| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| October 5, 2001 | Vol II, #33 |
IN LIGHT OF THE ATTACKS ON OUR COUNTRY YESTERDAY I BELIEVE IT'S TIME WE STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW WE DISDAIN THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS, HOW WE ARE SHOCKED, HOW WE ABHOR SUCH ACTION, HOW WE ARE CIVILIZED, HOW WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS, HOW WE MUST TAKE CORRECT ACTION AND ON AND ON. IT IS TIME TO STOP TALKING. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT A KILL COUNT. I AM SICK OF "WE SHALL STAND TOGETHER",
LET'S GO GET SOMEONE, ANYONE AND EVERYONE ASSOCIATED UNTIL WE FINALLY GET THE RIGHT ONE; I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING BEING BLOWN UP, LEVELED. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SHAPE CHARGES, C4 BEING SET AND CRUISE MISSILES ON THE WAY. WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, QUIT KIDDING THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THOSE WHO HARBOR SUCH TERRORISTS BEING DECIMATED. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THOSE GIVING OUT CANDY AND DISPLAYING THE "VICTORY" SIGN IN GAZA, THE WEST BANK AND IN JERUSALEM BEING ERADICATED. I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT TROOPS BEING DEPLOYED IN PLACES LIKE AFGHANISTAN. I WANT TROOPS IN YEMEN TO TAKE RETRIBUTION ON THOSE WHO BLEW UP THE USS COLE AND KILLED OUR SAILORS. WHO CARES ABOUT THE FULL RESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT BEING "UNITED". WHO CARES ABOUT WORLD OPINION AND THAT REPUBLICAN / DEMOCRAT TALK, THE DEVIL WITH TALKING, LET'S GO KILL SOME PEOPLE. I WANT ALL THIS TALK AND PALAVER STOPPED, I WANT SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED AMERICAN ACTION TAKEN. I WANT SOMEONE WHIPPED AND WHIPPED GOOD. HOW ABOUT YOU? SILLY? MAYBE! NOT PREACHER TALK I KNOW, AND I WILL BE PRAYING, BUT THERE ARE TIMES FOR ACTION. A TERRORIST UNDERSTANDS ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY AND THAT IS FORCE. HE FEARS FORCE, THAT DENIES HIM ACCESS AND KILLS HIS ASSETS. IT IS TIME TO STOP TALKING.
[ Evangelist Chuck Cofty - Vietnam Veteran - Retired Marine ]
By now everyone has been hearing the death toll rise and reports of the destruction from the terrorist attacks on the US. These were deplorable acts that we will never forget. But now is a time to look at the other side of the numbers coming out of New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
The sad but somewhat uplifting side that the mainstream media has not reported yet the SURVIVAL rates and some positive news about the attacks.
The Buildings The World Trade Center The twin towers of the World Trade Center were places of employment for some 50,000 people. With the missing list of over 5,000 people, that means 90% of the people targeted survived the attack. A 90% on a test is an 'A.
The Pentagon, some 23,000 people were the target of a third plane aimed at the Pentagon. The latest count shows that 123 lost their lives. That is an amazing 99.5% survival rate. In addition, the plane seems to have come in too low, too early to affect a large portion of the building. On top of that, the section that was hit was the first of five sections to undergo renovations that would help protect the Pentagon from terrorist attacks. It had recently completed straightening and blastproofing, saving untold lives. This attack was sad, but a statistical failure.
The Planes, American Airlines Flight 77, this Boeing 757 that was flown into the outside of the Pentagon could have carried up to 289 people, yet only 64 were aboard. Luckily 78% of the seats were empty.
American Airlines Flight 11, this Boeing 767 could have had up to 351 people aboard, but only carried 92. Thankfully 74% of the seats were unfilled.
United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 that could have sat 351 people only had 65 people on board. Fortunately it was 81% empty.
United Airlines Flight 93, this Boeing 757 was one of the most uplifting stories yet. The smallest flight to be hijacked with only 45 people aboard out of a possible 289 had 84% of its capacity unused. Yet these people stood up to the attackers and thwarted a fourth attempted destruction of a national landmark, saving untold numbers of lives in the process.
In Summary,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Out of potentially 74,280 Americans directly targeted by these inept cowards, 93% survived or avoided the attacks.
That's a higher survival rate than heart attacks, breast cancer, kidney transplants and liver transplants - all common, survivable illnesses.
Don't fear these terrorists.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, The numbers are against them.
"(Kansas state) Sen. Kay O'Connor on Friday confirmed reports that she told leaders of the Johnson County League of Women Voters she did not celebrate the enactment of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote. . . . (O'Connor) says she believes women should have the right to cast their ballot but if men were doing their job of taking care of women and children, then women wouldn't be required to vote. 'The 19th Amendment is around because men weren't doing their jobs, and I think that's sad,' she said. 'I believe the man should be the head of the family. The woman should be the heart of the family.'"
[ Associated Press ]
America is a reflection of the Church. I believe that and will always believe that. I've heard several men say they didn't think our politicians had the guts to respond in kind to the horrendous loss of American life. Yet many of these same men share the same fortitude for a fight as our lily liver, pink tea lemonade politicians. Where are the men of backbone with the stele to stair down the problem and boldly engage in a solution regardless of the fallout or repercussions. Our churches are full of preachers who in the confines and safety of other preachers can and sometimes even will - boldly proclaim the issues and problems of the church and our culture. Yet when it comes to being men of action and actually going personally to the problems and issues that we must face these same men are often missing in action.
I remember my first year as a pastor. I was so idealistic. I thought it was possible for churches to be right with God. With that notion in the back of my mind I stepped out to make changes where I thought changes were needed. During that first year of pastoring I changed 13 out of 16 Sunday school classes we had in our church. Foolishly, I thought Sunday school teachers should be on time and should stay for church more than once a week. Unbelievably I really thought Sunday school teachers should obey the great commission and attend church visitation. I thought leaders who didn't tithe were God robbers and I didn't think they should remain in any position. I figured if you couldn't do what you were supposed to do somebody else should have your job. I remember people telling me that we never did it that before. I know patience is good but honestly I really don't think a lack of patience is the problem in our country or in most of our churches. Too MUCH so-called patience is the real problem.
All leaders are subject to bouts with fear and intimidation but one thing we must never forget is that if you are afraid to face the source of fear and intimidation God will raise up someone who is not! Elijah faced the 850 Moslem prophets on Mt. Carmel. He put them all to the sword. But then he fled in the face of Jezebel! What was God's response? Read I Kings 19:15-17. He told Elijah to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. Why? They were going to finish the job that Elijah had failed to do because of fear. Read verse 17, "And it shall come to pass that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay." God will get the job done! He will use men of action to get it done! No doubt many a man and many a ministry and even many a country has been set on a shelf by God because they were afraid to do what God told them to do!
As I consider this cowardly act perpetrated by a bunch of thugs I am must say that I do not think that America needs the approval of NATO or China or anyone else to do what we think needs to be done. We certainly don't need the blessing of Pakistan! The United States of America is a free and independent nation and must never accept any attempt by international influences to diminish our freedoms or curtail our rights. It is time we get victory over the spirit of fear and intimidation both as a nation and as a Church. All leaders need to be reminded that "what we do not confront, we will not change". We need some men of action!
[ Pastor Steven E. Mays - Baptist Bible Trumpet Editor ]
"A platoon of crack Special Forces soldiers have taken the first steps of reprisal after the past week's incidents in America. The heroic force, composed of Palm Beach, Florida Democrats, have broken into the dog kennel area of the local animal shelter and captured all the Afghans. They reported light casualties. They also rounded up several Arabian horses who were acting suspiciously."
[ GOPN&V ]
*** America will likely decrease support for Christian minority
*** Editor's note: In the following article several references are made to Sudan's "southern rebels." It should be noted that these "rebels" are not rebelling against the nation of Sudan, nor are they the aggressors in the armed conflicts there. They are Christians and refuse to become Muslim therefore the Muslims view them as " rebels." (Remember that the Koran teaches that a Jew or Christian that refuses to convert to Islam should be killed.) When the US agrees to reduce support for the "southern rebels" they are actually reducing support for freedom of religion and endorsing the mentality that generated the 9-11 terrorist attack on this country. The foreign policy of drawing closer to Muslims to fight Islamic terrorists needs to be rethought. The foundation of the terrorist problem is not bin Laden or his organization, or even ALL of the terrorist organizations; it is Islam and the Koran. -- DM
The U.N. Security Council has lifted sanctions against Sudan, which won U.S. support for lifting the sanctions by providing intelligence on terrorists. Further cooperation will give the United States a vital source of intelligence on terrorist networks and prevent Sudan from again becoming a safe haven for Islamic radicals. But Khartoum's cooperation will require reduced U.S. support for southern rebels, a potential bone of contention in U.S. domestic politics.
The U.N. Security Council lifted 5-year-old sanctions against Sudan Sept. 28 after the United States abstained from the vote. Earlier, the Sudanese government had provided Washington with important intelligence on Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, who lived in Sudan from 1991 to 1996.
The United States still lists Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, although the intelligence won its support for lifting the U.N. sanctions. Washington's own economic sanctions against the east African nation remain in place. But the recent cooperation has opened a dialogue that could herald the start of a new era in Sudanese-U.S. relations and ultimately lead to the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Washington will expand its cooperation with Khartoum, reducing its support for Sudan's southern rebels in the process.
Sudan could play a pivotal role in the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism. First, it would add one more Muslim country to the list of U.S. coalition partners. Second, Khartoum is uniquely positioned to provide a wealth of information on bin Laden's activities, investments, networks and operations. Third, collaboration in the counterterrorism effort would prevent Sudan from again becoming a haven for international terrorists.
But a shift in U.S. policy is necessary for gaining long-term collaboration from the government of President Omar al-Bashir. For the past four years, relations between the two nations have been strained. In 1997, the United States levied economic sanctions against Sudan, condemning the government as a sponsor of terrorism and an oppressor of the country's Christian minority. The events of Sept. 11, however, have altered Washington's global priorities, and collaboration with Khartoum will now become vital.
Khartoum's cooperation could advance U.S. efforts to dismantle the Saudi exile's financial network. Already, the French bank Credit Lyonnais is freezing assets belonging to Sudan's Al Shamal Islamic Bank, which is suspected of involvement with bin Laden, the Associated Press reported Oct. 1. Al Shamal was reportedly established by a $50 million investment from bin Laden - although bank officials have denied he is a stakeholder - and is closely tied to Sudan's ruling National Islamic Front. Coordinating U.S. and Sudanese policies will be key to shutting down bin Laden's financial access.
Sudan's help will be contingent on America reducing its support for southern rebels. The United States, through the U.N.-led humanitarian project Operation Lifeline Sudan, has been the largest provider of external aid to the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement and its militant wing, the Sudanese People's Liberation Army. In fact the United States gave $161 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan in fiscal 2001, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. The vast majority of goes to refugee camps in southern Sudan and neighboring Kenya and Uganda, which are used as rear bases and lines of supply for the rebels.
Washington would find it hard to cut off that support without controversy. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the Congressional Black Caucus and several conservative Christian groups with missions in southern Sudan immediately called for the U.S. government to take action against Khartoum, according to the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Network Sept. 28.
Washington's shift from supporting the rebel army to cooperating with the government will be difficult to achieve outright. But the process may already have begun. For example Congress has delayed legislation intended to impose stock market sanctions on companies doing business in Sudan. Such legislation would have forced the likes of Canadian oil company Talisman, which has holdings in Sudan, off the New York Stock Exchange.
The shift could be a boon for Sudan's military-led government. Gen. Bashir has spent the past year trying to undercut Islamist groups in the country. By placing former parliament speaker and ally Hassan al-Turabi under house arrest, Bashir essentially quelled rising opposition. But maintaining that control will be difficult. Turabi, a bin Laden associate and prominent Muslim leader, and his People's National Congress enjoy broad support among Sudan's northern Islamic population.
[ WND ]
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