Blog Smith

Transcript: Inaugural Address of Obama
20 January 2009

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.

I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...

(APPLAUSE)

... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.

OBAMA: The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers [sic], and true to our founding documents.

COMMENTARY
How are the people true to our founding documents? The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are protections of liberty for the people. It is up to elected officials to be faithful to the documents, which they have not always been.

OBAMA: So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

COMMENTARY
We may be in a crisis but at last count the inauguration cost $170 million. The message to cut back is not for the American people but the spendthrifts in government who are throwing away our opportunities. In addition, I believe the last phrase is key. Obama must want to sell his energy solution, as he will want Americans to rein in energy use, as a security measure. What he will not be advertising is how this means less opportunity for Americans, as the Federal government will stifle innovation and individual initiative. He must have as his goal the Socialist Carol Browner and how these international organizations are promoting a one-world government and the diminution of American energy use.

OBAMA: These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.

COMMENTARY
American decline is not inevitable but he does not address the lessening of opportunity. If America is to get in line with the remainder of the world, and innovation is stifled, Americans, particularly younger Americans, will have lower achievements. I think it is interesting that he simply left this paragraph hang by itself.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.

COMMENTARY
The paragraph he left hanging for the following paragraph is simply a recourse to a rhetorical flourish. It says nothing but it sounds good since it communicates stirring words like "challenges," "serious," and a vague we can do it America. This paragraph is fluff.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
The fluff paragraph had its intended object: applause. He got it.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

OBAMA: On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

(APPLAUSE)
COMMENTARY
These three paragraphs appear to be his obligatory nod to civil rights. He does not mention of course he was not in America during the civil rights movement; he benefited though from the work of others.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.

OBAMA: It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.

Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

COMMENTARY
The next four paragraphs seem to be his summary of American history.

OBAMA: For us, they fought and died in places [sic] Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

COMMENTARY
Then, comes this strange sentence, which is about war, but he simply places war time sacrifices in the broader American themes of immigration, slavery, and settlement.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.

COMMENTARY
There is a poor transition from traditional American themes to the journey paragraph. He did not address how with all that hard work Americans find themselves in this crisis. If he did, his targets might hit too close to home so politically he does not mention any villains.

OBAMA: Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

(APPLAUSE)

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.

COMMENTARY
This section is really flat. He talks of remaking without stating what needs to be remade. He simply is calling people to work. It is also phrased so vaguely that there is no program or idea that he is tied to. People have to sacrifice is all is saying.

We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.

COMMENTARY
This is the harping he has been stating in his weekly radio addresses. With each week the number of jobs he is stating to save grows. This may be just an obligatory nod to FDR since nothing about the infrastructure will grow the U.S. economy. The infrastructure is a weakness of the U.S. since we have failed to invest in foundational areas. Other countries have invested and have surpassed our growth particularly in the digital age.

We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...

(APPLAUSE)

... and lower its costs.

COMMENTARY
He is taking a stab at Bush's science policy. Then, he alludes to expanding the wonders of technology, which can be extremely expensive, but then somehow, magically, technology will cost less. He does not explain how.

OBAMA: We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.

COMMENTARY
Most likely the key here will be the reference to the "soil" technologies since Illinois and the businesses there stand to profit a great deal from ethanol use. He will most likely advocate ethanol as his energy and security solution which will be good for businesses that he is dependent on for support.

All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.

COMMENTARY
He must have big energy plans, not detailed here, that he will outline at some point. The statements here allow him to refer back to this to say he told us already. Of course, there are no details here at all.

OBAMA: The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.

COMMENTARY
He will end programs he does not like; he will favor those he does.

And those of us who manage the public's knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

COMMENTARY
He may be just taking a snipe at Bush here but there is a lack of trust between many people and Obama but he can not explicit refer to them.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.

OBAMA: But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.

The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
No one should expect Obama to uphold free market principles; he is explicitly advocating a liberal, interventionist model of the federal government.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.

OBAMA: Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
This section may be against Bush's security priorities, which of course he has not rolled back. All the questions that people leveled at Bush in regards to the Patriot Act or infringing on basic American liberties are not on the Obama radar screen. He can criticize Bush and still retain all the powers of the imperial presidency. He may be referring to waterboarding, extradition, and others practices that he plans to abandon which will make the enemies of the U.S. more contentious.

It is interesting that he made a reference to the "small village where my father was born." He does not reference where he was born. Of course, we do not know where he was born anyway. He may have been born in the same small village as a British citizen of Kenya, just like his father.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.

OBAMA: They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.

COMMENTARY
Pleasant words but sufficiently vague so as to say nothing. I understand that he has to criticize Bush but he has no plan or better idea to offer. You have to accept on faith that somehow he will forge peace in Afghanistan. He does not say how; he may not understand the area in any case. Also, it is interesting to see how he addresses Iraq: "We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people." He does not seem to grasp the security advances that have resulted from the surge and all of the accomplishments established by his election in November. In this way, during his watch, he can claim that he was the one who handled Iraq correctly. In fact, General Petraeus, the Awakening Councils in Iraq, and the blood and sacrifice of American service people have already achieved this standard. It would have been magnanimous of him to admit this but he has demonstrated no indication earlier that he intends to credit those who performed the hard work and selfless duty of sacrifice to this end. It is more important for him to play politics about Iraq and repeat the standard liberal dogma.

OBAMA: With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.

COMMENTARY
Energy and security keeps coming back in the speech. He intends to rein in America in its energy use. It is the top priority in the speech.

We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.

And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
He is addressing the terrorist threat, briefly, and I would conclude that he thinks if we use less we will be less of a target. He is wrong; Islamists are on their way regardless.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.

COMMENTARY
"Patchwork" is an odd metaphor to use. It implies weakness, the standard cliche is melting pot or tossed salad. It is the incorrect word to use. It works against his rhetoric.

We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

COMMENTARY
If America becomes blander we will have peace. I think that is a debatable point but I believe it is fair to state that is what he intends. We had peace when we were distinctive and lived in a unipolar world. Obama intends a multipolar world, restraining American ambitions.

OBAMA: To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

COMMENTARY
He can dream on; this will not happen.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.

COMMENTARY
Interesting in that his next paragraph, after the conciliatory paragraph about Muslims, seems to follow Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations thesis. There is a tension here unless he is trying to appeal to all sides of the political debate, the internationalists, and the realists. It is unclear what he is referring to, perhaps as he is so unfamiliar with foreign policy, he simply does not know how to proceed. In this way, he can be reactive, depending on how much the U.S. is attacked, he can always take the ploy that he has a clear policy as it is a response to whatever the remainder of the world does against U.S. interests.

To those...

(APPLAUSE)

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.

COMMENTARY
He plans to provide more foreign aid.

And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

COMMENTARY
This is another reference to how much we consume. We are at fault for using the world's energy. We will have to cut back in favor of the remainder of the world.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.

COMMENTARY
Our military makes great sacrifices.

OBAMA: And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.

It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.

It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.

OBAMA: These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.

COMMENTARY
Americans will need to be like soldiers. We must sacrifice.

What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

OBAMA: This is the source of our confidence: the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

COMMENTARY
We have our duty, and we have a responsibility to ourselves, but we have a duty to sacrifice for the world.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. And why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
We are sacrificing but we can still celebrate. He makes another reference to his father, a man he barely knew and did not raise him, in addition, he would not be served at a restaurant, not because of his race, but because he was not an American. It is a odd reference to make. I do not think Barack recognizes that there are those who question his background. He wants to make disagreements about race instead. He is wrong.

So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled.

In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by nine campfires on the shores of an icy river.

COMMENTARY
He does not reference how there are nine campfires at Valley Forge.

OBAMA: The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.

At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you.

(APPLAUSE)

And God bless the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

COMMENTARY
He invokes Washington. He wants us to sacrifice bravely as Americans. He must intend to significantly lower the American way of living.

Since the presidential oath was not available to be read it is not surprising that there was a glitch. Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution states the oath as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Chief Justice Roberts threw Obama off on his first official duty: a simple oath easily memorized. "Faithfully" belongs before "execute," and not at the end of the oath. That is why Obama was puzzled, smiled, and he could not improvise.

I wonder if this is a bad omen.

The oath was not smooth at all.

Initially, Obama interrupted Roberts midway through the opening line, in which the president repeats his name and solemnly swears.

Next in the oath, which is enshrined in the Constitution, is the phrase "... that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States." But Roberts rearranged the order of the words, not saying "faithfully" until after "president of the United States."

That appeared to throw Obama off. He stopped abruptly at the word "execute."

Recognizing something was off, Roberts then repeated the phrase, putting "faithfully" in the right place but without repeating "execute."

Obama then repeated Roberts' original, incorrect version: "... the office of president of the United States faithfully."

In any case, I guess its official. You can just make it up as you go along. There is no need to follow the Constitution anyway.

Transcript:

ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
OBAMA: I, Barack--
ROBERTS: ...do solemnly swear...
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
ROBERTS: ...that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
OBAMA: ...that I will execute... [pause]
ROBERTS: ...faithfully the office of president of the United States...
OBAMA: ...the office of president of the United States faithfully...
ROBERTS: ...and will, to best of my ability...
OBAMA: ...and will to [the] best of my ability...
ROBERTS: ...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: ...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.

Lise Lindeberg, a 72-year-old retiree in Stockholm, Sweden, thinks people have put too much faith in Obama. "People want him to be a savior—some kind of messiah. You just can't become president and change everything when there's no money."

An Ohio high school superintendent warned his charges against "inappropriate comments" when he sent out emails to parents in advance of Inauguration Day. The
Mason school officials said they are taking a proactive educational approach in advance of Inauguration Day activities.

Their announcement stated: "Inappropriate comments that may make other students, staff or families feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in school or on the bus will not be tolerated," Superintendent Kevin Bright said in an e-mail sent to parents.

People are expecting students and staff to show respect for President-elect Obama and the incoming administration.

Jeff Schlaeger, Mason High School's psychologist, said "inappropriate comments" occurred around election week when doctored pictures of Obama appeared at the school. Schlaeger is a member of the district's racial equity committee and curriculum organizer for MHS Freshman Diversity Week.

The school is not discouraging students from saying those comments it is stating they won't be tolerated. The historical precedents for not tolerating dissent far outweigh anything positive school officials hope to gain by restricting student's right to free speech.

John McCain, typically blunt, has told colleagues regarding Obama "that many of these appointments he would have made himself," said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a close McCain friend. According to Fred Greenstein, emeritus professor of politics at Princeton, said: "I don't think there is a precedent for this. Sometimes there is bad blood, sometimes there is so-so blood, but rarely is there good blood." Now that their Chicago meeting on November 16 is a bit of old news Graham, who accompanied McCain to the meeting, said Obama took a notably different tone toward Iraq than he had during the campaign, emphasizing the common ground in their views. "What the Obama-Biden administration has talked about is not losing the gains we have achieved." He added, "Obama does not want to be the guy who lost Iraq when it is close to being won."

Obama should be apologizing to those families who sacrificed so much yet never during the campaign did he acknowledge their heroism nor did he recognize how successful the surge was.

Obama announced that he will star in a new hour-long musical, dance, and variety show.

During what we are being told is a recession, the price tag is estimated to be $170 million. In addition, Obama's Inauguration has been financed partially by the bailed-out Wall Street executives. The actual swearing-in ceremony will cost $1.24 million, according to Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The federal government estimates that it will spend roughly $49 million on the inaugural weekend. Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland have requested another $75 million from the federal government to help pay for their share of police, fire and medical services.

The party bill has "a budget of roughly $45 million, maybe a little bit more," said Linda Douglas, spokeswoman for the inaugural committee.

That's more than the $42.3 million in private funds spent by President Bush's committee in 2005 or the $33 million spent for Bill Clinton's first inaugural in 1993.
According to Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, "These are people giving mostly $50,000 apiece. They tend to be corporate executives, celebrities, the elite of the elite."

The biggest group of donors were none other than the recently bailed-out Wall Street executives and employees.

Ritsch said: "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration."

Besides Wall Street firms, a large chunk of the money came from employees at companies such as Microsoft, Google and DreamWorks Animation, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer and his wife, Connie, both gave $50,000. So did Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife, Marilyn, both gave $50,000. Filmmaker and DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate, both also gave $50,000. And DreamWorks employees gave a total of $275,000.

Billionaire investor George Soros and his family contributed $250,000 to the inauguration, and Google co-founder Larry Page and CEO Eric Schmidt each donated $25,000.

Other big-name donors who gave $50,000 include filmmaker George Lucas, artist Dale Chihuly, Los Angeles Dodgers President Jamie McCourt. Citigroup managing director Raymond J. McGuire; Oracle President Charles E. Phillips Jr.; actresses Halle Berry and Sharon Stone; and Melvin Simon, co-founder of Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the United States.

The governors of Maryland and Virginia, and the mayor of Washington said that their combined costs could exceed $75 million. That's on top of the $49 million the federal government is spending, again mostly for security.

Elite firms are supporting Obama and the government is spending taxpayer money to promote the Inaugural image of Obama.

Obama can really only say what he says best. Until his handlers tell him what to do he go on camera and put on appearances.

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold questioned Attorney General nominee Eric Holder about FISA during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on 15 January 2009. Holder supported renewing the part of the Patriot Act that allows for the FBI to seek records from businesses, libraries and bookstores as the policing agency investigates suspects in this country.

Senator Orrin Hatch questioned Holder in regards to the Presidential powers as a consequence of his inherent authority. Presidential powers are superior and this allows him more power over the regulation of guns.

Muslim scholar, Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, has been chosen to speak at Obama's inaugural prayer service. Mattson is the leader of a group that federal prosecutors say has ties to terrorists. Mattson is also a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.

But in 2007 and as recently as last July, federal prosecutors in Dallas filed court documents linking the Plainfield, Indiana-based Islamic society to the group Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.

The Islamic Society of North America, which describes itself as "the nation's largest mainstream Muslim community-based organization," is fighting its inclusion on a list of co-conspirators in the Dallas terrorism case against the Holy Land Foundation.

That foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted at a retrial in November of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas.

With the rise of Sharia finance within the U.S. government many citizens will need to acquaint themselves with how the process is working. Many more Americans would object were they to realize how extensive the contacts have become and they may have a dimmer view of the ongoing bailouts as a result. Fortunately, there are groups who are educating Americans with the ongoing challenge to their way of life.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Iran's top cleric opined: "The world is on a slope of collapse. One is shocked when a president (Obama) sits, smiles and says 'my concern is to find a dog for my daughter.' Shame on you and those who voted for you," he said.

He also added during Friday prayers that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni should be shot.

"Every time the picture of this woman is shown, I really wish that somebody would expend a bullet on her," he said according to a recording of the sermon obtained by the Associated Press, and a copy of the speech was also translated and published by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a Middle Eastern press monitoring service.
These are the people that Obama wants to meet with and to have no preconditions before for meeting. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall on that auspicious occasion?

Jannati is the head of the powerful hardline Iranian Council of Guardians which ensures the government remains true to the principles of the Islamic revolution.

He was hand-picked by Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for the position and is seen by the reformist camp as one of the biggest opponents of democratic reforms in Iran. His council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates during parliamentary elections. At least they have something in common with Obama: they lack qualifications.

For the inauguration Washington will be on lock down for this unprecedented security event. It will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service and will include 7,500 active-duty soldiers, 10,000 National Guard troops, and 25,000 law-enforcement officers.

On Inauguration Day, the city will be honeycombed with communication command centers staffed with officials from the Secret Service, FBI, police and fire departments, intelligence agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department is working with 99 federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies to double its force of 4,100 officers. The FBI will have 600 agents on duty, a 20 percent increase from the 2005 inauguration. All 1,600 Capitol Police officers will be on duty.

Chemical, Biological

The U.S. Army will have a brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia, ready to respond to a chemical and biological attack. Within 48 hours, hundreds of planes and helicopters could fly to the Washington region if needed.

Even the ceremonial guards at the inauguration are prepared to change out of their dress uniforms to help out in the event of a security lapse.

The effort will even include inspectors, behavioral experts, air marshals and canine teams from the Transportation Security Administration, who are usually deployed at airports. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is sending bomb experts and dog handlers.

Helping to monitor crowds will be 94 surveillance cameras spread throughout the city as well those in subway stations and in helicopters.

Anyone wishing to stand along the route of the inauguration parade will have to go through some type of screening, including metal detectors.

On Inauguration Day, two bridges connecting Washington to Virginia will be closed to all traffic except tour buses, emergency vehicles and pedestrians. Vehicles also will be restricted within a seven-block section west of the White House.

Parade-Route Balconies

Security officials are taking special care with buildings near the festivities. Parking garages in some will be shut down the day before. Guests attending the Air Transport Association’s party at its Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters -- along the parade route -- will have to be pre-cleared because the building has balconies.

The scale of the overkill for the inauguration begins to reveal the extent that the government fears the people and the lengths it can go to shut down the government if necessary.

For the inauguration the signs along 5th and I Streets in D.C. read, "Warning, Prostitution Free Zone." I wonder where all the politicians will be going for the 20th.

Free speech is banned in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has forbidden a pro-life gathering and chalk display during Inauguration Week. The chalk display had been approved previously for the last 16 years. The City of Washington, D.C., has also allowed numerous public 'chalk art displays' throughout the city, but as this involves a pro-life display in front of the White House and Obama is pro-choice it stands to reason the First Amendment will be suspended.

The Christian Defense Coalition plans to appeal the decision of the police to ban their expression.

Eric Holder will be questioned as the Attorney General Elect. Questions regarding his roles will be paramount.

Previous testimony from Holder before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1999 did not go well. Orrin Hatch--then chairman of the judiciary committee asked him why he never pressed the terrorists to provide information about other FALN terrorists who were still at large. Holder was unable to answer the question.

WLIW21 relies on many different resources for its support in providing these valuable services - station members, volunteers, corporate sponsors, community groups and governmental funding all contribute to fulfilling the mission of the station. WLIW21 looks forward to a continued partnership with the tri-state area as truly public television.

Since WLIW reports that they receive public funding, Americans must be the dumbest people in the universe. American taxpayers will now be funding Al Jazeera since the company has signed deals to air throughout the U.S. Right now a person is perfectly able to pay for the messages, ideas, and slime that emanates from the black hole but Americans have made it easier to attack America. They will be paying for propaganda that undercuts them as a nation.

A list of the Board of Directors, in case anyone wants to object, appears below:

Board of Long Island Educational TV Council, Inc.
Charlotte Nichoson Ackert
Chairperson
Community Leader

Terrel L. Cass
President and General Manager,
WLIW21

James M. Goldrick
1st Vice Chairman
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co.

Michael Bertuch
2nd Vice Chairman
ViaTech Publishing Solutions

Robert Sturm
Secretary/Treasurer
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Richard M. Aborn
Constantine & Aborn Advisory Services, LLC

Santa Albicocco
Attorney/Community Leader

Angela Anton
Susan Anton Community Newspapers

Hans Bosch
Kenstan Lock Company

Matthew T. Crosson
Long Island Association, Inc.

Nancy R. Douzinas
Rauch Foundation

William G. Forman
North Atlantic Industries, Inc.

Phyllis Hill-Slater
Hill Slater, Inc.

Michael T. Keenan
Wachovia Bank
James H. MacNaughton
Community Leader

Steven C. Millner
Quogue Venture Group, Inc.

Vera Moore
Vera Moore Cosmetics

Thomas A. Nicolette
Akers Biosciences, Inc.

George D. O'Neill
Meriwether Capital, LLC

Diane Chernoff Rosen
Alter & Rosen, LLP

Arnold Scaasi
Community Leader

Barry R. Shapiro
(Chairman Emeritus)
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Robert D. Siegfried
Kekst and Company Inc.

Donald J. Stewart
(Chairman Emeritus)
Parker Publications, Inc.

Jacqueline F. Strayer
Arrow Electronics, Inc.

Paul F. Washington
Time Warner Inc.

The irrepressible Congressman Rangel, D-N.Y., is at it again. The perennial proponent of re-instating the draft plans to revive the idea. And, with a Democrat president, a Democrat Senate, and a Democrat House he just may have a shot this time. The Obama campaign discussed, and there has been public support for Obama youth movements, and this seems to be in line with earlier developments. The Republicans will bleat about compulsory service or Obama service groups but there is not a great deal of political opposition that they can muster since they are the minority party. The potential result is most likely some type of compulsory or heavily supported military or paramilitary service as a result.

The historical war-making record of Democrats does not look good either. War efforts have been led by Democratics Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, and Clinton. Oddly enough, the Republicans have ended or so threatened others with retaliation that war was avoided. Nixon and Reagan come to mind in this regard. Of course, this is a simplistic and all too brief summary but it stands to reason that Rangel is actually on to something.

Dr. Keyes is interviewed summarizing his thoughts on the natural born citizen

controversy.

I had blogged before about the socialist, Carol Browning, who had discriminated against her employees as the head of the EPA. Yet, the appointee will be the new coordinator of energy policies in the U.S. Before we go too far astray I have to wonder why she would get this appointment. One aspect to consider is to grasp how much of a benefit that the corn producing states, such as Illinois, stand to gain from an increase in using ethanol. The short answer is a great deal. This is a move that they were savvy enough to move on once it became clear that oil flow to the U.S. was in jeopardy.

Corn belt states began subsidizing ethanol after the Arab oil embargo of 1973. The federal government advocated its use a few years later. The Energy Tax Act of 1978 authorized an excise tax exemption for biofuels, chiefly gasohol (a gasoline blend containing at least 10 percent ethanol). Another federal program provided loan guarantees for the construction of ethanol plants, and in 1986 the U.S. even gave ethanol producers free corn. It's estimated that the excise exemption alone costs U.S. taxpayers as much as $1.4 billion per year.

The immediate beneficiaries of ethanol subsidies have been corn farmers and, more significantly, the Archer Daniels Midland Corporation of Decatur, Illinois, better known as ADM. The world's largest grain processor, ADM produces 40 percent of the ethanol used to make gasohol. As might be supposed, the company and its officers have been eloquent in their defense of ethanol and generous in contributing to both political parties. The politicians have been in return. The libertarian Cato Institute estimates that every dollar of ADM's ethanol profit costs taxpayers 30 bucks.

The circle is complete. The corn growers stand to profit from the increased demand for ethanol and minions are needed to implement the plans of big business. Obama will enter now.

"An emergency exists in the District of Columbia," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. And, with that, Washington, D.C. is on lock-down. What is the emergency? The emergency is the upcoming inauguration ceremony. Since "the emergency" is not really an emergency it seems fair to conclude that Americans should get accustomed to non-threatening situations that are now regarded as emergencies. As Americans are benumbed to the notion of the government regularly declaring emergencies for the most frivolous reasons they can likewise expect to find their liberties diminished as well. The Obama - Bush gang are acting in concert.

One of the fans weigh in.

According to the press release: "The visit is a private event. There will be no photo or press availabilities.” In a meeting that has not happened between a President and a Chief Justice in 17 years, SCOTUS and the President-elect are chatting but without any one from the outside. I wonder what they have to talk about?

Not a ripple in the MSM about the appointment of Carol Browner.

It may be that considerations of race or politics are secondary if ethanol is promoted by Obama-Browner. It may be worth considering if Illinois is the state that is expected to benefit a great deal from the proposed energy solutions during the new administration.

Graphic source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES APPOINTED.

Carol M. Browner has been tapped as the coordinator of climate and energy policies. Until last week, Browner, Obama's nod as global warming czar, was listed as one of 14 leaders of a socialist group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which calls for "global governance" and says rich countries must shrink their economies to address climate change. The page has been revised but a cached copy reveals that Browner is a socialist.

Just last Thursday though, Browner's name and biography had been removed from Socialist International's Web page although a promotional photo of a her speaking on 30 June to the group's congress in Greece was still available.

Socialist International, an umbrella group for many of the world's more mainstream social democratic political parties such as Britain's Labor Party, is a self-proclaimed socialist group harshly critical of U.S. policies.

Obama tapped Browner last month to fill a new position as White House coordinator of climate and energy policies. The appointment does not need Senate confirmation and so will not likely face opposition as a confirmed Socialist.

Previously, Browner ran the Environmental Protection Agency under Clinton and she was on the board of directors for the National Audubon Society, the League of Conservation Voters, the Center for American Progress and former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection.

Her name has been removed from the Gore organization's Web site list of directors, and the Audubon Society issued a press release about her departure from that organization.

The controversial Browner was investigated by The Washington Times who discovered that she refused to use email when she served during the Clinton administration for fear of leaving a digital trail. She also ordered her government computer hard drive wiped clean of records just before leaving office.

An email sent to her surfaced in litigation so she simply decided not to a computer." She said: "I was very careful."

A lawsuit convinced a judge to order that the agency must preserve such records. The same day Browner asked a staff member to erase all files on her government computer and her work computer was scrubbed which prompted allegations of a possible cover-up.

The ensuing investigation ultimately cleared Ms. Browner of any wrongdoing who claimed that she was unaware of the judge's order. Her former agency, however, didn't fare as well. It was found in contempt of court for failing to preserve government records.

There will be no transparency during her tenure since she is "afraid the public might see it later," said Mike Surrusco, senior researcher at Common Cause, a nonpartisan group that monitors government ethics and openness.

Charles Davis, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri, said avoiding computers and e-mail "seems a little drastic and over the top."

In addition, according to her Wikipedia article:

"During Browner's tenure, there were many reports from African American employees of racism directed at them from a network of "good old boys" who dominated the agency's middle management layers. The most known of these involved policy specialist Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, who in 1997 filed suit against the agency; in 2000 the EPA was found guilty of discrimination against her and she was awarded $300,000. Coleman-Adebayo said that Browner allowed the problems to persist rather than trying to clean them up: "She wasn't at all sympathetic to complaints about civil rights abuses. We were treated like Negroes, to use a polite term. We were put in our place." In an October 2000 Congressional hearing on the matter, Browner appeared near tears as she said minorities had tripled in the agency's senior ranks during her time as administrator, but she was unable to explain why the culprits in Coleman-Adebayo's case had not been dismissed and in some cases had been promoted. A month earlier, Browner had asked for the Office of the Inspector General to linvestigate [sic] a statement by an African American environmental specialist that she had been ordered to clean a toilet in 1993 in advance of Browner's arrival at an EPA event. This followed a rally in which dozens of EPA employees protested what they saw as rampant bias at the agency. Congressional dissatisfaction with the EPA situation and its treatment of Coleman-Adebayo led to passage of the No-FEAR Act in 2002, which discourages federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation."

Jamaat-ud-Dawa is supposedly a charitable organisation and Hafiz Mohammed Saeed claims to be an injured innocent; yet, it's clear that the organisation and Saeed's family have been subject to scrutiny by the U.S. government for several years and a couple of Saeed's family members are already in US custody.

As the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) grew in Pakistan, Saeed's family rotated to the US to live and work here for a decade.

During this time, LeT aka Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), has morphed from an ISI-sponsored terror outfit against India to become a global jihadist organisation with increasing ties to Al Qaeda.

JuD originated and deeply resonated in almost all areas of Pakistani life where the U.S. could do little. Mumbai changed the equation.

Previously, Saeed's family rotation lived here as imams while preaching and raising funds for jihad.

The first to land in the US was Muhammad Masood, Saeed's brother, who arrived in 1987 on a J-1 exchange visitor visa. He lived in the Boston area, working odd jobs until he started teaching at the Islamic Academy of New England at the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, Massachusetts. Masood was arrested in November 2006 and charged with visa fraud and other unnamed crimes.

The second family member to arrive was Abdul Hannan, Saeed's brother-in-law (married to Masood's sister). Hannan arrived in the late-1990s, coming to the US through another member of their organisation, Muhammad Khalil, who is serving time currently in a U.S. jail. By 1998, Hannan himself was in jail, also in Massachusetts.

Hannan was released in 2002, and for the next couple of years floated around another Rhode Island, also as an imam, before returning, as imam to Massachusetts. Hannan was again arrested in November 2006 with his brother-in-law Masood. So far, there were two members of Saeed's family in U.S. jails.

The third member, another brother of Saeed named Hamid arrived in the US in 2001 for a program at Harvard University. He returned to the U.S. later in the year and became an imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester. In October 2007, Hamid was deported to Pakistan, on visa irregularities. But one of the reasons, according to some sources, was that the U.S. discovered that he used to run a safe house for LeT terrorists in Moon Chowk and Lahore, India and that his imam activities in the U.S. were all about teaching jihad to youngsters there.

By 2003, LeT offices opened in California and Virginia. After the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, international organizations discovered that LeT also ran terror training camps which were also used to train terrorists from other groups.

The climax to their activities was Mumbai on November 26.

LeT arose an international terrorist organization allied with, or working in concert with Al Qaeda thus this has piqued the interest of the international intelligence community.

Daniel Markey, currently with the Council for Foreign Relations and earlier with the U.S. State Department, stated that the U.S. concern is that LeT emerged as a global jihadist organization no longer satisfied with the status as just an anti-India group.

A Newsmax story last year estimated that anywhere from $13 million to $63 million may have been received by the Obama campaign from overseas credit cards or foreign currency purchases. More recently, the FEC itself has flagged 16,639 potential foreign donations to Obama's campaign. The extent and amount of illegal campaign contributions will not likely be known since the majority of the FEC Commissioners are Democrats who are not likely to advocate an investigation.

Its Muslim time according to editor Nida Kahn claiming, "It's our time." The publication, Elan magazine, sporting Obama's familiarity with Islam from the daughter of Malcolm X and Benjamin F. Chavis Muhammad, the chief of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and his time attending an Indonesian Muslim school.

The magazine, which calls itself the "guide to global Muslim culture," is distributed in the U.S., Pakistan, Indonesia, Canada, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, as well as online.

Obama stated on ABC's This Week that he would meet with our enemies “without precondition.” With this shift he has moved U.S. interests into a position of weakness. Our enemies are quick to take advantage of his weakness: Hassan Qashqavi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated “We are willing to talk to them directly and give them a clear choice and ultimately let them make a determination in terms of whether they want to do this the hard way or the easy way.” Qashqavi's tone is clear; they want to set the agenda of the meeting, they want to dictate to us what our choices are. In addition, the Iranian Vice President for Media Affairs Mehdi Kalhor said that Iran has set two preconditions for holding talks with the U.S. “(A)s long as U.S. forces have not left the Middle East region and continues its support for the Zionist regime, talks between Iran and U.S. is off the agenda.” The two statements form a cohesive whole indicating who is in control. Obama has unilaterally shifted the power base of the region from our allies to our enemies by allowing the United States to weaken its approach to talks and negotiations.

One of the main tenants of Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” is, “the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed by him.”

Obama does not grasp the wisdom of Sun Tzu.

During the Presidential debates, Obama tried to obviate his policy by stating what he really meant, was "preparation," rather than precondition.

Now, of course, he does not have a maverick challenging him in a debate, and Obama's policy is clear. He is now back to his real weakness as a negotiator, he legitimizes the position of America's enemies.

The best case scenario Americans can hope for, given Obama's deficiencies, is that
Hillary can take a harder, more realistic line, since she is more savvy and experienced in global affairs.

With each Saturday radio address the "job creation" number grows. Obama, try to create one more new job before inflating non-existing growth each week. The American people deserve results and transparency.

As the Hamas-Israeli conflict widens, which Obama had no comment about, he addressed his priority item of interest. "We need a playoff," Obama told reporters after being asked about Florida's 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in Thursday night's BCS championship game. "If I'm Utah, or if I'm USC or if I'm Texas, I might still have some quibbles." While the serious issues of state unfold, Obama is doing what he does best, show up and vote "Present." I would be delighted if someone could get him interested in the real game: politics.

The Mumbai evidence is available regarding the terrorist murders of civilians where their handlers cheered after hearing the gunfire over the phone. The material documentation was released after India accumulated a dossier for release. The documents were released by the Indian newspaper The Hindu. More than 170 people were killed and hundreds wounded during the 60 hour terror spree that shut down the city. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group allied with al Qaeda and supported by powerful elements within Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence agency and the military, carried out the attack. The identity of the major handler has been identified as a current or former Pakistani military officer who appears to be Hamid Gul, the retired former chief of the ISI.

The Pakistan-based handlers provided real-time intelligence and directed the terrorists to killed specific hostages.

The released dialogue reveals that the terrorists planned and executed the attack for maximum media coverage, ordered the murder of hostages, and cheered after the murders were carried out.

They stated: “Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims,” the handlers stated. “Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.”

The handlers are heard cheering in the background.

Once that Indian officials were known to be hostages, they state: “Pray that we find them.”

The handler reiterates “Allah is helping you. The wazir (Indian minister) should not escape. Try and set the place on fire.”

They go on to state: “Keep in mind that hostages are of use only as long as you do not come under fire because of their safety.” “If you are still threatened, then don’t saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them.”

“Israel has made a request through diplomatic channels to save the hostages. If the hostages are killed, it will spoil relations between India and Israel.”

“So be it, God willing,” one of the terrorists responded.

Jill Stanek has written a blog identifying Obama's views on abortion.

On CNN, Michael Scheuer, a former CIA officer in charge of the hunt for Bin Laden is critical of former President Clinton and the man reported as the President-elect Obama's pick to head the CIA, Leon Panetta:

"He clearly has nothing on his curriculum vitae that suggests he should be the candidate for this job," Scheuer said. "It's not apparent he has any talent that is pertinent to the job."

Scheuer said Panetta's lack of experience could damage the agency and jeopardize national security.

"What Mr. Panetta's appointment says is that there's no urgency in the mind of the Obama administration that they think they can send somebody over there who can learn on the job and that the enemy will wait to attack us," he said."

Appearing on the Fox News' "Special Report," Scheuer stated:

"The agency officers will be well aware that bin Laden is a problem today because Mr. Panetta and Mr. Clinton and their colleagues chose to do nothing to protect America."

You begin to get the impression that Obama does not grasp the threat that Bin Laden, et. al., represent. In light of the possible Panetta apparatchik appointment, Obama's words following 9/11 take on a haunting tone. He stated:

Obama recorded his response to the 9/11 attacks for The New Yorker magazine:

"Even as I hope for some measure of peace and comfort to the bereaved families, I must also hope that we as a nation draw some measure of wisdom from this tragedy. Certain immediate lessons are clear, and we must act upon those lessons decisively. We need to step up security at our airports. We must reexamine the effectiveness of our intelligence networks. And we must be resolute in identifying the perpetrators of these heinous acts and dismantling their organizations of destruction. We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe—children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and within our own shores."

Cf. The New Yorker.

No. 08A524
Title: Gail Lightfoot, et al., Applicants
v.
Debra Bowen, California Secretary of State

Docketed:
Lower Ct: Supreme Court of California
Case Nos.: (S168690)

~~~Date~~~ ~~~~~~~Proceedings and Orders~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dec 12 2008 Application (08A524) for a stay pending the filing and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, submitted to Justice Kennedy.
Dec 17 2008 Application (08A524) denied by Justice Kennedy.
Dec 29 2008 Application (08A524) refiled and submitted to The Chief Justice.
Jan 7 2009 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 23, 2009.

I am pleased to see that the transparency is real and Obama has finally released the official record; we can all rest easier now.

Herein is a copy of the divorce decree between the Soetoros, Stanley Ann, and Lolo, parent and step-parent of Obama; the Obama - Dunham divorce decree has been available for some time.

A recent Military Times survey of active-duty service members found 6 of 10 U.S. soldiers polled said they were "pessimistic" or "uncertain" about Obama serving as commander in chief of America's armed forces.

Newbie Obama's Twitter account was hacked. I realize how the MSM is touting Obama as technologically proficient, however, as we all know after having been around IT security for even a short time, these publicly available tools are eminently hackable. We should realize that there is no magic panacea and Obama is a newbie. So far, his Twitter account has been breached as his campaign web site was hacked earlier as well. Watch and learn America.

The nation's top intelligence jobs will be filled by two individuals who are almost no direct experience in intelligence gathering. The political mileage seems to be the key here as Obama distances himself against Bush administration policies.

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, a longtime congressional veteran and administrative expert, is designated to head the CIA. If the fortunes of the CIA can be any lower I suppose Panetta can drag us even lower. In Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, Tim Weiner convincingly documents the atrocious failures of the CIA, and the length, depth, and outrageous incompetence of CIA.

Also, retired Admiral Dennis Blair is Obama's choice to be director of national intelligence, who is also bereft of first-rate intelligence qualifications.

Obama seems to be playing politics with these appointments since he is communicating his dissatisfaction with the Bush administration policies which included the harsh interrogation of prisoners, waterboarding, and extraordinary renditions-—the secret transfer of prisoners to other governments with a history of torture. Several high-level, but so far unnamed officials feel that warrantless wiretapping will end. We'll see.

Obama overlooked former and current CIA officials who had impressive intelligence credentials. The more qualified individuals worked in intelligence during the Bush administration during the months leading up to 9/11. In fact, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Senate’s incoming Intelligence committee chair, criticized Obama’s choice.

She stated:

“I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director. I know nothing about this, other than what I’ve read. My position has consistently been that I believe the Agency is best-served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."

No kidding, Diane.

Panetta only had direct intelligence experience in a two-year stint in the mid-1960s as a U.S. Army lieutenant. Panetta was director of the Office of Management and Budget and a longtime congressman from California. As White House Chief of Staff during the Clinton administration, he spearheaded the internal effort to find a new CIA chief that led to the selection of John Deutsch.

Deutsch did not want the position although he reluctantly accepted the position after Clinton appointed him. Deutsch attempted reforms of the chaotic CIA although he made Clinton furious when he told Congress that CIA could not unseat Saddam Hussein. The situation led to his sacking (Cf. Weiner, pp. 524-535).

Panetta served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for reversing course in the war; of course, most of the recommendations were overly dire and pessimistic. How quickly they forget seems to be the watchword here. Who remembers the Iraq Study Group? At the time Democrats were thrilled with its recommendations they seemed to be stating the facts in a straightforward manner. When the recommendations were published in 2006, the Iraqi situation seemed hell bent on deterioration, and Democrats seemed to be mired in the Group's assessment, nonetheless, rather than a slide toward chaos that appeared imminent, the Iraqi government did not collapse and it has actually moved towards a national reconciliation. Nothing succeeds so much in Washington as failure.

"Two Million Minutes" is the title of a documentary that compares U.S. high school education with their counterparts in China and India. I screened the production when it was first released in 2007 which proved to be scary viewing. We are trouble if American high school education does not immediately improve.

As their website points out, the producers state:

Regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the 8th grade, the clock starts ticking. From that very moment the child has approximately -

…Two Million Minutes until high school graduation…Two Million Minutes to build their intellectual foundation…Two Million Minutes to prepare for college and ultimately career…Two Million Minutes to go from a teenager to an adult

How a student spends their Two Million Minutes - in class, at home studying, playing sports, working, sleeping, socializing or just goofing off -- will affect their economic prospects for the rest of their lives.

How do most American high school students spend this time? What about students in the rest of the world? How do family, friends and society influence a student's choices for time allocation? What implications do their choices have on their future and on a country's economic future?

This film takes a deeper look at how the three superpowers of the 21st Century - China, India and the United States - are preparing their students for the future. As we follow two students - a boy and a girl - from each of these countries, we compose a global snapshot of education, from the viewpoint of kids preparing for their future.

Our goal is to tell the broader story of the universal importance of education today, and address what many are calling a crisis for U.S. schools regarding chronically low scores in math and science indicators.

After a jury convicted five Muslim immigrants of conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers at Fort Dix, New Jersey, two Muslim groups claimed the outcome of the trial was unfair.

Mohamad Younes, president of the American Muslim Union, questioned the jury's decision.

"I don't think they actually mean to do anything," he said. "I think they were acting stupid, like they thought the whole thing was a joke."

Jim Sues, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, stated:

"Many people in the Muslim community will see this as a case of entrapment."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, and the American Muslim Union, or AMU, are solicited for comment after major news stories involving American Muslims. CAIR bills itself as “the largest and most mainstream Muslim organization in America” but is known to support terror groups. "Any objective assessment of the material ... leads to the conclusion that CAIR, its leaders, and its activities effectively give aid to international terrorist groups," said Steven Pomerantz, former counterterrorism chief of the FBI.

Four current and former senior leaders of the American Muslim Union were associated with a mosque established by the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The Treasury Department designated Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2001. Senior members of the group have expressed support for Hamas.

On 28 December, the Taliban conducted a suicide attack in the Afghan province of Khost. A suicide car bomber detonated his explosives outside of a government center just as a group of school children was passing by. A U.S. military surveillance camera captured the bombing, and the Department of Defense released the tape to the Associated Press.

The suicide bomber weaves through the barriers designed to slow down vehicles while the school children are walking against the wall on the right and are in view of the bomber.

The Taliban took credit for the attack, claiming "at least 20 American and puppet terrorists were killed and more than 50 were wounded, and the building was destroyed."

The statement praised the attacker, Afghan Qari Hameedullah, claiming he had rammed a "explosive-laden vehicle into a puppet Afghan government building."

The school children were not puppets.

Pakistan is no more secure than at any time in recent history and it faces a potential war with India. India is front and center in the war on terror which offers immense potential for forging more significant ties to the U.S. The Bush administration has emerged as dealing out major defeats to al Qaeda and the Mahdi Army while the nation, as a whole, is moving towards reconciliation in a development that has surprised, delighted, and confounded pundits respectively. The Afghanistan situation has degenerated by experiencing the most violent year since the U.S. incursion to oust the Taliban in 2001. Most commentators are mixed in their assessment regarding the relative chances of implementing a “surge” strategy in Afghanistan that proved to work so successfully in Iraq. In any case, this strategy will be implemented later this year. General Petraeus has re-deployed to Afghanistan to head up operations. If the General had performed this admirably in any previous war that the U.S. had been involved in, he would have been touted as one of America's greatest war leaders. In this conflict, enthusiasm for his efforts has been muted and largely unrecognized by the American public. Iran is closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon, and no one in the West has a coordinated plan to deter Iran from developing into the world's next nuclear power. As Iran acquires nuclear war making capability, the region will destabilize. Al Qaeda will likely retake control of Somalia as surviving cadres fled Iraq. Yemen remains an al Qaeda sanctuary.

Outside the main theater of operations battles continue. Imad Mugniyah was assassinated in Damascus. The Philippines made progress against its Islamic insurgency and dealt blows to Abu Sayyaf and the radical Rajah Solaiman Movement. Indonesia has driven Jemaah Islamiyah underground. Algeria fought a low-intensity terror insurgency with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

An overview can summarize the major developments in the most active theaters globally:

Pakistan

Pakistan is the central front in the war against al Qaeda, the Taliban, and allied movements such as Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Pakistani Taliban, led by South Waziristan chieftan Baitullah Mehsud, controls and has expanded in the tribal areas of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province: the districts of Swat, Shangla, Bannu, Tank, Dir, and Malakand are under Taliban control, while the Taliban has a strong presence in every other district.

In the summer of 2008, U.S. intelligence estimated that the Taliban and al Qaeda run more than 150 training camps and maintain more than 400 support locations throughout the northwest.

The U.S. countered al Qaeda with 36 recorded airstrikes and cross-border raids in 2008, compared to 10 in 2006 and 2007 combined. Five senior al Qaeda leaders, including Abu Laith al Libi and Abu Khabab al Masri, were killed during the 2008 strikes.

Pakistani military and intelligence services appear to assist Lashkar-e-Taiba, as characterized by the devastating Mumbai attack which killed more than 170 people and the city was shut down for nearly three days in the military-style assault.

On a more positive note, Pervez Musharraf resigned from the office of president and allowed for the successful democratic transition of power after nine years of a military dictatorship. The Pakistan People's Party, whose former leader was the slain Benazir Bhutto, won the election and formed a coalition government.

During 2008, India emerged as front and center in the war after Mumbai. India suffered the greatest losses other than those countries not directly involved in active fighting with the Taliban, al Qaeda, and other terror groups. This development seems to reveal that it is not only those countries currently engaged that are targeted. Terrorists attacked Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Assam, and New Delhi resulted in the deaths of 332 Indians and foreigners and more than 1280 wounded. The Mumbai strike revealed a new and more advanced typed of attack: more severe, and military in nature featuring an assault from the sea.

Al Qaeda-linked Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Taiba have been implicated in the attacks, along with the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Indian Mujahideen. These are front groups.

Iraq

In only two years, the Iraqi and the US and Coalition forces have reversed what at one time appeared to be a hopeless situation. In 2006, Iraq seemed like a quagmire and to al Qaeda, Sunni insurgents, the Mahdi Army, Iran, and death squads. Following the surge however, coupled with an expansion of the Anbar Awakening program in 2007, violence was dramatically reduced and the Iraqi government was given the time and space needed to further reconciliation.

Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al Masri fled the country and Abu Qaswarah, the group's second in command was killed in Mosul.

The violence in Iraq is at its lowest since 2003, when the US ousted Saddam Hussein from power. Peace is still fragile yet the Coalition can be guardedly optimistic about positive developments. The status of forces agreement between the US and Iraq stipulates that US combat forces must withdraw from Iraqi cities by the summer of 2009 and will be out of Iraq entirely by the end of 2011. The U.S. must remain to provide guidance and support to ensure the peace.

Afghanistan

Aided by bases, training camps, and a nearly endless supply of recruits across the border in Pakistan, the Taliban has made significant gains in its attempt to retake control of Afghanistan. The resurgent Taliban, along with the allied Hizb-i-Islami and the Haqqani Network, has ramped up operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan, and has expanded its control of provinces around Kabul and in the northwest.

The Taliban essentially controls the provinces of Wardak and Logar just outside Kabul, and has increased its presence in Baglan province in the northwest. Attacks are up in Nimroz, Farah, and Herat provinces in the west. Many of the districts in Kandahar province are under effective Taliban control, while fighting is still heavy in neighboring Helmand province. The Taliban has established shadow governments in many of Afghanistan’s districts and provinces, with courts, checkpoints, security forces, and taxation.

This year, the United States will surge approximately 30,000 additional troops, including four combat brigades and one combat aviation brigade, effectively doubling the amount of US troops in country. NATO has failed again to answer the call for more troops, sparking serious concerns about the alliance's effectiveness. Canada will withdraw all of its forces by the end of 2011.

Somalia

Al Qaeda-backed As Shabaab, or the Somali Youth Movement, and allied Islamist insurgent groups are prepared to retake control of Somalia after a year of gains in central and southern Somalia.

The US conducted several 'over the horizon' airstrikes in an effort to take out senior Shabaab and al Qaeda leaders operating in southern Somalia. Aden Hashi Ayro was killed in one such strike in May of 2008.

The African Union failed to provide the required number of peacekeepers; only one-quarter of the pledged troops arrived.

If Africans do not defend Somalia, the country is likely to fall.

Iran

Iran is one of the most important state sponsors of terror, and will likely be nuclear soon. There is no comprehensive plan to deal with Iran's nuclear program.

Iran suffered a strategic defeat in Iraq with the US and Iraq efforts to dismantle the Iranian-backed Mahdi Army and Iran's Ramazan Corps network that moved weapons, money, and fighters into the theater.

In Lebanon, Iran's proxy Hezbollah was able to force the government to include them in the government and give the terror group veto power over government decisions.

Yemen

After Pakistan, Yemen is considered to be one of the largest havens for al Qaeda.

The most high-profile attack took place in the capital after a suicide bomber breached the outer gate of the US Embassy.

A Yemeni appeals court reduced Jaber Elbanah's 10-year jail term to five years. Elbanah is wanted by the US for providing material support to Al Qaeda and is believed to have helped recruit the Lackawanna Six. A Yemeni court released Elbanah on bail in February 2008.

In August 2008, Yemen's new vice and virtue committee elected Sheikh Abdulmajid al Zindani as its president. Zindani was named by the US Treasury as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and a bin Laden loyalist.

Syria

Syria has long supported or looked the other way as al Qaeda and Sunni insurgents used the country as a transit point and safe haven for fighters entering western Iraq. About 90% of the insurgents enter Iraq through Syria.

The US in October 2008 launched the first recorded cross-border strike inside the country since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Nine terrorists were reported killed after US commandos dropped from helicopters conducted a raid in eastern Syria. The target was Abu Ghadiya, a senior al Qaeda leader who had been in charge of the Syrian facilitation network since 2005. Ghadiya and his staff were killed in the attack.

Earlier in 2008, Imad Mugniyah, the leader of Hezbollah’s military wing and a senior officer in Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed in car bombing in the capital of Damascus. It is thought that Israeli intelligence was behind the attack. Mugniyah, a pioneer in modern terrorism, was behind numerous terror attacks throughout the world, including the 1983 Beirut suicide attacks that killed 241 US Marines and 58 French paratroopers.

Philippines

Talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government broke down after MILF conducted several terrorist and military attacks against villages in areas adjacent to MILF control.

Indonesia

Jemaah Islamiyah, al Qaeda's Southeast Asia affiliate, has largely gone underground in Indonesia after senior leaders in the group have been killed or captured.

Algeria

After conducting multiple high profile attacks against government institutions and international agencies in 2007, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s operations took the form of a terrorist insurgency.

Israel & the Palestinian Territories

Major fighting broke out between Israel and the Hamas-led government in the Gaza strip after the six-month truce between the two expired at the end of December.

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

Progress, according to plan, is developing accordingly.

PRESS RELEASE from the Office of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2007

Statement from Governor Rod R. Blagojevich

“On this historic day, I am pleased to join many Illinoisans who are excited and proud to support Senator Obama in his bid for the Presidency. I know that Senator Obama will fight to make sure that working families have access to health care, good paying jobs, and opportunities to provide for their children. Senator Obama supports the very best of these Democratic values; they are values that he and I share, values I know he will fight for.

“Senator Obama has the vision, skills and dedication necessary to bring people together and make real progress in Washington to help solve our country’s greatest and most pressing problems. Senator Obama offers real hope for the American people and I am proud to give him my support.

“I want to take this opportunity on this historic day to urge the Legislature to immediately send me a bill to move our state’s primary from March 18, 2008 to February 5, 2008. That will give Illinois voters an opportunity to send an early message in support of Senator Obama and send him to victory.”

In 2002, Obama endorsed Blagojevich.

BARACK OBAMA: Right now my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as governor. We…

JEFF BERKOWITZ, HOST, "PUBLIC AFFAIRS": You're working hard for Rod?

OBAMA: You betcha.

BERKOWITZ: Hot Rod.

OBAMA: That's exactly right. You know, I think that having a Democratic governor will make a big difference.

BERKOWITZ: So you want to see a Democratic state Senate, a Democratic state House, a Democratic governor.

OBAMA: I'm a Democrat.

BERKOWITZ: Does that balance? I thought we wanted a fair and balanced approach?

OBAMA: I am a Democrat.

BERKOWITZ: Card-carrying Democrat.

OBAMA: Card-carrying Democrat. I really believe that the core Democratic philosophy is one that is, you know, really helps working people. And hopefully, you know, we'll be able to make sure that we carry out a mandate in this next election in November.

In a current interview, Bill O'Reilly interviewed Jeff Berkowitz, the interviewer from 2002.

O'REILLY: Well, joining us now from Chicago is a man who conducted that interview, Jeff Berkowitz, host of the cable program "Public Affairs".

You know what that tells me? It just tells me that President-elect Obama back then was a very loyal machine player. And you know the machine better than almost anybody, and that he was going to go along to get along. And now all of the associations have haunted him for the past year. And now Blagojevich comes back and he's right in the middle of it, right?

JEFF BERKOWITZ, HOST, "PUBLIC AFFAIRS": Well, Bill, that's a little unfair. In 2002, we didn't know he would be the kind of guy who would be trading seats, trading Senate seats for exchange for Cabinet positions and so forth, that he would be threatening to fire the folks. There are some editorial people at the Chicago Tribune if they didn't, you know, comply with his wishes or — and that is he would benefit. He would give them help with the Illinois finance authority if they would fire. So we didn't know that about Rod Blagojevich.

But on the other hand, it is interesting that he was working hard, in his words for Rod Blagojevich. It'd be interesting to know how hard. Some people said or say that he was working with David Wilhelm and Rahm Emanuel closely on almost a daily basis. So that…

O'REILLY: Well, I don't think there's any doubt about it that Barack Obama comes out of the machine that is Chicago politics. And the machine is not very good. I mean, it's a corrupt machine, has been for quite some time.

Now, the callers on "The Radio Factor" today said to me, look, we don't — nobody, very few, I shouldn't say nobody, but very few people are saying Barack Obama did anything wrong here. I think the tape exonerates him in the Senate seat brouhaha. But the questions remain how could a president of the United States go along with guys like Blagojevich? Obviously a corrupt guy. Been corrupt for years. Investigated for four years. How could you feel comfortable in a Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Blagojevich world? How could you feel comfortable in that world?

BERKOWITZ: Well, I mean, one thing about Barack, I mean, he's — today at his press conference, he talked about Paul Simon and Paul Douglas wing of the Democratic Party, or at least that history, the reformers. And then he talked about pay to play, that wing of the Democratic Party. And I guess he would put himself with Paul Simon and Paul Douglas.

But you know, if you're being objective, you have to say somewhat an accommodator. And so, he's not pay to play. He's not the kind of guy who would do something illegal. But on other — and he went along with daily. He went — he goes along with Blagojevich. So did most of the Democrats in the Democratic Party in 2006.

O'REILLY: OK, is that — in your opinion, sir, does his accommodation — I think you nailed it. It's an accommodation. And I've said this from the jump that Barack Obama made an accommodation to get power by dealing with people that he knew were dubious. That's the best word, dubious, OK. And to not get involved with them closely, but not to challenge them, not to challenge the machine, not to get away from Reverend Wright, but to just be there to use these people for what he could use them for and then go away.

Now it's a character issue. In this society, some people admire that kind of style. Other people are appalled by it. Where do you come down?

BERKOWITZ: Well, look, I'm not appalled by it, because I think Barack Obama is the best combination of a fluency with public policy and a fluency in politics. He combines that.

As you know, Bill, there are a lot of people in politics who know politics well, but can't speak worth a damn. You know, they're not well spoken at all. Barack Obama knows the issues, he is well spoken, he has a vision. That's what he's told me. That's what he's talked about from 2000.

O'REILLY: So the ends justify the means for Barack Obama?

BERKOWITZ: No. It means that if you want to get to be president of the United States, you have to be somewhat of an accommodator. But I don't think for a minute, Bill, he would have accommodated or let go if he knew what Rod Blagojevich was doing and scheming in terms of this...

O'REILLY: No, I don't either.

BERKOWITZ: So…

O'REILLY: But you know what's going to be interesting?

BERKOWITZ: ...that's the line.

O'REILLY: You know what's going to be interesting, Mr. Berkowitz? If Blagojevich is charged and indicted by a grand jury, which I believe he will be, and faces 30 years in a penitentiary in Joliet, he's going to flip. He's going to name every name.

BERKOWITZ: Absolutely.

O'REILLY: And he knows where all the bodies are buried in Chicago. Does he not?

BERKOWITZ: I'm sure he does. And if he had something on Barack Obama, I'm sure…

O'REILLY: He'll sell it.

BERKOWITZ: ...he should be concerned.

O'REILLY: He'll sell it.

BERKOWITZ: But as I sit here today, I don't know that he has and I don't think that he has anything on Barack Obama.

O'REILLY: OK. And I would come down on your side. I think Barack Obama is a very smart guy and wouldn't get involved with a slug like Blagojevich. He tried to get him elected, but he knew he was a slug from the jump.

All right. Mr. Berkowitz, thanks very much. We appreciate it. Very interesting.

Portugal is the only nation that has said it is willing to take in freed prisoners from Guantanamo camp. "The time has come for the European Union to step forward," stated Luise Amado, Portugal's minister of state and foreign affairs. "As a matter of principle and coherence, we should send a clear signal of our willingness to help the U.S. government in that regard, namely through the resettlement of detainees." Amado urged fellow EU member nations to accept inmates not considered security risks as a way to help close Guantanamo. Bush has asked numerous nations for years to assist the U.S. but none, other than, Portugal, has accepted the request.

In his weekly radio and video address describing what he called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, Obama reiterated the same essential plan which will not spur the economy. It seems as if it is high time for economists to break the news to the American people. This plan is not going to accomplish much; it will not challenge fast-moving economies such as China and India. The plan only has five main goals which are ridiculously absent of challenging, bold, and growth-inducing:

* double renewable energy production and make public buildings more energy efficient;
* rebuild crumbling roads, bridges and schools;
* computerize the health care system
* modernize classrooms, labs and libraries;
* and provide tax breaks to American workers.

If this is the best that the brain trust can commit to, it will be a long four years. If there were any original ideas in the plan it would include investments in the creation, innovation, and research in technology and science.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

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