Iran Postpones Last-Ditch Talks With EU
Sep 6, 9:53 AM (ET)
By GEORGE JAHN

(AP) Iran's Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki attends in a news conference in Tehran, Iran Wednesday...
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VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A senior Iranian envoy abruptly announced Wednesday that last-ditch talks on his country's disputed nuclear program were postponed, moving Tehran a step closer to U.N. sanctions after it defied a deadline to freeze uranium enrichment.

The talks had been tentatively set for Wednesday in Vienna as a final attempt to see if there was common ground to start negotiations between Iran and the six nations that have been trying to persuade Iran to limit its nuclear program.

But while the European Union's Javier Solana had been ready to fly to the Austrian capital at short notice, the talks had been left hanging by uncertainty over whether Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani would come.

"We will not have the meeting today in Vienna," Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, the chief Iranian envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press. "Both sides are arranging (a meeting) for a couple of days later."


(AP) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, flashes a victory sign, during a public gathering in the...
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There was no immediate comment from Solana's office in Brussels. But although Soltanieh said the decision to postpone any meeting had been mutual, it appeared that Iranian reluctance to attend had scuttled the chance of talks Wednesday.

In Ankara, Turkey, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose visit to Tehran last week failed to budge the leadership on its refusal to give up enrichment, urged Iran "to do whatever it can to reassure the international community that indeed its intentions are peaceful."

Soltanieh said "a procedural matter" had led to the postponement, but offered no details. In Tehran, Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki said only the time and place of any meeting continued to be "under discussion by both sides."

Iran defied an Aug. 31 deadline by the U.N. Security Council to freeze uranium enrichment.

Still, the five permanent council members and Germany - the six powers attempting to entice Iran into negotiating on its nuclear program - had decided to hold off starting work on sanctions until the outcome of any talks between Solana and Larijani.


(AP) Under a picture of the Iranian late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, President Mahmoud...
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Senior negotiators of those six countries meet in Berlin on Thursday to plan strategy.

Iran's unyielding stance appeared to be based on the calculation that sanctions will be opposed by Russia and China, both veto-wielding Security Council members that have major commercial ties with Iran. While skeptical that any new meeting between Solana and Larijani would yield success, the United States and key European allies Britain and France had agreed to wait for the result of any such talks in attempts to mollify Moscow and Beijing.

Still, with Iran remaining intransigent, even Russia appeared to be contemplating the possibility of sanctions - although comments by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated Moscow continued to oppose harsh and quick punishment.

"We'll decide whether or not to make use of these measures in a complex way, but guided by just one goal - to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "We are also aware that economic pressure should be proportional to a real threat to peace and security."

Lavrov spoke to reporters in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was accompanying President Vladimir Putin on a state visit.


(AP) Under a picture of the Iranian late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, President Mahmoud...
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He said the U.N. Security Council's recent resolution on Iran holds out the possibility of further measures on Iran - including those spelled out in Article 41 of the U.N. Charter. The article allows punishments that do not involve the use of armed force, such as economic penalties, banning air travel or breaking diplomatic relations.

In Beijing China's premier, Wen Jiabao, said that sanctions "may even prove counterproductive."

But U.S. officials on both sides of the Atlantic suggested the time had already come for punitive Security Council action.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington that the Security Council had made clear in a resolution that it was prepared to vote for sanctions if Iran failed to meet the Aug. 31 deadline to suspend enrichment.

And so, McCormack said Tuesday, the United States intended to proceed "down that pathway."

In Vienna, Gregory L. Schulte, chief U.S. delegate to the IAEA, accused Iran's leaders of making "a strategic decision to acquire nuclear weapons," adding: "The time has come for the Security Council to back international diplomacy with international sanctions."

Iran insists it has a right to enrich for generation of nuclear power. But suspicions are growing it wants to develop the technology to enrich uranium to the weapons-grade level for the fissile core of nuclear warheads.

In a further sign of Tehran's defiance, Iran's parliament took the first step Tuesday toward blocking international inspection of the country's nuclear installations in case of U.N. sanctions. The measure would need approval by other bodies before it could take effect.

This article is by herb peters,............................Secretary General Zeid?
As mentioned yesterday, FP has entered another phase. Where as before our primary focus was the revival of the old Roman Empire in the form of the modern European Union (EU), now the Untied Nations (UN) and its Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) has become an area of concern.

Here's why: Bible prophecy tells us, in the end times, two beasts will rise -- one from the sea and one from the earth (Revelation chapter 13). In the O.T. book of Daniel we learn that a beast in prophecy represents both a king and a kingdom. But, not just any kingdom. A beast in God's eyes is a godless kingdom that rises over His little nation Israel. It is my view the EU may be the foretold first beast kingdom from the sea. And, the UN may the second beast kingdom from the earth. Since we've already done much reporting on the EU, today's commentary is on the UN.

Before I begin, you may be asking what's changed? If I've always believed the UN may become the second beast of prophecy, why am I only now turning my reporting in that direction? The reason is, before the AOC came along, I didn't feel I had enough factual support for my theory. Now, after learning the goals of this new Spain and Turkey sponsored UN initiative, I think I finally do. You see, the prophetic implications of the AOC are its religious elements. And, it is this religious element that I've been waiting for.

This brings us to today's news. It's reported Jordan's Ambassador to the UN, Prince Zeid al Hussein, has officially become a candidate to become the UN's next Secretary General Read about it here. I've been watching the list of candidates. So far Zeid's chances to win the post appear very good. Unlike the other candidates -- some of whom are really out there spiritually -- Zeid has solid, real world credentials. He is from the Asian group of nations, he is a Muslim, he is American educated, and, most importantly, he is held in high regard by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Two things about Zeid attract my attention. First, Zeid was involved, at the highest level, in the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Read about it here. And second, Zeid appears as concerned about the Jewish people as a lamb, but he speaks -- as far as Israel and God's land is concerned -- as a dragon. Regarding the holocaust Zeid says:

The Holocaust was a different genocide; a genocide where wickedness fell into union with human organization. It was a crime of the most colossal proportions.

But, regarding the land Zeid says:

Unfortunately, and by contrast, “never again” was also sometimes used as a form of moral justification for the implementation of some policies, the effect of which was the continued domination of one people by another Read about here.

In other words, unlike some extreme Islamic leaders, Zeid acknowledges that the holocaust happened. But, he feels it's being used as an excuse for Israel to occupy what he considers Palestinian land. From the standpoint of Bible prophecy, this type of talk is what's meant by having horns as a lamb, but speaking as a dragon (Revelation 12: 1-6, 13:11).

As I said before, a beast in prophecy is both a king and a kingdom. And, the Bible calls the head of the second beast kingdom the False Prophet. So, am I saying I believe Prince Zeid al Hussein is the False Prophet that's foretold in Revelation chapter 13? No, I'm not saying Zeid is the False Prophet. I'm only pointing out that, with its new AOC, the UN may soon become the second beast kingdom. And, if Zeid becomes the UN's next Secretary General, he talks the way the Bible says the False Prophet will talk. But, there are many others who talk that way too.

Stay tuned!

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

That's true benny...
but anytime l see someone coming into power that denies Israel's right over their God given land it makes me cringe.

Hal's getting aggravated...

Yes Miki, it makes me angry.

God is a JEALOUS GOD, and WILL NOT BE MOCKED.

Just think about it. Out of all of the land in the world...the LORD tells us clearly, NOT to Touch the Apple of his eye. One small piece of land so precious as if to test the world of following the will of our Father in Heaven.
And yet all nations have come against her. It's time to WAKE UP people and Listen to our Father...it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our LORD.
JESUS SAVES

Solana '07
According to Andreas Maurer, this January the EU's Javier Solana may put on his fourth hat. Maurer believes the incoming German EU presidency may cede its chair in the EU's Council of Ministers to Solana. And, Maurer should know. You see, Maurer works for a think tank that advises the German parliament and government on issues of foreign policy -- the German Institute for International and Security Affairs Read about it here.

What would such a move actually mean for Solana? It would mean, without the EU's new constitution ever being ratified, Solana would basically be given his new, super foreign minister post that's called for in the constitution. I say "basically" because, according to my understanding of the post, Solana will still not have his new position within the Commission. Nevertheless, it wouldn't surprise me if we saw something happen in that regard too.

It's not enough to know certain events and how they may relate to Bible prophecy. We also have to know why God may have chosen to reveal them to us. You see, Jesus tells us to take care that the light in us is not darkness. My point is, anybody can point to something. But, not everybody can correctly understand, from God's perspective, what it means.

Today there are two other pieces of news that I suspect may have prophetic implications. I say that because they both have to do with Israel. The first is another report about how Solana wants to establish a comprehensive peace in the Middle East by returning Israel to her pre-1967 borders Read about it here. The second is a report about how British PM Tony Blair's support for Israel may have brought an end to his career Read about it here.

Friends, no matter how the world likes to spin it, the sad truth should be obvious. We live at a time when the political figure who seeks to remove Israel from her land is granted even more power, while the leader who seeks to defend her looses power.

But, we shouldn't be surprised. The Bible tells us the time will come when the power of God's people will be completely shattered (Daniel 12: 7). I don't believe that time is now far away. If you recall, at the beginning of this year we here at FP were watching for two things to happen. We were looking for something to happen that would change the dynamics in the Middle East, and we were looking to see if Solana would be moved into a position in the EU from where he could confirm his 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace for seven years beginning on January 1, 2007.

Now that these events may have happened, we have another important matter to consider.

What does it mean?

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

[quote name='benny balerio' date='Sep 7 2006, 09:35 PM' post='83072']

[/quote]
Solana '07
According to Andreas Maurer, this January the EU's Javier Solana may put on his fourth hat. Maurer believes the incoming German EU presidency may cede its chair in the EU's Council of Ministers to Solana. And, Maurer should know. You see, Maurer works for a think tank that advises the German parliament and government on issues of foreign policy -- the German Institute for International and Security Affairs Read about it here.

What would such a move actually mean for Solana? It would mean, without the EU's new constitution ever being ratified, Solana would basically be given his new, super foreign minister post that's called for in the constitution. I say "basically" because, according to my understanding of the post, Solana will still not have his new position within the Commission. Nevertheless, it wouldn't surprise me if we saw something happen in that regard too.

It's not enough to know certain events and how they may relate to Bible prophecy. We also have to know why God may have chosen to reveal them to us. You see, Jesus tells us to take care that the light in us is not darkness. My point is, anybody can point to something. But, not everybody can correctly understand, from God's perspective, what it means.

Today there are two other pieces of news that I suspect may have prophetic implications. I say that because they both have to do with Israel. The first is another report about how Solana wants to establish a comprehensive peace in the Middle East by returning Israel to her pre-1967 borders Read about it here. The second is a report about how British PM Tony Blair's support for Israel may have brought an end to his career Read about it here.

Friends, no matter how the world likes to spin it, the sad truth should be obvious. We live at a time when the political figure who seeks to remove Israel from her land is granted even more power, while the leader who seeks to defend her looses power.

But, we shouldn't be surprised. The Bible tells us the time will come when the power of God's people will be completely shattered (Daniel 12: 7). I don't believe that time is now far away. If you recall, at the beginning of this year we here at FP were watching for two things to happen. We were looking for something to happen that would change the dynamics in the Middle East, and we were looking to see if Solana would be moved into a position in the EU from where he could confirm his 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace for seven years beginning on January 1, 2007.

Now that these events may have happened, we have another important matter to consider.

What does it mean?

........................................................................benny
[/quote]


Excellent post Benny!

[quote name='diverteach' date='Sep 7 2006, 10:46 PM' post='83075']
[quote name='benny balerio' date='Sep 7 2006, 09:35 PM' post='83072']

[/quote]
Solana '07
According to Andreas Maurer, this January the EU's Javier Solana may put on his fourth hat. Maurer believes the incoming German EU presidency may cede its chair in the EU's Council of Ministers to Solana. And, Maurer should know. You see, Maurer works for a think tank that advises the German parliament and government on issues of foreign policy -- the German Institute for International and Security Affairs Read about it here.

What would such a move actually mean for Solana? It would mean, without the EU's new constitution ever being ratified, Solana would basically be given his new, super foreign minister post that's called for in the constitution. I say "basically" because, according to my understanding of the post, Solana will still not have his new position within the Commission. Nevertheless, it wouldn't surprise me if we saw something happen in that regard too.

It's not enough to know certain events and how they may relate to Bible prophecy. We also have to know why God may have chosen to reveal them to us. You see, Jesus tells us to take care that the light in us is not darkness. My point is, anybody can point to something. But, not everybody can correctly understand, from God's perspective, what it means.

Today there are two other pieces of news that I suspect may have prophetic implications. I say that because they both have to do with Israel. The first is another report about how Solana wants to establish a comprehensive peace in the Middle East by returning Israel to her pre-1967 borders Read about it here. The second is a report about how British PM Tony Blair's support for Israel may have brought an end to his career Read about it here.

Friends, no matter how the world likes to spin it, the sad truth should be obvious. We live at a time when the political figure who seeks to remove Israel from her land is granted even more power, while the leader who seeks to defend her looses power.

But, we shouldn't be surprised. The Bible tells us the time will come when the power of God's people will be completely shattered (Daniel 12: 7). I don't believe that time is now far away. If you recall, at the beginning of this year we here at FP were watching for two things to happen. We were looking for something to happen that would change the dynamics in the Middle East, and we were looking to see if Solana would be moved into a position in the EU from where he could confirm his 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace for seven years beginning on January 1, 2007.

Now that these events may have happened, we have another important matter to consider.

What does it mean?

........................................................................benny
[/quote]


Excellent post Benny!
[/quote]I thought to post this article,.....something to reflect on....................Where We Are Prophetically

God gave the nation of Israel seven feasts to celebrate throughout the year. The future prophetic calendar of God is hidden in the timing and events surrounding the feasts of Israel. The seven feasts are:

The Feast The Date The Theme

Passover Month 1, day 14 Coming out of Egypt

Unleavened Bread Month 1, day 15 No time to prepare leavened bread

First Fruits Sabbath after Passover Presenting the barley harvest

Pentecost 50 days after Unleavened Presenting the

Bread wheat harvest

Trumpets Month 7, day 1 The New Year

Atonement Month 7, day 10 Atonement for sins

Tabernacles Month 7, day 15 Israel living in tents for 40 years

The following prophetic events have occurred during the feasts of Israel:

The Feast The Prophetic Fulfillment

Passover Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God.

Unleavened Bread Christ was buried in the tomb.

First Fruits Christ arose from the dead.

Pentecost The birth of the church

As stated in our Rapture Revelation series, I believe many of the major future prophetic events will fall during the seasons of the three fall feasts: Rosh HaShannah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

The Month of Elul

There is a time period few Christians are aware of, known as the 40 days of Teshuvah. The word Teshuvah means “repentance and awakening.” It begins on the first day of Elul, and ends on Tishri 10. This 40-day period is divided up into four sections:

1. The 30 Days of Elul

During this time, the message of repentance is proclaimed. The Jewish people greet one another with the phrase, “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.”

2. The Day of Rosh HaShannah

The trumpets are blown to announce the New Year, also called Rosh HaShannah. This is said to be the time when people are to determine their spiritual fate.

3. The Days Between Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur

During this time, the gate of heaven is open and people can repent to God and have their names inscribed in the Book of Life. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, their fate is sealed.

Note that there are 30 days of Elul, one day for Rosh HaShannah and eight days between Rosh HaShannah and the Day of Atonement, which concludes Teshuvah. This is a total of 40 days. During these 40 days, the emphasis is for people to wake up, repent and prepare for the day when God will set the judgment in heaven!

4. Living Now at Pentecost

The church was born on the Day of Pentecost and has been living at the feast of Pentecost since Acts 2! The Book of Acts is the only New Testament Book that does not have a closing—it ends abruptly. I believe this is because the final chapter, Acts 29, is being written during the entire church age, including today!

Many liberal theologians and ministers teach that certain gifts of the Holy Spirit and various manifestations of the Holy Spirit ceased shortly after the birth of the New Testament church. They point out that when the canon of Scripture was compiled in the third century, there was a rapid decline of the miraculous signs and wonders that were common in the first century church.

The theory is that when the Bible was completed, there was no more need in the church for healings or miracles.

I point out that the church is now living at Pentecost, the fourth feast; but we are heading rapidly toward the fifth feast, the Feast of Trumpets. This feast speaks to us of the Rapture of the church. There are approximately four months between Pentecost and the fall feasts. Pentecost is celebrated in early summer, and Trumpets begins in early fall.

During this four-month period on earth, it can be very dry in Israel. As the time for the fall feasts draw near, the climate changes and autumn rains soon begin.

The Sign of the Rain

Rain represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures reveal that the Lord will come as rain to the earth. Hosea 6:3 says: “He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” James reveals that the Lord will delay His return until He first receives the early and latter rain (outpouring) on the earth:

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain (James 5:7).

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).

As we prophetically come closer to the time of the Lord’s return, nations will hear the gospel (Matthew 24:14), and multitudes will experience the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, alluded to in the prophecy as the early and latter rain. In fact, we are in the greatest outpouring of God’s Spirit since the time of the first-century church. In our own ministry, we are seeing more people baptized with the Holy Spirit than at any other previous time.

Back to the 40 Days of Teshuvah

The season of awakening and repentance begins one month before the Feast of Trumpets. If we are moving from Pentecost, the season of the church age, to Trumpets, the season of the Rapture, then we must pass through the season of awakening and repentance. I believe that, prophetically, we are now living in the time of Teshuvah, where God wants His people to awaken and repent.

The same sins that are in the world are also in the church. Doubt and unbelief can be found in so-called Christians. God’s people must repent of pride, jealousy, unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, and other works of the flesh.

God Is Dealing with America

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that on September 11, America received a “wake-up call from hell.” I believe it was also a wake-up call from God. The Almighty has been very patient with America, yet so many people have blasphemed His name, murdered babies created in His image, and mocked His Son and the precious gospel. It is now time to wake up and repent!

Those who repent will enter through the open gate of heaven (Revelation 4:1). Those who refuse will have the door closed to them, and will be shut out of the Kingdom (Matthew 25:10). It would be wise for us to turn our hearts and attention toward God, awake and repent. This is the season we are in!

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

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

Amen Benny! The need for repentence and consecration is more critical than I know of. Judgement has begun in part, and through repentence our land can be healed. A week response by our people will bring much sorrow and suffering. May God find us faithful.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid...icle%2FShowFull

The dummies are just asking to get obliterated.

“Lebanese Security” Is the Pretext for the Naval Babel around Lebanon’s Shores

DEBKAfile Exclusive Military Report

September 4, 2006, 11:37 AM (GMT+02:00)





The extraordinary buildup of European naval and military strength in and around Lebanon’s shores is way out of proportion for the task the European contingents of expanded UNIFIL have undertaken: to create a buffer between Israel and Hizballah.

Close investigation by DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources discloses that “Lebanese security” and peacemaking is not the object of the exercise. It is linked to the general anticipation of a military clash between the United States and Israel, on one side, and Iran and possibly Syria on the other, some time from now until November

This expectation has brought together the greatest sea and air armada Europe has ever assembled at any point on earth since World War II: two carriers with 75 fighter-bombers, spy planes and helicopters on their decks; 15 warships of various types – 7 French, 5 Italian, 2-3 Green, 3-5 German, and five American; thousands of Marines – French, Italian and German, as well as 1,800 US Marines.

It is improbably billed as support for a mere 7,000 European soldiers who are deployed in Lebanon to prevent the dwindling Israeli force of 4-5,000 soldiers and some 15-16,000 Hizballah militiamen from coming to blows as well as for humanitarian odd jobs.

A Western military expert remarked to DEBKAfile that the European naval forces cruising off Lebanese shores are roughly ten times as much as the UNIFIL contingents require as cover, especially when UNIFIL’s duties are strictly non-combat. After all, none of the UN contingents will be engaged in disarming Hizballah or blocking the flow of weapons incoming from Syria and Iran.

So, if not for Lebanon, what is this fine array of naval power really there for?

First, according to our military sources, the European participants feel the need of a strong naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean to prevent a possible Iranian-US-Israeli war igniting an Iranian long-range Shahab missile attack on Europe; second, as a deterrent to dissuade Syria and Hizballah from opening a second front against American and Israel from their eastern Mediterranean coasts.

Numbers alone do not do justice to the immense operational capabilities and firepower amassed opposite Lebanon. Take first the three fleet flagships.

From France’s nuclear-powered 38,000-ton Charles De Gaulle carrier (see insignia), 40 Rafale M fighter craft whose range is 3,340 km can take off at intervals of 30 seconds. The ship also carries three E-2C Hawkeye surveillance craft. The combat control center of the French carrier can handle 2,000 simultaneous targets. The carrier leads a task fore of 7 warships carrying 2,800 French Marines.



Charles De Gaulle s also a floating logistics center operating water desalination plants for 15,000 men and enough food to feed an army for 90 days.

The USS Mount Whitney has the most sophisticated command and control suite in the world. Like the French Charles De Gaulle , it exercises command over a task force of 1,800 sailors, Marines, Air force medical and other personnel serving aboard the USS Barry, the USS Trenton , HSV Swift and USNS Kanawha .

Available to the fleet commander, US Vice Admiral J. “Boomer” Stufflebeem, formally titled commander of Joint Task Force Lebanon, is the uniquely advanced C41 command and intelligence system through which he can flash intelligence data to every American commander at any point between the eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf and Iran. USS Mount Whitney communications are described as unsurpassed for the the secure transmission of data from any point to any other point in the world through HF, UHF,VHF, SHF and EHF.

The third carrier joining the other two is the Italian aircraft-helicopter carrier Garibaldi , which has launch pads for vertical takeoff by 16 AV-8B Harrier fighter-bombers or 18 Sikorsky SH-3D Seak King sea-choppers (or Italian Agusta Bell AB212 helicopters), designed to attack submarines and missile ships.

Military experts estimate that the Garibaldi currently carries 10 fighter planes and 6 helicopters.

The new European naval concentration tops up the forces which permanently crowd the eastern Mediterranean: the Italian-based American Sixth Fleet, some 15 small Israeli missile ships and half a dozen submarines and the NATO fleet of Canadian, British, Dutch, German, Spanish, Greek and Turkish warships. They are on patrol against al Qaeda (which is estimated to deploy 45 small freighters in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean). The British have permanent air and sea bases in Cyprus.

This vast force’s main weakness, according to DEBKAfile’s military sources, is that it lacks a single unified command. A sudden flare-up in Lebanon, Syria or Iran could throw the entire force into confusion.

On paper, it has three commanders:

1. French General Alain Pellegrini is the commander of the expanded UNIFIL ground, naval and air force in Lebanon. In February 2007, he hands over to an Italian general who leads the largest of the European contingents of 3,000 men. It is hard to see France agreeing to place its prestigious Charles De Gaulle flagship under non-French command.

2. The American forces opposite Lebanese shores are under direct US command. Since the October 1993 debacle of an American peace force under the UN flag in Somalia, Washington has never again placed its military under UN command. (There is no American contingent in the UNIFIL ground force either.)

In other words, USS Mount Whitney , while serving the European fleets as their operational and intelligence nerve center will stay under the sole command of Vice Admiral Stufflebeem in all possible contingencies.

3. Similarly, the NATO fleet will remain under NATO command, and Israel’s air and naval units will take their orders from Israeli Navy Headquarters in Haifa and the General Staff in Tel Aviv.

The naval Babel piling up in the eastern Mediterranean may therefore find itself at cross purposes when action is needed in an armed conflict. Iran, Syria and Hizballah could be counting on this weakness as a tactical asset in their favor.

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






U.S. Stands Alone
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

Posted 9/1/2006

Nuclear Iran: The U.S. is bravely pushing ahead with sanctions against Iran. But why bother? Neither Europe, Russia nor China will agree to anything beyond a wrist slap. And Iran won't stop enriching uranium.

On July 31, the U.S. and its supposed allies passed U.N. Resolution 1696, which requires Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities or face a series of mild economic sanctions. Iran was given until Thursday to stop. It didn't.

Instead, it issued declarations of defiance. "Exploitation of peaceful nuclear energy is our obvious right," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally Friday. "We'll never give up our legal right."

On one thing, he's correct: Peaceful use of nuclear energy is his nation's right. But Tehran's actions appear anything but peaceful.

Just last month, for example, it doubled output at a heavy-water enrichment plant. This lets Iran use unenriched uranium mined from within its borders — rather than having to buy it from others.

There's also the curious case of the Iranian government laptop computer obtained by the U.S. in 2004. It contained bomb designs and other technology clearly meant for weapons, not peace.

Then there's the strange, deep hole Tehran drilled earlier this year — a 400-meter shaft with special built-in sensors to measure heat and pressure and with only one logical use: to test a bomb.

Iran already has 18 nuclear sites, carefully placed around the country. It has hundreds of sophisticated P-1 and P-2 centrifuges — used to enrich uranium for bombs — and plans to have 3,000 in a few years. All this translates into a burgeoning nuclear capability.

The International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] recently warned that Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility had already turned 37 tons of "raw uranium . . . into uranium hexafluoride" — enough, experts say, for as many as six atomic bombs.

The U.S. believes another Iranian nuclear reactor, at Bushehr, could eventually produce enough plutonium a year for 30 bombs.

By the way, the IAEA — which has bent over backward to help Iran avoid sanctions — questioned in its final report Thursday "the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."

With such evidence, where are our "allies"? Well, where they always are. "Diplomacy," said Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, speaking for the EU, "remains the No. 1 way forward."

Russia's no better. It "regrets" Iran's decision, but won't support sanctions. (It has big contracts to build nuclear plants in Iran.) Ditto China, which imports huge amounts of energy from Iran.

That leaves us. Faced with Iran's clear intent and our allies' failure of will, what can we do? Plenty. And we're already doing it.

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton is pushing ahead with sanctions — as much, we suppose, to shame our feckless allies as to punish Iran.

Perhaps more important, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Friday announced it successfully shot down a streaking warhead over the Pacific with a ground-based missile defense system. This, the Pentagon said, gives us a "good chance" to shoot down a North Korean nuclear missile.

Missile defense is looking better all the time. A workable system may take a couple of years to complete, so there's no time to lose. By then, Iran might have a nuke.

Before that, we might have to strike first — and decimate a nuclear threat the world should have never allowed in the first place.

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




EU plots to wipe Britain off the map – literally

Conservatives have sounded the alarm over new EU powers to seize control and 'harmonise' all geographical information held by nation-states - including maps.

An investigation by the Party has also discovered that the European Union, assisted by John Prescott, is to roll out new 'transnational' regions which cross national boundaries, and help create a "United Europe".

And as a result, Kent and Sussex would be officially classified as part of north-east France, while much of England and eastern Scotland would be grouped with parts of Scandinavia, the western side of Britain would be lumped in with the Atlantic coast of France, northern Spain and Portugal, and the far north of Scotland with Iceland and northern Norway and Sweden.

Shadow Minister for Local Government & Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Eric Pickles, protested: "Under the Labour Government, Britain has already been sub-divided into regions as part of John Prescott's empire building. Yet worse could be to come; a conspiracy of cartographers in Brussels is seeking to break up Britain into regions that cross national boundaries. I fear that there is an agenda to undermine national identities and impose a United States of Europe by stealth. Conservatives will fight these attempts to balkanise Britain."

He said: "Combined with new powers for the European Union to control and harmonise geographical information, I fear Eurocrats could literally wipe Britain off the map. And hard-working families and pensioners should be concerned that Europe wants the authority to build a database of their homes - this threatens to pave the way for an EU-wide property tax."

Mr Pickles said: "We should work constructively with Europe to promote trade and cooperation between nations, but Conservatives believe that this is just the type of unwarranted interference that gives Brussels a bad name."

The astonishing plan to give EU special mapping powers is contained under a new Directive on 'spatial information', which gives Brussels the authority to harmonise and control all 'spatial data', which includes geographical names, administrative units and maps. All nations within the EU will be forced to bring their maps and data into line with the European Commission's specifications. Brussels will also gain access to 'spies in the sky' - data provided by satellite and airborne photography and sensors.

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

Bin Laden's blueprint
By Claude Salhani
September 9, 2006


Five years after the horrific September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania, many Americans are still asking questions, trying to understand what happened that fateful morning, and why. And five years after the attacks, a great many unanswered questions remain.

In a speech to the nation Tuesday, President Bush tried to explain. He said Osama bin Laden had a multiphased strategy which was to have been carried out in the months and years after September 11, with the ultimate aim of reestablishing the Muslim Caliphate.

• The first stage, the president said, was to have been to expel the Americans from Iraq.
• The second stage called for establishing an Islamic authority, or emirate, which would be developed until it achieves the level of the Caliphate.
• The third stage would be to extend a jihad wave to the secular countries that border Israel.
• And the fourth stage would be a clash with Israel.
Said Mr. Bush: "We must not, and we will not, give the enemy victory in Iraq by deserting the Iraqi people."

Much in line with what the president said, the following are excerpts from a United Press International story titled "The potentate of the Super-Stan," written by this author on Sept. 19, 2001 -- only eight days after the attacks:

Like any revolution that needs to survive, Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda movement must continue to grow, or it will die. In his quest for Muslim expansion, bin Laden would like to see the "Balkanization," or in this case the Islamization, of Central Asia. Maybe Islamization is the wrong word because there is little that is Islamic about his ways, which, says Professor Akbar Ahmad, chairman of Islamic Studies at the American University's School of International Studies in Washington, D.C., "are not Islamic at all."

"What makes it worse for Muslims is that the West is equating the Taliban's un-Islamic acts with Islam. This is a double affront to Muslims," Mr. Ahmad told UPI. "The first step the West needs to undertake is to better understand Islam."

Nevertheless, bin Laden is using Islam, much like Adolf Hitler used National Socialism, and Pol Pot communism. Had he been politically active in the 1960s or 1970s, he would just as easily have adopted communism as a platform in order to propel his cause. But mix in religious fervor and any revolution becomes all the more potent, and dangerous.

"It's a very complex situation," said Mr. Ahmad. This pan-Islamic movement "may be called Taliban in one country, and it is called something else in others." Several intelligence sources say bin Laden's network extends to more than 60 countries.


The Taliban's main aim, according to Mr. Ahmad, is to "shake up the West's structure." While bin Laden and the Taliban are not openly talking about a greater Islamic entity, others, such as Al Muhajeroun, a group based in Britain, and with whom bin Laden enjoys close ties, are talking about a Caliphate.

Bin Laden's first step was to hijack Islam to fit his cause, passing himself off as a fervent religious man. That, of course, is meant to win him the support of hordes of fanatics who know little, if anything, of the Koran. On the other hand, as the chief executive officer of terror, he knows exactly what he is doing and where he wants to go.

Anyone with his mindset would clearly not be content to remain holed up in the bleak caves of Afghanistan. So the question, of course, is what next?

In order to better grasp bin Laden's long-term thinking you will need to look at a map of Central Asia.

Afghanistan, where bin Laden had set up camp, is a desolate country without much of an infrastructure, reeling under a heavy burden following years of Soviet invasion, war and a disastrous civil conflict -- a perfect place from which to launch a revolution. Much of the terrain is inaccessible, except by horseback, making the task of modern armies impossible. Just ask the Russians.

To the south and east of Afghanistan lies Pakistan, another country that sits on the fence of Muslim fundamentalism. The Taliban have warned Pakistan that siding with the United States would bring down the wrath of the Muslim world upon it.

Pakistan, an Islamic country, is in a most precarious situation. The percentage of the population that supports the fundamentalists is in question, but some analysts believe the Taliban enjoys strong support in the army and the intelligence services.

This gives the country's ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a very fine line to tread. It also makes him an important friend of the United States and any Western coalition.

"The situation for Pakistan is very difficult," said Mr. Ahmad. "Pakistan is between a rock and a hard place. Musharraf is sitting on a tiger," said Mr. Ahmad. "You either ride it or you are inside its belly."

With its nuclear capabilities, Pakistan would represent an ideal asset for bin Laden and the Taliban, should it fall off the fence and into their hands. Think of the consequences.

Regardless, bin Laden's next step would be to extend the reach of his Muslim fundamentalism. Tajikistan, to the northeast, Uzbekistan to the immediate north and Turkmenistan to the northwest -- all three are former Soviet republics with whom Afghanistan shares a border and a common religion.

Besides geographic expansion, giving them greater power in numbers (a combined population of more than 35 million), these countries offer a wide range of natural resources. Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea, a short hop to Azerbaijan, another former Soviet republic, and a Muslim country. Given that scenario, the new Muslim empire, or Caliphate, governed by bin Laden or the Taliban would encircle Iran, itself a Muslim nation, also rich in oil and other natural resources.

Look at the map again and see the implications for the rest of the oil-rich Arabian Gulf. Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman are only a small step and a revolution away. Remember the old domino effect theory much feared by the West -- especially the United States -- during the Vietnam War?

Now look at the map again; we are back in the Middle East. Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are the natural extension for bin Laden's Caliphate.

Think this is an unbelievable scenario? It was done a few centuries ago. Bin Laden is far too astute to content himself with the caves of Afghanistan. Read between the lines of his communiques and the picture will become much clearer.

this is an article by herb peters,..................All Coming Together
If you read the news links posted yesterday you know that King Abdullah II of Jordan is very concerned that if a settlement in the Israeli/Palestinian dispute isn't found by 2007, it may be too late Read about it here. I recalled Abdullah making that statement before. That's when it dawned on me that Abdullah wasn't just pulling a date out of his hat. Evidently, Abdullah saw something on the horizon that could end the whole Middle East peace process. But, what was it that Abdullah was seeing? Now I think I may know. And, it may have profound implications for Bible prophecy.

The first time I heard that Abdullah had made such a statement was in March. But, when I looked at the old report, I found that Abdullah had set the time-line a little different. Back in March he said:

If it doesn't look like we're actually going to get the formation of a future peace process and a future for Israelis and Palestinians (by 2007-2008), then I think we're all in for a rough ride Read about it here.

This is what I think. Abdullah -- and the other moderate Arab leaders -- know that if a Middle East peace agreement isn't reached during the terms of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush, it won't get done. The radical elements in the Middle East will have their door swung wide open. In fact, that may explain Blair's sudden trip to the Middle East Read about it here. I suspect that may also explain Blair's reluctance to set a date for his departure from Office. As you may know, Blair's own Labor party is trying to get rid of him.

The interesting thing about Blair's trip for us at FP is it's connection to the EU's Javier Solana. You see, the deal that Blair is pitching appears to be Solana's Read about it here. And, in the meantime, all eyes continue to be on Solana's negotiations with Iran Read about it here.

But, as interesting as this all is, the news that most caught my attention was the latest from the UN about the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) Read about it here. It doesn't look like the AOC is going away. We're all, sooner or later, going to have to deal with it. If you don't think it will ever effect you, take a look at what the Spanish government says is one of the goals of their AOC.

There is, however, something else that I would like to share about the AOC. The reason is it may answer a question we all have about why the international community might allow the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. It seems that the AOC recognizes the importance of each culture having their own religious symbol. Not only that, it appears the AOC may even want its own symbol.

Friends, I truly believe it's all coming together. My first book was titled, Recommendation 666: The Rise of the Beast from the Sea. If I were to write a second book, I would title it, Alliance of Civilizations: The Rise of the Beast from the Earth.
Stay tuned!
09-10-2006
...............................................................................benny

Sep. 10, 2006 22:20 | Updated Sep. 10, 2006 23:45
Yadlin: World unlikely to stop Iran
By HERB KEINON


International pressure and UN sanctions will not stop the Iranian march toward nuclearization, the head of military intelligence told the cabinet Sunday.

OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin's words need to be seen within the context of a debate in Jerusalem regarding how Israel should react to the international community's slow and so-far ineffectual international response to the Iranian nuclear threat, and the widespread assessment in Israel that the US will be unlikely to take military action against Iran any time soon.

In recent weeks there have been high-level voices in Jerusalem arguing that it is becoming clear, judging by the world's reaction to Iran's decision to continue with uranium enrichment, that Israel may have no other choice but to act alone to slow down the Iranian nuclear program.

According to Yadlin, the Iranians are playing for time, and the UN Security Council was acting slower than expected regarding clamping sanctions on Teheran. He said that Iran's confidence in this matter was growing, and that this was causing concern in the Sunni World.

Representatives of an American Jewish Committee delegation that met in Cairo last week with senior Egyptian officials told The Jerusalem Post that some of these officials were in favor of UN imposed sanctions on Iran, and that Cairo had strategic concerns about Iran "remarkably similar" to those in Jerusalem.

Yadlin told the cabinet there is less supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iran than in the past, and that the supervision that exists is not of the same quality as it was previously. He also said that Iran's nuclear aspirations were held by both extremists like President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the so-called moderates, such as former president Muhammad Khatami.

Turning to Lebanon, Yadlin said that it was too early to judge how the war has impacted on Israel's deterrence in the region.

........................................................benny ..................."and in those days the glory of jacob shall fade"................This scripture seems to indicate,.....that all world opinion was against Israel because of some act that she had commited against the worlds wishes...............I made this statement a couple of years ago on this forum....and from the looks of things,.....Israel very well may go it alone!