StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

Our Nation’s history had begun a bit more than 225 years earlier, but for us all, time stopped at 8:46am Eastern time on September 11, 2001 when American Flight 11 hit the North Tower. I measure time now in the days and weeks and months since that moment, and cannot keep the tears from my eyes when I think of that moment or hear our National Anthem or other patriotic hymns. Those moments, from the shut down of the bridges and tunnels in NY City at 9:21am, to the collapse of the South Tower at 10:05am followed by the North Tower only 23 minutes later are a mark of time.

Right after the attacks, leading to the Joint Session of Congress, to the bi-partisan gathering on the steps of the Capitol Building, to the National Prayer Service on September 14th…

…we thought, felt and acted as one unified body of citizens.

What happened? One of my readers recently wrote, and I will refrain his comment here now…which for the most part, I agree with…

I remember the time immediately “following the attacks of Sept. 11, we were once again united, many people from many walks of life at a moment of great dispair.” Shortly after, on the 12th or 13th, my town had a patriotic parade. All the Memorial Day flags were flown from the street lamps and people in cars and pick-ups drove up and down the main street honking their horns, yelling, and waving flags. They were united.

Maybe my wife Neve and I are wired differently than most people, but we had a feeling of dread on that night. We are not the type of people who are easily pulled into the herd - though we may want to be at times. We worried that the folks honking and screaming, while supportive of the US, didn’t really know what was going on. Our friends gave us dissapproving looks for not joining in the party atmosphere.

Now, almost 7 years later, I think I see where the dread was pointing. This unity that felt so good, this clarity of purpose and assertion of absolute right — was used. It morphed into fear and silence — fear of being branded as unpatriotic and silence instead of discussion.

I really do feel that many of the mistakes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the larger War on Terror, flowed directly from ‘moment of unity’. The checks and balances were removed, and instead of the Nation moving as one great force, political factions and interests used the opportunity to further their own agenda - to the detriment of their political foes, to the detriment a war effort, and to the great detriment of the Nation.

We all need to remember who we are People! Tonight, it is time to remember that we are “Americans, all.” We are not Black or White, Jewish or Christian or Muslim or Bhuddist or Hindu or atheist. We are “Americans, all.” If we forget that…if we lose sight of that, then we are doomed. Yes, we are doomed, because the terrorist attacks will have split us apart.

Be moved by Whitney Houston’s rendition. I cry when I watch it. I am, after all, an American.

And thanks to Right Truth for the link to the National Anthem (and for a reminder of who we are, and who are not).

4th of July, September 11th

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In what is being described as a “ruse” French-Columbian politician Ingrid Betancourt was dramatically released today from captivity by the FARC. Six years following her kidnapping in which she was held in a deep jungle hideout, she reportedly suffers from a variety of medical problems including hep-B, malnutrition, liver ailments, tropical skin diseases and depression.

Columbian Defense Minister Santos claims that his undercover agents inflitrated the FARC and then, by convincing the local leader, Cesar, that they were going to bring Betancourt, three Americans and 11 Columbian military who were also held captive, to Alfonso Cano, FARC supreme leader. Divided into 3 groups, the hostages were transported to disguised helicopters…once airborne, the military revealed themselves and had Cesar in handcuffs.

The operation, Santos said, “will go into history for its audacity and effectiveness.”

“We wanted to have it happen as it did today,” added armed forces chief Gen. Freddy Padilla. “Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch.”

This is another chink in the FARC movement following the “heart attack” death of Manuel Marulanda and the killing of two other FARC leaders. Clearly, the rebel movement is damaged, and just as clearly, this is a significant event. While the Uribe government declares a willingness to negotiate with the rebels to end the 40 year fight, declaring a premature victory battle against the FARC would be wrong.

Betancourt, 46, was abducted in February 2002. The Americans were captured a year later when their drug surveillance plane went down in rebel-held jungle. In the five years since, their families had received only two “proof of life” videos, the latest in November.

President Bush and Senators John McCain and Barack Obama all congratulated the Uribe government on the successful release. McCain, along with Senators Lieberman and Graham were in Columbia and were briefed by Uribe prior to the operation.

These things do not always go well. Just a few years ago in 2002, a similar situation with the Burnhams in the Philippines went totally wrong when a Philippine Commando raid ended in the death of Martin Burnham and a Filipina nurse.

Notable among others is the Right Truth who wrote an article on this today (you might also note her comment to this post below).

Alfonso Cano, Betancourt, Columbia, Defense Minister Santos, FARC, Uribe

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I read it and thought, “no, it has to be a spoof.” All too often Jack Bauer’s show “24″ has been held by “some” people as proof of the coming American holocaust. Now I read that “President Palmer” (err, I mean Dennis Haysbert) believes that his role in “24″ enabled the candidacy of Barack Obama.

“If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,” said the actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat’s presidential campaign.

Two brief comments on this:

1) I think that Haysbert is either desparate for attention or is simply delusional
2) if the American public actually believes this then it is delusional and in need of serious psychological help.

Now, Haysbert was not the first American Black President in movies/television, and I am not the first to say that the concept is a s-t-r-e-t-c-h, at best.

Todd Boyd, an expert in African American cinema and culture at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, said he was skeptical of the influence Hollywood may have on the 2008 election race.

“I’m a bit hesitant to say that because James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman or Dennis Haysbert played a president on a TV show or in a movie, it means Barack Obama can be president,” Boyd told National Public Radio.

“I think that’s a bit of a stretch.”

Barack Obama may be a creation of the media, but he is no Dennis Haysbert (err, I mean David Palmer). Whatever has enabled a Black man to be the candidate of a major American political party is a social phenomena and a sign of the growth and evolution of America to overcome, at least partially, its racial bias. At the same time, substance should be what enables a candidate to become President. My opinion is that David Palmer’s writers (those of the show “24″) provided him a great agenda, and as an actor, he executed his lines flawlessly…as did Morgan Freeman in “Deep Impact.” Life sometimes parallel art. Art influencing life? Its a stretch. And besides, David Palmer was assassinated…the writers saw to that (I suspect so that Haysbert could assume his newest television role in the “Unit”).

Personally, I think that Haysbert is displaying verry self-important behavior and is delusional.

24, Haysbert, Jack Bauer, Obama

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Anyone who reads this space knows that I’ve frequently made predictions. Those among you also know that at the predicted time, it is time to step back, reflect and recognize the validity of those predictions. On December 26, 2007 Austin Bay wrote, “Sometime within the next six months or so, al Qaeda or Saddamist terrorists will attempt a Tet offensive.” The article urged readers to believe that the jihadists sought to emulate the strategic political effects North Vietnam’s 1968 attack obtained.

Mr. Bay then went to draw an historic parallel between the peacewing of the Democratic party during the Civil War led by Clement Vallandigham to Senator Harry Reid (who Bay called “our era’s Vallandighams”). And further, Mr. Bay predicted that:

Their “ultimate Iraqi Tet” would feature simultaneous terror strikes in every major Iraqi city. These simultaneous strikes would inflict hideous civilian casualties with the goal of discrediting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s and General David Petraeus’ assessments that Iraqi internal security has improved. The terrorists would reduce Iraqi government buildings to rubble.

Well, I don’t want to be proven wrong by near term events, but given the “effectiveness” of the surge. there is reason to expect that no Iraqi Tet will occur (too soon at least). Of course, Bay bought himself a bit of leeway by then saying that the Election period in November would give al Qaeda, the jihad, the Islamic Fundamentalists etc. the opportunity to inflict “sensational carnage that even momentarily seeds the perception of defeat is their only chance of victory.”

But I’ll bet that Bay got his 10 votes within minutes…LOL And yes, I’ve had this article bookmarked since it first appeared simply to see if the bold prediction played out in reality.

Austin Bay, Terrorists Tet

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Let us crystallize the issues facing the US as we approach this “election of a lifetime.” Live in peace and remember that at following the attacks of Sept. 11, we were once again united, many people from many walks of life at a moment of great dispair. Now, nearly 7 years later, regardless of whatever you may think of the War in Iraq, or the broader, Global War on Terrorism, our enemies mock us for being divided and for not understanding that their’s is a very long war. Without resolve (by us as a country and a people), there is reason to beware (the enemy does not bicker among themselves). They watch…they plan…they wait.

So what are the issues for this coming Presidential Election? [More later]

GWOT, Presidential election

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Enabling and promoting terrorism while supressing free speech is what the United Nations seems to be these days. In fact, the UN Human Rights Council not only frowns on speaking about jihad, terrorism and shariah law, but also is promoting the conspiracy theory that the Sept. 11 attacks were an “inside job.”

This is discussed at length here

The UNHRC ban on debate regarding Sharia came as a result of a three minute joint statement by the Association for World Education with the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) to the Human Rights Council on women’s rights and the impact of Sharia law. These NGOs sought to address international issues of violence against women, specifically, the stoning of women, “honor killings” of women, and female genital mutilation, as a result of Sharia law.

In more detail, the bozo (Richard Falk) who is the special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories and investigates alleged Israeli violations of human rights law for the U.N.’s Human Rights Council also wants to investigate the World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies to determine if they were, in fact, an “inside job.”

…investigate whether “some sort of controlled explosion from within” destroyed the Twin Towers, he told FOXNews.com.

“I do think there are questions that haven’t been answered, questions about the way the buildings collapsed and the failure to heed a variety of signals that there was danger coming,” Falk said.

John Bolton comments that while this position may be “conventinal wisdom” among some delegations at the UN, Falk’s beliefs are “fruit cake city.”

The executive director of UN Watch, the NGO that watches the UN, Hillel Neuer has called for Falk’s removal.

“He should resign,” said Neuer, who raised concerns about Falk’s ability to be an objective observer. Neuer has also criticized Falk for being biased against Israel.

“If he were a principled person he would recognize the fact that he has very extreme views,” Neuer said.

I’ve said it many times in the past. The best use for the United Nations now is to through them out of the United States, make them relocate to the Hague, and then let Donald Trump devleop an entire community on the East River. That would also eliminate the persistent problem of diplomats parking illegally on the streets of Manhattan, blocking thru-traffic and ignoring the fines.

Hillel Neuer, Human Rights Council, John Bolton, UN Watch

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It should come as no real surprise that appointments to “plum” positions are controlled by the political party in power, and that politics do indeed, influence selection. So a new report by the DoJ Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility concludes that political persuasion entered into the hiring practices for the DoJ Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program.

While DoJ’s position is that the statistics reflect a coincidence, reflect on this:

…the approval rate for applicants who belonged to the liberal American Constitution Society was 0%. The approval rate for applicants who belonged to the conservative Federalist Society: 93%.

- AND -

“Many qualified candidates were deselected by the screening committee because of their perceived political or ideological affiliations” in 2006, says the report…

As I said…not surprising…but still, one would hope…Nah! Politics pervades every decision, and probably has for many years. Its the guile that has diminished.

Dept. of Justice Honors Program, summer law intern program

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George O’Dowd had been denied a U.S. entry visa, apparently because he has a pending trial in the United Kingdom on charges of false imprisonment and battery. As a result, all of his U.S. appearances have been cancelled. This seems to be a case of what’s good for the gander is good for the gander.

“This is not in respect of anything he has done in the past but because he is facing a trial in November in London for something that happened in April of last year,” the singer’s management said in a press statement. In a U.K. criminal trial set for November, George (whose real name is George O’Dowd) faces charges of false imprisonment and battery — he has been accused of chaining a Norwegian male model to a wall. (Don’t you hate when that happens?)

So, paraphrasing Don Imus, I ask, what is O’Dowd’s “preference?” OH! Did I forget to mention that O’Dowd is also known as BOY GEORGE???  He was to appear in NY City at a free concert for the New York City Department of Sanitation’s Family Day in AugustIn the meantime, ticketholders can keep tabs on developments at BoyGeorgeLive.com., and fans can express themselves via e-mail at the State Department’s Visa Services’ Public Inquiries Branch usvisa@state.gov.

false imprisonment, George ODowd

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Never ever forget that we are dealing with cold blooded killers who have co-opted Islam. Even when they are found “not guilty” of writing bad poetry, “these” people are dangerous.

NEFA has released a new slide presentation about a woman known as the “Lyrical Terrorist” Samina Malik, who along with Sohail Qureshi was accused of planning terrorism in Afghanistan and other places against coalition. Malik was prosecuted for possessing the documents, and not for her poetry. See Kohlmann’s post at Counterterrorism Blog.

Excerpt from “How to Behead” by Samina Malik
It’s not as messy or as hard as some may think.
It’s all about the flow of the wrist.
Sharpen the knife to its maximum.
And before you begin to cut the flesh.
Tilt the fool’s head to its left.
Saw the knife back and forth.
No doubt that the punk will twitch and scream.
But ignore the donkey’s ass.
And continue to slice back and forth.
You’ll feel the knife hit the wind and food pipe.
But Don’t Stop.
Continue with all your might.
About now you should feel the knife vibrate.
You can feel the warm heat being given off.
But this is due to the friction being caused.

More of Malik’s poetry:
• In a poem titled “Raising Mujahideen Children,“ Malik suggested that indoctrination should begin at 7 years of age: “Show the children videos and pictures of mujahideen and tell them to become strong like them…Explain how the Mujahideen fear no man - they fear Allah alone, and for his sake they are able, willing and capable to do anything in defence of Islam.”
• In a poem titled “The Living Martyrs,” Malik wrote: “For the living martyrs are awakening and Kuffars [non-believers] world soon to be shaking.”
• She also wrote, “Let us make Jihad/ Move to the front line/ To chop chop head of kuffar swine,” as well as that “Kafirs your time will come soon, and no one will save you from your doom.
• Malik argued: “to partake in something and to write about something are two different things.” She continued, “this does not mean I wanted to convert my words into actions.” She even claimed she “did not realise there was such a thing as extremism.”
• Her defense team also drew parallels with the WWI poetry of Wilfred Owen: “Poetry can be described as disturbing, shocking, even repulsive. What is the intent? Is it to shock, to revolt? That in itself doesn’t make it criminal and it doesn’t help you to get into the mind of who has written it.”

And now for the “punch line.” While at first convicted, she was let go because the British courts rules that actions and not thoughts were illegal.

Lyrical Terrorist, Samina Malik

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I read this morning what is said to be at least a partial list of Obama’s possible VP’s. Briefly, here is my handicapping of 9 of the reported 20 on the list.

John Edwards - why?
Sam Nunn - Great Choice (strong on defense and security) and author of pre-Sept. 11th warnings of attacks (even if a bit old and tired)
Al Gore - why?
Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha - a really bad choice
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland - OK
Joe Biden - my vote for smartest guy in Senate; big mouth; Nunn a better choice
Chris Dodd - weak
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius - recently strong
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano - took action against illegal aliens (might be a good choice)

There will be more. But not now. Just my opinion.

Obama VP list

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Researchers are now reporting that an experimental immune system therapy using his own cells has put a male patient’s melanoma into a two year remission. The patient had suffered from melanoma in his lungs and groin. The Hutchinson Cancer Center reminds that this is only a small step forward, and is not ready for widespread use.

“It’s taken us many years to get to this point,” Yee says. “Hopefully, we’ll eventually streamline the process a bit, but it’s not something most labs do.”

No side effects were seen. Details of the melanoma patient’s case appear in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Published n the NE Journal of Medicine, the study describes this new approach.

The researchers grew T cells (that target a specific protein, or antigen, on the tumor cells) in the lab until they had a population they believed was large enough to destroy the cancer.

They infused five billion of the cloned cells into the patient. Two months later, PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computed tomography) scans did not reveal any tumors—and the patient has remained disease-free for two years, Yee says.

“This is the first example that I can think of where someone actually grew CD4+ T cells outside the body and gave [them] back and got results,” says Willem Overwijk, an immunologist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who was not involved in this study.

A small step, but an important step.

Cassian Yee, Experimental Melanoma Treatment, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

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When is it time to shut your mouth and keep your foot in it? When you’re Retief Goosen and you issue a “just kidding” statement that Tiger was faking his knee pain just a few hours before Tiger announces season ending knee surgery.

According to sources, Tiger Woods has made a decision to go ahead with season-ending knee surgery.

He experienced a small stress fracture in his left leg about two weeks before the U.S. Open, which was causing him pain, and ultimately the doctors felt that he needs ACL surgery and rest to get him back to 100%.

Hey Goose! You’re an idiot, even if you were “just kidding.”

ACL, just kidding, Retief Goosen, Tiger Woods

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This will be short since I have to admit to having heard the concept while driving and hearing Limbaugh rant on about this. The mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the blind Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, stood trial and was convicted of convicted of “seditious conspiracy” and now serves a life sentence in the Butner NC Correctional Facility. That was before we knew what we know now.

Affording terrorists or enemy combatants rights under the U.S. Constitution as the recent Supreme Court ruling does, leads to the presumption of innocence. This means that if Osama bin Laden was to be captured and brought to trial, he would be presumed innocent until proven guilty. What proof would we need? Or, worse, what reasonable doubt could be established to enable the man who ordered the murder of nearly 3,000 the morning of September 11, 2001 to walk free? The simple answer is that not only is the Supreme Court decision wrong headed, but the utter ignorance by Barack Obama that we are a Nation (and a World) at War with Terrorism by indicating a return to treating terrorism as a criminal act, is emptyheaded.

Obama, politics of ignorance

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I like Mike Huckabee.  Frankly, my favorite slate for the Republicans would have been Newt Gingrich-Mike Huckabee (strange choice for someone who is often enough accused of being a liberal - but I think Newt is one of the smartest guys out there, especially about health care).  I also like John McCain…and have supported his nomination since it became clear that Newt couldn’t/wouldn’t run.

Well, “Pastor” Mike has come out publicly with what I believe are “words of wisdom.” In noting that he felt that the Republican Veep nominee “would be a surprise” he said:

…he would be surprised if Republican candidate John McCain asked him to be the vice-presidential nominee, and he also doubted Hillary Clinton will be No.2 on the Democratic ticket.

In the same speech (I think, in Japan) Mr. Huckabee said if the Republicans (he really meant the far right conservatives) demonized Obama (which they already are doing), it would be a mistake:

The Republicans will make a fundamental, if not fatal mistake, if they seek to win the election by demonizing Barrack Obama,” Huckabee told reporters in Tokyo. “Don’t underestimate the extraordinary, substantive moment that Barack Obama’s nomination represents in our country.”

Its sad how I have commented often in the past about how polarized this country had become (since the 2000 Election) and the advent of political blogging. The future, unfortunately, is that this Nation is about to become even more polarized. In a way very different from the way that John Edwards meant it, we are in fact a Nation of “two Americas.” I am not smart enough to know the future or what it holds. I do know/believe that a Nation divide cannot stand. In these days, a Nation divide as we are, and as we will become, most certainly will become more vulnerable to terrorism (and not because or if the Democrats carry the next election - it will be because we are polarize and not of a single mind).

The “sock Obama“/curious George incident is just the beginning. IMO, there is the GWOT, and then there is the war that we are already fighting among ourselves.

polarization, Sock Obama

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If you read certain reports like this one, you might take the position that the War in Afghanistan against the Taliban is over (I like “brink of defeat” and “decapitated” - chuckle). Then there is the statement by Agha Lalai Wali, an official with the government-sponsored Peace and Reconciliation Commission in Kandahar who said, “The Taliban are getting stronger and stronger, and after they attacked the prison, that gave them higher morale.” How can that be?

Hundreds of Taliban fighters took control of seven villages in southern Afghanistan on Monday in what appeared to be a major offensive near the country’s second-largest city, according to Afghan officials.

Some people believe that the “sophisticated” and well planned jail break is an indication of the Taliban’s growing strength. IF the Taliban is losing the fight in Afghanistan, but moving to the Pakistani side of the Durand Line which in essence is a non-existent and arbitrary border between the two countries largely unrecognized by the mountain tribes, then I wonder who is actually winning or losing.

Kandahar jail break

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