More insanity!

Sometimes I don't know where to begin with these posts. Trying to coalesce this stuff into one coherent whole is a challenge. This time was no exception. Sorry for the lame title, but I just am shaking my head at how crazy things are. I'd ask if things could get any worse, but I'm afraid that the answer to that is a resounding "yes".


Former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been selected by President Shimon Peres to try and form a new coalition government, thereby making him PM once again. He is also the least favorite candidate for the job amongst the EU, Muslim world, and the US. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana publicly stated that Bibi would be difficult for the peace process.

And while the Obama administration has said that it will work with any Israeli government, it is all too clear that they prefer a centrist-led one to a right-wing-led one. They also have reiterated their support of the two-state solution, but with a twist. They are supporting the Arab Initiative as the basis for the peace process. This plan puts all the concessions on Israel (big shocker there, huh?) such as returning to pre-1967 borders and allowing the return of "refugees" and their descendants.

The Obama administration also has stated that unlike the Bush administration that preceded it, there will not be a focus on promoting democracy and freedom in the Middle East. This is an attempt to distance its policies from those of Bush, which was seen as based too much in religious associations. These are the major things that the US is supposed to stand for!

Obama also is in the process of engaging both Iran and Syria in direct talks. Former US ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk says that Bibi may seek a deal with Syria to deflect pressure from the US. Senator John Kerry visited Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus. Assad has indicated his willingness to talk and break Syria's international isolation. Reports are that the Obama administration is ready to lift sanctions against Syria and ask them to help disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon. Just as more uranium and graphite traces were found at the nuclear site in Syria that was bombed by Israel in September 2007! Interesting timing there.

Iran has been less receptive, given that the US still accuses them of trying to obtain nuclear weapons. Seems there's a lot of contradiction there, like they are purposely provoking Iran. The UN now says that Iran has more enriched uranium than previously believed, and it's enough to make a bomb. Is there any doubt that's the goal? A retired Russian general let it slip at a conference in Israel that "Iran already has nuclear capabilities." There is speculation in Israel that the US is waiting on the results of Iran's upcoming elections to decide how to proceed. That's playing with fire -- nuclear fire.

If former President Ayatollah Muhammad Khatami wins, the scenario goes, then Obama will seek more direct ties, since Khatami is seen as less radical. If Ahmadinejad wins again, then the US may give Israel to signal to pre-emptively strike Iran. Somehow I can't see the Obama administration ever giving Israel such a signal.

Even French President Nicolas Sarkozy is urging Obama to engage Iran directly, with a `spirit of firmness'. Sarkozy is on a roll. He is determined to bring France back to prominence in world affairs. He succeeded in drawing Syria into the mix again, and he is trying to host a summit on Mideast peace, saying that "peace in half a year" is possible. However, Israel is leaning toward Russia for the next summit, mostly because of the Syrian connection to France. Nice choice to have to make. Neither way is good!

France also is anxious to get into Iraq now that the US is pulling out. There's a race on to see who can get in there to influence the country and all those oil reserves, and France isn't wasting any time. France has been on the offensive, seeking to broaden its influence in the entire region recently, very aggressively. They want to set up a miltary base in the United Arab Emirates, and they have entered into nuclear cooperation agreements with several Middle Eastern countries. This makes France and the US the only two NATO members with a presence in the Persian Gulf.

Another country that is trying to bring itself back to international prominence is Spain. They have also inserted themselves into the peace process with Israel, and are suddenly eager to help the West engage Iran, and stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan. Really? Until now Spain has been one of the biggest opponents of the war in Iraq, withdrawing its troops in 2004, and has been of little help in Afghanistan. Now that the US is leaving Iraq, suddenly everybody and their grandmother wants to get in there. Also remember that Spain's partner in the Alliance of Civilizations, Turkey, has promoted itself as a go-between for the West and Iran.

Turkey is on the verge of becoming a full-fledged Islamic state, and hatred for Israel has taken deep root there. Yet the US and EU are falling all over themselves to appease Turkey. Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Russian President Dimitri Medvedev just signed a declaration to promote cooperation and partnership between the two nations. Add Iran to the mix, which has close relations to both of them, and you've got the perfect set-up for the northern confederation of Gog/Magog (Ez. 38/39). How long before they go after Israel?

Yet Iran is now being seen as a potential partner for NATO in the Afghanistan war! Pakistan decided to close off the main routes that NATO was using to supply troops, and Russia and the Central Asian Republics offered to help (nice of them, wasn't it?). This comes as one of those republics, Kyrgyzstan, closes the US base on its soil that was the main source of the supply line! The only other foreign base there is -- you guessed it -- Russian. But the US and NATO are now eyeing the possibility of asking Iran for help! Not only that, but the US is saying that since the Afghan central government is so weak, it is a better idea to foster relations with the tribal leaders and local organizations. What?! And the troops that are leaving Iraq -- they're going to Afghanistan.

"We need a discussion that brings in all the relevant players: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Russia - and yes, Iran." This is a quote from NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Yeah, what a reasonable bunch they are. American General John Craddock, NATO's supreme allied commander, said that individual NATO members could talk to Iran about helping with the supply routes. And Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said, “We want to consider how to involve Iran, not whether to involve Iran,” and, “We’re for the first time taking seriously… the possibility of inviting Iran to be a positive contributor to the stability of the region.”

Are they nuts?!

Apparently they don't have a lock on the insanity. The EU is now drawing up blueprints for a standing army of its very own. Germany and France face the very real possibility of having to bail out entire nations, not just banks, although Germany has voted on the possibility of nationalizing its own banks. The governments of Iceland and Latvia have already fallen victim to the financial crisis. Although Iceland is not in the EU yet, it is supposed to be fast-tracked into the EU to help it recover from the collapse of its government.

And several EU leaders have just backed the imposition of sweeping financial regulations to tackle the crisis, accepting the recent call by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a new global economic charter. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling for a "global New Deal". Brown also paid a visit to the Pope to discuss the financial crisis. The G20 will meet in London in April to discuss the crisis, while the G7 met just recently in Rome, where Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said it's time for a "new world economic order". Guess that the 7 will tell the 20 what they decided is going to be implemented worldwide in April.

Then there's the US and the gargantuan stimulus package that was just passed, the largest spending bill in history. It is chock full of hidden agendas. I don't have the strength to go into it. You can see these agendas here:
http://wwj.9.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=8706

Did I forget anything? Oh, yeah, North Korea is threatening war with the South again, and is ready to test a missile capable of reaching Alaska and Hawaii.

That's enough, I'm worn out now.


Come quickly, Lord Jesus!