Ten news stories

Ten news stories, with no particular unifying theme other than they struck me as interesting.

Christian Zionism: An Egregious Threat to US- Middle East Understanding Palestinian Chronicle 10/27/06:

Christian Zionism, a belief that paradise for Christians can only be achieved once Jews are in control of the Holy Land, is gathering strength in the United States and forging alliances that are giving increasingly weird shape to American policy toward the Middle East.  The nature of the movement and its detrimental impact on policy was the subject of the 22nd Capitol Hill public hearing presented by the Council for the National Interest yesterday.

A new Zogby International poll commissioned by the CNI Foundation shows that 31 percent of those surveyed in the national poll strongly believe or somewhat believe in the ideas behind Christian Zionism, defined as "the belief that Jews must have all of the promised land, including all of Jerusalem, to facilitate the second coming of the messiah."   Other polls bear similar messages, that 53% of Americans believe that Israel was given by God to the Jews (Pew), and that 59% of the American public believes the prophecies contained in the Book of Revelations will come true (CNN/Time.) ...

The irony of the alliance between Christian Zionists and Jewish Zionists is that the one ideology promotes the ultimate destruction of the other. As [Rev. Robert O.] Smith pointed out, the "Christians United for Israel" is all about Israel, not about the Israelis, and only a little surface digging into Christian Zionism shows how anti-Semitic it really is.  So much so that Abraham Foxman, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, one of the ceaseless champions of Zionism in this country, has called the Christian right one of the direst threats to American Jews.  This has not prevented top Israeli officials from paying homage to the Christian right, including Ariel Sharon (before he descended into a comatose state brought on by the withdrawal of the settlers from Gaza, Pat Robertson opined), the Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon, and Benjamin Netanyahu, and a host of others. The ability of CUFI and other far right Christian religious leaders like Jerry Farwell and Pat Robertson to raise money for Israel, including Israeli settlements, is well documented.  (my emphasis)

Police warn business owners of 'foreign descent' to be alert to danger by Nadia Taylor Mobile Press-Register 10/28/06.

Book paints escape-artist Houdini as spy by Larry McShane AP/Miami Herald 10/28/06.

With Army stretched thin, could the U.S. respond to a new crisis? Retired general says deployments put America in 'strategic peril' by Michael Hedges Houston Chronicle 10/29/06:

The quick pace of comings and goings is evidence of an Army strained to the breaking point, with little in reserve if the United States is forced to respond to a new crisis, according to military analysts.

"One third of our combat units are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are the best troops we've ever fielded, but essentially every other brigade is not ready to fight," said retired Maj. Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who makes frequent trips to Iraq as a military consultant.

"America is in a period of strategic peril," he added. "What happens if we have to confront North Korea or Iran?"

Paul Rieckhoff, a former Army captain in Iraq who heads Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said his organization has gathered extensive evidence that has convinced him the Army is nearing a crisis.

"The rate of deployment is absolutely not sustainable," he said. "We are mortgaging the future of the Army. If this goes on much longer, we are going to get a post-Vietnam-type hangover in the military."

Canadians protest Afghanistan mission Globe and Mail/Canadian Press 10/28/06.  The public in the other NATO countries are starting to wonder exactly what sense the Afghanistan mission as currently defined really makes.

The kindler, gentler Satanist: The devil sells out, moves to suburbia and dons a fluffy bunny suit Detroit Metro Times by Sarah Klein 10/25/06.

Vampire tooth lay in wait by Elaine Jarvik Deseret Morning News 10/28/06.  It's almost Halloween, after all.

Washington and Baghdad put smiling face on scuffle over who calls the shots Daily Star (Lebanon) 10/28/06.

In the sprawling Baghdad slum of Sadr City, a stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia of hard-line Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, witnesses and two officials of the militia said Friday there was a strong US troop presence backed by air support in the northeast part of the area.

After carrying out searches, the US forces moved on and set up a cordon around the area, outside Sadr City itself, an AFP photographer said.

Katrina: First Anniversary Biloxi Sun-Herald.  Actually, this one is a collection of news stories.

US navy to patrol Saudi oil terminal Aljazeera 10/28/06:

The navies of the United States and Britain have increased their patrols around Saudi Arabia's coastal oil installations citing intelligence that suggests an imminent Al-Qaeda attack.

Coalition officials said on Friday that they were responding to intelligence that suggested that Al-Qaeda units might target the kingdom's Ras Tanura terminal, the world's biggest offshore oil export facility, and Bahrain's Bapco refinery.