Heresy in Oklahoma

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/09/oklahoma-amends-request-for-bibles-that-initially-appeared-to-match-only-version-backed-by-trump-00182997

The original request made by Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters was for Bibles that included the Pledge of Allegiance, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence. The scandal in the media played up the fact that this seemed to be an order for Trump Bibles.

Smoke and Mirrors: Al Jazeera and Euroscepticism in the Balkans

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/8/31/the-danger-of-pro-eu-euroscepticism-in-the-western-balkans

Parties and politicians formerly aligned with Eurosceptic elements have accumulated a great deal of power and now stand near the pinnacle of the EU hierarchy. They're not there yet and they remain divided but were these Right-wing nationalist groups to come together - Brussels could be theirs.

Censorship and AI: Colson and Anderson

Even though this story is but a theological and ethical commentary on a well established story that ran in mainstream newspapers and is further supported by testimony under oath, Google's Anti-Intelligence (AI) software has chosen to flag it - undoubtedly due to the fact that it perceives some kind of controversy or conspiratorial angle, suggesting I might be misleading the public or promoting some kind of dangerous idea. Or perhaps Google is simply concerned about the reputation of Chuck Colson - but I doubt it. Welcome to the future people - the age of of AI is upon us and already it's wreaking havoc in the world of banking, insurance, and many other spheres. We can only hope its failures and inadequacies will become self-evident and the project (mostly driven by greed) will be abandoned. Here's the story that was censored:

The Church and Election Subversion

 https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/03/tina-peters-former-mesa-county-clerk-prison/

I don't believe in the American system. I've made this very clear but it continues to baffle me how these Evangelicals (and others within the orbit of the Christian Right wave their flags and step over each other to display their patriotism) have (in the Trump era) turned to actions that fundamentally undermine the system they profess to love and believe in. Everything they do testifies to the fact that if it means they lose - they don't believe in it either.

Sacralist Jurisprudence and Evangelical Syncretism

https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc877/

I've been listening to Christ the Center since about 2009. An interesting podcast most of the time, this episode was an exception. After realizing the guest was a law professor at Liberty University, I almost turned it off. I struggle to take anyone associated with Liberty seriously, but I decided to give it a listen.

Washington and the Banderites

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/09/13/czgh-s13.html

It had been a few years since I picked up Russ Bellant's Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party, the 3rd edition published in 1991. The scandals he reports surrounding World War II-era fascists and the Nixon, Reagan, and GHW Bush administrations have been all but forgotten. And yet it was the Ukrainian angle that drove me to revisit the work - and it revealed some interesting bits of information.

The Wilson-Moscow Mood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=1ckd_Jx_obk

https://clearlyreformed.org/on-culture-war-doug-wilson-and-the-moscow-mood/

It's been a year since Doug Wilson released his 2023 No Quarter November/Thanksgiving video. I saw it at the time and followed some of the responses to it. I thought DeYoung's comments were fairly astute but missing one important element regarding the 'mood' - Donald Trump.

NPR on Trump: The Threat of Authoritarianism Challenged by the Imperial Establishment

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/21/nx-s1-5155005/trump-threatens-to-use-the-military-and-doj-to-go-after-those-who-are-disloyal

It's enough to make you take to your bed. The media storm has become such a morass, such a realm of chaos. It's often case of liars calling out liars and answering distortions with what can only be described as manipulation.

To make sense of this story or exchange it helps one to think of clash between the Roman Empire under the Late Republic and the threat of Sullan Dictatorship. Both were evil entities and yet the political winds are noteworthy and applicable. Lives were affected as was the course of subsequent history. That's no less true today. As Christians we live in this society and even though we're strangers and pilgrims it behooves us to understand what is happening.

Gülen Coverage and Lies of Omission

https://theworld.org/segments/2024/10/21/turkish-cleric-accused-of-orchestrating-a-coup-attempt-dies-in-pennsylvania

I caught this story the other day on PRX's The World. It more or less typifies what's wrong with shows like this. Twenty-five years ago I was excited to have access to this show as international news was hard to get. The show frequently carries interesting stories but there's a terrible pro-Western bias in all its coverage and this story was no exception.

The Twisted Attempts to Sanctify a Stunt

It's all over Christian media - two protesters shouted 'Christ is King' and 'Jesus is Lord' at a Kamala Harris rally. Though the nature and context of her response is disputed, she replied by telling them they were at the wrong rally. They were (like all protesters) removed by security. The two men proceeded to hit the interview circuit and have been making as much hay as possible out of all this - insisting they were verbally and physically abused. The narrative is meant to imply persecution.

We all know that 1 John 2 says that anyone who denies the Son is antichrist - therefore (it's argued or implied) Harris is antichrist.

Media Coverage of Israel: Two Examples of Smoke, Mirrors, Deception, and Ignorance

https://theworld.org/segments/2024/10/23/northern-gaza-sees-intense-fighting-between-hamas-and-israel-as-civilians-forced-out

The other day I caught Robby Price on the Family Life Network express surprise (even irritation) at the notion that the US was spying on Israel. This was in reference to the leaked plans of Israel's coming attack on Iran - which is now underway. The US had satellite data and other intelligence tracking just what Israel was putting together for the attack - that is assuming it wasn't a deliberate and misleading leak. Of course the American's are privy to this information anyway and have sent one hundred US troops to Israel with missile defense batteries in preparation - yet another escalation of the growing Middle Eastern War.

Europe's New Black Nobility and America's Christian Right

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/13/alito-supreme-court-far-right-ties

If you follow Right-wing politics in Europe or even Traditionalist Catholic politics then you're sure to encounter Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. The Guardian article in question provides a quick overview of the circles she inhabits which overlap with those of Samuel Alito. Her activities are not illegal - the article is focusing primarily on the corruption within the US Supreme Court and the ever expanding circles of Right-wing Catholicism.

Cheney May Oppose Trump but is still Loyal to the Right

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/15/liz-cheney-ginni-thomas-january-6-investigation

Since opposing Trump, participating in the January 6 investigation, and be ousted from office, Liz Cheney is often presented as some kind of moderate. In reality she remains a Far Right member of the Republican Party and an advocate of the Neo-Conservative policies championed by her father. She rejects Trump and his movement but this does not make her a centrist. One might argue that right or wrong she retains some principles and convictions as opposed to the raw fascistic power-grab represented by Trumpism. It's a case of Bush-era Far Right politics vs. outright fascism.

Türkiye and BRICS

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/turkey-applies-to-join-china-and-russia-in-brics-economic-bloc-kremlin-says

https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/turkiye-and-brics-step-toward-more-multipolar-future

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/turkiyes-brics-bid-is-response-to-eu-membership-delay-18210122

Erdogan announced that Türkiye would be joining the ever expanding BRICS bloc in 2022, but just last month (September 2024) he made it official and Ankara has now officially applied for membership.

The Lack of Scandal Surrounding Open CIA Recruitment

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3280854/cia-boosts-online-recruiting-efforts-china-iran-and-north-korea

Imagine the vitriol that would be expressed in Western Mainstream media if the Chinese MSS, Russian SVR, Iranian VAJA, or North Korean RGB openly advertised online to recruit agents - agents specifically tasked to target the United States, NATO, and nations like Japan and South Korea.

Washington's Latest Moves Against Beijing

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/21/quad-leaders-meet-in-bidens-hometown-amid-growing-china-competition

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-testing-us-all-joe-biden-caught-on-mic-telling-quad-leaders-101726970216499.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/biden-proposes-banning-chinese-vehicles-us-roads-with-software-crackdown-2024-09-23/

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/09/economist-calls-trumps-threat-to-tariff-countries-that-shun-the-dollar-a-lose-lose.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-keeps-missile-system-philippines-china-tensions-rise-tests-wartime-deployment-2024-09-19/

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3279516/us-typhon-missile-system-philippines-has-china-facing-more-tense-security-situation

At the end of September, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or QUAD met in Delaware. This is the most comprehensive of the new network of alliances created by Washington to combat China. The Quad is comprised of India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. This is in addition to AUKUS which has a more robust security element. What's important about the Quad is that it incorporates India and as such is critical to the US 'Indo-Pacific' framing of geo-politics and strategy vis-à-vis Beijing. AUKUS has more teeth but the Quad has the potential to be more important.

The Balochistan Insurgency and Opposition to the BRI in Pakistan

https://dialogue.earth/en/business/pakistan-and-china-pursue-corridor-dream-despite-financial-security-risks/

The article began relating events surrounding the Balochi insurgency in southwest Pakistan but as it progressed I realized it was an anti-China piece critical of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The port of Gwadar has been an object of interest for some time and tangible evidence of the breakdown of US-Pakistani relations. India is also less than keen on the project.

Israel, Gaza, and the Lies of Stonestreet

https://www.breakpoint.org/the-horrific-attacks-of-october-7-a-year-later/

Stonestreet never disappoints. If you're looking for distortion and Evangelical perversions of Biblical doctrine, ethics - and reality, look no further. This disciple of Charles Colson consistently labours to outdo the mendacity and deception of his mentor and this piece on the October 7 attacks is no exception.

Consider his opening:

One year ago, on October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists entered Israel and attacked civilians, killing some 1,200 Jews, the largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Among those killed were soldiers and civilians, men and women, children and adults. They were killed simply because they were Jews.

Kadyrov's Chechens in the Ukraine War

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/russian-special-forces-halt-advancement-of-ukrainian-troops

I've written many times about Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of a rebel leader who turned into Moscow's faithful satrap. Usually when Kadyrov's name comes up, it's in reference to his corruption, authoritarian rule, or the hunting down of Chechen rebels abroad - men that would consider him to be a traitor and thus he's proven quite zealous in pursuing these men.

Francis, the Synod on Synodality, and the Roman Episcopate in China

https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/the-bishop-of-mindong-among-the-new-synod-fathers-named-by-francis/78274/2

Francis has given his critics more fuel to pour on the already raging fire surrounding his papacy. Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu, the Bishop of Mingdong is a Beijing appointee that was originally ordained in a CCP-sanctioned rite in the year 2000. Viewed as illegitimate, he was excommunicated by the Vatican, a move that was revoked in 2018 when Francis signed the accord with Beijing. Zhan Silu was one of seven Beijing-appointed bishops embraced by the Vatican - a move that many Traditionalists found repugnant.

Hauerwas on Kuyper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BcZlxGt3xs

Since he was named by Time Magazine as America's Best Theologian in 2001, Stanley Hauerwas rightly raises some eyebrows. He's at his best when he's applying New Testament ethics and yet his theology is bankrupt. Sadly those sacralists and Right-wing adherents who oppose New Testament teaching can use Hauerwas' theological liberalism as a vehicle to discredit and dismiss what he says about ethics - even if it reflects apostolic teaching. This is why he's always frustrated me a bit. I have not found his books to be helpful and I never recommend them and yet he often makes decent standalone statements and has plenty to offer in the way of historical and cultural commentary.

Since I've been reading and writing about Abraham Kuyper as of late this interview clip caught my eye.

Humanitarian Imperialism and Sudan

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/9/13/sudan

The war in Sudan is tragic and like all Africa stories in the West, it gets little attention or traction. To most people the wars in Africa are just repeating loops of video showing fighters in pick-up trucks with AK-47's and suffering women and children in refugee camps. The politics are beyond most people's ability to understand - and they're not going to take the time to look into them. And while Western leaders speak out, levelling condemnations and offering aid - nothing much seems to change.

Expanding AUKUS Declares Hostility to China

https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/17/canada-aukus-alliance-china/

Even as Justin Trudeau's government is on the ropes, the Canadian Establishment is moving to bring Ottawa into the growing Pacific alliance. The UK's membership is rooted in historical interests and the fact that it is America's essential ally. Or perhaps it should be worded the other way around? Australia has gone through a stream of scandals and failed governments to finally come to the right conclusion that Washington wanted all along - membership in a military alliance against China. Japan has now made moves to join and South Korea and New Zealand have expressed interest.

Democracy in Crisis

https://theworld.org/segments/2024/09/18/democracy-is-under-strain-across-the-globe

Advocates for democracy are concerned. The once seemingly inevitable and unstoppable 'progress' of their system seems to be struggling. Some would say it's under strain, others would put in more stringent terms and simply say that democracy is in a state of crisis. They would point not just to the rise of authoritarian regimes but the strain on democracy within Europe and the evident fragility of the American system - supposedly the very nexus of modern democracy, the nation upon which the narrative depends.

Kyiv Moves to Ban the Historic Ukrainian Orthodox Church

https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-parliament-legislative-ban-ukrainian-orthodox-church-539e0f3a6d657277aa4fa93b8ec53505

We're told the Zelenskiy regime in Ukraine stands for freedom and liberal democracy. In the United States the First Amendment is often invoked as the foundation from which all the other freedoms spring. This would include the freedom of religion and nations like Russia and China are frequently castigated for denying these rights and freedoms. And yet, we see the Zelenskiy government (which embraces the fascist remnants and permutations of the World War II era) denying these basic freedoms to large sections of its population. Kyiv has intervened and has banned expressions of religion that it does not approve of - those elements of Orthodoxy that retain historical and liturgical ties to Russia. Though the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (UOC) denounced the 2022 Russian invasion and has broken formal ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, this is insufficient in the eyes of the Zelenskiy government. Because the UOC was part of the Moscow Patriarchate it must be eradicated.

The Dominionist Ziklag

https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-ziklag-secret-christian-charity-2024-election

The Christian Right's fundraising and lobbying machine is a veritable labyrinth and this is by design. Money is effectively laundered and the smoke and mirrors make it all but impossible to tell where the money is coming from and where the power is located. There are certain names that always seem to appear - these are in some cases key agents or actors. Sometimes they are the powers, the 'movers and shakers', other times they are the action-arms of the powers - which are often very wealthy people or the people that manage the wealth. It's complicated.

More Signals from Armenia

https://eurasianet.org/armenia-sending-signals-that-it-wants-to-back-out-of-a-nuclear-energy-deal-with-russia

https://theworld.org/stories/2024/09/06/the-rise-of-an-armenian-church-opposition-leader

Yerevan continues to signal its shift to the West. There's little doubt that Moscow is alarmed as now Armenia seeks to re-orient its nuclear energy programme to the West and to cut out the Russians.

China, the Monroe Doctrine, and the American Empire: A Proxy Struggle in Ecuador

 https://thegrayzone.com/2024/08/29/secret-chats-decade-us-meddling-ecuador/

There's evidence of US meddling in the politics of Ecuador. Personally I did not find any of these revelations to be shocking. While the explicit evidence wasn't always there, these types of machinations are well known to those who have been paying attention. Wikileaks also played a role in bringing some of these things to light and by some reckonings, they're not all scandalous but are simply descriptive of how governments work with and relate to one another. It's often something other than what people think.

Homeschooling: The Good and the Bad

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/children-deserve-uniform-standards-in-homeschooling/

Homeschooling has exploded, especially in the aftermath of Covid and it is sending up red flags among the Establishment. There have been numerous articles as of late critical of the movement and for every one of these there are multiple responses issued from the Christian community - which by all accounts dominates the homeschool spectrum.

Orban's Habsburg Dreams in Hungary and Europe

https://www.politico.eu/article/habsburg-empire-viktor-orban-patriots-for-europe-hard-right-european-parliament-hungary-austria-czech-republic/

https://apnews.com/article/viktor-orban-hungary-romania-eu-3ea649669de75d13b0ba3585c0e83239

The lead article alludes to the Habsburg Empire but then proves less than accurate in some of its historical statements. Orban does indeed have Habsburg allies but the article isn't really about the Habsburgs. The article touches on his grand vision, the supposed reconstitution of the Habsburg realm, but the story is really in the numbers. These reveal the rightward shift that's taking place in Europe and (I think) sheds light on Orban's more immediate machinations. It's clear he's thinking a couple of steps ahead, preparing for the next European Parliamentary election in 2029.

The Untold Story of the Prisoner Exchange: Chechen Militants and Western Intelligence

https://thegrayzone.com/2024/08/05/us-russia-prisoner-swap-cia-chechen-jihad/

This GrayZone article also caught my eye. I was glad to see that in all the hysteria regarding Russia, there's a story about Chechnya that's been largely forgotten.

Armenia's Shift to the West

https://eurasianet.org/russia-rages-over-us-military-exercise-in-armenia

These military exercises signal Yerevan's shift to the West and yet another Western incursion on the borders of Russia, another invasion into its historical sphere.

Coveting Serbia's Lithium

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3274031/thousands-protest-lithium-mining-serbia-officials-call-it-coup-plot?module=top_story&pgtype=subsection

This author and many others have been writing for years about the tug-of-war in Serbia. The Atlanticist plan in the 1990's was to break up Serb-dominated Yugoslavia and bring all the pieces into the EU and NATO orbit. This largely succeeded except with Serbia itself which remains outside the bloc and friendly to its historical ally in Moscow.

The Cyprus Base and Gaza

https://www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-americas-secret-special-forces-flights-to-israel-from-uk-base-on-cyprus/

States have secrets and war demands them. And yet how can democracy function when the people voting don't know what's happening and their government isn't transparent?

Meloni and the Dilemmas of Liberalism

https://www.politico.eu/article/giorgia-meloni-italy-press-journalists-watchdog-media-eu-politics-rule-of-law-report/

Narrative driven political forces willing to play fast and loose with the law inevitably end up with media problems. They don't like being challenged and called out. And there are other times in which such leaders will utilize this constant irritation as an excuse to detract from other pressing problems. So it is with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

VCY-CrossTalk has Forgotten and Replaced God

The VCY radio network posted the essay below back in June - the author is the host of the misnamed 'CrossTalk' programme which is basically a shill for the John Birch Society. The Birchers make regular appearances on the show and it provides a kind of Evangelical (and sometimes Fundamentalist) vehicle for Bircher ideology. Some readers may want to scroll down and read it and then return to these comments. Others may choose to read the essay in light of this commentary.

Answers in Genesis and The Servant Foundation: Agents and Mouthpieces for Wall Street

 https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/see-how-answers-in-genesis-finances-its-creation-museum-and-publishing-operation

https://vcy.com/climate-change-for-kids-and-parents-too/

I was perusing the online edition of the new 'Climate Change for Kids' book issued by Answers in Genesis and I immediately thought of some past articles I've read about the dubious finances connected with the organisation. It's clear that Ken Ham is in it for the money and is willing to tap into every resource available - including tax money to promote his Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. And he's not above threats of litigation - suing the state of Kentucky for one. His lawyer was Mike Johnson who is now the Speaker of the House.

Lausanne Movement Evangelicalism and the Redefinition of Godly Character

https://lausanne.org/podcast/demonstrating-godly-character-in-the-u-s-air-force

As a Christian who turned my back on the US military my expectations for this podcast were pretty low. In some respects Jerry White was refreshing in that he thinks through his actions more than a lot of people do, and yet I still cannot agree with his reasoning.

Athletes from Russia and the 2024 Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics have ended and yet in the final days I caught a video clip of a Russian athlete who of course is not allowed to represent Russia and should he win, the anthem of his country won't be played. This is due (we're told) to the various doping scandals surrounding Russian sports. They must compete as 'neutral' athletes and as such there were only a dozen or so at the games.

Evangelism Explosion (EE) Remains Faithful to the Legacy of D James Kennedy

https://julieroys.com/evangelism-explosion-sponsors-conservative-political-summit-washington-dc/

While looking up something in reference to D James Kennedy, I came across this article from September 2023.

Evangelism Explosion (EE) was all the rage at one time and this article compelled me to take a few minutes and reconsider it once again. The end assessment is the same that I had almost thirty years ago.

Campus Uproar and Mohler's Latest Episode of Moral and Epistemological Meltdown

https://wng.org/opinions/americas-campus-meltdown-1713993199

Southern Seminary president Albert Mohler assumes the immorality of opposing Israel but it must be granted he's right in that many 'Left' protesters are privileged. I find them absurd because they challenge the system even while they only wish to appropriate it and somehow put a humanitarian or progressive spin on the empire and its evils.

The Da Vinci Drag Display in Paris

As the Olympics wind down I felt compelled to offer a comment in relation to the scandal regarding the sodomites in the opening ceremony.

The BBC and the Manipulation of Moldovan History

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg330w2x7g3o

As previously stated in other pieces (linked below) - Moldova cannot join the EU unless Transnistria issue is solved. You can't have an unsettled border and join the EU or NATO.

The Pentagon, Vaccines, and Geopolitical Games that Kill People

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/6/20/pentagon_china_vaccines

This story reminded me of how America is a moral beacon to the world. Because the United States didn't want China to make money and earn standing they pushed a disinformation campaign - the sort of campaigns that we're daily told are being conducted by the likes of China and Russia.

The Sacral Nature of Evangelical Support for Trump

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/22/trump-christians-president-religion

This article is already outdated and if anything the realities expressed here have been sharply amplified by the assassination attempt and the way in which the Christian Right has cast these events in theological terms. The event has been turned into a kind of epoch or watershed, a marker in American redemptive-history, an episode in the passion of Trump as it were. None of this is thought out or made explicit as it quickly strays into blatant heresy. But even its restrained and nuanced forms already are guilty of such doctrinal crimes and aberrations.

Homosexuality in Woke Communist China

https://www.scmp.com/sport/paris-olympics-2024/article/3272119/chinas-cctv-stunned-silence-lgbtq-scene-paris-olympics-opening-ceremony

I used to enjoy watching the Olympics. Some years we'd even have cable turned on for a month so we could watch them. But at some point the debauchery (and the sundry base and vulgar ads) became too unbearable and so we gave up. I wasn't at all surprised to hear about all the filth in the opening ceremony - I did not watch it.

Netanyahu Exploits the Golan Heights

Over the weekend a missile struck the Golan Heights killing about a dozen Druze children. The Netanyahu government has been looking for an excuse to escalate and expand the war and as such they've been playing up this incident.

Confused Jurisdictions

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/27144/evangelical-church-in-rome-that-takes-case-of-unrecognised-religious-building-to-european-court-of-human-rights

This is a case of confused thinking and confused jurisdictions, the result of the institutional mindset that affects the heirs of the Magisterial Reformation.

The Materialist Default

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/20/nx-s1-5013626/scientists-are-looking-for-signs-of-resilience-in-the-gut

Right-wing media is unpalatable in its assumptions and its bias and yet the mainstream media is becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate as well. From all the talk of 'people of who have babies' and the like to the overwhelmingly materialist assumptions, I find myself having to look elsewhere. Motivated by its political agenda and the corruption of money, FOX consistently lies and manipulates the truth and even the nature of reality. But the mainstream increasingly just relies on false presuppositions and when it comes to health, science, and even sociology, the materialist assumptions dominate - often leading to absurdities.

Protestantism and the Judiciary in Türkiye

https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Turkey,-Constitutional-Court:-Expulsion-of-Protestant-leaders-does-not-violate-freedom-of-faith-60914.html

Ankara fears these Western-connected congregations are a Fifth Column, a means of cycling subversion into Turkish society, laundering money, and the like. While mostly exaggeration or simply untrue, I don't doubt there are some instances where this is the case. It may even be that some church leaders don't quite understand who they're affiliating with and where their money is coming from.

Pan-Turkism 2024

https://www.asianews.it/news-en/The-Turanian-World-advance-in-Central-Asia-60912.html

Neo-Ottomanism is not exactly the same as Pan-Turkism but the concepts can and often do overlap. Neo-Ottomanism is about leveraging Ankara's placement, the fact that Türkiye straddles Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Via the Black Sea and the Caucasus it is able to access the Turkish populations of Central Asia - and this is where the Pan-Turkism comes in. Ankara is able to exert itself culturally into the region and it's natural that economic and other diplomatic relations would ensue.

The GOP's Sociopathic Behaviour Regarding Israel

Watching a PBS Frontline episode on campus violence the other night I fully expected to see some clips of the congressional hearing with university presidents - a dialogue that was largely misrepresented in the mainstream media. It goes without saying this was misrepresented by the Right.

Narratives Surrounding the Trump Shooting

Since the Saturday evening assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania I have been rather struck by the mainstream media response as well as that of the DNC. For some odd reason they are kow-towing to the MAGA Republican line and seem almost apologetic as if they are to blame for this.

Israel, Iran, and the Turks

https://eurasianet.org/israel-emerging-as-source-of-tension-in-azerbaijans-special-relationship-with-turkey

This was inevitable and I was pleased to note that others are noticing it as well. Baku has been effectively wed to Ankara since the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990's. Their cultural ties are pervasive and there are significant numbers of Azeris in Türkiye proper, and they also share a common enemy in the Armenians.

Imperial Power and Central Asian Infrastructure

https://eurasianet.org/china-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-railway-project-gets-off-the-ground

The key statement this article is the reference to the Trans-Afghan corridor. This railroad and its relationship to the larger question of Central Asian infrastructure represents a strategic defeat for the US Empire.

Ramsey and the Three Wise Monkeys

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/father-moron-dave-ramsey-disgusted-211016354.html

This is a somewhat confused report of an Instagram video in which a father and daughter share a financial scheme with the audience. Engaging in a practice known as arbitrage they are effectively borrowing money at a low rate which generates savings that allows them to lend and receive a return at a higher rate. The particular scenario isn't very convincing and certainly has some holes. As far as risk, there's always risk in such ventures.

Israel, Death Squads, and Colombia

https://consortiumnews.com/2024/05/13/the-secret-history-of-israels-role-in-genocide-in-colombia/

https://www.democracynow.org/2024/6/12/chiquita_funding_death_squads_in_colombia

I post this must-read article because I believe it's important for Christians to have a better understanding of what has happened in Colombia and the role of US policy, the US military - and the outsourced role Israel often plays at the behest of Washington.

Beneath This Stone I'm Forced to Lie, a Victim of the Blue-State Fly - and other such delusions

https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesonly=true&sourceid=trcnw&keyword=Blue+State+Conference

I tried to get through some of these but found it unbearable. Oh, the sorrows and woe for those who live in states controlled by Democrats. If we could all just move to Texas and Florida then all would be well.

Monument to a Court Prophet

https://www.christianpost.com/news/us-capitol-unveils-statue-honoring-evangelist-billy-graham.html

I'm not Roman Catholic and reject the many claims of Rome concerning its apostolic and particularly Petrine foundations. Whether Peter is actually buried beneath the Vatican or not is immaterial. I toured the Scavi back in the 1990's on one of my many stays in the city. It was fascinating but not entirely convincing. I felt like the Vatican had hijacked the history much in the same way one encounters when touring the catacombs.

Legalism and Generation Joshua: An Exercise in Confusion

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/how-the-fundamentals-of-christian-fundamentalism-led-me-out.html

I read this piece twice, attempting to take it all in and let it wash over me. I could appreciate some of what Elizabeth Doll has to say and yet at the same time was repulsed by it. There are definitely problems in some quarters of the Church and often it seems like the parts that affect people the most are not questions of substance but style, an ethos, and a kind of culture within the Church.

The BBC and ISIS: Dispelling Propaganda with Propaganda

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0j4x4hy

Within moments of turning on this BBC podcast I knew it was going to be a case of spin. There was from the onset a dishonest narrative about the origins of ISIS and the panel failed to probe or explain how the group grew out of al Qaeda and how its vision is different - the more extreme nature of the group is found in its apocalyptic understanding of the world.

Boeing and its Place in the US Empire

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/5/2/whistleblower-joshua-dean-ex-worker-at-boeing-supplier-dies

Boeing is too big to fail. As a member of the S&P100, the company constitutes a large and essential component within the stock market as well as the US security apparatus. Boeing builds commercial jets and does billions of dollars in military contracts. In fact it's the second biggest military contractor in the United States (and third in the world).

Presbyterianism's Rejection of the Sufficiency of Scripture

https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc848/

I literally laughed out loud when I reached the 47:00 minute mark of this podcast - an exercise in the torture that is Presbyterian polity. We have committees to exercise oversight of committees.

Orthodox Intrigues in Moldova

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanian-orthodox-church-welcomes-moldovan-priests-wanting-join-2024-04-25/

https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/romanian-orthodox-church-welcomes-moldovan-priests-wanting-to-join/

As I have often reported, political programmes of subversion and transformation often contain a religious component. Moldova and its place in the West's Anti-Russia campaign has been overshadowed by the war in neighbouring Ukraine as well as other global conflicts, but in fact the campaign is intensifying as Brussels seeks to fast-track both Chișinău and Kyiv into the EU. Whether that actually happens or not is yet to be seen.

The Wooing of Armenia

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-launch-new-e270-million-plan-bring-armenia-fold-russia/

Since the article's publication in April, there have been numerous reports regarding Armenia. The situation remains dynamic with Yerevan reaching out to Ukraine and thus angering Russia in the process. There are real fears in Moscow of Armenia rescinding its membership with the Russian-led CSTO security agreement and flipping over to the NATO column - not in full membership but as one of its allies. This also generates concerns over the brewing instability of its neighbour Georgia. For Putin, the invasion of Ukraine was meant to arrest Atlanticist expansion, but with the accession of Sweden and Finland into NATO, and now the growing risk of all of Transcaucasia falling under the aegis of the American-led bloc, there's no small degree of consternation. And the EU is also looking to expand.

The BBC, Russia, and Unreality

BBC coverage within Russia has taken a rather snarky tone for some time. They're not really reports as much as they are snide editorials. Secular Humanism is the religion of modern culture and the BBC advocates for this - even if they would deny it. Classical Liberalism is the default political theory, even though there's no real basis for assuming this within a secular worldview. They can't appeal to any authority and in a contest of empirical evidence the system is far from unassailable even though they seem to think so. One would think that an international news outlet would be a little more cynical regarding the history of democracy and liberalism in the West, but after all we are talking about a kind of faith - even if it's a vain and empty one.

Flag and Cross

Does no one understand that you can't stand for the flag and kneel for the cross at the same time?

If we assume (for the sake of argument this dumb pairing that adorns hats, t-shirts, car bumpers etc.) - then I suggest we put it to them and turn their boast into a dilemma. You cannot have it both ways. The two kingdoms are antithetical with different goals and values.

Right-wing Circularity and Cross Pollination

https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-hungary-culture-war-woke-brussels/

There is a circularity of inspiration for these Right-wing movements. US politicians, movements, and media outlets have inspired the likes of Viktor Orban in Hungary. Given the political climate of his country and its much smaller population, Orban has been successful in actually implementing some of these policies. As such he's become a hero to American Right and now political actors in the US are looking to Orban for inspiration when it comes to their strategies and style.

A Dragon Pretending to be a Lamb

https://www.christianpost.com/news/ted-cruz-blasts-spiritual-component-of-modern-left.html

Without a doubt the Church is filled with compromisers and led by men that have capitulated and even bowed to the world. We were warned of this in the New Testament.

But this condemnation does not belong exclusively to theological liberals and/or those that have embraced Left-wing politics. The same is true when it comes to those that have embraced Right-wing thinking, Enlightenment categories of economics and politics, those that promote mammonism, nationalism, and champion war and empire - even while denying they do so.

Another New Calvinist Apostate

https://julieroys.com/how-shannon-harris-kissed-biblical-womanhood-goodbye/

This article is about the wife of Josh Harris and with her story the sad circle of apostasy is now complete. Both of them have abandoned Christianity in what is another mark against New Calvinism testifying to its often superficial and shallow nature.

The Taliban, Poppy Cultivation, and Opium Markets

https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/06/talibans-successful-opium-ban-bad-afghans-and-world

https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-farmers-livelihood-taliban-bans-opium/31803532.html

The United States Institute for Peace or USIP is a mouthpiece for the US government. The fact that this federal agency is required to have both the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense on its board reveals it to be a sham. It does not promote or stand for peace. It cannot with these kinds of imperialist and militarist connections.

Dictators and Drug Dealers: America's Dissonant Practice of Celebrating the Fall of its Allies and Activist Deaths that Don't Matter

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/3/17/the-criminal-hypocrisy-of-hernandezs-drug-conviction-in-a-us-court

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/honduras-president-arrested/

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/01/years-after-berta-caceres-is-there-new-hope-for-justice

The death of Alexei Navalny received around-the-clock coverage and it was simply assumed that Putin ordered it and yet when someone like Berta Caceres of Honduras is killed, virtually no one in Western (and certainly American) media seems to care and suggestions of American involvement are met with scoffs.

French Evangelical Folly

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/26664/french-evangelicals-welcome-new-law-to-combat-cults

There are plenty of occasions and opportunities in society for abuse and it could be argued this has been made worse by modern society and the various technological venues and vehicles available to abusers. But we should pause when considering granting the state power to make such determinations.

A Follow up to the Evangelical Gospel of Hiroshima

https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-evangelical-gospel-of-hiroshima.html

Someone suggested to me that in The Evangelical Gospel of Hiroshima I failed to properly take into account the question of the congressman's office and his duties and the obligations it entails. Tim Walberg would be remiss if he didn't take those interests into account - including hard questions of foreign and military policy. As an office holder he has responsibilities and tasks that are laid upon his shoulders and sometimes this would necessarily entail an appeal to a moral hierarchy.

Anabaptists and Veteran Discounts

I recently witnessed a further slide of Anabaptism into cognitive and ethical dissonance. As the Amish have moved more and more into the mainstream economy (our local paper's 'Service' section is now dominated by them), they are falling into the traps and enticements of mammon. And as a result, they are getting involved in politics - no doubt fostered by the Christian Right's outreach and attempts to woo them.

An Excellent Summary of Christian Nationalism

https://religionnews.com/2024/04/04/the-peril-radicalizing-some-evangelicals-goes-beyond-christian-nationalism/

This is probably one of the best summaries of Christian Nationalism I've read yet. Taylor successfully and succinctly explains the difference between the older forms of Evangelical Right-wing Christianity and its ethos of preferential pluralism and that of Christian Nationalism or as he rightly puts it - Christian Supremacy.

Politics and Persecution in Armenia

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/25560/armenian-court-rejects-baptist-conscientious-objector-appeal-against-jail-sentence

I have mentioned this in previous articles but there's been a shift in how the American Right deals with the Armenian question. For many years the US stuck close to its NATO ally in Ankara and the Turkish refusal to acknowledge the genocide. Türkiye has long been linked with Azerbaijan, especially in the post-Cold War setting. This opened door for Washington and gave the United States access to oil and both America and Israel found an ally (for its own reasons) antagonistic to Tehran and right on its border. For the US, the geopolitical placement of Azerbaijan vis-à-vis Russia was also an important consideration.

The Evangelical Gospel of Hiroshima

In March 2024, the Biden Administration hypocritically proposed a temporary dock off the Gaza coast which would be used to bring in humanitarian aid. It was an empty gesture given Biden's unswerving support for Israel's war of extermination and attempt to make Gaza uninhabitable.

When Torture is Right and Moral

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/25/russian-officials-lauding-torture-was-unthinkable-now-it-is-proud-to-do-so

This article appeared in The Guardian in response to the Russian treatment of ISIS-K terrorists who attacked a Moscow concert hall in March of 2024, an act of murder that led to over 100 deaths.

The 2024 EU Parliamentary Elections

https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-braces-for-far-right-wave-as-eu-election-looms/

It's too difficult to tell if there will be a Right-wing wave in the June 2024 EU Parliamentary Elections. For years the Right has been predicted to win in France and yet always seems to fail in the second round. In other words, when it comes down to it, people are willing to vote strategically rather than stick to one party come what may. It's a definite difference when compared to the US winner-take-all system - one that makes a two-party duopoly all but inevitable.

Fico and the Slovak Media Controversy

https://www.politico.eu/article/slovak-robert-fico-government-shuns-independent-press-wants-turn-public-broadcaster-into-state-run-tv/

*This article was written on 13 May, two days before the assassination attempt which is briefly addressed at the conclusion of this piece.

Brussels has another dissident nation on its hands. On the one hand Slovakia is part of the Visegrad Four (V4), a bloc which has long resisted the EU bureaucracy. But this bloc has been fragmented if not shattered by the war in Ukraine. Poland and the Czech Republic are 'all in' with the EU and NATO, while Hungary and now Slovakia dissent. As such the foreign policy of the bloc is at odds with itself.

Costa Rica, Semi-conductor Devices, and the American Empire

https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-04-22/from-san-jose-to-silicon-valley-costa-rica-is-emerging-as-a-hotbed-for-us-chips.html

The microchip industry has become strategic for the United States, meaning it is guaranteed federal subsidies and is becoming integrated with the security state. New facilities are being developed in Arizona, Texas, Idaho, Ohio, and New York but the industry is always going to be looking for cheaper options. A decade ago that was in China and other Asian locales. The US might be comfortable with South Korea, Japan, or even the Philippines but after the supply chain snags associated with Covid, the US is looking for something closer, a location that wouldn't be affected by such shipping scenarios. As such, Costa Rica has suddenly become an attractive option.

Congress and Big Tech: Hypocrisy and Blindness all on Sides

https://breakpoint.org/big-tech-families-and-the-role-of-government/

As we've come to expect, Stonestreet is less than helpful in addressing the salient issues. This time it's about families, technology, and the state. It continues to astonish me that parents have so little oversight or influence over their children that they are unable to curtail the problems associated with Smartphones and social media.

The Persecution-Industrial Complex Panders to the Right

I must say, this sort of thing just makes me sick. I will explain why. This email appeared in my inbox last fall.

Why do we Pray for Kings and All in Authority?

https://mitchchase.substack.com/p/to-lead-quiet-and-peaceful-lives

It was refreshing to find this author focusing on the Neronic context of Paul's letter to Timothy. It's a critical point and one the seriously undercuts many of the common assumptions that reign in the Evangelical and Dominionist sphere.

More Worldly Wisdom from Ramsey

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/considered-good-income-america-dave-113400372.html

Worldliness dominates Ramsey's thinking. 'A good income' is defined not by the New Testament and the ethics of the Kingdom but by the world, as indeed all of Ramsey's thought is dominated by the world's categories and economic theories. The fact that churches use this man's materials for Sunday Schools and the like is not only disgraceful, it's a sign of growing apostasy and the abandonment of Scripture. It's a sign of judgment. This is even while they continue to throw the word 'Biblical' in front of everything they do.

Sacralist Sacrilege and the Constantinian Shift

https://breakpoint.org/thank-god-for-constantine/

It is Stonestreet that misunderstands the impact of Constantine and the result of his legalization. The fact that he put the cross on soldier's shields already marked a turning point - the identification of the Kingdom of Heaven with the legions of Rome. It is literally difficult to conceive of something more satanic than this.

A Few Lessons From Norway

https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/norway/Jehovahs-Witnesses-to-Appeal-Unconstitutional-Ruling-in-Norway/

This unfortunate if instructive article from the Watchtower Society's website reveals that even the Jehovah's Witnesses still struggle with the nature of antithesis. Obviously the group cannot be reckoned Christian due to their glaring unorthodoxy regarding the Person of Christ. That said, they are in many respects more obedient to simple New Testament imperatives than the bulk of the Confessional and Evangelical world. In many respects the Witnesses put them to shame. For this reason, I will from time to time 'check up' on them and read of not just their struggles but how they deal with them.

The Tragedy and Travesty of the Trumpite Youth

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/19/1239344999/young-voters-conservative-donald-trump-republican-party

My oldest memories of Trump are from the 1980's, The Art of the Deal, and the many scandals surrounding him concerning his marriage and business activities. Trump was off my radar when he re-emerged in the early 2000's as a reality television celebrity - I was no longer watching television by then and high speed internet and streaming were not yet on the scene.

Trueman's Desecration of Christian Sensibility

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2024/02/desecration-at-st-patricks-cathedral

Is Trueman still a Protestant? One is baffled by his line of argument. Historically Protestants would have viewed the Roman Catholic temple as a blasphemy and its rites as a desecration of the New Testament. What Trueman is arguing about is sacral categories in terms of society - and who controls the symbols and sacred spaces.

Bannon Abroad

https://www.politico.eu/article/steve-bannon-rome-right-wing-gladiator-school-populist-nationalists/

In some respects this is a 'nothing' story. In the grand scheme of things it's minor and yet it provides a glimpse, a quick snapshot of the kinds of things that are happening - everywhere and in unexpected places. It also reveals some more information about the larger Trumpite movement and the activities of operatives like Steve Bannon.

Niger Turns Against Washington and Yellow Cake 2.0

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68590531

Niger it seems has grown weary of Washington's presence in West Africa. Having ousted the French in 2023, the situation with both Paris and Washington remains tenuous. Tchiani remains in control and yet he faces hard questions concerning the economy of his country. From Niger's ties to the franc to its close uranium-related trade ties with France, it's hard to imagine that Paris will simply let Niger go. The junta leaders will be looking over the shoulder to say the least.

Christo-Trumpism is not just Fascism - it's Antichrist

I keep seeing hats, shirts, signs, and stickers proclaiming Jesus is my Savior and Trump is my President. It's becoming a basis for fellowship, a call sign for people to strike up conversation in restaurants and in lines.

The Rights Granted by America's Enlightenment Creator

A few weeks ago the Christian and Right-wing media-spheres blew up over comments made by Politico's Heidi Przybyla in which she seemed to suggest that Christian Nationalists are those who believe rights are derived from God as opposed to the state.

Kirk Cameron Rejects the Teachings of Christ

https://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-says-christians-shouldnt-tolerate-tyranny.html

It's somewhat astounding when these Dominionist types openly flout and defy the Scriptures as is seen here. It's yet another case of the 'Yeah, but...' response to the Scriptures that seems to typify these circles.

Baptising Feminism and Twisting History

https://breakpoint.org/motherhood-myth-busting/

Stonestreet wants to 'bust' myths about motherhood. How does he do it? With Scripture? No – with the myths of historical revisionism.

Christian Nationalism, Gaza, and the Ghosts of Beziers

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/us-congressman-andy-ogles-stirs-outrage-with-gaza-comment-kill-them-all

After this story broke in February, I waited weeks to see if there would be any real fallout. In terms of the Church, would he be called out, disciplined, even excommunicated? Nothing happened.

John MacArthur's Latest Episode of Hypocrisy and Schizophrenia

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/john-macarthur-vs-christian-nationalism.html

The California megachurch pastor has long attacked Christian political activism and the idea that Christians are to labour for justice in this world. These endeavours distract the Church from its God-appointed task. Such expressions on the part of MacArthur would be in keeping with his Dispensational Premillennial eschatology that sees no hope for this present age and calls the Church to await the pre-tribulational rapture. According to this scheme, great calamity will follow in the form Anti-Christ and the so-called Great Tribulation.

The Theology of the Zealots is Alive and Well on Planet Earth

https://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelical-leaders-back-israel-call-on-us-govt-support.html

One need not turn to a vile rag like the misnamed Christian Post to learn of this story. The number of articles concerning Evangelical support for Israel can be counted by the dozen. This one caught my eye back in November and at the time I made a few notes. More than five months into this war, nothing has changed. In fact the situation has only grown worse.

Constantinian Ethics at their Worst

https://www.beautifulchristianlife.com/blog/how-do-christians-in-the-military-love-their-enemies-and-do-good-to-them

A follow up to:

https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2023/07/an-ugly-christian-life.html

The commenter to the previous Rowlands piece innocently asked about Matthew 5 and the command to love enemies. And rightly so as this effectively destroys Rowlands' argument. And this passage is far from alone. Rowlands is advocating for a Christianity that is opposed to New Testament ethics - and yet it's a value system that tickles ears and effectively reigns within the contemporary Evangelical Church.

The ISIS-K Attack on Moscow

 It's fairly obvious that Western media wants to find a way to put an anti-Putin spin on the Moscow theatre attack. There are hints that since American intelligence warned him and he didn't act therefore... it's never said, but we're left to conclude that something nefarious took place. He wanted it to happen or let it happen or he's incompetent. Why won't the Russian people realize this? Such allegations and suggestions when put into an American context are ridiculed but are perfectly acceptable when it comes to other countries, particularly America's enemies.

Manila Throws in with AUKUS Against Beijing

https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/historic-speech-from-philippines-president-makes-veiled-swipe-at-china/news-story/3b5593d7b992f340701d23510d061883

At the end of February 2024, Ferdinand 'BongBong' Marcos spoke before the Australian Parliament. It was an important speech, especially for the East Asian theatre and though described as 'historic' it was hardly covered in the West.

Paris,Yerevan, and Baku

https://eurasianet.org/armenia-azerbaijan-macron-stirring-things-up-in-the-caucasus

Baku is in a fairly cozy relationship with Washington and thus if the Americans don't want to see Macron make this move, you can be sure the Azeri government will speak out and condemn French overtures.

Tooley Keeps Spinning the GMC

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/mainline-methodist-left/

Mark Tooley continues to mislead regarding the 'conservative' Global Methodist Church (GMC). Conservative by what standard? In terms of historic Protestant orthodoxy, the new denomination is not conservative but theologically liberal. When compared to the New Testament, the GMC represents a serious departure with its attitudes regarding everything from feminism to the embrace of higher criticism and much more.

New Information Regarding the 2004 Coup in Haiti

https://thegrayzone.com/2024/03/01/secret-cable-cia-haiti-coup/

See also: https://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-dominionist-evangelical-distortion-of.html

This piece from The Grayzone is timely as we see the US is poised to insert itself once again into the politics of Haiti. This time the US is attempting to utilize a proxy and has put a great deal of pressure on Kenya to take the lead in peacekeeping. Why? Because the US public does not want to see American soldiers on the ground in Haiti - at least not in significant numbers.

Evangelical Misunderstandings of Modi's Relationship with the US

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/indias-pm-modi-wages-war-against-christians-with-impunity.html

Pardon my cynicism but if Trump were president I don't think this criticism would be levied with quite as much zeal and earnest as we see in this piece from the so-called Christian Post. In some respects the article was refreshing but in others ridiculous.

Shame on the UMC and on these Congregations Trying to Leave It

https://www.christianpost.com/news/court-rules-against-42-churches-trying-to-leave-the-umc.html

Ostensibly these congregations wish to leave the apostate United Methodist Church. But then in the process of making their moral stand they violate Scripture and drag the Church into the secular courts.

Sacralism versus Satanism in Iowa

https://www.christianpost.com/news/man-who-toppled-iowa-satanic-display-responds-to-critics.html

Reading the Christian Post is wearisome but often revealing. This story keeps gaining traction and yet no one seems to understand just what is happening here.

The Truth Americans Don't Want to Hear About the 2024 US Presidential Election

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/31/i-dont-care-who-wins-the-us-presidential-election

Mitrovica's editorials often catch my eye and he's usually interesting though I often disagree with him. I found this piece to be germane and its cynicism morally justified – even refreshing.

Appropriating Tolkien by Means of Anachronism

https://www.politico.eu/article/inside-giorgia-meloni-hobbit-fantasy-world-lord-of-the-rings-fratelli-italia-brothers-italy-politics/

As one who has been reading Tolkien since elementary school, and even now enjoys discussing his works with my adult children, I am beset by many emotions when I read something like this. I feel as if someone has hijacked something from my childhood or like a memory has been violated.

A Ridiculous Essay About Anti-Trump Evangelicals

https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/the-resistance-will-be-organized

I think I've just about had my fill of Aaron Renn and for that matter the on-line rag known as The American Reformer. After reading several of his pieces, I think I've more or less grasped where he's coming from and I don't see that he has a lot to offer.

This piece was pretty characteristic of what I keep encountering – more Right-wing boilerplate material.

There's a great sinister plot at work – all kinds of dark money funding the anti-Trump Evangelical movement.

Mike Johnson, the Evangelical Speaker of the House

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/15/1211536399/speaker-johnson-christian-nationalism-evangelical

With so much happening in the news, stories like this have almost slipped under the radar. Four months into his tenure as Speaker, some refer to Johnson as a moderate and when compared with some of the Trumpites in Congress he seems rather tame, and yet this misleading.

The Age of Lithium, India, and Argentina

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/eye-on-china-india-inks-first-overseas-lithium-mining-deal-for-five-blocks-in-argentina/articleshow/106874549.cms?from=mdr

Milei is eager to please the Western and international banking establishment and he needs to generate revenue for the coffers of the Argentinean state.

Evangelical Narratives about Trump and Haley

A couple of weeks ago while listening to the BBC, an American Evangelical leader attempted to explain his faction's overwhelming allegiance to Trump. He suggested that all things considered, Trump is the best prospect. All the emphasis was on beating Biden.

South Africa and the American Empire

https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/us-politicians-call-for-review-of-relations-with-sa-for-supposedly-undermining-national-security-20240210

South Africa is the weakest of the BRICS nations and has over the past several years angered Washington. Not only has it joined BRICS, it has tacitly supported Russia, and now has generated a great deal of anger by leading the charge against Israel in the ICJ. It was only a matter of time before the US acted – the goal is to punish South Africa and generate upheaval within its society and political system. The campaign is under way.

Some Perspective on Navalny's Death

Listening to the near breathless and morally outraged coverage of Alexei Navalny's death, several things come to mind.

Theologians of the Beast and Ivory Tower Takes on Empire

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empires-foreign-and-domestic/id1677193347?i=100063749953

Since the American Reformer keeps popping up on Reformed websites like The Aquila Report, I have (out of curiosity) been listening to some of the podcasts. They have proven as disappointing as the writings.

Spawn of the CIA and a Son of Suharto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx35KRYbf1g

Prabowo is actually the former son-in-law of Suharto, the Indonesian dictator who came to power in the 1960's by means of a genocide – one encouraged and backed by the United States. Not a few in Washington wished Vietnam could have gone the way of Indonesia. The US lost Vietnam though millions would also die in Indochina.

The Lingering Strength of the American Empire

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/30/americas-undying-empire-why-the-decline-of-us-power-has-been-greatly-exaggerated

This piece raised several significant points concerning the resilience and remaining fortitude of the American Empire. Everyone would agree US prestige has dropped in recent years – though no one can agree as to when this process began or even exactly why. It all makes for an interesting discussion and the entire question is (to a degree) in flux due to the pending 2024 electoral contest. Its result will move the needle – more than some will acknowledge and yet less than others fear.

Croatia, the UK, and the Curse of Militarism

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/01/23/croatia-military-conscription/

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/48472-john-humphrys-time-for-conscription-to-make-a-comeback

In both Croatia and the UK there is a renewed call for conscription. The statements made by General Sanders of the UK are very troubling as he speaks in terms of mass mobilisation, citizen armies, and preparation for war.

The Seven Churches of Revelation - A Key to Church History?

https://taylormarshall.com/2024/01/1053-6th-age-antichrist-according-17th-century-mystic-holzhauser-podcast.html

Trumpite (and thus non-Traditionalist) Roman Catholic Taylor Marshall published this little promo video the other day. Though others have pointed this out, few Dispensationalists realize that the Seven Epochs of Church History schema (based on the Seven Churches of Asia Minor) finds its origin in Counter-Reformation Roman Catholicism. The same is actually true of the larger Dispensational scheme.

Lausanne Movement Antics in Austria

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/25053/austrian-evangelicals-invite-politicians-to-church-our-faith-is-not-an-import

The fact that these Evangelicals in Austria are reaching out to politicians did not particularly surprise me – but it does concern me.

Preying on Fear: The Crime-wave Hype

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/fbi-report-crime-down-republican-election-fear-rcna121384

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/2022-fox-news-created-crime-crisis-failed-attempt-sway-midterms

The American Right seems keen to promote the notion of a serious crime wave and it's now taken for granted by those within the movement and among those who regularly digest its media. But is it true?

Random Thoughts on the Dead Americans in Jordan

When the story broke over the weekend I immediately thought of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and how happy he must be at this news. He wants to widen the war and there are plenty within the US Congress, Pentagon, and even White House that want the same. The Iran Hawks are already squawking – demanding some kind of massive bombing campaign – even if it leads to a massive war. As one commentator pointed out the Middle East is in the cusp of the biggest regional war since 1973. These people couldn't care less. Men like Lindsey Graham are literally just vampires – they live for blood.

DiLorenzo's Latest Attempt at Red Baiting

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/new-york-state-assemblyman-tony-simone-wants-to-bring-back-forced-labor/

This post caught my eye and typifies all that is wrong with the revisionist Bircherite academics associated with the extreme end of the Libertarian Austrian School – and the Neo-Confederate Thomas DiLorenzo (President of the Ludwig von Mises Institute) is among the worst.

Ethiopia's Foray into Somaliland

Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed has generated a great deal of frustration within Washington. He waged war on Tigray and the ethno-political faction long supported by Washington. He has by some estimations moved Ethiopia closer to China. And as of 1 January 2024, Addis Ababa has now moved into the sphere of BRICS.