A few stories highlight the continuing tension between the US and Russia. Moscow is continuing either its show of force – or – is actually preparing for conflict. Perhaps it’s a little bit of both. One news outlet reported: “Russia´s military conducted a series of intercontinental ballistic missile tests on Wednesday, the latest flexing of its muscles as tensions with the US spike over Syria.” Two of the missiles were launched from submarines and one from the Russian mainland.[i]
At the same time, the Kremlin is calling its citizens back home. The UK’s Daily Mail reports: “Russia is ordering all of its officials to fly home any relatives living abroad amid heightened tensions over the prospect of global war….Politicians and high-ranking figures are said to have received a warning from president Vladimir Putin to bring their loved-ones home to the ‘Motherland.’”[ii] And besides the massive civil defense exercise involving 40 million people that ran last week, Moscow is now conducting martial law drills. Here’s this from Infowars. “The Russian Defense Ministry is training to directly manage local authorities, law enforcement and state security as tensions with the U.S. raise the risk of nuclear war….During the drill, the Russian Defense Ministry practiced assuming direct control over Russia’s regional governments in the case of military conflict. The Defense Ministry’s test of the new wartime administration system occurred in Stavropol Krai, Ingushetia and Crimea.”[iii]
Russian media has joined in the chorus of fearmongering. Britain’s Express tells us, “A terrifying Russian television broadcast explicitly told civilians to find out where their nearest bomb shelter is and repeatedly asked viewers if they were ready for nuclear war….‘If it should one day happen, every one of you should know where the nearest bomb shelter is. It’s best to find out now.’ The enraged host, Evgeny Kiselyov, blasted America’s ‘impudent behaviour’ and spent two hours warning that a conflict could take ‘nuclear dimensions.’”[iv] In a more concrete step, Moscow moved a battery of nuclear-capable missiles to the Polish border. A launch against America’s European NATO allies would give short warning and make it more difficult for Western forces to respond.[v]
In perhaps the most unnerving development as of print time, numerous sources report: “Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots have been given the go-ahead to shoot down Russian military jets when flying missions over Syria and Iraq, if they are endangered by them. The development comes with warnings that the UK and Russia are now “one step closer” to being at war, according to the Sunday Times.”
[But prophecy however may not support a nuclear exchange between the US and Russia – either now – or perhaps even in the future. We’ll take a look at that next time….space permitting.][i] Russia tests ballistic missiles amid tensions with West, The International News, October 12, 2016
[ii] Russia orders all officials to fly home any relatives living abroad, Daily Mail (UK), October 12, 2016
[iii] RUSSIAN MILITARY PRACTICING MARTIAL LAW OVER NUCLEAR WAR RISK, Infowars, October 11, 2016
[iv] Nuclear war ‘IMMINENT’ as Russia tells citizens to find out where the closest bunkers are, The Express (UK), October 14, 2016
[v] ‘This is another step towards war’, Daily Mail (UK), October 13, 2016
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