How Iran is Changing the Balance of Power in the Middle East?

May 21….(Middle East Online) Lebanon fell in the lap of the Iranian regime in less than two days. Lebanon is now unofficially a colony of Iran. The illusions are over now. Those who thought that Iran has abandoned Hezbollah and occupation of Lebanon through Hezbollah were proved to be wrong. Iran designed a strategy of deception for some time to arm, equip and train Hezbollah to the highest level on one hand and to give false assurances to the Arab governments that it has no bad intentions in Lebanon. During this time, the Shia regime of Iran prepared Hezbollah so well and so much that it took over Beirout in less than two days. Nobody could believe that Hezbollah had become so strong to do in less than in two days what other military groups couldn't do in the 15 years of civil war of Lebanon from 1975 to 1990. Hezbollah's victory was swift and fast. It captured the major western parts of Beirut that were the strongholds of Sunni and other groups. The show of force was so overwhelming that forced the Lebanese government into submission to withdraw two decisions that had ignited Hezbollah's anger. Spiegel quoted a Lebanese minister that Hezbollah can control all of Lebanon swiftly whenever they wanted. The observers also believe that Hezbollah is stronger than all other military groups including the Lebanese army. The Lebanese army showed during this operation that it was strongly under the influence of Hezbollah as the army watched Hezbollah routing out its enemies in Lebanon. More than 40 Lebanese army officers resigned over the decision of the army to watch Hezbollah taking over the strongholds of other communities. There were reports that Hezbollah sent regularly more than 300 of its members to Iran for military training every week after its war with Israel. There were also reports that Hezbollah has been sufficiently armed and equipped by Iran and Syria. Syria is out of Lebanon. Iran does not need to intervene directly as its extended hand: Hezbollah is even stronger than Syrian army in Lebanon. Once Hezbollah achieved victory, the Shias in Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and some other countries celebrated Hezbollah's victory with great jubilation adding another victory to Shia victory in the recent years. The jubilation was more visible in Iran, Iraq and Bahrain where the majority of the population is Shia. This spirit of Shia solidarity that showed itself everywhere is something that many people have not been able to comprehend. In fact, Shia solidarity goes far beyond its national borders and it is stronger than national obligations and allegiances. There is no such a thing like spirit of Sunni solidarity. There is no such a thing like the spirit of Christian solidarity but there is such a thing among the Jewish people. The people who do not have a spirit of solidarity like the Shia people, will never be able to understand how Shia allegiance and solidarity gets priority over their loyalty to the country they live in. This is something that the European countries have never understood completely. The Arabs have emphasised the Arab nationalism and therefore, they have thought that it is the Arabness of the Arabs: Shia or Sunni, which goes beyond the borders of 22 Arab countries and few other Islamic nations but as the experience has manifested in different walks of life, Arab nationalism has been overshadowed by other loyalties. Arab nationalism shattered in Iraq when the Shias and Sunnis began slaughtering each other at large-scale in the most inhumane way. Priority of Shia allegiance also showed itself in Iraq when Shia Iran provided everything the Shia community of Iraq needed to seize the power and defeat their enemies but the Sunnis who had not developed this kind of Sunni solidarity among themselves, did not and could not support the Sunnis of Iraq and they gradually realised that and decided to side with the Americans. The Shias of the world have allegiance only to one country and that is Iran; specifically now that it has a fanatic Shia government that is determined to inspire them to move above their old inferiority complexes and position themselves on a platform which provides them with the ultimate power. The Shias of the world have recovered their self-confidence and strength as a result of unlimited support that they receive from the Iranian government. Iran has generously and financially supported all Shia groups in all countries all over the world to organise themselves as Iran realises the importance of organization and unity. Iran has created more Shia organizations for Shias in the last 28 years than the Shias had in all their history. These organizations have different missions but one purpose: strengthening Shia community in every country to the level that they can seize the power and if it cannot seize the power, they can get lion’s share in the power even in the countries that they have a small number. Less than 15% of the Afghan people are Shia but they have a much stronger share in power than the percentage of their population. They have several ministers, several ambassadors, several governors, many generals and other high officials. At one time, the Iranian regime even insisted for 50% of political power for the Shias. While it is Iran’s official policy to lobby other countries to give a big share to the Shias, even higher than their percentage of population, it has not given any share to 20 million Sunnis of Iran in political power. The population of Sunnis in Iran is estimated to be 25 to 32% of the total population, yet they have no even one single minister, ambassador, governor and army general in Iran. They have been completely deprived of all high positions and even they are under immense pressure for changing their religion. They have been also deliberately kept poor and backward in such a large scale that according to Iranian official figures, 76% of the Sunni Baluch people of Iran are under poverty line. It is Iran's official foreign policy to support and empower Shias in any country to any extent which is possible to do and suppress the Iranian Sunnis to any extent which is possible. As Iran had supported the removal of Sunni Taleban from Afghanistan and Sunni Saddam Hussein from Iraq and the appointment of its close allies in both countries, Iran also supported another Shia leader in Pakistan to win elections. Although Benazir Bhutto is dead, her husband, Asif Zardari is a Shia. He is the leader of the largest political party in Pakistan who controls the Pakistan government now. Although Asif Zardari is a Baluch but he agreed to transfer a Pakistani Sunni Baluch man to Iran, something that the Sunni Musharraf did not do. Asif Ali Zardari had to do this favour to Iran in spite of Pakistan's national interests to compensate the favour that the Iranian leaders did Benazir Bhutto when she returned to Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto said in a long interview after the explosion in her march to home from Karachi airport that a friendly country gave her necessary information about few sources that intended to assassinate her. She named the sources as Taleban of Afghanistan, Taleban of Pakistan, Alqaedah and another source which she believed was inside Pakistani government or army. She said that she had been given even the names and telephone numbers of the terrorists who had been assigned to assassinated her in a suicide attack. Most observers and analysts believed that the source could be only the Islamic Republic of Iran who had access to confidential information of on many terrorist groups. As you see, the spirit of Shia solidarity manifests itself in fundamental ways. It was the same spirit of Shia solidarity that obliged the Iranian and Syrian authorities to organise, motivate, finance, train, and arm the Hezbollah of Lebanon. Now Hezbollah has become much stronger than anybody expected and now it has demanded Saad al-Hariri and other groups to surrender and Beirut must raise white flag. Saad al-Hariri insisted that he would not sign such a surrender but what he can do? He and other Lebanese groups have no military power to match that of Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia only threatened that if Iran continues to support the Hezbollah, it will affect its relationships with the Arab countries. But Iran does not have good relationships with Arab countries anyhow. And what is the importance for Iran of having good relationships with the Arab countries? How the Arabs can harm Iran or Iran's surrogate organizations in the Arab world? Iran has already created and formed dozens of strong and armed surrogate organizations in the Arab world that can fight and can defend themselves. They have Iran's full commitment for financial, military and international support. Gradually they will become even stronger than their governments. This is likely to happen very soon in Bahrain and Yemen. The Iranian authorities have announced several times that the Mahdi Army is the Hezbollah of Iraq. The Iranian regime has also armed organizations in Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and many other countries. Iran has positioned itself well to change the politics of the region and the balance of power in the Middle East. It has leverages that it can pull and push any time it wants and to any extent that it wants. None of Arab countries have such Leverages and armed organizations in Iran or other countries. They waited for 28 years and watched Iran infiltrating their secret services, governments and people. They bent under the pressure of Iran and gave exceptional opportunities to Shias of the Arab countries. Kuwait had to give two ministerial positions to two Shias to bribe them to silence under pressure from Iran. Saudi Arabia gave high positions to Shias of Saudi Arabia to satisfy Iran. The same policy has been taken by other Arab countries. They all have to bend under pressure to Iranian policies. This is even when Iran does not have nuclear weapon, just think about it, if Iran has nuclear weapons, how it will advance its policies in the Arab world. The Arab Passivity allowed Iran to capture Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon through Mahdi Army and Al Maleki, Hamas and Hezbollah. This is the beginning. The Arabs are simple people with honest minds. They just cannot understand the complexity of Iranian mind; specifically the political Shia mind that has been developed through centuries to take revenge from the Sunnis who had marginalized them in different parts of the world. Now they have a new opportunity to take revenge. They are organised. They are together and they are united. They are present in all Arab countries. And they are very deceptive. The Arab masses are behind them as the recent public opinion demonstrated that three Shias: Bashar Asad, Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrollah were the most popular political figures in the Arab world. The poor Sunnis, who have been disappointed completely in different aspects of life, now convert to Shiism and they get some substantial financial rewards for so doing. Every Sunni that converts to Shiism becomes a new agent of Iran and will join an organization that is supported and financed by Iran. The stakes are high. Iran has numerous and very powerful leverages in Arab countries and can create any change she wants. The Arab countries are helpless. They have become the victims of their self- complacent attitude and policies. While Iran can interfere in their policies when ever she wants, the Arab countries cannot do anything inside Iran as they do not have any viable allies among the Suuni and Shia Iranians.

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

As I have stated many times ....is that I believe that the Rapture and Isaiah 17;1 will happen almost back to back.....As we can see in the article below.....Iran is to have its nuclear reactor online this September.......The interesting thing that I would like to point out is that Rosh Hashanna is to arrive on September 29th this year...What can make me white as snow....nothing but the Blood of Jesus.


A September War

May 23….(Hal Lindsay) According to a number of sources, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is planning to bring his first reactor on line sometime in September 2008, which is just about in line with what the Israeli Mossad had estimated back in 2003 when the full extent of Iran's secret nuclear program became known. The Iranian announcement came on the heels of a surprise announcement by the government of Israel confirming it had entered into third-party peace talks with Syria's Bashar Assad. The surprising confirmation on Wednesday was the first acknowledged contact between the two parties in eight years, which will be mediated by Turkey. Equally surprising was a statement from the United States saying it had no objection to the talks. Previously, the US had rejected any peace overtures toward Syria as long as it was sponsoring Hezbollah and Hamas. In fact, President Bush seemed to have been blindsided by the news. According to transcripts of an interview he granted to the Jerusalem Post, Bush responded to the news by stammering; "I expect an explanation, but I know that he is as concerned about Israeli security as any other person that's ever been the prime minister of Israel. Despite the White House's official welcome of the news, privately, officials were furious. While Damascus and Jerusalem talk peace, Iranian-backed Hezbollah consolidated the gains it made in fighting against government forces in the streets of Beirut and elsewhere. After six days of mediation between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, Hezbollah emerged a clear winner in a settlement agreement in which Hezbollah was granted veto rights over the government, affirming its stature as "the preponderant military actor and the super political power in Lebanon," according to political scientist Hilal Khashan of the American University of Beirut. Khashan told the AFP that "it was an excellent deal for the Hezbollah-led opposition and a major defeat for the US-backed government." The deal was brokered by the Qatari government. The Arab League played a major part in securing the deal, with both Syria and Iran declaring their support for Hezbollah's victory. Under the arrangement, Parliament will elect as president the current head of the Lebanese Army, Gen. Michel Suleiman. Gen. Suleiman will then appoint a new government, one in which Hezbollah holds enough seats to veto any decisions it doesn't like, such as disarming Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Israeli military sources say that Iran is continuing to ship weapons and ammunition, via Hezbollah, to the Hamas-occupied Gaza Strip, including rockets, missiles and rocket launchers. According to the Mossad, these shipments have been stepped up in recent months, reaching a peak in March-April. Using fishing boats, Iran has successfully smuggled Iranian-made 120 mm mortars with a range of up to six miles. The Mossad says that the smuggling operation is overseen by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard using Syrian ports and Hezbollah operatives. Meanwhile, back in Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is fighting desperately to keep his job while he is under investigation by police on charges of obtaining money by fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses, according to Haartez. And fears are rampant within Israeli circles that Olmert may be considering trading the Golan Heights in exchange for a peace deal he can trumpet to deflect attention away from his legal problems. If one sits down and connects the dots, one ends up with a very different picture than the one being presented by the mainstream media suggesting the Syrian-Israeli talks are representative of a major breakthrough. It is worth remembering that it was the Persians who invented chess, and Ahmadinejad seems to be controlling all the pieces. In the first place, Ahmadinejad knows that Israel will attack its reactor the moment that they take it on line. He's been arming and training Hamas to serve as its proxy in the event of war, to harass the IDF on its flanks. To the north in Lebanon, Ahmadinejad has succeeded in rearming and re-equipping Hezbollah since the Lebanon War in 2006. The Mossad estimates Hezbollah is stronger now than it was before Israel invaded. Hezbollah has succeeded, for all intents and purposes, in taking over the Lebanese government. Hamas controls all of the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority barely has a handle on the West Bank, and in any event, would turn on Israel the second the opportunity presented itself. Syria's insistence on the return of the Golan Heights as a precondition for peace is a Trojan Horse, particularly considering the timing. It was only last September that Israel destroyed a Syrian nuclear reactor that was only weeks from being operational. Syria has built one of the most formidable arsenals of missiles and rockets in the region, all of them aimed at Israel. From the Golan Heights, Syria would control much of northern Israel, as it did prior to losing the Golan to Israel in the Six Days War. Israel is therefore surrounded with Hezbollah and Syria to the north, Hamas on both flanks, with al-Qaida sympathizers flooding in through Egypt and Jordan. Everything is in place for war except the pretext to start things off. Starting up a nuclear reactor will do nicely.

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

Syria and Israel Measuring Each Other Up

May 21….(FOJ) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Office officially announced Wednesday that Israel is conducting peace talks with Syria. According to the official acknowledgment, Jerusalem and Damascus are holding indirect negotiations with the Syrian government using Turkish mediators. One of the issues Turkey is trying to work out between Israel and Syria before direct negotiations can start is whether a Syrian announcement ending support for terrorism needs to precede an Israeli guarantee that it will withdraw from the Golan Heights in exchange for peace, Western diplomats said in late April. The question that remains open is which comes first. Israel apparently expect Syria to announce the end of support for Hamas and Hizbullah. Israel is also hopeful that the Syrian government will agree to distance itself from Iran as part of any future peace agreement.

(FOJ) Graphic showing the military balance between Israel and Syria. The two countries say they have resumed peace talks through Turkish mediators, ending an eight-year freeze, with Damascus saying it had a prior Israeli undertaking to return the whole of the occupied Golan Heights.




Fearing that Damascus is acquiring advanced military platforms, Israel is closely following meetings being held in Moscow this week between a high-level Syrian military delegation and Russian Defense Ministry officials. Senior government officials in Jerusalem said they have been aware for several days of the Syrians' upcoming visit to the Russian capital but that it was not yet clear which military platforms Damascus was requesting. According to reports in the Russian media, the delegation, led by Syrian Air Force commander Gen. Akhmad al-Ratyb, will be in Moscow for five days and meet with Russian Defense Ministry and Air Force officials, as well as visit several military bases and units. According to the reports, the talks will focus on arms sales - including submarines, anti-aircraft missiles, the latest model MiG fighter jets and advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. Israel is particularly concerned with a Syrian request for long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles that could threaten IAF jets flying on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights. The S-300 is one of the best multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world and reportedly can track 100 targets simultaneously while engaging 12 at the same time. Syria recently received 36 Pantsir S1E air-defense systems from Russia. Iran is believed to have already procured several S-300 systems to protect its nuclear facilities. Israeli defense officials expressed grave concern over the possibility that Syria would obtain these new military platforms. Damascus, the officials said, had dramatically increased defense spending recently. In the past three years, Syria has spent more than $3 billion on weapons, up from less than $100 million in 2002.

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

Is there then NO political leader who believes in God AllMighty?

They all are talking about land as something that they "own", while all the land belongs to God and we, all of us, are stewards, not owners!

Russian Envoy: Don't Push Iran into a Corner

May 20….(Jerusalem Post) A nuclear Iran is as much "a nightmare" for Russia as it is for the US and Israel, and Moscow doesn't differ with Washington and Jerusalem on the need to stop Teheran, only on the way to do it, Russian Ambassador to Israel Petr Stegniy said Monday. According to Stegniy, who has served extensively in the Arab world, including as the then-Soviet Union's charge d'affaires in Libya from 1986-1990, during the height of US-Libyan tension, it is counterproductive to push Iran, or similar regimes, such as that of Muammar Gaddafi in the 1980s, into a corner. Stegniy's comments came during a lecture he gave on Russian foreign policy at Hebrew University's Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace. Stegniy remembers talks he had with the Americans while he was posted in Tripoli - a period that witnessed the bombing of a disco in West Berlin that prompted US air raids on Libya, and the Lockerbie bombing - and shared advice with the US at the time about how to get Libya to change its behavior. The best advice, he said, was to "get Gaddafi's name off the front pages, leave him alone with his domestic problem, because he won't be able to stand them." "Regimes like that, Gaddafi and [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, use outside threat as inner consolidation of the society. I am convinced of that," he said. Rather than pushing Iran into a corner, Russia's position, Stegniy said, was designed to keep Iran at the negotiating table, and to keep the Intentional Atomic Energy Agency inside Iran. Stegniy, who said Russia disputed Israel's estimate that Iran could go nuclear as early as the end of next year, said he believed the situation in Iran "is still under control, and will get out of control when the IAEA leaves the country." According to the Russian ambassador, the world's media is using Russia and China as "scapegoats" with regards to Iran. "We will do our utmost to keep Ahmadinejad from having a nuclear weapon. It is the consensus aim. We may differ on the means, but we are united on strategy." Stegniy, who took over as ambassador in the fall, also addressed another issue of contention with Israel: Russia's contacts with Hamas. The rationale behind this contact, which he said was only with Hamas's political wing, was to try and contain the organization, he maintained. Stegniy said that while Moscow appreciated Israel's position of not talking with Hamas, Russia viewed it as part of its "regional responsibility" to speak to rogue states and organizations in an effort to contain them. Again drawing on his experience in Libya, Stegniy drew a parallel between talking to Hamas now, and talking to Gaddafi then. "I took relaxation medicines before I met Gaddafi," he said. "We don't enjoy it, but see it as part of our responsibility. Someone has to speak to rogue states, that is why we are speaking to Hamas."

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

Russia and China Condemn US Missile Shield Plan

May 23….(Reuters) China and Russia on Friday condemned the United States' plans to set up a missile defense system that Washington says is crucial to protecting the security of it and its allies.

"Both sides believe that creating a global missile defense system, including deploying such systems in certain regions of the world, or plans for such cooperation, do not help support strategic balance and stability, and harm international efforts to control arms and the non-proliferation process," Russia and China said in a joint statement. "It harms the strengthening of trust between states and regional stability. In this respect (the two sides) express their concern," it said. The statement was signed in Beijing by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is on a trip to China. Washington's plans to deploy parts of its missile shield in eastern Europe to counter possible rocket launches by "rogue" states such as Iran have unnerved Moscow, which sees the project as a threat to Russia's security. Moscow has been annoyed by what it sees as Western attempts to contain its diplomatic ambitions and keep Russian companies out of lucrative markets. It is keen to shore up support in China, which it sees as a potential ally against a Western world order. China and Russia have frustrated Western moves to thwart Iran's atomic ambitions, using their permanent membership on the UN Security Council to water down sanctions. Both are involved in multilateral talks to rein in North Korea's nuclear program. The two countries have also proposed a treaty to ban weapons in space, in the face of US plans for a missile defense shield in eastern Europe that Moscow suspects will be used to spy on Russia's missile arsenal. Moscow and Beijing are also the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping which claims a strong security role in Central Asia and is seen in Moscow as an alternative to Western political domination.

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

Bombing Iran: The Clamor Persists
Thursday, May. 22, 2008 By MASSIMO CALABRESI/WASHINGTON A Chinook helicopter takes off from the HMS Ark Royal in the Persian Gulf.
Spencer Platt / GettyArticle ToolsPrintEmailReprintsSphereAddThisRSSYahoo! Buzz Listening to the questions asked of Gen. David Petraeus in the Senate Thursday, you might think the U.S. was headed for a new war in the Gulf. Senators from both sides of the aisle spent as much time asking him about Iran as they did about Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut grilled Petraeus on Iran's anti-U.S. activities in the region. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii plaintively asked about the utility of negotiations with Iran. And Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia pressed Petraeus on what he meant by the need to "counter malign Iranian influence" and the "consequences for its illegitimate influence in the region."

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The general, whose confirmation as head of U.S. Central Command was stake in the hearing, did his best to pacify the men and women who held his appointment in their hands, emphasizing his support for "the three rounds of negotiations that have taken place" between Iran, Iraq and the U.S. in Baghdad over security issues. But the Senators' questions how how persistent the concern is on Capitol Hill that President Bush could be secretly planning a military strike against Iran.

In theory, the idea of a war with Iran should be a non-starter in a nation whose war-weary public has no appetite for further military adventures in the Middle East, no matter how determined Iran may be to get a nuclear weapon or to arm and train anti-U.S. forces in Iraq. Republican candidates on Capitol Hill, already facing their worst electoral prospects in a generation, are equally disinclined to support military action against Iran. Even Bush's own cabinet officials, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have been repeatedly cool to the idea in public.

But those expressing caution and skepticism in Washington are not the only voices the commander in chief of U.S. armed forces is hearing. In Israel, from which President Bush recently returned, one doesn't have to go far to find deep, existential concern. "A military option is not a good option," for dealing with Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions, a senior Israeli official told TIME on the sidelines of one of Bush's meetings, "But there's only one thing worse than that, which is Iran going nuclear." Those outside the Israeli government express even greater urgency. "I'm worried that by November it's going to be too late," to stop Iran from gaining the ability to produce nuclear weapons, said Yossi Kuperwasser, the former senior intelligence officer for the Central Command of the Israeli Defense. On military action against nuclear sites in Iran, he said, "Just do it. For Christ's sake, do it and solve our problem."

Nor is it only the Israelis who are concerned. Egyptian and Saudi leaders also expressed their worries about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Bush met with them on the trip, several White House aides say. "People in the region really want to see it solved peacefully," says a senior White House official, "but they're also concerned for their own safety and they're also mindful of the calendar, and they know that this President has been very strong."

If diplomatic efforts continue to look unlikely to produce an outcome acceptable to the Administration, would President Bush consider military action? The odds have to be against it, given the domestic environment. But the tone among some of his allies abroad is very different. As he often does on such trips, Bush held one-on-one talks with key leaders on his recent trip, during which aides were asked to leave the room and particularly sensitive matters were discussed. After a similar one-on-one last January, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was asked at a press conference with Bush whether the American leader's "hands were tied" when it came to Iran. Olmert said his impression after talks with Bush was that the President is "exceptionally determined," and that "he has proven this throughout his term in office his preparedness to take exceptional measures in order to defend the principles in which he believes, and in his deep commitment to the security of the state of Israel."

Following Bush's visit this month, the Jerusalem Post reported that a senior U.S. advisor on the trip had told Israeli officials that Bush was prepared to attack Iran, but that Gates and Rice were blocking the way. It was a second-hand report that White House Press Secretary Dana Perino strongly denied. On the Hill Thursday, Petraeus listed Iran as key to the top two security concerns facing Central Command, and mentioned nuclear worries in particular. "The lack of transparency in efforts by countries such as Iran and Syria to develop their nuclear programs is a major concern," he said.

It's that kind of talk that has people in Washington worried. Aides to Democratic leaders on the Hill fear that Bush may be planning to bomb Iran between November and January, after the political cost goes down and when he may feel he is doing his successor a favor. Dan Senor, former military spokesman and foreign policy advisor to the Bush Administration, says he finds that scenario highly unlikely, because he believes it would provoke numerous resignations from the intelligence community and the armed services, both of which groups feel burned from the Iraq experience. Senor may be right, but there are enough signs echoing back from abroad, to keep observers at home and overseas guessing
.........................................................benny

May 22, 2008 22:22 | Updated May 23, 2008 6:38
World Christian legislators meet in DC to buttress support for Israel
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS, WASHINGTON

A delegation of Christian parliamentarians from around the world whose countries have formed pro-Israel parliamentary lobbies gathered Thursday on Capitol Hill in an effort to buttress support for the State of Israel.

The two-day conference, which was hosted by the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, brought together pro-Israel lawmakers from nine countries whose parliaments have formed alliances with the Knesset's increasingly-influential Christian Allies Caucus, which works to garner Christian support for Israel worldwide.

"If you have legislators speaking up and getting engaged, then you have a profound impact on national politics," said US Representative Dave Weldon (R- Florida), co-chairman of the US Congressional Caucus.

Weldon said the aim of the bipartisan American caucus, which was established last year to expand on the Knesset lobby's success, is to bring about grass-root support for Israel globally on a nation-by-nation level through dialogue and education.

The event, "Israel at 60 and looking forward," comes at a time of burgeoning relations between Israel and the largely supportive evangelical Christian community worldwide.

In all, the cross-party Israeli parliamentary caucus has formed, or is in the process of establishing, sister caucuses with 13 countries - including the US, Canada, Uruguay, Brazil, South Korea, Philippines, Malawi, Japan, Switzerland, South Africa, England, Norway and, most recently, Germany.

"Christianity is rooted in Judaism and we cannot separate ourselves from our roots," said South African MP Rev. Kenneth Meshoe, the president of the African Christian Democratic Party, who is planning on launching an Israel caucus in the South African parliament in the coming months.

"Many Christians in South Africa fear speaking out for what we believe in and what our convictions are, and so there is a real need in our country for a caucus to stand up in defense of Israel," he said.

"We are trying to teach our people how to preserve the history of the people of Israel and help them be strong as a nation," said Manoel Ferreira, a member of the Brazilian parliamentary lobby, who is also a pastor of a church with six million members. "The Bible teaches us that we must bless the people of Israel," he said.

The chairman of the Canada-Israel inter-parliamentary group, which includes both Christians and Jews, said it was logical for Israel to reach out to evangelicals, who are among Israel's strongest supporters, as the country struggles to deal with fateful and existential challenges and threats.

"These are complex issues which are not amenable to superficial solutions which people from afar want to apply - 'band-aid solutions,'" Canadian MP Dr. James Lunney said. "Illusions ultimately lead to disappointments. If there is a just solution than it has to be based on history and truth."

"We have a lot of work to do to counter-balance the pro-Palestinian attitude of both the Swiss government and public opinion," said Giovanni Isella, a former chairman of the Swiss Christian Political Party, who hopes to launch a pro-Israel parliamentary lobby in Switzerland this summer. "We want to bring about a change and we have the faith that we can do it," he said.

"The argument for close ties with Israel comes from both the heart and the head," said Senator Ruperto Long from Uruguay, noting his country's close ties with the Jewish people pre-dated the creation of the Jewish state. "We need to keep the light turned on for the future generations," he said.

The Capitol Hill conference included an address Thursday by Ambassador to the US Sallai Meridor on the peace process with the Palestinians and the Iranian nuclear threat, as well as a session on the controversial role of UNRWA in dealing with Palestinian refugees.

"There isn't a better place to express support for Israel than the bipartisan support of the US Congress for the State of Israel," said Meridor.

MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religious Party), who has spearheaded Israel's relations with the evangelical world, added that "the time has come for Israel to return to its core roots honesty and traditions based on Judeo-Christian values, instead of the standard talk which has never brought peace, and instead has become a shelter for criminals."

Top US Generals: Iran a 'Destabilizing Influence' Across the Mideast

May 23….(Fox News) Two of the US military's most prominent voices on Middle East issues are holding out the prospect of improved relations with Iran despite tensions over its nuclear and military ambitions. Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, acting head of the US Central Command, said in an Associated Press interview that Washington and Tehran could seek common ground on tough issues like combating the illicit drug trade in Afghanistan if Iran would stop its "malign activity" inside Iraq. And Army Gen. David Petraeus, who is expected to win Senate confirmation as the permanent head of Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that although Iran is fueling proxy wars in the Middle East he sees a possibility of "more constructive relations." Their remarks reflect a US effort, from President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on down, to highlight Iranian activity that Washington deems harmful in Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East while also encouraging Tehran to change its behavior. At a time of growing speculation that Iran and the United States are edging closer to open conflict, the generals' comments appear hopeful, perhaps indicating a view that there is a reasonable prospect of avoiding war by using diplomatic and other means to nudge Iran in a new direction. Dempsey, whose Central Command area of military responsibility features numerous interrelated problems, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said it is clear Iran is exerting its influence across the region, from Lebanon to Iraq and possibly even into western Afghanistan. Dempsey said Iran is a problem to be viewed in a regional context. "We've got to counter Iranian influence inside Iraq because Iran very clearly sees it as in their interest to keep the level of violence up and to keep the Shiite parties at odds and to try to discredit US forces and US policy in the region," he said. "It's going to take an acknowledgment on the part of the Iraqis and the regional partners that this is a destabilizing influence across the region." In his opening statement to his Senate confirmation hearing, Petraeus made a similar point about Iran. "It persists in its non-transparent pursuit of nuclear technology and continues to fund, train and arm dangerous militia organizations," Petraeus said. "Iran's activities have been particularly harmful in Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Afghanistan. In each location, Tehran has, to varying degrees, fueled proxy wars in an effort to increase its influence and pursue its regional ambitions."

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

China, Russia Sign $1B Nuke Deal, Condemn U.S. Missile Defense Plans
Written by M.Seither

Gog and Magog

FOX NEWS
BEIJING — China and Russia signed a $1 billion nuclear cooperation deal Friday and stood together in firm opposition to U.S. missile defense plans during new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's first overseas trip.

Chinese President Hu Jintao also thanked Russia for offering speedy aid after last week's powerful earthquake in central China, part of the growing relations between the countries forged as a counterbalance to American dominance.




The nuclear deal strengthens Russia's role as a supplier to China's fast-growing nuclear power industry, and calls for Russia to build a $500 million nuclear fuel enrichment plant and supply semi-enriched uranium worth at least $500 million.

Russia is looking to China as an important market for civilian nuclear technology as Beijing builds more nuclear power plants in an effort to curb rapid growth in use of fossil fuels.

The two leaders also signed a joint statement saying a U.S. plan to create and deploy a global missile defense system "does not help to maintain strategic balance and stability or strengthen international efforts to control nonproliferation." They also rejected any new arms race in space.

Hu began the talks by expressing gratitude to both Medvedev and his predecessor Vladimir Putin — now prime minister — for assistance offered after the May 12 quake that killed more than 55,000 people.

Russia sent rescue crews and a mobile hospital to the disaster area in central Sichuan province.

"By visiting China on his first trip abroad since taking office, President Medvedev has shown that he attaches a high level of importance to the development of bilateral ties," Hu said. "I am sure this visit will give impetus to our strategic partnership and take it to a new level."

Medvedev offered his condolences to quake victims and said Moscow would provide any assistance needed.

"Russia and China are strategic partners. You have rightly pointed out the meaning of my first foreign trip in my capacity," he said. "It is very important that there are no pauses in our relationship."

Medvedev came to China from a stop in neighboring Kazakhstan, where he was seeking to preserve his country's clout in energy-rich central Asia and send a message to both Beijing and the West that Moscow continues to see the region as its home turf.

China already has won a cut of the region's riches, reaching an oil pipeline deal with Kazakhstan and negotiating a gas agreement with Turkmenistan.

There is also rich symbolism in Medvedev's choice of China as the main destination of his first foreign trip. When his predecessor Putin went abroad for the first time as president in 2000, he traveled to London — via Belarus — with a message Russia wanted closer ties to the West.

In recent years, China and Russia have made highly symbolic political overtures to one another, holding joint military maneuvers and engaging in high-level talks on creating a "multi-polar world."

Putin greatly strengthened relations with China, reaching a long-delayed agreement on demarcation of the 2,700 mile border.

However, economic ties have lagged. Bilateral trade rose by about one-third last year to some $48 billion, but still accounts for only 2 percent of China's global trade. China does more than eight times as much business with the United States.

Exclusive: Serious falling-out with Washington over Olmert’s Syria talks
May 24, 2008, 5:25 PM (GMT+02:00)

DEBKAfile’s Washington sources report that the Bush administration is “reassessing” its relations with Jerusalem over Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert’s decision to embark on peace talks with Syria through Turkish mediators. One US official called the move a “slap in the face” two weeks after President George Bush declared that America stood by Israel in opposing negotiations with “terrorists and radicals.”

Our sources report fears that Israel may find some of the benefits of America’s closest regional ally withheld for the remainder of Bush’s term in office – direct dialogue between the White House and prime minister’s office, intelligence-sharing, diplomatic coordination on Middle East strategy and other urgent business. Israel’s defense establishment and military high command are concerned about possible delays in the flow of essential supplies of equipment. Olmert’s close aides, especially those involved in the peace talks with Syria, may no longer enjoy a warm top-level welcome in Washington.

According to a US official, who asked to remain unnamed, the decision to cool ties with Jerusalem followed the discovery by American agents in Turkey that Olmert’s senior advisers, Yoram Turbovich and Shalom Turjeman, and a Syrian delegation arrived in Istanbul for indirect peace talks. The two delegations stayed at the same hotel for three days and a Turkish go-between shuttled between their rooms.

Since 2003, it has been administration policy to isolate Syria and boycott its top officials for facilitating the flow of terrorists into Iraq, its efforts to destabilize the pro-Western Lebanese government and its close ties with Iran.

The Americans were particularly displeased when they discovered the identity of the Syrian negotiators: Riyad Dadawi, legal adviser to the foreign ministry and president Bashar Assad’s strategist for the UN-sponsored probe and future trial in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri; and the colonel who liaises for the Syrian army with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanese Hizballah terrorists.

Three days after Jerusalem, Damascus and Ankara announced that peace talks had begun, the Syrian defense minister Hassan Turkmani landed in Tehran to boost military ties with Iran.

The American official commented dryly that if the Olmert government is prepared to consort with such characters, it should not be surprised by the administration’s

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

Israel's Golan Heights Back on Negotiating Table

May 22….(Stan Goodenough) The global effort to wrest the Jews' restored homeland from them lurched ahead Wednesday with the revelation that the Olmert government is - and has been for more than a year – preparing to negotiate an agreement with Damascus that is believed to involve Israel's surrender to Syria of the Golan Heights. Indirect talks through Turkish intermediaries, Israelis suddenly learned, are slated to start two weeks from now according to an almost simultaneous announcement made by Israel and Syria Wednesday morning. The Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem released a statement that read: "The two sides have begun indirect talks under Turkish auspices [and] have declared their intention to conduct the talks without prejudice and with openness... They have decided to conduct the dialogue in a serious and continuous manner with the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace." Syria's foreign ministry said "Syria has started indirect peace talks with Israel under Turkish auspices. Both sides have expressed their desire to conduct the talks in good will and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace." But according to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem added that in advance of the negotiations, Israel has promised to give away the Golan Heights and withdraw to the ceasefire line that was in place between 1949 and 1967. Israeli officials denied this, but Syria has consistently conditioned any peace treaty with Israel on such a surrender of the heights, and the denials are being treated with some cynicism. The Golan Heights is a ridge of slopes leading to a plateau high above the Huleh Valley and Lake Kinneret in the Upper Galilee. An integral part of the biblical Promised Land, and known in ancient Israel as Bashan, the "Land of the Giants," Joshua awarded the territory as an inheritance to the Israelite half-tribe of Manasseh. In the second half of the first century of the Common Era Rome, which then occupied the entire Land of Israel, attacked the Jewish communities on the Golan, including the town of Gamla, massacring their inhabitants and sending the survivors into exile. For nearly 2000 years the Golan was part of Middle Eastern territory that came under the control of one nation after another, most notably the Ottoman Empire, to which it belonged as part of the province of Palestine for 600 years until that empire was destroyed during the First World War. The Heights was included in the territory pledged to the Jews in the 1917 Balfour Declaration for the recreation of their national homeland. But the British Empire, given the mandate to oversee the creation of this Jewish state, instead lopped off the Golan and gave it to the French protectorate of Syria. Syria, one of a number of Arab states newly-created out of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, won its independence in 1944 and so controlled the heights until 1967, a period of just 23 years. During that time Syria made no effort to develop the land, instead using it as a platform from which to shoot down on the Jews in the farms and communities below. After failing to destroy Israel in her War of Independence, Syria between 1949 and 1967 violated the Armistice Agreement signed as a result of that war some 400 times. At least 140 Israelis were killed by Syrian fire in that period. In response to the unrelenting aggression and terrorism, the Israel Defense Forces threw the Syrians off the Golan in 1967, returning the land to Jewish rule for the first time since the Romans conquered it nearly 2000 years ago. It has now been under Israeli control for 40 years. Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 and that land is under Israeli law and home to approximately 40,000 Israelis - Jews, Druze and Muslim Arabs.

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

A quick google shows many news reports saying the same thing as Mr. Lindsey.

Israel has also thwarted several Palestinian efforts to smuggle weapons through the Dead Sea and the Jordan River Valley. But the main inlet of weapons into the Gaza Strip has been via the Mediterranean Sea. On January 29, 2001, the IDF found two sealed barrels on a beach near Ashkelon containing weapons with indication that a smuggler's ship from Lebanon had discharged them into the sea off the coast of Gaza. It is believed that dozens of other barrels from the same shipment, allegedly sent by Hizballah to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza, reached their destination that night.

On May 7, 2001, the Israeli navy captured a fishing boat off the coast of Haifa with a large quantity of arms and ammunition bound for the PA. The arsenal contained 107-mm rockets, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-tank missiles—all prohibited by the Oslo agreements—and had apparently been dispatched to the PA by Ahmed Jibril's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, which is headquartered in Damascus with bases in Lebanon.
Now, this latest capture has revealed another weapons source: Iran. Although it is not yet clear whether the shipment of weapons to the Palestinians was sanctioned by the Iranian authorities, Israeli intelligence claims that the weapons were loaded in Iran by both Iranian nationals and Hizballah operatives.
http://www.thewashingtoninstitute.or...5.php?CID=2050


The security vacuum that formed in the wake of Israel’s September 2005 withdrawal from Gaza emboldened terrorist groups to make five attempts over the past eight months to smuggle weapons and explosives into Gaza via the sea. In just the last two weeks alone, Israeli naval forces intercepted more than a ton of high-grade military explosives in two separate attempted smuggling incidences involving fishing boats off Gaza. The desperate situation has prompted the Israel Defense Force to unveil new counter measures including a robotic patrol vessel to deal with terrorist suicide bomb boats.


Explosives seized on May 4 in the waters off Gaza are spread out on a pier at the Israeli port of Ashdod in preparation for disposal.On May 4, an IDF/Navy patrol boat in the waters off Gaza identified a small fishing vessel crossing the no-sail zone that separates Gaza from Egyptian waters. Israel requires Gazan fishermen to remain within 11 miles of shore. After several failed attempts to board the boat, the Israeli boat fired several warning shots at which point the Palestinian vessel slid behind another boat and its crew began throwing sacks of explosives overboard. The boat “escaped into the crowd of hundreds of fishing boats off Gaza at this time and we decided not to pursue it” and risk hurting innocent fishermen, IDF/Navy Captain Yoram Laks said, according to The New York Times, May 9. IDF/Navy divers

http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articl...0,654,154,3417

http://www.dailyalert.org/archive/20...006-11-03.html
.......................................................benny

WAR - Iran, Hamas back Syrian efforts to re-take Golan Heights

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

This week it was announced that Israel and Syria are in peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

It seems a bit odd that Damascus is negotiating for a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel after the Sept. '07 Israeli strike on a Syrian nuclear site and the Feb. '08 assassination of Imad Mughniyeh. What's more, in April the Syrian military mobilized for a war with Israel, massed forces against Lebanon and the Golan Heights and started calling up reserves:

http://www.rightsidenews.com/2008040...movements.html

Furthermore, Hezbollah has been preparing for a war against Israeli in southern Lebanon:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

What if Syria's peace overtures are just to secure surprise before an attack to retake the Golan Heights, if not more?


Iran, Hamas back Syrian efforts to re-take Golan Heights

http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/228119

Posted: 24-05-2008 , 15:05 GMT

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that Israel is not in a position to set conditions for withdrawing from Golan Heights. Mottaki made the remark at a joint press conference with the Head of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mashal on Saturday.

Under the current circumstances, Israel has no option but to withdraw from occupied lands including occupied Palestine, Mottaki said, according to IRNA. Tehran backs Damascus in its drive to re-take Golan heights, noted the Iranian minister. "We regard those who support the Zionist regime and the US in particular as accomplices to the crimes being committed by the Zionists in Palestine," Mottaki said.

Iran fully backs the Palestinian people's resistance and their legitimate rights as a means to guarantee restoration of durable stability and tranquility to the region, pointed out the Iranian foreign minister.

Mashal, for his part, said some 11,600 Palestinians have been arrested by Israel in Gaza Strip. Some 160 civilians have been killed in Gaza and 11,000 have lost their jobs in that region, he said.

On Golan heights, he said "We support the liberation of Golan heights as well as other occupied lands and believe that Syria tries to retake its own land and is not to make a compromise on the rights of the Palestinian nation." No body should trust Israel, he said, adding that Syria will remain committed to the legitimate rights of Palestinians and Arabs.

© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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

Today Syria's defense minister is in Tehran:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...cGe12h8qd_b-uA

I wonder what is being discussed?

Beating the Drums of a Broader Middle East War

http://english.alarabonline.org/disp...55:54%20%C3%95

Wave patterns in mass mood suggest a global "Grand Supercycle scale" panic could be near:

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

May 24, 2008 4:29 | Updated May 25, 2008 0:51
Diplomats: Syria stalling on IAEA inspection
By JPOST.COM STAFF
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Syria has not yet accepted a request by the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the site bombed by the IAF on September 6, which Washington says was a nuclear reactor, Reuters reported Friday.


An ABC News graphic showing the shape of a building purported to be a nuclear reactor.
Photo: Channel 10

Slideshow: Pictures of the week The news agency quoted diplomats in Vienna as saying that Damascus was stalling its approval of the UN delegation visit, demanding more details on the proposed inspection.

Syrian atomic energy chief Ibrahim Othman came to Vienna earlier this month to speak with IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei on the matter, but the two did not agree on the timing or nature of a visit, diplomats said.

The agency received a letter from Syria several days ago asking for more details on the trip, one diplomat said. The IAEA has replied and is now waiting for Damascus's response, he added.

Syria's ambassador to the UN said late last month that Syria had "nothing to hide" and would cooperate with the IAEA inquiry.

According to Reuters, US envoy to the IAEA Gregory Schulte said on Wednesday that the Syrian authorities "have a lot of explaining to do," as the bombed Syrian facility was not a typical power or research reactor.
...............................................benny

Posted on Sat, May. 24, 2008print email Digg it del.icio.us AIM
Hamas: Israel PM too weak to talk peace with Syria
By ALI AKBAR DAREINIAssociated Press Writer
AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal looks on as he attends a news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, right, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday May 24, 2008. Mashaal said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is too weak to take the necessary steps for peace with Syria and expressed doubts about the Israel's seriousness in negotiations, during a visit to Tehran.


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TEHRAN, Iran -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is too weak to take the necessary steps for peace with Syria, Hamas' exiled leader said Saturday during a visit to Iran, the militant group's ally.

An investigation into Olmert over corruption allegations has raised doubts about his ability to conclude a peace deal with the Palestinians by a year-end target or pursue recently confirmed peace talks with Syria.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said there is skepticism about the seriousness of Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria. Withdrawing from the strategic plateau that Israel captured in 1967 is Syria's key demand for peace. But it would be tough to sell in Israel and unlikely that the unpopular Olmert would be able to pull it off.

"It's maneuvering and playing with all the (negotiating) tracks - it's a well known game and besides, Olmert's weakness will not allow him to take this step," Mashaal said.

Mashaal spoke during a joint news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Manochehr Mottaki, in response to a question about Wednesday's announcement that Israel and Syria had restarted direct peace negotiations.

Mashaal, who resides in the Syrian capital, Damascus, was careful not to criticize Syria's decision to restart negotiations with Israel and said he was sure the renewed talks would not come at the expense of the Palestinians.

Israel has asked Syria to cut its ties with Hamas and Iran as a condition for any peace agreement, which Damascus rejected Saturday.

An editorial in the Syrian Tishrin newspaper, which reflects official policy, said Israel could not lay down preconditions ahead of negotiations.

"Damascus does not want preconditions, that would put the cart before the horse ... It does not bargain over its relations with other countries and people, nor would it want to bargain with others over their relations," the editorial said.

Israel and Syria are bitter enemies whose attempts at reaching peace have failed in the past. The last round of talks collapsed in 2000 because of a disagreement over a narrow strip of land along the Sea of Galilee that Israel wanted to keep to preserve its water rights.

The two countries have fought three wars, their forces have clashed in Lebanon, and more recently, Syria has given support to Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and Palestinian militant groups including Hamas. Iran, Israel's archenemy, also backs Hezbollah and Hamas.

During the news conference, Mashaal also renewed his condemnation of the Israeli-led blockade of the Gaza Strip, imposed after Hamas overran the coastal territory a year ago. He also threatened to forcibly reopen Gaza's Rafah crossing to Egypt.

"If the international community and the concerned parties don't take the initiative and break the siege, we will break it ourselves. We insist on opening all crossings, particularly Rafah," he said.

In January, Hamas militants blew holes in the wall separating Gaza from Egypt, sending a flood of desperate Palestinians across the border to buy supplies.

Egypt resealed the border 12 days later and has warned Hamas against a repeat performance.

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

Exclusive: Hamas may receive lethal Iran-made EFP roadside bombs
May 25, 2008, 5:39 PM (GMT+02:00)


Iran's explosively-formed penetrator roadside bombs
Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin reported to Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, May 25, on Hamas’ rapidly expanding arsenal. He said it is only a question of time before Palestinian rockets from Gaza fly past Ashkelon to Israel’s main port of Ashdod, 25 km south of Tel Aviv and the town of Kiryat Gat, 30 km further south. Hamas, in Diskin’s view, is steadily building up its war stocks and unlikely to accept a ceasefire.

Ashdod, which handles most of Israel’s marine cargoes, has a population of 200,000, Kiryat Gat 50,000.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that Hamas’ Damascus leader, Khaled Meshaal secretly met the Revolutionary Guards commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani during his visit to Tehran Saturday, May 24.

First, he was taken around the IRGC factories manufacturing the roadside bombs known as explosively-formed penetrators (EFPs), which are dreaded for their extra armor-piercing capabilities and can be remotely operated by radio.

US armored vehicles in Iraq were this year fitted with extra side armor plates for protection after these roadside bombs had begun to account for 5 percent of American combat casualties.

According to intelligence sources, Hamas will soon receive EFPs from Iran with which to blow up Israel armored vehicles by remote control from inside the Gaza Strip.

Internal security minister Avi Dichter divulged to the ministers the mechanism whereby the Israeli taxpayer indirectly bankrolls Hamas.

The Israeli government last year transferred more than $1 billion to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad. The funds covered the PA’s public sector payroll, which expanded this year from 160,000 to 200,000 earners. They include members of the various terrorist groups, such as the ruling Fatah and its branches, but also a massive transfer to the Gaza Strip to pay 70,000 administrative workers, most of them members of Hamas. In this way, Dichter reported, the Israeli government is putting up the cash for terrorists.

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

Analysis: Gen. Michel Suleiman elected Lebanese president: One up for Tehran and Damascus
May 25, 2008, 6:34 PM (GMT+02:00)


Michel Suleiman, Lebanese president
The Lebanese army's chief of staff, Gen. Michel Suleiman, was voted president Sunday, May 25, by 118 deputies to 6 abstentions.

DEBKAfile’s Middle East analysts report: The enormous relief felt by the Lebanese people at finally having a president after 18 months of political turmoil must be dampened for many by the way he attained office.

Gen. Michel Suleiman won the opposition’s support by flatly refusing to obey the orders of his prime minister, the pro-Western Fouad Siniora, to put down the Hizballah rebellion in the first half of May. But instead of being sacked for insubordination and banished, Suleiman was sworn in as president.

Siniora, who backed the wrong horse, lost his job and appears to be heading for exile and a possible position in the World Bank, according to Washington rumors.

The real winners of this topsy-turvy arrangement, the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers, Walid Mualem and Manouchehr Mottaki, watched the ceremony in parliament from ringside seats.

Also present was a low-ranking US delegations led by Congressman Nick Rahall, a Democrat from Virginia of Lebanese origin. Two other prominent Western officials there were French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner and the European Union’s Javier Solana.

The occasion marks five disturbing developments for the United States, the West and Israel:

1. The new government about to be formed in Beirut will be headed by majority leader Saad Hariri, who until now led the ruling anti-Syrian coalition.

DEBKAfile’s Middle East sources report that Saad Hariri did not inherit the strong character of his assassinated father, the former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, who was willing to pay the price for ridding Lebanon of Syrian and Iranian influence.

In any case the prime minister’s authority has been pared down by the Doha Accord of May 21, which assigned the Syrian-backed opposition led by Hizballah 11 cabinet seats (compared with the majority factions’ 16) and therefore veto power. The weight of authority has now passed to the president.

2. Hizballah, which the Doha Accord declined to disarm, becomes the dominant military force in the country. The bases and weapons systems of Lebanon’s army, air force and navy will eventually pass into Hizballah’s hands, in keeping with the Iranian model, whereby the Revolutionary Guards is the superior military power in the land rather than the army.

This pattern of a dominant armed force subservient to the clerical establishment rather than the government is one of the dictates of a Shiite regime. To all intents and purposes, the Hizballah five-day coup sets Lebanon on the road to this outcome in Beirut.

3. Lebanon’s non-Shiite communities – Sunni, Druze and Christian – because their factional militias did not stand up to Hizballah, will have to watch the shrinkage of their power and national leverage. An exodus is expected to quickly gain ground.

4. The Tehran-Damascus-Hizballah axis took another leap forward Sunday in Beirut. Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert’s claim that his peace talks with Syria will eventually contribute to weakening this alliance is clearly without substance.

5. Lebanon under the Suleiman presidency threatens to become the most anti-Israel administration in the Arab world. The new Beirut will find much in common with the Palestinian Hamas and openly reinforce the solid support quietly provided by Hizballah.

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

May 24, 2008 23:24 | Updated May 25, 2008 12:19
The bear is back
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As recent reports make clear, Russia is now forcing its way back into the Middle East - and not necessarily in the most encouraging manner. By dangerously increasing its arms sales to the region, Moscow is seeking to restore prestige, bolster influence and - not least - to make money.

The latest example came with reports that a high-level Syrian military delegation, led by Air Force commander Gen. Ahmad al-Ratyb, met last week in Moscow with Russian Defense Ministry officials to buy advanced weapons. These sales reportedly include S-300 advanced multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems, long-range MiG 29SMT fighter jets, two Amur-1650 submarines, and Iskander high-precision short-range missiles.

Such Russian behavior is nothing new. In the days of the Cold War, the Soviet Union served for decades as the major arms supplier to Syria, Iraq and Egypt. In the last several years, Russia has sold Syria AT-14 Kornet guided anti-tank missiles, which Hizbullah used against Israeli forces in the Second Lebanon War (during which, ironically enough, Russia criticized the IDF's excessive use of force).

Nor is Syria the only recipient of Russian arms. Moscow supplies the lion's share of Iran's conventional arms. Last year, Russia agreed to sell Iran $700 million worth of surface-to-air missile systems, and plans to upgrade Teheran's Su-24 and MiG-29 aircraft, and its T-72 battle tanks. Most troublingly, beginning in the mid-1990s, Russia built Iran's first nuclear reactor.

Nor does misplaced Russian largesse extend only to states. Of equal concern, perhaps, was the Kremlin's 2006 invitation of a Hamas delegation, led by Khaled Mashaal, to Moscow. To this day, Russia refuses to designate Hamas and Hizbullah as terrorist organizations.

Lest it be thought that Russia seeks to promote the regional dominance of the Syria-Iran-terrorist axis, we hasten to add that Moscow has carried out similar dealings with Saudi Arabia. During his visit to Riyadh last February, President Vladimir Putin offered to sell Saudi Arabia sophisticated anti-aircraft systems, 150 T-90 tanks, and expanded satellite launches. He also offered to help the Saudis build "peaceful" nuclear reactors.

And the same ambition to gain leverage in the region as a whole accounts for the nuclear cooperation deal Russia signed with Egypt during Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Russia in March.

WHERE DOES all this leave Russia-Israel relations? The answer begins with the recognition that since 1947, when Stalin backed the establishment of the State of Israel in the hope that it would undermine British imperial influence in the region, Russian behavior here has been almost ruthlessly pragmatic, rather than narrowly ideological.

Russian pragmatism dictated its behavior during the period from the 1967 Six Day War, when Brezhnev broke off relations with Israel, until 1991, when Gorbachev restored them. And the same pragmatism dictates the far warmer relations today.

Although bilateral trade has stagnated at a mere $1 billion per year, strong business ties - especially in heavy industry, aviation, energy and medicine - link the two countries. Much of Israel's crude oil comes from the FSU.

Now, however, Israel must put far greater pressure on Moscow to stop the sale of weapons that threaten Israel's basic security requirements. Israel can no longer allow Russia to maximize its regional power at Israel's expense.

Effective Israeli diplomacy in this direction will appeal to Russian pragmatic self-interest. It will point out, for instance, that irresponsible Russian arms sales to hostile states will only invite the kind of instability in the Middle East that will harm Russia's bid for influence.

Such diplomacy must especially stress Moscow's fears of losing ground to Iran. Those fears clearly motivated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Jerusalem in March, during which he insisted that Russia, a member of the Quartet, is determined to press ahead with an international Middle East conference in Moscow in June.

There are hopeful signs that Israeli diplomacy can turn Russia's pragmatic fears to healthier ends, as when Russian Ambassador to Israel Petr Stegniy told the Post last week that a nuclear Iran is as much "a nightmare" for Russia as it is for the US and Israel.

In these and other ways, Israel can - indeed must - harness Russia's ambition to increase its clout in the Middle East to Israel's own strategic interests.
..................................................benny

May 8, 2008 23:32 | Updated May 10, 2008 2:54
Security and Defense: What it will take...
By YAAKOV KATZ
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In January 2006, a small Falcon jet - favored by top military officers - crashed in northwestern Iran near the Turkish border, killing Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Kazemi, commander of the ground forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and at least 12 other officers.

While Iranian official statements blamed bad weather and dilapidated engines for the crash, there was room for speculation that foul play may have had a hand in Kazemi's death. Kazemi had been responsible for the production and development of Iran's Shihab missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to Israel, the rest of the Middle East and Europe.

A year later, Radio Farda and Iranian state television announced the death of Ardeshir Hassanpour, a high-level Iranian nuclear scientist, from exposure to high levels of radiation.

Foreign media outlets immediately accused Israel of murdering him. After all, he was alleged to have been one of Iran's top nuclear scientists and, according to one report, was the founder of the Iranian Center for Nuclear Electromagnetic Studies, and the co-founder of the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, home to Iran's uranium conversion facility.

Other mysterious deaths took place, as well. For example, Dr. Yahya Meshad, a key nuclear scientist in Iraq's nuclear program, was killed in a Paris hotel room in June 1980, during a visit to check on enriched uranium that was scheduled to be shipped as the first fuel for Osirak. Over the next several months, at least two more scientists died under mysterious circumstances.

Despite the obvious setbacks these deaths caused the Iraqi nuclear program, it seems they were not enough to stop Saddam Hussein's nuclear development. In 1981, prime minister Menachem Begin approved "Operation Opera," the air force strike which destroyed the Osirak reactor.

ACCORDING TO top Israeli defense officials - as was reported exclusively in The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday - Military Intelligence's newly-updated assessment has Iran mastering centrifuge technology and being able to enrich uranium on a military scale by the end of the year.

The new assessment moves up forecasts on Teheran's nuclear program by almost a full year. According to the new time line, Iran could have a nuclear weapon by the middle of next year.

Iran currently has 6,000 centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility, where there is room in the underground bunker facility for some 54,000. If everything goes as planned, Iran will have enough enriched uranium - dozens of kilograms - for a bomb by mid-2009.

This new time line leaves Israeli government and military leaders in a major predicament concerning the "point of no return" for a potential military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Until the publication of the US National Intelligence Estimate late last year, the widespread belief among Israel's leaders was that the Bush administration would stop Iran's nuclear program. Predictions even noted this summer as a potential time period for such a strike. But following the NIE - which claimed Iran had suspended its military program in 2003 - the chance of a US strike, from Israel's perspective, went down the drain.

While Israeli long-range military capabilities pale in comparison to those of the US, the popular belief in the defense establishment is that air strikes could cause enough damage to Iranian nuclear facilities to set its program back by a number of years.

The question is when would a good time for a strike be. The answer may be found in Israel's previous attacks on enemy reactors - in 1981 in Iraq and last September in Syria.

The bombing of Osirak took place just months before the 70-megawatt uranium-powered reactor was to be completed and stocked with nuclear fuel.

Regarding Syria, CIA Director Michael Hayden said in late April that the alleged nuclear reactor Israel attacked along the Euphrates River was just a few weeks away from becoming operational. The reactor, he said, would have produced enough plutonium for one or two bombs within a year.

These two strikes seem to have created a pattern, according to which Israel bombs enemy nuclear facilities just before they become operational. The same may apply to Iran, which according to the newly-updated MI time line will master centrifuge technology by the end of this year. Once they master the technology, all that is needed is for Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's nuclear program, to get approval from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to begin enriching uranium on a military scale.

For this reason, Israel is keeping open a quiet dialogue with the US military and intelligence agencies regarding developments in Iran. While Israel does not believe America will put out a new NIE before President George W. Bush leaves office, senior officials said this week that the dialogue has succeeded in convincing some top officials that the previous report was mistaken.

Assessments in the IDF are that while sanctions are important, they alone will not stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear capability. Their effectiveness is also put into doubt in light of the rising oil prices to more than $100 a barrel in comparison to just $25 several years ago.

In the midst of all of this, Bush will arrive here next week. Hopes in the defense establishment are that he will come bearing gifts, including possibly the stealth F-22 Raptor, advanced models of the Joint Direct Attack Munition smart bombs and an announcement that the US is linking Israel to its worldwide radar system that provides early warning of ballistic missile fire.

The new systems play a double role. They significantly improve Israeli military capabilities but no less important is their role in enhancing Israel's level of deterrence in face of its enemies, including Iran.
..............................................benny

Iran Tells Syria To Regain Control of Golan
Damascus anxiously trying to calm ruffled feathers in Tehran after announcing resumption of negotiations with Israel, dispatches defense minister to meet with Iranian leadership

May 26….(YNET) Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani arrived in Tehran on Saturday evening as part of Damascus' bid to reassure its Iranian ally after resuming peace negotiations with Israel. General Turkmani is scheduled to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Mustafa Mohammad-Najjar, and additional key figures in Tehran. A possible meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not yet been confirmed. In a meeting he held earlier on Saturday with Hamas politburo chief, Khaled Mashaal, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki publically addressed the renewed talks for the first time. "The Golan belongs to Syria and must be returned to its control. The Zionist regime must withdraw from the Golan, and we support Syrian efforts to repossess the Heights." The Syrian defense minister's visit to Tehran follow reports of Ahmadinejad's outrage over the contact between Israel and Syria. Sources close to the Iranian president told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat daily that Ahmadinejad has made his discontent over the clandestine negotiations well known. He described the talks as a "flagrant violation" of the mutual commitments between Syria and Iran. Meanwhile, Damascus as reiterated its rejection of Israel's demand that it sever ties with Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas as a key condition of any peace agreement.

Mashaal: Olmert too weak to make peace
During a joint press conference Mashaal held with Mottaki after their meeting, the exiled Hamas leader was careful not to criticize the negotiations. He did say however that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert lacks the political might to make the moves necessary for peace with Syria. There is great skepticism concerning (Israel's) seriousness to return the Golan," Mashaal said. "It's maneuvering and playing all the (negotiation) tracks, this is a well known game and besides, Olmert's weakness will not allow him to take this step." He was referring to the current ongoing investigation against Olmert, who has recently been suspected of receiving money unlawfully. Mashaal said he was sure the renewed talks would not come at the expense of the Palestinian track.



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

May 26, 2008 16:30 | Updated May 26, 2008 23:25
Ahmadinejad: Syria will still oppose Israel
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani in Teheran on Monday, and expressed his certainty that Damascus would continue to stand on its previous stance of opposition to Israel.




Ahmadinejad remains confident Syria will keep up struggle against Israel

Ahmadinejad also emphasized that the two countries would continue to keep close ties.

During the meeting, the Syrian defense minister told Ahmadinejad that the Syrian leadership "will not abandon the front lines until all threats from the Zionist entity have disappeared," semi-official Iranian news agency FARS reported.

The Iranian president went on to emphasize the Islamic Republic's support for the Palestinian nation, and said this backing amounted to "supporting efforts for a safe region, since the Palestinians are on the front line of the battle against Zionist aggression."

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Turkmani also said during the meeting that Israel is still suffering from its defeat in the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

He added that whilst Israel is looking for ways to get out of its current situation, it nevertheless "continues to sink in the mud."
..........................................................benny

May 26, 2008 23:51 | Updated May 27, 2008 4:14
Rabbis: Rafael can work on Shabbat
By YAAKOV KATZ
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has received special rabbinic permission to work on Shabbat on the Iron Dome anti-Kassam missile defense system, defense officials said Monday.


Kassam rocket launchers in Gaza.
Photo: IDF [file]

Slideshow: Pictures of the week The rare rabbinic approval was granted following a Defense Ministry request that Rafael speed up its work on the development of the system.

Last February, then-defense minister Amir Peretz chose Rafael's Iron Dome system as Israel's anti-Katyusha and Kassam rocket defense system.

The system, planned to be capable of intercepting Kassam and Katyusha rockets with a small kinetic missile interceptor, is scheduled to be operational for deployment outside the Gaza Strip and along the northern border by 2010. Its development is valued at $300 million.

Rafael has also been promised a bonus if it completes the development of the system earlier than planned.

"Peoples' lives are at stake here," an official said. "Rafael does not usually work on Shabbat but they received permission to work as much as needed to get the system operational as soon as possible."

Meanwhile on Monday, Defense Ministry Dir.-Gen. Pinchas Buhris met with local regional council heads from the western Negev as well as the mayor of Ashkelon, to discuss the defense establishment's decision to develop the Iron Dome.

The decision has come under harsh criticism from former employees of defense industries who claimed that Israel could purchase the Skyguard, a variant of the Nautilus laser system.

During the meeting, the council heads received a briefing from defense officials involved in the Iron Dome's development and were provided with explanations why the system was chosen. The Defense Ministry plans to hold a series of tests on the system next month.

Ministry spokesman Shlomo Dror refused to divulge details of the meeting but said that the Defense Ministry planned to maintain the dialogue with the council heads. Rafael's spokesman was unavailable for a comment.
........................................benny

The September Rumor
So much is brewing beneath the surface of the Mid-East cauldron’s magma that it’s difficult to get a ladle handle on what constitutes the most pressing issue of likely prophetic relevance. One thing sure: We don’t have to look too deeply to know that indicators foretold by Bible prophets boil and bubble within the volatile mixture.

Iran’s nuclear program is the hottest issue within the broth. Iran announced in April plans to install perhaps 6,000 advanced-design centrifuges in Natanz for the purpose of enriching uranium, according to the BBC.

"The capacity of these new machines is five times greater than the current machines," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted in Tehran while speaking before television cameras.

Iran, which has consistently rejected offers by Russia to accept Russian enriched uranium for civilian purposes in return for an agreement to cease uranium enrichment in Iran, has become increasingly bellicose in threats against Israel. Tensions spill over into Iran’s neighboring Arab nations, with pressures ostensibly intended to disrupt feelers of peace extended as of late to Syria by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government.

Ahmadinejad continues to use rhetoric that promises to erase Israel from the land. It is as if he is daring the Jewish state to knock the nuclear chip off his shoulder.

Iran openly threatens the Syrians with warnings similar to those they make to Israel and the United States. The Iranian leader warned Arab states that whoever dares join the U.S. in making peace with regards to Israel will be doomed along with Washington. A source noted that Ahmadinejad referred to the developments as "a Damascus violation of the mutual commitments between Syria and Iran."

It defies imagination to believe that even Olmert and the appeasement-minded factions within his government could actually believe Syria is serious about following through with any peace promises Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad might make, should Israel give Assad the Golan Heights. While talks proceed to do just that, though tenuously, Israel’s military sources, according to Hal Lindsey, “…say that Iran is continuing to ship weapons and ammunition, via Hezbollah, to the Hamas-occupied Gaza Strip, including rockets, missiles and rocket launchers. According to the Mossad, these shipments have been stepped up in recent months, reaching a peak in March-April” ("The September War," www.worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008).

So, it seems, there is subterfuge afoot in the “peace effort.” The talks between Olmert’s representatives and the Syrian government, it is reasonable to surmise based upon years of experiencing Syrian and other Arab states saying one thing and doing another, is just more of the same: lies to divert attention to true goings on and stalling through feigned interest in establishing peace in the region, while weapons of every description are being stockpiled and distributed for use when the next assault against Israel is launched.

Old and New Testament prophets spoke and wrote of times near the second coming of Christ when the Middle East--indeed, the entire world--would be engaged in wars. Jesus himself spoke of that time: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

Prevention of war, primarily because of fear of petroleum flow disruption, is on the mind of diplomats of the world, with the “Quartet” (the United States, United Nations, European Union, and Russia) putting extreme efforts into simmering things down between Israel and her antagonists. Hal Lindsey wrote of just such a possible war this September:

“Syria's insistence on the return of the Golan Heights as a precondition for peace is a Trojan Horse – particularly considering the timing. It was only last September that Israel destroyed a Syrian nuclear reactor that was only weeks from being operational. Syria has built one of the most formidable arsenals of missiles and rockets in the region, all of them aimed at Israel. From the Golan Heights, Syria would control much of northern Israel, as it did prior to losing the Golan to Israel in the Six Days War…” ("The September War," www.worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008).

Lindsey makes ominous reference to the Iranian nuclear reactors, which Iran pledges to light up September of this year: “Everything is in place for war except the pretext to start things off. Starting up a nuclear reactor will do nicely” ("The September War," www.worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008).

Is this tremendous weapons build-up going to eventuate in war in the near-term? I don't know. However, what we do know for sure is that all of these volatile dynamics bubbling beneath the Mid-East’s peace-seeking façade is at this point in time a powerful rumor of war that is significant in considering where we are on God’s prophetic timeline.

--Terry


-------------------------------------------------benny

May 26

Actually, It’s Peace

By Jim Fletcher

I don't see how, I just don't see how, the Middle East evolves without a Palestinian state that's free and democratic." — President George W. Bush, May 12, 2008

During Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations this month, George Bush was among the dignitaries present. He sat down for an interview with David Horowitz of the Jerusalem Post. Horowitz is a fine guy and talented journalist. He is also British, and knows firsthand just what the jihadists have in mind for “infidels.” Horowitz’s visit with Bush was instructive.

The president is a smart man. He takes criticism for being “dumb,” but that’s really just liberal mud-slinging. Perhaps at one time a man of marginal talents could become president (think Warren Harding), but no more. Whatever a person’s political leanings, a modern requirement is intelligence before the office can be won.

Still, it boggles the mind that President Bush actually believes that a Palestinian state is necessary for peace in the Middle East. The well-documented viciousness and inhumanity of Hamas and their ilk are a pretty clear reminder that appeasing terrorists is wrong thinking. And the president then had the audacity to criticize those who appease terrorists!

What are armed Palestinian groups if not terrorists? New, competing terrorist groups rise up weekly in the “Holy Land.”

On the morning of May 14, the very morning Israel was preparing to celebrate the miracle of its modern birth, Hamas terrorists fired a rocket that landed at the Hutzot Mall in Ashkelon. Over 100 people were hurt, seven of them critically. These rockets — at the very least, the technology — are being supplied by Iran. This, and the president’s remarks, bring up an interesting prophecy point.

We are constantly watching for war, for unrest. For the Final Battle.

But what about peace? Doesn’t the Bible indicate that there will be peace before some of the ugliest confrontations erupt? I’m thinking of Ezekiel 38.

“After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them.”

It’s interesting that the focus now is on when the next war will start, when Armageddon will erupt. But first, Israel must dwell “securely.” That in fact is what prompts Gog, the leader of this coalition army, to move against the Israelis. He sees that they are lulled into a sense of security.

It is also interesting to note that Putin is still Russia’s strongman. He has taken for himself the office of “prime minister,” while a lackey becomes president. Everyone knows the former(?) KGB guy is still in charge. We don’t know that he’s Gog, but God also tells us in Ezekiel that this leader will be “turned around” to look at Israel as a potential conquest.

Israel constantly updates its army. They are ahead of the technology curve. Yet there must be an end to this diligence. How long can a society devote so much of its GNP to defense? And the enemies grow stronger.

Some of Israel’s greatest battlefield victories have come at the expense of the enemy’s stupidity. Egypt and Syria had their air force out in the open, allowing Israel to strike them on the ground in June, 1967. That led to a lightning victory in six days. Today, all those planes are underground.

So what is in the offing? I would argue (and argument here is not necessary, probably, for readers) that there must be a period of calm and genuine relief from the threat of constant war.

That’s why, in principle, President Bush’s idea makes sense. It does make sense, humanly speaking. It’s still sad that he appears not to understand Bible prophecy. He thinks it’s okay to divide the land and give even more to the Arabs. It also appears that very strong forces are staying his hand in the war against the jihadists. He is a man who started, on September 11, 2001, as a war leader. He is now driven by events, as most presidents are. Let us hope that he has the courage to stop Iran before his term is over.

There is a reason we are not to be blown about by every new wind. As Bible-believing Christians, we are not supposed to quake (while the world quakes, literally!) as events spiral out of control. We know that in the end, Israel will be besieged by all the world. Zechariah tells us that. But what we also know is that earlier events must still be future.

Ezekiel would not say that Israel would dwell securely unless Israel was dwelling securely at the time those events transpired. Such as Gog-Magog. A sudden storm comes on them.

Which again confirms the Scripture. Men make mistakes and some of those mistakes are so incredible, one struggles to comprehend it. It’s like a friend who drives drunk after being in a series of near-fatal accidents. That’s why the “peace” hammered-out by the U.S. State Department might “work” in the sense that Israel’s peace agreement with Egypt has held; that is, a cold peace. For a time.

The almost-40 lbs. of explosives that landed in Ashkelon is a seemingly small, isolated incident. In terms of the larger equation, it is. But it is a powerful symbol that jihadists — who seemingly can’t be stopped or assuaged —are inching closer to their goal of destroying Israel.

We know, from the Bible, that they can’t succeed, but there must be some mechanism that brings about a man-made peace that holds. For a time.

So while many of us having been scanning the skies for war, we really should be looking for peace.

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

Hezbollah Warns Lebanon's New Government


Tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters attend a rally marking the eighth anniversary of Israel's troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, at the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, May 26, 2008. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has warned the Lebanese government not to use military force against the Shiite militant group.


May 27….(FOJ) Lebanon's new president got a red carpet welcome Monday, but was quickly thrust into the political thicket as Hezbollah's leader warned against any efforts to disarm his Iranian-backed guerrilla group. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah delivered his stern message after military bands and an honor guard saluted President Michel Suleiman on his first day on the job. Suleiman, the former army commander, was a consensus candidate agreed on by both Hezbollah and its pro-Western political foes, but he drew pointed comments from Nasrallah after saying in his inauguration speech Sunday that there should be a dialogue over Hezbollah's arsenal. The Shiite militant group has rejected demands it disarm, insisting its weapons are needed to protect Lebanon from Israel. Nasrallah's speech was his first since Hezbollah fighters seized several areas of Muslim west Beirut in several days of fighting this month, forcing the Western-backed Cabinet to agree to a political deal designed to give Hezbollah and its allies a veto over government policies. The Hezbollah leader pledged to comply with a provision of the Arab League-brokered agreement that forbids the use of arms to achieve political gains. But he warned that the government shouldn't try to use the military against Hezbollah and its allies. "The resistance weapons should not be used to achieve political gains," Nasrallah told tens of thousands of supporters crowding a playground in south Beirut, speaking by videolink from a hiding place in fear of assassination by Israel.

At the same time, he said, "the state's weapons should not be used to settle accounts with an opposition political party, or in favor of outside parties that weaken Lebanon's strength and immunity in confronting Israel." Pro-Western political groups, which hold a small majority in parliament, have repeatedly called for a defense arrangement that would eventually integrate Hezbollah's fighters and weapons into the national army. Hezbollah rejects the idea and also balks at observing a requirement that it disarm included in the UN Security Council resolution that ended a monthlong war between Israel and the militant group in 2006. Suleiman said Sunday that he supports the UN and its resolutions, although he did not specifically mention the requirement for Hezbollah to disarm. However, he said it was necessary to discuss the future of the group's arsenal. Nasrallah said Hezbollah strongly supported the agreement signed by Lebanon's rival factions in the Qatari capital of Doha, which will give his Syrian-backed bloc veto power in a new Cabinet. The parliamentary majority had staunchly rejected that power for Hezbollah during 18 months of political stalemate, but gave in after the fighting. Hezbollah's leader did not gloat over the political victory, saying the country's factions must work together. "The national unity government is not a victory against this majority," he said. "This country cannot rise and continue except through cooperation, consensus and solidarity." But a gunbattle in downtown Beirut late Monday underlined the continued tensions, despite an outburst of relief over the political deal. Security officials said supporters of Hezbollah and of the pro-Western government trade shots, leaving nine people wounded.


Lebanon's newly elected President Michel Suleiman is sworn in at parliament in Beirut May 25, 2008. Lebanon's parliament elected Suleiman as head of state on Sunday, reviving paralyzed state institutions after an 18-month standoff between a US-backed cabinet and the Hezbollah-led opposition.



Nasrallah's speech came a day after Suleiman was elected by parliament and sworn in. His election was the first tangible step in the deal to end the long-running political crisis, which escalated this month into the worst violence since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war. Suleiman set to work immediately Monday, scheduling consultations with lawmakers on Wednesday to begin forming the new national unity government, his office said.Paying a visit to Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki praised the deal that ended Lebanon's crisis, saying that "the implementation of the agreement guarantees calm and stability in the region." Iran is one of Hezbollah's strongest backers, and the US has accused the Islamic state of interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs. Mottaki said Iran's role in Lebanon is "transparent" and insisted Washington is the one who is meddling. He said Washington's standing in the region "has been greatly weakened," an apparent reference to the Hezbollah-led opposition gaining the upper hand in Lebanon and veto power in the next government. The US considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Nasrallah praised Suleiman's inauguration speech and thanked Syria, Iran and other countries for helping to broker the Doha agreement. Responding to critics from the parliamentary majority who accused Hezbollah of staging a coup this month to rule Lebanon, Nasrallah said his group was not interested in seizing power in this multisectarian nation of 4 million people. "We don't want power. We don't want to govern Lebanon or impose anything on the Lebanese people because we believe that Lebanon is an exceptional, diverse nation," he said. Nasrallah was marking the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 after an 18-year occupation of a border zone. Israeli military intelligence research director, Brig. Gen.Yossi Baidatz, disclosed to a Knesset panel yesterday, missiles continue to stream across the Syrian border for Hizballah and are being deployed in southern Lebanon, below the Litani River. UNIFIL is letting this happen in breach of its Security Council mandate to prevent the recurrence of the 2006 Lebanon War threat to Israel.

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

Ahmadinejad: Syria will continue to oppose 'Zionist entity'
May 26….(Jerusalem Post) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Syrian Defense Minister Gen. Hassan Turkmani in Teheran on Monday, and expressed his certainty that Damascus would continue to stand on its previous stance of opposition to Israel. Ahmadinejad also emphasized that the two countries would continue to keep close ties. During the meeting, the Syrian defense minister told Ahmadinejad that the Syrian leadership "will not abandon the front lines until all threats from the Zionist entity have disappeared," semi-official Iranian news agency FARS reported. The Iranian president went on to emphasize the Islamic Republic's support for the Palestinian nation, and said this backing amounted to "supporting efforts for a safe region, since the Palestinians are on the front line of the battle against Zionist aggression." Turkmani also said during the meeting that Israel is still suffering from its defeat in the Second Lebanon War in 2006. He added that whilst Israel is looking for ways to get out of its current situation, it nevertheless "continues to sink in the mud."

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

I want you all to notice this language, for what they try to do to others, will be caused by God onto them.

Daniel
8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Revelation
9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.