Nothing New Under The Sun - Nov 9

As it was in King Solomon's day, the same can be said today:

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

What the Election of Barack Obama Really Means

To me, it didn't really matter all that much. I was so overcome with emotion that I yawned, turned off the TV and went to bed, secure in the knowledge that the sun would rise again. As a Canadian-born white guy with a proud English heritage, I can tell you I was pretty much underwhelmed. But I think it's important to realize how much it meant to blacks. The election of BHO wasn't merely a changing of the guard, it was seen as a revolutionary act. Like I said, I tend to be a bit jaded by all this. But I do think it's very important that whites don't act dismissively. I believe the racial divide in America is alive and well, despite the fresh blood being injected into the body politic. Whites refuse to acknowledge the harm they've done and many blacks still carry a torch for slavery reparations. If someone wrongs you, repents and asks for forgiveness and is refused, what's a man to do? Jesus said you should grant and seek forgiveness before making sacrifices at the temple. In other words, confess all your sins and pray one for another. How simple. How beautiful. Yet this prescription will never be filled, leaving me pessimistic about future race relations.

Some Perspective Please!

I loved this Wesley Pruden comment from the Washington Times:

This election will be remembered as the campaign that ignited a religious revival. Never have so many atheists, skeptics, agnostics, secularists, heretics, freethinkers and rationalists hit the sawdust trail to imbibe so much on blind faith, and to make it their religion. Eat your heart out, Billy Graham.

That's the great thing about politics. You will never suffer for lack of material. Or people to mock and ridicule. Again, as with my previous post, none of this is meant as a personal attack against those who voted for the man. Far from it. On the contrary, I wish to engage those who take a more 'progressive' (read: socialist) view of things. I don't want to alienate anyone. But I do want to show the secularists the error of their ways. Let's be crystal clear on this: The secularists would love nothing more than to banish us evangelicals to some distant land, never to be heard from again. I believe this anti-God worldview is going to dominate like never before.

A Checklist Every President Should Adhere To

I wish nothing but the best for the new president. The foreign policy challenges are immense, but not impossible to overcome. Let's start with Israel. Despite the urgings of the Left, do not under any circumstances divide Israel's land. Ariel Sharon paid for giving away Gush Katif (Gaza) with an incapacitating stroke. I fear worse things will happen to Obama if he tries to negotiate away Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). Israel has many enemies, Russia being chief amongst them. Recent moves in Libya confirm this. Do not be afraid to confront them and call their bluff if necessary.

Restore consumer confidence. Easier said than done I know, but this will make the difference from being a one-term president to a two-term one. A far-left policy of 'economic justice' would put America into a depression, never mind a recession. Re-engineering a free and open society is the last thing you should attempt.

Lastly, respect God's laws. A nation that willfully disobeys His ways is a nation that is destined for destruction. You serve a God for His purpose and at His pleasure. The God that delivered you victory on election night is the same one who can bring you down to defeat. President Obama, you are both a husband and a father. Don't place marriage and family on the altar of expediency in order to prove some obscure point.

Johnny Cash

An Avalanche of History - Nov 4

Well, I managed to survive my move over the weekend. Six full truckloads over three days just about killed me. Glad it's over though. The X-Def lives on!

Barack Obama as President

Get used to it for at least the next four years. Possibly eight. Yikes! Here's what I think what happened over the past two years. John McCain lost this election not because he wasn't suitable or ready, but due to hubris. He's basically running as a member of Dubya's Republicans as opposed to running on his own name. The GOP ran out of luck and out of time to correct their mistakes. To be sure, many of the wounds inflicted were of the self-inflicted variety.

The 2003 War In Iraq

Irrational exuberance combined with underestimating the resolve of the enemy guaranteed that no lightning victory would occur. The Bush doctrine, which put forth the idea that free and democratic countries don't start wars, was correct on the strategic level. Lack of discernment hobbled the Iraq and Afghanistan efforts from the start.

McCain's Sisyphean Struggle

Sisyphus was the poor sod doomed to roll a massive rock uphill everyday for eternity. The media was in Obama's pocket from the get-go. Hard to get your message out when no-one wants to co-operate. To be sure, media liberals outnumbered conservative thinkers even in Reagan's day. Still, the Great Communicator managed and led. I think however that Reagan's America is vastly different than the one Bush 43 presided over. Prayer and attending church on Sundays were a given. Today, when a believer mentions God people look at them like they talk to an invisible man in the sky. Marriage was always between a man and a woman. Life began at conception and that was that. Sure there was sin in America in Reagan's day. But we didn't advertise and brag about it, did we? It isn't the demographic shift that should worry us, it's the moral shift away from Biblical values that will pose problems for America.

Swimming with Sharks

What's next? The next president faces immense challenges. Will Russia, with its increasing move towards sovietism, make a move? How about Iran? So many questions. I have a feeling that we'll soon find out. President Obama will be tested, let there be no doubt about that. In the meantime, do pray over President Obama. He'll need God's protection and all of His wisdom to guide a very difficult and complex country.

God Bless America!

Johnny Cash

Taking It On The Chin - Oct 26

Ah yes, the end of the baseball season. Not only does the first snowflake sighting remind me of winter, the real clincher is when the final out of the World Series is recorded. As of right now, Philadelphia leads Tampa Bay 3-1 with Game 5 going tomorrow. I've noticed however that it's been more than baseball players that've been getting chin music more than recently.

America: Land of the Free. But for how long?

There's a definite case of schaedenfreude going around the world as America's finances look a bit wobbly. The Chinese are a prime example. The Russians have got their mojo back and are bumping up their strategic nuclear capabilities. I do fear that however assumes the White House will be walking into a hornet's nest. As Pat Buchanan notes: With U.S. markets crashing and wealth vanishing, what are we doing with 750 bases and troops in over 100 countries? Good question Pat. More importantly, how does this fit into God's plan? It is becoming more and more obvious that America's power is receding. Daniel's vision of a revived Roman Empire must mean that America must fall.

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
(Daniel 2:40-43)

'The people will be a mixture and will not remain united' is the perfect description of Europe. It appears that a new financial order is taking root amongst the EU. A second Bretton Woods (named after a town in New Hampshire) is being proposed that would put greater oversight on American finances. I feel for those investors who've been good stewards of their money only to get hurt in this latest catastrophe. They diversified their portfolio, they've not made hasty decisions and yet still they take it on the chin. Nobody said life was going to be fair! If there's any lesson in this, it is that God and God alone is the only thing that guarantees a return on investment. The things of Man can often fail, such as his monetary policy.

On a Personal Note

I'm moving - again! - to another place in Brampton. This post may (or may not) be the last post for October. As soon as I get my internet connection going at my new place I'll be back at it once more. Therefore there will not be a post next weekend, perhaps mid-week after the election. So much packing to do! I dread moving day. I remember my time as a university student moving from home to Hamilton in September only to reverse the process in April. I definitely feel like a foreigner in a foreign land. When God calls me home, whenever that might be, it will be then and only then I can truly say that I'm home. In the meantime I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal with it on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Johnny Cash

Mr. President, What Now Sir? - Sep 3

I can think of no more frightening phrase uttered in a time of crisis. With thanks to Bush's adventurism we now have a situation where the American military is spread a mile wide and an inch thick. The worst part is everybody - that being the Russians, the Iranians, the Israelis, the Saudis, and al-Qaida - know it. Whoever wins the White House is sure to have their resolve tested in 2009 at a time and place of our enemies choosing.

Johnny Cash


The Medvedev Doctrine and American Strategy
September 2, 2008

By George Friedman

The United States has been fighting a war in the Islamic world since 2001. Its main theaters of operation are in Afghanistan and Iraq, but its politico-military focus spreads throughout the Islamic world, from Mindanao to Morocco. The situation on Aug. 7, 2008, was as follows:

The war in Iraq was moving toward an acceptable but not optimal solution. The government in Baghdad was not pro-American, but neither was it an Iranian puppet, and that was the best that could be hoped for. The United States anticipated pulling out troops, but not in a disorderly fashion.

The war in Afghanistan was deteriorating for the United States and NATO forces. The Taliban was increasingly effective, and large areas of the country were falling to its control. Force in Afghanistan was insufficient, and any troops withdrawn from Iraq would have to be deployed to Afghanistan to stabilize the situation. Political conditions in neighboring Pakistan were deteriorating, and that deterioration inevitably affected Afghanistan.

The United States had been locked in a confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program, demanding that Tehran halt enrichment of uranium or face U.S. action. The United States had assembled a group of six countries (the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany) that agreed with the U.S. goal, was engaged in negotiations with Iran, and had agreed at some point to impose sanctions on Iran if Tehran failed to comply. The United States was also leaking stories about impending air attacks on Iran by Israel or the United States if Tehran didn’t abandon its enrichment program. The United States had the implicit agreement of the group of six not to sell arms to Tehran, creating a real sense of isolation in Iran.

In short, the United States remained heavily committed to a region stretching from Iraq to Pakistan, with main force committed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and the possibility of commitments to Pakistan (and above all to Iran) on the table. U.S. ground forces were stretched to the limit, and U.S. airpower, naval and land-based forces had to stand by for the possibility of an air campaign in Iran — regardless of whether the U.S. planned an attack, since the credibility of a bluff depended on the availability of force.

The situation in this region actually was improving, but the United States had to remain committed there. It was therefore no accident that the Russians invaded Georgia on Aug. 8 following a Georgian attack on South Ossetia. Forgetting the details of who did what to whom, the United States had created a massive window of opportunity for the Russians: For the foreseeable future, the United States had no significant forces to spare to deploy elsewhere in the world, nor the ability to sustain them in extended combat. Moreover, the United States was relying on Russian cooperation both against Iran and potentially in Afghanistan, where Moscow’s influence with some factions remains substantial. The United States needed the Russians and couldn’t block the Russians. Therefore, the Russians inevitably chose this moment to strike.

On Sunday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev in effect ran up the Jolly Roger. Whatever the United States thought it was dealing with in Russia, Medvedev made the Russian position very clear. He stated Russian foreign policy in five succinct points, which we can think of as the Medvedev Doctrine (and which we see fit to quote here):

First, Russia recognizes the primacy of the fundamental principles of international law, which define the relations between civilized peoples. We will build our relations with other countries within the framework of these principles and this concept of international law.

Second, the world should be multipolar. A single-pole world is unacceptable. Domination is something we cannot allow. We cannot accept a world order in which one country makes all the decisions, even as serious and influential a country as the United States of America. Such a world is unstable and threatened by conflict.

Third, Russia does not want confrontation with any other country. Russia has no intention of isolating itself. We will develop friendly relations with Europe, the United States, and other countries, as much as is possible.

Fourth, protecting the lives and dignity of our citizens, wherever they may be, is an unquestionable priority for our country. Our foreign policy decisions will be based on this need. We will also protect the interests of our business community abroad. It should be clear to all that we will respond to any aggressive acts committed against us.

Finally, fifth, as is the case of other countries, there are regions in which Russia has privileged interests. These regions are home to countries with which we share special historical relations and are bound together as friends and good neighbors. We will pay particular attention to our work in these regions and build friendly ties with these countries, our close neighbors.

Medvedev concluded, “These are the principles I will follow in carrying out our foreign policy. As for the future, it depends not only on us but also on our friends and partners in the international community. They have a choice.”

The second point in this doctrine states that Russia does not accept the primacy of the United States in the international system. According to the third point, while Russia wants good relations with the United States and Europe, this depends on their behavior toward Russia and not just on Russia’s behavior. The fourth point states that Russia will protect the interests of Russians wherever they are — even if they live in the Baltic states or in Georgia, for example. This provides a doctrinal basis for intervention in such countries if Russia finds it necessary.

The fifth point is the critical one: “As is the case of other countries, there are regions in which Russia has privileged interests.” In other words, the Russians have special interests in the former Soviet Union and in friendly relations with these states. Intrusions by others into these regions that undermine pro-Russian regimes will be regarded as a threat to Russia’s “special interests.”

Thus, the Georgian conflict was not an isolated event — rather, Medvedev is saying that Russia is engaged in a general redefinition of the regional and global system. Locally, it would not be correct to say that Russia is trying to resurrect the Soviet Union or the Russian empire. It would be correct to say that Russia is creating a new structure of relations in the geography of its predecessors, with a new institutional structure with Moscow at its center. Globally, the Russians want to use this new regional power — and substantial Russian nuclear assets — to be part of a global system in which the United States loses its primacy. These are ambitious goals, to say the least. But the Russians believe that the United States is off balance in the Islamic world and that there is an opportunity here, if they move quickly, to create a new reality before the United States is ready to respond. Europe has neither the military weight nor the will to actively resist Russia. Moreover, the Europeans are heavily dependent on Russian natural gas supplies over the coming years, and Russia can survive without selling it to them far better than the Europeans can survive without buying it. The Europeans are not a substantial factor in the equation, nor are they likely to become substantial.

This leaves the United States in an extremely difficult strategic position. The United States opposed the Soviet Union after 1945 not only for ideological reasons but also for geopolitical ones. If the Soviet Union had broken out of its encirclement and dominated all of Europe, the total economic power at its disposal, coupled with its population, would have allowed the Soviets to construct a navy that could challenge U.S. maritime hegemony and put the continental United States in jeopardy. It was U.S. policy during World Wars I and II and the Cold War to act militarily to prevent any power from dominating the Eurasian landmass. For the United States, this was the most important task throughout the 20th century.

The U.S.-jihadist war was waged in a strategic framework that assumed that the question of hegemony over Eurasia was closed. Germany’s defeat in World War II and the Soviet Union’s defeat in the Cold War meant that there was no claimant to Eurasia, and the United States was free to focus on what appeared to be the current priority — the defeat of radical Islamism. It appeared that the main threat to this strategy was the patience of the American public, not an attempt to resurrect a major Eurasian power.

The United States now faces a massive strategic dilemma, and it has limited military options against the Russians. It could choose a naval option, in which it would block the four Russian maritime outlets, the Sea of Japan and the Black, Baltic and Barents seas. The United States has ample military force with which to do this and could potentially do so without allied cooperation, which it would lack. It is extremely unlikely that the NATO council would unanimously support a blockade of Russia, which would be an act of war.

But while a blockade like this would certainly hurt the Russians, Russia is ultimately a land power. It is also capable of shipping and importing through third parties, meaning it could potentially acquire and ship key goods through European or Turkish ports (or Iranian ports, for that matter). The blockade option is thus more attractive on first glance than on deeper analysis.

More important, any overt U.S. action against Russia would result in counteractions. During the Cold War, the Soviets attacked American global interest not by sending Soviet troops, but by supporting regimes and factions with weapons and economic aid. Vietnam was the classic example: The Russians tied down 500,000 U.S. troops without placing major Russian forces at risk. Throughout the world, the Soviets implemented programs of subversion and aid to friendly regimes, forcing the United States either to accept pro-Soviet regimes, as with Cuba, or fight them at disproportionate cost.

In the present situation, the Russian response would strike at the heart of American strategy in the Islamic world. In the long run, the Russians have little interest in strengthening the Islamic world — but for the moment, they have substantial interest in maintaining American imbalance and sapping U.S. forces. The Russians have a long history of supporting Middle Eastern regimes with weapons shipments, and it is no accident that the first world leader they met with after invading Georgia was Syrian President Bashar al Assad. This was a clear signal that if the U.S. responded aggressively to Russia’s actions in Georgia, Moscow would ship a range of weapons to Syria — and far worse, to Iran. Indeed, Russia could conceivably send weapons to factions in Iraq that do not support the current regime, as well as to groups like Hezbollah. Moscow also could encourage the Iranians to withdraw their support for the Iraqi government and plunge Iraq back into conflict. Finally, Russia could ship weapons to the Taliban and work to further destabilize Pakistan.

At the moment, the United States faces the strategic problem that the Russians have options while the United States does not. Not only does the U.S. commitment of ground forces in the Islamic world leave the United States without strategic reserve, but the political arrangements under which these troops operate make them highly vulnerable to Russian manipulation — with few satisfactory U.S. counters.

The U.S. government is trying to think through how it can maintain its commitment in the Islamic world and resist the Russian reassertion of hegemony in the former Soviet Union. If the United States could very rapidly win its wars in the region, this would be possible. But the Russians are in a position to prolong these wars, and even without such agitation, the American ability to close off the conflicts is severely limited. The United States could massively increase the size of its army and make deployments into the Baltics, Ukraine and Central Asia to thwart Russian plans, but it would take years to build up these forces and the active cooperation of Europe to deploy them. Logistically, European support would be essential — but the Europeans in general, and the Germans in particular, have no appetite for this war. Expanding the U.S. Army is necessary, but it does not affect the current strategic reality.

This logistical issue might be manageable, but the real heart of this problem is not merely the deployment of U.S. forces in the Islamic world — it is the Russians’ ability to use weapons sales and covert means to deteriorate conditions dramatically. With active Russian hostility added to the current reality, the strategic situation in the Islamic world could rapidly spin out of control.

The United States is therefore trapped by its commitment to the Islamic world. It does not have sufficient forces to block Russian hegemony in the former Soviet Union, and if it tries to block the Russians with naval or air forces, it faces a dangerous riposte from the Russians in the Islamic world. If it does nothing, it creates a strategic threat that potentially towers over the threat in the Islamic world.

The United States now has to make a fundamental strategic decision. If it remains committed to its current strategy, it cannot respond to the Russians. If it does not respond to the Russians for five or 10 years, the world will look very much like it did from 1945 to 1992. There will be another Cold War at the very least, with a peer power much poorer than the United States but prepared to devote huge amounts of money to national defense.

Four Broad U.S. Options

Attempt to make a settlement with Iran that would guarantee the neutral stability of Iraq and permit the rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces there. Iran is the key here. The Iranians might also mistrust a re-emergent Russia, and while Tehran might be tempted to work with the Russians against the Americans, Iran might consider an arrangement with the United States — particularly if the United States refocuses its attentions elsewhere. On the upside, this would free the U.S. from Iraq. On the downside, the Iranians might not want —or honor — such a deal.

Enter into negotiations with the Russians, granting them the sphere of influence they want in the former Soviet Union in return for guarantees not to project Russian power into Europe proper. The Russians will be busy consolidating their position for years, giving the U.S. time to re-energize NATO. On the upside, this would free the United States to continue its war in the Islamic world. On the downside, it would create a framework for the re-emergence of a powerful Russian empire that would be as difficult to contain as the Soviet Union.

Refuse to engage the Russians and leave the problem to the Europeans. On the upside, this would allow the United States to continue war in the Islamic world and force the Europeans to act. On the downside, the Europeans are too divided, dependent on Russia and dispirited to resist the Russians. This strategy could speed up Russia’s re-emergence.

Rapidly disengage from Iraq, leaving a residual force there and in Afghanistan. The upside is that this creates a reserve force to reinforce the Baltics and Ukraine that might restrain Russia in the former Soviet Union. The downside is that it would create chaos in the Islamic world, threatening regimes that have sided with the United States and potentially reviving effective intercontinental terrorism. The trade-off is between a hegemonic threat from Eurasia and instability and a terror threat from the Islamic world.

We are pointing to very stark strategic choices. Continuing the war in the Islamic world has a much higher cost now than it did when it began, and Russia potentially poses a far greater threat to the United States than the Islamic world does. What might have been a rational policy in 2001 or 2003 has now turned into a very dangerous enterprise, because a hostile major power now has the option of making the U.S. position in the Middle East enormously more difficult.

If a U.S. settlement with Iran is impossible, and a diplomatic solution with the Russians that would keep them from taking a hegemonic position in the former Soviet Union cannot be reached, then the United States must consider rapidly abandoning its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and redeploying its forces to block Russian expansion. The threat posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War was far graver than the threat posed now by the fragmented Islamic world. In the end, the nations there will cancel each other out, and militant organizations will be something the United States simply has to deal with. This is not an ideal solution by any means, but the clock appears to have run out on the American war in the Islamic world.

We do not expect the United States to take this option. It is difficult to abandon a conflict that has gone on this long when it is not yet crystal clear that the Russians will actually be a threat later. (It is far easier for an analyst to make such suggestions than it is for a president to act on them.) Instead, the United States will attempt to bridge the Russian situation with gestures and half measures.

Nevertheless, American national strategy is in crisis. The United States has insufficient power to cope with two threats and must choose between the two. Continuing the current strategy means choosing to deal with the Islamic threat rather than the Russian one, and that is reasonable only if the Islamic threat represents a greater danger to American interests than the Russian threat does. It is difficult to see how the chaos of the Islamic world will cohere to form a global threat. But it is not difficult to imagine a Russia guided by the Medvedev Doctrine rapidly becoming a global threat and a direct danger to American interests.

We expect no immediate change in American strategic deployments — and we expect this to be regretted later. However, given U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s trip to the Caucasus region, now would be the time to see some movement in U.S. foreign policy. If Cheney isn’t going to be talking to the Russians, he needs to be talking to the Iranians. Otherwise, he will be writing checks in the region that the U.S. is in no position to cash.

This report may be forwarded or republished on your website with attribution to Stratfor.com

Georgia and the Russian Bear - Aug 11

Hard to ignore what's going on in the southern periphery of Russia. Decided to post these nifty maps from Stratfor. The most recent are at the top. Is this a precursor to further Russian military action in its 'Near Abroad'? Is Ukraine next? The real issue here is what will the Russian strategy be after Georgia. No doubt those on Russia's borders are swallowing hard. Read Ezekiel 38-39 for reference. In the meantime, pray for peace and an end to hostilities in the region.

Johnny Cash

False Idols, False Beliefs - Jan 28

Why do we continue in our self-destructive ways?

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. (Exodus 20:3-5a)

Understand what a false god is. It doesn't have to be some crude carving made out of stone, wood, or precious metal. A false god is anything that you love more, serve more and fear more than JHVH God. It is a sin that has been glorified and placed on an altar for all to worship.

My Rant, Part I

I am not going to say to you, 'Don't believe in that' or 'You must believe in this'. Indeed, the more I argue, the more entrenched (and stubborn) you'll likely become. I will challenge you this: Do you know what you believe in is in fact, true? If your belief system is rooted in a lie then what's the point? All your efforts look to be in vain! An untested faith is an unsure one.

My Rant, Part II

The so-called 'wisdom of this world' is based on human pride and arrogance. Here are two main reasons why you and I should oppose false beliefs:

1) The devaluing of human life: The urge to place oneself above others is the heighth of pride. Sexism, racism, anti-Semitism and all other supremacist ideologies devalue the life of those whom we wish to dominate and/or eliminate. If we are made in the image of God, male and female, black and white, Gentile and Jew, there should be no place in our hearts for these hateful things.

2) 'It's Not My Fault!' - Ducking Responsibility: Let's be honest, we've all uttered the phrase. God demands that we take individual responsibility for our actions. It's easy to blame our screw-ups on others. It takes a great deal of maturity to admit you messed up. However, saying 'sorry' isn't enough. Action must follow to rectify the situation. For a Christian, the example that we must follow is Jesus Christ. An impossibly high standard for sure, but those who truly love Him will want to emulate Him all the time. Immature people ALWAYS deny, deny, deny and project their faults onto others.

There are so many false gods out there being worshipped today. Here are a few notables that enslave us:

The god of Sexual Freedom

This month marks the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade in America. Our desire for greater sexual freedoms has come with a great price. Marriage and the very notion of family itself is under attack. Abortion devalues the fetus and the avoidance of marriage vows falls under the 'ducking responsibility' umbrella.

Click here to take a multiple choice quiz on Roe vs. Wade. You'll find the Roe IQ Test in the sidebar as a permanent link as well. I scored a miserable 3 out of 12!

The god of Fortresses

The Russians are at it again. Along with a naval alliance with Libya, they've also created an axis of evil with China and Iran.

The god of fortresses is a god of power. Understand not all power is bad. Jesus Himself had tremendous power and He gave His disciples power to do the Lord's bidding. What I'm talking about here is power purely for power's sake. A man such as George Soros worships this false idol. The insatiable lust for power, the power of 'one more dollar' has lead many to their destruction.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.

The opening Sura of the Koran is a chilling one. Allah is also a god of fortresses, one that is specifically tied to Islam. From honor killings (and the subsequent failure of Western feminists to condemn these atrocities) to 'forest fire jihad' to staged blackouts in Gaza, Islam represents the motherlode of delinquent behaviour. Political correctness, both domestic and foreign limits our calls for much-needed reform (if possible) within the Muslim world.

The simple matter is this: More and more people are doing their own independent research and analysis on Islam and they're not liking what they're seeing. The MSM is hopelessly chained to its PC mantle of cultural sensitivity and moral relativism. As a result, fewer and fewer are tuning in. Expect this trend to accelerate and continue. May there be a thousand more like Robert Spencer and Ayaan Hirsi Ali who are willing to spread the truth.

Jesus Christ, the One and Only

Make the choice. You can live for yourself or for the one who is truly worthy of worship, Jesus Christ. Religion won't save you. Neither will being 'good' or great deeds. In Haryana, India and in Nepal, people are living for Jesus and the transformation is incredible.

Some X-Def Updates

I've reorganized the sidebar as some headers were getting a wee bit unwieldy. I've deleted Debbie Schlussel and Layla Gonzalez' links along with American-Israeli Patriot. Debbie and Layla's links were off topic and AIP was outdated. I've also added a few link such as the aforementioned Roe IQ Test homepage and Reject the UN, an anti-globalist blog. Terror Finance blog was added a while ago. Please feel free to explore these informative sites.

Johnny Cash

The Future of the NATO Alliance - Jan 24

There are three levels when nation-states decide to integrate themselves. The first level in economic. The second is political and the third (and the most advanced) is military co-operation. It appears that NATO is now at the third stage. What an incredible advancement in Bible prophecy this is! You can be lazy and listen to the stratfor podcast here.

Johnny Cash

Geopolitical Diary: The Future of the NATO Alliance

January 23, 2008 0330 GMT

A summit of NATO heads of state scheduled for April 2-4 in Bucharest, Romania, appears to have gotten its first real jumpstart about 10 days ago with the circulation of a manifesto written by distinguished and well-respected former senior military officers from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands who served at the height of their careers during the early post-Soviet years. The impressive list of names at the end of the paper includes former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and former U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. John Shalikashvili, former British Baron Field Marshal and Defense Staff Chief Sir Peter Anthony Inge, and former Inspector General of the German military and NATO Military Committee Chairman Gen. Klaus Naumann.

The EU Observer and the Guardian newspaper released some of the details of the manifesto over the past few days. This document marks the potential culmination of a series of trends that could result in deep structural changes to the alliance.

The manifesto includes:

A more overtly stated nuclear first-strike option than NATO had previously;

A statement of willingness to use nuclear weapons pre-emptively to prevent states from gaining nuclear capabilities;

A shift from unanimous consensus decision-making to majority voting, which effectively ends national vetoes;

The end of national caveats for troops deployed in NATO operations;

The end of decision-making by alliance members that are not participating in the NATO operation in question; and

The ability to use force without the authorization of the U.N. Security Council when “immediate action is needed to protect large numbers of human beings.”

Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has struggled with the demise of its raison d’etre: the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet state, serious questions emerged about whether NATO should even exist. Tensions among member states over Bosnia — and later, Kosovo — (not to mention the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq) further strained the alliance.

But now, a number of trends that were weakening the alliance have been reversed: Russian belligerence is on the rise. Putin has made clear that the waning of Russia is over (long before Russian military Chief of Staff Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky’s Jan. 19 reiteration of Moscow’s nuclear weapons policy). Moreover, NATO now includes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania — all of which are former Warsaw Pact or Soviet Union states. And the governments of these new member states are extremely concerned about the potential dangers posed by the Russian bear.

In addition, the departure of French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder from the political scene marked the end of strong European opposition to U.S. moves, as well as the end of meaningful discussions about a European defense entity independent of NATO. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel’s transitions to power cemented a fundamental shift in the domestic politics and international stance of continental Europe’s two great powerhouses. Paris and Berlin have returned to the NATO camp, and they have recrowned NATO the pre-eminent military tool of European foreign policy.

Such developments would shift the global military balance back toward Europe. And an increasing recognition among NATO members of the benefits of the alliance means that it (along with the United States) ultimately could continue to lead the military trends that shape the world, rather than drifting further away. This is great news if you happen to be in — or a friend of — the alliance, and somewhat terrifying if you are not.

Darts and Laurels in 2007 - Jan 14

Better late than never I suppose. Seeing as it's still January and I've had these bookmarks burning a hole in my pocket, time to do the right thing and get rid of them. So in no particular order, here are the individuals who've either earned our admiration or contempt.

2007 Man of the Year: General David Howell Petraeus

Check out the rack of medals on this guy. While the American military tend to hand out service medals like they were Halloween candy, some of the medals here (click to enlarge) aren't exactly chump change. For defeating al-Qaida in the Land of the Two Rivers (and causing the Left to cry in their towels), General David Petraeus gets a sizeable laurel.

One Big Honking Dart to Czar Vlad


Does anybody out there still read TIME magazine? Being called TIME's 'Person of the Year' was once upon a time met with bated breath. Now it's met with a shrug and a yawn. While TIME insists that this is not an endorsement, Putin's Russia has become increasingly hostile towards freedom of the press, political freedoms and a top-down approach to the economy.


Check out these Russian neo-nazi skinheads. Does their salute remind you of anyone? Whenever tribalism and anti-Semitism raises its ugly head, wars and rumors of wars are the natural result. Worthy of a dart. Preferably where it really hurts.

A Dart to Those Who Would Appease Our Enemies

Seeing as our enemies won't be surrendering to us anytime soon, it behooves us to be wary of any politician who's naive enough to believe that this jihad is nothing more than a big misunderstanding. America doesn't need to be 'nice'. It needs to be strong (Hello President John McCain!). A dart to all those who would undermine America with this rosy thinking.

A Laurel to ABC News

Rarely do I give a tiff about the MSM. However, I have stumbled across this link which will help those American voters who aren't sure whom they should support. Just answer each multiple choice question honestly and get the top three candidates who best fit your political views. Try it a number of times (with different answers of course) and see what you come up with. It's the least I can do to dispel the fog and confusion surrounding this presidential race.

Laurels for Stratfor and Walid Phares

Forecasting the future is notoriously difficult. People can die in violent and unexpected ways (witness Mrs. Bhutto) and irrational people on a glory trip can cause us no end in trouble. I applaud anyone who is willing to put their reputation on the line and give us their thoughts as to what will happen in the next twelve months.

Here is Stratfor's Annual Forecast for 2008 (pdf file).

And here is Mr. Phares with his prognostications.

A Dart for Saudi Arabia and North Korea

Why you ask? These two countries top the list when it comes to persecuting Christians. In Saudi Arabia, Wahhabi Islam has a strict monopoly. In the Hermit Kingdom, being sent to prison camps (along with all your family) is the fate of those found in possession of a Bible.

Laurels To Those Spreading the Good News

Evangelism isn't something you have to do, it's something you get to do. Witnessing to an unbelieving world is difficult even at the best of times. So when God places His missionaries in almost impossible circumstances, it is nothing short of miraculous when those efforts still bear fruit.

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1:19-20)

In Afghanistan.

At a porn convention. Yes, you read correctly!

A prison ministry. Satan really is quite stupid. A jailed missionary is the most dangerous person of all. Why? Because he has nothing but the souls of inmates to gain.

Lastly, a dart to Michael from Texas. He was one the the many winners (or is that losers?) of the 2007 Darwin awards. Alcohol makes fools of us all.

Johnny Cash

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Dec 23

What's up with the superherophobia? I'd take the Batmobile Tumbler over Santa's sleigh any day. Anyhoo, here's a cool Christmas pic to add to your folder:


Actually, scratch that. Poor old St. Nick has collided with a PLA jet whilst over the South China Sea. As a result, Christmas is cancelled this year. Hope that doesn't inconvenience your family too much.

Gog and Magog

Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet. Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:2-6)

This has been a little nugget of Bible prophecy that continues to fascinate me. It tells of a war launched against Israel won by God Himself. Libya and Ethiopia are self-explanatory. Persia is modern-day Iran. But who is the 'house of Togarmah of the north quarters'? Turkey and Russia seem to be the most logical choices. With the recent National Intelligience Estimate (NIE), Bible prophecy has just taken a quantum leap.

Iran (Persia) and Iraq

Here's my pet theory: America has made its mind up that diplomacy with Iran is over. Knowing recent Iran-Iraq relations have not been stellar, especially in the 1980's, the Bush administration has cut a deal: Either co-operate with us on Iraq with the eventual U.S. troop withdrawal or we will arm Iraq (and possibly the KSA as well) to the teeth. An Iranian pledge of non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs gives them a reprieve wrt their nuclear ambitions. With a year left in power, Dubya wants his vindication and he wants it now. Determined to carve out a legacy at any price, the groundwork has been laid for a destructive confrontation, endangering both Jewish and Arab lives. Thus, whomever inherits the Oval Office in Jan '09 will have a ticking time bomb to deal with as soon as they assume command.

Israel: We Are Not Amused

Naturally, the Israelis are mortified. America, Israel's biggest ally and supporter, has abandoned the Jewish state. While that may or may not be the official case, I think the end result is still the same. It certainly has made for sober reading in the Israeli newspapers of late. Israel once more stands alone against its enemies.

The Russian Bear Awakes

There's no way to know for sure what role (if any) Russia will play in Ezekiel's prophecy. What we do know (and it ain't pretty) is this:

The precedent of Russian MiGs over Israeli airspace has already been set. Russian complicity in the Six-Day War of 1967 was much more significant (and sinister) than originally believed.

While the Yeltsin years hardly represented a nadir for Russia, things have deteriorated under Vladimir Putin. Vlad the Impaler has throttled the opposition and stifled what was left of a free press. Time magazine can call it 'stability' all it wants, but former chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov isn't fooled: It's the old reconstituted Soviet system in all its evil glory.

U.S-Russian foreign relations have taken a nosedive as well. The recent decision by the Bush administration to put a missile defence system in Poland has upped the ante. While the U.S. continues to engage Iran over Iraq (see above) the Americans fundamentally distrust the Iranians (with good reason) and Russian attempts to enable them.

Saving Man from the Wreckage of Civilization

The Gospel was never given to save civilization from wreckage. It was given to save man from the wreckage of civilization. Above all, there is a God who loves us very much. A man living in a cave in India was given a new life in Jesus Christ thanks to a GFA missionary. It is through faith, by receiving The One Who Was Sent, Jesus the Messiah, the same shall be saved. That to me is the heart and soul of the gospel message. If you understand that, then you've grasped the true meaning of Christianity.

Sultan Knish

Found this blog by glorious accident. You can check out this post about the self-defeating jihad that the West finds itself in. The link to his homepage can be found under 'Israeli Bloggers'.

Merry Freakin' Christmas!

I would like to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. As I have this week off, I do intend to post again before the year is over. BTW, Santa is very much alive and in one piece, despite China's best military efforts. Stay safe, have fun and please don't drink and drive!

Johnny Cash

Proof Of A Living God - Dec 8

Here are three main points which for me prove God is still interested in our well-being and that He still loves us.

Answered Prayer

Many atheists scoff at this notion. Say a believer is sick and his (or her) church is praying for a healing. Later on however that person dies. 'See!', the scoffer would say, 'Your prayers weren't answered!'. That may be true if we rely on human experience to solve the problem. God doesn't answer prayer when, where, or how WE think He should answer our prayer. The death of a beloved member of a church will never be fully explainable using our fallible and mortal logic. So it is when we see little or no progress in a prayer that is consistent with God's will. God is just and forgiving and is sovereign above all. Just because it doesn't make sense to you does in no way imply God doesn't know or care. He DOES know and He DOES care!

Changed Lives

God is still in the business of reclaiming lost souls. Indeed, He has not changed one bit! This is wonderful news for those that knew Him when they were young but fell away or those that have never heard God's plan of salvation before. Whether it be daredevil Robert 'Evel' Knievel who came to faith late in life before passing away or Franklin Graham preaching in Hong Kong, people are coming to faith in Christ in record numbers. In the above article it states:

American evangelist Franklin Graham held his largest evangelistic event to date this past weekend with 423,335 people overflowing seven separate venues in Hong Kong and in neighboring Macau.

And ...

By the final night, 33,464 people had responded to the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their savior.

In one day nearly half a million people heard the message of salvation and some thirty-three thousand responded. Peter gave a sermon on Pentacost and 3,000 souls were added to the Book of Life. Mr. Graham has now superseded that miracle event eleven times over. Do not believe the secular humanist media who say that Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. It isn't. Muslim women may be winning the 'War of the Womb' but in terms of adult converts the contest isn't even close.

Fulfilled Prophecy

I could fill a hundred pages if I had the time and money to show you that God's plan of redemption is still on track. Fortunately for you I will not attempt to do this right now. Precept upon precept and line upon line is the only way to show the veracity of this position. Here are seven reasons why Christ's return is far closer than what we think:

The regathering of the Jews in Israel (Ezekiel 37): Despite the odds and its formidable foes (see below), Israel continues to flourish amidst a sea of hostility.


Israel is made a nation in one day (Isaiah 66:8):

Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children.

Yet the impossible happens and Israel is reborn on May 15, 1948. Is this a disaster or 'al-Naqba'? For Satan and all those who follow him it is!

Jerusalem Becomes The World's Burdensome Stone (Zechariah 12:2-3):

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. In that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Throw the Jews under the bus and peace will surely follow! What folly. Sadly we have learned NOTHING from history.

The Rise of Russia (Ezekiel 38-39):


The recent reversal by the Bush administration regarding Iranian nuke capabilities takes the heat off of Iran as far as the rest of the world (namely the EU and UN) is concerned. With Iran no longer under the microscope Israel is placed in even greater peril than before.

The Call For Global Gov't (Daniel 7:7):

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

I'm of the firm belief that along with the ME conflict and economic integration, climate change will be a big enabler of global government.

Increase in Knowledge, Power and Speed of Travel (Daniel 12:4):

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

This one is really personal. I cannot help but think of my two nephews Huey and Duey (not their real names obviously) who are growing up in this modern age. The technological gap between when my sister and I were born and when Huey and Duey were born is like none other. Thanks to air travel I've visited all four provinces of Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB), as well as Quebec and the Maritimes (NS and NB). Mom and Dad visited England (again) this year and have journeyed as far as Australia! No other generation previous to this one is more travelled.

The Rise of Immorality (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

OK, so I know this sounds old. While every generation has had its share of cads and bounders, can any other generation boast of such sensuality as ours? I don't think so. We have forgotten how to blush. Shame is just another word in the dictionary. Know this: all this bad behaviour we see doesn't prove the Bible false, it proves it to be true.

So there you have it. You can argue if you wish but all my points are valid. It takes more faith to be an atheist than a Christian. Be one less of them and one more of us and join the adventure!

Johnny Cash

Mob Rule - Oct 27

I'm not a sensationalist. I like to keep things short, sweet, simple and to the point. So when I use such terms as 'fascist' or 'the new totalitarianism', I'm not exaggerating. Here are some examples that has recently got my attention:

When An Acquittal Isn't Really An Acquittal

Anarchy is in the courts. It is a sure sign that we are in trouble when the rule of law effectively breaks down. I certainly got the chills after reading this CFP article. How's this for a legalese tongue twister: 'Acquitted Conduct Sentencing Enhancement'. Here's how it works. Let's say a defendent is charged with both possession of stolen property and theft. The jury convicts on the lesser charge of possession but acquits on the second. The judge can still use the acquittal to 'enhance' a harsher sentence than what would normally be reserved for the lesser charge. What it boils down to is this: A defendant can find themselves facing a lengthy prison sentence (or hefty fine) based on hearsay and innuendo. When politics, and not the rule of law, are used to sledgehammer anyone unfortunate enough to stand in the way of an unscrupulous lawyer we should all be worried. Is it any wonder I hold lawyers with such little regard?

Driving While Under the Influence of Blackness

A right that citizens of a democracy surely enjoy is the protection against unsubstantiated and unwarranted search and seizure by the police. And guess who gets the short end of this stick? Blacks of course. No, not all cops are racist as irresponsible bomb-throwing leftists love to attest to. However, the simple fact is this: Young black men are far more likely to stopped by the police, be they on foot or at the wheel of a vehicle than their white counterparts. Do racist attitudes blindly convict? You bet it does.

What Kind of 'Academic Freedom' Is This?

Universities have increasingly become a hotspot for anti-Americanism and seditious behaviour. Miscreants at Emory U effectively shut down David Horowitz as he was attempting to deliver a speech hosted by Emory's Chapter of College Republicans. I have just seen a vision of the future and it apparently doesn't include conservative speakers. At one point Mr. Horowitz challenged the protesters with this statement:

'How can you learn if you can’t see the arguments?'

And that's exactly the point. They don't want to see the arguments. That would require honesty, maturity and patience, three attributes that are in short supply. Everybody loses when these kind of 'brownshirt' tactics are deployed. Jews and Christians lose out. Muslims lose out. Even agnostics and atheists lose out. Free speech is not yet extinct but it is most definitely on the 'endangered' list. Also from FPM are the testimonies of two brave women: Donna Hughes and Nonie Darwish and the hostility they faced at our institutions of 'higher learning'.

Vladimir Putin, Meet Hillary Clinton

Putin and Hillary as natural ideological allies? You don't say! Superficially these two appear to be like night and day. A closer look reveals they're very much cut from the same cloth. And I'm not referring to silk or satin material either. In Russia, the heavy-handed tactics of the Kremlin make it next to impossible for opposition parties to prosper while Bob Tyrell gives Americans seven reasons not to vote for Clinton #2.

The Axis of Eeeeevil!

Go ahead. You know you want to point your right pinky to your mouth. Maybe I'll take Mini-Me to Iran, a place that continues to fascinate me. Aside from Israel (and perhaps Jordan) it is a ME country I'd love to visit if I had the time and money. Stupid reality! Dr. Assad Homayoun warns American foreign policy makers about possible war with Iran. America is not at war with the Iranian people, who are mostly young and have ambitions to move to the West. Nor should we lend any legitimacy to the regime's mullahs who want to hold onto power at all costs. Thank goodness our politicians don't believe in that. Oh wait, never mind.

Mr. Putin was in Iran recently. Now there's a conversation I'd love to overhear! Puin made two statements of note. Firstly, Russia would continue to support Iran's nuclear program. Not surprising since much of the funding, materiel and expertise undergirding Tehran's nuclear ambitions has Russian origins. Secondly, and more importantly, Russia's 'near abroad' will not be used as a land base for any military action against Iran. I'm guessing the likes of Azerbaijan heard Putin loud and clear.

Johnny Cash

The New Totalitarianism - Oct 14

I want to continue where I left off in my last two posts. Whether it be the secular-progressives or jihad-committed Muslims, there is a strong move towards despotism today. Genuine free speech, one that allows a conservative and a Bible-believing viewpoint is dead in the water. The art of academic debate is dead, buried and eulogized as well. 9/11 represents a turning point to be sure, but does it really matter exactly when anti-Americanism came into vogue? If there's one thing we must do, we must get rid of this incessant navel-gazing and self-loathing. We need to get our groove back! America and the West has had her share of enemies. Always have and always will. The key difference between now and then is that Americans believed in themselves. Not only did they believe that America was good for Americans, but good for the world. To be sure, Americans know full well their country isn't perfect. God knows it isn't. But this nonsense about '9/11 was an inside job' and 'Bush started this war' has to go. It is not adding one iota of good to our fight to remain free. Indeed, it is sapping our morale while aiding and abetting the enemy.

The greatest danger we face right now is Islam, in particular the violent imposition of a world-wide caliphate under Sharia law. In other words, say goodbye to the Constitution and British-based law. Let there be no mistake, there will be no place for Christians in this anti-utopia. In places where Islam is already predominant the situation will deteriorate. In Israel, Arab Christians are at the forefront of this vicious persecution. It already may be too late for this religious minority under siege. The UN gives Palestinian Christians the 'Darfur' treatment as do the feminists and other human rights groups. They are persona non grata as far as these 'progressives' are concerned. Be it a deliberate act of blindness, ignorance or hypocrisy, the new totalitarians are very much in the PC camp.

Old Habits Die Hard Dep't: Putin being relieved of the Russian presidency will matter little. As Prime Minister, Mr. Putin will still be very much 'The Man' in Mother Russia.

So do we give up? No! So long as the church is still here we can work for good. While missionaries in India face persecution, many are still finding hope in it's slums.

Johnny Cash

Delusion and Paranoia - Sep 24

Of course it isn't paranoid if they really are out to get you. Not me personally mind you, it just seems that there's a lot of fear and loathing making the rounds recently. I've been getting a few off the wall comments in the past few days. One I rejected (which I talked about earlier) and two more which I have published. I always get a kick out of these loons who wish to lecture me and show me the error of my ways. One even suggested I get baptised and repent of my sins! It's almost comical I tell ya. I guess that's because I refuse to call Dick Cheney 'Darth Vader' or make Bush out to be evil incarnate. Deeply flawed and foolish Bush is, but W ain't pure evil. Anyways, do keep those comments coming and check back as I might leave a comment to counter yours. Here are three things to remember:

1) All comments left on this blog are considered public domain and is therefore fair game. I can agree, disagree or make fun of your comment as I see fit.

2) Just because I choose to publish your comment (be it silly or thoughtful) does in no way constitute an endorsement of that comment.

3) It's my blog and so I ALWAYS get the last word. So there.

I really do enjoy a good rant. Gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Jimmy Carter has lost it. No wait, let me correct that. He probably never 'had it' to begin with. It's only now are we beginning to see this foolish man for what he truly is. Does he really believe everything the Iranians tell him?

Gotta be tough being Jewish. When the world really is out to get you, I reckon you have every right to be a little bit defensive. Whether it be old enemies such as the Soviets or the Iranians threatening a 600-missile salvo in your direction, it takes guts and moxie to be an Israeli. Here's Israeli FM Tzipi Livni in a protest march in NYC over the multicultural lunacy happening at Columbia University. You go girl!



How New York City should correctly respond to the Iranian president:


Law and Order, Sharia style:


See the original link here.

Here's something that got my attention recently. World Qods Day falls on October 12th, which is the last Friday of Ramadan. The Iranians have promised a 'surprise' for the West. I'm guessing it won't be a pleasant one. I have to admit I'm intrigued by this. That big kidder Mahmoud could be blowing smoke here. Or not. Either way, Iran definitely carries the capability of doing something incredibly destructive and foolish. Is this the Gog and Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38 and 39? Hard to tell. I'm not in the business of making grand prophetic announcements so I'll sit tight and watch that date carefully.

Here's some good news to close out this post. Women in India are spreading the good news in a nearby market, Pope Benedict XVI stands up for religious liberty and Dave Barry shows us how he keeps his cool (barely) when the lights go out.

Johnny Cash

A Rock Amongst The Sand - Aug 23

Got this really funny diss of the KSA for you. Not for the easily offended or the humorless.



Before I get started, I have neglected to mention that the X-Def is now a year and a half old! An 18 month old blog is breathing rarefied air indeed. So be a good citizen of the world wide web and delete those sites or blogs you no longer use. Way too much internet clutter out there! A helpful hint from yours truly.

So what do we do with all these wars and rumors of wars? Are you suffering from headline hysteria? Personally, I'm looking in awe at what's happening. We need not be afraid because God's plan of redemption is closer than ever! If you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, this moment in time should be the most exciting and exhilirating for the faithful. Strange that so few are taking advantage of this day and age. All stories have a climax and an end. Should we view human history as any different? No! A vise-like grip on God's word is the only remedy for these dying days of human empire. It must be reiterated that Bible prophecy is not doom and gloom. It is a rock to stand on as opposed to the shifting sands of a post-modern society. So do you stand on rock or quicksand? Time is running outt!

Man, these bookmarks have been burning a hole in my pocket for over a week and I gotta get rid of 'em. All good stuff and worthy of your attention of course.

The Iranians are really ratcheting up the pressure on the U.S.. From a growing military and political alliance with Syria to the shelling of the Kurds in northern Iraq, the Gog-Magog prophecy seems closer to fruition than ever. With American forces stretched to the limit, any kind of military response to Iranian shenanigans are unlikely. The Syrians can make trouble in the Golan Heights and accomodate the Russian navy if it wants to. Iran and Syria end up doing what they like because they fears no reprisal from the West. Therein lies the problem. If the U.S. cannot stand up for it's allies in the ME (ie. the Kurds), it will lose a lot more than a war. It will lose it's ability to project force throughout the region. The only thing to fear more than a ineffectual American foreign policy is an non-existent one. After Bush leaves office in Jan of '09 I believe that's where we're headed.

One of the (unintentional? intentional??) consequences of the Iraqi war has been the proliferation of Western arms into the region. After all, you can't have a war without them, can you? Italian police have uncovered some shady business dealings with some Italian arms dealers and Iraqi leaders. The message is clear. Selling arms into a war zone not is wrong. Selling arms into a war zone without gov't oversight is wrong. So there. Figure that one out.

New World Disorder Alert

Well, two actually. It seems that the UN is going to get a lot more involved in Iraq, whether it likes it or not. And the EU is planning a continent-wide fire fighting force. Can a EU-wide police force be that far behind?

Better You Than Me!

School is a mere twelve days away! Suckers! Been there, done that. So parents, what's your approach? Do you favor the left-brained (and very manly) wiles of Victor Davis Hanson or the right-brained (and oh so feminine) guile of Suzanne Fields? Science or arts? I'll let you hash this one with your spouse. Think I'll wisely steer clear of this debate if you don't mind.

Johnny Cash

A Mari Usque ad Mare - Aug 12

Back in the day when Canada was becoming a nation, the building of a railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific was huge. So important was this endeavour that Canada's motto became 'A Mari Usque ad Mare' (From Sea to Sea, Psalm 72:8). But Canada's third sea to the north was pretty much ignored until recently. PM Stephen Harper has announced that two deep sea ports will be built at Resolute Bay and Nanisivik. Here he is with Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor rubbing elbows with the Canadian Rangers. The Rangers are a bit of a hidden gem in the CF. The Rangers profile appears to be rapidly rising with this recent pronouncement by the Harper gov't.


Make no mistake, the Russians are not joking around about this. Not just in the Arctic, the Russian military, aided and abetted by the Kremlin, is pushing back anywhere it can. Vladimir Putin is upgrading Russian missile capabilities. We push them, they push back. If you know your history, the rise in militarism ALWAYS precedes a war. Both the Americans and the Russians want one and the likely meeting place is the ME. Amoral and Western-based (and financed) arms dealers out to make a quick buck giving no thought for tomorrow will be the ones fueling this next conflict. You can be certain that a large portion of the war materiel found on the plains of Armaggeddon will be proudly stamped 'Made in the U.S.A.'. You can guarantee it.


Hey Champ, Nice Erection!

What the hell is a pro-Hezbollah sign doing up in Windsor, Ontario? Canadian law is very clear: HB is a terrorist organization. Imagine putting a mural of OBL in Battery Park, NYC! Very strange this. As of right now, I would say that HB is much more militarily capable than al-Qaida prime. I'm talking about AQ's inner circle, not some jihadi wannabe who claims to be al-Qaida (the franchise).


From the article above:

Fellow Lebanese native and Muslim Ghina Maawie said she doesn't understand why anyone would be offended by the billboard. "When I saw it, I felt so happy and so proud of it," she said. "In Canada, we have freedom of speech."

Ah yes my dear Ghina, we do indeed have freedom of speech in Canada. But as usual, you miss the point. Freedom that goes only one way isn't freedom, it's submission. While some stupid sod can convert (sorry, 'revert') to Islam in the West, it is next to impossible for a Muslim living in a Muslim country to leave their faith.

Examples of Islamic hostility towards free speech abound, but two recent examples have caught my attention. Labor MP Mohammed Sarwar (yes, he's a Muslim) discovered his religion's treacherous nature when he called for Pakistan to extradite three hooligans wanted for murder in Britain. With such a flagrant assault on human decency and the devaluing of life, you would think that local Pakistani Muslims would be supportive. But of course not. The killing of a mere white boy means nothing to them. The three fugitives are the anti-heroes while Mr. Sarwar's 'betrayal' is regarded as treason. It's backwards, upside-down thinking I tell you. You can also read about Taslima Nasreen, a Bangladeshi woman daring to criticize Islam's blasphemy laws. Free inquiry and free speech? Not for Islam and its adherents!

I hope you see where I'm going with this. A pro-Hezbollah sign in a major Canadian city is a deliberate act of intimidation. It's basically saying, 'We're gonna put up this sign and dare you to confront us. You don't have the guts to enforce your own laws. You are weak and we plan on taking over.', and so on. You get the idea. Will we stand tall or wither on the vine? Time will tell but with God's help shall we prevail.

Johnny Cash

Our Phony War - Jul 30

All hail King Newt! OK, maybe he's not a king. Or even a prince. One thing for sure, Mr. Gingrich is nobody's fool. Anyhoo, do give this video a peak (runs 4:03). Thankfully not everybody in the West has gone to sleep over that 'Religion of Peace' we all know and love.



I can't believe July of '07 is toast already. As for me sitting in a non air conditioned room I'll be glad to see the end of summer. DizzyFatPlonka has left an interesting comment on my previous post and I've left two comments as a reply. I think you'll find the interchange most illuminating. I'd also like to apologize as it appears that all my frontpagemag.com links are now kaput. They've done an upgrade and I'm not going to attempt to re-format the old links. Sorry. The link to FPM on the sidebar is still good. I've deleted the Bilderberg link and added a link to It's the end of the world. Please do take a peek at it. I was looking at it myself late last night before I went to bed. Well thought out and researched from what I saw. Anyways, I've got some spare time and decided to get a post in to close out the month.

I mentioned that the U.S. decided to sell the Saudis $20bn worth of high-end military equipment. Seems the Saudis are in a snit over Iranian-U.S. negotiations over Iraq hence the $20bn bribe. Now the other shoe has dropped and the Russians have sold the Iranians 250 brand spanking new Sukhoi 30's with tankers for in-flight fueling. This gives the Iranians the long-range capabilities they've always wanted. Below is a picture of the Sukhoi-30. The red star on the tail fin indicates Russian allegiance. It looks a lot like an F-14 Tomcat or a F-15. Darn Russians! Always stealing our designs!


Keep in mind that Russia is also in demographic decline. Orthodox Christians are dying off at an early age (men especially) and a low birth-rate means Russia is shrinking at a rate of 700,000 people per year. And just who is replacing the vacuum that the Christians are leaving behind? It seems Muslim women have this horrible habit of pumping out a new unit every nine months and the locals can't keep up. A nuclear-armed Pakistan (30 warheads) is one thing. Russia with 5,830 nuclear missiles combined with Islamist leanings is a foreign policy nightmare. Along with Libya releasing those Bulgarian nurses and declaring their intention to sell the EU it's oil, the battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) looms ever closer.

From the 'I Told You So' Dep't: I think Mr. Harper has gotten the Russians all uppity. Russian subs were seen making a 'test dive' in the Arctic Ocean. I suspect they weren't there to admire the plankton. Here's the deal: We'll have a best of eight hockey series (Four games in Russia, four in Canada). Winner gets the lot (I have a strange sense of deja vu over this). And screw the Norwegians and the Danes.


Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics Dep't: A recent poll conducted amongst Muslims finds support for suicide bombings is on the decline. Well whoop de doo. Hugh Fitzgerald thinks it's a crock too. This is a change of tactics, not a change of heart. They can say what they like but I won't be fooled. All this creates is confusion amongst the moral equivalency crowd. Hey liberals, here's a news flash: The Palestinians don't want a compromise. They want a defeated Israel and a Jew-free ME. Period. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Making New Friends Dep't: Aaahhh, isn't this sweet? UNIFIL and Hezbollah are now buddies! No kidding! An interesting convergence is taking place as UNIFIL troops are liasing with HB to prevent attacks from Sunni insurgents. I wonder how well the UN mandate to disarm HB is going?

Congratulations to the Iraqi soccer team for winning the Asia Cup. Four have died and 17 are wounded as a result of 'celebratory gunfire'. What dolts. The Law of the Conservation of Energy (what goes up must come down) can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.

Johnny Cash