Gregory Hicks On the Ground Testimony of What Happened in Benghazi on 9/11/12 - Video

It was quite the hearing today. This is compelling and heartbreaking.  It is amazing that anyone survived.  

Catholics as Terrorists - An Observation

So apparently according to new military training manuals, Catholics are now potential terrorists.  If this is truly the case, why in heavens name are we not having impeachment hearings on Vice President Joe Biden or Minority Leader Nanny Pelosi?

“as an ardent, practicing Catholic,"  Nanny Pelosi

'I get comfort from carrying my rosary, going to mass every Sunday. It's my time alone,' VP Biden

President Obama on Libya - Blaming the Video

Hmm, both of these are days and days after the 9/11 attack on our embassy.  Was Gov. Romney really wrong?  

No Candy, he was not.  Next time you moderate a debate maybe you should get your facts straight beforehand.  

Now, Lets look at mouthpieces of the administration:

Yep, they called it terrorism right away.  

Hillary Does the Right Thing & Takes Responsibility for Benghazi Security Mistakes

Hillary, Secretary of State, takes responsibility for the lack of security in Benghazi, Libya that lead to the death of four men on September 11, 2012.  I find this to be refreshing that someone is finally saying, hey it is my fault that the security wasn't better.  

Since I live in the DC area, I know many people who work for the federal government.  For some reason most that I know do work at The State Department.  Many of those work in the embassy security division.  I have one person who I have known my whole life who recently retired.  While at State he went around the world to all our different embassies to install, update, and address all kinds of security issues.  This staff doesn't normally fall into the staff that changes by administration.  These are professionals that are there regardless of who is in office.  They are not political appointees.   Ultimately the decision about the security was made by this department.  

The chances are it never even hit Sec. Clinton's desk and there is no way that a decision like this was made at The White House.  The chances that they were even aware of the request being turned down is about nil to none.  

Now, that doesn't absolve President Obama from the problems.  There does need to be an investigation into the thought process that went around why a consulate office in a city that has known ties to terrorists and extremists was not given better security.  It seems like a no-brainer to those of us on the outside.  We need to get to the bottom of why this request was denied.  

My biggest concern at the moment is why the head of the department has not been fired.  Four innocent people have lost their lives due to a very bad decision.  While I am sure this person feels awful, that it isn't enough.  The diplomatic corp needs to have assurances that they are going to be safe while they and their families are travelling abroad.  Until a very complete investigation is undertaken and completed, I am not too sure that I would feel all that safe while I was in hot spots across the world.  

DaTech Guy has some interesting commentary on Hillary taking full responsibility on Benghazigate.  You don't want to miss it.  

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is Truly Delusional - Video

How this woman ever became the DNC Chair is beyond my comprehension.  I agree that saying something that turns out to be false is not being misleading, it is being wrong (Ahem, WMD in Iraq), the problem is that the evidence clearly shows that they knew all along that it was a terrorist attack and did not tell the American public the truth.  

Four Dead - Just "Bumps in the Road" - Obama on 9/11 Terrorist Attacks - Video

Nice.

When Liberals Attack - Conservative Blogger on the Run with Wife and Five Children

That's right, a conservative blogger is on the run with his wife and five children.  Why you ask?  Because some lunatic "liberal activist" is unhappy with the reporting done about him.  This is a career criminal who has spent time in jail for a variety of offenses, who is now well funded by the institutional left; Barbara Streisand and Teresa Heinz Kerry to name just two.  What did this blogger do?  Tell the truth about how a career criminal is being financed by the who's who of the institutional left.  You know, the party of tolerance.  The party of underprivileged and saviors of the downtrodden.  


I am sick to death about hearing about how the "Tea Party" is so scary.  We are asking the government to stop wasting tax dollars.  We are not funding terrorists to intimidate bloggers who have young children.  At least one of his children is still in elementary school.   I have met one of his sons, a very charming young lad.  Their lives have been disrupted and they had to be removed from school because of this looney.  


The next time someone on the left talks about the danger of the Tea Party and conservatives tell them this story.  Because sure as shit they didn't hear about in the media.  


Say a prayer today for Stacy McCain and his family as they deal with this bomber and career criminal.  As a Christian I will also be saying one for the Streisand and Kerry too.  Maybe, just maybe, God will show them how to use their consciences.  Although I am not holding my breath on that one.  


Nice Deb has a nice write up on Blog about write about Brett day which is scheduled for this Friday.  He can't come after as all.  

Just to show what a liar this man is, here is another for your viewing pleasure.  

If there was ever a time for you to hit a bloggers tip jar.  This is it.  His wife had to leave her job and they moved their family.  Not something that people plan on.  Go here if you feel so inclined.  


If you are a blogger, please go to Nice Deb to hear about this project to get Brett's story all over the blogosphere.  You never know, just maybe some reasonable democrats will see what has become of their party.  

Freedom Tower Taking Shape

It has taken for what seems like forever, but the new Freedom Tower is now etched on the New York City Skyline.  The Steel has reached to the 87th floor.  

For some amazing shots from the tower go here.  


It is good to see this project coming along.  America may have been kicked on 9/11, but we will survive and this tower is a testament to that.  

Are We Going to Follow the Constitution or Not?

Anwar al-Awlaki is dead.  Most people will think that is a good thing.  He was a terrorist that was hell bent on doing destruction to this country and to it's citizens.  Of that there is little dispute.  The dispute comes from how he was killed.  Not the drone, but the lack of due process in the situation. 

In most cases it only the very far right and the very far left that are up in arms.  It ranges from the ACLU to Ron Paul who have spoken out against this.  Now, I have not done any research but I am sure that the likes of Cindy Sheehan is also against what happened.  I hate to be in that company regularly, but today I must join them. 

Nothing, absolutely nothing, in the constitution gives the president the right to kill an American citizen without due process.  al-Awlaki was born in this country; if I am not mistaken that makes him an American citizen, with the rights afforded to all of us. 

The Obama and Bush administrations should have started the legal process to indict him.  Neither administration bothered to do that.  The Obama administration thought about it, but it never went beyond that stage.  Why?  They had the goods on him.  There were plenty of videos of the man declaring his desire to kill Americans and commit terrorists acts against the rest of us.  There are at least incidents in this country that lead back to him; the failed Times Square bomber, the failed Christmas Day airplane bomber, and the successful Fort Hood shooter.  All of which happened under the Obama administration.  Why didn't DOJ go to court and get him declared an enemy combatant?  I would like an answer to that question.

Just consider one thing, this is one man.  The fact that he is a bad man isn't the important point.  The important point is that we, as citizens, are willingly giving up our rights as American citizens and handing the president unprecedented powers.  We are not up in arms that the American president has killed an American citizen without any due process, and we should be.

How long ago was it that as a member of the Tea Party I was called terrorist? Don't say that this doesn't matter people, it does.  The terrorists are winning if are willing to give up this much power to one person.  I say stand with the constitution and demand an answer of why this terrorist was never formally indicted.  It isn't about one man, it is about the rule of law and adherence to our founding documents. 

Here are two other sides:

My fellow blogger at Potluck Fuzzi Slippers and I are in agreement
Silverfiddle on the other hand feels it was a righteous and legal kill. 

So I am on team Fuzzi.

What say you? 

We Will Never Forget

Below is part one of the documentary made by two brothers who happened to be at firehouse closet to ground zero on 9/11.  The rest is on you tube.  If you have never seen it, it is well worth your time.  A moving tribute to the firefighters who risked thier lives to save others. 

President Bush's Speech to Dedicate Memorial to Flight 93

He really hit the right tone here. 

Memories of 9/11

I don't talk about my 9/11 experience all that much.  It was very traumatic for me.  But as the story starts for most people, it was a beautiful clear morning in DC.  I happened to have a doctor's appointment that morning and was going to work late.  As my usual practice in the mornings, I was listening to a book on tape while I was driving down the road. 

I left the house before the first plane hit The World Trade Center.  I had no idea what was going on around me that morning.  I stopped at a store and was in and out so fast that I didn't really pay attention to the group of people that seemed to be in big circle.  I don't know what I thought they were doing, but looking back at it, they must have been listening to the radio reports. 

I got onto the beltway and made my way to 395 and headed into DC for my appointment.  For those that don't live around here, the beltway does not actually pass through DC.  If you want to get into The District you need to take another roadway that will bring you into the city.  395 is the roadway that runs parallel alongside The Pentagon. 

I started to notice this huge shadow for a lack of a better word.  I also heard this really loud sound.  I started looking up and realized a plane was heading towards me.  Now, planes flying over The Pentagon was not an unusual site as National Airport is only a few miles down the road.  Planes would fly in at strange angles and make a sharp turn and head out towards the river to land a few miles away.  Matter of fact, you still see that today. 

But this plane was going way too fast and it was obvious it was going to crash.  I am not sure that I realized it at the time, but the plane was not in distress.  It had a target.  That target was The Pentagon.  It was a very scary few minutes because I honestly thought that it was going to crash onto the roadway and I was going to die.  Within seconds the plane hit the building and went up into a fireball.  The ground was shaking from the impact and the smoke was thick and so black, I had never seen anything like that before.  I hope to never experience that sight again, either. 

The people who were also driving down the road just stopped.  Some got out of the cars, while others did not, because you could feel the heat.  I personally was crying hysterically by this point because I just watched people die.  It wasn't until a few days later that I found out that I knew someone on that plane.  I can't say we were really friends, but social events brought us together on occasion.  She was a very nice lady who I had really admired. 

It didn't take long before there were police, military personnel, fire fighters, and every other imaginable emergency people on the scene.  We couldn't go anywhere, we were just stuck on the roadway.  I am not sure how long it took before the building collapsed in one section and even more smoke started pouring out of the building.  I was thinking about a woman I worked with at the time because her husband was retired military and worked in that building.  I was on my knees and praying that they get everyone out. 

I finally made my way over to a nearby mall.  I still was relatively unaware of what was happening in New York until I got to the Best Buy and the TV's were on CNN and by this point the towers had collapsed.  There were military tanks surrounding the roadways by the Pentagon, all the bridges were closed, the metro system was closed down in that area, and people had no way to get home but to walk.  You just saw streams of people walking over the bridges to try and get to a bus or a taxi to get home.  You heard military planes and helicopters in the sky.  People were in shock and many were in tears. 

It took me five hours to get home after that.  The road that ran alongside of the military base was already closed, and has yet to reopen.  Once I got home I heard that the airspace in the country had been closed down.  But, I lived near the army base Fort Belvoir at the time, they had planes flying which scared the crap out of me, because I didn't know if they were military or not.  I couldn't sleep that night.  I was glued to CNN and fielding phone calls from relatives and friends who were worried about me.  I am not sure why, since I didn't work in The Pentagon, but I guess with all the confusion and upset of the day, they just wanted the reassurance that I was fine.  But, I wasn't fine.  I have never looked at the world the same way since. 

I finally decided that I needed to get some food to the people who were working at The Pentagon.  It took me two hours to find an open store and I went home and baked some brownies, made some sandwiches, and got two cases of water.  They were not letting anyone near the Pentagon, I got stopped along the way and gave the things to a police officer.  I don't know if they ever made to the rescue workers or not.  But I had to do something.  I then went back home and was glued to CNN until it was time to go to work the next morning.  Luckily, my co-worker's husband was fine.  He was in another part of building.  But, sadly a college roommate of another co-worker wasn't so lucky.  He didn't make it out that day.  I talked to my friend Martha to find out about her brother in law who worked on Wall Street at the time, and he made it home to his wife and kids in one piece.  Someone that I sorta kinda knew in CT was missing from what I heard.  He never did make it home, nor was he ever found.  He worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, I think. 

It was an awful time in this country.  One of the worst of my lifetime.  I get a real laugh from the people who say we need to move on.  I also get incensed when I hear that we should turn into a national holiday.  Why, so we can end up at the sales at the mall in a few years?  This is a day that we should mark in our own ways.  We all have our memories of what we lost that day.  For some it is a simple as the innocence that the oceans kept us safe, but for others, it was a loved one.  Many of the families that lost someone that day, never got a body to bury.  Never got to have a final viewing which is part of the healing process for most families in this country. 

That is my memory of 9-11.  A day that I will never forget. 


Barnes and Noble coupons has good prices and an excellent selection of 9/11 books

What, Israel Doesn't Warrent a Mention as a Community That Experienced Terrorism?

“As we commemorate the citizens of over 90 countries who perished in the 9/11 attacks, we honor all victims of terrorism, in every nation around the world, we honor and celebrate the resilience of individuals, families, and communities on every continent, whether in New York or Nairobi, Bali or Belfast, Mumbai or Manila, or Lahore or London.”

From the White House "guidelines" on how to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

I don't know about you, but I don't think I need Obama to tell me how I should mark the day. 

Hmm, do you think leaving out Jerusalem was just a oversight? 

Shame on you Mr. Cain - Shame on You.

Today, Herman Cain made a return visit to Fox News Sunday. During his interview with Chris Wallace Mr. Cain invoked a liberal talking point. Mr. Cain wrongly believes that Murfreesboro has the right to deny permits to build a Mosque.

Our Constitution guarantees separation of church and state

Oh, really Mr. Cain? Where in the Constitution does it say that? Mr. Cain am I safe to presume that you feel it is OK for the ACLU to continue its assault on Christmas celebrations? Because this is the exact same talking point that is used to stop Christmas trees being put up in town squares across the country. This is the same talking point that allows someone other than the student to decide what they say in their valedictorian speech. This is the same talking point that liberals have been using for close to century to deny the fact that the founding fathers wanted to create a country where ALL were allowed to worship openly, publicly, and how they so choose.

If I want the right to stand up and defend this right against the assaults to faith I see coming from the left, then I must, in good conscience, stand up against the very same assault that I see coming from the right. One of the great things about this country is that you are free to or free not to worship.

This statement is nothing more than fear; fear of radical Islam. Radical Islam is something to fear. Radical Islam does exist in this world. There is such a thing as creeping Sharia. But, for a potential presidential nominee to stand up and display this type of broadbrushing of an entire population of people in this country boggles the mind. This statement is basically saying that every Muslim in this country has been radicalized. This statement is wrong, ignorant, and just downright stupid. I know Muslims that came to this country to escape the extremism that they witnessed in their home countries. They came to this country to be free to worship as they chose to, not the way groups like the Taliban, Hamas and Hezbollah were trying to tell them they had to worship. They are no more likely to strap a bomb on themselves in the name of Allah than I am.

The last thing we need is yet another president that doesn't understand what is in the Constitution or is willing to pervert it in order to justify a unconsitutional stance. We have had plenty of those and that is one of the reasons that we are in the mess that we are in.

Go here and read some accounts of a conservative who lives in that community. If we allow fear to change who we are as a country and as a people, the terrorists have won. I stand with the Constitution. I hope you will join me.

Jihadi Cosmo to hit the Stands

The Daily Mail is reporting that al Qaeda is releasing a magazine to appeal to women.

The first issue's editorial explains that the magazine's goal is to educate women and involve them in the war against the enemies of Islam.

It says: Because women constitute half of the population - and one might even say that they are the population since they give birth to the next generation - the enemies of Islam are bent on preventing the Muslim woman from knowing the truth about her religion and her role, since they know all too well what would happen if women entered the field of jihad.

It will feature interviews with widows of the matyrs and apparently some beauty advice:

And the 'beauty column' instructs women to stay indoors with their faces covered to keep a 'clear complexion'.

They should 'not go out except when necessary' and wear a niqab for 'rewards by complying with the command of Allah Almighty'.

I got to thinking about type of features they can have in the future.

How to raise your son to be murderer.
The real reasons that women can't be trusted to drive a car but can strap a bomb on themselves to kill innocent people.
The 72 virgins that are awaiting the female martyrs, a centerfold.
The top ten ankle creams.
How to survive your husbands beatings.
Which shade of black should you choose for your burka?
How to get along with your husband's other wives.
Why it just better you don't question anything.

Cross Posted at PotLuck

Shelia Jackson Lee's Tantrum at King Hearings

The boss from hell is a real piece of work.  She quotes herself in the third person, which I found very amusing.  She then continues to go on and on (and I really mean on and on) about the KKK.  I went online to try and find out when the last murder committed by the KKK was.  The most recent thing I could find was from 08 and it was a white woman who was shot at an initiation meeting.  She was there to get training to recruit new members.  I don't see that as a major issue.  I am in no way downplaying the dangers of an organization like the KKK, I am just saying that they are not an immediate threat to national security. 

The Department of Justice announced recently that the threat is real.  This coming from AG Holder himself.  Holder who has bent over backwards to give terrorists every single benefit of the doubt. The most recent comments from DoJ is that there is a threat to the public coming from homegrown terrorists almost every two weeks.  Sooner or later they are going to get it right.  Do you really want to be seen as the person who standing against the investigation into the root causes of how our young are being used to committ acts of violence against innocents? 



There are real reasons why this topic must be addressed. 

Oh, by the way Congresswoman, the reason that you don't see the people that are not cooperating in front of you is because they are not cooperating.

Radicals, Terrorists, and Common Sense

Congressman King will be having hearings this week on homegrown radicals this week. Of course there is plenty of noise coming from the peanut gallery, calling it bigotry and an attack on all Muslims. Al Sharpton doesn't understand why he isn't investigating the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and the Virginia Tech shootings.


That is an easy answer, they were crazy and it had nothing to do with terrorism.

 

Terrorism Noun:
the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.

Both shootings were committed by young men with mental health problems and had no political motive. While both shootings did scare people, they do not fit the definition of terrorism. Hence that is why it doesn't need to be investigated by congress. Now, if they choose to do a hearing on mental health in this country then both these shootings would of course be included. But, since this hearing is specifically on the growth of terrorism being committed by Americans they don't belong in these hearings.

 

Al Sharpton is also upset that they are not including the Oklahoma City bombing. The OKC bombing has been investigated by congress, several times in fact. So to include this seems like a waste of time. We also need to look at the fact that we are not exactly having a rash of bombings being done by American's who are upset over Waco and feel that our government has become the enemy like McVeigh said he did. That bombing happened almost 16 years ago and we have not had an incident since. That would say to anyone thinking rationally that it really isn't a big problem. Matter of fact, it sounds like a non-existent one to me.

 

 

 

In less than four months in late 2009 we had the following incidents happen: (source New York Times)

 

• September 19: Najibullah Zazi, an Afghan citizen and U.S. legal resident, is arrested on charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Authorities claim that Zazi traveled to Pakistan to receive explosives and weapons training and that he planned to launch an attack in the U.S.
• November 5: Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly kills 13 and wounds 30 at Fort Hood Army Base, outside Killeen, Texas. Early reports reveal that Hasan had been in contact with radical Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.
• November 23: Federal officials unseal indictments against eight people charged in connection with the alleged recruitment of up to two-dozen Somali-Americans to fight with the Somali insurgent group and al Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab.
• December 8: The F.B.I. accuses U.S. citizen David Coleman Headley of conspiring with operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani terrorist group, in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Authorities also allege that Headley had planned to attack a Danish newspaper.
• December 9: Five young Northern Virginia men are arrested in Sargodha, Pakistan. U.S. and Pakistani authorities claim the group traveled there to fight alongside Taliban militants in Afghanistan

 There are some realities that have to be faced. The vast majority of terrorism around the world is done in the Islam. Many terrorism experts say that about 7% of Muslims have been radicalized. While that seems like a very small percentage, there are more than a billion Muslims worldwide. That gives a very high number of radicals running around plotting to kill non believers and infidels.

 

7% of respondents think that the 9/11 attacks were "completely" justified and view the United States unfavorably. Among those who believe that the 9/11 attacks were not justified, whom we'll call "moderates," 40% are pro-United States, but 60% view the United States unfavorably.

 

Analyzing and comparing the answers of the 7% with the moderate majority produced some surprising results. By focusing on the 7%, whom we'll call "the politically radicalized" because of their radical political orientation, we are not saying that all in this group commit acts of violence. However, those with extremist views are a potential source for recruitment or support for terrorist groups. This group is also so committed to changing political conditions that they are more likely to view other civilian attacks as justifiable: 13% of the politically radicalized versus 1% of moderates say that attacks on civilians are "completely justified."

 

We can keep our heads in the sand or we can take preventative measures to protect our society. It is the job of the federal government to keep the nation safe. That is actually in the constitution, so it seems that the congressman is doing his job.

 

The reality is that this is war that is within Islam. Muslims can continue to blame the American public for bigotry or they can take a stand and do something about the dangerous elements within their ranks and refuse to allow people to kill innocents in their name or in the name of Allah. The choice is theirs.

 

No Easy Answers

Riots have been flaring in Egypt for days now.  The reports are that 100 have been killed.  We all know that number could be much higher, but that is the official number coming from the Egyptian government.  The initial reports were that the protesters were average citizens looking for more reforms from the oppressive government. 

Mubarak has been in power for about 3 decades.  There is no doubt that he rules with an iron fist.  Not unlike most governments in that part of the world.  Dissent isn't acceptable and is punishable by jail.  It is well-known that jail in that part of the world usually leads to torture.  Human rights are not a big concern, to put it mildly. 

Poverty runs rampant.  The unemployment rate makes ours look like child's play.  Most in this country don't have a clear understanding of how many live in other parts of the world.  Some of this started over the price of bread.  People have little money to spend on food, and even a small increase can mean the difference when it comes to feeding yourself and your family. 

So far the protesters have not been burning the American or Israeli flags, which is normal thing during these uprisings.  This is a sign that the protesters are just freedom fighters looking for more freedoms, more jobs, and a better life for their families.  The problem is that The Muslim Brotherhood is standing by and waiting.  The Egyptian people may very well get a different government, but it more than likely will not be what some of the people are hoping for.  The Muslim Brotherhood is a organization that believes in returning all Muslim countries to true Sharia law.  They also are looking to get back lands that they view as being taken away from Muslims, such as Spain. 

The Egyptians banned The Muslim Brotherhood many years ago, but it is still very active.  They do run for seats in the government as independents and are relatively successful.  The organization has branches all over the Middle East, such as Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and The Palestinian Terrorities among many others throughout the Muslim world.  Officially, they are against the use of violence and went as far as to condemn the 9/11 attacks.  Although, al Qaeda leaders have been strongly influenced by the brotherhood.  The book Milestones is used by jihadists across the world as guide.  It was a major influence of Usama bin Laden.  bin Laden has turned his back on the movement due to its stance of non-violent resistance, at least publicly anyway.  Although, his #2, Ayman al Zawarhi is a product of the more violent offshoot, Egyptian Islamic Jihad,  to the brotherhood while growing up in Egypt. 

We may very well be seeing the redux of Iran when the Ayatollah came into power.  The initial riots and movement were primarily young people looking to get more freedoms under the oppressive and corrupt Shah.  The Shah was considered an ally of the western world and more precisely of the U.S. government.  Not a good thing in the eyes of Islamic radicals.  The fall of Iran happened in three stages; the first being well-meaning citizens looking to improve their everyday lives.  The second was the fall of the Shah and a weak and disorganized democratically based government formed, and then fell to the more radical Islamics that are in power to this day.  The radicals climbed into bed with many different groups, as none of the groups on their own were powerful enough to rid the country of the Shah.  Once the Shah left they were able to consolidate power by using any brutal means at their disposal. 

To gain some context on how these groups gain power we must understand a very simple fact.  The Muslim Brotherhood and other groups just like them become the social services to the poor.  The governments tend to be so corrupt that the needs of the people are for the most part ignored.  If you are looking to feed your young children you will likely support the people who are helping you achieve that.  You generally don't look at the motives, you just take the helping hand that has been offered to you. 

The vacuum then gets filled by the groups whose intent is only to be the next oppressor.  From the photos that are being shown there are currently women joining in on the demonstrations.  If they are looking for additional freedoms and a better life, it is highly unlikely they will find it if the Muslim Brotherhood does indeed take over.  The chances are they will be denied an education, no chance of voting in elections, but then again those elections will more than likely be rigged anyway. 

The U.S. has no easy choice here.  If they back Mubarak they will be seen as standing by an oppressor.  If they back the protesters they may very well be handing one of the largest Muslim countries over to a radical group that views us as the Big Satan and Israel as the Little Satan.  Egypt currently has a peace accord with the Israelis which has worked for a very long time now.  The chances of the that staying in place if radicals take over is about nil.  The Coptic Christians, who are about 10% of the current population, will also be in even more danger then they are currently experiencing.  This is a native population that has survived the Muslim take over the country back in the 7th century. 

What President Obama does over the next days and months are going to have long lasting effects.  The Suez Canal is an important waterway that our economy depends on.  About one third of the world's oil supply goes through it every year.  If we have a government that views us as the Big Satan controlling it, heaven only knows the damage that can be caused to our economy through higher prices and controlled shortages. 

The problem with the Middle East is that sometimes the oppressor is the best option, even though the citizens of that country don't see it that way.  There are no easy or simple solutions to the problems that exist in the Middle East. 

These are the People Protecting Us?

This is scary on many levels.  Our Director of National Intelligence didn't know that there were terrorist arrests made in London before I did.  Now, I don't expect him to take every phone call or read every memo himself, but what type of staff does this man have?  Didn't anyone in his office feel that this was important information for him to have?  If they didn't have this information why not? 

The United Kingdom is one of our closest allies, if they didn't contact us with the information of the threat, shouldn't we be asking why not?  While it is perfectly understandable that the British may not have called before the arrests for the element of surprise, but surely after the arrests the information would be shared.  After all, the media had the information. 

The White House then comes out with the reasoning that we should be glad that he isn't watching television all day and doing his work.  Really?  I should be reassured that this man hasn't a clue of what is going on across the pond? 

Clapper's office has released a new statement:

Clapper, she explained, had been “working throughout the day on important intelligence matters, including monitoring military and political developments on the Korean Peninsula, providing answers to questions concerning the ratification of the START nuclear treaty, and other classified issues. He wasn’t immediately briefed on London because it didn’t appear to have a homeland nexus and there was no immediate action by the DNI required. Nevertheless, he should have been briefed on the arrests, and steps have been taken to ensure that he is in the future. The intelligence community as a whole was fully aware of this development and tracking it closely.”

Well, this makes me feel much better.  How about you? 

The Rude Awakening of Eric Holder

Eric Holder gave an interview to ABC news about homegrown terrorism.  To me this was eye-opening, not so much for what he said, because the threat to our homeland is real.  What is interesting to me is that he admits it at all. 

Before Holder became AG he worked at a firm that went out of its way to help free enemy combatants at Gitmo.  This must have been a rude awakening for Mr. Holder.  So many on the left refuse to believe that we are not only in danger, but they have no low.  The Bush administration was doing what it felt was necessary in order to the keep the American public safe. 

One of the many ironies of the left is the outrage of the Patriot Act.  The left was screaming that Bush was trampling all over the constitution and violating the human rights of all Muslims.  The Patriot Act came up for renewal and no changes were made.  While I am no fan of the Patriot Act, I realize that there are ways we can protect ourselves and still safeguard our liberties.  I guess even Holder has learned that you can say anything while campaigning, but when you are sitting in the chair and making the decisions after looking at all the intelligence it is quite a different story. 

The left can continue its ridiculous claim that these people are being entrapped, but the reality remains if someone came up to me and talked to me about setting off a bomb, I would not be going along with it, I would be calling the police.  Anyone that is willing to go that far into the plan is not being entrapped, they are being evil.