The Global Threat Picture as the Defense Intelligence Agency Sees It - LT General Michael Flynn

Lt General Flynn Interview on the Middle East

Prophecy update March 29 2015

Why Yemen Matters

 Reblogged from http://www.danielpipes.org/15681/why-yemen-matters

 by Daniel Pipes

Washington Times
March 28, 2015

The Middle East witnessed something radically new two days ago, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responded to a plea by Yemen's president and led a 10-country coalition to intervene in the air and on the ground in the country. "Operation Decisive Storm" prompts many reflections:

Saudi and Egypt in alliance: Half a century ago, Riyadh and Cairo were active in a Yemen war, but then they supported opposing sides, respectively the status-quo forces and the revolutionaries. Their now being allies points to continuity in Saudia along with profound changes in Egypt.

Arabic-speakers getting their act together: Through Israel's early decades, Arabs dreamt of uniting militarily against it but the realities of infighting and rivalries smashed every such hope. Even on the three occasions (1948-49, 1967, 1973) when they did join forces, they did so at cross purposes and ineffectively. How striking, then that finally they should coalesce not against Israel but against Iran. This implicitly points to their understanding that the Islamic Republic of Iran poses a real threat, whereas anti-Zionism amounts to mere indulgence. It also points to panic and the need to take action resulting from a stark American retreat.

Arab leaders have a long history of meeting but not cooperating. From the right: King Hussein of Jordan, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Yasir Arafat of the PLO, and Muammar Qaddafi of Libya in September 1970.

Yemen at the center of attention: Yemen played a peripheral role in the Bible, in the rise of Islam, and in modern times; it's never been the focus of world concern – until suddenly now. Yemen resembles other once-marginal countries – the Koreas, Cuba, the Vietnams, Afghanistan – which out of nowhere became the focus of global concern.

The Middle East cold war went hot: The Iranian and Saudi regimes have headed dueling blocs for about a decade. They did combat as the U.S. and Soviet governments once did – via contending ideologies, espionage, aid, trade, and covert action. On March 26, that cold war went hot, where it's likely long to remain.

Can the Saudi-led coalition win? Highly unlikely, as these are rookies taking on Iran's battle-hardened allies in a forbidding terrain.

Islamists dominate: The leaders of both blocs share much: both aspire universally to apply the sacred law of Islam (the Shari'a), both despise infidels, and both turned faith into ideology. Their falling out confirms Islamism as the Middle East's only game, permitting its proponents the luxury to fight each other.

The Turkey-Qatar-Muslim Brotherhood alliance in decline: A third alliance of Sunni revisionists somewhere between the Shi'i revolutionaries and the Sunni status-quotians has been active during recent years in many countries – Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya. But now, in part thanks to diplomacy initiated by the brand-new King Salman of Saudi Arabia, its members are gravitating toward their Sunni co-religionists.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has done something unprecedented in putting together a military coalition.

Isolated Iran: Yes, a belligerent Tehran now boasts of dominating four Arab capitals (Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sana'a) but that's also its problem: abrupt Iranian gains have many in the region (including such previously friendly states as Pakistan and Sudan) fearing Iran.

Sidelining the Arab-Israeli conflict: If the Obama administration and European leaders remain obsessed with Palestinians, seeing them as key to the region, regional players have far more urgent priorities. Not only does Israel hardly concern them but the Jewish state serves as a tacit auxiliary of the Saudi-led bloc. Does this change mark a long-term shift in Arab attitudes toward Israel? Probably not; when the Iran crisis fades, expect attention to return to the Palestinians and Israel, as it always does.

American policy in disarray: Middle East hands rightly scoffed in 2009 when Barack Obama and his fellow naïfs expected that by leaving Iraq, smiling at Tehran, and trying harder at Arab-Israeli negotiations they would fix the region, permitting a "pivot" to East Asia. Instead, the incompetents squatting atop the U.S. government cannot keep up with fast-moving, adverse events, many of its own creation (anarchy in Libya, tensions with traditional allies, a more bellicose Iran).

Impact on a deal with Iran: Although Washington has folded on many positions in negotiations with Iran and done the mullah's regime many favors (for example, not listing it or its Hizbullah ally as terrorist), it drew a line in Yemen, offering the anti-Iran coalition some support. Will Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamene'i now stomp out of the talks? Highly unlikely, for the deal offered him is too sweet to turn down.

American diplomats meet again with their Iranian counterparts to capitulate on yet another difference.

In sum, Salman's skilled diplomacy and his readiness to use force in Yemen responds to the deadly combination of Arab anarchy, Iranian aggression, and Obama weakness in a way that will shape the region for years.

Mr. Pipes (DanielPipes.org, @DanielPipes) is president of the Middle East Forum. © 2015 by Daniel Pipes. All rights reserved.

Related Topics:  Persian Gulf & Yemen, US policy

Related Articles:

• The Middle Eastern Cold War
• The Saudi Scandal Continues
• [The Need to Name and] Know Thy Terrorists

Palm Sunday: The arrival of the King of Kings

by kingsjester

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage^[a] and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; ² and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

⁴ So they went their way, and found the^[b] colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. ⁵ But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

⁶ And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’^{[c] 10} Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord!^[d] Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹ And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. - Mark 11:1-11

What must it have been like, in Jesus's day, as they waited on and then experienced, His arrival into Jerusalem?

They must have really been puzzled at this carpenter's son from Nazareth.

The only information that they had on Jesus back then, was word of mouth. There was no internet and was no television there was no communication of any form except for word of mouth.

We all know how information that is shared word of mouth changes from the original message with each person that tells the story.

By the time word came to Jerusalem, they probably thought that Jesus was a conquering Warrior King, who was going to set them free of the tyranny of Rome.

They were right and wrong, all the same time.

Jesus Christ came to set them free, all right, but it was not from Pontius Pilate and the Roman Empire. Christ came to set us all free...from our sin. Sin is a thief, which destroys us from within and everyone around us, keeping us in slavery so that we will not ever be truly free.

What must they have thought when they saw this promised King come riding in on the back of a lowly donkey?

I am sure that there were some in attendance who experienced a major letdown. Their minds probably had difficulty, trying to reconcile their pre-conceived expectations of Jesus, with the reality of the Son of God.

Who was this guy on the donkey that the local kids were laying palm branches down in front of?

It may seem strange, but today's non-believers seem to still be experiencing that problem with reconciling their preconceived notions of whom Jesus Christ is, with the reality of His unconditional love and acceptance, after repentance.

They don't seem to understand that...

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ meets you where you are with an extended hand, not a shield and sword.

...That comes later.

The hard part about Salvation is accepting the fact that, as human beings, we all possess a sinful nature. And, that without His love and indwelling within us, we can do nothing at all.

Christ has done his part. He died for our sins.

Now, if you haven't accepted him yet as your Personal Savior, it is up to you to do your part and seek forgiveness for your sins.

All those centuries ago, those common people of Jerusalem, at least, most of them, did not have a clue as to whom Jesus actually was, and the fact that they were entertaining the King of Kings, the Son of God.

In Modern American Society, we do not have that excuse.

We have God's Word, available to us, in many translations, in paperback, hard-cover, in audio and video, and on-line.

There is no excuse, in any Modern Culture, especially here in America, to not be familiar with the Root of Jesse, the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lion of Judah, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

We in this generation, may have the same opportunity to see Christ, as those in Jerusalem did, so long ago.

Although no man knows the hour, Christ is coming again.

And, he's coming for all those who worship Him in beauty and in truth.

Will YOU recognize him?

As the following song says,

"Praise God! He's coming for me!"

The King is Coming (Words and Music by Bill Gaither)

The marketplace is empty, no more traffic in the street All the builder's tools are silent, no more time to harvest wheat Busy housewives cease their labor, in the courtroom no debate Work on earth has been suspended as the King comes through the gate

Happy faces line the hallway, those whose lives have been redeemed Broken homes He has mended, those from prison He has freed Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all a-glow Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow

Chorus: The King is coming, the King is coming I just heard the trumpet sounding and soon His face I'll see The King is coming, the King is coming Praise God, He's coming for me

I can hear the chariots rumble, I can see the marching throng And the flurry of God's trumpet spells the end of sin and wrong Regal robes are now unfolded, heaven's grandstands all in place Heaven's choir is now assembled, start to sing "Amazing Grace"

Chorus: The King is coming, the King is coming I just heard the trumpet sounding and soon His face I'll see The King is coming, the King is coming Praise God, He's coming for me

Until He Comes,

KJ

2 feet of hail on the Equator in Colombia and Ecuador

The Struggle - Ray Stedman

http://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/ephesians/the-struggle

A daily devotion for March 28th

Read the Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11).

Our experience confirms the suggestion of this passage—that life is basically a struggle. Life never conforms to the rosy idealism of our dreams or to the romanticism of our songs. The explanation of this struggle lies deeper than we ordinarily think.

The common view of our struggle has been that we are engaged in conflict against flesh and blood, against other men and women. But Paul says the battle is not against flesh and blood; it lies deeper than that. The basic problem is that this is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan and that people themselves are the battlefield. The battle is visible not only in the wars, revolutions, and crime waves that fill our newspapers, but it is also seen in the inner tensions and fears of individual lives, in the neurotic problems and mental illnesses that afflict us today, in family fights and church struggles. It is even visible in nature, where all of life competes in a ruthless, deadly struggle to survive.

The whole race has fallen under the control of satanic forces, which Paul calls, the world rulers of this present darkness (6:12 RSV)—a most significant phrase. The picture of the Bible from beginning to end is that all human beings without Christ, without exception, regardless of how clever or educated or cultured they may be, are the helpless victims of satanic control. Under the control of satanic forces human beings are uncomfortable and unhappy but also completely unable to escape by any wisdom or power of their own.

But the good news is that some have been set free through the coming of that stronger one, Jesus Himself, who came, as John tells us, to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8b). Through Him deliverance is obtained. Through the amazing mystery of the cross and the resurrection, Jesus has broken the power and bondage of Satan over human lives. Those who individually receive and acknowledge this are set free to live in the freedom and liberty of the children of God.

They are not set free to live unto themselves. They are set free in order to battle. That is the call that comes to all Christians. We are not set free in order to enjoy ourselves. We are set free to do battle, to engage in the fight, to overcome in our own lives, and to become the channels by which others are set free. How do you do this? Paul's answer is in one phrase: Put on the whole armor of God. Full provision has been made that you might win in this battle. This is the amazing thing we must learn. God has made full provision for us to fight these forces that hold the world in their grip.

Father, tear away the delusive veils by which I have allowed myself to be rendered powerless in this great battle. Help me to understand that I would have no possibility of fighting were it not for the delivering work of the Lord Jesus, who has come to bind the power of darkness.

Life Application: Why does life not conform to our rosy idealism and romanticism? What is the true nature of the human struggle? How can we face life with confidence and freedom?

We hope you were blessed by this daily devotion.

From your friends at www.RayStedman.org

Bringing Christ To WorkEphesians: Riches in ChristThe Breastplate Of Righteousness

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Copyright © 2007 by Elaine Stedman — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman; compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to www.RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet. Please direct any questions you may have to webmaster@RayStedman.org.

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My level of disgust is severely eroding my tolerance for news these days

Reblogged from servehiminthewaiting.com   By STLloyd March 27, 2015 

 America sin Sodomy

I can hardly bring myself to address some of the pure unadulterated B.S. that is the behavior of our elected officials, broadcasters, and even some Christian bloggers these days.  Does anyone have standards anymore?  I have been doing this blog for three years, and sometimes there simply are no words to address the goings-on.  I’ve unsubscribed to so many “sources” in the past year, it’s not even funny!

Why would a “Christian” blog do an article about the lasciviousness of Nicki Minaj, complete with an x-rated photo of her G-string clad posterior?  This is pornography.  Why perpetuate it?  I understand that sometimes a person can re-blog something and not be aware that a photo will show, or post a video that they may have been momentarily distracted or interrupted and miss some brief segment that had they seen it, they would have refrained from posting.  But come on!

And the speculation, the intrigue, the absolute ignorance of scripture!
Is it me, or does it seem like the entire world has lost its ever-lovin’ mind?  Our President is a criminal, our markets are rigged, our military is being systematically emasculated, and I say that without apology to the female soldiers, because a real woman gets it.  Scientists are trying to open portals to parallel dimensions.

Look, I don’t know if Ted Cruz (or the platform he purports to represent and deliver)  stands a chance, but I do know this, anyone who is holding out hope, who has some  pie in the sky conviction that “of course things are going to turn around”, you need to understand something.  If there is a turnaround, it will be only because somewhere someone was wiling to face the hideous truth about how grossly rebellious this nation has become, and they got on their face and they begged God on the basis of His Mercy alone, to forgive the sins of this nation and to give it one more chance.  And if God grants that mercy, it will be for the sake of the salvation offered in Christ Jesus, because He paid for the sins of this world and it is Gods desire that all would come to salvation, though He knows all will not do so.

There is a whole lot of damage that is going to need to be addressed.  The utter destabilization of the Middle East is a fact and America is not the center of this world.  If someone doesn’t find some testicular fortitude and rein in the madman in the White House before he utterly destroys this nation’s alliance with Israel, this nation is in for a world of hurt. God’s time-table revolves around Israel. What will be will be, just as it has already been written in scripture, but there is still about a flea’s eyelash worth of room for America’s ultimate legacy to be salvaged.  God judges people, and He judges nations.

I know that there are people who have been on their face before the Lord.  I’m not talking about the ones who imagine themselves as “taking dominion”, WE LOST THAT IN THE FALL.  Don’t tell me you are praying for this nation if you are going to pray in ignorance.  And don’t tell me that I’m too wrapped up in the “negative”  Listen, Jesus gave us a model prayer.

Our Father, if you aren’t saved, stop right there.  You father is the devil.

Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Hallowed. Do we even know what that word means any more?
His name is Holy because HE is Holy.

Sodomy is a sin, there is no such thing as gay marriage, marriage is a holy sacrament, a covenant that was created by God, and two men do not qualify, nor do two women, and if anyone has an issue with that, take it up with GOD.  Because you can be sure He is going to take it up with you, and you can hunt me down, and you can torment those who stand on the truth, but you are only storing up wrath against yourself which God will address in His good time. To put it in the inane language of the current day, yes, Sin really is a “thing”.
It’s not some passé societally-dictated device.

And hell is a real place.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but it seems to me like we need to just take up our positions and get on with this thing.  This “tolerance” garbage is getting really old.  If you think God is love and that’s all He is, you are in for a very rude awakening.  If you think that a Christian owes it to the rest of the world to shut up and sit down and roll over, you are utterly mistaken about what it means to be a Christian.

Love that is not founded in truth is not love at all.  It is mere flattery.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
What a glorious day that’s going to be!

John Bolton: Bomb Iran Before It Gets the Bomb

(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Thursday, 26 Mar 2015 02:47 PM

By Sandy Fitzgerald 

There is only one way to block the Iranians from building a nuclear bomb, according to former ambassador John Bolton: Bomb them first.
"The inescapable conclusion is that Iran will not negotiate away its nuclear program," Bolton wrote in an opinion piece for The New York Times on Thursday. "Nor will sanctions block its building a broad and deep weapons infrastructure."

The "inconvenient truth," Bolton insists, is that "only military action like Israel's 1981 attack on Saddam Hussein's Osirak reactor in Iraq or its 2007 destruction of a Syrian reactor, designed and built by North Korea, can accomplish what is required. Time is terribly short, but a strike can still succeed."

Such an attack would not need to destroy Iran's entire nuclear infrastructure, but instead, Bolton said, would break key links in the nuclear fuel cycle and set back Iran's program by at least three to five years.

"Rendering inoperable the Natanz and Fordow uranium-enrichment installations and the Arak heavy-water production facility and reactor would be priorities," said Bolton. "So, too, would be the little-noticed but critical uranium-conversion facility at Isfahan."
The United States could thoroughly destroy the targets, he said, but Israel, acting alone, could also take the necessary steps. He also called for the action to combine with U.S. support for regime change in Iran.

Meanwhile, Bolton said, President Barack Obama's fascination with striking a nuclear deal with Iran could trigger a wave of nuclear programs throughout the Middle East.
"The president's biggest legacy could be a thoroughly nuclear-weaponized Middle East," said Bolton.

Experts have been worried for years that it would happen, said Bolton. As in other cases such as India, Pakistan and North Korea, the West should have been vigilant, he says, "but failing to act in the past is no excuse for making the same mistakes now."

Obama, like his predecessors, inherited the effects of past presidents' decisions, but is responsible for what is happening on his watch, Bolton said, and his "approach on Iran has brought a bad situation to the brink of catastrophe."

Meanwhile, comprehensive international sanctions have crippled Iran somewhat but have not stopped the nuclear program's progress.
"Even absent palpable proof, like a nuclear test, Iran's steady progress toward nuclear weapons has long been evident," said Bolton. "Now, the arms race has begun."
He noted that Saudi Arabia is expected to move first, as "no way would the Sunni Saudis allow the Shiite Persians to outpace them in the quest for dominance."

Analysts believe that Saudi Arabia is able to get nuclear weapons from Pakistan, and Bolton said Egypt or Turkey would not be far behind.
Israel's nuclear capability, though, is mainly seen as a deterrent, not as an offensive measure, and has not brought on an arms race, but Iran is different.

The evidence is mounting that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey are quickening their pace for nuclear weapons of their own, said Bolton.
"Saudi Arabia has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with South Korea, China, France and Argentina, aiming to build a total of 16 reactors by 2030," said Bolton.

The Saudis have also held recent meetings with leaders from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, and "nuclear matters were almost certainly on the agenda."
Bolton said that Pakistan could quickly supply weapons, and he warned not to rule out North Korea dealing behind the backs of its Iranian allies "for the right price."

Related Stories:

• What an Iran Nuclear Deal Could Look Like
• Experts: Iran Now a Nuclear-Ready State Missiles Capable of Hitting US
  

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Israel national anthem A Capella

Blog author´s note: This doesn´t sound like an aggressive hymn of conquest, does it? Rather it is representative of the spirit of shalom that motivates the Jewish people to seek to live in peace with their neighbors. I love this prophecy of Zacharias in Luke 1. The Jewish people is still waiting for their Prince of Peace, the desire of the nations.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 [aq]Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
[ar]By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of PEACE.”

HaTikvah ("The Hope")
Israel's National Anthem The words to Israel's national anthem were written in 1886 by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English poet originally from Bohemia. The melody was written by Samuel Cohen, an immigrant from Moldavia. Cohen actually based the melody on a musical theme found in Bedrich Smetana’s "Moldau."


Listen Now!!

As long as the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart,

With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion,

Then our hope - the two-thousand-year-old hope - will not be lost:

To be a free people in our land,

The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Restoration Promised

30 “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you ^[a]call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, ² and you return to the Lord your God and ^[b]obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, ³ then the Lord your God will restore ^[c]you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. ⁴ If your outcasts are at the ends of the ^[d]earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will ^[e]bring you back. ⁵ The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.