The Inevitable Middle East Flashpoint

A while back, I posted an article about Jerusalem and how world events would center around that city in the coming months and years.  If you haven't paid attention, the march to the gates of that ancient city is well underway.

ISIS is only part of the equation, as the entire Arab world--in particular Iran and its proxies--would love to burn Israel and dance on the dead bodies of Jews.  Maybe it's just an act, right?  All the world is a stage, after all.

Here are three points to consider in the coming days:

Jerusalem, the city worth nothing and everything.

The Holy City of Jerusalem, sacred to Abrahamic faith, is a flashpoint for international conflict.

One city capable of drawing the world into a devastating war.

This is not hyperbole, people.

History repeats itself, and its center has often been Jerusalem.

Degrade and Destroy? That's Not War! I'll Show You War!

President Obama promised to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the Islamic State (IS).  What does that mean, exactly?  It wasn't much of a strategy, lacking in any substantive material and wholly deprived of any teeth.

This is not war and it will not be effective.  It will result in the situation becoming worse, the US garnering more world resistance, and an increase in terrorist activity.  Attacking an enemy over the long term, picking away at them, only serves to piss them off and steel their resolve for revenge.

You want to know about war?  Forget this "degrade and destroy" bullshit and let me show you how to deal with enemies.

New World Order Games: 13 years since 9/11

Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and it's a prime opportunity for the shadowy powers of the world to rub it in our faces.

No, I'm not predicting anything specific, but I am sounding a general alarm for several reasons.  The atmosphere resembles 9/11, including warnings issued by multiple sources and events that seem to offer a preview of things to come.

Read on to see why I'm raising the alarm.

Russia, Iran, ISIS, Israel, and The New World Order

Everything seems chaotic, spiraling out of control... doesn't it?

Well there are some disturbing connections tying current events together and the governments instigating said events.  This "New World Order" is a picture of influences above and beyond political power, influences operating at the global level.

These are not isolated incidents, brought on by modern day political leaders and ideologies clashing; this is a story repeating from time immemorial and some of the players are up to the same old tricks.

Why Israel Agreed to a Truce and Why It's Not Over

Israel agreed to terms with Hamas, brokered by Egypt, for a cease-fire, ending the latest round of fighting between the two entities.  PM Netanyahu declared victory, as did Hamas, but the fighting is far from over and Israel knows it.

What's behind the hasty agreement and what's looming in the near future?

How Your U.S. Tax Dollars are Funding the Islamic State!

A few stories have surfaced recently about how the Islamic State (IS) funds its rather sophisticated and technologically-savvy operation.  This tactic was used by Al-Qaeda (and many other terrorist organizations not even related to a jihad) and it involves a simple, effective principle: hostages.

European governments are likely to pay seven-figure ransom sums to terrorists.

Apocalypse Watch: Three Steps to Doom

Welcome to the Apocalypse Watch.

 Periodically I will choose several headlines from the news that have one thing in common: apocalypse. If all stories take a turn for the worst, you can damn well bet we're doomed.

That's my opinion, of course.

In this report: War in Ukraine, Coming Storm in Gaza, and Economic Ruin.

For Israel and Gaza, Peace is Always Impossible

Another cease-fire broken between Gaza and Israel; are you surprised? This is the story, the way it happens, how it works, and (most importantly) it's all part of the plan. When someone in your group throws away a chance to get some humanitarian aid into Gaza, someone has to think about the consequences.

Are you spotting the pattern? I've got a few more things to say about this catastrophe.

If the Islamic State Conquers Baghdad...

There's a lot going on in the world right now, especially in the Mid-East, but the once headline-grabbing ISIS advance (and subsequent declaration of an Islamic Caliphate) seems to have taken second place to events around Israel, Ukraine, and Family Dollar (trending higher than Gaza on Google News, as of this writing).

What happens when the I.S. overruns Baghdad?  What are strategic and political complications?

Gaza going BOOM

The latest story from Reuters (read it here), paints the picture of a defiant Israel determined to punish Hamas, even if it means leveling Gaza in the process.  Several incidents, such as the destruction of schools and even explosions killing kids, are rapidly empowering sympathetic feelings for the Palestinians.

What's the end game in Gaza?  Will world opinion force Israel to back off the attacks?

The Next Crusade: Israel

Here's the NY Times article I read recently.

Check out this graphic that puts the Gaza casualties into proper perspective.

Summary: There's some serious business going on in the Middle East (ME) right about now--to be fair, it always has been going on, but it's particularly "hot" at the moment.  Though it's far from the deadliest, I think the Israeli operations in Gaza and unrest in the West Bank are nuclear in terms of international relations.  It's a complicated topic, isn't it?  Read on for more discussion.