Local time where you're at. ("Where you're at"?)

And so it begins.

Back in 1991 or so when the Soviet Union breathed its last, I warned the forum on which I participated at the time (StarText) that the USSR wasn’t dead, but merely dormant.&#160 Sleeping, as it were.&#160 I cautioned that the forces behind the Evil Empire&#153 could reincorporate at will, and would if we weren’t careful.

I’m pretty sure few people are looking at what’s going on in Georgia the way I am.&#160 No matter.&#160 I’m of the opinion that this is the first step in the reassembly of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

And it’s one more reminder that the End Times&#153 are getting closer.&#160 I’m not sure if Russia is Gog or Magog, but I don’t think Russia, as currently constructed, is up to the task of an attempted Israeli invasion, which many – myself included – believe must occur prior to the rapture of Christ’s church.&#160 They’re going to have to become more powerful, and I believe this is the first step in that direction.

Now, I could be wrong about this.&#160 I hope to God I am.&#160 But I don’t have a good feeling about what’s going on over there RightAboutNow&#153 – and neither should you.

UPDATE:&#160 Based on what Misha had to say about the whole affair, I was a little bit…well, not misinformed, but rather insufficiently informed.&#160 It would appear Russia didn’t start this one, after all:

A bit of history here, and please correct us if we’ve gotten it all wrong: South Ossetia is a province of Georgia that didn’t want to be part of Georgia anymore, so they held a referendum in ‘92 to secede. The results weren’t recognized, so they did it again in 2006, this time with observers from all over the world. 95% turned out to vote and 99% voted in favor of seceding. Now, we may be a simple Emperor, but those numbers seem to be somewhat indicative of the locals being quite determined to break ties with the old guard and set up shop on their own.

But the Georgian government didn’t see it that way, and fighting and conflict has gone on ever since, more or less under the radar until yesterday, when Georgian President Saakashvili decided to use the opening of the Olympics to retake South Ossetia while nobody was looking. Unfortunately for him, his invasion managed to kill a number of Russian peacekeepers, and Russia doesn’t take too kindly to her nationals being killed while abroad. Big mistake. So Russia responded by shelling the everloving shit out of the Georgians and now Saakashvili is all of a sudden very interested in peace and quiet.

I stand corrected on this point.&#160 On the other hand, it’s still very disquieting to see the words “Russia”, “military” and “invasion” in the same sentence.&#160 Whatever the cause, I’m not too keen on the notion of Russia getting the idea “hey, this invasion stuff was fun, let’s do some more”.

Even if, as Misha states, we don’t have a dog in this fight…well, I’d just as soon it stay that way.&#160 We have enough problems as it is.