Israeli official: Obama envoy coming to Mideast

JERUSALEM-President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East will come to Israel Wednesday for talks on keeping alive a fragile Gaza cease-fire and reviving Mideast negotiations, an Israeli foreign ministry official said Saturday.It is the new administration's first direct move into Mideast peace efforts.George J. Mitchell(picture left) will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Israeli officials, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Washington has not officially announced the trip.Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced Mitchell in his new role Thursday. His appointment is seen as signaling a renewed push under the Obama administration for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.Mitchell will also visit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at their headquarters in the West Bank, the official said.The official said Mitchell will discuss restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after Israel's three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip, and ways to impose an effective arms blockade against the Hamas militants who rule Gaza and have been firing rockets into Israel for years.The arms embargo and the opening of the blockaded territory's borders are key to sustaining separate cease-fires by Israel and Hamas.In Washington, the White House and State Department declined to comment, but diplomats familiar with Mitchell's travel plans said he would visit Israel and the West Bank with possible stops in Egypt and Jordan on a tour that could last eight to 10 days.His exact itinerary is not yet settled, the diplomats said, but he will be working to secure an Israel-Hamas cease-fire, improve the humanitarian situation for Gazans and gauge prospects for continuing the peace process.The diplomats also spoke on condition of anonymity because the trip had not been formally announced.Mitchell, a retired Senate majority leader, was a key player in Northern Ireland peace talks in the 1990s and later led an international commission to investigate violence in the Middle East. His report, issued in 2001, called for a freeze on Israeli settlements in the West Bank and a Palestinian crackdown on terrorism.
Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
By STEVE WEIZMAN, Associated Press Writer

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090125/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_us;_ylt=AozppEvjN7bWnOB8EMyfW_ln.3QA

As in the days of Noah....

Russia says ready to work with U.S. on Afghanistan

TASHKENT-Russia welcomes President Barack Obama's decision to review policy in Afghanistan and is ready to cooperate, including on supply routes for NATO forces, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday."Let us hope the new U.S. administration will be more successful in the Afghan settlement than its predecessor," Medvedev told a news conference after talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov."We are ready for fully fledged and equal cooperation on security in Afghanistan, including with the United States," he added."We are ready to work on the most complicated issues ... including the transit of nonmilitary goods."Cooperation on Afghanistan has been the most successful project uniting NATO and Russia, whose relations froze after Moscow's brief war in Georgia last August.Before the war, Russia agreed to allow nonmilitary NATO supplies to be delivered to Afghanistan across its territory bypassing Pakistan, where supply convoys face security risks.NATO and Russia are expected to hold on Monday the first session of their council since the South Ossetia war. Russian officials have made clear the fate of the Afghan transit depends on how relations between Moscow and the alliance develop.Medvedev's overtures to Obama are part of an effort by the Kremlin to use change in the White House to mend bilateral relations.Russia, alarmed by a threat from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to its Central Asian allies, had backed a U.S. drive to topple them in 2001.But it later became more critical of the U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan saying it had stopped short of stabilizing the country and failed to lessen the threat of Islamic radicalism and drug trafficking. "The number of radicals is not declining in Afghanistan," Medvedev said. "Poverty continues to produce terrorism."In Washington, State Department spokesman Robert Wood welcomed Medvedev's offer."We certainly look forward to working with Russia on Afghanistan," he told reporters, saying the naming of Richard Holbrooke, the former U.S. diplomat who brokered the 1995 accord that ended the Bosnian war, as a special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan was a sign of U.S. commitment."That in itself shows you how serious the administration is about trying to work on these issues and working with Russia will be a key component (of) that," he said.Security risks are high for many regional leaders, including Karimov who violently stamped out a rebellion by opponents in the town of Andizhan in 2005.Karimov told a news conference that apart from violence in Afghanistan he was concerned about rising tensions in Pakistan. "Radicals (in Uzbekistan) may be reinvigorated by the recent events in Pakistan," he said.

By Denis Dyomkin

To read more go to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50M3DA20090124

As in the days of Noah...

RUMOURS of WARS:North Korea says South exercises could provoke war

SEOUL-North Korea on Saturday denounced military exercises carried out by South Korea in early January as raising tensions that could lead to a war.It was the latest in a series of recent rhetorical attacks on South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his administration by the communist North, which analysts suspect is trying hard to grab the attention of new U.S. President Barack Obama."The Lee group's act of escalating the military provocations against the DPRK at a time when the inter-Korean confrontation is festering is as dangerous as adding fuel to the fire," the communist party's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary carried by North Korea's KCNA news agency."Pursuing the wild ambition to militarily stifle the DPRK at any cost in league with foreign forces... has rendered the situation on the Korean Peninsula so tense that a war may break out any time," said the paper.North Korea is formally called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).North Korea has been routinely denouncing military drills by the South as prelude to invasion, saying they spoil the prospects for nuclear disarmament talks.The commentary came hours after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said the communist nation was committed to removing nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula and wants to co-exist peacefully.Relations between the two Koreas-still technically at war-have chilled sharply since conservative Lee took office early last year with a promise to end the free-flow of aid to the North unless it moved to end its nuclear weapons programme.
(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Alex Richardson)

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50N10I20090124

As in the days of Noah....

France sends frigate to patrol waters off Gaza

PARIS-France is sending a frigate carrying helicopters to patrol international waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to consolidate the ceasefire there, the French presidency said on Friday.A statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said the surveillance, aimed at preventing arms trafficking by sea to Hamas-ruled Gaza, would be carried out in full cooperation with Egypt and Israel."What is urgent now is to consolidate the ceasefire, and that requires humanitarian action, a total halt on arms trafficking to Gaza, the durable reopening of the border crossings, reconstruction and inter-Palestinian reconciliation," the statement said. Sarkozy went on two diplomatic tours of the Middle East during the Israeli offensive in Gaza to try and obtain a ceasefire. He has said that France was ready to help bring back peace in whatever way it could.Israel's 22-day offensive, launched to stop Hamas fighters from firing rockets at southern Israel, killed 1,300 Palestinians and injured more than 5,000 others. Thirteen Israelis were killed: 10 soldiers and three civilians hit by Hamas rocket fire.The statement from Sarkozy's office called for close coordination as quickly as possible between the new U.S. administration and European partners to propose complementary actions to combat arms trafficking by land and by sea."These actions must be matched by a total and permanent reopening of the border crossings to Gaza. That is why the president reiterated his call for a rapid re-activation of the Rafah checkpoint, under European control in which France will take part fully," the statement said.Israel on Friday dismissed a number of other international calls for a full reopening of border crossings with Gaza.
(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon)
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50M63U20090124

As in the days of Noah....

PESTILENCE WATCH:Bird flu confirmed on Canada turkey farm

VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Tests have confirmed an outbreak of bird flu at a turkey farm near Vancouver, but it appeared to be a less virulent strain and posed little risk to humans, officials said on Saturday.More than 50,000 birds on the Abbotsford, British Columbia, farm will be destroyed to ensure the avian influenza virus does not spread to other farms, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said.Tests on sickened birds showed they had H5 avian influenza, but it will be another day or more before the exact strain of the virus is known and its pathogenicity, the agency said.Pathogenicity indicates the severity of the illness to the birds. Preliminary tests indicated that it was a low pathogenic strain, it said."Nobody has been infected by the virus," said Elizabeth Brodkin, medical officer of the Fraser Health Authority.The H5N1 strain of the virus can infect people and is responsible for 252 human deaths since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.China on Saturday reported its fourth human death from H5N1 this month.Twenty-three farms within 2 miles of the farm in British Columbia's Fraser Valley are under a quarantine as officials check to make sure their flocks have not been infected.Officials said the farm had followed all the rules designed to stop and control the disease.The area had bird flu outbreaks in 2004 and 2005. The 2004 outbreak forced authorities to kill about 17 million farmed birds to stop the disease from spreading. There were no human illnesses in either outbreak.The inspection agency said it was moving quickly to cull the turkeys to avoid a repeat of 2004, when the virus mutated to a highly pathogenetic form before the outbreak was contained.
(Reporting Allan Dowd; Editing Xavier Briand)

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50O00220090125

As in the days of Noah....

Chinese gear up to welcome Year of the Ox

A man takes a photograph of his wife as she poses in front of a row of Ox sculptures on display for the upcoming Chinese New Year festival in central Beijing January 24, 2009.
REUTERS/David Gray

BEIJING-Hundreds of millions of Chinese geared up to welcome the Year of the Ox on Sunday, packing temple fairs, setting off fireworks and firecrackers and hurrying to train and bus stations to get home for the traditional holiday.In Beijing and commercial capital Shanghai normally busy streets were deserted, with only the odd firecracker going off, though both cities will sound more like warzones the closer midnight approaches thanks to the Chinese passion for fireworks.Firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits and attract the god of wealth to people's doorsteps once New Year's Day arrives, which falls on Monday this year under the Chinese Lunar calendar. Premier Wen Jiabao, who in previous years has spent the holiday with everyone from AIDS patients to coal miners, visited survivors of last May's massive earthquake in Sichuan that killed more than 80,000 people."It's been eight months since the earthquake, and I'm very happy to see how you've all been rebuilding your homes," Wen was paraphrased as telling survivors in Beichuan, the quake's epicenter, by the China News Service.At Beijing's Temple of the Earth, people crowded into a fair featuring everything from break-dancing performances to re-enactments of imperial sacrifices."I've brought my parents here so they can enjoy a bit of traditional culture. Just like everyone else I hope that life this year will be a little better than last year," said lawyer Angela Zhu, 29, taking her parents around the fair."The holiday gives us a chance to escape our ordinary lives and enjoy hope for the future," she added.Public relations executive Liu Bing, 26, said he was optimistic about the new year."Last year was very momentous for China. We had the earthquake which showed we could all come together and then we had a very successful Olympics. I think that this year will see China continuing to rise and become more important," he added.

By Ben Blanchard

To read more go to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE50O07720090125

As in the days of Noah...

Two suspected militants killed near Indian capital

NEW DELHI-Indian police killed two suspected Pakistani militants after a car chase on the outskirts of Delhi, police said on Sunday.Police shot dead the two men in Noida, a city a few miles from New Delhi, around 2 a.m. (2030 GMT), and said they could have been Pakistanis."We recovered AK-47 rifles and grenades and some documents, including a Pakistani passport," Navin Arora, a senior police officer in Noida, told reporters.Brij Lal, a senior police officer, said the recovery of a passport indicated that the suspects were from Pakistan.One policemen was injured in the gun battle.The incident came as India prepares to celebrate its Republic Day on Monday and when the country is on high alert after the Mumbai attacks last year.In late November, militants killed 179 people in coordinated attacks in India's financial capital.The attacks have raised tensions between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
(Reporting by Krittivas Mukherjee; Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Alex Richardson)
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP218816
As in the days of Noah....

ISLAMIC CRAZE WATCH:"Child Marriage"

Child marriage is still legal in Saudi Arabia. Many young Saudi girls are forced to marry older man as old as grandfathers.There's no age limit for marriage in the Saudi law...

Diplomatic Effort Reportedly Afoot to Halt Sale of Materials to Fuel Iran's Nuclear Program

Western powers believe that Iran is running short of the raw material required to manufacture nuclear weapons, triggering an international race to prevent it from importing more, the Times of London reports.Diplomatic sources believe that Iran’s stockpile of yellow cake uranium, produced from uranium ore, is close to running out and could be exhausted within months. Countries including the United States, Britain, France and Germany have started intensive diplomatic efforts to dissuade major uranium producers from selling to Iran. Before Christmas, Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office sent out a confidential request for its diplomats in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Brazil, all major uranium producers, to lobby governments not to sell uranium products, specifically yellow cake, to Iran.Iran’s stock of yellow cake, acquired from South Africa in the 1970s under the Shah’s original civil nuclear power program, has almost run out. Iran is developing its own uranium mines, but does not have enough ore to support a sustained nuclear program.The request, news of which emerged after an international investigation by The Times, was part of a drive by six countries-the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Canada-to choke off supplies of uranium to Iran. It is a move that, while unlikely to cripple any effort to develop a bomb, would blunt its ambitions and help to contain the threat, sources told the Times.The international effort to choke off supplies of yellow cake to Iran reflects mounting concern that 2009 is likely to be a pivotal year for Iran’s nuclear program.
Click here for the full story from the Times.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482484,00.html
As in the days of Noah....

Al Qaeda leader threatens UK

US,Afghan villagers differ over 15 killed in raid

KABUL, Afghanistan-The American coalition in Afghanistan opened a joint U.S.-Afghan investigation Saturday into an overnight raid that American commanders say killed 15 armed militants but that two Afghan officials say killed 11 civilians.The accusation of civilian deaths is the latest in a string of incidents over the last year that have raised the ire of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has pleaded with foreign military forces to avoid such killings.A detailed U.S. statement said multiple teams of militants fired on the coalition forces early Saturday during a raid against a Taliban commander in the eastern province of Laghman. The U.S. said a woman carrying a rocket-propelled grenade was among the 15 killed."We know the people who were killed were shooting at us," said Col. Greg Julian, the top U.S. spokesman in Afghanistan. "The people who were killed today were running around, maneuvering against our forces, and we killed them."However, Sayed Ahmad Safi, the spokesman for Laghman's governor, said that government intelligence reports indicated 11 of the dead were civilians, including three children and two females. Two of the dead were militants, he said.Safi said a government delegation had traveled to the site of the operation, but that it was a rough three hour trip from the provincial capital and that the team wasn't expected to report back until Sunday.Abdul Khaliq Hussaini, a member of parliament who represents Laghman, said he believed 16 people had been killed, including 11 civilians.The site of the raid — the village of Guloch — lies 40 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of the capital, Kabul.Julian said he had no doubts about the U.S. version of the battle, but said a joint U.S.-Afghan investigation had been launched to put the reports of civilian deaths to rest."These allegations benefit the insurgency, and we want to clear them up," he said.Civilian deaths are a hugely sensitive topic between the Afghan government and the U.S. and NATO.
By JASON STRAZIUSO and RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press Writers
First Strike on Obama's Watch:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6724227
To read more go to:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090124/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan
As in the days of Noah....

Gaza's children go back to school

School children across Gaza have returned to school following a three-week war that has claimed the lives of nearly 1300 Palestinians, many of them civilians...

Unexploded bombs killing children in Gaza Strip

CHILDREN in the Gaza Strip face a "major" threat from unexploded munitions despite the ceasefire, the international Red Cross has warned after two youngsters were killed in explosions. The International Committee of the Red Cross said today that the unexploded shells and bombs scattered around the densely populated coastal strip represented "another major new danger" and could hamper much-needed aid. "Most children stayed at home during the past three weeks because there was no let-up in hostilities," said Imad Abou Hasirah of the ICRC. "Now that the fighting is over and they are venturing out into the streets again, they run the risk of being killed or maimed by these remnants of war."The two children were killed by previously undetonated munitions in the Shaaf area, near Jabaliya. "The fact that Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world makes the problem of unexploded munitions even more acute," said Antoine Grand, head of the ICRC office in Gaza."The contamination represents a major threat for the population and for rescue teams now working in the field. It could hold back the pace of humanitarian work," he said.The unexploded ordnance was "likely" to slow down the pace of recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, according to the Geneva-based organisation. More than 1300 people were killed and 5000 wounded in fighting during the recent Israeli army offensive, according to Gaza health ministry estimates.

From correspondents in Geneva
Agence France-Presse

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24946652-401,00.html?referrer=email

As in the days of Noah....

It's OK to hit your wife, says Melbourne Islamic cleric Samir Abu Hamza

A MELBOURNE Muslim at the centre of a storm over a lecture where he apparently directed his followers to hit their wives and force them to have sex reportedly says his message was taken out of context.Coburg mosque cleric Samir Abu Hamza has told a confidant his message about hitting was meant in a metaphorical sense.Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Islamic leaders have condemned the lecture.Mr Rudd said Mr Hamza's comments had no place in modern Australia. During a 2003 lecture also posted on the internet late last year, Mr Hamza told followers that under Islamic law, men could demand sex from their wives. Despite Australian law requiring consent, it was impossible for a man to rape his wife even if she refused to have sex, he said. "Under no circumstances is sexual violence permissible or acceptable in Australia - under no circumstances,'' Mr Rudd said."Under no circumstances are other forms of violence, physical violence, acceptable towards women in Australia nor are they acceptable in my view to mainstream Muslim teachings. "Australia will not tolerate these sort of remarks. They don't belong in modern Australia, and he should stand up, repudiate them and apologise.'' The President of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) Ramzi Elsayed said he had spoken with Mr Hamza about the lecture, titled The Keys to a Successful Marriage. "He told me he was speaking in a metaphorical sense,'' Mr Elsayed said. "In regards to hitting your wife, his position is that it has always been metaphorical - it's not a whack, it's not a slap, it's a wake-up call.'' He said Islam did not condone violence against women or making a wife have sex with her husband against her will. "He believes he was taken out of context insofar as he was talking about people who censure their spouses - it was not so much a physical hit as a metaphorical one to say wake up, we're heading for a divorce kind-of-thing,'' Mr Elsayed said. But the senior honorary legal adviser to the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Haset Seli, hit out at Mr Hamza, calling him a lunatic."His lecture was absolutely ludicrous, unIslamic and highlighted the ignorance of the man,'' Mr Seli said. He said anyone who thinks he can force his wife to have sex with him is a lunatic and certainly not a Muslim. Mr Seli said he went through a similar episode with the former Mufti, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, who caused a national uproar in a 2006 Ramadan speech when he likened scantily clad women to uncovered meat, suggesting they were to blame for sexual attacks on them. He also claimed at the time that his comments had been taken out of context. "Statements like (Mr Hamza's) are about as helpful to Islam as a lunatic parading himself as an imam,'' Mr Seli said. The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) said violence against women in any form was unacceptable."There can be no cultural or religious defence for violence against women,'' said acting FECCA chair Beryl Mulder. At the Islamic Information and Service Network of Australasia, which Mr Hamza runs in Melbourne, a staff member said the comments had been taken "absolutely out of context''. "We do not hit our women, you can ask any Muslim woman and she will tell you that, it's not part of Islam,'' the male staff member, who did not want to be named, said. Mr Hamza was on holiday somewhere in Melbourne for the next "couple of weeks,'' the man said. Sherene Hassan, vice president of the ICV, said she was organising workshops for Victorian imams on the issue of domestic violence. "There may be individuals who have interpreted this lecture as condoning violence against women - it's not the first time we have had this problem,'' she said. She said imams will meet next week to plan workshops to find ways of discouraging domestic violence among their followers.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24946317-1243,00.html?referrer=email
PS:So this "teaching was symbolic..."...?HAHAHAHA
"To go and ask any muslim woman that this is not part of Islam...?"HAHAHAHA
IF that is so...why are imans going to meet next week to plan "workshops to find ways to DISCOURAGE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG THEIR FOLLOWERS..."...?ROL....
As in the days of Noah....

What Barack Obama Must Learn from Barak of the Bible

The hearts of millions of Americans were stirred on Tuesday as we watched Barack Obama place his hand on Abraham Lincoln's Bible and swear to uphold his duties as president. The cynicism and divisiveness of politics gave way to civility for a few moments as Obama stood on that massive stage in front of the Capitol and spoke of a "new era of responsibility" that he hopes to initiate. We've seen similar patriotic moments in our lifetime, but Obama's speech chiseled a landmark in our history.His message was especially poignant when he noted that his own father might not have been served in a local restaurant 60 years ago—yet today he "can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."The tears of older African-Americans in the crowd testified that Martin Luther King's dream has been realized.I salute Mr. Obama as my president and I welcome the racial reconciliation that his election symbolizes.But we all know that presidents aren't proven by ceremonies, nor are they ultimately judged by their speeches or the response from the crowds.Today the inaugural stage will be dismantled, the decorations will be put away and the confetti will be swept up. And President Obama will face one of the most challenging jobs on the planet.
I am praying that he will learn the lesson of Barak.
Yes, there is a man in the Bible who shares our president's name.Barak was chosen by God to lead Israel at a time of serious military and economic crisis.The Canaanites were plotting an invasion, so Deborah—the prophet of the Lord at that time—called on Barak to defend Israel even though Jabin's iron chariots far outnumbered Israel's ragtag army.Barak had an unusual response to Deborah's request. He told her: "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judg. 4:8, NASB). This may sound like an admission of weakness, but Barak was no mama's boy. He is actually listed as a hero of faith in the book of Hebrews (see Heb. 11:32). So why did he insist that Deborah accompany him?Barak knew he could not be a successful leader without the Lord's prophet by his side. He needed the counsel of God. He wanted the supernatural wisdom and favor that comes from honoring the Lord and His word.
Every leader in the Bible was measured by his or her reliance upon the one true God. The Bible gives us a long list of the kings of Israel, and each one either stood or fell depending on how he aligned himself with God and His true messengers. Those who honored God and listened to His prophets experienced economic prosperity and military victory; those who turned to idols and listened to false prophets failed miserably.Saul disobeyed Samuel's counsel and ended his rule in disgrace. Jeroboam set up golden calves for the people to worship, and because he disregarded the prophetic warnings of Ahijah he also failed. King Ahab refused to listen to Elijah's rebukes, and instead surrounded himself with the prophets of Baal. His rule ended in tragedy.There were a few kings in Israel, however, who chose godly counselors. David gave the prophet Nathan access to his palace and permission to speak into his personal life. After David's sex scandal and political cover-up, Nathan's confrontation brought him to repentance.After King Hezekiah realized that he faced the most serious military threat in Israel's history, he repented and prayed for deliverance. Isaiah the prophet then showed up and told him: "Because you have prayed to Me ... I have heard you" (2 Kin. 19:20). Isaiah predicted the demise of the Assyrian army, and in one night the angel of the Lord slew 185,000 men.Many other leaders in the Bible responded faithfully to God by choosing godly counselors to guide them. King Josiah consulted with the prophetess Huldah. Even kings of pagan nations were blessed when they listened to God's prophets.Darius and Cyrus appointed Daniel as a top adviser, and King Ahasuerus elevated Mordecai to his highest cabinet post.How will Barack Obama be measured as a president? Hopefully he will be much more than just a symbol of racial healing. I am praying that he will seek out the Lord's prophets and turn to God with the same fervor that Barak exhibited when he sought Deborah's guidance.[[[Obama sent a few signals during his inauguration ceremony that affirmed our nation's Christian values.His choice of California pastor Rick Warren to offer the invocation hinted that our new president is willing to include evangelical Christians in his policy discussions.]]](1)But if President Obama truly wants to make the most positive mark on American history,he cannot simply position a few token Christians on his stage while the prophets of Baal surround him.The racial healing our nation is experiencing right now will prove to be superficial if Obama veers our nation away from the God of our fathers and rejects His moral principles. In his speech on Tuesday, President Obama said he felt "humbled" by the events surrounding this historic election. The test of his humility has now begun. It will be made obvious by who he listens to.Many secular forces—from inside Congress, from Hollywood and from foreign nations—hope to use Obama to promote wicked agendas. Will he seize this moment and recognize his ultimate need to depend on God? Will he turn to God like Barak and lead our country into its greatest hour of victory? Or will he follow the path of Ahab and become a stooge for Jezebel and her false prophets?It's time for the church to pray like never before that true prophets will have access to the White House and that our new president will honor God in the way he leads America.
By J. Lee Grady--editor of Charisma.

http://www.faithnews.cc/articles.cfm?sid=9602

PS:(1)I totally disagree with Mr Grady in this statement.I dont think the choice of Rick Warren indicates BHO's decision of "including evangelicals in his policy discussions"...Where was Mr.Grady when Rick Warren prayed" in the name of Jesus,Isa,Yeshua,and etc,etc,the one that changed my life...?First of all is taht a solid biblical christian invocation...?

It sounded TOO "ECUMENICAL" to me....

And where is BHO including evangelicals in matters of "policy decisions"...?

As of two days ago,my taxpayers dollars as well as Rick Warren's and Mr Grady's dollars will go to fund abortions overseas and here in our soil....

IS THAT CHRISTIAN...?Is that taking a consideration what the Bible says....?

I dont know why in the world Rick Warren prayed the way he did--maybe....just may be--that he was under so much pressure to sound politically correct that he ended up with that bizarre KUM_BA_YAH-prayer that to be honest with you,left many of us-chritians scratching our heads,thinking WHAT DID HE TRY TO SAY....????.. I think he has lost the way sometime ago and we should be praying for him,sincerely.

There was not truly born again evangelical christian to offer any true prayer to the God of our Fathers,cause BHO--as he said it in his speech--America IS NO LONGER CHRISTIAN,but muslim,jewish,hindu,whatever else....

The departure of our judeo christian roots as a nation is leading us into a down spiral to abyss...

BHO is NOT a christian according to the Bible and is a deeply confused man,regarding belief.

I agree we should be earnestly praying for him....But first of all for his salvation...He is still in spiritual darkness--and as it showed it already by the choices he made in his first couple of days in office--as a blind stumbling in darkness is making decisions that are placing our nation in a place of high vulnerability before our physical enemies and also more towards a place of judgement,but siding with evil and all that this represents openly.

SO HELP US GOD....

As in the days of Noah....

Partisan, Playful and Profane, Obama Aide Tries to Hold It In

Rahm Emanuel is a center of attention, not always gracefully, as President Obama’s chief of staff.(Haraz N. Ghanbari/Associated Press)

WASHINGTON-Earlier this month, Barack Obama was meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers when Rahm Emanuel, his chief of staff, began nervously cracking a knuckle.Mr. Obama then turned to complain to Mr. Emanuel about his noisy habit.At which point, Mr. Emanuel held the offending knuckle up to Mr. Obama’s left ear and-like an annoying little brother-snapped off a few special cracks.The episode, relayed by someone familiar with the incident, underscores some essential truths about Mr. Emanuel: He is brash, has a deep comfort level with his new boss, and has been ever-present at Mr. Obama’s side of late, in meetings, on podiums and in numerous photographs.There he was, standing at Mr. Obama’s desk in one of the first Oval Office pictures; there he was again, playfully thumbing his nose at his former House colleagues during the inauguration; there he was, accompanying the president to a meeting with Congressional leaders on Friday.Mr. Emanuel is arguably the second most powerful man in the country and, just a few days into his tenure, already one of the highest-profile chiefs of staff in recent memory. He starred in his own Mad magazine cartoon, won the “Your New Obama Hottie” contest on Gawker.com and has become something of a paparazzi icon around Washington.In recent months, he has played a critical role in the selection and courtship of nearly every cabinet member and key White House staff member.Renowned as a fierce partisan, he has been an ardent ambassador to Republicans, including Mr. Obama’s defeated rival, Senator John McCain. He has exerted influence on countless decisions; in meetings, administration officials say, Mr. Obama often allows him to speak first and last.“You can see how he listens and reacts to Rahm,” said Ron Klain, the chief of staff to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. “You can see that his opinion is being shaped.”One reason Mr. Emanuel, 49, has drawn so much attention is that he seems to be in a kind of recalibration mode.How will the feisty, bombastic and at times impulsive former congressman blend with the cool, collegial and deliberate culture of Obama World? And one that is trying to foster bipartisanship? This is someone who once wrote in Campaign and Elections magazine that “the untainted Republican has not yet been invented” and who two years ago-according to a book about Mr.Emanuel(“The Thumpin’ ” by Naftali Bendavid)-announced to his staff that Republicans are “bad people who deserve a two-by-four upside their heads.”

By Mark Leibovich

To read more go to:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/us/politics/25emanuel.html?_r=2&hp

As in the days of Noah....

Pro-Life Group Launches New Video Ad Featuring the Life Story of — Barack Obama

"This child's future is a broken home. He will be abandoned by his father. His single mother will struggle to raise him."

Vatican criticizes Obama on abortion issue...

VATICAN CITY-Vatican officials said Saturday they were disappointed by President Barack Obama's decision to end a ban on federal funding for international groups that perform abortions or provide information on them.Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, urged Obama to listen to all voices in America without "the arrogance of those who, being in power, believe they can decide of life and death."Fisichella said in an interview published Saturday in Corriere della Sera that "if this is one of President Obama's first acts, I have to say, in all due respect, that we're heading quickly toward disappointment."Obama signed an executive order that ended the ban on Friday, reversing the policy of the Bush administration."This deals a harsh blow not only to us Catholics but to all the people across the world who fight against the slaughter of innocents that is carried out with the abortion," another top official with the Academy for Life, Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, told the ANSA news agency."Among the many good things that he could have done, Barack Obama instead chose the worst," he was quoted as saying Saturday.Officials at the academy could not be reached Saturday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090124/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_obama_2

As in the days of Noah...

Obama Gets Oppening Approval Ratings:Numbers Starting to Normalize...

The Gallup Poll on Saturday released the first job-approval rating for President Obama, based on interviews during his first three full days in office: 68 percent.
Photo: AP

The Gallup Poll on Saturday released the first job-approval rating for President Obama, based on interviews during his first three full days in office: 68 percent.Now that he’s in office, Obama’s approval ratings are starting to normalize, as partisan back-and-forth picks up. Just a week ago,Gallup found an astonishing 83 percent approval of how he has handled his transition, showing he had even won over most Republicans.The new job-approval figure puts him at the upper end of opening poll numbers for presidents, but doesn’t set a record.Gallup’s initial job approval ratings were President John F. Kennedy, 72 percent; Dwight Eisenhower, 68 percent; Jimmy Carter, 66 percent; Richard Nixon, 59 percent; Bill Clinton, 58 percent; George W. Bush, 57 percent; and Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, 51 percent.Gallup’s Obama poll included 1,591 adults, and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.For Obama, 12 percent disapproved and 21 percent had no opinion.Bush hit a low of 25 percent approval late last year, but he rebounded somewhat before leaving office.
By MIKE ALLEN

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17902.html

As in the days of Noah....

Limbaugh Responds to Obama....

According to an account in the New York Post, President Barack Obama yesterday told Republican leaders,"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."With George W. Bush now off the stage, it may be that Obama and some of his fellow Democrats view Limbaugh, and not John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, or any other elected official, as the true leader of the Republican opposition.This morning I asked Rush for his thoughts on all this, and here is his response:
There are two things going on here. One prong of the Great Unifier's plan is to isolate elected Republicans from their voters and supporters by making the argument about me and not about his plan. He is hoping that these Republicans will also publicly denounce me and thus marginalize me. And who knows? Are ideological and philosophical ties enough to keep the GOP loyal to their voters? Meanwhile, the effort to foist all blame for this mess on the private sector continues unabated when most of the blame for this current debacle can be laid at the feet of the Congress and a couple of former presidents. And there is a strategic reason for this.Secondly, here is a combo quote from the meeting:
"If we don't get this done we (the Democrats) could lose seats and I could lose re-election. But we can't let people like Rush Limbaugh stall this. That's how things don't get done in this town."
To make the argument about me instead of his plan makes sense from his perspective. Obama's plan would buy votes for the Democrat Party, in the same way FDR's New Deal established majority power for 50 years of Democrat rule, and it would also simultaneously seriously damage any hope of future tax cuts.It would allow a majority of American voters to guarantee no taxes for themselves going forward.It would burden the private sector and put the public sector in permanent and firm control of the economy. Put simply, I believe his stimulus is aimed at re-establishing "eternal" power for the Democrat Party rather than stimulating the economy because anyone with a brain knows this is NOT how you stimulate the economy. If I can be made to serve as a distraction, then there is that much less time debating the merits of this TRILLION dollar debacle.Obama was angry that Merrill Lynch used $1.2 million of TARP money to remodel an executive suite. Excuse me, but didn't Merrill have to hire a decorator and contractor? Didn't they have to buy the new furnishings? What's the difference in that and Merrill loaning that money to a decorator, contractor and goods supplier to remodel Warren Buffet's office? Either way, stimulus in the private sector occurs. Are we really at the point where the bad PR of Merrill getting a redecorated office in the process is reason to smear them? How much money will the Obamas spend redecorating the White House residence? Whose money will be spent? I have no problem with the Obamas redoing the place. It is tradition. 600 private jets flown by rich Democrats flew into the Inauguration. That's fine but the auto execs using theirs is a crime? In both instances, the people on those jets arrived in Washington wanting something from Washington, not just good will.If I can be made to serve as a distraction, then there is that much less time debating the merits of the trillion dollar debacle.One more thing, Byron. Your publication and website have documented Obama's ties to the teachings of Saul Alinksy while he was community organizing in Chicago.Here is Rule 13 of Alinksy's Rules for Radicals:
"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."

By Byron York

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTU5MjE3MmQ0NWU1Zjc1YzYyMDE1NzNmZmM2MzYxMmI=

As in the days of Noah....

Obama Takes on Rush Limbaugh in New Media War:Rush Responds..."

WASHINGTON-President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration."You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts."There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."That wasn't Obama's only jab at Republicans today.In an exchange with Rep.Eric Cantor (R-Va.) about the proposal, the president shot back: "I won," according to aides briefed on the meeting."I will trump you on that."Not that Obama was gloating. He was just explaining that he aims to get his way on stimulus package and all other legislation, sources said, noting his unrivaled one-party control of both congressional chambers."We are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis that has to be dealt with and dealt with rapidly," Obama said during the meeting. Republicans say the $825 billion price tag is too big a burden for a nation crippled by debt and that it doesn't do enough to stimulate the economy by cutting taxes."You know, I'm concerned about the size of the package. And I'm concerned about some of the spending that's in there,about ... how you can spend hundreds of millions on contraceptives," House GOP Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) later said."How does that stimulate the economy?" But White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs countered: "There was a lot of agreement in that room about the notion that we're facing an economic crisis unlike we've seen in quite some time ... that we must act quickly to stimulate the economy, create jobs, put money back in people's pockets."Gibbs disagreed with those who called the meeting window dressing."The president is certainly going to listen to any ideas," he said."He will also go to Capitol Hill the beginning of next week to talk to Republican caucuses and solicit their input and their ideas."
By CHARLES HURT, BUREAU CHIEF
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232009/news/politics/prez_zings_gop_foe_in_a_timulating_talk_151572.htm

As in the days of Noah....

"DEAR LEADER":Kim Jong Il Meets Chinese Dignitary

DICTATORSHIP WATH:Castro writes of death, illness

LAND FULL of VIOLENCE:Suspect in Custody in Belgian Day Care Stabbing Spree Had Addresses of Other Nurseries

BRUSSELS,Belgium-A 20-year-old man accused of a day-care center stabbing spree was carrying a backpack of weapons and the addresses of three other nurseries when he was arrested, Belgian authorities said Saturday.Prosecutor Christian Du Four said the man held in Friday's fatal rampage lived alone, was unemployed and had no criminal record or previously known mental problems.Three judicial officials told The Associated Press that police found the addresses of the other nurseries after taking the man into custody. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not being publicly released.Du Four said the suspect wore a bulletproof vest under his clothing and had a knife, an axe and a fake pistol.He said that police also found two other knives near the daycare center where a 9-month old girl, a 6-month old boy and a 54-year-old caregiver were killed.Du Four said he would not comment on whether the suspect planned other attacks, but said the weapons found in his backpack "point to premeditation."Investigators believe the suspect entered the "Fabeltjesland"-Fairytale-land-creche at around 10 a.m. on Friday with an eight-inch knife and started stabbing and slashing the children. He had painted his face white with black patches around the eyes.Belgian newspapers are referring to the attacker as the "Joker" killer, a reference to the "Batman" villain played by Heath Ledger.Dr. Ignace Demeyer, from Our Lady Hospital in nearby Aalst said six of the 10 wounded children could be released from care over the weekend.Two adults were also hurt.All those hurt were in stable condition Saturday.The prosecutor's office in the town of Dendermonde, located northwest of Brussels, said the man was charged with three counts of murder and lived in Belsele, a town around 12.43 miles north of Dendermonde.Du Four said the suspect, whom local media have identified as "Kim D," is refusing to cooperate with police after hours of questioning at a police station in Dendermonde where he is being held."The man has so far not admitted to anything and has refused to do so,"Du Four said at a press conference in Dendermonde.He added the suspect has been placed under judicial arrest and in custody until a court hearing expected on Tuesday.The man in question was charged on the basis of identifications by eyewitnesses at the day-care center, Du Four said.Police have also searched his house and seized a computer."We don't know anything in terms of motive, we also don't know whether there is a link between the man and Dendermonde," said Du Four.One worker tried but failed to disarm the suspect, who walked out of the building and rode off on a bicycle. He was later arrested in a nearby town.Belgians were in shock after the brutal attack and many gathered outside the building Saturday to leave flowers and teddy bears and light candles in memory of the victims.The De Standaard newspaper described the rampage as "madness," while De Morgen headlined "Cold, Bloodthirsty, Inhuman.""We thought that things like this only happened in the United States and now we see that in Belgium, in a small village like this ... that such a thing could happen, it is very, very bad," said local resident Serge De Plecker.Some 40,000 people also joined a condolences and support page on the Facebook networking site.A march and vigil outside the center was also planned for the coming days, said Dendermonde Mayor Piet Buyse.

By AP
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482550,00.html
As in the days of Noah...

Anarchists clash with Greek police in Athens march

ATHENS-Anarchists threw fire bombs and clashed with Greek police in Athens on Saturday during a march to parliament by more than 1,000 demonstrators protesting over the police killing of a teenager last month."About 150 anarchists who broke away from the rally threw rocks at the police who responded with teargas," said a police official, who declined to be named. "Later, they threw fire bombs at the offices of the defense minister."The anarchists set on fire a newspaper kiosk and a bus station and caused minor damages to four banks in the center of the Greek capital. Police chased small groups of youths around the city center and detained at least two people.Protests also took place in the southwestern Greek port of Patras, where three newspapers' buildings, a journalists union and three banks suffered slight damage.Greece witnessed the worst riots in decades in December, triggered by the fatal police shooting of a 15-year-old boy and fueled by anger at economic hardships and government scandals.On Thursday, a protest march against an acid attack on an immigrant cleaner, who was a union activist, caused vandalism by groups of anarchists, who clashed with police.
Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Richard Balmforth
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50N1IR20090124

As in the days of Noah....

PESTILENCE WATCH:Zimbabwe cholera epidemic could top 60,000--Red Cross

GENEVA-Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is "far from under control" and could exceed 60,000 cases over the next week, the Red Cross warned on Friday.Torrential rains are expected to spark major flooding and exacerbate the water-borne outbreak that has killed 2,773 people among 50,000 infected since August, the United Nations said."The outbreak in Zimbabwe is only increasing in scale, it's claiming more lives," Dr. Tammam Aloudat, senior health officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told journalists in Geneva.The World Health Organisation (WHO), a U.N. agency, warned in December that up to 60,000 people could be infected if the country's worst cholera epidemic spiralled out of control."It is difficult to predict where the outbreak will peak. It might even go beyond that nightmare scenario," Aloudat said.Asked whether there was any chance that the outbreak-which registered 1,000 new infections in the past 24 hours-could be stopped before reaching 60,000 in the next week, he replied: "Very little chance".In a statement, the Federation voiced alarm at the high 5.7 percent mortality rate, calling it "an indication that the outbreak is still far from under control". "Overall, this signifies a 20 percent increase in cholera deaths over the past week and rings alarm bells about the need to push back this epidemic and better fund the humanitarian effort on the ground," the agency said.Donors had only contributed 40 percent of the 10.2 million Swiss francs ($8.82 million) it appealed for a month ago.Critics blame the crisis on the policies of President Robert Mugabe, a charge he denies. A power-sharing deal signed by the veteran ruler and his opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai on Sept. 15 appears to be unravelling."The lack of funding is probably a mixture of several aspects, most importantly we've seen the funding drop when Zimbabwe dropped off the television screens," Aloudat said."It is not about the politics or persons here. It is about the ability to reach people who are now dying of cholera and need assistance now,"he added.Cholera, an intestinal infection that spreads through contaminated food or water, can lead to severe dehydration and death without prompt treatment.It is both preventable and treatable under normal circumstances, but Zimbabwe's health sector has nearly collapsed as a result of its economic crisis.Most of its 235 cholera treatment centres remain ill-equipped to handle patients, according to the WHO."Two out of three cases occur in the community, away from the treatment centres because people aren't able to reach them, or when they do they have little medicine or personnel," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters.
For more information on humanitarian crises and issues visit http://www.alertnet.org/
Editing by Jonathan Lynn and Richard Balmforth
By Stephanie Nebehay
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSLN246190._CH_.2400
As in the days of Noah....

PESTILENCE WATCH:Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic worsens

Drought hits Uruguay's cattle

Floods swamp parts of Brazil

END TIMES WICKED WEATHER:4 dead in roof collapse

Unexpected Inauguration Guest...?

Video of 'UFO' at Inauguration Gets Internet Buzz

Video of what some speculate is a UFO flying over President Obama's inauguration has circulated over the Internet, The Sun has reported.The video shows an unknown object flying past the Washington Monument, as nearly two million people gathered to watch the inauguration.
Click here to watch the video.
Commentors on the video write that they aren't convinced the object was a bird, due to its flat appearance and lack of visible wings.One blogger wrote, "Personally, I think the little green men rocked up to join the rest of the world in wishing Obama well."
Click here to read the full report from The Sun.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482427,00.html

As in the days of Noah....

UFO WATCH:Millions see UFO crash in Saudi Arabia

These are images taken of the unidentified object.

Astonishing events are occuring around the world and not as much as a word about them is being written or said in the West.In Saudi Arabia last week what might well have be a UFO, possibly crashing into earth, was witnessed by literally millions of people in the vicinity. Multiple photos of the object have come to light.Arabic language forums are abuzz with Saudi citizens claiming to have witnessed what is even being described by some in the normally conservative Saudi Arabian press as a possible UFO either crashing to earth or simply executing manoeuvres designed to scare humans.Others are claiming the object was an Asteroid or a Satellite.Witnesses are reported to be waiting for an explanation from local meteorological bureau’s but have received no answers yet.ON Wednesday 7th of January after evening prayers a loud noise was heard in the sky followed by the sighting of an intense large light heading from the west above the Al-Qasim region east of Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh. Many locals had seen meteors prior to this but claimed this one did not fit the typical description at all: it was a blue green colour and was shooting out green lasers.One witness Khalid commented ‘No one has ever seen anything like it’.Amazingly for an incident that hasn’t even made the news in the West, the object was seen as far away as Kuwait.The complete absence of this story within western media is truly surprising as this was not your average incident involving a few people seeing strange things in the sky, the Saudi police recieved thousands of calls about this one incident alone. It was also reported that thousands of people were terrified by what they saw and heard and many even began to pray. Some have even posted messages on the web warning that this might be a sign from God for the Kingdoms silence on Gaza. Locals in the region where the object appeared to be heading claim they heard an explosion and felt a large tremor indicating that the object crashed. The Saudi government has not released information regarding the crash site but is reported to have sealed the area.

Special report by Michael Cohen

http://www.allnewsweb.com/page1901903.php

As in the days of Noah....

WITCHCRAFT WATCH:Newspaper claims suspect transformed into a goat

LAGOS, Nigeria-One of Nigeria's biggest daily newspapers reported that police implicated a goat in an attempted automobile theft. In a front-page article on Friday, the Vanguard newspaper said that two men tried to steal a Mazda car two days earlier in Kwara State, with one suspect transforming himself into a goat as vigilantes cornered him.The paper quoted police spokesman Tunde Mohammed as saying that while one suspect escaped, the other transformed into a goat as he was about to be apprehended.The newspaper reported that police paraded the goat before journalists, and published a picture of the animal.Police in the state couldn't immediately be reached for comment.Belief in black magic is widespread in Nigeria, particularly in far-flung rural areas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_fe_st/odd_goat_thief

As in the days of Noah...

Ring of fire: Indian Ocean to see solar eclipse

A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean will be treated to a rare event when an annular solar eclipse will transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim.(AFP/File/Jeff Haynes)

PARIS-A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean will be treated to a rare event on Monday when an annular solar eclipse will transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim.In solar eclipses, the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on the terrestrial surface.In an annular eclipse, a tiny shift in distance that results from celestial mechanics means the Moon does not completely cover the Sun's face, as it does in a total eclipse.Instead, for those directly under the alignment, the Moon covers most of the Sun's surface, and a ring-like crown of solar light blazes from the edge of the disk.For those watching from the fringe of the track, the Sun is partially obscured, as if a bite has been taken out of it.According to veteran NASA eclipse-watcher Fred Espenak, the total eclipse track will run from west to east on Monday from 0606 GMT to 0952 GMT.It will traverse the Indian Ocean and western Indonesia before petering out just short of Mindanao, the Philippines.The partial eclipse will be seen in a much wider swathe, including the southern third of Africa, Madagascar, Australia, Southeast India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.It will be the only annular solar eclipse this year. The last was on 7 February, 2007, and after Monday, the next one will be on 15 January, 2010.The big event for eclipse junkies this year is on July 22, when a total solar eclipse will be visible from India and China, the world's two most populous countries.
Annual solar eclipse of Jan 26
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090123/ts_afp/spaceastronomyeclipseasiaafrica

As in the days of Noah....

Israel 'will resume bombing' of Gaza if Hamas reopens tunnels

Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, said the unilateral ceasefire declared last week would not constrain Israel's efforts to ensure the flow of weapons from Egypt to Gaza was permanently impaired."For the tunnels, nothing will be as it was before," she said. "Things must be clear – Israel reserves the right to react militarily against the tunnels once and for all."If we have to act, we will do so, we will exercise our right to legitimate defence, we will not leave our fate to the Egyptians, nor to the Europeans nor to the Americans."Israel is attempting to assemble an international coalition to thwart weapons sales to Hamas, which would include patrols by US and European navies and improved monitoring of the Egyptian side of the border using high technology.The US Navy was reported to have intercepted one Iranian vessel in the Red Sea that was carrying arms for landing in Sinai.Hundreds of tunnels run under the border, most were built during an 18-month economic blockade of the 1.5 million strong territory. Smugglers told Israeli newspapers that the flow of goods "never stopped" during the 22-day bombing campaign.During the offensive on Hamas in Gaza, Israel bombed hundreds of tunnels on the Gaza-Egypt border. Destroying the tunnels – also the main supply route for Gaza's Hamas rulers boycotted by the West – was one of the main goals of Operation Cast Lead that Israel unleashed on Hamas on December 27 The Israeli military estimates that between 60 to 70 per cent of tunnels were destroyed during its bombing campaign, the evidence of which is everywhere one looks along the border.Ehud Barak, the defence minister, also warned that Israel, having destroyed 150 tunnels, would not standby and allow smuggling to resume. He said: "If we are forced to, there will be more attacks."
By Damien McElroy in Jerusalem
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4313904/Israel-will-resume-bombing-of-Gaza-if-Hamas-reopens-tunnels.html
As in the days of Noah....

'Partial war' looming between China, India?:Military suggests border dispute is 'threat' to Beijing

A border dispute could become the spark that launches China and India into a military conflict, with Chinese strategists resurrecting the concept of a "partial war" to recover what they call "Southern Tibet," the region India calls "Arunachal Pradesh," (picture left) according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin. The area in northeast India has a 650-mile unfenced border with China, which lays claim to the region and refers to it as Southern Tibet.Some of the threats are emanating from Chinese publications that reflect the opinion of the Chinese leadership without making official comments. For example, the China Institute of International Strategic Studies, or IISS, has said it visualizes "two crises" for the People's Liberation Army in the immediate future. One was the succession in the North Korean leadership should Kim Jong-Il die.The other was India's continued presence in territory China claims as its own.Keep in touch with the most important breaking news stories about critical developments around the globe with Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence news source edited and published by the founder of WND.India regards Arunachal Pradesh as the 24th state in the Indian Union. Yet China still claims much of it as part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and may be prepared to launch an action to regain it.Ironically, the veiled threat comes at a time when China looks upon its relationship with India as being in the "best period" of their joint history.Called the "land of the rising sun," Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn lit mountains," since it is in the Himalayas.The Burma Road, known to have helped supply China during World War II, passes through the region. Burma, or Myanmar, borders on the East.The 650-mile Chinese-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh is separated by the so-called McMahon Line, also known as the Line of Actual Control.The dispute dates back to the time India was ruled by Britain, whose officials in 1914 held a conference over the boundary. In 1962, China and India fought a serious border war, with Chinese troops advancing well into Arunachal Pradesh but later withdrawing. The region flared up again in 1986.Now, the region is becoming a focal point again.A Chinese military website that reflects official positions observed that the border issue may be symbolic of how India looks upon China as the "greatest obstacle" to its rise.The website suggested that the border dispute over Southern Tibet constitutes a security threat to China and that Beijing may need to adopt a strategy to weaken control of the Indian central government.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=86715

As in the days of Noah...