Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Washington National Cathedral to Host Muslim Prayer Service for First Time in American History
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

Why is National Cathedral hosting a prayer service for a religion that opposes the teachings of Christianity?

I asked Erwin Lutzer, the pastor of Moody Church, about the significance of this moment. What he told me should be shared!

Pastor Lutzer: "The National Cathedral was dedicated to be a house of worship for Christians.

Although tolerance is a commendable virtue, we might well wonder why this Cathedral will be used to host a prayer service for a religion which opposes the teachings of Christianity. 

The message it sends to the nation is that Islam and Christianity are fundamentally the same and only superficially different, when in point of fact the opposite is true: Islam and Christianity are only superficially the same but fundamentally different. 

Not only does the Koran deny that Jesus was crucified, but it also teaches that the greatest blasphemy is to believe that God became man. 

Thus the very foundation of the Christian faith is vigorously opposed."

"We can be thankful that we live in America, a country that does allow freedom of religion. 

In this country, Muslims are permitted to live where they wish and build mosques and worship as they please. 

But let us not allow our tolerance to blind us to the supremacist agenda of Islam here in America and around the world. 

As Christians we do believe in a different God and we worship Jesus as divine Savior."

UN Probe: ISIS Committing Crimes Against Humanity in Syria
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria released the results of its first report focused on the Islamic State terrorist group (ISIS).

The report revealed massive human rights violations, including mass killings, summary executions, rape, forced pregnancies and enslavement.

U.S. State Dept. Special Envoys to Discuss ISIS Strategies in Paris and UAE
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;War;Contemporary Issues

The US State Department has announced that Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the ISIS (Islamic State) John Allen and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk have been attending a meeting in Paris both yesterday and today (Friday) to discuss with French government and military officials ways to defeat the Islamic State.

Later on today, General Allen and Ambassador McGurk will be traveling to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Sir Bani Yas Forum, an annual high-level gathering where world leaders discuss critical issues relating to peace and security. While there, Allen and McGurk will be holding bilateral meetings with world leaders to continue to discussing strategies to defeat the ISIS.

Survey Finds Catholics Turning to Protestant Churches in Latin America to Find Relationship With God
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

A new Pew survey found that Latin American Catholics are increasingly leaving the Catholic Church, either to join evangelical Protestant churches or are abandoning religion altogether. The survey participants cited a search for a personal connection with God as the biggest reason for their shift.

The wide-ranging survey, released on Thursday, reported that although 69 percent of adults across the region identify as Catholic, in almost every country surveyed there was a reported net loss of Catholics in terms of people raised Catholic and currently Catholic. Overall for Latin America as a whole, 84 percent of the population was raised Catholic, but only 69 percent identify as part of the Catholic Church now. 

By contrast, only nine percept of Latin America's population was raised in the Protestant tradition, but today 19 percent identify as Protestant. The number of religiously unaffiliated people is also rising, going from four percent raised without religion to currently eight percent identifying as no religion today.

As for various reasons why Latin Americans are leaving the Catholic Church, 81 percent of those who responded said that they are seeking a personal connection with God; 69 percent saidthey enjoy the style of worship at a new church, while 60 percent said that they wanted a greater emphasis on morality.

"Much of the movement away from Catholicism and toward Protestantism in Latin America has occurred in the span of a single lifetime. Indeed, in most of the countries surveyed, at least a third of current Protestants were raised in the Catholic Church, and half or more say they were baptized as Catholics," Pew pointed out.

Pew also highlighted that although Pope Francis has drawn much attention since his appointment in March 2013, only in his home country of Argentina, as well as in Uruguay, do the majority of ex-Catholics express a favorable view of the pope. In the other Latin American countries, only roughly half of ex-Catholics have a favorable view of the pontiff.

Uruguay has also been identified as having the largest percentage of religiously unaffiliated adults in Latin America, with close to 37 percent of its population. That number varies considerably across the region, with Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay all having less than 5 percent religiously unaffiliated people.

Young Hispanics in the United States have also been leaving the church and joining Protestant denominations according to reports. A Boston College study released earlier this year found that 59 percent of priests who serve Hispanic communities are older than 55, creating a generational gap.

Russia Prepares Nuclear Surprise for NATO
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily Newspravda.ru
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

On September 1, 2014 the US State Department published a report, in which it was stated that for first time since the collapse of the USSR, Russia reached parity with the US in the field of strategic nuclear weapons. Thus, Washington admitted that Moscow regained the status that the Soviet Union had obtained by mid-70's of the XX century and then lost.

According to the report from the State Department, Russia has 528 carriers of strategic nuclear weapons that carry 1,643 warheads. The United States has 794 vehicles and 1,652 nuclear warheads.

It just so happens that today, Russia's strategic nuclear forces (SNF) are even more advanced in comparison with those of the US, as they ensure parity on warheads with a significantly smaller number of carriers of strategic nuclear weapons. This gap between Russia and the United States may only grow in the future, given the fact that Russian defense officials promised to rearm Russia's SNF with new generation missiles.

The progress was made possible thanks to the treaty on the limitation of nuclear weapons, also known as START-3. The treaty was signed by Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama on 8 April 2010 in Prague (came into force on 5 February 2011). In accordance with the document, nuclear warheads of the parties are to be reduced to 1,550 by 2021. The number of carriers (intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers) is supposed to be cut to 700 units.

It was the first strategic agreement, after the treacherous policy of democrats, in which Russia managed to win significant advantages. In the treaty, the Americans, for the first time in history, undertook to reduce their strategic nuclear potential, while Russia won an opportunity to increase it. Furthermore, the new treaty removed important limitations that existed in the previous START 1 and START 2 treaties. It goes about the size of areas for the deployment of mobile ICBMs, the number of multi charge ICBMs, and the possibility to build railway-based ICBMs. Russia did not make any concessions.

Having written off Moscow as a serious geopolitical rival, flying on the wings of inaccessible military and technological superiority, Washington drove itself into a trap, from which it does not see a way out even in a medium-term perspective.

Recently, a lot has been said about so-called "sixth-generation wars" and high-precision long-range weapons that should ensure victory over enemy without coming into direct contact with its armed forces. This concept is highly questionable (The US failed to achieve victory in such a way both in Iraq and Afghanistan). Yet, this is the point, where Russia enters the parity line as well. The proof is long-range cruise missiles of a new generation that will soon be deployed on submarines of the Black Sea Fleet and missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla.

In today's Russia, many find this hard to believe. This is a common belief for many of those, who still enthusiastically remain in captivity of the myths about the absolute "weakness" of Russia and the absolute "superiority" of the West. The myth was made up in the 90's under the influence of Boris Yeltsin and his betrayal of Russian national interests. One has to admit that during that time, the myth was real, if one may say so.

Times have changed. One can easily understand the new state of affairs.

For example, let's consider the potential of conventional weapons of Russia and the West in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). In this area, it is generally believed that NATO is a lot stronger than Russia. Yet, a first encounter with reality smashes this misbelief into pieces.

As is known, the main striking force, the core of combat power of the ground forces is tanks. By the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Armed Forces had about 20,000 tanks in the ETO.

The Americans, in turn, deployed 6,000 heavy Abrams tanks on the territory of the allied group. Despite this, the combined potential of NATO forces in Europe was still significantly inferior to the Soviet potential. To compensate this imbalance, NATO strategists were forced to resort to tactical nuclear weapons (TNW).

In the first half of the 1950s, NATO conducted a research about what kind of forces the bloc should have to show reliable resistance to large-scale ground offensive of superior forces of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. The calculations showed then that one required at least 96 full-fledged divisions for the purpose. Yet, the cost of armament for one of such divisions exceeded $1 billion. Plus, one required two or three more billion to maintain such a large group of troops and build appropriate infrastructure. This burden was clearly beyond the power of the economy of the West.

The solution was found in a move to deploy a group of US tactical nuclear weapons on the continent, and that was done soon. By early 1970s, the US arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons counted about 7,000 units of ammunition. The highest achievement in the area was the creation of weapons of selective action - neutron warheads (for guns of 203-mm and 155-mm caliber, and for Lance missiles) with a capacity from 1 to 10 kilotons. The warheads were seen as the key in combating land forces personnel, particularly Soviet tank crews.

Given the nuclear factor, to reflect "Soviet aggression," NATO required to deploy only 30, rather than 96 divisions, and so they were deployed.

How do things work in this area now? In early 2013, the Americans withdrew the last group of heavy Abrams tanks from Europe. In NATO countries, over the last 20 years, one new tank would replace 10-15 old, yet still capable, tanks. At the same time, Russia was not decommissioning its tanks.

As a result, today Russia is the absolute leader in this regard. In mid-2014, the balance of the Defense Ministry had as many as 18,177 tanks (T-90 - 400 pcs., T-72B - 7,144 pcs., T-80 - 4,744 pcs, T-64 - 4,000 pcs, T-62 - 689 pcs, and T-55 - 1200 pcs.).

Of course, only a few thousand tanks are deployed in permanent readiness units, and most of them remain at storage bases. Yet, NATO has the same picture. Therefore, the decisive superiority of Russian tanks has not gone anywhere since the times of the USSR.

Here is another surprise. As for tactical nuclear weapons, the superiority of modern-day Russia over NATO is even stronger.

The Americans are well aware of this. They were convinced before that Russia would never rise again. Now it's too late.

To date, NATO countries have only 260 tactical nuclear weapons in the ETO. The United States has 200 bombs with a total capacity of 18 megatons. They are located on six air bases in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey. France has 60 more atomic bombs. That is pretty much it. Russia, according to conservative estimates, has 5,000 pieces of different classes of TNW - from Iskander warheads to torpedo, aerial and artillery warheads! The US has 300 tactical B-61 bombs on its own territory, but this does not change the situation against the backdrop of such imbalance. The US is unable to improve it either, as it has destroyed the "Cold War legacy" - tactical nuclear missiles, land-based missiles and nuclear warheads of sea-based Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Mom Questions School for Portraying Muslims As More Faithful Than Christians
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

Is the faith of most Muslims “stronger” than that of the typical Christian? That’s what one public high school in North Carolina apparently is teaching students.

Outraged over the “correct” answers to her son’s ninth-grade assignment about Islam, a mother in Union County, N.C., turned to local news reporters to shed light on his school’s fill-in-the-blank worksheet.

Upsetting the mom most? A statement that read, “Most Muslims’ faith is stronger than the average Christian.”

“If you are going to do it, let’s do it right,” the mother—who asked not to be identified—told WJYZ-TV. “I really feel there is a spin on this.”

A ninth-grade world history teacher at Porter Ridge High School in Indian Trail, N.C., assigned the in-class worksheet.

School officials have not confirmed that “faith is stronger” is the correct answer to the fill in that particular blank, despite several requests by reporters at WJYZ, a Fox affiliate.

Other statements on the assignment include “Islam, at heart, is a peaceful religion.”

This is the second report of a parent expressing outrage over a child’s Islam-related school assignment in recent weeks.

In October, an Iraq veteran was banned from his daughter’s high school after objecting to a required homework assignment about Islam.

Kevin Wood, father of an 11th-grader at La Plata High School in Charles County, Md., was upset to discover a teacher had asked his daughter to write a three-page essay about Islam’s Five Pillars, Mecca and Mohammed.

“I don’t agree with it,” Wood said in a phone interview with Fox News. “I said you can’t study God or Christianity in school; you have atheists suing schools for saying God and the Pledge [of Allegiance], and not being able to say prayers before football games … but we can force-feed our kids Islam.”

Let the Headlines Speak
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsFrom the internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Ukraine's PM says main task is to build army to stop Russia
KIEV - Ukraine's top priority is to build an army strong enough to stop Russian military aggression, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Friday, as he made recommendations for top positions in a new coalition government.  

Islamic State sets sights on Saudi Arabia
The leadership of Islamic State (IS) has no intention of standing still. In a 17-minute audio message, purportedly from its elusive leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group sets its sights firmly on Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Islam and the world's largest oil producer and exporter.The speaker does not refer to it as Saudi Arabia, since this is a name derived from the ruling tribe, the al-Saud, whose authority IS does not accept. Instead he calls it "the land of Haramayn",the land of the two holy places, meaning Mecca and Medina.  

What frightened the USS Donald Cook so much in the Black Sea?
The State Department acknowledged that the crew of the destroyer USS Donald Cook has been gravely demoralized. As the Russian jet approached the US vessel, the electronic device disabled all radars, control circuits, systems, information transmission, etc. on board the US destroyer.  

Russia Is Threatening France With 'Grave Consequences' If It Does Not Deliver War Ships
Moscow is warning Paris of "serious" consequences if France does not deliver a Mistral-class assault ship by the end of this month. Under a $1.5 billion deal signed in 2011, the first of two Mistral helicopter carriers was supposed to be handed over to Russia on November 14.  

Coldest November Weather in Decades Infiltrates Wyoming to Texas From the North Pole
Temperatures plunged by as much as 60 degrees Fahrenheit across the Rockies and Plains early this week, and the unrelenting cold has remained entrenched across these areas all week. It has been as much as 30-50 degrees below normal this week from Wyoming and Colorado all the way southward to Texas.

Anti-Israel Norweigan Doctor Handed Gaza Life Ban
Mads Gilbert, a Norweigan doctor with a long record as an anti-Israel activist, has been banned by Israel from visiting Gaza for life for reasons of security after almost 30 years of frequenting the terror stronghold.  

Study Shows Millennials Turned Off by Trendy Church Buildings, Prefer a Classic Sanctuary
Millennials gravitate toward classic, quiet church spaces that feel authentic and provide a break from the busyness of a fast-paced, technological world, revealed a study commissioned by church architectural firms. Online surveys administered to 843 young adults ages 18 to 29 by Christian research firm Barna Group and Cornerstone Knowledge Network,  

Ukraine and Russia take center stage as leaders gather for G20
A showdown between Western leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely at the G20 summit in Australia starting on Saturday, following fresh reports of Russian troops pouring into eastern Ukraine.  

Secret US spy program targeted Americans' cellphones
The U.S. Marshals Service program, which became fully functional around 2007, operates Cessna aircraft from at least five metropolitan-area airports, with a flying range covering most of the U.S. population, according to people familiar with the program.  

Here’s What Protesters Are Training to Do Once the Michael Brown Grand Jury Decision Is Handed Down
Protesters in a Missouri city about 20 minutes outside Ferguson are planning to shut the St. Louis suburb down the first business day after the Michael Brown grand jury announcement, a local news outlet reported.  

US government warns of bug on Apple products, including iPhones and iPads
The US government warned iPhone and iPad users on Thursday to be on the alert for hackers who may exploit a vulnerability in Apple Inc's iOS operating system that would enable them to steal sensitive data.  

Arab Extremists Step Up Attacks on Jewish Farmers
Farmers in Israel's north and south came under attack in October and November in several incidents of theft that volunteer organization Hashomer Hachadash say are part of a spike in such crimes that is linked to the general tension between Arabs and Jews.  

Maybe it wasn't the Higgs particle after all
Last year CERN announced the finding of a new elementary particle, the Higgs particle. But maybe it wasn't the Higgs particle, maybe it just looks like it. And maybe it is not alone...there is no conclusive evidence that the particle was indeed the Higgs particle.  

Up to 5 Million Undocumented Immigrants Could Get Work Permits and Immunity
Obama intends to order changes that will significantly alter the focus of the government’s 12,000 immigration agents. One major change would allow parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents to obtain legal work documents, potentially eliminating the fear of being discovered and deported.  

The Heretics Are Upset
Andrew Wilson knows the Lord, his message, and is not afraid to preach truth. Those outraged by him and heaping attacks on him or dismissing him remind me of Matthew 7:21-23.  

Turkey frees 12 radicals after 'ugly' attack on US sailors
Istanbul - Turkey on Thursday freed without questioning or charges 12 radical nationalist protesters who attacked three US sailors in the centre of Istanbul in an assault that alarmed the American military.  

Kerry: Calm must be restored in Jerusalem
Calm must be restored in Jerusalem before direct or regional Israeli-Palestinian peace talks can commence, said US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, following a meeting in Amman with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and King Abdullah of Jordan. After the meeting, Kerry said that a mechanism had been developed to end the violence in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. He was short on details, except to say that it would ensure that the status quo would be maintained at the holy site.  

Is Turkey heading for a train wreck with the West?
Turkey’s foreign policy is becoming more aggressively Islamist by the day. How far can it go before it ruins its relationship with the West? Or perhaps the question should be, what would Turkey have to do to get kicked out of NATO? Quite a lot, it turns out.  

North Korea to send special envoy to Russia
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea leader Kim Jong Un will soon send a special envoy to Russia, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday, in a trip expected to focus on how to boost ties at a time when Pyongyang faces deepening diplomat isolation.  

Obama disarms border patrol agents
It is quite apparent that Obama is disarming border patrol agents in advance of his forthcoming executive order that will provide amnesty to illegal immigrants. Approximately half of the United States Customs and Border Patrol's M4 carbine weapons have been taken away by the federal government, supposedly because the weapons posed safety concerns for border agents. Some people do not buy this explanation, such as Representative Steve King (R-Iowa.)  

Britain to introduce tough new foreign fighter laws
CANBERRA - British nationals who become foreign fighters abroad could be prevented from returning home under tough new laws to deal with jihadists fighting in conflicts like Iraq and Syria, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday.  

Islamic State leader urges attacks in Saudi Arabia: speech
BEIRUT - Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called for attacks against the rulers of Saudi Arabia in a speech purported to be in his name on Thursday, saying his self-declared caliphate was expanding there and in four other Arab countries.  

Russian military flights near US raise concern
Washington - The United States on Thursday said Russia had boosted its military flights near US shores and brusquely warned Moscow to abide by international law. Washington's concerns came only days after a European think tank warned that since Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula earlier this year,"the intensity and gravity of incidents involving Russian and Western militaries and security agencies has visibly increased."  

Princeton's Faculty Petition to Divest from Israeli Occupation
On November 5, Princeton University's student newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, published an advert titled, "An Invitation to the Tenured Faculty at Princeton." The invitation was for tenured faculty to sign a petition calling on Princeton University to "divest from all companies that contribute to or profit from Israeli occupation of the West Bank until the State of Israel complies with UN Resolution 242, ends its military occupation of the West Bank and lifts its siege of Gaza."  

Israel Rules That Director Must Return State Funding for Film Presented as Palestinian
Israeli-Arab director Suha Arraf must repay the state funding she received for her debut feature Villa Touma, an Israeli government committee has ruled, arguing that the film should have been labeled as "Israeli" rather than "Palestinian."  

Putin pokes the West with massive news outlet launch, bomber flights
Russian President Vladimir Putin, fresh off a public relations win at an Asian summit, gave a double poke to the Obama administration, authorizing bomber flights in the Gulf of Mexico and launching a glitzy global radio and web broadcast network to spread the word of Moscow. A senior U.S. military official said Russia has not previously flown actual bomber patrols over the Gulf of Mexico, including during the Cold War.  

Germany warns anti-semitism rising on back of Middle East violence
BERLIN - Germany's foreign minister said at an international conference on anti-semitism on Thursday that "hatred of Jews" was on the rise once more in his country and across Europe, fueled by spiraling violence in the Middle East.  

Message from Islamic State group leader emerges
BEIRUT — In a recording released days after he was reported to be wounded in an airstrike, the leader of the Islamic State group said the U.S.-led coalition's campaign had failed and it would eventually have to send ground troops into battle.  

Ukraine crisis taking center stage at G20 summit
BRISBANE Australia - The G20 leaders summit in Australia starting on Saturday is setting up as a showdown between Western leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following fresh reports of Russian troops pouring into eastern Ukraine.  

What is Vladimir Putin up to sending Russian bombers close to the US?
Russia’s announcement Wednesday that it plans to send long-range bombers to patrol the skies of America’s backyard over the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico may have sounded to many Americans like the stuff of the Cold War.  

France urges immediate reversal of Israel settlement decision
PARIS - France called on Israel to "immediately" reverse a decision to approve the building of 200 new homes in settlements in East Jerusalem, a move it said directly threatened a two-state peace solution.  

Islamic State 'Caliph': We will not Stop Until Rome is Conquered
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsBreitbart
Categories: Today's Headlines;War

The Islamic State released a letter on Thursday, which it claims was written by its "Khalifah," Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

In the letter, Baghdadi explained that his subordinates were carrying out their Muslim duty to wage jihad against the Kufr, or nonbelievers. He also revealed an obsessive, seething hatred of Jews. He blamed--in Hitler-like fashion--the Jews for “plundering” Muslim economies and installing corrupt dictators to run Islamic lands. In noting the recent date of his letter, Baghdadi congratulated Islamist entities throughout the Middle East for pledging to his terror group, while also castigating the recent deployment of 1,500 additional U.S. troops into the region. Baghdadi also revealed that the Islamic State will not stop its aggression until Rome is conquered by its forces.

Multiple media outlets claimed last week that Baghdadi was either seriously wounded or killed in an airstrike on an Islamic State position.

The letter began with the Islamic State Khalifa explaining that waging jihad on behalf of Islam is a duty for all Muslims:

Thus, it is upon the Muslims to understand well and realize that fighting is obligatory upon each individual amongst them, and that jihad is the best of deeds and peak of Islam. 

Baghdadi continued, explaining how Islamic State fighters will be aided by Allah in their battles:

They must also realize that Allah will aid the mujahidin [people doing jihad]; this is inevitable. And thus, for this reason the soldiers of the Islamic State will fight. They fight in obedience to Allah and to gain closeness to him. They will never abandon fighting. Even if only one soldier of them remained, they will never abandon fighting, because they defy humiliation and injustice. They will never abandon fighting, because they did not taste honor and dignity except by fighting.

Baghdadi revealed his belief that the U.S.-led coalition is afraid and incapable of defeating his forces:

We see America and its allies stumbling between fear, weakness, inability, and failure. America, Europe, Australia, Canada, their apostate tails and slaves from amongst the rulers of the Muslims’ lands were terrified by the Islamic State.

He then described Jews as money-hungry individuals who controlled the leaders of Muslim countries. Baghdadi said:

The Jews were frightened; they feared for their economy. They feared for the Muslims’ wealth and the goods of our lands, which they plunder, suck dry, enjoy themselves with, and fight us with via their agents from amongst the treacherous rulers of the Muslims’ lands. They fear for their security. They fear the revolt of the Muslim peoples [against their rulers]. They fear their defeat. They fear the return of the Khilafah (caliphate) and the return of Muslims to pioneering and leadership.

Baghdadi’s verbal assault against America and “the Jews” continued:

America and its allies are terrified, weak, and powerless. Due to their fear and weakness, the Jews covertly and stealthily participate in this crusade. They do not have the courage to announce this, out of the fear of the Muslims.

Baghdadi's comments on this week’s deployment of additional U.S. troops into the Middle East reveals the letter's recent date:

Here is Obama who has ordered the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers under the claim that they are advisors because the Crusaders’ airstrikes and constant bombardment - day and night - upon the positions of the Islamic State have not prevented its advance, not weakened its resolve.

He promised that the Islamic State will not stop its jihad until Rome is conquered:

By Allah’s permission, they [US-led coalition] will be defeated. And indeed the Muslims will be victorious. By Allah’s promise, they will be victorious. And the march of the mujahidin will continue until they reach Rome.

The jihadi leader then praised several Islamist groups that had recently pledged to his terror outfit:

Glad tidings, O Muslims for we give you good news by announcing the expansion of the Islamic State to new lands, to the lands of al-Haramay (Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia) and Yemen … to Egypt, Libya, and Algeria.

Baghdadi concluded, explaining to his followers that their enemy was at war with Islam, and that the Islamic State intends to battle those forces:

O Allah, all the armies of kufr (disbelievers) from amongst the Jews, Crusaders, atheists, and apostates gathered against us. They did so in opposition to your religion. … O Allah, support your soldiers and bring your religion triumph.

Islamic State 'Caliph': We will not Stop Until Rome is Conquered
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsBreitbart
Categories: Today's Headlines;War

The Islamic State released a letter on Thursday, which it claims was written by its "Khalifah," Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

In the letter, Baghdadi explained that his subordinates were carrying out their Muslim duty to wage jihad against the Kufr, or nonbelievers. He also revealed an obsessive, seething hatred of Jews. He blamed--in Hitler-like fashion--the Jews for “plundering” Muslim economies and installing corrupt dictators to run Islamic lands. In noting the recent date of his letter, Baghdadi congratulated Islamist entities throughout the Middle East for pledging to his terror group, while also castigating the recent deployment of 1,500 additional U.S. troops into the region. Baghdadi also revealed that the Islamic State will not stop its aggression until Rome is conquered by its forces.

Multiple media outlets claimed last week that Baghdadi was either seriously wounded or killed in an airstrike on an Islamic State position.

The letter began with the Islamic State Khalifa explaining that waging jihad on behalf of Islam is a duty for all Muslims:

Thus, it is upon the Muslims to understand well and realize that fighting is obligatory upon each individual amongst them, and that jihad is the best of deeds and peak of Islam. 

Baghdadi continued, explaining how Islamic State fighters will be aided by Allah in their battles:

They must also realize that Allah will aid the mujahidin [people doing jihad]; this is inevitable. And thus, for this reason the soldiers of the Islamic State will fight. They fight in obedience to Allah and to gain closeness to him. They will never abandon fighting. Even if only one soldier of them remained, they will never abandon fighting, because they defy humiliation and injustice. They will never abandon fighting, because they did not taste honor and dignity except by fighting.

Baghdadi revealed his belief that the U.S.-led coalition is afraid and incapable of defeating his forces:

We see America and its allies stumbling between fear, weakness, inability, and failure. America, Europe, Australia, Canada, their apostate tails and slaves from amongst the rulers of the Muslims’ lands were terrified by the Islamic State.

He then described Jews as money-hungry individuals who controlled the leaders of Muslim countries. Baghdadi said:

The Jews were frightened; they feared for their economy. They feared for the Muslims’ wealth and the goods of our lands, which they plunder, suck dry, enjoy themselves with, and fight us with via their agents from amongst the treacherous rulers of the Muslims’ lands. They fear for their security. They fear the revolt of the Muslim peoples [against their rulers]. They fear their defeat. They fear the return of the Khilafah (caliphate) and the return of Muslims to pioneering and leadership.

Baghdadi’s verbal assault against America and “the Jews” continued:

America and its allies are terrified, weak, and powerless. Due to their fear and weakness, the Jews covertly and stealthily participate in this crusade. They do not have the courage to announce this, out of the fear of the Muslims.

Baghdadi's comments on this week’s deployment of additional U.S. troops into the Middle East reveals the letter's recent date:

Here is Obama who has ordered the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers under the claim that they are advisors because the Crusaders’ airstrikes and constant bombardment - day and night - upon the positions of the Islamic State have not prevented its advance, not weakened its resolve.

He promised that the Islamic State will not stop its jihad until Rome is conquered:

By Allah’s permission, they [US-led coalition] will be defeated. And indeed the Muslims will be victorious. By Allah’s promise, they will be victorious. And the march of the mujahidin will continue until they reach Rome.

The jihadi leader then praised several Islamist groups that had recently pledged to his terror outfit:

Glad tidings, O Muslims for we give you good news by announcing the expansion of the Islamic State to new lands, to the lands of al-Haramay (Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia) and Yemen … to Egypt, Libya, and Algeria.

Baghdadi concluded, explaining to his followers that their enemy was at war with Islam, and that the Islamic State intends to battle those forces:

O Allah, all the armies of kufr (disbelievers) from amongst the Jews, Crusaders, atheists, and apostates gathered against us. They did so in opposition to your religion. … O Allah, support your soldiers and bring your religion triumph.

How American Girls Transformed Into ISIS
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;War;Commentary

The radicalization of three Denver teens who were stopped short of their goal of jihad in Syria by German authorities was a textbook example of online terror recruitment, according to an Insite Blog report, a project of the SITE Intelligence Group that focuses on extremism from jihadism to white supremacy.

“The three girls from Colorado, with the use of their social media, were transformed within months from loving and caring teenagers into jihadists willing to go off to a faraway, war-stricken land, get married at the age 16 to bear children to IS fighters whom they never met, and lie and steal from the same parents they expressed love only a short while before,” said the report.

“Similarly, thousands of Westerners and hundreds of Americans are undergoing an online radicalization process leading to recruitment to IS [Islamic State].”

Two sisters of Somali descent, ages 15 and 17, and a friend, 16, of Sudanese descent, had watched videos including one by Anwar al-Awlaki, an American who turned into a chief for al-Qaida and was killed in Yemen in 2011, connected with recruiters on Twitter and other media, and changed from music-loving girls worried about homework, playing tennis, swimming and hoping to work in the fashion business.

Report author Rita Katz said the transformation was fairly rapid – within about a year. One of the girls, Katz reported, was known as “Grape,” and went from talking about pride in passing a math test to responding, “Music is [forbidden],” when asked about her favorite tunes.

“IS’s revolutionary approach to social media … brought the jihadi community into the mainstream of the Internet and exponentially increased jihadis’ audience,” Katz reported. “IS uses social media to create what I like to call, for all practical purposes, a wireless caliphate – fighting enemies on the ground as well as on the Web.”

She said Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, and other sites are used by Islamic State, the Muslim terror army marching across Syria and Iraq, for propaganda.

Especially Twitter.

Katz reported that the three teens from Denver, who stole money from their parents to pay cash for airline tickets en route to their ultimate destination in Syria, combined for nearly 30,000 tweets.

The messages contained a “strong focus on Islam, particularly on marriage and the role of women,” Katz reported.

And a strong rejection of Western culture.

In fact, “Grape,” “after turning into ‘a good Muslim,’ elaborated on the important role of lectures online which ‘helped’ her ‘become closer to Allah,’” Katz reported.

One such message was, “I’m not near being the ideal perfect Muslim but I try my best, you should try learning more about Islam and some youtube videos like lecture helped me become closer to Allah and learn more Allahmdulilah.”

The Denver Post reported that German authorities stopped the three girls while they were en route to Syria and had stopped in Frankfurt.

They later were escorted back to the U.S.

“The process they underwent – from use of social media, radicalization, recruitment online, even through the actual travel route to join the Islamic State – all follow the exact same pattern shared by several hundred Westerners,” wrote Katz.

The Post said the father of the Sudanese girls spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity, and described the surge of interest in Islam that his daughter reflected. School officials in the Cherry Creek District told the paper the same.

“What it really demonstrates is the tremendous power of social media,” Jonathan Adelman, a professor at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, told the Post. “They are out there on Facebook. They are out there on Twitter. They are reaching out without any intermediaries.”

Katz reported the girls were interacting with “Abu Usamah,” an online name for Farah Mohamed Shirdon, a Somali-Canadian recruiter.

He tweeted only months ago, “Hasten to make Hijra my brothers and sisters before the window of opportunity for those in the West closes.”

Hijra signifies a journey to Mecca, and one of the girls responded, “I love my mother but my love for Jihad and my Lord [is] greater,” the report said.

Another time, one response to a video of the beheading of journalist James Foley said, “James Foley was a kafir, died as a kafir. He’s going to hell.”

“In the past months, recruitment efforts of females turned into a massive campaign,” Katz reported. “Carried out primarily by IS females who moved from Europe to Syria, the campaign provides the propaganda ,the communications, and the information on why – and very specifically how – Muslim females of all ages must leave their homes and travel to Syria.”

G20: Russia Say Warships Heading Towards Brisbane are Taking Part in Routine Exercise
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsThe Age
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Russia flexes its muscles

A fleet of Russian warships continued to steam south closer to the G20 host city of Brisbane on Thursday as experts stressed the show of force was aimed at the world as a whole, not just Australia.

Reports indicate that Australia is sending two additional warships to its surveillance mission, with supply ship the HMAS Sirius joining the HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Stuart, and the HMAS Sydney preparing to also potentially join them.   

Defence sources said the four ships, which include the Pacific flagship missile cruiser Varyag, were on a course that would put them in international waters off Brisbane by the time the international gathering gets under way on the weekend.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott played down the manoeuvre, saying it had nothing to with his recent vow to "shirt-front" Russian President Vladimir Putin over the downing of flight MH17.

But he pointedly noted the Kremlin had lately become more militarily assertive.

"We're seeing, regrettably, a great deal of Russian assertiveness right now in Ukraine," he said. "So it's not really surprising."

In addition to the Anzac Class frigates, Australia has sent a surveillance plane to monitor the Russians.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten blasted the move as "a stunt".

"As far as I am concerned, this is a distraction from families getting closure by finding out why was that plane shot down, who knows what, who was involved in that terrible atrocity," he said.

A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Canberra insisted the move was a routine exercise to keep the navy fit and ready, and said Moscow had not needed to inform the Australian government because the ships were remaining in international waters – usually defined as at least 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) from the coast.

Maxim Raku said Russia had interests in the southern hemisphere, even citing its global warming research facilities in Antarctica, as a reason why it needed to demonstrate its reach far from Russian territory.

"We are trying to widen our base because we have issues like global warming, scientific research in Antarctica, trade and international relations, so why not?"

Ross Babbage, a former government intelligence analyst and now defence scholar, said the display fit with the Kremlin's broader effort to show it was still a power to be reckoned with.

"What President Putin is trying to do is underline Russia's continuing status as a global superpower," he said.

Moscow has recently flown long-range bombers and surveillance planes in mock missions over Baltic countries and in the north Atlantic, in some cases triggering intercepts from Nato member states, he said.

Former Chief of Army Peter Leahy agreed Mr Putin's message was aimed at world powers who would be gathered in Brisbane for the G20.

"It's more about Russia saying to the global leaders, don't forget about us. We're not just known as a European power, we're also a Pacific power," said Professor Leahy, who is now head of the University of Canberra's National Security Institute.

 Lowy Institute military fellow James Brown said the move was a wake-up call for Australia because it was the "first tangible sign of this kind of strategic competition close to our own country".

The Russian arrival coincides with a visit to Stirling naval base in Perth by the United States nuclear submarine the USS Hawaii.

A defence source said it was possible that the fleet was being accompanied by a Russian submarine. This could draw attention to the lack of anti-submarine capabilities on the east coast as the government prepares to unveil its new Defence White Paper next year.

Churchless - Five Trends Contributing to a Churchless Nation
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Church;Commentary

The Barna Group has identified five trends that are contributing to the increase in the churchless of America. The research discovered real and significant shifts in unchurched attitudes, assumptions, allegiances and behaviors.

Since 1990, the percentage of unchurched adults in America has risen from 30% to 43% of the population. 

This new study of the unchurched population comes in conjunction with the release of Churchless, a new book from veteran researchers George Barna and David Kinnaman. Churchless draws on more than two decades of tracking research and more than 20 nationwide studies of the unchurched.

The research reveals the big picture: Today’s unchurched are much less likely to come from a church background than ever before. Furthermore, unchurched people today have different expectations of church involvement from those of previous decades. These changes are the result of shifting personal attitudes as well as significant changes in the broader cultural landscape:

1. Secularization Is on the Rise

Nearly two-fifths of the nation’s adult population (38%) now qualifies as post-Christian. In other words, more than one-third of America’s adults are essentially secular in belief and practice.

As expected, the research shows some striking generational differences when it comes to secularization: The younger the generation, the more post-Christian it is. Nearly half of Millennials (48%) qualify as post-Christian compared to two-fifths of Gen X-ers (40%), one-third of Boomers (35%) and one-quarter of Elders (28%).

2. People Are Less Open to the Idea of Church

The unchurched are becoming less responsive to churches’ efforts to connect with them. Twenty years ago, two-thirds of churchless Americans (65%) were open to being invited to church by a friend. Today, that percentage has slipped to less than half (47%).

While churchless people continue to show moderate openness to high-touch, relational connections—pastoral home visits (27%, down from 34%), a phone call from a church (24%, down from 34%)—they are resistant to other forms of outreach. This is especially true for advertising, including TV, radio or newspaper (18%, down from 20%), direct mailings (16%, down from 24%) and billboard ads (14%, down from 21%).

3. Churchgoing Is No Longer Mainstream

Churchgoing is slowly but incontrovertibly losing its role as a normative part of American life. In 1993 85% of all US adults attended church. Currently, only 76% of adults attend church.

4. There Are Different Expectations of Church Involvement

In the early 1990s nearly seven out of 10 adults, if they were to visit a church, would be most interested in attending the Sunday service. Now, only 57% of churchless adults say they would be interested in Sunday worship as their starting point. 

5. There Is Skepticism about Churches’ Contributions to Society

When the unchurched were asked to describe what they believe are the positive and negative contributions of Christianity in America:
- almost half (49%) could not identify a single favorable impact of the Christian community
- while nearly two-fifths (37%) were unable to identify a negative impact

Of those who could identify one way Christians contribute to the common good, the unchurched appreciate their influence when it comes to serving the poor and disadvantaged (22%), bolstering morals and values (10%) and helping people believe in God (8%). 

Among those who had a complaint about Christians in society, the unchurched were least favorably disposed toward violence in the name of Christ (18%), the church’s stand against gay marriage (15%), sexual abuse scandals (13%) and involvement in politics (10%).

There is a debate happening about how much the country is secular versus faith-oriented and whether this changes as people get older. The research findings reminds observers that most Americans remain connected in some way with Christianity. Yet, the influence of post-Christian trends is likely to increase and is a significant factor among today’s youngest Americans.

The challenge for the church on this issue would be how to generate the new levels of courage and clarity required to effectively connect beyond the “Christianized” majority.

Chuck Hagel Reviews Nuclear Forces, Vows to Invest Billions in Overhaul
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsNew York Daily News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Today's Headlines

The defense secretary said the structure of U.S. nuclear forces is too incoherent to be properly managed. The forces have been criticized for misbehavior, lapses in training, violations of security rules and exam cheating.

WASHINGTON  -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded that problems in the nation's nuclear forces are rooted in a lack of investment, inattention by high-level leaders and sagging morale, and is ordering top-to-bottom changes, vowing to invest billions of dollars to fix the management of the world's most deadly weapons, two senior defense officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Hagel ordered two lengthy reviews of the nuclear force after a series of stories by the AP revealed numerous problems in management, morale, security and safety, leading to several firings, demotions and other disciplinary actions against a range of Air Force personnel from generals to airmen.

Hagel's moves, while not dramatic, are designed to get at the core of the problem, the officials said.

The senior defense officials discussed the reviews and Hagel's response to them on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be cited by name.

Hagel was expected to announce his decisions at a morning news conference Friday and then fly to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, home of a Minuteman 3 missile unit whose recent setbacks are emblematic of the trouble dogging the broader force.

The Air Force has been hit hardest by the problems, particularly its Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile force based in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. The AP documented numerous missteps over the past two years, including misbehavior by ICBM force leaders, lapses in training, violations of security rules and exam cheating.

The Navy, which operates nuclear-armed submarines, had its own exam-cheating scandal this year and has suffered from a shortage of personnel.

Hagel's reviews concluded that the structure of U.S. nuclear forces is so incoherent that it cannot be properly managed in its current form, and that this problem explains why top-level officials often are unaware of trouble below them.

The reviews also found that a combination of problems amount to fundamental flaws, rather than random or period slip-ups that can easily be fixed, the defense officials said. They said the nuclear forces are currently meeting the demands of the mission but are finding it increasingly hard to cope.

When he ordered the two reviews in February, shortly after the Air Force announced it was investigating an exam-cheating ring at one ICBM base and a related drug investigation implicating missile crew members, Hagel was said to be flabbergasted that such misbehavior could be infecting the force.

"He said, `What is going on here?'" one of the senior defense officials recalled.

Among his more significant moves, Hagel authorized the Air Force to put a four-star general in charge of its nuclear forces, the two senior defense officials said.

Evan Vucci/AP Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who sports a bandage on his cheek after a kitchen mishap earlier this week, wants to improve the forces that handle the world's most dangerous weapons.

The top Air Force nuclear commander currently is a three-star. Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson is responsible not only for the 450 Minuteman ICBMs but also the nuclear bomber force. Hagel has concluded that a four-star would be able to exert more influence within the Air Force, the defense officials said.

Hagel also OK'd a proposal to upgrade the top nuclear force official at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon from a two-star general to a three-star, the officials said.

He concluded that despite tight Pentagon budgets, billions of dollars more will be needed over the next five years to upgrade equipment. That will include a proposal to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey helicopter fleet that is part of the security forces at ICBM bases. The Air Force declared them out of date years ago but put available resources into other priorities.

The defense officials said Hagel would propose an amount between $1 billion and $10 billion in additional investment. An exact amount had not yet been determined.

Hans Kristensen, a nuclear expert with the Federation of American Scientists, said Thursday that while he had not seen the Hagel reviews or heard what actions Hagel was ordering, he was skeptical that it would make much difference.

"Throwing money after problems may fix some technical issues but it is unlikely to resolve the dissolution that must come from sitting in a silo hole in the Midwest with missiles on high alert to respond to a nuclear attack that is unlikely to ever come," Kristensen said.

A cascade of embarrassments befell the Air Force over the past two years, beginning with an AP story in May 2013 revealing one missile officer's lament of "rot" inside the force. Another AP story in November disclosed that an independent assessment for the Air Force found signs of "burnout" and elevated levels of personal misconduct among missile launch crews and missile security forces.

The AP also disclosed last year that four ICBM launch officers were disciplined for violating security rules by opening the blast door to their underground command post while one crew member was asleep.

Just last week the AP disclosed that the Air Force fired two nuclear commanders and disciplined a third, providing evidence that leadership lapses are continuing even as top Air Force officials attempt to bring stability to the ICBM force.

The most senior officer to be relieved Nov. 3 was Col. Carl Jones, vice commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force base in Wyoming. He had been investigated for inappropriate behavior, including alleged cruelty toward a subordinate.

Big Brother Surveillance Expands Worldwide
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy News Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

Surveillance is becoming big business worldwide, largely in the name of anti-terrorism and law enforcement. And as could be expected, privacy rights advocates are continually up in arms, arguing that there is inadequate control and independent supervision over the potential abuse of these systems by unscrupulous businesses and law enforcement agencies. 

Unfortunately, with limited transparency or accountability to the general public, there is no telling for the most part when and how individual privacies are unnecessarily compromised. The NSA/Snowden saga is still fresh in the minds of people who are yet to be convinced that government can be trusted not to abuse privacy rights or confidential information belonging to innocent parties.

So the public in general may need to become resigned to the fact that surveillance continue to be a part of everyday life - which may be well-intentioned from a security management standpoint but wide open to potential abuses beyond that. Consider the extensive ways in which surveillance has become commonplace in society today (examples from Galesburg.com extracted below): 

• Airborne wide-area surveillance: A manned, small aircraft equipped with an array of cameras to monitor a small city-sized area in real time and record images of the movements of vehicles and people.

• Automated license plate readers: High-speed cameras capable of capturing photos of every passing license plate and compare them to lists of wanted suspects or stolen vehicles. The cameras may be mounted on police squad cars, bridges, overpasses or utility poles.

• Body cameras: Thought of more as a tool for police oversight than citizen surveillance, these pager-sized wearable cameras can record high-definition video for up to 12 hours.

• Closed network video surveillance: A system of cameras spread across a city that actively monitors certain areas and records video for future viewing. Some systems include intelligent analytics to identify suspicious behavior, such as leaving a parked car or package near a critical piece of infrastructure, and alert those monitoring the cameras.

• Drones: Unmanned drones with cameras/videos can vary in size, from large fixed-wing commercial-size planes to aircraft as small as birds. 

• Facial recognition: Computer software can scan a person’s face, measuring the size and distance between key facial features, and automatically match it against a database of mug shots or other known faces for identification.

• GPS tracking: A global positioning system (GPS) tracking device can be attached to a suspect’s vehicle and programmed to transmit a signal via cell tower, allowing police to determine the location of a vehicle and what direction it is headed.

• Gunshot detectors: A network of sensors placed around the city can detect gunfire, record the audio, map the location and send an alert to patrol officers in less than half a minute.

• StingRay: This device, also known as a cell-site simulator, can mimic a wireless cell tower and trick nearby phones into connecting to it. This allows investigators to locate, track or intercept data from a cell phone.

• Squad-car cameras: Digital cameras mounted to squad cars can be activated manually by officers or be programmed to turn on automatically the moment a patrol car’s sirens are activated or when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed. Like body cameras, these are often used as a tool for oversight into police interactions with the public during traffic stops.

• Traffic cameras: Traffic enforcement cameras are triggered to automatically photograph vehicles that break certain rules of the road. Red-light cameras capture pictures of vehicles that enter an intersection despite a red light. Speed cameras photograph vehicles that exceed a posted speed limit. Law enforcement typically reviews the photograph and mails the driver a citation. 

All pretty “cool” from the law enforcement perspective, if used correctly – and there are no guarantees about that. Most public discomfort and suspicion however, seems to be directed towards network video/camera surveillance. For example, in St. Louis, Missouri, a new report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri finds the city of St. Louis is doing a poor job preserving the privacy rights of residents and visitors as it expands its network of surveillance cameras. 

This information, recently published by St. Louis Public Radio, was extracted from a report compiled by John Chasnoff, a former ACLU employee. It "uncovered a variety of civil liberties concerns," including confusion about how many cameras there are and who monitors them, as well as lax policies around who can access the footage and how it can be used. 

The gist of the ACLU concern seems to be captured in the statement: "Unification of surveillance systems opens the door for an increase in the government’s invasion of privacy…And anyone who did gain access to the system (including hackers and other non-authorized persons, as well as rogue law enforcement agents abusing their authority) would have a more powerful and comprehensive tool at his or her disposal."

According to the Baltimore Sun, the city of Baltimore is expanding its public surveillance network to curb crime. Philadelphia, San Jose, Calif., and Chicago are said to be among other cities that have similar private security camera registries or networks. 

Besides government departments, businesses are not being left behind in the surveillance mix. According to an article by Nathaniel Mott published by Pando.com , titled “You can run, but you can’t hide: Google expands its real-world surveillance system with Google Fit”, Google has developed an application that allows Android smartphone owners to collect health-related information in one place. 

It’s called Google Fit, and besides challenging Apple’s HealthKit service, it also represents Google’s efforts to gather real-world data to complement the information it already has about the digital world. Facebook has also reportedly been considering the addition of health-related information to its services.

Mott adds: “It’s especially worrisome for a company like Google to be gathering so much real world data. The company has historically struggled with striking the right balance between its presumed right to gather information and consumers’ actual right to privacy. For example, it’s been tracking the locations of countless people to serve better advertisements and improve Google Maps. 

It’s also acquiring an increasing number of services that surveil consumers’ homes. And finally, it’s building drones that could gather information about anyone beneath their flight path, like a murder of all-seeing crows”.

So who will control any potential personal or consumer privacy excesses by “Big brother” and powerful businesses such as Google and Facebook? 

Given that “Big Brother” and “Big business” are at the top of their respective spheres of authority and influence, can they be trusted to police themselves? Or will they continue to work together to ensure that there will eventually be “no place to run, or to hide?” No prizes for guessing what will happen…

'Something Has to Give': Frustration Builds Over Gaza Stagnation
Nov 14th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Hamas terrorists in Gaza

Reuters

A long-term ceasefire deal with Hamas is in order, Eshkol Regional Council head Haim Yelin stated in a special interview with Arutz Sheva on Friday, in order to postpone another war for as long as possible. 

Yelin acknowledged that as long as a ceasefire deal is signed, the issue of another war becomes a "matter of time" - but added that he hopes the right long-term deal could prevent that. 

"It is clear to us that the other party is holding out for the next campaign, we know it's digging tunnels and preparing attacks, and this is just a matter of time," Yelin said. "If the IDF did achieve its objectives during Operation Protective Edge, why can't they sign an agreement that ensures us some quiet? They told us that Hamas has been weakened, so why not close a peace deal long-term?" 

"Meanwhile, we see that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt scuffles with the police and Egyptians do not want to talk to Hamas, so if the Egyptians do not, then the Saudis will enter the picture," he added. 

Yelin's remarks surface just one day after Hamas threatened another war if Gaza is not rebuilt.

Meanwhile, the regional leader has been adamant that "Gaza war number four" is on its way, telling Arutz Sheva two weeks ago that not enough is being done to prevent it. At the time, however, he advocated a military solution. 

"It doesn't make a difference to us who fires," Yelin told Arutz Sheva. "Hamas or rebellious groups; we demand a military response against rocket fire on the residents of the state of Israel."

Yelin said he is convinced that rockets will soon be pummeling the center of the country as they did during the operation, saying "the hourglass has already turned ahead of the next war."

"Today it's in Eshkol, tomorrow in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and the military and diplomatic response needs to be appropriate," said Yelin. "The military achievement of Protective Edge is dissipating, with no national outline to give true quiet to the residents of the south and residents of the state of Israel."