Video: Al-Qaeda Forms All-Female Brigade to Attack West

Al-Qaeda has formed an all-female 'Burkha Brigade' to infiltrate and hit Western military bases and targets, as they are less likely than men to attract suspicion.

A film posted online shows the all-female unit of al-Qaeda using an alarming array of weapons, including machine-guns, grenade rocket launchers and sniper rifles during their training session at an unknown location.

The women are thought to have been recruited from the war-torn Russian republic of Chechnya by an al-Qaeda-linked group, with bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, The Sun reported Sunday.

The report has raised concerns that the global terror network has formed all-female units because they are less likely to attract suspicion than men and can more easily infiltrate security barriers.

Women also remain less conspicuous as they generally hide the explosives beneath the abaya — the black cloak worn from head to toe, according to The Sun.

In September, a female suicide bomber in Afghanistan rammed an explosive-laden car into a mini-bus carrying foreign aviation workers to the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing at least 12 people, including eight South Africans.

In August, a 30-year-old Russian actress who converted to Islam killed Dagestan’s top Muslim spiritual leader Sheikh Said Afandi and six others in a suicide attack.

Turkic Chinese Muslim Separatists Fighting Alongside Radical Groups In Syria

Leaders from "East Turkestan" terror organizations have organized for members to head for Syria to participate in their quest for jihad, the Global Times has learned from Chinese anti-terrorism authorities.

The organizations include the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and the East Turkestan Education and Solidarity Association (ETESA) that push for "independence" for China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Since May, ETIM and ETESA members have been going to Syria and linking up with organizations like Al Qaeda to fight against the Syrian government, according to China's anti-terrorism authority.

"ETIM is being helped by Al Qaeda and they are collecting funds through drug and gun trafficking, kidnapping and robbery. ETIM selected and recruited separatists, criminals and terrorists who fled from Xinjiang to receive secret terrorism training, an official from the anti-terrorism authorities told the Global Times.

After receiving orders from Al Qaeda, terrorists from China came to Syria to meet with jihadists already on the ground before forming groups on the frontlines, the official said.

ETIM was listed as a terrorism organization in September 2009 and recognized by the China Ministry of Public Security as one of four "East Turkestan" terrorism organizations.

On April 6, the ministry identified its third batch of "East Turkestan" terrorists with most being affiliated with ETIM. 

The headquarters of ETESA, located in Istanbul, are quite extensive and include research, media, social affairs, education and women's affairs departments. It aims to "educate and train Muslims" in Xinjiang and "set them free" by forming a Muslim state, according to a second official.

Imad Moustapha, ambassador for Syria in China, told the Global Times that they are not clear about the terrorism activities made by jihadists from the "East Turkestan" terrorist groups in Syria.

"But it's not a surprise that such things happen," Imad said, adding that extremists from several countries including Libya and Iraq had been fighting along the Turkish-Syrian border and inside Syria.

"These men came to Syria from Turkey," said Imad, accusing the Turkish government of indulging in these activities.

Murat Salim Esenli, the Turkish ambassador to China, denied the accusation, saying Turkey also faces terrorism threats. 

Ayman al-Zawahri, the head of Al Qaeda, incited his followers to join in the war against Syria on Saturday after anti-terrorism organs from the UN, the US and Europe expressed their concern that the ongoing Syrian war would help galvanize global terror networks.

Source

Hurricane Sandy's Death Toll Rises To 65 In Haiti

Carmene Chales, left, walks with Anes Michaelange and one-year-old Alexandra Alexandre through an area where Hurricane Sandy triggered flooding in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. (AP / Dieu Nalio Chery)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- As Americans braced Sunday for Hurricane Sandy, Haiti was still suffering.
Officials raised the storm-related death toll across the Caribbean to 65, with 51 of those coming in Haiti, which was pelted by three days of constant rains that ended only on Friday.

As the rains stopped and rivers began to recede, authorities were getting a fuller idea of how much damage Sandy brought on Haiti. Bridges collapsed. Banana crops were ruined. Homes were underwater. Officials said the death toll might still rise.

"This is a disaster of major proportions," Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told The Associated Press, adding with a touch of hyperbole, "The whole south is under water."

The country's ramshackle housing and denuded hillsides are especially vulnerable to flooding. The bulk of the deaths were in the southern part of the country and the area around Port-au-Prince, the capital, which holds most of the 370,000 Haitians who are still living in flimsy shelters as a result of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Santos Alexis, mayor of the southern city of Leogane, said Sunday that the rivers were receding and that people were beginning to dry their belongings in the sun.
"Things are back to being a little quiet," Alexis said by telephone. "We have seen the end."

Sandy also killed 11 in Cuba, where officials said it destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of houses. Deaths were also reported in Jamaica, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Authorities in the Dominican Republic said the storm destroyed several bridges and isolated at least 130 communities while damaging an estimated 3,500 homes.

In the Bahamas, Wolf Seyfert, operations director at local airline Western Air, said the domestic terminal of Grand Bahamas' airport received "substantial damage" from Sandy's battering storm surge and would need to be rebuilt.

Read more: CTV News

Tsunami Warnings Downgraded After B.C. Coastal Earthquake

The epicenter of the earthquake that hit the Haida Gwaii region of B.C. is shown in this image taken from Google Earth on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012.

This map from the U.S. Geological Survey shows the location of the epicenter of an earthquake that hit Haida Gwaii, B.C. on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012.

A number of tsunami warnings were downgraded to advisories late Saturday after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of British Columbia.

A tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory for a coastal area from the north tip of Vancouver Island to Cape Decision, Alaska, according to a bulletin issued at 11:17 p.m.. PT by the U.S. National Weather Service’s West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

Advisories remained in effect for a region stretching from the Washington-B.C. border to the north tip of Vancouver Island, and for coastal areas of Washington, Oregon and California.

The agency said that “a tsunami has been generated,” which was expected to impact low-lying areas covered by the advisories. The agency advised residents to watch for instructions from local emergency officials.

• “A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami is capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to people in or very near the water is expected,” a bulletin issued just before midnight said.
• “Significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory.”
• The bulletin said currents that may pose a hazard to swimmers, boats and coastal structures “may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.”

A tsunami warning remained in effect for Hawaii.

Read more: here
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'Jesus Christ spoke of earthquakes as "signs" of His coming again to earth. He said, "There will be earthquakes in divers places" (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8), a fact now verified by the global distribution of earthquakes recorded on seismographs. Furthermore, He said this sign is the "beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8; Mark 13:8). The word translated "sorrows" in many English Bibles is the Greek work for "birth pangs." Just as we know that a woman is going to give birth to a child because of birth pangs, Jesus says we know that the intolerable anguish of God's judgment and the return of His Son is at hand.' See more, here.

Hezbollah Threatens Galilee If War Comes

The next conflict involving Israel will not be another skirmish, according to a terrorism analyst for the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
“They [have] been saying that in the next war, the stakes will be much higher,” says Benedetta Berti. “It will be a decisive war.”

That the stakes are high was affirmed by a statement from Hezbollah on an English-language website that in the case of war, the Galilee region of Israel will be targeted.

Hezbollah has its sights on Galilee because military strategists say it is a key location between the Golan Heights to the east and Lebanon to the north and west. 

Berti adds that the rhetoric has become more intense since the 2006 war.
“After 2006 they’ve been talking a lot about the escalation of the next conflict. [Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah said to me that in the last war, there were limited rockets in the north. In the next war they’ll be aiming for all of Israel. Continued, here.

Church In Nigeria Hit By Suicide Bomb Attack

At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing during Mass at a Catholic church in northern Nigeria, officials say.

An explosive-laden vehicle drove into the church and detonated its load, ripping a hole in the wall and roof.
The attack happened in Kaduna, which has been targeted by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the recent past.

President Goodluck Jonathan promised to "redouble" his government's efforts to tackle terrorism and violence.
He called the attack part of an "unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation".

A spokesman for the local governor has called for calm, pleading with people on local radio not to retaliate.
The Nigerian Emergency Management Agency told the BBC that Christian youths attacked a vehicle that had come to rescue survivors after the attack, smashing one of the windows.

Unconfirmed reports said at least two people were killed in reprisal attacks by Christians after the bombing.
No group has said it carried out the bombing.

Looking for sanctuary
 
The attack happened at St Rita's church in the Malali neighbourhood of the city.
The vehicle had been stopped at the security gate outside the church.
The driver initially reversed, but then careered straight through the church wall and detonated the bomb.

Members of the choir are thought to be among the dead and injured.
The church was surrounded by soldiers and police after the blast, and ambulances were taking the injured to hospital.
Nigeria's north has a large Muslim majority whereas the south is most populated by Christians and those who follow traditional religions.

Kaduna is on the dividing line between the two areas.
The BBC's Will Ross in Kaduna says many people have come to the city in recent months in search of sanctuary from violence in other parts of northern Nigeria.
Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow the government and impose an extreme form of Islamic law.

The group has said it carried out previous attacks on churches in Kaduna state in June.
At least 50 people were killed in the bombings and the reprisals that followed.

Source.

Greek Orthodox Priest Abducted In Syria Found Dead

A Greek Orthodox priest has been found slain after being kidnapped near the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Syrian government and the Vatican news service reported Thursday.

According to a story by the LA Times, the body of the Rev. Fadi Jamil Haddad, pastor of St. Elias Church in Qatana, outside Damascus, was discovered in the Jaramana district of the capital, reported Agenzia Fides, the Vatican news service.

The site was not far from the area where he was kidnapped by an “unidentified armed group" last Friday, the agency said.
The Vatican agency quoted a colleague as saying the priest had been “horribly tortured.”
According to the LA Times, the official Syrian news service said the priest was found with a gunshot wound to his head. The government news agency blamed the crime on “terrorists,” its usual characterization of the armed opposition fighting to oust President Bashar Assad.
According to the official account, the priest was abducted while seeking the release of another person who had been kidnapped by militants.

However, the LA Times said, it was unclear if the priest’s slaying was political, sectarian or criminal in nature. Many Syrians have complained of a breakdown in law and order and a spike in kidnapping for ransom and other crimes as security has deteriorated. Opportunistic criminals have moved to take advantage of the nation's security void.

The Vatican news agency reported that the priest’s kidnappers had demanded a ransom equivalent to about $715,000 for the priest’s release. “It was, however, impossible to find the money and meet this exorbitant demand,” reported Agenzia Fides.


The LA Times said the Greek Orthodox population is considered the largest Christian denomination in Syria, where Christians represent perhaps 10 percent of the population. Syria is overwhelmingly Muslim.

Christian leaders in Syria say their community, which has ancient roots, is in a precarious position. The LA Times reported that some Christians have joined the rebellion and called for Assad to step down. However, many Syrian Christians back Assad, whose administration has been tolerant of religious minorities even as it has crushed political dissent.

The LA Times said Assad has tried to rally support among Christians and other minorities against the armed rebellion, which is led by the nation's Sunni Muslim majority. There have been reports from Syria of government efforts to arm Christian communities. But some Christian leaders have urged their coreligionists to remain neutral in the conflict.

According to the LA Times, some Christians voice fears that Islamists will take over the secular Syrian government and that the nation will experience the kind of sectarian violence, including the bombing of churches and torching of Christian shops, that ravaged neighboring Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. Hussein, like Assad, was a secular autocrat who tolerated Christian religious practice. Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians fled to Syria in the aftermath of Hussein’s fall. Source.

Obama Ad Implores Women "To Do It With A Great Guy"

A flirtatious new ad intended to bring out young female voters to re-elect Barack Obama is drawing attention for its comparison of voting to a woman’s “first time.”
The ad features Lena Dunham, creator and star of HBO’s ‘Girls,’ a show that follows the sex and dating lives of four young women.

“Your first time shouldn’t be with just anybody, you want to do it with a great guy,” Dunham advises viewers. “Someone who really cares about and understands women, someone who cares if you get health insurance and specifically whether you get birth control. The consequences are huge.”

Dunham goes on to say her first voting experience was “a line in the sand” between being a girl and becoming a woman.

But initial reaction to the one-minute ad appears to be mixed.
While some comments on YouTube applauded Dunham, others called the ad “creepy” and “tasteless” and said it encouraged men to think of women strictly in terms of their sex value.

With over 275,000 views by Friday afternoon, roughly 60 per of those who voted on the video disliked it.
The spot was also slammed as offensive on conservative blog sites.
The ad comes on the heels of a new poll that shows Obama has lost ground with female voters, a demographic he won easily in the 2008 election and one where Romney has had difficulty.

Democrats have tried to play up Obama’s appeal with women, warning about new challenges to abortion laws if the Republicans win and relentlessly mocking a debate comment by Romney about summoning “binders full ofwomen” when he was governor of Massachusetts.

Romney has also had to deal with controversial comments by Richard Mourdock, an Indiana senate candidate he endorsed. Mourdock recently said that if a woman becomes pregnant through rape, it’s God’s will.

Rhetoric appears to be ramping up in both camps in order to sway undecided voters with less than two weeks to go in the closely contested race to the White House.


Read more: CTV News

High-Powered Exec Became Homeless After 9/11, Then God Sent Angels To Rescue Her

She was one of only two African-American women working in the executive ranks of Kemper Insurance at their offices in the World Trade Center. The fiery ordeal of 9/11 unhinged her mind to such an extent that doctors said she would never work again – but God had other plans.

Leslie Haskin at Ground Zero

“My job was very stressful and I was very important to my group as director of operations,” says Leslie Haskin. “I helped determine the strategic direction of the company.”

She admits she was not a nice person in those days. The nickname used behind her back was “ice princess,” partly due to her frosty attitude and because she insisted underlings get to the point within three minutes on any issue they brought to her.

She was the youngest of 15 children raised in Chicago by her father, a minister, and mother, a choir director. When she left Chicago for New York, she turned her back on her upbringing.

“I wanted no part of God or church or my family because of their strong religious faith,” she recalls. “There is a difference between being a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ,” she notes. “I had no love for Him.”

At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, she talked with her assistant next to a large window on the 37th floor of the North Tower – the first building hit. “I felt an incredible explosion that engaged all my senses,” Haskin says. ‘I felt it, smelled it, and heard it. It was a huge event.”

Even though she was many floors away from the crucible of fire and destruction in the impact zone, she and her coworkers grasped the dangers immediately. “Ceilings were collapsing and you could see fire through the seams. The building swayed back and forth and never righted itself. There were explosions everywhere,” she recounts.

As Haskin and her coworker looked out the window, they saw papers, furniture and bodies plunging to the ground, banging against the building as they fell.

An underwriting director ran through the office yelling, “The building is coming down; the building is coming down!”

MORE

Now Jihadists Put Bull's-Eye On Muslims

Now just being a Muslim apparently isn’t good enough for some radicals. A statement issued by a jihadist group in Pakistan labels non-jihadist Muslims as “kafirs” and calls for non-jihadi Muslims to be killed.

The report released on Islam Watch says that non-jihadi Muslims are not following the path of the Prophet Muhammad and should be treated the same as infidels.

 

The Quran quotes are authentic. It has always been true that non-jihadi Muslims have been challenged as not Muslim enough by jihadis,” Geller said.

 

Center for the Study of Political Islam Executive Director Bill Warner has done research into the issue and confirms that jihadi Muslims have a record of targeting Muslims they believe aren’t practicing true Islam.
Warner’s research shows that from 2002 through 2011, the number of Muslim on Muslim attacks has gone from a few hundred per year to over 1,500 per year.

“There has always been the jihad of purification, to act on Muslims who aren’t following their doctrine well,” Warner said.

“However, we have to understand that the Quran speaks of the fact that one Muslim may not call another Muslim a kafir, so in order to kill them they must find their Islam lacking,” Warner said.

“So if your Islam is weak you can be killed, however, the Quran calls them hypocrites because Muslims aren’t supposed to call other Muslims kafirs,” Warner said.

Warner explains that Islam covers both sides of every issue.
“You have to understand that within Islam there’s always a yes and always a no. There are always two answers to every question. What is jihad? It’s the inner struggle. What is jihad? Oh, it’s killing kafirs,” Warner said.

“I don’t know of anything where there’s simply a single answer,” Warner said. “There’s always a way to do anything you want to do in Islam.”

“Muslims kill each other all the time. What do you think is happening in Syria right now?” Warner said.

Read more, here.

Obama-Romney Faceoffs Failed Voters

In the 2016 debates, triggered by anti-plagiarism software, an on-screen headline should immediately notify voters whenever a candidate repeats 10 or more words in the precise order that he has used them before in public. This technological adjustment would be designed to embarrass candidates who lapse into stump speeches (“I know what it takes to create 12 million new jobs”). And it would move us closer to the dream of presidential debates as an exchange of ideas, not sound bites.

Here’s another proposal.
The saddest part of Monday night’s debate was moderator Bob Schieffer’s repeated plaintive pleas to “get back to foreign policy,” so if two future candidates cannot bother to devote a full 90 minutes to global issues, they would be obligated to jointly sign a binding contract declaring “The 21st century will never be an American century.” No more talk about American exceptionalism and “this nation is the hope of the earth” if you neglect to mention India in a presidential debate. If the American voters zone out at the mention of foreign policy, then it’s time to let the United Nations or the Miss Universe contestants safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.


It’s a depressing commentary when the most indelible memories from Debates 2012 revolve around frustrations with the format. You could fill an entire State of the Union address with all the topics that never received any serious discussion from Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

You could begin with global warming, where the consequences are apt to be felt long before the budget deficits supposedly turn America into Greece. That segues into the question of how America should respond if the euro collapses over economic tensions between northern and southern Europe. And since the Federal Reserve would lead any economic rescue mission, how about discussing what standards the next president would use in picking a successor to Ben Bernanke when his term expires in early 2014?

If voters have tentative answers to questions like these, then clearly they possess sources of information far beyond the debates. The 360 minutes of the four prime-time faceoffs did not so much circle the globe as demonstrate the vacuity of circle-your-wagons politics.

That said, like a crystal spring bubbling up to quench the thirst of a wagon train on the parched journey west, there were a few moments of unexpected policy substance during Monday night’s debate.

It was significant, for example, that Romney endorsed Obama’s dramatic expansion of drone attacks: “I support that entirely and feel the president was right to up the usage of that technology.” With Romney joining Obama in the Drones Club (hat tip: P.G. Wodehouse), targeted assassinations from the air are now the bipartisan policy of the United States.

They may indeed be an effective tactic against the remnants of al-Qaeda, but at what point will the terrorist threat be reduced enough to return to more traditional tactics? Nearly 40 years ago, the Church Committee revealed decades of CIA assassination plots, especially eight different efforts to kill Fidel Castro. The national consensus then was that the risk of retaliation (not to mention moral qualms) did not justify state-sanctioned murder. Romney and Obama have never attempted to explain what has changed since the height of the Cold War.

Read more: Here

The Emotional Healing of Benny And Suzanne Hinn

Earlier this month, Pastor Benny and his wife, Suzanne, officially announced that they were reconciling after being divorced for almost two years. 

In February 2010, Don Price, the longtime senior advisor to Benny Hinn Ministries confirmed reports in the news that Suzanne had filed a petition of divorce in Orange County Superior Court on February 1, 2010.  She cited irreconcilable differences. 

The couple had been separated since January 26, but the papers were filed about a week later.   Don issued a statement saying, “Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice.  The couple has been married for more than 30 years.
 
Later, in a letter to his partners, Pastor Benny shared his heart was broken at the filing of divorce papers from his wife.   Though Suzanne was under great stress, neither Pastor Benny, their children nor her parents expected this to happen – divorce was the furthest thing on everyone’s minds.  Suzanne never gave a hint to anyone in the family that this was on her mind. 

At the writing of that letter, Pastor Benny and his children didn’t know why she did it.  Pastor Benny maintained that there was no immorality in his life or Suzanne’s.   They had kept their covenant with God and stayed pure before Him.
In July of 2010 the National Enquirer reported – with pictures – that Benny Hinn was dating Paula White.  Benny denied any affair.  He does say that he was wrong to date Paula as he was not yet divorced at that time.  But he was angry at life, his failures and having an empty home.  He realized it was unwise and a lapse of judgment.

Prayers, repentance, forgiveness and personal healing made the Hinns' marriage restoration possible.  Suzanne says that Benny and she had contact after the divorce only for matters regarding the finalization of the divorce and family matters.  It wasn’t until Christmas of 2011 that the reconciliation truly started.  Suzanne had the family over for Christmas, including Benny.  He says he saw “the girl he married,” and they began communicating more.  Suzanne says last month Benny shared with her what God had shown him about why their marriage ended........  Continued, here and on the video below.

Investigating The Assassination Of Ambassador Stevens

Anyone who surfed the internet when the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi was attacked can figure out that photos with guys carrying AK-47′s standing in front of the embassy meant that terrorists were carrying out a terrorist attack and were not participating in a demonstration over a film.
Despite this, Joe Biden – in his debate with Paul Ryan – blamed the intelligence community when the Internet was at his fingertips.
A Libyan whistleblower who wrote to World Net Daily stated:

“The point everyone misses is that Ghadafi was not a radical Islamist, he kept Al Qaeda out of Libya. If it had not been for NATO, Obama and Clinton, Al Qaeda would not be in Libya and Chris Stevens would still be alive.”

That whistleblower is right.
Libya was Obama’s war and Biden abdicated responsibility on a national stage.

We could not ignore this whistleblower because he provided a detailed 270-page, official top-secret document he’d obtained after Qaddafi was ousted. That document was referred to me for analysis. Of particular interest was a dangerous and corrupt individual named Mohammad Abdullah Aqil. Aqil, the whistleblower alleges, was an Al-Qaeda funder who is associated with Abdul Hakem Belhaj and that Belhaj worked closely with Al-Qaeda, to an extent that includes other details which we are not at liberty to disclose. The 270-page document on Libya turned out to be a wealth of valid information relative to the web of corruption that has spanned across several countries, from Libya to Dubai and Jordan.

Indeed, Belhaj’s history goes way back. He had arrived in Afghanistan in 1988 and fought in the Soviet-Afghan war. In 1992, after the Mujahideen took Kabul, he traveled across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, before returning to Libya in 1992 where he formed the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), which failed to overthrow Colonel Qaddafi.

After Obama’s support for the Libyan revolution, Belhaj became the leader of the Misrata revolutionaries who sought to capture the capital Tripoli, which they ultimately did before ousting Gaddafi.

I began my research, using Arabic sources and sure enough, much of the data has merit. Al-Masry al-Yawm reported on March 3rd, 2011 in its 2638 edition, that when the Central Intelligence building was destroyed in Tripoli, top-secret documents were scattered everywhere, which explains how a whistleblower / informant would have been able to secure a copy of the document in question.

Story by Walid Shoebat, continued , here.

Wiesenthal Center: US Must End Brotherhood Ties

 

Call comes after Egyptian President Morsi allegedly seen mouthing "Amen" to prayer by cleric urging destruction of Jews.

 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center on Monday reiterated its call to US President Barack Obama to sever ties with the Muslim Brotherhood after Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi attended a prayer service during which an Islamic cleric called for the Jews to be destroyed.

According to the Center, Egypt’s Channel 1 broadcast cleric Futouh Abd Al-Nabi Mansour's sermon in which he prayed: "Oh Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters. Oh Allah, disperse them, rend them as under. Oh Allah, demonstrate Your might and greatness upon them."

Continued, here.

Hopes Dim For Syria Cease-Fire

Government attacks and fierce fighting continued in Syria Tuesday as hopes grew slimmer for a cease-fire during this week's Muslim holiday.

The opposition Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said that Syrian warplanes raided a neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo and rebels forces were reported battling government forces in several parts of the country.

The Observatory said one rebel was killed in fighting in Aleppo and the French News Agency said at least two rebels were killed in skirmishes outside Damascus. There were reports of gunfire in the capital.

Clashes were also reported in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and in Daraa, southern Syria.

The fighting comes days ahead of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha during which peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has proposed a cease-fire. The U.N. peacekeeping chief said he is preparing in case a cease-fire takes hold in Syria.
Continued, here.

British Al-Qaeda Gang Planned 'Another 9/11' In UK

An al-Qaeda inspired gang of British Muslims planned to carry out “another 9/11” in the UK with up to eight suicide bombers, a court heard.

Terrorist plotters (from the left) Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27 Photo: PA

A Jihadist group, from Birmingham, were to target crowded areas to cause “mass death” in a terror plot that was set to be even more devastating than the 7/7 London bombings, Woolwich Crown Court was told.

Two of the alleged ringleaders had received terror training in Pakistan and made martyrdom videos to be released after they had “blown themselves up”.

They were taught in bomb-making, how to use weapons and poisons before returning to the UK to recruit others for their plot.

That included arranging for others to be sent to Pakistan for training as well. They planned to detonate homemade bombs in up to eight rucksacks and may also have blown others up with bombs on timers.....Continued, here.

New FJP Leader In Egypt Calls For Sharia Law

Saad al-Katatny was elected chairman of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, Egyptian media reported Friday.

He beat out FJP’s acting leader Essam al- Erian in a vote that took place October 6. The FJP is Egypt’s largest political party, currently occupying 47 percent of all seats in the country’s lower house of parliament.

Katatny hailed his election as “a first step” towards achieving the goals of the FJP, according to Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper. In this respect, Katatny was quoted as saying that “The Muslim Brotherhood established the [FJP] to represent the Brotherhood’s political project, which, in the end, will be a wise government that will institute Islamic Shari’a law.”

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi earlier this year ran for office on the FJP ticket. However, he resigned from the party immediately after being elected. Last week Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Muhammad Badie called on Muslims worldwide to liberate Jerusalem by means of jihad.

 According to AFP, in his weekly message to supporters, Badie asserted that “The jihad for the recovery of Jerusalem is a duty for all Muslims,” stressing that the city’s conquest “will not be done through negotiations or at the United Nations.”

The Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide previously vowed that if the Muslim Brotherhood ever rose to power in Egypt, it would work to sever relations with Israel. “We are certainly not happy with the illegitimate marriage between Cairo and Tel Aviv,” he said. “Once we rise to power we will change many things in Egypt’s policy, starting with the country’s relations with Israel which have caused us great harm.” Continued

There Is Hope In Jesus

I just visited the Youtube site with the intention to search for some of my favorite Greek singers' videos.

Instead, I discovered the following story of hope and liberation from drugs and gang violence.

Immediately, after watching it, the thought crossed my mind that this would be a great testimony to share with my blog audience.

May the Good Lord touch you in a very special way as you watch this video:

Arab-Israeli Christian Minister Calls For A "Spiritual Arab Spring" In The Middle-East

A young Arab-Israeli Christian pastor, who has been beaten and stoned for his faith, is calling on American Christians to pray for a ‘Spiritual’ Arab Spring throughout the Middle East.

Pastor Steven Khoury (Courtesy: Holy Land Missions).

Steven Khoury was born in the city of Jerusalem and grew up in the city of Bethlehem, five minutes from the birth place of Christ. On May 10, 1990, Khoury gave his life to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“I am glad, not for what I have done, but for what Christ has done for me on Calvary’s Cross . I am glad that Christ showed mercy to me and gave His life that I might be saved. Growing up on the Mission field for twenty years has not only taught me the life of a missionary, but also the struggles and battles of every believer,” Khoury says on his website, www.holylandmissions.org

Khoury adds: “God has burdened my heart in a great way. He has shown me that Arabs can come to Salvation; I have witnessed that Jews are coming to the MESSIAH, and that many in Israel from all backgrounds are losing hope in life. Seeing people bleed every day, and seeing a person one day and gone the next because of violence and terrorism has made me appreciate life.”

Holy Land Missions exists to preach the Gospel to the hurting nation of Israel and the Palestinian peoples, bringing worldwide awareness of the persecution of born again Christians living in the Holy Land today, “Building Hope in lives that lost it, Planting Love in hearts that forgot it, to build a better tomorrow."

The organization’s current mission is building a multi-purpose Worship Center in Jerusalem.
Khoury pastors Calvary Jerusalem Church, as well as a church in Bethlehem, and four other sites in Israel.

Pastor Khoury attended Bible College in Springfield, MO, and received his Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry and Bible, along with his official Ordination Certificate. He has served in ministry in both the States and Israel over the past 7 years. As an affiliate with the BBFI, and a member of the National Christian Foundation, he is the youngest locally- ordained Arab pastor in Israel and surrounding Arab countries.

Khoury has been published in several books and interviewed by CBN and ICEJ. He currently writes religious articles for Al-Quds, the largest Arabic newspaper in the Holy Land. His book is called, “In the Backyard of Jesus,” published by Living Sacrifice Book Company, in Bartlesville, OK.

Holy Land Missions has been reaching out to the lost in Israel for the past 30 years. Today, six locations around the country are actively preaching the Gospel to a hurting nation, including Calvary Church in Jerusalem and First Baptist in Bethlehem. The ministry says that throughout the entire country there are approximately 15,000 born again Arab-Israeli Christians who are daily persecuted by the two dominating religions in the area.

Read more, here.

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church To Be Rebuilt At Ground Zero

Ten years after tiny St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was destroyed by falling rubble from the World Trade Center towers, church leaders reached an agreement Friday (Oct. 14) to rebuild at Ground Zero.

The church, founded by Greek immigrants in 1916, sat in the shadow of the twin towers and was the only religious building to be completely destroyed during the 9/11 attacks.

Under the agreement brokered by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the church agreed to drop a lawsuit filed in February against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls rebuilding at Ground Zero.

The agreement marks a major win for the tiny church, which insisted on sticking to a preliminary agreement to exchange their original location at 155 Cedar Street -- now part of a vehicle security center -- for a larger piece of property at 130 Liberty Street...... Continued, here.

Abbas Fails To Receive Strong Support From Palestinian Voters

Palestinian election officials said Sunday that voters choosing new local councils in the West Bank rebuffed candidates from President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement in five of the 11 main towns, an apparent blow to the Palestinian leader.

Fatah had hoped to revive its flagging political legitimacy with Saturday's municipal elections, the first voting in the Palestinian territories in more than six years. With main rival Hamas boycotting the election, Fatah counted on a strong endorsement from voters.

Fatah won local council majorities in six towns, but lost in five others, a performance some said fell below expectations. In four of the towns where Fatah lost, including Ramallah, the seat of Abbas' government, voters preferred independent lists dominated by Fatah breakaways. In a fifth, biblical Bethlehem, never a Fatah stronghold, leftists and independents won.

Election officials spoke anonymously as official results were not to be released until later in the day.
Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assad claimed Sunday that the results, also reported in the local media, signalled "huge support for the party and its program."
However, analysts portrayed the outcome as a blow to Abbas and Fatah's leadership. "The elections reflected people's disappointment in the leadership's ability to lead them to a common goal," said pollster Nader Said.

Elections were held in 93 West Bank towns and villages, with close to 55 per cent of 505,000 eligible voters casting ballots, election officials said. In 261 smaller communities, local leaders were picked by consensus or there were no candidates. Official results were expected later Sunday.

The vote was held at a difficult time for Abbas.
His Palestinian Authority, the self-rule government that controls parts of the West Bank, has been plagued by a chronic cash crisis for months, struggling to pay the salaries of some 150,000 public sector employees.

Fatah once dominated Palestinian politics, but has been in disarray since the death of Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat, in 2004. Even after being trounced by the Islamic militant group Hamas in parliament elections in 2006, Fatah largely failed to reform or reinvent itself.

Repeated attempts to reconcile with Hamas, which seized Gaza in 2007, have run aground. And there is little chance of renewing meaningful talks with Israel's hard line government on setting up a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the territories Israel captured in 1967.

Hamas boycotted the local election in the West Bank and banned it from being held in the Gaza Strip. Hamas officials argued that elections can only be held after Hamas and Fatah reconcile. The ongoing split makes it unlikely elections for parliament and president -- long overdue just like the local voting -- will be held anytime soon.

Read more, here.

Clashes Follow Funeral For Slain Anti-Syrian Official In Beirut

BEIRUT -- Lebanese soldiers fired guns and tear gas to push back hundreds of protesters who broke through a police cordon and tried to storm the government headquarters in Beirut.
The enraged crowd came from the funeral of a top Lebanese intelligence official assassinated in a massive car bombing.

The protesters blame Friday's killing on Syria -- and they consider the government in Beirut to be far too close to the regime there. Lebanon for much of the past 30 years has lived under Syrian military and political domination.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora appealed for calm.

"The use of violence is unacceptable and does not represent the image that we want," Saniora said in a televised address. "We appreciate the feelings of the people."

Several hundred protesters made it to within 50 metres of the entrance of Lebanon's government palace, with thousands more behind them. The gunfire appeared to push the crowd back.
Army commandos marched into the streets wielding clubs.

Read more at: CTV News

Why Are You Exploiting This Girl?

A beggar woman stood with a child in her arms, asking for something to eat. The cook demanded she answer the question.
The man, a cook for a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center, knew many beggars carry small children to entice larger handouts. They use this tactic only to pocket most of the money for themselves. But to his surprise, the elderly woman broke down in tears and began pouring out her heart.

Child Abandoned by Her Parents
 
The child in her arms was her granddaughter Daya. The little girl was once happy, but strife tore her family apart.
Daya's father began to beat her mother badly. He had no love for his wife, and neither parent had any love for Daya.
It wasn't long before he abandoned the family and married another woman. Sadly, even Daya's mother deserted her, so her grandmother was the only one left to care for the abandoned girl.

With no income, they began begging at bus stops, train stations and shops. Now, they stood eye to eye with a cook who was hesitant to give a handout to another adult he thought was exploiting a helpless child.
The cook was moved with compassion when he saw truth welling up in the eyes of the grandmother. He invited her to enroll Daya in the Bridge of Hope center, where he could cook the young girl meals for many years to come.

Daya joined the Bridge of Hope center wedged between a railway station and a slum. Even there, she stuck out as the poorest of the poor. Having lived much of her life in the slums, she knew little of hygiene and came to class in the same dirty clothes each day. On the rare occasion when she did bathe, she didn't use soap.

New Student Faces Opposition
 
Although Daya was opposed for knowing little about hygiene, the staff committed themselves to her growth in the Lord and in practical matters like cleanliness.

Some parents began pressuring the Bridge of Hope staff to drop Daya from the program. They didn't want this dirty child around their sons and daughters.
They even threatened to remove their children from the center if she didn't leave.
Daya's future hung in the balance. If rejected from the Bridge of Hope center, she would return to the streets as one of the 300,000 child beggars in India. At some point, she would likely join the 20 to 30 million other boys and girls there who are exploited as child laborers.

With only her grandmother to protect her from predators in the slums, she would be at risk of becoming one of the 1.2 million Indian children abused as prostitutes. Worse yet, if her grandmother died, all hope would be lost for her future.
But even if Daya did escape these evils, where else would she learn about Jesus?

Cook and Bridge of Hope Staff Remain Committed
 
Because the staff knew God had brought Daya to them, they made the decision to keep her in the program—no matter what the consequences would be.
The staff members tackled her hygiene problem head on. They scrubbed the 8-year-old down and gave her new clothes; by the time they were finished, she was almost unrecognizable. The staff continued to teach her and her classmates proper hygiene, along with other practical life skills.

Six Years of Compassion
 
Daya, now 15 years old, knows the Lord and has escaped the social evils that plague young girls in South Asia.
It's been more than six years since Daya joined the Bridge of Hope center. Today, Daya wears the beautiful dresses she and the other girls are given as their uniforms.
She's not begging on the streets. She's not in bonded labor. She's not enslaved in a brothel. She's not helpless.
Daya has hope for her future. With the education she receives at the Bridge of Hope center, she has done well academically and wants to become a teacher.
But most importantly, today, Daya knows Jesus.

Bridge of Hope Changes Communities
 
GFA Bridge of Hope changes entire communities, not just students. The care given to the children and their families brings many to an understanding of the Savior.
Daya's grandmother has seen the kindness shown to her granddaughter, and now they both live in God's love.
More than 60,000 children like Daya are finding hope in Christ through Bridge of Hope centers, but millions of others still live in despair. Reach into their world by sponsoring a child.

It only takes $35 a month to give a child everything they need—school supplies, a daily meal, medical checkups and more—to attend a Bridge of Hope Center. 100% of your sponsorship is sent to the field to support your child.
We have the opportunity together to change the fate of a child, but time is short. You can make a choice today that will change a life forever.

For more information, please go to: http://www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/browse/

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Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

Church Buildings Attacked Across Tanzania

According to Morning Star News, Islamists burned several church buildings in various parts of Tanzania this week after two children’s argument about the Koran resulted in a Christian boy allegedly defiling Islam’s sacred book.

A church on fire in Zanzibar

The attacks took place in the normally peaceful country from its western border to its semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar. In Kigoma, on the western border, two church buildings were set ablaze on Sunday (Oct. 14), and the roof of another one was destroyed; on the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean some 25 kilometers (16 miles) off the Tanzanian coast, Muslim extremists on Saturday (Oct. 13) demolished a building belonging to the Evangelical Assemblies of God-Tanzania in Fuoni, near Zanzibar City; and in Dar es Salaam on the mainland, where two boys’ argument over the Koran set off the violence, three church buildings were set on fire on Friday (Oct. 12), and another was destroyed yesterday, sources told Morning Star News. 


Morning Star News said that yesterday’s destruction of the Evangelical Lutheran Church building in Dar es Salaam’s Teneke district took place at 1 p.m., said a source who requested anonymity, adding that agitators were stirring up rancor in mosques throughout the country.
“‘We shall continue attacking the churches until they are no more in Tanzania’ was a word echoed in several mosques in Tanzania,” the source said by phone.
Brighton L. Killewa, secretary general of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, confirmed that suspected Islamic extremists burned down the church building in Dar es Salaam’s Teneke district on Thursday (Oct. 18).

The attacks on church buildings came after Muslims began falsely asserting that Christians had sent the Christian boy to his Muslim friend with the intent of urinating on the Koran in the Mbagala area of Dar es Salaam on Oct. 10, sources said.

The Muslim boy, 12-year-old Zakaria Hamisi Mbonde, had left a madrassa (Islamic school) and had his Koran when he met up with his friend Emmanuel Mwinuka, 13, an area source who spoke with the Muslim child told Morning Star News.
When Emmanuel asked to see the Koran, Zakaria jokingly told him that if he played with it or urinated on it, he would turn into a dog or snake, the source said. The comment turned into an argument that led to Emmanuel allegedly testing his friend’s assertion.
“When I arrived at home, my parents questioned me regarding the affected Koran, and I told them my friend Mbonde urinated on the Koran,” Zakaria told the area source.
The two families met and tried to settle the matter, without full satisfaction; word of the incident spread fast, quickly inflaming passions in area mosques in Chamanzi, an area within Mbagala Ward of Dar es Salaam, the source said.

Obeid Fabian, who as chairman of the Pastors’ Fellowship in Zanzibar is a spokesman for Christians to the archipelago government, said he received details about the incident from contacts in Dar es Salaam.
“As tension mounted up in the mosque, Emmanuel was picked up by the police at his home place and taken to the Chamanzi police station for interrogation,” Fabian said.
Morning Star News added, “Enraged Muslims stormed the police station on Oct. 12, demanding that the boy be handed over to them to be slaughtered. Police refused, and the group became furious, mistakenly assuming Christians had sent Emmanuel to desecrate the Koran, Fabian said.

“The mob burned a Seventh-day Adventist church in Mbagala, causing damages of an estimated 25.2 million Tanzanian shillings (US$15,710); then they burned an area Anglican church, though a church secretary there was unsure of the amount of damages; the mob also set fire to a Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) church building, with Assistant Bishop Magnus Mhiche saying damages amounted to 40 million Tanzanian shillings (US$24,940).
“Several cars of unconfirmed value were also destroyed, and two Catholic Church buildings were also reportedly damaged.”

Tanzania’s Muslims, 31 percent of the total population, are largely tolerant but have become increasingly polarized between moderates and extremists, according to Operation World. Christians make up 54 percent of the country’s population.

Inflammatory Statements
In the attacks on the other side of the country in Kigoma, the two church buildings burned on Sunday (Oct. 14) belong to the TAG and another to the United Pentecostal Churches in Tanzania; an Anglican church building on the outskirts of Kigoma, in Ujiji, lost its roof to the mob that day, a source told Morning Star News.

The previous night (Oct. 13) on Zanzibar Island, Muslim extremists in Fuoni, on the outskirts of Zanzibar City, attacked an Evangelical Assemblies of God-Tanzania church, pulling it down during the night, a source said. By Sunday morning, separatists from the extremist group Uamsho, the Association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation, had raised their flag at the site, he said.
On Tuesday (Oct. 16), Bishop David Mwasoda, general secretary of the Pentecostal Churches in Zanzibar, released a statement appealing for protection.
“The Pentecostal Churches in Zanzibar do hereby appeal to the president to offer protection to the churches and Christians in Zanzibar who have become victims of attack in the recent years,” the statement reads.

The story goes on to say that more than 126 people associated with the violence in Tanzania have been detained, including Sheik Ponda Issa Ponda, secretary of the extremist Council of Muslims’ Organizations, who was reportedly arrested on charges of inciting religious hatred. The council is linked to Uamsho.

It adds that on Wednesday (Oct. 17), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania leaders released a statement saying churches had also been set ablaze in Mdaula, Mto wa Mbu, Tunduru and Rufiji. The Mbagala attacks, they stated, resulted from inflammatory statements by local religious leaders. They also blamed media outlets for instigating religious hatred.
Calling on Christians to continue fasting and praying for peace, they stated, “Christians are not ready to kill, punish or take revenge . . . Our God is not defended through violence, killing and burning other people’s properties.” Story from Assistnews.net

Could Syria Become Turkey's Vietnam?

Regarding Turkey's foreign policy in the Middle East and particularly in Syria, Yaşar Yakış, a former minister of foreign affairs and the president of the Center for Strategic Communication (STRATİM), told Today's Zaman that “Turkey should make an adjustment to its foreign policy route just like the captain of a ship would.” 

Yakış, who is also a retired ambassador and the country's longest-serving diplomat in the Middle East, added that "you cannot insist on a policy just because it was a part of your foreign policy in the past. Each new situation requires an adjustment in foreign policy because if the captain of a ship holds the steering wheel in a constant position, the ship changes its direction due to external factors.”

“Turkey took part on the right side of history [when] a dictator was confronted by his people, but while doing this our actions went beyond the actions of other actors and destroyed all bridges with the regime.” He claims that in Syria Turkey acted with the motivation of “not repeating the mistake it made in Libya, where it expressed misgivings regarding the relevance of the NATO operation, and he went on to say: “The Western countries encouraged us, but then put on the brakes because of a fear that fundamentalists could take over in Syria. Turkey was caught off guard and remained alone, in the offside position.”

Commenting on a statement that Syria might become Turkey's Vietnam if involved, Yakış gives a conditional response, saying, “If Turkey becomes involved, it might become a Vietnam for Turkey as some argue, but if it stays away, there is no such danger,” as he strongly recommends Turkey “act with caution,” while hoping that it would not become involved at all.

Referring to internal and external encouragement for Turkey to establish a “secure zone in Syria,” Yakış warns against the possible dangers of the deployment of Turkish soldiers in a Kurdish and Arab region. “Most of the secure zone will be in the Kurdish regions of Syria. Both because of the PKK's [Kurdistan Workers' Party] existence there and the fact that the current regime is hostile to Turkey, it would be wrong for Turkish soldiers to enter Syria. If they did, it is almost impossible to come back with success.”

He also directs attention to the ambiguity around the term “secure zone” as he comments that even if established, soldiers from overseas should protect it. “In Sinai, for example, there are Guatemalan soldiers,” he said, supporting his argument.

Yakış, who served in Syria as a diplomat between 1980 and 1984, argues that Assad acted like a chess player and gave Turkey a message when “he withdrew his forces from the Kurdish populated northeast portion of Syria -- called al-Hasakah -- and left it to Kurds.” According to Yakış, “It is safe to assume that this may have contributed to the increasing PKK terrorism in Turkey lately.”

In response to a question over whether Kurds had gained a historic opportunity in the region, Yakış says, “This ideal, an independent Kurdish state, exists in the mind of every Kurd.” The former foreign minister added that “Kurds are the most well-organized group in Syria who would take advantage of the situation there if thing get worse.”

If chaos lingers, there is the risk of the dissolution of Syria, and it is not only Kurds who would have their autonomy, says Yakış.
“When the Ottomans withdrew from Syria in 1921, France established six autonomous republics: Damascus, Aleppo, Jabal Druze, Jabal Lebanon, Alexandretta and Jabal Alawite. Now, a Kurdish region has been added to that. There is a base for such separation,” he said.

However, according to Yakış, international intervention is less than likely. “The international community may never be involved in Syria. The US might or might not become involved [after the election] because Americans do not want their sons to die there.” He further comments that “what matters in terms of the US election results is whether or not the country will start providing lethal weapons to Syria or not.”

Yakış, stating that countries will decide on Syria based on their own interests, warned against “proxy wars” in which the Syrian people would continue to die while others clash for power. “If Turkey and the US are more involved, it would be a proxy war not only for them, but also France, Russia and Iran would be a part of such proxy wars,” he claims.

Based on his long diplomatic vocation, Yakış points out that “foreign policy aims are moving targets,” calling on Turkey to adapt its policies to the changing conditions, especially in Syria. According to Yakış, “the biggest difference in Syria is that now the low intensity civil war seems to be leaning towards becoming chronic.” Source.

Christians Arrested In Iran

Two more house church members have been arrested in the Iranian city of Shiraz.
They belong to a Church of Iran house church that was raided on 12 October by security forces.
Seven members were rounded up during the raid and taken to an Intelligence Ministry detention centre.

Afsar Bahmani and Massoud Rezaie were detained after receiving a summons to the detention centre.
Mrs Bahmani was present during last week's raid but was not detained at the time.
She and Mr Rezaie are converts and long standing Christians.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says there has been a sharp increase in the harassment and persecution of Christians, particularly converts.
It has received reports that another member of the Church of Iran, Pastor Benham Irani, remains in critical condition in Ghezel Hesar Prison, where he has been denied adequate treatment for severe stomach ulcers and colon complications.

The organisation is concerned that Mrs Bahmani, who suffers from heart and kidney complications, may also not receive adequate medical treatment.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said the arrests of Mrs Bahmani and Mr Rezaie appeared to be part of a "renewed wave of arrests" of house church members in Shiraz.

"The harassment and arrest of religious minorities solely on account of their faith contravenes international covenants to which Iran is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of religion," he said.
"We call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that Mrs Bahmani and Pastor Irani are allowed access to specialist medical care.
"We also urge the Iranian government to uphold the rule of law and to release all who have been detained on account of their faith immediately and unconditionally.” Source: Christian Today.

Revolutionary Guard Commander: Israel Will Be Destroyed If Iranian Nuclear Sites Attacked

Israel will "definitely" face fierce retaliation if it attacks Iranian nuclear sites, the acting commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard warned Thursday.

The remarks by Gen. Hossein Salami appear to be part of Iranian efforts to portray any strike against it as the trigger for a regional conflict that could draw in Iranian proxies, such as Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, on Israel's borders.

Iran's suspect nuclear program has topped the international agenda and pressures on Tehran are mounting.

Israel has threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities if Tehran doesn't stop uranium enrichment - a process that can be a pathway to nuclear arms. The West and its allies fear Iran's ambitions mask a pursuit of atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies, saying its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes such as power generation and cancer treatment. Continued.

Acclaimed Turkish Pianist Fazil Say On Trial For Blasphemy

ISTANBUL — World-renowned Turkish pianist Fazil Say went on trial on Thursday on charges of insulting Islam and offending Muslims in a series of provocative comments on Twitter, in a case that could revive fears of the Islamisation of Turkish society.

"I reject all the accusations," a visibly upset Say told the Istanbul court, as about 100 supporters gathered outside in protest at the case .
The 42-year-old virtuoso, who has played with the philharmonic orchestras of Berlin, New York, Tokyo and Israel, is charged with inciting religious hatred and insulting Islamic values in a series of provocative tweets.

He faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
In a written defence submitted to the court, Say said he did not seek to insult anybody, but was merely expressing his uneasiness with people who were abusing religion for their own benefits, according to Anatolia news agency.

"What I have done as an artist is to share my thoughts with my followers... It is clear that I haven't invited anybody to spread violence, or jeopardised public peace," he said.

The court adjourned the case to February 18 after rejecting his lawyers' request for an immediate acquittal. Continued, here.

The President Of Change, Shortchanges America

• Is America, under President Barack Obama's leadership, moving toward socialism? Maybe even communism?
• What radical cadre of left-wing extremists is out to destroy the USA's moral foundations?
• Who was the first 'radical' known to man, and where is his kingdom?
• How are demonic spirits controlling some of the most influential politicians, kings, and dictators of this world?
• What did noted pundit Peggy Noonan mean when she described President Obama as 'devious' and 'dishonest'?
• Can President Obama (or anyone else) really be a Christian if they believe there are many ways to heaven?
• Who said Barack Obama could be America's most biblically hostile president - and why?



Drs. Jack and Rexella Van Impe answer these and other critical questions about the administration of President Obama and where his leadership is taking America! Discover the moral and spiritual repercussions of the dubious 'change' President Obama promised, and is making to this nation.

Netanyahu Warns Of Syria Attack Over Chemical Weapons

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that Israel would not hesitate to launch a military operation in Syria if it feels that there is a threat that the country’s stockpile of chemical weapons will end up in the hands of terrorist organizations such as Hizbullah.

“Israel will consider a military operation if it feels there is a fear that chemical weapons will leak to terrorist groups like Hizbullah," Netanyahu said during his meeting with European Union diplomats in Jerusalem.

He added that “Hizbullah is actively engaged in the massacre of the Syrian people." Netanyahu also referred to the support that President Bashar Al-Assad's regime receives from Iran, saying that “without Iran - Assad would survive.”

Syria has admitted it has chemical weapons and has threatened to use them if attacked by external forces. It claimed it will not use these weapons on rebels fighting to oust Assad.
Recent reports from Syria indicated that Assad has transferred a battery of advanced missiles to the al-Masna border crossing, which is the central route used to transfer equipment and weapons to Hizbullah. Members of the Syrian opposition said that one of two major chemical arsenals of the Syrian regime is located near that border crossing.

Continued, here.

When Hercules Lost His Strength

Actor Kevin Sorbo had it all. His TV Series Hercules, had become the most-watched show, he was promoting his first motion picture and he was being hailed as the next action hero. Then, his life took a radical turn.

Find out what happened by watching the following video from CBN.com.

Forgiveness: The Power To Live In Freedom

By Gordon Robertson

It is easy to say we forgive, but hard to do. This is especially true if we suffered injustice or were hurt repeatedly.

Matthew 18:21-35 tells us how Jesus answers a question about forgiveness. Peter asks, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? He thinks he is being generous by offering to forgive someone so many times. But Jesus replies, Up to seventy times seven.

He then tells a parable about a king who is settling accounts.
See video below for the rest of the story:

Netanyahu’s Security Lite vs Khamenei’s $1 m UAV Reward to Hizballah

Ten days after Hizballah launched an Iranian stealth UAV into Israeli air space undetected,
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu unveiled his new security doctrine in a Knesset speech confirming elections on Jan. 22, 2013. He said that his light but firm finger on the trigger had given Israel seven years without war.

Iran’s leader Khamenei, in contrast, handed Hizballah a $1 m prize for the sending the spy drone in a blatant act of belligerence. He rewarded the Iranian UAV designers with a Porsche car each.

Read more, here.

Made Whole By Jesus

While Erin is alcohol free today, that hasn’t always been the case.

Erin

I recently sat down with Erin and asked what caused her to start dabbling in alcohol. She said it was in part wanting to be accepted by her friends, and that issue was compounded by a difficult childhood, which she said wasn’t good to begin with.

Erin said when her biological father abandoned them, she was left with her half sister and adopted mother.

She continued, “I was the constant reminder to my mother of the infidelity that took place in her marriage that led to the divorce, and the sad reminder to my sister of why daddy was no longer with us. I was always reminded of how misplaced I was, and how much my mom regretted keeping me.”

Erin said living in an affluent neighborhood didn’t help, either. “My sister and I were the kids no one else could play with, since we were the only ones in the neighborhood who didn’t have a dad around. My sister blamed me for her friends no longer coming around, and my mom for why her friends looked the other way. That’s why I got involved with the ‘outcasts’.”

The drinking continued in the military, Erin said, where to fit in, be cool and just cope, she continued to drink. When she got out of the military, she was in a bad marriage and continued drinking. That, she said, led to her being unable to fulfill her obligations to her children.

Continued...

Economy, Debates Reveal Obama, Biden Haven't Got What It Takes

This election should be about the economy -- the recovery is too slow and Americans are hurting. The performances of President Obama and Vice President Biden in the debates on the campaign trail tell us why.

Both say endlessly that they inherited a huge mess, but Americans have seen challenges like these before -- and with better leaders, they licked those more quickly.

When Mr. Obama took office, financial markets were in turmoil. Unemployment peaked at 10% in October 2009. 

Since, the Obama-Biden team has managed 2.2% economic growth. Unemployment is down to 7.8%, but only because millions of adults are stuck in part-time positions or have quit looking for work altogether. Factoring in those folks, the jobless rate is 14.7%.

Ronald Reagan inherited an economy reeling from soaring oil prices, double-digit interest rates and inflation. Unemployment peaked at 10.8% in November 1982.

When he sought re-election, the economy was growing at 6.3%. Unemployment was down to 7.3%, even though millions more Americans were looking for work. Eventually, it fell to 4%.

Ronald Reagan believed in American grit and imagination. He unleashed innovation by sweeping away needless regulations, while keeping those that made sense. He lowered tax rates by throwing out and limiting many deductions and credits; developed domestic energy resources; and fixed an overvalued dollar with the historic 1985 Plaza Accord, which substantially revalued the Japanese yen....Continued.

Thousands Rally For Pakistani Girl Shot By Taliban

Pakistani Christians pray for the recovery of 14-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot last Tuesday by a Taliban gunman for speaking out in support of education for women, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Lahore, Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan -- Tens of thousands rallied in Pakistan's largest city Sunday in support of a 14-year-old girl who was shot and critically wounded by the Taliban for promoting girls' education and criticizing the militant group.

The demonstration in the southern city of Karachi was by far the largest since Malala Yousufzai and two of her classmates were shot on Oct. 9 while returning home from school in Pakistan's northwest.

The attack horrified people inside and outside Pakistan and sparked hope among some that it would prompt the government to intensify its fight against the Taliban and their allies.

But protests against the shooting have been relatively small until now, usually attracting no more than a few hundred people. That response pales in comparison to the tens of thousands of people who held violent protests in Pakistan last month against a film produced in the United States that denigrated Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Read more, here.

Christian Artist Released After 136 Days in Iranian Prison

A Christian artist with an Islamic background, who had been transferred to the Central Prison of Mashhad immediately after his arrest, has been temporarily released.

Vahid Zarday

According to a story by Mohabat Christian News Agency, Vahid Zarday’s release occurred on Oct. 9, after more than four months in prison.  

The Christian convert spent 136 days in the notorious Vakil-Abad prison, where he was interrogated.

According to the latest reports, he has been temporarily released and is now awaiting his trial.   Mohabat News said Zarday was arrested by security authorities on May 26 of this year, as he gathered with his wife and other Christian converts in a house church to study the Bible and pray. He was transferred to Vakil-Abad Prison immediately after his arrest.  

Mohabat News said human rights activists say Vakil-Abad prison is described as “hell on earth.” The prison is also reported to be “very crowded, hygiene is poor, inmates are humiliated and group executions are conducted.”  Continued.

Muslim Brotherhood Taking Aim At Jordan

Following successful campaigns in Egypt, Libya and other Middle East and North African nations, the Muslim Brotherhood now is trying to destabilize and possibly overthrow Jordan’s government, according to reports.

The Saudi-owned news channel Al-Arabiya, citing leaked files, reported the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies have sought to destabilize neighboring Jordan by manipulating peaceful demonstrations there and turning them into deadly violence.

 

The leaks came amid rising political tensions in Jordan. Mass demonstrations in the capital Amman were sparked by a decision by Jordan’s King Abdullah to dissolve the parliament ahead of Muslim Brotherhood protests planned for Friday. Abdullah is calling for early elections.

International Christian Concern’s Middle East analyst, Aidan Clay, says the Muslim Brotherhood is one of the biggest threats to Jordan’s stability.

He said the move to dissolve the parliament as a gesture of compromise was politically risky for the king. The Muslim Brotherhood did not accept the move, Clay noted, considering it to be half-hearted.

Continued, here.

Turkish PM Slams UN Security Council Re: Syria Issue

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Turkey's prime minister sharply criticized the UN Security Council on Saturday for its failure to agree on decisive steps to end Syria's civil war, as NATO ally Germany backed the Turkish interception of a Damascus-bound passenger jet earlier in the week.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an international conference in Istanbul that the world was witnessing a humanitarian tragedy in Syria.
"If we wait for one or two of the permanent members ... then the future of Syria will be in danger," Erdogan said, according to an official interpreter.

Russia and China, two of the five permanent Security Council members, have vetoed resolutions that sought to put concerted pressure on Damascus to end the conflict and agree to a political transition.

Erdogan called for a reform of the Security Council, which he called an "unequal, unfair system" that didn't represent the will of most countries.
He spoke as Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Arab and European leaders amid growing tensions between Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

Davutoglu held talks Saturday with Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and U.N. envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi. He told reporters after the meetings that Turkey was prepared to use force again if it was attacked, just as it did last week when a shell fired across the border from Syria killed five Turkish villagers.

"If a similar incident occurs again from the Syrian side, we will again take counter action," Davutoglu told reporters, while stressing that the border between Syria and Turkey is also the frontier of NATO.

One week after the shelling, Turkey intercepted a Syrian passenger plane en route from Moscow to Damascus and seized what it said was military equipment on board.

Syria denounced the move as air piracy, while Russia said the cargo was radar parts that complied with international law.
The state-run Syrian news agency SANA reported late Saturday that Syria decided to ban Turkish Airlines flights from Syrian airspace.
Germany's foreign minister backed Turkey on Saturday, saying Berlin would have acted the same way if it believed weapons were being transported to Syria over its airspace.

"It's not just about weapons. Weapons need to be steered. Weapons need to be delivered," Westerwelle said. "These are all things that don't need to be tolerated."
But he cautioned the situation between Turkey and Syria could quickly escalate out of control.

"The danger of a 'wildfire' is very big," said Westerwelle, who also met briefly with Abdelbaset Sieda, head of the Syrian National Council opposition group. "If that happens, then this can become a devastating conflict for the whole region."

In Syria, activists said Saturday that army troops clashed with rebels on several fronts across the country, including in Aleppo, the largest city.
Amateur video posted online Saturday shows the aftermath of what is described as an artillery attack on a neighbourhood in Aleppo.

The video shows a large cloud of grey smoke pushing through a narrow street lined by apartment blocks. Residents then converge on a damaged building. "Is anyone in there?" one of the men is heard calling out as others try to put out small flames with pieces of cloth.

Eventually, rescuers are seen pulling at least two bodies out of the building. One has a bloody face, and another is carried away on a stretcher, amid shouts of "Allahu Akbar," or "God is Great.
The authenticity of such videos cannot be confirmed independently, since Syria imposes tight restrictions on foreign journalists.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group, said at least two people were killed in the shelling.

Another amateur video posted Saturday showed the scattered, burning wreckage of what appeared to be an aircraft. Several gunmen stood near the debris, as civilians rushed to the scene. The narrator said video was shot in the countryside west of Aleppo.

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