China’s Anti West Arms Strategy

China’s Anti West Arms Strategy
Vol: 3 Issue: 31 Monday, December 31, 2001

The weapons free-for-all continues across Asia. China s military recently sent an arms shipment to Burma. The Chinese hope to bring back Burma’s ruling military junta. U.S. intelligence officials said the delivery was detected Dec. 15 as a 40-vehicle convoy that included artillery, gun carriages and communication equipment. The goods were delivered to the town of Lashio through the China-Burma border town of Mu-se. The shipment includes a Chinese-built artillery battery that is part of large shipments of military equipment to the State Peace and Development Council, as the ruling junta is called. Additional equipment provided in recent months includes more than 300 armored personnel carriers that were sent in August. Eight truckloads of other military goods were sent in July. The ties to Burma are part of China s southeast Asian strategy of developing ties to non-democratic, anti-Western nations along its borders. One intelligence official said Wa militants have been trafficking in PLA weapons to other tribal groups in the region.

Iran’s Nuclear Secrets

Western intelligence sources said Iran and Russia have launched a successful campaign to plug up intelligence leaks on Moscow’s aid to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. After a leading Iranian scientist with connections to the CIA was killed over the summer, scientists involved in the project aren’t talking. Washington is largely in the dark concerning Iran’s nuclear capability. President Bush has painted a picture of a new Russia, under the Western-friendly government of Vladimir Putin. Helping one of America’s most bitter enemy states attain nuclear status in secret doesn’t fit that image. Instead, it fits the image of Russia in the last days in Bible prophecy. Ezekiel 38:5 lists Russia’s allies in the end-time Gog-Magog invasion of Israel. Topping the list is Persia, known today as Iran.

US To Increase Pressure On Saudis

President Bush has extolled the virtues of US-Saudi relations, even though the Saudis have behaved more like a hard-line Islamic state than a friend since 9/11. Bush and his aides have smiled as Riyad denied the United States a key air base for attacks on Afghanistan and stalled on Washington’s request for intelligence on bin-Laden aides. The US is about to step up the pressure. The U.S. effort begins when the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers arrives in Riyad. Myers will press the Saudi kingdom for defense cooperation. This will include use of the Prince Saudi Air Force base, which the Pentagon had wanted to deploy in the war against Afghanistan. Myers will also discuss Gulf security and promote U.S. weapons sales to Riyad.

The US is also going to collect for its favorable portrayal of US-Saudi relations. Later in January, U.S. executives will meet Saudi leaders to discuss huge business deals in energy and weapons. Such a meeting scheduled for Jan. 15, was to have taken place in the fall but was delayed by the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Washington wants to capture most of the Saudi contracts in a privatization program launched by Riyad. The privatization program is part of Saudi efforts to enter the World Trade Organization.

Saudis Say 9/11 “Hurt Muslim Image”

Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia gave the opening address at the Gulf States summit in Oman. In his remarks, he called on Arab states to denounce terror — not because it was wrong, but because it was bad for business. He said the image of Arab and Muslims had been severely damaged by the 11 September on the United States. Then the Middle Eastern version of Don Corleone turned his attention to business, criticizing the Gulf States for not ‘doing enough’ to achieve their goal of economic union and the creation of a unified military force. The summit is expected to approve a media campaign to improve the image of the Arabs and Muslims in the West.

bin-Laden Healthier Than He Looked

According to an assessment of the recent videotape of Osama bin-Laden, he is healthier than he looked. In the tape, bin-Laden appeared ashen-faced and was thinner and grayer than he had been a month before. He appeared alone, with none of his top lieutenants by his side as in earlier videotapes. The videotape was shot during the Ramadan fast. Unlike previous videos, bin-Laden’s ever present cup of water was missing. Muslims are exempted from fasting if they are ill or injured. Dia’a Rashwan, an expert on militant Muslim movements with Cairo’s Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies interpreted the missing water as evidence bin-Laden is in good health. Although there were hopeful rumors that Osama is dead, all available intelligence continues to suggest he is alive and well and living under the protection of a tribal warlord in Pakistan. Sen. Bob Graham, chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN over the weekend, “The latest intelligence we had indicates that the high probabilities are that bin Laden is still alive.”

We pray God will grant you all a safe and blessed New Year. See you in 2002!

Jack Kinsella
Mike Velemirovich
Mike Fischer

China Hands Down Death Sentence To Christian Leader

China Hands Down Death Sentence To Christian Leader
Vol: 3 Issue: 30 Sunday, December 30, 2001

A court in China sentenced the leader of a banned Christian sect to death today. Gong Shengliang, founder of the South China Church, was convicted by the Jingmen City Intermediate Court on charges including “using a cult to undermine the enforcement of the law.” In addition to Gong’s death sentence, 16 other church leaders were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two years to life.

The South China Church preaches a fundamentalist, evangelical brand of Christianity and operated in defiance of laws requiring Protestants to worship only in the state-controlled nondenominational church. The church has 50,000 members spread through some 10 provinces in eastern and central China. China’s Bureau of State Security arrested Gong and the others in April after labeling the church a ‘cult.’

Oman Drafts New Money Laundering Law

The Gulf state of Oman has drafted legislation meant to prevent the financing of insurgency groups deemed as terrorists. The bill is nearing completion and will be submitted for government approval within weeks. If the bill is approved, Oman will become only the second Gulf Cooperation Council state to pass a law against terrorist financing. The United Arab Emirates was the first GCC to pass such a bill and has already frozen 14 bank accounts. Terrorist groups have enjoyed the enthusiastic cooperation of Gulf state banks for decades. The most terror-friendly banking systems are Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Neither has passed any similar legislation or made any significant effort to separate the terrorists from their money.

US Discusses Defense Cooperation Deal

Oman and the United States met over the weekend to discuss the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan as well as bilateral issues. Gen. Richard Myers, the U.S. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff met Omani Defense Minister Badr Bin Saud Bin Hareb Al Busaidi. Attending the meeting was Omani Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Khamis Bin Salim Al Kalbani. Myers discussed the use of Oman as a base in any U.S. operations in the Persian Gulf area. The Pentagon has been seeking an air base to replace the one denied us by Saudi Arabia for use in the Afghan war. Myers also met Omani Air Force chief Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Bin Mahfoudh Al Ardhi. The two men were reported to have discussed joint cooperation. Despite the Persian Gulf War and America’s defense of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Oman is regarded as America’s closest ally in the Persian Gulf

Greeks Signs $30 Million Deal With Ukraine

The NATO member state of Greece is supplying components for the Russian-built submarine fleet of the Ukrainian navy. The Greek firm Sunlight has developed a series of batteries for several Russian-built submarines. They include the Kilo-class, Foxtrot-class and Romeo-class. The batteries has undergone successful testing in Greece. The Hellenic Navy has deployed the same batteries for its sub fleet. Sunlight, based in Thrace, is part of the Germanos Group. Executives said Sunlight signed a $30 million contract with the Ukrainian Navy for the manufacturing and delivery of batteries for Foxtrot-class subs. The contract is expected to be concluded in 2002.

US Inks Arms Deal With Egypt

The US and Egypt have entered into a fresh series of arms deals, including help for Egypt’s tank program as well as construction of marine facilities. In the first project the Pentagon approved a contract for the design and construction of a new marine railwary at the port of Alexandria. Pentagon officials said the contract will be completed in 2004. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Programs Center, Winchester, Va., will oversee the project. The corps has carried out several military and civilian projects in Egypt.

In another project, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a $15.2 million for support for the M1A1 tank program in Egypt. Lockheed will provide logistical support for all existing tank gunnery and tank driver training systems and one additional mobile M1A1 platoon tank gunnery training system for Egypt.

FBI Conducting 150 al-Qaeda Investigations in US

More than 150 separate investigations into groups and individuals in the United States with possible ties to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda organization has uncovered a much wider and more pervasive al-Qaeda presence in the US than was previously believed. The presence of al Qaeda members in the United States is of grave concern to senior Bush administration officials. That concern has helped fuel the massive domestic and foreign dragnet aimed in large measure at disrupting the operations of al Qaeda. Although the sheer number of investigations ongoing is suggestive of how large al-Qaeda’s operations in the US might be, investigators have yet to penetrate it.

India, Pakistan War Jitters Increasing

India, Pakistan War Jitters Increasing
Vol: 3 Issue: 29 Saturday, December 29, 2001

India, Pakistan War Jitters Increasing

Pakistan’s government informed Washington it may have to pull its troops from the Afghan border where it is attempting to capture Osama bin-Laden in order to shore up defenses with its border with India. The escalation of tensions with India appears to have undercut Pakistan’s ability and willingness to devote so many resources to a campaign that is far from over even though the Taliban fighters have been ousted and only pockets of bin Laden followers remain in neighboring Afghanistan.

India’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee brushed aside an offer from Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to meet at a regional summit. He said India will not deal with Pakistan until it stops supporting cross-border terrorism. India blames Islamic militants for the December 13 attack on parliament that left 14 people dead.

Preparations for war continue. India began preparations to camouflage the Taj Mahal out of fear of Pakistani air strikes. Both sides continue to pour troops into the border region. Both India and Pakistan have put their conventional — and nuclear — forces on the highest state of alert. Gunfire resumed across the border in the Jammu region of Jammu-Kashmir state overnight along the disputed Line of Control, or cease-fire line. Both nations have closed their airspace to each other and have expelled half their diplomatic staff. The situation between the two nuclear nations continues to deteriorate. And both sides are leaving the nuclear door open, just in case.

Terror Attacks Decrease Against Israelis

There are rumors circulating — hopeful rumors, that Shimon Peres has pulled a rabbit out of his hat and worked out a plan with Yasser Arafat that will result in a PA state in eight weeks. I wouldn’t count on it. Peres is all alone with the Palestinians on this one. Israel points out that 8 weeks to a Palestinian State is unrealistic, given that Arafat hasn’t been able to stamp out terror in the eight weeks since he promised his last ceasefire. Since Arafat’s speech demanding a halt to terror attacks two weeks ago, Israeli officials admit terror attacks are down. There were ‘only’ 116 attacks during that two week period. Arafat calls that success. Israel says its a ‘long way’ from a cease-fire. A Palestinian was killed in a failed suicide mission on Friday. An explosives belt was found near his body.

Jerusalem Warns of Iran Nuke Threat Rafsanjani: “Destroy Israel Completely”

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was so alarmed at the contents of a speech by Iran’s former president Akbar Rafsanjani two weeks ago that he dashed off a letter of warning to the United Nations. According to Peres, Rafsanjani’s speech “leaves no room for any doubt as to Iran’s hatred of Israel and its declared goal to destroy it.” Peres warned his words, “clearly contradict the Iranian claim that its plans to acquire nuclear technologies are designed only for peaceful purposes.” Peres quoted Rafsanjani as saying that “when the Islamic world acquires atomic weapons, the strategy of the West will hit a dead-end — since the use of a single atomic bomb has the power to destroy Israel completely, while it will only cause partial damage to the Islamic world.”

A few other quotes from the Rafsanjani speech:

“The establishment of Israel is the most hideous occurrence in history. The Islamic world will not tolerate the continued existence of Israel in the region and will vomit it out from its midst.”

“Israel which is crushing innocent people with all kinds of weapons is defended (by the West) but the Palestinians who strike blows on Israel with empty hands and at the expense of their lives are called ‘terrorists.”

“Israel should not be fooled by its modern weapons and atomic bombs. Palestinians have found a stronger weapon, and that is suicide operations.”

Analysis:

While Rafsanjani is no longer an elected member of Iran’s government, he enjoys considerable influence among Iran’s ruling clerics and officials. Among the power elite in Iran, he holds more influence than Iran’s elected President Khatami who is mistrusted for his more moderate views. Rafsanjani is head of Iran’s Expediency Council, a powerful body responsible for mapping out major government policy, including foreign relations. And he is the principle advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

On the occasion of the 1993 Oslo Agreement signing, Israel’s current ambassador to the UK, Dror Zeigermann, then Israeli Consul-General to Canada, told me that Iran was Israel’s most dangerous enemy — “more than the Palestinians, more than Syria, more than Arafat,” he said. He said then that Iran was in pursuit of nuclear weapons for the express purpose of annihilating Israel. Iran, under its historical name of Persia, is named by Ezekiel [38:5] as being among the nations who join the Russian led Islamic confederation of nations that will launch an invasion against the mountains of Israel in the last days. Ezekiel named Iran 2500 years ago. An Israeli official named Iran 10 years ago as Israel’s most dangerous enemy. Rafsanjani’s speech reflects Iran’s plans for the destruction of Israel. All Bible prophecy has been fulfilled — to the letter — to this point in history. Many more are in the process of being fulfilled before our eyes. Those remaining to be fulfilled will take place with the same degree of precision and accuracy.

Of Bible prophecy in the last days, Jesus had this to say. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” [Luke 21:28] Events predicted for the last days are indeed beginning to come to pass. It is time to start looking up.

Pakistan Says India Behind Attacks — on Itself

Pakistan Says India Behind Attacks — on Itself
Vol: 3 Issue: 28 Friday, December 28, 2001

Shadhad Sadullah, editor of Pakistan’s Daily Jang told CNN World News that Pakistan had nothing to do with the attacks on India’s Parliament on December 13. Sadallah argued that Pakistan ‘had nothing to gain’ by such an attack. When asked who might stand to gain, Sadullah hinted the Indians may have been behind the attack themselves for political reasons. The CNN interviewer allowed the statement to stand without comment. It is against this backdrop that the United States warned both sides not to allow the situation to deteriorate. But it is a hollow warning falling on deaf ears.

War Preps Increase in S. Asia

India moved short-range ballistic missiles to the border with Pakistan. These include the “Prithvi” missiles, which have a range up to 150 miles and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. India announced that it would close its airspace to Pakistan. It has already cut bus and rail services. India will also halve its diplomatic staff in Pakistan and require Pakistan to halve its diplomatic staff here. Pakistani diplomatic employees will be confined to the capital. The Paks immediately followed suit. India’s army has about a million troops, while Pakistan has about 650,000. The two states are home to roughly one-sixth of the world’s population. And they are both nuclear states.

Pakistan’s Secret al-Qaeda Militia

It seems that Pakistan learned everything from al-Qaeda about operational value, but nothing about the risks involved. It is accepting insurgents from Egypt and Sudan for membership in a Pakistani-sponsored Islamic insurgency against India. According to Kashmir Mir Khursheed, a former Pakistani intelligence agent who operated in Kashmir, “Militants from West Asia, Sudan, Egypt, Chechnya are also in Kashmiri militant outfits. Like Al Qaeda, a majority of the outfits operating in Kashmir are full of foreigners.” He also says that Pakistan has freed convicted murderers and rapists to join the insurgency against India as so-called holy warriors.

Time To Declare

Most of the al-Qaeda not dead or captured have fled Afghanistan to Arab states across the Middle East, with the United States in hot pursuit. What will happen when these fugitives are tracked down in states like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran or Syria?

These states have some hard decisions facing them. Most of them have exploited their Muslim majorities to seize and hold power through the years. They encouraged their populations to rally around the Muslim cause [keeping the attention focused away from their own regimes]. In Saudi Arabia alone, there are some 25,000 fighters who have been trained in al-Qaeda camps and went home to await the call to battle in bin-Laden’s jihad. At least four times in the last six years, Saudis who were trained or recruited in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kosovo or Bosnia have been among the terrorists who carried out bombings of U.S. targets – in Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Tanzania and Yemen. But not until October, after the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan began, did Saudi Arabia detain young men trying to join that fight.

The Muslim populations of these nations are unlikely to look with favor on governments that cooperate with the West. The leaders have two choices facing them. Cooperate with Washington and risk the wrath of the people, or harbor the fugitives and risk the wrath of the United States. The US has drawn the ‘with us or against us’ line in the sand. When the roundup begins, we’ll find out which side they’ll choose. And how wide our war will eventually become.

Israeli Educators Burn Hebrew New Testament

While America has a close relationship with Israel, and Christians recognize Israel as their spiritual relatives, that recognition doesn’t always extend both ways. The principal and a sixth grade teacher of a school in Israel were suspended for a short time from their duties after the sixth grade teacher brought a Hebrew New Testament one of his students got from a missionary to the school principal.

After receiving approval from the principal, the sixth grade teacher burned the New Testament in the courtyard. Israel’s Education Ministry Director-General immediately issued a written statement. In it, he said, “I’m shocked by the fact that educators contribute to book-burning, especially when it comes to a religious book. Actions like this were done in the Dark Ages, and we will not allow them to be done today in our educational system, which teaches values, tolerance, and enlightenment.”

Analysis:

The fact is, most Jews see the New Testament as the emblem of centuries of persecution. European Jews throughout the Middle Ages were given a choice between forced conversion and expulsion or death. But Jewish attitudes toward the New Testament are often seized on by Christian anti-Semites to justify their anti-Semitism.

They fail to see the debt Christians owe Jews. Paul outlined it in the Book of Romans. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” [Romans 11:25]

Christian anti-Semitism not only defies Scripture, it defies reason. It is a form of spiritual cannibalism. The advice ‘not to be wise in our own conceits’ is sound. A look forward to what Paul promises in the next verse explains, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” [Romans 11:26]

Paul reminds us that “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.” [Romans 11:28].

Israel may be an enemy of the Gospel, but so was every Christian, before they were saved. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” [Romans 5:10]

That promise of reconciliation applies equally to the principal in Texas who punished a student for praying and the principal in Israel who burned a Hebrew New Testament.

Border Clashes Continue

Border Clashes Continue
Vol: 3 Issue: 27 Thursday, December 27, 2001

The Times of India reported ‘indiscriminate’ Pakistani shelling of Indian positions for the fifth straight day, claiming four deaths. The build-up on the Pakistani side has led to mobilization of several corps — including Pakistan’s strike 23 Corps, 10th Corps, 30th Corps and 1st Corps. On Monday, Pakistan’s army had deployed anti-aircraft guns and moved most of its troops stationed at the eastern garrison town of Sialkot to the border with India.

Pakis Go On Nuclear Alert

Pakistani leader Gen. Pervez Musharraf has placed his nation s strategic forces on alert, according to the Pakistan Observer. It also reported that Pakistani military forces also were being moved in response to reports that India military forces force were preparing to conduct raids and interdictions into Pakistan near Kashmir. Asked if nuclear weapons might be used, Pakistani Brigadier General Mohammed Yaqub said, “probably there won’t be any hesitation to use nuclear weapons.” Pakistan has two types of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads and aircraft capable of dropping nuclear bombs. We’ll be exploring the significance of this developing situation in an upcoming Omega Letter Special Report.

China Expands Ties With Rogue States

Beijing s Marxist-Leninists met with hundreds of supporters and expanded ties to states considered rogue nations in the West. In an interview with a Chinese party newspaper, Dai Bingguo, head of the Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party s Central Committee, revealed that inter-party meetings in 2001 included more than 200 party delegations from over 100 nations. The CPC also sent out over 100 delegations around the world, the most important one being Chinese leader Jiang Zemin s visit to North Korea. Another key foreign meeting was the visit of Hu Jintao, considered the favorite to succeed Jiang in the coming year as party chairman and supreme leader, to Vietnam. We have made many new friends, he said. In order to maintain the continuity and stability of inter-State relations, we have vigorously developed exchanges and cooperation with the main out-parties in various countries.

New bin-Laden Tape Released

Osama bin Laden reappeared in a video tape aired by Qatar-based television station and propaganda network Al- Jazeera this week. The video tape was made to sound as if it were shot sometime in mid-December, but some of bin-Laden’s references indicated it was more likely shot in mid-November. bin-Laden appeared pale and shaky on the tape, and seemed to be favoring his left side. bin-Laden tried to turn the war against terror into what he called the West’s “unspeakable hatred of Islam.”

In a stunning bit of circular logic, bin-Laden admitted to being behind the attacks, referring to “our blessed attacks” on the US, then later in the same excerpt, saying the U.S. was bombing Afghanistan without proof that he or his al-Qaeda network was responsible.

Afghanistan’s provisional government immediately denounced the claim, saying the US war wasn’t against Islam, it was against al-Qaeda. Since Afghanistan was the battlefield in that war, its condemnation of bin-Laden was significant. The US simply called it what it was, more propaganda. The tape does nothing to answer the question of whether bin-Laden is alive or dead.

Egypt Accepts bin-Laden’s Guilt

On the day bin-Laden’s third tape was released, Egypt’s Interior Minister Habib el-Adly was quoted in an Egyptian magazine as saying Egyptian security forces “consider it a clear confession of bin Laden’s responsibility in all that happened …. It is a complete confession that implicates him.”

Egypt is conducting its own war against fundamentalist Islamist groups that are seeking to destabilize and topple the Mubarak regime. El-Adly is leading that effort. Egypt’s acceptance of bin-Laden’s guilt is likely to inflame its internal unrest further. International human rights groups have criticized Egypt’s indefinite detention of terror suspects and its practice of trying them before military tribunals. El-Adly made no apologies for Egypt’s harsh anti-terrorism tactics, saying those who practice terrorism “are not human beings and have nothing to do with humanity. Animals are more kind than them.”

The Iran-al-Qaeda Connection

The Iran-al-Qaeda Connection
Vol: 3 Issue: 26 Wednesday, December 26, 2001

The trail in the worldwide hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is leading to Iran, according to U.S. officials. Airline ticket receipts uncovered in al Qaeda hideouts in the hills of Tora Bora indicate that foreign fighters entered Afghanistan after traveling through Tehran International Airport. Iran has no formal diplomatic ties with the United States and thus may cannot be counted on to

cooperate in capturing Bin Laden. Bin Laden in the past has sent Al Qaeda emissaries to western Iran to set up cells there.

Canada To Get More FBI, CIA Presence

The FBI and CIA are increasing the number of personnel based on Canada in an effort to better monitor Islamic radicals. The FBI plans to add more agents to the more than 40 officers currently based in Toronto who are investigating the September 11 attacks. The bureau would like to set up a full time field office devoted to tracking the al Qaeda terrorist group in Canada. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has said that there are some 350 terrorists from 50 groups in Canada.

Both the FBI and CIA were said to be taken by surprise by the existence of an Al Qaeda cell in Toronto. Al Qaeda activities were revealed to the law enforcement and spy agencies following the recent arrest of a Islamic refugee Nabil al Marabh and by raids on a Toronto copy shop and three local apartments.

Tracking al-Qaeda’s Phantom Fleet

The Turkish government has identified a ship owner who is believed to be working secretly with Osama Bin Laden in facilitating his drug trade. The Turkish language newspaper Istanbul Sabah, quoting intelligence sources, reported Dec. 19 that a Turkish national is a partner with Bin Laden in running a fleet of at least 23 ships. The ships are used to smuggle Afghan heroin to customers in Europe. The shipper in question also has six ships for smuggling and each one is managed by a different firm.

Syria Reading Handwriting On Wall

Syria has informed the United States that it is willing to look into ways of shutting down the terrorist organizations that operate out of Damascus. Some 10 Palestinian rejectionist organizations are headquartered in Damascus, including Islamic Jihad and the military wing of Hamas. The Syrians also permit arms transfers from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Syria wants to open up to the West, and might therefore be more responsive to diplomatic pressure than would many other state sponsors of terrorism, says US National Security advisor Uzi Dayan.

Waqf Continues Temple Mount Escavation

The Moslem Waqf renewed its illegal construction works on the Temple Mount this week. Trucks brought in the materials, earth was moved from the eastern part of the Mount to the northern part, and tiling of a section on the northern part has begun. The Committee for the Prevention of the Destruction of Temple Mount Antiquities says it has aerial photos documenting the progress of the work. The Committee says the police fabricated a report this week to the effect that the arriving truckloads were for the purpose of repairing an area damaged by a burst pipe. The Arabs have been systematically destroying any evidence of a Jewish presence on Temple Mount for decades. The Waqf also intends to import holy water from Mecca to fill the Temple’s underground cisterns. This will upgrade the status of the Temple Mount in Moslem eyes, giving it a “sanctity” almost as great as that of Mecca.

Hamas Cuts Deal With Arafat

A senior Hamas leader will not be arrested by the Palestinian police under a deal reached between Hamas and Palestinian factions spearheaded by Yasser Arafat’s Fatah group, a Palestinian political source said Saturday. Abdel-Aziz Rantisi will be confined to his house and will not give interviews to the media under the agreement reached by Palestinian factions late Friday, the source said. The meeting took place in the home of Hamas spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin who was also placed under house arrest a few weeks ago, following clashes between policemen and his followers.

UN Votes For International Observers

UN Votes For International Observers
Vol: 3 Issue: 23 Sunday, December 23, 2001

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have forced Israel to accept a UN international observer force. Such a force would put Israel’s every counter-strike under an international microscope, but would have no effect on Palestinian terror. The Palestinians have an advantage in this case, in not being a state. Israel is subject to the international rules of conduct in war, whereas the Palestinians are free to use terror. This is one reason Washington vetoed the resolution.

The United Nations took its case to the UN General Assembly, who by a 124-6 vote, passed the same resolution. The resolution is a masterstroke of Arab propaganda. It’s language makes no distinction between Israel and the Arabs in its condemnation of terror and orders the deployment of international observers. The General Assembly also passed a second resolution calling Israel ‘an occupying power’ and demanded it immediately ‘refrain from willfull killing, torture and extensive destruction of property.’

Although it has no legal authority, the resolution is a brilliant victory for the Arabs notwithstanding. The resolution by its language, simply attaches those tags to Israel, it needn’t prove them. The UN could pass that resolution against any nation on earth, whether they were committing any of the crimes listed or not. The resolution simply repeats international laws all nations are already subject to.

In the General Assembly, the Arabs have an automatic majority. As we learn more about al-Qaeda and the Arab states, we may feel less confident about an Arab United Nations. It is just a matter of time before the Western nations begin calling for a new world order under a new global organization.

Israel condemned the UN vote, saying that under the banner of “peace” the UN has given a green light to terror.

Saudi Clerics Continue To Praise Osama

Saudi clerics have been allowed by the Saudi government to record and distribute their sermons on videotape to a wide audience both in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Persian Gulf. The sermons portray the United States as an enemy of Islam and justify attacks on Washington and its Western allies. They also express support for Osama bin-Laden and praise for the attacks against America.

The two most prominent Saudi clerics are Safar Al Hawali and Salman Al Auda. Mamoun Fandy, a leading Saudi expert, said Al Hawali perceives the United States and Christian fundamentalists and Jews in the West as ‘enemies of Islam’. Al Hawali is a major spiritual leader of ‘pure’ Islam. The White House says ‘pure Islam’ opposed the attacks on New York and Washington.

Terror’s “Phantom Fleet”

British and American intelligence services are hunting the world for at least 20 ships thought to make up a terrorist fleet linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda group. The terrorist vessels could be carrying poisons, explosives or weapons. The fleet was identified at least three months ago as a result of a joint intelligence operation thought to be led by the Norwegian security service and America’s CIA with the help of international shipping registries.

The names of the ships are known, but they are not being disclosed. The ships are registered under ‘flags of convenience.’ The world’s largest fleets belong to the Bahamas, Panama and Liberia. Liberia alone maintains a fleet of 1,557, despite the fact that it is a country devastated by civil war with a barely functioning infrastructure. The ships are registered on paper only. ‘Flags of convenience’ allows shipowners to avoid taxes and other costs and lines the pockets of corrupt port officials. Tiny island nations, such as the Marshall Islands and St Vincent & the Grenadines, also maintain huge registries, having fleets much bigger than Britain or the United States.

The possibility exists that some of these ships could be used as floating bombs. A ocean-going ship packed with explosives and fuel oil at the dock at New York or Boston Harbor could flatten much of the city.

Russia Says Turkey Biggest Spy

Itar-Tass news agency reported that the FSB denotes Turkish spies as among the most active foreign nationals in the Russian Federation. In the last two years the FSB has uncovered 17 spies in the Krasnodar region; the majority of these were Turkish operatives. According to Krasnodar counter-intelligence officers, there has been an average of about 50 spies “visiting” the region every year, both individually and in groups. Intelligence officials believe that Krasnodar attracts especial interest from spies from Muslim countries because of its extensive network of oil and gas pipelines, as well as its strategic position immediately north of the restive regions of the north Caucasus.

Note: Omega Letter will not publish on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Check the website for updates. Merry Christmas from all of us to each of you. May God richly bless you and give each of you a safe and happy holiday.

New ‘bin-Laden’ Bomb

New ‘bin-Laden’ Bomb
Vol: 3 Issue: 22 Saturday, December 22, 2001

New ‘bin-Laden’ Bomb

The BLU-1186, or ‘thermobaric’ bomb was officially added to the US military arsenal and was immediately deployed to Afghanistan. The thermobaric bomb is a fuel-air explosive. It contains two explosive devices and a compressed highly flammable chemical charge. It sends a deadly shock wave through enclosed spaces like caves or tunnels without collapsing them. The fire sucks out all the oxygen. The bomb can be ‘skipped’ along the ground and guided right into a small tunnel entrance.

The administration had been backing away from the idea bin-Laden is an objective, but in the public view, the war won’t be over until he is captured or proved dead. The US has been very quiet in recent days about bin-Laden’s location. But fresh intelligence reports are suggesting that bin-Laden may still be in Afghanistan. The deployment of this new weapon at this time suggests they may have an idea of where he may be. This is the perfect weapon to use against a suspected bin-Laden hideout. It won’t destroy the cave, prove bin-Laden is dead, and the Afghan war can have a happy ending.

Are There Nukes Here?

One report currently being investigated by U.S. intelligence officials came from Pakistani Inter-Service Intelligence sources who had conducted an interrogation of a “terrorist suspect” in early November. Under “coercion,” the suspect said that agents of bin Laden had smuggled two portable nuclear weapons into the United States, according to the report seen by a U.S. government expert. The ISI provided “the highest levels of the U.S. government” with materials from the ISI interrogation including a summary of the suspect’s confession. His story was made more credible since he knew details of the activation of the weapons and their construction that are not in the public domain.

Chairman of the House subcommittee on national security Rep. Chris Shays [R-Ct] confirmed that Russia had produced 132 such weapons and that currently 48 remain unaccounted for. All disappeared from Russian arsenals.

The Soviet nuclear backpack system was made in the 1960s for use against NATO targets in time of war, U.S. intelligence sources said. It consists of three “coffee can-sized” aluminum canisters, which must be connected before detonation. All three must be connected to make a single unit in order to explode. The detonator is about 6″ long and carried in a “knife-like sheaf.” It has a 3-to-5 kiloton yield, depending on the efficiency of the explosion.

During the first week of October, Israel’s Mossad was reported to have detained a Palestinian attempting to enter Jerusalem from Ramallah who was wearing such a system on his back. The item was contained in a CIA Daily Threat Report. It was quickly pulled and replaced with a story that it was a ‘radiological bomb’.

On Dec. 4, the FBI put 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies on “highest alert” because intelligence culled from sources around the globe indicated the United States could expect a new bin Laden attack between mid-December and the holidays. The alert continues.

“What Will Be The Sign Of Thy Coming?”

Jesus was asked by His disciples “what would be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” He warned of deception, the rise of false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilences, or infectious, deadly disease. He says that ‘many false prophets shall arise and deceive many’ and as a consequence, the ‘love of many shall wax cold’.

That is both a prophetic summary of events in the last days as recorded in Matthew 24:3-15 and an executive summary of the current global situation. The West awaits the next strike in the face of an ongoing rumor of a war strike from al-Qaeda. We don’t know if it will be biological, chemical or nuclear, covering the liklihoods of pestilence and famine. We are waging war against Osama bin-Laden, a false prophet whose doctrine produced the al-Qaeda, of whom it can certainly be said that ‘love has waxed cold’. Jesus said all this would take place during a time of global communication. He pinpoints the time to one in which ‘this Gospel of the Kingdom is preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations [The internet provides exactly that capability, for the first time in history.] and then shall the end come’. [Matt 24:14]

Are we living in the last days? Ten years ago, it was difficult to find enough convincing evidence of fulfilled prophecy to fill a half-hour’s This Week in Bible Prophecy TV script. But it was exciting to watch the pieces of the puzzle come together, slowly, and from a distance.

Today, events are coming so fast and furious that an information website and daily intelligence digest can barely keep pace with it all. Because these are the last days. Do you know where you will spend eternity? It’s your choice, but time is running out to make it.

Note: The Omega Letter will not publish Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Updates will be at the website. Merry Christmas and God bless.

Gov’t Redacted bin-Laden Tape

Gov’t Redacted bin-Laden Tape
Vol: 3 Issue: 21 Friday, December 21, 2001

Part of the reason it took so long to release the recent videotape of bin-Laden chortling over the deaths of 3,000 civilians was because they had to remove sections that might embarrass the Saudis. For reasons of its own, Washington doesn’t want the level of Saudi support for bin-Laden made public. Saudi religious police were involved in smuggling bin-Laden’s visitor to him. Prominent clerics made speeches supporting the attacks on America. The redacted portions show that support for bin-Laden is not limited to radical Islam, but also among Islam’s religious establishment.

Analysis:

To maintain the flow of oil and the US economy in general, Washington must maintain two simultaneous fictions. The first is that mainstream Islam is friendly to us and that al-Qaeda is a perversion. There are 1.2 billion Muslims. If only 1% made up those sympathetic to al-Qaeda, that is 12 million people. 10% – 120 million and so forth. So mainstream Islamic support for al-Qaeda and bin-Laden is suppressed. The second fiction is that Saudi Arabia is our friend. In fact our relationship is no warmer than that of a drug addict and his supplier. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and the seat of Islamic authority world-wide. Washington cannot admit its Achilles Heel to either the public or its enemies. Neither can it declare war on 1.2 billion people. Instead, we pretend our enemies are our friends. It may be a sound short term political strategy, but one that could have devastating long term effects.

US Developing Interceptor

The United States is proceeding with a project meant to intercept cruise missiles. The Pentagon program calls for a subsonic miniature interceptor capable of tracking/killing cruise missiles. Iran already has cruise missiles. A number of other Middle East states are considering programs to develop similar low-flying projectiles. The Pentagon wants to develop a low-cost interceptor that would combine components and technology used in other programs. Officials said the forthcoming test will integrate all major components of the system.

US-Israel To Expand Defense

Washington is going to offer Israel an expanded missile defense cooperation relationship. The cooperation is meant to follow the model of the current U.S.-Israeli Arrow-2 joint program. Spearheading the effort is U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. On Dec. 17, Ms. Rice addressed the annual strategic Herzliya Conference via a satellite link from the White House. She said the Bush administration regards missile defense as a priority in the aftermath of the Cold War. She also said Washington wants to include missile defense as part of an expanded strategic relationship with Israel that would include arms control issues. Israel and the United States have discussed the prospect of developing a mobile tactical laser weapon and an unmanned air vehicle capable of destroying missile launchers.

Chinese Bluster Suggests Future War

China s military forces conducted recent exercises aimed at shooting down incoming cruise missiles an indication the People s Liberation Army is preparing for a future conflict with the United States, U.S. officials said. PLA forces in the Guangzhou military region held regimental exercises using low-altitude cruise missiles that were shot down by Chinese anti-aircraft artillery. The PLA s official newspaper reported last week that during the recent exercises one unit successfully hit two cruise missiles at once using a newly developed digital anti-aircraft fire control network. It was a live-fire exercise. China’s defense minister, Gen. Chi Haotian, met last week in Beijing with the commander of the Belarus air force, Gen. Sergey Kuzmich. The visit raises new concerns about missile technology sales from Belarus to China. Beijing has already purchased Maz missile transporter-erectors from Minsk that are believed to be part of China s new long-range road mobile missile systems, the DF-31 and DF-41.

Russian Airspace Vulnerable

Russia s military said last week that problems with upgrading equipment have left half the country s airspace vulnerable to intrusion. Lt. Gen Aleksandr Shramchenko admitted, In fact, we do not control the air space from the Ural Mountains to the Kurile Islands. There is only a thin line of radar field along the border with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China.” With such gaps in the Russian lines, the US fears Russia s nuclear or conventional weapons could be vulnerable to theft or sabotage. Such admissions by the Kremlin are uncharacteristically candid. Admitting areas of vulnerablility runs contrary to Russia’s ingrained xenophobia. This could be an invitation to terrorists, or an explanation after the fact. Ezekiel says that the invasion of Israel is a Russian led alliance of Muslim nations. And that means Russia will maintain its balancing act between its support for the US and its friendship with the Islamic world.

FBI Trying To Reap Hacker Harvest

The FBI is attempting to acquire the harvested e-mail addresses and passwords of millions of Microsoft Outlook users whose systems were recently infected by the Badtrans worm virus. The FBI has contacted MonkeyBrains, a San Francisco-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) and requested a copy of the database of passwords and keystrokes compiled by the worm and forwarded to their free e-mail service, IjustGotFired.com. The FBI did not have a search warrant, and the ISP initially responded to the request by placing searchable versions of the databases online. They have now been partially disabled “pending legal consultation.”

EU Funding Arafat’s War

EU Funding Arafat’s War
Vol: 3 Issue: 20 Thursday, December 20, 2001

Israel is charging that European Union funds are being used to finance Palestinian insurgency attacks against the Jewish state. They say tens of millions of dollars are being sent by the EU directly to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. Arafat uses the money to pay his security forces to launch or aid in attacks against Israel. Last week, the European Commission approved an allocation of 30 million euros for direct budgetary assistance to the PA. This means that Arafat will be allowed to use the money as he sees fit. EU spokesman Gunnar Wiegand said the Europeans regard the PA a “necessary partner to fight the extremists and to work for peace.” Wiegand said the latest funding seeks to compensate for the halt in Israeli money transfers to the PA.

With the EU and US watching carefully, last week Arafat publicly called for an end to terror. This week, he called for martyrs to fight against the Israelis. In a speech to his supporters in Ramallah December 19, Arafat vowed, “I am willing to sacrifice 70 to die to kill one Israeli.”

According to official Israeli figures, Palestinians carried out a total of 2,790 terrorist strikes against Israelis in the year 2001, most of them committed by Arafat s Fatah-Tanzim. There were 27 suicide assaults during the outgoing year.

Latest Propaganda: Are Israelis Israelites?

One of the more easily refuted bits of Arab propaganda making the rounds is that modern Israelis aren’t really the descendants of Biblical Israel. The argument is that modern Jews are descended from Kazars and Edomites, or are otherwise imposters. In 1998, researchers conducted a DNA study that discovered a special DNA marker in members of the Israeli Cohanin — the direct descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses. ScienceDaily reported in its December 14, 1998 issue: “The Y-chromosome is uniquely useful in this analysis because the Y-chromosome of any individual can be traced back even over many generations to only one male ancestor. This is not the case for other chromosomes, each of which carries representation from many different ancestors on both the maternal and paternal lineages. Accordingly, since the Jewish priesthood designation is transmitted from father to son, the DNA of the founding ancestor is reflected in the Y-chromosome markers of modern-day Jewish priests.”

Israel will come under an increasingly strident propaganda assault from Arab quarters and from the politically correct until Europe ‘comes to its senses’ and the EU’s support for Israel’s war on terror fades. Propaganda like modern Jews aren’t really descendants of Abraham. Watch for an increase in allegations of Israeli atrocity, and a decrease in mainstream coverage of Arabs attacking Israelis. Most coverage of the Arab side will focus on Arafat’s promise to end terror. Israel has only a temporary window of opportunity to win its war before Europe attempts to impose a solution.

Argentina Declares State of Siege

Argentina’s recession erupted into civil unrest over the last week. There has been a recession in Argentina for almost four years, and unemployment has risen to almost 20%. Fernando De la Rua signed an order declaring a state of siege on December 19. The declaration came after a day of looting and violence. Argentina is engulfed in an economic crisis and could default on its $132 billion national debt as early as next month. A default would in effect cut off any lifeline from the International Monetary Fund and send Argentina spiralling even deeper into a chaotic economic crisis.

Iran Claims US Attack

Iran claims that US naval forces attacked a Saudi oil tanker bound for an Iranian port. Iran’s foreign ministry said the Saudi-owned tanker was carrying raw material for unleaded gasoline to the southwestern Iranian port of Abadan when it was intercepted by several U.S. boats and seized.

The US regularly boards tankers in the Persian Gulf as part of its ten year old operation against Iraqi oil smuggling. The boarding took place after the captain refused permission for the American naval officers to come aboard. This is a false charge, coming at a precipitous time, one when Tehran would best be served by keeping a low profile. Iran knows that. So do the Saudis. But both grow increasingly belligerent. It is oddly out of place and therefore worthy of note.

Nine Christians Gunned Down By Muslim Militants

Nine Indonesian Christians were shot dead by Muslim militants of the Laskar Jihad organization. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. The violence in the eastern city of Ambon followed clashes late last month in another Muslim-Christian trouble spot around the town of Poso in Central Sulawesi. Three days of peace talks involving the warring sides in Poso began Wednesday aimed at curbing violence that has killed more than 1,000 people in the past three years. Christians have been the target of Muslim groups like Laskar Jihad who want to eradicate Christianity from the Indonesian archipelago.