PRAY FOR PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR   The Joshua Fund is praying for peace in the Middle East but also doing everything we can to stockpile food, water and other supplies in Israel ahead of the next war. "Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security and economic repercussions for the United States and the rest of the world. A senior defense official told ABC News there is an 'increasing likelihood' that Israel will carry out such an attack, a move that likely would prompt Iranian retaliation against, not just Israel, but against the United States as well. The official identified two 'red lines' that could trigger an Israeli offensive. The first is tied to when Iran's Natanz nuclear facility produces enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon. According to the latest U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments, that is likely to happen sometime in 2009, and could happen by the end of this year. 'The red line is not when they get to that point, but before they get to that point,' the official said. 'We are in the window of vulnerability.' The second red line is connected to when Iran acquires the SA-20 air defense system it is buying from Russia. The Israelis may want to strike before that system -- which would make an attack much more difficult -- is put in place. Some Pentagon officials also worry that Israel may be determined to attack before a new U.S. president, who may be less supportive, is sworn in next January. Pentagon officials believe the massive Israeli air force exercise in early June, first reported by the New York Times, was done to prepare for a possible attack....'The Israeli air force has already conducted the basic exercise necessary to tell their senior leadership, We have the fundamentals down. Might they need some more training and rehearsals? Yes. But have they done the fundamentals? I think that is what we saw,' the official told ABC News....The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, was in Israel over the weekend for a series of meetings with senior Israeli military officials, including, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, the chief of sta ff of the Israeli Defense Forces. According to a military spokesman, Iran's nuclear program was 'a major topic' of discussion." Later this month, a Joshua Fund leadership team will be on the ground in Israel, meeting with our key allies, visiting the bomb shelters that we are stocking, and bringing back fresh updates that I will share with you. The Joshua Fund will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date on the kinds of projects we are doing, brief you on how those projects are proceeding, and let you know about the kinds of projects we are developing for the future. In no way do we want to pressure anyone to give financially. We fully believe the Lord will provide for the needs of the people we seek to serve. But if you or others wish to help, we welcome your support, and all financial gifts are tax-deductible. To contribute to the on-going work of The Joshua Fund please make your check payable to "The Joshua Fund" and send to: The Joshua Fund 18950 Base Camp Road Monument, Colorado 80132-8009 Thanks so much and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus -- especially at this moment of Israel' 60th anniversary.