Photo : AFP

The Ziggurat temple : Three-tiered edifice in the ancient city of Ur.

The Ziggurat of Ur has been handed back by the U.S. military to Iraqi control. The three-tiered Ziggurat, dating back to 2113 BC, in the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq is the Biblical birthplace of Abraham. Ur lies on a former course of the Euphrates, one of the two great rivers of Iraq.

http://www.hindu.com/yw/2010/02/16/stories/2010021650680300.htm

 

A US army helicopter flies over the stepped Ziggurat temple, a three-tiered edifice dating back to 2113 BC, in the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq. The Ziggurat of Ur which tradition dictates is the Biblical birthplace of Abraham was handed back by the US military to Iraqi control in Spring 2009. The ancient Sumerian city lies on a former course of the Euphrates, one of the two great rivers of Iraq. -- PHOTO: AFP

Subtitle: White Magic Practitioner David Icke reveals that, when a really prominent public leader is assassinated by the Brotherhood, the Illuminati creates a monument that serves as a "Magical Symbol" signature to communicate to fellow Satanists that this killing ritual was carried out by their agents.  This 'signature' is an eternal flame!  President Kennedy, Princess Diana, Martin Luther King, and Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin are the best contemporary examples.

NEWS BRIEF: "World Trade Center Memorial Service", held at Yankee Stadium, September 23, 2001.

The Illuminati always leaves some occult signature when they carry out an event, especially one designed to move the world into the Kingdom of Antichrist, i.e., New World Order, also known as Aquarius.

One of the speakers of this rally told his audience that a memorial to the World Trade Center disaster was planned and that it would contain an "eternal flame".  My ears shot right up, for the torch -- a lighted torch -- is one of the most important signatures of the global Illuminati.  Further, whenever anyone is killed by the Illuminati, either by ritual or through an elaborate plan, their grave is usually adorned with an eternal flame!

Before we get deeply into this subject, let us examine the importance the flame has to the global Illuminati, whose #1 goal is to successfully stage the New Age Christ, who is the Biblical Antichrist.  Let us first hear from White Magic practitioner, David Icke. 

"The flame or lighted torch is the most obvious Brotherhood signature ..." [Chapter, "Goddess and the King", by David Icke, in his book, The Biggest Secret, Bridge of Love Publications, 1999, p. 409]

Why would a flaming lighted torch be an important and obvious Brotherhood of the Illuminati signature?  Christian author, Dr. Cathy Burns, in her monumentally important book, Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated, tell us why, but she then ties the meaning of the lighted torch directly to Antichrist! Listen:

"Lucifer, having regained his star and his diadem, will assemble his legions for new works of creation.  Attracted by his flaming torch, celestial spirits will descend ... and he will send these messengers from unknown spheres to earth.  Then, the torch of Lucifer will signal 'From Heaven to Earth!' -- and the New Age Christ will answer, 'From Earth to Heaven!' " [Burns, p. 260]

This scenario will occur, in Satanic doctrine, after Lucifer defeats Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.  Once Lucifer has defeated Jesus Christ, then he and his legions are to storm the gates of Heaven where they will defeat the God of Abraham and physically conquer His throne.  This is standard Satanic belief; they believe the lie that Lucifer and the God of Abraham are equal, but opposite, gods.  Even though the God of Abraham got temporary victory over Satan in the Garden of Eden, and even though Satan could not prevent Jesus Christ from appearing as the Jewish Messiah, yet Satanists the world over believe that Lucifer will prevail over Jesus at Armageddon.

Fresh from his victory over the God of Abraham, and sitting on his throne in Heaven, Lucifer will then use his lighted torch to send a signal to his personally chosen man on Earth, the New Age Christ, "From  Heaven to Earth".  And, The Christ will respond back in loyalty and pride, "From Earth to Heaven".

Thus, the lighted, or flaming torch, is not only a symbol of the global Illuminati, and it is not only a symbol of Antichrist, but it is a symbol of the Satanist's belief that Lucifer will achieve the final victory over Jesus Christ and then the God of Abraham, the God of the Holy Bible.

Thus, all the meaning of the entire plan to so reorganize the nations and peoples of the world so the leaders can successfully turn the control of the governments, economies, and religions of the world over to Antichrist, is symbolized neatly in one major symbol -- the lighted or flaming torch!

It is no wonder that the lighted torch is so critically important to the Illuminati.

BOLD BROTHERHOOD SIGNATURE

Now, let us return to occult author, David Icke, for more revelation as to how this lighted torch is specifically used in certain cases, where the Illuminati wants to signal to other occults the world over that they were behind an event, specifically one in which a person or persons have died.

"The flame or lighted torch is the most famous Brotherhood signature, and on Kennedy's grave the flame is within a circle, an ancient symbol of the Sun ... a lighted torch ... is the most obvious Brotherhood signature of them all , and after President Kennedy's ritual killing, the Freemasons erected an obelisk in Dealey Plaza with a lighted torch at the top.  Another flame was placed on his grave." [Icke., Page 409, 447; Emphasis added]

New Age author Icke thus delivers a blockbuster message from the bowls of the abyss, giving us all the signs by which we know we are looking at an assassination of a public figure that was carried out expressly by the Brotherhood, sometimes using occult ritual.  Icke then lists several prominent figures who were assassinated by the Illuminati, with the event then signaled to the rest of the occult world, while hiding the truth from the "ignorant masses".

President John F. Kennedy  -- JFK was assassinated by the Illuminati for several obvious reasons and one not-so-obvious.  Let us begin with the obvious reason:  President Kennedy was planning to reverse the plan of the Illuminati to carry out the war in Vietnam.  I was a sophomore in high school at the time, and had been very active in politics for about three years; in the Spring of 1963, I heard JFK say that he was going to pull America out of Vietnam, and in the Fall, I heard Kennedy say that he would "have a thousand boys home by Christmas".  He was killed weeks later, on November 22 [the 11th month, 22nd day], at Dallas, Texas, which lies nearly exactly on the 33 rd parallel of the 33rd degree of latitude.  [Ibid.]

Further, JFK was killed in Masonic Dealey Plaza, the site of an original Masonic Lodge in the early days of Texas.  As David Icke notes, "Dealey Plaza is a mass of esoteric symbolism and is officially named after a 33rd Degree Freemason called George Bannerman Dealey ... Dealey Plaza is shaped like a pyramid with the capstone missing. The top is truncated by a railway bridge." [Icke, Ibid., p. 407]  Icke further says that Dealey Plaza was a outdoor Sun Temple [Ibid., p. 408], and his killing corresponded to the "ancient fertility oblation of the 'Killing of the King'." [Ibid.]

The not-so-obvious reason JFK was murdered would be known only to a dedicated Satanist and Freemason.  As Icke points out:  "Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963.  This date was the anniversary of the order, or papal bull, by Pope Clement V for the Knights Templar to be subjected to torture by the Dominican Inquisition.  It [the Papal Bull] was issued on November 22, 1307."  Thus, Icke believes that Freemasonry/Knights Templar finally exacted its long-awaited revenge by killing the only Roman Catholic President this country has ever had, on the anniversary date of the attack on Knights Templar, and in a specific satanic ritual called, "The Killing of the King".

To tell the world that the assassination of JFK was Illuminist, our government put an eternal flame at his grave site, as the above picture illustrates.  JFK's eternal flame was also in the middle of a circle, which carries a double Illuminist symbol -- a circle encircling a flame.  As Dr. Burn notes, the circle is derived from the Sun, and it symbolizes the pagan god [Burns, quoting Masonic author, J.S.M. Ward, Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods , London:  Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Company, Ltd., 1921, p. 30]

Witches also use the circle drawn on the ground during ritual to "enforce demons to appear". [Burns, Ibid., p. 27].  Thus, a circle is a powerful Illuminist symbol, and is doubly powerful when a flame is in its middle.

These are the reasons President John F. Kennedy got an eternal flame at his gravesite. 

Martin Luther King -- Doctor Martin Luther King was assassinated because he was leading the blacks of America in a path totally opposed by the Illuminati.  King envisioned the blacks exercising Individual Responsibility, achieving educational status equal to whites, and working side-by-side with whites, so that a totally "color blind society" would emerge.  This was King's dream, and it cost him his life.  The Illuminati wanted a people totally dependent upon Big Government programs -- not independent thinkers, independent workers, and a people who took pride in their accomplishments.

CFR member, Jesse Jackson, patiently waited in the wings.  After the Mass Media showed pictures of Jesse Jackson covered with the blood of Dr. King immediately after the assassination, Jackson vaulted into the top place of leadership of American blacks.  Under Jackson's leadership, the blacks of America have been led into a dependency status, where the only thing they can fight over is continued access to government programs.  Yet, even with this terrible leadership, statistics tell us that, today, the largest single group of blacks in America are Middle Class. 

Kudos to all those blacks who listened to Dr. King, not to Jesse Jackson!

This is the reason Dr. Martin Luther King got an eternal flame at his gravesite.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin - In Seminar 4, "Raging Spiritual Warfare At This End of the Age", we explain how you can tell from the Israeli flag how Israel's leadership currently is Illuminist. We then teach how this type of leadership will be destroyed during the Tribulation Period, and how God will then turn the hearts of one-third of the Jews toward Jesus Christ, so that, when He returns, the Jewish nation shall "look upon Him Whom they have pierced' {Zechariah 12:10}, in a 4-Tape series entitled, "Israel's Troublesome But Glorious Future].

But, today, as we speak, Israel is controlled by the Global Illuminati, and is pursuing their agenda, not an agenda specifically geared to protecting Jews and their national interests.  One of the most important elements of the Illuminist plan for the Middle East during the immediate time period before the planned Third World War, is the Oslo Peace Process.

Oslo was designed to lay a sophisticated trap for the Palestinians first, and for all Arabs secondly.  Oslo would promise nationhood to the Palestinians; but through Arafat's leadership and rhetoric, the Palestinian people decided they wanted all of Israel and all of its Jews dead.  Thus, Oslo encouraged statehood aspirations amongst the Palestinians, knowing it was Arafat's job to never allow a solution, thereby enraging the Palestinians greatly, setting the stage for the ultimate conflict which would result in complete Palestinian annihilation in fulfillment of Obadiah 15-18 [Read NEWS1422 for full details].

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his associate, Shimon Peres, were the instigators and the promoters of this very complicated and long-term plan known as the Oslo Peace Accord.  According to Israeli investigative journalist and author, Barry Chamish, Rabin had concluded that Oslo was not in Israel's national interest, and he had made extensive plans to stop the entire process.  Chamish said, "Rabin was rebelling against the most powerful men on earth and he knew the risk.  Rabin died a hero." ["Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin ", by Barry Chamish, p. 170].

As with President John F. Kennedy, Prime Minister Rabin paid the ultimate price -- the penalty -- for his rebellion against the plans of the Illuminati.  For his efforts, Rabin got an eternal flame surrounded by a circle at his gravesite.

Princess Diana -- Princess Diana was married to Prince Charles, whom many people believe will be the ultimate Antichrist [Read Tim Cohen's book, "Antichrist And A Cup Of Tea" for full details].  After starting the book skeptically, I became convinced that this possibility is very real.  Certainly, Prince Charles is of the British/European Monarchy, who can "prove" to the Orthodox Jew priesthood his direct descent all the way back through King David.  This requirement is absolutely essential, for Bible prophecy is very clear that Messiah will come from the Line of David [2 Chronicles 21:7; Ezekiel 34:23 and 37:24].  This prophetic fact is the reason God sets forth the line of descendents in Matthew 1, demonstrating that Jesus' lineage continued unbroken to King David.  Antichrist must "prove" this same lineage to the Orthodox Jew, and through the lie of the Merovingian Bloodline , the European Monarchies can produce a line of descendency back to King David that will convince today's Jews.

Princess Diana grew out of disfavor with Prince Charles and the Queen Mother. At the end, Diana and Charles separated.  Occult sources uniformly state that, after the divorce, an increasingly bitter Diana had decided to tell the world of the secret global plans that the British Monarchy was pursuing.  These plans have an occult title, New World Order.  Princess Diana knew too much, had seen too much, and had expressed a willingness to spill it all out to anyone who wished to listen.

For this, Princess Diana has an eternal flame at her memorial at the Ponce de I'Alma Tunnel in Paris where she died.

ETERNAL FLAMES DEDICATED TO ONE OR MORE WORLD WARS -- Throughout this great country, numerous examples abound of eternal flames gracing the memorials to World Wars I and/or II.  If you took note of this fact, you are right, and the symbolism is exactly the same as described above.  Both World Wars were fought as Illuminist wars to bring about the Kingdom of Antichrist!  In order to demonstrate to fellow occultists the world over that the First World War of Pike's demonic vision had been successfully concluded, the Illuminati arranged for the Armistice ending the war to be signed at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.

You see, Masonic leader, Albert Pike, received a demonic vision in 1870, in which the demon  told him that three (3) world wars needed to be fought in order to successfully stage Antichrist.  Each of the first two world wars were started, were fought, and did achieve the goals, of this demonic vision.

In Seminar Two, "America Determines The Flow of History", we detail this most important subject.  The truth of the matter is that each war during the 20th Century was fought to advance the cause of the New World Order, the Kingdom of Antichrist. 

This is precisely the type of Illuminati signature of '11's undergirding the attack of September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked.  Now that we have concluded our expose' of the true Satanic, Illuminist meaning behind the Eternal Flame, let us review the total numbers of '11' undergirding this attack, because all of the instances of eleven's has been spread out in three articles [NEWS1533, NEWS1538, and NEWS1541].

NUMBER 11 -- ANOTHER BOLD SIGNATURE OF THE ILLUMINATI -- UNDERGIRDING THE ENTIRE ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON

Example #1 -- :  SEPTEMBER 11, 1990 --PRESIDENT BUSH [SENIOR] PRESENTS SPEECH TO CONGRESS, "TOWARD A NEW WORLD ORDER". 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- MIGHTY BLOW STRUCK TO BRING ABOUT NEW WORLD ORDER --  PRECISELY 11 YEARS LATER TO THE DAY! BUSH [JUNIOR] PRESIDENT.

Thus, exactly 11 years to the day after President George Bush Senior delivered a monumental speech to the U.S. Congress advocating the New World Order, a mighty blow was struck to achieve the New World Order -- against the World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

Example #2 -- The attack occurred on September 11. 

Example #3 -- When you add the number of the month [9] plus the 11th day the way occultists do, you get another '11'.  You see, an occultist would compute the equation thusly:  9 + 1 + 1 = 11.

Example #4 -- The first airplane to hit was American Airlines Flight #11.

Example #5 -- The airplane that hit the Pentagon was United Airlines Flight #77 [11 x 7]

Example #6 -- The North Tower of the Twin Towers was 110 stories tall [11 x 10]

Example #7 -- The South 'Tower of the Twin Towers was 110 stories tall [11 x 10]

Example #8 -- The architecture of the Twin Towers made them look like an '11' stuck in the ground

Example #9 -- September 11 is the 254th day of the year.  When you add    2 + 5 + 4 you get '11'

Example #10 -- After September 11, there are 111 days left in the year

Example #11 -- One of the crews of the doomed airliners had '11' total airline employees on board, or the number they did have on board added up to eleven when you added them together.

Example #12 -- New York State was the 11th state to join the Union in preparation to create the 13-state confederation that would declare independence from England.

Example #13 -- President Bush visited the site of the World Trade Center bombing, touring "Ground Zero".  Afterward, he appeared with a photo opportunity with a fire fighter whose numbers on his helmet added to '11'.

Example #14 -- President Bush ordered all American flags to fly at half-staff through 9/22.  Thus, flags flew at half-staff for 11 days.

Example #15 -- President Bush ordered Flags to fly at half-staff through September 22 [11 x 2].

At this point, you may ask, what is so important about the number '11' to the occultist generally and to the Illuminati specifically?  Since the Kingdom of Antichrist is Astrologically declared to be the Age of Aquarius, the number 11 is sacred to that kingdom.  As Pastor David Meyers of Last Trumpet Newsletter [Meyer is a former Satanist] explains: 

"The number 11 is the Aquarian number since Aquarius is the 11th sign of the zodiac." [July, 2001]

Further, the occultist generally reveres the number '11', as W. Wynn Wescott explains: "... so 11 is the essence of all that is sinful, harmful, and imperfect." [The Power of Numbers, p. 100]  Thus, while 11 is very important, multiplication's are also important, such as 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, and 99. 

However, most importantly, Bible prophecy assigns the Number '11' to Antichrist in Daniel 7:8!  Listen

"I considered the [10] horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one [Antichrist] ..."  Bible scholars have always called Antichrist the "11th Horn".  Thus, this occult and Illuminist preoccupation with the Number 11 as they strive to produce their Antichrist, is dictated by Biblical prophecy concerning Antichrist.

The number '13' was also apparent in this attack, as the South Tower -- the second Tower to be hit -- was struck by United Airlines #175, which adds to 13 [1 + 7 + 5 = 13].  Thus, the first Tower was struck by a #11 while the second Tower was struck by #13.  While '11' is symptomatic of the Kingdom of Antichrist and his New World Order, number '13' is the number of Satan's rebellion against God and His Old World Order.

Finally, this attack on the Twin Towers also was a perfect Satanic Fire Sacrifice, as we detail in NEWS1541.  Many pictures abounded that showed a demon's face in the fire high up on the Twin Towers.  Two former Satanists called me within a couple of hours after those pictures were released, to tell me that those faces looked exactly like demons they had seen during a ritual when demons physically manifest themselves in this dimension.  Cisco Wheeler further said that some of the most powerful demons in Satan's kingdom were known as Fire Demons; it was to these demons that the ancient peoples -- including Jews -- sacrificed their children to Molech.  The appearance of these demon faces might be proof of what I have been saying -- that the attack was a Fire Ritual Sacrifice carried out by the Illuminati.

The raging Spiritual Warfare is getting obvious to the Biblically discerning!

CONCLUSION

 Thus, we can see that the Illuminati has placed their bold signature all over the attack of September 11, 2001.  The number '11' undergirds the entire event, while the Eternal Flame will now be part of the World Trade Center Memorial.  The Illuminati is boldly and plainly telling fellow occultists the world over that they were behind this attack.  They could very well be signaling that they have struck the beginning blow of the planned Third World War scenario that will ultimately produce their beloved New Age Christ [Antichrist].  Now, occultists throughout the world know that the planned crises, economic collapse, urban terrors, earthquakes, and wars are just ahead.  Antichrist is planned to come striding through the dust, smoke, and debris of this World War III.  The final birth pangs foretold in Matthew 24 are now coming true.

Do you have the courage to see it, and believe it?

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled, in your Daily News!  Are you spiritually ready? Is your family?
http://www.cuttingedge.org/NEWS/n1547.cfm
==============================

=========================




The Statue of Liberty and Freemasonry









A Cornucopia of Craftyness...

By, Neo THE STATUE OF LIBERTY The Statue of Liberty in New York harbour was presented in 1884 as a gift from the French Grand Orient Temple Masons to the Masons of America in celebration of the centenary of the first Masonic Republic. She is holding the Masonic "Torch of Enlightenment". Also referred to back in the 1700's by the Illuminati Masons as the "Flaming Torch of Reason". The Torch represents the "Sun" in the sky. The Statue of Liberty's official title is, "Liberty Enlightening the World". The cornerstone of the statue records how it was laid in a Masonic ceremony (see plaque photo above). THE TORCH SYMBOL Illuminati means to "bare light" one way to symbolize this is by carrying a torch. A torch sits on top of the Statue of Liberty, on top of JFK's grave, and on top of the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed. Best selling author, Robert Bauval: "The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was placed in a solemn ceremony in 1884 organised by the Masonic lodges of New York. The Statue of Liberty, which was designed by the French sculptor Bartholdi and actually built by the French Engineer, Gustave Eiffel (both well-known Freemasons), was not originally a ‘Statue of Liberty’ at all, but first planned by Bartholdi for the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1867. Bartholdi, like many French Freemasons of his time, was deeply steeped in ‘Egyptian’ rituals, and it has often been said that he conceived the original statue as an effigy of the goddess Isis, and only later converted it to a ‘Statue of Liberty’ for New York harbour when it was rejected for the Suez Canal." The goddess Isis is known by many names, including Juno.   Above: Roman Godess Juno 735 B.C. (wife of Zeus) Below: Interestingly, the goddess Juno made an appearance on a Vatican coin in 1963 (notice her torch) during the period of the alleged Freemason Roncalli's Pontificate, the curiously named John XXIII, architect of the disasterous Vatican II.   Below: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the Sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, on a Masonic Card (notice the Masonic compass and square).   From another article by Bauval: "The 'torch' analogy is very interesting. The original statue of Bartholdi destined first for Port Said at the mouth of the Suez Canal, was also to bear a torch intended to symbolise 'the Orient showing the way'. The 'Grand Orient', of course, is the name of the French Masonic mother lodge, and to which Bartholdi belonged. There is another similar 'torch' that played a strange role in the French Revolution, but of which I will reveal later in my forthcoming book "Talisman". It still is to be seen in the skyline of Paris today. People today do not realise the power of such symbolism, and how they can be used with devastating effect on the minds of the unsuspecting masses. And this is worrying. The SS Nazi movement made prolific use of all these 'symbol games', and wreeked havoc in the world." Below: "The Illuminati" Enlightening the World (and keeping the rest of us in the dark) - Pre 9-11 picture, showing WTC towers & Statue of Liberty's Torch.

'Baphomet'

 

Baphomet, the name of the severed head the Knights Templar worshiped, translates into English from Latin as 'Temple of the Father of Peace of all Men' via the reverse anagram Green Language technique known as Anastrophe. This is what the Temple of the Caananites Capital City of Salem was known as before it was captured by the tribes of Abraham, who renamed it Jerusalem.

 

Peeling the Occult Onion further we apply the more sophisticated Masonic/Templar/Kabbalist cryptographic method known as the Atbash Cipher to Baphomet and arrive at it's innermost meaning and translation - SOPHIA.

 

Sophia is often illustrated with a beard due to her having gone through the Alchemical 'Blackening' Sex Magic Ritual known as the 'Great Work' which transformed her into an immortal, all powerful Hermaphrodite.

 

Sophia is Astoreth/Lilith/Mari the worship of whom was secretly re-introduced by King Soloman - who Freemasonry says was their first Grand Master - against the expressed wishes of God through Moses. Ashtoreth required human burnt offerings - preferably babies of prominent families - which was performed in the Valley of Hinnom/Gehenna/Hell at the base of Mount Zion/Sion.

ANNONA --- The goddess of the wheat harvest, and the deity over-seeing the grain imports from Africa. Attributes: grain stalks, prow modius, cornucopia. BRITANNIA --- The personification of the British Province. Antoninus Pius issued a set of bronze coins in Rome to be circulated in Britian. CERES --- The Hellenistic goddess of grain (Demeter). Depicted on bronze/brass coins to suggest a plentiful food supply to the masses. Attributes: holds grain, torch, and veiled head CYBELE --- The mother of the gods, Mother earth. Also known as Magna Mater (the Great Mother). Attributes: turreted and veiled head, lions; often riding a lion-drawn cart. Titles: MAGNA MATER, MATER DEI DIANA, DIANA LVCIFERA --- The Hellenistic goddess of the hunt and the moon goddess (Artemis); also the patroness of children. Attributes: crescent moon, torch, bow and arrow, hunting dog, stag. Titles: LUCIFERA (light-bringer), CONSERVATRIX, VICTRIX. ISIS --- An Egyptian goddess of the underworld and the wife of Osiris, who represented the birth and death of one year. Attributes: rattle (sistrum), bucket. IVNO, IVNONIS --- Juno (Hera), the consort of Jupiter, and the patroness of child birth. Attributes: peacock, scepter, patera. Titles: CONSERVATRIX, LVCINA, REGINA IVNO FELIX --- Happy Juno. IVNO LVCINA --- Goddess of light. IVNO REGINA --- Juno the Queen. IVNONI MARTIALI --- The war like Juno. LIBER --- The Hellenistic goddess of wine (Bacchus/Dionysios). Attributes: wine cup, thyrsos (a staff ornamented with grape leaves), crown of ivy leaves, panther. LIBERALITAS --- The personification of generosity, and frequently, an indirect reference to a specific Imperial donative to the urban population. Attributes: tessera, cornucopia. LIBERTAS --- The personification of liberty. Often used by usurpers claiming to restore the liberty of the Roman Republic. Attributes: pileus (pointed hat), scepter. LVNA --- An alternative manifestation of the moon goddess, as used by Julia Domna and Gallienus; more appropriately a personification of the moon. MATER MAGNA --- see CYBELE PAX --- The personification of peace. Attributes: olive branch, scepter, cornucopia, caduceus. SALVS --- The goddess of health and safety. On the basis from an old Italic custom of pleasing the gods by sacrificing a virgin to the sacred snakes. Salus usually appears on a coin after suppression of a coup against the emperor, or when an emperor recovers from an illness. Attributes: sacrificing to snake from patera. The snake is usually rising from the altar or being held in arms. SEGENTIA --- The Roman goddess of the ripening of wheat, or crops. VENVS, VENERIS ---The Hellenistic goddess of love and beauty (Aphrodite). She was the patron goddess of Julius Caesar and then the Julian line (Venus Genetrix). (VENERIS is the genative form) Attributes: apple, small figure of Victory. Titles: CAELESTIS (of the skies), FELIX, GENETRIX, VICTRIX. VICTORIA --- The Hellenistic goddess of Victory (Nike). Frequently appears as an attribute to other deities, such as Roma, Jupiter and Venus. Attributes: wreath, wings. VVLCAN --- The Hellenistic goddess of iron, fire and wepons (Hephaistos). Attributes: hammer, tongs, anvil. GLORIA NOVI SAECVLI --- The glory of the new age.

The Virgin is consicrated to Isis, just as Leo is consecrated to her husband Osiris... The sphinx, composed of a Lion and a Virgin, was used as a symbol to designate the overflowing Nile... they put a wheat-ear in the hand of a virgin, to express the idea of the months, perhaps because the sign of Virgin was called by the Orientals, Sounbouleh or Schibbolet, that is to say, epi or wheat ear.

Brother Joseph Jerome de Lalande
Founder Lodge Des Neuf Soers (Nine Sisters), Paris
Astronomie par M. de la Lande, 1731

The High Priestess
The 13th Path
Gimel
G

 

"Lucifer represents.. Life.. Thought.. Progress.. Civilization.. Liberty.. Independence.. Lucifer is the Logos.. the Serpent, the Savior." pages 171, 225, 255 (Volume II)

 

"It is Satan who is the God of our planet and the only God." pages 215, 216, 220, 245, 255, 533, (VI)

 

"The Celestial Virgin which thus becomes the Mother of Gods and Devils at one and the same time; for she is the ever-loving beneficent Deity...but in antiquity and reality Lucifer or Luciferius is the name. Lucifer is divine and terrestial Light, 'the Holy Ghost' and 'Satan' at one and the same time." page 539

 

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky 32°
The Secret Doctrine

'The Sign of Virgo'





'Virgo, the Weeping Virgin'

Masonry still retains among its emblems one of a woman weeping over a broken column, holding in her hand a branch of acacia, myrtle, or tamarisk, while Time, we are told, stands behind her combing out the ringlets of her hair. We need not repeat the vapid and trivial explanation... given, of this representation of Isis, weeping at Byblos, over the column torn from the palace of the King, that contained the body of Osiris, while Horus, the God of Time, pours ambrosia on her hair.

Illustrious Albert Pike 33°
Morals and Dogma, page 379

Under the Rose...









'Isis'
'Mari'
'Kali'
'Ceres'
'Maria'
'Virgo'
'Lilith'
'Diana'
'Venus'
'Sophia'
'Ishtar'
'Hathor'
'Ostara'
'Lucifera'
'Astoreth'
'Angerona'
'Semiramis'
'The Widow'
'Baphomet'
'Head 58m'
'Stella Maris'
'CAPUT LVIIIm'
'Our Dear Lady'
'The Black Virgin'
'The Illuminatrix'
'The Scarlet Woman'
'The Weeping Virgin'
'The Celestial Virgin'
'The Lady of the Lake'
'The Queen of Heaven'
'The Queen of the Sea'
'The Green Man's Bride'
'Notre Dame de Lumiére'
'The Queen of the World'
'The Queen of the Underworld'
'Mystery Babylon' her name...






'The Temple of the Father of Peace of all Mankind'
She is still 'unfinished'...

 

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

http://www.freemasonrywatch.org/statue_of_liberty.html
Legends of Sepulcher
and Perpetual Lamps

by
Henry Carrington Bolton
Interesting treatise on the origins and alchemical substance of the the eternal flame, placed on many graves throughout the world.
http://hiddenmysteries.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19604

THE TORCH AND STATUE OF LIBERTY

Satanists have always equated the flaming torch as a symbol of Lucifer. "Lucifer, having regained his star and his diadem, will assemble his legions for new works of creation. Attracted by his flaming torch, celestial spirits will descend ... and he will send these messengers from unknown spheres to earth. Then, the torch of Lucifer will signal 'From Heaven to Earth!' -- and the (New Age) Christ will answer, 'From Earth to Heaven'." [Occultist Edourd Schure, quoted by Texe Marrs, Mystery Mark of the New Age , p. 240]

This explanation of the symbolism of the torch is the Luciferian belief that, at the Battle of Armageddon, Lucifer and his forces will defeat Jesus Christ and then conquer Heaven. Thus, the Torch signifies the belief that Lucifer will ultimately defeat Jesus Christ.

Masonic author, Manley P. Hall, 33 Degree Mason, states that "the torches represent the occult arts and sciences, the doctrines and dogmas by the light of which Truth is made visible." [Hall, Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians to Which Is Added an Interpretation of the Crata Repoa Initiation Rite , Los Angeles, The Philosophers Press, 1937, p. 122; Emphasis added]

We also find it highly interesting that one of the Masonic publishing houses is called The Torch Press .

We also know from history that the Statue of Liberty was given to us by Illuminist French Freemasons in 1876. "Towering above the shimmering but polluted waters, she holds in her outreached arm and hand a torch of fire and light. A gift of the Masonic Order, the modern inheritors of the Illuminati heritage, the Statue of Liberty was sculptured by Frederic Bartholdi, a member of the Masonic Lodge of Alsace-Lorraine in Paris, France. The statue is significant to the secret societies plotting the New World order." [Texe Marrs, Dark Majesty: The Secret Brotherhood and the Magic of a Thousand Points of Light , p. 212]

Please note that our symbol of the Statue of Liberty was the actual terra cota model constructed in 1870 by the Masonic sculptor.

In Satanism, virtually any perpendicular symbol is the phallus , so the torch certainly qualifies; indeed, one might wonder, from the explanation given, above, that the torch is Lucifer's phallus, if the occultist really believes the torch is a symbol of the god. The goddess holding the torch would provide a good female symbol. Thus, the Freemason depicts the sex act every single day of every year, in New York harbor.

http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/symbology/5o5.htm

 

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Princess Diana’s Death and Memorial: The Occult Meaning

Apr 13th, 2009 | By Vigilant | Category: Vigilant Reports

Why did Elton John dub Lady Di “England’s Rose”? Was it because she was beautiful or because the rose has a deep occult meaning? This article explores the numerous occult symbols used in the memorials to Diana’s memory. To occultists, Diana wasn’t simply a princess, she represents the Sacred Feminine.

Lady Diana was often considered by the media as the “People’s Princess”. Loving, caring and beautiful, she possessed all the attributes to become a subject of idolatry. And so she became. Images of her taking care of poor children in Africa or speaking against landmines have struck the imagination of the whole world. Time Magazine said about her:

“Diana was beautiful, in a fresh-faced, English, outdoors-girl kind of way. She used her big blue eyes to their fullest advantage, melting the hearts of men and women through an expression of complete vulnerability. Diana’s eyes, like those of Marilyn Monroe, contained an appeal directed not to any individual but to the world at large. Please don’t hurt me, they seemed to say. She often looked as if she were on the verge of tears, in the manner of folk images of the Virgin Mary.”

Similarly to the Virgin Mary, Diana had (and still has) legions of followers, worshiping her giving nature and her maternal energy. In other words, she seems to fulfill the almost inherent need in human beings to worship a female goddess, giver of life and filled with compassion. The media has been a key actor in the creation of this icon by documenting every detail of her fairytale wedding, her troubled marriage, her humanitarian activities and, finally, her untimely death. Was Diana picked and groomed to become a sort of a “modern day Goddess” to ultimately be sacrificed, in accordance with ancient pagan practices? This might sound preposterous to the average National Inquirer reader, but not to the connoisseur of the occult practices of the world elite. Furthermore, numerous clues and symbols have been placed by this group to subtly commemorate the occult nature of Lady Di’s death. We will not go into details concerning her assassination, there are tons of sites and books discussing it. We will rather focus on the symbols that have surrounded the events of her death and memorial, which are the signature of the occult elite. These are visible to everybody yet only recognizable by those who have “eyes to see and ears to hear”.

Diana has been elevated to the level of Goddess in order to become the object of ritual sacrifice. This practice has been carefully planed by a secret group of illuminated people, often referred to as the “Illuminati”.  It comprises world leaders such as the British Monarchy and they are known to be DEEPLY versed into dark occult rituals.  If you have difficulty believing this, remember that the Nazis were in full force less than 60 years ago, displaying everywhere the esoteric symbol of the swastika, organizing massive occult rituals and bringing back pagan Germanic imagery .

The Goddess Diana

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of nature, childbirth, hunting and the protector of the weak. She is the equivalent of the Greek goddess Artemis and she represents the Sacred Feminine, the female aspect of deity. Princess Diana bore the same attributes by being a protector of the environment, taking care of the weak in her missions in third world countries and by giving birth to the future heirs of England’s throne. Oak tree groves were especially sacred to the Goddess Diana. In Roman times, Diana’s groves and sanctuaries were always in the wild, outside of the boundaries of the city. Such hidden temples were found all across Europe. To further the resemblance with the Goddess bearing her name, Lady Diana was buried in a grove in her home town (more on this later). The Goddess Diana is often depicted with deers and doves.

The female principle is often represented by the moon, where the Moon goddess is opposite to the Sun god . The feminine energy is also commonly associated with the planet Venus, represented in symbolism by a five petal flower – the rose. The goddess figure appears unmistakably in all religions, even in Christianity as the Virgin Mary. These symbols representing the female deity exist since prehistoric times and were preserved and diffused through pagan mysteries and through mystic Judeo-Christian teachings. Today’s students of the occult easily recognize and interpret those symbols. We will later explain how they have been used to associate Lady Di with the concept of the sacred feminine.

Pont d’Alma Tunnel, the Sacrificial Site

As you might know, Princess Diana died in a limousine “accident” inside the Pont d’Alma tunnel, in Paris. Her vehicle was supposedly chased by paparazzi who caused the world-class chauffeur to lose control due to his inebriated state after consuming alcohol.   We can argue for days about the theories concerning these events, but this is not the purpose of this article. The truth lies in the symbols placed on purpose for the initiates to recognize. One of them is the actual site where Diana lost her life, the Pont D’Alma Tunnel.

The city of Paris was built by the Merovingians, a medieval dynasty which ruled France for numerous generations. Before converting to Christianity, the Merovingian religion was a mysterious brand of paganism.

“ …the Merovingian kings, from their founder Merovee to Clovis (who converted to Christianity in 496) were ‘pagan kings of the cult of Diana’.”
-Clive Prince, The Templar Revelation

The Pont D’Alma Tunnel was a sacred site dedicated to the Moon Goddess Diana, where they used to practice ritual sacrifices. During those ceremonies, it was of an utmost importance that the sacrificed victim died inside the underground temple. The assassination of Diana was a reenactment of this ancient pagan tradition. Shortly after Diana was killed, Rayelan Allan (a researcher of esoteric history since the early 1970’s, who was also married to Gunther Russbacher, a deep cover CIA/ONI operative) wrote an article called “Diana, Queen of Heaven”. The article was picked up by numerous newspapers across the United States and Europe. Several authors who have written books about the death of Princess Diana used Rayelan’s article as reference. However, no one fully understood the deeper meaning of the article. Therefore, Rayelan decided to expand it into a book. The book states that in pre-Christian times, the Pont d’Alma area had been the site of a pagan temple of the goddess Diana and a direct gateway to heaven. Mindful of this safety net, the place was chosen by the Merovingian kings (AD500-751) to fight their duels, with the loser going directly to paradise.  ”Pont” means “bridge” and “Alma” means “soul” and for Merovingians, the site was a bridge across the “river of souls”. So, Pont de L’Alma, the site of the accident which killed Princess Diana, means “Bridge of the Soul.”

The Memorial Torch of Pont d’Alma

If you know a little about occult symbolism, a torch mounted on a black pentagram might make your radar go off. The torch is the ultimate symbol of the illuminated (people that have acquired the secret knowledge of the occult order). This torch is an exact replica of the one being held by the Statue of Liberty and was placed there in 1989 as a gift. So this wasn’t placed as a tribute to Princess Diana but it has become, over time, the unofficial memorial. The torch has reached this status because of its location, which is right on top of the Pont d’Alma Tunnel. After Di’s death, several memorial notes and flowers were placed, encouraging the general population to adopt this occult landmark as a memorial. Some even say that this torch was placed on purpose as an indicator of the location of this planned assassination. Whatever the case be, the symbol of the torch or the eternal flame has been used in other high profile killings, i.e. the JFK tombstone.

Lady Di Memorials and Rose Symbolism

Located in London, England, the park dedicated to Princess Diana contains an oval shaped fountain and a sanctuary. The most significant symbol can however be found on the ground:

We see here Diana represented by a five petal flower (rose) , the classic occult symbol to represent female energy. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it:

“The cinquefoil (from the french, five-part) is a five petalled rose found in Christian symbolism of the Middle Ages. The five-petalled rose is often found affixed to the tops of Gothic arches, the vesica pisces-shaped doorways and windows thought to represent the womb of Mary. Some historians have speculated that the rose in Gothic architecture is a secret symbol of the feminine principle, one of a multitude of hermetic symbols found in these churches.The symbol itself dates back to Roman times, where it was called the ‘Rose of Venus.’ The rose, with its characteristic five petalled shape
mimicked the pentagrammatic path traced by the planet Venus in the night sky. This, combined with the flower’s natural beauty, made it an obvious symbol of the Goddess of love.”

The five-petal flower, the rose, the five-pointed star, the moon and Venus can all represent the female principle when we study occult symbolism. The huge rose window of Notre-Dame de Chartres in Paris represents the Virgin Mary (Notre-Dame means “Our Lady”). The symbol of the planet Venus (♀) is also used to represent the female sex . The moon is also associated with the female principle because it absorbs light from the sun (receptacle) and it has an effect on the tides of water (humidity=femininity). Those associations have existed since the beginnings of time and take their roots in ancient paganism.

There is a blatant effort to associate Princess Diana with the symbols of female deity through the symbols used to commemorate her life. The rose is used to represent Diana in numerous instances:

Memorial coin from Royal Mint:

Memorial Garden in Paris

February 14, 2001 — PARIS, France (CNN) — A garden dedicated to the memory of Britain’s Princess Diana has been officially opened in Paris. French officials say the flower beds — France’s official memorial to the Princess — will eventually bloom, providing a place for children to learn about flowers, plants, vegetables and respect for the environment. But critics have scoffed at the project, laid out in a school courtyard, dubbing it “1,000 square metres of leeks.” “Through this place I wanted to pay tribute to a woman whose generous heart showed her deep fondness for nature and human relations, particularly with children,” Paris mayor Jean Tiberi said as he opened the garden on Wednesday.

Diana — the former wife of Britain’s heir to the throne, Prince Charles — died in Paris in August 1997. She was in a car which crashed at high speed while being pursued by photographers. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, were also killed. But Diana’s name is the only one featured on a plaque outside the memorial garden, in the central Marais district of Paris. One local councillor complained that the princess deserved a grander honour than a “vegetable plot.” But British officials have enthusiastically endorsed the site. “There could be no better tribute to her memory than a garden where young children can play and learn about nature,” said Michael Jay, Britain’s ambassador to France.

Memorial Medallion

So the association of Princess Diana’s memory with the rose, the occult symbol of female deity is used ad-nauseam. Maybe this is why Elton John has dubbed Lady Di “England’s rose”.  To regular-minded people, those associations are insignificant but to initiates of the occult, symbolism is EVERYTHING.

Diana’s Burial Site

The original plan was for Diana to be buried in the family vault at the local church in Great Brington but this was changed by her brother, Earl Spencer. He said he was concerned about public safety and security and wanted his sister to be buried where her grave could be looked after properly and visited in privacy by her sons. In actuality, Diana was buried in a grove to further her resemblance with the Goddess Diana.  The actual area for her burial is on an island in an ornamental lake known as The Oval within Althorp Park’s Pleasure Garden (is there any relation with the oval-shaped fountain in the Lady Di memorial Park?). An ancient arboretum stands nearby, which contains trees planted by Prince William and Prince Harry, other members of her family and the princess herself. Here are pictures of her burial site.

 

 

Note the flaming torch on her tombstone. The burial site of Diana cements her association with the ancient Goddess Diana who was worshipped in recluse groves outside of urban areas.

Memorial at Harrod’s Store

This is the 1st memorial dedicated to the unfortunate couple, on display at Harrods – a huge department store located in London. The store also happens to be owned by Dodi’s father. The symbolism here is extremely esoteric and significant. It surely deserves an in-depth analysis.

The yoni and phallus were worshiped by nearly all ancient peoples as appropriate symbols of God’s creative power. The Garden of Eden, the Ark, the Gate of the Temple, the Veil of the Mysteries, the vesica piscis or oval nimbus, and the Holy Grail are important yonic symbols; the pyramid, the obelisk, the cone, the candle, the tower, the Celtic monolith, the spire, the campanile, the Maypole, and the Sacred Spear are symbolic of the phallus.

-Manly P. Hall

First, we see pictures of Lady Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed in two interlocking circles. In occultism, the name for the two interlocking circles is “vesica piscis” and represents feminine energy. John Yarker  interprets this ancient symbol in his book “The Arcane Schools”:

The Vesica Piscis, two interlinked circles, is also known as “the Yoni”. The name “yoni” refers to the middle portion of the interlocking circles, is derived from the Sanskrit meaning, “divine passage”. That the yoni is the feminine, the yoni should be viewed such that the divine passage becomes a correlation to sex, or male/female union. It is this correlation, and its relation to rebirth and regeneration that remains a basic truth at the very core of Occult structural foundations.

The pointed oval is a universal symbol of the Divine Feminine and in this context the vesica piscis is the vulva of the Goddess, surrounded by the crescents of the waxking and the waning moon. This is yet another powerful symbol to associate Princess Diana with the female goddess principle. The vesica piscis was used by ancient pagans to represent the goddess Venus and was found in churches.

Below the pictures we find a pyramid with a capstone flanked by two candles (pillars). Look closely inside the pyramid:

It contains the wine glass – still bearing lipstick traces – used by Lady Di on her last supper. The symbol of the empty vase within a pyramid is another powerful image representing the union of the masculine and feminine principles. The wine glass carries the same meaning as the Holy Grail: the sacred feminine.

What more feminine symbol is there than the image of the vessel, the sacred womb of the mother? In patriarchal times, the Grail legends speak to the deepest parts of our souls in an archetypal quest for the feminine aspects of divinity.

In more abstract symbolism, a triangle pointing upwards represents the phallus and masculinity while a triangle pointing downwards represents the vagina, the womb, the receptacle and femininity.  Therefore, in this memorial we have a feminine symbol within a phallic symbol. The Goddess Diana joining with the masculine  -  Dodi. This union is further represented by the engagement ring (given by Dodi the night before their death) placed underneath the wine glass.

Memorial Statue at Harrods

This bronze statue is very odd. If the official cause of death of Diana and Dodi is a car accident, why does it say “Innocent Victims”? What were they victims of? Drunk driving?  Or did we mean that they were innocent victims of a sick occult ritual? More probable. Notice under Dodi’s foot is a dead bird. What does it represent?

To Conclude

What is the purpose of elevating Diana to the level of goddess through mystic symbolism? Numerous theories state that one of Diana’s sons will eventually become the much prophesied Antichrist. Are we making Diana the Virgin Mary of the Antichrist? Is the assassination of Diana, the “Moon Goddess” the response to JFK, the “Sun God” ’s death? Was she part of a blood ritual due to the royal status of her family’s genealogy? Is the Queen of England actually a reptilian creature that can shape-shift into a 6 foot tall lizard? You can google any of these theories and you’ll find more essays than you can read. I have no proof about any of them so I won’t give a definite answer. One thing is for sure, symbols do not lie. Diana has been surrounded with the world’s most powerful people, and these people have deep knowledge of the occult. Initiates are fully aware of the fact that symbolism is the only true language of humanity and it can only be understood by those who are worthy. Diana’s memorials are PACKED with blatant symbolism, all referring to the same concept of female divinity. The symbols presented in this report weren’t destined to the average population, who still think that Diana died in a car accident. These esoteric codes serve the purpose of the elite, who carry out its rituals according to the secret knowledge it possesses.

This article has very summarily covered very deep and intricate symbols, each of which can be further studied. If you are unfamiliar with concepts discussed here, do yourself a favor and learn the language of the powerful.

http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=503

Jul 18th, 2009 | By Vigilant | 

During the last years, a new trend appeared in Hollywood: secret societies being at the center of movie intrigues. Some might find this surprising since secret societies are supposed to be…well…secret. Many people in the movie industry are part of those Brotherhoods so what is the reasoning behind this? We’ll look at the myth Hollywood is trying to create by examining “National Treasure” and “Angels and Demons”.

A decade ago, movies about Freemasonry or the Illuminati were rare and far apart (see here a nice list of Masonic references in movies). There has however been a major switch during the last decade. The world wide public has witnessed major blockbuster movies featuring those Brotherhoods at the center of the story. Their exoteric symbols are abundantly displayed and some of their history is even explained. Why are those societies exposing themselves to the average movie goers, who, for the most part aren’t even aware of their existence? Isn’t secrecy an important requisite for the survival of those orders?

I believe an important change is taking place in the communication strategies of these elite societies. The advent of the digital age, where any individual can create and publish content has rendered the secrecy of such organizations impossible. Self-published websites, books, documentaries, DVDs and other medias have exposed many secrets of Masonry and other orders. Information which could only be found in rare and exclusive books is now a Google search away. I have encountered some Masons who were astonished by the level of knowledge possessed by the  ”profane”. Those types of Masonic scholars, who aren’t actually initiated into the Brotherhood, were very rare not too long  ago.

Since the digital switch is irreversible (and completed), occult orders have adapted their strategy to this new context (they’ve probably saw this coming years ago). The strategy is : “If they have to know about us, we’ll tell them what to know“. Through Hollywood and best-selling books, secret societies are being introduced to the average Joe but with one BIG condition: the public is given a distorted, caricatured and romantic portrayal of secret societies. We are introducing in pop culture a mythical lore around secret societies, associating them with fascinating symbols, treasures hunts and exotic adventures. The viewers believe they are actually learning facts about Freemasonry or the Illuminati and they leave the movies with a sense of wonder, fascination and admiration. Those feelings are however based on totally erroneous facts, dubious explanations and fairy tale story telling. After viewing those movies, the viewer has a positive predisposition concerning those orders and will be less inclined to believe and research conspiracies related to them.

National Treasure

This blockbuster adventure movie was produced by Walt Disney Pictures, a brand that guarantees family-friendly entertainment. So parents can bring their kids and enjoy a nice, wholesome, Masonic disinformation session. The movie revolves around a treasure hunt based on clues left by prominent Masons on the Declaration of Independence.

The movie starts with the main character (played by Nicholas Cage) as a little boy, searching for information about his family history. The boy’s grandfather comes in and gives the boy (and the audience) a totally false and distorted story of the Knights Templars and the Freemasons.

Here are some of the claims:

The Knights Templars found under the Temple of Solomon a great treasure which was lost for a thousand years. They’ve brought the treasure back to Europe.
It has been said that the Templars possessed extremely rare religious artifacts. Were they found under the Temple of Solomon? The legend says yes. The movie however describes the treasure as gold coins, statues and such.

The Templars decided to smuggle the treasure into the United States and changed their name to the Freemasons.
This is where everything falls apart. The Templars did not change their name to the Freemasons at the dawn of the American civilization. The Templars have actually disappeared in 1312, which is more than 400 years before the creation of the USA.

“Seemingly untouchable for nearly two centuries, the Templars fell from grace spectacularly after the loss of the Holy Land: in 1307, all Templars in France were arrested on charges of heresy, homosexuality, denial of the cross and devil worship. The order was suppressed by the Pope in 1312, and Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master, was burnt at the stake as a heretic two years later. ”
- Sean Martin, The Knights Templar

The Freemasons are not an all-American institution, as the movie insinuates. It is a European secret society dating from the Middle-Ages, who  opened lodges in North America to expand its reach. The goal of Masonry is not to “protect a great Templar treasure”, it is an ancient order of builders who incorporated into its rites, over the years, teachings of the Templars, Rosicrucians and the Illuminati.

The Templars was an occult order who had fought during the Crusades at the side of the Church. It is during their stay in the Middle East that they’ve secured occult knowledge from eastern mystics and brought it back to Europe. They’ve became great bankers and Cathedral builders (in which they’ve included occult symbolism). They were known to practice the Kaballah, many forms of magic and the black arts. Their conflicting interests with the Catholic church ultimately lead to their persecution and demise.

The Freemasons can be considered spiritual descendants of the Knights Templar due to their study of esoteric sciences, their building of monuments and their philosophy based on gnostic principles. The link between the Templars and the Masons is being cultivated due to the mythical lore surrounding the Knights. In other words, it’s good publicity.

” In order to insure great popularity for the [Scottish] rite, he [Isaac Long] linked it directly with the Templars by a mysterious legend.”
-Domenico Margiotta 33°, Adriano Lemmi

So the “educational” part of the movie gives in fact a mythical and romantic story of Freemasonry. Some viewers might view this distortion as fact, others will associate everything Masonic to a fairytale. The important thing is that the truth about Freemasonry is concealed behind a veil of mythology.

Interesting choice of transition between the face of the
grandfather telling the story and the Pyramid of Gizeh.
His eye becomes the All-Seeing Eye of the Great Architect

Esoteric Meaning of the Movie

Masonic Washington Monument – “As Above, So Below”

(warning: major spoilers ahead)

Like all true mythological stories, National Treasure has an exoteric meaning for the ignorant masses and an esoteric meaning for the initiates. If the exoteric story is meant to mislead the public, the esoteric meaning  carries however great truths about occult brotherhoods. Here’s the hidden meaning.

The “ancient treasure” that was jealously guarded by ancient civilizations is in fact occult knowledge, the Mysteries, that could break the shackles of materialism and help their possessor access divinity (Kaballah, alchemy, gnosticism and occult sciences). This treasure disappeared for a thousand years from the Western world, which corresponds to the early Christian period. The movie says that it was eventually discovered by the Knights Templar in Jerusalem, under the Temple Solomon (the Freemasons’ sacred building) and brought it back to Europe. This knowledge then migrated to the USA through secret societies.

The hero of the movie is on a quest for illumination and the riddles he must solve represent the initiations one must pass before accessing higher knowledge. This all-important treasure is symbolically buried under Trinity Church in New York, in a hidden cave which is dark and cavernous. Ben Gates has to light up the torch of illumination to find his way to the hidden knowledge. The torch represents the Luciferian doctrine of American Freemasonry instituted by Albert Pike. In the highest degrees, Lucifer is taught to be the “light bearer”, the god of Good who shows to path to illumination.

Nicholas Cage with the torch of Lucifer

“Its [high degrees of Scottish Rite] religion is Manichean neo-gnosticism, teaching that the divinity is dual and that Lucifer is the equal of Adonay, with Lucifer, the God of Light and Goodness struggling for humanity against Adonay the God of Darkness and Evil.”
-Domenico Margiotta 33°, Adriano Lemmi

“When the Mason learns that the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his craft. The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onwards and upwards he must prove his ability to properly apply (this) energy.”
- Manly P. Hall, Lost Keys of Freemasonry

Back to the story. Ben Gates, with his Luciferian torch finds the path to illumination and obtains access to an infinite source of knowledge. During the scene where the heroes look around the treasure room, they find very significant items: Scrolls from the Library of Alexandria, Egyptian statues and other artifacts from the Antiquity. All of those objects refer to the occult knowledge that has been communicated through the ages through secret societies.

At the end of the movie, Ben Gates speaks with the FBI inspector and begs him not to send him to jail. Flashing his Masonic ring, the representative of the law says “someone has to go to jail” for the stealing of the Declaration of Independance. The next scene shows the ”bad guys” (the non-Masons) getting arrested, even if they did not actually steal the Declaration. We see here a blatant example of the Masonic oath superceeding the law. The FBI agent willfully ignored the law to help his Masonic brother.

Masonic ring of FBI inspector

Then end of the movie shows the heroes rich and happy. There’s no esoteric meaning to this, it is just a sappy Disney ending.

Angels and Demons

This movie is based on Dan Brown’s novel which focuses on the Illuminati and its war against the Catholic Church. The hero runs across Rome to save the Vatican from a mega-bomb which was set up by Illuminati agents to blow at midnight. The first page of Dan Brown’s book claims that “the Illuminati was factual”, inciting the readers to take everything written in the book as facts. They should not do so.

In the beginning of the movie, Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks) ventures himself into explaining the Illuminati. Here are some of his claims:

“The Illuminati was founded by Galileo Galilei in response to the Church’s refusal of his heliocentric theory”
The Illuminati was officially founded in Upper Bavaria, by Adam Weishaupt on May 1st 1776.  This is more than 130 years after Galilei’s death and not even in the same country. The movie’s association of Galilei with the Illuminati seems like an attempt to associate this brilliant scientist’s name to the conspiratorial secret society.

“Of all the means I know to lead men, the most effectual is a concealed mystery.” – Adam Weishaupt

“The Illuminati did not become violent before the 17th century.”
It never was violent, its actions were based on infiltration and subversion.

“It was an association of scientists, physicists and astronomers concerned with the Church’s inaccurate teachings and they were dedicated to scientific truth. The Vatican didn’t like that, so the Church started to “hunt them down and kill them”.
The Illuminati was not a group of scientists dedicated to the advancement of common knowledge. The movie falsely portrays the secret society as the necessary rational counterpart to Christianity’s requirement of blind faith and its hindering of scientific advancement. In this optic, the average viewer cannot disagree with Tom Hank’s description of the Illuminati and sees the order in a favorable way. The real aim of the Illuminati was the overthrow of traditional institutions in favor of a new world order.

The objects of this powerful organization of the
Bavarian Illuminati, were :

1. The destruction of Christianity and of all Monarchical Governments ;

2. The destruction of nations as such in favor of universal
internationalism ;

3. The discouragement of patriotic and loyal effort branded
as narrow minded prejudice, incompatible with the
tenets of goodwill to all men and the cry of ” Universal
Brotherhood ” ;

4. The abolition of family ties and of marriage by means
of systematic corruption ;

5. The suppression of the rights of inheritance and property.

-Lady Queenborough, Occult Theocracy

The Bavarian Illuminati has dissolved some years after its creation. Researchers however say that the Illuminati has successfully integrated itself within modern Freemasonry. Illuminati thinkers believed that worldwide reach of Masonic lodges represented the ideal platform for the propagation of their ideals.

To sum up, the Illuminati was not an association of bright scientists dedicated to the advancement of scientific truths. It was secret society who, through infiltration and subversion, aimed to overthrow traditional institutions in order serve the best interests a secret elite. It is true that the Illuminati was thoroughly anti-Church but this war wasn’t the main reason of its existence. Nowadays, the Illuminati is considered to be a hidden order which recruits within Freemasonry potent candidates for the continuation of its agenda.

Esoteric Meaning of the Movie

(warning: major spoilers ahead)

Dan Brown’s work has mostly been focused on secret societies. There is an important reason why he has the full support of Hollywood: his works serve the agenda of disinformation.

In the movie, the Illuminati threatens the Vatican to “destroy the Church by light”. ”Light” refers to the explosion of the anti-matter bomb but it also refers to information – propaganda and indoctrination. The only true way to make the masses turn their back on Christianity is not by destroying the Vatican, but by changing the way people see their religious elite. In that optic, the movie itself is the bomb against the Vatican. Even if the Church, with the help of Robert Langdon, apparently prevails at the end of the movie, the viewer of Angels of Demons has spent two hours seeing all the symbols, rituals and figures of Catholicism being desecrated. Some examples: Robert Langdon destroys the archives of the Vatican, candidates for papacy are kept in cages like animals, one candidate is crucified and burned inside a church, the tomb of the defunct Pope is opened to reveal his grossly deformed face, etc.

Candidate to Papacy crucified and burnt inside a church

All those scenes have a strong symbolic meaning which deeply affect the conscientiousness of the viewers. The holy and divine aura surrounding the Vatican is replaced by gruesome deaths, destruction and corruption. The whole movie depicts the institution as an inadequate, stubborn and reactionary relic of the past. To top it off, the viewers learn that the whole “Illuminati” thing was a big setup, masterminded by the son of the Pope (yes apparently, the Pope had a son) to take his position. So the movie tells the viewer that the Illuminati doesn’t even exist and that the Church is so corrupted that its members are ready to commit the most horrendous sins to obtain power.

The viewers ultimately leave the movie with the exact ideas the elite wants them to keep: the Illuminati is a fairy tale and, when it actually existed, it was an association of great thinkers dedicated to the advancement of science; the Catholic Church is not holy, it is a deeply flawed and human institution, which is bound to disappear due to its aversion to science. Through this movie, the real Illuminati denies its own existence while still carrying out its plan to destroy organized religions by constant indoctrination. The age old struggle for power between the Catholic Church and occult orders is taking place on our movie screens and we can clearly see who is winning.

To Conclude

The trend of seeing secret societies in books and movies is not about to end. Dan Brown’s next novel, “The Lost Symbol” will also focus around Freemasonry and its ties with Washington. These works are now appearing as a result of the democratisation of information, which allows regular people to access information which was previously inaccessible. These movies serve the same purpose as occult symbols: to reveal and to conceal. They reveal to the initiates while they mislead the profane. Hollywood movies have been used to promote numerous agendas such as the Vietnam war, the fear of Communism, the fear of Islamic terrorism, the promotion of American values, etc. The movies analyzed above simply promote a new agenda, which is disinformation about secret societies.

http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=1483

A Super Solar Flare

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May 6, 2008: At 11:18 AM on the cloudless morning of Thursday, September 1, 1859, 33-year-old Richard Carrington—widely acknowledged to be one of England's foremost solar astronomers—was in his well-appointed private observatory. Just as usual on every sunny day, his telescope was projecting an 11-inch-wide image of the sun on a screen, and Carrington skillfully drew the sunspots he saw.

Right: Sunspots sketched by Richard Carrington on Sept. 1, 1859. Copyright: Royal Astronomical Society: more.

On that morning, he was capturing the likeness of an enormous group of sunspots. Suddenly, before his eyes, two brilliant beads of blinding white light appeared over the sunspots, intensified rapidly, and became kidney-shaped. Realizing that he was witnessing something unprecedented and "being somewhat flurried by the surprise," Carrington later wrote, "I hastily ran to call someone to witness the exhibition with me. On returning within 60 seconds, I was mortified to find that it was already much changed and enfeebled." He and his witness watched the white spots contract to mere pinpoints and disappear.

It was 11:23 AM. Only five minutes had passed.

Just before dawn the next day, skies all over planet Earth erupted in red, green, and purple auroras so brilliant that newspapers could be read as easily as in daylight. Indeed, stunning auroras pulsated even at near tropical latitudes over Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Hawaii.

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"What Carrington saw was a white-light solar flare—a magnetic explosion on the sun," explains David Hathaway, solar physics team lead at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Now we know that solar flares happen frequently, especially during solar sunspot maximum. Most betray their existence by releasing X-rays (recorded by X-ray telescopes in space) and radio noise (recorded by radio telescopes in space and on Earth). In Carrington's day, however, there were no X-ray satellites or radio telescopes. No one knew flares existed until that September morning when one super-flare produced enough light to rival the brightness of the sun itself.

"It's rare that one can actually see the brightening of the solar surface," says Hathaway. "It takes a lot of energy to heat up the surface of the sun!"

Above: A modern solar flare recorded Dec. 5, 2006, by the X-ray Imager onboard NOAA's GOES-13 satellite. The flare was so intense, it actually damaged the instrument that took the picture. Researchers believe Carrington's flare was much more energetic than this one.

The explosion produced not only a surge of visible light but also a mammoth cloud of charged particles and detached magnetic loops—a "CME"—and hurled that cloud directly toward Earth. The next morning when the CME arrived, it crashed into Earth's magnetic field, causing the global bubble of magnetism that surrounds our planet to shake and quiver. Researchers call this a "geomagnetic storm." Rapidly moving fields induced enormous electric currents that surged through telegraph lines and disrupted communications.

"More than 35 years ago, I began drawing the attention of the space physics community to the 1859 flare and its impact on telecommunications," says Louis J. Lanzerotti, retired Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories and current editor of the journal Space Weather. He became aware of the effects of solar geomagnetic storms on terrestrial communications when a huge solar flare on August 4, 1972, knocked out long-distance telephone communication across Illinois. That event, in fact, caused AT&T to redesign its power system for transatlantic cables. A similar flare on March 13, 1989, provoked geomagnetic storms that disrupted electric power transmission from the Hydro Québec generating station in Canada, blacking out most of the province and plunging 6 million people into darkness for 9 hours; aurora-induced power surges even melted power transformers in New Jersey. In December 2005, X-rays from another solar storm disrupted satellite-to-ground communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation signals for about 10 minutes. That may not sound like much, but as Lanzerotti noted, "I would not have wanted to be on a commercial airplane being guided in for a landing by GPS or on a ship being docked by GPS during that 10 minutes."

Right: Power transformers damaged by the March 13, 1989, geomagnetic storm: more.

Another Carrington-class flare would dwarf these events. Fortunately, says Hathaway, they appear to be rare:

"In the 160-year record of geomagnetic storms, the Carrington event is the biggest." It's possible to delve back even farther in time by examining arctic ice. "Energetic particles leave a record in nitrates in ice cores," he explains. "Here again the Carrington event sticks out as the biggest in 500 years and nearly twice as big as the runner-up."

These statistics suggest that Carrington flares are once in a half-millennium events. The statistics are far from solid, however, and Hathaway cautions that we don't understand flares well enough to rule out a repeat in our lifetime.

And what then?

Lanzerotti points out that as electronic technologies have become more sophisticated and more embedded into everyday life, they have also become more vulnerable to solar activity. On Earth, power lines and long-distance telephone cables might be affected by auroral currents, as happened in 1989. Radar, cell phone communications, and GPS receivers could be disrupted by solar radio noise. Experts who have studied the question say there is little to be done to protect satellites from a Carrington-class flare. In fact, a recent paper estimates potential damage to the 900-plus satellites currently in orbit could cost between $30 billion and $70 billion. The best solution, they say: have a pipeline of comsats ready for launch.

Humans in space would be in peril, too. Spacewalking astronauts might have only minutes after the first flash of light to find shelter from energetic solar particles following close on the heels of those initial photons. Their spacecraft would probably have adequate shielding; the key would be getting inside in time.

No wonder NASA and other space agencies around the world have made the study and prediction of flares a priority. Right now a fleet of spacecraft is monitoring the sun, gathering data on flares big and small that may eventually reveal what triggers the explosions. SOHO, Hinode, STEREO, ACE and others are already in orbit while new spacecraft such as the Solar Dynamics Observatory are readying for launch.

Research won't prevent another Carrington flare, but it may make the "flurry of surprise" a thing of the past.

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Authors: Trudy E. Bell & Dr. Tony Phillips | Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm?friend

Stephen Yulish PhD has a BA in Human Evolution and a MA and a PHD in History. He was a Professor at the University of Arizona and later a Jewish community professional. In spite of all of this, he accepted Jesus Christ in 1988 after a series of revelatory visions and a dream. He now has MS but still serves the Lord everyday through his writings.

http://www.hearkenthewatchmen.com/article.asp?id=5

==========================

Demons (Extraterrestrials) Tremble at the Name of Jesus Christ

By Dr. Stephen Yulish - September 14, 2009
 

As I alluded to in last week’s article, The Looming Great Harpazo Deception (9/07/09), I believe in UFOs and in extraterrestrials. I do not believe that either I am delusional or am I hallucinating. I do believe that the government is covering up these phenomena even though they are being bewitched as to its real meaning. This deception is part of the spiritual war between God and Satan as CS Lewis says. These are therefore serious topics.

http://www.hearkenthewatchmen.com/article.asp?id=9

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Without digging a single shovel of dirt, archaeologist Leen Ritmeyer found the location of Solomon's Temple with a keen eye, biblical and historical knowledge and a tape measure.

Later, Ritmeyer became one of the leading scholars in Temple Mount research. And it all started with one unique stone.

Ritmeyer, a Dutch architect and archaeologist, was the featured speaker at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Manual Family Lectures on Archaeology and the Bible in mid-November. Established by the Manuel family of McComb, Miss., and hosted by NOBTS' Center for Archaeological Research, the annual lectureship presents current archaeological research and excavation data as it pertains to the biblical text and historical events.

Ritmeyer served as surveyor and field architect of the archaeological expedition at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for many years as well as throughout the Jewish Quarter. In addition to his work as an archaeological architect, Ritmeyer is an illustrator of archaeological drawings and maps. His company, Ritmeyer Archaeological Design, provided illustrations for the English Standard Version Study Bible.

According to Ritmeyer, the original Temple Mount platform measured 500 cubits by 500 cubits. The "royal cubit" used for the temple was 20.67 inches long. Later, King Herod expanded the platform on the Temple Mount, doubling its size. It is the expanded, Herodian platform that tourists in Jerusalem visit today.

The current platform has two levels. Eight staircases lead from the lower level to the higher level where the Muslim Dome of the Rock shrine stands.

Because the Muslims who control the Temple Mount will not allow excavations, Ritmeyer relied on observational skills as he searched for the location of Solomon's Temple. And on the surface of the platform, he found his breakthrough.

At the bottom of a staircase in the northwest corner of the higher section, Ritmeyer noticed a stone with a unique chiseled edge. The stone resembled the pre-Herodian blocks visible on the eastern wall of the platform. He also noted that the stone was not aligned with the rest of the raised platform.

Ritmeyer believed the stone was not placed there as a step, but was actually part of the original temple platform wall built by King Hezekiah (eighth century B.C.). Such a find would be helpful in locating the original temple.

"This step was the archaeological beginning of my research into the pre-Herodian Temple Mount," Ritmeyer said.

Ritmeyer tested his theory by measuring the space between the stone and the eastern wall. It was exactly 500 cubits -- the measurement listed in the Mishnah, a book on Jewish law from the second century A.D. He then measured the pre-Herodian foundation visible on the eastern wall from the north to the south. It also was exactly 500 cubits.

The measurements confirmed the location of the original Temple Mount platform. The stone Ritmeyer discovered now bears his name in many archaeological texts and graphics.

According to Ritmeyer, Muslim authorities repaved the area around the stone step in 1974 after learning of the discovery. The top of the stone is still visible, but the chiseled side that Ritmeyer first noticed is not. Ritmeyer, however, keeps a photograph that attests to his discovery.

From there, Ritmeyer searched for the location of the temple and the altar. From information in the Mishnah, he theorized that the temple stood where the Dome of the Rock shrine now stands. If so, the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant would have rested on the rock inside the Dome of the Rock. Though some archaeologists dispute his claims, Ritmeyer presents a compelling case for his view.

The Mishnah stated that the temple was not located in the center of the 500 cubit by 500 cubit platform but was slightly northwest of center. This gave credence to his view. Ritmeyer then looked for confirmation on the surface of the rock.

The archaeologist saw that the large rock had numerous cuts, lines and indentions on its surface. Many other archaeologists had rejected the rock as a source for clues because of the number of cuts on the surface. Not so with Ritmeyer.

"I look at every stone on the Temple Mount as archaeological evidence," Ritmeyer said.

Ritmeyer searched for marks consistent with the information he knew about the Holy of Holies. Again, he relied on the Bible, historical records and a tape measure to test his theory. He speculated that some of the cuts were made to level the site for the temple's foundation.

Ritmeyer knew the dimensions of the Holy of Holies from 1 Kings 6 -- 20 cubits by 20 cubits. He also knew the thickness of the walls. Ritmeyer discovered that cuts on the rock matched the thickness of the walls and the width of the room. He also found cuts made for the back wall of the Holy of Holies.

Another rectangular mark caught Rimeyer's attention. He believed that this depression was the place the Ark of the Covenant stood in Solomon's Temple. Ritmeyer went to Exodus 25 for the ark's dimensions -- two and a half cubits by a cubit and a half. Using photographs and computers to measure the depression, scholars have found that the cut measures two and a half cubits by two cubits -– ample space to receive the ark.

Ritmeyer then measured from the back of the Holy of Holies to find the boundaries of the original temple. From there, he was able to speculate on the location of the altar.

"That's the location of the altar," Ritmeyer said, pointing to a photograph. "That's the location where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac and the altar that David built when he was told by God to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah."

Ritmeyer presented evidence from the Bible and ancient agricultural practice to argue that these altars were all located on or very near the same point -– voicing another layer of confirmation for his theory.

The history of the Temple Mount begins in Genesis 22 when God directed Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at Mount Moriah, Ritmeyer said. Abraham went to Mount Moriah and built an altar. However, God provided a ram for the sacrifice and Isaac was spared.

Later, King David worshipped at Moriah long before his son built the first temple.

"We always rely on the Word of God for information," Ritmeyer said.

When David first became king, he ruled for seven years in Hebron, Ritmeyer said. After capturing Jerusalem, David moved his capital and the Ark of the Covenant to the city.

David first sacrificed an offering to God at Mount Moriah as recorded in 2 Samuel 24, Ritmeyer said. God's prophet Gad instructed David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite located on Mount Moriah.

Using knowledge he had learned about ancient threshing floors, Ritmeyer came to believe that the threshing floor, David's altar and the altar of the first temple were all located at the same spot -- the location identified by his measurements. According to Ritmeyer, Abraham's altar would have been very near the same point.
--30--
Gary Myers is director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ritmeyer spoke four times during the Nov. 16-17 Manual Lectureship, focusing on the history and archaeology of the Temple Mount as well as current issues facing the site. For more information about Leen Ritmeyer, Ritmeyer Archaeological Design and Ritmeyer's blog, visit www.ritmeyer.com.
Reprinted with permission of NOBTS.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32107

Posted on February 7, 2010.

MEDIA RELEASE

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the interagency Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group, today issued a draft of the National Disaster Recovery Framework — focused onengaging state, local and tribal governments, nonprofit partners, the private sector, and the public to enhance the nation’s ability to recovery from disasters.

The comment period will run through Feb. 26, 2010. This comment period continues the extensive stakeholder outreach efforts undertaken by the interagency Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group, established in October 2009 by President Obama and co-chaired by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan.

The National Disaster Recovery Framework provides a model to collectively identify and address challenges that arise during the disaster recovery process — designed to help the broad emergency management community work better together to support individuals, households and communities as they rebuild and restore their ways of life following a disaster.

The Recovery Framework was developed based on input from all levels of government, the private sector, academic and emergency management communities, voluntary and non-profit organizations, and a wide array of associations and organizations — collected through meetings and briefings across the country; online engagement; and a series of video teleconferences and stakeholder forums in five key cities.

The Recovery Framework document will be available next week at www.regulations.gov in Docket FEMA-2010-0004. Individuals and other stakeholders who wish to submit comments can do so at www.regulations.gov using the Docket identification number as a search term.

The Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group — comprised of more than 20 federal departments, agencies and offices — will provide President Obama with recommendations on ways to improve the capabilities of individuals, communities and the nation’s economy to withstand and rapidly recover from disasters.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

— Find out more:
DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov
www.fema.gov/recoveryframework

 http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/02/darpas-plan-for-world-domination-map-entire-planets-underground/#ixzz0f9bCLnq5

With eye to elections, Egypt cracks down on Muslim Brotherhood

CAIRO —
Egypt has launched another crackdown on the Islamic opposition
At least a dozen senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested in raids throughout the Cairo area. The detained included deputy Brotherhood

leader Mahmoud Izzat.

"These 14 arrests included a number of leading members following the internal elections and ahead of parliamentary elections," Abdul Moneim Abdul Maqsoud, an attorney who represents Brotherhood detainees, said.

Another senior Brotherhood detainee was identified as Issam Al Erian, a member of Guidance Council. Another Guidance Council member was identified as Abdul Rahman Bir.

In all, the sources said 34 Brotherhood members were arrested in raids by security forces on Feb. 7-8. They said the detention of the leadership was meant to block elections within the Brotherhood to select a slate to run in Egyptian parliamentary elections in 2010.

"This is part of the state's campaign against the group," Guidance Council member Mohammed Katatni said. "The group is now getting ready for parliamentary elections and this campaign is to stem such activities."

The Brotherhood, banned in 1954 but over the last decade allowed informal activity, controls about 20 percent of the 440-member parliament. Polls assert that the Islamic opposition would lose many seats in the forthcoming elections.

The Brotherhood also reported the arrest of 10 senior provincial members. The sources said security forces raided six provinces in a 24-hour period, including Cairo.

The crackdown was said to have been the first since the selection of Mohammed Badie as Brotherhood leader in January 2010. Badie has been regarded as a member of the conservative wing, which sought a reconciliation with the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

In a statement, Badie expressed concern over the Egyptian crackdown. He said the Mubarak regime was determined to prevent the Brotherhood from repeating its gains in the 2005 parliamentary elections.
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_egypt0099_02_09.asp

By The Yomiuri Shimbun

TOKYO —

An underwater volcanic eruption was detected Wednesday morning close to Minami-Iwoto island in the Pacific Ocean and an expert speculated that the eruption could form a permanent island.

A coast guard vessel spotted a white plume of smoke rising from the sea about three miles north-northeast of the island.

It was the first time since July 2005 that volcanic smoke had been detected in the area, which is located about 745 miles south of central Tokyo.

According to an announcement by the 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard, based in Yokohama, the volcano spewed ash and smoke about 100 meters into the air, and the surrounding sea area changed to a yellowish-green color while other parts became a cloudy gray.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the volcano, known as Fukutokuokanoba, has erupted seven times since 1904, when its activities were first recorded. On three occasions, land masses were formed, but all later sank below the waterline.

Tokyo Institute of Technology Prof. Kenji Nogami, an expert in geoscience, said: "In the 1986 eruption, a new island appeared after lava accumulated. The island was washed away by waves, but seabed upheaval reduced the water depth to 22 meters in 1999. It’s possible that this (recent) volcanic activity could form a permanent island."

___

Visit the Daily Yomiuri Online at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm/

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/asia_pacific/view/20100205underwater_volcano_erupts_could_create_new_island/srvc=home&position=recent

An magnitude 4.3 earthquake  struck Illinois early today about 48 miles west northwest of Chicago, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

There were no immediate reports of injury or damage from the quake, which hit around 5 a.m. ET.

Update at 7:58 a.m. ET: CNN says one resident of Belvidere, Ill., about 70 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, reported a foot-long crack in his kitchen wall from the quake.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/02/earthquake-rattles-illinois-northwest-ofof-chicago/1

=========================

Small Earthquake Hits Near Chicago

A small earthquake in northern Illinois set off car alarms, knocked books off the shelves and jolted scores of people awake at 4 a.m. Wednesday, but otherwise caused no serious damage, officials said.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake, which had an estimated magnitude of 4.3, was centered near Virgil, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, at a depth of about three miles. There were no immediate reports of aftershocks.

Sarah Evans, 29, of the northwest Chicago suburb of Elgin, said she was awakened at about 4 a.m. when her house started trembling.

“I popped out of bed,” she said. “I felt extreme shaking. I shook my husband, and said, ‘Oh my God, I think it was an earthquake.” She said the dogs didn’t bark but it seemed as if everything in her 100-year-old single-family home was shaking, as if a train was roaring by.

Ms. Evans, who is the owner of Sevans Strategy, a public relations strategy firm that guides companies on how to use Twitter and other social media, said she then reached for her iPhone and posted a message on Twitter. “Seriously weird,” she wrote. “Something that felt like a minor quake just woke us up. Can anyone else in the CHI area/burbs confirm?”

Soon, she said, many people were trading information about the quake through the forum.

Pat Gengler, a spokesman for the Kane County sheriff, said the switchboards had been lighting up with calls, but he said there were no immediate reports of any damage.

“Right now the only reports we were getting were some people a little startled at 4 in the morning when their house started shaking,” he said. “We got a lot of snow out here and we had a little earthquake, so it’s been an interesting 12 hours.”

Amy Vaughan, a geophysicist with the agency, said that the tremor was only the second notable earthquake in more than 30 years to rattle the area. Even though the quake was relatively small, it was felt by residents as far away as southern Wisconsin, according to news reports.

“This is not a very seismically active area,” Ms. Vaughan said. “We don’t know what fault system this is, but there are faults everywhere throughout the world that can slip at any given time.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11chicago.html

=========================

VIRGIL, Ill., Feb. 10 (UPI) --

A 4.3-magnitude earthquake rattled northern Illinois in the western suburban area around Chicago Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The earthquake, about 3 miles deep, was about 4 miles west-northwest from Virgil, Ill., and about 48 miles west-northwest of Chicago, the USGS said.

"We have it as a seismic event," USGS geophysicist Amy Vaughan told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Mostly it's rattling people awake."

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, officials said.

Julie Hannon of Naperville, Ill., told the Chicago Tribune the earthquake awoke her from a sound sleep.

"When you feel an earthquake, it makes you wake up right away. You could feel a shaking and you could hear a rumbling," Hannon said, adding she experienced several earthquakes when she lived in Japan. "It's humbling, especially when you think about all the people who have been harmed by earthquakes."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/10/Earthquake-rattles-northern-Illinois/UPI-17071265805344

====================

The nature of the fault activity that caused the quake was unclear, said Amy Vaughan, a geophysicist with the geological survey in Golden, Colo. Past quakes that have affected southern Illinois have been in the Wabash Valley or New Madrid seismic zones.

The fault systems in northern Illinois are not as well understood as those in other regions where earthquakes are more common, and more investigation will be needed to determine the cause of this morning's temblor, Vaughan said.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near downstate West Salem on April 18, 2008. That quake was the worst to hit Illinois since 1968.

By contrast, the earthquake that leveled Haiti on Jan. 12 registered 7.0 on the Richter Scale, meaning it was about 1,600 times the magnitude of the one this morning. Many of the numerous aftershocks to hit the island were approximately the same magnitude as the quake that hit near Sycamore today.

Reports of tremors came in from Villa Park, Western Springs, Minooka, Batavia, Naperville, Elgin, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines and even Crown Point, Ind. In Chicago, reports came from the Northwest Side and Logan Square. The USGS has received thousands of reports from as far north as Madison, Wis., and as far south as Bourbonnais.

"The whole house shook," said Walter Mockus of St. Charles. "The chimes that hang were all ringing. It was so loud, I thought a plane had gone down."

"It was 4:02 a.m. and I was in bed and felt the whole house shaking," said Bob Bulmash of Warrenville. "But nothing fell down. It lasted about 3 to 5 seconds."

In Naperville, Julie Hannon said the quake shook her out of a sound sleep.

"When you feel an earthquake, it makes you wake up right away," said Hannon, who said she had experienced several quakes when she lived in Japan. "You could feel a shaking and you could hear a rumbling."

"It shook me out bed. I was was sleeping and the whole bed was shaking, it was that violent," said Rex Covington, who lives in Plato Center Township, about five miles west of Elgin. He estimated the tremor lasted 5 or 6 seconds.

"When I called 911, she said they felt the shock too and said their whole building in Geneva shook."

In Oak Lawn, Ron Cerevic, who lives on the second floor of an apartment building, said it felt "like someone hit the side of the building."

By NASSER KARIMI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered his country's atomic agency on Sunday to begin enriching uranium to a higher level, a move that's likely to deepen international suspicion over the country's intentions for its nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad's latest pronouncement on the issue of enriched uranium coincided with a call Sunday by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates for the international community to rally together to pressure Iran into abandoning its nuclear program.

Speaking to reporters during a weeklong European tour, Gates said that "if the international community will stand together and bring pressure" on Iran, "I believe there is still time for sanctions to work."

He declined to be specific about the type of sanctions he had in mind, but explained that the focus should be on putting pressure on the government in Tehran and not hurting the people.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in an interview on CNN's State of the Union show brodcast Sunday that increasingly other nations were beginning to see Iran's nuclear program as a threat.

"The rest of the world has really begun to see Iran the way we see it," she said.

In comments broadcast on state television, Ahmadinejad said: "God willing, 20 percent enrichment will start" to meet Iran's needs. He did not give a date for the start of the enrichment process.

While the 20 percent threshhold is substantially below the 90 percent plus needed to make fissile warhead material, any move by Iran to enrich to 20 percent would raise international alarm bells because it would bring Iran substantially closer to weapons capacity.

That is because enriching from 20 percent to weapons grade can be done much more quickly and with much less equipment than from the low-enriched stockpile Iran now posesses.

David Albright, whose Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security tracks suspected proliferators, said that it would take 2,000 centrifuges about a year to turn Iran's 1.8 ton stockpile of 3.5 percent uranium into enough weapons grade uranium for one warhead. But he said it would only take 500 to 1,000 centrifuges, and half a year, to move from 20 percent to 90 percent plus enriched material.

By enriching its present 3.5 percent uranium stockpile to 20 percent, "it would be going most of the rest of the way to weapon-grade uranium," he said.

Ahmadinejad was speaking at a meeting attended by the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi.

Turning to Salehi, Ahmadinejad said: "Mr. Salehi, begin production of 20 percent" enriched uranium.

Producing enriched uranium is the international community's core concern over Iran's disputed nuclear program since it can be used to make nuclear weapons. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

Iran and the West have been discussing a U.N. plan under which Iran would export its low-enriched uranium for enrichment abroad. The plan, which comes from the International Atomic Energy Agency, was first drawn up in early October in a meeting in Geneva between Iran and the six world powers. It was refined later that month in Vienna talks among Iran, the U.S., Russia and France.

The Vienna talks came up with a draft proposal that would take 70 percent of Iran's low-enriched uranium to reduce its stockpile of material that could be enriched to a higher level, and possibly be used to make nuclear weapons. That uranium would be returned about a year later as refined fuel rods, which can power reactors but cannot be readily turned into weapons-grade material.

In what was interpreted to be a possible shift of policy on a major issue, Ahmadinejad said last week he was ready to export his country's low-enriched uranium for higher enrichment abroad, saying Iran had "no problem" with the plan. Sunday's comments, however, appeared to justify the skepticism with which his Tuesday's comments were met by world leaders.

Salehi, the head of the Iranian atomic energy agency, later appeared to play down the significance of Ahmadinejad's comments. He told the official IRNA news agency the president was giving a "preparedness order" so Iran would be ready to enrich its uranium if the exchange with the West fails to take place.

He said the higher enrichment would be carried out in facilities in the central Iranian town of Natanz.

Ahmadinejad on Sunday made no mention of his own announcement on the issue last week, saying only that Iran remained ready to have "interaction" with the West over providing fuel to Iran "without condition."

But a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said Sunday that 20 percent uranium enrichment for use by Tehran's research reactor was within the country's right as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA. The uranium enrichment will be carried out under IAEA supervision, he said.

The enrichment, he added, would not affect Iran's readiness to swap its low enriched uranium for higher enriched one.

On Sunday, Ahmadinejad said Iran has acquired laser technology for enrichment of uranium, but added, "For now, we do not intend to use it." He did not say why.

Iran's ambivalence over the enrichment issue comes at a time when the United States and its Western allies have been pushing for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions to be slapped on Iran over its disputed nuclear program. But with Russia, and especially China, skeptical of any new U.N. penalties, they have to tread carefully to maintain six power unity on how to deal with the Islamic Republic.

International concerns include Iran's refusal to heed U.N. Security Council demands that it freeze its enrichment program; fears that it may be hiding more nuclear facilities after its belated revelations that it was building a secret fortified enrichment plant, and its stonewalling of an IAEA probe of alleged programs geared to developing nuclear arms.

Associated Press writer Anne Flaherty in Rome and George Jahn in Vienna have contributed to this report.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAN_NUCLEAR?SITE=NMALJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
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Iran moves closer to confrontation with West over uranium

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran took his country closer to confrontation with the West on Sunday, ordering scientists to enrich Iran's stockpiles of uranium to the higher level needed for nuclear power.

Mr Ahmadinejad's order was the culmination of a series of confusing statements by the regime in the last week. If it is carried out, it will scupper what was hoped to be a looming deal to transfer most of Iran's uranium abroad for further processing. Many in the West want uranium processing to take place outside the country so that fears over a weapons programme are allayed and the country's nuclear plans are better monitored.

European nations and America were already leading calls for more sanctions to be applied to Iran in the absence of a deal. Now if further enrichment starts, they are likely to put proposals to the United Nations security council soon.

Mr Ahmadinejad made his announcement with characteristic melodrama. In a speech filmed live for state television, he accused the West of "playing games" over the proposed deal and then turned towards Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, who was in the audience.

"I now ask Dr Salehi to start work on the production of 20 per cent fuel using centrifuges," he said.

Like previous demands by Mr Ahmadinejad that his scientists build 20 new uranium enrichment plants, the stream of statements may be designed to rally support at home as much as to spread confusion abroad.

The wave of protest against his re-election last June has subsided since the country's main cities were convulsed by demonstrations in December, but is heading for a new peak this week, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Opposition activists and exile groups are said to be organising an infiltration of government rallies planned for Thursday.

Under the deal, put forward in October by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran would transfer three-quarters of its uranium, currently enriched to 3.5 per cent, to Russia for processing to 20 per cent. It would be handed back as fuel rods that could be used only in a research reactor in Tehran.

Once enriched to 20 per cent, uranium needs to be further processed to 90 per cent for weapons purposes, but analysts believe Iran now has or is close to having the technical means to achieve that enhancement.

The total sum involved in the deal is significant as it would reduce the quantities still in Iran to below the level needed to build a nuclear weapon. For that reason, Iran's negotiating partners have rejected the idea of handing over stockpiles bit by bit.

Last week, Mr Ahmadinejad appeared to accept the deal's terms, but Manouchehr Mottaki, the foreign minister, on Friday reiterated conditions that are unacceptable to the West, including allowing Iran to determine the quantities involved.

In his speech yesterday, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "We had told them to come and have a swap, although we could produce the 20 per cent enriched fuel ourselves. We gave them two to three months' time for such a deal. They started a new game."

This apparent decision to cross the line of further enrichment came in spite of meetings, described by Mr Mottaki as "very good", with Yukiya Amano, the new head of the IAEA.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Ahmadinejad's order would be "a deliberate breach of five United Nations Security Council Resolutions".

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the German defence minister, said: "Today's statement shows that farce is being played out just like we have seen in the past, that the outstretched hand of the international community has not only not been taken but pushed back."

Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said in Rome: "If the international community will stand together and bring pressure to bear on the Iranian government, I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/7181952/Iran-moves-closer-to-confrontation-with-West-over-uranium.html

TOKYO —

  A strong earthquake shook several small islands off Japan's southern coast on Sunday, rattling buildings over 100 miles away in Taiwan and causing officials to temporarily issue a tsunami warning.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said the earthquake hit at 3:10 p.m. and registered magnitude 6.6. The U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 6.4.

Japanese officials immediately issued a warning for a tsunami about 1.6 feet high, but removed the warning about an hour later.

The quake was also felt in Taiwan, about 155 miles to the east, where residents in Taipei could feel buildings shake.

The quake hit 69 miles off the southern coast of Miyakojima island, in southern Japan, at a depth of six miles, the Meteorological Agency said.

The small island is about 1,120 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the western port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585026,00.html

by J. R. Nyquist

Weekly Column Published: 1.29.2010

On 11 November 2009 the Russian libertarian economist Andrei Illarionov spoke at a meeting of the "discussion club" of the OGF (United Citizens Front) in Moscow. He offered some remarkable observations and analysis that American readers should know about. For those who are unfamiliar with his work, it is worth noting that Illarionov has been an economic advisor to Russian leaders, resigning in protest when Russian leaders refused to take his advice. Illarionov speaks out boldly, and has warned American politicians that their policy toward Russia is worse than appeasement. In an article that appeared in the Washington Post two years ago, he characterized U.S. policy toward Russia as "enabling" dictatorship.

Perhaps the most striking statement made by Illarionov in recent months, was on the subject of corruption. "Totalitarian regimes are very much corrupted," said Illarionov during the 11 November meeting of the discussion club. "[The Russian leaders] find support abroad, outside, among the states that are citadels of democracy, in the countries that actually make a big effort to protect freedom and democracy at home; but still, the totalitarian regimes find support there...."

How do they find this support? According to Illarionov, "Under the existing system, it is very easy to buy off the European leadership. It costs very little, and is easily done, so it is not a problem to achieve results with this method in Europe." In fact, Illarionov asks if the statesmen of any system can remain independent in the wake of sweetheart deals they cannot refuse to take. The Russians look at European politicians the way a shopper looks at goods in a store. They see one they like, examine the price tag, and pay the cashier. In fact, they use oil money, which allows them to buy whatever they see. Illarionov noted: "The largest export that Russia delivers is corruption. It's not oil or gas, but corruption. And this is in greater demand than even oil or gas." The politicians of Western Europe love corruption, because it makes them rich.

The Russians, Illarionov explained, are trying to push the United States out of Europe. Why should Europe need a security alliance with America? Why not ally with Russia? It is the stated policy of Russia to remake Europe by eliminating NATO, by creating a "new security infrastructure" that effectively isolates the Americans. For the last ten years, noted Illarionov, the leadership of Germany realized that unification transformed Germany into the strongest political force in Europe -- except for Russia. The Germans began to resent America's role as Europe's protector. This suited the Russians perfectly. "The policy of Germany in Europe is the policy of the leader of Europe for the past ten years," noted Illarionov. The Germans want to lead Europe. "No other country, except Russia of course, can pursue a policy of leadership like Germany." So the Russians flatter the Germans, and let them imagine a bright future. "Let the Americans go home, and leave Europe," they say. "Russia will gladly work with Germany. After all, we [Russians] respect our German 'partners.'"

For those unfamiliar with Soviet Cold War strategy, the Kremlin's goal is nothing new. Russia wants America out of Europe so that Russia can dominate Europe. Once the Americans have withdrawn their commitment to protect Europe, the Germans will be forced to accept satellite status under Russia. This is not understood today, because the German leaders are corrupt. They have been bought, and are vulnerable to blackmail. Meanwhile, America's position in Europe is diminishing. The time is coming, therefore, when America will be isolated; when America will be surrounded by a hostile world. Latin America will be in the Russian camp (under Chavez and his associates), Europe will be in the Russian camp, China will be in the Russian camp, etc.

Someone asked Illarionov if Russia was increasing global tensions in preparation  for a world war. Illarionov replied: "The government in Russia is interested in increasing international tensions to its maximum or even up to the level of a world war which may lead to a global catastrophe and to a change of the world order; [but] we cannot see into the heads of our [Russian] leadership."

According to Illarionov, the Russian leaders "possess a feature" which indicates "an absence of an understanding of basic things. But I would like to hope that their goal is not to push tensions to a world war, though they definitely wan tensions increased in specific areas, like the Middle East and Persian Gulf region, between Israel and Iran on the issue of Iran developing nuclear weapons. This is influencing the oil prices. This is the best way to bolster oil prices throughout the world. In a matter like this they are not stupid at all, and they know how money is made. This is one of the major sources to support their political power, and to fill their own private coffers. From this point of view their policy is very rational, and quite cynical."

The West is asleep. A game of "divide and conquer" is advanced against us. The days of the NATO alliance are numbered. Russia has been buying politicians all over Europe, and if those politicians stay bought, there will be no one to oppose the Russian plan. America will then find itself isolated, economically vulnerable, and militarily inferior.

http://www.financialsense.com/stormwatch/geo/pastanalysis/2010/0129.html

By Turner Brinton

WASHINGTON —

The trend over the last several years of annual funding increases for U.S. Air Force space activity appears to be at an end, and that, coupled with the ongoing recapitalization of the service’s operational satellite fleets, means there is little money left for new development initiatives.

The service’s 2011 budget request, submitted to Congress Feb. 1, scales back the Third Generation Infrared Surveillance (TGIRS) program and curbs funding for the Operationally Responsive Space Office. This follows U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision early last year to cancel the $26 billion Transformational Satellite communications system.

Overall, the request includes $8 billion for procurement and research and development for space programs, an 8 percent decrease from 2010, budget documents show. The total Air Force budget request for 2011 is $170.8 billion, up 3 percent from this year’s budget.

“The space budget is dominated by [research and development] and procurement,” Gary Payton, deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space, said during a Feb. 4 media event here. “Everybody’s budget for procurement and [research and development] is going down a little bit, especially compared to 2008, 2009 and 2010, and space is part of that. It shows up more in the space budget because we have such a small part that is [operations and maintenance].” 

TGIRS, originally called the Alternative Infrared Satellite System, was conceived as a potential alternative to the long-troubled Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and featured sensor development efforts by Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems of El Segundo, Calif., and SAIC of McLean, Va. SBIRS is nearly a decade behind schedule, but the first dedicated satellite recently completed thermal vacuum testing and is on track for an early 2011 launch.

Two years ago, the Air Force designated TGIRS as a technology development effort but continued work on the sensors. The service subsequently contracted to have the SAIC sensor launched as a hosted payload aboard a commercial communications satellite, and more recently tapped Raytheon to flight qualify its sensor.

Raytheon’s work has now been canceled, but the effort to fly the SAIC sensor on a spacecraft owned by SES Americom will continue, Marilyn Thomas, the Air Force’s budget deputy, said during a Feb. 1 media briefing. That portion of TGIRS will be funded out of the SBIRS budget, she said.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s Operationally Responsive Space Office would receive $94 million next year, $30.3 million less than was appropriated for this year. The office’s biggest project, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellite called ORS-1, is still on track for a late-2010 launch and will not be affected. However, the office’s investments in so-called enabler technologies for building and launching satellites on short notice would be slowed, Payton said.

With the space environment becoming ever more congested and potentially contested, the Air Force last year began investing more heavily in space situational awareness, which refers to the ability to know where things are in space and what they are doing. The Air Force is requesting $426.5 million for space situational awareness programs in 2011, a $188.1 million increase over this year. Two programs would receive the bulk of that funding:  upgrades to a network of ground-based radars known as the Space Fence, and a follow-on to the Space Based Space Surveillance satellite, which is slated to launch in June.

Congress trimmed by about a third the Air Force’s $90 million request for Space Fence upgrades in 2010, which has added some uncertainty to the program, Payton said. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are studying the upgrades under risk-reduction contracts, and a prime contractor is expected to be chosen this summer, Air Force budget documents show. The service will also choose a contractor for the next Space Based Space Surveillance satellite this year.

The big-ticket items in the Air Force’s 2011 budget request are for operational programs already under contract. The service would purchase a fourth SBIRS satellite and long-lead parts for the fifth from prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif., budget documents show. It would also continue development of the GPS 3 satellite navigation system, also by Lockheed Martin.

The budget includes funds for a seventh satellite in its Wideband Global Satcom constellation as well as long-lead parts for the eighth satellite from prime contractor Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems of Seal Beach, Calif. The Air Force, using Navy funds, also would purchase a fifth Mobile User Objective System narrowband communications satellite from Lockheed Martin.

http://www.spacenews.com/military/100205-af-scales-back-missile-warning-program.html

By Sheda Vasseghi

For centuries, Iran has been a center of struggle between opposing ideologies and ways of life. Now, in the twenty-first century, it will be a decisive battleground for progress versus calamity.

Thirty years of Islamic theocracy presents not only Iranians but the international community

with a historical turning point and the opportunity shadowed by responsibility to make the right decision or be held accountable for its ramifications.
In the 1970s, the Shah and a secular, wealthy Iran were the balancing tools in the volatile Middle East. The Shah's regime was not without its faults and far from perfect. But his progressive vision and invaluable geopolitical knowledge were sought by foreign policymakers, who had realized Iran was following the path of its ancestors credited with championing tolerance, diplomacy, and the first known bill of rights.

Examples abound: during a meeting on July 27, 1973, Henry Kissinger and other diplomats asked for the Shah's advice on the role of oil and international affairs, the Egyptian-Israel problem, the Pakistan-Indian conflict, the Kurds and the Baath Party in Iraq as well as his views on the newly-designed F-14 jets. [Memorandum of Conversation, transcribed by H. H. Saunders, The White House, Washington, DC, July 27, 1973, 5:00 p.m., 14 pages.] In hindsight, the late Shah was a 20th century renaissance man.

On Feb. 1, 1979, Ruhollah Khomeini, a virtually forgotten cleric exiled for his involvement with radical Islamism and anti-modern extremism, returned to Iran as the leader of an "Islamic" revolution. This sudden twist of fate would have been impossible without moral and financial support from (1) Islamist and communist opposition groups, (2) disgruntled, selfish political activists who lost power in the 1950s, and (3) misguided foreign leaders fearful of U.S.S.R.'s expansionism and a perceived threat by an Iran on its way to supersonic modernization.

With the arrival of Khomeini in Iran on Feb. 1, 1979, and the creation of a Council of the Islamic Revolution a few days later, it was clear that the revolutionary party in power was the Islamists. Unfortunately, the extent of violence exhibited by this party and its degree of backwardness were unknown to many Iranians, who were either unaware, naïve, or in denial. The international world to its detriment was clueless to the impact of an "Islamic" Iran on humanity.

Despite the Shah's departure and Khomeini's arrival, the success of the Islamic Revolution was not realized nor would have been possible without the support of the Iranian armed forces. The Imperial Iranian Armed Forces were loyal to the Shah. According to former Iranian diplomat, Dr. Assad Homayoun, Khomeini's departure from Paris to Tehran was postponed for fear of possible military action. Khomeini's advisors sought assurances from the Carter Administration to do everything possible to prevent a potential military coup. Later in Tehran, Khomeini and his religious team were fearful of the armed forces and in a constant state of panic. On Feb. 10, 1979, without a commander-in-chief and with mixed signals from foreign diplomats the confused Iranian armed forces mutinied and announced their neutrality. Tragically, by noon on Feb. 11, the nation was handed over to Khomeini and his followers. [Homayoun, A., "Iran: Into Harm's Way," Global Affairs, New York, NY, 1987, 177-83.]

Feb. 11, 1979, marks the day the nation was hurled into the Dark Ages as witnessed by the backwards and prejudicial Islamic Republic Constitution. Since then the world has seen an alarming spread of terrorism funded and supported by the rogue mullahcracy in Tehran — Khomeini's legacy to history. The reign of terror that followed spared no one. Mass executions ordered by revolutionary tribunal courts condemned tens of thousands of Iranian intellectuals, political and military elites, and nationalists. The Islamic Constitution abolished the people's civil rights especially for women and minorities. The mullahs' squandering and money laundering has ruined the nation's wealth and economy. Recent rumors of impending bankruptcies hovering over Iran's banks have caused mobs across the nation to gather at local banks demanding cash withdrawals. To the embarrassment of an ancient and proud nation, the mullahs support terrorism and jihadists. The regime has alienated former allies such as U.S. and other Western nations as well as Israel and neighboring countries. The incompetency of the Islamic Republic threatens the unity and security of Iranians.

Despite the regime's propaganda, the majority of Iranians did not want a barbaric, theocratic revolution out of touch with modern realities. For three decades, Iranians have paid a hefty price by having lost their civil rights, having endured a bloody war with Iraq, and having faced imprisonments and public executions at the hands of the regime. Since 1979, millions of Iranians have fled the country taking not only their wealth and labor, but talents and education which no country can afford to lose. In the past 30 years, freedom-loving Iranians have been opposing the regime, but a unified, nationalist movement had not been achieved and successfully broadcasted until June 2009 following the bogus presidential elections. Contrary to the predictions of some political analysts and foreign policymakers, the national revolution which began last June has sustained and continues to pick up momentum. Technology has captured and continues to record these images for those, who knowingly or unknowingly, deny the existence of this struggle of ideologies.

Feb. 11 is the anniversary of that gloomy day in 1979 when Iranian loyalists and misguided foreign policymakers did not make the right decision. In Iranian calendar, "22 Bahman" equates to Feb. 11. Interestingly, "Bahman" is an ancient Zoroastrian concept meaning "good mind" or "good purpose."

Hopefully, this Feb. 11 or "22 Bahman," the nationalist Iranian armed forces will make the right decision in supporting and protecting the people against an illegitimate government. And the U.S. administration will make the right choice in standing with the people of Iran in their endeavor to win this struggle.

Sheda Vasseghi is a regular contributor on Iran's affairs. She is on the Board of Azadegan Foundation and a member of persepolis3d.com.
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_iran0089_02_05.asp

Iran's key allies, China and Russia, are sending divergent messages on whether to pursue further sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi warned Thursday that talk of additional sanctions is complicating the situation and hindering efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

Meantime, a leading Russian lawmaker, Konstantin Kosachyov, suggested Russia is more in agreement with Western nations calling for additional sanctions.

He told Russian state news that Iran's recent launch of a satellite has raised concerns that the Islamic Republic could eventually fire a long-range nuclear weapon.

China and Russia, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, traditionally have opposed past efforts to punish Iran for its nuclear activity.

Western countries are pushing for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran to try to force the country to enter into negotiations.

In another development, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his country blocked at least three shipments of cargo to Iran after invoking an Australian law aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Rudd did not reveal the contents of the blocked cargo, but the Australian newspaper reports one shipment included pumps that could be used to cool nuclear power plants.

The Australian says Australia's defense minister, John Faulkner, issued the order late last year.

Western nations fear Iran is working to produce atomic weapons, but Iran says its nuclear program is meant only for peaceful purposes.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/Irans-Allies-China-Russia-Part-on-Sanctions-Talk-83555357.html