In Brief... Russia Calls on Japan and Germany For Economic Help
Russia continues to supply weapons to Iraq while hoping Germany and Japan respond with economic help.
GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE: (SNS) - The Russians have mounted a full-court press focused on Germany and Japan. They have had no luck pleading with the Americans directly on economic issues. They have now focused their attention on two key American partners who also are extremely vulnerable in their own ways.
The Japanese are vulnerable economically, given their lack of recovery from financial problems. The Russians are carrying this message to the Japanese: unless Western help is forthcoming, Russia's economy will continue to worsen, undermining the prospects of a global economic recovery. Therefore, the Japanese have a serious interest in advocating the Russian position to the Americans. Moreover, unless the Japanese succeed in this task, they can forget about recovering Japanese islands occupied by the Russians at the end of World War II.
The Russians were delivering a more geopolitical message to the Germans. The Germans badly want stability along the territory running from the Baltics to the Balkans. They are more directly affected by instability in these regions than any other major power. They have made enormous investments in this region as well as huge investments in Russia.
Russia is letting Germany know that more than investments are at stake in this region. Russia is in a position to destabilize the entire region. This would lead to increased German dependence on the United States for stability, to Germany being forced to intervene in the region on its own or in concert with other European nations, or to the acceptance of instability and tension in its own back yard. None of these options appeal to the Germans. That is what the Russians are counting on.
During this past week recent press reports began to surface to the effect that Russia and its partner Belarus were supplying arms to Iraq. Similar reports have been surfacing for a while, but their frequency and prominence are increasing. There is little doubt in our minds that Russian and Belarussian weaponry is reaching Iraq.
On another front Russia has long been worried about Turkish intentions in the Caucuses, particularly among the Moslem nations in the region. Moscow has been increasingly close to Armenia, a non-Moslem antagonist to Turkey. In recent weeks, Russia began delivering S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Armenia, in a dramatic increase in weaponry certain to alarm Armenia's neighbors.
Such tactics are reminiscent of the Cold War. This time Russia's emphasis is not only the United States, but Japan and Germany as well.
An Article from:
World News and Prophecy: March 1999
Course Content
Darris McNeely
Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren.
David Palmer
Born in Saskatchewan Canada, David Palmer was first introduced to the radio broadcast of the World Tomorrow during his career in broadcasting, when the program was aired during his on air shift. In 1965 his radio career took him to Vancouver British Columbia, where he was eventually baptized, and began attending Sabbath services. He was ordained to the ministry in 1983. Now retired from broadcasting David currently pastors congregations in Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. He is also a member of the UCG-Canada National Council, and serves on the Canadian Ministerial Services Team, as well as the Canadian Media Team
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Phil Schafer
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