Friday, December 24, 2010

Hemispheric Defense

Watch Hugo Chavez very closely. He is going from plain buffoon dangerous only to his own people to dangerous buffoon who threatens the peace of the region with his de facto alliance with Iran:

Recent revelations about hostile incursions into South America have raised alarm in those who care about U.S. interests and security, particularly in America’s hemisphere. They have also raised questions about whether the Monroe Doctrine — America will tolerate no hostile incursions in her own hemisphere — is dead. These revelations have been, for the most part, ignored by those who care little for American sovereignty and security, such as the MSM and apparently the Obama administration.

Among the two most alarming revelations is the already completed sale and delivery, to Venezuela by Russia, of nearly 2,000 advanced, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles capable of hitting aircraft as high as 19,000 feet. Equally and perhaps more alarming is an October agreement between Iran and Venezuela. The agreement establishes a joint ground-to-ground missile base on Venezuelan soil and calls for the sharing of missile technology and the training of technicians and officers. In addition, Venezuela may use the missiles as it chooses for “national needs” and in case of “emergency.” Several types of missiles will be deployed, giving Venezuela the ability to strike targets throughout South and Central America and throughout the U.S.

Yes indeed. I was serious when I mentioned Monroe Doctrine implications a couple months ago. While we are focused on North Korea and Iran, with Afghanistan and Iraq trailing the pack, Venezuela could become the surprise crisis that calls for our immediate attention in the next several years.