Russia Threatens Military Response

from the July 08, 2008 eNews issue

The diplomatic relationship between Russia and the United States took a turn for the worse this week. At the center of the dispute is the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in Europe. The US claims it wants to place interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar site the Czech Republic to protect against attacks from rogue nations such as Iran. However Moscow believes the shield's true purpose is to undermine Russia's nuclear deterrent.

On Tuesday the US and the Czech Republic signed a deal to move forward with the project. The deal prompted immediate condemnation from Russia, which threatened to respond with military means. Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: "If a US strategic anti-missile shield is deployed near our borders, we will be forced to react not in a diplomatic fashion but with military resources." Russia also claims the proposed missile shield is a "threat to its national security."

Poland has yet to sign on to the deal and, according to a Pentagon spokesman, Russia's threat was no doubt meant to discourage Poland from participating in the missile shield. Perhaps even to pressure the Czech Republic to back out of the deal. If the shield is deployed, Russia has threatened to aim its missiles at various targets in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Russia's interactions with Europe and the US have been strained for some time. Last year Russia announced its withdrawal from a key treaty regulating conventional armed forces in Europe. Russia has also threatened to pull out of its 1987 treaty with the United States banning intermediate range nuclear forces.

In recent years Russia has implemented an ambitious plan to update and expand its military. Russian defense spending has been rising steadily, with the help of high energy prices and oil revenues. Russia is in the process of deploying new intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and possibly aircraft carriers. It's all part of a 189 billion dollar weapons modernization program.

Political friction building between Russia and the Western World, combined with increased tensions in the Middle East, indicate that the famed battle prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39 could be on our near horizon. It is during this battle, that God will directly intercede to protect Israel from Magog and its allies. To learn more about the Magog Invasion, click on the links below.