[DakotaGator]

If you think I am off base, please let me know and I'll forget the whole thing!

No. You are correct.

This is a strategic beach-head in Communist China's plan of total warfare against the U.S. Another component is their already successful seizing of the Panama Canal and control of the Carribean.

Weep for the Republic.

[A Navy Vet]

I wouldn't weep just yet. Although I believe we should have maintained ownership of the Panama Canal since we built it, don't think for a moment the ChiComs control access to it. You can bet the CIA is down there to prevent sabotage, and our military would simply commandeer it if became neccessary.

[AmericanVictory]

You can add their ability to control Suez through their presence in the Sudan and their ability to control the Malaccan Straits through their co-operative relationships with pirates.