Israel Prepares for Massive Ground Assault

Wars and Rumors of Wars Alert: Just when you thought it was all over, there is more action in the Middle East. Also, it's important to remember that the problems in Gaza began before the Lebanese problem. From Breitbart News:

Israel has ratcheted up threats of a massive ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, amid an ongoing war of words with the ruling Hamas movement which has vowed to teach the army a harsh lesson.

"Gaza should not become a second Lebanon," said Immigrant Absorption Minister Zeev Boim on Tuesday, reiterating a phrase used by Israeli leaders recently to mean the territory should not become a bastion of militant resistance.

"Apparently we will not have any other choice but to launch an expanded operation, like Defensive Shield, in order to destroy the stockpiles of weapons and to hit the terrorist organizations," said Boim, a close ally of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Read entire article HERE

Breaking: QUAKE SWARM HITS HAWAII

Earthquakes in Diverse Places Alert: AP Reports:

HONOLULU (AP) - A strong earthquake shook Hawaii early Sunday, causing a landslide that blocked a major highway on Hawaii Island and knocking out power across the state, authorities said.

The state Civil Defense had unconfirmed reports of injuries, but communication problems prevented more definite reports. People were also trapped in elevators in Oahu, authorities said.

[...]

The quake hit at 7:07 a.m. local time, 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Center reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, while the U.S. Geological Survey gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.6. It was followed by several strong aftershocks, including one measuring a magnitude of 5.8, the Geological Survey said.

Read entire story HERE.

Grain Stockpiles at Lowest for 25 Years

Famines, Plagues and Pestilence Alert: Another signpost on the downhill road leading to the end of days. We're in a time of plenty, yet we can't manage to prepare for the future when times will likely not be as pleasant. Let this serve as another reminder that we must get our own houses in order (stock up on emergency supplies), since we will likely not be able to count on the government or anyone else to bail us out if there is a worldwide calamity (pandemic flu, nuclear terrorism, etc.). Watch and be ready!

From the Financial Times:

The world’s stockpiles of wheat are at their lowest level in more than a quarter century, according to the US Department of Agriculture, which on Thursday slashed its forecasts for global wheat and corn production.

[...]

To add to the global supply concerns, Ukraine has introduced licences and quotas on its wheat exports, effectively bringing shipments to a standstill. This has already halted Ukrainian wheat shipments of 50,000 tonnes to India. The USDA also lowered wheat output for China, Brazil and the European Union.

[...]

“The concern now is what happens next year. If we have poor conditions for growing wheat again, supplies could get very tight and we might see some demand rationing,” said Dan Cekander, grains analyst at Fimat.

Read entire article HERE.

North Korea Nukes the World

Wars and Rumors of Wars Alert: In a stunning move, the North Korean government has apparently tested a nuclear weapon in defiance of international law. This may set off an arms race in Japan (which has not had an army or significant military force since 1945) and destabilize the entire region. Stay tuned for updates.

From Reuters:

SEOUL - North Korea said on Monday it had safely and successfully carried out an underground nuclear test in a gesture of defiance as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in South Korea.

"The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 percent," North Korea's Korean Central News Agency said.

Read entire article HERE

Exlosion registers 4.2 on Richter Scale.

North Korea Announces it Will Test Nuclear Bomb

Wars and Rumors of Wars alert (from CNN):

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- North Korea, citing American belligerence and pressure, said Tuesday it will conduct a nuclear test.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry issued the comment in a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, the communist country's official news agency.

Entire article HERE.

Disturbing Trends

Over the past few weeks, the world has been charting a perilous course that will take it through destructive waters. I cite several incidents that seem to be echoing the state of panicked commotion that is permeating the various inhabitants of our planet.

FATWA Issued to "Kill the Pope" (International Terrorism Monitor)

Acting on behalf of the International Islamic Front (IIF) for Jihad Against the Crusaders and the Jewish People, which is headed by Osama bin Laden, the Markaz-ud-Dawa (MUD) of Pakistan, which is the political wing of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), is reported to have issued a Fatwa calling upon the Muslims to kill Pope Benedict XVI for a recent speech of his delivered on September 12,2006, which has been projected as anti-Islam by Al Qaeda and other jihadi terrorist organisations of the world.

US Political Parties Go to War

As if there wasn't enough hatred, bitterness and execration preceding this November's Congressional elections, the Rep. Foley scandal threatens to bring the whole House of Representatives down as battling parties attempt to define one man's actions as a political problem, while both sides attempt to indict the entire opposing party over the House Page Scandal.

This adds to one of the most bitter, ruthless and partisan elections cycles in history, as candidates attack one another without reservation or honor. In my 10 years of working on Capitol Hill, I have personally never seen such outright rage between parties, as each lust over power in new and deceitful ways.

General Violence

Three fatal school shootings in a week
Banks attacked in Mexican city
Pakistan Behind Mumbai Bombings?

Wars and Rumors of Wars

Israel on High Alert for Syrian Attack (Telegraph)

Israel has gone on heightened alert over a possible war with Syria amid reports that President Bashar Assad may be considering military strikes to regain the Golan Heights.

	A signpost points out that Damascus is a mere 60kms from the Golan Heights

For years Israeli military intelligence has down-played Syria's capacity to launch a meaningful attack against Israel, and the threat level has been kept "low".

But Israeli reports have revealed that the threat level had been raised after intelligence assessments that Damascus is "seriously examining" military action.

The raised threat level comes as Israel prepares for Monday's Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur, a solemn Jewish holiday when the entire country effectively shuts down as residents fast and seek forgiveness for sins.

Disasters, Plagues and Pestilence

Earthquake in Maine
Locust Plague Encircles Cancun Resort
E-Coli Outbreak May be More Potent Than Others