Boiling Point!

Today’s World Hot spots!

Right off the get go here is a list of potential boiling points.

1. North and South Korea- The last 60 years are riddled with weapons exchanges between the two countries, but the recent request by the North to declare a formal cease fire is at odds with the latest show of force. 

Washington Times article

2. Iran/ Persian Gulf region- The recent comments by the Iranian government is forcing the West to be cautious.

Wall Street Journal article

3. Taiwanese/Chinese strait- This long lasting standoff continues to heat up despite normalizing relations.

China Post article

4. Venezuela and Columbia- Tensions continue to rise as Ven. Pres. Hugo Chavez continues to increase military spending while decimating the countries free market system.

Arms Control article

5. Afghanistan and Iraq theaters- Afghanistan is ramping up with a slow influx of new soldiers as Iraq seems to be leaving the prying eyes of the media.

L.A. Times article

     These locations on the globe are hotspots that I consider to be important to the American people. Of course it is always necessary to keep in mind the efforts of the soldiers in the Middle Eastern Theaters but also remember that we have installations all over the world. It is crucial to know that our enemies have thousands of weapons with our troops in their cross-hairs in  many of the above locations. 

     For example the North Koreans have had 60+ years to reinforce the DMZ and zero in long standing Coalition military installations in the South. In Iran the Revolutionary Guard has been relentless at gathering intel on American troop strengths and locations through their well funded Iraqi insurgency forces while at the same time advancing their guided and unguided missile programs. 

     The American service men and women serving in these locations are under constant threat. The Chinese threat is clear as their advancements in military spending and their ever shrinking military gap with the United States is front page news. 

     Hugo Chavez is in the American sphere of influence, and in our backyard. To have a rogue Marxist destabilizing an allied country in Columbia is a direct threat to the interests of the United States. In this theater we are watching what JFK and others feared when they witnessed Castro taking control of Cuba. A communist domino effect nearly 60 years in the making and in America's backyard. American foreign policy makers will have to decide if standing by and waiting for Chavez to topple himself is the best path, or if a little American aid can hasten the goal. Either way a Venezuela with Hugo Chavez at the helm is a threat to the region.

     Do some research into any given theater and add your comments on the situation. If there is a theater unmentioned that you think deserves to be, add it to the list. Be sure to attach a link that will reinforce your position.

God bless