Watchman Newsletter

Drug Smugglers From Mexico Relocate to Town in New Mexico

Fox News (Link) - AP (May 1, 2009)

The dusty little border town of Columbus, New Mexico, with almost no visible means of support, has been seeing something of a boom in the past year: Brand-new sport utility vehicles with flashy wheel rims are parked just off the bleak main drag. Homes are selling quickly, sometimes for cash.

The source of this sudden wealth? An influx of Mexican drug smugglers, investigators say.

The smugglers are fleeing the Mexican army's occupation of the town of Palomas, on the other side of the U.S.-Mexico border fence, and settling in Columbus, where there has been a law enforcement vacuum. The four-man police force in Columbus has turned over seven times in three years because of scandal or apathy.

"We know the names of the people," said Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos, who is based in Deming, 35 miles away. "I know that if I were a person involved in criminal activity, whether it's drug-related, human smuggling related, I certainly would welcome the absence of police."

May Day turns violent in Turkey, Germany, Greece

Reuters (Link) - Thomas Grove (May 1, 2009)

May Day protesters clashed with riot police in Germany, Turkey and Greece on Friday while thousands angry at the government's responses to the global financial crisis took to the streets in France.

Rising unemployment across Europe and beyond has added intensity to May Day marches as last year's market crash and banking meltdown rolls into the real economy.

There were early morning clashes in Germany and protests in Istanbul swiftly turned violent. Greek police clashed with self-styled anarchists.

Turkish riot police fired water cannon and tear gas, firing shots and pepper spray to disperse masked protesters. Young men hurled stones and Molotov cocktails, smashing bank and shop windows in side streets.

An Istanbul police spokesman said 68 demonstrators were detained and 11 police wounded. Leftists and Kurdish separatists regularly clash with police at demonstrations in Turkey and the May Day protest last year also turned violent.

Turkey's government had declared May Day, traditionally marked across Europe and beyond by rallies by labour unions, a public holiday this year under pressure from the unions.

Hamas Army Preparing for New War

Israel National News (Link) - Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (April 30, 2009)

The defacto Hamas government in Gaza is re-training its army and changing its tactics in preparation for what it believes will be another war with Israel, according to Strategypage.com. Iran and Hizbullah are advising Hamas on how to overcome its failures against Israel in the IDFs Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign earlier this year.

Hamas tactics in the war backfired. It told its fighters to dress in civilian clothes as a ploy to raise civilian casualties, but the IDF surprised it by pinpointing its attacks and warning civilians to leave areas before they were bombed.

Hamas has used the ceasefire, which Israel declared on condition that international monitors would be positioned along the Egyptian border to stop smuggling, to bring in advanced weapons through new tunnels that have been built. Two Arab smugglers or workers were killed Thursday morning in a tunnel collapse underneath the border at Rafiah.

U.S. sovereignty on swap block

WorldNet Daily (Link) - Bob Unruh (April 30, 2009)

The Obama administration is preparing to swap U.S. sovereignty for a higher level of U.S. presence at the United Nations, a plan that has alarmed officials working to protect the rights of Americans, specifically the parental rights that traditionally have been recognized across the nation's history.

Michael Farris, founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association and chancellor of Patrick Henry College, said, "The move is little more than another attempt at political correctness by an administration frantic for acceptance by the international community."

Farris also is a dedicated leader behind the effort to change the U.S. Constitution through the amendment process to restore and protect parental rights.

WND reported just days ago his warning that parental rights in the U.S. already are being diminished. "The erosion is upon us," he said then.

A 'Trojan horse' approach to passing universal healthcare

One News Now (Link) - Jim Brown (April 30, 2009)

It appears Democrats may attempt to jettison a bipartisan approach to healthcare legislation this year.

The White House and Democratic leaders say they want to have the option of fast-tracking healthcare reform legislation by a parliamentary move called "reconciliation." Under reconciliation, only a simple majority would be required in the Senate to pass healthcare legislation. The House and Senate are planning to mark up healthcare bills in the middle of June, with the hope of passing the bills before Congress leaves for its August recess.

Earlier this month in a speech to other advocates of a single-payer healthcare system, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) said the real goal of the Democrats' healthcare reform agenda is to shut out the private health insurance industry. "Those of us who are pushing for a public health insurance option don't disagree with the goal [of eliminating the private healthcare sector]," she said. "This is not a principled fight. This is a fight about strategy for getting there, and I believe we will."

Israel warns EU to tone down its criticism

Yahoo! News (Link) - AP - Josef Federman (April 30 2009)

Israel warned the European Union on Thursday to tone down its criticism of the new Israeli government or risk forfeiting the bloc's role as broker in Mideast peace efforts.

The warning came after EU's commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, this week criticized Israel's refusal to endorse a Palestinian state. She said an upgrade in Israeli-EU relations would depend on Israel's commitment to the "two-state solution."

It also came ahead of a planned trip to Europe next week by Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman — his first official trip abroad. The ultranationalist Lieberman's comments about Arabs and Mideast peace have raised international concerns about the new Israeli Cabinet's intentions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor on Thursday called Ferrero-Waldner's comments "very militant" and contrary to understandings with other EU officials.

He said her remarks threatened to undermine understandings with the EU to maintain a "quiet dialogue" until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completes the formulation of his foreign policy.

Spain to push for EU economic governance when at presidency helm

EU Observer (Link) - Leigh Phillips (April 29, 2009)

Madrid intends to push for greater economic powers to be placed in the hands of the European Union during its time at the helm of the bloc's six-month rotating presidency next year.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Tuesday (28 April) that the crisis had offered up firm evidence that economic governance was needed at the EU level, long a position of the French government as well.

"I agreed with President Sarkozy that if the European Union really wants to be a political union, which works for its citizens, it has to have a much more solid economic government and with tools," the Spanish leader told reporters after receiving a two-day visit from his French counterpart.

"I can't see a single market, a single currency, then not see an economic government with powers, with tools."

Currently fiscal policy is set at member state level with a degree of co-ordination between finance and economy ministers. What greater degree of co-ordination or centralisation was not defined.

GM stands for 'government made'

One News Now (Link) - Jim Brown (April 29, 2009)

For the first time in history, the United States could have a government-owned automobile company.

A restructuring plan laid out Monday would cut 21,000 General Motors jobs and involve a reduction in brands and dealerships. GM bondholders would have ten-percent ownership in the company in return for relinquishing their debt claims, while the federal government would own a 50-percent share in the company. The United Auto Workers union would own 39 percent.

James Gattuso, senior fellow in regulatory policy at The Heritage Foundation, says government ownership is the most disturbing aspect of the plan. He notes it is unclear whether bondholders or the UAW will take a bigger cut.

PA court: Death to man who sold land to Jews

The Jerusalem Post (Link) - Khaled Abu Toameh (April 29, 2009)

In the first case of its kind, a Palestinian Authority "military court" on Tuesday sentenced a Palestinian man to death by hanging after finding him guilty of selling land to Jews.

The verdict came shortly after the PA's chief Islamic judge, Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, issued yet another fatwa (religious decree) banning Muslims from selling land or houses to Jews.

The death sentence is seen as an attempt by the PA leadership in Ramallah to deter Palestinians from conducting real estate transactions with Jews. It follows reports according to which Jewish individuals and organizations recently bought land and houses from Arabs in Jerusalem and some areas in the West Bank.

The man sentenced to death is Anwar Brigith, 59, from the village of Bet Umar, north of Hebron.

Signs of the Times Part 6: Sacred Secrets, Angels and Demons

News With Views (Link) - Debra Rae (April 29, 2009)

Where’s the Hope in 2009?

Last-day theology is a major theme throughout the Bible’s poetic books, major- and minor- prophets, Pauline- and general- epistles, the Gospels and the Book of Revelation. The Bible answers humanity’s age-abiding question, “What does the future hold?” And today vigilant believers witness the wrap-up of human history as signaled by economic and political upheavals, a series of armed conflicts, intensified natural disasters, increasing immorality, religious deception and persecution. Despite manifest hostility toward them, the faithful are called and destined to be diligent “keepers of our Lord’s goods.”

“Faithful Keepers of His Goods” (Matthew 24:47)

Some such “keepers” are unlikely fellows. Take, for example, Palestinian Yusef Hassan. In January 2009, Jonathan Hunt told his remarkable story on Fox news with Bill Hemmer.

It goes like this: In December 1987 the first intifada (uprising) began. At the tender age of ten, Hassan believed this to be his destiny. Heir apparent to his father—an associate of the Muslim Brotherhood and founder of HAMAS—Hassan participated in the Islamic Youth Movement and served as president of the Islamic Student Union.

Eventually, Hassan turned against HAMAS when he witnessed its membership torture and kill their own. That his “heroes” placed so little value on human life shattered Hassan’s faith until his secret, side-by-side study of the Bible with the Qu’ran resulted in Hassan’s conversion to evangelical Christianity. Although a death sentence followed Hassan to America, he nonetheless applied for political asylum, was baptized in the Pacific Ocean and joined fellow believers in “keeping the Lord’s goods.” Weapons of Hassan’s warfare are no longer of the carnal variety.

UN chief slams Hizbullah 'intimidation'

The Jerusalem Post (Link) (April 28, 2009)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that Hizbullah is making an effort to create "intimidation" in Lebanon ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for June, AFP reported late Monday. He was also quoted as voicing concern for Hizbullah activities in Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

In a report to the UN Security Council, Ban said, "The threat that armed groups and militias pose to the sovereignty and stability of the Lebanese state cannot be overstated."

"It creates an atmosphere of intimidation in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections. It also undermines the stability of the region, and is incompatible with the objectives of Resolution 1559," he added, referring to a 2004 resolution which called for the "disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias."

The UN chief described the groups arsenal as "a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and an obstacle for the conduct of the normal democratic process in the country."

Flu continues to weigh on markets

BBC News (Link) (April 28, 2009)

Global shares have fallen further in Tuesday trading as the swine flu outbreak continues to weigh on markets. The UK's FTSE 100 finished the day 1.7% lower, while markets in Paris and Frankfurt ended almost 2% down. In the US, Wall Street also saw losses. Japan's Nikkei earlier closed down 1.7% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.4%.

"We had finally begun to see a bottom for the global economy and that has been ruined by pigs," said analyst Tsuyoshi Segawa of Shinko Securities.

However, other analysts said some investors were using the flu outbreak as an excuse to cash in profits by selling shares that have risen in recent weeks.

Mideast: Turkey and Syria's military drill alarms Israel

ADN Kronos (Link) (April 27, 2009)

Turkey and neighbouring Syria began on Monday their first ever joint military drill along their border in an apparent bid to improve security. Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak called the move "a disturbing development".

"Today a Syrian-Turkish military manoeuvre is taking place, definitely a disturbing development. But I believe that the strategic relationship between Israel and Turkey will overcome Turkey's necessity to participate in this drill as well," said Barak, quoted by Israeli media.

"Even marking Israel's 61 years, our struggles are not yet behind us. We have yet to end our travails and reach a state of tranquillity," he said.

According to Turkish media, the exercise aims to boost friendship, cooperation and confidence between the two land forces and increase the capability of them to train.

World Bank: Economic Crisis turning into Calamity

Yahoo! News (Link) - AP - Harry Dunphy (April 27, 2009)

The global financial crisis could become "a human and development calamity" for many poor countries, the World Bank said, urging donor nations to speed delivery of money they have pledged and consider giving more.

Developing countries, its main constituency, face "especially serious consequences with the crisis driving more than 50 million people into extreme poverty, particularly women and children," the bank said Sunday.

Bank President Robert Zoellick said some of the poorest economies are being hit by "second and third waves of the crisis." He said no one knows how long it will last or when recovery will begin.

"There is a widespread recognition that the world faces an unprecedented economic crisis, poor people could suffer the most and that we must continue to act in real time to prevent a human catastrophe," Zoellick said.

Mexico rattled by 5.6 magnitude earthquake

Breitbart (Link) (April 27, 2009)

A moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook buildings in Mexico City Monday, as the city grapples with an outbreak of deadly swine flu.

The quake hit shortly before noon (1700 GMT), 68 kilometers (42 miles) east-northeast of the southern resort town of Acapulco and about 255 kilometers (155 miles) from Mexico City, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said on its website.

At its epicenter, the quake had a depth of 48 kilometers (30 miles). The USGS had initially reported the tremor as a strong 6.0-magnitude quake.

People fled shaking buildings, but there were no initial reports of significant damage or injuries.

The quake came as the Mexican capital was already at the center of a swine flu outbreak believed to have killed up to 149 people.

Planet Earth - Babies Need Not Apply

Online Opinion (Link) - Malcolm King (April 27, 2009)

No one would have believed in the early years of the 21st century that there lived among us, beings whose cool and calculating aim was to depopulate the earth, starting with Australia.

In Australia, their leader is former SA Democrat Sandra Kanck who recently called for the introduction of a Chinese style one-child per family policy to get Australia’s population down to 7 million - or about what it was in the Great Depression of 1929.

Readers of On Line Opinion might be a bit mystified by the recent push by Kanck and others who are calling for one child or two children per family (they can’t seem to agree on that last point). The reason is that the Chair of the British Government sponsored Sustainable Development Commission, Jonathon Porritt, is behind Ms Kanck and he makes no secret that population control is a key objective of global green campaigns.

Destroying 50 years of ties in 50 days

The Jerusalem Post (Link) - David Newman (April 26, 2009)

It is customary to give new governments and administrations a 100-day buffer zone before analyzing, or criticizing, their policies. But this assumes that those same governments will use the 100 days to take advice, learn the ropes and reach a fuller understanding of the issues at stake. After all, having been on the outside it is always easy to criticize and suggest new policies. Once the outsider becomes an insider and he/she takes time out to become acquainted with the realities and all those details which are often not known to the public, he may decide to move ahead in a more balanced, less emotive and less political, fashion while attempting to implement new policies.

Our new foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has decided that he doesn't need 100 days. He obviously didn't even require 100 hours before he came out with statements about Annapolis, the road map or our sensitive relations with our neighbor Egypt. Like a bull in a china shop and, we would assume, with the implicit knowledge of the prime minister, Lieberman has managed to anger just about everyone with his hasty statements. Our diplomats around the world, who have a difficult task to fill even at the best of times, are facing a barrage of criticism and are no longer sure what message they should be disseminating in the name of the state.