"The WAR on error"
Here is a translation of excerpts from the Introduction of the book "Jesus of Nazareth," which Benedict XVI will publish next spring.
With almost 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide, the pope is now considering a document that recommends easing the Vatican's condom ban - but only in exceptional circumstances.
"I am convinced that there is a great need for the whole Church to rediscover the joy of evangelization, to become a community inspired with missionary zeal to make Jesus better known and loved."
Benedict XVI's apostolic journey to Turkey has three objectives: one pastoral, another ecumenical, and a third that includes the fostering of dialogue with Islam.
In a noteworthy reversal of policy, the Turkish government has announced that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will greet Pope Benedict XVI when the Pontiff arrives in Ankara today. Turkish officials had consistently said that the premier would not be able to meet with the Pontiff, because he was traveling to Latvia to attend a meeting of NATO ministers.
Chancellor Angela Merkel reached out to her Christian Democratic Union yeterday, acknowledging mistakes in her first year in power but claiming the party had got Germany back on its feet.
No Satan Claus...
Santa Claus is being banned from Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. Anti-Santa campaigners claim Father Christmas was invented by Coca-Cola and detracts from the true spirit of the festive season.
German editorial writers today ponder the failure of talks between the European Union and Turkey, which had hinged on resolving the issue of Cyprus. The EU presidency said yesterday the impasse was insurmountable.
Germany is one of four European countries which could lose non-combat caveats awarded to certain nations involved in NATO missions in Afghanistan. The alliance meets in Riga today and could rescind the right to refuse.
As western leaders prepare to gather in Riga for the NATO summit, the alliance is deeply divided on Afghanistan. While the Americans and British want a military solution, the Germans are lobbying for their brand of development aid backed by armed troops.
Rarely in its 57-year history has Nato looked more fragile than it does today. The divisions between Old Europe and the more pro-American member states that so infuriated Washington in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq continues to dog NATO. Such schisms are potentially perilous.
Whoever poisoned Alexander Litvinenko had two goals: a long and lingering death for the KGB defector and pointing a finger of accusation for his killing right in the face of Vladimir Putin. Which leads me to believe Putin had nothing to do with it. In an assassination, one must ask: Cui bono? To whose benefit? Who would gain from the poisoning of Litvinenko? Certainly not Putin.
FSB reports are stating today that traces of the radioactive substance, polonium 210, used to assassinate former FSB Officer Alexander Litvinenko in London can be "directly linked" to Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons programme, and that this killing is in retaliation for President Putin’s authorizing the sale to Iran of sophisticated air defense missiles. Though not being reported in the Western Press, it has long been known to Russia that Litvinenko has long been a double agent with his main masters being Israel ’s Mossad Intelligence Agency and with his controller being Russia
To the dangers of Israel, and its Western Allies, of provoking such condemnation of the Russian people, and its leaders, it is obvious, as without the current balance of power in the World being maintained, should the Kremlin indeed be provoked into retaliation in the Caucasus, the plunge into the abyss of Total War will be unstoppable.
The worsening conflict between Israelis and Palestinians reached a rare point of clarification last week, but an ominous one. It involved leaked Israeli government documents apparently showing that significant parts of Israeli settlements in the West Bank are on land unjustly appropriated from Palestinians.
"The future of the Middle East, certainly the future of Lebanon may well be decided in the next several days," U.S. envoy to the United Nations John Bolton told BBC radio. "A successful re-emergence of democracy there is being directly challenged by the terrorist Hizbullah and those who support them, Syria, Iran and others."
After the largest death toll from a single attack since Hussein's fall, sectarian bloodletting seems likely to escalate. If last Thursday's attack proves to be another landmark event that drives Iraq further into civil war, it will complicate even more the American military exit strategy.
Failure to restore peace to Afghanistan may jeopardise stability in neighbouring Pakistan and have a knock-on effect on India, former U.S. deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage said yesterday. "The knock-on effects of a lack of success in Afghanistan will have enormous repercussions."
The time has come, says Berlin-based political scientist Herfried Münkler, to integrate the US-led mission Enduring Freedom with the efforts of ISAF troops in Afghanistan. Otherwise the mission could fail.
Persian prophet...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predicted the collapse of Israel, the U.S. and Britain, attacking what he called their "oppressive behavior." "The Zionist regime is on a steep downhill towards collapse and disgrace." In a reference to the U.S. and U.K., he said "the collapse and crumbling of your devilish rule has started."
President Bush today ruled out any talks with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program, and said Iran and Syria should not destabilize the fledgling democracy in neighboring Iraq.
[WAR: Is it not obvious what is going on? Just as Pharaoh's heart was hardened, despite the obvious signs (10 plagues), in order to bring about a God-desired result, so is Bush's heart hardened. No matter what Iran says or does, no matter what the evidence shows, and no matter what other world leaders say, he is bound and determined (consciously or unconsciously) to attack Iran. This will directly lead to the start of Jacob's Trouble, so it has to happen - regardless of logic, reason, diplomacy, international law, etc.]
[WAR: And speakin' of Jacob's Trouble ... In Sunday's WAR I stated: "1797-1800 + 209 = 2006-2009!". Well, it just so happens that according to the Ethiopian Calendar, the years will be 1999-2003. So is next year the "real" 2000, and the beginning of Jacob's Trouble?]
Energy ministers from major oil importers - India, China, the United States, Japan and South Korea - are set to meet in Beijing next month to exchange views about restraining and stabilizing crude oil prices, crucial for their steady economic development.
Problem...
The dollar plunged with startling ferocity late last week, driven by heavy selling. This was very bearish action that signals panic, and the probable onset of a severe downtrend. A break below the crucial support at 80 on the dollar index is expected to mark the transition from a clandestine unloading of dollar assets to an all-out stampede to “get what you can for them” before it’s too late.
Problem...
Renewed fears that the Chinese central bank may be poised to start liquidating its $1-trillion stash of U.S. dollars briefly drove the greenback to a 20-month low against the euro and a 2-year low against the British pound in trading yesterday. The sudden weakness of the U.S. dollar began late last week, soon after Chinese officials suggested that holding a lot of dollars might be a losing investment strategy. Investors read that as a signal that the massive trade and financial imbalances between Asia and the U.S. may be about to unwind. The chief worry is that if China's central bank - the largest foreign holder of U.S. dollars - begins to unload its reserves, the dollar will plunge.
Problem...
France yesterday led European concern over the rising euro in an apparent attempt to put pressure on the European Central Bank not to jeopardise eurozone growth prospects ahead of next year’s French presidential election. France’s finance minister, urged “collective vigilance” in the face of the falling US dollar. He promised to raise the euro’s recent rally with fellow eurozone finance ministers at their monthly meeting in Brussels last night.
Problem solved?...
In an interview with CNBC, a vice president for a prominent London investment firm yesterday urged a move away from the dollar to the "amero," a coming North American currency, he said, that "will have a big impact on everybody's life, in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico." Most Americans outside of Texas largely are unaware of the amero or the plans to integrate North America.
Europe is overtaking the United States and Japan in the race to take advantage of the explosion in world trade and investment.
The costs of California, where they want something for nothing... Will we learn more about Robert Gates' illegal contacts with Iranian Leaders during the 80's? Or of his supervision of weapons shipments to Saddam Hussein? Amerca wants peace, but is the greatest seller of weapons of war in the world... Bush policy makers seen as dangeorus and dysfunctional...
The armies of disbelief have been provoked. Articulate secularists may be merely reacting to the many recent incitements from religious zealots, as fanatics and infidels have their ways of keeping each other in business.
(WND: Belief in God "delusional"?)
So that's why we eat too much: Research explains mindless munching.
These foods and drinks are what I call emergency appetite control foods. What these foods and beverages have in common is that they make your stomach feel like it's full of calorie-rich foods. But in reality, you are filling your stomach with foods that contain almost no calories or carbohydrates.
Some beautiful pics of nature.
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