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"There Was Given Unto Him A Mouth" ... |
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Revelation 13:4-7 (KJV)
 Is this Javier Solana’s one and only role? ... To serve as a mouth for the "beast that rises out of the sea" / the EU / the Revived Roman Empire. For some time now, I have strongly considered that this will be his appointed role during the close of this age of grace. – Scott
A New Business Model For Cyprus ... By Javier Solana MADRID – Once again, Europe has peered into the abyss. But the tentative agreement between Cyprus and the troika (the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Central Bank) probably means that the worst has been avoided. Big losses for large depositors in Cypriot banks will now be imposed, and the country’s second-largest bank will be shuttered. Looking ahead, however, Cyprus has the means not only to recover, but even to heal its longstanding division with the Turkish-backed statelet in the north of the island. Cyprus, of course, is just the latest country to be hit by the economic crisis surging through the Mediterranean. For years, Cyprus had an immense banking bubble, with the sector’s assets estimated at roughly seven times the country’s GDP, as foreign money poured into a tax haven within the eurozone’s secure environment. The design of the bailout has been shaped both by domestic pressures faced by eurozone leaders and by the exceptional nature of the Cypriot banking bubble: many European leaders suspect that the island had become a money-laundering center for Russian individuals and entities, which pumped an estimated €68 billion into the country’s banks. Regardless of the details of the ultimate deal, the risk is that the ghost of Russia’s bailout of Cyprus in 2011 could provoke severe side effects across Southern Europe, both for governments’ borrowing costs and for small savers. Nevertheless, it is imperative not to lose sight of some very valuable assets that Cyprus holds – assets that could mean the country’s economic salvation. In 2011, the American energy company Noble discovered some 200 billion cubic meters of gas in the Eastern Mediterranean – the value of this block, known as the Aphrodite gas field, has been estimated at some €80 billion. Work has already begun on extraction, with production expected to commence in 2018. Experts say that the reserves could provide some 100 years of energy for Cyprus – and an alternative supply source for energy-hungry Europe. In fact, in the search for an acceptable bailout package, the future revenues from these assets were at one point considered as possible guarantees. The United States Geological Survey has estimated that the Levant Basin, which extends across the Israeli, Cypriot, and Lebanese seabed, contains some 3.45 trillion cubic meters of recoverable natural gas and 1.7 billion barrels of oil. Given their geographic location, however, these incredible reserves can be uncapped, extracted, and exported only on the basis of inter-state cooperation.
As with all marine gas and oil deposits, the rights to the waters and the riches below are critical. And, given such riches, competition might appear lucrative at first sight. But cooperation stands to enlarge the pie. Moreover, economic agreements may promote closer cooperation in other realms. Energy matters have already led to an unprecedented warming in relations between countries such as Israel and Cyprus in recent years, with an agreement signed in 2010 formally delimiting these states’ respective exclusive economic zones. It is not unimaginable that this type of cooperation could be extended to include other neighbors around the Levant. The good news is that Cyprus’s newly elected president, Nicos Anastasiades, may be open to such an agenda. Naturally, much will depend on how he fares politically in the current turmoil surrounding the bailout package. Anastasiades, a member of the pro-European Dimokratikós Sinayermós (Democratic Rally) party, won 57% of the popular vote on a platform that emphasized economic recovery, and this will naturally be his top priority. Nevertheless, a cautious look beyond the current turbulence – and into Anastasiades’s history – provides grounds for optimism. In 2004, Anastasiades and his party supported the Annan Plan, developed by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and supported by the European Union. Annan’s reunification proposal provided the blueprint for a “United Republic of Cyprus” comprising a federation of two states. When put to a referendum, roughly two-thirds of the island’s 250,000 Turkish Cypriots in the north supported the Annan Plan, but 76% of the 860,000 Greek Cypriots in the south rejected it. It is not inconceivable, however, that Anastasiades’s victory could provide impetus for reopening the dialogue between the island’s north and south – that is, once the current crisis has passed. Such an outcome would be a major breakthrough for Cyprus and the region. Resolving the island’s longstanding division would nest Cyprus more comfortably in the EU, and the economic effects would be manifold, extending throughout the eastern Mediterranean.
For example, both Turkey and Greece could reduce their military spending (though naturally to varying degrees, given their respective geopolitical environments). Greece is the second-largest defense spender, relative to GDP, in the EU; clearly, in today’s economic climate, savings here could provide hugely welcome budget relief. And the Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan’s recent call for a ceasefire is an encouraging sign that Turkey, too, stands to benefit from a peace dividend. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s visit to Istanbul earlier this month was a heartening sign that tensions between Greece and Turkey are already beginning to ease. A deepening of cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean would provide myriad economic opportunities, not least the many related to developing the region’s cross-border maritime gas reserves. Anastasiades has endured a perfect economic storm during his first month in office, and the current crisis is certain to continue to dominate his agenda. But, beyond today’s tempest, there is light on the horizon. Cyprus, and its neighbors, must now pull together to reach it.
Posted Monday May 13th, 2013 |
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Syria's Assad … Activating Palestinian Groups To Retaliate Against Israel |
Is this conflict, spoken of long ago, about ready to begin? - Scott
Al-Ikhbariya announced that the government had given a green light to Palestinian groups to conduct “operations” against Israeli targets on the Golan Heights. Hezbollah-linked media, meanwhile, reported that Lebanon and Syria had established “popular committees” ready to fight Israel in the region.
The Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al Rai, quoting sources close to Assad, reported that the Syrian leader had used Russian backchannels to tell the Israelis that Damascus would react if Israel struck Syria again. Syria, they said, would consider any such act a declaration of war and would contemplate firing surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles at Israel.
Syrian sources told a range of media outlets that Damascus had deployed missile batteries aimed at Israel that could respond to any further Israeli actions. 
Posted Monday May 6th, 2013 |
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“Apparently The Syrians And The Iranians Have Crossed A Red Line Of The Israelis ..." |
 Israeli aircraft attacked military sites on the outskirts of Damascus ...“The whole thing is escalating”
Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad told CNN the airstrikes were a “declaration of war” and that the government would retaliate in its own time.
Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the attacks “have taken place with a U.S. green light,” according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
“Israel is taking a calculated risk that Assad, Iran and Hezbollah are right now fighting a war against the Syrian rebels and probably don’t want to open up a second front against a far more formidable enemy,” Spyer said by telephone. “If Israel has now done this twice with air strikes within the last 48 hours, its ‘shadow conflict’ with Iran is no longer in the shadows.”
Posted Sunday May 5th, 2013 |
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Obama In Israel: The Occupation Must End |
President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned appeal Thursday for Israel to recognize that compromise will be necessary to secure peace and lasting security for the Jewish state. Israeli occupation of areas that the Palestinians claim for their state must end, he said.
 "Negotiations will be necessary, but there is little secret about where they must lead – two states for two peoples. There will be differences about how to get there, and hard choices along the way."
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days. Matthew 24:15-22 (KJV)
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Matthew 24:15,16 (KJV)
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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Obama 'Erases' Jerusalem, Judea And Samaria From The Map Of Israel |
The White House has released what it says is a map of Israel. The only problem is that Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Golan Heights are missing. An Obama administration video highlighting the president’s plans for his Mideast trip depicts Jerusalem, the Golan and the West Bank – also known as Judea and Samaria – as non-Israeli territory. The video shows the Golan Heights as part of Syria; Jerusalem is depicted as part of the West Bank; and northern Israel is shown as part of Lebanon.
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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Any Particular Reason Why Obama Visited Petra In Jordan? |
 In full sightseeing mode, Obama flew by helicopter to Petra for a two-hour walking tour of the restored ruins of a city more than 2,000 years old some of which is carved into sandstone cliffs. "This is pretty spectacular," Obama, wearing sunglasses, khaki trousers and a dark jacket, said as he craned his neck to look up at the Treasury, a towering rose-red façade cut into a cliff. "It's amazing." Ordinary tourists had been cleared out for the president's visit, and guards with assault weapons followed his every step.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Revelation 13:11 (KJV)
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:14-17 (KJV)
Where is the closest “wilderness,” in relation to the physical location of Jerusalem/Judea and Samaria? … That would be immediately to the east/southeast of these three areas. These wilderness areas are across the Jordan River and south of the Dead Sea in Jordan.  Where is Petra located in Jordan?
What small area in the world will the man of sin not be permitted, by God, to exert his wicked control over?
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Daniel 11:41 (KJV)
Where do the Moabites, the Edomites and the Ammonites currently live, or where did they live in times past?
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Matthew 24:15,16 (KJV)
Where are mountains located, in relation to Jerusalem/Judea and Samaria? … To the east/southeast of these areas.
Who are the “firstfruits” spoken of in the following passage?
These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:4,5 (KJV)
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Revelation 14:1-4 (KJV)
Could the “woman” spoken in Revelation chapter 12, that is taken care of “for a time, and times, and half a time” (1,260 days) “from the face of the serpent” in “the wilderness” be the 144,000 ”firstfruits” spoken of in Revelation chapter 14?
Was Obama’s visit of Petra simply a sight seeing trip? … Maybe. Or was it for much more than that? … For strategic military reasons? …
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Revelation 12:15 (KJV) And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:3-9 (KJV)
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. Revelation 12:12,13 (KJV)
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17 (KJV)
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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Obama Will Pressure, Israel Should Refuse … |
There is no agreement between Obama and Netanyahu on the issue of peace talks, it is clear that this issue will be pushed to the background in the wake of the continued instability in the Middle East and the so-called Arab Spring. "The Palestine issue is a second-term presidential issue," Zakheim said. "Quite frankly, you have a president who doesn't have to run for office again and an Israeli prime minister who is not as strong as he was before. That gives the president a lot of leverage."
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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Ashton To Leave EU Foreign Policy Job Next Year |
 EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has said she will step down next year, adding that she is tired of all the travel. Speaking at a debate in Brussels on Saturday (16 March) organized by the German Marshall Fund, a think tank, she said: "There's no possibility of having a second term and it [the post] needs to go to someone else next … You lay the foundations, but there are people who can do things with this that probably I couldn't do. So, it would be good to hand it over." She acknowledged there are limitations to how much EU countries really want to co-operate on foreign policy, especially in military matters. "These are national [military] services and the decision to deploy and put people in harm's way are national sovereign decisions," she said. One EU diplomat warned the new foreign policy chief will be chosen as part of a "package" of EU top jobs designed to please big member states and political groups, not on personal merit. Ashton's mandate is due to end on 1 December 2014. 
Is her choice to step down, the result of an increase in knowledge regarding the soon coming massive increase in wicked EU activities? … Is this the same reason why Hillary Clinton has decided to stop “serving” as the US Secretary of State? … Too much pressure to deal with what will be proceeding out of the two wicked governments? - Scott
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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A Belgian-Based Human Rights Group Urged The International Criminal Court To ... |
A Belgian-based human rights group urged the International Criminal Court on Sunday to investigate “crimes” committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories. The Russell Tribunal on Palestine, an organization founded four years ago, said it would “support all initiatives from civil society and international organizations aimed at bringing Israel in front of the International Criminal Court.” The group additionally called for an extraordinary session of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, a framework set up in 1962 that laid the groundwork for international sanctions against South Africa, to investigate Israel.
Posted Sunday March 24th, 2013 |
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Russian Navy To Send Permanent Fleet To The Mediterranean |
Russia will dispatch a permanent group of five to six combat ships to the Mediterranean Sea, Russian Navy chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov said. Frigates and cruisers will make up the core of the fleet. Supply vessels will also be included in the permanent deployment to the Mediterranean.
 "Up to five or six ships must be on a permanent basis in the Mediterranean Sea. They should be controlled through the command of the Black Sea Fleet," Russian TV channel Zvezda quoted Admiral Chirkov as saying. The decision to send Russian ships to the Mediterranean's waters was first announced on March 11 by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.
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