Rumors of War

According to many sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing the most important decision of his life--whether to launch a pre-emptive attack against Iran. In the last two weeks rumors of impending war have ratcheted up a notch. All the expected questions are being asked:

• Does Israel have the ability to take out Iran's nuclear sites?
• Can Israel withstand a counterattack?
• Will the United States help?
• Have they exhausted all other possibilities?

Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak said, "Iran is moving closer to a point where it will be too late to destroy their nuclear facilities with a precision air strike." Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton claims, "Israel is coming very close to a decision." Top U.S. officials are also warning that the "calculus" in Tehran has changed and the Iranian regime is now more willing to launch or support terrorist attacks on American soil. Israeli facilities in North America and around the globe have been on high alert since October.

And finally, there is Leon Panetta. For those unfamiliar with Panetta, he is the former CIA Director and current Secretary of Defense. Last week he said, "Israel will strike in April, May, or June."

Huh?!?

Why would he announce something like that? Israeli's have a saying: "Those who know don't talk, and those who talk don't know." Wouldn't you think the element of surprise might be important in this situation? And shouldn't Leon Panetta, of all people, know that? The administration (White House) has been pressuring Israel not to consider striking. The fact that Panetta is talking openly suggest two possibilities. Either:

• They're worried and are preparing the nation/world for an impending attack.

                                                          or

• They're trying to circumvent the situation by making it impossible to accomplish.

There's a third, more frightening possibility Panetta may not have considered: What if Iran decides to strike first?

Maybe it's time to tamp down the rhetoric. Everyone agrees a nuclear Iran is a perilous proposition. To continue to blab about it seem reckless and foolish. The danger of escalation could get out of control. No wonder Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

Words to the Wise: Trying to understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit is like trying to watch a 3-D movie without wearing the glasses. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

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• Iran ramps up military exercises in response to Israel
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