Russian President Boris Yeltsin, promising to end the veil of secrecy surrounding his health, announced on September 5 that he will undergo a heart operation at the end of this month. Unfortunately, he failed to resolve key questions, including the crucial issue of whether he will temporarily transfer power to one of his ministers. Yeltsin’s health, along with other key matters, means Russia is once again becoming a major disturbance to the western powers.
Who’s in charge
Today, Boris Yeltsin is clearly in charge of the Kremlin but several recent articles portend political instability in the near future. The Toronto Globe and Mail (September 6, 1996) reported: “Politically the heart operation will effect the backroom battles in Moscow. where ambitious and energetic politicians such as Alexander Lebed (Security Chief) have sought to exploit Yeltsin’s absence from the national spotlight.”
In the past several months, Lebed has become a “loose cannon” on a major power grab. He was initially hired for the position of national security and now his authority extends into the economy, environment and moral concerns. Lebed is moving to clean house of any corrupt government officials and Yeltsin is finding many of his loyal aides are being dismissed. Furthermore. Yeltsin has positioned three of Lebed’s former enemies into powerful government positions. Mr. Chernomyrdin. Mr. Primakox and Mr. Grachev are all people Lebed once fired. Is it possible that all three would plot to get even? This could lead to a massive power struggle in the future.
The Globe and Mail continues: In the past two months, Mr. Lebed has replaced Mr. Yeltsin as the most popular leader in the country. But Mr. Yeltsin has repeatedly undercut Mr. Lebed’s ambitions by criticizing his work, praising his rivals and offering only lukewarm support for his peace agreements with Chechen rebel leaders.”
As reported in the Washington Post (August 27, 1996): “The thrust of the assault on Lebed is that he has overstepped his authority by agreeing to a compromise peace settlement with an illegal guerrilla group. Lebed is playing dangerous games with Chechnya’s sovereignty, which is totally unacceptable,’ Serfei Baburin, a nationalist legislator who is deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament, told the Interfax news agency. The Communists, who make up the largest bloc in parliament, have also expressed concern that Lebed is plotting the secession of Chechnya from Russia.” This article also points out that his current boss is wary of the role Lebed is playing. He is politically vulnerable to criticism in part because his boss, President Boris Yeltsin, has offered only lukewarm support for the peace proposal —and that came after he publicly criticized Lebed’s negotiating efforts. Yeltsin has also pointedly refused to meet with Lebed since he invested him with vaguely defined authority to deal with the Chechen crisis on August 10, then consenting to meet with Lebed today, Yeltsin brusquely ordered him to submit a detailed written report on the plan by 5 p.m.”
Other developments
Terrorist bombs have exploded within Moscow during the past two months. The government responded by placing 1,000 Interior Ministry troops on the streets of Moscow, establishing checkpoints at entrances to the city and putting the regular police on 24-hour alert. Clearly a state of high tension exists in the capital.
A stronger Russia
In spite of any difficulties that are occurring, the Russian military machine continues to expand. According to the International Intelligence Briefing of August, 1996: “Part of the Soviet military doctrine included certain principles. First if nuclear war broke out with the West, they would always launch the first strike and they would always have the advantage of surprise. These ideas have not changed with the C.I.S. Russian military has conducted numerous strategic weapons exercises, simulating nuclear attacks upon the United States in 1993, June, 1994 and from October 4-10. 1995. Yeltsin has reversed the trend of no first use of nuclear weapons in the event of a war. But they have not stopped there. The Russian navy began upgrading its Typhoon submarines to be able to carry the new SS-N-24/26 ballistic missile. In fact, the Russian navy has spent $9 billion in 1995 to modernize their systems. New strategic weapons are also under development, including a new stealth bomber known as the Sukhoi-T6OS and a new air-launched cruise missile.”
Only God knows what Russia’s leaders have in mind. But Lebed has stated publicly his plans for Russia include a Russia magnified to its former position of power. He is also reported as saying Russia will be involved in a major conflict sometime within the next two to five years. And as the leadership is in a state of ill-health and change, it seems no one is certain who controls the firing button for Russian nuclear weapons. The situation is indeed growing more and more precarious.
God will bring Russia against Israel; this we know from Ezekiel 38-39. The attack will be so surprising and overwhelming in nature that it will force the Jews to call out to God for help. Once again, current developments point to the possibility of this turn of events happening soon.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One