----- Forwarded Message -----
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:40 PM
Subject: Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law
Coalition for Security, Liberty and the LawFor Immediate ReleaseContact: Ben Lerner 20 December, 2012(202) 835-9077; lerner@securefreedom.orgCoalition Calls for President Obama to Keep Gitmo Open -- and Keep Its Detainees Confined There(Washington, D.C.): The Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law – a group of military, intelligence, and security policy professionals with substantial national security experience – has sent a letter to President Obama urging him not to veto the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (NDAA) over restrictions on the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, and to instead let those restrictions stand.The letter highlights the risks to national security and public safety associated with transferring Gitmo detainees to the United States, including: turning prisons and nearby civilian populations into terrorist targets; exposing prison staff to unique threats; radicalizing the prison population; and enabling the detainees to receive criminal trials that would afford them constitutional protections – protections that would force prosecutors to choose between revealing classified information to obtain convictions, or dropping charges against terrorists.The letter also notes that Guantanamo Bay is humane and uniquely secure, and that there is little evidence to suggest that the facility has played a significant role in the recruitment of terrorists to al Qaeda or affiliated organizations.Signers of the letter (the full text of which can be found below) include:· Hon. Michael B. Mukasey, former Attorney General of the United States· Hon. R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence· Adm. Jerome L. Johnson, USN (Ret.)· Adm. James "Ace" Lyons, USN (Ret.)· Lt. Gen. E.G. "Buck" Shuler, Jr., USAF (Ret.)· Brig. Gen. William A. Bloomer, USMC (Ret.)· Brig. Gen. William Weise, USMC (Ret.)· Tidal McCoy, former Acting Secretary of the Air Force· Andrew C. McCarthy, former Chief Assistant United States Attorney· Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy· Debra Burlingame, 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America· Elaine Donnelly, 1992 Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed ServicesFrank J. Gaffney, Jr., President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy, stated: "As President Obama has yet to withdraw from his misguided pledge to close the detention/interrogation facility at Guantanamo Bay, it is imperative that he hear from military and security experts who understand the risks to national security associated with keeping this pledge. The President should put national security before politics and allow the provisions of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act prohibiting the transfer of Gitmo detainees into the United States to become law."About the Center for Security Policy
The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public. For more information visit www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org.-30-Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law20 December, 2012President Barack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NWWashington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President:As you are aware, the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2013 – the final text of which was agreed upon recently by House of Representatives and Senate Conferees, and will soon come to a vote before both bodies – contains a provision prohibiting the use of federal funds to transfer terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay to facilities inside the United States.Our past experience as military, intelligence, and security policy professionals leads us to believe that the transfer of Guantanamo detainees into the United States would threaten national security and public safety. We therefore urge you not to veto the NDAA over this provision and instead allow it to stand.Detainees transferred to U.S. prison facilities would turn those prisons – and nearby civilian populations – into terrorist targets. Based on past experience in Guantanamo, they would expose prison staff to unique threats, physical risks and legal liabilities. It is also likely that detainees, with help from counsel, would pressure prison officials to remove special security restrictions. If successful in such efforts, the detainees could have opportunities to radicalize the prison population – a risk previously noted by FBI Director Robert Mueller.To the extent that detainees would receive criminal trials if transferred to the United States, such trials would entail granting due process and other rights that may force the government to choose between revealing classified evidence to secure a conviction in a U.S. court or dropping charges against dangerous terrorists.Some have argued that Guantanamo remains a symbol of "torture", and therefore a recruitment tool for terrorists that must be shut down. However, Guantanamo is not only a highly humane and – according to Attorney General Eric Holder – a "well-run, professional facility", it is also uniquely secure in ways that cannot be replicated at detention facilities within the United States. Additionally, there is little evidence that Guantanamo has played a significant role in the recruitment of terrorists to al Qaeda or its affiliates.For these reasons, we believe strongly that the detainees should not be transferred to any locale in the United States or its territories, and should instead be kept at Guantanamo Bay. The potential national and local security risks associated with transferring detainees to the United States greatly outweigh any perceived benefits for American foreign policy or national security if such closure were to take place.Sincerely,Hon. Michael B. Mukasey, former Attorney General of the United StatesR. James Woolsey, former Director of Central IntelligenceAdm. Jerome L. Johnson, USN (Ret.)Adm. James "Ace" Lyons, USN (Ret.)Lt. Gen. E.G. "Buck" Shuler, Jr., USAF (Ret.)Brig. Gen. William A. Bloomer, USMC (Ret.)Brig. Gen. William Weise, USMC (Ret.)Tidal McCoy, former Acting Secretary of the Air ForceAndrew C. McCarthy, former Chief Assistant United States AttorneyFrank J. Gaffney, Jr., former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security PolicyDebra Burlingame, 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong AmericaElaine Donnelly, 1992 Presidential Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Servicescc: Members of the Senate Armed Services CommitteeMembers of the House Armed Services Committee
The things that matter in life.
The things that matter in life.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
From CSP: Coalition for Security, Liberty and the Law
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Music from our Israeli friends at Latma
From 2011, but as appropo as ever about the Gaza situation.
Parody of Beach Boys' "Fun Fun Fun."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5CsGViY5JQ
Parody of Beach Boys' "Fun Fun Fun."
https://www.youtube.com/
Syrian chemical weapons = Iraqi WMDs??? (from story comments)
P.J.G.B. • Report Abuse
Let's roll things back a few years, shall we ? ANYONE care to speculate about where those chemical weapons came from ? The truth, after all, has been plain as day to everyone but U.S. since we gave the bad guys all that time to move them.11 Replies
- 7users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentCrystal • 1 hr 18 mins agoReport Abuse
- Michael • Report Abuse
So if your saying - with no facts or information to back you up, that the syrians got the chemical weapons from Iraq, when we attacked them, wouldnt that make this bushs fault then?
- GreatOzHasSpoken • Report Abuse
@Michael--- Your reasoning is very immature and childish as well as 'party' flawed. Go to the ER immediately for a brain transplant.
- RickN • Report Abuse
Oz, you're the one needing a brain transplant. Michael followed a logical path of reasoning. Your post? Not so much.
I recall speaking with someone whose son-in-law worked for the CIA. He was told of our satellites' ability to discern very small details from their very high orbit around the earth. Then he said Iraq's WMD were smuggled out of Iraq. But if we have such awesome spy satellites, how could this have happened without our noticing it? Seems to be an inconsistency there. It's quite a jump to presuppose that Syria's WMD are from Iraq. Until you or someone else comes up with the objective evidence to support this allegation, it's a bunch of baloney being spread by hysterical people with no other sense of self worth. - N.D. • Report Abuse
Back in '03 I said Iraq's Saddam Hussein had successfully smuggled his WMDs out of Iraq into Syria. And I predicted that they'd keep them under wraps for about 10 years til they were all but forgotten. Then we'd have to deal with them. Looks like I was right.
- Mark H • Report Abuse
Clap clap clap Michael. What brilliant logic. Bush tells Iraq they will be invaded if they don't let the weapons inspectors back in and he refuses in the face of that invasion, we don't find the weapons because he moved them, and that makes it Bush's fault? There were in fact very credible reports that there were WMD moved from Iraq to Syria pre-invasion. All you libs who like to pretend you sit here fat and safe due to dumb luck and second guess every move (except by your own 'party') sicken me. You are the same idiot(s) who simultaneosly scream about the Patriot Act and blame Bush for 9/11. I wish we could go back in time and have Bush implement the type of airport and other securities we have now in a pre 9-11 world and watch you sneer and scream about your rights when he tried to explain it was to protect you against a handful of terrorists.
And Rick N go read and learn about how politics work; we were told to stand down. We DID notice. We also noticed before the invasion that China, France, Russia were falling over themselves selling weapons to Saddam (many of our own planes were shot down by French made missiles), they were building missile jamming systems, moving his communications systems to underground fiber optics and helping to develop nuclear capability. It is WHY France kept blocking us in the UN. It is reported in fact that they miscalculated America's resolves and told Saddam to just hold tight and they'd block the invasion in the UN.
You know what scares me more then Assad with chemical weapons (you know, the son of the man that kiled 20,000 'rebels' in a single day in Hama)? Saddam's Iraq (theone that gassed his own people, had trenched filled with are reported 1/2 million men/women/children, tried to take over the oil in the gulf, attacked Kuwait because he owed them billions they lent him for the war he waged against Iran) alive and well, with untouchable communication capabilities, armed to the teeth with French/Russian planes/rockets/missiles, Russian jamming systems and French nuclear reactors. You want to talk about an expensive war, try THAT one on for size. You want to talk about a terrorist threat, try that one on for size. And guess who our friends the frogs would be turning to when an almost untouchable Saddam relaunched his bid for Saudi/Kuwait.
You second guessing blame-it-on-bush idiots make me sick. - Russianwolf • Report Abuse
The Gas mixtures in in the bombs only last 60 days till they have to be removed and disposed of. So there is no way for these new bombs to be from 10 years ago.
- Crystal • Report Abuse
From what I am able to research Russianwolf, you are correct about that. Iraqi Sarin and tabun have a shelf life of approximately 5 years. VX lasts a bit longer, but not much. I am not a chemist, so I am unsure if there is a way to preserve these weapons or to prolong their shelf life. It does make it seem doubtful that these are THE wmd's from Iraq. I will not back off my comment about the Russians funding Assad though, because that is common knowledge.
- David • Report Abuse
ND, you are right. Guess who sold Saddam the chemical weapons in the first place? The chemical artillery shells recovered in Iraq were of American Manufacture. Do you remember our honest media or government reporting anything obout that at the time?
- Amy • Report Abuse
@ Russianwolf--Thank you! A quick wikipedia search helped me to understand how short a shelf-life sarin gas has last night. That's the difference between people that just talk to hear themselves and those that actually do research before they open their mouths. Educate yourselves people!
- ltw03y • Remove
The matter of shelflife in this discussion presumes it matters to the Syrian authorities. The mere semi-credible threat of chemical weapons has an intimidation factor on people like the rebels there. It might be the missing and expired Iraqi stuff, and the Syrians are running a fake. Plus, poison is poison, even if not as effective as it was ten years ago.
Friday, November 30, 2012
From ACT! for America: Urgent Legislative Action Alert! No Guantanamo Detainees on U.S. Soil!!
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 9:20 AM
Subject: Urgent Legislative Action Alert! No Guantanamo Detainees on U.S. Soil!!
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| IMPORTANT AND TIME-SENSITIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT! DETAINEES TO U.S. SOIL!!!! Dear Lee, It has come to our attention that earlier this week Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released a GAO report identifying federal prisons in the U.S. that the Obama Administration could use to house Guantanamo detainees. Although the report notes the Defense Department's serious security concerns about housing Guantanamo detainees in the U.S., the report provides a roadmap for the President to fulfill his January 20, 2009, executive order to bring detainees to the U.S. This would extend to these terrorists the same rights and privileges as American citizens. We cannot allow this to happen and we need your help NOW. The U.S. Congress must hear a loud "NO GUANTANAMO DETAINEES ON U.S. SOIL" from the American public. Not now. Not ever. We need your help, immediately! *** Important Action Item *** Please take a moment to call your Members of Congress (House and Senate) TODAY. Politely, but firmly, let them know that you are VERY MUCH opposed to the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to any facilities on U.S. soil! Further, please pass this request on to every person you know. NOTE: If you need help locating your elected official, visit our Contact Congress page by clicking HERE. Type in your zip code where indicated to locate your U.S. legislators. Click on your Representative and you can then see his/her contact information, including the phone number of the Washington, DC office. If you know the name of your U.S. Representative, you also can call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for that particular office. Again, please make your call NOW! Politely let your Representative know that you are VERY MUCH opposed to the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to facilities on U.S. soil!!! (Be clear that you are a constituent!) Thank you for all that you do. REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS! IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.O. Box 12765 Pensacola, FL 32591 http://www.actforamerica.org/ ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America's national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure. The news items, blogs, educational materials and other information in our emails and on our website are only intended to provide information, news and commentary on events and issues related to the threat of radical Islam. Much of this information is based upon media sources, such as the AP wire services, newspapers, magazines, books, online news blog and news services, and radio and television, which we deem to be reliable. However, we have undertaken no independent investigation to verify the accuracy of the information reported by these media sources. We therefore disclaim all liability for false or inaccurate information from these media sources. We also disclaim all liability for the third-party information that may be accessed through the material referenced in our emails or posted on our website. HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Send a personalized version of this message to your friends. HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Click here to give an online donation. |
Monday, November 26, 2012
From ACT! for America: Prosecutors ask permission to say "jihad"
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 12:22 PM
Subject: Prosecutors ask permission to say jihad
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Prosecutors ask permission to say "jihad" Dear Lee, Just when you think you've seen everything when it comes to the absurdities of political correctness, check out the article below that was posted on Jihad Watch. Portland, Oregon: Prosecutors of would-be jihad mass murderer ask permission to use the word "jihad" It is astounding, and indicative of just how much the public discourse has degenerated, that this is even an issue. Mohamud used the word "jihad," but prosecutors have to ask if they can please characterize his motives and goals accurately, at his trial. "'Terrorist,' 'violent jihad' among words prosecutors want to use in Portland terrorism trial," by Nigel Duara for the Associated Press, November 7:
Distort the facts? That's what Sady and Wax are trying to do, not anyone else. But their obfuscation is accepted practice and prescribed wisdom, so they will probably win the day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P.O. Box 12765 Pensacola, FL 32591 http://www.actforamerica.org/ ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America's national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure. The news items, blogs, educational materials and other information in our emails and on our website are only intended to provide information, news and commentary on events and issues related to the threat of radical Islam. Much of this information is based upon media sources, such as the AP wire services, newspapers, magazines, books, online news blog and news services, and radio and television, which we deem to be reliable. However, we have undertaken no independent investigation to verify the accuracy of the information reported by these media sources. We therefore disclaim all liability for false or inaccurate information from these media sources. We also disclaim all liability for the third-party information that may be accessed through the material referenced in our emails or posted on our website. HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Send a personalized version of this message to your friends. HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Click here to give an online donation. |
"On Respecting Muslim Culture" / More loss for Grover Norquist
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 12:17 PM
Subject: "On Respecting Muslim Culture" / More loss for Grover Norquist
"It's time and past to operate under the same rules of engagement as the Islamic fanatics that we are coping with, and responding to their aggression with overwhelming force, and without the illogical and asymmetrical rules of engagement forced on our troops by the White House and the Pentagon. It is possible that America might earn the respect of the Muslim world, if not our own domestic critics."
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More defectors from Grover "Closet Jihadi" Norquist. Say what you will about the tax policies, reducing his power is a good thing.
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-starting-rebel-against-no-tax-hikes-pledge-012623817.html
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-starting-rebel-against-no-tax-hikes-pledge-012623817.html
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
From Center for Security Policy: Obamawar (Plus: The Egyptian Bomb)
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 1:08 PM
Subject: Obamawar (Plus: The Egyptian Bomb)
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