Category Archives: President Obama

Take a look at videos captured at Osama bin Laden’s compound

May 7, 2011 – 11:19 pm

Osama bin Laden ‘Home Videos’ Released

Videos were seized during the raid on the Bin Laden compound.
05/07/2011
 Newly released videos show Osama bin Laden inside his hideout, watching himself on television and rehearsing for terrorist propaganda videos.  Kimberly Dozier, and Lolita C. Baldor of the The Associated Press reported today:

The videos, released by U.S. intelligence officials Saturday, were offered as further proof that Navy SEALs killed the world’s most wanted terrorist this week. But they also served to show bin Laden as vain, someone obsessed with his portrayal by the world’s media.

One of the movies shows bin Laden, wrapped in a brown blanket and holding a remote control, flipping back and forth between clips of himself. The small television was perched on top of a desk with wires running to a nearby cable or control box.

In another, he has apparently dyed and neatly trimmed his beard for the filming of a propaganda video.

The videos were seized from bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Officials said the clips shown to reporters were just part of the largest collection of senior terrorist materials ever collected. The evidence seized during the raid also includes phone numbers and documents that officials hope will help break the back of the organization behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

For years, when it was assumed that bin Laden was living in Pakistan’s rugged, mountainous tribal region, officials assumed bin Laden might not be able to get real-time news. After the CIA discovered bin Laden’s suburban compound, they realized that a satellite dish provided a television feed to bin Laden’s compound.

Nine killed in sectarian violence in Cairo

Carrying picture of late Al-Qaeda chief Osama …

Egyptian Islamists, carrying a picture of late Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, march to the US embassy after the weekly Friday prayer in Cairo, on May 6. Clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Egyptian capital left nine dead and more than 100 injured and a church was set on fire, medical and security officials said

Bin Laden directed Qaeda from Pakistan compound

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden is shown holding a remote while watching himself on television in this video frame grab released by the U.S. Pentagon May 7, 2011.


By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Osama bin Laden had plan for attack on 9/11/11

May 7, 2011 – 3:02 pm

 

The Associated Press reported on May 5, 2011:

Some of the first information gleaned from Osama bin Laden’s compound indicates al-Qaida considered attacking U.S. trains on the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. But counterterrorism officials say they believe the planning never got beyond the initial phase and have no recent intelligence pointing to an active plot for such an attack.

As of February 2010, the terror organization was considering plans to attack the U.S. on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. One idea outlined in handwritten notes was to tamper with an unspecified U.S. rail track so that a train would fall off the track at a valley or a bridge, according to a joint FBI and Homeland Security bulletin sent to law enforcement officials around the country Thursday. The al-Qaida planners noted that if they attacked a train by tilting it, the plan would only succeed once because the tilting would be spotted the next time.

The warning, obtained by The Associated Press, was marked for “official use only.”

Information on the train plot appears to be the first widely circulated intelligence pulled from the raid this week on bin Laden’s secret compound in Pakistan. After killing the terror leader and four of his associates, Navy SEALs confiscated a treasure trove of computers, DVDs and documents from the home where U.S. officials believe the al-Qaida chief had been hiding for up to six years.

Other intelligence information gathered at the compound represented a terrorist wish list but has revealed no specific plan so far, a U.S. official said. He said documents indicated a desire to hit the U.S. with large-scale attacks in major cities and on key dates such as anniversaries and holidays. But there was no sign those plans were anything more than ambitions. The U.S. official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Intelligence analysts have been reviewing and translating the material, looking for information about pending plots and other terror connections. Even before the raid, intelligence officials for years have warned that al-Qaida is interested in attacking major U.S. cities on holidays, anniversaries and other dates that are uniquely American.

“While it is clear that there was some level of planning for this type of operation in February 2010, we have no recent information to indicate an active ongoing plot to target transportation and no information on possible locations or specific targets,” the warning Thursday said.

The FBI and Homeland Security told local officials to be on the lookout for clips or spikes missing from train tracks, packages left on or near the tracks and other indications that a train could be vulnerable.

Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said, “This alleged al-Qaida plotting is based on initial reporting, which is often misleading or inaccurate and subject to change.” He said the government has no plans to issue an official terror alert because of it.

An official with the Association of American Railroads said the organization has received warnings from the federal government and is sharing the information throughout the railroad network. “We are always making sure that the system is run as safely and securely as possible,” the organization’s spokeswoman, Patricia Reilly, said.

U.S. officials have disrupted other terror plots that targeted rails, including a 2009 plan to blow up the New York City subway system.

On Monday the FBI and Homeland Security warned law enforcement officials around the country that bin Laden’s death could inspire retaliatory attacks in the U.S., and terrorists not yet known to the intelligence community could be operating inside the country. The transportation sector – including U.S. rails – remain attractive targets for terrorists.

Satellite pictures of Osama bin Laden’s custom-made hideout in Abbottabad, Northern Pakistan, were released by the US Department of Defence, providing further detail of the compound where the al-Qaida leader had allegedly been hiding for years.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

John Fund’s talk in Little Rock 4-27-11(Part 5):

May 7, 2011 – 1:50 pm

Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund discusses the stimulus bill during Missouri Chamber Day at the Capitol Part 2

Last week I got to attend the first ever “Conservative Lunch Series” presented by  KARN and Americans for Prosperity Foundation at the Little Rock Hilton on University Avenue. This monthly luncheon will be held the fourth Wednesday of every month. The speaker for today’s luncheon was John Fund.
John Fund writes the weekly “On the Trail” column for OpinionJournal.com. He is author of “Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy” (Encounter, 2004).

He joined The Wall Street Journal as a deputy editorial features editor in 1984 and was a member of the editorial board from 1995 through 2001. The articles he has written have appeared in Esquire, Reader’s Digest, Reason, The New Republic, and National Review. He became an editorial page writer specializing in politics and government in October 1986 and was a member of the Journal’s editorial board from 1995 through 2001. Next month’s guest speaker will be Andrew Breitbart.

In his talk he mentioned that the Republicans pick individuals who have paid their dues to run as their presidential nominee. However, he did mention that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty  was a man that we should keep our eye on even though he hasn’t been around for a long time. After the Republicans first Presidential Debate on May 5, 2011 in Greenville, SC, Fund wrote the article “A Preview Presidential Debate: There were two winners and a loser in last night’s first debate among Republican presidential contenders in South Carolina. Call it a preview of coming attractions” Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2011. Here it is:

There were two winners and a loser in last night’s first debate among Republican presidential contenders in South Carolina. But because most of the big-name potential candidates were absent, the impact of the debate will be limited. Call it a preview of coming attractions.

Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, was a hitherto unknown candidate before he stepped onto the Fox News stage last night. The last time he had been in the spotlight was in 1994, when as head of the National Restaurant Association he had been a leader in the campaign against Hillary Clinton’s health-care plan.

But the fact that there were only five candidates in last night’s debate allowed Mr. Cain to shine. A Fox focus group of GOP voters held after the debate showed that he picked up the support of voters who wanted a no-bull businessman who wants to take on Washington. The focus group’s antipathy toward Donald Trump—who did not attend the debate—and Mr. Cain’s success with pithy one-liners, make me more convinced than ever that Mr. Trump won’t be running for the GOP nomination.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum helped himself modestly by articulating his brand of social conservatism. Texas Congressman Ron Paul and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson kept their libertarian base satisfied but got trapped in rhetorical cul-de-sacs by questions on their support for the decriminalization of drug use.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was the other big winner last night. He clearly had the most stature and took the opportunity to introduce himself to voters as the product of a blue-collar family who understood the pressures that a tough economy can impose on families. He also shone in the way he repudiated his earlier support for legislation to cap carbon emissions, a stance he now says would impose undue burdens on the economy. “I was wrong,” he told viewers. “It was a mistake and I’m sorry. I just admit it. I don’t try to duck it and bob it and weave it. I look the American people in the eye and say, ‘I’ve made a mistake.'”

Mr. Pawlenty’s forthrightness stands in contrast to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who hasn’t come up with a plausible story line for why he embraced a state-level health-care plan that strongly resembles ObamaCare. Indeed, Mr. Romney’s decision not to attend last night’s debate has to be viewed as a mistake, albeit a minor one. While most of the candidates avoided direct attacks on him, he left many voters in the Fox focus group wondering why the front-runner in polls had skipped the event.

But any damage that Mr. Romney suffered by his absence will be limited, given that Washington insiders are still focused elsewhere right now. House Speaker John Boehner opted to spend time at a steakhouse rather than in front of a TV set. “I’ll read about it tomorrow,” he told the newsletter Hotsheet.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Al-Qaida wants revenge for Osama bin Laden’s death

May 7, 2011 – 12:28 pm

Supporter of Pakistani religious party Jamiat-e-ulema-e-Islam

A supporter of the Pakistani religious party Jamiat-e-ulema-e-Islam holds an image of Osama bin Laden during an anti-U.S. rally on the outskirts of Quetta, May 6, 2011.

A supporter of Jamiat-e-ulema-e-Islam holds an ...

 REUTERS/Naseer Ahme

The Associated Press reported yesterday:

 Al-Qaida vowed to keep fighting the United States and avenge the death of Osama bin Laden, which it acknowledged for the first time Friday in an Internet statement apparently designed to convince followers that it will remain vigorous and intact even after its founder’s demise.

Al-Qaida’s plots are usually large-scale and involve planning over months or even years. But Western intelligence officials say they are seeing increased chatter about cheap, small-scale attacks — perhaps by individuals or small extremist groups inspired to take revenge for the killing.

“USA, you will pay!” chanted more than 100 participants in a pro-bin Laden protest outside the U.S. Embassy in London on Friday.

A Western intelligence official said no concrete threat has emerged so far that authorities considered credible. “There have been mentions of shootings, bombings and random violence, though it is not surprising, given bin Laden’s death,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Authorities in the U.S. and Europe chose not to elevate threat levels.

Interpol has asked law enforcement agencies in 188 countries to be on alert for retaliatory attacks. Communities have been warned to report anything suspicious. Embassies and some American businesses have added new security measures.

Despite the Internet chatter, reaction in the Islamic world to bin Laden’s death has been relatively muted compared with the rage that he long inspired, raising questions about his relevance in the Middle East — a region that has been changed by a wave of pro-democracy uprisings.

The al-Qaida statement, entitled “You lived as a good man, you died as a martyr,” did not name a successor to bin Laden. His deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, is now the most prominent figure in the group and a likely contender to take his place.

“The blood of the holy warrior sheik, Osama bin Laden, God bless him, is too precious to us and to all Muslims to go in vain,” the statement said. “We will remain, God willing, a curse chasing the Americans and their agents, following them outside and inside their countries.”

“Soon, God willing, their happiness will turn to sadness,” it said, “their blood will be mingled with their tears.”

Although the statement’s authenticity could not be independently confirmed, it was considered to be authentic. It was posted on militant websites Friday by the al-Fajr Center, al-Qaida’s online media distribution network, and the writing style was typical for al-Qaida. The statement was issued in the name of the organization’s General Command and dated Tuesday, the day after bin Laden’s death.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said U.S. officials are aware of the statement and the threat. “What it does obviously is acknowledge the obvious, which is that Osama bin Laden was killed,” said Carney. “We’re quite aware of the potential for (terrorist) activity and are highly vigilant on that matter for that reason.”

Despite the new threats against the United States, the overall theme of the al-Qaida statement was that of continuity for the organization. Much of the 11-paragraph statement was dedicated to underlining that al-Qaida would live on, depicting him as another in a line of “martyrs” from the group.

“Sheik Osama didn’t build an organization to die when he dies,” the statement read. “The university of faith, Quran and jihad from which bin Laden graduated will not close its doors,” it added.

“The soldiers of Islam will continue in groups and united, plotting and planning without getting bored, tired, with determination, without giving up until striking a blow,” the statement said.

It said bin Laden was killed “along an established path followed by the best of those who came before him and those who will come after him.”

The acknowledgment by al-Qaida should remove doubt among all but the most die-hard conspiracy theorists that bin Laden is in fact dead.

The need to provide proof was behind some arguments that the U.S. should release a photo of the slain terror leader. President Barack Obama has chosen to withhold the photo.

Earlier Friday, hundreds of members of radical Islamic parties protested in several Pakistan cities against the U.S. raid. Many chanted “Osama is alive” and criticized the U.S. for violating the country’s sovereignty.

In the statement, al-Qaida also called on Pakistanis to revolt against the country’s leaders to “cleanse the shame.” And it said that an audio message bin Laden recorded a week before his death would be issued soon.

The writers of the al-Qaida statement appeared unaware of the U.S. announcement that bin Laden’s body had been buried at sea. The statement warned against mishandling or mistreating bin Laden’s body and demanded that it be handed over to his family, saying “any harm (to the body) will open more doors of evil, and there will be no one to blame but yourselves.”

There had been hope that bin Laden’s death would cause the Afghan Taliban to rethink its ties with al-Qaida — a union the U.S. insists must end if the insurgents want to talk peace. The foundation of their relationship was believed to be rooted in bin Laden’s long friendship with the Taliban’s reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

But on Friday, the Afghan Taliban issued a statement saying bin Laden’s death will only boost morale among insurgents fighting the U.S. and NATO.

The Taliban praised bin Laden for his sacrifice in the Afghan war against the Soviets in the 1980s and said anyone who believes his death will undermine the current conflict is displaying a “lack of insight.”

Al-Zawahri, an Egyptian who is the most likely successor to bin Laden, is a less charismatic, unifying figure. He is believed to lack bin Laden’s ability to bring together the many nationalities and ethnic groups that make up al-Qaida. His appointment could further fracture an organization that is thought to be increasingly decentralized.

Al-Zawahri has long been considered the operational head of al-Qaida while bin Laden was assumed to be an inspirational figure who was uninvolved in operations.

But documents Navy SEALs seized in Monday’s raid on the hideout in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad suggest that bin Laden may have been more involved in operations than had been thought.

The documents reveal plans for derailing an American train on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks. Counterterrorism officials said they believe the plot was in the initial planning stages at the time.

Al-Qaida, which carried out the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, has never abandoned its hope of again attacking the U.S. homeland.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, urged that the country’s threat level be stepped up while the material seized from bin Laden’s compound is reviewed.

In Europe, security officials said there is no specific plot to justify raising the threat level.

British cleric Anjem Choudary, who helped organize Friday’s demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in London, said revenge attacks in Britain and abroad were likely. Choudary used to head the outlawed al-Muhajiroun group and is now a member of the Muslims Against Crusades group.

“I think Britain is more likely to face a 7/7 today than ever,” he said in reference to the London suicide bombings on July 7, 2005. “Osama bin Laden was a high-profile leader. If the Americans talk of justice, they shouldn’t have killed him. The next attacks will likely be high profile and could very well happen in Europe or in the U.S.”

He said he had no knowledge of any planned attacks.

___

Associated Press writers Paisley Dodds in London and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Bounty for Osama bin Laden goes to who?

May 7, 2011 – 7:39 am

bin-laden-poster.top.jpg

CNNMoney reported on May 2, 2011:

The photograph of Osama bin Laden on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list has a new caption: Deceased.

But it was unclear Monday how much, if any, of the up to $25 million in reward money offered on the terrorist leader has been granted.The man behind the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history was killed Sunday by American forces in Pakistan, in what President Barack Obama called “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.”

In the 10 years since the 9/11 attacks, the CIA, the FBI and other intelligence agencies have worked to locate bin Laden, who was found living in a compound outside of Islamabad.

The use of reward money has become an important asset in the government’s fight against global terrorism.

The Rewards for Justice program, run by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, has paid out more than $100 million to over 60 people since it was created in 1984.

The program grants money to people who provided “actionable information that put terrorists behind bars or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide,” according to a statement on its website.

“The department does not generally discuss nominations for awards,” said Harry Edwards, a spokesman for the State Department. The offer, he added, is for a maximum of $25 million. “If it were paid, it could be less.”

It is possible that no reward money will be granted. According to Obama administration officials, unidentified detainees provided a key piece of information that helped investigators locate bin Laden.

But rewards have been granted for the capture of other international terrorists, including Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

The largest reward ever paid under the program was $30 million to one person who provided information on Uday and Qusay Hussein, the sons of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. In 2003, after an intense firefight with U.S. forces, both brothers were killed.

The government is currently offering up to $25 million for information on Ayman Al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda’s second-in-command, and an heir apparent to bin Laden.

The average reward offered for the 30 other terrorists on the most wanted list is $5 million.

In 2008, the maximum reward was raised to $50 million for any one target, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not authorized that amount, according to Edwards.

For safety reasons, the State Department generally does not disclose details about the recipients of rewards. But officials may announce the amount rewarded in certain high-profile cases.

There have been four public award ceremonies in the Philippines, including one in 2007 where a total of $10 million was awarded.

In addition to the $25 million bounty offered by the government, the Airline Pilots Association and the Air Transport Association have offered a combined $2 million reward for information on bin Laden.

Steve Lott, a spokesman for the ATA, said the association has not received any formal request for supplemental reward money. But he said the ATA could grant up to $1 million in additional funds under a long-standing anti-terrorism program with the government.

The APA did not immediately respond to calls requesting information on the reward.  To top of page

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 16)

May 7, 2011 – 7:32 am
photo

Bridesmaids and page boys

Page boy Tom Petiffer (right) glances up as he waits with bridesmaids and page boys inside Westminster Abbey before the marriage service of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 29 April 2011.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wed at Westminster Abbey, after exchanging rings and vows.

The engagement of Prince William to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton came as no surprise to inhabitants of Anglesey, the island in North Wales where the second in line to the British throne has lived quietly with his bride-to-be for several months.

On Anglesey, William and Kate are just another set of young lovebirds when they pop into a local pub for a pint. The Anglesey Mail hasn’t run any front-page photos of the couple stocking up on staples for the secluded farmhouse in which they cohabit.

I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I am writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.

Whether you call it “test-driving marriage,” “living together,” “shacking up” or “living in sin,” cohabitation is on the rise. Sadly, so are the consequences of sharing a home without the commitment of marriage.

So, what do you do if you’re convinced that living together is/was a bad idea, after all?

  1. If you haven’t moved in together yet, don’t. Even if you think you’re the exception; that you can dodge the realities listed above, why risk it? If you “really love each other and plan to get married some day” why live together and lower your odds to 30 percent? Or if you buck that trend and do get married, why increase your likelihood of divorce 80 percent over couples who didn’t live together first?
  2. If you’re already living together, end it. It doesn’t have to mean the end of your relationship. It just changes it to a more appropriate dating relationship, where you’ll be able to actually court and romance each other and work toward a possible marriage. Reclaim your singleness. Wouldn’t it be nice to be “wooed” again? You either consciously decided to live together or you drifted into it. How it happened doesn’t matter. Now, consciously decide to stop living together. Take a look at alternatives so you can afford to get out. If money’s an issue: find a roommate, move back in with your parents for a time, look for a more affordable place.Copyright © 2002, Brad Lewis. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.
1Only 30 percent of couples who live together actually get married. John D. Cunningham and John K. Antill, “Cohabitation and Marriage: Retrospective and Predictive Comparisions,” Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 11 (1994), pp. 77-93.
2Ibid.
3From a nationwide survey conducted by the University of Rhode Island, quoted in “Live-in Relationship More Prone to Violence,” by Robert Haddocks, South Coast Today, http://www.s-t.com/projects/DomVio/Livein.html
4Michael D. Newcomb and P.M. Bentler, “Assessment of Personality and Demographic Assets of Cohabitation and Marital Success,” Journal of Personality Assessment, 1980, p.16.
5Cunningham and Antill.

Weekend to Remember-Family Life…Fireproof your marriage

Tim Hawkins- Old Rock Star Songs

Introduction to the Book Of Revelation- Dr Adrian Rogers

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Mike Huckabee to Osama bin Laden: “Welcome to Hell” (Part 3)

May 6, 2011 – 7:34 am

big Mike Huckabee family

Pictured above is Mike Huckabee and his family while he was governor of Arkansas

Adrian Rogers – [2/3] 5 Minutes After Death

John Brummett in his article “Huckabee speaks for bad guy below,” Arkansas News Bureau, May 5, 2011 had to say:

Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is in hell where he has official duties as a greeter,welcoming Osama bin-Laden?

So here is what happened: Super-elite American military personnel acting bravely and ably in our national defense shot Osama bin Laden in the side of the face and killed him, then dumped him in the sea.

President Obama credited himself a tad too generously in his announcement of this news to the nation. He spoke too freely of his favorite person, “I.”

Expert underlings gave him information and options on elaborate plans. He chose the most surgical, eschewing a bombing of the compound where, he was advised, there was a 50 percent to 80 percent chance of bin Laden’s presence. Then he gave the go-ahead to a daring night raid that Navy SEALS performed admirably.

That the president would have borne full blame had the raid failed — inside a sovereign and semi-hostile nation at that — is an insufficient excuse for taking too much credit. Great leadership is the art of delegation, of praise for others and of personal understatement. It is self-deference, not self-reference. Bragging should be received, not self-inflicted, and biographical, not autobiographical.

Alas, politicians swarmed like termites from the woodwork to get their names into news releases by which they could leverage some supposed association with this shooting death. Even the state Republican Party headquarters in Little Rock felt a need to make official comment.

At the risk of generalization, let us assume that politicians would not be
politicians if they understood the beauty of personal discretion.

But no one — absolutely no one — could possibly compete in the grandstanding sweepstakes with the tacky Floridian, meaning the second-favorite son of Hope, Mike Huckabee.

“Welcome to hell,” Huckabee presumed to say to this dead body, revealing himself, again, as more a tabloid headline than a responsible communicator.

Huckabee opened his altogether superfluous public statement by saying it was most unusual to celebrate death. So then he proceeded to celebrate death, apparently licensed by his own pre-emptive acknowledgment of the questionable taste that he was about to display.

The doctrine of hell is a very serious thing to Christians, and I think that bringing it into political discussions does make some people laugh. However, it is not a laughing matter. Huckabee really does believe in hell, but I have my doubts about Brummett.  

The next few days I will be posting portions of the article “Hell:The Horrible Choice,” by Patrick Zukeran of Probe Ministries. Here is the second installment:
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Why Hell Is Necessary and Just

Is hell necessary? How is this doctrine consistent with a God of love? These are questions I face when I speak on the fate of unbelievers. The necessity and justice of hell can be recognized when we understand the nature of God and the nature of man.

Hell is necessary because God’s justice requires it. Our culture focuses mostly on God’s nature of love, mercy, and grace. However, God is also just and holy, and this must be kept in balance. Justice demands retribution, the distribution of rewards and punishments in a fair way. God’s holiness demands that He separate himself entirely from sin and evil (Habakkuk 1:13). The author of Psalm 73 struggles with the dilemma of the suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked. Joseph Stalin was responsible for the death of millions in the Soviet Union, but he died peacefully in his sleep without being punished for his deeds. Since evil often goes unpunished in this lifetime, it must be dealt with at a future time to fulfill God’s justice and holiness.

A second reason hell is necessary is that God’s love requires it. Love does not force itself on an individual, but honors the option of rejecting the love of another. Those who do not wish to love God must be allowed not to do so. Forcing oneself upon another is to dishonor the dignity and right of the individual. Those who do not want to be with God in this lifetime, will not be forced to be with Him for all eternity. It is important to understand that heaven is where God dwells and being the Lord of all creation, He is the heart and focus of heaven. His glory fills the entire realm, and inhabitants of heaven will be in His immediate and intimate presence for eternity. One cannot be in heaven and not know the presence of God. Therefore, those who do not want to be with God in this lifetime will not be forced to be in His presence for all eternity. Instead, God will honor their desire and let them dwell apart from Him in hell. Love honors the right of the other person to reject that love.

Third, God’s sovereignty requires hell. If there is no hell, there would be no final victory over evil. If there were no ultimate separation of good from evil, good would not ultimately triumph and God would not be in ultimate control. God declares He will have victory over evil (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 and Revelation 20-22). God will defeat evil by quarantining evil and separating it from good eternally.

The biblical teaching on hell fulfills the justice, holiness, and sovereignty of God and remains consistent with His character of love.


Notes

1. Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 282.
2. Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not a Christian (New York: Touchstone Books, 1957), 17 – 18.
3. Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, ed. Nora Darwin Barlow, with original omissions restored (N.Y.: W. W. Norton, 1993), 87.
4. C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters (New York: Macmillan), 69.
By Everette Hatcher III | Also posted in Adrian Rogers, Mike Huckabee | Comments (0)

Picture of Osama bin Laden’s wife Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah and what actually happened during attack

May 6, 2011 – 7:12 am

     Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah, Bin Laden’s wife

Osama bin Laden unarmed when shot dead

Brian Ross of ABC News reported May 4th:

U.S. intelligence officials have been forced to reconsider many of their assumptions about Osama bin Laden and his terror network with the discovery that he was living in relative luxury not far from Pakistan’s capital in a house full of children.

By the time bin Laden moved to his sprawling compound in Abbottabad, he was down to only one of this five wives. He had divorced one and three others had moved to Syria.

“He married very young, first a cousin from Syria,” said Steve Coll. author of the book “The Bin Ladens.” “Then a couple of very well-educated women from Saudi Arabia.”

The youngest and his supposed favorite, Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah stayed with him. Pakistani says her passpoprt was found in the compound after the raid. She was 29 and had been given to bin Laden as a gift by a Yemeni family when she was only a teenager.

Explained Coll, “She was a very young woman by the account of the bodyguard who brought her to meet bin Laden from the tribal family that had presented her to bin Laden, presented her to bin Laden for marriage.”

Amal and bin Laden and their three young children, a daughter and two sons, lived on the second and third floor of the compound’s main house. Bin Laden apparently felt safe enough in the compound, which was surrounded by high barbed-wire topped walls, to keep his family with him.

“I think it was always a mistake to believe he was in a cave,” said Phil Mudd, a former high-ranking CIA analyst and a former FBI counterterrorism official, “and believe me, nobody on the inside ever thought that.”

On Sunday, when the U.S. Navy SEALs moved in, Amal Ahmed was in the bedroom with bin Laden, where she reacted with apparent fury.

“In the room with bin Laden was bin Laden’s wife,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney. “She rushed one of the U.S. assaulters and was shot in the leg, but not killed. A woman on the first floor was killed in the crossfire.”

Carney confirmed that Amal was unarmed.

People who have studied bin Laden say his wives are devoted to him.

Said Mudd, “He is, in the al Qaeda context, an honorable man and he’s viewed in their context not as a terrorist but as a statesman. I would be surprised if this guy would sacrifice a wife for this operation, but I’m sure she was willing to get in front of a bullet for him.”

Amal’s leg injury is not considered serious but another member of his family, his son Khalid, born of a different wife, was killed in the raid.

Bin Laden is survived by at least 18 other children. None of the sons, however, are considered to be in line to succeed their father.

“Unlike a lot of Arab governments that are dynastic,” said former White House counterterrorism advisor Richard Clarke, now an ABC News consultant, “al Qaeda has not been and his sons have never played a real operational role of any significance. They did not appear to be groomed for leadership roles in al Qaeda.”

Who Is Usama Bin Laden’s Youngest Wife and What Might She Know?

Jonathan Hunt reports on Amal Ahmed Abdul Fatah, the youngest wife of Usama bin Laden and the woman in the room when he was shot and killed. What do we authorities know about the woman who may not have left bin Laden’s compound for 5 years?

The Concept of God in Islam and Christianity ( 1 of 2 )

Part 2 below

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Kate and William coming to California in July

May 5, 2011 – 12:43 pm

 

Royal Wedding Coverage 2011: Kate Middleton Arrives at Westminster Abbey

prince-william-kate-middleton-getty-looking.jpgThe

 Carina Adly MacKenzie of Zap2it noted:

St. James Palace has confirmed that Kate Middleton and Prince William – or, more officially, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – will be visiting California from July 8-10 this summer. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to greet the Royals as they touch down.

If it’s anything like when the President visits… traffic in L.A. is going to be brutal.

The visit is an extension of their already-planned trip to Canada. The newlyweds will take part in Canada Day celebrations on July 1 and are even expected to visit the Arctic. A nice sojourn in Hollywood will surely be welcome after that.

It will be William’s first visit to the U.S. in an official capacity, and Princess Catherine’s first visit ever. We’re mostly psyched to see what she’s wearing and whether they hit Katsuya with the Beckhams.

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Maybe they will get a chance to meet President Obama during their trip to the USA. I have really enjoyed doing the series “Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven?” So far I have released 13 parts and there will be plenty more to come in the future. I have got a stronger response on this series than any other I have ever done. It might have something to do with the comedy skits of Tim Hawkins who I have put in most of the posts in this series. Take a look at one below.

Tim Hawkins Things you don’t say to your wife

Royal Wedding Pictures

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)

Brothers Abdullah and Mubarak al-Harad of Al-Qaeda killed by US drone in Yemen today

May 5, 2011 – 6:53 am
US drone kills two in attack on Saudi Qaeda ...

Predator surveillance drone equipped

A Predator surveillance drone equipped with Hellfire missiles. A US drone has killed two local Al-Qaeda members after launching an attack on a Saudi Al-Qaeda leader in southern Yemen, a security source and witnesses told AFP

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Sounds like President Obama is really get after Al-Qaeda now.

Yahoo News reported this morning:

 A US drone attacked a Saudi Al-Qaeda leader in southern Yemen on Thursday, but missed and killed two local Al-Qaeda members, a security source and witnesses told AFP.

The drone had targeted the Saudi as he drove to the home of local Al-Qaeda men, the security source said, asking not to be identified.

When the two local Qaeda men rushed out in their own car, they were hit and killed by the drone.

The security source did not specify that the unmanned aircraft was American and there was no official word from the Yemeni authorities on who carried out the strike.

But the witnesses insisted it was a US drone that fired the missile.

The defence ministry confirmed the killing of two brothers, but did not elaborate on the circumstances of their deaths. Security sources identified the two brothers as Abdullah and Mubarak al-Harad.

Witnesses said they saw a missile fired by an aircraft hit the two brothers in the province of Shabwa, where Al-Qaeda is well entrenched. The men died instantly.

A third person was wounded in the attack in the town of Nissab, the witnesses added.

The Washington Post reported in November that President Barack Obama’s administration had deployed unmanned Predator drones in Yemen to hunt for Al-Qaeda operatives.

Yemen has come under intense pressure to crack down on jihadists’ local franchise, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, since a December 2009 attempt to blow up a US airliner that was claimed by AQAP.

Washington has expressed fears that Al-Qaeda could take advantage of a prolonged political crisis in Yemen, where President Ali Abdullah Saleh has faced mass protests since late January calling for him to step down.

Saleh, who is clinging to power, has been a close US ally in Washington’s fight against Al-Qaeda. Political violence has claimed the lives of 150 people since the start of this year.

An AQAP leader on Wednesday vowed revenge for the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a US special forces raid in Pakistan announced by the White House late on Sunday.

“We will take revenge for the death of our Sheikh Osama bin Laden and we will prove this to the enemies of God,” he told AFP, contacted by telephone from Abyan.

“They will see what they haven’t expected… We are preparing a plan to continue jihad in the coming period.”

President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden

President Obama praises those Americans who carried out the operation to kill Osama bin Laden, tells the families of the victims of September 11, 2001 that they have never been forgotten, and calls on Americans to remember the unity of that tragic day.

By Everette Hatcher III | Comments (0)