The U.S. and Russia are reviving the Cold War. Russia upped the ante by threatening to sell the S-300 to Iran. This would essentially force Israel's hand. Israel would need to strike Iran before this air-defense weapon went into service.

Israel sees a need to preemptively stop Iran's nuclear goals, specifically "enriching" uranium to levels necessary for nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly asserted the intent to commit a nuclear first-strike against Israel were it to gain such capabilities. Being as small as it is, Israel could not withstand even a single such detonation, even a small one, without being wiped off the map as Iran and most Muslims worldwide desire. This puts Israel in the difficult position of striking first. In contrast to Iran, Israel has no plans to strike with nuclear weapons but wishes only to stop the centrifuges used to "enrich" uranium.

Russia is using its alliance with Iran, America's present nemesis, as a way of enforcing its will in its own neighborhood. The U.S. wants to see Georgia, the Ukraine, Poland, and other former Soviet states brought into a pro-Western alliance. These nations are also interested in American defensive capabilities, including anti-missile batteries, not to mention the NATO defense alliance. They say they wish to defend themselves against the likes of Iran, but I suspect they also wish to avoid being re-annexed into a second Soviet empire. Russia's recent foray into Georgia obviously proves their ability to do so and quite possibly their intent, the ostensible protection of separatists notwithstanding.

The global networks of alliances are obviously reminiscent of that which brought the whole world into The Great War, World War I. The "resolution" of the Cold War, essentially Soviet bankruptcy, is passing for Russia, thanks in large part to American funding of our former enemy's recovery. Differing ideologies remain (accepting the fact that they differ only in nuances of socialism, ironically), and the competition over global resources remains (worse, in fact). It seems unlikely the Cold War won't restart given the coming equalization of power between strengthening Russia and weakening America.

What's different in the coming Cold War II is Israel and her ever more powerful, genocidal neighbors. On the other hand, these look similar to the Ottoman Empire though presently less organized. The Islamic philosophies are essentially the same. Hmmm... Maybe things aren't so different this time, after all--just a greater confluence of WWI, WWII, and Cold War traits.

Could things be shaping up for Armageddon? I mean, could WW3, which seems increasingly imminent, be the war of the end times? I must confess, I'm excited about the possibility. No, I don't desire war and all that it implies. It will suck for pretty much everybody. However, lasting peace can only be found on the other side of this prophesied war. If WW3 is to be this prophesied war, then lasting peace is just one world war away, as opposed to more than one.