WHILE WE VOTE – AT 12:18 P.M. ET:  A dangerous world gets more dangerous as America attends to electing a president.  From London's Daily Mail: 

Chinese state media have urged their national military to fire warning shots and deliberately ram U.S. warships that sail too close to their footholds in the disputed South China Sea.

U.S. ship Curtis Wilbur came within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island in the Paracels last month, catapulting tensions in the oil-rich region to an all-time high.

The commentary article declared China must 'teach the US a lesson' if they continue intruding on China's rightful territory, reports SCMP.

The Paracels have been under Chinese rule for over 40 years, deeming them the most fundamentally important foothold for China to defend, the article claimed.

The author proposed the American presence in the Paracels was intended to 'oppose China for the sake of opposing' – which called for 'proper toughness and deterrence.'

It comes after U.S satellite images surfaced this week showing advanced air defence missile system on Woody Island in the Paracels, igniting concerns over China's militarisation.

COMMENT:  That comes from state media, meaning that the article had the approval of the government.

China is building its military in a clear attempt to challenge American supremacy in the Pacific.  Field Marshal Obama promised a "pivot" to Asia in our military policy, but we haven't seen much pivoting.  In fact, we're cutting our defenses. 

When we flash weakness, potential enemies will see an opening.  That's how wars get started.

February 20, 2016