July 05, 2009
Pentagon Denies Flyover of Patriotic 'God and Country Rally'
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NAMPA, Idaho
This marks the first time in the 42 year history of the event that a flyover request was denied by the Pentagon.
The event is held ever year to honor the spiritual foundations of our country with a special emphasis on the men and women who serve in the armed forces.
In past years, the "God and Country Rally" has focused on honoring and paying tribute to those veterans who have served our nation in the past and those who are currently on active duty.
At the rally this year, all five branches of the armed services were featured with over 60 new recruits sworn into the military at the event.
After a phone conversation and an e-mail response from the Pentagon, Rally Director Patti Syme says they were denied the request for a flyover this year because of the "Christian" nature of the event.
The Christian Defense Coalition says this is a "slap in the face" to all those who have proudly served or are currently on active duty in the armed services.
The group is concerned that this new policy may indicate an open hostility toward public expressions of faith by the Obama Administration.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,
"For years, flyovers have been allowed by the Pentagon at the 'God and Country Rally' in Nampa Idaho. These flyovers were not to endorse or promote any one religious faith tradition. Rather, they were held to honor and pay tribute to our heroic men and women who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces.
"For the Obama Administration to deny a flyover for the first time, is a slap in the face to all those who proudly serve our country especially when we are at war. These flyovers have been a special part of the 'God and Country Rally' for many years.
"Will the new policy of President Obama be that a person has to surrender their faith tradition to honor and pay tribute to our courageous men and women who serve in the military?
"With respect to the economic concerns that the Pentagon mentioned, I would answer this way. If we can pay hundreds thousands of dollars for President Obama to go on a date with his wife to see a Broadway show and have an expensive dinner in New York City, we can certainly find a way to honor our brave men and women who serve in the armed services with a simple flyover.
"The Christian Defense Coalition will diligently work to reverse this unjust policy and determine why this flyover was denied in the first place."
Brandi Swindell, national Christian activist and Director of Generation Life, based in Idaho, adds,
"For the Pentagon to deny this flyover for the first time in the history of our state is deeply troubling and disturbing.
"During a time of war and especially around the 4th of July we should be doing all within our power as a nation to honor and respect our military.
"It must be stressed that the flyover was not to honor Christianity but to honor our fallen heroes who have proudly given their lives to protect our country and advance the cause of liberty around the world.
"Does this mean in the future that all public rallies must be stripped of any expressions of faith to respect our military? This Administration should be protecting religious expression in the public square not crushing it.
"I hope that President Obama will reverse this unjust policy and next year we will be allowed to give the military the honor they deserve."
The e-mail from the Pentagon:
Thank you for your request for Air Force aviation support during God and Country Festival on 01 Jul
2009 in Nampa , ID.
We have carefully reviewed this particular event. As you may recall from the request form’s
instructions, the Department of Defense (DoD) authorizes the Air Force to participate in flyovers for
those recognition events held in direct support of the five patriotic holidays (Armed Forces Day,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, POW-MIA Day and Veterans Day) and for aviation-related events,
such as airshows and airport dedications. Sporting events that fall on one of the five patriotic holidays
mentioned above are not considered to be events held in direct support of a holiday commemoration
and will require a waiver.
Your Air Force aviation support request doesn’t fall into either approved category, as such, we are
unable to approve it. Air Force and DoD policy prohibit support for events which appear to endorse,
selectively benefit, or favor any special interest group, religious or ideological movement.
With an increasingly high operations tempo and limited resources to meet our training and operational
commitments, we are required to take a hard look at all of our requests and carefully follow our
policies and guidelines. In denying your request, we are not questioning the worthiness of the event,
but rather enforcing DoD and Air Force policy to preserve the operational and training requirements of
our aviation units and to practice the prudent stewardship of taxpayer-financed resources.
We hope that you can appreciate and understand our position. We believe that your event will,
nevertheless, be a success. Any further questions can be referred to me at 703-695-9664.
Tech. Sgt. Roy Utley
Aviation Support
Wild Thing's comment......
So I guess it is only OK if Air Force One flys low over New York City.
Remember this back in February of this year? OBama could care less about counterterror work the FBI does.
Obama shifts FBI from Counter Terrorism to Fraud
President Obama is shifting the focus of the FBI from counter terrorism work to fraud. Obama is sacrificing our national safety. This shows where his priorities are placed.
Keep it up Obama! Obama is putting a nail in his own coffin every day. He’s committing political suicide!
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at 07:55 AM | Comments (14)
June 07, 2009
Miller Lite To Pull Mafia Themed Ad Due To Leftie PC Italians Complaints
Beer ads pulled over Italian complaints
Miller Lite beer's new "Protection" campaign, prominently featuring actor Frank Vincent from the HBO mobster hit "The Sopranos," is being pulled after Chicago representatives of the Italian-American community lashed out over the stereotypical mafia depiction of Italian Americans in the ads.
In one commercial, Vincent and his sidekick enter a convenience store and ask the clerk if he needs "protection." The clerk, pointing to a Miller Lite container, says he's got all the protection he needs, which prompts an exaggerated "oh!" from Vincent and his sidekick. In a commercial set in a bar, Vincent asks -- in a threatening tone -- if the bartender needs protection. When the bartender says "no," Vincent asks if he's a wiseguy.
We seem to be the last breed in America that ad agencies think they can take a shot at," said Lou Rago, founder of the Italian American Human Relations Foundation of Chicago, who helped spearhead the effort to force the new Miller Lite ads off the air. The campaign, created by DraftFCB/Chicago, was to run through the summer, but MillerCoors said it will remove the ads within a week.
On Monday, Rago participated in a conference call with MillerCoors executives who indicated they might consider running fewer of the "Protection" commercials. But when Rago and Anthony Baratta, the Chicago-based national chairperson for the Commission for Social Justice, said that was unacceptable and that they would call for a boycott of MillerCoors by Italian Americans, the brewery had by Tuesday decided to dump the entire campaign.
There is a place to vote at the article so I voted and look how many agree that this is stupid. Also in reading the comments with the article as well, people are fed up with all this PC stuff and I agree.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Good grief, what total idiots, the Commission for Social Justice is and also the Italian American Human Relations Foundation are, and their executives to make this decision. And Miller Lite too for letting them bully their company.
The first time I saw this ad I loved it right away. It is clever and funny and fun just plain fun. And as far as marketing, because it is so good it would work to make a person remember the product they are advertising. Unlike some other ads that as so horrible a person can't wait to forget not only the ad but the product as well.
I don't feel sorry for the beer company they are their own worst enemy. They have no spine to stand up to the politically correct BS from the left, because that is always where PC comes from. Only Democrats are into the PC ( politically correct) baloney it is a large part of how they try to control freedom of speech.
And those two Italian groups have as thin skin as their leader Barack Hussein Obama. They can all go and celebrate a love fest and how they can't laugh at themselves, how they want to control freedom of speech.
Since Obama is the Chief wimp of all, I think it would be a good idea that the ONLY people that can complain about being politically correct are those that have served our country, fought in the trenches for our freedoms and know the cost of why we live in the land of the free. If there are Italians in the group of these PC lefties that served then shame on them, they should know better how easily it is to have our freedoms taken from us and the sacrifices it takes to keep them.
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:47 AM | Comments (2)
November 15, 2008
Good Grief!!! Coming To A State Near You Soon!
Prop. 8 protests could become national movement
Outrage and anguish over the passage of Proposition 8 has spurred massive street protests throughout California, and leaders of the gay and lesbian community believe the backlash could spark an unprecedented nationwide push for gay rights.
Today, same-sex marriage supporters have planned simultaneous protests throughout California and in all 50 states, as well as cities in Canada, England and Australia.
The backlash after Tuesday's vote has been enormous and wide-reaching. People and businesses have become targets of blacklists and boycotts.
People around the country were watching this very closely," said Kellan Baker, a Washington, D.C., resident who is organizing today's protest there. "For Californians to go to the ballot box to strip people of civil rights they had been enjoying is, I guess, the last straw."
The boycotts and blacklists are affecting not only the political faces behind the Prop. 8 campaign, but also individual supporters.
Phillip Fletcher, a Palo Alto dentist who donated $1,000 to the campaign, is featured prominently on a Web site listing donors targeted for boycott. He said two of his patients already have left over the donation.
Wild Thing's comment...........
LOL sorry about the photo, I just could not resist. hahahahaha
We had this on our ballot too and Florida big time does not want gay marriage. I was so glad. At least one thing good happened from this last election.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:45 AM | Comments (18)
July 12, 2008
'Men At Work' Signs To Disappear In Atlanta
'Men At Work' signs to disappear in Atlanta
Decision follows complaints by magazine editor
Across Atlanta they stood, orange signs with black letters that read "Men At Work" or "Men Working Ahead."
Sometimes, the signs stood next to women working alongside the men.
Good demanded Atlanta officials remove the signs and last week, Atlanta Public Works Commissioner Joe Basista agreed.
Score one for gender equality, Good said Wednesday.
"They get it," Good said about the city in a telephone interview.
Public Works officials are replacing 50 "Men Working" with signs that say "Workers Ahead." It will cost $22 to cover over some of the old signs and $144 to buy new signs, said Public Works spokeswoman Valerie Bell-Smith said.
Good, founding editor of Atlanta-based PINK Magazine, a publication that focuses on professional women, said she's not stopping with Atlanta.
"We're calling on the rest of the nation to follow suit and make a statement that we will not accept these subtle forms of discrimination," said Good, 48.
Good pressed the issue after Atlanta police came to her office last month on a complaint that she spray painted "wo" onto a "Men At Work" sign.
Did she do it? Good replied by complaining about the signs.
Good fired off letters complaining about the signs to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Gov. Sonny Perdue.
State transportation officials said they will ask contractors to remove signs specifying just men are working at a construction site.
Atlanta union leader Gina Pagnotta said some women employees of Atlanta Public Works complained about these signs years ago.
"It is a little bit bias to say 'Men Working,' " said Pagnotta, president of the Professional Association of City Employees. "Women are working, too."
Wild Thing's comment........
Oh, please...get over it. This political correctness stuff has driven common sense from the world.
Don’t these women have anything better to do?
One of my girlfriends is a firemen in AZ. Sometimes she goes by the title firefighter and other times fireman. She is not hung up on it at all and thinks her performace is more important then what she is called.
What is next? Glen Campbell would need to change the lyrics of “Wichita Lineman” to “Wichita Line Worker” or some such term.
John Travolta wasn’t an “Urban Cowboy”. I guess they will insist on call the movie “Urban Cattle Handler”, or “Urban Rancher”.
The sign changed from "Men at work" to "Workers ahead". These people went from men (humans) to workers (political tools). Political correctness is about changing words to change people's minds, often in subtle and insidious ways.
I heard that in Boulder , Colorado no longer allows the use of “Man hole” because it was deemed sexist. Now it is “Utility cover”.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:40 AM | Comments (10)
May 20, 2008
Update on Muslim Funded Minn. School: News crew attacked
This is an UPDATE about the Tarik ibn Zayad Academy in Minn. Please follow the dates and see the latest UPDATE further down. Thank you. ~ Wild Thing
It began here from an article April 10th of this year. Lynn sent me the article and things have been happening with the initial report from the newspaper article.
Minnesota Muslim Public School Paid For By Taxpayers
Katharine Kersten’s excellent investigative work on the Minnesota taxpayer-funded Islamic school, TIZA, has led to a state probe of the institution. It has also shed light again on the spread of sharia in U.S. secondary public schools.
Then this April 11th.
Update On Sharia In U.S. Secondary Public Schools
TIZA Academy is sponsored by Islamic Relief USA, based in California.
Then on April 16th CAIR got involved
CAIR Now Involved Regarding Minneapolis Tax-funded Muslim School
CAIR gets involved and they start to intimidate those telling the truth.
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Now yesterday on May 19th
News crew attacked during report at TiZA charter school
Local ABC affiliate KSTP has also continued to update the reporting on this story. Today they went to the school to determine how TiZA would respond to the state’s demand for corrective action. Instead, they found themselves at the center of the story as two TiZA officials attacked the news crew and stole their camera: In an attempt to report about the new findings from the Department of Education, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS went to TiZA.
"While on school grounds, our crew was attacked by school officials. The two men were able to grab our camera and kept it until police arrived. Our photographer was treated by paramedics after suffering minor injuries."
KSTP has a video report on their website.
The tape starts off pleasantly, as the children run up to the camera to smile and wave, just like children anywhere would do. One man walks rapidly towards the camera and grabs it, while another unseen man assaults the cameraman. Later, the police would retrieve the camera, and the video shows the police cars responding to the emergency call from the news crew.
The action by the MnDoE should make clear that Kersten had the story essentially right. Local journalists attempting to intimidate her and the Strib — which has thus far refused to submit to this bullying — have some explaining to do.
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* Michelle Malkin thanks Michelle for the latest update.
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:45 AM | Comments (12)
April 16, 2008
CAIR Now Involved Regarding Minneapolis Tax-funded Muslim School
Muslim civil liberties group seeks FBI probe of school threats
The Minnesota chapter of a national Islamic civil liberties group has asked the FBI and local law enforcement officers to investigate reported threats against a Twin Cities charter school as possible hate crimes, while a Jewish organization deplored the threats.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) made the request Monday after the director of Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Inver Grove Heights told police that he and the school had received threatening and harassing phone messages and e-mails.
The group is concerned about the safety of the school's students, many of whom are Muslim, said CAIR chapter coordinator Chris Schumacher. Tagging the threats as possible hate crimes also makes it clear that prejudice could have prompted them, and "we wanted to bring that to light in case that wasn't already obvious to people," he said.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas also condemned the alleged threats in a statement released Monday.
As of Monday, the charter school had not filed a complaint with the Minneapolis FBI office, but agents will reach out to the school and get more details about the messages, said Special Agent Paul McCabe. Identifying the messages as possible hate crimes would put them under the jurisdiction of federal as well as local law enforcement authorities, he said.
CAIR members are talking with the school about follow-up action that could include a community meeting along the lines of a town hall forum held in Blaine after arsonists set fire to a convenience store owned by a Muslim man in January, Schumacher said.
The K-8 charter school has come under close scrutiny since Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten questioned whether the publicly funded academy promotes the Muslim faith.
The Minnesota Department of Education has begun an investigation of the school in response to Kersten's columns. Director Asad Zaman, who could not be reached for comment Monday, has said the school is nonsectarian.
Other posts at TW about this school:
April 10th, Minnesota Muslim Public School Paid For By Taxpayers
April 11th, Update On Sharia In U.S. Secondary Public Schools
Wild Thing's comment........
This sure is even more proof that this is a Muslim school, even though the leaders there deny it. CAIR gets involved and they start to intimidate those telling the truth.
I have no knowledge of real threats made on the school. That kind of thing would not be necessary, but what should happen would be for the parents that are not Muslim to make a fuss and a loud one. Calls and complaints to those in with pull much higher up then the stupid Principle that didn't know how to raise the American Flag.
So many times CAIR has gotten involved when there were NO threats made at all. One thing and the only thing we do know is an article was written about the school. Now that is NOT a threat it is journalism and the woman did a great job writing about the school.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:48 AM | Comments (12)
April 11, 2008
Update On Sharia In U.S. Secondary Public Schools
The other day we had a post here ..... Minnesota Muslim Public School Paid For By Taxpayers
Katharine Kersten’s excellent investigative work on the Minnesota taxpayer-funded Islamic school, TIZA, has led to a state probe of the institution. It has also shed light again on the spread of sharia in U.S. secondary public schools.
A Star Tribune newspaper column has prompted a state investigation into a charter school. A substitute teacher said a school in Inver Grove Heights is blurring the line of separation of church and state.
Being a charter school Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, or TIZA, is supported by tax dollars. The teacher told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the presence of religion she observed at the school took her by surprise.
TIZA Executive Director Azad Zaman insisted the school follows with state and federal laws.
"TIZA does not endorse any religion," he said.
However, TIZA Academy is sponsored by Islamic Relief USA, based in California.
The questions came after substitute teacher Amanda Getz taught at TIZA last month and told the Star Tribune about things she observed that day that shocked her.
"I've been in a lot of schools and I've never been in a school where they had washing rituals, or they had prayer, or where they had a room where you had to take your shoes off," Getz said.
"It is most likely that this substitute teacher was sadly mistaken," said Zaman.
He said the school follows state and federal guidelines when it comes to religion.
"We're required under the federal guidelines to allow students to pray when they wish to do so. And as Muslim students, they're allowed to pray around 1:30 p.m., so we allow them to do that," Zaman explained.
The State Department of Education said they would conduct more site visits and write to the State Department to find out more about the school’s sponsor.
TIZA requires all students to learn Arabic as a second language English.
State law requires the school to fly an American flag during school hours, however no flag flies outside of TIZA Academy.
Zaman told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he didn’t know how to work the flagpole.
Please also see the post at Michelle Malkin's where she has more details about this and other schools as well where this is happening.
Wild Thing's comment........
The barbarians at the gate!
The multicultural idiots in our public school systems will stop at nothing to be politically correct, no matter how wrong it makes them or how dangerous the poison they spread. But, they can’t be blamed, ...not entirely. Too many people play PC games when it comes to identifying Islam as evil. It’s like telling Satan his demons are cool, as long as we only get the ones we want, and then expecting him to respect our wishes. There is no such thing as a little bit of the right kind of Islam.
....Thank you Lynn for the link to the article and thank you Mark for the headsup of the excellent information at Michell's blog.
This is so important that people know about this going on. I bet a lot of parents never knew this kind of thing was happening right here in America.
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:55 PM | Comments (6)
April 10, 2008
Minnesota Muslim Public School Paid For By Taxpayers
Wall of silence broken at state's Muslim public school
By KATHERINE KERSTEN
Recently, I wrote about Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights. Charter schools are public schools and by law must not endorse or promote religion.
Evidence suggests, however, that TIZA is an Islamic school, funded by Minnesota taxpayers.
TIZA has many characteristics that suggest a religious school.
* It shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, whose mission is "establishing Islam in Minnesota."
* The building also houses a mosque. TIZA's executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief.
* Students pray daily,
* the cafeteria serves halal food - permissible under Islamic law --
* and "Islamic Studies" is offered at the end of the school day.
Zaman maintains that TIZA is not a religious school. He declined, however, to allow me to visit the school to see for myself, "due to the hectic schedule for statewide testing." But after I e-mailed him that the Minnesota Department of Education had told me that testing would not begin for several weeks, Zaman did not respond -- even to urgent calls and e-mails seeking comment before my first column on TIZA.
Now, however, an eyewitness has stepped forward. Amanda Getz of Bloomington is a substitute teacher. She worked as a substitute in two fifth-grade classrooms at TIZA on Friday, March 14. Her experience suggests that school-sponsored religious activity plays an integral role at TIZA.
Arriving on a Friday, the Muslim holy day, she says she was told that the day's schedule included a "school assembly" in the gym after lunch.
Before the assembly, she says she was told, her duties would include taking her fifth-grade students to the bathroom, four at a time, to perform "their ritual washing."
Afterward, Getz said, "teachers led the kids into the gym, where a man dressed in white with a white cap, who had been at the school all day," was preparing to lead prayer. Beside him, another man "was prostrating himself in prayer on a carpet as the students entered."
"The prayer I saw was not voluntary," Getz said. "The kids were corralled by adults and required to go to the assembly where prayer occurred."
Islamic Studies was also incorporated into the school day.
"When I arrived, I was told 'after school we have Islamic Studies,' and I might have to stay for hall duty," Getz said. "The teachers had written assignments on the blackboard for classes like math and social studies. Islamic Studies was the last one -- the board said the kids were studying the Qu'ran. The students were told to copy it into their planner, along with everything else. That gave me the impression that Islamic Studies was a subject like any other."
After school, Getz's fifth-graders stayed in their classroom and the man in white who had led prayer in the gym came in to teach Islamic
Studies. TIZA has in effect extended the school day -- buses leave only after Islamic Studies is over.
Getz did not see evidence of other extra-curricular activity, except for a group of small children playing outside. Significantly, 77 percent of TIZA parents say that their "main reason for choosing TIZA ... was because of after-school programs conducted by various non-profit organizations at the end of the school period in the school building," according to a TIZA report. TIZA may be the only school in Minnesota with this distinction.
Why does the Minnesota Department of Education allow this sort of religious activity at a public school? According to Zaman, the department inspects TIZA regularly -- and has done so "numerous times" -- to ensure that it is not a religious school.
But the department's records document only three site visits to TIZA in five years -- two in 2003-04 and one in 2007, according to Assistant Commissioner Morgan Brown. None of the visits focused specifically on religious practices.
For the rest of the article you can go HERE
Kersten requested a visit to the school to see for herself, that visit was declined by TIZA's executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief.
According to the US Department of Education is a written statement it says:
The guidance clarifies the rights of students to pray in public schools. As stated in the guidance, "...the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by private individuals" such as students. Therefore, "[a]mong other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities." Public schools should not be hostile to the religious rights of their students and their families.At the same time, school officials may not "compel students to participate in prayer or other religious activities." Nor may teachers, school administrators and other school employees, when acting in their official capacities as representatives of the state, encourage or discourage prayer, or participate in such activities with students.
Students are allowed to pray, but the school is not allowed to force them nor "encourage" them to do so.
This makes the substitutes teacher's witnessing the students being required to go to the prayer assembly and well as the school officials pushing them to do, illegal under the law.
Wild Thing's comment........
Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), named for the Muslim conquerer of Spain. General Tarek ibn Ziyad's bloody battle marked the beginning of the Muslim rule of Spain in the eighth century. chiefly remembered for one incident in particular. Landing in Spain, he ordered the Muslim forces' boats to be burned, and then told his soldiers: "Brothers in Islam! We now have the enemy in front of us and the deep sea behind us. We cannot return to our homes, because we have burnt our boats. We shall now either defeat the enemy and win or die a coward's death by drowning in the sea. Who will follow me?" The soldiers, crying "Allahu akbar," rushed ahead and defeated a vastly superior Spanish force.
Does the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy represent the same idea for those who founded it and now operate it?
....Thank you Lynn for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:48 AM | Comments (16)
June 13, 2006
Al Gore: Next Movie May Have Nude Scene ~ OMG
Al Gore jokes he's been getting a taste of the movie star treatment.
The former vice president was on the "Tonight" show Thursday night. Host Jay Leno asked about the reaction to Gore's documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth."
Gore says since he's been on the Hollywood A-list, he's had a huge feud with Lindsay Lohan. When Leno asked for details, Gore said Lohan "knows what she did." The line got a big laugh.
Gore also jokes he might consider a nude scene in his next movie if the script had integrity and it advanced the story.
Wild Thing's comment.....
File this under the I don't get it category!
Global warming and nudity?? Just seeing 'Al Gore' and 'nude scene' in the same sentence makes my eyes hurt. And how could we forget this quote by Al Gore, " don't want to diminish the threat of terrorism at all, it is extremely serious, but on a long-term global basis, global warming is the most serious problem we are facing.".....
...HUH Al?? Hell's bells you mean global warming is worse then the threat of terrorism?? I think Islam missed the memo on that!
Posted by Wild Thing at 01:55 AM | Comments (2)
March 23, 2006
Is That A Sensor In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Glad To See Me
Los Angeles Man Charged for Attempting to Ship Sensitive Technology to Iran
Joint ICE-FBI probe uncovers scheme involving illegal export of pressure sensors
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles man was arraigned in federal court here yesterday for his role in a scheme to illegally export more than 100 Honeywell sensors to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to the manufacturer, the sensors, which detect the pressure of liquid or gas, could potentially be used to detonate explosive devices.
Mohammad Fazeli, 27, was arrested March 16 at his Los Angeles apartment by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fazeli was named in a three-count indictment handed down March 9 charging him with violating the IEEPA, conspiracy, and making false statements.
The indictment alleges that Fazeli ordered 103 pressure sensors in September 2004 through a website operated by an electronics company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to the indictment, Fazeli told an unindicted co-conspirator that he had been contacted by a representative from that company advising him that he needed a license in order to export the devices. Despite that, after receiving the parts, Fazeli allegedly attempted to send them to the United Arab Emirates, with the understanding that the devices would ultimately be shipped to Iran.
Under the IEEPA, Iran has been subject to a trade embargo by the United States since the late 1970s. The Iranian Transactions Regulations expressly prohibit the sale, supply, or transshipment of any goods, technology, or services to Iran without prior authorization by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Investigators say Fazeli had not received the required prior approval from the Treasury Department to export the pressure sensors.
“One of ICE's top enforcement priorities is preventing terrorist groups and hostile nations from illegally obtaining U.S. military products and sensitive technology,” said Kevin Kozak, deputy special agent in charge for ICE investigations in Los Angeles. “In the wrong hands, components like these pressure sensors could be used to inflict harm upon America or its allies.”
Fazeli, who remains free on $50,000 bond, is scheduled to go on trial April 25.
Just last week a federal jury in San Diego found Arif Ali Durrani guilty of multiple violations of the Arms Export Control Act for illegally exporting military aircraft parts from the United States to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Belgium. At the trial, ICE agents testified that many of the military components in Durrani's illegal export plot were ultimately destined for Iran.
Wild Thing's comment......
I just don't get it, if anyone really expects this bastard to show up for court, I have a bridge for sell. Why the hell they let this guy post bail is beyond me. He should have been considered a flight risk and held him until his trail date.
Posted by Wild Thing at 12:55 AM | Comments (5)
November 25, 2005
Natural Born Liars
Carl Limbacher for NewsMax
Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005
Perhaps Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) should have done some research before charging the Bush administration with "manufacturing” and "manipulating” pre-war intelligence relating to Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction programs.
In particular, Reid should have researched statements made by several prominent members of his own Democratic Party.
Republicans have circulated numerous pre-war Democratic statements on weapons of mass destruction since Reid blurred the line between the claims of the Democratic Party and the slanders of Michael Moore. Reid on Nov. 1 invoked Rule 21, accusing the Bush administration of purposely misleading the public in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Bottom Line: If the Bush administration was lying about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, then so too were many leading Democrats.
The following is a list of statements made by prominent Democrats on Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction program:
Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.)
"According to the CIA's report, all U.S. intelligence experts agree that Iraq is seeking nuclear weapons. There is little question that Saddam Hussein wants to develop nuclear weapons."
Wild Thing's comment......I am putting my comment here as the article is long so click below to read the article............thank you......
OK so here is one of the many things I just don't get about these Terrorcrats ( the left, the liberals, the Democrats) they make statements, big statements, statements regarding world affairs and the security of our country statements. It gets them on talk shows, in the media, it keeps them in the news, up front and personal. They are relied upon by their own sheep that follow every word spoken by these terrorcrats.Oh so and so said it so it must be true. Note here that most of the sheep do not follow every day news of what is happening in the world such as the many graves Saddam had, the torture he did to his people pretty much goes unnoticed by the sheep because it has nothing to do with the last reading at Barnes Noble or hanging our at a coffee house and trying to sound intellectual to another sheep nodding in agreement how the world is coming to an end if something isn't done about global warming and that one kind of bird that needs to be protected from the evil lumberjacks that want to keep a clearings in State Parks to make it possible fight forest fires.
They pay no attention at all to the numerous times the idiot Cheif UN weapons inspector Hans Blix went back and forth to Iraq giving Saddam enough time not only to move the WMD but to get rid of all the sand and replace it with sod and landscape the entire country of Iraq.
Take a look further down in the article of the DATES of the quotes by chia pet hair President Clinton. The sheep would sit by their TV sets, glazed over eyes and brain dead and nod in agreement, oh yes this man is dangerous, this Saddam. Just listen because President Clinton said so. The truth is Saddam is and was dangerous, not only to his neighboring countries but to the world. His payments to suicide bombers families and I firmly believe he did have a connection to Osama, but that is my opinion and gut feeling. Funny thing some of the things were true that the Dems said under Clinton about Saddam.
But here is the kicker, here is what I will never get.............Only because the President is a Republican that went after Saddam, only because he took action where his predecessor wimped out, the left cannot stand the truth now. Their hate for Republicans, and for President Bush is beyond the pale. It is so deep it is part of their DNA much like the actual terrorists hate all NON-Muslims and want us dead. Thus now WMD has become a lie, the sheep and their leaders have conveniently forgotten their quotes, their agreement with one another that WMD did exist! Even when faced with past quotes they will not answer to it, they will not respond to " but you said this blah blah blah back in such and such".
If a person says something, believes in it or does something they believe in then said person needs to own up to it. But the terrorcrats are such natural born liars they feel no guilt at all in feeling accountable for their remarks or deeds. Men(?) like Harry Reid and others have NO emotion of wrong doing when they lie. They could stand outside your front door in a blizzard and tell you that the sun is shinning and it is 80 degrees outside and the sheep would say " get the swimsuits out Velma we are going to the beach". You and I would stand on the other side of the door and tell Reid he is a freaken liar and to stand back he has a 38 aimed at his Pa Kettle face! ( Maybe not that drastic but you get my drift. hahaha)
I just don't get how a person can believe the lies of the left when they are so blatant. I am 5'11" and it would be as though I would stand next to someone 5' tall and tell them we are the same height and the person would say " I noticed that too". Sheesh! Helloooo is anyone home?
I think this is one of my biggest pet peeves with the left, one of many. The way they lie right in our faces and we are supposed to take it, to accept it. Then the media joins in with promoting their lies and their spin. Like Rush Limbaugh has said many times, the left are given their spin for the week and it is true, we can hear the same spin somehow brought in to every interview by various lefties for that week. One would have to be totally deaf and Non Compos Mentis not to notice.
The following is a list of statements made by prominent Democrats on Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction program:
Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.)
"According to the CIA's report, all U.S. intelligence experts agree that Iraq is seeking nuclear weapons. There is little question that Saddam Hussein wants to develop nuclear weapons."
Congressional Record, October 9, 2002
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)
In the four years since the inspectors, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capability to wage biological and chemical warfare and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Congressional Record, October 10, 2002
Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
"[It] is Hussein's vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and potential future support for terrorist acts and organizations, that make him a terrible danger to the people to the United States."
Congressional Record, October 10, 2002
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.)
"We must eliminate that [potential nuclear] threat now before it is too late. But that isn't just a future threat. Saddam's existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose real threats to America today, tomorrow. ... [He] is working to develop delivery systems like missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that could bring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East. He could make these weapons available to many terrorist groups, third parties, which have contact with his government. Those groups, in turn, could bring those weapons into the United States and unleash a devastating attack against our citizens. I fear that greatly."
Congressional Record, October 10, 2002
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
Remarks at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, October 27, 2002
Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)
"There is no question that Iraq possesses biological and chemical weapons and that he seeks to acquire additional weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. That is not in debate. I also agree with President Bush that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace and must be disarmed, to quote President Bush directly."
Congressional Record , October 8, 2002
President Bill Clinton
"In the next century, the community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now - a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists, drug traffickers, or organized criminals who travel the world among us unnoticed. If we fail to respond today, Saddam, and all those who would follow in his footsteps, will be emboldened tomorrow by the knowledge that they can act with impunity, even in the face of a clear message from the United Nations Security Council, and clear evidence of a weapons of mass destruction program."
Remarks at the Pentagon , February 17, 1998
"Let's imagine the future. What if he fails to comply and we fail to act, or we take some ambiguous third route, which gives him yet more opportunities to develop this program of weapons of mass destruction and continue to press for the release of the sanctions and continue to ignore the solemn commitments that he made? Well, he will conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and do more to rebuild an arsenal of devastating destruction. And some day, some way, I guarantee you he'll use the arsenal. And I think every one of you who has really worked on this for any length of time, believes that, too."
Remarks at the Pentagon, February 17, 1998
"Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them, not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq. The international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again."
Remarks at the White House , December 16, 1998
Vice President Al Gore
"If you allow someone like Saddam Hussein to get nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, chemical weapons, biological weapons, how many people is he going to kill with such weapons? He's already demonstrated a willingness to use these weapons; he poison gassed his own people. He used poison gas and other weapons of mass destruction against his neighbors. This man has no compunctions about killing lots and lots of people."
Larry King Live, December 16, 1998
"Remember, Peter, this is a man who has used poison gas on his own people and on his neighbors repeatedly. He's trying to get ballistic missiles, nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons. He could be a mass murderer of the first order of magnitude. We are not going to allow that to happen."
ABC News’ "Special Report,” December 16, 1998
"We know that [Saddam] has stored away secret supplies of biological weapons and chemical weapons throughout his Country."
Remarks to the Commonwealth Club of California, San Francisco, Calif., September 23, 2002
Secretary Of State Madelyn Albright
"Countering terror is one aspect of our struggle to maintain international security and peace. Limiting the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction is a second. Saddam Hussein's Iraq encompasses both of these challenges.”
Remarks at the American Legion Convention, New Orleans, La., August 9, 1998
"Iraq is a long way from [America], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risk that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face. And it is a threat against which we must and will stand firm. In discussing Iraq, we begin by knowing that Saddam Hussein, unlike any other leader, has used weapons of mass destruction even against his own people."
CNN "Showdown With Iraq: International Town Meeting," February 18, 1998
Defense Secretary William Cohen
Cohen appeared on ABC’s "This Week” in 1997 to talk about Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. To illustrate the danger, he brought a five-pound bag of sugar.
Cohen: It’s important when we talk about weapons of mass destruction that we translate that into something that the American people, and hopefully, the world community can understand. If you take a five pound bag of sugar and accept – call this anthrax (holding up a 5-pound bag of table sugar). This amount of anthrax could be spread over a city – let’s say the size of Washington. It could destroy at least half the population of that city. If you had even more amounts ...
One of the things we found with anthrax is that one breath and you are likely to face death within five days. One small particle of anthrax could produce death within five days.
VX is a nerve agent. One drop from this particular thimble as such – one single drop will kill you within a few minutes.
Cokie Roberts: Would you put that bag down please.
Cohen: Now I want to point out – I will spill it on the table – point out that he has had enormous amounts and I’d like to go to some of the lies that have been told about this, because originally, if we could look at this particular chart, the original declaration of Iraq, he said he had small quantities of nerve agent for research. We found almost four tons of VX – that little vial I just showed you – four tons of it.
Posted by Wild Thing at 08:49 AM | Comments (2)
October 20, 2005
Tell Me I am Dreaming This (a Nightmare but of course)
Good Grief look at this!
Spanish Judge Issues Warrants for Three U.S. Soldiers
MADRID, Spain — A judge has issued an international arrest warrant for three U.S. soldiers whose tank fired on a Baghdad hotel during the Iraq war, killing a Spanish journalist and a Ukrainian cameraman, a court official said Wednesday.
Judge Santiago Pedraz (search) issued the warrant for Sgt. Shawn Gibson, Capt. Philip Wolford and Lt. Col. Philip de Camp, all from the U.S. 3rd Infantry, which is based in Fort Stewart, Ga.
Jose Couso, who worked for the Spanish television network Telecinco, died April 8, 2003, after a U.S. army tank crew fired a shell on Hotel Palestine (search) in Baghdad where many journalists were staying to cover the war.
Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk, a Ukrainian, also was killed.
Pedraz had sent two requests to the United States — in April 2004 and June 2005 — to have statements taken from the suspects or to obtain permission for a Spanish delegation to quiz them. Both went unanswered.
He said he issued the arrest order because of a lack of judicial cooperation from the United States regarding the case.
The warrant "is the only effective measure to ensure the presence of the suspects in the case being handled by Spanish justice, given the lack of judicial cooperation by U.S. authorities," the judge said in the warrant. Continue reading....
Now wait just a War Time minute! Look we are at War this is not a tea party. Places get bombed and anyone that goes there to do stories, photo journalists etc. they know the risk and if they don't they better learn fast.
The Pentagon had no immediate information and said it was looking into it.
U.S. officials have insisted that the soldiers believed they were being shot at when they opened fire.
Following the Palestine incident, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell (search) said a review of the incident found that the use of force was justified.
In late 2003, the National Court (search), acting on a request from Couso's family, agreed to consider filing criminal charges against three members of the tank crew.
Fort Stewart spokeswoman Jennifer Scales said the three no longer are assigned to Fort Stewart or the 3rd Infantry Division.
De Camp, who is now an adjunct mathematics professor at the College of William & Mary (search) in Williamsburg, Va., said three investigations into the incident — two military investigations and one by the Committee to Protect Journalists — had exonerated all three men.
"We had no clue there were journalists over at that hotel," he said. "We would not have shot at them."
The retired officer also said his men were constantly taking risks by letting people get close to their convoy so that they could verify whether they were enemy combatants.
When asked if he would turn himself in, de Camp said, "I don't know, I've got to get some legal advice."
Pilar Hermoso, an attorney for Couso's family, welcomed the decision, although she recognized that it would be difficult to get the soldiers extradited to Spain, the state news agency Efe reported.
Small protests over the killing have been staged outside the U.S. Embassy in Madrid nearly every month since Couso's death.
Under Spanish law, a crime committed against a Spaniard abroad can be prosecuted here if it is not investigated in the country where it is committed.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:13 PM
September 25, 2005
What Happened To Honor !! ?? !!
Sounding off here, so get your cigs, light up, pour a cold one...
I just don't get it!
How does a person live with themselves when they have knowledge of traitors like John Kerry and still feel it is acceptable for such a person to run for ANY office in this land. I mean... after what he has done in his life and you can add to that ole Bill Clinton as well. Draft dodger! And to sit in the Oval office, be President of the USA and all those "gates" up the wazzu that he and Hillary had VERY much to do with. Yep, it is a real shocker for this politically conservative girl.
What happened to honor? What happened to high character? OH I see it with some men and women, men like my husband and others, but... the ole yeh BUT what about soooooo many NOT having it. NOT being honest instead of corrupt! So many NOT taking the high road. You can't buy honor, it is not for sale. It comes from within, a part of a person's makeup, tissue, atoms.
The out of control, UN-American, PRO Saddam, Pro death to Americans and death to our troops peaceniks!
You guessed it bucko, I dearly wish they would go away, go live in a country that is more suited to their socialist/Communist low life standards. Teachers letting kids out of school to protest the war in Iraq. Teachers doing this with kids to get them to protest. Unbelievable! Little Johnny can't read, but by golly he can be used by his socialist minded teacher to promote her agenda against America!
I got an email from a wife of a Marine that is over "there." It was to let everyone know she had received a letter of being careful about having a deployment candle in her window. And not to have stickers on her car that let anyone know she is the wife or relative or loved one of someone serving now. In her same letter she stated not only does she plan to keep the candle going 24/7, but plans on adding stickers to her car that show she is a wife of a Marine, and a supporter of our troops. And a yellow ribbon to the tree in front of their home.
Is there a difference in someone like Jane Fonda and these people?
It depends, Fonda should have been executed for treason for the death of our guys. IMO
But let's look at the impact these people have because of the media. They may not all be running off to Iraq or to Afghanistan to kiss up to Saddam and the al-queda, but CNN, MSNBC, etc. go to those countries. During Vietnam there was no CNN or Fox News or MSNBC. We only had the alphabet networks, and they did their own kind of damage.
Thousands upon thousands of men and women have served my country and thousands have died to give me my freedom. Each and every one of them Americans! And when it comes to a war called Vietnam, those who served from my land did the right thing. They fought to keep communism from spreading. Spreading one day to our very shores.
Yes it is here now and has seats in both Houses in government, and I hate that. Those men and women that went and fought in Vietnam did it with such honor and duty to country I will love them with all that is in me. Just as I respect and love their patriotism the troops today, fighting terrorist in Iraq.
I want this war to be done quickly. But I also do not want it to be a war that is not finished, a war undone with lives of our men and women brought back knowing it was not run by the military but by politicians and peaceniks and polls. I don't want the lives we have already lost at Kandahar, Kuwait, Iraq and other places to be on a wall and our goals in this war not accomplished.
Posted by Wild Thing at 10:08 AM
