*
>>> WHAT ARE THE STAKES BETWEEN
THE U.S. AND CHINA RIGHT NOW?
THERE ARE A FEW PLACES BETTER
THAN THE WESTERN PACIFIC ONBOARD
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "USS
NIMITZ" TO FIND OUT.
>> IS THE U.S. NAVY READY?
>> WE ARE READY, YES.
I WILL NEVER ADMIT TO BEING
READY ENOUGH.
>> TONIGHT, THE COMMANDER OF THE
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET TALK
ABOUT THE STATE OF THE 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 HAS CHINA
BECOME IN THE AIR.
>> AGGRESSIVE.
>> IS IT YOUR HOPE THAT THE
POWER OF THE U.S. NAVY, THE
FORCE 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 ITALIA SOCCER
FANS, HE DOES SUFFER.
FOUR YEARS AGO HE BOUGHT THE
TEAM IN FLORENCE WHERE GAME DAY
IS FILLED WITH MORE AGONY AND
ECSTASY THAN A PUCCINI OPERA.
WHEN COMMISSO BOUGHT FC IF
IORENT INA, FIRST, IT WAS A
BARGAIN FOR A EUROPEAN CLUB AND
SECOND, IT MET THE DEMAND OF HIS
WIFE, THAT IF HE WAS TO BUY A
TEAM IT HAD TO BE SOME PLACE
NICE.
>> I'M LESLIE STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
>> I'M SHARON ALFONSI.
>> I'M NORAH O'DONNELL.
>> I'M
SECURE VICTORY IN TWO WORLD WARS
AND THE COLD WAR.
TODAY, THE NAVY REMAINS A
FORMIDABLE FIGHTING FORCE, BUT
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
GEO-POLITICAL 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, HOW IT'S TRYINGTO
DETER CHINA AND AS WE FIRST
REPORTED IN MARCH, PREPARING FOR
THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR.
>> 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 PAPARO
COMMANDS THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET
WHOSE 200 SHIPS AND 150,000
SAILORS AND CIVILIANS MAKE UP
60% OF THE ENTIRE U.S. NAVY.
WE MET HIM IN FEBRUARY 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.
>> IN MARCH, CHINA'S NEW FOREIGN
MINISTER, CHING GONG 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 PLABLATANT PROVOCATION.
THE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY
FIRED BALLISTIC MISSILES AND
ENCIRCLED THE ISLAND WITH
AIRCRAFT AND WAR SHIPS.
>> ARE CHINESE WAR SHIPS 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
JIN-PING HAS ORDERED THE
PEOPLE'S'S LIBERATION ARMY TO BE
PREPARED TO TAKE BACK THE ISLAND
BY FORCE BY 2027.
>> IF CHINA INVADES TAIWAN WHAT
WILL THE U.S. NAVY DO?
>> IT'S THE DECISION OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE DECISION OF THE CONGRESS
AND 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.
>> 604.
>> TO REACH THE "USS NIMITZ" WE
FIRST TRAVELED TO AMERICA'S
WESTERNMOST 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 IS TODAY.
FROM GUAM WE BOARDED THE NAMY
C-2 GREYHOUND.
A 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 SHORTER
LANDING.
>> INCREDIBLE.
>> FIRST LANDING?
>> YES.
>> VERY NICE.
>> BEFORE ADMIRAL PAPARO 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 SORTIES PER
DAY WITH ADDED SURGE LEVELS, THE
ABILITY TO DELIVER 900
PRECISION-GUIDED MUNITIONS EVERY
DAY AND RE-LOADABLE EVERY NIGHT.
>> 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, AND THEY
HAVE TWO OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT
CARRIERS RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S CHINA'S TWO
DIESEL-FUELED CARRIERS TO THE
U.S.' 11 NUCLEAR POWERED ONES
THAT CAN CARRY A TOTAL OF ABOUT
A THOUSAND ATTACK AIRCRAFT MORE
THAN THE NAVYS OF EVERY OTHER
NATION ON EARTH COMBINED.
>> I'LL TELL YOU THIS, WE ARE
HERE TO STAY, RIGHT?
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND IN
THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND
THAT'S THE MESSAGE 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 FA-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'RE
MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN A LOT
OF KEY AREAS.
>> THE CHINESE.
>> THE CHINESE ARE, FROM THE
MILITARY STANDPOINT.
>> THIS VIDEO FROM WEAPONS
SYSTEMS OFFICER LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER MATTHEW CARLTON SHOWS
HIS FA-18 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 ONBOARD TO THE AIR CREW OF
THE 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'S 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 FORGE CLOSER
MILITARY TIES TO THE U.S. AND
EARLIER THIS YEAR 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
CHINA'S 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 50% 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
CONTAINED?
ARE YOU EXPANDING?
ARE YOU AN EXPANSIONIST POWER?
TO A VERY GREAT EXTENT THE
UNITED STATES WAS THE CHAMPION
FOR CHINA'S RISE, 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 RE-WRITE 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 THE 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 AT 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 THE UNITED
STATES IS ALSO A WESTERN PACIFIC
NATION.
>> GUAM.
>> 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 ENHANCED,
THEIR POWER PROJECTION
CAPABILITY.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU WORRY THE PLA
ROCKET FORCE?
>> I WORRY ABOUT THE L.A. ROCKET
FORCE AND OF COURSE, I WORK
EVERY SINGLE DAY TO HAVE THE
PROCEDURES TO COUNTER IT AND TO
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE SYSTEMS
ITS THAT CAN ALSO DEFEND FROM
THAT.
>> HOW FAR ARE WE FROM CHINA?
>> 1500 NAUTICAL MILES.
>> THEY CAN HIT US.
>> YES, THEY CAN.
IF THEY HAVE 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.
>> U.S. NAVY PLANNERS AREN'T
JUST PLOTTING HOW TO EVADE
CHINA'S ROCKET FORCE, BUT ALSO
HOW THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY FIGHT
BACK.
FROM THE VICINITY OF GUAM, NONE
OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THIS SHIP HAS
THE RANGE TO APPROACH TAIWAN
WITHOUT REFUELING IN THE AIR.
SHIPS LIKE THE U.S. DESTROYER
WAYNE E. MEYER, PART OF THE
NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP, WOULD NEED
TO SAIL MUCH CLOSER TOWARDS
CHINA TO FIRE THEIR MISSILES AT
ANY FORCE INVADING TAIWAN.
ONE NAVAL SCHOLAR WE SPOKE TO
LIKENED 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
FOREIGN FIGHTER BY BEING ON
THEIR TOES, BY MANEUVERING AND
WE CAN 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 SUB FOR
SUBMARINE ON THE PLANET AND WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE VIRGINIA
CLASS, OUR NEWER CLASS OF
SUBMARINES.
>> THE EXACT NUMBER IS
CLASSIFIED AND OUR BEST ESTIMATE
IS THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN
FAST-ATTACK SUBMARINES
PATROLLING THE PACIFIC IN REAL
TIME AND THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO
DETECT, SOMETHING CHINA IS
TRYING TO SOLVE.
>> HOW MUCH MORE ADVANCE SIDE
U.S. SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY THAN
CHINESE CAPABILITY?
>> A GENERATION.
>> AND BY A GENERATION, THINK
TEN 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 BY
THE U.S. MILITARY TO KEEP THE
LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN,
EVEN WHEN A CHINESE SPY BALLOON
REACHED AMERICAN AIRSPACE AND
WAS SHOT DOWN BY THE U.S.
>> IF THE U.S. AND CHINESE
MILITARIES CAN'T COMMUNICATE
OVER A CHINESE SPY BALLOON, THEN
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN
THERE'S A REAL CRISIS IN THE
SOUTH CHINA SEA WITH TAIWAN?
>> WE'LL HOPE THAT THEY'LL
ANSWER THE PHONE.
OR ELSE WE'LL DO OUR VERY BEST
ASSESSMENT BASED ON THE THINGS
THAT THEY SAY IN OPEN SOURCE,
BASED ON THEIR BEHAVIOR TO
DIVINE THEIR INTENTIONS AND
WE'LL 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 TELLS "60 MINUTES" THAT
IF CHINA INVADED TAIWAN IT CAN
KICK OFF IN OUTER SPACE, WITH
BOTH SIDES TARGETING THE OTHER
SATELLITES THAT ENABLE
PRESIGSZ-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 AND
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 ARE
POTENTIALLY INCURRING.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT 5,000
AMERICANS ONBOARD THE NIMITZ.
THE SHIP IS NEARLY HALF A
CENTURY OLD, GIVEN THE NAVY'S
CURRENT NEED IN THE PACIFIC AND
BECAUSE THERE'S FUEL LEFT IN ITS
NUCLEAR REACTORS AND 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 COSTS TO ANYBODY
THAT WOULD UP END THE ORDER IN
VIOLATION OF THE NATION'S
SECURITY OR IN VIOLATION OF THE
NATION'S INTERESTS.
THE SAYING WHICH IS -- IN ONE
PIECE, PREPARE FOR WAR.
>> SINCE OUR STORY FIRST AIRED
IN MARCH, CHINA HAS INTENSIFIED
ITS AGGRESSIVE MILITARY TACTICS
IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC.
IN JUNE, A CHINESE WAR SHIP
NEARLY COLLIDED WITH A U.S.
DESTROYER IN THE TAIWAN STRAIT.
WHEN WE RETURN, CRITICAL
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE
U.S. NAVY AND ITS READINESS.
>>> "60 MINUTES" SPENT MONTHS
TALKING TO CURRENT AND FORMAL
NAVAL OFFICERS, MILITARY
STRATEGISTS AND POLITICIANS
ABOUT THE STATE OF THE U.S.
NAVY.
ONE COMMON THREAD IN OUR
REPORTING IS UNEASE, BOTH ABOUT
THE SIZE OF THE U.S. FLEET AND
ITS READINESS TO FIGHT.
THE NAVY SHIPS ARE BEING RETIRED
FASTER 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 FIRST ASKED THE
COMMANDER OF THE U.S. PACIFIC
FLEET ADMIRAL SAMUEL PAPARO
ABOUT THIS ON OUR VISIT EARLIER
THIS YEAR TO THE "USS NIMITZ,"
THE OLDEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN
THE NAVY.
>> WE CALL IT THE DECADE OF
CONCERN.
WE'VE SEEN A TENFOLD 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 LURIA SERVE
TOGETHER ON THE HOUSE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE U.S.
NAVY THAT HAS ALLOWED YOU TO
SHARE A COMMON CAUSE.
>> WE SEE THE URGENCY OF THE
MOMENT AND INCREASED THREATS
FROM CHINA IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.
WE FEEL WE'RE NOT MOVING FAST
ENOUGH TO BUILD A BIGGER NAVY.
>> CONGRESSMAN GAG GER IS A
MARINE VETERAN WHO REPRESENTS
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.
HE CHAIRS THE NEW HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON CHINA.
HE'S CONCERNED THAT UNDER THE
NAVY'S CURRENT PLAN, THE FLEET
WILL SHRINK TO ABOUT 280 SHIPS
BY 2027, THE SAME YEAR THE CIA
SAYS CHINA HAS SET FOR HAVING
THE CAPABILITY TO TAKE TAIWAN BY
FORCE.
>> SO WE'LL BE WEAKEST WHEN OUR
ENEMY IS POTENTIALLY STRONGEST.
>> CHINA'S INCREASED RHETORIC
AND POTENTIAL AGGRESSION AGAINST
TAIWAN, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO
RESPOND TODAY WITH THE FORCES WE
HAVE TODAY.
>> FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN ELAINE
LURIA REPRESENTED VIRGINIA BEACH
UNTIL THIS PAST JANUARY.
AN ANNAPOLIS GRADUATE, 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?
>> THINK THE NAVY HAS NOT
RECEIVED THE ATTENTION IN
RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS ON
DECADES.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SHIPS
WAS BUILT DURING OR A PRODUCT OF
THE FLEET 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.
>> IF WE DON'T GET THIS RIGHT
ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS WE'RE
DOING IN CONGRESS ULTIMATELY
MIGHT NOT MATTER.
>> IF YOU CONSIDER WHAT A
COHERENT GRAND POWER CHINA MIGHT
BE AND THE NAVY WOULD BE THE
MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF YOUR
HIGH-POWER INVESTMENTS.
>> OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES,
THE NAVY SPENT $55 BILLION ON
TWO INVESTMENTS THAT DID NOT PAN
OUT.
THE FIRST WAS A CLASS OF
DESTROYERS KNOWN AS THE ZOOM
WALT.
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 LITORO
COMBAT SHIP OR LCS, DESIGNED AS
AN ALL-PURPOSE WAR SHIP FOR
SHALLOW WATERS.
$30 BILLION LATER THE PROGRAM
RAN AGROUND AFTER STRUCTURAL
DEFECTS AND ENGINE TROUBLE.
WITHIN THE NAVY THE LCS EARNED
THE UNFORTUNATE NICKNAME LITTLE
CRAPPY 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 ASK
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ABSOLUTELY
NEED TO FIX GOING FORWARD.
>> THIS PAST MARCH WE SPOKE WITH
ADMIRAL MIKE GILDAY 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
EVER DID 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
CONVENTIONAL FORCES, BUT ALSO
THE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCES AND
THEIR CYBER CAPABILITY AND THEIR
SPACE CAPABILITY AND HOW THEY'RE
USING THAT TO FORCE OTHER
NATIONS, NAVYS 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 THE DESIGN WELL IN PLACE
BEFORE WE BEGIN BENDING METAL,
AND 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
SUSPICION.
>> TOSHI YOSHIHARA OF THE CENTER
FOR STRATEGIC OF BUDGETARY
ASSESSMENTS MAY KNOW MORE THAN
ANY SCHOLAR IN THE WEST ABOUT
CHINA'S NAVY.
>> CHINA WILL HAVE ABOUT 440
SHIPS BY 2030, AND THAT'S
ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON.
>> WHY IS CHINA ABLE TO BUILD
MORE WAR SHIPS 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
NAVES COMBINED.
>> CHINA'S NAVY PIGGYBACKS ON A
BOOMING COMMERCIAL SHIPBUILDING
INDUSTRY KEPT A FLOAT BY
GENEROUS STATE SUBSIDY,
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'D HAVE MORE COMMERCIAL
SHIPYARDS.
AND WE'RE NOW TO SEVEN THAT WE
RELY UPON ON A DAY TO DAY TO
BUILD SHIPS.
>> ONE OF THEM IS RUN BY
HUNTINGTON INGAL'S INDUSTRIES
WHICH BUILDS THE
STATE-OF-THE-ART AIRCRAFT
CARRIER.
AFTER A CONTROLLED EXPLOSIONS IN
2021 TO PROVE IT COULD WITHSTAND
COMBAT, THE FORD GOT CLOSER TO
DEPLOYMENT, SIX YEARS LATE AND
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET.
THE NAVY'S NOT JUST STRUGGLING
TO BUILD NEW SHIPS ON TIME.
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE OR GAO,
THERE'S A MULTI-YEAR 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
7700 DELAY DAYS, THAT IS EXTRA
DAYS 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 DEPLOYMENTS.
IT MEANS AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY
MORE.
THAT'S A BIG STRAIN ON THE
WORKFORCE.
>> 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, AND SO IT'S MY JOB TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MAINTENANCE
DELAY GOES 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 AND THERE IS NO WRONG DOOR
TO KNOCK ON WHEN YOU NEED HELP.
>> ADMIRAL GILDAY 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
2045.
>> I THINK UNMANNED IS THE
FUTURE, AND SO 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.
>> ADMIRAL GILDAY 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 ABILITY AND SO IT
WILL BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S
SECRETIVE AND THE GAO REPORTS
THAT IT'S ALREADY A QUARTER OF A
BILLION OVER BUDGET AND THREE
YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
THAT PARTICULAR PLATFORM IS
BEHIEBD SCHEDULE.
IT'S THE FIRST OF A KIND WHEN IT
DELIVERS ICA, VERY HIGH RETURN
ON INVESTMENT FROM THAT
PARTICULAR PLATFORM BECAUSE IT
IS 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
NAVYS AROUND THE WORLD TO ENSURE
THAT THE MARITIME COMMONS
REMAINS FREE AND OPEN FOR ALL
NATIONS.
THE CHINESE WANT TO DICTATE
THOSE TERMS, AND SO THEY DON'T
LIKE OUR PRESENCE, BUT OUR
PRESENCE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE
PROVOCATIVE.
IT'S INTENDED TO ASSURE AND TO
REASSURE ALLIES AND PARTNERS
AROUND THE WORLD THAT THOSE SEA
LANES DO REMAIN OPEN.
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY LITERALLY
FLOATS ON SEAWATER.
*
>> 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 COMMISSO WAS 12 YEARS OLD
WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVED TO THE
UNITED STATES FROM SOUTHERN
ITALY.
WITH THE HUSTLE HE LEARNED ON
THE STREETS OF THE BRONX AND
EXCEPTIONAL TIMING, COMMISSO
BUILT A CABLE 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 AS WE
REPORTED IN MARCH, HE BOUGHT A
PRO SOCCER TEAM.
>> YOU'VE DESCRIBED YOURSELF AS
A HUSTLER.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> WELL, ALWAYS IN THE GOOD
SENSE OF A HUSTLER BECAUSE IT
HAS A TERRIBLE SENSE, RIGHT?
A HUSTLER WILL ALWAYS TRY TO
FIND A WAY TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN
OBJECTIVE.
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 WHO
THE HELL I'M DEALING WITH.
>> DID YOU LEARN THAT IN THE
BRONX?
>> NO, MY MOTHER GAVE IT TO ME
WHEN I WAS BORN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> ROCCO COMMISSO DOESN'T SUFFER
FOOLS.
*
>> BUT LIKE MOST ITALIAN SOCCER
FANS --
>> OH!
>> HE DOES SUFFER.
FOUR YEARS AGO HE BOUGHT THE
TEAM IN FLORENCE WHERE GAME DAY
IS FILLED WITH MORE AGONY AND
ECSTASY THAN A PUCCINI OPERA.
[ CHEERING ]
>> WE WATCHED AS THE CITY'S DIE
HARD FANS CALLED TIFOSI 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 THE
TIFOSI, FOLLOW HIS REACTIONS.
SO HE TRIES TO KEEP A POKER FACE
AS HE CHEWS WADS OF NICOTINE
GUM.
>> HOW MANY OF THESE DO YOU GO
THROUGH A GAME?
>> 15, 20.
DEPENDS ON THE GAME, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
>> WHEN COMMISSO BOUGHT
FIORENTINA IT TOOK 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
CHIAMATEMI ROCCO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME
MISTER, JUST CALL ME ROCCO AND
TODAY THEY CALL ME ROCCO.
>> FIORENTINA, NICKNAMED LA
VIOLA, HAS NOT WON A
CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1969.
THE TIFOSI GOT SICK OF WAITING
AND RAN THE PREVIOUS OWNER OUT
OF TIME.
>> THE TIFO, THE FANS, FIRST,
THEY'RE EVERYTHING, BUT THEY
COULD BE NASTY IF YOU DON'T WIN.
>> THE HIGHS ARE HIGH AND THE
LOWS ARE LOW, IT SEEMS LIKE.
>> BUT THEY CAN'T KICK ROCCO OUT
OF HERE.
THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
CRITICIZE ME AND KICK ME OUT,
THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
>> HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT?
>> FIRST, THERE'S NOT BEEN
ANYBODY HERE THAT PUT IN MONEY
THAT I DID IN A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND I GO TO MEDICI.
IF I LOSE 100 MILLION I'M NOT
GOING TO WASH DISHES AGAIN.
WATCH OUT WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME UP
NEXT.
>> ROCCO COMMISSO'S JOURNEY TO
THE OWNER'S BOX 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 HERE IN '63 MY
BROTHER BOUGHT THE 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 HELPED GET HIM INTO THE
CATHOLIC ALL-BOYS HIGH SCHOOL,
MT. ST. MICHAEL ACADEMY.
IT IS STILL A LAUNCHING PAD FOR
YOUNG MEN FROM IMMIGRANT
FAMILIES.
>> EACH THOUGH I HAD NOT TAKEN
THE TEST TO GET IN, I ASKED THE
MANAGE TO
MANAGER TO PLEASE SEND A
RECOMMENDATION LETTER.
>> DID YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE
ACCORDION.
>> JUST ON YOUR ACCORDION SKILLS
ALONE YOU WERE GIVEN ENTRANCE?
>> I GOT LUCKY OR HUSTLE,
WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO CALL
IT.
>> HE KEPT HUSTLING, EVERY DAY
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL HE
WORKED AT HIS FAMILY'S
LUNCHEONETTE NEAR THE SUBWAY
STATION TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL
TUITION.
>> I USED TO GET PAID $1 AN HOUR
AND I PAID THE FOUR YEARS OF MT.
SAINT MICHAEL SCHOOLING.
IT DIDN'T COST A THE LO OF T OF
MONEY THEN, BUT IT WAS STILL
SOMETHING.
COMMISSO WANTED TO BE AN
ENGINEER, BUT A THERE ARE AN
HOUR WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR
COLLEGE AND HE HUNTED DOWN SPORT
HE ALWAYS LOVED, SOCCER AND
NEVER MIND THAT HIS HIGH SCHOOL
DIDN'T HAVE A TEAM AND HE HADN'T
PLAYED MUCH SINCE COMING TO
AMERICA.
>> 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 TEACHER TO
CALL THE NYU COACH.
THE NYU COACH PUT ME IN THE
AMERICAN-CZECHOSLOVAKIA TEAM AND
THE GERMAN-AMERICAN LEAGUE AND
SEES ME PLAY SIX GAMES AND SAID
YEAH, I LIKE THE KID AND LET ME
HELP HIM GET INTO NYU WHICH HE
DID AND THEY GAVE ME A 60%
SCHOLARSHIP, BUT THAT WAS NOT
ENOUGH AND I TOLD THE GYM
TEACHER CALL THE COACH AT
COLUMBIA NOW.
IN THE SPACE OF THREE TO FOUR
WEEKS THEY GAVE ME ADMISSIONS TO
COLUMBIA AND A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.
>> HAD THEY SEEN YOU PLAY?
>> NO.
I ASKED THAT QUESTION AFTER THEY
ADMITTED ME.
BUT LET ME ASK YOU, YOU GIVE ME
ALL THIS MONEY AND YOU DON'T SEE
ME PLAY?
IF YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR NYU,
YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR COLUMBIA.
>> COMMISSO BECAME TEAM CAPTAIN
AND LED COLUMBIA TO THE FIRST
NCAA TOURNAMENT AND AFTER THE
MBA HE MADE HIS WAY TO WALL
STREET.
AT NIGHT 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 THE IDEA
BY SPECIALIZING IN SOMETHING AS
OPPOSED TO BEING JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE, WE COULD DO WELL
AND NOBODY COULD TOUCH US IN
TERMS OF THE COMPETITION BECAUSE
NOBODY HAD IT.
>> 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
THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT I FORESEE
IN TERMS OF THE CABLE BUSINESS.
>> WHAT DID YOU FORESEE?
>> WHAT I FORE SAW IS SOONER OR
LATER WE WILL GET DEREGULATED
AND THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO DO WELL IN THE SMALLER
MARKETS OF THE U.S., THE RURAL
MARKETS, LARGELY BECAUSE NOBODY
WANTED THEM.
>> ROCCO COMMISSO BELIEVED THOSE
SMALL MARKET HIS 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 I TALIA AND HIS SON
JOE ON THE LEFT.
UPSTATE THERE'S A BOCCE COURT,
INSIDE,ES PRESSO FLOWS.
COMMISSO TOLD US HE HAD A STREAK
OF 25 YEARS OF PROFITS AND HAS
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 OR FORTUNATELY,
THERE'S NO ONE LIKE ME IN OUR
BUSINESS AND I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE MEDIA, NEWSPAPERS.
I HATE TO DESTROY PEOPLE'S LIVES
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO IN AND MAKE
AN EXTRA MILLION THERE ARES.
>> 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 HAD TO POINT OUT
HE DID BUY AN ITALIAN SOCCER
TEAM.
>> WHEN I CAME HERE I USED THREE
THINGS.
FAST, FAST, FAST AND IT WOULD BE
OKAY, AND 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 A SOCCER TEAM.
>> THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
DIFFICULT.
I GET MORE CRITICISM HERE THAN
IN 1500 COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S.
>> FORZA GRANDE FIORENTINA.
>> THE OWNER IS UNDER RELENTLESS
SCRUTINY BY FIORENTINA FANS THAT
DEMAND HE SHELL OUT WHATEVER IT
TAKES TO BRING IN STARS AND END
THE 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 AGGRAVATION.
>> NO.
I MADE THE DECISION AND I'LL
STICK WITH THE DECISION.
>> TRUE TO ROCCO'S WAY, HE'S
PLAYING THE LONG GAME BY
SPENDING $100 MILLION ON THIS.
IT'S CALLED VIOLA 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 THERE
WHERE YOU HAVE THE TWO "Vs"
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE?
YES.
>> WE HAD TO BREAK THE BUILDING
APART BECAUSE THERE WAS A ROMAN
WALL THERE.
BLOCKS.
>> STOP IT.
YOU HIT A ROMAN WALL?
>> WE HAD TO BREAK IT, COVER IT
UP AND WE BEING NOT BUILD OVER
THE ROMAN WALL.
>> ROCCO 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 AND MIGHT HAVE CARVED
HIM OUT OF MARBLE.
>> MY JOB IS TO HUG THEM, KISS
THEM AND PUT MY ARMS AROUND THEM
AND HOPE THEY DO BETTER THE NEXT
TIME.
>> THEY GET THE MESSAGE
INDIRECTLY THAT THINGS HAVE TO
CHANGE HERE.
>> HOW DO THEY GET THE MESSAGE?
>> THEY GET THE MESSAGE.
NEVER MIND.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING IF
COMMISSO STILL PLAYS A MEAN
ACCORDION, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER.
*
>> OUR VISIT TO FLORENCE 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.
THIS IS THE LAST HOPE IN THE
WORLD.
>> MY MOM PROVIDED ME A
PHENOMENAL EDUCATION.
>> ROCCO HAS GIVEN MILLIONS TO
HIS ALMA MATERS AND HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO SCHOLARSHIPS TO
3,000 CHILDREN ACROSS THE U.S.
INCLUDING MANY FIRST-GENERATION
IMMIGRANTS LIKE HIM.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE KNOWN AS
THE GUY THAT NOTHING, SUCCESS
NEVER CHANGED HIM.
>> JUST ROCCO.
>> MORE ON TONIGHT'S STORIES
INCLUDING --
>> HOW SIMILAR IS THE MOVIE TO
ACTUAL TOP GUN?
>> TOP GUN GRADUATES COMPARE THE
MOVIE TO THE REAL THING
.
>>