Iranian President Ahmadinejad vows U.S. power coming rapidly to an end

Greetings from the Epicenter. My Joshua Fund colleague, Jeremy Grafman, and I have been traveling through the region this week, meeting with Christian leaders, ministry partners, and local officials. I look forward to updating you in more detail in the next few days but can only jump online here for a few minutes. Some remarkable stories to share when we’ve got a little more time. That said, here are some headlines that have been catching our eye during our travels:

* Ahmadinejad: ‘American empire’ nearing its end

* NYT: An Interview With President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

* Ahmadinejad speaks with church groups in New York

* Iraq to take control of the security in the province of Babylon (this will be the 12th of 18 provinces the U.S. has handed over this year)

* Iraqi President Urges UN Members to Drop Saddam-Era Sanctions

* Iraqi president to pay official visit to Iran

* Nasrallah: Return of Jerusalem and Palestine closer than ever

* ‘US gives top radar system to Israel’

* Assad losing control: Syria, once considered one of region’s most stable states, increasingly vulnerable