We can learn a lot from Ethiopia...

Kit Jarrell has the details.

Jean Francios Kerrie...beloved by U.S. troops?

Check out the details at Chicago Ray.

Get ready for some more grandstanding...

UPI reports:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. airport security screeners are getting "cultural sensitivity training" to help them understand the Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia that starts Thursday.

"We put out information telling everyone that hajj is coming," said U.S. Transportation Administration Spokesman Darrin Kayser, referring to the huge global gathering in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Kayser told the State Department News Service USINFO that the training, which he described as "refresher" briefings, would cover information like the dates of the pilgrimage; "individuals are going to be traveling with these types of items; just to be aware that they may also be praying," Kayser said, adding, "I guess you would call it cultural sensitivity training."

Heh. Just be aware that they "may be praying.." Much like the "six Imams" that were "praying" when they terrorized a flight last month. As I have said again and again, if you, as a Muslim, want the American people to stop eyeing you with suspicion, then you and your brethren will need to do something about those who use Islam as an excuse for perpetrating mass murder. It would also help if you quit acting like terrorists when you board an airliner. Don't ask for special treatment. Be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. You want us to view you as just another American? Then start acting like someone who's actually on the team.

And Cultural sensitivity? How about some cultural sensitivity for Americans who lost nearly 3,000 of their loved ones in only one morning on 11 September, 2001? Why should "cultural sensitivity" for your "feelings" take precedence over the current and future safety of our citizens? Sorry. You can take your "cultural sensitivity" and stick it where the sun don't shine.

Regardless, Look for more of these types of shenanigans to be pulled during the upcoming Hajj.

Terrorist-supporting organizations, like CAIR (who, by the way, welcome this sensitivity training), will no doubt utilize our main weakness--that is, our liberal-induced societal aversion to "offending" anyone's sensibilities--against us. During this upcoming Hajj, look for more and more Muslims to cry "foul" from being looked at funny by an airport screener. And look for CAIR, along with the willing dhimmis in the MSM to aid and abet their spurious allegations, thereby putting more and more pressure on airlines, TSA and Homeland Security to ease restrictions (especially on Muslims) at airports.

Greasing the skids for a future terrorist attack? You can literally bet your life on it.

A heads-up...

From Kit Jarrell:

Radio Interview about the Pendleton 8.

December 29: Coverups and Corruption
Written by Kit Jarrell 23 December 2006

Listen at 10 PM on Friday, 12-29-06.......

http://blogtalkradio.com/kitjarrell

It’s my first show on BlogTalkRadio, and it’ll be absolute, MUST-listen radio! If you’ve followed the saga of the Pendleton 8 cover-up at Euphoric Reality, then you’re well aware of the lengths that certain folks have gone to in order to keep their dirty little secrets buried. But no more. We’re hitting the public.

The story we’re telling is beyond important, because it goes to the heart of the problem in the War on Terror: Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are being offered as sacrificial lambs for the political gain of those in power.

Do I agree with the War on Terror? Absolutely. I support the mission. However, the military justice system is broken. Instead of being a system for justice and integrity, a place where the innocent are exonerated and the guilty punished, it has become a place where the end is known before the first witness is called; the winners are the generals and admirals and attorneys.

The losers are the men who go out day after day and hold their fire when they’re shot at for fear that they will be charged with murder. Just in case you still don’t think what I’m talking about is really happening, allow me to tell you a story.

In 1990, the executive officer of the USS Mars was court-martialed and convicted of dereliction of duty. It was just another court-martial, another win to chalk up for military prosecutors–who have a 97% conviction rate. But this case was different. Even the prosecutor is on sworn record as saying there was not enough evidence for conviction.

We have hard copy proof of the following: The admiral who started the investigation against the XO not only ignored all evidence proving the XO innocent, but he actively engaged in unethical conduct throughout the investigation, Article 32, and trial.

In fact, this admiral named himself as the convening authority for the case and handpicked the jury from his own staff. The admiral’s Staff Judge Advocate, contrary to ethics and military law, continued to advise the admiral in secret throughout the case, even though he was the accuser against the XO. In one memo, he assures the admiral that “there is no copy of this memo” on his computer or in his office.

The Staff Judge Advocate also complained about the prosecutor on the case, claiming that he didn’t want to “win” bad enough. The defense attorney forged the XO’s name to an official Response to the Letter of Reprimand after the court-martial. The XO never even knew this document existed for years after, and yet the Navy maintains that the XO’s signature is real and that the document is a true and legal one. A handwriting expert, however, says that’s not true.

The NCIS is involved, as well, doing the bidding of those who stand to be embarrassed by the information coming out. Last year four NCIS agents showed up at the XO’s residence. The armed agents told him to leave the situation alone, to stop making waves or they’d have him arrested by the county sheriff. In the last few weeks, the Department of Homeland Security have been to the XO’s residence six times.

What does all this have to do with cases like the Pendleton 8? I’ll give you a hint. The head NCIS agent outside the XO’s home that day last year just happens to be the same man in charge of the investigation of the Pendleton 8.

This story has it all: lies, betrayal, treachery, and dishonor. I’ll be talking about it on the 29th, live. I will have Tim Harrington from the Warrior Fund with me, going over the piles of evidence implicating everyone from the former head of Combat Logistics Group One, all the way to members of the current Congress. And, we’ll be taking your calls.

This is not a show you can afford to miss…but if you do, the archive will be available both as streaming and download on BlogTalkRadio and at Euphoric Reality.

Stay tuned…this is about to be a hell of a ride.

Listen at 10PM on 12-29-06.......

http://blogtalkradio.com/kitjarrell

One of the blogosphere's best-kept secrets...

Vox Poplar--

Read it. Laugh. Read it again.

'Nuff said.

This is getting to be more fun by the minute...

The material will be endless...

The "fetus-channeling" Breck Girl is now running for Prez!

Woot!!!

An Important Letter from Richard Viguere...

December 27, 2006

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid Plan to Silence Conservatives in Opening Days of the Next Congress

Dear fellow conservative:

Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and liberal Washington insiders plan to silence the conservative movement under the guise of lobbying reform unless we act fast.

In her “First 100 Hours” as Speaker, Pelosi plans to rush legislation written by liberal special interest groups such as Public Interest, Common Cause and others who brought us the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, which regulates political contributions. The Pelosi/Reid plan would regulate speech to the general public. This is worse than McCain/Feingold!

The first or second conservative organization, group or individual to be fined or even subject to criminal penalties for failure to register or report will cause us to stop or at least pull our punches on what we say and do. This will effectively shut down the conservative movement, and the liberals know it.

The Pelosi/Reid plan is perhaps the most comprehensive regulation of political speech ever proposed, and would make small grassroots causes report quarterly to Congress the same as K Street lobbyists representing wealthy interests before Congress. Communications to as few as 500 citizens would trigger reporting under lobbying laws.

The reporting requirements and more severe penalties being written in response to recent congressional corruption scandals would apply to those who have no Washington lobbyists, who make no political contributions, and who do not provide gifts, travel or anything of value to politicians.

This is intended to cripple the conservative movement, for which the grassroots are our valuable – sometimes our only – means of affecting public policy.

Reid says he plans to introduce in the Senate the same bill that was passed in 2006. Senators Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin, co-sponsors of the Senate version in 2006, told America not to worry because the bill is targeted at only “paid efforts” to inform and motivate citizens to contact Congress on policy matters. Their bill doesn’t define “paid” except by excluding communications to fewer than 500 citizens, with no other conditions or qualifiers.

That, of course, means that your emails, blogs, editorial ads in newspapers, direct mail and other forms of the new and alternative media, regardless of costs, could trigger reporting and potential penalty (civil and even criminal) provisions.

Besides adding new, unprecedented reporting to Congress, the Pelosi/Reid bills provide loopholes so large corporations, labor unions and even foreign interests could spend hundreds of millions of dollars communicating to shareholders, officers, employees and members, yet still not report those expenditures the same as even the smallest, most financially burdened conservative causes and even individuals.

Many small, start-up and under-funded conservative causes and individuals will not be able to afford costs of quarterly compliance, so will not be able to engage in their communication efforts, or will face stiff fines and potential criminal penalties simply by engaging in First Amendment rights.

Critics who can afford to report quarterly to Congress, often the deserved object of grassroots criticism, will be under the thumb of lawmakers. That, in First Amendment terminology, would “chill” First Amendment rights, resulting in censorship of political speech.

This is why Pelosi, Reid and liberal Washington insiders want to regulate grassroots speech.

I am starting a new effort called GrassrootsFreedom.com to help organize the conservative movement on this one issue, and stop Pelosi, Reid and their liberal friends from silencing us.

We must flood Congress with petitions, emails and phone calls. We must also generate OpEds against this bill. We need to call into talk radio shows.

Mark Tapscott wrote an excellent piece for The Washington Examiner and Amanda Carpenter also wrote a brilliant piece for Human Events. I enclose copies for you, and you can link to these at: The Examiner, and at Human Events.

I also enclose a letter signed by 47 conservative and other leaders, such as Dave Keene, Paul Weyrich, Morton Blackwell and Don Wildmon to Public Citizen opposing this legislation. You can link to the letter at:

http://freespeechcoalition.org/pdfs/ClaybrookLetterAndAnalysis.pdf.

Remember, during the Clinton presidency the liberals made an attempt to silence conservative talk radio. Conservatives labeled that the “Hush Rush” bill. And if Pelosi and friends are successful in silencing the grassroots conservatives, you can fully expect their next target to be to abolish or at least cripple talk radio with the Fairness Doctrine to silence conservative talk radio.

Well, one NewsMax.com piece discusses how this new bill could even regulate and impede conservative talk radio. Link at:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/4/10/120722.shtml

We only have a few days to alert the entire conservative community. GrassrootsFreedom.com will be sending you more news, and will be helping lead the charge. Please get this information to your grassroots networks, and let’s stop Pelosi, Reid and the Washington Establishment from trying to silence us.

Sincerely,


Richard A. Viguerie

P.S. GrassrootsFreedom.com will have more information, petitions, etc. up soon, and I would appreciate hearing back from you particularly describing any action you take to help stop this assault on our freedoms and the conservative movement in particular.

If I get over 500 hits per week on this blog, would I then be considered one of the "accidental lobbyists? How about Captain's Quarters, which gets 500 hits in 15 minutes?

Any attempt at stifling freedom of political speech, is an assault on the free speech rights of us all.

Please contact your local congresscritters and voice your opposition to this abomination.

Live blogging from Panera's...

Being an educator has its advantages. Like having the week off between Christmas and New Years, being able to kick back, and chat with old friends. Right now I'm at the Panera Bread store in St. Cloud, having a chat with SCBA partners Gary and King, talking about everything from the passing of Gerald Ford to energy supplies to Hawaii.

Life is good.

Ford and Conservatism...

The death of Gerald Ford brings back many memories. While I have no doubt that President Ford was an upstanding individual of impeccable moral character, forgive me for saying so, but his presidency was, well, ineffectual.

Faced with the "energy crisis" and the "Arab Oil Embargo" President Ford's response was to lower the national speed limit to 55 mph. Faced with the prospect and reality of runaway inflation, President Ford's response was the creation of the WIN (Whip Inflation Now) button.

While Ford's incompetencies certainly couldn't hold a candle to the incompetencies of his successor, Ford, for all his good intentions, simply wasn't a great President.

Again, Gerald Ford was a nice guy. He had integrity. But he was a "country club" republican; hardly even a shadow of Ronald Reagan, who would go on as the standard bearer of the Conservative movement.

Yes, Ford was a good man. But any attempt to label his presidency as anything resembling greatness would be disingenuous, and at best a wild stretch of the imagination.

While I mourn his loss, his legacy is certainly less than stellar.

A mighty thank-you!!!

Being the technological ignoramus that I am, I screwed up my blog template such that this blog was only readable via Internet Explorer.

Enter Chicago Ray, who came to the rescue; and who not only made my blog readable with Firefox again, but also added some cool accoutrements I never had before.

Folks, he does it for a living, and he does it well.

You want a web page designed for your business?

Chicago Ray's the guy to call.

PA-12: Stuck on Stupid?

(Posted at Murtha Must Go!!)

Welcome to Jack Murtha's (and yes, your) world (all emphases mine)...

In 2001, Murtha announced the creation of Scialabba's nonprofit agency for the disabled in Johnstown, Pa. The next year, with Scialabba still on his staff, Murtha secured a half-million dollars for the group, the Pennsylvania Association for Individuals With Disabilities (PAID), and put another $150,000 in the pipeline for 2003, according to appropriations committee records and former committee aides. Since then, the group has helped hundreds of disabled people find work.

But the group serves another function as well. PAID has become a gathering point for defense contractors and lobbyists with business before Murtha's defense appropriations subcommittee, and for Pennsylvania businesses and universities that have thrived on federal money obtained by Murtha.

Lobbyists and corporate officials serve as directors on the nonprofit group's board, where they help raise money and find jobs for Johnstown's disabled workers. Some of those lobbyists have served as intermediaries between the defense contractors and businessmen on the board, and Murtha and his aides.

That arrangement over the years has yielded millions of dollars in federal support for the contractors, businesses and universities, and hundreds of thousands in consulting and lobbying fees to Murtha's favored lobbying shops, according to Federal Election Commission records and lobbying disclosure forms. In turn, many of PAID's directors have kept Murtha's campaigns flush with cash.

To residents of PA-12, the Tribune-Democrat and others. You have helped to install a political majority whose ostensible aim is to clear up corruption in Washington, yet you have again elected a dinosaur politician who is the literal embodiment of that corruption!

But, yeah, I know--it's the pork, stupid:

In turn, the lobbyists and businesses associated with PAID have become supporters of Murtha's campaigns, contributing a total of nearly $125,000 in the past three election cycles, when Murtha raised a total of $7.2 million, according to campaign records. And those same players have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at three lobbying shops with close Murtha ties: the PMA Group, Scialabba's KSA Consulting and Ervin Technical Associates.

But yeah, I know--it's the pork, stupid:

Under Murtha's watch, for instance, Windber Medical Center has been transformed from a struggling hospital outside of Johnstown into a burgeoning cancer research center, thriving on Defense Department funding. Hospital officials have paid the PMA Group some $380,000 in lobbying fees since signing on in 2001. And hospital employees have financed Murtha's political campaigns to the tune of nearly $25,000.

So, you wanna clean up Washington, eh? Did you ever stop to think that all the pork that Murtha's sending your way is the same money that comes out of your paycheck???? That you're being robbed blind by a Machiavellian fat-cat middleman who empties your wallet and continues to tell you it's a good thing while pissing all over your leg?

But Yeah, yeah I know... it's the pork, stupid:

After PAID's founding, Scialabba approached Kuchera to get involved. Kuchera jumped, not only joining the group's board but ramping up hiring of disabled workers, who now compose a third of the 200 employees in his company's defense business. The federal government picked up Kuchera's $7 million training bill. This year, Murtha earmarked $1.3 million for Kuchera's chemical and biological weapons detection research.

Kuchera employees donated more than $31,000 to Murtha in the past three election campaigns, according to federal election records. Between 1990 and 2000, contributions totaled $1,000. And congressional lobbying disclosure forms tally $140,000 in payments since 2001 from Kuchera to Ervin Technical Associates, whose chairman is former representative Joseph M. McDade (R-Pa.), a close Murtha ally.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's the pork, stupid.

Well, as Forrest Gump once said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Congratulations, PA-12. At least for the next two years, you have become stuck on stupid.

A shameless beg... for a worthy cause!

Here on the left sidebar at Psycmeistr's Ice Palace there is a link to the Ice Palace's Salvation Army Virtual Kettle. The Salvation Army is truly doing the Lord's work; helping the needy not only by assisting them in their immediate needs, but also helping those in need by assisting them in becoming more self sufficient.

After having visited their local facility here in St. Cloud, Minnesota, I can say without reservation that these are dedicated, selfless people with a genuine driven mission to help others that may otherwise be marginalized in our society. They are truly a worthy charity.

70% of the cost of their programs, amounting to around $1,000,000 per year in capital expenses (only a very small portion of that goes to a paid skeletal staff--the remainder are volunteers), coupled with another million-and-a-half in donated food and clothing by area businesses and citizens, is locally generated, and fully a third of their operating budget is generated by their volunteer Christmas Kettle bellringers. Another 30% of their funding comes from United Way and government grants.

So when you pass a Salvation Army Kettle this Christmas Season, please take the time to put in what you can. The stuff that folds is nice, too, and please give early and often. I can assure you that it is for a worthy cause.

And, if you feel so inclined, please click on my "personal kettle" on the upper-left sidebar. Your donation will go to the national and regional Salvation Army offices. These funds are then dispersed to local chapters in the form of insurance, legal aid, and other overhead expenses, which Major Fones, head of the St. Cloud Salvation Army Chapter, stated are likewise indispensible in their mission. Every little bit, whether it's $20.00 or $1.00, will go a long way toward helping those in need.

Thanks so much!

A blessed and joyous CHRISTmas...

May the true spirit of Christmas keep you, now and throughout the coming New Year.

A hearty thank you to all my readers!

WOOHOO!!!

From here:

KABUL, Afghanistan — A top Taliban military commander described as a close associate of Usama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar was killed in an airstrike this week close to the border with Pakistan, the U.S. military said Saturday.

Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani was killed Tuesday by a U.S. airstrike while traveling by vehicle in a deserted area in the southern province of Helmand, the U.S. military said.

Osmani was the Taliban's chief military commander in southern Afghanistan and played a "central role in facilitating terrorist operations" including roadside bombs, suicide attacks and kidnappings, the U.S. said.

He was part of a group of "co-equals" at the top of the Taliban leadership chain just under Omar, U.S. military spokesman Col. Tom Collins said.

"This guy had been deeply involved in terrorist acts against the people of Afghanistan, NATO and the government," Collins said. "He was a top commander of Taliban operations in the south and now he's no more."

Osmani was also in charge of the Taliban's finances, Collins said.

Enjoy your afterlife, Osmani.

I don't think you'll be needing a jacket.

Another bloody milestone.. for the "religion of peace"

On the left sidebar of this blog, you'll find a banner and a link to The Religion of Peace.com, an organization that, among other things, is keeping track of the number of people killed from Islamic terrorist attacks since 9/11/2001.

Today, as can be seen on the banner, the Islamofascists have hit a milestone. Over 7,000 people have been murdered by Islamo-fascists since 9.11.

In a current media environment that trumpets the "milestones" of deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, I wonder how many major media outlets are keeping track of the number of people who are being murdered by the scumbags that our troops are fighting (most of whom are not soldiers!).

Can you say, "none"?

****UPDATE****

Conservative UAW Guy correctly points out that it has been over 7,000 attacks; so the death toll is probably higher.

A First Amendment Victory!

CNS reports that a Wisconsin pro-life group scored a major victory, both for themselves and for the citizenry of the United States, in particular:

At issue were three television and radio ads that Wisconsin Right to Life aired in 2004.

The ads informed the public that U.S. senators were filibustering President Bush's conservative judicial nominees, and the ads asked viewers to urge Sens. Russ Feingold and Herbert Kohl (Wisconsin Democrats) to oppose the filibusters.

Wisconsin Right to Life filed a motion to air the ads within 30 days of the Wisconsin primary election.

The McCain/Feingold law established a blackout period 30 days prior to a primary election and 60 days prior to a general election where groups may not mention the name of a candidate on the ballot. In 2004, Senator Feingold was on the primary election ballot.

"Wisconsin Right to Life successfully argued that grassroots lobbying ads which do not mention or refer to elections should be allowed to be aired as a free speech right protected by the First Amendment, and the court agreed," said Barbara Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life.

"One of the most basic rights enjoyed by our democracy is one which allows citizen groups to petition the government on issues of public interest. It is extremely gratifying to know that our courts are willing to protect such a basic right," she added.

This is huge. The McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform act is, IMO, in direct violation of our First Amendment right to freedom of political speech at its most basic level. The FEC, on behalf of McCain-Feingold, argued that the ads were "a thinly disguised attempt" to influence the 2004 election. The federal court disagreed. But even if they were attempts to influence the election, what of it? Do we now live in a nation where the First Amendment has become irrelevant in the very process which ensures governance by the people and for the people?

While I realize that Wisconsin Right to Life is arguing this case based on the part of the First Amendment that allows citizens to redress grievances, the whole premise of McCain-Feingold, which limits political freedom of speech at its most basic, grassroots level, is flawed. In light of the First Amendment, McCain-Feingold has no business being on the books in the first place.

This case is expected to go to SCOTUS, and I certainly hope it does. McCain-Feingold needs to be struck down dead in its tracks, and the sooner, the better. McCain's (and for that matter, Feingold's) willingness to play so freely and cavalierly with our First Amendment rights should in and of itself disqualify either of them from any consideration for POTUS.

****UPDATE****
Aryeh Spero at Caucus for America has a must-read piece on the subject of McCain-Feingold. (h/t Delton Digest)

The Truth is Out there...... In Sandy Berger's pants...

The investigation is complete, and Sandy Berger did stuff something down his pant legs. This story would be comical if he wasn't stealing national secrets:

Inspector General Paul Brachfeld reported that National Archives employees spotted Berger bending down and fiddling with something white around his ankles.

The employees did not feel at the time there was enough information to confront someone of Berger's stature, the report said.

Later, when Berger was confronted by Archives officials about the missing documents, he lied by saying he did not take them, the report said.

Brachfeld's report included an investigator's notes, taken during an interview with Berger. The notes dramatically described Berger's removal of documents during an Oct. 2, 2003, visit to the Archives.

Berger took a break to go outside without an escort while it was dark. He had taken four documents in his pockets.

"He headed toward a construction area. ... Mr. Berger looked up and down the street, up into the windows of the Archives and the DOJ (Department of Justice), and did not see anyone," the interview notes said.

He then slid the documents under a construction trailer, according to the inspector general. Berger acknowledged that he later retrieved the documents from the construction area and returned with them to his office.

"He was aware of the risk he was taking," the inspector general's notes said. Berger then returned to the Archives building without fearing the documents would slip out of his pockets or that staff would notice that his pockets were bulging.

Err... excuse me, Mr. Burglar...errr.. Burger... are those documents in your pockets, or are you just happy to see us?

Seriously, Berger had to have been in the midst of some major CYA in order to pull a stunt like that. The question remains, what was Sandy Berger hiding? What did the Clinton administration know that they weren't telling the 9/11 commission?

The notes said that Berger had "destroyed, cut into small pieces, three of the four documents. These were put in the trash."

After the trash had been picked up, Berger "tried to find the trash collector but had no luck," the notes said.

Significant portions of the inspector general's report were redacted to protect privacy or national security.

So, ya think that the linguini-spined Republicans will call for a special prosecutor to see just what national security secrets were compromised?

Don't hold your breath.

Be careful who you accept lottery tickets from...

Nothing says clueless....

Like being shown the fool that you are by a Marine.

Case in point, Chris Matthews, who has absolutely no clue of the role that the National Guard plays in the GWOT. Newsbusters points us to a Chris Matthews interview with Major General Arnold Punaro, Chairman of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves:

Matthews: "Do we have the troops to dramatically increase our complement of troops in Iraq, sir?"

Punaro: "Absolutely. Between our active military and the number of troops we have in the Guard and Reserve, should the Commander-in-Chief, on the advice of the combatant commanders in the field and with the concurrence of the Congress make the decision that we want to increase the size of the force in Iraq, we certainly have the ability to surge those forces."

Whoops! Matthews tried a tactical retreat, thinking he might achieve his goal by denigrating the abilities of the non-active military: "What about the National Guard people and the Reservists, are they the kind of people it's appropriate to send into house-to-house combat in the middle of that huge city of Baghdad, where they'll be getting shot at every moment and where they'll be killing Arabs. Is that the right place for them?"

Again, the Major General wouldn't sing Matthews's song: "First of all, over 550,000 Guard and Reserve personnel have been mobilized since 9-11. Many of them have served extensive tours in Iraq and Aghanistan. They've been side-by-side with their active components. They've been in the thick of the combat. The Marine Corps and Army ground forces are trained the same as their active duty counterparts. They're every bit as capable of closing with and destroying the enemy as their active counterparts."

Matthews gave it one last try: "And you believe that's an appropriate use of Guardspeople to put them into house-to-house like we're talking about? We're talking about going in and cleaning out Baghdad, something that the Iraqi forces haven't been able to do, that the 17,000 regular Army and Marine forces haven't been able to do. You're saying throw in the National Guard to do it?"

Punaro: "Well the question you first asked was are they capable of carrying out those kind of missions, and the answer is 'yes'."

Surge that, Chris.

I always love it when a terrorist-loving, American Armed forces-hating lib gets his ass handed to him on a silver platter. Our son is in the Guards, and has been in the thick of combat since arriving in Iraq this past March.

(big h/t to Ice Palace reader Sara)

A "must have" for your Christmas list!

If CAIR hates it, it's gotta be good:

A U.S. Islamic advocacy group Tuesday called on the country's largest retailer to stop selling a video game it says glorifies religious violence and could negatively affect interfaith relations.

The game, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," is described on the game's website as a real-time strategy game based on the best-selling book series "Left Behind."

It allows gamers to "join the ultimate fight of good against evil, commanding Tribulation Forces or the Global Community Peacekeepers, and uncover the truth about the worldwide disappearances" - a reference to the end-time rapture.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which says it received complaints about the game, charged that players are rewarded for either converting or killing people of other faiths.

In a letter to H. Lee Scott Jr., CEO of Wal-Mart, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said the game was promoting a message of "religious intolerance."

"The game's enemy team includes people with Muslim-sounding names," Awad said, urging Scott not to sell the game.

Ahhhh... now we get to the meat of the matter.

Word to CAIR: You want folks to quit associating the word, "Islam" with "enemy?"

Then QUIT SUPPORTING TERRORISM!


Aside from that, CAIR remains consistent in never missing an opportunity to be wrong:

Frichner said CAIR's stance was "based on hearsay."

He acknowledged that in the "Left Behind" book series the Tribulation Forces are Christians but said that was not mentioned anywhere in the game.

Frichner said the game encourages players to avoid conflict, because "if you end up having to defend yourself ... you actually are penalized as well."

"So it's really just the complete opposite of what people have written and reported about."

On the "convert or die" allegation, Frichner said there was no element of people of other faiths being forced to convert to Christianity or die.

The game called for people to join the Tribulation Force rather than die at the hands of the anti-Christ. "You're trying to save other people from that and ultimate judgment by God," he said.

Of course, I haven't heard CAIR or any other of the anti-Christian zealots caterwalling about this game or this game. The anti-Christian bigots are perfectly fine with a steady diet of porn and/or violence. But a Christian-based game??? Why that's just over the top!

Consumers who have bought the game love it, he said, because they can play it with their kids instead of "all the yuck that's out there."

Frichner charged that there was a "religiously motivated bias" in calls to boycott the game. Those pushing for a boycott were not boycotting other games - even though there were "some terrible games out there."

So, even if you're not into video games, why not go to your local Wal-Mart and purchase this one (and thank them for carrying it, for that matter).

If for no other reason than to give the Islamo-Fascists and other anti-Christian bigots the proverbial finger.

Zucker-punching the Iraq Surrender Group...

Danny Bonaduce Bitch-Slaps a self-important Twit...

Gotta love this:

Back by popular demand...

Yeah, this is cooler than cool..

But man, it would be a bit difficult to live with 24/7...

I can hardly wait...

Bring out the popcorn:

New Zawahiri video expected within 72 hrs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Analysts who monitor jihadi web sites say a new video message from al-Qaida's number 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri is expected within the next few days.

Al-Qaida's audio-visual distribution arm, the As-Sahab Media Institute announced the upcoming release of the new video Monday, saying it was titled "The Facts behind the Conflict between Islam and Non-Belief."

To tell you the truth, outside of informing us of his intentions of gorging himself to death on camel manure, or of sucking the exhaust out of a humvee, I couldn't give a flying crap in a rolling donut what Zawahiri has to say. But, given that Señor Scumwad has gone through all the trouble of making a video to send out a "message of love" to the masses, the least I could do would be to respond in kind.

So, without further ado,

Hey Zawahiri--here's my message to you:

"May the fleas of 10,000 camels infest your groin area. May you die a slow, excruciatingly painful death, entrapped in a vat of porcine-variety entrails. May each of your "72 virgins" weigh over three bills; be nicknamed "Bubba," be forever horny, call you "bitch," and think you have a "purty mouth."

BTW--your "god" sucks.

There's your love, scumbag.

On Blogging Lite...

My apologies for not blogging on a more regular basis lately. Our son has been back home on leave from Iraq for the past week; and much of my time (when not working) has been spent with him.

To tell you the truth, I haven't been following a lot of politics this past week.

Doug will be leaving to go back in a few days, so I'll probably pick up the pace of my blogging in the next week or so. I have something new cooking in the works as well, with a couple of my blogging partners from Murtha Must Go!.

For now, the money I put in my Salvation Army Kettle is getting pretty lonely--if you care to drop some coin for a more-than-worthwhile cause, feel free to click on my kettle in the sidebar.

But for now, I'll leave you with this... another great moment in comedy:

A letter from John Kerry...

This is no joke. When John Kerry delivered his so-called "botched joke," I made it a point, as a parent of a deployed soldier, to send him an email signifying my outrage at his comments. To tell you the truth, I didn't expect a response:

December 7,
2006

Mr. Leo Pusateri
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear Mr. Pusateri:

Thank you for writing to me about the botched
joke about President Bush I made on October
30th. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify
my statement.

First, it was a dumb joke and I slipped up,
dropped a couple words, and made it worse. I
take responsibility for my misstatement.

I still believe this Administration didn't do
its homework before going to war and didn't
study the lessons of history. But I shouldn't
have made a joke about it.

First and foremost, I regret that the men and
women of our military were swept into the
political spin storm that followed my
misspoken joke. The White House and their
allies spent a lot of time and energy trying
to convince our troops that I meant to insult
them.

American troops have done a remarkable job in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and all of America
should be proud of their selfless service to
our country. I have had the opportunity to
visit with our soldiers abroad and was always
impressed by their high level of
professionalism, dedication and skill.
As a combat veteran, I was dismayed that my
misspoken joke about the President was taken
as an insult to our troops. I would never
intend to do anything but praise our troops.
My poorly stated joke was not about and never
intended to refer to any service member. I
personally apologize to any service member,
family member, or American who was offended.
I was also disappointed that my comments
detracted from the real tragedy; the
inadequate planning for the war, insufficient
body armor, and no real plan for success. I
will not be dissuaded from pressuring the
Administration to find a direction in Iraq to
get the policy fixed and bring our troops
home from an Iraq that's stable.
Thank you again for writing me with your
concerns. Be assured that I am committed to
our troops and their families, and will
continue fighting for their safety and well
being.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator

After reading this correspondence, I felt compelled to respond:

Dear Senator Kerry:

Thank you for response.

I wish that I could tell you that I accept your "apology," but I could not begin to do that in good conscience. For to accept an apology is to accept the notion that the person making that apology is sincere.

Your insincerity is apparent immediately at the outset of your correspondence. You continue to maintain that the incident in question was a "botched joke." Mr. Kerry, if you had a history of true support for our troops, I may accept that explanation at face value; but your very history, both short- and long term, screams otherwise. Rather than support our troops, you are someone who has repeated ad nauseum that their mission has been a mistake (at least as soon as you found it politically advantageous to do so). Given also the grave disservice you did to our brave Vietnam veterans during your "Winter Soldier" testimony, I have no choice but to question the veracity and depth of your alleged sincerity.

I have seen the videotape of your "botched joke." Usually, when one tells a "botched joke," especially one so potentially damaging, one usually gets a sheepish look on one's face; and in recognizing the folly takes immediate measures to correct the verbiage on the spot. What I saw on the video was a man who told a joke, smiled, and waited for rimshot laughter connected to the punchline (laughter which, thankfully, never came). No attempt was made to correct nor clarify. While I have no doubt that the dearth of positive accolades in response to your "botched joke" made for an awkward moment, I nonetheless am led to believe that you meant every word you said.

To add insult to injury, you continue in your correspondence to perpetuate your disingenuousness and condescension by blaming the Bush administration for our troops' justified reaction to your "botched joke." Our troops (inclulding my son) are more intelligent and independent-minded than you think, Mr. Kerry. Make no mistake. In staging the now-infamous "Halp us Jon Carry" sign viewed 'round the world, our troops read your comments (and your sentiments) loud and clear.

You speak of the "real tragedy" of the Iraq war. Yes, in every war, tragedies happen. I have wept at the funerals of brave, young soldiers from my son's outfit who have made the ultimate sacrifice for a cause in which they believed; a cause that they were more than willing to die for.

Make no mistake; those are tragedies. But with respect to being an American, the "real tragedy" of this war is the fact that you, Jack Murtha, and other elected representatives of the People of the United States of America continue to dishonor our soldiers' efforts for reasons of political gain; and in doing so, give aid and comfort to our enemies. You have not once, to my knowledge, gone out of your way to proclaim any good that is being done in Iraq. Not once did I hear you talk about new schools being built. Not once did I hear you talk about new hospitals being built; or of infrastructure being not only replaced, but improved upon. Not even once did I hear you talk about any soldiers who heroically saved an Iraqi family from attack, or saved their platoon from slaughter, although such stories are no doubt legion. Rather, in your arrogance, you choose to portray them as "terrorizing Iraqi women and children in the dead of night."

Mr. Kerry, until this past year, never in my life would I have thought that I would live to see the day when elected officials would, during wartime, so cavalierly, publicly and seditiously go out of their way to speak ill of our soldiers' mission; while in the same vile sentences have the unmitigated gall to proclaim that they "support the troops."

Freedom of Political Speech, a gift given us not only by our Founding Fathers, but by the lifeblood of every Soldier, Sailor and Marine since the founding of our Nation, is a multi-edged sword that can cut in varying directions. A prudent, judicious American will recognize that with such an awesome freedom, comes an equally awesome responsibility to use it wisely. You sir, have wielded it with a reckless abandon befitting not a statesman, but a brigand.

Once again, Senator Kerry, at the very least, I wish to thank you for taking the time to respond to my correspondence. But accept your apology?

Thanks, but no thanks.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Pusateri

Okay--I'm back...

Let's just say that the "troll" and I have come to an "understanding" and leave it at that.

Having said that, the outpouring of support that I've had from my friends in the MOB and elsewhere has been nothing less than humbling. A day or two after making my "farewell" post (well, when you have a dimunitive traffic level for the most part, it takes a few days before anyone notices that you're gone), I received emails of support from all over the place, as well as supportive posts here, here, here, here,, here, here, here, here, and here. Just suffice it to say that I was overwhelmed; and it has cemented my notion that there are a shitload of good people in our community of bloggers that far outweigh the jerks.

Thanks to all-- it is more appreciated than you'll ever know.

P.S.--thanks, Mitch.

Happy Trails, from the Ice Palace...

As of the past month and a half, I have been receiving hatemail and threats from a lefty troll, up to, and including threatening my livelihood. This person portrays himself to be a military ground intelligence officer; but that's all I'll say for now.

As of this point, I am looking into legal action against this person, should he pursue his threats.

I got into blogging because it was fun; I enjoyed being up on things; it was a creative outlet, and I have met some wonderful people.

But when you get someone who lives an otherwise joyless existence, whose only raison d' etre is to make your existence a living hell, the fun is gone, and it's time to hang it up.

I may be back; then again I may not. I guess it just comes down lately to having better things to do with my time.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you who at one time or another took the time out to read my screeds. It meant (and means) more to me than you'll ever know.

-Leo-

Dennis Miller on the six Imams....

h/t Jawa Report

Our son will be coming home tomorrow...

For two weeks R & R...

Although I'm overjoyed to see him, it will, at the same time, be strange. I mean, what do you say? What do you talk about?

In my mind, since he'll only be here for two weeks, it would seem that Iraq would be the last thing he wants to talk about... I'm wondering if the best thing to do (as of now) would be to talk about the future (our other son will be getting married in May; talk about his plans for school, etc.)..

If anyone has any advice, thanks in advance.

Hey dude, where's my blog?

One of my favorite blogs, I fear, is on the endangered list...

Hey Dr. Jonz, Indyjonz & AngryGuy--where's my fix?

I couldn't do this if I walked down the lane and knocked 'em over with my hands...

From here:

Esther Medley of Centralia is legally blind, but when she bowls she can glimpse a bit of the floor to line up with the lane.

Medley, 94, can't see straight ahead, so her 86-year-old husband Ralph tells her which pins are left after her first ball.

That's how Medley recently bowled a score of 244, which included eight strikes, at Fairway Lanes in Centralia. It was the second-highest score of the year for her league.

The Medleys have been bowling in the senior league since 1979.

Ninety four years old? Legally blind? Bowling 244?

Must've been the Little Friskies.

Can Political Correctness Kill?

The Palm Beach Post yesterday had an editorial that chided U.S. Airways for its treatment of the "six Imams":

US Airways is standing by the decision of one of its crews to kick six Muslim clerics off a flight last week in Minneapolis because some passengers believed that the men behaved suspiciously.

Some details about the incident remain murky, but two points are clear: More than five years after 9/11, Americans still have little confidence in how the government screens fliers; and Americans know so little about Islam, and are so quick to reach for the worst stereotypes, that even acts of prayer can take on sinister interpretations.

These weren't Roman Catholic nuns fiddling with rosaries. As a matter of fact:

By most accounts, the six bearded men were behaving suspiciously at a time when airports were on high alert for sky terror during the holidays. "There were a number of things that gave the flight crew pause," an airline spokesman said. According to witnesses and police reports, the men:

• Made anti-American statements.

• Made a scene of praying and chanting "Allah."

• Asked for seat-belt extensions even though a flight attendant thought they didn't need them.

• Refused requests by the pilot to disembark for more screening.

Also, three of the men had only one-way tickets and no checked baggage.

Hardly just "praying" now, were they? It remains unbelievable that, after having lived through the events of 9/11, not to mention the first WTC bombing in 1993, a newspaper editorial board would pretend like a similar event perpetrated by like-minded people could never happen again:

Given the heightened screening procedures in recent months, it's hard to imagine what plausible threat the six men - one of whom is blind - posed to the other 140 people aboard the plane.

And it is even more difficult to imagine that an editorial board of a newspaper that was in existence during 1993 has so conveniently forgotten that it was a "blind sheikh" who masterminded the 1993 WTC bombings, among other atrocities, both planned and carried out.

In terms of subtlety, the imams' behavior was hardly something out of the terrorism playbook. Their public expression of faith was also an expression of innocence that some passengers chose to ignore.

Again, their public expression of faith was not the main concern here (although admittedly, public expressions of faith have been known to be in quite a few terrorism playbooks). it was their expression of faith, coupled with failing to sit in assigned seats, taking no luggage on the plane, spouting anti-American rhetoric--well-- you do the math. Not to mention:

"Omar Shahin is one of the imams removed from a flight in Minneapolis. He was involved with Kind Hearts, which has been closed down for its connections to Hamas. He also acknowledged a connection to Osama bin Laden in the 1990s in a September 28, 2001 story in the Arizona Republic."

But that still doesn't seem to be good enough for the likes of the self-righteous, pompous elites at the Palm Beach Post; who, if all indications are correct, would rather see another September 11th occur than offend the sensiblities of a few suspicious-acting Imams with a history of terrorist involvements.

I personally took the time today to email U.S. Air, to praise them for their courage (it took a lot of it in the face of today's politically-correct climate), and for putting customer safety above all else. I also let them know in no uncertain terms that the next time I fly, it will be on their airline.