MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Is it me, or is Russia now getting bolder in light of America’s ineffectual leadership and President Obama’s apparent desire to weaken the US military?  Sounds more and more like this war could develop into something larger than just a regional conflagration …

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu – “Russia has given Iran its bear hug and warns Israel and the West that an attack on Tehran would be considered an attack on Moscow. The threat heightens the prospect of World War III in the event of a military strike on Iran.

‘Iran is our neighbor,’ Russia’s outgoing ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, told reporters in Brussels. ‘And if Iran is involved in any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.’

Kremlin Security Council head Nikolai Patrushev accused Israel of provoking the United States towards war against Iran, the Russian Interfax news agency reported Friday. ‘But at the same time, we believe that any country has the right to have what it needs to feel comfortable, including Iran,’ he added.

Rogozin warned on Friday that more attacks on Iran could cause ‘a scorching Arab Summer.'” Read more.

Joint Chiefs chairman headed to Israel amid Iran threat – “Israel’s military confirmed Sunday that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey will travel to the Mideast nation this week for talks, as Israel’s No. 2 public official suggested that President Obama is being meek about Iran ahead of the U.S. presidential election. The content of the coming discussion between the U.S. general and Israel’s top military commander was not stated, but Iran is first and foremost in Israel’s mind as the Islamic Republic takes a step closer to going nuclear.” Read more.

Report: Israel making war preparations away from watchful eyes – “A U.S. intelligence source tells G2Bulletin that the Israelis, who know the overflight schedule of U.S. surveillance satellites monitoring their war preparations, wait until the “bird” passes and then resume what appears to be increased mobilization activities, according to a report from Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin. Sources say the Israelis are making war preparations, but subtly, in an effort to lessen the world’s notice, and they may be further along than U.S. imagery analysts are able to assess.” Read more.

Flashback: Lo! There He Is, Out In The Desert! Russia’s Vladimir Putin Believes He ‘Saw Christ’ in Iranian Leader – “Iran’s supreme leader is being elevated to sainthood and leader of the worldwide Islamic movement by the Iranian media. In commentaries that reflect the dictates of the Iranian regime, the media for the first time are publishing statements by world officials and others that deify Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The most significant of such statements comes from Vladimir Putin, the former president and current prime minister of Russia. The media outlet Mahramaneh reports that in October 2007, when Putin traveled to Iran, he specifically requested a meeting with Khamenei and came away dazzled. During that meeting, according to the report, Khamenei talked about the history of Russia and what lies ahead, which surprised Putin. Afterward, Iranian diplomats said that Putin’s behavior had changed drastically.” Read more.

By: B. Chernitsky*

In a June 2011 sermon posted on the website, MB in Egypt General Guide Muhammad Badi’ discussed the Jews, their traits, and their actions: “Allah warned us against the deceit of the Jews and their dangerous role in Read more…

More death and violence within the religion of peace, and another step towards Iran …

By ADAM SCHRECK and NABIL AL-JURANI (AP) – “A bomb tore through a procession of Shiite pilgrims heading toward a largely Sunni town in southern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least 53 people in the latest sign of a power struggle between rival Muslim sects that has escalated since the American military withdrawal.

Fears of more bloodshed have risen in recent weeks, with the U.S. no longer enjoying the leverage it once had to encourage the two sides to work together to rein in extremists. Most of the latest attacks appear to be aimed at Iraq’s majority Shiites, suggesting Sunni insurgents seeking to undermine the Shiite-dominated government are to blame.

Saturday’s blast happened on the last of the 40 days of Arbaeen, when hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims travel to the Iraqi city of Karbala and other holy sites. The end of Arbaeen is one of the most sacred times for Shiites, and public processions to commemorate it were banned under Saddam Hussein.

The blast occurred near the town of Zubair as pilgrims marched from the nearby port city of Basra toward the Imam Ali shrine on the outskirts of the town, said Ayad al-Emarah, a spokesman for the governor of Basra province.

The shrine is an enclave within an enclave — a Shiite site on the edge of a predominantly Sunni town in an otherwise mostly Shiite province.” Read more.

By David Lev – “Iran is preparing its own answers to the string of assassinations of Iranian scientists, a web site identified with President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Thursday – and those responsible had better start staying awake nights, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying. Naming Israel specifically, the Rajah News website said that Israel wasn’t the only country that could undertake long-distance proxy wars. ‘We too can send our agents to kill people in their sleep,’ the site quoted the unnamed official as saying.

‘None of those responsible will escape, none of them should feel safe,’ the official told the website. ‘We will take the war beyond the borders of Iran, and beyond the borders of the region.’ Israeli commentators said that the statement was an implied threat that Iran could target American Jews in response to what it perceives is a covert war by Israel to halt Iran’s nuclear program. Several months ago, the FBI announced the arrest of a terror gang connected to Iran that had planned to attack synagogues in the U.S., and to blow up the Saudi embassy in Washington.” Read more.

Rabbi injured after New Jersey synagogue torched – “A suspicious fire inside a large Rutherford synagogue Wednesday morning injured one person. The fire broke out inside the structure on Montross Avenue just before 5 a.m. One person sustained a minor injury in the blaze, which was quickly brought under control. The fire appeared to be suspicious, and fire investigators quickly responded. One resident who lives in the building told a neighbor that something was tossed through the window just before the fire spread.” Read more.

Israel ups security abroad after Iran scientist killed – “The defense establishment is tightening security over Israeli delegations overseas out of concern that Iran will avenge the assassination on Wednesday of a senior nuclear scientist and ahead of the anniversary of the killing of Hezbollah’s military chief. Security officials said that meetings were being held regularly by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Counterterrorism Bureau to assess the threat and make adjustments to the security of delegations and senior officials overseas. On Thursday, a hardline Iranian newspaper with links to the country’s top authority called on the clerical establishment to take retaliatory measures against Israel for the killing of scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan in Tehran.” Read more.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s official motto: “Allah is our objective – The Prophet is our leader – The Qur’an is our law – Jihad is our way – Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope”

Reuters – “CAIRO – The Muslim Brotherhood said on Saturday it had won at least 41 percent of the seats in Egypt’s lower house of parliament, with Islamists of various stripes occupying almost two thirds of the assembly so far.

Banned under deposed president Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood has emerged as a major winner from the uprising that toppled him, exploiting a well-organized support base in the first free legislative vote in decades.

It may be some weeks before the exact shape of the lower house is known because of various runoff votes. However, it is unlikely that their outcome will alter the dominance of the Islamists who now look set to wield major influence over the shape a new constitution to be drafted by a 100-strong body that the new assembly will pick.

The Brotherhood has promised that Egyptians of all persuasions will have their say and, while the strong Islamist performance has alarmed some Egyptians and Western governments that backed Mubarak …” Read more.

Top US official meets Muslim Brotherhood to confirm their support of human rights, tolerance, rights of women & international obligations – “The number two official in the U.S. State Department met with a leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday but chose not to see a more hardline Islamist group that has also fared well in Egypt’s first free legislative vote in decades. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns met Mohamed Morsi, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), in Washington’s highest level outreach to the Islamist group as part of a series of meetings with Egyptian political figures in Cairo, the State Department said. ‘From our perspective it was an opportunity to hear from them and to reinforce our expectation that all the major parties will support human rights, tolerance, rights of women and will also uphold Egypt’s existing international obligations,’ State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.” Read more.

Flashback: Muslim Brotherhood Will Not Recognize the ‘Occupying Criminal Enemy’ Israel Under ANY Circumstances, Vows to Cancel ‘Zionist’ Peace Treaty – “Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood will not recognize Israel ‘under any circumstance,’ the party’s deputy leader Dr Rashad Bayoumi told Arabic daily al-Hayat in an interview publish Sunday. When asked whether it is a requirement for the government in Egypt to recognize Israel, Bayoumi responded by saying: ‘This is not an option, whatever the circumstances, we do not recognize Israel at all. Its [Israel] an occupying criminal enemy.’ The deputy leader stressed during the interview that no Muslim Brotherhood members would ever meet with Israelis for negotiations. ‘I will not allow myself to sit down with criminals.’ Bayoumi went on to say that The Muslim Brotherhood would take legal procedures towards cancelling the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel that was signed in 1979.” Read more.

Flashback: Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Holds Venomous Anti-Israel Rally, Vows to ‘One Day Kill All Jews’ – “Arab hate: A Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to ‘one day kill all Jews.’ Some 5,000 people joined the rally, called to promote the ‘battle against Jerusalem’s Judaization.’ The event coincided with the anniversary of the United Nations’ partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state… Speakers at the event delivered impassioned, hateful speeches against Israel, slamming the ‘Zionist occupiers’ and the ‘treacherous Jews.’” Read more.

“A new aircraft carrier strike group has entered the Arabian Sea and another is on its way, a Pentagon official said in a news briefing Wednesday — a shuffling of the U.S. fleet amid rising tensions with Iran.

Officials said there is no connection between the fleet movements and threats from Iran, however, the arrival of the USS Carl Vinson comes on the heals of Iranian military exercises in the Persian Gulf and threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transit route.

And the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran on Wednesday further escalated tensions, as the Obama administration denied any role in the death.

The U.S. Navy announced Monday that the USS Vinson had arrived in the region to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

‘We will work closely with our regional partners to demonstrate our commitment to security and stability in the region,’ Rear Admiral Thomas Shannon said in a written statement.

Captain John Kirby, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Media Operations, on Wednesday denied U.S. involvement in the killing of the Iranian scientist and said the incident has not changed the U.S. position in the Gulf region.

And the number of carriers in the region ‘does go up and down, but it’s based on overall broad requirements in the region that the Central Command commander sets and establishes, [it’s] not necessarily … driven by a specific incident,’ Capt. Kirby said.

The shift in naval assets in the region, Kirby said, is not linked to Iran’s recent threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, a threat made in response to the West’s sanctions on Iranian oil exports over the country’s contested nuclear program.” Read more.

UK sending warship to Persian Gulf amid Strait closure fears – “The United Kingdom said Saturday it plans to send a warship to the Persian Gulf, a move that follows Western criticism of Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Ministry of Defense described the deployment of the HMS Daring as ‘long-planned’ and ‘entirely routine.’ The destroyer will replace a frigate stationed in the area, it said. Still, in the past two weeks both U.S. and British defense officials have denounced any move by Iran to close the strait, the only outlet from the Persian Gulf and a key trade route for oil.” Read more.

Iranian president arrives in Cuba; U.S. warns of ‘dangerous alliance’ – “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Cuba Wednesday for a brief visit that is the third stop in his Latin American tour. Ahmadinejad was to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro later Wednesday, after lecturing at the University of Havana. Cuban diplomatic sources in Havana said that Ahmadinejad also has plans to meet with historic Cuban leader Fidel Castro. As he arrived in the communist island in the Caribbeann, Ahmadinejad lifted two fingers in a sign of victory. He was coming in from Nicaragua, where he attended Daniel Ortega’s inauguration for a further presidential term late Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement Wednesday that ‘Iran and Cuba are both state-sponsors of terrorism, and need to be treated as immediate threats to our national security.'” Read more.