[Arktwo] Some important news

[Bruce Beach]

The excerpt below was published yesterday -
in a Russian News Source

I provide below -
a lengthy quote
but the thing to note is that -
top influential US military experts
say that the US now has no choice
but to bomb Iran
and that they have set a timetable to do so.
One might be sceptical about the timetable.

---------
WASHINGTON, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. has a 14-ton super bomb
more destructive than the vacuum bomb just tested by Russia, a U.S. general
said Wednesday.

The statement was made by retired Lt. General McInerney, chairman of the
Iran Policy Committee, and former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air
Force.

McInerney said the U.S. has "a new massive ordnance penetrator that's 30,000
pounds, that really penetrates ... Ahmadinejad has nothing in Iran that we
can't penetrate."

On Tuesday, the Fox News television channel said: "A recent decision by
German officials to withhold support for any new sanctions against Iran has
pushed a broad spectrum of officials in Washington to develop potential
scenarios for a military attack on the Islamic regime.".

Commenting on the report, McInerney said: "Since Germany has backed out of
helping economically, we do not have any other choice. ... They've forced us
into the military option."

McInerney described some possible military campaign scenarios and said: "The
one I favor the most, of course, is an air campaign," he continued.

... the general said describing the campaign, adding it would be "easy."

McInerney is well-known among the U.S. conservatives. He is the chairman of
the Iran Policy Committee co-chaired by James Woolsey, former CIA director,
William A. Nitze, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Richard
Schifter, former Assistant Secretary of State, and Professor Raymond Tanter,
former Personal Representative of the Secretary of Defense to arms control
talks in Europe.

The McInerney statement was made following a Fox News report that U.S.
"officials are making plans to attack Iran as early as next summer," since
Washington believes diplomatic efforts have failed.

-----------
And on another matter -
from the same source
as the above.

GAZA, September 13 (RIA Novosti)

Hamas militants are observing preparations by the Israeli military for a
large-scale military operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, a
spokesman for Hamas armed wing said Thursday.

"We have people along the border [with Israel] reporting troop
concentrations around Gaza," Abu Ubeida told RIA Novosti.

"We believe that the enemy is preparing a massive invasion and we warn them
[the Israelis] that they will meet stiff resistance and these raids will not
be a joyride for them," he said.

Israel has not yet responded to a rocket attack by Palestinian militants
early Tuesday morning that injured at least 69 Israeli soldiers at the Zikim
training base, located close to the border with Gaza.

The Israeli government is expected to discuss the deterioration in the
situation in Gaza, and a possible reaction to the attack during a scheduled
meeting on Sunday.

---------------
Coincidently -
Rosh Hashanah will have just ended at sundown on the 13th with the Sabbath
to begin at sundown on the 14th.

"all flights of fighters and bombers in the United States will be halted on
Sept. 14 to allow for a review of procedures"

Israeli civilian flights from the US
will be grounded the same day.
All of this can be seen as normal operating procedures -
or not.

Operation Vigilant Shield: Oct. 15-20:

---------
Ships Underway

Carriers:
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Indian Ocean
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Persian Gulf
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Indian Ocean

Amphibious Warfare Ships:
USS Tarawa (LHA 1 ) - Pacific Ocean
USS Peleliu (LHA 5) - Pacific Ocean
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Persian Gulf
USS Bohomme Richard (LHD 6) - Persian Gulf
USS Denver (LPD 9) - Persian Gulf
USS Rushmore (LSD 47) - Persian Gulf

USS Truman Strike Group heading for Gulf

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that from the third week of July, the
only American strike force- carrier in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea region
was the USS Enterprise. By the end of September, it will be joined by the
USS Nimitz and the USS Truman Strike Groups. Our sources note that with
their arrival, three American naval, air and marine forces will again
confront Iranian shores at a time of crisis in the military and civilian
leadership of Iran - signalled by the abrupt change of Revolutionary Guards
Corps commanders, rising Israel-Syrian tensions and a troubled situation in
Lebanon.

More:

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=4583

------------
While recognizing that
train time can be any time -
still Bruce's personal call remains
for late October.

Next summer does seem to me
a bit far off -
although another
fall, winter and spring to prepare
would be nice.

That is if -
we were to get lots of help -
and at the moment we are.

A half dozen people planning for Sunday.
Hope to move the half dozen
remaining plumbing and electrical tasks
further along.
Still one of the four hotwater tanks
to be hooked up and another shower.

A couple of serious setbacks this week.
Not so serious that we can't use the shelter -
but still unanticipated.
Some special batteries didn't show up
for the intercom system -
and the Caterpillar Generator developed an oil leak
that we have to find.

Big activity for the weekend, however,
is preparation of the big garden for next year.
We have been offered 7 twenty-yard
dual tandem dump truck loads of compost.
Our compost specialist
has his work cut out for him.

Problems as always.
This morning turned out that the bush-hog
is a level one three point hitch -
and the tractor is a level two.
Need to find a small tractor -
and also a disc.

Always looking for help.
People often ask me why I bother -
being so old.

The Book does say:


Micah
6:15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap;

We should all labor for the future generations.
Any at my age who plant trees -
cannot expect to gather the fruit.

But we should do it to serve God
and our fellow man.
Even then -
if what we do -
does not please God -
we should not wish to succeed.

Job
31:7 If my step hath turned out of the way,
and mine heart walked after mine eyes,
and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

31:8 Then let me sow, and let another eat;

Jesus does tell in the Bible
of the foolish man
who put his heart in worldly treasures.

Luke
12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul,
thou hast much goods laid up for many years;
take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

12:20 But God said unto him,
Thou fool,
this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
then whose shall those things be,
which thou hast provided?

12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.

We can only hope that God is pleased
with our efforts.
Being finite men
we have to always realise that we fall short -
but because we know that God is Merciful -
we can have hope in that Mercy.

-------------
Several people have written to me
in the last week
asking that I leave out the religious discussion.
When I ask them -
they tell me they don't need religion.

I think the problem is
that the world needs a lot more religion.
On the other hand -
I somewhat see their point,
because others write to me
that I am going to hell
because I don't have the right religion.

Many tell me that
I need to get their idea of religion.
That all others are opposers of Jesus,
and if you aren't on His side -
you are heading for the downside.

However, Jesus said -

Mark 9:40
"For he that is not against us is on our part."

Luke 9:50
"And Jesus said unto him,
Forbid him not:
for he that is not against us is for us."

Reminds me of a Hindu prayer
that I have sent out before -
and that I will close with again.

It expresses so well
what I think should be our appreciation
of other religions,
especially at this time
which is the beginning of Ramadan
and also the Jewish New Year.

---------
In striving to recognize
the primacy of Fire and Light,
I feel kinship with my
Zoroastrian brothers and sisters.

In striving to obey the Ten Commandments
I feel kinship with my
Jewish brothers and sisters.

In striving to be kind to neighbours and the needy I feel kinship with my
Christian brothers and sisters.

In striving to be compassionate
to creatures great and small
I feel kinship with my Buddhist-Jain
brothers and sisters.

In striving to surrender myself
completely to God Almighty
I feel kinship with my
Muslim brothers and sisters.

In remembering that serving people
should be the goal of religion,
I feel kinship with my
Baha'i brothers and sisters.

In my respect and reverence for Nature that sustains, I feel kinship with my
Native American brothers and sisters.

In feeling that these and more
are all paths to the same Divinity,
I feel kinship with my
Hindu brothers and sisters.

In my love and laughter,
joy and pain,
I feel kinship with all my
fellow humans.

In my need for nourishment
and instinct to live on,
I feel kinship with
all beings on the planet.

In my spiritual ecstasy
with this wondrous world,
I feel kinship with the
Cosmic Whole.

(Universal reflection -
 Cape of Good Hope - 1999
v.v. Raman (physicist, scientist, philosopher)
Professor Emeritus,
Rochester Institute of Technology)

-------------
Peace and love,
Bruce
DawnSayer@webpal.org