Saturday, April 16, 2011
Breitbart to Trumka/Obama Leftist Agitators in Madison: ‘Go To Hell!’ (VIDEO)
Andrew Breitbart rallied thousands of Tea Party protesters in Wisconsin today introducing Sarah Palin in the cold April weather. “We are witnessing the end of community organizing," he told the rally, "the silent majority won.”
IRS paid $513M in undeserved homebuyer tax credits
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Internal Revenue Service has paid out more than a half-billion dollars in homebuyer tax credits to people who probably didn't qualify, a government investigator said Friday.
Most of the money -- about $326 million -- went to more than 47,000 taxpayers who didn't qualify as first-time homebuyers because there was evidence they had already owned homes, said the report by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. Other credits went to prison inmates, taxpayers who bought homes before the credit was enacted and people who did not actually buy homes.
"The IRS has taken positive steps to strengthen controls and help prevent the issuance of inappropriate homebuyer credits," George said. "However, many of the actions....... (More on where your $$$ went)
Most of the money -- about $326 million -- went to more than 47,000 taxpayers who didn't qualify as first-time homebuyers because there was evidence they had already owned homes, said the report by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. Other credits went to prison inmates, taxpayers who bought homes before the credit was enacted and people who did not actually buy homes.
"The IRS has taken positive steps to strengthen controls and help prevent the issuance of inappropriate homebuyer credits," George said. "However, many of the actions....... (More on where your $$$ went)
"Made In America" Is Made In Honduras
So, I'm at Sears at the Westshore Mall here in Tampa, Florida and this shirt was pointed out to me by my sister. It's a small child sized shirt that as you can see says "Made in America" with the flag on the shirt. Nothing new here really. You see this product all the time. Except the label on the collar tells a different story. The picture below shows "Made In Honduras".Yup, that "Made In America" shirt being sold for American children with a mind of instilling some pride is in fact made in Honduras. I don't know the working conditions in Honduras, but I'm sure it's not as much as the $5.00 price tag to buy it at Sears.
Obama: White House needs ‘cool phones and stuff’
Kids will be kids....
President Obama loves the employees at the White House — but he’s not so crazy about the phones.
“I always thought I was gonna have, like, really cool phones and stuff,” Obama said Thursday in Chicago. “We can’t get our phones to work.”
Employing an exasperated tone of voice, Obama said: “Come on, guys. I’m the president of the United States! Where’s the fancy buttons and stuff and the big screen comes up? It doesn’t happen.” Government information technology, he complained, is “horrible.”
The comments came during what Obama thought was a private session with donors. He didn’t realize his mike was live and his comments were being broadcast back to the White House press room. GOD HELP US ALL!
President Obama loves the employees at the White House — but he’s not so crazy about the phones.
“I always thought I was gonna have, like, really cool phones and stuff,” Obama said Thursday in Chicago. “We can’t get our phones to work.”
Employing an exasperated tone of voice, Obama said: “Come on, guys. I’m the president of the United States! Where’s the fancy buttons and stuff and the big screen comes up? It doesn’t happen.” Government information technology, he complained, is “horrible.”
The comments came during what Obama thought was a private session with donors. He didn’t realize his mike was live and his comments were being broadcast back to the White House press room. GOD HELP US ALL!
Remembering One Passover Massacre, Living Another
If a claim of child abuse was made in London or New York, social works and forensic psychologists would be dispatched in hours to protect the child......
France: Waving A Foreign Flag May Soon Be Illegal
Fresh on the heels of the Burka ban, the French Parliament is considering a bill that would ban the display of any foreign flag. Connexion France reports:
“WAVING or displaying foreign flags in France could become an offence if an amendment is passed by MPs. (more on socialism vs muslism)
“WAVING or displaying foreign flags in France could become an offence if an amendment is passed by MPs. (more on socialism vs muslism)
Perverted Muslim Slave Owners may use "Honor Killing": clause against Runaway
Police warn Illinois girl who ran away to avoid arranged marriage could become victim of honour killing.
Police have warned that a missing 16-year-old girl from Illinois who ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage could become the victim of an ‘honour killing’.
Zaineb Chaudhary has not been seen since March 11 when she attended classes at school in Skokie, Illinois.
According to police, Zaineb’s father had visited his native Pakistan in October to arrange a marriage for his daughter. (More about these twisted perverts)
Police have warned that a missing 16-year-old girl from Illinois who ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage could become the victim of an ‘honour killing’.
Zaineb Chaudhary has not been seen since March 11 when she attended classes at school in Skokie, Illinois.
According to police, Zaineb’s father had visited his native Pakistan in October to arrange a marriage for his daughter. (More about these twisted perverts)
The Horse and The Mule
I asked the teacher how many hours a week the state should require her to work for free and she had a fit. "I work enough hours, nobody has any right to demand I work for free!" But, she was certainly in tune with the idea that other professionals should, for her benefit. Since when did civilized people believe that other people owed them their skills, their time, their efforts, without compensation? (Oh there's more!)
Obama Hosts Boss of Terror Channel Al-Jazeera
President Obama on Thursday hosted Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar, otherwise known as the Boss of Al-Jazeera, for a meeting in the Oval Office. Obama called him “Your Highness” and “His Highness,”.....
(The nausea continues at link)
(The nausea continues at link)
"I Wipe My Ass With the American Flag"
Socialists were out in full force to counter the peaceful patriotic Tax Day Protest in Pioneer Courthouse Square. YOUTUBE VIDEO at link
Obama to Congress: You WILL Increase Debt Limit
...and Obama said in his most forceful terms yet that he had the economic record to win re-election after he had “been able to yank this economy” out of recession.
(Aesop's Fable continues at link)
(Aesop's Fable continues at link)
"Religion of Peace" suicide bomber assassinates Kandahar police chief
A Taliban suicide bomber assassinated Kandahar's chief of police in an attack at a headquarters in the provincial capital earlier today .
A suicide bomber dressed as a policeman penetrated security at a heavily guarded headquarters and entered the office of Brigadier General Khan Mohammad Mujahid. The suicide bomber then detonated his vest, killing Mujahid and critically wounding two other police officers, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.
Khan is the latest senior Afghan official in Kandahar to have....
(continued)
A suicide bomber dressed as a policeman penetrated security at a heavily guarded headquarters and entered the office of Brigadier General Khan Mohammad Mujahid. The suicide bomber then detonated his vest, killing Mujahid and critically wounding two other police officers, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.
Khan is the latest senior Afghan official in Kandahar to have....
(continued)
Palin To Obama: "You Bow And Kowtow To Our Enemies And Snub Our Allies"
"Well, Mr. President we're never going to get used to it. Not now. Never. You ignored us in 2012, but you can not ignore us in 2012!," fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) said a Tea Party rally on Saturday.
"Mr. Obama, Mr. President, you ignore it when you apologize for America while you bow and kowtow to our enemies and snub our allies like Israel. (Complete spanking at link)
"Mr. Obama, Mr. President, you ignore it when you apologize for America while you bow and kowtow to our enemies and snub our allies like Israel. (Complete spanking at link)
Ethanol and Unicorns
Here is an ethanol story.....
Part one: "The farmer" (Complete article at link)
Part one: "The farmer" (Complete article at link)
Trump becomes the 'new Sarah Palin'
Here are the secrets to Trump’s success. For one, he is the new Sarah Palin. Whereas once the broadcast media couldn’t stop talking about the former Alaska governor — even if only to criticize her — it now gives that around-the-clock attention to Trump.
(continued)
(continued)
Islamists arrested after bloody clashes
More than 90 people, most of them policemen, were hurt Friday when Islamist Salafist demonstrators armed with swords, daggers and clubs attacked police in Zarqa during protests.
"Fifty-one policemen, including senior officers, were stabbed with knives, beaten with bats or hit with sharp tools," Lieutenant General Hussein Majali said after Friday's violence.
He said 32 other policemen were treated for tear gas inhalation while eight civilians were also hurt "when police fired tear gas and tried to stop Islamist Salafist demonstrators from attacking shoppers in Zarqa." (MORE)
"Fifty-one policemen, including senior officers, were stabbed with knives, beaten with bats or hit with sharp tools," Lieutenant General Hussein Majali said after Friday's violence.
He said 32 other policemen were treated for tear gas inhalation while eight civilians were also hurt "when police fired tear gas and tried to stop Islamist Salafist demonstrators from attacking shoppers in Zarqa." (MORE)
Three arrested during Phoenix 'tea party' rally
Authorities say three people were arrested during a "tea party" rally, including a man allegedly intimidating people at the event. The Department of Public Safety says 39-year-old Timothy R. Coomer was detained for trespassing on the Senate lawn Friday evening. Officer Bob Bailey says that Coomer was allegedly bothering people in the front row of the rally held on the Senate and House lawns.
Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education
Save big money and improve education at the same time!
Cosmetic budget cuts will not solve our nation's debt woes. Real change is required to right our county. Waste must be identified, isolated, and eliminated.
One such change is to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.
The Department of Education was established to promote "student achievement and prepare them for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and insuring equal access."
Since 1979 when the Department of Education was created and with the passage of laws regulating education, such as the No Child Left Behind, the result has been an education system...... Continued
Cosmetic budget cuts will not solve our nation's debt woes. Real change is required to right our county. Waste must be identified, isolated, and eliminated.
One such change is to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.
The Department of Education was established to promote "student achievement and prepare them for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and insuring equal access."
Since 1979 when the Department of Education was created and with the passage of laws regulating education, such as the No Child Left Behind, the result has been an education system...... Continued
NATO starting to run out of bombs
That means the United States, which turned over bombing runs to NATO at the beginning of April, will probably have to resume them to keep the effort going if Moammar Gadhafi remains in power, The Washington Post reported.
MORE
MORE
"The University of Texas Investment Management Co., took delivery of almost $1 billion in gold bullion
The decision to turn the fund’s investment into gold bars was influenced by Kyle Bass, a Dallas hedge fund manager and member of the endowment’s board, Zimmerman said at its annual meeting on April 14. Bass made $500 million on the U.S. subprime-mortgage collapse.
“Central banks are printing more money than they ever have, so what’s the value of money in terms of purchases of goods and services,” Bass said yesterday in a telephone interview. “I look at gold as just another currency that they can’t print any more of.” (READ ON)
“Central banks are printing more money than they ever have, so what’s the value of money in terms of purchases of goods and services,” Bass said yesterday in a telephone interview. “I look at gold as just another currency that they can’t print any more of.” (READ ON)
On This We Stand
Given a forthright chronicle of man's history, both ancient and modern, we must somberly recognize that human liberty has been the exception, and not the norm. Often, governments have ruled over the people by fear, and nations have lived under tyranny. Today, millions of people still live under cruel regimes which deny them their basic natural rights. (Read More)
Indonesia: One Dead, 29 Wounded in Suicide Bombing to Protest Zionist Occupation of Java
CIREBON, Indonesia, April 15 (Xinhua) -- The suicide bombing in a mosque at a police station in West Java province killed the alleged bomber and injured 29 people, police said Friday.
Six of the wounded were in serious conditions, including the Cirebon district police chief, provincial police chief Suparni Parto told reporters here. "Let us work so that we can uncover this case quickly, give us time," Parto said.
National Police chief Timor Pradopo said security at.. (Continue reading)
Six of the wounded were in serious conditions, including the Cirebon district police chief, provincial police chief Suparni Parto told reporters here. "Let us work so that we can uncover this case quickly, give us time," Parto said.
National Police chief Timor Pradopo said security at.. (Continue reading)
"National Tell Congress To Impeach Obama Day"!
Today, April 15, 2011, is the day that thousands of Americans are contacting their Congressional Representatives to demand that they begin proceedings to impeach Obama for his multiple acts of treason and violations of his oath of office. Make your voice heard! Call, fax, email and/or snail mail TODAY! Even if you read this after business hours, you can still do it in the very near future, but today is the day of the big event to melt the lines and make them feel the heat! Only the House can move to impeach, so you need to call your congresscritter. Call Congress at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be put through to your Representative. You can also call Speaker Boehner at (202)225-6205.
Here is the Facebook event page about today's movement....... (More at link)
Here is the Facebook event page about today's movement....... (More at link)
Why Congress Must Stop $105.5 Billion in Automatic Obamacare Spending
Unless the Republican-controlled House in this Congress can force President Obama to sign new legislation forbidding disbursal of this $105.5 billion, the administration will spend it to lay the basic foundations for a socialistic health care system in the United States. (Read more)
Arizona Muslim Who Honor Killed Daughter Gets 34½ Years
A Glendale man who fatally ran down his daughter and seriously injured a former family friend wept with regret on Friday, then was sentenced to more than three decades in prison.
Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki, found guilty in the killing of his 20-year-old daughter Noor, will serve 34 1/2 years. "This does not have to do with honor," Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Roland Steinle said. "This has to do with a man, his narcissism, his mean-spiritedness, his inability to forgive. He was driven to kill his daughter because it suited his purpose." MORE
Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki, found guilty in the killing of his 20-year-old daughter Noor, will serve 34 1/2 years. "This does not have to do with honor," Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Roland Steinle said. "This has to do with a man, his narcissism, his mean-spiritedness, his inability to forgive. He was driven to kill his daughter because it suited his purpose." MORE
Obama Announces Intent To Commit (Another) Impeachable Offense
And unlike those committed in regard to the illegal war in Libya, there is no way that anyone can make a case for the legitimacy of the Kenyan's son's actions.
In a statement issued Friday night, President Obama took issue with some provisions in the budget bill – and in one case simply says he will not abide by it.
Last week the White House and congressional Democrats and Republicans were involved in intense negotiations over not only the size of the budget for the remainder of the FY2011 budget, and spending cuts within that budget, but also several GOP “riders,” or policy provisions attached to the bill.
One rider – Section 2262 -- de-funds certain White House adviser positions – or “czars.” The president in his signing statement declares that he will not abide by it.
“The President has well-established authority to supervise and oversee the executive branch, and to obtain advice in furtherance of this supervisory authority,” he wrote. “The President also has the prerogative to obtain advice that will assist him in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities, and do so not only from executive branch officials and employees outside the White House, but also from advisers within it. Legislative efforts that significantly impede the President's ability to exercise his supervisory and coordinating authorities or to obtain the views of the appropriate senior advisers violate the separation of powers by undermining the President's ability to exercise his constitutional responsibilities and take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
Therefore, the president wrote, “the executive branch will construe section 2262 not to abrogate these Presidential prerogatives.” (More at link)
In a statement issued Friday night, President Obama took issue with some provisions in the budget bill – and in one case simply says he will not abide by it.
Last week the White House and congressional Democrats and Republicans were involved in intense negotiations over not only the size of the budget for the remainder of the FY2011 budget, and spending cuts within that budget, but also several GOP “riders,” or policy provisions attached to the bill.
One rider – Section 2262 -- de-funds certain White House adviser positions – or “czars.” The president in his signing statement declares that he will not abide by it.
“The President has well-established authority to supervise and oversee the executive branch, and to obtain advice in furtherance of this supervisory authority,” he wrote. “The President also has the prerogative to obtain advice that will assist him in carrying out his constitutional responsibilities, and do so not only from executive branch officials and employees outside the White House, but also from advisers within it. Legislative efforts that significantly impede the President's ability to exercise his supervisory and coordinating authorities or to obtain the views of the appropriate senior advisers violate the separation of powers by undermining the President's ability to exercise his constitutional responsibilities and take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
Therefore, the president wrote, “the executive branch will construe section 2262 not to abrogate these Presidential prerogatives.” (More at link)
EPA Admits It Doesn’t Care About Jobs
The Environmental Protection Agency, which boasts 18,000 full-time employees, a $10 billion budget, and has the power to impose economy-crippling regulations on the American way of life, has admitted a dangerous truth: to them, jobs just don’t matter.
In a hearing Thursday before the House Environment and Economy Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Co) questioned EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus on the Agency’s economic analyses related to legislation. Specifically, Rep. Gardner asked whether the EPA considers the effect its regulations have on jobs. His answer: nope, it does not directly examine regulations’ impacts on jobs. You... (CONTINUED)
In a hearing Thursday before the House Environment and Economy Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Co) questioned EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus on the Agency’s economic analyses related to legislation. Specifically, Rep. Gardner asked whether the EPA considers the effect its regulations have on jobs. His answer: nope, it does not directly examine regulations’ impacts on jobs. You... (CONTINUED)
Goodbye, AmeriCorps. Hello, FoodStampCorps.
So much for the new era of fiscal responsibility. The federal government’s dependency drones have been spared the chopping block. After vowing to eliminate funding for President Obama’s bloated $6 billion AmeriCorps social justice army, House Republicans retreated — and will shrink the AmeriCorps budget by a minuscule 6.7 percent.
Politicians originally sold AmeriCorps as an alternative to big government — a program to “renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community throughout the United States.” With bipartisan support, the program has morphed into an all-purpose progressive slush fund. Instead of reining in the national service boondoggle, Washington has turned taxpayer-subsidized helping hands into a legion of Nanny State handout helpers. Goodbye, AmeriCorps. Hello, FoodStampCorps.
Yes, across the Internet, the feds are recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA (“Volunteers in Service to America”) workers to apply for jobs as publicists for the welfare state. Their mission: to sign up as many people to federal food stamp rolls as possible. Because, you know, the record-breaking 12 million that have been added since Obama (MORE)
Politicians originally sold AmeriCorps as an alternative to big government — a program to “renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community throughout the United States.” With bipartisan support, the program has morphed into an all-purpose progressive slush fund. Instead of reining in the national service boondoggle, Washington has turned taxpayer-subsidized helping hands into a legion of Nanny State handout helpers. Goodbye, AmeriCorps. Hello, FoodStampCorps.
Yes, across the Internet, the feds are recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA (“Volunteers in Service to America”) workers to apply for jobs as publicists for the welfare state. Their mission: to sign up as many people to federal food stamp rolls as possible. Because, you know, the record-breaking 12 million that have been added since Obama (MORE)
The Toxic Influence of Progressive Education Schools on K-12 Curricula
In the 1960s, America's education schools began conditioning teachers to peddle impossible social and economic theories to captive human sponges in K-12 classrooms. Since then, teachers taken in by progressive indoctrination have been planting fallacies in students' minds using a pernicious device: the "deconstruction" of reality.
Deconstruction aims to disassemble traditional Western culture and replace that culture with a collectivist utopia operated under rules set by the deconstructors. Between Inauguration Day 2009 and the January 2011 GOP House takeover, a congressional wrecking crew led by President Barack Obama did an amazing amount.... (Continued)
Deconstruction aims to disassemble traditional Western culture and replace that culture with a collectivist utopia operated under rules set by the deconstructors. Between Inauguration Day 2009 and the January 2011 GOP House takeover, a congressional wrecking crew led by President Barack Obama did an amazing amount.... (Continued)
Major Democrat signs on plans to repeal ‘Real Death Panel’
Republicans have new a Democratic ally in their attempts to repeal a part of Obamacare as a new, higher-profile member from the other side of the aisle signed onto a bill to eliminate a board that would set Medicare reimbursement rates.
Rep. Allyson Schwartz, Pennsylvania Democrat and vice-chair of the New Democrat Coalition, has asked her colleagues to support legislation that would repeal Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). MORE
Rep. Allyson Schwartz, Pennsylvania Democrat and vice-chair of the New Democrat Coalition, has asked her colleagues to support legislation that would repeal Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). MORE
Elections have consequences, but, apparently only when His Royal Majesty Barack H. Obama is elected
In a statement issued Friday night, President Obama took issue with some provisions in the budget bill – and in one case simply says he will not abide by it.... MORE
The regressiveness of the Progressives is coming home to roost.
The poor aren’t buying Obama’s class warfare. Obama’s support among the poorest Americans has dropped to an all time low, according to the latest Gallup poll. This, from CNS News:
Each week, Gallup publishes the president’s average approval rating for the previous week among four income brackets: those who earn $2,000 per month or less, those who earn between $2,000 and $4,999 per month, those who earn between $5,000 and $7,499 per month, and those who earn $7,500 per month or more..... (Continued)
Each week, Gallup publishes the president’s average approval rating for the previous week among four income brackets: those who earn $2,000 per month or less, those who earn between $2,000 and $4,999 per month, those who earn between $5,000 and $7,499 per month, and those who earn $7,500 per month or more..... (Continued)
DHS to Monitor More of the Internet
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
- “Eye In The Sky” – Alan Parsons Project
DHS activities will include (but will not be limited to):
• overseeing the government-wide and agency-specific implementation of and reporting on cybersecurity policies and guidance;
• overseeing and assisting government-wide and agency-specific efforts to provide adequate, risk-based and cost-effective cybersecurity;
• overseeing the agencies’ compliance with FISMA and developing analyses for OMB to assist in the development of the FISMA annual report;
• overseeing the agencies’ cybersecurity operations and incident response and providing appropriate assistance; and
• annually reviewing the agencies’ cybersecurity programs. (Continued)
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
- “Eye In The Sky” – Alan Parsons Project
DHS activities will include (but will not be limited to):
• overseeing the government-wide and agency-specific implementation of and reporting on cybersecurity policies and guidance;
• overseeing and assisting government-wide and agency-specific efforts to provide adequate, risk-based and cost-effective cybersecurity;
• overseeing the agencies’ compliance with FISMA and developing analyses for OMB to assist in the development of the FISMA annual report;
• overseeing the agencies’ cybersecurity operations and incident response and providing appropriate assistance; and
• annually reviewing the agencies’ cybersecurity programs. (Continued)
Prosser WINS !
Simply put: Kloppenburg can waste Wisconsin’s money, if her Democratic/Big Labor bosses wish it, but it won’t make a difference anyway. (MORE)
How a professional auctioneer would auction off our debt.
VIDEO: Rep. Billy Long of Missouri is a former auctioneer. So he can call out the debt MORE
Obama’s Stupid Car Tricks
Fiat just earned 5 percent more ownership in Chrysler for creating a product no one has bought yet.
Payment for non-performance. If you suspect this is government’s benchmark for success, you’d be right. More precisely, this is how the Obama administration measures success. CONTINUED
Payment for non-performance. If you suspect this is government’s benchmark for success, you’d be right. More precisely, this is how the Obama administration measures success. CONTINUED
White House Legislation for DHS Control of all .gov Domains (and as always, more)
Under a White House plan, the Homeland Security Department will have far-reaching oversight over all civilian agency computer networks.
The proposal would codify much of the administration’s memo from July 2010 expanding DHS’s cyber responsibilities for civilian networks.
The White House, however, is taking those responsibilities further, according to a source familiar with the document. The administration drafted a legislative proposal to give DHS many, if not all, of the same authorities for the .gov networks that the Defense Department has for the .mil networks..... MORE
The proposal would codify much of the administration’s memo from July 2010 expanding DHS’s cyber responsibilities for civilian networks.
The White House, however, is taking those responsibilities further, according to a source familiar with the document. The administration drafted a legislative proposal to give DHS many, if not all, of the same authorities for the .gov networks that the Defense Department has for the .mil networks..... MORE
Shared Prosperity
Obama plans to raise taxes on the wealthy by a trillion dollars to make up for irresponsible spending..... MORE
“The President Should Start Focusing on the Facts and Stop Worrying About Beating People Up”
Governor Scott Walker (R-WI): “When it comes to the president, he stuck his nose in our battle over our budget deficit when obviously there’s a much larger crisis at the federal level. I point out the second time he stuck his nose in our debate that obviously the president must know that federal employees other than postal workers do not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits and they pay twice as much for their health insurance than what I am asking for state and local employees. The president should focus on the facts and stop worrying about beating people up. If you want to bring people together, put out a plan that has courage out there. You don’t have do offer the same plan as Paul Ryan but at least come out there and defend your plan instead of attacking others.” MORE
Ryan's '12 Budget Passes
But the vote on the measure — which imposes $5.8 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade — came after a clear sign that at least half of the Republican Caucus supports even tougher spending cuts.
Valpo sixth-grader handcuffed over spilled milk
VALPARAISO — A 12-year-old faces two counts of resisting law enforcement for his alleged actions when he refused to clean up spilled milk in the Ben Franklin Middle School cafeteria..... (Continued)
Hybrid Car May Have Sparked Garage Blaze
Officials said they can't rule out that the couple's brand new Chevy Volt hybrid had something to do with the blaze..... MORE
American Idol Contestant Brutally Beaten
17-year-old Shacara McLaurin was brutally attacked by at least five other students on April 1st, one of them hitting her in the face with a padlock wrapped in a sock.....
MORE
MORE
AWAKENING!!! Studies show sleep breaks make nighttime workers more alert
"There should be sanctioned on-shift napping. That's the way to handle night shift work," said Gregory Belenky, a sleep expert at Washington State University in Spokane. MORE
Obama Job Approval Rating down to 35% among Independents
Job Approval at 41%, But Declining Approval Most Apparent Among Independents... (MORE)
GAS $2.80 A GALLON -- IN MEXICO
Why is gasoline so much cheaper across the Rio Grande? Two main reasons. First of all, Petroleos Mexicanos, the state-owned oil company, controls prices with the assistance of the Mexican government, which is not keen to see the price of gasoline go up too high for fear of public unrest. Also, Mexican environmental laws are not as strict as laws in the U.S., and gasoline sold in Mexico is not required to have many of the special blends designed to hold down air pollution, which jack up U.S. prices.
Three largest online poker sites shut down by FBI
The founders of the three largest online poker sites were indicted on Friday in what could serve as a death blow to a thriving industry.....
Friday, April 15, 2011
Iran Building 'Anti-terror' Fence on Pakistan Border
Moscow, April 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Iran is building a fence on its border with Pakistan to keep out terrorists, Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi has said.
The barrier is being built on "impenetrable mountainous terrain" in southeastern Iran to "prevent villains from crossing into the Islamic Republic", IRNA news agency quoted him as saying Thursday.
Members of the Iranian insurgent group Jundullah, which is based in Pakistan's Balochistan province, have reportedly been crossing into Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province to carry out terrorist attacks.
Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested by Iranian authorities in February 2010 and executed in June.
The barrier is being built on "impenetrable mountainous terrain" in southeastern Iran to "prevent villains from crossing into the Islamic Republic", IRNA news agency quoted him as saying Thursday.
Members of the Iranian insurgent group Jundullah, which is based in Pakistan's Balochistan province, have reportedly been crossing into Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province to carry out terrorist attacks.
Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested by Iranian authorities in February 2010 and executed in June.
Ten hour siege, a SWAT team... and a TANK: How police dealt with mother
Ten hour siege, a SWAT team... and a TANK: How police dealt with mother who refused to give her child medication!
A mother was involved in a ten-hour stand-off with a police SWAT team after refusing to give her child some medication.
Maryanne Godboldo, from Detroit, was accused of medically neglecting her 13-year-old daughter Ariana by not administering her with an anti-psychotic drug.
Staff from the Child Protective Services, accompanied by police, turned up at Godboldo's home to take her child into state care.
A SWAT team then descended on the 56-year-old woman's house with a tank and automatic rifles after she was accused of firing a gun at police officers.
After a ten-hour stand-off, which resulted in the mother giving herself up, Ariana was taken into protective custody.
The girl had been home-schooled by her mother but wanted to start going to a regular school, which required her to take a number of immunisations, reports Prisonplanet.com.
The girl then suffered adverse reactions to these shots and her mother was told to put her on a prescribed pyschotropic drug.
'She began acting out of character, being irritated, having facial grimaces that have been associated with immunisations,' the child's aunt, Penny Godboldo, told the Detroit News.
The mother at first took the advice of doctors and gave Ariana the medication, Risperdal, but stopped after she said it was making her daughter's condition worse.
Risperdal is an anti-psychotic medication which works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.
It is used to treat, among other things, schizophrenia, as well as the symptoms of bipolar disorder and autism.
'Child Protective Services was trying to force her child to take a dangerous medication, Risperdal, against her will,' said the Godboldo family lawyer.
Maryanne Godboldo is now facing criminal charges including firing a weapon in her house and resisting a police officer.
Her bail has been set at $500,000.
'We're hoping that Ariana is returned home, this whole matter is released, because we don't think that the mother has done anything at all,' attorney Wanda Evans told My FOX Detroit.
Ariana remains in protective custody, at the Hawthorne Center in Northville.
Officials have said they have not medicated the girl since she has been in their care.
A mother was involved in a ten-hour stand-off with a police SWAT team after refusing to give her child some medication.
Maryanne Godboldo, from Detroit, was accused of medically neglecting her 13-year-old daughter Ariana by not administering her with an anti-psychotic drug.
Staff from the Child Protective Services, accompanied by police, turned up at Godboldo's home to take her child into state care.
A SWAT team then descended on the 56-year-old woman's house with a tank and automatic rifles after she was accused of firing a gun at police officers.
After a ten-hour stand-off, which resulted in the mother giving herself up, Ariana was taken into protective custody.
The girl had been home-schooled by her mother but wanted to start going to a regular school, which required her to take a number of immunisations, reports Prisonplanet.com.
The girl then suffered adverse reactions to these shots and her mother was told to put her on a prescribed pyschotropic drug.
'She began acting out of character, being irritated, having facial grimaces that have been associated with immunisations,' the child's aunt, Penny Godboldo, told the Detroit News.
The mother at first took the advice of doctors and gave Ariana the medication, Risperdal, but stopped after she said it was making her daughter's condition worse.
Risperdal is an anti-psychotic medication which works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.
It is used to treat, among other things, schizophrenia, as well as the symptoms of bipolar disorder and autism.
'Child Protective Services was trying to force her child to take a dangerous medication, Risperdal, against her will,' said the Godboldo family lawyer.
Maryanne Godboldo is now facing criminal charges including firing a weapon in her house and resisting a police officer.
Her bail has been set at $500,000.
'We're hoping that Ariana is returned home, this whole matter is released, because we don't think that the mother has done anything at all,' attorney Wanda Evans told My FOX Detroit.
Ariana remains in protective custody, at the Hawthorne Center in Northville.
Officials have said they have not medicated the girl since she has been in their care.
Muslim TV exec gets 25 years to life for wife's beheading
(CNN) -- A former television executive was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Wednesday for the beheading death of his wife.
After an hour of deliberation, an upstate New York jury convicted Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan of second-degree murder last month after a three-week trial.
In imposing the sentence, Erie County Judge Thomas Franczyk also issued a protection order on behalf of Hassan's two children.
In February 2009, Hassan, who founded a TV network aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes, went to a police station in the Buffalo, New York, suburb of Orchard Park and told officers his wife was dead, police have said.
Aasiya Hassan had been decapitated and the long knife used by her husband had left marks on his office's tile floor, prosecutors said during opening statements.
2009: Woman beheaded in New York
Murder suspect a battered spouse?
The sentence was the maximum amount Franczyk could impose under state law, said Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita. He said the sentence was "a perfectly appropriate sentence under the circumstances and considering the violent nature of the crime and a lack of genuine remorse by the defendant."
The sentence basically means life, he said -- Hassan will not be "eligible to talk to the parole board" for 25 years. "The chances of him getting out before his sentence is completed is not going to happen," Sedita said.
Hassan gave his own closing arguments. Earlier in the trial, he had dismissed his attorney, Jeremy Schwartz, who by trial's end was acting as his legal adviser.
According to prosecutors, Aasiya Hassan had filed for divorce less than a week before she died.
On the day she died, she agreed to take some of her husband's clothes to his office after he had moved out of their home. He had told her he would not be there, prosecutors said.
"The defendant viciously killed ... and desecrated her (Aasiya's) body because six days earlier she had dared to file for divorce. Dared to seek a better life for herself and the children," Assistant District Attorney Paul Bonanno said in the prosecution's opening statement.
Schwartz, then his client's defense lawyer, said in his opening statement that the couple's marriage was a "sad and unhealthy relationship."
Aasiya Hassan threatened to embarrass his client and take away his children, Schwartz said.
"It ended with 'Mo' Hassan in fear of his very life," he told jurors. "Mo Hassan killed his wife, but he is not guilty of murder in the second degree."
During the trial, Michael and Sonia Hassan testified that their father had become violent in the past, CNN affiliate WIVB in Buffalo reported.
While both said the couple argued, neither recalled a case in which Aasiya -- their stepmother -- instigated a fight.
Police earlier said they had responded to several domestic violence calls at the couple's home, but no one had ever been arrested.
Hassan was the chief executive officer of the network Bridges TV, and Aasiya Hassan was the general manager.
He launched network -- billed as the first English-language cable channel targeting Muslims inside the United States -- in 2004. At the time, Hassan said he hoped the network would balance negative portrayals of Muslims following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Hassan fired three defense attorneys before the trial. Schwartz was the fourth to be dismissed.
CNN's Chris Kokenes contributed to this report.
After an hour of deliberation, an upstate New York jury convicted Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan of second-degree murder last month after a three-week trial.
In imposing the sentence, Erie County Judge Thomas Franczyk also issued a protection order on behalf of Hassan's two children.
In February 2009, Hassan, who founded a TV network aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes, went to a police station in the Buffalo, New York, suburb of Orchard Park and told officers his wife was dead, police have said.
Aasiya Hassan had been decapitated and the long knife used by her husband had left marks on his office's tile floor, prosecutors said during opening statements.
2009: Woman beheaded in New York
Murder suspect a battered spouse?
The sentence was the maximum amount Franczyk could impose under state law, said Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita. He said the sentence was "a perfectly appropriate sentence under the circumstances and considering the violent nature of the crime and a lack of genuine remorse by the defendant."
The sentence basically means life, he said -- Hassan will not be "eligible to talk to the parole board" for 25 years. "The chances of him getting out before his sentence is completed is not going to happen," Sedita said.
Hassan gave his own closing arguments. Earlier in the trial, he had dismissed his attorney, Jeremy Schwartz, who by trial's end was acting as his legal adviser.
According to prosecutors, Aasiya Hassan had filed for divorce less than a week before she died.
On the day she died, she agreed to take some of her husband's clothes to his office after he had moved out of their home. He had told her he would not be there, prosecutors said.
"The defendant viciously killed ... and desecrated her (Aasiya's) body because six days earlier she had dared to file for divorce. Dared to seek a better life for herself and the children," Assistant District Attorney Paul Bonanno said in the prosecution's opening statement.
Schwartz, then his client's defense lawyer, said in his opening statement that the couple's marriage was a "sad and unhealthy relationship."
Aasiya Hassan threatened to embarrass his client and take away his children, Schwartz said.
"It ended with 'Mo' Hassan in fear of his very life," he told jurors. "Mo Hassan killed his wife, but he is not guilty of murder in the second degree."
During the trial, Michael and Sonia Hassan testified that their father had become violent in the past, CNN affiliate WIVB in Buffalo reported.
While both said the couple argued, neither recalled a case in which Aasiya -- their stepmother -- instigated a fight.
Police earlier said they had responded to several domestic violence calls at the couple's home, but no one had ever been arrested.
Hassan was the chief executive officer of the network Bridges TV, and Aasiya Hassan was the general manager.
He launched network -- billed as the first English-language cable channel targeting Muslims inside the United States -- in 2004. At the time, Hassan said he hoped the network would balance negative portrayals of Muslims following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Hassan fired three defense attorneys before the trial. Schwartz was the fourth to be dismissed.
CNN's Chris Kokenes contributed to this report.
America, the Dependent
So much for the new era of fiscal responsibility. The federal government's dependency drones have been spared the chopping block. After vowing to eliminate funding for President Obama's bloated $6 billion AmeriCorps social justice army, House Republicans retreated -- and will shrink the AmeriCorps budget by a minuscule 6.7 percent.
Politicians originally sold AmeriCorps as an alternative to big government -- a program to "renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community throughout the United States." With bipartisan support, the program has morphed into an all-purpose progressive slush fund. Instead of reining in the national service boondoggle, Washington has turned taxpayer-subsidized helping hands into a legion of Nanny State handout helpers. Goodbye, AmeriCorps. Hello, FoodStampCorps.
Yes, across the Internet, the feds are recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA ("Volunteers in Service to America") workers to apply for jobs as publicists for the welfare state. Their mission: to sign up as many people to federal food stamp rolls as possible. Because, you know, the record-breaking 12 million that have been added since Obama took office is apparently not good enough.
Here's a typical job ad in Boston: "AMERICORPS VISTA: FOOD STAMP COORDINATOR (INTERNSHIP) Through this project, the Elderly Commission will be able to provide information, assistance and support to senior citizens of Boston in applying for food stamps. Develop a full knowledge of the Food Stamp program and application process. Assist seniors in senior housing and community centers to fill out Food Stamp applications; assist seniors with gathering necessary proofs together for applications; follow up with the Department of Transitional Assistance to ensure seniors receive awarded benefits. Recruit volunteers to be trained on the application of the Food Stamp program."
In New York, Philadelphia and a total of 30 sites across the country, AmeriCorps and the Department of Agriculture are funding the "National Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps" to "increase access to food stamps."
National Affairs managing editor Meghan Clyne reports that the administration is roping in left-wing churches to aggressively promote food stamps. With institutional support from first lady Michelle Obama, the FoodStampCorps will train church members to apply for food stamps after religious services; and "'encourage eligible families to enroll their children in (government-subsidized) school meal programs'; if organizations operate day-care or after-school programs, they are advised to pursue reimbursement for meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (a federally funded, state-administered welfare program). Places of worship are asked to serve as feeding sites for the Summer Food Service Program -- another federally funded, state-run welfare project."
With billions poured into the welfare state at the local, state and national levels and enrollment at an all-time high, why should taxpayers be underwriting make-work jobs for future Democratic flacks-in-training? Shouldn't it already be the job of the vast network of existing social services and welfare agencies to publicize and assist food-stamp applicants?
More troublesome: AmeriCorps workers are themselves being encouraged to sign up for food stamp benefits -- giving new meaning to "hands-on" (or rather, "hands-out") experience.
An AmeriCorps blogger provided a thorough advice manual on working the system: "Plenty of jobs come with perks," the worker wrote. "For some these come in the form of company cars, dental insurance, or a spending allowance. For VISTAs, it's food stamps." The step-by-step guide tells AmeriCorps workers: "If you apply for food stamps after you become an AmeriCorps VISTA member, you will have a decreased food stamp allotment. So if you're debating applying, you should do it now."
Another AmeriCorps tip for those preparing for their in-person eligibility interview with food stamp administrators: "These social service agencies are only open during regular business hours, so you will probably have to take the day off (some sites don't count it against your 20 vacation/sick days)." Oh, and don't forget to "bring a book." Says the wise AmeriCorps welfare-system expert: "While food stamps are handled by a different agency in every state, they all generally have a reputation that mirrors that of the DMV: too little staff, too high demand, and wait times that can border on extreme. While my own wait was only three hours, I've heard some VISTAs waiting as long as eight. Yes, I know you may have an appointment, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to see you at that time. So bring a book, an iPod, that screenplay you've been tinkering with -- whatever, because you're going to be waiting a while."
Make no mistake: Americans are suffering as a result of this profligate administration's job-stifling and anti-economic growth policies. No one questions the need for a basic safety net to care for those most in need of help. But the community-organizer-in-chief is squandering billions on failed Alinsky-ite rackets that are geared toward ever-expanding service not to the individual, but to the insatiable state.
Politicians originally sold AmeriCorps as an alternative to big government -- a program to "renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community throughout the United States." With bipartisan support, the program has morphed into an all-purpose progressive slush fund. Instead of reining in the national service boondoggle, Washington has turned taxpayer-subsidized helping hands into a legion of Nanny State handout helpers. Goodbye, AmeriCorps. Hello, FoodStampCorps.
Yes, across the Internet, the feds are recruiting AmeriCorps VISTA ("Volunteers in Service to America") workers to apply for jobs as publicists for the welfare state. Their mission: to sign up as many people to federal food stamp rolls as possible. Because, you know, the record-breaking 12 million that have been added since Obama took office is apparently not good enough.
Here's a typical job ad in Boston: "AMERICORPS VISTA: FOOD STAMP COORDINATOR (INTERNSHIP) Through this project, the Elderly Commission will be able to provide information, assistance and support to senior citizens of Boston in applying for food stamps. Develop a full knowledge of the Food Stamp program and application process. Assist seniors in senior housing and community centers to fill out Food Stamp applications; assist seniors with gathering necessary proofs together for applications; follow up with the Department of Transitional Assistance to ensure seniors receive awarded benefits. Recruit volunteers to be trained on the application of the Food Stamp program."
In New York, Philadelphia and a total of 30 sites across the country, AmeriCorps and the Department of Agriculture are funding the "National Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps" to "increase access to food stamps."
National Affairs managing editor Meghan Clyne reports that the administration is roping in left-wing churches to aggressively promote food stamps. With institutional support from first lady Michelle Obama, the FoodStampCorps will train church members to apply for food stamps after religious services; and "'encourage eligible families to enroll their children in (government-subsidized) school meal programs'; if organizations operate day-care or after-school programs, they are advised to pursue reimbursement for meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (a federally funded, state-administered welfare program). Places of worship are asked to serve as feeding sites for the Summer Food Service Program -- another federally funded, state-run welfare project."
With billions poured into the welfare state at the local, state and national levels and enrollment at an all-time high, why should taxpayers be underwriting make-work jobs for future Democratic flacks-in-training? Shouldn't it already be the job of the vast network of existing social services and welfare agencies to publicize and assist food-stamp applicants?
More troublesome: AmeriCorps workers are themselves being encouraged to sign up for food stamp benefits -- giving new meaning to "hands-on" (or rather, "hands-out") experience.
An AmeriCorps blogger provided a thorough advice manual on working the system: "Plenty of jobs come with perks," the worker wrote. "For some these come in the form of company cars, dental insurance, or a spending allowance. For VISTAs, it's food stamps." The step-by-step guide tells AmeriCorps workers: "If you apply for food stamps after you become an AmeriCorps VISTA member, you will have a decreased food stamp allotment. So if you're debating applying, you should do it now."
Another AmeriCorps tip for those preparing for their in-person eligibility interview with food stamp administrators: "These social service agencies are only open during regular business hours, so you will probably have to take the day off (some sites don't count it against your 20 vacation/sick days)." Oh, and don't forget to "bring a book." Says the wise AmeriCorps welfare-system expert: "While food stamps are handled by a different agency in every state, they all generally have a reputation that mirrors that of the DMV: too little staff, too high demand, and wait times that can border on extreme. While my own wait was only three hours, I've heard some VISTAs waiting as long as eight. Yes, I know you may have an appointment, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to see you at that time. So bring a book, an iPod, that screenplay you've been tinkering with -- whatever, because you're going to be waiting a while."
Make no mistake: Americans are suffering as a result of this profligate administration's job-stifling and anti-economic growth policies. No one questions the need for a basic safety net to care for those most in need of help. But the community-organizer-in-chief is squandering billions on failed Alinsky-ite rackets that are geared toward ever-expanding service not to the individual, but to the insatiable state.
Haaretz WikiLeaks Exclusive / Iran Providing Hamas With Smuggle-Ready Rockets, Says IDF
Haaretz WikiLeaks exclusive / Iran providing Hamas with smuggle-ready rockets, says IDF
The Iranian rockets can be dismantled and reassembled fairly simply, making them easier to smuggle into the Gaza Strip via tunnels, says IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel.
By Yossi Melman and Hagar Mizrahi
Iran is manufacturing special missiles for Hamas that can be smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip, according to the report of a conversation between Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel and U.S. ambassador to Israel James Cunningham.
A cable on the discussion, which also involved senior officials of the U.S. State Department and Defense Department who came to Israel in February 2009, was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on February 19 and is part of the WikiLeaks documents Haaretz is exclusively reporting.
Harel, who has meanwhile retired from the IDF, spoke at the meeting about Katyusha, Grad and Fajr rockets. The Katyusha was originally manufactured in the former Soviet Union, and was developed before World War II. It comes in diameters of 107 millimeters and 122 millimeters, with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
The Fajr ("dawn" ) is a rocket made in Iran with North Korean assistance. There are two types of Fajr - the Fajr 3 with a diameter of 240 millimeters and a range of about 45 kilometers, and the Fajr 5, at 333 millimeters with a range of 75 kilometers. Harel did not say which Fajr he was referring to.
In response to a question by one of the American visitors about the sophistication of Hamas weaponry, Harel replied that Hamas had Chinese and Iranian-made 122 mm rockets with a range of up to 30 kilometers. He also noted that the Iranian version of the 122 mm rocket "was designed specifically for Hamas, as it came in four pieces that could fit through narrow tunnels and be reassembled in Gaza."
According to the cable: "Harel also stated that sophisticated anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs ) were found in Gaza, to include the Russian-made Konkours system. Hamas also had SA-7 surface-to-air missiles and sophisticated improvised explosive devices of all varieties. Lastly, Harel said that Israel has sensitive intelligence that Iran is constructing an additional Hamas-specific missile, based on the Fajr, that will have a range beyond 40 kilometers."
When asked how serious Egypt was about preventing weapons smuggling, Harel reiterated statements by other Israeli spokesmen in other WikiLeaks documents Haaretz has published that: "Cooperation against smuggling is better with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman [who was the Egyptian intelligence minister] than it is with Egyptian Military Commander Field Marshal Tantawi [defense minister, and now head of the military council now ruling Egypt]."
According to the cable, Harel asked the United States to use its leverage to get Cairo to take more serious steps to stop the smuggling.
The cable states that Harel suggested two methods of doing so. The first: "there are only four major paved roads, and Egypt could easily interdict these routes with road blocks." The second was for Egypt to close its border with Sudan.
The Iranian rockets can be dismantled and reassembled fairly simply, making them easier to smuggle into the Gaza Strip via tunnels, says IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel.
By Yossi Melman and Hagar Mizrahi
Iran is manufacturing special missiles for Hamas that can be smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip, according to the report of a conversation between Israel Defense Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel and U.S. ambassador to Israel James Cunningham.
A cable on the discussion, which also involved senior officials of the U.S. State Department and Defense Department who came to Israel in February 2009, was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on February 19 and is part of the WikiLeaks documents Haaretz is exclusively reporting.
Harel, who has meanwhile retired from the IDF, spoke at the meeting about Katyusha, Grad and Fajr rockets. The Katyusha was originally manufactured in the former Soviet Union, and was developed before World War II. It comes in diameters of 107 millimeters and 122 millimeters, with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
The Fajr ("dawn" ) is a rocket made in Iran with North Korean assistance. There are two types of Fajr - the Fajr 3 with a diameter of 240 millimeters and a range of about 45 kilometers, and the Fajr 5, at 333 millimeters with a range of 75 kilometers. Harel did not say which Fajr he was referring to.
In response to a question by one of the American visitors about the sophistication of Hamas weaponry, Harel replied that Hamas had Chinese and Iranian-made 122 mm rockets with a range of up to 30 kilometers. He also noted that the Iranian version of the 122 mm rocket "was designed specifically for Hamas, as it came in four pieces that could fit through narrow tunnels and be reassembled in Gaza."
According to the cable: "Harel also stated that sophisticated anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs ) were found in Gaza, to include the Russian-made Konkours system. Hamas also had SA-7 surface-to-air missiles and sophisticated improvised explosive devices of all varieties. Lastly, Harel said that Israel has sensitive intelligence that Iran is constructing an additional Hamas-specific missile, based on the Fajr, that will have a range beyond 40 kilometers."
When asked how serious Egypt was about preventing weapons smuggling, Harel reiterated statements by other Israeli spokesmen in other WikiLeaks documents Haaretz has published that: "Cooperation against smuggling is better with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman [who was the Egyptian intelligence minister] than it is with Egyptian Military Commander Field Marshal Tantawi [defense minister, and now head of the military council now ruling Egypt]."
According to the cable, Harel asked the United States to use its leverage to get Cairo to take more serious steps to stop the smuggling.
The cable states that Harel suggested two methods of doing so. The first: "there are only four major paved roads, and Egypt could easily interdict these routes with road blocks." The second was for Egypt to close its border with Sudan.
Justice and Decency
Delay and indecision are beginning to define the Obama administration. One matter the Obama Justice Department cannot decide is whether to file an appeal to the Supreme Court in the "fleeting profanity" case called Fox vs. FCC. They've filed two extensions to kick the can down the road. Their latest deadline is April 21. Without an appeal, the Second Circuit's evisceration of any limitation on broadcast cursing will stand.
That's right. All bets will be off. If you think the Idiot Box is foul now, wait until Hollywood is allowed to be as gross as it wants.
Some commentators will obviously apply the expected gravity argument. We're in three wars, have a $1.5 trillion deficit, and really, it's crucial to prevent Paris Hilton from swearing at a televised awards show? But Obama's Justice Department is making small decisions all the time.
They jumped in to defend a first-year Muslim math teacher in Illinois against what they called the "head wind of intolerance" when she demanded 19 days off to attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. They've joined the ACLU in a suit in South Carolina demanding prisoners have the right to get better reading material in the mail than the Bible. They look more sympathetic to the reading habits of violent criminals than the viewing habits of parents with small children.
That's not to say the Obamas would suggest they're lazy in overseeing their children's television habits.
"They can only watch the kid-TV channels for the most part, because you just never know," Mrs. Obama insisted. She said the two girls are allowed to watch television only on weekends because the TV set is completely off limits during the week, on school nights.
That sounds fairly strict on a personal level. But on a political level, is that all the Obamas plan to offer on broadcast decency? Hey, "you just never know"? Why doesn't Mrs. Obama apply the same attitude toward our children's food intake?
Did Barack Obama somehow miss the tally when Congress voted in 2006 not merely to keep the FCC policing broadcast indecency, but to multiply by tenfold the fines it could impose? The House version of the bill passed by a landslide of 379 to 35. Barack Obama was in the Senate when it passed by unanimous consent.
But federal judges don't look at polls. These judges, apparently educated people with law degrees, found the F-bomb rules too confusing to understand.
This is still an important issue across party lines. The Parents Television Council released a new Zogby poll last week, which showed 75 percent of Americans agree there is too much sex, violence and coarse language on television. A majority (57 percent) supported the FCC's long-standing legal authority to fine broadcasters if they air indecent material. Support for FCC indecency enforcement was highest among African-Americans (71 percent) and women (62 percent), the two groups Nielsen identified as watching more TV than their racial and gender counterparts.
Memo to anyone running for office: It's an issue. Fox (and all the other broadcast networks that joined their suit) insist that it's not their job to keep sex, violence and cursing off TV. Why can't they just be honest it state it is (SET ITAL) their (END ITAL) desire to see these things on their networks? Moreover, they continue to trout out the intentionally misleading line that parents can use the V-Chip to block programming they don't like, according to the descriptor codes that each network decides to use.
Obama's campaign lingo also echoed that sentiment. But PTC's Zogby poll underlines how that argument is not serious. Overall usage of the V-Chip has slipped across all frequencies. The percentage of people saying they don't use it at all is almost 94 percent.
Only 15.5 percent of people can correctly identify the content descriptors that appear on screen, even when given the answer as part of a multiple-choice question. Some seem easy (S for sexual situations, V for violence), but the language ones get confused (L for coarse language, and D for suggestive dialogue). A large majority of people (76 percent) continue to think the "D" stands for drug use, or they just don't know. The V-Chip is less than a Band-Aid. It's a placebo.
President Obama is already campaigning for re-election, and maybe his financial base in Hollywood is the first constituency he doesn't want to offend. With their words in the media, the Obamas want to paint themselves as tough parents even as they favor Hollywood over parents -- and over the preferences of a majority of women and African-American voters. No one should let this pattern of delays muddle the policy picture if the obliteration of FCC decency enforcement is complete.
L. Brent Bozell III is the president of the Media Research Center. To find out more about Brent Bozell III, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
That's right. All bets will be off. If you think the Idiot Box is foul now, wait until Hollywood is allowed to be as gross as it wants.
Some commentators will obviously apply the expected gravity argument. We're in three wars, have a $1.5 trillion deficit, and really, it's crucial to prevent Paris Hilton from swearing at a televised awards show? But Obama's Justice Department is making small decisions all the time.
They jumped in to defend a first-year Muslim math teacher in Illinois against what they called the "head wind of intolerance" when she demanded 19 days off to attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. They've joined the ACLU in a suit in South Carolina demanding prisoners have the right to get better reading material in the mail than the Bible. They look more sympathetic to the reading habits of violent criminals than the viewing habits of parents with small children.
That's not to say the Obamas would suggest they're lazy in overseeing their children's television habits.
"They can only watch the kid-TV channels for the most part, because you just never know," Mrs. Obama insisted. She said the two girls are allowed to watch television only on weekends because the TV set is completely off limits during the week, on school nights.
That sounds fairly strict on a personal level. But on a political level, is that all the Obamas plan to offer on broadcast decency? Hey, "you just never know"? Why doesn't Mrs. Obama apply the same attitude toward our children's food intake?
Did Barack Obama somehow miss the tally when Congress voted in 2006 not merely to keep the FCC policing broadcast indecency, but to multiply by tenfold the fines it could impose? The House version of the bill passed by a landslide of 379 to 35. Barack Obama was in the Senate when it passed by unanimous consent.
But federal judges don't look at polls. These judges, apparently educated people with law degrees, found the F-bomb rules too confusing to understand.
This is still an important issue across party lines. The Parents Television Council released a new Zogby poll last week, which showed 75 percent of Americans agree there is too much sex, violence and coarse language on television. A majority (57 percent) supported the FCC's long-standing legal authority to fine broadcasters if they air indecent material. Support for FCC indecency enforcement was highest among African-Americans (71 percent) and women (62 percent), the two groups Nielsen identified as watching more TV than their racial and gender counterparts.
Memo to anyone running for office: It's an issue. Fox (and all the other broadcast networks that joined their suit) insist that it's not their job to keep sex, violence and cursing off TV. Why can't they just be honest it state it is (SET ITAL) their (END ITAL) desire to see these things on their networks? Moreover, they continue to trout out the intentionally misleading line that parents can use the V-Chip to block programming they don't like, according to the descriptor codes that each network decides to use.
Obama's campaign lingo also echoed that sentiment. But PTC's Zogby poll underlines how that argument is not serious. Overall usage of the V-Chip has slipped across all frequencies. The percentage of people saying they don't use it at all is almost 94 percent.
Only 15.5 percent of people can correctly identify the content descriptors that appear on screen, even when given the answer as part of a multiple-choice question. Some seem easy (S for sexual situations, V for violence), but the language ones get confused (L for coarse language, and D for suggestive dialogue). A large majority of people (76 percent) continue to think the "D" stands for drug use, or they just don't know. The V-Chip is less than a Band-Aid. It's a placebo.
President Obama is already campaigning for re-election, and maybe his financial base in Hollywood is the first constituency he doesn't want to offend. With their words in the media, the Obamas want to paint themselves as tough parents even as they favor Hollywood over parents -- and over the preferences of a majority of women and African-American voters. No one should let this pattern of delays muddle the policy picture if the obliteration of FCC decency enforcement is complete.
L. Brent Bozell III is the president of the Media Research Center. To find out more about Brent Bozell III, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Crying, foul: Kindergartener gets suspended for tearing up
No, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke. A six-year-old boy in Virginia has been suspended from school for … crying.
Earlier this month, Gary and Heather Clark were notified by officials at Tallwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach that their son Bronson had been suspended from school for allegedly crying in class and disrupting the educational process, according to the Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties organization.
The parents then contacted the Rutherford Institute, which is calling on the school to rescind the suspension.
“There is a suspension for disruptive behaviour on his school record now. And that follows you. And it’s cumulative, meaning that if something else happens, he’s now considered a kid who creates problems,” said John Whitehead, president of the institute.
Officials at the school did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
In a letter sent on Wednesday to the co-ordinator of student services at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Mr. Whitehead, a constitutional attorney, calls the young boy’s suspension perhaps “the most shocking example yet of the extent to which school officials are failing in their duties to create healthy and supportive educational environments for their young charges.
“While crying in class may indeed be inconvenient for the teacher, surely there are other, less draconian means of addressing this type of disruption than an out-of-school suspension.”
The zero-tolerance policies adopted by many schools have seen kids “tossed out for the craziest things,” Mr. Whitehead said in a telephone interview. He cited a greatest hits of seemingly head-scratching insanity: A case where a Grade 4 student who gargled Scope mouthwash after lunch was suspended because it violated the school’s drugs and alcohol policy; a high-school student suspended because the nail clippers he had at school were considered a weapon; even one instance of a youngster bringing a drawing of an uncle, who was then serving in Iraq, carrying his gun, which the school said violated its weapons policy.
As for the boy suspended for crying, Mr. Whitehead points out that crying is something six-year-olds just happen to do sometimes. Dealing with the problem like this should start with consulting mom and dad instead of going straight to a suspension.
“The easiest thing to do is consult parents more,” he says.
Mr. Whitehead had not heard from the school as of late Wednesday afternoon. But he is hopeful the school will rescind the suspension, he said.
Earlier this month, Gary and Heather Clark were notified by officials at Tallwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach that their son Bronson had been suspended from school for allegedly crying in class and disrupting the educational process, according to the Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties organization.
The parents then contacted the Rutherford Institute, which is calling on the school to rescind the suspension.
“There is a suspension for disruptive behaviour on his school record now. And that follows you. And it’s cumulative, meaning that if something else happens, he’s now considered a kid who creates problems,” said John Whitehead, president of the institute.
Officials at the school did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
In a letter sent on Wednesday to the co-ordinator of student services at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Mr. Whitehead, a constitutional attorney, calls the young boy’s suspension perhaps “the most shocking example yet of the extent to which school officials are failing in their duties to create healthy and supportive educational environments for their young charges.
“While crying in class may indeed be inconvenient for the teacher, surely there are other, less draconian means of addressing this type of disruption than an out-of-school suspension.”
The zero-tolerance policies adopted by many schools have seen kids “tossed out for the craziest things,” Mr. Whitehead said in a telephone interview. He cited a greatest hits of seemingly head-scratching insanity: A case where a Grade 4 student who gargled Scope mouthwash after lunch was suspended because it violated the school’s drugs and alcohol policy; a high-school student suspended because the nail clippers he had at school were considered a weapon; even one instance of a youngster bringing a drawing of an uncle, who was then serving in Iraq, carrying his gun, which the school said violated its weapons policy.
As for the boy suspended for crying, Mr. Whitehead points out that crying is something six-year-olds just happen to do sometimes. Dealing with the problem like this should start with consulting mom and dad instead of going straight to a suspension.
“The easiest thing to do is consult parents more,” he says.
Mr. Whitehead had not heard from the school as of late Wednesday afternoon. But he is hopeful the school will rescind the suspension, he said.
Detroit to send layoff notices to all its public teachers
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The emergency manager appointed to put Detroit's troubled public school system on a firmer financial footing said on Thursday he was sending layoff notices to all of the district's 5,466 unionized employees.
In a statement posted on the website of Detroit Public Schools, Robert Bobb, the district's temporary head, said notices were being sent to every member of the Detroit Federation of Teachers "in anticipation of a workforce reduction to match the district's declining student enrollment."
Bobb said nearly 250 administrators were receiving the notices, too.
The district is unlikely to eliminate all the teachers. Last year, it sent out 2,000 notices and only a fraction of employees were actually laid off. But the notices are required by the union's current contract with the district. Any layoffs under this latest action won't take effect until late July.
In the meantime, Bobb said that he planned to exercise his power as emergency manager to unilaterally modify the district's collective bargaining agreement with the Federation of Teachers starting May 17, 2011.
Under a law known as Public Act 4, passed by the Michigan legislature and signed by the state's new Republican governor in March, emergency managers like Bobb have sweeping powers. They can tear up existing union contracts, and even fire some elected officials, if they believe it will help solve a financial emergency.
"I fully intend to use the authority that was granted under Public Act 4," Bobb said in the statement.
He was appointed emergency financial manager for Detroit's schools two years ago by then-Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, to close chronic budget deficits brought on by declining enrollment in the city. Over just the past year, Detroit's population has dropped 25 percent, according to census data.
Bobb has closed schools, laid off workers and taken other steps to cut spending but the district still faces a $327 million budget deficit.
In a statement posted on the website of Detroit Public Schools, Robert Bobb, the district's temporary head, said notices were being sent to every member of the Detroit Federation of Teachers "in anticipation of a workforce reduction to match the district's declining student enrollment."
Bobb said nearly 250 administrators were receiving the notices, too.
The district is unlikely to eliminate all the teachers. Last year, it sent out 2,000 notices and only a fraction of employees were actually laid off. But the notices are required by the union's current contract with the district. Any layoffs under this latest action won't take effect until late July.
In the meantime, Bobb said that he planned to exercise his power as emergency manager to unilaterally modify the district's collective bargaining agreement with the Federation of Teachers starting May 17, 2011.
Under a law known as Public Act 4, passed by the Michigan legislature and signed by the state's new Republican governor in March, emergency managers like Bobb have sweeping powers. They can tear up existing union contracts, and even fire some elected officials, if they believe it will help solve a financial emergency.
"I fully intend to use the authority that was granted under Public Act 4," Bobb said in the statement.
He was appointed emergency financial manager for Detroit's schools two years ago by then-Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, to close chronic budget deficits brought on by declining enrollment in the city. Over just the past year, Detroit's population has dropped 25 percent, according to census data.
Bobb has closed schools, laid off workers and taken other steps to cut spending but the district still faces a $327 million budget deficit.
America Moving Towards Abolishment of Electoral College
National Popular Vote -
The Electoral College, the means by which Americans chose their President throughout the nations history, is facing its most serious challenge yet. Polling shows that 75% of Americans no longer see the value of the institution, and want to switch over to direct democratic elections where the winner of the national popular vote also wins the Presidency. There are two ways of achieving this end. The first, a Constitutional Amendment, is a long and difficult process that requires the approval of 3/4 of the states. However, there exists an alternative method that goes around the Electoral College by abolishing it in practice without abolishing it on paper. Although the amount of electoral votes a state gets is Constitutionally determined, how it chooses to award them is left up to the individual state. With the passage of a simple bill, a state can award all of its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, essentially bypassing the College. The backers of the repeal under the umbrella group National Popular Vote are going state by state passing laws to end the Electoral College, already six states plus DC, totaling 74 electoral votes, have passed the legislation. This is 27% of the electoral votes needed to abolish the College. The laws are passed in such a way that they will only take effect when a critical mass of the majority of Electoral College votes is reached, at that point it will no longer matter how other states divide their vote, and the Electoral College will be officially dead.
But is this change good for America?
Supporters of repeal claim the Electoral College is undemocratic, in a close election it is possible for the loser of the popular vote to scramble together a winning majority of electoral votes, as has recently happened in the 2000 Presidential election. A second way that the College is undemocratic, is the fact that the electoral votes are not directly proportional to a states population. A state gets electoral votes equal to the sum of its Congressmen (amount determined by population) and Senators (each state gets two), hence tiny states with only one representative triple their electoral weight thanks to the extra two electoral votes from the Senators, meanwhile large states like California with 53 representatives gain proportionally much less from the two extra votes. As a result, California gets one electoral vote for 615,848 citizens, while Wyoming gets one for every 164,594 citizens, hence when one votes in Wyoming, his vote counts almost quadruple what a Californians vote counts. Opponents of the College point out that it is odd for a nation that portrays itself as the guardian of Democracy to not follow the “one man, one vote” mantra.
A second argument against the Electoral college is that it disenfranchises large segments of the population. Since under the College almost all states divide their electoral votes on a winner takes all basis, political minorities within states are silenced. For example liberal California is actually home to more conservatives than any state in the union other than Texas, but millions of California conservatives are effectively silenced by the liberal majority. Similarly most southern states, while staunchly conservative, are home to large urban black populations that vote democratic but are never heard in Presidential elections. Lastly there is also a bias towards politically neutral states, with candidates spending the majority of their time and money in a handful of battleground states like Ohio and Florida, ignoring enormous states like Texas, California, and New York because they are unlikely to switch sides. With a national popular vote, candidates would be forced to run truly national campaigns, and all votes would matter equally.
Supporters of the College provide two arguments in its defense. First they point out the intentions of the founders to make America a republic, not a democracy. They argue that the College empowers states, sacrificing some democracy in favor of federalism, state rights, and the decentralization of power. Abolishing the college would greatly weaken the power of the states relative to the federal government, and America’s republican character would be lost in favor of a more centralized European system. The second argument is that abolishing the College would empower large population centers at the expense of small rural communities. If Wyoming is home to only 0.18% of the US population spread in rural communities over a large state, it makes little sense for a Presidential candidate to go there instead of making an extra stop in some large city. Densely populated states and large cities are already home to alot of unofficial power in the form of finance, business, media, entertainment, and bureaucratic institutions, abolishing the Electoral College would only increase this power once again making America a more centralized nation.
On the battlefield of the American Civil War it was determined that the United States is a nation, not a confederacy of semi-sovereign states. Since that time America has increasingly become both less republican and more centralized and democratic. Abolishing the electoral college will further erode away the power of the states in favor of a strong centralized government and direct democracy. In a way the last gasp of the Electoral College system may also be the last shot of the Civil War.
On the battlefield of the American Civil War it was determined that the United States is a nation, not a confederacy of semi-sovereign states. Since that time America has increasingly become both less republican and more centralized and democratic. Abolishing the electoral college will further erode away the power of the states in favor of a strong centralized government and direct democracy. In a way the last gasp of the Electoral College system may also be the last shot of the Civil War.
The Electoral College, the means by which Americans chose their President throughout the nations history, is facing its most serious challenge yet. Polling shows that 75% of Americans no longer see the value of the institution, and want to switch over to direct democratic elections where the winner of the national popular vote also wins the Presidency. There are two ways of achieving this end. The first, a Constitutional Amendment, is a long and difficult process that requires the approval of 3/4 of the states. However, there exists an alternative method that goes around the Electoral College by abolishing it in practice without abolishing it on paper. Although the amount of electoral votes a state gets is Constitutionally determined, how it chooses to award them is left up to the individual state. With the passage of a simple bill, a state can award all of its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, essentially bypassing the College. The backers of the repeal under the umbrella group National Popular Vote are going state by state passing laws to end the Electoral College, already six states plus DC, totaling 74 electoral votes, have passed the legislation. This is 27% of the electoral votes needed to abolish the College. The laws are passed in such a way that they will only take effect when a critical mass of the majority of Electoral College votes is reached, at that point it will no longer matter how other states divide their vote, and the Electoral College will be officially dead.
But is this change good for America?
Supporters of repeal claim the Electoral College is undemocratic, in a close election it is possible for the loser of the popular vote to scramble together a winning majority of electoral votes, as has recently happened in the 2000 Presidential election. A second way that the College is undemocratic, is the fact that the electoral votes are not directly proportional to a states population. A state gets electoral votes equal to the sum of its Congressmen (amount determined by population) and Senators (each state gets two), hence tiny states with only one representative triple their electoral weight thanks to the extra two electoral votes from the Senators, meanwhile large states like California with 53 representatives gain proportionally much less from the two extra votes. As a result, California gets one electoral vote for 615,848 citizens, while Wyoming gets one for every 164,594 citizens, hence when one votes in Wyoming, his vote counts almost quadruple what a Californians vote counts. Opponents of the College point out that it is odd for a nation that portrays itself as the guardian of Democracy to not follow the “one man, one vote” mantra.
A second argument against the Electoral college is that it disenfranchises large segments of the population. Since under the College almost all states divide their electoral votes on a winner takes all basis, political minorities within states are silenced. For example liberal California is actually home to more conservatives than any state in the union other than Texas, but millions of California conservatives are effectively silenced by the liberal majority. Similarly most southern states, while staunchly conservative, are home to large urban black populations that vote democratic but are never heard in Presidential elections. Lastly there is also a bias towards politically neutral states, with candidates spending the majority of their time and money in a handful of battleground states like Ohio and Florida, ignoring enormous states like Texas, California, and New York because they are unlikely to switch sides. With a national popular vote, candidates would be forced to run truly national campaigns, and all votes would matter equally.
Supporters of the College provide two arguments in its defense. First they point out the intentions of the founders to make America a republic, not a democracy. They argue that the College empowers states, sacrificing some democracy in favor of federalism, state rights, and the decentralization of power. Abolishing the college would greatly weaken the power of the states relative to the federal government, and America’s republican character would be lost in favor of a more centralized European system. The second argument is that abolishing the College would empower large population centers at the expense of small rural communities. If Wyoming is home to only 0.18% of the US population spread in rural communities over a large state, it makes little sense for a Presidential candidate to go there instead of making an extra stop in some large city. Densely populated states and large cities are already home to alot of unofficial power in the form of finance, business, media, entertainment, and bureaucratic institutions, abolishing the Electoral College would only increase this power once again making America a more centralized nation.
On the battlefield of the American Civil War it was determined that the United States is a nation, not a confederacy of semi-sovereign states. Since that time America has increasingly become both less republican and more centralized and democratic. Abolishing the electoral college will further erode away the power of the states in favor of a strong centralized government and direct democracy. In a way the last gasp of the Electoral College system may also be the last shot of the Civil War.
On the battlefield of the American Civil War it was determined that the United States is a nation, not a confederacy of semi-sovereign states. Since that time America has increasingly become both less republican and more centralized and democratic. Abolishing the electoral college will further erode away the power of the states in favor of a strong centralized government and direct democracy. In a way the last gasp of the Electoral College system may also be the last shot of the Civil War.
Slandering Our Military
The following was written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and will be published later this year, but I have his permission to use the material anywhere, and in any way, including here:
In this age of sensational tabloid journalism, the media can encourage our returning warriors to wallow in a "pity party" by presenting endless reports and exaggerated "news" pieces implying that virtually every veteran of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (and, by extension, any police who experience combat on the home front) is suffering from full-blown PTSD. This can create dire consequences. A landmark article in the April 2009 issue of Scientific American referred to this in an article entitled, "The Post-Traumatic Stress Trap" ... in looking for PTSD (or, as I call it, "wallowing in the pity party"), we can actually cause it.
Furthermore, the negative persona that the media is creating can affect the seriousness of any post-war issues returning soldiers are having. Coming back with slight mental scars and being met with negativity, coupled with a sense of self-doubt after being unsuccessful in securing a good job, could compound into more serious issues. They deserve better than this! Those who have selflessly served our country and protected our freedoms deserve better treatment than this "obscene bid to smear our veterans."
Here is a letter that I often send the press in response to their queries about the military and PTSD. It's taken in part from an article of mine that appeared in Greater Good magazine:
Today I am on the road almost 300 days a year speaking to police agencies and numerous military organizations deploying and returning from combat. I teach them that there are two dangers they must guard against. One is that of the “Macho man” mentality that can cause a soldier to refuse to accept vital mental health services. The other danger is what I call the “Pity party.”
Interestingly, the very awareness of the possibility of PTSD can increase the probability that it will occur. There is a tendency for human beings to respond to stress in the way that they think they should. When soldiers, their spouses, parents and others are convinced that the returning veteran will suffer from PTSD, it can create a powerful self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is important to point out that PTSD is a very real disorder that affects a small percentage of military veterans (and others who have experienced traumatic events in their lives). But we must refuse to be part of the "drumbeat of voices" that tells veterans that they are doomed to a lifetime of psychological trauma. At every level, at every opportunity, we must confront the media-driven myth that “the war will destroy all the soldiers and we'll pay a price for generations to come.” This sensationalist “if-it-bleeds-it-leads” journalism is irresponsible because it can cause more harm to our warriors.
Sadly, it is not difficult to find people in the mental health community to support the thesis that anyone who kills, experiences combat, or witnesses violence (or any other fill-in-the-blank 'victim du jour') is doomed to lifelong PTSD and, consequently, needs lifelong mental health care.
Mental health professionals must communicate to their patients that 1) they can recover from PTSD and that 2) they will become stronger from the experience. That expectation must be present if there is to be hope of anything other than a lifetime of therapy. If you tell them that they have to "live with it for a lifetime" and they believe you, then you have damned them to a lifetime of mental illness!
(Q: How many psychologists does it take to change a light-bulb? A: Just one, but the bulb has to believe it can change.)
Here is what I tell all my military and law enforcement audiences:
PTSD is not like pregnancy. You cannot be “a little bit pregnant;” either you are, or you are not. PTSD is not like that.
PTSD is like being overweight. Many people carry around 10, 20, or 30 pounds of excess weight. Although it influences the individual every minute of every day, it might not be a big deal health wise. But for those people who are 500 pounds overweight, it will likely kill them any day now. There was a time when we could only identify people who had "500 pounds" of PTSD. We couldn't identify them until they were literally "dropping before our eyes." Today we are able to spot folks who carry lesser loads: 30, 40 or 50 pounds of PTSD.
I have read statistics that say 15 percent of our military is coming home with “some manifestation of psychological problems.” Others claim it is 20 percent and still others report 30 percent. Well, depending on how you want to measure it, 30 percent of all college freshmen have "some manifestation of psychological problems." Mostly what is being reported on today are people with low levels of PTSD (30, 40 or 50 pounds of emotional baggage) who in previous wars would not have been detected. We are getting damned good at identifying and treating these individuals and, when the treatment is done, most people are better for the experience.
PTSD is not like frostbite. Frostbite causes permanent damage to your body. If you get frostbite, for the rest of your life you will be more vulnerable to it. PTSD is not like that.
PTSD can be more like the flu. The flu can seriously kick your tail for a while. But once you shake it off, you probably are not going to get it again for the rest of the year. You have been inoculated. PTSD can kick your tail for a while (months and even years). But once you have dealt with it, next time it will take a lot more to knock you off your feet because you have been stress inoculated.
When I was a kid, World War II veterans were everywhere. They were our police sergeants, captains and chiefs. They were our battalion commanders and our senior NCOs. They were our business leaders and our political leaders. The idea that a World War II veteran was a shallow, fragile creature who would break under pressure was ridiculous. (There were some people like that; everyone knew of a few, but they were rare.)
Nietzsche said, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." The Bible says something similar many times. For example, Romans, chapter five says: "...we glory in tribulations...knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed." Throughout history, we have understood that bad things can make us stronger.
The World War II generation was the "Greatest Generation" and today a new Greatest Generation is coming home. That is, if we do not screw them all up by telling them (and their families, their neighbors and their employers) that they are ticking-time-bombs doomed to a lifetime of mental illness.
Four Lies for the Price of One
Here is what I believe is the heart of the matter. To harm and destroy people you have to lie:
Lie Number 1: Ignore the vast majority who are just fine and report only on the minority with problems.
Lie Number 2: Fail to report that most PTSD cases are people with only 30, 40, or 50 pounds of PTSD, people who in previous wars would have gone undetected.
Lie Number 3: Fail to report that we are damned good at treating PTSD and that we are getting better at it every day.
Lie Number 4: Fail to report that PTSD can be a step on the path to stress inoculation and that one can be stronger when they come out the other end.
Lie four times over. Lie the worst kind of lie: the lie of omission that gives only the distilled essence of the bad news. Create an expectation in veterans (and their families, employers and neighbors) that they are all fragile creatures who could snap at any time and are doomed to a life of suffering. Get veterans invested in their grievance and in their role as victim. Get them to draw disability from PTSD and convince them that they will never recover.
I want the media to care, but I am convinced that most of them are part of a mob-mentality, a pile-on, if-it-bleeds-it-leads profession that does not care about the harm they do. Indeed, I believe that some of them are actively, intentionally, politically motivated to systematically distort the situation in order to undermine our ability to wage war.
Remember, this is the same profession that put the Columbine killers on the cover of Time magazine twice – yes, twice - thus giving those brutal mass-murderers the very fame and immortality they wanted. This in turn inspired the Virginia Tech killer who also appeared on every news show and on the front pages of every newspaper in the nation. Sadly, this too inspires countless others as the media continues to be their happy co-conspirators in a murder-for-fame-and-immortality contract.
Please forgive me if I have been harsh, but the situation calls for us to be passionate. The vast majority of our veterns come home as stronger, better citizens. But that does not change the fact that the transition can be hard, and they deserve the very best that we can give them.
Yes, some of our veterans will suffer from PTSD and we have an obligation to give them the best possible support. But we also need a balanced, tough love, that creates an expectation that they will get over it, get on with it, and be better for the experience. That they will be the new Greatest Generation
We should prefer to emphasize the positive expectations. Positive self-fulfilling prophecies. Now there is a nice concept. But will we ever see it in the news?
In this age of sensational tabloid journalism, the media can encourage our returning warriors to wallow in a "pity party" by presenting endless reports and exaggerated "news" pieces implying that virtually every veteran of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (and, by extension, any police who experience combat on the home front) is suffering from full-blown PTSD. This can create dire consequences. A landmark article in the April 2009 issue of Scientific American referred to this in an article entitled, "The Post-Traumatic Stress Trap" ... in looking for PTSD (or, as I call it, "wallowing in the pity party"), we can actually cause it.
Furthermore, the negative persona that the media is creating can affect the seriousness of any post-war issues returning soldiers are having. Coming back with slight mental scars and being met with negativity, coupled with a sense of self-doubt after being unsuccessful in securing a good job, could compound into more serious issues. They deserve better than this! Those who have selflessly served our country and protected our freedoms deserve better treatment than this "obscene bid to smear our veterans."
Here is a letter that I often send the press in response to their queries about the military and PTSD. It's taken in part from an article of mine that appeared in Greater Good magazine:
Today I am on the road almost 300 days a year speaking to police agencies and numerous military organizations deploying and returning from combat. I teach them that there are two dangers they must guard against. One is that of the “Macho man” mentality that can cause a soldier to refuse to accept vital mental health services. The other danger is what I call the “Pity party.”
Interestingly, the very awareness of the possibility of PTSD can increase the probability that it will occur. There is a tendency for human beings to respond to stress in the way that they think they should. When soldiers, their spouses, parents and others are convinced that the returning veteran will suffer from PTSD, it can create a powerful self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is important to point out that PTSD is a very real disorder that affects a small percentage of military veterans (and others who have experienced traumatic events in their lives). But we must refuse to be part of the "drumbeat of voices" that tells veterans that they are doomed to a lifetime of psychological trauma. At every level, at every opportunity, we must confront the media-driven myth that “the war will destroy all the soldiers and we'll pay a price for generations to come.” This sensationalist “if-it-bleeds-it-leads” journalism is irresponsible because it can cause more harm to our warriors.
Sadly, it is not difficult to find people in the mental health community to support the thesis that anyone who kills, experiences combat, or witnesses violence (or any other fill-in-the-blank 'victim du jour') is doomed to lifelong PTSD and, consequently, needs lifelong mental health care.
Mental health professionals must communicate to their patients that 1) they can recover from PTSD and that 2) they will become stronger from the experience. That expectation must be present if there is to be hope of anything other than a lifetime of therapy. If you tell them that they have to "live with it for a lifetime" and they believe you, then you have damned them to a lifetime of mental illness!
(Q: How many psychologists does it take to change a light-bulb? A: Just one, but the bulb has to believe it can change.)
Here is what I tell all my military and law enforcement audiences:
PTSD is not like pregnancy. You cannot be “a little bit pregnant;” either you are, or you are not. PTSD is not like that.
PTSD is like being overweight. Many people carry around 10, 20, or 30 pounds of excess weight. Although it influences the individual every minute of every day, it might not be a big deal health wise. But for those people who are 500 pounds overweight, it will likely kill them any day now. There was a time when we could only identify people who had "500 pounds" of PTSD. We couldn't identify them until they were literally "dropping before our eyes." Today we are able to spot folks who carry lesser loads: 30, 40 or 50 pounds of PTSD.
I have read statistics that say 15 percent of our military is coming home with “some manifestation of psychological problems.” Others claim it is 20 percent and still others report 30 percent. Well, depending on how you want to measure it, 30 percent of all college freshmen have "some manifestation of psychological problems." Mostly what is being reported on today are people with low levels of PTSD (30, 40 or 50 pounds of emotional baggage) who in previous wars would not have been detected. We are getting damned good at identifying and treating these individuals and, when the treatment is done, most people are better for the experience.
PTSD is not like frostbite. Frostbite causes permanent damage to your body. If you get frostbite, for the rest of your life you will be more vulnerable to it. PTSD is not like that.
PTSD can be more like the flu. The flu can seriously kick your tail for a while. But once you shake it off, you probably are not going to get it again for the rest of the year. You have been inoculated. PTSD can kick your tail for a while (months and even years). But once you have dealt with it, next time it will take a lot more to knock you off your feet because you have been stress inoculated.
When I was a kid, World War II veterans were everywhere. They were our police sergeants, captains and chiefs. They were our battalion commanders and our senior NCOs. They were our business leaders and our political leaders. The idea that a World War II veteran was a shallow, fragile creature who would break under pressure was ridiculous. (There were some people like that; everyone knew of a few, but they were rare.)
Nietzsche said, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." The Bible says something similar many times. For example, Romans, chapter five says: "...we glory in tribulations...knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed." Throughout history, we have understood that bad things can make us stronger.
The World War II generation was the "Greatest Generation" and today a new Greatest Generation is coming home. That is, if we do not screw them all up by telling them (and their families, their neighbors and their employers) that they are ticking-time-bombs doomed to a lifetime of mental illness.
Four Lies for the Price of One
Here is what I believe is the heart of the matter. To harm and destroy people you have to lie:
Lie Number 1: Ignore the vast majority who are just fine and report only on the minority with problems.
Lie Number 2: Fail to report that most PTSD cases are people with only 30, 40, or 50 pounds of PTSD, people who in previous wars would have gone undetected.
Lie Number 3: Fail to report that we are damned good at treating PTSD and that we are getting better at it every day.
Lie Number 4: Fail to report that PTSD can be a step on the path to stress inoculation and that one can be stronger when they come out the other end.
Lie four times over. Lie the worst kind of lie: the lie of omission that gives only the distilled essence of the bad news. Create an expectation in veterans (and their families, employers and neighbors) that they are all fragile creatures who could snap at any time and are doomed to a life of suffering. Get veterans invested in their grievance and in their role as victim. Get them to draw disability from PTSD and convince them that they will never recover.
I want the media to care, but I am convinced that most of them are part of a mob-mentality, a pile-on, if-it-bleeds-it-leads profession that does not care about the harm they do. Indeed, I believe that some of them are actively, intentionally, politically motivated to systematically distort the situation in order to undermine our ability to wage war.
Remember, this is the same profession that put the Columbine killers on the cover of Time magazine twice – yes, twice - thus giving those brutal mass-murderers the very fame and immortality they wanted. This in turn inspired the Virginia Tech killer who also appeared on every news show and on the front pages of every newspaper in the nation. Sadly, this too inspires countless others as the media continues to be their happy co-conspirators in a murder-for-fame-and-immortality contract.
Please forgive me if I have been harsh, but the situation calls for us to be passionate. The vast majority of our veterns come home as stronger, better citizens. But that does not change the fact that the transition can be hard, and they deserve the very best that we can give them.
Yes, some of our veterans will suffer from PTSD and we have an obligation to give them the best possible support. But we also need a balanced, tough love, that creates an expectation that they will get over it, get on with it, and be better for the experience. That they will be the new Greatest Generation
We should prefer to emphasize the positive expectations. Positive self-fulfilling prophecies. Now there is a nice concept. But will we ever see it in the news?
Impeach Obama and Demand Resignation of a Regime
Impeach Obama and Demand Resignation of a Regime
In the course of American history, when the nation was most in need of a leader who could rally the nation to literally survive catastrophes, a common man has come forth and done so, with valor, clarity of purpose, and vision. These unassuming, surprising men, like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR and Ronald Reagan, to name a few, each with their foibles and critics, stood up and secured the security and prosperity of this nation, FIRST and FOREMOST! Each gave the nation a sense of purpose and vision, instilled with legitimate hope, and changed the course of the ship of state away from the rocks, and into navigable waters leading to victory, recovery, and success.
In the course of modern day events, unfolding by the minute, America has never been more in need of such leadership. However, we are now in a situation where the current leadership (or lack thereof) of the nation has done something quite extraordinary, they have found a way to do destroy America. They have charted a course of designed failure. True leaders do not lay blame upon others, they do not lie to, and manipulate the citizenry, they do not cast personal aspersions, they do not cloud arguments, they do not twist facts, they lead by example. They do what is in the best interest of the nation, FIRST!
Sadly, we see that “leadership”, like many common terms, has taken on new meaning; one more akin to ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’, and in the opinion of many; treason…
Exemplifying the point
President Obama’s last national speech: Was just another example of Obama doing what he does best – Dishonesty, Distortions and More Taxes.
America literally faces its demise, economically, morally, ethically, and foundationally. America has been shaken to its very core, and Mr. Obama and the current leaders in his administration and in Congress have achieved what Obama campaigned upon; a fundamental transformation of America. Unfortunately, this was not what Americans bargained for, and we can no longer stand by and wait for the election cycle, politics as usual, and party entrenchment of power to correct the path.
The list of reasons why this is true have been well documented, and the crimes committed well surpass any cogent argument defending the current leadership and in order to reverse the damage, dramatic change is now truly needed. Change, not for change’s sake, but change from this “Road to Ruin.” It is clear to Americans of all walks of life, to those who look through a clear non-ideological lens, that the course we have been steered upon is undeniably not in the best interest of our nation.
Impeach and Demand Resignations
It is therefore now time for the Impeachment of President Barack Hussein Obama and a call for Demand Resignations of Vice President Joe Biden and other politically appointed members of the Obama Administration. This must be done swiftly to save this country from further destruction at home and abroad. Never in the history of this great land have I studied or experienced such a degree of ineptness and incompetence of our governing body, one that borders on treasonous activity if it is not simple ineptitude.
Many people responded to me last year, stating that the demand for resignations would not work…but the program has worked, very effectively, for over a year, in getting rid of some of the “deadwood”. But we are not finished yet in our quest to rid Washington of the greedy, inept, corrupt, in sometime treasonous career politicians/appointees, and those who tread upon and violate the Constitution of the United States openly and notoriously without shame.
Obama’s Progressive Socialist agenda, his lack of leadership skills, honesty and experience, his policy and program initiatives, his executive orders and appointments, all have led this country to a new low in credibility and respect, not only in the United States but from all corners of the world.
The Foundational Argument
The Declaration of Independence states:
“To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”
We cannot permit the current leaders in the White House and Halls of Congress to continue in their efforts to lead us down the road of Progressive Socialism. This is the current battle that we Constitutionalists face and we must be aggressive in our efforts to control our destiny. Our political leaders at the Federal and State level must Stand by their sworn oath:
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
The Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution, which granted the federal government enough authority to cultivate, promote, and secure the Blessings of Liberty. The balance of authority and individual liberty was understood. Power was confined to that which was enumerated in the Constitution with a certain and meaningful intent for check and balances. However, our Republic has been slowly eroded by these so-called Progressives since the days of Woodrow Wilson, and they are not done. They will keep coming back until we say never again. We are not a mob-rule Democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic.
Lincoln issued this warning in his inaugural address:
“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and form a new one. This is a most valuable and sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world.”
The people must “Stand Up” from the grass roots and replace leaders in our government to ensure America becomes once again, a proud, strong, and viable Nation. The Obama White House and identifiable Members of Congress who are still on a progressive socialist and treasonous death march, bankrupting and weakening the country, must be controlled and/or tossed out. This means raising your voice now to your neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends. Grass roots efforts have been successful to date; but it is now time to put that effort into over drive.
America MUST have a change in government NOW!
Paul Vallely is a retired MG, US Army and is Chairman of Stand Up America USA.
In the course of American history, when the nation was most in need of a leader who could rally the nation to literally survive catastrophes, a common man has come forth and done so, with valor, clarity of purpose, and vision. These unassuming, surprising men, like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR and Ronald Reagan, to name a few, each with their foibles and critics, stood up and secured the security and prosperity of this nation, FIRST and FOREMOST! Each gave the nation a sense of purpose and vision, instilled with legitimate hope, and changed the course of the ship of state away from the rocks, and into navigable waters leading to victory, recovery, and success.
In the course of modern day events, unfolding by the minute, America has never been more in need of such leadership. However, we are now in a situation where the current leadership (or lack thereof) of the nation has done something quite extraordinary, they have found a way to do destroy America. They have charted a course of designed failure. True leaders do not lay blame upon others, they do not lie to, and manipulate the citizenry, they do not cast personal aspersions, they do not cloud arguments, they do not twist facts, they lead by example. They do what is in the best interest of the nation, FIRST!
Sadly, we see that “leadership”, like many common terms, has taken on new meaning; one more akin to ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’, and in the opinion of many; treason…
Exemplifying the point
President Obama’s last national speech: Was just another example of Obama doing what he does best – Dishonesty, Distortions and More Taxes.
America literally faces its demise, economically, morally, ethically, and foundationally. America has been shaken to its very core, and Mr. Obama and the current leaders in his administration and in Congress have achieved what Obama campaigned upon; a fundamental transformation of America. Unfortunately, this was not what Americans bargained for, and we can no longer stand by and wait for the election cycle, politics as usual, and party entrenchment of power to correct the path.
The list of reasons why this is true have been well documented, and the crimes committed well surpass any cogent argument defending the current leadership and in order to reverse the damage, dramatic change is now truly needed. Change, not for change’s sake, but change from this “Road to Ruin.” It is clear to Americans of all walks of life, to those who look through a clear non-ideological lens, that the course we have been steered upon is undeniably not in the best interest of our nation.
Impeach and Demand Resignations
It is therefore now time for the Impeachment of President Barack Hussein Obama and a call for Demand Resignations of Vice President Joe Biden and other politically appointed members of the Obama Administration. This must be done swiftly to save this country from further destruction at home and abroad. Never in the history of this great land have I studied or experienced such a degree of ineptness and incompetence of our governing body, one that borders on treasonous activity if it is not simple ineptitude.
Many people responded to me last year, stating that the demand for resignations would not work…but the program has worked, very effectively, for over a year, in getting rid of some of the “deadwood”. But we are not finished yet in our quest to rid Washington of the greedy, inept, corrupt, in sometime treasonous career politicians/appointees, and those who tread upon and violate the Constitution of the United States openly and notoriously without shame.
Obama’s Progressive Socialist agenda, his lack of leadership skills, honesty and experience, his policy and program initiatives, his executive orders and appointments, all have led this country to a new low in credibility and respect, not only in the United States but from all corners of the world.
The Foundational Argument
The Declaration of Independence states:
“To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”
We cannot permit the current leaders in the White House and Halls of Congress to continue in their efforts to lead us down the road of Progressive Socialism. This is the current battle that we Constitutionalists face and we must be aggressive in our efforts to control our destiny. Our political leaders at the Federal and State level must Stand by their sworn oath:
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
The Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution, which granted the federal government enough authority to cultivate, promote, and secure the Blessings of Liberty. The balance of authority and individual liberty was understood. Power was confined to that which was enumerated in the Constitution with a certain and meaningful intent for check and balances. However, our Republic has been slowly eroded by these so-called Progressives since the days of Woodrow Wilson, and they are not done. They will keep coming back until we say never again. We are not a mob-rule Democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic.
Lincoln issued this warning in his inaugural address:
“Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government and form a new one. This is a most valuable and sacred right – a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world.”
The people must “Stand Up” from the grass roots and replace leaders in our government to ensure America becomes once again, a proud, strong, and viable Nation. The Obama White House and identifiable Members of Congress who are still on a progressive socialist and treasonous death march, bankrupting and weakening the country, must be controlled and/or tossed out. This means raising your voice now to your neighbors, family, co-workers, and friends. Grass roots efforts have been successful to date; but it is now time to put that effort into over drive.
America MUST have a change in government NOW!
Paul Vallely is a retired MG, US Army and is Chairman of Stand Up America USA.
The 6 Strangest Insurance Policies Ever
The insurance industry has been around for hundreds of years and offers policies to cover almost any risk imaginable. Although many types of insurance have real value and protect against the risk inherent in daily life, some individuals have coverage for risks that might seem comical, absurd or even bizarre to many. (For related reading, also take a look at 6 Bizarre Celebrity Insurance Policies.)
READ MORE: 5 Huge Insurance Claims
1. Fantasy Sports Insurance
Fantasy sports are a popular activity for many people that love sports and yearn to recapture their youth. An individual drafts a team of real-life players in baseball, basketball, football, hockey and other sports, and then competes against other managers with points awarded based on the statistics of these players. While some of these fantasy sports leagues are free to enter and played for fun, many others have entry fees and provide substantial payouts to the winners.
One problem faced by all managers is the chance of a real-life injury to a player on their team. Although managers can drop and pick up new players during the season, these roster moves can be expensive and add up during a typical season. Insurance companies now offer fantasy sports policies to reimburse managers if a key player is injured in for more than a set number of games. These policies are customized based on the sport and can cover the entire entry fee in the case of a major injury.
2. Sports Fan Insurance
Another sports-related insurance policy was issued in 2006, and covered an English soccer fan from any “severe trauma” suffered if England was eliminated from an early round of the World Cup. It would appear that no claim was made, as England finished in first place in Group B, won its second round match, and then lost to Portugal in a dramatic penalty shoot out in the quarter finals.
3. Gambling Loss Insurance
Two inventors received a patent for a method and apparatus by which a gambler can protect against excessive losses at a casino. The invention involved setting up a machine inside the casino where gamblers could choose the amount of coverage needed. There is no record of this invention being installed or put into use at any casino.
READ MORE: Unique Insurance Policies You Should Consider
4. Alien Abductions or UFO Insurance
Many insurers offer policies to protect against abduction by aliens with extra coverage to protect against impregnation by those same aliens. A London-based brokerage firm had 4000 of these types of policies outstanding in the late 1990s, including one to members of the Heaven’s Gate Cult. After the mass suicide by that group, the company stopped offering these types of policies. Several companies still offer the coverage for a one-time premium ranging from $9.99 to $19.95.
IN PICTURES: 7 Insurance Tricks That Cost You Money
5. Ghost Insurance
Other insurance companies offer policies to protect against haunting by ghosts or other spirits. One of these policies was purchased by a hotel owner in England after he witnessed a ghost in the hotel bar. The policy paid one million GBP if a customer or employee is killed or permanently disabled by a ghost while on the premises.
READ MORE: 15 Insurance Policies You Don’t Need
6. Immaculate Conception Coverage
Another English insurance company sold insurance to protect women from a virgin birth, or the Immaculate Conception, with the policy covering the cost of raising a child born in this manner. The insurance company collected premiums for six years but felt compelled to cancel this policy after complaints from the public and church authorities.
READ MORE: Are You Over-Insured?
The Bottom Line
There are many unusual and outright bizarre insurance policies written by insurance companies that are more than willing to pocket yearly premiums from customers. These policies are only limited by the human imagination. (For additional reading, also check out Top 10 Life Insurance Myths.)
READ MORE: 5 Huge Insurance Claims
1. Fantasy Sports Insurance
Fantasy sports are a popular activity for many people that love sports and yearn to recapture their youth. An individual drafts a team of real-life players in baseball, basketball, football, hockey and other sports, and then competes against other managers with points awarded based on the statistics of these players. While some of these fantasy sports leagues are free to enter and played for fun, many others have entry fees and provide substantial payouts to the winners.
One problem faced by all managers is the chance of a real-life injury to a player on their team. Although managers can drop and pick up new players during the season, these roster moves can be expensive and add up during a typical season. Insurance companies now offer fantasy sports policies to reimburse managers if a key player is injured in for more than a set number of games. These policies are customized based on the sport and can cover the entire entry fee in the case of a major injury.
2. Sports Fan Insurance
Another sports-related insurance policy was issued in 2006, and covered an English soccer fan from any “severe trauma” suffered if England was eliminated from an early round of the World Cup. It would appear that no claim was made, as England finished in first place in Group B, won its second round match, and then lost to Portugal in a dramatic penalty shoot out in the quarter finals.
3. Gambling Loss Insurance
Two inventors received a patent for a method and apparatus by which a gambler can protect against excessive losses at a casino. The invention involved setting up a machine inside the casino where gamblers could choose the amount of coverage needed. There is no record of this invention being installed or put into use at any casino.
READ MORE: Unique Insurance Policies You Should Consider
4. Alien Abductions or UFO Insurance
Many insurers offer policies to protect against abduction by aliens with extra coverage to protect against impregnation by those same aliens. A London-based brokerage firm had 4000 of these types of policies outstanding in the late 1990s, including one to members of the Heaven’s Gate Cult. After the mass suicide by that group, the company stopped offering these types of policies. Several companies still offer the coverage for a one-time premium ranging from $9.99 to $19.95.
IN PICTURES: 7 Insurance Tricks That Cost You Money
5. Ghost Insurance
Other insurance companies offer policies to protect against haunting by ghosts or other spirits. One of these policies was purchased by a hotel owner in England after he witnessed a ghost in the hotel bar. The policy paid one million GBP if a customer or employee is killed or permanently disabled by a ghost while on the premises.
READ MORE: 15 Insurance Policies You Don’t Need
6. Immaculate Conception Coverage
Another English insurance company sold insurance to protect women from a virgin birth, or the Immaculate Conception, with the policy covering the cost of raising a child born in this manner. The insurance company collected premiums for six years but felt compelled to cancel this policy after complaints from the public and church authorities.
READ MORE: Are You Over-Insured?
The Bottom Line
There are many unusual and outright bizarre insurance policies written by insurance companies that are more than willing to pocket yearly premiums from customers. These policies are only limited by the human imagination. (For additional reading, also check out Top 10 Life Insurance Myths.)
Arizona First State To Pass Proof Of Eligibility Legislation: Moves On To Gov. Brewer For Signature
As reported here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here; Montana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Indiana, Connecticut, Missouri and Iowa are pursuing legislation that will require presidential and vice-presidential candidates prove they're Constitutionally Eligible. The Arizona legislation just passed HB 2177 in the House and it now moves on to Gov. Brewer for her signature. Congrats Arizona!
Yesterday in the Senate at 20-9 and Tonight By 40 - 16 - and 4 not voting in the House of Representatives. I believe that every Republican on both sides of the aisle were YES votes. Awesome.
It's time now to start calling Governor Brewer's office. This may need verification and re-checking, but I believe she has 5days (possibly as much as 10 but no more than that) to sign it. If she doesn't sign it at all, it becomes law. The only way it does not is if she vetoes it.
WOW!!!!! NOW COME ON OKLAHOMA, MISSOURI AND EVERYONE ELSE. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN THESE STATES LET THEM KNOW RIGHT AWAY THAT ARIZONA DID IT AND TO USE THAT TO HELP THEM DO IT. THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT. - Jeff Lichter
Notre Dame Professor Charles Rice: Obama's eligibility could be biggest political fraud in the history of the world; time for a new approach -Details here.
Attorney Mario Apuzzo: All presidents born after 1787, except for Chester Arthur and Barack Obama, met the “natural born Citizen” criteria. -Details here.
Commander Charles Kerchner: List of U.S. Presidents - Eligibility under Article II Grandfather Clause (GFC) or Natural Born Citizen (NBC) Clause or Seated due to Election Fraud -Details here.
Jack Cashill Discusses Obama's Fraudulent Social Security Number Reserved for Connecticut Applicants -Video here.
Visit the Birther Vault for the long list of evidence against Hawaii officials and all of the people questioning Obama's eligibility; [http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2010/08/video-ltc-terry-lakins-attorney-on-cnn.html].
A Catalog of Evidence-Concerned Americans Have Good Reason to Doubt Putative Pres Obama Born in HI
Yesterday in the Senate at 20-9 and Tonight By 40 - 16 - and 4 not voting in the House of Representatives. I believe that every Republican on both sides of the aisle were YES votes. Awesome.
It's time now to start calling Governor Brewer's office. This may need verification and re-checking, but I believe she has 5days (possibly as much as 10 but no more than that) to sign it. If she doesn't sign it at all, it becomes law. The only way it does not is if she vetoes it.
WOW!!!!! NOW COME ON OKLAHOMA, MISSOURI AND EVERYONE ELSE. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN THESE STATES LET THEM KNOW RIGHT AWAY THAT ARIZONA DID IT AND TO USE THAT TO HELP THEM DO IT. THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT. - Jeff Lichter
Notre Dame Professor Charles Rice: Obama's eligibility could be biggest political fraud in the history of the world; time for a new approach -Details here.
Attorney Mario Apuzzo: All presidents born after 1787, except for Chester Arthur and Barack Obama, met the “natural born Citizen” criteria. -Details here.
Commander Charles Kerchner: List of U.S. Presidents - Eligibility under Article II Grandfather Clause (GFC) or Natural Born Citizen (NBC) Clause or Seated due to Election Fraud -Details here.
Jack Cashill Discusses Obama's Fraudulent Social Security Number Reserved for Connecticut Applicants -Video here.
Visit the Birther Vault for the long list of evidence against Hawaii officials and all of the people questioning Obama's eligibility; [http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2010/08/video-ltc-terry-lakins-attorney-on-cnn.html].
A Catalog of Evidence-Concerned Americans Have Good Reason to Doubt Putative Pres Obama Born in HI
Never mind immigration – what about Britain's emigration crisis?
David Cameron wants to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands”. To achieve it, he is talking up the Government’s plans to cut immigration, setting off all sorts of political spats. But, even as the Prime Minister speaks, his government is actually closing in on the target. Not because immigration is falling, of course, but because emigration is increasing. Not for the first time in our history, we are witnessing an exodus of Brits. And they are increasingly the people we can least afford to lose.
Over 1,000 people leave this country every day. Of that number, around 40 per cent are British citizens. According to the OECD, 3.4 million British citizens already live abroad, around 7 per cent of the population. Only Mexico has more expatriates. More importantly, a very high proportion is highly educated – 15 per cent of “highly skilled” Brits live abroad. That’s 1.3 million British graduates.
Large numbers of doctors, scientists and engineers in particular are fleeing – each one educated at taxpayer expense – and we are doing very little about it. Though the recession temporarily lowered emigration, it seems set to keep rising. That sucks away tax revenues, reduces the strength of the economy, and ironically, increases the demand for immigrants.
The problem is that as the population ages, it is intensifying the squeeze on the young. The average house price in London is now £408,000, so no wonder that the average first time buyer is 37 years old. Moreover, those houses are paid for only after the taxman has his take. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, some 1.6 million more people will be paying the higher rate of income tax by 2014 than are now. Many of those will be young professionals with families, who are also losing their child benefit. So is it any surprise that so many are choosing to leave?
If David Cameron genuinely wants us to become less dependent on immigrant workers, then he needs to do something to raise living standards for young educated people. That won’t be easy or cheap, but then nothing important ever is. And the longer he leaves it, the more dependent on cheap immigrant labour Britain becomes.
Over 1,000 people leave this country every day. Of that number, around 40 per cent are British citizens. According to the OECD, 3.4 million British citizens already live abroad, around 7 per cent of the population. Only Mexico has more expatriates. More importantly, a very high proportion is highly educated – 15 per cent of “highly skilled” Brits live abroad. That’s 1.3 million British graduates.
Large numbers of doctors, scientists and engineers in particular are fleeing – each one educated at taxpayer expense – and we are doing very little about it. Though the recession temporarily lowered emigration, it seems set to keep rising. That sucks away tax revenues, reduces the strength of the economy, and ironically, increases the demand for immigrants.
The problem is that as the population ages, it is intensifying the squeeze on the young. The average house price in London is now £408,000, so no wonder that the average first time buyer is 37 years old. Moreover, those houses are paid for only after the taxman has his take. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, some 1.6 million more people will be paying the higher rate of income tax by 2014 than are now. Many of those will be young professionals with families, who are also losing their child benefit. So is it any surprise that so many are choosing to leave?
If David Cameron genuinely wants us to become less dependent on immigrant workers, then he needs to do something to raise living standards for young educated people. That won’t be easy or cheap, but then nothing important ever is. And the longer he leaves it, the more dependent on cheap immigrant labour Britain becomes.
2012 Election Price Tag: $8 Billion
2012 Election Price Tag: $8 Billion
Thursday, 14 Apr 2011 07:24 PM
By Jim Meyers
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign shattered all records by raising $760 million in the last election cycle. That record is not likely to last much longer — Obama is expected to raise more than $1 billion for his re-election campaign.
And overall spending by all candidates in 2012 is predicted to eclipse an astounding $8 billion.
In short, while polls show an angry surge of tea party voters and others pressing Congress to reduce the rampant spending government has been addicted to for decades, lawmakers every year are spending larger and larger sums to get their own government jobs.
On Thursday, both the House and the Senate passed a budget measure that cuts $38.5 billion in spending while funding the government for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. With its passage, the White House and Congress will now focus on what are expected to be more rancorous battles over a budget for fiscal year 2012 and the upcoming need to raise the federal debt limit.
Yet while the president and other lawmakers call for restraint in public spending, there seems to be no limits on what they'll raise and spend to get elected.
Obama’s fundraising begins Thursday night in his hometown Chicago. First he is speaking at a $5,000 to $15,000-per-plate fundraiser at a steakhouse. Then he’s off to a $35,000-per-person event at MK Restaurant, where he’ll eat dinner.
The meal will feature hors d’oeuvres including lobster sandwiches, farm-raised perch, and beef tartare. Entrees include Maine salmon with asparagus and shaved fennel, seared Maine sea scallops, rosemary braised short ribs, and parsnip puree.
After dinner, the president will headline a fundraiser in Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom, where guests will pay $100 to $250 per person.
Obama’s $1 billion fundraising target is intended to offset what he believes to be an onslaught of outside spending by corporate interests backing Republicans, Bill Holman, government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, told Yahoo! News.
That spending will be fueled by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United case, which stated that “restrictions on corporate independent expenditures are invalid.”
In the midterm elections, the first after the ruling, spending hit a record $3 billion and interest group outlays rose five-fold compared to the 2006 midterms, according to the Washington Post.
A $1 billion war chest would allow Obama's 2012 campaign to advertise on television, radio and newspapers in almost any market it wants to, rather than pick and choose the cities and states where it will spend money, a Reuters report noted.
The campaign would also be able to buy ads targeting specific groups, such as Hispanic or urban voters.
Including House and Senate races, Holman estimates that as much as $8 billion will be spent on the 2012 elections.
The largest chunk of that money will be spent on broadcast advertising concentrated in battleground states, if the pattern in 2008 is an indication of where the money will go. In 2008, about 87 percent of all spending was concentrated in just 11 states for the general election, according to the media buying firm Horizon Media.
Obama’s team spent $427 million on media in 2008, including $244 million on broadcast media.
During that campaign Obama raised more than $740 million from individuals, more than George W. Bush and John Kerry combined in the 2004 presidential election. Obama was able to outspend John McCain by a margin of four to one in key battleground states in the final stretch of the campaign.
A Newsmax report from December 9 headlined “Big Money Bought Obama the White House” disclosed that according to FEC figures, big donors who gave in chunks of $1,000 or more spent nearly $184 million to back the Obama campaign.
This time around, Obama’s early start on fundraising, plus his deep corporate connections and the power of incumbency, should enable him to easily outpace Republican challengers in fundraising during the early months of the campaign — especially since no GOP challenger has officially launched a campaign.
Thursday, 14 Apr 2011 07:24 PM
By Jim Meyers
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign shattered all records by raising $760 million in the last election cycle. That record is not likely to last much longer — Obama is expected to raise more than $1 billion for his re-election campaign.
And overall spending by all candidates in 2012 is predicted to eclipse an astounding $8 billion.
In short, while polls show an angry surge of tea party voters and others pressing Congress to reduce the rampant spending government has been addicted to for decades, lawmakers every year are spending larger and larger sums to get their own government jobs.
On Thursday, both the House and the Senate passed a budget measure that cuts $38.5 billion in spending while funding the government for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. With its passage, the White House and Congress will now focus on what are expected to be more rancorous battles over a budget for fiscal year 2012 and the upcoming need to raise the federal debt limit.
Yet while the president and other lawmakers call for restraint in public spending, there seems to be no limits on what they'll raise and spend to get elected.
Obama’s fundraising begins Thursday night in his hometown Chicago. First he is speaking at a $5,000 to $15,000-per-plate fundraiser at a steakhouse. Then he’s off to a $35,000-per-person event at MK Restaurant, where he’ll eat dinner.
The meal will feature hors d’oeuvres including lobster sandwiches, farm-raised perch, and beef tartare. Entrees include Maine salmon with asparagus and shaved fennel, seared Maine sea scallops, rosemary braised short ribs, and parsnip puree.
After dinner, the president will headline a fundraiser in Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom, where guests will pay $100 to $250 per person.
Obama’s $1 billion fundraising target is intended to offset what he believes to be an onslaught of outside spending by corporate interests backing Republicans, Bill Holman, government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, told Yahoo! News.
That spending will be fueled by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United case, which stated that “restrictions on corporate independent expenditures are invalid.”
In the midterm elections, the first after the ruling, spending hit a record $3 billion and interest group outlays rose five-fold compared to the 2006 midterms, according to the Washington Post.
A $1 billion war chest would allow Obama's 2012 campaign to advertise on television, radio and newspapers in almost any market it wants to, rather than pick and choose the cities and states where it will spend money, a Reuters report noted.
The campaign would also be able to buy ads targeting specific groups, such as Hispanic or urban voters.
Including House and Senate races, Holman estimates that as much as $8 billion will be spent on the 2012 elections.
The largest chunk of that money will be spent on broadcast advertising concentrated in battleground states, if the pattern in 2008 is an indication of where the money will go. In 2008, about 87 percent of all spending was concentrated in just 11 states for the general election, according to the media buying firm Horizon Media.
Obama’s team spent $427 million on media in 2008, including $244 million on broadcast media.
During that campaign Obama raised more than $740 million from individuals, more than George W. Bush and John Kerry combined in the 2004 presidential election. Obama was able to outspend John McCain by a margin of four to one in key battleground states in the final stretch of the campaign.
A Newsmax report from December 9 headlined “Big Money Bought Obama the White House” disclosed that according to FEC figures, big donors who gave in chunks of $1,000 or more spent nearly $184 million to back the Obama campaign.
This time around, Obama’s early start on fundraising, plus his deep corporate connections and the power of incumbency, should enable him to easily outpace Republican challengers in fundraising during the early months of the campaign — especially since no GOP challenger has officially launched a campaign.
Western banks abandon Russia
March 3:
Several western banks are abandoning their attempts to do business in Russia. According to Bloomberg, at least six European and U.S. banks have announced plans over the last year to either cut back their operations in Russia, or close up shop there altogether. The institutions in question include Morgan Stanley, Spanish lender Banco Santander, and Britain's Barclay’s. Though the Kremlin has begun a new push to build its fledgling mortgage industry, many foreign investors and companies have found it difficult to cope with the country's state-owned institutions, which maintain control over half of the banking system’s total assets, and are only growing with time. Other banks, however, are staying, and Russian banking analysts remain bullish. “Russia remains a growth story, and there is huge potential for banks to tap the rapidly growing consumer lending market,” says one banking expert in Moscow.
March 4:
Current estimates suggest the Kremlin faces the loss of up to $10 billion in arms contracts as a result of continuing unrest in the Arab world. With the recent international embargo placed on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, reports UPI, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport already stands to lose $4 billion in contracts with Tripoli for fighter jets and tanks. But Libya could be just the tip of the iceberg; Russian defense industry sources estimate that the total costs of cancelled arms deals and lost revenue for Russia's massive arms sector as a result of the so-called "Arab Spring" could be more than double the revenues already lost in Libya.
March 5:
Computer software giant Microsoft has become among the first Western companies to invest in the Kremlin's new Skolkovo innovation hub. According to the Moscow Times, Microsoft recently provided the first seed money to an anti-piracy startup company named Pirate Pay. The company reportedly has received $100,000 to pursue the development of new technology intended to prevent the unlawful uploading and downloading of copyrighted music and audio files. Microsoft has further announced its intention to sponsor 100 IT startups over the next decade, with grants varying from $30,000 to as much as $500,000.
March 6:
IKEA, the world's largest home furnishings retailer, has refused to expand its operations in Russia until authorities stop “withholding permission” for the construction of two outlets in Samara and Ufa. Bloomberg and London's Guardian report that IKEA's announcement reconfirms the company’s freeze on expansion, initially put into place back in June 2009, following claims of extortion by local officials. “The reason the stores aren’t opening is that IKEA is refusing to pay bribes to safety inspectors,” the head of the Moscow-based NGO National Anti-Corruption Committee has said. “We have zero tolerance on corruption and we have a very clear policy,” confirms Per Wendschlag, IKEA’s managing director.
[Editors' Note: IKEA is hardly alone in the hardships it has experienced in dealing with Russian officials and regulations. Royal Dutch Shell, Nestle, Wal-Mart and Carrefour have all had similar struggles with Russian bureaucracy. All but Nestle have since quit their operations in Russia.]
March 9:
Russia's ruling United Russia party is laying the groundwork for a new, tougher anti-extremism law, the Moscow Times reports. "Calls for ethnic hatred pose a serious threat to public safety, and the upper ceiling for perpetrators should be raised," United Russia official Andrei Nazarov has written in a commentary for the party's website. Nazarov's claim, which can be seen as a trial balloon for harsher penalties for conduct deemed "extremist" by authorities, follows a meeting of the Russian Lawyers Association in which participants proposed upping the penalty for violations of anti-extremism measures already on the books to a maximum of ten years in prison. Nazarov, who also serves as a member of the Russian Duma and in that capacity chairs the Russian lower house's Legislative Committee, has said that it would soon begin drafting an amendment to existing anti-extremism legislation that would codify the stiffer penalties.
Several western banks are abandoning their attempts to do business in Russia. According to Bloomberg, at least six European and U.S. banks have announced plans over the last year to either cut back their operations in Russia, or close up shop there altogether. The institutions in question include Morgan Stanley, Spanish lender Banco Santander, and Britain's Barclay’s. Though the Kremlin has begun a new push to build its fledgling mortgage industry, many foreign investors and companies have found it difficult to cope with the country's state-owned institutions, which maintain control over half of the banking system’s total assets, and are only growing with time. Other banks, however, are staying, and Russian banking analysts remain bullish. “Russia remains a growth story, and there is huge potential for banks to tap the rapidly growing consumer lending market,” says one banking expert in Moscow.
March 4:
Current estimates suggest the Kremlin faces the loss of up to $10 billion in arms contracts as a result of continuing unrest in the Arab world. With the recent international embargo placed on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, reports UPI, Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport already stands to lose $4 billion in contracts with Tripoli for fighter jets and tanks. But Libya could be just the tip of the iceberg; Russian defense industry sources estimate that the total costs of cancelled arms deals and lost revenue for Russia's massive arms sector as a result of the so-called "Arab Spring" could be more than double the revenues already lost in Libya.
March 5:
Computer software giant Microsoft has become among the first Western companies to invest in the Kremlin's new Skolkovo innovation hub. According to the Moscow Times, Microsoft recently provided the first seed money to an anti-piracy startup company named Pirate Pay. The company reportedly has received $100,000 to pursue the development of new technology intended to prevent the unlawful uploading and downloading of copyrighted music and audio files. Microsoft has further announced its intention to sponsor 100 IT startups over the next decade, with grants varying from $30,000 to as much as $500,000.
March 6:
IKEA, the world's largest home furnishings retailer, has refused to expand its operations in Russia until authorities stop “withholding permission” for the construction of two outlets in Samara and Ufa. Bloomberg and London's Guardian report that IKEA's announcement reconfirms the company’s freeze on expansion, initially put into place back in June 2009, following claims of extortion by local officials. “The reason the stores aren’t opening is that IKEA is refusing to pay bribes to safety inspectors,” the head of the Moscow-based NGO National Anti-Corruption Committee has said. “We have zero tolerance on corruption and we have a very clear policy,” confirms Per Wendschlag, IKEA’s managing director.
[Editors' Note: IKEA is hardly alone in the hardships it has experienced in dealing with Russian officials and regulations. Royal Dutch Shell, Nestle, Wal-Mart and Carrefour have all had similar struggles with Russian bureaucracy. All but Nestle have since quit their operations in Russia.]
March 9:
Russia's ruling United Russia party is laying the groundwork for a new, tougher anti-extremism law, the Moscow Times reports. "Calls for ethnic hatred pose a serious threat to public safety, and the upper ceiling for perpetrators should be raised," United Russia official Andrei Nazarov has written in a commentary for the party's website. Nazarov's claim, which can be seen as a trial balloon for harsher penalties for conduct deemed "extremist" by authorities, follows a meeting of the Russian Lawyers Association in which participants proposed upping the penalty for violations of anti-extremism measures already on the books to a maximum of ten years in prison. Nazarov, who also serves as a member of the Russian Duma and in that capacity chairs the Russian lower house's Legislative Committee, has said that it would soon begin drafting an amendment to existing anti-extremism legislation that would codify the stiffer penalties.
Have U.S., International Spies Penetrated Deep Within Iran?
New information regarding the Iranian airplane that was forced to land last month in Turkey should confirm suspicion of international covert operations inside the regime.
Last month, according to reports, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards-owned cargo plane was escorted to Diyarbakir airport and forced to land by a small formation of Turkish fighter jets. The plane, said to have been headed to Syria, was carrying 600 kilos of explosives, as well as rocket launchers, mortars, Kalashnikovs, and approximately $560 million. The government of Turkey claims several sources tipped them off, including one American military source, who requested that the pilot of the cargo plane be forced to land on Turkish soil.
Turkish authorities are said to have requested a list of the contents of the plane from the Iranian regime, in response to its demand for the return of its plane along with the contents. So far, the Iranian regime has not responded, likely fearing that providing such a list would be admitting that they actually dared to fly over Turkish airspace in order to deliver arms and money to Lebanon, Syria, and Hezbollah.
The question remains: How did the U.S. and international intelligence sources have access to such information? Have the most classified intelligence and security sectors of the Revolutionary Guards been penetrated? Dozens more examples have now come to light, making it clear that not only have the Revolutionary Guards been breached, but also the heart of the supreme leadership. For example:
The escapes of various nuclear experts and military commanders, such as former Revolutionary Guards’ Brigadier General Ali-Reza Asgari, who was also a former deputy defense minister.
The mysterious explosion in the suburbs of Tehran in the summer of 2008 which destroyed a Revolutionary Guards convoy carrying military equipment destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing at least 15 people and injuring scores more.
A similar explosion in 2010 at Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles depot inside a Revolutionary Guards’ base located in the western Iranian province of Lurestan. More than 18 were killed and many injured along with the destruction of many missiles.
The Stuxnet virus, which infected the Iranian nuclear facilities, was most likely carried out by an asset on the ground.
Reports pointed to an informant inside the Guards after an illegal Iranian arms shipment of rockets and grenades destined for Gambia was discovered in Nigeria last October, and Quds Force commander Azim Aghajani, who was posing as a businessman, was subsequently arrested.
In just the last couple months, valuable information about Iran has helped with the confiscation of several ships and planes which were carrying arms and explosives either to Iran or from Iran to the Middle East and Africa. One such incident occurred last month: Malaysian police seized suspicious equipment found in two containers from a ship that left a Chinese port bound for Iran. The equipment was said to be for nuclear weapons.
It is important to note that China has been collaborating with the radicals ruling Iran ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and today continues to help Iran with its nuclear ambitions. (I submitted several reports on precisely that to the CIA during the time I worked as a spy inside the Revolutionary Guards, and have covered the Chinese connection in my book, A Time to Betray.) China was continuously providing arms to the Revolutionary Guards despite the U.S. arms embargo back then — even training Guards’ members at a base in China. The Chinese also provided Silkworm missiles to Iran, which threatened the security of the Persian Gulf. China has done all of this while publicly denying the collaboration in its entirety.
The recent events have forced Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security to conduct well-publicized sweeps of their hierarchy every once in a while in order to filter out the “spies” among them.
So far, not a single sector of the regime — including the parliament, the president’s office, and the supreme leader, who is the commander of the armed forces and who oversees all aspects of the regime — has questioned any of the incidents: not the forced landing of the plane in Turkey, the explosions in Iran, the impounding of all the cargo ships in international waters, the carrying of arms, or many other such episodes.
Though many brave men and women in and outside of Iran risk their lives each day to help confront this evil regime, the Iranian leaders — with their collaborations with China and North Korea — grow ever closer to obtaining the nuclear bomb. It is our responsibility to humanity and to future generations to help Iranians overthrow their messianic regime before it is too late for all of us.
Reza Kahlili is a pseudonym for an ex-CIA spy who requires anonymity for safety reasons. A Time to Betray, his book about his double life as a CIA agent in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was published by Simon & Schuster on April 6.
Last month, according to reports, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards-owned cargo plane was escorted to Diyarbakir airport and forced to land by a small formation of Turkish fighter jets. The plane, said to have been headed to Syria, was carrying 600 kilos of explosives, as well as rocket launchers, mortars, Kalashnikovs, and approximately $560 million. The government of Turkey claims several sources tipped them off, including one American military source, who requested that the pilot of the cargo plane be forced to land on Turkish soil.
Turkish authorities are said to have requested a list of the contents of the plane from the Iranian regime, in response to its demand for the return of its plane along with the contents. So far, the Iranian regime has not responded, likely fearing that providing such a list would be admitting that they actually dared to fly over Turkish airspace in order to deliver arms and money to Lebanon, Syria, and Hezbollah.
The question remains: How did the U.S. and international intelligence sources have access to such information? Have the most classified intelligence and security sectors of the Revolutionary Guards been penetrated? Dozens more examples have now come to light, making it clear that not only have the Revolutionary Guards been breached, but also the heart of the supreme leadership. For example:
The escapes of various nuclear experts and military commanders, such as former Revolutionary Guards’ Brigadier General Ali-Reza Asgari, who was also a former deputy defense minister.
The mysterious explosion in the suburbs of Tehran in the summer of 2008 which destroyed a Revolutionary Guards convoy carrying military equipment destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing at least 15 people and injuring scores more.
A similar explosion in 2010 at Iran’s Shahab-3 ballistic missiles depot inside a Revolutionary Guards’ base located in the western Iranian province of Lurestan. More than 18 were killed and many injured along with the destruction of many missiles.
The Stuxnet virus, which infected the Iranian nuclear facilities, was most likely carried out by an asset on the ground.
Reports pointed to an informant inside the Guards after an illegal Iranian arms shipment of rockets and grenades destined for Gambia was discovered in Nigeria last October, and Quds Force commander Azim Aghajani, who was posing as a businessman, was subsequently arrested.
In just the last couple months, valuable information about Iran has helped with the confiscation of several ships and planes which were carrying arms and explosives either to Iran or from Iran to the Middle East and Africa. One such incident occurred last month: Malaysian police seized suspicious equipment found in two containers from a ship that left a Chinese port bound for Iran. The equipment was said to be for nuclear weapons.
It is important to note that China has been collaborating with the radicals ruling Iran ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and today continues to help Iran with its nuclear ambitions. (I submitted several reports on precisely that to the CIA during the time I worked as a spy inside the Revolutionary Guards, and have covered the Chinese connection in my book, A Time to Betray.) China was continuously providing arms to the Revolutionary Guards despite the U.S. arms embargo back then — even training Guards’ members at a base in China. The Chinese also provided Silkworm missiles to Iran, which threatened the security of the Persian Gulf. China has done all of this while publicly denying the collaboration in its entirety.
The recent events have forced Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security to conduct well-publicized sweeps of their hierarchy every once in a while in order to filter out the “spies” among them.
So far, not a single sector of the regime — including the parliament, the president’s office, and the supreme leader, who is the commander of the armed forces and who oversees all aspects of the regime — has questioned any of the incidents: not the forced landing of the plane in Turkey, the explosions in Iran, the impounding of all the cargo ships in international waters, the carrying of arms, or many other such episodes.
Though many brave men and women in and outside of Iran risk their lives each day to help confront this evil regime, the Iranian leaders — with their collaborations with China and North Korea — grow ever closer to obtaining the nuclear bomb. It is our responsibility to humanity and to future generations to help Iranians overthrow their messianic regime before it is too late for all of us.
Reza Kahlili is a pseudonym for an ex-CIA spy who requires anonymity for safety reasons. A Time to Betray, his book about his double life as a CIA agent in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was published by Simon & Schuster on April 6.
Bahrain: regime seeks dissolution of biggest opposition party
Bahrain stepped up a crackdown on opposition activists on Thursday by seeking the dissolution of its biggest political party for anti-constitutional activities.
Officials said that al-Wefaq, which represents the Shia Muslim majority of the Sunni-run kingdom and another party, Islamic Action, were guilty of incitement.
Bahrain imposed emergency rule last month after it sought military assistance from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to crush protests. Opposition activists had staged violent demonstrations which called for the overthrow for the Khalifa dynasty.
The arrival of Saudi troops brought talks between royal family modernisers and Wefaq to an abrupt halt.
Wefaq won the 18 seats it contested for the 40-member parliament last year.
But the strength of the uprising — hundreds of thousands occupied the centre of Manama – unnerved the Gulf states, who viewed the rebellion as a front for Iranian interests.
Hundreds of Shia have been arrested in Bahrain in the last month and many more have been dismissed from state companies.
Bahrain appears set to abandon a period of democratisation. King Hamad, who took power in 1999, declared the tribal government a constitutional monarchy in 2002 in order to promote constitutional reforms.
“It’s reached a stage where they say there are no more moderates, that the entire opposition consists of extremists. This is the wrong message,” said Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, an ex-MP for Wefaq.
But traditionalists in the 30,000-strong Khalifa clan have resisted meaningful change and the consequences of Saudi Arabia’s intervention is likely to be a return to rule by decree.
Officials said that al-Wefaq, which represents the Shia Muslim majority of the Sunni-run kingdom and another party, Islamic Action, were guilty of incitement.
Bahrain imposed emergency rule last month after it sought military assistance from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to crush protests. Opposition activists had staged violent demonstrations which called for the overthrow for the Khalifa dynasty.
The arrival of Saudi troops brought talks between royal family modernisers and Wefaq to an abrupt halt.
Wefaq won the 18 seats it contested for the 40-member parliament last year.
But the strength of the uprising — hundreds of thousands occupied the centre of Manama – unnerved the Gulf states, who viewed the rebellion as a front for Iranian interests.
Hundreds of Shia have been arrested in Bahrain in the last month and many more have been dismissed from state companies.
Bahrain appears set to abandon a period of democratisation. King Hamad, who took power in 1999, declared the tribal government a constitutional monarchy in 2002 in order to promote constitutional reforms.
“It’s reached a stage where they say there are no more moderates, that the entire opposition consists of extremists. This is the wrong message,” said Mattar Ibrahim Mattar, an ex-MP for Wefaq.
But traditionalists in the 30,000-strong Khalifa clan have resisted meaningful change and the consequences of Saudi Arabia’s intervention is likely to be a return to rule by decree.
Scottish Election 2011: Iain Gray denies 'Stalinist' jobs plan
Iain Gray has denied accusations that he plans a “Stalinist-style” jobs recovery programme, driven and funded by the state, if elected as First Minister next month.
Mr Gray attacked Alex Salmond for suggesting that the Scottish Labour leader wanted to generate economic recovery “by diktat”.
But he came under renewed attack from the Scottish Conservatives last night who accused Mr Gray of wanting to create “Stalinist-style five-year-plans”.
The First Minister used a Holyrood leaders’ debate in front of small business leaders to claim that Labour did not understand how the Scottish economy worked and added that recovery could not be directed from Holyrood.
Yesterday the Scottish Labour leader defended his plans to end youth unemployment in the next parliament by offering an apprenticeship to every young person who wants one, and creating a total of 250,000 jobs. While on the campaign trail in Edinburgh with Alistair Darling, the former chancellor, he denied that Labour’s manifesto was state-centric, and claimed it was a document that private enterprise had welcomed.
“Of course it’s the case that it is businesses that’ll create the jobs in our plan, as in any jobs plan,” he said. “Labour is the only party that’s bringing forward a plan to createjobs. It [the manifesto] is responding to what people want. We are going to guarantee young people an apprenticeship and we are already talking to the private sector about how to do that, and what role they can play in it.”
Mr Salmond told an audience on Tuesday night: “Governments don’t create jobs by diktat – you don’t set a figure for jobs and say ‘we’re going to create these jobs’. They [governments] identify the sectors and the marketplaces which will allow businesses to generate these jobs.”
Although he did not mention his rival by name, the comments were directed at the centrepiece of Labour’s manifesto, a promise to create 250,000 jobs.
Mr Gray has claimed that the positions can be created from growing the renewable energy industry and a new £40 million Scottish Futures Jobs Fund.
Labour’s Plus One scheme is intended to create 32,000 jobs by giving financial help to small businesses to take on extra staff. The total also includes 120,000 apprenticeships to be created by 2015 at a cost of £25 million.
Mr Darling MP, attending a Tesco store in the Edinburgh Western constituency with Mr Gray and Labour’s candidate for the seat Lesley Hinds, said: “Iain Gray is a very sensible, middle-of-the-road Labour party member, as I am.”
David McLetchie, the Scottish Tory campaign director and candidate for Edinburgh Pentlands, suggested that Labour’s plans were “Stalinist”.
He said: “Iain Gray has the grim and steely look of a man used to drawing up failed five-year-plans for tractor production but in truth he is just Old Labour with a child-like faith in the ability of Government to command, direct and micro-manage the economy despite all the evidence to the contrary.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: “Governments can’t create jobs just by saying it, you have to put in place the growth strategy to deliver the jobs. That is exactly what the SNP government has done, and that is why there are 25,000 more people in employment in Scotland now than there were a year ago, and over 130,000 more Scots in jobs than when Iain Gray was Enterprise Minister in 2002.”
Mr Gray attacked Alex Salmond for suggesting that the Scottish Labour leader wanted to generate economic recovery “by diktat”.
But he came under renewed attack from the Scottish Conservatives last night who accused Mr Gray of wanting to create “Stalinist-style five-year-plans”.
The First Minister used a Holyrood leaders’ debate in front of small business leaders to claim that Labour did not understand how the Scottish economy worked and added that recovery could not be directed from Holyrood.
Yesterday the Scottish Labour leader defended his plans to end youth unemployment in the next parliament by offering an apprenticeship to every young person who wants one, and creating a total of 250,000 jobs. While on the campaign trail in Edinburgh with Alistair Darling, the former chancellor, he denied that Labour’s manifesto was state-centric, and claimed it was a document that private enterprise had welcomed.
“Of course it’s the case that it is businesses that’ll create the jobs in our plan, as in any jobs plan,” he said. “Labour is the only party that’s bringing forward a plan to createjobs. It [the manifesto] is responding to what people want. We are going to guarantee young people an apprenticeship and we are already talking to the private sector about how to do that, and what role they can play in it.”
Mr Salmond told an audience on Tuesday night: “Governments don’t create jobs by diktat – you don’t set a figure for jobs and say ‘we’re going to create these jobs’. They [governments] identify the sectors and the marketplaces which will allow businesses to generate these jobs.”
Although he did not mention his rival by name, the comments were directed at the centrepiece of Labour’s manifesto, a promise to create 250,000 jobs.
Mr Gray has claimed that the positions can be created from growing the renewable energy industry and a new £40 million Scottish Futures Jobs Fund.
Labour’s Plus One scheme is intended to create 32,000 jobs by giving financial help to small businesses to take on extra staff. The total also includes 120,000 apprenticeships to be created by 2015 at a cost of £25 million.
Mr Darling MP, attending a Tesco store in the Edinburgh Western constituency with Mr Gray and Labour’s candidate for the seat Lesley Hinds, said: “Iain Gray is a very sensible, middle-of-the-road Labour party member, as I am.”
David McLetchie, the Scottish Tory campaign director and candidate for Edinburgh Pentlands, suggested that Labour’s plans were “Stalinist”.
He said: “Iain Gray has the grim and steely look of a man used to drawing up failed five-year-plans for tractor production but in truth he is just Old Labour with a child-like faith in the ability of Government to command, direct and micro-manage the economy despite all the evidence to the contrary.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: “Governments can’t create jobs just by saying it, you have to put in place the growth strategy to deliver the jobs. That is exactly what the SNP government has done, and that is why there are 25,000 more people in employment in Scotland now than there were a year ago, and over 130,000 more Scots in jobs than when Iain Gray was Enterprise Minister in 2002.”
Welcome To Our Homosexual Day of Silence
Friday, April 15, the Homosexual Day of Silence is being promoted in government schools across the country.
Welcome students. Today is the big day. Today is your chance to take a stand against the forces of bigotry and homophobia that unfairly targets our brothers, sisters and others in the gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual and gender optional community.
By your very presence here, you signify your complete acceptance and approval of alternative lifestyles, sex on demand and the right of all to engage in whatever sexual practices feel good at the moment. You should be proud. And you may all now officially consider yourself enlightened. And empowered.
I want to thank all of you for not bowing down to the fanatical and intolerant Christians who hate sex. I want to acknowledge your bravery, tolerance and dedication to the concept of gender neutrality and the right of every man, woman and others to choose whichever sexual orientation they prefer.
We all recognize the problems you all encounter in your support of these basic human rights. And one day soon, thanks to you, gay men will not have to face the abject discrimination of being forced to use a men's room. Pretty soon, I envision a world where all gender challenged people will be judged by the content of their character instead of their sexual orientation.
Until that day comes, however, I urge you to continue to flaunt your sexuality in the faces of those who, incredibly, still object to men swapping spit with other men. Remember, they are repressed. It's not their fault. They just don't "get it."
I'd also like to thank our generous sponsors, your very own teacher's union. Thanks to them, we have arranged a variety of field trips and a several opportunities for activism. Sign up sheets are available and you will all get class credit and a small stipend for your participation.
Sorry Jannella, we're not taking questions. This is a day of silence. Just listen and don't comment. Unless of course, you're a homophobe....
As I was saying, (could you please quiet down there in back), this school is behind you all the way and will be happy to sponsor any "spontaneous" gatherings in support of our LGBT community. Our print shop has designed and printed several posters you can choose from. (What? No, sorry, we're all out of the Jesus is a Fag signs.)
Because those mean-spirited Republicans just forced Obama to decimate the budget, our teacher's union has been forced to limit the usual per diem. Of course, if your protest makes it to national TV, we'll happily reconsider.
Because this is a national day of silence, I'd like to suggest some excellent visual opportunities. I have several tubes of lipstick for any of you guys out there. Having you boys wear lipstick is a great way to banish the remaining stereotypes of manly men. For you gals, we have these cute buttons with pictures of manly women and effeminate men. (Yes, Henry, you can have both lipstick and a button.)
Last but not least, I'd like to announce our Homosexual Pride essay contest. Our generous teacher's union has offered a grand prize of $500.00 for whomever pens the most articulate and inflammatory essay. The topic is: How Marriage Between a Man and a Woman is Unconstitutional. The winner and runner-up will also be given a pass on math and science for the rest of the semester. (Quiet down!!! This is a day of silence!)
For those of you in the lower grades that haven't yet learned to write, we're offering a prize for the best poster. If you need some help, just holler. Just kidding! Ha, ha.
I'd like to thank all of you for your support. I'd also like to stress that your participation in this momentous event is mandatory. We'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to your parents. Believe it or not, some parents would object. I know, I know. But take heart in the fact that pretty soon they'll see the light. NAMBLA has a table right over there that offers lots of good information that should come in handy should you need to educate your parents.
You are all excused from classes for the rest of the day. Now go out there and make your silence heard!
Nancy Morgan is a columnist and news editor for conservative news site RightBias.com
She lives in South Carolina
Welcome students. Today is the big day. Today is your chance to take a stand against the forces of bigotry and homophobia that unfairly targets our brothers, sisters and others in the gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual and gender optional community.
By your very presence here, you signify your complete acceptance and approval of alternative lifestyles, sex on demand and the right of all to engage in whatever sexual practices feel good at the moment. You should be proud. And you may all now officially consider yourself enlightened. And empowered.
I want to thank all of you for not bowing down to the fanatical and intolerant Christians who hate sex. I want to acknowledge your bravery, tolerance and dedication to the concept of gender neutrality and the right of every man, woman and others to choose whichever sexual orientation they prefer.
We all recognize the problems you all encounter in your support of these basic human rights. And one day soon, thanks to you, gay men will not have to face the abject discrimination of being forced to use a men's room. Pretty soon, I envision a world where all gender challenged people will be judged by the content of their character instead of their sexual orientation.
Until that day comes, however, I urge you to continue to flaunt your sexuality in the faces of those who, incredibly, still object to men swapping spit with other men. Remember, they are repressed. It's not their fault. They just don't "get it."
I'd also like to thank our generous sponsors, your very own teacher's union. Thanks to them, we have arranged a variety of field trips and a several opportunities for activism. Sign up sheets are available and you will all get class credit and a small stipend for your participation.
Sorry Jannella, we're not taking questions. This is a day of silence. Just listen and don't comment. Unless of course, you're a homophobe....
As I was saying, (could you please quiet down there in back), this school is behind you all the way and will be happy to sponsor any "spontaneous" gatherings in support of our LGBT community. Our print shop has designed and printed several posters you can choose from. (What? No, sorry, we're all out of the Jesus is a Fag signs.)
Because those mean-spirited Republicans just forced Obama to decimate the budget, our teacher's union has been forced to limit the usual per diem. Of course, if your protest makes it to national TV, we'll happily reconsider.
Because this is a national day of silence, I'd like to suggest some excellent visual opportunities. I have several tubes of lipstick for any of you guys out there. Having you boys wear lipstick is a great way to banish the remaining stereotypes of manly men. For you gals, we have these cute buttons with pictures of manly women and effeminate men. (Yes, Henry, you can have both lipstick and a button.)
Last but not least, I'd like to announce our Homosexual Pride essay contest. Our generous teacher's union has offered a grand prize of $500.00 for whomever pens the most articulate and inflammatory essay. The topic is: How Marriage Between a Man and a Woman is Unconstitutional. The winner and runner-up will also be given a pass on math and science for the rest of the semester. (Quiet down!!! This is a day of silence!)
For those of you in the lower grades that haven't yet learned to write, we're offering a prize for the best poster. If you need some help, just holler. Just kidding! Ha, ha.
I'd like to thank all of you for your support. I'd also like to stress that your participation in this momentous event is mandatory. We'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to your parents. Believe it or not, some parents would object. I know, I know. But take heart in the fact that pretty soon they'll see the light. NAMBLA has a table right over there that offers lots of good information that should come in handy should you need to educate your parents.
You are all excused from classes for the rest of the day. Now go out there and make your silence heard!
Nancy Morgan is a columnist and news editor for conservative news site RightBias.com
She lives in South Carolina
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