Daily Archives: February 12, 2013

02/12/13

Tancredo Asks Obama to Call for Cop Killer’s Surrender in State of the Union

By: Tom Tancredo
Gulag Bound

Former Lawmaker Cites Madman’s Open Admiration for President as Opportunity to End Killing

DENVER – Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo today called on President Obama to use tonight’s State of the Union address to speak directly to madman Christian Dorner, a psychopath who has already murdered three people in California, and has openly proclaimed his intent to kill even more.

“Dorner has made no secret of his love and respect for Mr. and Mrs. Obama,” said Tancredo. “The President should take advantage of that during tonight’s State of the Union address, and urge this lunatic to surrender to police.”

Tancredo was referencing sections of a rambling 6,000 word manifesto that Dorner posted on the internet shortly before beginning his rampage of terror. In the dietribe, Dorner expresses his admiration for President Obama and his wife, while heaping scorn on former President George W. Bush and other Republicans.

“I shed a tear the night you were initially elected President in 2008. I never thought that day would occur,” Dornan wrote in the 11-page manifesto, adding “Off the record, I love your new bangs, Mrs. Obama. A woman whose professional and educational accomplishments are second to none when compared to recent First wives.”

Dorner also lashed out in the cryptic manuscript at those who “[N]ever questioned the fact that…Senator John McCain, was not born in the CONUS or that [George W.] Bush had a C average in his undergrad. Electoral Candidates children (Romney) state they want to punch the president in the face during debates with no formal repercussions. No one even questioned the fact that the son just made a criminal threat toward the President.”

“Tonight’s speech is an opportunity for President Obama to tap into Dorner’s sense of loyalty and admiration for him – no matter how warped that might be – and ask him to turn himself in, or at least invite him over for a beer” concluded Tancredo.

An international manhunt remains underway for Dorner, who was still at-large as of Tuesday.

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Gulag Note:

For Christopher Dorner’s progressive, collectivist, pro-Obama, pro-Clinton manifesto, see: “Evidence Mounts in Mass Shootings: Sociopathic Progressivism & Drugs“

 

Dorner-Ideology

graphic that is currently circulating

02/12/13

More on Hagel’s Al Jazeera and Arab Connections

By: Cliff Kincaid
Accuracy in Media

Senator Ted Cruz grilled Obama defense chief nominee Chuck Hagel over his controversial appearance on Al Jazeera, the Arab propaganda channel, during which the former Republican Senator had agreed with a viewer that the United States was a “bully” in global affairs. It has now been revealed that the government of Qatar, which owns Al Jazeera, was a major contributor to the Atlantic Council when Hagel was its chairman.

But Hagel also has an Al Jazeera connection through Georgetown University, where he is a professor, and which maintains a campus in Qatar.

The Washington Free Beacon reports that Hagel’s foreign policy course at Georgetown, the oldest Catholic institute of higher learning in the United States, was “based primarily on anti-Israel materials and far left manifestos that castigate America’s role in the world…” The course was titled, “Redefining Geopolitical Relationships.”

The Georgetown connection has taken on additional importance because Fox News is reporting that, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, “Hagel spoke at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies on September 22, 2008,” but that a list of speeches the nominee has given since January 1, 2008, that Hagel himself submitted to the Armed Services Committee in support of his nomination did not include the Georgetown event.

In the exchange over Al Jazeera, Cruz told Hagel, “You explicitly agreed with the characterization of the United States as the world’s bully. And I would suggest that is not a characterization—I think the United States has spilled more blood, more treasure, standing for freedom, liberating people across the world. And to go on Al Jazeera, a foreign network broadcasting propaganda to nations that are hostile to us, and to explicitly agree with the characterization of the United States as the world’s bully. I would suggest is not the conduct one would expect of a secretary of defense.”

Cruz’s description of Al Jazeera as “a foreign network broadcasting propaganda to nations that are hostile to us” is completely accurate and once again raises questions about the failure of Congress to investigate the channel before it finalizes a deal for the acquisition of Al Gore’s Current TV in the U.S.

The Atlantic Council describes itself as a “preeminent, non partisan institution devoted to promoting transatlantic cooperation and international security.” Hagel is chairman of the group.

Documents released by the Atlantic Council, in response to the controversy over Hagel’s nomination, show funding from several foreign governments, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia. A search also reveals that Atlantic Council officials have been appearing regularly on Al Jazeera, giving the mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood credibility as a “news organization.”

According to the council’s own website, these appearances include:

  • Barbara Slavin, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, was interviewed on Al Jazeera about the U.S. cyber-attacks against Iran.
  • Michele Dunne, director of the Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, appeared on Al Jazeera’s Inside Story Americas to discuss Syria.
  • J. Peter Pham, director of the Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, discussed the situation in Mali on Al Jazeera English.
  • Barry Pavel, director of the Council’s Program on International Security, appeared on Al Jazeera English’s show Inside Story Americas to discuss the deployment of 200 U.S. Marines to Australia.

In addition to Al Jazeera, Atlantic Council senior fellow Barbara Slavin appeared on the far-left MSNBC cable channel to sing the praises of Hagel as “non-ideological.”

But anti-communist blogger Trevor Loudon points out that Chuck Hagel serves on the board of the Ploughshares Fund, another of the George Soros-funded organizations, and that it is a “partner organization” of the pro-Marxist Institute for Policy Studies.

In addition to his role as chairman of the Atlantic Council and a board member of the Ploughshares Fund, Hagel serves as a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of National Governance at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, which maintains campuses in Washington, D.C. and Qatar. Funding for the campus in Qatar comes from the Qatar Foundation, established by the ruling family.

Not surprisingly, Al Jazeera has featured interviews with faculty members from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, about the acquisition of Current TV and the violence in Syria.

After the launching of the Qatar campus, Fear and Loathing in Georgetown, a blog maintained by an anonymous School of Foreign Service graduate, stated that “the school is a glorified finishing school for the royalty of Qatar and the surrounding Gulf States” and that the “non-royal students” were mere “window dressing.”

John J. Degioia, President of Georgetown University, is quoted on the Qatar Foundation website as saying, “There is something truly distinctive about a Georgetown education.”

Cliff Kincaid is the Director of the AIM Center for Investigative Journalism and can be contacted at [email protected].

02/12/13

Update

Arlene from Israel

I begin with a report on little Zakkai, who indeed was operated on yesterday. It’s been an incredibly tough haul for his parents, first because Zakkai had developed a cold and cough and there were consultations until the last moment regarding the advisability of doing the surgery. It was decided that going ahead was prudent. And then, they had to get to Boston, where the hospital is located, and where there were huge amounts of snow.

Zakkai, thank God, came through the surgery well and the surgeons were satisfied. He is in an ICU unit but having considerable pain, for which he is being treated. Terribly hard not just for the child, but for the parents to witness. (“Unnerving and deflating,” is how it was put in an update.) Please God, he will get past these first few days and rally quickly. He is quite a fighter.

Please, continue to pray for him — for his speedy and complete recovery. And I’ll provide further updates.

Rephael Zakkai Avraham ben Yakira Avigael

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Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke last night at a gathering of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American organizations. Before I share what he said, I want to note an interesting but not surprising phenomenon that I observed; while not uncommon, it was perhaps more blatant than usual:

What I saw late last night and today is that what was emphasized about his talk by any given Internet news site — what was featured in its headline — depended very much on the political orientation of the site. And I think it’s important for my readers to be forewarned of this.

Thus, there were headline references to the fact that Netanyahu said he still supported his “two-state” proposal advanced in his Bar Ilan speech. And, indeed, he referred to this. But it is not my impression that this constituted the most significant part of what he said. Especially since he also said that the PA has placed pre-conditions on talks, which means they are not advancing negotiations in good faith.

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The most important, in my opinion, is this (emphasis added):

“I drew a line at the U.N. last time I was there.

“They [the Iranians] haven’t crossed that line, but what they’re doing is to shorten the time that it will take them to cross that line.

“The way they’re shortening that time is by putting in new, faster centrifuges that cut the time by one third. This has to be stopped, for the interest of peace and security, for the interest of the entire world.

“How do you stop it? Well, you have to put greater pressure on them. You have to upgrade the sanctions. And they have to know that if the sanctions and diplomacy fails, they will face a credible military threat.”

I remain convinced — Netanyahu himself has said — that this is first on the agenda for the talks between Netanyahu and Obama (who will, it has been announced, be arriving on March 20).

You can see Netanyahu’s talk on video here:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/165136

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Yes, Obama may try to convince our prime minister that he can handle matters, while Netanyahu may show some “give” in luring the PA to the table in order to get what he wants from the president.

Obama, it is being said, doesn’t want any “military surprises.” But if “handling matters” means simply attempting to “negotiate” with Iran, Netanyahu is neither foolish enough, nor unserious enough, to go for this. A visit to Israel this week by Rose Gottemoeller, acting US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, is being interpreted as an attempt by the US to “pave the way” for Obama’s visit by providing reassurances.

US officials are saying that America has built up military assets in the Gulf that are capable of attacking Iranian nuclear sites at short notice. I don’t think “capable” is the issue, so much as willing and ready.

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Unforeseen or mitigating factors may always intervene. But what I see from where I sit is that Obama is reluctant (afraid?) to make unilateral decisions, as a true leader would. He prefers to rely on international consensus, which surely isn’t going to support him on a tough stand on Iran.

While I see that Netanyahu remains courageous in this regard. Witness the air attacks in Syria. I received again today, as I had previously, a statement from an impeccable source in the government indicating that our prime minister is prepared to move instantly if there are signs of transfer of WMD to terrorist hands. No fudging on this. No worry about what the world thinks.

Perhaps it is legitimate to extrapolate from this situation to that of Iran.

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North Korea, according to seismic data that have been picked up, has just conducted a nuclear test — a fact that is alarming. The North Koreans provide a model for Iran to follow. The Iranians will be watching, as well, international response to Korea.

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Jerusalem was put on high alert today because of intelligence regarding a possible terror attack. I have no information on the nature of that possible attack. I believe the alert level has now been reduced.

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Former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee is in Israel now leading a Christian evangelical tour for some 200 participants. At a press conference, he indicated that President Obama should announce the release of Jonathan Pollard before arriving here.

Good thought. America is fond of securing “good will gestures” from Israel. Now it’s America’s turn.

I’m not overly fond of petitions, but this one, on behalf of Pollard, is worth responding to. It will be hand delivered to the president during his visit:

http://www.atzuma.co.il/presidentobama

You will see a page in Hebrew, but can scroll down for the text of the petition in English, plus a video.

At the top of the screen (which is in Hebrew), you will see 3 boxes to fill in and a green “send button.”

Box number one: Fill in your full name
Box number two: Write “Bayt Yisrael”
Box number three: Your email address (Optional. It will not be displayed publicly.)

THEN HIT THE GREEN SEND BUTTON!

02/12/13

The Economic Impact of a War Between Japan & China

Global economists are keeping their eyes glued to the Asia-Pacific region, where a bitter feud is brewing between two of the world’s most powerful nations over a small collectivity of islands in the East China Sea. The Chinese government argues that a treaty signed during the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) conferred ownership of the islands to China. Japan has long disputed these claims, and today argues that the islands are integral to its national identity.

The argument came to a head last September, when a boycott of Japanese products led Chinese demonstrators to target fellow citizens who owned Japanese cars. Three months later, the situation escalated when when Japanese jets confronted a Chinese plane flying over the islands; no shots were fired, but the act of antagonism has set a troubling precedent between the military forces of both nations.

The conflict between China and Japan has put the United States in a precarious position: if a full-scale war were to erupt, the U.S. would be forced to choose between a long-time ally (Japan) and its largest economic lender (China). Last year, China’s holdings in U.S. securities reached $1.73 trillion and goods exported from the U.S. to China exceeded $100 billion. The two countries also share strong economic ties due to the large number of American companies that outsource jobs to China.

However, the U.S. government may be legally obligated to defend Japan. In November, the U.S. Senate added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that officially recognizes Japan’s claims to the disputed islands; the U.S. and Japan are also committed to a mutual defense treaty that requires either country to step in and defend the other when international disputes occur. Not honoring this treaty could very easily tarnish America’s diplomatic image.

The countries of the Asia-Pacific region are collectively responsible for 55 percent of the global GDP and 44 percent of the world’s trade. A major conflict between the region’s two largest economies would not only impose a harsh dilemma on U.S. diplomats, but also have a significant impact on the entire global economy. It is in every nation’s best interest that the Chinese and Japanese settle their territorial dispute peacefully.

Video Transcript

Whispers of the unthinkable are wafting throughout the Asian-Pacific Region: war between China and Japan over a small cluster of resource rich islands in the East China Sea claimed by China (Diaoyu) and Japan (Senkaku).

In September, the dispute quickly came to a boil. Fueled by nationalism and the memory of Japan’s brutal occupation of China during World War II, enraged Chinese crowds filled the streets. They targeted owners of Japanese cars and launched a massive boycott of Japanese products, sending a debilitating gut punch to Japan’s still struggling economy. In November, the Wall Street Journal Live reported that the boycott had cost Japanese companies “billions of dollars.”

Since then, both nations have flexed their military muscle. In December, Japan scrambled jet fighters to respond to a Chinese plane flying over the islands. Although no shots have been fired yet, such dangerous confrontations are likely to continue.

Should the crisis worsen from its current status to, say, missiles launched and a ship sunk or an airplane knocked out of the sky, the United States will be forced to choose between backing a longtime ally (Japan) and supporting a nation more central to our economic health (China).

In terms of economics, China has the clear bottom-line edge, serving as America’s biggest lender. As of September, China’s holdings in US securities ($1.73 trillion) topped the global list of creditors.

In terms of trade, the most significant US relationship in the Asia-Pacific Region is with China – by far. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, the export of US goods to China amounted to $104 billion in 2011, while exports to Japan over the same period were $66.2 billion.

Then there’s the extensive outsourcing by American companies, which ties the economies of China and the US even closer. A case in point is Apple, which designs its iPhone and other products in the US, but has them assembled at China’s massive Foxconn City facility.

All of this could be put at risk if the US sided with Japan in the current dispute – and the Chinese retaliated. A boycott would obviously harm American companies that ship agricultural products as well as cars and other finished goods to the Chinese market. Less clear is whether Chinese anger would extend to US firms such as Apple, which have deeper Chinese economic roots.

There’s also the possibility that China, to punish the US, could sell off its stash of US securities, a move that would devalue the dollar. It’s possible but not likely, at least according to a December report by the Congressional Research Service. Among other consequences, such a sale “could diminish the value of these securities” and “lead to large losses” for China.

In November, the US Senate unanimously approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act recognizing Japan’s administration of the Senkakus and opposing the use of force. The Japanese cheered, and the Chinese howled. But the provocative sentiment expressed in the amendment should be no surprise.

In 2011, President Obama announced a major foreign policy shift. He declared that the Asia-Pacific Region – which generates “approximately 55 percent of world GDP and about 44 percent of world trade” – would be a top US security priority. The declaration was couched in normal and nuanced diplomatic niceties.

It could also prompt the Japanese to scrap their antiwar constitution – adopted after the US However, China and the other nations of the region weren’t fooled.

For the United States, China is a classic “frenemy” – an economic partner, a rival, and a potential enemy that has upgraded its military capacity and used it to reinforce its claim to other disputed islands in the South China Sea.

More importantly, the US and Japan – which is home to ships of the powerful US Seventh Fleet – are bound together by a mutual defense treaty, which commits the US to defend its longtime ally. US failure to support Japan would undermine US credibility not just in Japan but throughout this strategically important region. Firebombing of Japanese cities and the atomic devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II – and commit their deep pool of technological skills and talent to a single goal: a massive rearmament program that could include nuclear weapons. No one doubts that the Japanese, have the capacity to become a world-class military power – an outcome no rational person wants to see.

Should a shooting war erupt, the US will side with Japan despite the nightmarish economic scenarios that could follow. The challenge facing US officials and diplomats in 2013 is to help China and Japan find a face-saving way to keep the dispute from getting that far.

02/12/13

Popes, Presidents, Cops and Boy Scouts

By: T F Stern
T F Stern’s Rantings

By now most folks have heard about the Pope turning in his resignation papers. I was on the phone with my mother wondering what her thoughts were and listened to her account of the time she and my father were at Newark airport, unaware that the president and the Pope were going to have some kind of meeting there at the airport.

“The next thing we knew, everyone was herded off to one side of the airport, nobody was told why; just that we knew something was up. Air Force One had landed and there were police and security everywhere.” We later found out why our flight had been delayed; freeways and everything else near the airport had been shut down until the meeting ended.

My folks had intended to be on a flight to visit my sister, a flight which they eventually made. Listening to my mother as she remembered each little detail was worth the call as it reminded me of the many times as a police officer I was charged with performing security during a presidential visit to Houston during my tenure with the Department.

Sometimes the assignment was to stand under a bridge along the intended route of the motorcade while other times it was keeping watch on a stairwell inside a hotel where a meeting would be held. Once it was on the roof of the Hyatt next to the revolving restaurant to make sure that part of the hotel was secure; didn’t like being so close to the edge and that huge empty space to the ground below.

One year we received notice that President Bush (41) was coming into town and all days off, vacation and overtime leave was cancelled. The timing wasn’t good; I was the Assistant Scout Master and was supposed to accompany our troop on its way to Scout Camp that very afternoon.

I explained this to my immediate supervisor knowing that it would make no difference; but at the same time knowing there were always far more police officers than needed. I asked for consideration to leave if the opportunity presented itself.

“In your dreams”, was the reply along with a slight belly laugh for even asking.

It turned out I was supposed to be on the outer perimeter with my three wheeled motor cycle. The outer perimeter was several blocks away from the Bush residence. Closer in the streets had all been shut down and secret service vehicles parked right down the middle making vehicular traffic impossible; well nearly impossible.

Our Captain wanted to get in for a photo opportunity with the president or some other really important ranking police officer stuff; but his police cruiser didn’t stand a chance of getting down there so he decided he’d use my three wheeled motor cycle. (Did I mention the Captain had never operated one of these monsters?)

When he approached my position I instantly stood down and let him ride off toward the Bush residence while my immediate supervisor stood on the other side of the street. About 10 minutes went by and the Captain came sputtering back with fresh damage to the fiberglass box of the three wheeler, a chunk of fender hanging off just above the pavement.

Without hesitating I reached into my wallet, took out a dollar bill and handed it to my supervisor, “Here you are, Sir. You were right; the Captain wrecked it in less than 15 minutes”.

The blood drained from my supervisors face as his eyes rolled back in their sockets, his wondering what had possessed me to utter such an outrageous statement. He was speechless as I patted him on the shoulder in camaraderie. The Captain mentioned something like, “Don’t worry about the damage…it’s to be listed as ‘old damage’”…with a few words that must have caught in his throat while walking over to where he’d left his cruiser.

As the Captain drove off I mentioned to my supervisor how it would be a good idea to get my busted up three wheeler over to the motor pool for repairs. I then pushed one more button, “Once I get it turned in… would it be okay for me to disappear and join my Scout Troop or would you prefer I check out another three wheeler?”

I must have lived a charmed existence that day, driving off with the Scouts with only a short delay from our original starting time. Upon returning from Scout Camp my three wheeler was repaired and had a fresh coat of paint; just as if it had never happened.

All these memories came roaring back simply because I wanted to know how my mother felt regarding the Pope’s early retirement. The names of the supervisor and Captain?… Consider this just another story in the city and pretend you can hear the opening music for the television series, Dragnet.

This article has been cross-posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government & The American Constitution.”

02/12/13

NEW BOOK CALLS AMERICA’S INSTITUTIONS ON THE CARPET

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 12, 2013

937-304-0010
Contact: Dr. Shawn Greener
Phone: 302-593-1679
Email: [email protected]

NEW BOOK CALLS AMERICA’S INSTITUTIONS ON THE CARPET
Excellence Killed the Church: How Mediocrity is Destroying America

Middletown, DE — In his new book “Excellence Killed the Church: How Mediocrity is Destroying America“, Dr. Shawn M. Greener takes a hard look at how the constant undeserved reward of mediocrity is taking a severe toll on our churches, our businesses, our schools and the American way of life.

Dr. Greener’s research suggests that our love affair with multiculturalism, progressivism, and entitlement has weakened the foundations of America nearly to the point of collapse. Among other institutions, Dr. Greener takes on Public Education and how “dumbed down” education is contributing to mediocrity in all other aspects of our culture. As a result business, labor, education and religious institutions have fallen behind in productivity and influence here and abroad.

Dr. Greener then sets his focus on answers, saying, “This is not an ‘everyone gets a trophy, feel good about me’ book. This is the real deal, our authentic condition, and my assessment as to why we are here and what to do. I am hoping (the readers) become angry and fed up enough to do something, anything to help stop the bleeding in this country!”

Praise for “Excellence Killed the Church: How Mediocrity is Destroying America”

“Every major institution in our lives appears in decline. Personal responsibility and self- government are rare, the family unit is under attack, our churches, businesses and even our money are being devalued. Dr. Greener’s book provides unique insights and begins to illuminate paths back to sanity.” Jerry Summers, Board Chairman for Community Hope of Delaware, Inc.

“Excellence reveals how every organization from small businesses to public education, large or small churches, Fortune 500 companies to the federal government is subject to a kind of ‘mass hypnosis’ This book has challenged me to get up and do a little bit more”; Bud Meadows, Trinity Baptist Church of Ocala, FL

Dr. Shawn M. Greener holds a Doctorate in Theology from Masters International School of Divinity. As an acclaimed speaker, life coach an author Dr. Greener has advised churches, celebrities and dignitaries in their quest to achieve true excellence in a purpose filled life. Contact Dr. Shawn Greener at [email protected] or call 302-593-1679.

More About Dr. Shawn Greener: The unthinkable happened on April 12, 2012, at 6:18 pm on Route 896 in Middletown, Delaware.

A 19-year-old high school senior, who had just received a ticket for speeding and reckless driving 10 minutes before, crossed the concrete median and several lanes of traffic to strike Dr. Greener’s vehicle head on. The young man was traveling at 92 mph.

Law enforcement said Dr. Greener survived the un-survivable crash. The force of the impact shoved the Suburban’s front tires behind the driver’s seat. Dr. Greener was trapped in a small pocket in the wreckage for 39 minutes. The impact was so great that his fingernails literally blew off his fingers.

Later he found out friends of his had driven past the crash and prayed for whoever died in the mangled wreckage. No one approached his vehicle because they were sure whoever was in there was dead.

Dr. Greener continues rehabilitation and can now eat and walk on his own. His passion for writing and speaking is as strong as ever, with an even greater determination to motivate people away from mediocrity and into productive, foundational living. Dr. Greener wrote Excellence Killed the Church: How Mediocrity is Destroying America, “Because I love my country and my family.”

Dr. Greener owns and operates the elite life-coaching firm Ask Dr Shawn and is a Military Veteran and former law enforcement officer and Agent In Charge of Executive Protection Team. Dr. Shawn speaks all across the country on a variety of topics such as his dynamic seminar “God IN Country” Personal and Executive Security and Preparedness and other dynamic marital relationship and personal and executive improvement topics.