© 1999
Discerning the Times Digest and NewsBytes
The military tensions between
Russia and the U.S. have dangerously escalated since
mid-November. President Clinton signed an agreement
with Azerbaijan to build a pipeline from its rich
Caspian Sea oil fields across Georgia and Turkey to
the Mediterranean. This would divert the oil currently
shipped via a Russian pipeline through Chechnya and
deny Russia of half its entire export revenues!
It was also learned shortly
thereafter that the pipeline will be extended through
Bulgaria, up the Danube River, through Kosovo to the
Adriatic Sea. Apparently, the deal was turned down by
Slobodan Milosevich in Serbia, so NATO took Kosovo
from Serbia by force through its bombing campaign. At
least that is what Russia believes, and is enraged.
On December 9, 1999, President
Boris Yeltsin directly threatened Clinton by warning
"Russia has at its disposal a full nuclear
arsenal." Although Clinton laughed off the
comment, Prime Minister Vadlimir Putin issued an even
stronger warning on December 14th. A new Topol-M ICBM
was test fired by Russia in a show of force. Putin
then ramped up Yeltsin’s threat by warning, "We
are not used to such [threats], since Russia
has a nuclear shield."
The same day Yeltsin put all
Topal-M ICBM’s on full "combat alert"
which places them in a ready-to-fire mode. Five days
later Russia announced it would now use nuclear
weapons in "smaller-scale conflicts,"
whenever they feel threatened. And, they feel
threatened now. Yet, the Clinton Administration and
the media have yawned away these severe warnings.
America is perhaps in the greatest
danger of its history. But, we should not put our hope
in guns, bombs, or even diplomacy. Our hope is in the
reason for celebrating Christmas—Jesus
Christ. "For unto us a child is born.... And,
his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The
Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace."
Although America may be in severe danger, and the
world as we know it may soon be destroyed forever, we
can still celebrate Christ’s birth in the midst of
trial. For only in him is found true peace in time of
great testing. Pray that God’s will be done. V mc
