Web Opinion by Todd Beezley

Gone Fission

My uncle Arthur, the bus driver, always used to take the week off between Christmas and New Year’s Day. I’m sure that guiding a several ton tube of heavy metal through the streets of Chicago on streets as slippery as glass had something to do with it.

But the holidays always meant a lot to my family. They still do

So, why is my nose still being pressed to the grindstone while radio talk show hosts and bus drivers across America are exercising their rights of seniority and opting out of the rat race for at least a few days?

Here’s a thought.

The world is still spinning and two very important stories deserve to be chronicled here.

While the Christian world was praying for peace on earth and good will to men, the Muslim and Hindu worlds were headed toward a head-on collision. At last word, jet squadrons, missile batteries and armored columns had all approached the Indian-Pakistani border and firing had already commenced not just in the contested Kashmir region but south all the way to the Indian province of Gujarat.

Two considerations make this contest a potentially deadly one for the world. Number one, foreign alliances mean that China may easily enter the fray on the side of Pakistan and France, of all nations, has promised help to India. That begs the question, "If France sides with India, can NATO be far behind?"

Of course, as NATO goes, so goes the U.S.A. The wicket could potentially become very sticky with US troops already stationed on Pakistani soil in support roles for the apparently successful Afghan campaign.

The second concern of global proportions is the unavoidable fact that both Pakistan and India have nuclear missiles and have been speaking in recent days of using them against each other. While today’s rhetoric level appears to be moderating, the war preparations continue and India’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss reprisals for the assault on the Indian parliament that left 14 people dead. India blames Muslim rebels armed and led by Pakistani intelligence for the terrorist operation.

So, the world is holding its breath as it prepares to enter 2002, which our own President George W. Bush promises will be a year of war.

As if this tired planet were not in bad enough shape, rioting in Argentina, inspired by the destruction of that nation’s economy has killed 24 people, brought down the government and prompted a 155-billion dollar default on investments due foreign bankers.

We’ve heard that 80 billion of those bad loans are due to Chase Bank of America. Will a ripple effect spread to our own economy in coming days? It might if other shaky third-world nations like Brazil and Mexico follow suit and decide to write off their loans to US financial institutions as bad debts.

One prominent Christian pastor, David Wilkerson, had prophesied just such a scenario… that banks all over the U.S. would start shutting down in coming days when Argentina’s default occurred. He predicted the wholesale disaster would hit this country in two weeks of such an event. But he made this prediction several years ago.

That amazing look into the future, alone, is sufficient reason to keep me chained to my word processor. With southern Asia and South America on the brink of political and financial Armageddon, it’s hard for me to put out my "Gone Fission," sign.

We’ll keep monitoring events as they transpire and updating them for your benefit.

In the meantime, please accept our wishes for God’s protection for your family and many blessings in the coming year.

WebToday columnists are available for talk show interviews.
Please contact Special Guests for availability

4.9¢ long distance from WebToday: Online sign-up takes 30 seconds