This morning, I read a very brief, but telling, news report from Pakistan. When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited there recently, she spoke at the Government College and took questions from the students. One young lady asked her directly, "What guarantee can Americans give Pakistan that we can now trust you... that you guys are not going to betray us like the Americans did in the past when they wanted to destabilize the Russians?"
In the face of President Obama's indecision about Afghanistan, that's the $64,000 question. If he can't decide whether to grant his hand-picked commander's request; if we don't have the commitment to finish the job in Afghanistan, how can Pakistan know that we'll stand by them if they take the necessary steps to defeat the Taliban in their country? How can they know that we won't abandon nearby Afghanistan to the very forces that are now seeking to take control of Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal?
On this week's edition of "The Hal Lindsey Report", I'll examine the status and prospects of our present policy toward the Afghanistan war, the "righteous war." We are rapidly nearing the point of no return in that desolate and difficult country.
Recently, the Foreign Minister of France warned that there will come a time when Israel will act -- alone, if necessary -- to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He cautioned that the West needs to act and act soon. The danger is that Iran will obfuscate and stall and 'renegotiate' so long that, at the first sign of any acquiescence, the UN and the world will accept its offer, however meager, and consider the matter settled. As Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, points out, once that happens and Iran gets the right to enrich and upgrade ANY uranium to weapons-grade status, it then has legitimacy in the eyes of the world. After that, any move to destroy or retard that program will be considered an attack on legitimate rights granted by the world at large. In other words, it will be too late.
Because of America's loss of nerve and its unwillingness to confront Iran, Israelis have now come to believe that they can no longer trust America (sound familiar?). In fact, recent "Jerusalem Post" surveys indicate that 96% of Israeli citizens believe that America is no longer pro-Israel! That's why the European Union (remember France's Foreign Minister?) seems to be stepping forward to assume the mantle of chief Middle East Peace mediator. After all, the Middle East is practically in Europe's backyard and, thus, is of more importance to them than it is to America.
Not coincidentally, the Bible predicts that in the last days a man will rise from the revived form of the old Roman Empire (Europe) to take charge and guarantee Israel's safety.
Last weekend, violent clashes broke out on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Israeli police had to storm the Temple Mount twice to quell the riots and prevent injury to the worshippers at the Wailing Wall. Clashes between Palestinian youth and the Israeli police are once again becoming common. History proves that these Temple Mount clashes usually lead to 'intifadas.' The influence of Yasser Arafat lives on!
Some observers feel that the palpable turn taken by Washington against Israel, evidenced by President Obama's recent referral at the UN to "the Israeli occupation" (the first time a sitting US President has done so), sends a message of tacit approval to the PA to ratchet up the pressure on Israel. Even now I can hear the words and warnings of Zechariah the prophet ringing across those ancient hills.
Finally, I'm going to take a few minutes to review with you why the Temple Mount, the most strategic place on earth, is also the most volatile tinderbox on earth. And it's dangerously close to igniting.
Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, Inspiration, various local stations,
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God Bless,
Hal Lindsey
mail: HLMM, P.O.Box 1475, Palm Desert, CA 92261
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