Laying out a "21st century battlefield" at home and abroad, U.S. Rep. Allen West warned Friday that America's economic and national security are under siege.
Speaking to a full house of 600-plus at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, the retired Army lieutenant colonel said China's military and economic expansion pose a direct threat to the United States.
Forecasting "an economic conflagration with China," the Boca Raton Republican noted that nearly 20 percent of America's $14.3 trillion debt is owned by Beijing.
"In eight to 10 years, the largest blue-water navy will fly under the Chinese flag. The Panama Canal is controlled by Chinese contractors," he observed.
West said China poses an additional threat through its aggressive campaign to lock up global energy resources, including deep-water oil reserves off Florida. He also called the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries "nothing but a collection of despots, autocrats and theocrats."
Meantime, the veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq declared that the United States is not taking the global terrorist threat seriously.
"We're affording the enemy the initiative. We must deny him sanctuaries, cut off his resources and understand there's a propaganda battle, too.
"Today's battlefield is totally different. The enemy will not be wearing a uniform. This requires us to step out of the normal routine and use the full spectrum of our national power.
"Political correctness cannot be part of our national security strategy," West said to loud applause.
Speaking to a full house of 600-plus at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, the retired Army lieutenant colonel said China's military and economic expansion pose a direct threat to the United States.
Forecasting "an economic conflagration with China," the Boca Raton Republican noted that nearly 20 percent of America's $14.3 trillion debt is owned by Beijing.
"In eight to 10 years, the largest blue-water navy will fly under the Chinese flag. The Panama Canal is controlled by Chinese contractors," he observed.
West said China poses an additional threat through its aggressive campaign to lock up global energy resources, including deep-water oil reserves off Florida. He also called the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries "nothing but a collection of despots, autocrats and theocrats."
Meantime, the veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq declared that the United States is not taking the global terrorist threat seriously.
"We're affording the enemy the initiative. We must deny him sanctuaries, cut off his resources and understand there's a propaganda battle, too.
"Today's battlefield is totally different. The enemy will not be wearing a uniform. This requires us to step out of the normal routine and use the full spectrum of our national power.
"Political correctness cannot be part of our national security strategy," West said to loud applause.
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