I haven't been paying much attention to the news these days (hey, it's summertime! ), but from the
looks of this the weather isn't the only thing that's heating up... And while we're at it, notice the "oil for food"
item -- just in case you were wondering how come gasoline prices have dropped a bit over the last few
months....
IRAQI NO-FLY ZONE HEATS UP
For two straight days, American and British warplanes patrolling the
UN-mandated "no-fly" zone in southern Iraq have fired on air defense
installations they claim went active. Senior Iraqi officers say, however,
that the air strikes damaged a train station and several homes and killed
two people, while injuring at least 22 others.
The air raids occurred on Friday and Saturday in a city about 170 miles
south of Baghdad. Iraq says the attacks on Friday killed two civilians and
injured 19, and charge that the allied planes are targeting homes and
civilian structures "from the Saudi and Kuwaiti skies." Friday's air
strikes hit a warehouse used to store food allowed under the UN
oil-for-food deal, Iraqi officials also claimed.
The attacks ended a six-week lull in air strikes, which used to take place
almost daily. The US Central Command confirmed the two days of strikes,
saying allied aircraft targeted Iraqi air defense sites after anti-aircraft
artillery fired on planes patrolling the no-fly zone. The statements said
the allies "do not target civilian populations or infrastructure" and seek
to avoid civilian casualties.
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein briefed his Cabinet on Sunday on the latest
bombing runs. Afterwards, a cabinet statement was issued saying, "It is
clear that Saudi Arabia, first, followed by the Kuwaitis, are the ones
behind the continuation of the unjust sanctions, and the tool in the
implementation is the United States... The Saudis are spending the Arabs'
money to finance this evil plan along with the Kuwaitis," the statement
said. "They are giving bribes and facilitating the aggression ... in order
to kill the Iraqis and destroy their properties."
Iraq has criticized Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, along with Turkey, for
allowing the US and Britain to use their air bases for daily flights over
the no-fly zones of northern and southern Iraq since the end of the 1991
Gulf War. Iraq charges that allied air strikes have killed more than 300
citizens and injured at least 900 others, figures disputed by the US.
*****
US SEEKS VETO OVER ISRAELI ARMS SALES
Although US President Bill Clinton promised to upgrade the US-Israel
strategic relationship in light of Prime Minister Ehud Barak's far-reaching
efforts to forge peace with the Arabs, discussions last week on a new
memorandum of understanding revealed officials in Washington actually are
out to tie Israel's hands even more.
Three separate Israeli delegations traveled to Washington last week to open
talks on enhanced military ties, but their optimism was dampened when
Pentagon officials demanded that they accept limits on Israeli military
technology transfers to other states. The US requested a say in Israeli
arms sales to a list of 27 "states of concern," but then rejected a counter
request that Jerusalem also be consulted on American exports of military
hardware to Arab countries.
The three days of meetings aimed to draw up agreements for closer
cooperation in defending against ballistic missiles, countering biological
and chemical terrorism, and strengthening defensive arrangements on the
Israeli-Lebanese border. The talks were part of a broader effort to put
into writing a new level of strategic cooperation, following Clinton's
pledge after the failed Camp David summit to reward Barak by reviewing the
whole US-Israeli strategic relationship. The sessions were meant to bolster
Israel's sense of security in the wake of its withdrawal from Lebanon and
as it prepares for a possible peace agreement with the Palestinians. They
were also intended to help Israel counter emerging ballistic missile
threats from other countries in the region, such as Iraq and Iran, now seen
as the principal threat to Israel's security.
One Israeli team, headed by Israel's ambassador to Washington David Ivry,
succeeded in formulating a detailed agreement for cooperation between the
two countries in countering non-conventional - chemical, biological and
nuclear - terrorism.
Another delegation, headed by Barak's political adviser Zvi Stauber, dealt
with issues involving Clinton's decision to upgrade the strategic
relationship between the two countries. The two sides agreed to continue
with another round of talks in the future.
But the third set of talks, headed on the Israeli side by Defense Ministry
Director-General Amos Yaron and dealing with the limitations that the US
would like to impose on the transfer of Israeli military technology, were
described as extremely tough. These talks follow a crisis between the two
governments over Israeli plans to sell a Phalcon spy plane to China, a sale
which Barak canceled under pressure on the eve of the Camp David summit.
The feeling in the Israeli camp is that Clinton's promises at the end of
Camp David are not being translated favorably into deeds by administration
officials. The Clinton Administration made similar promises late last year
when Barak was close to giving away the Golan Heights to Syria.
*****
SOURCES THE JERUSALEM POST, ISRAEL LINE, HA'ARETZ, REUTERS, CNN,
ASSOCIATED PRESS, ARUTZ 7, WASHINGTON POST
This bulletin was compiled and written by David Parsons.
*****
ICEJ NEWS SERVICE
Editor David Parsons
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*****************************************
Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
OHzone UPdates...
Another month with not much happening on-line at OHzone, primarily because we've
been busy preparing for our big move from Fullmeasure Farm. The Lord has shown us a
store He wants us to buy ... so, being the wonderful Father He is, He has also provided us
with an incredible inventory to stock it. Thank You, Jesus!! All we have to do is organize
the goodies (which range from original oil paintings to beautiful antiques to 'royal' memorabilia
to stamps and coins to old, old books)...
catalogue 'em, and be ready to move 'em when He opens the door. :-)
No firm offers yet on our 'million-dollar baby', Fullmeasure Farm -- but since the move is His command,
He will bring in the owner He has chosen to bless here next once we have done our part. In the meantime
we're reducing our goat herd and taking most of our mature ducks to market. (Our horse we will take with us.)
Hmmm... Speaking of taking our ducks to market, I guess I'd better get ready to go. This marketing today is also
in response to His leading, so I *know* our dozen quackers will bring MUCH higher prices than I would ever have
anticipated. What a Saviour!!! Even the "small stuff" is secure in His hands -- because He cares that much for each
one of us. :-))
*****************************************
Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
That's about it for now, folks. God bless you and keep you, one and all!
PAYMENT DUE!!
The OHzone E-Clips is no longer free... it is now 'Helpware.'
Each week you must help one person on the web who has less knowledge
than you. Pick a newsgroup posting or an email each week and help
that person even if you have to visit their site to find the best
answer or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this
will make you feel better, and will help a lot of people get their
sites running better.That includes me, so if you've got a great idea you'd like to see on
OHzone, let me know, okay? dhowie@ohzone.net
OK, you're on your honor.... Ready... set... GO HELP SOMEBODY!!! -)
Sorry this issue is so short, folks, but I really did want to get that middle-east update
to you a.s.a.p. Are you ready for His return? Be prepared, cuz it won't be long now....
(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,
(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS
