The Gathering Storm

[Matthitjah]

Quote The Jerusalem Post;

Right On: The coming Middle East war

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Freund, THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 18, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The warning signs are everywhere, yet no one wishes to see them. Israel's foes are gearing up for war, and it's time that we opened our eyes to the danger that confronts us.

The conflict may be just weeks or even months away, or perhaps a bit longer. How it will start is anyone's guess, but make no mistake, a major outbreak of hostilities is almost certainly around the corner.

If this sounds like scare-mongering or even an advanced case of paranoia to you, just take a glance at the newspapers from the past few weeks. If you read them with a discerning eye, you will see exactly what I mean.

For whichever direction one chooses to look, be it north, south or east of us, trouble - major trouble - is brewing.

In Lebanon, Hizbullah is busy rebuilding its expansive terrorist infrastructure after this summer's fighting with Israel. Under the protective shield of UN troops, the group has been welcoming large shipments of weapons from Iran and Syria, and fortifying its bunkers in advance of the next round of conflict.

In a speech delivered last month in Beirut, on September 22, Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah asserted that his organization still has "more than 20,000 rockets" and that it had "recovered all its organizational and military capabilities."

Even if we allow for an element of boasting and exaggeration, there are clear signs that Nasrallah is steadily engaged in rebuilding his forces.

Indeed, this past Sunday, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of the IDF intelligence directorate's research department, told the weekly Cabinet meeting that, "There is conclusive and decisive evidence" that Syria is rearming Hizbullah.

"The weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon," Baidatz said, "is continuing with official Syrian involvement." He added that Damascus has kept its forces on a war footing, with their artillery and missiles deployed in forward battle positions.

Along these lines, Syrian President Bashar Assad has made a series of public statements in recent weeks, speaking openly about the possibility of military conflict with Israel and his desire to retake the Golan Heights by force.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba on October 6, Assad said that Damascus was ready for war with the Jewish state. Previously, he insisted that the Golan would be "liberated by Syrian arms," and warned Israel to "seek peace or face the threat of defeat."

TURNING SOUTH toward Gaza, the situation is likewise disturbing. Palestinian terrorists continue to fire Kassam rockets into the Negev on a daily basis, hitting Israeli towns and communities such as Sderot and Nir Am.

Since the start of the year, Hamas is said to have smuggled into Gaza over 20 tons of explosives, anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. According to media reports, Hamas has also assembled an armed military force consisting of 7,500 fighters, which is said to include specialized units such as snipers, missile batteries and anti-tank troops.

As Yediot Aharonot military correspondent Alex Fishman recently put it, "The Palestinians are arming themselves to the teeth, building a military force, defensive systems and preparing Hizbullah-style surprises."

Nor is Hamas hiding its intentions. In a statement issued on Monday, the group's Izzadin al-Kassam brigades declared that it has the "means and arms necessary to confront the Zionist enemy with all our force."

Saying they are "totally ready to resist," Hamas added somewhat ominously that, "We have finished preparations to teach the Zionist enemy a lesson it will not forget."

And then, of course, there is the threat from Teheran to our east, where the Iranian president speaks of wiping Israel off the map even as he continues to pursue his nuclear ambitions.

If anyone thinks that Mr. Ahmadinejad is open to compromise, they should take a look at his latest ramblings. Speaking at a mosque in Teheran on Monday, the Iranian leader insisted that he had received a Divine message indicating that his country would prevail. "One day," he said, "I will be asked whether I have been in touch with someone who told me we would win, and I will respond: 'Yes, I have been in touch with God'."

As if all this were not enough, there have been persistent reports in recent months about a growing al-Qaida presence in the territories, as the international terrorist group seeks to position itself for launching strikes against the Jewish state.

And so, Israel now finds itself surrounded by an arc of hate stretching from Beirut and Damascus in the north, to Teheran in the east, and back to Gaza in the south. Along each chord of this arc, our foes are diligently arming themselves and preparing for battle, both verbally and in practice. It seems safe to assume that these coordinated efforts are no coincidence, and that they are all linked to the seemingly inevitable confrontation that is looming over the region regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Just as Iran sought to send a message to Israel and the US this summer by provoking an outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon, so too Teheran now appears determined to lay the groundwork for a much greater, and far more ambitious, flare-up, one that would threaten to consume the entire region. The Iranians presumably view this as their trump card, thinking that it will give them the means of forestalling a possible US or Israeli attack on their nuclear facilities.

As a result, they have been working to strengthen the extremists throughout the region, who share their desire to hit America and Israel. In all probability, they are merely waiting for the opportune moment with which to set in motion the next provocative act, which will be aimed at igniting the entire Middle East.

HOW SHOULD Israel react to this growing threat? First, we must learn the lesson of this summer's Lebanon war, which was disastrous precisely because we sat back and allowed our enemies to build up their military infrastructure over time.

Instead of making this same mistake once again, Israel should take whatever steps are necessary to interdict weapons shipments to the terrorists, seal off their supply routes, and hit hard at those who are sending them the weapons in the first place.

Second, the government needs to begin seriously contemplating the possibility of launching preemptive and wide-ranging military strikes. Our foes are openly preparing for war, so why should we allow them the luxury to choose when it starts?

Passivity and indecisiveness cost us dearly in the past, and especially in Lebanon this summer. We can not allow ourselves to play by the enemy's rules, or even by his schedule, should this scenario once again come to pass.

I truly hope that I am wrong, and that diplomacy and common sense will somehow prevail. The last thing Israel needs right now is another painful conflict, and we should all pray to God for His mercy and intervention.

But as in the past, our enemies may leave us with no other choice but to fight. This time around, let's just make sure we are ready for the challenge.

Kinda brings new perspective to the Fall Elections right here in the U.S.

The Bush Admin. in a weakened state leaves the door wide open.

Isn't it funny how if the Bush Admin. is the best thing going for Terrorists. They are the first ones wanting him out of Office and desiring a weakened U.S. drawing back from the larger conflict in Iraq and the region.

The other thing that simply amazes me is that no matter how you cut it. Agree or disagree with the Iraq War. The U.S. has been left in a situation it must not lose.

The greater Assyrian/Persian Empire is gaining momentum. With it's same Historical desires and ends.

It's almost the perfect storm.

I think I will pray real hard for this President.

I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the Salvation of the Jewish Nation. It's all on God folks, His Name, His Glory, His Promise.

Peace,

Dave

[billie]

Awesome post, Dave. Thanks. I'm praying the election goes according to God's will also.

[JustinM]

"I truly hope that I am wrong, and that diplomacy and common sense will somehow prevail. The last thing Israel needs right now is another painful conflict, and we should all pray to God for His mercy and intervention."

We know that God has used looming disaster and catastophic warfare to bring the Jews back to Him. If ever there was a more needed miracle and evidence of God's existence and care, this statement definitely displays His will.

As for the comments made by vexillum:

"How do you know the "terrorists" (who's that?) want Bush out of office? They might like Bush as the best recruiting tool they ever have. Islamic extremists have been wanting to overthrow the secular and moderate governments of the middle-east. Bush has done that in Iraq, for them.

We lost the day we went in. Now, it's just a question of how much we want to lose. Over 2800 America troops killed in Iraq, and counting. Hundreds of billions of dollars spent, and counting.

You say we must not lose. What's a win? When we finally find and destroy Saddam's alleged stockpiles of WMDs?"

This person is obviously out of touch with the intentions of our government. Our foreign policy since last century has been to destroy oppressive, tyrannical governments, liberate millions and spread democracy and freedom throughout the world. What makes the war in Iraq any different?

Giving the Iraqi people a say in how their government is run is a major victory there. Vexillum seems to ignore the fact that after an oppressive government is overthrown civil war soon follows. Look our history. Iran is attempting to speed up the process (civil war) in an effort to demoralize the US and get us to abandon Iraq during it's democratic infancy. If Iran can determine the outcome of the new Iraqi government, it will gain a valuable ally and bring it closer to destroying Israel. Do you think Iran has the capability to launch missiles from within it's borders? If it doesn't it needs to be closer to Israel and the best way to achieve that is to gain "political capital" in Iraq.

Right now, the Democracy in Iraq is the greatest threat to Iran's plans to destroy Israel, which is why the outcome of this conflict is the most crucial event for the US and Iran. If we win, Iraq will be democratic and less willing to go to war with Israel. If we lose, Iran will gain influence and power and will be closer to it's destructive goal.

Vexillum, no doubt believes the Iraqi people were better off being imprisoned and tortured by their government, otherwise, why would this individual say the war in Iraq is a failure and we must abandon the Iraqi people. Of course, we know nothing about this poster. 2800 American lives is a very small price to pay for what our cause is. Our country has sacrificed more people in 1 day of war than the 4 years we've been in Iraq.

I am an active duty service member and I am fully aware of the sacrifices we may be called to make. Let me tell you all something, those serving over in Iraq feel the same way I do. If they disagreed with our presence in Iraq, they wouldn't be reenlisting. We've had the highest reenlistment rate we've had in decades. We are also meeting our recruitment goals and exceeding them in some places. Reenlistment is a good gauge of Troop Morale. It's simple, if our soldiers hate what they're doing, they leave the service, when their commitment ends, if they believe in the cause of our goverment, they recommit their lives (reenlist) for the use of our government.

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

How do you know the "terrorists" (who's that?) want Bush out of office? They might like Bush as the best recruiting tool they ever have.

Is it just a coincidence that the Sectarian violence being flared up in Iraq by the Iranians and certain Terrorist factions is happening about 2 weeks before an election. In which the President stands to lose his grip on the situation in Iraq over Mid-Term elections.

Wouldn't they really try to quell the violence until after the Election if Bush were their best recruiting tool?

They actually don't want anyone to stand in opposition toi their plans to destroy America's Economic and Polotical clout. So that a clear way to destroy Israel is made.

One problem though. The God of Abraham is standing in their way.

Islamic extremists have been wanting to overthrow the secular and moderate governments of the middle-east.

On this note we can agree. However a more accurate portrayal would be that they desire to overthrow any Government that doesn't agree with Islam.

Peace,

Dave

[Christ's Free Servant]

"I truly hope that I am wrong, and that diplomacy and common sense will somehow prevail. The last thing Israel needs right now is another painful conflict, and we should all pray to God for His mercy and intervention."

The Lord has opened several opportunities lately to witness to Jewish salespeople at the mall. When I ask if they believe in God, the answer is "no, I don't see the need." The first guy told me that 75% of Jewish people are not religious. If there is ever a time in our history when Israel NEEDS another painful conflict, it is NOW! Israel needs to return to God!! She needs a serious dose of God's judgment, and I believe he has one ready for her, so that she will bow the knee and recognize her need of God and of Jesus as Savior and Lord. And, I believe it is right around the corner. And, the USA will get some, too!

[abrandnewgirl]

Quote The Jerusalem Post;

Right On: The coming Middle East war

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Freund, THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 18, 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The warning signs are everywhere, yet no one wishes to see them. Israel's foes are gearing up for war, and it's time that we opened our eyes to the danger that confronts us.

The conflict may be just weeks or even months away, or perhaps a bit longer. How it will start is anyone's guess, but make no mistake, a major outbreak of hostilities is almost certainly around the corner.

If this sounds like scare-mongering or even an advanced case of paranoia to you, just take a glance at the newspapers from the past few weeks. If you read them with a discerning eye, you will see exactly what I mean.

For whichever direction one chooses to look, be it north, south or east of us, trouble - major trouble - is brewing.

In Lebanon, Hizbullah is busy rebuilding its expansive terrorist infrastructure after this summer's fighting with Israel. Under the protective shield of UN troops, the group has been welcoming large shipments of weapons from Iran and Syria, and fortifying its bunkers in advance of the next round of conflict.

In a speech delivered last month in Beirut, on September 22, Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah asserted that his organization still has "more than 20,000 rockets" and that it had "recovered all its organizational and military capabilities."

Even if we allow for an element of boasting and exaggeration, there are clear signs that Nasrallah is steadily engaged in rebuilding his forces.

Indeed, this past Sunday, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of the IDF intelligence directorate's research department, told the weekly Cabinet meeting that, "There is conclusive and decisive evidence" that Syria is rearming Hizbullah.

"The weapons smuggling from Syria into Lebanon," Baidatz said, "is continuing with official Syrian involvement." He added that Damascus has kept its forces on a war footing, with their artillery and missiles deployed in forward battle positions.

Along these lines, Syrian President Bashar Assad has made a series of public statements in recent weeks, speaking openly about the possibility of military conflict with Israel and his desire to retake the Golan Heights by force.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba on October 6, Assad said that Damascus was ready for war with the Jewish state. Previously, he insisted that the Golan would be "liberated by Syrian arms," and warned Israel to "seek peace or face the threat of defeat."

TURNING SOUTH toward Gaza, the situation is likewise disturbing. Palestinian terrorists continue to fire Kassam rockets into the Negev on a daily basis, hitting Israeli towns and communities such as Sderot and Nir Am.

Since the start of the year, Hamas is said to have smuggled into Gaza over 20 tons of explosives, anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. According to media reports, Hamas has also assembled an armed military force consisting of 7,500 fighters, which is said to include specialized units such as snipers, missile batteries and anti-tank troops.

As Yediot Aharonot military correspondent Alex Fishman recently put it, "The Palestinians are arming themselves to the teeth, building a military force, defensive systems and preparing Hizbullah-style surprises."

Nor is Hamas hiding its intentions. In a statement issued on Monday, the group's Izzadin al-Kassam brigades declared that it has the "means and arms necessary to confront the Zionist enemy with all our force."

Saying they are "totally ready to resist," Hamas added somewhat ominously that, "We have finished preparations to teach the Zionist enemy a lesson it will not forget."

And then, of course, there is the threat from Teheran to our east, where the Iranian president speaks of wiping Israel off the map even as he continues to pursue his nuclear ambitions.

If anyone thinks that Mr. Ahmadinejad is open to compromise, they should take a look at his latest ramblings. Speaking at a mosque in Teheran on Monday, the Iranian leader insisted that he had received a Divine message indicating that his country would prevail. "One day," he said, "I will be asked whether I have been in touch with someone who told me we would win, and I will respond: 'Yes, I have been in touch with God'."

As if all this were not enough, there have been persistent reports in recent months about a growing al-Qaida presence in the territories, as the international terrorist group seeks to position itself for launching strikes against the Jewish state.

And so, Israel now finds itself surrounded by an arc of hate stretching from Beirut and Damascus in the north, to Teheran in the east, and back to Gaza in the south. Along each chord of this arc, our foes are diligently arming themselves and preparing for battle, both verbally and in practice. It seems safe to assume that these coordinated efforts are no coincidence, and that they are all linked to the seemingly inevitable confrontation that is looming over the region regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Just as Iran sought to send a message to Israel and the US this summer by provoking an outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon, so too Teheran now appears determined to lay the groundwork for a much greater, and far more ambitious, flare-up, one that would threaten to consume the entire region. The Iranians presumably view this as their trump card, thinking that it will give them the means of forestalling a possible US or Israeli attack on their nuclear facilities.

As a result, they have been working to strengthen the extremists throughout the region, who share their desire to hit America and Israel. In all probability, they are merely waiting for the opportune moment with which to set in motion the next provocative act, which will be aimed at igniting the entire Middle East.

HOW SHOULD Israel react to this growing threat? First, we must learn the lesson of this summer's Lebanon war, which was disastrous precisely because we sat back and allowed our enemies to build up their military infrastructure over time.

Instead of making this same mistake once again, Israel should take whatever steps are necessary to interdict weapons shipments to the terrorists, seal off their supply routes, and hit hard at those who are sending them the weapons in the first place.

Second, the government needs to begin seriously contemplating the possibility of launching preemptive and wide-ranging military strikes. Our foes are openly preparing for war, so why should we allow them the luxury to choose when it starts?

Passivity and indecisiveness cost us dearly in the past, and especially in Lebanon this summer. We can not allow ourselves to play by the enemy's rules, or even by his schedule, should this scenario once again come to pass.

I truly hope that I am wrong, and that diplomacy and common sense will somehow prevail. The last thing Israel needs right now is another painful conflict, and we should all pray to God for His mercy and intervention.

But as in the past, our enemies may leave us with no other choice but to fight. This time around, let's just make sure we are ready for the challenge.

Kinda brings new perspective to the Fall Elections right here in the U.S.

The Bush Admin. in a weakened state leaves the door wide open.

Isn't it funny how if the Bush Admin. is the best thing going for Terrorists. They are the first ones wanting him out of Office and desiring a weakened U.S. drawing back from the larger conflict in Iraq and the region.

The other thing that simply amazes me is that no matter how you cut it. Agree or disagree with the Iraq War. The U.S. has been left in a situation it must not lose.

The greater Assyrian/Persian Empire is gaining momentum. With it's same Historical desires and ends.

It's almost the perfect storm.

I think I will pray real hard for this President.

I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the Salvation of the Jewish Nation. It's all on God folks, His Name, His Glory, His Promise.

Peace,

Dave

Dave,

I have been paying close attention to the mideast crisis. And Christians should wake up and realize that we are seated on the very edge of major big change soon to come.

To be quite honest, I don't see our days really get any better. In fact, I believe Americas best days are all but "spent". And it is inevitable no matter who was in office as President...the "god of this world" is getting ready to see what can be shaken and what is it that we really believe. And Our Lord is sovereign and will allow us to go through the troubles that are soon to come because he gave us his word to stand on. This is Not just for America, but christians around the world.... we are all going to experience these pains.

[if anyone thinks that Mr. Ahmadinejad is open to compromise, they should take a look at his latest ramblings. Speaking at a mosque in Teheran on Monday, the Iranian leader insisted that he had received a Divine message indicating that his country would prevail. "One day," he said, "I will be asked whether I have been in touch with someone who told me we would win, and I will respond: 'Yes, I have been in touch with God'." ]

**This guy should be watched and christians--take note!! Even Madame Albright apologized and confessed she was wrong about "this war". She said it is more than a fight over land and politics. This war is a Holy War. And she even went as far as to say that it is a fight about their faith and who they believe and what they believe--that they believe this is their destiny. Truthfully, how many americans feel they actually have a destiny? How many would really give their life for what they believe? I thank God for the soldiers we have over their fighting for our freedom...God Bless them and their families.

Can we sacrafice more prayer time for them?

Keep your eyes open. Watch and Pray.

[Christ's Free Servant]

Dave,

I have been paying close attention to the mideast crisis. And Christians should wake up and realize that we are seated on the very edge of major big change soon to come.

To be quite honest, I don't see our days really get any better. In fact, I believe Americas best days are all but "spent". And it is inevitable no matter who was in office as President...the "god of this world" is getting ready to see what can be shaken and what is it that we really believe. And Our Lord is sovereign and will allow us to go through the troubles that are soon to come because he gave us his word to stand on. This is Not just for America, but christians around the world.... we are all going to experience these pains....

Keep your eyes open. Watch and Pray.

Absolutely!

[Guest yod]

We lost the day we went in. Now, it's just a question of how much we want to lose. Over 2800 America troops killed in Iraq, and counting. Hundreds of billions of dollars spent, and counting.

If you have a time machine, this would be the time to turn it on and go back to any war in history. We lost more than 2800 troops before we entered WWII at Pearl Harbor. We also lost that many civilians in New York before we entered this one so you don't have to go too far with your time machine.

We won the war against Saddam in record time. Now we are fighting Iranians and Syrians there because we don't have the political will to invade those nations. We are caught in sectarian violence that has little to do with us and has gone on for centuries before we were a nation.

You say we must not lose. What's a win? When we finally find and destroy Saddam's alleged stockpiles of WMDs?

We have a clash of civilizations which is going to last for a generation at least. Bush told us all on national TV that this was going to be very long conflict before we went in. This war began many years before America joined it

A win in this particular case will be when Iraq's elected government can stand against all the foreign nations and Islamo-fascists who are invading them and funding/fomenting unrest. It will take a little time....

This war will be fought there and here...I prefer that most of it be there.

[JustinM]

quote vex: "I've heard the US military has been lowering standards for new recruits, upping incentives for recruiting and retention, and resorting to a backdoor draft ("stop loss")"

You are wrong again vex. The US Army is the only branch in the military to lower their minimum test scores for admission into the Army. The Military has been giving incentives to enlist and reenlist in specific, critically under-manned and high stress career fields. This hs been going on for years. I enlisted in March 2000 and got $6000.00 just for joining. Anytime you enlist in service you have an 8 year obligation to the service. Now, if you enlist for 4 years, you can end your enlistment, but are on "standby" for 4 more years if times get tough. This has been the policy since Vietnam. If you enlist for 6 years, you only have a 2 year "standby" commitment to uphold if you end your enlistment after your 6 year term.

I reenlisted for another 6 years and got no incentives for it. But, I have a commitment and firm belief in what we are doing is right.

Democracy is not an easy form of government to have. Because there are many voices to be heard and people to represent. Power is like cocaine, it's addicting and those that have it do not want to share it with anyone. Democracy is also very difficult to establish. We had our own major problems before we finally united and stood for one idea. The USA. Our country is a great country. We have freed millions, fed millions, brought justice to millions and died for millions.

Anyone that says America is a bad country needs to put things in perspective. How many other countries have sacrificed so much for people we do not know, nor understand?

People like Vex are the ones dividing our country. They want to change it into something the rest of the country opposes. They want to abandon our allies, appease the wicked and empower tyrants. They want our enemies, who have shown their incapability to comply with treaties and multi-national agreements, to posess the most destructive weapons on the planet. Well, that's what I assume because these same people decide to engage in circular dialogue and beg and plead for compliance. They want to use the carrot and stick approach without the stick. Our enemies see their weakness and feel no need to listen to or follow their rules.

[Scarletprayers]

quote vex: "I've heard the US military has been lowering standards for new recruits, upping incentives for recruiting and retention, and resorting to a backdoor draft ("stop loss")"

You are wrong again vex. The US Army is the only branch in the military to lower their minimum test scores for admission into the Army. The Military has been giving incentives to enlist and reenlist in specific, critically under-manned and high stress career fields. This hs been going on for years. I enlisted in March 2000 and got $6000.00 just for joining. Anytime you enlist in service you have an 8 year obligation to the service. Now, if you enlist for 4 years, you can end your enlistment, but are on "standby" for 4 more years if times get tough. This has been the policy since Vietnam. If you enlist for 6 years, you only have a 2 year "standby" commitment to uphold if you end your enlistment after your 6 year term.

I reenlisted for another 6 years and got no incentives for it. But, I have a commitment and firm belief in what we are doing is right.

Democracy is not an easy form of government to have. Because there are many voices to be heard and people to represent. Power is like cocaine, it's addicting and those that have it do not want to share it with anyone. Democracy is also very difficult to establish. We had our own major problems before we finally united and stood for one idea. The USA. Our country is a great country. We have freed millions, fed millions, brought justice to millions and died for millions.

Anyone that says America is a bad country needs to put things in perspective. How many other countries have sacrificed so much for people we do not know, nor understand?

People like Vex are the ones dividing our country. They want to change it into something the rest of the country opposes. They want to abandon our allies, appease the wicked and empower tyrants. They want our enemies, who have shown their incapability to comply with treaties and multi-national agreements, to posess the most destructive weapons on the planet. Well, that's what I assume because these same people decide to engage in circular dialogue and beg and plead for compliance. They want to use the carrot and stick approach without the stick. Our enemies see their weakness and feel no need to listen to or follow their rules.

My hat is off to you Justin!