PUTIN'S VALENTINE TO THE ISLAMIC WORLD
By Joel C. Rosenberg
 (WASHINGTON, D.C., February 14, 2007) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a busy week courting Islamic leaders and threatening the West.

In Munich, he blasted U.S. foreign policy in terms so harsh that many analysts wonder if he is trying to trigger a new Cold War. From there, he headed to Saudia Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, and continued pursuing his aggressive agenda of dramatically expanding Moscow's military alliances throughout the Arab and Islamic world. Along the way, he:

* negotiated a $1 billion arms deal with the Saudis
* signalled willingness to help the Saudis become a nuclear power
* agreed to work with Iran and the Gulf States on creating an OPEC-style gas cartel to control international sales and prices of natural gas
* visited the Jordan River, looking westward towards the mountains of Israel

Based on Ezekiel's intelligence, we should expect Russian influence throughout the Islamic world to increase significantly as the time of the War of Gog and Magog approaches. And that is precisely what is happening. Over the past year, he has met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivered Russian missiles to the Iranians, continued building nuclear facilities in Iran, and promised to deliver enriched uranium to Iran next month. What's more, he has moved to strengthen ties with Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas, and even sent Russian military advisors into Lebanon.

Does any of this mean conclusively that the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39 are imminent or that Putin himself is the "Gog" of the Scriptures? No. But as Putin continues to send valentines to the Islamic world and distance himself from the Western alliance, it should give all of us pause. Just what are his motives? Where is he headed?

(Pictured: Putin on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, looking westward to the mountains of Israel)