Israel Tightening Security as Iran Warns it Will Bring the War to Israel, and ‘Beyond’

By David Lev – “Iran is preparing its own answers to the string of assassinations of Iranian scientists, a web site identified with President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Thursday – and those responsible had better start staying awake nights, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying. Naming Israel specifically, the Rajah News website said that Israel wasn’t the only country that could undertake long-distance proxy wars. ‘We too can send our agents to kill people in their sleep,’ the site quoted the unnamed official as saying.

‘None of those responsible will escape, none of them should feel safe,’ the official told the website. ‘We will take the war beyond the borders of Iran, and beyond the borders of the region.’ Israeli commentators said that the statement was an implied threat that Iran could target American Jews in response to what it perceives is a covert war by Israel to halt Iran’s nuclear program. Several months ago, the FBI announced the arrest of a terror gang connected to Iran that had planned to attack synagogues in the U.S., and to blow up the Saudi embassy in Washington.” Read more.

Rabbi injured after New Jersey synagogue torched – “A suspicious fire inside a large Rutherford synagogue Wednesday morning injured one person. The fire broke out inside the structure on Montross Avenue just before 5 a.m. One person sustained a minor injury in the blaze, which was quickly brought under control. The fire appeared to be suspicious, and fire investigators quickly responded. One resident who lives in the building told a neighbor that something was tossed through the window just before the fire spread.” Read more.

Israel ups security abroad after Iran scientist killed – “The defense establishment is tightening security over Israeli delegations overseas out of concern that Iran will avenge the assassination on Wednesday of a senior nuclear scientist and ahead of the anniversary of the killing of Hezbollah’s military chief. Security officials said that meetings were being held regularly by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Counterterrorism Bureau to assess the threat and make adjustments to the security of delegations and senior officials overseas. On Thursday, a hardline Iranian newspaper with links to the country’s top authority called on the clerical establishment to take retaliatory measures against Israel for the killing of scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan in Tehran.” Read more.

Egyptian Cleric Ali Abu Al-Hasan: ‘Europe Will Become a Single Islamic State … Islam is Coming!’

Video: Ali Abu Al-Hasan: “With the (Muslim) emigration (to Europe), and the unwillingness to get married and have children (among the Europeans) … Europe has realized this. After a while, Europe will become a single Islamic state, which will know nothing but ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.’ This will happen whether they like it or not. This is the decree of Allah. Islam is coming!”

Related:

• Europe: A hotbed of Islamic terrorism
• Radical Islam in the Heart of Europe and the Campaign to Impose Sharia Law

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Alaska: Anchorage on Track for Snowiest Winter on Record

All the snow meant for the lower continental US and large portions of Canada must have somehow been rerouted to the land of the midnight sun …

By Associated Press – “ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Heavy snow fell in Alaska’s largest city Thursday, adding to what already has been the snowiest period for Anchorage since records have been kept.

The National Weather Service predicted a snowfall of 8-16 inches, with the city’s upper Hillside neighborhoods expected to get the bulk of the snow.

It began snowing shortly before midnight. The heaviest snow was expected between 3 a.m. and noon.

‘It’s snowing pretty good right now,’ forecaster Christian Cassell said at 4:30 a.m. Thursday at the Anchorage weather service office. The snow had been intermittent but the rate was increasing.

‘We still expect a decent amount of snow,’ Cassell said.

Anchorage schools were open Thursday, but some school bus routes were canceled because of whiteout driving conditions. It mainly affects students living south of Anchorage and buses that must use the Seward Highway.

The weather service counts a snow year from July to June. From July 1 through Tuesday, Anchorage has received 81.3 inches of snow. Meteorologist Shaun Baines said that makes it the snowiest period for Anchorage since records have been kept.

If the pace keeps up through the last snows in either April or May, Anchorage is on track to have the snowiest winter ever, surpassing the previous record of 132.8 inches in 1954-55, Baines said.

About 150 miles to the southeast of Anchorage, the Prince William Sound community of Cordova has already been buried under 172 inches of snow since Nov. 1 and is trying to dig out from recent storms.

Another 4 to 7 inches could fall Thursday, Baines said.” Read more.

Photo by Heather Aronno Showing the Richardson Highway Outside of Valdez, AK

“Tim Tebow’s Fire”: John Parr Re-records “St. Elmo’s Fire” in Honor of Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow

Here’s a little something to go along with this story.  Inspired by Tim Tebow, British musician John Parr has decided to re-record his 1985 hit song “St. Elmo’s Fire” in honor of the Denver Broncos quarterback.  Parr begins by singing, “Growing up, gotta keep your eye on the ball”.  This is something that Tebow has done exceptionally well, not only in terms of football, but where it truly matters: Faith …

Egypt: Islamist Domination of Parliament Confirmed, Top American Official Meets Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood’s official motto: “Allah is our objective – The Prophet is our leader – The Qur’an is our law – Jihad is our way – Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope”

Reuters – “CAIRO – The Muslim Brotherhood said on Saturday it had won at least 41 percent of the seats in Egypt’s lower house of parliament, with Islamists of various stripes occupying almost two thirds of the assembly so far.

Banned under deposed president Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood has emerged as a major winner from the uprising that toppled him, exploiting a well-organized support base in the first free legislative vote in decades.

It may be some weeks before the exact shape of the lower house is known because of various runoff votes. However, it is unlikely that their outcome will alter the dominance of the Islamists who now look set to wield major influence over the shape a new constitution to be drafted by a 100-strong body that the new assembly will pick.

The Brotherhood has promised that Egyptians of all persuasions will have their say and, while the strong Islamist performance has alarmed some Egyptians and Western governments that backed Mubarak …” Read more.

Top US official meets Muslim Brotherhood to confirm their support of human rights, tolerance, rights of women & international obligations – “The number two official in the U.S. State Department met with a leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday but chose not to see a more hardline Islamist group that has also fared well in Egypt’s first free legislative vote in decades. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns met Mohamed Morsi, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), in Washington’s highest level outreach to the Islamist group as part of a series of meetings with Egyptian political figures in Cairo, the State Department said. ‘From our perspective it was an opportunity to hear from them and to reinforce our expectation that all the major parties will support human rights, tolerance, rights of women and will also uphold Egypt’s existing international obligations,’ State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.” Read more.

Flashback: Muslim Brotherhood Will Not Recognize the ‘Occupying Criminal Enemy’ Israel Under ANY Circumstances, Vows to Cancel ‘Zionist’ Peace Treaty – “Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood will not recognize Israel ‘under any circumstance,’ the party’s deputy leader Dr Rashad Bayoumi told Arabic daily al-Hayat in an interview publish Sunday. When asked whether it is a requirement for the government in Egypt to recognize Israel, Bayoumi responded by saying: ‘This is not an option, whatever the circumstances, we do not recognize Israel at all. Its [Israel] an occupying criminal enemy.’ The deputy leader stressed during the interview that no Muslim Brotherhood members would ever meet with Israelis for negotiations. ‘I will not allow myself to sit down with criminals.’ Bayoumi went on to say that The Muslim Brotherhood would take legal procedures towards cancelling the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel that was signed in 1979.” Read more.

Flashback: Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Holds Venomous Anti-Israel Rally, Vows to ‘One Day Kill All Jews’ – “Arab hate: A Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to ‘one day kill all Jews.’ Some 5,000 people joined the rally, called to promote the ‘battle against Jerusalem’s Judaization.’ The event coincided with the anniversary of the United Nations’ partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state… Speakers at the event delivered impassioned, hateful speeches against Israel, slamming the ‘Zionist occupiers’ and the ‘treacherous Jews.’” Read more.

Fitch Warns of ‘Cataclysmic’ Euro Collapse, World Economic Forum Warns of New 1930’s Era Depression

“The European Central Bank should ramp up its buying of troubled euro zone debt to support Italy and prevent a ‘cataclysmic’ collapse of the euro, David Riley, the head of sovereign ratings for Fitch, has warned.

Speaking to investors as part of a European roadshow, Mr Riley said a collapse of the euro would be disastrous for the global economy, and while it is not Fitch’s baseline scenario, it could happen if Italy did not find a way out of its debt problems.

‘The end of the euro would be cataclysmic. The euro is a reserve currency,’ Mr Riley said overnight. ‘What would that do in terms of financial and political stability?’

‘It is hard to believe the euro will survive if Italy does not make it through,’ he said, adding that while many saw Italy as too politically and economically important to be allowed to fail, ‘one might also argue that it is too big to rescue.’

The warning pushed the euro down towards a 16-month low versus the US dollar.” Read more.

Global financial crisis threatens to drag the world back to the 1930s – “The financial crisis threatens to drag the world back to the dark days of the 1930s and wipe out the gains of globalisation, a hard-hitting report said tonight. In its annual assessment of the global economy, the World Economic Forum warned of a rising tide of protectionism, nationalism and protests as seen during the Great Depression. It blamed the ‘chronic’ state of government finances and the widening gap between the rich and poor as the world lurches from one crisis to another. The WEF, which holds its yearly meeting for leading politicians, economists, businessmen and academics in the Swiss ski resort of Davos later this month, said the ‘seeds of dystopia’ have been sown.” Read more.

CDC Fears Outbreak After 12 Infected with New Swine Flu Strain in the United States

By Nina Golgowski – “Twelve Americans have been reported infected with a mutating and now possibly human-to-human transmitted form of the H1N1 Swine Flu virus called H3N2v.

An investigation undertaken by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that human infections of these viruses followed contact with swine as well as through ‘limited human-to-human transmission.’

‘While there is no evidence that sustained human-to-human transmission is occurring, all influenza viruses have the capacity to change and it’s possible that this virus may become widespread,’ the CDC explained through their website.

According to the report presented by the CDC, the virus has been found in five states sprawled around the East Coast and Midwest since August of 2011, though in a late November report they listed the first as being in July.

Out of 10 diagnosed with the virus excluding West Virginia’s two victims – reported in the CDC’s November report – three were hospitalized.

The CDC stated that the severity in illness following diagnosis with the virus has been found similar to previous flu virus infections with mild illness.” Read more.

Flashback: Iowa: Health Officials Concerned Over Potentially Large Outbreak of New Recombinant Flu Virus Spreading Human-to-Human – “A new type of flu virus has afflicted three children in Iowa. This virus has been linked to pigs in the past, but these new cases appaear to have been spread from person to person. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said that the children did not become seriously ill. The children live in rural Webster and Hamilton counties. There is concern about a potentially greater outbreak of the flu because the swine origin A/H3N2 virus was detected in patients who hadn’t had contact with animals.” Read more.

Flashback: UK: Britain on Alert for Strain of Killer Flu, ‘One of the Biggest Biological Threats of Our Time’ – “A NEW strain of killer flu which could spread to ­Britain within 24 hours is ‘one of the biggest biological threats of our time’, experts warned. The alert comes after people started to fall victim to seasonal flu and the more virulent swine flu at the same time. Such a rare incidence creates the risk of a lethal mutation, leading to an ‘ominous’ super-flu virus for which humans have almost no immunity, said medical scientists. Dr Peter Hotez, a world-renowned infectious disease expert, warned: ‘Highly infectious strains of the virus against which humans have little defence can spread from one continent to another within 24 hours.’” Read more.