Libya, a thorny question

Tags

chemical weapons, Hamas, Hizballah, Iran, Libya

Who are the Libyan rebels? Talking heads have been asking that question for several weeks, echoing US government officials (US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others).

Below is an interesting article I found a few days ago on Debkafile online, the only place I’ve seen it. It may help explain some reluctance on the part of the United States and others to arm / train / otherwise assist the widely varied groups who comprise the Libyan opposition:

Commander of US NATO forces, Adm. James Stavridis

Libyan rebels sold Hizballah and Hamas chemical shells
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report March 31, 2011

Senior Libyan rebel “officers” sold Hizballah and Hamas thousands of chemical shells from the stocks of mustard and nerve gas that fell into rebel hands when they overran Muammar Qaddafi’s military facilities in and around Benghazi, Debkafile’s exclusive military and intelligence sources report.

Word of the capture touched off a scramble in Tehran and among the terrorist groups it sponsors to get hold of their first unconventional weapons.

According to our sources, the rebels offloaded at least 2,000 artillery shells carrying mustard gas and 1,200 nerve gas shells for cash payment amounting to several million dollars.

US and Israeli intelligence agencies have tracked the WMD consignments from eastern Libya as far as Sudan in convoys secured by Iranian agents and Hizballah and Hamas guards. They are not believed to have reached their destinations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, apparently waiting for an opportunity to get their deadly freights through without the US or Israel attacking and destroying them.

It is also not clear whether the shells and gases were assembled upon delivery or were traveling in separate containers. Our sources report that some of the poison gas may be intended not only for artillery use but also for drones which Hizballah recently acquired from Iran.

Tehran threw its support behind the anti-Qaddafi rebels (emphasis added) because of this unique opportunity to get hold of the Libyan ruler’s stock of poison gas after it fell into opposition hands and arm Hizballah and Hamas with unconventional weapons without Iran being implicated in the transaction.

Shortly after the uprising began in the third week of February, a secret Iranian delegation arrived in Benghazi. Its members met rebel chiefs, some of them deserters from the Libyan army, and clinched the deal for purchasing the entire stock of poison gas stock and the price. The rebels threw in a quantity of various types of anti-air missiles.

Hizballah and Hamas purchasing missions arrived in the first week of March to finalize the deal and arrange the means of delivery.

The first authoritative American source to refer to a Hizballah presence in Benghazi was the commander of US NATO forces Adm. James Stavridis. When he addressed a US Senate committee on Tuesday, March 29, he spoke of “telltale signs of the presence of Islamic insurgents led by Al-Qaeda and Hizballah” on the rebel side of the Libyan war. He did not disclose what they were doing there.

Instigators goals

Tags

Algeria, Egypt, Hamas, Iran, Jordan, Muslim Brotherhood, Sharia law, Syria, Yemen

I’ve been glued to live video out of Tahrir (Freedom) Square in Cairo for several days now. Al Jazeera and BBC have live feeds, Al Jazeera sometimes on You Tube when their internet connection goes down.

It’s easy to sympathize with the anti-Mubarak protesters, considering how violent the pro-Mubarak response was yesterday. It’s been worse today; dozens of journalists have been arrested, some beaten and equipment destroyed; and hundreds of people have been killed across the country (10 so far today in Tahrir Square itself) since the protest started. I watch a while, and pray a while.

But we must not forget who the (mostly invisible) instigators are and their ultimate goals:

• Not democracy
• Not free elections
• Not peaceful disagreement
• What, then?

An Iranian news article spells it out:

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said the popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Yemen signify creation of an Islamic Middle-East.

Fars News online
28 Jan 2011

“Incidents that are happening in the Middle-East and the Arab world should not be regarded simply,” Ayatollah Khatami said, addressing a large and fervent congregation of people on Tehran University campus.

“To those who do not see the realities I clarify that an Islamic Middle-East is being created based on Islam, religion, and democracy with prevailing religious principals,” Ayatollah Khatami stressed. He was referring to the recent historic revolution in Tunisia and massive protests in Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen.

Egypt’s largest opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday called on the country’s people to continue protests. Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Essam al-Arian warned that Egypt would “explode” if the government does not listen to the people. Meantime, Police clamped down on anti-government protesters in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Friday.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8911080828

I’ve been watching responses from Russia, too. They heard the Iranian message too and it seems to be making them a bit nervous. Or does it? It’s hard to tell from Pravda or Russia Today. Here are some links to those sites:
http://english.pravda.ru/photo/album/6069/
http://rt.com/news/cairo-mubarak-tahrir-standoff/

Many thanks, level-headed GOP friends

The newly elected chairman of the Florence County GOP, Bill Pickle, conducted a special meeting of the Executive Committee following the regular monthly meeting Thursday night (27 January 2011). He let everyone have their say who wanted to speak and also expressed his own views.

Then the “original motion was found to be out of order and therefore any motion following that motion was also out of order.” As I noted in my previous blog, these motions were improper in the first place, thus null and void.

Dr. Neal Thigpen and Mal Weatherly will receive letters from the party, although both have already received apologetic phone calls from Bill Pickle – and I hope from the offending parties, the motion-makers.

Neal and Mal have agreed to officially resign from the balance of their 2009-2011 terms. Of course both are eligible to attend the upcoming precinct reorganization meetings and to be re-elected, if their precincts so desire. I hope they will attend.

Thank you, level-headed, good-sense Republican friends! And special thanks to chairman Bill Pickle, who has a big job ahead of him this year.

“Friday”

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Shy cat

Meet “Friday,” (named by the vet), my new super-shy, timid or fearful kitty.

He’s about a year old and was a rescue cat, having been hit by a car and suffering several cracked bones. The vet said he should be completely recovered in another few weeks but he actually seems to get around well now. The lady who found him paid for his care.

As you can see, he is hiding behind the loveseat in my little front room, as usual. Although he looks crowded in these shots, he actually has plenty of room back there. He comes out to eat and use the litterbox during the day (I hear him), but stays in that room and only ventures into the living room after I go to bed at night.

According to what I’ve read online, patience is the key to socializing him, along with frequently talking and using his name, offering food treats, and petting him as he allows – which he does from time to time.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Did you know…

Tags

Bette's Journal, BetteCox.com, blogs, Defending Blade, Esther's Petition, Speaking of Heaven, Talk With Bette

I read a great deal, state and local newspapers, magazines, international news online (especially pertaining to the Middle East), and novels – spy stories, political and murder mysteries, mostly. Depending on current events, I research, study and pray.

I go to movies such as Inception, and Salt, and of course the latest in the Twilight Saga. I watch TV movies and regular shows. White Collar and Burn Notice are favorites for the summer.

And when not doing all that, I write – this blog, plus a few other things:

http://tapister.wordpress.com News articles from an end-times perspective
http://estherspetition.wordpress.com Bible studies, meditations
http://speakingofheaven.wordpress.com Thoughts and views of heaven
http://bettesjournal.wordpress.com Miscellaneous musings
http://defendingblade.wordpress.com Novel with historical background
http://www.bettecox.com Main website; includes serial novel titled The Simsville Inheritance

Simsville needs another chapter written; Defending Blade needs another one uploaded (the complete novel was finished a long time ago). Need to get to work on those soon.

Earthquakes and more earthquakes – Judgment?

Tags

earthquake, Haiti, judgment

I have a blog called “Esther’s Petition” where I write Bible studies, meditations, etc. for myself and anybody else who comes across it. When I “preach,” that’s usually where I do it.

But I’ve read a variety of opinions about why the earthquakes have struck Haiti with such destruction this week – first 7.0, then several smaller aftershocks, and today a large 6.1. Hundreds of thousands of people have died or been injured. The capital of Port-au-Prince is in ruins. Help and helpers are streaming in from around the world.

God’s judgment? Natural causes? Here’s my opinion.

Human beings have a stubborn enemy who hates us. All of us. Doesn’t matter what religion we believe, or if we believe in any. Doesn’t matter what our cultural or economic status is. We’re human, we occupy this planet, and that’s reason enough to hate us. He is particularly offended by believers in Jesus Christ and potential believers in Jesus Christ.

Think of him like an attractive, murderous con man, one who is so convincing, so persuasive in his approach and arguments. He will keep you entertained right up to the moment he steals everything you own, and then kill you if he can. America has had its share of human con men in the last decade; remember how they operate.

Murdering thousands in an earthquake, or hurricane, or volcano, or flood, or drought, or disease – that’s just what this personality does. Persuading human beings to murder other human beings? He also does that, if he can.

I don’t blame God for what is happening to Haiti, or anywhere else. He’s tried to illuminate us, warn us, educate us, train us, lead us. I pray God’s rescue, his mercy and compassion for Haiti and the multitude of other people who live on planet earth. I pray rescue with food and water, medical care, shelter, rebuilding, comfort, consolation, and reconciliation with Christ for those who need it.

“Judge not, that you be not judged,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:1. But in John 7:24 he said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” We should read that first verse in context, the whole passage. Use your head and heart, your common sense.

Well, I’m not judging when I say that the enemy of our kind – human beings – is trying to sink Haiti into the sea. I’m simply encouraging you to join me in requesting God’s help in rescuing, comforting and restoring the people who are desperately hurting.

Mabry Mill

Mabry Mill was our last stop in the Shenandoah Valley on the way home from Virginia. The working water wheel in the restored grist mill, outbuildings complete with attendants in period dress, and well-stocked gift shop, attract thousands of visitors every year. Of course, the beautiful trees surrounding the mill attracted my attention.

Shenandoah 4

I like trees. I don’t know why exactly, but all my life long I’ve liked trees. Especially winter-time bare pecan trees with all their “bones” showing – years ago I did pencil sketches and concentrated on pecan trees. Some were pretty good. I wish I’d saved them.

Anyway, on our Shenandoah trip I took a number of photos of trees that I liked. Here are a few of them. In the first row below, there was a couple taking photos and I snapped one of the lady posing… I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get another one, but they left immediately so I got one of just the tree itself. I like both shots, actually.

The gingko grove at the Virginia Arboretum was beautiful, especially one tree that was more golden yellow than the others. On the road leading to the grove was the Cedars of Lebanon Allee, so naturally I got a shot of that too.

Shenandoah 3

I re-checked all the photos I took and did find a couple from the “deer strolling down the road” incident… most of his photos were quite fuzzy and unusable but these are recognizable, if not perfect.

I had forgotten that after we drove around the curve, there was a doe, presumably following the buck.

Shenandoah 2

Skyline Drive runs throughout the length of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, with visitor centers, campgrounds, hiking trails and overlooks spaced out along the way. Looking for a good spot for photographs, we drove into one of the campgrounds that also had cabins overlooking Shenandoah Valley.

We pulled up in front of one cabin and Harold got out of the car to take a few photos. Suddenly a doe walked out of the woods, right up to the car. I softly called to Harold to turn around and look behind him, and there she stood. He tossed a small piece of a cracker to her which she patiently nibbled away, then looked up and waited for more.

Despite the fact that signs are posted throughout the park, “Please don’t feed the deer,” it’s pretty obvious that people do. This was just one of many deer we saw in the parks along Skyline Drive and all of them seemed very tame. They are protected by federal law from hunters.

One afternoon we came up on a string of cars stopped in the road, both directions. A deer (with antlers) was strolling slowly right down the center of the white line, crossing the road at a long angle. People in nearly every car were hanging out of their windows snapping photographs. He wasn’t fazed in the least, just slowly made his way on across to our side a few cars ahead of us. By the time we got close enough for a photo, he had turned his back to the cars and was making his way on into the woods.