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December 19, 2014                                                     8090

Five Weapons Russia Could Use in an Arctic War 

http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/5-weapons-russia-could-use-in-an-arctic-war       

By Robert Farley, National Interest

       

Russian Mig-31, March 31, 2012 (photo: Dmitriy Pichugin)

• Full Text: National Interest

It's not surprising that Russia has prepared its military for arctic operations better than any other country. . . .

Icebreakers: The single most important vessel for access to the arctic is the icebreaker, and Russia retains the most extensive fleet of icebreakers anywhere in the world. Warming does not eliminate arctic ice, but instead makes the movement of ice more fluid and less predictable.

As access to the Arctic improves, and as the commercial interest in exploiting the region increases, the movement of ice and increased frequency of military and civilian use will make icebreakers more necessary than ever. . . .Icebreakers guarantee Russian military access to the Arctic with a certainty that no other country enjoys.

This gives Russia great freedom in planning its military and resource access strategy in the polar region. . . .

Akula:  The premier Russian nuclear attack vessel remains the Akula, a monster of a boat that can carry a vast arsenal of weapons. Although built in the 1980s, the Akula can operate effectively in anti-submarine roles (either under the ice or under open seas), and in anti-shipping roles (where a reduction in surface ice can make cruise missiles somewhat more effective).

The Akula isn't quite as quiet as its Western counterparts, but it makes up for that deficiency in size and weapons load. The Russian Northern Fleet, normally tasked with arctic ops, currently maintains six Akulas, which regularly operate under the icepack. . . .

MiG-31:  Operating from bases along the rim of the Arctic, the MiG-31 Foxhound—a fast, long-legged interceptor developed from the MiG-25 Foxbat, can cover a lot of space.The MiG-31 and its predecessor were designed to hunt and kill American bombers as they attempted to penetrate Soviet air defenses. . . .Russia operates around 200 MiG-31s between the Navy and the Air Force, and has taken steps to revive and improve the infrastructure to support its arctic airbases.

Tu-95/Tu-142:  The Tu-95 (and its maritime variant, the Tu-142) are particularly at home in the cold, bleak skies of the arctic, where land bases are distant and carrier operations often impractical. In its classic Tu-95 variant, the Bear can carry anti-ship and anti-surface cruise missiles. Its maritime patrol variant, the Tu-142, can conduct anti-submarine operations.

With a combat radius upwards of 3000 miles, the Bear can operate well beyond the reach of land- and carrier-based fighters, which is fortunate, because the Bear can no longer run from enemy interceptors.

Special Forces:  Russian special forces have long prepared for warfare in the arctic. During the Cold War, Spetsnaz teams trained to attack NATO installations in Norway, the Faroes, Iceland and elsewhere. In recent years, Russia has stepped up training of special-forces formations intended for deployment in the Arctic. Submarines, aircraft and surface ships can deliver these teams, which can take and hold inaccessible areas, conduct reconnaissance and disrupt communications.

Robert Farley is an assistant professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.

European Parliament votes to recognize Palestine statehood 'in principle'

Published time: December 17, 2014 12:07
Edited time: December 18, 2014 14:07

                       

 

Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, December 17, 2014 (Reuters / Vincent Kessler)

 

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution recognizing Palestinian statehood in principle. A total of 498 MEPs voted in favor, while 88 were against.

A parliamentary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday could not decide on the matter, opting for further negotiations, but on Wednesday the European Parliament eventually adopted a resolution that “in principle” grants the troubled region statehood.

"[The European Parliament] supports in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution, and believes these should go hand in hand with the development of peace talks, which should be advanced," the motion said. The vote also saw 111 abstentions.

The European Parliament reiterated its support for the two-state solution "on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, with the secure State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the right of self-determination and full respect of international law."
MEPs emphasized the EU's strongest opposition to any acts of terrorism connected with Palestinians' campaign for statehood, however.

Several of the EU's 28 member countries were already in favor of full recognition. Sweden in October became the only EU member so far to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state.

The European Parliament vote comes as the Palestinians are soon to make their case at the UN Security Council in New York, where they will ask for a complete Israeli withdrawal from East Jerusalem and the West Bank to the 1967 borders in two years' time.
These discussions follow a tense summer period when Israel carried out its controversial Protective Edge operation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and elicited international condemnation for the number of civilians killed and damage that would take decades to undo.

READ MORE: Palestine resolution: US ‘unresolved’ ahead of Security Council meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamantly against any resolution under which Palestine gains back the occupied East Jerusalem and West Bank, believing it would lead to “terrorists” running wild and causing regional problems.

"Attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel," Netanyahu said Monday.

Although the US, which has been trying to broker a two-state solution, has been a close ally of Israel for years, it is now also taking on a more stern tone with the Israeli leadership.

"This isn't the time to detail private conversations or speculate on a UN Security Council resolution that hasn't even been tabled, no matter what pronouncements are made publicly about it,” US Secretary of State John Kerry told journalists Tuesday.

It remains to be seen what Washington’s actions will be at the Security Council, when Palestine makes its case for a full Israeli withdrawal.

Palestine resolution: US ‘unresolved’ ahead of Security Council meeting

Published time: December 17, 2014 11:12
Edited time: December 17, 2014 14:20

      

http://rt.com/news/215139-palestine-un-security-resolution/

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Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat (R) and US Secretary of State John Kerry (AFP Photo / Brendan Smialowsky)

                                                                                                                       

The Palestinian Authority is filing a UN resolution demanding a full Israeli pull-out from the occupied territories within two years. Meanwhile, the US is unsure what it wants to see from the resolution.

Officials in Ramallah warned they would press ahead with Wednesday’s Security Council bid in spite of American opposition, just as US Secretary of State John Kerry was still trying to find common ground between the Palestinians and Israelis this week.
"We will submit our project to the UN Security Council tomorrow [Wednesday]," Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told journalists late on Tuesday.

The motion, among other things, will push for Israeli withdrawal beyond the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem becoming its capital, and advance the process of a two-state solution. It will be submitted by Jordan, as Palestine is still an observer at the Security Council. Only the 15 members can file motions.

But Washington is still likely to veto the Wednesday resolution in New York, despite the risk of greater alienation from a Europe that is increasingly vocal on the issue of Israeli aggression against Palestine. The US has supported Israel with its veto power dozens of times throughout the last seven decades.

Chief Arab League negotiator for Palestine Saeb Erekat told RT in Ramallah that “if the bill is approved we are going to move in the direction of Palestine’s accession, to other UN agencies, conventions and protocols, including the International Criminal Court.”

Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, December 16, 2014 (Reuters / Vincent Kessler)

The American role in all this continues to be unclear at this point, as the secretary of state still wouldn’t admit if there was a version of the document that Washington could get behind, telling journalists in London that there were “no determinations about language, approaches, specific resolutions, any of that.”
"This isn't the time to detail private conversations or speculate on a UN Security Council resolution that hasn't even been tabled, no matter what pronouncements are made publicly about it,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to be adamantly against the motion throughout the week, warning that “terrorists” would run wild if Palestine were free.

"Attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel," he warned in a statement.

Kerry, despite admitting that a two-state solution is important, warned that nothing can be allowed to derail March’s snap elections in Israel.

He said they were mindful they had to "carefully calibrate" any steps that were taken and it was "imperative to lower the temperature" in the region to find a path for peace wanted by both Israelis and Palestinians.

"The status quo is unsustainable for both parties," he said. "Right now what we are trying to do is have a constructive conversation with everybody to find the best way to go forward."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AFP Photo / Oliver Weiken)

EU pursues pro-Palestine path

A parliamentary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday could not decide on the matter, opting for further negotiations, but on Wednesday the European Parliament eventually adopted a resolution that “in principle” grants the troubled region statehood.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution recognizing Palestinian statehood in principle. A total of 498 MEPs voted in favor, while 88 were against.

[The European Parliament] supports in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood and the two-state solution, and believes these should go hand in hand with the development of peace talks, which should be advanced," the motion said. The vote also saw 111 abstentions.



The European Parliament reiterated its support for the two-state solution "on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, with the secure State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the right of self-determination and full respect of international law."

MEPs emphasized the EU's strongest opposition to any acts of terrorism connected with Palestinians' campaign for statehood, however.

Several of the EU's 28 member countries were already in favor of full recognition. Sweden in October became the only EU member so far to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state.

The Allah of the Koran is not the same as the God of the Bible.

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"An 11-year old Arab Christian girl was listening to an Islamic scholar preach about Allah. When he was done, the little girl approached him and said this – “show me where in the Koran that Allah loves me as the sinner that I am, and I will become a Muslim.” The dumbstruck man was silent for a long time, and then walked away. He had no answer to give her. Why?

Because the Allah of the Koran does not love the sinner, or the unrighteous, or the lost, or the struggling, or the backslider. Allah of the Koran displays only a highly-qualified, conditional type of “love”, and it is for Muslims only. The Koran clearly teaches that Allah hates non-Muslims

Qur’an 3:31-32—Say [O Muhammad]: 

If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Apostle; but if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.

Qur’an 30:43-45—Then turn thy face straight to the right religion before there come from Allah the day which cannot be averted; on that day they shall become separated. Whoever disbelieves, he shall be responsible for his disbelief, and whoever does good, they prepare (good) for their own souls, that He may reward those who believe and do good out of His grace; surely He does not love the unbelievers.

This is a startling contrast to the words of Scripture that shows that God offers His love to any and all who will receive it, as a free gift paid in full with no strings attached:

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The bible teaches that God is not interested in “making you a Christian”, He desires to save you from the penalty of your sins which is an eternity in Hell. God’s salvation is a free gift that only needs to be received to become active.

 It is the Great Transaction – your sins in exchange for His righteousness and a full and free eternal pardon.
The Allah of the Koran is not the same as the God of the Bible. Allah wants to make you a Muslim, God wants to set you free."

Read the details here: http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=28858

WHY?Outreach

"An 11-year old Arab Christian girl was listening to an Islamic scholar preach about Allah. When he was done, the little girl approached him and said this – “show me where in the Koran that Allah loves me as the sinner that I am, and I will become a Muslim.” The dumbstruck man was silent for a long time, and then walked away. He had no answer to give her. Why?

Because the Allah of the Koran does not love the sinner, or the unrighteous, or the lost, or the struggling, or the backslider. Allah of the Koran displays only a highly-qualified, conditional type of “love”, and it is for Muslims only. The Koran clearly teaches that Allah hates non-Muslims
Qur’an 3:31-32—Say [O Muhammad]: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Apostle; but if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.

Qur’an 30:43-45—Then turn thy face straight to the right religion before there come from Allah the day which cannot be averted; on that day they shall become separated. Whoever disbelieves, he shall be responsible for his disbelief, and whoever does good, they prepare (good) for their own souls, that He may reward those who believe and do good out of His grace; surely He does not love the unbelievers.

This is a startling contrast to the words of Scripture that shows that God offers His love to any and all who will receive it, as a free gift paid in full with no strings attached:

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The bible teaches that God is not interested in “making you a Christian”, He desires to save you from the penalty of your sins which is an eternity in Hell. God’s salvation is a free gift that only needs to be received to become active. It is the Great Transaction – your sins in exchange for His righteousness and a full and free eternal pardon.

The Allah of the Koran is not the same as the God of the Bible. Allah wants to make you a Muslim, God wants to set you free."