She Is There Was aBandoning one True right! Poland religion? November-December 2009 THE PHILADELPHIA www.thetrumpet.com TRUMPET

trapped AmeriCA iN AFGhANiStAN CoNteNtS November-December 2009 vol. 20, No. 10 Circ. 259,767

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20 15 25 dePartments World 1 From the editor 2 America Abandons Poland 32 the enemy is Us the War 4 Surrendering to iran Against the U.S. sCienCe Constitution 7 is Germany’s 9/11 Coming? 8 our “improbable Universe” 16 WorLdWAtCh An interview with astrobiologist 12 Britain’s iron Lady Was right Guillermo Gonzalez 34 teLeviSioN LoG the key of david 20 WAr iN AFGhANiStAN Another defeat at the door eConomy 36 LetterS 11 22 democracy Won’t Fix Afghanistan Great depression remix

37 CommeNtAry 25 is Libya really a Friend? youth and the living digital drug 26 Japan’s reorientation 15 mind your manners

28 America the Corrupt religion 23 30 europe’s Plans Will is there one true religion? destroy London

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Box 3700, Edmond, ok 73083, U.S. From the editor The War Against the U.S. Constitution heart of America’s financial meltdown. Is the Constitution being destroyed? I warned about how dangerous his hen Robert Bork was nominated to the U.S. views were in the January 2009 Trumpet. gerald Flurry Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in Mr. Obama gave a clear signal that Editor in chief 1987, it created a firestorm in Congress, and he he would work to change the Con- failed to get confirmed. Shortly thereafter, he stitution—the founding document of this nation! wroteW The Tempting of America, which I believe is the best book That is a shocking view from a man with very little experience about constitutional law in a century—perhaps ever. in government. And his election shows how little Americans un- Mr. Bork said he believes we are more than halfway derstand or care about their Constitution! along in the destruction of our Constitution. If he is right, our republic is in grave danger. Understanding Human Nature He made that statement about two decades ago. Surely he The Founding Fathers created the Constitution to limit the gov- would think the Constitution is 60 to 75 percent destroyed today. ernment’s power because they had lived under a tyrant who de- So you could make the case that the problem is too far gone cided, according to his own whims, what was fair for the people to even correct. At least, this danger should terrify every and what wasn’t. The Constitution gave them a certain protection American citizen! from evil human nature. The founders based this charter on certain biblical principles, not just human reasoning. Negative Liberties What happens if you don’t have a Constitution to hold back In a 2001 radio interview, Barack Obama revealed some of his the radical left? You end up with a welfare state and a loss of shocking ideas about how the government should run. many freedoms! Here is what he said about the 1953-1969 Supreme Court led by I believe Mr. Obama sincerely thinks his ideas will solve Chief Justice Earl Warren, which was a very activist court: “To America’s problems, and I’m not saying he is malicious. that extent, as radical as I think people tried to characterize the But look at how his disrespect for the Constitution is driving his Warren court, it wasn’t that radical.” Notice this! “It didn’t break decisions. He is pushing the government into activities it was nev- free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Found- er meant to do. He is appointing judges who think the same way, ing Fathers in the Constitution” (emphasis mine throughout). who will reject parts of the Constitution and remove its restraints The extremely liberal Warren Supreme Court wasn’t radical so radicals can do whatever they want with the government! enough, in Mr. Obama’s opinion. One of the strongest czars the president chose, and who has Mr. Obama was talking about how the constraints on since been forced to resign, was a self-avowed communist! How the Constitution need to be removed. He was revealing much love do you think he has for the Constitution? where he believes the Founding Fathers erred in writing the de- fining legal charter of the United States! Our Forefathers’ Goal “Generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties,” Early immigrants who came to this land were often persecuted Mr. Obama continued. “It says what the states can’t do to you, in the countries they left. They usually lacked religious freedom. says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t The famous British historian Paul Johnson wrote an article say what the federal government or the state government must titled “No Law Without Order, No Freedom Without Law.” It was do on your behalf.” printed in the Sunday Telegraph, Dec. 26, 1999. In it he wrote: That is true, and it is a major reason the Constitution was so “[B]oth in Virginia and in New England to the north, the col- successful in establishing this nation. onists were determined, God-fearing men, often in search of a Essayist Bill Whittle wrote this in response to Mr. Obama’s in- religious toleration denied them at home, who brought their fam- terview: “The entire purpose of the Constitution was to limit gov- ilies and were anxious to farm and establish permanent settle- ernment. That limitation of powers is what has unlocked in Amer- ments. They put political and religious freedom before riches …. ica the vast human potential available in any population. Barack Thus took shape the economic dynamo that eventually became Obama sees the limiting of government not as a linchpin, but the United States—an experiment designed to establish the rule of rather as a fatal flaw …” (National Review Online, Oct. 27, 2008). God on Earth ….” This is Mr. Obama’s view of the Constitution. When he says What a goal. They planned to establish the rule of God it should have stated what the government “must” do on the peo- on Earth! That means they had the goal of each person keeping ple’s behalf, he is talking about federal social programs. As he the Ten Commandments of God—the basis of all righteous law. said in the same radio interview, this means taking wealth from In 1954, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote, “I some citizens and redistributing it to others in the form of health believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the care, welfare and other social benefits. knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it.” A lot of that thinking was what virtually destroyed the home The Constitution is the foundation of our republic. mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That crisis is at the See Constitution page 31 ➤

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 1 “Betrayal!” The White House chose the 70th anniversary of the Ger- man invasion of Poland and commence- ment of World War II to announce that it had turned its back on Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his country.

America Abandons Poland The current administration’s most disastrous foreign-policy decision to date By Ron Fraser

he front-page headline Whichever way one looks at this deci- egregious breach of protocol. on the September 18 edition sion, it is bad. Either it reeks of plain geo- What is more, the manner in which of Poland’s Fakt newspaper strategic ineptness, or it is a deliberately the president conveyed the message of said it all: “Betrayal! The radical effort to destroy America’s reputa- “no deal” to the Czech prime minister U.S. sold us to Russia and tion as a nation prepared to use its power showed little thought for diplomatic nice- stabbed us in the back.” to contain imperialist moves by stronger ties. With no consideration as to the five- “No Radar. Russia won,” nations against the weak. hour time difference between Washington cried Mlada Fronta Dnes, and Prague, President Obama awakened the largest Czech daily, on its front page. Snub After Snub Prime Minister Jan Fischer at an unearth- TThis was how these American allies re- For a start, the timing of the announce- ly hour to tersely inform him of his deci- sponded to the Obama administration’s an- ment was abysmal. sion to welsh on the deal to situate radar nouncement on September 17 that it would Anyone half conversant with history, facilities in the Czech Republic. scrap plans to construct a Ballistic Missile with an understanding of the Polish char- This all came within days of the Obama Defense (bmd) system in their countries. acter and heritage, let alone an ounce of administration having snubbed the Poles The bmd program was a measure of the consideration for diplomatic form, would at the 70th-anniversary commemoration strength and commitment of U.S. foreign surely have refrained from delivering such of the Nazi invasion of Poland on Septem- policy, particularly America’s willingness a geopolitical blow to Poland on the 70th ber 1. On that occasion, the heads of state to invest time and resources into amplify- anniversary of Poland’s invasion by Russia. of the leading nations in Europe—Ger- ing its voice in European affairs, confront- But no. It almost seems the Obama ad- many, France, Britain and Russia—all as- ing Russian ambitions on its periphery, ministration went out of its way to height- sembled in Krakow in memoriam of that and checking Iran’s nuclear ambitions. en the offense against one of the greatest historic occasion. To represent America, Now that program is gone. of America’s allies by committing this the Obama administration sent a retired

2 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet finland Norway four-star general. The absence of Barack Obama—or his sweden estonia vice president, or even America’s secretary North Sea of state—from this important memorial latvia russia service did not go unnoticed. “The lack united lithuania of understanding of European history kingdom and sensitivities was not lost on the Pol- belarus ish chattering classes,” wrote Helle Dale in germany poland the Washington Times. “They have been in a justifiable uproar over this mother of all czech snubs, feeling a mixture of humiliation republic ukraine france slovakia and neglect” (September 1). switz. austria moldova But perhaps we ought to remember, hungary slovenia this is the administration that sent very croatia romania obvious negative signals to its brother na- bosnia & tion and closest ally, Britain, by first re- Herzegovina Black Sea italy serbia turning a bust of Churchill that graced the bulgaria Oval Office during the Bush Jr. years, then maced. giving a trifling iPod as a “regal” gift to Mediterranean albania the Queen of England, and a pile of dvds Sea turkey as a gift to the British prime minister, the latter not even being compatible with the Historically the geopolitical fall guy between Berlin and Moscow is growing British playback system. between Germany and Russia in those na- closer” (September 1). Will Poland (and If we were to be naive in our evaluation tions’ separate drives for hegemony, all of other Central European states) find itself of this series of seeming diplomatic gaffes, a sudden Poland once again sits in mid- becoming a point of negotiation between we could put them down to plain igno- field waiting to see which boot it will first Moscow and Berlin—as it was in the 1939 rance, if not absolute ineptness. However, feel as the tussle starts anew, with the ref- Molotov-Ribbentrop pact—as they at- having studied the background agendas of eree in Washington having fled the scene. tempt to strike some sort of geographic the cabal that runs America’s present gov- Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, equilibrium between what are ultimately ernment, it is hard not to draw the con- the United States has been the primary conflicting ambitions? clusion that these were all very cynically guarantor of the independence of Central Whatever happens, America is leaving calculated initiatives of a radical core at European nations. “Russian and German Poland stranded on what Stratfor termed the top of U.S. politics who are intent on domination are familiar themes for Cen- “Europe’s superhighway of conquest” (Au- destroying the heart and soul of all that tral Europe [including Poland],” Stratfor gust 14). America has historically stood for. observed. “Since both Germany and Rus- The message to both Russia and Ger- In the process, they are destroying any sia historically have had interests in the many could hardly be clearer. This U.S. trust that America’s former allies may have region, states often looked to outside pro- administration is walking away from the in the nation’s willingness to oversee their tectors with no immediate designs for the grand post-Cold War geopolitical game security at a time of great global disorder. territory …” (July 17). that is entering its final quarter on the old For America, in a dangerous age, this Among those “outside protectors,” battlefields of Europe. amounts to plain geopolitical suicide. none has been as important to Poland as No wonder both Russia’s Prime Min- As that wise old observer of interna- the United States. Geographically, War- ister Putin and Germany’s Chancellor tional relations, Hans Morgenthau, ob- saw exists at the intersection point of Rus- Merkel smilingly acknowledged their sat- served, the key question a nation should sian and German ambitions for territorial isfaction at the Obama administration’s ask when evaluating the foreign policy expansion. America is pivotal to Poland’s capitulation on the Bush policy of seeking of another is, “Is the foreign policy of the existence as a sovereign state. to constrain Russian hegemony. They are other nation imperialistic or not? … The Today, the message from the White now free to divide the spoils in Europe answer to that question has determined House is that America plans to leave the between themselves without any interfer- the fate of nations, and the wrong answer Poles and Central Europeans to fend for ence from that pesky United States. has often meant deadly peril or actual de- themselves against the rising Russians struction …” (Politics Among Nations, em- and Germans. “By trading the loyalty of A Repeat of History phasis mine throughout). Poland and the Czech Republic to satisfy There’s a sense of déjà vu here. America will soon find that it has come Russia’s security concerns, the United Seventy years ago, Poland was subject up with the wrong answer to that question States is signaling that it no longer con- to the tussle for territory on the European in relation to both Germany and Russia! tests Moscow’s right to assert its interests continent between an expansionist Nazi in Eastern Europe,” wrote the Times On- Germany and Communist Russia, suffering Abandoning Poland line (September 17). invasion by both just after they concluded No nation, other than tiny Israel and em- “Poland is under pressure at the mo- their infamous non-aggression pact. The battled Serbia, can feel the bitter effects of ment—fearing abandonment by the Unit- Czech Republic was overrun by the Nazis. the radically new approach to its foreign ed States,” noted Stratfor, “while Russia Today, Poland and the Czech Repub- policy by this U.S. administration more is resurging and commanding influence lic remain the only two European Union than Poland. in Central Europe, and the relationship member nations withholding ratification of

john thys/afp/getty images; trumpet map The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 3 the Lisbon Treaty/EU constitution, pend- to face Moscow down. That is a lesson that ing the outcome of the Irish referendum send[s] alarm bells ringing in the corridors on whether that nation should sign up to it. of power of Russia’s former Soviet domin- But with the U.S. now walking away from ions” (op. cit.). the fight, Poland and the Czech Republic In future meetings, a geopolitically are stuck. They would hardly choose to weakened U.S. president will face a geo- return to Russian oppression, from which strategically strengthened Russian-Ger- they escaped less than 20 years ago. They man duo. Watch for Germany and Russia appear destined now to be reabsorbed by to become increasingly strident in their the enemy that seized them in 1934. demands on an American administra- Given the Obama admin- tion facing significant decline istration’s disloyal European in its international clout well foreign policy, the stage is set before finishing its first 12 for Poland and the Czech Re- months in office. public to capitulate and sign on to the Lisbon Treaty. In Over Its Head A few realists comprehend This administration is simply the enormity of this disas- in over its head, especially trous move by Washington. when it comes to foreign poli- Think tank Stratfor com- cy and the conduct of its rela- mented, “Much of Europe— tions with other nations and especially the central and putin their leaders. eastern regions—will now It was through the Proph- view the United States as unable to fulfill et Isaiah that Almighty God declared of its promises to its allies in the face of a these times that our peoples would be led strengthening Russia” (September 17). We by those with the minds of infants, pos- might well add, “and in the opposing face sessing a feminized, inept and ignorant of a strengthening Germany”! approach to both domestic and interna- The abandonment of the bmd program tional affairs (Isaiah 3:4). If ever in the in Poland represents “a huge turnaround entire history of America there was an in American strategic thinking on a glob- administration that reflected the reality al missile defense system, and a massive of this prophecy, surely it has to be that betrayal of two key U.S. allies in Eastern which the nation has currently inherited. Surrendering to Iran and Central Europe,” Nile Gardiner wrote To place the observably rapid decline in the Telegraph (August 29). “This is a of the U.S. and Britain in true perspec- hen the Obama administra- terrible decision that reduces nato’s secu- tive, you need to study our book The tion scrapped plans for a mis- rity, encourages Iran to proceed full speed United States and Britain in Prophecy. It sile defense shield in Eastern ahead with its nuclear program, kowtows will demonstrate to you that this trend WEurope, it represented more to Russian pressure, and stabs our Polish was forecast millennia ago by the one who than just an abandonment of allies in Po- and Czech allies in the back, after they declares that “the most high ruleth in the land and the Czech Republic. It was a sur- made the difficult decision to support us,” kingdom of men, and giveth it to whom- render to Iran. wrote Theodore Bromund (The Heritage soever he will, and setteth up over it the The original plan, established by Presi- Foundation, August 28). basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). dent Bush in 2007, was designed to protect America’s absence in Eastern and Cen- But, more than explaining the reason America’s European allies against the threat tral Europe will create a power vacuum. for the Anglo-Saxons’ demise, that book of an Iranian missile attack. In defending Geopolitics abhors a vacuum. will show you the tremendous future that the latest policy of appeasement, Defense The upshot is that Europe’s immediate awaits all nations in the not-too-distant fu- Secretary Robert Gates said that Iran’s long- future will now be decided between the ture when all selfish motivation for the im- range missile threat is “not as immediate” same two powers that signed a deal to seal position of the power of the strong over the as the United States once thought. its fate back in 1939. weak will be negated, and an unbelievable Yet, in April, two months after launch- “The Kremlin can barely believe its era of peace extended around the world. ing a satellite into space, Iran successfully good fortune,” wrote Tony Halpin from Yet, before that great era of peace launched its Sejil-2 missile. The Sejil-2 has Moscow in the Times Online. “Mr. descends on this world, global condi- a range of about 1,200 miles—meaning the Obama has pressed the ‘reset’ button to tions are set to rapidly become chaotic. outskirts of Europe are now well within improve relations without obtaining any- This book will show you reach of the world’s number-one state thing more than permission for U.S. air- how to prepare to endure sponsor of terror. It’s difficult to imagine a craft to cross Russian airspace on resupply through and even escape threat being any more immediate than that. operations for troops in Afghanistan. the effects of the develop- Meanwhile, Iran has provided no evi- “For Mr. Putin, the lesson of today’s ing global crisis. You owe dence that its nuclear program is not being decision is clear. Intransigence pays divi- it to yourself to at least used for military purposes. Instead, it has dends because the U.S. and the European read it and consider its consistently refused to provide requested Union lack the patience or determination prophetic logic. n documentation, and access to nuclear sites

4 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet wojtek radwanski/afp/getty images compromise Whereas previous administrations have ostracized Iran’s terrorist re- gime, Washington is now trying a new tactic.

One fateful step at a Surrendering to Iran time By Stephen Flurry and to officials for interviews. into an uncomfortable—and potentially halt Iranian nuclear activities was trashed In fact, on September 17, the same day explosive—situation. And it reveals a re- when Iran continued to enrich uranium President Obama and Secretary Gates markable truth: that the forces of appease- and lied about it. Another agreement, minimized the Iranian threat, the Associ- ment in Washington are now so strong made in November 2004 with Britain, ated Press reported on a secret document that even the United Nations seems almost France and Germany, was proven empty produced by the International Atomic En- hawkish by comparison. almost immediately with convincing evi- ergy Agency (iaea) which said Iran now dence that Iran was openly converting 22 has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and A History of Deceit tons of uranium tetrafluoride (yellow cake) is working to build the delivery system Iran simply has a long history of nuclear into uranium hexafluoride, which can be needed for the weapon. Even in its official trickery. It is a game Iran knows well and enriched to weapons-grade levels. August 28 report, “in unusually forthright is playing skillfully. As Stratfor reported on Nov. 15, 2004, language, the iaea said the intelligence It has time and again lied about the these fraudulent pacts are actually part of was too consistent, comprehensive and nature and status of its nuclear program. Iran’s larger policy—to “use the status of a detailed, coming from multiple sources Former head Iranian nuclear negotiator country seeking nuclear technology to not at different times, for Iran to keep dodg- Hassan Rowhani said so in 2006. “When only attain economic and trade benefits ing scrutiny with blanket denials” (Re- we were negotiating with the Europeans and security guarantees for the current re- uters, September 2). Reuters quoted one in Tehran we were still installing some of gime but also to attain international recog- source who cited evidence that the Iranian the equipment at the Isfahan site,” he re- nition for the Iranian state as a major global military is involved in nuclear component vealed in a closed meeting of high-rank- player while, perhaps, gaining the techno- production. ing Islamic clerics and academics. He said logical know-how.” In other words, Iran At the current pace, the iaea report the deceit was a ruse in order to play for wants to have its nukes and eat its cake too. indicated, Iran will have sufficient quan- time to complete equipment installations In 2005, after blocking Iran’s applica- tities of uranium to build two atomic at the nuclear site. “There was plenty of tion for World Trade Organization (wto) bombs by February. work to be done to complete the site and membership on 22 separate occasions, the It’s impossible to overstate the signifi- finish the work there. In reality, by creat- U.S. backed down and lifted its opposition. cance of these developments. A nuclear ing a tame situation, we could finish Is- Why? Because Iran said it would suspend Iran alters the balance of power through- fahan” (Telegraph, March 2006). uranium processing. By using merely the out the Middle East. It thrusts Europe An October 2003 agreement intended to threat of resuming what it wasn’t meant to

atta kenare/afp/getty images, mandel ngan/afp/getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 5 be doing to start with, Iran gained three weapons, agree not to build new weapons of the UN Security Council—the U.S., months’ reprieve, an agreement for Eu- and remove any remaining nuclear weap- Britain, Russia, China, France—plus Ger- rope to come up with a definite plan of re- ons from hair-trigger alert” (Oct. 7, 2007). many set a September deadline for Iran: wards, and an invitation to enter the wto. As president, he has echoed these same negotiate or face sanctions. Iran is playing the same game it has been utopian ideals. In Prague, earlier this year, With the deadline looming, lo and be- playing for years: stalling, dividing, deceiv- he said, “I state clearly and with convic- hold, Tehran finally decided to unclench ing, challenging, talking—and steadily tion America’s commitment to seek the its fist! “In the name of the Almighty,” the moving forward with its nuclear program. peace and security of a world without mullahs wrote in a five-page letter of ac- As the evidence continues to stack, the nuclear weapons.” ceptance addressed to the U.S.-led G-5+1, farce continues. One day Iran threatens Of course, a world without nuclear Iran wants to help mobilize global resolve to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Pro- weapons, in his mind, means America “toward complete disarmament and pre- liferation Treaty, the next day it reaffirms takes the lead in dismantling first. But venting development and proliferation of its commitment to the treaty; one week it when it comes to the grave threat any nuclear, chemical and microbial weapons.” bars short-notice iaea access to its nuclear other nation poses—like North Korea or Did this mean Iran would give up its facilities, the next it gives the agency copies Iran—the Obama administration has re- own nuclear enrichment program? Of of documents outlining how to build nucle- peatedly turned a blind eye to an obvious course not. That issue is not up for discus- ar warheads. Iran continues to advance its and existential danger. In April, for exam- sion—it is “finished,” Ahmadinejad said case that it wants a diplomatic solution on ple, President Obama followed through on September 7. “We will never negotiate the one hand while frantically advancing on campaign promises to drop the condi- on the Iranian nation’s rights.” its nuclear program on the other. tion that Iran first suspend its uranium Conservative commentators called the enrichment program before Washington letter an insult. Stratfor said it “made a A World Without Nukes would talk with Tehran. mockery of Western demands.” Even the Much was made of the September 24 UN The new American government has leftist New York Times accused the regime Security Council meeting when, for the been consistent in its attempts to reach out of posturing. “Unfortunately,” the Times editorialized, “there is no sign that Iran is Iran is playing the same game it has been serious about doing much more than buy- ing more time” (September 11). playing for years: stalling, dividing, deceiving, Washington initially rejected the pro- posal as unsatisfactory. According to a challenging, talking—and steadily moving report in the Jerusalem Post, the U.S. was ready to abandon engagement and to ap- forward with its nuclear program. ply sanctions. The article cited several of- ficials close to the Obama administration first time in history, a U.S. president pre- to Iran, calling for a “new beginning” in who claimed that the White House had sided over the conference. As chair of the U.S.-Iranian relations—even pleading for become frustrated with Iran’s diplomatic summit, President Obama set the agenda the mullahs to unclench their fists. game of cat-and-mouse. for the meeting. Beforehand, America’s Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s blunt Then the White House made a stun- UN Ambassador Susan Rice said the ses- responses to such gestures of conciliation ning about-face and decided to accept the sion would “focus on nuclear nonprolifer- have been along these lines: “Any hand offer. Europe begrudgingly followed along. ation and nuclear disarmament broadly, outstretched to attack us will be cut off.” Why such an inexplicable reversal? and not on any particular countries” (em- This too: “We say to you today that you “Unless they received some secret Iranian phasis mine throughout). are in a position of weakness. Your hands assurances,” wrote Barry Rubin on his As Anne Bayefsky noted on National are empty, and you no longer promote blog, “it means that the State Department Review Online, even the UN Secretariat’s your interests from a position of strength.” mid-level officials scoffed at the letter but agenda for September “lists nonprolif- Even still, Secretary of State Hill- as it went up the chain of command, to eration specifically in relation to Iran and ary Clinton argued earlier this year that Obama [himself], he chose to accept it” North Korea and does not list disarma- conciliatory gestures toward Iran were (September 13). ment.” But President Obama specifically necessary to put the United States in a And why not? After all, if there are two wants to avoid finger pointing. He thinks better position to organize “crippling” in- policies President Obama firmly believes more broadly, in terms of worldwide nu- ternational sanctions against the Iranian in, it’s talking to enemies without precondi- clear disarmament. regime, in case it refused to come to the tions and building a nuclear-weapons-free This agenda perfectly summarized negotiation table. world—beginning with the United States. a reoccurring theme in this president’s That nicely sums up the central conflict All of this means Iran has dodged yet approach to foreign policy. In 2007, as a between the United States and Iran these another bullet aimed at curbing its nucle- U.S. senator, he proposed a plan for elimi- past eight months. Amid all the rhetoric, ar ambitions. It also supplies Tehran with nating all nuclear weapons in the world. the fundamental issue for the Obama ad- more valuable time to reach the nuclear If elected president, the New York Times ministration hasn’t been Iran’s stubborn finish line. wrote at the time, Senator Obama said he refusal to suspend uranium enrichment. For the United States, meanwhile, it rep- would “lead a global effort to secure nu- It is Tehran’s unwillingness to talk. resents another monumental defeat in the clear weapons and material at vulnerable war against terrorism’s primary state spon- sites within four years. He also will pledge About-Face sor—the regime that has been targeting and to end production of fissile material for In April, the five permanent members killing Americans for going on 30 years. n

6 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet Is Germany’s 9/11 Coming? A terrorist attack would on the move Merkel campaigns transform the country. just 12 days before federal elections as al Qaeda threats of September 11-style By Brad Macdonald horror echoed across the country.

s Germany is about to be attacked? In a matter of hours, and with a hand- to an al Qaeda branch from North Africa. That warning came from analysts with ful of bombs, al Qaeda successfully trans- In a Key of David television program the Institute of Terrorism Research and formed Spain’s political landscape—and taped three days after it was reported IResponse (itrr) in September. drove Spanish forces from Iraq. that itrr identified Germany as one of al itrr issued the warning after inter- Could a terrorist attack also precipitate Qaeda’s primary targets, Trumpet editor cepting a message circulating among al- political transformation in Germany? in chief Gerald Flurry stated, “I believe Qaeda-affiliated terrorists that said the One of al Qaeda’s top priorities is to this could very easily happen, and could “next strike is very near,” and that it would drive foreign troops from Afghanistan, lead to the biggest change in world “surprise everyone in its effect, which will which has been its central base of opera- events in this end time.” be much more shocking than that of Sept. tions for more than 25 years. Germany Should Germany be attacked by Is- 11, 2001” (Arutz Sheva, September 8). has more than 4,000 troops stationed lamic terrorists, explained Mr. Flurry, its The message continued, “And the Ger- there—the third-largest contingent be- response would probably be the exact op- mans, grandchildren of the Nazis, know hind America and Britain. Thus, it is one posite of Spain’s in 2004. An attack would more than everyone else that they will be of al Qaeda’s primary targets. certainly stir things up politically in Ger- the first ones to taste [the nightmare]. It The German electorate was reminded many, and perhaps even precipitate a ma- is just a matter of time—that is, days or of the target on its back just a week be- jor political transformation—but it would weeks—and God willing you’ll see things fore the September 27 elections, when the not usher in a weak, introverted, antiwar that you’ve never heard of before” (empha- government raised its terrorism alert level administration in Berlin. sis mine throughout). after al Qaeda posted a video promising a It would likely bring about the opposite! That’s chilling, especially considering “rude awakening” if the election did not Right now Germany is a strong nation the timing. Intercepted just weeks prior to produce the result it wanted. without a strong leader. The European German national elections in September, “[I]f the German people decide to con- Union is an empire without an emperor. the message was a well-timed reminder of tinue this war, then it has sealed its own While some Germans and other Europeans al Qaeda’s penchant for using an attack, or fate,” stated a man using the name Abu Tal- see this reality, many don’t. A devastating series of attacks, as a catalyst for political ha and speaking in German. “If the Ger- attack on German soil by Islamic terrorists transformation. man people wants to live in security again, could expose this void and intensify the de- Remember Spanish national elections it has the opportunity now,” he warned. He sire in Germany, and the rest of Europe, for in March 2004? Beforehand, polls showed also told German Muslims to “stay away strong leadership. As the Trumpet has long incumbent Prime Minister José Aznar from anything not vital for the two weeks reported, biblical prophecy says this will with a solid lead over his opponent, de- after the elections” (cnn, September 19). occur one way or another. spite the majority of Spaniards opposing According to Arutz Sheva, “German A terrorist explosion on German soil his administration’s participation in the security services have … been cited in lo- could thrust this terrifying man onto the U.S.-led Iraq war. But Mr. Aznar’s politi- cal media discussing stepped-up jihadist scene in an instant! n cal destiny changed the morning of March chatter, threats and intelligence warn- 11, when a string of exploding bombs ings aimed at the German state in recent To learn about a prophecy wreaked carnage and chaos on the Madrid months” (op. cit.). In June, Der Spiegel cit- revealing the coming of a rail system, killing 191 and injuring 1,800 ed American intelligence agencies saying strong leader in Europe, people. Three days later, Aznar was oust- that they believe al Qaeda plans to attack request a free copy of Daniel ed, and his antiwar opponent was elected. Germany, and that it had assigned the job Unlocks Revelation.

ANDREAS RENTZ/GETTY IMAGES The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 7 Our “Improbable Universe” An interview with astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez

Astrobiologist Guillermo Gonzalez, who holds a Ph.D. in unique insights about life on our planet. Dr. Gonzalez astronomy, is the co-founder of the “Galactic Habitable has concluded, based on the scientific evidence, that life Zone” concept, which was featured on the October 2001 is designed. In our interview, Dr. Gonzalez explains his cover of Scientific American. His work has helped lead views, gives us a taste of the theories explained in his to the discovery of two planets. He is also the co-author book, and highlights the opposition scientists face when of the 2004 book The Privileged Planet, which explains proposing the idea of intelligent design.

impossible, technically speaking Many say planet Earth is a unique place, not a fluke circumstance. From oxygen to earthquakes to the GHZ, Dr. Guillermo Gonzales analyzes scientific factors that reveal how technically true that is.

8 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet Can you briefly explain the central idea of The Galactic Habitable Zone (ghz) is that solar eclipses. Natural selection might ac- your book, The Privileged Planet? region in the Milky Way galaxy that is count for sight, but not for our ability to The central thesis of the book is that recent most favorable to the presence of habit- do astronomy. It cannot explain the cor- scientific findings show that we not only able planetary systems. Its boundaries relation between life and discovery. live in a universe fine-tuned for life, but are defined by such things as the trend of one fine-tuned for discovery as well. Those stellar chemical composition with loca- Assuming our planet was designed for places in the universe that are most habit- tion, perturbations of Oort cloud com- complex life, as you suggest, why able are also the best places to observe the ets, supernovas and gamma ray bursts. do you think it was designed broader universe, and Earth is the best Overall, habitable planets are less likely in such a way that would overall “scientific platform” we know of. to form in the outer region of the galaxy, allow us to be able to and there are more dangers in the inner observe and measure What do you think are one or two of the regions compared to our location. the cosmos? Or is most profound or salient features of our that a philosophi- planet that both allow life to exist and al- What are the odds of all the “coinci- cal question? low us to measure and understand our dences” you explain working out to sup- Answering this world and universe? port both life and discovery, and are there “why” question An obvious one is the fact that we can see enough planets in the universe to make it is philosophi- the distant stars and galaxies. This would possible for those odds to arise by chance? cal. So, I can not be possible if we lived on a planet The science of astrobiology is helping us to give a specu- with a cloudy or hazy atmosphere. Our begin to answer the first part of your ques- lative philo- atmosphere is transparent in the optical tion (probability of a habitable planet), but sophical answer. region of the spectrum, partly because it very little work has been done on the sec- Perhaps we were is oxygen-rich. And a thick, oxygen-rich ond part. Given the multiple examples of meant to discover atmosphere is necessary for large, active fine-tuning required for discovery I give those aspects of our creatures such as us. in my book, I can say it is a low probability universe that point be- Another one is the phenomenon of to find ourselves living in the universe we yond itself to its designer. total solar eclipses. Anyone who has do live in, but I’m just not ready to attach a For example, you can learn watched a sunrise or sunset and the full specific probability to it yet. some things about a carpenter by study- moon rising or setting has noticed that ing his furniture or a painter from his these two bodies subtend about the same Critics would counter that despite the paintings or a musician from his music. angular size on the sky. This “coinci- odds, it is possible that the conditions dence” gives us the best solar eclipses in arose by chance, if we are just one uni- Have the many factors making complex life the solar system. What’s more, the condi- verse of many. Do you think this is a fair possible been understood for a long time? tions that result in these wonderful eclips- criticism? Is there evidence for the exis- Or are many of them recent discoveries? es are also the ones that make Earth a tence of multiple universes? A few have been proposed over a century habitable planet. In other words, the best Yes and no. You can’t rule out the pos- ago, such as a planet’s distance from places for observing solar eclipses are also sible existence of other universes, but I its star. Most have been recognized for the ones most likely to have observers. would say this hypothesis is not the best less than 20 years. For example, the im- explanation for the universe we observe portance of a large moon for stabilizing You explain how even some characteris- ourselves to be living in. Not only are we the rotational axis of a terrestrial planet tics of Earth that we normally think of as living in an improbable universe when was discovered in the early 1990s. More hostile—like earthquakes, for example— it comes to habitability, it is also the case recently, gamma ray bursts have been actually benefit Earth’s habitability and that we are living in an improbable uni- demonstrated to be very dangerous ex- discovery. Why is that? verse for discovery. What’s more, since plosions that can sterilize a planet even Earthquakes, while they cause damage we don’t need to discover the universe thousands of light years away. and death, are an indicator that we live outside our planetary home in order to on a geologically active planet. We need exist and survive, you can’t appeal to Despite the fact that you have published the geological activity so that certain life- unseen multiple universes to explain the over 70 articles, you have been sharply essential elements, such as carbon, can be fine-tuning for discoverability. criticized for your research into intelligent recycled through the biosphere. We could design. Why do you think some are so hos- avoid most of the suffering caused by Some might argue that natural selection tile to the idea of intelligent design? Is it earthquakes if we really wanted to, since is responsible for us appearing to be per- fundamentally anti-scientific? we know where most earthquakes occur, fectly suited for our environment. But can Some people have bought into the mis- but we cannot predict when they occur. natural selection account for our ability for characterizations of intelligent design We learn about the Earth’s deep interior discovery? Can it explain why the factors which are so commonplace on the Inter- from earthquakes by making use of the for life correlate with the factors for dis- net, the pop culture and even in science waves they generate. covery? Why or why not? journals. There is no question that people Good question. Natural selection can who spread this misinformation feel Earth resides in what you call the “Galactic only select for those aspects which help threatened; it would be easy for them to Habitable Zone.” Can you briefly explain us to survive and produce more offspring. look up the correct information [on] in- what that is, and what problems we would It cannot explain why we can see the telligent design. Instead, they would rath- face if we were not in that zone? distant stars and galaxies or observe total er believe in any number of conspiracy

nasa; guillermo gonzalez The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 9 theories about intelligent design, rather by political ideology. This is not only true universe. Whether the universe was de- than face its profound implications. of the opposition to intelligent design, signed to have more than one planet with but it also applies to other scientific con- life is a question I don’t have an answer for. What led you to believe that intelligent troversies, such as global warming and design is a good explanation for the origin embryonic stem-cell research. Of the various things you study, what do of life? you enjoy studying the most? Why? Although I don’t study the origin of life, I Some of your research is in astrobiology. I most enjoy studying stars with planets. was convinced of life’s design from sever- What is astrobiology? Astrobiology seems This is a new field with many new dis- al lines of evidence: the fine-tuning of the almost a contradiction in terms. When we coveries waiting to be made. I feel privi- physical constants and planetary [factors look out at the stars, it seems that we see leged to be involved in this field from the necessary] for life and discovery, the in- nothing but a lack of life, no? Do you think start and making a number of important formation in dna, nanomachines in cells. there is life out there somewhere? discoveries. Astrobiology is the study of life in the Based on your experience, it seems that universe. The discipline used to be called Guillermo Gonzalez’s book, The Privileged some in the scientific establishment use exobiology, which is the study of life be- Planet, explains in detail many factors that not their power to blacklist scientists who have yond Earth. But, that meant that it was a only make Earth habitable, but also make our not ruled out intelligent design. What do discipline without a subject. With astrobi- world and universe discoverable at the same you find unscientific about the way these ology, Earth life is an instance of life in the time. It’s an excellent read for anyone inter- scholars interact with other scholars? universe, but it remains true that Earth is ested in learning more about our planet and It has certainly been a learning experi- the only inhabited place we know of. Based our universe. It’s available at Amazon.com and ence. I have been surprised at the extent on what we know today, I am doubtful that elsewhere. In addition, a DVD is available by to which scientists’ views are determined life could have arisen naturalistically in the the same title, based on the book.

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he Hubble Space Telescope is helping us coax the cosmos into revealing its secrets and mysteries. TAnd the more we study, the stronger the evidence becomes of an absolutely remarkable truth: There is an Author of the cosmos. Our increasing knowledge of the stars reveals not only what God has already done, but also what He is about to do. Do you know why this vast, sparkling, shimmering, powerful universe exists? “The heavens declare the glory of God …” (Psalm 19:1). Do you hear what they are saying? Our new free booklet Our Awesome Universe Potential will show you the Creator’s highly valuable purpose for your life and the vast universe!

10 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet he 1929 financial crash unfold- from its highs. The corresponding fall in ed in just such a way as to inflict 1929 was 48 percent. The Dow has now punishment. Every time stock inves- subsequently rallied by 50 percent—just Ttors thought it was safe to get back in as it did 79 years ago. Where to next? the dance, they just lost more money. Every The stock market’s lengthy slump has time consumers thought it was safe to start ended at last, says popular Goldman Sachs spending again, the job scene hit another soothsayer Abby Joseph Cohen. “We do low note. Businesses couldn’t hold a tune— think that the new bull market has begun.” they went bankrupt by the thousands. “There is little evidence to be cautious,” Eight decades later, the question facing composed Citigroup strategist Tobias the world is this: Is the worst really over, Levkovich. or is it just the opening note of a very fa- Can you hear the pickup note to the miliar hymn? next stanza? And the market plunged again. History repeats itself. Even if the lyr- Yet the stock market is not the only indi- ics are not exactly the same, this verse cator that is in hurtful harmony with 1930. certainly rhymes with the first. Unfortu- According to the most recent data pre- nately, most people don’t know history. sented by VoxEU.org, an economic policy research center, world industrial produc- Whistle a Happy Tune tion is also in uneasy unison with the 1930s Ask the average guy on the street. He is al- Great fall. A look at the charts reveals a déjà vu most sure to tell you he has heard or read nightmare chorus. Both the United States that the crisis is over. Depression and Canada have seen their industrial The New York Times trumpeted: “Fed production fall parallel to the 1929 crisis, Chief Says Recession Is Very Likely Over” as have Germany and Britain. Italy and (September 15). Newsweek’s Daniel Gross Remix France and Japan are doing much worse. confirmed: “I’m prepared to declare that In the area of trade, our world is also the recession is really, most probably over” The lyrics are different worse off than that of our predecessors. (July 14). Bloomberg and Forbes are whis- Trade levels have fallen off a cliff. There tling their own happy tunes proclaiming in 2009 than 1929— are, however, some major differences be- the end of the recession too. but it’s still the same tween now and the first Great Depression. The good times are back. Stocks will In 1930 America was a producer. Dur- keep going up until 2010, said money song. by Robert Morley ing that year, the U.S. produced 70 percent manager John Dorfman. “On balance … I of the world’s oil, 60 percent of its wheat think the evidence favors continued gains.” professionals invariably belted out that the and cotton, 50 percent of copper, 40 per- Sadly, it is all too familiar. crisis was over. cent of coal. Additionally, America held In 1930, the average person was singing On Aug. 23, 1930, Moody’s Investors half of the world’s monetary gold reserves. that the worst was over too, as were many Service wrote regarding its prosperity in- Today, America is a net consumer, relying of the so-called experts. dex: “We are, therefore, inclined to regard on other nations for energy supplies and “Green Lights Ahead,” cheered Na- the present level of business activity as the strategic minerals such as oil and copper tional Bank of the Republic (Chicago) approximate level from which recovery to meet demand. Chairman G. Woodruff. “The red lights, will begin” (emphasis mine). America also used to be a credi- through which our people last year drove, And the market plunged. tor nation. But it has gone from being have changed” (Aug. 5, 1930). On Nov. 15, 1930, the Harvard Economic the world’s greatest lender nation to its Actually, the worst was only beginning. Review predicted: “We are now near the end greatest debtor—a situation that is get- of the declining phase of the Depression.” ting worse by the day. America is spend- Sucker Rallies And the market plunged again. ing money like it is going out of style. It From 1921 to 1929, the Dow Jones hummed It would take more than three years of has paid out more money combating the from 60 to a high note of almost 400! The ups followed by dramatic downs before current recession than it has on any other Great Crash of 1929 changed that. It swal- the Dow Jones would hit a real bottom— event in history, including World War ii. lowed 48 percent of stock market value all the way back to around 50. All the money might buy a little time— in just a few days. But over the ensuing For the general economy, it took a de- it might make the faux recovery last a bit months, the market bounced back, re- cade of hopeful high notes and octave- longer—but it doesn’t really change any- claiming around half of its losses. Investors dropping lows and finally a literal world- thing. A problem caused by too much breathed a collective sigh of relief, and mon- wide bloodbath to end the Depression. spending and debt cannot be fixed by ey managers loaded up the stocks again. Here is the point. Whether you look at more of the same. Then the stock market abruptly the stock market, world industrial output Unfortunately, America looks like it is crashed again, sending both share prices or trade, the tune matches 1930. By some getting set up for a refrain. The excesses and bankers into funeral dirges. measures, things are even more discordant. of the past two-plus decades have not Over the next three years, the mar- been rectified during the past few short ket would “sucker rally” a total of five The Next Stanza months. More punishment is on the way. times—only to plunge to new lows on By March of this year, the Dow Jones In- History is repeating; you can feel the each occasion. Yet with each new rally, the dustrial Average had crashed by 53 percent rhythm. The crescendo awaits. n

nasa; istockphoto The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 11 Britain’s Iron Lady Was Right margaret thatcher A voice of warning from 1989 Prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to is about to prove especially 1990, she warned against farsighted. By Brad Macdonald allowing Germany to unify. ritish newspapers jumped Such shallow and misleading repre- Germans and totally wrong in her views on the story when documents sentation of these revelatory papers in about German reunification, that some were released in September the British media, as well as by the British have spun her to be. disclosing Margaret Thatch- government, was a tremendous disservice Throughout her illustrious political er’s vigorous opposition to to the British people, many of whom are career, 11 years of which she stood tall as German unification in 1989. upset and disturbed by the German-led Britain’s prime minister, Mrs. Thatcher BIn one Kremlin transcript, the former EU’s growing impingement on British proved herself an avid student of human prime minister was revealed as telling sovereignty. nature and an eager disciple of history. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in off- The release of these documents provid- Mrs. Thatcher’s viewpoint on the “Ger- the-record meetings in September 1989 ed British politicians and journalists an man question,” as it was known then, was that the “reunification of Germany is not opportunity to investigate why Thatcher informed by a firm grasp on both history in the interests of Britain and Western opposed German unification, if her reti- and the human mind. Europe.” While that might appear dif- cence was justified, and whether or not “I do not believe in collective guilt,” she ferent from public pronouncements, she her fears are coming to fruition. However, explained in The Downing Street Years, “it stated, Britain does “not want a united they used them to court Germany, even is individuals who are morally account- Germany.” though it meant turning their back on able for their actions.” Contrary to what It’s not hard to justify the release of their former stalwart leader. some believe, Mrs. Thatcher blamed Hit- these documents as headline news. They German media picked up the same ler primarily for World War ii, not the col- shine added light on what was a turning story line. Germany’s Spiegel Online re- lective German people. “But I do believe in point in modern European history when ported that the “new documents reveal national character,” she continued, “which the Berlin Wall collapsed in November that [British] Foreign Ministry diplomats is molded by a range of complex factors, 1989. But the British media and govern- were considerably more far-sighted than [and] the fact that national caricatures are ment opted not to report on the most important angle: how Mar- Mrs. Thatcher opposed German reunification garet Thatcher’s sober forecasts are actually being fulfilled. because she understood German history and Lampooned! Among the nuggets the Times the national character of the German people. latched onto was Mrs. Thatcher’s “bombshell” off-the-record admission to Thatcher, who was led by her gut reaction often absurd and inaccurate does not de- Mr. Gorbachev that while she supported against Germany” (September 11). tract from that.” German unification in public, privately “The long-secret papers show that Mrs. Thatcher opposed German reuni- she held “deep concerns” about the “big the British government played a far more fication because she understood German changes” afoot. “Even 20 years later, her constructive role in German reunifica- history and the national character of the remarks are likely to cause an uproar,” tion than had been previously thought,” German people. “Since the unification wrote the Times. Spiegel wrote. “Only one person had se- of Germany under Bismarck,” she wrote, “Mrs. Thatcher (as she then was) was rious doubts about the change: Margaret “Germany has veered unpredictably be- wrong,” the Times haughtily blurted. “As Thatcher.” This is pure revisionist history tween aggression and self-doubt.” Study Germany reaches two decades as a reunit- that belies the concern shared by the most German history since the mid-19th cen- ed country, its unshakable place within astute observers of Germany’s intentions tury; it’s impossible to argue with the facts the Western family of democratic nations to dominate Europe by using the Euro- on this point. is cause for celebration. Apprehensions pean Union. The documents released in September about a united Germany were misguided also recount remarks Mrs. Thatcher made and have clearly been refuted” (September Thatcher’s Apprehensions during meetings with French President 11; emphasis mine throughout). Before we prove whether or not Thatcher’s François Mitterrand. Mrs. Thatcher had They have? Says who? concerns were justified, we must first un- already recalled some of these meetings The Financial Times reported that the derstand just what they were. And while (and remarks) in her 1993 book. In one decision by Britain’s Foreign and Com- the Times and its ilk reported on these meeting in France in 1989, she writes, monwealth Office to publish the docu- documents as if Thatcher’s opposition to Mitterrand was “more concerned” about ments was perceived as an “attempt by German reunification was blockbuster German reunification than she was. The Britain to set the record straight and show news, history shows it was no state secret. reason for his concern? that its diplomats were positive about re- Mrs. Thatcher openly, eloquently and “He observed that in history the Ger- unification early on—in spite of Mrs. extensively explained her viewpoint in her mans were a people in constant movement Thatcher’s personal misgivings” (Sep- 1993 autobiography, The Downing Street and flux.” Mitterrand’s concern, as well tember 10). This perception wasn’t inac- Years. Written shortly after the Berlin as Thatcher’s—as well as the recorded curate, as Patrick Salmon, chief historian Wall’s fall, the book gives context to her concerns of other historians, politicians at the British Foreign Office, confirmed: recently disclosed remarks, which were and journalists—shows that, at the time, “What they do is they correct the impres- made in meetings that occurred between astute observers were leery of a repeat of sion that was around at the time, and later, 1986 and 1990. Reading Thatcher’s expla- German dominance in Europe. that Britain was negative toward [German nation, it’s evident she was not the naive Now notice Thatcher’s reaction to Mit- unification],” he said. rogue, plagued by a lurking hatred of terrand’s anxiety. At that moment, she

getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 13 writes, “I produced from my handbag a Europe deteriorated in the shadow of Ger- Britain’s Iron Lady didn’t. “You have map showing the various configurations many’s mounting and formidable pres- not anchored Germany to Europe,” she of Germany in the past, which were not ence? Undeniably. warned America during a conference in altogether reassuring about the future.” Historical fact refutes the Times’ Colorado Springs in October 1995. “You Thatcher was so devoted to history as her assertion that Thatcher’s “apprehensions have anchored Europe to a newly domi- tutor, she actually carried it around with about a united Germany were misguided nant, unified Germany. In the end, my her in her purse. and have clearly been refuted.” In fact, friends, you’ll find it will not work.” That’s what informed her opposition to Britain’s “Iron Lady” was spot on! As the Trumpet has explained exten- German reunification! sively in recent issues, the “end” that Mrs. Because she was familiar with Ger- Vindication Thatcher mentioned is very nearly here. many’s historical proclivity to dominate If we view them objectively, the docu- Germany is united and strong, and has Europe, Mrs. Thatcher warned often that ments released in September vindicate cemented itself as the most powerful and it would be dangerous to lock a reunited more than condemn Mrs. Thatcher. That dominant force, politically, economically Germany into a federal Europe. “Germany vindication, at least partially, comes with and militarily, on the Continent. Soon, is more rather than less likely to dominate the knowledge that fellow world leaders perhaps in a matter of months, Germany within that framework,” she explained, had similar fears and opinions about Ger- will impose its authority and power over Europe beyond what most people can “You have not anchored Germany to readily imagine. Prophecies in Daniel chapters Europe. You have anchored Europe to a 8 and 11 reveal that, in addition to revolving around Germany, end- time events in Europe will be heav- newly dominant, unified Germany. In the ily dominated by a single individual, and a man of German descent. This end, my friends, you’ll find it will not work.” man will have a “fierce countenance,” —Margaret Thatcher which means he will be unyielding and merciless. The Bible says he will “for a reunited Germany is simply too man reunification. understand “dark sentences,” which, most big and powerful to be just another player The documents reveal President Mit- commentaries agree, means he will con- with Europe.” terrand telling Thatcher that a united ceal his true motives. Thatcher feared German reunifica- Germany could “make even more ground He will be skilled in intrigues, de- tion because she knew it would wreak than had Hitler.” If Germany expanded, ceit, double-talk and double-dealing. He havoc on Europe’s political landscape. he said, then Europe would be in the same will rule with terrifying cruelty, just like “Germany is … by its very nature a de- position that it had been in before World his predecessor Antiochus Epiphanies, stabilizing rather than a stabilizing force War i. He also said that reunification the second-century b.c. Greek king who in Europe,” she wrote. This reasoning could turn Germans into the “bad” people slashed and slaughtered his way into Jeru- underpinned Thatcher’s remark to Gor- they used to be. salem before ransacking the Jewish temple bachev that “Britain did not want a unit- They also show Nikolai Ryzhkov, the and murdering Jews. ed Germany.” premier of the Soviet Union, telling Gor- “Through his policy also he shall In her book, Mrs. Thatcher explains bachev that if Germany was allowed to cause craft to prosper in his hand,” Dan- the apprehensions she had about German reunify on its own terms, “then in 20 or iel writes, “and he shall magnify himself unification in three succinct points. First, 30 years Germany will start another world in his heart, and by peace shall destroy a united Germany would rush Europe war.” many: he shall also stand up against the toward becoming a dominant federalist Jacques Attali, adviser to the French Prince of princes; but he shall be broken power. Second, although Europe might at president, was equally concerned. He without hand” (Daniel 8:25). The word first be led by a Franco-German axis, Ger- told a Gorbachev aide that French lead- craft means fraud. The expression “by many would in time marginalize French ers questioned whether Russia’s lack of peace he shall destroy many,” wrote Ger- leadership and become the unchecked interference in the fall of the Berlin Wall ald Flurry, “means he is pretending ‘peace’ leader of Europe. Third, a united Germa- meant that “the ussr has made peace with and friendship. Then suddenly comes the ny would facilitate the decline of Ameri- the prospect of a united Germany and will malignant shock! He destroys suddenly ca’s presence and influence in Europe. not take any steps to prevent it.” He said, while his enemy is in this state of mind. The British press failed to do this in re- “This has caused a fear approaching This illustrates the deceitful malice prac- porting this story, but you can: Consider panic.” Attali later told Mitterrand that he ticed by this political tyrant” (Trumpet, the past 20 years of European history, and was so fearful of a united Germany that, June 1999). specifically that of the EU. Has Germany should it come to pass, he would “fly off to Don’t be too quick to discount that emerged at the vanguard of efforts to forge live on Mars.” forecast. It is rooted in historical fact the European Union as a federalist su- These documents reveal that Mrs. and biblical prophecy. It will—together perpower? Indisputably. Has Germany Thatcher was far from alone in her ap- with Margaret Thatcher’s spirited warn- overpowered and outmaneuvered France prehensions; they actually justify her con- ings—be vindicated by the blood, sweat to become the predominant, unbridled cerns as legitimate. It is true that these and tears caused by the soon-coming leader of Europe? Without doubt. And leaders mostly gave up their concerns after emergence of a German-led European has America’s presence and influence in the fall of the Berlin Wall. Courageously, empire. n

14 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet n Sit down to a meal unwashed and un- combed or improperly dressed.

n Tilt our chairs or push them back from the table with all our body weight on them.

n Tuck in a napkin, nor suck our fingers instead of wiping them on a napkin.

n Lounge on the dinner table, including putting our elbows on it or sitting back on our spines. (Apparently it is okay to put elbows—preferably one—on the table between courses.)

n Put more than a manageable mouthful in our mouths at one time.

n Chew with our mouths open or with obvious noise or lip-smacking.

Mind Your Manners n Speak unnecessarily loudly, or chatter Recapture etiquette … and family time. By Joel Hilliker incessantly.

have an image of the quintessen- each other. An opportunity to strength- n Behave noisily and conspicuously. tial Italian family dinner, with a huge en bonds of unity and love. An occasion family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, for each person to see that he is a part of n Burp, belch, sneeze or cough without cousins, parents, children—passing something bigger than himself. attempting to turn away from others, Iheaping dishes of pasta around a large It’s also a chance to teach your chil- and then only behind the cupped hand yet cozy table, with chitchat, smiles and dren, by example, how to eat properly. or a clean handkerchief. laughter sweetening the air along with the The need is certainly great. Just watch culinary aromas. schoolchildren eat among themselves— n Scratch, pick the teeth, spit, comb the Apparently in our world, such a scene even with an adult present. They tend to hair, or tend the nails. is becoming like a fairy tale. Not only are engage in some pretty unrefined behavior. families increasingly scattered and tiny, They need the reinforcement of good n Pull our finger joints, drum our fin- but regular family meals are becoming a table manners that can occur only when a gers, or indulge in any similar irritat- rarity. family eats together regularly. ing little habits that set people’s teeth In his book Our Culture, What’s Left Moved by these thoughts, I recently on edge. of It, Theodore Dalrymple describes a pulled a book off my shelf that had ac- growing epidemic within Britain of fam- cumulated quite a bit of dust. Leafing n Leave a spoon in a cup, or eat with a ily meals being replaced by uncivilized through its pages, I quickly realized it had knife. hunter-gatherer activity. He laments “the been sitting unused far too long. breakdown of the family structure—a It is called Amy Vanderbilt’s New Com- n Interrupt a conversation—except for an breakdown so complete that mothers do plete Book of Etiquette. It was published in important reason and then only after not consider it a part of their duty to feed 1952; my copy was last updated in 1963. It’s asking permission to speak. their own children once they have reached not even 50 years old—and yet, the rules the age at which they can forage for them- of social graces it details seem to represent So there you have it. Soon after review- selves in a refrigerator—that promotes some exotic historical epoch. It helped me ing these rules with my daughters, one of modern malnutrition in Britain.” realize just how casual and low-minded them corrected my wife on the placement Children and adults forage and our culture has become—and how quick- of an errant elbow during a meal. I told scrounge when hungry, or eat fast food on ly. In America in particular, it seems we her that it was far more rude and inappro- the go. They snack alone, even stealthily, pride ourselves on our uncouthness; we priate for a child to correct an adult than often in the company of a television. exalt the rude and the base. it was to misplace an elbow. What a missed opportunity. I found one bit in this book extremely But that does bring up an obvious but Even amid life’s busyness, the daily helpful: a list of rules children should be crucial point: The best way to teach these evening meal should be a welcome com- taught on dinner table conduct. Here, sum- rules is by our example. ing together among family members. A marized from Amy Vanderbilt in 1963, are And the only way to do that is by eating chance to connect, to share, to listen to some things we should not do at the table: together, regularly, as a family. n photos to go The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 15 russia

WorLdWAtCh united kingdom Germany lux. ukraine france mongolia EUROPE Italy Georgia erman President Spain GHorst KÖhler unveiled the u.S. country’s first memorial to sol- lebanon Syria china diers killed in the post-World Israel Iraq Iran Pakistan War ii military on September libya egypt 8. While Germany is just one India of many countries that memo- mexico rialize their war dead, this is Honduras yemen part of a disquieting trend of venezuela military taboos being pushed Nicaragua aside in Germany. On August 2, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated her support for a memorial to Germans who had to relocate from Eastern Europe after World War ii. The Federation of Expellees, a australia group backed by the German government, is now mov- ing forward with plans for a memorial in Berlin for these other hot proxy battleground dispossessed. On August 24, between the Persians and Lebanon on July 14 a statement from the heads of the lower house of parliament Iranian attempt Arabs” (September 1). This is contained chemi- the German and Polish bish- on September 8. It represents a MIDEAST to mitigate the further evidence of Iran’s ef- cal weapons. ops’ conferences also drew significant power grab for Ger- akistani nuclear weap- risk of new sanc- forts to consolidate its power The Obama admin- attention to “the wrongs and many, giving it more control Pons scientist Abdul tions from the West in the region, and also of the istration has softened loss of homeland experienced over European affairs. Qadeer Khan has admitted by importing 20,000 division in the Islamic world its demand that Israel by Germans due to expul- High-ranking EU dip- assisting iran in its nuclear barrels of gasoline daily from today that portends a drastic immediately cease all sions.” Such developments lomats meet weekly with program. In an interview Venezuela. The strengthen- split indicated in end-time settlement construc- reflect an increasing tendency Hamas, despite its status as a broadcast on Pakistani ing relationship between Iran prophecy between those Mus- tion as a precondition to portray Germans as victims terrorist group, Hamas told television August 31, Khan and Venezuela is aimed at lim nations that will ally with the U.S. leaves, they will have Trend, led by the anti-U.S. cler- for resuming peace in the war. That sense of vic- EUobserver in a September described how he and other countering U.S. interests, both Iran and those that will ally no guarantor. As Washington ic Muqtada al-Sadr. Maliki has talks with the Palestinians, timhood in Germany is help- 12 interview. “We meet a lot Pakistani military officials in the Middle East and South with a European power. tries to maneuver its way out not yet decided whether he will Haaretz reported August 27. ing to awaken national pride. of them from France, from facilitated deals between Iran America. As U.S. forces draw down of Iraq without the country join this new alliance on Iran’s Now, however, Palestinian Historically, this has had Spain, from Germany, from and Pakistan’s nuclear weap- In yemen, government in iraq, attacks within the collapsing in a heap, Iran is terms or try to cobble together Authority President Mah- global repercussions; biblical italy, from England, from ons materials suppliers. Khan forces have been fighting country are increasing. On watching closely, and will be a rival alliance. Regardless, the moud Abbas is maintaining prophecy tells us it will again. Luxembourg. When they told the interviewer that if Iran-backed Shiite unrest August 19, a series of blasts sure to take advantage. new Shiite alliance gives Iran a that for peace talks to resume Germany’s ruling politi- listen to us and we spend a Iran succeeds in “acquiring since early August. On August in Baghdad killed 95 people Major Iranian-backed Shi- firm hand on the future direc- there must be a total freeze of cal parties agreed on how to couple of hours with them, nuclear technology, we will 31, the Yemini government and wounded over 1,000. The ite groups in Iraq announced a tion of Iraqi politics. construction in East Jerusa- implement the Lisbon Treaty they understand what is the be a strong bloc in the region summoned the Iranian am- explosions struck at the heart new coalition, excluding Iraqi Hezbollah has been stock- lem. The primary impasse is on August 18, after weeks of real image of Hamas,” said to counter international pres- bassador over alleged media of Iraq’s Shiite-led govern- Prime Minister Nouri al- piling chemical weapons in over Jerusalem. This means, negotiations. The Christian spokesman Ghazi Hamad. sure. Iran’s nuclear capability bias toward the Shiite rebels. ment, damaging the Finance Maliki, August 24 in a major southern Lebanon, according regardless of any negotiations, Social Union had wanted to Also, Germany has been will neutralize israel’s power.” Also in late August, security and Foreign Ministry build- realignment of Iraqi politics. to Kuwaiti newspaper al-Seyas- a clash between Palestinians force the German government working with egypt in nego- Iran and venezuela signed forces claimed to have un- ings. The Sunnis are sending In a strong move by Tehran to sah. The report, published Sep- and Jews is inevitable. to seek permission from the tiations with Hamas to secure three energy agreements on covered six weapons caches a message. They don’t like grab power in Iraq, its allies in tember 3, cited European intel- hamas hosted 100,000 parliament and federal council the release of Israeli captive September 6 during a visit by belonging to Shiite militants the security and political ar- Baghdad formed the new Iraqi ligence sources working with youths in Gaza this year at 700 before supporting legislation in Gilad Shalit, according to Venezuelan President Hugo that contained short-range rangements currently in place National Alliance (ina) in the United Nations Interim summer camps, according Brussels. Instead, the govern- Egyptian President Hosni Chávez to the Islamic Re- missiles and light machine in Iraq, which favor the Shia, preparation for parliamentary Force in Lebanon who claimed to Arutz Sheva. In addition ment will have to listen to par- Mubarak. Such mediation is public. Two of the accords guns made in Iran. Stratfor and want to remind both the elections on January 16. The that Iran has flown chemical to being indoctrinated with liament, but will not be bound being used by Europe, and stipulated that Venezuela and reported that “with regional Shia and the Americans of two main blocs in the alliance and biological warfare equip- Islamic ideology, children by what it says. The resulting Germany in particular, as a Iran will each invest $760 tensions escalating over Iran’s the trouble they could cause are the largest Shiite party, ment to Lebanon via Syria. The were given weapons and hand- bill, backed by all major par- way to play a larger role in the million in the other’s energy growing influence, the coun- should their interests be ig- the Islamic Supreme Council newspaper said the ammuni- to-hand combat training, as ties but one, passed through Middle East peace process. sector. The third deal was an try is developing into yet an- nored. They know that once of Iraq (isci), and the Al Sadr tion dump that exploded in well as training on how to use

16 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet aXel ScHmIDT/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, SaID kHaTIb/afP/GeTTy IaGeS russia

WorLdWAtCh united kingdom Germany lux. ukraine france mongolia EUROPE Italy Georgia erman President Spain GHorst KÖhler unveiled the u.S. country’s first memorial to sol- lebanon Syria china diers killed in the post-World Israel Iraq Iran Pakistan War ii military on September libya egypt 8. While Germany is just one India of many countries that memo- mexico rialize their war dead, this is Honduras yemen part of a disquieting trend of venezuela military taboos being pushed Nicaragua aside in Germany. On August 2, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated her support for a memorial to Germans who had to relocate from Eastern Europe after World War ii. The Federation of Expellees, a australia group backed by the German government, is now mov- ing forward with plans for a memorial in Berlin for these other hot proxy battleground dispossessed. On August 24, between the Persians and Lebanon on July 14 a statement from the heads of the lower house of parliament Iranian attempt Arabs” (September 1). This is contained chemi- the German and Polish bish- on September 8. It represents a MIDEAST to mitigate the further evidence of Iran’s ef- cal weapons. ops’ conferences also drew significant power grab for Ger- akistani nuclear weap- risk of new sanc- forts to consolidate its power The Obama admin- attention to “the wrongs and many, giving it more control Pons scientist Abdul tions from the West in the region, and also of the istration has softened loss of homeland experienced over European affairs. Qadeer Khan has admitted by importing 20,000 division in the Islamic world its demand that Israel by Germans due to expul- High-ranking EU dip- assisting iran in its nuclear barrels of gasoline daily from today that portends a drastic immediately cease all sions.” Such developments lomats meet weekly with program. In an interview Venezuela. The strengthen- split indicated in end-time settlement construc- reflect an increasing tendency Hamas, despite its status as a broadcast on Pakistani ing relationship between Iran prophecy between those Mus- tion as a precondition to portray Germans as victims terrorist group, Hamas told television August 31, Khan and Venezuela is aimed at lim nations that will ally with the U.S. leaves, they will have Trend, led by the anti-U.S. cler- for resuming peace in the war. That sense of vic- EUobserver in a September described how he and other countering U.S. interests, both Iran and those that will ally no guarantor. As Washington ic Muqtada al-Sadr. Maliki has talks with the Palestinians, timhood in Germany is help- 12 interview. “We meet a lot Pakistani military officials in the Middle East and South with a European power. tries to maneuver its way out not yet decided whether he will Haaretz reported August 27. ing to awaken national pride. of them from France, from facilitated deals between Iran America. As U.S. forces draw down of Iraq without the country join this new alliance on Iran’s Now, however, Palestinian Historically, this has had Spain, from Germany, from and Pakistan’s nuclear weap- In yemen, government in iraq, attacks within the collapsing in a heap, Iran is terms or try to cobble together Authority President Mah- global repercussions; biblical italy, from England, from ons materials suppliers. Khan forces have been fighting country are increasing. On watching closely, and will be a rival alliance. Regardless, the moud Abbas is maintaining prophecy tells us it will again. Luxembourg. When they told the interviewer that if Iran-backed Shiite unrest August 19, a series of blasts sure to take advantage. new Shiite alliance gives Iran a that for peace talks to resume Germany’s ruling politi- listen to us and we spend a Iran succeeds in “acquiring since early August. On August in Baghdad killed 95 people Major Iranian-backed Shi- firm hand on the future direc- there must be a total freeze of cal parties agreed on how to couple of hours with them, nuclear technology, we will 31, the Yemini government and wounded over 1,000. The ite groups in Iraq announced a tion of Iraqi politics. construction in East Jerusa- implement the Lisbon Treaty they understand what is the be a strong bloc in the region summoned the Iranian am- explosions struck at the heart new coalition, excluding Iraqi Hezbollah has been stock- lem. The primary impasse is on August 18, after weeks of real image of Hamas,” said to counter international pres- bassador over alleged media of Iraq’s Shiite-led govern- Prime Minister Nouri al- piling chemical weapons in over Jerusalem. This means, negotiations. The Christian spokesman Ghazi Hamad. sure. Iran’s nuclear capability bias toward the Shiite rebels. ment, damaging the Finance Maliki, August 24 in a major southern Lebanon, according regardless of any negotiations, Social Union had wanted to Also, Germany has been will neutralize israel’s power.” Also in late August, security and Foreign Ministry build- realignment of Iraqi politics. to Kuwaiti newspaper al-Seyas- a clash between Palestinians force the German government working with egypt in nego- Iran and venezuela signed forces claimed to have un- ings. The Sunnis are sending In a strong move by Tehran to sah. The report, published Sep- and Jews is inevitable. to seek permission from the tiations with Hamas to secure three energy agreements on covered six weapons caches a message. They don’t like grab power in Iraq, its allies in tember 3, cited European intel- hamas hosted 100,000 parliament and federal council the release of Israeli captive September 6 during a visit by belonging to Shiite militants the security and political ar- Baghdad formed the new Iraqi ligence sources working with youths in Gaza this year at 700 before supporting legislation in Gilad Shalit, according to Venezuelan President Hugo that contained short-range rangements currently in place National Alliance (ina) in the United Nations Interim summer camps, according Brussels. Instead, the govern- Egyptian President Hosni Chávez to the Islamic Re- missiles and light machine in Iraq, which favor the Shia, preparation for parliamentary Force in Lebanon who claimed to Arutz Sheva. In addition ment will have to listen to par- Mubarak. Such mediation is public. Two of the accords guns made in Iran. Stratfor and want to remind both the elections on January 16. The that Iran has flown chemical to being indoctrinated with liament, but will not be bound being used by Europe, and stipulated that Venezuela and reported that “with regional Shia and the Americans of two main blocs in the alliance and biological warfare equip- Islamic ideology, children by what it says. The resulting Germany in particular, as a Iran will each invest $760 tensions escalating over Iran’s the trouble they could cause are the largest Shiite party, ment to Lebanon via Syria. The were given weapons and hand- bill, backed by all major par- way to play a larger role in the million in the other’s energy growing influence, the coun- should their interests be ig- the Islamic Supreme Council newspaper said the ammuni- to-hand combat training, as ties but one, passed through Middle East peace process. sector. The third deal was an try is developing into yet an- nored. They know that once of Iraq (isci), and the Al Sadr tion dump that exploded in well as training on how to use aXel ScHmIDT/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, SaID kHaTIb/afP/GeTTy IaGeS The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 17 WorLdWAtCh explosive belts for suicide mis- Chancellor Merkel expressed was bolstered on September predicated upon a return to Movement for Demo- sions. Through these camps support for the transaction. 10 when Venezuelan President democratic, constitutional cratic Change (mdc) and other methods, Hamas The strengthening liaison Chávez recognized two pro- governance in Honduras.” Yet opponents in order to and other Islamist groups are between Germany and Russia Russian rebel regions of Geor- officials have also said that diminish the opposi- poisoning the minds of a gen- bodes poorly for the West. gia as independent. Venezuela President Obama’s adminis- tion’s clout in the uni- eration of Palestinian children On August 26, the Finan- is the second country after tration will not recognize the ty government. One to hate Israel. cial Times reported that Rus- Nicaragua to follow Russia’s upcoming democratic elec- mdc official claimed sia is bolstering its relation- lead in recognizing the sover- tions. Thus continues its sup- that “Zanu-PF is us- ship with mongolia. President eignty of the two breakaway port of a man who was illegal- ing the police and the Medvedev signed a five-year provinces within Georgia’s ly seeking to seize dictatorial Central Intelligence ASIA contract to transfer manage- internationally acknowledged control over Honduras. Organization to harass ussian President Dmi- ment rights of Mongolia’s rail- borders. The rest of the world President obama has found our members.” In the Rtry Medvedev told Ukrai- ways, previously run jointly by views South Ossetia and Ab- an unexpected—and perhaps past year, more than nian President Viktor Yush- the two countries, to Russia. khazia, which rejected Geor- unwelcome—supporter for 200 mdc activists have chenko in a letter released Moscow is also now poised to gian rule in the early 1990s, as his agenda: Fidel Castro. “The been killed. August 11 that the Ukrainian mine uranium in Mongolia. integral regions of Georgia. extreme right hates him [Presi- World Bank Presi- president is the cause of sour These tightening ties with Caracas and Moscow also dent Obama] for being Afri- dent Robert Zoellick relations between their two Mongolia, the “land bridge” forged several agreements on can-American and fights what announced September countries. Medvedev kept his between China and Russia, energy, trade and defense. the president does to improve 2 that he is talking to attacks narrowly focused on is another sign of the rising the deteriorated image of that the Chinese govern- Ukraine’s leaders while em- prophesied Asian superpower. country,” the former Cuban ment about invest- bracing the Ukrainian people On August 27, Reuters re- president wrote in his state ing in Africa. He stated that the U.S. Postal Service will ship workers say they have just one General Motors’ bankruptcy, as a whole. Medvedev was ported that China had “called LATIN newspaper column on August China’s sovereign wealth fund, about 20 billion fewer pieces of week of savings in the bank— it will close the last major auto clearly telling the Ukrainians on the United States to reduce 25. “I don’t have the slight- China Investment Corp., “ex- mail this year than in the pre- or less. Financial advisers plant in the state next March. that they need to change their and eventually halt air and sea AMERICA/ est doubt that the racist right pressed interest” in investing vious year, its largest drop in say workers should save the The same day, a gigantic wild- leaders in the election on Janu- military surveillance close to will do everything possible to in the World Bank’s new asset its 234-year history. It has a $7 equivalent of six months’ sal- fire broke out in California. It ary 17 in order to have a strong its shores.” The request came AFRICA wear him down, blocking his management company that billion budget deficit for 2009. ary to be safe. grew to become the largest in partnership with russia. Rus- in the wake of a series of terri- flight from Cancun program to get him out of the aims to direct money from the The Washington Times On September 16, the Sen- Los Angeles County history sia is trying to use its historical torial disputes this year. This Ato Mexico City was game one way or another, at private sector to Third World reported in September that 2.5 ate released its version of a and the 10th-largest in the links to pry Ukraine away from is another example of China hijacked on September 9. the least political cost.” Clear- countries in Africa and Latin million Americans fell below health-care reform bill, a history of the state. Its largest Europe and America. Polls flexing its military muscle. Though there was ly, Castro knows America. China is not moti- the poverty line last year as measure that opponents say is component blackened 157,220 suggest that the January 2010 China is worried about no loss of life, the a socialist agenda vated by altruism, however; it is millions of jobs were lost, con- hugely expensive and comes acres, destroyed 78 homes and elections will markedly shift America’s decision to resort effect on mexico’s when he sees one. after resources. By investing in tributing to the highest number at a time when the nation can killed two firefighters. Ukraine toward Russia. to “credit easing”—essentially, tourism industry Venezuelan these continents, it aims to gain of poor Americans since 1998. least afford it. The bill would In August, British opposi- Russian businessman and printing money—to try to get could be devastat- President Chávez access to more of what it needs One in eight Americans now require all individuals to pur- tion leader David Cameron de- former Energy Minister Igor out of financial troubles. This ing. Tourism had completed what he to fuel its growing empire. lives on less than $10,991 per chase health care or pay a fine, cried the government’s spend- Yusufov is poised to buy a Ger- may force China to find alter- already dropped dubbed an “axis of year. Another record was set in expand Medicaid, and prohib- ing, calling it a “disgrace.” man shipyard. State authorities natives to the dollar, according 18 percent since evil” tour in Sep- June, when more than 35 mil- it insurance companies from This year alone, the British and creditors agreed August to one official. France, Russia last year, mostly tember. Caracas lion Americans received food charging more to those who government expects to borrow 17 to the $56 billion contract, a and india have also called for because of the drug and Tehran signed ANGLO- stamps, up 22 percent from a have health problems. The bill 175 billion (us$291 billion)— fraction of the shipyard’s real an end of the dollar’s role as war which has three new energy year before and a new all-time would cost $856 billion. about 12 percent of gross do- value. The proposed buyout the world’s reserve currency. flared in Mexico. agreements on Sep- AMERICA record. The program now in- California had a hard sum- mestic product and a record foresees Yusufov founding a On September 8, the UN Con- Eighteen federal agents were tember 6, bringing the total to .S. Sen. edward kennedy, volves one in nine Americans. mer. On August 26, Toyota’s for peacetime. In the next five company called Nordic Yards, ference on Trade and Develop- killed in President Felipe 35. On September 10, Chávez Upatriarch of the dynastic As the American economy board of directors announced years, Britain is expected to which will then take over ment joined the chorus. Calderon’s home state, Mi- arrived in Moscow, meeting kennedy family and a king of lurches, 34 percent of U.S. that because of low sales and double its national debt to 1.4 Wadan Shipyard’s operations. Russian geopolitical clout choacan, in July. On August with President Medvedev the democratic Party, died on trillion (us$2.3 trillion). 20, the U.S. Justice Depart- and Prime Minister Putin to August 25 of brain cancer. He Australia’s most important ment announced indictments discuss energy cooperation was 77. The death marked the farming region is experiencing against 43 members of a major and arms purchases. In a tour most recent in a family known its driest weather on record. Mexican drug cartel, includ- that included visits to Libya for sustaining what some have Its eight-year-long drought is ing Jaoquin Guzman-Loera, and Syria, Chávez sought to called a “curse” that has result- the worst in a century. It has Mexico’s “most-wanted man,” decrease his country’s depen- ed in more than half a dozen ruined crops throughout the a chief supplier of cocaine to dence on U.S. oil purchases, deadly tragedies since 1944. 410,000-square-mile Murray- drug users in America. thereby diminishing Wash- Bloomberg reported Sep- Darling Basin, which accounts U.S. Secretary of State Hill- ington’s influence in Latin tember 10 that the U.S. trade for 40 percent of Australian ag- ary Clinton announced Sep- America. deficit increased in July by ricultural production. Agence tember 3 that the U.S. would The Christian Science 16 percent ($32 billion), the France-Presse reported that SPArk oF oPPortUNity cancel $22 million of aid to monitor claimed August 20 most in over a decade. The sections of the Murray River as German workers stage honduras. The State Depart- that Zimbabwean President trade gap with the EU almost “have become little more than “warning” strikes, russia ment said, “Restoration of the Robert Mugabe and his doubled to $8 billion. stagnant pools” (August 23). looks to buy their shipyard. terminated assistance will be Zanu-PF party are targeting Postal officials estimate that

18 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet DaNNy GoHlke/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, GeTTy ImaGeS mark ralSToN/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, emmaNuel DuNaND/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS WorLdWAtCh explosive belts for suicide mis- Chancellor Merkel expressed was bolstered on September predicated upon a return to Movement for Demo- sions. Through these camps support for the transaction. 10 when Venezuelan President democratic, constitutional cratic Change (mdc) and other methods, Hamas The strengthening liaison Chávez recognized two pro- governance in Honduras.” Yet opponents in order to and other Islamist groups are between Germany and Russia Russian rebel regions of Geor- officials have also said that diminish the opposi- poisoning the minds of a gen- bodes poorly for the West. gia as independent. Venezuela President Obama’s adminis- tion’s clout in the uni- eration of Palestinian children On August 26, the Finan- is the second country after tration will not recognize the ty government. One to hate Israel. cial Times reported that Rus- Nicaragua to follow Russia’s upcoming democratic elec- mdc official claimed sia is bolstering its relation- lead in recognizing the sover- tions. Thus continues its sup- that “Zanu-PF is us- ship with mongolia. President eignty of the two breakaway port of a man who was illegal- ing the police and the Medvedev signed a five-year provinces within Georgia’s ly seeking to seize dictatorial Central Intelligence ASIA contract to transfer manage- internationally acknowledged control over Honduras. Organization to harass ussian President Dmi- ment rights of Mongolia’s rail- borders. The rest of the world President obama has found our members.” In the Rtry Medvedev told Ukrai- ways, previously run jointly by views South Ossetia and Ab- an unexpected—and perhaps past year, more than nian President Viktor Yush- the two countries, to Russia. khazia, which rejected Geor- unwelcome—supporter for 200 mdc activists have chenko in a letter released Moscow is also now poised to gian rule in the early 1990s, as his agenda: Fidel Castro. “The been killed. August 11 that the Ukrainian mine uranium in Mongolia. integral regions of Georgia. extreme right hates him [Presi- World Bank Presi- president is the cause of sour These tightening ties with Caracas and Moscow also dent Obama] for being Afri- dent Robert Zoellick relations between their two Mongolia, the “land bridge” forged several agreements on can-American and fights what announced September countries. Medvedev kept his between China and Russia, energy, trade and defense. the president does to improve 2 that he is talking to attacks narrowly focused on is another sign of the rising the deteriorated image of that the Chinese govern- Ukraine’s leaders while em- prophesied Asian superpower. country,” the former Cuban ment about invest- bracing the Ukrainian people On August 27, Reuters re- president wrote in his state ing in Africa. He stated that the U.S. Postal Service will ship workers say they have just one General Motors’ bankruptcy, as a whole. Medvedev was ported that China had “called LATIN newspaper column on August China’s sovereign wealth fund, about 20 billion fewer pieces of week of savings in the bank— it will close the last major auto clearly telling the Ukrainians on the United States to reduce 25. “I don’t have the slight- China Investment Corp., “ex- mail this year than in the pre- or less. Financial advisers plant in the state next March. that they need to change their and eventually halt air and sea AMERICA/ est doubt that the racist right pressed interest” in investing vious year, its largest drop in say workers should save the The same day, a gigantic wild- leaders in the election on Janu- military surveillance close to will do everything possible to in the World Bank’s new asset its 234-year history. It has a $7 equivalent of six months’ sal- fire broke out in California. It ary 17 in order to have a strong its shores.” The request came AFRICA wear him down, blocking his management company that billion budget deficit for 2009. ary to be safe. grew to become the largest in partnership with russia. Rus- in the wake of a series of terri- flight from Cancun program to get him out of the aims to direct money from the The Washington Times On September 16, the Sen- Los Angeles County history sia is trying to use its historical torial disputes this year. This Ato Mexico City was game one way or another, at private sector to Third World reported in September that 2.5 ate released its version of a and the 10th-largest in the links to pry Ukraine away from is another example of China hijacked on September 9. the least political cost.” Clear- countries in Africa and Latin million Americans fell below health-care reform bill, a history of the state. Its largest Europe and America. Polls flexing its military muscle. Though there was ly, Castro knows America. China is not moti- the poverty line last year as measure that opponents say is component blackened 157,220 suggest that the January 2010 China is worried about no loss of life, the a socialist agenda vated by altruism, however; it is millions of jobs were lost, con- hugely expensive and comes acres, destroyed 78 homes and elections will markedly shift America’s decision to resort effect on mexico’s when he sees one. after resources. By investing in tributing to the highest number at a time when the nation can killed two firefighters. Ukraine toward Russia. to “credit easing”—essentially, tourism industry Venezuelan these continents, it aims to gain of poor Americans since 1998. least afford it. The bill would In August, British opposi- Russian businessman and printing money—to try to get could be devastat- President Chávez access to more of what it needs One in eight Americans now require all individuals to pur- tion leader David Cameron de- former Energy Minister Igor out of financial troubles. This ing. Tourism had completed what he to fuel its growing empire. lives on less than $10,991 per chase health care or pay a fine, cried the government’s spend- Yusufov is poised to buy a Ger- may force China to find alter- already dropped dubbed an “axis of year. Another record was set in expand Medicaid, and prohib- ing, calling it a “disgrace.” man shipyard. State authorities natives to the dollar, according 18 percent since evil” tour in Sep- June, when more than 35 mil- it insurance companies from This year alone, the British and creditors agreed August to one official. France, Russia last year, mostly tember. Caracas lion Americans received food charging more to those who government expects to borrow 17 to the $56 billion contract, a and india have also called for because of the drug and Tehran signed ANGLO- stamps, up 22 percent from a have health problems. The bill 175 billion (us$291 billion)— fraction of the shipyard’s real an end of the dollar’s role as war which has three new energy year before and a new all-time would cost $856 billion. about 12 percent of gross do- value. The proposed buyout the world’s reserve currency. flared in Mexico. agreements on Sep- AMERICA record. The program now in- California had a hard sum- mestic product and a record foresees Yusufov founding a On September 8, the UN Con- Eighteen federal agents were tember 6, bringing the total to .S. Sen. edward kennedy, volves one in nine Americans. mer. On August 26, Toyota’s for peacetime. In the next five company called Nordic Yards, ference on Trade and Develop- killed in President Felipe 35. On September 10, Chávez Upatriarch of the dynastic As the American economy board of directors announced years, Britain is expected to which will then take over ment joined the chorus. Calderon’s home state, Mi- arrived in Moscow, meeting kennedy family and a king of lurches, 34 percent of U.S. that because of low sales and double its national debt to 1.4 Wadan Shipyard’s operations. Russian geopolitical clout choacan, in July. On August with President Medvedev the democratic Party, died on trillion (us$2.3 trillion). 20, the U.S. Justice Depart- and Prime Minister Putin to August 25 of brain cancer. He Australia’s most important ment announced indictments discuss energy cooperation was 77. The death marked the farming region is experiencing against 43 members of a major and arms purchases. In a tour most recent in a family known its driest weather on record. Mexican drug cartel, includ- that included visits to Libya for sustaining what some have Its eight-year-long drought is ing Jaoquin Guzman-Loera, and Syria, Chávez sought to called a “curse” that has result- the worst in a century. It has Mexico’s “most-wanted man,” decrease his country’s depen- ed in more than half a dozen ruined crops throughout the a chief supplier of cocaine to dence on U.S. oil purchases, deadly tragedies since 1944. 410,000-square-mile Murray- drug users in America. thereby diminishing Wash- Bloomberg reported Sep- Darling Basin, which accounts U.S. Secretary of State Hill- ington’s influence in Latin tember 10 that the U.S. trade for 40 percent of Australian ag- ary Clinton announced Sep- America. deficit increased in July by ricultural production. Agence tember 3 that the U.S. would The Christian Science 16 percent ($32 billion), the France-Presse reported that SPArk oF oPPortUNity cancel $22 million of aid to monitor claimed August 20 most in over a decade. The sections of the Murray River as German workers stage honduras. The State Depart- that Zimbabwean President trade gap with the EU almost “have become little more than “warning” strikes, russia ment said, “Restoration of the Robert Mugabe and his doubled to $8 billion. stagnant pools” (August 23). looks to buy their shipyard. terminated assistance will be Zanu-PF party are targeting Postal officials estimate that

DaNNy GoHlke/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, GeTTy ImaGeS mark ralSToN/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS, emmaNuel DuNaND/afP/GeTTy ImaGeS The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 19 Another Defeat at the Door under the gun American Marines and Afghan soldiers And guess who’s under enemy fire drop to knocking? their knees as a cloud of IED dust chokes the air in Mian By Stephen Flurry Poshteh, Afghanistan.

he Taliban and al Qaeda Council on Security and Development our efforts in Afghanistan so that we can in Afghanistan were Amer- (icos) think tank showed that the Tal- capture and kill bin Laden and crush al ica’s first targets after 9/11. iban had reestablished a “heavy” pres- Qaeda,” Mr. Obama said in the first presi- Before 2001 was out, so was ence in over 72 percent of the country and dential debate in October last year. the Taliban. Hopes of build- “significant” presence (defined as one or So—the first half of that 16 months ing a solidly democratic, more insurgent attacks per month) in 93 has passed. Where are we? Despite the Western-friendly nation percent. On UN security maps, over half Defense Department committing an ad- were high as Hamid Karzai the country was considered “uncontrolled ditional 21,000 troops to Afghanistan last was made interim leader. hostile environment”—which, only a few spring, the war there has taken a deadly TEight years on, those hopes are gone. years prior, none of the country had been. turn for the worse. New icos data shows Afghanistan has proven impossible to Not a good showing after seven years that the Taliban’s presence has grown: It is bring to heel. of war. now “heavy” in 80 percent of the country, In the last three years in particular, During the presidential campaign last “substantial” in at least 97 percent. In the control has increasingly slipped back to year, Barack Obama and his left-wing first eight months of 2009 alone, the U.S. these radical Muslim groups. The last two supporters excoriated the Bush adminis- had suffered by far the most casualties of years of George W. Bush’s presidency saw tration for getting “sidetracked” in Iraq, any year since the war began: 200 soldiers a total of 282 American casualties there when Afghanistan, so said conventional out of over 340 total coalition deaths. (compared to 197 the two years before, and wisdom on the left, was the real battle- Many are wondering if the U.S. should 161 the four years before that). When Pres- front in the war against terrorism. “In 16 cut its losses and run. A 51 percent major- ident Bush left office, the International months we should be able to … bolster ity in America now views the Afghanistan

20 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet getty images (2) conflict as a war that is not worth fighting. thinking about scrapping the new strategy. Even some conservative commentators The first question America should con- are now abandoning ship. On September sider, President Obama told a reporter on 1, columnist George Will called on the September 20 when asked about the war Obama administration to scrap its Af- effort in Afghanistan, is this: “Are we do- ghan policy, dramatically slash the num- ing the right thing?” ber of troops and focus instead on “what can be done from offshore.” The Inevitable Outcome Will has hardly been alone in point- If you find it difficult to imagine any sce- ing out the numerous flaws in the Af- nario in which this turns out to be good ghan strategy. “U.S. rules of engagement for coalition forces in Afghanistan, you restricting the use of air power and ag- are not alone. “We’ve got a general who’s gressive action against civilians have also been gagged,” columnist Ralph Peters la- opened new space for the insurgents,” mented soon after McChrystal submitted Karen DeYoung wrote in the Washington his August review, “a president trapped by Post (September 2). Rebuilding Afghani- his campaign promises, a muddled mis- stan’s infrastructure has given the Taliban sion, crippling restrictions on our troops, new targets to attack, she continued. And a resurgent enemy, a worthless Afghan America’s inability to protect Afghan citi- government—and an awol establishment zens is only fueling resentment against media that, after hammering the Bush Western forces. administration, gives Obama a pass on At present, DeYoung intoned, the Tal- “Although considerable American casualties” (September 3). iban is winning. effort and sacrifice have Meanwhile, Peters added, “Iraq— which genuinely matters—goes ignored.” The Great Irony resulted in some progress, Yes, even as America squanders its President Obama’s handpicked com- many indicators suggest hard-fought gains in Iraq, which the mander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, took Trumpet has repeatedly forecasted would charge of the Afghanistan war effort in the overall effort is happen, it is simultaneously being backed June and submitted his confidential as- deteriorating.” into a corner—and by the very same en- sessment of the overall war strategy to the emy poised and ready to seize Iraq once Pentagon on August 30. According to a gen. stanley A. McChrystal U.S. forces retreat. declassified version of the report produced Earlier this year, Adm. Dennis C. Blair, by the Washington Post on September 20, urging a war-weary electorate to get behind the director of National Intelligence, was McChrystal wrote, “Although considerable the war effort. It’s as if the United States is asked by the Senate Select Committee on effort and sacrifice have resulted in some going through a frame-by-frame replay of Intelligence to comment about the deteri- progress, many indicators suggest the over- Iraq in 2007, before the surge. Only this orating security situation in Afghanistan. all effort is deteriorating.” Unless the insur- time, we have the most radically liberal According to a transcript of the proceed- gent momentum is reversed over the next administration in American history oc- ings, which was declassified on July 30, 12 months, McChrystal warned, the United cupying the White House. Admiral Blair said, “Iran is covertly sup- States is in danger of losing the Afghan war. While the new U.S. government may plying arms to Afghan insurgents while “Time matters; we must act now to still opt for a surge-like strategy to save face publicly posing as supportive of the Afghan reverse the negative trends and demon- in Afghanistan, it appears that President government. Shipments typically include strate progress,” General McChrystal Obama may now be reconsidering whether small arms, mines, rocket propelled gre- wrote, indicating that a massive troop or not the “war of necessity” is, in fact, nec- nades (rpgs), rockets, mortars, and plastic surge would be necessary to earn victory essary. In response to McChrystal’s war as- explosives. Taliban commanders have pub- in Afghanistan. sessment, the Wall Street Journal reported licly credited Iranian support for their suc- Meanwhile, bound by his campaign on September 22, the Pentagon instructed cessful operations against coalition forces.” rhetoric to concentrate on the “front McChrystal to refrain from making a for- You can also add General McChrystal lines” of the terror war, upon becoming mal request for additional troops until the to the long list of government and military president, Barack Obama—of all people— Obama administration completed its “re- officials who lay blame for the Afghan found himself in the uncomfortable posi- view of the U.S.-led war effort.” mess on Iranian puppet masters. Accord- tion of trying to drum up homeland sup- According to the Journal, “General ing to his August 30 report, the Iranian port for an increasingly unpopular war! McChrystal’s call for quick action appears Quds Force is “training fighters for certain “This is a war of necessity,” Obama told to be increasingly at odds with comments Taliban groups and providing other forms a gathering of war veterans in August. from President Barack Obama, who has in- of military assistance to insurgents.” “Those who attacked America on 9/11 are sisted in recent days that he won’t be rushed Yes, of course—no matter the various plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, into approving more U.S. troops for the battlefronts in this war against terrorism the Taliban insurgency will mean an even war” (emphasis mine throughout). Even as or the variety of names given to insurgent larger safe haven from which al Qaeda America’s generals have now embraced the groups, it’s always the same old Iranian state would plot to kill more Americans.” president’s new counterinsurgency strategy sponsor warring against the United States What an ironic twist: the undisputed in Afghanistan, which he outlined earlier and Britain—and one that will soon be antiwar candidate of the 2008 election this year, Barack Obama is now seriously armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons.

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 21 Blair’s testimony and the McChrystal re- our swift and precipitous fall from power, as The pride the United States and Britain port will come as no surprise to our regular a result of our rampant sins and stubborn once had in their awesome military power readers who know what we’ve been saying rebellion against God. and might has been completely broken for eight years now: that the United States “And I will break the pride of your pow- and smashed! will not win the war against terrorism. er; and I will make your heaven as iron, As the Bible prophesied and Herbert We say this because the same God who and your earth as brass,” God warned in Armstrong said as far back as 1961, the long ago prophesied of America’s astonish- Leviticus 26:19, referring primarily to the United States and Britain have already ing rise to superpower status also predicted American and British peoples of our day. won their last war. n Democracy Won’t Fix Afghanistan

fghanistan is in trouble. attacks were carried out, killing 20 It is filled with ineffective to 30 people. Several voters had Agoverning officials and their inked fingers chopped off. powerless police officers, many The Afghan Elections Com- of whom moonlight as criminals. plaints Commission (ECC) received Government services are in disar- over 2,600 allegations of fraud, ray. Reconstruction projects have including ballot box stuffing, bully- hopeful An elderly Afghan man votes proven unhelpful. Unemployment ing of voters and lack of access to in Kabul in August, the second time in is widespread. Heroin production polls, particularly for women. “Fic- Afghanistan’s ragged history that its is booming. titious polling booths were set up,” citizens have voted for their president. Most concerning to many Af- reported Tim McGirk from Kabul, ghans, the radical Taliban is stag- “and in some places, vote riggers women—are too illiterate to have have to reward the supportive ing a relentless comeback. NATO were so brazen they did not even even read the names on the ballot. regional warlord strongmen with forces are simply too sparse to bother to remove the individual At the time of this writing, Kar- whom they wheeled and dealed. hold these terrorists in check. ballots from the booklets in which zai had enough of a lead to avoid That means giving them positions Don’t expect things to im- they were printed before marking a runoff against Abdullah. But UN in the government or otherwise prove anytime soon—thanks to a them” (Time, September 10). “The officials say they believe if the legitimizing their rule over regions botched national election in August. problem is a basic lack of rule of fraudulent votes are pitched, that of the country. Operations against the jihadists law,” the co-director of the Afghan wouldn’t be the case. Problem is, The bottom line is, democracy will have to take somewhat of a Analysts Network told Times another vote would take months is an impossible fit in Afghanistan. backseat to efforts at patching up Online. “In eight years we haven’t to stage—months of instability The nation’s history of ethno- the wounded government. established a culture where you that would open the door for even regional warlordism is simply too President Obama called the follow rules” (September 11). The greater political turbulence. strong. election “an important step for- ECC threw out ballots from 83 In fact, the electoral mess is “Ironically,” wrote Stratfor on ward in the Afghan people’s effort polling stations and called for a playing right into the Taliban’s August 21, “attempts to impose to take control of their future, even recount at over 2,500 others. hands. “A stream of revelations a democratic political system in as violent extremists are trying Additional complications arose about systematic cheating during Afghanistan appear to be under- to stand in their way.” It’s a nice from the fact that most of the last month’s vote has given the mining the U.S. counterinsurgency thought—but anyone who still country is tribal, with local elders Taliban fresh ammunition in their strategy.” thinks democracy is the solution who have immense power over propaganda campaign to portray In September, the U.S. ambas- for Afghanistan should look closer. the people they are responsible President Hamid Karzai’s admin- sador to the United Nations, Susan Before the election, the Taliban for. “We have tribal agreement,” a istration as hopelessly corrupt,” Rice, said it was “premature to threatened violence against vot- laborer in an east Afghani village reported the Washington Post. make judgments” on whether ers; they launched rocket attacks explained. “When tribal elders “Infighting among U.S., UN and President Obama’s efforts there are and a suicide bombing that killed request anything we cannot avoid European diplomats over whether successful, “because we’re only at seven; they pulled one candidate it.” Another individual said that to accept the results with Karzai the initial stages of that policy.” from his car and shot him—the the elders had simply voted for the winner or force a new round You’re welcome to keep waiting 13th confirmed political killing the people. “They helped us and of voting has also fed the Taliban to make judgments. We’ll stick with since spring. The intimidation spared all the women the trouble of line that the government in Kabul what we’ve said from the begin- worked: Voter turnout was esti- going and voting,” he said. At many is merely a puppet of foreign ning. America is under a curse. The mated at 20 to 30 percent, and polling stations, 95 percent of the powers” (September 21). pride in its power is broken. That is was especially poor in rural areas, votes went for one candidate. And at the end of the process, why, as Gerald Flurry has written, which make up four fifths of the Two thirds of the popula- the president will either be Karzai “we cannot win the war against country. On election day, 73 more tion—including 85 percent of the or Abdullah. Each man would terrorism.” Joel Hilliker

22 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet shah marai/afp/getty images Is There One True Religion? Where is the truth amid all the confusion? By Ron Fraser

hree primary religions are Honest Questions knowledge. Physicists expect us to believe considered monotheistic—main- Many men of science refuse to face this their claim … that not merely something taining belief in one supreme most fundamental of all questions about but everything was created out of noth- Creator: Christianity, Islam and the nature of our being and of the uni- ing, thus breaking the fundamental law Judaism.T All three revere Jerusalem as a verse. British historian Paul Johnson has of physics. … [T]hey fear that trying to holy city. None agrees fully on the way to stated that such men of knowledge “are answer [questions about what happened worship the one God they all espouse. not going to confess their own ignorance, before the ‘big bang,’] or admitting that Logic demands that if there indeed is indeed, their intellectual impotence” they are meaningful, will involve them in one God, then it ought to follow that He (Spectator, Nov. 12, 2005). In his subse- debate about the three-letter word which, would define the proper manner in which quent writings, as he proceeds through his to them, is the final obscenity—G-O-D.” to worship Him, and reveal that way to eighth decade of life, Johnson occasionally Zeroing in on his own unique quest for man. Yet these religions differ vastly in reverts to musings on the metaphysical. answers to this question, Paul Johnson ad- doctrine and in practice. But that piece in November 2005 stands mitted, “Since an early age I have always One of these, Judaism, claims that the out for its challenge to skeptics who doubt been puzzled by God” (ibid.). Yet, unlike Old Testament writings preserved from an- the men of science whom he derides for cient times by the Jews are the revealed in- ignoring these most basic of questions, structions to man on how to worship God. If there indeed is he has obviously been honest about his Varying divisions of Christianity lay search to find answers. The logical foun- claim to the same book, the Bible—in- dation for his quest is this: “The fact of an corporating both the Old Testament pre- one God, then it all-powerful God, who transcends all the served by the Jews (albeit in differing ver- laws of physics, and equally supplies order sions) and the New Testament preserved ought to follow in the vacuum left by their non-existence, by the Greeks—as the basis of their reli- is the only explanation ….” gion. Yet they disagree on their interpreta- that He would Johnson’s questions are akin to those tion of its teachings. asked by every true and honest thinker The third of these great religions places define the proper through the ages: “If God had always ex- faith in another book as the Creator’s re- isted, why did He suddenly decide to cre- vealed knowledge of how to worship and manner in which ate the universe and humanity? … He cre- obey God: the Koran of the Islamic faith. ated space and time at the same moment. Within each of these religions are to worship Him. But what was His motive? What did He many diverse branches, differing on reli- hope or intend to achieve? What exactly is gious beliefs and practices to the point of the very existence of the supreme Creator. God’s plan?” (ibid.). confusion as to just what it is that repre- Paul Johnson is a deep thinker. He Here is a man now in the eighth decade sents core doctrine. If religion is, indeed, dares to consider questions that most of his life’s experience—a true scholar, well the opiate of the masses, as Marx declared, scientists tend to discount due to their traveled, who has written volumes on the then among these religions there is a inability to come to terms with their out- human quest for meaning in life—who has brand to suit all tastes. standing relevance. spent most of his own lifetime in an inten- Is there one true faith? If not, then He dares to consider God! sive search to find the answers to the very based on the assumption of all three of In that same Spectator column, John- realities of the universe—of why it exists, these religions that there exists one su- son challenged one of the most brilliant of what is its past and what is its future. preme God over all, has that God destined mathematical minds, Dr. Stephen Hawking, Chances are that many of the regular mankind to a life of confusion over the author of A Brief History of Time. Referring subscribers to our Trumpet magazine are very basic questions about His nature, His to a tv interview during which Hawking involved in a similar quest. religion and the reason He created man? was asked, “What existed before the uni- Dr. Johnson, in fact, does get so close These are fundamental questions with verse began?” Johnson quoted Hawking’s to the answer: “Only when we elimi- which countless generations of thinkers, reply: “That’s a meaningless question.” nate the material dimension altogether philosophers, religionists and education- To this Johnson retorted, “Oh no, it do those who believe in God acquire an alists have wrestled for 6,000 years of isn’t. … No question is meaningless if overwhelming advantage” (ibid.). In other documented human history. it is prompted by a genuine thirst for words, to take a leaf out of Herbert W.

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 23 Armstrong’s book, if we seek to prove the this message of prophecy to this world. In explanation of the most interesting and existence of God we need access to what fact, the future of mankind depends on deepest problems of existence” (ibid.). he termed “the missing dimension.” the continuance of the enterprise to which Dr. Johnson at least has the vision to Paul Johnson gets as close as any hu- God gave a divine commission to preach understand a great overarching truth: man being can in this search for God, and publish the Bible’s prophetic message that man possesses “an essential element without direct access to that “missing to the whole world. or dimension with God, thus explaining dimension.” He realizes that there is an That original divinely commissioned the … belief that we are all ‘made in God’s essence that is part of the human perso- enterprise has historically been called the image’” (ibid.). na—a non-physical component, a spirit Church of God (Acts 20:28). God declared Paul Johnson makes just one critical er- in man—that gives a direct connection of His Church, at its inception, that it ror in his musings on the meaning of life. to man’s Maker, who is the source of that would never die (Matthew 16:18). Thus it He states, “Death of the body is thus an spirit. This reality is a literal extension of must be extant today in its original Spirit- insignificant punctuation in the life of the the divine Godhead. Johnson expresses led form, under its God-given manner of soul, which continues indefinitely” (ibid.). this reality thus: “God is essentially a spir- government and administration (Ephe- Yet the Book of books plainly declares, itual rather than a physical being, and if sians 4:4-16), preaching the same message “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze- He exists outside space and time and all given it originally by God (Mark 13:10). kiel 18:20). The corollary of this would be, the factors which owe their complexity to Otherwise, God Himself is proven a liar! “The soul that is sinless, it shall live”! This them, then the problems of existence be- And God, by His very nature, cannot lie presupposes that in order then for the soul gin to seem soluble” (ibid.). (Titus 1:2; Romans 3:4). not to die, one must find out the meaning That said, one needs a guide from one’s Simply find that church—the proven of that term sin, then ensure that the soul Maker to work toward resolving these continuance of the one true Church that finds the way of becoming sinless. Such “problems of existence” of God. teaches God’s law and has the revelation knowledge opens up the way to eternal life! of prophecy (Isaiah 8:16, 20; Revelation But even before we begin that quest, we Proof of God 19:10) and of God’s plan for the salvation need to find out just what is this thing called There is but one source that contains the of humankind (Hebrews 10:12, 26)—and “soul.” The answer to that question gets to requisite proofs of God’s existence: the you will find the answers to these burning the very heart of what a human being is, documented Word of God. We call this questions about the real meaning of life! why he is, who created him and just what collection of divinely inspired writings the is his eternal destiny. These are questions Bible. But to the average man, this most that still puzzle esteemed thinkers such as published, most translated and most wide- The plain truth Paul Johnson. After decades of searching ly distributed book in the world remains for the answers, Dr. Johnson muses, “What an enigma. It is subject to countless indi- remains puzzling is why God decided to vidual interpretations. Numerous profes- is, unlike other create a temporal universe, and a material sional theologians call the concept of its dimension, subject to space and time, in inerrancy into question. Hence the confus- so-called holy which to put the souls of His creatures to ing multitude of Christian denominations, the test of life. The answer may be infinitely each claiming a right to understanding its books, the Bible complex or infinitely simple” (ibid.). truths, yet none in complete agreement. Indeed, the answer is infinitely simple The plain truth is, unlike other so- can be proven to (2 Corinthians 11:3). So simple that it can called holy books, the Bible can be proven be only understood if we literally take on to be the inerrant Word of God. The most be the inerrant the mind-set of a child—being willing to powerful of proofs of its divine source and be taught by God, wiping our mind clear its consistency in declaring truth is ful- Word of God. of all previous bias, and allowing the clari- filled Bible prophecy! (Request a free copy fying light of biblical revelation to reveal of our booklet The Proof of the Bible.) The Way to Life the wonder of the meaning of life to us. One whole third of the Bible is proph- Honest searchers for truth must sympa- As the Son of God declared, “Except ye be ecy for the future, most of which is being thize with a man of grand intellect such as converted, and become as little children, fulfilled in our day. Indeed, we who live Paul Johnson: a cultured, erudite teacher ye shall not enter into the kingdom of in this age are among the most privileged of history, a student of the fine arts, a heaven” (Matthew 18:3). That conversion is of people, for we are surrounded by and common-sense commentator on human a literal mind-changing, life-changing ex- indeed part of the unfolding of the most affairs who has genuinely spent all his life, perience that links the human mind with dramatic of all prophecies in the Bible! from precocious childhood to his senior its Maker, thus opening it up to revelation For nearly two decades, the Trumpet years, pursuing the answers to questions of God-breathed truth. magazine has exposed the proof of the about God. The honesty of such a quest is There is a book that will guide you in fulfillment of these prophecies. Month the very opposite to the dishonest denial your search for the answers to these burn- by month, as current events link with his- of the validity of such questions by the ing questions. It will lead you to the bib- tory and biblical prophecy, the Trumpet bulk of intelligentsia. As Johnson declares, lically proven, inerrant answers to these has offered the most dramatic proof of their intellectual impotence is proven by mysteries that have intrigued man for mil- the accuracy of biblical prophecies, some the fact that they “have no explanation of lennia. Request your free copy of Mystery having been originally documented over being. Their attitude is simply an abdica- of the Ages. It opens up a fantastic vision of 3,000 years ago! tion of thought, a cosmic despair in the real, genuine hope for man’s relationship Never was it more crucial to convey ability of the human mind to devise any with his Maker! n

24 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet of mutual cooperation in fields ranging from investment and finance to culture and higher education. Gadhafi spoke to the press about the importance of Iran’s role in the region and the world. Libyan Prime Minister El-Mahmoudi, after meet- ing with Iran’s vice president, stated, “We Is Libya discussed the issues related to Iraq, Pal- estine and other issues, and our views are identical on all those issues” (African Press Really a International, Dec. 27, 2007). Compare that with remarks by Libya’s Foreign Minister Abdel-Rahman Shalqam looking east Muammar Gadhafi Friend? in Washington one month later: “We want has made overtures to the West, but his a new friendship,” he said, before assur- By Brad Macdonald heart lies closer to Persian coordinates. ing America that Libya had no interest in backing militant Islam. “Our interpreta- he radiant relationship be- the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing at tion of Islamic heritage is completely dif- tween Libya and the West was an least 38 people and wounding another 225. ferent from the others who don’t accept the illusion, Gerald Flurry wrote in Three days later, Associated Press, citing a philosophy of coexistence,” he said (Wash- TMay 2006. It was bound to fracture. local Sunni security chief, reported that “a ington Post, Jan. 3, 2008). “Look for Libya to become more aligned son of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi In the space of a month, Libya swore with Iran in the near future,” the Trum- [was] behind [the] group of foreign and allegiance to both Iran and the West. To pet’s editor in chief warned. “It gave up its Iraqi fighters responsible” for the brutal see through this doublespeak, just consid- weapons of mass destruction, as it leaned attack. A former al-Qaeda-cohort-turned- er Tripoli’s actions, which include signing toward the West. But that foreign policy is police-official in the Anbar province said deals and agreements with Iran, celebrat- going to change.” the attacks were carried out by the Seifad- ing the return of Megrahi, and sanction- Two recent events make that forecast din Regiment, a group of terrorists sup- ing and even participating in terrorist ac- worth revisiting. The first was the hero’s ported by Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the eldest tivities in Iraq. welcome given to Abdel Basset al-Megra- son and likely heir of Muammar. We should also consider Gadhafi’s own hi, the only person ever convicted in the That the younger Gadhafi’s name was words. In April 2006, in a speech given in deadly bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in connected to terrorist attacks in Iraq was Timbuktu, Mali, he stated that “Moham- 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Megrahi not surprising. In 2007, in remarks that mad’s faith will conquer all other religions was released from jail in August after condoned if not promoted terrorist attacks whether they like that or not.” Muslims serving just eight years of a life sentence. as a political weapon, he warned Europe have America and Europe trapped, he He was then embraced by the son of Lib- in an interview that the “only solution to said. These countries must accept the fact yan strongman Col. Muammar Gadhafi contain radicalism is a rapid departure of that they will be Muslim in due course be- and escorted back to Tripoli, where he was Western troops from Iraq as well as Af- cause “Islam is the fate of mankind and the greeted by a cheering throng of thousands. ghanistan, and a solution to the Palestin- faith of humanity.” Peace-loving, Western- The second was the 40th anniversary ian question” (Austria Press Agency). friendly leaders don’t make remarks like celebrations of the coup that marked the In December 2007, America’s West that. Radical mullahs do! beginning of Gadhafi’s reign over the Point Military Academy released a re- Gadhafi also confirmed Libya’s soli- North African state. Replete with fire- port summarizing al Qaeda documents darity with its Islamic brothers: “From the works, lavish parties and impressive mili- discovered during a September raid that Fertile Crescent to the River of Senegal, tary displays, Tripoli’s spectacular anni- year. “What stood out most in the report,” the tribes of the desert will not engage in versary celebrations appeared, as on-site observed Stratfor, “was the growing Liby- a fratricidal war. We shall not carry arms observer Damien McElroy put it, to be an component of al Qaeda in Iraq” (Dec. against one another. We live as one family. “designed to inflame tensions with Amer- 21, 2007). According to the findings, Libya We protect the desert.” ica and Britain” (Telegraph, September 1). contributed far more terrorists per capita Some might say it’s a pessimistic fore- Libya has been lauded for its overtures than any other nation, including Saudi cast. But it’s rooted in reality: Libya as a toward the West in recent years; Colonel Arabia. Western-aligned, peace-loving, non-con- Gadhafi has been rewarded for apparently Libya clearly has an ongoing love for frontational state is merely an enticing repenting of his former ways, which in- Islamic terrorism. No wonder Megrahi mirage shimmering on the North African cluded sponsoring Islamic terrorism and was welcomed so warmly. desert. engaging in rogue nuclear activities. But As Gerald Flurry forecast, Libya’s heart given these recent events, it’s worth ask- Solidarity With Iran lies with Iran, the king of radical Islamic ing: Is Tripoli, as Mr. Flurry forecast it In December 2007, Iranian first vice presi- terrorism. n would, abandoning its friendship with the dent at the time, Parviz Davoodi, visited West and reorienting itself toward Iran? Libya in the first high-level visit from an Understand Iran’s role in end- Iranian official in 25 years. During the time prophecy! Request a free Feigned Repentance trip, Davoodi met Gadhafi and other se- copy of Mr. Flurry’s booklet On Jan. 24, 2008, a bomb ripped through nior officials and signed 10 agreements The King of the South.

getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 25 or over 50 years, one party Where will the money come from? At a time when China is increasingly ruled Japan virtually uninterrupt- “The financial crisis has suggested to challenging American authority in the ed. During that time, Tokyo re- many that the era of U.S. unilateralism East and South China Sea, when North Fmained a dependable supporter of may come to an end,” Hatoyama wrote in Korea is brandishing nuclear weapons, U.S. policy. In September, a historic event an August 26 New York Times article titled when Islamic terrorism is on the upswing took place: Japan elected new leadership. “A New Path for Japan.” “It has also raised in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, In a landslide victory, a new party did doubts about the permanence of the dollar America can ill afford to lose Japanese the seemingly impossible. A new freshman as the key global currency.” military and logistical support. class of leaders now governs the Land of But Hatoyama isn’t just charting a But it is losing it. Japan’s Reorientation the Rising Sun. The effects are already rip- separate economic course for Japan. His The Future Is With Asia pling through Asia and across the Pacific. campaign also promised a more “inde- Clearly, Japan is rapidly losing interest in pendent” foreign policy from Washing- being allied with America. More so than Economic Independence ton—and closer relations with Japan’s at any time since World War ii, it is iden- Yukio Hatoyama is Japan’s new leader. He is Asian neighbors. tifying far more with its Asian neighbors. threatening to split with the United States. Simply put, the new prime minister Hatoyama blames America for the glob- Losing an “Unsinkable Aircraft” wants Japan to chart its own course and al economic crisis and says that the U.S. is Hatoyama has authorized a wide-rang- seeks to protect his nation’s interests. Very responsible for “the destruction of human ing review of the U.S. military presence practically, American sits 5,500 miles dignity.” He campaigned on protecting tra- on Japanese soil. He is reexamining the across the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese ditional Japanese economic activities and agreement that permits U.S. warships to could fly to Tokyo for breakfast, Taiwan reducing U.S.-led globalization. dock at Japanese ports and has said Japan for lunch, and back home for kung pao During the run-up to the election, should reassess why it is spending billions dinner before America’s fastest jets could Hatoyama’s finance minister told the bbc to house and transfer U.S. troops between make it much past Hawaii. he was worried about the future value of its islands. Hatoyama has also moved to More poignant, however, is a simple the dollar, and that if his party were elect- quickly end Japan’s fueling support for fact: America’s star is descending. Asia’s ed in the upcoming national elections, it the U.S. naval anti-terrorism efforts in is rising. would refuse to purchase any more U.S. Afghanistan and Pakistan. In his New York Times article, Prime treasuries unless they were denominated The day Hatoyama assumed office, Minister Hatoyama asked, “How should in Japanese yen. U.S. and Japanese officials confirmed that Japan maintain its political and economic Japan is the world’s second-largest econ- discussions were underway to remove all independence and protect its national omy. It is also America’s second most im- U.S. fighter aircraft from Japan. interest when caught between the United portant creditor. Washington owes Japan These dramatic moves are triggering States, which is fighting to retain its posi- over $724 billion. The only nation America alarm bells in Washington. The Australian tion as the world’s dominant power, and owes more money to is China ($800 bil- reported the U.S. administration has re- China, which is seeking ways to become lion). The U.S. also imports $140 billion quested “immediate clarifying discussions” dominant?” (emphasis mine throughout). worth of goods from Japan each year. on just how far Japan wants to take the dis- Hatoyama answered his own question: If Japan were to follow through with engagement. But America may not be able “[W]e must not forget our identity as a na- its threat to only lend in yen, the dol- to do much if Japan is intent on reducing its tion located in Asia,” he said. “I believe lar would probably fall hard. That would presence there. Regarding the two nations’ that the East Asian region, which is show- mean more expensive consumer goods, security relationship, Richard Armitage, ing increasing vitality, must be recognized higher unemployment, and currency in- former U.S. deputy secretary of state, said: as Japan’s basic sphere of being.” flation in America. If other nations like “If the government of Japan asked us to He continued with some hard but unde- China were to follow suit, we would wit- change things, we’d argue, we’d kick and niable words: “I also feel that as a result of ness a currency crisis, Zimbabwe-style. scream, but ultimately we’d have to do it.” the failure of the Iraq war and the financial The new government in Japan has Japan is a major platform for American crisis, the era of U.S.-led globalism is coming also pledged to diversify its foreign cur- power projection. It is America’s most im- to an end ….” Thus, Hatoyama concluded, rency reserves away from the dollar. Thus, portant forward base in the Pacific. It is Japan must “spare no effort to build the at some point, it will need to dramati- an unsinkable aircraft carrier from which permanent security frameworks” essen- cally reduce how much money it lends to American task forces can operate to se- tial to creating a new anti-dollar regional America. America is planning to borrow cure the flow of trade and resources across Asian currency shared by China, Japan, record amounts over the next couple of the Pacific. Losing it would be devastating South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. years, so something isn’t adding up here. to U.S. security. Hatoyama not only believes America’s

26 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet GETTY IMAGES economy and power are fading fast, he’s Only “by moving toward greater integra- election coverage by any Chinese print publishing it in the New York Times! He tion” can Asia’s problems be solved, he media—and it was front-page news in the sees Japan’s future as being with Asia. said. Communist Party’s People’s Daily. Also, And he’s right. This movement toward greater Asian for the first time, a Chinese television sta- Some analysts might argue that Hatoya- cooperation will soon speed up drasti- tion provided live coverage of the election ma’s anti-U.S. rhetoric is primarily politi- cally. Not only do the facts prove it, bibli- that saw Hatoyama take power. cal posturing. But the truth is that Japan cal prophecy forecasts it. A major military Japan’s new policy is focused on win- was already heading in this direction be- alliance between Russia, China and ning friends on the Asian continent. fore the election—the previous party just Japan is about to be locked in. (Read America is about to lose an ally.

A Prophesied Siege! The recent election broke a 50-year pattern. “The U.S. has The effects are already rippling through Asia and across the Pacific. By Robert Morley been Japan’s Reorientation critical of new trends in Japan, but we are not a colony of wasn’t moving fast enough for Washington and we should be the people! The last several ad- able to say what we want,” said ministrations illustrated a clear Makoto Watanabe, a professor desire to revamp Japan’s pacifist of media and communication at constitution. In fact, Japan has Hokkaido Bunkyo University in amended its antiwar constitu- Japan. “[W]hile under previous tion 50 times since 1989 to allow governments Japan had become for greater military usage. a yes-man to the U.S., this sug- Japan’s Maritime Self-De- gests to me that healthy change fense Force ranks as the sec- is taking place.” ond most powerful navy in That change certainly will the world. When ground and not be healthy for America. air forces are factored into the The Bible describes a time equation, many analysts rank when America will be besieged the Japanese Self-Defense Forc- by its former trade partners. es as the fourth most powerful This siege, warned about in Deu- overall military on the globe. teronomy 28:52, is both econom- Japan also has some of the ic and military in nature. “And most technologically advanced he shall besiege thee in all thy defense companies. In May, gates, until thy high and fenced the Times reported that Japan’s walls come down, wherein thou industrial giants are pushing trustedst, throughout all thy hard for permission to sell their land: and he shall besiege thee in hardware on the world stage. all thy gates throughout all thy Meanwhile, certain prominent land, which the Lord thy God Japanese politicians are moving hath given thee.” to reopen debate about wheth- America is about to be block- FRESH FACE New Prime Minister er Japan should seek nuclear aded. For this to occur, Japan Yukio Hatoyama and a new class of weapons. One minister went would need to take a radical turn leaders have overturned decades of so far as to say that Japan could from its recent historical politi- conservative rulership in Japan. produce several thousand nu- cal and economic persuasions. clear weapons in a relatively It is radically turning. Today short period of time if it felt threatened. about this specific prophecy by ordering a we are witnessing a dramatic fulfillment of Plain and simply, Japan no longer free copy of our booklet Russia and China this prophecy. America is about to become needs American protection. And Ameri- in Prophecy.) perilously isolated. The nation with the sin- can involvement is just seen as a provoca- Prime Minister Hatoyama may be the gle largest merchant fleet in the world will tion to Japan’s most important regional most pro-Asian Japanese prime minis- turn its back on an economically water- partners, Russia and China. ter yet. He has pledged to ignore Japan’s logged America. And America, without its There is a bold movement occurring in World War ii shrine that honors the coun- most important military bases in Asia, will Asia. Old animosities are being forgotten try’s war dead to avoid offending Korea. be one step closer to being pushed right out or resolved. “I believe that regional inte- His son attends a prestigious Russian of the Asia Pacific region altogether. gration and collective security is the path engineering university. And he was the America’s ship of state is sinking. Ja- we should follow,” Hatoyama reiterated. first Japanese prime minister to receive pan’s escape boat has already left. n

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 27 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ By RON Fraser $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ome years ago at a symposium $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ at Oxford University, I listened $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to Sir Alfred Sherman, one-time $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ adviser to Margaret Thatcher, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ S $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ describe America as a deeply corrupt na- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ tion. At the time, I wondered how this $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ very British gentleman, a brilliant thinker $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on the state of the world, could justify that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ statement. After all, it was well known that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ fraud and under-the-table payoffs were en- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ demic to certain Asian countries, and Af- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ rican nations. It was simply the way that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ one did business in such places. But Amer- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ica? The “city on the hill”? The bastion of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Judeo-Christianity, this exemplar of free $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ democracy and free enterprise, “deeply $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ corrupted”? Surely Sir Alfred should have $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ chosen his words more carefully! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Well, a decade or so later, Sir Alfred’s $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ words are ringing in my ears. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Tip of an Iceberg It seems that each week, sometimes even day by day in any given week, we see yet another case of corporate, financial or government fraud in America. In July, Economist.com ran a headline, “A Tangled Web,” with the quip, “A huge AMERICA corruption investigation leads to a string of arrests in New Jersey.” Following an inten- sive 10-year investigation, the fbi and irs unveiled a huge money-laundering opera- THE CORRUPT tion that extended from the streets of New Jersey and New York across the Atlantic “Fraud rolls across American history like waves move into the Middle East. The great surprise to onto a beach.” —Bob Jensen, History of Fraud in America those uninitiated in the ways of 21st-century America was the societal ranking of those restricted to America only. Publicized ear- A Failure of Education involved: “A mayor, a rabbi and an organ lier this year in the United Kingdom was The intriguing aspect of this is that the trafficker sounds like the beginning of a the revelation of that nation’s most senior whole unsavory mess triggered by the bad joke. But the mayors of the New Jersey public servants’ exposure in fraudulent subprime loans and financial derivatives cities of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield, use of public monies through false and fiascoes of the past two years occurred on a council president, two state assemblymen, extraneous expense claims. What is dif- the beat of the new generation of mbas that numerous other public officials and political ferent in America is the sheer size, scope had flooded into business, commerce and operatives, and five rabbis are not laughing. and depth of the problem, which has now banking, not to mention Wall Street, over They are among 44 people charged in crim- reached epidemic proportions. It’s part of the previous decade or so. inal complaints filed on Thursday, July 23. the whole system—politically, economi- What was the moral compass of this The arrests were part of a 10-year federal in- cally, commercially, industrially—in health great pool of bright young things and their vestigation of both public corruption and an and education and the arts. No segment of mentors of a generation or two earlier? international money-laundering conspiracy. American society remains untouched by Well, the majority of the oldest of their And, indeed, some organ selling” (July 24). this deep-seated sickness. teachers graduated from the years of a god- The problem is, this one example is but Most educated people are aware of the less evolutionary, Marxist-Leninist, liberal- the tip of an iceberg, below which floats a famously corrupt Democrats of Tamma- socialist thinking, Dr. Spock-style child- huge, deeply entrenched, perverse way of ny Hall. But that is part of pre-fdr, New rearing, peacenik, antiwar street-rebelling, life that has become endemic to American Deal, early-20th-century American history. civil-rights-asserting, law-breaking, gen- society. It’s a disease that has penetrated What Sir Alfred Sherman was commenting der-bending, “no absolutes” amoral pseu- from the mansions of Beverly Hills to the on was the sheer plumbless depth of fraud do-philosophizing, pot-smoking academia trailer parks and ultimately the cardboard and corruption in American society—cor- possessing little or no moral backbone. boxes and filthy dens of the street people ruption that had become so entrenched by Little wonder that the products of that aca- of inner cities. the closing years of the 20th century that demic sausage machine have turned out To be sure, in the English-speaking it has since led to an explosion of record- the least moral generation of businessmen, world, graft, fraud and corruption are not breaking cases of corporate fraud. bankers, financiers and assorted snake-oil

28 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet merchants within both commerce and gov- senior office within the upper echelons of directly associated with his own career de- ernment in recent Anglo-Saxon history. this government. velopment. “In 2007, in a speech to acorn’s It’s simply a case of cause and effect. The leaders prior to their political arm’s en- numerous failed and fraudulent financiers, The Acorn Scandal dorsement of his presidential campaign, brokers, bankers and merchants of the day Also of deep concern is the dodging and Mr. Obama was effusive: ‘I’ve been fight- are but the products of their education. weaving of President Obama on the ques- ing alongside of acorn on issues you care tion of his long-term association with the about my entire career. [W]e appreciate Corruption in Oversight corrupt left-wing community organization your work’” (ibid.). Stock-selling scandals on Wall Street led to acorn, with which he had a long-term link Moral equivalency plainly denigrates the crash of 1929. In the 1930s, the U.S. gov- as a community organizer and legal adviser. the institution of the American presidency. ernment enacted new securities laws and The Republican congressional web- Sadly, it appears to be the foundation upon brought into being the Securities and Ex- site reports, “acorn, the Association of which the current administration is built. change Commission (sec) to oversee them Community Organizations for Reform so as to prevent the exploitation of the pub- Now, touts itself as being the nation’s larg- Found Wanting lic by securities fraud. est community organization of low- and America is sick at its heart. The problem was that when an amoral moderate-income families. But the cor- Terminal moral disease eats at its vitals generation both entered business and rupted organization and loyal Democrat from the very top of its government ma- penetrated the sec, it gained “a solid fail- ally has proven itself once again to be a chine to the common drug pushers on its ing grade in terms of its oversight of stock mere front for groups to undermine de- decaying city streets. exchanges and related market institutions. mocracy, the economy and civility—all This is a nation for whom the writ- The sec simply looked aside when it came at the expense of the U.S. taxpayers. The ing is on the wall. Like the ancient king- to an ever increasing flood of Wall Street activist group became infamous last year dom of King Nebuchadnezzar, America frauds of the 1980s and 1990s” (Bob Jensen, when it was investigated for voter regis- is “weighed in the balances and … found History of Fraud in America). tration fraud in 15 states. To date, some 70 wanting” (Daniel 5:27). Jensen points out that “The high-water acorn workers have been convicted for Just as the great Creator powerfully cor- mark of frauds came in the 1990s when the voter fraud registration.” rected the haughty king of Babylon, so Bible media finally got wind of ‘infectious greed’ In September, a series of scandalous prophecy declares that the Anglo-Saxon in investment banking, stock trading, bond videos were released. A man and woman nations, led by example by the Babylon of rating, mutual fund, and other industries posing as a pimp and a prostitute solicited America, are destined to be profoundly cor- rooted on Wall Street.” help from acorn officials in its Baltimore, rected for their fraudulent, corrupting ways. Bob Jensen points to the condemning Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Washing- The time for the Anglo-Saxons to give case made by Frank Partnoy in his book Fi- ton, d.c., and San Bernardino and San Di- account for their deeply entrenched sins is asco: The Inside Story of a Wall Street Trader, ego, California, offices. acorn employees close at hand. And the means of that cor- in which Partnoy “shows how corporations readily advised the “pimp” on how to get rection, to be rendered by Almighty God, is gradually increased financial risk and lost a housing loan, launder money, and falsify going to be a great shock to the self-indul- control of … overly complex … financing tax documents for a proposed brothel that gent, hedonistic American and British peo- deals that obscured the losses and disguised would employ underage girls smuggled into ples. Believe it or not, it will be delivered to frauds [and] pushed corporate officers and the U.S. from a foreign country. them by a third round of warfare instigated their boards into successive and ingenious acorn fired the employees, and Con- by the very same nation that triggered the deceptions. Major corporations such as gress overwhelmingly voted to cut off the last two world wars! Enron, Global Crossing, and WorldCom organization’s federal funding—which To the uneducated in biblical revelation, entered into enormous illegal corporate fi- amounted to a potential $8.5 billion in this may sound completely off the planet. nance and accounting” (ibid.). stimulus money. Remarkably, however, the Yet it is as sure as tomorrow’s sunrise. Perhaps most frightening of all to the electrifying story was almost absent from You need to educate yourself in the rea- American public are the more recent rev- mainstream news sources. When President sons why the once greatest single nation elations of the fraud and corruption that is Obama appeared on five Sunday morning on Earth has sunk to the level of the most exhibited in the backgrounds of many an news shows, only one interviewer brought fraudulent and corrupt. It is becoming an appointee to influential office in the team the subject up. “Frankly, it’s not something extremely urgent need for as many people assembled to govern the country following I’ve followed closely,” the president claimed. as possible to be warned of the consequenc- America’s last presidential election. “Mr. Obama took great pains to act as if he es of this Anglo-Saxon slide into the pit of Conservative commentator Michelle barely knew about acorn. In fact, his as- moral depravity, deep-seated fraud and en- Malkin has published a masterful expose sociation goes back almost 20 years” (Wall demic corruption. of the “culture of corruption” rife in Wash- Street Journal, September 21). Request a free copy of our booklet Lam- ington in her explosive best-selling book This smells somewhat of the odor sur- entations: The Point of No Return. If ever by that name. She claims that corruption rounding the president’s 20-year associa- there was a book written for our time to- in government stretches across “wealthy tion with a certain racially radical minister day, it is this book. You need to at least be power brokers … ethically challenged, of religion. And the result may well be the acquainted with its message, even if you do bailout-bungling money men,” to “crime- same. Just as Barack Obama dumped his not agree with it at this moment. For the coddling lawyers.” Malkin renders a mind- former spiritual guide of two decades, he chances are, you will recall and agree with boggling case-by-case liturgy of lying, de- now appears to be about to do the same its message when the prophecies that it con- ceit, deep-seated corruption and fraud in with the singular enterprise that he once tains are fulfilled, most dramatically, in the the backgrounds of many who now hold described in the most glowing terms as very near future! n

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 29 trumping the authority of member state supervisors and even directly supervising some firms. “In short, this body will have immense powers,” says the Adam Smith Institute, a UK-based think tank. The Adam Smith Institute rightly says that “the proposals seem opportunis- tic, using the financial crisis to provide an opening for long-held political objec- tives”—taking advantage while Britain “is too weak to object.” It was only a few years ago that Britain’s bankers and businessmen were giddily boasting and toasting themselves as being “the world’s greatest global financial cen- ter,” as London’s mayor said in 2006. Virtu- ally overnight, London has been reduced to Europe’s Plans Will having to prostrate itself before European overseers. Clearly Europe is relishing the moment as it shackles Britain with burden- Destroy London some regulations fully knowing that doing so will smother London’s global influence. Watch for Europe now to implement By Joel Hilliker And on top of all that, the paper says— strategies to shift that business to the uropean bureaucrats see the in not so many words: European leaders Continent. Biblical prophecy directs us global economic crisis as an op- are about to deal the death blow to Lon- to remain alert for Europe to become the portunity. “It’s now or never,” don’s status as a global financial capital. world’s financial capital, if only briefly, in EEuropean Commission President How? Through oppressive regulation. this end time. With so much in flux right José Manuel Barroso said. “If we cannot “European Commission plans to ap- now, jittery investors are eager to find a new reform the financial sector when we have ply stricter rules for monitoring finan- financial safe haven—away from both the a real crisis, when will we?” cial markets,” it says, “could also lead to United States and Britain. Contenders in- They are seizing the chance not only a significant loss of importance for clude financial centers in the Middle East to reform the financial sector, but also to London as a financial center” (my and Asia. Prophecy informs us that the reshape the Continent. One of their most translation and emphasis). short-term, big-time winner will be Europe. stunning moves has been to use this crisis That the burdens Europe is about to im- The UK did nothing to help itself with as a pretext for advancing a long-term pet pose “could” drag London down is putting its own financial misconduct. But in the project: stripping the once-great Britain of it charitably. With Britain already drown- end its bigger mistake will prove to be its its national sovereignty and global power. ing from the financial collapse, too-close relationship with Eu- The German Institute for International Europe is preparing to hold it rope. The Continent simply and Security Affairs, an independent think underwater with regulations. doesn’t have Britain’s interests at tank that advises the German government, We have already reported heart, and never has had. From predicts that Britain is finished. In an Au- on the regimen it is about to its inception 36 years ago, this gust report called “Great Britain at a Cross- dictate (“The Greatest Heist alliance has been a disaster for roads,” it explained why the island nation is of All Time,” October). In Britain. Once history’s greatest rapidly about to lose what little remains of June, European leaders— empire, the UK has surrendered its global political significance. Embedded an unenthusiastic Gordon its sovereignty piece by precious within the report was a startling admission. Brown included—agreed to piece. Europe has almost entirely Britain’s strong military always as- a massive regulatory super- swallowed it within a single gen- sured the nation “its seat among the great structure. A European Sys- brown eration. Prophecy strongly sug- powers,” the paper said. No longer. In temic Risk Council will unite gests that Britain will wake up Iraq and Afghanistan, its armed forces central bankers to help ensure big-picture and leave the EU—but by then it will be too are stretched to the breaking point. Out- financial stability, both across the Conti- late. It will have grown irreversibly weak. classed and underfunded, Britain will nent and country by country. More wor- We remember the words of Herbert soon have to abandon one of its premier ryingly, under an umbrella called the Eu- W. Armstrong after the UK joined the armament projects, such as its nuclear ropean System of Financial Supervisors, European Community on Jan. 1, 1973. fleet. That decision will “lead to the loss of three new pan-European watchdog orga- In the March edition of the Plain Truth whole industrial sectors,” striking a fatal nizations will begin overseeing financial newsmagazine that year, he warned that blow to the already crippled British econ- institutions next year: a banking authority, Britain would one day look back on it as omy (translations from German-Foreign- an insurance and pensions authority, and “a most tragically historic date—a date Policy.com). Additional pains are coming, a securities authority. This will create “a fraught with ominous potentialities!” as the UK’s tax revenues are projected to common supervisory culture and consis- He was right. To those paying atten- plummet 14 percent next year. tent supervisory practices,” the plan says, tion, that day is now. n

30 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet getty images (2) ➤ constitution from page 1 And the Ten Commandments were, in many ways, the foundation A Harvard law professor is actually stating that the Constitu- of the Constitution. Our forefathers believed that if we didn’t keep tion is not even law! That view comes from our most prestigious God’s Ten Commandments, our republic would collapse! university. The very fact that he would even make that statement We can’t afford to take the words of our founders lightly if we shows that we are already getting into extreme lawlessness! want to see our nation stand. The majority of our leaders now agree with the Harvard law It was much harder for our Founding Fathers to spill professor. He made a statement that shows we are failing to estab- streams of blood winning our freedom, and to create lish the rule of law. The real issue here is lawlessness. and establish our constitutional law, than it is for us That means your future will be adversely affected. just to maintain it! So we ought to respect our Founding Cal Thomas wrote in the March 8, 2000, Washington Times, Fathers above ourselves. But we are too vain and arrogant “In the final Democratic debate before the Super Tuesday elec- to see how profoundly strong they were and how pathetically tion, Vice President Al Gore responded to a question about the shallow and weak we are. type of Supreme Court justices he as president would select: ‘I Law schools routinely teach about being “legal realists.” Like for- would look for justices of the Supreme Court who understand mer Vice President Al Gore, they want an “evolving Constitution.” that our Constitution is a living and breathing document, that it But this reasoning gives the judges despotic powers. It also takes was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the us away from the foundational law established by our forefathers. constantly evolving experience of the American people.’ … Then why do our politicians allow it? The president and Con- “Mr. Gore’s view of the Constitution, shared by most political gress often like the judges to do this, if the decisions are favorable liberals, is one of the most dangerous philosophies of our to their views and they know their views will not be approved by time. It establishes a class of philosopher-kings who determine the voters. Still, the judges are taking power from the legislature the rights of the people and shreds the Constitution as a doc- and the executive branches as they rewrite the Constitution. ument that conforms people to unchanging principles Our politicians simply lack the vision to see how disastrous that promote their own and the general welfare. this process is. It is based on selfish lawlessness—not law! “A ‘living’ Constitution, notes constitutional attorney John The great heresy being taught in our law schools is that the Whitehead, means the Constitution is ‘up for grabs,’ and it be- judges are not bound by law. Some are saying the Constitution comes whatever the justices decide, not the people through their isn’t even law! elected representatives …. That means we are being led by the human reasoning of a “The founders never intended the courts to be su- dangerously liberal culture. preme. Their intention was that the law, rooted in objec- That is often the opposite of establishing the rule of law. His- tive and unchanging truth, would be preeminent.” tory reveals that empires are destroyed if they fail to Law scholars today don’t believe the Constitution was “root- establish the rule of law. But the radical liberal cul- ed in objective and unchanging truth”—that is, they don’t ture often has contempt of history and our Founding believe our founders established the rule of law. But that’s just Fathers. Its followers foolishly rely on their own reasoning, what the founders did. And now most lawyers and judges reject which is not grounded in foundational law. their foundational work. The Constitution is being altered dramatically. And it is the Our views today reflect a deadly degeneration into lawlessness! foundation of our republic! We are experiencing a con- The radical liberal culture in politics wants a “ living Constitu- stitutional earthquake, and most of our people don’t even tion.” Mr. Bork stated that many liberals imply the Constitution is know it—yet. Your future is being changed for you, and often dead. They don’t want unchanging truth, established 200 you have no input. years ago, to direct their lives. For more information on This process is sure to lead to anarchy! That is why you and I this subject, request our free booklet No Freedom Without Law. should be deeply concerned. The liberal religious culture similarly wants a “living Bible.” Their “intelligence” demands that they adapt the Bible to modern times— Seeking Destructive Lawlessness even though every word was inspired by God (Matthew 4:4). Why did our Founding Fathers work so hard to establish the Most religions preach that God’s law was done away, in spite Constitution? Because it was to be the supreme law of the land. of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come “A well-known Harvard law professor,” Mr. Bork wrote, to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but “turned to me with some exasperation and said, ‘Your notion to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one that the Constitution is in some sense law must rest upon an ob- jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be ful- scure philosophic principle with which I am unfamiliar.’” filled.” Christ came to fulfill the law, or fill the law to the full. He But notice what the Constitution itself states: “This Consti- essentially was saying every t must be crossed and every i dotted. tution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in Still, many thought, and still think, that He came to destroy the pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, law. They refuse to believe the truth! under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Christians are supposedly people who follow Christ, the Law- law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound giver. That is how they got their name “Christian.” thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the But whether secular or religious, we are racing into law- contrary notwithstanding. lessness, and our nation is plunging toward disaster. Any good “The senators and representatives before mentioned, history book will show us that! and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive The Bible should be even more convicting. Study it and see and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several the deadly danger of lawlessness. When the new U.S. government States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support was established, Benjamin Franklin said that we have “a republic, this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as if you can keep it.” It’s all about either establishing the rule of a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” law—or descending into lawlessness and chaos. n

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 31 hat’s the next step in the actly what to expect and how far his in- Obama administration’s terrogator is allowed to go. He knows the fight against Muslim ex- president is looking over the interrogator’s tremists? Going after cia shoulder, and that one false move would operatives. end this guy’s career. And this is supposed WIt’s a radical step into murky terri- to make America safer. tory that gives a number of advantages to “[I]t’s a death sentence for an effective avowed enemies of the United States. A war on terror,” wrote columnist Daniel strong case can be made that it could lead Henninger. “It makes what’s left of the The to former high-ranking Bush administra- war—telephone wiretaps or monitoring tion officials—even President Bush—be- money transfers—vulnerable to a steady ing indicted by foreign governments. stream of congressional and legal objec- This decision may have the appearance tion” (ibid.). of righteousness—America atoning for its Lt. Col. Ralph Peters (Ret.), who has sins and so on. In truth, though, it reflects spent decades in military intelligence, Enemy an astonishing failure to understand the contends that the clampdown “promises seriousness of the war the nation is wag- to do more damage to the intelligence ing, and the nature of the enemy it faces. community than even the crippling Cart- As the U.S. argues over which inter- er-era shenanigans—whose effects are still rogation techniques are torture, we are felt today” (New York Post, September 2). forced to confront the limits of American The people the president is trying to power: Possessing history’s most fearsome satisfy by implementing these steps military does nothing to protect a nation do not want to make America whose leaders believe that battering and stronger. They believe Amer- shackling its own intelligence agents will ica deserves to be knocked produce happier, mellower enemies and down a peg or three. The greater safety for its people. policy of handcuffing interrogations and “Death Sentence” on the War handing the agents’ Back in 2004, the U.S. Justice Department s l i m m e d - d o w n investigated several cia interrogations playbook to future of terror detainees for possible abuses. It terrorist detain- charged only one individual, and he was ees should further later acquitted. In August, however, At- their goals quite torney General Eric Holder named a spe- nicely. To the extent cial prosecutor to reopen those cases. “A that these people review is never going to be final anymore have a constructive now,” lamented former Vice President goal for America’s Dick Cheney. future, it is that the This action will have an obvious chill- country would, hav- ing effect on American interrogators. It ing atoned for its arro- means that even if they scrupulously fol- gance, be able to take its low the rules, someone could change the seat among equals in what rules down the road. It means they face is supposedly a happy family the axe or even jail time pending review of of nations. This would, in their their actions by patently liberal officials. view, represent an improvement in To ensure that future interrogations are America’s standing in the world. conducted according to the Obama ad- Eric Holder and his boss are working ministration’s exacting standards, a newly diligently toward this end. With deadly ef- created organ called the High-Value De- fectiveness, they are succeeding. tainee Interrogation Group will supervise The glaring problem, though, with the them. The Wall Street Journal explained, idea that a prostrate America is an im- “Interrogation techniques will be limited proved America—that submission to oth- to those in the Army Field Manual or that er nations will earn their admiration—is are ‘non-coercive,’ which suggests more that those other nations are basically hun- Is Us constrained than a big-city police depart- gry to see the U.S. go down. It is absurd to ment. … This means that the class of per- interpret their eagerness to help President son who blows up skyscrapers, American Obama dismantle American power as a Rather than going after embassies or the uss Cole would spend sign of friendship. terrorists, Washington less time under a bare light bulb than a And the truth is, submission to man domestic robbery suspect” (August 26). in place of submission to God will always is attacking Of course, a detainee now knows ex- lead to curses (Jeremiah 17:5). That is ex- the CIA. by joel hilliker

32 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet actly what is befalling a United States that fully had Chilean dictator Augusto Pino- is betting its future on the goodwill of for- chet arrested in England in 1998. eign states. But you don’t need the Bible to Human rights groups in France and understand that. The signs are abundant Germany have said they want to bring legal and plain. action against Mr. Rumsfeld. And surely there are some enterprising lawyers in the Submitting to Foreign Courts Organization of the Islamic Conference While visiting Berlin last spring, Attorney that would love to file a case or two as well. General Holder was asked if he would co- All of these entities are being egged on operate with foreign or international tri- by the Center for Constitutional Rights bunals to prosecute Bush-era officials for (ccr). This radical New York-based le- how they fought the “war on terror.” His gal advocacy group, which sells “Torture answer was essentially that Washington Team” playing cards of Bush-era officials, wouldn’t arrest anyone or hand former of- “has been attempting to convince Germa- ficials over for foreign trials, but it would ny, France, Spain, and other countries to file fulfill any “evidentiary requests” to help war-crime indictments against former Bush build legal cases. administration officials, including Presi- In other words, if a foreign or interna- dent Bush, Vice President Cheney and Sec- tional court wants to try U.S. officials, the retary Rumsfeld,” Andrew McCarthy wrote White House is there to supply the evi- in the National Review. “In representing dence it needs. Whatever is necessary America’s enemies, ccr has collaborated to “clean up” America’s internation- with many private lawyers, who also volun- al reputation. teered their services—several of whom are “This is an administra- now working in the Obama Justice Depart- tion that is determined to ment” (August 28; emphasis mine). conduct itself by the rule Yes, the new Justice Department is of law,” Mr. Holder said. stacked with people who have legally rep- “And to the extent that resented al Qaeda and other Guantánamo we receive lawful re- detainees. quests from an ap- Is it any wonder, then, that they want propriately created to share evidence with foreigners eager to court, we would ob- imprison former U.S. officials? That they viously respond to want to put cia anti-terrorism operatives it.” By “rule of law,” on the chopping block? That they want the attorney gen- to prioritize the international legal order eral was referring to over America’s national law—and its clear international law— national interests? No—it’s no wonder. laws written by na- Still, the speed at which they’re moving tions in Europe, Af- takes one’s breath away. rica, the Middle East How do these events factor in to biblical and elsewhere—trump- prophecy? One way to answer that ques- ing the U.S. Constitution, tion is to see what prophecy does not say. the foundation of America’s national sovereignty. Invisible America You can be sure that Mr. Daniel 11:40-44 could be considered the Holder is going to start receiving keynote prophecy of the Trumpet. And as those requests from foreigners eager Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry ex- to impose their laws on American offi- plains in The King of the South, this is an cials. A number of foreigners are already end-time prophecy about the clash of three getting busy. distinct power blocs. Verse 40 discusses the For example, the United Nations “spe- first clash, which occurs when the king of cial rapporteur on torture” has said that the north (a German-led European empire) George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld invades the Middle East and destroys the should be tried for torture. “Judicially king of the south (led by Iran). This clash speaking, the United States has a clear marks the beginning of World War iii. obligation” to put them on trial, Manfred The second major clash is mentioned Nowak told German television after Presi- in verse 44, when the king of the north, dent Obama’s inauguration. after clashing with the king of the south, A Spanish court is investigating Bush is forced to turn and confront the “tidings administration officials for torture of out of the east.” This, as the Bible explains Guantánamo Bay prisoners. The case is elsewhere, is the army of a great Asian being reviewed by the judge who success- bloc, led primarily by Russia and China. saul loeb/afp/getty images The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 33 Mr. Flurry spoke about this proph- ecy to students at Herbert W. Armstrong College in September, saying, “The most important part of this prophecy is what it doesn’t say.” Read the entire prophecy. The United States (identified in the Bible as Is- rael) is not mentioned once. Why? Because at that time, America will not exist as a major political or military force in the world. This spectacular prophecy is a forecast about the downfall of America as a su- perpower as much as it is about the rise and collision of the king of the north, the king of the south and the kings of the east. Look at the Bible’s other key prophecies about major geopolitical events we are about to witness, including half of Jerusalem be- U n i t e d S t a t e s Florida, Tallahassee-Thomasville ing forcibly seized by Muslims (Zechariah WTLF-DT/ Nationwide satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 WTLH-DT 9:30 am, Sun 14:2), and a destitute Israel asking Germany am ET, Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am Florida, Tampa WXPX 6:00 am, Fri; WTTA 8:30 am, Sun for military protection (Hosea 5:13). There’s ET, Sun Florida, West Palm Beach WPXP 6:00 am, Fri an unseen but clear common denominator Direct TV DBS WGN Chan. 307 8:00 am ET, Sun Georgia, Albany WBSK 9:30 am, Sun in all of these scenarios: the startling ab- Direct TV DBS ION Ch. 305 6:00 am ET, Fri Georgia, Augusta WAGT-DT 9:30 am, Sun Dish Network ION Ch. 216 6:00 am ET, Fri Georgia, Brunswick WPXC 6:00 am, Fri sence of the nation that, until recently, has Dish Network DBS WGN Chan. 239 8:00 am Georgia, Columbus WLGA 9:30 am, Sun been among the most active participants in ET, Sun Georgia, Macon WBMN 9:30 am, Sun these arenas: the United States. Nationwide cable WGN 8:00 am ET, Sun Georgia, Savannah WGSA/WGCW-LP 9:30 am, Sun Match those conspicuous omissions Alabama, Birmingham WPXH 5:00 am, Fri Hawaii, Hawaii Na Leo Chan. 54 6:30 am, Sun; 8:30 with dozens of other prophecies that foretell Alabama, Dothan WTVY-DT 8:30, Sun am, Wed Alabama, Montgomery WBMM/WBMM-DT Hawaii, Kaui Ho’ Ike Chan. 52 9:30 am, Tue America’s downfall, and the truth becomes 8:30, Sun Hawaii, Maui/Lanaii/Molokai/Niihau/Akaku Chan. unequivocally clear: The world’s mightiest Alaska, Anchorage KIMO-DT 8:30 am, Sun 52 6:30 pm, Sun; 3:30 am, Mon superpower is about to be conquered. Alaska, Fairbanks KATN-DT 8:30 am, Sun Idaho, Idaho Falls KPIF/KBEO 10:30 am, Sun America’s will has been broken—a Alaska, Juneau KJUD-DT 8:30 am, Sun Idaho, Pocatello KPIF 10:30 am, Sun Arizona, Phoenix KPPX 5:00 am, Fri Idaho, Twin Falls KMVT-DT/KTWT-LP 10:30 am, curse God promised to send upon our dis- Arizona, Yuma-El Centro KSWT-DT 9:30 am, Sun obedient people (Leviticus 26:19). The belief Sun Illinois, Bloomington WHOI-DT 8:30 am, Sun that America’s war against Islamic extrem- Arkansas, Fayetteville KWFT 8:30, Sun lllinois, Chicago WCIU 9:30 am, Sun; WCPX 5:00 ism is best prosecuted by going after Amer- Arkansas, Fort Smith KCWA 8:30, Sun am, Fri ican intelligence agents stems from a bro- Arkansas, Jonesboro KJOS 8:30 am, Sun Illinois, Peoria WHOI-DT 8:30 am, Sun Arkansas, Rogers KWFT 8:30, Sun Illinois, Rockford WREX-DT 8:30 am, Sun ken will. It will hasten defeat for America. Arkansas, Springdale KWFT 8:30 am, Sun Indiana, Fort Wayne WPTA-DT 21.2 9:30 am, Sun Someday soon, war itself will be his- California, Bakersfield KGET-DT 9:30 am, Sun Indiana, Indianapolis WIPX 6:00 am, Fri tory. Scripture promises it. Swords will California, Chico KHSL-DT 9:30 am, Sun Indiana, Terre Haute WBI 8:30 am, Sun be beaten into plowshares; nuclear bombs California, El Centro KWUB 9:30 am, Sun Iowa, Austin KTTC-DT 8:30 am, Sun California, Eureka KUVU-DT 9:30 am, Sun Iowa, Cedar Rapids KPXR 5:00 am, Fri will be melted into playground equipment. California, Los Angeles KPXN 6:00 am, Fri Iowa, Des Moines KFPX 5:00 am, Fri But guess what: Even that time of peace California, Monterey KMWB 9:30 am, Sun Iowa, Keokuk WEWB 8:30 am, Sun won’t be brought about through nego- California, Palm Springs KESQ/KCWQ-DT 9:30 Iowa, Kirksville KWOT 8:30 am, Sun tiations and treaties, nor by gestures of am, Sun Iowa, Mason City KTTC-DT 8:30 am, Sun goodwill. It will come only after the King California, Redding KHSL-DT 9:30 am, Sun Iowa, Ottumwa KWOT 8:30 am, Sun California, Sacramento KSPX 6:00 am, Fri Iowa, Rochester KTTC-DT 8:30 am, Sun of kings returns, “and in righteousness California, Salinas KION 9:30 am, Sun Iowa, Sioux City KTIV-DT 8:30 am, Sun he doth judge and make war” (Revelation California, San Francisco KKPX 6:00 am, Fri Kansas, Topeka KSNT 8:30 am, Sun 19:11). He will fight with a sharp sword and California, Santa Barbara KSBY-DT 9:30 am, Kentucky, Bowling Green WBKO 8:30 am, Sun rule with a rod of iron (verse 15). Once the Sun Kentucky, Lexington WUPX 6:00 am, Fri Colorado, Denver KPXC 5:00 am, Fri; KWGN Louisiana, Alexandria KBCA 8:30 am, Sun nations submit—and only then—will He 10:00 am, Sun Louisiana, El Dorado-Monroe KNOE-DT 8:30 am, be able to teach and enforce the way of Colorado, Grand Junction KKCO-DT 10:30 Sun peace for all flesh. am, Sun Louisiana, Lafayette KLWB 8:30 am, Sun God speed that day. n Colorado, Montrose KKCO-DT 10:30 am, Sun Louisiana, Lake Charles WBLC 8:30 am, Sun Connecticut, Hartford WHPX 6:00 am, Fri Louisiana, New Orleans WPXL 5:00 am, Fri Delaware, Dover WBD 9:30 am, Sun Maine, Bangor WABI-DT 9:30 am, Sun Delaware, Salisbury Maine, Presque Isle Request a free copy of WMDT-DT 9:30 am, Sun WBPQ 9:30 am, Sun Florida, Gainesville WCJB-DT 9:30 am, Sun Maryland, Hagerstown WJAL 12:00 pm, Sun The United States and Florida, Jacksonville WPXC/WPXJ-LP 6:00 Maryland, Salisbury WBD 9:30 am, Sun Britain in Prophecy for am, Fri Massachusetts, Boston WBPX 6:00 am, Fri; a comprehensive scrip- Florida, Miami WPXM 6:00 am, Fri WZMY 8:00 am, Sun tural explanation Florida, Orlando WOPX 6:00 am, Fri Massachusetts, Holyoke WBQT 9:30 am, Sun Florida, Panama City WJHG-DT 8:30 am, Sun Massachusetts, Springfield WBQT 9:30 am, Sun of America’s future. Florida, Tallahassee WTXL 7:30 am, Sun Michigan, Alpena WBAE 9:30 am, Sun

34 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet North Carolina, Fayetteville WFPX 6:00 am, Fri Utah, Salt Lake City KUPX 5:00 am, Fri North Carolina, Greensboro WGPX 6:00 am, Fri Vermont, Burlington WVNY 10:00 am, Sun North Carolina, Greenville WEPX 6:00 am, Fri; Virginia, Charlottesville WVIR-DT 9:30 am, Sun WNCT-DT 9:30 am, Sun Virginia, Harrisonburg WVIR-DT 9:30 am, Sun North Carolina, Lumber Bridge WFPX 6:00 am, Fri Virginia, Norfolk WPXV 6:00 am, Fri North Carolina, New Bern WNCT-DT 9:30 am, Sun Virginia, Roanoke WPXR 6:00 am, Fri North Carolina, Raleigh WRPX 6:00 am, Fri; Washington D.C. WDCW 8:00 am, Sun; WPXW 9:00 am, Sun 6:00 am, Fri North Carolina, Washington WNCT-DT 9:30 am, Washington, Kennewick KCWK 9:30 am, Sun Sun Washington, Richland KCWK 9:30 am, Sun North Carolina, Wilmington WBW 9:30 am, Sun Washington, Seattle-Tacoma KWPX 6:00 am, Fri North Dakota, Bismarck KWMK 10:30 am, Sun Washington, Seattle KVOS 8:30am, Sun North Dakota, Dickinson KWMK 10:30 am, Sun Washington, Spokane KGPX 6:00 am, Fri North Dakota, Fargo WDAY-DT 8:30 am, Sun Washington, Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kenne- North Dakota, Minot KWMK 10:30 am, Sun wick KCWK/KCWK-LP 9:30 am, Sun North Dakota, Valley City WDAY-DT 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Beckley KVVA-DT 9:30 am, Sun Ohio, Cleveland WVPX 6:00 am, Fri West Virginia, Bluefield KVVA-DT 9:30 am, Sun Ohio, Cincinnati WSTR 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Charleston WLPX 6:00 am, Fri Michigan, Cadillac WGTU/WGTQ 9:30 am, Sun Ohio, Lima WLIO-DT 9:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Clarksburg WVFX-DT 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Detroit WPXD 6:00 am, Fri; WADL Ohio, Steubenville WBWO 9:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Oak Hill KVVA-DT 9:30 am, Sun 10:00 am, Sun Ohio, Zanesville WBZV 9:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Parkersburg WBPB 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Grand Rapids WZPX 5:00 am, Fri Oklahoma, Ada KSHD 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Weston WVFX-DT 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Lansing WLAJ-DT 9:30 am, Sun Oklahoma, Lawton KAUZ 8:30 am, Sun West Virginia, Wheeling WBWO 9:30 am, Sun Michigan, Marquette WBKP 9:30 am, Sun Oklahoma, Oklahoma City KOPX 5:00 am, Fri Wisconsin, Eau Claire WQOW-DT/WXOW-DT Michigan, Traverse City-Cadillac WGTU-DT/ Oklahoma, Tulsa KTPX 5:00 am, Fri 8:30 am, Sun WGTQ-DT 9:30 am, Sun Oregon, Bend KTVZ-DT 9:30 am, Sun Wisconsin, La Crosse WQOW/WXOW 8:30 am, Minnesota, Duluth-Superior WDLH 8:30 am, Sun Oregon, Eugene KMTR-DT 9:30 am, Sun; KEVU Sun Minnesota, Mankato KWYE 8:30 am, Sun 10:00 am, Sun Wisconsin, Milwaukee WPXE 5:00 am, Fri Minnesota, Minneapolis KPXM 5:00 am, Fri Oregon, Klamath Falls KMFD 9:30 am, Sun Wisconsin, Rhinelander WAOW/WYOW 8:30 Mississippi, Biloxi WBGP 8:30 am, Sun Oregon, Medford KMFD 9:30 am, Sun am, Sun Mississippi, Columbus WCBI-DT 8:30 am, Sun Oregon, Portland KPXG 6:00 am, Fri Wisconsin, Wausau WAOW-DT/WYOW-DT 8:30 Mississippi, Greenville WBWD 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Erie WBEP 9:30 am, Sun am, Sun Mississippi, Greenwood WBWD 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Philadelphia WPPX 6:00 am, Fri Wyoming, Casper 10:30 am, Sun Mississippi, Gulfport WBGP 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh WPCW 9:00 am, Sun Wyoming, Cheyenne KCHW 10:30 am, Sun Mississippi, Hattiesburg WBH 8:30 am, Sun Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre WQPX 6:00 am, Fri Wyoming, Riverton 10:30 am, Sun Mississippi, Laurel WBH 8:30 am, Sun Rhode Island, Providence WPXQ 6:00 am, Fri Mississippi, Meridian WTOK-DT 8:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Charleston WCBD-DT 9:30 am, Sun C a n a d a Mississippi, Tupelo WCBI-DT 8:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Florence WWMB/WWMB-DT Nationwide satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 am Mississippi, West Point WCBI-DT 8:30 am, Sun 9:30 am, Sun ET, Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am ET, Sun Missouri, Columbia KOMU-DT 8:30 am, Sun South Carolina, Myrtle Beach WWMB/WWMB- Nationwide cable WGN 8:00 am ET, Sun; Vision Missouri, Hannibal WGEM-DT 8:30 am, Sun DT 9:30 am, Sun TV 4:30 pm ET, Sun; Grace Television Network Missouri, Jefferson City KOMU-DT 8:30 am, Sun South Dakota, Mitchell KWSD 8:30 am, Sun 11:00 am ET, Sun. Missouri, Joplin-Pittsburg KSXF 8:30 am, Sun South Dakota, Rapid City KWBH-LP 10:30 am, Sun British Columbia, Vancouver KVOS 8:30 am, Sun; Missouri, Kansas City KPXE 5:00 am, Fri South Dakota, Sioux Falls KWSD 8:30 am, Sun CHNU 5:30 pm, Sun Missouri, Quincy-Keokuk WGEM-DT 8:30 am, Sun Tennessee, Jackson WBJK 8:30 am, Sun British Columbia, Victoria CHNU 5:30 pm, Sun Missouri, St. Joseph WBJO 8:30 am, Sun Tennessee, Knoxville WPXK 6:00 am, Fri Ontario, Toronto WADL 10:00 am Sun; CHNU 8:30 Montana, Billings KTVQ-DT 8:30 am, Sun Tennessee, Memphis WPXX 5:00 am, Fri pm, Sun; WUTV 10:00 am, Sun Montana, Bozeman-Butte KBZK-DT/KXLF-DT 10:30 Tennessee, Nashville WNPX 5:00 am, Fri Quebec, Montreal WVNY 10:00 am, Sun am, Sun Texas, Abilene KTWS-DT 8:30 am, Sun Montana, Glendive KWZB 10:30 am, Sun Texas, Amarillo KVII-DT/KVIH/KVIH-DT 8:30 Montana, Great Falls KRTV-DT 10:30 am, Sun am, Sun L a t i n A m e r i c a Montana, Helena KMTF-DT 10:30 am, Sun Texas, Beaumont KFDM-DT 8:30 am, Sun Regional satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 am ET, Montana, Missoula KPAX-DT 10:30 am, Sun Texas, Brownsville KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30 am, Sun Tue/Thu Nebraska, Lincoln-Hastings KCWL-TV 8:30 am, Texas, Corpus Christi KRIS-DT 8:30 am, Sun El Salvador WGN 6:00 am, Sun Sun Texas, Harlingen KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30 am, Sun Guatemala WGN 6:00 am, Sun Nebraska, Kearney KCWL-TV 8:30 am, Sun Texas, Houston KPXB 5:00 am, Fri Honduras WGN 6:00 am, Sun Nebraska, North Platte KWPL 8:30 am, Sun Texas, Laredo KTXW 8:30 am, Sun Mexico WGN 7:00 am, Sun Nebraska, Scottsbluff KCHW 10:30 am, Sun Texas, Longview KCEB 8:30 am, Sun Panama WGN 7:00 am, Sun Nevada, Reno KREN/KREN-DT 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Lubbock KLCW 8:30 am, Sun New York, Albany WYPX 6:00 am, Fri Texas, Midland KWWT 8:30 am, Sun; KMID C a r i bb e a n New York, Binghamton WBXI 9:30 am, Sun 9:00 am, Sun Regional satellite Galaxy 3 Trans. 21 11:30 am ET, New York, Buffalo WPXJ 6:00 am, Fri; WUTV Texas, Odessa KWWT 8:30 am, Sun; KMID Tue/Thu; Galaxy 5 Trans. 7 8:00 am ET, Sun 10:00 am, Sun 9:00 am, Sun Aruba WGN 8:00 am, Sun New York, Elmira WBE 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Port Arthur KFDM 8:30 am, Sun Bahamas WGN 8:00 am, Sun New York, New York City WPXN 6:00 am, Fri; Texas, San Angelo KWSA 8:30 am, Sun Barbados CBC Chan. 8 10:30 am, Sun WLNY 10:00 am Sun Texas, San Antonio KPXL 5:00 am, Fri Belize WGN 7:00 am, Sun New York, Syracuse WSPX 6:00 am, Fri Texas, Sherman-Ada KTEN-DT 8:30 am, Sun Cuba WGN 8:00 am, Sun New York, Utica WBU 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Sweetwater KTWS-DT 8:30 am, Sun Dominican Republic WGN 8:00 am, Sun New York, Watertown WWTI-DT 9:30 am, Sun Texas, Tyler KCEB 8:30 am, Sun Haiti WGN 7:00 am, Sun North Carolina, Charlotte WLMY 8:30 am, Sun Texas, Victoria KWVB 8:30 am, Sun Jamaica WGN 9:00 am, Sun North Carolina, Durham WRPX 6:00 am, Fri; Texas, Weslaco KSFE-LP/KTIZ-LP 8:30 am, Sun Puerto Rico WGN 8:00 am, Sun 9:00 am, Sun Texas, Wichita Falls KAUZ-DT 8:30 am, Sun Trinidad and Tobago WGN 8:00 am, Sun

The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 35 letters That is well said and a long time Not only have we failed to store up A German Charlemagne? coming. I’ve watched in vain hoping to our grain for lean years, we have man- Perhaps this is just what Germany find such an article! I’d also like to add aged to pass legislation that a portion of and Europe need to halt the Muslim that the bad didn’t start with this admin- it should be burned in our automobiles in takeover (“Is Germany’s istration—homosexuality the form of ethanol, advancing our pace Charlemagne About to Ap- was honored by Bush’s vice of self-destruction. pear?”, October). It was president, and many of our Rein Westerbaan—Canada Charlemagne’s grandpa, economy’s woes started long Charles Martel, who did it before Obama also. It would Racial Time Bomb at Tours. We need a strong also be refreshing to see his Mr. Obama and Mr. Gates should be Germany again to stop the good points highlighted. getting down on their knees every day Muslim onslaught of Europe Thank you nevertheless for thanking God that they live in a country and the West. Islamic expan- an excellent commentary! like the usa (“America’s Racial Time sion needs to be stopped at Carolyn—Oregon Bomb Is Ticking,” October). America is any price. Go Germany! such a racist country that they elected a Tevis Tumulty—Arizona The Universe black man president … and Mr. Gates, A point not mentioned in your ar- a black man, is a professor at Harvard, German Military ticle (“The Perfect Seat for Viewing the one of America’s top universities. I’m Empowerment Universe,” October) is that there is a sure black people living in Sudan, Nige- Even when defeated, Germany was mathematical relationship between the ria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, etc. would able to resurrect in a very short time and size of the Earth and the moon. If you give their right arm to be able to live in start the Second World War (“Military can form a right-angle triangle, make the a country like the “racist” usa. Grow up, Empowerment by Stealth,” October). I base equal to the diameter of the Earth, Mr. Gates, and stop being so ungrateful. wonder about the result of their third and make the height of the triangle equal Bill—Sydney, Australia resurrection and the damage they will the diameter of the Earth plus the diam- cause. I pray that the citizen of America eter of the moon. If you then divide the This is an excellent analysis of the and his brothers will turn to their God base by the hypotenuse, you get 38 per- “race” issue that is a part of our national and cry for His protection. cent. This is called the “golden triangle.” fiber. I am a 66-year-old black man, who Akosah Boateng—Kumasi, Ghana Try Googling this term for a full explana- grew up in the “Jim Crow” South; Louisi- tion. This is also the triangle formed by ana to be exact. Never in all my life have I Respect the President the Great Pyramid of Giza (if you sliced had a confrontation with any law enforce- Very evenhanded article (“Respect it down the middle)—the Egyptians were ment officer. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong President Obama,” October). It’s amaz- aware of this mathematical relationship. taught there is “cause and effect.” The ing that some people who decry the Alex Smith—Sydney, Australia reason I never had any trouble with the lampooning of former President Bush by law was because I always showed the the media as a blight upon our country It is beyond me as to how anyone law its due respect. Most Harvard gradu- feel fully justified doing the same to our could look at the vast universe and say ates are extremely arrogant and full of current president. If you disagree with “it just happened.” Really amazing stuff! conceit. Mr. Gates would have done well the president’s actions (which I do by the Thank you. David Rhoton—Tennessee to take Mr. Colin Powell’s advice: Step way) then by all means voice your com- outside the door and “reflect.” I’ve done plaint. But when we lower ourselves as The Economy this many times in my lifetime. This tick- a people to crude humor and mocking, Excellent article (“Why Joseph ing time bomb exists all around us. The we only show our ignorance and lack of Should Be in Charge of the Economy,” best protection is to have on “the whole character. Nate—United States October), it sums up the dilemma of the armor” of God. whole economic crisis. The lesson of Lee Henderson Jr.—United States Joseph basically follows the sound prin- Corrections ciples of original Keynesianism: Store Imagine how many race cards are A reference in “Is Germany’s up funds of a budget surplus during the being played here in South Africa, which Charlemagne About to Appear?” boom years so that you can run a deficit is still happily applying discrimination (October) to a document by President when you need it during the recession based on color every day! All job applica- Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Min- years. Unfortunately, these sound prin- tion forms have “enter race” blocks to ister Winston Churchill saying it was ciples have been abandoned by the new, be completed, plus white employees are their purpose to “destroy German mil- perverted type of Keynesianism: reckless “legally” excluded from company share itarism and Nazism” said it was signed spending and permanent deficits. It is distributions every month. after the Allies defeated Germany in unfortunate but typical of human nature Dave Bawden—South Africa World War ii. In fact, it was signed in that clear logic could have been so easily February 1945 at the Yalta Conference. and successfully twisted by politicians and other figures who beguile the public The Jewish Institute for National with phrases like “Keynesian economics” Comments? Security Affairs was named incor- and “profitable investments” only to ad- [email protected] rectly in “‘Moderation in the Middle vance their selfish goals. or: The Trumpet, P.O. Box 1099, East” (October). F. Schirner—Nuremberg, Germany Edmond, OK 73083

36 November-December 2009 The Philadelphia Trumpet Commentary Youth and the Digital Drug Are we raising the dumbest generation? by ron fraser

ast year, a thought-provoking commentary on First Amendment says, the fate of Adam and Eve. … They steer our digital age was published titled The Dumbest Gen- young minds toward deeper wisdom and young tastes toward eration: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans finer consumptions. The story of heroes and villains from his- and Jeopardizes Our Future. Its author, Emory University tory sets the eminences of senior year in bracing relief.” LEnglish professor Mark Bauerlein, stirred up quite a hornet’s nest There exists clear biblical revelation as to the ultimate de- with his thesis that today’s youth are dumber than any prior gen- structive source of this great distraction—this digital drug—and eration due to their being hooked on digital technology. the ultimate intended goal. The Apostle Paul speaks of those who In the preface to his newly released paperback edition, Bauer- live their lives “according to the course of this world, according lein states that the initial release of his book caused no small brou- to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh haha. Despite some disagreement, he wrote, “A blank and broad in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). question lay on the table. Do the dig- It is of this “prince of the power ital diversions of the young cut kids of the air” and his demented minions off from history, civics, literature, that the Bible speaks when it warns fine art? Does mounting screen time that “we wrestle not against flesh dumb them down?” He thinks the and blood, but against principalities, answer is yes. The observable facts against powers, against the rulers of clearly support that conclusion. the darkness of this world, against The average American youth spiritual wickedness in high places” spends no more than eight minutes (Ephesians 6:12). per day reading. This fact, Bauerlein Through the digital drug, this suggests, “points to what may be the malevolent spiritual force can exert great social consequence of the digi- an influence unique to our time. As tal advent. It turns on, precisely, the Bauerlein portrays it, “Youths un- relationship of generations and the dergo an intense awareness of one duties of elders. For, we all agree, one responsibility of adults in another, a high-pressure social feeling. The stakes are high—is our society is to acquaint the rising generation to a civic and cul- anything worse than exclusion?—and so they have to tune in, to tural inheritance. They have the experience and perspective that manage that omnipresence. They don’t really enjoy it, for when come with aging; the young do not. Teenagers live in the present they leave my class and flip open the cell they register concern, and the immediate. What happened long ago and far away doesn’t not glee. But if they don’t check in, they don’t know whether impress them. They care about what occurred last week in the caf- something big might have happened. Peer pressure long preced- eteria, not what took place during the Depression. They heed the ed the microchip, of course, but e-mail, cell phone and the rest words of Facebook, not the Gettysburg Address. They focus on have cranked it up to critical levels, fostering an all-peers-all- other kids in English class, not leaders in d.c.” (emphasis mine). the-time network. Communication is horizontal, centered on a That the digital distractions hamper the transfer of quality narrow age-bracket, while parents and teachers hover outside the knowledge to youth is a reality unique to our age. loop baffled by the immersion.” If the adult members of a society refuse to—or are incapable The good professor argues that “Late-teens and early-20- of even beginning to—inculcate into the minds of following gen- somethings stand at a delicate threshold that marks the most im- erations the best of the cultural heritage of their forebears, then portant intellectual growth of their life. They have passed the ba- that society is dooming itself to its own destruction. sic skills of elementary and middle school, and now they acquire Professor Bauerlein observes correctly that “Maturity follows the higher knowledge and understanding requisite to good citi- a formula: The more kids contact one another, the less they heed zenship and tasteful consumption. These are the years in which the tutelage of adults. When peer consciousness grows too fixed they read good books, discuss great ideas, judge past events, and and firm, the teacher’s voice counts for nothing outside the class- form moral scruples. If it doesn’t happen in high school, in col- room. When youth identity envelopes them, parent talk at the lege, and in the home at this time, it probably never will.” dinner table only distracts them.” There is one book that many have proven to be the ultimate Knowing that “the lure of school gossip, fear of ridicule, the tool in raising responsible youth accountable for their own ac- urge to belong” are uppermost in the average youth’s mind, Bau- tions. It is the Bible. Never in its entire history since its original erlein issues his most powerful challenge to adults. For youth “to canonization has this Book of books been so easy for the open, un- grow up into mindful citizens and discerning consumers, then, prejudiced mind to understand. For parents, that’s the Book that adolescents must break the social circuit and think beyond the is the most essential tool to place in the hands of your children clique and the schoolyard. But they can’t do it themselves—peer to ensure they avoid becoming part of “the dumbest generation.” pressure is too strong—and so adults must help draw them away. Request a free copy of our booklet The Proof of the Bible for an Mentors can provide instruction in bigger things: the op-ed page, eye-opening account of the power that biblical revelation can have actions of Congress, … what transpired in the Gulag, what the on helping you obtain true success for you and your family! n

photos to go The Philadelphia Trumpet November-December 2009 37 Preparing the armies of Armageddon? What the Bible reveals may shock you!

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