well... yeah... but that's a depressing song...

[@KamBar2020]

Slava 🇹🇼 Heroyam TAIWANese 🦾

[@silentstormstudio4782]

And we are being asked to save trees ? Why is nobody protesting against such environmental tragedy ?

[@danjohnston9037]

@@silentstormstudio4782 Because they can't find the place on a map

[@mikeneill6813]

@@bwhog Put it up to 78.😄

[@midwestguy1983]

"War is a racket." General Smedley Butler

[@youwaiyap2708]

Yes! The neocons are blind-siding the minions in order to shift $$$$$$$$ 🥳🥳

[@donaldclifford5763]

easy for you to say.

[@johnosullivan2197]

Military industrial complex strongly disagrees

[@midwestguy1983]

@johnosullivan2197 of course they do, they can't even pass an audit. Look, I want our troops to have the best of everything, leaders, training, equipment, food, and after they are honorably discharged they should never have a single material want the rest of their lives. What I strongly oppose is all that lost money. I get it, R&D costs a lot. An audit finds that? Okay, as long as that project eventually makes its way into the combat zone to help the men and women accomplish the mission. An audit finds that money is being pocketed? That person needs to go to prison.

[@richardrose9943]

Not only reviving old air strips they are building new ones stateside outside of populated areas

[@bodhisattvya]

Please elaborate.

[@GM8101PHX]

I personally think the Air Force re-instate 15 minute nuclear ground alert with the re-opening of the Cheyenne Mountain complex!

[@Ranger830]

My Grandfather was Flight engineer on B-29 #53 Flak Ally Sally 6th Bomb Group. Flew out of Tinian island. Charles “Doc” Dougherty. Google the aircraft,there are a lot of cool pictures of the aircraft and crew on Tinian and Iwo Jima. Let Freedom Ring!

[@wombatsgalore]

A cruise missile does not need to be hypersonic to be able to change course in-flight. Indeed, modern Tomahawks can do that -- since 2006.

[@sc1338]

They could do that even earlier in the 80s

[@kodiak2fitty]

The definition of hypersonic missile is one that is reaches a peak speed at least Mach 5 and can maneuver during flight. A conventional cruise missile can't reach Mach 5. A conventional ballistic missile can't maneuver. The phrase "hypersonic missile" is confusing at first since even the V-1 rocket from the Germans reached hypersonic velocity. Once you know that definition, you get 2 major categories: hypersonic glide vehicles (fancy ballistic missile) and hypersonic cruise missiles (fancy cruise missile).

[@wombatsgalore]

@@kodiak2fitty, the video has a statement: "Unlike cruise missiles, supersonic missiles can maneuver". That statement is bogus: ordinary -- slow -- cruise missiles can maneuver too. That ability is completely independent of their maximum speed. WSJ reporters -- unlike, say, those from MSNBC -- should know this stuff... That's all.

[@downstream0114]

​@@wombatsgalore The video talks about ballistic missiles, not cruise missiles.

[@PeterMuskrat6968]

Yeah, it seems liie they've got it backwards. Most Hypersonic weapons CAN'T change course while at max speed.

[@fredwood1490]

The old sword, hanging above the fireplace will still take an edge. The old carbine in the closet will still fire, if you get new ammo. The old, gray warhorse champs at the bit and stomps the ground ready, once again, to enter the fray. War seems to be natural to us Human Beings and we never really seek peace. The scars of old men fade in the grave but the battlefields are scared forever. The times we spent as Brothers in Arms are our most precious memories. Cities can be built again, sometimes, better than before but never the same as before they were sacked. And Mothers hold close their newborn sons knowing that one day they will march to the same drummer as their Fathers did and the circle will be unbroken.

[@lramage]

Is this from a poem?

[@sansung6]

Is this from a наука Каббала Микаэля Лайтмана. 😊

[@fredwood1490]

@@lramage That is a poem. I think I will call it "Tinian Again".

[@lramage]

@@fredwood1490 I like it and I think "Tinian Again" is a good name.

[@12what34the]

It is, and always has been, a violent world we find ourselves in.

[@thetruth1]

Thank you for reporting on this. I hadn't heard anything about this. I'm glad that somebody with authority in the U.S. is preparing for unfortunate possibilities.

[@lancereagan3046]

My distant cousin is a community leader at one of the Cook Islands. Leaders from around that area of the Pacific have been contacted and brought to the US main land for familiarization of US policy, and cultural awareness here. They even spent some time at the UN & the capital. Pretty much renewing ties and friendships that were lost over the years. Before our adversaries approach them.

[@jadeasereht4638]

Hey greeting from CNMI, I remember that old airfield, my dad would take me there to teach me how to drive, I almost fell in the bomb pit where they used to hold the nuclear bombs lol.

[@LtNOWIS]

They should've interviewed some locals. Just gone a couple miles into town and asked around, maybe talked to the mayor.

[@k2_tech745]

Rehabilitate the runways? More like completely rebuild. After being cleared they could likely handle C-130s and smaller / lighter aircraft. But at least 1 or 2 will need to be dug out and built from 20' down or more if they want to land and park C-17s or a C-5. That is serious construction - way beyond clearing foliage and sweeping dirt off a path.

[@nminews670]

C17s already operate there from time to time for training missions.

[@zam023]

They are not going to explain or share every single detail on an open channel like this ^_^;;;

[@daveb2280]

Having worked around C-17s for most of my Air Force career I can attest that they are a very nimble aircraft. They can land and take-off in a variety of harsh and austere environments.

[@jpeazy1122]

C-5s won’t be able to land here. We used to be able to deflate our tires slightly in flight to allow us to land on unpaved runways but that capability’s since been removed. So unless they pave it then biggest thing landing here would be the C-17

[@k2_tech745]

@@jpeazy1122 I knew at least one runway would need to be completely rebuilt in order to accomodate a C-5 / B-52 / etc. I was at Shaw AFB (86-92) and they rebuilt 04R/22L - they dug down 30ft for the bed preparations. And those runways were already capable of handling the heaviest acft the military had to offer. Things may be different out there as the island's natural base may be volcanic rock or coral.

[@annehersey9895]

We just saw how Finland and Sweden use roads as runways which gives them many options and makes it hard for Russia to know where to target. This needs to be assessed in the Pacific first and second island chains.

[@GK-yi4xv]

I think these islands are too small and barren to hide like that.

[@SimonBrisbane]

You can’t build highways in oceans..

[@annehersey9895]

@@SimonBrisbane I’m talking about on Guam or Tinian or any of the Islands in the Pacific with larger towns. If China hit the base you could have roads as back up.

[@mudshovel289]

I heard Taiwan does indeed train their Air Force pilots to land on highways.

[@dallasyap3064]

True, the Swedish and Finnish have been using the force dispersal strategy since the Cold War, but I don't think there are that many sizeable roads in Tinian and other smaller islands where the US is dispersing its forces to. Guam perhaps, but other locations probably not.

[@flyingfiddler90q]

Seeing Tinian back in service would be *wild*.

[@remydaitch9815]

I don't think I've ever said this before excellent report Wall Street.

[@TheBooban]

Yeah. American military is incapable of keeping anything secret.

[@ILJtheFirst]

Hella lot better than CNN or Fox News.

[@finaloption...]

My dad used to operate off those airstrips in a Lockheed Ventura sub hunting and disrupting the Japanese supply chain.

[@lawoftheuniverse8089]

God Bless Your Dad

[@finaloption...]

@@lawoftheuniverse8089 Thank you. He was the most awesome man I ever knew.

[@phil20_20]

Good. We spent all that money in the first place. I'm glad to see they're going to salvage old while they're looking at new.

[@Reardon_Explores]

Crazy thing is that I work in the Second Island Chain and have seen tons of leftover debris from WWII. Mostly building /structure remnants, lot's of old beer cans/alcohol bottles, off-road vehicles, tires, etc... It's fascinating how anything left behind gets swallowed up by the jungle in no time. So, I could imagine clearing those runways on Tinian was no easy job

[@philiplangford9434]

Lots of Japanese debris in the Palau islands also. Concrete machine gun bunkers with old bottles of sake laying around.

[@davidpage3893]

And old ammunition and munitions that could be buried inches under the overgrowth.

[@P2Zip]

Excellent reporter! Very concise and articulate in her reporting.

[@puma51921]

It's like the Pacific war all over again.

[@LD-Orbs]

Another rising ambitious totalitarian Asian Empire. The Clinton/Walmart/Kissinger decision to invest in Red China paid great short-term dividends, and is now paying ugly long-term dividends. Don't mistake friends for enemies.

[@MinnesotaGuy822]

Times change, cultures change, technologies change. Human nature doesn't. Match human nature to the appropriate environments, and humans individually and collectively will tend to do certain activities. That's why history, "while not repeating", rhymes. . In the case of Imperial Japan, the military had successfully come to dominate the Japanese people and used techniques to mind-control the population that the current North Korean, Chinese and Russian governments all use to control theirs. They instilled a warrior death culture in their military and went on a war of conquest to build their own empire. The German Nazis did much the same, for the same reason: to build their empire, and to obliterate a large percentage of the Slavic and Russian peoples to their east. . As long as it's possible to gain by violence, there will be violence, at all scales. The only thing thugs respect is power.

[@prosl11]

And the usa is holy and innocent you try to say ? What an absolute joke

[@gpl-o3i]

Pacific war, the war between Chile and Peru ?

[@AnimaRandom]

I mean, we know diplomacy aint working anymore so we have to prepare for the worst

[@terrancestodolka4829]

Yes! They are thinking ahead...

[@Mongo56]

USAF Red Horse: the hardest working people in the USAF!

[@biohazard_613]

As a SeaBee, I’ll second that.

[@ricardoharriman205]

@@biohazard_613 i seen their work w my own eyes they were certainly a proud and dedicated bunch

[@biohazard_613]

@@ricardoharriman205 when I was active duty, I had the opportunity to work alongside them. They have every reason to be proud. They are definitely our equals. They were better than us at certain tasks and we were better than them at others. I’m not sure how things are now but at that time, our missions were very similar. I contrast that with the Army engineers. At that time and probably still, they were better trained in the combat aspects of our operations while we were better at the construction aspects. That said, I love all the Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and SeaBees that served in construction and engineering fields.

[@jimwest6571]

I was stationed at Andersen AFB during the Cold War. We had 16 B-52's on alert. We used to drag our cars on the old Northwest Fields runways.

[@ramal5708]

I need to say this, the sun never sets on US military bases around the world

[@darthvadeth6290]

Haha good reference to British Empire 😂

[@actualyoungsoo]

The US military is the only one rising over the horizon right now whereas anything below is setting.

[@nanban1896]

Nice try

[@badbad-cat]

​@@darthvadeth6290 yup same fate awaits

[@marshalljulie3676]

😂😂 you wish US is not even half the fraction of what the British empire was. Just so you know the King of England rules over Canada and Australia their military literally sworn in to protect the crown plus they still have influence over many countries in the common wealth. US is about to collapse the government is literally planning for civil war they are making it legal for the national guard and police cripple or kill you if you resist.

[@liambaard2000]

RED HORSE for the win!

[@gregh7457]

yes, trump 2024!

[@dallasyap3064]

With an ACE soldier attached

[@RADARTechie]

Short answer: Because we need to funnel MORE money into the pockets of military industrial complex. God forbid we DONT have 3000 bases around the world, in foreign countries most of which dont want us there.

[@thomasmcdaniel6264]

I'm a World War II history buff and a Vietnam veteran. I am very familiar with both the South Pacific War theater and Tinian. Not to put damper on anyone's enthusiasm or ideology, but one nuclear blast would disintegrate that Island. So... I am assuming we are using it for the reason it was designed initially, and that was to supply the b-29s on their mission across the Pacific. ( different technology, but same theory.)

[@Me2Lancer]

Thanks for your post. In the mid-1960s my ship's homeport was Apra Harbor, Guam. Commander Naval Forces Marianas controlled units from Guam to the Caroline Island in the south, from Guam to the Norther n Marianas, then the Bonin Islands. We even had patrols to Midway Island in the northern Pacific. In addition, the Philippines were an ally as well. This combination of forces created a force multiplier.

[@kashifbennett5212]

America need to know that modern warfare is completely different

[@jasonpearson2507]

Agreed This is totally wag the dog

[@Naturalworldlives]

Pretty sure they already do as they're the ones developing the new weapons.

[@Capt_Chris1293]

Haha you don’t think we know about modern warfare?

[@turdfergusson123abc]

Almost my entire life, the US has been at war/conflict. So sad. While i served as a young adult, from 03-09, i now regret the things I'd done while part of the US war machine. World peace is a dream that will never come true.

[@beckyumphrey2626]

Trump is needed.

[@NWguy83]

There are still other remote island airfields that are just wasting away, like Wake Island.

[@PeterMuskrat6968]

That also has been getting renovated as well.

[@karlcx]

@@PeterMuskrat6968what about midway?

[@dknowles60]

also add mid way

[@Comm0ut]

Wake was understood to be doomed by War Plan Orange (which won WWII in the Pacific) which is what promptly happened. It's a picket, not a defensible long term outpost.

[@LarryGoad]

My Dad was stationed on Tinnian when WWII ended. Two major projects were simultaneously underway; the 24/7 fast track construction of a huge field hospital for the anticipated hi casualties if it was necessary to conquer Japan with a ground attack. The other project was the top secret Manhattan Project to develop the Nuclear Bomb. On a daily basis the Army Air Corps was completing normal bombing missions. Unaware to many on the island, the Nuclear Bomb was successfully created. The bomber, Enola Gay, took off from the island carrying the bomb heading to Japan for release. In a matter of days Japan surrendered, and a ground invasion was no longer necessary. Dad said when the announcement was made in the construction area of Japan’s surrender, a huge cheer went out. The construction crews dropped their tools in place and climbed off of the scaffolding and the party started. They never returned to the workplace. The mission suddenly changed from 24/7 construction to 24/7 destruction of the buildings and processing of the troops for returning home. Also millions of dollars worth of equipment, vehicles and supplies were discarded into the Ocean and/or destroyed in place.

[@herrprepper2070]

Old news. My grandson was on Tinian with his Stryker unit 2 years ago, providing security for a THAAD unit.

[@SimonBrisbane]

Loose lips sink ships

[@Lords1997]

You know it’s old because no one uses atomic anymore; it’s all nuclear

[@miloelite]

What’s the difference? Atomic = Nuclear. ☢️

[@Lords1997]

@@miloelite no, the point is that nowadays the media and most people in general use “nuclear” as the vernacular. Today, you only ever encounter the word “atomic” in a chemistry class.

[@Kryptictails]

@@Lords1997 i never realized that

[@00-Dima]

Hydrogen

[@rodneyadamson8270]

It’s the same nuclear fission is from atoms smashing together 😂

[@morecowbell235]

The US has bases all over the world, with some very close to China. There are bases in Guam, Japan, Philippines etc. This would be like China have multiple bases in Haiti and the Caribbean. No way US would allow China to have bases in Caribbean. This is odd, no?

[@williamdiehl117]

My great uncle was a Navigator on the B-29, the missions he was involved with were flown out of Tinian during WWII, unfortunately he didn't make it home, his plane was shot down during the war not far Tinian.

[@mikep490]

Thank you for the info.

[@MrBLUMSON]

4:10 I’m pretty sure that’s a clip from the movie The Rock with Sean Connery in his final role as James Bond lol 😆😝

[@3henry214]

Sean Connery was not James Bond in The Rock, he was John Patrick Mason, a former British Intelligence Agent and an Alcatraz ex-con that had an extensive knowledge of Alcatraz, and the Civil War era, Fort Alcatraz that the prison was constructed on top off it. He knew the catacombs beneath the prison, and was recruited to secretly lead a S.E.A.L and Nicolas Cage (Stanley Goodspeed) into the prison.

[@GlobalCitizen_y2k]

4:46 Scattering resources is logical. But what if simultaneous attack on all islands?

[@raptor2265]

One interesting thought that struck me the other day is that, with the pacific heating up again, we might see a revival in seaplane development. We haven’t developed amphibious aircraft in about half a century because everywhere that the US and its allies would operate would be within range of a land base, or only need short range aircraft from carriers. But, if the US went to war with China, they would need to be able to embark on an island hopping campaign, so seaplanes and landing ships might actually make a return.

[@bubpori5105]

The U.S. has been Looking into Japans U.S.-2 One of the Worlds Largest Sea-Plane with a Very Positive Reputation on the buy list for many Countries !

[@dallasyap3064]

The island-hopping campaign won't be a large scale as seen in ww2, but rather on a smaller scale. Back then we didn't have many long-range weapons, so we needed forward operating airbases (as well as neutralizing those air forces of Japan) to further project our forces.

[@raptor2265]

@@dallasyap3064 Of course, but it would still be a thing - the pacific ocean covers a HUGE amount of territory, and you need to physically capture locations and hold them to deny the enemy access to them. So, they'll need to have much more extensive amphibious options, since carriers alone won't be enough.

[@JohnWesterh-v7b]

War with China? The U.S. is delusional

[@paulespinoza974]

Cheaper than building new ones. Renovation is a lot better than new construction. Also, they are already strategically placed.

[@GM8101PHX]

My bet having served in the Air Force is that everything will be built new, including re-doing the runways! They will have to be built for the heavy weight B-52 fully loaded with nuclear weapons if so needed, a new weapons storage area will be built to contain the weapons used on any aircraft assigned!!

[@paulespinoza974]

@@GM8101PHX Makes sense.

[@rmikel14789]

The problem is modern aircraft require paved, runways of sufficient strength. Not only do they have to clear them, level them, they also have to pave them. Not a small task.

[@ansinnen]

04:08 that’s the „Green Smoke“ scene from the Michael Bay movie „The Rock“.

[@wneo7]

Great catch!

[@kangaroo_hq]

wonder if that is the Chinese or WSJ doing that LOL

[@stoevne2]

I was thinking the same thing

[@JakeShadowCitizen]

Yup, that's what I was thinking. WSJ is just deepstate propaganda. They're talking about war with China for the same reason China is talking about was with US. National security interests, Defense Manufacturing Base (Military Industrial Complex) $$$$$ just to stupidly walk us into another war like WW1. Usless, needless, and stupid

[@johnnyb2909]

This time without us. Thanks! Greetings from Germany

[@kiwitrainguy]

Hopefully without New Zealand as well.

[@jameshanlon5689]

Does that mean that the airfields on the Kwajalein Atoll are going to resume service?

[@CaoimhinOMaol]

A few points. Japan had built a small airfield on the site prior to the invasion, the area was easier to clear as it covered in taro fields. When the field closed quite a lot of equipment was left in place or disposed of in the sea. I remember reading that the area was seeded by the CBs. All the between-the-runways hard stands and support areas quickly disappeared with the crushed coral/asphalted runways the last to be “returned to a natural state.” Surprised we’re not hearing any similar news on the former- Clark AFB in the Philippines, or heaven forbid Marcus Island/Minami-tori-shima., or Ie-shima off of Okinawa.

[@travisadams4470]

Clark AB was destroyed when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. It was later converted to a commercial zone. US has now built other bases in the Philippines

[@NavyCWO]

During the invasion of iIraq, Our middle son, who was an Air Force firefighter, along with other Airmen reactivated bare bones runways in Iraq which were built during WW II for use by allied aircraft.

[@tth-coulid]

NO war Please.

[@andrewsurowiec80]

China wants it unfortunately. They also believe they'd win the war. Reality is, they'd have about 5, maybe 6 countries that would pounce on them if they tried to invade Taiwan. That 6th one would be India, given the border disputes between the 2 countries making tensions worse. India might seize the opportunity to attack if China went to invade Taiwan

[@BOlek-j6q]

Thank Biden Harris if it happens. Even if Trump is elected the table is already set.

[@krashd]

@@BOlek-j6q Utter nonsense.

[@rmondave]

​@BOlek-j6q correct the sponsors donors and masters of Biden did not invest in peace,bub

[@rmondave]

​@BOlek-j6q correct the sponsors donors and masters of Biden did not invest in peace,bub

[@WeAllLaughDownHere-ne2ou]

Those poor beautiful jungles.

[@SopwerEnjiner]

Those poor coral reefs destroyed by Chinese in west Philippine sea

[@TheHallway7]

My ship was there in the early 80’s and the air strip was still there. I was on an LST hauling Marines. Tinian had one small bar.The Marines tear gassed it and we had to go back to Guam. 💪🏼💪🏿⚓️🇺🇸

[@rogergriffin9893]

In order to make certain that there are enough spare airfields to keep our airforce operational. There are several dozen inactive abandoned airstrips dating from WWII in the Central and Western Pacific. They need substantial rehabilitation but not too much. In a year or 2 they can all be restored. All the Marianas, the Palaus, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, islands near Okinawa, islands further east in the Eastern and Southeast Pacific, and Wake Island can be reactivated for starters.

[@Billy-the-Kid]

You like to enrich the military industrial complex.

[@SoonYum]

Still mired in WW2 military strategic mentality. Wake up this is the digital, electronic warfare and hypersonic era.🤣 The US is doomed to ignominious defeat with such antiquated thinking. Any wonder why the mighty US with total control of the skies still got their arses kicked by the Vietcongs and the Talibans.🤣

[@lastChang]

China 🇨🇳 is copying/pasting Japan's past before the WW2, including its mistakes. - China forgot how that ended up.

[@kilo6490]

They’re going to get a reminder.

[@AhmetTekin101]

​@@kilo6490Ha Ha ha

[@GK-yi4xv]

Ironically, no one suffered more the first time than the Chinese. Not even close.

[@luckyh1217]

Not even NK would agree this, which defeated the U.S in WW2.

[@tomparatube6506]

Excellent point 👍👍👍

[@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket]

Guys this is far easier then they're making it out to be. You can spray fire or you can use heavy machinery, machetes is just absurd.

[@tomparatube6506]

U'r right. I been wondering about that too. They'r hiding or distracting the naive-looking reporter from something.

[@Topvidi]

Your brain is too small to think about environment/wildlife

[@wolfmantroy6601]

It will be done with dozers and excavators.

[@bobbymorris5321]

Finding boundaries with gps. Won't tear up as much jungle like you would if you just bulldozed everything. Also jungle is natural camo for buildings, fuel stores, ammo dumps. Use nature as much as possible.

[@TheSaturnV]

You missed the point of what they were doing. They were using GPS to hike into the woods and locate boundaries to set markers. Much faster than using dozers to clear cut a bunch of paths they won't even need later.

[@craig4867]

THE FUSE IS LIT No turning back 🔙 Question is? How long is the fuse?!!!

[@tshepo7122]

Crazy

[@davidcashin1894]

This is fascinating. I was on Tinian in 1981 when the Navy and Marine Corps were considering the same thing. Though it was more of a "Showing the flag". Also note Tinian was actually an Imperial Japanese built base that the US occupied at the end of the war. The reason most of it is stil present is because the Japanese built to stay.

[@holysmoke7043]

Thank you for this information.

[@Stianfred]

4:09 thats a scene from the movie The Rock with Nicolas Cage

[@stevenyu5384]

I guess 880 military bases are not enough?

[@npoliver2757]

Exactly. Greedy, warmongering USA.

[@BaccillusAnthracis]

It’s nice to know they are reviving it.

[@sobanoodlez9372]

I would like to see how the US would react if e.g. Russia or China would place bases at such distance from their borders 🤔 I'm sure they'd flip out

[@scepticalwalker3984]

It is not about bases, it is about the threat posed. The U.S. never made claims about russian or Chinese territory. China however trains its forces to invade and occupy Taiwan. Russia has already invaded a neighboring country to steal land. There is also a clear difference between corrupt dictatorships like russia and China vs. democracies.

[@mudman619]

go ahead & move to Russia or China if you have a problem with it.

[@bowgibbly1]

They should send some vets there to live and take care of it

[@melheinrich5438]

With all that woods being cleared, being a grand idea to make wood chips for roads to buildings construction.. A lumberjack would definitely know what to do.

[@ryanh9388]

CNMI are some of the hidden gems and best places to visit in America.

[@DrBozoEinstein]

An excellent plan. I've often wondered why these spaces were left completely abandoned.

[@crazychase98]

Expensive to up keep for little use

[@tobehonest7541]

All these countries are wasting taxpayer money - while their citizens struggle with basic necessities

[@grandaddyoe1434]

It's never a waste if it avoids annihilation or enslavement - necessities can change . . .

[@altops4490]

pretty sure there will be a whole battle group dedicated to protect this chain of islands

[@garystarr9176]

This is a good idea. The more of the world we can cover the better. It keeps us safer.

[@islaperez1151]

Buying Bitcoin or Gold are the absolute best hedges against hyperinflation.

[@Debbiemandy9]

People believe their currency has the worth it does because they have no other option. Even in a hyperinflationary environment, individuals must continue to use their hyperinflationary currency since they likely have minimal access to other currencies or gold/silver coins.

[@islaperez1151]

Inflation is gradually going to become part of us and due to that fact any money you keep in cash or in a low-interest account declines in value each year. Investing is the only way to make your money grow and unless you have an exceptionally high income, investing is the only way most people will ever have enough money to retire.

[@PodologiaBarran]

Market fluctuations have frustrated my previous attempts at stock/crypto investing. Ready to pivot to passive income, I'd love to learn from your journey. Share your expertise and guidance, and help me overcome my past setbacks to achieve financial stability and success

[@islaperez1151]

Investing without proper guidance can lead to mistakes and losses. I've learned this from my own experience. If you're new to investing or don't have much time, it's best to get advice from an expert.

[@islaperez1151]

A lot of folks downplay the role of advisors until being burnt by their own emotions. I remember couple summers back, after my lengthy divorce, I needed a good boost to help my business stay afloat, hence I researched for licensed advisors and came across someone of utmost qualifications. She's helped grow my reserve notwithstanding inflation, from $275k to $850k.

[@OrlyAruta]

They might also include the forgotten former Japanese Naval base at Rabaul ..its an ideal place for naval ships anchorage.

[@greg1093]

Red Horse boys!!!....I was Red Horse 93-94 out of Osan AB, Korea.

[@charleshartley9597]

Nice! I was with a Prime BEEF unit in the Air Guard for six years and was looking for the patch, but Red Horse makes more sense! Cheers brother.

[@dallasyap3064]

What's the difference between RED HORSE & PRIME BEEF? I only know that both are Air Force engineer units, the counterpart to the Army's Corp of Engineers and Navy's Construction Battalions.

[@charleshartley9597]

@@dallasyap3064 I'm going to have to dig deep a bit here, been a while, but basically what happened here: RH units set up runways, often in warzones (or expected warzones: the typical example would have been in Europe or Asia since the Soviets were the big bad guys at the time), while PB are tasked with keeping the runways operational while active fighting and bombing of runways was happening. As a surveyor, my job was to map out runway damage from bombs, map out any UXOs, and prepare an alternative runway path using whatever space was available, while our heavy equipment crews filled in craters and added steel plates to support aircraft taking off and landing. The idea was to map out a path that required minimal repair work. And all of this was done with the threat of nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) weapons being used. Engineering units also acted as secondary base defenders from incursions on the ground, alongside our security units, aka our "MPs". We trained alongside them since we were working right out there on the runways. Hope that helps!

[@dknowles60]

87-88

[@jerrydemas2020]

@@dallasyap3064A individual troop is assigned to and shipped to a RED HORSE Squadron . A Base Civil Engineering Squadron will assign troops to a PRIME BEEF unit from the squadron for rapid deployment, but still remain part of the Civil Engineering Squadron. If I remember correctly. 24 years active duty Civil Engineer interior electrician. Deployed to Tak-lei Thiland, and some place in Korea from Kadena.

[@shirleydrury5565]

It’s going to happen!! We are on the BRINK!! And it will be SOON! GOD BLESS all and GOOD LUCK ❤❤❤❤❤

[@laustinspeiss]

Almost… ☀️☀️💙💙💙💙💙💙 💙💙💙💙💙

[@Comm0ut]

I find your fear hilarious. Make sure to use even more capital letters next time.

[@RichardLumbert]

My grandfather helped build the runways on tinian he was a seabee during ww2 it was a classified project.

[@patrickskelly7520]

The Seabees should be mentioned because they would have the entire base up and running within 45 days.

[@JS-jh4cy]

About time to get around to it

[@mykhtube4705]

Okay, WSJ, now let's do a story about Chinese Airbases😂

[@JD-mu7qm]

Because war is coming thats why! The Navy is even suggestion too revive old ww2 battleships and other type of ww2 era ships because the navy is short

[@JeremyPritchard-we4dz]

Yes, and we cannot match CCP's shipbuilding capablity.

[@calebclifton2933]

Glad they're finally taking this seriously.

[@ronlackey2689]

Very interesting video. I had no idea this was happening. Thanks!

[@franksullivan1873]

War and rumors of war.