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I was in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1967 and was proud of it. I dedicated four years of my life to serving my country. I felt fortunate that I was never sent to Vietnam.

Vietnam was where the war was. 2,709,918 Americans served in the military in Vietnam during the war. At the peak, April 1969, there were 543,000 Americans in Vietnam. The United States suffered a loss of 58,281 dead, 47,434 from combat. A huge sacrifice by many Americans and their families.

The war ended in 1975. North and South Vietnam were reunified in 1976.

Major military involvement since Vietnam were the Gulf War (1990-1991), Iraq War (2003-2011) and Afghanistan War and Occupation (2001-2021). There was minor U.S. military involvement in most areas of the world but much of it involved the middle east and areas around Isreal.

Sometimes I feel America’s foreign policy is too focused on other places in the world and not enough in the Americas. The present crisis in the Ukraine is an example. The Biden administration and Congress have spent hundreds of billions supporting the Ukraine. It’s another war like Vietnam that America cannot win even though no U.S. military personnel are directly involved, just money and equipment.

One, it’s being fought in the Ukraine, not in Russia. Two, Russia can sit back and take their time because there’s little risk to Russia. Three, Russia doesn’t care about sanctions and what other people think. Four, Russia is willing to dedicate almost endless Russian forces, equipment, and airpower in the Ukraine to achieve their goals. I think it will eventually end with Russia gaining territory in the Ukraine.

Various areas of the Americas are being infiltrated by both China and Russia influence and not nearly enough attention is paid to them. The Panama Canal is an example.

In September 1977, President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera signed two treaties. The first declared the canal neutral and open to all vessels of all nations. The second provided for joint U.S./Panama control of the canal until Dec. 31, 1999 when Panama would and did take total control. The Panama Canal was a strategic economic and geographic asset to the United States.

Of the goods transiting the canal, over 60% originate or end up in U.S. markets. Access to the canal is a is a U.S. security and economic issue to America. During Covid, I had trouble getting toilet paper and paper towels. Imagine what the shutdown of the canal would do to the flow of supplies into our homes.

In 2017 Panama, severed ties with Taiwan and recognized China. Since then, there have been several infrastructure projects carried out by the Chinese including some that deal with the Panama Canal. In 2021, CK Hutchinson, a Hong Kong company, won a 25-year extension of management of two ports at the entrance to the canal.

China has been working to increase its influence in Panama and Latin America. A clear threat to the U.S. in my opinion. It’s part of a plan to gain global leadership over the United States.

I believe The U.S. needs to take Chinese influence in the Americas seriously. What do you think?

Al Klemm is a Washington resident and a former Beaufort County Commissioner.