According To the prophets, it will come to pass that the Jewish people will be left with no choice but to turn to God or be destroyed. During the past several months, as the situation in Israel continues to worsen, the nations surrounding Israel continue to procure armaments and ready themselves for war.
Russia-UAE arms deal
Strat for on-line reported October 7, 2002 that: “Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plan to sign a $4 billion arms contract — the biggest ever for the Russian military. The contract, to be signed next year, calls for Russia to design and build a fifth-generation air defense system based on “absolutely new design and technical principles” over the next few years. The on-line article went on to describe the ability and functionality of the new defense system.
“The new multi-function system will act as a nation’s united air defense system. It will be capable of simultaneously hitting hundreds of attacking aircraft and incoming missiles from near, medium and long distances. The system will consist of the command and control complex, communications center, the integrated missiles-firing complex — with a variety of the newest air defense missiles — a sophisticated radar complex and electronic warfare means, all integrated.”
An arms deal of this magnitude will seriously alter the military balance in the region on several fronts. In all conflicts since the fall of the Soviet Union — including the 1991 Persian Gulf war, the 1999 war in Yugoslavia, the current conflict in Afghanistan and the potential campaign against Iraq — the United States has had absolute superiority over enemy air defenses. With the United States and Israel being close allies, Israel by default, had the same superiority. Once the deal is finalized, the UAE and their Russian backers will have the superior system.
The new system potentially will be able to repulse attacks on several fronts, while at the same time coordinate debilitating offensive operations. The most interesting aspect of the sale is that the UAE will finance all the work under condition that Russia will keep the system for its own use and sell it only to the UAE for several years after production begins. In essence, Russia will obtain a very strategically placed military operation without the associated capital expenditures. This arrangement is in itself very unique and is further enhanced by the fact that Russia will now gain a foothold in the Middle East.
Radical Russian political party
Compounding Israel’s woes is a small but rapidly expanding radical nationalist party with an openly anti-Semitic view being established and registered in Russia. The Justice Ministry registered the National Power Party, or NDPR, on September 16, giving the party the right to participate in regional and national elections.
The NDPR has already opened offices in 70 of Russia’s 89 regions and established a membership of some 11,000 Russians. A visit to the NDPR web site produces official quotations such as, “We, the Russians, must keep up a defense against many enemies, of whom the Jews are the most dreadful.”
Israeli defensive flaws
Israel has responded to new threats by developing their own tactical weapon, one that is capable of protecting their homeland, yet one full of flaws.
The Arrow Weapon System (AWS) is a missile defense program jointly developed by Israel and the United States. It is supposed to provide defense against short and medium-range ballistic missiles. These systems can detect missiles launched from as far as 600 miles away and distinguish between warheads, debris, and decoys. However, it cannot track an incoming missile that has split its warhead into submunitions, prompting concerns about its possible obsolescence as long ago as 1998.
According to the Center for Defense Information, the AWS program has potential but has not shown that it can stand alone as a defensive system. “The other primary weapon that Israel might use against ballistic missiles is not really of much help. Israel does have an earlier version of the PAC-3, known as the PAC-2, but it is significantly less capable and evolved than the PAC-3 and is mostly geared toward an air defense mission. The PAC-2 was used to practically no avail during the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq’s Scuds. Later analysis by Congress’ General Accounting Office put the destruction rate at around 10 percent; outside experts question whether any missiles at all were intercepted by the Patriots.”
The Center for Defense information went on to report that: “Israel is doing its citizens a great disservice by depending so heavily on a system (like the Arrow) that has not been tested in realistic circumstances against actual Scuds. If Israel’s new blustery posture of reprisal is based on an unwarranted faith in its ability to repel all missile attacks, then it also must be ready for the possibility that some warheads or chemical/biological agents may get through.”
If these reports are true, and if an attack does occur, Israel would be left with little choice but to seek relief from the one source which they have been neglecting, God. We pray that that day may come when the nation and the people will turn from reliance upon themselves and seek the Lord of Hosts.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One