The article below was found in urban survival.com.........................................."The announcement on Thursday that the delivery of TOR anti-aircraft missile systems had at least been partially completed caught at least me (and apparently lots of others) by surprise. The ability of Iran to defend itself against at least a limited air strike should go up exponentially once those systems come on line compared to the situation they are in now.

My read on the dynamics of the situation is that the announcement FORCES Israel's hand wrt WHEN it is going to attack Iran. I think this is the reason Cheney suddenly went BACK across the pond on Friday night after just getting back from across the pond on Thurs (I think it was thurs he got back from across the Atlantic). I also think it may have factored into Bush's meeting with the Iraqi PM for this week in Jordon.

Israel's cabinet met Sunday and may well have made a decision as to what they are going to do.

MONDAY'S MARKET SELL OFF seemed to me to be for reasons OTHER than what the news people were saying ... in fact it seemed to have a bit of FEAR to it, ala potentially market players suddenly nervous about an Israel attack with a broader oil problem suddenly occurring in the very near future.

IF the sell off continues tomorrow, gold and silver continue to climb, etc. etc., then I would take that as an indication that the market is absorbing some "news leakage" or at least "news analysis" that indicates that things will get very rocky in the very short term future.

Sometimes I think it may be easier to NOT see the potential problems in the world. They certainly indicate that things could get very unpleasant very quickly."

Want to place any bets with me on what happens about, oh, say December 3rd or so? While most of the world has been preoccupied with video games, we have been watching the travels of Dick Cheney, who I expect is lining up promises of non-interference for when Israel lets loose on Iran with tacit US approval. Our outlook is that a window of opportunity for the neoCONs to have one last shot at changing the political geography of the Middle East closes when the democrats take office in January. So a parting "shot" (poor choice of words, but it's early) would certainly fit with their stated agenda.

....................................................................benny

NATO Backs AOC
Deals are being made. And, they have less to do with peace and security than they have to do with opportunity and power.

Caught in middle, as usual, are the innocent -- ordinary people struggling to survive in a difficult world. It angers me to think about it. But, its always been that way. And, until our Lord returns from heaven, its not going to change. In fact, the Bible indicates it's going to get much worse.

Not long ago Pope Benedict made it known that the Catholic Church was against Turkey's membership in the EU. Today it's being reported that the Pope indicated to Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan that the Catholic Church had suddenly decided to support Turkey's EU membership Read about it here. Friends, it shouldn't be hard to figure out. A deal has been made.

You see, Erdogan and the Pope have a common interest. They both seek to control what threatens their interests. For Erdogan, it's the Islamic fundamentalists who threaten his secular government, for the Pope it's the Christian fundamentalists who undermine his papal authority. And, for both of these men's concerns, the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) may offer the perfect answer.

Deals are being made at NATO too. The U.S., Canada and Britain are in desperate need of help from their NATO allies in Afghanistan. But, for some reason, their help is slow coming Read about it here. Evidently, France, Germany and Italy are withholding their much needed support. Why would that be? It's not that they don't have an interest in seeing a NATO victory in Afghanistan. Friends, it shouldn't be hard to figure out. In order for the U.S, Canada and Britain to gain the support of their NATO allies, a deal must first be made. But, what deal? Once again, I suspect it may have something to do with the AOC. In fact, according to this report Read about it here, that deal may have been made. The leaders of NATO have decided to support Spain and Turkey's AOC.

Yes, deals are being made. And, it has less to do with peace and security than it has to do with opportunity and power.


............................................................benny

Yep...rushing to war. ...

Some people try to make Bush and the team dummies but they know exactly what they're doing and why. They just aren't going to serve it up on a platter to the press. I'm glad people are discerning activites though and giving us an opportunity to read betweeen the lines...

The Euromed
While the media and we students of Bible prophecy have been looking the other way, something significant this week may have happened in Tapmere, Finland.

On November 27 and 28, the Finnish EU Presidency presided over the 8th Euromed Ministerial Conference. And, unlike last year's Euromed, in which the majority of the Arab partners didn't even bother to show up, this year's meeting ended with an almost astoundingly successful, joint declaration Read about it here. And, if the words that the Euromed partners managed to put together mean anything, a time of peace in the Mediterranean could be around the corner.

As strange as it may sound, for me it's like watching your child taking their first steps. You always knew that sooner or later they could do it. But, it was hard convincing others. You see, the EU's 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace had all the ingredients to become Daniel's foretold covenant with many. It was an agreement between the then 15 EU member states and 12 Mediterranean states including Israel, and it was an attempt at reviving the old Roman Empire as it was in the time of Christ. And, this prophetic looking agreement was brought about under the direction of a new 10-nation alliance and the first, modern-day Mr. Europe. But, despite how prophetic it looked, something was still needed to bring it all together.

The Iraqi war combined with the Iranian crisis finally opened the door. Before that, America was in the way of united Europe's Mediterranean dream. But, now that American forces were embroiled in bringing a victory out of Iraq, Europe's new empire builders could have their day.

The basic plan was ingenious. Instead of short-term agreements that seldom last, the idea was to create a long-term framework agreement upon which others could be fitted. Given the right amount of thought and time, Euromed would someday come together like a superbly designed puzzle. And, it looks like it has.

Evidently, this year's Euromed Ministerial Conference may have had all the right elements. For the first time since the EU's Mediterranean forum began, all participating members indicated they were on the same page and wanting the same things. These things are:

· Orientation course on ESDP of the European Defense and Security College open to
Mediterranean countries willing to participate.
· Euromed Senior officials will launch a discussion on joint cooperation, best practices and
exchange of experience in the area of elections in order to take these issues forward.
· Euro-Mediterranean Seminar on the role of the media in preventing all forms of incitement to terrorism through effective and professional communication.
· Euro-Mediterranean Seminar on ensuring respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism in accordance with international law.
· Pursue negotiations on the progressive liberalization of trade in services and the right of
establishment, progressive liberalization of trade in agriculture, processed agricultural and
fisheries products, the establishment of a dispute-settlement mechanism. Invite Euro-
Mediterranean Trade Ministers to envisage a Ministerial meeting in the second half of the year.
· Programs and activities conducted in the EU to promote innovation to the participation of Mediterranean partners and start technical assistance in order to accelerate reforms and regulatory convergence with particular emphasis on the approximation of technical legislation.
· First meeting of the Investment ad hoc group during the first half of the year.
· Euro-Med ECOFIN/FEMIP Ministerial meeting is planned for May 2007 in Cyprus.
· 11th Euro-Mediterranean Economic Transition Seminar in Brussels.
· Euro-Mediterranean Energy Conference.
· Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum and its working groups.
· The implementation of the Horizon 2020 initiative for the de-pollution of the Mediterranean. A steering group will be established to coordinate the Horizon 2020 initiative.
· Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Egypt. Launching of the scholarship scheme open for university students from Partner countries.
· Euromed workshop on employment policy.
· Euromed workshop on surveillance, control of communicable diseases and health systems.
· A Euromed ad hoc meeting at expert Senior Officials level on the role of women in society.
· 2nd Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Information Society in Egypt.
· The Anna Lindh Foundation will launch a series of visible initiatives.
· First meeting of the Euromed Youth Parliament.
· Euro-Mediterranean conference to discuss proposals from ‘Euromed and the Media’ initiative.
· Euromed Ministerial meeting on migration.

Behind the above words are some deceptively strong initiatives Euromed pdf. Of course, it remains to be seen if these many leaders intend to do what they say. But, just agreeing to the same things is an amazing achievement in itself. In fact, at the conclusion of this year's Euromed the Finnish EU Presidency added the following:

- All members of the Barcelona Process have unanimously accepted the Tampere conclusions.
- This is an important achievement.
- The Barcelona Process provides an important framework for building regional co-operation, confidence building measures, mutual understanding, expanding support for reconciliation and contributing to promoting progress in the Middle East Peace Process.
- Although it is not intended to replace other activities and initiatives undertaken in the interests of Peace, it provides an important political framework for 35 state the Arab states, Israel and EU.
- Nevertheless the paragraphs on the Middle East Peace were - as expected - discussed at length.
- as you understand it has not been easy to find common language and compromises had to be made.
- after long discussions we have agreed also on common text on the Middle East.
- we are in general terms referring to the recent developments in the Middle East.
- We commend the tremendous efforts of the Arab states and institutions in finding creative and inventive solutions. Without their dedication there would not have been a commonly agreed text.

On January 1, 2007, the Euromed will enter into a new phase. A huge political and financial program will kick in promising the participating Euromed nations an awesome array of carrots and threatening them with many unpleasant sticks. And, wouldn't you just know it? This new program is to last for seven years.

Friends, sometimes the things we hear demand a response. For us students of Bible prophecy, the Euromed could be that kind of news.

Stay tuned!

.............................................................benny

brought about under the direction of a new 10-nation alliance ....what 10 nation alliance to you refer to here? i know who Mr europe is...(notice no capital E in europe)

In 1980.............there were 10 original fullfledged member nations in the E. U. ....In 1981,...Spain had joined the E. U. fold.....but is not a fulfledged member.......today......there are 25 nations in the E. U. fold..........But only the first original 10.....are actually fulfledged member E. U. nations.......In 1995 these original 10 formed an enity within an enity.....called W. E. U. (Western European Union)......in 2000....these original 10 formed an army...........................................................................benny

thats what i was thinking but the Bible says the anti is the 11th (little horn) and subdues 3 of these...so are you counting spain as the 11th and solona as the anti (or his replacement)?

Yes....It very much looks that way......But regardless how much it may seem that Javier Solona may be the anti-christ....The Bride will not be here on earth at the revealing of the anti-christ.....Other suspicious candidates from spain are now involved in the E.U./Israeli middle east Negotiations....At the same time the Pope, and the A.O.C. are working overtime to bring peace and unity,combining all religions........."WE" are running out of time fast.............................benny

Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Seen Similar to Holocaust

November 30, 2006
The Washington Times
Abraham Rabinovich
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world...1342-7687r.htm

JERUSALEM -- Iran's reported drive to make an atomic bomb has become an existential threat to Israel that some Israelis are likening to the Holocaust -- especially with the United States appearing to back away from confrontation with Tehran.

The alarmists include Aharon Appelfeld, a leading Israeli author who as a child survived the Nazi killing of 6 million Jews.

"For the first time since I'm in the country, I feel that we face a real existential danger," Mr. Appelfeld said.

The memory of the Holocaust is a central element in Israel's collective consciousness, a memory made more acute by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's denial that the Holocaust happened.

"It's 1938," said former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "and Iran is Germany, racing to arm itself with atomic bombs."

Addressing a Jewish audience in Los Angeles this month, Mr. Netanyahu added his voice to a growing sense of alarm in Israel about Iran's seemingly inexorable march toward nuclear capability.

In his address, Mr. Netanyahu referred to Mr. Ahmadinejad's repeated calls for wiping Israel off the map.

"Believe him and stop him," Mr. Netanyahu said in the speech. "This is what we must do. Everything pales before it."

Israel has half assumed, half hoped that if international pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear development fails, the United States would in the end use military force.

In recent weeks, however, a war-weary Washington seems to be backing away from a confrontation.

In a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, President Bush said that he would "understand" if Israel chose to attack Iran's nuclear installations.

To Israelis, that sounded like he would prefer it over an American attack. There was likewise little comfort from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's remark that the U.S. lacked sufficient intelligence on Iran's nuclear facilities to carry out a strike at this time.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger wrote recently that "military action by the United States is extremely improbable in the final two years of a presidency facing a hostile Congress."

He, too, raised the possibility of a unilateral Israeli air strike.

Israel has apparently long been preparing such a strike. It acquired a large fleet of F-16 and F-15 warplanes and held intensive training exercises in anticipation of a confrontation with Iran.

The appointment last year of former air force commander Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was widely seen as preparing for that confrontation in which the air force would play a central role.

It has become increasingly clear in recent years, however, that an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would be infinitely more difficult than the successful attack on Iraq's nuclear reactor by Israeli planes in 1981.

Tehran learned the lessons of that attack and scattered its facilities at scores of sites, burying many of them deep underground and defending them with modern Russian anti-aircraft missiles.

Analysts have suggested that only a superpower like the United States could mount the massive and sustained attack that would be necessary to do substantial damage by boring ever deeper into the underground sites with bunker-buster bombs on repeated runs.

Even then, some analysts say, an attack might succeed only in delaying the program by a few years.

If Israel undertook the task alone, it would face not only uncertainty about the results of the air campaign but also the certainty of fierce Iranian retaliation, beginning with their long-range missiles and perhaps including attacks on Israeli targets around the world.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert continues to hope for an international initiative.

"The big countries have to lead and we have to push them," he said. However, there is a realization in Jerusalem that there may be no one to push.

Deputy Israeli Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said: "I am aware of all of the possible repercussions of a pre-emptive Israeli military action against Iran and consider it a last resort. But the last resort is sometimes the only resort.".........................................benny

[quote name='benny balerio' date='Nov 30 2006, 02:11 PM' post='93927']
Yes....It very much looks that way......But regardless how much it may seem that Javier Solona may be the anti-christ....The Bride will not be here on earth at the revealing of the anti-christ.....Other suspicious candidates from spain are now involved in the E.U./Israeli middle east Negotiations....At the same time the Pope, and the A.O.C. are working overtime to bring peace and unity,combining all religions........."WE" are running out of time fast.............................benny
[/quote


Hello, I have been following this post for awhille and figured I would join Christian forum. I have been watching for over two years and I have wittnessed many times when things are going to happen. Perhaps, Benny you can tell me why on Dec. 3rd something is going to happen as you posted earlier. I seen that you got it for for another webite, but I wish you could establish the facts of what you are showing the viewers of this site. Please dont get me wrong, I have followed this posting for some time and appreciatte all that you have shown me!

Thank you,

The Set Time Has Arrived
Bob Brasset

Wayne Hilsden is pastor of King of Kings, the largest church in Jerusalem. Recently, as he was walking on a street in Jerusalem, he had an amazing prophetic experience. He glanced at his watch to see the time. It read 11:45. Then, as he continued looking at his watch, it began to accelerate, moving at four-second intervals instead of one-second intervals. He thought to himself, “Something is wrong with my watch. I need to have it repaired.” At that very moment, God spoke to him, saying, “There is nothing wrong with your watch. I am speeding up time.”

Confirmation

When Wayne returned to his office he received a confirming phone call. It was from the chief Ashkenazi Rabbi. The Rabbi said, “Pastor Wayne, the Lord has shown me that it is 15 minutes to twelve on G-d’s prophetic timepiece for the Jewish people. G-d has also spoken to several of my Rabbi friends this same word. The Messiah is coming soon.”

Later, Pastor Wayne received another call from another Rabbi. “Can I have coffee with you? He asked. This particular Rabbi heads up a political group that opposes missionary activity in Israel. This Rabbi wanted to talk to Pastor Wayne about the lateness of the hour and Messiah’s soon coming.

An End Time Generation

This year at Rosh Hashanah (September 23, 2006) we ushered in the 40th year since the Six Day War, during which time Jerusalem became a united city. This holds great significance because it measures a generation of time (Luke 21: 30). These are the days when all prophecies concerning Israel and the church will be fulfilled. The hour of Israel’s redemption has come. If God has accelerated time so that four seconds are as one second, then the time is not 15 minutes before 12 o’clock, but rather, 3.8 minutes before twelve. (Bramlett note: And if that final 3.8 minutes advances at the same 4X speed, we are actually at less than 1 minute before 12., and if that 1 minute passes at the same 4X speed, it is actually 15 seconds to 12, and on an on. Carrying this further: It is almost upon us!)

Jesus warned, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:22)

One of the most important and most neglected messages of the church today is the message of Jesus’ second coming. Our fear of controversy has caused us to put this truth aside keeping silent on this vitally important, life-giving truth. Jesus is coming soon. In the Old Testament, there are twenty times as many prophecies about Jesus’ second coming as there are about His first advent. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, the second coming is mentioned 380 times. It is truly a most important topic.

May the church restore again the fourth dimension of the four-square Gospel: Jesus is Saviour, Jesus is Healer, Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the soon coming King!

Blessing and Grace to you,

Bob Brasset
____________________________________

A Google search revealed the following:

From Biblenetworknews.com: Ann and Wayne Hilsden are a Canadian couple who have been living and working in Israel since 1983. They lead a non-denominational Christian congregation in the heart of Jerusalem, called King of Kings Assembly. It is the church home of approximately 400 people, who hail from an estimated 80 different countries around the globe. Many of them are Jewish believers, who recognize Jesus as Messiah.

From bobbrasset.com: Bob Brasset is a passionate God-chaser who leads Extreme Healing Ministries. He has over 20 years of experience as a pastor/minister, conference speaker and revivalist . Bob is an author, (Anointed Believing, Sovereign World Publishers), and has produced informative resources through tapes and videos. He travels worldwide, ministering in Healing-Miracle Crusades and Training-Equipping conferences.

........................................benny ......PS.....We have arrived to that moment of time

Dear DoNotFear,.....I believe that you are speaking of a post that because of how iminient it seems that Israel may attack Iran.....No one can know the exact day of when this war will happen.......It has become so serious that observers are jokingly placing bets as to when they think that it will happen.......I myself personally do not know what day other that I know it is very very soon.......Thanks for reading my topics....I try to make people aware of last day events............................benny

Space Rocks, Air Bags and Armageddon
'Men's Hearts Failing Them For Fear'
Witnessing Tools
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
The headlines continue to remind us that it is only a matter of time before the next big asteroid strike wipes us all out as allegedly happened to the dinosaurs 85 million years ago.


In a story with the catchy, 21st century sounding title, 'Ready To Tackle Armageddon' the BBC explains how the European Space Agency is planning to develop an earth defense system to protect us all from incoming asteroids.

A Spanish company, Deimos-Space, is designing the mission and hopes its plans will convince ESA to give the go-ahead for a full scale test on a real asteroid. The company has come up with a plan, which it calls the Don Quixote mission, to launch a pair of probe spacecraft called Hidalgo and Sancho at a far off asteroid.

One would hit the asteroid at extremely high speed, deflecting it slightly from its orbit.

The other would observe the asteroid and make highly accurate measurements of what happened to it after the impact. The idea is that the mission would tell scientists how hard they would have to hit a real rogue asteroid heading for Earth in order to deflect it safely.

In essence, Deimos is developing a cosmic game of 8-ball and it'd like to figure out how much English to use before it's time to shoot the gameball.

If all goes according to plan, the asteroid's orbit will be shifted at impact by a few fractions of a millimeter. Tiny changes in orbit can become much larger over time and Deimos wants to use the experiment to calculate how to knock a real rogue asteroid off course.

The mission planners say that their plan would only work if they had enough warning time, since it would take months for the Deimos Project to reach the target after launch.

The plan sounds unreassuringly like the Bruce Willis movie, "Armageddon". (In the movie, they saved the earth, but Bruce Willis got killed).

That's probably why mathematician Dr. Hermann Burchard suggests a giant airbag, according to a an article in the latest edition of 'New Scientist' magazine. Burchard's plan is quite detailed and is generating some excitement among other mathemeticians (who say the last one hit 85 million years ago, but evidently failed to calculate what once in 85 million years does to the odds).

Burchard wants to inflate a giant airbag made of some lightweight material (he favors Mylar) from outer space, and then drag the airbag into the path of the oncoming asteroid, steering it using a spacecraft.

"Then all you need is to take enough fuel along. You push it very gently. You don't want to push too hard because comets are very loose conglomerations of pristine matter," the professor at Oklahoma State University said in an interview.

It's a serious matter, said Dr. B. "There is a very, very realistic threat to humanity" that would require "nations should constitute some of or other national agency to set up a defense mechanism."

So, what's it gonna be? An armada of oil driggers preparing for a mission on an asteroid on two week's notice? Or a European cosmic pool table? Or a giant air bag?

We must do something soon. After 85 billion years, there's gotta be a cosmic bullet out there with Planet Earth's name on it somewhere.

All this attention to something as provably unlikely as an incoming asteroid has the conspiracy theorists abuzz: the governments of the world have discovered a Doomsday Asteroid coming right at us and the 'experiments' are really the real thing, some say.

Unlikely. The only way you could keep the impending destruction of the earth a secret would be if, right after you told them, you shot them before they could talk to anybody else. And that wouldn't be very helpful for the long range goals of the project.

So what's all the hubbub, bub? If the last time this happened, the only survivor was Barney, and from there, it took lizards going through the butterfly/elephant/ardvaark/platypus/ape/gorilla/scientist evolution process all the way up to the beginning of recorded human history and ultimately inventing a telescope so we could scare the pants off ourselves, then why the big scare now?

Why now, as Dr. Burchard warns, is "there is a very, very realistic threat to humanity" that would require "nations should constitute some of or other national agency to set up a defense mechanism."

Wrong. The real answer? Because that is what the Bible said would be the case in the last days. And not just because the last one missed Barney the Purple Dinosaur, either.

In outlining events as they would unfold before that future generation to whom He was addressing His comments, Jesus warned "there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars" -- which accurately reflects the growing hysteria since first we launched the Hubble Space Telescope and discovered how infinitely vast the universe is. Scared us half to death, which is precisely what Jesus said it would do.

As a consequence of being able to see more of the universe than ever before, we discovered that there were billions of space rocks, any one of which could hit us. All those rocks were there before; but now we know about them. Creating what Jesus said would cause "upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity."

It is no stretch to see in His Words reflected in today's headlines, screaming that 'something must be done' to protect us from the 'very realistic threat to humanity' posed by asteroid strikes.

Jesus had more to say about Dr. Burchard and the Deimos Project in the following verse; "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

There's no doubt about it: the fear of oncoming asteroids is real. Nobody kicks out a couple of billion dollars to practice their English in outer space just to improve their pool game. It is difficult to imagine anyone publishing an article in New Scientist 25 years ago, seriously proposing we build an airbag to protect us from incoming asteroids.

And there is no legitimate reason to believe, mathematically speaking, that another Big One is due, just because its been an alleged 85 million years. How long was the interval between that one and the one before? C'mon.

Jesus was pointing out more than simply a sudden fear of big rocks and digital telescopes. As humanity grows more arrogant in its knowledge, it grows less dependent on the defense it relied on since prehistory. Once we simply shrugged our shoulders and said something like that was in God's Hands.

God can no longer be trusted, since science says He no longer is. Consequently, we are defenseless against space rocks.

And so goes the scenario as outlined by the One Who really does shield the earth from falling space rocks. He said that while scientists are keeping an eye peeled for falling space rocks, they will get an unexpected eyeful, because He says, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

Although we are eyewitnesses to the fulfillment of the 'signs in the sky' part of the prophecy, what does it mean to us now, since what we are seeing is only in it's developing stages?

Note that these verses, Luke 21:25-27, aren't taken piecemeal from various places in Scripture to make the point. It is a single, consecutive narrative.

A narrative that concludes in the next verse; "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

We are living in the last days. The time to make a decision diminishes with each passing day. The prophecies of the Bible are beginning to come to fruition, right before our eyes.

That means everything remains on schedule, and that God remains in control of what appears to unregenerate humanity as approaching chaos.

None of this is coincidence. Amazing as it may seem, the Bible is true. The evidence is in harmony with God's unforgeable Signature.

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." - [Isaiah 46:9-11]

Did you get that? Telling 'the end from the beginning' and describing 'from ancient times the things that are not yet done' is God's unique Signature - one that cannot be duplicated.

Imagine the difficulty in 'prophesying from today's vantage point the lineup for the World Series, 2022.

You see the problem. To be accurate, you would have to know first, will there be a World Series 20 years from now? If so, how many teams? How many leagues?

How will each team in each game from this moment until 2022 conspire together to fulfill your 'prophecy'? What if only one team didn't cooperate and won when it needed to lose, somewhere, in some game, across 20 baseball seasons.

Now try that across 2000 baseball seasons. Each season, each player must do EXACTLY the right thing, or the prophecy will fail.

Bible prophecy is 100% accurate, 100% of the time -- on infinitely more detailed prophecies than what teams will be part of the lineup of a single series twenty years from now.

The Bible is true.

Including the part that says 'ye must be born again.' Jesus paid the penalty due for our sin at Calvary and purchased, with His own Blood, a Pardon with your name on it.

All you need do is accept it and you can have the confidence of knowing beyond any doubt that asteroids and flying space junk and other such things remain now, as they've always been, in God's Hands.

Recognize you are a sinner in need of salvation. Trust in Jesus' completed Work as full payment for your sins.

You don't need to clean up first. Jesus accepts us just as we are. Have faith in Him to make the changes as He sees fit. You don't need to follow a formula.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:8

Scripture says the grace is of God, the faith is of God and salvation is a gift of God. He even brought you to this point in the article, what more can He do?

It doesn't get any easier than this. You can turn away or you can turn to Christ.

If you turned to Christ, let me be the first to welcome to the forever family of God.

.............................................................................benny

UN passes resolutions calling on Israel to withdraw from W. Bank, Golan Heights (AP)
New UN resolutions back Palestinian right to a state

New UN resolutions back Palestinian right to a state
Link: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/795347.html

New UN resolutions back Palestinian right to a state (AP)

UNITED NATIONS - The General Assembly approved Friday night six pro-Palestinian resolutions over U.S. and Israeli objections, culminating in the world body's declaration of backing the Palestinians' right to an independent state.

In the key resolution on the "Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine," the General Assembly welcomed the November 26 cease-fire in Gaza and urged both sides to maintain the truce which it said could pave the way for negotiations towards a solution to the conflict.

At the end of three days of speeches, the 192-member world body on Friday reaffirmed the UN's responsibility regarding the Palestinian question and stressed the Palestinian peoples' right to self-determination and an independent state.

.....................................................................benny

Speeding up time.

The leader of Iran believes that Israel is weak and would not dare to attack Iran......The leader of Iran is so confident, that he boldly tells the world that soon Israel will cease to exists.......The Hamas continue to arm.....The syrian army are arrayed in an offensive stance.....The Hezbollah have rearmed,and are taking control of the lebanon government......The United nations is very anti-Israel.........Soon a four pronged attack could happen.......But Israel has said.."NEVER AGAIN"...............And soon Israel will attack Iran.......Israel is the apple of God's Eye...........................................................................--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iran-PA Summit: Ahmadinejad Tells Haniyeh Israel's Demise Near
19:18 Dec 02, '06 / 11 Kislev 5767
by Ezra HaLevi


The heads of Iran and the Palestinian Authority met Friday for the first time. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assured the Hamas leader that Israel’s demise is within reach.



Ahmadinejad met with Hamas Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar Friday.

Ahmadinejad, who is pursuing nuclear capabilities at breakneck speed, assured Haniyeh that Israel is "on the verge of disappearing," according to Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

"As everybody knows, the Zionist regime was created to establish dominion of arrogant states over the region and to enable the enemy to penetrate the heart Muslim land," Ahmadinejad explained, reiterating a theory he has outlined in public forums ever since he came to power.

Haniyeh, whose Islamist Hamas group enjoys much financial and logistical support from Iran, thanked Ahmadinejad for the assistance. "The Iranian nation's brilliant stand in the rightful battles of the Palestinians encourages them and signifies their deep understanding of Islamic principles," IRNA quoted him as saying Saturday. "The Intifada of the Palestinian nation will continue until the cause of the Palestinians is materialized and Jerusalem is liberated."

Ahmadinejad assured Haniyeh that Israel’s destruction is no longer a dream, but well within reach. "Today, scores of Western politicians are in doubt as to the future of this illegitimate regime and its existence has come under question. There is no doubt the Palestinian nation and Muslims as a whole will emerge victorious," he said.

On Friday, Ahmadinejad, Haniyeh and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad joined Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Kuwait's Prime Minister Nasser al-Hamad Al Sabah at the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games.

Hamas chief Haniyeh was the only visitor to the games received at Qatar’s airport by the country’s Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, according to Qatar’s news agency.

........................................................benny

Covenant of Peace
Solana disappointed over no unity government
2/12/06


Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, expressed regret today over the failure of Palestinian terrorist organizations to form a unity government. Expectations had been that a government should have been formed by Hamas and Fatah around this time, and the visit of Solana to the region was timed to coincide with that.

Quote: "''Very sadly, I have to say the chance has been lost,'' he told reporters. Solana reiterated the need for the current Palestinian government to comply with the demands of the international community. Abbas' meeting with Solana is part of a series of talks held by the PA Presidents with European officials, including German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Jonas Gahr Store.

But the EU's determination has not been stifled by the failure to form a Palestinian unity government. Today Prime Minister Romano Prodi has offered to station troops on the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt and Gaza, the West Bank and also the border between Syria and Lebanon.

Quote: "Prodi met Saturday with Meretz Chairman MK Yossi Beilin in Rome and told him that Italy is interested in helping prevent arms smuggling to Hamas and Hizbullah. He elaborated that Italy is waiting for an answer from Syrian President Bashar Assad, who was asked if he would agreed to the presence of armed monitors in Lebanon, along its border with Syria. Prodi added that a multinational force should be deployed in the West Bank as well, in order to promote a cessation of violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

Last month the European Commission voted in favour of an international force similar to that of UNIFIL, being stationed in Gaza in order to keep the peace. Javier Solana also called for such a force to intervene in the Middle East conflict. EU troops in the Middle East would of course dramatically change the situation on the ground, and could provide an environment in which a covenant of peace could be signed.

Source YNet News, YNet News

...................................................................benny

http://www.endtime.com/archive/ram/et11-30-06.ram ....benny

Rabbi calls for 'UN of religions'
By Danny Wood
BBC News, Seville



Metzger spoke at the opening of the three-day conference
The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, has called for the creation of a world body with representatives from the major religious groups.

Rabbi Metzger was addressing the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville, Spain.

He called for the formation of a "United Nations of religious groups".

The Imam of Gaza, Imad al-Faluji, said politicians lied but religious leaders had a different objective - to work towards a higher good.

The imams and rabbis at this conference, which opened on Sunday, say the world is in crisis and it is time they acted to restore justice, respect and peace.

Straight talking

The delegates have made it very clear that now is the time for concrete initiatives.

At the opening ceremony Rabbi Yona Metzger said his idea of a "United Nations of religious groups" could "bring a bridge between religions to help the bridge of the diplomatic way".

That plan has broad support from key participants like Frederico Major, the co-president of the Alliance for Civilisations, the lobby group for international conflict resolution, supported by the United Nations and initiated by Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The speeches at this conference rather than using polite, diplomatic language have at times been brutally direct. When the Rabbi Metzger harangued mainstream Muslims for not standing up to Osama bin Laden, Islamic leaders nodded in agreement.

Both Muslim and Jewish leaders have shown a preparedness to take criticism.

There have also been strong expressions of opposition to any killing in the name of religion.

At the end of the opening ceremony, the Muslim delegation sang an oration to the Prophet Mohammed before resuming discussions about the ideas they plan to present to their Jewish counterparts.

The religious leaders have three days to come up with a manifesto that aims to convert their words into actions.




...................................................................benny

Dec. 3, 2006 23:30 | Updated Dec. 3, 2006 23:42
Syria smuggling long-range missiles to Hizbullah
By YAAKOV KATZ



Talkbacks for this article: 27

Long-range missiles as well as truckloads of advanced anti-tank missiles originating in Iran and Syria have been smuggled to Hizbullah in Lebanon during the past four months since the war ended this summer, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The IDF destroyed most of Hizbullah's long-range missile array during the month-long war, including the Iranian-made Fajr and Zelzal. But according to new intelligence obtained by the defense establishment, Hizbullah has received in the four months since the war, weapon convoys carrying short-range missiles, anti-tank missiles and long-range missiles. Most of the weapon convoys crossed into Lebanon from Syria at night.

With the increasing possibility that Hizbullah protests, launched in Beirut on Friday, will topple the US-backed government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the Israeli defense establishment had decided not to take any chances and on Sunday raised the level of alert in the North. Israel is concerned that the Lebanese instability will ignite the situation along the Israel's northern border.

Hizbullah, Military Intelligence believes, might use the Lebanese political instability as an excuse to launch attacks against Israel, not necessarily by renewing Katyusha rocket attacks - 4,000 rockets were fired at Israel during the 34-day war this past summer - but by firing anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli aircraft which fly over Lebanon to collect intelligence.

Hizbullah "nature reserves" - camouflaged underground systems of tunnels and bunkers used as hideouts for guerrillas - are still operating in southern Lebanon despite the beefed up presence of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) south of the Litani River. These areas are designated as "closed military zones" for UNIFIL and the LAF and are used as training centers for Hizbullah as well as storehouses for their weapons and rocket caches.

While UNIFIL and the LAF presence in southern Lebanon has forced Hizbullah to conceal its weapons, MI does not believe that the multinational force is not an "obstacle" for the guerrilla Shi'ite group. If Saniora's government falls, MI does not foresee UNIFIL being automatically expelled from Lebanon but rather the sponsor countries, including Italy and France, having to decide whether they will pull their troops out or not.

Hizbullah, MI has learned, has been using the post-war period to rehabilitate its armed wing. MI believes that "sooner or later" Hizbullah will resume military operations against Israel in the form of mortar and rocket attacks on northern Israeli communities as well as kidnapping attempts along the border.

MI believes that if Israel "engaged" Syria and offered a renewal of dialogue between the two countries, President Bashar Assad would accept the offer although without any preconditions. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out the possibility of talks with Syria, which he has called the "single most aggressive member of the axis of evil."

While there existed a chance for war with Syria - the Syrian military has been at readiness since the war in Lebanon - MI does not believe Assad will initiate a conflict with Israel despite remarks he recently made regarding the option of military action as a means to redeem the Golan Heights.

MI's assessment does however cite an "escalation" in tension between the countries due to Syria's support of Hizbullah including the supply of weapons to the guerrilla group as well as the strategic alliance Damascus has forged with Iran. .............................benny

Important Mideast declaration signed at Tampere EU conference
EU states, as well as Arabs and Israel approve text

Erkki Tuomioja
print this

The European Union and Mediterranean countries reached agreement in Tampere on Tuesday on a joint declaration on a number of issues, including the Middle East peace process.
The statement confirms that the partners are committed to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable solution in the conflict between Israel and the Arabs.
The text was accepted unanimously, although Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that lengthy discussion was needed first.
In addition to the EU countries, signatories included Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Signing on behalf of the Palestinians was former cabinet minister Nabil Shaath, who is a close advisor of President Mahmoud Abbas. The declaration was approved at the end of the two-day Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (EUROMED).

The text on the Middle East was fairly general in its language. Foreign Minister Tuomioja said that it is not intended to substitute any other initiatives and actions that have been taken on behalf of peace. "It nevertheless offers us important political framework for 35 states", Tuomioja noted at the end of the meeting on Tuesday.
He praised the discussions held on the Middle East, which began at Monday evening’s working dinner, as "very good and constructive", although they were also time-consuming.

Israel and the Palestinians began a cease fire in Gaza on Sunday. In the statements issued in Tampere, the ministers called for revitalised efforts to promote the peace process in the whole Middle East.
Both Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mussa and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem of Israel’s arch-enemy Syria, expressed their support for recent developments. "We hope that the cease fire will be achieved also for the West Bank", Moualem said.

........................................................................benny

The article below is by herb peters......Herb is not a pre-trib believer, and he believes that the bride will go thru the first half of the tribulation.......I myself am a pre-trib believer....and I do not agree with the date of a 7 year confirmation, slated for January 1st, 2007....I believe that Daniel 9;27 will come to pass at a later time. By reason of Isaiah 17;1 and the rapture following quickly thereafter. I believe that the aftermath of these two events, will result in placing more ingredients into the coming 7 year E.N.P. confirmation. At this point in time.....the temple mount issue, is nowhere near an agreement,
on the third Jewish temple........It's going to take some earth shaking events before the third temple can be built soon......And that is exactly what I am expecting........................................................................................... "Where It Hurts"
If God's children in America still can't see it, there's something wrong. In the O.T. we learn that the Children of Israel many times failed to appreciate the times that they were in and they paid a heavy price. And, the Apostle Paul reminds us Gentile believers in the God of Israel that what happened to Israel could -- if we're not careful -- happen to us too. Paul said:

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either (Romans 11:17-21 New American Standard Bible).

I think our problem is, so far, when God's discipline came, we've always managed to get by. Unfortunately, those days may soon be over. Friends, if God can't get our attention using gentle methods anymore, He may do it where it hurts. And, one thing we know for sure: If we truly are His children, God will get our attention (Revelation 3:19).

Today we learn that U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton is stepping aside Read about it here. No matter our domestic politics, all children of the God of the Bible should recognize that Bolton's departure will be celebrated most loudly by America's and Israel's enemies Read about it here I And here. And, because of the end-time prophecies, they should realize what's waiting.

If after reading all the documents that I've posted regarding the UN's new Alliance of Civilisations and the conclusions of the recent Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference you still can't see what may be soon coming, please read the following:



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Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner:
ENP bringing real benefits to EU-Israel relations
4 December 2006

Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner:
European Neighbourhood Policy bringing real benefits to EU-Israel relations

The European Commission today tabled proposals on new ways to strengthen the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP ). The first 18 months of implementation of the ENP have shown good results. The new position paper aims to increase the impact of the policy, by proposing ways to help partners willing to reform to do so faster and better, and provide incentives to convince those who are still hesitant. The new proposals are accompanied by progress reports on Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine and West Bank and Gaza Strip which started to implement their ENP Action Plans in 2005. The Communication will feed into work during the incoming German Presidency in the first half of 2007.

European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “I believe that our Neighbourhood Policy is bringing real benefits to Israel and today we are offering to the country even more attractive incentives. They will bring the Policy into sharper focus, concentrating on key areas of mutual interest like people to people contacts, deepening economic and trade relations and stronger co operation on energy and transport. The Neighbourhood Policy has made a positive start, but the EU can do much more. We must rise to the challenge of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity of our neighbours.”

Today's progress report on Israel takes stock of achievements since the Action Plan was formally adopted in April 2005. Implementing the Action Plan has better defined the path and framework of EU-Israel relations while deepening and strengthening co-operation in a wide spectrum of areas. EU-Israel cooperation has developed in the areas of political dialogue, anti-terrorism, promotion of trade and investment, justice and security, science and technology including space cooperation, as well as higher education. Furthermore technical workshops have been organised on a large number of specific subjects relating, for example, to preventing terrorist financing, promoting judicial and police cooperation, protecting the environment, and combating racism/xenophobia/anti-semitism.

From 2007-13 the budget foreseen for the countries of the ENP is €12 billion, 32% more in real terms than in the last budget period. To maximise the impact and leverage of this EU funding the Commission will propose the creation of:
• A Neighbourhood Investment Fund, to which Member States will also be invited to contribute, which would be used to leverage additional lending from the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other development banks. The contribution from the Community Budget would be €700 million. It is estimated that this fund could encourage lending of several times the amount of grant funding. If Member States were to match the EC contribution, the Fund could generate a considerable amount of concessional lending.
• €300 million will also be set aside for a Governance Facility, to provide additional support on top of normal country allocations to acknowledge and support the work of partner countries who have made most progress in implementing their Action Plans.

Today's Communication also proposes:
• A clear perspective for all ENP partners, eastern as well as southern, of deep economic and trade integration with the EU, going beyond free trade in goods and services to address non-tariff barriers and achieving comprehensive regulatory convergence.
• Substantially improved visa procedures for certain types of visitors.
• Ad hoc or regular ministerial and expert level meetings with ENP partners on subjects like energy, transport, the environment and public health. This multilateral approach can usefully complement the bilateral work on which the ENP is based.
• Strengthened political co operation, more systematic association of ENP partners with EU initiatives (foreign policy declarations, positions in international fora as well as participation in key programmes and EU agencies).
• A more active role for the EU in conflict-settlement efforts in the region.
• A strengthened regional approach in the east based on existing Black Sea co operation.

State of play of ENP Action Plans
ENP partner countries Entry into force of contractual relations with EC ENP Country Report ENP Action Plan Adoption by EU Adoption by partner country
Algeria AA – Sept 2005 -- -- -- --
Armenia PCA – 1999 March 2005 Agreed autumn 2006 13.11.2006 14.11.2006
Azerbaijan PCA – 1999 March 2005 Agreed autumn 2006 13.11.2006 14.11.2006
Belarus -- -- -- -- --
Egypt AA – Jun 2004 March 2005 Largely agreed autumn 2006 -- --
Georgia PCA – 1999 March 2005 Agreed autumn 2006 13.11.2006 14.11.2006
Israel AA - Jun 2000 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 11.04.2005
Jordan AA - May 2002 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 11.01.2005
02.06.2005
Lebanon AA - April 2006 March 2005 Agreed autumn 2006 17.10.2006 Pending
Libya -- -- -- -- --
Moldova PCA - Jul 1998 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 22.02.2005
Morocco AA - Mar 2000 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 27.07.2005
Palestinian Authority Interim AA - Jul 1997 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 04.05.2005
Syria -- -- -- -- --
Tunisia AA – Mar 1998 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 04.07.2005
Ukraine PCA – Mar 1998 May 2004 Agreed end 2004 21.02.2005 21.02.2005

The full Communication and the country progress reports can be found at
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's being described above is exactly what we students of Bible prophecy have been expecting -- a covenant with many that is to be strengthened, or confirmed, for a period of seven years (Daniel 9: 27) And according to other prophecies, in the middle of that seven-year period the coming Antichrist and his 10 kings will begin their war against God's saints (Daniel 12: 4-7, Matthew 24: 9-22, Revelation 13: 5-7, Revelation 17: 12-16). Taken by itself, the recent news is fascinating enough. But, when added to all the other events that we've been reporting here at FP, it's simply astounding. And, if after witnessing all these events we children of God still can't see it, it soon won't matter. If these events are in fact the fulfillment of the end-time prophecies, we're all going to feel it.

And, this time where it hurts.

............................................................benny

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Report: Olmert to Meet Senior Saudi Officials

Link: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=116702

(IsraelNN.com) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will in the near future meet with senior Saudi Arabian officials to discuss the Saudi peace initiative the British-based Sunday Times reports.

According to the report based on information provided by an unnamed senior Israeli official, the talks will surround accepting the establishment of a Palestinian state in exchange of a peace treaty between Israel and its moderate Arab neighbors.

The report states that Olmert has already met with a senior Saudi official.

a false peace is coming
_____________________________________
Jesus is coming back really soon!!................................benny

The Generation of the Messiah

Israel - Middle East
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Yahya Safavi now heads one of the most formidable military forces in the world, despite international sanctions designed to prevent an Iranian military buildup.


The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is an entity separate and distinct from Iran's regular armed forces that is loyal and answerable only to Iran's ruling mullahs. The Revolutionary Guard was created and set up specifically to prevent a military coup by secularists against Iran's religious rulers.

And under Safavi, the Revolutionary Guard has developed into a force numbering as many as TEN MILLION dedicated and fanatically religious soldiers.

That's ten MILLION Iranian soldiers -- those ten million make up JUST the IRGC -- Iran also has a separate army, navy and air forces. Plus tens of thousands of religiously devoted volunteer suicide squads.

In all, according to the CIA World Factbook, Iran has more than THIRTY MILLION citizens of military age and fit for military service, thanks to Iran's lopsided population ratio.

The carnage of the 1980-88 Iran/Iraq War killed off the majority of Iran's previous generation, resulting in 70% of the population of Iran being under the age of thirty.

Over the past three years, the IRGC has been given the best of Iran's weapons and platforms. The force has developed and maintained control over Iran’s entire strategic arsenal and is responsible for, among other duties, securing the nation's nuclear program.

"The IRGC began as a buffer against a military coup," reported Geostrategy-Direct.com. "Today, it is far superior in strength to the regular military and can conduct the bulk of the fighting against any enemy, including the United States."

In a recent interview, General Safavi outlined both his own war strategy and the perceived weaknesses of the enemy [Israel/USA]. "We make full use of satellite systems, and can handle the enemy's satellite systems," Safavi bragged. "We can disrupt the satellite systems of the enemy. We can disrupt the communication networks of the enemy."

Safavi made his comments after Iran's recent ten-day wargame exercise, dubbed "The Great Prophet" that showcased Iran's growing military prowess.

Safavi's force fired hundreds of missiles and rockets towards targets, demonstrating the IRGC's capability in precision strikes as well as command and control. The IRGC proved that in any war with the United States, Iran could obliterate virtually any strategic target in the Gulf and Iraq.

Safavi highlighted Iran's successes with the Shihab-3 missile, adapted from North Korea's NoDong-3, which Safavi said was accurate to within several meters.

"The Shihab 3 missiles, which were fired with a cluster warhead, deviated a few meters" from the target, Safavi said. "Naturally, a 20 to 30 meter [deviation] is acceptable, because the force of the explosion and the radius of the shock waves exceed 20 or 30 meters."

Safavi said the new cluster warhead of the Shihab-3 ensures a killing zone of several square kilometers. The new missile variant was designed against aircraft carriers and large military bases.

The Shihab-2, with an estimated range of 500 miles, which includes most of Iraq, carries a 2,000 pound conventional warhead and 20 tons of fuel.

The IRGC has been developing a range of strategic assets. Under Safavi, the Shihab-3 is intended for conversion from the current liquid-fuel to the more efficient solid-fuel variant. With solid fuel, the Shihab could be prepared for launch within minutes.

Safavi, in an assessment echoed by Western analysts, asserted that the IRGC is a motivated force. This contrasts with the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan and Iraq where Americans do the bulk of the fighting while their NATO allies avoid combat.

"We don't see any motivation among the American forces in Iraq," Safavi said. "They are very cowardly. There are even scenes from Iraq in which they are seen crying. When their commanders encounter a problem, they burst into tears. We did not see such spectacles in the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war. I can therefore say that our advantage over the foreign forces is moral and human."

Although Safavi was pointed in his assessment of the Americans as crybabies, America isn't Iran's target of choice. At least, not at first.

"If the Zionist regime was defeated by a group of Hezbollah in Lebanon — after all, Hezbollah is a small group in Lebanon, which defeated the Israeli army in this 33-day war — how can Israel withstand a great nation that numbers 70 million, 90 percent of which are Shiites?" Safavi asked.

Most of Safavi's bluster was aimed at keeping America at bay while Iran makes short work of Israel. To that end, Iran and Syria have worked out a military cooperation agreement designed and focused on keeping America from coming to Israel's aid when Iran makes its move against the Jewish State.

The two countries also plan to cooperate in air defense. Under two agreements signed over the past year, Damascus and Teheran pledged to make their air defense batteries interoperable, allowing for either country to help the other during an emergency.

Iran has begun taking delivery of the Russian Tor-M1 air-defense missile -- rated as one of the best in the world. Syria has already purchased Russia's SA-18 'Grouse' missile system. The 'Grouse' -- (or 'Igla' in Russian) has already proved its superiority over the US Stinger missile system in tests conducted by the South African military.

The Syrian model is a substantially improved variant with longer range, more sensitive seeker, improved resistance to latest countermeasures, and a heavier warhead. As we discussed in previous briefings on this subject, the entire Arab Middle East is arming and preparing for war with israel, believing that this time, it can not only annihilate the Jewish state, but defeat any American intervention effort on Israel's behalf.

Egypt, a nation with no strategic enemies, is quietly spending more of its budget on defense than either Iran or Syria. What Iran and Syria are to Hezbollah, Egypt is to Hamas -- but without the bluster.

Egypt conducts annual wargames in the Sinai against an imaginary enemy nation Egypt identifies as a "small country northeast of Egypt", according to the subtitle of the annual 'Bader Exercises' manual.

There is only one such country on the map. The indoctrination of new Egyptian officers focuses on preparation for a possible future war against Israel, although Egypt has had a peace treaty with Israel since 1977.

What is fascinating to me is the fact that all of these nations are preparing for what they agree will be the Battle of Armageddon.

The Muslims have their own eschatological scheme for the last days, lifted from the Scriptures and then 'tweaked' so that the Muslim forces come out on top in the end.

Islam awaits its own messiah figure, the 'Mahdi' who will lead the forces of Islam in a victorious conquest of the world for Islam, after which everybody will live happily ever after.

Islamic scholars have even pointed to the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6:2 as the Mahdi of Islamic 'prophecy'. (Christian scholars identify the rider on the white horse as the antichrist.)

Let's add it all up and see what we get.

In Israel, devoutly religious Jews are preparing for the coming of the Messiah. For the first time in 1,600 years, the Jewish Sanhedrin has been reconstituted, since Jewish law requires the Jewish Messiah to be certified by Israel's Supreme religious court.

Gershon Salomon's Temple Mount Faithful fully expect the Messiah in the near future, and each year attempt to lay the cornerstone for the Third Temple. The Temple Mount Institute has recreated all the necessary elements for Temple worship and is training Kohanim priests in preparation.

Christians are awaiting the Second Coming of Christ in this generation. Western culture is also beginning to reflect that expectation through books, movies and television programming.

Movies with plot lines involving the end of the world are consistent box office winners; books about Bible prophecy are best-sellers; networks like National Geographic and A&E can't make documentaries about the Bible and the last days fast enough to meet demand.

The Islamic world is so convinced of the soon appearance of their own messiah that they are willing to bring about a global conflagration in order to hasten his appearance.

So we have the world's three largest monotheistic religions all convinced at the same point in history that this is the generation of the messiah. All three are actively making preparations in advance of his appearance.

The Jews expect their messiah to bring global peace. The Muslims expect their messiah to bring global war. Daniel identifies the antichrist as a false messiah who rises to power by means of the promise of peace and then plunges the world into a global war of annihilation against Christians and Jews.

Revelation 6:2 pictures the rider on the white horse as carrying a bow -- but no arrows, symbolic of a peaceful ascent to power, followed by the rider on the rider on the black horse who plunges the world into war.

The details remain fuzzy -- since they are working themselves out in real time -- but the shared expectation is crystal clear. Almost against its will, even the secular world has begun entertaining the notion that the end is near.

What does it all mean? According to the New Testament, there is only one thing preventing global messianic expectations from playing themselves out -- the appearance of the antichrist. And there is but one obstacle to his revelation -- the ministry of the Holy Spirit during the Church Age.

"And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth ('restrains') will let ('restrain'), until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:" (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-8)

Paul says the Holy Spirit 'withholdeth' or restrains the 'mystery of inquiity' until the antichrist's appointed time, when He is 'taken out of the way'.

Since the Holy Spirit is God and God is omnipresent and therefore everywhere, (even 'in hell' says the Psalmist) the Holy Spirit must be 'taken out of the way' in the specific sense of His activity in restraining evil.

The only logical way to understand this is that His indwelling presence in mankind is withdrawn. The Bible also promises that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and that He will continue to do so until Jesus returns.

So it is not logically possible for this to be accomplished without also 'withdrawing' the Church He indwells at the same instant.

The Bible explains, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The Rapture is the next event on God's prophetic calendar. Given all the signs that already point toward the coming Tribulation, that event could take place at any moment.

"Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." (1st Thessalonians 4:18)


.................................................................benny

Peretz: Prepare for unconventional event


Published: 12.05.06, 15:01



Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Tuesday during a visit to the home front army base, “The point of today’s work is to provide the required answer to the possibility of unconventional events in the future.”


“Dealing with the Qassams and Katyushas must not make us forget our need to deal with even bigger threats which God forbid could occur in unconventional warfare,” he continued. (Efrat Weiss)........................................................................benny

Dec. 5, 2006 9:41 | Updated Dec. 5, 2006 15:37
Netanyahu: Time to stop restraint policy
By JPOST.COM STAFF



Talkbacks for this article: 19

Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that Hamas was busy planning the next major rocket attack-and not just on Sderot.

In an interview with Army Radio, Netanyahu said that "Gaza won't necessarily continue turning into a second Lebanon, but that is what's happening."

"The time has come for us to draw conclusions," he said. "We can't close our eyes and say, 'I'm showing restraint, everything's okay.' Everything is not okay."

The Likud leader called on Israel to stop showing restraint and to take an offensive stance toward Hamas.

"Our policy has stopped [its aggressive approach] toward Hamas and those who announce that they will destroy [us], and continue to arm themselves," he said. "If you think that the correct policy is to sit and shake their hands, I think otherwise. For the sake of security, we have to act."

He added, "We receive condemnation in the UN every time we act, but on the other hand, they say to us, 'If the situation is so bad, why didn't you act earlier?' A policy of restraint is a bad thing, and it is necessary to act against bad things while they are still small, not once they've gotten bigger."

Netanyahu also addressed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's visit to Damascus and the possibility of reaching an agreement on kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

"I expect and hope that the Israeli government will do what is necessary to bring back Shalit," he said. "But I have no doubt that while Haniyeh is in Damascus and meeting with Iranian representatives, the talks on Shalit will be very short, and the talks on attacking Israel will be very long."
.....................................................................benny

Dec. 5, 2006 10:17 | Updated Dec. 5, 2006 10:24
Ahmadinejad: Any EU decision against Iran will be considered hostile
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
SARI, Iran


President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday warned Europe against backing proposed UN measures against its nuclear program, saying Iran would respond by downgrading relations with the EU.

Iran is concerned about moves at the UN Security Council to penalize it for refusing to cease uranium enrichment, a process that produces the material for nuclear reactors or bombs. The Europe Union has been supporting the United States in pushing for tougher UN penalties than Russia and China would like to see.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Monday that the leading powers at the UN were nearing an agreement on a Security Council resolution. The council's Big Five plus Germany are expected to meet in Paris later Tuesday to discuss a draft resolution.

Speaking to a crowd in this northern provincial capital, the president addressed the member states of the European Union, saying: "I'm telling you in plain language that as of now, if you try, whether through propaganda or international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility.

"And if you insist on pursuing this path, it (Iran) will reconsider its relations with you," he said.

Iran says it is entitled as a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. But the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has criticized Iran for concealing significant aspects of its nuclear work and says it has failed to answer all questions about its program.

Ahmadinejad, who was visiting Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea, reiterated there would be no slowing down of Iran's nuclear program despite international opposition.

"Thanks to the grace of God and (the Iranian people's) resistance, we are on the final stage of the path to the nuclear peak. Not more than one step is left to be taken. By the end of the year, we will organize a celebration across the country to mark the stabilization of our nuclear rights," he said, referring to the Iranian calendar year that ends March 20.

By "stabilization," Ahmadinejad appeared to mean that Iran has managed to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, a requirement for making sufficient fuel to power Iran's Russian-built reactor at Bushehr, which is due to go on stream next year.

Iranian officials have said several times, and have told the IAEA, that they plan to be using 3,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium by the end of 2006.

........................................................benny

Dec. 5, 2006 20:41 | Updated Dec. 5, 2006 23:31
Gates: Iranian attack on Israel possible
By ASSOCIATED PRESS



Talkbacks for this article: 44

"If Iran obtains nuclear weapons no one can promise that it would not use them against Israel," Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates said Tuesday during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing to replace Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Gates was asked by senators about the Iranian nuclear threat and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's threats to wipe Israel off the map.

Gates responded by saying that the threats were very severe. However, he added that Iran had "forces from Ahmadinejad who are interested in nuclear power as a deterrent against nuclear nations around them - Pakistan from the East, Russia from the North, Israel from the West and us in the Persian Gulf."

Gates said that the United States would pay an extremely high price for a military attack on either Iran or Syria.

He suggested that Iran could respond to a US attack by closing off the Persian Gulf to oil exports and to "unleash a significant wave of terror" in the Middle East, Europe and the United States itself.

While Iran has not been helpful in Iraq, the country could do a lot more to hurt US efforts there.

Also, he said, Iran's "ability to get Hizbullah to further destabilize Lebanon I think is very real."

Gates described a military attack against Iran as an "absolute last resort." The first option for the United States to deal with Iran should be diplomacy and working with allies.

"I think that we have seen, in Iraq, that once war is unleashed, it becomes unpredictable," he said.

As for Syria, Gates said a US attack on that country would unleash a wave of anti-Americanism in the Middle East.

It would have "dramatic consequences for us in Middle East," Gates said. "It would give rise to greater anti-Americanism than we have seen to date. It would immediately complicate our relations with every country in the region."
..........................................................................benny

Print this article



Special Dispatch Series - No. 1378
December 6, 2006 No.1378

Top Iranian Military Commanders: In Case of Attack on Iran, We'll Target U.S. Troops in Gulf; U.S. Warships 'Have No Maneuverability and Are Easily Sunk'; Iranian Suicide Squad Commander: We'll Carry Out Suicide Operations in Gulf Countries

To mark Iran's Basij Week and Navy Day, in late November 2006, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Yahya Rahim Safavi and Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy Commander Admiral Sejad Kouchaki both threatened that Iran would strike U.S. military targets in the Gulf in the event of an attack on Iran. IRGC Commander Safavi made threats against "the 200,000 U.S. troops" stationed in the region, threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz, and said that Iran had not yet given orders to the Iraqi people to fight against the U.S. troops in Iraq. IRGC Navy Commander Kouchaki threatened to sink U.S. warships in the Gulf.

In addition, Firooz Rajai-Far, commander of the Martyrs Brigades, commander of an Iranian volunteer suicide bomber organization, threatened that her group would carry out suicide operations in the Gulf countries if the latter permitted the U.S. military to use U.S. military bases in those countries to launch an attack on Iran.

The following are the main points of reports on the threats:


IRGC Commander Safavi: 200,000 [U.S.] Troops In Their 33 Bases Are Highly Vulnerable
To mark Basij Day, on November 21, 2006 IRGC Commander Yahya Rahim Safavi said, "Any time it wants, Iran can implement its control of the Straits of Hormuz, from whose waters 17 million barrels of oil [per day] leave [the region]...

"The Americans are sunk in the quagmire of Afghanistan and Iraq, and there is no way for them [to move either] forward or backward. Assuming they attack Iran, [then] their 200,000 troops, in their 33 bases, are highly vulnerable. American politicians and military commanders both know this.

"They can start a war, but [the decision to] end [the war] will not be in their hands. In the meantime, we still have not told the Iraqi people to act..." [1]


Iranian Navy Commander: "American Warships Are Heavy... And Easily Sunk"
On November 27, 2006, the Iranian news agency Mehr reported that IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Sejad Kouchaki had said, "We are fully monitoring the route taken by the American [warships in the Gulf], and because American warships are heavy, they have no maneuverability, and are easily sunk." [2]


Iranian Suicide Bomber Organization Threatens Suicide Operations Against U.S. Targets in Gulf
On November 20, 2006, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai reported: "An extremist Iranian group is threatening to carry out suicide operations in the Gulf countries that are allies of the U.S., in the event that the U.S. uses its own bases in these countries to attack Iran." [3]

The paper quoted the commander of the Kataeb Al-Istishhadiyeen (Martyrdom Brigades) organization, Firooz Rajai, [4] as saying: "If the [U.S.] bases in the [Gulf] countries are used by the American forces as a point of departure for an attack [on Iran], these [countries] should not expect to enjoy security while we [Iran] have none." She added: "If some of the [Arab Gulf] countries provide America with bases or camps for them to use for conducting an attack against Iran, is it logical for them to expect security?"

The report also said: "Rajai further clarified that the Martyrdom Brigades, which was founded in 2002, currently included 56 volunteer suicide bombers, and was independent and unconnected to the [Iranian] government or the IRGC.

"She said that she had been one of the students who took over the U.S. Embassy [in 1980] after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and that she would be willing to do it again were [the Embassy] to reopen."

Rajai has been in the Iranian media a number of times, as leader of an Iranian organization of volunteers who have registered to carry out suicide operations against American targets and interests in the region:

· On May 27, 2004, the reformist daily Sharq reported that Rajai-Far was an activist for a local Iranian organization called Hizbullah, and quoted her as saying that "martyrdom operations are the only option to expel the Americans and British from Iraq." [5]

· On June 5, 2004, Sharq reported that Rajai-Far had been one of the organizers of a conference for signing up volunteers for suicide operations against American targets in Iraq and against Israel. The report also said that she had been among the "students who support the line of Imam Khomeini" in their occupation of the U.S. Embassy.

Sharq also quoted Rajai-Far as saying, "The violence of martyrdom operations is the same as the violence of the war, and there is no escape from [this violence]. Although the target of the [martyrdom] operation is military, civilians may also be killed - and this is exactly what the Americans do. When civilians are killed in their [the Americans'] attacks, they blame the inaccuracy of their weapons, and act innocent." [6]

Also, on February 7, 2005, on Al-Arabiya TV, Rajai- Far praised suicide operations (TO VIEW THIS CLIP AT MEMRITV.ORG, GO TO http://memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=736#.)

........................................................benny

Shall we take a look at some of Iran's mighty fleet?

http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com/pic...13_8501150.jpg
http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com/pic...1104600735.jpg
http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com/pic...ubs/1752et.jpg

and wait for it...

http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com/pic...s/34314134.jpg
http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com/pic...ubs/ghadir.jpg

Looks can be deceiving, but sheesh, these aren't impressive vessles bristling with armaments.

Any sailors want to chime in on these threats?
......................................................................benny

How The Mighty Have Fallen

Though there is nothing specifically predicted about the United States in the “Last Days”, there are certainly examples of how God dealt with great powers in the past – and why.





The Bible predicted the destinies of Four Great world Empires. Daniel particularly focused on them. He predicted the fall of mighty Babylon and witnessed it take place.

The city of Babylon was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The Babylonians considered it impregnable – and with good reason.

The Greek historian, Herodotus, wrote that its outer walls were 300 feet high. It had many towers for archers that were even taller. It was wide enough at the top for four-horse chariots to ride around it. It was approximately 54 miles in total length. It had an inner wall that was almost equally strong with a mote between the walls.

The Euphrates River ran through the center of the city. Great bronze gates were suspended into the River to prevent an army from going underneath to enter the city. With such an endless water supply and the food that could be produced within the city, it was considered impregnable to any siege.

Yet, with all of its mighty defenses, Babylon fell in one night. It happened at the height of a great feast at which the King Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, was celebrating Babylon’s invincibility over the Medes and the Persians, who had surrounded the city. He made the big mistake of committing the final insult to Israel’s God. He used the golden goblets taken from Jerusalem’s Temple to toast the gods of Babylon.

Unknown to the King, the Medes and Persians had been working for weeks to divert the flow of the Euphrates River using a series of dams. That very day the amazing engineering feat was completed.

The overconfident Babylonians did not notice after nightfall that the river’s waters were receding. It was at that time that God caused a hand to appear and write on the wall of the great banquet hall these words: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Terrified, the King sent for the court astrologers to decipher the words. None could do it.

Then the Queen mother was summoned. She told the King about Nebuchadnezzar’s faith in a Jewish prophet and His God. She assured him that Daniel, whom his father made a member the court astrologers, could decipher the message.

Daniel rejected the Kings offer of ruling over a third of the Empire if he could decipher the message, and why it was sent.
Daniel began by rebuking the King for not following the example of his father, who believed in the God of Israel.

He rehearsed how God blessed him and his kingdom because of his faith. He said, “You have not humbled yourself as your father did before the LORD of heaven.” “You have used the sacred implements of His Temple to drink wine and honor your false gods.”

“So here is the message the hand sent from GOD has written.”

“MENE” – “GOD HAS NUMBERED YOUR KINGDOM AND PUT AN END TO IT”

“TEKEL” – “YOU HAVE BEEN MEASURED ON GOD’S SCALES & FOUND WANTING.”

“PERES” (past tense of verb upharsin) – “Divided” “Your Kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.”

“That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.” (Daniel 5:30 NAS)

You see, the very moments that Daniel was finishing giving God’s indictment to the king, the Median & Persian armies were storming under the bronze bars into the city via the dried up river.

America, you were founded by your fathers – most of whom believed in Jesus as LORD.

You have been blessed and protected as few countries in history because of this.

Now you have turned against the God who has blessed you.

You have barred God’s Word from all public places of learning.

You have driven any mention of the Son of God from the public square. Even symbols of Him are no longer tolerated.

You have murdered millions of your unborn children on the alter of lust.

You have made what God calls an abomination socially acceptable – homosexuality.

Therefore your enemies are plotting your destruction on every side – and most of your people are not even aware of the danger they are in.

God says, “MENE” The Days of your nation have been numbered

“TEKEL” You have been weighed on God’s scales and found wanting.

“PERES” Your nation is about to be destroyed.

I only have one word of HOPE. Even evil Nineveh was spared when the people repented. May America repent before it is too late.

Great Babylon was once greater than we are – but go look at what is left now. It is a heap of rubble, hardly known by the world today. God raises nations and destroys them as He wills.





Email Author: By: Hal Lindsey


.................................................................benny

People.....Time is growing very short......I pray that the Lord gives you all wisdom and the gift of discernment.......The Tribulation is casting it's shadow upon all the world............................................................................... WAR - Jim Baker wants Mid East conference - Israel is NOT invited

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http://www.insightmag.com/Media/Medi...er/Baker_1.htm

Baker wants Israel excluded from regional conference

Former Secretary of State James Baker (left) of the Iraq Study Group speaks while his co-chair Lee Hamilton looks on in September 2006. (AFP/File/Mandel Ngan)



The White House has been examining a proposal by James Baker to launch a Middle East peace effort without Israel.



The peace effort would begin with a U.S.-organized conference, dubbed Madrid-2, and contain such U.S. adversaries as Iran and Syria. Officials said Madrid-2 would be promoted as a forum to discuss Iraq's future, but actually focus on Arab demands for Israel to withdraw from territories captured in the 1967 war. They said Israel would not be invited to the conference.


“As Baker sees this, the conference would provide a unique opportunity for the United States to strike a deal without Jewish pressure,” an official said. “This has become the most hottest proposal examined by the foreign policy people over the last month.”



Officials said Mr. Baker's proposal, reflected in the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, has been supported by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and National Intelligence Director John Negroponte. The most controversial element in the proposal, they said, was Mr. Baker's recommendation for the United States to woo Iran and Syria.



“Here is Syria, which is clearly putting pressure on the Lebanese democracy, is a supporter of terror, is both provisioning and supporting Hezbollah and facilitating Iran in its efforts to support Hezbollah, is supporting the activities of Hamas," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told a briefing last week. "This is not a Syria that is on an agenda to bring peace and stability to the region."



Officials said the Baker proposal to exclude Israel from a Middle East peace conference garnered support in the wake of Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 25. They said Mr. Cheney spent most of his meetings listening to Saudi warnings that Israel, rather than Iran, is the leading cause of instability in the Middle East.



“He [Cheney] didn't even get the opportunity to seriously discuss the purpose of his visit—that the Saudis help the Iraqi government and persuade the Sunnis to stop their attacks,” another official familiar with Mr. Cheney’s visit said. “Instead, the Saudis kept saying that they wanted a U.S. initiative to stop the Israelis’ attack in Gaza and Cheney just agreed.”



Under the Baker proposal, the Bush administration would arrange a Middle East conference that would discuss the future of Iraq and other Middle East issues. Officials said the conference would seek to win Arab support on Iraq in exchange for a U.S. pledge to renew efforts to press Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Golan Heights.



“Baker sees his plan as containing something for everybody, except perhaps the Israelis,” the official said. “The Syrians would get back the Golan, the Iranians would get U.S. recognition and the Saudis would regain their influence, particularly with the Palestinians.”



Officials said Mr. Baker's influence within the administration and the Republican Party’s leadership stems from support by the president's father as well as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Throughout the current Bush administration, such senior officials as Mr. Hadley and Ms. Rice were said to have been consulting with Brent Scowcroft, the former president's national security advisor, regarded as close to Mr. Baker.



“Everybody has fallen in line,” the official said. “Bush is not in the daily loop. He is shocked by the elections and he's hoping for a miracle on Iraq.”



For his part, Mr. Bush has expressed unease in negotiating with Iran. At a Nov. 30 news conference in Amman, Jordan, the president cited Iran's interference in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.



“We respect their heritage, we respect their history, we respect their traditions,” Mr. Bush said. “I just have a problem with a government that is isolating its people, denying its people benefits that could be had from engagement with the world.”



Mr. Baker's recommendation to woo Iran and Syria has also received support from some in the conservative wing of the GOP. Over the last week, former and current Republican leaders in Congress—convinced of the need for a U.S. withdrawal before the 2008 presidential elections—have called for Iranian and Syrian participation in an effort to stabilize Iraq.



“I would look at an entirely new strategy,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said. “We have clearly failed in the last three years to achieve the kind of outcome we want.”



In contrast, Defense Department officials have warned against granting a role to Iran and Syria at Israel's expense. They said such a strategy would also end up undermining Arab allies of the United States such as Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.



“The regional strategy is a euphemism for throwing Free Iraq to the wolves in its neighborhood: Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia,” said the Center for Security Policy, regarded as being close to the Pentagon. “If the Baker regional strategy is adopted, we will prove to all the world that it is better to be America's enemy than its friend. Jim Baker's hostility towards the Jews is a matter of record and has endeared him to Israel's foes in the region.”



But Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, a former colleague of Mr. Baker on the Iraq Study Group, has expressed support for U.S. negotiations with Iran and Syria. In response to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee, which begins confirmation hearings this week, Mr. Gates compared the two U.S. adversaries to the Soviet Union.



“Even in the worst days of the Cold War, the U.S. maintained a dialogue with the Soviet Union and China, and I believe those channels of communication helped us manage many potentially difficult situations,” Mr. Gates said. “Our engagement with Syria need not be unilateral. It could, for instance, take the form of Syrian participation in a regional conference.”
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.........................................................................benny

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Syrian nuclear program quite advanced
By Olivier Guitta
Recently, Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al Seyassah quoted European intelligence sources as saying that "Syria has an advanced nuclear program" in a secret site located in the province of Al Hassaka, close to the Turkish and Iraqi borders. British sources quoted by "Al Seyassah" believe that "it is President Assad's brother, colonel Maher Assad, and his cousin Rami Makhlouf, who supervise the program". This program is based on the Iraqi material that Saddam Hussein's two sons shipped to Syria before and during the war against Iraq. This explains, according to the daily newspaper, why international investigative teams found no proof of the program.

Furthermore, the British sources in Brussels affirm that "Iranian nuclear experts contribute to the Syrian program along with sixty Iraqi experts who had taken refuge in Syria since 2003 and experts from the ex-Soviet republics". British intelligence also confirm that this information is validated by their German counterparts, who was well established historically in the countries close to the ex- communist block, including Syria. Europeans fear that by focusing solely on the Iranian nuclear program, one might facilitate a much more quieter joint Iranian-Syrian program of uranium enrichment in Hassaka. Also, the geographical choice of the nuclear site is very meaningful. Indeed, because it is located in an area with a Kurdish majority, the program evades suspicions, and also striking against these installations will initially touch the Kurdish community who has historically sided with the West against the Baathists regime of Bagdad and Damascus.

By Olivier Guitta on December 6, 2006 3:53 PM



http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006...am_quite_a.php
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..............................................................................benny

Isaiah 17;1......is very near upon the world. One of the things that I perceive in the article below, is that the U.S. along with the world will be applying great pressure on Israel to abide to resolution 242 and 338.......We are entering a dark period.........Please pray for Israel.............It is obvious that Israel will have to attack Iran alone..................................................................................................................................................DEBKAfile: Robert Gates’ reference to an Israeli nuclear weapon was synchronized with Baker’s exclusion of Israel from a Mid East conference. The Senate confirms Gates in defense by 95-2 vote

December 7, 2006, 5:10 PM (GMT+02:00)

The pair is pursuing a new policy line which sacrifices the traditional US-Israeli alliance for the sake of wooing Iran, Syria and Iraq’s neighbors for help in Iraq. During his senate hearings, Gates confirmed - and indirectly justified - Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon by declaring that the Islamic Republic Iran wants the power of deterrence against “the nuclear countries surrounding them – Pakist