Forwarded to me by "James A. Carroll", a report that telegraphs the advent of a nuclear WW 3 very, very clearly:

Russia has announced it wants opponents to understand it has changed its military policy and will now use nuclear weapons in "smaller-scale conflicts." It was a clear-cut warning to the United States and European nations that if they intervene in its war in Chechnya they may expect nuclear war in return.

At the same time, Russia announced it is also increasing its capability - by three-fold - to engage in strategic intercontinental ballistic-missile nuclear warfare with America. This news came out of Moscow in conjunction with celebration of the 40th anniversary of its nuclear-missile forces. In carefully timed interviews in Krasnaya Zvezda and the weekly Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, the chief of the missile force, Col.-Gen. Vladimir Yakovlev, said Russia had been compelled to rethink dramatically its nuclear-deterrent program.

"Russia, for objective reasons, is forced to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons, extend the nuclear deterrent to smaller-scale conflicts and openly warn potential opponents about this," Yakovlev said. Those reasons, he said, were the under-funding of Russia's rocket forces, due to the country's financial crisis, and the emergence of regional powers armed with missiles and nuclear technology.

Yakovlev made it clear Moscow will use its nuclear arms if attacked with chemical or biological weapons or outnumbered by conventional forces, Reuters news agency reported.

He told Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye that Russia will continue to replace its existing intercontinental ballistic missiles with its new Topol-M ICBMs.

Topol-M is a highly mobile rocket with a multiple nuclear warhead that the Russian military has boasted can penetrate any missile-defense shield the United States can create.

Yakovlev forecast that Russia will also produce an aircraft-based cruise version of the Topol-M and place greater emphasis on space technology, Reuters said.

Although not the superpower the old Soviet Union was during the Cold War, Russia still has the world's second-largest nuclear arsenal of hundreds of missiles based on land, in prowling submarines and aboard long-range aircraft.

The newspaper Izvestiya reported Russia will double Topol-M production from the rate of 10 a year, as in 1998 and 1999, to 20 in 2000 and 30 in 2001 - giving it a total of 70 by 2002.

Izvestiya said Russia will use the new Topol-Ms to replace its aging, almost-obsolete ICBMs as fast as the new models come off the production line.

This would deprive Russia of millions of dollars of U.S. tax funds, conditioned on being used only to help it dismantle and destroy, but not replace, its old ICBM fleet.

Those funds were appropriated under the 1992 Nunn-Lugar Act, steered through Congress by former senators Sam Nunn, D-Ga., and Richard G. Lugar, R-Ind.

Jerry Attrick says that if you are silly enough to be out amongst masses during the Christmas (what a laugh, hey?) festivities, affected by all the stress that the demons and robots can muster, all the rage, all the problems of Y2K, all the pollution, all the attacks, take a moment for look for some of these BUMPER STICKERS

Some people are only alive because it is illegal to shoot them.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

You're just jealous because the voices only talk to ME.

BEER: It's not just for breakfast any more.

So you're a feminist... Isn't that cute.

BEAUTY is in the eye of the beer holder.

All men are idiots... and I married their king.

The more you complain, the longer God makes you live.

I(nternal) R(evenue) S(ervice): We've got what it takes to take what you've got.

Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.

Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs.

Out of my mind... Back in five minutes.

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.

Hang up and drive.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather... Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

NEBRASKA: At least the cows are sane.

God must love stupid people... He made SO many.

I said "NO" to drugs, but they didn't listen.

Your kid may be an Honor Student, but YOU'RE still an idiot.

I took an IQ test and the results were negative.

Where there's a will... I want to be in it.

It's lonely at the top, but you eat better.

Don't drink and drive... You might hit a bump and spill your drink.

Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

Always remember you're unique... Just like everyone else.

I wasn't born a bitch. Men like you made me this way.

Keep honking while I reload.

Taxation WITH representation isn't so hot, either!

Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.

EARTH FIRST! We'll strip-mine the other planets later.

If you can read this I can hit my brakes and sue you.

Save the whales! Trade them for valuable prizes.

Whitewater is over when the First Lady sings.

Jack Kevorkian for White House physician.

My wife keeps complaining I never listen to her ... or something like that.

Sure you can trust the government! Just ask an Indian!

Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.

If we are what we eat, I'm cheap, fast, and easy.

Stop repeat offenders. Don't re-elect them!