NBC NEWS By Jim Avila Nov. 16 — The Bush administration continues to be careful about what it says concerning the religion of Osama bin Laden. However, it turns out that one of Bush’s close friends in the American religious establishment has had some very harsh words for the Muslim faith. There is fallout from such remarks made last month by Franklin Graham. FRANKLIN GRAHAM is one of America’s most powerful Christian leaders. He delivered the benediction at George W. Bush’s inauguration. His father, Billy, counseled a long list of presidents. But now Franklin is in trouble with political friends for comments made recently, calling the entire Islamic religion “wicked, violent and not of the same God.” “I don’t believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion,” said Graham. “When you read the Koran and you read the verses from the Koran, it instructs the killing of the infidel, for those that are non-Muslim.” Asked by NBC News to clarify his statement, Graham repeated his charge that Islam, as a whole, is an evil. “It wasn’t Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn’t Lutherans,” said Graham. “It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith.” Meanwhile, Ramadan, the holiest season of the Muslim year, has begun. Graham’s comments came as Bush, himself a deeply religious Christian, wished the world’s 1 billion Muslims, “health, prosperity and happiness during Ramadan.” “Islam never teaches hatred, Islam never teaches terrorism,” says Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America. The White House also distanced itself from Graham’s remarks Friday, saying the president “views Islam as a religion that preaches peace,” and that the terrorists do not represent what Islam teaches. FRANKLIN GRAHAM TO TAKEOVER MINISTRY FOR BILLY GRAHAM IS OFFICIAL
[Editor's Note: We have updated the whole Graham section which includes Franklin. Find out how much the combined ministries are worth. Franklin is putting a lot on the line. We have added a link to a free pamphlet and a number of articles. Go to: http://www.cephasministry.com/evangelists.html ] GRAHAM STANDS BY CHARACTERIZATION OF ISLAM AS 'WICKED' Evangelist Franklin Graham is standing by his recent
statement on a national news program that Islam "is a very
evil and wicked religion." In a prepared statement
released Sunday to The Charlotte Observer, Graham said: "It
is not my calling to analyze Islam or any other religions, though
I recognize that all religions have differences. In the past,
I have expressed my concerns about the teachings of Islam regarding
the treatment of women and the killing of non-Muslims or infidels." Graham,
49, does not plan to comment publicly on the issue, and only
will release Sunday's statement in response to questions.
http://www.chalcedon.edu/articles/walker011011.html PAT ROBERTSON DRAWS CRITICISM FOR REMARKS ON ISLAM
ISLAM HAS BECOME ITS OWN ENEMY
IRAQI ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND ANCIENT TEMPLE TO ISHTAR
NUNS HOPE FOR BOOST FROM ADS BEFORE 'POTTER'
THE MUSLIM CLAIM TO JERUSALEM
REAL WORLD NEWS 10/29/2001 Bit by bit, the evidence accumulates,
and some conservatives are dismayed at what they see: a Republican
administration sending low-key but clear signals that gays are
welcomed in its ranks and respected as a voting bloc. To many
gay activists, the Bush administration's overtures are encouraging,
though timid. Among staunch social conservatives - the so-called
pro-family lobby POPE IN MAJOR APPEAL TO CHINA FOR DIPLOMATIC TIES In his appeal to Beijing's communist government, which prohibits Catholics from recognizing his authority, the Pope said the world was facing ``profound disquiet'' and would benefit if both sides had direct dialogue. ``The normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See would undoubtedly have positive repercussions for humanity's progress,'' he said in a message to a convention on dialogue between China and the West. ``I express the hope that concrete forms of communication and cooperation between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China may soon be established,'' he said. China is one of the few countries without diplomatic relations with the Vatican (news - web sites) and those Chinese Catholics who do recognize the Pope as their spiritual leader worship underground. In his message, the Pope called the Catholic Church and China ``two of the most ancient institutions in existence'' and asked for ``forgiveness and understanding'' for the errors of missionaries in colonial times. The Pope's appeal, read out to participants of the international convention in Rome, was one of the most pressing he has made toward China since his election in 1978. The Beijing-backed Patriotic church says it has four million members. The Vatican says eight million Chinese are loyal to the Pope and worship in secret. Beijing says normalization of diplomatic ties is possible only if the Holy See severs relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province. Beijing expelled foreign missionaries and broke ties with the Vatican in the 1950s, after Communists won a civil war. The Pope's appeal was contained in a message sent to participants of a convention on Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit who started his mission to China 400 years ago and is still respected there as ``Li Madou,'' or ``the sage of the West.'' Significantly, the Pope recognized that some missionaries in the land where the Church is associated with colonial powers had not always behaved in the best interests of the Chinese. ``History, however, reminds us of the unfortunate fact that the work of members of the Church in China was not always without error,'' he said. DEEP SADNESS FOR PAST Saying he felt ``deep sadness'' for past error, he added that the Church should not fear historical truth and was ready, ''with deeply-felt pain,'' to admit the responsibility of her children. ``For all this I ask the forgiveness and understanding of those who may have felt hurt in some way by such actions on the part of Christians,'' he said. The request for forgiveness was the latest in a series of appeals the Pope has made in his 23-year Pontificate for the Catholic Church to come to grips with its sometimes tainted past. He has previously asked for forgiveness from Jews and indigenous peoples for historical wrongs. The Pope, who nourishes an ardent wish to visit China, said the Church had a keen desire to offer ``her humble and selfless service'' for the good of all Chinese people. Relations between the Vatican and Beijing hit an all-time low last year when the Pope canonized 120 Chinese martyrs killed between 1648 and 1930. Beijing angrily accused the Vatican of insulting China and glorifying imperialism.
CATHOLIC LIBERALS HAIL POPE'S APOLOGY TO CHINA Leading Roman Catholic liberals including the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O’Connor, yesterday hailed a papal apology to China as the latest mea culpa designed to "move the Church forward" by atoning for the past. The battle over the past is part of a wider jostling for position as Vatican conservatives and liberals eye the succession to the Pope who is 81 and in poor health. A month-long synod of bishops which ends today has also heard demands from Third World Catholic clergy for greater "collegiality" - a code word for democracy - and a devolution of power by the Curia, the Vatican hierarchy. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2001371994,00.html SALVATION ARMY FLIPS ON SAME-SEX BENEFITS 11.07.2001 A longtime Christian-based social service agency noted for its traditional views has decided to offer same-sex partner benefits to employees. The Salvation Army's Western Division, which encompasses 13 states, has announced it would reverse its policy on the issue - a move that will again allow the organization to compete for taxpayer money from San Francisco. Salvation Army officials first said the law conflicted with the organization's pro-family, Christian beliefs, but now the thinking is different. "I don't think there's been a theological shift," said Lt. Col. Bettie Love of the Salvation Army's Golden State Division. "I think there's been a new awareness of our world." http://www.wnd.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25228 BUSH CALLS FOR ACTION SUPPORTING RELIGIOUS CHARITIES 11.08.2001 -.Americans who contributed more than $1 billion
to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks have left unrelated charities
sorely wanting, President Bush told Senate leaders in an appeal
for action on his initiative supporting religious charities.
Bush wrote Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senate Republican
Leader Trent Lott to urge that by year's end they give him a
bill to sign that would bolster tax incentives for charitable
giving and allow religious groups to provide government-funded
social services. HARRY POTTER LINKED TO SATAN
FAITH SCHOOLS TO TEACH INTER-RELIGION TOLERANCE
CONGRESS MAY RESTRICT FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS BANNING PRAYER As Congress tries to pass its spending measures for the year,
House and Senate negotiators are considering a measure in the
education bill that would take federal funds from school districts
that unlawfully restrict student prayer. The new provision in
the education spending bill is a switch because it marks the
first time federal funding for schools has been tied to prayer
guidelines.
PRESBYTERIAN HEAD RAILS AGAINST BIBLICAL REFORM MOVEMENT 11.16.2001 - Rev. Jack Rogers, moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), denounced the denomination’s Presbyterian Lay Committee for its "militant fundamentalist" views, citing its opposition to repealing the church’s refusal to ordain homosexuals. Rogers’ remarks were made in an address to the Presbyterian Covenant Network during its recent annual meeting in Pasadena, California. The Network is the church’s largest organization working to repeal a provision in the church’s Book of Order that requires "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and woman or chastity in singleness" to be ordained. http://cultureandfamily.org/report/2001-11-15/r_pcusa.shtml 'OUR FEARS HAVE COME TRUE' SAYS PAKISTANI BISHOP AFTER SHOOTINGS
IN CHURCH ROMERO'S SUPPORTERS PUSH VATICAN FOR SAINTHOOD Tegucigalpa (ENI). Church leaders and others headed to a small Italian town last weekend to honour Archbishop Oscar Romero from El Salvador, and plot strategy for how to convince Vatican officials to finally declare the assassinated church leader an official martyr. Academics and clerics had been invited to a two-day conference on 26 and 27 October in Terni, between Rome and Assisi, in the diocese of Vincenzo Paglia, bishop of Terni, who is leading efforts to have the archbishop canonised. CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS TO START TALKS ON DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT POPE CALLS WORLD RELIGIONS TO PEACE SUMMIT 11.19.2001 - Pope John Paul Sunday called a meeting of leaders
of all the world's religions in January to pray for peace and
to work to overcome armed conflict at what he said was an historic
moment for humanity. The Pope said he hoped the January 24 meeting
in the Italian hill city of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis,
would be particularly helpful to improve relations between Christians
and Muslims following the September 11 attacks on the United
States. The Pope, speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's
Square, said the international situation was very worrying. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011118/wl/attack_pope_dc_4.html
SOUTHERN BAPTIST LEADER SPEAKS AT CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE. Friday Church News Notes, October 19, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org) Jack Taylor, who has ministered in Southern Baptist churches for 50 years, is scheduled to speak at a "Pastor's Healing Conference" at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship in Ontario in January. Taylor has pastored several churches and has authored 13 popular books. The Toronto Airport church promotes a wide variety of dangerous unscriptural practices, such as Spirit slaying, holy laughter, unintelligible babblings, shakings, and rolling on the floor -- all to the accompaniment of Christian rock music. John Arnott, the pastor of the Toronto Airport church, spoke at a large ecumenical conference in St. Louis last year which I attended with press credentials. My description of his ministry there can be found in the article "Celebration Jesus 2000: End Times Confusion in St. Louis" in the Charismatic section of the End Times Apostasy Database at the Way of Life web site http://www.wayoflife.org. See also the Fundamental Baptist CD-ROM Library. EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE WELCOMES 71 NEW MEMBER CHURCHES AND ORGANISATIONS
PLANNED LAW ON RELIGIOUS HATRED PROMPTS PROTESTS. London (ENI). In its efforts to prevent acts of religious hatred since the 11 September terror attacks, the British government is planning to introduce a law "of which the Taliban might be proud", according to civil libertarian and lawyer John Mortimer. Mortimer complained that the proposed law against incitement to religious hatred was "a disastrous attack on the freedom to debate one of the most important subjects of the world - religion". In the aftermath of the September attacks, the British home secretary announced that he planned to extend the law on incitement to include religious as well as racial hatred. [ENI] CHURCH CENSUS FORMS... VERY BAD NEWS ! Those Church census forms are circulating again. We urge people to refuse to fill these out. There is no law that can compel people to do so (not yet!). The answers will no doubt to used to aid the syncretism of the religions as the unified global Church comes together. There are rather innocent enough questions mixed with very intrusive ones. Your willingness or otherwise to accept a common Eucharist with the Roman Catholics, your willingness to adjust to the One Mind re. the altering of Scripture to suit the NWO, and your willingness to be merged into combined churches under the NCCA is being assessed as well. The forms will show clearly how submissive and agreeable to unity you are. Remember, the only sins you can commit in the One World Church is refusal to unite, conform and submit. We do not accept that the forms are confidential, as the survey states on the front page. Computers can make available your personal replies at the push of a button. These answers could go as far as the Vatican, without any of you being any the wiser. http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Despatch/vol83_census_snip.html MUSLIM LAWSUIT AGAINST AOL CHARGES "HATE SPEECH" TOLERANCE A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Alexandria, Virginia,
charging America Online with violating the 1964 Civil Rights
act by failing to curtail anti-Muslim "hate speech"
in chat rooms for Muslims. An attorney for the Muslim plaintiffs
says that the primary objective is to get AOL to enforce the
terms of its own service agreement , which prohibits members
from using "offensive" speech in any of AOL's 14,000
chat rooms. An America Online executive calls the lawsuit "totally
without merit" and says that the company has "zero
tolerance for hate speech." (AP/USA Today 31 Aug 2001) APOCALYPTIC THEOLOGY REVITALIZED BY ATTACKS Aaron M. Hopper, a 23-year-old middle-school teacher, was scanning the bookshelves of the Family Christian Store in Gainesville, Ga., today when a new paperback caught his attention. It was "Attack on America: New York, Jerusalem and the Role of Terrorism in the Last Days," by John C. Hagee, a San Antonio evangelist who writes about biblical prophecy and Armageddon. "I said, `I've got to have this,' " Mr. Hopper said. Mr. Hopper is far from alone in his interest.
"There's a heightened interest, no doubt about it," said the Rev. Russ G. Shinpoch, pastor of Wildwood Baptist Church in Acworth, Ga., northwest of Atlanta. "God got America's attention. And in my opinion, the window's going to be brief." Like many of his conservative counterparts, Mr. Shinpoch says he believes that Jesus could return within two or three years. "As far as we know, there's no more prophecy to be fulfilled," he said. "It literally could be any day." That, of course, is not necessarily the view within the mainstream of Christianity. Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute, a California group that studies what it considers to be aberrant Christian theology, said the prophetic strain of the faith had always suffered from an overly literal interpretation — and often misinterpretation — of the Scriptures. Mr. Hanegraaff said the leaders of the prophecy movement, beneficiaries of a multimillion-dollar industry, were always looking for cataclysmic events to validate their doomsday scenarios and paper over previously failed forecasts. "There are always these events that the prophecy teachers seize upon and say, `See, I told you so,' " Mr. Hanegraaff said. "A lot of these people are desperate, because how many times can you be wrong." Nonetheless, there is little question that Sept. 11 had a profound impact on those who subscribe to end-times theology. A recent survey of 500 bookstores by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association found that the number of nonfiction books about prophecy sold in the eight weeks after Sept. 11 had increased by 71 percent compared with the previous eight weeks. The country's top-selling hardcover fiction book, meanwhile, is "Desecration" (Tyndale House) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, the ninth volume in the enormously popular "Left Behind" series, which depicts a global battle between the forces of good and evil after the Rapture of the saved. The book, which made its debut atop The New York Times best-seller list last week and remains there this week, had an initial printing of 2.97 million copies, more than any other fiction book this year, according to Publishers Weekly. Another 100,000 copies will be printed in time for Christmas. Because the "Left Behind" series has such a devoted following, "Desecration" presumably would have sold well even had it not been published on Oct. 30. But sales thus far are more robust than for the eighth book in the series, which was published last year, and officials at Tyndale believe that the terrorist attacks spurred demand. "People who have read the `Left Behind' series felt they were seeing something right out of the books," said Daniel J. Balow, director of business development for the publisher. "And people who had never read the series have been pushed to consider what the future brings." CHRISTIAN THEME PARK SUES STATE OF FLORIDA A Christian theme park sued the county and state, saying the
park was wrongly denied tax-exempt status as a religious and
educational facility. The request for tax exemption for the Holy
Land Experience was turned down in June, when property appraiser
Bill Donegan said the park is a business, "not a museum,
not a school BOY SCOUTS GET USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES An agreement between House and Senate negotiators will ensure
access to public-school facilities for Boy Scout troops in spite
of their policy against homosexual scout masters. The deal
reached late Tuesday night on President Bush's education proposal
includes language that denies funds to state agencies or local
school We've finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism, and they don't want to fight it. They would, except it would put them on the same side as the United States. Not exactly smashing stereotypes of liberals as mincing pantywaists, the left's entire contribution to the war effort thus far has been to whine. In lieu of a military response against terrorists abroad and security precautions at home, liberals would like to get the whole thing over with and just throw Jerry Falwell in jail. Liberals compare Jerry Falwell to the Taliban, but then are furious with George Bush for not being Jesus Christ. Evidently, what a president is supposed to do is develop complete omniscience and omnipotence. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ucac/20011031/cm/the_eunuchs_are_whining_1.html COMMENT OF THE MONTH: A reporter stated: "how to you keep the public engaged without dropping a bomb now and then." That wasn't funny. 90% of the U.S. population "no dissenting voices." The latest in Florida: laws can be passed in secret now. (C-SPAN 10.28.2001) SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ANTHRAX CURE A substance that can destroy anthrax within seconds and could
revolutionize the fight against bio-terrorism has been discovered
in Austria, scientists said here Wednesday. The spray acts as
an anthrax "disinfectant", killing anthrax spores in
envelopes, on surfaces, on the skin and even in the nose, scientist
Apostolos Georgopolous of Vienna General Hospital told AFP. If
it passes tests by Austrian health authorities, the spray could
revolutionize FEDS MOVE TO SHUT DOWN 'ANTHRAX CURE' WEB SITES Dozens of Web sites have been warned by the government to
stop advertising non-medical treatments for anthrax and smallpox
or face prosecution. The products being offered included gas
masks and protective suits; mail sterilizers; biohazard test
kits; homeopathic remedies; and dietary supplements such as colloidal
silver, zinc mineral water, thyme and oregano oil. The Federal
Trade Commission said there is no scientific evidence for any
of these alternative treatments. REAL WORLD NEWS 11/01/2001 - ASHCROFT: 46 GROUPS DESIGNATED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
11.12.2001 - Public health officials want to shut down roads and airports, herd people into sports stadiums and, if needed, quarantine entire cities in the event of a smallpox attack, according to a plan being forwarded to all 50 governors this week. The plan, drafted at the request of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, could give states sweeping new powers. ``In tough times you have to make tough decisions,'' said Paul Jacobsen, assistant commissioner for the state Department of Public Health, who said he received a copy of the 50-page plan last week. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/americas_new_war/pox11082001.htm REAL WORLD NEWS 11/02/2001 GOVERNMENT PLANS TOUGH POWERS FOR ANY ANIMAL EPIDEMIC Draconian powers to slaughter animals against the wishes of
owners in future outbreaks of disease, and to kill scrapie-susceptible
sheep even if BSE is never found in the national flock, are being
taken by the Government. Legislation, which is expected to become
law in the New Year, would prevent farmers, owners of animal CONSUMERS MAY SOON BE SWIPING FINGERS INSTEAD OF CARDS TO PAY FOR PURCHASES
BIOMETRIC SCREENING IS HERE C-SPAN - 11/3/01 - Biometric screening came up twice this week. Once in connection with airports. They plan to offer "Biometric Screening" on a voluntary basis and rewarding those people with faster service. Another fellow was interviewed on the news and shared that the American public had been told for some time that they would be having to go to biometric scanning and the time is right now to begin using finger scanning at grocery stores, which will eliminate plastic cards for grocery shopping. ARMY KICKS OFF NEW SECURE SMART ID CARD ERA The U.S. military is spearheading a switch to ``smart'' identity
cards that could open up a new growth market as the world becomes
obsessed with security after last month's hijack attacks. The
U.S. defense department has ordered chip-based ID cards for 4.3
million military personnel over the next 18 months to tighten
security on 10.30.2001 - PENTAGON UNVEILS 'SMART' ID CARDS The nation's increasingly high-tech soldiers are getting another
computer in their arsenal - this one wallet-sized. The Pentagon
began arming four million troops and civilians on Monday with
"smart" ID cards that will allow them to open secure
doors, get cash, buy food - and soon check out weapons and other
military hardware. The cards, about the size of a credit card,
include a bar code, circuit chip and magnetic stripe to store
personal U.K. NATIONAL ID CARD READY AFTER SECRET TRIAL The Home Office has secretly created a prototype national
identity card in preparation for the introduction of ID cards
for all Britons. Ministers commissioned the Passport Agency
to carry out a feasibility study aimed at producing a card with
fingerprint and face-imaging technology, as well as encoded information
about the NEW LAW CONTAINS ID-CARD PROPOSAL Tucked quietly into the counterterrorism package that President
Bush signed into law last week is a measure that could require
foreigners to use identification cards to enter the United States.
A spokesman for Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Republican,
confirmed yesterday that his ID-card proposal was included in
the legislation at the last minute before the House and Senate
gave final approval to the overall bill. As proposed by Mr. Bond,
the provision called for a foreigner's digitized fingerprint
to be included on the identification card. "UNEMPLOYMENT" OF THING OF THE PAST? C-SPAN - 11.2.2001 - 1.6 million blue color out of work over past 6 years. Joint Economic Committee 8.3 % are looking for work. The problem is due to RELOCATION (new word for unemployment) of workers result of globalization and free world trade. We are suffering from overcapacity. THE ABM TREATY STILL HAS TO GO C-SPAN - Rumsfeld after his visit to Afghan neighbors said that Nations are rethinking policies, priorities, and relationships and that the ABM Treaty is getting in the way. WHAT IS THE WAR REALLY ABOUT? A writer for the Washington Post said the fight will not end with Afghanistan according to Bush. Afghanistan has the world's second largest oil reserves. C-SPAN - A handicapped caller heard President Bush say, 2 days after 9/11, that we can, "forget Social Security." Her food stamps have already been taken away. U.S. SHUTS DOWN SOMALIA INTERNET Somalia's only internet company and a key telecoms business have been forced to close because the United States suspects them of terrorist links. The two firms, Somalia Internet Company and al-Barakaat, both appear on a US list of organizations accused of funneling money to the al-Qaeda network. Both companies have stated they are not linked to terrorists. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1672000/1672220.stm SEIZING DICTATORIAL POWER 11.16.2001 - Misadvised by a frustrated and panic-stricken
attorney general, a president of the United States has just assumed
what amounts to dictatorial power to jail or execute aliens.
Intimidated by terrorists and inflamed by a passion for rough
justice, we are letting George W. Bush get away with the replacement
of the American rule of law with military kangaroo courts. In
his infamous emergency order, Bush admits to dismissing "the
principles of law and the rules of evidence" that undergird
America's system of justice. So it has come to this: The United States is under such threat
that the courts of the country can no longer be trusted. Justice
in this troubled time must be dispensed by secret military panels
operating in any part of the world. There will be no appeals.
This is the land of the free? Are we in this much trouble? These
are checks and balances? The executive branch, in this case the
president, will have the sole power to take any suspect from
any state or court and turn that suspect over to another part
of the executive branch, the Army, for a secret trial under secret
rules. I must have missed something in American history. MOVING TOWARD A POLICE STATE OR HAVE WE ARRIVED? I live a few blocks from the World Trade Center. In New York, we are still mourning the loss of so many after the attacks on our city. We want to arrest and punish the terrorists, eliminate the terrorist network and prevent future attacks. But the government's declared war on terrorism, and many of the anti-terrorism measures, include a curtailment of freedom and constitutional rights that have many of us very worried. http://www.antiwar.com/orig/ratner1.html SAVE THE CONSTITUTION
France has startled its fellow European Union member states by suggesting that not 10 but 12 new countries should be included in the next wave of expansion. While foreign ministers welcomed this week the annual progress reports, and said that the pace of enlargement negotiations should be maintained, France sought to add Bulgaria and Romania to the list for admission in 2004. Even a senior French diplomat said he was caught unaware by the remarks made on Monday by the French Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1666000/1666068.stm FRANCE AND GERMANY BACK E.U. CONSTITUTION
HEADS FOR 'BIG BANG' ENLARGEMENT BY 2004
HERE'S A LEADERSHIP VOID AT THE TOP OF EUROPE 11.09.2001 is recalibrating political reputations on both
sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, Tony Blair's speed and style
have given him new stature. For Germany's Gerhard Schröder
and Jacques Chirac of France the picture is fuzzier but not unfavorable.
The main loser looks to be Romano Prodi. At times like these
the public seeks leadership. That means clear messages on Europeans'
military commitment to the Afghanistan conflict or their position
on the extradition of terrorist suspects to death penalty countries
like America. The crisis presented Mr. Prodi, as head of the
European Commission, with a golden opportunity to shine, and
he has missed it. NEW LAWS WILL TURN E.U. INTO A SUPERPOWER, SAYS PRODI
RUSSIA COULD JOIN WTO IN 2003, OFFICIAL SAYS 11.15.2001 Russia could join the World Trade Organization
(WTO) as early as the first half of 2003, a senior official in
the Economic Development and Trade Ministry said, amid continuing
debate about the benefits accession might have on the economy.
Andrei Kushirenko, director of the ministry’s tariff department,
told Expert magazine this week that Russia planned to complete
talks with other WTO member states and finalize its terms of
entry by the end of next year. EXXON SAYS WAY IS CLEARED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA Breaking a logjam that has held up Western-led oil development
in Russia for years, Exxon Mobil said today that it was ready
to spend $4 billion over five years to develop large offshore
oil and gas fields in far eastern Russia. The project, which
could grow to $12 billion over its life of 30 to 40 years, will
be Russia's largest single foreign investment so far. In
recent months the Russian government has been passing measures
to clear the way for the project, which had languished since
the mid- 1990's awaiting new regulations and commitments to fixed
tax rates that Exxon Mobil called vital. RUSSIA ANXIOUS OVER GRIP ON OIL AS U.S. FIRMS JOIN GREAT GAME
11.19.2001 - President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation
spoke of a new concept of politics, based not upon fear but upon
the political will of peoples. He declared that "Our countries
have stopped hating each other, which allows both of us to get
rid of what was a terror for the world, namely nuclear arsenals
and other weapons of mass destruction". Regarding the new
world order, the Russian president stated that "We do not
need to frighten each other any more to reach agreements."
The new world order, based very firmly on the Moscow-London-Washington
axis, is cemented on mutual trust, collaboration and friendship,
instead of the suspicion, hatred and deceit apparent during the
Cold War years. PUTIN RULES OUT NATO MEMBERSHIP NATO Secretary General George Robertson said on Friday that
President Vladimir Putin had ruled out any attempt by Russia
to join the Atlantic alliance by the front door or back. "He
(Putin) said this was not some backdoor method of Russia getting
membership in NATO, and he already ruled out going in the front
door," Robertson told reporters after Kremlin talks with
Putin. The NATO chief was referring to discussions between the
military alliance and Moscow on building radically closer ties
to reflect their joint efforts in fighting terrorism. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO CUT OIL OUTPUT, EXPORTS Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko said Friday that Russia would cut oil production and exports by 50,000 barrels a day in the fourth quarter of 2001, Russian news reports said. Russia has been under pressure from OPEC and other major non-OPEC oil producers such as Norway and Mexico to cut production in order to help stabilize the global oil market. The 50,000 barrel figure includes a cut of 30,000 barrels that Russia earlier had announced, meaning that Friday's decision amounted to a further reduction of only 20,000 barrels a day. http://www.russiajournal.ru/news/rj_news.shtml?nd=1360 BUSH FEARS TOPPLING OF ARAFAT, ISLAMIC BACKLASH U.S. officials said President George Bush is alarmed by the prospect that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could endanger the offensive against Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden and his Afghan Taliban supporters. The officials said the White House is concerned that the Israeli incursion into Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank could topple the Palestinian Authority and prompt an Arab and Islamic backlash that would damage the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. At the same time, the officials said Bush has pressed PA Chairman Yasser Arafat to end attacks on Israel and arrest suspected terrorists. http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_2.html U.S. TURNS ATTENTION TO IRAQ The Pentagon has turned its sights toward Iraq as the world
braces for the war on terror to expand. Administration officials
said this week that Iraq, at the top of the State Department's
list of leading state sponsors of terrorism, continues to pose
a threat with a suspected biological weapons program still in
the works. Fox BEIJING WARNS U.S. AGAINST IRAQ ATTACK Beijing has sent subtle warnings to the United States and
its allies not to attack Iraq after their success in dismantling
the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. In articles and commentaries
believed to reflect the leadership's thinking, the official media
have warned against the danger of Washington and its allies entering
into "the second phase" of its anti-terrorist campaign,
which might include an attack on Iraq. Diplomatic analysts in
Beijing said in internal meetings, Chinese leaders had indicated
they might modify their policy of acquiescence toward the U.S.-led
anti-terrorist campaign should the military action spill over
to Iraq. REALWORLDNEWS.NET 11.20.2001 - PENTAGON BUILDS CASE TO BOMB IRAQ Defense Department strategists are building a case for a massive bombing of Iraq as a new phase of President Bush's war against terrorism, congressional and Pentagon sources say. Proponents of attacking Iraq, spearheaded by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, are now arguing privately that still-elusive evidence linking Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime to the terrorist attacks Septembert. 11 is not necessary to trigger a military strike. http://www.usatoday.com/news/attack/2001/11/19/iraq.htm OSLO PEACE AGREEMENT WAS INITIATED BY PRESIDENT BUSH SR. IN 1991 IN MADRID Peace agreement was initiated by President Bush Sr.. in 1991 in Madrid, Spain. NASA EMPLOYEE WAS ASKED WHY THE EXPLORATIONS? C-SPAN 11.6.2001 A former Nasa employee was asked what the purpose of space explorations are? He replied that they are looking for life on other planets. Leon Fuerth, former National Security Advisor to Al Gore. He also shared that thoughts result in electrical impulses. Concentration breaks brick walls as in the case of the ministry under TBN. FREE AIRLINE TICKETS TO THE U.K. C-SPAN - 11/3/01 Fox News: Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Airways, London, gave away 400 free airline tickets to get people back on planes. When he was asked why this generosity? He opened his jacket and displayed a t-shirt with "we are u knighted!" MEXICAN TRUCKS ARE ROLLING ACROSS THE STATES C-SPAN - 11/4/01 The wife of a trucker called in and told the listeners that Mexican trucks are running our food in the US. Her husband tried to find out where it was coming from and who the firm was that filled the trucks. There were no names on the trucks. They "shhhushhed" him and told him that he was asking questions that shouldn't be asked. The caller was extremely upset. THE RICHES OF WITCHCRAFT CNN - 11.4.2001 - 180 million Harry Potter books were distributed
in 26 languages. Senators are battling over a proposal that would bend President
Bush's policy on stem cell research to allow couples to donate
unused embryos from fertility clinics. The White House is recommending
a veto if the language stands. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., an
abortion opponent, said he rejects the idea because "it
goes further than the president's position." Brownback said
he plans to offer three amendments to a spending bill Thursday
to HONORING "TWO" WORLD LEADERS C-SPAN - On November 11, 2001 we were in shock when we watched what seemed to be the whole world gathering at the World Trade Center ruins to present their flags to President Bush and Secretary General Annan Kofiana. If a person had just tuned in and not known the preliminaries one could have easily assumed that the world leader was being honored by all the countries in the world. It was a strange feeling to see that much clout in one place. Eighty eight countries lost citizens in the World Trade Center and paraded their flags in honor of the dead two month observance of the terror attack. Poland, Portugal, Slovacia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Europeway, Pakistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe were among the mourners. Allah was the first to be addressed by a Muslim who instructed the listeners that we may receive guidance from Allah. He said that the focus should be on harmonizing society and that the Koran is the main source of healing. We should shed our differences and practice tolerance. We should share our own souls with Americans in general. A Rabbi spoke of the Jewish tragedy and reminded people that Israel mourns the destruction of their Temple and that there are small signs of hope that good will conquer evil. Catholic Bishop Sheridan of the New York Diocese spoke next with the usual generalities and no special message. NO CONTROL ON BIOLOGICAL AGENTS? C-SPAN 2 - November 11, 2001: Another shocker was the interview of author Judith Miller of the book: "Germs: Biological Weapons & America's Secret War". She is considered to be the authority on germ lines from a to z. She stated that there are no controls on biological agents. They are sold in wholesale houses from the U.S. world wide. Former President Clinton was briefed on this problem. He could not get the CIA or FBI to focus on it. They are not connected to each other. Laboratories are at universities where bio weapons experiments are conducted. The weapons are assembled at a cost less than $1 million. Nobody, including the government, knew they were doing it. Bio weapons are easy to get, to grow and fabricated. Before the war Iraq had 2200 gallons of liquid which was eventually destroyed. The Anthrax to Senator Dashel was an American strain. AIMS, Iowa State University, has distinctive DNA signatures. The silicon in it makes it fluffy. One inventor of new DNA lines stated that he was so obsessed with creating new germ lines that he couldn't stop imagining new germ designs. That is why he keeps doing it. This parallels the process of developing the "H" bomb. A SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT THE U.S. BORDER PATROL REVEALED 90 % OF PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THE U.S. WHO SHOULD BE DEPORTED ARE RELEASED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER SUPERVISION. C-SPAN November 13, 2001 - A former Deputy Chief Patrol Agent, border patrol, of ten years, was under a gag order. He dealt with undocumented aliens and had great difficulties in locating records, had nothing to go on. IDs could not be released. The IMS, Immigration and Naturalization Service in Blaine, Washington, was not cooperating with the border patrol. There was no effort to locate 95% of these people. There is no manpower, no interior immigration enforcement and uncontrolled illegal imigraton is common. For jobs illegal immigrants buy fraudulent Social Security Cards. There is no way to screen out terrorists. The Immigration Naturalization Service is a sinking ship. Many are convicted aggravated felons who are released into the streets. One of the problems is jail space to hold people. The IMS overrides convictions in favor of releasing aliens. No criminal checks, no lists required and future addresses required when released. They can consequently not be tracked. Ashcroft said that 330,000 are coming across our borders and back out. Ashcroft has ordered a reorganization of IMS following the hearing. Former Governor Lamb of Colorado stated that he expects the U.S. to grow to 500 million at least if not a billion due to immigration. Lamb and his wife Dotti set forth 10 commandments on how to be good Americans. FELLOW EMPLOYEES DISAPPEARED NO ONE KNOWS THEIR WHEREABOUTS C-SPAN November 18, 2001: A New Yorker told the following about her office. She said that fellow employees were picked up and all their belongings are still there. No one knows where they are. Unreasonable search and seizure do not expire and applies to all crimes. TONI BLAIR IN THE HOUSE OF COMMON REMOVES RIGHT OF JUDICIAL REVIEW C-SPAN Toni Blair seems to mirror President Bush by discussing the same issues that are under scrutiny in Washington, D.C. He stated that they have to remove civil rights to get power within the European Union and otherwise it would cause a gap. People could not be detained. "We need these powers." He promised to make the change to be reviewed on an annual basis. 541 postoffIces have closed in the United Kingdom. ISRAEL GETS $2.76 BILLION AS U.S.SENATE PASSES FOREIGN BILL The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed a $15.6 billion bill for foreign aid on Wednesday, including $2.76 billion in assistance for Israel, more than any other country. Egypt was second, and will receive a total of $1.955 billion http://www.cephasministry.com/news_israel_receives_more_than_anyone.html REAL WORLD NEWS 10/29/2001 PEACE COALITION STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT Members of the Peace Coalition yesterday called for an "end
to the war" and stepped up efforts to topple the Sharon
government. The coalition, formed last May, includes
Meretz, members of the Labor Party, and several lobbying groups,
including Peace Now, Netivot Shalom, and the Bereaved Parents
Circle. Its purpose is to MORE CHRISTIAN LEADERS VOICE CONCERN OVER ISRAELI ACTIONS RWN 11/02/2001 - Christian leaders from around Massachusetts
yesterday added their voices to those of three Episcopal bishops
calling for greater concern for Palestinian rights, as Jewish
leaders decried the Tuesday protest by the bishops outside the
Israeli consulate in Boston as unfairly one-sided. Following
the most dramatic local expression of Christian concern over
the conduct of the Israeli government, many Christians and Jews
said they were worried that a growing divide over the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict might endanger a relationship Christians and Jews have
worked hard to forge since World War II. APPEASING ISRAEL'S ENEMY RWN 11.06.2001 - The desire of the United States to create
a coalition with the very same Arab nations who are attempting
to eliminate Israel and who call the Christians "infidels"
is unconscionable. We must understand that we can't appease radical
Islam. It appears at this time in history that the Administration
of President George W. Bush has a greater fear and concern about
terrorism on our own soil and the availability of Middle East
oil, than about the supernatural consequences of directly coming
against God’s covenant land and His people. U.S. JEWS BACK PALESTINE STATE RWN 11.12.2001 - Almost 60 per cent of American Jews support
a Palestinian state and believe that reducing Middle East violence
will maintain global support for the US war on terrorism, according
to an opinion poll. The survey of 602 Jews sponsored by several
think-tanks, including the Israel Policy Forum, also found that
85 per cent believe it is important for Washington to take an
active role in trying to end the violence between Israelis and
Palestinians. Nearly three-quarters said the United States should
become actively involved in the peace process even if this led
to disagreements with Israel. SHARON 'SUMMONED' BY BELGIAN COURT 11.19.2001 - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is being summoned to a Belgian court to answer questions over his role in the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacres, say Belgian media reports. Two separate claims against Mr Sharon are being brought under a 1993 Belgian law, which allows war crimes and genocide to be tried in Belgium, even if the events took place elsewhere, and even if none of the victims was Belgian. A hearing has been set for 28 November, and Mr Sharon is expected to be issued with summons documents by the Belgian ambassador to Israel, says Le Soir newspaper. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1664000/1664443.stm DAVID NOLAN UPDATE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST http://www.ddolan.com/update13.html
BUSH'S DELIBERATE USE OF 'PALESTINE': TZEMACH NEWS SERVICE: NOVEMBER 17, 2001 "Palestine" entered the US government's lexicon with President Bush's speech to the UN, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday, another sign of the US commitment to an eventual Palestinian state. Until now, US officials have referred to the possibility of a "Palestinian state," but have never called it "Palestine." Powell said Bush's use of "Palestine" in his speech Saturday was deliberate and reflected administration policy. "No Republican president has ever made [such] a statement," Powell said. No Democrat, either. Until now, the State Department has used "Palestine" only to describe the British-controlled territory that existed before Israel's establishment in 1948. Bush wants to bolster Arab and Muslim support for the US-led war against terrorists and their protectors in Afghanistan. His statement was warmly welcomed by Arab delegates for referring to "recognized" borders, and for suggesting that Security Council resolutions implied statehood. :PRO-ISRAEL PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN RED CROSS QUITS: While the terrorist attacks of 11 September have overshadowed a dispute in the American Red Cross, they have not defused it. Bernadine Healy resigned two weeks ago as president of the organization. The dispute centered on membership for Magen David Adom [Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross] in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [the Islamic version of the Red Cross] - which has been blocked for 50 years. Healy was an outspoken advocate of its inclusion but her efforts were met by a wall of opposition from Arab states and other countries whose emergency medical teams belong to the Red Cross federation. Today, Afghanistan's medical organization has full membership in the federation whereas Magen David Adom is excluded. As President of the American Red Cross, Healy sponsored a policy of not transferring its dues to the international federation as long as the boycott on Magen David Adom continued. However, despite American pressure, members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva refused to authorize Magen David Adom's inclusion. The ostensible cause of the boycott is symbols - Magen David's symbol, the red star of David, is not one of the federation's two approved signs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Meantime, the international federation is hoping for a compromise if Magen David Adom would use a non-religious and non-national symbol. Denis McClean, a spokesman for the federation of the Red Cross, wrote recently that its members are "preparing to adopt an additional emblem, with no religious or nationalist connotations to stand alongside the Red Cross and Red Crescent." [What is the Red Crescent if it is not a religious and national symbol? SCROLLS FINISHED; G-D'S WORD PROCLAIMED: IBID., The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered 54 years ago in the Judean Desert, were published in their entirety for the first time on Thursday, HA'ARETZ reported. Emmanuel Tov, the project's editor-in-chief, said in a ceremony at the New York Public Library on Thursday, "After 54 years of excitement, expectation, tribulation, much criticism and a little praise, with the help of much inspiration and even more perspiration, the publication has been finalized." The 900 scrolls, which date from 250 B.C. to 70 A.D., were discovered in 1947 in caves overlooking the western shores of the Dead Sea. The incredible testimony of this is that, when Israel was formally re-established in 1947 (the year the United Nations voted to partition Israel), G-d established that His word was true with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls proved the validity of the Scriptures (including G-d's choosing of Israel as His elect nation). Now, when the nations (and many people in Israel) are seeking to destroy Israel, G-d once again gives witness to His Word that the nation of Israel is His chosen people and that the Land of Israel is His chosen land. "Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it" [Isaiah 34.1] Baruch Ha'Shem! Am Yisrael Chai! US WATCHES SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY FROM THE SKY:
CORNERSTONE FOR NEW SETTLEMENT; FOUR MORE ON THE WAY: TZEMACH NEWS SERVICE 24 November 2001 /9 Kislev 5762 This week, in the presence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive Sallai Meridor, a cornerstone ceremony was held laying the foundation of a new religious-community settlement called Halukim -- the first to be founded in the Negev for a decade. The settlement, being founded with Jewish Agency assistance, is 3 km north of Kibbutz Sde Boker, and is planned for 250 families. The Ministers of Housing and Tourism, the Chairman of the Jewish National Fund and the Head of the Ramat Hanegev Regional Council also attended the ceremony. The members of the new religious-Zionist yishuv have requested permission from Israel's Naming Committee to rename their town Merhav Am, in memory of the assassinated Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. Ze'evi's successor, Tourism Minister Benny Elon, expressed gratification that his own son was among the founding members of the new Negev community. The Jewish Agency is currently working to establish four more communities in the Negev, called Zukim, Be'er Milca, Haruv and a new community settlement near Rahat. The Jewish Agency is also involved in the expansion of 100 existing communities in regions of the Negev. In all, during 2001 the Jewish Agency invested more than NIS 20 million [$4.7 million] in Negev communities, most of which was directed to the establishment of new settlements, business development and tourism initiatives, constructing public and community buildings and developing human and management resources. Meanwhile, the Jordan Valley settlements have decided to offer newcomers free housing in an attempt to reverse the population drain. The free housing will be available in settlements that have suffered particularly heavy population losses, such as Gitit and Yafit. The council is not asking people to move permanently, but is rather hoping to persuade them to come for a period of three to six months. "The purpose of the free housing offer is to encourage the settlers who have stayed behind. It is very depressing to walk down a street at night and see empty houses," Artzielli said. Fifty-three families -- about 8 percent of the valley's Jewish population -- have left the valley settlements since the Intifada began last September [2000], due to both the danger of Palestinian attacks and an economic slump. Four Israelis have been killed by shooting attacks in the Jordan Valley over the last 13 months. Over 950 new immigrants arrived in Israel this week, more than 80% of them from the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe. Several dozen arrived from Ethiopia, as did an average of two families from each of France, Italy, England, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, Canada and India. Over 37,700 new immigrants have arrived in Israel since the beginning of the year. UNITED JERUSALEM IS WHAT ARIEL SHARON IS ASKING OF ISRAEL C-SPAN 12.3.2001 - On his emergency visit to the U.S. Sharon called for unity and stated that Israel's blood will be on their hands. He commended the brave leadership of President Bush with strength and determination. We will be victorious. We know who is guilty. Arafat is responsible and has chosen the path of terrorism. He referred to a significant shift. We will pursue the perpetrators. They will pay the price. There have been eight agreements signed by Israel said Ambassador Pinkas. There are 3,million Palestinians who would like to draw a line between Israel and them. They have to live and there is nobody available to straighten out the problems. Colin Powell on CNN said that we cannot tell Sharon what to do. Greenfield At Large said it is now between Israel and the Palestinians - not the Hamas anymore. War has been declared against Arafat by Sharon. Fox News on December 6, 2001 that Israel is in all out war with massive military retaliation and President Bush said that he will use sanctions against the Palestinians if they don't round up the perpetrators. US ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT DETAINS JEWS: Controversy surrounds US Attorney General John Ashcroft and the US Justice Department's detention of at least 60 Israeli Jews in the United States as part of America's 11 September terror probe. Some of the Jews have been jailed for up to 60 days on the pretext of minor offenses involving working papers and other violations. None of the detainments have produced a single public charge in connection with 11 September. Federal officials have presented no evidence that the Jews, most of whom worked selling toys and trinkets at kiosks in shopping malls, had anything to do with terrorism, reported the WASHINGTON POST on Friday... GERMAN ANTI-SEMITISM ON RISE: "Right-wing extremism now seems to have taken on a new quality.. Memorials and Jewish cemeteries are being defaced, incendiary devices hurled at synagogues and foreigners homes, and foreigners are being hunted. These are sadly not isolated cases any more." Meanwhile Egypt, Israel's 'peace' partner, is clamoring to
show its anti-Semitism. The Egyptian weekly RUZ AL-YUSUF reports
that the government-controlled television there will broadcast
a series in honor of Ramadan 'proving' that the Jews 'control'
much of the world. The programs will seek to show that the Jews
are advancing the agenda of the "Protocols of the Elders
of Zion", and claims that the Jews have already achieved
the following: Control of the world economy and political power;
the breakdown of morality via Jewish drug traffic; the extortion
of world leaders. MYTHS AND FACTS: MYTH: "The Temple Mount has always been a Muslim holy place and Judaism has no connection to the site." FACT: In January 2001, Palestinian Authority Mufti Ikrima Sabri told the German publication DIE WELT, "There is not [even] the smallest indication of the existence of a Jewish temple on this place in the past. In the whole city, there is not even a single stone indicating Jewish history." This view is contradicted by a book entitled "A Brief Guide to al-Haram al-Sharif", published by the Supreme Moslem Council in 1930. The Council, the supreme Moslem body in Jerusalem during the British Mandate, said in the guide that the Temple Mount site "is one of the oldest in the world. Its sanctity dates from the earliest times. Its identity with the site of Solomon's Temple is beyond dispute. This, too, is the spot, according to universal belief, on which David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings." In a description of the area of Solomon's Stables, which Islamic Waqf officials converted into a new mosque in 1996, the guide states: "...little is known for certain about the early history of the chamber itself. It dates probably as far back as the construction of Solomon's Temple... According to Josephus, it was in existence and was used as a place of refuge by the Jews at the time of the conquest of Jerusalem by Titus in the year 70 A.D." More authoritatively, the Koran -– the holy book of Islam -– describes Solomon’s construction of the First Temple (34:13) and recounts the destruction of the First and Second Temples (17:7).
Scenario #1 -- Armies are ready to roll, and armaments are cocked and ready to fire. For all the world, it looks as though all-out war is ready to commence. Suddenly, a "brilliant" person intervenes with a "shocking suggestion" that seems so simple and so brilliant that it may actually avert war. This suggestion might be that, since this conflict is a religious one between adherents of Judaism and Islam, and since both claim Jerusalem as their religious capital, why not make the city an International City? Once Jerusalem is internationalized, a sector within it could be designated as religious, and a combination worship center could be built, inside of which worshipers of all three Monotheistic Faiths -- Judaism, Islam, and Christian -- could worship together in peace. This suggestion could also be played out in the beginning of an actual shooting conflict, and could be presented as being responsible for preventing the conflict from escalating. Scenario #2 -- Israel opens up the second wave of Bush's global war against terrorism, by attacking the Hizbollah, which has been massed on the Lebanese border for the past several months. Scenario #3 -- Arafat is given yet one more opportunity to arrest the militant leaders and bring them to justice.
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