The Trump Liturgy

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/02/22/demonic-activity-palpable-at-president-trumps-rally-pastor-says

This was passed to me recently. I think it's starting to generate some attention.

I don't have a lot to say about this Washington Post article but I think readers will find it interesting. I suppose one of the reasons is due to the fact that this Nazarene pastor, while thoroughly patriotic and supportive of Christian America... all the things I'm not.... still has enough, what shall we say... sanctified common sense?... to realise something is very wrong.

Buried Secrets of the Balkan Wars

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/eu-appoints-19-judges-for-the-new-kosovo-court-02-07-2017

Not a few will be watching these Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) trials for clues and indications of US Deep State involvement. Numerous military contractors as well as indication of intelligence services involvement have been identified as working within Croatia and Kosovo before and during the 1995 and 1999 wars that were the death of Yugoslavia.

Balkan Tensions: A Generation After the Wars of the 1990's

http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/nato-chief-tells-kosovo-and-serbia-to-calm-down/?nl_ref=30464471

This story points to two realities. One the situation in the Balkans has never fully been resolved. The tensions still exist and with Brussels' hand growing weak, NATO is attempting to step in and fill the gap. The NATO diplomatic intervention indicates something of a brewing crisis. With the exception of Slovenia and Croatia, the countries of Former Yugoslavia have not joined the EU and so it represents this pocket within Europe wherein Brussels cannot wield full control and has limited influence.

Right-wing Femininity and Leadership

http://www.politico.eu/article/meet-denmarks-new-anti-islam-anti-immigration-anti-tax-party-nye-borgerlige-new-right-pernille-vermund/

The Right-wing and Populist proclivity toward Romantic-style feminine figures continues with Nye Borgerlige the latest party to form in Denmark. From Yulia Tymoshenko's nationalist hair-style to the rather dishy M5S mayor of Rome, to the host of American Right-wing Sarah Palin-esque sleeveless short-skirters and even to some degree Marine LePen, the tendency to look to these ultra-feminine matronly/desire figures continues.

John McCain and Lindsey Graham: Politicised Integrity and Delusion

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-security-usa-idUKKBN15W1JI

Trump's team is definitely in disarray and yet it seems to me that in the past if someone spoke this way about a president they would be severely criticised.

If they spoke this way overseas to a foreign audience their allegiance would be called into question. McCain has always been part of the faction that makes such accusations.

Religious Symbols in Austria

http://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/austrias-planned-full-face-veil-ban-provokes-debate-on-crucifixes-in-schools/

It is noteworthy to consider how the European Right focuses less on a specific Christian narrative and instead casts Christianity in terms of the overall Western 'intellectual' heritage. The Christianity they wish to preserve is the synthesis that occurred in the 18^th and 19^th century when orthodox forms of Latin Christianity (both Roman and Protestant) underwent a transformation and were blended with Enlightenment epistemology and ultimately classically Liberal values.

Trump: Netanyahu's Dream and Nightmare

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4923419,00.html

This Ynet op-ed spells out the realities and difficulties of a Likud government operating in parallel to the Trump administration.

On the one hand, it's their dream come true. They finally have a US president that has effectively given them a blank check. Not only is there agreement when it comes to policy, there are actual personal relationships.

Trying to Keep Focused in a Spinning World

Steel Mills, Fighter Jets, Leaks and Fake News

This isn't about keeping our eyes on Christ amid a world that seems bent on chaos. That goes without saying.

I'm talking about what's happening on the street.

Military Accounting Tricks and The Eastern Front

http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/german-troops-deploy-in-lithuania-under-nato-banner/?nl_ref=30641965

Notice the game being played. The troops aren't supposed to be there on a permanent basis so they get around it by rotating the troops every six months.

The US does this all the time. They'll list a base as having say... 500 personnel but then they might have 2000 more there on a more-or-less permanent basis but can avoid the designation by having them on a rotation. It's an accounting trick.

Polakow-Suransky Provides Background on Europe's Far Right

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/01/the-ruthlessly-effective-rebranding-of-europes-new-far-right

Polakow-Suransky offers a succinct but reasonably thorough narrative and analysis of the rise of the Far Right in Europe.

NATO's Test: The Montenegro Flash Point

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-nato-montenegro-michael-flynn-234697

Once again the Trump administration has indicated that it is not going to follow a pro-Russia line. Pushing for NATO to expand into Montenegro represents yet another hostile move by the US-dominated alliance. Montenegro is part of the Orthodox-Slavic orbit that has historically been allied to and dependent upon Moscow.

Another Defector from the US Pivot-to-Asia Strategy

https://in.investing.com/news/economy-news/insight-china's-"silk-road"-push-stirs-resentment-and-protest-in-sri-lanka-90314

Sri Lanka's Sirisena administration which came to power in 2015 appeared to represent a shift away from the pro-Beijing policies of Rajapaksa. But for various reasons this has not proven to be the case.

The Korean Peninsula: Stealth Ships and Military Exercises

The tensions continue to escalate. The statements issued by the Trump White House have only added to already existing tensions that have been brewing since Obama's announced 'Pivot' in 2011.

THAAD in South Korea

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/02/03/Russia-warns-South-Korea-of-consequences-if-THAAD-deployed/8951486133428/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=6

Once again, the West portrays this as the US making a prudent move to 'block' Pyongyang. While there are legitimate fears when it comes to North Korea, the missile system placement is as much about Beijing and Moscow... and they know it.

Both China and Russia are being slowly encircled.

Vatican Intrigues and Italian Politics

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/05/us-cardinal-raymond-burke-stokes-papal-tensions-by-meeting-nationalist-in-rome

Many a bookshelf could be filled with volumes on Vatican intrigues and there's no doubt that events for many future chapters are taking place right now.

Ukrainian Intrigues at the National Prayer Breakfast

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-ukraine-russia-sanctions-234631

What is most remarkable to me about this article is that Yulia Tymoshenko who had all but disappeared from the public eye after her release from prison and failed election bid in 2014 is apparently still in the picture... but operating somewhat in the background.

Dominionism Infecting Romania's Evangelicals

http://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/2289/Romania_protests_corruption_interview_evangelicals_adrian_petrice

Romanian Evangelical leader and aspiring political player Adrian Petrice claims he isn't looking for a theocracy or seeking political control but he's using all the language and concepts found in Dominion Theology. It's obvious that he has picked up these concepts from Western Evangelical influence.

Italian Cyberspies: Who are they working for?

https://apnews.com/f4819bd348544ca19e070d1251a8c1fc

That has yet to be revealed but there are some rather intriguing angles to the story. The Italian authorities were aided by the FBI but they also traced servers to the United States. Guilio Occhionero founded a financial advisory firm which certainly looks like a classic front company.

The story cannot be told as of now but it bears watching.

Moral Equivalency: Probably Trump's Greatest Sin Yet

Trump shocked both his detractors and supporters when he admitted to FOX news spinmaster Bill O'Reilly that Putin was a 'killer' but that the United States was guilty of the same and something less than innocent.

O'Reilly was clearly dumbfounded and tried to suggest that no American political leaders are killers.

Trump wouldn't back down and he was right.

This is the most honest thing he's said yet.

NPR and the Establishment Line: Fetid Narratives on Laos and Russia

NPR's interview programme Fresh Air is something of a mixed bag. At times it's very interesting. The interviews and guests are informative and I've benefitted and enjoyed listening to many episodes. For me, this is generally true when it comes to domestic social and political issues. The show also provides a great deal of time to pop culture figures which are not usually of interest to someone like me. Altogether I listen to maybe a third of the shows.

The Only Solution: Lie, Steal, Torture and Murder to the Glory of God

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/cia-dir-pompeo-jesus-christ-our-savior-truly-only-solution-our-world

Pompeo, the professed Evangelical Christian who now heads the CIA stands up and dares to speak as a Christian and proclaim that Jesus is the only solution to the world's problems.

The 'only' solution he insists.

Would that he believed it.

The Gospel and the Proxy War in Yemen

http://evangelicalfocus.com/blogs/2223/Yemen_Faith_is_flourishing_in_the_midst_of_war

I found this article to be both moving and inspiring as I considered the plight of the suffering Church in Yemen. The fact that out of the suffering and bloodshed of the US-backed Saudi campaign (which has all but destroyed their society), a Church is being built, testifies to the grace and glory of God.

Süddeutsche Zeitung and Stratfor: Poroshenko and the Escalation in Eastern Ukraine

For the most part the Western Media continues to insist that Russia, emboldened by the new Trump administration rapprochement with Moscow has ordered the Kremlin-backed Separatists to re-ignite the Donbass conflict.

A different take is to be found in the Süddeutsche Zeitung which reports that Berlin is blaming Kiev for the escalation.

Christians under Modi's BJP

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/11/christians-in-india-increasingly-under-attack-study-shows

The rise of Christian persecution in India has spiked so sharply that even mainstream Western media outlets are being forced to take notice.