PART 3

The Coming Thunder

With Moscow’s coffers replenished by the global oil boom, Adm. Vladimir Masorin, Russia’s naval commander, has announced ambitious plans to expand the country’s primary Black Sea base and establish a “permanent presence” in the eastern Mediterranean for the first time since the Cold War.

Washington Times, August 7, 2007

Russian Federation Navy group’s frigate “Ladny” and deep-sea tug “Shakhter” will make stops at the naval base of Taranto from 5 to 8 and Augusta from 13 to 15 September… . The presence of the naval group in the Mediterranean, belonging to the Black Sea fleet, is part of the development of international cooperation between the Italian Navy and the Russian Federation.

World Aeronautical Press Agency, September 2, 2010

A Russian flag in the center of Jerusalem, in such close proximity to the Holy Sepulcher, is priceless.

Sergei Stepashin, former Russian prime minister
and security police general