PROPHETIC TIMES

CHINA READIES FOR FUTURE U.S. FIGHT

Mar 26, 2003 CNN reports: "The Iraqi war has convinced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership that some form of confrontation with the U.S. could come earlier than expected.

Beijing has also begun to fine-tune its domestic and security policies to counter the perceived threat of U.S. 'neo-imperialism.' As more emphasis is being put on boosting national strength and cohesiveness, a big blow could be dealt to both economic and political reform.

That the new leadership has concluded China is coming up against formidable challenges in the short to medium term is evident from recent statements by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. Hu indicated earlier this year Beijing must pay more attention to global developments so that 'China make good preparations before the rainstorm ... and be in a position to seize the initiative.'

Wen also pointed out in the first meeting of the State Council, or cabinet, last Saturday the leadership 'must keep a cool head.' 'We must boost our consciousness about disasters and downturns -- and think about dangers in the midst of [apparent] safety,' he said…"

TURKEY HOLDS OFF MAJOR INVASION OF IRAQ

Mar 27, 2003 The Middle East Newsline reports: "Turkey has agreed to a U.S. request to delay a major ground force invasion of Iraq. Turkish officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has agreed to suspend plans for an immediate entry of tens of thousands of soldiers into Iraq until Ankara and Washington conclude military cooperation and coordination in the region. Turkey has amassed about 40,000 troops along the Iraqi border.

The suspension of the Turkish invasion comes amid serious disagreement between Ankara and Washington over the content of the discussions. The United States wants talks to be limited to military cooperation while Ankara has demanded guarantees that it would receive a major role in the future of northern Iraq.

'We have taken into account the sensitivities of the United States and the European Union on northern Iraq,' Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said. 'As of now, Turkey has no plan to enter the region.'…"

NAVY ALERT TO SUICIDE ATTACKS AFTER SPEEDBOAT BOMB INTERCEPTED

Mar 26, 2003 The Sydney Morning Herald reports: "Coalition naval forces were on high alert against suicide attacks after Iranian gunboats intercepted an Iraqi speedboat packed with half a ton of high explosive.

Three other Iraqi speedboats, which it is feared may contain similar amounts of explosive, got away when Iranian forces engaged Iraqis at the mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab River, the waterway that marks the border between the two countries. The explosives were discovered after one of the Iraqi boats was run aground during the confrontation.

British, American and Australian warships in the region have been on high alert for the risk of al-Qaeda strikes since the suicide attack against the USS Cole in October 2000 in which 17 American sailors were killed, and last year's ramming of the French oil tanker, the Linburg. But the discovery of the Iraqi speedboats is the first definite physical evidence that suicide attacks are being planned in the region.

Before the war started Rear Admiral David Snelson, the British naval commander in the Gulf, said the threat of small speedboats packed with explosives was 'uppermost in his mind' in terms of threats to the Royal Navy..."

HAMAS URGES IRAQI SUICIDE ATTACKS ON US-LED FORCES

Mar 23, 2003 Reuters reports: "The militant Islamic groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad urged Iraqis Friday to carry out suicide bombings against invading U.S. and British forces in Iraq.

Thousands of Palestinians also voiced their anger over the U.S.-led war in Iraq by protesting across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Some demonstrators urged Iraq to attack Tel Aviv -- as it did, with Scud missiles, during the 1991 Gulf war.

'Iraqis should prepare explosive belts and would-be martyrs (suicide bombers) to combat the U.S. occupiers,' senior Hamas leader Abdel Aziz-al-Rantissi told Reuters in the Gaza Strip. 'The American aggressors, the American invaders are now on Iraqi soil, therefore, Iraqis must confront them with all possible means, including martyrdom (suicide) operations.'

Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction, has spearheaded a suicide bombing campaign which has killed hundreds of Israelis since interim peace accords were signed in 1993. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the group's spiritual leader, later echoed Rantissi's call for suicide attacks and urged the Iraqi people 'to destroy every tank, to kill every soldier.'

The Islamic Jihad, another militant group that has carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, also took up the call. 'We urge all fighters ... to advance in their explosive belts toward the invading forces, to blow up their blessed bodies amid the new aggressive crusader forces,' it said in a statement sent to Reuters in Beirut…"

BERLUSCONI WANTS RUSSIA AND ISRAEL IN THE EU

Mar 23, 2003 The EU Observer reports: "The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who takes over the EU helm from July, said the EU should enlarge to encompass even Russia and Israel so as to counterbalance the power currently enjoyed solely by the US. Speaking to the journalists after the end of the EU summit in Brussels on Friday, Mr. Berlusconi said that at the moment there is only one superpower - the US - which decided to take action against Iraq.

Facing an EU split over the Iraq issue, and the UN losing its credibility, Mr. Berlusconi, said that the way forward would be for the EU to enlarge and strengthen itself.

'We either have a super power with military capabilities far greater than the EU, or else the US can have another partner - the EU - which must eliminate its divisions and enlarge to countries like Russia, with its military capabilities, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey and even Israel,' he said…"

PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS IN TERRITORIES CALL ON SADDAM TO 'BURN TEL AVIV'

Mar 22, 2003 Ha'aretz reports: "Thousands of Palestinians on Friday demonstrated across the West Bank and Gaza Strip in support of Iraq, waving Iraqi flags, holding pictures of Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat and calling on the Iraqi leader to 'burn Tel Aviv.'

On Friday morning, there were clashes in the Old City Jerusalem between security forces and rioting Palestinian worshippers, who chanted pro-Iraqi slogans at the end of prayers on the Temple Mount. According to police sources, there were no injuries in the clashes, although Palestinians have reported several people lightly injured by tear gas inhalation. Palestinians also reported that police used stun grenades to disperse the rioting crowds.

There were also incidents on the Temple Mount itself, after which worshippers streamed down toward the Damascus Gate area. On arriving at the Damascus Gate, they began to clash with police and blocked Salah a-Din Street to traffic.

Meanwhile, a pro-Iraqi faction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip said it has been asked by the Iraqi government to speed up delivery of checks of US$10,000 each to the families of Palestinian civilians, gunmen and suicide bombers killed in fighting with Israel…"

SADDAM PUTS A PRICE ON BRITISH AND US HEADS

Mar 22, 2003 Ananova reports: "Saddam is offering a reward for any Iraqi who shoots down a British or US aircraft, or kills or captures a pilot or soldier. Any Iraqi who kills an Allied serviceman will receive 25 million dinars (about £9,000).

But the reward will be doubled if the enemy is taken alive, said Saddam's decree, published by the state-run Iraqi News Agency.

The decree contained a list of reward categories:

100 million dinars (£35,500) for shooting down an enemy fighter plane.

50 million dinars (£17,750) for shooting down a helicopter.

10 million dinars (£3,500) for intercepting a missile.

An Iraqi who shoots down an enemy fighter jet or helicopter is to get 50 million dinars (£18,000) if the pilot is captured and 25 million dinars (£9,000) if the pilot is killed.

The same reward applies for capturing or killing enemy soldiers on the ground, the Iraqi leader decreed…"

Compiled by L. Jim Tuck, Pastor

ljtuc@msn.com

UCGIA, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa & Stockton, California

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