The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

Netherlands keen to curb EU powers in new treaty

Source: EUObserver.com

 

May 24, 2007 -- Dutch prime minister Jan-Peter Balkenende has set out his country's position on the new EU treaty, saying it should drop the word "constitution", give a bigger say to national parliaments, set clear limits to EU powers and more precise enlargement criteria.

 

The Hague – along with London, Warsaw and Prague – is being labelled as one of the biggest stumbling blocks to salvaging the original constitution treaty, with Mr Balkenende's speech to MEPs reaffirming the idea that Dutch voters would only accept a scaled-down treaty that does not create the image of an EU super-state.

 

The prime minister sketched out four red lines for the Netherlands on the basis of popular Dutch concerns. He agreed the EU bloc should amend its existing treaties, but said the word "constitution" must go, after it became a major factor in the Dutch "nee" on deeper EU integration.

 

On top of the name change, the Hague also wants to alter the substance of the old constitution, so that the new text has stronger limitation on qualified majority voting. The old constitution's extension of qualified majority to new areas was designed to make the bloc more efficient in its decision-making.

 

"We must recognise that countries are afraid to relinquish their vetoes, afraid that the EU will extend its competences by stealth," Mr Balkenende said.

 

To further increase domestic control over the EU machinery, the prime minister advocated that national parliaments should have a bigger say when it comes to Brussels' proposals. "If a majority of national parliaments are opposed to a given proposal, there must be consequences," he said.

 

The fourth Dutch red line - concerning stricter enlargement criteria in the new treaty - also addresses popular Dutch dissatisfaction over the prospect of further extending the EU's borders, with Turkey and seven Western Balkan states all in the queue to get in.

 

"After the latest round we have to realise that the public needs time to get used to the EU in its new form. Things have changed too quickly for some people's taste," Mr Balkenende said, adding "we must allow time for a sense of solidarity to grow."

 

Comments:  The Netherland’s prime minister is on a slippery slope.  Apparently, he doesn’t see eye to eye with his One World Government masters who want to accelerate the EU constitution’s acceptance into law.  The Dutch seem to want to revert to the old nationalistic ways.  If the EU is to become a superstate, it has to do away with national boundaries and self-interests.  Like Captain Spock said in ‘The Wrath of Khan’, “The needs of the individual must give way to the good of the whole”.  Mr. Romano Prodi, prime minister of Italy and a former EU Commission President, does not think the Dutch have the EU’s interests at heart.  He has tried his hardest to eliminate the old mind set that has impeded the progress of European integration.  He sees the Dutch’s four red lines as impediments.  One of the four redlines, i.e. Turkey must wait a little longer before it can be considered an EU member, can be agreed upon, but the other three red lines are dead issues he will not revisit.

 

The Revived Roman Empire is like a moving freight train that won’t stop at crossways for vehicles to cross.  It’s a non-stop locomotive with a destination and if anybody dares to try to halt it, that person will be smashed.  Bible prophecy tells us that three original EU countries will be plucked out by the roots for opposing the Antichrist.  Daniel 7:[8] I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.  Could the Netherlands be one of first horns?

 

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U.S. Embassy in Iraq to be biggest ever

Source: YAHOO NEWS!

 

May 24, 2007 -- The new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will be the world's largest and most expensive foreign mission, though it may not be large enough or secure enough to cope with the chaos in Iraq.

 

The Bush administration designed the 104-acre compound — set to open in September in what today is a war zone — to be an ultra-secure enclave. Yet it also hoped that downtown Baghdad would cease being a battleground when diplomats moved in.

 

Over the long term, depending on which way the seesaw of sectarian division and grinding warfare teeters, the massive city-within-a-city could prove too enormous for the job of managing diminished U.S. interests in Iraq.

 

The $592 million embassy occupies a chunk of prime real estate two-thirds the size of Washington's National Mall, with desk space for about 1,000 people behind high, blast-resistant walls. The compound is a symbol both of how much the United States has invested in Iraq and how the circumstances of its involvement are changing.

 

The embassy is one of the few major projects the administration has undertaken in Iraq that is on schedule and within budget. Still, not all has gone according to plan.

 

The 21-building complex on the Tigris River was envisioned three years ago partly as a headquarters for the democratic expansion in the Middle East that President Bush identified as the organizing principle for foreign policy in his second term.

 

The complex quickly could become a white elephant if the U.S. scales back its presence and ambitions in Iraq. Although the U.S. probably will have forces in Iraq for years to come, it is not clear how much of the traditional work of diplomacy can proceed amid the violence and what the future holds for Iraq's government.

 

"What you have is a situation in which they are building an embassy without really thinking about what its functions are," said Edward Peck, a former top U.S. diplomat in Iraq.

 

"What kind of embassy is it when everybody lives inside and it's blast-proof, and people are running around with helmets and crouching behind sandbags?"

 

The compound will have secure apartments for about 615 people. The comfortable but not opulent one-bedrooms have offered hope for State Department staff now doubled up in tinny trailers.

 

Morale is at an ebb among the embassy staff, most of whom rarely leave the heavily fortified Green Zone during their one-year tours in Iraq. The barricaded zone houses both the current, makeshift U.S. Embassy and the new compound about a mile away. A recent string of mortar attacks has meant further restrictions.

 

On Saturday, three mortar shells or rockets slammed into a Green Zone compound where British Prime Minister Tony Blair was meeting with Iraqi leaders. The attack wounded one person. One round hit the British Embassy compound.

 

The new U.S. ambassador, Ryan Crocker, is reviewing staffing and housing needs, and fielding complaints about any suggestion employees either double up again or live elsewhere.

 

"We do believe that the embassy compound was right-sized at the time that it was presented to the Congress," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Senate panel this month. "There have been some additional issues since that time.”

 

Rice's senior adviser on Iraq, David Satterfield, said the embassy is not disproportionately expensive and will serve U.S. interests for years. The second-most expensive embassy is the smaller $434 million U.S. mission being built in Beijing.

 

"We assume there will be a significant, enduring U.S. presence in Iraq," Satterfield said.

 

The Baghdad Embassy will open in September and be fully staffed by the end of the year, Satterfield said. U.S. diplomats will move from a dogeared Saddam Hussein-era palace they have occupied since shortly after the 2003 invasion, to the growing irritation of many Iraqis.

 

Comments:  President Bush had grandiose plans for Iraq.  Not one to be trumped by Saddam Hussein who was in the midst of restoring the historic city of Babylon, Mr. Bush hoped to do one better with this plush U.S. embassy.  Now, with the Democrats in the U.S. Congress applying enormous pressure on him to pull out U.S. troops by new year, this opulent embassy will be home to fewer privileged employees than was designed for.  So, why not reduce the size accordingly and save a few greenbacks in the process?  Well, that would mean a redesign and the cost of changes, delays and other things would negate the cost savings.  Beside, a scale down version would be an embarrassment to the Bush Administration.  No, the grand scale U.S. embassy in the oil rich Arab country will be a shining testimony of U.S. supremacy over the tyrant Saddam and other oppressive Arab regimes in the region.

 

Some Bible prophecy authors and students have surmised that ancient Babylon will be restored in its present location and will be Babylon the Great (Babylon was the birth place of spiritual adultery and paganism by which the Roman Catholic Church can trace its roots) spoken of in the book of Revelation.  They even speculated that the U.N. will move its headquarters out of New York City and into Iraq.  Also, the Antichrist will make Babylon his capital city.  Iraq is in the last days news for a reason, they said.

 

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Security think-tank: Iran may be preparing to strike Europe

Source: haaretz.com

 

May 24, 2007 -- A European security analyst told British lawmakers on Tuesday that Iran may be drawing up plans to strike targets in Europe, and has conducted reconnaissance of European nuclear power stations in particular.

 

Claude Moniquet, president of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center, a private think-tank in Brussels, told a meeting of lawmakers and analysts in London's House of Commons that his organization also had evidence Tehran has increased numbers of intelligence agents across Europe.

 

"We have serious signals that something is under preparation in Europe," Moniquet said, though he did not present any evidence to the meeting. "Iranian intelligence is working extremely hard to prepare its people and to prepare actions," he said.

 

The center, which he said deals directly with European intelligence agencies, believes Iranian operatives have carried out reconnaissance of targets in European cities, including nuclear power stations, said Moniquet. He mentioned no other specific targets. 

 

Comments:  For sure, Europe is within striking distance of Iran whereas the U.S. is a continent and the Atlantic Ocean away.  Conventional airborne missiles could reach the land mass of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Long range missiles can target Germany, Italy and Greece.  The Iranians have oodles of cash and weapons suppliers are lined up to sell their hi-tech wares in the black market.  Then, there are the Russians who have not only aided Iran in its ambitious nuclear enrichment program, but have provided moral support in the U.N. opposing economic sanctions on Iran.  Russia and Iran working together for the purpose of targeting Western Europe, the U.S. and Israel is a big red flag of concern.

 

Just imagine if Iran could knock out much of Western Europe’s nuclear facilities.  And suppose the Rapture event occurred at the same time or shortly after.  With much of the West incapacitated and in total chaos and anarchy, how easily Russia, Iran and their allies could muster a conventional army to march toward Israel to take a spoil and subjugate the Israelis.  As the invaders plod toward the Holy Land unimpeded, only a few will utter a mild protest.  Ezekiel 38:[13] Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

 

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'Mormon President' film draws ties between LDS founder Joseph Smith and Mitt Romney

Source: Christian Post

 

May 24, 2007 -- A documentary scheduled to be released this fall will tell the story of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, and his run for the American presidency.

 

In addition to following the controversial religious head’s campaign trail, ‘A Mormon President’ will also draw connections to this year’s Mormon candidate, Mitt Romney, and how his faith may affect his election run.

 

The movie is strategically placed to coincide with Mormonism’s “focus moment.”

 

"Focus moments are when events and ideas connect to create interest in a particular topic that may have been previously neglected," explained Adam Christing, producer and director of the movie, in a statement. "We experienced similar moments about Catholicism and Judaism when Kennedy and Lieberman ran for office. Because of Romney, we are now in a focus moment about Mormonism. People are becoming very interested in the history of the Mormon church and its connection to the political culture of our nation."

 

 

During the current campaign, Romney’s Mormon faith has been a key focus to many around the country. Political analysts have been trying to get a feel for whether or not it may play a large role in his bid for the presidency, especially since many Christians have expressed their reservations for endorsing a Mormon.

 

On an episode of “Larry King Live” last week, King asked the Rev. Albert Mohler, Jr., the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, whether or not Romney’s faith bothered him.

 

“Oh, it does certainly concern me as an Evangelical Christian,” answered Mohler, who is one of America's pre-eminent Evangelical leaders. “I have to answer first as a Christian and say I believe Mormonism is a false that is antithetical to historic orthodox Christianity.”

 

He then went on to say, “But, at the same time, I'm not electing a theologian. I'm looking at electing a president, and I will have to consider all of those things in the context of what a candidate represents.”

 

Besides the fall film, Romney’s electoral campaign has awoken a number of Mormon programming as voters have become more interested in Mormon history and what the religion says. This includes a PBS show called The Mormons and the film September Dawn (2006) which tells about the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 where a group of Mormon militiamen and Paiute Indians murdered a wagon train of 120 emigrants.

 

Comments:  Larry King ought to know what Mormons represent since his father-in-law is a Mormon.  Mr. King is a Jew who not only doesn’t adhere to Judaism, but is an admirer of the Mormon faith.  He doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Savior of sinful Jews and Gentiles.  He’s totally engrossed in the politics of whether America will vote for a Mormon to be U.S. president.  Some Christians have come out and stated that Mormonism is not Christian, but that doesn’t preclude them voting for a Mormon who espouses conservative and Biblical values.  Certainly, God can use a cult member to govern America and they’re right.

 

If Mitt Romney does get elected (and that’s a long shot with Rudy Giuliani being the frontrunner), it will be due to Christian votes.  How ironic it would be that evangelical Christians who are steadfastly opposed to liberal Democrats (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) and a pseudo Republican in a Democrat garment (Rudy Giuliani) would be instrumental in a Mormon being placed in the highest office of the land?  It’s a no win situation and if believers think that Romney is the worst of all evils, they’re only fooling themselves.  Mormon influences will define Romney’s administration.  No good thing can come out of this.  Christians have a lot of soul searching and praying to do leading up to the Republican primaries slated for next year.

 

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Saddleback Church defends Rick Warren against 'Inappropriate' charges pertaining to Fox Television’s Rupert Murdoch

Source: Christian Post

 

May 24, 2007 -- Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., has responded to a number of charges against its founding pastor, Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren, for not disciplining global media executive Rupert Murdoch over his alleged ownership and expansion of pornographic channels in Europe.

 

Chris Rosebrough, head of the Calif.-based Christian Accountability Network, was one of a number of Christians who earlier this month said that Warren should “call Murdoch to repentance and/or put him out of the church.”

 

“If Pastor Warren does not act swiftly and call on Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp, to dismantle his porn distribution network, then the credibility of the Christian message will be compromised around the globe,” said Rosebrough, in a released statement.

 

In response, David Chrzan, chief of staff at Saddleback Church, pointed out that Murdoch, who resides in Manhattan, was not a member of the Southern California megachurch and that he had never even attended a service there.

 

Chrzan said that any attempt on the part of Warren “to exercise biblical authority he doesn’t have would be presumptuous and inappropriate.”

 

He added that the “Purpose Driven” pastor had the God-given responsibility to speak to personal and societal needs and the biblical mandate to discipline Saddleback Church members.

 

According to London-based magazine The Business, Murdoch has been secretly building a stable of wholly-owned pornographic channels for his BSkyB subsidiary. The British publication claims that BSkyB now owns and operates its own pornographic channels – the 18+ Movies selection – after years of hosting third-party content only.

 

Comments:   Rick Warren only has himself to blame for this controversy.  He had been quoted in print that he was the pastor to Rupert Murdoch.  Even though Murdoch doesn’t attend Warren’s Saddleback Church, they know each other as friends and as such, Mr. Warren has some influence on the man.  If Warren speaks to Murdoch about his porn business and how, as a believer in Christ, one ought not be producing and promoting sin and carnality, Murdoch would be placed on notice that he’s been counselled.  By being a `dirty old man` in exploiting young women for profit, Murdoch is courting God’s judgment upon himself.  He knows right from wrong and if he has spoken to Warren about spiritual matters in the past, surely his conscience would be speaking to him about the `meat` market that is the porn industry.  Now, the least Warren can do is distance himself from Murdoch (if he’s a believer) until he repents of his sin and is restored to happy fellowship with God.  In the meantime, Christians should boycott Fox News and all of Murdoch’s holdings due to his porn dealings.  The honour of the Lord is at stake here.  1 Corinthians 5 [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

[13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

 

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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