©1999 by Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
MOSCOW, Russsia - On this, the third month of the last year of the millenium, the world hopes and prays, as it faces its gravest crisis since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Troops are currently being seen lining up along the Trinity Gate blocking Novy Arbat. At the other end of the Novy Arbat, at the bend of the Moskva River, at the Russian White House anti-aircraft batteries have been established, patrolling the Moscow skies. At the Manezhanaya Plaschad, tanks are lines up in preparation to defend the city at a moment's notice.
It is hard to imagine that it was only 6 years ago, in September 1993, that then President Yeltsin called for elections to solidify his power base. It was then, that a maverick politician by the name of Vladmir Zhirinovsky, feeding on the fears and insecurities of the Russian people came to power. Almost immediately, the world found itself at the brink of another Cold War. Proclaiming to Russian people, "A just war is better than an unjust peace (10/1993)". World leaders scrambled to once assess the situation at hand. Sending troops into the Russian province of Abkhazia (12/1993), Zhirinovsky claimed to restore order and unity to a fallen nation. Yet in the process, international investors wary that along with democratic reforms, ecomic reforms would end up on the chopping block, the Russian ruble collapsed (2/1994). With the bombing of the capital of Sukhimi (2/1994) and reports of ethnic cleansing(3/1994), international support for the regime began to collapse.
Almost immediately though Zhirinovsky was able to scapegoat a new group. With the deaths of Parliament member Andrei Aizderdzis (4/1994) and Sergei Skorochkin (5/1994), Zhirinovsky called for the destruction of "terrorist elements " within Chechnya (6/1994). In protest, President Clinton cut off all foreign aid to Russia (10/1994).
Yet the war in Chechya would not go well for Zhirinovsky. Even with the bombing of the capital of Grozny (3/1995), fighting spread to the neighboring province of Ingushetia (7/1995). Like the Hydra, each military action seemed to create new ones. When Chechen leader, General Dzhokar Dudayev was finally captured by Russian troops (7/1995) and a public trial was arranged two months later,a whole new can of worms was opened. While the trial was being broadcast, news reports of ethnic cleansing in Chechnya came out breaking what little international credibility it had left(10/1995). Furthermore Russian casualty rates began to mount to levels, seen formerly in Afghanistan. As such, the Russian All-Workers General Strike was organized in Moscow, only to be broken up in a bloody crackdown, and the government seizure of the TV Center in Ostankino (11/1995), effectively ending freedom of press in the region.
Reports coming in later tell of fighting spreading into Dagestan as Chechen "lone Wolf" units seized control of Kizlyar (2/1996) and assainated Russian puppet, Aslan Khadjiev (1/1997), while official reports painted a brighter picture, told of the installation of Aslanbek Khaddjiev and Doku Zavgayev as the "true and legitimate heirs" of the government of Chechnya (2/1996). Meanwhile Zhirinovsky came to pursue the now infamous policy of "Russkoye Voskresnie" (Russian Ressurection) (4/1996). Many thought this was a hollow ploy at propaganda until September, when President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus announced reunification with the Russian Empire. This would be followed up with the assasination of President Eduard Shevradnadze in Tblisi, Georgia (2/1998) and the subsequent "police actions taken thereof (4/1998) Furthermore, with the defection of Col. Aleksandr Nikitin, the world was soon shocked to learn that Russia had armed Iraq with nuclear weapons (2/1997). With its nuclear test in June, Saddan Hussein became increasingly bolder in its actions,causing alarm and concern in its neighbors (e.g. Iran's nuclear weapons test in 8/1997).This culminated in the bombing of Abril, within the UN no-fly zone, wherein, Hussein proclaimed that he would no longer respect the no-fly zone or the provisions of the UN Charter (8/1997) and the deployment of Russian troops to Iraq (1/1998).
To quell unrest in the capital, the regime has once again reestablished pogroms (8/1998), much to the delight of Party members. Party leader Viktor Illukin has been quoted as saying,"Finally, Mother Rodina is free of Zionist control.". While General Albert Markashev has publicly stated, "the yids were responsible for this sorry mess, now we shall see what happens." The Duma has been suspended (10/1998) and the streets are patrolled by druzhniki, citizen vigilante groups, suspected of the murders of oppostion leaders such as Galina Starovoitova (11/1998). With the establishment of UN sanctions against Russia (10/1997) and tensions mounting in the Persian Gulf. U.S. and Russian troops now find themselves at the barrel of each others guns. Will, this end in a nuclear holocaust, only time and prayer can tell for now.
©1999 by Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
Secretary of State, Robert McNamara, has ordered an evacuation of the Czechoslovakian Demilitarized Zone of all non-essential personnel and tourists visiting abroad, no later than December 01,1970.
This is in part due to the bombing last Sunday of the Praha Hotel in downtown Prague, by self proclaimed members of the Czechoslovakian Liberation Army (CLA) led by Zdenek Mylanar. Furthermore on Monday, reform politician, Drahomir Kolder, was assassinated in Letna Park, while making a campaign speech before supporters. Although Czech Defense Minister Martin Dzur has made claims of capturing up to 15 members of the CLA in recent raids by Czechoslovakian Regular Army, U.S. Defense Department Reports state that for every 1 CLA member captured, there are 6 members in terrorist cells in waiting. Furthermore, recent police crackdowns on protest, such as the infamous May Day Demonstration in Wenceslas Square, have brought about support for CLA cells throughout the country, especially in the rural areas.
Although President Ludik Svoboda and Vice-President Alexander Dubcek, in a recent speech broadcasted live across all Czechoslovakian airwaves from Hradcany Castle, pledged to resist Soviet backed forces for as long as humanly possible; Pravda announced Marshal Ivan Yakubovsky, Soviet Commander of Warsaw Pact Forces said he will reinforce troops under General Ivan Pavlovsky, who has been backing Communist strongman Vasil Bilak since American involvement in the region began on August 10, 1968.
Soviet Ambassador Stepan Chervonenko, and his staff have been recalled to Moscow by General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and Foreign Minister Alexei N. Kosygin. In light of these events, President Lyndon Johnson has filed protest with the United Nations, in what he calls the "gravest and most severe violation of the Paris Peace Accords, since their inception in April 1969" and he will be meeting tomorrow with Soviet Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Dobrynin to discuss the current crisis.
-State Department Memo Dated November 13, 1970
©1999 by Allen Ray
(Contributor - GNN Correspondant Andrew Stallings)
After 12 years of war, U.S. and British Troops have secured Vatican City, putting an end to the most destructive war in history. Lead by British General Montgomery, the troops, after a vicious battle, captured Pope John Paul II. General Patton was quoted as saying "War is Hell, I never want to do this again." Catholic "concentration camps", where millions of Jews were apparently put to death, are to become memorials honoring those who died defending religious freedom around the world.
On the site of the Vatican capitulation, there is much rejoicing and much sorrow. It is said by the soldiers here today that they will remember such horrors as Auschwitz, Palermo, and Golgotha. Captured among the Roman-Axis Power leaders were notorious figures such as Bishop Goebbels, Cardinal Mussolini, and Supreme Knight Of God Erwin Rommel, who will all be tried with the "Black Pope" for crimes against humanity. In Palermo, the remains of Adolf Hitler were uncovered. Adolf Hitler will be remembered as the unassuming leader of the Catholic Resistance and through his actions it is estimated that thousands of Jews were saved from the gas chambers. The Pope of the breakaway Reform Judeo-Catholic Church Of America, Robert Oppenheimer, said today that "the Anti-Christ, foretold for so long, has been removed from us. But there still remains the beast, that evil legacy, known as Josef Stalin, to be dealt with. When Communism is dealt a fatal blow, then we shall know the return of Christ." Stalin's neutrality in the war was noted by the Allied leaders; a conference is to be held at Malta concerning the new Communist threat, attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Emperor Tokugawa Hirohito. Hopefully, the Allied powers will be able to stand against this new godless threat. (John 16:11)
©1998 David Joseph Greenbaum
October 13, 1918
Palace coup topples reformist German chancellor Max von Baden
ZURICH - Neutral diplomatic reports tell of conservative reaction inside the Imperial German Government, and of the failure of reformists to consolidate power and enter peace negotiations.
German chancellor and head of civilian government Prince Max of Baden was asked to resign Saturday by a group of military officers fearing a "liberal reaction". Baden left Berlin swiftly, and government is reported to be in the hands of the German High Command, reigned over by Kaiser Wilhelm and his son, Crown Prince Frederick, rules.
Reports of civil unrest in Germany are growing, and rumors of imminent general strikes abound. Expectation of the imminent ban of the Social Democratic Party is rising, especially after reports by the left-leaning Independent Social Democratic Party of statements by SPD leaders in opposition to the monarchy. SPD newspapers have been temporarily suspended, in view of the existing state of civil emergency.
October 22, 1918
ZURICH - MUTINY SWEEPS THE HIGH SEAS FLEET. Sailors revolt against their officers in the main German naval port of Wilhelmshaven, and several capital ships have been scuttled at anchor by sailors.
Rumors tell of plans for a German "final decisive sea battle" against the Allied Grand Fleet, which sailors feared would be nothing more than a suicide mission. After a naval officer was detained by naval ratings on Wednesday holding written copies of the report, revolt quickly spread throughout the ships of the fleet.
The city council of Wilhemshaven has called all able bodied males out to stem the tide of Red revolt, and local military commanders have enthusiastically supported them.
November 1, 1918
ZURICH - General chaos reigns in Germany after the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm, in favor of his son and heir Prince Frederick. He has not been able to prevent loudly proclaimed meetings of the Reichstag, despite his repeated orders for its dissolution.
Reports from Wilhelmshaven remain vague, but great slaughter is generally understood to be happening.
Reports from the industrialized districts of Westphalen indicate mass strikes and uprisings, though political goals of the strikes remain unclear, whether they are in favor of peace, or Red in nature.
The City Council of Dortmund has been dissolved by the Arbeitsundsoldatenrat, after clashes between civil militia and radical workers.
November 7, 1918
ZURICH - Alfried von Krupp has arrived in Luzerne, after a tumultuous escape through rebellious Germany. He calls for the formation of a volksrat to govern Germany in the absence of civil authority, composed of military officers and regional nobles who will, in his words, "put down revolution with the might and will of German national spirit."
Telegraph and telephone lines to Berlin and the eastern marches have been cut, or are blocked, and trains from Berlin are overdue in Franconia and in Neidersachsen.
Anecdotal reports of food shortages have arrived in this bureau from travelers to Germany, which tempts this observer to identify the source of unrest as arising from starvation.
November 13, 1918
ZURICH - German border stations with Switzerland have been abruptly closed and then reopened under conflicting orders of the Bavarian State Ministry.
It is clear much blood has been shed in Berlin in the past seven days, following clashes of officers cadets, civil policemen, and armed parties of working class brutes.
Reports have arrived in Switzerland of a new "Provisional Council for the Salvation of the Public Welfare" sending orders out of Berlin to various field commanders on the Western Front, ordering them to surrender and lay down their arms.
The government of the Kaiser vociferously denies any such orders being sent, and insists that it control Berlin and Germany. Those statements were given by the German Ambassador in Berne.
December 20, 1918
ZURICH - KAISER FREDERICK DEAD, HIGH COMMAND SHOT OUT OF HAND BY RED REBELS.
After ignominious capture by revolutionary forces under the Provisorischer Rat fur Salvation der allgemeinen Wohlfahrt...