Vatican negotiating with Palestinians, U.S. leaving Afghanistan, Spain pushing for Gibraltar, Germany’s secret service spying on its own politicians, China punishing Philippines, and Occupy Oakland getting violent.

Middle East

Vatican renews negotiations with Palestinians: Vatican officials met with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Ramallah on January 29 to resume bilateral negotiations. The Vatican is seeking “a formal agreement regulating and promoting the presence and activity of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories,” according to the Catholic News Service. “[T]he talks took place in a positive atmosphere to strengthen further the special relations between the two sides,” a joint communiqué on the meeting said. The Vatican presented a draft agreement that both sides will look at before meeting at the Vatican “in the near future,” it said. The Vatican desperately wants control of Jerusalem, which makes such negotiations important to watch. For more information on its agenda in the area, read our article “Why Does the Vatican Want a Palestinian State?” from the latest print edition of the Trumpet magazine.

U.S. leaving Afghanistan earlier than planned: The United States has announced it will end its combat role in Afghanistan a year earlier than expected, apparently taking Kabul by surprise. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that the U.S. would stop combat operations before the end of 2013. Washington had previously said it would withdraw most combat troops by the end of 2014. “A decision to push this a year earlier throws out the whole transition plan,” a senior Afghan security official told Reuters. “The transition has been planned against a timetable and this makes us rush all our preparations.” The announcement will assuredly provide a lift to the Taliban though, who are holding out for the day they can take over. In a classified report leaked to British media, nato says that the Taliban remain confident they can gain control of the country. “Taliban commanders, along with rank and file members, increasingly believe their control of Afghanistan is inevitable. Though the Taliban suffered severely in 2011, its strength, motivation, funding and tactical proficiency remains intact,” according to an excerpt of the report, published by the Times of London and the bbc.

Iran increasing support for terrorism: Iran is stepping up its support for international terrorism and intelligence operations against the U.S, the director of national intelligence told Congress on Tuesday. “The 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States shows that some Iranian officials—probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived actions that threaten the regime,” James Clapper said in a statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Because of the low cost Iran had to pay for that plot, its leaders “have changed their calculus and are now more willing” to sponsor attacks against the U.S. at home and abroad, he said. He pointed out the danger posed by Iran’s nuclear program and its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, as well as its advancement of ballistic missiles. Iran is “expanding the scale, reach and sophistication of its ballistic missile forces, many of which are inherently capable of carrying a nuclear payload,” he said. Clapper also said Tehran “is attempting to undermine any strategic relationship” between the U.S. and the Afghan government. Other threats Clapper highlighted were those posed by al Qaeda’s regional affiliates in the Middle East and Africa, as well as by cyberespionage.

Europe

Unemployment: EU vs. Germany: Germany’s unemployment rate is at a record low of 5.5 percent, according to data published February 2. Meanwhile, the average unemployment rate for the EU is almost twice as high—9.9 percent. Why is Germany prospering while Greece, Portugal, Italy, etc. suffer? The European Monetary Union was deliberately structured to favor the German economy to the detriment of the entire eurozone.

New Spanish government more aggressive over Gibraltar: Spain’s new government is pushing Britain to negotiate over Gibraltar without consideration for the wishes of the inhabitants of Gibraltar. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo wrote to his British counterpart to this effect after British Prime Minister David Cameron promised last week to respect Gibraltar’s right to self-determination. This, wrote the Times, “marks a hardening of Madrid’s position over its controversial claim for the return of the Rock.” This push to exclude Gibraltar from negotiations comes just over a week after former Europe Minister Peter Hain said that then Prime Minister Tony Blair came close to giving up the Rock in 2002. Mr. Hain claims that Britain made a deal with Spain on April 18, 2002, to share sovereignty over the area and allow Britain to keep a naval base there. The Spanish vetoed the deal. Britain has already come close to giving away the Rock. With the Spanish pushing for Gibraltar once again, will Britain have the will to hold on to it? Bible prophecy says it won’t.

Germany wants Greece to hand over control of budget: Greece should hand over control of its tax and spending policies to an EU commissioner in return for its next bailout program, according to a German government proposal published by the Financial Times January 27. This commission should have the power to “veto decisions not in line with the budgetary targets set by the Troika,” says the report. Several German politicians have publicly supported the proposal, including Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler and head of the Christian Democratic Union in the German parliament Volker Kauder. Greece’s unelected government is outraged at the suggestion. Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the suggestion undermined Greek “national dignity.” Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou said the suggestion was “the product of a sick imagination.” Greek newspaperTo Ethnos went much further, saying: “The document recommends conditions dictated by a conqueror to an enslaved population and must be treated by the Greek people as a hostile attack by a state that wants to destroy Greek sovereignty just like the German Nazi attack of April 1941.” Dr. George Friedman of Stratfor pointed out that “[W]hoever controls a country’s government expenditures, tax rates and monetary policy effectively controls that country. The German proposal therefore would suspend Greek sovereignty and the democratic process as the price of financial aid to Greece” (January 31; emphasis added). Germany shows some signs of bowing to the outrage. It may beat a strategic retreat, but the fact remains that German money is keeping the eurozone afloat right now. It will get what it wants in the end—Greece will have to comply or have its economy destroyed even more. Germany’s finances give it great power over the eurozone.

Germany’s secret service spies on politicians: The German secret service has been spying on members of parliament belonging to the Left Party, according to evidence published by the Spiegel last week. The incident exposes just how much power Germany’s intelligence service has accrued.

NATO missile shield HQ to be in Germany: The command centre for nato’s missile shield will be at the American airbase in Ramstein, Germany, a spokesman for the base said February 2. It will enter service after a summit in Chicago, in May. “Germany will be the most important, strategically meaningful deployment of the United States in Europe. We appreciate that. And Ramstein is part of that with its strategic importance for the air forces,” said the German defense minister. Yet again, America is trusting Germany with key national defense issues. For more information, see our October 2008 Trumpet article “The Next Nuclear Superpower.”

Asia

China aims to punish Philippines for U.S. ties: China’s state-run Global Times said on Sunday that Beijing must punish the Philippines economically for Manila’s moves toward closer military ties with the United States. The article was a response to an agreement the previous week between Philippine and American officials to boost cooperation in several areas including maritime defense and security. Manila also said it is considering an increase in the presence of American troops in the Philippines and conducting more joint military drills with U.S. forces. The Philippines is among several nations with which China is engaged in territorial disputes regarding the South China Sea, and Beijing views the U.S. as an unwelcome participant in those skirmishes. The Global Times nationalist tabloid, published by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, said China must apply economic pressure on the Philippines in order to make it abandon its cooperation with Washington. Although Manila may cling to the declining U.S. in the short term, it will eventually be won over or forced over to allegiance with China.

Military analyst: Russia and China should form Eurasian alliance: Chinese military analyst Dai Xu said on Monday that the U.S.’s ramped up military presence in Asia is designed to intentionally provoke Beijing, and suggested that Russia and China form a Eurasian alliance in response to the provocations. In order to maintain stability in the region, Dai is urging Beijing and Moscow to ally against U.S. influence, and to assist nations like Iran and Syria, which he sees as being oppressed by Washington. Because Russia and China are both military powers with nuclear weapons and massive land areas, Dai said it would not be possible for Washington and nato to penetrate Eurasia. Dai also suggested inviting Iran and Pakistan to become members of his proposed Eurasian alliance. In reality, the alliance that Dai has proposed already exists between Beijing and Moscow, although no official announcement of it has ever been made.

Pakistan expected to become SCO member in March: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is mulling the membership applications of both Iran and Pakistan, and the situation looks promising for the latter. On Wednesday, the Rupee News said, “While there is much discussion of Iran on the agenda, whose absorption into the regional grouping would be seen as a provocative step, there is almost no opposition to the membership of Pakistan.” Whether Pakistan allies with the Eastern nations or falls in line behind Iran, its breakaway from the U.S. represents a significant strategic loss for Washington.

Africa

Institute predicts 20% fewer white people in South Africa by 2040: As crime and race relations worsen in South Africa, the white population is steadily declining as those of European ancestry leave the country. The South African government estimates that as many as 1 million white South Africans have left their homeland since the end of apartheid in 1994, with many citing a lack of opportunity and crime as their reasons for leaving. According to a recently released report by the South African Institute of Race Relations, the white population will decline another 20 percent by 2040. Just last August the independent watchdog organization Genocide Watch upgraded the genocide warning for the white population in South Africa from a level five to a level six. This decision was made after considering the fact that more white farmers were murdered in South Africa during 2009 alone than have been killed in Zimbabwe since Robert Mugabe came to power. Eighteen years after the end of apartheid, South Africa’s attempts at racial reconciliation have clearly failed.

Anglo-America

British priests back homosexual partnerships: Around 120 Church of England clergy in the diocese of London have signed a petition demanding that they be allowed to conduct civil partnership ceremonies in their churches for homosexual couples. The ban on holding civil partnership ceremonies in churches was struck down last year by the government, but the church has told priests they cannot hold them until the General Synod approves. The diocese of London is one of the more conservative districts, so support is likely to grow as the petition spreads to other areas. The petition proves how liberal the Church of England is becoming.

California budget comes up short again: California state controller John Chiang said this week that his state will need to come up with an additional $3.3 billion by early March if it wants to avoid sending out ious or delaying tax refunds again. The rest of the deficit can be covered using creative accounting and other emergency measures, he indicated. Lawmakers not only underestimated spending, but overestimated tax collections, according to Chiang. They spent $2.6 billion more than planned, and collected $2.6 billion less than hoped. It is the tax shortfall that is particularly worrisome for California. More than two years after the recession officially ended, tax revenues should be soaring as the recovery takes hold—at least that is what has happened after previous recessions ended. Not so this time. Not only haven’t the jobs returned, but tax revenues are under-performing to expectations as well. It just confirms what many people intuitively realize: This recovery is the worst on record. Tax collections are usually one of the better indicators of how the economy is really doing—and in California’s case, it is still coming up short. On a national level, California’s condition is troublesome too, because California typically leads the nation in economic recoveries.

Occupy Oakland protests turn violent: A march to take over a vacant building by members of the Occupy Oakland movement turned violent last Saturday, after protesters began tearing down barricades and destroying construction equipment. When police ordered the crowd to disperse, officers were pelted with bottles, metal pipe, rocks, spray cans, improvised explosive devices and burning flares. According to an Oakland press release, the police responded to these attacks with smoke, tear gas and beanbag projectiles. Apparently the protesters wanted to “occupy” the empty Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center and use it as a commune-like command center for further protest. After being expelled from the area surrounding the convention center, the protesters attempted to “occupy” the nearby Oakland Museum of California. Later, the protesters entered the downtown Oakland ymca and broke into City Hall. Three police officers and at least one protester were injured in the hostilities. So far, over 400 people have been arrested. In an open letter to Mayor Jean Quan, the group threatened actions like “blockading the airport indefinitely, occupying City Hall indefinitely” and “shutting down the Oakland ports.” Expect violent rioting of the type seen last week in Oakland to soon engulf cities across America. The political establishment is gearing up for a presidential election campaign based on partisan division, class warfare and even hints of racism. The Occupy protesters are likely to become a major component of this campaign.

Barack Obama on track to become most divisive president ever: During U.S. President Barack Obama’s third year in office, an average of 80 percent of Democrats approved of the job he was doing, as compared to 12 percent of Republicans who felt the same way, according to the Washington Post. That amounts to a 68 percent partisan gap, the highest in history for any president’s third year in office. The previous high was during President George W. Bush’s third year in office, when he had a 59 percent partisan difference in job approval ratings. As a matter of fact, of the 10 most partisan years in terms of presidential job approval, seven have come since 2004, according to Gallup tracking polls. Political division is crippling America at a time when it needs political unity more than ever.