Free Republic

The United States is strengthening its naval presence in the waters off Venezuela to counter threats posed by drug cartels. More than 4,000 personnel will be deployed to the area, amid growing tension between Washington and Caracas. The U.S. government has not indicated any intention of a land incursion into the South American nation. The news follows confirmation last week of three U.S. Aegis guided-missile destroyers being deployed to the waters. Then, more recently, Venezuela announced it would send military vessels to the Caribbean Sea and elsewhere to help combat drug trafficking. According to the U.S. Navy’s new chief of...

This weekend, the path of Erin is expected to pass north of the northern Leeward Islands, the NHC says. Impacts of the hurricane have already been felt throughout the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico but they are not expecting a direct hit. The Caribbean Islands should see about 2–4 inches through Sunday and totals could reach up to six inches. As for where the storm is likely headed, models are in agreement that Erin will turn north this weekend into early next week, staying well east of the U.S. But people on the East Coast of Florida...