President Obama last night did a flip-flop on his policy on Syria by ruling out sending U.S. troops to that nation, despite the fact that he had definitively asserted that he would do so over a year ago, if Syria used chemical weapons in its civil war against its rebels, the Washington Times website reports today (May 4, 2013).
Scientists have confirmed that Syrian President Assad did, in fact, use chemical weapons recently against Syrian rebels, which resulted in the death of several people. More than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria's civil war which has been going on for over two years. Syrian rebels have said that they feel "let down" by the failure of the United States to assist them with its military power in their ongoing struggle to overthrow their dictator president.
"I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground in Syria, would not only be good for America, but also would be good for Syria," Obama said last night at a news conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, where he is attending an international summit.
More than a year ago, Obama had promised to send U.S. troops to Syria if it used chemical weapons in its civil war. Now, his complete reversal in policy has damaged his credibility and has tended to portray him as a bluff -- at least insofar as U.S. military action is concerned.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
CNN Exclusive: Israel Pursued Airstrike in Syria; Due to Syria's Use of Chemicals in Its Civil War?
Israel has conducted an airstrike in Syria -- perhaps targeting a chemical weapons building -- a U.S. official said today (May 3, 2013), according to an exclusive CNN website report.
CNN quoted two unnamed U.S. officials as saying Israel most likely conducted the strike yesterday or today, and that Israel's warplanes did not enter Syrian airspace; however, the U.S. collected information showing Israeli warplanes overflying Lebanon, Syria's neighbor.
A White House spokeswoman referred questions on the CNN report to the Israeli government. The Pentagon declined to comment, as did the Israeli government.
There has been much speculation in recent days of the likelihood of a U.S. or Israeli attack on Syria, because recent tests confirm that Syria used chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war against its rebels -- in effect, killing several of them -- a month or so ago. President Obama had said -- more than a year ago -- that if Syrian President Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian rebels, the U.S. would retaliate with military action.
CNN quoted two unnamed U.S. officials as saying Israel most likely conducted the strike yesterday or today, and that Israel's warplanes did not enter Syrian airspace; however, the U.S. collected information showing Israeli warplanes overflying Lebanon, Syria's neighbor.
A White House spokeswoman referred questions on the CNN report to the Israeli government. The Pentagon declined to comment, as did the Israeli government.
There has been much speculation in recent days of the likelihood of a U.S. or Israeli attack on Syria, because recent tests confirm that Syria used chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war against its rebels -- in effect, killing several of them -- a month or so ago. President Obama had said -- more than a year ago -- that if Syrian President Assad used chemical weapons against Syrian rebels, the U.S. would retaliate with military action.
Billy Graham Asserts America's Crisis Is Spiritual; If We Don't Solve It US Doomed Like Past Powers
The Rev. Billy Graham -- one of the most famous evangelists in the world -- recently reminded followers of a popular speech he made in 1973, titled "The National Crisis," and said that today America is diseased by sin and faces some of its biggest challenges, the Christian Post website reports today (May 3, 2013).
"Our newspapers and our television screens are bringing news of a hundred and one dangerous problems that are rocking the world. Each day seems to add to our already impressive number of crises here at home -- an accelerating crime rate, mass murders, soaring drug use, rampant inflation, pollution, the breakdown of families, a jittery stock market, the 94-year-old evangelist said.
Reflecting on his 1973 speech -- after the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in the country -- Graham said that during the past year, "American people have suffered an emotional trauma that has had few parallels in our history."
Despite political tension and the still struggling economy, the evangelist said that the real crisis that confronts people in our nation is moral and spiritual, not political or economic. "If we fail to solve this moral and spiritual crisis, we may be doomed like the great nations of the past," Graham warned. He concluded that to solve our crisis, "Our nation must seek again the way of God and walk in the law of God."
"Our newspapers and our television screens are bringing news of a hundred and one dangerous problems that are rocking the world. Each day seems to add to our already impressive number of crises here at home -- an accelerating crime rate, mass murders, soaring drug use, rampant inflation, pollution, the breakdown of families, a jittery stock market, the 94-year-old evangelist said.
Reflecting on his 1973 speech -- after the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion in the country -- Graham said that during the past year, "American people have suffered an emotional trauma that has had few parallels in our history."
Despite political tension and the still struggling economy, the evangelist said that the real crisis that confronts people in our nation is moral and spiritual, not political or economic. "If we fail to solve this moral and spiritual crisis, we may be doomed like the great nations of the past," Graham warned. He concluded that to solve our crisis, "Our nation must seek again the way of God and walk in the law of God."
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Former Pope Benedict, 86, Moves Back to Vatican; Is 1st Time a Retired Pope and Ruling Pope Coexist
Benedict XVI moved back to the Vatican today (May 2, 2013), opening an unprecedented era in Catholic Church history where an "emeritus pope" and a ruling pontiff will live as neighbors for the first time, according to the Reuters website.
Benedict -- the first pope to abdicate in 600 years -- will live out his retirement in a restored convent in the Vatican gardens with a view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and just a short walk from the residence of his successor, Pope Francis.
Benedict, 86, arrived by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence south of Rome, where he had been staying since February 28 while the convent was being restored.
Francis, 76, greeted Benedict in front of the convent, the first time they have met since March 23, when Francis visited Benedict at Castel Gandolfo and Benedict renewed a pledge of "unconditional reverence and obedience" to Francis.
Benedict -- the first pope to abdicate in 600 years -- will live out his retirement in a restored convent in the Vatican gardens with a view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and just a short walk from the residence of his successor, Pope Francis.
Benedict, 86, arrived by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence south of Rome, where he had been staying since February 28 while the convent was being restored.
Francis, 76, greeted Benedict in front of the convent, the first time they have met since March 23, when Francis visited Benedict at Castel Gandolfo and Benedict renewed a pledge of "unconditional reverence and obedience" to Francis.
Giving Food to Greeks Only Sparks Athens Protest; Greece's Golden Dawn Party Opposes Immigrants
An attempt by Greece's extremist Golden Dawn party to hand out food to Greeks only -- in defiance of a municipal ban -- resulted in chaos today (May 2, 2012) with the mayor of Athens saying a party lawmaker tried to punch him, according to the Telegraph (British) website.
The punch missed its target, landing instead on a 12-year-old girl's forehead. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured. Security guards restrained the legislator, Giorgos Germenis.
The Golden Dawn party -- whose members have been repeatedly linked with violent attacks on Greece's large immigrant population -- had said it would give food to needy Greeks in Athens' Syntagma Square, opposite Parliament, ahead of the Greek Orthodox Easter being celebrated this Sunday (May 5).
Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis had banned such events in the city's central square and vowed not to allow the "soup kitchen of hate" to take place. Party members arrived at the square more than two hours earlier than announced, and began handing out bags of food after checking recipients' identity cards.
The punch missed its target, landing instead on a 12-year-old girl's forehead. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured. Security guards restrained the legislator, Giorgos Germenis.
The Golden Dawn party -- whose members have been repeatedly linked with violent attacks on Greece's large immigrant population -- had said it would give food to needy Greeks in Athens' Syntagma Square, opposite Parliament, ahead of the Greek Orthodox Easter being celebrated this Sunday (May 5).
Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis had banned such events in the city's central square and vowed not to allow the "soup kitchen of hate" to take place. Party members arrived at the square more than two hours earlier than announced, and began handing out bags of food after checking recipients' identity cards.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Colorado Civil-Unions Law Goes Into Effect Today; Hundreds of Gay, Lesbian Couples Exchange Vows
Hundreds of Colorado gay and lesbian couples put an official government seal on their relationships after midnight today (May 1, 2013) after the state's civil-unions law took effect, according to the Denver Post website.
Many gay and lesbian couples received a partnership license and then exchanged vows.
The couples gushed over their opportunity to hold the first piece of government acknowledgment of their relationships, granting them many of the same rights as married couples.
The group represented a wide array of ages and races, with some in formal attire and others in jeans and T-shirts.
Many gay and lesbian couples received a partnership license and then exchanged vows.
The couples gushed over their opportunity to hold the first piece of government acknowledgment of their relationships, granting them many of the same rights as married couples.
The group represented a wide array of ages and races, with some in formal attire and others in jeans and T-shirts.
USCIRF Inducts 15 Into "National Hall of Shame;" Nations That Are Worst Offenders of Rel. Liberty
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has named 15 nations where abuse of religious liberty is "systematic, egregious, and ongoing," the Religion News website reports today (May 1, 2013).
Of its 15-nation list of the worse offenders, USCIRF includes eight nations that the U.S. State Department also considers "Countries of Particular Concern:" Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.
The commission wants the State Department to add seven more: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.
Turkey -- which was listed as a worse offender of religious liberty by USCIRF last year -- was not listed this year. Turkey became furious last year after it was listed, and called the designation unfounded and damaging to USCIRF's reputation. Nonetheless, Turkey is still being highly criticized by the commission for failing to reopen the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary -- located on an island off the coast of Istanbul -- which it closed down in 1971.
Of its 15-nation list of the worse offenders, USCIRF includes eight nations that the U.S. State Department also considers "Countries of Particular Concern:" Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.
The commission wants the State Department to add seven more: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.
Turkey -- which was listed as a worse offender of religious liberty by USCIRF last year -- was not listed this year. Turkey became furious last year after it was listed, and called the designation unfounded and damaging to USCIRF's reputation. Nonetheless, Turkey is still being highly criticized by the commission for failing to reopen the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary -- located on an island off the coast of Istanbul -- which it closed down in 1971.
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