Iraq War–Disheartening!
In a somber article from the Associated Press, as reported by CTV.ca, the ongoing war in Iraq seems increasingly hopeless: “The U.S. military on Thursday acknowledged its two-month drive to crush insurgent and militia violence in the Iraqi capital had fallen short, calling the raging bloodshed disheartening and saying it was rethinking what to do next to rein in gunmen, torturers and bombers.”
This less than optimistic report comes at a time when the administration of President George Bush is busy campaigning to keep its Republican hold in Congress. Across the nation, there is a growing anti-war sentiment emerging–with parallels now being drawn to the Viet Nam war. Many question the run-away costs of this war, and certainly the tragic human loses are garnering outcries from both participants and from the majority of other nations who strongly oppose America’s lead in this engagement.
In the face of such seeming hopelessness in our generation, please read our free booklet, “Should You Fight In Wars?” Also, we invite you to view our StandingWatch program presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. See up to date commentary in light of Biblical prophecy–posted at www.StandingWatch.org
Iraq War–More Bad News!
The Guardian Unlimited (10/20/06) published a rather dire assessment of U.S. prospects in the war in Iraq: “A day after George Bush conceded for the first time that America may have reached the equivalent of a Tet offensive in Iraq, the Pentagon yesterday admitted defeat in its strategy of securing Baghdad.
“The admission from President Bush that the US may have arrived at a turning point in this war – the Tet offensive led to a massive loss of confidence in the American presence in Vietnam – comes during one of the deadliest months for US forces since the invasion.
“Yesterday the number of US troops killed since October 1 rose to 73, deepening the sense that America is trapped in an unwinnable situation and further damaging Republican chances in midterm elections that are less than three weeks away.”
All of this bad news is coinciding with the current trip of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who has spent this week in east Asia trying to secure enforcement of the U.N. Security Council’s resolution against North Korea. Secretary Rice is finding a cool reception to America’s goal in the matter.
North Korea
In an Associated Press article, as reported by the Las Vegas SUN on October 17, 2006, recent UN sanctions were being viewed as an act of war by leaders in North Korea: “The U.N. Security Council ‘resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of a war,’ the ministry said, calling the sanctions ‘a product of the U.S. hostile policy toward’ North Korea.”
The article points out that China’s role in enforcing this U.N. resolution is problematic, at best. China is concerned that any strict enforcement would lead to massive migration by the citizens of North Korea into China.
The somewhat hesitant steps undertaken by members of the U.N. surrounding the issue of nuclear weapons’ development by the North Korean government has undermined the bold pronouncements by the U.S. government. The article highlights some of this effect:
“The North found a sympathetic ear in Iran, which has also been condemned for its nuclear program. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday rejected the American-initiated measures and accused the U.S. of using the U.N. Security Council as a ‘weapon to impose its hegemony.’
“In Washington, Rice warned that U.N. sanctions on North Korea should also be seen by Iran as a strong signal to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face a rebuke from a united international community.
“‘The Iranian government is watching,’ she said. ‘It can now see that the international community will respond’ to efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.”
However, up to this time, the world is not safer. Rather, new nations are emerging to arm themselves with more of the frightening doomsday weapons that Biblical prophecy clearly foretells! For more incisive information about what will happen in the future of our generation, please refer to our booklet, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.”
Muslim Image?
In a revealing speech by Egypt’s President Mubarak, as reported by Reuters (10/20/06), the question of the role of Muslims in advocating radicalism was challenged. The article quoted Mr. Mubarak as follows:
“‘The Muslim world is facing a ferocious attack, describing Islam wrongly and offending Muslims’ sacred (symbols and figures) and beliefs,’ Mubarak said in a speech marking Lailat al-Qadr, the night Muslims believe God started the revelation of the Koran to Prophet Mohammed more than 1400 years ago.”
“‘Don’t we Muslims share part of the responsibility for the wrong perceptions about Islam? Have we done our duty in correcting the image of Islam and Muslims?’ he said.”
Battle lines are being drawn that will only lead to an escalation in these hostilities. We explain where all of this world tension and strife is headed in our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy-The Unfolding of End-Time Events.”
Russia–Turmoil!
While other events take center stage, political relationships between Europe and Russia are building–however tenuously!
Reuters, for October 20, 2006, presented some very interesting perspectives from an interview with a German government official:
“Germany said on Thursday the political atmosphere inside Russia was growing more and more uncertain but urged the EU to seize its ‘window of opportunity’ to bring Russia closer to Europe before it is too late.
“Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler made these comments in an interview with Reuters before Russian President Vladimir Putin meets European Union leaders on Friday in Finland.”
The Reuters article also pointed out a very interesting dynamic in the German-Russian relationship:
“The Russian president, who speaks German and spent many years in the country as an agent for the KGB, the former Soviet Union’s secret police, has made economic and political relations with Europe’s largest economy a top priority.”
News from Russia is troubling. Following the death of a well-known journalist, other measures to give the Kremlin more control of non-governmental organizations have Europeans concerned about the climate of individual rights in Russia. Worrisome, as well, is the Asian lure for Russia in its international dealings.
The European Union–although now only loosely integrated–is rising to become the new economic crossroads of the world. At the head of this surge is the leadership of a powerful German nation. All of this stands in contrast to the weakening world status of the United States. More information is available in our booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”
