Strategic Trends by Chuck Missler
Strategic Trends: Year in Review
from the December 26, 2006 eNews issue
Throughout the year we have been monitoring ten specific global, social, political, and economic trends that we believe are significant to our nation, as well as the Body of Christ. We regularly examine these Strategic Trends on our website and in our various publications. Today we would like to briefly review each of these trends and take a look back over some of 2006’s major milestones.Weapons ProliferationThe acquisition of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons by both terrorists and rogue nations is perhaps one of the greatest threats to our national security. This past year the international community has focused its attention on Iran and North Korea in their attempts to stifle weapons proliferation. US intelligence officials have also kept a close watch on Russia and China, key suppliers of technology, components, and weaponry.This past year Iran’s uranium enrichment program has continued to be the subject of intense international scrutiny. Iran’s president has boasted that his country will have obtained full nuclear capabilities by March. He also vowed to install up to 60,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium. With troops already deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Bush appears - at least for the time being - to be committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff. Some experts have speculated that Israel may be planning a pre-emptive strike, although military action would most likely be used as a last resort. In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor when it believed Saddam Hussein was close to producing a nuclear bomb. If Israel does attack Iran it would undoubtedly bring about a firestorm in the Middle East. Unfortunately we are running out of time, and neither Israel nor the United States are willing to accept the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran. If diplomacy continues to fail, military action may be our only option.On October 9th, 2006, North Korea carried out its first-ever nuclear weapons test - officially joining the nuclear club. Experts suspect that North Korea currently possesses between six and eight nuclear weapons. However a June report from the Institute for Science and International Security said North Korea had enough radioactive material to build as many as 13 bombs. North Korea is the most unstable member of the nuclear club, and experts have expressed fear that the test may trigger an Asian arms race.
The Rise of the Far East
The geopolitical situation in Asia has grown increasingly unstable. At the same time, China has significantly increased military spending. China’s military buildup seems specifically designed to fit a conflict scenario involving US air and naval forces. The Chinese military is preparing for a war with the United States, a war which its commanders believe is inevitable. Recently US defense officials revealed that a Chinese diesel-powered attack submarine came within firing range of US naval ships without being noticed. According to the Washington Times, a submarine tailed the USS Kitty Hawk undetected, surfacing within five miles of the aircraft carrier before being spotted during surveillance flights.
In November China’s foreign currency reserves passed the 1 trillion dollar mark - setting a new record for the world’s largest currency reserves and sparking a debate over China’s economic policies. China’s currency reserves have been growing at a rate of nearly 30 million dollars per hour - fueled primarily by its large trade surplus, which tripled last year to 102 billion dollars. China’s red hot economy has been growing even faster than analysts predicted. The Chinese economy is now expected to grow by more than 10 percent this year.
The Struggle for Jerusalem
