What Russia Wants (In One Cartoon)

Putin is on record stating that the worst event of the 20th century was the breakup of the old Soviet Union. The traditional method of the old Soviet Union in dealing with their opponents was either take them out or break them then take them. Putin is showing such tactics again with his desire to get rid of Mikheil Saakashvili, a Western educated and pro-west ally and replace him with someone more amenable. Russia's moves against Estonia and more recently Georgia (be honest, Russia has gearing up for this, mounting troops at the border for over a year) and hints at Ukraine desires have shown Putin's true colors. Unfortunately what we actually can do is limited. Estonia is a recent member of both NATO and the European Union which provides some cover, but there are other former Soviet satellites out that that should be afforded some support. Russian officials have been quoted as saying that Moscow sees no "rational arguments that this expansion [of either NATO nor the European Union] will aid the security interests of these states". Personally, I see with what just happened in the case of Georgia it just have done so.

Russia and Prophecy

My background (and current status) in the Christian realm is that of "dispensationalist". As such, I take a pretty danged literal interpretation of Biblical prophecy (as well as following a literal, but not wooden, heurmeneutics). One of the more interesting areas has been that of the prophetic books of the Bible, particularly the final war against Israel as announced in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 (read here). For several years Gog and Magog have been associated with Russian but after the brave stance of Ronald Reagan (pardon me while I stand) helping bring about the "end" of the Soviet Union people started to poo-poo this idea. What a difference a generation makes (given that a Biblical generation is about 20 years this is pretty much right). Now Russia is again rich, arrogant, and on the move. Witness the attacks against the former Soviet state of Georgia. It is no secret that Vladamir Putin thinks that the dissolution of the old Soviet Union was the worst thing to have happen and if you look closely it is possible to see the beginning of the reunification of the USSR of old. Europe is ineffective to trying to stem the tide and if Georgia falls is even more at the mercy of Russia as its main conduit of petroleum would come back completely under Russian control. If you are a Christian I ask you to pray for the people of both Russian and Georgia. Pray for the leaders of Georgia as they make a stand as one of the few democracies who sides with the United States. If you are not, I ask you to do a search on past statements of Putin and see if you can discern what his intentions might be.