Disclaimer: I do not necessarily agree with all of the ideas presented here. But I present them for education. Watch and Make your own decisions.
Tag: Middle East
The Left and Israel
I am writing this, because I think a point is being missed by some on the right.
This is in response to Van Helsing’s posting about left and Israel, and I give you a quote from that:
The harder you try to be good, the faster liberals will knife you in the back in favor of those who don’t try at all.
First off, let me straighten that whole thing out. The reason why the left rejects Israel’s right to exist; is because liberals in general; but not all of them, reject the Old Testament or as those who are Jewish would call it; the writing of the prophets. In essence, they reject the Biblical history of the Nation of Israel.
Van Helsing also posts a “feel sorry for Israel” video, which I will not embed here, because I just feel that it is one-sided. Israel is not without blame; I am sorry to be the one to say this, but I will, because I believe in speaking the truth. I do not accept Israel’s explanation of what happened to the U.S.S. Liberty. In fact, Neither did people in the United States Government:
Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State at the time of the incident, wrote:
I was never satisfied with the Israeli explanation. Their sustained attack to disable and sink Liberty precluded an assault by accident or some trigger-happy local commander. Through diplomatic channels we refused to accept their explanations. I didn’t believe them then, and I don’t believe them to this day. The attack was outrageous.[51] Source
So, as you see, I am not alone in my opinion of this situation. Now, am I an Anti-Semite? No, I have nothing against the Jewish people. But I will not sit with blinders on, and say that Israel has done nothing wrong in their past; because they have. I personally believe that the Parties responsible for the attack on the U.S.S. Liberty should have been arrested, brought back to America and charged with war crimes. But, because we were dealing with Israel; who quite honestly thinks of America is it’s own useful idiot, they were never charged in a American Military Court.
Further more, I felt whole entire flotilla incident was poorly handled by the Government of Israel; and after all of the controversy; Israel allowed the goods in anyhow. Which I felt was just downright stupid. But yet the Government of Israel wants us, as Conservative Americans to support them; when they will not even support themselves, by enforcing their own laws. That my friends is an exercise in stupidity.
Not to mention the fact that the United States of America basically is funding Israel’s state run healthcare system; which includes a “Public Option”, something we do not have here in the United States. My question to you, as a “Right of Center” Blogger is this — Why are the American people’s tax dollars being used to fund something in Israel, that we do not even have here in the United States? Until the rabid Zionists can answer that little question, along with the real truth behind the U.S.S. Liberty — without playing the Semite Card, which they are good for, then we have nothing to discuss.
Sarah Palin needs help with her legal bills
I received this via e-mail:
Dear Pat,
Time is running out.
Since the first frivolous ethics charges were filed against Sarah Palin two years ago, legal bills for the Palin family have mounted into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Last year, friends of the family set up the Alaska Fund Trust to help pay legal fees. They used the words “official legal fund” so that supporters would know it was the fund trusted by the Palins.But now — because Governor Palin used the word “official” — an independent counsel decided that Sarah Palin “violated” the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act when she served as governor of the state.Funds donated to the Alaska Fund Trust were immediately frozen until the legal challenge was sorted out.Governor Palin has now agreed to send the money back to the donors. This means that not a single dollar of the trust fund went to pay the Governor’s massive legal fees.On June 24, 2010 a new legal defense fund — The Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund — was created to pay these urgent legal bills.We set up the new fund to cover the Palin’s legal bills for past, present, and future attacks.The fund has been set up by friends and trusted advisors of Governor Palin.Let’s help Governor Palin with this incredible burden that no citizen should have to bear and free her to speak out on behalf of conservatives all across this great country.Will you help us relieve Governor Palin of this burden?
Pat, as a supporter of Governor Palin, help us with the legal fees stemming from those frivolous charges against Governor Palin.
Yours truly,Tim Crawford
Trustee
The Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund
The Sarah Palin Legal Defense Fund | www.SarahPalinLegalDefenseFund.org | info@sarahpalinlegaldefensefund.org
645 G Street | Suite 100 # 711 | Anchorage, AK | 99501
Now, I will tell you this; I was never really a huge Palin fan. But I thought the gal got a raw deal with the liberal media and from idiots that put this Lady through the mill. I am asking those who actually read this blog to help Palin out. Further more, because of hateful bastards like these twits here, I am asking that you double your support for Palin.
The main reason why I even wanted to get involved with this; is this fact right here:
They called it the Alaska Fund Trust, the “official legal fund” for Governor Palin.
In fact, they added the words “official legal fund” so that supporters would know it was not just approved by the family, but that it complied with disclosure requirements, had professional management, created limits on who could donate and how much could be donated, and a variety of other restrictions that made it a very conservative and limited trust.
Further, the word “official” was used to distinguish the Alaska Fund Trust from other legal defense funds that were starting to pop up and no one knew if these would comply with disclosure laws, lobbyist restrictions, etc.
But now – because she used the word “official” – an independent counsel decided that the Trust “violated” the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act and now requires the Trust to send back every single donation raised by the defense fund while she was governor.
The left-wing media wants you to think Gov. Palin is an “ethics violator.” But they ignore the actual findings that Gov. Palin acted in good faith and relied on a team of expert trust lawyers to set it up.
They ignore that Gov. Palin stated one overriding principle: if the trust fund could be lawfully set up, she would support it. That is hardly the action of a person bent on skirting the law, contrary to the hysterical commentaries. But they ignore the truth and prefer to propagate lies about Sarah Palin.
They DON’T want you to know:
- The National Democratic Committee used its Alaska chapter, the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP), to create a website with one stated goal: “Keep Sarah Palin Out of Public Office.” To this day, the Democrats use this website to publicly seek donations for funding bogus “legal challenges involving issues related to Sarah Palin.”
- The ADP’s “Keep Sarah Palin Out of Public Office” campaign used our own legal system to sponsor more than two dozen ethics complaints against Governor Palin. Out of the 27 complaints, 26 were dismissed!
- The so-called “independent counsel” who started this investigation was an attorney from President Barack Obama’s law firm.
The money in the Alaska Fund Trust has been frozen and bills gone unpaid.
You see the part up there, that I put in bold, underlined and colored red? That, my friends, is the reason why I even bothered to post this here. This crusade against Sarah Palin is nothing more than a 21 century lynching against a Conservative Christian Woman. Admittedly, John McCain’s campaign did do some stuff wrong; at least I feel anyway… — but the bulk of blame goes towards the Democrats, who relentlessly hounded this woman to death and still continues to do so.
Which is just one, in a litany of reasons why I will never vote for anyone representing the Democratic Party, ever again.
Now, I ask you; as a Christian, as someone who believes that the Republican Party does, in fact, embrace the Tea Party values and does want to see a strong, secure America. * I ask you to help Sarah Palin pay down these legal bills, so that she can be free to enjoy the rest of her political and personal career, as she sees fit. Please, do not allow these liberal bastards to bring someone like Palin down or allow them to win the battle. Fight back, with the best weapon possible — your pocketbook. I know times are hard; In fact, I am going through tough times myself. But, all donations, no matter how big or how small will help her out.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
-Patrick
* – Disclaimer: I have never, nor will I ever, be a member or affiliated with the actual Republican National Committee. I have never as much sent them a dime. So, before you call me a Republican, please note this.
The Reality Report #52
If you can get past the tin foil hat sounding stuff in this video —– It is actually pretty good.
Enjoy: (source)
In case you are still on the fence politically…
This comes via Wizbang, which got it from Bookworm Room:
Oh Wonderful: The Taliban say no go on negotiations with Nato
So much for that idea: (H/T iammilitary on twitter)
It comes after US commanders and the British army chief of staff, Gen David Richards, suggested that it might be useful to talk to the Taliban.
The Taliban statement is uncompromising, almost contemptuous.
They believe they are winning the war, and cannot see why they should help Nato by talking to them.
They assume, perhaps wrongly, that the Americans are in disarray after the sacking of the Nato commander Gen Stanley McChrystal last week, and regard any suggestion that they should enter negotiations with them as a sign of Nato’s own weakness.
June, they point out, has seen the highest number of Nato deaths in Afghanistan: 102, an average of more than three a day. — Via BBC News – Taliban rule out negotiations with Nato
You know the sick and sad part? They are winning the war. Because it is quite obvious the the United States does not have a damned clue as to how to fight that war over there. You just do not negotiate with terrorists; you kill them. But that is pretty hard to do; when you have a Government over there that is just corrupt as the Taliban themselves. Our President is not helping that either. Best thing that this Government can do, at this point; is to basically withdraw and protect our own. We had the chance to do, what we want to do now, in 2003 — and we blew it. Thanks George W. Bush; you damned idiot. 😡
Thank You President Obama: White House waives rules and lets McChrystal retire with 4 stars
I may have many quarrels with this White House over many things. But this is not one of them. Mr. President, you have done well here sir. 🙂
President Obama has agreed to waive a Pentagon rule and let outgoing Gen. Stanley McChrystal retire at his full four-star rank, a White House spokesman said Tuesday.
While the general is short of the time needed to retire at his current pay grade, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama would ensure he keeps his rank as he steps down.
“The president believes and has talked with Secretary Gates about this, and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure he, somebody who has served the country as he has, can retire at a four-star level,” Gibbs told reporters.
McChrystal resigned as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan last week after he and his staff were quoted in a Rolling Stone magazine article criticizing and mocking key administration officials, and he announced Monday that he would retire from the Army.
A senior Pentagon official told CNN that he would have to have held his rank for three years before qualifying for full retirement benefits — but Obama is waiving that requirement because of McChrystal’s many years of “honorable service,” the official said. — Via White House to let McChrystal retire with 4 stars – CNN.com
I think this was a great thing to do. Many a partisan blogger, on the right, will slam dunk the President and say that this was some sort of a political move. I disagree; the President knows that our Military is the finest in the World and that we need them to continue the war on terrorism. This shows that, I believe that McChrystal was set up by this weasel that worked for Rolling Stone Magazine and I believe that the President most likely knows this, this is maybe why the President is allowing McChrystal to keep his stars and his retirement.
So, again, Mr. President thank you for showing your humanity. 🙂
Uh-Oh: Afgan Military Members go AWOL in Texas
Not a Surprise:
A nationwide alert has been issued for 17 members of the Afghan military who have gone AWOL from a Texas Air Force base where foreign military officers who are training to become pilots are taught English, FoxNews.com has learned.
The Afghan officers and enlisted men have security badges that give them access to secure U.S. defense installations, according to the lookout bulletin, “Afghan Military Deserters in CONUS [Continental U.S.],” issued by Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Dallas, and obtained by FoxNews.com.
via FOXNews.com – EXCLUSIVE: Alert Issued for 17 Afghan Military Members AWOL From U.S. Air Force Base.
List of names are: (Via Fox News)
Abdul Ghani Barakzai, born 8/8/1977
Mohd Ali Karimi, born 9/3/1982
Mohammad Nasim Fateh Zada, born 12/4/1966
Aminullah Sangarwal, born 8/27/1982
Mohd Ahmadi, born 5/5/1978
Ahad Abdulahad, born 5/5/1984
Sayed Qadir Shah Habiby, born 5/7/1985
Javed Aryan a.k.a. Aryan Javed, born 1/1/1987
Mirwais Qassmi, born 4/24/1974
Barsat Noorani, born 6/3/1981
Atiqullah Habibi, two dates of birth are listed on the alert: 6/2/1982 and 7/2/1982
Ahmad Sameer Samar, born 5/2/1983
Mohamed Fahim Faqier, born 6/1/1987
Obaiddullah Abrahimy, born 8/1/1979
Sayed Nasir Hashimi, born 4/5/1972
Shawali Kakar, born 12/31/1979
Khan Padshah Amiri, born 4/1/1978
Welcome to Obama’s America.
If I were in Texas tonight or anywhere near it; I would have my guns loaded and ready for anything. We’re not fighting them there anymore, we’re fighting them here now too. Thanks to Bush’s desire to settle the score in Iraq for his Daddy, we schlepped off Afghanistan and now, we’re stuck with stupidity like this here. Of course, Obama’s inability to call terrorism what it is actually is, is not much of a help either. So, basically, we’re screwed.
Hopefully, they find these idiots and round them up and send them back were they belong! 😡
Others: No Sheeples Here, Atlas Shrugs, The Jawa Report, Liberty Pundits Blog, Creeping Sharia and And So it Goes in Shreveport
The Southern Avenger on American Empire and Israel
Note to all my readers: I am posting these videos here, because I happen to believe in a diversity of opinion and discussion. The opinions expressed in these video should NOT be considered an opinion of the owner of this blog. I simply believe that ALL VOICES, not just a collective few, should be heard in the continuing discussion that is post-Bush Conservative Politics.
—————
Video: Gaza O Gaza!
Lemmie get this straight….. They call THIS suffering? 🙄
The Video: (H/T Jawa)
Because if that is suffering…. Please, show me where prosperity is!
Others: protein wisdom, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Atlas Shrugs
Army intelligence analyst gets arrested for leaks
Another Bizarre one:
SPC Bradley Manning - Fresh Meat for the Army brig circle jerk!
Federal officials have arrested an Army intelligence analyst who boasted of giving classified U.S. combat video and hundreds of thousands of classified State Department records to whistleblower site Wikileaks, Wired.com has learned.
SPC Bradley Manning, 22, of Potomac, Maryland, was stationed at Forward Operating Base Hammer, 40 miles east of Baghdad, where he was arrested nearly two weeks ago by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. A family member says he’s being held in custody in Kuwait, and has not been formally charged.
Manning was turned in late last month by a former computer hacker with whom he spoke online. In the course of their chats, Manning took credit for leaking a headline-making video of a helicopter attack that Wikileaks posted online in April. The video showed a deadly 2007 U.S. helicopter air strike in Baghdad that claimed the lives of several innocent civilians.
He said he also leaked three other items to Wikileaks: a separate video showing the notorious 2009 Garani air strike in Afghanistan that Wikileaks has previously acknowledged is in its possession; a classified Army document evaluating Wikileaks as a security threat, which the site posted in March; and a previously unreported breach consisting of 260,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables that Manning described as exposing “almost criminal political back dealings.”
“Hillary Clinton, and several thousand diplomats around the world are going to have a heart attack when they wake up one morning, and find an entire repository of classified foreign policy is available, in searchable format, to the public,” Manning wrote.
via U.S. Intelligence Analyst Arrested in Wikileaks Video Probe | Threat Level | Wired.com.
This man is getting just what is coming to him. You take a political stance and you break the law? Your ass is going to jail. I hope he enjoys the big house, because that is right where he belongs.
Others: Weekly Standard, BBC, The Lede, The Jawa Report, Washington Post, SpyTalk, Mudville Gazette, techPresident, NPR Blogs, Gateway Pundit, Newsbroke, The Atlantic Online, Confederate Yankee, The Nation, Liberty Pundits Blog, Emptywheel, Focal Point, Jules Crittenden, Mother Jones, msnbc.com, Secrecy News, Lawyers, Guns & Money, BLACKFIVE, Gawker and LewRockwell.com Blog
Living Proof that Ron Paul is a terrorist supporting jackass
(Via HotAir)
He’s also wrong. Gaza is NOT starving. He’s also been known to spin for Iran too.
AllahPundit Says:
It’s one thing to say our Iran policy is making things worse, it’s quite another to pretend that regional war, possibly with a nuclear component, in the Middle East wouldn’t much matter to America if we just hurried up and got our troops out. I can’t tell if this guy doesn’t realize or simply doesn’t care that opening up Gaza’s port will mean more arms in the hands of more fanatics, which means more of a chance of war and thus a more precarious position for U.S. interests. But let this serve as yet another reminder that, for all the grief we give The One on foreign policy, we can do much, much worse. And not just on the left either.
Amen to that. For all the grief that I give President Obama, I also know that it could be and would be much worse, if Ron Paul was the President. Also, about “AllahPundit,” before anyone says a damned thing in the comments section; was less than 10 miles from the World Trade Center, when it was hit in 2001. Hence his desire to see something done about the terrorists.
Ron Paul’s problem is, that he is shilling for the terrorists who want to destroy this Country and he is too stupid to know it. Either that or he knows it and really does not care. Gaza starving; what idiotic bullcrap! 🙄 Only thing starving is Ron Paul’s brain.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Response to the Criticism
(H/T to HotAir.com)
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu responds to the criticisms of how Israel handled the flotilla event.
Palestine Terrorists attack IDF troops boarding ship that was breaking blockade
This is sick, these Palestinian Terrorists attack IDF troops, after they board their ship — because they were violating a blockade of Gaza.
HotAir’s Ed Morrissey and AllahPundit have a good round of what REALLY happened.
Videos:
Bradley Burston at Haaretz.com writes:
A war tells a people terrible truths about itself. That is why it is so difficult to listen.
We were determined to avoid an honest look at the first Gaza war. Now, in international waters and having opened fire on an international group of humanitarian aid workers and activists, we are fighting and losing the second. For Israel, in the end, this Second Gaza War could be far more costly and painful than the first.
In going to war in Gaza in late 2008, Israeli military and political leaders hoped to teach Hamas a lesson. They succeeded. Hamas learned that the best way to fight Israel is to let Israel do what it has begun to do naturally: bluster, blunder, stonewall, and fume.
Hamas, and no less, Iran and Hezbollah, learned early on that Israel’s own embargo against Hamas-ruled Gaza was the most sophisticated and powerful weapon they could have deployed against the Jewish state.
Here in Israel, we have still yet to learn the lesson: We are no longer defending Israel. We are now defending the siege. The siege itself is becoming Israel’s Vietnam.
These are the same people that crashed those planes into the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and into that field in PA. (which was headed for the White House) These Dogs are terrorists. That is the only life they know. They are sub-human lifeforms. They are scum, the only language they understand, is from the end of a gun. 12 Dead? I am quite sorry is was not more.
When will America wake up and smell the damned Coffee? When??!
At this point, I miss Bush….like bloody hell. 😡
…and yet, the Democrats — They side with these murderous bastards. But yet, they are just as American as the rest of us. Yeah sure they are.
More of that Religion of Peace and Muslim Tolerence that we keep hearing about
This comes via AllahPundit @ HotAir.com:
Religion of peace and Muslim tolerance my ass.
This was in Sweden, for what it is worth.
Bastards, all of them.
The problem is, our own damned President and Attorney General cannot bring themselves to call this; for what it is — which is terrorism.
For the record; you will NEVER, EVER see Christians act like this….ever.
Memo to John McCain: Will you please shut up?
I swear this douche nozzle is about as goofy is his fat ass daughter:
It would have been a serious mistake to have read the suspect in the attempted Times Square car bombing his Miranda rights, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday.
McCain, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a longtime leading Republican on national security issues, said he expected the suspect in the case could face charges that might warrant a death sentence if convicted.
“Obviously that would be a serious mistake…at least until we find out as much information we have,” McCain said during an appearance on “Imus in the Morning” when asked whether the suspect, 30-year-old Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American citizen from Pakistan.
“Don’t give this guy his Miranda rights until we find out what it’s all about,” McCain added.
via McCain: ‘Serious mistake’ if car bombing suspect was Mirandized – The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room. (Video Here)
Uh, Duh! The man is an American Citizen and he is afforded the rights of our Justice system. What a freaking idiot. 🙄
Here’s a video that explains that: (H/T Ed @ HotAir.com)
So, yes, he is an American Citizen, he is afforded rights. Ed Morrissey explains it better:
Beck and Napolitano are correct. Shahzad is an American citizen, arrested by law enforcement in America. As a US citizen, Shahzad has the right to remain silent. In that sense, he differs from the EunuchBomber, who attempted to enter the country (our airspace) to conduct a sabotage mission for an enemy of the US. Ambdulmuttalab should have immediately been taken into custody by military and intelligence agencies, not the FBI, in order to make his status as an enemy combatant clear.
So, there. McCain, put that in your pipe and smoke it, you idiot. 🙄
As for the left, they’re crying the blues because it was not a racist Tea Bagging Klansman or something:
Others on these subjects: The Plum Line, The Moderate Voice, The Note, Firedoglake, The Corner on National …, Commentary, Washington Post, neo-neocon, The Confluence, Associated Press, Jules Crittenden, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Monthly, Swampland, Daily Kos, Questions and Observations, Brilliant at Breakfast, Dean’s World and YID With LID —- Complete Round Up Here
RedState Update Asks, ‘Where are the Moderate Muslims?’
Update: …and for a Bonus:
Is that taliban ready for peace? Not so fast.
Oops.
Via the Times of London:
The supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has indicated that he and his followers may be willing to hold peace talks with western politicians.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, two of the movement’s senior Islamic scholars have relayed a message from the Quetta shura, the Taliban’s ruling council, that Mullah Omar no longer aims to rule Afghanistan. They said he was prepared to engage in “sincere and honest” talks.
A senior US military source said the remarks reflected a growing belief that a “breakthrough” was possible. “There is evidence from many intelligence sources [that] the Taliban are ready for some kind of peace process,” the source said.
At a meeting held at night deep inside Taliban-controlled territory, the Taliban leaders told this newspaper that their military campaign had only three objectives: the return of sharia (Islamic law), the expulsion of foreigners and the restoration of security.
“[Mullah Omar] is no longer interested in being involved in politics or government,” said Mullah “Abdul Rashid”, the elder of the two commanders, who used a pseudonym to protect his identity.
“All the mujaheddin seek is to expel the foreigners, these invaders, from our country and then to repair the country’s constitution. We are not interested in running the country as long as these things are achieved.”
There’s only one little problem, the Taliban’s big cheese says, “Not so fast….”
Via The Long War Journal: (H/T Jawa Report) (Original Here)
(Theunjustmedia:) My question is did this interview with The Sunday Times and The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan senior Islamic scholars took place?
Zabihullah Mujahid: No, no interview has been conducted with the The Sunday Times and The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan senior Islamic scholars, this interview is a lie.
Theunjustmedia: How do you comment on the content of this fake propaganda interview, what objectives could the invaders have in propagating this type of disinformation among the masses.
Zabihullah Mujahid: This is a good question, and I think that the concern citizens of the world should be asking this question from those who are behind this propaganda, what benefits are they trying to seek by lying to world about The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. I think people should contact The Sunday Times and ask them why are they spreading disinformation, also other media outlets should bring to light The Sunday Times deception to its reads.
It is obvious that the Taliban is not interested in working with the United States and is still interested in protecting, supporting and bringing comfort to Al-Qaeda. Nothing has changed and because of that, the United States will continue to hunt them down and kill them. This should be a glaring example to ALL Democrats and those on the far left, that you cannot negotiate with terrorists, ever. The only solution is to hunt them down and get rid of them, by the end of a gun or other such piece of artillery.
Until the Libertarians, Far leftists, and Democratic Party supporting liberals figure that out. We will have nothing to discuss.
NEXT!
UPDATED: Once again, AllahPundit is the voice of sanity on the right
First off, what AllahPundit is griping about is this:
In response to this, AllahPundit politely objects:
“When conflicts break out, one way or another, we get pulled into them.” True enough, and I don’t always “like” that we’re pulled into them. For example, I don’t “like” the fact that we have 30,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as cannon fodder in case the lunatic to the north ever attacks Seoul. But I accept it because I understand it’s an effective deterrent that saves millions of lives. I don’t “like” the fact that we’re forced to take the lead on Iran even though their military capabilities are more of an immediate threat to Europe and the Sunnis, but I accept it because the stick we wield is so much bigger than everyone else’s that we’re most likely to bring them to heel. I don’t “like” the fact that American troops have spent the past seven years dodging — and, sometimes, not dodging — IEDs in Iraq, but I accept it because I think having a democracy in the region will eventually put pressure on local autocrats to liberalize and held deflate jihadism. Disagree with my position on any or all of those if you like, but I don’t see how it’s controversial or demeaning to suggest that the world’s policeman, like any policeman, doesn’t always enjoy his job. In fact, less than six months ago, Pew found for the first time in 45 years that those who believe the U.S. should mind its own business abroad outnumber those who don’t. I think that isolationist impulse is nutty and a de facto invitation to malign powers to expand their influence, but then so does The One — which, I take it, is why he ordered the surge in Afghanistan, is going slow on withdrawal from Iraq, is stepping up drone attacks in Pakistan, and is keeping the troops in Korea and elsewhere in place.
via Hot Air » Blog Archive » Obama’s getting a bad rap on the “superpower” comment.
I give AP credit; he is absolutely right. Sometimes, it just sucks to have to be the leader of the free world. I mean, the United States, not Obama. This is filed under the “Stuck on Stupid” business, that my Blog’s subtitle refers to. Unfortunately, on the far right; there is this effort, a foolhardy one, but none the less, an effort; to castigate President Obama —- No matter what he does. I refer to it as that “Sean Hannity bullcrap.” I mean, I respect Hannity, most of the time. But I cannot stand watching that show; because all his show is about — is bashing Obama, no matter what he does.
I mean, say what you want, but, Obama might be a socialist, Obama might be a wealth redistributor; but, like it or not, Obama does have his rather pointed head on straight when it comes to Foreign Policy and when it comes to Islamic Terrorism. I mean, as AP alluded to in his article, the President could be like Ron Paul. (Shudder!) I am; as I am sure AP is, very grateful that President Obama has his head on straight about the middle east and the danger that Islamic Terrorism poses for this Nation. President Obama might not handle things the way that Bush did; but this does not mean that he does not see and want to deal with the danger.
For this, I am willing to give President Obama a pass in this department. But, only in this department.
Another thing I will say is this; where I see the most Anti-Obama rhetoric, when it comes to terrorism, is from certain protected ethnic classes on the right. (I think you can figure out, what I mean….) This, I believe is fueled by this idiotic notion, that Obama is some sort of secret Muslim. This sort of thing is, in this white man’s opinion, absolutely idiotic. I mean, how ironic is it, that the same class of people, who were subjected to horrific atrocities by a German madman, are now themselves engaging in the same bigoted behavior? Quite, I would say. I will not mention any names, but I think you can guess to which players I allude.
Again, just more of that stuck on stupid, that I refer to…
Thanks to AP for, once again, being “The skinny guy, at fat camp.”
Update: There’s always a smart ass in the crowd. 😉
Movie: Just in case anyone has forgotten
Just remember, Ron Paul believes in negotiating with these bastards. Therefore, he is a terrorist supporter. So are Democrats.
Get this: Our Smart-mouthed wanna-be shoe bomber, will NOT be charged
Un-farking-believable. 😯
Looks like our little smart-mouthed jerk off, is going to skate charges. (H/T Ace)
Via ABC’s Good Morning America:
The Video:
The Story:
The Qatari diplomat who caused a midair security scare won’t face charges after claiming he was trying to light his shoes on fire when it appears he was simply smoking in the bathroom.
Federal officials said Mohammed al Modadi was on official business when he boarded United Airlines Flight 663 from Washington to Denver, giving him diplomatic immunity. A law firm spokesman told The Associated Press that al Modadi has been released and was headed back to Washington.
More than 160 passengers and crew were onboard when flight attendants noticed smoke coming from the bathroom and notified federal air marshals on the plane, government sources said.
When the marshals demanded to know what he was doing, the man identified himself as a diplomat from Qatar and responded, perhaps sarcastically, “I’m trying to light my shoes on fire.”
It was a comment reminiscent of shoe bomber Richard Reid and also the so-called underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who successfully smuggled explosives onto a Christmas Day flight, but failed to detonate them.
“None of this is going to be taken as anything less than dead seriousness,” ABC News aviation analyst John Nance told “Good Morning America” today. “If you make the wrong comment at the wrong time and you’re going to come off the airplane in chains.”
Al Modadi’s comments Wednesday set off a chain reaction of security and terrorism responses, including F-16 fighter jets that scrambled from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado to accompany the flight during its descent into Denver. The plane was met by the FBI and local law enforcement.
“If this was an overreaction, it was not only an understandable one, it was a good one,” Nance said.
Al Modadi’s shoes were examined once the flight landed, government officials said, but no traces of explosives were found.
But, Oh, it was a big, huge, misunderstanding! 🙄
A statement was posted on the Qatar Embassy’s Web site in response to the incident, defending al Modadi and calling it a mistake.
“We respect the necessity of special security precautions involving air travel, but this diplomat was traveling to Denver on official embassy business on my instructions,” Ambassador Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri wrote in the statement, “and he was certainly not engaged in any threatening activity.”
“The facts will reveal that this was a mistake,” the statement continued, “and we urge all concerned parties to avoid reckless judgments or speculation.
The only damned mistake we made, was allow those jerks into our damn Country. If I were running that show; this little turban wearing prick would be on a flight back to Qatar, with a BILL for everything that happened to the Government last night. If it was not paid, I would be telling Qatar to close that embassy and get the hell out of our Country for good! I just wonder, what sort of business was he on? Approving visa’s for terrorists? I mean, they did bust a ring of terrorists out in Colorado. I wonder if he had any connections to them? It is to wonder. But, we’ll never find that out, seeing we have a President who is friendly to these sort of vermin.
Is the Afghanistan/Pakistan mission unraveling?
It seems that way. 🙁
The Story via Stratfor.com:
Three explosions, two rocket attacks and subsequent gunfire have been reported in the near vicinity of the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, on April 5. The attack occurred early afternoon local time when the consulate would have been full of both American and local employees. The death toll is reported at 36 but is expected to rise.
There are no assessments yet of the damage that the consulate building has sustained, but reports indicate that the explosions led to the collapse of other, adjacent buildings. Pakistani soldiers are also reported to be engaging militants in gunfire, indicating that militants are actively engaged in an attack near the area — possibly with the intention of breaching the U.S. Consulate.
[….]
UPDATE:
One attacker was able to blow up in the U.S. Consulate premises, AAJ TV reported April 5. The front side of the U.S. Consulate has been totally destroyed. Reports indicate that seven or eight security personnel in the consulate are dead. The consulate’s communication system is down.
Many people are wondering why this has happened. I think I know why. It could very well be because of this here:
The Story via Washington Post:
KABUL — President Obama’s visit to Kabul last week, intended in part to forge a closer working relationship with President Hamid Karzai, has helped produce the opposite: an angry Afghan leader now attacking the West for what he perceives as an effort to manipulate him and weaken his rule.
Karzai’s relationship with his U.S. backers in the past week has taken a sharp turn for the worse after his two anti-Western speeches in three days, remarks that some officials see as a rehearsed, intentional move away from the United States.
In remarks to parliament members Saturday, Karzai said that if foreign interference in his government continues, the Taliban would become a legitimate resistance — one that he might even join, according to lawmakers present.
“When I heard Karzai’s remarks, it really shocked me. It scared me,” a senior Afghan official who works closely with Karzai said. “We should not take this lightly. This is a golden opportunity to have the West here; we can’t squander it.”
Karzai’s comments have angered U.S. officials and some of his prominent Afghan colleagues in the government, who fear he is jeopardizing international funding and military support because his pride has been injured.
“That guy’s erratic, he’s unpredictable. I don’t get him,” said a senior U.S. military official in Kabul.
However, if you read a little deeper, you will see this:
But the next day, Karzai told a gathering of lawmakers that foreign interference fuels the insurgency. One lawmaker said Karzai made the point that if he is compelled to obey foreigners, “I’ll join the Taliban.”
“I know he’s cooperating with the U.S., but he just wants to give us a wrong perception. He’s trying to prove himself as a hero, a nationalist,” the lawmaker said.
Some of the presidents’ supporters said that people overreacted to the statements, and that Karzai is well aware of how reliant he is on the United States and other countries fighting in Afghanistan. The United States pours billions of dollars monthly into Afghanistan, and 30,000 new troops are arriving to fight the Taliban.
Speaking at a meeting of about 1,200 tribal leaders and local officials in the southern city of Kandahar on Sunday, Karzai again suggested that U.S. pressure is counterproductive.
“Afghanistan will be fixed when its people trust that their president is independent and not a puppet,” he said. “We have to demonstrate our sovereignty. We have to demonstrate that we are standing up for our values.”
I think this guy needs to make up his mind. Trying to play to his people and be friends with the west is not going to work. The United States of America is NOT interested in owning that Country, no more than it is interested in owning Iraq. We are, or at least we were, there to get rid of Al-Qaeda terrorists who wanted to attack and destroy America. It seems that our focus is shifting and we are now trying to play “Paddy Cake” with Afgan Leaders who want to be friendly with the the U.S. and the Taliban. The President of the United States needs to firm with Karzai, and tell him either choose the Taliban and possibly being killed by the United States in military action or choose true freedom and democracy. You cannot have it both ways, terrorism and democracy cannot co-exist.
Just a personal aside, I had a sinking feeling that this sort of a thing would happen, if we elected a Democrat for a President. For all of his failings, for all of the stuff that I did not like about him; George W. Bush knew exactly how to deal with these sorts of things. He was seen by the Afghan people and the Iraqis as a firm strong leader, who was willing to risk it all to stand against terrorism, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. President Obama just does not have that same stance. President Obama and by default, the Democrats see terrorism as a juvenile criminal behavior; and it is not; it is a war against freedom and democracy in the name of a backward and dangerous religion.
I guess the only hope at this point is that Obama realizes what he is dealing with here and changes his focus. However, I just do not see that happening at all. Needless to say, the next year few years is going to be interesting, when it comes to the war on terror and this entire situation.
Your Daily War Porn Video
(H/T Zip)