The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
ANSWERED PRAYER! Sudanese Christian Mom Now Free, Arrives in Italy! - CBNNews.com,July 24, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Sudanese-Mother-Now-Free-Arrives-in-Italy-/ - "Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese Christian woman who nearly died for refusing to recant her faith, is now a free woman. Ibrahim, 27, arrived in Italy Thursday following an extended stay at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan." ..."She is the tip of the iceberg," Zuhdi Jasser, vice-chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. .. "For every one case of Meriam Ibrahim, there are hundreds, if not thousands of those Sudanese and others who are victims of a draconian implementation of Sharia law that creates an existence for the Sudanese under the leadership of President Bashir that is really an abomination of religious freedom," he charged.
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
Month of RAMADAN - Please make note that the Muslim month of Ramadan this year is June 28-July 27. This is the second year I will join with the over 1 billion Muslims in their annual time of prayer and fasting (sun-up to sun-down each day) and ask God to reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions. As this is the time each year when they are most open to spiritual things, I ask you to join me that God would speak clearly to each one and come to lead millions to leave their kingdom of darkness for Jesus' kingdom of light. (Col. 1:13-14) - Stan
RAMADAN 2014 - Day # 28 - Love - "Put my tears in your bottle-aren't they already recorded in you book?" David knew that God saw every tear. Also in ancient Persia, women whose husbands were off to war stored their tears in a bottle as proof of their love. Father, dry the tears of persecuted Christians; surround them with Your perfect love.- from Open Doors Ramadan Prayer Guide for the Persecuted Church.
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
7/18 - PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)
LATEST SAHEED NEWS! May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
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"Q&A: The Attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and Why It Matters" - Melissa Quinn / July 22, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/07/22/qa-attack-malaysia-airlines-flight-17-matters/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DD140722&utm_campaign=dailydigest
An armed pro-Russian separatist stands guard near a piece of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. (Photo: Bulent Kilic/Getty Images/Newscom)
Tragedy struck Malaysia Airlines for the second time in four months when a passenger plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot out of the sky last week. Interfax, a non-governmental Russian news agency, first reported the downed Boeing 777 on Thursday morning. The plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in Eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border. There were 298 passengers from 11 countries on board. All were killed. Though it was originally unclear who was responsible, Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” the attack occurred at the hands of pro-Russian separatists. Kerry went on to say it was “pretty clear” Russia played a role in the events and provided the separatists with the missile.
In an interview with The Daily Signal, Daniel Kochis, a national security and foreign policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, answers questions about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, delves into the implications of last week’s events and explains how it could have implications for U.S.-Russia relations.
Q: With Russia and Ukraine being so far removed geographically from the United States, why should Americans care about last week’s events? Why not let the two countries solve this conflict themselves?
A: For a host of reasons, Americans should care about what happened last week in Ukraine. For starters, 298 people, including at least one American, died when Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down. The cost in human lives alone should be enough for Americans to care about last week’s tragedy.
Secondly, the United States has a significant interest in ensuring the global commons (including airspace) remains safe and open. One-third of Americans hold passports and 61 million Americans traveled abroad in 2013. The United States has a vested interest in ensuring its citizens are safe when traveling abroad to say nothing of the economic interest the U.S. has in ensuring commerce and trade occurs uninterrupted.
Finally, the United States has treaty allies in Eastern Europe that are extremely worried about Russian aggression. They, along with Russia, are watching closely how the U.S. reacts.
Q: Why is the attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 important on a global scale?
A: Aside for the affront to the global commons, the victims of Flight 17 were from multiple nations. Furthermore, Russia’s actions in Ukraine threaten American allies in Eastern Europe.
Q: Who are the major players involved in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 attacks?
A: It has become evident that Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine brought down Flight 17 with a SA-11 antiaircraft missile. The pro-Russia separatists have been fighting a war of aggression against the Ukrainian government in Kiev for months with political, economic and military support of Moscow.
Q: Who, exactly, are the separatists—are they Ukrainians or Russians?
A: The separatists are both Ukrainian and Russian citizens. Many of the leaders of the separatists are Russian and Russia has allowed the separatists to open a recruiting office in Moscow. They want the eastern regions of Ukraine to break away from the rest of the nation to form a new nation closely aligned with Russia, if not outright incorporated into it.
Q: Why is the plane crash significant in terms of Russia and the United States’ relationship? Why target a passenger plane?
A: The U.S. response to Russia’s illegal invasion, occupation and subsequent annexation of the Crimea—and continuing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine—has been weak and done little to deter Vladimir Putin from pursuing his aims aggressively in Ukraine. Russia created the instability in Ukraine where separatists could gain control of territory. Secretary of State Kerry confirmed over the weekend that the missile system used to hit the plane had been supplied by Russia.The Obama administration bet the house on the failed Russian reset, which viewed Russia as a responsible actor and a willing and honest partner. Russia’s actions in Ukraine shattered that illusion. What is clear is that the Russian reset is dead and the U.S. needs a new, clear-eyed strategy for dealing with Russia. Unfortunately, the Russian reset and the administration’s policies have put the U.S. in a much weaker position vis-à-vis Russia.
Q: How does last week’s event impact the United States’ foreign policy?
A: In every region of the globe the United States is in a weaker strategic position than before President Obama took office. Friends and foes alike cannot count on the White House backing up rhetoric with concrete actions. A haphazard foreign policy built upon false narratives such as “the Russian reset” have left the United States weaker, allies gravely concerned, foes emboldened and neutrals wondering whether to bet on America. Last week’s events are a further example that the world is more dangerous and volatile in large part due to the policies pursued by the president.
Q: What action should the United States take? Are sanctions against Russia enough?
A: The U.S. needs to send a strong message that Russia’s actions against its neighbor are unacceptable and will be met with stiff consequences. The U.S. has a host of actions it should take, including but not limited to lifting restrictions on U.S. energy exports to Europe, withdrawing from the New START Treaty, increasing military cooperation with NATO allies in Europe, upholding missile defense commitments on the continent, and expanding the list of Russian officials sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.
Q: Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday it was “pretty clear” Russia was involved. Does that seem feasible? Is it possible for the separatists to have fired the surface-to-air missile without Russia’s assistance?
A: Aside for creating the instability in Ukraine and funneling support to separatists, the U.S. confirms that the antiaircraft missiles were supplied to the pro-Russian separatists, who also received some level of training on how to use the system from Russia. We have not seen any evidence to suggest that they obtained or learned to fire the missiles without Russian assistance.
Q: What role does the United Nations play?
A: Yesterday, the United Nations approved a resolution that condemns the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17. The resolution calls for a ceasefire around the crash site, demands that the crash site not be tampered with, that an international team of independent investigators be given access to the site, and that the human remains of the victims be treated respectfully. Russia has a veto at the UN Security Council, so the resolution is a watered-down version. On the ground, the resolution will have little practical impact.
Q: The black boxes from the plane have been recovered. What is significant about this, and what can investigators learn from listening to the recordings captured?
A: The black boxes will contain flight data from before and after the impact of the missile. It will help answer whether or not the pilots saw or had any warning of the missile by listening to the recordings of the cockpit voice recorder. The black boxes will help piece together the sequence of events regarding the tragedy of Flight 17.
Q: The Russian media appears to be attempting to downplay the country’s role in the attacks. What does this portrayal mean, and why is it significant on both the Russian and international stage?
A: Russia will continue to deny that it was in any way involved in the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight and even that separatists in eastern Ukraine are involved. The Russian Ministry of Defence has questioned U.S. assertions that the missile was fired by pro-Russian separatists and instead asserting that Ukraine likely brought down the airliner. Russian officials and media outlets will continue to put out disinformation and propaganda, a tactic that Vladimir Putin and his regime have become very adept at and have utilized deftly in Ukraine since the invasion of Crimea began. The United States and our allies need to strongly refute Russia’s propaganda surrounding what is happening in Ukraine in general and with the airliner in particular.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Our President Is Missing in Action" - Genevieve Wood / July 24, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/07/24/president-missing-action/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DD140724&utm_campaign=dailydigest
President Barack Obama holds a bobblehead doll of himself in the Outer Oval Office. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House)
ANSWERED PRAYER! Sudanese Christian Mom Now Free, Arrives in Italy! - CBNNews.com,July 24, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Sudanese-Mother-Now-Free-Arrives-in-Italy-/ - "Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese Christian woman who nearly died for refusing to recant her faith, is now a free woman. Ibrahim, 27, arrived in Italy Thursday following an extended stay at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan." ..."She is the tip of the iceberg," Zuhdi Jasser, vice-chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. .. "For every one case of Meriam Ibrahim, there are hundreds, if not thousands of those Sudanese and others who are victims of a draconian implementation of Sharia law that creates an existence for the Sudanese under the leadership of President Bashir that is really an abomination of religious freedom," he charged.
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
Month of RAMADAN - Please make note that the Muslim month of Ramadan this year is June 28-July 27. This is the second year I will join with the over 1 billion Muslims in their annual time of prayer and fasting (sun-up to sun-down each day) and ask God to reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions. As this is the time each year when they are most open to spiritual things, I ask you to join me that God would speak clearly to each one and come to lead millions to leave their kingdom of darkness for Jesus' kingdom of light. (Col. 1:13-14) - Stan
RAMADAN 2014 - Day # 28 - Love - "Put my tears in your bottle-aren't they already recorded in you book?" David knew that God saw every tear. Also in ancient Persia, women whose husbands were off to war stored their tears in a bottle as proof of their love. Father, dry the tears of persecuted Christians; surround them with Your perfect love.- from Open Doors Ramadan Prayer Guide for the Persecuted Church.
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
7/18 - PRAY FOR THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS TO END SOON BEFORE MORE INNOCENT LIVES ARE LOST ON BOTH SIDES.
6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)
LATEST SAHEED NEWS! May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
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Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
"Q&A: The Attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and Why It Matters" - Melissa Quinn / July 22, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/07/22/qa-attack-malaysia-airlines-flight-17-matters/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DD140722&utm_campaign=dailydigest
An armed pro-Russian separatist stands guard near a piece of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. (Photo: Bulent Kilic/Getty Images/Newscom)
Tragedy struck Malaysia Airlines for the second time in four months when a passenger plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot out of the sky last week. Interfax, a non-governmental Russian news agency, first reported the downed Boeing 777 on Thursday morning. The plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in Eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border. There were 298 passengers from 11 countries on board. All were killed. Though it was originally unclear who was responsible, Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” the attack occurred at the hands of pro-Russian separatists. Kerry went on to say it was “pretty clear” Russia played a role in the events and provided the separatists with the missile.
In an interview with The Daily Signal, Daniel Kochis, a national security and foreign policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, answers questions about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, delves into the implications of last week’s events and explains how it could have implications for U.S.-Russia relations.
Q: With Russia and Ukraine being so far removed geographically from the United States, why should Americans care about last week’s events? Why not let the two countries solve this conflict themselves?
A: For a host of reasons, Americans should care about what happened last week in Ukraine. For starters, 298 people, including at least one American, died when Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down. The cost in human lives alone should be enough for Americans to care about last week’s tragedy.
Secondly, the United States has a significant interest in ensuring the global commons (including airspace) remains safe and open. One-third of Americans hold passports and 61 million Americans traveled abroad in 2013. The United States has a vested interest in ensuring its citizens are safe when traveling abroad to say nothing of the economic interest the U.S. has in ensuring commerce and trade occurs uninterrupted.
Finally, the United States has treaty allies in Eastern Europe that are extremely worried about Russian aggression. They, along with Russia, are watching closely how the U.S. reacts.
Q: Why is the attack on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 important on a global scale?
A: Aside for the affront to the global commons, the victims of Flight 17 were from multiple nations. Furthermore, Russia’s actions in Ukraine threaten American allies in Eastern Europe.
Q: Who are the major players involved in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 attacks?
A: It has become evident that Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine brought down Flight 17 with a SA-11 antiaircraft missile. The pro-Russia separatists have been fighting a war of aggression against the Ukrainian government in Kiev for months with political, economic and military support of Moscow.
Q: Who, exactly, are the separatists—are they Ukrainians or Russians?
A: The separatists are both Ukrainian and Russian citizens. Many of the leaders of the separatists are Russian and Russia has allowed the separatists to open a recruiting office in Moscow. They want the eastern regions of Ukraine to break away from the rest of the nation to form a new nation closely aligned with Russia, if not outright incorporated into it.
Q: Why is the plane crash significant in terms of Russia and the United States’ relationship? Why target a passenger plane?
A: The U.S. response to Russia’s illegal invasion, occupation and subsequent annexation of the Crimea—and continuing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine—has been weak and done little to deter Vladimir Putin from pursuing his aims aggressively in Ukraine. Russia created the instability in Ukraine where separatists could gain control of territory. Secretary of State Kerry confirmed over the weekend that the missile system used to hit the plane had been supplied by Russia.The Obama administration bet the house on the failed Russian reset, which viewed Russia as a responsible actor and a willing and honest partner. Russia’s actions in Ukraine shattered that illusion. What is clear is that the Russian reset is dead and the U.S. needs a new, clear-eyed strategy for dealing with Russia. Unfortunately, the Russian reset and the administration’s policies have put the U.S. in a much weaker position vis-à-vis Russia.
Q: How does last week’s event impact the United States’ foreign policy?
A: In every region of the globe the United States is in a weaker strategic position than before President Obama took office. Friends and foes alike cannot count on the White House backing up rhetoric with concrete actions. A haphazard foreign policy built upon false narratives such as “the Russian reset” have left the United States weaker, allies gravely concerned, foes emboldened and neutrals wondering whether to bet on America. Last week’s events are a further example that the world is more dangerous and volatile in large part due to the policies pursued by the president.
Q: What action should the United States take? Are sanctions against Russia enough?
A: The U.S. needs to send a strong message that Russia’s actions against its neighbor are unacceptable and will be met with stiff consequences. The U.S. has a host of actions it should take, including but not limited to lifting restrictions on U.S. energy exports to Europe, withdrawing from the New START Treaty, increasing military cooperation with NATO allies in Europe, upholding missile defense commitments on the continent, and expanding the list of Russian officials sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.
Q: Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday it was “pretty clear” Russia was involved. Does that seem feasible? Is it possible for the separatists to have fired the surface-to-air missile without Russia’s assistance?
A: Aside for creating the instability in Ukraine and funneling support to separatists, the U.S. confirms that the antiaircraft missiles were supplied to the pro-Russian separatists, who also received some level of training on how to use the system from Russia. We have not seen any evidence to suggest that they obtained or learned to fire the missiles without Russian assistance.
Q: What role does the United Nations play?
A: Yesterday, the United Nations approved a resolution that condemns the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17. The resolution calls for a ceasefire around the crash site, demands that the crash site not be tampered with, that an international team of independent investigators be given access to the site, and that the human remains of the victims be treated respectfully. Russia has a veto at the UN Security Council, so the resolution is a watered-down version. On the ground, the resolution will have little practical impact.
Q: The black boxes from the plane have been recovered. What is significant about this, and what can investigators learn from listening to the recordings captured?
A: The black boxes will contain flight data from before and after the impact of the missile. It will help answer whether or not the pilots saw or had any warning of the missile by listening to the recordings of the cockpit voice recorder. The black boxes will help piece together the sequence of events regarding the tragedy of Flight 17.
Q: The Russian media appears to be attempting to downplay the country’s role in the attacks. What does this portrayal mean, and why is it significant on both the Russian and international stage?
A: Russia will continue to deny that it was in any way involved in the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight and even that separatists in eastern Ukraine are involved. The Russian Ministry of Defence has questioned U.S. assertions that the missile was fired by pro-Russian separatists and instead asserting that Ukraine likely brought down the airliner. Russian officials and media outlets will continue to put out disinformation and propaganda, a tactic that Vladimir Putin and his regime have become very adept at and have utilized deftly in Ukraine since the invasion of Crimea began. The United States and our allies need to strongly refute Russia’s propaganda surrounding what is happening in Ukraine in general and with the airliner in particular.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Our President Is Missing in Action" - Genevieve Wood / July 24, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/07/24/president-missing-action/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DD140724&utm_campaign=dailydigest
President Barack Obama holds a bobblehead doll of himself in the Outer Oval Office. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House)
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