For a time such as this...

Syria has once again said that it will not allow inspectors from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association) into its military sites, but still claims they are offering the agency "full transparency". Instead, they re-direct the nuclear agency to Israel, demanding that Israel open up its nuclear program to international inspection instead. Syria also dropped its bid for a seat on the IAEA council. Wonder why? (That is a rhetorical question, obviously.) Reports are that Syria has restarted the nuclear porgram that Israel bombed out last September. And both Iran and North Korea are right back in there helping them. Israel has also accused North Korea of supplying WMD's to six (unnamed) Arab states. North Korea has also said that it will restart its nuclear program, because the US has not kept its promise to remove them from the list of terrorism sponsors. As if they ever stopped it at all -- ditto Syria.

Speaking of terror sponsors, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reiterated support for Hamas. He said that Iran would "never let you be alone", and that Israel would soon be destroyed, and other gems. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also had plenty to spew. He seized on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement the the idea of "Greater Israel" is dead. Ahmadinejad declared that "Today, I say to them: The idea of smaller Israel is dead."

When you hear this kind of talk, it would make you think that it is more than mere threats, right? Well, not according to UN General Assembly chief Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann. He says these diatribes are mere words, and that words are not a danger. "Sticks and stones...", I guess? Of course, he regularly runs down the US at the UN, and is from Nicaragua, a nation that hates the US and is friendly with Iran. No ulterior motives there! (Yes, I am being sarcastic!)

The US has given up its plans to establish a diplomatic outpost in Iran. The reason? The elections?! Because Iran has proven to be a sticking point this election year (as in sitting down to "talk" with them -- or not) it was decided to leave the decision to the next administration. Can we guess how that will go? Obama will open full-fledged diplomatic relations complete with state dinners, black-tie affairs and ballroom dances! (Thereby offending Iran with Western decadence!)

Germany's relations with Iran are again under scrutiny. Germany has strong trade ties to Iran that Israel wants severed. At stake is Germany's very reputation, bearing the stigma of the Holocaust. Have they learned nothing? Do they care? The bottom line seems to be money. If it were more profitable to dump Iran, they would, right? But Israel does more business with Germany than Iran does! So there's much more to it than money, then. That's the only conclusion to be drawn.

And now it's been announced that Germany will join Hungary and Turkey for cooperation between the nations' parliaments for the 2010 European Capital of Culture Istanbul-Pecs-Essen Project. Istanbul was chosen as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. This project involves more dialogue between cultures, the favorite buzzword of the Alliance of Civilizations, which is a UN initiative co-sponsored by Turkey.

Now just looking at the three participants, it's like seeing a reunion of the Central Powers of WWI! That was the first thought that struck me. The second? "Gomer, meet Togarmah!" (Ezekiel 38 & 39) Also remember that Turkey and Iran are friends, and Germany is clinging to its Iranian economic ties, so add Persia to that.


Ready for Annapolis Part 2? Egypt is to sponsor a follow-up to the first meeting, probably on the anniversary this November, in Sharm el-Sheikh. Slated to attend are Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the Quartet -- UN, US, Russian Federation, and the EU. Jordan and Egypt will also attend. So it's a much more closed affair. No 40+ nations' representatives this time around.

As far as the peace process itself, there seems to be no headway. Palestinian "negotiator" Ahmed Qureia is adamant that no peace will made without Jerusalem being divided and the Temple Mount remaining in Palestinian hands.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has been in Israel making all kinds of lovely statements (more sarcasm here). He believes that the US elections and the administration changes in both the US and Israel are distracting from the peace process, and that the entire peace process may be forgotten in their wake. He said that even though he doesn't believe an agreement will be reached this year, that a Palestinian state will be founded, no question. He lamented that a document was supposed to be certain before the end of this year. And he says that International -- or EU -- troops could be placed in a Palestinian state as peacekeepers once a deal is reached.

He also believes that the focus on Iran's nuclear program is distracting from the peace process as well. And he admits that Israel will not wait for Iran to possess even one nuclear weapon to attack them. Of course his solution is to take more time for diplomacy. Expected nothing else. This is what you can expect from any EU country, or the whole union, being involved in the peace process. He needs to go home!

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he believed that peace could be reached in two days, if Olmert's proposals were implemented. This would include giving away the Golan Heights, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Abbas will meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus soon, to discuss the Israeli-Syrian peace process, and possibly a rapprochement with Hamas. An Arab Knesset member, Ahmed Tibi, however, claims that the two presidents have already been talking secretly, coordinating diplomatic policies.

Abbas' presidency ends in January, but many say he will seek to hold on to the position. If elections are not held or a compromise with Hamas is not reached, he would be replaced by the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Abdel Aziz Dweik. Dweik is a Hamas member, and is currently in an Israeli prison. There are reports that the Palestinian Authority is thus preparing for a Hamas attempt to takeover the West Bank in retaliation for Abbas' plans. Just as they took over Gaza. And Fatah, Abbas' party, is reportedly prpearing a major assault on Hamas before January to weaken any resistance. So much for rapprochement.

Olmert is headed to Moscow tomorrow, to discuss Iran's nuclear program and Russia's sale of weapons to Syria, and the restoration of land to Russia owned by the Russian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. Many voiced opposition of an outgoing PM undertaking such a high-profile trip, but both Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni approved it. IF it were just the church itself, it might not be so bad, but it's Russia's Prime Minster, former President and still Fearless Leader Vladimir Putin behind this!


Tired yet? I am, but we're not done yet. Take a break and get a drink now.


Can we just admit we're at war in Pakistan? There was another strike inside Pakistan yesterday. Just after Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called the repeated US/NATO airstrikes and cross-border operations from Afghanistan "a form of terrorism". Pakistan says it can handle the seemingly endless hordes of rebels alone, and tells everyone to stay out of their country. Things have gotten so bad that the UN has ordered its staff to send their children home, get them out of the country. The UK has done the same for their staff.

The US finally approved its long-sought civilian nuclear deal with India. France has inked one as well. Now, Pakistan is demanding a deal with the US. Why? They hate India, and they are testing the US resolve to have good diploamtic relations with them in light of Pakistan's internal problems with terrorists and rebels. Meanwhile, two more bombs rocked cities in India. This is becoming a regular occurrence. In most of these cases, Muslim extremists with ties to Pakistan are claiming responsibility, or are suspects.


After a period of relative quiet, the Georgia-Russia problem has flared up again. Some Russian troops were killed in a car bomb explosion in the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali. Russian troops have been there since the war this summer. Russia and South Ossetia immediately blamed Georgia for the attack. Georgia said that the attack was orchestrated by Russia as an excuse not to withdraw its troops from the region, which is supposed to happen by October 10th. The attack came also 3 days after the EU deployed troops in the region to monitor the situation and the withdrawal. Stay tuned...this is far from over.

Putin also accused Ukraine of sending troops and selling weapons to Georgia during the August conflict. Ukraine did vow to support Georgia against Russia, and add to that the internal problems of the Ukrainian government, and there's still a possibility of Russia making a move against Ukraine. Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has rejected any chance of either Georgia or Ukraine being put on the roadmap to NATO membership at a meeting later this year. Such decisions are made by consensus of the member states. Her rejection is basically a veto.


For this week's jaw-dropper, we have the sale of of almost $6.5 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan by the US! There is a 30-day window to block the deal. China is not going to be very happy about this. (And that's putting it mildly!)


And yes, I saved the worst for last!

The UN is ready to vote again on Resolution 62/145. This "non-binding" resolution says it “notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of 11 September 2001.” And it also “stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred, against Islam and Muslims in particular.” In short, it wants to criminalize blasphemy against religions. Notice Islam is their biggest concern. Other religions have been included, for sake of propriety.

This resolution is used and abused to target anyone who dares to criticize radical Islam. Why? Because the UN and the world in general push the idea that Islam is peaceful, and that those who condemn radical Islam are in error, because no such thing exists! It fixes it to where you cannot criticize Islam or Sharia law at all! So who are all those jihadists and bombers killing people in the name of Allah? Are they peaceful representatives of Islam?

The media outlets of the world are falling right in line with this. In Madrid, the site of the recent Saudi-sponsored anti-blasphemy conference, there is another conference being held now to examine free speech in media and the future of the Internet. It is the 64th General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA). This is obviously drawing on the blasphemy resolution. It is also evident that mainstream media is doing all it can to censor references that link Islam and terrorism.

An example? In southern France this week, a riot had to be quelled after a Muslim youth was killed when he drove into a wall while fleeing police in a stolen car. The original story in France's Le Monde newspaper made reference to fact that the riots were (at least partly) by Muslim youths. But other news outlets did not report this!

So where is all this heading? Soon, you won't be able to say anything considered derogatory about Islam at all, and with the blasphemy resolution, you won't be able to say "Jesus is the only way".

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

These two verses, and your belief in them, will make you a "hate criminal" in the eyes of the world. But as a Christian, you [i][u]must[/u][/i] believe them.

We are in a position where we will be required to affirm our faith against the wrath of the world.

I sincerely hope and pray that Our Lord comes for us soon.

Love to all,
SEL