Israeli Election: Possible Scenarios. Russia Escalates Military Preparations. Daily Bell: NAU At Work?

Israeli's Election Too Close To Call But Here Are Some Possible Scenarios

If you think coalition negotiations after the UK general election in May are going to be complicated or that Congress agreeing on a budget is messy, you should check out the Israeli elections.

Israelis voting on Tuesday to elect representatives to the 120-seat Knesset. These will be the 20th elections Israel has held since 1949. The country has a history of unstable coalitions, none more so than the alliance put together in January 2013 which lasted less than two years.

Although the momentum is with Herzog – his party has come from behind, and its lead has doubled in a week (and may have continued to do so in the final four days of the campaign during which new polls could not be published) – the coalition arithmetic remains on Netanyahu’s side.

Adding up the parties to the right of Likud, Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party (on 12 seats in the polls), Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu (five) – although the party is no longer in a formal alliance with Likud – and Yachad (five) would take support for Netanyahu to 43 seats.

This is the prime minister’s most probable core bloc.

In an election as close and unpredictable as this, scenario planning is extremely complicated, and possibly speculative

However, one of Israel’s two centrist parties, Kulanu (nine), is more likely to back a Netanyahu coalition.

Finally, a deal with the two religious parties, Shas (seven) and United Torah Judaism (six) would take the PM’s total to 65 seats – a slim majority.

If Netanyahu Loses, You Can Blame The White House

It’s no secret that Barack Obama greatly dislikes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  But officially, Obama says that he is not trying to influence the outcome of the Israeli election.  Unfortunately, just like with so many other lies that Obama tells, that simply is not true.  A couple of months ago, it looked like Netanyahu was going to cruise to an easy victory in this election.  But then a flood of money and an army of Obama operatives started heading into Israel.  Now, the latest opinion polls project that Isaac Herzog’s Zionist Union will take 26 seats in the Knesset, and Netanyahu’s Likud Party is only being projected to take 22 seats.  Netanyahu is blaming this dramatic swing in the polls on an “international conspiracy," but he won’t mention Obama by name.  However, anyone with half a brain can see what is happening.  Even CNN admits that “corks will be popping at the White House and State Department if Netanyahu loses."

The leader of the army of Obama operatives that has gone over to Israel is named Jeremy Bird.  He was the national field director for Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign.  And even though Netanyahu won’t point a finger directly at Barack Obama, he has been willing to single out the organization that Bird is working for…

During the Tel Aviv rally Sunday, Netanyahu chided what he called funding “from abroad” of an activist group which has pushed for Netanyahu’s ouster. The group, V15, is working with Jeremy Bird, one of President Barack Obama’s former campaign strategists. Netanyahu, who has strong links to U.S. billionaire Sheldon Adelson, has attributed his drop in the polls to a “worldwide” conspiracy to oust him.

And of course there are lots of other Obama operatives working alongside Bird to oust Netanyahu.  In a previous article, I shared a list that had been compiled by WND…

There are a lot of reasons why Obama and his operatives want Netanyahu out.

But one of the core issues is that they believe that Netanyahu is the main barrier standing in the way of a Palestinian state.

If Isaac Herzog becomes the next prime minister, the outlook for negotiations with the Palestinians will change almost overnight.  The probability that Obama will be able to cement his “legacy” with a historic Middle East peace deal will go up dramatically.

On the other hand, if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wins, he is already promising that there will not be a Palestinian state for as long as he is holding office…

Some 26% Vote Before Noon; Likud Worried By High Arab Turnout

Just Call Her Jihadi Val

Ed Klein at the New York Post reports that "Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett leaked to the press details of Hillary Clinton's use of a private e-mail address during her time as secretary of state… But she did so through people outside the administration, so the story couldn't be traced to her or the White House." Oops! 

Okay – I don't normally pat myself on the back – but I called this one, actually telling someone a week ago that it was probably Jarrett who is trying bury Hillary Clinton, but is also most likely behind the potential toppling of long time Clinton buddy Rahm Emmanuel in Chicago, where Jarrett is from, and of course where Obama lived. I frankly think she is trying to kill off (figuratively) or at least tarnish everything Clinton.

Russia Escalates Military Posture: Deploys Strategic Bombers To Crimea, Launches Massive Drills Across Nation

All those who were wondering where Putin had "disappeared" to, and spreading rumors whether it was more likely his girlfriend had given birth in Switzerland or aliens had abducted him, will probably be satisfied if he were to promptly disappear once more following news that not only yesterday had he put 40,000 troops on full alert as part of "snap-readiness exercises", but less than 24 hours followed this up with even more demonstrative military "drills" after Sputnik reported that Russian strategic Tu-22M3 (Backfire) strike bombers have been deployed to the Crimean Peninsula to hold snap combat readiness drills, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, in addition to further massive troops and equipment deployment tests in the western part of the nation as well as around the Arctic circle.

As a reminder, Crimea was recently in the news following a weekend report citing Putin that he was ready to use nukes to secure the recently repossessed peninsula. So one can perhaps look at this as de-escalation. 

“During the snap combat readiness drills by the Armed Forces, strategic Tu-22M3s will be deployed to Crimea,” the source said.

Then, perhaps to counter the build of NATO troops in the Baltics, Russia also deployed fighters and bombers to the country’s western exclave of Kaliningrad for snap combat readiness exercises, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

“Fighter and bomber aviation is to be redeployed to the Kaliningrad Region, and ground troops on the Baltic will be reinforced with Iskander missile complexes in the Western Military District that will be delivered on large landing ships from the Baltic Fleet,” the source said.

On Monday, President Vladimir Putin gave the order to bring Russia's Northern Fleet, separate units of the Western Military District and the Airborne Troops to full alert in snap combat readiness exercises. The drills involve a total of 38,000 troops, 3,360 military vehicles, 110 aircraft and helicopters, 41 ships and 15 submarines.

Snap military exercises will be held in the sea, as well as on the ground and in the air until March 21. Their ultimate goal is to improve the military capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces, according to the Defense Ministry.

And then completing the trifecta, in addition to Crimea and Kaliningrad, as many as 30 army air force crews of Russia's Western Military District are being redeployed from airfields in the Leningrad and Smolensk regions to a military airfield near the Arctic Circle as part of surprise combat readiness drills being held in the Northern Fleet and the Western Military District, according to an Interfax report.

As a further reminder, Russia has been particularly interested in weaponizing the Arctic in recent months, the location of countless energy deposits, announcing late in 2014 it would build 13 airfields and 10 radar stations to meet "unwelcome guests." This is just a preview 

The crews operating Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters will have to cover more than 1,500 kilometers with a refueling stopover in the Republic of Karelia.

"Military transport aviation crews will deliver paratroop units to a military airfield in Russia’s polar region under a snap combat readiness exercise. More than 10 Il-76 aircraft will be used for the redeployment. The aircraft will fly over 3,000 kilometers in 24 hours. The redeployment will take place in the daytime and in the nighttime," according to the statement.

According to the Defense Ministry, the exercises will continue until March 21

Many more are coming: the Russian Defense Ministry announced in December 2014 it planned to hold at least 4,000 military drills across the country in 2015.

And with the US now deploying tanks, armors and various other vehicles literally just across the Russian western border and soon, the Arctic as well, the possibility of an unexpected and unwelcome escalation in hostilities rises with every new military drill.

NAU At Work? Canadian, Mexican Border Agents Can Now Work Within U.S., Carry Firearms

New border deal: Canada customs agents could work in U.S., vice versa ... Canadian customs agents could soon work in the U.S. and carry firearms, and the U.S. border guards could do the same in Canada, as a result of a new border agreement between Canada and the U.S. – CBC

Dominant Social Theme: It makes a lot of sense for US and Canadian security personnel to work together – maybe under the same regime.

Free-Market Analysis: We last wrote about the nascent NAU in late January, in an article entitled, "Shock: CNN Editorial Calls for a North American Union."

Now, once more, these three large states seem to have taken another step toward unity. But before proceeding, let's review the CNN article, which we quoted as follows:

Why we need a North American Passport ... The future success of North America depends partly on how the U.S., Canada and Mexico work together ... The future of the United States lies in North America. This is not a geographic truism, but a strategic imperative. Generations of Americans, distracted by far-flung crises, have long taken our own region for granted. This must change if the 21st century is to be an American century. 

We began our January analysis with the following comment:

Is the campaign for a North American Union officially underway with this editorial appearing in CNN? Certainly conspiracy theorists might be justified in thinking so.

For years, more than a decade, some have suspected that powerful bureaucracies in North America – especially in Washington – might seek to combine Mexico, the US and Canada into a single super-state.

Now we can update our speculation – as there is this announcement, reported by the CBC, that US and Canadian border agents can work within each other's countries.

Will they do so within the context of a unified command? The details are yet unclear but when governmental agents work by treaty in each other's country, it's certainly a step toward a bureaucratic union.

The increased overlap between Mexico and the US is being driven by a reduction in immigration controls that is intended to allow more legal cross-border travel.

In Canada, where resistance to a merger with the US is even higher than in Mexico, bureaucratic unity drives the program. And it seems obviously to be a program. A series of treaties and joint accords are gradually binding the governments of the three countries into an ever-tighter embrace.

Here's more:

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson have signed a customs pre-clearance agreement for rail, land and sea travel that was years in the making. The arrangement would allow customs agents to work in each other's countries, which means they could screen passengers away from the border and ease the choke points.

... Maryscott Greenwood of the Canadian American Business Council said the agreement will use modern technology to speed up things at the border. "It's dramatic, it's historic, it's a big day in Canada-U.S. relations," she said. The statement says the agreement applies to all modes of transport, which could include passenger vehicles. It also says customs agents will be allowed to carry firearms in each other's countries.

We can see from Greenwood's comments that this isn't merely a border agreement designed to enhance efficiency. She is casting it in historical terms, especially given that agents will be "allowed to carry firearms in each other's country."

This notable event in Canada becomes even more noticeable when one realizes that a similar arrangement has just been announced in Mexico.

From the Albuquerque Journal: "Mexico set to allow armed U.S. customs officials within its borders."

It all sounds so reasonable – who could object to governments working together in this fashion? And yet isn't there evidence of a process here?

Certainly it would seem to us worth commenting – as we are now doing. Yet we doubt we'll see a single mainstream news outlet put these two stories together within the context of a larger trend. We could write the headline, of course. Here's one version:

"Canada, Mexico and US to Allow Customs Officials to Work in Cross-border Partnership"

Conclusion: 

When one looks at all the other agreements, including trade treaties such as NAFTA and CAFTA, it's almost indisputable that unifying elements are at work.

ISIS Vows To 'Blow Up The White House, Big Ben And The Eiffel Tower'

En route to conquering the European cities of Paris and Rome, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria says they plan to “blow up” the White House, Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.

ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani detailed the terror group’s plans to conquer Portugal, Spain, Paris and Rome in an almost 30-minute audio message to the West, “So They Kill And Are Killed,” which references a Koran verse.

“We won the day Europe and U.S. dreamt of reclaiming Tal Hamis, Mosul, Sinjar, Tikrit, Qaim, Derna, Tell Abyad, and more,” stated the ISIS mouthpiece, as transcribed by Ynet News.

“We — with Allah’s help — want Paris, before Rome and Islamic Iberia and after we blow up the White House, Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower before Paris, and Rome,” al-Adnani warned. “The Muslims will return to power, to be the vanguard and lead in every place.”

The Islamic State’s al-Adnani gave Jews and Christians the ultimatum that they could either “convert to Islam or pay the ultimate price when you armies are expelled from Muhammad’s peninsula, from Jerusalem, and all Muslim lands,” Ynet news translated. He warned Christians and Jews they would soon be unable to stop the jihadi advance to the caliphate, saying, “The Jews and the Crusaders are scared and weak.”

Sorry ISIS: Christianity Can't Be Eradicated By Wiping Out Relics

ISIS cultists are taking sledgehammers and jackhammers to every monument of Christianity they can find in the region of Syria and Iraq temporarily under their sway, all with a bizarre idea that they will terminate Christianity by sweeping away physical evidence of a religious heritage. The truth, however, will always reign supreme over the folly of dupes, and the truth is…

Destroying Christian symbols, sites and relics cannot eradicate faith.

Faith is something that the Islamic State doesn’t understand, because that is not the core of their belief; works of their hands is. If finding a way into a hereafter were based on what one can demolish, desecrate and defame, then these professors of Islam would be heading for their concept of heaven. What they cannot conceive is the true calling of Christ is faith in what He already accomplished, not in what any one individual can do to earn their way into God’s presence. Plainly put, works do not equal faith, and to further that concept Allah does not equal God because God is love not hate. (1John 4:8)

All the symbols in the vast world of Judeo-Christian history are just that, symbols of the abiding faith that believers confess. They do not replace what is in the heart of every Christian, nor can the destruction of crosses, churches, priceless mosaics and iconic art wipe away what one knows to be true. The Word of God is ever-present in a believer’s heart; it is printed in billions of copies of the Bible translated into hundreds of languages and dialects to make it available to all. Putting artifacts to the ax will not convert a single soul to a creed praising despicable acts in an attempt to prove its authenticity.

What these contemptible acts show is that those performing them somehow think they are legitimizing their beliefs by removing visible signs of other beliefs. They also somehow believe that they can deny history by obliterating archaeological relics and writings. The opposite is confirmed. Their foolishness demonstrates their lack of faith in viewing buildings, statues, and tablets from the past to be a threat to their religion. Despite the irreversible damage they cause by destroying historical landmarks, more than a hundred years of photographic images, thousands upon thousands of scholarly books, film and videographic archives scattered throughout the world’s museums, libraries and universities, ISIS will never eliminate the past.

More importantly, stealing the lives of Christians by selling them into slavery or butchering and beheading them with ragged-edged knives will not deter the faithful. As persecution increases, the numbers of the Church are growing because such fiendish atrocities confirm the perpetrators’ lack of faith. Only those attempting to prove something to themselves react brutally to a perceived threat, and true Faith is a threat to inventions of the mind.