Rt Hon William Hague MP, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The UK Government is giving millions to the Syrian rebels to spend on logistical support, according to the BBC.
Last month we reported on the growing persecution of Syria’s 10% Christian minority by its Sunni Muslim rebels and the flat refusal of the UK government to acknowledge that this was happening.
The attitude of the rebels is clearly summed up by: ”The Christians to Beirut, the Alawites to the grave” Only the Russians and Chinese, we said in our article, were standing between the Christians, Syria’s Alawite minority, of whom President Assad is the most prominent member, the state of Israel, and a bloodbath.
Days later the BBC news also reported the attacks on the church.
Now Mr William Hague MP, HM Foreign Secretary, (who, incidentally, is not known for his support of Israel) is giving £5m of taxpayers’ money to the Syrian rebels, for ‘communications and body armour’ to go with the £27.5m he has already given them for ‘humanitarian aid’ and the weapons they are getting from Saudi Arabia. It is reported that the American CIA are also helping to arm the rebels.
If we step out of Mr Hague’s simplistic ‘Assad = dictator = bad, rebels = democracy = good’ mindset, we see that no one side is a pure as the driven snow, but that the deciding factor is that the USA/EU/Soros sponsored rise of the Muslim brotherhood and Al Quaeda elements in Syria and across the Middle East is a thoroughly bad thing.
Now some may protest that the rise of militant Islam is all ‘part of the end times’ and we should not be surprised. Indeed, no-one should be surprised at any of the evident spiritual wickedness in high places today, nor at any time in human history. With no restraint, the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil (Eccl 8:11) and the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed (Psalm 2:2).
But it is taking the ‘end times’ idea to the point where we do nothing except gaze at the gathering clouds in hopeful expectation to which Christian Voice is opposed. The Lord said ‘Occupy till I come’ (Luke 19:13).
We can and should be praying for our brethren in Syria and everywhere else the church is persecuted and we should be witnessing to our MPs and asking questions of them.
PRAY: That Britain will pull back from its unqualified support of the Syrian rebels and realise that the Assad regime, with all its faults, remains the last protector of the Christian and Alawite minorities in Syria. Pray for more even reporting of the conflict. Pray that the Russians and Chinese will stand firm against Western and Saudi duplicity.
Ask your MP – Email address HERE – to ask the Foreign Secretary:
1 What budget is this £32.5million for the Syrian rebels coming out of?
2 At a time of austerity, what is the benefit to Britain?
3 What does Mr Hague’s intelligence tell him about the attitude of the rebels to Syria’s Christian and Alawite minorities?
4 What does his intelligence tell him about what is happening to Christians in Iraq, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt?
5 When will he stop his support of Islamic militants set on the extermination of minorities in Syria and begin to deal even-handedly to bring peace, not escalation?
6 Ask your MP to ask Mr Hague and Alastair Burt, his deputy, to rescind the £32.5m.
Click here for our previous story:
Syria – Thank God for the Russians
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John
12 August 2012 at 12:05 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Your writing above is verging on the ridiculous.
And the circular email you sent out said “Your money is going to the Syrian rebels” – rather misleading as it’s not money but equipment.
The BBC story you linked to says,
“The help for unarmed opposition members will include medical supplies and radio and satellite equipment.
But it will not include weapons and is in addition to £27.5m humanitarian aid.
…
The money will be spent on medical supplies such as trauma kits, surgical equipment, medicines and water purification and to assist local doctors with the means to gather forensic evidence for any potential trials in future.
The communications equipment includes mobile and satellite phones and radar equipment. The Foreign Office says it will help protect activists overcome the Syrian government’s jamming and blocking techniques.
The foreign secretary added that body armour would be provided for civilians who were involved in the protection of others.”
Syria has descended into near-anarchy and yes, some of the rebels are Islamists. But what’s the point of grumbling about this £5m of aid and ignoring the other £27.5m?
Stephen
13 August 2012 at 13:34 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks for that. Story amended. You are right inasmuch as it isn’t £5m-worth of equipment going to the Islamist rebels, it’s £32.5m. That is truly shocking.
Phil Crouter
15 August 2012 at 20:25 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I think you are backing the wrong horse, if I might put it this way in the Syrian conflict. The Assad regime is undoubtably a cruel and tyrannical one which has murdered thousands of innocent Syrians including many women and children.
As a Christian organisation, i dont understand how you can a blind eye to this.
Furthermore has always been a fierce enemy of Israel and has allowed Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists to operate freely in Syria.
The fact that one of the main supporters of the Assad regime is Iran should give you food for thought. Iran has repeatedly stated its wish to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The Assad regime and Iran have been in an alliance for years.
I dont know much about who the Free Syria army is, I doubt if they are a united force. Perhaps it is wise that we should at least give them a chance.
Phil
Stephen
16 August 2012 at 10:01 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
No, it is the British and US Governments who are backing the wrong horse. Assad has always had little time for political opponents but even our anti-Assad media, from whom you have your information, has not accused him of engaging in the type of genocide which faces his Alawite minority and the Christians from a Sunni regime. Of course Iran hates Israel. All Muslims hate Israel. Hamas has now split from the Assad regimne and is backing the rebels, who are fellow Sunnis. A Sunni-run Syria allied with Suuni Palestinians will scarcely be inclined to peace with Israel. As for ‘give them a chance’? Give them a chance to murder all the Christians in Syria, Phil? It will be a bit late then. Whatever happened to doing good to the household of faith?
Rox
21 August 2012 at 01:12 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I have just been watching the DVD of the excellent 1996 Glyndebourne staged production of Handel’s oratorio Theodora, which Handel himself preferred to Messiah. In this production, the Roman soldiers are depicted as quite definitely modern American soldiers, with the flag and the word “United States” on their sleeves, and Coca Cola drinking is encouraged as a sign of loyalty to the governor and emperor.
Already, as one watched it, it seemed to be something of an uncanny prediction of Abu Ghraib and Guantanimo Bay, a prediction because these places as we know of them had not started in 1996 .
But horrors ! Theodora actually takes place in Syria ! I do hope this will not prove to be a prediction of an American occupation of Syria, and persecution of the Alawites or some other Muslim sect which refuses to bow to their demands. It is unlikely to be the local Christians who suffer at their hands as in the oratorio, although I suppose that is just possible.
gerry leddy
23 August 2012 at 18:12 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Just logged in to see what you were saying about Prince Harry and the naked pics in LasVegas. Hardly a suitable role model for young men, would you not think, hardly Moral and righteous. Look forward to your article and condemnation of it.
I know when it is heterosexual you seem to have a problem raising it, but this is no ‘ordinary’ young man, and could be King Some day.
Why in syria would Christians fear persecution. Why do the not expect that they will be so. Christ came and His own received Him not, Why do Christians expect to be treated better than Christ was? Christ says when they are persecuted that they are blessed Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Luke 6:22
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
I notice in the Muslim world that there is no shortage of believers willing to lay down their lives for their God but the reverse seems to be the case when it comes to the Christian Religion. Is this a proof that the Muslim God is stronger than the Christian God?
Stephen
24 August 2012 at 10:47 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Gerry, that is so heartless to your brethren in Syria. ‘Don’t worry, folks, you are blessed’. The Christians have had a measure of peace under Assad and the Alawite regime. It is their peril in the face of regime change to a Muslim brotherhood dominated Sunni theocracy we are drawing to people’s attention so those with a heart can pray for our brethren and witness to our government which is shamelessly supporting the Islamic Sunni militant rebels.
Phil Crouter
23 August 2012 at 18:53 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Isaiah ch 17 v 1 declares that Damascus will cease from being a city. Now I am not going to say that the fulfillment of this prophecy will be soon, but there is strong possibility.
I think events in Syria have taken a very dangerous turn. Both sides have committed terrible atrocities and then there are stockpiles of chemical weapons lying around.
In a general sense I believe God is shaking up the nations of the world to achieve His purpose. Satan’s aim is to destroy Israel so that Jesus cant return. I think Christians can agree that they should pray for the peace of Jerusalem
Anne
2 September 2012 at 16:08 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
How or why is it that some of the Southern Mediterranean Countries (Union for the Mediterranean Countries)
that have recently been embraced by the EU through what we have known as the Arab Spring, “SPRING”, (“Support for Partnership, Reform, and Inclusive Growth.”) which included, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine, that have had or seemed to be required that certain Heads of State are removed one way or another?
I think the scene was set, as stated, in a speech by President José Manuel Durão Barroso made in Cairo 14th July 2011, in which he made clear, and just so you know, that the “European Union has no wish to interfere in Egypt’s internal decisions.”
“We recognise there are many risks still to be faced. We recognise that the revolution is not finished. The expectations are high and the potential for frustration is considerable. Deep change takes time. The road to democracy is not a peaceful stream of water but rather an unpredictable river very much like the Nile used to be before the Aswan Dam. But we fundamentally affirm the spirit that has ignited the revolution thus far. And throughout we remain acutely aware that democracy must come from within. While external assistance may help the flowers of democracy bloom, it is only you who have planted the seeds that can ensure democracy takes root.”
“Our financial commitments will rise to €7 billion in the coming three years for our neighbourhood, with another €6 billion in loans available. Much of this will come from the European Investment Bank, whose President Philippe Maystadt is joining me on this trip. The bank is the biggest development lender in North Africa. Already there are nine Egyptian projects in the pipeline for the coming 12 month, worth well over €1 billion”.
“This sits within the overall package of €20bn agreed at the G8 in May. Egypt is in a good position to access these amounts, as it is a leading country in the path to democracy”. A little intervention here because when the EU pays out money to some-one some-where some of that money comes from YOUR pocket too. Money that could have been spent on the Defence of our Country, or provided jobs for some-one, and our Government-yet as I write this- not one MP has breathed one word about this project to any of us here in the UK..
I will end this section with President Barroso, “As the turmoil continues, the European Union flag flies proudly in Freedom Square, Benghazi. This flag and the office beneath it is a tangible and symbolic sign that the European Union is ready to support the people of this region.” I think tHAT says it all!
‘Evil Olympics’ closes but Rogge honoured ‘Palestinians’ » Christian Voice UK
13 August 2012 at 16:15 (UTC 1) Link to this comment
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