The Next War--Syria

It is understandable the frustration that Walid Muallem, the Syrian foreign minister has with the United States.  In fact the American people have the same frustrations.  The American people were deceived by accusations that Iraq had WMS and entered into a war that had no lasting results other than to remove Saddam from power.   There has been no evidence to date that WMD were in Iraq.   

As to the use of chemical weapons used by Syria there is a double standard.  In declassified documents, it was known in 1983 that Iraq was using chemical weapons against Iran and the US government chose to do nothing.  In fact it was the US that was supplying both Iran and Iraq with chemical weapons.  When Saddam used chemical weapons against the Kurds the US first announced that this attack was by the Iranians.

So it is understandable when US leaders claim that Syrian government forces had used chemical weapons.  The US has pushed an agenda that is not approved by a large percentage of the American public, although it is interesting that the liberal progressives that protested against the Bush Administration have been silenced during the wars of Obama.  It will be too late for the Syrian people when it will later be proven it was the rebels using chemical weapons.  The US will have bombed away all evidence of their involvement. It could be that the US government wants to bomb Syria to hide the fact that the chemical weapons were produced and sold by the US government.

The rush to war has been the American way.  To wait for the UN to produce evidence justifying their claim that the Syrian regime was responsible is not part of the American and British agenda.  Even with leaders in both Parliament and Congress asking that they vote on approval of a Syrian strike-- these voices are being ignored.   Many Americas are war weary and feel the issues here at home are more important than what is happening in the Middle East.  Faced with high unemployment, a healthcare debacle, scandals, and the uncertainty of the future, Americans do not want involvement with Syria.  Americans are wondering why we are spending billions of dollars in Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Pakistan when our infrastructure is falling apart, our schools are in decline and our cities are going bankrupt.    

When it comes to the American government flouting international law, get in line with the American people, the Obama administration has been trampling the US Constitution since his election, why should international law be any different? We are still waiting on Benghazi, Fast and Furious, IRS, NSA, and the DOJ investigations where Constitutional Law has been broken.   Many Americans feel this administration has overstepped its authority many times without consequences. Who will hold the US and UK accountable for war on Syria?  No one!  Russian and China may talk a big talk but will they back it up?  

Americans have been indoctrinated to the new language of justifying war. Daily the media bombards the air wave with phrases like “could aid terrorism”, “threat to national security”, “defend democracy”, “war on terror”, “capitalism, liberty and democracy are under attack,” “the constant threat of terror”, and the one that prepares us for war-“the red line has been crossed.”  The language of war just prepares us for another war and it looks like Syria is the next stop.

So Mr. Walid Muallem, I understand your frustration with the US government.  I understand how difficult it is to fight against the American media, the neocons, the progressives and the apathy of those who just don’t care.  America government and media has judged your country guilty and there is nothing you can do, judgment is about to reign down on you.

When Truth is Inconvenient and Offending

The prophets were some of the greatest men who ever lived.  Many were persecuted, and some were killed.  They were men of God who were raised up by God to deliver His message at a crucial time in history.  By the politically correct standards of today, the message of the prophets would be considered hate speech.  However, the apostle Peter said of the Old Testament prophets: “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The prophets were men who were chosen by God. The Holy Spirit inspired them. They served as God’s messengers to His people in their day. They also were allowed to foretell things which would happen in the future.  They were men who told the truth. 

There are many within and without the church who consider the truth as hate speech.  The message of the Old Testament prophets experienced the hatred of those who did not want the truth.  It was not the intent of the prophets to hurt the people only to get them to turn from their evil ways.  Telling the truth and warning those in danger is not hate but rather love. When the truth is spoken, it is for the protection of the hearer not to their destruction.  There is no place within the scriptures that command us to give our allegiance to a criminal government.  We are to uphold the message of Truth regardless of who is in power. 

At present, the Body of Christ stands at a crossroad.  In our present society, there has been a major shift in the worldview and Christianity.  We are living in an era where the world is turned upside down.  For over 1500 years Christian truth has been taken for granted.  Today, however, Christians can no longer depend on the present culture to back up the teachings of Christianity.  After centuries of a privileged status Christians have become “Christ-less” in their actions.   

This move towards a more “loving” direction has weakened the message of salvation.  When Christians are afraid to confront evil because it might offend the evil-doer, then the message of salvation is no longer a life changing message.  In looking at the life of Christ, he spoke the truth about the scribes and Pharisees when he called them hypocrites, children of the devil and the blind leaders of the blind.  This language was given in love as a warning of what would happen if they did not turn from their wicked ways.   

Today, Christians are more enlightened than Christ.  His message was filled with hate speech, bigotry, and was unloving.  In the world of the political correct un-offending love is the message of the Church today, if it offends it is not a message of love.  Even though Christ gave us the command to love our enemies he did not command us to support their evil ways and condone their actions which are sinful.   Is it not love when we warn someone of the impending doom is coming their way if they continue down a path of evil?  Is it not love when we speak the truth so that decisions can be made that will alter the course of a destructive life?  Is it not love to speak the truth? 

There is hunger in the world for lives which live in the power of Jesus Christ.  There is a hunger for authentic Christianity.  The Old Testament prophets did not hate the people they hated their actions and life –style. 

It is time for the Church to return to the ways of Truth and Life.  It is time to cast aside the ways which have separated us from God and to allow the message of Truth to become once again the life-changing message it has been since the time of Christ. There is a desperate need to change quickly to seek a transformation that results in a total surrender to Christ. 

There was a time when leaders within our government held a higher moral standard than they do today.  Several years ago, the American people would never have believed that the “godless communist” country of Russia would have a higher moral standard than “Christian America.”  Who would have thought the anti-gay legislation of Russian would create tension between Russia and the United States?  Our president addressed this law during a press conference when he said, “Nobody is more offended than me by some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislation that you’ve seen in Russia.”   

What this law does is ban the spreading of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" to minors and sets heavy fines for violations.  One Russian lawmaker said, "Traditional sexual relations are relations between a man and a woman, which are a condition for the preservation and development of the multi-ethnic Russian people.”  Is this truth so hateful?

While our American president has fought against Christianity in America, Putin, who has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral authority and harnessed its influence as a source of political support, has championed socially conservative values.   

Another law that was passed by the “godless communist” in Russia made the insulting of religious feelings a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.  How can this be?  A country that was so opposite from America now has a higher moral standard than the United States.  Is it because they have accepted the truth over being politically correct? 

It is time to dispense with the lies and tell the truth.  We live in a society that lives on lies because no one wants to hear the truth---we accept the lies and deny the truth. 

Americans are the most lied-to people on Earth.  We are so clueless about what is going on in the world, in particular, the evils committed by the United States Government using our taxes and children behind our backs. Our government has been destroying nations for decades. The U.S. government has destroyed the lives of innocent people to further the greed and power of the evil leaders in our Nation.  We have continued to vote back into office those who have committed the same sins the prophets declared would be met with judgment.  The concern of every American should be when will the judgment of God fall upon us?    

The Constitution does not authorize the government to lie to “We The People.” The tenth amendment bars the government from presuming that right. When the government lies, it, therefore, acts unconstitutionally and illegally. A government that lies to the people breaks faith with the people and violates the contract between the government and the people under which the people consent to be governed. A government that lies to the people de-legitimizes itself. A government that lies to the people ceases to be the lawful government of this land.  But what is far worse than a lying government is the Church that supports the lies by remaining silent and allowing evil to spread because we are fearful of offending.   

The Church has lost its first love and has forsaken the Truth.  Some misinformed Christians believe that we are not to be critical of the evil doers.  However, we are given an example by the same Apostle Paul that told us to submit to those who are in leadership.  In his letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul says, “ You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.  We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God, we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.  For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.  On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.” 

Paul states speaking the truth resulted in him being treated outrageously.  He goes on to identify the group who was creating him problems.  “You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.”  If Paul were speaking today, he would be accused of hate speech toward the Jews.  Did he hate them?  No.  In fact, Paul said, “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” Rom 10:1   He was showing them love by telling them the truth. 

It is time to get back to speaking the truth.  If we want to preach a message of “love” then it must be based on the Truth When we enter into a personal relationship with the living Christ, is but the beginning of a journey. Jesus said that if we obeyed him, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). You will find that as God transforms you from within, then your understanding of truth will grow. Character and spiritual understanding are inextricably linked in the Bible. John says, "When we love others, we know that we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God" (1 John 3:19).

An Open Letter to Christians in Syria

I am writing this to assure you that not all Christians support the US government policy towards Syria. There is a small remnant of Christians who understand the evil that has come upon the world by the Muslim Wars—Sunni vs. Shia.  Caught in the middle of these wars are all other religions that must convert to Islam or face persecution and death.

In America among both liberals and conservatives there is the thought that the Syrian government must be replaced by a Sunni Muslim leadership to improve the human rights violations of the Assad leadership. This change in government is felt necessary, regardless of the hardship and death that many innocent Christians have experienced. My government and many of its leaders are anti-Christian and view the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood as a peaceful faction of Islam.  This is evident by President Obama’s appointment of Muslim Brotherhood members to high level government positions in the United States and his support of the Brotherhood around the world.  The Syrian people should understand our president is bent on the destruction of your present government regardless of the number of innocent people who will die.  

President Obama is sending Egypt F-16 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams tanks along $1.6 billion dollars. This is his commitment to the Muslim Brotherhood. He has agreed to send military support to the jihadist in Syria. The United States CIA has also been supporting al Qeada affiliates in the Syrian war at the cost of 100,000 lives. While the Obama Administration has been very open about their support for the rebels, they apparently went to great lengths to cover up the arms shipments to al Qeada groups in Syria and have blamed the deaths of many Syrians on the Assad government.  Our president is sympathetic to the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood and is an enemy of those who are against the Brotherhood.

 My soul is burdened when I read the news of Christians being beheaded and driven from their homes in Syria. It looks as if these are the “end of days” as John the Beloved said, “. . .and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Sadly, American Christians do not understand that Syria Christians go back to the days when the apostles preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor do they understand your country was conquered by Islamic warriors and for centuries you have been subjected to persecution and yet, the Syrian Christians have maintained faith all these years—until the Americans came on the scene.

Those ignorant of the Syrian Christian’s history believe Christianity was forced upon the “peaceful Muslim people” during the Crusaders. I apologize for the ignorance of our political leaders and ignorant public who feel you deserve the persecution which you are now experiencing.  Our government has placed your lives in jeopardy because American leaders have made deals with the Saudi government thinking they are striking a blow against Iran, Russia and China.

I am ashamed of my country’s leaders and the total disregard they have for the human rights of Christians around the world.  In over 40 nations Christians are being persecuted because of their faith.  Men, women and children are imprisoned, driven from their homes and murdered.  These people are not criminals but Christians--who for their faith in Jesus Christ are made to suffer unjustly.  What makes this worse is that the American government gives aid and support to many of these nations without protecting the human rights of Christians-- your country being one of those made to suffer. 

Why is American fighting Christians in Syria? Because America has turned against God, God no longer blesses America.  What has happened to America is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, “. . .although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

The world has turned Topsy-turvy, I am ashamed that lawmakers in Russia are concerned about Christians in Syria and American lawmakers are supporting the jihadist.  Russian lawmakers have been working with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on a report aimed to bring an end to the violence in Syria.  They say, “We, parliamentarians, are very concerned about the development of the crisis in Syria, which is turning into an ethnic and religious conflict. Crimes against representatives of religious minorities have recently become frequent in Syria, and that poses a threat to Christian minorities not only in Syria, but also in the Middle-East in general.” I trust their efforts will come quickly to end the war on Christians in Syria.

My prayers and support are for the Christians who are paying the ultimate price for their beliefs.  May the LORD protect you and may you find peace and May God forgive America for her crimes against the followers of Jesus Christ in Syria.

America Spying on the World

I was asked this week what I felt would happen to Edward Snowden?  I have a different perspective on what Snowden has done than some of our liberals and neocons in Congress.  The criminal is the American NSA and those on our Intelligence Committees.  Americans should not for one minute believe those who are telling us they are only collecting “meta data” they are lying.  

E-crime experts around the world have known for some time that our government was collecting data on not just Americans but citizens of other countries as well.  The data was not just from ordinary Americans and Chinese, but from all our friends and allies -- Germany, Australia, Canada, Scandinavia, Latin and South America, and many others. (Why are we spying on our friends?)

Snowden is not a traitor or criminal but someone who exposed a crime.  The right to privacy from electronic surveillance is granted in most national constitutions.  This has been declared a human right by the United Nations and is a crime to collect it secretly.  As Americans we may we may sacrifice our privacy for national security but what about the rest of the world?  The Executive Branch, FISA court and even Congress may give their approval to spy on American citizens for the best interest of the defense of the nation but that does not include citizens of other nations.  

As hard as it may be for most Americans to accept we are not the only country that has a constitution that protect human rights and liberties.  Our country may be fine with our freedoms and liberties circumvented by the Patriot Act but the rest of the world is not happy with the United States breaching their sovereignty laws to spy on their citizens and businesses.  In fact, the rest of the world regards what the NSA is doing is an international crime and a direct violation of their human rights. As far as the world community is concerned the United States can no longer be trusted.

The Snowden fiasco will result in a geopolitical shift that will have a major impact on the United States as well as each of us as citizens of the United States.  As most Internet users are well aware that our government has wanted full control over the Internet.  As of now a major proportion of all global Internet traffic flows through networks controlled by the United States.  Eight of the fifteen global tier 1 telecommunication companies are owned by American companies and the social media companies are headquartered in the United States.  These companies all come under the U.S. Patriot Act no matter where their services are offered or what country their servers are located.  We might be able to live with this, but the rest of the world will not knowing how America has abused their privacy.

Having the Internet traffic routed through the U.S. puts the sovereign nations outside the United States at risk in guaranteeing the constitutionally privacy rights of their citizens.  This will be coming to an end.  Our government in its need to circumvent freedom and liberty has become an international criminal.   People around the world have been subjected to the NSA capturing and tracking their electronic communications.  Even though most Americans cannot see the seriousness of this action they would be furious if the roles were reversed and China was the world’s Internet controller and they were collecting personal data on every American citizen.  

Our politicians have become what we found so hated in Russia, China and Iran governments, the predatory Police State that spied on its citizens.  What is amazing is that Russia’s President Putin  lectures our President Obama on spying on Americans.  The world governments were outraged about America’s actions. There were heated and outraged discussions at the G-8 summit in Ireland. Eric Holder was flown to Brussels for questioning by the European Union. When Holder left, they were even more outraged. The Germans openly compared the United States actions to the actions of the Cold War-era.

I am also embarrassed to have our country lectured by the United Nations.  It is a sad day in America when the rest of the world is concerned about protecting the rights of privacy and America is the violator.

“Surveillance programs that trample on people’s right to privacy in the name of security actually risk damaging the fight against terrorism,” UN rights chief Navi Pillay warned .

UN Under Secretary General Jeffrey Feltman said: “If we allow compromise on human rights, we are not countering terrorism but letting it get its way. “When the principles enshrined in the human rights instruments are disrespected, extremism tends to thrive,” said Feltman, who heads the world body’s Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office (CTITF).

WOW! That hurts.  

Switzerland has asked Washington for explanations about Snowden’s revelations, especially on an alleged CIA blackmail operation to spy on its banks while he was stationed in Geneva as a diplomatic attache from 2007 to 2009.

In Germany, the country’s data commissioner has said he expects the government to put a stop to any American surveillance of German citizens, while worried lawmakers from across the political spectrum have said they want to know more.  Maybe they fear blackmail from the U.S.

“No one has a problem with the USA keeping terrorists under surveillance — that has prevented terrorist attacks in Germany before now too,” said Thomas Oppermann, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Social Democrats (SPD). (But) total surveillance of all citizens by the USA is completely inappropriate. The German government must protect the privacy of Germans from the USA too.”

“This affair looks like it will be one of the biggest scandals in data sharing ... Merkel cannot just look away and act like nothing has happened,” added Renate Kuenast, a senior Green lawmaker.

Peter Schaar, Germany's federal data protection commissioner told the Guardian that it was unacceptable that US authorities have access to the data of European citizens "and the level of protection is lower than what is guaranteed for US citizens." 

The list of countries who have raised concerns are those who we have called our friends and allies and then we treat them as enemies.  Our government has accused China of hacking and stealing information for years but when exposed as the thief, we blame the man who exposed these crimes as the thief. Our government will continue to distract the American public by blaming China, Russia and Snowden.  The national media will continue to focus on misdirection of the issues and stonewall the investigation. 

So what do I think will happen to Snowden?  Well, our President has already used drones on America citizens without due process.  Maybe he will add Snowden to his “kill list”.  Regardless the direction our government goes Snowden’s life is over as he knew it.  He sacrificed all to expose a corrupt government.  When the most arrogate political leaders in the world have been caught red handed they have no other recourse than to call Edward Snowden a traitor and demand that he return to America to be tried.  Who are the real traitors?  Everyone who knew about or gave orders to spy on the entire earth is a traitor to the right of privacy of every individual on earth.  

I understand that our government has been ruled by the Executive Branch for years.  This is proven by the fact, Congress cannot complete an investigation, nor can they stop the actions of the Executive Branch when blatantly committing illegal actions.  The IRS scandal, AP scandal, Fast and Furious, Voter Fraud scandals, and engaging in war without the consent of Congress all are examples of the ineffectiveness of our elected officials to run this country.  Neither the Republican nor Democrats have shown an interest in preserving the rights of the citizens of the world, let alone American citizens.

By the way, we are being told that the information Snowden leaked MAY cause the death of some operatives.  Again, misdirection and lies, our government does not care about its operatives.  Our State Department sacrificed the lives of four Americans, one being an Ambassador-- and we are rapidly approaching a year since it happened and nothing has been done.  We will continue to be fed a list of “talking point lies” and misdirected until it will soon be forgotten.