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This past week President Barak Obama announced that the United States will abandon a planned missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. Last year the United States, Poland, and the Czech Republic reached an agreement to place 10 interceptor missiles with a range of up to 1,800 miles in Poland and a radar site the Czech Republic. The stated purpose of the missile shield was to protect against attacks from rogue nations such as Iran. However Russia believes the missile shield's true purpose was to undermine its nuclear deterrent. Putin's government was strongly opposed to the plan and claimed the proposed shield was a "threat to its national security."

Obama's decision to scrap the missile shield has generated controversy and raised questions. Will abandoning the missile shield be interpreted by Russia as a gesture of goodwill or as a sign of weakness? How will the decision impact the United States' diplomatic relationship with Poland and the Czech Republic? What effect could this move have on negotiations with Iran?

Joint Russian-NATO Missile Shield Proposed

It is undoubtedly no coincidence that, less than 24 hours after Obama pulled the plug, NATO proposed a new partnership with Russia. A new partnership that could include a joint Russian-NATO missile defense shield.

NATO's new Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gave a speech on Friday in which he stated: "We want to explore the possibility of linking NATO's missile defense shield with Russia's…I do believe that it is possible for NATO and Russia to make a new beginning and to enjoy a far more productive relationship in the future." Some commentators are already heralding Rasmussen's words as the start of a new era in NATO-Russian relations. However there are still many hurdles to overcome.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 as a defensive alliance in which each member was pledged to come to the aid of any of its members which were attacked militarily. During the Cold War era NATO's primary role was to counter the Russian threat, and Russia still views its old adversary with suspicion. Russia has watched uneasily as NATO has continued to expand, welcoming new members, some formerly a part of the Soviet Union. Russia considers NATO's expansion to be "antagonistic." It has also warned potential new member nations such as Georgia and the Ukraine, in no uncertain terms, that joining NATO would have adverse consequences.

In recent years Russia has implemented an ambitious plan to update and expand its military. Russian defense spending has been rising steadily, with the help of high energy prices and oil revenues. As part of an 189 billion dollar weapons modernization program Russia plans to build five or six new aircraft carrier battle groups as well as at least four new submarines. Currently Russia has only one aircraft carrier. The new submarines will be armed with new Bulava SS-NX-30 missiles, a new intercontinental-range ballistic missile. It is the submarine based version of the Russian SS-27, which can carry up to six nuclear warheads. These two missiles are the foundation of the new Russian military, and will give it the ability to strike targets anywhere in the world. For more information on this story, click on the links below.

The Book of Proverbs could be titled, Wise Up and Live. Beyond simply obeying laws, this book focuses on leading an aggressively dynamic life, giving examples of proper and improper attitudes, conduct, and characteristics in succinct, penetrating ways. A proverb can be thought of as "a short sentence from long experience"; it is easy to remember, yet it condenses much wisdom into a small space.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable" in four ways: for doctrine - what’s right; for reproof - what’s not right; for correction - how to get right; and for instruction in righteousness - how to stay right (2 Timothy 3:16). This book touches on all four of these.

A recurring theme in the Book of Proverbs is the pursuit of "wisdom." The traditional definition of wisdom is "the ability to use knowledge in the right way," but in the Bible there is also a "wisdom of this world" (1 Corinthians 2:1-8; James 3:13-18). There are a great many brilliant people who have knowledge, yet they lack wisdom.

Divine wisdom is from above: Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God (Proverbs 8:22-31; 1 Corinthians 1:24,30; Colossians 2:3). True wisdom is a matter of the heart and not the mind alone. Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs includes practical sagacity, mental acumen, and functional skill, but it also includes moral and upright living that stems from a right relationship with the Lord:

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her (Proverbs 3:13-15).

Do you believe it? What are you doing to prove it? What are your priorities? To learn more about the book of Proverbs click on the links below.

The terms Shiite and Sunni are heard often in news stories from the Middle East, but few people in the West really know what they mean. Religion permeates every aspect of life in the Muslim world and understanding the differences between Shiites and Sunnis is important in understanding the complex geopolitics of the Middle East.

The division between Shiites (or Shia, there are a number of variations on the spelling) and Sunnis began in the years immediately following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic faith. When Muhammad died in 632 AD there was a disagreement over who should succeed him as the political and religious leader of the Muslim world. One group of Muslims elected Abu Bakr, a close companion of Muhammad to be the caliph, or leader. However a smaller group believed that Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abu Talib, was the rightful leader. The Muslims who believed that Abu Bakr should be Muhammad's successor have come to be known as Sunni. Whereas the Muslims who felt Ali should have been the successor are now known as Shiite.

Bloodshed and Betrayal

Abu Bakr ultimately became the first caliph, although Shiites considered him to be a usurper. He was succeeded by Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan, the second and third caliphs. In the year 656 AD, 24 years after the death of Muhammad, Uthman was murdered. After Uthman's death, Ali (whom Shiites had always considered the rightful leader) was finally elected to rule. Ali was opposed by Muhammad's wife Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr. Aisha challenged his authority and criticized Ali for his lack of interest in bringing Uthman's killers to justice. Aisha raised an army against Ali, which lead to the first Fitna, or Islamic civil war. Ali defeated Aisha at the Battle of Bassorah, also known as the Battle of the Camel. Ali's reign was turbulent and he was assassinated in 661 AD.

Under the leadership of the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali), the political, social, and religious institutions of Islam were solidified. Islam spread far beyond the borders of the Arabian peninsula, east into the Persian empire, north into Byzantine territory, and west across northern Africa. After Ali's death, however, Islamic unity splintered. Sunni Islam continued through the Umayyads and other dynasties that led to the powerful Ottoman and Mughal empires of the 15th to 20th Centuries. For Shiites, leadership was passed down through the Imams, who were believed to be divinely appointed from Muhammad's family. The 12th and final Shiite Imam died in the late 9th Century. After several centuries a council was appointed to elect an Ayatollah, the supreme Shiite spiritual leader.

The divide between Shiite and Sunni Muslims began as a political one, but this ultimately led to some religious and theological differences. The divide between the two sects has grown over time. Shiites and Sunnis disagree on the identity of the Mahdi, the coming Islamic messiah. They also disagree on the interpretation of various key passages of the Quran and the hadith. The Quran (or Koran) is the Islamic holy scriptures - the word of Allah. While the hadith are teachings and traditions passed down from Muhammad - not considered divinely inspired nevertheless very significant. Yet while there are differences in beliefs, both Shiites and Sunnis share the main articles of faith - the five pillars of Islam - which are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving to charity, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Shiites and Sunnis are the two largest Islamic sub-groups. However there are other sects, as well as divisions within the two groups. Sunni Muslims make up the majority, approximately eighty-five percent, of Muslims all over the world. They are spread from North Africa to Asia. While the largest populations of Shiite Muslims can be found in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

The Unknowable God

Islam is the world's fastest growing religion (depending on how you measure it), and is second in size only to Christianity, but the god of Islam and the God of the Bible are not one and the same. Allah is presented as unknowable and capricious, and is derived from the ancient pagan moon god. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob delights in making and keeping His promises. Jesus summarized the entire Law of Moses in two commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. Nowhere does the Koran make such a commandment. Although there are many peace-loving Muslims, study of the Islamic religion will reveal that true Islam is anything but a peaceful religion. Islam demands the utter destruction of all Jews, Christians, and anyone who refuses to convert to the Islamic faith. It is a warrior code that demands Muslims live and die by the sword.

[Editor's note: This is a highly condensed overview of early Islamic history as it pertains to the division between Shiites and Sunnis. It is important to note that Islamic sects tend to disagree on many aspects of key historical events. For a unique perspective on the relationship between Sunni and Shiite Muslims we encourage you to listen to our briefing pack titled Shiite/Sunni: The Two Houses of Islam by Avi Lipkin. Also, check out our briefing pack The Sword of Allah to learn more about the origins of the Islamic faith.]