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The A-O Report

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2009 Mid Year Review

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We’re now half-way through the middle of 2009. Already we can note that the year has been one full of interesting developments.

As President Obama’s term of office as developed so far, many prophecy watchers have begun to speculate on whether or not Obama is perhaps the Antichrist. Some prophecy watchers have noted some disturbing signs and indications that Barack Obama might well be the “messiah” of the New World Order. There are others who suggest he is a “type” or a fore-runner to the Antichrist – much as John, the Baptist was a forerunner of Jesus Christ. Perhaps this is also true. It is also possible that President Obama is neither one. His policies though appear to be setting the stage for the Antichrist.

Also in 2009, we’ve witnessed a regime-change in Israel. The conservatives have taken control of the Israeli government. Reports have surfaced that Prime Minister Netanyahu desires to see his administration bring on the building of a new Third Temple. We do know that he has pledged to never give up Jerusalem. We also know that his number one priority is to make sure that Iran does not acquire the ability to make nuclear weapons nor launch a nuclear attack against Israel.

The first half of 2009 has been dominated primarily by economic issues as the world economy appears to be settling into at least a sharp recession if not outright depression. The world’s economy is in bad shape, as is the economy in the United States. China’s economic status seems to be on the rise, but it is not yet close to overtaking the United States as the marketplace of the world. Indeed China’s economy is also teetering. As we write this review, riots and protests are breaking out inside China.

Though the initial rioting inside China is led by Muslims, the remainder of the Chinese workers, are suffering economic hardship. They may also soon join in protests that will test the stability of the Chinese government. China’s governing regime may yet be threatened in the near future, thanks to China’s own deteriorating economy and worker unrest.

Europe is suffering economic deterioration as much, if not more so, than in America.  The world’s leaders met in the Spring and set the foundation for a new electronic world currency but the details are still being developed for the elimination of cash currency. As near as we can tell, the elimination of cash is still likely to be one to three years away from implementation, perhaps longer – yet the principle has been established thanks to the G-20 spring meeting.

Another key development in 2009 was the threat of a new form of flu virus called H1N1 (Swine Flu). The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to warn of pandemic possibilities for this virus. There is substantial concern that this new virus will become an even greater threat in the upcoming flu season. Consequently, new vaccines are being produced and plans are being made to mandate ‘forced vaccination’ of everyone, whether they wish to be vaccinated or not. The pandemic threat is a convenient tool to advance totalitarian government control.

Iran

The Iranian nuclear weapons issue has been a dominant issue for prophecy watchers in 2009 but the presidential elections in June has apparently altered the situation as Iran’s leadership is in the midst of a power struggle.

The first half of the year was primarily shadow boxing between Iran and President Obama’ in an attempt by the new Administration to draw Iranian leaders into negotiations. President Obama was ready to offer Iran a strategic partnership in which the two nations would work together to resolve problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In exchange, Obama would force Israel into negotiations with the Palestinians that would result in a new Palestinian nation.

Iran’s leaders however suspected Obama had ulterior motives that were not in their interests. They didn’t trust the President. The regime failed to respond, something the White House had apparently not counted upon.

Of course, the White House had not counted on Israel electing Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister and then the White House didn’t expect the Likud leader to pull in the Labor party to its coalition. All in all, events unfolded in such a way that the Iranian leadership concluded that it was best to simply string the President along, as long as possible while their nuclear program continued unabated.

Israel

As we noted above, the White House simply miscalculated political events in Israel. The Administration has also miscalculated the adversarial stance that Netanyahu has taken. The White House simply has not been able to bully Netanyahu into acquiescence as had other White House administrations of the past.

Oh yes, Netanyahu seemed to fold on a 2-state solution, but he did so with strings that for the most part made the 2-state solution impossible to carry forward. Netanyahu stipulated that Hamas must recognize Israel and that any such Palestinian government could not have a military.

The issue over Jewish settlements remained at a stand-off as the middle of the year ended, leaving the White House, little to show for its foreign policy achievements in the region.

Iraq

The situation in Iraq continued to remain in the background during the first half of the year, but by the end of June, new insurgency activities signaled a upturn in terrorism within Iraq that points to a new threat of civil war in the future between the Sunni and Shiite sects.

This renewed upsurge in violence just happened to coincide with the political unrest sweeping Iran in the last two weeks of June. US military commanders attribute the upsurge to Iranian interference. The renewed violence sends a signal to Washington to keep its hands out of Iranian internal politics or otherwise face reprisals in Iraq to keep the US off balance.

Pakistan-Aghanistan

The first six months of the year saw Pakistan nearly succumb to the Taliban and Al Qaeda as the radicals ramped up a special offensive aimed and bringing down both the Pakistani government and also the Afghan government.

Washington was finally able to get the Pakistani military to quit worrying about India and its border and shift focus on battling the Taliban with a full effort. The U.S. military began to coordinate and assist the Pakistani Army which seems to have – for the moment – stabilized the Pakistani government and rolled the Taliban forces back on their heels inside Pakistan.

The same cannot be said for the situation in Afghanistan. Allied troops began a new offensive aided by additional U.S. troops but so far the new offensive has bogged down. The long-term future for US and Allied efforts in Afghanistan does not look good.

War on Terror

President Obama has effectively called off the “war on terror.” The new Administration refuses to think of the terror threat in terms of a war. The Obama Administration has failed to provide much focus on Al Qaeda’s world wide operations with the exception of the pirate wars off the Horn of Africa.

New reports began surfacing at the end of June indicating that Al Qaeda was preparing for a substantial terror offensive sometime in the second half of the year, but the Obama Administration seems to be ignoring this threat.

Solar Activity

As June came to an end, the Sun seemed to be coming out of its dormant stage as a new series of sunspots and solar storms began to develop. Solar scientists conclude that the Sun is now entering a new and very active phase that will continue to increase for the next two to three years before peaking around 2012.

What to Expect for the Rest of 2009?

Look for Iran’s internal power struggle to continue for the next few weeks. President Ahmadinejad will attempt to consolidate his hold on power with purges beginning sometime in August with the Revolutionary Guards prepared to intervene and stage a bloody crackdown. I expect many of the clerics who have joined together against the President and Supreme Leader will be purged – making way for a new and dangerous phase for the ultra radicals. In an effort to consolidate power, I suspect the Iranian President and the Supreme Leader will engage in some form of military adventure to take the initiative of the reformers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Iran launch some kind of military action against Israel, either directly or indirectly through its surrogate allies of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Best hunch is that the timing for any Iranian military adventurism will be in late August or September, if the reformers can be quickly removed as a threat.

Another item I suspect may develop in the next 90 days is an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran – perhaps during or while the internal strife paralyzes the Iranian regime. Should Netanyahu and his Defense Minister so move, I would expect any military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities would be carried out in the next 6 weeks.

I look for the economy to continue deteriorating slowly during the summer, culminating in another major crisis during the fall much like last year.

US-Russian relations may slowly improve, but US-China relations will likely remain “soured” as the Chinese seek an alternative, one-world currency.

Don’t be surprised to see the H1N1 virus make another comeback this fall and winter. We’re likely to see some sort of epidemic or pandemic emerge
as we move into the heart of the flu season.

Also, I look for President Obama’s poll ratings to continue to slip as the recession and unemployment worsens. I doubt that his ‘global warming bill’ will pass in the Senate unless it’s carved down to almost nothing. I doubt that the Obama healthcare program will be passed this year, again because it will be perceived as too expensive and too damaging to the economy. The deteriorating economy will once again take center stage this fall with a new crisis emerging as the banks begin to fail dramatically as more real estate loans (especially commercial loans) sour. Somehow, catastrophe will be averted just as it was averted last year.

I suspect that if Iran does not launch any military adventurism before September, Israel will be restrained yet once again from attacking Iran this year by the USA and the EU.

I see no indication at this time to suggest that David Flynn’s theory for the start of the Tribulation to have begun on July 9 or 10 of this year. It was an interesting theory but I saw nothing to suggest that the Antichrist has taken charge and I see nothing to indicate that the 2 Witnesses are now conducting their ministry.

The pace of critical events will continue to quicken without let up for the next four to five months. 

And so, we shall see what further excitement transpires for the rest of this year.

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