What is the Criteria for a True Prophet?

By IslamReligion.com

Rays from the Same Lamp
A natural question to ask someone who believes in any prophet is: ‘What are the criteria for your belief in him?’ Reasonable criteria would be:
(i) evidence for his claim.
(ii) consistency in his teachings (about God, afterlife, and similar issues of belief)
(iii) similarity to the teachings of earlier prophets.
(iii) integrity: he must be a man of high morals.
The Bible lends support to our criteria. The Old Testament says of a false prophet:
1. Pretends to be sent by God.[1]
2. Described as covetous,[2] drunken,[3] immoral and profane,[4] influenced by evil spirits.[5]
3. Prophesizes falsely,[6] lies in the name of the Lord,[7] out of his own heart,[8] in the name of false gods.[9]
4. Often practices divination and witchcraft.[10]
5. Leads people into error,[11] makes to forget God’s name,[12] teaches profaneness and sin,[13] and oppresses.[14]
The New Testament says of Jesus’ criteria to identify false prophets:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”[15]
We learn the following:
(i) prophecy will continue after Jesus.
(ii) beware of false prophets.
(iii) the criteria to identify a false prophet is his fruits, that is his works or deeds.[16]
As stated earlier, Muhammad claimed unequivocally, ‘I am God’s Messenger.’ If a person evaluates his claim on the above criteria, he will find it meets the criteria completely.
In Islamic doctrine, all prophets constitute a spiritual fraternity of brothers with a single ‘father,’ but different ‘mothers.’ The ‘father’ is prophethood and unity of God, the ‘mothers’ are the different Laws they brought. Emphasizing the spiritual fraternity of all prophets, Prophet Muhammad said:
“I am the closest of all people to the son of Mary (Jesus). The prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different, but their religion is one.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
All prophets are ‘rays’ from the same ‘Lamp’: the central message of all prophets throughout ages was to dedicate worship to God only. That’s why Islam views denying a single prophet as equivalent to denying them all. The Quran states:
“Indeed, those who deny God and His messengers, and wish to separate God from His messengers, saying: ‘We believe in some but reject others’ and want to pursue a path in-between - it is they, they who are truly denying the truth: and for those who deny the truth We have readied shameful suffering. But as for those who believe in God and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them - unto them, in time, will He grant their rewards [in full]. And God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.” (Quran 4:150-152)

Denying the prophethood of Muhammad is tantamount to denying all prophets. The prophethood of Muhammad is known just like the prophethood of Moses and Jesus is known: the numerous reports of their miracles that have reached us. The Book brought by Muhammad (the Quran) is fully preserved, and His Law is complete and applicable to today’s world. Moses brought the Law and justice, Jesus brought grace and flexibility. Muhammad combined between the Law of Moses and the grace of Jesus.
If someone were to say, ‘he was an imposter,’ others are more fit to be charged with this accusation. Hence, denying Muhammad is denying one’s own prophets. If a reasonable person looks at two bright stars, he must acknowledge both are stars, he cannot say to one, ‘Yes, this one is a bright star,’ but deny the other! Doing so would be denying reality and a lie.
Make a table of all the prophets you believe in. Start from the first one to the last one you believe in. Answer the following questions:
What is the evidence I believe he was a true prophet?
What was the mission of the prophet in his own words?
Did he bring a Law? Is his Law applicable today?
What scripture did he bring? How is its content and meaning?
Is the scripture preserved in the original language it was revealed in? Is it considered a literary authority, free of internal inconsistencies?
What do you know of his morals and integrity?
Compare all the prophets you have listed and then answer the same questions about Muhammad. Then ask yourself, ‘Can I honestly take Muhammad out of my list because he does not meet the criteria as other prophets?’ It will not take too much effort to discover that the evidence for Muhammad’s prophethood is stronger and more convincing.
A skeptic need consider what is so unusual about Muhammad’s claim to be a prophet? When did God declare an end to prophecy before him? Who decided that there would not be any more divine communication with human beings? With no evidence to block divine revelation, it is natural to accept a continuity of revelation:
“Indeed, We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner: for there never was any community but a Warner has [lived and] passed away in its midst.” (Quran 35:24)
“And We sent forth Our messengers, one after another: [and] every time their messenger came to a community, they gave him the lie: and so We caused them to follow one another [into the grave], and let them become [mere] tales: and so - away with the folk who would not believe!” (Quran 23:44)
This is true especially when the truth was perverted by Jews and Christians, the Christians claiming Jesus was the son of God and Jews calling him an illegitimate son of Joseph the Carpenter. Muhammad brought the truth: Jesus was God’s noble prophet born of a miraculous virgin birth. As a result, Muslims believe in Jesus and love him, neither going to the extreme like the Christians, nor disparaging him like the Jews.
Footnotes:
[1] Jer 23:17,18,31
[2] Mic 3:11
[3] Isa 28:7
[4] Jer 23:11,14
[5] 1Ki 22:21,22
[6] Jer 5:31
[7] Jer 14:14
[8] Jer 23:16,26; Eze 13:2
[9] Jer 2:8
[10] Jer 14:14; Eze 22:28; Act 13:6
[11] Jer 23:13; Mic 3:5
[12] Jer 23:27
[13] Jer 23:14,15
[14] Eze 22:25
[15] Matthew 7:15-17 (King James Version)
[16] According to ‘Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.’
The source for this article is IslamReligion.com

Some Secrets of the Qur'an

From: http://www.harunyahya.com/some_secrets_of_the_quran.php

INTRODUCTION

GOD ANSWERS EVERYONE'S PRAYERS

GOD INCREASES HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL

SECRETS OF SUBMISSION TO ONE'S FATE AND PUTTING ONE'S TRUST IN GOD

THERE IS GOOD IN EVERY EVENT

THERE IS SURELY EASE WITH EVERY DIFFICULTY

GOD OBSCURES THE COMPREHENSION OF DISBELIEVERS

GOD BESTOWS UNDERSTANDING ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM

THOSE WHO DO GOOD MEET GOODNESS

THERE IS LIGHT IN BELIEVERS' FACES, BUT DISGRACE IN THOSE OF DISBELIEVERS

THE SECRET THAT GOD ERASES BAD ACTIONS DIVINE PURPOSES IN SPENDING IN

GOD'S WAY

THE EFFECT OF GOOD ACTIONS AND GOOD WORDS

THE SECRET THAT GOD PROVIDES ROOM FOR PEOPLE

GOD CERTAINLY HELPS THOSE WHO HELP HIS RELIGION

QUARRELLING CAUSES
LOSS OF STRENGTH

ONLY IN THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD DO HEARTS FIND SATISFACTION

THE CUNNING OF SATAN IS WEAK

OBEYING THE MAJORITY MISLEADS MAN FROM THE RIGHT PATH

SECRETS IN THE EXPANSION AND DIMINISHING OF BLESSINGS

OBEDIENCE TO THE MESSENGER IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD

A SMALL GROUP OF BELIEVERS CAN OVERCOME A VAST MAJORITY OF
DISBELIEVERS

GOD MAKES HIS RELIGION SUPREME WHEN ONE WORSHIPS HIM ALONE

THE LIFE OF THE WORLD IS IN FACT VERY BRIEF

GOD CASTS DREAD INTO THE HEARTS OF DISBELIEVERS

WISDOM AND DECISIVE SPEAKING ARE BLESSINGS FROM GOD

MAN WILL ALSO ACCOUNT FOR HIS THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS IT IS GOD WHO PLACES LOVE IN PEOPLE'S HEARTS

THE DEATHS OF DISBELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS WILL NOT BE THE SAME

PRAYER KEEPS MAN AWAY FROM EVIL

THOSE WHO ARE KILLED IN THE WAY OF GOD ARE NOT DEAD

GOD IS THE GIVER OF HONOUR

SECRETS OF FINDING THE STRAIGHT PATH

MAN'S INNER SELF COMMANDS EVIL ACTS SECRETS OF ABUNDANCE AND THE WEALTH GIVEN TO PEOPLE

THE SECRET OF WHY GOD DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY PUNISH THE DISBELIEVERS CONCLUSION
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Secrets of Finding the Straight Path

From: http://www.harunyahya.com/some_secrets_of_the_quran.php

Almost everyone has his own rights and wrongs. The criteria used to determine these rights and wrongs differ greatly. A book, a person, a politician, or, at times, a philosopher may well be the guide in life for a person. However, the right path, which is the only path that leads to salvation, is the religion which God has chosen. In this path, the unique goal is to earn the pleasure, mercy and paradise of God. Other paths, no matter how attractive they may seem, are deceptive and lead to ruin, hopelessness, unhappiness and painful punishment both in this world and in the hereafter (unless God wills otherwise).

Those who are guided to the straight path are a secret revealed in the Qur'an. They are the servants God has guided to His straight path and who earn His paradise.

BELEIVING WITH CERTAINLY
Before all else, one needs to have faith in order to be guided to the straight path. If one believes that the only possessor and creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in between is God, and is certain that the reason of his existence in the world is to be the servant of God, and seeks to earn God's contentment all through his life, God guides him to the straight path. Faith in God, in the hereafter and the Qur'an should be a resolute and certain faith. Although some people say that they are believers, they may have doubts. When they are together with disbelievers and remain under their influence, such people are likely to display weaknesses and assume a hostile attitude against God and His religion. However, those God guides to the straight path have a resolute and unwavering faith:
And so that those who have been given knowledge will know it is the truth from their Lord and believe in it and their hearts will be humbled to Him. God guides those who believe to a straight path. (Surat al-Hajj: 54)

TURNING TO GOD WITH COMPLETE SUBMISSION
Believers' turning to God with complete submission is another secret of being guided to the straight path. For one who believes in God and fears the hereafter, this world holds no charm.
When the only ambition is to please God, true believers turn to God in all their acts, and knowing that God is testing them, they submit themselves to the fate God has predetermined. God has informed that those who submit themselves to Him will be guided to the straight path:
How can you disbelieve, when God's Signs are recited to you and the Messenger is there among you? Whoever holds fast to God has been guided to a straight path. (Surah Ali 'Imran: 101)
He has laid down the same religion for you as He enjoined on Noah: that which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: 'Establish the religion and do not make divisions in it.' What you call the associators to follow is very hard for them. God chooses for Himself whomsoever He wills and guides to Himself those who turn to Him. (Surat ash-Shura: 13)

FOLLOWING THE ADVICE GIVEN
Another command of God to His servants who desire to be guided to the straight path is as follows:
... But if they had done what they were urged to do, it would have been better for them and far more strengthening. In that case We would have given them an immense reward from Us and We would have guided them on a straight path. (Surat an-Nisa': 66-68)
Believers who fear God strive to purify themselves of their wrongdoing and to attain the moral perfection God will be most pleased with. However, one needs humility to be absolved of mistakes and receive guidance to the straight path. A modest person who seeks to purify himself will, first of all, meticulously follow God's commands. Besides, sincere believers are friends and protectors of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong. Hence, knowing that a believer's warning is of great importance for one's reckoning in the hereafter, believers should also be receptive to one another's advice. One who follows good advice will be guided to the right path. God gives good news to His servants who avoid following the Satan and obey those who call to the Qur'an and to its commands:
Those who shun the worship of false gods and turn towards God will have good news. So give good news to My servants. Those who listen well to what is said and follow the best of it, they are the ones whom God has guided, and they are the people of intelligence. (Surat az-Zumar: 17-18)

Funding Corruption and Waste in Afghanistan

From: http://www.antiwar.com/

by Rep. Ron Paul, July 13, 2010

Last week, GOP chairman Michael Steele came under fire for daring to say what a lot of Americans already know – that our involvement in Afghanistan is an ill-advised quagmire with no end in sight. After nearly 10 years and approaching $1 trillion spent, the conflict is going nowhere because there is nowhere for it to go. After all, if victory is never really defined, defeat is inevitable.
With our economy at home in serious trouble, this wasteful occupation is something we clearly cannot afford. Each soldier costs us $1 million per year, and yet most in Washington are only considering how many more soldiers to send. Fuel costs an astonishing $400 per gallon for our military in Afghanistan! Yet somehow, many politicians feel it is acceptable to squeeze this money out of our taxpayers, who are truly struggling economically, to fund this non-war. Our economy here is not showing any real signs of improvement. Official unemployment is pushing 10 percent and getting worse. (Real unemployment is over 20 percent, according to the free-market economists.) The growing debt and inflation used to fund this occupation only dooms us to more economic hardship for a long time to come. And for what?
Where the money for Afghanistan comes from is one problem; where it goes is another. Recently, it has come to light that much of the aid money we send to Afghanistan is lost due to corruption. Billions of tax dollars from hardworking Americans are ending up lining the pockets of corrupt Afghan officials, and likely even filtering into the Taliban we are ostensibly fighting. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that curiously enough, billions more than the Afghan government collects in revenue is leaving the country in the form of cash on huge pallets and in suitcases and mostly ending up in Dubai, as well-connected Afghan officials buy up luxury homes and enrich their personal offshore bank accounts. Investigations into corruption and graft have been blocked by the Karzai government, probably because Karzai’s own brother would have to be implicated. It is encouraging that the foreign aid appropriations subcommittee has attempted to block billions in aid as a response to these allegations, but this is likely temporary and may not even succeed.
The point is that sending aid money to Afghanistan is not making poor people over there better off. It is making poor people here worse off. Corruption is endemic to Afghanistan, with graft comprising about one fourth of their economy! Even though it is considered the second most corrupt nation in the world according to Transparency International, we still send the Afghan government billions of dollars in aid and are shocked to find it is not making its way out of the sticky fingers of the officials entrusted with it.
Robbing citizens here to fund corruption over there is not helping average citizens anywhere. We are sacrificing real economic opportunities at home for the opportunity to line corrupt pockets in Afghanistan. Not only that, but American soldiers are being killed and maimed. It is tragic and frustrating how much we have lost and wasted already. It is time to leave Afghanistan to the Afghans to sort out. I am glad more Americans are finally willing to face this reality.
Read more by Rep. Ron Paul
The War That’s Not a War – July 2nd, 2010
Military Spending Must Be on the Table – June 28th, 2010
Justice Department’s History Not Worth Celebrating – June 27th, 2010
More Blank Checks to the Military-Industrial Complex – May 24th, 2010
Sanctioning Iran Is an Act of War – April 22nd, 2010

Blogger comment:
Wars brings more wars and misery. I was for fighting the Muslims extremists for 9/11 attack ask people around me in America I was very strong about it, we have to get Ben Laden. Then I found out that 9/11 is an internal job for people who control the world with false flags and deceit.

Then I found that terrorists are everywhere in the white house and in many palaces for presidents in the world. If you want to define terrorist as the one who attack civilians America did that already over the decades and mostly for the corporate rich.

Terrorism can be done also with not firing a gun but by making wars like they did with inflaming wars of Saddam and Iran and supplying both sides to fight. As well by standing with the strong tyrants who are terrorizing us in the Muslim and Arab world. The banks payout is non violence terrorism by the biggest banks. It was the biggest robbery in America where the politicians gave our tax money to the Banks first by the chief deceptive George Bush and then his follower Obama.

Have I been very polite to the American presidents yes sir read my early writings. However when I found them intimidate me at personal level for me telling the truth I have the right to attack them even at personal level. Defense against aggression is honour and courage.

Aggression against the weak and silent masses is tyranny and injustice. Remember there is a great and very powerful God and he is on the side of the just and fair. I am very sure he is on my side. It is after all a prophecy.

Regarding Afghanistan it is not winnable since:
1- A lot of the Americans think we are not on the side of the good which was the way Americans used to win wars like the second world war.
2- The Afghanistan regime is very corrupted and considered by most Muslims as hypocrites.
3- The Afghan soldiers do not think they are in the side of good either and against their faith to fight for corrupt corporations and regimes.
4- Ben Laden is not a person he is an idea. Muslims are powerless and any one will stand to the west and their corrupt Muslim regimes will be a hero. He will be Robin Hood.
5- The great American ranking military leaders and their honourable soldiers who fight a war are not enthusiastic to fight Ben laden they would rather fight the Arab tyrants and free the masses. It did not work in Iraq since the intention of politicians were not sincere and the people who they brought in power were not even popular with the masses.

Thus get out of Muslims land leave them alone take care of your people and president Obama please mail me back my passport I will pay you the 100 dollars I promised to whoever find my passport. You are after all the president of USA and can do anything.

To The Good Christians time to Wake up

By: Maged Taman

Christians have to wake up and do not need anyone to read for them the Bible and the Quran but to read it for themselves. No more brainwash we are in the end of time and Jesus will descend in few years.

The war between good and evil before his return is not a holy war but a war or struggle between the sincere people who follow the teachings of Jesus and those corrupt and wicked who control the world.

The religious pro-military industrial complex who live in luxury and preach to Jesus are in wrong side of evil and good opposite to what they think.

Islam is not the end of time evil that Christians have to face but the elites who control the world under many religions with same goal to keep the wealth and power of those control the world.
We are in the end of time and in the tribulation and those who will wear the white robes waiting for Jesus will be identified by following God commandants that good Muslims follow as well Christians and Jews.

As you see earthquakes and disasters are hitting the world for our false bride and arrogance against God and our sins.

Time to stand for God and Jesus. Do not listen to tyrants anymore like George Bush the decider who took us to unnecessary wars and with fraction of the money he destroyed we could have spent in the third world development and won the hearts and minds. He was playing the priest in chief guided by God and a lot of misery came from his polices and his misguided newcons.

Time for Christians to stand for the truth. No one stronger than God all those people go to the bathroom like me and when they get sick they feel miserable and when die will be dust like they were before their creation. The only alive and in control to whom we will be back under his judgment is God.

Time to stand with God and the man who will come few years before the second coming of Jesus and will prepare the world for the second coming. The lawless George Bush who persecuted me during his era spread the fake news in Churches that I am the Antichrist.

Obama still not allowing the media to mention my name. Goggle my name you will not find any article about me in the American media. Despite my health plan Taman Health Plan the best health plan that we ever had in human history. Simply because it is from God. A lot of corrupt people would not like to see God in control through his servant.

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِؤُواْ نُورَ اللّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللّهُ إِلاَّ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ (9:32)
9:32 (Picktall) Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse. -
At-Tauba (The Repentance)

he Egyptian Regime Still Torture People

فى القاهرة والإسكندرية وواشنطن

حاصرت قوات الأمن بالدقهلية جميع الطرق المؤدية إلى نادى نقابة الأطباء بطلخا، مساء أمس، قبيل انعقاد مؤتمر «رؤية لمواجهة تزوير الانتخابات» الذى دعت له الجمعية الوطنية للتغيير، والإخوان المسلمون.

ومنعت قوات الأمن أسامة الغزالى حرب، رئيس حزب الجبهة الديمقراطية، وجورج إسحاق، عضو الجمعية الوطنية للتغيير، من حضور المؤتمر.

واعتدت قوات الأمن المركزى على كل من حاولوا دخول مقر النقابة بالعصى، إلا أن البعض تمكن من اقتحام الحواجز الأمنية والدخول، فى حين تظاهر العشرات أمام الكردونات الأمنية ورددوا هتافات «علّى وعلّى الصوت اللى هايهتف مش هايموت» و«التغيير قادم برغم الظلم قادم».

وفى الإسكندرية قامت قوات مكافحة الشغب بتفريق أكثر من ١٠٠ شاب وفتاة حاولوا تلبية دعوة نشطاء سياسيين إلى تنظيم مظاهرة بالملابس السوداء على «كوبرى استانلى» احتجاجا على مقتل خالد سعيد، مما دفعهم إلى نقل وقفتهم إلى منطقة مصطفى كامل، قبل أن تقوم قوات الأمن بمحاصرتهم وتفريقهم بعد تهديدهم بالاعتقال.

وتجمع أكثر من ١٥٠ آخرين فى وقفة احتجاجية بدأت من منطقة «المنشية» وحتى «مكتبة الإسكندرية» بالشاطبى، كما تجمع أكثر من ١٠٠ شخص فى منطقتى «الإبراهيمية» و«كليوباترا». وانتقد المتضامنون تعامل الأمن، مؤكدين أن الهدف من الوقفة الاحتجاجية هو الاعتراض على الوضع القائم فى البلد والنظام.

وفى القاهرة نظم ١٥٠ ناشطا وقفة احتجاجية أمام نقابة الصحفيين بوسط البلد، عصر أمس، وذلك بعد أن فشلوا فى تنظيم وقفة احتجاجية صامتة أمام كورنيش النيل بسبب التواجد الأمنى، والقبض على عدد كبير منهم.

وردد المتظاهرون هتافات ضد وزارة الداخلية والضباط، على خلفية واقعة مقتل خالد سعيد، متهمين الأمن بالتسبب فى وفاته.

استمرت الوقفة لمدة ساعة كاملة احتشد فيها المتظاهرون على سلم نقابة الصحفيين، وهم يرتدون ملابس سوداء، وظلوا يرددون الهتافات حتى الساعة الثامنة والنصف، ثم انصرفوا فى هدوء من أمام مقر النقابة.

وقال مصدر أمنى إنه تم إلقاء القبض على ٤٠ شخصا من منطقة وسط البلد، ومن أمام حديقة الأزهر بطريق صلاح سالم، لمنعهم من تنظيم الوقفة، تم إخلاء سبيلهم فى الساعة الثامنة مساءً بعد التأكد من أن الدعوة لن تتم.

فى السياق نفسه نظم «ائتلاف المنظمات المصرية» والجمعية المصرية للتغيير بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، أمس الأول، وقفة احتجاجية لمناهضة التعذيب أمام السفارة المصرية بواشنطن أثناء احتفالية السفارة بثورة يوليو، ورفع المشاركون صور الشاب خالد سعيد قتيل الإسكندرية، وطالبوا بمحاكمة المتورطين فى التعذيب.

Blogger comment:
Still the brutal Mubarak regime is torturing people. Mubarak is still deceiving himself and do not think that we are in the end of time. We are in and Al Mahdi Al Muntazer is truth. Again answer my challenge tell publicly in the media that I am not Al Mahdi Al Muntazer.

Hope and Change Fade, but War Endures

Hope and Change Fade, but War Endures
Seven Reasons Why We Can’t Stop Making War

By William J. Astore

June 08, 2010 "TomDispatch" -- If one quality characterizes our wars today, it's their endurance. They never seem to end. Though war itself may not be an American inevitability, these days many factors combine to make constant war an American near certainty. Put metaphorically, our nation's pursuit of war taps so many wellsprings of our behavior that a concerted effort to cap it would dwarf BP's efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
Our political leaders, the media, and the military interpret enduring war as a measure of our national fitness, our global power, our grit in the face of eternal danger, and our seriousness. A desire to de-escalate and withdraw, on the other hand, is invariably seen as cut-and-run appeasement and discounted as weakness. Withdrawal options are, in a pet phrase of Washington elites, invariably "off the table" when global policy is at stake, as was true during the Obama administration's full-scale reconsideration of the Afghan war in the fall of 2009. Viewed in this light, the president's ultimate decision to surge in Afghanistan was not only predictable, but the only course considered suitable for an American war leader. Rather than the tough choice, it was the path of least resistance.
Why do our elites so readily and regularly give war, not peace, a chance? What exactly are the wellsprings of Washington's (and America's) behavior when it comes to war and preparations for more of the same?
Consider these seven:
1. We wage war because we think we're good at it -- and because, at a gut level, we've come to believe that American wars can bring good to others (hence our feel-good names for them, like Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom). Most Americans are not only convinced we have the best troops, the best training, and the most advanced weapons, but also the purest motives. Unlike the bad guys and the barbarians out there in the global marketplace of death, our warriors and warfighters are seen as gift-givers and freedom-bringers, not as death-dealers and resource-exploiters. Our illusions about the military we "support" serve as catalyst for, and apology for, the persistent war-making we condone.
2. We wage war because we've already devoted so many of our resources to it. It's what we're most prepared to do. More than half of discretionary federal spending goes to fund our military and its war making or war preparations. The military-industrial complex is a well-oiled, extremely profitable machine and the armed forces, our favorite child, the one we've lavished the most resources and praise upon. It's natural to give your favorite child free rein.
3. We've managed to isolate war's physical and emotional costs, leaving them on the shoulders of a tiny minority of Americans. By eliminating the draft and relying ever more on for-profit private military contractors, we've made war a distant abstraction for most Americans, who can choose to consume it as spectacle or simply tune it out as so much background noise.
4. While war and its costs have, to date, been kept at arm's length, American society has been militarizing fast. Our media outlets, intelligence agencies, politicians, foreign policy establishment, and "homeland security" bureaucracy are so intertwined with military priorities and agendas as to be inseparable from them. In militarized America, griping about soft-hearted tactics or the outspokenness of a certain general may be tolerated, but forceful criticism of our military or our wars is still treated as deviant and "un-American."
5. Our profligate, high-tech approach to war, including those Predator and Reaper drones armed with Hellfire missiles, has served to limit American casualties -- and so has limited the anger over, and harsh questioning of, our wars that might go with them. While the U.S. has had more than 1,000 troops killed in Afghanistan, over a similar period in Vietnam we lost more than 58,000 troops. Improved medical evacuation and trauma care, greater reliance on standoff precision weaponry and similar "force multipliers," stronger emphasis on "force protection" within American military units: all these and more have helped tamp down concern about the immeasurable and soaring costs of our wars.
6. As we incessantly develop those force-multiplying weapons to give us our "edge" (though never an edge that leads to victory), it's hardly surprising that the U.S. has come to dominate, if not quite monopolize, the global arms trade. In these years, as American jobs were outsourced or simply disappeared in the Great Recession, armaments have been one of our few growth industries. Endless war has proven endlessly profitable -- not perhaps for all of us, but certainly for those in the business of war.
7. And don't forget the seductive power of beyond-worse-case, doomsday scenarios, of the prophecies of pundits and so-called experts, who regularly tell us that, bad as our wars may be, doing anything to end them would be far worse. A typical scenario goes like this: If we withdraw from Afghanistan, the government of Hamid Karzai will collapse, the Taliban will surge to victory, al-Qaeda will pour into Afghan safe havens, and Pakistan will be further destabilized, its atomic bombs falling into the hands of terrorists out to destroy Peoria and Orlando.
Such fevered nightmares, impossible to disprove, may be conjured at any moment to scare critics into silence. They are a convenient bogeyman, leaving us cowering as we send our superman military out to save us (and the world as well), while preserving our right to visit the mall and travel to Disney World without being nuked.
The truth is that no one really knows what would happen if the U.S. disengaged from Afghanistan. But we do know what's happening now, with us fully engaged: we're pursuing a war that's costing us nearly $7 billion a month that we're not winning (and that's arguably unwinnable), a war that may be increasing the chances of another 9/11, rather than decreasing them.
Capping the Wellsprings of War
Each one of these seven wellsprings feeding our enduring wars must be capped. So here are seven suggestions for the sort of "caps" -- hopefully more effective than BP's flailing improvisations -- we need to install:
1. Let's reject the idea that war is either admirable or good -- and in the process, remind ourselves that others often see us as "the foreign fighters" and profligate war consumers who kill innocents (despite our efforts to apply deadly force in surgically precise ways reflecting "courageous restraint").
2. Let's cut defense spending now, and reduce the global "mission" that goes with it. Set a reasonable goal -- a 6-8% reduction annually for the next 10 years, until levels of defense spending are at least back to where they were before 9/11 -- and then stick to it.
3. Let's stop privatizing war. Creating ever more profitable incentives for war was always a ludicrous idea. It's time to make war a non-profit, last-resort activity. And let's revive national service (including elective military service) for all young adults. What we need is a revived civilian conservation corps, not a new civilian "expeditionary" force.
4. Let's reverse the militarization of so many dimensions of our society. To cite one example, it's time to empower truly independent (non-embedded) journalists to cover our wars, and stop relying on retired generals and admirals who led our previous wars to be our media guides. Men who are beholden to their former service branch or the current defense contractor who employs them can hardly be trusted to be critical and unbiased guides to future conflicts.
5. Let's recognize that expensive high-tech weapons systems are not war-winners. They've kept us in the game without yielding decisive results -- unless you measure "results" in terms of cost overruns and burgeoning federal budget deficits.
6. Let's retool our economy and reinvest our money, moving it out of the military-industrial complex and into strengthening our anemic system of mass transit, our crumbling infrastructure, and alternative energy technology. We need high-speed rail, safer roads and bridges, and more wind turbines, not more overpriced jet fighters.
7. Finally, let's banish nightmare scenarios from our minds. The world is scary enough without forever imagining smoking guns morphing into mushroom clouds.
There you have it: my seven "caps" to contain our gushing support for permanent war. No one said it would be easy. Just ask BP how easy it is to cap one out-of-control gusher.
Nonetheless, if we as a society aren't willing to work hard for actual change -- indeed, to demand it -- we'll be on that military escalatory curve until we implode. And that way madness lies.
William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF) and TomDispatch regular. He has taught at the Air Force Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School and currently teaches History at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He may be reached at wjastore@gmail.com.

Blogger comment:
The troops are fine men and military leaders are good guys they were raised on loving to fight against the bad guys as in western movies. However the motives and the elites who run the show are corrupt in their core. The best thing is to separate them from the troops and the military leaders and the American people. The religious pre-military industrial complex who live in luxury and preach to Jesus are also in wrong side of evil and good opposite to what they think. Time for the American people to take hold of their destiny.

Children of Israel: From Chapter 2 Quran

2:40
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Sahih International
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
O Children of Israel, sons of Jacob, remember My favour wherewith I favoured you, that is, your forefathers, saving them from Pharaoh, parting the sea, sending clouds as shelter and other instances, for which you should show gratitude by being obedient to Me; and fulfil My covenant, that which I took from you, that you believe in Muhammad (s), and I shall fulfil your covenant, that which I gave to you, that you shall be rewarded for this with Paradise; and be in awe of Me, fear Me and not anyone else when you have abandoned belief in him [the Prophet].
2:41
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Sahih International
And believe in what I have sent down confirming that which is [already] with you, and be not the first to disbelieve in it. And do not exchange My signs for a small price, and fear [only] Me.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And believe in what I have revealed, of the Qur’ān, confirming that which is with you, of the Torah, by its agreement with it, in respect to [affirmation of] God’s Oneness and prophethood; and be not the first to disbelieve in it, from among the People of the Scripture, for those who will come after you will depend on you and so you will bear their sins. And do not sell, exchange, My signs, those that relate to the description of Muhammad (s) in your Book; for a small price, for a trivial and temporary affair of this world; that is to say, do not suppress this for fear of losing what you hope to earn from lowly individuals among you; and fear Me, and none other in this matter.
2:42
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Sahih International
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And do not obscure, confuse, the truth, that I have revealed to you, with falsehood, that you fabricate; and do not conceal the truth, the description of Muhammad (s), wittingly, that is, knowing it to be the truth.
2:43
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Sahih International
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And establish prayer, and pay the alms, and bow with those that bow, that is, pray with those who pray, Muhammad (s) and his Companions: this was revealed concerning their religious scholars, who used to say to their kin from among the Muslims, ‘Stay firm upon the religion of Muhammad (s), for it is the truth’.
2:44
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Sahih International
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
Will you bid others to piety, to belief in Muhammad (s), and forget yourselves, neglecting yourselves and not bidding them to the same, while you recite the Book?, in which there is the threat of chastisement, if what you do contradicts what you say. Do you not understand? the evil nature of your actions, that you might then repent? (the sentence about ‘forgetting’ constitutes the [syntactical] locus of the interrogative of disavowal).
2:45
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Sahih International
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
Seek help, ask for assistance in your affairs, in patience, by restraining the soul in the face of that which it dislikes; and prayer. The singling out of this for mention is a way of emphasising its great importance; in one hadīth, [it is stated], ‘When something bothered the Prophet (s), he would immediately resort to prayer’; it is said that the address here is to the Jews: when greed and desire for leadership became impediments to their faith, they were enjoined to forbearance, which constituted fasting and prayer, since, the former stems from lust and the latter yields humility and negates pride. For it, prayer, is grievous, burdensome, except to the humble, those that are at peace in obedience,
2:46
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Sahih International
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
who reckon, who are certain, that they shall meet their Lord, at the Resurrection, and that to Him they are returning, in the Hereafter, where He will reward them.
2:47
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Sahih International
O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
O Children of Israel, remember My favour wherewith I favoured you, by giving thanks through obedience to Me, and that I have preferred you, your forefathers, above all the worlds, of their time;
2:48
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Sahih International
And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided.
Tafsir al-Jalalayna
nd fear, be scared of, the day when no soul for another shall give satisfaction, which is the Day of Resurrection, and no intercession shall be accepted (read either tuqbal or yuqbal) from it, that is, it is not the case that it has power to intercede, for it then to be accepted from it [or rejected, as God says], So now we have no intercessors [Q. 26:100]; nor any compensation, ransom, be taken, neither shall they be helped, to avoid God’s chastisement.
2:49
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Sahih International
And [recall] when We saved your forefathers from the people of Pharaoh, who afflicted you with the worst torment, slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And, remember, when We delivered you, your forefathers: the address here and henceforth directed to those living at the time of the our Prophet, is about how God blessed their forefathers, and is intended to remind them of God’s grace so that they might believe; from the folk of Pharaoh who were visiting you with, that is, making you taste, evil chastisement, of the worst kind (the sentence here is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the person of the pronoun [suffixed] in najjaynākum, ‘We delivered you’); slaughtering your, newly-born, sons: this is explaining what has just been said; and sparing, retaining, your women, [doing so] because of the saying of some of their priests that a child born among the Israelites shall bring about the end of your rule [Pharaoh]; and for you therein, chastisement or deliverance, was a tremendous trial, a test or a grace, from your Lord.
2:50
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Sahih International
And [recall] when We parted the sea for you and saved you and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were looking on.
Tafsir al-JalalaynAnd, remember, when We divided, split in two, for you, on account of you, the sea, such that you were able to cross it and escape from your enemy; and We delivered you, from drowning, and drowned Pharaoh’s folk, his people with him, while you were beholding the sea crashing down on top of them.

Iranian Woman Faces Stoning for Adultery

From: http://www.newsweek.com/

Iranian Woman Faces Stoning for Adultery
Mother of two could be put to death as soon as this weekend.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, convicted of adultery in Iran, may be stoned to death unless a last-minute campaign saves her.
Human-rights campaigners say that Ashtiani, who says she was under duress when she confessed to adultery, could be buried up to her breasts and stoned to death as soon as this weekend.
Ashtiani has been in prison since May 2006, when she was convicted of adultery and sentenced to 99 lashes. Later that year she was accused of murdering her husband. Those charges were dropped, but an inquiry into the adultery charge was reopened. She was, according to The Guardian, sentenced to death under a rule that allows judges to cite "judge's knowledge" and convict without evidence.

Ashtiani, represented by prominent human-rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, has failed in her appeals. AOL reports that a panel may convene as soon as Saturday to decide her fate. According to Amnesty International, the Iranian penal code specifies that "stones are large enough to cause pain, but not so large as to kill the victim immediately." Article 102 of the Penal Code states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts for the purpose of execution by stoning. Article 104 states, with reference to the penalty for adultery, that the stones used should "not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes; nor should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones." Iran executed 388 people last year, mostly by hanging, leaving it second only to China in the number of people put to death, according to Amnesty International.
Ashtiani's family has launched an international appeal to save her, and human-rights campaigners claim that at least two other women also face execution by stoning. One of them, arrested at 15 years old, has reportedly even been subject to a mock stoning. It may only be a matter of days until the real thing begins.

Blogger Comment:
The Arabic and in many times eastern cultures considered adultery is one of the worst human sins, particularly so from women. Before Islam and even now a man who suspect cheating of a wife he may kill her. Islam gave the way out for sinners men and women. Both have the same harsh treatment for adultery, and equally so. The proof is however very difficult need 4 witnesses or the man or woman testify against himself. Believe it or not to lie in Islam is considered only in few circumstances and adultery is one of them. God message regarding adultery is simple and clear it is a grave sin and deserve a great punishment but for his mercy he made it a difficult proof as the way out to sinners. Meantime God gave us the ways to prevent adultery. No doubt it is destructive to the communities and families and most men would not continue to live with a woman who is adulterous. Women more likely to forgive men than the opposite which is the nature of human sexuality. However the best community is that which clean itself from adultery, for both men and women.

Of course the western enthusiasm about this case is in large part to insult Islam more than to save this poor woman. How about the children who died for the wars on Muslims for oil and imperialism you do not see their photos in the American media??

How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

From: http://www.islamreligion.com/

By IslamReligion.com

Published on 27 Feb 2006 - Last modified on 23 Jan 2010 Viewed: 1706144 (daily average: 1072) - Rating: 3.8 out of 5 - Rated by: 5074Printed: 23058 - Emailed: 3957 - Commented on: 222 Category: Articles > How to Convert to Islam > How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Becoming a Muslim is a simple and easy process that requires no pre-requisites. One may convert alone in privacy, or he/she may do so in the presence of others.

If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion of God, then, all one needs to do is pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay. The “Shahada” is the first and most important of the five pillars of Islam.

With the pronunciation of this testimony, or “Shahada”, with sincere belief and conviction, one enters the fold of Islam.

Upon entering the fold of Islam purely for the Pleasure of God, all of one’s previous sins are forgiven, and one starts a new life of piety and righteousness. The Prophet said to a person who had placed the condition upon the Prophet in accepting Islam that God would forgive his sins:
“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)

When one accepts Islam, they in essence repent from the ways and beliefs of their previous life. One need not be overburdened by sins committed before their acceptance. The person’s record is clean, and it is as if he was just born from his mother’s womb. One should try as much as possible to keep his records clean and strive to do as many good deeds as possible.

The Holy Quran and Hadeeth (prophetic sayings) both stress the importance of following Islam. God states:
“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)
In another verse of the Holy Quran, God states:
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter, he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (their selves in the Hellfire).” (Quran 3:85)
In another saying, Muhammad, the Prophet of God, said:
“Whoever testifies that there in none worthy of being worshipped but God, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Prophet, and that Jesus is the Slave of God, His Prophet, and His word[1] which He bestowed in Mary and a spirit created from Him; and that Paradise (Heaven) is true, and that the Hellfire is true, God will eventually admit him into Paradise, according to his deeds.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet of God, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, also reported:
“Indeed God has forbidden to reside eternally in Hell the person who says: “I testify that none has the right to worship except Allah (God),’ seeking thereby the Face of God.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Declaration of the Testimony (Shahada)
To convert to Islam and become a Muslim a person needs to pronounce the below testimony with conviction and understanding its meaning:
I testify “La ilah illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah.”
The translation of which is:
“I testify that there is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God.”

To hear it click here or click on “Live Help” above for assistance by chat.
When someone pronounces the testimony with conviction, then he/she has become a Muslim. It can be done alone, but it is much better to be done with an adviser through the “Live Help” at top, so we may help you in pronouncing it right and to provide you with important resources for new Muslims.

The first part of the testimony consists of the most important truth that God revealed to mankind: that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God. God states in the Holy Quran:
“We did not send the Messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘none has the right to be worshipped except I, therefore worship Me.’” (Quran 21:25)

This conveys that all forms of worship, whether it be praying, fasting, invoking, seeking refuge in, and offering an animal as sacrifice, must be directed to God and to God alone. Directing any form of worship to other than God (whether it be an angel, a messenger, Jesus, Muhammad, a saint, an idol, the sun, the moon, a tree) is seen as a contradiction to the fundamental message of Islam, and it is an unforgivable sin unless it is repented from before one dies. All forms of worship must be directed to God only.

Worship means the performance of deeds and sayings that please God, things which He commanded or encouraged to be performed, either by direct textual proof or by analogy. Thus, worship is not restricted to the implementation of the five pillars of Islam, but also includes every aspect of life. Providing food for one’s family, and saying something pleasant to cheer a person up are also considered acts of worship, if such is done with the intention of pleasing God. This means that, to be accepted, all acts of worship must be carried out sincerely for the Sake of God alone.

The second part of the testimony means that Prophet Muhammad is the servant and chosen messenger of God. This implies that one obeys and follows the commands of the Prophet. One must believe in what he has said, practice his teachings and avoid what he has forbidden. One must therefore worship God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by God.

One must try to mold their lives and character and emulate the Prophet, as he was a living example for humans to follow. God says:
“And indeed you are upon a high standard of moral character.” (Quran 68:4)
God also said:
“And in deed you have a good and upright example in the Messenger of God, for those who hope in the meeting of God and the Hereafter, and mentions God much.” (Quran 33:21)

He was sent in order to practically implement the Quran, in his saying, deeds, legislation as well as all other facets of life. Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, when asked about the character of the Prophet, replied:
“His character was that of the Quran.” (As-Suyooti)

To truly adhere to the second part of the Shahada is to follow his example in all walks of life. God says:
“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love God, then follow me.’” (Quran 3:31)
It also means that Muhammad is the Final Prophet and Messenger of God, and that no (true) Prophet can come after him.
“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you but he is the Messenger of God and the last (end) of the Prophets and God is Ever All-Aware of everything.” (Quran 33:40)

All who claim to be prophets or receive revelation after Muhammad are imposters, and to acknowledge them would be tantamount to disbelief.
We welcome you to Islam, congratulate you for your decision, and will try to help you in any way we can.
Footnotes:
[1] God created him through His statement, “Be!”

Some Thoughts on "Patriotism"

By William Blum

July 06, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- July 04, 2010 -- Most important thought: I'm sick and tired of this thing called "patriotism".
The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from "communism".
General Augusto Pinochet of Chile, mass murderer and torturer: "I would like to be remembered as a man who served his country." 1

P.W. Botha, former president of apartheid South Africa: "I am not going to repent. I am not going to ask for favours. What I did, I did for my country." 2
Pol Pot, mass murderer of Cambodia: "I want you to know that everything I did, I did for my country." 3
Tony Blair, former British prime minister, defending his role in the murder of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis: "I did what I thought was right for our country." 4

At the end of World War II, the United States gave moral lectures to their German prisoners and to the German people on the inadmissibility of pleading that their participation in the holocaust was in obedience to their legitimate government. To prove to them how legally and morally inadmissable this defense was, the World War II allies hanged the leading examples of such patriotic loyalty.

I was once asked after a talk: "Do you love America?" I answered: "No". After pausing for a few seconds to let that sink in amidst several nervous giggles in the audience, I continued with: "I don't love any country. I'm a citizen of the world. I love certain principles, like human rights, civil liberties, democracy, an economy which puts people before profits."
I don't make much of a distinction between patriotism and nationalism. Some people equate patriotism with allegiance to one's country and government or the noble principles they supposedly stand for, while defining nationalism as sentiments of ethno-national superiority. However defined, in practice the psychological and behavioral manifestations of nationalism and patriotism are not easily distinguishable, indeed feeding upon each other.

Howard Zinn called nationalism "a set of beliefs taught to each generation in which the Motherland or the Fatherland is an object of veneration and becomes a burning cause for which one becomes willing to kill the children of other Motherlands or Fatherlands. ... Patriotism is used to create the illusion of a common interest that everybody in the country has." 5
Strong feelings of patriotism lie near the surface in the great majority of Americans. They're buried deeper in the more "liberal" and "sophisticated", but are almost always reachable, and ignitable.

Alexis de Tocqueville, the mid-19th century French historian, commented about his long stay in the United States: "It is impossible to conceive a more troublesome or more garrulous patriotism; it wearies even those who are disposed to respect it." 6

George Bush Sr., pardoning former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in connection with the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, said: "First, the common denominator of their motivation — whether their actions were right or wrong — was patriotism." 7
What a primitive underbelly there is to this rational society. The US is the most patriotic, as well as the most religious, country of the so-called developed world. The entire American patriotism thing may be best understood as the biggest case of mass hysteria in history, whereby the crowd adores its own power as troopers of the world's only superpower, a substitute for the lack of power in the rest of their lives. Patriotism, like religion, meets people's need for something greater to which their individual lives can be anchored.

So this July 4, my dear fellow Americans, some of you will raise your fists and yell: "U! S! A! ... U! S! A!". And you'll parade with your flags and your images of the Statue of Liberty. But do you know that the sculptor copied his mother's face for the statue, a domineering and intolerant woman who had forbidden another child to marry a Jew?

"Patriotism," Dr. Samuel Johnson famously said, "is the last refuge of a scoundrel." American writer Ambrose Bierce begged to differ — It is, he said, the first.
"Patriotism is the conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." — George Bernard Shaw
"Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians — which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by 'our' side. ... The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them." — George Orwell 8

"Pledges of allegiance are marks of totalitarian states, not democracies," says David Kertzer, a Brown University anthropologist who specializes in political rituals. "I can't think of a single democracy except the United States that has a pledge of allegiance." 9 Or, he might have added, that insists that its politicians display their patriotism by wearing a flag pin. Hitler criticized German Jews and Communists for their internationalism and lack of national patriotism, demanding that "true patriots" publicly vow and display their allegiance to the fatherland. In reaction to this, postwar Germany has made a conscious and strong effort to minimize public displays of patriotism.

Oddly enough, the American Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a founding member, in 1889, of the Society of Christian Socialists, a group of Protestant ministers who asserted that "the teachings of Jesus Christ lead directly to some form or forms of socialism." Tell that to the next Teaparty ignoramus who angrily accuses President Obama of being a "socialist".

Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, we could read that there's "now a high degree of patriotism in the Soviet Union because Moscow acted with impunity in Afghanistan and thus underscored who the real power in that part of the world is." 10

"Throughout the nineteenth century, and particularly throughout its latter half, there had been a great working up of this nationalism in the world. ... Nationalism was taught in schools, emphasized by newspapers, preached and mocked and sung into men. It became a monstrous cant which darkened all human affairs. Men were brought to feel that they were as improper without a nationality as without their clothes in a crowded assembly. Oriental peoples, who had never heard of nationality before, took to it as they took to the cigarettes and bowler hats of the West." — H.G. Wells, British writer 11

"The very existence of the state demands that there be some privileged class vitally interested in maintaining that existence. And it is precisely the group interests of that class that are called patriotism." — Mikhail Bakunin, Russian anarchist 12

"To me, it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography." — George Santayana, American educator and philosopher

William Blum is the author of:
Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War 2
Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower
West-Bloc Dissident: A Cold War Memoir
Freeing the World to Death: Essays on the American Empire
Portions of the books can be read, and signed copies purchased, at http://www.killinghope.org/

Blogger Comment:
Christians and Muslims are patriots only to God and His prophets including the great prophet Jesus. Good Jews are intentionally or unintentionally following the same route. A lot of people in the left and secular humanism follow also the same morals and principals of humanity that is dictated by God to his prophets.
Patriotism is a false doctrine saying that because you are born in this country or nationalize to this country you love it and fight for its defense. The trick is like in America and other countries is the use of the young people in military to sacrifice their lives for the elites, their ambitions and adventures. If you do not fight for the elites or criticize them you are a traitor or non-patriotic.
The world now with the kingdom of Satan spreading all over is controlled by a punch of rich people and families that control the world and media for their control and prosperity. See with all the principals I am calling for George Bush oppressed me not talk to the media as well the evil doers. Obama still gag the American and even the Arab media to talk about me and he has my passport so they can prevent me from going overseas and free my people.
If you read in Isaiah 53 you will find the servant that God talk about is cut off from the land of living. That some evil people want the world not to know the servant but a lot of millions of people they will spread the word about the existence of the servant.
Who Has Believed Our Report: Reading in Isaiah 52 and 53.

America Mystery Babylon

From: http://www.apocalypsesoon.org/xfile-6.html

Mystery Babylon

by Peter Goodgame
"'Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries...' This title was written on her forehead:
mysteryBabylon the greatthe mother of prostitutesand of the abominations of the earth

After this passage in the book of Revelation, John records the many disasters that Mystery Babylon must suffer. She will be punished by God and attacked by the Antichrist. Some of her plagues seem to come from nature but others are undoubtedly super-natural. With the wickedness of Mystery Babylon and the wrathful judgement that she receives in mind, and with all of God's end-times prophecies coming into clearer focus, it is important that this major subject of the book of Revelation is not ignored or misunderstood. According to my research the identity of Mystery Babylon, the world power which precedes the kingdom of the Antichrist, is painfully obvious. With a simple presentation using scripture and logic, I hope that this article will make the case as clear as it can be made.

Which scriptures?The scriptures that mention Mystery Babylon by name are Revelation 17 and 18. However, many do not realize that there is much more prophetic material written about the fall of Babylon in the Old Testament. These scriptures are Isaiah 13 and 14 and Jeremiah 50 and 51. It is true that there is much Old Testament material that was directed at Babylon and has already been fulfilled, however, much of the above scriptures remain unfulfilled and, based on the descriptions given, could not have been meant for ancient Babylon. As a Christian scholar I believe that all of biblical prophecy is God-given and one hundred percent correct. The simple rule I go by is that if a prophecy has not been fulfilled then that doesn't mean it is false, it just means that we need to wait longer. I believe we can safely apply the Old Testament prophecies that were directed at Babylon and remain unfulfilled to the Babylon of the end-times, that is, "Mystery Babylon," and these prophecies combine to give us a very clear description of that great power.

Descriptions
Mystery Babylon is the lone Global Superpower-
Revelation 17:1, "...the great prostitute, who sits on many waters." Revelation 17:15, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages." Revelation 17:18, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." Revelation 18:7, "In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.'"
A global superpower in three ways-
Economic Superpower-
Revelation 18:3, "...and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." Revelation 18:11, "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more..." Revelation 18:15, "The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment..." Revelation 18:23, "...Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray."
Military Superpower-
Jeremiah 50:23, "How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth!" Jeremiah 51:20, "You are my war club, my weapon for battle- with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms," Isaiah 14:4-6, "...How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression."
Political Superpower-
Jeremiah 51:44, "...The nations will no longer stream to him..." Revelation 17:18, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." Revelation 18:9-10, "When the kings of the earth... see the smoke of her burning... they will stand far off and cry: 'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!"
Major Port City-
Revelation 18:17-19, "...all who travel by ship... and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off... and with weeping and mourning cry out: 'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!' "
Greatest and Wealthiest city the world has ever seen-
Revelation 18:18, "When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' " Revelation 18:16, "Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!" Revelation 18:14, "The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished..."Isaiah 13:19, "Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians pride..." Jeremiah 51:13, "You who live by many waters and are rich in treasures, your end has come..."
Home to a large population of Jewish Exiles-
Jeremiah 51:45, "Come out of her, my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the Lord." Revelation 18:4, "Come out of her my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues," Zechariah 2:7, "Come, O Zion! Escape, you who live in the Daughter of Babylon!"
Mystery Babylon is represented by a Woman-
Revelation 17:1, "...I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters... ...the waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages." Revelation 17:18, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Mystery Babylon is dressed in expensive garments-
Revelation 18:16, "Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet..."
The above descriptions are just a few of the many biblical indicators that, I believe, point unequivocally and obviously to America as the great power known as Mystery Babylon, and New York City as the specific city destined to fall in Revelation 18. Let me show you how America in general, and New York City in particular, fits the biblical descriptions of Mystery Babylon:
A Global Superpower: Economically, Militarily and Politically- The United States of America is the world's only surviving Superpower. We are the king of the hill, no doubt about it. To stay in our position of power we use bullying tactics of diplomacy, military force and economic sanctions. If the reader has been convinced by our massive internal propaganda machine (American Media) that the USA is a force for freedom, liberty and compassion, then you have been duped, bamboozled, hoodwinked and led astray. I believe that the truth, as seen from God's eyes, is that we are immoral, oppressive, self-centered and arrogant, greedy and terribly self-righteous and hypocritical. If the reader find's this hard to swallow then I suggest that he or she take some time to study 20th Century American history from a perspective other than that promoted in the media or in our textbooks. Believe it or not, America has many Political Dissidents who do their best to bring out the truth. Chief among them are the authors Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman, (see note on Chomsky at the bottom of the page). Find and read any of their books on politics or media. For a quick intro to what is termed the 'radical' left wing, go to Z Magazine for articles by these authors as well as others. "Z-net" is definitely a secular site, and I don't agree with everything they publish, but their perspective on the USA and its foreign policies contains a lot of truth. It will be considered refreshing or horrifying, depending on your point of view.
Economic Superpower- This aspect of Mystery Babylon is the most-stressed aspect that can be found in the scriptures. Time and again we find references to the "merchants of the earth" and how they are "the world's great men." In a 20th Century context, when we speak of the "merchants of the earth" we can only be speaking of Global Corporations. It is the corporations which have all the money and it is the corporations which have all the power. Under the guidance of the USA, global corporations are attempting to convert the world to the religion of materialism and fanatical consumerism, while at the same time, with the help of the US-controlled IMF, trying to reduce third world countries into nothing more than factories which produce cheap labor and areas for the extraction of raw materials. This raping of the world's resources is being done at a breakneck pace and without any regard for the environment or the indigenous peoples. The last thing that the power brokers of America want is a world that is purely democratic where every culture has the right to freely elect their leaders, the right to form labor unions, and the right to protect their own resources.
New York City is the engine that runs the economy of the world and it is the home of the majority of the world's wealthiest corporations. New York is also the home of the World Trade Center, which was started in 1960 by David Rockefeller, and also the home of the New York Stock Exchange where the rich can invest in, and make money from, the richer. With the demise of social security, the common people of America: the bewildered herd, are being tricked into gambling their future on the well-being of these global menaces as well, through 401k Plans, stocks, and mutual funds. This speculative economy will not last much longer, and when it crashes it will not be the banks who suffer - they win either way - it will be the bewildered herd. Here is an article by Chomsky on how the "merchants of the earth" are trying to control labor. Here is an important interview of Chomsky by David Barsamian that talks about the true role of the World Bank, GATT and the International Monetary Fund, an organization created and controlled by the "merchants of the earth" and American bankers, acting in an international capacity.
Military Superpower- There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that America possesses the world's most powerful military. The question then is, Has America used it in an oppressive and relentlessly aggressive manner that is described of Babylon in the scriptures?
The "bewildered herd" has been led to believe that America only acts militarily when vital national interests are at stake, or when democratic freedom-loving peoples are threatened by Communism or Right-wing oppressive dictatorships, or when illegal and heinous invasions of sovereign nations take place. Most people probably presume that after America acts militarily then peace returns and democracy prevails. Not so.
Here is a list (from William Blum on ZNet http://www.lbbs.org/) of all the countries America has bombed since World War II:China 1945-46, North Korea 1950-53, China 1950-53, Guatemala 1954, Indonesia 1958, Cuba 1959-60, Guatemala 1960 and 64, Congo 1964, Peru 1965, Laos 1964-73, Vietnam 1961-73, Cambodia 1969-70, Guatemala 1967-69, Grenada 1983, Libya 1986, El Salvador 1980s, Nicaragua 1980s, Panama 1989, Iraq 1991-99, Sudan 1998, Afghanistan 1998, Yugoslavia 1999. In how many of these cases has the military action resulted in a true democracy that is respectful of human rights? None.
Setting aside the cases where we have acted, lets look at the cases where true democracies were threatened, where blood-thirsty dictators carried out domestic terrorism and extreme human rights abuses, or where sovereign nations were illegally invaded and we failed to act:Cambodia, Indonesia, Chile, the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, the genocide in Rwanda, the oppression of the Kurds, Chechnya, etc., etc. The point I am trying to make is that American foreign policy is not motivated by a sense of morals, but by overwhelming greed. We act when our business interests are threatened, or when we can safely enter a conflict that will allow us a chance to demonstrate our weapons systems, to gain buyers for armaments made by companies like Raytheon, Texas Instruments, Textron, Northrop Grumman, MacDonnell-Douglas and Boeing. (It was statistically safer to be a soldier on the American side during the Gulf War than to be a black man living an ordinary life in an inner-city ghetto at the same time.) America: We play the role of International Policeman and Peacemaker, and yet our defense contractors and arms manufacturers make more deadly weapons and more profit than the arms producers of any other nation on earth.
American media has created terms and lingo that serves as a means to our political ends. Some of the ways this is done is by characterizing rebellions against Marxist or leftist countries as being carried out by "freedom-fighters" (like the Contras), and rebellions against US supported right-wing dictatorships (El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Indonesia) are carried out by "leftist guerillas" or "terrorists." American media has also created a term to describe countries which refuse to bow to Western rules and policies, countries like Libya, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Yugoslavia, etc. That term is "Rogue State." Well, here is a very informative and entertaining article by Edward S. Herman on the truly biggest and baddest Rogue State of them all.
Political Superpower- Of course being the engine to the world's economy and possessing the world's most powerful military guarantees that America is a political superpower as well. However, the scriptures are pointing to something else that Mystery Babylon possesses. Jeremiah 51:44 mentions that at one time, before its demise, the nations of the world streamed to Babylon. Revelation 17:18 tells us that the city of Babylon rules over the kings of the earth. In Revelation 18:9-10 we see the kings of the earth declaring that Babylon was the "city of power."
New York City fulfills these scriptures by being the home to the governing body of the Planet Earth: the United Nations. This fact alone makes it the most important city on the planet. It is from here that deals are made, boundaries are drawn, and lives are bought and sold (Rev18:13). As I write, some may be skeptical that the UN has any real power. Why question the UN's power? The only thing holding back the United Nations right now is the United States, which owes more than a billion dollars in back dues. America has consistently ignored the will of the UN, and has often blatantly acted against it. Here is an article, (by Chomsky once again), that shows how the US is often the only country in the world opposing many UN initiatives. It may appear that the UN lacks teeth, but I reiterate, it is only because its power is superceded by the last remaining superpower- the United States of America.It appears that after the sudden and catastrophic destruction of the city of Mystery Babylon that the remainder of this once great power is attacked by the Antichrist and his forces. This is recorded in Revelation 17:16-18, "The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled."
I believe that what we read about here is the nations of the earth throwing off the yoke that was the power of Mystery Babylon and revolting against her, turning instead to the New Age messiah, the Antichrist, and allowing him to rule over them. Maitreya, the New Age "World Teacher" who is expected to soon appear, (promoted by the Tara Center, the Lucis Trust, World Goodwill and Share International- the latter two being NGOs accredited by the UN) is even now, through Benjamin Creme and other supporters, decrying Western culture and the society of consumerism and materialism that has been created. He appears to champion the causes of global democracy and political freedom for all, causes which are diametrically opposed to the true foreign policy goals of American power brokers. Maitreya is a man who appears to be a savior for the starving masses of the Third World, and he calls for a universal system of health care and education for all. He also supports the recent initiatives that call for the G-7 to forgive and forget the insurmountable debt that Third World countries have accumulated due to high-interest IMF loans. The USA and her global merchants and bankers consider this to be inconceivable.
America's culture of materialism, consumerism and pursuit of sensual pleasures without a regard for the consequences has been inspired by Satan. The contemporary American lifestyle is his masterpiece, yet it will be his counterfeit son, the Antichrist, who will stand up and quite correctly point out its flaws, warning of the dangers to the environment of throwaway consumerism and of the shallowness of a secular lifestyle which ignores the spiritual. He will point America out as the ultimate in hypocrisy and America will suffer the consequences.
Major Port City, Greatest and Wealthiest City, and City of Jewish Exiles- New York City is undoubtedly the most important port city in the world. What may not be known is that when a ship approaches the New York City harbor from the south, in order to properly conform with the shipping lanes it must aim due north straight for a municipality on Long Island named "Babylon." A tall water tower on the shoreline is used as a reference point for navigation and when a ship reaches closest to shore before turning west to enter the harbor, the name "Babylon," written on the tower in big bold letters can be easily read. The community of Babylon is a predominantly Jewish community of over 200,000. It has an airport and two universities. To read about this community go Friday, June 01, 2001 11:14:13here. According to researcher Richard Coombes, Babylon was so named by early Jewish immigrants because of their study of the scriptures and their belief that Ancient Babylon would be relocated west of the Nile. According to my research this community is the only inhabited and functioning community in the world that is known as "Babylon." There are more Jews living in New York City than in any other city on earth, and there are more Jews living in America than in Israel and Russia combined. Clearly America is the home of Jewish exiles. For further evidence that the USA, led by New York City, is end-times Babylon, I suggest Coombes' book, "America, the Babylon." Click the title to go to Amazon.com (another huge corporation; my apologies).
The wealthiest city: I haven't researched the veracity of this statement, but I periodically hear economic pundits state the fact that fully half of the world's capital is located in New York City. This means that half of the world's money is in New York. This does not seem so far-fetched to me, given the fact that the money of the IMF and the World Bank is located here, as well as the NYSE, and many other international banks. Regardless of the truth of this statement there is not another city in the world that could come close to equaling New York in wealth, and in total wealth the USA is by far the richest nation on earth.Another point is that after World War II we effectively controlled both sides of both oceans. This fact made us the first truly global power in the history of the world. In 1948, George Kennan, who headed the U.S. State Department until 1950, wrote a then-classified foreign relations document for the State Department entitled Policy Planning Study 23, it read in part,
"we have about 50% of the world's wealth, but only 6.3% of its population... in this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity... To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate objectives... We should cease to talk about vague and... unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of living standards, and democratization. The day is not too far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts." (taken from What Uncle Sam Really Wants, by Noam Chomsky, Odonian Press, 1986, pp. 7, 9-10)
Mystery Babylon is represented by a woman-America's most famous landmark, (most famous graven image), is the Statue of Liberty. Richard Coombes makes a solid case that our Statue of Liberty is in fact a representation of the ancient Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Ishtar was next to Marduk at the top of the Babylonian pantheon of gods, and her cult promoted "the notion of personal freedom and liberty to pursue a wild hedonistic sexual lifestyle of immense promiscuity," (Coombes). Basically her philosophy has been recreated here in America and is the same as the '60s mantra of "if it feels good, do it!" Central to her cult was the practice of prostitution for religious purposes, thus the scripture of Revelation 17:5, "...The Mother of Prostitutes..." One of America's most profitable exports is Entertainment, and in that industry is a widely repeated and simple cliche, "Sex Sells!" Thus we have several scriptures that point out the immorality of Mystery Babylon, especially the sin of "adultery," which is celebrated and promoted all over the world through our unparalleled entertainment industry. And finally in Revelation 18:16, we have the identity of Mystery Babylon revealed through her national colors,
"O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet..."
Here is a copy of an advertisement that I recently received in the mail:

The "Mother of Prostitutes" of Revelation 17-18 is a literal representation of the ancient Babylonian goddess Ishtar, whose cult demanded prostitution as a form of religious service. In former times she was known as Inanna to the Sumerian civilization and later she was worshiped as Venus and Libertas by the Romans. At one time Liberty was worshiped at a temple that was dedicated to her on Aventine Hill in Rome, and coins were even minted with inscriptions of her image and her name (as America has done above).

Obverse- The head of Claudiuswith inscription: TI.CLAUDIUS.CAESAR.AUG.P.M.TR.P.IMP.
Reverse-Libertas draped, standing with head turned to the right holding a pilus in her right hand and her left hand extended with the inscription: LIBERTAS AUGUSTA.On either side of the figure are letters S,C referring to senatus consultum-by decree of the senate was this coin minted. (Information regarding the Libertas coin taken from http://www.dl.ket.org/latin3/grammar/inscriptions.htm.)
The Statue of Liberty was conceived of, funded by and created by men who were intimately involved in the organization known as the Freemasons. Edouard Laboulaye was the chief fundraiser and Frederic August Bartholdi was the head sculptor. These men, and the freemasons in general, idealize the pagan gods and goddesses of ancient Rome and Greece. It is a well known fact that Bartholdi intended the Statue of Liberty to be a representation of the Roman goddess Liberty, also known as Inanna and Ishtar.
Here is a carving of the goddess Inanna/Ishtar which, according to Richard Coombes, dates to about 3000 BC. Compare it to our modern Statue of Liberty.

"The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits," Revelation 17:9 (NIV).
The above passage is most often used by those who would like to identify end-times Babylon with the Roman Catholic Church. It is well known that at one time Rome was built over seven hills. However, the Greek word that the NIV translates as "hill" is the word hora. This word is more accurately interpreted by the KJV and other versions as "mountain." The Greek word for "hill" is the word bounos. This word is one that was borrowed from Latin after the Roman conquests specifically to refer to the "hills" of Rome. To my knowledge there is no reference in ancient Greek literature that describes the hills of Rome as "seven hora," and they are always referred to as "the seven bounos of Rome." There is no precedent whatsoever to use the word hora to describe the seven hills of Rome.
The primary definition of the Greek word hora is "mountain," but it could also be used to refer to "vast expanse," "large land mass," or "continent." The official Statue of Liberty website (http://www.nps.gov/stli/prod02.htm) has this to say about the seven-rayed crown which she wears,
"The seven rays of the Statue's crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world."
"...the great prostitute, who sits on many waters." Revelation 17:1"The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages," 17:15."There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that... had seven heads and ten horns." 17:3"The seven heads are seven hora on which the woman sits." 17:9.
The Fall of Babylon
The fall of Babylon will take place in three phases. The first will be a judgement that comes from God which results in the destruction of the "great city" of Babylon. The second will be an attack on what is left of her from the Antichrist and the ten kings. The last phase of the fall of Babylon will be her complete and total destruction at the end of the Tribulation.
Phase One- The destruction of the "great city" of Babylon occurs suddenly, without warning, and when she is at the height of her power.
Revelation 17:18, Before the judgements begin the city is called "...that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." Revelation 18:7-8, "...she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' Therefore her plagues will come in one day." Revelation 18:10, After the city is destroyed the kings of the earth cry out, "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come." Revelation 18:15-17, The merchants of this city, who were "the great men of the earth," cry out: "...'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' " Revelation 18:18-19, And all the shipmasters cry out as well, "... What is like this great city? ...Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate." Jeremiah 50:31-32, "Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!" says the Lord God of hosts; "For your day has come, The time that I will punish you. The most proud shall stumble and fall..." Jeremiah 51:7-8, "Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged. Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain..."
The fact that Phase One occurs when Babylon is at the height of her power makes it clear that this is before she is attacked by the Antichrist. This is evidence that the catastrophe which causes the destruction of the great city of Babylon occurs quite early in the tribulation.
The great city of Babylon may fall as a result of the second trumpet judgement of Revelation 8:8, "Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."If this giant meteor impacts into the Atlantic Ocean then the angel in Revelation 18:21 was offering a literal description of the nature of the great city's fall, "Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.' " This possibility is reinforced by Jeremiah 51:42, "The sea has come up over Babylon; She is covered with the multitude of its waves." However, the next verse of this passage indicates that the final state of Babylon will be a "dry land and a wilderness." This is more evidence of a great tsunami, or tidal wave, which may strike the East Coast of the United States, destroy New York City, and then roll back leaving destruction and, ultimately, a wilderness in its wake.
More evidence that the destruction of the city of Babylon comes as a result of a direct judgement from God can be found in Isaiah 13:5 and Jeremiah 50:25 which both refer to the Lord's "weapons of His wrath." Jeremiah 50:46 also records, "At the noise of the taking of Babylon, the earth trembles..." The earth would definitely tremble at the impact of a good sized meteor into the ocean.
Phase Two- The Antichrist and the Ten Kings attack what is left of Babylon to forcefully bring her into the New World Order.The Bible is clear that the Antichrist will rise out of a previously established world government that is led by ten kings,
"The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws..." (Daniel 7:23-25).
The Antichrist and the ten kings which lead this one world government will attack Babylon to bring her into submission, "The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled," (Revelation 17:17-18).
Phase Three- The end result of Babylon will be her complete and total destruction.This is made clear by a number of texts including,
Isaiah 13:19-22, "Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about. Hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged." Jeremiah 51:25-26, " 'I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth,' declares the LORD. 'I will stretch out my hand against you, roll you off the cliffs, and make you a burned-out mountain. No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 51:43, "Her towns will be desolate, a dry and desert land, a land where no one lives, through which no man travels." Revelation 18:2, "She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird."
The prophet Zechariah witnessed the removal of the demonic spiritual force that once inspired the ancient nation of Babylon. This woman was placed in a basket and Zechariah was told that she was being taken away to a new land where Babylon would again re-emerge.
Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what this is that is appearing." I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a measuring basket. " And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land." Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth. Then I looked up--and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place." Zechariah 5:5-11
On October 28th, 1886, President Grover Cleveland accepted the Statue of Liberty on behalf of the United States. In the ceremony which celebrated the unveiling of this ancient pagan deity, he spoke these words,
"We will not forget that Liberty has here made her home;nor shall her chosen altar be neglected."

NOTES
The quote from President Grover Cleveland can be verified at the official Statue of Liberty website- http://www.nps.gov/stli/prod02.htm
The author may be contacted at pgoodgame@hawaii.rr.comor through his web site: http://www.redmoonrising.com/index.html
Note regarding Noam Chomsky: He is America's pre-eminent political dissident and the fact that the reader has most likely never heard of him is proof of the overwhelming effectiveness of America's one-sided mass propaganda machine. He is a professor at MIT and a prolific author, lecturer and activist. He is an atheist, a secular humanist and a vocal critic of modern Israel's former policy of Zionist expansion and of their nuclear development. Obviously as a Christian I do not agree with each and every one of his positions, but his political observations regarding America are supported by an overwhelming amount of data and evidence. The usual charge that is brought against this man is that he is anti-Semitic. The fact that Chomsky is a Jew should at least cause people to research this charge more intently, yet it continues to be leveled at him from right-wing zealots, supporters of the corporate led capitalist system, by the major media and the government, as well as by uninformed Christians. The charge of anti-Semitism comes from his support of a French "researcher" who wanted to publicize his belief that the holocaust of WWII was greatly exaggerated. Chomsky did not, in any way, shape or form support the conclusions of the researcher, he only defended the man's right to present them. For Chomsky it was a simple matter of Freedom of Speech, yet his opponents have used this incident to call Chomsky, a Jew himself, a supporter of historical revisionism and anti-Semitism. This is how supporters of the status quo go about silencing people who are gifted in pointing out their hypocrisy.
I must reiterate that Chomsky is not a Christian, and although he is gifted in illuminating the past and understanding the present, his view of the future, and of what we as human beings need most, is entirely human-centered and thus greatly flawed. Keep this in mind while researching his views.
The Noam Chomsky archive can be found here- http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/index.cfmAn article which defends Chomsky against the slander that he is anti-Semitic can be found here- http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/other/85-hitchens.html

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To the Muslims in America, a lot of Christians rights particularly those who were encouraging the war in Iraq thinking it is Babylon that God promised its destruction before Jesus descent came to realize it is America. Listen to a lot of them in night talks and pod-casts you will find out according to their understanding of scripture that America will fall soon. A lot of them think they will take off in the rupture and will not suffer in the tribulation like other people. Some of them even do not care about suffering since Jesus descent will be in few years and they will enjoy the kingdom of God. For Muslims in America you are here if America will be destroyed a lot of you will suffer. Thus my advise to you is to talk to the American Christians and tell them we all can be saved from the wrath of God if to follow Jesus teachings. No doubt there are a lot of good Americans I enjoyed working with and living between them. However the amount of wickedness particularly the elites who control it make it well deserved to have God judgment. In fact I hear from a Christian pastor if God would not judge America he should appologise to the nations he destroyed before.

For the tyranny of the elites in America God described them a servant that he will call for justice and the lift of opperssion. For the tyranny of Babylon they rejected me even before I come public and not even allow me to be public. Their false prophet George Bush spread the word in many Churches that I am the anti-Christ a lot of Christians would not buy that since he had the most ant-Christ policies in the history of this nation. Obama is in the same direction, beside he has my passport now or one of his guys. Going back to America the Babylon, for Chrisitans prophecies have to come true for Muslims every thing is posssible for God if people repent and do 360 degree turn God forgive them.

مَّا يَفْعَلُ اللّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمْ إِن شَكَرْتُمْ وَآمَنتُمْ وَكَانَ اللّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا (4:147)
4:147 (Picktall) What concern hath Allah (God) for your punishment if ye are thankful (for His mercies) and believe (in Him)? Allah was ever Responsive, Aware. -