By Jayvee Vallejera   The 360-degree missile defense shield intended to protect Guam is still nearly a decade away from completion. And as the Middle East conflict now shows, the presence of U.S. bases, instead of protecting allies, actually paints a giant X-mark on their backs that attracts missile and drone attacks. This makes Guam vulnerable should war break out in the Indo-Pacific region now. With China and North Korea ratcheting up tensions in this part of the world, ima

 While assuring Guam residents that there is no specific threat to the island at this time, the Joint Region Marianas and the Guam National Guard have raised the alert level following the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and retaliatory activity in the Middle East.

Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio did not mince words in his meeting this week with visiting Department of the Interior officials, telling them that Guam opposes any proposal to shortcut the permitting process for seabed mining in the region.