Friday, December 26, 2014

Nigeria: Teenage girl given to Boko Haram; refuses to be suicide bomber




From The Star:

13-year-old girl: My father gave me to Boko Haram to be a suicide bomber


A 13-year-old says her father gave her to Boko Haram extremists and that she was arrested after refusing to explode a suicide bomb.


By: IBRAHIM GARBA Associated Press, Published on Thu Dec 25 2014

KANO, NIGERIA—A 13-year-old says her father gave her to Boko Haram extremists and that she was arrested after refusing to explode a suicide bomb in Kano, Nigeria’s second largest city in the north.


Nigeria has suffered numerous suicide bombings in recent months carried out by girls and young women. That has raised fears that the insurgents are using kidnapped girls.


The girl told a news conference Wednesday night that she saw many people being buried alive at the Boko Haram camp where her father took her in Bauchi state, east of Kano.


She said her captors asked if she wanted to go to paradise and, when she said yes, explained she would have to be a suicide bomber.


“When I was told I would have to die to enter paradise, that I would have to explode a bomb and die, I said I cannot do it,” she said....

This girl, and so many more, live with this reality, every single day.....

Read the rest here,  and PAY ATTENTION!

NASA: To infinity and beyond


This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy IC 335 in front of a backdrop of distant galaxies. IC 335 is part of a galaxy group containing three other galaxies, and located in the Fornax Galaxy Cluster 60 million light-years away. As seen in this image, the disk of IC 335 appears edge-on from the vantage point of Earth. This makes it harder for astronomers to classify it, as most of the characteristics of a galaxy’s morphology — the arms of a spiral or the bar across the center — are only visible on its face. Still, the 45 000 light-year-long galaxy could be classified as an S0 type. These lenticular galaxies are an intermediate state in galaxy morphological classification schemes between true spiral and elliptical galaxies. They have a thin stellar disk and a bulge, like spiral galaxies, but in contrast to typical spiral galaxies they have used up most of the interstellar medium. Only a few new stars can be created out of the material that is left and the star formation rate is very low. Hence, the population of stars in S0 galaxies consists mainly of aging stars, very similar to the star population in elliptical galaxies. As S0 galaxies have only ill-defined spiral arms they are easily mistaken for elliptical galaxies if they are seen inclined face-on or edge-on as IC 335 here. And indeed, despite the morphological differences between S0 and elliptical class galaxies, they share some common characteristics, like typical sizes and spectral features. Both classes are also deemed "early-type" galaxies, because they are evolving passively. However, while elliptical galaxies may be passively evolving when we observe them, they have usually had violent interactions with other galaxies in their past.  In contrast,  S0 galaxies are either aging and fading spiral galaxies, which never had any interactions with other galaxies, or they are the aging result of a single merger between two spiral galaxies in the past. The exact nature of these galaxies is still a matter of debate. European Space Agency Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA

9/11 charity to help families of executed cops

From NY Post:



9/11 charity to help families of executed cops


By Natalie O'Neill


23 December 2014

A charity created in the wake of 9/11 will take over the mortgage payments for the families of slain Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, it was announced Tuesday.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation — which supports “first responders” — will immediately begin funding both families’ remaining mortgage payments, the group said in a statement.

“When my brother Stephen died on 9/11 along with 342 other firefighters, our family decided that the best way to honor his memory was by supporting first responders,” said Frank Siller, CEO of the foundation.

“This — and the fact that for the last several years, Tunnel to Towers has been building ‘smart homes’ for those catastrophically injured in war — makes it fitting that in recognition of the sacrifice of these fallen officers, we ensure that their family homes are financially secure,” he said....

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Video: Hark the Herald's Angels Sing




Merry Christmas

Video: Fairytale of New York

This Christmas, especially, I am thinking of the NYPD..


Merry Christmas from Bratville


 

Because of all that our Troops and their families continue to sacrifice, I am able to enjoy my family in peace.  I am thankful to each of you.

Merry Christmas to you all - with my love.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Video: Christmas Eve 1914

Sainsbury's OFFICIAL Christmas 2014 Ad

 

MUST WATCH....Sainsbury's ad:  The story behind the ad.,

Monday, December 22, 2014

GITMO: PSA to our Troops- BOLO in AFG

The catch and release program by the MIC of the pampered residents of Camp GITMO continues apace.


The latest "get out of jail" cards have been issued to four Afghans.  From the DoD:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No: NR-625-14
December 20, 2014
Detainee Transfer Announced

The Department of Defense announced today the repatriation of Shawali Khan, Khi Ali Gul, Abdul Ghani, and Mohammed Zahir from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

As directed by the president's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.

In accordance with statutory requirements, the secretary of defense informed Congress of the United States’ intent to transfer these individuals and of his determination that this transfer meets the statutory standard.

The United States is grateful to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.

Today, 132 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.



  Who are these guys you may well ask. From The Telegraph:


Taliban 'intelligence chief and arms dealer' released from GuantanamoMohammed Zahir, one of four latest releases, said to have Stinger missiles and uranium "for a nuclear device" when arrested in Afghanistan

Afghan detainees at Guantanamo (top L-R) Mohammed Zahir and Abdul Ghani and (bottom L-R) Shawali Khan and Khil Ali Gul

By Richard Spencer  Middle East Correspondent  
20 December 2014
A Guantanamo inmate once named as a top Taliban intelligence official who kept Stinger missiles and uranium at his farm is among four men who have been released and sent back to Afghanistan.


Mohammed Zahir was a leading Taliban weapons supplier, according to his official Guantanamo file, leaked three years ago to The Telegraph by the Wikileaks hacker group.

“Detainee was arrested on suspicion of possessing weapons including Stinger missiles and uranium, which detainee’s recovered documents indicate was intended for use in a nuclear device,” Zahir’s threat assessment read.

Zahir and the other three men, two of them members of militias linked to the Taliban, were released after their threat level was dramatically reduced..


According to a Pentagon statement released on Saturday, they were flown overnight to Kabul and handed over to the Afghan authorities, but it did not give a reason. However, the Associated Press news agency quoted a “senior official” saying that “most, if not all, of the terrorism accusations against the men had been discarded and each is considered a low-level operative at best”....[emphasis mine]


GO read the rest here.


War On Terror News states what any sane person knows:

The Obama Administration "is grateful to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,"

And, there's no requirement that Afghanistan detain the terrorists, for even ONE day.

It would be nice if the politician in chief were more concerned with supporting the ongoing War against Islamist Terrorists, than in setting terrorists loose to kill US citizens and Afghan civilians.

And, oh, btw, the Administration has already cleared half of the rest of the terrorists in Gitmo for release. You can expect accelerated releases of another 64 terrorists brave enough to kill unarmed civilians, but so cowardly so as to surrender in the face of Our Troops.


And I would add that I have NO doubt our Troops will face these GITMO alumni back on the battlefield.


 Related:   Four more Gitmo students graduate

Al-Sweady inquiry report: 'allegations of torture.... are untrue'


During the current Global War on Terror, more than a few of ALL our Coalition Troops have been dragged through the mud as they have faced allegations of torturing and murder of our enemies.  The Brits have not escaped the accusations.

Today, from the MoD comes this:

Publication of the Al-Sweady inquiry report
17 December 2014

Sir Thayne Forbes has published his independent report into allegations of murder and ill-treatment of detainees in Iraq in 2004.
7 Royal Horse Artillery firing a light gun in the direct fire role in Kuwait

The report proves conclusively that allegations of torture and murder are untrue and that all of the 28 dead were killed in fighting with British Forces.

His report also finds that some aspects of prisoner handling and of tactical questioning did amount to ill-treatment, although these were not deliberate acts.

However it acknowledges the strenuous efforts taken by the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence since 2004 in our approach to detention on operations, with much better training, resourcing and oversight.

The Secretary of State accepts in principle all of Sir Thayne’s 9 recommendations, subject to further advice from officials about the practicality of implementing them.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

The inquiry has utterly rejected all claims of murder and torture as deliberate and calculated lies.

This is unsurprising as we have long said there was no credible evidence to back up these claims.

Regrettably a public inquiry was necessary to put to rest false allegations that were championed by 2 law firms at great expense to the taxpayer....



There is much more here.   



NOW, maybe those critics will move on to real issues, like supporting our Troops....  Hey, I can hope, can't I?

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Belleau Wood







2nd Battalion 6th Marines after the battle at Belleau Wood
[source]


Belleau Wood
. Last week, a friend of mine - Sylvia - reminded me of the story of Belleau Wood. I knew the story, but had forgotten the name of the place where it happened. Terrible confession, I know, and I decided, as I usually do, to research Belleau Wood. This is a memorial at Belleau Wood:


"an aerial view of the Monument to the Marines who fought at the Battle of Belleau Wood in France during WW I. "

There is also a great video history of the US Marines in Belleau Wood. It also describes the origins of the name Devil Dogs for our Marines.




The most famous story out of Belleau Wood is what happened that Christmas: a Christmas Truce. At Wikipedia, along with a lot of factual data about the event, I found the following:

Christmas Truce Letter

On November 7, 2006, singer Chris de Burgh paid £14,400 at Bonhams auction house for an original 10 page letter from an unknown British soldier that records events and incidents with the Germans on that night describing "the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent".

The letter begins:

This will be the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent or likely to spend: since about tea time yesterday I don't think theres been a shot fired on either side up to now. Last night turned a very clear frost moonlight night, so soon after dusk we had some decent fires going and had a few carols and songs. The Germans commenced by placing lights all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to us—wishing us a Happy Christmas etc. They also gave us a few songs etc. so we had quite a social party. Several of them can speak English very well so we had a few conversations. Some of our chaps went to over to their lines. I think theyve all come back bar one from 'E' Co. They no doubt kept him as a souvenir. In spite of our fires etc. it was terribly cold and a job to sleep between look out duties, which are two hours in every six.

First thing this morning it was very foggy. So we stood to arms a little longer than usual. A few of us that were lucky could go to Holy Communion early this morning. It was celebrated in a ruined farm about 500 yds behind us. I unfortunately couldn't go. There must be something in the spirit of Christmas as to day we are all on top of our trenches running about. Whereas other days we have to keep our heads well down. We had breakfast about 8.0 which went down alright especially some cocoa we made. We also had some of the post this morning. I had a parcel from B. G's Lace Dept containing a sweater, smokes, under clothes etc. We also had a card from the Queen, which I am sending back to you to look after please. After breakfast we had a game of football at the back of our trenches! We've had a few Germans over to see us this morning. They also sent a party over to bury a sniper we shot in the week. He was about a 100 yds from our trench. A few of our fellows went out and helped to bury him.

About 10.30 we had a short church parade the morning service etc. held in the trench. How we did sing. 'O come all ye faithful. And While shepherds watched their flocks by night' were the hymns we had. At present we are cooking our Christmas Dinner! so will finish this letter later.

Dinner is over! and well we enjoyed it. Our dinner party started off with fried bacon and dip-bread: followed by hot Xmas Pudding. I had a mascot in my piece. Next item on the menu was muscatels and almonds, oranges, bananas, chocolate etc followed by cocoa and smokes. You can guess we thought of the dinners at home. Just before dinner I had the pleasure of shaking hands with several Germans: a party of them came 1/2way over to us so several of us went out to them. I exchanged one of my balaclavas for a hat. I've also got a button off one of their tunics. We also exchanged smokes etc. and had a decent chat. They say they won't fire tomorrow if we don't so I suppose we shall get a bit of a holiday—perhaps. After exchanging autographs and them wishing us a Happy New Year we departed and came back and had our dinner.

We can hardly believe that we've been firing at them for the last week or two—it all seems so strange. At present its freezing hard and everything is covered with ice…

The letter ends:

There are plenty of huge shell holes in front of our trenches, also pieces of shrapnel to be found. I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we've enjoyed? our Christmas. Hoping you spend a happy time also George Boy as well. How we thought of England during the day. Kind regards to all the neighbours. With much love from Boy.
Just this past Remembrance Day, November 11, 2008, Wikipedia reports:
Christmas Truce Memorial

On 11 November 2008, the first official Truce memorial was unveiled in Frélinghien, France, the site of a Christmas Truce football game in 1914. After the unveiling and a Service of Remembrance, men from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) played a football match with the German Panzergrenadier Battalion 371. The Germans won, 2-1.

1st Battalion The Royal Welsh and Panzergrenadier Battalion 371 were invited to take part because their regimental ancestors from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers and the 134th Saxon Infantry Regiment had held the Truce at Frelinghien on Christmas Day, 1914. The match was played in the presence of retired Major Miles Stockwell, grandson of Captain C. I. Stockwell, who commanded 'A' Company, 2/RWF in 1914 and wrote about the Truce in his diary. Mrs Margaret Holmes, daughter of Welsh Private Frank Richards, DCM, MM, and Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Joachim Freiherr von Sinner, grandson of Hauptmann (Captain) Maximilian Freiherr von Sinner. the commander of the Machine-gun Company of the German 6th Jäger Battalion, were also present at the game.

Before the match, as happened in 1914, a Saxon soldier rolled a barrel of beer towards the Welsh while Major Stockwell offered Lieutenant-Colonel von Sinner a plum pudding and a cigar. The football, signed by all players, is now in the possession of the Arbeitkreis für Sächsische Militärgeschichte. It will be displayed in the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden, Germany..[Wiki here]

And then we have Garth Brooks' song called "Belleau Wood", which is where my research journey began...(Thank you, Sylvia!)

"Belleau Wood"

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language
The song was "Silent Night"

Then I heard my buddy whisper,
"All is calm and all is bright"
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield
Another's voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
'Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here's hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

Then the devil's clock struck midnight
And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's for us to find it here



May we never forget - and ALWAYS honour.

OP/Ed: Obama, Holder, Sharpton - Shame on YOU

























On December 20 - yesterday afternoon -  these two New York Police Department Officers were executed by a hate-filled racist pig.

This coward, who had also just killed a woman, heeded the call of the race-baiters, and went looking for cops to kill.

“They were, quite simply, assassinated,” a shaken NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said Saturday night.


The shooter — identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley — boasted about wanting to murder cops in the hours before he ambushed the officers outside the Tompkins Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant about 2:45 p.m.


“I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours ... let’s take 2 of theirs,” Brinsley, 28, wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of a silver handgun.


He also included three hashtags: ShootThePolice, RIPErivGarner (sic) and RIPMikeBrown.

“This may be my final post ... I’m putting pigs in a blanket.”



At that link, deBlasio (Mayor of New York) says this in the aftermath of the slaughter:


[...]

...described the double murder as “an assassination” and a “despicable act.”


It “goes at the very heart of our society and our democracy,” he added. “When a police officer is murdered, it tears at the fabric of our society.”


Mr deBlasio, why don't you tell THAT to those racist mobs who yell "What do we want?  Dead Cops.  When do we want it? Now!"  Yes, those chants were being said on the streets of America, as that coward murdered the two Hero Police Officers.

Flashback to one week ago in NYC:



 As the demonstrations have continued, no word from either Obama (guess none of the cops could be his son), Holder and Al Sharpton said nary a word to denounce this call for open hunting season on Police Officers whose sworn duty is to Serve and Protect ALL Americans.










Go look what Sharpton was telling DeBlasio back in August  (Warning: It IS disgusting) Sharpton warns de Blasio: I’ll be your worst enemy

Now?  Race-baiter Sharpton has apparently released a statement:




Of COURSE he plans another press conference.  That, and agitating is what Sharpton does best.  Never mind, NO matter what else spews forth from his hateful mouth, he and his ignorant, racist rhetoric is directly responsible for the death of these two Officers.  Period.

Ignorant?  Absolutely, and it has not gone unremarked that these two Officers were not even white cops.

On Twitchy was this:

Lost in the rhetoric: The two cops killed yesterday were Hispanic and Asian.
Where's the activists to lead marches on their behalf?
Damn good question.








What about these two?  Well, I am still waiting for Holder to send his 'investigators' directly to New York.  No, not holding my breath.

Meanwhile,   it seems that Obama took time out from his busy Saturday night schedule to release a statement:


I unconditionally condemn today’s murder of two police officers in New York City.

Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification.

The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day – and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day.

Tonight, I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal – prayer, patient dialogue, and sympathy for the friends and family of the fallen. [emphasis mine]


 Interestingly, this has not made it to the official White site yet (yes, I did check) I found it at the Chicago Sun Times - you know, the city where on a daily basis innocents are slaughtered in anonymity, and not a word from the politicians.  Too bad the Mouth In Chief - you know, the one who has always been touted as the 'great unifer'  - and his minions,  do not encourage such rejection of hatred and race-baiting by their ACTIONS.


Meanwhile, two more families are left to mourn the loss of their loved ones.


My heart is hurting for this young man and all who love these two Fallen Police Officers.  My heart aches for all those in the NYPD who even today are  putting on their uniforms and going out into the deadly streets to Serve and Protect.  On their shifts there is no black or white skin, there is NO politics.  There is - God and the race-baiter cowards willing - survival, and going home to hug the family.

NO words from anybody can change what happened yesterday - the huge holes left in our world because of ignorance.  Nothing I can do will bring back these brave young men.

And I am sick about it.

Claudia E. Thomas speaks for me when she says:


Our hearts go out to our Brothers and Sisters who see the face of evil daily ... For our brothers, Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu - never again shall you need deal with the insanity of this world ... Soar with angels and thank you! May your families be surrounded with the prayers of millions who cry out in our anguish with them for an end to the evil that permeates our lands.


Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu's watch may be done here on earth, and I wish I could believe that their loss would herald an end to the deadly racist evil parading the streets of America.  The realist in me knows this will not happen.


Again from Claudia:

THERE ARE NEW THREATS BEING MADE TOWARDS NYPD OFFICERS via Instagram, etc. If you become aware of a threat - take action and not just re-post this stuff. Call 1-888-NYC-SAFE which is the terrorism hot line for the NYPD. The Instagram user, "woodgramflexinn" has made new threats. DO NOT call in this one as I've already checked and the NYPD is aware of him. IF YOU SEE OTHER threats, to the NYPD, call the above. For other agencies, look up the number and CALL IT IN! The what if's involved had someone called in the threats by today's murderer are endless. STAY SAFE BROTHERS & SISTERS ... We got your 6!


I echo her call, and I stand with ALL our Police Officers, and pray for their safety.

May these two Fallen Heroes Rest In Eternal Peace.





Related: Police officers turn their backs on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as he is accused of having 'blood on his hands' over anti-police sentiments


Two NYPD cops murdered for revenge


(As always, read the comments there)

Friday, December 19, 2014

Red 'Chute (Shirt) Friday

Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, the SkyHawks 



With their signature Canadian flag parachutes, The Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, the SkyHawks, is Canada’s only military parachute demonstration team. Over the last 41 years they have represented Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces to over 75 million spectators worldwide.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Video: A Soldier's Silent Night as told by Father Berndt

Audie Murphy American Legend

A Soldier's Silent Night was written by U.S. Marine Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987 under the title "Merry Christmas, My Friend." It was later retitled "A Soldier's Silent Night."

The audio recording of this adapted version was recorded by Father Ted Berndt and his daughter Ellen Stout. Father Berndt was a priest at Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, a proud Marine, and a WWII Purple Heart recipient.

The poem was recorded in one take. The recording received a national A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) award from the [u]March of Dimes [/u]and continues to be played in radio stations across the country. 

Father Berndt passed away March 19th, 2004 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. According to his daughter, "All he ever wanted to do was touch lives...to make a difference. We are blessed to share "A Soldier's Silent Night" again with you this Christmas."



Syria: 200+ bodies of ISIS victims found

From the BBC:

Syria conflict: 230 bodies 'found in mass grave' in Deir al-Zour

17 December 2014



The bodies of more than 230 people believed to have been killed by Islamic State (IS) have been found in a mass grave in eastern Syria, activists say.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were thought to be members of a tribe that fought the jihadist group in Deir al-Zour province in the summer.

The mass grave was discovered after the tribe, the Sheitat were allowed to return home by IS leaders, it added.

Last month, the UN said it had received reports of a massacre there in August....

Iraq: ISIS beheads pregnant women

 Obama told us all, 'war is over in Iraq.'  Somebody forgot to tell the murdering, cowardly thugs.. The depravity of the Religion of Terror continues.  From Jihad Watch:


Islamic State beheads 150 women, some pregnant, for refusing to marry jihad terrorists

December 17, 2014

This is all part of the Islamic State’s treatment of these women as the sex slaves, the “captives of the right hand,” that men are allowed in the Qur’an (4:3, 4:24, 23:1-6, 33:50). They have no say in the matter, and if they refuse their fate, they are to be killed.


“ISIS beheads 150 females, including pregnant women, for refusing to marry terrorists,” Zee News, December 17, 2014


Baghdad: As the world along with Pakistan mourns the death of children killed in the dastardly carried out terrorist attack in an army-run school in Peshawar by Taliban, reports of more violence from another brutal terror group have emerged.

Islamic State militants have reportedly beheaded at least 150 women, some of them pregnant, for refusing to marry them.

Iraq’s Ministry of Human Rights, in a statement released, said that the women in the western Iraqi province of Al-Anbar were attacked by the Islamic State terrorists and were later buried in mass graves in Fallujah....

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Welcome Home!

From the MoD:

Soldiers of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards marked their homecoming from Afghanistan with a parade through Swansea and received a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Charles. The Regiment received the Freedom of Swansea in 2009 on its 50th anniversary and returned to the city again for a third march in 10 years. Prince Charles, the Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, took the salute from the parade before it stepped off at the newly refurbished Guildhall and marched through the city centre, led by The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps and Jackal armoured vehicles. In the picture, a Jackal 2 armoured vehicle leads the parade through Swansea. [Picture: Corporal Barry Lloyd, Crown Copyright]



GITMO: 9/11 Justice limps along


Do you believe in coincidences?  I do not.

This week, two more days of the Military Commission Hearings at GITMO were scheduled.


Late Monday night, this was sent to 9/11 Families:


The U.S. v. KSM et al (2) pretrial hearing scheduled for December 16, 2014 has been cancelled.

The next scheduled hearing will begin on 9 February 2015, at 9:00 am.

We are awaiting for commissions order(s) for further details.


If you go over to the Military Commission site, you can find numerous defense motions under consideration.


The coincidence?  Last week, Diane Feinstein released a summary of Senate Democrats report on the use of "torture."


From Miami Herald:

Judge orders sweeping 9/11 trial secrecy review 
BY CAROL ROSENBERG
12/13/2014


The judge overseeing the Sept. 11 mass murder trial has ordered prosecutors to go back and look at secrets sealed up in the court record to assess what the public can now see in light of this week’s revelations in the Senate Intelligence Committee’s so-called Torture Report.


The chief prosecutor, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, declined to discuss the three-page order on Saturday — neither its substance nor its implications — because it was not yet made public.


But four attorneys who read it said the judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, on Friday instructed the prosecution to carry out a sweeping review of more than two years of classified trial filings.


At issue is how much of the once-secret CIA interrogation and detention program can now be discussed in open court — and which classified filings can be unsealed — in the trial of the five men accused as conspiring to direct, train and finance the 19 hijackers who killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001....[emphasis mine]


 GO read the rest of this here, as the ripples from the Democrats self-serving rush to smear anybody and everything continues to have consequences.





Pakistan: Religion of Terror continues - over 100 murdered




From VICE News:

Taliban Gunmen Kill 84 Children in Attack on Pakistani Army School

December 16, 2014

The Taliban is claiming responsibility for storming a military-run school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar today, killing at least 84 students.


"We selected the army's school for the attack because the government is targeting our families and females," Pakistani Taliban (TTP) spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani told Reuters. "We want them to feel the pain."



Khorasani told reporters: "Around six suicide bombers entered the school and we are in contact with them. We have asked them not to kill minor children."



Regional officials say that 126 people have died in total and 122 have been injured. While the army has evacuated a large number of the 500 students and staff, an operation to clear the school is ongoing. Fighting is continuing between security officials and Taliban fighters, and several explosions have been reported.



Army spokesman Asim Bajwa tweeted that six terrorists have been killed....



There is much more  at VICE News ...



Friday, December 12, 2014

Wreaths Across America 2014



Remember.  Honor. Teach.


source




Wreaths in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery © 2013 Patty Hankins


To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.” -Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003) 

Always remembered.  ALWAYS honored.



Thursday, December 11, 2014

Video: Gutfeld response to Senate Democrats' CIA report

Lots being said and written about the release of the Senate Democrats report on CIA Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.  Yes, I will have more to say myself in the near future..but for now, here is a synopsis of what Greg Gutfeld had on The Five.  I agree with everything he says - did you really doubt that???


Source

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Video - Snowball Express: For the children






Serving the children of our fallen military heroes. 


As regular readers here know, I always ALWAYS remember that our children also Serve and Sacrifice.  Snowball Express is just one of those organisations that works hard to ensure our precious mini-Heroes are never forgotten.

It's tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime for the families and kids of our Fallen Heroes to take off for Ft Worth, TX, as they gather for the annual weekend of fun, fun,  FUN!

Announcing Snowball Express 2014
When: December 11 to December 15 Where: Fort Worth, Texas

Highlight video from last year:


Over the past decade, true American Heroes, the men and women of the United States Military and their families, have made and continue to make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our freedom. That’s why we started Snowball Express. Each year with the help of our presenting sponsor, American Airlines, and our other wonderful sponsors and volunteers we are able to bring together children of our fallen military heroes from all over the world for 5 days of making new memories and honoring their parent’s sacrifice.

If you would like to learn more about Snowball Express, please visit our About Us page or read our messages from our Executive Director and ChairmanIf you are a family member of the fallen, we are so glad that you are here. Although registration for the 2014 Snowball Express event has closed,  new families, please continue to our Families page. Here you can sign up to be included in next years activities.  If you’re not sure, please visit our Testimonials page or our FAQ page to learn more about the family experience.

If you would like to help change lives, we would appreciate your contribution. Whether you want to make a one-time donation, sponsor a child or you work for an organization who wants to support our efforts, please visit our Support page to find out how you can help.


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

GITMO releases:"... dangerous and, frankly, reckless"


For this administration, all politics, all the time.  The insanity continues.

From DoD:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release No: NR-609-14
December 07, 2014

Detainee Transfer Announced

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Hussain Shaabaan, Omar Mahmoud Faraj, Abdul Bin Mohammed Abis Ourgy, Mohammed Tahanmatan, and Jihad Diyab from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Uruguay.

As directed by the president's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.

In accordance with statutory requirements, the secretary of defense informed Congress of the United States’ intent to transfer these individuals and of his determination that this transfer meets the statutory standard.

The United States is grateful to the Government of Uruguay for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of Uruguay to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.

Today, 136 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.


From NBC News:
[...]

The release comes amid efforts to step up the pace of transfers in light of President Barack Obama's efforts to close the facility. Earlier this month, outgoing House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) expressed hesitance over the increased pace of releases.

"What the Obama Administration is doing is dangerous and, frankly, reckless. They have chosen many times to put politics above national security," he said.

Clifford Sloan, special envoy for Guantanamo Closure at the State Department, said Sunday the U.S. was grateful to Uruguay for offering a home for the detainees.

"The support we are receiving from our friends and allies is critical to achieving our shared goal of closing Guantanamo, and this transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility," he said in a statement.

Video: Becoming an IDF combat soldier



From idfna desk:

Becoming a combat soldier in 90 seconds #IDFStyle
Published on Nov 29, 2014A soldier from the Home Front Command’s Combat Search and Rescue Brigade documents his intense 8 months of training on the way to receiving his orange beret and becoming an IDF combat soldier!



Monday, December 8, 2014

NYPD and Ferguson justice NOT black or white


Listening to all the noise these past few months, is to believe that to be black in America is to be a victim and a target for racist cops.

To hear President Obama and Eric Holder and yes, Al Sharpton and other race-baiters tell it, what happened in Ferguson, and then New York was all about race.   As I have watched the riots and screeching about 'injustice' and the deliberate targeting of citizens because they are black this past few months, I have waited for the POTUS and the supposed lead policeman of America (Holder) to quell the riots, and de-escalate the racist rhetoric.

Not happening.  Even before any investigation took place in Ferguson in the aftermath of Michael Brown's death, the DoJ sent prosecutors there, ensuring the ongoing tone of the narrative painting local police as racist.

Same with New York.  Never mind that in both cases Grand Juries have declined to lay charges against the police officers directly involved.    Those Grand Juries had hands on ALL the evidence relating to both incidents, and were comprised of local citizens.  However,  facts be damned and  never mind that most of us were not there. Since both events, armchair critics have whipped up the 'victim' mentality and fomented protests based on ignorance of the FACTS.

Yes, Garner's encounter with the NYPD was filmed by a sidewalk witness, but unless we were there, we don't know  - we cannot know - what happened BEFORE the camera was turned on.  There is an old cliche that 'the camera never lies' and while that may be true, it is also true that we cannot know of previous events that led to this deadly encounter. There are reports flying around that Garner had a long criminal record, and was well known to the police.

Does that mean he should have died on this day?  Of course not, but to paint the cops as deciding to kill a black man is beyond absurd - AND racist. To suggest that any NYPD member needs retraining because of unconscious racist thinking (yes, that HAS been floated out there!) is beyond ridiculous..

War On Terror News pretty much sums up this whole "cops are automatically racist, and all blacks are targets" nonsense:

Race relations in America continue to deteriorate. This is not by accident. Anger, creating a greater divide, is and has been purposely fomented, by the very people that publicly decry it the most.


Why? Hatred and anger are powerful and blinding emotions. Those politicians, whether using the title of "Reverend" or "Honorable" or "Representative" are cashing in on the power and money garnered by an angry mob.


Racism is not present when a police officer arrests a criminal, nor when during an arrest he responds to violence in self-defense. Racism is not present because that criminal was committing a minor crime when he turned to violence against law enforcement.  [emphasis mine]


Racism is present when a firebrand whips a crowd into a frenzy and that mob attacks those of different skin tones, for no other reason than that skin color. Racism is present when that mob pillages stores because the owners don't have the same shade of skin as their attackers.


Racism is present when politicians convince others that a particular race cannot compete on a level playing field, or that they should be given handouts to live a life of dependency.


Justice is blind. Justice cannot see skin tone nor can it relent to mobs or polls. While the judicial system may be imperfect, a jury of peers is far more likely to decide justly, than a frenzied mob, or a powerful politician or their appointees. [emphasis mine]


Justice cannot be dealt if politicians or juries bow to the whims of vengeful mob of rioters, who, by their own actions, have become criminals themselves....



 We are all watching the continuance of criminal behavior as thugs burn Ferguson to the ground, and are now intent on disrupting law-abiding citizens by rioting, looting  and protesting across the country.


Facts be damned.  Never mind that Garner was NOT killed by a - choke-hold - a strategy that is banned by the NYPD.   Never mind that Michael Brown was not obeying police instructions, and was, in fact, the aggressor in his encounter with police officer Wilson. Go read the Ferguson Grand Jury transcripts. 

No matter.  The president continues his long-demonstrated disdain for the rule of law, and the role of local cops.  Remember the beer summit he held in the White House in 2009 after he declared a Massachusetts cop 'stupid' for doing his job?  That - as usual - was before he knew the facts.    At that time, Obama said, in part, "...that there’s a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately...."



Really?  Here we are in 2014, and the Obama administration continues to pour gas on race relations in America.  Both he and Holder go before the cameras and share their personal stories of racism without any proof of such encounters.

New York politicians are not above entering the fray either. The New York Post has this:


De Blasio’s slur against NYPD imperils us allBy Michael GoodwinDecember 5, 2014

[...]

Determined not to let a crisis go to waste, the mayor has spent the last two days cranking up the volume and the vitriol of his anti-cop agenda. Predictably, he trots out his son, Dante, to put a personal spin on police-black relations, saying he is fearful the biracial teen will end up in a confrontation with a cop.

Imagine that. The city is in turmoil over the Staten Island case and the mayor throws gasoline on the fire by painting the entire police force as a bunch of white racist brutes. Has he no shame?

He certainly has no facts....

Today we see that de Blasio is continuing to stoke the racism fires by declaring that former Mayor Giuliani 'Fundamentally Misunderstands the Reality' of Race

It is well known I don't live in NY, so do not have first-hand knowledge of the political dynamics, but from where I sit, Guiliani's record speaks for itself, and it isn't what the current Mayor is saying.

Somebody else who IS well familiar with the local issues is Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.  The New York Post had this editorial in light of Garner's death:
Wise words from NYC’s top copBy Post Editorial Board
August 13, 2014
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton sent New Yorkers an important message Tuesday in the wake of Eric Garner’s death, allegedly by police chokehold: There is no constitutional right to resist arrest.
“What we’ve seen in the past few months is a number of individuals failing to understand that you must submit to arrest, you cannot resist,” Bratton said in an interview on Brian Lehrer’s radio show. “The place to argue your case is in the court, not in the street.”   [emphasis mine]


It’s a critical point, and one Bratton’s made before. We just wish he wasn’t the only public official sending that message.


The simple fact, painful as it may be for some to acknowledge, is that Eric Garner would be alive today if he’d cooperated when cops tried to arrest him for illegally selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
Instead, he argued with police, refused to put his hands behind his back, accused them of harassing him and vowed, “It ends today.”


As Bratton said from the outset, “My officers are not going to walk away” when someone resists arrest. He also notes that cops aren’t in the harassment business.


Enforcement of “quality of life” crimes, like selling loose cigarettes, is prompted by calls from community merchants and local officials, who “definitely want more police in their neighborhoods.” [As to whether police need to be pursuing 'these quality of life' crimes, is another debate for another day]


The fastest way to defuse a confrontation like the one that ended in Garner’s death is not to resist arrest....


Again, I wasn't there, and I am sure most of these criminals looting, protesting, burning down whole neighbourhoods, were not at the scene in Ferguson nor New York.  WE don't know what happened.

 The Grand Juries in both cases were given all the evidence they needed to make informed decisions on the outcome of these events.   From what I can tell, their decisions had NOTHING to do with race or color, and was based on the FACTS, by witnesses who were there.  That is how the justice system is supposed to work in America. Period.


For all these outsiders to claim racist motives on behalf of the police and continue to scream 'victimisation' is not only  absurd it defies the statistics.  Take a look here: White Cops Aren't Victimizing Black Youth

Fact: Every day in America, blacks are killing blacks in gang warfare, and whites are being killed by blacks. Do they garner 24/7 blanket coverage by the mainstream media? No, and why?  Because it doesn't fit the 'victim' agenda adhered to by this administration.


 Yes, America does have a long history of racial discrimination, but for politicians and race-baiters such as Sharpton et al to continue to insist that to be black in America is to disproportionately risk death by white cop, and perpetuate the 'black as victim,' is a huge dis-service to the law-abiding citizens across America.


Go look at this video editorial, which says pretty much sums it all up.

Barack Obama may have been elected as the 'first black president' but he needs to remember that not only should he be representing ALL Americans, he should also be supporting the rule of law and those cops who are charged with serving and protecting all our neighbourhoods.

As the mayhem continues across America,  and thugs continue to wrap themselves in the 'entitled victim' cloak, maybe this video by Chris Rock should be required viewing.