IRAQ–AND NO PEACE IN SIGHT?

The pressure on Iraq increases. While President Bush gave a strong speech on Thursday to the United Nations, Germany’s position has been unrelenting against any military action.
 
Der Stern reported on September 5 that “the fight between Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and U.S. President George W. Bush involving Iraq has escalated to reach a serious crisis between the two countries.” While Chancellor candidate Edmund Stoiber, according to Der Spiegel, dated September 12, had tried to “wiggle himself out of the Iraq debate,” highly-respected former President Richard von Weizsaecker approved the position of Gerhard Schroeder’s government, according to Der Spiegel of September 10. On September 12, Bild reported, that Edmund Stoiber reversed his prior position, stating that he could not support an American military attack against Iraq. He also pointed out that Germany could not be involved, militarily, in any action against Iraq.

 
So far, Russia and China have also stated that they will not support a military attack on Iraq. Tony Blair of Great Britain, however, has announced that he will support President Bush. The positions of France, Denmark and Italy are less clear.
 
In the meantime, the German government clarified, according to Der Spiegel of September 10, that they will not support a military attack in Iraq, even if the United Nations were to agree to it, and that this would include even financial aid. The international constitutional legal expert, Professor Peter Schlotter, explained that an attack on Iraq would violate international law, as it does not allow a preventive military strike on other nations.
 
Previously, on September 4, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had pointed out, during the traditional televised Jewish New Year’s message on September 4, that Libya was close to becoming the first Arab and African country to join the nuclear club. He stated that Libya would have its atomic bomb by 2004, adding that the Libyan program was being carried out by Iraqi and North Korean nuclear scientists with Saudi funding.
 
Prior to President Bush’s speech on September 12, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan opposed any pre-emptive action without Security Council backing. But he also accused Iraq of continuing to defy mandatory Council resolutions, which allows the use of military force, according to Washington Post of September 12. Mr. Annan put Iraq “second on a list of four current threats to world peace… First on the list is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and after Iraq comes Afghanistan and the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir,” according to the newspaper.
 
Yahoo! News summarized President Bush’s subsequent speech in this way, “President Bush told the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday that ‘action will be unavoidable’ against Iraq, unless the United Nations enforced resolutions requiring Baghdad to disarm.” Der Spiegel commented, “U.S. President George W. Bush has clarified to the United Nations, that a military attack on Iraq is unavoidable, if the United Nations does not force Saddam Hussein to disarm.”
 
Iraq’s U.N. ambassador criticized President Bush, saying, “We don’t care about the position of the United States. If they are threatening, if they would attack, certainly we will be there for defending ourselves.”

In Germany, according to Der Spiegel, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer described President Bush’s speech as “very harsh, very clear, and unambiguous.” Finance Minister Hans Eichel warned that a military campaign on Baghdad was the only thing that could wreck Germany’s economic recovery, according to USA Today.

The newspaper also mentioned that the United Kingdom welcomed the speech, as did Norway and Romania.

The entire written text of Mr. Bush’s speech can be found on www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-09-12-bush-speech_x.htm
 
We are bringing the following excerpts from his speech:
 
“Twelve years ago, Iraq invaded Kuwait without provocation… Last year, the U.N. Commission on Human rights found that Iraq continues to commit ‘extremely grave violations’ of human rights and that the regime’s repression is ‘all pervasive.’ Tens of thousands of political opponents and ordinary citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, summary execution, and torture by beating, burning, electric shock, starvation, mutilation, and rape. Wives are tortured in front of their husbands; children in the presence of their parents — all of these horrors concealed from the world by the apparatus of a totalitarian state…
 
“In 1993, Iraq attempted to assassinate the emir of Kuwait and a former American President. Iraq’s government openly praised the attacks of September 11th. And al-Qaeda terrorists escaped from Afghanistan are known to be in Iraq… [T]he regime admitted to producing tens of thousands of liters of anthrax and other deadly biological agents for use with Saudi warheads, aerial bombs, and aircraft spray tanks… Iraq has made several attempts to buy high-strength aluminum tubes used to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon… Iraq is building more long-range missiles that could inflict mass death throughout the region…
 
“Saddam Hussein attacked Iran in 1989, and Kuwait in 1990. He has fired ballistic missiles at Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Israel. His regime once ordered the killing of every person between the ages of 15 and 70 in certain Kurdish villages in Northern Iraq. He has gassed many Iranians and 40 Iraqi villages. My nation will work with the U.N. Security Council on a new resolution to meet our common challenge. If Iraq’s regime defies us again, the world must move deliberately and decisively to hold Iraq to account. The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced — the just demands of peace and security will be met — or action will be unavoidable. And a regime that has lost its legitimacy will also lose its power… We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security, and for the permanent rights and hopes of mankind. By heritage and by choice, the United States of America will make that stand. Delagates to the United Nations, you have the power to make that stand as well.”
 

THE RETURN OF JOERG HAIDER IN AUSTRIA

As the Washington Post reported on September 9, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel broke up his coalition with Joerg Haider’s Freedom Party, calling for new elections in November, after Haider had led a revolt within his party, forcing the resignation of party chief and Vice Chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer and Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser. The paper continued that these events “mark Haider’s return to the center stage of Austrian politics” and that “Haider was likely to lead the Freedom Party on a more radical course, including opposing EU expansion.” Der Spiegel and Der Stern reported on September 11 and September 12 that Haider, after certain unspecified concessions had been made to him, was recommended to become the party’s new leader, and that a close friend of his, minister Herbert Haupt, will be nominated as Chancellor candidate. Haider explained that he did not want to run for Chancellor in November, as he had promised to remain governor in the province of Carinthia until 2004, and that he “is used to keep his promises.”
 

IRAQ–WHAT’S NEXT?

When carefully observing and analyzing the press reports and releases regarding Iraq’s future, one may be surprised to see that the war of propaganda has already begun. Yahoo! News ran an article last Saturday, titled, “EU Nations Agree With Bush on Iraq.” When reading the article, however, one discovers that just the opposite is correct. In the article, it is stated, “European Nations share the U.S. view that Iraq is a dangerous nation but — wary of Washington tripping into a military adventure — insist the Bush administration seek U.N. Security Council backing for any armed action, European officials said Friday…. Germany and France have urged the Bush Administration not to attack Iraq… “

The United Press International pointed out in its article on Saturday Germany’s strong opposition to any military intervention in Iraq. News Telegraph, a paper in the United Kingdom, discussed in its contribution “Germany’s emerging role as the leader of anti-US sentiment in Europe.” It explained that new German parliamentary elections are only three weeks [by now two weeks] away, and that “polls [in Germany] show fierce public opposition to an attack without United Nation’s backing.” The “relations between Germany and America regarding Iraq,” according to the paper, “have deteriorated markedly since March.”

Der Spiegel published several articles this week on the topic of Iraq. It speculated on September 4 that President Bush might declare war on Iraq in his speech on September 11, while Chancellor Schroeder’s criticism got even stronger. He stated, according to the article, “that the U.S. government has no concept for a new order after an attack on Iraq… I don’t see such a concept, in none of those who advocate an attack.” He also accused those who support an attack of being in violation of the declared goal of the United Nations. He reiterated again that Germany will not participate in any attack on Iraq under his leadership.

In a separate article, Der Siegel wrote on September 4 that, according to a worldwide poll, the majority of the Europeans, as well as a majority of the Americans, oppose an American attack on Iraq without the backing of the U.N. According to a poll of the ABC, only 39 percent of the Americans are still in support of an American attack on Iraq without support from America’s allies. An additional interesting result of the worldwide poll is the fact that most Europeans want to see Europe become a second economic and military super power, equal to the United States. Although only 48% of the Germans advocate that goal, 91% of the French support it.

In a third article, Der Spiegel reported on September 4 that the Ambassador of the United States to Germany, Dan Coats, strongly accused the German government. He stated that, if Germany should not stop its criticism of the United States, the relationship between the two countries would deteriorate, and Germany would find itself in an isolated position, even within the European Union. Although French President Jacques Chirac had just declared that “unilateral U.S. action would be contrary to the cooperation of states, the respect of law and the authority of the Security Council,” Mr. Coats’ statements were nevertheless somewhat supported by a sudden switch of Britain’s Tony Blair’s public position, who announced that he agrees with President Bush. The Times commented that with that announcement, Tony Blair has begun to prepare Great Britain for a war against Iraq, and the Guardian also stated that Tony Blair is preparing Great Britain for a war against Saddam Hussein.

We should be able to see that the topic of Iraq might contribute to the formation of new alliances. The Bible prophecies clearly that the European Union — under the leadership of Germany — will look for its own destiny and future, while the United States of America, as well as Britain, will ultimately be left behind, looking in from the outside. The current developments might very well be of tremendous consequences for our immediate future.

UNITED STATES SLAPPED WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

As GlobeandMail.com reported on August 30, the United States lost a major trade battle Friday after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the European Union is free to impose sanctions of up to $4 billion U.S. to counter a U.S. tax policy that favors U.S. exporters. “The exporters have been able to continue to take advantage of tax breaks as ‘foreign sales corporations’ under U.S. tax rules, which President George W. Bush signed into law in November, 2000, despite an earlier agreement with the WTO to remove the tax concessions,” according to the article. “While the United States acknowledged that the tax breaks continued to violate WTO rules, it argued that the subsidies for U.S. exporters specifically affecting Europe were closer to $1 billion.” The article also pointed out that it is now up to Congress to enact new legislation, and that Washington hopes that, in the meantime, Europe will remain patient.

UNITED STATES SLAPPED WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

As GlobeandMail.com reported on August 30, the United States lost a major trade battle Friday after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the European Union is free to impose sanctions of up to $4 billion U.S. to counter a U.S. tax policy that favors U.S. exporters. “The exporters have been able to continue to take advantage of tax breaks as ‘foreign sales corporations’ under U.S. tax rules, which President George W. Bush signed into law in November, 2000, despite an earlier agreement with the WTO to remove the tax concessions,” according to the article. “While the United States acknowledged that the tax breaks continued to violate WTO rules, it argued that the subsidies for U.S. exporters specifically affecting Europe were closer to $1 billion.” The article also pointed out that it is now up to Congress to enact new legislation, and that Washington hopes that, in the meantime, Europe will remain patient.

FULFILLING ISAIAH

As the business world reels from scandals reflecting the dismal greed of people who were considered the “captains” of industrialized America, mounting and alarming statistics that should shock and outrage the people of this land have now become common grist for the daily news.

For example, a report from CBSNEWS.com for July 31, 2002, relates the following:

“…the U.S. continues to be the WORLD LEADER in terms of what percent of its population is behind bars. For last year, the rate of incarceration was 686 inmates out of every 100,000 Americans.”

Another poignant quote from the National Center for Health Statistics in a release for July 24, 2002 states: “By age 30, three-quarters of women in the U.S. have been married and about half have cohabited outside of marriage…” Considering that the divorce rate in U.S. stands at around 50 percent, there is little wonder that the American family is on the rocks.

In the first chapter of Isaiah, God chastises modern Israel (v. 3) — mainly the United States and the Commonwealth nations — and in verse 4, identifies it as a “…sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers.” Continuing in verse 5, “…The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints, From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores.” These somber judgments about modern Israel are now finding fulfillment in our nations–yet, most are sadly unaware of the real solution. Carefully watch as the sins of this people are now reaping their inescapable consequences–leading to the impending time of “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

AUSTRIA’S JOERG HAIDER “WITHDRAWS” — AGAIN!

As the international press reported this week, Joerg Haider, the former leader of Austria’s Freedom Party, announced that he was withdrawing from national politics because of differences with party members. Following massive floods in Austria earlier last month, the government said that it would no longer be able to pass the tax reform package in 2003, as originally planned. Haider sharply criticized that decision, arguing that the government should fulfill its promise to voters to pass the laws on schedule. Der Spiegel reported that Haider also said, however, that he would be willing to take over the party and begin again, after the next Austrian parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2003, should the party so desire. Several Austrian commentators responded that nobody believes that Haider’s “retreat” should be taken seriously. An interesting scenario was, however, presented by several political observers, as published in Der Spiegel on September 2. According to their view point, Haider is no longer interested in Austria, as his goal is Europe. He is looking for a European mass movement of the right. Some say that he feels that he is “the Savior of Austria, if not of Europe.”

OUR ENVIRONMENT

While the environment summit in South Africa was used by Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to criticize the American politics, and while U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was interrupted several times during his speech by opposition groups, the problems which were presented to the summit are indeed staggering. As USA Today reported last week, the issues include:

Overpopulation: World population stands at 6.1 billion and could grow as much as 50%, to 9.3 billion, by 2050.

Poverty: About 2.8 billion people live on less than $2 a day.

Resource overuse: Air, sea and land resources are being used 20% faster than they can be replenished.

Global warming: Greenhouse gases have increased by 30% in the Earth’s atmosphere since 1950.

Water problems: About 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, mainly in Africa and Asia.
A very insightful article was published on August 30 in the German magazine, “Max.” We are bringing you excerpts from this article:

Natural catastrophes without end – and man is predominantly to blame. We pump tons of gases into the air, which disturb our climate…

The water comes as an avenger over the land…

The Apocalypse seems to be near. The one-hundred-year flood in Germany and Europe is not everything, which is visiting our planet this year: Fires destroy the forests in the western parts of the United States, a hurricane sweeps through Berlin, and Southern Africa withers under a merciless sun. In Bangladesh, in East India, in Nepal and in China week-long rain causes the rivers to grow and to roll like cylinders through the land. And while the monsoon showers down in the east, it fails to appear in the west of the Indian sub continent – the soil withers in the worst drought since 15 years.

The list of disasters in 2002 reads like an opening statement for the Last Judgment: Floods, droughts, fires and storms on nearly all continents. Plentiful and devastating. For the International Organization of Meteorology, the year 2001 was already “the year of extremes.” For 2002, we seem to have lost superlatives already in the month of August….

In the arctic, layers of ice half the size of Bavaria disappear every year. Worldwide, glaciers are retreating, for instance in Asia, in Africa, and in South America. Even the white giants of the Alps are melting away – they have decreased by one fourth since 1970…

For this century, a temperature rise worldwide of 1,4 to 5,8 Celsius is prognosticated…. What will happen exactly, no one seems to know… Ideas for the world tomorrow exist abundantly: In Asia the monsoon becomes totally unstable and unreliable within the next decades; the Ocean devours the islands in the South Sea; the Alps lose half of their glaciers; rivers in Europe overflow more and more; and the drought changes the Great Plains, the granary of the United States, into a dusty desert. The whole planet stumbles into a different time.

According to most scientists, the cause for all of this is predominantly man – with ninety percent certainty, man has caused 2/3rd of it all….

The earth is in the middle of a climatic change. That almost everybody agrees on…

The change in temperature, which we will soon experience, is unique in the history of man…
 

U.S., IRAQ, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD

On Monday, August 26, Vice President Cheney stated in a somber speech that a strike against Iraq would be advisable sooner rather than later. He pointed out that “the risks of inaction are far greater than the risk of action,” and accused those who disagree of “wishful thinking or willful blindness.”

The rest of the world was quick to condemn what USA Today described as, “the rising rhetoric from Vice President Dick Cheney.”

On Wednesday, August 28, America’s allies in the Arab world opposed an attack on Iraq. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt warned that Arab leaders would not be able to contain outrage in the street in such an event. Saudi Arabia joined Mubarak in reiterating opposition to a U.S. attack. King Abdullah II of Jordan had already stated earlier this month that he rejected U.S. war threats against Iraq.

In addition, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the United States on Wednesday to resist attacking Iraq.

The present position of the German government under Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder against an attack on Iraq is well known. Mr. Schroeder reiterated on Wednesday that “Germany wouldn’t take part in an attack — at least not under my leadership.” While Mr. Schroeder had called an attack on Iraq “an adventure,” Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called it “a mistake.” He added that we need to tell the United States that they are going the wrong way.

While the Chancellor-Candidate of the CDU/CSU, Edmund Stoiber, had — until recently — vouched support for the USA, he surprised the world this Wednesday by stating that, at this time, he and his party would be unable to support and participate in an attack on Iraq. Earlier this week, Canada had likewise refused to give any support to the United States.

In a perhaps all-too-common indecisive fashion of political duplicity, the British government has repeatedly said it is too early to make a decision about whether to participate in such an attack. On Wednesday, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said on condition of anonymity that Britain has “100% agreed with the U.S. that you have to deal with the issue of weapons of mass destruction.” He added, however, according to USA Today, that “equally, there is a route for Saddam to resolve the issue by giving unfettered access to U.N. inspectors and for him to comply with U.N. sanctions.”

This, however, would not satisfy the Bush administration, as it has been President Bush’s declared goal to see Saddam deposed.

Are we beginning to see, in these political maneuverings, the formation of alliances against the United States, Israel and possibly Great Britain? If we do, we can be certain that the day of Christ’s return is much sooner than many would like to think.

“U.S. STEEL FIRMS LOSE ANOTHER IMPORTANT BATTLE”

With this headline, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, August 28, that the U.S. steel industry suffered its second trade setback as a government panel ruled against imposing anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled steel from five countries (Japan, Australia, India, Sweden, and Thailand). The other defeat occurred one week earlier, when the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office decided to substantially increase the number of imported steel products that are exempt from the tariffs that President Bush imposed in March. This means that nearly a quarter of all steel imports can now enter the United States under normal rules.

While many big U.S. steel companies reacted harshly to the decisions, the European Union and Japan were pleased by the move. Although they vowed to continue pursuing complaints against the tariffs at the World Trade Organization, their praise for the exclusions indicated that they are no longer likely to follow through on threats to retaliate immediately by slapping punitive duties on U.S. exports, according to the Washington Post.

Analyzing what has just occurred, it seems obvious that the United States has given in to pressures from foreign countries. They have thereby set a signal, which might backfire in the long run.

WEST NILE VIRUS IN EUROPE

Bild Online reported on Wednesday that the West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes and which has killed so far at least 22 people in the United States, is not uncommon in parts of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. At least one expert has now warned that Germany is not immune from this disease as well, especially since the flooding has left ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The paper continued that the danger is real, and that we don’t know of any medications or immunizations against the disease.

The disease is primarily transmitted by a mosquito of the type “Culex pipens,” which predominantly bites birds. However, recently infected mosquitoes have been found which belong to the type “Aedes albopictus.” This type is known to especially bite humans.

The Bible warns of old and new diseases which will plague mankind. The West Nile virus would most certainly fall into that category.

JERUSALEM: RUMORS OF WAR

As threats of a U.S. war against Iraq heated up this week, the lone ally of America in the Middle East prepared for the worst. Israel, according to a report in World Tribune.com, “…has determined that Iraq is preparing a missile strike that could be launched at any time.”

This article continues, “The officials said Iraq could decide to preempt any U.S. attack on the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with a missile barrage against Israel. They said such an Iraqi attack could be aimed at foiling U.S. plans to use Jordan and the Gulf states as launching pads for a military campaign against Baghdad.”

Also, “Officials said authorities have tested masks for the protection of Israeli civilians against Iraqi chemical weapons attacks.” Similar frightening preparations were reported by the Jerusalem Post Internet Edition: “Fifteen thousand emergency personnel will be vaccinated against smallpox, security officials decided Wednesday, fearing that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could use the deadly virus as a biological weapon should the US attack Baghdad.”

News reports in the U.S. have mentioned that Israel is also now taking steps to prepare its citizenry for the real possibility of nuclear attack! All of these very ominous events were forewarned. The prophet Zechariah records that Jerusalem will eventually become the caldron of trouble that will bring all nations of the earth against it (chapter 12, verse 3). The good news is that very soon these troublesome times will end, and Jesus Christ will establish God’s righteous government on this earth–an earth now suffering from “wars and rumors of wars!”

FLOODING IN GERMANY

The unprecedented flooding in Germany has prompted STERN magazine to publish a remarkable editorial in this week’s issue. We are translating portions of this editorial, as follows:

“In the Bible, in the book of Genesis, God let it rain for 40 days and 40 nights, to extinguish all life and all sins on earth. Only Noah and his arc survived the flood. Also, the flood catastrophe at the Elbe and Danube rivers seems to be a consequence of human sins: Through the unrestrained consuming of energy, we have accelerated the change of our climate. We have changed beautiful brooks… into threatening rivers. And, through construction in endangered regions, we have ignored the forces of nature in a criminal way… Let us not return to our daily affairs, but let us talk about the consequences… All of us will soon have to pay as dearly for the sins of the past , as the people in Bavaria and Saxony have already paid.”

We are soberly reminded of a warning in Revelation 11:18. We are told there that God “will destroy those who destroy the earth.” Rather than beautifying this planet, mankind has been guilty of polluting and destroying it. But, there will come a time of reckoning. The recent flooding in many parts of the world is just a prelude of what is soon going to occur in a much greater way.

TAKE-OVER OF IRAQI EMBASSY IN BERLIN

As USA Today reported on August 20, “masked German police commandos freed two senior diplomats from armed men who stormed the Iraqi embassy Tuesday, bringing a bloodless end to a five-hour hostage drama by a previously unknown group opposed to Saddam Hussein.” The newly-founded group, calling itself “the Democratic Iraqi Opposition of Germany,” stated that they had taken over the Embassy to bring attention to the need of liberation in Iraq.

The Embassy seizure came, “as Germany expresses opposition to any U.S.-led military action to remove Saddam… The German position has stoked a rare open spat between Washington and one of its chief European allies,” according to the newspaper.

The United States denied any prior knowledge of, or contacts or involvement with the seizure. The Bush administration declared that the siege did not help in the goal to overthrow Saddam.

In light of biblical prophecy, we can expect the friendship between the United States and Germany to cool off. The difference in positions as how to deal with Saddam could very well contribute to such an alienation.

RUSSIA IN THE NEWS

Yahoo! News reported on August 21, that the United States is concerned about Russia’s plan to build nuclear reactors in Iran and a proposed economic agreement with Iraq. Iran and Iraq are both part of what President Bush has termed the “axis of evil,” along with North Korea, because of their efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction.

Washington fears that by helping construct nuclear reactors in Iran, Moscow is helping Tehran develop nuclear arms. In addition, the United States expects Russia to continue to abide by United Nations sanctions against Iraq. Moscow, however, has taken the position that the proposed economic cooperation program with Baghdad, which is reportedly worth $40 billion, would not violate sanctions.

Biblical prophecy reveals that Russia will play an important role in future events — but not in the way, which many expect today. The Bible does not predict any major war between Russia and the United States prior to Christ’s return — but it does predict another war between Russia and continental Europe, following the establishment of some kind of a confederation between Europe and the Iraq.

AL-QAEDA VIDEOTAPES

The world was shocked this week to learn, what the Washington Post of August 21 described in this way: “A trove of videotapes unearthed in Afghanistan and spirited out recently by CNN confirms in graphic detail what U.S. intelligence officials have been saying over the last several years: that al Qaeda was learning how to make and use toxic chemical agents and that it has a disciplined, trained cadre of militants willing to kill, bomb and kidnap to meet its goals.”

The most graphic tape, according to the newspaper, “involves the apparent death of dogs inhaling a white vapor, which CNN commentators said they believe to be sarin or other poisonous gases.” This tape was so graphic that at least one local station in San Diego refused to air it. Many of those who did see it broke out in tears.

We must realize that we are living in a time, where Satan’s wrath is very great (Revelation 12:12). He is in the process of influencing people to develop a cruel, unloving, and hateful attitude unparalleled in the annals of mankind. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1-3, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…, proud, blasphemers…, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving…, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good…”

The coldness, brutality and cruelty portrayed in those tapes show without any doubt Satan’s influence and inspiration. To cause a dog to die in pain, and to laugh about it, as some of the al Qaeda observers were heard to do on the tape, portrays an ungodly spirit beyond belief. Indeed, perilous times have come upon us.

GOVERNMENTAL PERSECUTION OF WHITE FARMERS IN ZIMBABWE

As Yahoo! News reported on August 15, Zimbabwean police have summoned six white farmers to appear in court on Friday to face charges for defying a government eviction order by President Robert Mugabe. The order gave the 2,900 white farmers an August 8 deadline to hand over their farms to landless blacks. Nearly 60% of the farmers are expected to defy the order. Again, we see, as prophesied for these end times, the decreasing influence of the descendants of Ephraim in that part of the world.

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN THE UNITED STATES?

As the Associated Press reported on August 14, a federal judge has struck down a religious exemption to a state statute of Arkansas, requiring vaccinations before children can attend public school. The judge ruled that the exemption, which was only granted to members of “recognized churches,” violates the establishment and free association clauses of the First Amendment. The suit came about, as a student, who is not a member of a “recognized” religious group, believed that vaccinations are “against the will of her God.” The unfortunate and undesirable present result of this ruling is, however, that, unless the ruling is overturned, no religious exemption exists at all, and that all students will now have to be vaccinated in Arkansas.

NUCLEAR WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

WorldTribune.com reported on August 12 that Israel has determined that Iraq is preparing a missile strike that could be launched at any time. Israeli officials said that the government has prepared a series of plans to defend against and retaliate for any Iraqi missile attack. They said the plans were endorsed by the United States. Bild Online reported on August 15, that the Israeli newspaper Haaretz stated that Israel would be willing to use nuclear weapons against Iraq in case of an attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. The report stated that in this case, Iraq could be wiped out from the map.

FLOOD WATERS IN EUROPE AND ASIA–WARNING FROM GOD?

Torrential rain has wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe in the past week, causing floods across Russia, Romania, Austria and Germany that have killed more than 80 people.

As Yahoo! News reported on August 15th, Dresden, Germany, suffered its worst flooding in more than a century. About 3000 residents have been evacuated. Tens of thousands more Germans were moved from other towns along the Elbe and Mulde rivers. A second wave of water from the Czech Republic is expected to hit soon. Further evacuations are going to be needed. The Elbe is expected to reach a level of 27 feet by Thursday night, its highest since March 31, 1845. German officials estimated damage would cost billions of euros.

Other areas, which were hit hard by the flood in Europe, were regions in Bavaria and Prague, the Czech capital, and the entire Czech Republic. Authorities there moved more than 20,000 people to escape “the worst floods since records began over a century ago.” According to Der Spiegel of August 14, the flood, destroying parts of Prague, occurred exactly 660 years after a devastating flood during August of 1342, which became known as the “flood of the century.” A Czech chemicals factory leaked poisonous chlorine gas after flood waters damaged the building.

Austria, too, was hit hard. 10,000 homes are thought to have been left uninhabitable “by floods that have been described as the country’s worst disaster since World War II.”

Yahoo! News also reported on August 14th “hundreds more have died in seasonal floods in South Asia and Iran. The chaos has been blamed by some on changes to the global climate wrought by man-made pollution.” Der Spiegel asked on August 14 whether this present chaos is only “a foretaste” of worse things to come.

Almost 900 people died so far in Asia because of floods. Nearly 1 Million people in 200 villages have lost their homes or went to higher ground to escape flooding from six major rivers in India. The floods, caused by 2 months of torrential monsoon rains, are described as the worst in three decades.

Is God in the process of giving a warning to this world, that worse things ARE going to occur, unless man repents? Notice Christ’s warning in Luke 21: 25-26, “And there will be… on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…”

GLOBAL PROBLEMS

An article from The Associated Press reports on this month’s Earth Summit–a United Nations event in which more than 100 world leaders will participate.
What they will deal with is “…a planet in peril.”

Quoting from the article: “According to its findings (U.N. report), forests are being destroyed, drought is becoming more intense, sea levels are rising, agricultural production can’t keep up with the demand for food, many plant and animal species are at risk of extinction and air and water pollution are killing millions of people.” (Source: as reported in The Coloradoan, 8/14/02.)

These planet wide concerns echo the biblical warnings of an earth on the brink of chaos such as forewarned by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. Further examples of a rapidly changing global existence are highlighted by the West Nile virus that is sweeping across the U.S. First detected in New York City in 1999, this disease is carried to new locations by birds, then through mosquitoes the virus is passed to people or horses. It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of horses infected with this disease will die! There is, however, a vaccine that may prove partially effective for horses. Stringent warnings for people concerning avoidance of mosquito bites are now the only real preventive action to be taken. The West Nile virus tends to make people sick while some, such as the elderly or infirm, are at much greater risk.

WIDENING DROUGHT

Sobered by the reality of drought, state and local officials are making bleak plans for next year’s water supply in the Western U.S. Many are already predicting that watering of lawns–along with other severe restrictions–may be totally forbidden. Others are scrambling to implement the new reality of life in a period of sustained and deepening drought.

A national perspective on the drought was issued this week: “Persistent and worsening drought has spread to nearly half the contiguous United States, the government reported Wednesday. The National Climatic Data Center said that, as of the end of July, 49 percent of the 48 contiguous states were affected by moderate to extreme drought.” (The Coloradoan, August 15, 2002)
 

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE – U.S.

Questions and much doubt remain concerning the outbreak of chronic wasting disease (CWD) among deer and elk in increasing areas of the western U.S. At an international conference held in Denver, Colorado, the critical issue of whether this disease would cross over into human populations or into cattle herds was discussed. The experts cautiously say “no,” but candidly admit that they simply don’t know.

CWD is compared to mad cow disease that recently took such a financial and human toll in Great Britain. Quoting from The Coloradoan, August 8, 2002, the stark seriousness of this disease comes to light: “Hunters in areas where wasting disease is found are advised to wear gloves while field dressing, to not consume any portion of the central nervous system or meat from a positive-testing animal and to not shoot any animal that appears sick or abnormal.” Many areas such as New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana depend heavily on the out-of-state hunters who pay high licensing fees, thus providing bountiful tourism money to these areas.

These kinds of problems were once only thought to occur in third world populations. As God withdraws His blessings to the descendants of Abraham, more–not less–bad news will erode the pride of our nations — nations who have forgotten their God, and who even now are NOT turning to Him in humility and repentance and in reliance on Him for deliverance.

UPDATE ON PINES FIRE – NEAR JULIAN, CALIFORNIA

As of August 6, the Pines Fire near Julian had burnt over 48,000 acres and destroyed 19 houses and 25 other buildings. By that time, it was 48% contained. High winds of 24 miles an hour and dry weather have made the fight against the fire very difficult. The costs of fighting the fire, excluding damage on the burned structures, have already exceeded 11.5 million dollars.

WESTERFIELD TRIAL – SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

As USA Today reported on August 8, the jurors began deliberations in the trial of David Westerfield, a man accused of kidnapping Danielle van Dam from her home and subsequently killing her. The dead body was later found along a rural road east of San Diego. Westerfield lived two houses away from Danielle. The entire trial, which had lasted for several weeks, had been broadcast on local television and attracted nationwide attention. If convicted, Westerfield could face the death penalty.

Defense attorney Steven Feldmann claimed that the prosecution had only presented circumstantial evidence and never proved that Westerfield was in the victim’s home. He stated that no fingerprints or other traces of Westerfield had been found in the van Dam home. He maintained, based on expert testimony, that Westerfield, due to the time that Danielle’s body had been exposed to the environment, could not have disposed of the dead body, as he was at that time under constant surveillance by police or the press. He finally suggested that the lifestyle of the girl’s parents, which included drug use and spouse swapping, might have exposed strangers who could have harmed her, pointing out that unidentified finger prints and blood found at the van Dam home suggested some other, unknown suspect.

Prosecutor Jeff Dusek argued that Danielle’s DNA, fiber, hair and fingerprints in Westerfield’s motor home and Danielle’s blood on Westerfield’s jacket prove that Westerfield had kidnapped the girl, killed it in the motor home and later disposed of the dead body.

The televised trial revealed the difficult task the jurors will have to face, in reaching a just decision. Many times, the jury was not allowed to hear evidence, due to sustained objections from the attorneys. Undoubtedly, emotions will have a part during deliberation, as they had been in the closing arguments of both attorneys, accusing each other of misrepresentations and worse.

Viewing the Westerfield case strictly on the basis of God’s laws, as revealed in the Old Testament, the accused could clearly not be convicted, as God had required at least the testimony of two witnesses confirming the commission of the crime (Numb. 35:30; Deut. 17:6). God had given those laws to prevent that an innocent person would be convicted and executed.

The laws of this world are not in harmony with God’s. That is one reason why we should not participate as jurors in jury trials. How thankful can we be, that God will send His Son Jesus Christ soon to establish true justice on this earth.

MIDDLE EAST

As NEWS-Networld reported on August 8, the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, relating to the conditions of Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territory, have failed. Jordan has issued an alarm of high alert to its citizens at the border between Jordan and Israel. Reputedly, Israel has also lounged another attack on Gaza.

WAR WITH IRAQ?

Der Spiegel reported on August 7 that both Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer have warned President Bush, not to attack Iraq. They have made it clear that Germany would not participate in military actions against Iraq. Mr. Schroeder also declared that an American attack on Iraq might destroy the International Alliance against Terrorism, and it would worsen the economic situation worldwide. Mr. Fischer warned that such a war would have dangerous consequences for Europe, and would constitute an incalculable risk.

Developments like these might very well lead to further alienation between the United States, Great Britain, and continental Europe, as predicted in the Bible.

AUSTRIA

Joerg Haider has threatened to resign from his party and create instead a European party, consisting of right-wingers. He stated, according to NEWS-Networld of August 8, that a “European right” would be better equipped to be victorious against the left, which “believes that they can prohibit us what to think.” Mr. Haider also defended his visits with Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He stated that former Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky had visited, too, radical leaders like Libya’s Muammar al-Qaddafi, and that present Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has declared that he, too, was desirous of a better relationship with Iraq.
 

PINES FIRE NEAR JULIAN, CALIFORNIA

Following the devastating fires in Colorado and Arizona, this week has seen the beginning of what might turn out to be the worst fire ever in an area near Julian, California, which is situated 25 miles east of Ramona (where the San Diego church meets for Sabbath services). As of noon, Thursday, the fire, which is also referred to as the “Pines Fire,” is only 25% contained. It has already burned 17,500 acres, including at least five houses. The damage so far is estimated as $1,9 million. 500 people were evacuated from their houses. The loss of wild life can’t even be estimated. Almost 2,000 firefighters are battling the blaze, including personnel from as far as Sacramento and Arizona. The cause of the fire has not been officially determined yet, but there is a great likelihood that a forest helicopter caused the fire, when disconnecting a power line.

The bible predicts that we will be observing more and more of these kinds of fires in the years ahead. God is trying to warn and shake up this nation.

CHILD AND TEEN ABDUCTIONS ON THE RISE

We have recently seen an unprecedented rise in the abductions, kidnappings and murders of young children and teenagers. Especially shocking is the brutality and “in-your-face” attitude, with which the perpetrators have conducted their crimes, including the breaking and entering into homes to kidnap a child or teen. The most recent case in these bizarre series of appalling events happened early Thursday morning in Lancaster, California (which is 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles). A man kidnapped two teenage girls (16 and 17) at gunpoint from lovers’ lane in a remote area. The girls were sitting in separate cars with male friends, when the gunman approached them and tied up the male friends, before leaving with the girls in a car which belonged to one of the males.

Fortunately, only hours after the abduction, the two teenage girls were found alive and the man suspected of kidnapping them was shot and killed by police.

This most recent event shows the kind of world in which we are all living. The bible warns all of us to show great caution in how we are to conduct ourselves, and to stay away from dangerous situations or locations. God-fearing parents need to take extra efforts to supervise their children and teens.

GERMANS BUY MANHATTAN?

In an interesting article of BILD Online, August 1, it is suggested “the New York Skyline becomes German.” More and more high-rise buildings are in the hands of Germans, according to the newspaper, including the Chrysler Building and the Seagram Building. One is somewhat reminded of God’s prediction in Deuteronomy 28:43-44, “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.”

MIDDLE EAST

A bomb exploded this week in a cafeteria of the Hebrew University, killing four students, including Americans, and injuring more than 80. The terrorist group Hamas claimed responsibility and stated that the attack was “intended to avenge the July 22 killing of its leader, Salah Shehada.”

President Bush, meeting on Thursday with Jordan’s King Abdullah, stated that he was furious over the attack, but he expressed at the same time his belief that peace is still possible. Observers are expecting, however, a serious act of retaliation from Israel, which would make any peace prospects in the region more and more illusory.

EASTERN EUROPE

Zenit News Agency reported on July 26, that a church-state treaty was signed between the Czech Republic and the Vatican. The treaty must still be ratified by the Parliament. 39.2% of the Czechs are Catholics, while 39.8% are atheists. The article pointed out that all the other Eastern European countries have already signed similar agreements with the Vatican. The treaty recognizes the civil effects of a marriage conducted by the Catholic Church, and it treats Catholic schools like public schools. It also permits and regulates the teaching of Catholic religion in public schools. The article continued that the “thorny questions relating to Church property expropriated by the communist regime” would still have to be resolved.
 

As we attentively watch world events with the portent of ushering in the traumatic end-time calamities mentioned throughout the Word of God, several interesting trends continue to subtly nudge themselves into play:

ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE SHIFT

The first one is the economic body blow dealt by United States mega corporations as their corrupt practices have now caused bankruptcies of historic proportions. This week it was WorldCom–a company whose debts are virtually global. German banks in particular were hard hit. The “Humpty-Dumpy” world of U.S. prominence and leadership may never fully rebound. Waiting in the wings is the European, German-led euro which has emerged as a potential option for the badly battered dollar. The corrupt business practices which have toppled–and continue to weaken–so many formerly dominant American industrial giants have caused a perceptible sea-change in global dominance. Watch as these events continue to restructure the centers of economic confidence!

NEW RELIGIOUS LEADER

The second trend is highlighted by the appointment of Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury. His appointment this week brings to the Church of England’s leadership a man noted for liberal views and strong criticism of U.S. foreign policy. His spiritual voice echoes much of the sentiment of continental Europe. Hand in hand with this change is the current Papal visits–this time to Toronto, Canada, for the Church’s World Youth Day. His frail and failing health gives rise to ongoing speculation about the next Papal appointee. Europe and other Catholic countries are anticipating strong Papal involvement as the Catholic Church seems to have weathered the fading scandals of pedophilia in the U.S. Watch as religious influence becomes more outspoken and dominant in a world that seems on the verge of pulling away from the influence of a United States that has stumbled in its world role!

MIDDLE EAST

Earlier this week, the international press reported that the Israeli media and politicians criticized the most recent Israeli military attack on Gaza. During the raid, Hamas leader Salah Schehade was killed, but also 15 Palestinian civilians, including nine children. The United States, the United Nations, and many European and Arab governments condemned the strike as well.

Yahoo News published on Thursday an article, titled, “Sharon goes too far, again.” It stated that Sharon boasted that Thursday’s strike was “‘one of the biggest successes.'” It continued, “The incident is another tragic example of Sharon’s long history of violently overstepping reason in Israel’s struggle with the Palestinians. And his assessment of the attack shows why progress towards a peace settlement has unraveled under his rule. Each time Sharon overreaches, his country pays a heavy price. This time, the terrorist group Hamas… has vowed to kill Israeli children and target bus stops, restaurants and other public places. Before the strike, Hamas had hinted that it might end its attacks on Israeli citizens.”

Shortly thereafter, Yahoo News ran another article, informing its readership that “Palestinians shot dead a rabbi from a Jewish settlement in the West Bank Thursday in what militants called the first response to an Israeli air strike that killed 15 Palestinians.”

When will this world learn that nothing is gained by violence and war, and that war only breeds more war? The history of man has been written in blood. Man has proven that he is totally incapable of bringing peace to this world. But thankfully, man’s misrule over this planet is about to end. Very soon, Jesus Christ will return to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth and bring real and lasting peace to this world.

CHINA

As if a foretaste of bigger things to come, Reuters reported on July 20 that “a downpour of giant hailstones, some of the size of eggs, killed 15 people and left hospitals overflowing” in central China. “Locals described it as the worst hailstorm in at least half a century.”

This may remind us of the hail that God sent to ancient Egypt, and it may also bring home the warning of a prophecy in the book of Revelation, that “great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” (Revelation 16:21).

INDIA

God’s Church is commissioned to preach the gospel in all the world. And we can be thankful, that this can be done from the Western world where we do enjoy relative religious freedom. Imagine we had to operate from India, for example. Zenit News Agency reported on July 24 that a Catholic nun “charged with converting Hindus remains in prison after her arrest in India last week,” as bail was denied her. The nun is accused of converting 94 Hindus to Christianity in 1988 (!), although conversion of people from one religion to another is prohibited without the “administration’s permission.”

GERMANY

The Economist.com ran an article on July 19, titled, “Schröder in trouble.” It pointed out, “Much of the German electorate is still undecided, according to polls, about which way to vote in September’s general election. But Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his Social Democratic Party [SPD] are in trouble. Like so many other European countries, Germany may be about to move to the right…” It continued, “In no other post-war election have voters found it so hard to make up their minds; one in three still have not done so.” We most certainly need to watch the events taking pace in Germany. The bible prophecies that Germany and continental Europe will play a dominant role in the near future, and the entire world will be affected by it.

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

MIDDLE EAST

As Yahoo! News reported on July 18, any “hopes for reviving peacemaking” were shattered after almost simultaneous Palestinian suicide bombings in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, killing three people. These attacks followed a bus ambush on Tuesday that killed seven Israelis near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Political leaders were quick to condemn these violent acts. President Bush stated “peace could not be built on a platform of violence against innocents.” The article continued,” …at least 1,447 Palestinians and 558 Israelis have been killed since Palestinians began their revolt after negotiations for a final peace treaty envisaging a Palestinian state stalled.”

The events in the Middle East show us that we are living in a violent world. Although some political leaders are earnestly searching for peace, they will not find it, since man, cut off from God, does not know the way to peace (Romans 3:17). In fact, when they think that they have reached a peaceful and safe solution, “sudden destruction will befall them.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The bible suggests strongly that the United States or Great Britain will not be able to bring about peace in the Middle East. It will be an emerging power in continental Europe which will militarily enforce very temporary “peaceful” conditions. When we see this occurring, we know that the time of Christ’s return is very near (Luke 21:20, 28). Only He can bring lasting and true peace to this violent world.

INDIA

USA TODAY reported on July 18 that India elected a missile scientist, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, as its new president. Mr. Kalam advocates nuclear weapons as a war deterrent. Although the office of president is largely ceremonial, the president can play a crucial role. If Parliament is deadlocked, his verdict is final. He can also call elections.

To see an outspoken advocate for nuclear weapons in a leadership position in India might have a wide-ranging and devastating effect on the current ongoing problems between India and Pakistan. This conflict is only one of several hotspots in the world, which could ignite the flames of a nuclear war. The bible clearly reveals that nuclear war is coming!

GERMANY

As Der Spiegel Online reported on July 18, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) fired his minister of defense, Rudolf Scharping, only nine months before the next parliamentary elections. Never before has a minister been dismissed so close to a parliamentary election, according to Der Spiegel. In an accompanying commentary, the magazine points out that the damage for Schroeder and his party (SPD) is incalculable, stating that if this event leads to a defeat of the SPD during the parliamentary elections, Schroeder’s party might go into “opposition” for many years to come.

The bible predicts that a very powerful Europe under the leadership of Germany will emerge on the world scene very soon. It is highly improbable that Germany will be led at that time by a person belonging to one of the established major German parties. It is much more likely that someone from the right will gain sudden power and influence. It is critical that we watch the events, which are happening in continental Europe and especially in Germany.

DROUGHT DEEPENS!

Riveting headlines summed up a bleak outlook for the drought that is slowly but steadily devastating farmers and unsuspecting city dwellers. According to The Associated Press, “More than one-third of the contiguous states (US) face severe to extreme drought…” The same article goes on to show that all-time records for heat and lack of rainfall are striking major segments of the American West and parts of the Southeastern seaboard.

Added to theses dismals statistics is the frightening specter of insect infestations eating away at already stricken crop yields. The Coloradoan, a newspaper covering northern Colorado, this week ran a thorough article reporting the “biggest grasshopper infestation since WWII” in the Midwest. This explosive outbreak of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets is a direct result of the sustained drought conditions in the infected areas.

The stern warnings of national punishment on the modern descendants of Israel such as found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 suddenly are finding alarming relevance as the United States and Canada suffer the curses that are now undermining our national strength. Note the timely warning of Deuteronomy 28, verses 38 and 42, in which God warns that locusts will eat up crops and trees. Again in Joel chapter 1, God uses the plague of locusts to humble His nation–just as He did to ancient Egypt!

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITALY
Zenit News Agency, an independent service in support of the Catholic Church, reported on July 1, 2002, that Pope John Paul II insisted that ecumenical talks and a theological dialogue between Rome and Constantinople must continue and move forward. He added that he does not rule out the hope for unity in the future. He stated that in order to change the world, by reinforcing or bringing peace to it, “we must join forces, be together, act together.” He concluded that we must nourish the commitment to overcome theological obstacles that still divide the Roman Catholic and the Greek Orthodox Churches.

Zenit News Agency reported on July 3 that the Vatican offered a symbolic contribution to the Trust Fund set up by the United Nations to support the establishment of the International Criminal Court. The U.N. adopted the statute creating this court in 1998 in Rome. The United States and Russia are the only two main powers opposing the creation of the Court, as they don’t want their soldiers, diplomats or others caught up in politically motivated persecutions, according to Zenit News Agency.

The San Diego Union Tribune reported on July 10 that Italian police closed down five U.S. based Web-sites that were charged with “blaspheming Catholicism and especially the virgin Mary.” Zenit News Agency added on July 10 that the action came about in response to a denunciation of one of the Web-sites by the Vatican’s semiofficial newspaper, the L’Osservatore Romano, in October of 2000.

Yahoo! News reported on July 11 that the Italian parliament gave final approval to lifting a constitutional ban that kept the male descendants of Italy’s last king out of their homeland, opening the way for their return after 56 years of exile. The male members of the House of Savoy were exiled after World War II as punishment for royal support of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Victor Emmanuel, son of Italy’s last king, Umberto II, was only nine years old when he left the country. His 30-year-old son, Emanuel Filiberto, was born and raised in Switzerland and has never been in Italy. Victor Emmanuel expressed his and his son’s thanks to the government and lawmakers from all parties for “this brilliant success.”

MIDDLE EAST
World Tribune.com reported on July 4 that, according to a United States Air Force report, Israel is building a nuclear naval force meant to respond to any nuclear strike by such countries as Iran or Iraq. It is believed that Iran will have the capability to produce a nuclear warhead by 2004. The report allegedly asserts that Israel possesses 400 atomic and hydrogen weapons, which number is twice as high as what was previously assessed. The missiles could have a range of 350 kilometers.

Yahoo! News reported on July 11 that Amnesty International condemned Palestinian suicide bombings and other attacks on Israeli civilians as “crimes against humanity” and unjustified by Palestinian political grievances. The London-based human rights organization had previously accused Israel of violating Palestinian rights in the Mideast conflict. The most recent lengthy report stated that Palestinian violence killed about 350 Israeli citizens, describing those acts as possibly constituting “war crimes.” Palestinian officials dismissed the report as biased and unbalanced.

IRAQ AND JOERG HAIDER
As Yahoo! News reported on July 10, the United States is capable of launching a rapid attack on Iraq by marshaling 50,000 troops at the Kuwaiti border in roughly a week, airlifting them in and bringing their tanks and heavy equipment on ships through the Strait of Hormuz. That would give Saddam Hussein just a few days’ notice. It might also eliminate America’s need to rely on bases in neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia or Jordan. The article continued, “A risk is that Saddam would still have time to launch missiles – perhaps carrying poison gas or anthrax – toward U.S. troops in Kuwait or civilians in Israel.”

The Jordan Times and Spiegel Online reported on July 3 and July 5 that Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri met with Austria’s Joerg Haider in the absence of any foreign ministerial official. Haider had visited Iraq earlier this year in February. Sabri described Haider as “one of Iraq’s best friends.”
The BBC News Online had quoted on June 28 from an interview, which Joerg Haider gave last week, while in London. He stated that Tony Blair’s stance on issues like immigration and crime make him a right-winger. He added, “I was accused and attacked and labeled a racist and a fascist, but now the EU has taken the stance and taken a similar idea [on immigration] which I maintained 10 years before. It’s a satisfying event for me.” He also added, according to the article, that left-winged politicians could not survive in Europe unless they accepted right-wing ideas.

UNITED EUROPE
Washingtonpost.com  reported on July 5 about an anti-Europe 90-second commercial which is being aired in Great Britain, causing anger and an uproar there and abroad. The commercial depicts an actor and comedian, Rik Mayall, appearing twice as Adolph Hitler, giving the Nazi salute and shouting, “Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Euro!” [“One people! One state! One euro!”]. Jewish officials condemned the commercial as “absolutely tasteless” and “as an insult of Holocaust-victims,” according to Spiegel Online of July 4. The magazine added, “The historian Andrew Roberts argued in ‘Daily Mail,’ that Hitler’s plans for a European economic society show alarming parallels with today’s EU.”

WORLDWIDE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN SEPTEMBER ?

Spiegel Online and Bild Online reported on July 7 that several secret agent services fear a series of spectacular attacks against American, Israeli and British targets. It is feared that those attacks by Osama bin Laden’s terrorists will occur on September 11, 2002. One of the targets is allegedly the Statute of Liberty in New York, according to Bild Online. The secret agent services also believe, according to Spiegel Online, that bin Laden lives in a mountain area close to the border between Afghanistan or Pakistan, while many of his followers are operating from Pakistan.