Communist Bloc Military Updates: Russia, Venezuela to hold joint air force drills in 2009, Cuba to join GLONASS, Libya offers base to Russian Navy

- Red Dawn Scenario Continues to Unfold in Latin America as Neo-Soviet Russia Advances Military Cooperation with Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua

- Moscow Reactivates Military Cooperation with Communist Vietnam and Socialist Libya as Qaddafi Seeks to Improve Tripoli's Security "Against Any Possible US Attack"

- Nicaragua and Belarus Advance Bilateral Relations, Ortega to Visit Russia, Belarus in Near Future, Lukashenko to Reciprocate with Trip to Central America

- US National Security in Peril as Kremlin-Endorsed Far-Left Democratic Presidential Candidate Obama Appears Likely to Win Election

- New Exclusive Feature Linked Above and in This Blog's Right Column: Map of Neo-Soviet Military Influence Worldwide 2008

The USA's position of strategic dominance in the world, established after the Second World War, has entered a period of uncertainty and likely demise in view of neo-Soviet Russia's revitalized influence in Latin America--historically countered by an application of the Monroe and Reagan Doctrines--the ongoing collapse of the US financial system, and the probable triumph of the communist-infiltrated Democratic Party in the November 4 presidential election. The convergence of these factors is not accidental but, rather, represents a patient strategy carried out over many decades by the Moscow Leninists and, in many cases unwittingly, by leftist allies and "useful idiots" in the West. Where alleged KGB asset Bill Clinton failed to hand over the keys to the White House, so to speak, to the Soviets in the 1990s, an Obama presidency may be unable and unwilling to resist demands by the United Nations to enfeeble the USA.

On the seventh anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks, Russia deployed two supersonic Tu-160 heavy bombers to Venezuela, a move unprecedented since the Cold War. There the flight crews conducted a week of patrols over the Caribbean Sea and basked in the attention heaped on them by the South American country's gloating communist dictator Hugo Chavez. Between November 10 and 14 the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Peter the Great and support ships will hold joint drills with Chavez's navy in the region. Previous news reports indicated that Russian bombers would join this naval maneuver in the Caribbean, but according to the Kremlin media it appears that they will in fact return to Venezuela in 2009. At this time the Russian Air Force will hold joint exercises with Chavez's air force, recently stocked with Russian warplanes, and simulate an air attack against a mock enemy (meaning the USA).

The Moscow Leninists are feigning innocence under accusations of plotting to attack the USA. "I do not know how such conclusions are drawn," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stammered. "Neither Russia nor Venezuela have any plans to attack anyone. Russia and Venezuela enjoy cooperation basing on the norms of international law." Sure, Comrade Sergei, whatever you say.

Russia, Venezuela to hold joint air force drills in 2009
11:25 31/ 10/ 2008

BUENOS AIRES, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela and Russia are planning to conduct joint air force exercises in 2009, the Venezuelan air force chief has said.

"Joint Russian-Venezuelan air force drills have been planned for next year. We could have participated in joint naval exercises due in November if they included a simulated air attack, but this has not been included in the plans so far," Luis Acosta was quoted as saying by the Venezuelan Ministry of Communications and Information on its website.

Two Russian strategic bombers recently carried out patrols along the coast of South America during a visit to Venezuela and a naval task force led by the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy is on its way to the country for joint exercises in the Caribbean in November.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in mid-August that the Bush administration was unhappy with flights by Russian strategic bombers near U.S. borders and accused Moscow of playing a "dangerous game."

However, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov subsequently denied Western media reports that military cooperation between Russia and Venezuela was aimed against the United States.

"I do not know how such conclusions are drawn. Neither Russia nor Venezuela have any plans to attack anyone. Russia and Venezuela enjoy cooperation basing on the norms of international law," Lavrov said.

To the north, across the waters of the Caribbean, a Russian military delegation, under the leadership of General Alexander Maslov, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Battle Antimissile Defense Staff, has been checking out the state of Cuba's air defense system. General Maslov is slated to finish his review of the communist state's defense preparedness on November 3. Accompanying the general, reports Novosti, is Communications Minister Igor Shchegolev, who has extended an invitation to the Castro regime to join Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation system, the Soviet counterpart to the US Defense Department's Global Positioning System.

Russia has invited Cuba to join its satellite navigation system, Glonass, Russia's communications minister, who is currently on a working visit in Havana, said on Friday. Glonass - the Global Navigation Satellite System - is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions in terms of longitude, latitude and altitude to within a few meters. "We are inviting all countries to join the system," Igor Shchegolev said at a news conference. "And, of course, we have invited Cuba." Glonass is expected to begin providing worldwide services by the end of the next year. Shchegolev and his Cuban counterpart Ramiro Valdes also signed a memorandum on cooperation in information technology.

GLONASS currently consists of 17 satellites and will achieve full operational status in 2010, by which time an additional seven satellites will be inserted into orbit. In September of this year Anatoly Perminov, chief of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos), visited both Cuba and Venezuela, where he offered to integrate both countries into the Kremlin's satellite navigation network.

Meanwhile, long-time Soviet ally Muammar al-Qaddafi flew to Moscow today for a three-day visit, during which time he will present a lengthy shopping list for Russian military equipment and offer to host the Russian Navy's reconstituted Mediterranean Fleet, currently based out of the Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia. "Russia desperately needs a naval base in the Mediterranean to establish a permanent military presence in the region," admits Novosti. "As a sign of a possible deal with Libya, Russian warships have recently paid a number of visits to the North African country."

Novosti explains that Libya's socialist dictatorship is willing to accommodate Moscow in order to improve Tripoli's security against another US air attack, a scenario that played out in 1986, when President Ronald Reagan initiated Operation El Dorado Canyon. "The Libyan leader believes that a Russian military presence in the country would prevent possible attacks by the United States, which despite numerous Libyan attempts to amend bilateral relations is not in a hurry to embrace Colonel Qaddafi," Novosti quotes Kommersant as saying. Libya's Soviet-era $4.6 billion debt was written off earlier this year, signalling a revitalization of the Moscow-Tripoli Axis.

In 2002 Russia's lease on the deep-water port of Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam terminated and the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet departed. However, this past summer, in conjunction with threats to station strategic bombers in Cuba, Venezuela, and Algeria, the Kremlin media broached the subject of a possible return of Russian warships to this Vietnamese port facility. In July communist organ Pravda quoted Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Sciences, as saying: "I will not rule out the possibility of resuming talks with Vietnam regarding a possibility for Russia to deploy its battleships in Cam Ran port."

This past week, reports the Chinese state media, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet flew to Moscow where he conferred with Medvedev on the subjects of economic and military cooperation. "Moscow intends to develop the broadest coordination and interaction with Hanoi on the entire scope of the international agenda," Medvedev disclosed. Nguen Mihn Triet also confided to Itar-Tass that "Vietnam is interested in expanding military-technical cooperation with Russia for strengthening the country's defense capability." In further revelations, Vietnam's communist dictator frankly admitted that his country received from the Soviet Union "huge material support in the form of weapons supplies" during the Vietnam War, that is, while US soldiers were being killed in the jungles of Southeast Asia:

During the years of the struggle for independence, Vietnam received from the USSR and Russia a huge material support in the form of weapons supplies. At present, technical-technical cooperation between the two countries is actively implemented. The supplies of equipment are important for Vietnam. Russia also helps train good specialists for the Vietnamese army. Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh recently visited Moscow to discuss with his Russian colleague the topical issues of interaction between the two countries.

In 2003 the Asia Times Online chronicled the close and continuing strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam:

Between 1953 and 1991, the USSR supplied North - and later unified - Vietnam with 2,000 tanks, 1,700 armored vehicles, 7,000 pieces of artillery and mortars, 5,000 pieces of artillery, 158 missile complexes, 700 warplanes, 120 helicopters, more than 100 naval vessels. Some three quarters of all weaponry now used by the Vietnamese army has been made in Russia, while more than 13,000 Vietnamese officers had studied in the former USSR.

Belarus, it should be noted, serves a critical role as "middleman" in advancing Soviet strategy worldwide. Like Venezuela, neo-Sandinista Nicaragua is pursuing relations with Belarus, one of the two countries that comprise the Union State of Russia and Belarus, a building block for the soon-to-be-restored Soviet Union. The Azerbaijani media reports that Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez, who visited Moscow last year with a military delegation in tow, showed up this week in Minsk, where he placed an order for Belarusian tractors, trucks, road equipment, electric appliances, farm machines and equipment, fertilizers and tires. In the 1980s Nicaragua's economy was devastated by a civil war, provoked by President Daniel Ortega's first Marxist dictatorship, a legacy that has since been reactivated with his second administration, which began in January 2007.

Compliant Moscow lackey Ortega, who is the only world leader outside Russia to recognize Abkhazian and South Ossetian "independence," plans to make a pilgrimage to both Russia and Belarus in the near future. Belarus' communist dictator Alexander Lukashenko received Lopez, at which time he indicated that he looks forward to Ortega's visit to Minsk and will himself undertake a trip to Nicaragua in the near future. In addition to boosting trade that will facilitate the reconstruction of Nicaragua's war-shattered infrastructure, Managua, like Caracas, has implemented a visa-free regime that will enable Belarusians and other Soviet agents to freely enter the Central American country. Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov remarked that Managua and Minsk are already closely cooperating through international organizations such as the communist-controlled Non-Aligned Movement.

Finally, the Kremlin media reports, the Russian Navy, which is otherwise no match for the multiple carrier groups of the US Navy, continues to implement the Kremlin's new policy of re-projecting its military force into the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Specific operations include a three-month tour of duty by the Murmansk-based Northern Fleet in these two bodies of water, and a combined naval drill involving the Northern and Black Sea Fleets in the Mediterranean next month. These maneuvers will be taking place around the same time other warships of the Northern Fleet jointly patrol the Caribbean with Chavez's navy, as mentioned above.

Russian Navy to hold exercises in the Mediterranean in November
15:31 30/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) - A naval task force from Russia's Northern Fleet will depart from its main base in Severomorsk in early November to participate in joint drills with the Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean, a senior Navy official said on Thursday.

"The task force from the Northern Fleet [headed by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier] will join a naval task force from the Black Sea Fleet headed by the Moskva missile cruiser in the Mediterranean and conduct exercises simulating a sea battle between two opposing naval task forces," the source said.

The group of warships from the Northern Fleet will spend a total of three months on the upcoming tour of duty in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. "The main goals of the tour are to accomplish a number of operative and strategic tasks, to demonstrate Russia's presence in the world's oceans, and to pay visits to foreign ports," the official said, adding that the Moskva missile cruiser, for instance, would call at the port of Messina in Sicily.

A task force from the Northern Fleet, consisting of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the Udaloy class destroyers Admiral Levchenko and Admiral Chabanenko, as well as auxiliary vessels, conducted from December 2007 to February 2008 a two-month tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic.

Just in time for Barack Hussein Obama to assume the presidency and receive instructions to capitulate from Moscow, Itar-Tass reports that yesterday the Soviets and Americans signed an agreement that will facilitate direct, encrypted emergency communication between Washington and Moscow. The document was signed by Russia's ambassador to the USA, Sergei Kislyak, and the US Assistant Secretary of State, William Burns, and takes effect immediately.

USA File: Philadelphia's New Black Panther leader Shabazz calls for white genocide, denounces Obama as pawn of white elites

The Ku Klux Klan and assorted US white supremacists are a bunch of sissies and push-overs compared to the New Black Panther Party. The leader of the NBPP's Philadelphia branch is Minister King Samir Shabazz (pictured here), whose violent rhetoric strays boldly into demands for genocide. Of white people, Shabazz, who uses a pseudonym and considers himself to be a "Black Hebrew," threatens: "I'm about the total destruction of white people. I'm about the total liberation of black people. I hate white people. I hate my enemy. . . ." The FBI needs to monitor this dude and his cohorts. In fact, police departments around the USA are already bracing for angry fallout on the streets, presumably articulated by irate ethnic minorities, if Republican candidate John McCain wins the November 4 election.

For his part, Shabazz needs to get right with God and he also needs a theology lesson regarding the identity of the Chosen People: They're back in the land God gave Abraham 4,000 years ago. No doubt the "good minister" would be happy to throw some fuel into the fire whether McCain's Democratic rival Barack Hussein Obama wins or not.

The New Black Panthers are not official successors of the original communist Black Panther insurgents, but they have attracted former members of the Nation of Islam, the leader of which Louis Farrakhan, has publicly described Obama either as "Messiah" or "Messiah's Messenger." Needless to say, the Soviet strategists would be delighted to see America descend into a destructive race war.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports on Shabazz below.

New Panthers' war on whites
Posted on Wed, Oct. 29, 2008
By DANA DiFILIPPO

Some people wear their heart on their sleeve.

Minister King Samir Shabazz wears his on his forehead. Right between the eyes.

"If you want to stop the revolution, that's what you got to hit," Shabazz said, pointing to the target tattooed onto his forehead. "I fight my oppressor, and I give him the target."

Shabazz is chairman of the New Black Panther Party's Philadelphia chapter. In black beret atop dreadlocks and a black military uniform, he spends most weekdays near City Hall condemning "crackers" and exhorting black passers-by to rise up against their "slavemasters" - and to give him $2 for the party's semi-annual newspaper.

He is one of the most recognizable black militants in a city known, since the days of MOVE, for its vocal black-extremism community.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which monitors hate activity globally, listed the New Black Panther Party as among the most active and tough-talking of black-separatist groups.

Black Hebrews also have grown increasingly active in recent years, according to the SPLC, especially in Philadelphia, where robed street preachers shout out their beliefs daily near City Hall, the Convention Center, Germantown Avenue and other heavily trafficked areas.

Followers of the movement claim that African-Americans are God's true chosen people because they, not the people traditionally known as Jews, are the real descendants of the biblical Hebrews.

Their views, while often just as extreme, tend to be couched in religious rhetoric about "Edomites" (the descendants of Esau) and such terms that barely slow the stride of most passers-by.

But Shabazz is more blunt in his views:

* On whites: "I'm about the total destruction of white people. I'm about the total liberation of black people. I hate white people. I hate my enemy. . . ."

* On Jews: "I don't care how much they try to promote the Jewish Holocaust. The African people have suffered a hell of a cost. . . . "

* On Barack Obama and voting: "He's a puppet on a string. I don't support no black man running for white politics. I will not vote for who will be the next slavemaster." Besides, he added, Obama is "a Negro who doesn't even support reparations for black people in America."

* On white supremacists: "They're sissies; they want to put their feelings on a flier. Well, come into the black neighborhood with that rhetoric and we will show you what a strong awakened black man looks like."

* On the Phillies: "They can kiss my ass. The Phillies are not doing nothing for our 'hoods."

Shabazz, who also considers himself a Black Hebrew, said that his beliefs are rooted in high school, where lessons about slavery led to an "awakening."

He doesn't like to talk about himself. He won't divulge his real name, which he shed years ago because it was a "slave name that still had an umbilical cord on it."

He lives "wherever black people is, that's where I live."

He's 38 and has children, but he won't say how many or provide any more details about his personal life, partly for security reasons but also because this reporter is a "cracker."

He listens to "revolutionary, cracker-killing hip-hop" on his headphones and says things like: "I'll get black to you on that."

And he says that he never worries what response his violent rhetoric might provoke in listeners.

"The only thing the cracker understands is violence," said Shabazz, whose face also bears the tattoos "Freedom," "BPG" (Black Power Gang) and "NBPP" (New Black Panther Party). "The only thing the cracker understands is gunpowder.

"You got to take violence to violence." *

Africa File: Mubarak's subterfuge: Egyptian dictator hosts peace summits as navy holds largest-ever drill, commemorates Israeli ship's 1967 sinking

- Cairo Commands Arab World's Most Powerful Military, Prepares for War against Israel in Spite of 1979 Peace Treaty

- Jordanians Dissatisfied with 1994 Peace Accord with Israel, Elite Mechanized Armored Division Holds Live-Fire Drill in August

Here at Once Upon a Time in the West we have been carefully monitoring the military movements of Israel's enemies, including: Iran, which in unabashed Hitlerian fashion has repeatedly threatened to annihilate the Jewish state; Syria, which is hungering to reassert sovereignty over the Golan Heights; Lebanon, where a weak government dominated by Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah cowers before the specter of another Syrian invasion and under-reported Iranian infiltration; Fatah, which controls Samaria and Judea, otherwise known as the West Bank; and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Egypt and Jordan, however, have been keeping a low profile in the Arab/Muslim world's opposition to Israel, even though both countries last waged war against the Jewish state during 1967's Six Day War and Egypt again in 1973's Yom Kippur War. Indeed, Egypt's socialist dicatorship, under the helm of President Hosni Mubarak, is actively involved in the Middle East "peace process" which, translated out of diplomatese, means wresting all of the territory secured by Israel during the Six Day War.

Last week Mubarak hosted Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Sinai resort of Sharm el Sheikh, where the two politicians favorably discussed the possible implementation of the 2002 Arab League peace plan, which was endorsed by the European Union last year. Today Mubarak travelled to Paris, where he is meeting with fellow co-president of the new Union for the Mediterranean, Nicolas Sarkozy, to draft an agenda for the UPM foreign ministers' summit, slated to meet in Marseilles on November 3 and 4. Later next month, too, Egypt will host the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet in yet another round of summits, conferences, sideline huddles, and closed-door plottings to impose a solution on the festering Middle East conflict before the end of 2008.

For months the MSM has abounded in stories expressing determination on the part of Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George W. Bush to produce a peace deal before Olmert's Kadima party faces a snap election in February 2009 and even before Bush leaves the White House in January. Then Olmert and Bush, no doubt nursing fantasies of their respective political legacies, can, like famous historic appeaser Neville Chamberlain, wave a piece of paper cluttered with worthless signatures and cry: "Peace in our time."

We rather suspect that Egypt, Israel's enemy since the days of the ancient Hebrew captivity, has other plans for the region, as the following World Tribune report shows. Between October 21 and 24 the Egyptian Navy, the region's largest, held the "Victory 41" exercise to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eliat during the Six Day War. Theoretically, the two countries have been at peace since the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty of 1979, following the Camp David Accords, brokered by US President Jimmy Carter.

Pictured above: The Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy sails through the Suez Canal on October 21, the same day that the Egyptian Navy began its largest-ever drill, en route to the Gulf of Aden. Yesterday the Neustrashimy began to patrol the region's waters with an international flotilla of naval vessels, which includes US warships, combatting high seas piracy.

Egypt launches major exercise as largest Arab naval power
Thursday, October 23, 2008

CAIRO — Egypt has launched its largest naval exercise ever.

Officials said the Egyptian Navy began the exercise on Oct. 21 to commemorate the sinking of an Israel Navy destroyer in 1968.

Officials said the exercise, expected to last at least three days, would include the participation of Egypt's frigates, destroyers, fast attack craft and submarine, Middle East Newsline reported.

"The Egyptian Navy deploys advanced world class frigates, destroyers, fast missile boats, and submarines outfitted with advanced missiles," Egyptian Navy commander Vice Adm. Mohab Mamish said.

The Egyptian Navy has been deemed the largest in the Arab world and considerably bigger than that of neighboring Israel. The Egyptian Navy has 10 missile frigates while Israel does not contain any such vessels.

In an Oct. 19 interview with the state-owned Al Ahram daily, Mamish said the navy has been undergoing a major modernization program. He said the navy, with 18,500 personnel, has been enhanced in cooperation with such suppliers as Germany, Russia and the United States.

"The Egyptian Navy is always on alert to guard our shores and economic interests and vital facilities," Mamish said.

Officials said a major Egyptian Navy project was the procurement of three fast attack craft from the United States. They said the FACs would significantly enhance maritime and other naval operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea.

In the interview, Mamish said Egypt has acquired advanced missiles and torpedoes. He said the unidentified missiles, which have undergone trials, were supplied to naval submarines.

In a related story that exposes Egypt's true animosity toward Israel, Maariv correspondent Ben Caspit reported in the October 28 edition that during a recent visit to Egypt, Major-General Amos Gilad, Director of the Military, Political and Policy Bureau of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, informed Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman and Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi that:

Israel is concerned by the absence of any relations of any kind between the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] and the Egyptian Army. There are no visits by Egyptian officers to Israel, nor exchanges of delegations. Israel is concerned by the carrying out of Egyptian Army exercises that are directed against an Israeli threat and that relate to it as an enemy and central focus of the Egyptian officers in force building.

Tantawi replied to Gilad by saying that: "An improvement in relations between the armies will become possible in the future, in tandem with progress in the regional peace process and that security challenges obligate Egypt to build an effective deterrence force." In short, Egypt will remain at war with Israel until the latter's territorial acquisitions in 1967 are reversed.

In a related development, although Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, many Jordanians are dissatisfied with its legacy. On October 25 the Abu Dhabi-based National reported: "Many Jordanians remain overwhelmingly opposed to it mostly because the so-called fruits of peace – economic prosperity and stability in the region – have not materialised. Projects that Israelis and Jordanians envisaged such as a joint airport in the port city of Aqaba in southern Jordan have not been built. Politically, King Abdullah is not convinced that Israel is serious about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and ties between both countries are cool at best." With resentment festering in Jordan and the monarch himself in attendance, reports the country's state media, the King Abdullah II Mechanized Armored Division flexed its muscle during a live-fire drill in late August:

His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces attended today a military exercise carried by the King Abdullah II Mechanized Armored Division. Military units from the eastern military region and joint special operations personnel also took part in the drill. The exercise, also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Bin Al Hussein and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khaled Jamil Sarayrah, included live ammunition from various army and air force weapons. The forces performed the required military tasks with high precision. At the end of the military exercise, King Abdullah expressed satisfaction with and admiration of the professional skills displayed by the military forces.

Lastly, Mubarak's fellow pro-Soviet North African dicator Muammar al-Qaddafi will fly to Moscow on October 31 for a three-day meeting with the Moscow Leninists. There Qaddafi will present a US$2 billion shopping list for surface-to-air missile systems such as the S-300, TOR-M1, and Buk, as well as several fighter jets, dozens of helicopters, and 50 tanks. In return for these purchases, Tripoli wants Moscow to write off the North African country's US$4.5 billion Soviet-era debt. Russia's KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin visited Tripoli in April of this year.

Thus, we see all of Israel's end-time enemies mentioned in Isaiah 17, Ezekiel 38 and 39, and Daniel 11--Syria, Libya, Egypt, Iran, and Russia--openly and covertly preparing to eradicate the Jewish presence in the Middle East under the guise of "peace."

Incidentally, the Middle East "peace process" also entails preventing the Jews from rebuilding their Temple in Jerusalem. On Monday, reports the AFP news agency, King Mohammed VI of Morocco urged Israel not to carry through with plans to rebuild the ancient place of worship on the Temple Mount: "What has been started in this district will certainly complicate the peace deal and could have to detrimental consequences." As we have previously posted, the planned Third Temple will occupy an important role in the coming tribulation period prophesied in the Bible.

MISSILE DAY ALERT: Russian military team, Gen. Alexander Maslov arrive in Havana to check Cuba's air defenses, confer with Cuban general staff

Hello. Earth to shopping mall regime? Earth to shopping mall regime? While US and Russian brass hold secret consulations and far-left (Kenyan-born?) presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama prepares to take the White House in next week's election, the Soviets check out the state of Cuba's air defenses. Got whistling emoticon?

The Kremlin media reports that General-Lieutenant Alexander Maslov's trip to Cuba will extend from October 27 to November 3. Maslov is Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Battle Antimissile Defense Staff. During his time in Cuba he will meet the Chief of the General Staff of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army General Álvaro López Miera, and Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Defense and Revolutionary Air Force, General Pedro Mendiondo Gómez. One week later the nuclear-powered Russian missile cruiser Peter the Great and support ships, presently en route to South America, will commence joint exercises with Hugo Chavez's navy.

At this site we have heavily documented Russia's revitalized political-economic-military relationships with Communist Cuba, Red Venezuela, neo-Sandinista Nicaragua, and Trotskyist Bolivia. The article below also reports that "Colombia’s Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos has travelled to Russia to discuss military cooperation."

Russian military team in Cuba
October 28th, 2008 - 2:30 pm ICT by IANS -

Moscow, Oct 28 (IANS)) In what may be seen as Moscow’s growing defence collaboration with Latin American countries, a Russian military delegation is in Cuba to review the island nation’s defence preparedness.

The Russian team, headed by air chief General Alexander Maslov, will visit air defence units to discuss training of Cuban personnel in modern weaponry and command and communication system, EFE reported Tuesday.

“The two sides will share experiences in organising air defences and discuss the possibility of training Cubans in modern military techniques at Russian training centres,” Russian army spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

General Maslov will also meet the chief of the Cuban general staff, Alvaro Lopez Miera, and the commander of Cuba’s air force, Pedro Gomez.

In recent months, Russia has established ties with Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba and even US ally Colombia.

In September, Russian vice-prime minister Igor Sechin travelled to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba to meet his counterparts and discuss the possibility of increasing economic, military and political cooperation.

The same month, two Russian T-160 strategic bombers visited Venezuela for a joint military exercise and a Russian navy squadron has carried out joint war games with the Venezuelan navy.

Moscow also has begun preliminary discussions with Cuba to help the country develop its space centre, has vowed to replace the Nicaraguan army’s aging weaponry and has started talks with Venezuela about developing a peaceful nuclear energy programme.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has announced that he will seek Russia’s aid for the country’s fight against drug trafficking.

Colombia’s Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos has travelled to Russia to discuss military cooperation.

Meanwhile, the New Cold War between Washington and Managua became chillier this week when the US embassy in Nicaragua released a statement criticizing the country's delays in accrediting election observers and casting doubt on the fairness of upcoming municipal elections. The Costa Rican media reports on the expanding loss of freedom under President Daniel Ortega's retro-Sandinista government:

The U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua has released a statement criticizing the country's delays in accrediting election observers, saying it places in doubt the fairness of upcoming municipal balloting. A statement by State Department spokesman Robert Wood — and a second declaration issued by a group of former presidents from the Americas — also criticize Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's vocal attacks on critics. Ortega's government has come under fire for barring two opposition parties from fielding mayoral candidates in the Nov. 9 election, and for police raids against non-governmental organizations.The government press office said it had no immediate reaction to Friday's statements.

End Times File: Antichrist makes his move, Part 2: More damning evidence of Sarkozy's true character and mission in light of Bible prophecy

Related Story: Antichrist makes his move, Part 1: EU member-states accuse Sarkozy of power grab for permanent role; Putin warns against dollar buying

European leaders are unanimous in assessing Sarkozy's handling of the financial crisis as exemplary.
-- Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, October 2008

Nobody can take the presidency away from the Czech Republic. Any speculation over an extension of the current presidency is groundless and unacceptable.
-- Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, October 2008

Sarkozy wants to be president of everything now. The president will no doubt soon be asking to have his French presidential term prolonged in 2012 without another election.
-- French Socialist Party leader François Hollande, statement made on French radio

Sarkozy sees the crisis as an opportunity to reshape the institutional running of not only the European, but also the world economy. If, as appears likely, Barack Obama is the next US President, watch out for an unusual sight: a united Franco-American policy on world economic reform.
-- David Marsh, London & Oxford Capital Markets; Financial News, October 27, 2008

Nicolas Sarkozy has been accused of making a power grab to install himself as [permanent] president of the European Union, a post that no longer exists after the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty in June.
-- Bruno Waterfield, The Telegraph, October 25, 2008

-- The French president sees himself extending his EU presidency role until 2010 as leader of an informal "economic government" of the euro area, in a bid to better coordinate responses to the global financial crisis.
-- EurActiv, October 24, 2008

Bible prophecy is clear in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 that the Man of Sin will be revealed after the rapture of the church and the termination of the Holy Spirit's restraining ministry against evil. In what sense Antichrist will be revealed must be considered since these verses state that God will send unbelievers a "strong delusion" to believe Antichrist's lies. It would appear, therefore, that Antichrist's true identity will be obvious only to a new generation that comes to faith in Jesus Christ after the rapture--namely, the (Gentile) tribulation saints and the faithful Jewish remnant.

However, we believe discerning Christians may be able to identify this tool of the Devil shortly before the church's translation to heaven since numerous clues are given in the Old and New Testaments with respect to Antichrist's geographic and ethnic origin, career, personal characteristics, and special connection to Israel as that nation's false Messiah-King. We have considered these elements in previous posts and will not review them here. Many candidates for Antichrist have been advanced over the years. However, your resident blogger has endeavored at this site to present Nicolas ("Prince of Darkness/ Tribulation") Sarkozy as the most likely man for the job.

"The financial crisis spreading like wildfire across the former Soviet bloc threatens to set off a second and more dangerous banking crisis in Western Europe, tipping the whole Continent into a fully-fledged economic slump," cried The Telegraph on Sunday. The global financial crisis is providing the French president, who prior to his election in May 2007 falsely presented himself as an advocate of free marketism, with an ideal opportunity to showcase his interventionist political philosophy and dictatorial ambitions by seizing power over the European superstate. Sarkozy is required to relinquish the EU presidency to the Czech Republic on January 1, 2009 but, instead, on October 21 insisted to the European Parliament that his mandate be extended until 2010 so he can implement an "economic government" that will save Europe from the world financial meltdown. Prague has protested Sarkozy's incipient coup d'etat.

In addition to pressuring US President George W. Bush into hosting the G20 summit in Washington DC on November 15, Sarkozy, the European media reports, will convene a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on November 7, when he hopes to "refound capitalism." "We will speak with a unified European voice on the financial crisis," the French president announced to journalists after a previous EU summit in October.

European politicians, diplomats, and journalists, who are otherwise oblivious to Bible prophecies regarding the rise of Antichrist, are now openly commenting on Sarkozy's drive for continent-wide power. "The French president sees himself extending his EU presidency role until 2010 as leader of an informal "economic government" of the euro area," reports EurActiv below, "in a bid to better coordinate responses to the global financial crisis." The Canadian media editorialized today that the French president is "trying to take over the world." It certainly appears that way.

Pictured below, left to right: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sarkozy, and ("ex"-communist) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso converse before the fourth closed session of the 7th Asia Europe Meeting in Beijing, on October 25.

Czechs reject Sarkozy's Eurogroup presidency plans
Published: Friday 24 October 2008

The French president sees himself extending his EU presidency role until 2010 as leader of an informal "economic government" of the euro area, in a bid to better coordinate responses to the global financial crisis. EurActiv France reports.

Background:

Speaking to members of the European Parliament on 21 October, French President and current EU presidency holder Nicolas Sarkozy outlined his vision of a 'new' capitalism for Europe to respond to the turmoil that has shaken financial markets across the globe.

Reform of the world economy and the introduction of a new 'Bretton Woods', as well as more unified economic governance of the euro area, strict rules aimed at overcoming the current 'failures' of the US-style capitalist model, increased protection against foreign takeovers and tougher rules on tax havens, were among his plans.

The plan – revealed by the French daily Le Monde on Wednesday (22 October) – is based on the rationale that the EU needs a strong presidency and a much more united front to respond adequately to global challenges, such as the current financial meltdown.

'Unified economic government'

Speaking to MEPs on 21 October, Sarkozy had already highlighted the need for a "unified economic government" of the Eurogroup, calling for more regular coordination meetings at head of state and government level, such as the extraordinary Eurogroup meeting held in Paris on Sunday 12 October to tackle the vertical slide of European stock exchanges. "When the crisis takes on the proportions we've seen, a meeting of finance ministers is not up to the gravity of the crisis," he told MEPs.

It would now appear he sees himself presiding over this hypothetical group until 2010 in a bid to offer a stronger command than that which could be offered by the successive six-month EU presidencies of the eurosceptic and struggling Czech government and the Swedes, who remain outside the eurozone. Then, in 2010, Spain would be able to take over from Sarkozy, combining the two roles of EU and eurozone president.

In the meantime, Sarkozy hopes to impose his economic vision on the rest of the bloc, including plans to set up European sovereign wealth funds to fend off foreign takeovers of strategic companies by cash-rish oil-exporting countries such as Russia, Dubai and Qatar during the crisis.

Yesterday, his government announced that France itself was creating a €175 billion "strategic investment fund" to prevent French industrial groups from falling into foreign hands as shares plunge to an all-time low.

Bypassing the Czechs?

But Sarkozy is still some way off convincing his EU counterparts. Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra immediately rejected the notion that the Czech Presidency could be 'bypassed', saying: "Nobody can take the presidency away from the Czech Republic. Any speculation over an extension of the current presidency is groundless and unacceptable," according to Thomson Financial News.

He added that the French plans would more likely divide the Union rather than strengthen it. "If the Eurogroup agrees to be presided over by a Frenchman and to meet more frequently, most probably we will not be able to prevent this," he said, adding: "However, it would not be a wise move but one which would divide EU rather then unify it."

The Germans are also said to be opposed to the plans, with the UK's Independent citing a German government spokesman as saying: "The natural chairman of such a group would be the Luxembourg Prime Minister and Finance Minister Jean-Claude Juncker."

In denial

But France's European Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet yesterday (23 October) denied that Sarkozy was aiming to chair a group of eurozone leaders. He nevertheless backed the idea that Europgroup meetings should take place at the level of heads of state and government, adding: "After EU states agree on the principle of this and there is a political organisation, the designation (of a president) will follow," according to Reuters.

Jouyet further insisted that "Nicolas Sarkozy is asking for nothing for himself" and that "if it is Jean-Claude Juncker it is Jean-Claude Juncker. What is important is that the impetus, the energy and the pro-activity remains in place," he added.

The question, he said, is: "Do we want to return to business as usual or do we want to capitalise on the impetus given to the euro zone?" European leaders are unanimous in assessing Sarkozy's handling of the financial crisis as "exemplary", he added.

In view of the opposition that various national governments, such as Germany and the Czech Republic's, have expressed over the last 18 months to Sarkozy's pet projects like the Union for the Mediterranean and an "emergency government" for Europe, Bible prophecy enthusiasts should consider the possibility that the time is coming soon when the "little horn" of Daniel, representing Antichrist, will uproot three of the ten horns representing the core nations of the revived Roman Empire (7:20). The Antichrist as the "king of fierce countenance" will accomplish his coup d'etat, prophesies Daniel, by craft and peace, using diplomacy rather than bloodshed (8:25): "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes [Jesus Christ]; but he shall be broken without hand [by God]."

A few more financial shocks or political crises could very well sway recalcitrant members of the EU into accepting a Sarkozy dictatorship over Europe. In addition to displacing US political-military-economic power in the world, the New Roman Empire will also displace that of neo-Soviet Russia, the armed forces of which are prophetically predestined for ruination on the hills of Israel.

In his book The Nations in Prophecy theologian John Walvoord speculates regarding the absence of concrete references to the USA in Bible prophecy: "If the end-time events include a destruction of Russia and her allies prior to the final period of great tribulation [second half of Daniel's 70th week], this may trigger an unbalance in the world situation that will permit the Roman ruler to become a world ruler. In this event, it should be clear that the United States will be in a subordinate role and no longer the great international power that it is today." Remarkably, Walvoord wrotes these words in 1967. More than 40 years later, as the USA faces financial collapse and economic marginalization, this end-time scenario is proving correct.

Pictured here: Orthodox Jews of the Kohanim priestly caste, covered by prayer shawls, offer a blessing at the Western Wall, on October 16.

The Middle East Peace Process, the Union for the Mediterranean, and Daniel's 70th Prophetic Week

Two weeks ago, nearly 10,000 spectators gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem to welcome the Feast of Tabernacles, which this year ran between October 14 and 20. There rabbis associated with the Temple Institute performed the Hakhel, or ceremonial reading of the Torah, sounded silver trumpets, and unveiled the two-ton bronze laver that the Levitical priesthood, now restored, will use in the Tribulation Temple. The Temple Institute confidently announced that this year's Hakhel was not a "reenactment" of the ancient ritual but, rather, an "anticipation of its restoration" in a future Temple service.

Preparations for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple are a major prophetic heads up that Jesus Christ is coming soon to set up His kingdom. Referring to His coming in judgment, power, and glory, Christ spoke of the hour and day that no man knows, (Matthew 24:36). Notwithstanding this caution, clues related to Israel's annual feast days (Leviticus 23) suggest that the season is knowable. After all, Christ fulfilled the first three spring feasts--Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:7), and Firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23)--in His First Advent, while the founding of the church with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit partly fulfilled Pentecost (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-21). By contrast, Trumpets (Matthew 24:31), Atonement (Zechariah 12:10-14), and Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19) await fulfillment in the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His global reign. At this time Pentecost will be completely fulfilled when the Holy Spirit is again poured out upon the faithful Jewish remnant during the tribulation (Joel 2:30-32), before the "great and terrible day of the Lord," and so "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26-27).

While the precise year of the rapture of the church and the Second Coming remain known only to God, an expectation that these events will occur in autumn, separated by seven Hebrew years of 360 days each, or 2,520 days, is in keeping with Christ's self-portrayal as "Lord of the harvest" (Luke 10:2). Some Christians speculate that the new seven-year sabbatical cycle that Israel entered on September 29, 2008 and will observe until 2015 represents or will introduce Daniel's 70th week (D70W), the last of 70 prophetic weeks of years appointed unto the history of the Jewish nation (Daniel 9:24).

According to this theory, the tribulation period will begin in earnest on or about October 29, 2008 and terminate 2,520 days later, on or about September 23, 2015, which is the Day of Atonement. The latter day occurs in the midst of a rare tetrad of blood-moon eclipses in that year and 2014, coinciding with Passover and Tabernacles. It also occurs exactly 49 Hebrew years, or one jubilee cycle, after the Israelis recaptured Jerusalem on June 7, 1967, when the last tetrad of blood-moon eclipses took place. However, the entire cycle of fall feasts in 2008 extended from September 30 to October 20, while the entire cycle of fall feasts in 2015 extends from September 14 to October 4. The last day of Tabernacles 2015, which falls on October 4, is 2,520 days from November 9, 2008. This would appear to be the last day on which a pre-tribulation rapture could occur this year if indeed the world is on the cusp of D70W.

Regardless of the date, it is likely that there will be little or no gap between the translation of the saints to heaven and the beginning of the tribulation period since only slightly more than 50 days transpired between the termination of the 69th week, marked by Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and Pentecost, marked by the formation of the church.

Please note that we are not date setting here with respect to the Lord's return, nor do we disbelieve in the general imminency of the rapture of the church. So, if you are a fellow believer in Jesus Christ, do not leave angry comments at our blog. We are only considering possible windows in which certain Biblically prophesied events could occur. If this autumn passes without a door into heaven opening, then do not be discouraged. Just keep looking up and wait for next fall. The Son of God, after all, rebuked the Pharisees for not knowing the "time of thy visitation" (Luke 19:44). After His ascension, Christ also warned his disciples via John (Revelation 3:3) that His return would take the churches by surprise, "as a thief," if they did not watch.

It is important to understand, too, that the resurrection of deceased Christians and the rapture of living saints does not instigate D70W, although it will certainly precipitate manifold crises throughout the world. Rather, Antichrist's covenant with Israel and the "many," presumably Israel's neighbors (meaning, enemies), will initiate the tribulation period. Reference to this peace treaty can found in Daniel, Psalms, and Isaiah.

Daniel 9:26-27: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off [crucified], but not for himself [Jesus died for sinners]: and the people [Romans] of the prince that shall come [Antichrist] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined [Jewish Wars]. And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]: and in the midst of the week he [Antichrist] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Note: In verse 27 "he" is not Jesus, since Christ never established a seven-year covenant with Israel, "many," or anyone else, for that matter. Nor did Jesus cause the "sacrifice and oblation to cease." This occured in AD 70, 37 years after His ascension, long after the 70th week expired, at least according to preterists. The antecedent to "he" is the "prince that shall come," mentioned in the second part of verse 26. It should be recognized, moreover, that the "prince that shall come" was not the Roman general, later emperor, Titus Flavius Vespasianus. Titus, like the Son of God, never established a seven-year covenant with Israel or "many." The "prince that shall come" has yet to come. The "prince that shall come" is Antichrist, who looms large in other unfulfilled passages of Holy Scripture. Only by allegorizing this prophecy can it be made to apply to the Savior of mankind.

Psalm 55:20: He [Antichrist] hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

Isaiah 28: 15: Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death [Antichrist], and with hell [Antichrist] are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.

18: And your covenant with death [Antichrist] shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell [Antichrist] shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

How close is the world to the rapture of the church and the confirmation of a covenant between Antichrist, or the head of the revived Roman Empire, Israel, and "many"? We have previously considered the defunct Oslo Accords and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, both seven-year arrangements, as possible forerunners of Antichrist's covenant. Since then the dormant 2002 Arab League peace plan has been resurrected.

According to the Pakistani media, the foreign ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) countries will convene a summit in Marseille on November 3 and 4, at which time they will determine the composition and powers of the UPM secretariat. The success of Sarkozy's pet project, which we have demonstrated is none other than the revived Roman Empire of Bible prophecy, depends on the enforcement of peace in the Middle East, in particular, Israel's relations with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Thus, the Arab and Muslim member states of the UPM must acquiesce to Israel's presence in the international organization.

To that end, reports Voice of America, last Thursday Israeli President Shimon Peres and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a low-profile meeting at the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el Sheikh (pictured above). There they discussed the possibility of implementing the 2002 Arab League peace plan. Under this scheme Israel would withdraw from all lands obtained in the Six Day War, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights, in exchange for pan-Arab recognition of the Jewish state. On October 29 Sarkozy will host a working lunch with Mubarak, fellow co-president of the UPM, at which time they will discuss various issues, including the Middle East peace process, that will be tabled on November 3 and 4 at the UPM summit. No doubt, Mubarak will relate to Sarkozy the substance of his October 23 meeting with Peres at Sharm el Sheikh.

Several days later, beginning on November 6 the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet will send its representatives to Sharm el Sheikh to assess the progress of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. The Quartet consists of the United Nations, EU, USA, and Russia. In addition to Israel's Acting Prime Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian PM Ahmed Qureia, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French FM Bernard Kouchner, and Egyptian and Jordanian officials are expected to be present at this meeting, which is being billed as Annapolis 2. Intriguingly, these dates fall within the timeframe for a potential fall 2008 rapture.

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert essentially recapitulated the Arab League formula in his "land for peace" proposal, published last month in the Israeli media and readily accepted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The EU, reveals the German media, endorsed the Arab League plan in 2007. The world, therefore, only awaits the "prince that shall come," the head of the revived Roman Empire, who is currently Nicolas Sarkozy, Co-Prince of Andorra, to "confirm the covenant with many for one week."

At this juncture, the most serious disruption to the implementation of a Middle East peace plan in 2008 is the Israeli parliamentary election, which Acting PM Livni called yesterday after the religious Shas party refused to join a coalition government. The election will probably occur between the end of January and mid-February 2009. Moreover, political salvation from the Israeli right, which is generally opposed to territorial concessions, appears to be dimming since Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party has dropped slightly in recent public opinion polls. Even if Likud does form the next government in Israel, Netanyahu is a close friend of Sarzkozy and, hence, the EU-sponsored dismantling of Israel may continue without hindrance.

In summary, autumn of each year is an especially prophetic time for Christians to look up in anticipation of the rapture, and to be carefully monitoring world affairs for news of an impending seven-year agreement involving the revived Roman Empire, Israel, and the "many."

Middle East File: US commandos based in Iraq attack Syrian border village, capture or kill top Al Qaeda operative; Damascus, Tehran, Moscow fulminate

- Ba'athist Regime Orders School and Cultural Center Linked to US Embassy in Damascus Closed (source)

- Damascus Urges United Nations Security Council to Hold USA Responsible for Cross-Border Raid (source)

On Sunday, reports Fox News below, helicopter-borned US special forces from Iraq launched an assault against a farm in the Syrian border village of Abu Kamal. Abu Ghadiyain, Al Qaeda's senior coordinator operating in Syria, was targeted in the attack, but it is not clear whether he was captured or killed. At least eight other people died in the raid at Sukkariyeh. US intelligence contends that 90 percent of anti-occupation insurgents in Iraq enter the country by way of Syria.

While we believe that this operation is wholly justifiable to support the War on Terror, striking Syrian territory has predictably stirred up a hornets' nest of denunciations from Damascus, Tehran, Moscow, and the Arab League. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem branded the operation an act of "criminal and terrorist aggression." Even the Iraqi government, which is negotiating a security pact with the USA, expressed its displeasure through spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh: "The Iraqi government rejects U.S. aircraft bombarding posts inside Syria. The constitution does not allow Iraq to be used as a staging ground to attack neighboring countries." The US raid at Sukkariyeh will also incense America's enemies in the Muslim world into rallying against Washington's main ally in the region, embattled Israel.

Pictured above: Yesterday Syrian boys carried portraits of President Bashar al-Assad during a funeral procession for eight people killed in the US commando strike on Syrian territory.

U.S. Official: Unclear If Al Qaeda Coordinator Killed in Syria Raid
Tuesday , October 28, 2008

An Al Qaeda coordinator in Syria who was wanted for sending operatives, weapons and cash into Iraq was captured during a U.S. strike, but it was not clear whether or not he survived, a senior U.S. military official told FOX News.

Abu Ghadiyain, the target of Sunday's Special Operations raid in Sukkariyeh --about 4-5 miles away from Syria's border with Iraq, was at one point in the custody of U.S. forces, the official said. However, another U.S. official from a separate agency said Monday that latest intelligence shows Ghadiyain was killed.

Ghadiyain was believed to be associated with the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, funneling combatants, arms and cash into the war-torn country.

Ninety percent of foreign fighters enter Iraq through Syria, according to U.S. intelligence estimates, bringing cash to Al Qaeda in Iraq's chief. They also are deadly — trained in bomb-making and willing to sacrifice themselves in suicide attacks.

A senior U.S. military intelligence official said that in July only about 20 foreign fighters were entering the country each month, down 50 percent from six months earlier, and just a fifth of the estimated 100 foreign fighters who were infiltrating Iraq a year ago.

Eight people in total were killed in the raid, which Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem called an act of "criminal and terrorist aggression."

During their funerals, angry residents shouted anti-American slogans and carried banners reading: "Down with Bush and the American enemy."

The Syrian government said four U.S. military helicopters attacked a civilian building under construction shortly before sundown in Sukkariyeh — a village about five miles inside the Syrian border.

A U.S. military official in Washington confirmed Sunday that special forces had conducted a raid in Syria that targeted the network of Al Qaeda-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq.

"We are taking matters into our own hands," the official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids.

The attack is another sign that the United States is aggressively launching military raids across the borders of Afghanistan and Iraq to destroy insurgent sanctuaries. In Pakistan, U.S. missile strikes have killed at least two senior Al Qaeda operatives this year and ramped up the threat to groups suspected of plotting attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan and terror strikes in the West.

A Sukkariyeh resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his life, said he saw at least two men taken into custody by American forces and whisked away by helicopter. Another villager displayed amateur video footage he took with his mobile phone that shows four helicopters flying toward them as villagers point to the skies in alarm.
An Associated Press journalist saw the grainy video Monday.

At the targeted building, about a five-minute drive off the main road, the floor was bloodstained and white tennis shoes were surrounded by blood and pieces of human flesh. A tent pitched near the site had bags of bread, pots and pans and wool blankets.

In Washington, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino refused to confirm, or even discuss, Sunday's attack.

Iran condemned the attack as did Russia, which has had close ties with Syria since Soviet times.

The raid also put the Baghdad government in an awkward position while negotiating a security pact with the United States. Iraqi officials said they hoped the raid would not harm their relations with Syria, but the government spokesman in Baghdad noted that it happened in an area known as a terrorist haven.

SNIP

That Iran reacted with outrage upon learning of the US military operation in Syria, is not surprising and indeed only exposes the fact that the Islamo-Nazi regime in Tehran is already contemplating a preemptive strike against Israel that will counter a reported plan by the Jewish state to destroy Iran's nuclear potential. It may be that Iran has already attempted to deliver a crushing blow to Israel in August by dispatching a dirty nuke via bulk carrier, only to witness 40 Somali pirates hijacking the Rotterdam-bound MV Iran Devant in the Gulf of Aden. "When at last the pirates succeeded in opening one of the containers," reports Arutz Sheva, "they allegedly discovered packets of what they later reported to be "a powdery fine sandy soil. The pirates who had any exposure to the powder were reportedly struck down by illness and within days began to exhibit strange symptoms, including skin burns and hair loss. Sixteen of them died."

Russian intelligence sources subsequently revealed that the Iran Devant was "an enormous floating dirty bomb," which was intended to detonated after leaving the Suez Canal and in proximity to Israel's coastal cities. "The entire cargo of radiotive sand," the sources from Moscow elaborated, "[was] obtained by Iran from China and sealed in containers which, when the charges on the ship are set off after the crew took to the boats, will be blasted high into the air where prevailing winds will push the highly dangerous and radioactive cloud ashore." U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials refused to comment on the incident.

Latin America File: Mexico descends into civil war as KGB-infiltrated drug cartels, ex-soldiers battle army for power, 3,500 dead since Jan. 2008

The Mexican government, like Colombia's, is on the verge of losing control of large swathes of its territory to heavily armed narco-terrorist groupings, reports Roger Hedgecock at World Net Daily. Mexico's drug gangs wield more firepower and have killed more people than the country's small, Cuban/ Venezuelan-backed Marxist groups like the Popular Revolutionary Army or the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. "Were it not for the fact that the cartels are also frequently at war with one another," observers Hedgecock, "they might have won the war by now and would be in control of Mexico."

Chaos reigns on the US-Mexican border and is spreading deep into the USA itself. Drug traffickers impersonate Mexican military personnel--which is ironic since many are ex-soldiers--and enter US territory on drug runs. Sometimes the drug traffickers are active-duty Mexican soldiers. Mexican border town officials, fearing for their lives, have sought asylum in the USA. The US State Department has issued a travel alert warning that Mexico is a dangerous destination for US tourists. The drug cartels have bought up foreclosed houses in Las Vegas, Nevada, as transhipment points for drug routes and as safe houses. Mexico's vicious drug cartels have a fondness for horrific murders, including beheading and dismembering rivals and innocent civilians.

Pictured above: The corpses of 12 murdered people were found by Mexican police in a remote location near Tijuana on September 29, 2008.

Mexico's civil war ignites in America
Exclusive: Roger Hedgecock warns of bloodshed spilling across southern border Posted: October 20, 2008
By Roger Hedgecock

The Mexican government and the drug cartels that operate throughout Mexico are locked in a battle over control of the country. With the Mexican army fully deployed and often fighting ex-Mexican army special forces working for the cartels, this is, in scope and casualties, truly a civil war.

To date this year, some 3,500 Mexicans have died in this war. In just the first 15 days of October, there were 387 deaths in Mexico City, 178 in the state of Chihuahua and 90 in Baja California – all attributable to the government versus cartel war. Were it not for the fact that the cartels are also frequently at war with one another, they might have won the war by now and would be in control of Mexico.

The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers extracts and condenses stories that appear in the Mexican press on a daily basis. For the English reader, this site is a frightening window into the war in Mexico not available in the American press.

NAFBPO, for example, ran an English translation of the lead article from the Oct. 17 edition of El Universal (Mexico City) which included this grisly information:

"Confrontations by Mexican federal and state forces against groups believed to be linked with organized crime produced 33 deaths in Mexico (City) between Wednesday night and Thursday ... a shootout took place between military personnel and men in a vehicle south of Ciudad Juarez ... a human head was found in the center of town in Chihuahua City; the body was located in Santa Eulalia, some 20 kilometers away."

Such stories run every day in newspapers throughout Mexico whose owners, editors and reporters and their families are under constant threat from the drug cartels. Execution-style murders, beheadings, dismemberings and kidnappings are common now in every state in Mexico on a daily basis. Gun battles are near nightly events in Tijuana and in Mexican towns all along the border.

Mexican border town officials have crossed into the U.S. seeking asylum, fearing for their lives. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert warning American tourists that Mexico is too dangerous. U.S. "Drug Czar" John Walters was in Mexico City last week assuring the Mexican government that more U.S. aid to fight the drug cartels is "in the pipeline."

And now the bad news: The Mexican civil war is spilling over into the U.S. Reports of incursions into the U.S. by heavily armed men in Mexican army uniforms (and often driving U.S.-made Humvees) now occur on a regular basis. Sometimes the "soldiers" are cartel men, probably ex-Mexican army; sometimes they are real Mexican army.

In every case, their purpose is to protect a drug run into the U.S. and back off any lightly armed local sheriff or Border Patrol agent in the way.

The Border Patrol has issued new guidelines for its officers, fearful that any day now, a full blown firefight on U.S. soil will make headlines in both countries.

The Mexican civil war came to Las Vegas, Nev., last week and 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger, 48 pounds and barely 4 feet tall, was its victim. A group of three Latino men with "heavy accents" and wearing police uniforms invaded the home where Cole and his mother lived, tied up the mother and her current boyfriend, ransacked the house looking for money, and abducted Cole.

Las Vegas is a major distribution point for drugs coming from Mexico into the U.S. The Mexican drug cartels have bought up foreclosed houses in northeastern and southeastern Las Vegas as way stations for drug shipments and as safe houses.

The Las Vegas police, assisted by the FBI, DEA and ICE, theorize that the home invasion and abduction resulted from Cole's grandfather keeping millions of dollars of cartel drug profits instead of laundering the money back to Mexico. The 51-year-old grandfather, Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer, reportedly owed the cartel between $8 million and $20 million. He was arrested last weekend in Riverside, Calif.

A Mexican national, Jesus Gastelum, is being sought as a "person of interest." At the time of this column, here has been no word as of Cole's whereabouts.

In large and small ways, the violence of the Mexican civil war has come to the U.S. – to my community and yours. It's past time for the American government to secure the border and crack down on the cartels.

Since the 1960s the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have waged a cocaine-fueled Marxist insurgency against Bogota with arms supplied by both the old and new Soviet regimes. In similar fashion, following the "collapse" of the Soviet Union, "renegade" FSB/KGB agents infiltrated the Mexican drug cartels, thereby creating a conduit for Moscow's narco-subversion plan against the USA that has relied or does rely on the complicity of leftist-communist regimes in Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and rebel-held territory in Colombia.

In the end, narco-terrorism, rather than full-blown proletarian revolution, will serve the purposes of the Soviet strategists in destabilizing Mexico and the USA just fine. Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, who visited leftist allies in Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela in April 2007 and personally received Hugo Chavez in Moscow two months later, is no doubt well aware of this fact.

Latin America/Asia Files: Bolivia, Thailand spurn USA, cozy up to Moscow, buy Russian helicopters; Morales facilitates Kremlin's narco-subversion plot

- Thailand's Communist-Infiltrated Government Settles Border Dispute with Paleo-communist Cambodia

- Igor Sechin: Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Liaison with Western Hemisphere's Leftist Regimes Was Soviet-Era Weapons Smuggler to Latin America and Middle East

Pictured above: In an effort to resolve a border dispute, Thai regional army commander Wiboonsak Neeparn (left) and his Cambodian counterpart General Chea Morn co-chair a regional border committee consisting of the 4th military region of Cambodia and the 2rd Army area of Thailand, on October 24, 2008. Neo-Soviet Russia is extending its baleful influence into US ally Thailand. Cambodia remains a communist country to this day.

This week, reports state-run Novosti, the Thai government broke with convention by purchasing three Russian Mi-17 transport helicopters in a US$27.5 million deal approved by Prime Minister/Defense Minister Somchai Wongsawat. The Thai Royal Armed Forces currently own 200 US-built helicopters, most of which are more than 20 years old and many of which are not operational. "This is the first time that the Southeast Asian country has let down its military ally, the U.S., and chosen Russia," explains Alexei Kirichenko, associate professor at Moscow's Institute of Asian and African Studies. "Moscow has repeatedly tried to sell military equipment to Thailand, but all of those deals were invariably blocked, mainly for political reasons," Kirichenko continues. Coincidentally (or not?), Surapong Suebwonglee, the secretary general of the ruling People's Power Party, is an "ex"-communist guerrilla.

In a somewhat related story, Thailand has escaped the global financial panic that has hit other Asian economies due to an "ethic of financial caution" that its governments adopted following the 1997 financial crisis. "High liquidity and reliance on deposits as a source of cash have protected Thai banks from the vagaries of the stalled interbank lending market," states the Washington Post. "The banks here are surprisingly solid given what is happening in other markets," the same source quotes Vincent Milton, managing director of Fitch Ratings Thailand, as saying.

Meanwhile, Thailand and paleo-communist Cambodia, whose prime minister Hun Sen is an "ex"-Khmer Rouge cadre, have resolved their differences in the wake of several border clashes near the site of an ancient temple that was accorded United Nations World Heritage status in July. "The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation," relates the AFP news agency, "with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area." On the sidelines of the 7th Asia Europe Meeting in Beijing, Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat agreed to avoid future military clashes along the border, which is undemarcated and littered with mines left over from decades of civil war in Cambodia. Although Cambodian and Thai military officials consented to joint border patrols after an exchange of rocket and small arms fire between opposing troops on October 15, Cambodian commanders have since withdrawn from the agreement, insisting that such patrols are impossible in disputed areas. The communist-controlled creature known as the UN, it should be pointed out, has an illustrious history of stirring up strife, to wit its brutal suppression of the Katangan separatists in 1961.

Pictured here: Bolivian President Evo Morales (left) talks with Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera after a congressional session in La Paz, on October 21. Bolivia's Congress passed a law on Tuesday establishing the date for a referendum on a controversial new constitution. Linera is a former member of the Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army, which is probably one reason why the Morales' regime is so far left in ideological orientation.

On the other side of the world Russia is also unloading five of its helicopters on neo-communist Bolivia, a key member in Latin America's Red Axis. Bolivia's Trotskyist President Evo Morales has faced considerable internal turmoil as a result of the secessionist direction taken by the anti-socialist governments of the country's eastern, natural gas-rich states. The Kremlin's ambassador to Bolivia, Leonid Golubev, gloated earlier this month: "I would like to see Russia's ties to Bolivia one day approach the level of its growing partnership with Venezuela. We want to show the United States that Latin America is not their backyard. We also have interests in various spheres, including military ones. The purchase will be a first step: Buy the five helicopters and see how things go." Golubev added: "You can't do everything at once." Indeed. The relationship between Bolivia and Russia was dormant throughout the Cold War and the 1990s when the rightist Colorado Party dominated Bolivia's political system. Earlier this month Kremlin-run Gazprom, at whose helm sits "ex"-CPSU cadre Viktor Zubkov, also inked a natural gas exploration deal with Paris-based Total SA and Bolivian state energy company YPFB. During the signing ceremony Morales, a close ally of Venezuela's red dictator Hugo Chavez, lamented: "We have lost two and a half years by not deepening ties with Russia sooner."

No doubt the Soviet strategists are irritated by the sanctions that Washington has applied to state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, due to its dealings with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the US State Department classifies as a terrorist organization.

We have previously documented the role of Latin American leftists and terrorists in the Communist Bloc's nearly 50-year-old narco-subversion plot against the West, including that of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and Bolivia's highland coca farmers, which are responsible for funnelling at least 90 percent of the cocaine shipped into the USA. According to Stratfor, Russia is presently pursuing a tripartite strategy, based on tried-and-true methods refined during the Cold War, to eliminate US influence in Latin America. This strategy, executed by the Federal Security Service (the KGB's nom de jour), consists of naval interdiction, drug facilitation, and direct territorial challenge. Russian Deputy Prime Minister and reported KGB officer Igor Sechin, who has in recent months visited Communist Cuba, Red Venezuela, and neo-Sandinista Nicaragua, was the Soviet Union's point man for weapons smuggling throughout Latin America and the Middle East. Stratfor's analysis essentially confirms Joseph Douglass' classic thesis in Red Cocaine (1990):

South America is a wide and varying land with very little to offer Russian interests. Most of the states are commodity providers, much like the Soviet Union was and Russia is today, so they are seen as economic competitors. Politically, they are useful as anti-American bastions, so the Kremlin encourages such behavior whenever possible. But even if every country in South America were run by anti-American governments, it would not overly concern Washington; these states, alone or en masse, lack the ability to threaten American interests … in all ways but one.

The drug trade undermines American society from within, generating massive costs for social stability, law enforcement, the health system and trade. During the Cold War, the Soviets dabbled with narcotics producers and smugglers, from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to the highland coca farmers of Bolivia. It is not so much that the Soviets encouraged the drug trade directly, but that they encouraged any group they saw as ideologically useful.

Stratfor expects future Russian involvement in such activities to eclipse those of the past. After the Soviet fall, many FSB agents were forced to find new means to financially support themselves. (Remember it was not until 1999 that Vladimir Putin took over the Russian government and began treating Russian intelligence like a bona fide state asset again.) The Soviet fall led many FSB agents, who already possessed more than a passing familiarity with things such as smuggling and organized crime, directly into the heart of such activities. Most of those agents are — formally or not — back in the service of the Russian government, now with a decade of gritty experience on the less savory side of intelligence under their belts. And they now have a deeply personal financial interest in the outcome of future operations.

Drug groups do not need cash from the Russians, but they do need weaponry and a touch of training — needs which dovetail perfectly with the Russians’ strengths. Obviously, Russian state involvement in such areas will be far from overt; it just does not do to ship weapons to the FARC or to one side of the brewing Bolivian civil war with CNN watching. But this is a challenge the Russians are good at meeting. One of Russia’s current deputy prime ministers, Igor Sechin, was the USSR’s point man for weapons smuggling to much of Latin America and the Middle East. This really is old hat for them.

State-run Itar-Tass reports today that Ambassador Golubev met with President Morales to discuss the subject of combating the drug trade. "We’ll cooperate with Bolivia in combating drug trafficking because Russia like Bolivia is a victim of this evil,” the Kremlin's agent announced, no doubt doing his best to avoid smirking. In the near future, he revealed, Bolivia's Deputy Minister of Social Protection Felipe Caceres, who serves as Morales' "drug czar" in more ways than one, will travel to Moscow to sign bilateral agreements that cement the linkages between Moscow and La Paz. Under the guise of business as usual, the Soviets are still pursuing subversion as usual in America's backyard.

End Times File: Antichrist makes his move, Part 1: EU member-states accuse Sarkozy of power grab for permanent role; Putin warns against dollar buying

- European/French President Nicolas Sarkozy Presents Himself as World's Top Crisis Solver, Embraces Obama

- Barack Obama: Sarkozy Is "My Very Dear Friend" and "A Rock Star"

- Shadow Government Statistics: US Unemployment Rate Actually 15% (source)

- Global Credit Crunch Threatens to End China's (Communist-Controlled) "Economic Miracle"

Now that the global financial crisis is in freefall--with a few ropes representing the futile bailout packages proferred by the West's central banks fluttering in the wind--the Communist Bloc is openly targeting the US economy for isolation and destruction. On Wednesday Russia's KGB-communist dictator urged investors against buying dollars: "It's a dubious business. It's not clear what will happen to the dollar." Meanwhile, the Moscow-Beijing Axis and one of its chief client states, India, will coordinate a joint response to the crisis during next month's G20 summit. “The main thing," announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "is that they not only gather together, but that they also work on the basis of collective analysis."

When the prime minister of Russia feels free to utter such comments, then it may be worth considering the possibility that someone somwhere is plotting a strategic or terrorist nuclear attack on US soil in the weeks and months ahead.

Pictured above: Sarkozy addresses the opening ceremony of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opened the two-day conference, attended by leaders from 43 countries in Asia and Europe, with the primary intent of solving economic issues.

The G20 will meet in Washington DC on November 15. On the agenda will be the formation of "Bretton Woods 2," a new world financial order that will undoubtedly benefit the banksters in New York and London, as well as the Moscow Leninists who, following the theory of dialectial materialism, do not hesitate to employ capitalism to advance communism. This meeting was called by US President George W. Bush, whose signing of the US$700 billion financial sector bailout has effectively nationalized the US banking system, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

On October 18 Sarkozy invited himself to Camp David where, according to The Economist, he appeared next to “dear George”, gushed about “the great American nation,” and "called for a special summit of G8 countries to 'refound capitalism'" soon after the November presidential election in the USA. "The Americans should host it," he declared, “because the crisis took off in New York." Bush, startled, "limply agreed." No one bothered to tell Bush and Sarkozy that the "moralization of financial markets" and "refounding capitalism" is the goal of social democrats and "soft" communists everywhere. Accompanying Sarkozy was "ex"-communist European Commission President Jose Manual Barroso, both of whom decided to apply some pressure on the US president after they wrapped up a summit in Canada.

In Asia panic selling once again gripped financial markets today, as investors dumped equities in the face of the new global recession, reports Forbes:

In a third straight day of steep losses, benchmark indexes in Japan and South Korea plunged through psychologically important levels to multiyear lows on dismal earnings and outlooks from bellwether electronics giants. Even without the drag of such earnings disappointments by major exporters, Hong Kong shares plummeted as well, and weak resource prices sent Australian equities lower to a lesser but still substantial degree.

The global credit cruch has adversely affected China's communist-controlled factories. According to China Central Television, 67,000 companies declared bankruptcy in the first half of 2008 and 20 million Chinese workers in Mao's glorious workers' paradise lost their jobs.

The New Roman Empire Poised to Displace US Dominance in Global Economy

Empire builder Sarkozy is anxious to transform his temporary post as European Union president into a permanent role with command over a unified European Army. In spite of his supposed free market sympathies, Sarkozy is also demanding an international "economic government" that will support Europe's single currency and assuage the world credit crisis. In response, EU member states are accusing Sarkozy of a power grab that will extend his presidency over the international political-economic union. One diplomat from a small EU member state warned: "Mr Sarkozy is trying to become, by the back door, President of the EU. It also seems he wants to be President of France at the same time."

President Sarkozy also intends to implement a €175 billion stimulus package and strategic investment fund that will reinvograte key sectors of the French economy by end of the year. Comparing the current global credit crunch to the "franc fort" deflation of the 1930s, Sarkozy promises "dramatic action in all fields of economic management." "We will intervene massively whenever a strategic enterprise needs our money," Sarkozy declared.

In addition to leading the EU, Sarkozy is the architect of the revived Roman Empire of Bible prophecy, the Union for the Mediterranean (also known by its French acroynm UPM), and holds the rotating co-presidency of that new body with Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. In May the Turkish media described the intricate relationship between the executives of the EU and its Eurbian offspring:

The term for the Mediterranean co-presidency will be two years, but the EU co-president will change every six months parallel to the six-month term for the EU presidency. France is expected to be the union's president from the EU side during the first summit of the union, since the document states the EU country holding the bloc's rotating presidency will hold the presidency from the EU side for the first summit of the union. France is taking over the EU term presidency on July 1, 2008 for six months. Sarkozy wants to take over the initial co-presidency together with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for two years.

Thus, we see that the ambitious (proto-dictatorial) Sarkozy does not want to abide by his own rules. He wants to hold onto the presidency of the EU and co-presidency of the UPM for (at least) two years. The UPM already boasts its own legislature, the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA). First established in 2003, the EMPA recommended itself earlier this month as the UPM's formal legislative body.

An Obama presidency in the White House will sit well with not only the Soviet strategists but also Sarkozy himself. Back in July Democratic presidential contender Barack Hussein Obama made a pitstop in Paris where, according to USA Today, he "came away with an important French connection." Indeed. A larger excerpt about that meeting (pictured above) follows:

Outside the Elysee Palace, bystanders chanted the Democratic presidential candidate's signature slogan: "Yes we can." Inside, French president Nicolas Sarkozy offered an effusive welcome.

"The adventure of Barack Obama is an adventure that speaks to the hearts of the French," Sarkozy said, at a joint press conference with the senator after an hour-long private meeting.

The French president called Obama's promise of more U.S.- European cooperation "good news."

Obama, in turn, called Sarkozy "my very dear friend" and "a rock star." The French president's pro-American views are the reason "everybody started to call French fries French fries again in the cafeteria," said Obama, referring to Capitol Hill lawmakers' decision to change the menu item to "freedom fries" in a fit of pique over France's opposition to the invasion of Iraq.

When the press conference was over, the two men exited with their arms around each other.

No, Obama is not the Antichrist, as some speculate, but he will be a willing accomplice of the Man of Sin. This is a role that Satan will possibly confer upon Sarkozy, whose name in the ancient Assyrian means "Prince of Darkness" or "Prince of Tribulation," and whose maternal ancestors, the Mallahs of Salonika, Greece, apparently migrated from Israel to Syria in ancient times. Some Bible prophecy experts, it should be noted, believe Antichrist will have a Syrian heritage, in addition to emerging from the revived Roman Empire. Dispensational theologian Clarence Larkin wrote in the early 20th century:

From what we have thus far learned of the Antichrist, the probability is that he will be a SYRIAN JEW, for it is not likely that the Jews will accept as their Messiah one who is not a Jew, unless the claimant by false pretense makes them believe he is one. This, however, does not prevent the Antichrist being a Roman citizen, and the political head of the revived Roman Empire, for Saul of Tarsus was both a Jew and a Roman citizen.

WW4 File: Tbilisi: Russia massing 7,000 troops in S. Ossetia, twice the figure promised for military base; Russia, Iran form natural gas cartel

- Russian FM Lavrov: EU Observers Failing to Curb Georgian Violations of Peace Plan in Breakaway Regions (source)

- "President" Medvedev Briefs Russia's New Ambassadors to South Ossetia and Abkhazia (source)

Today Georgia's Interior Ministry, Bloomberg reports, accused Russia of deploying additional troops into South Ossetia, bringing the total to 7,000 soldiers in the breakaway region recognized only by Moscow and the neo-Sandinista regime in Managua. Previous news stories from the Caucasus region reported that Russia intends to permanently deploy 3,800 troops each to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia's other separatist region. Whether the number of Russian troops in South Ossetia is 3,800 or 7,000, Georgia remains a Soviet-occupied country, notwithstanding modest US-NATO intervention during the August Caucasian War. The Moscow Leninists may be preparing for a final push toward Georgia's capital to topple the regime of Mikhail Saakashvili--whose role as a Kremlin agent provocateur should not be dismissed--when the Western Alliance is least able to come to Georgia's defense (i.e., during the US presidential election in less than two weeks).

Pictured above: The USS Barry, a destroyer that is part of the 6th fleet based in Naples, arrives in the Georgian Black Sea port city of Poti on October 18, 2008, on a "routine visit." According to the US embassy in Tbilisi the ship was carrying neither humanitarian nor military aid.

Georgia Says Russia Has Massed 7,000 Troops in South Ossetia
By Helena Bedwell

Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Russia has deployed as many as 7,000 soldiers in the separatist region of South Ossetia, leading Georgia to suspect "further provocations'' following a five-day war in August, a Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Shota Utiashvili said Georgia has been monitoring "suspicious movements'' by Russia's military in South Ossetia, the object of Georgia's war with Russia. "Up to 2,000 soldiers have entered the region which, added to troops already in the area, make at least 7,000,'' he said by telephone today in the capital Tbilisi.

The South Ossetian government denied Georgia's claim about a Russian troop buildup. "What Mikheil Saakashvili's government says about us and our Russian allies is nonsense,'' spokeswoman Irina Gagloyeva said by telephone from the regional capital Tskhinvali. "Some troops are here, but we feel safe with them around since we face continual provocations from the Georgian side.''

Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, from Georgia on Aug. 26. Only Nicaragua has followed suit. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sept. 8 that his decision to recognize the regions was ``final'' and ``irrevocable.'' Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said the following day that Russia had agreed to deploy about 3,800 soldiers in each region.

A European Union-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended the fighting in Georgia requires Russia to remove its forces to their pre-conflict positions. Russia sent about 10,000 soldiers into Georgia during the fighting, according to state-run news service RIA Novosti.

Under a subsequent deal reached by Medvedev and his counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy of France, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, Russia agreed to withdraw its forces from "Georgian territory outside South Ossetia and Abkhazia,'' Sarkozy said on Sept. 8. He said the agreement was "the maximum we could get.''

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said on Oct. 20 that Russia had failed to meet its obligations under the cease-fire.

Meanwhile, state-run Novosti reports that the Russian Navy's missile cruiser Varyag and four anti-submarine warfare ships from the Pacific Fleet have completed a three-day exercise that included search-and-destroy operations against mock enemy (read US Navy) submarines, and surface-to-air and coast-to-sea missile launches. Between September 29 and October 5, the Far East Military District, including air defense units, the Russian Air Force's Far East contingents, and the Pacific Fleet conducted a tactical exercise as part of the Stability-2008 strategic maneuvers. The Coast-2008 exercise ran from September 29 though October 5 and presented a scenario in which Russian forces simulated an operation to defend the infrastructure of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands from potential "terrorist attacks, and secure "safe navigation" in adjacent waters. Since Japan contests the Soviet occupation of the four southern-most Kurils, it is more likely that the Kremlin is foreseeing a possible military conflict with Tokyo, with which it has technically been at war since 1945.

Pictured here: Chadian rebels cross the desert during an attack that led to heavy fighting against government troops in the eastern town of Gos Beida on June 14, 2008.

Further afield, reports Novosti, the Russian Air Force is ready to send a helicopter group with more than 100 servicemen to Chad as part of the European Union's peacekeeping operation in that war-weary Saharan country. Fully deployed, the Russian peacekeeping contingent will total up to 200 servicemen, plus four unarmed Mi-8MT helicopters, and remain in the conflict zone for up to a year. Rebels allegedly armed by Sudan's government are endeavoring to oust Chadian President Idriss Deby.

In September Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev not only committed a Russian military contingent to Chad, but also the neighboring Central African Republic in support of a United Nations mission in that country. One Russian helicopter group, consisting of 120 Russian soldiers, is also operating in Sudan under the aegis of UN and the African Union. In addition to a revitalized Russian naval presence near Yemen and Somalia, we can see that the Kremlin's baleful influence can be felt throughout northeastern Africa.

In order to bolster its aging but still dangerous military force, the Kremlin has under KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin resorted to energy imperialism to keep the European Union subservient. To that end, Russian, Iranian, and Qatari delegations met in Tehran this past Tuesday to form a natural gas cartel that will control 60 percent of the world's supply. "The notion of a gas cartel was brought up in January 2007 by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei," reports the Jerusalem Post, "but it is now gaining momentum and may require just a few more meetings before an accord is finalized." The EU, quite naturally, opposed the cartel, preferring a free market for energy. This scruple, though, has not prevented European leaders from nationalizing (communizing) their banking systems in the midst of the current global financial crisis.

USSR2 File: Back in the USSR: Hammer and sickle-wielding Worker and Peasant Woman statue to return to 37-meter-high platform in Moscow by 2010

Ever since the stage-managed "collapse" of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991, Russian politicians--nearly all of whom are open or "ex" communists--have squabbled over whether to remove, retain, or restore certain iconic features of the Soviet era, such as Lenin's Mausoleum, the statue of Cheka founder Felix Dzerzhinsky, and The Worker and the Peasant Woman statue.

In spite of all the bluster and Mikhail Gorbachev's disengenous prediction this summer that the first Soviet dictator will be lowered into the sod in the near future, Vladimir's mummy is still on display in Red Square. "Iron" Felix's likeness is yet again the subject of an intense movement to rehabilitate his legacy over objections of the Russian Orthodox Church. Finally, Vera Mukhina's prime example of socialist realism art, state-run Novosti reports below, will be mounted on a 37-meter-high platform in Moscow, probably in 2010.

With Russians still nostalgic for their Soviet past, the Kremlin's ongoing preparations for a military confrontation with the West are perfectly understandable. Indeed, communism is alive and well throughout the world, such as in Japan where young people disillusioned by the global financial crisis are joining the communist party in droves. Bolstered by new recruits, the Japanese Communist Party now has 415,000 cadres.

Incidentally, aristocrat-turned-communist revolutionary Dzerzhinsky was born on September 11, 1877, according to the modern Gregorian calendar. Did you catch that? September 11.

Iconic Soviet-era statue to be mounted on 37-meter platform
18:4422/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - A giant 1930s Soviet-era statue will be mounted on a 37 meters (121.4 feet) high platform in Moscow once its restoration is completed, a Moscow official said on Wednesday.

Restoration work on the 24.5-meter high statue, The Worker and the Peasant Woman, by Vera Mukhina, was launched in 2003. Moscow authorities originally said it would be back and fully restored in 2005, but later moved the date to 2010.

The iconic statue was made for the International Exhibition in Paris in 1937, where it was exhibited on a 37-meter high platform, but after it was returned to Moscow it was mounted on a 10-meter platform.

"It has been decided to elevate the statue to its historic height, as it was exhibited in Paris, i.e. at a height of 37.5 meters," said Valery Shevchuk, the head of the Moscow Committee on Cultural Heritage.

After the monument was exhibited in Paris its image was used in thousands of posters, cards, stamps and became the logo for the then-Soviet and now Russian film studio Mosfilm.

The statue, made from sheets of stainless steel, is a classic example of socialist realism art. The worker's arm holds aloft a hammer and the peasant woman a sickle - two primary symbols of the Soviet Union.

USA File: NATO generals from USA, Britain, France, Italy, and Germany confer secretly in Adirondacks; top US, Russian brass huddles in Finland

- US Admiral Mullen Attends NATO Generals' Conference at Lake Placid, New York, October 18-19, Before Flying to Finland for October 21 Meeting with Russia's Top General

- International Atomic Energy Agency Report: Russian Scientist Helped Iran Design Its First Nuclear Bomb

This past weekend, the Press-Republican of Plattsburg, New York reported on October 21, top generals and admirals from the USA, Britain, France, Italy, and Germany arrived at Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear for a secret two-day meeting, rumored to take place at the Whiteface Lodge and Resort in Lake Placid. US Department of Defense (DoD) spokesman Capt. John Kirby confirmed that Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sir Graham Stirrup of Britain’s Royal Air Force, German Army General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, French Army General Jean-Louis Georgelin, and Italian Air Force General Vincenzo Camporini were present. The meeting was apparently scheduled at least one month ago, according to local officials who were approached by the DoD. Pictured above: Military personnel guard a US government Boeing 757 airplane parked at the Adirondack Regional Airport last Friday.

Top world military leaders meet in Lake Placid
By Robert Barron
CNHI News Service

LAKE PLACID — Some of the most powerful military commanders in the world met in Lake Placid over the weekend.

Speculation was rife after a C-32, the military equivalent to a Boeing 757 airliner, touched down Friday at the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.

The 155-foot-long jumbo jet, which is used as Air Force 2 when the vice president is aboard, was emblazoned with “United States of America” on the side and parked on the eastern edge of the airport.

“I was contacted by the Department of Defense approximately a month ago, and they indicated they had some foreign dignitaries that they wanted to bring in through the airport,” said Ross Dubarry, the airport’s manager.

Following the landing, a motorcade led by State Police rushed Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and top military commanders from four nations — Britain, France, Germany and Italy — to a resort in Lake Placid.

The motorcade returned Sunday afternoon, and the C-32 and an Italian military jet departed.

Defense Department officials wouldn’t comment this weekend, but the day after the planes had left, Capt. John Kirby, a special assistant to Mullen, confirmed that the top military leaders from five countries met in Lake Placid to discuss mutual security issues, including Afghanistan.

“I’m not at liberty to go into the details that was discussed, but they went through a wide range of security issues that are common to all five nations,” Kirby said.

“They discussed, in broad terms, progress in Afghanistan and where we’re heading with regard to Afghanistan, particularly the NATO mission there. And they discussed other mutual issues of security concerns.”

Security was tight at the Whiteface Lodge and Resort — the site where the military leaders were rumored to have stayed, though the resort would not confirm that.

Kirby confirmed that Sir Graham Stirrup of Britain’s Royal Air Force, German Army Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, French Army Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin and Italian Air Force Gen. Vincenzo Camporini took part in the two-day meetings.

He said the meeting is an annual event that is rotated amongst the countries.

The U.S. military picked Lake Placid because while it’s relatively close to Washington, D.C., it’s still fairly tranquil, Kirby said.

“They try to choose sites that are relatively quiet that allow these leaders to focus on the issues and not be distracted by other things.”

Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller, whose town owns and operates the airport, said the airport was contacted about a month ago about whether it could handle large aircraft and foreign dignitaries.

Pictured here: Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev greets Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov and Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov at Medvedev's Gorki residence, near Moscow, on September 20, 2008. On June 2 Makarov replaced the belligerent Yuri Baluyevsky as the Kremlin's top general. Subsequently, Baluyevsky, along with ex-Federal Security Service chief Nikolai Patrushev, transferred to the Russian Security Council.

Meanwhile, reports a major news agency, US and Russian military officials arrived in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday, October 21 for a "very low key" meeting. This is the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the two countries' brass since Russia's invasion of US ally Georgia in August. The participants included Admiral Mullen--fresh from his secret weekend meeting with Western generals in Upstate New York--and his Russian counterpart, General Makarov. Pentagon officials declined to provide details of the meeting's agenda. Finland's Defense Ministry, however, admitted that the country's defense chief, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, organized the meeting at an isolated manor house near the national capital. This is not the first time that the heads of the US and Russian militaries have met covertly to pursue dubious global agendas that compromise American sovereignty.

Pictured below: Cars carrying members of the US military delegation, including Admiral Mullen, leave the rural meeting site in Vantaa, Finland, earlier today.

US, Russian military chiefs meet in Finland
Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:31 AM EDT
Matti Huuhtanen

HELSINKI — American and Russian military leaders met Tuesday for unannounced talks in Finland, the highest-level military meeting between the two countries since Russia's war with U.S. ally Georgia in August, a U.S. Embassy official said.

The participants included Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart, Gen. Nikolai Makarov, U.S. Embassy spokesman Kim Hargan said. Makarov became Russia's top military officer in June.

Hargan declined to give any details on the talks, which had not been previously announced in Finland, a neutral Nordic country that shares an 800-mile border with Russia and was the venue of several U.S.-Soviet meetings during the Cold War.

"They didn't want it to be high-profile or anything," Hargan said.

Finland's Defense Ministry said the head of the country's defense forces, Adm. Juhani Kaskeala, organized the meeting at an isolated manor house outside Helsinki. It gave no other details.

The war between Russia and Georgia strained already tense ties. Georgia, a stalwart U.S. ally and aspiring NATO member, has received hundreds of millions of dollars in economic aid and its armed forces received extensive training from U.S. instructors.

Those moves have irked Russia, which views Georgia as part of its historic sphere of influence and fears the prospect of another former Soviet republic joining NATO.

Washington and Moscow have also clashed over U.S. plans to base elements of a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia fears the system would be used to either spy on its military or reduce its nuclear deterrent.

In Washington, Pentagon officials declined to give any specifics about the meeting. One official said the Defense Department wants to "continue to foster a good military-to-military relationship with an important country."

Another said information about the meeting had been kept "very low key" — meaning the number of people aware it was going to happen was limited — and that he had no information about any specific issues discussed.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about it on the record.

Two months ago, Russia halted military cooperation with NATO, accusing the West of "double standards" over the Georgia conflict. However, it said it still wants to keep working with the alliance to fight terrorism and drug trafficking.

Moscow said the freeze would halt military exercises, exchanges of military delegations, visits by high-level NATO officials to Moscow and stopovers by NATO warships in Russian ports.

Without minutes, unofficial leaks, or candid confessions from participants, it is impossible to know precisely what the generals attending the secret meetings in New York State and Finland discussed. However, it is probably not unreasonable to conclude that at these two conferences American, European, and Russian generals considered the ramifications of the following issues: 1) planned US radar/missile interceptor bases in Europe, 2) the new US radar base in Israel, 3) Russia's occupation of Georgia's breakaway regions, 4) the ever-simmering Israeli-Syrian-Palestinian conflict, 5) the possibility of Iran producing its first nuclear bomb in 2009 (with a little help from, surprise, a Russian scientist), 6) the reactivation of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor, and 7) the global financial crisis.

Communist Bloc Military Updates: CIS to hold joint air defense exercise this week; Kremlin to build early warning radar base in Kaliningrad

- US Assistant Secretary of State Fried: Russia Not in Compliance with EU-Brokered Cease-Fire Requiring Pull Back to Pre-War Positions

- Pravda: Bank Panic of 2008 to Lead to Demise of NATO

On October 23, two days after the conclusion of the Kremlin's four-week Stability-2008 war game, which is a dry run for launching a nuclear preemptive strike against the West, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will carry out a joint air defense command and staff exercise involving more than 50 fighters, bombers, and helicopters. The military pact undergirding the CIS is the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Novosti reports that a "particular feature" of the exercise is the deployment of Russia's Beriev A-50 "Mainstay" airborne early warning aircraft (pictured above).

Ex-Soviet states to test integrated air defense this week
18:37 20/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - More than 50 combat aircraft will participate in a joint command-and-staff air defense exercise conducted by members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Thursday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Monday.

"The exercise will involve over 50 fighters, bombers and helicopters. A particular feature of the exercise is the deployment of Russia's A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.

Combat-duty units of the CIS integrated air defense network, which are stationed in Kazakhstan, Siberia, central Russia, Belarus and Armenia will take part in the exercise.

The CIS, a loose alliance of former Soviet states, comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds associate status, while Georgia recently withdrew over the South Ossetia conflict.

The integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member countries on February 10, 1995.

In a related story, reports state-run Voice of Russia, "Russia is to respond to the American missile defences in the Czech Republic and Poland by building an early-warning radar station in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea. The station should be in place before 2012. President Medvedev issued instructions for this last August."

Meanwhile, Soviet communist organ Pravda views the "bank panic of 2008" as an opportunity to knock down NATO a peg or two. Referring to the neoconservatives in Washington and London as "Anglo-American Trotskyites" and thereby revealing its own Stalinist heart, Pravda editorializes: "Their ability to project power grows weaker every day with a new DOW low." A larger excerpt follows, demonstrating yet again that the Communist Bloc considers economic collapse as the forerunner to the political and military demise of the West:

The Bank Panic of 2008 may be, however the final stone to knock down this aged and staggering Goliath. The Anglo-American Trotskyites who created this mess are in short, bankrupt. Their ability to project power grows weaker every day with a new DOW low. At the same time, nations such as Iceland, once one of their key military posts, are seeking aid not from their so called allies but from Russia itself. Bound together by economic or cultural or religious or historical ties, or all of the above, nations such as Iceland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Czech, Slovakia and others will naturally pull away from the now bankrupt alliance. Historical ties that were supposed to have died along with history, as proclaimed by one of the fathers of Trotskyite Neoconism: Fukuyama, will now return the globe to an equilibrium long not seen and one that promises more stability than the Internationalist regimes of the past 100 years.

Finally, the Sitzkrieg phase of the Fourth World War continues to simmer in Georgia. According to Bloomberg, "U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Russia has failed to meet its obligations under a European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended a five-day war with Georgia in August." The same source quotes Fried as saying in Tbilisi today: "The cease-fire accord negotiated by Sarkozy requires Russian armed forces to withdraw to their positions before the outbreak of hostilities. The Russians haven't done so. They're in compliance with [only] some of it." In September Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that Russia had negotiated with the separatist regimes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to permanently deploy about 3,800 soldiers in each region. The first session of talks between Moscow and Tbilisi on security and refugees was suspended in Geneva on October 15. European Union special envoy Pierre Morel explained that a second session will resume on November 18.

From the vantage of the Golitsynian thesis, the "peace talks" between the crypto-communist regimes in Russia and Georgia are farcical, serving only to perpetuate the lie that Soviet communism is dead, even as the Soviets reposition their assets around the world (Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, Yemen, etc.).

End Times File: Scenario for Ezekiel's early-tribulation Magog invasion of Israel building: Russia responds angrily to US radar base in Negev desert

Israeli Military's Use of "Samson Option," Destruction of Damascus Prophesied by Isaiah Looms as Russia Threatens to Arm Warships at Syrian Port with Iskander-E Missiles

In a previous post we considered some of the current geopolitical arrangements that are laying the groundwork for the early-tribulation invasion of Israel by Russia and its Arab/Muslim allies, described in great detail by the prophet Ezekiel 2,500 years ago. The installation of a US Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance base in the Negev desert, the first-ever friendly foreign military base on Israeli soil, has provided the Kremlin with yet another rationale to attack the Jewish state--even though the base's stated objective is to track incoming missiles from Israel's archnemesis Iran--and thereby fulfil Bible prophecy.

Previously designated by the US Missile Defense Agency as the Forward Based X-Band Transportable (FBX-T) Radar, the AN/TPY-2 (pictured above) is a phased array radar that supports missile interceptors in the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. Intriguingly, reports Time, "Israel will have no direct access to the data collected by the radar . . . It will only be fed intelligence second hand, on a need-to-know basis, from the Americans — unless the radar picks up an immediate, direct attack on Israel . . ." Israeli Air Force officials, moreover, are annoyed that Defense Minister Ehud Barak did not evaluate the top-secret X-band radar's potential impact on Israeli military operations, especially the testing of a new Gil anti-tank missile, before issuing an approval.

As a result of Barak's surreptitious interaction with the Pentagon, Israeli bureaucrats who are "out of the loop" are concerned that the AN/TPY-2, which the Americans originally sought to place in Turkey or Jordan, is designed to detect Russian ICBMs, thereby turning Israel into a target for Kremlin military action. The radar installation, which features an effective 2,000-kilometer range as indicated in the map below, operates under the control of the US Army's European Command.

Israelis Wary of a US Radar Base in the Negev
Thursday, Oct. 02, 2008
By Tim McGirk and Aaron J. Klein / Jerusalem

When a contingent of U.S. soldiers opens a radar facility on a mountaintop in the Negev desert next month, Israel will for the first time in its 60-year history have a permanent foreign military base on its soil. And despite the early warning that the American radar would provide if Iran launches a missile attack on Israel, some senior Israeli officials are nonetheless wary about its presence. Complained one top official, "It's a like a pair of golden handcuffs on Israel."

From its mountain perch in Har Keren, the U.S. radar will be able to monitor the take-off of any aircraft or missile up to 1,500 miles away — giving Israel a vital extra 60-70 seconds to react if Iran fired a missile, Israeli military sources told TIME. Israel has its own radar system trained on Iran, but it's range is much shorter. Still, some see several drawbacks for Israel in the radar, and blame Defense Minister Ehud Barak for requesting its deployment in Israel without consulting anyone other than his chief of staff. Some in the upper echelons of the Israeli Defense Force fear that although the radar will enhance Israel's protection against Iran, it may also open up Israel's own military secrets to the Americans.

The radar will allow the U.S. to keep a close watch on anything moving in Israeli skies, "even a bee", says one top Israeli official who asked not to be identified. The U.S. may be a close ally, but Israel nonetheless has aviation secrets it would rather not share. "Even a husband and wife have a few things they'd like to keep from each other," explains this source. "Now we're standing without our clothes on in front of America."

Israel will have no direct access to the data collected by the radar, which looks like a giant taco. It will only be fed intelligence second hand, on a need-to-know basis, from the Americans — unless the radar picks up an immediate, direct attack on Israel, Israeli sources claim. And Israeli officials expressed concern that the radar's installation may anger Moscow, since its range will enable the U.S. to monitor aircraft in the skies over southern Russia. When the U.S. stationed anti-missile radar and interceptor systems in Poland and the Czech Republic — ostensibly directed at a future Iranian threat, although the Russians believe their own missile capability is its real target — Moscow warned those countries that the move could result in their being added to the target list of Russia's missiles.

Israeli military sources say that Barak requested the radar from U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in July, after U.S. requests to station such a system in Turkey and Jordan were rejected. Barak was eager to acquire the advantage of the early warning that the system would provide in the event of a possible Iranian attack. But with the Russians already peeved at Israel for having had military advisers inside Georgia when war broke out over South Ossetia, the radar's deployment in Israel, say officials, might make Moscow even more likely to supply Iran and Syria with its highly-accurate SA300 anti-aircraft missile batteries.

The top-secret X-band radar will be staffed by around 120 American technicians and security guards in the Negev, say Israeli military sources. But Israeli planning and air force officials are perturbed that Defense Minister Barak did not carry out any evaluation of the radar's possible impact on Israeli military operations before approving it. For one thing, Israeli defense experts are worried that waves from the X-band radar might throw off the accuracy of a new Gil anti-tank missile also being tested in the Negev. "The Bush Administration is in the mood to give us anything, as long as we don't attack Iran," gripes one senior official. "So why did we take this radar?"

Pictured here: On October 7 outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert trekked to Moscow, where he implored the Russians to not sell an advanced air defense system to Iran. Olmert left Moscow with "President" Dmitry Medvedev's pie-crust promise to not beef up Tehran and Damascus' defensive or offensive capabilities on the condition that Israel did not make similar moves. As a friendly gesture, Israel offered to hand over Sergei's Courtyard, a nine-acre czarist-era property in downtown Jerusalem, to Kremlin ownership. Something tells me that nine acres of prime Israeli real estate will not satiate the Soviet Bear's appetite for security and conquest.

Indeed, the neo-Soviet leadership, Debkafile reports below, has responded angrily to the placement of the US radar base in Israel by threatening to station its Iskander-E missiles in Tartus, Syria, where it is currently refurbishing a Cold War-era port for 10 warships deployed under the Black Sea Fleet command. "In the broader context of its contest with Washington," Debkafile explains, "the Kremlin regards the US radar system installed in the Negev to be an integral part of the US missile shield deployed in the face of Russian protests in Poland and the Czech Republic. Moscow has already indicated it may hit back by moving nuclear-armed Iskander-E missiles to the Baltic opposite the US batteries deployed in East Europe."

The guided missile cruiser Moskva is reportedly one of the Russian warships now stationed at the Syrian port of Tartus. This vessel is pictured below at the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol on September 11, 2008, about one week before it arrived at Tartus. The Moskva was also deployed to blockade Georgia's Black Sea coast during the Caucasian War in August.

Russians, Syrians discuss missile shield – initially for Tartus port
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
October 18, 2008

The Russian-Syrian discussions in progress in both their capitals cover the disposition of air defense S-300PMU-2 and Iskander-E missiles – to be deployed initially around Syria’s Mediterranean ports where Moscow is building naval bases.

DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources reveal that these two high-powered items have not been excluded from the big Russian-Syrian arms deal under discussion, despite appeals from Washington and Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who made a special trip to Moscow for this purpose earlier this month.

As soon as he flew home, the foreign ministry spokesman in Moscow maintained ambiguously on Oct. 9 that Russia would not supply air defense systems to “volatile regions.” He said such decisions are based on regional security issues and “the need to maintain a balance of forces” in the region.

This was taken to mean that if weapons delivered to Israel were seen by Moscow as upsetting “the balance of forces,” Moscow would think again about withholding the S-300 and Iskander-E missiles.

Our Moscow sources disclose that the Russians now view the supply of the advanced American FBX-T anti-missile radar system to Israel in September and its deployment in the Negev base of Nevatim as a balance-breaker.

In the broader context of its contest with Washington, the Kremlin regards the US radar system installed in the Negev to be an integral part of the US missile shield deployed in the face of Russian protests in Poland and the Czech Republic. Moscow has already indicated it may hit back by moving nuclear-armed Iskander-E missiles to the Baltic opposite the US batteries deployed in East Europe.

Positioning missile systems at Syrian ports would be part of Russia’s overall military payback for the array of US missile and radar installations in Europe and the Middle East.

Therefore, DEBKAfile’s military sources report, the Kremlin may decide against handing the missiles to the Syrian army but prefer to install them to guard the Mediterranean naval bases Russians are building at the Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia.

Another option would be to outfit the Russian warships to be anchored in Syria ports with S-300 missiles, which are already part of the weapons array of the Peter the Great missile cruiser, which carried out maneuvers in the Mediterranean last week.

In either case, Russian fingers would be on the controls of these batteries in the early stages of delivery.

At the same time, the big Russian arms deal in negotiation would substantially boost and upgrade Damascus’ war armory with some pretty impressive hardware, all paid for by Tehran:

1. Mig-29 M2 fighter-bombers

2. Mig-31 fighter-bombers.

3. Su-30 Flanker bombers.

4. Mobile Tor-M1 air defense missiles, like the ones sold to Iran. Iran and Syria are obviously integrating their air and missile defense systems with Russian hardware, further facilitating Moscow’s military expansion in the Middle East.

5. Pantsir-C air defense missiles.

6. Extensive Russian upgrades of Syria’s antiquated T-62, T-72 and T-80 tanks.

7. Upgrades of Syrian SA-5 Gammon, S-125 and Pechora-2A missiles.

8. Advanced ATM anti-tank missiles.

Last year, too, Iran forked out for Syria’s Russian arms acquisitions.

While some Israeli leaders, including president Shimon Peres, predicted that falling oil prices would inhibit the two radical allies’ arms shopping plans, our military sources note this paradox: Iran has scarcely been affected by the international financial crisis because international sanctions have long isolated its financial system from international banking and taught the Islamic republic to live with an economy on the ropes.

These and other developments that have transformed the Jewish state into a potential target for Russian nuclear warheads, such as Israel's support for "post"-Soviet Georgia, prove that the translation of the church to heaven is nearing, to be followed by the seven-year tribulation of Daniel's 70th week (D70W) and the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. The Russian-Arab-Iranian attack on Israel and the destruction of Damascus prohesied by Isaiah, probably occuring in close proximity with each other and following the Israeli military's use of the Samson Option, will set the scene for the horrific events of D70W. Bible prophecy doesn't miss a beat.

Latin America File: Ex-FSB/KGB chief Patrushev meets Chavez in Caracas, discusses Medvedev's pending trip to Venezuela, joint war games in Caribbean

Here at Once Upon a Time in the West we are closely tracking Moscow's revitalized political-military activites in Latin America, especially with Communist Cuba, Bolivarian Venezuela, neo-Sandinista Nicaragua, and other leftist regimes like Bolivia. The Chinese state media, below, reports that Nikolai Patrushev, former chief of the Russian Federal Security Service (the KGB's nom de jour), met with Venezuela's red dictator Hugo Chavez in Caracas yesterday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the logistical aspects of the joint Soviet-Venezuelan naval exercise, slated to run between November 10 and 14 in the Caribbean Sea, and Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev's trip to the South American country after the drill.

Xinhua incorrectly identifies Patrushev as current head of the FSB. Earlier this year, this career Chekist transferred to the Russian Security Council, where he holds the position of secretary. Alexander Bortnikov, another career Chekist, is the new FSB/KGB chief. On October 13 the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Peter the Great left the Libyan port of Tripoli for Venezuela, leading a task force of several other warships.

Venezuelan president meets with Russian FSB director
2008-10-18 14:19:55

CARACAS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday met with Director of Russian Federal Service of Security(FSB) Nikolai Patrushev at the Miraflores Palace to discuss the visit of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to Venezuela and both navies' maneuver scheduled for Nov. 10-14 in the Caribbean Sea.

The joint military exercise "is not directed against the interests of other countries," Patrushev said, but seeks to contribute to the security of both countries

Russian navy's newest capital ship "Pyotr Veliky" and the nuclear cruiser Peter the Great, together with many Venezuelan ships will take part in the exercise.

The Russian warships departed on Sept. 22 from its base in the Barents Sea and will arrive in Venezuela after traveling 15,000 nautical miles and making a stop in Libya.

Patrushev is making an official visit to Venezuela, heading a delegation with the aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Venezuelan government said.

The "multi-faceted cooperation" between Venezuela and Russia was discussed during the meeting, Patrushev said, adding that he was satisfied with bilateral cooperation and had exchanged views with Chavez on the development of economic cooperation between both countries.

They also discussed issues concerning defense and interior affairs, drug trafficking control and the international situation.

Patrushev said President Medvedev would visit Caracas after the bilateral navy exercise. During his visit, both countries are expected to sign a range of agreements.

Pictured above: Chavez welcomes Patrushev to Miraflores Palace in Caracas, on October 17, 2008. Russia will soon ink a contract to deliver T-72 tanks and armored personnel vehicles to Venezuela. Two days before Patrushev met with Ecuador's leftist president Rafael Correa in Quito.

Communist Bloc Military Updates: UK, Norwegian fighter jets intercept eight Bear bombers near Nordic country's airspace on Thursday

Neo-Soviet Russia's four-week simulation for the Fourth World War, Stability-2008, has involved live-fire demonstrations of the Kremlin's nuclear triad. The drill for Moscow's big showdown with Washington DC, which is aborbed by the financial system meltdown, is slated to end on Tuesday. However, this past Thursday, reports the AFP news agency below, the Russian Air Force dispatched eight strategic bombers to the periphery of NATO airspace. There British and Norwegian fighter jets intercepted the nuclear-capable Tu-95 Bears in what has since 2007 become a routine phenonmenon now that the Russian military has some fuel to burn. The Russian bombers appeared over the Barents Sea on October 16, two days later than originally announced, proving that Western governments should trust nothing emerging from Kremlin mouthpieces.

A similar incident, in which RAF warplanes intercepted eight Bear bombers near UK airspace, occurred in September of last year.

Norwegian, British jets intercept Russian fighters again
Saturday, October 18, 2008

OSLO: Norwegian and British fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers over the north Atlantic, Norway’s military command said on Thursday.

Eight Russian Tupolev-95s were detected in international air space over the Barents Sea early on Thursday, said Wing Commander Jon Inge Oegland, a spokesman for Norway’s General Staff in Stavanger. “Following the established routines, we sent up two F-16s to mark out Norwegian air space. The Russian planes were close to Norwegian air space but they did not enter,” he said.

According to information obtained by AFP, British interceptors were also sent to the zone to shadow the Russian aircraft. “Russia had announced an aerial military exercise in the coming days,” said Oegland. “These latest flights are certainly linked to that."

Russia’s air force announced on October 13 that 12 of its strategic bombers would be taking part in strategic exercises in the region, but they were meant to run on October 13 and 14.

The encounter was just the latest in a series of such incidents in recent weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the resumption of long-range flights in international air space while he attended military exercises on August 17.

Even in the weeks before his statement, Britain and Norway had to scramble jets to intercept Russian planes near their airspace. Russian bombers had also been making increasingly frequent flights near US territory. Such flights were standard during the Cold War standoff with the United States and its western European allies, but were abandoned in 1992 amid financial difficulties that followed the Soviet collapse. afp

Pictured above: A Norwegian Air Force F-16 shadows a Russian Il-78 aerial tanker and a Bear bomber as they fly in international airspace on April 23, 2008. During this incident two Bears, two Il-78 tanker planes, and four Su-27 fighter jets flew near the Norwegian coast.

USSR2/EU/USA Files: Kremlin orders media blackout for Russian market woes, store shelves empty; "post"-communist states seek bailouts from IMF

- Italian PM and Putin Bud Berlusconi Invites Russia to Join European Union

- Russian Election Observers to Roam Freely around USA during Presidential Poll

In the 1984 film Red Dawn, to which we often make reference, the Soviet Union and its communist allies in Latin America launch an invasion of the Continental USA after the worst wheat harvest in decades in Russia, worldwide economic calamities, and political squabbling among NATO members. Fast forward to 2008. This year's wheat harvest in Russia, according to the Western media, was actually a bumper crop and the Kremlin expects to export 15 million tons of grain. Indeed, according to one source "Global 2008-09 wheat production is projected at a record 676.3 million metric tons (MT), up 5.5 million from last month, according to the latest forecast from the USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board."

This increased output should ideally force the price of wheat down, inflated last year due to a decline in output and increasing demand, but now international commerce is now hung up in ports around the world due to the credit crunch. Importers are being compelled to cough up cash to pay suppliers overseas. "While shipping has always been a cyclical industry whose fortunes rise and fall with the global economy, analysts said the current crisis over the drying up of credit is something they have never seen before," reports Canada's Financial Post. "The meltdown in financial markets has resulted in a dramatic slowdown in maritime trade," the same source reveals, "with major ports in Canada and the United States preparing for sharply reduced activity after several of the busiest years on record."

The credit crunch is not only emptying Icelandic supermarket shelves, but also Russian food stores, generating reminders among older Russians of bread lines from the Soviet era. Although shortages are not yet widespread, empty shelves are becoming more commonplace in Moscow. "So rapidly have events moved that many Russians are almost unaware of the meltdown," reports The Telegraph, "A government-ordered news blackout of the market's woes has helped perpetuate the ignorance, convincing many that it was only the West that was affected."

Meanwhile, the crypto-communist Putinist regime is taking advantage of the global crisis in the markets to scoop up stakes in private companies owned by Russia's Komsomol capitalists. In recent weeks, reports MSNBC, Russia's richest man and Putin bud Oleg Deripaska was forced to surrender prized assets to creditors, including his stake in North America's largest auto parts supplier, Magna International. Deripaska's Bank Soyuz stopped lending and was downgraded by ratings agencies. The automaker GAZ, in which he holds a majority stake, temporarily shut down assembly lines. Russia's second-richest man, Alexei Mordashov, slashed production at steel plants in Russia, Italy, and the United States. The holdings of Russia's third-wealthiest, Roman Abramovich lost as much as US$20 billion in paper value. On average, Russia's 110 billionaires have lost 50 percent of their wealth in the crisis. Olga Kryshtanovskaya, director of the Center for the Study of Elites, opines:

The crisis presents a political opportunity for Putin. With the tycoons weakened, he will be able to further consolidate the Kremlin's control of strategic industries that he believes never should have been privatized in the 1990s, especially the natural resources sector. When it's over, the state sector will be bigger, and there will be redistribution in favor of the Kremlin's friends. One cellular service provider, for example, had already been taken over by a billionaire with ties to the administration.

No doubt, the re-nationalization of industry will sit well with Communist Party of the Russian Federation Chairman Gennady Zyuganov, who nevertheless urged his puppet Putin to dump Kudrin as finance minister during an October 9 meeting. "The monetarist policy of the Finance Ministry and your team,including Kudrin, Khristenko, Gref, Ulyukayev and others, is defective," Interfax quotes Zyuganov as rebuking Putin. "New international realities require a totally different team, which iscapable of focusing on the industrial development and the human potential. We think that Mr. Kudrin and his team are incapable of fulfilling this mission."

Throughout the "old" Soviet Bloc the credit crisis is forcing "post"-communist states like Ukraine, Hungary, and Serbia to seek emergency sessions with the International Monetary Fund for financial handouts. Argentina, Ecuador, and Pakistan have already resorted to credit default swaps, reports The Telegraph, while Turkey and "post"-communist Lithuania, Lativa, Estonia, Romania, and Bulgaria are at risk as it becomes harder to finance current account deficits. "This is turning serious," commented Hans Redeker, currency chief at BNP Paribas. "Countries in Eastern Europe have been living beyond means for years and now they face a full-blown credit crunch. They are going to have to cut back on imports and that will push the eurozone deeper into recession."

In order to accelerate the demise of capitalism, Russian "businessmen," who are really agents speaking on behalf of the Kremlin, are urging that trade conducted with strategic partner China be conducted in the national currencies, rather than the US dollar. A bilateral forum sponsored by the Moscow-Beijing Axis will consider this request in late October. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao are expected to attend the forum, reports state-run Itar-Tass.

"Trust in the United States as the leader of the free world and the free economy, and confidence in Wall Street as the center of that trust, has been damaged, I believe, forever," Putin gloated on October 9, commenting on the failure of the US banking system, "There will be no return to the previous situation." Having effectively forced bankrupt America into isolation, Russia intends to absorb the EU, its very own creation from the beginning, via Gazprom. Conveniently for the Soviet strategists, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a faux rightist shill for Moscow, has invited Russia to join the European Union. "I feel that Russia is a Western nation. My project is that, in the coming years, the Russian Federation can become a member of the EU," Berlusconi gushed during the latest EU summit in Brussels today. Pardon me? Since when was Russia a "Western nation"?

Fellow faux rightist, Nikolas Sarkozy, the president of France and the EU mentioned that the subject was broached during the current EU summit: "Of course, nothing is ideal but look at what has already been achieved: in less than two months there has been a ceasefire, the pullout of Russian troops and the talks on the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have already started. We should have a frank, open and friendly dialogue with Russia, especially in the context of our energy security." There's the rub: Europe's submissive attitude toward Soviet aggression in the Caucasus is a function of its "energy security.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama will no doubt bend over backwards to facilitate the total Sovietization of Europe. Russian political analysts are predicting an Obama victory, a contingency for which the Soviets have prepared via the secretive Kissinger-Primakov Strategic Working Group on US-Russian bilateral relations. "In the eyes of Americans, McCain answers for Bush... The financial crisis is therefore like a coup de grace for him," the director of research at the Institute of Political and Military Studies, Alexander Khramchikhin, informed Novosti. "The more severe the crisis becomes, the better the situation becomes for Obama and the worse for McCain," remarked Alexander Konovalov, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies.

To add insult injury Russian election monitors--acting under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights--will roam freely about the USA between October 15 and November 10 to validate the results of the election in the "land of the fee, and the home of the slave."

Does the financial chaos in the capitalist nations and at home present the Soviet strategists with an opportunity to knock down the USA a peg or two? This may be the intent behind the month-long Stability-2008 war game, in which Russia showcased its nuclear triad, that will wrap up over the weekend.

Middle East File: Kremlin to re-establish Soviet-era naval presence in Yemen under pretence of combating piracy, Al Qaeda; Mironov visits Sanaa

- Russian Missile Frigate Neustrashimy to Weigh Anchor in Port of Aden En Route to Liberating Ukrainian Freighter from Somali Pirates

- Federation Council Chairman Mironov Delivers Letter from Russian President to Yemeni Counterpart, Medvedev Invites Long-Time Soviet Ally Saleh to Moscow

- Soviet Delegation to Yemen Inks Cooperation Protocol between Russian Federation Council and Yemeni Shoura Council (source)

As we suspected following the deployment of a Russian missile frigate to rescue the crew of the Ukrainian freighter MV Faina and its shipment of 33 Soviet-era T-72 tanks, Moscow intends to re-establish a strategic presence near the Horn of Africa in the form of a possible naval base in Yemen. Patrolling the pirate-infested coasts off Somalia at the invitation of that country's provisional government is a mere pretext for this projection of Soviet power into the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Six US warships are currently monitoring the Faina, which is docked at a Somali port.

Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov, a veteran of the Soviet Army, revealed this information to journalists while visiting the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. "It's possible that the aspects of using Yemen ports not only for visits by Russian warships, but also for more strategic goals will be considered," Novosti quoted Mironov as saying. "Authorities in the Middle East country," the same source states, "are calling on Moscow to help fight piracy and possible terrorist threats."

While hosting Mironov, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh "praised the speeding developments of the Yemeni-Russian relations, considering them as developing historical friendly relations." For his part, Mironov mentioned that a visit to Russia by Saleh will take place in the near future and that the issue of military-technical cooperation could be broached during that trip.

Russia could resume naval presence in Yemen
15:1416/ 10/ 2008

SANA, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament said on Thursday that Russia could resume a naval presence in Yemen.

Authorities in the Middle East country are calling on Moscow to help fight piracy and possible terrorist threats. The U.S.S.R. had a major naval base in the former socialist state of South Yemen, which merged with North Yemen in 1990 to form the present-day Yemen.

Speaking to journalists in Sana, the capital of Yemen, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov said the new direction of Russia's foreign and defense policies and an increase in its naval missions would be taken into consideration when making a decision on the request.

"It's possible that the aspects of using Yemen ports not only for visits by Russian warships, but also for more strategic goals will be considered," he said.

He also said a visit to Russia by the president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, could take place in the near future and that the issue of military technical cooperation could be raised during his visit.

A missile frigate from Russia's Baltic Fleet is currently en route to Somalia at the invitation of Somali authorities to fight piracy off the Somali coast together with warships from other countries.

Somali pirates recently hijacked a Ukrainian ship, MV Faina, carrying at least 33 tanks and other heavy weaponry. Six U.S. warships are currently surrounding the Faina.

Pirates are also active near the Yemen coast in the Gulf of Aden, where they seized a Panamanian tanker in September.

Mironov said Yemen feared that groups associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist movement might be hiding in the Somali region, which has no effective government and no navy to police its coastline, and could later expand their activity in the Arabian Sea with its busy oil tanker routes.

In 1962 Saleh, then a 20-year-old army officer, participated in the Nasserist coup that ousted the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen's newly crowned monarch Muhammad al-Badr. Although not himself a communist, Saleh is a reliable partner of Moscow. In 1984 he oversaw implementation of a friendship and cooperation treaty between North Yemen and the Soviet Union. A site that exposes the criminal activities of dictators worldwide reveals that in the post-Cold War era "Saleh has been sharply accused of allowing and/or fostering numerous criminal activities, including the smuggling of drugs to Saudi Arabia, trafficking of arms into various countries in Eastern Europe."

En route to ending the hostage drama aboard the Faina, the Yemeni media reports, the Neustrashimy will weigh anchor in the Yemeni port of Aden, formerly controlled by the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. During the Cold War the Soviet Navy maintained a presence in South Yemen, the only communist state in the Arab world until merging with North Yemen to form the current Republic of Yemen in 1990. Earlier this year the southern part of Yemen was rocked by protests orchestrated by the formerly ruling Yemen Socialist Party, which in recent years has provided a pool of recruits for FSB/KGB terrorist proxy Al Qaeda.

In a related story that exposes Moscow's deceptive opposition to international terrorism, Islamic militants attacked the US embassy in Sanaa (pictured above) with two car bombs and rocket-propelled grenades on September 17, producing 19 casualties. "The US State Department has said the embassy bombings bore 'all the hallmarks' of an Al-Qaeda attack," reported the Italian media.

Communist Bloc Military Updates: Russian combat aircraft join Belarusian forces for Fall-2008 exercise; Moscow air defense units hold live-fire drills

Russian military aircraft and helicopters will join the Belarusian Air Force for the last stage of the four-week Stability-2008 war game coordinated by Moscow and Minsk, called Fall-2008. The latter exercise will involve at least 8,500 Russian and Belarusian personnel, 40 aircraft, 60 tanks, 250 armored vehicles, and 40 artillery pieces. "The Stability-2008 exercises will last until October 21 across various regions of Russia and Belarus," reports state-run Novosti, "with the goal of practicing the strategic deployment of the Armed Forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border." The threats viewed here are planned US NMD installations in Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as Georgia and Ukraine's proposed accession to NATO.

Pictured above: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, two communists committed to the restoration of the Soviet Union, confer in Minsk, on October 6.

Russian combat aircraft to join military drills with Belarus
11:3515/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military aircraft and helicopters will conduct joint exercises with the Belarusian Air Force, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, Su-25 Frogfoot close-support aircraft and Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters had landed at three Belarusian airbases on October 13 in preparation for the Fall-2008 operational and tactical exercises with the Belarusian Armed Forces.

The Fall-2008 exercises will involve around 8,500 personnel, military and special hardware, including over 40 aircraft, more than 60 tanks, around 250 armored vehicles and up to 40 artillery pieces.

The participation by Russian aircraft in the exercises is part of the ongoing Russia-Belarus Stability-2008 drills, Drik said.

The Stability-2008 exercises will last until October 21 across various regions of Russia and Belarus with the goal of practicing the strategic deployment of the Armed Forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border.

"The exercise will involve the majority of personnel and strategic aircraft in service with strategic aviation units," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin earlier said. "The crews will deploy the entire range of on board weaponry."

The Russian Air Force combat training program has scheduled more than 200 exercises with 350 live firing drills for the second half of 2008.

Prior to the commencement of the Fall-2008 drill on Belarusian territory, in early September personnel of three Belarusian air defense units held a live-fire exercise at the Ashuluk training ground in the Astrakhan province in southern Russia. At the time the 15th, 56th and 147th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigades fired Buk and S-300 missile systems at Armavir, Strizh and Pishchal target simulators provided by the Russian military.

This is not the first time that Russian and Belarusian troops have trained together under the political umbrella of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, a building block for the soon-to-be-restored Soviet Union. Two years ago Moscow and Minsk fielded their firepower in Union Shield-2006. Joint war games of the Union State are laying the operational groundwork for the unification of air defense systems in both countries by way of an agreement to be inked in early November, reports the AFP news agency.

"An air-defense agreement would be a major step forward for the bloc, which has largely focused on trade issues and visa agreements and has done little in terms of defense," the same source comments. Pavel Borodin, who is secretary of the Union State, is unabashed in his declaration that the integration of Russian and Belarusian air defenses is designed to counter NATO "expansionism" in the old Soviet Bloc. "In the military sense, this is essentially a defense against NATO," Borodin explained. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who rules his "former" Soviet republic with an iron fist, appointed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chief minister of the Union State earlier this year.

In Russia itself, the Kremlin media reports, air defense units from the Moscow military district will hold live-fire exercises tomorrow using Buk-M1 air defense systems. "The units started a series of tactical exercises Monday at the Kapustin Yar testing grounds in southern Russia, involving 1,500 personnel and about 400 combat and support vehicles," Novosti states. "At the final stage of the exercises the Buk-M1 systems in service with the units from the Moscow military district will fire missiles at target drones," the same source quotes Russian army spokesentity Colonel Igor Konashenkov as saying.

In an intriguing but under-reported story, state-run Interfax reports that last month the Russian army transported 40 T-72 tanks from the Kaliningrad exclave to continental Russia via "post"-Soviet Lithuania. "The Russian military transit through Lithuania was conducted in line with Lithuanian laws and coordinated plans. Permission was granted for the transit of the tanks," Lithuanian Defense Ministry spokesperson Ruta Apeikyte informed Interfax. "The more armaments are taken away from the Kaliningrad region the better. This withdrawal increases security and stability of the Baltic region and Europe as a whole."

Notwithstanding Lithuania's sense of relief over this supposed military drawdown (or deceptive Kremlin propaganda), the T-72 tank does not actually represent the latest in Russian tank technology. This is an "honor" that rests with the T-90 and a new generation of main battle tank which is still in development and is slated for deployment in 2010. However, since Moscow withdrew from its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty last year, any Russian tank movements along the Union State's borders with NATO member states should be viewed with interest by Western military analysts.

Communism with Canadian Characteristics: Conservatives re-elected with strengthened minority, left fractured; Gazprom moves into Quebec, Alaska

Following yesterday's federal parliamentary election, the second in less than three years, the Conservative Party of Canada strengthened its minority government, although early public opinion polls suggested that a majority government was possible. During the campaign Prime Minister Stephen Harper reassured voters that his cabinet would implement policies that will cushion Canada's robust economy in the midst of the global financial crisis. Canadians took satisfaction recently in an World Economic Forum report that their banking system is the soundest in the world.

Pictured above: Former economist PM Harper and his wife Laureen celebrate the Conservatives' minority victory yesterday in hometown Calgary, Alberta. "The voters have entrusted us with a strengthened mandate to continue to lead the government and take Canada forward," Harper rejoiced last night. "We have shown that minority government can work, and at this time of global economic instability we owe it to all Canadians to show it again."

The fact, too, that the Canadian Left is divided across four parties--the Liberal Party, the socialist New Democratic Party, the Green Party, and the separatist Bloq Quebecois (with its "ex"-communist leader)--also facilitated the right-wing victory. The International Herald Tribune, linked above, reports that support for the formerly long-ruling Liberals dropped dramatically, while the New Democrats and Greens made impressive gains.

Incidentally, an Obama victory in November's US presidential election could potentially create some political friction between Ottawa and Washington DC.

Pictured here: Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller receives his instructions from Russia's KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin in Moscow, on September 18.

Meanwhile, Kremlin-run Gazprom, under the direction of "ex"-CPSU cadre Chairman Viktor Zubkov, who is also father in law of Russia's defense minister, intends to set up shop in Quebec and Alaska, on the northern periphery of the North American shopping mall regime. In the first case, reports Forbes, the Russian gas export monopoly may obtain a 27 percent stake in the Rabaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal from the current shareholders, Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., Montreal-based Gaz Metro, and Paris-based GDF Suez, which will reduce their stakes in the facility. Rabaska is an C$840 million project that will build a deepwater jetty in the St. Lawrence River to accommodate tankers carrying LNG, as well as underground cryogenic pipes connecting the jetty to two reservoirs. There natural gas will be stored and regasified for inclusion into the Quebec and Ontario pipeline network. The project is slated for completion in 2014.

Last month PM Harper cautioned that Russia's invasion of Georgia could hinder Gazprom's involvement in the Rabaska project, prompting a testy reaction from the neo-Soviet leadership. "We have been surprised by the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister that Canada will reconsider the Rabaska project," Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev rumbled, brandishing the Kremlin's energy imperialism stick. "If there is a nightmare scenario that for some reason this project will be out of reach of realization based on a Canadian political decision, then for us it will be easy to find an alternative destination for our LNG. But it will not be good for Canada because they will face a shortage of natural gas."

Yesterday Gazprom CEO Miller visited Alaska where he conferred with state officials and ConocoPhillips CEO Jim Mulva on the subject of pumping natural gas from Siberia to the Continental USA via Alaska and Canada. "Gazprom has accumulated great experience in exploring hydrocarbon deposits, building and using gas pipelines in the Far North environment. Gazprom's experience will be relevant in realisation of similar projects in Alaska," the Kremlin energy giant gushed in a statement. Figuratively brushing away the Bear bombers that hover just outside the periphery of Alaskan airspace, Gazprom is apparently looking to reliable "Nepman" Mulva to facilitate the extension of neo-Soviet energy imperialism into North America.

USSR2 File: Communist organ Pravda publishes manifesto for Fourth World War, lists 16 reasons why Russia should never trust the West

Today communist organ Pravda published 16 reasons why Russia should NEVER trust the West, even as the Kremlin, staffed by personnel connected to the old Soviet regime, carries out the biggest war games since the Cold War. "Those people who are bombing us want to restore the Soviet Union," declared Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, himself a Soviet Komsomol "dropout" and alleged KGB agent, in August. The Soviets will wave this list of grievances, which drip with anger and bitterness, when they launch their nuclear triad against NATO-NORAD at some geopolitically advantageous time. Flipping the coin, these are actually 16 reasons (with our comments inserted below) why the West should NEVER trust Russia . . . Pictured above: The Soviet Bear, weakened but still dangerous in the twenty-first century.

1. The West raped Russia [translated: US capitalism is evil]

2. The West supported Yeltsin as he massacred Parliament [dominated in 1993 by open communists]

3. The West backed Chechen and other separatist elements [translated: America is trying to dismember Russia]

4. The West expanded an alliance to include all of the Warsaw Pact and parts of the former Soviet Union [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

5. The West bombed Russia's closest ally Serbia [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

6. The West back every jihad aimed at Orthodox Christians [even though Moscow is the world headquarters for international terrorism]

7. The West overthrew Russia's allies and set up puppet socialist regimes [that are staffed in many cases by "ex"-communists or controlled dissidents]

8. The West actively supported sellout candidates in Russia with illegally given financial aid and revolutionary training [translated: America intends to destroy Russia from within]

9. The West financed the National Bolshevik (Socialist) Workers' Party aka Nazis in Russia [translated: America is a fascist state]

10. The West tore up its military agreements as soon as they became inconvenient [translated: America is a militaristic state]

11. The West stopped Russia from bombing the Taliban and gave them money . . . that is until the Taliban helped attack the West

12. The West took Russia's aid in the War on Terror in Central Asia and, in usual Western gratitude, tried to oust Russia from the area [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

13. The West is putting missile interceptor silos that could as easily hold short-range ballistic nuclear missiles right on Russia's doorstep [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

14. The West tried and failed to take control of Russian key oil resources and in revenge has waged a non-stop propaganda war against Russia for 7 years [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

15. The West gives regular asylum to Islamic jihadists wanted by Russia and to Russian criminals and criminal oligarchs, while demanding Russia hand over her citizens on trumped up charges (extradition is illegal under the Russian constitution . . . not that laws matter to the West) [translated: America plays by double standards]

16. The West despises Russian patriotism and Christianity and works hard to crush both [translated: America intends to destroy Russia]

Few dots are needed to connect Pravda's Leninist lies and the speeches of KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin over the last eight years. Is a picture forming here?

Latin America File: Neo-Sandinista regime charges NGOs with "crimes against the state," raids offices, seizes computers, documents

The political situation in neo-Sandinista Nicaragua is deteriorating on a weekly basis as President Daniel Ortega sheds his social democratic sheepskin to reveal the Marxist wolf underneath. This past Friday, reports the International Herald Tribune, police raided the offices of two non-governmental organizations on charges of "crimes against the state," including money laundering, and seized computers and documents.

The most recently targeted groups are the Center of Media Investigations (Cinco) and the Autonomous Movement for Women. The director of Cinco is Carlos Chamorro Barrios, the son of ex-President Violeta Chamorro (1990-1997) and Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, the editor of the La Prensa newspaper killed in 1978 during the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. Carlos is a former Sandinista, one of many such dissidents who supported the Nicaraguan Revolution of 1979, but later rejected Ortega's authoritarian style of rule. He is pictured above on October 11, outside his office, being presented with a search warrant by Nicaragua's National Police. Carlos has contended that the FSLN regime intends to "fabricate political crimes, and this type of proceedings only occur during dictatorships."

Police raids of NGOs provoke outcry in Nicaragua
Published: October 12, 2008

MANAGUA, Nicaragua: Police raids of two non-governmental organizations critical of Nicaragua's leftist government provoked an outcry Sunday from opposition leaders who called them a throwback to dictatorship.

National Police broke down the doors of the two offices Friday night and Saturday morning and seized documents and computers. A judge ordered the raids as part of an investigation against the two groups for "crimes against the state," prosecutor Jose Abraham Rojas told reporters.

The Center of Media Investigations, known as Cinco, and the Autonomous Movement for Women are one of 16 groups being investigated for money laundering. Critics have called the investigations an attempt to silence dissent.

The government of President Daniel Ortega is "imposing a new dictatorship," said former President Arnoldo Aleman, who has been convicted of money laundering and embezzlement during his 1998-2002 presidency but is free on parole.

"Abuses against opponents to the Sandinista government are increasing and intensifying," Aleman added. "It's one thing to regulate non-governmental organizations and it's another to persecute them for political reasons."

The government's Department of Information did not return a request for comment Sunday. Edwin Castro, a congressional leader of Ortega's Sandinista party, hung up on a reporter seeking comment.

Cinco is led by Carlos Fernando Chamorro, the son of former President Violeta Chamorro and Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, the editor of the La Prensa newspaper killed in 1978 during the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. Many consider that assassination the catalyst for the final phase of the revolution that ended Somoza's 40-year reign a year later and brought Ortega's first Sandinista government to power.

La Prensa continued to be heavily censored under Ortega's first 1985-1990 government, which was mired in a civil war against U.S.-backed Contra rebels. The newspaper was then run by Violeta Chamorro, who defeated Ortega in a 1990 election.

Her son accused the Ortega government of trying to intimidate opponents. He said the investigation against Cinco intends to "fabricate political crimes, and this type of proceedings only occur during dictatorships."

Ortega has insisted that his government fully respects press freedoms. The government claims that Chamorro is illegally channeling money from foreign governments to civil organizations not legally allowed to receive such funds.

According to Britain's leftist Guardian, "several European governments are preparing to axe tens of millions of dollars in aid in protest, a sign of how much international support Ortega has lost since his return to power last year." "It's a response to the deteriorating democratic environment," the same source quotes one foreign diplomat in Managua as saying. Ortega's chummy relationship with Moscow and Caracas, two communist capitals flush with petrodollars, will no doubt enable the Sandinistas to spurn Western aid in favor of revitalizing the old Communist Bloc.

Communist Bloc Military Updates: Stability-2008 enters final week: Bear bombers test-fire ALCMs in Russian Arctic, navy fires two more SLBMs on Sunday

On Saturday a Russian submarine in the submerged position test-fired a long-range missile at a target in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, a first for the Kremlin's navy. Since the Tula submarine was located in the Barents Sea, near Norway, this missile must have flown over the North Pole, the Russian Far East, and the Bering Sea, before heading south over the Western Pacific.

Yesterday Russian submarines test-fired two more SLBMs. One SLBM was fired from the Sea of Okhotsk, striking a target in Kanin Nos, a peninsula extending into the White Sea in the extreme northwest of Russia. The second SLBM was fired from the Barents Sea. This missile and a land-based Topol ICBM launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome hit targets on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Pictured above: On October 12 Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev visited Plesetsk, which is nestled among the taiga forests of northern European Russia, where he oversaw the test launch of a truck-mounted ICBM. In spite of his youthful, pro-Western, pro-liberal image, Medvedev is in fact a product of the old Soviet regime, having graduated from the Communist Youth League, and no doubt looks to mentor Vladimir Putin, a hardened KGB-communist thug, for cues.

Over the weekend, strategic bombers participating in the multi-branch, multi-theater Stability-2008 war game also test-launched cruise missiles in Russia's Arctic region, as the Chinese state media, below, relates.

Report: Russian strategic bombers launch cruise missiles
2008-10-12 04:00:59

MOSCOW, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bombers launched cruise missiles Saturday following an earlier report that it test-launched a long-distance ballistic missile in the same day, the Interfax news agency reported.

"The Tu-95MS aircraft of Russia's Long Range Aviation took off from tactical airfields and successfully launched training cruise missiles in the Arctic region of the country," Col. Lieut. Vladimir Drik, aide to the Russian Air Forces commander said.

The missiles accurately hit training targets at the firing range, he said.

The launch was made as part of Stability-2008 exercises conducted with Belarus from Sept. 22 to Oct. 21.

It was reported earlier that Russia test-launched a long-distance ballistic missile Saturday as part of its Northern Fleet's military exercises. It was the first time that a submarine launched the Sineva ballistic missile to its maximum range.

Stability-2008, which has included civilian mobilization drills and air raid siren tests for the first time since the Cold War and even the Second War War, entered its forth and final week this past Sunday. "This was a dry run for a war with the United States," independent military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer observed.

USA File: Latin American leftists mock Bush as White House nationalizes "toxic" mortgages, bank debt; Chavez: Comrade Bush is heading toward socialism

Latin America's leftist academics and politicians, like Venezuela's red dictator Hugo Chavez, are mocking US President George W. Bush for adopting socialist policies that the Republican Party has long condemned at home and abroad, especially following the US government's nationalization of two mortgage lenders and insurance giant AIG, and the passage of the US$700 billion financial industry bailout bill. "If the Venezuelan government, for example, approves a law to protect consumers, they say, 'Take notice, Chavez is a tyrant!'" Chavez taunted during his weekly televised rant-in, adding:

Or they say, 'Chavez is regulating prices. He is violating the laws of the marketplace.' How many times have they criticized me for nationalizing the phone company? They say, 'The state shouldn't get involved in that.' But now they don't criticize Bush for having nationalize . . . the biggest banks in the world. Comrade Bush, how are you? Comrade Bush is heading toward socialism.

Manuel Sutherland, a senior official in the Caracas-based Latin American Association of Marxist Economists, has declared that Bush has become a "fellow traveler," that is, a communist in all but name. "He carries out nationalizations to save capitalism," Sutherland stated, "We want to sink it." In truth, Bush is helping the Red International "sink" the economic system he professes to advocate and the country he professes to love.

Pictured above, left to right: Chavez, Bolivia's President Evo Morales, Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa meet in Manaus, Brazil, on September 30 to discuss the global financial crisis and, no doubt, the anti-socialist secessionist movement in Bolivia's eastern states. "This crash of capitalism and of neoliberalism will be worse than that of 1929," Chavez pontificated there: "The world will never be the same after this crisis. A new world has to emerge, and it's a multipolar world. We are decoupling from the wagon of death."

Communist Bloc Military Updates: Medvedev observes first-ever test-launch of Russian SLBM at target in equatorial Pacific Ocean

The introduction of the Sineva SLBM into the nuclear arsenal of the Russian Navy, according to the story below, represents the neo-Soviet leadership's stated intention to modernize its blue-water fleets, including the building of new aircraft carriers, and create one of the world's leading economies by 2020. In a first for Russia's navy, the nuclear-powered submarine Tula launched the Sineva missile from an underwater position in the icy Barents Sea. The rocket then hit an unspecified target 7,200 miles to the south,near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. "President" Dmitry Medvedev, a graduate of the Soviet Komsomol, watched the launch from the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, currently the Kremlin's only operational carrier.

It appears that the Russian armed forces are endeavoring to simulate combat experience in regions and climates far removed from their homeland. The deployment of two supersonic Tu-160 strategic bombers in Venezuela last month was arranged to not only train Russia's new generation of military pilots in a tropical climate, but also send a warning to Washington that the Soviet Bear has emerged from its hibernation.

Russia test-fires ballistic missile to mid-Pacific
By Oleg Shchedrov
October 11, 2008

MURMANSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russia test-launched a strategic missile to the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean for the first time on Saturday, at a time when Moscow's growing assertiveness is fuelling tension with the West.

President Dmitry Medvedev, who watched the launch from the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, has said problems caused by global financial turmoil would not hurt Russian plans to revive its armed forces, a symbol for Moscow's resurgence.

Russia's newest missile, the Sineva, was launched by the nuclear-powered submarine Tula from an underwater position in the Arctic Barents Sea, and hit an unspecified area near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, a navy spokesman said.

"For the first time in the history of the Russian Navy the target of the missile was in an equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean rather than the Kura testing ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula," he said.

Russian television showed the missile emerging from the icy waters of the Arctic Barents sea for the 11,547 km (7,200 miles) journey to the Pacific.

"Not one missile of this class has ever flown so far," Russian television showed Medvedev telling sailors.

The spokesman did not specify the area where the missile landed. He said the area was closed for navigation and flights ahead of the test in accordance with international rules.

Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin focused on reviving the armed forces, which were neglected for around 10 years after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russia's strategic bombers have restarted regular patrols over the Atlantic Ocean, irking NATO, and a group of the Northern Fleet ships is on its way to the Caribbean to take part in joint exercises with U.S. foe Venezuela. Two Russian warships and their support vessels docked in Tripoli ahead of making the transatlantic trip.

MODERNISE FORCES

Russia's commitment to modernize its armed forces has grown as its ties with the West reached their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian troops crushed Georgia's attempt to retake a pro-Moscow separatist region.

On Saturday, Medvedev said Russia would start building aircraft carriers, a type of vessel once derided by the Soviet military as an instrument of imperialism unbecoming of Moscow's defensive military posture.

He said Russia should "not scrimp" on its armed forced and called for government spending to improve living condition for its armed forces as well as new weapons systems.

Russia, which saw eight years of strong economic growth under Putin, has adopted the goal of becoming one of the world's leading economies by 2020. Medvedev says the economy has enough resources to survive the global turmoil and achieve its goals.

Putin, now Russia's prime minister, has said the next year's budges will see another 30-percent growth in defense spending.

The Sineva missile, advertised by the Russia military as an element of a new generation of Russian strategic weapons capable of surpassing any missile defense system, was commissioned last year. The Russian military says the missiles of Sineva's class will be operational at least until 2030.

Medvedev's appearance with the Northern Fleet in Murmansk is his second major visit to navy installations in just two weeks and he will oversee exercises attended by 5,000 troops, eight warships and five submarines.

End Times File: Berlusconi: World leaders must close markets, banks, rewrite rules of international finance; China hacks World Bank computers

- Indonesia, Iceland Close Markets for Second Day while Russia and Ukraine Suspend Trading Indefinitely (source)

- Temporary Suspensions Hit Financial Markets in Vienna and Bangkok Due to Global Credit Crunch

- US Treasury Explores Option of "Recapitalizing" (Nationalizing) Banks as Federal Reserve and Five Other Central Banks, Including China's, Approve Coordinated Rate Cut (source)

- Nicaragua's Marxist President Ortega: God Punishing USA with Financial Crisis for Imposing "Flawed" Economic Policies on Developing Countries (source)

- Socialist Worker Party Cadres and Students Protest British Bailout Today, Clash with London Police outside Bank of England (source)

- Riots Rock (Communist-Ruled) Hong Kong on Wednesday Following Heavy Losses on Hang Seng Index (source)

Today the DJIA dropped below 8,000 points for the first time since 2003. "European stock markets slumped further on Friday," announced the MSM, moreover, "following massive losses on Wall Street and Asia on mounting fears that this week's efforts by central banks and governments to break the logjam in credit markets have failed to ease lending rates between banks."

In response, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is a good buddy of Russia's KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin, is urging the statesmen and bankers to close down the world's markets and banks until they can "rewrite the rules of international finance" and formulate a new economic order that will replace Bretton Woods. "The idea of suspending the markets for the time it takes to rewrite the rules is being discussed,'' Berlusconi intoned after a meeting of his government cabinet, "A solution to the financial crisis can't just be for one country, or even just for Europe, but global.'' Bloomberg reports that world leaders will hold discussions on these topics today during a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers in Washington, DC, as well as upcoming meetings of the European Union and Group of Eight (which includes neo-Soviet Russia).

Berlusconi Says Leaders May Close World's Markets (Update1)
By Steve Scherer

Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said political leaders are discussing the idea of closing the world's financial markets while they "rewrite the rules of international finance.''

"The idea of suspending the markets for the time it takes to rewrite the rules is being discussed,'' Berlusconi said today after a Cabinet meeting in Naples, Italy. A solution to the financial crisis "can't just be for one country, or even just for Europe, but global.''

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell as much 8.1 percent in early trading and pared most of those losses after Berlusconi's remarks. The Dow was down 0.5 percent to 8540.52 at 10:10 in New York.

Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers are meeting in Washington today, and will stay in town for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings this weekend.

European Union leaders may gather in Paris on Oct. 12, three days before a scheduled summit in Brussels, Berlusconi said today, while Group of Eight leaders may hold a meeting on the crisis "in coming days,'' he said.

Berlusconi didn't give any details about what kind of rules leaders were looking to change, except to say that leaders are "talking about a new Bretton Woods.''

The Bretton Woods Agreements were adopted to rebuild the international economic system after World War II in a hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The aim of the agreements was to establish a monetary management system, initially by pegging currencies to gold. The IMF was set up later to help manage the international financial system.

Meanwhile, David Gilmore, who works at Foreign Exchange Analytics, anticipates that governments around the world will call for a "global bank holiday" beginning next week and remarks that normally scheduled bank holidays will take place in the USA and Japan on Monday. Forbes quotes Gilmore as saying:

Markets should prepare for another coordinated rate cut next week, and this time I predict that Japan, with its 0.5 pct benchmark rate, will participate. While I would not count on a global bank holiday next week, one would make sense to me, particularly with scheduled U.S. and Japanese bank holidays on Monday. Again this is a remote option, but not to be ruled out. The main focus must be on government efforts to restore solvency in the banking system, and that process will be taking place in Washington not on Wall Street.

Based in Washington, DC the World Bank is part of the United Nations System of Organizations and one of several international financial institutions that emerged from the Bretton Woods Agreement, signed by the Allied Powers at the Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire, in 1945. The World Bank is an internationally supported bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs. Communists and hard-core leftists generally view the World Bank as an agent of US "neoliberalism." This is one reason why seven South American countries under the leadership of Venezuela's red dictator Hugo Chavez formed the Bank of the South last year, to minimize US and World Bank influence in the region.

We have already documented on many occasions the Communist Bloc's intention to bring down the Western economies, thereby promoting a state of revolutionary ferment leading to rise of leftist leaders (like Barack Obama) and undermining the West's economic capacity to sustain its militaries. In an exclusive feature Fox News reports today that hackers in Macao, China have breached the security of at least 40 computer servers in the World Bank. "In a frantic midnight e-mail to colleagues," the news outlet states, "the bank's senior technology manager referred to the situation as an 'unprecedented crisis.'" Fox reveals: "[B]ank officials and its executive director for China clashed behind closed doors over whether or not China's government is involved in the break-ins."

World Bank Under Cyber Siege in 'Unprecedented Crisis'
Friday , October 10, 2008
By Richard Behar

The World Bank Group's computer network — one of the largest repositories of sensitive data about the economies of every nation — has been raided repeatedly by outsiders for more than a year, FOX News has learned.

It is still not known how much information was stolen. But sources inside the bank confirm that servers in the institution's highly-restricted treasury unit were deeply penetrated with spy software last April. Invaders also had full access to the rest of the bank's network for nearly a month in June and July.

In total, at least six major intrusions — two of them using the same group of IP addresses originating from China — have been detected at the World Bank since the summer of 2007, with the most recent breach occurring just last month.

In a frantic midnight e-mail to colleagues, the bank's senior technology manager referred to the situation as an "unprecedented crisis." In fact, it may be the worst security breach ever at a global financial institution. And it has left bank officials scrambling to try to understand the nature of the year-long cyber-assault, while also trying to keep the news from leaking to the public.

The crisis comes at an awkward moment for World Bank president Robert Zoellick, who runs the world's largest and most influential anti-poverty agency, which doles out $25 billion a year, and whose board represents 185 member nations. This weekend, the bank holds its annual series of meetings in Washington — and just in advance of those sessions, Zoellick called for a radical revamping of multilateral organizations in light of the global economic meltdown.

Zoellick is positioning himself and the bank as an institution that can help chart a new path toward global financial stability. But that reputation, more than ever, depends on the bank's stable information infrastructure.

The fact that the information vaults of the World Bank have been repeatedly pried open won't help Zoellick's case.

While it remains unclear how much data has been pilfered from the bank, it's a lot. According to internal memos, "a minimum of 18 servers have been compromised," including some of the bank's most sensitive systems — ranging from the bank's security and password server to a Human Resources server "that contains scanned images of staff documents."

One World Bank director tells FOX News that as many as 40 servers have been penetrated, including one that held contract-procurement data.

Despite the gravity of the break-ins, the bank is trying hard to pretend to outsiders it didn't happen. "There were attempts to hack the bank's computer systems last summer," says a World Bank spokesman. "However, there was no compromise of confidential information." Requests for on-the-record interviews with Zoellick and other top officials were declined.

SNIP

From the vantage of Bible prophecy, the timing of the current global financial crisis is intriguing. The bailout debate in the US Senate and House of Representatives, in particular, coincided with the beginning of the fall cycle of Israel's feast days--which includes the Feast of Trumpets/Jewish New Year, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles--and, more ominously, a new seven-year sabbatical cycle that may or may not represent Daniel's seventieth week, otherwise known as the tribulation period. During that period the Antichrist will restructure the global economy in such a way that no man can buy or sell without a mark on his right hand or forehead. Refusal to submit to that system will lead to martyrdom.

Communist Bloc Military Updates: Kremlin: Venezuela-bound naval task force has no nukes; Russian cargo planes visit Iceland 130 times since Jan. 2008

In order to allay the concerns of the shopping mall regime in North America, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesentity declared today that a Russian naval task force bound for Venezuela is not carrying nuclear weapons. "There are no tactical nuclear weapons on board these ships," Andrei Nesterenko insisted, "The presence of the nuclear-powered Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser in Latin American and Caribbean waters will not violate the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons." The Peter the Great missile cruiser and its support ships will join Hugo Chavez's navy for manuevers between November 10 and 14. Russia's air force will also dispatch it strategic bombers to the South American country to participate in the exercise, the second time this has taken place since September, when two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers were deployed for one week to Venezuela's El Libertador airbase.

In the meanwhile, the Peter the Great, which is normally deployed with the Northern Fleet, will visit the Libyan capital of Tripoli between October 11 and 13. The Neustrashimy missile frigate, reports Novosti, which usually operates under the command of the Baltic Fleet, will call at Tripoli at the same time to replenish supplies, before sailing to the Indian Ocean (presumably through the Suez Canal) to combat pirates in the lawless seas off Somalia.

Yesterday we posted information about neo-Soviet Russia's designs on financially crippled Iceland, designs that have taken the form of a US$5.4 billion Kremlin-backed bailout for the island's banks in possible exchange for Russia obtaining a 99-year lease on the use of Keflavik International Airport (pictured above). At the time we speculated that the Russians could use this strategically situated island country in the North Atlantic Ocean to refuel, if not station, its nuclear-capable ALCM-toting bombers.

The fact of the matter is, according to Siku Circumpolar News Service, cargo airplanes that are registered or manufactured in Russia have landed at Keflavik at least 130 times since the beginning of 2008. Airport director Stefán Thordersen revealed that such landings are increasing since these aircraft often transport humanitarian aid overseas. Like many Western European governments, Icelandic officials have stuck their heads in the sand with respect to revived Russian military activity around the island. "Even though this is certainly a new position I don’t think, the way things are now, that there is reason to believe that we are being threatened by the Russians in any way," Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir notified Iceland newspaper Morgunbladid in September.

For those with knowledge of naval chokepoints and antisubmarine warfare, Iceland is part of the GIUK gap consisting of an area in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. During the Cold War the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) was a chain of underwater listening posts that spanned the GIUK gap with the purpose of monitoring Soviet submarine movements. The Naval Ocean Processing Facilities in Oak Harbor, Washington and Virginia Beach, Virginia still operate SOSUS.

WW4 File: Japanese fighter jets escort Soviet bombers as global financial crisis worsens; Iceland offers Kremlin 99-year lease of Keflavik airport

Soviets Leverage Global Financial Crisis to Potentially Station/Refuel Their Nuclear Bombers in Wavering NATO Member Iceland

Iceland is turning into the little Cuba of the north. The Soviet Union supported Cuba decades ago and now they are saving us.
-- Ragnar Hannes Gudmundsson, Icelandic teacher, quoted by Bloomberg, October 8, 2008

Earlier today, reports Bloomberg, Tokyo dispatched six F-15 fighter jets to intercept two Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers (pictured here) flying over the Sea of Japan. Jan Techau, security affairs and European analyst, German Council on Foreign Relations, rightly notes: "The message of this [bomber probe] is very clear: Russia's military can project its power worldwide. Japan is a target because it's a close ally of the U.S. and has built up its armed forces in recent years."

The Backfires, which is the NATO designation, took off from an airbase in the Russian Far East as part of the four-week, multi-branch, multi-front Stability-2008 war game that we have covered in many previous posts. On October 2 the Russian Defense Ministery announced that between October 6 and 12 Tu-160 "Blackjack" and Tu-95 "Bear" bombers will carry out maneuvers in the Russian Far East, bordering China and Alaska, and in the Volga region of southern Russia.

Russian Bombers Intercepted By Japanese Fighter Jets (Update2)
By Sebastian Alison

Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Russian strategic bombers flying over the Sea of Japan were intercepted by Japanese fighter jets on two occasions today before returning to base.

The two Tu-22M3 strategic bombers left an air base in Russia's Far East as part of a training exercise, Stability 2008, Russian Air Force spokesman Vladimir Drik said by telephone in Moscow. As they flew over the Sea of Japan they were "accompanied'' for about 30 minutes by two Japanese F-15 fighter jets, he said.

Later, Japanese F-15 jets from a different air base flew alongside the two bombers for about four minutes before the bombers returned to Russian territory, Drik said. Agence France- Presse reported, citing a Japanese Defense Ministry official, that Japan scrambled six jets after the Russian planes came close to Japanese airspace.

The air-force exercises are Russia's largest since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, while a naval convoy on its way to Venezuela is staging a show of strength in the Mediterranean.

"The message of this is very clear: Russia's military can project its power worldwide,'' Jan Techau, a security affairs and European analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, said in an interview. "It's part of a systematic plan to win back Russian military prestige.''

Aircraft including supersonic Tu-160 nuclear bombers and strategic Tu-95 bombers are taking part in the Oct. 6-12 maneuvers in the Russian Far East bordering China and the U.S. state of Alaska and in the Volga region, the Defense Ministry said on Oct. 2.

Japan's a 'Target'

"Japan is a target because it's a close ally of the U.S. and has built up its armed forces in recent years,'' Techau said.

Russia has resumed the practice of sending strategic bombers to patrol airspace near its neighbors as it asserts its power after a decade of oil-fueled growth. Since the conflict with U.S. ally Georgia in August, Russia has dispatched long- range bombers to Venezuela and warships are heading to the Western Hemisphere for the first time since the Cold War.

A Japanese Ministry of Defense report published on Sept. 5 said Russia had stepped up military training and surveillance activities in the Asia-Pacific region over the last year and that this development required close attention.

"After a decline in training exercises, Russia's military has been picking up the pace of its activities again,'' the 2008 Defense White Paper said. "In the country's Far East, its strategic nuclear forces remain in a state of alert. These are trends that require close monitoring.''

Stability-2008, which runs from September 22 to October 21, includes combat divisions from Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, and full-scale civilian mobilizations that on Monday of last week involved the use of air raid sirens in St. Petersburg for the first time since the Second World War. The neo-Soviet leadership is openly for preparing for war against the Western Alliance as it holds out the olive branch and issues smooth words of peace and prosperity.

Medvedev at Evian: USA Moving from Self-Regulating Capitalism to Financial Socialism

While visiting Evian, France today for the First World Policy Conference, hosted by French/European President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev made the following stunning comment about the global financial crisis: "It's obvious that economic egoism is the consequence of a unipolar world led by the US. It is essential to strengthen the legitimacy of the United Nations and regulate the global economy more effectively. The example of the US has shown that the move from self-regulating capitalism to financial socialism is only one step." Soviet Komsomol graduate Medvedev not only revealed his Leninist pedigree with this observation about America's transition to "financial socialism," but also used the Evian conference to once again float the idea of a new European security structure that includes Russia, a notion that Sarkozy welcomed.

In a related story, Soviet troops completed their withdrawal today from buffer zones in Georgia proper, a redeployment confirmed by the European Union Monitoring Mission, which is on the ground in the "former" Soviet republic. Notwithstanding the chummy relationship between Sarkozy and Medvedev, thousands of Russian soldiers remain in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Pictured here: Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde (right), accompanied by his Commerce and Banking Minister Bjorgvin Sigurdsson, attends a press conference yesterday in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik Spurns Europe, Welcomes US$5.4 Billion Bailout Loan from Moscow, Offers Russia 99-Year Lease for Use of Keflavik Airport

Meanwhile, reports Bloomberg in a second article, cash-strapped Iceland, once again the haunt of Russian strategic bombers making forays toward North America, has appealed to Moscow, of all places, for a US$5.4 billion (4 billion euro) loan to stick a finger in the dike that was its financial system until recently. Iceland's central bank chief David Oddsson enthused: "If it goes through, this will be a very, very big help for us. We haven't got so much help from our very good friends in the Western hemisphere; this decision by the Russian government to take up negotiations is very much welcome."

"This is a case of using foreign aid to pursue geopolitical objectives,'' comments Chris Weafer, chief strategist at the Moscow-based UralSib Financial Corp., "This is good economics because it shows Russia's in a strong financial position: it can afford to lend 4 billion euros to someone else.''

"If Russia can support its stock market and preserve growth, the current financial crisis represents a chance to demonstrate influence in the world economy and the diminishing influence of the US," gloated Sergei Markov, "The world is changing to Russia's benefit. By lending to Iceland we want to counter the damage to Russia's reputation in the West from the conflict with U.S. ally Georgia." Markov is an adviser to the Kremlin, directs the Institute of Political Studies in Moscow, and a lawmaker in the "ruling," crypto-communist United Russia party.

In spite of the cash infusion from the pseudo-capitalists in Moscow, reports Bloomberg in yet another article, Iceland's government has scrapped plans to nationalize the country's third largest bank, Glitnir Bank hf, placing the company into receivership under the control of the state regulator. Reykjavík has also ditched plans to peg the krona to the euro.

In still another blow to the credibility of Iceland's banking system, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced today that London intends to sue Reykjavík over deposits belonging to 300,000 British account holders with the Icesave Internet bank after its parent, Landsbanki, was placed in receivership. "The Icelandic government, believe it or not, have told me yesterday they have no intention of honoring their obligations here,'' Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling huffed to the British Broadcasting Corporation. "The first call would be on the Icelandic compensation scheme which, as far as I can see, hasn't got any money in it.''

This falling out between Iceland, which is moving into Moscow's orbit, and Britain is ironic in view of the military pact signed by the two countries earlier this year that requires RAF fighter jets under NATO command, to patrol Icelandic airspace as a defensive measure against Russian bomber intrusions. The friction between the two countries also reflects Iceland's political drift from Europe toward Moscow, a realignment that is no doubt supported by the presence in PM Haarde's governing coalition of the Social Democratic Alliance, an affiliate of the Moscow-controlled Socialist International. The prime minister himself belongs to the center-right Independence Party.

Until recently, Haarde disapproved of Russian bombers circling his island, but now he's not only willing to take dirty money from the KGB-communist regime in Moscow, but also offer the Kremlin a 99-year lease for the use of Keflavik International Airport. An original NATO member, Iceland has no standing army and joined the trans-Atlantic alliance on the condition that it would not be expected to form one. United States Naval Air Station Keflavik was a NATO facility until it was closed in September 2006. On October 7 The Spectator, directly citing a "highly-placed source in Reykjavik," confirms that "Iceland might look kindly on requests from Russia's military to use America's former military base in Iceland."

In commenting on Iceland's cash woes, Ragnar Hannes Gudmundsson, a bank employee turned teacher, rightly warns: "Iceland is turning into the little Cuba of the north. The Soviet Union supported Cuba decades ago and now they are saving us." The neo-Soviet leadership has apparently leveraged the global financial crisis to potentially station, or at least refuel, their nuclear bombers in Iceland. Moscow to Washington: Checkmate.

Middle East File: Syria deploys troops to Lebanon's eastern border, Suleiman turns blind eye, Siniora warns of impending invasion; Annapolis 2 slated

- Debkafile: Israeli Military on "High Alert," Syria May Be Preparing to Attack Northern Lebanon and/or Golan Heights over Yom Kippur (October 8-9) (source)

- West Bank Sealed, Border Crossings with Jordan and Egypt Closed Early Wednesday, October 8

- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Makes Unannounced Visit Today to Check IDF's State of Readiness on Golan Heights (source)

- Major General Gadi Eizenkot, IDF Commander in Northern Israel, Threatens to Use "Disproportionate" Force Against Lebanon and Syria If Hezbollah Attacks (source)

The Israeli media, below, reported today that the Syrians have reinforced their troops along Lebanon's eastern border. We recently posted that Syrian soldiers on that front have already dug themselves into positions 500 meters inside the Lebanese border. Likewise, the open mobilization of Syrian forces near eastern Lebanon follows a forward deployment of the 4th Syrian Mechanized Division along Lebanon's northern border, as well as the reported infiltration of commandos into villages near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

In the previous post linked above we posed the question: Is Syria preparing to re-invade Lebanon and/or attack Israel? Lebanon's prime minister apparently thinks so (see below). Emboldened by the reported presence of 10 Russian warships at its port in Tartus, Syria might be contemplating both military options. Pictured above: Syrian soldiers, vehicles, and tents on the Syrian side of Lebanon's northern Abboudiyeh border crossing, earlier today.

More Syrian Troops Along Eastern Lebanese Border
October 7, 2008

(IsraelNN.com) Syrian troops took up positions along the eastern border of Lebanon on Monday, according to a report published Tuesday morning by the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat.

The newspaper says the deployment followed one along Lebanon's northern border by two weeks. Eyewitnesses told Al-Hayat that the troops set up roadblocks and trenches in the northern part of al-Bakaa, near the al-Katzar border crossing, as was done along the northern border.

In a message to Lebanese president Michel Suleiman, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said the action is designed to thwart efforts by smugglers and protect Lebanon from Islamic terrorist groups.

Members of an anti-Syrian coalition say the buildup is evidence of Damascus's intention to return to Lebanon, where its troops were stationed until it was forced by international pressure to pull out, following suspicions of Syrian involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

With near-treasonous disinterest, Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah, pro-Syrian, anti-Israel President Michael Suleiman has shrugged off the menacing activities of the Syrian army along his country's borders. The Iranian media reports: "Lebanese President Michel Suleiman says the deployment of Syrian troops along the border with Lebanon is subject to mutual understanding. Interior Minister Ziad Baroud quoted Suleiman as saying Syria is trying to bolster control over its borders with north Lebanon to 'avert problems'. The Lebanese president said that the deployment of Syrian troops off Lebanon's northern borders is in accordance with a mutual agreement, Baroud added."

By contrast, according to Debkafile, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora alerted Washington to the possibility of a large-scale, Syrian-sponsored terror attack or assassination to create a pretext for invading northern Lebanon. In response, the USA has elected to withdraw Cobra military helicopters earmarked for the Lebanese army from emergency stores in Jordan. The decision was made in talks between Lebanese government and military leaders with Deputy Secretary of State David Hale and Assistant Defense Secretary Mary Beth Long, who arrived in Beirut on October 5. "The helicopters," contends Debkafile, "are intended to impress on Damascus that the US will intervene militarily if the Syrian troops massed on the North Lebanese border cross over." A Lebanese military delegation is scheduled to visit Jordan today to inspect the Cobras, stored there after fighting in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are slated to meet next month in Egypt for the "Annapolis 2" peace summit, held under the auspices of the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet, consisting of the USA, Russia, European Union, and United Nations. There the summiteers will no doubt attempt to resurrect the moribund seven-year peace treaty known as the Oslo Accords. "In recent months," the story below relates, "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been urging both sides to draft a document detailing the points of agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations." In his eagerness to dismantle Israel, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two or three weeks, most recently proposing that the Palestinians receive 93 percent of the West Bank, among other territorial concessions. Today Olmert also traveled to Moscow, where he met with Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev. However, he failed to secure assurances that the Kremlin would halt future arms sales to Israel's arch-enemy Iran.

Egypt to host 'Annapolis 2' peace summit in November
Last update - 09:17 02/10/2008
By Barak Ravid

An international summit is to be held in Egypt in November, with representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the members of the Quartet - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. According to a senior official in Jerusalem, the Israeli and PA participants will brief the Quartet over progress made in the ongoing peace talks. The gathering is said to be the result of a compromise between the U.S., Israel and the Palestinians.

In recent months U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been urging both sides to draft a document detailing the points of agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. She suggested they compile an "inventory" detailing progress on each of the core issues, such as Jerusalem, borders, refugees' right of return, security, settlements and water rights. Israel opposed Rice's suggestion and argued that it would set the talks back.

"It would make each side harden its stance to appear as though it has made no concessions," the Israeli source said. "Finally, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni managed to persuade her Palestinian counterpart, the head of the PA negotiating team, Ahmed Qureia, to reject the inventory idea."

Instead, the parties agreed on to give a detailed briefing to the Quartet. The Israeli and PA negotiators believe that would be less binding and would allow issues to be presented more freely. Quartet representatives met with their Arab League counterparts in New York last week and approved the proposed Israeli and Palestinian briefing.

Also, Quartet members decided to hold a peace summit in Moscow next spring. Meanwhile, the Israeli source said the November summit will probably take place in Sharm el-Sheikh on the anniversary of last year's Annapolis summit. Quartet representatives, including its Middle East envoy, former British prime minister Tony Blair, will participate as well as officials from Jordan and Egypt.

The political turmoil in Israel following the resignation of Ehud Olmert as prime minister is hampering attempts to determine the level of representation at the summit. If Livni becomes prime minister then the heads of states of other participating countries will also be required to attend.

Another issue that must be reconciled before the summit is held is the difference in opinion between Livni and Olmert, who have each been holding independent talks with Palestinians. Olmert, who has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two to three weeks, has proposed that Palestinians receive 93 percent of the West Bank, and Israeli territory amounting to 5.5 percent of the West Bank as part of a land swap.

According to the proposal, Israel will accept a few thousand Palestinian refugees within its borders on humanitarian grounds over a 10-year period.

Olmert proposed that the issue of Jerusalem be put on hold and discussed in cooperation with the international community. Abbas apparently opposes the proposal at this point. At the same time, Livni has been holding talks with Qureia aimed at trying to reach a detailed final status agreement.

While the two sides made little progress over the core issues they have agreed on a broad range of issues such as water and the economy. Both Livni and Qureia categorically rejected Olmert's proposal. The Annapolis summit was held on November 27, 2007, in the U.S., with participants from about 40 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria and Indonesia.

From the vantage of Bible prophecy watchers, will this be the venue in which the Antichrist--most likely the current president of the European Union-Mediterranean Union--"confirms the covenant with many for one week [seven years]?" With last week's Rosh Hashanah, Israel has entered a new seven-year sabbatical cycle that may or may not represent Daniel's seventieth prophetic week, otherwise known as the tribulation period. If these things are so, then the church can anticipate only a few more weeks until the groom, Jesus Christ, comes to fetch His bride, the church.

WW4 File: Moscow accuses Tbilisi of provocations in Abkhazia, S. Ossetia, pledges compliance with Oct. 10 withdrawal from Georgia proper

On September 25 a car bomb exploded near Abkhazia's security service office in the capital Sukhumi. No casualties resulted, although Abkhazia's pro-Moscow authorities suspect the chief of the republic's spy agency Yuri Ashuba was targetted. A week later on October 3 seven Russian peacekeepers were killed and seven others wounded when another car bomb blew up near a military base in South Ossetia. "There were four people, apparently ethnic Georgians, in the car. Light firearms and two grenades were also found," Major-General Marat Kulakhmetov, who heads Russia's "peacekeeping" units in South Ossetia, was quoted as saying. According to the Dmitry Medvedev-Nicolas Sarkozy plan, firsted penned on August 12 but revised last month, Russian troops are required in four days to be completely withdrawn from their positions in the security zones that they have formed in Georgia proper.

Today, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dispatched a letter to his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner, expressing "Russia's concerns regarding the provocation and deteriorating situation in the security zone." "Nevertheless," Novosti reports Lavrov as saying in his letter, "we firmly intend to fulfill the obligations agreed between the Russian and French presidents on the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Georgia on October 10, 2008." Although Moscow continues to play the diplomatic card to deceive Brussels, expect additional FSB/GRU-orchestrated provocations to completely stall Russia's withdrawal from Georgia. The Kremlin has already indicated that its forces will not be leaving Abkhazia and South Ossetia but, rather, will build military bases in the de facto independent states to secure a permament presence on what is legally Georgian soil.

Pictured above: European Union military observers watch Russian servicemen dismantling a checkpoint in Karaleti, a village in Georgia proper, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Tbilisi, on October 7, 2008.

Russia says 'certain forces' in Georgia provoking conflict
20:5406/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 6 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry accused "certain forces" in Georgia on Monday of intentionally escalating the situation in the Caucasus and trying to provoke a new armed conflict.

"A new escalation in the South Caucasus is causing concern," the ministry's information and press department said.

A car bomb went off on Friday in the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, killing seven Russian peacekeepers. Georgia has denied any involvement in the bombing, accusing Russia of trying to delay its pullout from the buffer zone near South Ossetia.

The ministry said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has sent a letter to his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner outlining "Russia's concerns regarding the provocation and deteriorating situation in the security zone."

However, the ministry said that despite the worsening security position, Russia intends to withdraw its peacekeepers from Georgia by October 10.

"Nevertheless, we firmly intend to fulfill the obligations agreed between the Russian and French presidents on the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Georgia on October 10, 2008," the ministry said.

Under an EU-brokered peace deal, Russia has pledged to pull all troops out of the undisputed parts of Georgia within one month, leaving peacekeepers in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognized as independent countries. Russia has agreed to pull all its remaining peacekeepers out of the area by October 10.

Moscow launched a five-day operation to "force Georgia to accept peace" after Tbilisi attacked South Ossetia on August 8 in an attempt to regain control over the republic, which split from Georgia in the early 1990s. A number of Russian peacekeepers and a reported 1,600 South Ossetian residents lost their lives during the conflict.

"Russian peacekeepers," admits state-run Interfax, "have not begun to close their observation posts in the buffer zone in Georgia; yet the withdrawal of material property [military equipment] has begun, Russian Army Assistant Commander Col. Igor Konashenkov told Interfax-AVN on Monday." According to the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, European Union military monitors will take the security zone under control. With typical Soviet doublespeak, the Kremlin appears to be saying to the West: "We're withdrawing but we're not withdrawing. Take a hike."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Caucasus region, the subjugation and re-Sovietization of Chechnya was completed yesterday when pro-Moscow President Ramzan Kadyrov renamed a major street in the capital Grozny "Putin Avenue." "This avenue is being renamed after Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin because he is the saviour of the Chechen people," Kadyrov gushed, "He saved us from genocide. I am sure 99 per cent of the Chechen people support me in this because he deserves to have the main street renamed after him." No doubt Russia's KGB-communist dictator Prime Minister Vladimir Putin must be enormously pleased with this grotesque honour and Comrade Kadyrov's fawning compliance in overlooking--in the name of supposedly saving Chechnya from genocide--the 250,000 civilians who reportedly perished in the two Chechen Wars.

USA File: YouTube videos expose Democratic activists using Nazi/Soviet-style tactics to brainwash, mobilize teens, children to support Obama

In preparation for the November presidential election, the Democratic Party, which is controlled by leaders and activists commited to fascist-communist identity politics, has transformed Barack Hussein Obama into the "American Messiah." The linked YouTube videos expose this fact. In the first video teen activists chant "Alpha, Omega," a title by which Jesus Christ refers to Himself in the Revelation: Obama Youth League. In the second video children sing how Obama will "change the world," not just the USA: Obama Young Pioneers. These performances, too, differ only by degree from the Kremlin's assorted crypto-Komsomol "Putin Youth" movements like Nashi and the United Russia party's Young Guard.

In light of the economic abyss into which the USA and the whole world has fallen and the war-tarnished image of the Republican Party, an Obama-nation is a very strong possibility, if only by a margin. "Democrat Barack Obama," Angus Reid reports, "has extended his lead over Republican John McCain in the United States presidential race, according to a review of 14 voting intention surveys conducted over the past 11 days. 49.3 per cent of voters would support the Illinois senator in the election, while 43.1 per cent would back the Arizona senator."

End Times File: Panic grips world markets, Russian stocks diving; CNBC's Jim Cramer: Sell all investments needed for next 5 years, 20% decline coming

- Dow Jones Slides Nearly 800 Points to Break Four-Year-Old 10,000-Point Floor

World stock markets tanked today, AFP reports below, as investors questioned the ability of the US government's new bailout package, signed by President George W. Bush on Friday, to rescue that country's crippled banks, mortgage lenders, and credit agencies. The DJIA dropped as much as 800 points to fall below 10,000 for the first time in four years. "There is all-out panic," commented ING senior strategist Adrian van Tiggelen. "Everyone had hoped that after the acceptance of the package in the US and the bailouts in Europe, things would calm down but in effect, there are still strong fears of the domino effect." Toyo Securities strategist Ryuta Otsuka remarked: "The market is not convinced that the US bailout package can protect the economy from the financial crisis." Nearly 160,000 people lost their jobs in the USA last month. Pictured above: Traders at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which suffered another mauling today.

Jim Cramer, the controversial host of CNBC's Mad Money program was interviewed today, at which time he predicted a 20 percent decline in the stock indices and urged viewers to immediately sell all investments needed for the next five years. Cramer is a former (?) college communist whose Mad Money set apparently sports a mugshot of Vladimir Lenin in the background.

Panic grips world stock markets
October 6, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — World stock markets plummeted on Monday, striking four-year lows, as panic-stricken investors doubted whether a Wall Street bailout package would stem the global financial crisis.

London, Frankfurt and Paris all tumbled more than six percent before pulling back slightly while a 15-percent dive in Moscow forced yet another halt to Russian trading.

"There is all-out panic," said ING senior strategist Adrian van Tiggelen.

"Everyone had hoped that after the acceptance of the package in the US and the bailouts in Europe, things would cam down but in effect, there are still strong fears of the domino effect."

Iceland's stock market suspended trading in all financial shares including three major banks amid reports of a government rescue of the stricken banking sector.

Investors dumped shares after US stock markets had fallen sharply on Friday despite US congressional approval of a 700-billion-dollar bank bailout. Wall Street was due to reopen at 1330 GMT.

In afternoon trade, London was down 5.23 percent, Paris showed a loss of 5.63 percent and Frankfurt shed 5.43 percent.

"We have a seriously weak and fear driven market at our hands," said Tom Hougaard, chief market strategist at City Index. "It is anyone's guess where we will end the day."

On Monday, Tokyo ended down 4.25 percent as Hong Kong shed 5.0 percent, Seoul tumbled 4.3 percent and Sydney lost 3.3 percent. Shanghai dived 5.23 percent and Mumbai plunged 5.78 percent to close at two-year lows.

European stocks plummeted after Germany's fourth biggest bank, Hypo Real Estate, had to be rescued afresh over the weekend -- news that pushed the euro to a 13-month low against the dollar on Monday.

Oil meanwhile tumbled to eight-month lows below 90 dollars a barrel in London and New York as worsening financial turmoil triggered fears about slowing demand for energy.

"The market is not convinced that the US bailout package can protect the economy from the financial crisis," said Toyo Securities strategist Ryuta Otsuka.

Riyadh, the largest stock market in the Arab world, shed almost 10 percent halfway through trading on Monday and shares in other energy-rich Arab states in the Gulf also slumped.

"The Fed's bailout plan may have been passed on Friday but so far there's been no real reaction in credit markets and because of this, the natural assumption is going to be that the measures won't work, even if such a call is rather premature," said CMC Markets dealer Matt Buckland.

Underscoring the worsening conditions in the United States, the world's largest economy, 159,000 US jobs were lost in September, data showed Friday.

"The approval of the financial rescue plan failed to bolster market confidence. Pessimism towards the global economy is running deeper," said Young Wang, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting in Taipei, where stocks ended down 4.1 percent, also at a four-year low.

As the US-centred financial crisis takes a stronger grip in Europe, the German government agreed an emergency rescue package of 50 billion euros (68 billion dollars), for Hypo Real Estate, late Sunday.
It also announced an unlimited guarantee for personal savings deposits.

France's BNP Paribas meanwhile announced Sunday that it was taking control of the operations of ailing financial group Fortis in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain vowed over the weekend to protect fragile banks but did not discuss a joint, European financial rescue package.

"Financial stocks are certainly going to be under pressure again with German mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate being the latest to receive state aid but the overall impact is going to cross all sectors with the prospect of slowing demand weighing on all (company) heavyweights," said Buckland.

In an effort to keep credit flowing, global central banks pumped billions of extra dollars into short-term lending markets in what has become a daily effort to keep cash moving in a critical network.

Markets were looking ahead to a meeting Friday of finance chiefs from the Group of Seven rich nations, waiting for any announcements on coordinated action such as liquidity injections or interest rate cuts, dealers said.

A speech Tuesday by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would also be closely watched for any clues on the possibility of a US interest rate cut.

The Bank of England was expected to cut British borrowing costs by at least a quarter of a percentage point when it meets on Thursday, with many hoping for joint action by the world's central banks.

Trading was suspended twice today on the MICEX, where most trading takes place in Russia, after shares plummeted 16.7 percent to 770.2 points. "Banking stocks were among the worst hit on Monday in Russia," reports Forbes.com, continuing: "State-controlled Sberbank, the country's largest lender - which at one point had plummeted 20 percent in early trading - shed 16.9 percent on MICEX, while the state-backed VTB banking concern shed 21.8 percent. Mining firm Norilsk Nickel plunged by 32.7 percent on the RTS on weak financials and plummeting nickel prices. State-controlled oil major Rosneft was 21.2 percent lower." The Russian Trading System is currently down by 62 percent from its May peak.

This would be a very good time, that is, over the next few days and weeks, for NATO and NORAD to improve their alertness and bolster their defenses in case the Moscow Leninists develop itchy trigger fingers. Last Friday geopolitical analyst Jeff Nyquist examined the global financial crisis and correctly concluded: "No single individual person or agency can solve the problem. No individual possesses the knowledge required. Only the market possesses the knowledge, if only the market is allowed to function without the obfuscation introduced by inappropriate government regulation and the myth of government-sponsored salvation." Don't expect the neo-Soviet leadership to figure out that fact.

End Times File: Rapture of church, tribulation nearing (?) as Palestinians accept peace offer; Abbas: Outgoing Israeli PM Olmert no means to implement

I think we are very close to an agreement.
-- Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, quoted by Yediot Ahronot, September 29, 2008

During the Feast of Trumpets/Jewish New Year, according to Israel Today, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert slipped the ever-elusive Middle East peace agreement over the transom of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office door. In an interview with Israel's largest daily newspaper Yediot Ahronot Olmert explained that the Kadima-led government was willing to withdraw Israeli troops from 93 percent of Judea and Samaria, including nearly all of East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. In other words, Israel would become a rump state with its back to the Mediterranean Sea, into which the Muslims have pledged over the decades to force every living Jew.

It remains to be seen whether Acting Prime Minister Tzipi Livni will push her colleague's proposal forward. If Livni calls a snap election and Likud rival Benjamin Netanyahu wins, then the proposal will most certainly founder as Netanyahu stridently opposes territorial concessions. The Chinese state media reports today: "Chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiations department Saeb Erekat said here Friday that there has been no date set yet for a meeting between representatives from Israel, Palestine and the [Middle East] Quartet [consisting of UN, EU, USA, and Russia], reported Voice of Palestine Radio."

Pictured above: Today, during dueling demonstrations for and against Israel's separation barrier, an Israeli activist in the Jewish settlement of Modin Illit holds his country's flag, while a Palestinian activist in the West Bank village of Nilin holds the Palestinian flag.

Palestinians accept Olmert peace offer
Thursday, October 02, 2008 Israel Today Staff

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said that the recent peace offer made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is enough to get a final status agreement signed, but recognized that the outgoing Israeli leader does not have the ability to implement the proposal.

"We could have peace in two days" if Olmert's offer could be implemented, Abbas told a group of Muslim clerics at the tail end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Olmert made his offer in a Rosh Hashanah interview with Israel's largest daily newspaper, Yediot Ahronot.

In the interview, Olmert said he was ready to withdraw from 93 percent of Judea and Samaria, including nearly all of eastern Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley. Olmert offered to make up the difference by giving the Palestinians 5.5 percent of sovereign Israeli land.

The proposed deal also included a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

Abbas said he hopes that Olmert's proposal will form the foundation of peace talks with his successor. The Palestinian leader said he would like to view Olmert's offer as a peace "deposit."

The international community tried to make sure that will be the case when the Middle East Quartet last week insisted that all Israeli offers, no matter how tentative, be made binding.

Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu reiterated in a holiday interview with Israel National News that the nation does not have a viable Palestinian peace partner with whom to make a deal.

In another holiday interview with Israeli Internet portal Walla!, Netanyahu said that if he regains the prime minister's chair he will actually increase Jewish settlement activity and shelf all talk of a peace deal leading to the creation of a Palestinian Arab state.

There is no hope of a viable final status peace deal at this point, said Netanyahu, so the best thing to do is forge an economic arrangement with the Arabs of Judea and Samaria.

Polls conducted over the past year consistently show that Netanyahu will win the next national election by a healthy margin.

"I think we are very close to an agreement," Haaretz quotes Olmert as saying in the original Yediot Ahronot interview.

Intriguingly, from the vantage of Bible prophecy, Abbas admitted that Olmert's recent offer of peace is adequate to advance to the final status of a signed agreement, but that Israel's departing head of government "does not have the ability to implement the proposal." According to the Hebrew prophet Daniel there is one who does have the ability to "confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]" (9:27). This individual will arise from the revived Roman Empire, currently embodied by the European Union-Mediterranean Union. The head of the new "Euro-Mediterranean Empire" is an ambitious man with a unique pedigree, who has presented himself as the guarantor of Israel's "peace and safety."

The Israeli media reported yesterday that the president of France, who is also the president of the European Union, dispatched his foreign minister Bernard Kouchner to Israel and the Palestinian Authority to facilitate the Middle East peace process. Kouchner is scheduled to meet Abbas, Olmert, and Livni today and tomorrow. For those of us who have been monitoring Nicolas Sarkozy's career as the world's preeminent "man of peace," including his mediating role in the Russia-Georgia conflict, this development is not surprising.

The timing of the Lord's return for and later with His saints remains the "day and hour" known only to God until the actual prophetic fulfilment (Matthew 24:42-44). However, in view of today's fast-moving events, we would urge all Christians to listen for the Lord's shout, the archangel's voice, and the last trump (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Your rendezvous with eternity, without tasting death, approaches fast and will surely come to pass before the ink dries on the Antichrist's peace deal with Israel.

USA File: House of Representatives passes, Bush signs revised financial bailout bill; world leaders denounce "irresponsibility" of US capitalism

- Investors Refuse to Buy Government's Rosy Bailout Predictions: US$700 Billion Plan "Not Enough"; DJIA Drops 350 Points Today (source)

- Financial Times: Quasi-Nationalization of US Banking System's Massive Debt Benefits Foreign (Communist Chinese) Investors (source)

- California Governor Schwarzenegger Warns US Treasury Secretary Paulson that Nation's Most Populous State Might Need US$7 Billion Emergency Loan within Weeks (source)

- Party of European Socialists Leader Schulz Dutifully Treks from Brussels to Moscow, Confers with Putin, Denounces "Casino Capitalism"

Today the US House of Representatives and President George W. Bush capitulated to the principles of elite-sponsored Fabian socialism by passing and then signing, respectively, the administration's bailout bill, which will release US$700 billion of taxpayer money to prop up the shopping mall regime's debt-crippled financial industry. Fox News reports:

In a nail-biter, the House Friday approved the Bush administration's historic $700 billion financial markets rescue package, a measure promoted as a means to prevent a U.S. economic collapse. Lawmakers voted 263-171 to pass the bill, a comfortable margin that was 58 more votes than the measure garnered in Monday's stunning defeat. Of the 263 supporters, 172 were Democrats and 91 were Republicans. On Monday, 133 House Republicans joined 95 Democrats in rejecting the measure. At the White House, President Bush declared, "We have acted boldly to prevent the crisis on Wall Street from becoming a crisis in communities across our country."

US Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat from southern California, admitted to the Los Angeles Times yesterday that "The one thing that's been proven is the absolute fear mongering that's being used to drive us is false. I've seen members turn to each other and say, 'If we don't pass this bill, we're going to have martial law in the United States.'" In what is probably a case of "too little, too late," Takahito Murai, general manager of equities at Nozomi Securities in Tokyo, cautioned concerning the bailout: "Investors expect the U.S. House to approve the bailout, but even if that happens, it would have a neutral impact on the market as its effectiveness is still questionable."

World leaders are more frank about the failure of the US capitalist system which, we contend, has become more socialist than truly capitalist in orientation. "The world is on the edge of the abyss because of an irresponsible system," French Prime Minister Francois Fillon opined today (at the previous link). Russia's KGB-communist dictator Vladimir Putin, who is preparing to knock that "corrupt" system down a peg or two with a preemptive nuclear strike, lamented two days ago in true Leninist fashion: "The saddest thing is that we can see an inability to take appropriate decisions. This is not the irresponsibility of some people but the irresponsibility of the system, which, as it is known, claimed to be the leader." That's right, Comrade Vlad, capitalism is "irresponsible," therefore we must replace the system with communism.

Pictured above: If you ever had any doubts whether Moscow exercises "pull" with Western European socialists, then the photograph above should dispel any such delusions: Martin Schulz, Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Germany and Chairman of the Party of European Socialists bloc in the same body, dutifully trekked to Moscow today where he conferred with Prime Minister Putin. On October 1 Schulz was quoted as saying: "This crisis underlines the excesses and uncertainties of a casino capitalism that has only one logic — lining your pockets. It also shows the bankruptcy of 'law of the jungle' capitalism that no longer invests in companies and job creation, but instead makes money out of money in a totally uncontrolled way." Clearly, Putin and Schulz have much in common. Topping their agenda, no doubt, is a rousing discussion concerning the evils of US capitalism. Wouldn't the world be a happier place if the cancer was removed?

Latin America File: Second anti-Ortega protest turns violent in Nicaragua; son of former President Chamorro: FSLN persecuting reporters

We will not give an inch to protesters. We control the streets.
-- Cadres of the Sandinista-dominated Citizens' Power Councils, October 2008

Here at Once Upon a Time in the West we are following with great interest developments in neo-Sandinista Nicaragua, including the re-communization of that country under its past and current dictator President Daniel Ortega, and the new Cold War in Central America. The reason for this stems in part because we are old enough to remember the first, Soviet/Cuban-backed Sandinista regime. Your resident blogger was an undergraduate university student during the period when the Tower Commission was underway (November 1986-February 1987) and later when Ortega voluntarily stepped down from the presidency in April 1990 after his electoral defeat.

The Costa Rican media reports that on Thursday state-salaried journalists and thugs in the employ of the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front, also called Orteguistas, intimidated university students who were protesting outside the government television station in Managua. Many of these Oretguistas are members of the newly formed Citizens' Power Councils (CPC), which report to Nicaragua's First Lady Rosario Murillo and replicate the surveillance and repression functions of the Sandinista Defense Committees of the 1980s and the current Committees for the Defense of the Revolution in Cuba. The story below reports that the Orteguistas warned that they are not willing to "give an inch" to protesters because the Sandinistas "control the streets."

A previous anti-Ortega protest in the northern city of Leon in late September was met with force by machete-wielding and mortar-firing CPC cadres. Municipal elections in Nicaragua are scheduled for November as the FSLN regime cracks down on its opposition and denounces non-governmental organizations as pawns of Washington DC. Managua is closely allied with Havana and Caracas via the intergovernmental Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas and the inter-party Sao Paulo Forum.

Pictured above: A car belonging to Enrique Saenz, representing the opposition party Sandinista Renovation Movement, burns at Leon University, on September 20. The car was torched during clashes between police and Orteguistas who were attempting to thwart an anti-government march.

Another gov't protest turns violent in Nicaragua
By Tim RogersNica Times Staff trogers@ticotimes.net
October 3, 2008

Another attempt at civil protest ended in violence yesterday afternoon when a group of pro-government thugs clashed with a group of student protesters who were demonstrating outside Multinoticias Channel 4 TV, the official government station in Managua.

Reporters from Multinoticias responded aggressively to the students in the streets, who held signs denouncing the “dictatorship” of President Daniel Ortega. The reporters blamed the students for inciting violence.

A group of Ortega supporters, allegedly members of the local Council of Citizen Power (CPC), or neighborhood Sandinista organizations, was then called in to “rescue” Multinoticias by forcibly removing the students from the neighborhood. The pro-Ortega thugs shoved and hit the students, who tried to resist non-violently by sitting on the ground and chanting “We don't want violence.”

Reporters from Multinoticias accused the group of protesters of being right-wing “pretty boys” who are “financed by the United States” and “puppets of the empire” – echoing Ortega's mantra about the opposition. The students, however, evoked a revolutionary spirit by chanting old Sandinista slogans and insisting that were struggling against the Ortega dictatorship.

Yesterday was the second such bout of street violence in the past two weeks between Ortega supporters and anti-government protesters. The Orteguistas have warned they are not willing to “give an inch” to protesters because the Sandinistas “control the streets.”

On Wednesday television journalist Carlos Chamorro Barrios, the son of former president Violeta Chamorro (1990-1997), spoke at a news conference, alleging that the neo-Sandinista regime is persecuting his non-governmental organization Center of Media Investigations and 700 other groups on allegations of money laundering. Chamorro requested that the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights monitor the government's legal case against him. With typical communist hypocrisy, however, President Ortega, according to various reports, is covertly detouring petrodollars from Red Venezuela into the coffers of the FSLN. The Costa Rican media revealed in September:

Nicaraguan opposition lawmaker Victor Tinoco said that millions of dollars in Venezuelan aid is going to President Daniel Ortega rather than the country's poor. Tinoco, of the Sandinista Renovation Movement, and other lawmakers said that Venezuelan aid stemming from a deal brokered by Ortega's party isn't reflected in the government's budget, fueling suspicions that the money is being used to finance Sandinista candidates in municipal elections this November. Ortega and his party deny misusing the funds.

Although members of the Chamorro family appear in the post-Cold War era to be independent political actors, it is worth noting that Carlos' mother Violeta sat on the communist-controlled Junta of National Reconstruction that ruled the country between the 1979 Sandinista Revolution and 1985. Carlos was also previously editor in chief of the defunct Sandinista daily Barricada. Carlos' putative opposition to the ruling neo-Sandinista regime could simply be a case of strategically motivated dissent within a general framework of collusion. The "persecuted" Sandinista Renovation Movement may operate on the basis of a similar deception.

WW4 File: Russian strategic aviation to hold largest live-fire drill since 1984; Rice warns Kremlin against sending bombers to Latin America 2nd time

Between October 6 and 12 Russia's strategic bombers will hold training flights with full combat payloads and live-fire cruise missiles for the first time in more than 20 years. There are approximately 200 such aircraft in the Russian Air Force. Former air force commander, General of the Army Pyotr Deynekin, explained that Russian Tu-95 bombers have life fired their cruise missiles on only one previous occasion, way back in 1984. "Tu-160 bombers have never done this because it is very expensive," the general admitted of the fuel-hogging Blackjack bombers to state-run Novosti, below. During this period, Bloomberg reports, Russian strategic aviation will undertake maneuvers in the Russian Far East, bordering China and Alaska, and in the Volga region, in southern European Russia. These training flights are part of the Kremlin's massive, four-week war game and civil defense drill called Stability-2008, which we have covered in previous posts.

Pictured above: Russian marines storm a beach in Kaliningrad, the Russian Federation's exclave on the Baltic Sea, in a maneuver that began on September 15 and concluded on September 22, at which time the Russian Navy's Baltic Sea Fleet joined the Stability-2008 drills.

Russia's strategic bombers to drill with full combat payloads
15:4902/ 10/ 2008

MOSCOW, October 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian strategic bombers will conduct training flights with full combat payloads and live fire all cruise missiles on board for the first time in over two decades, an Air Force spokesman said.

The live firing exercises in Russia's northern latitudes on October 6-12 are part of the Stability-2008 strategic maneuvers in various regions of Russia and Belarus with the goal of practicing strategic deployment of the Armed Forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border.

"During these exercises, for the first time in many years, the crews of Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bombers will fly missions carrying the maximum combat payload and fire all the cruise missiles on board," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.

Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft can carry six and 12 Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) long-range cruise missiles respectively.

Drik said that the scope of the exercises would be unprecedented and involve, apart from the Tu-160s and Tu-95s, the Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers, air superiority fighters, interceptors and aerial tankers.

"The number and variety of aircraft involved in the drills shows the wide range of tasks that will be accomplished during the week-long exercise," the spokesman said.

Former Air Force commander, General of the Army Pyotr Deynekin, said Russian Tu-95 bombers had conducted live firing of all their cruise missiles only once before, in 1984.

"Tu-160 bombers have never done this because it is very expensive," the general said.

According to various sources, in addition to 16 Tu-160 bombers the Russian Air Force currently has 40 Tu-95MS bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.

Meanwhile, the White House continues to emit hot rhetoric over Russian aggression in Georgia and posturing in Latin America, but refuses to mobilize the US military or citizenry against the neo-Soviet threat. Specifically, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautioned Moscow against a repetition of the week-long presence of two Tu-160 bombers in Venezuela last month. "I think they need to be careful about their relations with other Latin Americans. Because are they really going to arm Hugo Chavez?" Kommersant Daily quoted Rice as saying. Pictured above: One of two Blackjack bombers parked at Venezuela's El Libertador air base in Palo Negro, on September 11, 2008.

Russia’s Blackjack Bombers in Western Hemisphere to Create Problems for Moscow, Rice Warned
October 2, 2008

The United States has cautioned Russia not to repeat the Tu-160 expedition to Western Hemisphere. Two Russia’s Tu-160s landed in Venezuela September 10, 2008.

The jets may create problems for Russia in Latin America, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautioned. “I think they need to be careful about their relations with other Latin Americans. Because are they really going to arm Hugo Chavez?” Bloomberg quoted Rice as saying.

“The Russian buildup of Venezuela doesn't threaten the United States. I think there's - America has plenty of military power in the Western Hemisphere. But if I were Russia, I would look at what this might mean for other Latin American states with whom they'd like to have good relations: Brazil, Chile, Colombia. That's the problem that Russia will have in this hemisphere,” Rice said.

Rice also wondered whether Chaves was really ready to borrow a billion dollars when the Venezuelan people are experiencing economic troubles. According to the U.S. secretary of state, Chavez probably wanted to build up military to threaten other Latin America nations.

USA File: Senate OKs revised US$700 billion bailout bill, DJIA sinks 348 points, House to vote Friday; credit crunch stifles Latin American boom

Last night the US Senate debated and passed a revised version of the government's US$700 billion financial bailout bill. The package had been sweetened with tax cuts for business and an increase in the insurance limits on bank deposits from $US100,000 to $US250,000. The front-running presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, both of whom are Senators, returned to Washington to speak in favour of the plan. Pictured above: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who supports the bail out, addresses reporters in Washington today.

The House of Representatives voted down an earlier version of the bill on Monday, leading to the worst single-day stock sell-off since just after the 1987 market crash. Apparently unimpressed by the latest socialist remedy for the credit collapse, investors reacted negatively, driving the DJIA down by at least 348 points today. US Congressmen will be forced to consider the revised, Senate-approved bill as early as Friday. Today the International Monetary Fund released a report that does not provide an optimistic forecast for the world economy:

Episodes of financial turmoil characterized by banking sector distress are more likely to be associated with severe and protracted downturns than episodes of stress centered mainly in securities or foreign exchange markets.

Based on a comparison of the current episode of financial stress with previous episodes, there remains a substantial likelihood of a sharp downturn in the United States. The US economic downturn may well become more severe and could evolve into a recession.

The evidence for the "euro area" meanwhile is more consistent with the pattern for a slowdown than a recession, and the dynamics also appear to be evolving with some lag.

In cyberspace forums and Youtube.com are abuzz with rumors and "prophecies" of martial law imposed in the wake of a total economic failure and extended "bank holiday" should the bailout bill fail to secure another fair shake in the House of Representatives. The scenario is not entirely inconceivable and, indeed, the Communist Bloc could possibly seize the opportunity to launch a preemptive nuclear strike after a few more economic blows against America.

In the European Union the French government applied pressure on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown last night by tendering an ambitious plan for a €300 billion (£237 billion) bailout fund to rescue hobbled banks across Europe. French/European President Nicolas Sarkozy will host an emergency summit of EU leaders scheduled for Saturday, at which time he will propose the creation of an international emergency fund to prop up banks when national governments are unable to intervene.

In this case Sarkozy's eagerness to support the banking industry are suspect since among his friends is Edouard de Rothschild, scion of the French branch of the Rothschild dynasty and "non-executive chairman" of the supervisory board at the Rothschild & Cie Banque. Today, across the English Channel, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, prince of the British branch of the dynasty, piously intoned: "There has been a collapse in ethical standards among banks in recent years, which has been ignored by watchdogs, rating agencies, shareholders and accountants. We should not be under any illusion in this country that subprime is only an American problem."

Meanwhile, in Latin America, which is dominated by leftist and communist regimes in alliance with Russia and China, the credit crunch will by next year drag the region's booming economy to a standstill, a development that will only facilitate the Red Axis leaders' ability to consolidate their political gains."The last four or five years were very good for Latin America, but that cycle is coming to an end,'' commented Rodrigo Valdes, chief Latin America economist at Barclays Capital in New York: "We expect a deceleration in practically all economies.'' Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos is more blunt: "We're in a serious economic crisis. Financing is going to get scarcer and scarcer, and that means that investment is going to be difficult to attract.''

The extent to which the Havana/Caracas-led Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas or the broader Union of South American Nations can maintain Latin America's current prosperity in the midst of world capitalism's current disruption will probably be limited to joint enterprises sponsored by Moscow and Beijing. "State-controlled Gazprom and Rosneft, as well as private companies Lukoil, TNK-BP and Surgutneftegaz, plan to pour tens of billions of dollars of investment into Venezuela," Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko revealed on September 29. "It is a colossus being born," Hugo Chavez crowed, referring to the participation of Petroleos de Venezuela SA in the project, while on his eighth trip to Russia last month. According to Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, Chavez and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev also discussed the possibility of forming a natural gas cartel.

DEFCON 1 ALERT: St. Petersburg tests air raid sirens on Monday, Russia's first full civilian drill since WW2 part of Stability-2008 war game

- Peter the Great Missile Cruiser and Three Other Russian Warships En Route to Joint Maneuvers with Venezuela Carry Out North Atlantic Exercise, Pay Friendly Visit to Long-Time Soviet Ally Libya

- Russian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Ryazan Arrives at Base in Kamchatka after Completing Month-Long Mission without Surfacing

- Flashpoint Alert: US and Russian Navies to Converge around Hijacked Freighter in Somalia; Provisional Government Accords Russian Missile Frigate "Special Status" to Liberate MV Faina and Crew, Patrol Country's Coast on Permanent Basis; Faina Carrying 33 Soviet-Era T-72 Tanks

Pictured above: Russian paratroopers participate in the Moscow Military District's Bastion-2008 maneuver near Nizhny Novgorod, between September 22 and 28. Bastion-2008 appears to be a component of the wider Stability-2008 strategic war game taking place across Russia and Belarus.

In a related story, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced that on October 3 its generals will meet in Moscow to organize in the "nearest future" a rapid reaction force, consisting of paratroopers, marines, and special forces, that will provide "timely resistance to potential threats in any strategic area."

The Communist Bloc and the remnants of the Free World are rapidly moving toward a head-on collision in the form of an all-out nuclear war over flashpoints such as Russia's occupation of Georgia, Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, Kosovar independence, US NMD deployments in Central Europe, and the legitimacy of Belarus' Sunday parliamentary election, in which President Alexander Lukashenko's opposition was once again locked out of power. The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted angrily to OSCE accusations of electoral fraud in Minsk. However, the shopping mall regime staggers on, distracted by the second round of the financial bailout battle, this time carried out in the US Senate, and under-reported gasoline shortages throughout the southeastern states.

On August 8, in our assessment, the Fourth World War began in earnest with the Soviet re-invasion of Georgia. Since then NATO and the Soviets have settled into a form of "Sitzkrieg" as each camp tests the other's resolve and watches for signs of mobilization. Civil defense preparation in Russia is a key sign to notice in advance of a preemptive strike against the USA and the Western Alliance. The civilian exercise below, reported in the British media, is probably part of the country-wide Stability-2008 war game covered in previous posts. The Telegraph reports with little comment: "Critics of the Kremlin dismissed the exercise as a stunt, saying it was intended to give the impression that a Western invasion could easily happen and that it was therefore necessary to rally around the government at a time of national crisis."

The Stability-2008 drills will last until October 21 throughout Russia and Belarus with the intent of practicing strategic deployment of the armed forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border (read US NMD).

Russia alarms St Petersburg residents with air raid test
By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow Last Updated: 8:25PM BST 29 Sep 2008

Russia reinforced the popular notion of Western bellicosity by staging the first full military drill in St Petersburg since the end of the Second World War.

Air raid sirens wailed across the country's northern capital and loudspeakers barked official orders as the authorities simulated a full-scale attack on the city.

The exercise caused consternation for many city residents who were unaware that a drill was planned. Some elderly inhabitants who survived the 900-day siege of Leningrad during the war collapsed and had to be treated by ambulance crews, local reporters in the city said.

Even for those too young to remember the war, the experience was an unnerving one.

"My daughter started crying when she heard the sound of the sirens," said Marina Kuznetsova, who had taken her baby for a walk in a park in the Kirov suburb of the city.

"It sounded really scary because it reminded me of the films about the War and the siege." Mrs Kuznetsova, 36, said she had been unaware of the drill, which had been announced on radio stations earlier in the day.

As over 300 sirens warned of an impending air raid, the city's committee on law, order and security interrupted radio and television broadcasts to announce that an emergency drill was under way. Instructions on how to behave in the event of a military attack or emergency were then broadcast for 14 minutes.

Critics of the Kremlin dismissed the exercise as a stunt, saying it was intended to give the impression that a Western invasion could easily happen and that it was therefore necessary to rally around the government at a time of national crisis.

Anti-western rhetoric, frequently used by Kremlin officials in recent years, has become increasingly intense since last month's war in Georgia.

Pictured here: Motorized and tank regiments of the Moscow Military District surround and destroy "large unlawful paramilitary units," to quote Novosti, in the drills associated with Bastion-2008.

The Far East Military District kicked off its component of the Kremlin's four-week, multi-branch, multi-front war game Stability-2008 two days ago. "The exercise aims to practice the deployment of the combined-arms task force in a simulated operation to defend the infrastructure of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands from possible terrorist attacks, to guarantee safe navigation and to deal with consequences of natural and industrial disasters," state-run Novosti quotes a military district spokesentity as saying.

The Russian army, reports state-run Itar-Tass, is beginning its autumn draft today. In accordance with federal law, 219,000 males 18 to 27 years of age are eligible for military service, while 205,000 servicemen conscripted in the autumn of 2006 and the spring of 2007 will be discharged from the armed forces.

Four Russian warships en route to joint war games with Venezuela in November will pay a friendly visit to the Libyan capital of Tripoli, a long-time ally of Moscow, a Kremlin navy spokesentity revealed today. "The Peter the Great nuclear-powered missile cruiser and three accompanying ships -- which left the Northern Fleet's base of Severomorsk on Sept. 22 -- will sail through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean on Sunday," Captain Igor Dygalo gloated, adding that the task force will visit several other unnamed Mediterranean ports. Before entering the Mediterranean next weekend the Russian navy task force will conduct drills in the North Atlantic Ocean. "During the entire mission, the task group is expected to cover a distance of 15,000 nautical miles (30,000 km)," explains Novosti, admitting that the warships are being tracked by NATO naval vessels: "According to the Russian Navy, the movements of the convoy are closely monitored by the U.K. HMS Argyll frigate and NATO aircraft."

Within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which binds Russia, Belarus, Armenia and the Central Asian republics in a "post"-Soviet military pact, Russia and Kazakhstan will hold joint naval maneuvers on the Caspian Sea on October 3, to be called Aldaspan-2008. The Kremlin media concedes that "Russia has recently been strengthening military ties with Eurasian allies amid growing tensions over NATO expansion and U.S. missile shield plans for Central Europe."

Pictured here: On September 25 Russian "President" Dmitry Medvedev visited the Kremlin's Pacific Fleet submarine base, in Krasheninnikov Harbor on the Kamchatka Peninsula, and inspected the nuclear-powered Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets, which can launch ballistic missiles, and anti-submarine and anti-ship torpedoes.

Finally, Bloomberg reported yesterday that a Russian nuclear-powered submarine completed a month-long mission under the Arctic icesheet in an attempt by the Kremlin to reasserts its military power in the region. The Ryazan, which is deployed with the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet, arrived on Tuesday at the Vilyuchinsk base on the Kamchatka peninsula after sailing for more than 30 days without surfacing. "Russia's submariners haven't lost the skill of making long sub-ice voyages, and they gave a worthy confirmation of the quality of our national school of fulfilling complex missions in Arctic waters,'' boasted navy chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky in a press release. Last year Russian explorers planted a flag on the Arctic seabed directly beneath the North Pole, symbolically staking a claim to an area that may contain 10 billion tons of oil equivalent, as well as deposits of gold, nickel and diamonds. Moscow claims 18 percent of the Arctic region, which is adjacent to 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles) of the country's border. The Kremlin will draft a development plan for this disputed area by December 1.

Meanwhile, in a highly unusual high seas drama, US and Russian navy ships are converging around the Ukrainian freighter MV Faina, which has been commandeered by pirates off the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia. As we previously posted, 33 Soviet-era Russian T-72 tanks are aboard the freighter, allegedly destined for Sudan via the Kenya port of Mombasa. The Russian captain of the Faina, the Kremlin media reports, died of illness several days ago, while at least three pirates have been killed as a result of squabbling. The pirates are demanding a US$20 million ransom for the release of the ship and its crew.

The destroyer USS Howard and ships and helicopters of the Bahrain-based US Navy Fifth Fleet are monitoring the pirate-controlled craft, now docked at the Somali port village of Hobyo. According to the Kremlin media, furthermore, Somalia's internationally recognized provisional government has accorded the Russian Navy a "special status" to not only liberate the Faina and its crew, but also place the pirates on trial, as well as patrol that country's pirate-infested seas on a permanent basis. In view of the specific mission now granted to the crew of the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy, en route from the Baltic Sea to East Africa (presumably via the Suez Canal), the potential for a confrontation between the Russian and US navies has increased. Since current negotiations between Moscow and Baidoa, the Somali Republic's provisional capital, will apparently permit the Russian Navy to assume a constant presence near the Horn of Africa, shrewd Russia watchers should consider the possibility that the Faina hijacking was from start to finish a Kremlin ploy.

Somali gives Russian warships "special status" to fight pirates
01.10.2008, 16.31

MOSCOW, October 1 (Itar-Tass) - Somali's government gave Russian warships the right to be near the country's coast to fight pirates on the sea and on land, Somalian Ambassador to Russia Mohamed Handule said here on Wednesday.

This gives special status to Russian warships, the envoy said.

He noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry and Somali are now conducting talks over the possibility to effect patrols along the Somalia coast by the Russian Navy.

These are sensitive issues that have to be discussed thoroughly. "However, we have very good relations with Russia. The sooner it happens the better, so that concrete measures are taken to resolve this problem," Mohamed Handule said.

Somalia has allowed Russia and Ukraine to free the Ukrainian vessel Faina, captured by pirates.

"If Russia and Ukraine free the vessel Faina on their own, they have complete right to put on trial the pirates who have seized it," the diplomat said.

"The vessel, seized on October 25, is now near the Somalian town of Hobyo. The crew comprises 17 Ukrainians, two Russians and one Latvian. On Sunday, September 28, the captain of the vessel, Vladimir Kolobkov, died of cerebral hemorrhage.

The Faina was loaded with armaments, including 33 T-72 tanks, aid defence units, grenade launchers and ammunition.

A U.S. destroyer is watching the Faina at present in case pirates start unloading the cargo onto the shore. The Russian Baltic Fleet vessel Neustrashimy (Intrepid) is sailing to the area of the incident.