Right Truth

Santa Monica Killer

Via A.C. at Fore-Left:

Just another mass killing, right?   That's sorta what I thought after seeing the reports on Friday.  It's a sad testament to our times.   It didn't even click that president Obama had arrived in Santa Monica that day for a fundraiser after trying to speak without a teleprompter or notes up in San Jose. 

With all the other stuff going on over the weekend it kind of slipped away from the top headlines.  Then Sunday morning CNN released his name:  John Zawahri.   Wha?

Zawahri?  That's how some people spell the last name of Al Qaeda Numero Uno Ayman al-Zawahiri.  It's how

(continue reading at Fore-Left)

 

 

 

Inspire Issue Number 11: AQ Tweets and "A Mujahid's Wish"

Via Tammy Swofford:

Just now getting around to scanning the latest AQAP Inspire magazine issue eleven.

There is a page with AQ Tweets, with a celebratory mood expressed  for the success of the Boston Marathon bombing.  Perhaps the most interesting one is this, posted under a nom de guerre, "Abu Zaid":

"In other marathons the winners wear metallic medals. In this marathon even the supporters get their metallic share."

May "Abu Zaid" get his fair share soon.

Naturally, what happened in London, gets play on the page.

The "Mujahid's Wish" is also a dark piece of literature from a twisted mind:

 

I wish I am in America. It seems odd, right?

Hijra is not the end of a mujahid's ambition.

Walking with an AK is not the end of the road. I used

(continue at Tammy Swofford)

 

U.S. Embassy In Beirut Fails To Meet Security Protocols

Via Weasel Zippers:

Benghazi II?  How many more?

Via Breitbart:

Three decades after 63 people were killed in a bombing there, the U.S. embassy in Beirut is not classified as “high threat,” even though Lebanon as a whole is listed as “critical,” Hezbollah has a strong presence near it, and the embassy itself “fails to meet security protocols.”

According to a State Department inspector general’s report, “physical security vulnerabilities, which include office facilities and residencies, place employees at risk.” In fact, according to the Washington Guardian, things are so bad that the inspector general suggested the State Department “build a new facility.”

The report described the embassy as a “cramped, aged, and difficult to maintain office” in a “steep and hilly compound.”
The inspector general’s report noted that although the State Department’s “threat rating for Beirut is critical for terrorism and political violence,” the embassy did not make the “list of high-threat missions.”

A State Department official speaking on condition of anonymity said these assessments can change quickly–suggesting the embassy could be added to the “high threat” list at any time. Nevertheless, the office admitted “it was unbelievable that the State Department did not have Beirut on the high threat list” already.

 

Be sure to read the comments at Weasle Zippers.

 

D-Day

Remember:

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler. 

Photos From the Front

 

A collection of U.S. Army photography from the build up of troops in England, to the beaches and airborne landings in France.

Photos from the Front

 

D-Day Beaches

 

Descriptions and maps of the Normandy beachheads the Allies invaded.

Invasion Descriptions

 

(continue reading at Army.mil, see video).

 

D-Day Memorial images, information here.

 

D-Day anniversary commemorations begin in France

... in honor of the 150,000 troops, mainly US, British and Canadian, who risked or gave their lives in the liberation of German-occupied western Europe during World War II.

 

Too many young people have no idea what D-Day is, the sacrifices made by brave men.

During World War II (1939-1945), the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe.  (History)

 

Fort Hood shooter revealed this week that he would use a "defense of others" strategy at his trial

Question:  Who was he supposedly defending by killing 13 innocent people, 14 if you count the unborn baby, and injuring 30 others? 

Answer:  He wants to argue that he killed to defend Taliban leaders.

As This Ain't Hell notes:

This administration has done it’s level best to keep Hasan from being associated with terrorism and that’s all for naught at this point.  From ABC News;

Accused gunman Maj. Nidal Hasan announced the revelation Tuesday as he asked the court for a delay in his trial so he could prepare a new “in defense of others” legal strategy.

When Judge Col. Tara Osborn asked specifically who he was defending, Hasan said, “The leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban” and its leader Mullah Omar, according to an account by The New York Times.

So, since this is his defense can we stop calling him an “accused gunman”?

 

Can we stop calling it "workplace violence", which is what the Obama administration calls it.

The judge apparently will not let him get away with this.  AP has the story:

The military judge overseeing the trial of an Army psychiatrist charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage may not allow him to claim that he killed to defend Taliban leaders, military experts said Wednesday. And such a decision could lead to even more delays in a case that's already dragged on for years.

Maj. Nidal Hasan revealed this week that he would use a "defense of others" strategy at his trial. Such a strategy requires him to prove the shootings were necessary to protect others from imminent harm or death. Hasan told the judge that U.S. troops deploying from the Texas Army post posed an immediate danger to Taliban fighters.

The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, is to discuss Tuesday whether Hasan has the evidence to use the "defense of others" claim and rule if Hasan will get a three-month delay to prepare for that defense.

However, Jeff Addicott, director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, said it's unlikely that Hasan will have the legal elements needed to move forward with the strategy, so Osborn will likely not allow it.

Lisa M. Windsor, a retired Army colonel and former judge advocate, said the judge may allow it but tell jurors to disregard Hasan's argument, because "it doesn't have to be a good defense. It has to be a plausible defense."

It's unclear when jury selection will begin. It had been scheduled to start this week, with testimony starting in early July.  (continue reading at AP Yahoo)

This is yet another stalling tactic by the terrorist Hasan.  Using our legal system to hsi benefit.

 

Obama’s DOD Leaks Details of Israel’s Top-Secret Military Base

The administration that is so concerned about leaks by reporters, has leaked another Israeli secret on Monday – the location of a top-secret missile base, Arrow 3 – a state-of-the-art installation which is being built by the US.

Apparently, the Defense Department posts detailed specifications on all projects so contractors can bid on them. At least that is according to Col. Wesley Miller. They did so for Israel’s Arrow 3 military installation. The specs for Arrow 3 include more than 1,000 pages of details on the facility to include heating and cooling systems and the thickness of the walls.

Why would our defense department not keep information like this far more secret with bidders requiring top-secret clearance? That’s transparency no one needs.

Needless to say, the Israelis are shocked.The release of the plans gives an enemy an “easy how-to-guide” for an attack.

(McClatchy DC , hat tip Independent Sentinel)

 

Gitmo Looking for Instructor to Teach Terrorists Watercolor Painting

Watercolor painting will be difficult from a hospital bed with a feeding tube down your nose won't it?? Just asking because of the large number of Gitmo terrorists on hunger strikes who are being force fed.  What would a painting by a terrorist look like?

(CNSNews.com) – Guantanamo Bay is looking for seminar instructors to teach terrorist detainees, among other things, how to paint with watercolors, and use Microsoft Word and Powerpoint.

The terrorist detention facility has issued a solicitation for “Detainee Library and Seminar Services,” which was updated on May 28.

The solicitation calls for a new contractor to provide “intellectual stimulation” to the captured terrorists, through seminars that cover everything from Arabic calligraphy to Adobe Photoshop.

“The objective of stated services is to provide routine Library services and Detainee Seminars, such as Literacy, Nutrition, Horticulture, Science and Art Programs, as well as Life Skills programs to the JDG detainee population (166 detainees),” states the Performance Work Statement submitted by the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay.  (continue at CNSNews)

What is all of this costing US taxpayers?   

Inquiries to the Joint Task Force at GTMO were not returned by publication of this story.

 

 

 

Fort Hood shooter will represent himself, which means ...

He will be able to question the very victims he stands accused of having wounded and family members of those he killed.  It also means the potential for a mistrial will be there and also it means his trial will be dragged out even longer and his victims will be deprived of justice again.

See Legal Insurrection's article.

 

Air Force Removes “Inspirational” Painting - someone was offended

Fox News:

An inspirational painting that referenced a Bible verse has been removed from a dining hall at Mountain Home Air Force Base after an anti-religion group filed a complaint, Fox News has learned.

The painting featured a medieval crusader and referenced Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation called the painting “repugnant” and an “overt display of Christian nationalism.”

They allegedly received a complaint from someone at the base who said the picture made “me feel terribly uncomfortable, disheartened and disappointed.” (click image to enlarge)

“I have been extremely disturbed and shocked by a clearly Christian picture of religious supremacy very prominently hanging in the dining facility of our Air Force Base, the unidentified complainant state in an email. “I and countless other Airmen were forced to look at this ‘Crusader/USAF’ painting while we ate.”

The unidentified complainant said 21 other individuals also took issue with the painting. None were identified by the MRFF.

MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein called the Pentagon Friday morning to complain about the painting and gave them one hour to comply with his demands to remove the painting. Less than an hour later the picture was removed.

Col. Christopher Short, the commander of the 366th Fighter Wing told Fox News the art work was removed as soon as he was made aware.

“We make reasonable accommodations for all religions and celebrate the religious diversity of our Airmen,” Short said.

Sort said the picture was removed to remain in compliance with the Air Force’s position outlined in the Revised Interim Guidelines Concerning Free Exercise of Religion in the Air Force.

“The document states that we will remain officially neutral regarding religious beliefs — either officially endorsing nor disapproving any faith belief or absence of belief,” Short said.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation touted Weinstein’s influence within the military in a column titled “The Pentagon Most Certainly Is Listening to Mikey Weinstein.”

Chris Rodda, senior research director for the MRFF wrote that the wing commander told Weinstein “that he will be ordering another inspection to rid his base of anything else like what had been hanging in the dining hall.”

Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin (Ret.), vice president of the Family Research Council, told Fox News the removal of the picture raises serious questions about Weinstein’s influence within the military.

“This is clearly more evidence of anti-Christian activity in the military,” Boykin told Fox News.

(continue at Fox News)

 

Related:

See Like A Prayer at Democracy in America.

 

Really? State Dept: No Active Al Qaeda, Hezbollah Terror Cells in Western Hemisphere

Via Breitbart:

A new report on world international terrorism activities released by the State Department asserts that there were "no known operational cells" of Al Qaeda or Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere during the year 2012. This is despite the report acknowledging Iran's increased presence in the hemisphere along with the country's "marked resurgence" of sponsored terrorism.

The State Department released the "Country Reports on Terrorism 2012" late last week which details the United States' assessment of terrorism and counter-terrorism activities in countries around the globe. The Department detailed Iran's "marked resurgence" of terrorism saying:

[Iran] trained Taliban elements on small unit tactics, small arms, explosives, and indirect fire weapons, such as mortars, artillery, and rockets.
[...]
Since 2006, Iran has arranged arms shipments to select Taliban members, including small arms and associated ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds, 107mm rockets, and plastic explosives.
[...]

Iran allowed Al Qaeda (AQ) facilitators Muhsin al Fadhli and Adel Radi Saqr al Wahabi al Harbi to operate a core facilitation pipeline through Iran, enabling AQ to move funds and fighters to South Asia and to Syria.

The report also noted Iran's advances toward countries in the Western Hemisphere citing that Iranian President Ahmadinejad visited Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. "The United States continued to monitor such initiatives," the report added.

This report comes on the heels of the Argentine prosecutor assigned to investigate a 1994 terrorist attack accusing Iran of operating "intelligence stations" that were "destined to commit, encourage and sponsor terror attacks."  (continue at Breitbart)