70 years later

Andy Walton writes

 America would never be able to match a possible 2.3 million strong army as it swooped down into Israel. Even if all America’s tanks were placed in the way of Russia they would still be overwhelmed… Russia has 15,398 tanks to America’s 8,848. Britain has just 407! Russia has 5,972 self propelled artillery units. America has 1,934. Britain..89. {Weekly World Watch 3rd to 9th of May 2015}

Some may look with fear at the exercises in the north and at the evolution in the Middle East. We may have been very lucky to have seen the first time more than one generation has not felt the terrible horror of a war.

Vladimir Putin says a military bloc mentality is gaining momentum again. And there are several people in charge of national forces who would not mind going into war. They higher their voices already. Not only in Russia we could see a patriotic mood gripping it as Europe and Russia remembered the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

It is 70 years since the world has been at war but according to some we are closer to WWIII than at any time since WWII ended.

In case it would be we should know that according to Bible prophecy this would be the most terrible war ever. It would mean we would be on the very brink of the final conflict.

Seventy years of course is a significant time period. Seven symbolises completion. Babylon was punished 70 years later following its destruction of Jerusalem. Perhaps latter day Babylon [Europe] will be punished 70 years after its massacre of the Jews…?

continues Andy Walton {Weekly World Watch 3rd to 9th of May 2015}.

Jer 25:11-12 KJV  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.  (12)  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

For many the sign that Britain and NATO have launched their biggest war games on Russia’s doorstep amid growing tensions over Vladimir Putin’s military aggression should get us to worry. After WWII we now could see the largest ever Nato anti-submarine exercise, including the Royal Navy, off the coast of Norway just weeks after reports of Russian submarines encroaching in to foreign waters.

In the news on television we could see how the biggest military exercise seen in Estonia since the Baltic nation regained its independence more than two decades ago countered the pictures of the Russian military movements of the strong military arsenal.

It looks like the politicians are playing ‘Stratego’ an citizens all over Europe can see the war games come as tensions grow with Russia over Ukraine crisis and fears that the Baltic nations could be next in President Putin’s sights.

The commander of the Nato manoeuvres said recent incidents by the Russian military were a “cause of concern” and added “relevance to the exercise”.

Monday, 4 May 2015, off the coast of Norway began NATO’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2015 (DMON 15)
with ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 10 Allied and 1 partner nation converging on the Norwegian Sea for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare training.

Submarines from Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United States, under operational control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), joined thirteen surface ships from Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States under the command of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG-2) Rear Admiral Brad Williamson.

For Rear Admiral Brad Williamson, Commander of SNMG2 such exercise is a great training opportunity for their SNMG2 ships allowing them to exercise their ASW capabilities in a complex and challenging environment and to further integrate with other NATO forces to enhance their interoperability and to be ready to effectively respond to potential submarine threats to any of our NATO Allies.

It looks like the military forces do feel it is high time to show the world they are alert and ready. In the media they wanted to convince us that NATO can react properly to a multi-threat environment.

Exercice Dynamic Mongoose – TCG GOKSU (F497) and HCMS Fredercton in Bergen harbour. NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise May 4 until the 14th, off the coast of Norway, with ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 10 Allied and 1 partner nation converging on the Norwegian Sea for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare training. – Photo by WO C.ARTIGUES, HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office

Billions of dollars were poured into technologies for low-intensity, littoral conflicts, and things once used to hunt Soviet submarines, like the aircraft carrier-based S-3 Viking, were retired without direct replacement.

From the ashes of the Soviet Union’s mighty fleet of nuclear submarines, Russia has embarked on an aggressive effort to resurrect its undersea-warfare capabilities. Having Moscow’s intentions particularly troubling considering its recent rush to claim newly accessible resources laid bare by the receding Arctic ice sheet and its intentions around the Baltic sea, it looked like Europe and NATO wanted to give a clear signal that they are ready to react in case necessary.

Some would argue that this posturing represents sinister expansionist goals that harken back to the former Soviet Union’s unilateral annexation of territory. Meanwhile, accompanying these efforts to expand its sphere of influence, Russia has developed a new generation of alarmingly sophisticated submarines, both nuclear and diesel-electric. Moreover, and likely far more dangerous to world peace and stability, Moscow has thus far shown little, if any, restraint in offering its advanced military technologies for purchase to the highest bidder, regardless of any particular regime’s scruples (or lack thereof).

The development and proliferation of the next generation of Russian-built submarines will likely dramatically alter the world’s future geopolitical landscape. The United States and its allies must understand and appreciate the capabilities of these new potential adversaries and strive to develop new skills, while retaining past expertise, to respond to the threats that prowl the ocean depths.   {Lieutenant Commander Tom Spahn}

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Additional reading:

1. Entering a new period of ‘Cold War’
2. A Plan spoken of in long past times
3. When Crimean people made their choice
4. Battling Borshct in Ukraine

US Navy 040210-N-0780F-013 The guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) heads to sea following a brief port visit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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