March 7, 2008

Olmert Offers Judea, Samaria, Divides Jerusalem in Draft Accord Israel National News (March 7, 2008) - Israel's government has agreed, in writing, to hand over 6,250 square kilometers of land – the equivalent of its entire biblical and strategic heartland - to an Arab terror state. So reports Dr. Guy Bechor, a leading expert on Arab affairs, who also supplies some of the details of the negotiations. Bechor reports, based on "leaks from the Palestinian side," that Israel has, in the past few days, presented Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas at least one draft of an "agreement of principles."

Bechor says that Abbas and his men have gone over the draft and are not pleased; they know how to negotiate, he notes. In a recent interview with PA TV, Abbas said that "declarations of principles are a waste of time" and "useless." What the PA wants, he said, is a clear timetable for establishing Palestine, as well as an Israeli pullback, demolition of Jewish communities and "return of refugees" (i.e., the flooding of Israel with Arab citizens). The Arabs are hoping Israel will become more pliable in November, when an international diplomatic conference, sponsored by the US, is to be held in an attempt to hammer out an accord. An official close to Mahmoud Abbas, Mustafa Bargouti, said that the idea of a conference is "an Israeli trap" and that nothing will come of it.
| Israel | Islam | Dividing the Land |

Attack will be seen in Messianic terms The Jerusalem Post (March 7, 2008) - While defense establishment officials sitting in the Kiriya military headquarters in Tel-Aviv ponder the diplomatic-security implications of last night's attack, a totally different analysis will be taking place this weekend around Shabbat dinner tables across Jerusalem and most West Bank settlements. The people directly affected by the deadly terrorist attack on the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva are not just the students, their relatives and friends, but the much wider larger segment of the religious Zionist public. This segment of the population, already seething with anger, which started with the Disengagement in 2005, the Amona pullout, the government promises to America remove illegal outposts, the continued diplomatic process launched at Annapolis and its emphasis to talk about all topics, including Jerusalem, is going to be extremely unhappy about this attack. Together with the grief and sorrow, there is going to be a lot of angry talk about good and evil, about a religious war over the Holy Land. This attack was aimed specifically for the religious Zionist and settler population, and the terrorists knew that by speaking in this language, to these people, their message could only be interpreted in one way. This will be seen in terms of Ishmael and Isaac. Being messianic religious people, the religious Zionists are going to see this attack through the prism of messianic prophecy. Already I am hearing on religious Zionist radio stations people talking about the attack in prophetic terms, such as Isaiah 59 verse 20: And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. Settler radio talk- show hosts are interpreting this prophecy by saying that if the Jews don't stop Hamas, the Palestinians, Hizbullah and any other Islamic fundamentalists God will force the Jews to do it. The talk-show hosts blame Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and President Shimon Peres, and several callers into the broadcasts are unanimous in their condemnation of the Israeli government and calling on its removal. The fact that the Foreign Ministry has already come out with a formal statement saying the attack won't derail the talks with the Palestinian Authority will only fuel the anger of the settler population this weekend. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the Knesset from Sunday and the implications on the coalition. Shas will come under immense pressure to bolt the government. At the funeral procession speeches Friday at the Yeshiva, Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar began his comments with the Psalm for Assaf: "They have spilled blood like water around Jerusalem." Many of the top leadership of the religious Zionist movement, speaking at the funerals, spoke of revenge of the blood. The fact that the Jewish students were killed in a house of God touched the most basic nerve of many Israelis, and especially of the religious Zionist public. The rabbis called on the students not to carry out acts of revenge, saying that judgment is in God's realm. "God's vengeance will come swiftly," Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu's secretary cried out in his rabbi's name. The eulogists also praised the deceased for their studiousness and deep connection to Torah and entreated those in attendance not to falter in their study of the sacred writ. more...
| Israel | Islam |

EU's Solana condemns Jerusalem attack European Jewish Press (March 6, 2008) - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana condemned Thursday night a deadly attack on a yeshiva or Jewish religious school in Jerusalem. "Javier Solana spoke tonight with the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to condemn the terrorist that killed at least eight students and injured many more, " a statement from the EU Council said. Solana, who had talks in Israel earlier this week, sent to Livni his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Israeli authorities. A Palestinian terrorist entered the building of the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva religious school in Jerusalem late Thursday and started shooting, killing eight students and wounding 35. Security services in Israel have been on alert for the past three weeks since Israel was blamed by Hezbollah for the assassination in Baghdad of one of its top commanders, Imad Mughniye. France also condemned the attack. "France condemns in the strongest terms the horrible attack this evening in a Talmudic school in west Jerusalem which has caused the death of numerous civilians," Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement. Kouchner called for "talks aimed at the creation of a Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel".
| Israel | Islam | EU/UN / 4th Kingdom | Solana |

Leaders push PR campaign for North American alliance WorldNet Daily (March 6, 2008) - The controversial Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, or SPP, continues closed-door meetings with business leaders while the heads of state of the U.S., Mexico and Canada now openly urge them to launch a public relations campaign to counter growing criticism of the trilateral cooperative some fear is a step toward a North American Union. The information is contained in an internal memo from Canada's Foreign Affairs and Internal Trade ministry, obtained by WND under an Access to Information Act request. The text of the undated memo is an internal government summary of the third SPP summit meeting held Aug. 20-21, 2007, in Montebello Quebec. The redacted memo does not disclose the author or the date the memo was written. The first sentence of the memo makes clear, as WND previously reported, the North American Competitiveness Council, or NACC, was the only participant invited to meet behind closed doors with the SPP bureaucrats. The SPP consists of 20 working groups plus the attending cabinet officers from each country and the heads of state. "Leaders had a successful meeting with the members of the NACC, which had been launched at the leader's meeting in Cancun in March 2006, to counsel governments on how they might enhance North American competitiveness," the memo begins. The NACC is a largely secretive SPP advisory council of representatives of 30 North American corporations selected by the Chambers of Commerce in the three nations. The NACC has issued no press releases disclosing specific recommendations made to the SPP trilateral working groups tasked with "integrating" and "harmonizing" administrative rules and regulations into a North American format. Nor have any minutes of SPP meetings with NACC participants ever been made public. The PR offensive is clearly discussed in the third paragraph of the internal memo, where following an initial redacted sentence, the paragraph discusses comments made by the three heads of state in the closed door discussions, noting, "He also urged NACC members to assist in confronting and refuting critics of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP)." The "He" in the sentence is not identified. The fourth paragraph continues the PR theme: "In closing, all leaders expressed a desire for the NACC to play a role in articulating publicly the benefits of greater collaboration in North America." Later, the memo admits, "Leaders discussed some of the difficulties of the SPP, including the lack of popular support and the failure of the public to understand the competitive challenges confronting North America." After a redacted sentence, the memo continues, "Governments are faced with addressing the rapidly evolving competitive environment without fueling protectionism, when industry sectors face radical transformation." The memo then documents a comment made by President Bush: "In terms of building public support, President Bush suggested engaging the support of those who had benefited from NAFTA and from North American integration (including small business owners) to tell their stories and humanize the impressive results." The document says, regarding import safety, "President Bush underlined the importance of tackling the issue more broadly and showing that governments are ahead of this issue in order to prevent a trade protectionist backlash, especially against China." Toward the end, the memo reinforces the public relations theme, emphasizing, "NACC members should have a role in communicating the merits of North American collaboration, including by engaging their employees and unions." Meanwhile, the SPP ministers and trilateral working groups continue to pursue a policy of secret, closed-door meetings, where the press and the public is not invited to participate or observe the process. more...
| NewWorldOrder | America |

I call on the FARC not to commit the irreparable Le Figaro (March 6, 2008) - Nicolas Sarkozy believes that an agreement between France and Germany is "necessary" to advance the EU, but that it "is not enough".

There has been much commented on your disagreement with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Have you turned this page?

What agreement did you find out about this case?

The agreement between France and Germany is still the engine of the European Union?

UK referendum bid defeated EU Observer (March 6, 2008) - The UK's parliament has rejected a call for referendum on the new EU's Lisbon treaty, a move representing a victory for Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown which has argued in the face of bitter opposition that there should not be a public poll. The House of Commons on late Wednesday (5 March) voted against the proposal for a popular vote by 311 votes to 248, with a margin of 63, the BBC reported. The Lisbon treaty was signed by EU leaders in December 2007 and it must be ratified by all the bloc's member states before taking into force. Most countries have opted for a parliamentary ratification, with only Ireland due to hold a referendum on the issue, probably in June. The push for a popular vote in Britain was due to a manifesto pledge before the 2005 general elections by all three main political parties to ask citizens for their approval of the EU constitution. The constitution was subsequently rejected by French and Dutch voters in mid-2005, but the current treaty contains most of its innovations. While the UK's ruling Labour party as well as the Liberal Democrats claim the Lisbon treaty no longer has constitutional implications for Britain and so does require a referendum, the Conservatives insist the document is the constitution but with a different name. "We have the courage of our convictions and are sticking to that promise - you have lost your courage," Conservative leader David Cameron told the prime minister in a passionate debate in parliament. Mr Brown hit back by saying: "If this was a constitutional treaty, we would hold a referendum. But the constitutional concept was abandoned." The Labour MPs also referred to several "opt-outs" from the Lisbon treaty that the government had negotiated, mainly on citizens rights, and justice and home affairs. But Wednesday's vote showed some differences of opinion within the political parties over their own official lines on the treaty. Some 29 Labour MPs and 13 Liberal Democrats voted with the Conservatives in favour of a referendum, while three Conservatives voted against their party line. Britain is now expected to ratify the treaty by the summer. So far, five countries have given the green light to the document: Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, France, and Romania.
| EU/UN / 4th Kingdom |

Vatican, Muslims, to establish permanent dialogue Reuters (March 5, 2008) - The Vatican and Muslim leaders agreed on Wednesday to establish a regular official dialogue to improve sometimes difficult relations between the two religions. A joint statement said the first meeting of the "The Catholic-Muslim Forum" would take place in November in Rome with 24 religious leaders and scholars from each side. The themes of the first session will be "Love of God, Love of Neighbour", "Theological and Spiritual Foundation", and "Human Dignity and Mutual Respect" and Pope Benedict will address the group. The announcement was made at the end of a two-day meeting at the Vatican with five representatives of a group of more than 200 Muslims who had signed an unprecedented appeal to the pope to begin a dialogue. Catholic-Muslim relations nosedived in 2006 after Benedict delivered a lecture in Regensburg, Germany, that was taken by Muslims to imply that Islam was violent and irrational. Muslims around the world protested and the pope sought to make amends when he visited Turkey's Blue Mosque and prayed towards Mecca with its Imam. After the fallout from the Regensburg speech, 138 Muslim scholars and leaders wrote to the German-born Pontiff and other Christian leaders last year, saying "the very survival of the world itself" may depend on dialogue between the two faiths. Although Benedict repeatedly expressed regret for the reaction to his speech in Regensburg, he stopped short of a clear apology sought by Muslims.
| Islam | RCC |

Tensions rise in Colombia-Ecuador-Venezuela dispute Breitbart.com (March 5, 2008) - The crisis gripping South America took a step closer to open conflict Wednesday, with Venezuela saying 10 batallions were now on the Colombian border, and Ecuador warning "ultimate consequences" could ensue. The developments increased pressure on frantic diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute, which has raised the specter of OPEC members Venezuela and Ecuador, led by leftists, going to war against conservative US ally Colombia. Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, in Brazil to drum up regional support for his country, warned that Colombia must be condemned internationally for its cross-border strike inside Ecuador on the weekend. "Otherwise we will have to defend ourselves by our own means. I insist on this: Ecuador is ready to go to the ultimate consequences," he told reporters Venezuela, which has given full backing to Ecuador, confirmed that 10 of its army batallions -- around 6,000 men -- had been sent to the frontier and were 90 percent in place. The mobilization was "not against the people of Colombia, but rather against the expansionist designs of the Empire," Venezuelan Defense Minister Gustavo Rangel said, referring to the United States, which has thrown its weight behind its ally Colombia. The trigger of the crisis was an air and land raid by Colombia inside Ecuador on Saturday to kill a leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Marxist guerrilla group it has been fighting for four decades. Ecuador and Venezuela responded by ordering troops to their borders with Colombia and cutting off diplomatic ties. US President George W. Bush hailed Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for going after the FARC and blamed the heightened tensions on "provocative maneuvers" by longtime foe, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. Correa, who was to talk with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, said the US backing of Colombia was unsurprising, and described Uribe as Washington's "unconditional puppet." He said: "There has been an aggression. The aggressor has to apologize and the international community has to condemn it." Correa said his country saw no negotiated solution because "there is nothing to negotiate." "Nobody wants war," he said. "But we won't fool ourselves. The war was started by Colombia. We were bombed." Brazil, along with Chile and Argentina, have already expressed indignation over Colombia's extraterritorial attack. more...
| 2nd Seal |

Update: Perhaps this falls under "rumors of wars" rather than "wars:" Venezuela restores Colombia ties BBC News (March 9, 2008) - Venezuela says it will immediately normalise diplomatic relations with Colombia, a week after ties were cut. Caracas broke off relations with its neighbour in protest at a Colombian military raid into Ecuador, in which a leading leftist Farc rebel was killed. Over subsequent days, regional tensions soared, but the crisis was defused when leaders met at a summit on Friday. But Ecuador, which accused Colombia of violating its sovereignty, has said it will take some time to restore ties. more...

Court's home school ban creating 'panic' WorldNet Daily (March 4, 2008) - A ruling from an appeals court in California that a homeschooling family must enroll their children in a public school or "legally qualified" private school is alarming because of the way the court opted to order those results, according to a team of legislative analysts who have worked on homeschooling issues in California for decades. The ruling, when it was released several days ago, sent ripples of shock through the homeschooling community. WND has reported on the order handed down to Phillip and Mary Long over the education being provided to two of their eight children. The decision from the 2nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles granted a special petition brought by lawyers appointed to represent the two youngest children after the family's homeschooling was brought to the attention of child advocates. The lawyers appointed by the state were unhappy with a lower court's ruling that allowed the family to continue homeschooling, and specifically challenged that on appeal. Roy Hanson, chief of the Private and Home Educators of California, said the circumstances of the Long family left the court with the option of handling such a ruling for their particular circumstances in a juvenile court setting. "Normally in a dependency court action, they simply make a ruling that will affect that family. It accomplishes the same thing, meaning they would force [the family] to place their minor children into school," he said. Such rulings on a variety of issues always are "done in the best interests of the child" and are not unusual, he said. But in this case, the court said went much further, essentially concluding that the state provided no circumstance that allowed parents to school their own children at home. "We find no reason to strike down the Legislature's evaluation of what constitutes an adequate education scheme sufficient to promote the 'general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence.' We agree … 'the educational program of the State of California was designed to promote the general welfare of all the people and was not designed to accommodate the personal ideas of any individual in the field of education,'" the ruling said. Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting." Further, the appeals ruling said, California law requires "persons between the ages of six and 18" to be in school, "the public full-time day school," with exemptions allowed only for those in a "private full-time day school" or those "instructed by a tutor who holds a valid state teaching credential for the grade being taught." Such a holding, if unchanged, could ultimately be used against the tens of thousands who currently are homeschooling in California by fulfilling the state's requirements to establish a private school in a home, and enrolling the family's children in that school, observers said. For homeschoolers in California, Hanson said, "there may be everywhere from concern to panic, just based on not knowing what the [ultimate] results will be." He said his group has worked to defeat similar arguments in the past, and because of those previous results, he wondered whether the court or the children's lawyers were pursuing some sort of "agenda" with the case. more...
| America |

Hamas In Gaza Ask Children To Stand On Rooftops To Prevent IAF Attacks Infolive.tv (March 4, 2008) - It is sad and traumatic to see images of women and especially children, wounded, maimed or killed in war. Regardless of their creed or origin. In the recent bout of violence between Israel and Palestinian terrorists, such images have been broadcasted worldwide several times a day, not only by the Palestinian and Arab networks, but also by the European and American ones. While the United Nations and Europe at large has condemned Israel for using excessive force in the Gaza Strip, almost all of the foreign networks have focused their broadcasts on the images of Palestinian children in Gaza who were wounded in the IAF strikes or killed. The same networks have refrained from showing images of children in the southern Israeli town of Sderot who were maimed for life after losing limbs in Kassam rocket barrages and others who have been traumatized for life, having to endure seven years of rocket barrages on their homes. Children in Sderot were also among the growing list of Israeli fatalities in recent years who fell victims to the Palestinian terror. The world at large has also failed to address the fact that Hamas and terror organizations in Gaza take advantage of the children and manipulate them to serve their cause. In a number of air strikes conducted by the IAF in recent days, leaflets were dropped calling on locals to evacuate their homes warning them. Hamas taking advantage of the situation encouraged children to stand on the rooftops in an effort to avert such strikes. Senior military officials told Yediot Aharonoth in a recent report, that a number of air strikes were called off at the last minute after the children were spotted at the site to be targeted. In the massive Hamas rallies held in Gaza, children are often dressed up in army fatigues, pose as would be suicide bombers wearing mock bomb belts. In the schools and kindergartens of Gaza, children are taught to seek Israel's destruction, and aspire to martyrdom. Palestinian media reports claim that women and children were among the 100 fatalities killed in the recent bout of violence in Gaza. Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi however declared on Monday that of the 100 killed 90 were armed terrorists. While the world is busy condemning Israel, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has asked Israel's leading judicial authorities to examine the possibility of moving Palestinian civilians out of harms way prior to air strikes. The idea would give the IDF greater room to maneuver and target rocket crews. Barak also asked the officials to examine cutting fuel supplies to Gaza, firing single artillery shells against rocket fire. These are just a few examples but they also prove that Israel does its utmost to ensure that the civilian casualties are kept at a minimum. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the other side, who purposely choose to target Israeli civilian population centers. The terrorists choose to launch their attacks at Israel from Palestinian civilian areas, knowing that Israel will think twice before targeting a residential area. Suicide bombs and Kassam rockets kill. It is about time the world sees Hamas for what they really are, a murderous terror organization who seeks Israel's destruction.
| Israel | Islam |

Feds Cite Hassles if ID Law Not Followed GOP USA (March 4, 2008) - Homeland Security officials are pushing recalcitrant states to adopt stricter driver's license standards to end a standoff that could disrupt domestic air travel. States have less than a month to send a letter to the Homeland Security Department seeking an extension to comply with the Real ID law passed following the 2001 terror attacks. Some states have resisted, saying it is costly, impractical and an invasion of privacy. Four states -- Maine, Montana, New Hampshire and South Carolina -- have yet to seek an extension. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argues that the law fixes a critical gap in security identified by the commission that investigated the 9/11 attacks: the ease of obtaining government-issued ID. It will also hinder would-be con artists and illegal immigrants, he said. Real ID-compliant driver's licenses would have several layers of new security features to prevent forgery. They would also be issued after a number of ID checks, including verification of birth certificates, Social Security numbers and immigration status. Officials acknowledge it will take years to phase in all the different security measures. To bring the states in line, Chertoff warned that any state that does not seek an extension by the end of March will find that, come May, their residents will not be able to use their licenses to board domestic flights. Chertoff's assistant secretary, Stewart Baker, sent letters to several governors Monday reminding them of the looming deadline, and urging the holdouts to seek an extension. In recent years, 17 states passed legislation or resolutions opposing Real ID, but now only a handful appear willing to challenge the government publicly. Officials in Maine and Montana insisted Monday they would not seek an extension. A spokesman for South Carolina's governor said he was still considering it. New Hampshire passed a law last year prohibiting the state from participating in the Real ID program, and Gov. John Lynch wrote Chertoff last week asking him not to impose the requirements on New Hampshire citizens. A fifth state, Delaware, has sent a letter asking for an extension, but DHS officials are still weighing whether the wording of the letter legally adds up to an extension request. If the states do not seek an extension by March 31, their residents will be subjected to secondary screening by security workers before boarding any domestic flight beginning May 11. ''We're not going to buckle under here,'' said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. ''My guess is the people of Montana would be proud to walk through that line.'' Schweitzer called the Real ID proposal a bureaucratic boondoggle that will cost his state a fortune and give a false sense of security without actually making ID more reliable. He has sought to rally opposition to Real ID, but the vast majority of states have decided not to test whether Washington is bluffing. As the high-stakes game of chicken continues, federal authorities are not publicly saying whether seeking an extension actually counts as complying with the law. In his recent letters, Baker said only that the 45 states that have sought extensions are ''on track toward improved security.''
| NewWorldOrder | Technology | America |

The Coming Times: 2008 & Beyond Watchman Blog (March 3, 2008) - In the course of studying Bible prophecy and watching current events, a series of events became clear that I would like to lay out for you here. It began with my personal search through the Bible to see for myself if God’s Word clarified itself to the point of the bride of Christ being able to understand the times in which we live. I had read in the Bible that we would not be in darkness and that we should watch and pray, but there are so many personal interpretations of scripture out there and I hadn’t taken the time to really search the scriptures myself because I didn’t feel I had the background to understand. So acknowledging my deficiencies, I came before the Lord in prayer and asked Him to reveal His Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and show me His plans and not my own desires or interpretations of His plans. This is not a claim to have all those answers and I will never stop warning people not to take my word for anything but to search the scriptures to see whether these things are so. Acts 17:11 The Watchman Bible Study website is the result of my search for Truth and my desire to share the clarity I’ve discovered written into and interpreted by the Bible. more...

6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Philippine Islands Region Reuters (March 3, 2008) - A strong earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck in the ocean off the east coast of the Philippines on Monday night, but so far there have been no reports of damage, officials said. The quake, which struck at 10:11 p.m. local time (1411 GMT), was centered about 175 km (110 miles) east-southeast of Pandan, Catanduanes in the central Philippines at a depth of 24.2 km (15 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In an earlier report, the USGS said the earthquake was magnitude 7.0. and its depth was 33 km (20.5 miles). "We have not received reports of damages but we are still checking," said Ed Laguerta, chief vulcanologist in the central Bicol region. "We have advised officials to watch out for waves along coastal areas but there is no tsunami warning." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected, but it noted that earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that affect areas within 60 miles (100 km) of the epicenter.
| Earth Changes |

Climate change poses 'security risk' London Financial Times (March 3, 2008) - Climate change poses "serious security risks" and fighting it should be part of "preventive security policy", according to the European Union's top diplomats, writes Andrew Bounds in Brussels. The warning is contained in a paper prepared for an EU summit this month by Javier Solana, the bloc's foreign policy chief, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, external relations commissioner. The paper, seen by Financial Times Deutschland and the FT, says increased natural disasters and shortages of water, food and other resources in the developing world could affect European security. The threat of water wars is particularly grave in the Middle East. Two-thirds of the Arab world relies on external supplies. "Existing tensions over access to water are almost certain to intensify in the region, leading to further political instability with detrimental implications for Europe's energy security and other interests. Water supply in Israel might fall by 60 per cent over this century," the paper says. It anticipates falling harvests in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, creating instability there. "Climate change will fuel conflicts over depleting resources, especially where access to those resources is politicised," it says, citing the fighting in Darfur. It points to seven threats, including disappearing islands and coastlines, increased migration, a new scramble for resources in the Arctic and greater competition for access to energy.
| EU/UN / 4th Kingdom | Solana | NewWorldOrder |

Oprah's new Easter WorldNet Daily (March 3, 2008) - Today, a live ten-week webinar hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle, author of "A New Earth," will begin on the Internet. Both the book and the online course purport to be able to awaken you and our world to life's grand purpose. Since Oprah's endorsement of Tolle's book a month ago, 3.5 million copies of his spiritual self-help guide have been sent out to enlighten the minds of people around the globe. And more than 500,000 people in 125 countries have already signed up for the worldwide web seminar. Other celebrities have also chimed their endorsements of the book, like Guy Ritchie, Russel Simmons, Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, who said, "I think one of the most important questions that people ask in life is who am I and why am I here? This book gets as close to an answer as any book could ever get." "A New Earth" has even been labeled "a spiritual classic" by one of today's leading spiritual thinkers. But will this religious text and its subsequent Internet church-like gathering really lead you and our world to God's gates of splendor? I completely respect everyone's First Amendment rights to choose their religion of choice. But I also recognize the First Amendment rights to speak freely against what I and so many others deem as errant and spiritually unsafe. We can all agree to disagree agreeably, but that doesn't turn an aberrant spiritual opinion into almighty religious truth. With this live webcast running through the very heart of one of Christendom's most sacred seasons of the year (including Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter and Pentecost), the queen of daytime talk is preaching from a primetime pulpit, from which she is heralding to the world community, "Get ready to be awakened!" But is it merely a coincidence that Winfrey's and Tolle's spiritual quest aligns with this special religious time of year? It is yet one more evidence of the paradigm shift in our culture from its moral absolute and Judeo-Christian basis to a relativistic worldview in which anything goes and everything is tolerated. The fact is: Tolle's "A New Earth" is being adopted and transformed into Oprah's new Easter. Like most self-help spiritual texts of this type, it is a blend of half truths and half fabrications. One could easily save the purchase price of "A New Earth" and subsequently avoid misleading remarks by reading a Bible, which gives a much more thorough and accurate picture of life's purpose and methods for overcoming its obstacles. For example, Tolle advocates that the chief obstacle to awakening is our ego, and that fear is the basis of ego. (Is that a revelation to anyone?) The Bible declared more than two millennia ago, "With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" and "perfect love drives out all fear." Tolle newly advocates "being in the now," while the Bible admonished long ago, "Be still and know that I am God." Before Tolle even conceived "A New Earth," the Bible described "a new heaven and a new Earth" and shows us exactly how we can inherit them in the future. Tolle concludes, "This book is about you. It will change your state of consciousness or it will be meaningless." On the other hand, the Bible emphatically assures its contents are "able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation." Tolle himself doesn't align with any one religion, but blends tenets of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sufism, Christianity and other faiths. One reviewer from the Vancouver Sun said of Tolle:

The reason Tolle's psychology and spirituality is marketed so easy is that it is an eclectic mix of conventional and unconventional wisdom, and Western and Eastern beliefs, presented in a tolerant, non-threatening, and non-sectarian way. In other words, it's "Religion Light," in which one can be spiritual with "little down and no credit." Is anyone else growing weary of light, quick fix, pop-a-pill-and-you'll-feel-better schemes in society and self-help? Have you ever found that the most valuable lessons in life have come easy? If we're ever to discover the truth and purpose for life, we must be liberated from our fixations with easy roads – and then model and teach the same to our children and grandchildren. That is why I'm endorsing, and even written the foreword for, an upcoming (April 15 release) revolutionary book, "Do Hard Things," written by Alex and Brett Harris. It offers real insights and rewards for life by commendably calling us to rebel against the low expectations of culture and choose to "do hard things." Even Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to follow me, you must take up your cross and follow me." Tolle, however, only quotes relatively benign sayings of Jesus, while avoiding the more difficult ones. For example, he notes that Jesus taught that the "kingdom of heaven" was already present on Earth and can be experienced right now, but overlooks Jesus' teaching that one must be born again by believing in him as the Son of God and Savior to see that kingdom in the future. When will we learn? Our pursuit and obtainment of truth is hindered most by our subjective (or à la carte) selections of religion and refusal to consider tougher commandments that call us to higher accountability and our true purpose. more...
| Apostasy |

Extreme weather kills 13 in Europe Breitbart.com (March 2, 2008) - Hurricane-strength winds howled across Europe over the weekend, killing 13 people and leaving a trail of destruction as cars were blown off the road, roofs were ripped off and trees fell like matchsticks. The storm, dubbed "Emma" by forecasters, brought with it winds of up to 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour and heavy rains as it ripped its way across central Europe. As the winds eased slightly on Sunday Germany reported five people dead, Austria four, the Czech Republic two and Poland two. In Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany a driver was crushed when a tree fell on his car, while a 72-year-old man in Bavaria perished when a gust of wind pushed his car into the path of an oncoming lorry, police said. In Baden-Wuerttemberg a 19-year-old man was killed in another head-on collision caused by the wind, while in Saxony a 48-year-old woman died and four people were injured in a car crash caused by snow and strong winds. In Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany a 48-year-old man died when winds made him lose control of his minivan on the motorway. Six people were hurt when their bus was blown off the road and into a ditch in Bavaria, while rail passengers had a lucky escape near Bonn when their train hit a tree that had fallen on the line, ripping a large hole in the locomotive. Across Germany, roads and railway lines were closed, roofs were ripped off houses, cars were overturned and power lines put out of action. Authorities said tens of millions of euros (dollars) worth of damage has been caused. The southern state of Bavaria was particularly badly hit, with 150,000 homes without electricity and heavy rain causing flooding, police said. In Austria, where winds reached up to 166 kilometres per hour, two German tourists were killed on Saturday in separate incidents in the western province of Tyrol. In the central Salzburg province, a taxi passenger was killed by rockfall apparently caused by the storm and a woman was crushed in Lower Austria when a tree squashed her car. Some 10,000 homes in Upper Austria were without power, roads and sections of motorway had to be shut down and rail services around the country were severely disrupted. Two people were also killed in the Czech Republic, emergency services said. more...
| Earth Changes |

Gaza: EU Slovenian presidency condemns ‘disproportionate use of force’ by Israel European Jewish Press (March 2, 2008) - The European Union has condemned on Sunday what it called the “disproportionate use of force" by Israel in the Gaza Strip as the EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana is arriving in the region. In a statement, the EU’s Slovenian presidency said: "The presidency condemns the recent disproportionate use of force by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against Palestinian population in Gaza and urges Israel to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from all activities that endanger civilians." It added: "Such activities are contrary to international law. The Presidency at the same time reiterates condemnation of continued firing of rockets into Israeli territory and calls for its immediate end." The statement was issued after intense fighting in the Gaza Strip over the weekend in which fifty-four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed. Senior Israeli political and military leaders have been mulling a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip for months, as Hamas militants launched daily rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel. The EU presidency said "it rejects collective punishment of the people of Gaza." "We are deeply worried about the suffering of the civilian population on Israeli and Palestinian side. We have stated too many times that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace and security,” the statement said... Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief, has started on Sunday a 3-day visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. In Israel, Solana will meet on Monday with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. On Tuesday, the EU official will travel to the Palestinian territories for meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Ahmed Ali Mohammed Qurei, chairman of the Palestinian negotiating team, and Saeb Erekat, head of the negotiations affairs department. According to his cabinet, Solana will stress the importance of keeping the Annapolis peace process on track and underline the EU's commitment to this process and its support for the parties. He will also stress the EU's readiness to help bring about and implement a solution to the situation in Gaza. more...
| Israel | Islam | Dividing the Land | EU/UN / 4th Kingdom | Solana | 1st Seal |

Europe In The World: The Next Steps Cyril Foster Lecture: Javier Solana (February 28, 2008) - It is a special honor to give this year's Cyril Foster lecture. Cyril Foster, I understand, was a special character. A retired owner of a shop selling sweets, who lived and died in a caravan. He left the remains of his estate to this University [Oxford], stating that his money be used to promote peace with an annual lecture. This speech had to focus on "the elimination of war and better understanding of the nations of the world." The commitment of ordinary people like Cyril Foster to international peace offers an important message to those involved in daily diplomacy. Our responsibility is not just to defend the national interest but to put this in context of wider international interests. Gorbachev used the phrase "all-human values." This may sound foreign to use. But I know what he was talking about. Since we are gathered in the Examination Schools, I am conscious I had better try to answer the exam questions that have been set. Why should the European Union play a global role? What have we learned in recent years? And what are the next steps? In science, as in politics, one has to make the case. It cannot be assumed. So what is the case for a credible European Union foreign policy? Broadly speaking, I see two logics:

First, and perhaps most familiar, is the logic of effectiveness. It has become a cliché to say that the world around us is changing fast. Trite, perhaps, but no less true. Complexity and uncertainty are core features of the international landscape. The boundaries of national and international politics are blurring. Old templates do not enable us to make sense of today's new threats, new issues and new powers. Meanwhile, many of the old problems from the rubble of past empires endure. In addition, power is shifting away. Both within political systems where markets, NGOs, media and individuals are increasingly powerful. But also between political systems: from the West to East, from North to South. It is clear, or it should be, that in the face of these broad trends, national cards have only limited reach. These days, if you want to solve problems, you must bring together broad constellations of international actors. This applies to all governments around the world. But especially to Europe: a group of medium-sized countries that have had out-sized influence on the world. And whose power base, in relative demographic and economic terms, is eroding. These days politics, like business, is increasingly taking place on a continental or even global scale. It is interesting that sometimes our publics and companies seem ahead of governments in realising this. So the first reason has to do with the changes in the world around us. Effectiveness requires us to group together.

On top of the external rationale, there is also an internal, specific European one. For a credible European foreign policy should also be seen as the logical extension of the origins of the European project. With six words, the French poet Paul Valéry captured the European condition in 1945: 'We hope vaguely, we dread precisely.' It was only after Europe had experienced the horrors of the 20th century that people were ready to try a radical new idea: peace through openness; integration based on strong institutions and laws; a paradigm change whereby the strength of one's neighbour was no longer seen as a threat but as an asset. European integration, together with NATO, has been essential for this fantastic success. No one under 60 has experienced a general European war. Historically speaking, this is not the "normal" condition for our continent. Then there is enlargement, through which we have expanded the zone of peace, stability and law. In the European Union we practice system change: it is voluntary, peaceful and extraordinarily successful. From the original six t 27 member-states today. More than 500 million people living under a Community of law. Yes, all this has required a sharing of powers. Some people believe that sharing power means there is less of it when you share it. On the contrary, there is more. Michael Heseltine once expressed this point with a good phrase: "A man alone in the desert is sovereign. He is also powerless." By being members of the European Union, countries regain the capacity to address problems that, on their own, they would have no hope of solving. In other words, the rationale for European integration extends far beyond "no more war." Although that remains a success we should not belittle.

So the twin logics are: First effectiveness driven by external forces. And second, extending the internal success of the European project. From peace on our continent to promoting peace in the world. In addition, the internal and external logics are linked. For the nature of the integration project has influenced the kind of foreign policy we are trying to shape. Internally, it has been all about taming the passion of states and spreading the rule of law. To make power lawful and the law powerful. That is the way we started and succeeded inside Europe. And that is how we try to operate outside. Domestically, people are more free if they live under the rule of law than if they live in anarchy. So rules make people free and secure. In the same way, states have more control over their destiny if they can establish a framework of rules and operate together. All this explains our support for strong institutions and rules. From the UN to the WTO to the African Union or the OSCE. But also on specific issues: from human rights, to non-proliferation, to climate change. Mind you, all this is not some naïve do-goodism. We know that all of us, including the strongest, benefit from having a system of rules. And we know that rules need to be enforced. Above all, we know that promoting peace, law and institutions, requires taking risks. Politically and with people on the ground. That is precisely what we have done. Since 2003 we have deployed 18 operations on three continents. From classic peace-keeping, to border monitoring, to security sector, police or judicial reform. In recent years, around 10,000 people have been deployed in EU operations. These operations are mostly small in size. But conceptually they are quite sophisticated. Mixing military with civilian instruments; in support of a political strategy...

What about the third part of the exam question, the "next steps?" If we are serious about a more effective European foreign policy, there are many things we have to do. Let me mention just three. Firstly, we need more capabilities for crisis management. Plus we need a greater willingness to use the ones we have. It is striking that, after we have agreed together to deploy missions in Afghanistan or Chad or elsewhere, the force generation takes longer than it should. By being smarter in how we spend on defence, we can get more usable equipment and capabilities. In similar vein, we should expand the number of rapidly deployable and adequately trained civilians. Sometimes mobilising civilians is even harder than military, since they do not wait in barracks to be called to duty. Secondly, when we agree by consensus on what to do, we need greater efficiency in translating that into effective action on the ground. The Lisbon Treaty will help very much. It is right that consensus remains required for decision-making in foreign policy. But once we have taken decisions, we should be able to implement them faster and more effectively. Thirdly, and most difficult: we need to think differently about foreign policy as such. Foreign policy these days should not be just about diplomats, soldiers and development workers. And about how we can bring these "tribes" better together - although doing so is necessary. Modern foreign policy should be broader and involve wider sets of people. From those working on energy and climate change to migration and asylum to international economics. Perhaps I could make the same point somewhat differently. If the European Union gets its act together on energy, climate change and migration, we will have created big building blocks for a foreign policy fit for the 21st century. more...
| EU/UN / 4th Kingdom | Solana | NewWorldOrder | 1st Seal |

News for March 7, 2008

There has been much commented on your disagreement with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Have you turned this page?

What agreement did you find out about this case?

The agreement between France and Germany is still the engine of the European Union?