In the news:

First up, we see yet more evidence of the rise of the "Kings of the East":

China delivers jolt to U.S. Middle East influence

In a further jolt to U.S. influence in the Middle East, China is expected to vote in favor of Palestinian statehood when the 66th United Nations General Assembly takes up the issue next month

Chinese President Hu Jintao told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in an exchange of notes last week that Beijing has “always supported the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state” in areas such as the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.

That represents very big news, as China is a key member of the Security Council.

China Developing 'Star Wars' Missile Defense Shield

China is developing a missile defense system in the highest layer of the atmosphere and outer space using high-end technologies like laser beams and kinetic energy intercept.

It has also been developing other kinetic and directed-energy technologies for ASAT missions like lasers, high-powered microwave, and particle beam weapons, according to a report released by the U.S. Defense Department last week.

China tests new aircraft carrier

China's first aircraft carrier has successfully completed its maiden sea trials and returned to a shipyard for further refurbishing, the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The 1,000-feet vessel is designed to carry 26 aircraft and 24 helicopters.

No letup in Chinese drills simulating Taiwan attack

While briefing reporters on the Pentagon report to be delivered to the U.S. Congress, Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, also said that over the past year, China has continued to beef up its naval and aerial combat arsenal, including extending the range of its jet fighters and updating its submarines and surface warships, as well as conducting sea trials of its first aircraft carrier

Ministry warns of China war option

The ministry’s Five-Year Military Reform and Policy Plan Report, submitted to the legislature yesterday, said that China’s Second Artillery Corps had increased its deployment of Dong Feng 16 (DF-16) and DF-21D missiles, which would enable the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to conduct multiple-wave precision strikes against Taiwan.
The Chinese arsenal deployed along its east coast includes 1,400 tactical ballistic missiles, short-range missiles, cruise missiles, as well as laser or electronically guided missiles capable of delivering warheads over long distances.
The report said this has strengthened the PLA’s capabilities to strike against all targets within the nation.

Now we see Sarkozy back in the news:

Sarkozy warns against preventive strike on Iran

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday that a preventive strike on Iran could lead to a crisis in the region and called on world powers to toughen their sanctions on Tehran instead.

"Iran's military, nuclear and ballistic [missile] ambitions pose a growing threat that could lead to a preventive strike on Iranian facilities and provoke a serious crisis, which France wants to avoid by all means," Sarkozy told French diplomats at an annual ambassador conference.

The only problem is - we know that Iran will not discontinue their rush to nuclear weapons. They have told the world that - repeatedly. Period.

Moving back to the U.S., we see yet another story confirming the existance of vast, empty FEMA camps. Why are they being built?

"I Visited A FEMA Facility Today"

This story is from a personal account from a "regular person", just like me or you, who stumbled on one of the FEMA camps:

Today my sister and I went to Wyoming to deal with some personal matters, and heading south brings us straight through "Hardin, MT". On the way home at about 6:30pm I asked my sister if she wouldn't mind stopping in Hardin because i wanted to see if i could find this Facility that was talked about by Alex Jones.

Any ways i told my sister oh well, lets head back to Billings. Just as we were ready to head onto the Interstate my sister said, " look at that building!" and off in the distance on several OPEN acres was an Enormous Facility. "That is it!", i said, and i headed down a one way street....(might i add the ONLY street) that could access this Facility. We drove up slowly and let me tell you, this isnt any ordinary "Detention Facility"

15-20 FT HIGH FENCING WITH SPIRAL BARBWIRE "OUTER FENCING, AND SECOND ROW OF INNER FENCING 15-20 FT HIGH!!! ONE WALK IN ENTRANCE BUT MASSIVE GATES WITH SPIRAL BARBWIRE, AND A DRIVE IN ENTRANCE THE SLOPES DOWN INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BASEMENT, ALSO BARBWIRE FENCING "DOUBLE".
EVERY 30 FT THERE WERE POLES WITH ABOUT 6 DOME LIKE CAMERAS HANGING FROM IT (360 DEGREE VIEW)
ONE SUBURBAN WAS PARKED IN THE BACK AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THIS "DETENTION FACILITY" HAD NEVER ACCOMMODATED ONE INMATE. COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY BARREN, NOT ONE THING LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN USED.

Take a look at the pictures. This is very real, and they have been built for some purpose that is yet to be defined to the public.

Lastly, we take a look at Caroline Glick's most recent post:

The perils of a militarized Sinai

This paragraph really tells the story:

From permitting Iranian naval ships to traverse the Suez Canal for the first time in 30 years to opening the border with Hamas-ruled Gaza to its openly hostile and conspiratorial reaction to the August 18 terrorist attack on Israel from the Sinai, there can be little doubt about the trajectory of Egypt's relations with Israel.

Unfortunately, however, we see this:

BUT JUST as was the case with Turkey - and again, largely because of American pressure - Israel's leaders are wary of accepting that the strategic landscape of our relationship with Egypt has changed radically and that the rules that applied under Mubarak no longer apply.

The junta wants to permanently deploy forces to the Sinai and consequently is pushing to amend the treaty. The generals' request comes against the backdrop of populist calls from across Egypt's political spectrum demanding the cancellation of the peace treaty.

Beyond that, there is the nature of the Egyptian military itself, which was exposed during and in the aftermath of the August 18 attack. At a minimum, the Egyptian and Palestinian terrorists who attacked Israel that day did so with no interference from Egyptian forces deployed along the border.

The fact that they shot into Israel from Egyptian military positions indicates that the Egyptian forces on the ground did not simply turn a blind eye to what was happening. Rather, it is reasonable to assume that they lent a helping hand to the terror operatives.

And this:

Both the behavior of the forces on the ground and of their commanders in Cairo indicates that if the Egyptian military is permitted to deploy its forces to the Sinai, those forces will not serve any helpful purpose for Israel.

THE MILITARY'S demonstrated antagonism toward Israel, the uncertainty of Egypt's political future, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the hatred of Israel shared by all Egyptian political factions all indicate that Israel will live to regret it if it permits the Egyptian military to mobilize in the Sinai. Not only will Egyptian soldiers not prevent terrorist attacks against Israel, their presence along the border will increase the prospect of war with Egypt.

Egypt's current inaction against anti-Israel terror operatives in the Sinai has already caused the IDF to increase its force levels along the border. If Egypt is permitted to mass its forces in the Sinai, then the IDF will be forced to respond by steeply increasing the size of its force mobilized along the border. And the proximity of the two armies could easily be exploited by Egyptian populist forces to foment war.

Everything in the Epicenter is lining up exactly as we would predict based upon the prophetic scriptures. The vice around Israel continues to tighten, as the enemies now completely surround Israel. The prophet Zechariah informed us of this process in Zechariah 12 and 14 and it is happening before our very eyes.

We are watching the region complete the pre-war process as the surrounding nations and terrorist groups prepare for the inevitable wars to come.