This is CBS I on the World with John Bachelor.

Here's John Bachelor.

Sea Lift in the event of a catastrophe in the Pacific, in the event of a war breaking out,

kinetic war between the People's Republic of China's PLA Navy and Air Force and

the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

In the event Taiwan is attacked and overrun, in the event, attacks are launched against the Philippines,

against Japan, against the Republic of Korea. What is to be done?

I welcome Admiral Ruffhead,

is a graduate of U.S. Naval Academy.

His naval career left him the chief of naval operations,

the senior officer of the Navy. And now he's at the Hoover Institution

helping me to understand the challenges for the Navy here in the 21st century.

Gary, a very good evening to you.

Thank you, Admiral, for joining here.

First, we need some definitions for the audience.

It's been some time since we've talked, so we'll start from the Merchant Marine.

What is it represent today?

What did it represent in the first Pacific War,

1941 to 1945?

Good evening to you, Gary. Good evening, John, and it's good to be back with you again.

You know, the Merchant Marine, I think Franklin Roosevelt summed it up perfectly when he referred to the Merchant Marine as the fourth arm of defense.

I think so few people realize the magnitude of what our Merchant Marine did in World War II, not just in the Pacific, but in the Battle of the Atlantic.

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