Tag Archives: Iraq

Iran’s attacks are heightening fears of a wider Middle East war

The Telegraph, January 18, 2024

Event

Tit-for-tat cross-border exchanges between Pakistan and Iran this week marked the latest escalation in the Middle East, a region already dangerously on edge as a result of Israel’s war with Hamas. The fallout from the terror group’s Oct 7 attacks and Israel’s military response has spiked tensions in a range of simmering flashpoints involving Israel’s arch-foe Iran, leading diplomats to fear a wider conflict may yet erupt. Those concerns were heightened in recent days when Iran began to flex its military muscles, attacking targets in a string of other countries. Iran has launched missile attacks on “spy headquarters” and “terrorist” targets in Syria and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, where it claimed to hit Israeli espionage headquarters. Then Tehran hit what it said were Sunni militants hiding within Pakistan. Tehran anticipates tensions with its number one enemy, Israel, are “going to increase” this year with the Israel-Hamas war set to drag on, said Sanam Vakil, a director with the Chatham House think tank.

Comment

This week Iran launched missile strikes on three different countries – Iraq, Syria and Pakistan. Also its proxy militant groups (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) continue to target U.S. and Western interests and fight Israel. Iran’s attack on Syria was against ISIS militants in response to scores of people killed at a commemoration service in Iran last week. Iran’s attack on Iraq was said to be against Israeli spy sites. Iran’s attack on Pakistan was against a group that killed some Iranian security forces. All the attacks were using long range accurate missiles. It is probable that all this is to demonstrate to Israel that Iran is able to attack where and when it wants to. Isaiah 13 speaks of the Medes (Iranians) being stirred up and used the bows (missiles) to dash men to pieces.

Bible quote

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.  Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. (Isaiah 13:17-18)

Isaiah 13 has a latter day fulfilment. It is not only about ancient Iraq and ancient Iran – it is also about modern times.

Weekly World Watch, Andy Walton

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Find also to read

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  2. Rebuildsyria.cz: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-Iran Treaty – A Flash for “Better Times”?
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  4. Latin America, Israel, Rafah city, Gaza Strip, Pakistan, Sudan, food shortage, homicide, and sexual violence
  5. Britain and US launch airstrikes on Houthi targets

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Dailymail: Back in the Arab League after 12 years, Syria urges group to invest in war-torn country

Sorry, this post had to be reblogged on Some View on the World

Levant's Agora

By Associated Press.

Syria on Monday called on Arab countries to invest in the war-torn nation, now again a member of the Arab League. The appeal from Syria’s economy and trade minister came during an economic conference in Saudi Arabia, ahead of a league summit in the kingdom.

The 22-member Arab League agreed earlier this month to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing Syrian President Bashar Assad, a long-time regional pariah, back into the fold.

However, crippling Western sanctions against Assad´s government remain in place and could prevent oil-rich Arab countries from rushing to invest in Syria – or lead to a quick release of reconstruction funds in the war-battered country.

“We invite you to participate in investing in Syria, where there are important opportunities and promising horizons,” said the Syrian minister, Mohammed Samer al-Khalil, as he addressed the opening session of the…

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Xinhua: 20 years after blatant invasion, U.S. crimes against Iraq still unpunished

On false pretences on March 19, 2003, the United States, along with coalition forces primarily from the United Kingdom, initiated a war on Iraq, which would not liberate the people of Iraq, but in many cases would even bring them much more misery.

We cannot deny that many have walked in what the US government wanted everyone to believe, that chemical and nuclear weapons would be readied by Hussein’s government to attack the West.

Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, was clear that they could complete their job of checking Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions in months, not years. Nevertheless, despite the evidence that Saddam was far less powerful and that the moral basis for war was lacking, British participation in the invasion came about because so many of my parliamentary colleagues had managed to convince themselves that it was justified.

In Great Britain many Labour MPs who voted for war later expressed their resentment.

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To remember

  • protracted armed conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011 that began with the invasion of Iraq by the United States-led coalition that overthrew the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein.
  • invading a sovereign country+ ousting its government
  • Much of the country’s infrastructure destroyed during relentless bombings launched by the U.S.-led coalition.
  • more than 200,000 civilians were killed and over 9 million others displaced in Iraq
  • justice has not been done for Iraq & its people, many of whom are still suffering from pain created by the unjust war.
  • Iraq = rich country before the invasion => degenerated into a poor state and + political instability + economic hardship caused by U.S. invasion & its impact => still mired in poverty + chaos
  • United States remains the sole superpower => little can be done to bring the American warmongers + criminals to justice

 

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Please find also to read:

  1. History.com: This Day In History (March 19-2003): Invasion of Iraq begins
  2. Weekly World Watch 1-7 August: UK and US – Iran, Israel, Elam and Media (Our World) =  Weekly World Watch 1-7 August: UK and US – Iran, Israel, Elam and Media (Some View on the World)

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Levant's Agora

Editor: Li Jiayao.

During the more than eight-year war and ensuing years of violence after the 2011 U.S. pullout, more than 200,000 civilians were killed and over 9 million others displaced in Iraq. Much of the country’s infrastructure was also destroyed during the relentless bombings launched by the U.S.-led coalition.

People hold anti-war banners and wave Iraqi flags during a protest in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Though 20 years have passed since the United States launched a blatant invasion into the sovereign state of Iraq, justice has not been done for Iraq and its people, many of whom are still suffering from the pain created by the unjust war.

During the more than eight-year war and ensuing years of violence after the 2011 U.S. pullout, more than 200,000 civilians were killed and over 9 million others displaced in Iraq. Much of the country’s infrastructure was also…

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A reminder to what could happen to Christians in Afghanistan

Some seven years ago just days after the militant group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria said they killed hundreds of Syrians, dozens of Iraqi Christian families had to flee the ISIS-controlled city of Mosul, hoping to avoid a similar fate.

The 18th of July 2014, the al Qaeda splinter group issued an ultimatum to Iraqi Christians living in Mosul – by Saturday they had to be converted to Islam, pay a fine or face “death by the sword.” A total of 52 Christian families left the city of Mosul early Saturday morning, with an armed group prohibiting some of them from taking anything but the clothes on their backs.

“They told us, ‘You to leave all of your money, gold, jewelry and go out with only the clothes on you,'”

Wadie Salim told CNN at that time.

Images obtained exclusively by CNN show that the phrase “property of ISIS” scrawled in black paint on a number of the homes that were abandoned.

There and then those Christians could still find a place to go to. Some of the families headed for Irbil – which was then controlled by Kurdish forces – and others toward the Dohuk province. The majority went to Dohuk, which is 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Mosul.

Like at that time people now in Afghanistan do not know how to act. Many wonder

“Are we going to get killed?”

We saw in 2014 ISIS to be able to take over large swaths of land due to the lack of centralized authority in both Iraq and war-torn Syria. We also saw how the Sunni militants hoped to establish an Islamic state throughout the region and how much bloodshed came over the land.

Today the Taliban again repeated soothing words that people in Afhanistan should not have to worry. But the past reactions when they conquered land did not prove they were very friendly to people who thought differently than they.

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Analysis: Will religious freedom flourish in post-treaty Middle East?

Could peace between the Jewish State and a Sunni Arab powerhouse portend increasing religious freedom across the Middle East?

By Lela Gilbert, World Israel News

On August 13, World Israel News reported that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt Israel’s extension of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel.”

The announcement was made by President Donald Trump.

“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates.”

So President Trump, who negotiated the agreement, predicted.

There was, of course, debate in Israel and beyond about whether the agreement had cast aside annexation of biblical Judea and Samaria for the sake of an elusive peace gesture. At the same time, there was celebration among young Israelis, embracing new hopes for harmony with the Arab world.

Despite the UAE flag emblazoned in lights across Tel Aviv’s city hall, heated discussions on the subject continue between American and Israeli, religious and secular, conservative and liberal Jews and their supporters.

‘Sarsour has no role in the campaign whatsoever,’

Biden spokesman says after DNC address

Meanwhile, conversations about the religious implications of the agreement have extended well beyond Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi. Could peace between the Jewish State and a Sunni Arab powerhouse portend increasing religious freedom across the Middle East?

Pope Francis

Pope Francis is welcomed by Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince , Feb. 4, 2019. (AP/Kamran Jebreili)

For several years, the United Arab Emirates has been painting a self-portrait not only of a super-wealthy Arab state, but also as a haven of religious freedom. And since Pope Francis’ dramatic visit there in February 2019, much has been said to affirm that these efforts amount to more than a photo-op.

Deutche Welle (DW) described the Pope’s visit as an historic milestone, reporting

 “More than 130,000 worshipers flocked to the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday to celebrate a Mass with Pope Francis… He is the first leader of the Catholic Church ever to set foot on the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam.”

If peace between Jews, Muslims and Christians is possible in one small Arab country, why couldn’t it extend further? Reflecting on this possibility, prayerful optimists have lifted their eyes heavenward while world-weary cynics continue to shake their heads.

On the optimistic side, DW explained that at the start of his papal visit, Pope Francis met with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other UAE leaders at the presidential palace.

“He also signed a document promoting ‘human fraternity’ with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni Muslim learning. During an address to a gathering of interfaith leaders, he called for an end to wars in the Middle East, including in Yemen and Syria. All religious leaders had a ‘duty to reject every nuance of approval from the word war,’ he said.”

But, as less-than-upbeat observers will quickly note, religious freedom in the Middle East often ends where radical Islam begins, whether that dangerous version of ideology is rooted in Shiite or Sunni tradition. In fact, in its 2020 Country Report, the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) declared that Egypt, Iraq and Turkey were included on its “Special Watch List,” while Iran and Saudi Arabia continue to be “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC).

Both had either permitted or committed egregious violations of religious freedom. Indeed, the violent nature of conflicts in the Middle East, including genocides of Christians, Yazidis and other minorities, tend to discourage even the most enthusiastic proponents of dialogue and reconciliation.

Still, efforts for peace – whether motivated by economic promise or intended to create a bulwark against Iranian and Turkish aggression – should not be disregarded. It is a region where churches are sometimes bombed or torched and surviving synagogues are broken relics of happier days — before the wholesale expulsion of entire Jewish communities.

Nonetheless, the UAE has begun a unique project intended to transform the marred image of Muslim, Jewish and Christian relations: a Multi-Faith Complex – including the first official synagogue in the country’s history.

“A church, mosque and synagogue will share a collective space for the first time, serving as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange, and nurturing the values of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities and cultures,” the committee overseeing construction of the complex said in a statement.

For years, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have been holding clandestine meetings. Now their newly revealed projects include both economic and defense opportunities to which both have contributed expertise and funding. Today, the inclusion of other Arab states in such endeavors is already under discussion, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Sudan and more.

Sanguine regional conversations about peace and prosperity should never be silenced. Prayerful candles should always be lit by people of faith. Nevertheless, wary eyes keep their watch as Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rage and rant about the Israeli-Emirati agreement’s betrayal of Islamic empire-building.

And while Abu-Dhabi’s construction of the Multi-Faith Complex prepares for its 2022 opening, deadly gunfire shatters quiet nights in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, while rockets and explosive balloons continue to darken the sunlit skies above Israel.

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When will it stop

Liberty, Equality and Fraternity three core values of the democratic country France where remembered on the Day of the Bastille, the 14th of July, the national holiday of France.

Though the French values of liberty, equality and fraternity may be swiftly being trumped by a larger emphasis on laïcité, or the separation of church and state. In the last decade, the government has passed laws banning religious symbols — namely the hijab — in public schools and buildings and as such got some members of the Muslim community against them. It also got France looking at a series of riots in 2005 in the suburbs of Paris where many youngsters of North African origin feel disadvantaged and discriminated. The measure of the government giving in to the employers, making done with lots of received rights for work arrangements, created lots of protests which at times became very violently. Unemployment coupled with growing religious tensions across the country is an ideal seed-bed for anti government actions but also for trying to rib the nation apart and bring fear over it by a growing religious tension in the country.

The South of France has cities, like Marseille, which have different cultures. This can be well seen in Marseille which is more defined by the cultures of its Arab and Italian immigrants than by its French nationality. In the streets of Marseille, you’ll hear French, Arabic and Italian. In many of the city’s most popular restaurants, you’ll find Italian and Arab dishes rather than the French classics like escargot and frog’s legs. In Nice or Niçard Occitan you may the Niçois speaking Occitan or Niçard like the Nizzardo or Italian inhabitants of Nice and those who do are bilingual in French. Nicknamed Nice la Belle (Nissa La Bella in Niçard), which means Nice the Beautiful, in the town you may also find people from North African origin and several Muslims.

French, Belgians, English and lots of people from other countries where having leisure time enjoying the day of work or on holiday. On the morning of 14 July 2016 the French President François Hollande reaffirmed that the state of emergency put in place after the November 2015 Paris attacks would end after the Tour de France finishes on 26 July 2016. he could be pleased nothing had happened at the target European football championship. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, this year strong measurements of security were taken in France as well as in Belgium, this with the knowledge the ISIS Jihadists were aiming this event as an easy target. This year France was beaten by 1–0 at the final in Saint-Denis after extra time. The French got a blow by this, but were already hurt much harder by several terrorist acts the last few months. Several communities had their share of it, but the coastal reasort of posh and glamour with Cannes and Nice, the capital of the Alpes Maritimes département, as attractive poles were blessed with sunshine and good news. Soon the Jazz music would sound in the third busiest airport in France, bringing occasional extra swing.

Nice attack aftermath

The driver reportedly zig-zagged his way through the crowds along the promenade Credit: matrixpictures.co.uk

To watch the Bastille Day fireworks large crowds of people had gathered along the foreshore of Nice.
At approximately 22:40 local time (20:40 UTC), a Renault Midlum 19 ton cargo truck was driven at at high speed along the famed Promenade des Anglais towards the crowd of people, who had been watching a Bastille Day firework display; the truck travelled at least 100 m (330 ft) before it hit the crowd and then continued to drive two kilometres (1.25 miles) into the crowd. After being stopped by armed police, who fired bullets into the lorry’s windscreen, the so far unnamed man exchanged fire with officers using a 7.65 pistol, before being shot dead.

Though it was a French-Tunisian criminal well known to the police for armed attacks this man seemed not to be followed up and nobody of the intelligence force was able to foresee he could be doing this horrid killing.

Once again France was hit this year by a “cowardly and barbaric” atrocity making victims along the streets where people would think they could walk freely and peacefully. 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel on his track of evil killed at least 10 children and got 50 children treated in hospital with sever wounds, among the 84 or 86 dead and several fighting between life and death, in the Riviera city. Officials fear the death toll will rise.

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As hundreds remained in hospital – including 18 fighting for their lives in intensive care – anti-terrorist judges opened an investigation into “mass murder” and investigators searched the home of the driver in the Abattoirs area of Nice.

The killer his identity card was found in the truck. He had French and Tunisian nationality. The fact that the killer was known to the authorities will be of grave concern to those trying to prevent terrorist attacks in France.

A recent Paris parliamentary investigation into last year’s attacks identified multiple failings by France’s intelligence agencies.

French President Francois Hollande said in an address to the nation in the early hours of Friday.

“France as a whole is under the threat of Islamist terrorism, and so under these circumstances we have to demonstrate absolute vigilance and show determination that is unfailing.”

“There’s no denying the terrorist nature of this attack of yet again the most extreme form of violence.”

For many heads of state it is clear Europe shall not bow down to those acts of terror, contrary all those attack will ad more oil on the fir and give them reason to continue their attacks on Syria and Iraq.

“Nothing will make us yield in our will to fight terrorism. We will further strengthen our actions in Iraq and in Syria. We will continue striking those who attack us on our own soil,”

Francois Hollande said, in reference to France’s involvement in a coalition of nations carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

It seems clear that the driver wanted to mow down the maximum number of people. Nice Matin journalist Damien Allemand said

“I saw bodies flying like bowling pins along its route. Heard noises, cries that I will never forget.”

Photo Gaillard/Reuters

At the extra news screening last night, at 23.45 h, we already coverage of witness, declaring how they fled from the ‘unknown’ and how the crowd got in panic. Many bodies, blood and body parts could be seen all along the road. After ramming into the crowd with his lorry, the driver started shooting and created what looked like a battlefield. Several messages on social media by people present at the scene, described a sense of helplessness faced with the carnage.

Al Jazeera reporter David Coady was also at the scene.

“I was enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks just like thousands of other people at the promenade in Nice,” he said.

“I was just walking back after the fireworks had finished. I looked towards the truck and I thought it was a bit odd, because the roads were shut down and there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people walking along. But then, from the direction of the truck, I started hearing screaming and then people started running. And so I joined all those people in running away from there.”

European Council President Donald Tusk said it was a “tragic paradox” that the victims of the attack in Nice were celebrating “liberty, equality and fraternity” – France’s motto – on the country’s national day.

Last night very soon French people offered a place to stay for those who could not return to their apartment or hotel, and a hashtag soon went viral. Leaders around the world responded to the attack, and Twitter users were using the hashtag #PrayForNice. President Barack Obama, standing in solidarity and partnership with France, also issued a statement offering

“any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice.”

He also said

“On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.”

Tusk tweeted a photograph of himself and other European and Asian leaders standing in tribute to the Nice victims at an Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia.

France has had its share last year with the January 2015 attack on the Paris offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, linked to al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, and the multiple attacks in the same city in November claimed by ISIS. People wonder when it is going to stop.

We are afraid we can not offer good news on that part. Followers of the Creator Redeemer God have received His Words of warning where we are told of what is going to happen after the Great War. Most people then thought it would not ever happen again, but only a few years later a second World War brought sorrow over the whole world. Today we can see many things happening which are foretold in the Holy Scriptures. As Brothers in Christ we are not surprised what happened after the start of the war between Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. The internal conflict (1978–92) between anticommunist Muslim guerrillas and the Afghan communist government (aided in 1979–89 by Soviet troops) was a start for many battles between Muslim extremists and different states.  The September 11 attacks triggered a harsher reaction from Western countries, bringing it into a Afghanistan: anti-Taliban fighters [Credit: Reuters NewMedia Inc./Corbis]international conflict in Afghanistan. In 2001 that war got in a first phase toppling the Taliban (the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, perpetrators of the September 11 attacks). [The joint U.S. and British invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 was preceded by over two decades of war in Afghanistan.]

From then onwards it only seemed to escalate and certain groups America first helped and provided with ammunition, turned their back on to them and the West. More and more nations got involved and religious groups started getting creating amok between different groups. Religion stood up against religion like it is foretold in the Bible.  Many many signs foretold in the Holy Scriptures have become a reality.

So, for those who ask

“When would it end?”

We can only say that it all shall come to an end when World War III shall come to an end. No matter what people may try to keep or to bring peace we shall have to go to face a terrible war, which shall be even greater or more horrible than the previous two world wars. We do not want to be doom preachers, but lets face it, of all the prophesies in the Bible there are only a few which did not come true. all other prophesies, even told more than 2500 years before have come into being. They happened and the world continued like it was foretold.

Much too often people do forget that the ancient writers provided the world with the torch of civilization and liberty, a guide for life, for the believers but also for non-believers. All sorts of people can make use of the wise words which are provided in the 66 books which make up the Bible. Throughout the ages it influenced people for good. In society it has been recognized by the greatest statesmen to be a book of books that made a big change in their life and often helped them to come to decisions. We also do have to admit that certain holy scriptures have been looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting creeds and sometimes might unintentionally but woefully be misrepresented. Though now we have come in a time where intentionally people want to give false interpretation as the core of their business. different groups made it a sport to falsely interpret the Bible and the Quran.  Today we have certain groups which claim to fight for the cause of justice and to bring a war in the name of Allah/God. Others cannot put them on their place, because they themselves also do not know the true content of those holy books. they too live by many long-revered misconceptions of the truth of those books, received through the traditions of their fathers. Instead of putting the enemies to confusion by disarming them of their weapons, both groups become more agitated and call to the battle.

Man may look at himself and see or speak about an evil world. H should know that this “present evil world” in which man is permitted to try governing himself soon shall come to an end.

After a Jewish Age, or the period following the death of Jacob, during which all of his posterity were treated by God as his special charge — “his people” we can see that often that chosen people forgot Who was with them and Who had liberated them. For centuries the Most High Maker showed special favours, and declared,

You only have I known (recognized with favour) of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2)

But the stubborn people had to come to see that God was willing to provide an opening for those who are willing to come to Him. Also goyim or non-Jews found a way to God by the send one from God, the Messiah rabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ).  The promises made to the original People of God were typical of the “better promises” made to us. Having come in the Gospel Age, those who believe in God should know that they have the “better sacrifices,”  which do make atonement for the sins of the whole world. They know that the promised one shall return and not only take up his role or seat in the “royal priesthood,” composed of all those who offer themselves to God “living sacrifices,” holy and acceptable, through Jesus Christ, but to be the King of the coming Kingdom here on earth.

But before it comes so far that Jesus shall become the Chief or “High Priest of our profession.” (Hebrews 3:1) this world shall have to withstand the terrible times which were prophesied long before. Too all who are willing to take Jesus as their master is demanded to go out in the world and to warn it. Not only should they notify the peoples of what shall be coming, so that they can prepared themselves for those horrible times, they should look for the signs God has given mankind, to be alert and prepared. In that time of people warning and bringing Good News of the coming Kingdom, therefore called the Gospel age, we find the realities of which the Jewish age and its services and ordinances were shadows. (Hebrews 10:1)

The Gospel age, is the period during which the body of Christ is called out of the world, and shown by faith the crown of life, and the exceeding great and precious promises whereby (by obedience to the call and its requirements) they may become partakers of the divine nature. (Pet. 1:4) Evil is still permitted to reign over or rule the world, in order that by contact with it these may be tried to see whether they are willing to give up the human nature with its privileges and blessings, a living sacrifice, being made conformable to Jesus’ death, that they may be accounted worthy to be in his likeness in the resurrection. (Psalms 17:15)

Coming closer to the times of more disasters Jews, Christians, Muslims, other believers and non-believers shall have to think how they want to cope with the turbulence and shall have to find solutions to live themselves in a more protected environment. Their choices may not always bring the hoped for reactions, because those against God (the adversary or satan) are going to play more for devil.

Before Christ, with royal title and power, will be present as Jehovah’s representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this day of trouble, taking up his seat in the city of Jerusalem, many shall fight to get the power in Jerusalem and to be able to conquer the people all over the world. This battle for the power has already started. All those terrorist acts are not as such a matter of bringing people to Allah/God but to show the power of which everybody should be afraid and has to submit to.

The world shall have to endure that strive for power of false people. Meantime, as false and imperfect views and systems fall, the standard of the new King will rise, and eventually he shall be recognized and owned by all as King of kings. Thus it is presented by the prophets as Jehovah’s work to set up Christ’s dominion:

I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalms 2:8)

“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” (Daniel 2:44)

The present evil times shall frighten us, but when we do not mind to take up the bible and use it as our indispensable guide we may have the hope in getting stronger, though more than once we shall also have to suffer and be taken by sorrow. But by looking at these times we can see that the “Ancient of days” shall come to sit on his throne. We can look at the bad things which are past, we may see lots of things happening around us and in front of us. All that may have en influence on our life is simply there for preparing us all for that grand family reunion hosted by our Father,” the Father of all (Ephesians 4:6), “of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15).

Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

In the mean time we do have to build up patience, and should try to bring others also to see what time we are heading to and get them to unite under Christ.

The Divine Maker of all things is giving the world time. He requests from man that they come to see what man made of this world and how He  is a better “Gardener” for this world. Having received all this time from God we should come to realise that mankind is incapable of solving the world’s problems. This permission of evil has the very purpose of educating and preparing mankind for the promised times of restitution. At that time, they will begin to seek for God’s righteous kingdom under the rule of the great Messiah, who shall come at God’s time. They will be blessed with a full knowledge of God and a full opportunity for attaining everlasting life through their redeemer — the great restorer and life-giver.

Every sincere student of the Bible can see what is coming and should warn others.

In these times when honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity, and humanity is losing faith in God, faithful lovers of God should reach out their hand to the community.

> Please do find to read: Honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity and humanity losing faith in God

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References

Families of Paris attacks hit out at government as intelligence

What We Know About the Attack in Nice

19 tonne lorry had zigzagged through crowds massing on the Promenade des Anglais on Thursday night, killing anyone he could

Nice terror attack: Lorry driver who killed 84 including 10 children during Bastille Day rampage was criminal well known to police

“Truck Attack in Nice, France: What We Know, and What We Don’t”.

“At least 74 killed as truck plows into crowd in Nice, France, on Bastille Day”. Jerusalem Post.

Chrisafis, Angelique; Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (15 July 2016). “Truck rams Bastille Day crowd in Nice killing at least 80”. The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2016.

Nice attack: At least 84 dead as lorry rams into crowd

Nice lorry attack: Scenes of carnage in French city

Photos: Bastille Day Terrorist Attack in Nice, France

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Preceding articles

Of old and new ideas to sustain power and to feel good by loving to be connected and worship something

Freedom and amendments, firearms and abortions

Before you blame All Muslims for the terrorist attack in Paris

The Meaning of Paris

From Guestwriters 2015 in review

A Secular Mindset

For those Christians who say they are the Victim

Tears for Belgium

A darker and stranger place

Il terrorismo è l’urlo di un bambino al buio

Remain lovingly = No path for softies

You Matter

Commemorating the escape from slavery

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

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Additional reading

  1. Human tragedy need to be addressed at source
  2. Migration not something to fear
  3. Don’t be Muslim
  4. Christians at War? Christians using violence?
  5. 2014 Religion: with a.o. Global war against Christians
  6. Back from gone #1 Aim of ungodly people
  7. Blood soaking the water at democracy’s beachhead
  8. Funding of ISIS
  9. French Muslims under attack
  10. Being Charlie 4
  11. Being Charlie 8
  12. Paris attacks darkening the world
  13. Syrian but also Belgian connection to French attacks
  14. A sleeper cell of militants was said directing attackers sent back to France from Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Raqqa, Syria
  15. Massive police operation in northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis
  16. 2015 the year of ISIS
  17. ISIL will find no safe haven
  18. Al Qaeda regaining foothold in Middle East bubonic plague for American elections
  19. For those who call the Brussels Airport attacks a fake or a conspiracy of the government
  20. Zion, Flames, Terror, Signs and Games of Peace
  21. 70 years later
  22. God’s wrath and sanctification
  23. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions

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Further of interest

  1. Egalité and Fraternité are great, but we need to ask ourselves some very difficult questions about Liberté
  2. The South of France’s Melting Pot
  3. Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
  4. Terrifying Video Shows Muslim Leader Admitting the True Purpose of the Muslim Refugees – Eagle Rising
  5. Here’s Where ISIS Horrifically Tortures Christians Till They Convert to Islam or Die
  6. Muslims and the West – September 18th, 2015
  7. Imam tells Muslim migrants to ‘breed children’ with Europeans to ‘conquer their countries’ and vows: ‘We will trample them underfoot, Allah willing’
  8. The New Threat from Islamic Militancy by Jason Burke review – important and impressive
  9. Imam to Muslim Migrants: Breed With Europeans To ‘Conquer Their Countries’
  10. Obama Throws Christian Refugees to Lions by Raymond Ibrahim
  11. Video Shows Muslim Leader Admitting the True Purpose of the Muslim Refugees
  12. Buhari needs God-fearing, patriotic ministers – Iman
  13. Paris Attacks
  14. Some thoughts on the Paris attacks
  15. Editorial: Belgium Attacks Expose Biased Media Coverage
  16. The Brussels Attacks: A Paris Perspective
  17. Understanding ISIS’s evolution
  18. Terrorism
  19. Possible Signs of False Flag in Brussels Now Emerging
  20. Should Brussels Attacks Impact Your Travel Plans? Rick Steves Says No.
  21. Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Brussels Attacks
  22. Brussels, Europe’s jihadist breeding ground, now itself under attack
  23. Following terrorist attacks, Antwerp Jews told not to wear Purim masks
  24. Speaker Ryan: ‘Our Prayers Are with Brussels, as Is Our Solidarity’
  25. Terror attack in Brussels. You still don’t think Europe won’t burn this summer?
  26. Misunderstandings of Islam: Violence and Riots Break Out in Molenbeek
  27. The Daily Toast: Weaken The Nation State, Breed More Extremism
  28. France Makes Major Shift Toward Fascism in Wake of Paris Terror Attacks
  29. A Culture Comes Together From Paris Attacks
  30. Aftermath of the Paris attacks
  31. ‘It’s a criminal gang pretending to be a state’: Discontent grows in ISIS ‘caliphate’ as oil funds dry up
  32. The Great ISIS Recession
  33. The Long Fight Against ISIS
  34. Terror attacks inspired in Syria and made elsewhere in the world
  35. ISIS Losing Twitter War
  36. Islamic State Gang Forging Passports for Muslim Migrants
  37. Sydney: Muslim-convert teen wife of ISIS suspect arrested on terror charges
  38. Former Guantanamo detainee among 4 arrested in Spain, Morocco for Islamic State ties
  39. Europol: 5,000 Islamic State militants walk free in Europe
  40. U.S. eyes ways to toughen fight against domestic extremists
  41. 5000 ISIS terrorists sneak into Europe disguised as ‘refugees’
  42. Governor of Yemen’s Aden Survives Al-Qaeda Suicide Car Bomb Attack
  43. Terror plot accused ordered to stand trial in Sydney
  44. Top European Law Enforcement Official Has Dire Warning About
  45. Islam and Presidential Politics
  46. The New Threat from Islamic Militancy by Jason Burke review – important and impressive
  47. Terrifying Video Shows Muslim Leader Admitting the True Purpose of the Muslim Refugees – Eagle Rising
  48. Video Shows Muslim Leader Admitting the True Purpose of the Muslim Refugees
  49. Huge Numbers of Muslim Males (‘Migrants’) Board Train in Croatia
  50. Buhari needs God-fearing, patriotic ministers – Iman
  51. Dallas Cair Director: “Muslims Are Above the Law of the Land.”
  52. Life as Usual
  53. Why the romanticising of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani has to stop
  54. Hyderabad ISIS module busts myth that poverty, lack of education cause for terrorism
  55. Media supporting terrorists happens only in India: Former R&AW official
  56. Malaysia: Playing with Religious Extremism Fire
  57. On a Day Like Today
  58. Why is it always France?
  59. France Attack: More Than 84 Dead As Truck Filled With Bombs Crash Into Crowd.
  60. Terror attack in Nice!!!
  61. A Celebration ended with terror
  62. Hell is empty and all the devils are here
  63. This morning I grieve for Nice
  64. France reels as Bastille Day attack leaves 84 dead in Nice
  65. Tragedy in Nice latest in string of terror attacks in France
  66. France again; terrorism plunges world in chaos as 84 die in bus attack
  67. SitRep: Horror in Nice as Death Toll Rises to 84
  68. Nice Attack
  69. Nice Attack: The Story So Far
  70. Nice: A Day Of Horror
  71. Nice terror- French-Tunisian identific
  72. France: 80 dead in Nice terror attack
  73. Nice terror French-Tunisian identification papers found
  74. Nice Terror- “Keep Eiffel Tower Dark until ISIS conquers France”
  75. Move over guns and bombs; enter trucks, knives and rocks
  76. Run them over with your cars, ISIS had said in a 2014 video
  77. Nice truck attack leaves France and the world in shock
  78. The Damn Truck (Crushing People in Nice)
  79. Truck Crashes Into Crowd In Nice, France; Killing At Least 77
  80. Truck Plows Through Crowd In France, Killing At Least 84: Two Of Them Texans
  81. Video shows the chaos in Nice as gunshots rang out between police and a terrorist
  82. Harrowing video shows the final moments before the horror in France on Bastille Day
  83. Police sources: ID found in truck used in Nice attack
  84. Nice terror despite France being under state of emergency: “you asked for it”, says ISIS
  85. At least 84, including 2 Americans, dead after truck rams crowd in France
  86. Hollande Warns What Obama Won’t: Islamic Terrorism Is Real
  87. How You Can Support France Following the Terrorist Attacks
  88. #DontPrayForNice
  89. Alright, terrorists, you win
  90. A father and son from Texas are among the dead after the horrors in Nice, France
  91. This is not Nice, but….
  92. How to react on Nice attack?
  93. It’s time to get serious …
  94. Here’s How World Leaders Are Reacting to the Terrorist Attack in Nice, France
  95. Vatican Condemns Nice Terrorist Attack
  96. 15 July 2016. Vova on Terrorists
  97. Explaining Terrorism
  98. A few thoughts on Nice
  99. For Nice, Orlando, …
  100. Could More Pedestrianisation And Better Public Transport Be A Weapon Against Terrorism?
  101. I could easily have been there…
  102. As Long as There Are People
  103. Humans, but No Humanity
  104. Whack a Mole
  105. How far will we go to protect ourselves?
  106. Ignore the news
  107. Healing
  108. Should I love or should I hate
  109. Are All Lives Equal?
  110. The consequences of inequality
  111. Enough is Enough- The cause of Suffering is not a Mystery
  112. Why we should try to understand violence
  113. un câlin pour un allié (a hug for an ally)
  114. Panel Discusses Human Rights
  115. Combating terrorism [EU Legislation in Progress]
  116. Daily Takes: Unbridled Fanaticism
  117. Terror Is A French Word
  118. Who Wins the War on Terror? Love wins.
  119. We’ve got to find a way
  120. Profit in Peace
  121. L’amour c’est tout.
  122. Love. Above all.
  123. The reality of love
  124. Husband Of Jo Cox Issues Plea Asking For People To Unite Against Hatred
  125. #prayfor
  126. Prayer for Nice, France
  127. Pray For The World
  128. No Contingencies
  129. Our Amazing Brains
  130. God’s Guarantee to Adam’s Race
  131. A Limited Time?
  132. The Best Is Yet to Come
  133. God All-Powerful

24 Comments

Filed under Crimes & Atrocities, Headlines - News, Pictures of the World, Religious affairs, Video, World affairs

UNHCR recommends measures for strengthening security and refugee protection

Flag of United Nations Refugee AgencyUNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards to whom quoted text may be attributed on 18 December 2015, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva released guidance aimed at helping States deal with security concerns while maintaining vital standards of refugee protection.

2015 was a horrible year for millions of people who had to leave their own habitat, trying to find places where they could find some peace. The number of forcibly displaced people worldwide will far surpass a record 60 million this year.

With almost a million people having crossed the Mediterranean as refugees and migrants so far this year, and conflicts in Syria and elsewhere continuing to generate staggering levels of human suffering, 2015 is likely to exceed all previous records for global forced displacement, the UN Refugee Agency warned in a new report today.

The global refugee total, which a year ago was 19.5 million, had as of mid-2015 passed the 20 million threshold (20.2 million) for the first time since 1992. Asylum applications meanwhile were up 78 per cent (993,600) over the same period in 2014. And the numbers of internally displaced people jumped by around 2 million to an estimated 34 million.

The report by the United Nations refugee agency says one in every 122 humans today is someone who has been forced to flee their homes.

It notes that the figure includes 20.2 million refugees, the highest total since 1992.

The report says the numbers were mainly driven by the Syrian war, conflict in Ukraine and other protracted conflicts.

Persian Gulf states, which were not a party to the 1951 treaty, have not accepted refugees despite sharing a common language and geographic proximity in the Arabian Peninsula. Lebanon meanwhile hosts more refugees compared to its population size than any other country, with 209 refugees per 1000 inhabitants. And Ethiopia pays most in relation to the size of its economy with 469 refugees for every dollar of GDP (per capita, at PPP). Overall, the lion’s share of the global responsibility for hosting refugees continues to be carried by countries immediately bordering zones of conflict, many of them in the developing world. The United States (and Canada) has limited Syrian refugees to about 1500 since that country’s war broke out in 2011. However, the United States has provided more than $4 billion in humanitarian aid and almost one-third of the more than $574 million provided for the refugees. Reshaping the Middle East Exact numbers on population shifts are difficult to determine because of the chaos in both Syria and Iraq. While some four million Syrians have fled the country, another 6 to 7 million have been internally displaced.

“Forced displacement is now profoundly affecting our times. It touches the lives of millions of our fellow human beings both those forced to flee and those who provide them with shelter and protection,”

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said.

“Never has there been a greater need for tolerance, compassion and solidarity with people who have lost everything,”

he added.

Nearly 2.5 million asylum seekers have requests pending, with Germany, Russia and the United States receiving the highest numbers of the nearly one million new claims lodged in the first half of the year.

Currently, with growing polarization of political debate concerning refugees in some countries, the concern is that asylum-seekers and refugees could be victimized, and refugee protection which has saved the lives of millions of people since World War Two could be endangered.

Two important points to bear in mind here are that refugees are themselves fleeing persecution and violence, often including terrorist acts; and that the 1951 Refugee Convention explicitly excludes people who are combatants or who have committed serious crimes.

For us it is very difficult to know if between the refugees are also fighters or infiltrators. Lots of people are afraid that Muslim fundamentalists may also enter our regions that way. But this would be most likely. The conditions how the refugees enter our regions is so bad that the Muslim fundamentalists can use much better and more safely way to enter our countries.

With border controls, UNHCR understands the need of States to identify security concerns at the point of entry, for example through increased checks, including the use of biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans. Its recommendations include practical guidance on ensuring that these and other measures are carried out properly and proportionately and subject to judicial control, and avoiding discrimination, for example based on nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion. Applications for asylum must be looked at individually.

With cases involving the exclusion of people for serious criminal or terrorist acts, the paper of the UNHCR recommends that a factual and legal assessment be done, if needed, by specialized exclusion units. Guidance is provided on this and related measures, including handling of extradition requests, and detention. It also notes that people providing funds to terrorist organizations could themselves be excluded from refugee status, depending on the individual circumstances.

Registration is a crucial part of the refugee protection process, and UNHCR believes that proper systems for this, plus identity and security screening are essential including in situations of large-scale refugee influxes. As refugees are people at risk of their lives, information-sharing between States has to be done in line with established principles and standards on data protection.

Resettlement and other forms of admission remain a key tool for providing refugees with safety and a solution to their plight. In light of today’s record number of forcibly displaced people globally some 60 million the paper makes the point that it is more crucial than ever that resettlement and other forms of admission remain viable and effective options for the international community in dealing with refugees.

Resettlement programmes are handled between UNHCR and receiving States, which in many cases invoke far tougher screening than for almost any other form of admission to a country. Nonetheless, and to assuage concerns, UNHCR’s recommendations include support for continuing security screening not least as effective resettlement programmes provide a regular and safe alternative to dangerous sea and other journeys that not only put refugee lives at risk, but also profit smugglers and make the jobs of border security forces even more difficult.

Arguably the biggest risk for any environment of insecurity is that of increasing xenophobia and vilification directed towards people fleeing violent conflicts. The paper calls on States to exert continued resolute leadership in de-dramatizing and de-politicizing the challenges associated with managing refugee flows.

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Filed under Activism and Peace Work, Crimes & Atrocities, Headlines - News, History, Juridical matters, Political affairs, Welfare matters, World affairs

4.1 million Syrians having fled their homeland

In December already more than 1 million refugees entered Europe. Some 4.1 million Syrians have now fled their homeland, according to the United Nations, victims of more than four years of civil war in their homeland. This is the latest war to redistribute people from ravaged countries.

After the two world wars the United Nations responded with the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol which clarified the rights of refugees and the obligations of the 148 members that became party to one or both of these instruments.These obligations have greatly burdened these countries in the current Syrian refugee crisis.

According to the United Nations, those countries in Europe absorbing refugees include:

  • Turkey, which shares a border with Syria, has taken in almost half.
  • Lebanon has taken in over a million, increasing its population by 25 percent.
  • Jordan has taken in 629,000, with about 20 percent living in camps.
  • Iraq has taken in 249,000 despite attacks by ISIS, which has captured portions of the country.
  • Egypt has taken in 132,000. Billionaire Naguib Swiris has offered to buy an island from Greece or
    Italy as a new home for these refugees.

Besides the refugees entering these countries, Europe has received nearly 250,000 asylum requests, many of which will not be processed for several years.  The sheer number of migrants seeking refuge to Europe is so overwhelming and stretching the capacities of these countries that British lawmaker Nigel Farage of the Independence Party has labeled it a problem of  “biblical proportions.”

English: Israeli and Syrian flags

Israeli and Syrian flags (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Around half of Syria’s prewar population of 20 million has been forced from their homes.  A European Parliament resolution in March 2015 condemning attacks on Christians and other minorities said more than 700,000 of 1.1 million Syrian Christians were among those who fled the country. In Iraq, the pre-2003-war Christian population may have been as high as 1.4 million. Estimates today put it at fewer than 350,000.

In the past these situations were already foretold. The Book of books spoke about signs we should come to see. Today many of the signs spoken of should be clear for those who believe in the Only One true God.

The refugee crisis has followed years of unending battles among nations and within nations. Enemies change but the result is the same. Fear and uncertainty are now the norm. Governments in Europe and the U.S. ponder how commitments made long ago can be kept. They see no clear way out of the dilemma, and in many cases, put off inevitable crises with temporary fixes.

 

Read more about in “Today in Prophecy – Syrian Migrant Crisis

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Filed under Crimes & Atrocities, Headlines - News, History, Religious affairs, World affairs

Swallowed in the Sea but belonging to earth

The response to the refugee crisis so far has also raised profound questions about a failure of European principles, a trembling of the pillars on which the bloc was founded more than 20 years ago.

The European Union’s reputation, and its faith in Brussels, have suffered in the past few months, with sharp and vocal divisions among member states and continuing doubts about Greek economic sustainability.

The migrant crisis “risks bursting the E.U. at its weak seams,” said Stefano Stefanini, a former senior Italian ambassador now based in Brussels.

“It’s more dangerous than the Greek drama and more serious than the euro, because it challenges fundamental European accomplishments and beliefs.”

Refugees enter a registration camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border on Nov. 11. (Robert Atanasovski/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

A translator by degree, who loves writing, thinks that every day we have a choice but that some others do not have a choice. Talking about the refugees he writes

every single day we have so many decisions and choices to make or take, but not them. {Swallowed in the Sea but belong to Earth}

English: Water of the mediterranean sea

Water of the mediterranean sea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

though he forget that they made a very important life changing choice, which was for most of them not so easy to make. though it is true

When they’re in the middle of the sea, where nobody can hear or see them, except for the lord, their choices are, to get lost or get found, to get safe or swallowed by the sea. {Swallowed in the Sea but belong to Earth}

they shall be very limited in their choices, but not without.

Those who might fear those refugees coming to their regions should wonder why those people left their families and their country of birth. for many of them there not only shall be the confrontation with totally different people, a total different culture, but also a grey air, cold and wheat region. How they would not long for their sunny country which nice temperatures?

We should not be angry on them, but should be cross whit those fighters and human smugglers. We should look at the politicians and figures behind the scenes.

Syria is considered the tragedy of the century, and it has been swallowed by the sea of war for the past five years, therefore the Mediterranean Sea will never be an exception. {Swallowed in the Sea but belong to Earth}

Those confronted with an ongoing war had to make the hard choice to leave everything behind what they loved. They made the choice to go to unknown places or to place where they heard from and got some information about. But what were the sources which fed them and what was the reason of those sources to bring them to certain countries, like Germany. Can it not be that they are just used as pawns in a game of ‘Stratego’ or ‘Chess’ to destabilise a part of the world where some states are trying to make one strong Union to be able to stand strong in the stream of the Great Powers, the United States of America and Russia, and to be able to cope with the growing powers of the East, India and China. Could it be that ISIS is a product of American in-action or a product of direct action?

The inhabitants of Europe should realise that they were formed by generations of mixed people coming from one or the other place in Europe and having built a culture over the years which many of them do find in danger,but when they would be strong enough believers they should not fear. The people behind ‘Islamic State‘ are very well aware that those living in Europe have become victims of capitalism and are mostly people who have no strong believes any more. For the ones who want to create a big caliphate it seems best to polarize Western society — to “destroy the grayzone,” as it says in its publications. Islamic State is pushing at an open door to divide Europeans. The group hopes frequent, devastating attacks in its name will provoke overreactions by European governments against innocent Muslims, thereby alienating and radicalising Muslim communities throughout the continent.

The last few years we have seen several attacks by individuals are small groups. Last weekend attack are different in the way that they were very organised and well managed. They are a proof that ISIS is getting better organised in Europe as well as in their battle fields.

Since January, European citizens fighting with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have provided online and material support to lethal operations in Paris, Copenhagen and near Lyon, France, as well as attempted attacks in London, Barcelona and near Brussels. Islamic State fighters are likely responsible for destroying the Russian airliner over the Sinai. These attacks are not random, nor are they aimed primarily at affecting Western policy in the Middle East. They are, rather, part of a militarily capable organization’s campaign to mobilize extremist actors already in Europe and to recruit new ones. {The Islamic State’s trap for Europe}

Some of those who entered Europe by the Mediterranean sea had also some other goals than the ones who were really hoping to find a better life in Europe. Those are also the ones we do find complaining about not having the right food or doing things which we consider not acceptable, like peeping in women’s shower cells or fighting with Afghans or others. They are in for their own selfishness and for stealing from the others. Their actions undermine the politicians their strategy to bring the refugees into different villages and to get them integrated. Such revolts against the people who are giving them a roof above their head makes the civilians angry and giving them a wrong picture of the Muslims and the refugees in general.

writes in her opinion piece for the Washington Post

Unfortunately, elements of European society are reacting as the Islamic State desires. Far-right parties have gained strength in many European countries. France’s National Front is expected to dominate local elections in northern France this winter; on Saturday, Marine Le Pen, its leader, declared “those who maintain links with Islamism” to be “France’s enemies.” The Danish People’s Party gained 21 percent of the vote in national elections in June on a nationalist, anti-Islamic platform. The anti-foreigner Sweden Democrats is steadily growing in popularity. {The Islamic State’s trap for Europe}

The Syrians had to make a choice and had to bear the sea. Now the Europeans have to be careful not to be swallowed by an equally dangerous sea of treason and hate, by making the wrong choice.

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Preceding articles:

Israeli leaders delight in Europe’s cruelty toward refugees

Human tragedy need to be addressed at source

Poster: Please help the refugees

Real progress leaves nobody behind

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Additional reading:

  1. Are people willing to take the responsibility for others
  2. If Europe fails on the question of refugees, then it won’t be the Europe we wished for
  3. State of Europe 2015 – Addressing Europe’s crises
  4. Schengen area and Freedom for Europeans being put to the test as never before
  5. Can We Pay The Price To Free Humanity?
  6. ISIS a product of American in-action or a product of direct action
  7. Complaining and fighting asylum seekers not giving signs of thankfulness
  8. bORDER-Gastrofest
  9. The New gulf of migration and seed for far right parties
  10. Asylum seekers crisis and Europe’s paralysis
  11. Britain’s position in an age of increasing globalisation
  12. French Muslims under attack
  13. Syrian but also Belgian connection to French attacks
  14. Islamic State pushing at an open door to divide Europeans

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Further reading:

  1. US, French Defense Ministers Discuss Campaign Against Islamic State
  2. The Nihilistic Assaults On Paris – OpEd
  3. Ordinary peace-loving person tries to make sense of terrorism
  4. The Liberal Islam Problem
  5. The France theater Attacks
  6. Paris attacks: What we know so far about the victims
  7. In Photos: As France mourns, Europe holds moment of silence in honour of Paris victims
  8. Post About it, Be About it: thoughts on social media activism
  9. Terrorists Infiltrated Europe Disguised as Refugees
  10. Reuters: Islamic State threatens attack on Washington, other countries
  11. Making ☮ : Where does the peace symbol come from?
  12. Paris, Pussies And Pinterest
  13. A Moment of Silence
  14. Passport found near Paris suicide bomber shows few security checks exist for migrants in the Balkans
  15. Facebook defends using Safety Check after Paris attacks
  16. “We The People Speak” Marketing Campaign
  17. When Compassion Imperils our Security
  18. TV Quiberon 24/7 WORLD – Minute’s silence for Paris victims
  19. I’m with you
  20. Celebrities mourn Nick Alexander, merch manager killed in Paris attack
  21. Anonymous declares war on Islamic State after Paris attacks
  22. BidenJam Returns: Lame-Duck VP Brings L.A. Road Closures Monday & Tuesday
  23. A Message About The Paris Attacks, And Also Peace
  24. French fighter jets bomb ISIL capital in Syria as ‘massive’ retaliation for Paris attacks
  25. Make no mistake, the Paris attacks were a result of Religious Fundamentalism
  26. Paris attacks deepen Republican opposition to Syrian refugee influx
  27. On the attacks in Paris.
  28. Disturbing comparisons
  29. Investigation on Paris attacks continues as authorities look for suspects

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Filed under Activism and Peace Work, Crimes & Atrocities, Headlines - News, Political affairs, Social affairs, Welfare matters, World affairs

The World Wide Refugee and Migrant Crisis and a possible solution for it

After Word War II the world got to face an unseen crisis of ongoing wars and people migrating, looking for a safer place, trying to escape the violence.

Greater Middle East

Greater Middle East (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In case the capitalist and so called civilised countries would have taken action soon enough West Europe would not have to face such an immigration of asylum seekers.
The superpowers waited much to long before to intervene with what was going on in Syria and Iraq.

The West has also too many people who think Islam is the cause of the problem, but they forget that those who misuse the name of Allah are not real Muslims and are not living according to the teachings of the Koran.

Also the Muslims in the Western countries are at fault that most citizens in the West got a wrong perception, because they have waited too long before giving a severe reaction against the rebels and so called Islamic fundamentalists.

First of all the war-zones should have to become stabilised again and all effort should be put in education, giving attention to the most important human values.

Everywhere in the world should be made an effort to get away from the materialistic attitude.

Hard work has to be done to get away from the most widespread and destructive mental disease on earth today and the root cause of most man-made destruction: Greed.

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To remember:

  • Worldwide approximately 60 million people on the move today, for economical or political reasons > basically from 3rd world countries
  • trying to reach 1st world countries in the west
  • numbers too much to handle in the West on this scale.
  • 2 main areas of origin of this problem : the Middle East and Africa.
  • Syrian conflict= mayor source of Middle Eastern refugees/migrants
  • if the war would be finished, all the Syrians, Iraqis etc could go home instead of going to a for them alien country with alien cultures (non muslim cultures ).
  • main problem = Assad regime + IS > both will have to go
  • the middle east will have to find their own equilibrium
  • EU would probably be willing to pump enough money into those Albania and Kosovo to accommodate Syrian refugees = a lot cheaper and better than to bring all those people to non-Moslem countries = No assimilation problems
  • Most African countries pretty rich, plenty of resources : oil , diamonds, minerals, metals etc. > biggest problems = corruption greed + cronyism
  • mental developement aid => go a long way
  • real change has to come from within the governments and people living there
  • resettling large numbers of people else where => spread the problem <= they bring their mentality with them.
  • a lot cheaper and easier to pick one African country that has some potential and send them all there and then train them up to a reasonable standard with aid money; the emphasis being on mental development and skills that enable them to have a reasonable existence.
  • most of man-made problems boil down to the same old root cause = way of thinking, namely greed for power and money => responsible for  current conflicts and mass migration the world over ===> unless we tackle this way of thinking, nothing will change.
  • Without greed for power by somebody = no armed conflicts +> power sharing = >  chance to achieve a reasonable existence and life style
  • greed = only learned behaviour => change of thinking = education
  • declare greed for what it is = largest and most widespread and destructive mental disease on earth today and the
    root cause of most man-made destruction.
  • replace greed with mindfull thinking = some consideration for others and our life support system and with that sustainability.

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Preceding article

Poster: Please Help The Refugees

 

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Additional articles of interest:

  1. A world with or without religion
  2. Ian Barbour connecting science and religion
  3. Being Religious and Spiritual 1 Immateriality and Spiritual experience
  4. Exceptionalism and Restricting Laws
  5. Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
  6. Prophets making excuses
  7. Sharing a common security and a common set of values
  8. Quran versus older Holy Writings of Divine Creator
  9. Islam says it admires faith based on logic, what about the others
  10. Not true or True Catholicism and True Islam
  11. Why is it that Christians don’t understand Muslims and Muslims do not understand Christians?
  12. Christian fundamentalism as dangerous as Muslim fundamentalism
  13. Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures
  14. Muslims should also Fear God
  15. Cognizance at the doorstep or at the internet socket
  16. Faith related boycotts
  17. Mocking, Agitation and Religious Persecution
  18. Economic crisis danger for the rise of political extremism
  19. Migrants to the West #1
  20. Migrants to the West #2
  21. Migrants to the West #3
  22. Migrants to the West #4
  23. Migrants to the West #5
  24. Migrants to the West #6
  25. Migrants to the West #8 Welbeing
  26. Migrants to the West #10 Religious freedom
  27. Americans wrongly informed about situation in Europe
  28. 2014 Religion
  29. Islamic State forcing the West to provide means for Kurdistan
  30. ISIL will find no safe haven
  31. Funding of ISIS
  32. ISIS cannot be presenters of the real Islam
  33. Rampaging, demolishing sacred sites and cultural heritage
  34. Shariah and child abuse – Is there a connection?
  35. Fitting the bill in the North and in the East
  36. French Muslims under attack
  37. Continues Syrian conflict needing not only dialogue
  38. Can We Pay The Price To Free Humanity?
  39. Are people willing to take the responsibility for others
  40. If Europe fails on the question of refugees, then it won’t be the Europe we wished for
  41. State of Europe 2015 – Addressing Europe’s crises
  42. Schengen area and Freedom for Europeans being put to the test as never before
  43. Europe’s refugees just follow the ancient routes for the peopling of Europe in the Neolithic
  44. Why Russia backs Assad: a view from Russia’s anti-imperialist left
  45. Meeting to focus on humanitarian issues for Syria
  46. Propaganda war and ISIS

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Filed under Being and Feeling, Educational affairs, Lifestyle, Political affairs, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs, Social affairs, Welfare matters, World affairs

Too Young To Fight?

Hate against some other nation or love to take revenge may bring people a long way from human sense.

After two great wars, where so many countries were involved and so much blood was shed, still lots of people do not realise how ridiculous it is to have so much lives being offered for showing the ‘right for power’. Still today we can see that in many countries war is still romanticized and lots of people do find it an honour to have their sons going to war. Today in this world we can still find lots of child soldiers, and when it is not for the right country people find it horrible, but when it is for the ‘right country’ or ‘the right cause’ people find them heroes.
For sure it has to do with some form of making value judgements about the rightness of the cause , by our twisted minds.

Today children are also often sold into a kind of modern-day slavery. In Raqqa, where poverty is rampant, Isis persuades parents to send their children to the camps in exchange for money, according to Abu Ibrahim Raqqawi, the pseudonym of a 22-year-old man who lived in Syria until recently. He is the founder of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, a Twitter account and Facebook page.

In Iraq’s Mosul, which was taken over by IS gunmen in June, IS has replaced physical-education classes in local schools with martial-arts classes. A teacher in the city told Bloomberg that IS militants explained that “they need Mosul’s students to be the future soldiers of the caliphate.” Another Mosul resident, named as Abu Rawan, said that his 13-year-old nephew had been recruited by IS militants, who had given him a gun.

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To remember:

Commonwealth Military Cemetery at Essex Farm, near Ypres, Belgium: grave of V.J. Strudwick, killed in action January 14, 1916 at age 15.

Joe Strudwick: 6’1”, in all probability adult sized and willing to enlist; he said he was 19 and they either believed him or looked the other way. => not the lone child soldier of the Great War
his age was discovered before he reached the battlefield and he was de-mobilized.

Older men more likely to question validity of a war, more likely to have family responsibilities and less likely to unquestioningly volunteer for combat.

Young men romanticize war, older men know better.

Perhaps as many as 250,000 child soldiers, those not old enough to officially enlist, saw combat during the First World War. Probably more than that are serving today in conflicts around the world.

The United Nations has strict rules on military service for those under 18 that all member states are expected to follow.

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  • Video: South Sudan’s child soldier problem (bbc.co.uk)
    Children in the world’s youngest country of South Sudan are being forced to fight on both sides of a bloody civil war.

    The United Nations estimates that there are 11,000 child soldiers in South Sudan, where there has been a lull in the fighting, as peace talks continue between government, and rebel forces.

  • Boko Haram Using Child-Soldiers , Women As Human Shields (newsdiaryonline.com)
    Nigerian troops are concerned about the use of women as human shields as well as children as child-soldiers by Boko Haram militants in their quest to weaken military operations. A top security source in the North-East disclosed that the terrorists recruit, rape and kill some of the young captives who are reluctant to join them in their dastardly acts. In most cases, children and teenagers are forced to be in the forefront in the battle against the Nigerian troops through ambushing and suicide bombing.
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    On several occasions the Nigerian military has captured  children who were forced to take up arms against the state with some of them behaving abnormally  due to indoctrination and inducement through the use of hard drugs.

    The security source said “we are being cautious in abiding by the rules of engagement even when we are aware that the militants recruit children for spying on us and pushing them to engage in hostilities against innocent citizens and the troops. “Most of the children, especially teenagers were recruited through abduction, kidnapping and enticement with money after which they undergo brainwashing and combat training. Those that are unwilling to cooperate are punished or summarily executed.”

  • You: Afghan Parliament approves draft law to ban recruitment of child soldiers (nation.com.pk)
    The endorsement of the draft law by Afghan lawmakers comes as numerous national and international organizations criticized the Afghan government over recruitment of child soldiers. The draft law was sent to the Afghan parliament by the ministry of justice of Afghanistan around two weeks ago. Consisting of seven articles, the law was endorsed by the majority during the general session after review by parliamentary commissions.

    The law strictly prohibits the recruitment of children in security agencies, with one to seven years of imprisonment on violation. The Afghan Government reconfirmed its commitment with the endorsement of a ‘Road Map Towards Compliance,’ in August this year which laid down 15 measures to fully implement an Action Plan signed with the United Nations in 2011.

  • Boko Haram using child-soldiers, women as human shields (dailypost.ng)
    “We have lost our men in the battle-field while we tried to avoid shooting children and teenagers who are forced to confront us. How do you expect us to arrest a child with a gun? Do we accord such an armed under-age combatant with the status of a child deserving of protection under the rule of engagement?

    “It may become inevitable that some collateral damages may be recorded if we get the order especially because Boko Haram elements were using civilians as human shields to continue to gain undue advantages in the current battle in the North East.

    “However, much as troops are determined to avoid collateral damage, it has become inevitable to be decisive with armed underage combatants and female suicide bombers with the situation degenerating by the day.

  • Britain’s child soldiers: should the enlistment age be raised? (theweek.co.uk)
    Campaigners are taking legal action over the terms of enlistment for minors in the British army, accusing the Ministry of Defence of “exploiting” young recruits.

    Child Soldiers International (CSI) is calling for a judicial review over what it calls “unethical and unlawful age discrimination”. Their lawyers argue that soldiers who enlist at 16 are forced to serve for longer under army rules.

    Teenagers cannot see active service until they are 18, but all soldiers must be available for deployment for four years. So a 16-year-old who joins the army cannot leave until that are 22.

    “These young soldiers will be forced to put their lives on the line against their will during those two extra years, all because of a decision they made at 16 and later regretted,” said CSI director Richard Clarke.

    The latest move by the campaign group has reignited the debate about the enlistment age in the UK and comes as an independent survey found that 78 per cent of people believe it should be raised. “There is overwhelming public support in this country for a minimum enlistment age of 18,” said Clarke.

    The UK is the only country in Europe and the only country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council to recruit 16-year-olds into its armed forces. It is also just one of 17 countries in the world to do so, alongside North Korea, Pakistan and Iran.

  • Isis Child Soldiers Used as Suicide Bombers and Human Shields (ibtimes.co.uk)
    Speaking to reporters at the U.N., he said the fighters “appeal” to some of the youngsters and that they have approved adept at “manipulating young men and children.” He explained that “they project an image of being victorious”.

    They impress upon the children the importance of fighting and dying for their faith. and offer the pledge that those who die in the fray will “go straight to heaven.”

    Not everyone is in favour of children going into battle. “What is striking for me is to meet mothers who [tell us], ‘We don’t know what to do,'” said Simonovic. “Our sons are volunteering and we can’t prevent it.”

    At the camps, the children who are barely bigger than AK47s, are taught how to fire and load weapons. According to Syria Deeply website, they are shown the best ways to behead someone, using dolls as practice.

    The effectiveness of child soldiers as fighters is obviously not as great as adults, so they are used in other ways. Chillingly, they have value as human shields and also to provide blood transfusions for Isis militants, according to Shelly Whitman, the executive director of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative.

  • Five Year Old Fighters and Girls Sold as Slaves – Videos Show Disturbing Evidence of Life in the Islamic State (breitbart.com)
    Charlie Winter, a spokesman for anti-extremist think tank The Quilliam Foundation said: “This video is yet more evidence of Islamic State seeking to indoctrinate children from a very young age in an attempt to entrench its hold over the region. Such footage is worrying, in particular because it renders apparent the fact that IS’ legacy will be long-term, even if it was to collapse tomorrow.”

    Another video documents men bartering over Yazidi slaves. Sitting on sofas in a living room, a man wearing a white cap turns to the camera and says “Today is slave market day. Today is the day where this verse – “… except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be…” today is distribution day, God willing. Each one takes his share.”

  • ‘IS: The Next Generation’? Militants Recruit Children (rferl.org)
    Abu Usama is not playing at being an Islamic State militant. He is one of the extremist group’s child fighters. IS social media lauded him as the youngest fighter to guard the front lines in the Syrian town of Kobani, which IS has besieged.

    Over the past weeks, more and more reports have emerged with evidence that IS militants are providing military training to schoolchildren in Syria and Iraq.

    Other reports claim that the extremist group is also using children as young as 13 as fighters.

  • Cubs of the Caliphate: ISIS Trains Boys to Go to Battle (nbcnews.com)

    Some graduates of the camps are used as human shields and suicide bombers. Other wee warriors man checkpoints, hoist heavy weapons and act as enforcers.

    Beyond the additional fighting power, analysts and experts say brainwashing young recruits is a strategic move aimed at ensuring the militant group’s longevity by providing a ready-and-willing next generation of jihadis.

random thoughts from lorne

The grave of V.J. Strudwick at Essex Farm. The grave of V.J. Strudwick at Essex Farm.

When we visited the Commonwealth Military Cemetery at Essex Farm, near Ypres, Belgium, our guide pointed out the grave of V.J. Strudwick, who was killed in action January 14, 1916 at age 15. The official age to enlist was 18, for overseas service 19.

Recruiters though generally didn`t ask probing questions, and identification documents were not all that common in those days before drivers licences, when people may not have ever even seen a car. Joe Strudwick was in all probability adult sized and willing to enlist; he said he was 19 and they either believed him or looked the other way.

It was a young man’s war, as they generally all are. With age comes maturity; older men are more likely to question the validity of a war, more likely to have family responsibilities and less likely to unquestioningly volunteer for…

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Filed under Activism and Peace Work, History, Political affairs, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs, Social affairs, World affairs