fousesquawk

Veterans Day-Remembering

2009-11-11T10:24:00.001-08:00

Normandy

Korea

Viet Nam

Ft Hood

Israel-Bash at UCLA (Again)

2009-11-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

My friend and colleague, Eric Golub over at Tygrrrr Express blog attended another one of those anti-Israel bashes at UCLA and wrote about it on Frontpage Magazine (David Horowitz's blog). Last January, Eric attended and reported on a similar event at UCLA. On that occasion, one of the panelists, Prof. Lisa Hajjar, told him he "had his Zionist hat screwed on too tight." That, my friends, is what passes for professors these days on university campuses. At any rate, here is the link to Eric's latest report.

http://frontpagemag.com/2009/11/10/israel-bashing-at-ucla-by-eric-golub/

From Eric's description of this Jewish professor (Gershon Shafir), it sounds like this event was taking on the tones of the old Nazi trials against the conspirators in the attempt on Hitler's life. A bit of an exaggeration? Sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion Judge Roland Freisler would have been proud.

"Sit down!"

But There is Good News........

2009-11-10T18:18:00.000-08:00

(That's one problem that has been corrected.)

DC sniper John Allen Muhammad has been executed tonight in Virginia.

Good riddance.

Joe Lieberman's Office Stormed by Crazy People

2009-11-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Guess what happened in Joe Lieberman's Capitol Hill office today. A bunch of loony tunes stormed and occupied his office to support government health care. About ten were arrested.

Embarrassing, isn't it? I don't recall anti-government health care protesters doing this. I don't recall anybody from our side getting arrested, do you?

I wonder if the mad-hatters over at MSNBC will condemn them for their actions. I wonder if Keith Olbermann will call them "slack-jawed tea-baggers". Will Rachel Maddow express concern over violence?

(Don't forget to point out that they were all white!!!)

The Price of Political Correctness-13 Lives

2009-11-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

Nidal Malik Hasan

It is truly depressing to learn day after day how many red flags were out there staring the US Army in the face about Nidal Malik Hasan. One can only ask; why was this man allowed to remain in the military?

Now we know that Hasan worshipped at a northern Virginia mosque at the same time two of the 9-11 hijackers worshipped there. That could have been purely coincidental except that the Mosque's imam is a radical now living in Yemen who has now called Hasan a hero.

Now we know that Hasan had made numerous inflammatory statements about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now we know that he made a power point presentation to his fellow Army doctors that should have alerted everyone to his views.

Now we hear that his e-mails had been intercepted by intelligence agencies; e-mails that indicated he was trying to contact Al-Qaida.

Now we learn that the DOD did a background on Hasan months ago and decided he was ok.

The Army knew that this man was highly suspicious. Not only did they leave him in the Army, they promoted him to Major.

Why?

Apparently, Army Chief of Staff George Casey has given us the answer. Diversity.

Even now in the wake of this tragedy, a tragedy that should have been prevented, General Casey is wringing his hands and worrying about the Army "losing its diversity".

The Army had diversity when I served in the 1960s. The Army will always have diversity. No, what this Army has too much of is political correctness. Only political correctness could have allowed this Hasan character to remain in his position in the face of all these red flags. Now we see the result. Thirteen dead.

When will this political correctness madness end? To compound the Army's error, we now see the media engaging in political correctness. Chris Matthews is even saying that the Army should have granted conscientious objector status to Hasan! Think that's outrageous? Try this on for size (also from Matthews).

"That's not a crime to call up Al Qaida"

The Army should have bounced this guy right out on his ear, that's what they should have done. Now it is too late. Thirteen dead on the altar of political correctness.

Project Meridian Foundation Bulletin

2009-11-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

The Project Meredian Foundation, which I support, has sent out a newsletter, which is quite informative on the subject of child sexual exploitation.
-------------------------------------------------------

The National Press Club, hosted Project Meridian Foundation

On September 15, 2009, a panel on Human Trafficking by the National Press Club, Washington D.C. hosted this event for Project Meridian Foundation (PMF).
Panel speakers included Former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Project Meridian Founder & President, Nathan Wilson, retired Chief of Police and Executive Director of the Safe Surfin' Foundation (which promotes safe use of the Internet) Dr. Gary Reynolds, and Ambassador Lou de Baca, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State.
The event was attended by a number of reporters, including representatives of publications such as the New York Times, the London Times, USA Today, Politico, and John Hopkins.

Remarks from the event have resounded with great success. We would like to thank the National Press Club for hosting PMF and this event on awareness of Human Trafficking in the United States. (Read the rest of the story continued on page 2.)

National Association of Attorneys GeneralOn Monday, October 20, the

National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Criminal Law Committee conducted a Topical Teleconference on Human Trafficking. The event was moderated by the co-chairs of the Criminal Law Committee, Alicia G. Limtiaco, Attorney General for the Territory of Guam, and Anne Milgram, Attorney General for New Jersey. The teleconference was also attended by dozens of other Attorneys General from the United States and U.S. Territories. Nathan Wilson of PMF had the chance to address the call for about 15 minutes, as did Bill Krieg of PMF.

Other participants were representatives of ICE and the DOJ. Much of the discussion centered on border policy and illegal aliens as primary culprits in the trafficking industry, Representatives from ICE noted that 396 illegal aliens had been arrested in trafficking-related crimes so far this year. ICE also reported on how fraudulent visas were becoming a prevalent method of facilitating the presence of illegal predators and the trafficking industry. Nathan Wilson and Bill Krieg brought to light the domestic implications of trafficking within the United States and reminded conference participants that sex trafficking exists as its own entity within the United States divorced from the activities of illegal aliens.

The epidemic of children forced into sex trafficking in the United States:Article
Written by: Jamison Beuerman, PMF, Communications Director

Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger emphasized this Quote:
"This phenomenon has proliferated in America's backyard with relatively little notice or attention paid to it."

Our country is facing one of the greatest threats to its national security and the fabric of its society, yet the vast majority of Americans are woefully oblivious to it.

On September 15, 2009, at the National Press Club, Former Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Nathan D. Wilson, President of PMF, Dr. Gary Reynolds and Ambassador Lou de Baca voiced their dedication to changing that trend. The panel aimed to drive home a key point to the audience: our nation is facing an epidemic on par with that of AIDS, yet amongst our society and government, little has been done to bring this crisis to our attention, let alone to prevent it.

Former Secretary of State Eagleburger emphasized that modern cases of sex trafficking are not yesterday' kidnappings. Rather, what we are facing is a tragedy of conspiratorial proportions. Human trafficking is a well-organized, multibillion dollar criminal enterprise. It is the third largest funder of terrorism, closely behind arms sales and the drug trade. Throughout America, and the world at large, organized crime and gangs are sponsoring this insidious enterprise. This phenomenon has proliferated in America's backyard with relatively little notice or attention paid to it. For this reason, it is imperative that the American people are educated on this evil and its moral and social costs. As reiterated by Mr. Wilson, human trafficking is a form of terrorism on
American soil; it is a corruption of America's youth and America's future. Despite recent stories of sex rings lurking on Craig's List, startling statistics of children exploited while in foster care, and recent human sex trafficking rings broken up in Virginia and New Jersey, most Americans remain completely oblivious to this encroaching danger. What America urgently needs are government laws and recognition to prevent the continued reach of this evil, as well as facilities and treatment for its victims. This issue transcends partisan politics and requires help from all sides to defeat it. As further argued by Dr. Gary Reynolds, education is absolutely necessary alongside enforcement to prevent the spread of this heinous crime. Prevention partly rests on acknowledging the threat and educating our children about it, which entails, for instance, internet safety. As such, part of the responsibility in fighting trafficking and sexual exploitation depends on the public's awareness. Meanwhile, Lou de Baca compared the current epidemic of human trafficking to a modern form of slavery. Citing Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Lou D. Boca argued that the United States has a moral obligation to enforce this basic human freedom. Such action demands participation from both citizens and the government to protect our communities and extirpate this evil from our soil. This panel proved to be a stirring call to arms for those willing to acknowledge what is quickly becoming a moral, social, and historic crisis in our nation.

Country Report: GuatemalaBy Kenan Mullis, PMF, Intern

Guatemala is a state teetering on the brink of failure. Corruption within the government, judiciary, and law enforcement is endemic; 98% of crimes go unsolved, and porous borders make Guatemala an easy conduit for human, drug, and weapons trafficking. Popular support for President Alvaro Colom is sharply divided. Trafficking victims go into a greater rate of risk. This is due to the migration of person from Columbia escaping the Cartels. They are migrating into Bolivia, Venezuela and other Central American countries. Trafficking victims in Guatemala are typically children and young women from nearby Central American countries,
and they are most often sexually exploited for commercial purposes or forced into labor, such as begging rings. Article 194 of the Guatemalan Penal Code proscribes human trafficking; however, judges frequently dismiss Article 194 claims in favor of "more familiar, but less serious" crimes, like pandering, which carry penalties too lenient to effectively discourage trafficking.

Corruption also hinders efforts to stamp out human trafficking. Police and immigration officials are suspected of falsifying identification documentation and allowing victims to cross borders in exchange for bribes. Despite efforts from the Guatemalan government, the situation in Guatemala remains bleak.

Meeting with the Austrians

On June 23, 2009, Nathan Wilson and Ross Handley met with Wolfgang Renezeder, Director of Press and Information Service for the Austrian Embassy. The meeting with the Austrian council was extremely productive.

They demonstrated much interest in continuing a dialogue with and working alongside PMF in raising awareness of human trafficking in both the United States and Europe, even to the point of being engaged in the training and operation of Operation Safe House and discussing PMF's potential role in an Austrian task force.

Join us today to combat & bring awareness to this crime against children and young women.

Get involved! Contact us Or,

Support our mission with a financial contribution!

Project Meridian Foundation is a 501c 3 non-profit.

PMF Corporate Mailing Address:
Project Meridian Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 29005 Richmond, Virginia 23242

EDITOR:
Jamison Beuerman

Copyright © 2005 - 2009 Project Meridian Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.

"Artists have a special role to play in the global struggle for peace because we speak not only to the people, but for the people "visually." Art is our chosen weapon against ignorance and hatred. Project Meridian Foundation answers the call for greater awareness and action in combating human trafficking abuses and
I applaud their efforts. There is a need out there for human rights education and as an artist I'm proud to help play a vital role in helping Project Meridian carry out their message." - Michael Bell
www.mbellart.com

In the coming weeks, Project Meridian will be holding an online auction of Michael and his students' artwork influenced by human trafficking. Half of the proceeds will go towards the students, and the rest will go towards spreading awareness on this important issue.

Project Meridian Foundation (PMF) works to assist International, Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies by offering education and awareness training so that they may identify and recover victims of Human Trafficking and repatriate those who are kidnapped and exploited by Human Traffickers.
PMF works with national and international agencies and strives to bring awareness to our most vulnerable youth between the ages 11 and 17 while educating University students. PMF provides our country's leaders, civic groups and other organizations with factual and relevant information empowering them to take action against Human and Sex Trafficking.

Currently, Project Meridian Foundation is fundraising for the launch of Operation Safe House; an initiative to provide the victims of Human and Sex Trafficking with shelter, healthcare, education and vocational training opportunities so they can resume a normal life.

Help PMF by giving a financial Tax-Deductible Contribution today to build this first of its kind facility.

PMF's strategy is to combat and prevent Human Trafficking; and to rescue and rehabilitate victims by introducing a new and positive change in their lives. We will not give up! We will be the voice for the children whose voices cry out but go unheard.

We will continue to win the battle that is currently still in darkness, by rescuing and rebuilding powerless precious children and young women's lives.
With your financial Tax-Deductible Contribution you can save lives!
"If we save one life at a time; it is all worth it" - Nathan Wilson

We're on the Web!
See us at:
www.Projectmeridianfoundation.org

National Black Republican Association on Obama

2009-11-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

I am always pleased to cross-post articles by Dr Frances Rice of the National Black Republican Association. Here is the latest.
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OBAMA'S SOCIALIST STAKE IN THE HEART OF AMERICA
By Frances Rice

Unfazed by the damage caused to our nation by out-of-control spending, President Barack Obama and the Democrats in the US House of Representatives passed a massive, trillion-dollar government-run healthcare revamp bill.

"Tough road ahead in Senate for health care bill" is an AP story about the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation for a government take over of our healthcare system. To pay for the expansion of coverage, the bill cuts Medicare's spending for seniors by more than $400 billion and imposes a growth-killing tax on our nation's job producers.

Now, Democrats in the US Senate are poised to use the "nuclear option" - a change from the normal 60-vote requirement to a simple majority vote - in order to prevent a Republican-led filibuster of a Senate version of the disastrous Pelosi-ObamaCare legislation that imposes jail time on average Americans for not having health insurance.

Ignored by Obama and the Democrats in the US Congress is the message Americans from across the political spectrum sent on election day 2009. Voters in Virginia and New Jersey elected Republicans as their governors, resoundingly repudiating the socialist agenda of Obama.

The combination of Obama's lack of experience and socialist agenda are disastrous for our country. In short order, Obama's presidency has produced record spending on wasteful social programs with the stimulus bill, massive budget deficits, crushing unemployment, tight credit, and a take-over of part of our private sector. Slim are our chances for a sustainable economic recovery.

"Broader Measure of U.S. Unemployment Stands at 17.5%" by David Leonhardt shows that the official record high unemployment rate is now 10.2%, but the actual rate is a lot worse, 17.5 percent—the highest on records dating from 1994—when the calculation includes those who have settled for part-time jobs or stopped looking for work. Nearly eight months after the stimulus bill, 49 of 50 States have lost jobs, with 26% overall teen unemployment and 41.9% black teen unemployment.

Under Obama, our money, media and entire government apparatus are being used to fundamentally change our country into a failed socialist nation. In the article "Dismantling America", Thomas Sowell provides details about how Obama has begun the process of dismantling America from within and exposing us to dangerous enemies outside.

The article "Obama Surrounds Himself with the Most Extreme Appointees in American History" by Steve Baldwin exposes the bevy of unaccountable Communist and Marxist czars who are helping Obama push America into economic collapse.

America is a grand experiment that makes possible unprecedented prosperity and individual liberty, due to the establishment by our founders of our limited form of government by the people and for the people. A form of government that Obama has vowed to fundamentally change into a failed socialist system with the rights of the people determined by the government for the government.

So, the question becomes will enough Americans wake up in time to save our country from going the way of the Roman Empire, the Soviet Union and other fallen nations where the people surrendered their liberty to the government in exchange for cradle to grave benefits? On election days in 2010 and 2012, we will know the answer.

Frances Rice, a lawyer and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, is Chairman of the National Black Republican Association and may be contacted at www.NBRA.info
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Fousesquawk comment: Some of the most intellectually challenging voices in America today are black conservatives. We need to lsiten to their voices. Instead, many try to isolate them, label them as "Uncle Toms", and destroy them etc. I can't tell you how much I admire their courage.

Malicious Lawsuits-How to Protect Yourself

2009-11-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

People who blog or otherwise speak out on controversial issues are often in danger of being sued. If what one writes is over the line, then perhaps, the lawsuit is justified. Often, however, the lawsuits are intended to silence you. In the present climate, those who criticize Islamic extremism or speak out against terror are often in danger of being sued by people like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). They are the ones who engineered the lawsuit against US Air in the wake of the "flying imams" incident. They even tried to go after the passengers who complained to the US Air crew about the strange behavior of the imams. Many believe the incident was deliberately orchestrated, yet US Air settled. If you think you might be sued over what you say or what you write about public issues, here are some tips to keep in mind. (I am not a lawyer.)

If you feel the suit is malicious or trivial and designed to silence you from speaking out on a public issue, consider a SLAPP counter suit. SLAPP stands for "Strategic lawsuit against public participation". A few years ago, Orange County attorney Todd Gallinger, representing a northern California Islamic charity, filed a lawsuit against Yale University Press over a book that named the charity as a front for terrorist funding. Yale counter filed with a SLAPP law suit, at which time, Gallinger dropped the case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation

If someone like CAIR comes along and tries to sue you, find a legal entity willing to do pro bono representation in your cause and do it aggressively. They are out there. The Thomas More Law Center, for example, has taken on similar type cases. (This represents no commitment on their part. I am not speaking for them) In addition, you are entitled to demand a full accounting of the funding and background of the organization or group that is suing you.

Keep records of what you write and say. Also keep records of what the person or group suing you has written or said.

Make sure your home insurance covers the full value of your home. Keep in mind, however, that if they represent you in court, they have the right to make a settlement.

Finally, and especially in the wake of recent developments, try to be responsible and not paint all Muslims with the same brush. We must continue to speak out against terrorism and radical Islamists. There must, however, be no retribution or backlash against innocent people including other Muslims serving in our armed forces.

This is not expert legal advice, just some tips.

Washington All-Stars Lose Another One

2009-11-08T21:20:00.001-08:00

"Hail to the All-Stars......."

In the Fousesquawk sports wrap, today, the Washington All-Stars (I can't call them the Redskins anymore) took their new "three and out" offense and "no huddle defense" to Atlanta, where they were throttled by the Atlanta Falcons 31-17.

After the game, All-Stars owner and new offensive coordinator Daniel Snyder apologized to the Atlanta fans for his team's lousy performance. (He apologized to Washington fans last week.)

There was no comment from the team's titular head coach, Jim Zorn. His whereabouts are unknown, and he is believed to be in seclusion.

Janet Napolitano- Our Head of Homeland Security

2009-11-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

Janet Napolitano

"It's not terrorism. It's man-caused disasters."

This is from the Department of Homeland Security Website. I will post the text of this page in it's entirety (with a little spice thrown in). You might get a kick out of this.

"Janet Napolitano is the third Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and is leading our nation's collective efforts to secure our country from the threats we face - from terrorism to natural disasters.

To counter the threat of terrorism, Napolitano has forged new partnerships with international allies, and expanded information sharing with federal, state and local law enforcement - building a collaborative effort to detect and disrupt threats early on.

From an interview with Der Spiegel, March 2009:

SPIEGEL: Madame Secretary, in your first testimony to the US Congress as Homeland Security Secretary you never mentioned the word "terrorism." Does Islamist terrorism suddenly no longer pose a threat to your country?

Napolitano: Of course it does. I presume there is always a threat from terrorism. In my speech, although I did not use the word "terrorism," I referred to "man-caused" disasters. That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.

And going after those dangerous, white, right-wing extremists, abortion opponents and military vets.

(cont.)

"She has initiated a new, more strategic course to strengthen security along our southwest border, deploying additional personnel and advanced technology, while working closely with Mexico to combat violent international drug cartels - resulting in increased seizures of illegal contraband along the border and throughout our country's interior.

Napolitano also has forged a smart and effective approach to enforcing our immigration laws and prioritizing public safety while targeting criminal aliens and aggressively pursuing employers that knowingly take advantage of illegal labor.

She has strengthened the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters by cutting through red tape and expediting decision-making along the Gulf Coast, providing new resources to build resilient communities and bolster their response capabilities, and calling on all Americans to play a role in the shared responsibility of making our homeland secure.

In each of these areas - counterterrorism; border security; immigration enforcement; and disaster preparedness, response and recovery - Napolitano is building upon the skills and resources of this young department by deploying the best that science and technology have to offer; reinvigorating partnerships with state, local and tribal governments and the private sector - our nation's first detectors and first responders; and implementing a bold Efficiency Review that is making the Department a leaner, smarter agency better equipped to protect the nation.

Prior to becoming Secretary, Napolitano was in her second term as Governor of Arizona and was recognized as a national leader on homeland security, border security and immigration. She was the first woman to chair the National Governors Association and was named one of the top five governors in the country by Time Magazine. Napolitano was also the first female Attorney General of Arizona and served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

Napolitano was born in New York City and grew up in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Albuquerque, N.M. She graduated from Santa Clara University, where she won a Truman Scholarship and was the university's first female valedictorian, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Before entering public office, Napolitano served as a clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and practiced law in Phoenix at the firm of Lewis and Roca."

Sleep well tonight, America. Janet Napolitano is on guard (against right-wingers and man-caused disasters).

H. Rap Brown aka Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin

2009-11-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

as H. Rap Brown (l)

as Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (r)

H. Rap Brown was a 1960s radical and leader of the Black Panther Party. Today, he is known as Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. He is currently serving life in prison without parole for the murder of a police officer in Georgia in 2000. He is also a hero to certain radical segments of the Muslim population in America.

The Council on American Islamic Relations has provided funding for Amin's appeal. Before he was killed in last week's shootout with the FBI in Dearborn, Luqman Abdullah Ameen envisioned Amin as the would-be head of a separate state for Muslims that would be set up within US borders. Radical Islamic speakers who appear on college campuses invoke his name (example: Amir Abdel Malik Ali at UC-Irvine).

Currently, Alkalima, an online magazine of the UC Irvine Muslim Student Union has a religious message from Amin entitled; "Liberating the Soul-Wisdom From Within Prison Walls". It can be read at the below link.

http://www.alkalima.com/?page=Archives&vol=8&issue=2&id=106

At a time when Muslims in America are trying to send out messages to the country that they are not connected in any way to the events in Dearborn and Ft Hood, having icons like H. Rap Brown/Amin out there in public are not helpful.

H. Rap Brown has spent his life absorbed in anger, violence and hatred. Based on his murder conviction, it is obvious that his conversion to Islam did not cure those afflictions. Decent Muslims should disassociate themselves from this man.

Why Didn't Obama Accept the Berlin Invitation?

2009-11-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Germany is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the signature event in the collapse of communism in Europe, which led many USA Communists scrambling to find other organizations and causes to join in which they could continue to further their agenda (like the environmental cause, for example). Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was recently in Washington, invited President Obama to attend. He has declined, which leads many to ask, "Why?" I have a couple of theories.

Of course, the event at Ft Hood would have made it a moot point. Obama would have been rightly condemned for leaving the country this week. His declination, however, was made before the murders in Texas.

One possibility is that Obama was still ticked off by Germany's refusal to allow Candidate Obama to give his "People of the World" speech last year in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

That may well be true, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Obama found nothing to celebrate in the fall of the Berlin Wall. Besides, why should he go back to Berlin to participate in a celebration of the fall of communism when he can lay the building blocks for his new wall (government health care).

Obama's decision not to go to Berlin is perfectly in line with his snubbing of the Dalai Lama when the latter was in Washington. Why offend the Chinese by receiving the man who has spent his life in exile as a symbol of the Communist Chinese takeover of Tibet?

But, as I stated, it is all a moot point. We all know that President Obama belongs at Ft Hood at this moment.

He is there, isn't he?

He's at Camp David??!!?

Dems Pass House Healthcare Bill

2009-11-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

"One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind"

Last night, the House of Representatives took a giant step toward socialism when they narrowly passed the Democratic version of the health care plan (220-215). One Republican voted yea.

In this bill, in case you didn't know, anyone who does not purchase health insurance will be subject to a 2.5% tax in addition to a possible 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"Whaddaya in for?"

"Not buying health insurance."

As for illegal aliens, there are no identity provisions in the bill-unless you are talking about providing social secutiy numbers, 9 million of which are phony and circulating around the country. The Republicans tried to put in a verification system, but the Dems refused that.

I caught some of it on C-SPAN; hours of these gasbag dinosaurs giving 2 minute speeches saying the same things. Nancy Pelosi, of course, let some flunky congressman, whose name escapes me-ugly guy with a beard- do the dirty work and act as speaker until the final vote was tallied. Then she emerged from her chambers to bang the gavel and announce her great victory.

Barf.

London Paper Reports Hasan Worshipped at Suspect Mosque in Virgina

2009-11-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

The Telegraph newspaper(UK) is reporting today that Nidal Malik Hasan, while living in Northern Virginia, worshipped at a mosque in Great Falls, Virginia, also linked to two of the 9-11 hijackers and a suspected radical imam.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6521758/Fort-Hood-shooting-Texas-army-killer-linked-to-September-11-terrorists.html

Without commenting on the story itself, could it be possible that the foreign press is outrunning the American press in following this story? Are you surprised?

Meanwhile over at MSNBC, Chris Matthews is proclaiming that we may never know what Hasan's motive was. Chris is spot on. He may never know.

Who is Dr Joe Medicine Crow?

2009-11-07T16:38:00.001-08:00

"Some of you may have heard...."

In the last couple of days, President Obama's curious talk announcing the Ft Hood tragedy in front of a Dept. of Interior-American Indian conference has drawn attention to Dr Joe Medicine Crow, to whom the President gave a "shout out" as he spoke for 2-3 minutes before referring to Ft Hood. As a result, amid the criticism of the President, Dr Medicine Crow has unfortunately found himself in the middle. He deserves better.

Pundits have not only criticized the President for giving "shout outs before getting into the Ft Hood issue, but have also pointed out the fact that Obama incorrectly called Joe a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, which he is not. Joe is in fact a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our highest civilian honor, which Obama himself presented.

In fact, Dr Medicine Crow, who is in his 90s, has led a distinguished life. He is an anthropologist and Crow Nation historian, with a masters degree and honorary doctorate from USC.

More importantly, he is a decorated World War II vet who fought the Germans in Europe and was awarded the Bronze Star and Legion d'honneur.

Joe Medicine Crow is a great American.

So, if we are going to criticize Obama for his choice of words, let's not disrespect or make light of Joe Medicine Crow in the process.

After Ft Hood, Where Do We Go From Here?

2009-11-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

Council on American Islamic Relations Director Nihad Awad

In my past postings on Ft Hood, I have tried to be cautious in my feelings and responses. As I said, I don't want to say anything that would aggravate an already delicate situation in the wake of this latest massacre. I have posted the initial statements by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), which were appropriate. Yet, there is much more that must be said-in as responsible a manner as is possible- but must be said.

First of all, the mainstream media cannot continue to describe Nidal Malik Hasan simply as a man who snapped in the face of the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To describe this as a case of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome -or even Pre-traumatic Stress Syndrome (if that is possible) is absurd on its face. This was a case of an angry Muslim who was carrying out a pre-meditated act of terror under the banner of Islam (at least in his mind). It was an act of Jihad, albeit by a lone individual (apparently). To deny that Major Hasan's religion was a major factor-the major factor- is to deny reality itself.

As for the statements of CAIR and ISNA, while condemning the action of the shooter is commendable, they simply don't go far enough. Nihad Awad, the head of CAIR, has now stated that Islam had nothing to do with the incident, Islam is a religion of "peace, harmony and co-existence", and that CAIR will not tolerate any backlash against Muslims in America. This is just the prelude to CAIR shifting from its initial condemnation of terrorism into a defensive mode-and offensive mode- against anyone who dares question Islam itself.

How many more terrorist attacks must we endure before we say to Mr Awad that it is high time for he and his colleagues to demonstrate that Islam is, indeed, a religion of "peace, harmony and co-existence"?. Just in recent months in the US, we have witnessed not just Ft Hood, but plots broken up in New York and Chicago, as well as so called "honor-killings in Arizona and Buffalo, NY. We have had the shootout in Dearborn with a black separatist Muslim leader. In addition to Ft Hood, we also know that Ft Dix, NJ was also recently a target of a Jihadist attack. Can any serious person now doubt that future attacks are on the way?

I am afraid that it is unavoidable for all Americans to start asking the hard questions about Islam itself. Most of us have tried to separate the Jihadists and fanatics from innocent, law-abiding Muslims. Some, like the media, have gone to embarrassing lengths to avoid the hard questions, as evidenced by their performance in this latest incident.

We in America have a pretty good record-with a few exceptions- of religious tolerance. We have welcomed Muslim Americans to this country in the past decades, allowed them to build their mosques and schools and worship freely. It has blown up in our faces. Many of these mosques and schools have been shown to be places of hatred of America and downright sedition.

Yet, we have tried to be accommodating. After all, what is not to admire about people who pray five times a day? What is not to admire about people who make God the central focus of their lives? What is not to admire about women who dress modestly and lead moral lives? What is not to admire about a religion that places so much emphasis on charity? What is not to admire about a people who eschew alcohol? What is not to admire about Arabs whose very language is infused with references to God and peace?

On the other hand, after 9-11, after witnessing the never-ending violence around the world, the beheadings, the stonings, the riots, the hateful declarations, the persecutions of non-Muslims in Muslim countries, the calls for revolution in countries like the UK and calls for the imposition of Shariah law in the UK by fanatics like Anjem Choudary, should we not be asking ourselves questions-openly and honestly? The truth is there is a dark strain in Islam that is anything but "peace, harmony and co-existence". It is rather about hate and violence. It must be purged, and it must be purged by Muslims themselves.

Mr Awad talks about peace. Is he talking about peace with Israel? Is he talking about peace between Sunnis and Shi'a? Mr Awad talks about harmony and co-existence. What about the constant references in the Koran about non-believers burning in Hell? (That is also a tenet of Christianity, but you don't see in page after page in the Bible.) What about the infamous Hadith that talks of rocks and bushes calling out to Muslims to "kill the Jew hiding behind me"? What kind of co-existence is that? Mr Awed would have us believe that "Jihad" refers only to the inner struggle of Muslims to be better Muslims and live good lives. He won't admit (to us) the part of about the violent aspect of Jihad.

Mr Awad now tells us that Islam had nothing to do with Hasan's actions this week in Texas. Then why did Hasan yell, "Allahu Akbar" as he began shooting? Why is it that so many terrorists yell the same thing as they begin their actions? Assuming Hasan survives, I have a feeling he will tell the world openly why he acted. What will Mr Awad say then?

Mr Awad and his organization can sue the whole world if they want, but CAIR cannot force people to ignore these events and not draw their conclusions. If Mr Awad and CAIR truly want to act in the interests of Muslims and Islam, then they must truly rise up and assist the authorities in rooting out the last Jihadist on our soil. And make no mistake, they are among us. Instead CAIR makes its obligatory statements of condemnation, then circles the wagons looking for somebody that needs to be silenced or sued. Instead, they act as a buffer between the police/FBI and those citizens or residents the FBI and other agencies seek to interview. They tell people that they don't have to talk to the authorities. They complain about surveillance of mosques-even though some of these mosques are preaching hate and sedition against the US.

Of course, those of us who care to know the facts, know that CAIR was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the recent Holy Land Foundation (charities) trial in Dallas, and that some of these Islamic charities are fronts for funneling money to terrorist organizations overseas-like Hamas. In addition, why has CAIR contributed to the legal defense fund of cop-killer Jamil al Amin (H Rap Brown)? What is CAIR's position and relationship to radical black separatist Muslims like Luqman Ameen Abdullah, who just died in a shootout with FBI agents in Dearborn?

Mr Awad, his colleagues at CAIR, ISNA, US imams and all Muslims also need to understand that this country will never submit to Islamic shariah law-which is indeed the goal of many of these leaders. There are millions of Americans-like me-who will fight that to the death. We will never accept Islam as a political ideology that would govern our lives and take away our freedoms. It is antithetical to our ideas of a free and open society. To any Muslim who thinks Shariah rules should apply in America instead of American values and the Constitution, I say you should return to your land of origin.

So-called "honor killings" will never be tolerated in America and must be punished to the full extent of the law. The penalty for one renouncing Islam and leaving the religion is not death-not in our country. That is a religious freedom we guarantee. Why is it that courageous people like ex-Muslims Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish have to be accompanied by bodyguards in our country because they live under the threat of death? In addition, we must not allow a resurgence of anti-Semitism in this country directed toward our Jewish citizens. Why all the hatred toward Jews, Mr Awad?

Mr Awad says he is concerned about a backlash against innocent Muslims. So am I. Yet, in my opinion, even after 9-11, we have shown ourselves to be remarkably tolerant with few exceptions. It must be understood by all, however, that the 9-11s, Ft Hoods, the foiled terrorist plots, the intolerant messages of hate spouting from the mouths of many Muslim religious leaders will one day reach the boiling point, which I think is fast approaching. It has become all too clear that we are now simply waiting for the next Ft Hood, the next Mumbai, the next 9-11. The anger among Americans is once again growing.

As one who is actively fighting anti-Semitism, the last thing I want to do is propagate hate against another minority population in this country. I still want to believe in my heart of hearts that the vast majority of Muslims in America are simply trying to live good, peaceful lives. I wish them no harm whatsoever. I have never agreed with those who have stated that Islam and the Koran should be banned from the US. But CAIR has to understand that Americans have every right to be drawing some pretty ugly conclusions. We are up to here with the acts of terror.

And as for you, Mr Awad; I don't trust you, CAIR and ISNA as far as I could throw you.

The UCI Muslim Student Union Letter to New University and ZOA Response

2009-11-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

This past week, the Muslim Student Union wrote a letter to the UC-Irvine campus newspaper, New University, in response to the on-going controversy over the May 21, 2009 Viva Palestina event in which funds were collected on behalf of Gaza. Since I have posted the on-going developments, I thought it fair and appropriate to post the MSU letter as well as the response by the Zionist Organization of America as sent by Susan Tuchman. The MSU letter is posted first then the ZOA response.

Defending the Muslim Student Union
By Hadeer Soliman on Nov. 2, 2009
New University “

I was surprised to read in the last issue of the New University a headline that read, “UC Irvine Muslim Student Union Under Investigation.” The article claimed that the MSU was to be investigated – by the FBI no less – for fundraising for Hamas. Call me forgetful, but I don’t recall ever getting that memo. The ludicrousness of this accusation was explained when my eyes fell on a single name – the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).

The ZOA, an external organization with no official affiliation to UCI, has a long history of attacking organizations that it deems a threat because they do not fall in line with its extreme right-wing stances on the issue of Palestine. Not only has it gone after pro-Palestinian organizations, but it has also attacked pro-Israeli groups that it deems too soft. Recently, ZOA, in a letter to the chief campus counsel at UCI, attacked and defamed the MSU by claiming that it broke university policy as well as fundraised for Hamas. The truth of the matter is that ZOA has been attempting to defame, censor and essentially eradicate the MSU for years now. This is only the most recent attempt to silence the MSU and restrict its constitutional right to freedom of speech, religion and association.

Although this is not the first time the organization has made such claims against the MSU, the complaints continue to receive attention. This is surprising, considering all previous claims the organization made against MSU have been proven to be groundless. In 2004, ZOA claimed that the green stoles MSU members wear during graduation were a symbol of support for Hamas. After a national uproar, independent experts were brought in to mediate the issue and quickly discovered that this was blatantly false. In fact, the stoles had the Shahada – the central creed of Islam, which states that we believe in one God, and that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final messenger of God – written on them.

Again, about three years ago, the ZOA convinced the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to carry out an investigation of claims on anti-Semitism at UCI. This was yet another tactic to try and smear the name of MSU and label its political stances against the injustices perpetuated by the government of Israel as hate speech. In its report, the investigation by the Office of Civil Rights cleared all counts of anti-Semitism.

Now, it seems the ZOA has gotten even more desperate. In its most recent string of absurd allegations, ZOA refers to an MSU-sponsored event last May featuring British member of Parliament George Galloway. This was part of the MSU’s two-week long series of events aimed at raising awareness about the Palestinian-Israeli issue and empowering students on campus with knowledge about the conflict. ZOA claims that donations made to Viva Palestina, collected through impromptu donation boxes that were passed around at the end of the speech to support Galloway’s humanitarian convoy to legally provide medical aid to Gazans, “may have” monetarily supported Hamas.

This is a clear falsehood and yet another attempt to censor and defame the MSU while stifling any discussion or critique of the nation-state of Israel. Viva Palestina made it explicit, in both speeches given by its representatives and on its Web site, that all donations would be given to humanitarian non-governmental organizations in accordance with US law. The Viva Palestina Web site reads: “Viva Palestina USA intends to remain in full compliance with applicable domestic laws and particularly with the statutes prohibiting the provision of material support and resources to designated terrorist organizations, 18 U.S.C. 2339A-B.”

Viva Palestina also recently issued a statement, which can be viewed on the Web site, confirming that the promises made to donors “were upheld to the highest degree. Every transfer of funds for medical supplies and the purchase of vehicles to be used for humanitarian purposes was well-documented … and the donations were given to a non-governmental consortium in Gaza” (http://www.vivapalestina-us.org/media/article/4).

Despite the MSU’s lawful intent and Viva Palestina’s assurances that it complied with the law, ZOA is directly attacking the MSU, a student group, with yet more false and malicious accusations. It is ironic that of the thousands of individuals and groups who donated money to Viva Palestina, ZOA remains obsessively set on singling out the MSU and smearing its name. As the saying goes, history repeats itself and ZOA is repeating its historical attacks and false allegations in its effort to mute and censor us. If anyone is acting illegally, it is the ZOA, by seeking to discard the very principles of the First Amendment in trying to shut us up and shut us down.”

Hadeer Soliman is a member of Muslim Student Union.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------The ZOA Response:

“For those readers who are unfamiliar with our organization, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is the oldest pro-Israel organization in the United States. We are proud of our history. We were instrumental in mobilizing support in the U.S. for the establishment of the State of Israel. Our leaders have included Rabbi Stephen Wise and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. Our objectives are no different from that of other advocacy groups like the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. When we become aware of injustices against Israel and the Jewish people, we do our best to rectify the wrongs.

That’s been our mission at UCI and other schools. We began working with Jewish students on the UCI campus several years ago and were shocked to learn about the harassment and intimidation they were facing, coming largely from the speakers and programs that the Muslim Student Union was sponsoring and promoting on a regular basis. Hadeer Soliman claims that the Muslim Student Union’s events, at least last May, were “aimed at raising awareness about the Palestinian-Israeli issue and empowering students on campus with knowledge about the conflict.” If that were the case, then the Muslim Student Union would not have featured a speaker who compared Jews to “Shaytan – Satan.” The Muslim Student Union would not have sponsored a speaker who falsely and hatefully accused Jews of “lik[ing] to operate behind closed doors . . . in the shadows, in the dark.” If Ms. Soliman’s claims were true, then the Muslim Student Union would not have mocked and debased the greatest tragedy not only in Jewish history, but in the history of the world – the Holocaust – by posting a photo of Anne Frank wearing a Palestinian Arab scarf or keffiyeh and falsely and absurdly comparing the systematic murder of Jews by the Nazis to the situation that currently exists in Gaza, which tragically is largely of the Palestinians' own making. If the Muslim Student Union were truly interested in raising awareness and educating the UCI community about the Palestinian Arab-Israeli conflict, the group would not repeatedly invite a speaker to campus who has endorsed terrorism against Israeli Jews and called for the destruction of the State of Israel.

The Muslim Student Union would stop promoting lies about Jews, including that they are a “den of spies” who are arrogant and control the government and the media. They would not make outrageous comparisons between Israeli policy and that of the Nazis, which have absolutely no basis in fact. They would not deny the historical truth that Jews have lived in the Land of Israel continuously for thousands of years, even before there was a religion called Islam.

Education means using facts, not lies. It means talking about difficult and complicated issues without demonizing a people and a nation and without making fellow students feel like pariahs on their own campus. We have worked with many students at UCI who have suffered because of the hatred and bigotry that the Muslim Student Union sponsors and promotes on a regular basis. These students have told us of being afraid to wear a Star of David or a pro-Israel tee shirt. They have told us about staying away from the campus, and even missing classes, in order to avoid the speakers and signs that the Muslim Student Union sponsors that incite hatred of Jews and Israel. They have told us about being threatened and assaulted. We know of at least two students who left UCI and transferred elsewhere because they could no longer endure the hatred and hostility engendered by the Muslim Student Union. One of these students described being yelled at with the words, “Go back to Russia where you came from,” “burn in hell,” and “f_ _king Jew.” The other student described being surrounded, threatened, and shouted at with such slurs as “f_ _king Jewish bitch” and “dirty Jew.”

Over the years, concerned Jewish students repeatedly tried to remedy the hostile environment without success. They held many meetings with UCI administrators, and even at one point worked out so-called rules of dialogue with the Muslim Student Union, so that difficult political issues could be discussed without resorting to using painful symbols like the swastika in connection with the Jewish Star of David. When these efforts failed, Jewish students decided to seek a legal remedy, which is their right – and everyone’s right – to do.

The ZOA filed a legal action on behalf of Jewish students with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The crux of the complaint was that UCI has an obligation under federal law – Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – to ensure that its programs and activities are free from harassment, intimidation and discrimination, and that UCI was not living up to that legal obligation. There has never has been any effort to suppress or deny the rights of any group or individual, including the Muslim Student Union.

Hadeer Soliman says that “the Office for Civil Rights cleared all counts of anti-Semitism.” If she means that the Office for Civil Rights cleared UCI of all wrongdoing, she is wrong. The Office for Civil Rights examined only a very small handful of the many claims that the ZOA made on Jewish students’ behalf, and as to three or four incidents, decided that UC Irvine responded appropriately. We disagree and do not believe that those findings are supported by the evidence; our appeal is still pending. As to most of the allegations that the ZOA made on Jewish students’ behalf, the Office for Civil Rights never even evaluated them, because the Office for Civil Rights had decided that it was no longer going to protect Jews under Title VI. The law protects against discrimination based on “race, color, or national origin.” The Office for Civil Rights had a policy in place that there were groups, such as Jews and Sikhs, which are not just religious groups but also ethnic groups. For purposes of Title VI, these groups would be considered “racial” or “national origin” groups entitled to the protections of Title VI.

Unfortunately, under new leadership, the Office for Civil Rights changed this policy. They looked at Jews as simply a religious group that did not fall within the language of the law. This was a legal determination that unfortunately led to the dismissal of most of the claims that the ZOA made on Jewish students’ behalf. The Office for Civil Rights’ decision was not based on the overwhelming evidence we submitted that showed a pattern of harassment, intimidation and discrimination coming mostly from the Muslim Student Union. Hadeer Soliman thus has her facts wrong about the outcome of the ZOA’s legal action.

While the ZOA triggered the legal effort to improve the hostile campus environment, we have certainly not been alone in exposing and criticizing the Muslim Student Union’s level of discourse as hateful, bigoted and divisive. An independent task force in Orange County, initially commissioned by Hillel, examined allegations of anti-Semitism at UCI. The task force was made up of Jewish and non-Jewish academic, professional and religious leaders in the Orange County community. It completed a year-long investigation, including approximately 80 hours of interviews of students, faculty, administrators and community members; a document review; and first-hand observation of campus events and activities, including those sponsored by the Muslim Student Union.

This independent group of community members found that anti-Semitic acts on campus “are real and well documented. Jewish students have been harassed. Hate speech has been unrelenting.” As to the Muslim Student Union, the Task Force found that the group “is agenda driven and not checked by the bounds of propriety. It allies and identifies itself with terrorist groups that are enemies of the United States.” In May 2008 and again in May 2009, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) expressed his concern about the Muslim Student Union’s programs. In letters to Chancellor Michael Drake, Congressman Sherman described the Muslim Student Union’s events in May 2008 and 2009 as “appear[ing] intended to encourage violence against the State of Israel and propagate the spread of anti-Semitism.”

Hadeer Soliman tries very hard to justify the Muslim Student Union’s conduct last May in sponsoring George Galloway’s speech and soliciting funds for his Viva Palestina group and convoys to Gaza. What Ms. Soliman doesn’t do is deny the truth of the ZOA’s assertions – that the Muslim Student Union misrepresented to the UCI administration that the event was not going to be a fundraiser when in fact it was, that the Muslim Student Union did not get UCI’s approval to solicit funds as required by UCI’s policies, and that the Muslim Student Union violated other policies regarding the solicitation of funds on campus. In fact, in a letter that the Muslim Student Union recently wrote to UCI’s chief campus counsel viciously attacking the ZOA, the Muslim Student Union seemed to ridicule UCI policies, calling them “technicalities,” which the Muslim Student Union acknowledges having likely breached, both with respect to the Galloway event and in the past.

Ms. Soliman says that Viva Palestina is claiming that it sent convoys to Gaza in order to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. But one of the foremost terrorism experts in this country, Steven Emerson, recently issued a 31-page report about Viva Palestina and debunked the claim that Viva Palestina’s goal is to provide for the needy. The report couldn’t be clearer: “Viva Palestina’s most visible leaders call for the elimination of the State of Israel . . . They treat Hamas leaders as the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people and provide both material and moral support to the terrorist organization.”

In addition, in September 2009, a rap musician who goes by the name of M1 spoke about his experience on the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza in July 2009, and confirmed that “we were giving our resources toward the government of Gaza” – meaning the terrorist group Hamas. If the funds solicited by the Muslim Student Union went to Hamas, then the legal implications are serious, as not only the ZOA recognized, but UCI did as well. UCI’s chief campus counsel immediately thanked the ZOA for bringing the matter to its attention, initiated its own internal probe, and reported the matter to law enforcement.

The U.S. State Department has designated Hamas as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” and for good reason. This group has deliberately murdered hundreds of innocent people, including Americans. Its charter calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of the State of Israel. Providing material support and resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization is illegal under federal law. If the Muslim Student Union was in any way involved in that activity, then we should all be concerned.

We take our country’s war against international terrorism seriously. The ZOA thus had the right and the duty to raise concern about what occurred at the Muslim Student Union’s event last May. Our actions had nothing to do with any effort to “mute or censor” the Muslim Student Union, as Hadeer Soliman claims. Hadeer Soliman calls the ZOA “an external organization with no official affiliation to UCI” -- as if that means that we have no right to shine a spotlight on the Muslim Student Union’s hateful and bigoted conduct, and to help students who have been harmed by it.

As a college senior, Ms. Soliman should know that in this country, civil rights protections were fought for by many “outside” groups and individuals. Groups like the NAACP, comprised of people of every color and religious background, have fought against racists and racism. Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman were young men from New York, who traveled south to Mississippi in order to fight against racists and racism, and to protect African Americans’ right to vote. As a college student in the 1960’s, ZOA National President Morton Klein traveled from Philadelphia to Mississippi to fight racism and to protect African Americans’ civil rights. Would Ms. Soliman also condemn Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and Morton Klein as outsiders because they were committed to fighting against discrimination? It is a long-held American tradition to go wherever we are needed to fight against discrimination and injustice. The ZOA has been committed to that tradition since it was established in 1897, and we will continue to uphold that commitment. If there are students at UCI who need our help and support, we will give it. We encourage students and concerned members of the community to continue contacting us.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Fousesquawk comment:

"ZOA claims that donations made to Viva Palestina, collected through impromptu donation boxes that were passed around at the end of the speech to support Galloway’s humanitarian convoy to legally provide medical aid to Gazans, “may have” monetarily supported Hamas."

MSU letter

The collection on May 21 was anything but impromptu. I was there.

Mainstream Media Refuses to Call Ft Hood What it Was

2009-11-06T17:27:00.001-08:00

Nidal Malik Hasan

It is absolutely beyond belief how the mainstream media is spinning the Ft Hood tragedy. Believe it or not, Major Nidal Malik Hasan is rapidly becoming the victim before our eyes. I was incredulous last night when the mad-hatters and propagandists at MSNBC tried to blame it on Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome-even though Hasan had never even seen combat. Today I learn that the rest of the liberal media is actually running with that stunning explanation.

From the Washington Post to the New York Times to Newsweek, to the psycho-babble of Dr Phil on Larry King Live, the party line is that Hasan simply snapped. Why? Oh, it might be that he was upset about going to Iraq. It might be that Hasan was affected by the stories of returning vets he was treating. Let's don't forget that he was "being harassed because of his faith."

Let's stop right there. I have been in the Army (as an enlisted man.) Who in the world was harassing Major Hasan-colonels and generals? Certainly nobody below major because that would have been insubordination-a serious offense in the military.

I ain't buyin' it.

I'm sorry, but the motive is by now pretty clear. His statements, his writings, his actions, his shouts of "Allahu Akbar!" as he began his rampage make it crystal clear. This was a terrorist act, an act of Jihad. It appears (thank God) that he acted alone. When he made his fateful decision is nor known. Maybe he did snap in some fashion, but if that is the case, his religion was a factor in his simmering anger not the stressful situation in Iraq or Afghanistan-where he had never been.

Does this incriminate other Muslims? No. But we cannot escape the truth when it is staring us right in the eyes. We cannot continue to deny the obvious for the sake of political correctness. Islamic-inspired acts of terror or violence continue regularly-and they are increasing here in the US.

I've said before, and I will say it again; this should be no reason or incitement to persecute or harm innocent people. However, we as Americans are going to have to face this situation and deal with it. We cannot simply keep our heads in the sand because we don't want to offend anyone. As an American veteran, I am offended by Ft Hood. Remember the recent plot against Ft Dix? Which post is next?

I still have a lot to say in a coming post. The thesis of this one is our news media and their complete lack of honesty on this story. Not only have they invented a spin, but one so outrageous as to be laughable if it weren't so tragic.

Who can trust this media any longer?

Nonie Darwish Talks at Purdue and Seattle University Disrupted by Muslim Student Association and Faculty

2009-11-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Nonie Darwish, an apostate from Islam who speaks against Islamic terrorism, intolerance and sharia law, spoke at Seattle University. Her talk was disrupted by members of the Muslim Student Asssociation and faculty. below is the vanilla, politically-correct report from the student newspaper:

(Tip of the hat to Creeping Shariah)
---------------------------------------------------------

Students rally against ex-Muslim speaker
By Katie Farden, Seattle University Spectator
Nov 4, 2009

"Members of Seattle University’s Muslim community have been gathering signatures on a petition since Monday to voice their resentment over the university hosting author Nonie Darwish last week.

Darwish, a former Muslim who renounced Islam for Christianity and tours the nation speaking out against radical Islam and Sharia law, spoke at Seattle University Thursday.

Event organizers maintain they brought Darwish to campus to foster discussion about human rights issues and conflict in the Middle East.

“The idea of a university is to exchange ideas,” said Gracie Cohen, a sophomore pre-major who publicized Darwish’s talk.

Some students, however—who said Darwish spreads falsehoods and undue fear about Islam—demonstrated at the event. Members of Seattle U’s Muslim Student Association plan to bring their grievances to President Stephen Sundborg, S.J.

“We believe hosting a person like Nonie on the SU campus is contrary to all of the values upon which this institution is founded,” said Ahmed Alnafie, former president of MSA.

Darwish is the author of three books: "Now They Call Me Infidel; Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror,” "Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law” and “Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West.”

“The message she carries is a message of hatred and defamation to Islam,” Alnafie said.

Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America—a nonpartisan media-monitoring organization formed in 1982 that focuses on decreasing anti-Israel bias in mainstream news—sponsored the event. Cohen, a CAMERA intern, publicized Darwish’s appearance at Seattle U through e-mails and flyers.

Darwish—whose father was an Egyptian lieutenant general killed by Israeli Defense Forces when she was 8 years old—has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, BBC and Fox News. She has spoken at universities including Harvard, Brown and Georgetown. Some of the students who attended the talk Thursday said they questioned Darwish’s credentials.

“If she had used the Quran to support any of her claims, she would have had some substance,” said Nabiha Pirbhai, junior international business major and MSA President.

Instead, Pirbhai said, Darwish based much of her lecture on “Reliance of a Traveler,” a manual of Islamic law.

“She did not come [to Seattle U] for any scholarly purpose,” Alnafie said.

Saeed Al Harbi, a senior e-commerce and information systems major, echoed Alnafie’s thoughts.

“It was horrible,” Al Harbi said. “She was giving wrong, misleading information about my religion.”

Many students who arrived in Bannan to hear Darwish speak Thursday were unreceptive to her, Cohen said. Public Safety received a report of a heated argument in the building.

“The majority of the audience came in hostile.” Cohen said. “She couldn’t get though half a sentence.”

Cohen said when she returned to clean up after the event, she found all of the CAMERA magazines and pamphlets she had displayed on the table for audience members were in the recycling bin.

Members of MSA passed out a handout listing short statements Darwish has made on Islam. They also distributed DVDs about the five pillars of Islam and other basics of the religion, Pirbhai said.

Al Harbi said he and other Muslim students purposefully interrupted Darwish when they thought she said something that misrepresented the religion.

He said he worried non-Muslims in the audience would walk away from the talk with a skewed perception of the religion.

“I’m OK with her criticizing Islam,” Al Harbi said, “but she was throwing out lies to people that don’t understand the situation.”

Alnafie echoed his concern.

“One of my fears is that for many of the people there—that this would be the extent of their experience of Islam.”

Pirbhai said MSA will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss future steps. She estimates 25 students have signed the petition."
----------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the words of Creeping Shariah blog commenting on the event:

"How apropos – al Harbi. A follow up piece clarified that indeed, the MSA imposed its version of campus sharia law as it has on most campuses around the United States and Canada:

…it was disappointing that the lack of civility and maturity from a majority of the audience led to the effective censorship of the speaker. There were not only protestors before she spoke, but hostile, ad hominem comments made throughout the event. Some students even stood in front of the stage and yelled to the audience while Darwish spoke. The speaker could not finish half a sentence without multiple interruptions, not only from students, but also faculty members.

The spirit of censorship extended beyond the reaction during her presentation.

And that is from a fine young dhimmi who disagrees with Darwish’s views on the threat of sharia even though she admits it was in full effect at SU. It didn’t end for Darwish. On her entrance to Canada, Kathy Shaidle reports from a speech that apparently wasn’t interrupted:

Last night I went to hear ex-Muslim Nonie Darwish of Former Muslims United talk about creeping sharia, media misinformation and more at U of T.

What sticks in my mind is the story she told about what happened when she landed in Toronto.

The “bearded, Pakistani-looking” border guy went through the usual spiel: “Business or personal?”

He kept pressing her to describe her business in Toronto and Ottawa in more and more detail.

When she finally said she was going to speak about sharia, he fixed his eyes on her and intoned:

“We are NOT to question sharia.”

Feel safe, everybody?

This guy is “guarding” your airport!"
-----------------------------------------------------------

Here is what happened April 9, 2009 when Darwish spoke at Purdue University.

"She has no right to speak", says the man.

Are You a "Phobe"?

2009-11-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

With the events at Ft Hood, I suspect we are going to be hearing a lot of talk about Islamophobia in the coming days and weeks. We may also be discussing other forms of phobias as they apply to people. There is a host of terms used to apply to these phobias; Islamophobia, homophobia, racist, anti-Semite, depending on whom you one hates or fears. The word phobia is itself open to different interpretation. It can be a fear or strong dislike of other people. It can also be described as unreasonable fear or dislike. I think we need to be careful in throwing these terms around. Let's look at some examples.

If you are non-black and are against affirmative action, that does not make you a racist. If you criticize folks like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, President Obama, the NAACP etc, that does not make you racist. To be sure, some people who fall into the above categories are racists, but you cannot throw out a blanket accusation.

Similarly, if you are non-Hispanic and are angry about illegal immigration, it might be for racial reasons, but to say that such a person is anti-Hispanic is hardly fair.

If you are against gay marriage, that does not make you a homophobe. Some anti-gay marriage folks are homophobic, but again, it is an unfair charge.

If you don't care for feminists, does that make you a sexist? Not necessarily.

If you are a critic of Israel, that does not make you an anti-Semite. Many critics of Israel are indeed anti-Semites, but it has more to do with why you are against Israel.

If you are a critic of the Vatican and its policies, it doesn't mean that you hate Catholics.

If you disagree with the Mormon religion, it doesn't mean that you hate Mormons and are thus a bigot.

If are non-white and hate white people, what do we call that? (We don't call it anything, do we?)

If you hate terrorism and are against the creeping Shariah in western society, it doesn't mean you hate Muslims as a people. If you find some tenets of Islam troubling, it doesn't mean you hate Muslims. But if you consider yourself an Islamophobe because you fear terror, violence and shariah, the question must be asked-is it unreasonable fear given all that is happening today?

In each of the above categories, a certain percentage of the people we are mentioning are indeed bigoted, and their motivation is hatred toward the people of the targeted group. But that does not justify throwing out blanket charges of phobia or racism.

I am sure that certain readers of this blog probably think I am guilty of most of the above charges. One of my regular co-respondents has stated flat out that I am a homophobe in his view. Another implied I was a racist, at which point I shut him down on this blog. For me, once the R word comes out, the discussion is over.

You see, the use of these terms is usually designed to shut down the debate and put the target on the defensive. It all becomes a matter of political correctness, and at that point, reasoned and opened debate is impossible. (I confess, I have accused a lot of people lately of being anti-Semitic. In those cases, I feel the person's documented words have made it an obvious conclusion-not just that they criticized Israel.)

In the case of Islamophobia, let's admit that it does exist in America and is probably increasing. It is not because Americans hate Muslims individually as a people-though many have drawn their final conclusions about Islam. We are going to have to face it squarely, discuss it openly with our Muslim fellow-citizens and let them know what we expect from them as Americans in this crisis we face-and it is a crisis. In the meantime, there must be no acts of retribution, violence or harassment against innocent people in the face of this latest incident at Ft Hood. It also means that people like me are going to have to measure their words carefully in order not to contribute to anything we would later regret. I am still trying to formulate my final response to Ft Hood and what it means.

But at my age and stage of life, I have reached the point where I can accept the labels that come from my opponents on the left. I know myself, what I am and what I am not. We need to ignore the charges from the left and keep getting our point of view out.

MSNBC Take on Ft Hood-PTSS

2009-11-06T09:03:00.001-08:00

Nidal Malik Hasan

I am still awaiting further details on the Ft Hood shooting before I vent my spleen on this. Maybe I need to calm down a little too. I must say that I am concerned about senseless acts of retribution that may be carried out against innocent people in this country, and I pray that does not happen. Last night, I watched all three cable news networks to see how they were treating this incident. As usual, MSNBC dragged up the rear.

CNN and Fox did what they had to do; report the news as it came in. Of course, everybody was for hours under the erroneous impression that the shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan had been killed. That was not corrected until the news conference held at Ft Hood. It was also unavoidable to report that Hasan, a Muslim psychiatrist under orders to go to Iraq, was angry about his orders and had made statements to his fellow soldiers about Muslims rising up against the "aggressor" (US Military). It quickly became clear from eye-witness accounts that Hasan was angry about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN also obtained copies of Hasan's writings from a website referring to suicide bombings. Now it is reported that Hasan was yelling, "Allahu Akbar" as he went on his rampage.

Yet, MSNBC, at least Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, refused to report what appears to be the all-important motive; that Hasan's religious feelings had a role to play in his action. Both refused to even mention the fact that Hasan was a Muslim. Olbermann wanted to know how an Army psychiatrist, trained to help soldiers in combat, could fall victim to the same problem. Incredibly, Maddow interviewed two writers from Salon and Rolling Stone (or was it Village Voice?), who discussed the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The latter writer described the recent spate of murders in and around Ft Carson, Colorado by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Maddow wanted to know if there were any parallels between Ft Hood and Ft Carson!!

Actually, Rachel, the answer is no. Hasan was clearly not suffering from PTSS since he had not been to either theater-unless you want to call it "Pre-Traumatic Stress Syndrome").

If we give MSNBC the benefit of the doubt and take the position that they were trying to head off angry reactions toward American Muslims, that has merit. However, as a news organization, how long do they think they can keep the lid on that issue of motive?

Like it or not, America has suffered a major tragedy, and wherever the truth leads, the motive for this act cannot be covered up.

President Obama's Comments on the Ft Hood Shooting

2009-11-05T20:45:00.001-08:00

Olbermann Again Insults Protesters

2009-11-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight MSNBC had two topics to discuss, the Republican-led protest in front of Congress and the Ft Hood shooting. It was clear they had an agenda or thesis to push on both issues. I will speak about how the mad-hatters at MSNBC handled the Ft Hood affair sometime in the near future when we know more actual facts. Suffice to say that their handling of the event was a joke. I will comment now on their handling of the Capitol protest.

Of course, I am referring to Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. Olbermann, as is his wont, had his parade of liberals like Clarence Page and Eugene Robinson, who came on air to agree with everything Keith said. Olbermann, of course, mocked and condemned the folks who showed up, numbered them at 4,000-as opposed to Fox's estimate of 20,000- and pointed out that they were overwhelmingly white.

In other words, it was a racist protest-and Olbermann called it that.

"Terrifying" was the word he used to describe it.

He also brought up his canard that the folks who turn up at these events are angry (white), ignorant racists. His main prop was an admittedly tasteless poster showing dead bodies at Dachau with a reference to Obamacare. Michelle Bachmann, according to Keith, was inciting a violent revolution by her words likening the turnout to a "revolution".

Olbermann makes no effort to hide his utter contempt for average folks (especially if they are white) who object to the idea of government health care. To him, these folks are just ignorant, white racist rubes, who should get out of the way and allow the socialist takeover of America to proceed. He spouts nothing but venom and never-never dares to have on a guest who might speak for those people or disagree with his views.

How in the world can the suits in the NBC tower allow their network to become a place where their commentators denigrate a major part of the population as they do?

I would ask Olbermann if he found the protest so "terrifying", how many incidents of violence were there? Were windows broken or bottles thrown at police? Did the cops have to wade in and break up the event with billy clubs? Were people physically threatened? Were bystanders beaten up on the streets along the way to the capitol?

Of course not. They never are. All through this summer of discontent, I am not aware of one incident of violence except a handful that were initiated by pro-government health care goons like SEIU members. Yet boobs like Olbermann, Maddow and Robinson talk as if the great unwashed masses are storming the palace gates and marching liberals and Democrats off to the guillotines.

I am beginning to understand why ESPN got rid of Olbermann. He probably wanted to change the ball scores to his own liking.

"Tonight, the Cubs clinched the National League pennant, folks."

The Ft Hood Shooting

2009-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

As details are still coming in, I think it is prudent to withhold any comment on the Ft Hood shooting at this time. (The shooter has been identified as a Muslim major and Army psychiatrist.) I think it is also fair-since I have recently written on comments on recent events by CAIR and the Islamic Society of North America- that I post their initial statements on the incident.

CAIR

“We condemn this cowardly attack in the strongest terms possible and ask that the perpetrators be punished to the full extent of the law. No religious or political ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence. The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted the all-volunteer army that protects our nation. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens in offering both prayers for the victims and sincere condolences to the families of those killed or injured.”

Islamic Society of North America

(Washington, DC, Nov. 5, 2009) "The Islamic Society of North America condemns in the strongest terms the attack on soldiers at Fort Hood, resulting in the murder of at least a dozen soldiers and the wounding of many others. We express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

Although many details of the shooting are unknown at this time, it appears that the attack was led by a career soldier, Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The soldier who led this attack was either mentally unstable, or was motivated by a perverted ideology for which there can be no justification.

ISNA is proud of the many Muslim men and women who serve loyally in the United States military. We are grateful for the sacrifices made by all US soldiers, who represent the religious, racial and ethnic diversity of America, to defend the Constitution and our national security. ISNA, a faith endorser of US Muslim military chaplains, is proud of the service they provide, offering comfort and support to people of all faiths and beliefs. Just today, ISNA's chaplain endorser, Dr. Louay Safi, conducted a workshop at the US army base in Fort Bliss, Texas.

ISNA will be holding a press conference with national Muslim leaders to address this incident tomorrow morning. Time and location will be announced later tonight"
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For right now, I just want to offer my prayers for the victims and their families.

"Mr Goldstone, Why Did You Ignore My Story"

2009-11-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

Tip of the hat to UN Watch

Above is the recent testimony of an Israeli lady, Dr Mirela Siderer, who was injured in a rocket attack from Gaza into Southern Israel. It occurred at the UN on September 29, 2009, and her comments were directed to Richard Goldstone, author of the Goldstone Report which is a one-sided report on the fighting in Gaza-laying virtually all of the blame on Israel.