Triggers to Armageddon: conflict tension points around the world increasing

June 12, 2011 – MOSCOW – Russia is voicing concern about a U.S. warship now just off its shores in the Black Sea. The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey, which is taking part in annual joint military exercises conducted by NATO and Ukraine, is an integral part of U.S. plans to create a missile shield in Europe, which Russia opposes.Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Sunday saying Russia “has repeatedly stressed that we will not leave unnoticed any elements of U.S. strategic infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of our borders and will consider any such steps as a threat to our security.” Russia agreed to consider NATO’s proposal last fall to cooperate on the missile shield, but insisted the system be run jointly. NATO rejected that demand and no compromise has been found yet. –Las Vegas Sun

Middle East: Iran has sent submarines to the Red Sea in the first such deployment by the country’s navy in distant waters, a semi-official news agency reported on Tuesday. The deployment reflects Iran’s efforts to show off its naval power. Iran has long sought to upgrade its air defense systems and navy to portray itself as a regional military superpower, as well as prepare for any possible future attacks against the country, saying they would most likely be air and sea-based. The Fars news agency, which is close to Iranian military officials, said the submarines would collect data in international waters and identify warships of other countries. The report quoted an unnamed government official as saying the submarines accompanied Iranian warships on an anti-piracy route in the Gulf of Aden before they moved into the Red Sea earlier this month. Fars gave no details on the number or capabilities of the submarines. Iran has long had three Russian-made submarines and last year, four new small Iranian-built submarines were delivered to its navy. The four were said to be Ghadir class submarines, which can fire missiles and torpedoes and at the same time are capable of cruising in shallow waters, such as those of the Persian Gulf off the Iranian coast. Earlier this year, two Iranian warships shuttled in a naval visit to Syria. The move prompted an outcry by Israel, which considers Iran an existential threat because of its nuclear program, its calls for Israel’s destruction and its support for the Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah militants. –Las Vegas Sun

ASIA: New Delhi,  IRNA — India’s Defense Minister, A K Antony voiced concern over the ‘danger and threat’ of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of terrorists and said it is closely monitoring the situation in the neighborhood. ‘Our only worry is that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is always in danger and threat of going into the hands of militants and terrorists…. We are closely monitoring the happenings around us,’ Antony said Friday when asked about American media reports on Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile. ‘We know Pakistan is strengthening its nuclear arsenal. We are taking care of it. We are not unduly worried as we are capable against any threat,’ Antony told reporters.  -Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA