RUSSIA HAS A CAMEO APPEARANCE

IN BIBLE PROPHECY

 

Part XXII

Rise or Fall of American Empire?

 

By

Doug Krieger

 

While Barack Obama was vacationing in Hawaii, John McCain talked with the Columbia Law School educated president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and declared:

 

“Today we are all Georgians.”

 

McCain’s style was markedly different from the “moral neutrality” Obama expressed about the Caucasus crisis, prior to his inauguration at the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado. Then came the bravado from the Russians, and the put down from the Americans:

 

“Forget about Georgian sovereignty” – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

 

“Meaningless ‘bluster’” – US Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino.  (Bush Won’t Compromise on Georgian Sovereignty, BreitBart.com, August 14, 2008)

 

And, from the former satellites of the Soviet Union, now members of NATO:

 

“We, the leaders of the former captive nations from Eastern Europe and current members of the European Union and NATO– Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – are extremely concerned about the actions of the Russian Federation against Georgia.  We strongly condemn the actions by the Russian military forces against the sovereign and independent country of Georgia.” (Joint statement on Georgia-Russia War by Presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania, georgiandaily.com, August 9, 2008)

 

And in Prague, remembrance of the Soviet invasion during the Prague Spring of August 1968 brought this response from the Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg:  “It is a sad coincidence.”

 

But it was Ukraine’s Orange Revolutionary President, Viktor Yushchenko, who put the Russian Fleet ported in the Crimea on notice that they would not be allowed to use Ukrainian territory for their fleet if vessels were used to destroy Georgian independence – “If they put under question democracy and independence in Georgia, then they can undermine democracy and independence in other states,” he said.  His vehemence was all the more foreboding given the charge by Russia that Ukraine is supplying arms to the Georgians against the Russians.

 

At the same rally in Tbilisi, the Capital of Georgia, Premier Ivars Godmanis of Latvia said:

 

“Always be united, and we - Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Poles, and Ukrainians - will always be with you.”

 

Latvia has joined the United States in warning that relations with Russia are bound to suffer following the conflict.

 

 

IMPLICATIONS OF RUSSIA’S ACTION AND AMERICA’S STANCE

 

Before we delve into the morass of Gog and Magog (because of its alleged eschatological ties to the Caucasus and Russia), let us throw our geopolitical hat in the ring with the rest of the political pundits as to the implications of Russia’s agitation toward the West, the “New West” and the leadership of the West, the United States of America.

 

First of all, there appears to be no clear winners here: Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Ukraine, NATO and especially Poland who was told by Russia’s deputy Chief of General Staff that by signing their nuclear defense system pact with America, they now, as of August 15, 2008, are exposing themselves to nuclear attack by Russia!

 

But we need to understand the implications of the American-Polish agreement and just how far-reaching it is, because what is happening in the American-Polish relationship—in light of the Russian response to Georgia’s attempt to tame insurgents in South Ossetia, bringing them back under Tbilisi rule—juxtaposed to Russia-Georgia, is happening throughout all of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Russia.  Clear winners?  May I propose that America comes out smelling like a Rose (no pun intended relative to Georgia’s Rose Revolution).

 

“U.S. officials have said the timing of the deal (i.e., to deploy anti-missile systems in Poland and the Czech Republic to stave off missile attacks from rogue states like Iran) was not meant to antagonize Russian leaders at a time when relations already are strained over the recent fighting between Russia and Georgia over the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia.

 

“Russian forces went deep into Georgia in the fighting, raising wide concerns that Russia could be seeking to occupy parts of its small, pro-U.S. neighbor, which has vigorously lobbied to join NATO (because NATO membership demands if one member state is attacked, all must come to their defense—nor can they attack each other), or even to force its government to collapse.  Under the agreement that Warsaw and Washington reached Thursday, Poland will accept an American missile interceptor base.

 

“‘We have crossed the Rubicon,’ Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, referring to U.S. consent to Poland’s demands after more than 18 months of negotiations.

 

“Washington says the planned system, which is not yet operational, is needed to protect the U.S. and Europe from possible attacks by missile-armed ‘rogue states’ like Iran. The Kremlin, however, feels it is aimed at Russia’s missile force and warns it will worsen tensions.

 

“In an interview on Poland’s news channel TVN24, Tusk said the United States agreed to help augment Poland’s defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the Eastern European country.

 

“He said the deal also includes a ‘mutual commitment’ between the two nations to come to each other's assistance ‘in case of trouble.’  (Editor’s Note:  Poland will come to the assistance of the USA?)

 

“That clause appeared to be a direct reference to Russia.

 

“Poland has all along been guided by fears of a newly resurgent Russia, an anxiety that has intensified with Russia’s offensive in Georgia. In past days, Polish leaders said that fighting justified Poland’s demands that it get additional security guarantees from Washington in exchange for allowing the anti-missile base on its soil.” (Russia:  Poland Risks Attack Because of US Missiles, Jim Heintz, AP, August 15, 2008)

 

What Poland and the USA pulled off in the midst of the Russian-Georgian crisis is indicative of what is going to happen in the next months of the Bush Administration:  The utter isolation of the Russian Federation!  (See our article in this series entitled:  FROM TALLINN IN THE BALTIC TO TBILISI IN THE CAUCASUS….A Velvet Curtain with an Iron Fist has descended across the Continent)  Whatever card the USA wants to use from its loaded deck—e.g., disenfranchisement from the WTO; kicking Russia out of the G-8 to make it the G-7 again; and, most of all, immediate Membership Action Plans for Ukraine and Georgia, along with other former states once under domination of the “Evil Empire” (Moldova, Kosovo, etc.)—she is more than adroit in so doing. 

 

France and the effeminate Western Europeans who belong to NATO better think twice before they fool around with the notion that they can placate either Russia or America in this squabble of one-upmanship.  NATO’s promise to bring Ukraine and Georgia under her umbrella during the Bucharest Conference (April, 2008)—giving them the MAP (Membership Action Plan)—will (notwithstanding Germany’s failed attempt to galvanize NATO to keep Ukraine and Georgia off the “fast track-map”) accelerate as a result of the present duress taking place in Georgia.

 

The Polish-American agreement with the OVERT declaration that America will come (not just NATO will come) to Poland’s rescue if she faces “trouble” is precisely what the rest of Eastern Europe is about to do with the Russians—i.e., demand immediate entry into NATO and America’s protective umbrella; specifically, protection from Russia!

 

How interesting, scarcely four months after Bush met with Saakashvili in April, 2008, this original analysis was made:

 

“The country voiced ambitions to join NATO and other Western structures after the so-called Rose Revolution propelled Saakashvili to power in 2003.

 

“The two leaders also ‘talked about the need for there to be peaceful resolutions of conflicts while recognizing the territorial integrity and sovereign borders of Georgia,’ Bush said.  (The White House, March 2008)

 

This obvious allusion to rectify the breakaway issues facing Georgia in her “autonomous regions” has come full circle within four months!

 

A FOOLHEARTY ANALYSIS OF RUSSIAN CHESS

 

So, how does the “lion” view these proceedings?  Let’s see how the British press perceives these happenings—with acerbic comments interspersed throughout, because these Brits should know the Americans have a lot more “moves” that their Russian counterparts know not of, and, besides, this is a way of commentary to get the actual reality of what’s going on out there…these comments are taken from the August 14, 2008, article entitled Vladimir Putin's mastery checkmates the West - Russia has been biding its time, but its victory in Georgia has been brutal - and brilliant, by Michael Binyon in The Times of London:

 

“Nowhere was such taunting more wounding than in Ukraine and Georgia, two countries long part of the Russian Empire, whose history, religion and culture were so intertwined with Russia’s. Moscow tried, disastrously, to check Western, and particularly American, influence in Ukraine. The clumsy meddling led to the Orange Revolution.

 

“Georgia was a different matter. Relations were always mercurial, but Eduard Shevardnadze, the wily former Soviet Foreign Minister, knew how to keep atavistic animosities in check. Not so his brash successor, Mikheil Saakashvili. From then on, hubris was Tbilisi’s undoing.

 

(Editor’s Note:  It is NOT Tbilisi’s undoing—it is a masterful stroke on the part of Georgia to picture herself as the victim of Russia aggression and MAP her quest for NATO entry!)

 

“It was not simply the dismissive rhetoric, the open door to US advisers or the economic illiteracy in forgetting dependence on Russian energy and remittance from across the border; it was the determined attempt to make Georgia a US regional ally and outpost of US influence.

 

(Editor’s Note:  Which is precisely what will happen—Georgia has de facto become a US base of operations in the region.  The US and her reluctant NATO allies have no intention of cutting off the oil pipeline from the Caspian.)

 

“Big powers do not like other big powers poaching. This may not be moral or fair but it is reality, and one that underpins the Security Council veto. The Monroe Doctrine – ‘hands off the Americas’ - has been policy in Washington for 200 years. The US is ready to risk war to keep out not only other powers but hostile ideologies - in Cuba and Nicaragua.

 

“Vladimir Putin lost several pawns on the chessboard - Kosovo, Iraq, NATO membership for the Baltic states, US renunciation of the ABM treaty, US missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic. But he waited.

 

“The trap was set in Georgia. When President Saakashvili blundered into South Ossetia, sending in an army to shell, kill and maim on a vicious scale (against US advice and his promised word), Russia was waiting.”

 

(Editor’s Note:  Saakashvili is no dummy—he knew exactly what he was doing by going into south Ossetia and igniting America’s ultimate outrage over Russia’s predictable reactions.)

 

“It was not only Mr. Saakashvili who thought that he had the distraction of the Olympics to cover him; the Kremlin also knew that Mr. Bush was watching basketball, and, in the longer term, that the US army was fully engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. From the day that the Russian tank brigade raced through the tunnel into South Ossetia, Russia has not made one wrong move. Mr. Bush's remarks yesterday notwithstanding, In five days it turned an overreaching blunder by a Western-backed opponent into a devastating exposure of Western impotence, dithering and double standards on respecting national sovereignty (viz Iraq).

 

(Editor’s Note:  The assertion that “Russian has not made one wrong move” is ludicrous—her entire posture throughout this whole affair has and will continue to isolate her from the West as never before.  She overreacted and that is precisely what Georgia and America wanted and got!  The British liberals are just sore over Washington’s ability to knock off one sovereign regime after another—at will, no less.)

 

“The attack was short, sharp and deadly - enough to send the Georgians fleeing in humiliating panic, their rout captured by global television. The destruction was enough to hurt, but not so much that the world would be roused in fury. The timing of the ceasefire was precise: just hours before President Sarkozy could voice Western anger. Moscow made clear that it retained the initiative. And despite sporadic breaches - on both sides - Russia has blunted Georgian charges that this is a war of annihilation.”

 

(Editor’s Note:  Wrong again – who cares about “the world would be roused in fury?”  The only ones who need to get roused are the Eastern Europeans and they are, trust me, utterly “roused to fury!” – and who says there’s a cease fire – as if timing were everything; the Russians continue their intrusiveness, just like Georgia and the USA figured—falling right into their geopolitical configurations.)

 

“Moscow can also counter Georgian PR, the last weapon left to Tbilisi. Human rights? Look at what Georgia has done in South Ossetia (and also in Abkhazia). National sovereignty?  Look at the detachment of Kosovo from Serbia. False pretexts? Look at Ronald Reagan's invasion of Grenada to ‘rescue’ US medical students. Western outrage? Look at the confused cacophony.”

 

(Editor’s Note:  No, Moscow cannot counter Georgian PR.  The ponderous bear is romping all over the place—by the time it’s over, what Georgia did in South Ossetia and Abkhazia will look like tiddlywinks compared to the mauling of the bear.  The Americans are masters at false pretext—the Russians have fallen totally into the trap of their own undoing and like someone running through razor blades which cut so fine, they don’t even know they’re bleeding to death, the cuts are oh so fine!)

 

“There are lessons everywhere. To the former Soviet republics - remember your geography. To NATO - do you still want to incorporate Caucasian vendettas into your alliance? To Tbilisi - do you want to keep a President who brought this on you? To Washington - does Russia's voice still count for nothing? Like it or not, it counts for a lot.”

 

(Editor’s Note:  Yes, lessons everywhere.  The Eastern Europeans most definitely know their geography.  They will now, more so than ever before, demand, and will receive fast track incorporation into NATO’s defense umbrella, notwithstanding Germany’s reluctance.  Hey, Russia needs the American dollar; therefore, the oil revenues will keep flowing—trust me.  But the biggest losers here are the Russians.  And, you know, the bear actually tried to responsibly respond to Georgia’s efforts to reel in her autonomous regions—but they did a miserable PR of it!)

 

It appears that the following analysis and comments are, in point of geopolitical fact, the reality of America’s accomplishment:

 

“That (the agreement to base nuclear deterrence in Poland) is sure to further antagonize Russia. But the U.S. wants to be careful to alienate Moscow and drive Russian leaders away from further integration with the West.

 

“‘Russia's actions in Georgia raise serious questions about its role and its intentions in the Europe of the 21st century,’ Bush said in his Saturday (August 16, 2008) radio address.

 

‘In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, and security structures of the West. The United States has supported those efforts. Now Russia has put its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions.

 

‘To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must act to end this crisis.’” (Bush warns Russia over disputed Georgian provinces, Deb Riechmann, AP, August 16, 2008)

 

MEMBERSHIP ACTION PLANS ARE ON THE MOVE!

 

The expanse of the NATO umbrella, led by the USA, is altogether obvious – and, in light of Russia’s reaction to Georgia’s efforts to reassert her influence over her territorial insubordinates, all the more rapid in its embrace of the client states of the former Soviet Union.  Those former satellite states who are the most vulnerable to Russia’s embrace (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina and even Serbia) will find it mandatory to accelerate their move (MAP) toward NATO’s full integration with full and uncompromising USA support. 

 

Individual Partnership Action Plans:

 

Launched at the November 2002 Prague Summit, Individual Partnership Action Plans (IPAPs) are open to countries that have the political will and ability to deepen their relationship with NATO.[40]

 

Currently IPAPs are in implementation with the following countries:

It can be clearly seen that Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina – along with Kosovo and Macedonia (FYROM) have the ultimate intention of joining NATO and even Japan has signaled her interest; furthermore, it is not out of the question that Serbia will join the Western Alliance of nations (Note:  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia have already joined the NATO Partnership for Peace.).  The full composition of NATO is about to equate to as many nations of the “Old NATO” as will comprise the “New NATO” (i.e., the number of Central/Eastern European members will equal the number of NATO membership prior to the end of the Cold War).

 

Russia’s reassertion of her dominant role in Eastern Europe and influence upon her former satellites will be more than countered by NATO, led by the USA.  NATO currently has 28 member states.  Shortly, very shortly, Macedonia (probably with a different name), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia-Montenegro, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Armenia will be added, along with Japan, making a total of 38 member states.  Already the number of member states of the former “Evil Empire” now a part of NATO total some 12  (Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) with the addition of the other former republics under Soviet domination (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia-Montenegro, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Armenia – 8) that total will be at least 20 (equaling 34) and exceed the original number of member states, 14; therefore, 14 vs. 20!  Frankly, this is amazing.

 

America’s designs to wholly isolate Russia are nearly complete.  Likewise, the “STANS” are increasingly separated from Mother Russia by a host of arrangements encouraged by the US State Department, as well as economic and other nationalist priorities (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan) – as long as America is deeply entrenched in Afghanistan and Iraq, she will NOT let go of her interests in the STANS.

 

 

Continue to part 2