July 26 - 30 2010

Weekly News Archive

Broadcast Notes

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CHRISTIAN MEDIA
WORLDWATCH

MONDAY JULY 26, 2010

Ex-CIA chief Hayden: Military action against Iran 'seems inexorable'

Ex-CIA Director Michael Hayden said Sunday, July 25, that during his tenure (under President George W. Bush), a strike was "way down the list" of options. But now it "seems inexorable" because no matter what the US does diplomatically, Tehran keeps pushing ahead with its suspected nuclear program.
Talking to CNN's State of the Union, General Hayden predicted Iran would build its program to the point where it's just below having an actual weapon. In his view, "That would be as destabilizing to the region as the real thing."
DEBKAfile's sources take this as affirmation that neither Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states nor Israel will be willing to live on constant edge with an Iran which can build nuclear bombs or warheads whenever it likes. They note that Hayden has added his voice to a growing number of leading American figures and publications which have indicated in the past fortnight that the military option against Iran has climbed the top of President Barack Obama's list of priorities.
According to our Washington sources, the US president switched course after hearing Saudi King Abdullah assert explicitly: "We cannot live with a nuclear Iran."
Abdullah added he no longer believes diplomacy or sanctions will have any effect and made it clear that if the Americans continued to back away from direct action to terminate Iran's advance on a nuclear bomb, the Saudi and its allies would go their own way on the nuclear issue.
Today, therefore, the White House is no longer willing to countenance Iran's nuclear development advancing up to the threshold of a weapons capacity and stopping there. And since Tehran will never cede its prerogative to determine every stage of its nuclear program without outside interference, the only option remaining to the United States is military.
DEBKAfile's Washington sources add that the White House was finally brought to the point of seriously considering military action against Iran, as Gen. Hayden noted - not as a result of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's efforts at persuasion - which failed, but because of the Saudi ruler's ultimatum.
The Middle East can therefore expect far-reaching military shifts and redeployments in the coming weeks -but Israel is not likely to gain any kudos for this new development because it has lost considerable traction under the incumbent government. [no further content]

Source: debka.com LINK

North Korea warns of nuclear response to naval exercises

North Korea said it would counter U.S. and South Korean joint naval exercises with “nuclear deterrence” after the Obama administration said the government in Pyongyang shouldn’t take any provocative steps.
North Korea will “legitimately counter with their powerful nuclear deterrence the largest-ever nuclear war exercises to be staged by the U.S. and the South Korean puppet forces,” the National Defense Commission said, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The maneuvers, which involve 20 vessels and 200 aircraft from the U.S. and South Korea, pose a threat to the country’s sovereignty and security, Ri Tong Il, an official with North Korea’s delegation to the ASEAN Security Forum, told reporters in Hanoi yesterday.
Ri’s comments came after North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun sat in the same room with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Hanoi for a security meeting of Asia’s largest powers. Clinton condemned North Korea for being “on a campaign of provocative, dangerous behavior,” urging Kim Jong Il’s regime to change.
Still, the “door remains open for North Korea,” Clinton later told reporters. “We are willing to meet with them, willing to negotiate, to move toward normal relations” if North Korea commits itself to giving up its nuclear weapons program, she said.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in Washington yesterday that North Korea “would be better served by reflecting on the current situation, not taking any further aggressive actions or provocative steps.”
The U.S. said this week it will intensify sanctions against North Korea and conduct military exercises with South Korea in waters surrounding the peninsula. The USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered carrier, and three destroyers called into South Korean ports this week in a show of force.
“North Korea may very well go ahead with missile launches or even a third nuclear test to show it won’t bend to U.S. pressure,” said Yang Moo Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. “North Korea must have sensed that the U.S. and South Korea are after its regime’s collapse.”
Ri said the George Washington’s presence threatened security on the peninsula, which has been divided for more than half a century. Pak maintained the need for a peace treaty to replace a cease-fire, signed in 1953, to guarantee the peninsula’s security, Ri said.
“It’s no longer the 19th century with gunboat diplomacy,” Ri said. “It is a new century and the Asian countries are in need of peace and development.” . . . .
Japan will send four naval officers to the drills, the government’s top spokesman said today.
Four officers of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force will board a U.S. ship as observers for the joint military exercise from tomorrow to July 28 in the sea between South Korea and Japan, said Yoshito Sengoku, chief cabinet secretary.
“It’s important to promote coordination among Japan, U.S. and South Korea,” Sengoku told reporters in Tokyo.

Source: bloomberg.com MORE

Note: see also Doubts Surface On North Korea's Role In Ship Sinking LINK

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NEWS BRIEFS
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Iran, Brazil, Turkey to discuss nuclear fuel swap

TEHRAN -- The top diplomats of Iran, Brazil and Turkey will discuss nuclear fuel supplies for Tehran in Istanbul on Sunday, in the first such gathering since the Islamic republic was slapped with new sanctions. Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was to meet his Brazilian and Turkish counterparts, Celso Amorim and Ahmet Davutoglu, "to discuss ... the Tehran Declaration about the fuel swap," his ministry's spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency. A Turkish diplomat in Ankara, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the three ministers would meet over lunch. "The agenda of the meeting will be nuclear issues. Its aim is to show that diplomatic initiatives are continuing" for a resolution of the international standoff over Tehran's controversial atomic drive, the diplomat added. MORE

Note: see also Mottaki: Iran Ready For Talks On Nuclear Fuel Swap Deal - "Tomorrow this ... letter will be conveyed to the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) in Vienna and then we can immediately start negotiations for the details of exchanging of the fuel" LINK

Iran says it has 100 vessels for each U.S. warship
Iran's former naval chief says country has 100 military vessels to confront each US warship

A former naval chief in Iran's Revolutionary Guard says his country has set aside 100 military vessels to confront each U.S. warship that poses a threat. General Morteza Saffari is quoted by the conservative weekly Panjereh Saturday as saying that troops aboard U.S. warships are "morsels" for Iran to target in the event of any American threat against Iran. In 2008, Iran put its most powerful military force, the Revolutionary Guard, in charge of defending the country's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, a vital oil route. The U.S., which has ships in the Gulf, has not ruled out a military strike to thwart what it suspects is an Iranian nuclear weapons program. Iran denies its atomic program is aimed at making weapons. [no further content] LINK

Israel Returns 3 Flotilla Ships to Turkey

The ministerial cabinet has decided that Israel will return three vessels to Turkey that were involved in a recent flotilla attempt to break the Jewish State's marine blockade of Gaza. The boats were among the six vessels that were halted by Israel Navy commandos and brought to Ashdod Port on May 31 after they ignored repeated requests to change their course away from the prohibited direction. Although the flotilla was purported to be filled with humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, organizers refused to bring the goods to Ashdod for inspection by Israel prior to transport through the land crossings into the region. According to the Anatolia news agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Friday that Israel would release the vessels the next few days, “after technical preparations are finished.” MORE

Note: see these related stories:

Tony Blair: Aid Flotillas Not Helpful - Quartet envoy asks Lebanese Gaza-bound ships to reconsider journey LINK

Hamas Slams UN For Denouncing Flotillas - International body accused of "collaboration with the Israeli occupier" ... Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak called the planned Lebanese flotilla "an unnecessary provocation" on Friday, stating that the ships would be "stopped at sea" if they failed to heed Navy orders to dock at Ashdod Port rather than sailing directly for Gaza LINK

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MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY
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Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of Christian Media Daily or our host - Christian Media Network. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

Opinion: WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR 'RIGHT TO PRIVACY? (Dr. Laurie Roth)

The ‘control’ wagons continue to circle [as] many in the U.S. masses are distracted by the empathy words, crises responses, and manipulated national security and environmental needs.
We see several deceitful and manipulated techniques, designed to direct what we do and know . . . .
The Smart Grid, as revealed by Pat Wood of AugustReview.com masterfully shreds our 4th amendment rights and will attempt to lead our daily, lifestyle choices around by the nose.
Another control scheme, hiding behind health of course is the forced national Health ID card coming with the Obama care plan. It says plainly, right in the body of the bill that we will all be issued a national health identification card. It talks about this on page 62 and says that the operating rules, effective not later than January 1, 2013 will use a machine readable identification card. So much for privacy with your health . . . .
I predict if this UN American and unaffordable health plan is not unfounded and trashed, all kinds of lifestyle information will be linked with health issues and tracked with regulations, taxation and draconian rules. Gun usage and mental health background will be linked to health care and costs. Accounts and payments will be tracked by the IRS who has been assigned to run this inspiring program. Imagine, your accounts being seized if your health payment was behind or being disputed. Could this kind of intrusion and no doubt linking everything to health and additional expense, be the final dictatorial control over the people? There is more . . . .
We must stand for all our 4th amendment rights and not allow our government and federal structures to hide behind environment, health, security, emergencies and needs to steal and shred our constitutional rights and freedoms. Stand against the insanity! Stand for our freedom.

Source: newswithviews.com MORE

[Note: The article referenced above at AugustReview.com is not currently accessible. Instead, see Smart Grid: Trojan Horse Of The New World Order? LINK]

Commentary: THE CLEAR ACT OF ANOTHER FEDERAL LAND GRAB (Cassandra Anderson)

U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) addressed Congress on July 15th to report the Natural Resources Committee's passage of HR 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR Act) of 2009. Congressman Gohmert said that the bill was to "deal with the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico," but it contains plans for the federal government to acquire land and was introduced in 2009.

The CLEAR Act is ambiguous - so if the bill is passed, federal agencies will determine how it is implemented and how the land will be used.
Congressman Gohmert pointed out that a portion of the CLEAR Act contains a provision for the federal government to spend $900 million a year to purchase private land over the next 30 years, for a grand total of $27 billion dollars over 3 decades. Gohmert noted that the federal government already owns or manages about 30% of the land in America, most of it in the western states. He said that the federal government has failed to maintain the federal and national parks that it already controls and is $3.7 billion behind in basic maintenance costs, according to one report. When land is federalized, it is taken off of the tax payroll.

He went on to say that when the federal government acquires land, it makes promises to generate revenue but then fails to utilize the resources; an example is timber, as logging is prohibited in most federal lands. Mr. Gohmert then showed a graph of how much money the federal government has spent to acquire more land over the last few years:
2008 $100 million
2009 $150 million
2010 $300 million

Gohmert was incredulous that the federal government intends to raise its purchasing allocations to $900 million a year for the next 30 years and questioned "how in the world does that make sense"?
It makes perfect sense when the objectives of the UN's Agenda 21 are understood, as Agenda 21 is the overarching blueprint for depopulation and total control from the international level all the way down to the individual level, using the environment as the excuse. Most people are unaware that one of Agenda 21 Sustainable Development's goals is to make 50% of America into 'Wildlands' that are off-limits to humans and to herd people into 'Smart Growth' cities. Almost all wealth is derived from land and its resources . . . .

Dr. Michael Coffman's thorough analysis, 'Taking Liberty' [see his website LINK and video LINK], is a must-see for anyone who owns property, especially the region-by-region section that explains how the federal government plans to take land in each area of the U.S. in order to control the resources and transform the property into Wildlands. (See map showing the U.S. lands currently owned by the federal government at source website) [emphasis added]

Source: morphcity.com MORE

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ADDITIONAL NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Day 97: Deepwater horizon alarms were turned off 'to help workers sleep' LINK

Soot in the Sky, Gas in the Water LINK
UCSB scientist studies microbes in the Gulf that eat gas and oil, but deplete oxygen

Note: see also Geochemist In Gulf Says 'When It Rains, A Lot Of Junk Comes Down From The Particulate' LINK

Planned Evacuation Alert: Experts: Health Hazards in Gulf Warrant Evacuations LINK

People bleeding internally, millions poisoned says 'EPA whistleblower' LINK

Censored Gulf evacuation report: Preparing to leave ... Preparing to receive (Video) LINK

[Red Flag]
BP Killing Off Horses On Public Land To Get Oil Leases (7-13-10) LINK

Note: see also Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's Take On Controversial Wild Horse Roundup (1-14-10) LINK
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Bombs kill 5 U.S. troops in Afghanistan LINK

U.S. drone strikes kill eight militants in Pakistan LINK

Gaza militants firing new type of rocket into Israel? LINK
Police officials investigate to see if weekend hit from new, more precise type

Al-Arabiya Director Calls Nuclear Iran 'Most Dangerous Threat That is Facing Our Region in 100 Years' LINK
Said he supported a military attack against Iran before it produces nuclear weapons

EU plans to adopt 'toughest ever' sanctions against Iran LINK

The 'unravelling relationship' between Russia and Iran LINK
Russia and Iran seemed to be good friends, but in recent weeks the relationship has unravelled

[analysis]: Secret Military Files Reveal Shocking Details About Failed War in Afghanistan LINK
The documents show that coalition forces have killed hundreds of civilians, Taliban attacks have soared and Nato commanders fear Pakistan and Iran are fueling the insurgency

Texas Border City on Lockdown (Video) LINK
Laredo residents warned to stay indoors after deadly Mexican turf war erupts nearby

Mexican Drug Cartel Seizes Two Texas Ranches LINK

Note: see also Los Zetas Drug Cartel Seizes Ranches In Texas Not True? ... Well ... LINK

Report: 3,100 firms, agencies involved in war on terror (Followup) LINK
'The complexity of this system defies description'

[analysis]: Guess what part of the Constitution goes next! LINK
Drastic change in works to revamp whole Electoral College

[analysis]: The case for impeachment LINK
Former Congressman Tom Tancredo: Obama has violated his oath of office over immigration

Note: see also Ex-Congressman: President A 'Threat,' Must Be Impeached - 'We have man in White House who brazenly disregards his oath of office' LINK

Bank failure tally [101] for the year LINK

White House Predicts Record $1.47 Trillion Deficit LINK

Seven banks fail Europe's stress test LINK

[analysis]: Empty Store Shelves Coming to America (Video) LINK

[analysis]: Raw food raid highlights a hunger (Video) LINK
Some people balk at restrictions on selling unprocessed milk and other foods ... "How can we not have the freedom to choose what we eat?" one says ... Regulators say the rules exist for safety and fairness

Cold temperatures cause death, damage in South America LINK

World Warned Will Run Out Of IP Addresses In Less Than A Year LINK

Gay Lutheran pastors to join church roster LINK

Surviving dengue fever ... 'Indescribable, crazy pain' (Florida) LINK

23 die of dengue fever in Honduras LINK

Use of GM mosquitoes vs dengue mulled (Philippines) LINK

Report: Non-profit Health Insurers Hoard Cash LINK

HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS: JULY 23, 2010 LINK

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"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
Thomas Jefferson
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CHRISTIAN MEDIA
WORLDWATCH

TUESDAY JULY 27, 2010
- no news edition -

CHRISTIAN MEDIA
WORLDWATCH

WEDNESDAY JULY 28, 2010

Ahmadinejad: U.S. and Israel plot wars within three months

DEBKAfile's Iranian sources quote President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying: "We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot, according to which they seek to launch a psychological war on Iran. They plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months," he said, without specifying which countries were the subjects of the alleged conspiracy, only hinting that America's senior military ally in the region, Israel, was directly involved.
Ahmadinejad spoke Monday night, July 26, in an interview restricted to the controlled Iranian media which make a point of stressing the late hour.
He said the plot had two objectives: "First of all, they (the Americans) want to hamper Iran's progress and development since they are opposed to our growth," he said and secondly, "They want to save the Zionist regime, because it has reached a dead end and the Zionists believe they can be saved through a military confrontation."
DEBKAfile's Iranian sources note that Ahmadinejad deliberately avoided referring to his country's areas of "growth" which he charges the US of opposing, because it is non-existent. The economy is in rapid decline as every ordinary Iranian knows to his detriment, while UN, US and European sanctions have slowed drastically the only fields showing progress, oil and gas field and industrial development, leaving only the nuclear program and preparation of the military for war.
Our Iranian and intelligence sources attribute the Iranian president's reference to "precise information" to the intelligence which has also reached Saudi and Gulf governments of a decision reached in the White House to follow up sanctions - if Russia, China and Turkey help Tehran bypass them - by intensifying the squeeze on Iran with military steps. The first would be orders to the US Navy to search Iranian ships suspected of carrying cargoes prohibited by UN, US or European sanctions on routes through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf or the Arabian Sea.
Ahmadinejad's reference to two wars was his rejoinder to this intelligence and a signal to Washington that US searches of Iranian vessels would not go by without response. Two potential arenas are American forces in the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea or even Iraq, or a Hizballah attack on Israel.
The Iranian president ended the interview with a warning to US President Barack Obama not to follow in the footsteps of George W. Bush by sending US troops to fight new Middle East wars. [emphasis added]

Source: debka.com MORE

Hizballah raises Mid East tension to sabotage four Arab rulers' Beirut visit Friday

Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri Monday, July 26, consigned another 1,500 troops to the country's southern border with Israel to beef up the two brigades posted there. French ambassador Denis Pietton, after an urgent meeting with the Lebanese prime mister said the Lebanese reinforcement would be there to defend French UNIFIL peacemakers who have been under Hizballah attack.
However, DEBKAfile's military sources report that Hariri acted to fend off Hizballah's threats of a military provocation for disrupting Saudi King Abdullah's grand new venture. It will be ushered in by the visit to Beirut Friday, July 30 of a group of four Arab rulers: Saudi King Abdullah, Syrian president Bashar Assad, Emir Khaled bin Khlaif al-Thani of Qatar and Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al Khalifa of Bahrain. This is the most distinguished a group of Arab leaders ever to visit the Lebanese capital.
It will be presented formally as a gesture of support for the Lebanese national unity government in which Hizballah is a member, but its real purpose is to tempt Syrian president Bashar Assad to phase out his support for Hizballah in return for Saudi and Gulf recognition of his dominant role in Beirut.
Nasrallah . . . is determined to sabotage the move by igniting the border, holding Israel responsible, and applying all his resources in the region to hitting out at Saudi interests. He was quoted as confiding to his aides in the last few hours that he will never lie down for any Saudi plot to weaken Damascus' ties with his movement, calling Abdullah's bid an American-Israeli conspiracy which must be nipped sharply in the bud.
And indeed, Monday, a suicide car bomber demolished the Saudi-financed al Arabiya television network's Baghdad offices, killing four people. DEBKAfile's counter-terror sources credit an Iraqi Shiite terrorist group linked to the Lebanese Hizballah, acting out Nasrallah's ultimatum to the Saudi monarch that he can look forward to more mayhem to his interests in the region if he goes through with the landmark visit to Beirut Friday.
Aware of the Hizballah leader's plans and the danger to Israel, defense minister Ehud Barak, now in Washington, issued one of the sternest warnings ever heard from Israel Sunday, July 25: "If Hizballah fires a rocket into Tel Aviv, we will not run after each Hizballah terrorist or launcher … We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just Hizballah."
It was in the hope of averting this threatened face-off that Hariri urgently beefed up Lebanese military strength on the border with Israel. [no further content, emphasis added]

Source: debka.com LINK

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NEWS BRIEFS
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Natural gas could lead to new Lebanon-Israel war
Two countries exchange threats after reserves found off coast

BEIRUT -- The discovery of large natural-gas reserves under the eastern Mediterranean could potentially mean a huge economic windfall for Israel and Lebanon, both resource-poor nations – if it doesn’t spark new war between them. Hizbullah has blared warnings that Israel plans to steal natural gas from Lebanese territory and vows to defend the resources with its arsenal of rockets. Israel says the fields it is developing do not extend into Lebanese waters, a claim experts say appears to be correct, but the maritime boundary between the two countries – still officially at war – has never been precisely set . . . Two fields, Tamar and Dalit, discovered last year, are due to start producing in 2012, and experts say their estimated combined reserves of 5.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas can cover Israel’s energy needs for the next two decades. In June, the US energy company Noble Energy, part of a consortium developing the fields, predicted that Israel will also have enough gas to export to Europe and Asia from a third field – Leviathan, thought to hold up to 16 trillion cubic feet of gas. Israel relies entirely on imports to meet its energy needs, spending billions to bring natural gas from Egypt and coal from a variety of countries. Energy independence would have a major impact on the county. MORE

U.S. warns Abbas: Direct talks or lose backing for state

U.S. President Barack Obama may not help set up a Palestinian state if PA President Mahmoud Abbas does not enter direct negotiations with Israel soon, according to a Palestinian document obtained by the Associated Press. The news agency reported yesterday that the document contained a warning to that effect from a senior U.S. envoy. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to engage in direct talks with Israel, citing the government's intransigence on settlements and the fate of Jerusalem and a lack of trust in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has repeatedly called for the resumption of direct talks. An Arab League subcommittee on the Arab peace initiative is expected to support the Palestinian position of continued indirect negotiations with Israel, and not a move toward direct talks. MORE

Jordan's king meets Israeli Prime Minister in push for direct talks

AMMAN -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with King Abdullah II on a surprise visit to Jordan on Tuesday as the premier tries to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to upgrade Middle East peace talks. The Israeli-Jordanian summit came a day after Abbas also held talks in Amman . . . “The king and the prime minister discussed means to achieve progress in efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with a two-state solution,” the royal palace said. “They also discussed ways to create the right environment for launching direct and serious peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel.” A senior official told AFP that “the meeting lasted for more than two hours during which the two men discussed in a clear and straightforward way measures that can be taken to achieve progress in the [Middle East] peace process.” Netanyahu’s office said the two discussed “the need to ensure direct, serious and effective negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians that would address all final-status issues.” MORE

Afghanistan Presses U.S. to Take Firmer Line With Pakistan Over Terror Links

(CNS News) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s national security council chided the U.S. government Tuesday for not taking a tougher line with Pakistan over its alleged collusion with terrorists operating in Afghanistan. “Having a contradictory and vague policy against the forces who use terrorism as a tool for interference and sabotage against others, have had devastating results,” it said in a statement. The council said thousands of Afghans and foreigners had been killed over the past nine years. It urged its international supporters to formulate a unified policy to deal with the violent campaign. “It is important for us to take lessons from our bitter past experiences,” the statement said. “Thus we must implement a crucial and clear policy against terrorism, and put an end to the unclear policies. This is the only way to success and this is the only way to get Afghans together in the war against terrorism.” The unauthorized leak of U.S. military documents revealing collaboration between members of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) and the Taliban and other jihadist groups may slow down Karzai’s recent policy of seeking warmer relations with Islamabad . . . “It is really not justifiable for the Afghan people that you give to a country $11 billion or more to help its reconstruction or strengthen its security or defensive forces, but on the other hand, those very forces train terrorism,” Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told reporters. MORE

Audit: U.S. cannot account for $8.7 Billion in Iraqi funds

BAGHDAD -- A U.S. audit has found that the Pentagon cannot account for over 95 percent of $9.1 billion in Iraq reconstruction money, spotlighting Iraqi complaints that there is little to show for the massive funds pumped into their cash-strapped, war-ravaged nation. The $8.7 billion in question was Iraqi money managed by the Pentagon, not part of the $53 billion that Congress has allocated for rebuilding. It's cash that Iraq, which relies on volatile oil revenues to fuel its spending, can ill afford to lose . . . Seven years after the U.S.-led invasion, electricity service is spotty, with generation capacity falling far short of demand. Fuel shortages are common and unemployment remains high, a testament to the country's inability to create new jobs or attract foreign investors. Complaints surfaced from the start of the war in 2003, when soldiers failed to secure banks, armories and other facilities against looters. Since then the allegations have only multiplied, including investigations of fraud, awarding of contracts without the required government bidding process and allowing contractors to charge exorbitant fees with little oversight, or oversight that came too late. MORE

[scientists]: 'Spacequakes' Rumble Near Earth

Researchers using NASA's fleet of five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a form of space weather that packs the punch of an earthquake and plays a key role in sparking bright Northern Lights. They call it "the spacequake." A spacequake is a temblor in Earth's magnetic field. It is felt most strongly in Earth orbit, but is not exclusive to space. The effects can reach all the way down to the surface of Earth itself. "Magnetic reverberations have been detected at ground stations all around the globe, much like seismic detectors measure a large earthquake," says THEMIS principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos of UCLA. It's an apt analogy because "the total energy in a spacequake can rival that of a magnitude 5 or 6 earthquake," according to Evgeny Panov of the Space Research Institute in Austria. Panov is first author of a paper reporting the results in the April 2010 issue of Geophysical Research Letters. In 2007, THEMIS discovered the precursors of spacequakes. The action begins in Earth's magnetic tail, which is stretched out like a windsock by the million mph solar wind. Sometimes the tail can become so stretched and tension-filled, it snaps back like an over-torqued rubber band. Solar wind plasma trapped in the tail hurtles toward Earth. On more than one occasion, the five THEMIS spacecraft were in the line of fire when these "plasma jets" swept by. Clearly, the jets were going to hit Earth. But what would happen then? The fleet moved closer to the planet to find out. "Now we know," says THEMIS project scientist David Sibeck of the Goddard Space Flight Center. "Plasma jets trigger spacequakes." ... MORE

Kansas Medical Board Files Complaint over Abortions

WICHITA, KANSAS (AP) -- A Kansas doctor who provided second opinions for a late-term abortion provider who was gunned down last year could face disciplinary action from a state medical regulatory board. Dr. Ann Neuhaus provided the second opinions for Dr. George Tiller that are required under Kansas law for any abortion performed after the 21st week of pregnancy when a fetus is viable, or can survive outside the womb. The Kansas Board of Healing Arts filed an 11-count disciplinary complaint against Neuhaus over some of her second opinions, alleging the Nortonville woman failed to properly evaluate whether an abortion of a viable fetus was necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother - as required by Kansas law . . . The petition alleges she failed to do adequate patient interviews, failed to perform adequate reviews of patients' history, failed to perform adequate evaluations of the impact of the patient's condition and failed to perform adequate mental status examinations. MORE

Congressman: U.S. turning blind eye to persecution

WASHINGTON -- A leading congressional advocate for religious freedom says the Obama administration has failed to speak out against growing persecution abroad. In a House floor speech, Republican Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia cited apparent U.S. indifference to violations of human rights in Sudan, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Egypt and Morocco. He said Iraq's ancient Christian community faces extinction unless the government protects churches and prevents attacks that have driven hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians into exile. Wolf said the U.S. also should demand that Egypt protect its Coptic Christians from growing persecution, and that Morocco stop deporting American Christians for alleged proselytizing. He said oppressed believers need the Obama administration to "find its voice" for human rights. MORE

Tiny Shard Bears Oldest Script Found in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM -- Archaeologists say a newly discovered clay fragment from the 14th century B.C. is the oldest example of writing ever found in antiquity-rich Jerusalem. Dig director Eilat Mazar of Hebrew University says the 2-centimeter (0.8-inch) long fragment bears an ancient form of writing known as Akkadian wedge script. The fragment includes a partial text including the words "you," "them," and "later." It predates the next-oldest example of writing found in Jerusalem by 600 years, and dates roughly four centuries before the Bible says King David ruled a Jewish kingdom from the city. Mazar said Monday that the fragment likely came from a royal court and suggested more could be found in the most ancient part of Jerusalem, located in the city's predominantly Palestinian eastern sector. [no further content] LINK

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Opinion: ILLINOISANS DUPED BY 'ANTI-BULLYING ACT' (Laurie Higgins)

Bullying in schools is a serious problem that must be addressed. In a misguided, poorly reasoned attempt to address it, Illinois legislators recently passed the disastrous "School Anti-Bullying Act" (SB 3266).
The problem of bullying did not necessitate any new state laws in that virtually every school in the state has more than adequate anti-bullying policy. The problem is not with a lack of policy, and the solution is certainly not this new, poorly constructed law.
For those who naively believe that "anti-bullying" policies, programs, and legislation are centrally about ending bullying, please note where and when Governor Pat Quinn signed into law the Illinois "School Anti-Bullying Act." The symbolism of the time and place of the signing ceremony points to the real purpose of the legislation, which is to exploit legitimate anti-bullying sentiment and Illinois public schools to undermine traditional beliefs about the nature and morality of homosexuality and Gender Identity Disorder. If this legislation were not a Trojan Horse for getting homosexuality-affirming resources into public schools and were truly about addressing all forms of bullying, why would Quinn sign it into law on the Sunday morning of the Chicago "gay pride" parade, and why hold the ceremony at Nettlehorst Elementary School -- the Chicago elementary school that has marched in the "gay pride" parade for two years -- which happens to be located in the homosexual neighborhood called Boystown? . . . .
So far only twelve states, including, unfortunately, Illinois, have anti-bullying legislation that specifically mentions "sexual orientation" and "gender identity/expression." The inclusion of these terms in anti-bullying policies and legislation allows homosexualists to use them as cultural battering rams to destroy First Amendment speech and religious protections. The central purpose of the inclusion of these terms in legislation and policy is not to protect homosexuals and "transgenders" but to censor the expression of traditional moral beliefs and ultimately eradicate them.

Source: illinoisfamily.org (Illinois Family Institute) MORE

[Source Editor's Note: This important article exposes the radical agenda in our public schools. Please read, take action, and then share this extremely important information with your neighbors, relatives, and friends. (David E. Smith, IFI's Executive Director)]

Commentary: CHRISTIAN MADE MOSQUES (Paul Proctor)

From Nashville to New York, there has been a lot of angry opposition lately to the building of new mosques in America. Considering the many Islamic attacks and attempts the world has had to endure, is it any wonder?

On May 23rd, the Associated Press reported the following: “. . . Jaweed Ansari, trustee for the proposed Islamic Center of Williamson County, told The Tennessean that the families were not prepared for the anger from neighbors that the plan excited.”
Yeah, well a lot of families weren’t prepared for the anger from Muslims on 9/11 either; so, we feel your pain . . . .

Shall we tell those traumatized by the brutal slaying of friends, family and fellow Americans to just get over it and welcome Muhammed’s minions into their neighborhoods with hugs and cookies? You can call Islamic perpetrators “radicals” and “extremists” all you want, but if Islam is a “peaceful religion” as our presidents keep telling us, why then have Muslims yet to renounce the Koran’s call to kill “infidels” like you and me? And, if they really want to live in peace and be welcomed into a society replete with “infidels,” they should expose the “radicals” and “extremists” within their ranks and help authorities bring them to justice. Until then, many Americans will continue to view Muslims with suspicion and contempt . . . .

Still, in many ways, I view today’s “Christianity” as largely responsible for the spread of Islam in this country. In my view, Muslims are merely filling the void left by biblically illiterate and morally confused Christians who are more interested in getting ahead and getting along than getting the gospel out. When our goals and values become indistinguishable from those of the world, what have the enemies of Christ to fear?
The Church’s misguided emphasis on results and relationships has spawned a generation or more of pragmatic pleasure-seekers who still think slick marketing and clever gimmicks are how God grows His Church in spite of the falling numbers and moral decay – that the lost can somehow be entertained into eternity with more bread and circuses, or tricked into the kingdom with a cross-less Christ.

The Church, like America itself, has been lulled into a calamity of its own making that has left the door wide open to foreigners who feign a friendship and faithfulness that will be our undoing if we fail to repent into the merciful arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. [emphasis added]

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. [Psalm 9:17]

Source: newswithviews.com MORE

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ADDITIONAL NEWS & ANALYSIS
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Day 100: 100 Days of Oil: The Numbers So Far LINK
According to government estimates, between 100 and 200 million gallons of oil have been released into the Gulf due to the Deep Water Horizon accident ... Oil recovered: 50 million gallons ... The Coast Guard said nearly 33 million gallons of oily water have been recovered and as much as 15 percent of that - or nearly 5 million gallons - is oil ... The Coast Guard estimates that nearly 11 million gallons of oil have been burned ... BP says it has recovered about 34.7 million gallons ... That's more than 50 million gallons in all pulled out of the gulf - or roughly a quarter of the 200 million gallons that entered it ... Approximately 637 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently oiled ... Approximately 57,539 square miles of Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing in order to balance economic and public health concerns ...
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Bus Hits Roadside Bomb, Killing 25 in Afghanistan ... U.S. Death Toll Also Rises LINK

Progress Towards July 2011 Troop Drawdown in Afghanistan Mixed, U.S. Envoy Says LINK

Massive 'War Log' Leak Wasn't Done Alone, Whistleblower Says LINK
Wikileaks publishes 92,000 Pentagon documents ... WikiLeaks founder says documents show 'true nature of this war'

Israeli police, Palestinian youths clash in east Jerusalem LINK

Chavez threatens to cut off oil to U.S. LINK

FBI Defends Guidelines for Domestic Surveillance LINK
Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims in terrorism and other criminal investigations

Hundreds of FBI Agents Investigated for Cheating on Test of Surveillance Rules LINK
The Justice Department is investigating whether hundreds of FBI agents cheated on a test of new rules allowing the bureau to conduct surveillance and open cases without evidence that a crime has been committed ... In some instances, agents took the open-book test together, violating rules that they take it alone

[analysis]: 10 Ways We Are Being Tracked, Traced, and Databased LINK

Law chief to probe KGB agent's claim that [Government scientist] David Kelly was 'exterminated' (UK) LINK

6-8 Million more Americans said nearing loss of their homes to foreclosure LINK

home vacancies rise as [home] ownership falls to lowest level in decade LINK

[analysis]: The Foreign Investment Solution for American Jobs LINK
You know that battery plant in Michigan the president visited the other day? ... It's Korean-owned

Biden Claims $600 Billion In Stimulus Funds Spent LINK
‘We’re building a government that delivers more bang for the buck than ever before’

Bailout Alert: U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion [TARP special inspector general] Says LINK

Hoyer Refuses to Rule Out Raising the Retirement Age to Address Social Security LINK

In the U.S., earthquakes pose significant risk to 75 million Americans in 39 states LINK

[scientists]: A Puzzling Collapse of Earth's Upper Atmosphere LINK

Insurers Push Plans Limiting Patient Choice of Doctors LINK

Psychiatric drug use skyrockets in U.S. military LINK
At least 17 percent of active-duty military personnel are currently taking an antidepressant, including as many as 6 percent of all deployed troops ... In contrast, the rate of antidepressant use in the wider U.S. public is only 10 percent

[analysis]: The government war on raw milk is an attack against food freedom LINK

[analysis]: Big Pharma nanotechnology encodes pills with tracking data that you swallow LINK
Instead of using materials and elements as they're found in nature to build and construct things, nanotechnologists are deconstructing the basic building blocks of these materials and elements to make completely new ones ... In other words, nanoscientists are reconstructing the molecular building blocks of our world without yet knowing what it will do to humans and to the environment

Major Food Safety Violations At Many U.S. Stadiums LINK

Study: BPA Found On Cash Register Receipts LINK [scroll down]

Nap Nanny Recliners Recalled After Infant Death LINK [scroll down]

HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS: JULY 27, 2010 LINK

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If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1 Timothy 5:8 KJV
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