While “White House spokesman Robert Gibbs condemned the release of classified documents on the Afghanistan war, calling it a ‘breach of federal law’ that is the subject of ‘an ongoing investigation,'” (New York Times, July 26, 2010), Der Spiegel and other papers concluded that the documents “indicate that, after almost nine years of war, a victory in Hindu Kush looks farther away than ever.” In addition, Admiral Mullen stated that “more NATO troops will die in Afghanistan as violence mounts over the summer.” These developments show that Presidents Bush and Obama, as well as their international allies, have been pursuing a totally wrong course of action in regard to Afghanistan.
In addition, according to the former CIA Director Michael Hayden, military action against Iran is becoming “more likely,” and rumors are surfacing that Israel might attack Lebanon. How accurately has Jesus Christ announced, well in advance, the signs of our times: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars… For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… All these are the beginning of sorrows…”” (Matthew 24:6-8).
While Germany and France begin to patch up their differences; Great Britain antagonizes Germany and France over Turkey; and Europe’s economic prospects are brightening (with perhaps some interesting developments leading to a prophesied “two-speed” Europe); the future of the USA looks grim; and revelations that much of the U.S. federal bail-out money went to foreign banks and much of U.S. monetary help for Iraq and Afghanistan went awry, will not restore any confidence in US leadership.
We are reporting on police misconduct in the USA, as well as the death toll during Germany’s Love Parade and the angry outcry against a commentary by a former German public TV announcer who was comparing the Love Parade with God’s wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah. We are focusing on a new sex scandal of the Catholic Church in Italy; and we explain that “the euro coins issued by the Holy See will now be used on the streets of the Vatican City.”
We are writing about a remarkable reconciliation between the Lutheran and the Mennonite or Anabaptist Churches in Europe; controversial comments by Director Oliver Stone about, amongst other things, Iran, Venezuela, Hitler, the Holocaust and the “Jewish domination of the US media”; and conclude with an article reporting on “the world’s record hailstone,” preparing us for worse things to come (compare Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:21).
