>>> WHAT ARE THE STAKES BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA RIGHT NOW? THERE ARE FEW PLACES BETTER THAN THE WESTERN PACIFIC ON BOARD THE
AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS NIMITZ TO FIND OUT. >> IS THE U.S. NAVY READY? >> WE'RE READY, YES.
I'LL NEVER ADMIT TO BEING READY ENOUGH. >> TONIGHT THE COMMANDER OF THE PACIFIC FLEET TALKS ABOUT THE
STATE U.S. NAVY, CHINA'S GROWING FLEET, AND NEW LONG-RANGE MISSILE SYSTEMS, AND WHAT OUR TOP GUN PILOTS ARE SEEING IN THE
SKY. >> HOW AGGRESSIVE HAVE CHINA BECOME IN THE AIR? >> AGGRESSIVE.
>> IS IT YOUR HOPE THAT THE POWER OF THE U.S. NAVY, THE FORCED POSTURE OF THE U.S. NAVY, WILL DETER A CHINESE INVASION OF
TAIWAN? >> IT'S NOT MY HOPE. IT'S MY DUTY. >>> ROCCO COMMISSO DOESN'T
SUFFER FOOLS. BUT LIKE MOST ITALIAN SOCCER FANS, HE DOES SUFFER. THREE YEARS AGO, HE BOUGHT THE
TEAM IN FLORENCE, WHERE GAME DAY IS FILLED WITH MORE AGONY AND ECSTASY THAN AN OPERA. WHEN COMMISSO BOUGHT FEE BJORN
TINA, IT CHECKED TWO BOXES. SECOND, IT MET THE DEMAND BY HIS WIFE, THAT IF HE INSISTED ON BUYING A TEAM, IT HAD TO BE
SOMEPLACE NICE. >> I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> I'M ANDERSON COOPER.
>> I'M NORAH O'DONNELL. >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES."
>>> THE UNITED STATES NAVY HELPED SECURE VICTORY IN TWO WORLD WARS AND THE COLD WAR. TODAY THE NAVY REMAINS A
FORMIDABLE FIGHTING FORCE. AND EVEN OFFICERS WITHIN THE SERVICE HAVE QUESTIONED ITS READINESS.
WHILE THE U.S. SPENT 20 YEARS FIGHTING LAND WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE PENTAGON WATCHED CHINA, ITS GREATEST
GEOPOLITICAL RIVAL OF THE 21st CENTURY, BUILD THE LARGEST NAVY IN THE WORLD. CHINA HAS THREATENED TO USE THAT
NAVY TO INVADE TAIWAN, AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN ALLY. AS TENSIONS WITH CHINA CONTINUE TO RISE, WE WANTED TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE U.S. NAVY AND HOW IT'S TRYING TO DETER CHINA WHILE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR.
>> THE NAVY'S ALWAYS ON ALERT. ONE-THIRD OF THE NAVY IS ALWAYS DEPLOYED AND OPERATING AT ALL TIMES.
THE NAVY'S MUSTERING RIGHT NOW ABOUT 300 SHIPS, AND THERE ARE ABOUT 100 SHIPS AT SEA RIGHT NOW ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
>> ADMIRAL SAMUEL CAPARO COMMANDS THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET, WHOSE 250 SHIPS AND 150,000 SAILORS AND CIVILIANS MAKE UP
60% OF THE ENTIRE U.S. NAVY. WE MET HIM LAST MONTH ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS NIMITZ, DEPLOYED NEAR THE U.S. TERRITORY
OF GUAM SOUTHEAST OF TAIWAN AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, OR PRC. >> YOU'VE BEEN OPERATING AS A
NAVAL OFFICER FOR 40 YEARS. HOW HAS OPERATING IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC CHANGED? >> IN THE EARLY 2000s, THE PRC
NAVY MUSTERED ABOUT 37 VESSELS. TODAY THEY'RE MUSTERING 350 VESSELS. >> THIS MONTH, CHINA'S NEW
FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVERED A STERN WARNING TO THE U.S. HE SAID THAT IF WASHINGTON DOES NOT CHANGE COURSE IN ITS STANCE
TOWARDS CHINA, CONFLICT AND CONFRONTATION IS INEVITABLE. THIS PAST AUGUST, WHEN THEN-SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY
PELOSI BECAME THE MOST SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL FIGURE TO VISIT TAIWAN IN 25 YEARS, CHINA CALLED IT A BLATANT PROVOCATION.
THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY FIRED BALLISTIC MISSILES INTO THE SEA AROUND TAIWAN AND ENCIRCLED THE ISLAND WITH
AIRCRAFT AND WARSHIPS. >> SO, OUR CHINESE WARSHIPS NOW OPERATING CLOSER TO TAIWAN AFTER NANCY PELOSI'S VISIT?
>> YES. >> THE BEST GUESS ANYONE HAS ABOUT CHINA'S ULTIMATE INTENTIONS FOR TAIWAN COMES FROM
THE CIA. ACCORDING TO ITS INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT, CHINA'S PRESIDENT, XI JINPING, HAS ORDERED THE
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE BACK THE ISLAND BY FORCE BY 2027. >> AND IF CHINA INVADES TAIWAN,
WHAT WILL THE U.S. NAVY DO? >> IT'S A DECISION THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND A DECISION OF THE CONGRESS.
IT'S OUR DUTY TO BE READY FOR THAT. BUT THE BULK OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY WILL BE DEPLOYED
RAPIDLY TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC TO COME TO THE AID OF TAIWAN IF THE ORDER COMES TO AID TAIWAN IN THWARTING THAT INVASION.
>> IS THE U.S. NAVY READY? >> WE ARE READY, YES. I'LL NEVER ADMIT TO BEING READY ENOUGH.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DECLARED FOUR TIMES, INCLUDING ON "60 MINUTES," THAT THE U.S. MILITARY WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN, WHICH IS A
DEMOCRACY AND THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER OF ADVANCED MICROCHIPS. TO REACH THE USS NIMITZ, WE
FIRST TRAVELLED TO AMERICA'S WESTERN MOST TERRITORY, THE ISLAND OF GUAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC.
GUAM WAS TAKEN BY IMPERIAL JAPAN TWO DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR IN 1941. U.S. MARINES RECAPTURED IT TWO
AND A HALF YEARS LATER. AND THE ISLAND, ABOUT THE SIZE OF CHICAGO, BECAME AN INDISPENSABLE STRATEGIC FOOTHOLD
IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, AS IT REMAINS TODAY. FROM GUAM, WE BOARDED A NAVY C-2 GREYHOUND.
THE COLD WAR ERA TRANSPORT PLANE TAKES PEOPLE AND SUPPLIES BACK AND FORTH FROM LAND TO THE CARRIER.
IT WAS A SHORT FLIGHT TO THE SHIP AND AN EVEN LANDING. >> FIRST TIME LANDING? >> YES.
>> BEFORE THE ADMIRAL ROSE TO LEAD THE PACIFIC FLEET, HE FLEW JETS AND GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL KNOWN AS TOP GUN.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SHIPS, WHAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE U.S. NAVY? >> IT'S AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER, AND
ITS AIR WING IS CAPABLE OF 150 STRIKE OR AIR-TO-AIR SORTINGS PER DAY WITH ADDED SEARCH LEVELS, THE ABILITY TO DELIVER
900 PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS EVERY DAY AND RELOADABLE EVERY NIGHT. >> SO, EVEN THOUGH CHINA NOW HAS
THE LARGEST NAVY IN THE WORLD, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN TERMS OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS?
>> THEY DO NOT. BUT THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS IT. THEY HAVE TWO OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S CHINA'S TWO DIESEL-FUELLED CARRIERS TO THE U.S.'S 11 NUCLEAR-POWERED ONES THAT CAN CARRY A TOTAL OF ABOUT
1,000 ATTACK AIRCRAFT, MORE THAN THE NAVIES OF EVERY OTHER NATION ON EARTH COMBINED. >> I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
WE ARE HERE TO SAY, RIGHT, IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD. AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE
THAT WE REALLY WANT TO CONVEY TO NOT ONLY CHINA BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD. WE WILL SAIL WHEREVER
INTERNATIONAL LAW ALLOWS. >> LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DAVID ASH FLIES AN F/A-18. >> DO YOU GET BRIEFED ON CHINA'S
GROWING MILITARY THREAT AND THE PROGRESS THAT THEIR NAVY IS MAKING? >> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY WE DO. AND THEY ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN A LOT OF KEY AREAS. >> THE CHINESE?
>> THE CHINESE ARE, FROM THE MILITARY STANDPOINT. >> THIS VIDEO FROM WEAPONS SYSTEMS OFFICER, MATTHEW
CARLTON, SHOWS HIS F/A-18 STRAFING GROUND TARGETS WITH A MACHINE GUN ON A U.S. WEAPONS RANGE NEAR GUAM.
THE PILOTS ON THE NIMITZ ALSO CONDUCT AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT, OR DOGFIGHTING DRILLS, DAILY. >> HOW AGGRESSIVE HAS CHINA
BECOME IN THE AIR? >> AGGRESSIVE. AND JUST SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE UNSAFE, UNPROFESSIONAL
INTERCEPTS, WHERE THEY MOVE WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS OF FEET OF OTHER AIRCRAFT, FLASHING THE WEAPONS THAT THEY HAVE ON BOARDS
OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT, OPERATING IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE, MANEUVERING THEIR AIRCRAFT IN SUCH A WAY THAT DENIES THE
ABILITY TO TURN IN ONE DIRECTION. IF THEY'RE SAFE AND PROFESSIONAL, THEN THERE IS NO
PROBLEM. EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO FLY AND SAIL WHEREVER INTERNATIONAL LAW DICTATES.
>> BUT THE CHINESE ARE PUSHING THAT. >> THEY ARE PUSHING IT. >> CHINA'S INCREASINGLY
AGGRESSIVE MOVES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, ENCROACHING ON TERRITORY, ILLEGAL FISHING, AND BUILDING BASES IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, HAVE PUSHED NATIONS LIKE JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES TO FORCE CLOSER MILITARY TIES TO THE U.S.
AND THIS PAST WEEK, BRITAIN, THE U.S., AND AUSTRALIA SIGNED A LANDMARK DEAL TO JOINTLY DEVELOP NUCLEAR-POWERED ATTACK
SUBMARINES TO PATROL THE PACIFIC. THIS IS HOW CHINA AND TAIWAN APPEAR ON MOST MAPS.
THIS IS HOW THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY SEES THE WESTERN PACIFIC, INCLUDING THE SOUTH AND EAST CHINA SEAS FROM BEIJING.
TAIWAN IS THE FULCRUM IN WHAT CHINESE LEADERS CALL THE FIRST ISLAND CHAIN, A CONSTELLATION OF U.S. ALLIES THAT STRETCHES
ACROSS ITS ENTIRE COAST. CONTROL OF TAIWAN IS THE STRATEGIC KEY TO UNLOCKING DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PACIFIC AND
THE SEA LANES WHERE ABOUT 40% OF THE WORLD'S COMMERCE GETS TRANSPORTED. >> CHINA HAS ACCUSED THE UNITED
STATES OF TRYING TO CONTAIN THEM. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CHINA? >> I WOULD SAY, DO YOU NEED TO
BE CONTAIN SND ARE YOU EXPANDING? ARE YOU AN EXPANSION? TO A VERY GREAT EXTENT, THE
UNITED STATES WAS THE CHAMPION FOR CHINA'S RIDES. AND IN NO WAY ARE WE SEEKING TO CONTAIN CHINA.
BUT WE ARE SEEKING FOR THEM TO PLAY BY THE RULES. >> CHINA'S NAVY, A BRANCH OF THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY, IS NOW
THE WORLD'S LARGEST. CHINA IS ALSO USING ITS 9,000-MILE COASTLINE TO REWRITE THE RULES OF FIGHTING AT SEA.
AS THESE IMAGES FROM CHINESE STATE MEDIA SHOW. ITS MILITARY HAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN LONG-RANGE
PRECISION-GUIDED WEAPONS LIKE THE DF-21 AND DF-26 THAT CAN BE USED TO TARGET SHIPS. CHINA'S PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY
ROCKET FORCE CALLS THEM CARRIER KILLERS AND HAS PRACTICED SHOOTING THEM AT MOCK-UPS OF AMERICAN SHIPS IN THE DESERT
THAT LOOK A LOT LIKE THE NIMITZ. >> SINCE THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, CHINA'S BACKYARD,
THEY'VE BEEN DEVELOPING MISSILES TO ATTACK OUR ASSETS, HAVEN'T THEY, SPECIFIC MISSILES? >> ABSOLUTELY, YES.
FIRST, I'LL SAY, UNITED STATES IS ALSO A WESTERN PACIFIC NATION. >> GUAM.
>> SO, IT'S NOT CHINA'S BACKYARD. IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT IS A FREE AND OPEN INDO-PACIFIC THAT
ENCOMPASSES NUMEROUS PARTNERS AND TREATY ALLIES. AND YES, WE HAVE SEEN THEM GREATLY ENHANCE THEIR POWER
PROJECTION CAPABILITY. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE PLA ROCKET FORCE? >> I WORRY.
I WOULD BE A FOOL NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. OF COURSE I WORRY ABOUT THE PLA ROCKET FORCE.
I WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO DEVELOP THE PROCEDURES TO COUNTER IT AND TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE SYSTEMS THAT DEFEND
AGAINST THEM. >> HOW ABOUT HOW FAR ARE WE FROM MAINLAND CHINA? >> 1,500 NAUTICAL MILES.
>> THEY CAN HIT US. >> YES, THEY CAN. IF THEY'VE GOT THE TARGETING IN PLACE, THEY CAN HIT THIS
AIRCRAFT CARRIER. IF I DON'T WANT TO BE HIT, THERE'S SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
>> NOT JUST PLOTTING HOW TO EVADE CHINA'S ROCKET FORCE R BUT ALSO HOW THEY COULD EFFECTIVELY FIGHT BACK.
FROM THE VICINITY OF GUAM, NONE OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THIS SHIP HAS THE RANGE TO APPROACH TAIWAN WITHOUT REFUELLING IN THE AIR.
SHIPS, LIKE THE U.S. DESTROYER WAYNE E. MEYER, PART OF THE NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP, WOULD NEED TO SAIL CLOSER TO CHINA TO FIRE
THEIR MISSILES AT ANY FORCE INVADING TAIWAN. LICHENING IT TO A BOXING MATCH, IN WHICH A FIGHTER, IN THIS CASE
CHINA, HAS MUCH LONGER ARMS THAN THEIR POTENTIAL OPPONENT, THE U.S. >> I'LL GIVE YOU A LOT OF
EXAMPLES WHERE A SHORTER FIGHTER WAS ABLE TO PREVAIL OVER A LONG-ARMED FIGHTER BY BEING ON THEIR TOES, BY MANEUVERING.
AND WE COULD ALSO STICK AND MOVE WHILE WE'RE DEVELOPING THOSE LONGER-RANGE WEAPONS. >> THERE IS ANOTHER AREA OF
MODERN NAVAL WARFARE, WHERE THE U.S. HAD A HEAD START AND RETAINS A DEEP ADVANTAGE OVER CHINA.
>> I JUST NOTICED OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE -- >> THIS IS A 688 CLASS, A LOS ANGELES CLASS, ATTACK SUBMARINE.
THIS IS THE MOST CAPABLE SUBMARINE ON THE PLANET WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE VIRGINIA CLASS, OUR NEWER CLASS OF SUBMARINES.
>> THE EXACT NUMBER IS CLASSIFIED. BUT OUR BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN
NUCLEAR-POWERED, FAST ATTACK SUBMARINES PATROLLING THE PACIFIC AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO DETECT AND
TRACK, SOMETHING CHINA IS TRYING TO SOLVE. >> HOW MUCH MORE ADVANCED IS U.S. SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY THAN
CHINESE CAPABILITY? >> A GENERATION. >> A GENERATION? >> AND BY GENERATION, THINK 10
OR 20 YEARS. BUT BROADLY, I DON'T REALLY TALK IN DEPTH ABOUT SUBMARINE CAPABILITIES.
IT'S THE SILENT SERVICE. >> SINCE NANCY PELOSI'S VISIT TO TAIWAN, CHINA'S MILITARY LEADERS HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN MOSTLY
SILENT AND IGNORED EFFORTS I BE THE U.S. MILITARY TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN, EVEN WHEN A CHINESE SPY BOALLOO
REACHED AMERICAN AIRSPACE AND WAS SHOT DOWN BY THE U.S. >> IF THE U.S. MILITARY CAN'T COMMUNICATE OVER A CHINESE SPY
BALLOON, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S A REAL CRISIS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA OR TAIWAN? >> WE'LL HOPE THAT THEY'LL
ANSWER THE PHONE. ELSE, WE'LL DO OUR VERY BEST ASSESSMENT BASED ON THE THINGS THAT THEY SAY IN OPEN SOURCE AND
BASED ON THEIR BEHAVIOR TO DIVINE THEIR INTENTIONS. AND WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY. >> DOESN'T THAT MAKE THE
SITUATION EVEN MORE DANGEROUS IF U.S. AND CHINESE MILITARIES ARE NOT TALKING? >> YES.
>> SEVERAL SOURCES WITHIN THE PENTAGON TELL "60 MINUTES" THAT IF CHINA INVADED TAIWAN, IT COULD VERY WELL KICK OFF IN
OUTER SPACE, WITH BOTH SIDES TARGETING THE OTHER'S SATELLITES THAT ENABLE PRECISION-GUIDED WEAPONRY.
CYBER ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CITIES AND THE SABOTAGE OF PORTS ON THE WEST COAST OF THE U.S. MAINLAND COULD FOLLOW.
ONE RECENT NON-CLASSIFIED WAR GAME HAD THE U.S. PREVAILING BUT LOSING 20 SHIPS, INCLUDING TWO CARRIERS.
DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? >> THAT IS A PLAUSIBLE OUTCOME. I CAN IMAGINE A MORE PESSIMISTIC OUTCOME, AND I CAN IMAGINE A
MORE OPTIMISTIC OUTCOME. WE SHOULD BE CLEAR-EYED ABOUT THE COSTS THAT WE'RE POTENTIALLY INCURRING.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT 5,000 AMERICANS ON BOARD THE NIMITZ. THE SHIP IS NEARLY HALF A CENTURY OLD.
GIVEN THE NAVY'S CURRENT NEEDS IN THE PACIFIC AND BECAUSE THERE'S FUEL LEFT IN ITS NUCLEAR REACTORS, THE CARRIER'S LIFE AT
SEA IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED. >> IS IT YOUR HOPE THAT THE POWER OF THE U.S. NAVY, THE FORCED POSTURE OF THE U.S. NAVY,
WILL DETER A CHINESE INVASION OF TAIWAN? >> IT'S NOT MY HOPE. IT'S MY DUTY.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS TO DELIVER INTOLERABLE COST TO ANYBODY THAT WOULD UPEND THE ORDER IN VIOLATION OF THE
NATION'S SECURITY OR IN VIOLATION OF THE NATION'S INTERESTS. THERE'S A SAYING WHICH IS -- IF
YOU WANT PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR. >> AS CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI PREPARES FOR A STATE VISIT IN RUSSIA TOMORROW TO STRENGTHEN
THAT ALLIANCE, WE LOOK AT CRITICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE U.S. NAVY AND ITS READINESS WHEN WE COME BACK.
>>> "60 MINUTES" HAS SPENT MONTHS TALKING TO CURRENT AND FORMER NAVAL OFFICERS, MILITARY STRATEGISTS, AND POLITICIANS
ABOUT THE STATE OF THE U.S. NAVY. ONE COMMON THREAD IN OUR REPORTING IN UNEASE, BOTH ABOUT
THE SIZE OF THE U.S. FLEET AND ITS READINESS TO FIGHT. THE NAVY SHIPS ARE BEING RETIRED THAN THEY'RE GETTING REPLACED,
WHILE THE NAVY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, OR PRC, GROWS LARGER AND MORE LETHAL BY THE YEAR.
WE ASKED THE COMMANDER OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET, ADMIRAL SAMUEL PAPARO ABOUT THIS ON OUR VISIT TO THE USS NIMITZ, THE
OLDEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE NAVY. >> WE CALL IT THE DECADE OF CONCERN.
WE'VE SEEN A 10-FOLD INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE PRC NAVY. >> TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, THE CHINESE NOW HAVE THE LARGEST
NAVY IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SHIPS, CORRECT? >> YES. >> DO THE NUMBERS MATTER?
>> YES. AS THE SAYING GOES, QUANTITY HAS A QUALITY ALL ITS OWN. >> AT SOME POINT, ARE THEY GOING
TO REACH NUMBERS THAT WE CAN'T PREVAIL OVER? >> I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE TRAJECTORY.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF THE INDO-PACIFIC, ONE THING BECOMES CLEAR. THERE'S A LOT OF WATER ON THAT
MAP. SO, OURS HAS TO BE A MARITIME STRATEGY. >> REPUBLICAN MIKE GALLAGHER AND
DEMOCRAT, ELAINE LAURIA, SERVED TOGETHER IN THE CONGRESS. >> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE U.S. NAVY THAT ALLOWED YOU TWO TO
FIND CAUSE. >> WE SEE INCREASING THREATS FROM CHINA IN PARTICULAR IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.
WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO BUILD A BIGGER NAVY. >> CONGRESSMAN GALLAGHER IS A
MARINE VETERAN WHO REPRESENTS GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, WHO CHAIRS THE NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHINA.
HE'S CONCERNED THAT UNDER THE NAVY'S CURRENT PLAN, THE FLEET WILL SHRINK TO 280 SHIPS BY 2027, THE SAME YEAR THE CIA SAYS
THE CHINA HAS SET FOR HAVING THE CAPABILITY TO TAKE TAIWAN BY FORCE. >> SO, WE WILL BE WEAKEST WHEN
OUR ENEMY IS POTENTIALLY STRONGEST. >> CHINA'S RHETORIC AND AGGRESSION AGAINST TAIWAN, WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TODAY WITH THE FORCES WE HAVE TODAY. >> ELAINE LURIA HAD A 20 YEAR NAVAL CAREER BEFORE BEING
ELECTED TO CONGRESS. >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE STATE OF THE U.S. NAVY IS TODAY. >> I THINK THE NAVY HAS NOT
RECEIVED THE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES IT NEEDS OVER TWO DECADES. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SHIPS
WAS BUILT DURING OR A PRODUCT OF THE FLEET THAT WAS BUILT IN THE COLD WAR. >> BOTH MIKE GALLAGHER AND
ELAINE LURIA HAVE LOBBIED FOR GOVERNMENT MONEY FOR THE SHIPYARDS IN OR NEAR THEIR DISTRICTS.
BUT THEY SAY THIS IS LESS ABOUT JOBS AND MORE ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY. >> WE DON'T GET THIS RIGHT, ALL
THESE OTHER THINGS WE'RE DOING IN CONGRESS ULTIMATELY MIGHT NOT MATTER. >> YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT A
COHERENT STRATEGY WOULD BE, FIRE POWER WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. AND THE NAVY WOULD BE THE MOST
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF YOUR HARD POWER INVESTMENT. >> THE NAVY SPENT $55 BILLION ON TWO INVESTMENTS THAT DID NOT PAN
OUT. THE FIRST WAS A CLASS OF DESTROYERS KNOWN AS THE ZOOM VAULT.
THE FUTURISTIC FIGHTING SHIPS WERE SUPPOSED TO REVOLUTIONIZE NAVAL WARFARE. 32 WERE ORDERED BUT ONLY THREE
WERE EVER LAUNCHED. THE COST OF EACH SHIP, BY ONE ESTIMATE, WAS UPWARDS OF $8 BILLION, MAKING THEM THE
THREE MOST EXPENSIVE DESTROYERS EVER PUT TO SEA. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE LCS, DESIGNED TO BE A FAST,
ALL-PURPOSE WARSHIP FOR SHALLOW WATERS. $30 BILLION LATER, THE PROGRAM RAN AGROUND, AFTER STRUCTURAL
DEFECTS AND ENGINE TROUBLE. WITHIN THE NAVY, THE LCS EARNED THE UNFORTUNATE NICK NAME "LITTLE CRACKY SHIP."
THE NAVY'S LAST FEW DECADES HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS A LOST GENERATION OF SHIPBUILDING. IS THAT OVERLY DRAMATIC?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO BUILD SHIPS ON TIME, ON BUDGET. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FIX GOING FORWARD. >> THIS PAST WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH ADMIRAL MIKE -- AT THE PENTAGON.
HE IS THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING, MAINTAINING, AND EQUIPPING THE ENTIRE U.S. NAVY.
>> IS THE NAVY IN CRISIS? >> NO. THE NAVY IS NOT IN CRISIS. THE NAVY IS OUT ON POINT EVERY
SINGLE DAY. >> IS IT BEING OUTPACED BY CHINA? >> NO.
OUR NAVY IS STILL IN A POSITION TO PREVAIL. BUT THAT'S NOT BLIND CONFIDENCE. WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE
TRAJECTORY THAT CHINA IS ON, WITH CHINA'S BEHAVIOR. BUT WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW.
IF WE DID EVER GET INTO A FIGHT AGAINST THEM. >> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT CHINA HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO
MILITARILY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. >> THE MOST ALARMING THING IS THE GROWTH OF NOT ONLY THEIR
STRATEGIC FORCES BUT THEIR STRATEGIC NEW CLEAR FORCES, THEIR CYBER CAPABILITY, SPACE CAPABILITY, AND HOW THEY ARE
USING THAT TO FORCE OTHER NATIONS' NAVIES OUT OF CERTAIN AREAS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING
INTERNATIONAL LAW. THEY WANT TO CONTROL WHERE THOSE GOODS FLOW AND HOW. >> WHAT LESSONS DID THE U.S.
NAVY LEARN FROM SOME OF THE SHIPBUILDING MISTAKES OF THE LAST 20 YEARS? >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A DESIGN WELL IN PLACE BEFORE WE BEGIN BENDING METAL. SO, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE
PAST, TO WHAT WE DID IN THE '80s AND THE '90s. THE NAVY HAS THE LEAD. >> THERE IS A TENDENCY AMONG THE
GREAT POWERS TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER'S NAVAL BUILDUPS WITH DEEP SUSPICIOUS. >> TOE SHI YOSH HA RAH OF THE
CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND BUDGETARY ASSESSMENTS MAY KNOW MORE THAN ANY SCHOLAR IN THE WEST ABOUT CHINA'S NAVY.
>> CHINA WILL HAVE ABOUT 430 SHIPS BY 2030, AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON. >> WHY IS CHINA ABLE TO BUILD
MORE WARSHIPS MORE QUICKLY THAN THE U.S.? >> CHINA HAS CLEARLY INVESTED IN THIS DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE TO PRODUCE THESE SHIPS, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO PRODUCE MULTIPLE SHIPS SIMULTANEOUSLY, ESSENTIALLY
OUTBUILDING MANY OF THE WESTERN NAVIES COMBINED. >> CHINA'S NAVY PIGGYBACKS ON A BOOMING COMMERCIAL SHIPBUILDING
INDUSTRY, KEPT AFLOAT BY GENEROUS STATE SUBSIDIES, INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS, AND CHEAP LABOR.
IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. AFTER THE COLD WAR ENDED, THE SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY
CONSOLIDATED, AND MANY OF THE YARDS WHERE SHIPS WERE BOTH BUILT AND MAINTAINED CLOSED DOWN.
>> WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEE CHINA'S SHIPBUILDING PROGRAM? >> IT'S VERY ROBUST. >> DO WE HAVE ENOUGH SHIPYARDS?
>> NO. I WISH WE HAD MORE COMMERCIAL SHIPYARDS. WE'VE GONE FROM OVER 30
SHIPYARDS DOWN TO ABOUT SEVEN WE RELY ON TO BUILD SHIPS. >> ONE OF THOSE YARDS IS RUN BY HUNTINGTON INGLES INDUSTRIES,
WHICH BUILT THE -- AIRCRAFT CARRIER. AFTER CONTROLLED EXPLOSIONS IN 2021 TO PROVE IT COULD WITHSTAND
COMBAT, THE FOUR GOT CLOSER TO DEPLOYMENT SIX YEARS LATE AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET. THE NAY IVY IS NOT JUST STRUGGL
TO BUILD NEW SHIPS ON TIME. THERE'S A MULTIYEAR BACKLOG REPAIRING THE SHIPS IN THE FLEET.
>> OUR MAINTENANCE BACKLOG IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT I'M WORKING ON TO CORRECT. SO, JUST THREE YEARS AGO, WE HAD
7,700 DELAY DAYS. THAT IS EXTRA DAYS THE IN A SHIPYARD BY SHIPS WHEN THEY WEREN'T OPERATIONAL.
WE HAVE CUT THAT DOWN TO 3,000. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED. >> MAINTENANCE DELAYS MEAN SAILORS CAN'T COME HOME BECAUSE
THE SHIP THAT'S SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THEM IS NOT READY. IT MEANS LONGER DEPLOYMENT. IT MEANS AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY
MORE. THAT'S A BIG STRAIN ON THE WORK FORCE. >> THE MORE SHIPS THAT WE CAN
HAVE AVAILABLE TO SEND AT SEA ALLEVIATES MANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT YOU POINTED OUT. SAILORS JOIN THE NAVY TO SEE THE
WORLD. SO, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MAINTENANCE DELAYS GO TO ZERO AND WE CAN GET THOSE
SHIPS TO SEA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, AT LEAST TEN SAILORS ASSIGNED TO
SHIPS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE OR WORKING AT MAINTENANCE FACILITIES HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE. >> IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE
TAKING VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. AND DOWN TO EVERY LEADER IN OUR NAVY, EVERYBODY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK OUT FOR
EACH OTHER, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. THERE IS NO WRONG DOOR TO KNOCK ON WHEN YOU NEED HELP.
>> THE ADMIRAL SAYS THE U.S. NAVY'S MAIN ADVANTAGE OVER CHINA IS AMERICA'S SAILORS. HIS GOAL IS TO MODERNIZE THE
U.S. FLEET AND HAVE THOSE SAILORS SERVING ALONGSIDE HUNDREDS OF UNMANNED VESSELS BY 2025.
>> I THINK UNMANNED IS THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT SOME 40% OF OUR FLEET IN THE FUTURE, I BELIEVE,
IS GOING TO BE UNMANNED. >> ARE THESE, LIKE, UNDERWATER DRONES? >> SOME OF THEM ARE.
HIGHLY CAPABLE. CAPABLE OF DELIVERING MINES AND PERHAPS OTHER TYPES OF WEAPONS. >> HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE ORCA,
AN EXTRA LARGE, UNMANNED, UNDERSEA VEHICLE. >> CAN YOU SAY WHAT IT WILL DO, OR IS THAT CLASSIFIED?
>> AT A MINIMUM, IT WILL HAVE A CLANDESTINE MINE LAYING CAPABILITY. IT WILL BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S
VERY SECRETIVE BUT VERY EFFECTIVE. >> IT'S ALREADY A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS OVER BUDGET AND
THREE YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE. >> THAT PARTICULAR PLATFORM IS BEHIND SCHEDULE. IT'S THE FIRST OF A KIND.
WHEN IT DELIVERS I SEE A VERY HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM THAT PARTICULAR PLATFORM. >> BECAUSE?
>> BECAUSE IT WILL BE AMONG THE MOST LETHAL AND STEALTHY PLATFORMS IN THE ARSENAL OF THE U.S. MILITARY.
>> THE NAVY'S TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS OVER A QUARTER OF A TRILLION DOLLARS, AN $11 BILLION INCREASE
FROM LAST YEAR. THE FOCUS IS ON CHINA. >> THE U.S. DEFENSE POSTURE IS VIEWED AS AGGRESSIVE BY THE
CHINESE. THE FOREIGN MINISTER JUST SAID, LOOK, STOP THE CONTAINMENT. THIS MAY LEAD TO CONFLICT.
>> PERHAPS THE CHINESE MINISTER DOESN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE U.S. NAVY IS OPERATING IN COLLABORATION WITH DOZENS OF
NAVIES AROUND THE WORLD TO ENSURE THAT THE MARITIME COMMONS REMAINS FREE AND OPEN FOR ALL NATIONS.
THE CHINESE WANT TO DICTATE SO, THEY DON'T LIKE OUR PRESENCE. BUT OUR PRESENCE IS NOT INTENDED
TO BE PROVOCATIVE. IT'S INTENDED TO ASSURE, TO REASSURE, ALLIES AND PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD THAT THOSE SEA
LANES DO REMAIN OPEN. THE GLOBAL ECONOMY LITERALLY FLOATS ON SEAWATER.
>>> HOW SIMILAR IS THE MOVIE TO ACTUAL TOP GUN? >> TOP GUN GRADUATES COMPARE THE .
>>> TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU ONE OF THOSE ONLY IN AMERICA STORIES. BUT THIS ONE BEGINS AND ENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC. ROCCO KMIS SEW WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVES TO THE UNITED STATES FROM SOUTHERN
ITALY. WITH THE HUSTLE HE LEARNED ON THE STREETS OF THE BRONX AND EXCEPTIONAL TIMING, COMMISSO
BUILT A TV EMPIRE AND A NET WORTH OF $8 BILLION. SO, WHAT DID HE DO WITH HIS MADE IN THE USA FORTUNE?
ROCCO COMMISSO RETURNED TO THE LAND OF HIS BIRTH AND BOUGHT A PRO SOCCER TEAM. >> YOU DESCRIBED YOURSELF AS A
HUSTLER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. >> WELL, ALWAYS IN A GOOD SENSE OF A HUSTLER.
A HUSTLER IS NEVER, YOU KNOW -- HE TRIES TO FIND A WAY TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN OBJECTIVE. HUSTLE, HUSTLE.
DON'T GIVE UP. DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. >> I'VE HEARD THAT YOU HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR PEOPLE YOU CALL
SPINNERS. >> RIGHT. >> WHAT'S A SPINNER? >> A SPINNER IS A [ BLEEP ]
ARTIST. I KNOW PLENTY OF THOSE GUYS. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.
>> DID YOU LEARN THAT IN THE BRONX? >> NO, MY MOTHER GAVE IT TO ME WHEN I WAS BORN.
>> ROCCO COMMISSO DOESN'T SUFFER FOOLS. BUT LIKE MOST ITALIAN SOCCER FANS, HE'S DOES SUFFER.
THREE YEARS AGO, HE BOUGHT THE TEAM IN FLORENCE, WHERE GAME DAY IS FILLED WITH MORE AGONY AND ECSTASY THAN A -- OPERA.
WE WATCHED, AS THE CITY'S DIE HARD FANS ENDURED A COLLECTIVE 90-MINUTE LONG BREAKDOWN. >> I DON'T SPEAK ITALIAN, BUT I
THINK I KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. >> COMMISSO, WHO IS 73, KNOWS THEY FOLLOW HIS REACTIONS, SO HE
TRIES TO KEEP A POKER FACE, AS HE CHEWS NICOTINE GUM. >> HOW MANY OF THESE DO YOU GO THROUGH A GAME?
>> 15, 20. >> 15, 20. DEPENDS ON THE GAME, RIGHT? >> WHEN COMMISSO BOUGHT
FIORENTINA, IT TICKED TWO BOXES. FIRST THE $170 MILLION PRICE WAS A BARGAIN FOR A EUROPEAN CLUB. SECOND, IT MET THE DEMAND BY HIS
WIFE THAT IF HE INSISTED ON BUYING A TEAM, IT HAD TO BE SOME PLACE NICE. >> WHEN I LANDED IN FLORENCE,
OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT, THERE WERE A MASS OF PEOPLE THERE. AND THE FIRST WORDS THAT I USED --
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] -- WELCOME. OVER HERE, TITLES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T NEED TITLES. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME MR. JUST CALL ME ROCCO. AND TODAY THEY CALL ME ROCCO.
>> FIORENTINA, WHICH IS NICK NAMED THE PURPLE, HAS NOT WON A LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1969. THE FANS GOT SICK OF WAITING AND
RAN THE PREVIOUS OWNER OUT OF TOWN. >> THE FANS, FIRST THEY'RE EVER. BUT THEY COULD BE NASTY IF YOU
DON'T WIN. >> THE HIGHS ARE HIGH AND THE LOWS ARE LOW, IT SEEMS. >> RIGHT.
THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CRITICIZE AND KICK ME OUT, NO, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. ROCCO IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
>> HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT? >> FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S NOT BEEN ANYONE HERE THAT'S PUT IN THE MONEY I PUT IN A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME. I GO BACK TO -- FROM 500 YEARS AGO. IF I LOSE $500 MILLION OR
$400 MILLION, I'M NOT GOING TO GO WASH DISHES THE WAY I DID WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
COME NEXT. >> ROCCO COMMISSO'S JOURNEY TO THE OWNER'S BOX IN FLORENCE BEGAN HERE BY THE SUBWAY IN THE
BRONX. HIS FATHER, A CARPENTER, AND HIS OLDER BROTHER CAME TO THE U.S. IN THE '50s TO ESCAPE POVERTY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, THEY SENT FOR ROCCO, HIS MOTHER, AND TWO SISTERS. >> WHEN WE CAME IN '63, MY
BROTHER BUILT A HOUSE. GOD BLESS HIM. AND THIS WAS, LIKE, A LUXURY TO US.
AND WE LIVED UPSTAIRS ON THE SECOND FLOOR. >> COMMISSO'S ENGLISH WAS TERRIBLE, BUT HE PLAYED A MEAN
ACCORDION. SO, AT AGE 13, HE CUT HIS FIRST DEAL. ROCCO AGREED TO PERFORM FOR FREE
AT A BRONX THEATER IF THE MANAGER AGREED TO GET HIM IN THE CATHOLIC ALL BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL, NOW ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY.
IT IS STILL A LAUNCHING PAD FOR YOUNG MEN FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. >> EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT TAKEN
THE TEST TO GET IN, I ASKED THE MANAGER TO PLEASE SEND A RECOMMENDATION LETTER AND THEY DID AND THEY ADMITTED ME.
>> DID YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE ACCORDION? >> THEY DID NOT LET ME PLAY THE ACCORDION.
>> JUST ON YOUR ACCORDION SKILLS ALONE, YOU GOT ENTRANCE? >> I GOT LUCKY, OR HUSTLED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
>> HE KEPT HUSTLING. EVERY DAY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, HE WORKED AT HIS FAMILY'S LUNCHEONETTE.
>> I USED TO GET PAID $1 AN HOUR, AND I PAID FOR MY NOW, IT DIDN'T COST A LOT OF MONEY THEN, BUT IT WAS STILL
SOMETHING. >> COMMISSO WANTED TO BE AN ENGINEER. BUT $1 AN HOUR WASN'T GOING TO
PAY FOR COLLEGE. SO, COMMISSO HUNTED DOWN A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A SPORT HE ALWAYS LOVED, SOCCER.
NEVER MIND THAT HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIDN'T HAVE A TEAM AND HE'D NOT PLAYED MUCH SINCE COMING TO AMERICA.
>> AND SOMEHOW, YOU END UP WITH A SOCCER SCHOLARSHIP TO COLUMBIA. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
>> HUSTLE. I NEEDED MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL, SO I ASKED THE GYM TO TEACHER TO CALL THE NYU COACH.
HE PUTS ME IN THE LEAGUE, SEES ME PLAY SIX GAMES, SAYS, YEAH, I LIKE THE KID. THEY GAVE ME 50% SCHOLAR PSHIP.
BUT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. SO, I THEN CALLED THE GYM TEACHER, CALL THE COACH AT COLUMBIA NOW.
AND THE SPACE OF THREE TO FOUR WEEKS, THEY GAVE ME ADMISSION TO COLUMBIA AND A FULL SCHOLARSHIP. >> HAD THEY SEEN YOU PLAY?
>> NO. I ASKED THAT QUESTION AFTER THEY ADMITTED ME. I SAID, LET ME ASK YOU, YOU GIVE
ME ALL THIS MONEY, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME PLAY? THEY SAID, WELL, IF YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR NYU, YOU'RE GOOD
ENOUGH FOR COLUMBIA. >> HE BECAME CAPTAIN AND LED COLUMBIA TO ITS FIRST TOURNAMENT.
AFTER GRADUATION AND AN MBA, HE MADE HIS WAY TO WALL STREET. AT NIGHT, THOUGH, HE WAS HELPING HIS BROTHER RUN A DISCO.
RIVAL CLUBS PLAYED THE BEE GEES, BUT NOT COMMISSO. HE CHOSE TO PLAY POP MUSIC FROM ITALY.
>> I WAS REALLY INTO ITALIAN MUSIC AND CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA THAT BY SPECIALIZING IN SOMETHING, AS OPPOSED TO BEING
JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO WELL. AND NOBODY COULD TOUCH US. >> COMMISSO BECAME AN EXECUTIVE
IN THE CABLE TV INDUSTRY, JUST AS IT EXPLODED. THEN IN 1995, HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO START A BUSINESS HE
NAMED MEDIACOM. LIKE THE DISCO, HE DESIGNED A PLAN TO SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY OTHERS HAD MISSED.
>> IT WAS AN EIGHT-PAGE PAPER. I TALKED ABOUT WHAT I FORESEE IN TERMS OF THE CABLE BUSINESS. >> WHAT DID YOU FORESEE?
>> AND WHAT I FORESAW WAS THE FACT THAT SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO GET DEREGULATED AND THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
DO WELL IN THE SMALLER MARKETS OF THE U.S., RURAL MARKETS, LARGELY BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED THEM.
>> ROCCO COMMISSO BELIEVED THOSE SMALL MARKETS HAD BURIED TREASURE, 600,000 MILES OF CABLE USED TO CARRY COMPUTER DATA
THROUGH PLACES SUCH AS THE CORN BELT AND DEEP SOUTH. HE RISKED HIS LIFE SAVINGS TO BUY UP THE SMALL SYSTEMS.
AGAIN, TIMING AND LUCK WERE ON HIS SIDE. TODAY, MEDIACOM PROVIDES BROADBAND IN 22 STATES, AND
ROCCO COMMISSO'S NET WORTH IS $8 BILLION. IT'S A PRIVATE COMPANY. CATHERINE COMMISSO, ROCCO'S WIFE
OF 47 YEARS, WORKS THERE. SO DOES HIS SISTER, ITALIA, AND HIS SON, JOE, ON THE LEFT. OUTSIDE MEDIACOM HEADQUARTERS IN
UP STATE NEW YORK IS A BACHIE COURT. INSIDE, ESPRESSO FLOWS. HE HAD A STREAK OF 25 YEARS OF
PROFITS AND HAD NEVER LAID OFF WORKERS. >> I HAVE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE SAY, IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
IT'S BUSINESS. >> THAT'S CRAP. YOU KNOW? I THINK THE PERSONAL, FRANKLY,
HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHY COMPANIES FAIL OR SUCCEED. UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NO ONE LIKE ME IN OUR BUSINESS, AND I'M
TALKING ABOUT THE MEDIA, NEWSPAPERS. BUT I HATE TO DESTROY PEOPLE'S LIVES BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN
AND MAKE AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS. >> COMMISSO MADE A POINT TO US THAT HE DOES NOT OWN A YACHT, A
MANSION ON THE BEACH, OR A PRIVATE JET. OF COURSE, WE DID POINT OUT HE DID BUY AN ITALIAN SOCCER TEAM.
>> WHEN I CAME HERE, I USED THREE THINGS, FAST, FAST, FAST, THAT THE COST WILL BE OKAY, WITHIN MY MEANS, AND CONTROL,
CONTROL, CONTROL. I CONTROL OR NO MONEY FROM ROCCO. THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
>> WHAT'S HARDER, RUNNING A COMPANY LIKE MEDIACOM OR RUNNING -- >> THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
DIFFICULT. I GET MORE CRITICISM HERE THAN IN 1,500 COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. >> THE AMERICAN OWNER IS UNDER
RELENTLESS SCRUTINY BY FANS WHO DEMAND THAT HE SHELLS OUT WHATEVER IT COSTS TO BRING IN STARS AND END THEIR 50-YEAR
CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT. THEN THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN HE'S LOST IT WITH THE UNFORGIVING ITALIAN PRESS.
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT, WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?
>> NO. >> IT'S A LOT OF ACCUSATIONS. >> NO. I MADE THE DECISION, I'M GOING
TO STICK WITH IT. >> TRUE TO ROCCO'S WAY, HE'S PLAYING THE LONG GAME. BY SPENDING $100 MILLION ON
THIS. IT'S CALLED THE OLA PARK. THE COMMISSOS SHOWED US AROUND WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGEST
SOCCER FACILITIES IN EUROPE FOR DEVELOPING YOUNG MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS. BUT THIS IS ITALY.
>> YOU SEE THAT OPENING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE? WE HAD TO BREAK THE BUILDIG APART BECAUSE IT'S A ROMAN WALL
THERE. >> YOU HIT A ROMAN WALL? >> YEAH. WE HAD TO UNCOVER IT, COVER IT
UP, BUT WE COULD NOT BUILD ON TOP OF THE ROMAN WALL. >> DESPITE THE ODDS OF THE SEASON, COMMISSO STILL SEEMS TO
LOVE THIS BUSINESS. HE'S BECOME ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AMERICANS IN ITALY AND ADORES HIS PLAYERS, SOME WHO
LOOK LIKE MICHELANGELO HIMSELF MAY HAVE CARVED THEM OUT OF MARBLE. >> MY JOB IS TO HUG THEM, KISS
THEM, PUT MY ARMS AROUND THEM AND HOPE THEY DO BETTER NEXT TIME. >> NO TOUGH TALK?
>> NO, THEY GET THE MESSAGE INDIRECTLY THAT THINGS GOT TO CHANGE HERE. >> HOW DO THEY GET THE MESSAGE?
>> YOU KNOW, THEY GET THE MESSAGE. NEVER MIND. >> AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING IF
COMMISSO STILL PLAYS A MEAN ACCORDION, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER. ♪ OUR BUSINESS ENDED WITH DINNER
AND A SERENADE BY THE BILLIONAIRE FROM THE BRONX. >> DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD STAYED IN ITALY, YOU'D HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE TODAY? >> NO. NO WAY.
THIS IS TRULY THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. IT GAVE THIS POOR SOUL, OKAY, YEAH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME
SOMETHING, SOMEBODY. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY ABOUT AMERICA. >> YOU STILL BELIEVE IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM. >> ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. IT'S THE LAST HOPE IN THE WORLD.
MY MOM PROVIDED ME A PHENOMENAL EDUCATION -- >> ROCCO COMMISSO HAS GIVEN MILLIONS TO HIS ALMA MATERS AND
HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEARLY 3,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE U.S., INCLUDING MANY FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANTS LIKE HIM.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THE GUY THAT SUCCESS NEVER CHANGED HIM. >> JUST ROCCO.
>> JUST ROCCO.Y UNITED HEALTH CARE. GET MEDICARE WITH MORE. >> WHEN THE FDIC SEIZED SILICON
VALLEY BANK AND NEW YORK SIGNATURE BANK OVER LAST WEEKEND, IT WAS A REMINDER OF HOW FRAGILE OUR BANKING SYSTEM
CAN BE. 14 YEARS AGO, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GREAT RECESSION, WE WITNESSED HOW FAR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WILL GO TO PROTECT BAK DEPOSITORS. SCOTT PELLEY AND "60 MINUTES" FOLLOWED A FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE TEAM, LED BY CHERYL BASTE, AS THEY SEIZED AND REOPENED A FAILING ILLINOIS BANK OVERNIGHT.
>> WE HAVE ACCOUNTANTS. WE HAVE ASSET SPECIALISTS WHO SPECIALIZE IN LOANS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN
JUST THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES. AND WE HAVE A GROUP OF INVESTIGATORS THAT COME IN AND DO A REVIEW ON THE REASONS FOR
THE BANK FAILURE. >> REALLY YOUR WHOLE TEAM COULD COME IN AND RUN THE BANK? >> YES.
>> TO DEPOSITOR LOST A PENNY. THE FDIC SPENT THIS LAST WEEK LOOKING FOR BUYERS TO TAKE SILICON VALLEY AND SIGNATURE OFF
ITS HANDS.