IRAN CONTINUES NUCLEAR PROGRAM

1-Japan set to kick-start pan-Asian free trade area. 2-Eight killed in Cambodia floods. 3-Italy ready to lead Lebanon force if Europe commits.4-Annan abuses power – sides again against Israel. 5-Calls Intensify for Government´s Resignation. 5-Oil nears $72 on Iran nuke deadline. 6-Iran's Supreme Leader Vows to Continue Nuclear Program.

DANIEL 7:23
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast(THE EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING
BLOCKS)

Japan set to kick-start pan-Asian free trade area
21.08.2006 - 09:57 CET | By Lisbeth Kirk

Japanese minister of economy Toshihiro Nikai is set to unveil plans for a pan-Asian free trade area of 3.1 billion people, half the world's population, Malaysian news agency Bernama has reported ahead of the 38th ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting starting today in Kuala Lumpur.The free trade area would include ASEAN-countries Australia, China, South Korea, India, Japan and New Zealand and would be promoted by a Japanese fund of 100 million US dollars.The Japanese minister will travel to Malaysia on Tuesday (22 August) seeking acceptance for his plan from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers.

The 39-year-old ASEAN bloc agreed already in October 2003 to set up a single market by 2020, modelled on the EU. But ministers meeting this week hope to speed up the plans and get it ready by 2015.We need to muster political will to create the AEC [Asean Economic Community] by 2015, instead of 2020,ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong said, according to AP.China and ASEAN have already agreed to create no-tariff zone by 2010 in their combined market of 2 billion people.

At this week's meeting a deal with the US to facilitate trade and investment is expected to get signed. ASEAN is the America's fourth largest trading partner.

ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia have joined later.The grouping was originally set up to insure that south east Asian countries would provide a buffer against Communist China.

LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Eight killed in Cambodia floods Mon Aug 21, 6:57 AM ET

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - At least eight people have been killed by heavy floods in Cambodia as the Mekong River burst its banks due to heavy seasonal rains.Five people were killed in floods in the southwestern provinces of Kampot and Kampong Speu, said Nhim Vanda, head of the national disaster management committee.Some of them were swept away as they tried to find food for their animals and themselves, he said Monday.One of them was very old and he could not run away from the floodwater. Another man was killed while fishing in a stream,Nhim Vanda told AFP.

Three other people drowned in the Mekong's raging waters in northeastern Kratie province, he said.The floods have damaged roads and destroyed thousands of hectares (acres) of rice paddies and other crops, but the government has not released an official casualty figure.Prime Minister Hun Sen last Wednesday ordered officials and armed forces to be ready to rescue thousands of villagers who could be trapped by the floods.Impoverished Cambodia is a mainly agricultural country where the vast majority of people live on farming to make a living. Flooding due to seasonal rains is an annual hazard.

EUROPEAN UNION ARMY

DANIEL 7:23-25
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING
BLOCKS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them;(#11 SPAIN) and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.( BE HEAD OF 3 NATIONS)
25 And he (EU PRESIDENT) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.(3 1/2 YRS)

DANIEL 8:23-25
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king (EU DICTATOR) of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences,(FROM THE OCCULT) shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power:(SATANS POWER) and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes;(JESUS) but he shall be broken without hand.

DANIEL 11:36-39
36 And the king (EU DICTATOR) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,(THIS EU DICTATOR IS JEWISH) nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.(CLAIM TO BE GOD)
38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces:(WAR) and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god,(DESTROY TERROR GROUPS) whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,(HIS ARMY LEADERS) and shall divide the land for gain.

REVELATION 19:19
19 And I saw the beast,(EU LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse,(JESUS) and against his army.(THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)

Italy ready to lead Lebanon force if Europe commits By Stephen Brown
Mon Aug 21, 7:29 AM ET

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is ready to lead a U.N. force in southern Lebanon if its European partners commit themselves to the operation, which the Italian opposition warned on Monday could prove to be a kamikaze mission. Prime Minister Romano Prodi,
asked by Israel's Ehud Olmert on Sunday to lead the new multinational force of up to 15,000 troops, sought French, German and Turkish assurances this weekend that Italy would not head into Lebanon alone.

I understand we all have our problems, but we must go forward in unity,he was quoted as saying by Corriere della Sera newspaper in telephone calls to muster support.But the centre-right opposition, mindful of public sensitivity to military casualties which forced Prodi's predecessor Silvio Berlusconi to scale back Italy's presence in Iraq, said Rome's enthusiasm was unmatched by its neighbors.

Chirac will send a few generals, Germany a launch or two, while we have to send troops dressed as kamikazes in the Italian flag, said Francesco Storace of the rightist National Alliance.The Italian government has approved sending up to 3,000 troops, making it the biggest contributor so far to the peacekeeping force that will try to uphold the current truce.In contrast, France has scaled down its commitment to 200 troops for now, due to worries about the chain of command.Turkey may be a major contributor but like Italy, Spain and others it awaits clear rules of engagement by the United Nations.

GOOD RELATIONS

Italy's so far unmatched commitment stems from its proximity to the Middle East and Prodi's wish to reverse the isolation in Europe that Rome suffered as a result of the pro-U.S. stance of Berlusconi.Italy can resume the role it used to have, like in the Suez crisis, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Bobo Craxi told La Repubblica daily, referring to Italian mediation in the 1950s.Italy hosted Lebanon crisis talks in July but the meeting was criticized for not agreeing to call for an immediate ceasefire.Prodi's office said calls with Olmert and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Sunday elicited praise for Italy with its excellent relations with all
countries in the area, being ready for a role of primary importance in the UNIFIL mission.Prodi has not yet spoken of an Italian command, but Defense Minister Arturo Parisi has said this could happen eventually.One general with peacekeeping experience said Italy's good relations in the Middle East made it diplomatically suitable.

I believe an Italian command would meet with approval among the Arabs and Israelis,Carlo Cabigiosu, a retired general who led a multinational force in Kosovo, told La Repubblica.And we have a good card to play with Hizbollah: our good relations with Iran, he said, referring to Iran's patronage of the Lebanese-based guerrillas whose month-long war with Israel devastated southern Lebanon.Prodi also runs the risk of opposition to the Lebanon force emerging inside his own coalition, which includes communists who recently tried to block Prodi from keeping Italian soldiers on a NATO-led peace and reconstruction mission in Afghanistan.

Annan abuses power – sides again against Israel
Refused to condemn Hizb'allah's violation of the ceasefire

For the second time in a month, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan revealed his pro-Arab bias at the weekend when, instead of condemning the Hizb’allah for breaking the terms of the ceasefire between it and Israel, he condemned Israel for acting in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.Annan was backed up by his special Middle East envoy and also long-time critic of Israel, Terje Roed-Larsen.

The UN chief wagged his finger at Israel after an IDF commando raid carried out an operation Saturday aimed at preventing Hizb’allah armaments from being replenished via Syria.According to the ceasefire resolution passed by the UN Security Council last week, the Lebanese government is obliged to prevent the re-supplying of Hizb’allah with weaponry, and Israel has the right to exercise self-defense to prevent such a rearmament taking place.

In a 33-day-long war ignited by an unprovoked Hizb’allah attack inside sovereign Israeli territory last month, the Iranian- and Syrian supplied Muslim terrorist organization repeatedly committed war crimes under international law when it rained more than 3000 rockets down on Israeli population centers, with the express intent of killing as many Jewish civilians as possible.Throughout the war Syria was seen to be replenishing the Hizb’allah’s rocket stocks.An integral part of the ceasefire subsequently imposed on the two main parties to the conflict – Israel and Lebanon – and agreed to by the parties, banned the Hizb’allah from continuing its aggression against Israel, and granted Israel the right to take self-defensive action to ensure that no further Hizb’allah aggression was facilitated against Israel.

When, on Saturday, the Israeli government learned that Hizb’allah was indeed being re-supplied through Syria, it sent IDF forces to carry out a raid in order to thwart this attempt.As such, Israel’s action was in full compliance with the Security Council resolution, and the Hizb’allah, together with its support base in the Lebanese government, was in violation of that resolution.Instead of scoring the guilty parties, however, Annan chose to condemn the IDF operation, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire.Late last month, after a building collapsed following an Israeli Air Force raid, killing a still undetermined number of Lebanese in the village of Kana, Annan accused Israel of deliberately killing civilians.The one issue that most unites the nations of Annan’s UN is the Arab-Israeli conflict, regarding which that organization has passed more resolutions – all of which have condemned Israel – than any other conflict on earth.

On Sunday night, Annan’s special envoy, Roed-Larsen, announced his intention to visit Israel and be as forceful as he could be in dealing with the government in Jerusalem.In this way the United Nations once again demonstrated the international community’s intention to override Israeli sovereignty and support acts of Arab aggression against the Jewish state.The ancient Hebrew Scriptures warn repeatedly of a future when all the nations of the world will be gathered together against the restored nation of Israel.Many Christians believe that the world’s unmitigated hostility towards and unjust treatment of the Jewish state evidenced in the last four decades is evidence that we are living in those foretold days.

Calls Intensify for Government´s Resignation
By Hillel Fendel(INN)

Lebanese war reserve soldier veterans, newspaper columnists on right and left, MKs, new Russian immigrants and more - are calling for the government to resign in the wake of the recent Lebanese War. A group of reserve soldiers who fought in Lebanon will set off on a protest march today (Monday), calling upon Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz to resign.

The soldiers say that Olmert and Peretz failed in managing the just-ended war in Lebanon.The march will set out from the Kastel - an Independence War battle site near Mevaseret Zion - and will head towards the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, a 7-kilometer (4.5-mile) trek. The soldiers explain that the confused and contradictory orders handed down to them during the course of the war indicate an unclear strategy and set of objectives. They also claim that severe problems in logistics, manifest in outdated equipment and lack of food, helped lose some battles.

Two Thursdays ago, some 50 people gathered in Rabin Square to demand personal responsibility from the government ministers, and their consequent resignation. This past Thursday, the number grew to 150 - and this coming Thursday, the organizers expect even more. Among them will be at least one busload of new immigrants from Russia, Ariella, one of the chief organizers, told Arutz-7.This is apparently the first time they are really taking to the streets for a political cause.Ariella explained that the people represented at the Thursday rallies are from all parts of the political spectrum.Haaretz reported that some 160 infantry reserve soldiers accuse their commanders of preventing them from participating in the demonstration.

The reservists say their release from the army was delayed just long enough to keep them from taking part.Just a few days ago, MK Nissan Slomiansky (National Religious Party) said, in response to the government decision to push off a Knesset vote on a budget cut, In continuation of the general public atmosphere that the time has come to replace this government, it turns out that the government doesn't even have full
support within the coalition.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) called for Olmert to suspend himself.

Columnist Uzi Benziman of Haaretz wrote, towards the end of the war: Whichever way you look at it, if the prime minister opposed the broadening of the war, why did he succumb to the pressure of the military establishment? And, if he did approve it, how dare his aides attempt to clear him, in retrospect, of the responsibility for its painful results...? Furthermore, how does the decision to rush toward the Litani River fit with the frenzied disposition at the IDF, as the flames are dying, to withdraw 'quickly and carefully' most of the troops from Lebanese soil? And, if Olmert indeed did not intend to broaden the war and was more inclined toward a ceasefire, why did he agree to the dismissal of the head of the Northern Command a day earlier? After all, if the war is about to end, why is it necessary to humiliate the commander of the war front during the last day of the fighting? When Olmert announces that he, above all others, is responsible for the way the war was carried out, but avoids reaching the necessary personal conclusions, he is behaving according to norms that have dominated public life in recent years: the declaration is enough. In other words, there is no need to pay the price that problematic behavior demands.

The Jerusalem Post's Caroline Glick has written that there is no need for an official commission of inquiry to investigate the war - simply because it is obvious that the Olmert government has failed on every level. The Olmert government must go.If the Knesset does not topple the government, the people of Israel must take to the streets in mass demonstrations to demand this.

It was the government's responsibility,Glick writes, to question the IDF's operational model of aerial warfare and to cut its losses when after two or three days it was clear that the model was wrong. At that point the government should have called up the reserves and launched a combined ground and air offensive. [Instead,] it abandoned its war goals, declared victory and sued for a cease-fire. When the public objected, after waiting two precious weeks, the government called up the reserves but then waited another unforgivable 10 days before committing them to battle.Glick says that Foreign Minister Livny did her best to demoralize the IDF and
the public by publicly proclaiming that there is no military solution to what is clearly a military conflict,and chose not to publicly argue Israel's case.

Ari Shavit of Haaretz wrote:You cannot lead an entire nation to war promising victory, produce humiliating defeat and remain in power. You cannot bury 120 [159] Israelis in cemeteries, keep a million Israelis in shelters for a month, wear down deterrent power, bring the next war very close, and then say, Oops, I made a mistake, that was not the intention, pass me a cigar, please.There is no mistake Ehud Olmert did not make this past month.

He went to war hastily, without properly gauging the outcome. He blindly followed the military without asking the necessary questions. He mistakenly gambled on air operations, was strangely late with the ground operation, and failed to implement the army's original plan, much more daring and sophisticated than that which was implemented. And after arrogantly and hastily bursting into war, Olmert managed it hesitantly, unfocused and limp. He neglected the home front and abandoned the residents of the north. He also failed shamefully on the diplomatic front.

Oil nears $72 on Iran nuke deadline
No. 4 oil exporter vows to continue uranium program ahead of Tuesday's response.
August 21 2006: 11:35 AM EDT

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Oil rose to almost $72 a barrel on Monday as Iran vowed to pursue its nuclear program, inviting possible sanctions against the world's fourth-largest oil exporter.

Iran's supreme leader on Monday said the Islamic Republic would press on with its nuclear work. Iran had said it would respond formally by Tuesday to Western incentives to halt nuclear enrichment.The market is saying, my God, there are going to be sanctions and it may involve oil,said Deborah White, oil analyst at Societe Generale.U.S. crude was up 71 cents at $71.85 a barrel by 10:54 a.m. ET. London Brent crude rose $1.10 to $73.40.The United Nations Security Council has demanded that Iran halt its nuclear work by a second deadline of Aug. 31, raising the prospect of punitive action by the U.N.

The Iranian situation is obviously going to cause some concern over the next few days,said Kevin Norrish, oil analyst at Barclays Capital.Overall, the downside appears to be over for the time being.The United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany have offered incentives for Iran to suspend enrichment. Tehran, which insists its nuclear aims are purely civilian, shows no sign of accepting the package.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, was quoted on state television on Monday as saying Iran would pursue its nuclear plans.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has made its decision and, in the issue of nuclear energy, will continue its path powerfully ...and it will receive the sweet fruits of its efforts,he said.U.S. crude has risen about 18 percent this year on concern the nuclear row could cut Iran's exports of more than 2 million barrels per day and as violence in Nigeria reduced supplies.The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran denies it seeks to make bombs, saying it only wants to make electricity.Oil traders are also watching the week-old truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which the U.N. said on Sunday could easily collapse again if the U.N. resolution that engendered it was violated further.

The conflict had boosted New York crude to a record $78.40 on July 14 on worries it could spread to oil producers in the Middle East, source of almost a third of world supply.But prices fell back in response to the cease fire and on Friday dipped below $70 for the first time since June.Easing supply pressure, BP (up $0.37 to $70.34, Charts) said on Friday that it had boosted output by 70,000 bpd at its Prudhoe Bay oilfield in Alaska in the last several days to about 220,000 bpd, or about half of normal operating levels.The supply loss from the biggest U.S. oilfield raised fears of an unexpectedly big drop in crude inventories. But data last week showed a decline that was in line with forecasts.

Iran's Supreme Leader Vows to Continue Nuclear Program
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Aug 21,06

Iran's supreme leader says his country will continue to pursue nuclear technology, despite a U.N. demand it stop sensitive nuclear work.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Iran has made up its mind to press on with nuclear work. He says the United States is putting pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear research even though it knows Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons.The United Nations Security Council has given Iran until the end of this month to suspend uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.

President Bush says he hopes the Security Council will quickly take action if Iran fails to meet the deadline.Iran says it will respond Tuesday to the West's incentive offer to stop its uranium enrichment. But officials say it has no plans to give up nuclear work.

The United States and much of Europe accuse Iran of planning to build a nuclear bomb - a charge Tehran denies.Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.