May 23, 2006

Religion, Rome and The Reich: The Vatican's other dirty secret (May 23, 2006) - As The Da Vinci Code arrives in our cinemas with its lurid accusations of a church cover-up of Jesus's life as a family man, Roman Catholic leaders have been vocal in dismissing the film of Dan Brown's bestseller as unsuitable viewing for believers. Cardinal amongst its sins according to them is its suggestion that a church organization, Opus Dei, would attempt to manipulate history to fit its beliefs. But that, it was charged last week, is precisely what the Vatican is doing in regard of a much more recent event, the Holocaust. An unflattering spotlight fell on God's business address on Earth when the German Justice Minister, Brigitte Zypries, announced on Tuesday that her country is finally to open its huge archive of Nazi records on 17 million concentration camp inmates and slave labourers. Germany's belated move to answer the pleas for access to its archives by Holocaust survivors and their families now leaves only the Vatican standing all alone in denying them the chance to read what is in its wartime documents. more... | RCC |
Bush is expected to offer the mighty BIG-BLU bunker buster bomb to Israel and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia DEBKAfile (May 22, 2006) - The intention is to arm US allies with a deterrent against Iran by sharing with them the means for striking the Islamic Republic’s underground nuclear installations. This Massive Ordnance Penetrator – MOP – known as BIG-BLU (picture) - weighs in at 13,600 kilos and can destroy 25% of its targets in bunkers buried beneath 60 meters of reinforced concrete, a depth greater than any other bomb of its type. DEBKAfile’s military sources note that this bomb in Saudi hands will also serve the oil kingdom as a deterrent against Israel’s atomic weapons program. In this way, the Bush administration demonstrates it is not solely targeting the military weapons activities of Muslim nations. The bunker busters will no doubt come with strings attached with regard to their use. Israeli prime minister Olmert, who is due at the White House Tuesday, said he hoped Bush “will lead other nations in taking the necessary measures to stop Iran form becoming a nuclear power.” more... | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Phillip - It seems that the US doesn't want to get dirty with the whole Iran issue. Rather, they will sell the weapons to be used.
Russia Becoming A Muslim State (May 22, 2006) - Imagine Russia in 2050! According to Paul Goble, a specialist on ethnic minorities in the Russian Federation has predicted that within the next several decades, Russia will become a Muslim majority state. There is another bad news with fast decline in country's population. This has already become a headache for Russian politicians and policy makers. President Vladimir Putin has called already for Russian women to have more children, because demographers predict that Russia's population will fall from 143 million to 100 million by 2050. This situation has alarmed Russians as well Western leaders, more so because analysts estimate that Muslims will comprise the majority group in Russia's population in few decades. The Muslim population growth rate since 1989 is between 40 and 50 percent, depending on ethnic groups. Today Russia has about 8,000 mosques while 15 years there were only 300 mosques. According to statistics, by the end of 2015, number of mosques in Russia will cross 25,000. These statistics are frightening for many ethnic Russians who associate Islam with the Kremlin's war against insurgents in Chechnya. Russia is shrinking. Alarmed by the situation, Putin has offered incentives to women who will have more children. more... | Islam |
Iran is preparing consignment of 300 vehicles and two civilian aircraft for Gaza Strip - along with 50 Iranian “experts” DEBKAfile (May 22, 2006) - The plan is described by DEBKAfile’s Tehran and counter-terror sources as an Iranian move to seize control of the Palestinian civilian and security infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Hamas transport minister Ziad Zaza, just returned from Tehran, formally asked Israel Sunday, May 21, to allow dozens of Iranian maritime and air transport engineers and technicians and heavy equipment to enter Gaza from Egyptian Sinai through the Rafah crossing. Hamas presents the proposed Iranian input as assistance for re-activating the Dahaniya airport and the construction of a deep-sea port in Gaza. The 300 vehicles “made in Iran” consist of police cars, ambulances, fire engines and 100 buses for the use of the forces of “law and order.” DEBKAfile’s sources report that both Hamas and Tehran know in advance that Israel will turn the application down. But they hope to make propaganda hay in Europe and the Muslim world by demonstrating that the Jewish state is in violation of commitments to help restore the Gaza Strip’s economy signed prior to its pull-back. | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Phillip - The Iranian President has already visited the Palestinian leadership, now that Hamas is in charge, he is still dealing with them. The sides are crystal clear, with Russia and China backing Iran and the Muslim extremists from all corners of the globe cheering on as well as the European leadership who are all siding against Israel and her primary supporter, the U.S.

Reported from harpazo Ready:

Ebola Fears As Brit Dies (May 22, 2006) - A woman is feared to have died from Ebola after taking ill on a plane home from Africa yesterday. Passengers and crew on the flight to Heathrow are understood to be panicking that they have contracted the contagious virus. They helped the Briton when she was vomiting and bleeding. Some even shared their drinks with her. Last night, tests were being run to confirm whether she had the hemorrhagic fever. The 38-year-old was on Virgin Atlantic flight VS602 from Johannesburg. It is understood she worked at an embassy in Lesotho. She had visited a doctor before the flight complaining of flu symptoms and was told she could fly. But during the trip, she suffered a fit that knocked her unconscious. Cabin crew and passengers passed her drinks and did all they could to help. At around 3am, she started to vomit heavily and began bleeding. When the Airbus A340-600, carrying 249 passengers and 18 crew, touched down at 7am she was rushed to nearby Hillingdon Hospital. Hospital staff treated her as if she had Ebola as her symptoms matched those of the virus. She died in hospital. Cabin crew who came into contact with the woman have been told to monitor their health over the next week. A hospital spokesman said: "A patient was brought to our accident and emergency department on May 19 after falling ill on a flight to Heathrow. "As a precautionary measure, the patient was initially treated as if infectious. Tests are still ongoing to establish the nature of the illness." A Virgin spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a female passenger taken ill on flight VS602 subsequently died at Hillingdon Hospital. "Virgin Atlantic would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the passenger." more...
Israeli diplomats plan to sue Ahmadinejad (May 22, 2006) - Israeli forum set to demand International Court of Justice in The Hague launch legal proceedings against Iranian president for conspiring to commit crimes against humanity, genocide. A group of Israeli diplomats plans to turn to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and demand that it launch legal proceedings against Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for conspiring to commit crimes against humanity. Following the scathing remarks made by Ahmadinejad in the past few months against Israel's right to exist and his Holocaust denial, while the Iranians are exerting increasing efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, Israeli diplomats decided to form a group aimed at looking into the possibility of launching a legal procedure. On Sunday, the group members announced that a legal examination of the issue, in which international legal experts took part, ended with the conclusion that the Iranian president could be sued. The legal file against Ahmadinejad is almost ready for submission. Among the forum members are former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and France Dr. Meir Rosen, former Foreign Ministry Director-General Eytan Bentsur, and former Minister Dan Naveh. The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), headed by former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold, is providing the forum with logistic assistance in preparing the lawsuit. more... | Iran |Israel |
Judge Blocks Prayer at High School Graduation (May 22, 2006) - The senior class at a southern Kentucky high school gave their response Friday night to a federal judge's order banning prayer at commencement. About 200 seniors stood during the principal's opening remarks and began reciting the Lord's Prayer, prompting a standing ovation from a standing-room only crowd at the Russell County High School gymnasium. The thunderous applause drowned out the last part of the prayer. The revival like atmosphere continued when senior Megan Chapman said in her opening remarks that God had guided her since childhood. Chapman was interrupted repeatedly by the cheering crowd as she urged her classmates to trust in God as they go through life. The challenge made the graduation even better because it unified the senior class, Chapman said. "It made the whole senior class come together as one and I think that's the best way to go out," said Chapman, who plans to attend the University of the Cumberlands with her twin sister Megan. The graduation took place about 12 hours after a federal judge blocked the inclusion of prayer as part of Russell County High School's graduation ceremonies. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley granted a temporary restraining order sought by a student who didn't want prayer to be part of the graduation exercises at the south-central Kentucky school, about 110 miles southeast of Louisville. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky filed suit on behalf of the unidentified student on Tuesday. more... Phillip - I'm happy to see that not all the world is falling away from God. There is hope from some of our youth.
Al-Qaida group funded by Christian-slave trade (May 22, 2006) - Two Christian men – one an American evangelist and the other a Pakistani missionary – have exposed a senior member of an al-Qaida-linked group behind a trade in Christian children by going undercover and secretly filming their purchase of 20 boys, age six to 12. Gul Khan, a wealthy militant and senior member of Jamaat-ud Daawa, an Islamic organization declared by the U.S. State Department to be a front for another banned terrorist group banned in Pakistan for joining with al-Qaida in 2003 in an attempted assassination of President Pervez Musharraf, was filmed by a hidden camera accepting $28,500 from a Pakistani missionary posing as a businessman wanting to purchase boys to work for him as street beggars. The two Christian men hatched their elaborate sting after seeing pictures of the abducted boys, taken from Christian villages in the Punjab, the London Times reported. During the months the two developed their plan, the American evangelist, who runs a small charity called Help Pakistani Children returned to the U.S. to raise funds. He asked to be identified only as "Brother Dave," His Pakistani counterpart took on the identity of a businessman named "Amir." | Islam |

Reported from Steve Quayle:

Collapse of the Petrodollar Looming (May 23, 2006) - The announcement by President Putin of a Russian bourse trading oil and gas in Roubles threatens the stability of the US Dollar far more than Iran's bourse alone would do, and continues the slide in relations between the old Cold War foes. In his annual State of the Nation address to both houses of parliament on 10 May 2006, Novosti reports President Putin said that work on making the Rouble an internationally convertible currency would be completed by 1 July 2006, six months ahead of schedule. To promote the currency, he announced that an oil and gas stock exchange will be created in Russia, that would trade in Roubles. "The rouble must become a more widespread means of international transactions. To this end, we need to open a stock exchange in Russia to trade in oil, gas, and other goods to be paid for in roubles." - Putin
Russia's oil exports represent 15.2% of the world's export trade in oil, making it a much more significant player than Iran, with 5.8% of export volumes. Russia also produces 25.8% of the world's gas exports, while Iran is still only entering this market as an exporter. GlobeAndMail.com is reporting that President Chavez of Venezuela is considering following Iran's move towards pricing oil in Euros. Venezuela has 5.4% of the export market, although since the bulk of his country's exports are of heavy oil to the US, where it needs special facilities to process it, it would be a very brave or foolhardy President that told the US to buy its oil in Euros, or else ... Nevertheless, you can see the attraction for any country wanting to apply some pressure on the world's superpower. And where Venezuela leads, Bolivia may not be far behind. You can see how this could quickly get out of control. While the Iranians have been suffering numerous delays in implementing their bourse, Russia could have their oil market up and running almost as soon as their currency market is ready to take on the work load, which might only be a few months away. Some commentators on the Iranian proposal have suggested that the impact on the US Dollar would not be so great because the greenback is used for all sorts of trade, not just oil, so 5.8% of the international oil trade is really only a small part of the bigger picture. This argument looks a bit weak if both Russia and Iran will be lowering the demand for Dollars to buy oil and gas. In order to counter the reduced demand for US Dollars, the standard control lever available to the Federal Reserve is to increase interest rates, over and above what it was going to be doing. This has the usual unwelcome consequences of dampening the US economy, and squeezing people with mortgages, which in turn leads to rising wages, falling house prices and a slump in the construction industry. more... Seems as though Russia and Iran aren't in any hurry to help out the US Dollar at all. In fact, I would imagine they're attempting to bring America down financially and cause world chaos. It's much easier to get the population to do what you want in the end that way.
New Tests For Sino-Russian Ties (May 22, 2006) - The strategic partnership forged between China and Russia as a counterweight to American predominance on the world stage a decade ago is gaining momentum. Analysts monitoring the development of the Sino-Russian alliance characterize developments this week as a combination of coordinated policies on major diplomatic issues to foster a multilateral international order, while at the same time both countries are taking incremental steps to deepen their bilateral relationship. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterpart Li Zhaoxing to discuss the latest developments on the international situation, using Beijing as a platform for tough words for Washington. Describing discussions Tuesday with his host as "long and pragmatic," Lavrov told a press conference that the two countries were united against sanctioning the use of force in the United Nations to thwart Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions. In a veiled warning against unilateral action by the Bush administration Lavrov stated, "We confirmed today that neither Russia nor China will be able to support the Security Council's possible resolution that would contain a pretext for coercive, let alone military, measures." more...
Iran May Already Have Nuclear Bomb: Expert (May 22, 2006) - Iran may already possess a nuclear bomb but is "smart" enough to pretend to be on the way to achieving nuclear capability so that it could induce concessions from the international community, an Israeli nuclear expert has claimed. The Iranians are not necessarily presenting the true facts to the world and may be showing the IAEA dummy presentations of an unfinished bomb, while hiding a fully developed bomb elsewhere, former head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Ben-Gurion University, Professor Zeev Alfassi, told Ynet. Tehran may be holding the true bomb in caves or in underground facilities, Alfassi told the news portal. However, he ruled out any chances that the Islamic Republic will use its nuclear capability saying, "their thinking is fantastic." "The Iranians, in terms of threats, are smarter than everyone. They threaten with a bomb and the world gives them anything they want, as long as they dont throw the bomb", the expert said. "Being offered a reward instead of a punishment testifies to the fact that they are very smart," he added. Alfassi said even five to six bombs won't destroy the Jewish state. A nuclear bomb could definitely hit an entire city, but not destroy a state, he said. more... | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Phillip - With all the help that Russia is giving to Iran, I wouldn't be surprised if Iran has already purchased several suitcase nukes and planted them in the U.S. waiting for his order to detonate. With the open border and plenty of hatred for us out there mixed with the Russian backing of Iran, why expect any less? I think the actual attack and downfall of the U.S. has already started with the financial issues. Eventually, the U.S. will have no other option but to accept a one-world government, just as they've planned all along.
Mexico Works to Bar Non-Natives From Jobs (May 22, 2006) - If Arnold Schwarzenegger had migrated to Mexico instead of the United States, he couldn't be a governor. If Argentina native Sergio Villanueva, firefighter hero of the Sept. 11 attacks, had moved to Tecate instead of New York, he wouldn't have been allowed on the force. Even as Mexico presses the United States to grant unrestricted citizenship to millions of undocumented Mexican migrants, its officials at times calling U.S. policies "xenophobic," Mexico places daunting limitations on anyone born outside its territory. In the United States, only two posts — the presidency and vice presidency — are reserved for the native born. In Mexico, non-natives are banned from those and thousands of other jobs, even if they are legal, naturalized citizens. Foreign-born Mexicans can't hold seats in either house of the congress. They're also banned from state legislatures, the Supreme Court and all governorships. Many states ban foreign-born Mexicans from spots on town councils. And Mexico's Constitution reserves almost all federal posts, and any position in the military and merchant marine, for "native-born Mexicans." Recently the Mexican government has gone even further. Since at least 2003, it has encouraged cities to ban non-natives from such local jobs as firefighters, police and judges. Mexico's Interior Department — which recommended the bans as part of "model" city statutes it distributed to local officials — could cite no basis for extending the bans to local posts. After being contacted by The Associated Press about the issue, officials changed the wording in two statutes to delete the "native-born" requirements, although they said the modifications had nothing to do with AP's inquiries. more... Phillip - Isn't hypocrisy great?!
Anti-Christian Film ‘The Beast’ to Be Released on 06-06-06 (May 22, 2006) - The makers of a virulently anti‑Christian film The Beast have deliberately chosen to release it on 6th June 2006 (06‑06‑06). The film is being made in the US by VIVID films, and has a powerfully anti‑Christian plot line. A publicity blurb claims that there is ‘increasing historical proof that Christ never existed,’ a theory which they add is ‘gaining popularity’. The plot involves a fundamentalist Christian pastor who disappears after he ‘stumbles across incontrovertible factual evidence that Christ never existed’. In searching for him, the films shows his daughter Danielle ‘struggling with her own need to believe that Christ existed’ and also combating ‘a band of fundamentalist Christians who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth’. In the film, they are portrayed as ‘trying to cover up Christianity’s best‑kept secret’. HIDDEN ~ The film, it is said by its makers, is founded on ‘factual material normally hidden from public view by the efforts of Bible‑believing Christians’. It adds ‑ conveniently ignoring the historical testimony of Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonus, Phlegon and many other historians and writers ‑ that ‘there is no non‑Christian confirmation that Jesus Christ ever existed’. The cast and film crew, have been ‘legally sworn to secrecy’ about other aspects of the film, which will be released on Tuesday 6th June in the US and will then come to Britain. See The Beast, (website www.thebeastmovie.com). The website has a popular form for public comment which has been swamped by the most vile abusive references to Christ and to Christians. However, one Christian, Austin Smith, wrote in to say: “This website and movie is nothing but a work of Satan. The release date is 6/6/06 and I know it was put like that on purpose. But it may work against you, considering that 666 is the devils’ number. It’s no surprise to me that Satan himself inspired this movie to lie and deceive others. Whoever made this movie is my enemy. But I love them all the same because I learned to love my enemies”. The film’s Director, Brian Flemming’s previous work has been called ‘jaggedly imaginative’ by the New York Times, ‘a parallel universe’ by the BBC and ‘immensely satisfying’ by USA Today. His films are said to have “a unique ability to spark cult‑like devotion in his fans”. He wrote and produced a popular musical, Bat Boy, featuring a creature that was half bat and half man. That has since been staged thousands of times throughout the world, in several languages. The musical has been called ‘a self‑contained religion’, and does indeed have thousands of cult adherents. He followed this up with a film about the murder of Bill Gates, the founder of the computer firm Microsoft. Gates had said through a spokesman: “I am very disappointed that a movie maker would do something like this”. The Beast was carefully timed so that it took exactly 666 days to make. One prominent Wiccan high priestess in the US recently said: “Finally, a film that proves Jesus Christ never existed. I can’t wait”. Phillip - This is just another example, along with the DaVinci Code, of the attack on Christ. It's source is the same as the anti-Semitic forces out there, those aligned against God with the express mission of deceiving the world.

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