by Staff
December 17, 2009
(christiansunite.com) - The leader of a house church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China was released on November 30 after authorities arbitrarily detained him without warrant on November 23.
Officials and local villagers targeted Shao Wangui after he and his brother, owners of the Xinba Shoes Factory, refused to pay a fee to support the building of a Buddhist temple in their village. Wangui also asked the members of his house church to refuse to support the construction project.
When the village secretary found out about Wangui's actions, he began initiating a campaign of mistreatment against the known believers in the community. In late November, local "vandals" destroyed the brothers' factory as punishment for their refusal to provide funds.
source: http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion08849.shtml
Thursday, December 17, 2009
"If there will be a war, I am sure we will win"
Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi described his pride in the soldiers of the IDF in an interview with Israel Army Radio
"I think we understand our responsibility in the environment that we live in. The job of the IDF is to be prepared always, and if there will be a war – I am sure we will win." These words were spoken by the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, in an interview Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 16) with Israel Army Radio during the broadcast of the Sherutrom IDF Soldiers Appreciation Day.
The Chief of the General Staff spoke about the activities of the IDF during Operation Cast Lead and emphasized that he is not aware of a single incident of a soldier taking arms and deliberately harming innocent civilians. "We know how other militaries fight, and knowing this, the mistakes we made were explicitly less grave than those of any other place in the world," he said. "I was proud to command the soldiers who fought there in extremely complex situations, there has been no war more righteous than this war, and Hamas placed itself in residential areas with the intent of preventing the IDF from using its power and harming them."
He continued to explain that "because of Operation Cast Lead we received a better security reality. From this mission we gained a strong advantage." That being said, he stressed: "We are not delusional and cannot be sure that this reality will be maintained for a long while."
Regarding the disclosure of insubordination which has come up of late in the IDF, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi commented that "the soldiers will be taken care of with the full force of the law," and emphasized: "We cannot accept that kind of behavior, in the end it will have to be understood that the military cannot be divided."
The Chief of the General Staff explained that in those incidents of insubordination the soldiers did not take an active role in evacuating residents and that was a result of a fundamental perspective, and he said: "For matters dealing with civilians, we will know to use police officers who are more experienced and more mature, and we will use soldiers for missions of security when we can."
source: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/12/1604.htm
"I think we understand our responsibility in the environment that we live in. The job of the IDF is to be prepared always, and if there will be a war – I am sure we will win." These words were spoken by the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, in an interview Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 16) with Israel Army Radio during the broadcast of the Sherutrom IDF Soldiers Appreciation Day.
The Chief of the General Staff spoke about the activities of the IDF during Operation Cast Lead and emphasized that he is not aware of a single incident of a soldier taking arms and deliberately harming innocent civilians. "We know how other militaries fight, and knowing this, the mistakes we made were explicitly less grave than those of any other place in the world," he said. "I was proud to command the soldiers who fought there in extremely complex situations, there has been no war more righteous than this war, and Hamas placed itself in residential areas with the intent of preventing the IDF from using its power and harming them."
He continued to explain that "because of Operation Cast Lead we received a better security reality. From this mission we gained a strong advantage." That being said, he stressed: "We are not delusional and cannot be sure that this reality will be maintained for a long while."
Regarding the disclosure of insubordination which has come up of late in the IDF, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi commented that "the soldiers will be taken care of with the full force of the law," and emphasized: "We cannot accept that kind of behavior, in the end it will have to be understood that the military cannot be divided."
The Chief of the General Staff explained that in those incidents of insubordination the soldiers did not take an active role in evacuating residents and that was a result of a fundamental perspective, and he said: "For matters dealing with civilians, we will know to use police officers who are more experienced and more mature, and we will use soldiers for missions of security when we can."
source: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/12/1604.htm
Iran Provokes West with Advanced Missile Test
WASHINGTON -- Iran once again thumbed its nose at the West on Wednesday, testing an upgraded long-range missile that can reach as far as southeastern Europe. It can also hit any target in Israel.
The test comes as the Muslim nation continues its march toward nuclear weapons.
Iran's Stocking Stuffer: A Long Range Missile
Those looking for some encouraging news out of Iran this Christmas season should prepare to be disappointed. The Iranians' latest stocking stuffer for the West is an upgraded version of the long range Sajjil-2 missile.
Iranian military officials boasted that the high-speed, surface-to-surface weapon has radar-evading capability. Its range is 1,200 miles, putting all of Israel and parts of Europe in its cross-hairs.
source: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2009/December/Iran-Provokes-West-with-Advanced-Missile-Test/
The missile test comes as Western leaders are busy debating climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.
One of those leaders, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said the test underscores the need for tougher international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear weapons program. But with Iran's allies, Russia and China, continuing to drag their feet, it's unlikely he'll get them.
The new Sajjil-2's debut came just one day after U.S. lawmakers in the House passed legislation that would impose sanctions on foreign companies that supply refined gas to Tehran.
However, the Iranian regime continues to scoff at the possibility of such sanctions and President Barack Obama's repeated attempts at diplomacy.
U.S. Losing Patience
As the mullahs push full speed ahead with their nuclear program, administration officials admit they're losing patience
"I don't think anyone can doubt that our outreach has produced very little in terms of any type of positive response from the Iranians," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
In recent days, western diplomats have expressed concern that Tehran had been testing a neutron initiator. It's a key element of the nuclear weapons cycle that has no peaceful purpose. So the window for meaningful action against Iran may be closing rapidly.
The U.S. military is currently preparing a missile defense drill that would simulate an Iranian attack.
Meanwhile, leaders in Israel say that all options - including a military strike - remain on the table regarding Iran's nuclear program.
The test comes as the Muslim nation continues its march toward nuclear weapons.
Iran's Stocking Stuffer: A Long Range Missile
Those looking for some encouraging news out of Iran this Christmas season should prepare to be disappointed. The Iranians' latest stocking stuffer for the West is an upgraded version of the long range Sajjil-2 missile.
Iranian military officials boasted that the high-speed, surface-to-surface weapon has radar-evading capability. Its range is 1,200 miles, putting all of Israel and parts of Europe in its cross-hairs.
source: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2009/December/Iran-Provokes-West-with-Advanced-Missile-Test/
The missile test comes as Western leaders are busy debating climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.
One of those leaders, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said the test underscores the need for tougher international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear weapons program. But with Iran's allies, Russia and China, continuing to drag their feet, it's unlikely he'll get them.
The new Sajjil-2's debut came just one day after U.S. lawmakers in the House passed legislation that would impose sanctions on foreign companies that supply refined gas to Tehran.
However, the Iranian regime continues to scoff at the possibility of such sanctions and President Barack Obama's repeated attempts at diplomacy.
U.S. Losing Patience
As the mullahs push full speed ahead with their nuclear program, administration officials admit they're losing patience
"I don't think anyone can doubt that our outreach has produced very little in terms of any type of positive response from the Iranians," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
In recent days, western diplomats have expressed concern that Tehran had been testing a neutron initiator. It's a key element of the nuclear weapons cycle that has no peaceful purpose. So the window for meaningful action against Iran may be closing rapidly.
The U.S. military is currently preparing a missile defense drill that would simulate an Iranian attack.
Meanwhile, leaders in Israel say that all options - including a military strike - remain on the table regarding Iran's nuclear program.
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