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This was posted to the Treasury Departments OFAC office:
This is an important notice because Bank Saderat has offices all around the world
-Shimron
OFAC has amended the Iranian Transactions Regulations (ITR) to cut off Bank Saderat, one of Iran’s largest government-owned banks, from the U.S. financial system. Bank Saderat has been a significant facilitator of Hizballah’s financial activities and has served as a conduit between the Government of Iran and Hizballah, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. OFAC 's amendments prohibit all transactions directly or indirectly involving Bank Saderat. The changes exclude Bank Saderat from the general license allowing for "U-turn" payments and from transactions ordinarily incident to licensed or exempt transactions, including payments and financing for the exportation of licensed agricultural goods, medicine, and medical devices. While the amendments contain grace periods for completing certain transactions, U-turns must be stopped immediately. These ITR amendments , having been filed, are available on OFAC's website, are effective immediately, and will be published in their entirety in the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 12, 2006.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
al-Qaeda is moving to Africa
--From Mail & Gaurdian online, by
Hila Bouzaglou Johannesburg, South Africa, posted 30 August 2006 05:35
In June an online magazine for actual and aspiring global jihadis and their supporters, Sada al-Jihad (Echo of Jihad), which in late 2005 took the place of Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad) as the publication of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, ran a four-page article by Abu Azzam al-Ansari entitled
"al-Qaeda is moving to Africa"."
There is no doubt that al-Qaeda and the holy warriors appreciate the significance of the African regions for the military campaigns against the crusaders. Many people sense that this continent has not yet found its proper and expected role and the next stages of the conflict will see Africa as the battlefield," wrote al-Ansari. Al-Ansari then proceeded to evaluate the advantages of shifting al-Qaeda operations to Africa. read more.
--by Reuven Paz and Moshe Terdman of the socienty for Internet Research (Sofir)
The following excerpts are summaries of translation of a numbers of writers that write only in Arabic---it is very telling....
-Shimron
"In the past year we have witnessed a growing presence of new formed Jihadi groups in Africa, which use old and more recent violent conflicts to radicalize African Islamic elements, recruit support, and bring the African arena under the Jihadi “global umbrella.' "
-and later
"The Mujahidin have had a prominent role in North and East Africa, which has so far ended with the recent declaration by Osama bin Laden of a war against the Crusaders that plan to open a front in Darfur/West Sudan. "
-and later
• The Jihadi doctrines are spread in many African countries—Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Somalia, Eritrea, and Chad. These countries and others produced many Mujahidin who irrigated the lands of Islam with their blood and sacrificed themselves for the sake of Allah. This Jihadi expansion has old roots in many of the African countries.
-Still later
• One of the prominent advantages of Africa is the general condition of poverty and the social needs in most countries. It will enable the Mujahidin to provide some finance and welfare, thus, posting there some of their influential operatives.
Read the entire article summary
Hila Bouzaglou Johannesburg, South Africa, posted 30 August 2006 05:35
In June an online magazine for actual and aspiring global jihadis and their supporters, Sada al-Jihad (Echo of Jihad), which in late 2005 took the place of Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad) as the publication of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, ran a four-page article by Abu Azzam al-Ansari entitled
"al-Qaeda is moving to Africa"."
There is no doubt that al-Qaeda and the holy warriors appreciate the significance of the African regions for the military campaigns against the crusaders. Many people sense that this continent has not yet found its proper and expected role and the next stages of the conflict will see Africa as the battlefield," wrote al-Ansari. Al-Ansari then proceeded to evaluate the advantages of shifting al-Qaeda operations to Africa. read more.
--by Reuven Paz and Moshe Terdman of the socienty for Internet Research (Sofir)
The following excerpts are summaries of translation of a numbers of writers that write only in Arabic---it is very telling....
-Shimron
"In the past year we have witnessed a growing presence of new formed Jihadi groups in Africa, which use old and more recent violent conflicts to radicalize African Islamic elements, recruit support, and bring the African arena under the Jihadi “global umbrella.' "
-and later
"The Mujahidin have had a prominent role in North and East Africa, which has so far ended with the recent declaration by Osama bin Laden of a war against the Crusaders that plan to open a front in Darfur/West Sudan. "
-and later
• The Jihadi doctrines are spread in many African countries—Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Somalia, Eritrea, and Chad. These countries and others produced many Mujahidin who irrigated the lands of Islam with their blood and sacrificed themselves for the sake of Allah. This Jihadi expansion has old roots in many of the African countries.
-Still later
• One of the prominent advantages of Africa is the general condition of poverty and the social needs in most countries. It will enable the Mujahidin to provide some finance and welfare, thus, posting there some of their influential operatives.
Read the entire article summary
Sunday, September 10, 2006
An Islamic Caliphate in Seven Easy Steps
A Jordanian journalist writes, "I interviewed a whole range of al-Qaida members with different ideologies to get an idea of how the war between the terrorists and Washington would develop in the future." What he then describes between pages 202 and 213 is a scenario, proof both of the terrorists' blindness as well as their brutal single-mindedness. In seven phases the terror network hopes to establish an Islamic caliphate which the West will then be too weak to fight.
The First Phase Known as "the awakening" -- this has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims. "The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."
The Second Phase "Opening Eyes" is, according to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states.
The Third Phase This is described as "Arising and Standing Up" and should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.
The Fourth Phase Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.
The Fifth Phase This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.
The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.
The Seventh Phase This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half billion Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.
Read the complete article by Yassin Musharbash
The First Phase Known as "the awakening" -- this has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims. "The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."
The Second Phase "Opening Eyes" is, according to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states.
The Third Phase This is described as "Arising and Standing Up" and should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.
The Fourth Phase Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.
The Fifth Phase This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.
The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.
The Seventh Phase This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half billion Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.
Read the complete article by Yassin Musharbash
Friday, September 08, 2006
Benin
Posted September 8, 2006: from the US Embassy in Benin
U.S. Army Begins Medical Exercise in Benin
Charge d'Affaires Richard Holtzapple speaks at the Med Flag opening ceremony
A group of 54 medical experts from the U.S. Army began a medical exercise called "MedFlag" with the Armed Forces of Benin September 4. Members of the two groups will train together, and the U.S. Army will also conduct free medical clinics in the villages of Savi and Djegbadje, providing dental and eye examinations, eyeglasses, and also veterinary care for the animals of the villages. Me. Richard Holtzapple, who was Charge d' Affaires at the time, spoke at the opening ceremony on September 4. The medical team will be in Benin for about two weeks.
Benin may be in a position for improving economic stability.
U.S. Army Begins Medical Exercise in Benin
Charge d'Affaires Richard Holtzapple speaks at the Med Flag opening ceremony
A group of 54 medical experts from the U.S. Army began a medical exercise called "MedFlag" with the Armed Forces of Benin September 4. Members of the two groups will train together, and the U.S. Army will also conduct free medical clinics in the villages of Savi and Djegbadje, providing dental and eye examinations, eyeglasses, and also veterinary care for the animals of the villages. Me. Richard Holtzapple, who was Charge d' Affaires at the time, spoke at the opening ceremony on September 4. The medical team will be in Benin for about two weeks.
Benin may be in a position for improving economic stability.
- In Feb 2006, the Mellenium Challange signing took place
- The recent clean election of a respected banker as president
- Privitization and technology improvements present an excelent time for economic growth to be spurred by telecommunications growth
- It is early in the radicalization of local isalmic population
- Significant Western NGO access to the country connected to France.
Here is a fairly comprehenisive list of all NGOs operating in Benin
Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues
Appendixes Print-Friendly Page
This page was last updated on 22 August, 2006
Summary
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.
Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni (born 1952), a Beninois banker and politician, is the current President of Benin. He took office on 6 April 2006 after winning elections held in the previous month.
- inadequate supplies of potable water;
- poaching threatens wildlife populations;
- deforestation; desertification
Issues
- Economy - overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology
- Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere, which has resulted in increased smuggling and criminality in the border region.
- Sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
- Excess mortality due to AIDS
- Population may double in 25 years
- Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005) - Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 33.6% male: 46.4% female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
- Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US;
- Vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure
- Benin was a finalist in 2004-05. for Melinnial challenage funding from the world bank.
- The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of government reluctance.
- The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms.
Nationality:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Administrative divisions:
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga,UBF, MADEP, FC, Alliance MDC-PC-CPP, IPD, AFP, MDS, RDP)
Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
- Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP;
- African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];
- Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI];
- Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;
- Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS;
- Movement for Development by the Culture-
- Salute Party-
- Congress of People for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP;
- New Alliance or NA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP;
- Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO];
- The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA];
- Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU] note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Diplomacy
- Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996 - Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50 FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Jihadis use Sudan civil war for cover
Sudan continues to be the heart of Jihadi launces into Sub-Sahara Africa. The cease fire in Darfur was just a resting and rearming point for the ongoing genicide. You want Chad, Kenya, every place you touch. Sudan is your reailway station....
The false jihad is clear; your steps are transparent, your strategies visible, even in the darkness where you hide. I do not hate you, my enemy, for I have been forgiven too much. I want you to have the peace the God of your childhood wants to give you. I do not fight you. I do not have to, for the battle is the Lord's, and he will conqure all his enemies, with his right hand and his holy arm, he will atain the victory. My concern Jihadi, is for your soul, do your leaders
I beg you to repent Jihadis, before the deception of your leaders and the real satan leaves you to burn forever. Is this Allah you now serve the Allah of your youth? In the quiet of your heart you know that the God they serve is not the God of your youth. Pray to God to know the truth. Seek him, the God who spoke to you in your youth, and you will find him. He will speak when you set aside your artificial rage.
-Shimron
See what your leaders have done to you....
The following is by:
Dr. TajudeenKampala
What is Khartoum really up to again in Darfur? The African Union has given notice that it is not going to continue its Peace Mission beyond the end of this month when the mandate expires.
Khartoum's initial response was more or less: "Good riddance...." click here for more
The false jihad is clear; your steps are transparent, your strategies visible, even in the darkness where you hide. I do not hate you, my enemy, for I have been forgiven too much. I want you to have the peace the God of your childhood wants to give you. I do not fight you. I do not have to, for the battle is the Lord's, and he will conqure all his enemies, with his right hand and his holy arm, he will atain the victory. My concern Jihadi, is for your soul, do your leaders
I beg you to repent Jihadis, before the deception of your leaders and the real satan leaves you to burn forever. Is this Allah you now serve the Allah of your youth? In the quiet of your heart you know that the God they serve is not the God of your youth. Pray to God to know the truth. Seek him, the God who spoke to you in your youth, and you will find him. He will speak when you set aside your artificial rage.
-Shimron
See what your leaders have done to you....
The following is by:
Dr. TajudeenKampala
What is Khartoum really up to again in Darfur? The African Union has given notice that it is not going to continue its Peace Mission beyond the end of this month when the mandate expires.
Khartoum's initial response was more or less: "Good riddance...." click here for more
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Reasearch before engaging organizations Overseas
So you are about to engage with an organization in in another country to do Ministry, Business as Mission, or an economic development project.
There are several steps to take first:
First, check the Treasury Department to insure you are incompliance.
There are currently 41 organizations or groups designated as Foregin Terrorist Organizations by theSecretary of State. These 41 FTOs include 12 of the 13 Middle East terrorist organizations previously designated under Executive Orders 12947 and 13099 and 29 other foreign organizations located in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. -click here for more
Next, Check to see check the MIPT Database:
The MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (TKB) is the one-stop resource for comprehensive research and analysis on global terrorist incidents, terrorism-related court cases, and terrorist groups and leaders. TKB covers the history, affiliations, locations, and tactics of terrorist groups operating across the world, with over 35 years of terrorism incident data and hundreds of group and leader profiles and trials. TKB also features interactive maps, statistical summaries, and analytical tools that can create custom graphs and tables.
This is the largest and most comprehensive I have found.
Third,
Check the UN Terrorit Database. This is primarily for Taliban and Al qaeda names.
See if any key names from your potential partners occur here
Fourth, check the Rand Terrorism Database listings
Check events, and the countries where you intend to work for terrorist organizaitons, and get to know them.
Fifth, the Kompass Corporate Database is a Eurpoean based listing of Coproations and Corporate officer names.
Do your potential partners names or organizations occur here?
You can check press databases. A helpful engine that can do this for you is Zoominfo.
I look forward to comments about more data bases to search.
Related laws to Study:
The USA PATRIOT Act introduced sweeping changes to U.S. law, including amendments to:
Wiretap Statute (Title III):
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
Pen Register and Trap and Trace Statute
Money Laundering Act
Immigration and Nationality Act
Money Laundering Control Act
Bank Secrecy Act
Right to Financial Privacy Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Sarbanes Oxley Act: This applies only to publicly held companies, but best practices from all auditors appear to be impacting Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP). The records it requires of public companies will be a useful pro-active demonstration of efforts for private companies to be in
compliance as well.
More will be added to this post later
-Shimron
There are several steps to take first:
First, check the Treasury Department to insure you are incompliance.
There are currently 41 organizations or groups designated as Foregin Terrorist Organizations by theSecretary of State. These 41 FTOs include 12 of the 13 Middle East terrorist organizations previously designated under Executive Orders 12947 and 13099 and 29 other foreign organizations located in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. -click here for more
Next, Check to see check the MIPT Database:
The MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (TKB) is the one-stop resource for comprehensive research and analysis on global terrorist incidents, terrorism-related court cases, and terrorist groups and leaders. TKB covers the history, affiliations, locations, and tactics of terrorist groups operating across the world, with over 35 years of terrorism incident data and hundreds of group and leader profiles and trials. TKB also features interactive maps, statistical summaries, and analytical tools that can create custom graphs and tables.
This is the largest and most comprehensive I have found.
Third,
Check the UN Terrorit Database. This is primarily for Taliban and Al qaeda names.
See if any key names from your potential partners occur here
Fourth, check the Rand Terrorism Database listings
Check events, and the countries where you intend to work for terrorist organizaitons, and get to know them.
Fifth, the Kompass Corporate Database is a Eurpoean based listing of Coproations and Corporate officer names.
Do your potential partners names or organizations occur here?
You can check press databases. A helpful engine that can do this for you is Zoominfo.
I look forward to comments about more data bases to search.
Related laws to Study:
The USA PATRIOT Act introduced sweeping changes to U.S. law, including amendments to:
Wiretap Statute (Title III):
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
Pen Register and Trap and Trace Statute
Money Laundering Act
Immigration and Nationality Act
Money Laundering Control Act
Bank Secrecy Act
Right to Financial Privacy Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Sarbanes Oxley Act: This applies only to publicly held companies, but best practices from all auditors appear to be impacting Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP). The records it requires of public companies will be a useful pro-active demonstration of efforts for private companies to be in
compliance as well.
More will be added to this post later
-Shimron
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Evangelical and US Foreign Policy
Evangelical Christians constantly take before God the issues of others, though His Spirit in his petitioning through Jesus Christ, at the Right Hand of God the Father intercede for us.
They believe that all their life activities are ministries, including Government, Commerce, international, Family life, etc.
With this in mind, they are constantly in prayer asking God to intervene directly, and to direct their own paths. As God did in Israel in the past, they know that God goes before them. The battle is the Lord's, and He will conquer all His enemies.
It is therefore appropriate for Evangelicals to practice their faith in interactions with people of all the world.....
The following is a recent Foreign Affairs article. It is published by means of information. Not an endorsement or with their permission....
-Shimron
Religion has always been a major force in U.S. politics, but the recent surge in the number and the power of evangelical is recasting the country's political scene -- with dramatic implications for foreign policy. This should not be cause for panic: evangelical are passionately devoted to justice and improving the world, and eager to reach out across sectarian lines.
(Click here for more).
Walter Russell Mead is Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Further reading for this article can be found at www.foreignaffairs.org/mead_reading.
They believe that all their life activities are ministries, including Government, Commerce, international, Family life, etc.
With this in mind, they are constantly in prayer asking God to intervene directly, and to direct their own paths. As God did in Israel in the past, they know that God goes before them. The battle is the Lord's, and He will conquer all His enemies.
It is therefore appropriate for Evangelicals to practice their faith in interactions with people of all the world.....
The following is a recent Foreign Affairs article. It is published by means of information. Not an endorsement or with their permission....
-Shimron
Religion has always been a major force in U.S. politics, but the recent surge in the number and the power of evangelical is recasting the country's political scene -- with dramatic implications for foreign policy. This should not be cause for panic: evangelical are passionately devoted to justice and improving the world, and eager to reach out across sectarian lines.
(Click here for more).
Walter Russell Mead is Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Further reading for this article can be found at www.foreignaffairs.org/mead_reading.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Islamic Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
Islamic NGOs under suspicion
Islamic NGOs under scrutiny amid al-Qaeda fears
DAKAR: Africa’s Islamic charities are booming but their success is also stoking suspicions, are they genuinely trying to help the destitute or are they preachers of religious fundamentalism using aid operations as a front? Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the fastest growing charities in Africa, have come under close scrutiny. click here for more
Islamic NGOs assume everyone western agency has sharing the gospel as thier ultimate objective.
Part of the reason why Islamic NGO staff make the assumption that all
"Western" humanitarian aid is motivated by a missionary impulse is that their own activity — for instance in Chad — combines implicit or explicit proselytisation with work in refugee camps, construction of schools, hospitals, wells, and the distribution of medicine
The reason for suspicion is that Muslim charities have, in the past at least, been
sources of funding for terrorism.
The following Ismalic Charities were designed by the US Treasury Department as Charities through which terror networks received funds:
Makhtab al-Khidamat/Al Kifah (formerly U.S.-based)
Al Rashid Trust (Pakistan)
WAFA Humanitarian Organization (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE)
Rabita Trust (Pakistan)
The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (U.S.)
Ummah Tamer E-Nau (Pakistan)
Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (Kuwait, Afghanistan and Pakistan)
Afghan Support Committee (Pakistan)
Aid Organization of the Ulema (Pakistan)
Global Relief Foundation (U.S.)
Benevolence International Foundation (U.S.)
Benevolence International Fund (Canada)
Bosanska Idealna Futura (Bosnia)
Lajnat al Daawa al Islamiyya (Kuwait)
Stichting Benevolence International Nederland (Netherlands)
Al Aqsa Foundation (U.S., Europe, Pakistan, Yemen, South Africa)
Commité de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens (France)
Association de Secours Palestinien (Switzerland)
Interpal (UK)
Palestinian Association in Austria (Austria)
Sanibil Association for Relief and Development (Lebanon)
Al Akhtar Trust (Pakistan)
Six other branches of AHF (Bosnia, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Tanzania) (March 2002 and January 2004)
7 Steps to a World Wide Calliphate
7 Steps to a World Wide Calliphate
The following master plan for the installation of a world-wide calliphate can be found in a new book, "al-Zarqawi - al-Qaida's Second Generation" by journalist, Fouad Hussein, who has spent time in prison with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Phase One: "the awakening" This has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims.
"The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."
Phase Two: "Opening Eyes" According to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states.
Phase Three: "Arising and Standing Up" Should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.
Phase Four: Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.
Phase Five: This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.
Phase Six: Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.
Phase Seven: This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half billion Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.
Jane Doe
SOURCE: Spiegel Online
The following master plan for the installation of a world-wide calliphate can be found in a new book, "al-Zarqawi - al-Qaida's Second Generation" by journalist, Fouad Hussein, who has spent time in prison with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Phase One: "the awakening" This has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims.
"The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."
Phase Two: "Opening Eyes" According to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states.
Phase Three: "Arising and Standing Up" Should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.
Phase Four: Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.
Phase Five: This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.
Phase Six: Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.
Phase Seven: This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half billion Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.
Jane Doe
SOURCE: Spiegel Online
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