Prophetic Times
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WEEKLY WORLD NEWS UPDATE |
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA |
US REBUFFS FRANCO-GERMAN OBJECTIONS TO NEW UN RESOLUTION
September 4, 2003
Xinhua News Agency reports: A Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday rebuffed objections by French and German leaders to a new United Nations resolution on Iraq, insisting that the US draft has already met their concerns."I think the resolution is drafted in a way that deals with the concerns that leaders such as President (Jacques) Chirac and Chancellor (Gerhard) Schroeder have raised in the past," Powell told reporters in a joint appearance with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. "If they have suggestions, we'd be more than happy to listen to their suggestions," Powell added.
The US secretary made the remarks after both President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder on Thursday rejected the US draft for not going far enough to transfer powers to Iraqis. Powell said he had just gotten a first report of what President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder said and would study their statements further.
"We are in the process of discussing a resolution with all of the Security Council members. And I'd be delighted to receive their constructive input and take it from there," the secretary said.
France and Germany, both staunchly opposed the US-led war against Iraq, support a central role for the United Nations in the postwar Iraq.@
SHARON TAPS MOSSAD CHIEF TO LEAD ANTI-NUCLEAR EFFORTS ON IRAN
September 4, 2003
Ha'aretz reports: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to hand over responsibility for coordinating and leading Israel's effort to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons to Mossad chief Meir Dagan.Sharon's office believes it is logical for the mission to move to the Mossad, which can gather intelligence, analyze and assess it and, in the future, perhaps conduct operations.
Israel regards the emerging Iranian nuclear threat as the most critical to its national security. According to Israel Defense Forces Military Intelligence assessments, Iran will cross the point of no return in another year, at which time it will be able to create fissionable material for bombs. By 2006, it will have operational nuclear weapons. For the last six years, Israel has been conducting a diplomatic campaign, primarily with the help of the United States, to block or at least delay the Iranian projectY "
ISRAEL URGES EU TO STOP IRAN NUKE PROGRAMSeptember 1, 2003
The Associated Press reports: A A nuclear-capable Iran would pose a grave danger to the world, Israel said Sunday as it urged the European Union and the international community to help prevent that > nightmare scenario= from becoming reality. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom discussed the concerns in a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, fresh from talks in Tehran.> Iran's nuclear program is a grave threat, not only to Israel but to Europe and the whole free world,= Shalom said after the meeting. > Iran is fast approaching the point of no return in its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capabilities.=
Iran insists it is not seeking to make atomic weapons and that its nuclear programs are for generating electricity, but Israel and the United States have expressed concern. The United States alleges Iran has been secretly developing nuclear weapons. Mohammed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said traces of weapons-grade uranium were found at a nuclear facility at Natanz in central Iran.
While in Iran, Solana urged President Mohammad Khatami to clear up questions about the Iranian nuclear program and allow unfettered inspections of related sites.
> It is evident and crucial that Europe and the entire international community act to ensure this nightmare scenario is prevented for the benefit of all nations,= Shalom said.
Israel has never confirmed being a nuclear power, but it is widely believed to have nuclear weaponsY @
SAUDI ARABIA MOVES F-15s TO TABUK
September 4, 2003
The Middle East Newsline reports: "Saudi Arabia has transferred much of its F-15 fighter-jet fleet to the northern air force base at Tabuk in what has been termed a violation of the kingdom's pledge to the United States.Israeli defense sources said the F-15s were transferred on the eve of the U.S.-led war in Iraq in March to protect them against Iraqi air or missile attack. The sources said the kingdom has refused to return the F-15s to their original bases in central and eastern Saudi Arabia despite the fall of the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in April.
The United States has asked the Saudi kingdom to return the F-15s to their bases, the sources said. They said the U.S. request was prompted by Israeli concern that the F-15s present a military threat to the Jewish state.
Saudi Arabia has more than 150 F-15s, purchased in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1995, Riyad procured 72 F-15E aircraft, renamed the S model. In 1982, the kingdom bought 91 F-15C/D aircraftY "
ISRAEL VOWS 'ALL-OUT WAR' ON HAMAS
September 2, 2003
CNN reports: "Israel declared 'all-out war' against Hamas Monday and said it is freezing diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority unless the Palestinian leadership takes 'tangible steps to deal with infrastructures of terror.' A statement released after a Cabinet meeting cited Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as saying the August 19 bus bombing in Jerusalem had 'broken the track that was supposed to give the diplomatic process a chance.'Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told CNNRadio that military means was not the way to secure peace. He added that breaking off ties with the Palestinian Authority will prevent the road map to peace from ever being implemented.
Before the Israeli announcement, Israeli military helicopters fired missiles at Hamas members Monday in Gaza City. Israeli security sources said a helicopter fired on 'a car loaded with arms ... killing two Hamas military activists.' They were identified as Khader Housari, 40, and Munther Kanitha, 32.@
SAUDI EXTREMISTS SAID FIGHTING IN IRAQ
August 31, 2003
The Associated Press reports: A Despite official denials, there have been signs for months that Saudi Muslim extremists have traveled to Iraq to take on U.S.-led forces. Internet memorials to those who died fighting the Americans have popped up and Saudis are quietly swapping tales said to be from the front lines. Many of the men going to Iraq had previously fought in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Bosnia and were experts on guerrilla warfare, said Abdullah Bjad al-Otaibi, who once counted himself among the extremists and now writes about them for Saudi newspapers.Saudi extremists are > looking to die and the quickest way to heaven, as far as they're concerned, is fighting infidels, in this case represented by the U.S. forces in Iraq,= al-Otaibi said. > Nothing inflames their emotions like the presence of U.S. troops in a Muslim country. The presence of the troops in Iraq, especially with the instability there, is like a magnet to them.=
Saudi officials, sensitive to any charges extremism may be emanating from the kingdom, have categorically dismissed the possibility their citizens are fighting in Iraq. In an interview with the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat published Saturday, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef called such allegations > baseless= ... @
L. Jim Tuck, Pastor
UCGIA Oakland, San Jose, Stockton, and Santa Rosa
ljtuc@msn.com