Wolves in the Throneroom

In review of the recent several weeks activities, let us examine President Obama's emerging Middle East diplomacy objectives.

Initially, let us see what the Obama administration understands about Syria and Iran:

"[The IAEA report] contributes to the growing evidence of clandestine nuclear activities in Syria. We must understand why such [uranium] material - material not previously declared to the IAEA - existed in Syria and this can only happen if Syria provides the cooperation requested."

- George Schulte, the US ambassador to the IAEA, reacting to the IAEA's recent release of findings from the September 2007 Israeli attack which destroyed Syria's North Korean built, Iranian financed al Kibar nuclear reactor. The report revealed that after analyzing soil samples from the bombed installation, its inspectors discovered traces of uranium. The nuclear watchdog agency also noted that the Syrians have blocked UN nuclear inspectors from the site and from three other suspected nuclear sites.

And ...

"Iran has enough uranium for a bomb."

- US Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commenting on the IAEA's report on Iran

What is Obama's diplomatic posture with respect to Syria and Iran? According to John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Obama administration will be adopting doctrine laid out in the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group report published in December 2006. This report urges the US to coordinate the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq with Iran and Syria - the principal sponsors of both the Shiite and Sunni insurgencies in the country. It recommended that the US purchase Syria's good will by pressuring Israel to surrender the Golan Heights to Damascus and Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to Hamas. It recommended that the US win Iran's trust by accepting it as a nuclear power and pledging not to overthrow the regime.

"[The starting point for US-Iran discussions is for the US to] state our respect for the Iranian people, renounce regime change as an instrument of US policy, seek opportunities for a range of dialogue across a range of issues, and acknowledge Iran's security concerns and its right to civilian nuclear power."

- former Congressman Lee Hamilton, co-author of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group report, in a February interview with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius

So, the Obama administration is now fully aware of the extent of the Syrian and Iranian nuclear programs. They are not alarmed. They are pursuing a policy of appeasement. The motivation for this? Palestinian statehood?

No, I think something is at play on a much more sinister level. I am intrigued that the Hamilton study urges surrender of Jerusalem to Hamas. What was that saying about Jerusalem? What was so special about Jerusalem in ancient times? Hmm ..

Matthew 24:10-20 (New International Version)

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

The abomination that causes desolation! Oh, that Jesus was a riot wasn't he?