Bear in the Woods: Russia is Lurking

Putin eyes Ukraine and cozies up to Iran. Is the Gog-Magog War imminent?

During the 1984 presidential election, candidate Ronald Reagan used a television commercial that’s become known for its compelling opening line: “There is a bear in the woods.” 

The ad featured a grizzly bear wandering menacingly through a forest while the narrator said this:

“There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. Others don’t see it at all. Some people say the bear is tame. Others say it’s vicious and dangerous. Since no one can really be sure who’s right, isn’t it smart to be as strong as the bear? If there is a bear.” 

A man appears in the closing scene, and the bear takes a step back. The captivating ad concludes with a picture of Reagan and the tagline: “President Reagan: Prepared for Peace.”

Reagan took the bear seriously, and as a result, in December 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, shedding fourteen countries and freeing eight Eastern European nations from Soviet domination. The Soviet Union disintegrated into disarray. December 26, 2021 commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the resignation of President Gorbachev, marking the official end of the USSR.