Obama Scraps 'Global War on Terror' for 'Overseas Contingency Operation,' as announced on 25 March 2009.
The U.S.S. Cole
Diane McDaniels lost her son James in the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S Cole in October 2000. 17 American sailors died in that terrorist attack. Ms. McDaniels refused an invitation to the White House to meet with Obama.
Obama requested that the charges against terrorist suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, being held in Guantánamo as the primary attacker against the U.S.S. Cole, be dropped. Judge Susan J. Crawford followed Obama's wishes.
Obama requested that the charges against terrorist suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, being held in Guantánamo, be dropped. Judge Susan J. Crawford followed Obama's wishes.
The former Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Cole was interviewed about his feelings when the primary attacker of the ship was released. Retired Navy Commander Kirk Lippold, "expressed disappointment" when he first learned of the decision to drop the charges and remained skeptical, faulting Obama for not consulting the families ahead of time.
The New York Times documented "Evidence of Financial Links Between Saudi Royal Family and Al Qaeda."
The 9/11 Families were surprised to discover that Obama directed the U.S. government to support the Saudis against Americans. The Justice Department is supporting the Saudi royal family's bid to be removed from a 9/11 lawsuit.
The families of victims have accused the royal family of financially backing terror groups that carried out the 2001 attack.
Their complaint alleges that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi High Commission for Relief to Bosnia and Herzegovina (SHC), and four Saudi Princes (acting in both official and personal capacities) made donations to charitable organizations with the knowledge that those organizations were diverting funds to al Qaeda, and that a fifth Saudi prince knowingly provided banking and financial services to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.
A lawsuit, Federal Insurance Co. v. Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, was initiated in 2003 by a consortium of insurance companies seeking to recover more than $300 billion for losses incurred by the 9/11 attacks.
The Saudi princes cited in the claims were:
* Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, president of SHC, who was warned in 2000 of his organization's ties to al Qaeda;
* Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the designated successor to King Abdullah, who received warnings as early as 1994 that some Muslim charitable groups were fronts for al Qaeda;
* Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who as Saudi Minister of the Interior monitors and controls the charities operating in Saudi Arabia;
* Prince Turki al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who was the director of the Kingdom's Department of General Intelligence ("DGI") until August 2001; and
* Prince Mohamed al Faisal al Saud, who unlike the other princes named is not a government official but a bank manager alleged to have knowingly provided material sponsorship to international terrorism.
"I find this reprehensible," Kristen Breitweiser, a leader of the Sept. 11 families, told The New York Times.
In addition, a recent list of funds accumulated for Muslim majority countries:
Billions Funded to America's Enemies, May 17, 2009
International press reports detail how billions of dollars are funding America's enemies.
• West Bank and Gaza: $665 million in bilateral economic, humanitarian, and security assistance for the West Bank and Gaza
• Jordan: $250 million, $250 million above the request, including $100 million for economic and $150 million for security assistance
• Egypt: $360 million, $310 million above the request, including $50 million for economic assistance, $50 million for border security, and $260 million for security assistance
• Lebanon: $74 million
• Refugee Assistance: $343 million, $50 million above the request, including humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency programs in the West Bank and Gaza is limited to $119 million (Note: Gaza = Hamas)
• Disaster Assistance: $200 million to avert famines and provide life-saving assistance during natural disasters and for internally displaced people around the world, including Somalia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, the Middle East and South Asia
• Peacekeeping: $837 million for United Nations peacekeeping operations, including an expanded mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a new mission in Chad and the Central African Republic
• Africa: $151 million, $18 million above the request, for economic and security assistance for Kenya, Somalia, Southern Sudan, and Zimbabwe
Other recipients might be viewed as allies, humanitarian, or required military aid
• Pakistan: $1.9 billion, $591 million above the request
• $3.6 billion, matching the request, to expand and improve capabilities of the Afghan security forces
• $400 million, as requested, to build the counterinsurgency capabilities of the Pakistani security forces
• Afghanistan: $1.52 billion, $86 million above the request
• Iraq: $968 million, $336 million above the request
• Oversight: $20 million, $13 million above the request, to expand oversight capacity of the State Department, USAID, and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan to review programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq
• Israel: $555 million of the $2.8 billion 2010 request for security assistance, $555 million above the supplemental request. (Note: that means Obama’s original request did not include any money for Israel in 2009)
• International Food Assistance: $500 million, $200 million above the request, for PL 480 international food assistance to alleviate suffering during the global economic crisis
• HIV/AIDS: $100 million, $100 million above the request, for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to address a funding shortfall for grants in key countries such as Haiti, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan. (Note: That means Obama’s original request didn’t include any money for AIDs)
• Mexico: $470 million, $404 million above the request, to address growing violence along the United States-Mexico border by supporting the Government of Mexico’s war against organized crime and drug-trafficking
• Georgia: $242 million to fulfill the United States commitment to the people of Georgia
• Global Financial Crisis: $300 million, $148 million below the request, to address the global financial crisis in developing countries
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation: $55 million, $34.5 million below the request, for the National Nuclear Security Administration to safeguard nuclear material in Russia and other sites world-wide
• Department of Justice: $17 million, matching the request, for counter-terrorism activities and to provide training and assistance for the Iraqi criminal justice system
Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Taxpayers Pay for Vaccinations during Islam's Required Pilgrimmage to Mecca
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
The full statement about promoting the Islamic holiday.
Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.
During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak.
The full statement about promoting the Islamic holiday.
Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.
During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat. The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.
This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.
On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak.
Islam in Textbooks
One little Muslim girl illustrates the problem of Islamic learning and what kids are being taught.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education publishes and disseminates teachings that Muslims are to hate and treat as "enemies" other religious believers, including other, non-Wahhabi Muslims. Those were our findings in a 2006 study of Saudi government textbooks. And despite the media outcry that followed, our most recent investigation shows that Saudi textbooks, now available on the Saudi Ministry of Education website, have not been cleaned up. The same violent and intolerant lessons remain.
These textbooks assert that it is permissible for a Muslim to kill an "apostate," an "adulterer," those practicing "major polytheism," and homosexuals. They promote global jihad as an "effort to wage war against the unbelievers," including for the purpose of "calling [infidels] to the faith." They continue to teach that "the hour [of judgment] will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them," that Shiite practices amount to "polytheism" (see above), that the Christian Crusades never ended, and that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are historical fact.
In these lessons, the Saudi government discounts or ignores passages in the Qur'an and in the accounts of the life of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad that support tolerance.
After the 9/11 attacks at the hands of largely Saudi terrorists, the King convened a panel of Saudi professionals who concluded that the religious textbooks "legitimiz[e] the violent repression of the 'other' and even his physical elimination because of his views on disputed issues...." Now noxious Saudi texts are being spread to Muslim communities on every continent.
Saudi Arabia has long sought to be the leading Islamic power and the protector of the faith, a claim asserted in the Saudi Basic Law. With its vast oil wealth and the religious legitimacy derived from its custodianship of the two Islamic holy shrines and control of the pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia's long-term ambitions are now within reach. Even as its official doctrine and school books remain rooted in Wahhabism, the blend of the harsh desert traditions and severe Islamic interpretations of its past, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to be the authoritative voice of world Islam, with the King as a type of Islamic pope.
Since 1979, the year when Islamic terrorists laid siege to Mecca and threatened Saudi rule, and when a Shi'a regime seized control of Iran, Saudi Arabia has poured enormous sums into foreign evangelism, funding mosques, schools, libraries, and academic centers in the United States and many other countries. Some analysts estimate that over the past quarter century, Saudi Arabia has expended over $75 billion for spreading Wahhabism, roughly three times more a year than what the Soviet Union spent annually in exporting its ruling ideology during the height of the Cold War. The Congressional Research Service states that Wahhabism is now "arguably the most pervasive revivalist movement in the Islamic world." According to Lawrence Wright in his book Looming Tower, the Saudis, constituting one per cent of the world's Muslims, support through the Wahhabis "90 per cent of the expenses of the entire faith, overriding other traditions of Islam."
The Saudi ideological export is having an effect. Saudi Wahhabi extremism threatens to become a mainstream or even the dominant expression of Islam among the world's 1.3 billion Muslims. Wahhabi thought and customs are taking root in Muslim communities from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, to Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan, India and elsewhere. As Abdurrahman Wahid, the former President of Indonesia and ex-director of the world's largest Muslim organization lamented, it is making "inroads" even in his famously tolerant part of the world.
The beginning of the school year marks the deadline for Saudi Arabia to demonstrate it has removed intolerant teachings from all Saudi textbooks. This Saudi commitment resulted from extensive bilateral negotiations with the U.S., concluded and hailed by the United States State Department in July 2006. Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the State Department has annually designated Saudi Arabia as one of the world's most intolerant states but it has forestalled imposing the sanctions specified in the Act. It resists Congressional and other appeals even to translate for review the textbooks used at Islamic Saudi Academy, a Washington metropolitan area academy run by the Saudi Embassy.
It is time to hold Riyadh to its promises to reform its educational materials. Western security depends on it.
Source: http://www.campus-watch.org/article/i...
And, in the U.S., similar textbooks preaching hate are used.
Islamic Extremism Whitewashed in American Textbooks
An excellent survey of the problem in describing Islam in American textbooks was written by Gilbert T. Sewall, Director of the American Textbook Council, a former history instructor at Phillips Academy, and an education editor at Newsweek. Sewall states his major conclusions:
Sewall also lists reliable resources:
Cf. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation's "Terrorists, Despots and Democracy: What Our Children Need to Know" (2003);
Watson Institute for International Studies', "Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy" (2003).
"Fighting for the Soul of Islam" (April 18, 2007), U.S. News and World Report.
Columbia History of the World.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education publishes and disseminates teachings that Muslims are to hate and treat as "enemies" other religious believers, including other, non-Wahhabi Muslims. Those were our findings in a 2006 study of Saudi government textbooks. And despite the media outcry that followed, our most recent investigation shows that Saudi textbooks, now available on the Saudi Ministry of Education website, have not been cleaned up. The same violent and intolerant lessons remain.
These textbooks assert that it is permissible for a Muslim to kill an "apostate," an "adulterer," those practicing "major polytheism," and homosexuals. They promote global jihad as an "effort to wage war against the unbelievers," including for the purpose of "calling [infidels] to the faith." They continue to teach that "the hour [of judgment] will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them," that Shiite practices amount to "polytheism" (see above), that the Christian Crusades never ended, and that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are historical fact.
In these lessons, the Saudi government discounts or ignores passages in the Qur'an and in the accounts of the life of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad that support tolerance.
After the 9/11 attacks at the hands of largely Saudi terrorists, the King convened a panel of Saudi professionals who concluded that the religious textbooks "legitimiz[e] the violent repression of the 'other' and even his physical elimination because of his views on disputed issues...." Now noxious Saudi texts are being spread to Muslim communities on every continent.
Saudi Arabia has long sought to be the leading Islamic power and the protector of the faith, a claim asserted in the Saudi Basic Law. With its vast oil wealth and the religious legitimacy derived from its custodianship of the two Islamic holy shrines and control of the pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia's long-term ambitions are now within reach. Even as its official doctrine and school books remain rooted in Wahhabism, the blend of the harsh desert traditions and severe Islamic interpretations of its past, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself to be the authoritative voice of world Islam, with the King as a type of Islamic pope.
Since 1979, the year when Islamic terrorists laid siege to Mecca and threatened Saudi rule, and when a Shi'a regime seized control of Iran, Saudi Arabia has poured enormous sums into foreign evangelism, funding mosques, schools, libraries, and academic centers in the United States and many other countries. Some analysts estimate that over the past quarter century, Saudi Arabia has expended over $75 billion for spreading Wahhabism, roughly three times more a year than what the Soviet Union spent annually in exporting its ruling ideology during the height of the Cold War. The Congressional Research Service states that Wahhabism is now "arguably the most pervasive revivalist movement in the Islamic world." According to Lawrence Wright in his book Looming Tower, the Saudis, constituting one per cent of the world's Muslims, support through the Wahhabis "90 per cent of the expenses of the entire faith, overriding other traditions of Islam."
The Saudi ideological export is having an effect. Saudi Wahhabi extremism threatens to become a mainstream or even the dominant expression of Islam among the world's 1.3 billion Muslims. Wahhabi thought and customs are taking root in Muslim communities from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, to Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan, India and elsewhere. As Abdurrahman Wahid, the former President of Indonesia and ex-director of the world's largest Muslim organization lamented, it is making "inroads" even in his famously tolerant part of the world.
The beginning of the school year marks the deadline for Saudi Arabia to demonstrate it has removed intolerant teachings from all Saudi textbooks. This Saudi commitment resulted from extensive bilateral negotiations with the U.S., concluded and hailed by the United States State Department in July 2006. Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the State Department has annually designated Saudi Arabia as one of the world's most intolerant states but it has forestalled imposing the sanctions specified in the Act. It resists Congressional and other appeals even to translate for review the textbooks used at Islamic Saudi Academy, a Washington metropolitan area academy run by the Saudi Embassy.
It is time to hold Riyadh to its promises to reform its educational materials. Western security depends on it.
Source: http://www.campus-watch.org/article/i...
And, in the U.S., similar textbooks preaching hate are used.
Islamic Extremism Whitewashed in American Textbooks
An excellent survey of the problem in describing Islam in American textbooks was written by Gilbert T. Sewall, Director of the American Textbook Council, a former history instructor at Phillips Academy, and an education editor at Newsweek. Sewall states his major conclusions:
History textbooks should stress that:
The Islamic conquest of the Mediterranean defined the Middle Ages and Europe. Arabic conquests and expansion occurred in the seventh and eighth centuries. The Turks who conquered the Balkans and Asia Minor, the Mongols in Central Asia, and the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia were Islamic expansionists who were not Arabic, and their conquests occurred centuries after the Arabs took control of what today is called the Middle East.
Containment of Islam was European policy from Tours to Vienna. Landmark encounters occurred between Europe and Islam from the early Middle Ages to modern times: Battle of Tours (732), First Crusade (1095), fall of Constantinople (1453), and Battle of Vienna (1683). In each case textbooks should explain how and why the West was threatened. Likewise, textbooks should explain that the so-called age of discovery and the voyages of Columbus to the New World in fact were a European search for maritime trade routes to Asia designed to circumvent Muslim territories.
Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798 began the push of "the West" into Islamic lands, for strategic and, later, economic reasons. In the nineteenth century European imperial powers took sovereign control of Islamic territories and introduced laws, political values, and educational systems into colonies with varying responses. From the 1920s economic imperialism prevailed. The presence of oil in Islamic lands has uniquely affected geopolitics and global transportation ever since. Additionally, the influence of Western entertainment carries an aspect of cultural imperialism.
When textbooks cover Islam as a geopolitical and cultural force in the world today, they should explain:
Islam is aggressive in a postcolonial world. The Arabic union against Israel since 1948 and the creation of Pakistan after World War II provide vivid historical illustrations. In today's world Islam has several power centers: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The idea of Islamic unity is constrained by the vicious division and power struggles of Sunni and Shia sects, as contemporary Iraq makes clear. Muslims include the Taliban of Afghanistan and the bankers of Abu Dhabi.
Yet Islam sees a world split into dar al-harb and dar al-islam. Dar al-harb (territory of war or chaos) is its term for the regions where Islam does not dominate, where divine will is not observed, and therefore where continuing strife is the norm. By contrast, dar al-islam (territory of peace) is Islam's term for those territories where Islam does dominate, where submission to God is observed, and where peace and tranquility reign. This ideation constitutes-to what extent, experts disagree-a rivalry of alternative worldviews, metaphysical ideas, and conceptions of evil. But these ideas, if acted upon by the Islamic revivalists who are rapidly growing in number, might constitute a clear and present danger to global security, particularly in the West. Al Qaeda is the orchestrated global effort to re-establish Islam's historical and mythic supremacy worldwide through jihad. The international community has immense collective self-interest and incentive to avoid nuclear terrorism as a holy struggle.
Islam's ability to embrace modernity and secular society remains an open question. Many leaders in Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan - and many more than in the recent past - are ambivalent about or reacting to twentieth-century secularism. Almost a century ago the eminent medieval historian Ferdinand Lot concluded that Islam's legal and political outlook made a modus vivendi with the West unlikely. Specialists today point out that Islam has no real institutional or theological mechanism to facilitate religious liberty. It has no element that allows the individual or society to explore, criticize or deny doctrine without fear of punishment or reprisal. At its extremes, it raises the prospect of thought control.
Sewall also lists reliable resources:
Cf. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation's "Terrorists, Despots and Democracy: What Our Children Need to Know" (2003);
Watson Institute for International Studies', "Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy" (2003).
"Fighting for the Soul of Islam" (April 18, 2007), U.S. News and World Report.
Columbia History of the World.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Rashad Hussain
Update on Rashad Hussain (2.22.10)
Megyn Kelly continues her coverage of the controversy surrounding Rashad Hussain, the U.S. Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the contemporary equivalent to the historic Caliphate.
Current U.S. Envoy to the OIC, Rashad Hussain, recorded stating his support for imprisoned Sami al-Aryan since it was a "politically motivated persecution" at a Muslim Students Association Conference.
TEA Faces Down Riot Police
Obama trekked to Quincy, Illinois, to pitch his control of Wall Street.
The local Tea Party was greeted by the local constabulary: riot police were sent out.
Riot police/SWAT called for TEA party.
Child explains Constitution to adults.
Obama Calls In Riot Cops on Peaceful TEA Party Protest.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Deadly New Russian Weapon Hides In Shipping Container
Club-K Container Missile System is designated for hitting surface and land targets by 3М-54ТE, 3М-54ТE1 and 3М-14ТE cruise missiles.
Club-K Missile System can be installed on coastal positions, surface ships and vessels of different classes, railway and automobile platforms.
Club-K Missile System is housed in 40-feet standard marine container.
Functionally Club-K Missile System consists of Universal Launching Module (ULM), Combat Management Module (CMM) and Energy-Supply and Life-Support Module (ES&LSM).
The launcher with 4 missiles is housed in the Universal Launching Module. The ULM is designed for preparation and missile start-off from transport-launching containers.
Combat Management Module provides:
every day servicing and scheduled missile control;
receiving of target detection and commands to open fire
combat support computation;
pre-launch preparation;
launch mission defining and cruise missile launching.
CMM and ES&LSM can be constructively arranged and made in the form of separate standard marine containers.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Capability of usage from any land and sea platforms
- Efficiency of delivery and installation on carrier or coastal positions
- Hitting of surface and land targets
- Ability to increase the number of ammunition loads
Club-K Missile System can be installed on coastal positions, surface ships and vessels of different classes, railway and automobile platforms.
Club-K Missile System is housed in 40-feet standard marine container.
Functionally Club-K Missile System consists of Universal Launching Module (ULM), Combat Management Module (CMM) and Energy-Supply and Life-Support Module (ES&LSM).
The launcher with 4 missiles is housed in the Universal Launching Module. The ULM is designed for preparation and missile start-off from transport-launching containers.
Combat Management Module provides:
every day servicing and scheduled missile control;
receiving of target detection and commands to open fire
combat support computation;
pre-launch preparation;
launch mission defining and cruise missile launching.
CMM and ES&LSM can be constructively arranged and made in the form of separate standard marine containers.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Capability of usage from any land and sea platforms
- Efficiency of delivery and installation on carrier or coastal positions
- Hitting of surface and land targets
- Ability to increase the number of ammunition loads
Deadly New Russian Weapon Hides In Shipping Container A cruise missile in a shipping box on sale to rogue bidders.
"What alerted me to this was that the Russians were advertising it at specific international defence event and they have marketed it very squarely at anyone under threat of action from the US."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Ian Hunter, 22 - 25 April 2010, City Winery, Sellersville Theater
ian hunter dancing on the moon citywinery 2010-04-21
ian hunter somewhere snippette city winery 2010-04-21
ian hunter all the young dudes city winery 2010-04-21
ian hunter all the way from memphis city winery 2010-04-21
ian hunter how's your house? city winery 2010-04-21
ian hunter your cheatin' heart city winery 2010-4-23
Ian Hunter, "Wash Us Away"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Wash Us Away" from the 2000 album Rant at a sold-out show April 23, 2010 at the New York City WInery. Rant Band members are Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Steve Holley (drums), Andy Burton (keyboards), Paul Page (bass).
Dancing On The Moon City Winery 2010-04-23 (upgrade)
Ian Hunter, "Up and Running/Dancing on the Moon"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Up and Running" from the 2009 album "Man Overboard." then continue with "Dancing on the Moon" from the 1995 album "Dirty Laundry" at the New York City Winery, April 23, 2010. Rant Band members are Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Andy Burton (keyboards), Steve Holley (drums) and Paul Page (bass)
ian hunter up & running city winery 2010-04-23
Ian Hunter, "Babylon Blues"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Babylon Blues" off the 2009 album "Man Overboard" at the sold-out New York City Winery, April 23, 2010. Rant Band members are Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Steve Holley (drums), Andy Burton (guitar) and Paul Page (bass).
ian hunter deadmanwalking city winery nyc 2010-04-23
IAN HUNTER + THE RANT BAND - "ALL THE YOUNG DUDES"
filmed at THE CITY WINERY 4-23-10
23 April 2010
23 April 2010
Arms and Legs
It is rumored that The Man originally wasn't planning to do "Arms and Legs" at the Friday night City Winery show. But when he sat down at his keyboard and asked for requests, it was the audience's first request. So he stood back up, backed away from his keyboard, explained that "we weren't going to do that one tonight, but OK we'll do it" and he grabbed a guitar and they played it.
All the Young Dudes
23A Swan Hill
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
All The Way From Memphis
Cleveland Rocks
Babylon Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28uFoQrFjw8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLEK1a9T68k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n8beoQ_Eb4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENMKJp1wZCI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7wpHSJ-onc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_jMuEZvZ6I
Once Bitten Twice Shy Live 4/24/10 New York Winery
Ian Hunter, "Central Park N West"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Central Park N. West" from the 1981 album Short Back N Sides at a sold-out show April 24, 2010 at the New York City WInery. Rant Band members are Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Steve Holley (drums), Andy Burton (keyboards), Paul Page (bass).
Ian Hunter, "Soul of America"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Soul of America" off the 2007 album "Shrunken Heads" at the sold-out New York City Winery, April 24, 2010. The Rant Band members are Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Steve Holley (rums), Andy Burton (keyboards) and Paul Page (bass).
Ian Hunter, "Flowers"
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band perform "Flowers" at the New York City Winery, April 24, 2010. The Rant Band is Mark Bosch (guitar), James Mastro (guitar), Steve Holley (drums), Andy Burton (keyboards) and Paul Page (bass).
Ian Hunter w/ Andy York, "Irene Wilde"
Guitarist Andy York guests at Ian Hunter's April 24 performance at the New York City Winery, and the two perform Hunter's 1979 song "Irene Wilde," with percussionist Steve Holley helping out off my camera.
The ending of the song "Man Overboard" by Ian Hunter, Sellersville.
Ian Hunter at Sellersville, PA-Roll Away the Stone
Ian Hunter, Sellersville Theater, April 25, 2010. Its blurred and shaky at times, but an attempt to get a good view.
OBTS
Who do you love
Ripoff
Babylon blues
Arms and legs
Man overboard
Death of a nation
Flowers
Girl from the office
Up and runnin
Dancin on the moon
Wild east
Sweet jane
Memphis
Hows your house
Medley_ Carol, Your Cheatin' Heart, Somewhere
23 Swan hill
Angeline
Saturday gigs
Death of a nation
Roll away the stone
All the Young Dudes
Recorded at Sellersville Theatre, in Pa. on April 25, 2010, 10:00
Roll Away the Stone
Saturday Gigs
All the Young Dudes
Sellersville, 7:04
Played at these shows, and with no version available, here is the song played live at almost the same time:
Ian HUNTER - The Great Escape, Milano 05.05.10
And, about the same time, Ian appeared in England.
Ian Hunter and the Rant Band 'Once Bitten Twice Shy & FLowers 'Later With Jools Holland 2010
Army disinvites Rev. Franklin Graham to Pentagon Prayer Day
Cf. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2010/04/22/VI2010042204233.html
Rev. Franklin Graham was bumped from the opportunity to pray at the Pentagon on the National Day of Prayer (May 6) because he once called Islam "an evil and wicked" religion, and because he wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins.
The military dumped Rev. Graham because, according to spokesman Col. Tom Collins, "We're an all-inclusive military." Inclusive but not now to include Rev. Graham.
Underwear Bomber: New Video of Training, Martyrdom Statements
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/underwear-bomber-video-training-martyrdom-statements/story?id=10479470
Democrats Use Racism as Political Strategy?
Columnist says Democratic Party keeps black voters by charging opposition with racism.
Understanding The Financial Crisis--For Kids and Grownups
Understanding The Financial Crisis--For Kids and Grownups
Subprime crisis
January 2008
What began as a US housing problem mushroomed into a crisis that shook stock markets around the world.The global nature of this week's stock market plunge debunks the theory that foreign investors are immune because the U.S. economy is "decoupled" from Europe and Asia. Quite the contrary, says Goldman Sachs International vice chairman Robert Hormats: "It's a recoupling of sorts."
Cf. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWoobmHwJ6U&feature=PlayList&p=72BB3C7176391B91&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=5
Al Wazir Says Palestinian Growth Plan `Bearing Fruit'
Al Wazir Says Palestinian Growth Plan `Bearing Fruit'
April 26 (Bloomberg) -- Palestine Monetary Authority Governor Jihad Al Wazir talks with Bloomberg's Deirdre Bolton about economic growth strategy. Al Wazir also discusses the importance of international investment and the possible impact economic stability may have on Middle East peace process. (Source: Bloomberg)
Friday, April 23, 2010
‘Climate Change Is the Totalitarian’s Dream Come True.'
Skeptics Speak Out: Dr. E. Calvin Beisner
Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, spokesman of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, explains why he is skeptical of the economic trade offs involved in global warming regulation.
Christian Theologian on Earth Day: ‘Climate Change Is the Totalitarian’s Dream Come True.’
“Climate change is the totalitarian’s dream come true,” Beisner, founder of the CASC, said at a conference on Thursday at the Family Research Council in Washington. “It offers a rationale for government intrusion into every aspect of life for every person on Earth.”
Beisner said his organization late last year released a comprehensive research project relating theology, science, and economics of global warming.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
CNN/O'Reilly on South Park
Islam vs. South Park
"This risk is higher than the reward." The risk of free speech is higher than the reward."
Bill O'Reilly on South Park
Cows Explain Everything
Political Systems Explained for Dummies
Political Systems Explained for (Farmers) Dummies Using Two Cows
The fundamental principles of the different types of political and social systems explained via a simple example using two cows. You heard right, COWS. If you know what a cow is and are aware of the fact that the produce more than just steaks for your dinner, such as milk, you are good to go and should have no problem to understand it.
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Two Cows Explain Government
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Pushback at Lafayette Park, D.C.
Reporters covering a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” protest at the White House today were forced out of Lafayette Square by police. The scene, captured on video, is remarkable given the historical importance of the park as a protest spot across the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The most important issue involves freedom of the press. Why would Secret Service officers, charged with protecting the White House, order credentialed journalists to leave the scene of a public protest?
The incident should raise red flags with Obama and the reporters who cover him. It’s unacceptable for journalists to be chased away from a public venue under the guise of preventing negative publicity for the White House.
Monday, April 19, 2010
US strike could delay Iran nuclear program-Mullen
US strike could delay Iran nuclear program-Mullen; Mullen elaborated on his remarks.
When People Die, Play Golf
It is the 32nd time Obama has played golf since taking office Jan. 20, 2009, according to CBS Radio's Mark Knoller; Obama has played golf far more often than Bush. In his eight years in office, Bush played just 24 times. Bush said in 2008 that he gave up golf "in solidarity" with the families of soldiers who were dying in Iraq.
He stopped playing after he received word of a deadly attack in Iraq while playing golf during a stay at the family ranch near Crawford, Texas.
Since Obama took office, 397 soldiers have died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Another 151 have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Obama continues to play.
He stopped playing after he received word of a deadly attack in Iraq while playing golf during a stay at the family ranch near Crawford, Texas.
Since Obama took office, 397 soldiers have died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Another 151 have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Obama continues to play.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
China Economy Booming / GDP Up Nearly 12%
April 18, 2010 — China GDP Grows 11.9% in the first quarter. CPI is up 2.2% with the Food Component up 5%.
State Control Entitled "reform"
"And on Friday he made it clear that we can't allow another devastating financial crisis -- so he'll veto any reform bill that doesn't bring the derivatives market under control."
Subject: A presidential veto
Saturday, April 17, 2010 11:42 PM
From: "Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com"
To: "Arlen Williams"
Arlen --
President Obama means business.
He's committed his administration to reining in Wall Street and creating the strongest consumer protections in history. And on Friday he made it clear that we can't allow another devastating financial crisis -- so he'll veto any reform bill that doesn't bring the derivatives market under control.
But the Senate could begin debate as soon as this week, and Republican leaders are teaming up with Wall Street lobbyists to defeat the bill -- so the President needs your help to show that the American people stand with him on Wall Street reform:
http://my.barackobama.com/StandForWallStreetReform
Thanks,
Mitch
Saturday, April 17, 2010
"I don't think he's American, personally."
Champaign, Illinois Mayor Expresses Doubts About Obama’s Citizenship
"If you are not willing to produce an original birth certificate, then you've got something to hide," he said. "If he doesn't have something to hide, produce it."
Friday, April 16, 2010
"Contract From America"
A new "Contract From America" emphasizes free-market principles, limited government, and individual liberty. More than 440,000 Americans voted for the 10 issues that matter most to them.
The top 10 issues are:
1) Require each bill to identify its constitutional authorization
2) Defund, repeal, and replace government-run health care
3) Demand a balanced budget
4) End runaway government spending by imposing a statutory cap limiting growth in federal spending
5) Enact fundamental reform to simplify and lower taxes
6)Create a Blue Ribbon task force that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs
7) Reject cap-and-trade
8) Pass an "all of the above" energy policy
9) Stop the 2011 tax hikes
10) Stop the pork.
The top 10 issues are:
1) Require each bill to identify its constitutional authorization
2) Defund, repeal, and replace government-run health care
3) Demand a balanced budget
4) End runaway government spending by imposing a statutory cap limiting growth in federal spending
5) Enact fundamental reform to simplify and lower taxes
6)Create a Blue Ribbon task force that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs
7) Reject cap-and-trade
8) Pass an "all of the above" energy policy
9) Stop the 2011 tax hikes
10) Stop the pork.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
RT Today TEA Party, D. C.
Tea party
A New York Times/CBS News Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated than the average American.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mann Says `Very Serious Risks' Still Remain in Economy
Mann Says `Very Serious Risks' Still Remain in Economy
Bloomberg — April 14, 2010 — April 14 (Bloomberg) -- Catherine Mann, an economics professor at Brandeis University and a former Federal Reserve economist, talks with Bloomberg's Julie Hyman about the outlook for the U.S. economy and financial markets. The central bank said the economy expanded somewhat across most of the U.S. in March as consumer spending and manufacturing improved, signaling the recovery is broadening without gaining much speed. (Source: Bloomberg)
AMENDING THE NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT: GLOBALIZATION AS THE IMPETUS AND THE OBSTACLE
Below is an article written by a Chicago Lawyer. It was part of a paper written in 2006 found at the Chicago/Kent College of Law, though it is no longer in the archives. In any case, it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out where this is going (or went). An author who originally sited this piece back before the election made this comment about the essay:
"Interesting this is indeed. The answer is in further study and discovery, using the legalese of the Friends of Barack, mainly the law firm of whose employ the author of this piece is beholden to. When did Barack decide to run as President? Wasn't it in 2006, officially? What are the odds that Leftinistra law firms and Leftinistra Chicago lawyers of that law firm, which had/have long historical relationships with Czarbie, suddenly be wanting to "deal with" that damned pesky "natural-born clause"? Hmm?"
Even more interesting is the clause Obama added as Senator to Senate Resolution 511 resolving McCain's eligibility by Congress. The author goes on to say:
"In April of 2008, Senator McCain's "natural born" citizen status was settled by Senate Resolution 511. I thought it peculiar that Patrick Leahy would make the comment that the term "natural born citizen" was not defined in the Constitution when it clearly is defined. One doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to detect the Constitutional definition when the definition is clearly stated in the Constitution. There is other verbiage in the Resolution that is equally suspect."
[...] Whereas previous presidential candidates were born outside of the United States of America and were understood to be eligible to be President; [...]
Wrapping up, the author laments about this question that came to mind: "This statement was added to the Resolution by none other than Barack Hussein Obama. Why?"
Would this not make Obama a "birther"? By logic and accountability it would. You can read this full article here. You can also see that Pelosi removed/changed the clause supporting the Constitution in the Offical Certificate of Nominee sent to 48 states for Obama/Biden.
Below appears the Essay written by the Chicago Lawyer:
AMENDING THE NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT: GLOBALIZATION AS THE IMPETUS AND THE OBSTACLE
SARAH P. HERLIHY
INTRODUCTION
The natural born citizen requirement in Article II of the United States Constitution has been called the “stupidest provision” in the Constitution,1 “undecidedly un-American,”2 “blatantly discriminatory,”3 and the “Constitution’s worst provision.”4 Since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s victory in the California gubernatorial recall election of 2003, commentators and policy-makers have once again started to discuss whether Article II of the United States Constitution should be amended to render naturalized citizens eligible for the presidency.5 Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution defines the eligibility requirements for an individual to become president. Article II provides:
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.6
Although these sixty-two words are far from extraordinary, the natural born citizen provision is controversial because it prevents over 12.8 million Americans from being eligible for the presidency.7 In addition to Governor Schwarzenegger, the natural born citizen clause prohibits many other prominent Americans from becoming president, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm,8 former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao,9 and over 700 Medal of Honor Winners.10 Even though many of these individuals have served in high political positions or fought in a war on behalf of America, they are not able to become president simply because they were not born in the United States.11
The natural born citizen clause of the United States Constitution should be repealed for numerous reasons. Limiting presidential eligibility to natural born citizens discriminates against naturalized citizens, is outdated and undemocratic, and incorrectly assumes that birthplace is a proxy for loyalty. The increased globalization of the world continues to make each of these reasons more persuasive. As the world becomes smaller and cultures become more similar through globalization, the natural born citizen clause has increasingly become out of place in the American legal system. However, even though globalization strengthens the case for a Constitutional amendment, many Americans argue against abolishing the requirement. In a recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll taken November 19–21, 2004, only 31% of the respondents favored a constitutional amendment to abolish the natural born citizen requirement while 67% opposed such an amendment.12 Although some of the reasons for maintaining the natural born citizen requirement are rational, many of the reasons are based primarily on emotion. Therefore, although globalization is one impetus that should drive Americans to rely on reason and amend the Constitution, this paper argues that common perceptions about globalization ironically will convince Amendment. [...]
"Interesting this is indeed. The answer is in further study and discovery, using the legalese of the Friends of Barack, mainly the law firm of whose employ the author of this piece is beholden to. When did Barack decide to run as President? Wasn't it in 2006, officially? What are the odds that Leftinistra law firms and Leftinistra Chicago lawyers of that law firm, which had/have long historical relationships with Czarbie, suddenly be wanting to "deal with" that damned pesky "natural-born clause"? Hmm?"
Even more interesting is the clause Obama added as Senator to Senate Resolution 511 resolving McCain's eligibility by Congress. The author goes on to say:
"In April of 2008, Senator McCain's "natural born" citizen status was settled by Senate Resolution 511. I thought it peculiar that Patrick Leahy would make the comment that the term "natural born citizen" was not defined in the Constitution when it clearly is defined. One doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to detect the Constitutional definition when the definition is clearly stated in the Constitution. There is other verbiage in the Resolution that is equally suspect."
[...] Whereas previous presidential candidates were born outside of the United States of America and were understood to be eligible to be President; [...]
Wrapping up, the author laments about this question that came to mind: "This statement was added to the Resolution by none other than Barack Hussein Obama. Why?"
Would this not make Obama a "birther"? By logic and accountability it would. You can read this full article here. You can also see that Pelosi removed/changed the clause supporting the Constitution in the Offical Certificate of Nominee sent to 48 states for Obama/Biden.
Below appears the Essay written by the Chicago Lawyer:
AMENDING THE NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT: GLOBALIZATION AS THE IMPETUS AND THE OBSTACLE
SARAH P. HERLIHY
INTRODUCTION
The natural born citizen requirement in Article II of the United States Constitution has been called the “stupidest provision” in the Constitution,1 “undecidedly un-American,”2 “blatantly discriminatory,”3 and the “Constitution’s worst provision.”4 Since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s victory in the California gubernatorial recall election of 2003, commentators and policy-makers have once again started to discuss whether Article II of the United States Constitution should be amended to render naturalized citizens eligible for the presidency.5 Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution defines the eligibility requirements for an individual to become president. Article II provides:
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.6
Although these sixty-two words are far from extraordinary, the natural born citizen provision is controversial because it prevents over 12.8 million Americans from being eligible for the presidency.7 In addition to Governor Schwarzenegger, the natural born citizen clause prohibits many other prominent Americans from becoming president, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm,8 former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao,9 and over 700 Medal of Honor Winners.10 Even though many of these individuals have served in high political positions or fought in a war on behalf of America, they are not able to become president simply because they were not born in the United States.11
The natural born citizen clause of the United States Constitution should be repealed for numerous reasons. Limiting presidential eligibility to natural born citizens discriminates against naturalized citizens, is outdated and undemocratic, and incorrectly assumes that birthplace is a proxy for loyalty. The increased globalization of the world continues to make each of these reasons more persuasive. As the world becomes smaller and cultures become more similar through globalization, the natural born citizen clause has increasingly become out of place in the American legal system. However, even though globalization strengthens the case for a Constitutional amendment, many Americans argue against abolishing the requirement. In a recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll taken November 19–21, 2004, only 31% of the respondents favored a constitutional amendment to abolish the natural born citizen requirement while 67% opposed such an amendment.12 Although some of the reasons for maintaining the natural born citizen requirement are rational, many of the reasons are based primarily on emotion. Therefore, although globalization is one impetus that should drive Americans to rely on reason and amend the Constitution, this paper argues that common perceptions about globalization ironically will convince Amendment. [...]
Robert Knight ACRU Senior Fellow on Fox discussing Obama Adviser John Holdren
Robert Knight, senior fellow at the American Civil Rights Union discusses comments by Obama Science Czar John Holdren predicting that America's downfall on Fox News' Fox & Friends, April 13, 2010.
