Russia Mocks US Fighter Pilots

Many of my readers age 45 and older can probably remember movies like TOP GUN and RED DAWN where Russia was our arch enemy and we Americans were plenty scared of a big, old war breaking out with them at any time.

Then the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989 and we wondered what we were going to do with the massive PEACE DIVIDEND we were going to reap because we didn't have anymore enemies of a serious nature to spend our war dollars on.

How times have changed....and now seem to be changing back.

Russia on Thursday made fun U.S. complaints about unsafe aerial encounters between their respective aircraft, and said U.S. pilots can solve the problem by staying away from Russia's border.

"The Aerospace Force will continue to maintain the reliable protection of Russian airspace,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Thursday statement carried by state-run media. “Should American pilots, knowing this fact, fall into depression or succumb to any phobias, we advise the U.S. side to exclude these flight routes near Russia’s borders in the future, or return to the negotiating table and agree on their rules.”

That retort followed American complaints that a Russian fighter jet passed within five feet of a U.S. reconnaissance plane “flying in international airspace over the Black Sea” on Monday. The incident prompted rebukes from the Pentagon and U.S. diplomats.

“While the U.S. aircraft was operating under international law, the Russian side was flagrantly violating existing agreements and international law,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Monday. “This is but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements. We call on Russia to cease these unsafe actions that increase the risk of miscalculation, danger to aircrew on both sides, and midair collision.”

The encounter has geopolitical significance, beyond the immediate safety issue. The Russian Defense Ministry made clear that its fighters are engaging in such tactics in order to maintain their claim to Crimea, which Russian annexed in 2014.

“We would like to address the commander of the 67th Task Force of the 6th Fleet Bill Ellis with a reminder Crimea is an integral part of Russia,” the Defense Ministry statement said.

Western officials refuse to recognize Russia’s claim to Crimea, given that the region was partitioned from Ukraine in 2014. “We will never accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in December. “Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns full control of the peninsula to Ukraine.”

Here;  http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/russia-mocks-us-pilots-over-aggressive-fighter-jet-encounters/article/2647855

Prophecy watchers back in the early 1990's must have been reading Ezekiel 38 and wondering how in the heck that was ever going to happen given that Russia was now sitting in the bottom of the toilet wondering where their next ruble was going to come from.

And today those same prophecy watchers watch with amazement as the players of Russia, Iran and Turkey rise to the surface and come on stage with a surprising amount of capacity to inflict mayhem on any that they choose.

We continue to believe that Ezekiel 38 is going to be fulfilled sometime soon after the rapture...maybe when America collapses under the weight of so many missing people?...and these enemies of Israel see that that America is no longer capable of coming to Israel's defense.

Ezekiel 39
4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals. 5 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the Lord.

7 “‘I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel. 8 It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord. This is the day I have spoken of.

9 “‘Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.