The head of the former Soviet nation's navy hints at a plan for a permanent Mediterranean base. 
JERUSALEM -- Days after Russia sent the diplomatic world reeling with its audacious flag-planting beneath the ice of the North Pole, the Kremlin is moving to reassert itself in warmer climes as well, plotting the return of the Russian fleet to a Syrian port on the Mediterranean Sea.
The head of the Russian navy announced that he wanted next to plant the white-blue-and-red Russian banner in the Middle East. The new Russian strategy envisions returning warships to a Soviet-era naval base at the port of Tartus.
"The Mediterranean Sea is very important strategically for the Black Sea fleet," Admiral Vladimir Masorin said as he toured a Russian base in the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol. "I propose that, with the involvement of the Northern and Baltic fleets, the Russian navy should restore its permanent presence there."
It would mark the first time Russia has established a military presence outside the borders of the former Soviet Union since the USSR fell apart in 1991.
"It's a symbol, the planting of a flag. Just like the one Russia put under the North Pole," said Alexei ...   more »

Chuck Baldwin
That today's Christians appear to be among the most gullible people on the planet seems to be a gigantic understatement. For example, it was just a couple or three decades ago when the largest and most influential churches in America were pastored by strong Bible men: men who preached hard against sin; men who didn't try to tickle ears and didn't mind stepping on toes; men who were not afraid to call civil and business leaders to account; men who called a spade a spade. Those days are gone.
Today, the largest and most influential churches are pastored by fluff-daisies such as Joel Osteen, Bill Hybels, and Rick Warren: men who preach entertainment evangelism, political correctness, and feel-goodism. Today's largest churches share absolutely nothing in common with America's historic revival-style churches. How can Christians be so gullible to fall for these snake oil salesmen?
Consider, too, how so many Christians seem to consider President George W. Bush's "war on terror" to be bona fide and legitimate. Yet, this escalating and never-ending "war on terror" is doing more to ruin America than anything Osama bin Laden could ever dream about.
The war in Iraq is not only depleting our ...   more »

By Jerome R. Corsi
The U.S. has built nine navigation systems for Mexico and Canada under the controversial Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America in an apparent first step toward establishing the satellite infrastructure needed to create a North American air traffic control system.
The defining vision for North American air traffic control was articulated by then-Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta in a Sept. 27, 2004, statement announcing, "We must make flying throughout North America as seamless as possible if we are to truly reap the rewards of the expanding global economy."
Wide Area Augmentation System 
The "2006 Report to Leaders" posted on the SPP website proclaimed, "In order to increase navigational accuracy across the region, five Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) stations were installed in Canada and Mexico in 2005."
WAAS is a space-based augmentation system that provides precision navigation information to aircraft equipped with Global Positioning Satellite/WAAS receivers through all phases of flight.
Working through the North American Aviation Trilateral, the U.S. has built for Mexico WAAS stations at five locations: Mexico City, San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Merida and Tapachula.
Additionally, the U.S., working through NATT, has built four Canadian WAAS stations, at Iqaluit, ...   more »

By Bill Wilson, KIN Senior Analyst
WASH—Aug 6—KIN-- The federal government and the mainstream news media may be missing a key factor in reporting that several events in recent months are either not related to terrorist activities in the U.S. or are isolated incidents of radical Islamic groups. The plot to blow up JFK Airport in New York was publicly positioned as an isolated event by federal and local law enforcement agencies, as was the plan by Islamic extremists to attack Ft. Dix in New Jersey. And even the most recent gunning down of an Oakland newspaper editor in broad daylight is being smoothed over as an isolated Islamic extremist incident.
And these are just the Islamic terrorist events that the public finds out about. There are many others that occur on a regular basis that are foiled by excellent law enforcement and homeland security efforts that protect Americans every day. Americans should be aware that these increasing terrorist events on U.S. soil are likely a part of an overall strategy to bring the war of Islamic aggression to Main Street—to your house and mine. Subversive groups operate in independent cells where members outside their cell rarely know one another ...   more »

A judge in New York has ruled evidence of "hatred" is unnecessary for a prosecutor to pursue a "hate crimes" case against three men arrested for the death of a homosexual man.
The written ruling came from Judge Jill Konviser of the State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, and concluded prosecutors only need to show that the man, who was beaten and then hit by a vehicle in a robbery attempt, was picked because of his sexual orientation, according to a report in the New York Times.
The judge said that is enough for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties for the defendants, if convicted, under the state's Hate Crimes Act of 2000.
That type of law, which as WND has reported now is being proposed at the federal level, allows for higher penalties – sometimes dramatically higher – for the same crime based on the characteristics of a victim, in this case his homosexuality.  
The newspaper report said the case involves the death of Michael Sandy, 29, who allegedly was lured to a meeting place where he was abducted. He then was taken to another location, beaten, and when he tried to flee was chased into traffic. He died of ...   more »

By Ian McPhedran
Newcastle cars targetted for 43 seconds
Lasers the Air Force's most powerful
Danger of permanent eyesight damage
IT was not quite a Star Wars death ray, but air force Top Guns accidentally focused high-powered lasers on to a civilian car in May this year - potentially endangering the eyesight of peaceful earthlings.
RAAF F/A-18 fighters from the Williamtown base north of Newcastle were conducting exercises near the NSW mid-north coast town of Forster when the incident happened.
The pilots thought their laser targeting system was turned off for the training flight.
Unfortunately it wasn't and the powerful light beams, known as class four lasers, were shone twice on to a road intersection for a total of 43 seconds.
The incidents happened at 11.25am and 4.13pm at the corner of Lakes Way and Seal Rocks Rd.
One car was targeted and eight others passed close to the beam.
The lasers used by Hornet fighters as target designators are the most powerful laser beams used by the air force.
The Defence department confessed to the mistake by press release yesterday without any prompting from the public.
It said RAF and US Air Force specialists had advised they were not ...   more »

WASHINGTON, DC, AUGUST 7, 2007 - In his recent announcement of the replacement of Gen. Peter Pace with Adm. Mike Mullen as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said it was Mullen’s response to a senior military assistant when asked what he was most concerned about that cinched Mullen’s appointment. Gates said “the chief of Naval Operations said the Army.”
And that, Gates told lawmakers, shows Mullen “has a broad view of what the needs and requirements of the services are and of the nation.”
The outgoing military chief, Gen. Pace, had earlier warned Congress that America's ability to deal with another crisis in the world is steadily being eroded. Pace said a classified report determined that there is a “significant” risk that the US will not be able to adequately respond to military conflicts with North Korea, China, Iran … or even Cuba.
Former Secretary of State and JCS Chairman Colin Powell said the active Army is just “about broken.”
Andrew Krepinevich, president of the Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said the signs of strain on America's armed forces are equivalent to dead “canaries in the mineshaft” warning of impending death.
The global ...   more »