War

U.S. commander: More than 70 Taliban leaders killed this month - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. forces killed more than 50 Taliban leaders in southern Afghanistan last week, a top commander said. Gen. John Nicholson said in a news conference U.S. Marines used rocket artillery to attack the militant leaders after tracking them to a meeting in Helmand province May 24. [...] Several Taliban governors, intelligence commanders and others in leadership were among the dead. [...] Officials said more than 500 airstrikes were conducted in Afghanistan last month, many targeting Taliban drug labs."

Comment: Have you been wondering how the war in Afghanistan is going? The Taliban are still there and so are the U.S. Marines. How about we give it another year? Maybe two?

Rumors of War - Persia

Hamas says Israel agreed to cease-fire after day of heavy fighting - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Hamas officials said Wednesday a cease-fire with Israel is holding after one of the most violent days in Gaza in years, but Israel says no such agreement has been reached. [...] Tuesday, Israel's military launched airstrikes into Gaza to retaliate for a large mortar attack against Israeli settlements. The strikes came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'respond with great force' to the attacks, which officials said included 28 mortar shells. Haaretz reported more fire was directed at Israel early Wednesday but the fighting has mostly stopped."

Comment: They again fail to note that Hamas is an Iranian proxy. Perhaps they should ask Tehran if the cease-fire will hold?

Rumors of War - Persia

Israel fires missiles at Gaza in largest firefight in 4 years - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Israel's military launched airstrikes into Gaza Tuesday to retaliate for a large mortar attack against Israeli settlements, officials said. The strikes came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'respond with great force' to the attacks, which officials said included 28 mortar shells. [...] Israel's military said the mortar shells [...] were mostly intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. Some of the mortars, it added, landed on the grounds of a kindergarten before students arrived. Tuesday's was the largest and most serious exchange of fire in the conflict since 2014."

Comment: This report does not go into detail about the militant group Hamas or how they are funded and equipped by Iran. I have no doubt that the mortar attack was a response by Iran to Israel's recent skirmish with Iran in Syria. Iran is using Hamas and the Palestinians as proxies in their undeclared war with Israel.

Pestilence

3 Ebola patients escape Democratic Republic of the Congo hospital; 2 die - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Three people being treated for Ebola at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo escaped the facility's isolation unit and two later died, the World Health Organization said Friday. [...] WHO officials said they hope an experimental Ebola vaccine could help stop the spread of the deadly virus. Healthcare workers began administering more than 7,500 doses of the vaccine Monday."

Comment: I wish them luck. This new vaccine could really turn things around and remove Ebola from the list of most feared viruses. 

Rumors of War - Persia

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outlines demands for Europe to preserve Iran nuclear deal - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday listed a set of conditions he says European powers must comply with in order to continue the 2015 nuclear deal. Warning that his country would start its nuclear activities if Europe fails to provide guarantees [...] The Iranian leader deemed the continuation of the nuclear agreement possible only if European leaders provide six concrete guarantees -- including a promise not to take issue with Iran's ballistic missile program and guarantee Iranian oil is 'completely sold.'"

Comment: Well here you go, the other shoe has dropped. Talk about turning the tables! You have to admire, just a bit, Iran's chutzpah. Far from being a supplicant and going to Europe turban-in-hand with a humble request to please continue to nuclear deal they are setting forth conditions that Europe must meet for Iran to grudgingly accede to the deal they already agreed to. If you give someone a set of conditions they must meet, is there a word for that?  It kind of sounds like an ultimatum. Right? If the EU had any self-respect at all they would never tolerate this mid-rank power dictating to them. I'm thinking Europe will probably cave, so stay tuned!

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S. rescinds China's invitation to Rim of the Pacific military drill - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Department of Defense Wednesday rescinded China's invitation to participate in an international maritime exercise due to its actions in the South China Sea. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Logan said the Defense Department has withdrawn its invitation to the Chinese military to participate in June's Rim of the Pacific naval exercise alongside about two dozen other nations. [...] China has been invited to the biannual military drill since 2014, and the statement said the decision to revoke China's invitation was an initial response to Beijing's South China Sea activities."

Comment: Trumps administration started with much optimism about U.S.-China relations. It seems the honeymoon is over. 

Rumors of War - Persia

Mike Pompeo vows to place 'strongest sanctions in history' on Iran - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United States would place the strongest sanctions in history on Iran unless it changes its behavior in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday. [...] Iran used money gained from the accord to fuel proxy wars across the Middle East instead of boosting the 'economic fortunes of a struggling people,' he said. The United States will 'crush' Iranian operatives and Hezbollah operatives around the world, Pompeo said, adding that if Iran chose to restart their nuclear program, they would have 'bigger problems that they've ever had before.'"

Iran sanctions: Zarif condemns Pompeo announcement - BBC News
The BBC reports: "Mr Zarif said America was 'regressing to old habits' but his country was working with other partners to the nuclear deal in order to find a solution. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani launched a personal attack on Mike Pompeo, questioning his credibility as a former CIA chief to make decisions for Iran and the world."

Comment: I know that we have been wondering what comes next after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal. We are starting to get an answer. The danger is that increased sanctions will hurt our allies as well as Iran. There is, on the other hand, a possibility that domestic unrest in Iran will cause a change in policy.  Stay tuned.

Pestilence

Outbreak of Nipah virus kills at least 9 in India - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Officials say at least nine people have died in India from the Nipah virus, an infection that spreads through bats, pigs and other animals. [...] the virus has spread through direct contact and exchange of body fluids [...] There is no vaccine and the only form of treatment is supportive medicines and palliative care. [...] The World Health Organization has identified Nipah as having the potential to become the next major outbreak."

Comment: I'm not at all familiar with this virus but it sounds terrible. From what I understand these kinds of viruses that require contact with bodily fluids are easily containable through standard isolation protocols. I hope so!

Persecution

Reuters - Islamic State claims responsibility for church attack in Chechnya
Reuters reports: "The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for an attack on a church in Russia’s Chechnya republic that killed three people, the group’s Amaq news agency said on Sunday. [...] Four people attacked the Orthodox church on Saturday, killing two policemen and a churchgoer, Russia’s investigative committee said in a statement. The attackers were killed. [...] The wider North Caucasus region remains volatile, however, with unemployment and corruption pushing some to embrace radical Islam."

Wickedness Increases

10 shot dead at Santa Fe, Texas, high school; explosives found - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Ten people died Friday at a southeast Texas high school after a fellow student opened fire on the Houston-area campus, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. At an afternoon news conference, the governor confirmed the deaths and 10 injuries at Sante Fe High School. He described it as 'the worst disaster ever to strike this community.' [...] Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the dead included mostly students and at least one adult, including an officer."

Comment: I heard one of the talking-head commentators on the news mocking people who offer thoughts and prayers after violent attacks.  I think that is an example of both a symptom and the cause of these attacks. Perhaps if we had more people praying these things wouldn't happen? A society formerly based on Biblical principles has abandoned any pretense of teaching values, ethics and right conduct in schools so we can hardly be surprised when children take the tools available to act out the violence raging in their cold and empty hearts. So, yes, I'm praying for the families and friends of those lost, that they will be comforted and consoled in their time of grief by the promise of the resurrection.

Pestilence

WHO mulling health emergency over Congo Ebola outbreak - UPI.com
UPI reports: "An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a major city -- Mbandaka, with a population of about 1 million people -- officials said. [...] the city is a major trade thoroughfare on the banks of the Congo River. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said Ebola vaccines have been delivered to help stem the crisis"

Comment: This will be a good test of the recently developed vaccine. 

Gog Alliance

Eurasian trade bloc adds Iran on interim basis - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iran on Thursday signed an interim free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, two days days after the United States imposed new sanctions and warned companies against trading with Tehran. EEU members Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan added Iran to their trade bloc, which has existing agreements with Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Moldova."

Comment: It looks like Iran is making friends with the Stans. 

Persecution

AP - Indonesian family that bombed churches well off, friendly
The AP reports: "The Muslim family that carried out suicide attacks on three churches in Indonesia’s second-largest city, killing a dozen people as well as its two young daughters, lived comfortably in an upper-middle class suburb and was on friendly terms with a Christian neighbor. [...] According to police, on Sunday morning the two sons, aged 16 and 18, rode a motorcycle into a church courtyard and detonated their explosives. Puji Kuswati, the mother, attacked worshippers at another church with her daughters, aged 8 and 12, who police said were all wearing suicide vests. The father, Dita Oepriarto, detonated a car bomb outside a third church. Police initially gave his name as Dita Futrianto but corrected that based on his national identity card. All six died."

Comment: I read this news report hoping to find out more details about the family but realized that the headline says it all. The article reveals nothing new. The entire report dances around the obvious inspiration for their murderous act but dares not say it. Such a nice family from a nice neighborhood, we can't understand why it happened. Really.

Rumors of War

North Korea threatens to pull out of U.S. summit; cancels talks with South - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea said Wednesday it is canceling high-level talks with South Korea and threatened to pull out of a summit with the United States over the allies' ongoing military exercises. The North's Korean Central News Agency said the Max Thunder drills between the South Korean and U.S. air forces are a rehearsal for invasion of the North and a provocation amid warming inter-Korean ties. It also called into question whether next month's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump can go ahead as planned."

Comment: I suspect this is just posturing, a transparent attempt to gain leverage for a country without many cards to play.

Jerusalem Restored

AP - US embassy jubilantly opens in Jerusalem as Gaza rages
The AP reports: "The United States opened its new embassy in Jerusalem Monday with a high-powered American presidential delegation joining Israel’s top leadership in a celebration of their countries’ friendship and the city’s history as the ancient capital of the Jewish people. [...] For Israelis, it marked the first official recognition of their capital after 70 years. But the move infuriated Palestinians, who seek the eastern part of the city that Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war as their future capital. Also absent were the ambassadors of many European nations that opposed the move ... [...] As significant as the event was for many Jews, it appeared to be equally important for Israel’s Christian allies. [...] Evangelicals say their affinity stems from Christianity’s Jewish roots, and some view Israel’s establishment as fulfilling biblical prophecy."

Comment: What a great day, and yes, it is indeed prophetically significant. Why, you ask, does this fulfill prophecy? Because either directly or indirectly, it affirms the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The prophets foretold that Jerusalem would be established as a city and capital for the people of Israel, who would themselves be restored to the land after being scattered among the nations. Jerusalem also has a great destiny to be the future capital of the planet. You see, God's original plan was for the light of grace to shine in Jerusalem and for the nations to come to Jerusalem learn the ways of God. When Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah, God turned it around, the Good News of salvation would go out from Jerusalem to all nations. When Christ returns and establishes His kingdom and rules on the Throne of David, then once again the nations will come to Jerusalem, the city of the Great King, to learn the ways of the Living God.

See:  Isaiah 44:26 / Jeremiah 30:1-38:22 / Zechariah 8 & 12.

A special note about today,  let's not forget to gives thanks for the United States, Guatemala and Paraguay as the bravest of the brave, the only nations to honor Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I'm praying that God will richly bless these nations for blessing Israel (Genesis 12:3).

Update 5/24/18: I'd like to update this and clarify that the above comment about the status of Jerusalem in God's design for history did not come from me but from Dr. David Jeremiah, who likened Israel to the center of a wheel with the spokes radiating out to the nations.  

Persecution

AP - 9 dead, 40 wounded as bombs hit 3 Indonesian churches
The AP reports: "Three attacks including one by a suicide bomber disguised as a churchgoer targeted three churches in Indonesia’s second largest city of Surabaya early Sunday, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens, police said. [...] The latest attacks in predominantly Muslim Indonesia came days after police ended a riot and hostage-taking at a detention center near Jakarta that left six officers and three inmates dead. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims and for the persecuted church in Indonesia. 

Pestilence

Congo confirms first death in latest Ebola outbreak | Reuters
Reuters reports: "The Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Thursday the first confirmed death in a new outbreak of Ebola virus and said 11 other people were now confirmed to be infected, including three medical staff. At least 17 people have died since inhabitants of a village in the country’s northwest began showing symptoms resembling Ebola in December, according to the World Health Organization. [...] Ebola is most feared for the internal and external bleeding it can cause in its victims owing to damage done to blood vessels."

Comment: Just when we thought Iran had taken over this space Ebola makes a comeback. Not that this is a good thing, or anything.

Rumors of War - Persia

Donald Trump withdraws U.S. from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - UPI.com
UPI reports: "President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is withdrawing the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, ending months of speculation on how he planned to handle what he described as 'one of the worst deals in history.' [...] Trump said the United States would no longer abide by the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, four days before a Saturday deadline to decide whether to recertify the 2015 pact. As part of withdrawing from the pact, Trump said the United States 'will be instituting the highest level of economic sanctions' on Iran. This includes sanctions against any country that helps Iran with its nuclear program."

Comment: This hardly comes as a surprise to any who have followed what Trump has said about the deal but it still is a stunning development that will have far-reaching consequences. 

On the one had, critics of the deal are correct that Iran has not behaved like a country constrained by international agreements. Their efforts in the regional war with Saudi Arabia for hegemony in the Middle East have increased and not decreased since the deal was announced and Iranian militias are setting up permanent bases inside Syria. In short, the deal set the stage for a more ambitious and militant Iran.

On the other hand, defenders of the deal are correct when they note that it only addressed the nuclear program and not Iran's wider behavior. Iran has not violated the terms of the deal. Now that the U.S. has reneged on the deal Iran is free to resume industrial production of enriched uranium as well as continue their other efforts. This could lead to direct conflict. Will that happen? Early indications are the Iran plans to abide by the deal as long as the other signatories continue to pay Iran for compliance. The state of play has been severely disrupted and the Mideast has once again been plunged into uncertainty. Stay tuned!

Rumors of War - Persia

Israel threatens to 'liquidate' Assad if Iran launches attacks from Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "An Israeli official said Monday his country would kill Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if Iran used Syrian territory to launch attacks on Israel. [...] Steinitz's remarks come amid Israeli reports that Iran is planning a missile strike against Israel. Iran has an estimated 70,000 fighters in Syria and likely more than 100,000 missiles and rockets in the region. Israeli officials have expressed concerns that Iran wants revenge for Israeli strikes against Syria's defense."

Comment: Israel has been very clear to all who will listen that they will not tolerate a permanent Iranian presence on their northern border. 

Gog Alliance

Turkey will retaliate if U.S. ends weapons sales, minister says - UPI.com
UPI reports: "If the United States approves a proposed law that would halt weapons sales to Turkey, the nation will retaliate, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Sunday. [...] On Friday, legislators in the House of Representatives introduced a $717 billion 2019 defense bill that includes a temporary halt of weapons sales to Turkey. [...] On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ankara for a gorundbreaking of Turkey's first nuclear power plant. The project, which was agreed upon in 2010, will be fully-funded by Russia, which will retain 51 percent of shares of Russian companies."

Comment: It maybe time to consider kicking Turkey out of the NATO alliance. 

Rumors of War - King of the North

U.S. Navy reactivates Second Fleet amid Russia tensions - UPI.com
UPI reports: "With tensions between NATO and Russia rising, the U.S. military is resurrecting a fleet to patrol the Atlantic Ocean and help respond to global contingencies. [...] Russian submarine activity is at its highest levels since the Cold War, according to NATO and U.S. officials. Russia recently sent a spy ship up the east coast of the United States and the country announced plans to develop an underwater nuclear armed drone."

Comment: What an incredibly dangerous period in history. It's only a matter of time before someone declares the Cold War back on.

Rumors of War - Persia

AP Analysis: Iran has few options to avenge Syria strikes
AP reports: "After a second suspected Israeli strike killing Iranian forces in Syria, the Islamic Republic has few ways to retaliate as its leaders wrestle with both unrest at home and the prospect of its nuclear deal collapsing abroad. [...] Here’s a look at what happened and the challenges confronting Iran as it weighs its response."

Comment: As you know, Israel attacked Iranian positions in Syria and we are now awaiting the Iranian response. What can Iran do? This analysis from the AP has the answers. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China, India have increased military spending, researchers say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "India has been increasing military spending, and the cause is China, according to experts at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Researchers said in a report released Wednesday that despite a recent diplomatic charm offensive China and India are not scaling back on military reinforcements at their border, the South China Morning Post reported."

Comment: Nothing like a regional arms race among nuclear powers to alarm the neighbors. 

Pestilence

CDC: Illnesses from mosquito, tick, flea bites triple in 13 years - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The number of Americans who got sick from infected mosquito, tick or flea bites tripled over 13 years, mainly from outbreaks of Zika and other diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. From 2004-16, more than 640,000 cases of illnesses from bites by the insects were reported by the CDC in the newest edition of its Vital Signs update, including 96,075 in 2016. In 2004, there were 27,388 cases. CDC scientists analyzed data for 16 vector-borne diseases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System."

Comment: It's the season, time to apply that mosquito repellent!