O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

Time to rally around the Flag of the United States of America!

Soldiers Send Chrismas Greetings

Courtesy of CBN News

CBNNews.com - Many military families cannot spend this Christmas at home with family. They're stationed overseas serving their country. Watch the video on this page to see Christmas greetings from numerous soldiers to their families. There are approximately 50 to 60 greetings from military stationed at various bases around the world. Merry Christmas and may God Bless our wonderful armed service members and their loved ones. Click here to watch video

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Technorati tags: us military, us navy, us marine corps, us army, us air force, military overseas, armed forces, service member, soldier, iraq, persian gulf, arabian gulf, forward deployed, christmas, christian country, family values

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Merry Christmas 2006

They came "from the east to Jerusalem" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews".

Best Wishes and Seasons Greeting during this Christmas 2006.






The reason for the season!!

God Bless,

Bos'un

Al Sadr Exerting Political Clout in Shiite Community

Courtesy of CBN News, December 21, 2006

Watch Video

CBNNews.com - He's been called "the most dangerous man in Iraq."

Now, the radical Shiite militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr is considering a cease-fire.

Al-Sadr met with other Shiite leaders Thursday.

They're asking him to rejoin the political process. His supporters pulled out of the political process three weeks ago, after al-Maliki met with President Bush in Jordan.

Al-Sadr is the commander of the Mahdi army - that's the brutal militia behind much of the sectarian violence.

Until the walkout, al-Sadr's faction had been an integral part of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's governing coalition.

Observers hope any agreement on al-Sadr's part will curb the bloodshed in the country.

Sources: CBN News, Associated Press

Technorati tags: al-sadr, sadr city, shi'ite, islamofacism, jihadist, jihadi, militia, iran, iraq, jordan, president bush, al maliki, mahadi army, sectarian violence, insurgent activity, counter insurgency, coalition troops

al Qaeda takes credit for US mid-term elections

Al Qaeda Sends a Message to Democrats

According to ABC News, Brian Ross and Hoda Osman report that Al Qaeda has sent a message to leaders of the Democratic party that credit for the defeat of congressional Republicans belongs to the terrorists.

"The first is that you aren't the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen -- the Muslim Ummah's vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq -- are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost," Zawahri said, according to a full transcript obtained by ABC News. Zawahri called for the Democrats to negotiate with he and his boss Osama. For the rest of the story(read more here)

The liberals and donk lefti should be jumping for joy that they can enter dhimmitude with the creators of 9-11. Personally it appears that the liberals and donk lefti hate our President more than the enemy and have tried at every turn to swart efforts in the war on terror.

Well, Harry Reid, John "F" Kerry, Jack Murtha, and other liberal politicians, what do you say about Zawahri's comments? You can slam President Bush, but, can you slam a terrorist? In the past, terrorist talking points and the DNC talking points have sounded like the same speech writer wrote their speeches. Where is the roar and outcry from the DNC to distance themselves from Zawahri?

The much awaited press release by Zawahri has registered little more than a burp in the mainstream press. It appears that Zawahri's comments may be slightly embarrassing and is not being widely disseminated. We'll see if the talking head networks will dissect Zawahri's press release this weekend.

Also in the news courtesy of Breitbart.com:

Al- Qaeda Hints at Power Status in Iraq

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri, told the United States it is negotiating with the wrong people in Iraq, suggesting in a video released Wednesday that his...

Al- Zawahri: U. S. Talking to Wrong People

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda said the United States was negotiating with the wrong people in Iraq, implying in a video broadcast Wednesday on Al-Jazeera that Washington should be...

Al- Zawahri Slams Palestinian Vote Plan

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda criticized both sides of the Palestinian power struggle in a video aired Wednesday, calling the Palestinian president America's man but also lashing...

Al- Zawahri: U. S. Should Talk to al- Qaeda

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda criticized both sides of the Palestinian power struggle in a video aired Wednesday, calling the Palestinian president America's man but also lashing...

Leader Hints U. S. Should Talk to al- Qaeda

The deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri, told the United States on Wednesday that it was negotiating with the wrong people in Iraq, strongly implying in a video...

Technorati tags: al-qaeda, zawahri, liberals, donk lefti, crusaders, afghanistan, iraq, news, counterinsurgency, Terrorism, International News, mid-term elections, abc news, congressional republicans, congressional democrats, terrorists

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The Regathering Storm: Al Qaeda Recruiting Westerners

Courtesy of National Terror Alert Response Center

Al Qaeda Recruiting Westerners

December 18th, 2006
For the past year, a secret has been slowly spreading among Taliban commanders in Afghanistan: a 12-man team of Westerners was being trained by Al Qaeda in Pakistan for a special mission. Most of the Afghan fighters could rely only on hearsay, but some told of seeing the “English brothers” (as the foreign recruits were nicknamed for their shared language) in person.

One eyewitness, a former Guantánamo detainee with close Taliban and Qaeda ties, spoke to Newsweek recently in southern Afghanistan, demanding anonymity because he doesn’t want the Americans looking for him. He says he met the 12 recruits in November 2005, at a mud-brick compound near the North Waziristan town of Mir Ali. Read Article

Technorati tags: guantánamo, taliban, homeland security, terror, terrorism, terrorist, war on terror, news, al qaeda, terror cell, counterterrorism, islamic extremists, homegrown, homegrown terrorist

The Islamization of France continues

In a policy reminiscent to the failed UN mission in Somalia in the early 1990s, some of our NATO allies are beginning to show signs of their lack of commitment to fight in the war on terror.

According the the Canadian Press, "Some NATO members - including France, Germany, Italy and Spain - have refused to regularly send troops to fight alongside the British, Canadian, Dutch and U.S. forces on the front lines of battles with the resurgent Taliban in the restive south and east."

India-Defence.com reported this morning that:

France plans to withdraw around 200 special forces from southern Afghanistan at the start of next year following a recent surge in violence, reported the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday.

The French Defence Ministry was not immediately available for comment. The French military is participating in various missions in Afghanistan, and the small special forces team has been under US control since 2003 as part of operation Enduring Freedom.

Nine French troops have died fighting in Afghanistan, and Le Journal du Dimanche said the relatively high death toll had played a part in the decision to withdraw the forces.

The US was also downscaling its Enduring Freedom operation, the newspaper said, adding that some 1,000 French troops deployed around Kabul under NATO control would be staying put. Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest phase since US-led troops drove the Taliban from power after the September 11, 2001, attacks, and NATO has called on its member countries to send in more soldiers to help combat the upsurge in violence.

France, however, declined to dispatch more troops last month, saying it already had its hands full with the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, where it has committed some 2,000 soldiers.

Associated Press reported later that France's defence minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, said her country would be willing to send its troops to Afghanistan's violence-plagued areas as temporary reinforcements if requested, but, would not be sent permanently. It sounded to me like another case of French double talk to defend its weak position.

There has been an ongoing 'intifada' in France for the past several years. World Tribune reported in October that there has been 2,500 French police officers injured in 2006 alone by roving gangs of islamists. Michael Thoomis, Secretary General of the Action Police Trade Union said, "We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists. This is not a question of urban violence any more. It is an intifada, with stones and firebombs."

One has to ask Ms. Alliot-Marie if the problems at home with the islamists who continue to battle the police may be the underlying reason for French white flag waving. I am at a loss for words in regards to Germany, Spain, and Italy. It may be that the leftists in their countries have gained more power. At least for now, Germany, Spain and Italy troop strengths remain unchanged.

For more reporting on France's "enthusiasm" to fight in Afghanistan:

• France willing to send troops to Afghanistan's front lines (as temporary reinforcements only)
• McCain: Afghanistan needs Europe troops
• All French troops to be withdrawn

Technorati tags: France, Islam, coalition troops, war blogging, Afghanistan, NATO, Allies, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Taliban, al-Qaeda, Enduring Freedom, Afghan Military Operations, Special Forces Afghanistan, South Asia, McCain, war on terror, terrorism

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Christmas Greetings From Michael Yon

The Bosun just received Michael Yon's latest correspondence and would like to share Michael's email with you. As you know, Michael is an independent journalist who covers the war zones in several countries. Michael has put himself in harms way to get his dispatches right and bring home the truth to you.

Respectfully, Bosun

From Michael:

Greetings,

I am still awaiting permission to embed with troops in Iraq. The Army embeds have been approved, but there was a hold-up with a request to embed with the Marines. Unfortunately, word is just getting out that Public Affairs lost three excellent people to a bomb in Ramadi. One of those was Major Megan McClung, a Marine about whom journalists spoke with great appreciation and admiration for her professionalism and courage. Also killed was Captain Travis Patriquin, another officer whom journalists regarded in a very positive light for his dedication to his profession and his willingness to get the hard work done. After volunteering to go on the same mission to escort journalists, Specialist Vincent J. Pomante III was also killed in that blast. Knowing that Vincent volunteered to go on a mission in the most dangerous place in Iraq says it all. The thoughts and prayers of many journalists are going out to the families of our fallen.

Another dispatch is posted: No Darker Heart.

This site runs completely from reader support. As I make final preparations for an embed that will hopefully enable me to celebrate Christmas with our troops in Iraq, I want to extend my appreciation to all of those whose generosity makes this work possible.

Respectfully,

Michael
Michael Yon
P O Box 416
Westport Pt MA 02791

Technorati tags: Michael Yon, embedded reporting, iraqi freedom, us military, counterinsurgency, us troops, coalition troops, Christmas in Iraq

Bush and Blair Middle East Conference

Courtesy of Iranian Focus

London, Dec. 08 – The following are excerpts of remarks made by United States President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a joint press conference in Washington, DC, in reaction to the Iraqi Study Group’s recent report on a new approach for establishing a free and secure Iraq. The excerpts primarily relate to the Iran factor.

PRESIDENT BUSH: The increase in sectarian attacks we're seeing in and around Baghdad are unsettling. It has led to much debate in both our countries about the nature of the war that is taking place in Iraq. And it is true that Sunni and Shia extremists are targeting each other's innocent civilians and engaging in brutal reprisals. It's also true that forces beyond Iraq's borders contribute to this violence. And the Prime Minister put it this way, he said, "The violence is not an accident or a result of faulty planning. It is a deliberate strategy. It is the direct result of outside extremists teaming up with internal extremists -- al Qaeda with the Sunni insurgents, and Iran with the Shia militia -- to foment hatred and to throttle, at birth, the possibility of a non-sectarian democracy." You were right, and I appreciate your comments.

The primary victims of the sectarian violence are the moderate majority of Iraqis -- Sunni and Shia alike -- who want a future of peace. The primary beneficiaries are Sunni and Shia extremists, inside and outside of Iraq, who want chaos in that country so they can take control and further their ambitions to dominate the region.

These Sunni and Shia extremists have important differences, yet they agree on one thing: the rise of free and democratic societies in the Middle East where people can practice their faith, choose their leaders, and live together in peace would be a decisive blow to their cause.

And so they're supporting extremists across the region who are working to undermine young democracies. Just think about the Middle East. In Iraq, they support terrorists and death squads who are fomenting sectarian violence in an effort to bring down the elected government of Prime Minister Maliki. In Lebanon, they're supporting Hezbollah, which recently declared its intention to force the collapse of Prime Minister Siniora's democratically-elected parliament and government. In Afghanistan, they're supporting remnants of the Taliban that are seeking to destabilize President Karzai's government and regain power. In the Palestinian Territories, they are working to stop moderate leaders like President Abbas from making progress toward the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

....

PRESIDENT BUSH: But there's a lot of very important things in the report that we ought to seriously consider. ... It talked about the regional -- the countries in the region, and the responsibilities of the region to help this Iraqi government. And the idea of having an international group is an interesting idea. We've already got the compact, and I think the Baker-Hamilton report suggests that we broaden the compact beyond just economic measures.

But one thing is for certain, when people-- if people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country. And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept, then they shouldn't bother to show up.

...

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: But then there are responsibilities, as the President was saying a moment or two ago, on the region and the neighbors. And let me come directly to the Iran and Syria point. The issue for me is not a question of being unwilling to sit down with people or not, but the basis upon which we discuss Iraq has got to be clear and it's got to be a basis where we are all standing up for the right principles, which are now endorsed in the United Nations resolutions, in respect of Iraq. In other words, you support the democratic elected government; you do not support sectarians and you do not support, arm or finance terrorists.

Now, the very reason we have problems in parts of Iraq -- and we know this very well down in the south of Iraq -- is that Iran, for example, has been doing that, has been basically arming, financing, supporting terrorism. So we've got to be clear the basis upon which we take this forward. And as I say, it's got to be clear the basis upon which we take this forward. And as I say, it's got to be on the basis of people accepting their responsibilities.

...

PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me talk about engaging Iran. We have made it clear to the Iranians that there is a possible change in U.S. policy, a policy that's been in place for 27 years, and that is that if they would like to engage the United States, that they've got to verifiably suspend their enrichment program. We've made our choice. Iran now has an opportunity to make its choice. I would hope they would make the choice that most of the free world wants them to make, which is there is no need to have a weapons program; there is no need to isolate your people; there's no need to continue this obstinance when it comes to your stated desires to have a nuclear weapon. It's not in your interest to do so.

And should they agree to verifiably suspend their enrichment, the United States will be at the table with our partners.

It's really interesting to talk about conversations with countries -- which is fine; I can understand why people speculate about it -- but there should be no mistake in anybody's mind, these countries understand our position. They know what's expected of them.

There is -- if we were to have a conversation, it would be this one, to Syria: Stop destabilizing the Siniora government. We believe that the Siniora government should be supported, not weakened. Stop allowing money and arms to cross your border into Iraq. Don't provide safe haven for terrorist groups. We've made that position very clear.

And the truth of the matter is, is that these countries have now got the choice to make. If they want to sit down at the table with the United States, it's easy -- just make some decisions that will lead to peace, not to conflict.

Chicago Terror Suspect plotted mall bombing

A courtroom sketch of the suspect, who appeared in court after arrest on charges of plotting to set off hand grenades in garbage cans at a Rockford shopping mall the Friday before Christmas. Sketch courtesy of AP

Law enforcement officials say the man was a U.S. citizen, and planned to commit some sort of terrorist attack in Chicago. The man had "ideas and desires, but no means," law enforcement sources said.

Story Courtesy of National Terror Alert Response Center:

Chicago Terror Plot Suspect Arrested

A Muslim convert plotted to set off hand grenades at a Chicago-area shopping mall in a holiday season terror campaign that was thwarted by federal investigators. According to an FBI affidavit, the suspect told a confidential source that he wanted to “commit violent acts of jihad,” and spoke of killing judges and blowing up public buildings. Apparently he also declared that he wanted to, "Stab the **** outta Jews" at a synagogue near the mosque that he attended and in the DeKalb area.

In advance of a planned attack on a Rockford mall, the suspect prepared a martyr’s videotape in which he let the “enemies of Islam” know that “the time for jihad is now.” He added, “This is a warning to those who disbelieve, that we are here for you, and I am ready to give my life…May Allah protect me on this mission we conduct.”

• Affidavit courtesy of The Smoking Gun

Local Chicago Area News Links:

• Rockford Register
• CBS Channel 2 Chicago
• Rock River Times

Other news reports about this incident:

Man arrested in alleged Illinois terrorism plot - Reuters A U.S. man who wanted to carry out a "violent jihad" was arrested after he obtained a gun and four hand grenades from a government informant to attack an Illinois shopping mall, the FBI said on Friday.

Feds: Muslim Convert Plots to Blow Up Mall - NewsMax.Com A Muslim convert who talked about his desire to wage jihad against civilians was charged Friday in a plot to set off hand grenades at a shopping mall during the Christmas rush, authorities said.

Technorati tags: affidavit, mall, chicago, grenades, rockford, homeland security, terror, terrorism, terrorist, war on terror, news, al qaeda, terror cell, cherryvale mall, counterterrorism, islamic extremists, cherryvale jihad, domestic terrorism, american jihad, jihandi, jihadist, muslim extremists, religious war, radical Islam, Muslim convert, Christmas Terror Plot, Holiday Shopping, Christmas Rush, Shopping Mall, FBI Terror Probe

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Islam gets concessions: infidels get conquered

Islam gets concessions; infidels get conquered

(latimes.com)  IN THE DAYS before Pope Benedict XVI's visit last Thursday to the Hagia Sophia complex in Istanbul, Muslims and Turks expressed fear, apprehension and rage...

 

Technorati tags: islamofacism, rage, angry muslims, infidels, kafir

Welcome to the Caliphate Dream of the Middle East

 

---

After a destabilizing invasion and occupation, Islamic extremists are poised to seize political power across the Middle East in the wake of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The resulting transnational fundamentalist Caliphate would represent the successful completion of al Qaeda's major explicit political goal.

The quote is from: Intelwire

Framing the Conflict

No one knows the stakes of the deadly game in Iraq better than the two men charged with winning it. On one side stood Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. His opposite number was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's bloodthirsty lieutenant and the most central actor in the Iraq insurgency.

It's not surprising that Myers and Zarqawi saw the same stakes in Iraq. What's disturbing is the fact that so few Americans understand what these men were fighting for.

In March 2003, the United States launched a proactive campaign to oust Saddam Hussein and install democracy in Iraq. All controversies aside, the invasion was clearly and explicitly predicated on an old military maxim -- the best defense is a good offense.

But in September 2005, American's best offense has become a desperate defense of virtually any position in Iraq. In a little-noticed Pentagon news briefing in August, Myers laid out the likely consequences if the U.S. is perceived as retreating under fire.

"The stakes are huge," said Myers. "If the Zarqawis of the world, if (al Qaeda) were allowed to be successful in Iraq, in their view, that would be the start of the caliphate that they envision. The stakes would be huge for the region. You talk about instability. It would be instant instability in that region, in Saudi Arabia on down the Gulf states, perhaps Iran, Syria, Turkey."

With those words, Myers unambiguously identified America's strategic imperative for the postinvasion conflict in Iraq -- preventing the birth of a fundamentalist Islamic empire spanning the entire Middle East -- al Qaeda's Caliphate. Source Intelwire: Caliphate 

American-Made: Al Qaeda's New Caliphate

Technorati tags: al-qaeda, caliphate, general myers, iraqi, Islamic extremists, political power, Middle East, U.S. withdrawal, destabilizing invasion, occupation, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, iraqi insurgency, insurgent activity, counter insurgency, Iran, Syria, Turkey, saudi arabia, fundamentalist Islamic bloc, Bush

God Protect Us.

Religion of Peace update: Pray 5 times a day or face beheading

Courtesy of The Scotsman Newspaper

According to an article in The Scotsman, a Somali Islamic Court ordered that ANYONE who does not pray five times a day will be beheaded.  Apparently the edict will be implemented as soon as possible (in three days' time.)

Shops, tea houses and other public places in Bulo Burto, 124 miles north-east of the capital, Mogadishu, should be closed during prayer time and no-one should be on the streets, said Sheik Hussein Barre Rage, the chairman of the town's Islamic court.  For the rest of the story: Beheading in the name of religion

 

Technorati tags: shariah law, islamic court, somalia, muslim, islam, mogadishu, sheik hussein barre rage, islamic prayer, Sunnis, Five Pillars of Islam, Shi'a, Jihad

65 Years of Memories, 230 years of Freedom

Today is the day, that infamous day, when America was struck by another country. That country was Japan. It seems so long ago to those who were not yet born, yet it sometimes seems like yesterday who lived through it.

It is to these brave men and women (yes, I know you were also there) I wish to say, "Thank you for losing the spirit. Thank you for fighting until victory was won. Thank you for not giving us at each turn because of some stupid politician. Welcome home, and God bless you."

To all the other Veterans' we honor on this day, my same prayers and hopes go out you. My gratitude can only be shown in my behaviour, so I will do my best be my best citizen. This is my gift to you. It is the least I could do, after everything you have given me. Thank you.

Baker Report Slams Israel

With a saddened heart I have to comment on the Baker report.

Breitbart.com is reporting some alarming news they claim is buried deep in the 160 page Iraq Study Group Report:

Baker panel's mention of Palestinian "right of return" raises eyebrows

I cannot verify how close to the truth this story really is, but, if it means what I think it means and is a truthful story as reported by Breitbart.com, this may be a very grave development that does not deserve a pass.

Quoted from the Breitbart news story:

"A reference to Palestinians' "right of return" in the report issued by the high-level Iraq Study Group broke a diplomatic taboo which sparked immediate concern in Israel and surprise among Middle East policy experts.

The reference was buried deep inside a 160-page report that urged US President George W. Bush to renew efforts to revive Israel-Palestinian peace talks as part of a region-wide bid to end the chaos in Iraq.

"This report is worrisome for Israel particularly because, for the first time, it mentions the question of the 'right of return' for the Palestinian refugees of 1948," said a senior Israeli official, who was reacting to the US policy report on condition he not be identified. A Middle East analyst who was involved in the Iraq Study Group discussions but did not participate in drafting the report expressed surprise when the reference was pointed out to him by a reporter....Source: Baker panel's mention of Palestinian "right of return" raises eyebrows"

Here is the Iraq Study Group Report Text found on pages 57 and 58:

RECOMMENDATION 16: In exchange for these actions andin the context of a full and secure peace agreement, the Israelis should return the Golan Heights, with a U.S. security guarantee for Israel that could include an international force on the border, including U.S. troops if requested by both parties.

RECOMMENDATION 17: Concerning the Palestinian issue, elements of that negotiated peace should include:
• Adherence to UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and to the principle of land for peace, which are the only bases for achieving peace.
• Strong support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to take the lead in preparing the way for negotiations with Israel.
• A major effort to move from the current hostilities by consolidating the cease-fire reached between the Palestinians and the Israelis in November 2006.
• Support for a Palestinian national unity government.

The Way Forward—A New Approach

• Sustainable negotiations leading to a final peace settlement along the lines of President Bush’s two-state solution, which would address the key final status issues of borders, settlements, Jerusalem, the right of return, and the end of conflict. ISG Report

Read and weep. The enemies of Israel are partying tonight. It may come to pass that the world as we knew it, will end by the leftist and stalist agenda.

Yesterday before this damn report was released, I had some concerns that this report was a sham job. We are going to have to study every word. Mr. Baker and his commission deserves a very close look.

We all bettere watch out what we wish for. The hidden agenda of the left is coming closer to a climax.

Technorati tags: Technorati tags, Israeli, Jerusalem, Palestinian authority, Palestine, Iran, Syria, apologists, appeasers, slippery slope, nuclear threat, Lebanon, middle east news, anti-Semitism, anti-Israel, jihad, caliphate, diplomatic solution, ahmadinejad, 12th imam, Gaza, Iraq Study Group, secretary of state, James Baker, us policy, international terrorism, international solution, president bush, George w. bush, Iraq, congressman, Lee Hamilton, israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, Golan Heights, US-Iranian engagement

Official: US Talks with Syria and Iran could isolate Israel

Courtesy of the Jerusalem Post

Originally written by HERB KEINON for the Jerusalem Post

With the US Iraq Study Group expected to recommend on Wednesday that the US diplomatically engage Syria and Iran, Israeli government sources differ widely about the impact this type of engagement might have on Israel.

While a senior defense official said US talks with Iran would lead to a slippery slope that would eventually leave Israel alone facing the Iranian nuclear threat, other government officials indicated that US-Iranian talks were needed to stabilize the region since Iran was "calling the shots" everywhere from Lebanon to Gaza. For the rest of the story: US may drop Israel

Bosun's comments: America's "cut and run" Democratic Party has gained the upper hand in the mid-term 2006 elections.  The liberal agenda is taking control of Washington.  America is loosing its will to fight the war on terror.  This policy shift had allowed the US Iraq Study group to gain traction. 

It appears that our "new" policy toward Iraq that is about to be released by the US Iraq Study Group will abandon democracy and seek political compromise with the insurgents.  The Baker Commission's US Iraq Study Group will engage Tehran and Damascus as "partners" to secure stability in Iraq and compromise our support of Israel.  Baker, his commission, the Democrats, and the world community will sell out Israel.   

It is my humble opinion that the legacy of Iraq will impact U.S. policy and security much more than we realize.  American Jews and liberals you should watch out what you wished for. 

Technorati tags: Israeli, Jerusalem, Palestinian authority, Palestine, Iran, Syria, apologists, appeasers, slippery slope, nuclear threat, Lebanon, middle east news, anti-Semitism, anti-Israel, jihad, caliphate, diplomatic solution, ahmadinejad, 12th imam, Gaza, Iraq Study Group, secretary of state, James Baker, us policy, international terrorism, international solution, president bush, George w. bush, Iraq, congressman, Lee Hamilton, israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, Golan Heights, US-Iranian engagement

Bush accepts Bolton's UN Resignation

Bush caves to the Democratic Senate!  Bush ****cans Bolton.  According to a White House Press release, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his temporary appointment expires within weeks.  It appears that the administration is picking its fights with caution and will not appoint Bolton for a second recess appointment.  Perhaps Bush should ask former President Clinton if he would like at nomination.

Bolton's nomination has languished in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than a year, blocked by Democrats and several Republicans. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican who lost in the midterm elections Nov. 7 that swept Democrats to power in both houses of Congress, was adamantly opposed to Bolton.  For the latest on Bolton being thrown out, please visit KFMB Channel 8 News, San Diego, California: Bolton ousted

 

Technorati tags: bolton, bush, united nations, un, recess appointment, democrats, senate, us ambassador to the un, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lincoln Chafee

ACLU targets Christmas

Email received from Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel, American Center for Law and Justice:

Dear Bosun,

The ACLU is at it again. 

With an outrageous boldness that only they could muster, the ACLU has set their sights on Christmas ...

In their never-ending quest to completely eradicate all things religious from public life, the ACLU's latest lawsuit is an all-out frontal attack on the freedom of speech.

Let me ask you - when did a children's Christmas program become illegal?  When did the nativity story and Christmas songs become unconstitutional?

Because this is the dangerous charge the ACLU has leveled.  A children's Christmas program has been deemed unconstitutional by the ACLU.

I have assembled a senior team of attorneys to work on this case, and I will be going to Tennessee to handle this matter with ACLJ Senior Counsel Larry Crain.

The ACLU is determined to censor Christmas ...

... but make no mistake:  this is a case THAT I AM DETERMINED TO WIN.

In Case #3-06-0924, Doe v. Wilson County School System, the ACLU has sued the Wilson County School District, Lakeview Elementary School, the school principal, and two teachers for what they have deemed ''illegal acts.''

The ACLU claims that the plaintiffs ''have been harmed ... injured ... and suffered irreparable damage'' through the ''Christmas program with Christian themes and songs.''  The ACLU is asking that those actions be declared ''unconstitutional and illegal.''

It gets even worse.  The ACLU alleges that several KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS role-played a nativity scene of the birth of Jesus - AND HAD THE AUDACITY TO SING ''AWAY IN THE MANGER'' AND ''JOY TO THE WORLD.''

This is the real issue at play:  If the ACLU wins here, it will set a precedent across the nation.

Friends, make no mistake about it, the ACLU will not stop with this lawsuit.  They will come to YOUR TOWN.  They will target YOUR SCHOOL.  They will march across this nation, loosening the threads of our religious heritage and chipping away at the foundation of our freedom.

So today, I am launching a nationwide campaign, ''KEEP HIM IN CHRISTMAS.''  The ACLJ will fight for freedom of speech this Christmas ... standing ready to protect YOUR children's and grandchildren's school systems, YOUR dedicated teachers and principals, and YOUR town from this type of blatant, religious censorship from the ACLU.

I will not back down.  I will vigorously defend the rights of students to engage in free speech on public school campuses.  Please stand with me now in prayer and giving.

Thank you!

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel

jsekulow@aclj.org

American Center for Law and Justice
P.O. Box 90555, Washington, D.C. 20090-0555
Phone: (800) 296-4529

 

Celebrating the Christmas Season
in School and in the Public Arena
Each year, ACLJ receives questions about what is proper and constitutional when celebrating the Christmas season.  The questions come from those in the public school setting and in the public arena. 
Visit ACLJ's Christmas Resource Center for more information on their opinions for the left's assault on Christmas.

 

Technorati tags: aclu, aclj, christmas, atheist, anti-christian, secular, religious, religious heritage, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom, religious freedom, inalienable, God-given rights

 

DISCLAIMER: The different points of views of the ACLJ or it’s contributors are not supported nor do they reflect the views and beliefs of the Bosun Locker or any entity affiliated with the Bosun Locker.

American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism, Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to educate, promulgate, conciliate, and where necessary, litigate, to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy of ACLJ's latest financial report may be obtained by writing to us at P.O. Box 450349, Atlanta, GA 31145-0349.

Iranian Weapons Arm Iraqi Militia: Breaking from ABC News

Courtesy of ABC News: WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2006 —  U.S. officials say they have found smoking-gun evidence of Iranian support for terrorists in Iraq: brand-new weapons fresh from Iranian factories. According to a senior defense official, coalition forces have recently seized Iranian-made weapons and munitions that bear manufacturing dates in 2006.  For the rest of the story: Iran and Hezbollah in the fight

 

Technorati tags: iran, hezbollah, hizbollah, iranian arms, iranian weapons factories

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Iran's President wrote a letter to all Americans

In his open letter to America on November 29th Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urges the American people to demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and reject what he called the U.S. government's "blind support" for Israel and its "illegal and immoral" actions in fighting terrorism. Jihad Watch so eloquently put it:

The Thug-in-Chief devotes most of his letter to trying to convince us that, hey, we're not all that different, a theme also present in his letter to Germany's Angela Merkel.

But note the ending, which contains the familiar call for conversion (required prior to waging war in Islamic law, per Sahih Muslim 019.4294), plus a slap at Christianity in "any partners they ascribe to him": "But those who repent, have faith and do good may receive Salvation. Your Lord, alone, creates and chooses as He will, and others have no part in His choice; Glorified is God and Exalted above any partners they ascribe to Him" (28:67-68).

You can read Ahmadinejad's letter here: Courtesy of CNN: Ahmadinejad's letter to Americans

Technorati tags: ahmadinejad, iran, caliphate, 12th imam, islamists, shi 'ite, muslim, international terrorism, state sponsored terrorism, Anti-semitism, anti-Zionist society, jew-hater, global jihad, anti-Semitic, Antisemitism, anti-semitism, hostility, prejudice, Jews, persecution, etymology, anti-Judaism, anit-united states

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Civil War

It is sectarian violence. By any classical definition I can think of for the term "civil war", it does not fit what is going on in Iraq. But even if that rhetorical point were conceded over to the anti-war left- because that's really the whole point of the label: to delegitimize the war, and reinforce the argument of "cut-and-run"- as Michael Medved says, "So what?"

In his blogpost today, Medved points out why the haggling over defining the current state of affairs is a moot point:

In Afghanistan in 2001, we entered a long running civil war between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance and helped the good guys to decisive victory within a matter of weeks. No one looked at the situation and said, “Uh-oh, there’s a bloody civil war that’s been going on in that country for years, so the U.S. can’t possibly send its forces!” As a matter of fact, there’s another “civil war” raging in Afghanistan right now –-- a conflict that fits the classic “civil war” model far better than the situation in Iraq. In Afghanistan, there are two clearly recognizable sides (the Taliban and the Karzai government) warring for control. In Iraq, there’s no organized, recognizable, anti-government leadership of the insurgency, no program or even ruling clique that the terrorists seek to impose, no prominent leaders with whom the U.S. and our allies can negotiate or around whom the opposition can rally. The real struggle is governmental authority vs. bloody chaos—and the fact that bloody chaos is winning at the moment doesn’t mean that it’s a civil war.

He and the editorial in Opinion Journal, yesterday, also point out our involvement in Bosnia and Kosovo. Medved goes further in examples throughout our history of interjecting ourselves in the midst of civil wars.

Democrat defeatists and war critic quagmirists, for quite some time have long wanted to label the insurgency a "civil war" almost from the very beginning. SNAFU at One Soldier's Perspective (who is still in Iraq) doesn't see anything different, other than the media's brazen attempts to willfully create the perception they wish for. Of course no one in the media would ever admit it- even to themselves! What American journalist wants to believe that he is helping our enemies? Even as many journalists want to think of themselves as "above the fray", believing that excellence in their profession requires of them to be journalists first, and Americans second. The truth is, journalists and their editorial board are anything but detached, impartial observers. They are as much victims of their own biases as we are victims of their own biases.


Helping the enemy is exactly what the news media does, not only when they blatantly print and televise enemy propaganda, and call it "showing both sides" and "their (i.e., insurgents') perspective"; but also when, during a time of war, all they are showing is the sensationalism....the latest car bombing...the latest IED explosion...the latest sectarian violence. Mudkitty (a very popular commentor on conservative blogs [/sarcasm]- *waves to Mudkitty*) writes,

The fact that someone opens a melon stand is not “news.”

Under normal conditions, it might not be. But during a time of war when morale is important as is America's will to succeed and not live up to the "paper tiger" misnomer, reporting the good news that is also going on in Iraq- i.e. highlighting it, frontpaging it, underscoring it, etc.- is a good thing and even necessary propaganda. Propaganda doesn't have to be dishonest and a negative. What it does, is it provides a balance and a fuller picture of what's going on. Violence is not the only thing going on in Iraq. When the media has created the perception in people's minds of widespread violence in Iraq, rather than a concentration of violence in just 2 or 3 of the 18 provinces, that is misleading and that is dishonest; that (mis)perception needs to be countered by showing the "ordinary" and the "normal"; the "business as usual" that is free from violence. This is when the "not newsworthy" does indeed become "newsworthy". That is why there is nothing shameful about our military offering to pay Iraqi newspapers to report positive stories- so long as those stories are true. What is shameful is that our military not only has to fight this war on one front; but a second front as well, doing the work our 4th estate won't do. How is it that they are accused of presenting only one side, when one side is really all that the dinosaur media ever wants to really talk about? Does it ever occur to to the 4th estate when they behave as a fifth column? They think their behavior during Vietnam was noble; and they seem hellbent on repeating it in today's war. Have they learned nothing? Apparently, just all the wrong lessons of that other war.

Domestic Terrorism - From the FBI Files

DOMESTIC TERRORISM
Tip Leads to Sting, Prison for Plotter

Courtesy of the FBI Website

11/29/06

Demetrius Van Crocker told an undercover agent he wanted sarin nerve agent and C-4 plastic explosives, like those pictured above, for his plot

The details sounded ominously familiar: a down-and-out loner with a professed hatred of the U.S. government dreams of bombing a government building—maybe even the U.S. Capitol—then sets about procuring the ingredients to carry out his scheme.

That was the plan hatched by Tennessee farmer Demetrius Van Crocker, whose views were no secret to people who knew him. But most discounted his extremist rants as just that, the ideological ravings of a former member of the right-wing National Socialist Movement.

Then in 2004, Van Crocker’s plan crystallized—he would buy materials to build a dirty bomb to blow up a state or federal courthouse. At that point a “concerned citizen” took him seriously enough to call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which in turn called the FBI.

“We thought there might be something to it,” said Special Agent Daryl Berry, who opened the case in September 2004 out of the FBI’s office in Jackson, Tennessee. That set in motion an undercover sting that would reveal just how real today’s threat of domestic terrorism is—and why it remains a top FBI priority.

Berry’s office wired a “cooperating witness,” whose recorded conversations with Van Crocker confirmed his interest in building a dirty bomb to blow up a courthouse. The witness told Van Crocker he could put him in touch with a supplier—an undercover agent posing as a sympathetic military contractor with access to explosives and biological weapons.

“At first he basically came out and said, ‘I don’t know you. How do I know I can trust you,’” said the undercover agent, who met three times with Van Crocker. “But he was highly motivated. If you really want something you will go against your best judgment.”

Convinced his supplier was legit, Van Crocker told the undercover agent he wanted sarin nerve agent and C-4 plastic explosives. The agent said he would need $500 upfront to bribe a guard at an Arkansas weapons arsenal. Van Crocker gave him the money and then set up a meeting in a hotel where the transaction would take place.

FBI agents were waiting when Van Crocker showed up on October 25, 2004 to close the deal. The undercover agent, toting a bag of wrapped plastic explosives and an inert canister of the sarin agent, met Van Crocker and the agents closed in.

A search of Van Crocker’s home turned up components for pipe bombs, a cache of loaded weapons, and right-wing paraphernalia. It took a jury 90 minutes to convict Van Crocker in April on five counts of trying to acquire chemical weapons and explosives to destroy government buildings. He was sentenced November 28 to 30 years in prison.

The case stands as an example of how far tips from the public go toward protecting the U.S. from terrorists, abroad and at home. The undercover agent said as much: “I’m firmly convinced that had he come into possession of the right stuff he would have done something.”

Related Links: Stories From the FBI Field Offices | Counterterrorism Stories

 

Technorati tags: fbi, domestic terrorism, National Socialist Movement, extremists, sarin, nerve agent, C-4, plastic explosives, chemical weapons, explosives, FBI Field Offices, Counterterrorism, right-wing extremist

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2008 Demogratic Convention Agenda and Time-line

 

 

2008 Demogratic Convention Agenda and Time-line

 

 

 

7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.

7:15 P.M. Pledge of allegiance to U.N.

7:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

7:35 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship / Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton

8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:05 P.M. Ceremonial tree hugging.

8:15 P.M. Gay Wedding -- Barney Frank Presiding.

8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

8:35 P.M. Free Saddam Rally. Cindy Sheehan - Susan Sarandon

9:00 P.M. Keynote speech: The proper etiquette for surrender French
President Jacques Chirac

9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund.

9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo Bay
Sean Penn

9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military, A short talk by William Jefferson Clinton

9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

9:50 P.M. Dan Rather awarded "Truth in Broadcasting Citation" presented
by Michael Moore.

9:55 P.M., Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

10:00 P.M. How George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World Trade Center Towers -- Howard Dean

10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmud Ahnadinejad.

11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents Internet.

11:15 P.M. Our Troops are War criminals - John Kerry

11:30 P.M. Coronation of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

12:00 A.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.

12:05 A.M. Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home.

I received this time-line in an email from an anonymous source and cannot to attest the authenticity of it (the time-line).  It may be subject to change as the the Demogratic Convention organizers see fit (or unfit, who the heck knows).

US Citizen and Resident Alien Charged with Aiding Taliban

---

Courtesy of the Houston FBI Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRM
NOVEMBER 28, 2006 (202) 514-2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

TWO CHARGED IN PLAN TO AID TALIBAN

HOUSTON, Texas - An indictment has been brought against a U.S. citizen and a Pakistani in the country on an expired student visa for planning to aid the Taliban, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Kobie Diallo Williams, also known as Abdul Kabeer and Abdul Kabir, 33, a U.S. citizen and Houston resident, and Adnan Babar Mirza, 29, a Pakistani national who overstayed a student visa, are charged with conspiring to train with firearms with a goal to fight with the Taliban against coalition forces in the Middle East and providing approximately $350 in cash to support terrorist groups. Mirza is also charged with three violations of federal firearms law. The four count indictment was returned under seal by a Houston grand jury on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, and unsealed today after the appearance of both men before a U.S. magistrate judge.

"In this post 9/11 era, threats against our international security efforts are taken most seriously," said U.S. Attorney DeGabrielle.

"While these subjects did not operate at a high level of sophistication in comparison with the 9/11 hijackers, the expressed goal was to aid the Taliban by training to carry out jihad against coalition troops in the Middle East," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Roderick Beverly.

Kobie Diallo Williams surrendered himself to members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) today, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006. Adnan Babar Mirza, who has been in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement on related immigration violations, was transferred into the custody of JTTF agents this morning. Both Williams and Mirza have been ordered to remain in federal custody without bond pending further criminal proceedings.

According to allegations in the indictment, Williams and Mirza, a citizen of Pakistan who entered the United States on a student visa on Aug. 15, 2001, allegedly viewed the United States and coalition military forces on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq as invaders and in April 2005 agreed that they should travel to the Middle East to fight with the Taliban to engage in battlefield jihad.

To hone their skills in anticipation for battlefield jihad, the indictment alleges Williams and Mirza agreed to train with firearms at various locations located in Harris and surrounding counties. On at least eight occasions between May 20, 2005, and June 17, 2006, the men engaged in firearms training, and at times in reconnaissance training.

As part of and during the alleged conspiracy, Williams and Mirza are accused of agreeing to offer financial support to Taliban fighters and their families. Federal law prohibits contributions of goods or services to the Taliban, one of several specially designated global terrorist organizations. Williams allegedly provided support - $200 on or about June 28, 2005, and another $150 on May 25, 2006 - intended for Taliban members or their families.

As a student visa holder, Mirza is prohibited from possessing firearms. Furthermore, once his student visa expired on Dec.12, 2005, Mirza's status changed to that of being illegally in the United States. Illegal aliens are also prohibited from possessing firearms. The indictment charges Mirza in three counts of unlawfully possessing firearms during three firearms training sessions occurring in May 2005, March 2006 and May 2006 (Counts Two through Four).

If convicted of the conspiracy charge set forth in Count One, Williams and Mirza face a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years supervised release. Each of the three firearms alleged against Mirza in Counts Two through Four carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and three years supervised release, upon conviction.

The investigation resulting in the charges was led by the Houston Division of the FBI and the agency's JTTF with participation by: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Houston Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Sheriff's Offices of San Jacinto and Montgomery Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shelley J. Hicks and Glenn Cook are prosecuting the case.

An indictment or an information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

FBI Home Page

Houston Home Page

Houston Press Releases

 

Technorati tags: taliban, war on terror, afghanistan, pakistan, terror-cell, terror-cell training, student visa, illegal alien, FBI, Joint Terrorism Task Force, JTTF

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Judge Cole exonerates Howard, suspects AWB in Oil for Food scandal

It is bad enough that the people in Iraq were made to suffer under this dictator, but to have one of our frinds steal the food out of their mouths?

From 1999 to 2003, AWB executives purportedly authorized $222 million in bogus transport fees to a Jordanian trucking company, Alia Transport, that was partly owned by Saddam's government. Payments to Saddam were illegal under U.N. sanctions.

AWB purportedly inflated the cost of wheat it was charging to the oil-for-food program by as much as $50 per ton to cover the bogus transport fees, which the Iraqi Grain Board demanded as a condition for lucrative grain contracts.

Judge Cole also found that the U.N. knew Iraq was breaching sanctions, but took no steps to stop the practice.

Read more. (Registration may be required.)

Admittedly it is a company, rather than the government, that may be guilty of this. Maybe we shall never the extent of the damage the UN has caused, but shall we wait until they do much more?

County deputies help ICE round up illegal aliens

What the...

Sheriff's deputies in North Carolina have joined with federal agents in the detention and pending deportation of nearly 1,000 illegal aliens as part of a local-federal partnership targeting thousands of criminal aliens now loose on U.S. streets.

Read more. (You may be asked to register.)

Alright. I've been patient. I live in California. As our hospitals close, our language is disappearing, and the gangs run rampant; why is the State of California NOT stepping up to the plate? THESE PEOPLE ARE IN NORTH CAROLINIA! Did they fly there, or did they go through our border? If you have to wonder, you are hopeless...

Cintas warned against firing immigrant force

This is another Democrat idiotic plan. Read it, and let me know if you agree.

A Mississippi Democrat in line to become chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee has warned the nation's largest uniform supplier it faces criminal charges if it follows a White House proposal to recheck workers with mismatched Social Security numbers and fire those who cannot resolve the discrepancy in 60 days.

Rep. Bennie Thompson said in a letter to Cintas Corp. it could be charged with "illegal activities in violation of state and federal law" if any of its 32,000 employees are terminated because they gave incorrect Social Security numbers to be hired.

Read more. (You may be asked to register.)

Can you say, "Homeland IN-Security"?

Avoid Online Fraud

Courtesy of the FBI

‘TIS THE SEASON...FOR ONLINE SHOPPING
How to Avoid Getting Grinched

11/28/05

Happy "Cyber Monday!"
We hear the Monday after Thanksgiving is now one of the busiest days—if not the busiest day—of the year for online shopping. That's why some retailers are calling it "Cyber Monday" or even "Black Monday."

And that’s why we’d like to start your online shopping off right with some words to the wise.

Here's our specific advice for shopping safely on the Internet:

• Do your homework on the web retailer. Make sure you're buying items from a reputable and legitimate company. Don't judge the business by its website. Make sure the site has a physical address and a working phone number. Check consumer websites for information about the company.

• When using your credit card for purchases, make sure the website is secure. Look for the tiny padlock icon that symbolizes (but doesn’t necessarily guarantee) a higher level of security. Also, check out the site’s security or encryption software.

• Be very cautious when responding to special offers (especially those that come via unsolicited e-mail) and when dealing with companies or persons outside the country.

• If you’re participating in an Internet auction, read the fine print. Before you bid, learn as much as you can about how the auction works, what your responsibilities are as a buyer, what the seller’s obligations are, and what actions the website takes if a problem occurs. Learn as much as you can about the seller. And don’t give out your social security number or driver’s license number to the seller.

Also, make sure your computer has a firewall and the latest anti-virus software. And we can’t repeat this enough: don’t open unknown e-mail attachments, including those contained in recent messages that appear to come from the FBI.

What should you do if you think you've been scammed? Go online and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center run by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and contact your local police. We also recommend that you file a complaint with the retailer.
For more information tips on avoiding fraud and protecting your family from crime, visit our Be Crime Smart webpage .

 

Technorati tags: fraud, internet fraud, internet scams, fbi alert, internet crime complaint center, federal trade commission, ftc, Crime smart, credit card, credit, cyber monday, online retailer

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John Edwards Has Egg on His Face, Again

As heard on 770 KTTH AM, Seattle, "The Sytman and Boze Show"  former Senator John Edwards gaffed again.  Its beginning to sound like former Senator Edwards may not be as smart as he thinks he is.  I will let you be the judge. 

It seems that former Senator Edwards was at a Barnes & Noble promoting his new book.  He started hammering Wal-Marts for not paying employees decent wages.  The Barnes & Noble where Edwards was hawking his book currently pays its employees $7 per hour starting salary.  Wal-Mart pays its employees $7.50 starting salary ($.50 more per hour).  After former Senator Edwards was finished with his obviously poorly researched tirade, he was confronted on his discrepant and asinine comments.  C' est la vie!  What we have is  another classic "John Kerry Moment" in the life a trial lawyer turned politician.  After I heard Sytman and Boze talking about former Senator Edwards' latest gaff, I found the story at at Union Leader. Com. 

So, grab yourself a cup of coffee, sit back, and read the latest about the democratic hopeful, former Senator Edwards having a "John Kerry Moment."  Of course most of the mainstream press is not going to carry the story because they are too busy trying to blame the Bush White House for something.  

Asked back in January what he thought would be an appropriate minimum wage, Edwards told The New York Times, "My view is it should be $7.50 an hour, and I can make a great argument for it being a lot higher than that."

Seven-fifty an hour? Why, that's what Wal-Mart pays! And without a federal mandate, too.

Unfortunately, people who want to support a company that pays at least $7.50 an hour cannot go to Wal-Mart to buy Edwards' book and then take it over to Barnes & Noble for him to sign it. Wal-Mart doesn't carry it. Wonder why.

Of course, Barnes & Noble is no less virtuous than Wal-Mart because it pays 50 cents an hour less. And Wal-Mart is no less virtuous than other companies that pay more. Both businesses provide useful, productive employment at competitive market rates. That in itself is virtuous.

John Edwards should take the virtuous path and stop his anti-Wal-Mart demagoguery. Anyone can see that it is nothing more than a populist ploy to make him look like a champion of low-income people. But those very people he is trying to help end up saving hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at Wal-Mart. Its efficiencies provide them with low-cost items they might not be able to afford otherwise.  Source: Union Leader. Com - John Edwards' folly: A book signing gone wrong

Folks, I am not sure if former Senator Edwards is capable of being a presidential candidate.  You tell me if he should be.  former Senator Edwards has slipped into gaffing "John Kerry Moments" too often. 

Then again, this would provide Rush Limbaugh and political comedians some rich material for their radio shows.

I am not sure if or if not former Senator Edwards sent an volunteer staffer (working for free below the minimum wage) to get a Playstation3 at Wal-mart for his (Edwards') son.  I recall that former Senator Edwards indicted that his son dissed elementary school classmates for shopping at Wal-Mart.  ( Source: Edwards acknowledges staff asked Wal-Mart for Playstation 3)

Now, former Senator John Edwards rassed Wal-marts for paying starting employees MORE THAN, the book vendor, Barnes and Nobles.  Go figure. Does Senator John Edwards take the average Joe Citizen for an idiot?   I hope you liberals take this under advisement.  The liberals have Kerry and Edwards making them look foolish. 

For the conservative side of the house, ask your liberal buddies if they are gullible?

 

Technorati tags: wal-mart, john edwards, "John Kerry Moment", stupid comments, minimum wage, anti-wal-mart, unions, playstation3, barnes & noble, democrat, liberalism, liberals, dnc

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