Global Economic Crisis Threatens US Security

The global economic crisis is raising the threat to national security, the Washington Post reports. Experts and intelligence officials worry that mounting inflation and unemployment in Third World countries could spark radical movements and destabilize friendly governments. What’s more, strained budgets in the West mean less money to spend on the military and technology to counter the new threat.

Watchers look to Pakistan, which is faltering economically and already has the attention of the Taliban. Should radical Islamists come to power, the nuclear armed country could pose a grave threat. With China next door, forging an economy and military that are quickly catching up with the US, a new strategic picture quickly emerges, and intelligence officials hope they will have the funds to stay current. (More economic downturn stories.)