February 10, 2010
http://www.prayersurgenow.blogspot.com/
“WAR PREPARATIONS PROCEED ON ALL FRONTS – URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS”
U. S. DEFENSE PRESENCE TO EXPAND IN MIDDLE EAST; X-BAND RADAR TEST FAILS
20,000 more U.S. Protective Forces to Saudi Arabia
Jan. 30 -The New York Times and the Washington Post reported that the U.S. was working with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf allies to ramp up arms sales and rapidly bolster the defenses of oil terminals and infrastructure against Iranian attack. The U.S. Navy increased the number of ships in the Mediterranean armed with missile defense systems and are keeping Aegis-guided missile cruisers on round-the-clock alert. The Post also reported that the U.S. planned to triple the size of a 10,000 - man protection force in Saudi Arabia, which are part of a broader push that includes unprecedented coordination of air defenses and expanded joint exercises between the U.S. and Arab militaries. All these moves may be aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran.
PRAY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ADDITIONAL U.S. TROOPS THAT MAY BE DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST.
PRAY FOR TROOPS AND FAMILIES WHO WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF YET MORE DEPLOYMENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS INCREASED COMMITMENT.
PRAY FOR DIVINE REVELATION TO MILITARY AND CIVILIAN LEADERS TO KNOW HOW TO MEET THE HUMAN AND FINANCIAL COSTS OF THESE DEPLOYMENTS.
U.S. Missile Defense X-Band Radar Tests Fail
Jan. 31 - A malfunction of an X-Band radar caused failure of a U.S. missile defense test against mock long-range missiles over the Pacific. "The Sea-Based X-Band radar did not perform as expected," said the Defense Department in Washington. The SBX radar is a critical part of the U.S. defense system against hostile long-range missiles that might be launched with potential chemical, biological or nuclear warheads. This system is a vital part of U.S. deployment of Gulf defenses against possible Iranian or Syrian missile attacks. Israel is counting heavily on the X-Band radar for repulsing retaliatory missile attacks in its military preparations for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
PRAY THAT THE MALFUNCTION OF THE X-BAND RADAR SYSTEM WILL BE QUICKLY IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED AND THAT THE ENTIRE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM BE WILL BE WORKING SUCCESSFULLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SYRIA – THREATENS ISRAELI CITIES
U.S. and other international leaders have been appealing to Bashar Assad for months to abandon his mutual defense and coalition pact with Iran. On January 20, when special envoy George Mitchell arrived in Damascus, he told Assad that President Obama appointed Robert S. Ford as ambassador to Syria. Ford is the U.S. deputy ambassador in Iraq, and was ambassador to Algeria from 2006-2008. At the same time, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem charged Israel with promoting an atmosphere of war in the region with threats against Gaza, South Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. One report suggested he was distorting calls by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak for peace talks with Syria. He may also have been referencing the Israeli warning that if Syria supplies the SA-2 missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Damascus itself would be targeted. Syria has been training Hezbollah on using the missile systems, but has not supplied them. Moallem concluded: “Israel knows that if it declares war on Syria, such a war will reach its cities as well.” The statement is disturbing because it affirmed Syria’s alliance with Iran and Hezbollah in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
PRAY DIVISION, CONFUSION, AND DISSOLUTION INTO ANY DEFENSE ALLIANCE AMONG IRAN, TURKEY, SYRIA, LEBANON, AND GAZA.
PRAY THAT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SA-2 MISSILES FROM SYRIA TO LEBANON WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND STOPPED.
ISRAEL – RUMORS OF ISRAELI PREPARATIONS FOR MILITARY STRIKE ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES FROM PERSIAN GULF AND IRAQI KURDISTAN; IRON DOME SYSTEM AND IRON WALL ON GAZA; EGYPTIAN BORDER IN PROCESS
PRAY FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE “IRON DOME” MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT WILL PROTECT ISRAELI CITIES, AND FOR COMPLETION OF THE “IRON” WALL BEING ERECTED BY EGYPT TO CLOSE THE SMUGGLING TUNNELS INTO THE GAZA STRIP.
IRAN – AHMADINEJAD DECLARES IRAN A NUCLEAR POWER; LONG RANGE MISSILE TECHNOLOGY ON DISPLAY; SHORT RANGE MISSILES TRIPLED IN NUMBER; AGREES THEN REVERSES ON NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT; U.S. ORDERS SANCTIONS WITHIN WEEKS
Feb. 3 - Missile Technology on Display Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled three new satellites, a carrier engine and a light booster rocket. The Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) rocket is able to launch a satellite into orbit, and can also send a missile to any point on earth. It carried a bio-capsule with a mouse, two turtles and worms into space, suggesting both Iran's capability of manned space flights the ability to launch missiles tipped with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads.
This missile was an upgraded North Korean No-dong, and the “space” emphasis was a thin camouflage of the real focus of Iran's efforts to develop a 6,000-kilometer range ballistic missile that can reach every capital in Europe, from Vienna to London. Also on display was a next-generation booster rocket, called Simorgh, the Iranian version of the mythical Phoenix, equipped to carry a carry a 100-kilogram (220-pound) satellite 500 kilometers (310 miles) into orbit. Scheduled for production in two to three years with the help of Pyongyang and China, Simorgh can carry a missile to the East Coast of the U.S.
Recent reassessment of Iran’s shorter range missiles revealed that Iran has at least 300 medium-range missiles in operational service and is capable of producing another 10-12 a month, so that in a year's time, Tehran's missile arsenal will be boosted by another 40-50. In the fall of 2009, assessments put the number of ballistic missiles at 60-70, so their short-range missile capabilities have tripled.
Feb. 11 - Street Protests and Warning to the West from Ayatollah Khamanei and Ahmadinajad as Iran announces it is now a nuclear power
Iran's top opposition leaders Mousavi and Karroubi call for street protests on February 11, the 31st Anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Two protesters were hanged last week, 16 more went on trial last Saturday. Opposition leaders believe the demonstrations and sanctions could lead to regime collapse.
Ahmadinejad announced that the Judeo/Christian world will be given a harsh lesson on February 11, while the Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "The Iranian nation will punch the arrogance (of the western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned." The meaning of that statement became clear when President Ahmadinejad announced at a pro-regime rally that Iran had produced its first batch of uranium enriched to a higher level, and thus had become a nuclear state. Ahmadinejad also declared that Iran would not be bullied by the West into curtailing its nuclear program.
Apparently rescinding an offer made the day of its missiles display to send Iran's 3.5-percent enriched uranium overseas in return for 19.7 percent grade material, a UN proposal ignored for months, Ahmadinijad announced that instead Iran would begin its own enrichment of uranium up to 20%. 80-90% is necessary for weapons grade material. Iran may be betting that China will not support new sanctions through the UN Security Council because of its major investments in Iran.
President Obama and U.S. Defense Secretary Gates called for immediate sanctions within weeks, not months.
PRAY FOR COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE FOR IRAN’S PEOPLE AS THEY SEEK TO REMOVE THE OPPRESSION OF THE CURRENT REGIME.
PRAY THAT GOD HIMSELF WILL THWART IRANIAN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND MISSILE DEVELOPMENT
PRAY FOR SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED BY THE U.S. AND OTHER NATIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT’S CRY FOR REGIME CHANGE.