Germany?
Why not Washington, D.C.? Why not London?
The meetings in Bonn are under the aegis of both the UN and the EU, is why. For decades, I have shouted the warning that a future "United States of Europe" as it may well be called, will emerge as a vast SUPER POWER which will rival the United States of America. I can document this by literally more than 50 articles; several booklets, and hundreds of radio and television broadcasts. If you have not yet read my book "Europe and America in Prophecy," which contains a chapter on Germany in prophecy, by all means access it on our web site at "garnertedarmstrong.org/" or call (903) 561 7070 for your free copy.
Average Americans may be astonished that Bonn, Germany would be selected as the site for talks about the future government of Afghanistan, thinking the US should be the site, since the US is contributing the lion’s share of the military forces dedicated to bringing down the Taliban, and destroying Bin Laden’s al Quaeda network. Many Britons may believe London should be the site, since Britain has contributed the second-largest force to the coalition attacks.
But the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, doesn’t see it that way. To him, Bonn, Germany is the ideal site. Bonn was vacated some years ago by the German government, following the reunification of Germany and the completion of the new "Bundestag" or Parliament building. The many government buildings which were vacated in Bonn remain as a perfect venue for such meetings. At this moment, debate continues over whether to admit "moderate Taliban" members (if there is such a thing) to participate. Actually, Pakistan was a sponsor of the Taliban — many Pakistanis are members of the so-called "disciples" who have imposed brutal, dictatorial rule over the people of Afghanistan, and who have trained, supplied, and harbored terrorists.
Sattar wants the meetings held far, far away from his home country, for the simple reason that his government is very nervous that a post-war government in Afghanistan may reduce the influence of the "Pashtun" tribes, who make up about 40 per cent of Afghanistan’s population, and who also make up about 15 per cent of the population of Pakistan.
Such a snub would be similar to how the Treaty of Versailles ignored over 3 million ethnic Germans in the Sudetenland, (which resulted in Hitler’s demands they be repatriated) when the artificial country of "Czechoslovakia" was created following World I, and would lead to violent conflict both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan in future years.
However, the much-heralded "Northern Alliance," whose fighters (one is loathe to call them soldiers) have massacred many who tried to surrender, is a mixture of minority Tajiks and Uzbeks, and has been backed by Iran, the former Soviet Union (is still backed by Russia — possesses Russian tanks, anti-tank rockets, and Russian-manufactured AK-47 assault rifles), and also by India. There’s the rub. India is the nuclear rival of Pakistan, and a long-term dispute over Kashmir erupts into violent firefights frequently.
Islamabad was the last country to officially sever ties with the Taliban, and did so only after about a month of intensive bombing, when the Pakistanis became convinced the US would prove victorious. Do not be misled by the current government’s cooperation with the US. Pakistanis as a whole are anti-US, and are wholly in favor of bin Laden.
The selection of Bonn, Germany, is symbolic of the new-found geopolitical muscle of the German nation, which has called for a "voice in world affairs commensurate with its economic strength" for decades. While Germany has cooperated with the US in arresting suspected terrorists; in sharing intelligence, and even in sending token numbers of troops in "humanitarian" efforts in Afghanistan, the Germans’ participation in the actual fighting has been almost nil.
But Germany is once again a very powerful nation; a nation which may well have its own secret nuclear program. Many years ago, credible sources claimed the Germans had assisted the South African government in testing nuclear devices in the South Atlantic. Also, one must remember the "Red Army Brigade" and other terrorist groups like the "Bader-Meinhoff" gang who operated in Germany, and who helped carry out terrorist attacks in Europe and the Mideast.
Recently, Romano Prodi, who is President of the European Commission, demanded that the EU (United Europe) take over far-reaching powers over the government spending, foreign policy, defense (military organizations) and police forces of all member nations in an attempt to "transform the European Union into a global superpower!"
Naturally, Britain views any such proposals with traditional British intransigence and skepticism. Next year, the "Euro" goes into common circulation among member nations. It has already been in use in the inter-European banking system for almost two years. In Prodi’s view, the new spending policy would be a "model budget policy" which would be like a fiscal counterpart to the European Central Bank, which is controlled by a top-level German banker.
For decades, I asked, "Who would LEAD such a super power?" It is nonsense to expect a rotating "presidency" to be effective when major crises occur, such as that now faced by the US and many other countries. A major difficulty in obtaining full economic and political union is the sticky problem of asking such nations as Britain and France, both extremely proud of their national character; their ancient cultures; their nationalism, to virtually dissolve their national sovereignty, handing over all decisions to some multi-national body such as the European Parliament.
This would mean that proud heads of states, such as Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac, would become mere "senators" in a representative government, and would lose their powers as prime ministers. Does this make sense to you? Do you think it will happen?
For decades, I have known that the ultimate TEN NATIONS (or ten groupings of nations under ten KINGS) to emerge in Europe would not result from a gradual coalition of peaceful states, but would come out of the aftermath of the collapse of the present configuration of the EU.
God’s word clearly proclaims there will be TEN KINGS who will sit astride a huge, multi-national coalition of governments, in cooperation with a great, powerful, universal religious organization, which will FIGHT JESUS CHRIST at His return! They will do so because it will be a time of WORLD WAR; of massive loss of life; of the toppling of many nations! God says, "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
"These have one mind [one policy; one purpose -- they are in political agreement], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast [the power of their national economies and military].
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:12-14). The prophecy is therefore DATED in the sense that it is set at the time of Christ’s intervention in world affairs! When one sees the very political events which are shaping up toward the creation of this same power; when one sees the very things Christ described in His Olivet Prophecy coming to pass, it is time to REPENT of personal and national sins; time to call out to God in heartfelt surrender, and be involved in His end-time WORK of witness and warning!
One of the first shocking acts of this eventual ten-nation power will be a swift advance into the Mideast, to OCCUPY PALESTINE and EGYPT, and along with them, most likely Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan! Read it for yourself: "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
"He shall enter also into the glorious land [obvious reference to Palestine -- modern-day Israel], and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom [Turkey], and Moab [Syria and/or Iraq], and the chief of the children of Ammon [Jordan].
"He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
"But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans ["Put"]and the Ethiopians ["Cush"] shall be at his steps.
"But tidings out of the east and out of the north [from Russia and her allies, and China!]shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many [The vast battle described here is the one called "the Battle of Armageddon" which will involve MILLIONS of soldiers].
"And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him" (Daniel 11:40-45).
For many years, I told tens of thousands in live audiences, "You will live to see the time when the US and Russia are once again allied against a common enemy!" I said this during the very darkest days of the cold war; during the regimes of such men as Nikita Khruschev and Yuri Adropov. Today, under the impetus of the various SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Treaties) which have been signed between the former Soviet Union (now Russia) and the US, and the newfound friendship and cooperation between Russian Premier Vladimir Putin and US President George W. Bush, Russia and the United States seem closer than at any time in memory! No-one would have believed this could take place in the 1960's. But I did, and said so, many times.
WATCH as you see Germany become ever more active in global geopolitical events; as you see German military forces taking part in regional conflicts; as you see the formation of a new SUPER POWER in central Europe!
For a step-by-step scenario about HOW all this will unfold in Europe and the Mideast, be sure to read my booklet "Mideast Strife — Will It Lead To Armageddon?" and the book mentioned earlier about Europe and America in Prophecy. Meanwhile, BE ALERT. WATCH!
Watch and PRAY every day to your heavenly Father, not only for His protection, but for His WORK which is going out to the nations!
