VIDEO: Annex the West Bank and Solve the Arab/Israeli Conflict
Join The United West team as they take you on location inside the West Bank of Israel (a.k.a. Judea and Samaria) at the community of Karnei Shomron.
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Defeating ISIS: A Biblical View of America’s Role [Part 3]
PART THREE:
HIGHLIGHTS OF PART TWO
Part two explained from scripture that God’s love of people and His hatred of evil are inseparable and presented what should be the natural and necessary response of righteous men and women who wish to live in a world of justice, compassion, and order. Part two also cited studies that identify the large majority of Americans as Christians of some “brand” and who, basically, concur with the moral principles of the bible. Let’s now consider the immediate and necessary role for America to play in quickly stopping the rapidly advancing Nazis of our time (to which millions have people have chanted for 70 years, “Never again!)
RESPONDING AS A NATION: THE POWER OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES, THE NEW COALITION OF ARAB NATIONS, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AMERICA
On a larger scale, just as ungodly nations were destroyed in the Old Testament, the ungodly “world scale gang-bangers” need to be destroyed. In Old Testament times, there was one situation in which God specifically told the Israelites not to pray for the enemy: “Do not pray for the well-being of this people” (Jeremiah 14:11). Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus did not pray for Satan. ISIS is not simply the radical arm of Islam that establishes Sharia and devises even more cruelty than is conceived by the policies of these laws (cutting off limbs, executing women who have been raped, etc.). The mission of ISIS is purely demonic and in this writer’s opinion, the “soldiers” (given: this is an insult to the word “soldier”) of ISIS are either demonically oppressed or possessed.
Because America is ultimately threatened in the not too distant future, we must participate in pushing back the forces of evil. The evil has spread too far around the world already, and it’s already present here in America (see Parts I and II for more information). We’ve already seen an Islamic extremist military psychiatrist murder many soldiers at Ft. Hood, many people killed in the Boston marathon, a woman’s head severed while she was at work in a factory in Moore, Oklahoma, and more horrors right here in our homeland. Whether we like it or not, America is already “in the thick of things.” The battle exists not only half-way around the world, but in America.
Also, whether it was right or wrong to seek to establish democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, we committed to help the people of these countries live in freedom. Formerly known as Mesopotamia, Iraq is the very cradle of Christianity (and is now nearly devoid of Christians). How much more should we now rescue those who suffer the backlash of our abandonment? Psalm 82:4 says, “Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Do you remember when thousands of joyful Iraqi’s proudly held their ink stained thumbs in the air, indicating that they had just voted? We have left almost all of them to be driven from their homes or to be struck down by the swords of ISIS.
It is way past time for our leaders to map out and enact a clear strategy to defeat our enemies. We could have stopped ISIS by leaving 15,000 troops in Iraq, but our president chose not to do that (our military leaders advised against this action). We could have stopped them as they left Syria. We could have stopped them as they marched from city to city in Iraq. Iraq isn’t exactly covered with forests and canyons to protect them from our sight. In Desert Storm, we discovered how easily we destroyed forces of evil with such basic weaponry as A-10 jets (while some people questioned if these planes could be useful at all). Of course, presently A-10’s are being decommissioned right here in my hometown of Tucson, Arizona, where many of our A-10’s are based.
Also, we chose to ensure the downfall of Gaddafi without helping to stabilize Libya, predictably enabling the Muslim Brotherhood to come to power. In fact, America sent tanks, fighter jets and millions of dollars to the Muslim Brotherhood.
We could have stood our ground when Assad crossed our president’s “line in the sand,” leaving more room for the terrorists to gain ground. Of course, these and many other examples of non-action have proven the disastrous consequences of America’s continual abdication of world leadership.
Fortunately, people as evil as the ISIS terrorists are “like the chaff which the wind driveth away” (Psalm 1:1). But it is probable that righteous men and women must do their part in this life before the Lord executes final judgment in the life to come. Hopefully, the civilized world will unite around strong leadership, which we pray will emerge (and discussed soon).
First to lead the fight was the King of Jordan, and America is giving a billion dollars to Jordan over the next two years. Even China is giving aid to fight ISIS. Saudi Arabia has over 200,000 active duty personnel with 75,000 soldiers, the fourth largest military budget in the world (52 billion per year), and has just agreed to take the lead in an Arab coalition to fight ISIS. This coalition is only in the planning stages and will not be formed in time to save Yemen. But at least many countries of the Middle East are beginning to clean up their own mess. Certainly, the Saudis have a more immediate investment in seeing the defeat of ISIS. Of course, in doing so, they come against Iran, as well, which is a necessary course of action.
The Egyptian Armed forces is reported to have more than 468,500 active personnel, in addition to 800,000 personnel available in reserve and over 400,000 paramilitary personnel making it one of the largest armies in the world (Wikipedia).
Jordan has the fifth most militarized nation in the world with 100,000 active military personnel and nearly 65,000 active reserves. They will contribute to the coalition. However, there are internal problems that have kept these countries from working well together. But if these countries used even half of their forces, ISIS could be destroyed very quickly.
Strong leadership has not yet emerged from the United States. How strong will be the leadership of Saudi Arabia has yet to be seen. Of course, God has allowed the present circumstances for a reason, but that does not let America or any nation off the hook from standing up for righteousness against an evil enemy. Especially an enemy that has designs upon our own nation (indeed, this is its foremost goal). While the Arabs are forming a coalition, America could act now. America could immediately provide strong leadership and take much stronger action than it is taking. Of course, even if victory is quickly achieved, it will take at least a generation to defeat other forms of terrorism around the world, and in this writer’s view, battles against evil will never cease until the return of Christ (see the last chapter of the Book of Revelation).
It’s never too late to take leadership and then turn it over to Arab coalition, should that coalition prove effective. Keep in mind that the number one responsibility of our government is the security of Americans and that America is presently “in the thick of things” right here on our own soil (see Parts I and II for more details). Keep in mind that a great threat to America exists at this very moment and the time for decisive action is passing quickly. Eight miles from the border of Texas is an ISIS training camp. The State Dept. denies that this is true, but offers no proof of this denial.
Whether you believe we must individually forgive these particular enemies or not is irrelevant to the needed action. Forgive and love our enemies all you want to, personally. That’s what Jesus commands. But our nation must help to stop the senseless murder and rapid advance of darkness, just as the world should have stopped Hitler and could easily have stopped him early in his campaigns.
America must lead the execution of thorough judgment upon ISIS, upon all Islamic terrorists (including upon those that have been released from GITMO and from the jail that released the present leader of ISIS), and upon any other mutation of terrorism that threatens our national security.
Do we need boots on the ground? We need Arab boots. That’s for certain. One biblical objection to this suggestion to join with the Arabs is that in biblical times, whenever the armies of Israel joined with ungodly nations, no good came of it. But these Islamic theocracies are not technically our “enemies.” As with all the Arab nations, they violate human rights as a way of life, and they persecute women in heinous ways. Therefore, they are not ideal allies. Yet considering that these nations are not our enemies and considering how easy it would be for them to defeat ISIS with the right leadership, it seems incumbent upon the United States to provide this leadership. Such leadership would include providing air power, weaponry and Intel on the ground. If this leadership proves to be necessary only temporarily, all the better. Aligning with the Arab nations is no different than aligning with China and Russia to defeat Germany in WWII. Some people believe that we should withdraw entirely from the Middle East. We already see how our abdication of leadership has affected Russia, China, and Iran, as well as how this show of apathy and cowardice has affected our allies. Further or continued abdication would continue to erode the trust of any nation that we can still call an ally. Also, as already mentioned, whether America likes it or not, we are truly in the middle of the fight right now with terror cells in every state. As smoke rises in the Middle East, we can provide leadership there – now – or we can exponentially increase our efforts to combat evil in America in the future.
Joining with Iran would be the height foolishness. That would be the clear equivalent of God’s injunction in the Old Testament to not unite with our enemies. Yet this is what America seems to be doing! Iran is the #1 supporter of terror in the world and chants of “death to America” continue to ring in the darkness that covers that land. Presently, Iran’s Middle East direct influence extends into Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Is it any wonder that Arab nations that are friendly to the United States are drawing closer to Israel, hoping that help can come from that nation? Saudi Arabia has even offered a corridor through their nation for Israel to attack Iran.
Iran would easily defeat ISIS, but it would also add to its territory. In fact, as America does little, the Shia fighters of Iran are taking the lead. These Shia militias are quickly eclipsing the Iraqi forces in importance in Iraq. The result of letting Iran take the lead will likely be to firmly establish Iran as the dominant force in Iran, doubling their territory while on their way to create nuclear weapons in the near future. Providing help to the Arab nations, primarily in the form of leadership, would press Iran back out of the picture and help to preserve religious liberties in Iraq, helping Iraqis to regain ground lost when American pulled out the 15,000 troops.
Putting his own life in danger, Egypt’s President El Sisi has spoken directly to the leaders of Islam, advocating for them to stand up against Islamic fanaticism and also advocating for Arab boots on the ground. El Sisi took the stand of a righteous man.
Can America provide air power, Intel on the ground, and weaponry? Of course. America could easily take the lead in the battle to defeat ISIS. Our efforts to merely “contain” ISIS are not working. Can we airlift those in danger out of Iraq and other nations in order to save them? We have done this with over a thousand Muslims, as well as with many Syrians, even bringing many of them to America. With the Syrians that we’ve brought to America, we haven’t even attempted to separate the oppressed from the oppressors. Why not airlift Christians and those of other faiths out of harm’s way?
Is it worth it to stand up against the darkness? Here’s another way to ask the same question (biblically): “Is it worth it to live for Jesus, rather than let darkness rule the globe, resulting in the murder of millions of Christians and millions upon millions of people of many faiths and cultures?” Christians and tens of thousands of people of other faiths are presently being slaughtered.
Pacifism is not advocated in the bible. Powerful action is not optional. It’s what defeated the Third Reich and with God’s help – and only with God’s help – it’s what will defeat Islamic terrorism and all forms of terrorism. I say “only with God’s help” because without God’s favor, Israel was consistently subjugated by other nations. With God’s favor Israel could not be defeated even by “giants.” As Psalm 127:1-2 says, “Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it.” America will have victory over any evil only to the extent that the nation turns to God as her strength. Therefore, from a biblical point of view, God’s believing church in America must call out to Him and pray for the heavens to open in order for God’s power to flow through (2 Chronicles 7:14). From a biblical point of view, and in the belief of this writer, only through such spiritual warfare will the necessary earthly battle turn in America’s favor. Keep in mind that as posited in the many scriptures above, love of God goes hand in hand with hatred of evil; and it’s the hatred of evil – this outrage against mass extinction of innocents – that will undergird the passionate pursuit to rid the world of pure evil. As Bernie Goldberg said recently, “When outrage dies, a piece of humanity dies with it.” An upsurge of love of God in America, therefore, will greatly help to ignite outrage and necessary action.
While praying for our nation to turn to God, action against the enemies of civilization must be taken quickly. Of course, believers in Christ know that He will someday go to war against Satan to bring last day’s events to a conclusion. Until the return of the conquering Messiah, His expectation, I believe, is that Christians and righteous men and women of all faiths will protect their brothers and sisters around the world, as well as in their own countries. Therefore, fighting Satan in these times agrees with scripture, just as the natural manifestation of righteousness is to hate evil and to love and protect innocent lives. Leviticus 19:16 says, “Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.” How much more should we stand up for the lives of millions of innocents, including the lives of fellow Christians, and including the lives of our own families? Let’s remember that Jesus was not a peacekeeper; He was a peacemaker.
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NEW VIDEO: Visit an IDF Army Base and Kibbutz Misgav Am on the Lebanese Border
Join Tom Trento and The United West on a unique tour into the most northern reaches of Israel along the Lebanese and Israeli border.
In this video you will visit an Israeli Defense Forces Army base. Next we visit the Kibbutz Misgav Am literally a stones throw from the Lebanese border overlooking a Hezbollah controlled village.
Misgav Am (Hebrew: מִשְׂגַּב עָם, lit. Fortress of the People) is a kibbutz in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. Located close to the border with Lebanon near the town of Kiryat Shmona, it falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council.
Misgav Am was founded in 1945. One of its founders was Dr. Reuven Moskovitz. He was born 1928 in Romania, survived the Holocaust and immigrated to Israel. He founded several organisations, including Neve Shalom, where he has lived since 1972.
On 7 April 1980, five terrorists from the Iraqi-backed Arab Liberation Front penetrated Misgav Am in the night and entered the nursery. They killed the kibbutz secretary and an infant boy. They held the rest of the children hostage, demanding the release of about 50 terrorists held in Israeli prisons. The first raid of an IDF infantry unit was unsuccessful, but a second attempt, a few hours later, succeeded, and all the terrorists were killed. Two kibbutz members and one soldier were killed, four children and 11 soldiers were wounded.
And a special thanks to Dr. Bob – OOZ – and CVC for your support of TUW.
God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops.
Hard to grasp the Middle East situation?
A UK friend emailed me about the mess in the Middle East, saying that the tribal differences make it hard to grasp the situation there. Yes, from the standpoint of the inhabitants of the region, the situation is labyrinthine. But from the U.S. standpoint there is nothing complex about it at all. It is a secret hidden in the open, IF you know about the petrodollar agreement signed in 1973. You can truly call it blood money. Of course, in one way, the motivation of the U.S. policy is still hard to grasp, namely, how it could be so utterly and irredeemably EVIL?
Here is my response:
Dear X,
The key to ALL our Middle East wars in recent decades is the petrodollar agreement with the Saudis. It is not at all hard to grasp.
From the U.S. standpoint, the wars (and support for revolutions) are disarmingly easy to understand. Here is a digest explaining exactly why the U.S. has been fighting in the Middle East: http://www.americandailyherald.com/pundits/donald-hank/item/how-the-petrodollar-perpetuates-Islamic-terror
It all boils down to the petrodollar agreement signed between Nixon and King Faisal in 1973. Under this agreement, the Saudis agreed to demand payment for oil in dollars in exchange for “protection” of the Saudi royals and their oil fields. But in reality, the Saudis were not only interested in protection. Their aim was to have the US wage proxy wars against their religious opponents, mostly Shiites but also secularists.
In reality, every single war in the Middle East was fought by the U.S. as a proxy for the Saudis, essentially in defense of Saudi Wahhabism (radical fundamentalist SUNNI sect) against two groups:
- Secularists like Qaddafi and Saddam.
- Shiites like Iran and Syria (Shiites are in fact the less violent and radical of the two groups. You see why the ME has exploded, with the U.S. supporting the radical SUNNI Wahhabi sect and their minions — al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIS? — Incidentally, Afghanistan and the Taliban are a somewhat complicated case. The Saudis turned against them because they were refusing to bow to the Saudis and were making bad publicity for Saudi Arabia)
That is just about all you need to know about U.S. motivation. In a word, money.
Young men from a “Christian” country dying for radical Muslims and their religion, and Christian churches standing with our contemptible government in support of these proxy wars. Easy to grasp the mechanics. Almost impossible to grasp the evil behind it.
Best,
Don
P.S.: Consider how IRAN is one of the countries having religious differences with the Saudis and how Christians have supported confrontation with that country without understanding what is behind it and without making a rational comparison of Iran with other Muslim countries (which would show Iran, with its 600 churches, to be significantly more Christian-friendly than Saudi Arabia, which bans all churches). Jesus commanded us to be gentle as doves and wise as serpents. You can’t have wisdom without any knowledge. Most American Christians are guilty of the sin of willful ignorance, something God hates as much as any other sin. He says My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge – Hosea 4:6.
Judging by the way Europe and even our allies in Asia have been turning away from the US-dominated World Bank and becoming founding members of the Chinese AIIB, we are truly being destroyed by our obstinate refusal to know the truth. Instead we prefer hokus-pokus, signs like blood moons and other nonsense. Please read the following article on the AIIB vs World Bank and leave a comment.
Jihad Mughniyah and the Burned Jordanian Pilot
This is really unbelievable! The Iranian Shi’a Hezbollah terrorists are initiating confrontation of Israel’s borders and just a hop, skip and a jump away, the Sunni Islamic State is burning a Jordanian pilot alive.
Tune in as we explain how thias can happen! In 2008 Mughniyah got whacked by the CIA/Mossad because he was responsible for hundreds of deaths of innocent Americans and Jews. Recently his terrorist son, Jihad Mughniyah was evaporated by a missile and now the Iranians are really mad, thus launching attacks against Israel.
Put all this against the instability of the Middle East and man, we got some serious problems. The more you unravel the Iranian quest for NUKES, the more frightening the story develops. Imagine, Apocalyptic Ayatollahs with mega-destructive toys, let loose in a Sunni sand box and guess what you get? Dead Americans, Dead Jews and Dead Muslims.
These Islamic Shia’ Supremacists want control of Saudi oil, Saudi Mecca and Jerusalem and they KNOW that the way to achieve their Satanic objectives is to get their hands on red hot Plutonium! Thank Allah, we have President Obama standing between the Free World and Armageddon! This three-part series will tell you all you need to know that President Obama is the worst person in the world to trust with smashing Iran.
God help us.
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Despite the Horror, Syrian and Iraqi Christian Refugee Children (And Their Parents) Experience Christmas
Florida based Love-Link Ministries partnered with Christmas for Refugees to bring Christmas to the refugee-riddled Middle East. Rev. Bob Armstrong joined William J. Murray in bringing true joy to the war-ravaged lands. Bill is the author of seven books including his bestselling autobiography, “My Life Without God,” which detailed his childhood in the dysfunctional home of atheist/Marxist leader Madalyn Murray O’Hair. I have been on his board for three decades.
Rev. Bob with Syrian refugee children.
I have ministered in 45 countries, but nothing really prepared me for how great the need truly is, and how we (and your giving and prayers) had such a tremendous impact upon Middle East refugees. Several thousand Syrian and Iraqi Christian refugee children (and their parents) were given a genuine Christmas this year, in spite of their horrific circumstances.
Instead of spending money on renting event banquet halls, local churches were utilized for free. Plus, the local pastor obviously knew most of the precise, devastating situations and most of the refugees, as well as the dramatic needs of each family.
In Lebanon, in the city of Zahle near the Bekaa Valley, close to the Syrian border, the True Vine Church helped in this monumental effort to reach refugee children. The host pastor’s name — yes, his birth name – is Pastor Jihad!!!! You read that right! He has been to the United States several times before 9-11, but after 9-11, he was denied for five years simply because of his name! I understand why. What a terrific pastor!
Parents of the refugee children, having suffered so much when forced to flee their homeland in Syria to Lebanon by ISIL warriors, also participated in their own service while their children enjoyed a sumptuous meal in their own culture. BEFORE any child or adult received a meal or any food bags, the Christmas Gospel was taught to them. Many were Muslims. To hear Muslim children singing at the top of their lungs how Bethlehem was the place of the birth of the Savior of the world was absolutely breath-taking!!
Isam Ghattas and William J. Murray oversee the Christmas event for refugees.
Multiplied thousands of displaced Iraqi Christian refugees have recently come to Jordan because of the July, 2014 takeover of the city of Mosul by Islamic State Sunni fighters that was so heavily reported in the media. Most escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Islamic State Sunni fighters took their homes and gave them a choice: “Renounce your faith, leave or die.”
Many Christians chose to flee for their lives. One 72-year-old man, living in the basement of a Jordanian church, described his situation: “In one moment, I lived in a comfortable home with 1,800 square feet; and now I exist with my entire family in only 180 square feet!” (See the picture of me with him below)
To many, this might have been the very best Christmas these refugees have ever experienced, in spite of their urban plight. Many were forced from their mostly comfortable homes in Iraq.
We supplied Christmas dinner, the Christmas story, Christmas carols, a bag of candy, an entire week’s worth of food for an entire family (called a “Joy Bag”), and prayer the week before Christmas to those needy Christian refugees. Over 300 children and their parents received this humanitarian Christian program the week before Christmas at just one event held at the Orthodox Church. In all, over 1,000 refuge children in Jordan will be reached during the Christmas season.
Bible Society of Jordan participated as well by giving each family an adult Bible, a children’s picture Bible and children’s coloring and activity books with stories from the Old and New Testaments.
Even Santa Claus and Winnie the Pooh visited the new St. Ephrem Orthodox Church in Amman (headed by Priest Emmanuel) to give out bags of candy to the delight of the refugee children.
The United States’ media does not give the entire picture of what is happening in the Middle East. We are experiencing the worst refugee crisis since World War Two. As reported two weeks ago on CBS 60 Minutes, nearly two million Syrian refugees have crossed over into Lebanon and now make up one-fourth of that nation’s entire population. The population of Beirut has doubled just in the last three years!
Refugees with their Joy Bags.
Bill Murray and I had just entered Jordan from a few days in doing the same with Syrian refugees in Lebanon. We traveled extremely close to ISIL, or Islamic State (IS) -controlled enclaves to help develop relief to those who suffer.
I was within a football-field length from ISIL warriors and fighters!! In northeast Lebanon there is a place called “Private Tent City,” as opposed to the United Nations tent cities provided for some refugees. This “private” place charges money and at this one area, serves as a place for IS fighters to “regroup” in the winter months! Obviously, no pictures. No police go in there; no Lebanese army never enters the “private tent city.”
ISIL has kidnapped 26 Lebanese Army soldiers. ISIL has contacted the relatives of these kidnapped soldiers and has threatened them that if they do not blockade the main highway running north and south in Lebanon, their relative will be beheaded! So we had to drive around a couple of blockades. War is hell!
One of my very best friends, Bill Murray, the Christmas for Refugees founder, stressed: “Our main thrust is to assist Christian refugee children and their families. But if Muslim parents’ consent that their children can receive the Christmas message at the dinners, that is a part of the mission given us by the Lord. We doubled the amount of what we did last year at Christmas. We hope to double it again next year!”
Jordan’s Manara Ministries’ Isam Ghattas, our local Jordanian coordinator, urged: “No one can conceive how great the need really is. These refugees are creating a humanitarian crisis.” Our evangelical relief and development agency met many needs. The popular Ghattas was overwhelmed by grateful parents and children. One can tell from the smile on Isam’s face that the years of he constantly helping people is extremely rewarding to him personally. The exact same with Armstrong and Murray.
Most Iraqi refugees in Jordan fled their homeland with almost nothing. In one church basement (a church near Amman; no name mentioned for security reasons), 56 refugees live in 12 – 10’ x 10’ cubicles. Some are being moved to “trailer homes”. Forget the “double-wides,” these supposed “homes” are about one-third of a regular mobile home. Refugees use a different trailer for communal cooking for 20 families. Over 95% of Iraqi Christian refugees cannot get employment.
Most are considered “in transit” to permanent residence in another country that will take refugees. However, for most, that dream will always remain a dream.
We met with some leading pastors of the Assyrian and Chaldean churches, who also participated in the feeding programs. Here was the tragedy: looking into the “pleading” eyes of that Chaldean priest who showed the list of over 800 children he had registered for the meals. Unfortunately, the original budget was for only 100 meals. The priest had to make the tough decisions.
Refugee kids enjoy their Christmas dinner.
It is my prayer that next year, everyone who wants, will be fed and blessed. Fortunately, the program was able to increase the number to 200 children, all newly arrived Iraqi children from Mosul, at that church. We are actively exploring ways to expand this worthy outreach into Iraq itself and even Egypt.
Despite deplorable conditions and an extremely bleak future, the laughter of the children could be heard and the ear-to-ear smiles could be seen at distribution points in Jordan and Lebanon, as they experienced a true “Christmas to remember” especially in a very unfamiliar place.
Grateful refugee parents shed tears of joy at seeing the children being able to have a Christmas time despite the horrid situation they find themselves in currently.
The Christmas program events presented in both Lebanon and Jordan were truly non-denominational. Christmas events were held at evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic churches. The Christmas for Refugee program was accepted by and cooperation received from churches of all faiths in both nations.
In the face of the disgraceful refugee crisis this Christmas there was a positive outcome due to the generosity of many people. Multiplied thousands of refugee families greatly benefited, and were blessed, because of this successful program.
Again, my gratitude to those who made a financial investment into this worthy cause. Most importantly, thank you for your continued prayers for safety. Obviously, I am back home with Kim and Brittany for Christmas. But a part of my heart is with those dear children and parents in the Middle East.
I also want to thank MAOZ Israel for your substantial donation to this cause, where that offering shows that even Messianic Jewish Believers in Israel genuinely care about their fellowman, the Arabs.
I have already committed to next year to be a vital part of this worthy and effective outreach.
P. S. I also met personally with General Georges Sada while in Jordan. He was head of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Air Force. As a strong Christian, (the only one of over 120 of Saddam’s Cabinet) he later headed the Evangelical Christians in Iraq. He was also my host in Iraq years ago. It was a great reunion. We are exploring ways to reach more Iraqi refugees.
What will Israel do with ISIS on its Doorstep?
ISIS Flags at Funeral in Gaza.
Yesterday, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) declared a Caliphate to be ruled under Sharia in the lands it has conquered in Syria and Iraq. Jerusalem-based Dan Diker on yesterday’s Lisa Benson Show, on the Salem Radio Network was in the midst of a discussion with Mudar Zahran about the ISIS threat with “Jordan in its gunsight”, listen here. He commented that the announcement should be viewed as a political statement to Al Qaeda and its leader Ayman al Zawihiri.
Zahran noted that Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) had morphed into ISIS. AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a Jordanian from Zarqa who became self indoctrinated, joined Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in 1990’s and ran his own Jihadi training center. He established brutal barbaric assaults in Iraq in 2005 engaging against US military and contractors, and Shia Iraqis that set a precedent for ISIS. al-Zarqawi was killed in a 2006 USAF -F16a bombing attack at a targeted safe house in Iraq.
The ISIS declaration was also a statement to other Sunni terrorist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine, Hamas. The Algemeiner reported ISIS flags were flying this weekend on pickup trucks in Gaza for a funeral an indication that it was operating there. Conquering large swaths of terrain, looting upwards of a billion dollars worth of money and gold, capturing US supplied Humvees and Blackhawk helicopters abandoned by a corrupt and incompetent Iraqi Army have morphed ISIS into an Islamic State with its own army.
ISIS is more than just a political threat elsewhere in the sectarian turmoil of the Middle East. That was recognized in comments by New York Rep. Pete King onABC’s This Week that President Obama should be “very very aggressive” about ISIS. He was most immediately concerned about protecting our Embassy in Baghdad with 500 US security troops. There are also 300 US military advisors engaged in assessing what to do with a divided Shiite- dominated al Maliki government in Iraq. A government whose military is now supported by drones of Iran’s Quds Force gathering intelligence on ISIS forces near the capital of Baghdad.
King was also concerned about the estimated 100 American jihadis reported to be fighting with ISIS. ISIS has enticed them with English language weekly and annual reports and videos. My co-host on yesterday program, Lisa Benson, commented off –line about the plethora of such sophisticated ISIS social media that is published daily. That brought back memories of the campaign 2008 endeavoring to get Google to shut down Al Qaeda jihadist training sites.
The Administration for its part looks like the proverbial deer frozen in the headlights of ISIS. Last week, It floated the belated idea of funding $500 million to train “moderate” rebel fighters in the Syrian civil war. A civil war that looks increasingly like a stalemate between ISIS and the Assad forces are backed by Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force with support from Putin’s Russia. That Administration proposal may be more than a day late and a dollar short. We had reports in mid-June from Der Spiegel and other sources that the some CIA-trained rebel fighters in Jordan opted to join ISIS given its stunning successes.
As Diker pointed out on Sunday’s Lisa Benson Show the makeup of the anti-Assad rebels according to a Times of Israel report may control 95 percent on the Syrian side of the Golan Height. He, said, “we can see Hezbollah flags flying”. Then he noted that the balance might be Al Nusrah, the official Al Qaeda anti-Assad contingent that increasingly has seen their fighters opt to join the “successful” ISIS.
ISIS Flags in Ma’an, Jordan
I asked Zahran, who is pro-Israel and promotes the view that Jordan is Palestine, about the peculiar circumstances behind last Thursday’s Jordanian Security Court decision acquitting Al Qaeda preacher, Abu Qatada. Abu Qatada had been extradited from the UK for preaching incitement and allegedly raising funds for terrorist causes. The Jordanian court had dismissed one charge based on a failed 1999 plot to attack an American School in Amman. The second charge of plotting terrorism against Israel targets has yet to be heard. Last month on May 28, 2014, the Jordanian Security Court had sentenced 11 allegedly involved in an 2012 Al Qaeda plot to attack both British and US Embassies in Amman. Zahran drew attention to the nearly six decade dalliance with the Islamic Action front, the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, by the Hashemite Kingdom under the late King Hussein and now his son, King Abdullah II. Zahran noted that the IAF, Muslim Brotherhood which is largely Bedouin, is the strongest organized Islamist group in Jordan. He drew attention to the daily pitched battles in the southern town of Ma’an between Jordanian security forces and local tribal supporters of the IAF flying ISIS flags. Ma’an is located less than three kilometers from Israel’s frontier. The headline in a Washington Post report on the turmoil in Ma’an read, “Jordan fears homegrown ISIS more than invasion from Iraq”.
The security of Jordan as a buffer state, as Diker pointed out is foremost on the agenda of Israel ‘s national security. We note the comments in The Times of Israel by former Israeli security cabinet strategic advisor Gen. Yaakov Amidror, who said that Israel should bolster the defense of Jordan against the ISIS onslaught. At the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) of Tel Aviv University, yesterday Israeli PM Netanyahu underlined these security issues. He talked about support for an Independent Kurdistan and completing a security fence along Israel’s eastern frontier from the Golan to Eilat. Netanyahu said:
The forces of fanatical Islam are already knocking on our door” and Israel needs to be proactive to bolster its defense against enemy infiltration.
“The first thing that we need to do is to build a security fence on our eastern border, and to build it gradually all the way from Eilat to merge with the security fence that we’ve been building over the last two years in the Golan Heights,” he said. “That fence does not hermetically prevent infiltration; it doesn’t prevent shooting through the fence as we saw tragically just a week ago; it doesn’t prevent barrages of missiles over it, or the digging of tunnels underneath it. But it does narrow down dramatically that permeatio on Israel’s border.”
Israel will not cede the Jordan Valley approaches, much sought after by Secretary of Kerry and the US facilitator in bi-lateral discussions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, former US Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk. Diker pointed out Indyk’s announced return to the Washington-based Brookings Institution indicative of the US failure to achieve a final status agreement with the unified Palestinian government of Fatah with Hamas. Diker cited the abduction of three Israel youths, including one American, by Hamas the prime suspects sought in the massive Operation Brother’s Keeper as evidence that no security for Israel could have emerged from the US facilitated negotiations. Unfortunately, the bodies of the three youths were recovered by the IDF, today amidst grief for their families and sorrow expressed by many Israelis and Americans.
Deceased three Israeli abductees likely slain by Hamas suspects. From left: INaftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach, in three undated family photos. Credit Image by Reuters
Netanyahu’s INSS remarks reflect the deep concerns about the stability of Jordan rife with more than 1.4 million Syrian refuges, and a million Iraqis. There are an estimated 1.5 million Arabs Refugees of Palestinian origin. Jordan’s population of 7.9 million is based on CIA Factbook estimates. Note the last census was taken in 2004. Then there is the accommodation of Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist support growing in the country’s Bedouin population . They feel aggrieved about the lack economic participation and high unemployment amid alleged corruption charges against the ruling autocratic Hashemite King and family.
Umm al Fahm, Israel protests by Islamic Movement, June 27, 2014.
Netanyahu also recognized internal threats to Israel’s security at yesterday’s cabinet meeting. He announced that he would move to outlaw the Northern Branch of the Islamist movement, whose leader, Sheikh Read Salah, has proposed to establish a Caliphate on the Temple Mount. In October 2013, we wrote in the Iconoclast post about Israeli Arab adherents of Sheik Salah joining up with anti-Assad Al Qaeda rebel forces in Syria. Last Friday, there were rallies organized by Salah and his Islamist adherents in the Israeli Arab town of Umm al Fahm protesting the raids by the IDF in Operation Brother’ s Keeper denying Hamas abduction of the three slain youths. Rock throwing by protesters was broken up Israeli riot police with tear gas and sound bombs. Netanyahu noted:
[The northern Branch of the Islamist Movement] constantly preaches against the State of Israel and its people. [The Islamist Movement ] publicly identify with terrorist organizations such as Hamas. Therefore, I directed the relevant authorities to consider declaring the northern branch of the Islamic Movement as an illegal organization. This would give the security authorities significant tools in the struggle against the movement.”
In May 2014, Netanyahu had been thwarted in such a move against the northern branch of the Islamist Movement by the Justice Minister Tzipi Livni of Hatnua, because these enemies of the Jewish State are citizens. They are represented in Israel’s Knesset by Arab parties, espousing pro Palestinian positions verging on sedition.
Israel knows what it has to do with ISIS on its doorstep and fellow travelers inside. The question is the resolve of Jerusalem to take the hard steps. Israel’s friends in the US Congress are urging the Administration to undertake actions to protect its only reliable ally and interests in the region. The ISIS Caliphate’s declaration means that Israel will have to defend itself from jihadis both inside and on its doorstep.
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared on The New English Review.