THEO VAN GOGH LIVEBLOG US ELECTIONS: NEW CHRISTIANITY WORLD WIDE COMING !

“ON, THEN, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, ON TO VICTORY”: CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM GOES GLOBAL
Bottom Line Up Front: SOUFAN CENTER  9-11-22
  • Christian nationalism – a growing movement on the political right – often marries apocalyptic and militant language with an aim for the U.S. to be declared a Christian nation and the government to promote a specific interpretation of Anglo-Protestantism as the country’s official culture.
  • An increasing number of U.S. candidates and politicians openly embrace Christian nationalism, calling for the end of long-held constitutional values, such as the separation of church and state, and promoting disinformation narratives that have a radicalizing effect.
  • Christian nationalism, with its burgeoning network of politicians, conferences, political action groups, and far-right personalities, is gaining momentum globally – as seen in Hungary, Italy, Brazil, and, even Russia.
  • Militant language, linkages with militia groups, open calls for civil war, as well as its potential to radicalize, increases the potential threat Christian nationalism poses to national security.
As rioters breached the U.S. Capitol building on January 6th, 2020, a “Jesus Saves” sign could be seen next to gallows built by insurrectionists, as spontaneous prayer, worship music, and tearful renditions of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, “Glory, glory, hallelujah,” punctuated the chaos inside the Capitol building. This past weekend in Branson, Missouri, the Reawaken America tour, a cross between a charismatic worship service and a political rally, gathered thousands of people in a fusion of worship, political prophecy, and far-right conspiracy theories. A cultural identity agile enough to include militia groups, QAnon conspiracists, and election deniers, Christian nationalism often marries apocalyptic and militant language with an aim for the U.S. to be declared a Christian nation and the government to promote a specific interpretation of Anglo-Protestantism as the country’s official culture. The movement is certainly not new; however, the growing number on the political right embracing the identity – as well as its potential to radicalize – has brought increasing public awareness to the potential threat it poses to American democracy and U.S. national security.

A growing number of U.S. candidates and politicians, such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania, are openly embracing Christian nationalism and capitalizing on the movement to gain political support. Some, including Doug Mastriano, Rep. Lauren Boebert, and candidate Dan Cox of Maryland, have gone so far as to explicitly call for the end long-held values of the American political system, such as the separation of church and state. During the many stops on the Reawaken America tour, retired three-star Army general Michael Flynn and other personalities on the far right have warned the thousands in attendance that they are in the midst of both a spiritual and political war, urging them to get involved in the fight. In Branson this past weekend, the tour made its last pre-election stop where speakers including Flynn, Eric Trump, and MyPillow founder and outspoken election denier Mike Lindell, spoke to thousands of people in highly prophetic and sometimes militant language of a “red wave” during Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections and a “second-coming” of former President Donald Trump. More than just prophesying their victory, speakers also attacked American democratic institutions, repeated the “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, and promulgated COVID-19 conspiracy theories, reinforcing disinformation narratives that experts have warned could lead to increased political violence. Flynn has also taken his “holy war” local by utilizing his influence to make political endorsements in school board elections, energize voters, and promote a local movement that includes members of the Proud Boys militia group.

Christian nationalism, with its burgeoning network of politicians, conferences, political action groups, and far-right personalities, is growing in momentum globally. This summer, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was a headliner at the influential Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he called for national movements “to coordinate the movement of [their] troops because [they] face the same challenge” and for Christian nationalists to “unite their forces.” Orbán has become a popular face of the global Christian nationalist movement, unabashedly promoting a pronatalist, ethnocentric, and at times explicitly racist, version of Christian and “family” values in the political sphere. Influential conservative voices, such as the writer and editor Rod Dreher and Fox News television personality Tucker Carlson, have upheld Hungary as a conservative, Christian utopia fighting against globalism, progressives, immigrants, and refugees. In Italy, the newly elected prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has promised to “defend God, country, and family,” often using religious language to appeal to the Italian electorate. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has yet to concede defeat in the recent presidential election, has capitalized on deeply contentious issues, such as abortion, and invoked religious language to court evangelical leaders and transform fast-growing evangelical churches into the bedrock of his base. Influential Brazilian ministers have called upon their congregants to attend protests against democratic institutions and have spread disinformation, such as that Bolsonaro’s opponent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will close Christian churches. At a Kremlin ceremony to mark the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – Russian President Vladimir Putin described the annexation as a “glorious spiritual choice” and quoted the Sermon on the Mount, a text from the Christian New Testament scriptures. “Desatanization” of Ukraine has become a popular term among Russian media and politics and as a justification for the war, and some leaders have viewed the invasion as instrumentalized by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Militant Christian nationalist narratives risk heightening the prospects of political violence. Some Christian nationalists have openly called for their aims to be accomplished through civil war, to fight evil forces and restore the country to a mythical greatness of the past. Although Christian nationalism is a cultural identity, as the emphasis is not on adherence to a specific theological doctrine or church involvement, the vague references to religious themes and the utilization of familiar language within certain religious environments, resonates with many on the religious right. This, coupled with the increasingly militant language and alignment with militia groups, renders the potential threat even more potent. Moreover, according to Pew Research Center, 45 percent of Americans say the U.S. should be a “Christian nation” and 28 percent believe the federal government should be declare the U.S. a Christian nation, demonstrating the pervasiveness of some Christian nationalist narratives. Working with religious leaders, academics, and other experts is crucial to countering anti-democratic and violent narratives. However, as the growing global movement and U.S. Capitol insurrection display, Christian nationalism will likely remain a significant force and, consequently, a potential threat to democracy and national security.

THEO VAN GOGH LIVEBLOG US ELECTIONS: Midterms in den USA: Was uns die ersten Wahlergebnisse sagen

Sofia Dreisbach –  FAZ Vor 1 Std. 9-11-22 – Längst sind nicht alle Stimmen ausgezählt. Ein paar Dinge zeichnen sich in den Washingtoner Morgenstunden aber ab: Die Republikaner sind auf dem Weg, die Kontrolle über das Repräsentantenhaus zu erlangen. So üppig wie erhofft, dürfte ihre Mehrheit allerdings nicht ausfallen. Bis wir die Mehrheitsverhältnisse im Senat kennen, könnten Tage vergehen – oder sogar Wochen.

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MESOP MIDEAST WATCH: ENDLICH MAL KEIN „DECKEL“ SONDERN EIN „SCHIRM!“  / DER TRICK BEI DER SACHE !

Globaler Klimaclub : Ein Schutzschirm für die Industrie

  • Von Ralph Bollmann Scharm el-Scheich FAZ – 8.11.2022- Die Idee eines Klimaclubs ist aus Sorge um die deutsche Industrie geboren. Durch das Abkommen soll die Abwanderung von Industrie in Länder mit geringeren Umweltstandards verhindert werden.

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THEO VAN GOGH NEUSTES: China droht dem Westen – Ärger mit Kanada, Australien, Litauen

Francesco Collini – DER SPIEGEL  8-11-22

Gerade noch war Kanzler Scholz in Peking – zeigt China nun sein wahres Gesicht? In einem Rundumschlag kanzelt das Außenministerium gleich mehrere westliche Regierungen ab. Ein Land hingegen wird umworben.

Nur wenige Tage nach dem Besuch von Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz in Peking steht die Volksrepublik China unter Staatschef Xi Jinping wegen mehrerer Punkte zunehmend in der Kritik. Es geht unter anderem

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m#MESOP MIDEAST INTEL BY MEIR AMIT CENTER / ISRAEL – Spotlight on Terrorism : Hezbollah, Lebanon and Syria (October 26 – November 7, 2022)

Published:

Overview

  • The Israeli Knesset election results caused concern in Lebanon regarding Israel’s abiding by the terms of the maritime border agreement, which could, according to sources, lead to a military confrontation. According to the American ambassador to Lebanon, even after the signing of the agreement the United States would not enter into a discourse with Hezbollah, not even indirectly.
  • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is working to create a large parliamentary bloc to elect a Lebanese president sympathetic to the Shi’ites. His efforts include trying to persuade Gebran Bassil, head of the National Free Patriotic Movement, to support Suleiman Frangieh, a pro-Syrian Christian and the preferred Hezbollah-Amal candidate.
  • With Iranian support, Hezbollah has become a significant Internet and cyber power, part of Iran’s battle for hearts and minds.
  • Hamas and Ansar Allah[1] delegations met with senior Hezbollah figures near Tyre to reinforce the “resistance axis” [anti-Israeli terrorist organizations] and the cooperation between the Palestinian terrorist organizations and Hezbollah.
  • The Swiss parliament voted not to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, claiming it was a political movement.
  • Attacks were allegedly carried out by Israel on Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hezbollah facilities in south Damascus. The facilities are used for the transfer of strategic weapons from Iran to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah and Lebanon
Maritime border agreement signed
  • Following the announcement of the results of the Israeli Knesset election, sources in Lebanon expressed concern that the new government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, would attempt to delay the implementation of the maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen TV station claimed the Israeli security establishment would play an important role in whether or not Israel would abide by the conditions of the agreement if an armed conflict broke out between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli security would, according to the sources, would keep the political leadership from violating the agreement lest Hezbollah carry out its threats to attack the Israeli gas rigs or attack Israel itself (al-Mayadeen, November 4, 2022).
  • Dorothy Shea, the American ambassador to Lebanon, said Hezbollah had shown it could be pragmatic by supporting signing the maritime border agreement. However, she added, the United States was not discoursing a discourse with Hezbollah, not even indirectly, though mediators (al-Nashra, November 5, 2022).
  • Naguib Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, also related to concerns Israel would change its mind about the maritime border agreement. He said the United States had given Lebanon guarantees in case Israel did so, and therefore he claimed he was not worried (al-Nabd al-Mamlaka TV, November 2, 2022).
Presidential elections
  • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is attempting to leverage his success in the negotiations for delineating Lebanon’s maritime border into creating a broad front to promote Suleiman Frangieh as the next president when the term of current President Michel Aoun ends. The political stalemate in Lebanon has made it impossible to obtain the necessary parliamentary majority to elect a new president. Nasrallah appealed to Gebran Bassil, Aoun’s son-in-law and head of the National Free Patriotic Movement, to support Suleiman Frangieh as the candidate of the Shi’ite bloc.
  • The deal obtained by the Shi’ite bloc to elect Frangieh was brokered in a meeting between Nasrallah and Nabih Berri, head of the Shi’ite Amal movement and speaker of the Lebanese parliament. Nasrallah is now attempting to include Gebran Bassil’s National Free Patriotic Movement in the initiative to create a broad front that will support Frangieh. Although Bassil and Nasrallah cooperated during the negotiations for the maritime border, according to reports Bassil has not yet been persuaded to support Frangieh (al-Akhbar, November 3, 2022).
  • The main obstacle to Bassil’s support of Frangieh is his collaboration with Nabih Berri. He is concerned it will prevent a balance between the various factions in Lebanon and give Berri and the Shi’ites power at the expense of the Maronite Christians (al-Akhbar, November 4, 2022). The approaching end of Michel Aoun’s term of office coupled with the Lebanese parliament’s inability to reach a majority vote to elect a Maronite as president has created a sensitive political and administrative vacuum in Lebanon. An interim solution may be the appointing of the commander in chief of the Lebanese army as temporary president until such time as a permanent president can be elected.
Suleiman Antoine Frangieh, Hezbollah-Amal Lebanese presidential candidate (Wikipedia, November 4, 2022).
Suleiman Antoine Frangieh, Hezbollah-Amal Lebanese presidential candidate
(Wikipedia, November 4, 2022).
Hezbollah: a cyber power
  • According to a study in The International Interest, Hezbollah is becoming a significant cyber power. It is As part of a broader Iranian policy to face the challenge of digital warfare, it established a “cyber army” in Lebanon, a Shi’ite force that will help Iran deal with the media challenges and influence facing it.
  • Iran, which considers media influence as a central component of its political-military effort, has provided Hezbollah with advanced digital capabilities to enable it to make a significant contribution to Iran’s efforts to attain influence and hegemony vis-à-vis Israel and in the Arab world and beyond. The Second Lebanon War in 2006 was a watershed moment when Hezbollah and Iran realized that winning meant victory not only on the battlefield but in hearts and minds to appear as “virtual victors” (The International Interest, October 31, 2022).
  • The Jihad al-Bina[2] is one of Hezbollah’s branches working to construct its infrastructure and provides vocational instruction for the Shi’ite population. It gives courses in various fields including setting up Internet networks, repairing computers, and photography and documentation workshops. It cannot be ruled out that graduates of the courses work for Hezbollah’s cyber effort.
A Jihad al-Bina course in setting up Internet networks given in the village of al-Hermel in the Beqa'a Valley (Jihad al-Bina Telegram channel, September 28, 2022).
A Jihad al-Bina course in setting up Internet networks given in the village of al-Hermel in the Beqa’a Valley (Jihad al-Bina Telegram channel, September 28, 2022).
Switzerland opposes designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization
  • According to a report published in Lebanon, the Swiss federal government voted against a bill designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and outlawing it on the grounds that “it is a political entity and not a terrorist organization.” Therefore, it will not be considered a terrorist organization in Switzerland and no sanctions will be imposed on its operations. The vote was taken after an examination was conducted at the request of a number of parliamentarians into the collection of contributions to Hezbollah made by the Lebanese community in Switzerland (al-Akhbar, November 5, 2022).
Lebanon’s political situation is unstable
  • Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said the political system in Lebanon was shaky and would deteriorate before it stabilized and a president could be elected. Regarding the economic situation, she said the agreement for delineating the maritime border was not a magic solution and Lebanon had to meet the demands of the international monetary fund and introduce reforms[3] (Middle East Eye, November 4, 2022).
Lebanese confesses to contact with Israeli intelligence
  • A 20 year-old Lebanese named “H. S.” [sic] reportedly turned himself into the police in Baalbek and confessed that since 2018 he had been in contact with Israeli intelligence. According to his confession, he transferred information and telephone numbers and locations of Hezbollah centers to Israeli intelligence (al-Akhbar, November 2, 2022).
Hezbollah and the Palestinians
  • A Hamas and Ansar Allah delegation met with senior Hezbollah figures:
    • At a meeting with Hajj Abdallah Nasser, responsible for Hezbollah’s “Jabal Amal first region,”[4] they discussed recent developments and the lot of the Palestinians in the refugee camps. Hajj Nasser said Hezbollah supported the Palestinian “struggle,” especially recently after the “escalation” in Judea and Samaria. He also said the Palestinian refugees had the right to live with respect and to have their legal and social rights recognized.[5] He also said the Palestinian organizations had to unite for a solution for the Palestinian problem, which was their common objective. Abd al-Hadi, who headed the Hamas delegation, said the meeting strengthened the “courageous ties” between the organizations, and that the Palestinian “struggle” would continue and grow (Ya Sur [Tyre], October 30, 2022).
    • At a meeting with the Palestinians, Sheikh Hassan Izz al-Din, a member of the Lebanese parliament from the “loyalty and resistance” faction,[6] said Hezbollah supported their “struggle” in Judea and Samaria. He also stressed the importance of the recent détente between Hamas and the Syrian regime, claiming the “resistance axis” [Iran, Hezbollah, Syria and the Palestinian terrorist organizations] was strategically important for the Palestinian people (Ya Sur [Tyre], October 31, 2022).
    • At a meeting with Hajj Khalil Hussein, second in command of the Jabal Amal region, and Abu Wa’el Zalzali, who holds the refugee camp portfolio in Hezbollah, regional events were discussed. All those present agreed that the recent events in Judea and Samaria were an important part of the “liberation of Palestine.” They agreed that the refugee camps in Lebanon were “the first station on the way to the return” [sic] and therefore it was necessary to support them, adding that the “blockade” imposed on Lebanon was detrimental to the firm stance of the refugee camps. The meeting ended with a blessing sent to the Palestinian youth confronting the “Israeli occupation,” as well as the comment that the election results in Israel were a reflection of Israeli society, which tended to the extreme right (Ya Sur [Tyre], November 4, 2022).
Hamas delegation meets with Lebanese parliament member Sheikh Hassan Izz al-Din (Ya Sur [Tyre], October 31, 2022).
Hamas delegation meets with Lebanese parliament member Sheikh Hassan Izz al-Din
(Ya Sur [Tyre], October 31, 2022)
Iranian Activity in Syria
Alleged Israeli attack on south Damascus
  • On October 27, 2022 (the third time in a week) the region near the airport in Damascus was attacked, allegedly by Israel. According to sources in the Syrian department of defense, a number of targets were attacked south of Damascus and Syrian aerial defense intercepted the Israeli missiles. The London-based Syrian Human Rights Observatory reported that at least four missiles hit the shrine of al-Set Zaynab[7] south of Damascus, with no loss of life. According to reports, the objective of the attacks was to keep the Iranians from transferring weapons to Hezbollah. The most recent attack targeted the base of the Lebanese column in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and bases of the Fourth Division commanded by Maher al-Assad, which help the Iranians transfer strategic weapons and dangerous substances to Hezbollah.
  • According to several reports, the Iranians operate three avenues of transferring weapons to Syria: by air to airports, by sea to the port of Latakia, and overland through the Iraq-Syria border crossings. According to reports, weapons are transported overland by Unit 190 of the IRGC commanded by Bahnam Shaharirai, and Unit 4400, which belongs to Hezbollah and is commanded by Hajj Fadi. Iran sometimes camouflages shipments of weapons to Syria and Hezbollah as humanitarian aid. The most recent attacks targeted the warehouses of the Fourth Division and Unit 4400 (al-Arabiya, al-Hadath, October 27, 2022).
Aerial photograph of the al-Set Zaynab facility near the targets which were attacked (SAM Twitter account, October 30, 2022).
Aerial photograph of the al-Set Zaynab facility near the targets which were attacked (SAM Twitter account, October 30, 2022).
  • Faisal al-Meqdad, the Syrian foreign minister, said Israeli Air Force planes exploit the flights of civilian aircraft near the Damascus airport and launch their missile from above and below the civilian planes, and for that reason Syrian aerial defense cannot attack them (Facebook page of Suweida ANS, November 2, 2022).

[1] Ansar Allah is the military wing of the Houthis in Yemen and is supported by Iran and Hezbollah. ↑
[2] For further information see the June 12, 2019 bulletin, “Jihad al-Bina Association in Lebanon: A Hezbollah social foundation engaged in construction and social projects among the Shiite community, being a major component in Hezbollah’s civilian infrastructure.” ↑
[3] The International Monetary Fund demanded Lebanon introduce reforms in supervision and preventing corruption as conditions for aid. ↑
[4] “Jabal Amal” is how the Lebanese refer to south Lebanon. ↑
[5] According to Lebanese law, the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon must live in the refugee camps and are forbidden to engage in a number of important public and economic occupations. ↑
[6] The political party of Shi’ite Amal and Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament. ↑
[7] Al-Set Zaynab was the beloved daughter of Imam Ali ibn Talib, the founder of Shi’a. She was Muhammad’s granddaughter and her shrine is located south of Damascus. Shi’ites from all over the world go on pilgrimages to it. ↑

MESOP MIDEAST WATCH: Mehr als 1.000 angeklagt, da die iranische Justiz sagt, dass sie fest mit Demonstranten umgehen wird

Dienstag, 8 November, 2022 -Asharq Al-Awsat

Irans Gerichte werden hart gegen jeden vorgehen, der während der anhaltenden Welle von Protesten gegen die Regierung Störungen verursacht oder Verbrechen begeht, sagte die Justiz am Dienstag. Mehr als 1.000 Menschen wurden im Zusammenhang mit dem, was die Regierung “Unruhen” nennt, angeklagt.

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MESOP MIDEAST WATCH SIGNS OF TODAYS ISRAEL- Israeli City to Grant Students Scholarships for Volunteering With Far-right Armed Militia

The website for armed civilian militia Sayeret Barel posted applications for a 10,000 shekel (over $2,800) scholarship for Israeli students who volunteer with the group – Nati Yefet HAARETZ  – Nov 8, 2022 7:11 pm IST

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THEO VAN GOGH TENDENZEN:  – ENDLICH MIT SIR POPPER & RALF DAHRENDORF GEGEN DEN ANTI-LIBERALISMUS

Woke Identitätspolitik: Die Kulturkämpfer der bürgerlichen Mitte blasen zum Angriff

Die Denkfabrik Republik 21 hat in Berlin zur kulturellen Gegenmobilisierung aufgerufen. Identitäres Denken bedrohe Freiheit und Demokratie, glauben die Veranstalter. Die Hauptaufgabe wird sein, Union und FDP aus ihrem gesellschaftspolitischen Tiefschlaf zu wecken. Oliver Maksan, 08.11.2022, NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG

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THEO VAN GOGH: BIDEN IS OVER & OUT / Europäer müssen sich auf die Post-Biden-Ära vorbereiten

JUDY DEMPSEY (Rext German & English)

Der Niedergang der Demokratie in den Vereinigten Staaten bedeutet, dass Washingtons Führungsrolle nicht als selbstverständlich angesehen werden kann. Es ist an der Zeit, dass Europa ernsthaft in seine eigene Sicherheit und Verteidigung investiert.November 2022 CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT EUROPA

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THEO VAN GOGH NEUSTES:  Französischer Autokonzern : Chinesen steigen bei Renault ein

  • Von Niklas Záboji, Paris FAZ – 8.11.2022- Renault plant die tiefgreifendste Strukturreform in seiner Geschichte. Der Konzern soll in fünf Einzelteile zerlegt werden – und will ausgerechnet mit dem chinesischen Autobauer Geely Verbrennerfahrzeuge bauen.

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