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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JUNE 7, 1985 •
Satan's principal tactics are to lie, deceive, plant doubts, spread rumors,
cause division and undermine the confidence of the people in their leaders
and institutions (remember our own experiences in the 1970s). These are
all elements of Communist subversion as well. It might be good to reread
Mr. Armstrong's semiannual letter of May 6, in which he explained, based
upon personal knowledge gained years ago, the aim and methods of communism.
The less the citizens in our nations believe in a personal God and a literal
devil, the less they recognize the tactics employed by what President
Reagan called--and some were offended by his words--"the evil empire."
(You might want to pick up a copy of Mr. Nixon's book, if you do not already
own a copy: it is available in paperback. When you read it, you will be
struck with parallels to what might be called the real real war, the one
between begotten Christians and their chief adversar""'y:"f"
Meanwhile, the East-West war in the periphery is on, full blast. It is a
difficult orie for the West to fight because the real issues are often
clouded by secondary issues of economic development (or the lack thereof),
national independence {exchanged for dependence to Moscow) or alleged
racism. Notice some events now occurring in Asia, as published in the June
10 NEWSWEEK, Periscope column, in an article titled "The Soviets Go Fishing
in the South Seas":
Reagan administration officials are worri�d that the Soviet Union
may soon· gain a strategic toehold in the South Pacifie.
The
Soviets are close· to signing an agreement with the tiny island
nation of Kiribati {formerly the Gilbert Islands) that would give
them fishing rights--and some experts say a potentially valuable
intelligence-gathering presence--in the roughly
2 million
square-mile zone Kiribati claims within its territorial limits.
Kiribati's President Ieremia Tabai has rejected Moscow's requests
for a shore base, refueling facilities and access to food and
other supplies on the islands. But, despite pleas from Western
nations, including Great Britain and the United States, Tabai is
pursuing a deal that would bring the financially strapped nation
$3 million a year from the Soviets for a fishing license.
Similar Soviet overtures to two other pro-Western South Sea
island nations--Tuvalu and Fiji--for trawling rights in their
waters have recently been turned down, according to diplomatic
sources. But Washington officials fear that an agreement between
Moscow and Kiribati could lead to a chain reaction among the
other islands and a shift in"tlie oalance of power in the regioii":"
"For the Soviets to gain anything in theway of
a
legitimized
presence in this area is disconcerting," says one U.S. official.
"These are vulnerable countries."
A much bigger fish in the Pacific is the Philippines. The strategic archi
pelago nation, absolutely vital to the U.S. position in the Pacifie, is
under increasing strain.
Manila is in political and economic limbo.
President Marcos' days seem numbered, but the democratic opposition is weak
and divided: the economy, as a result, is in prolonged doldrums. Exploit
ing this opportunity, Communist guerrillas are steadily advancing. More on
this next time, as well as a focus on another problem area in the periphery
where the "real war" is being fought--at least by one side--in dead ear-
nest.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau