We don’t know a lot. Yet. What we do know is that a US drone strike hit Baghdad airport killing Qasem Soleimani (and one of his deputies), a top general and very powerful man in Iran. Additionally, the U.S. will be sending thousands more troops to the Middle East in case of retaliation. The State Department claims that the drone strike happened to prevent an “imminent attack” in the region that would put American lives at risk. 

CNN is quoting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, Kentucky) as saying: 

"Soleimani made it his life's work to take the Iranian revolutionary call for death to America and death to Israel and turned them into action. But this terrorist mastermind was not just a threat to the United States and Israel. For more than a decade, he masterminded Iran's malevolent and destabilizing work throughout the entire Middle East,"

And the Democrats seem to agree with Schumer saying that no one will shed a tear over Soleimani’s death. Although top Democrats, especially those on the Intel Commities were not briefed beforehand about the strike which is potentially problematic. 

Okay.  So those seem to be the general facts as everyone is reporting. Since both sides agree this guy was a terrorist mastermind I will take it on faith that his death will save innocent lives. But … now what? Well, the cynical side of me agrees with many folks who have pointed out that President Trump predicted this very event - for Obama. In 2011 and 2012 Trump tweeted that Obama would start a war with Iran in order to win an election. Here they are: 

@realDonaldTrump

In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.

1:48 PM - Nov 29, 2011

@realDonaldTrump

Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran.  He is desperate.

3:39 PM - Oct 9, 2012

@realDonaldTrump

Don't let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected--be careful Republicans!

10:43 AM - Oct 22, 2012

@RiegerReport

Trump on Nov. 16, 2011:

“Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He's weak and ineffective. So the only way he figures that he's going to get reelected — and as sure as you're sitting there — is to start a war with Iran.”

8:48 PM - Jan 2, 2020

So, is this just a Wag the Dog tactic? Is Trump doing what he “predicted” Obama would do? Even though … Obama never did that thing, but whatever. Let’s just ignore that for now. 

War Presidents are popular. It’s true; however, I suspect the truth is … all of the above. This Soleimani guy was clearly a terrorist scumbag and I don’t care that he’s dead. The drone strike also helps Donald Trump in the popularity polls because war sells. So, I think we have a little of column A and a little of column B. 

To be honest, I don’t think this will lead to a full scale war. The U.S. launches drone strikes a lot. Probably more than you realize. Remember that Obama was and still is criticized for the large amount of drone strikes he sent out. Well, it was widely reported that in 2009-2010, President Obama launched 186 drone strikes on Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. In 2017 and 2018, President Trump launched 238 drone strikes in those regions. Again, Obama was openly criticized for launching too many drone strikes. And Trump has launched much more. So, this is nothing new, especially to the people living in said regions. 

I’m not going to weigh in too heavily with the “but drone strikes create terrorists” argument, even though it's true. But I will say that if Iran was going to start a war with the U.S. because of drone strikes - they probably would have already done it. On the other hand, this was a very popular person in Iran who is publicaly claiming that they will retaliate the U.S.

Let's hope cooler heads prevail. An all out war with Iran would be ... ugly. 

“The first casualty when war comes is truth” - U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson in 1917

You have probably heard the question, “Are you willing to die for your country?”  You probably answered in the affirmative.

That’s honorable.

However, what I want to know is this, would you live for your country?

If your answer is yes, then you may want to know what your government is now advocating for concerning Iran, for now is the time to now live for your country by standing up and putting a stop to this warmongering.

Here again, the US government and the warmongers are now casting into the minds of the American people through the media propagandists that Iran must now be dealt with, all the while ignoring corruption and crimes in their own country as to how American politicians need to be dealt with lawfully (Amos 5:15; Matthew 7:30-5; 1 Peter 4:17).

Furthermore, when the fighting commences, you can rest assured that it will not be the warmongers fighting.  It will be your sons and daughters fighting and bleeding and dying in their unconstitutional wars while making millions for the military industrial complex that we were warned about by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961.

"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy." –Henry Kissinger

Being in the military is honorable yet, it is not honorable when you help war criminals commit crimes against innocent nations (If that nation is innocent).

Therefore, make it honorable by upholding the enumerated laws found within the US Constitution (Deuteronomy 25:1; Article 6, Section 2, US Constitution) against all enemies both “foreign and domestic.”

The Awful Price of Freedom and Redemption (A Sons of Liberty video)

Again, as the media propagandists now begin to ramp up their efforts in brainwashing Americans with a dictator and another country that we need to go to war against, do remember that this was all forecasted many years ago by General Wesley Clark. He had shared with us 18 years ago that Iran will be one of the 7 countries that our military will be used to take down.  After all, he said, “We have a good military and we can take down governments.”

General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned - Seven Countries In Five Years

Maybe that explains why we have 737 military bases in 148 countries today.

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Bradlee Dean is a guest contributor to GCN news. His views and opinions are his own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the Genesis Communication Network. Bradlee's radio program, The Sons of Liberty, broadcasts live M - Sat here at GCN. This is an edited version of an op-ed originally published by Sons of Liberty Media at www.sonsoflibertyradio.com. Reprinted with permission. 

Man has created plenty of inherently evil things: weapons of war like guns and bombs, addictive drugs like nicotine, opioids, and crack cocaine, but none are more evil or responsible for more death than the creation of God.

Religion was the law before the law. It was a means to control populations of peasants and slaves through fear and pain. Egyptian emperors propagandized their godliness so slaves would die building the pyramids that would serve as their final resting places and lasting reminders of their godliness. People worshiped gods and goddesses and continue to do so out of fear or to relieve pain inflicted upon them by authoritarians or unfair economic systems and circumstances.

More wars have been started and more people killed in the name of god than for any other reason. Reconquista, or the Iberian Religious Wars between Christians and Muslims for the Iberian Peninsula, killed an estimated 7 million over 721 years. The Christian Crusades—nine of them—sanctioned by the Latin Church to acquire the Holy Land from Muslims, are estimated to have killed 1.7 million people. The French Wars of Religion between Roman Catholics and Huguenots are estimated to be responsible for the deaths of 3 million people. That’s 11.7 million deaths. The Jewish-Roman Wars push the total over 12 million. The German-led genocides of the Jews and Christian Poles killed another 12 million at least.

The Bible has been and continues to be used to justify slavery and white supremacy, demonize bisexuality, and deny climate science. “The Immaculate Conception” is still used to justify the violation of living, breathing women’s rights—even raped women—in favor of unborn babies. And Pope Benedict XVI actually said the use of condoms could worsen the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, with Catholic Churches telling African children not to use condoms, contributing to the spread of the epidemic.

Organized religion is also responsible for thousands of sexual crimes against children throughout the world. The Illinois Attorney General found that more than 500 priests accused of sexual abuse have not been publicly identified by Catholic Church. In Boston, more than 130 people have alleged former priest John J. Geoghan fondled or raped them over the course of three decades through a half-dozen Greater Boston parishes. From 2001 to 2010, the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church, considered sex abuse allegations involving about 3,000 priests dating back fifty years.

Religion has certainly saved plenty, but its track record of evil is well-documented. Religion’s rap sheet is long, which should make you skeptical of its intentions, regardless of whether it’s saved someone you know. Personal experience means very little when considering thousands of years of documented history.

"We have a good military and we can take down government…” -General Wesley Clark

Throughout the book of 1 and 2 Kings, conspiracy after conspiracy took place to overthrow the powers of that time. It is, in fact, a biblical truth no one can deny (Jeremiah 11:9).

In America today, to talk of conspiracy always seems to fall on deaf ears, as if it were just a theory. And, of course, it is only a theory until it comes to pass, then it's a fact!  Then those who cried "conspiracy theorists" sit back and try to figure out why no one told them.  Yet, most have learned this deceptive lesson by listening to the lying CIA-media that they denounce as a bunch of corporate liars (John 8:44).  How this works I do not know, it is simply the reflection of hypocrisy concerning that of the people in this country and that on a massive scale (Romans 1:18).

Little by little, the people in this country are discovering that conspiracy theories are simply conspiracies (Jeremiah 11:9), as they are also discovering that the CIA-controlled media has a history of giving cover for the conspirators themselves.

One such case is the new world order (Revelation 17:17) in which no can any longer cast off as some sort of theory in the way that Americans have done for decades in the past.

Incrementally, and through political and media deception, conspirators are hard at work creating the American empire by conquering nation after nation under the guise of “we are being threatened again, and we must deal with them or else.”  And this all at the expense of the blood of your sons and daughters.

Did you know that America has over 737 military bases in 148 countries? (Editor’s note: The number of countries the US has bases in is actually, unclear. The ‘737 military bases in 148 countries' seems to originate from a quote by Rand Paul in 2011 who said, “We’re in 130 countries. We have 900 bases around the world” and at the time, the folks that fact checked the story claim to have found Pentagon sources that backed these numbers up; however, the problem now is that all the links they sourced are broken.  So, it’s true there are a huge amount of US foreign military bases in the world but these exact numbers may or may not be accurate. Modern experts, scholars and sources all appear to suggest that there are several hundred US military bases in approx. 80 countries. All that being said, Bradlee’s main point - in that there are a huge number of US military bases all over the world, is still valid, especially his next statement...)  

Can someone please show me where Americans have delegated authority to representatives to plunder and conquer other nations on the biddings of the military industrial complex, only then to put American military presence in their place?

If that is not enough evidence of what corruption in American government has been busy doing on a global scale, I have to say, that I do not know how to help you understand.

America, what is happening right before your eyes is treason (Luke 22:48).  It is treason against Americans, as well as unlawful invasions into foreign countries (Article 3, Section 3, US Constitution).

How many times the American government and the media have convinced Americans of some monstrous dictator in a third world country that needs be dealt with or else, because they are some sort of threat, only to find that they were the ones responsible for creating and inciting the wars from the very offset (Psalm 94:20).

Again, at length, those particular countries are then plundered of their resources while American military presence is left in control. It is called totalitarianism. Wake up!

One thing you might want to ask yourselves next time you hear the "we need to deal with them or else" you might want to ask the question, who is doing the attacking?

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Bradlee Dean is a guest contributor to GCN news. His views and opinions, if expressed, are his own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the Genesis Communication Network. Bradlee's radio program, The Sons of Liberty broadcasts live M - Sat here at GCN. This op-ed was originally published by Sons of Liberty Media at www.sonsoflibertyradio.com. Reprinted with permission. 

“War is delightful to those who had no experience of it.”  – Desiderius Erasmus

First and foremost, I come from a military family.  My grandpa was in World War I, my uncles were in World War II, my Father was in Korea, my cousin was killed in Vietnam and my brothers were in the US Army and Air Force. So, without a doubt, I honor the American military, but let’s be clear here, in righteousness, not in unrighteousness (Isaiah 51:4).  I honor those that magnify the enumerated laws found within our US Constitution, not those who blindly follow behind corrupt politicians and fight for their unlawful ends.

Ever since I can remember (I am sure you do as well), corrupt politicians in this country have been at war with other countries. I have seen war after war after war, decade after decade -

• Insurgency of Bolivia
• Lebanese Civil War
• Dominican Civil War
• Cambodian War
• War in Sough Zaire
• Invasion of Grenada
• Bombing of Libya
• Tanker War
• Invasion of Panama
• Gulf War

• Iraqi No-Fly Zone Enforcement
• First Intervention in the Somali Civil War
• Bosnian War
• Intervention into Haiti
• Kosovo War
• Operation Infinite Reach
• War in Afghanistan
• Iraq War

• War in Somalia
• War in North West Pakistan
• Operation Ocean Shield
• American-led intervention in Libya
• Lord’s Resistance Army Insurgency
• American-led intervention in Iraq
• American-led intervention into Syria
• Yemeni Civil War
• American intervention in Libya

I wonder if those who were doing the fighting would be fighting at all had they taken the time to know the US Constitution, which reveals what and who they are fighting for (Romans 3:20).  For the most part, the wars above are unconstitutional and illegal.

America has been at war 93% of the time since its inception, that is 222 years out of the 242 years since 1776. The United States has been at peace for less than 20 years since its birth.

Notice as to whom is doing the fighting?  Your Grandfathers, your Fathers, your brothers, your cousins, your neighbors or perhaps your mothers, sisters or even yourself, etc.

Guess who is not doing the fighting?  The politicians who are working on the behalf of the special interest groups such as the bankers, Military Industrial Complex, etc..  In short, they are those who are responsible for creating the wars!

To be quite frank, I am sick and tired of the lies (Remember, truth is always the first casualty in war) thrown on the American people in order to fight their unconstitutional wars. Who do you think is funding these wars? The American taxpayers are!  Then those who began the wars end up profiting from them.

Politicians, of course, with the help of the CIA-controlled media, are lying to you on a daily basis.  They are the very ones that are accusing and casting into the minds of Americans, that the leaders of other countries are dictators, that they are evil and monstrous and must be dealt with or else.  All the while, these same politicians are hoping that you forget that they are the ones who are consistently lying to you.  They are also those who will not raise a hand to help in the war that they created and want you to believe is a just war.

Maybe the American government (We the People) should judge within before judging without! (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

First, stop Washington D.C.!

This government sends innocent boys over to fight their unconstitutional wars in a third world country, while they are given a pass, as they commit the same crimes against Americans here in the homeland. Hypocrites! (Matthew 23:3)

Hopefully, this will explain as to why so many foreign countries hate America. They hate America because of what Americans have let their representatives do to their perspective countries unlawfully.

I say that if politicians and special interest groups want war, then let’s throw them all in a cage and fight it out to the death.

If they claim that that is absurd and ridiculous, then you will know that it is not a war worth fighting.

This is why it is important, regardless if you are in the US military, the police force, civil government or in any other capacity of a representative government, to know what the US Constitution says. We should all follow the reference as to what is legal and what is illegal (Exodus 20) in the sight of God, first and foremost, and unto men (1 John 5:2).

Those that serve “We the People,” in any capacity, must remember what they swore in their oath to uphold:

“I, (Name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” -5 U.S. Code § 3331 - Oath of office/Deuteronomy 23:23

Notice that when swearing the oath to serve “We the People,” it states both “foreign and domestic;” domestic meaning here in America, such as unconstitutional and unlawful enforcements here that go against our Constitution.  Unlawful enforcements such as illegal searches and seizures and door-to-door disarmament, etc. - are all illegal!

These orders are illegal and the individuals that gave such orders are to be lawfully dealt with (Article 2, Section 4, US Constitution).

So, it is important to know who and what you are fighting for rather than just blindly falling in line with that which may be illegal again, both here and abroad.

During the Vietnam War, it was widely circulated that the politicians were very eager to send America’s finest, whose names came up during the draft lottery, that is until their children's names were pulled up. Then, the war soon ended.

It is true that a politician is willing to lay down your life and the lives of others for his country.  Yet, not when it comes to his own life or the lives of those close to him.  If that be the case, which it has been so many times in the past, their unconstitutional orders MUST BE RESISTED!  When the law is obeyed, they cannot have another unlawful and unconstitutional war.

If everyone catches onto the point being made here, not only will the illegal orders to go to war be RESISTED AND DENIED, but the American people will also lawfully deal with the corrupt politicians. (Article 2, Section 4, US Constitution)

“Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.” — Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials

Again, I say then that if the politicians want war, let’s send them to war, for you know as well as I do that will be the very method in which war will cease.

How is it that anyone can fight on the behalf of those that kill, steal, and destroy for profit (John 10:10) and advocate for war when you know that they are lying to you?

Listen to what these men had to say of our American military (Our grandpas, our fathers, our uncles, our brothers, our neighbors, our mothers, our sisters etc). Former National Security Advisor and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said:"

“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy.”

General Smedley Butler said:

“Our boys were sent off to die with beautiful ideals painted in front of them.  No one told them that dollars and cents were the real reason they were marching off to kill and die.”

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for big business, for Wall-street and the bankers.  In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.”

And this all coming from the General that said, “I wouldn’t go to war again (After knowing what was going on within) as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers.”

There are only two things we should fight for, one is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.

Maybe this explains why America has 700 military bases in over 146 countries.

Where, I ask, in the US Constitution is it the job of the American Government to police the world?  Where is it the duty of those that serve in any capacity to throw off the US Constitution and to obey tyrannical orders and fight their wars?  I cannot find it!

Often, wars are fought without congressional approval, and why?  Because they know that if the people knew the truth of the matter, they would not approve of such measures and fight.

Don’t forget that those that do their bidding in un-Constitutional wars are just as guilty as them that are giving the unlawful orders.

When the American people realize who needs to be lawfully dealt with, they are going to find that the problem is in Washington D.C. rather than some created cave-dweller with a turban on his head in a third world country.

Furthermore, when our forefathers, who established this country, thought war was inevitable, they were the first ones to go as an example to the rest of the people.

It was said of George Washington that he was, “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”  Today, the opposite is true of those who represent the people.

Again, since when are the police, military, and representative government suppose to follow unconstitutional orders? They are not!  And if the unconstitutional orders are not followed through with, the innocent will not be violated, but protected.  This is the rule of law that reigns supreme (Deuteronomy 5:7-21).

This is the reason why the American people should take the time and read the enumerated laws found within the US Constitution.

When John the Baptist was demanded upon by the soldiers, they asked him, “And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do no violence to any man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”  (Luke 3:14).

What do the warmongers in America advocate for? Just the opposite of what the word of God teaches. They advocate violence and lies to gain profits.

Either man will end war or else war will end man! Which one do you desire?  The answer?  If you want to end war then just send the politicians that want it to that war! (Psalm 94:20)

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Bradlee Dean is a guest contributor to GCN news. His views and opinions, if expressed, are his own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the Genesis Communication Network. Bradlee's radio program, The Sons of Liberty broadcasts live M - Sat here at GCN. This op-ed was originally published by Sons of Liberty Media at www.sonsoflibertyradio.com. Reprinted with permission.