''War clouds are gathering in East Asia, and we would suggest that President Obama find time between celebrity events and talk show appearances to start attending the national intelligence briefings.'' Well, how dare they?

Win or lose this election, Obama is likely to be facing some very serious problems before January 20, 2013.

You can teach any competent large ship captain to navigate an aircaft carrier to and fro. However, to actually employ such a vessel as a weapon is a whole other matter.

If it ever came to conflict I doubt the Chinese would even let their carrier leave port. The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) is more than capable, and operates at least a dozen SSKs (diesel-electric submarines). The ChiComs' carrier would become a deep-water reef if they chose to employ it in a conflict against Japan anytime over the next decade.

Can't wait to read about the first "sunk" super-carrier in line of battle.

I'd like to watch their pilots' carrier quals.

I understand the Chinese dislike of the Japanese, but someone needs to remind China that Japan has fair good understanding of carrier tactics.

Braer rabbit and the tar baby...

China needs to be very aware of japan mobilizing. Japan understands and knows naval warfare, The Japanese in WWII fought to the death and one can expect the same now.

The silence of the media asking Obama what he is going to do about this is deafening!!!!! I never imagined we would ever have such a corrupt media in this country. It is absolutely incredible.

I would love to watch the Chicoms first attempt at carrier flight ops. Back during Viet Nam doctors stuck wires in and on pilots from the air force and navy to find what caused the moststress in combat. The resuslts were that the greatest stress on an AF pilot was when he was dodging telephone poles (evading SAMs) while the greatest stress on a Navy pilot was night carrier landings.

Stress or no stress our pilots are superb, and guess who trained Japans pilots?

The article itself is a fair backgrounder on the situation. The mention that "Obama hasn't taken a position" is worrying, disgusting, and too-typical.

However, the headline is both misleading as to the article, and wrong as well. China has commissioned a ship. Period. No planes, no pilots, and the ship is fit only for limited-capability VSTOL aircraft, as it has no catapults. No, not at all likely to refit cats, for many, many reasons [not enough steam, no space for machinery, deck layout and space].

But China may want/need to act well before the ex-Varyag has any ability to project power.

#5: I can't confirm the rumor that one of the costliest line-items in the construction budget was for gray paint to refinish the transom on a, ahem, "regular" basis during quals. But it sounds credible.