• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Illegal migrant charged in Michigan woman’s killing was deported under Trump but snuck back in: ICE

“He was ordered removed by an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office of Immigration Review Sept. 24, 2020, and was removed to Mexico Sept. 29, 2020,” the immigration rep said.
“At an unknown date and location Ortiz-Vite reentered the United States without inspection by an immigration official.”
Ortiz-Vite has now been charged with felony murder, open murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony use of a firearm after Garcia’s bullet-riddled body was found on US 131 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, around 11:40 p.m. Friday.

Border policies have consequences.

Living Fire


08-20-03

"There are too many ministers that seem satisfied to teach the same fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is no manifest presence in their ministry, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. There is a continual absence of fire. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breast a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy"~ A.W. Tozer, from the Pursuit of God.

"The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed."~ Milton

This is the present situation here, as well as in many other churches. The word being taught in services many be true, but it is not alive, rather, it is the dead letter, spoken without anointing , as if it were formatted into a program. In a sense, secularized Christianity and nothing but a speech. Since there is no fire, no life, and no Spirit backing the Word in a continual presence, there is no overwhelming conviction. Eyes are not enlightened, ears remain deaf to the truth, and lives unchanged. It is like observing The Falls from atop the trail from a distance. You can see it and hear it may even notice its a beautiful thing, but you do not experience it! Yet go down to the falls itself and sit at the pool below the upper falls. ----You can feel the power, the earth lightly trembles with energy, and a mist covers you. This is experience, whereas the other is only distant observation. One event touches you deeply, the other does little but look nice, a pretty thing in the distance that can never touch the inner soul. No wonder most people grope in darkness. There's no living power being manifest by the preachers. It becomes a dull monotonous drone Sunday after Sunday, without fire, lifeless, and dead as the church of Sardis who had a name it lived, but was dead. (Revelation 3:1) And all too often man in his programs wants to make repentance a complicated issue, masking it under disguising words like "Recovery"~ nothing but a catch word borrowed from modern psychobabel!

Its sad when the church starts molding its teaching from secular self help programs~ ones that do nothing to aid the soul or spirit! What ever happened to the word being ALIVE and POWERFUL, sharper than a two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the bones and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of heart?~ (Hebrews 4:12)
Instead, the living Word has been bound and caged by teachings and traditions of men! It becomes of little effect, and lives remain untouched. Dead religion is the result, and the final doom of the sinner is the consequence, for few can be truly born again in such an atmosphere. "He that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully--Is not my word like as a fire? Saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in peices?" ~ (Jeremiah 23:28-29) "In great sections of the church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and been replaced by that strange and foreign thing called "The Program." This work has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us."~ A.W. Tozer, the Pursuit of God.
Programs literally kill the life of spirit in an individual church where they are adapted.

"Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesyings."~ (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20)~ "And grieve not the Holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." ~ (Ephesians 4:30)~ "God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in Truth"~ (John 4:24) When the disciples of Jesus were filled with The Holy Ghost in Acts 2:2-3, it says there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind, and there appeared cloven Tongues of fire that sat upon each of them. Peter preached and prayed that God, "Grant unto they servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal, and that signs and wonders be done by the name of the holy child Jesus." ~ (Acts 4:29-30)

How opposite is this to much of our modern day dead Christianity, the dying drone of the Sunday sermon that oft lulls people to sleep rather than to impart life to them? Messages are compiled by study of text and the joining together of verses, given to the people in the format of a speech or a catchy 3- point sermon limited to a time slot. Anointed preaching is fueled by the live fire of the Holy Spirit, inspired by a spark, an idea, then unfolding in a message of power, with little chance for the mind to interject its own limits and opinions. And with this "Live Fire" there often may come spontaneous miracles, signs, prophesies, healings, manifest for the benefit of all in they church.
You simply will not get this from a sermon rigidly constructed from head knowledge and delivered in a controlled speech format. The teaching may be true doctrine, but it is the dead letter instead of the living word spoken of in Hebrews 4:12. Paul said, "my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."~ (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
Let us pray for that live fire to be kindled, and for all ministers to open up to the living spirit of God, so they may become fire themselves, for the scripture says the Lord, "maketh his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire."~ (Psalm 104:4 and Hebrews 1:7)


'Migrant influencer' urging illegals to squat in US homes on run from authorities


The Venezuelan TikToker who went viral last month after defending illegal immigrant criminals and urging migrants to squat in U.S. homes is now on the run from immigration authorities, according to a new report.

Leonel Moreno has claimed that his family, which includes his wife and young daughter, has received $350 a week in government handouts since entering the U.S. illegally.

On top of that, he had claimed to be making $1,000 a day as a TikTok influencer. However, his account, which at one point had more than 500,000 followers, appeared inactive Wednesday morning. His verified Instagram account, however, has about 17,000 followers and posted two videos Wednesday morning showing him waving a stack of $100 bills as he posed with his baby girl.
Moreno allegedly cut off his ankle monitor after receiving border parole and is now listed as an "absconder" from immigration authorities, the New York Post reported Wednesday, citing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Moreno reportedly received border parole in April 2022 as part of the government's Alternatives to Detention program, which is supposed to track catch-and-release migrants when there is not enough room to detain them.

Moreno previously told his audience he planned to make a business out of "invading" abandoned houses and taking them over with squatters' rights laws, then selling them for a profit.

When this war is won

Most of us should be aware by now that we are in the middle a war against the globalists and that Trump and his team are the tip of spear in this war , along with over 200 generals in over 30 countries all helping to destroy the globalist infrastructure.

Anyway one part of that infrastructure is underground tunnels that are all around the world used for child trafficking and other evils , and from what i'm hearing , the soldiers fighting in these tunnels are not just fighting against humans but non humans as well , some say they are chimeras.

Also I am hearing that the globalists through their puppet governments have been hiding things from us like cures for cancer , alternative energy etc.
And that they have also been hiding from us people that they call non human entities or off worlders. Apparently there not calling them aliens because the entities are telling them that they have always been here , even before us and that they live underground , also in Antarctica I believe.

Now the point is , the talk out there is that once Trump is back in office , and he will be , then all of this stuff that has been hidden from us is going to be revealed , including the non human entities that are going to share their technology and lots of other wonderful things with us.

The majority of secular society are exited by all this and can't wait for us to begin OUR NWO once this war is won.
And many of them are into new age thinking , tarot cards , crystals etc.

Obviously what looks good to them is not looking too good to me , because i'm thinking bible prophecy. So what are your thoughts on the matter?

I have evolved, don't think or believe as I did years ago RE Christianity, etc..

I have changed a lot in the last several years, which is not a shocker, I know. Most people do, but I have changed somewhat radically.

I once got deep into studying my Catholic faith.. not a bad idea at all. I recommend all Catholics do this. But the problem is, you have to be careful what your sources are. I happened to serendipitously run into a book written by the late archbishop Lefebvre, who whole heartedly disagreed with the changes of Vatican II and wrote books on this. Then from there I studied Sedevacantism, which I have no problem with, to speak of. However, it seems to me that most professional Sedes are more into mocking "new church" and Francis than they are into.. well, works of charity or what have you. I know I shouldn't even say this because I do not know these people well. I just know that I went to this site once that was run by Sedevacantists and all they ever seemed to post were articles or videos on how awful new church is. The thing is, though.. It really IS awful.

So what am I trying to say here? I don't know... I mean, I am just disturbed, is all. I feel confused because the Catholic Church is divided into 3 parts: novus ordo, SSPX and Sedevantists. I can't say I whole-heartedly endorse the NO (new) church, but on the other hand, I just don't believe that Jesus would allow His Church to utterly fail, as they seem to think, just because anti-Christs took over the buildings (1958). He said that He would never leave us (Mt 28:20) He said his Church would not fail (Mt 16:18).

I feel very alone and misunderstood a lot of the time. It seems that priests in the NO don't want to talk about V2 (and why would they? it doesn't make them look good). I liked a SSPX priest I confessed to years ago.. very good in confession, acted interested in what I was saying. A Sede priest I went to for confession was OK but didn't seem half as interested. Maybe I shouldn't have expected him to be like the SSPX priest, and I do realize that... OK, never mind. I was going to go into some other things but I'll leave things @ that for now.

Prayers for true, authentic connections with people.

Please pray that those who are now in my life will be forgiving, open their minds and allow certain truths to be revealed. Truths that maybe will help us to form a better, more authentic friendship with one another.

More importantly, pray that GOD will soften the hearts of Jake, Brandon and Daniel. Remove the spiritual blindness from their eyes, and help them to understand the truth about you. Bring them to repentance and salvation. Help me to let my light shine before men that they may see my good deeds and glorify my Father in heaven.

Glory to GOD

Can you prayer that God fix this situation

Can you please prayer that Jesus would fix this situation. So there is this girl at my work she used to say always hello to me when see me and she is from other departament. We barely spoke once she got my attention and i message her so we talked online and she was really friendly until i started to like her and became a bit nedy and asking her out for coffee,lunch when we talked on teams. She never said no,but also never said yes only saying thank you for invitation and she stopped replaying me and stopped showing interest talking. After this i started to feel that she rejected me and as she saw i am no value guy. Now everytime i see her i get so nervious i start feeling anexy and fear takes over.i didnt prayer to let her go ,but the feelings still come. I really wish Jesus could fix my situation that i would stop feeling anexy when see her and that God would provide me ways to fix the situation and let her get to know me. Her name is Andzela

I posted this in Persecuted Christians but then saw Introduce Yourself (I'm a newbie)

I was raised Catholic, except that we were not devout. We went to Mass on Sunday and the rest of the week we lived like... everyone else in the secular world. So it was not surprising that I ended up not doing well, spiritually. I had a big conversion experience as a teen, but as the years went by and my family made it clear they were not with me spiritually, etc... I fell away from Jesus, although I continued to love Him "my way." So anyway, my life became a colossal mess of sin, and several times I felt like ending it all... LONG story. Then I had a 2nd conversion 20 some years ago, began going to Mass, which I had not done since a youth. It was a holy experience, met an awesome priest... and I began studying Catholicism, history/doctrine, etc. I agreed with all that the ancient Catholic Church taught, yet the CC stopped teaching a lot of that, more/less, due to the modernizations that happened @ Vatican II. I didn't study V2 until just a few years ago, and boy, was it a shocker! All Christians should study up on the late Catholic archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who disagreed heartily with V2. He wrote books on the disagreements and etc.. and I could find no argument w/ him. But then I moved on Sedevacantism and.. well, I couldn't disagree w/ them either, except for one thing. Basically, the Sedes say that Jesus cannot be found in the new church, as they call it, since they do not have a valid Eucharist. I disagreed once w/ a Sede on this because the awesome priest aforementioned had told me about the Real Presence and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever experienced.. But the Sede said I was just imagining this Presence of Christ (in "new church") and just shut me out of his life completely--over THAT. So much for charity! I thought that was basically what Jesus focused on? If you can shut people out, stop communicating with them altogether, people who agree with you RE Jesus 99% of the time...(!). I mean, I don't get that.

So now I feel I am in this weird no-man's land. .. I have to say that I've had some very negative experiences in the "new church" also, problems that make that problem with the Sede (above) look like Heaven on Earth... SIGH. I can see why Jesus said that FEW find the narrow way to Heaven... It seems so many people are focused on religious beliefs and how right they are and everyone else therefore has to be totally wrong... rather than on what God requires of us.
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As Easter approaches feel more than ever REJECTED by God

The word I happen to be looking for rhythm with itch, to say I happen to be reacting like one is a great insult to them. It is much worse but after so many years of trying to believe God for His mercy and just being slapped with His justice I cannot any longer see Him as my Father just my Judge and Executioner so much for rejoicing in the Resurrection of Jesus this weekend. Because I no longer believe in pray(I should say I believe I will deliver my heart’s desire to Him so the reply will always be an Empathetic NO!) That is tough enough to swallow but boy can God really deliver on many of my nightmares.

So any advice for someone who is living in the old man now and so sure that if I desire it God won’t grant it but if I fear it, it is highly likely right around the corner heading my way as God gives me justice without mercy?

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Book of Donald: Trump hawks special ‘God Bless the USA’ Bibles for $60

Mr Trump proudly crowed: “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible.”

The ex President is selling personally endorsed Bibles via CIC Ventures LLC (which he owns) for his own profit. Is this an example of Mr Trump's devoting to spreading the good news or is the 'God Bless the USA Bible' yet another grift with the same spiritual integrity as his Trump sneakers, steaks and bathroom towels?

Trump Hates Netanyahu, No Pro-Israel Candidate

When I go to meetings of a local pro-Israel organization, I notice that most of the people there fervently believe that Donald Trump is good for Israel. I long ago decided that Trump simply doesn’t understand Israel or the Middle East.

Yesterday’s Jerusalem Post quotes Dr. Michael Oren, who was the Israeli Ambassador to the US until recently. Oren: “Trump also hates Netanyahu and does not forgive him for congratulating Biden when he was elected.” Given President Biden’s criticism of the war with Hamas and Israeli settlements, he concludes, “There is no pro-Israeli option here.”

Oren also points out that Biden has sometimes stood up to Congress and to many in his own party to stand with Israel. Biden does pay a political price for this, and he has used the veto power in Israel’s favor.

This is not a clear cut case of good versus evil. There are no simple answers.


Story:

Michael Oren: Trump unclear on Israel;​

Biden is supportive​


Link
Michael Oren: Trump unclear on Israel; Biden is supportive

It would seem as if concerns about RFK have flipped again...





Back when he first announced, the prevailing theory among Republicans was that he'd split the democratic vote.

Democrats, at that time, largely rejected/downplayed that notion, and suggested that due to his stances on Ukraine and vaccines, he'd pull more away from Republicans (and cited selectively chosen polls to support that theory)

It now appears that the script has flipped, and some left-leaning strategists and outlets, are now expressing concerns about RFK Jr. spoiling the election for Biden due to his selection of running mate.


Per the NY Times:
This week, the Democratic National Committee formed a unit to push back against third-party candidates and independents. At the same time, a number of Biden allies have formed a super PAC called Clear Choice, which plans to do the same, signaling the seriousness of the potential impact of an outsider candidate.

One such candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is polling above 10 percent in national surveys and is well known for his family lineage.

Per Vox:
Kennedy is currently averaging about 12 percent in the polls, according to RealClearPolling. Celinda Lake, a pollster for President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign who continues to work with the Democratic National Committee, said that’s a worrying signal for Biden, based on polling and focus groups her firm has been conducting that suggest Kennedy will pull voters from Biden.




And it would seem those concerns were amplified by his running mate selection. He picked a philanthropist, former Democratic donor, and wealthy activist who's focused on causes of women's reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and environmentalism.

The fact that Biden's PAC and DNC operatives are forming task forces to squash independent candidates, and putting out websites to smear RFK, it doesn't sound like the DNC is quite as confident in their earlier assertion of "nothing to worry about, he'll pull more votes away from Trump"



I think my original theory still holds up...which was that the farther and farther removed we get from the covid pandemic, the less of a deal-breaker the anti-vaxxer aspect becomes, and at the end of the day, despite his vaccine attitudes, an anti-war, pro-gay rights, environmentalist is going to pull more votes from the left than from the right. (even more true now that he has a wealthy women's reproductive rights advocate at his side as his running mate during a time when abortion is quite the hot button issue)

Pharmakeia drugs or sorcery

Hello. I’m told there are some Greek speakers here.

Does anyone have insight about Revelation 9:21 which in most English translations is “sorcery” but when I look at a lexicon the word pharmakeia is the word is says is from the Greek.

To an English speaker the word pharmakeia obviously seems like the word pharmaceutical and that is also what it seems to mean. I even found a modern Greek bible online and pasted the text into google translate and it translated the word to “drugs”.

I can find very little online or in commentaries except that drugs were often used in connection with witchcraft. If that is the case, why was the word for drug used but not the word for witchcraft?

Was the modern Greek bible I found typical in that it used the word “drugs” and if so, do the Greeks have a different understanding of the verse than English speakers?

Do the Orthodox Church have a universal teaching on it?

Help with something

E I bought black glasses, they don't have any brand, they're all black. A while ago, Espírito Santo bothered me about piracy and I stopped using them, so I didn't see these glasses in the store.There was a counterfeit model, so I feel bad, but I didn't buy the counterfeit. But for selling a counterfeit I feel bad. Someone tell me Help, I have OCD so my mind can't reason sometimes. Sorry for my English, I'm from Brazil, thank you

Can Christians live as enemies of the cross?

‭Philippians 3:18-19 BSB‬
[18] For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

For some time I read this passage as referring to those outside of the faith, but over time my understanding of this scripture has shifted. I now believe Paul is referring to believers, or people associated with the church, in this passage.

I guess my question for discussion here is:

What exactly is meant by "their minds are set on earthly things?" and how can we avoid that so as to not live as enemies ourselves?

Is he possibly referring to things Jesus Himself referred to in Matthew 6:25-34? Worrying about food, clothing, basic necessities of living.

Or is it referring to fleshly living? Such as found in Galatians:

‭Galatians 5:19-21 BSB‬
[19] The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; [20] idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Clearly I think it's the latter.

I think it goes right along with the call for Christians to live holy and godly lives. Flying in the face of the "hyper grace" crowd or any other sect of Christianity that claims we can live how we want because God's grace covers us.

Don't get me wrong, I dont believe its saying we have to live 100% sin free. But I do think there's an urging here to resist sin at every turn and if it happens, turn away from it immediately and return to the cross and the death of self.

But anyway, my mindless rambling is over, what do you think? Can Christians live as enemies of the cross?

Rock Art

I like rocks and I do a lot of rock art. If people think this earth is only 6,000 years old then they are not listening to the story the rocks are telling us.

Luke 19:40
"I tell you," He answered, "if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out."

Joshua 24:27
And Joshua said to all the people, "You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God."
404226161_1399599807639837_4118842906713440008_n.jpg

The Curse For Mocking God

Feb 22, 2024
"Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." - Psalm 105:15
Therefore to him who does this, there shall set upon him the Divine Fury, the whole wrath of the Almighty, in whose strength the faithful stand: For to mock, make fun of, and persecute others, as when the children mocked Elisha brought two horrible Bears upon them that tore them before they could mock any further, so shall calamity strike suddenly. Such shall be the portion of those who dare mock God, and Jesus, and those who truly and sincerely serve Him. Unless they repent and soon, I fear they are accursed, and shall suffer greatly, and perhaps even die by the hand of God who holds all life in His hands.

For His patience and mercy has limits, though He bears long at times: Other times the judgment and furious wrath of destruction fall with little warning or none, as the Bears tore, as the fire destroyed Sodom, and King Belshazzar was slain the very night he mocked God. In Jesus holy and powerful name, these things be true, and those who are mockers are heaping up judgment upon themselves that the LORD Almighty will surely pour out upon them in His due time.

When God sets Himself upon one who has no favor with Him, His hatred is perfect, His justice is sure, His anger is righteous, and His disposition complete. The pathetic soul who provokes God's anger is in a dreadful place, for he knows not what he does, and doesn't realize his folly, yet he has heard the Word proclaimed to his ear, but has refused to seek the LORD while he may be found, and refused to come to the Cross to be saved; therefore he is damned and accursed: a fool who mocks, rejects, and denies Almighty God - For whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off; him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not suffer (Psalm 101:5)

March 27, 2024
When Wisdom cries thus, "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me..." (Proverbs 1:24-28)

Oh, how dreadful it is when this becomes your portion: when you mock the Wisdom of God, who is the Spirit of God, and who is the Son of God - for it is written "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24) For, "the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," (Col. 2:2-3) speaks expressly, "there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." (Jude 18)

But woe unto those who mock, and that even applies to professing Christians, for I have seen much mockery come from the Churches: they mock righteousness, and holiness, and embrace progressiveness. They love the world, and the temporal they latch on to, while forsaking the eternal and unseen things of faith; yea, the greatest treasures are denied for the sake of things that are of no profit.

I am a fool for Christ, as Paul wrote - and it is one thing for the world and the ungodly to mock: they shall have their portion in the lake of fire unless they repent, but when those who call themselves brothers and sisters mock, it is hurtful; it produces schisms in the body (if they be of the body: I don't know, but God knoweth)

The wicked have grown like a poison vine, wrapping their tendrils about all they come in contact with: corrupting, while being corrupted, and furthering their corruption as a leaven that expands the loaf, so that sin hath entrenched itself, rooted deep, and its vine clenching as a stranglehold upon everything it encroaches upon: that includes the churches that permit sin to enter their doors, to ferment within the congregation of the righteous, without dealing with it speedily!
"Come Lord Jesus!" is the cry we should proclaim, and, "He is coming! He is coming to judge the quick and the dead, and all shall give account before God"
"It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!" (Luke 17:1) It's a dire and desperately fearful place to be: It brings one to the precipice of the pit of hell itself; the abyss of flames reaching to take those who have the stain of sin about them and upon them, who do not have the righteous covering of the blood of our Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, who taketh away the sins of those given repentance unto life.
Come then to Jesus: cease from sin, and look up, setting your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Does Romans 3:23-25 contradict limited atonement?

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins." -Romans 3:23-25

Most Calvinist seem to claim that the "all" in Romans 3:23 means "all without exception" as it is a major proof text for total depravity. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," -Romans 3:23.

But if applied to the second half of the sentence continued in verses 24 and 25 than doesn't it say that all without exception are also "justified by his grace as a gift"?

As China prepares to invade Taiwan, US forces are about to

As China prepares to invade Taiwan, US forces are about to combat-test a vital weapon


The main mission of the US Army flotilla now sailing toward Gaza is to build a floating pier that will help ships offload desperately-needed humanitarian aid. But the task force also serves a secondary purpose: it’s practice for a critical combat operation – one that could help US forces to roll back Chinese advances in the event of a war over Taiwan.

The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier system, or JLOTS, is a Lego-like suite of floating metal piers and ramps that can connect virtually any ship to virtually any beach. While the Pentagon is sending five 273-foot US Army landing craft to begin building the pier, the final components will sail aboard the 951-foot transport ship Roy A Benavidez, which belongs to the US Navy-administered Ready Reserve Force.

It could take weeks to ship the pier components and days to assemble them. But once the pier is ready, it should be able to move – from sea to shore – 2,000,000 meals per day, according to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon has deployed JLOTS before, perhaps most notably to Haiti following the devastating earthquake in that country in 2010. But it has never deployed it in a major war.



That could change – and soon – if China makes good on decades of threats and launches an invasion of Taiwan. If the People’s Liberation Army succeeds in occupying Taiwan’s island strongholds in the Taiwan Strait as a prelude to landing on Taiwan itself, counterattacking US forces could face a serious dilemma: how to land their own people and equipment in what amounts to a counter-invasion of mainland Taiwan and its island outposts.

Historically, US forces would force their way ashore aboard US Navy amphibious ships. But the US fleet has lost faith in its traditional amphibious capability as enemy beach-defenses stiffen with increasingly deadly anti-ship missiles. Lately, the US Navy has been decommissioning amphibious ships faster than it commissions them.

But JLOTS endures. And it gives the Pentagon options.

“JLOTS is a critical joint capability that enables US forces to enter a land area from sea despite insufficient port infrastructure,” Joseph Tereniak, a US Army officer, wrote recently.
----------
“No US boots will be on the ground,” Biden added. They’ll only be on the pier.

Increasingly impatient with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden is counting on the US Army’s logistics fleet not only to save Gazan lives, but also to signal his – and America’s – opposition to continuing Israeli aggression. As a bonus, the fleet will be practicing a unique military skill: the construction of a temporary port.

“This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day,” Biden said.

It would be crass to think of the coming humanitarian JLOTS deployment primarily as practice for war. But it would also be naive to pretend American soldiers and sailors won’t benefit from building a pier from scratch in a war zone. Even if that war doesn’t directly involve US troops.

Those Americans just might be ordered to build the pier again in the waters around Taiwan, while Chinese missiles rain down.

Screenshot 2024-03-26 6.27.21 PM.png
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