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Home >> United States & Canada >> Foreign Policy & Military Strategic partnerships, treaties and roadmaps? Lorna Thomas - 3/12/2007 The first two months of 2007 show America and Britain are nations divided in strategy for their future, while European nations are forming important strategic alliances that can greatly impact the future. This article describes the signaling of possible trouble ahead. 1. AMERICA AND BRITAIN DIVIDED AS EUROPE UNITES While America and Britain are nations divided in strategy for their future, European nations are forming important strategic alliances that can greatly impact the future. The first two months of 2007 have engraved a clear warning on the wall regarding America and Britain’s future. Unless they heed the lessons of history, making the right changes and choices, the outcome of future years is ominously predictable. And unless Europe remembers and heeds the lessons of its history, it too, is destined to repeat its past. In his State of the Union address in January, President George Bush said America has a ‘government divided and uncertainty in the air’… ‘Yet one question has surely been settled -- that to win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy’. From citizens to congress, America is divided over Iraq. So far, the war has resulted in over 3,100 dead and 23,400 wounded and President Bush wanting to send 21,500 more troops to troops to Iraq, over and above the 134,000 already there, a decision opposed by Congress Democrats. While President Bush requested approximately another 100 billion dollars for ‘the war on terror’ in Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s investment in the Iraq war has already been well over 300 billion dollars - 8 billion per month, 2 billion per week, 280 million per day, 11 ½ million per hour. America finds itself enmeshed in a draining, dragging war, the cost of which was not reckoned at the outset. America is fighting a war of which the President said: ‘This is not the war we went into but it’s the war we have.’ ‘The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others.’ However, another far-reaching effect of the ‘war on terror’ is that U.S. foreign policy does not appear to be bringing peace, but according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is making the world increasingly ‘unsafe’ and encouraging an arms race. Russia, already part of ‘the Quartet’ on Middle East security comprising the US, UN, EU, now feels justified in rearming - and playing a far greater leading role, both in the Middle East and the world, as does Germany. The US could find itself increasingly sidelined in both peacekeeping and leadership processes in the Middle East and the rest of the world as a new superpower flexes its muscles. In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair, due to leave office in 2007, also engendered debate regarding his support of President Bush and the war. According to commentators his reputation was ‘shredded’ by Iraq, while Britain’s ‘reputation as a steady and stable force in international affairs is in tatters’. Currently, Britain faces additional division and uncertainty over its future with specific regard to the issue of Scottish independence. As the referendum, to be held on the 300th anniversary of Scotland’s Union with England on 1st of May, draws closer, opinion is divided as to the right course of action. While some believe Scotland would benefit from gaining independence from England, others fear Scotland’s independence has the potential to render both England and Scotland weaker, vulnerable in the face of a united and increasingly powerful Europe. Some fear the dissolution of the Union between England and Scotland could herald the disintegration of Britain by also triggering a divorce between England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Ironically at this time, the thrust of Germany’s EU presidency is ‘Europe – succeeding together’. ‘Today more than ever before, Europe can only be strong enough to hold its own on the international stage if it presents a united front. Only together can Europe succeed.’ ‘Presidency Programme, 1 January – 30 June 2007’ As I have written over the last decade, the European alliance will come to include a strengthened Russia and Germany as two of its leaders and the early months of 2007 have seen them growing in power and drawing notably closer as ‘strategic partners’. This does not bode well for America and Britain’s leadership role in the world. 2. 50 YEARS AFTER THE EUROPEAN UNION BEGAN, GERMANY URGES A CONSTITUTION, PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER FOR EUROPE The EU has a population of 489 million. Of the 27 nations, Germany is the richest. 2007 began with Germany chairing the G8 or group of eight industrialized nations as well as holding the 6-month rotating presidency of the European Union which allows the country to set the agenda and put forward issues. (EU Parliament President is German, Hans-Gert Pöttering.) Germany also holds the Presidency of the European Council which brings together heads of state or government of the EU and the president of the Commission. The Council defines the general political guidelines of the EU and will meet in March and June 2007. In a position, therefore, to consolidate its dominance in Europe, Berlin is once more beginning to play a strong political role in Europe and in the world. Chancellor Merkel said: ‘The Treaties of Rome will soon be 50 years old. We will be celebrating this anniversary on 24 and 25 March in Berlin, a city which epitomizes like no other the reunification of Europe following the end of the Cold War.’ The Conclusions of the EU summit in June 2006 stated: ‘The European Council calls for the adoption, on 25th March 2007 in Berlin, of a political declaration by EU leaders, setting out Europe's values and ambitions and confirming their shared commitment to deliver them, commemorating 50 years of the Treaties of Rome.’ When the Berlin Wall fell, Angela Merkel became deputy spokeswoman of the East German caretaker government. After Kohl’s government collapsed in 1998, Merkel was named secretary-general of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's largest conservative political party. In 2005, she became Germany’s first female chancellor. Forbes Magazine considers her the world’s most powerful woman. Salvaging the European constitution is a chief goal of her chancellorship. The constitution stalled in 2005 when French and Dutch voted to reject the draft charter – all nations were needed to ratify the document before it came into force. ‘The German argument is that without the new rulebook, the EU of 27 will condemn itself to being a bickering assembly mired in irrelevance. The constitution would resolve that by giving the EU a president, a foreign minister and recasting the way decisions are taken. Dear to the German project, though rarely stated publicly, is the fact that under a new system of double majority voting, the charter would for the first time in the history of the EU grant Germany its due as the biggest EU member, giving it proportionately more clout, and making it the most powerful member.’ ‘The International Style’, Ian Traynor, The Guardian, January 13, 2007 ‘Germany and Britain are on a collision course over the fate of the European constitution as London has made it clear that it opposes any new treaty that would trigger referendums across the Continent…Britain made it plain yesterday that it wants as few changes to the current system as possible, to avoid the need for a popular vote, and called into question the need for any new treaty at all.’ ‘Merkel seeks to revive European constitution’ Stephen Castle in Strasbourg and Andrew Grice, The Independent, January 18, 2007. ‘It is in the interest of Europe to end this process successfully by the next European elections in 2009’ Merkel said during her first EU assembly appearance. She has asked all EU leaders to appoint a senior figure to resume negotiations on the constitution behind closed doors over the next few months. There is to be minimal public disclosure. In June Merkel will table an EU "roadmap", outlining how to enact the constitution within two years. The aim is to have the deal in the bag before the next European parliament elections in 2009. ‘The International Style’, Ian Traynor, The Guardian, January 13, 2007 ‘She rejected MEPs' calls for debate on the constitution to be open to the public, saying it had already taken place. The crucial German-led consultations, leading to the unveiling of a "constitution roadmap" in June, would be confidential.’ ‘Merkel to push for constitution in bid to save Europe's soul’, Ian Traynor, The Guardian, Thursday January 18, 2007 3. EUROPEAN/ RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP AND CO-OPERATION Though the U.S. is currently the EU’s most important trading partner, Chancellor Angela Merkel says it must not look solely towards America. Merkel has called for closer trade and investment ties with the United States, saying, ‘A common transatlantic market is of the utmost European interest,’ but this will become less important to Europe as trade with other economies increases or if the US economy weakens or it begins to find itself more isolated in the world. Germany, as Russia's biggest trade partner in Europe (39 billion euros in 2006), is interested in developing bilateral trade relations. ‘Europe's partnership with Russia is also strategically significant and should be expanded as broadly as possible. That is why we have to negotiate a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement,’ she told the EU parliament. During a meeting at Putin’s residence in Sochi on January 21, Merkel stressed Russia's importance as an energy provider to Europe. Germany is Russia’s biggest natural gas customer. Putin suggested setting up a gas reservoir in Germany to guarantee energy security on the Continent. Putin said Russia would accelerate the construction of a gas pipeline to Germany under the Baltic Sea, potentially increasing the volume of future gas imports. (While nearly 46% of Russia’s export earning ($600 billion) was from oil and gas, Putin also wants earnings to come from processing Russia’s resources.) Talk of Gazprom and Suek uniting electricity and coal assets with a long-term aim to become an energy conglomerate has prompted some analysts to say such a deal would conflict with the government’s stated aims of mobilising the energy markets, of creating competition, private ownership and improving efficiency. Russia’s GDP is 5 times higher than the early 90’s. Evgeny Gavrilenkov, Chief Economist of Troika Dialog Investment Company, says ‘I think the role of Russia has definitely changed. Energy resources have helped it achieve this status. 4. RUSSIA RE-EQUIPPING ITS ARMY Tensions between Russia and the US escalated during the past year over several issues. An increasingly assertive Russia and the US locked horns over Iraq and Iran and the US plan to build a defence system in Europe. The Russian foreign ministry demanded clarification from Washington after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates grouped Russia with Iran and North Korea. John McCain called a speech made by Putin the most aggressive from a Russian leader since the Cold War and Dick Cheney accused Moscow of using its energy resources as ‘tools of intimidation or blackmail.’ Putin told a security forum, ‘Unilateral, illegitimate actions have not solved a single problem, they have become a hotbed of further conflicts. One state, the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way.’ Putin says ‘the almost uncontained hyper use of force in international relations’ is forcing countries opposed to Washington to build up nuclear arsenals. In October 2006 a state program to beef up armaments was adopted. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov says the Russian army should be able to respond to today’s needs and possible threats and can’t afford to decrease its forces at this stage. Russia believes its military is facing a new era and new challenges – including the threat from nuclear proliferation and terrorism. A record of almost 5 trillion roubles (around $190 billion dollars) was allocated to be spent on its military over 8 years, with around 40% for the newest and most effective weapons and equipment. (4 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan has taken its toll on the U.S. Military with more than a quarter of the money is to be used for repairing equipment.) Tsar Aleksander III believed ‘Russia has no other ally except for its army and navy’, however, Russia is currently both marshalling allies and re-equipping its forces. 5. RUSSIAN/INDIAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Not only has Russia drawn closer to Germany and Europe, but a 60 year unbroken relationship between Russia and India is also being consolidated. ‘Russia is competing with the United States for influence in India, a Moscow Cold War ally which the Kremlin sees as a swiftly growing economic and political power in Asia. ‘India, Asia's fourth largest economy, is eager to secure oil, gas and power supplies as energy consumption soars. Moscow is seeking to boost arms, energy and nuclear sales to India.’ ‘India-Russia set to sign multi-billion nuclear deal’, Gulf Daily News, January 23, 2007 On January 25, President Putin visited India to discuss growing bi-lateral and military co-operation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Putin signed nine bilateral documents and adopted two more in areas of civilian, nuclear energy, space, defence, science, advanced technology, energy, trade and culture. The two countries will hold “Year of Russia in India” in 2008 and “Year of India in Russia” in 2009. Having maintained a steady and unbroken friendship for 60 years, Dr. Singh calls the India-Russia strategic partnership ‘unique’ and says there is a ‘durable understanding between India and Russia’. Russia is presently building two 1,000 watt nuclear reactors in Kudankulam in southern Tamil Nadu and has agreed to construct an additional four nuclear power plant units as well as the construction of Russian-design nuclear power plants at new sites in India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, speaking to the media after several hours of detailed discussions with Putin said, ‘energy security is the most important of the emerging dimensions of our strategic partnership, and we look forward to longtime partnership with Russia in this vital field.’ He said ‘Russia remains indispensable to the core of India's foreign policy interests.’ The Prime Minister said ‘we seek a comprehensive re-engagement that would impart a new momentum and carry our strategic partnership to new heights.’ India's armed forces are the fourth-largest in the world and Russia and India also concluded two arms deals - the development of a new transport plane and developing a 5th generation fighter jet based on the Sukhoi fighter. Konstantin Makienko, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies’ says: ‘If we succeed in developing a 5th generation fighter jet this will create competition for American 5th generation fighter jets since at the moment there is only one 5th generation fighter jet, the one designed by the U.S.’ New Delhi and Moscow also called for expansion of cooperation between China-Russia-India. A joint statement said: ‘The trilateral interaction promotes the development on mutually beneficial economic cooperation among India, Russia and China, enhances international accord in the field of countering new challenges and threats, especially in the fight against terrorism, and contributes to strengthening peace and stability in Asia and throughout the world.’ Dr Singh stated the India-Russia strategic partnership could help promote peace, security and stability not only within the region but also globally, expressing concern over the rise of religious extremism and terrorism. 6. GERMANY, RUSSIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST In her address to the European Parliament, Angela Merkel said: ‘In short, the so-called Middle East Quartet is called upon to act. The prerequisite for any progress, however, is a united EU stance to bring about peace, stability and sustainable development in the Middle East. This also applies to our policy towards Iran's nuclear programme.’ ‘We want to take on responsibility in the Middle East process even if we're aware that it is an extremely difficult political area,’ Chancellor Merkel told the Guardian in an interview in Berlin. ‘We know that the issue of the two-states solution is of the greatest importance for many other conflicts in the region.’ While Chancellor Merkel wants to restart peace efforts in the Middle East, Russia is also stepping up its involvement in the Middle East and intends to revive its influence there. Putin was welcomed on his trip to the Middle East, including visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan. (Russia will launch 6 Saudi Arabia satellites.) The Soviet Union had strong relations with the Middle East in the past and Putin wants Russia to increase its influence in the Middle East. ‘The time has come for Russia to come forward to alleviate the effect of the US and its allies’ negative activity in the Middle East. The Middle East is a very important region,’ says Semyon Bagdasarov, Director of Islamic Studies Institute. ‘Russia is feeling much more robust in the international scene, is demanding its place under the sun and is willing to take upon itself a leadership position in opposition to the United States,’ says Dr Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation, Washington. 7. WILL EUROPE’S SOUL BE ONE OF TOLERANCE OR COULD THE FLAMES OF RACIAL, NATIONAL OR RELIGOUS HATRED BE FANNED? Despite the traditional multi ethnic society in Russia, radical nationalism is growing, with attacks on foreigners becoming more frequent, and the slogan ‘Russia for Russians’ used by radical nationalist groups, neo-Nazis and skinheads to justify their violence. President President Putin said, “Those who preach racial, national or religious hatred must know that their views will provoke an appropriate response.” (‘Putin Names Fighting Ethnic Hatred Top Priority for Russia’, MosNews, January 6, 2006) while on Holocaust Memorial Day Chancellor Merkel said of the rising neo-nazism in Germany that there is ‘an attitude of zero tolerance towards the forces who want to take us back to National Socialism (Nazis)’. In her opening speech to the European Parliament, Merkel said: ‘Europe needs freedom in all its manifestations, the freedom of expression, belief and enterprise as much as air to breathe and that ‘when we speak of true freedom, we are actually always speaking of the freedom of others as expressed by Voltaire’ – ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’. She told the European parliament. ‘We have to find Europe's soul…Europe’s soul is tolerance....Europe is the continent of tolerance.’ Merkel spoke of the intolerance that has been part of Europe’s history with the resulting devastating effects on the continent, warning that violence in the name of extremism or religion should never be tolerated: ‘We have taken centuries to learn this. On the way to tolerance we had to endure cataclysms. We persecuted and destroyed one another. We ravaged our homeland. We jeopardized the things we revered. Not even one generation has passed since the worst period of hate, devastation and destruction. That was perpetrated in the name of my people....Yet our history over the centuries obliges us in Europe to promote tolerance throughout Europe and across the globe and to help everyone practise it.’ ‘I therefore state quite clearly that Europe must never show the least understanding for intolerance, for violence perpetrated by right-wing or left-wing extremists, for violence in the name of a religion. Tolerance sounds its own death knell if it does not protect itself from intolerance. In the words of Thomas Mann, "Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil." Tolerance without acceptance of intolerance is what makes us humane.’ ‘For me, and as a Christian I expressly acknowledge my allegiance to Europe's Christian principles, the most beautiful part of the play is what the Sultan asks of Nathan. Bridging all the divisions of faith, the Muslim requests the Jew to "Be my friend". Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is what we seek and for which we strive – harmony among nations. That was and also remains the greatest goal of European unity.’ Merkel told the parliament that Europe needs to act as one, needs a minister of foreign affairs and continuity of the Presidency: ‘We have to move away from the short-term approach of six-month Presidencies. Europe needs continuity…incidentally, this idea of introducing greater continuity in Europe is another new element contained in the constitutional treaty.’ ‘But, brief as this overview has to be, one thing is perfectly clear. We can only tackle these challenges by joining forces. We must act as one. That is precisely why, for a European foreign policy, we need a European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs – so that we can practise what we preach. That is another reason for the constitutional treaty.’ However, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s anticipation of Europe finding its soul of tolerance and being a continent of tolerance may be short-lived. In creating leadership posts in which one or two men are empowered to act for Europe, doing away with the 6 month rotating presidency in favour of ‘greater continuity in Europe’ may in itself be sounding a ‘death knell’ for tolerance. Because, given Europe’s historical past of intolerance Chancellor Merkel referred to, by vesting great power in one, two or even three people especially when Russia begins performing fully as part of the Union), by doing away with the 6 month rotating presidency, with its own in-built safety mechanism against overlordship, the danger of overwhelming abuse of power and intolerance is substantially increased. Underpinning the call for a Constitution may be the desire for cohesion and continuity of leadership, and it may appear to be an answer to Europe’s decision making and leadership process, but, within such a constitution could lie the seeds of its own future demise, if once again the history Chancellor Merkel described is repeated, resulting in hate and devastation, persecution and destruction rather than as she says, succeeding in promoting ‘tolerance throughout Europe and across the globe’ on a long-term basis. 8. WILL EUROPE SEEK AND FIND ITS ‘SOUL’ IN ‘TOLERANCE’ OR IN STATE RELIGION? Chancellor Merkel says: ‘From the outside, the European Union is a historic success story without precedent. The European Union is one of the most impressive works of peace on Planet Earth. European unification is a happy achievement for the people of Europe. It safeguards their freedom and paves the way for prosperity.’ As it increases in power, can Europe be or remain, in Angela Merkel’s words ‘one of the most impressive works of peace on Planet Earth’? For Europe, has the lesson of tolerance been sufficiently well learnt? Or given power and leadership in the world once more, will the lesson be forgotten or ignored and result in the worst period in its history of ‘hate, devastation and destruction? ’ Will Europe be a ‘continent of tolerance’, finding its ‘soul’ of tolerance as Chancellor Merkel suggests? Or is it more likely to find its soul in religion? And will religion lead to intolerance and persecution of those who do not share its belief system, as religion has done so often in the past, particularly when state-controlled religion is enforced? Pope John Paul II called for Europe to look to its Christian roots. Pope Benedict of Germany refers to the ‘inalienable Christian roots of its culture and civilisation.’ ‘Like Pope John Paul, Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger, considered it both his right and duty to intervene in European politics, to inject Christianity into public life because of Europe's religious past. In an interview in Le Figaro magazine published in the summer of 2004, he deemed it a "mistake" to omit Europe's Christian roots in the European Union constitution, calling Europe a "cultural continent, not a geographical one" whose roots are Christian. And used the same argument to explain why Turkey, with its mostly Muslim population, should not be a member of the European Union, warning that Turkey could "try to set up a cultural continent with neighboring Arab countries and become the protagonist of a culture with its own identity.’ ‘Pope Benedict Is Right: Europe Needs to Appreciate Its Christian Roots’, Catholic Online, Michael J. Gaynor, November 17, 2005. Chancellor Angela Merkel, serving in the largely Catholic CDU, has Protestant roots, being the daughter of a Lutheran Pastor. After talks with the Pope in August 2006 she said: ‘We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values.’ On February 28, 2007 in a speech to members of the CDU she said: ‘The period of secularisation was important, but I see us living in a changed world where it is incumbent on politicians and political documents to spell out more clearly their spiritual roots.’ So, in seeking its ‘soul’ and its ‘religious or spiritual roots’, will Europe begin to look to a man for leadership who has both a political and religious background? In 1994 Chancellor Kohl nominated as German presidential candidate, East German Steffen Heitmann, then CDU Saxonian Justice Minister. This caused national controversy. His views were considered xenophobic. ‘In 1993 the major political parties selected candidates for the federal presidency in an election scheduled for mid-1994. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), chose Steffen Heitmann, Saxony's minister of justice; Soon after Chancellor Kohl nominated Heitmann for the candidacy in October 1993 a bitter controversy erupted over the nominee. Heitmann not only alienated his party's foes but also many of his party's members with his ultraconservative statements on social and political issues. When the controversy could not be contained, Heitmann withdrew his candidacy, which was a bitter defeat for Kohl.’ ‘Roman Herzog’, Answers.com A lawyer, an ordained priest, part of the Lutheran church in Dresden, on April 29, 1997 Steffen Heitmann and Archbishop Giovanni Layola, ratified an historic Concordat signed on July 2, 1996 between the Vatican and the Free State of Saxony governing Church-State relations. It is significant that this was the first Concordat between the Vatican and an East German state and the second one with a German state since Hitler concluded a Concordat with the Pope on 20 July, 1933, one being concluded with Lower Saxony in 1965. (In 1929 Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the Catholic Church, bringing into being the Vatican City State with full diplomatic and political power.) While the German treaty was already concluded in 1996, 1997/98 saw Evangelical Lutherans officially reaching consensus with Catholics regarding the doctrine of justification, a key dividing doctrine of the Reformation. Heitmann was forced to withdraw his nomination in 1993 because of xenophobic sentiments, but given the rise of extremist nationalism in Europe, will his views find more acceptance to a growing number today? Both President Putin and Chancellor Merkel have espoused zero tolerance for ethnic, racial and religious hatred, however, any change in European leadership which promotes philosophies of nationalism, intolerance, or demands total control over its citizens could once again bring about tremendous suffering and persecution. Hopes or promises of peace and safety can never ensure peace and safety, but as history shows, can instead precede a time of great suffering. 9. WHAT IS AMERICA AND BRITAIN’S CHOICE? With growing anti-American sentiment around the world, with the rise of nationalistic fervour, with Europe talking of peace and finding their ‘soul of tolerance’, while exerting growing influence in political, military, economic and religious areas and pushing for unity under continuity of leadership, with Russian re-armament and revitalization, while moving closer to full participation and influence in Europe and the world, it is becoming increasingly obvious that America and Britain are heading towards a period of crisis. Can America or Britain afford to be divided against themselves at this stage, uncertain of the right course of action, at the same time unmindful of the major shift in the balance of power in the world as alliances form and strengthen between some of the world’s most populous and increasingly powerful nations? Can they afford to rely on their own diminishing strength? (Warnings have been issued about the risk of America’s forces being stretched should they become involved in a third front aside from Iraq and Afghanistan.) In such circumstances it would seem that America and Britain’s only hope is to turn back to the God they profess to worship, to change and conform to what He requires and implore His help. One of God’s promises for obedience was: ‘And I will give you peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: …neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred; and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.’ (Lev 26:6-8) There is a strong parallel between what is happening today and what historically happened time and again to ancient Israel, who professed to worship God, then forgot and forsook Him and His Laws and turned to honouring other gods, provoking God to jealousy and anger to punish them. Even while God had blessed ancient Israel for obedience, when they turned from Him, He progressively removed the blessings, replacing them with curses, in so doing pleading with them to return to Him so He would not have to punish them further - just as a loving parent takes no pleasure in punishing a child but would rather they learn to obey for their own good. When Israel did not return to Him, after punishments including weather upsets, crop failures, war and disease, attacks by animals, God finally delivered them into captivity to their enemies, captivity from which only He would eventually deliver them, punishing their captors for their own sins. The ancient words of Lev 26 ring very true in today’s modern world. (See also Deut 28): Lev 26:15 And if you shall despise My Statutes, or if your soul abhor My Judgments, so that you will not do all My Commandments, but that you break My Covenant: 17 And I will set My face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursues you. President Bush said in his State of the Union address: ‘ For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to protect the people of this country from danger.’ American and British leaders – and people - need to soberly consider that the union that is forming in Europe before their eyes will at the very least include both Russian and German military might. Ultimately, in the face of an emerging colossus of power in the world, it is really only God Who will be able to protect the people of America and Britain from the danger, terror and great trouble they could find themselves in. 10. WILL AMERICA AND BRITAIN – AND EUROPE – HEED HISTORY’S LESSONS? America and Britain - and Europe - are faced with vitally important and far-reaching choices. Will Europe heed the lessons of its historical past as defined by Chancellor Merkel’s speech to the European Parliament? Will it seek and find Europe’s ‘soul of tolerance’? Given that the leadership of a country or empire dictates what direction it takes, particularly under totalitarian rule, Europe itself stands at the crossroads, faced with choices regarding a leadership format that could lead to repeating its history, this time with unprecedented intolerance and devastation. And will America and Britain heed the lessons of ancient Israel’s history as defined in the Bible? Will they seek with all their heart and soul and find the God they profess to worship? Or will they replicate the history of ancient Israel when they refused to heed the warnings God was giving and were finally delivered into captivity? As nations who profess to worship the God of the Bible, rather than despising, abhorring or breaking His Statutes, Judgments, Commandments and the Covenant they have with Him, is it not rather time for America and Britain to find their God by seeking Him with all their heart and soul, in obedience doing what He wants? God warned ancient Israel not to forget the covenant they had made with Him and to obey Him, including warning them not to make a graven image which He had forbidden them, the second of the Ten Commandments. God has not changed. ‘For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous god. When you shall beget children, and children’s children, and you shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord your God, to provoke Him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. And there you shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. However, even though they went into captivity for a time, as a result of their sins, God would not forsake them. ‘But if from thence you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to His voice. (For the Lord your God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He sware unto them.’ (Deut 4:24-31) Chancellor Merkel says Europe must find its ‘soul of tolerance’ despite the fact that historically, Europe has exhibited intolerance, even up until less than one generation ago resulting in, as Chancellor Merkel says, ‘the worst period of hate, devastation and destruction’. Historically, ancient Israel’s displays of disobedience culminated in punishment and captivity referred to in the Old Testament. Given the trends occurring in the world at present, God is the One America and Britain need on their side, to hopefully, either spare them from the time of impending trouble – or if, tragically, they refuse to heed the warning on the wall - to eventually deliver them from national captivity. At this time, God is the One America and Britain must seek with all their heart and soul, and in finding Him, so express their ‘soul of obedience’ to the God they profess to worship.
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