Posted by
peripheral on Friday, April 24, 2009 5:51:53 AM
From My Perspective - - -
For
more than thirty (30) years, the United States has been involved in
conflicts and increasingly tense relationships in the Arab-Muslim
world, particularly with Iran (and the hostage crisis 1979-81) and then
Iraq (1990-91, and 2003 to the present). It has cost our nation dearly
in terms of life, limb, treasure and prestige.
Events move so
quickly in our world that they become almost a blur in our thinking.
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the
United States where 52 U.S. diplomats were held hostage for 444 days
from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist
students took over the American embassy in support of the Iranian
revolution. One of the revolutionaries pictured in that hostage
situation is now President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. In Iraq, there
was “Operation Desert Storm”—Aug. 2, 1990-Feb. 1991 – On August 2,
1990, Iraqi forces invaded and quickly conquered the small, oil-rich
emirate of Kuwait. Almost immediately, an international coalition of
nations gathered a powerful military force under the authority of the
United Nations and the leadership of the United States to defend the
oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to force Iraq to withdraw from
occupied Kuwait. The "No-Fly Zone War" --1991-2003--Following the
cease-fire ending the Gulf War, the Allies, (America, England, France)
had the right to conduct air patrols over parts of Iraq to ensure Iraqi
compliance with the cease-fire terms. Currently, “Operation Iraqi
Freedom”)—March 19, 2003- Present– The current war can be seen in at
least two distinct phases: The Invasion and the Occupation. Though
Saddam's regime fell fairly quickly, the insurgency was able to gain
strength in large part because the U.S. and Coalition leadership was
slow to recognize that they had a guerrilla movement underway.
The
Jerusalem Post learned and reported (August 8, 2007) that despite a
series of initiatives aimed at generating foreign tourism, the Saudi
Arabian government continues to bar Jews and Christians from bringing
items such as Bibles, crucifixes and Stars of David into the country
and is threatening to confiscate them on sight, It was included in the
tourist information of Saudi Arabian Airlines in New York: "A number of
items are not allowed to be brought into the kingdom due to religious
reasons and local regulations," declares the Web site of Saudi Arabian
Airlines, the country's national carrier. After informing would-be
visitors that items such as narcotics, firearms and pornography may not
be transported into the country, the Web site adds: "Items and articles
belonging to religions other than Islam are also prohibited. These may
include Bibles, crucifixes, statues, carvings, items with religious
symbols such as the Star of David, and others."
Consider these
things with me - - - In his book, It Doesn’t Take A Hero, General H.
Norman Schwarzkopf comments on Operation Desert Storm/Shield. He also
mentions the tension with Saudi Arabia regarding our Military Chaplains
displaying a cross on their uniforms or tents. Ironically, before
President Barack Obama spoke from Gaston Hall at Georgetown University
(Georgetown is a private Catholic institution founded by Jesuits in
1789) last week, his advance team requested that the university hide or
remove any religious symbols or signs while the president was on stage.
Of the more prominent was a monogram IHS, whose letters in Greek spell
out the name of Jesus and which is normally displayed above the stage
in Gaston Hall. During the address, the monogram was covered with what
appeared to be black wood. The auditorium in which the president spoke
is normally adorned with religious imagery, but only the symbols
directly on the stage — those likely to be picked up by a television
camera — were obscured. We are reminded in Psalm 50:16-23: “But to the
wicked God says… I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. Mark this,
then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to
deliver!” And Psalm 9:17-20, “The wicked will go down to hell (sheol) -
This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God… Arise, O LORD! Do
not let mere mortals defy you! Let the nations be judged in your
presence!...” President Obama chose to cover-up the Greek Symbol for
Jesus! Why? Is this a new political correctness to appease the Muslim
world? Is our President fearful or ashamed to be identified with Jesus?
Can judgment upon our nation be far off?