Iran threatens America and Israel:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,377626,00.html

Russia threatens America over Czech relations:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,378065,00.html

Maybe I’m clairvoyant! I wrote the following commentary for my high school newspaper in November 2007:

Ask a random person on the street what the greatest threat to our National Security is, and you’ll probably get quite a few different answers. One person will say it’s al-Quaeda, another might claim that it’s global warming, and an uninformed, sarcastic individual may use the opportunity to snipe at President Bush.

Less than 20 years ago, the answer to that question would have most certainly been “Russia.” It’s frightening to think that within our lifetime, the greatest threat to National Security may once again very well be “Russia,” at least in part.

Three out of four of the world’s largest oil powers are linked together, and are a big part of what’s keeping Americans crying at the gas pump. According to CNN, these countries are Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. Two of these countries are ruled by totalitarian dictators, and the third is led by an ex-KGB agent whose record is shaky, at best.* These countries are entering into territory that Americans should be skeptical of, if not genuinely afraid of.

Iran is supplying the terrorists who we’re fighting in Iraq, and they are very chummy with Russia and Venezuela. Iranian Prime Minister Mahmoud Ahmadinejad consistently welcomes Russian and Venezuelan leaders with open arms. The question is: why would these leaders want to be welcomed by the Holocaust-denying leader of a corrupt government whose stated mission is to wipe Israel and “infidels,” read: Americans, off the face of the map? This man is an Islamic extremist version of Hitler. Americans should be alarmed by this man’s power alone, but combining him with a communist dictator and a declining Russia is terrifying.

Venezuela is the biggest oil supplier in our hemisphere, and their leader has been quoted numerous times verbally assaulting America. Their cooperation with Iran casts a frightening shadow of nuclear armament mixed with oil powers, which could be detrimental to American well-being. We can’t defend ourselves if the enemy has our biggest fuel source in its pocket. According to the BBC, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wants an arms deal with Russia. This feels a little bit too much like the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis for my liking.

Russia is thankfully not the danger that it once was, but very soon, it may regain its seat as a major threat to the United States. By backing both Iran and Venezuela in the UN, and paying them financial tribute, they may be moving in a dangerous direction. Additionally, the Russians have recently socialized their country’s biggest business: oil. President Putin* has done an alarmingly good job of reinstating policies of the USSR and socializing businesses that start to get too big, in other words: successful. He’s letting Russia’s private sector do the work of rebuilding profit capabilities, and then scooping up the industries to reap the rewards.

The three nations have constructed a joint compound in Venezuela. And because of Russia’s place on the UN Security Council, it’s impossible to be certain of what’s going on down there. Americans should be concerned with that base, but, understandably, our focus is on the two wars we are currently engaged in, not one that most people think “may come in the future.” Sorry friends, the future is now.

Only small margins of Americans refuse to acknowledge that we are currently, for all intents and purposes, at war with Iran. We know that Iranian money and armament are keeping insurgents and terrorists going in Iraq. American agents from the NSA and CIA have found Iranian markings on weapons and missiles confiscated from insurgents. We know that Iran is developing a nuclear program. America has been trying to reason with Ahmadinejad about abandoning the program for quite a while now. We know that Russia has made “unspecified proposals” regarding Iran’s nuclear program. We know that both countries are friendly with Hugo Chavez, the communist oil tyrant that runs Citgo and hates America (nice combo). And we know that the three countries have something going on in Venezuela.

Between these countries’ secrecy in dealings and their sketchy backgrounds, Americans should be vigilant. There may be no threat at all. That’s a definite possibility, but we need to have a healthy respect for what these countries may be capable of, even if we need not fear them…yet.**

*Note: President Putin is no longer the Russian President. He is now Chairman of the United Russia political party, as well as Prime Minister of Russia. His successor is current President Dmitry Medvedev.

**Note 2: We do, indeed, need to have a healthy respect for the danger that these countries pose to America and Her allies. World War III is likely around the corner, and its centerpieces will be Middle East relations and oil, compounded by hostilities with Russia.