April 2009 Archives

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96680

Despite the history of "swine flu" in the United States and the current alarm being raised over what has been estimated so far as a few hundred possible cases, the real danger appears to be what the problem is called, according to a federal report.

The Joint Staff Surgeon update today said: "[The office] has passed on per direction of the Homeland Security Council (HSC) via the National Joint Information Center (NJIC) EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY - the use of the term 'Swine Flu' should be discontinued. The current influenza situation should be referred to as 'H1N1 Flu Outbreak.'"

According to the Army News Service, "swine flu" usually occurs in pigs, but some strains can be passed to humans and from person to person.

The new strain has been reported primarily in Mexico, but there also have been cases so far in Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States.

Thank you for outing the professionals who did the dirty work. Secrets all need to be exposed! I would like to know where Obama's birth certificate is. Can you out that?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7471217&page=1

As the secrets about the CIA's interrogation techniques continue to come out, there's new information about the frequency and severity of their use, contradicting an 2007 ABC News report, and a new focus on two private contractors who were apparently directing the brutal sessions that President Obama calls torture.

According to current and former government officials, the CIA's secret waterboarding program was designed and assured to be safe by two well-paid psychologists now working out of an unmarked office building in Spokane, Washington.

Bruce Jessen and Jim Mitchell, former military officers, together founded Mitchell Jessen and Associates.

Both men declined to speak to ABC News citing non-disclosure agreements with the CIA. But sources say Jessen and Mitchell together designed and implemented the CIA's interrogation program.

Obama is bankrupt of honesty and is bankrupting our country.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090429/D97SCPI00.html

"That wasn't me," President Barack Obama said on his 100th day in office, disclaiming responsibility for the huge budget deficit waiting for him on Day One.

It actually was him - and the other Democrats controlling Congress the previous two years - who shaped a budget so out of balance.

And as a presidential candidate and president-elect, he backed the twilight Bush-era stimulus plan that made the deficit deeper, all before he took over and promoted spending plans that have made it much deeper still.

Obama met citizens at an Arnold, Mo., high school Wednesday in advance of his prime-time news conference. Both forums were a platform to review his progress at the 100-day mark and look ahead.

(AP) President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting at Fox Senior High School in Arnold, Mo.,...
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At various times, he brought an air of certainty to ambitions that are far from cast in stone.

His assertion that his proposed budget "will cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term" is an eyeball-roller among many economists, given the uncharted terrain of trillion-dollar deficits and economic calamity that the government is negotiating.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31669

The techniques used against the most stalwart al-Qaida members, such as Abu Zubaydah, included one terrifying procedure referred to as "the attention grasp." As described in horrifying detail in the Justice Department memo, the "attention grasp" consisted of:

"(G)rasping the individual with both hands, one hand on each side of the collar opening, in a controlled and quick motion. In the same motion as the grasp, the individual is drawn toward the interrogator."

The end.

Any excuse to talk about the hottest First Lady on the planet! Take it and run!

Oh, the video below the story is NOT safe for work. But you might enjoy it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1174221/Highly-intimate-photos-video-Carla-Bruni-ex-lover-stolen-Paris-flat.html

Hundreds of 'highly intimate' images of Carla Bruni and an ex-lover have been stolen during a burglary in Paris.

Police fear they could now be made public, overshadowing the French First Lady' s official trip to Spain with her husband, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The photographs and videos were taken during 41-year-old Miss Bruni's affair with philosopher Raphaël Enthoven - the father of her child, Aurélien, eight.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy places a protective hand on his wife Carla's back as the pair met with Spanish prime minister Jose Zapatero (not pictured) in Madrid today

French president Nicolas Sarkozy places a protective hand on his wife Carla's back as the pair met with Spanish prime minister Jose Zapatero (not pictured) in Madrid today

Thieves broke into the flat of actor Julien Enthoven, who is Raphaël's younger brother.

Raphaël is believed to have entrusted the pictures to his 27-year-old brother because he did not want them to embarrass his new partner - or Mr Sarkozy, said a detective working on the case.

'The thieves appeared to know exactly what they were looking for - taking highly intimate prints, a camera full of further images, videos, and numerous computer files,' said the source.

Sex Ooh La La! Carla Bruni - The New Princess of Wales.flv

http://perfunction.typepad.com/perfunction/2009/04/video-gibbs-napalitano-twist-over-nyc-photoop.html

If yesterday's terror strike White House-ordered photo-op did not sufficiently illustrate the Obama Administration's post-post-9/11 attitude, perhaps today's follow up on Today will. Be sure to catch Robert Gibbs' buffoonish reaction to the news:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/28/despite-reports-khalid-sheikh-mohammed-waterboarded-times/

The New York Times reported last week that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, was waterboarded 183 times in one month by CIA interrogators. The "183 times" was widely circulated by news outlets throughout the world.

It was shocking. And it was highly misleading. The number is a vast inflation, according to information from a U.S. official and the testimony of the terrorists themselves.

A U.S. official with knowledge of the interrogation program told FOX News that the much-cited figure represents the number of times water was poured onto Mohammed's face -- not the number of times the CIA applied the simulated-drowning technique on the terror suspect. According to a 2007 Red Cross report, he was subjected a total of "five sessions of ill-treatment."

"The water was poured 183 times -- there were 183 pours," the official explained, adding that "each pour was a matter of seconds."

The Times and dozens of other outlets wrote that the CIA also waterboarded senior Al Qaeda member Abu Zubaydah 83 times, but Zubayda himself, a close associate of Usama bin Laden, told the Red Cross he was waterboarded no more than 10 times.

The confusion stems from language in the Justice Department legal memos that President Obama released on April 16. They contain the numbers, but they fail to explain exactly what they represent.

I have been asked where I am getting my information about the Swine Flu. Well, this is a new site that has all the links and information required.

Now, can you stop bugging me?

National Swine Flu Situation Page

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSISL436837._CH_.2400

Five Afghan teachers and 40 of their pupils, most of them girls, have been admitted to hospital with severe headaches after a suspected airborne poison attack, the Public Health Ministry said on Monday.

They fell ill on Sunday afternoon during a ceremony at a school in the Sadiqi district of Parwan province, some 70 km (40 miles) north of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

"Among them there are 5 adults and 40 children, most of them girls, who have been affected," Dr Abdullah Fahim, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry said.

"For the time being, it seems to be airborne poisoning. But it's not confirmed yet what the actual reason is," Fahim said.

Attacks on girls schools have increased in the past year, particularly in east and south Afghanistan. Last year a group of schoolgirls in Kandahar had acid thrown in their faces by men who objected to them attending school.

The fools in this administration think that neither terrorism or pandemic is enough to close the border and keep the swarm of disease carrying refugees from entering our country.

Send Napolitano south to the border to ask the diseases to stay south with other hosts.

Her answer to not close the borders makes me think of a guy with pancreatic cancer who keeps smoking because he already has cancer and getting more is not a big deal. Sure, it might kill him - the host- but that is not a concern. Is that how this Administration is thinking? Kill the host?

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/napolitano-closing-border-not-the-answer-to-flu-2009-04-27.html

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the government's response at a press conference Monday afternoon as reporters asked her about the risk of asymptomatic swine flu carriers entering the country.

Napolitano said the strategy of identifying and isolating those who seem ill and try to cross into the United States was adequate given the circumstances, as a reporter asked if closure of the border had been considered.

"We're already doing passive surveillance at the border," Napolitano said. "You would close the border if you thought you could contain the spread of disease, but the disease already is in a number of states within the United States."

Noting that those infected with swine flu may not show symptoms for a few days, Napolitano said border closure is "a very difficult judgment to make."

Napolitano said Sunday night that there was no "realistic hope of containment" that would motivate a border closure, as was called for Saturday by Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.).

Normally< I avoid this issue - abortion- like the plague. My view is that it is wrong and I am not going to change. I used to think it was ok when I was young and dumb, but I grew up and out of it. The children involved do not have that option do they?

Let's be fair. If we are going to make killing ones children legal, at least wait until the kid is old enough to be stupid. Make abortion legal legal from age 6 to age 19. Just think of how much more obedient the teenagers will be if they know that mom can kill them legally at anytime.

Thank you Ms Ireland for voicing your logical position.
(In the interest of disclosure, I slept with a cardboard cutout of Ms Ireland next to my bed for a few years in my mid 20s. Nothing naughty, but it was fun to see the reactions of guys entering my room and seeing her "laying" on my bed. )

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518087,00.html

It's no secret that the majority of Hollywood stars are strong advocates for a woman's right to choose whether or not she wants to terminate a pregnancy, however former "Sports Illustrated" supermodel-turned-entrepreneur-turned-author Kathy Ireland has gone against the grain of the glitterati and spoken out against abortion.

"My entire life I was pro-choice -- who was I to tell another woman what she could or couldn't do with her body? But when I was 18, I became a Christian and I dove into the medical books, I dove into science," Ireland told Tarts while promoting her insightful new book "Real Solutions for Busy Mom: Your Guide to Success and Sanity."

"What I read was astounding and I learned that at the moment of conception a new life comes into being. The complete genetic blueprint is there, the DNA is determined, the blood type is determined, the sex is determined, the unique set of fingerprints that nobody has had or ever will have is already there."

However Ireland admitted that she did everything she could to avoid becoming a believer in pro-life.

"I called Planned Parenthood and begged them to give me their best argument and all they could come up with that it is really just a clump of cells and if you get it early enough it doesn't even look like a baby. Well, we're all clumps of cells and the unborn does not look like a baby the same way the baby does not look like a teenager, a teenager does not look like a senior citizen. That unborn baby looks exactly the way human beings are supposed to look at that stage of development. It doesn't suddenly become a human being at a certain point in time," Ireland argued. "I've also asked leading scientists across our country to please show me some shred of evidence that the unborn is not a human being. I didn't want to be pro-life, but this is not a woman's rights issue but a human rights issue."

Ireland also asserted that she believes "no justification is adequate" (for an abortion) unless another the mother's life is in danger.

"In that instant, your intention is not to kill but to save the life of another. If we're about to demolish a building we make absolute certain there are no human beings in there before we take a wrecking ball to it, but the unborn doesn't have a voice so it's up to us to speak for them," she added passionately. "If I see someone abusing a child I am going to stand up against that, and that's how I feel about abortion. Women are not given all the facts, they're told it is a harmless procedure and now it has turned into such a political football."

The committed Christian and devoted mother even dedicated the chapter "Faith & Your Family" in her new book to her foundations in Christianity and believes that this is what's missing from so many American families today.

"You have to figure out your own values and why you have them. People are going to try and push and pull at your convictions, so you have to have boundaries and put them in place," she said.

But on the opposite end of the spectrum, "Judging Amy" star Amy Brenneman has been busy voicing her views as a strong advocate of pro-choice over recent years.

"(My involvement) is really through this feminist majority that I work with and it is a very important issue that's close to my heart," Brenneman told Tarts at last week's Autism Speaks event in Hollywood. "Unless a woman really has sovereignty over her own body we really haven't come that far."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518128,00.html

"We want the Marines to be culturally prepared," Omohundro said, "but if the training requires a riot, firefight or explosions, I can give them that too."

Click here to see more video of training.

"The Taliban know who Marines are," said infantry Sgt. Eric Beaverson, a native of Pennsylvania. During his last tour in Afghanistan, the Taliban nicknamed him and his fellow Marines "Deathwalkers" -- "because we stay and fight," he said.

But Afghans, too, have a reputation for staying and fighting that goes back for generations, so no one is expecting the pending tour to be easy.

"I can put an unmanned aerial vehicle in the air that can spot the enemy and trace his movements, but no matter how sophisticated the technology gets, a UAV still won't tell me what the Afghans are thinking." Cabaniss said.

Americans will have to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan, and that means their strategy must go beyond bullets.

"We've gotten a lot smarter Cabaniss said.

"But don't get me wrong; my Marines are more than ready to go head to head with the Taliban in any fight."

http://www.drugwarsthemovie.com/

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=358&z=34

World Health Organization Raises Pandemic Alert to Phase 4

In the 2009 revision of the phase descriptions, WHO has retained the use of a six-phased approach for easy incorporation of new recommendations and approaches into existing national preparedness and response plans.

The grouping and description of pandemic phases have been revised to make them easier to understand, more precise, and based upon observable phenomena. Phases 1-3 correlate with preparedness, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases 4-6 clearly signal the need for response and mitigation efforts.

Furthermore, periods after the first pandemic wave are elaborated to facilitate post pandemic recovery activities.

Explantaion of Phases

In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.

In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.

In Phase 3, an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.

Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause "community-level outbreaks." The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region (Figure 4). While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.

During the post-peak period, pandemic disease levels in most countries with adequate surveillance will have dropped below peak observed levels. The post-peak period signifies that pandemic activity appears to be decreasing; however, it is uncertain if additional waves will occur and countries will need to be prepared for a second wave.

Previous pandemics have been characterized by waves of activity spread over months. Once the level of disease activity drops, a critical communications task will be to balance this information with the possibility of another wave. Pandemic waves can be separated by months and an immediate "at-ease" signal may be premature.

In the post-pandemic period, influenza disease activity will have returned to levels normally seen for seasonal influenza. It is expected that the pandemic virus will behave as a seasonal influenza A virus. At this stage, it is important to maintain surveillance and update pandemic preparedness and response plans accordingly. An intensive phase of recovery and evaluation may be required.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/04/president-ob-28.html

A White House official tells ABC News that President Obama was "furious" to hear about the incident this morning when Air Force One and Air Force fighter jets appeared to be flying into the Manhattan skyline, scaring many New Yorkers into thinking they were about to face another terrorist attack.

Many buildings in lower Manhattan evacuated. Angry New York politicians lashed out at whoever was responsible for the incident -- which turned out to have been for a photo op.

An explanation was forthcoming in a mea culpa statement issued from the White House.

"Last week, I approved a mission over New York," Louis Caldera, director of the White House military office, said. "I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused."

When President Obama was told about the incident, he was "furious," a White House official says.

Caldera was called into a meeting with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina.

"It didn't sound like a fun meeting," the White House official says.

Here is an old video that I wanted to dig up for today followed by non video related content.

Open Season with CAIR intro.flv

I thought I might need to repost this old post after reading about how we all need to get supplies to Mexico to fight the Swine Flu. Not sure what we can really do, except pray. Flu is not a bug that is easy to fight. It just needs to lose contact to spread to. I am going to avoid contact with Mexico for a few months. At least.

http://politicalsecurity.blogspot.com/

"The American military is planning a "spaceplane" designed to fly a crack squad of heavily armed marines to trouble spots anywhere in the world within four hours.

At a recent secret meeting at the Pentagon, engineers working on the craft, codenamed Hot Eagle, were told to draw up blueprints for a prototype which generals want to have in the air within 11 years.

Pentagon planners have been encouraged by technical breakthroughs from Burt Rutan, chief designer on Sir Richard Branson's White Knight spaceship, which is due to begin test flights next year and to carry tourists on suborbital journeys from 2010.

Last week Rutan, 65, who built the first privately funded craft to reach space and won the $10 million X prize for his achievement in 2004, gave his blessing to Hot Eagle, which could be based on White Knight's technology.

Rutan said it would be an expensive way to transport troops "but it could be done. It is feasible."

Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, which is funding White Knight, recently predicted that it could be used to airlift emergency supplies into disaster zones."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003966601

The Audit Bureau of Circulations released this morning the spring figures for the six months ending March 31, 2009, showing that the largest metros continue to shed daily and Sunday circulation -- now at a record rate.

According to ABC, for 395 newspapers reporting this spring, daily circulation fell 7% to 34,439,713 copies, compared with the same March period in 2008. On Sunday, for 557 newspapers, circulation was down 5.3% to 42,082,707. These averages do not include 84 newspapers with circulations below 50,000 due to a change in publishing frequency.

This is a good example of why Islam is not all that bad. I am glad to see that some Muslims are able to do good works despite their violent Prophet and the lack of innovation since they stopped stealing ideas from conquered lands.

May Allah bless Abu Saymeh for his good works.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518080,00.html

Mayor Victor Batarseh said he chose Luke among the four Gospels because he felt his writing contains the most detail about Jesus' time in the city. And he picked Abu Saymeh not just because of his talent, but to send a message of peaceful religious coexistence.

"It's a message to the world that Bethlehem is the city where Christianity was born," he said. "It's also the place of brotherly relations between Muslims and Christians."

Relations between Christians and Muslims in Bethlehem are generally good, though there is occasional friction, usually involving either land disputes or mixed couples breaking the taboo of marrying someone from another religion.

Muslims make up two-thirds of the population in the town of 30,000 and Christian influence has been receding steadily.

The issue of interfaith relations will be high on the pontiff's agenda during his May 8-15 tour, which includes several meetings with Muslim leaders.

Among many Muslims here resentment is still festering from 2006, when Benedict linked Islam and violence. The pope quoted a Medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith."

Benedict long ago expressed regret for any offense his words might have caused, but his comments on the upcoming trip will be watched closely by Muslims and Chrisians in the Palestinian territories. Any misstep could upset the delicate relations between the Muslim majority and a dwindling Christian minority.

The calligrapher said he took on the mission, in part, because he wanted to send a conciliatory message and distance himself from extremists.

"I would like this to be a message from a Muslim artist through this simple work that the Muslim artist is tolerant and not aggressive, despite abuses that may come from here and there from extremists who use our religion for their own interests," he said.

http://www.drudgereport.com/


JANET: EVENTS DO NOT WARRANT TESTING OF PLANE PASSENGERS FROM MEXICO...
'NO EVIDENCE' OF BIO-TERROR...
CALDERON TELLS MEXICANS TO STAY CALM, COOPERATE WITH AUTHORITIES...
CDC RECOMMENDS PLANNING FOR SCHOOL CLOSURES...
Positive: NYC students...
WHO: Swine flu could mutate to 'more dangerous' strain...
Flu fears prompt quarantine plans...
Mexico flu scare empties streets, churches, bars...
CLOSE TO 1,400 SUSPECTED CASES...
Russia Suspends Imports of Meat From Mexico, Some U.S. States...
New swine flu likely widespread...
Asia on alert...
10 New Zealand students in scare...
Mideast First: Israeli man hospitalized on suspicions...
6 CASES CONFIRMED IN CANADA...
Spain announces 3 suspected cases...

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=353&z=29

Human Swine Influenza Investigation

April 25, 2009 19:30 EDT

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the U.S. in San Diego County and Imperial County, California as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Internationally, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in Mexico.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do preventing getting and spreading influenza:

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Good hunting! IF, and this is a big IF, it was the Americans or Israelis. It is just as easy to say that Somali pirates attacked it and the Iranian security team that was going with the weapons blew the ship to keep its contents from being known.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1081215.html

An Iranian vessel laden with weapons bound for the Gaza Strip was torpedoed off the coast of Sudan last week, allegedly by Israeli or American forces operating in the area, the Egyptian newspaper El-Aosboa reported on Sunday.

Anonymous sources in Khartoum told the newspaper that an unidentified warship bombed the Iranian vessel as it prepared to dock on Sudan before transferring its load for shipment to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

These sources said they suspects U.S. or Israeli involvement in the attack, but neither Washington nor Jerusalem have released a statement yet on the matter.

There are many countries, especially in the former colonial world, that are failing because of randomly drawn borders. These borders divided ethnic groups and families, clans and tribes.

I have talked many times about the need to erase all borders in Africa and other areas that were colonized, like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and allow these countries to rework the borders into the ways they need to. Allow the tribes and clans to negotiate and reclaim the territory they feel they need.

This might lead to short term violence as things get resettled, but it should lead to less violence in the long run as the new borders become satisfactory. Not that they will ever be perfect.

Reduce countries back to city-states for a while and see who befriends whom.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\03\25\story_25-3-2009_pg1_1

LONDON: Britain faces an increased threat of a chemical or even nuclear terrorist attack, officials said on Tuesday, highlighting the risks from extremists in Pakistan and Somalia.

Unveiling a new counter-terrorism strategy, they said the Al Qaeda network was becoming weaker, but warned its ideology would survive and of the growing threat from 'self-starting' militants, and of attacks using chemical, biological or atomic weapons. "There is the potential (for such an attack), given the international situation, what we believe to be the aspirations of some international terrorists," said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

Solution: "We need to tackle the causes of terrorism. We need to get in early to prevent people actually supporting violent extremism or supporting terrorism," Jacqui told BBC radio.

The 174-page strategy, the first unclassified document including an official assessment of the terror threat facing Britain, outlines the history of the threat and forecasts of how it will evolve. A senior Interior Ministry official highlighted threats posed notably by Pakistan and Somalia, as well as Yemen and countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which he said were problematic because of their relative instability.

I really enjoyed looking over this list. Some of them are relatively minor flubs, but I guess they were needed to make a full 100 items.

I will not wish anything horrible on anyone who has not horrible things, but I still wish Obama would have something bad happen so that Biden can take over and get impeached. It is all going to be nasty. The longer this guy is acting President, the worse the security of the world and our country sinks.

Our country is falling apart. If we want to save it we need to start doing real repairs and not just giving cash to failures.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/100_days__100_mistakes_166177.htm?page=0

91. The $49 million inauguration -- triple what taxpayers spent at Bush's first inauguration.

92. Giving the Queen of England an iPod full of his own speeches.

93. Three prime-time briefings in his first 100 days, eating into television revenues and this Wednesday pre-empting "American Idol."

94. "The United States government has no interest in running GM. Your [GM] warranty will be safe. In fact, it will be safer than it's ever been, because starting today, the United States government will stand behind your warranty." -- Obama

95. GM is given $15.4 billion in loans from the government.

96. The Obama Administration is trying to scuttle a lawsuit filed in federal court against Iran by former US embassy hostages. The lawsuit alleges that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was one of the hostage-takers who interrogated the captives.

http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20090425_u_s_mexico_swine_flu_and_potential_pandemic

Summary

A new strain of flu has spread from Mexico to the United States, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the World Health Organization have issued statements indicating that they are very concerned about the possible spread of the virus.
Analysis

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced April 25 that the so-called "swine flu" that has spread from its apparent origin in Mexico to the United States cannot be contained. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated the new strain of flu has the potential to become a pandemic, although the organization did not raise its pandemic alert level. The situation is developing extremely rapidly, and information is limited. STRATFOR is watching the issue closely, and will await further news from health officials monitoring the outbreak at the CDC.

According to preliminary test results from the CDC, the swine flu appears to be a combination of bird, swine and human flu strains from all around the world. The virus appears to cause slightly higher-than-normal levels of diarrhea and vomiting, and can develop into an acute respiratory infection after about five days of sickness. Infected persons have included healthy adults between 25 and 44 years old -- so those afflicted are not just the old, very young and already sick. The virus appears to be responding to Tamiflu, particularly when caught at an early stage. Tamiflu manufacturer Roche has indicated that it is prepared to release stockpiles of the drug. Mexico reportedly has only 1 million doses of the drug stockpiled, and is only distributing the drug through doctors. This could hamper the country's ability to halt the spread of the disease in Mexico City, which has a population of just under 9 million people.

Many of the details on the spread of this flu are unclear because the tests used to confirm the presence of this strain take several days. However, so far there might be as many as 68 deaths and up to 1,000 possible infections in Mexico, mostly in Mexico City. There have been no deaths in the United States; however, there have been a number of confirmed cases of swine flu in San Diego, Kansas and San Antonio. There is a cluster of 75 flu cases at a high school in New York City, eight of which have been confirmed as probable cases of swine flu.

The CDC's statement that the swine flu is unable to be contained is not as dire as it may sound, and essentially reflects the reality of the rapid and wide distribution of the swine flu thus far. True containment is possible only when exposed individuals or communities can be effectively isolated. With the extremely high rate of people and goods moving by plane, car, boat and foot across the U.S.-Mexican border, the two countries are highly interconnected. Once the swine flu is inside the United States and located in major metropolitan areas, the capacity to isolate individuals is even smaller.

This is not to say that there are no precautions that can be taken. Government officials in the United States and Mexico have announced school closures and advised individuals to avoid crowded areas. In response to the spread of the disease, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has declared a state of emergency, giving him broad powers to cancel public events. Basic precautionary measures such as frequent hand washing and avoiding contact with infected persons are also being promoted. The CDC is publishing its own findings on the new strain of flu (updated information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/).

At this point, the information is too limited to make any real predictions about the possible impact of the disease. STRATFOR is taking this seriously and is awaiting the results from the CDC's ongoing study. In the event of too little information or bad news from the CDC's analysis, it is possible that the financial markets could react very poorly come Monday, April 27. However, the situation is developing extremely rapidly, and the CDC may be able to present more concrete findings before the weekend is through.

http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Supreme-Court-Ruling-on-Search-Warrants-May-Be-Burden-for-Police/1$46363

Local law enforcement officials said a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling may be an added burden on them.

The U.S. Supreme Court implemented new limits on the ability of police to search a vehicle immediately after an arrest. The decision stems from a case in Arizona.

The ruling states that an officer cannot make a warrantless search of a suspect's vehicle unless there is probable cause that another crime has been committed.

According to Jefferson County Prosecutor Tom Straus, the rule applies to police officers who make an arrest for a traffic violation, has a secured suspect in their cruiser and the suspect is not in harm's way.

After reading excerpts of the ruling, some local police officers' reaction was not positive. However, Straus said he doesn't think the rule will be an additional burden.

"I think it's a fair decision and it's not much of a deviation from existing law," Straus said, adding that police can impound a car and search it without a warrant after a suspect is arrested.

Justice Samuel Alito, who voted against the ruling, complained the decision upsets police practice that was developed 28 years ago when the court first authorized warrantless searches of cars immediately following an arrest.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/04/taliban_advance_east.php

The Taliban are pushing past the districts of Swat and Buner and are threatening Islamabad, a senior Islamist member of parliament said at a briefing.

The Taliban have consolidated control over the district of Buner and are moving on Mansehra and Haripur. These two regions, which are just on the outskirts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have been relatively spared from the violent Taliban insurgency that has plagued the Northwest.

The Taliban have entered the district of Mansehra and are threatening to take control of the Tarbela Dam in neighboring Haripur district, said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, an Islamist political party, during a debate in parliament.

"If the Taliban continue to move at this pace, they will soon be knocking at the doors of Islamabad as the Margala Hills seem to be the only hurdle in their march towards the federal capital," Fazl said, according to a report in The News. "After occupying Buner, they have reached Kala Dhaka and may also be taking over the water reservoir of the Tarbela Dam."

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2009/04/red-scare.html

"It Could Happen Here!"

A PRESENTATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

JANET NAPOLITANO, DIRECTOR

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE HOUSE ANTI-TAX ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

AN IOWAHAWK EDUCATIONAL FILMS PRODUCTION

SCROLL

march music

The story you are about to see is true. Or, at least, could be true. At this very moment dangerous subversive extremist elements are infiltrating our communities and schools, bent on destroying our American Way of Life. These are the shadowy forces of International Constitutionalism. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security are on the trail of these nefarious Red State saboteurs, but it will take a vigilant public - including ordinary high school students like you - to help bring them to justice before it's too late. Only with your help can we preserve the American Way!

-- Janet A. Napolitano

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i888016761f9ec824f862a5c265de605c

The hostility between Fox News Channel and MSNBC reached a fever pitch Wednesday when a Fox producer infiltrated the GE shareholders meeting.

Just before GE re-elected board members, company brass were hit with questions from shareholders critical of an alleged leftward political slant at MSNBC.

But one of those questions came from Jesse Waters, a producer on "The O'Reilly Factor" whose criticisms were cut short when his microphone was cut off, according to several attendees. Waters apparently did not publicly identify himself as a Fox employee.

Waters has built a reputation as an ambush interviewer, specializing in on-the-street confrontations. But this is arguably the boldest move by a Fox newsie to utilize the tactic inside their chief rival's tent, as it were.

O'Reilly and MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann have been involved in a running feud for several years, but the pissing match between the two has of late started to envelope other parts of the News Corp. and GE empires.

GE pointed out that Waters had Fox News cameras waiting outside the Orlando meeting.

Attendees who spoke to THR said shareholders asked about 10 politically charged questions concerning MSNBC as well as one about CNBC.

First up was a woman asking about a reported meeting in which Immelt and NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker supposedly told top CNBC executives and talent to be less critical of President Obama and his policies.

Immelt acknowledged a meeting took place but said no one at CNBC was told what to say or not to say about politics.

During the woman's follow-up question, her microphone was apparently cut off. A short time later, Waters asked a question and his mic was cut, too.

"The crowd was very upset with MSNBC because of its leftward tilt," one attendee said. "Some former employees said they were embarrassed by it."

When he got the floor, Waters focused his question about MSNBC on Olbermann's interview of actress Janeane Garofalo, who likened conservatives to racists and spoke of "the limbic brain inside a right-winger."

"He (Waters) was complaining that Olbermann didn't bother to challenge her," another GE shareholder said.

Immelt told the assembled he takes a hands-off approach to what is reported on the company's news networks, which prompted a shareholder to criticize him for not managing NBC Uni more effectively.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517582,00.html

FREDERICK, Md. -- Army officials say an investigation of three disease samples missing from a Fort Detrick lab found no evidence of criminality and that the samples were likely destroyed.

U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick spokeswoman Caree Vander Linden said Wednesday that the samples of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis were discovered missing last year in an inventory of a group of samples left by a departing researcher.

Vander Linden says the report that the vials were missing triggered the investigation, which found that the samples were likely among those destroyed when a freezer malfunctioned.

U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command spokesman Chris Grey says an extensive investigation found no evidence of criminality.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=1520295

Can someone please tell us how U. S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano got her job? She appears to be about as knowledgeable about border issues as a late-night radio call-in yahoo.

In an interview broadcast Monday on the CBC, Ms. Napolitano attempted to justify her call for stricter border security on the premise that "suspected or known terrorists" have entered the U. S. across the Canadian border, including the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack.

All the 9/11 terrorists, of course, entered the United States directly from overseas. The notion that some arrived via Canada is a myth that briefly popped up in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and was then quickly debunked.

Informed of her error, Ms. Napolitano blustered: "I can't talk to that. I can talk about the future. And here's the future. The future is we have borders."

Just what does that mean, exactly?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/22/hollywood-v-rush-limbaugh-politics-in-janeane-garo/

Janeane Garofalo - actress, liberal activist and failed radio host - went after Rush Limbaugh, the nation's top-rated talk-radio host, during a recent interview with the Village Voice. She said she almost turned down her role in the hit Fox series "24" because of "the right-wing nature of a couple of the writers." To prove her liberal credibility, she added that: "When Rush Limbaugh visited the set, and when Lynne Cheney visited the set, I refused to have my picture taken with them or meet them or anything."

Few screenwriters write such good fiction. The problem with Ms. Garofalo's script is that she wasn't on the cast when Mr. Limbaugh visited the set.

This is just too funny!
What a crappy caper

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298541/Frightened-burglar-soils-himself.html

A teenager suspected of car burglary was so surprised when he opened a car door to find a police officer sitting inside that he messed his pants, police said.

It happened about 1 a.m. Saturday as Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy Chad Taylor was returning to his Centerville home from working a shift.

"I was in my personal vehicle, but I was in uniform," Taylor told the Deseret News Monday. "I'd pulled in my driveway and was on the phone with another deputy when I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw this guy trying to get into my wife's car."

Taylor watched the teen then move up toward his car.

"Right as his hand goes to check my handle, I kick the door open," Taylor said. "I said, 'You'd better stop right there! Police!' I'm not kidding, it was quiet as can be, and I heard ..."

The 16-year-old boy turned and ran, chased by Taylor, who called 911 as he ran after the teen through the neighborhood. The boy was scrambling so fast, Taylor said, he lost his shoes. Centerville police responded to help catch the teen.

"One officer spotted him with night-vision goggles going into a house," Centerville Police Lt. Paul Child said.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/20/epa-carbon-dioxide-opinions-columnists-epstein.html?partner=commentary_newsletter

The passing of the environmental torch between the Bush and Obama administrations became ever more evident last week when EPA head Lisa Jackson announced that carbon dioxide is now an official pollutant. Not just any pollutant, mind you, but one that moves in the fast company of methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride--all notoriously bad stuff.

For years, the Bush EPA refused to mount even a partial attack on carbon dioxide. In part, its opposition rested on the uncertain science about CO2's uncertain contribution to global warming. In part it rested on the view that the patchwork programs of the Clean Air Act (CAA) did not afford a sensible platform on which to launch such a huge and risky initiative.

http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2009/04/navy-seal-sharpshooter-pirate-blaster-gun-mark-11-model-0-wins-over-army/

The recent recent rescue of an American ship captain from Somali pirates has drawn a bit of attention on the weapons skills of the Navy sharpshooters and the weapons they utilized.

The captain was rescued after the Navy sharpshooters were able to kill three of the pirates under the cover of darkness and using only three shots. The rifle, the Mark 11 Model 0, has something of a back story to it.

The Mark 11 Model 0 is a highly sophisticated mid range sniper rifle which shoots a .308 caliber, also called the 7,62×51mm NATO round. It is a 20 round semi-automatic. Originally conceived as a military research and development project, funding was dropped prior to the completion of the project and prior to any purchases. Nevertheless, Reed Knight and Eugene Stoner continued on with development on their own, using Knight's firm, Knight's Armament Co. as the manufacturer. The concept behind the gun was simple, to build upon the AR15/M16 so as to minimize parts replacement, but with the accuracy of a high end, bolt action sniper rifle.

Without military money, the Knight's Armament Co. entered its costly rifle (at about $8,000) in target matches and swept the deck. Civilian purchases kept the product alive and its reputation was such that in May of 2000, the Seals, which have far more discretionary weapons purchasing ability than other units, ordered 300 of the rifles. Later elite Marine sniper units were issued the Mark 11.

They were quickly the envy of the Army, Army Rangers, and Army Special Forces who were using the venerable bolt action, 10 round, Mark24.

Military.com has reported that, after a couple years of field testing by elite units, the Army is about to get its gun.

Obama not only is declaring an end to the war unilaterally, he is also telling the enemy how we keep winning so that they can develop strategies to beat those tricks while they continue the war.

Obama is either a moron or a mole. I am not sure which, but he scares me. A lot.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21338.html

White House senior adviser David Axelrod says President Barack Obama spent about a month pondering whether to release Bush-era memos about CIA interrogation techniques, and considered it "a weighty decision."

"He thought very long and hard about it, consulted widely, because there were two principles at stake," Axelrod said . "One is ... the sanctity of covert operations ... and keeping faith with the people who do them, and the impact on national security, on the one hand. And the other was the law and his belief in transparency."

The president consulted officials from the Justice Department, the CIA, the director of National Intelligence and the Homeland Security Department, according to his adviser.

"It was a weighty decision," Axelrod said. "As with so many issues, there are competing points of view that flow from very genuine interests and concerns that are to be respected. And then the president has to synthesize all of it and make a decision that's in the broad national interest. He's been thinking about this for four weeks, really."

A former top official in the administration of President George W. Bush called the publication of the memos "unbelievable."

"It's damaging because these are techniques that work, and by Obama's action today, we are telling the terrorists what they are," the official said. "We have laid it all out for our enemies. This is totally unnecessary. ... Publicizing the techniques does grave damage to our national security by ensuring they can never be used again -- even in a ticking-time- bomb scenario where thousands or even millions of American lives are at stake."

"I don't believe Obama would intentionally endanger the nation, so it must be that he thinks either 1. the previous administration, including the CIA professionals who have defended this program, is lying about its importance and effectiveness, or 2. he believes we are no longer really at war and no longer face the kind of grave threat to our national security this program has protected against."

Obama did not act on an arbitrary timeline. There was a deadline in a court case with the ACLU on Thursday. It had been extended, but the ACLU was not going to agree to another.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2009/04/reconciling_the_state_secrets.php

Reconciling The State Secrets Doctrine with Due Process in Terrorism Related Cases
By Victor Comras

A few weeks ago I wrote a short piece for Jurist commenting on US District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker's recent ruling in the Al-Haramain Oregon NSA wiretapping case. That ruling held that the court be allowed to review classified information relevant to the case in order to determine whether its availability for review by counsel is critical to due process and fairness in the proceedings. If so, Judge Walker ruled, opposing counsel must be afforded a conditional opportunity to view such evidence (see below).

This ruling represents a significant departure from previous holdings, and has proved quite upsetting to the affected government agencies. The Justice Department immediately appealed Walker's ruling arguing that the government, not the courts, is best able to determine whether or not divulging classified information would pose a reasonable danger to national security. To their evident surprise the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Walker's ruling. Justice lawyers have now again asked that Judge Walker reconsider the order, and have indicated that an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is quite likely.

The procedures outlined by Judge Walker's order require that the Justice Department propose to the court arrangements to segregate and secure relevant classified information which the court could then review ex parte to determine whether or not the information should be deemed critical to due process and fairness in the case. If so, one or a few of Al Haramain's attorneys would be granted conditional access to view the information after they first obtained the requisite security clearances. For its part, the Justice Department was ordered to facilitate such clearances provided that the attorneys otherwise meet all other security clearance requirements. While this clearance process is reportedly moving forward, the Justice Department has so far refused to present to the court the procedures requested.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2009/04/the_inroads_of_the_muslim_brot.php

The Inroads of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Obama Administration
By Douglas Farah

First, a note updating my pessimistic view of the Somali pirate hostage taking. I stand corrected, and thank the Navy Seals and others who carried out the rescue operation. Well done!

But, as the the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report (free subscription required) makes clear, the news is not all good.

The Muslim Brotherhood legacy organizations have recently made tremendous strides in occupying positions of influence within the Obama administration, at the same time the FBI and other law enforcement officials have move to cut ties to the very same organization.

The MB has only one political agenda-its own. Its organizations strongly backed George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, (remember the famous picture of Bush hugging the al Arian family?). Hoping for friendlier pastures, the groups switched their support to the Dems in '08. So far, it appears to be paying of. Big time.

The architect is Dr. John Esposito, a long time defender of the MB and the head of the Saudi-financed Georgetown University Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh School of Foreign Service.

The same Dr. Esposito who maintained prior to 9/11 that radical Islam was essentially a myth and certainly no danger. It is hard to imagine any academic being so consistently wrong in their professed field of expertise maintaining much influence, but there he is, deeply enmeshed with all the major MB legacy groups in the country.

What is fascinating is that all the same small groups appear in every event, and, if needed, new groups are created, but all led by the same small group of people. Recall that the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) hs a paid membership of less than 2,000-a drop of more than 80 percent since 9/11. Yet it continues to cast itself as the premiere voice of Muslim in America, and is often treated as such.

To be clear: these groups have a clearly enunciated and never renounced policy of toppling the government, hollowing out the institutional structures, and imposing the caliphate here, where Sharia law is the law of the land. As I have often said, if they want to openly join the political process and espouse this, they are welcome and they will be marginalized, even within the Muslim community.

It is the fact that these organizations are front groups for a foreign movement that wants to end our political system (while supporting radical Islam) that I object to.

First is the announcement by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), a sort of umbrella organization for many of the MB groups in the United States, that Secretary of State Clinton (along with a senior MB leader from Britain who has been banned from the United States previously will be keynote speakers at their 10th anniversary celebration. My full blog is here.

I found it very interesting that the same Media who claim to have been neutral while licking a certain candidates rear end are now still claiming to be neutral while insulting and cracking jokes about the people who feel they are taxed too much.

Neutral my butt!

However, I heard that some people spat on reporters and threw trash at reporters. That is not the American way! That is the Fascist Leftist way!

Do not attack people or property at these protests. We want the police to be there to protect us from the deranged Leftists, not to have to defend people from us. We are not Leftists or Muslims or anarchists or any other set of looneys who think that protesting things means destroying other things.

Lets keep up the good work!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/16/cable-anchors-guests-use-tea-parties-platform-frat-house-humor/

Jenny Beth Martin, a Republican activist who helped organize one protest in Atlanta, said she's not too worried about the protests being dismissed by some media outlets. She estimated 750,000 people attended more than 800 protests in all 50 states, and that at the very least the local media and community newspapers documented it.

"Our message definitely got out where it needed to get," she said.

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/15/top-homeland-security-democrat-objects-to-dhs-report-on-right-wing-extremism/

The top House Democrat overseeing the Department of Homeland Security is demanding that officials there explain how and why they wrote and released a controversial report identifying veterans as potential terrorist threats.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano that he was "dumbfounded" such a report would be issued.

"This report appears to raise significant issues involving the privacy and civil liberties of many Americans -- including war veterans," Mr. Thompson said in the letter sent Tuesday.

"As I am certain you agree, freedom of association and freedom of speech are guaranteed to all Americans -- whether a person's beliefs, whatever their political orientation, are 'extremist' or not," Mr. Thompson said.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/284060.php

Tighter gun control and stronger law enforcement in Southwestern states were recommended Thursday by lawmakers concerned about drug violence in Mexico possibly spilling across the border.
The escalating violence -- which has killed thousands, mostly south of the border -- has been blamed on Mexican drug cartels which one Homeland Security official described as the biggest organized crime threat facing the United States.
Roger Rufe, Homeland Security's head of operations, outlined the agency's plans for protecting the border, a response that includes -- as a last resort -- deploying military personnel and equipment to the region if other agencies are overwhelmed.
Echoing comments a day earlier from President Barack Obama, Rufe said there currently was no need to militarize the Southwestern border with Mexico, despite violence that threatens to migrate into the United States.
"We would take all resources short of DoD (Defense Department) and National Guard troops before we reach that tipping point," Rufe told lawmakers on a House homeland security subcommittee. "We very much do not want to militarize our border."
Rufe did not specify what circumstances would trigger a call for troops.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/15/us-failed-to-use-best-radar-for-n-korea-missile/

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates denied permission for the U.S. Northern Command to use the Pentagon's most powerful sea-based radar to monitor North Korea's recent missile launch, precluding officials from collecting finely detailed launch data or testing the radar in a real-time crisis, current and former defense officials said.

Jamie Graybeal, Northcom public affairs director, confirmed to The Washington Times that Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, the Northcom commander, requested the radar's use but referred all other questions to the Pentagon.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Mr. Gates' decision not to use the $900 million radar, known as SBX, was "based on the fact that there were numerous ground- and sea-based radars and sensors in the region to support the operational requirements for this launch."

SBX, deployed in 2005, can track and identify warheads, decoys and debris in space with very high precision. Officials said the radar is so powerful it could detect a baseball hit out of a ballpark from more than 3,000 miles away, and that other radars used by the U.S. would not be able to provide the same level of detail about North Korea's missile capabilities.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/14/federal-agency-warns-of-radicals-on-right/

The Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement officials about a rise in "rightwing extremist activity," saying the economic recession, the election of America's first black president and the return of a few disgruntled war veterans could swell the ranks of white-power militias.

A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines "rightwing extremism in the United States" as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.

"It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration," the warning says.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/world_agenda/article6098836.ece

France has been cooing along with everyone else over the arrival of Bo Obama at the White House, but the master of America's new First Dog is no longer in good odour with President Sarkozy.

Mr Sarkozy is pouring cold water on President Obama's efforts to recast American leadership on the world stage, depicting them as unoriginal, unsubstantial and overrated. Behind leaks and briefings from the Elysée Palace lies Mr Sarkozy's irritation at the rock-star welcome that Europe gave Mr Obama on his Europan tour earlier this month.

The American President's call "to free the world of the menace of a nuclear nightmare" was hot air, Mr Sarkozy's diplomatic staff told him in a report. "It was rhetoric - not a speech on American security policy but an export model aimed at improving the image of the United States," they said. Most of Mr Obama's proposals had already been made by the Bush administration and Washington was dragging its feet on disarmament and treaties against nuclear proliferation, the leaked report said.

http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/marine-awarded-highest-navy-honor.html?ESRC=marine-a.nl

Marine Awarded Highest Navy Honor
Marine Awarded Highest Navy Honor
April 06, 2009
Marine Corps News

MARINE COPRS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Ca. -- Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson's parents describe him as "reserved, loyal, stubborn and determined."

This was proven in action July 21, 2008.

His loyalty to his fellow Marines, his stubborn nature when he refused medical treatment and his determination under enemy fire as a machine gunner with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment earned him the Navy Cross, and a place among the ranks of such Marine Corps legends as Lewis 'Chesty' Puller, Daniel 'Dan' Daly and John Basilone.

He received this medal, the highest awarded by the Navy, for his deployment to Afghanistan is support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Navy Cross was pinned on his chest by Lt. Col. John M. Reed, the commanding officer of 2/7, and meritorious corporal chevrons to his collar by Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser and Sgt. Maj. Randall Carter, the commanding general and sergeant major of 1st Marine Division, at a ceremony held March 27 at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Grey Field. The ceremony included speeches from his former and current commanding officers.

Gustafson accepted his medal at a perfect position of attention, despite missing his right leg below the knee. His entire battalion was in attendance as well as Marines from across the nation, former service members, family and friends.

According to eyewitness accounts, Gustafson's actions that fateful day in July 2008 met and exceeded the requirements for a Navy Cross.

On July 21 Gustafson was manning the turret of the lead vehicle, a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP, during a four-vehicle mounted patrol riding through the streets of Shewan, Afghanistan.

That's when things got ugly.

The patrol came under heavy fire from machine guns as well as rocket-propelled grenades from hidden insurgent positions.

One of the RPGs hit Gustafson's MRAP, piercing its armor, rendering the driver unconscious and partially amputating Gustafson's right leg.

Despite his injuries, Gustafson remained vigilant on his M240B machine gun, locating and accurately firing on several insurgent positions, some as close as 20 meters from the vehicle.

He remained in the turret, reloading twice and firing over 600 rounds, while Lance Cpl. Cody Comstock, an Anderson, Ind. native, applied a tourniquet to his leg.

After regaining consciousness, the driver, Cpl. Geoffrey Kamp, an Indianapolis native, put the vehicle in reverse and pushed the disabled vehicle behind them out of the kill zone.

Not until both vehicles were safe from the heavy insurgent fire and all the Marines had evacuated the burning vehicle did he allow himself to be removed from the turret for medical treatment.

"I knew I was hit," he said. "I guess the adrenaline kept me going."

Gustafson humbly stressed that he was only doing his job, nothing more.

"Anyone I served with would have done the same," said the Eagan, IL native. "Heck, if it wasn't for everyone else out there, I wouldn't have made it."

After being treated by corpsmen at the scene, he was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Upon regaining consciousness after surgery, Gustafson called his parents to tell them what happened, said the 21 year-old.

"We were worried about him," said his mother, Kim Gustafson. "But we knew everything would work out, God does have a plan after all."

During 2/7's deployment to Afghanistan, "the extraordinary became ordinary," said Lt. Col Richard Hall, 2/7's commanding officer during the deployment. "I underestimated my Marines and I'm in awe of what they accomplished."

Known as the hardest hit battalion in the Marine Corps during 2008, 2/7 lost over 20 Marines and sailors and sent over 80 home with serious injuries during their eight month deployment to Afghanistan.

Gustafson is now looking to the future and says he is looking forward to a bright future outside of the Marine Corps.

"I took a lot of photos in Afghanistan," said Gustafson. "I'm going to go to college in the fall and try and make a career out of it."

Cpl. Brady Gustafson never faltered during the ambush and his heroism helped save the lives of all the Marines involved.

The valor and courage displayed on the streets of Shewan that July day embodied the core values of the Marine Corps and sets an example for all to emulate and be proud of.

"I'm proud of all the Marines," said Kim. "There are so many heroes, I'm so lucky to count my son among one of them."

I go out of town for an extended weekend and the whole world seems to fall to pieces! How am I supposed to comment and post on all that happened? Even worse, I have to be gone this weekend, also. I might get to post once or twice, but I will probably not get anything until Tuesday.

Have a nice weekend!

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3196700430

London, 9 April (AKI) - Britain's top anti-terror policeman Bob Quick resigned on Thursday after inadvertently exposing top-secret documents that forced police to immediately carry out a major anti-terror operation against Al-Qaeda suspects across England.

"I have this morning with great reluctance and sadness as chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority accepted Bob Quick's resignation as head of counter terrorism," said London's mayor Boris Johnson speaking to BBC Radio on Thursday.

"John Yates is going to be appointed and I think he will do a first class job," Johnson added.

Quick revealed highly sensitive papers to photographers on Wednesday as he stepped out of a vehicle on his way to UK prime minister Gordon Brown's residence in London.

The exposure of key details of the planned anti-terror operation forced police to immediately carry out raids and arrest 12 people overnight on Wednesday in northwest England.

The papers contained details about the operation, including the names and nationality of the suspects as well as the location where the raids would take place.

Anti-terror police searches continued across the country on Thursday.

Those arrested included 10 Pakistani nationals on student visas who were allegedly involved in an Al-Qaeda linked plot.

When I think about government healthcare, I just think about the VA system that I am forced to use. As a disabled vet, not having an alternative for emergencies scares the snot out of me. Literally!

Since most Liberals don't have to deal with the VA, I like to use the DMV as an example of a great government office that helps us all. It is always interesting to see the fools try to explain that the government has many wonderful administrators that it will use to run the healthcare system when there are so few government programs that actually work.

Keep them far far away!

http://spectator.org/blog/2009/03/30/keep-these-clowns-away-from-me

"Do you want to have to jump through bureaucratic hoops when you are sick? If not, why would you be in favor of government-run medical care?" --from Thomas Sowell's Random Thoughts

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/

The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S.
While 90 percent of the guns traced to the U.S. actually originated in the United States, the percent traced to the U.S. is only about 17 percent of the total number of guns reaching Mexico.

By William La Jeunesse and Maxim Lott

FOXNews.com

Thursday, April 02, 2009
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You've heard this shocking "fact" before -- on TV and radio, in newspapers, on the Internet and from the highest politicians in the land: 90 percent of the weapons used to commit crimes in Mexico come from the United States.

-- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it to reporters on a flight to Mexico City.

-- CBS newsman Bob Schieffer referred to it while interviewing President Obama.

-- California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said at a Senate hearing: "It is unacceptable to have 90 percent of the guns that are picked up in Mexico and used to shoot judges, police officers and mayors … come from the United States."

-- William Hoover, assistant director for field operations at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, testified in the House of Representatives that "there is more than enough evidence to indicate that over 90 percent of the firearms that have either been recovered in, or interdicted in transport to Mexico, originated from various sources within the United States."

There's just one problem with the 90 percent "statistic" and it's a big one:

It's just not true.

In fact, it's not even close. By all accounts, it's probably around 17 percent.

Hurray! Even the FBI can't prove that the Blackwater guards were at fault in this terrible incident. The odds are that the insurgents did fire and were hiding in the crowd to get as many innocents killed as possible. There is no proof to contradict the story that the guards told.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/blackwater_forensics_2

FBI scientists were unable to match bullets from a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting to guns carried by Blackwater Worldwide security guards, according to laboratory reports that leave open the possibility that insurgents also fired in the crowded intersection.

Five Blackwater guards face manslaughter and weapons charges for their role in the shooting, which left 17 Iraqis dead and inflamed anti-U.S. sentiment abroad. Prosecutors say the contractors launched an unprovoked attack on civilians using machine guns and grenade launchers. The guards maintain their convoy was ambushed by insurgents.

The FBI lab reports, obtained by The Associated Press from someone not involved in the criminal case, allow for both possibilities.

Investigators recovered .30-caliber bullets from a survivor, a Blackwater truck and around Baghdad's Nisoor Square. Scientists could not determine whether those bullets came from .30-caliber Blackwater machine guns.

The AK-47 rifles favored by many Iraqi insurgents also fire .30-caliber bullets.