Army Chief Tells Israel To Prepare For All Out War

Published:

02.07.11

Given recent changes in the Middle East, Israel must prepare for a battle in several theaters, outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday at the Herzliya Conference.

"The connection between the different players requires us to contend with more than one theater," he said.

The radical camp in the Middle East is gaining strength, Ashkenazi warned, adding that "the moderate camp among the traditional Arab leadership is weakening." He also made note of what he characterized as the "fascinating phenomenon" whereby power is shifting to the people of the region thanks to online social networks.

The army chief said that in the wake of the growing threat of radical Islam among Israel's neighbors, the defense budget would have to be boosted in the coming years. The main change faced by the army is the widening spectrum of threats, he said.

"Because of this spectrum, we must prepare for a conventional war…it would be a mistake to prepare for non-conventional war or limited conflicts and then expect that overnight the forces will operate in an all-out-war," he said.

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Southern Sudan To Spilt From The North

Khartoum, Sudan (CNN) -- Final results of last month's referendum show an overwhelming majority of southern Sudanese voted to split from the north, a result that will lead to the creation of the world's newest nation, the referendum commission said Monday.

The chairman of the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, which organized the vote and includes members from both sides, said 98.83% voted for separation, while 1.17% voted for unity.

"It was a peaceful process," chairman Muhammad Ibrahim Khalil said at a ceremony in Khartoum attended by Sudanese politicians, international diplomats, U.N. staff, academics and others. "It was a transparent process."

"Not a single person" showed up to appeal the results, he said. Preliminary results had shown overwhelming support for separation.

The commission met Monday with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir to present the final results, state TV reported earlier.

Al-Bashir has stated his commitment to the results and said he will accept them, state TV said.

As a result of the government's acceptance of the results, the United States is beginning the process of removing Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Monday.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced Washington's intention to recognize Southern Sudan as a sovereign, independent state in July, when a comprehensive peace agreement with the north is due to end.

"After decades of conflict, the images of millions of southern Sudanese voters deciding their own future was an inspiration to the world and another step forward in Africa's long journey toward justice and democracy," Obama said in a statement. "Now, all parties have a responsibility to ensure that this historic moment of promise becomes a moment of lasting progress. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement must be fully implemented and outstanding disputes must be resolved peacefully."

Obama promised the United States would support the governments of both Sudan and Southern Sudan to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition to independence.

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The Home Church Movement In America

As many Churches are closing their doors or not opening the doors as often as they use to due to the economic crisis. Some Churches even facing foreclosure and filing for bankruptcy in America. "House Churches" are popping up across the U.S.

Watching the report you get a strange feeling like you are watching a video from North Korea or other communist countries where believers have to have church in homes and in the "underground" in fear of persecution, imprisonment and even death.

To see the church in America doing this despite the fact we have freedom to worship in the open, yet desire a closer relationship with one another through the House Church. Shows that a big building, big lights, big screens, big bands and a big show is clearly NOT what worshiping God is all about.

When Jesus and the disciples had church most of the time they had church it was not in a church building per say. Their church was the open air meetings on a hill, in a field, or in someones home sharing a meal with one another and having fellowship and sharing the word of God and worshiping him.

Just as James 5:16 says
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

That is what we are suppose to be doing. Some churches today do not even have alters or even give an invitation for people to come forward and be prayed for by those in the church! They have an hour to hour and a half service where they sing a few songs, share a message ask you to give your tithe and offering and that's it, for the whole week.

The church needs desperately to get back to it's roots and stop all this nonsense. If we do not care for one another and have fellowship with each other how are we suppose to have a church? We won't have a church if we don't get out of our comfort zones and actually live what we say we believe. We must walk the walk and talk the talk.