Paralyzed NATO 'Falling Apart' – Report

Paralyzed NATO 'Falling Apart' – Report

Sputnik

European leaders are mulling how to deal with US threats to pull out of NATO, US media reports.

"It's pretty clear" that NATO is already disintegrating and its European members "can't wait for the alliance to be completely dead." 

European nations should urgently bolster their own defenses, one of the leaders reportedly insisted. 

There is a common "grim view" that Washington's criticisms of the UK, Spain, France and others over their reluctance to support the US war on Iran reflect "a fundamental breach in the transatlantic alliance," one said.

The White House has "destroyed" the transatlantic relationship and "unified" Europe in opposition to the Iran war, another stressed.

Trump Urges Reliant Nations to Militarily “Take” Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Scales Back Role

Trump Urges Reliant Nations to Militarily “Take” Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Scales Back Role

Garrison Vance

In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy posture, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged nations dependent on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to assume military responsibility for securing the vital waterway. The remarks, made via a Truth Social post on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, signal a potential withdrawal of the United States from its traditional role as primary security guarantor in the Persian Gulf.

The strategic strait, a narrow maritime passage between Oman and Iran, is a critical global energy chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes through it, according to industry experts ^[1]. Its closure by Iran amid ongoing regional conflict has triggered a sharp rise in global oil prices and heightened fears of prolonged economic disruption ^[2].

Trump’s post directly addressed countries experiencing fuel shortages due to the strait's closure. "All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT," the president wrote ^[3].

The statement explicitly named the United Kingdom as an example of a non-participating ally and framed the U.S. withdrawal from security duties as reciprocal. "You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us," Trump added ^[4]. The call for third-party military action to seize control of the strait from Iran marks a departure from decades of U.S. policy centered on maintaining a dominant naval presence in the Gulf to ensure energy flows ^[5].

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly supported Trump's comments during a press briefing at the Pentagon later on Tuesday. Hegseth suggested other nations should "step up" to help reopen the strait, framing it as an international responsibility ^[6].

"I think the president was clear this morning in his truth that there are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well. It's not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well," Hegseth said, questioning the capabilities and willingness of allied navies ^[3].

Officials further contextualized the U.S. stance by noting the country's comparative level of use. "So he's pointing out this is an international waterway that we use less than most. In fact, dramatically less than most," the secretary of war added ^[3].

The remarks from Trump and Hegseth followed a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report indicating the president told his aides he was willing to end the war with Iran, even if it meant leaving the Strait of Hormuz closed ^[3]. Despite this reported openness to conflict resolution, no active diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran has been confirmed by officials.

Military action continues unabated. U.S.-Israeli strikes continue to target Iran, and Iranian missile and drone attacks persist across the region ^[3]. The conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury by the U.S. military, entered its second month in late March, with both sides exchanging demands for any settlement ^[7]. Market reactions have been volatile, with futures rising on hopes of de-escalation following the WSJ report, yet oil prices remain elevated due to persistent security fears ^[8].

Despite the president's stated willingness for the war to end, the United States is deploying additional troops to the region. Reports indicate the War Department is preparing for potential ground operations ^[3]. Hegseth made clear this was a viable option.

"Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are. So if we needed to, we could execute those options on behalf of the president of the United States and this department," Hegseth told reporters ^[3].

This military buildup includes specific planning for operations against key Iranian infrastructure. Retired Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, former chief of U.S. Central Command, told CBS that the U.S. has planned for a ground invasion of Kharg Island and other points in Iran for years ^[9]

Canada Is One Step Closer To Making Christian Beliefs Illegal To Express

Canada Is One Step Closer To Making Christian Beliefs Illegal To Express

Ken Ham

Canada is one step closer to passing “hate crime” legislation that would make historic Christian beliefs illegal to express. And really, it would make quoting parts of the Bible illegal!

The “Combatting Hate Act” (or Bill C-9), which just moved on to the Senate of Canada, “proposes new Criminal Code offences, including one that would make it a crime to intentionally promote hatred against identifiable groups in public using certain hate- or terrorism-related symbols.” And the bill specifically removes protections for religious freedom:

The Liberals [one of Canada’s political parties] got Bloc [another party] support by including a clause that would remove the religious exemption from Canada’s hate speech law.

The Criminal Code currently includes an exemption for hate speech, “if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”

Of course, they are claiming this will not “criminalize faith,” but we’ve seen what has happened in Europe (and what has already happened in Canada) when “hate crime” legislation is passed. Christians are specifically targeted for their beliefs, especially regarding gender, marriage, and the sanctity of human life. Every thinking person knows that this change to the Criminal Code will be used in exactly the same way eventually (and probably not far in the future). 

Yes, religious freedoms are rapidly eroding in the West as the once-Christian foundation—the very foundation that gave the idea of human rights—disappears and is replaced with secular humanism. We need to pray for Canada and for the dedicated Christians who will have to live with this kind of legislation.

John 15:18–20 says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

Katz to Hezbollah chief Qassem: You won't live to see Israel’s full response to Passover attacks

Katz to Hezbollah chief Qassem: You won't live to see Israel’s full response to Passover attacks

BySAM HALPERN

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Thursday, saying he would not live to see the “very heavy price” for attacks on Israel during Passover and would end up “at the bottom of hell” with other eliminated Iranian proxy leaders.

Katz’s comments came in a video message following a Thursday situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other top military officials at “the pit,” the IDF’s command center beneath the Kiyra military compound.

"I have a clear message to Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of the Hezbollah terrorist organization: You and your friends will pay a very heavy price for the increased shooting at Israeli citizens while they are sitting down to celebrate the Seder Night,” Katz said.

Previously, the IDF on Wednesday warned that Iran and Hezbollah might launch coordinated attacks on Israel at the start of the holiday that evening. Iran then fired around 10 ballistic missiles minutes before Passover began in one of the most significant barrages from the Islamic Republic in weeks.

“You will no not be able to see [the heavy price], because you will be at the bottom of hell together with Nasrallah, Khamenei, Sinwar, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil,” Katz said, adding, “but the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which you now head, and its supporters in Lebanon will pay the heaviest prices.”

Katza added that the attacks would not deter Israel and that the country would never return to the security situation that existed for Israel before the start of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, 2023, which Hezbollah joined the next day.

“Your patrons in Iran are crushed and will be of no use to you against the might of the IDF and the bravery and commitment of our soldiers to bring security to the North,” Katz said in the message to Qassem. “We will cleanse Hezbollah and its supporters from southern Lebanon, with IDF security control over the entire Litani area, and we will uproot Hezbollah’s ‘snake’s teeth’ throughout Lebanon.”

Katz originally announced that Israel would occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River last week. The minister said the move would be carried out to create a "defensive buffer" against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah fires some 130 rockets at north on Passover; 4 lightly injured

Hezbollah fires some 130 rockets at north on Passover; 4 lightly injured

Emanuel Fabian

Four people were lightly injured as Hezbollah fired around 130 rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday and Thursday, the start of the Passover holiday, as the military struck dozens of sites in Lebanon belonging to the Iran-backed terror group.

The bombardment as Israelis celebrated the first two days of the Passover festival sent hundreds of thousands of people into shelters, as Iran continued to also launch missiles at the country, including the north.

Two men, aged 34 and 85, were wounded Thursday when a rocket struck a building in Kiryat Shmona, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

Later, two men in their 30s and 40s were lightly wounded when a Hezbollah rocket struck the northern town of Bi’ina, Magen David Adom emergency personnel said.

Footage showed scenes of property damage after the barrages in the north, including a McDonald’s restaurant near Kibbutz Ma’ayan Baruch with many of its windows blown out.

Damage was also caused to an empty daycare in the northern city of Nahariya, according to rescue services.

Rocket sirens also sounded in the Krayot suburbs of Haifa, though according to the IDF, most of the rockets were intercepted and others were allowed to hit open areas, “according to protocol.” No injuries were reported.

The IDF said on Thursday that more than 40 Hezbollah operatives were killed and dozens of sites belonging to the terror group in Lebanon were struck in the past day.

The Israeli Air Force bombed dozens of Hezbollah command centers, weapons depots, rocket launchers and anti-tank missile launch posts, according to the military.

The IDF said the Israeli Navy also struck a Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, ground forces continued operations in southern Lebanon.