Mossad Chief Warns About Obama/Iran

Obama's policy of direct diplomacy with Iran may buy Tehran enough time to produce nuclear weapons, Shabtai Shavit, former chief of the Mossad intelligence agency, warned.

"My concern is that until Obama finishes his learning curve of the subject, the Iranians are going to have maybe the first or even more nuclear bombs."

Shavit served as director of the Mossad from 1989 through 1996.

Walt On "Obama's War"

The point should be obvious now that Obama committed 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan but as Stephen M. Walt has pointed out in Foreign Affairs that it has now become Obama's war.

High School Students Thinking

Perhaps the kids at NYU could learn a bit of wisdom from some of these younger kids.

American College Students Support Islamic Gaza Students

In a curious echo of 60s activism students at NYU protested and demanded scholarships for students in Gaza and asked the University to provide surplus supplies to the Islamic university in Gaza.

Banking Lowest Today Since 1992

U.S. banking shares hit their lowest level since 1992 today as fears mounted that the government would be forced to nationalise a key institution.

Iran Has The Bomb

Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, United Nations officials acknowledged today.

This development arises at a time that the Obama administration is planning a policy to subsequently negotiate with Tehran over its nuclear program, UN officials said Iran had produced more nuclear material than previously thought.

They said Iran had accumulated more than one ton of low enriched uranium hexafluoride at a facility in Natanz.

If such a quantity were further enriched it could produce more than 20kg of fissile material: enough for a bomb.

This is the point that Israel has stated they will not allow Iran to reach.

Citizen Arbitrarily Detained and Released: Oklahoma

To cower a population, it is not necessary to arrest and convict everyone, what you have to do is to perform in an arbitrary and capricious manner and people will generally censor themselves. Naomi Wolf has written in The End of America about how she has been arbitrarily detained, no doubt because of her political actions and statements. She has a slew of recent stories in the U.S., with a nod to other chilling parallels, such as Nazi Germany where governments arbitrarily detain and release citizens.

Now comes this story about a guy, an ordinary Joe, who was arbitrarily detained and released, after his sign was confiscated and then returned. This is an ominous occurrence.

Military Deaths (Casualties): 1980-2006

For the record, below are the accurate totals for the past 26 years; the figures are subject to revision by the U.S. government; the figures below match those provided by the Congressional Research Service as of May 14, 2008:

U.S. Active Duty Military Deaths 1980-2006

1980 .... 2,392
1981 .... 2,380
1982 .... 2,319
1983 .... 2,465
1984 .... 1,999
1985 .... 2,252
1986 .... 1,984
1987 .... 1,983
1988 .... 1,819
1989 .... 1,636
1990 .... 1,507
1991 .... 1,787
1992 .... 1,293
1993 .... 1,213
1994 .... 1,075
1995 .... 1,040
1996 ....... 974
1997 ....... 817
1998 ....... 827
1999 ....... 796
2000 ....... 758
2001 ....... 891
2002 ....... 999
2003 .... 1,410
2004 .... 1,873
2005 .... 1,941
2006 .... 1,875

Obama: Third Term Bush

The government will dispense with centuries of legal precedent and the rule of law when it sends out Obama’s proposed National Civilian Security Force along with the military.

Of course, reports have noted that the U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials. “The Pentagon’s plan calls for three rapid-reaction forces to be ready for emergency response by September 2011. The first 4,700-person unit, built around an active-duty combat brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga., was available as of 1 October 2008.

All of this complements Bush’s presidential directive NSPD 51, or PDD51, the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, created and signed on 4 May 2007. A president, now Obama, may execute procedures for continuity of the federal government in the event of a “catastrophic emergency,” in other words, it allows the president to declare martial law in the United States without consulting Congress. It should be noted that Congress and the American people are not allowed to see the Continuity Annexes of the directive. On July 2007 U.S. Representative and Homeland Security Committee member Peter DeFazio made an official request to examine the documents but was refused under “national security concerns.”

Jailhouse Muslim Rock

The prisons and jails of the world have been fertile recruiting grounds for Islam. In the U.S., here is a story which confirms its spread.

Obama Change: Dow Drops, Again

The stimulus package is creating change. The Dow Jones Industrial Average greeted this news with a drop of nearly 298 points to end the day at 7552.60. As a point to consider, on 16 January, the last day of trading before the inauguration, the Dow ended the day at 8,281.22. Since the beginning of Obamaworld, the Dow has dropped 728.62 points or a little under 9%.

Roggio: Long War on Pakistan

Per the usual, the Long War Journal issued another perceptive analysis of the ongoing Pakistan situation.

Obama Pipedream: Afghanistan

"I am absolutely convinced that you cannot solve the problem of Afghanistan, the Taliban, the spread of extremism in that region solely through military means," Obama told journalist Peter Mansbridge in a wide-ranging interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. "We're going to have to use diplomacy. We're going to have to use development."

As one of the salient points of the Obama campaign, he criticized Bush as unable to form an international coalition. Let us now observe, after committing 17,000 troops, just how many other nations, and international troops he will be able to muster. Is there anyone who seriously believes, now that the Pakistanis have made their peace with the Taliban and sharia, that Obama will convince other nations to commit their blood and treasure to an American fight?

Dumbing Down for the Americans

"Using graphs, charts and layman's terminology, the online portal is an example of how the tech-savvy Obama administration is taking its message to the American people."

I do not believe CNN, or many for that matter, catch the irony in that statement as yet again, Obama's minions reveal (ho hum), yet another web site. But for those of you who missed it, let me run that boondoggle by you again. No one, including the politicians, were allowed to read, or had time to actually read the document in question, and the administration broke a promise to post the bill online for 48 hours so the American people can examine it and decide what they think of it. Now however, graphs, charts, and simple terms will be used to tell people what someone at least twice removed claims is in the text. God forbid if someone actually trusted Americans to be able to read and decide for themselves what they thought about the bill.

Top American Lawman Calls Americans "Cowards"

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," said Eric Holder.

I take it this is a salvo in the new Administration's post-racial policies.

Economist Says U.S. Like Zimbabwe, or a Banana Republic

Marc Faber concludes, from his perspective in Thailand, that the U.S. is moving along the lines of Zimbabwe or a banana republic.

Faber was born in Zurich and schooled in Geneva, Switzerland. He studied Economics at the University of Zurich and, at the age of 24, obtained a Ph.D. in Economics magna cum laude.

St. Obama

St. Obama is the reincarnation of St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian-born Dominican friar, who became one of the first black saints in the Americas upon his canonization in 1962.

That is at least what some say, on the other hand, the Reverend Tony La Torre of St. Philip the Apostle Church in San Francisco says the candles, sold by the Just for Fun store for $15, "mock and ridicule the Catholic/Christian faith."

Take a look; you decide.

Live Free or Die

Glenn Beck interviews the sponsor of the New Hampshire sovereignty resolution.

Obama Jugend

The exact details of this seemingly paramilitary force are unclear but an Obama Civilian National Security Force is in the offing.

The Department of Defense Directive (Number 1404.10) establishes a “DoD Civilian Expeditionary Workforce” and rescinds a prior directive dealing with the emergency use of civilian personnel.

The new 1404.10, 23 January 2009 is effective immediately, and cancels the prior directive of the same designation (”Emergency-Essential (E-E) DoD U.S. Citizen Civilian Employees”), that was issued in 1992 under Clinton. One significant difference is that the 1992 directive specifically deals with overseas deployments of civilian personnel, and mentions the term “overseas” no fewer than 33 times.

The new directive does not mention the term “overseas” in the body of the directive. Only indirectly is “overseas” even mentioned.

The key seems to be deployment of civilians in the United States mainland.

The previous Directive does not mention “restoration of order” or “stability operations.” The new guidelines feature these operations. In fact, these functions are central to the mission of Obama’s new DoD Civilian Expeditionary Workforce:

Members of the DoD Civilian Expeditionary Workforce shall be organized, trained, cleared, equipped, and ready to deploy in support of combat operations by the military; contingencies; emergency operations; humanitarian missions; disaster relief; restoration of order; drug interdiction; and stability operations of the Department of Defense.

While the directive suggest that the DoD will seek volunteers, Section 4 (d), subsection {e} paragraph 2 states: "Management retains the authority to direct and assign civilians either voluntarily, involuntarily, or on an unexpected basis to accomplish the DoD mission."

There are two clips, a short excerpt first, then a fuller statement available from 2 July 2008 where the service was announced.

The new directive seems to be in line with campaigner Obama's statements on 2 July 2008 to establish a paramilitary “civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded as our military."

Perhaps more to the point, and perhaps adding the appropriate details, are from Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel who wrote (in his 2006 book, “The Plan: Big Ideas for America”):

“It’s time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, all Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service.”

Emmanuel described his mandatory civil service plan to NY Daily News reporter Ben Smith in 2006.

Contemporary models for organizing a cadre of personal, civilian national security forces currently exist at fifteen centers.

Public Allies has an impressive list of donors.

Champions

Atlantic Philanthropies
Helen Bader Foundation
Cisco Systems
Fannie Mae Foundation
Ford Foundation
William C. Graustein
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Microsoft Corporation
Omidyar Foundation

Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife, Pam, established Omidyar as a philanthropic investment firm. A typical program is Comat which is bridging the digital divide by bringing access to Internet and basic government and educational services to rural India.

Procter & Gamble Corporation
Rockefeller Brothers
Surdna Foundation
Woodcock Foundation

Top Allies

ABC/Capital Cities
ABN/Amro (LaSalle Bank)
Advanta Foundation
Amoco Foundation
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Badger Meter, Inc
Bank of America
Bank One
Booth Ferris Foundation
Brico Fund
Butler Family Fund
Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
California Endowment
California Wellness Foundation
Carnegie Corp. of NY
Castellini Family Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Young
Chicago Community Trust
Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
Community Technology Foundation of CA
Arie & Ida Crown Memorial
Daniels Fund
Deutsche Bank
DeWitt Wallace
Discover Bank
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Duke Power
Duke University
DuPont Company
Echoing Green
Empowerment Corporation
Entertainment Industry Foundation
First 5 California Public Education Team
Firstar Milwaukee Foundation/US Bank
Forrest County Potawatomi Community Foundation
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
Fund for the City of New York
David Geffen Foundation
The Gill Foundation
GO SERV
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Haas Foundation
Luke B. Hancock Foundation
Harnischfeger Industries Foundation
Harris Bank Foundation
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation
Honkamp Family Foundation
IBM
Inbusch Foundation
Intel Foundation
Henry Jackson Foundation
Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation
Jones Foundation
Joyce Foundation
JP Morgan
Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Knight Foundation
Laffey-McHugh Foundation
Levi Strauss & Co.
Longwood Foundation
Henry Luce Foundation
Marquette Medical Foundation
Mayerson Foundation
MBNA America
Faye McBeath Foundation
Mead Family Foundation
Meyer Foundation
Miller Brewing Company
New York Community Trust
Northern California Grantmakers
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation
Open Society
David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
John Pepper
Daniel & Susan Pfau Foundation
Albert Pick, Jr. Fund
Pinkerton Foundation
Points of Light Foundation
Polk Bros. Foundation
Private Industry Council
Public Welfare Foundation
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Rockefelller Foundation
Jack & Lucile Rosenberg
Sallie Mae
Sara Lee Foundation
Murray & Agnes Seasongood Foundation
Louise Taft Semple
Smart Family Foundation
A.O. Smith Foundation
Sobrato Family Foundation
The Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute
Sprint
Steans Family Foundation
Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
Texaco
Times Mirror Foundation
Tow Foundation
Triangle Community Foundation
University of Delaware
Van Ameringen Foundation
Verizon
Wachovia Foundation, Inc.
D. Michael Warner Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Welfare Foundation
WGN-TV Children's Charities
William Blair & Company
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Wilmington Trust Company
Wisconsin Energy Foundation
Woods Fund of Chicago
William T. Grant Foundation

Government Sources

Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps)
City of Cincinnati, Dept. of Neighborhood Services
City of San Jose
City of San Jose BEST
City of Wilmington CDBG
Delaware Dept. of Health & Social Services
Delaware Dept. of Labor
State of California
US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development

Obama has called to “change America.” American youth will be a part of “The Movement,” and part of the United States of America.”

A massive, organized, youth political action force, a personal paramilitary organization on behalf of a president, has never existed before: in America.

Pakistanis Cede Territory to Sharia

Graphic source: The Long War Journal

The Pakistani government has negotiated an agreement with the Taliban in the war-torn district of Swat to end the fighting in exchange for the implementation of sharia, or Islamic law in a large region of the Northwest Frontier Province.

Negotiations on the five-point agreement have been conducted between the government of the insurgency-infested Northwest Frontier Province and Sufi Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the Movement for the Implementation of Mohammad's Sharia Law, and Mullah Fazlullah, the leader of the Swat Taliban and Sufi's son-in-law.

The provincial government agreed to allow for the implementation of sharia law the entire Malakand Division, a large region in the Northwest Frontier Province made up of the districts of Malakand, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Dir, and Chitral.

Other parties have been advocating for the implementation of sharia. Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, or the Pakistan Movement for Justice, called for the government to allow for sharia law not just in the tribal areas and the northwest, but throughout the country. Khan and his party are considered moderate by some observers of Pakistan.

Cf. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/02/pakistan_to_end_mili.php