Posts Tagged ‘Russia’

The Wolf Is Showing His Teeth

August 18, 2010

 
The Holocaust happened less than a century ago; – the most awful act of genocide against G-D’s own people – yet in spite of all the calls and declarations resolving that such a thing should never be allowed to happen again – an other genocide is being prepared for the Jews.

Israel today stands totally alone, surrounded by nations of whom none would shed a tear if she were to vanish as a nation and as a people. The situation inside and around Israel is alarming.

Turkey – after receiving military assistance from Israel for years, shared all these military secrets with Syria and Iran, the worst enemies of the Jewish state.

Egypt itself may yet trump Turkey with a more pro-Islamic president succeeding the ailing Hosni Mubarak – says former IAEA chief inspector Mohammed Al-Baradei, who already has close contact with the Muslim brotherhood.

America’s planned troop withdrawal from Iraq will probably leave Iran the big winner; Tehran extending its control over the state liberated from Saddam Hussein by using Iraq’s already willing Shi’ite Muslims.

Hamas in the south of Israel and Hezbollah in the north are merely puppet groups of Iran. Hezbollah now boast that they have over 50,000 missiles, and many of them are long-range which can, and will, hit every part of Israel. 

Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria and possibly soon also Egypt, all arrayed – Iran with nuclear weapons; Syria with VX Gas-tipped Scud missiles and many, many other missiles and weapons of mass destruction – against little Israel. Bashar Assad of Syria has made the statement many times over the past few months that war is the only thing Israel understands, and that Syria is now ready with tens of thousands of Missiles tipped with chemical warheads. 

While all these Islamic nations are trying to tie the knot around Israel’s neck – the world at large – is today more critical of Israel as towards the Jews in the days of Hitler. And as if this is not enough, the western nations lack strong and courageous leadership to stand up against this brutal threat, much as it was in the days of Hitler, when a foolish and weak British prime minister tried to appease this monster by sweet talk and diplomacy. That’s what brought the world to the Second World War and it may bring it to a third one as well.

Some of you may not know that a very large naval force has come together in the Persian Gulf, surrounding Iran. The USS Carrier Harry Truman, with over 6,000 Marines aboard, pulled into the area loaded for bear. I have been told that the USS Truman doesn’t go anywhere without being protected by at least two nuclear subs.  Israel and the US have grouped bombers and fighter jets in many countries in the Middle East, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan and others.  During the past weeks USS warship went through the Suez Cannel, as have Israel subs all capable of launching a nuclear attack. What is not known is how many, – Russian subs are in that area also. We do know that they have been seen docking along the Syrian coast with aircraft carriers also unloading military gear for Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army.

Lat week’s announcement in Moscow and Tehran on Aug. 11 that Russia is set to activate Iran’s first nuclear power reactor by loading the fuel on Aug. 21 is certainly speeding things up. Israel is also worried by the news that Russia stationed S-300 anti-missile batteries in Abkhazia on the Black Sea because it ties in with the imminent activation of the Bushehr reactor. It is taken as a signal that Israel’s air route to Iran is hereby closed and Moscow will do its utmost to thwart an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Once Russia has loaded the fuel into the power reactor, an attack risks spreading radiation in the air and perhaps into the water of the Persian Gulf.

If Iran goes to the nuclear option, Israel will have no choice but to take out Syria, Hezbollah (now all of Lebanon) and the Hamas in Gaza, and also Egypt if it tries a sneak attack, in short order or face terrible civilian causalities. With America and Russia involved, it will bring us into a global war.

I am not writing this to scare you, but to warn you and prepare you. It is not a matter of if, but of when the war breaks out, and I believe it is close. You can read about the coming war or series of wars in Ezekiel 38-39, especially if you are interested to find out how it all ends.

I don’t need to shout “wolf, “wolf” – because you can already see him showing his ugly teeth!

Change Is Coming

May 21, 2010


The Middle East has always had its conflicts and many wars have broken out in that region. Why should another one change the world? While the situation in the Middle East is generally unstable, it could move the world into a disaster zone this summer or fall.

Whenever Israel (the “epicenter”) is involved, we should pay attention. We must “understand the times” from a biblical perspective.

Dark storm clouds are on the horizon in the Middle East.

A legion of nations is scheming to wipe out Israel. These nations include Iran, Syria, Russia, and the Hezbollah which operates in Lebanon. The Iranians are working with Syria and Hezbollah and are planning to stop Israel’s expected pre-emptive move against Iran.

Many sources think that the chaos will begin in a few weeks to a few months. It is all based on the fact that Iran is now set to go with her nukes and most of them are pointed at Israel.

Obama, for the first time since taking office 14 months ago, is sending military reinforcements to the Persian Gulf.

A few weeks ago a Soviet sub was seen docked in Beirut, Lebanon, flying the Iranian flag. Workers on the sub seemed to be wearing masks, suggesting that they were unloading chemical weapons of mass destruction.

Hezbollah’s offensive plan includes chemically armed SCUD missiles with a 450 km range, preemptive strikes on Israeli air fields, and a wave of tunnel attacks that cross from Lebanon into Israel. There are some 60,000 rockets and missiles hiding in houses, orchards, and miscellaneous buildings in Lebanon. Some of these are advanced scuds which have the capability to hit every city in Israel. The intention is to rein terror on Israel with maximum damage. – My husband had a dream a while ago, in which he saw the sky blackened from missiles coming from Lebanon towards Tel Aviv.

Israel has a superior air-force, and Israel’s jets and airstrips are therefore a target of the enemy. Hezbollah and other participants in this forthcoming battle want to make it impossible for Israel to strike anyone by air. They think, chemical weapons of mass destruction and thousands of scud missiles should neutralize Israel’s fighter jets.

In the meantime Israel has been giving out gas masks — a procedure that has become all too frequent –, and the IDF is preparing for mass evacuations from high-risk zones – such as Tel Aviv, in case of Hezbollah missile strike.

The enemy is stocking up on young people who will joyfully place themselves in positions where they can self-detonate with maximum damage. They will likely use the tunnels as well. Don’t forget they consider themselves “martyrs.” They want to die for Allah. According to Islam they will reach their paradise and meet 72 virgins.

 This kind of an attack will force Israel to strike back with ferocity. If chemical weapons are dumped on her, she will have to use her own weapons of mass destruction. We see the makings of a disaster in the Middle East on the horizon, and the fall-out will be felt around the world.

Jews won’t be safe anywhere. A friend of Israel may not be either. Don’t expect any help or comfort from the White House or State Department. Israel is their sacrificial lamb.

Israel will be on her own — except for G-D. – This is good because He won’t let her down. The Almighty has a covenant with Israel that is repeated throughout the Bible. A prominent passage is Genesis 17:6-8. HaShem is not just a covenant maker — He is a covenant keeper!

Meanwhile many here in the West are still asleep. At best they give a gigantic yawn because the issues are far away from home. People are struggling with their own problems and feel they cannot take on more catastrophes. So they watch a movie, go to the mall and play golf on the weekend, – hoping that nothing “rocks their boat”!  – They don’t want to come out from under their denial blanket.

But the coming Middle East war will shake up the world.

The biggest weapon being used by Satan is ignorance. Most people have not a clue as to the historical issues surrounding Middle East conflicts. Most of them do not know that the term “Palestinian” was never used before the mid-1960s when Yasser Arafat coined the term.

Yes, – I know – , Lilo wrote another unpleasant blog. But I feel I have to warn you about what is about to happen. The change that is coming is not what Obama promised during his campaign, it is the one G-D promised in the Bible for the end-times.


The Choice Is Yours

May 15, 2010

Last week PA negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for mentioning the Jewish people’s historic tie to Jerusalem as described in the Bible. He found Bibi’s biblical reference “distasteful” and accused the prime minister of “using religion” to “incite hatred and fear”.

That is exactly the problem with the whole world today. They find what G-D said in the Bible “distasteful”.

Netanyahu simply said that the Bible refers to Jerusalem and Zion 850 times.

The Almighty chose a country and a people for His own, to set an example for the rest of the world. He also clearly explained His “road-map” for Israel from the start, even in the first book of the Bible. – You see – the course is fixed – is happening and is about to happen. G-D’s Prophetic Word is moving upon us and can’t be stopped! Actually, we have been out of time…for a long time, for about the last 2000 years. 

Netanyahu – at first – did not say how many times Jerusalem is mentioned in the writings of other faiths, but after he was challenged by an Israeli Arab MK, he said that Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran at all.

G-D’s roadmap for Israel is right on time and its course is fixed – as it was for Israel in the days of the prophets. When something is so clearly and repeatedly declared in the scriptures, we need to wake up and prepare for what is coming.

 The greatest miracle anyone has ever witnessed was the re-gathering of Israel after 2000 years amongst the nations of the world.  This miracle also set the stage for G-D’s end-time prophecies to be fulfilled. – Have you noticed that all prophecies are always related to what happens in Israel?

Sometimes it’s not so easy to read the signs. Perhaps the reading part is not so hard, but accepting a life-altering radical shift — that is the difficulty. How many Jews in Europe in the 1930’s saw the signs, heard the reports, but didn’t leave because they just could not get their minds around what was taking place? 

Today Europe is openly anti-Israel. Seemingly overnight, the American administration has caught up with the spirit over Europe. 

 It’s that simple. If we are not lining up with God’s heart and mind on this very central and defining issue, we are at odds with Him. We either submit our life to the G-D of Israel, the creator of heaven and earth, or we are on a collision course with him. – How can we know his will? It’s written in the Bible. All we have to do is – read it!

 Do you see what is happening around the world? – Islam is running rampant in Europe. The President of the United States has Islamic roots along with a trail of radical leftwing associations and activities going back decades. 

 If one is not for Israel as G-D is, where does that leave us with God? If we are 95% okay with what G-D says and thinks, where does that leave us with God?  Is there any such thing as a partial surrender? Can we accept His Word in part? – There are too many people who think they can simply pick and choose what they like, and forget about the other part. – Yet, all throughout the Bible, G-D always demanded total surrender.

 The absence of Israel in the heart of people lies at the root of the presence of Islam in the nations. Islam goes where Israel is rejected. Like it or not, the rejection of Israel is the acceptance of Islam. 

 The US and the nations of the EU seek to force Israel into an agreement with an entity that does not accept its right to exist and is actively seeking Israel’s destruction. Consequently, the US and the nations in the EU find themselves inhabited and led by the very same spirit they have tried to force upon Israel, – a blinding, and demonic darkness.

While the nations talk of sanctions, Iran continues to declare the destruction of Israel and increase its nuclear program. And while the United States refused to approve any major Israeli weapons requests, it approved more than $10 billion worth of arms sales to Arab League states, including Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As the White House continues to pressure Israel to give up its traditional lands of Judea and Samaria and to make East Jerusalem the national capital to the Palestinian Authority, Russia and North Korea are arming Iran and its puppet state Syria with weapons of mass destruction. And so, Russia is helping the prophetic warnings of coming destruction along. – Weapons are never sold for a peaceful purpose!

 There are many who do not believe the (Zechariah 12:3) prophecy that all who burden themselves with the battle for the control of Jerusalem, will “hurt themselves”. Just look at America–on the brink of financial ruin due to politicians spending money they don’t have; Islamic terrorists attacking from within; natural and manmade disasters cost trillions. Yet, America’s leadership continues to race headstrong into the prophetic warnings of destruction.

 We must simply make a choice. Are we standing with Israel and believing what G-D said, or are we joining the unbelieving world opposing the will of Almighty? – There is no right or left, there is only right or wrong! There is either truth or deception.

 “If it seems bad to you to serve Adonai, then choose today whom you are going to serve!….As for me and my household, we will serve Adonai.” (Y’hoshua 24:15)

 Shalom – Lilo

Worldwide Jihad in Russia

March 29, 2010

Two female suicide bombers killed at least 40 people on packed Moscow subway trains on Monday, stirring fears of a broader campaign in Russia’s heartland by Islamists from the North Caucasus.

Witnesses described panic at two central Moscow stations after the blasts, with morning commuters falling over each other in dense smoke and dust as they tried to escape the worst attack on the Russian capital in six years. Sixty-four others were injured, many gravely, and officials said the death toll could rise. Russia’s top security official said the bombs were filled with bolts and iron rods.

The chief of the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said: “Body parts belonging to two female suicide bombers were found … and according to initial data, these persons are linked to the North Caucasus.”

“Everyone was screaming. There was a stampede at the doors. I saw one woman holding a child and pleading with people to let her through, but it was impossible.”

“They are simply beasts,” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said of the bombers after laying a bouquet of red roses on the platform of one of the metro stations. – “We will find and destroy them all.”

Surveillance camera footage posted on the Internet showed several motionless bodies lying on the floor or slumped against the wall in Lubyanka station lobby and emergency workers crouched over victims, trying to treat them.

The current death toll makes it the worst attack on Moscow since February 2004, when a suicide bombing killed at least 39 people and wounded more than 100 on a metro train.

Chechen rebels were blamed for that attack. Rebel leader Doku Umarov, fighting for an Islamic emirate embracing the whole region, vowed last month to take the war to Russian cities. – “Blood will no longer be limited to our (Caucasus) cities and towns. The war is coming to their cities,” the Chechen rebel leader said in an interview on an Islamist website. The website is updated by Muslim rebels seeking to create their own state in the Chechnya region.

The Chechen rebellion began in the 1990s as a largely ethnic nationalist movement, fired by a sense of injustice over the 1940s transportation of Chechens to Central Asia, with enormous loss of life, by dictator Josef Stalin. Largely since the second war, Russian officials say, Islamic militants from outside Russia have joined the campaign, lending it a new intensity.

Chechen terrorists have been responsible for previous mass casualty attacks in Russia, including a 2002 attack on a Moscow theater and the 2004 Beslan school massacre, in which terrorists took more than 1,100 people – including over 770 schoolchildren – hostage, ultimately killing hundreds.

Though the majority of suicide bombers have been male, female suicide bombers have carried out a number of attacks since 1985. Some militant organizations have used women to carry out suicide bombings because they draw less suspicion than men and go through less rigorous security checks. For example: while a man can be checked to see if he’s carrying an explosive belt by simply lifting his shirt, ordering a woman is much less acceptable, particularly in the Islamic world. Israeli security procedures practice is that a suspected woman is to be checked by a female soldier in a screened off area.

British spy satellites have intercepted terrorist communications from Pakistan and Yemen, talking about women suicide bombers getting explosives put inside breast implants.

 The British Intel Service reported that several plastic surgeons, who were trained in some of London’s best hospitals, have returned to their home countries to perform the surgeries. – Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Franklin Rose said the industry’s technology makes the bombs possible and easy. – It’s unknown how well full-body scanners would detect explosives inside implants.

 The Quran explicitly talks about female virgins with large eyes as rewards for men. On the contrary there is not a single “women will get guys as a reward” verse. – I wonder if these female suicide-bombers are all Lesbians?

Striking Similarities

May 4, 2009

iranisrael

I heard in the news, that not long ago, the Israeli Air Force staged military exercises between Israel and the British colony of Gibraltar near southern Spain.

I was wondering why the drills were held 3,800 kilometers away from Israel and was told that the Israel Defense Forces were making concrete preparations to attack Iran over its refusal to cooperate with the international community over its contentious nuclear program. The distance from Tel Aviv to Teheran is about the same.

I also heard that Tehran planned to stage its biggest air show ever to dramatize a ceremonial military parade in the capital on April 18. Iran would show the world that it is capable of fighting off an Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities. But on Iran’s army day the entire fleet was all of a sudden removed to remote bases and the display cancelled. – Only four aircraft flew over the saluting stand. Iranian media explained that the big show was cancelled due to “bad weather and poor visibility,” when in fact Tehran basked in warm and sunny weather.

Moscow had informed the Iranians that its spy satellites and intelligence sources had picked up preparations at Israeli Air Force bases to destroy the 140 warplanes, the bulk of the Iranian air force, on the ground the night before the display, leaving its nuclear sites without aerial defense. A similar operation wiped out the entire Egyptian air fleet in the early hours of the 1967 war.

Russia helped the Iranian nuclear program from its inception. Hundreds of Russian scientists, with their families, live around some twenty scattered nuclear-related facilities. Russian “Spetznaz soldiers” (Special Forces) guard all the key nuclear facilities.

A couple of days ago I read in the Jerusalem Post that Air Force reservists who operate the Arrow and Patriot missile defense systems in Israel have recently begun spending one day a week on duty to sharpen their skills.

Until now, only pilots were called up for one day of reserve duty a week following their discharge from mandatory service. Now all Air Force reservists, including soldiers from the Air Defense Division who are on study leave, are also spending one day a week at the unit.

They go once a week to simulate different scenarios. – The scenarios that are drilled include the firing of large barrages at Israel from different countries at once, and the need for the operator to decide which missile to intercept first and at what stage of its flight.

It becomes obvious that Israel prepares for what could be an attack or a counter attack from Iran.
Recognizing that America is doing nothing about the Iranian threat, European leaders are scared, knowing missiles could reach their countries as well. Yet, Iranian missiles could also reach American cities. Or couldn’t they?

In Ezekiel’s 2600-year-old prophecy, Persia, or modern Iran, is listed as chief among the Muslim nations that will lead an all-out assault against Israel backed by Russia.

The similarities between Ezekiel’s prophecies and today’s Mideast reality are striking.

Current world events are beginning to increasingly resemble the 2,500 year old bible prophecy made by Ezekiel in chapters 38-39, where the prophet foresaw the rise of Russia in a coalition with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

Pray for the soldiers who serve in the IDF.

Shalom – Lilo

Prepare for War

March 23, 2009

nucl

As the world is stumbling, the nations are grumbling. Have you noticed that today everyone is feeling a little weak in the knees? History seems to be speeding up!

We are living in the time of the great battle of Gog and Magog. It is the battle described in the book of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, in which the nations of the world join together and come against Jerusalem (Israel). Newspapers and television reports remind us of these matters daily. The world’s economy is in shambles.

Russia, today, is again flexing its muscles. It is rattling its sabers beside the Black Sea. Russia dreams of restoring its vast Empire. – Meanwhile Jihad warriors are ambushing coalition troops in the Hindu Kush Mountains. In the Middle East and Asia, Islamists strive on the path of Allah to help speed the victory of a worldwide Islamic Caliphate. These visions motivate and activate Easterners, while Westerners glaze over in disinterest and disbelief. – Nuclear instability rises like a mushroom cloud in the Middle East, along with Islamic Jihad.

Israel, from the beginning, was part of G-D’s prophetic plan. Scripture details how the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) are linked to the land of Canaan (Israel). Moses in Deuteronomy writes regarding the land and the descendents of Jacob who were given the land by G-D in the days of Moses and Joshua.

“It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the L-rd your G-D drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the L-rd swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 9:5)

One hundred years ago, there was no threat of Islam against Israel, because there was no Israel. Today that has all changed, the Muslim nations have raged against it, threatening to send the Jews into the sea from the first day of the reborn Jewish state. Muslim nations surround Israel, and oppose its existence, even after losing five major conflicts. Currently the great Islamic threat comes from Iran, which has openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state, while at the same time trying to develop nuclear capability.

Islam will remain a threat to Israel, until either Islam or Israel attains a decisive victory over the other. Since Israel’s very existence remains in doubt from the world perspective, the conclusion to this Islam/Israel conflict needs to be understood from a biblical viewpoint.

A confederacy of nations comes against Israel, G-D, who through Ezekiel foretells the event, defeats them. This conflict establishes Israel and restores them to the land in preparation of their redemption. The conflict will also remind the world, why Israel went into captivity for the last two-thousand years. (Ezekiel 39:28). – Today, the children of Israel have been brought back to the Land of Israel from the 4 corners of the earth. The stage is set, and the nations of the world are ready to converge on Jerusalem. Everyone wants Jerusalem; – it is the spiritual capital of the world.

G-D’s choosing of Israel resulted in Satan targeting Israel for mass destruction. The history of Israel (biblical history) details Satan’s repeated attempts to wipe the seed of Abraham and Jacob off the face of the earth. From Pharaoh to Babylon, from Haman to Hadrian, from Hitler and Stalin to Ahmedinejad – God’s Jewish flock has always been fending off the baying wolves of Satan’s hordes (Ezek.34:5-6).

The Scriptures even describe specific last day’s military battles revolving around the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem (Zech.12-14; Joel 3; Ezekiel 37-39 etc). These passages help prepare us, help get us in the frame of mind and understanding – to be ready for a season of war and not to be surprised by it.

Gog and Magog

August 21, 2008

Dear Readers,

It has been a while since you have heard from me. I apologize for my silence.

I have been busy getting things in order. We have been planning to go to Israel for quite some time, but it seems we just got the green light a few weeks ago.

 

Things don’t look pretty. There has never been a time since the Second World War that the world has been so positioned for global war than today. 

 

A friend of mine reminded me that the Second World War began when the Nazis invaded Czechoslavia under the pretext that Hitler used that it was only to safeguard the Germans who lived in that part of Czechoslovakia, which was called the Sudetenland. However Hitler did not stop at that, but used his German co-patriots as a pretext for conquering the whole country.

 

A few days ago Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made the same statement Hitler made: that his brutal invasion during the present Olympic Games – when the whole world was watching the other side – was only to safeguard the Russian populations of South Ossetia and Abkhasia. However just like the Sudetenland for Hitler, it seems as if these territories are just Putin’s staging ground, to again the whole of Georgia under Russian control.

 

More than 20 Russian journalists who have dared criticize Putin publicly have mysteriously died or were murdered. Putin does not want a pro-Western, truly democratic state like Georgia on his southern doorstep.

 

And the world is watching, as it did when Hitler equally brutally invaded Czechoslovakia 70 years ago – an invasion which was soon followed by the invasion of Poland – leading eventually to the outbreak of the Second World War.

 

Today Russia is openly threatening the USA if they put the missile defense in Poland.  Russia is also promising Syria more military aid and Assad is on his way to Moscow to buy those weapons with only one thought in mind, to destroy Israel. 

 

The London Arabic Daily “Al Quds” warned Tehran that an attack is impending by the US, some European nations and Israel.

 

The battle of Gog and Magog is an event, which plays a prominent role in Islamic, Jewish and Christian eschatology.  Although the scenarios have different results, all three faiths see Gog and Magog as a major event. Now just what are Gog and Magog is the subject of this blog.

In short, the battle of Gog and Magog is war in the latter days when a confederacy of nations attacks Israel, which has been restored in the last days.  These nations, which attack Israel (Ezekiel 38-39), include nations which are Muslim and have a clear animosity to Israel. Along with these Muslims nations, a northern kingdom, called Gog and Magog, which the Bible identifies as the land Russia, will ally itself with Muslim nations, to oppose Israel in the last days. 

This confederacy of nations comes against Israel, but G-D, who through Ezekiel foretells the event, defeats them. This conflict establishes Israel and restores them to the land in preparation of their redemption.  The conflict also reminds the world why Israel went into captivity for the last two-thousand years. (Ezekiel 39:28).

What a time to live in. It seems that the times in which we are living require that we redouble our efforts to please our Creator. Our world has never been in greater peril than it is today.

You can read the newspapers or the Bible. Lay them side by side and read tomorrows headlines in the Tanach today.

Shalom – Lilo

Russia Prepares for War at the North Pole

June 30, 2008

Russian Flag

This headline appeared last week in several German newspapers.

In 2007, the Russian expedition “Arktika”, made the first descent to the ocean bottom below the North Pole, and planted a titanium flag of Russia in the seabed.

In the past submarines traveled below the Arctic ice cap, but in 2007 man reached the seabed below the North Pole for the first time. The Mir-1 and a second Mir-2 submarine faced the challenge of diving 13,980 feet (4,261 meters) deep, and then having to resurface at the exact location where they’ve submerged, because they were not strong enough to penetrate the ice themselves. The nuclear ice-breaker vessel “Rossiya” kept the ice open for the research ship and the submarines.

The expedition ship “Akademik Fyodorov” carried over 100 scientists to the North Pole. “Apart from the purely scientific goal of a comprehensive study of the climate and seabed at the North Pole, this expedition may help Russia to enlarge its territory by more than one million square kilometers,” said Russia’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. The mini-submarine Mir-1 successfully reached the Arctic seabed. “Our mission is to remind the whole world that Russia is a great polar and research power,” said expedition leader and deputy speaker of the Russian parliament Artur Chilingarov, Russia’s presidential envoy to the Arctic under President Vladimir Putin.

Russia claims that the sea-bottom at the North pole is connected to the Russian mainland, saying that a continental shelf called the “Lomonosov Ridge runs from Siberia on the Arctic seabed to the North Pole. As such, it would be an extension of Russian territory. This can be true, knowing that before the ice age all land was connected as super-continent (Pangea).

The United States and Canada scoffed at the Russian submarine expedition that planted a Russian flag on the seabed under the North Pole. Coming home to a hero’s welcome, the famous polar scientist led the risky voyage did not mince words in responding:

“I don’t give a damn what all these foreign politicians there are saying about this,” Artur Chilingarov told a throng of well-wishers. “If someone doesn’t like this, let them go down themselves … and then try to put something there. Russia must win. Russia has what it takes to win. The Arctic has always been Russian.”

“This isn’t the 15th century. You can’t go around and just plant flags and say; ‘We’re claiming this territory’”, said Peter MacKay, Foreign Minister of Canada.

The claimed territory could contain undiscovered natural resources such as oil and gas. Russia’s military has begun to arm themselves for possible war plans in the Arctic. This has been aided by the fact that arctic warming has become so dramatic, scientists report that the last ice on the North Pole may melt this summer.

Russia’s bold and sometimes confrontational positions have brought it increasingly at odds with the West. – Is Russia preparing for an ice-cold war at the North Pole?