The following articles are compiled by:

David Hilling

Dave@WatchmenWatching.com

New Al Qaeda Web Ad Threatens 'Big Surprise'

August 01, 2007 7:34 PM

Source: ABC News

Rhonda Schwartz Reports:

A new al Qaeda propaganda ad, headlined "Wait for the Big Surprise" and featuring a digitally altered photograph of President George Bush and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf standing in front of a burning White House, was posted on the Internet today.

The brief clip from al Qaeda's "as Sahab" propaganda arm juxtaposes the doctored photo of Bush and Musharraf along with previously seen images of al Qaeda's top leadership -- Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahri and Adam Gadahn -- as well as a photo of an SUV in a motorcade.

There is no additional information provided in the ad, and it closes with the words, "Soon -- God willing," written across the screen and repeated several times.

Comments:  Al Qaeda has made threats before that have come to nothing, but the increasing frequency and vehemence of their propaganda ads suggests a new seriousness. There is little we can do to prevent a determined attack on the U.S. homeland, but the retribution would be terrible. They can hurt us, but we can rock their world. There is a meteorite fragment in Mecca they are quite fond of, and this would be only a part of the price of another terror attack. American policy dictates that an attack with weapons of mass destruction will only be answered by WMDs. Al Qaeda would do well to remember that the U.S. only has one type of WMD.

At the grassroots level, there is nothing the government could do to protect Muslim Americans. Indeed, local police would gladly look the other way as mosques were burned and Muslims slaughtered. The innocent would suffer along with the guilty.

So to the terrorists I say: “Attack if you will, but don’t forget to count the cost.” America is still the biggest dog on the block, and we can easily reach out and touch any country that offends us. I pray this ad is just bluster, but something inside me fears that things are about to get very bad. As Christians, we need to keep looking up, for our redemption is certainly near at hand.

See Leo's comments on this same article.

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Teenage Girl Faces Beheading in Saudi Arabia

August 01, 2007 10:07 AM

Source: ABC News

Dana Hughes Reports:

The family of a 19-year-old Sri Lankan girl is pleading for her life after a Saudi Arabian court sentenced her to death by beheading. 

The court found Rizana Nafeek, 19, guilty of murdering a child in her care while working in the country. Her family (parents pictured above) has appealed the sentence, and human rights groups are calling for the Saudi government to overturn it.

At 17, Rizana Nafeek was sent to Saudi Arabia after the tsunami to work as a maid and make money for her family in Sri Lanka. But after only a few weeks and no child care training, her employers put her in charge of their 4-month-old baby. The baby died, and Nafeek was charged with murder, tried without an attorney and sentenced to death.

Comments: This is just another example of the fact that Saudi Arabia is not a civilized nation. ”Guest” workers are frequently abused. They are often not paid and are locked up to prevent their running away.

There is absolutely nothing here that suggests that a murder was committed. Babies die, and it is tragic, but in a civilized nation, a charge of murder requires motive and intent. These elements are lacking here, but since the girl is a foreigner she cannot receive justice,

Saudi Arabia is a demonic theocracy. When I first read Revelation 20:4, I wondered about it. I thought beheading was something out of our barbaric past, not something that could happen in these modern times. I was wrong. In countries ruled by Satan, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, it is becoming increasingly common. Indeed, I reported just yesterday that Iran stoned a man to death for adultery this past year.

Let us pray that world opinion will cause the Saudis to show mercy to this poor child. You can contact the Saudi Embassy to protest at:

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

601 New Hampshire Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20037

Main Number: (202) 342-3800

Email the Embassy.

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Sheetrit: Falash Mura Aliya should end 'tomorrow'

Source: Jerusalem Post

By RUTH EGLASH

Falash Mura aliya from Ethiopia should be stopped immediately and Israel should focus on becoming a "real state" rather than a "committee" for the Jewish people, according to Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post earlier this week, he said the immigration of the Falash Mura - people whose Jewish ancestors were forcibly converted to Christianity centuries ago - was a mission that is impossible to finish.

"We are creating a hell of a job for ourselves because of political correctness or trying to be nice," Sheetrit said.

"Who needs them?" he said about the Falash Mura. "They are all Christians. We need to take care of the future of Israel and this [aliya] will never finish."

Comments: What do you think would happen if an American politician said “Who needs them? They are all Jews,” Here in America such a statement would be political suicide. Sheetrit is forgetting that Israel is a nation of refugees. He is also forgetting the support of Israel by Christians from around the world. This is not a question of political correctness or nicety; it is a matter of right and wrong. Sheetrit should resign in shame.

A forgetful Israel is forgetting from whence they came. This latest outburst by Sheetrit coming on the heels of Hot Cable to drop Christian programming only goes to show an increasing anti-Christian bias in Israel.  Just my $.02.

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Rice heads to West Bank to prod, support Abbas

Source: Yahoo! News

By Sue Pleming

Wed Aug 1, 9:45 PM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads to the West Bank on Thursday to reassure President Mahmoud Abbas of U.S. support and press him to begin serious talks with Israel about a future Palestinian state.

The top U.S. diplomat, who spent Wednesday delivering similar messages to top Israeli officials, closes a four-day trip to the Middle East during which she won tacit Saudi support for a proposed peace conference later this year.

But analysts are pessimistic about Rice's new push, coming at a time when the Palestinian territories are divided between Islamist Hamas, which seized Gaza in June, and Abbas's secular Fatah whose forces dominate the West Bank.

The Bush administration has just 17 months left in office and despite labeling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a priority, its most pressing concern is Iraq and mounting domestic pressure to bring U.S. troops home.

But Rice has made clear she has faith in Abbas and says he is empowered to negotiate on behalf of all Palestinians.

Comments: Just a wild thought here, but who says that the Antichrist must be a man? Condi is in this thing up to her eyeballs. The word translated “Prince” in Daniel 9:26-27 can also mean:  a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstract plural), honorable themes: - captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler. (Strong’s H5057)

The root of this word is even more ambiguous:

nâgad naw-gad'

A primitive root; properly to front, that is, stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically to expose, predict, explain, praise: - bewray, X certainly, certify, declare (-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter. (Strong’s H5046) This sounds a lot like the job description of the U.S. Secretary of State. Also, we could have a woman in the White House after the next election. (No, I won’t say the “H” word.) Of course I’m not accusing either lady of being the AC, but it is interesting to speculate. It is most likely that the Antichrist is, at this point, a rather anonymous figure.

I do find it strange that our leaders are rushing in to play John the Baptist to the Antichrist. We should pray for courageous leaders who are not afraid to stand solidly behind Israel. If we fail Israel, God will judge us harshly. The Bush administration is determined to give away that which is not ours to give. You can contact the White House to voice your opinion at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.