Hersh, Trump and the Chemical Attack in Syria

Even as reports are being made that Syria is planning another chemical attack accompanied by White House threats, the American media refuses to acknowledge this latest piece by Seymour Hersh.

https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article165905578/Trump-s-Red-Line.html

Fake news is whatever fails to fit the official narrative. After breaking the story of Abu Ghraib, the US media has now turned completely against Hersh. He's angered them before but his reporting on the lies and open questions surrounding the bin Laden assassination was beyond the pale.

BND Spying on America: Missing the Point

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-intelligence-also-snooped-on-white-house-a-1153592.html

Another interesting revelation has surfaced in our modern era of digital espionage and surveillance. The German Bundesnachtrichtendienst or BND, their equivalent of the CIA, has been spying on other EU members and the United States.

Was it an accident? Why would they do this?

A DTS Podcast on Theology and Technology

A recent Dallas Theological Seminary podcast on technology and theology provided a sobering instance of worldview teaching's syncretistic tendencies. It might be added the failure and unbiblical nature of worldview-Dominionism can have startling implications for both the Church and the culture. When it comes to technology the stakes are high and I found myself a bit taken aback by the guest's shortsightedness, even blindness when it comes to these questions.

A Very Confused Marine

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/04/27/punished-marine-gets-religious-liberty-case-heard-in-militarys-highest-court/

This is one of those stories that got a lot of traction in Evangelical circles but it's so fraught with problems it's difficult to know where to begin. I see little point in investing a great deal of time and energy in hashing out an extensive commentary but a few points are warranted.

The Congressional Shooter: The Right's Ridiculous Response

I shouldn't have been surprised but I must confess I was taken aback by the recent comments and diatribes by Right-wing figures over the GOP baseball shooting in Alexandria VA. A Bernie Sanders supporter decided to go after congressional Republicans and he himself went down in a hail of gunfire after shooting several people including House Whip Steve Scalise.

The DUP and Ulster's Christian Witness

http://www.lastampa.it/2017/06/12/vaticaninsider/eng/comment/theresa-may-risks-inflaming-irelands-religious-tensions-AF1zL5IwnBhxTiBpmz5B5N/pagina.html

With Theresa May's failed bid to secure a sold Parliamentary majority in the recent Snap election, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland has been the subject of a great deal of media attention. They are her 'ace in the hole', her means to retain power and avoid resignation and further elections in the near future.

The Karzai Connection: Afghanistan, the CIA and Drugs

http://www.npr.org/2016/09/27/495632165/kingdom-examines-afghanistan-through-the-prism-of-the-karzai-family

Some time ago I listened to this Fresh Air piece on NPR. It was interesting but also a little frustrating in that it represents what I consider typical Establishment journalism.

Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother to the more famous and now ex-Afghan president Hamid Karzai was involved in the drug trade and had connections to the CIA. He occasionally made it into the international news but was largely ignored except by those following the seemingly endless US occupation. His assassination in 2011 is really the only reason he's getting any attention now.

Gülen's Compound: A Backcountry Exile... Conveniently Located

I must confess it was kind of exciting to sit in my car outside the gate of Gülen's compound in the Poconos. I was passing through and PA-33 actually facilitated my route. Coming out of southern New Jersey, I was working my way up to I-80. I pulled off in Saylorsburg and my wife turned to me and asked "Are you looking for that Turk?"

I couldn't suppress my grin. It's not a question I get asked every day.

Trump and the Qatar Crisis

While receiving some press coverage, the growing Qatar Crisis is worthy of larger consideration. Standard commentaries on the Middle East rightly identify the ongoing struggle between the Saudi's and Islamic Republic of Iran. Sometimes it's even referred to as the Middle Eastern Cold War. This is a multifaceted struggle over the leadership of Islam, Sunni vs. Shiite, Arab vs. Persian and it also represents an aspect of a larger proxy struggle between the great powers.

The West and Trump +138

Reflections on the Trump Era (Late Spring 2017)

It's difficult to assess the Trump administration thus far. Its chaotic nature and moment by moment shifts in action, narrative and presentation have created an air of bedlam and disarray. While sometimes unintentional, a strong case can be made that in many cases this is a deliberate tactic.

Evangelical Testimony in the Islamic Republic of Iran

I've been following a story which broke at the end of last year about the Assemblies of God in Iran. They were accused by Tehran of being collaborators with the American CIA. As a consequence they've had some property seized.