"We absolutely refuse the Quartet's request. There is no link between carrying weapons and participating in elections. We reject this call, which is an interference in internal Palestinian affairs aiming to provoke inter-Palestinian fighting. We think that the quartet would do better to ask the enemy prime minister (Israeli PM Ariel Sharon) to put an end to the occupation of all Palestinian territories and release all Palestinian prisoners he is holding."

In spite of the fact the Gaza withdrawal has done little to nothing to bring about peace to the Middle East, aside from set the stage for the European Union to play a larger role in Middle East diplomacy - a major step toward prophetic fulfillment concerning the future advent of the Antichrist through confirmation of a seven-year peace covenant (Daniel 9:27), the United States is continuing down the path to God's wrath falling on it by continuing to wholeheartedly endorse the Quartet's roadmap to peace agenda which threatens Israel's survival.

Recently, as I referred to briefly earlier, America was hammered by Hurricane Katrina in the aftermath of the Gaza withdrawal, the end result of which saw many Americans rendered homeless, much as Gaza's Jewish population was rendered homeless in the Quartet's pursuit of Middle East peace. Religious leaders from all over America, at least those who understand Bible prophecy concerning the nation of Israel, speculated, in the aftermath, that America may have been judged by God for playing a role in pressuring Israel into displacing the Jewish people from their lands. I, for one, believe there is little doubt this was the case, although some would beg to differ.

Assuming for a moment I'm correct in thinking Katrina was a judgment against our nation from God, do I think America, at least on a governmental level, learned anything from the disaster of Katrina concerning its obligation to protect its citizenry and lands from suffering God's wrath by honoring His Word and commands? No. Not at all! Yesterday's Quartet meeting proved that to me.

In a Jerusalem Newswire commentary entitled 'Back to Reality', Ryan Jones wrote, in part, the following concerning the Quartet's meeting:

Israel had hoped its “disengagement” from Gaza and northern Samaria would buy it some respite from the headlong diplomatic rush for Palestine, or at the very least grant it license to retain control over major Jewish population centers in Judea and Samaria.

Those hopes were bolstered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's warm welcome at the United Nations last week.

But on Tuesday, the world body known as the Quartet – comprised of the United States, European Union, Russia and the UN - the driving force behind the Road Map peace plan, signaled Israel it was mistaken on both accounts.

Following a get together in New York, UN Secretary General Koffi Annan insisted Israel's surrender of Gaza would not be its last major concession.

“For us, the Quartet, it's Gaza first and then the next stage will be the West Bank, not Gaza first and Gaza last,” Annan told reporters after the meeting.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice indicated the international community expects the next pullout to come in short order.

“Our task now is to build on the momentum of [last month's] withdrawal,” she said.

If one thinks Katrina wasn't a judgment on the United States, what has taken place since Condoleeza Rice outlined America's current policy concerning Israel surrendering even more of its covenant lands should cause them to wonder. Why do I say that? One word: RITA!

On Monday at 11PM ET, Tropical Storm Rita was just that, not even a hurricane, as seen in a NOAA public advisory.

On Tuesday, while the Quartet was meeting at the UN in New York (between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m ET), Rita became 2005's ninth hurricane, according to a NOAA public advisory released at 11 am ET.

By 11 p.m Tuesday ET, approximately 12 hours after the Quartet had convened its meeting, pledging to continue its efforts to divide Israel's covenant lands in the interest of Middle East peace, Hurricane Rita was a strong Category 2 hurricane, according to a NOAA public advisory.

By 10 a.m. CDT Wednesday (today), Hurricane Rita was a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, according to a NOAA public advisory.

As of 7 pm CDT, Hurricane Rita, according to a NOAA public advisory, is a Category 5 hurricane "continuing to deepen."

Accuweather.com, as I presently write this commentary, is calling Hurricane Rita the third most intense hurricane ever witnessed in the Atlantic basin!

While I don't pretend to know what God has planned for the United States in the days ahead, it doesn't look good for us, particularly for those who call the Galveston and Houston, Texas areas home. While I pray mercy will be shown to our nation, I understand that conditions are presently ripe for our nation to be chastised - and severely - by God!

Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

When the leadership of the most blessed nation on earth decided to join its Quartet partners in superseding God's will concerning the children of Israel possessing their covenant lands, they made a HUGE mistake - one that brought rivers of tears and homelessness in the Holy Land as a result of Israel's Gaza withdrawal. Shortly thereafter, perhaps as a warning from God, America joined the children of Israel in crying rivers of tears when its sons and daughters in areas of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida suffered the loss of many lives, their homes and almost all their worldly possessions. Did we learn anything through the tears associated with Katrina, if God was trying to correct our nation's priorities? Apparently not.

A continuing goal of the Palestinians is to obtain at least a partial ownership of Jerusalem. Looking at what Condoleeza Rice had to say, as seen in the Jerusalem Newswire commentary, it seems the USA is going right along with them in seeking further concessions be made by Israel, among which will, undoubtedly, be a partial ownership of a divided Jerusalem. God help us! The Word of God tells us plainly our current policy on this matter, if that is what it actually is, will ultimately result in America's destruction if we don't repent of it!

Zechariah 12:3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

AMERICA NEEDS TO GET BACK UNDER GOD - AND FAST!

America needs to find its way past atheist Michael Newdow, the ACLU, the liberal agenda, and all God's enemies presently operating within this nation and outside it that are, collectively, leading us down the path to damnation and judgment and bow at the feet of Almighty God in repentance before it's too late for us as a nation.

Years ago, a disaster like Katrina would've prompted America to awaken from its spiritual slumber, but it doesn't seem that's happening this time and it breaks my heart. As a nation, we've forgotten God and I sincerely believe it's costing us dearly!

While God is slow to anger, merciful, loving, and listening intently to the prayers of His saints and, indeed, everyone who is currently crying out to Him, He can't, having promised to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel, turn His head away from judging the nation He has blessed above all others - the United States of America - when it curses the nation of Israel, ignoring His Word. When God says something, He means it - something America has, sadly, forgotten.

A nation's obedience to God brings it blessing. In contrast, a nation's disobedience of God brings judgment upon it. You'd think America, having looked to God as its strength and defense so many times in the past, having been protected and immensely blessed as a result, would understand that a lot of its success was a direct result of its respect of Almighty God and its dogged determination to keep the nation of Israel's enemies on the defensive concerning their desires to destroy it.