Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Let the Headlines Speak
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Moscow Sees Shift in Western Stance on Syria Opposition
“I have the impression that over the past couple of weeks the Western stance on the Syrian opposition has been changing noticeably,” he said in an interview with RIA Novosti, the daily Moskovskiye Novosti and the journal Russia in Global Affairs. “On the one hand, there is disappointment over the failure to unite them,” he said. “On the other, I believe there is a growing concern that forces totally different from those [the West] gambled on at the outset are beginning to prevail.”

WorldRussia Seeks Closer Military Ties With China
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday indicated Russia’s continuing interest in cooperation with China on defence sector issues. Shoigu told top Chinese officials during a visit to Beijing for the 17th Sino-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Technological Cooperation that joint work between the two powers would enhance stability across the region.

Violence escalates, no truce in sight
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was set to convene the nine-member ministerial forum to discuss terms for a truce. He was also expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a second time on her return from Ramallah where she met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. No details of the meeting were released.

The Weather Channel and Accuweather Both Claim HAARP Does Not Affect Weather
"HAARP and Chemtrails do not exist," stated Accuweather. "What you are seeing is the regular weather pattern the Earth gives, with no manmade operations getting in the way. We consider the conspiracy theorist group one we rather not talk about or acknowledge that it exists."

2.8-mag. earthquake felt in Edmond
The earthquake was centered four miles west-southwest of Langston, according to the United States Geological Survey. It was felt by many Edmond residents, who described the jolt on KOCO's Facebook page.

Earthquake shakes southern Illinois, Indiana
A 3.6-magnitude earthquake shook parts of southern Illinois and Indiana Tuesday night. The quake happened 17 miles underground, just after 5:28 p.m. Central Standard Time, in Wabash County, Ill., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

U.S. Dept. of Labor Observes 'Transgender Day of Remembrance'
"The Transgender Day of Remembrance [TDOR] will be commemorated in cities and countries around the world today, reflecting on those who have died as a result of fear, hate and transphobia,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a statement on Tuesday. "I stand proudly today--and every day--as an ally to the transgender community and to every person and family impacted by anti-transgender bullying and violence,” she said. “Transgender people are part of the diversity that America celebrates today and they, like every American, deserve to live without fear of prejudice or violence.”

Morgan Stanley’s Doom Scenario: Major Recession in 2013
The global economy is likely to be stuck in the “twilight zone” of sluggish growth in 2013, Morgan Stanley has warned, but if policymakers fail to act, it could get a lot worse. The bank’s economics team forecasts a full-blown recession next year, under a pessimistic scenario, with global gross domestic product (GDP) likely to plunge 2 percent.

Mount Tongariro erupts: Sightseers warned off
There have been no reports of injury and there are no search and rescue requirements at this stage. The mountain silently blasted ash and gas 2km into the sky from Te Maari crater, on the western side of the mountain, about 1.25pm today, authorities said.

Russians back down from leaked U.N. Internet proposal
The Russian Federation has revised a controversial proposal to turn Internet governance over to the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union, CNET has learned. The revised proposal tones down some of the anti-Internet rhetoric of the original, but still calls on the UN to help member states seize control of key Internet engineering assets, including domain names, addresses and numbering.

Syria rebels win support from Britain, battle in Damascus
Syrian government troops backed by tanks battled to oust rebel forces from an opposition stronghold in a Damascus suburb on Tuesday in the heaviest fighting in the capital for months. In the country's north, rebel fighters stormed an air defense base that President Bashar al-Assad's military had used to bombard areas near the Turkish border.

Karzai orders takeover of air base after 'serious breach' of US pact
President Hamid Karzai has ordered Afghan officials to take control of the prison at Bagram Air Base after accusing the United States of continuing to detain prisoners in a "serious breach" of a bilateral agreement signed in March. ...Mr Karzai called for the "full Afghanisation" of the facility, according to a statement from the Presidential Palace.

World powers to meet in Brussels to map out Iran plans
Officials from six world powers meet in Brussels on Wednesday to plan for a possible new round of talks with Iran, the latest effort to resolve a decade-long stand-off over its nuclear program and avert the threat of a military conflict. The re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama this month has cleared the way for new talks and Western diplomats are eager to start soon as signs grow that Iran is still building up its nuclear capacity.

Hidden Hamas military chief threatens Israel
The commander of Hamas’s armed wing sent a rare message from his hiding place Tuesday, threatening to abduct Israeli soldiers who would enter Gaza as part of a ground offensive. In an audio message...Muhammad Deif, ...commander of the Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, praised the conduct of Hamas operatives...and expressed hope that the military conflict with Israel would be “a launching point for the coming stage of liberation.”

While fighting rages between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah watches and waits
While the death toll from the Israel-Gaza conflict has mounted, Hezbollah has offered quiet words of encouragement to the Palestinians, pledging support and calling on Arab states to send them weapons to fight Israel. But beyond that, the Lebanese militant group appears to be staying firmly on the sidelines.

After West Bank, Clinton back in Jerusalem
An official says the U.S. secretary of state has returned to Jerusalem for another round of meetings with Israeli leaders as she tries to wring an elusive truce deal over the Israel-Hamas fighting. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release details of the meeting.

Barack Obama warns Asia to rein in South China Sea tensions
The US president urged China and its maritime neighbours that they risked damaging trade ties through their rival claims to various islands. China claims sovereignty over almost all the South China Sea, the disputed parts of which are believed to be rich in natural gas and oil reserves. It has contested claims with Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Benghazi security chief assassinated
The security chief in the east Libyan city of Benghazi was assassinated late Tuesday, just weeks after he took over the position in the wake of an attack on the US consulate that claimed the lives of four Americans. Fraj al-Dersi was hit by three bullets when unknown gunmen opened fire from a car in front of his home. He died shortly after being taken to Benghazi medical centre, the official said, asking not to be named.

Federal government releases long-awaited health reform rules
Long-awaited federal rules for health insurance plans came out Tuesday, and they make clear that insurance plans that people can buy on the open market next year will look a lot like some of the most popular plans on offer now – with a few big differences. ...The new rules from the Health and Human Services Department cover the new state exchanges, where people will be able to buy health insurance starting in 2014.

Greece: Lack of deal 'threatens euro'
The failure of eurozone ministers to reach a deal to give Greece its latest bailout payment threatens the whole bloc, leaders have said. Following nearly 12 hours of talks in Brussels, the Eurogroup said it needed more time for technical work. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said: "It's not only the future of our country, but the stability of the entire eurozone [that is at stake]."

New Zealand's Mount Tongariro erupts
New Zealand's Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet. The volcano, in the North Island, sent a column of ash at least 2km (1.25 miles) into the air, scientists said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but hikers and a group of school children were being moved out of the national park.

Heavy rain causes floods in Midlands and South West
Heavy rain has led to flooding and travel disruption in parts of England, with some villages "cut off" in the South West. The Environment Agency has issued 34 flood warnings in the South West and 74 flood alerts in the Midlands, North West and south of the country. Motorists were urged to take care after overnight downpours caused some drivers to abandon their vehicles in Devon.

Women bishops: Church has 'lost credibility' says Rowan Williams
he Church of England has "lost a measure of credibility" after rejecting the introduction of women bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said. The Most Reverend Rowan Williams told the ruling general synod that the Church could be seen as "wilfully blind" to modern trends and priorities. While 324 synod members voted for women bishops, Church voting rules mean 122 votes against were enough to block it.

Argentina: Strike paralyses Buenos Aires and other cities
A strike called by two of Argentina's biggest unions has paralysed much of Buenos Aires and other cities. Most trains and underground lines remained closed, flights were cancelled and there was little traffic in the streets of the capital. This is the second big protest against the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in less than two weeks.

Colorado River: Mexico and US sign water-sharing deal
Mexico and the US have agreed new rules on sharing and managing water from the Colorado River, which serves some 30 million people in the two nations. Under the deal, the US will send less water to Mexico during a drought, while Mexico will be able to store water north of the border during wet years. The Colorado River flows 1,450 miles (2,230km) from the Rockies into the Gulf of California.

Gazan gunmen execute alleged collaborators
Palestinian gunmen shot dead six alleged collaborators in the Gaza Strip who "were caught red-handed," according to a security source quoted by the Hamas Aqsa radio on Tuesday. "They possessed hi-tech equipment and filming equipment to take footage of positions," it said. The Hamas radio said the men, who were suspected of working for Israel, were shot. It did not elaborate.

Israel Rejects Unilateral Gaza Truce
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Peace Process

The inner security cabinet of nine ministers headed by the Israeli prime minister ended a long meeting Tuesday with a decision to reject proposals for a unilateral ceasefire. The UN secretary Ban Ki-moon returned to Israel from Cairo with a report for Binyamin Netanyahu.

For Israel, a Truce is the Worst of All Worlds: Tied Hands, Hamas Unbowed
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Commentary

Jerusalem, Cairo and Gaza were all waiting for US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to arrive Tuesday night, Nov. 20, for tying up the ends of a Gaza ceasefire accord. Until then, Israel held back from its approval and the Palestinians were hurling as many deadly missiles as they could.

debkafile’s analysts say that by giving in to international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel’s leaders Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman would show they have failed to learn from their predecessors’ mistakes in ending the last two wars against terrorists inconclusively and prematurely.

After those wars, Israeli civilians were again thrust into the front line against missiles. In 2006, it was the population of northern Israel; in 2012, a million people living in southern Israel are in this intolerable predicament. And after Hamas’s rockets reached Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for this first time in this round of Palestinian missile aggression, the next round will no doubt spill over into the central Israeli heartland as well.
Tens of thousands of soldiers and reservists were meanwhile held on the Gaza border in suspense for a ground incursion. They stood there and watched as the missiles flew over their heads to explode in their towns and villages and in Cairo, the politicians wrangled over an early ceasefire.

Operation Pillar of Cloud was kicked off Nov. 14 with the targeted assassination of one of Israel’s most implacable enemies, Ahmed Jabari, commander of the Hama military wing, amid high hopes that this time it would be different. They were heartened by the IDF’s recovery of its legendary speed, precision and inventiveness and trusted the troops to finish the job left undone by Cast Lead in 2008.

Israel’s political and military leaders fervently vowed not to stop until lost deterrence was regained, Palestinian missile and terror capabilities were degraded and the people of the south could at last lead normal lives.
Hamas and Jihad Islami were caught off-balance by the loss of the Hamas commander in chief and the highly successful air operation which followed. But instead of seizing this moment for rapid in-and-out, lightning ground incursions against well-defined targets, the three Israeli ministers paused.
The chance then passed into the hands of the terrorists who used it to send their Iran-made missiles against Greater Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. At that instant, they multiplied their million targets to five.
Israel responded by calling up 75,000 IDF reserves and pouring 68,000 troops onto jumping-off stations along the Gaza border ready for an incursion.. One lesson was drawn from the 2006 conflict against the Lebanese Hizballah: Missiles cannot be stopped by air strikes.
The IDF spokesman Brig. Yoav Mordecai then started releasing upbeat televised communiqués announcing that the air offensive had so far deqraded 30, 40, 50 percent of the Palestinian missile capacity. However, as he spoke, Hamas somehow managed to expand the radius and intensity of its missile blitz until, finally Tuesday, on Day 7 of the Israeli operation, they landed two massive salvoes of 16 Grad missiles each on Beersheba’s quarter of a million inhabitants.
By then, the military had sensed that the three ministers running the operation were dithering between embarking on a ground operation to finish what they started and giving in to the mounting international pressure to accept a profitless ceasefire.
With US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton due to land in Israel Tuesday night, it was clear they had missed the boat for independent decision-making.
The Israeli public was informed by the media that the negotiations for a truce with Hamas and Jihad Islami led by Egypt were heavy going but approaching an announcement.
debkafile traces the progress of the negotiating process in Cairo, stage by stage:

1. From Friday, Nov. 16, two days into the Gaza operation, the three Israeli ministers at the helm bowed to President Barack Obama’s repeated requests every few hours for yet another 24 hours' grace for Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar Emir al-Thani to conclude their bid for a ceasefire.
2. Saturday, Nov. 17, the IDF units mustered on the Gaza border received orders to go in. Some notified their families by text messages. Less than an hour later, the order was cancelled and they were pulled back after another phone call was received in Jerusalem from President Obama.

3. By then, it was too late for Israel’s leaders to correct their worst strategic mistake. They had gone along with Obama’s devolution of the ceasefire brokerage effort on three avowed foes of the Jewish state: Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood; Erdogan who keeps on slamming Israel as “a terrorist state;” and the Qatari ruler, who is bankrolling Hamas’s purchases of sophisticated weapons smuggled out of Libya.

The “truce brokers” prevented Israel from taking its place at the table. The Israeli delegation sent to Cairo was confined to exchanges though Egyptian intelligence officers, while at the same time forced to accept Hamas and Jihad Islami as negotiating partners.
4. When they saw tens of thousands of IDF reservists standing idle on the Gaza border, Hamas and Jihad Islami strategists concluded that, while they may have lost the opening round of the war, they had gained enough momentum to make up for it in the days that followed.
5. Building up their stake for the endgame, the two terrorist organizations intensified their missile blitz on Israel and raised their terms for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, international pressure from Western leaders on Jerusalem to step back from a ground operation was crushing.
By Tuesday, Netanyahu was willing to assure visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle: “I would prefer this to end with a diplomatic solution. I hope we can achieve one, but if not, we are fully entitled to defend ourselves by other means and we shall use them.”

The Prime minister had also come around to accepting Egypt’s role in monitoring and managing the proposed ceasefire and providing guarantees for its implementation.
Netanyahu, Barak and Lieberman gave there consent to this arrangement in the face of strong objections from top military commanders and intelligence pros. The latter argued that, even with the best will in the world, the Muslim Brotherhood rulers of Egypt were not up to the task.

6. The clincher was the news that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had left the Obama party touring the Far East and was on her way to Jerusalem and Cairo Tuesday night to tie up the last ends of an accord to stop the fighting in Gaza.
The issue had acquired ramifications which transcend the embattled Palestinian enclave: For Washington, Morsi’s acceptance of a key role in the execution of the truce would signify that Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood had after all chosen to join the US-Israel orbit in preference to the radical Middle East camp - albeit without fanfare for fear of embarrassment at home and in the inter-Arab arena.

The Obama administration expects Israel to go along with this perception.
debkafile’s sources report that this is a dangerous illusion because, in the first place, it does not truly represent the intentions or orientation of the Egyptian president or the Muslim Brotherhood. In the second, it flies in the face of ten years of experience.

Even when Hosni Mubarak, a far more pro-Western figure, ruled Egypt, Cairo never upheld a single security accord negotiated with Israel for the Gaza Strip or Sinai and sponsored by Washington. Why would the Muslim Brothers behave any differently?
But even if Cairo does take charge of the ceasefire deal, it would put Israel in the invidious position of having to run to the Egyptians to complain about every Hamas violation, helpless to do anything about the smuggling into the Gaza Strip of fresh and better munitions with more powerful multiple warheads, or stop the groundwork being laid for the next Palestinian blitz.
The boast by government sources that the first missile fired from Gaza in violation of the truce would be met with an extra-powerful response unfortunately recalls the pledge of a former prime minister Ariel Sharon. After he disengaged Israel from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and pulled out every last civilian and soldier, Sharon declard that the first bullet fired from the Gaza Strip would be met with a powerful response.
Since then, the bullet has evolved into a missile… and is still growing.

Egyptian FM and Clinton Jointly Announce Gaza Ceasefire At 9 PM
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;Peace Process

ive Grads hit Beersheba and a shell is fired on an IDF position in Israel's northern town of Metulah on the Lebanese border minutes after the announcement in Cairo by Egyptian foreign minister Mohamed Kamel Amr and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Cairo Wednesday, Nov. 21. A statement from Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak and Avigdor Lieberman follows half an hour before the ceasefire is due to go into effect at 9 p.m. debkafile: Prime Minister earlier called President Barack Obama to inform him Israel agreed to the ceasefire negotiated in Cairo. The exact terms agreed on for the deal that Clinton helped Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi finalize between Israel, Hamas and the Jihad Islami. Israel stood by its refusal to lift the blockade against the Gaza Strip under Hamas ruler. There is no comment from Jerusalem on the Egyptian claim that Israel agreed to discontinue targeted assassinations in the Gaza Strip. It is possible that Israel will turn a blind eye to Egypt acting to end the blockade.

Day 8: Terorists Bomb Tel Aviv Bus, Again Miss Jerusalem
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

A bombing attack on a bus in cenral Tel Aviv Wednesday, Nov. 21, left at least 25 people injured, five seriously. A missile siren earlier alerted the towns and kibbutzim just west of Jerusalem – up to Beit Shemesh – Wednesday morning, Day 8 of the Gaza operation – the day after two Palestinian rockets missed the Israeli capital and landed at a West Bank Palestinian village. Two houses in Beir Tuvia took direct hits, injuring a woman and causing shock. Iron Dome saved Ashkelon and Beersheba from missile barrages. Rocket fire was also directed at Kiryat Malachi, Yad Mordecai, Netiv Haasara, Yavne and Sdot Hanegev. Four shells exploded in the Eshkol district where a soldier was killed Tuesday. In days, the Palestinians have launched 1,400 rockets against Israeli civilian locations. Iron Dome intercepted 400, most of the rockets threatening built-up areas.

As the first shells from Gaza exploded in the Eshkol district Wednesday morning, Nov. 21, the IDF spokesman, Brig. Yoav Mordecai, asked if the ceasefire talks in Cairo had reduced Israel’s military activities or preparations, said: Certainly not! Until we get different orders from the government, we are intensifying our operations and the units poised on the Gaza border will continue to prepare for a ground incursion.”
He reported that Tuesday, the IDF carried out 70 air sorties, destroyed Hamas’ main internal security command center, 20 tunnels and a financial institution and killed 30 rocket operatives. The IAF later bombed the gas pipelines bringing Egyptian gas to the Gaza Strip through Sinai. All four gas lines in Rafah were hit, igniting a huge fire and cutting off one of the Hamas government’s main sources of revenue.
The talk of a truce had galvanized the other side into stepping up attacks on Israeli towns, said the spokesman.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday night, travels to Cairo Wednesday where attempts to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire are stalled.
In a short statement in Jerusalem, the secretary welcomed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi’s efforts to broker a ceasefire and de-escalate the crisis. Missile fire from Gaza must stop, she said, and went on to voice hope for “a broad agreement for a lasting peace in the days to come.”
One Israeli was killed Tuesday - Israeli IDF Corp. Yosef Partok, 18, from Immanuel, by shrapnel from a falling mortar shell fired from Gaza at the Eshkol district. Another 55 were injured, three seriously, by 120 missiles fired from the Gaza Strip in furious salvoes on scores of locations. There were more than a 100 shock victims.

Four people were injured by a rocket from Gaza hitting an apartment building in Rishon Lezion southeast of Tel Aviv. Fifteen people went into shock. Dozens of people were saved by sheltering in bomb-proof rooms when the 90-kilo Iran-made Fajr rocket hit the roof and destroyed apartments on the three top floors of the eight-floor building. Other buildings and vehicles on the street were also damaged by the blast.
Some Rishon schools were closed Wednesday and others arranged to send the children home early – the first time the Gaza missile offensive has affected schools in a town of central Israel.

In Ashkelon, a civilian was seriously hurt in the street when another rocket hit the town. Beersheba took two 16-rocket salvoes.

Two long-range missiles fired from Gaza at Jerusalem exploded in a Palestinian village on the West Bank near Gush Etzion. There were no casualties. Hamas claimed the shooting of a “M75” rocket.
Jerusalem had its first missile attack Friday, Nov. 16.

Extensive damage was caused to property in the towns attacked and economic losses are mounting as the lockdown of southern Israel goes into its second week.

Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli Air Force dropped leaflets signaling residents of Gaza City' eastern outskirts to leave their homes. The IDF closed highways to southern Israel to civilian traffic.

Clinton in Cairo to Rev Up Waning Gaza Truce Bid. 27 Injured in Tel Aviv Bus Bombing
Nov 21st, 2012
Daily Newsdebkafile
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined world leaders in harshly condemning bombing of a Tel Aviv bus Wednesday, Nov. 21, as a “terrorist attack” when she arrived in Cairo from Jerusalem and Ramallah. She found Egyptian-brokered ceasefire for the Gaza Strip near vanishing point. Police are hunting for the bomber who placed his explosive device under a bus seat and fled before it blew up on Shaul Hamelekh Blvd. opposite the defense ministry and IDF GHQ and injured 27 people. Three are still in serious condition.
More than 75 Palestinian missiles were fired against Israel from Gaza up until 1500 hours, a good proportion intercepted by Iron Dome. The IAF struck a wide range of Hamas government offices, banks, safe house and rocket positions in the Gaza Strip.

A witness of the bus bombing reported a man placing a package on one of the seats and exiting the bus. Another claimed the package was thrown in to the bus through a window. A large dragnet has been thrown in the area for suspects and abettors. The attack took place as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was closeted in Jerusalem for her second meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to discuss the stalled Gaza ceasefire. debkafile: The Tel Aviv bus attack, recalling the 2000 Palestinian suicide bombing offensive plaguing Israel streets, could prompt an early Israeli decision to go forward with the IDF ground operation against Gaza terrorists.
Police have been on alert for terrorist attacks since last week when Hamas and Jihad Islami threatened to revert to their suicide bombing campaign inside Israeli towns.