Tape Confirms Obama Not a Natural Born Citizen

Philip J. Berg, a former deputy attorney general for Pennsylvania, told the Michael Savage talk radio program that he has a tape recording of a telephone call from the senator's paternal grandmother confirming his birth in Mombosa, Kenya. Obama's grandmother affirmed she "was in the delivery room in Kenya when he was born Aug. 4, 1961." The Pennsylvania Democrat has sued Obama demanding he prove his American citizenship-–and therefore qualification to run for president.

The issue of Obama's birthplace, which he states is Honolulu in 1961, has been raised enough times that his campaign website has posted an image purporting to be of his "Certification of Live Birth" from Hawaii.

Berg said he's pursuing the issue because of "the most important document in the United States, the U.S. Constitution."

Besides Berg's lawsuit, several other court challenges also have been filed, including one in Washington state where petitioners are seeking to have the Washington secretary of state "verify Obama's eligibility" to serve prior to the election.

The claim states, "The 'certificate' that Mr. Obama has posted on his official Website is a 'Certification of Live Birth,' and not a 'Birth Certificate' from Hawaii. There is no indication on even this certificate as to specifically where the birth took place."

The Washington state case also alleges, "Wayne Madsen, Journalist with Online Journal as a contributing writer and published an article on June 9, 2008, stating that a research team went to Mombassa, Kenya, and located a Certificate Registering the birth of Barack Obama, Jr. at a Kenya Maternity Hospital, to his father, a Kenyan citizen and his mother, a U.S. citizen.

When Jerome Corsi, an investigator reporter, recently traveled to Kenya to investigate several questions about the candidate, he was told the records were sealed and would not be made available.

Berg said he believed it also was a complication that Obama's mother divorced his father, married and moved to Indonesia for several years and Obama attended school there at a time when, Berg said, only Indonesia citizens were allowed in schools. Records that are available from Indonesia revealed Obama was registered in school as Barry Soetoro, and his religion was listed as Islam.

When Obama later returned to Hawaii, within the United States, there should have been a government document affirming his citizenship, but that also cannot be found. If that was not processed properly, Berg said, Obama would be in a situation even worse than not being a natural-born citizen.

"If he didn't go through immigration, he now is illegal and has been an illegal alien. He couldn't even hold the position of senator for Illinois," Berg said.

Further, Berg said he suspected Obama's college records may indicate he received aid as a foreigner, and that's why those records have been withheld by the campaign.

"I really think it's because it probably indicates he's from Kenya, or Indonesia, or received foreign aid," Berg said.

Berg has a tape from Obama's paternal grandmother affirming that he was born in Kenya. He is not a natural-born citizen so he is constitutionally illegible to be president. Obama only has a certificate of live birth, not a valid American birth certificate. Others have begun to challenge Obama's birth as well. Most likely, Obama is actually either a Kenyan, or an Indonesian Muslim. He may be an illegal alien. Other records that could confirm his citizenship, student records, have not been released.

Jihad Preached on U.S. Cable TV

Gary Baumgarten interviews New York Sun correspondent Youssef Ibrahim who reported that Jihad is being advocated via Arabic TV on cable News Talk Online on Paltalk in the United States.

Charles Maier on the Bush Doctrine

In regards to Bush and Iraq, Maier claims that the President's policies
have been "calamitous," (p. 60), "reckless," (p. 62), a series of
"adventures" (p. 63), and "testosterone-fueled" (p. 78); thus, with that
polemic, Maier can hardly be taken seriously. Unless he is willing to
engage the issues his analysis is flawed.

Maier wants to establish that interactions between countries actually
occur below the level of official diplomacy, at that level of motivation
and the basest instinct of human beings, religion. Yet, he returns to
official state representatives, not the below actors considered important
earlier, and finds, of all things, moderate Islam (p. 69)? If his
intention is to find and discover religion, below the surface, you would
think this would be an easy search to conduct. Any number of radical,
jihadist examples proliferate in the world but moderate Islamic world
spokespersons are much harder to find. Not one moderate Islamic
spokesperson has emerged from the Middle East; the discovery of a Martin
Luther King, Jr., or a Mother Theresa from the Middle East is not
forthcoming. We are left with the world we are actually in and not the
world Maier describes.

Maier is all over the place in his search for authentic cultural
expression from below. He even includes "street theater" (p. 72). His
argument is not simple as he suggests (p. 61), but simplistic. He
approvingly quotes Fareed Zakaria, the celebrator of America's decline
(The Future of Freedom, The Post-American World), who naively describes
Weimar as a "model democracy" (p. 76), by ignoring its obvious
limitations.

The Weimar republic faced severe problems from the start. Politically, it
was weak because Germany had many small parties. The chancellor had to
form coalitions that easily fell apart.

The government, led by moderate democratic socialists, came under
constant fire from both the left and right. Communists demanded radical
changes like those Lenin had brought to Russia. Conservatives—including
the old Junker nobility, military officers, and wealthy bourgeoisie—
attacked the government as too liberal and weak. They longed for another
strong leader like Bismarck. Germans of all classes blamed the Weimar
Republic for the hated Versailles treaty. Bitter, they looked for
scapegoats. Many blamed German Jews for economic and political problems.
Weimar was not a model democracy, it was a flawed republic from its
creation in 1919.

But Maier is not quite done with analyzing religion. He remarks: "we must
work to attenuate the passions of religion" (p. 80). How, he does not say
since he is correct in viewing religion as a phenomenon from below and he
should appreciate that the winds of religion blow where they will.
However, it is true that Turkey may be an example of one Islamic country
that largely maintains a secular government as opposed to Islamist
religionists holding sway. Yet, Maier makes the staggering proposition
that "ultimately Iran" will have a "constituency of middle-class electors
concerned with property and humane values" (p. 80).

That Iran will peacably evolve into a European-like Christian Democracy
is preposterous. Iranian development is not simply rhetoric but the
reality of Iran is alarming. Iran is a country that willingly sacrificed
one million of its own citizens in its disastrous war against Iraq from
1980-1988. What European Christian Democracy would do this today?
Maier does not seriously consider Bush's doctrine and he seriously
distorts and misunderstands the phenomenon of religion, particularly
Islamism.

Is Obama a Natural Born Citizen?

Is Obama a Natural Born Citizen? We do not know the answer to that question according to a filing by Democrat Philip Berg, a Philadelphia attorney.

Press Release: Obama & DNC admit all allegations in Berg v. Obama

Obama & DNC Admit All Allegations of Federal Court Lawsuit - Obama’s “Not” Qualified to be President

Obama Should Immediately Withdraw his Candidacy for President

For Immediate Release: - 10/21/08 - Complete contact details and pdfs of this press release and motions filed by plaintiff Berg today are at the end of this article

(Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania – 10/21/08) - Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s lack of “qualifications” to serve as President of the United States, announced today that Obama and tbe DNC “ADMITTED”, by way of failure to timely respond to Requests for Admissions, all of the numerous specific requests in the Federal lawsuit. Obama is “NOT QUALIFIED” to be President and therefore Obama must immediately withdraw his candidacy for President and the DNC shall substitute a qualified candidate. The case is Berg v. Obama, No. 08-cv-04083.

Berg stated that he filed Requests for Admissions on September 15, 2008 with a response by way of answer or objection had to be served within thirty [30] days. No response to the Requests for Admissions was served by way of response or objection. Thus, all of the Admissions directed to Obama and the DNC are deemed “ADMITTED.” Therefore, Obama must immediately withdraw his candidacy for President.

OBAMA - Admitted: 

1. I was born in Kenya. 

2. I am a Kenya “natural born” citizen. 

3. My foreign birth was registered in the State of Hawaii. 

4. My father, Barrack Hussein Obama, Sr. admitted Paternity of me. 

5. My mother gave birth to me in Mombosa, Kenya. 

6. My mother’s maiden name is Stanley Ann Dunham a/k/a Ann Dunham. 

7. The COLB [Certification of Live Birth] posted on the website “Fightthesmears.com” is a forgery. 

8. I was adopted by a Foreign Citizen. 

9. I was adopted by Lolo Soetoro, M.A. a citizen of Indonesia. 

10. I was not born in Hawaii. 

11. I was not born at the Queens Medical Center in Hawaii. 

12. I was not born at Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Hawaii. 

13. I was not born in a Hospital in Hawaii. 

14. I am a citizen of Indonesia. 

15. I never took the “Oath of Allegiance” to regain my U.S. Citizenship status. 

16. I am not a “natural born” United States citizen. 

17. My date of birth is August 4, 1961. 

18. I traveled to Pakistan in 1981 with my Pakistan friends. 

19. In 1981, I went to Indonesia on my way to Pakistan. 

20. Pakistan was a no travel zone in 1981 for American Citizens. 

21. In 1981, Pakistan was not allowing American Citizens to enter their country. 

22. I traveled on my Indonesian Passport to Pakistan. 

23. I renewed my Indonesian Passport on my way to Pakistan. 

24. My senior campaign staff is aware I am not a “natural born” United States Citizen. 

25. I am proud of my Kenya Heritage. 

26. My relatives have requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my first name. 

27. My relatives have requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my last name. 

28. My relatives have requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my place of birth. 

29. I requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my first name. 

30. I requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my last name. 

31. I requested changes to the portion of my birth certificate that identifies my place of birth. 

32. The document identified as my Indonesian School record from Fransiskus Assisi School in Jakarta, Indonesia is genuine. 

33. I went to a Judge in Hawaii to have my name changed. 

34. I went to a Senator and/or Congressman or other public official in Hawaii to have my name changed. 

35. I had a passport issued to me from the Government of Indonesia. 

36. The United States Constitution does not allow for a Person to hold the office of President of the United States unless that person is a “natural born” United States citizen. 

37. I am ineligible pursuant to the United States Constitution to serve as President and/or Vice President of the United States. 

38. I never renounced my citizenship as it relates to my citizenship to the country of Indonesia.

39. I never renounced my citizenship as it relates to my citizenship to the country of Kenya. 

40. I am an Attorney who specializes in Constitutional Law. 

41. Kenya was a part of the British Colonies at the time of my birth. 

42. Kenya did not become its own Republic until 1963.

43. I am not a “Naturalized” United States Citizen. 

44. I obtained $200 Million dollars in campaign funds by fraudulent means. 

45. I cannot produce a “vault” (original) long version of a birth certificate showing my birth in Hawaii. 

46. My “vault” (original) long version birth certificate shows my birth in Kenya.

47. The only times I was to a Hospital in Hawaii was for check-ups or medical treatments for illnesses. 

48. Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii does not have any record of my mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama) giving birth to me.

49. Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu, Hawaii does not have any record of my mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama) giving birth to me. 

50. I was born in the Coast Province Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. 

51. I represented on my State Bar application in Illinois that I never used any other name other than Barack Hussein Obama. 

52. I went by the name Barry Soetoro in Indonesia. 

53. My Indonesian school records are under the name of Barry Soetoro. 

54. I took an Oath to uphold the United States Constitution when admitted to the State Bar of Illinois to practice Law. 

55. I took an Oath to uphold the United States Constitution when I was Sworn into my United States Senate Office. 

56. I hold dual citizenship with at least one other Country besides the United States of America.

DNC - Admitted: 

1. The DNC nominated Barrack Hussein Obama as the Democratic Nominee for President. 

2. The DNC has not vetted Barrack Hussein Obama. 

3. The DNC did not have a background check performed on Barrack Hussein Obama. 

4.The DNC did not verify Barrack Hussein Obama’s eligibility to serve as President of the United States. 

5. The DNC admits Barrack Hussein Obama was born in Kenya.

6. The DNC admits Barrack Hussein Obama is not a “natural born” United States citizen.

7. The DNC admits Barrack Hussein Obama was not born in Hawaii. 

8.The DNC admits they have not inquired into Barrack Hussein Obama’s citizenship status.

9. The DNC admits they have a duty to properly vette the Democratic Nominee for President. 

10.The DNC admits Lolo Soetoro, M.A., an Indonesian citizen adopted Barrack Hussein Obama.

11. The DNC admits the Credentials Committee has been aware of this lawsuit since August 22, 2008 as the lawsuit was faxed to our Washington D.C. Office on August 22, 2008.

12. The DNC admits their Credentials Committee failed to verify and/or inquire into the credentials of Barack Hussein Obama to serve as the President of the United States. 

13. The DNC admits their Credential Committee’s Report failed to address the issues of Barack Hussein Obama’s ineligibility to serve as President of the United States. 

14.The DNC admits Howard Dean, Chair Person has and had knowledge Barack Hussein Obama was born in Kenya and ineligible to serve as the President of the United States. 

15. The DNC admits Plaintiff and all Democratic citizens of the United States have been personally injured as a result of not having a qualified Democratic Presidential Nominee to cast their votes upon. 

16. The DNC admits Plaintiff and all citizens of the United States have a Constitutional Right to vote for the President of the United States and to have two (2) qualified candidates of which to choose from. 

17. The DNC admits Plaintiff and all citizens of the United States have a Constitutional right to have a properly vetted Democratic Presidential Nominee of which to cast their vote.

18. The DNC admits an FBI background check is not performed on the Presidential or Vice Presidential Candidates. 

19. The DNC admits the United States Constitution does not allow for a Person to hold the office of President of the United States unless that person is a “natural born” United States citizen.

20. The DNC admits they collected donations on behalf of Barack Hussein Obama for his Presidential campaign.

21. The DNC admits Plaintiff and Democratic citizens donated money based on false representations that Barack Hussein Obama was qualified to serve as the President of the United States. 

22. The DNC admits if Barack Hussein Obama is elected as President and allowed to serve as President of the United States in violation of  our Constitution, it will create a Constitutional crisis.

23. The DNC admits Barack Hussein Obama took an Oath to uphold the United States Constitution. 

24. The DNC admits allowing a person who is not a “natural born” citizen to serve as President of the United States violates Plaintiff’s rights to due process of law in violation of the United States Constitution.

25. The DNC admits allowing a person who is not a “natural born” citizen to serve as President of the United States violates Plaintiff’s rights to Equal Protection of the laws in violation of the United States Constitution.

26. The DNC admits the function of the DNC is to secure a Democratic Presidential Candidate who will protect Democratic citizen’s interests, fight for their equal opportunities and fight for justice for all Americans. 

27. The DNC admits the Democratic National Committee has been promoting Barack Hussein Obama’s Presidential election knowing he was ineligible to serve as President of the United States.

The website obamacrimes.com is urging voters to spread the word. Berg stressed his position regarding the urgency of this case as, “we” the people, are heading to a “Constitutional Crisis” if this case is not resolved forthwith.

Philip J. Berg, Esquire
555 Andorra Glen Court, Suite 12
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-2531
Cell (610) 662-3005
(610) 825-3134
(800) 993-PHIL [7445]
Fax (610) 834-7659

Obama Connections to Terrorist Ayers

For the record, and just to be complete, here are links documenting some of Obama's many connections to William Ayers:




• Ayers and Obama worked together for years on a school reform program called the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.


• Ayers and Obama also served together on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, a separate charity organization.


• Obama had his political coming-out party in William Ayers' home.


• Ayers mentions Obama by name in a book he wrote in 1997, and mentions that the two are very close neighbors.


• Obama gave a short glowing review of that same Ayers book for the Chicago Tribune.


• Obama and Ayers were both presenters together on a panel about juvenile justice (organized by Michelle Obama).


• Both Obama and Ayers were close friends with the same person, Rashid Kalidi.


• There are also several unverified rumors swirling around that have not been documented: That Ayers may have helped to write part (or all) of Obama's autobiography; that Obama and Ayers shared an office space together for three years, on the same floor of the same building in Chicago; and that Ayers and Obama may have known each other as far back as 1981.





On April 12, 2002, Ayers said during an interview with a college radio station:
I considered myself partly an anarchist then and consider myself partly an anarchist now. I mean I'm as much an anarchist as I am a Marxist.... I'm very open about what I think and nobody here is surprised by what I think." Obama was working directly with Ayers within days of this interview being given--and for years prior and afterward.

Obama-Mate Ayers Planned to Exterminate 25 Million

The testimony of FBI informant Larry Grathwohl appeared in the 1982 documentary No Place to Hide. He explains how the Weather Underground, led by Obama-mate, Bill Ayers, and his wife, Bernadine Dohrn, planned the extermination of 25 million fellow Americans who were capitalists but would have to be eliminated if their plans were to succeed.

Advertising Works

In terms of revenue spent, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, what advertising campaign spent the most on advertising?

AT&T

Verizon

Barack Hussein Obama

McDonald’s

Sprint PCS

T-Mobile

Obama’s campaign has spent far more money selling its candidate on television than most major brand name companies do selling their products. Obama spent $250 million the past four months-—equivalent to $750 million in a full year. McCain is projected to have spent about $110 million.

Iraqi - Iran Showdown

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

Iraqi troops seem better able to counter Iranian forces in eastern Iraq. Al Kut in Wasit province is an area of conflict and the Iraqis appear to be holding their own. Al Kut served as a strategic distribution hub for weapons smuggled into Iraq where they were employed against Iraqi and Coalition forces as well against Iraqi politicians. The Iraqi Army stood up to the Iranian-backed Mahdi Army from Al Kut during operations during the summer of 2008 while the U.S. troops were clearly out Sadr City and other places.

Presidential Candidate: Change, Curry Favor with the World, Peace

During this election, some are saying that Washington does not respond to them, we need a government that we can feel proud about,

we need a leader for a change. This of course has all been said before, presidential candidates haven't evolved much at all once you look back, for example, this was the appeal in 1976 as well. As the U.S. slid into

1980, and sought to curry favor abroad, emphasizing our peacemaker role, the world communicated what it thought of such high-minded idealism. On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran. Protesting the entry of the deposed Shah into the United States, they held 53 Americans hostage. For the next twelve months, the hostage situation was an ongoing American nightmare magnified by constant media attention. Confidence in President Carter eroded as a result of the Iran crisis, an oil shortage and resultant increase in gas prices, and eighteen-percent inflation. In earlier presidential races, even when the candidate tried to emphasize how prepared they were for military command if need be, and advocated the position that nations would reach out and touch each other, the world summarily dismissed the U.S. The world sees us as weak when we portray this image. We don't have to be warmongers to portray ourselves as ready to defend ourselves and American interests.

65% of Taliban Suicide Bombers are Handicapped

According to a Japanese newspaper account, at a rate of 65%, handicapped persons left crippled by land mines or unexploded shells are recruited by the Taliban as suicide bombers, according to Rusuf Radgari, an associate professor at Kabul University's medical faculty. Radgari added: "These people are missing limbs, in poverty and unable to work, and there's the possibility that they are agreeing (to carry out these attacks) in exchange for a livelihood for their families."

Suicide attacks against foreign military and government targets in Afghanistan have increased dramatically over the past few years. A U.N. study showed that while there were only 17 cases in 2005, this figure shot up to 123 in 2006 and 150 in 2007.

Cf. http://mainichi.jp/select/world/news/20081020k0000m030105000c.html

Chinese Muslims Thus Far Denied

The seventeen Chinese Muslims had their request denied for a review by all 12 judges of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Thus far, the group has not been released.

Hussein Gets Muslim Vote

Fatema Biviji, a Muslim, is supporting Barack Hussein Obama. Biviji researched about Obama and liked that he has an international background, that he spent years in Indonesia as a young man, and his father's Kenyan roots. His internationalist views agreed with her own so she is supporting him. Her blog is featured on Obama's campaign Web site.

I agree with Ms. Biviji, Hussein is excellent for the world, and he is pleasing to Muslims.

Biden Shoots Off Mouth: Shoots U.S. in the Foot

I know I'm a tad old-fashioned but I really do not think that politicians running for national office should release national security intelligence. But ole' Joe Biden, since he is "old" like some other candidate can shoot his mouth off without fear of reprisal or recrimination from the national media. Biden stated that "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama. . . . we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." Now, in and of itself, a crisis is not hard to find in this world, but why would a major American politician state something like this? White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten reportedly held a meeting this week with senior White House staffers and representatives from both the McCain and Obama camps. The goal was to make sure everyone is up to speed on the latest threats and have the information they need to be ready come inauguration day. Would you buy a used-car from this loudmouth?

Fury on Bin Laden

Dalton Fury is the nom de plume of a Delta Force commander who led U.S. troops into Afghanistan's Tora Bora mountains after 9/11 to chase Osama bin Laden. He has written Kill Bin Laden: A Delta Force Commander's Account of the Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man which is his account of chasing bin Laden. He points out that regardless of who is elected president, the intelligence on bin Laden is somewhat improved but it is hardly pristine. Since bin Laden lives such a spartan existence there is a tendency to dismiss him but Fury points out how craftily the Islamofascists employ the Internet and modern technology. One surprising aspect of the hunt for bin Laden according to Fury is that apparently Osama directed his wives and children to arm themselves and fight the Americans. Bin Laden asked the women and children to do the fighting for him. Fury believes that Americans don't understand how powerful Islam is as people are inspired to fight according to the Koran. The takeaway according to Fury is that Islamofascism is truly a different enemy that the U.S. faced during the Cold War.

Ft. Dix Five Trial Begins

Five foreign born Albanian Muslims in their 20s who planned an attack on Fort Dix were inspired by AQ, Deputy U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick stated at the start of their trial in Camden, N.J. Their paintball games in 2006 and 2007 emerged into terrorist training sessions and they discussed a plot, nipped in the bud, was to sneak into the New Jersey Army base and kill soldiers. The five are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offenses. The government plans to play 90 recordings that would show the defendants planning and training for an attack. More than 200 people are listed as potential witnesses. The trial is expected to stretch into December.

Saudis Indict 991 al Qaeda Islamofascists

Saudi Arabia indicted 991 suspected al Qaeda militants for carrying out 30 attacks since 2003 according to a statement from Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz. The indictments aim to put an end to a chapter of violent opposition to the government run by the Al Saud ruling family in alliance with clerics: accused clerics include Nasser al-Fahd, Ali al-Khodeir, and Faris al-Shuweil. The Saudi policy has generally to re-educate the malcontents and release them.

Pair of Islamofascists Convicted in Denmark

Hammad Khuershid, a Danish citizen of Pakistani origin, and Abdoulghani Tokhi, an Afghan, were secretly filmed mixing the type of explosive used in the 2005 London bombings that killed 52 British commuters, and today, they have been convicted of preparing a terrorist attack. Danish agents filmed them conducting a small test blast with triacetone triperoxide, which was used by the suicide bombers in London. They pair were said to have had links to an al-Qaeda operative. Investigators found handwritten bomb-making manuals in the men's homes that prosecutors said Khuershid had copied at the pro-Taliban Red Mosque in Islamabad. They said he also had spent time in the Pakistani region of Waziristan, a militant stronghold near the Afghan border.

Two Countries: Two Policies on the Uighurs

China released a list of eight who threatened to disrupt the Beijing Olympics and are dedicated to achieving independence for its Western, Uighur region of Xinjiang. The eight, all members of China's mainly Muslim minority Uighurs, belonged to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which the United Nations listed in 2002 as a terrorist organisation with links to Al Qaeda.

On the other hand, the U.S. wants to make sure that the Islamofascists are assured of legal representation, in addition, they want to release them into the American homeland.

If the U.S. was thinking of the best case security scenario, they would send them back to China to foster terrorism covertly in China which is a win-win-win situation. The U.S. is happy, the Uighurs are happy, and China has more issues in the global economy to deal with. Wait, that's a win-win situation for the U.S. But that is exactly what the U.S. should be doing, creating and implementing intelligent security solutions that advance the interests and concerns of Americans.

Race a Bit Tighter

Obama holds a five-point advantage in a new CNN poll, down from eight points. The economy remains the top priority and Americans appear to favor Obama here.

American Held for Another Two Weeks in Pakistan

A Pakistani judge has extended the detention of a young American man of Pakistani descent for an additional two weeks. The man, identified by police as Judi Kenan, was arrested on October. Judi Kenan seems to be one of similar names, was arrested when he was travelling in a restricted zone and police found a knive on him once he was detained.

At least two young British men of Pakistani descent traveled to Pakistan before carrying out suicide bomb attacks on London's transport system in 2005.

Italy Says No More Troops

Tornado Graphic source: Wikipedia Commons

Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, stated that his country will not send any extra troops. Italy has recently sent four Tornado aircraft to reinforce defence and Italy currently has the fourth largest, 2,350 troops, contingent in Afghanistan. Frattini rejected the idea of dialogue with the Taliban.

Italy will not be joining the recent increased efforts from other multi-national forces, Britain and Germany.

There are almost 53,000 troops in Afghanistan from around 40 countries that make up NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Note of Publication: Swiderski, Mercury

Richard M. Swiderski, Quicksilver: A History of the Use, Lore, and Effects of Mercury has been published by McFarland & Company.

American Charged with Illegalities in Pakistan

Authorities in Pakistan have charged Juddi Kenan Muhammad, a US citizen, with illegal entry and illegal possession of a weapon.

Afghan Anti-War Element: Not a Contradiction in Terms

A series of peace jirgas, or assemblies, that are taking place in Afghanistan are advocating the end of the war between the Taliban and Afghan government. Bakhtar Aminzai of the National Peace Jirga of Afghanistan, an association of students, professors, lawyers, clerics, and others are pressuring the Afghan government to find a peaceful solution. Another group, a loya jirga, or grand assembly of Afghans, agrees according to Fatana Gilani, head of the Afghanistan Women's Council (AWC), a leading nongovernmental organization (NGO). A third group asks for an end of Afghanicide-–the killing of Afghanisti-–states Israir Ahmed Karimizai, a leader of Awakened Youth of Afghanistan, a prominent antiwar group. International NGOs receive a great deal of attention, but Afghan NGOs actually make up the bulk of the NGO presence in the country, says M. Hashim Mayar, deputy director of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), an umbrella organization of NGOs active in the country. ACBAR estimates that of the roughly 1,400 registered NGOs, nearly 1,100 are purely Afghan operations. Sheila Samimi, manager of the Afghan Women's Network (AWN), another prominent NGO that focuses on women's rights. AWN is composed of 63 small women-oriented NGOs that work around the country. In some instances, these groups will even critizise the Taliban.

Despite their organization, Afghan peace groups are also beset by weaknesses, states Habibullah Rafeh, a political analyst with the Afghanistan Academy of the Sciences. Their limitation is organizing along ethnic or tribal lines. The Awakened Youth and the National Peace Jirga, for instance, consist mostly of Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group, a rogue ethnic element.

Kagan on American Strategy After the Bush Doctrine

Robert Kagan, Senior Associate of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is more helpful than Stephen Van Evera. Kagan challenges the common misconception that Bush represents a radical change from past American foreign policy. Truman, Kennedy, and Clinton, Democrats all, along with Bush, have maintained a consistent American policy since the end of World War II: a "preponderance of power," rather than a balance of power (Cf. Leffler, Melvyn P., National Security, The Truman Administration, and the Cold War, Stanford Universtiy Press, 1992).

For example, "regime change" characterized all presidential administrations of the past half-century, Kennedy in Cuba, and Clinton in Bosnia and Haiti. The Clinton administration bombed Iraq over the objection of UN Security Council permanent members, and went to war in Kosovo without UN authorization.

What has changed is the world. The world is a less secure place with the ongoing crisis that transnational rogue elements will deploy WMD; in addition, the fragility of the world's financial situation should be clear in the light of Wall Street's meltdown in the Fall of 20008. Previously, the world acquiesced with an American predominance as a security measure. That world is gone. The American Left will revel in an American fall from grace, and the unrealistic solution is only to offer a multi-polar Concert of the World (p. 49). The world no longer shares what the Concert of Europe could assume, a "common morality and shared principles of government" (p. 49). Kagan suggests a League of Democracies (p.50), to advance American interests in concert with similar nations, since deep-seated divisions already exist between intermational multi-polar powers. This League could exert and extend our influence to advance our security. A similar proposal was made during the McCain 2008 presidential campaign.

Powell Endorsement on Meet the Press

Colin Powell has caused a buzz as a guest on "Meet the Press." It seems like a johnny-come-lately announcement though if all he plans to do is to support Obama. If it was a dramatic announcement with genuine impact it would have to be a clear negative. At this point it is just piling on since Obama has already convinced anyone who interested enough to support him. Since he does not have the requisite preparation as president Powell's endorsement is much less interesting as a result.

Ron Paul on the State of the Union

U.S. Representative Ron Paul, who has been one of the few voices of sanity opposing the Democratic, Republican, and government's bailout plan, was interviewed on CNN's "American Morning."

Paul advocates the position that says the bailout's infusion of government money will lead to inflation, that our current monetary system is coming to end, and the market, not politicians, can best solve the economic crisis.

Paul objected to the government intervention in that the complex plan expanded to an inflationary inducing, 450 page, $850 billion, $5 trillion debt levied on the American taxpayer, and, he stated: "I don't think it's going to do any good whatsoever."

Paul believes the bailout is an "attack on the dollar system. . . . the end of a monetary system that we've had since 1971."

Paul stated: "It's an immoral system. You're asking the poor people to bail out the rich. You're asking the innocent people to bail out the guilty. You're asking people to just totally defy the Constitution because there's no place in the Constitution that says that we can do these things."

Paul makes an analogy to a drug addict receiving a fix, the junkie feels tood for a day or two but it is an addiction that does not work.

Neither presidential candidate is offering a solution. There are some good parts to both candidates financial programs, but ultimately, but voted with the Bush bailout. Paul said: "how can we trust anybody?" For the record, Paul voted against the bailout.

Paul was asked about the likely scenario in the election, Democrat control of Congress, both houses, and the White House. What are its implications?

Paul responded: "it's a disaster for the country and everybody because, even with all the shortcomings of John McCain, his strongest argument to be president is keep the Congress and the presidency in separate hands."

The only thing that Paul has going for his position is that the government should get out of the way, quit spending money, balance the budget, bring our troops home, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, while letting the American people keep the money they earn. This may not be enough.

Supremes Say Democrats Should Take Ohio

The Supreme Court backed Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in an ongoing dispute over allegations of voter registration fraud. The justices in an unsigned opinion blocked a lower court order directing Brunner, a Democrat, to update the state's voter registration database after information provided by some newly registered voters did not match up with Social Security and driver registration numbers. The appeal follows a Tuesday ruling from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati that sided with the state GOP.

Brits Add to German Support in Afghanistan

General Sir David Richards, who will today be named as the British Army's new head, appeals for a dramatic, 30,000 troop increase in Afghanistan. Richards, advocates sending up to 5,000 more British troops to Afghanistan in addition to the 8,000 already there. The other 25,000 troops would be made up of U.S. reinforcements and newly trained Afghan soldiers. The British support for a surge follows the German pledge to send additional troops and the successful strategy in Iraq.

Germay to Increase Mission in Afghanistan

Germany's lower house of parliament approved an additional 1,000 soldiers and extended the mission's mandate by fourteen months. The extra troops raises the total number of German soldiers in Afghanistan to 4,500.

A majority of 442 lawmakers voted to support Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition to extend Berlin's participation in the NATO effort, which currently includes just over 50,000 soldiers. Ninety six delegates voted against the proposal and thirty two abstained.

During the last year, the security situation has deteriorated not only in the north where the German troops are, but all across Afghanistan. NATO and its allies would need to send further assistance if the situation is to improve. This move does seem to indicate though that the German government is supportive of the Coalition's efforts in Afghanistan. The international community has made it clear that securing the election will be one of the most important tasks in 2009.

Nonetheless, the morale of the troops is low because they feel that there is little support on the home front. The soldiers feel that the German population does not appreciate their work, which only makes headline news when attacks occur. "More appreciation of the efforts here would be welcome, after all soldiers here can die for Germany," an army spokesperson stated.

Grumpy Old Man Apologizes for Racist Comment

A grumpy old man apologized for his racist comment.

No, it was not that grumpy old man but Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha, an Obama supporter, who apologized for calling western Pennsylvania "a racist area." Now, it is not just one politician who makes condescending comments about Pennsylvania, yes, "that one," but this old codger. Obama insulted rural Pennsylvanians with his infamous "bitter" comments--about residents of Pennsylvania small towns, clinging to their guns and religion--which became a rallying cry for primary rival Hillary Clinton.

Murtha looks down on his constituents from his perch while "representin'" Pennsylvania's 12th District in the southwest corner of the state.

India: Regional Power, Anti-Islamofascist

Indian Ambassador to the UN, Nirupam Sen, told the Security Council that India has strongly advocated implementing robust measures within Afghanistan to fight the "barbarity" of resurgent Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements while expanding "coordinated politico-military efforts" beyond the country. This type of statement is too hot for an American politician to state but it may have been motivated by the Islamabad and India bombings. Sen added: "We need to go much further in realising the well established objective of degrading the ability of the Taliban to fight while simultaneously denying safe-havens, finances and armament." As most of the West misses the target on the actual situation, Sen made it clearer: "The escalating civilian death toll is truly distressing, but the ultimate responsibility for such casualties must be laid at the door of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and those who support and empower them."

It is on the basis of sentiments such as this, from a nation as alarmed by the rising risk of Islamofascism as the U.S., that Americans can coordinate their efforts. India has moved closer to the U.S. in the last eight years.

Air Force Crashes on Cyberspace Issue

The Air Force announced that it has backed off even further from its plan to establish a cyberspace command as the military entity primarily responsible for securing and conducting offensive operations in cyberspace. Meanwhile, at least two dozen countries have active cyberspace units. Maybe we need to take this whole Internet thing a bit more seriously.

Obama Would Cut and Run Before Iraqi Wishes

Obama wants to withdraw combat troops by mid-2010, while the Iraqis themselves have agreed to a withdrawal by 2011. In an Obama administration, the early, publically stated withdrawal date will surely embolden more hostile acts against the U.S. We would just have to return if Obama has his way.

U.S. and Iraq Agree to 2011 Withdraw Date

Washington and Baghdad have reached an agreement that would require U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq by 2011. The bilateral pact replaces a U.N. Security Council resolution enacted after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and will give Iraq's elected government authority over the U.S. troop presence for the first time. Iraq will have the right to prosecute U.S. soldiers for serious crimes under certain circumstances. The final draft of the agreement had been agreed by both sides and would require U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011, unless Iraq asks them to stay longer. For troops to stay longer, a new pact would need to be agreed. Obama wants to withdraw combat troops by mid-2010, while Republican John McCain opposes deadlines. The pact will not require approval by the U.S. Congress.

Analysis of Last Debate

McCain won the battle of the sound bites tonight; in fact, he may have won the sound bites of the campaign award. Most people, who are more interested in NASCAR or other frivolities, will just hear a clip or two. McCain got the right words in. He got to say what many people wanted to hear: "I am not George Bush and if you wanted to run against him you should have run four years ago." In addition, McCain scored on the economy by talking about Joe the Plumber. Ordinary people want a fighter; Joe wants someone who is a maverick. Obama is cerebral and he suffers from the "Al Gore Syndrome," professorial, stating nothing of substance, its just a flow of sweet words that he emits. McCain looks like he wants the job. If Obama is seen as so young and vigorous, why doesn't he act it? He just sits back and relishes the idea that Bush is so hated that he can waltz into the White House. I would think that if you were really willing to work hard for the American people, you might have a bit of passion about it. McCain pointed out how often Obama simple voted "Present." The American people deserve a harder worker than that and they need someone who can make a decision.

Am I the only one who notices that Obama likes to call McCain, "John," as if they are old buddies but it is as if he has no public respect for McCain. Many commentators seem to buy right into the erratic McCain portrayal but he is very respectful, even if he attacks Obama's record and campaign. He did not refer to Obama once by his first name.

Also, when asked what he would cut, Obama had no specifics to answer. When asked how he opposed his party; he had nothing. The independent voters in this election year are concerned that Obama is promising everything, he has nothing to cut, and he will tax and spend. They are correct. He can not deliver. Obama was not willing to state he would balance a budget. You heard it folks, he is criticizing Bush and his inflated budget but Obama is not promising the one thing that will help the economy the most: balance the budget. Stop Washington spending; he will not.

But perhaps the most revealing area of the debate related to our security needs, now. When asked when we can expect to be free from dependency of foreign oil, he stated, "ten years." It will never happen. If Obama can at best, be only President for two terms, he will be long gone in a decade. Energy efficiency will never happen with an Obama administration. The security policies he would favor as President will keep us dependent on foreign oil.

Voting Fraud Saga Continues

The full 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld a lower court ruling that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must use other government records to check thousands of new voters for registration fraud. The full panel sided with U.S. District Judge George C. Smith in Columbus after hearing an appeal. Smith had ordered Brunner to develop a way to verify voter registration information and make it available to local election boards.

The federal appeals court ruled that the current system "is essentially useless — not unlike asking for a drink of water and being given access to a fire hose at full volume — and will do nothing to address the anti-fraud objective."

The order directs Brunner to verify new registrations by comparing that information with data from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the Social Security Administration.

Pakistani-American Re-arrested

Pakistani intelligence agents re-arrested Juddi Kenan, a man with dual American-Pakistani citizenship. He is now in the custody of intelligence agencies.

Nothing to Worry About

Five Afghanistan scholars, from their 20s to 30, visiting the University of Washington have been reported missing so there is nothing to worry about. Two scholars from Afghanistan disappeared last year after attending the same program. The visitors were selected by the Afghan eQuality Alliance, a Global Development Alliance sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through a cooperative agreement with Washington State University, Roseth said. The FBI has said that it's not concerned about a security threat and is handing the case over to immigration.

So seven young Afghans, "scholars" at 20-30 years old, sponsored by Afghan agencies, are running around unattended in the U.S. and there is nothing to worry about. The FBI didn't invite Louis Freeh to come back and run things did they?

U.S. Citizen Waltzing Through Pakistan Released

A man believed to be a US citizen who was arrested near Pakistan's restive tribal area near the Afghan border has been released. There are no additional details other than what was stated yesterday about his background. This story does not sound right but there are no additional data points about it so far.

Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Thoughts on the Current Situation in Iraq

Thanks to the Long War Journal there is a fascinating exchange on the status of Iraq that I am repeating here. The following excerpt is from a transcript arising in an 10 October interview in Baghdad between Bill Murray, from the Long War Journal, and Ryan Crocker, US Ambassador to Iraq.

Murray: You arrived in Iraq as Ambassador in March of 2007; it’s now been about 18 months. If you were to rate Iraq right now compared to March 2007 or perhaps October 2006, rating that period perhaps as a 1, as a time of fear and loathing, versus where we are here today two years later, on a scale of 1 to 10, where do you think we are here in October 2008?

Crocker: If it’s a relative comparison, it’s well beyond 10. This is a transformed country since the time I’ve arrived. I will always remember my first visit to a Baghdad neighborhood as Ambassador. It was to Dora and the surge brigade had just moved in to the area. I’d been here in 2003 and lived here in the late 1970s, and walking through the streets of Dora a year and a half ago, it reminded me of Beirut in the 1980s, it was a war zone.

People were afraid to go out in the streets, to the big Dora market, which had only a dozen shops open, out of maybe 400. The residents were afraid to cross the bridge to go to the hospital because they thought the national police at the checkpoint would kill them because they were Sunnis. It was deeply depressing.

Dora is now utterly transformed. Not only are all 400 shops opened, the market has expanded well beyond that and during the commemoration of the birth of the last Shia Imam, tens of thousands of Iraqi Shia walked through Dora on their way to Karbala and were given food and drink by the Sunni residents. Contrast that to a time when if any Shia had tried to walk into Dora they wouldn’t have walked out, period. It’s that kind of transformation that is, to me, utterly striking.

That said, the threats are still there. Al Qaeda is diminished and in retreat, but not defeated. The Iranians clearly are trying to follow a Hezbollah model here as in Lebanon. The big Jaish al Mahdi militia model didn’t work for them. That is transforming into a non-militant organization but they are still working with Special Groups that are trained, equipped and directed by the Qods Force out of Tehran and the training is done by Lebanese Hezbollah.

So the Sunni extreme of al Qaeda, the Shia extreme of Hezbollah-like groups directed by the Qods Force represent real threats to this country and we and the Iraqis are going to have to be absolutely diligent in not letting up and tracking them down and eliminating them.

You have the challenge of services. A year ago, everybody was talking about security. Nobody worries much about security anymore in most of the country so now they’re all complaining about services. Where is the power, where is the water, where is the job opportunities and the government is going to have to step up to that? They are making progress but there is obviously a very long way to go.

And then there is the question of political evolution. There are lots of strains and pressures in this evolving system and how that evolution takes place is going to determine the future of the country. But there has been enormous progress -- coming back from Dora, putting my head on my desk, wishing I was back in Pakistan, from that moment I never would have hoped that Iraq would have come as far as it has in these 18 months, but there is still a long way to go, so we’re going to have to stay with this.

Source: Cf. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/10/an_interview_with_am.php

McKiernan Optimistic on Afghanistan

The top Coalition commander in Afghanistan, General David D. McKiernan, who leads more than 65,000 troops from about 40 foreign countries, including 33,000 Americans, stated that there had been “too many” reports in the media recently asserting that the foreign forces and their Afghan allies were losing the war.

He said:

I absolutely reject that idea, I don’t believe it,” the general said, adding: “It is true that there are many places in this country that don’t have an adequate level of security. We don’t have progress as even and as fast as any of us would like. But we are not losing in Afghanistan.

McKiernan stated that progress is being made and the Coalition is winning in Afghanistan.

This was a tussle about this in the Biden vs. Palin debate.

Biden stated:

The fact is that our commanding general in Afghanistan said today that a surge – the surge principles used in Iraq will not – well, let me say this again now – our commanding general in Afghanistan said the surge principle in Iraq will not work in Afghanistan, not Joe Biden, our commanding general in Afghanistan. He said we need more troops. We need government-building. We need to spend more money on the infrastructure in Afghanistan.

Biden seemed to downplay what McKiernan's actual assessment has been.

McKiernan had already clarified what he said in the Washington Post:

The word I don't use for Afghanistan is 'surge,' saying that what is required is a "sustained commitment" to a counterinsurgency effort that could last many years and would ultimately require a political, not military, solution.

McKiernan added in the Post that Afghanistan would need an infusion of American troops "as quickly as possible," i.e., a surge.

Afghanistan Expensive for Germany Too

Germany's army, the Bundeswehr, has cost Germans $3.27 billion U.S. through the end of 2007 for "deployment related additional expenditures" to the federal budget. The budget calls for a further spending for the ISAF mission in 2008. Actual expenditures for this year, however, will be considerably higher because the budget only includes expenditures through the end of the current deployment mandate, which ends on Oct. 13. Despite the cost, Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, is expected to extend the mandate by an additional 14 months. So far, Germany's military spending in Afghanistan has been almost four times greater than what it has contributed in civilian development aid.

Florida Man Visiting Extremists in Pakistan

A 20-year-old American man, identified on his passport as Juddi Kenan, and a resident of Florida, was arrested today in the Pakistani border region. Officers were investigating what an American was doing in the border area, believed to be a possible hiding place for Osama bin Laden and others. Kenan did not have permission to be in the region as is required by Pakistani law so he was arrested in the Mohmand agency. Kenan was wearing traditional Pakistani clothes; he related that he was a student at a community college and was in the tribal region to visit a friend. Kenan carried a laptop and a travelling bag. If he is not an AQAM operative, then he might be a CIA plant I would guess. No one is on a joyride to a lawless tribal region.

Obama - ACORN Connection

Graphic source: Social Policy Barack Hussein Obama pictured with ACORN in 2004

While Hussein Obama's involvement in a 1995 lawsuit on behalf of ACORN is usually reported, Obama's own website, as well as most major media, fail to reveal the full extent of his relationship with the organization or have subsequently scrubbed the evidence away. However, the advantage of the Net is that nothing disappears forever. The hidden web is full of information included in proprietary scholarly databases where these very same "missing" articles can be easily uncovered. Obama's campaign website states:

Fact: Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.

In a 2004 article--"Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign, by Toni Foulkes, a Chicago ACORN Leader, was published in the journal Social Policy. The journal recently pulled this particular article from their website, while leaving links to all other articles up.

The journal states:

Obama took the case, known as ACORN vs. Edgar (the name of the Republican governor at the time) and we won. Obama then went on to run a voter registration project with Project VOTE in 1992 that made it possible for Carol Moseley Braun to win the Senate that year. Project VOTE delivered 50,000 newly registered voters in that campaign (ACORN delivered about 5,000 of them).

Since then, we have invited Obama to our leadership training sessions to run the session on power every year, and, as a result, many of our newly developing leaders got to know him before he ever ran for office. Thus it was natural for many of us to be active volunteers in his first campaign for STate Senate and then his failed bid for U.S. Congress in 1996. By the time he ran for U.S. Senate, we were old friends.

Foulkes proclaims Obama's ACORN leadership training, but also clarifies Obama's post-law school organizing of "Project VOTE" in 1992 which was undertaken in direct partnership with ACORN. This is a tie between Project VOTE and ACORN with Obama's cooperation as ACORN has been accused of voter registration fraud. In addition, in March 2008, the Los Angeles Times also verified Obama's involvement with ACORN:

At the time, Talbot worked at the social action group ACORN and initially considered Obama a competitor. But she became so impressed with his work that she invited him to help train her staff. (LA Times, March 2, 2008)

Obama was an ACORN trainer.

Hussein is knee deep in ACORN nuts.

Nuts! to ACORN States Former Ohio Secretary of State

Ken Blackwell, the Ohio former Secretary of State, is calling for further investigation into voter fraud by ACORN as a challenge to democracy. The Obama campaign is reluctant to agree since they are so heavily involved with the organization.

Ohio Toss-Up

Ohio is more of a toss-up than many have stated: CNN's new Ohio poll of polls shows Hussein leading McCain by three points, 49 to 46%. 5% of the state’s voters were unsure about their presidential pick; previously, on 9 October, Obama led McCain by four points, in the 21 September poll, Barack led McCain by a single point. That's a horse race.

Current Developments in Afpak Illustrated

Graphic source: Department of Public Information

Information released to the public confirms the general sense of increasing urgency but coupled with significant inroads against AQAM in the Afpac region.

Obama Favors Delaying a Settlement in Iraq

The Washington Times quoted Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Samir Sumaidaie about a June 16 telephone conversation between Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Obama. Obama urged Iraq to delay the (memorandum of understanding) between Iraqi and the United States until the new administration was in place. Sumaidaie was present apparently and reported his recollection to the newspaper. It is reasonable that Obama wants to be a player and his interests are before the country's during the heat of a close political campaign.

Farewell to Van Evera

Stephen Van Evera, Professor of Political Science at MIT, would have us believe that the U.S. is in a similar situation as in the Concert of Europe, c. 1815. After the era of Napoleon and the French Revolution, the Concert was adopted by the old great powers of Europe of meeting from time to time in an International Conference, or Congress, in order to plan a solution by mutual agreement (hence "concert"). Austrian Chancellor Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich was the primary architect of the Concert and its most famous participant. The Concert of Europe became a de facto government of the world. The British balance of power was in abeyance and there followed an era of stability where Europe engaged in no major conflict for 43 years which is no mean accomplishment.

But the historical analogy does not fit. The Congress' first primary objectives were to:

contain France after decades of war;

achieve a balance of power between Europe's great powers;

uphold the territorial arrangements made at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815 and in doing so prevent the rise of another Napoleon-esque figure which would result in another continent wide war.

None of the objectives fit the requirements of effective U.S. foreign policy. There is no nation-state, such as France that needs containing; there is nothing advantageous for U.S. interests to simply maintain parity with other leading nations; and, no territory will contain a Napoleon-like figure to any one territory.

A Napoleon or any monster like him today is much more lethal today given the phenomenon of Islamofascism. Second, the U.S. has prospered during a period of American hegemony which is only more difficult today given the difficulties of the U.S. economy, ongoing international threats, and Islamofascism. Boundaries are not barriers today when you consider the role of the media in the information war and the porous nature of territories as in the case of places like Pakistan.

Van Evera equates the danger of a WMD and Napoleon as a threat-from-below. But as many nations are already engaged in actively defending themselves especially since the threats have often moved beyond threats to actual bombings and killings. Yet, the existing bulwarks such as NATO have proved less than successful in thwarting attacks. Van Evera seems to simply state the obvious. Nations need to cooperate. We already know that. The trick is to get them to move in harmony since they are not.

It is unilateral U.S. action that Van Evera reserves for especial disdain. But what is the alternative? America was under attack following 9/11 and if anything the U.S. dragged its feet, or failed to heed the warnings from Bin Laden experts such as Michael Scheuer during the Clinton administration. In large part the Bush Doctrine arouse from being attacked directly and during war no nation can wait for an international Concert before acting.

Van Evera's idealistic faith in diplomacy is laughable. Here is one such precious gem: "the United States should speak in respectful tones to other governments" (p. 19, Leffler). Maybe if the U.S. said "pretty please" to Hugo Chavez he wouldn't be such a bad guy after all. There are significant portions of the world, the lands where our enemies live, that openly applauded the attacks on 9/11. We can't wait for friends or enemies to take decisive action when our national security is on the line.

Van Evera simply recommends diplomacy to stop WMD. Every sane nation desires this but he never explains how the failed diplomacies of the past will now work. He just knows that Bush didn't excercise enough of it. Even our staunchest allies fail to deliver. For example, in July of this year, Japan backed out of an earlier commitment to dispatch its Self-Defence Forces (SDF) to Afghanistan now that the security situation has declined. The self-limitation of allies does not hinder AQAM (al-Qaeda and Allied Movements).

Another unexplained notion is that we have to have ideas to combat al Qaeda. This will convince them? Hardly. No war of ideas will convince AQ that we are right.

As things may get worse Van Evera has the "selective engagement" of Robert Art. This is all well and good but there is no way to distinguish Art from Bush since George would consider himself as targeting the right people and he has selectively chosen to attack the worse threats.

Nations selectively attack their biggest foes. Van Evera approves of Bismarck between 1871-1890 because he "bolstered peace" (p. 24). What Van Evera does not mention is that Bismarck had defeated each of his enemies-–Denmark, Austria, and France-–in isolation. After 1871 Bismarck was committed to preserving the peace of Europe only because he had already provoked and/or defeated his threats, selectively.

Since the U.S. suffered only 1.7% of war deaths in World War I, and only 3.6% of the deaths in World War II, this is evidence for Van Evera that the U.S. paid a relatively small price while forging great alliances that can work again. The only thing it seems to prove is that the U.S. assisted others in their life and death struggle that if successful, our common enemies would have come for us, and, of course Japan had hit the U.S. mainland.

Van Evera gets the historial parallels wrong so it is not surprising that his arguments for the present conflicts do not fit.

Cf. Leffler, Melvyn P., and Jeffrey W. Legro, To Lead the World: American Strategy After the Bush Doctrine.

Ayers, Buddy Chavez, Viva La Revolucion!

In November 2006 at the World Education Forum with dictator Hugo Chavez at his side, William Ayers, Obama associate and Weather Underground bomber stated his support for "the political educational reforms under way here in Venezuela under the leadership of President Chavez. We share the belief that education is the motor-force of revolution. . . . I look forward to seeing how . . . all of you continue to overcome the failures of capitalist education as you seek to create something truly new and deeply humane." Ayers added: "Teaching invites transformations, it urges revolutions large and small. La educacion es revolucion."

Whose Your Daddy? No One

A DNA test has confirmed what scientists thought: a mother shark had a virgin birth. The pup has no father. A pup carried by a female blacktip shark contains no male genetic material. This is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion since virgin births have been proven in some bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. The study appeared in the Journal of Fish Biology. The research does not indicate how frequently automictic parthenogenesis occurs in the wild.

Osama for President

Graphic source: Albany Times Union newspaper

If the chad fits wear it seems to be the slogan in Rensselaer County, New York state where absentee ballots went out with a typographical error. Ballots were printed with Barack Obama’s last name spelled as “Osama." Officials will re-send corrected ballots on request.

Indiana Voter Fraud by Obama's ACORN

In Indiana as well, there is evidence of voter fraud. More than 2,000 voter registration forms filed in northern Indiana's Lake County by ACORN have turned out to be bogus. In Lake County, home to the long-depressed steel town of Gary, the bipartisan Elections Board has stopped processing a stack of about 5,000 applications delivered just before the October 6 registration deadline after the first 2,100 turned out to be phony. "All the signatures looked exactly the same," Ruthann Hoagland, a Republican on the board. "Everything on the card filled out looks exactly the same." The attempted voter fraud this time around is more widespread and earlier than ever before.

Judge Orders Verification Required by Law in Ohio

U.S. District Judge George C. Smith in Columbus ruled that Ohio Democrat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must perform verification required by the Help America Vote Act. That includes matching new registrants' information against information in databases maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the Social Security Administration. Perhaps a Judge is seeing through the fraud that is taking place, at least in Ohio.

Obama's ACORN Plucked Again

Graphic source: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Another state and not just in Ohio are there instances of voter fraud by Obama supporters in ACORN. A Nevada secretary of state's office spokesman said that investigators are looking for evidence of voter fraud at the office.

Creepy Video Parallels

I am going to have to weigh in on the Obama Children's Chorus which is just creepy. And, if no one sees the parallels, they need to be reminded of what happens when you capture the youth in song.

Ohio Voter Fraud Ongoing

The voter fraud in Ohio continues unabated since observers are being turned away by court order.

Who Is Erratic?

One guy attacks the other for his "erratic leadership." At least one nominee possesses leadership accomplishments, and, the other? In Obama's 1995 book Dreams of My Father, he writes that he was once headed in the direction of a "junkie" and a "pothead. Referring to his emotional struggles as a young man, Obama writes, "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though."

Oh, ok, pot, booze, and blow are fine but the other guy is erratic: just checking.

NIMBY: Muslim Uigher Background

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

If the Uighers, Chinese Muslims, who are facing possible release, enter the U.S. we should be aware of what we are dealing with. The Muslims were captured in terrorist training camps as a fall-out of the search for al Qaeda after 9/11.

The Uighers who may be released are all connected to the most lethal of the Uighur groups to evolve out of the Soviet jihad called the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). Their near enemy is obviously China but no one can say for sure they these jihadists don't view the U.S. as the far enemy. The ETIM are international jihadists who share their ideology with al Qaeda and the Taliban. The swath of insurgency from various groups stretched from Western China through Central Asia.

The organization and related Uighur terrorist groups have been designated by the UN as one of the terrorist groups affiliated with the Taliban and al Qaeda; The US Treasury Department and the US Department of Homeland Security have also designated the ETIM a terrorist organization.

The Department of Defense has released unclassified documents produced at Gitmo for the Uighurs thus far incarcerated. The documents were produced during the detainee’s hearings before their Combatant Status Review Tribunals (“CSRT”) and Administrative Review Boards (“ARB”) between 2004 and 2006. All 22 of the Uighurs are alleged to have demonstrable ties to the ETIM and/or its sister organization the Sharq (East) Turkistan Islamic Partiyisa (STIP). All of the detainees were either: (a) identified as members of the ETIM and STIP and/or (b) received training at ETIM facilities and/or (c) resided at ETIM guesthouses or training facilities.

These are not people who should be released into any American's backyard.

Dow Down Again

I've heard the good Senators, as steady as they might claim, have solved the financial crisis. Yet, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about 679 points--some 7 percent--again today. Maybe they should suspend the campaign and get to work. The Democrats have had a majority for two years. Yet, they have accomplished nothing.

Age Discrimination in the Presidential Campaign

Graphic source: Wikipedia Commons

With age discrimination so rampant in this presidential campaign it may be instructive to recall how other countries have handled the age issue of their leaders. Golda Meir was 76 when she ended her term as Prime Minister in Israel; French President Charles de Gaulle was 78, and Nelson Mandela as President in South Africa was 80. Mandela also was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

In a `you had to be there' moment from an earlier campaign, when Ronald Reagan was 73 he ran for re-election and in a 1984 televised debate against Walter Mondale, then 56, Reagan quipped: "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I will not hold my opponent's youth and inexperience against him." The audience laughed and Reagan won the election.

Ayers Bombing Victim in Public Email

John Murtagh, who said his home was firebombed by the Weather Underground in 1971, has gone public in an email. Murtagh's father was a New York State Supreme Court justice presiding over the trial of members of the Black Panther Party charged in a plot to bomb New York landmarks and department stores. Murtagh stated: "Barack Obama may have been a child when William Ayers was plotting attacks against U.S. targets -- but I was one of those targets. Barack Obama's friend tried to kill my family."

Africom Foreign Policy Blunder: Another Rummy Move

Another foreign policy blunder, the new United States Africa Command (Africom) became fully operational. This is the last major action proposed by former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld intended to support U.S. military and diplomatic initiatives across a huge continent and among an unbelievably complex population. Although there is little in the area that is critical to the security needs of the U.S., not to mention financial difficulties at home, is seems to be the height of folly to overextend our military resources to a new and largely hostile area. I believe that it is only a matter of time before the U.S. gets bogged down again in a Somalia like situation.

Emergency Filing Blocks Release of Terrorist Trainees

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals granted the Bush administration's motion for an emergency stay to prevent the release of seventeen Chinese Uighers found in terrorist camps after 9/11. In an emergency motion filed overnight, Justice Department attorneys said only the executive branch--not the courts--may decide whether to admit an alien into the United States. The government stated the decision to free the detainees "threatens serious harm to the interests of the United States and its citizens by mandating that the government release in the nation's capital 17 individuals who engaged in weapons training at a military training camp."

Chinese Plead for Release from Taliban

Graphic source: Afpax Insider

Two Chinese engineers kidnapped 29 August appeared on a video released by the Taliban. They pleaded for their release.

Call Those Two Running for President

Someone should be informing those guys who are running for President. Interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf said today Iraq was ready to take over security responsibilities from U.S. security forces in Baghdad. Baghdad is now averaging four attacks a day, which according to US statistics was 89 percent less than in 2006, and 83 percent lower than in 2007. A majority of the benchmarks established by Iraq have been met already. It seems fair to state that the picture in Iraq is that any security is tenuous but characterized by clear rubrics.

The candidates are spending quite a bit of time, if they talk about the situation at all, discussing Iraq as if it were 2003. A heads-up Senators, it is 2008.

A Second Attempt at Analyzing the 2nd Debate

The second debate will go to Obama since he is exercising the better strategy. He is running against Bush c. 2003 and he has effectively painted McCain as third term Bush. It matters little what he actually says, since he says very little, and McCain needed a slam dunk to catch up in the polls which will not happen after this last performance.

Obama says that Iraq is wrong-headed and expensive but we were wrong to go there; yet, we should insert ourselves in Africa as a humanitarian gesture to stop human suffering. Moreover, we should enforce a no-fly zone as well. Uhh, Senator, this was the original policy in Iraq. Where have you been?

And, while on the topic of fixing other country's problems, aren't we broke as a nation? Didn't we just bail out Wall Street to the tune of $700 Billion? So, we should not support Iraq, in fact, we should set a timetable and get out because that is what Bush wanted. Yet, we should get out and go elsewhere? We should now go to Africa and extend ourselves there? Uhh, Senator, where have you been? We did this in Somalia, as a humanitarian gesture, and our troops were attacked. We left.

I know the words sound good but a greater grasp of the actual conditions and a review of what the U.S. has already tried would be instructive.

Who Is Qualified?

As an analysis piece of the second Presidential debate, a town hall setting, I would like to explore the question: who is qualified?

1) Break the rules and don't follow the time limits of what you agreed to while the American people are desperately seeking answers to the questions that concern them most;

2) Don't directly answer the questions of those Americans asking the questions.

If you follow number one and two listed above you are not qualified to be the next President. This is my disappointment with the second debate in the town hall round.

Unfortunately, these are the only two viable candidates available but neither McCain nor Obama followed the time rules that their campaigns agreed to nor did either candidate answer the questions they were asked. We know what we are in for: people who break the rules as they see fit and don't have answers to our questions.

At the same time, did you notice the voters? If there ever was a more subdued, concerned, and somber audience at a political event I have not seen it. The body language of the audience members transcended the cold screen of television. And, their revulsion reflects the general mood of Americans. These are dark days for the Republic.

Muslim Chinese Uighurs Terrorists Released in U.S.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina today ordered that seventeen Chinese Uighur Muslims held at the Guantanamo Bay military prison be released into the United States by Friday. It was the first time that a U.S. court has ordered the release of a Guantanamo detainee, and the first time that a foreign national held there has been ordered brought to the United States. This is a landmark ruling paving the way for former enemy combatants to be released into the U.S. Urbina said that "the Constitution prohibits indefinite detention without cause." The group has been released into the custody of Uighur families in Washington.

Churchill Quote

Graphic source: Cotswolds.info.com

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."

Sir Winston Churchill

Koranic Training Children: To Die For

Graphic source: AfPax Insider

The Taliban are back at it again and they have reconstituted a Spinkai Ragzai, South Waziristan camp that trains boys seven to fourteen years old to be suicide bombers. A video obtained AfPax Insider shows a camp maintained by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. The illustrations show the boys reading from the Quran with an adult Taliban training them. One slide shows a poster board with the words “Killing a Spy” written in English. The Pakistani army destroyed the camp previously and the computers, equipment, and training literature showed graphic details of the training ‘nursery.’ Young boys are seen carrying out executions, a classroom where 10- to 12-year olds are sitting in formations, with a white band of Quranic verses wrapped around their forehead, and there are training videos to show how improvised explosive devices are made and detonated.

The Spinkai camp is one of 157 training camps and more than 400 support locations in the Taliban-controlled tribal areas and in the Northwest Frontier Province.

John Palfrey, a professor at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, has co-written two books examining online issues -- Access Denied, which examines global Internet censorship and filtering, and Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. The latter book, published last month, set out to provide "digital immigrants" -- older generations of parents, teachers and others -- with a portrait of "digital natives," who were born after 1980.

Palfrey was asked questions and I posted his answer below:

Which findings in the book were most surprising to you? I didn't find as many young people taking advantage of doing everything they could do with technology. I didn't see the outpouring of creativity I was hoping to see.

I wanted to see that the technology was a gateway to get more young people involved in civic life. I didn't find a huge rush to use these technologies to improve the world. There are examples of incredible social entrepreneurs … but there is not a large-scale rush, which I was hoping to see.

Note on Norman Podhoretz, World War IV

This is a quick and easy read but one to stir up controversy if you follow his argument. There are not many people willing to take a positive view of the neocons, since currently they are regularly lampooned publicly, nor many who would dare say that Bush is right on foreign policy but Podhoretz is one such person who will. The closest analogy to Bush he argues is Truman in 1947 who unpopularly enunciated his Doctrine of containment against the Soviets. Eisenhower although differing in many ways did not alter the Truman Doctrine. Podhoretz argues that the Bush Doctrine of preemptive action against our enemies is correct and will be proven true historically.

U.S. Asks Allies/Euros to Pay for Their Defense

In a move that I've long advocated here the U.S. is asking allies such as Japan and NATO allies who have not sent troops to Afghanistan to pony up with the estimated $17 billion needed to build up the Afghan army.

This request may be a two-tiered NATO alliance that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned against early this year but there is no alternative. The Europeans are going to be hit harder, and most likely before the U.S. next gets attacked by terrorists trained in Afpak camps so they should be willing to pay for their own defense. Gates has been on the frontlines asking U.S. allies to pay for their defense, especially if they are not willing to send troops.

The U.S. has 33,000 troops in Afghanistan. About 22,000 are part of NATO's force of nearly 48,000 troops. The United States contributes the most troops by far among allies, followed by Britain with about 8,000.

The Afghan army plans to double in size to 134,000 soldiers over five years at a cost of $17 billion to $20 billion, according to estimates.

Presidential Candidates At the Bailout Trough

The bloated rhetoric of the two presidential candidates is only exceeded by the nonsense they have both expressed about the financial crisis. Thanks to research by the Center for Responsive Politics the figures they collected speak volumes about how likely the bailout will work. We should know who funds their campaigns. The financial services industries have funded both candidates.

Here is the tally at the trough:

McCain received $19.6 million and Obama garnished $22.5 million.

Two of the biggest financial groups in Washington, the Financial Services Roundtable and the Mortgage Bankers Association, have been holding meetings with McCain and Obama’s economic advisers. They are working to shift their bad debt to taxpayers. The Roundtable has met in private, closed-door sessions with Obama economic advisers Ian Soloman and McCain adviser Ike Brannon. Those lurking around Obama—-economists such as Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, and Laura Tyson-—are as guilty of dismantling of government regulation as those advising McCain.

I say a pox on both their houses.