World, National News II 4/2/09

Today's news shall begin with three dispatches from Michael Yon.

March 26. The first article Michael writes is about a helicopter that went down, and he also writes a little cautionary piece. lol

A helicopter went down with interesting consequences. Please read.

Interesting that the short dispatch on weapons to Mexico is resulting in such a torrent of comments.

My work is misquoted around the world every day, but nowhere as often as on my own site. Some readers seem to think that I wish to ban firearms in the United States, or that I claim that automatic weapons are flowing to Mexico. Automatic weapons almost certainly are flowing to Mexico, which would explain how they got there. But I didn't write it. Nor would an easy reading of the short dispatch reveal that I am calling to ban guns in the United States. It's just fascinating to see apparent gun-fanatics misquote a document that is just inches away on the same computer screen. If they invest only that minimal level of attention to the guns they are apparently packing, it's just a matter of time before they accidentally shoot themselves or someone else. Attention to detail is an important component of gun safety.

His next dispatch is in regard to the AfPak situation.

Before I read a dozen op-eds reinterpreting what the President said, which of course can sway one's raw thoughts, it can be of some minor value to make a few observations. I was particularly interested in and waiting for comments on a few topics, such as the Afghan Army and Police. In that regard, the President left me disappointed.

More on the AfPak:

An Iraq-experienced young officer shares some well-informed insights.

There seems to be a very warm welcome for President Obama's newly unveiled AfPak strategy. Am I alone in seeing this plan as a road map to failure? Of course Pakistani and Afghan leaders welcome the plan that will put billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars worth of assets at their disposal. The more invested we become in their corruption, the more leverage they have. Karzai wouldn't be able to administer Atlanta or Miami, yet he has strategic influence with the United States and NATO. Such people are happy to see more influence pumping through the pipes, yet we have no plan to build the 400,000 security forces that our own experts say are required to secure Afghanistan. Instead, we have a plan to reach the half-way mark after about three years, and no announced plan to reach 400,000.

There is little in the Obama plan to be excited about. Some have called it "bold," but from my boots it looks like a recipe for disaster.

We are steaming toward failure in AfPak, but with more steam than ever before.

Wow. Michael has proved to be ahead of the curve in the past. Maybe the Obama administration should pay attention to what he writes.

Now for North Korea, that pesky little pipsqueak. He is apparently planning on putting two American journalists on trial for 'spying'. You can read it about it at CNN and if the article is missing from that link, you may read about it here.

The next article should chill you. It is from ACT! For America, and they are letting us know that the Jihadis have successfully gotten the UN to criminalize all religions except Islam.

UN body OKs call to curb religious criticism.
By FRANK JORDANS

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s top human-rights body approved a proposal backed by Muslims nations Thursday urging the passage of laws around the world protecting religion from criticism. The proposal by Pakistan had drawn strong criticism from free-speech campaigners and liberal democracies. A simple majority of 23 members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council voted in favor of the resolution. Eleven mostly Western nations opposed it and 13 countries abstained. The resolution urges states to provide "protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general." [Continue reading.]

Do not allow these words to fool you. Just take a look around and see how many Christians are at this very moment imprisoned for teaching about Christ. Is that tolerance?

Then we have "The Idiots Guide to Pakistan" by Nicholas Schmidle. It is a six page article, but it is worth your time.

This next article deserves the full text be shared with you. It is from a group I've belonged to for quite a while, and we need your prayers.

Two young Iranian Christian women in notorious Evin Prison.

On March 5th 2009 two Iranian Christian women, Miss Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad (30), and Miss Maryam Rustampoor (27), were arrested by the Iranian security forces, according to reports received by FCNN. Their only crime is that they are committed Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus. They are being unfairly labeled as ‘anti-government activists’, because of the hostility of the government towards practicing Christians.

Their shared apartment was searched and personal belongings confiscated. They were hand-cuffed and first taken to the Police and Security Station 137 in Gysha, West of Tehran for interrogation. Later they were taken to Vozara Detention Centre. Then they were taken to the Branch 2 of the National Security Section of the Revolutionary Court. Afterwards, several sessions of interrogation took place. Finally, on March 18th, after appearing at the Revolutionary Court, they were sent to the notorious Evin Prison where they are being held without charge.

They have been told they could be freed on a bail of US$400,000. This excessive bail level is unrealistic and is designed to intimidate and make the release impossible. The families have subsequently been told on several occasions a judge is not available to discuss the case.

Both women are allowed just a one minute telephone call every day to their immediate families. Both are unwell and in need of urgent medical attention. During their last call on March 28 Marzieh said that she was suffering from an infection and high fever. She said ‘I am dying’.

There has been a noted increase in government intimidation of the Christians. Last year they were over 50 known cases of arrests and imprisonment. They were some cases of torture.

Iranian Christian leaders from around the world are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Marzieh and Maryam.

We ask world governments to put pressure on Iran to ensure freedom of religion.

Prayers are being offered for their safe release. We ask Christians around the globe to continue to pray.

Thank you,
prayforiran.org.

My prayers are with you.

In this dispatch, Michael allows his sense of humor to peek from under the tent.

Guns to Mexico might become a contentious issue. There are few certainties in life, but there are some: as with the Iraq war, the first casualty about guns to Mexico will be the Truth. Gun Fanatics will wave the Constitution; Anti - Gun Fanatics will wave anything they can find, probably something they had been wearing; the Government will mumble and walk in circles, while Mexico merges with the United States, and Clinton blames America for Mexico being Mexico.

I'll go back to Afghanistan where it's safe and things are more predictable.

Put in the category of Fanatic. I'm an American Patriot and proud of it! ;)

For those of you concerned about that worm that is supposed to be going around, PC Mag has a good article about it. Hat tip: third world county.

That should be enough news for now. I really ought to be starting on a new post. Have a nice day.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas. Digg!